Rivers

Ikoku 4: Prosecute E-Crack Commander, IPO, CSOs Tell RSG

Published

4 years ago

February 5, 2021

A coalition of concerned civil society organizations in Rivers State has called on the Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Zacheaus Adangor, to within 14 days, arraign and prosecute the former commander of E-Crack, SP Benson Abisoye, and the investigating police officer (IPO) who were allegedly fingered in the torture of the Ikoku 4 and the death of one Chima Ikwunado.
The group averred that the police and the prosecution team have done a great disservice to humanity by turning a blind eye to the atrocities committed by the two officers in the death of Chima Ikwunado, saying that the fact that the prosecution team was focusing only on the four suspects out of the six who were accused on the matter was an attempt to circumvent the law.
They posited that if the authorities concerned fail to open prosecution on the duo within 14 days, the coalition would have no other choice than to escalate the matter using both national and international dimensions.
The group made this demand during a press briefing, tagged, “Police Brutality in Rivers State” at the Patrick Naagbaton Conference Hall, Stakeholders’ Democracy Network (SDN) office in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Mr Amaechi Kelechi Justin stated that the Anti-Torture Act passed in 2017 as assented by President Muhammad Buhari, prohibits torture in any form, adding that anyone who contravenes the law was liable to 25 years imprisonment upon conviction.
According to him, Section 7(4)of the said Act stipulates that “the immediate commanding officer of the unit concerned in the security or law enforcement agencies is held liable as an accessory to the crime for any act of omission or negligence on his part that may have led to the commission of torture by his subordinate”.
He added that the provision has placed strict penalty on the commanding officer and the IPO, even as he said that the organization was at loss on why the rule of law would be disregarded with impunity in a democratic setting.
“Article 14 of the same convention, which Nigeria is signatory to, stipulates that, “each state party shall ensure, in its legal system, that the victim of an act of torture obtains redress”, adding that “the position of our coalition is that there is inequality in the administration of justice in Nigeria and that redress/justice is incomplete, if all suspects involved in the matter are not prosecuted.
“We call on the Rivers State Attorney General, the Nigeria Police and the prosecution team to act swiftly in revisiting the case file, and Section 7(4) of the Act to determine the right action to take, to prosecute SP Benson Abisoye and the IPO”, he stated.
Also speaking, Miss Flora Asieri of Stakeholders’ Democracy Network called for collaboration between the media and civil society organizations so as to fight against police brutality in the society, adding that civil societies and the media serve as middle agents between citizens and government.
It would be recalled that on December 23, 2019, late Chima lkwunado was confirmed dead at Mile One Police Station, while four other suspects who were arrested with him also confirmed that he was tortured to death.
Since 2020, the matter has been under litigation, with four out of the six suspects standing trial, a situation, the coalition said was unacceptable.
Meanwhile, the family of late Gospel Baraka, who was killed by trigger-happy marine police personnel, Inspector James Nwagbara in Abonnema Warf, four months ago, has cried out for justice, and demanded for the prosecution of the police officer who killed their son.
The mother of the deceased, Mrs Flora Baraka, and cousin to the deceased, Mr Emmanuel Baraka, made this demand during a press briefing organised by the Coalition of Concerned Civil Society Organizations in the state in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
They described the deceased as the light and hope of the family, adding that his sudden death has devastated and shattered the hopes and dreams of the family.
The Baraka family said since the marine police inspector killed their son; he has not been brought by security and government actors to answer questions on his action, alleging that he has rather been allowed to move freely without being arrested.
“We want justice to be served on this matter, let the officer be arrested and persecuted. We are in pains, late Gospel was our hope and consolation because he always told us that things will be better for the family in the future”, they stated.

Rivers

NSE Members Tasked On National Dev

Published

4 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

Members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, have been urged to work hard towards contributing to national development. This call was made at the recent induction of new members by the Port Harcourt branch of the Society. The induction ceremony was used to formally welcome new members and celebrate its elevated new fellows.

Speaking during the ceremony held a in Port Harcourt, the Branch Chairman, Engr. Idaeresoari Ateke Harriet, FNSE, called on members of the NSE to actively participate in the Society’s professional and technical activities in order to contribute meaningfully to national development. He congratulated the new inductees, describing their admission as a testament to their hard work and resilience.

Engr. Ateke also commended the new Fellows for their immense contributions to the engineering profession, reminding them that their elevation is a call to greater responsibility as mentors and role models.

The event featured a lecture by Engr. Prof. Steve Odi-Owei, FNSE, on “Opportunities and Challenges in Nigeria’s Blue Economy.” The Chairman noted that Nigeria’s maritime and aquatic resources remain largely untapped, adding that engineers have a crucial role to play in harnessing these resources for economic growth and environmental sustainability.

He thanked the first female President of NSE, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, other dignitaries, sponsors, and families of inductees for gracing the occasion.

Also, engineers, especially those in Rivers State have been advised to adhere strictly to the core ethics of the profession and to always uphold the professional ethics of the body.

This advice was given by an engineering expert, Basoene Benibo, in an interview with at the sidelines of the induction ceremony and Fellowship celebration of the Port Harcourt Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

Benibo stressed the need for young engineers in the state to learn and improve on their skills by tapping from the wealth of experience of older professionals in the field to enable them excel.

Benibo, who is a one-time Chairman of the Port Harcourt Chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, also noted and hailed the efforts of the society in eliminating quackery in the engineering profession.

Some of the new fellows include Prof Jackson Akpa, Pereowei Jose’s and Telema Osima, while the inductees, Engr Mrs Lizzy Onwuso, Engr David Jonathan jnr and Worlu Emmanuel expressed joy in being found worthy to become full NSE members, believing that it would enable them have access to more knowledge, practice rightly and impact the society positively.

Rivers

VALVA Restates Commitment Education Advancement, Literacy In Nigeria

Published

4 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

The President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Dr. Dominic Amenaghawon Omokaro, has expressed deep commitment to the advancement of education and literacy in Nigeria through the library system.

Speaking through his state Chairman Dr. Chidara Okachukwu Nyemezu, at the formal Launching/inauguration of the Vanguard for Library Visibility And Advocacy (VALVA) at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Port Harcourt recently, Omokaro discribed the inauguration of the new body as a significant and passionate movement aimed at shining the spotlight on one of the underappreciated yet critical institution in Nigeria’s educational system and national development.

“We are gathered here not just to launch a group, but to launch a vision and ignite a movement to reinforce a mission to make libraries visible and valuable again for our people”, he said.

Dr. Omokaro stated that the birth of VALVA is based of the recognition that libraries, particularly school libraries, are the bedrock of promoting a reading and research culture that includes innovation and lifelong learning in the society, though the system is grossly underfunded and poorly equipped in many cases.

He recalled the theme of its first week under his watch, “Library System for National Development in 2022”, which he hinted was driven by the state chapters.

He explained that the inauguration of VALVA shows an important mission to promote the visibility and development with impact on schools and other libraries through strategic advocacy that will advance quality education and foster lifelong learning culture in Nigeria.

“The vision is clear to promote the visibility where every school and indeed every community will have access to a functional library managed by a professional Liberian”, he said.

Speaking with journalists at the sideline of the event, the founder of the VALVA, Dr. Juliet C. Akex-Nmec, stressed that no society can grow without a functional and effective library.

She urged government at all levels to ensure the establishment of effective and functional libraries across the country.

Dr. Alex-Nmec, who is also an Associate Professor of Library and Information Science, Rivers State University, called for the appointment of a Special Adviser on Library matters by the state government in order to assist the government on Library matters.

High point of the event was the formal inaugural of the new body and oath of offices to the new executive.

Akujobi Amadi

Rivers

Four Internet Fraudstars Get Different Jail Terms In PH

Published

4 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt and presided by Justices P. I. Ajoku, P. I. Ayua and S. I. Mark has convicted and sentenced four middle aged men to various jail terms over their involvement in fraud.

They are Daniel Ebubechi Chinweobo, Timi Olamide Samuel, Chibueze Thaddeus Ugochukwu, and Emmanuel Linus, who may be dwellers on the Port Harcourt Correctional facility until their bail conditions are met.

Their prosecution is at the instance of the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate charges.

The charges, the Court noted, bordered on impersonation, Advance Fee Fraud, and Obtaining Money under false pretence.

The charge against Chinweobo reads: “That you, Daniel Ebubechi Chinweobo (a.k.a. Philip James) sometime in 2024, in Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently obtained the sum of One Thousand Great Britain Pounds (£1,000 only), from Marinela Gabriela, a Caucasian American, when you represented yourself to be Philip James, a military man from California, serving in Syria, who pretended to be in a marital relationship with Marinela Gabriela, which pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (b) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”

That of Ugochukwu reads: “That you, Chibueze Thaddeus Ugochukwu, on or about the 14th day of May, 2025, at Alakhahia axis of Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently obtained from one Grey the sum of Eight Hundred United States of America dollars ($800 only), under the false pretence that you are Amanda Pappers, a citizen of the United States of America which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and Punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

They all pleaded guilty to their charges, following which prosecution counsels, A. Chukwuegwu and G. C Ngborokwu, tendered incriminating documents in evidence against them and urged the courts to convict and sentence them accordingly.

The Defence counsels, G. N. Chukwu, Yemi Ogunleye, A. O. Secondus and Chigozie Umunnakwem, on their part, prayed the courts to temper justice with mercy on the ground that the defendants were first time offenders.

Justice Ajoku, however, convicted and sentenced Chinweobo and Linus to 30 months in Port Harcourt Correctional Centre, each or to pay N200,000 respectively.

Their sentences are to run concurrently and began from the date of their arrest.

Justice Ajua convicted and sentenced Ugochukwu to one year jail term or to pay 50,000 fine, while Justice Mark convicted and sentenced Samuel to two years in prison or to pay N900,000 fine.

In addition to their jail terms, they deposed to affidavit of good behaviour and forfeited a Techno mobile phone, a Samsung Galaxy phone, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone X, iPhone 16 Pro, an iPad and Lexus ES 350, recovered from them at the scene of their arrest to the Federal Government.

The convicts’ journey to the correctional centre began with their arrest by the Commission, sometime in April, 2025, following credible intelligence that exposed their fraudulent internet activities in Port Harcourt.

King Onunwor