News

Rivers CP Orders Probe Of Stolen Rice Bags In IDP Camp Invites Monarch For Questioning

Published

6 years ago

November 2, 2018

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed has ordered a full scale investigation into the alleged looting of 20 bags of rice donated to flood victims in Ahoada West local Government Area of the State.
Spokesman of the State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni who confirmed this to the Tide on Thursday said the probe became necessary following complaints by the flood victims that the relief materials donated to them were not properly shared and that some were looted.
It would be recalled that wife of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and President of the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA), Princess AsmauIdris had led some of her members to Ahoada West, where she donated 200 bags of rice and other relief materials to floods victims.
But few days after her departure, 20 of the 200 bags of rice donated by POWA were allegedly carted away by hoodlums who attacked a bus conveying the various relief materials to the respective wards in the Area.
Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) also said already the traditional ruler of Akinima community and other stakeholders in the area have been invited by the police for questioning.
“We just got wind of what happened. Though nobody officially reported to the police, but because we heard it from the grapevine and investigation has been ordered by the CP to verify the situation.
“The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) has invited the traditional ruler and other stakeholders to find out what really happened,” Omoni said, even as he dismissed accusation that some police officers connived with leaders in Ahoada West to divert some of the materials meant for the flood victims.
“They (accusers) are not fair for us. These items were presented to them by wife of the IGP in the public glare. The items were counted and handed over to the head of the IDP camp, one Hon. Eze Gbaleke Melford.
“How can the police go and take those things back. That report is unverifiable, unfounded and intended to cause some mischief and we do not want to join issues with mischief makers. The wife of the IGP acted in good fate,” Omoni stated.
Some of the items donated include: 200 bags of rice, 200 mattresses and pillows, cartons of noodles, cartons of detergents and buckets, among others materials.
Meanwhile, a youth leader from Engenni Ethnic Nationality, Ahoada West LGA had accused leaders of the area and the police of diverting the relief materials meant for flood victims there.
The youth leader who did not want his name in print for fear of been arrested said reports of looted rice is a ploy by both parties aimed at misleading members of the public so as to cover their tracks.
While admitting that some of the relief materials were actually looted by hoodlums, reports that over 20 bags of rice were stolen is false.
“Those rice were escorted by police officers and I wonder how youths went there and stumble the car and disappear with the rice. Because we did not see any rice and we did not hear of any disappearance of rice.
“The leaders connived with the police to hijack the items. They have taken the rice and they will still come back to tell us fake stories,” he queried.
Reacting to his invitation by the Police, Traditional Ruler of Akinima community, Eze Afoashi Richard expressed shock at the development.
He said, “Ask questions. You do not just fly things to a community and as you are leaving the whole thing is carted away by hoodlums. Now police are inviting me to come and explain. I do not know anything and I was not inviting to that occasion.
“Since it was police wives that brought these things and they want to investigate and prosecute they should go into the communities they will know those behind the incident instead of inviting me. But I will go there honour police invitation,” the monarch said.

By: Dennis Naku.

News

Why Wike Is Playing God In Rivers -Asari Dokubo

Published

17 hours ago

May 15, 2024

The Tide

A former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo, has claimed that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is “playing god” in the current political crisis that has pitched him against the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
Dokubo also chided President Bola Tinubu for, according to him, handing over “Rivers and Bayelsa” to the ex-governor.
“He is now playing god. It is dead on arrival, all those things that he is doing,” Dokubo said in a video that surfaced on X.com on Monday.
He added, “I advise my friend, President Bola Tinubu; what you are doing to all Ijaw, Ikwerre people in Rivers State (sic). You took Rivers state and gave it one man”
In April, Fubara revealed that the administration has raised the monthly Internally Generated Revenue of the state from N12 billion which he met upon assumption of office to N27 billion.
Dokubo described the development as commendable while alleging that the governor only had access to N6 billion when he assumed office.
“The governor had come out to say that the IGR for Rivers State is now N27bn up from N12bn. The governor is even being economical with the truth. When the governor came in, they were giving him a paltry sum of N6bn,” he said.
Meanwhile, in another twist to the ongoing crisis, Fubara on Monday said that he would set up a panel of inquiry to look into the affairs of governance in the state.
He disclosed this during the swearing-in and administration of the oath of office on Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, as the Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice.
The governor criticized recent comments by the former Attorney-General of the State and Justice Commissioner, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, who resigned from his cabinet over a fortnight ago and urged the new Attorney-General to defend the state.
He stated, “It is not the one that while you were here… the only thing you do is to sabotage the government.
“Instead of you to close your mouth, you publicly claim that you’re a learned person to tell people that you’re the Chief Law Officer. Chief Law Officer, you were here and went to stand before a Magistrate Court.
“At that time you didn’t remember that you’re a Chief Law Officer going against the ethics of your job.”

News

Investors, Tourists To Get Visa Within 48 Hours, FG Assures

Published

17 hours ago

May 15, 2024

The Tide

The Federal Executive Council chaired by President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a tripartite committee to streamline visa processes and acquisition for investors interested in investing in Nigeria.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, revealed this, yesterday, after the FEC meeting held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“Our visa processes are becoming cumbersome. The ease of doing business is also tied to our visa processes.
“Going forward, those investors, tourists would find it easy to acquire a visa within the next 48 hours,” Idris said.
The meeting which began on Monday was adjourned till Tuesday to allow for other “far-reaching” decisions, the information minister had told journalists.

News

Panel To Probe Governance In Rivers Underway -Fubara …Swears In Iboroma As New Attorney-General

Published

17 hours ago

May 15, 2024

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared his readiness to set up a panel of inquiry to look into the affairs of governance in the state.
Fubara disclosed this during the swearing-in and administration of the oath of office on Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, as the new Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice.
The governor criticised recent comments by the former Attorney-General of the State and Justice Commissioner, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, who resigned from his cabinet over a fortnight ago and urged the new Attorney-General to defend the state.
Fubara stated, “It is not the one that while you were here… the only thing you do is to sabotage the government.
“Instead of you to close your mouth, you publicly claim that you’re a learned person to tell people that you’re the Chief Law Officer. Chief Law Officer, you were here and went to stand before a Magistrate Court.
“At that time you didn’t remember that you’re a Chief Law Officer going against the ethics of your job.”
Addressing the new AG, the governor said, “You have a big task. As it is today in the local parlance, they say the jungle has matured. We will be setting a panel of inquiry to investigate the affair of governance.”
The governor further said there was a deliberate attempt to sabotage his administration, saying, “If we disagree, no matter how bad it is, it should be resolved.
“But it has become very clear that this disagreement there is no headway to it, and for many reasons, there is very visible evidence that there is sabotage, a deliberate attempt to sabotage this administration.
“Maybe where they are they are telling them nothing will happen, it is happening here live, we have our own legislators that are performing their duties according to the Constitution. So that record is threatened.”