News

Govs Dare IGP Over Anti-Grazing Laws Enforcement

Published

7 years ago

March 5, 2018

The Governors of Benue, Ekiti and Taraba States, which are currently implementing anti-grazing laws in their states, have said the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has no right to direct them on how to make the legislation work.
The IG had, last week, advised state governors to establish cattle ranches before implementing anti-grazing laws to avert conflict between farmers and herdsmen.
But in separate interviews with newsmen, Governors Samuel Ortom (Benue); Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba) asked Idris to implement the law instead of giving them lectures on how to pacify herdsmen.
Fayose, who is the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, specifically said the IG had no power to order state governors around.
He also said the IG was under an obligation to obey and ensure compliance with laws made by any state’s House of Assembly.
The governor, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, insisted that the state would not heed the advice of the police chief.
He said, “The Inspector-General of Police has no choice than to obey the laws made by any state. It is the duty of the police to enforce the law. Cattle rearing are regarded as a private business and it is not the duty of the governors to provide land for the herders.
“The real cattle owners are rich people who can afford land; they are not the nomads you see following cattle from the North to the South.”
Speaking in a similar vein, the Taraba State governor maintained that his anti-grazing law was not the cause of the killings being perpetrated by the herdsmen in the state.
Rather, he said the law remained one of the solutions to end the unwarranted massacre of law-abiding people in the state.
Ishaku, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Emmanuel Bello, said the law in Taraba State was promulgated to put a stop to incessant attacks and killings by the herders.
He said, “We have already enacted a law, but we are still prepared to listen to any good idea that brings about peace and mutual understanding among stakeholders.”
Bello explained that the state government was planning a pilot scheme on the creation of ranches to demonstrate that the global practice was also achievable in the country.
Similarly, the Benue State governor, who spoke through the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Lawrence Onoja Jr., challenged Idris to approach the court if he was not comfortable with the implementation of the law.
Onoja said, “Ibrahim Idris’ directive to state governors to establish ranches before operating grazing laws is totally against the Nigerian constitution and the act that established the Nigeria Police.
“It is not his duty and he does not have power to direct governors. The police are not to interpret the law but to enforce it. Therefore, it is not for the IG to determine whether a law is right or wrong. It is the duty of the judiciary to interpret laws. If a law is passed and the IG feels it is not good enough, the best thing to do is to challenge the law in the court for interpretation”.
The commissioner maintained that ranching remained a lucrative private business and that it would be wrong for anyone to advocate that government should establish ranches for herdsmen or whoever that is venturing into such a business.

News

Court Arraigns Rivers Traditional Ruler Over Impersonation, Other Charges

Published

60 mins ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

A traditional ruler in Rivers State, Eze Victor Prince Worluchem, has been docked at a State Senior Magistrate Court on six-count charges bordering on impersonation, misrepresentation, and false pretence.

The charges, marked PMC/2/12026, alleged that Worluchem falsely paraded himself as the paramount ruler of Port Harcourt City and Majesty of Rebisi Kingdom, despite a court order restraining him from doing so.

The six-count charges against Worluchem include disobeying a court order in Suit No PHC/18/8/2013, which restrained him from parading himself as Eze Ebar Rebisi III of Rebisi Kingdom, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace by falsely and fraudulently presenting himself as Majesty of Rebisi Kingdom.

These offences are punishable under Section 133 and Section 2 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. II Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.

During the court proceedings, Worluchem pleaded not guilty to all six charges.

His counsel, U.G. Wokocha, applied for bail, arguing that the offences were bailable and that his client had reliable sureties.

However, Senior Magistrate, Kingsley Briggs, refused to grant him bail on self-recognition, but granted him bail with two sureties in the sum of N500,000.

The sureties are required to be blood relatives or recognized persons in society with a reliable source of livelihood, not above 55 years old.

The court adjourned the matter to July 21, 2025, for continuation of hearing.

After the proceedings, Lawrence Ufomba, counsel for the complainant and Port Harcourt Council of Chiefs, briefed journalists on the court’s decision, while Worluchem’s counsel declined to comment.

News

Immigration Plays Strategic Role In Nation Building -Worika

Published

60 mins ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

The Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Prof. Ibibia Lucky Worika, has emphasised that the Nigerian Immigration Service plays pivotal role in nation building.

Prof. Worika made this observation when the new Comptroller of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Rivers State Command, CIS Shehu Umar, led the management of the Nigerian Immigration Training School Ahoada (NITSA), on a courtesy visit to his office in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

According to him, the strategic position of the Immigration Service in ensuring the safety of our borders is important for the peace and security of the nation.

This was contained in a statement by the Head of the Press Unit.

Office of Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Juliana Masi, yesterday.

Worika assured the Immigration of the State Government’s determination to support security and para-military agencies and ensure the security of the State.

He acknowledged their services and collaboration with sister agencies to enhance law and order, and encouraged them to hold up the positive impact in state building.

In response to ongoing recruitment into the immigration and sister agencies, he maintained that the State will continue to encourage her citizens to join the service.

In his remarks, the Comptroller of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Rivers State Command and Commandant NITSA, CIS Shehu Umar, thanked the State Government for the consistent support to the state command and NITSA.

He noted that NITSA is the only immigration institution located within the entire South-South geopolitical zone to address manpower training needs of junior cadet since 2001.

News

Senate Confirms Chibudom Nwuche S’South Dev. Commission Chair

Published

60 mins ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

The Senate yesterday confirmed Hon. Chibudom Nwuche, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, as Chairman of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC).

Also confirmed was Usoro Offiong Akpabio from Akwa Ibom State as the Managing Director of the commission.

However, Tijani Yahaya Kaura, the nominee representing the North-West, was not cleared after failing to submit necessary documents and refusing to appear before the screening committee.

The committee noted that the window remains open should he eventually present himself for the process.

The Senate also confirmed the following nominees as members of the SSDC board: Rt. Hon. Larry Odey – Member, Cross River; Charles Zuofa – Member, Bayelsa; Dr. Nkereuwem Ebong – Member, Akwa Ibom; Engr. Chika Chinedu – Member, Rivers; Barr. Femi Oise – Member, Edo; and Dr. Charles Sylvester Enukhowhate – Member, Delta.

The Senate also confirmed Tabitha Iliya Sallah as Member for the North-East; Alh. Yusuf Rasaq Amao – Member, North-Central; Joseph Mmamal – Member, South-East; and Hon. Bukonola Braimoh – Member, South-West

Confirmed executive directors include: Hon. Marcus Nie Eji – Executive Director, Projects (Rivers); Engr. Aganaba Preye Steven – Executive Director, Social and Human Capital Development (Bayelsa); Dr. Timi Alari Ayibatonye – Executive Director, Corporate Services (Delta); Hon. Joseph Ugheoke – Executive Director, Commercial and Environmental Development (Edo); and Amb. Sony Abang – Executive Director, Finance (Cross River).

The confirmations followed the presentation of the report of the Senate Committee on South-South Development Commission, chaired by Senator Benson Konbowei (PDP, Bayelsa Central).

Presenting the report, Senator Konbowei stated: “That the Senate do receive and consider the report of the Committee on South-South Development Commission on the confirmation of the nomination for appointment as Chairman, Managing Director, and Members of the Board of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC).”

It will be recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had, last month, submitted the list of nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the president’s request during plenary and referred it to the appropriate committee, which was tasked to report back within one week.