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Court Grants Nwanosike, 3 Others Bail …Orders Police To Hand Over File To RSG …PDP Alerts On Trump-up Charges
A Port Harcourt Chief Magistrate Court presided over by Mr. Andrew Jaja yesterday granted the Rivers State Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Samuel Nwanosike and three others bail on self recognition.
The court also ordered the Police to hand over the case file to the State government for the prosecution of the accused persons.
Others admitted to bail on self recognition include, Hon. Roland Charles Sekibo, Darlington Orji and Chief Odiari Princewill.
The court however, admitted the rest 31 accused persons to bail in the sum of N100,000 each with three sureties who must all be residents in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
The accused persons were arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on misdemeanor, unlawful assembly, acts capable of causing fear and panic, all classified as electoral offences. They however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The presiding Chief Magistrate made the orders following a bail application brought by Mr. Wori N. for the 1st – 4th and Ekine Ibelekuru for the 5th – 35th accused persons as well as the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr. Otorubio Ibikiri who appeared for the State.
Counsels to the accused persons had urged the court to grant their clients bail on a liberal terms, adding that offences for which they were charged were bailable.
The 1-4th accused people counsel prayed the court to grant his clients bail on self recognition based on their positions in the state, pointing that they had all served as past local government council chairmen in the state.
In his own submission, the Director Public Prosecution (DPP) told the court that the State government, in accordance with the law, was taking over the case and urged the court to order the Police to hand over the case file to the state.
However, Counsel to the Police, Inspector Amadi did not oppose the bail application of the accused persons or the taking over of the case file by the State government. He only told the court that some stringent measures should be attached to the bail conditions.
The presiding Chief Magistrate, after listening to the various submissions of the counsels consequently granted the accused bail as well as directed the Police to hand over the case file to the State government.
Before adjourning the matter to march 9, 2017 for hearing, the presiding magistrate supervised the handing over of the case file by the Police to the state government.
Speaking to journalists after regaining their freedom, Samuel Nwanosike and Roland Sekibo thanked God for their release, adding that they were detained and charged to court for offences they never committed.
They also accused the military and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for making false allegations against them, adding that they were in Etche on lawful duties during the election.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, says information at its disposal has revealed secret plans to frame up incriminating charges against the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Samuel Nwanosike, and other PDP chieftains unlawfully arrested by the military during last weekend’s re-run election in Etche local government area.
Alarmed by the desperation of those who want the PDP’s publicity secretary silenced by any means, the State PDP chairman, Bro Felix Obuah in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam stated categorically that the party’s chieftains and officials duly accredited for the election are innocent, alleging that their transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Dept (CID) was influenced by a well-known All Progressives Congress, APC chieftain in the State who had always wanted Mr. Nwanosike dead.
The State PDP chairman believes the dust being thrown into the eyes of the investigating police officers is born out of hate and bitterness against the arrested PDP chieftains and the singular desire to find cause to nail MrNwanosike for refusing the APC to carry out their sinister plans.
Even as they are being illegally detained under inhuman conditions at the State CID, he noted that pressures are being mounted on the security men to transfer them to Abuja in order to deny them further access to their families, the State PDP boss noted.
“We insist Mr Samuel Nwanosike and the three others are innocent and were officially in Etche during the re-run election as our party agents for the purpose of monitoring the election and duly acted within the ambit of the law.
“Their arrest no doubt, is a clear case of a witch-hunt and the identity of the person behind all the trumped-up charges and travails of the party officers is not lost on us.
“We hold him and his co-horts strictly responsible for whatever happens to Mr. Nwanosike and the other three chieftains.
“We are however convinced that our security men are now wiser and know those raising the dust in the State for their selfish interests, and wish to appeal to them to thread the path of reasonableness by releasing all the party chieftains unconditionally”, Obuah added.
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
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We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring good healthcare for the people of Rivers State.
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?Governor Fubara stated this when he played host to the Country Director of UNICEF, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef and her management team in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.
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?The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, said he would continue to provide the necessary facilities in order to ensure accessible and good health care for all Rivers people.
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?”We are constructing new zonal hospitals across the State. The Ahoada Zonal hospital will be commissioned in December and others are near completion.
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?”We are grateful to UNICEF for all they have done and believe we can always work together to care for the vulnerable in the society. We appreciate your physical presence, and believe that your staff working remotely, can also do more virtually. We have a capable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, to help foster our relationship, communication and greater collaboration,” he said.
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?The Country Director for UNICEF Nigeria, Ms. Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, assured Governor Fubara of UNICEF’s support to the programmes of the State Government. She appealed that health facilities such as the Oxygen Plant at Eleme Local Government Ares and the New Born Care Units be solarized.
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?”Be assured that UNICEF will continue to work and support the programmes here in Rivers State. We have seen the Oxygen Plant at Eleme LGA which has been effective because of the Public Private Partnership. We appeal that the plant be solarized.
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?”I commend your leadership of the State and assure that we are here to support your effort and assure you that you can count on our support and partnership. Rivers State is one of the states we can showcase how things are working so others can learn,” she added.
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