Despite strong opposition from some federal lawmakers, the Senate has confirmed the appointment of Michael Odey from Cross River State as the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

The Senate approved Odey’s appointment on Wednesday following the submission of a report by the Senate Ad hoc Committee on Emergency Rule in Rivers State, led by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele.

Many senators protested the choice, saying it was politically insensitive to appoint a non-indigene to oversee elections in a state already under emergency rule.

Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) led the objections, questioning why a Rivers indigene was not appointed instead.

“Are there no people in Rivers anymore? Let it be on record that I, Senator Abdul Ningi, stood against this decision,” he said.

Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) supported Ningi, warning that appointing an outsider could alienate the local population.

“There are qualified people in Rivers. This sends the wrong message,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South) also expressed concern, saying the state needed sensitive handling due to its current political situation.

However, other senators defended the appointment, arguing that it was within legal bounds.

Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North) said any Nigerian could serve in any state.

“I can be governor of Benue if the people elect me,” he said.

Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, added that similar appointments had occurred in other states without issue.

Bamidele clarified that Odey met all legal and constitutional requirements and that six of the seven RSIEC nominees were Rivers indigenes.

He said Odey’s appointment was to ensure neutrality in a politically tense atmosphere.

The Senate eventually confirmed Odey by voice vote, along with six other members of the RSIEC, namely Lezaasi Lenee Torbira, Prof Arthur Nwafor, Prof Godfrey Woke Mbudiogha, Prof Joyce Akaniwor, Dr Olive Bruce, and Prof Chidi Halliday.

The Senate also confirmed members of the Rivers State Local Government Civil Service Commission and the Primary Healthcare Management Board.

Despite the confirmations, some senators warned that the Federal Government’s recent actions in Rivers could be seen as politically motivated interference

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt and presided over 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.

The convicts who bagged various jail terms on Wednesday are Daniel Ebubechi Chinweobo, Timi Olamide Samuel, Chibueze Thaddeus Ugochukwu and Emmanuel Linus. The four are currently being remanded at the Port Harcourt Correctional facility until their bail conditions are met.

Separate charges bordering on impersonation, Advance Fee Fraud and obtaining money under false pretence were levied against the convicts by the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

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 the 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 counsel 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 imprisonment each at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre, 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, the convicts were asked to depose 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 EFCC  in April 2025, following credible intelligence that exposed their fraudulent internet activities in Port Harcourt.

King Onunwor

The House of Representatives has mandated its Committees on Public Assets and Procurement to investigate allegations of corruption against the Nigeria Police Force, ranging from illegal sale of national assets to diversion of public funds.

The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Abia lawmaker, Ibe Osunwa and three others during yesterday’s plenary.

Drumming support for the motion, Osunwa stated that the core mandate of the Nigéria Police Force, as enshrined in Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), includes the protection of lives and property, prevention and detection of crime, and enforcement of all laws and regulations.

He expressed worry over multiple allegations against the police involving abuse of office and unprofessional conduct.

The House is concerned that recent allegations of abuse of office, lack of due process and corruption in the Nigeria Police Force threaten the credibility, operational efficiency, and national security objectives of the Force.

“We are concerned that the NPF Procurement Department reportedly awarded a contract worth N6bn to Crown Natures Nigeria Limited by splitting it into 66 separate contracts in a deliberate attempt to circumvent the Public Procurement Act, 2007, particularly in the procurement of Police uniforms as reported by investigative media platforms including Ape Reporters.

“The House is disturbed by the reported sale of critical national security assets including Garki Police Barracks (Abuja), Falomo Police Barracks (Lagos), and Bompai Barracks (Kano) to private individuals closely linked to Exima Realty Company Ltd, without due process or required approvals from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Ministry of Police Affairs, the Federal Executive Council and in total disregard for the Public Private Procurement.

“The House is worried that various contracts under the 2024 budget running into tens of billions of naira have allegedly been awarded by the Nigeria Police Force without compliance with statutory procurement processes, including the Federal Executive Council’s approval, Ministerial Tenders Board vetting, and Bureau of Public Procurement no-objection certification”, he said.

He listed the companies involved in the alleged violations to include Dexterity Development Ltd., KC Construction Ltd, Contract Technologies Ltd., Strong Tower Infrastructure Development Ltd., among others.

The House also expressed worry over reports of the diversion of ?2.9bn meant for the Safe School Initiative under a contract awarded to Vigiscope Ltd., “despite failing to meet statutory requirements such as obtaining a NITDA certificate as mandated for all ICT-related procurements in Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

Osunwa also expressed worry on behalf of the House “About credible allegations that several contracts amounting to over N50billion were paid to unqualified and unverified companies for the supply of arms, boots, gunboats, and forensic intelligence equipment, without any execution or delivery, thereby putting national security at risk.”

The companies involved in this alleged violation include PSGL Nigeria Ltd., SOLYD Nigeria Ltd., Toffy Ventures Ltd., Rush Rights Ltd., Value Exchange Ltd., and Radio Tactics Global Services, among others.

The motion stressed that if urgent steps are not taken, “These acts of impunity and financial misconduct could erode public confidence in the Police Force and sabotage national security and development efforts.”

Following the adoption of the motion, the House mandated the two committees to investigate the extent of procurement breaches and report back within six weeks for further legislative action.