Rivers
RSG Nabs Man For Impersonation At Verification Exercise
The Rivers State Government has nabbed a man who impersonated his late brother in the ongoing Rivers civil servants verification exercise.
The government also confirmed the arrest of many other impersonators in the ongoing exercise.
Acting Head of Service, Rivers State, Dr. Inyingi Brown, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen while parading the impersonator at the state secretariat in Port Harcourt.
The man, Mr. Nnodim Uzoma, who hails from Igbodo Etche, in Etche Local Government Area of the State, confessed to newsmen that he actually impersonated his late brother, Nnodim Gift Azubuike, who died in April, 2025.
He claimed that the late Azubuike, a teacher in Umdi Primary School, Igbodo, Etche, died on the 27th of April 2025 and was buried on the 11th of July 2025.
“The truth about it is that my brother, Nnodim Gift, died on the 27th of April this year and burial took place on the 10th and 11th of July.
“So, he left six children and the burden is so much on me. So, when I was told that verification was going on, I decided to come without having knowledge that I will be arrested”, the victim said.
Uzoma, who admitted having fallen foul of the law, however, pleaded for forgiveness and mercy as nobody told him of the implications of his actions.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government says it would investigate the level of collision of Mr. Uzoma with the headmistress of Umdi Primary School, Igbodo Etche.
Dr. Brown, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen, also said the law will be made to take its course as far as the matter was concerned.
“The man will be prosecuted for impersonation,. The law is very clear on that.
“There are procedures in the law for impersonation. The criminal code has penalties for impersonation and the penalties will apply to whoever impersonates”, she said.
The Acting Head of Service said since the commencement of the verification exercise, several cases of impersonations have been uncovered.
“Since we began this exercise, verifying civil servants, we have caught so many impersonators and today we wanted Rivers people to see one of them.
“This young man here came to pass through the exercise to impersonate his late brother but was caught at the venue, and so we decided to bring him to your knowledge so that you can ask him questions why he did it.
“He is begging for mercy now but people don’t know what we are seeing in this exercise. We know that there are some people that are late and people are colluding and collecting their pay.
“That is what is happening. His brother died and because he has his ATM card, they are collecting his salaries.
“This is what verification does. It throws up people who are no longer alive”, she stated.
Brown said the purpose of the verification exercise was “first to know the people that are active and working for us, to also know the people that are no longer with us.
“People that may have passed on through death or may have left the service”.
She expressed regret that instead of reporting to the government those who have passed on with the view to processing their death benefits, people are colluding to collect their salaries, warning of dire consequences for anyone caught in such acts.
By: John Bibor
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The Commissioner of Police (CP) Delta State Command, Mr. Yemi Oyeniyi, has urged traditional institutions to continue to support law enforcement in the country.
Oyeniyi gave the advice on Tuesday at the palace of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Dr. Emmanuel Sideso, Abe 1, in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner, who was on a familiarisation tour of police formations across the state, including the Effurun area command, solicited continued partnership of the Uvwie domain in strengthening intelligence gathering and promoting peaceful co-existence.
He commended the Ovie of Uvwie for his unwavering commitment to peace, security, and community development.
“I acknowledge the invaluable role of traditional institutions in supporting law enforcement in the country.
“I equally solicit continuous partnership of the Uvwie domain in strengthening intelligence gathering and promoting peaceful co-existence among the people”, he said.
In his remarks, the Ovie of Uvwie, welcomed the Commissioner and his entourage to the domain.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the people to supporting the Nigeria Police and other security agencies.
The royal father urged his subjects to continue to cooperate with the security agencies by way of providing timely and credible information.
The Commissioner, thereafter, proceeded to perform the groundbreaking of the Effurun area command at the instance of the Insp.-Gen. of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu.
The Senate of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, has approved the establishment of a University Leadership Assessment Centre as proposed by Professor Veronica Okogbaa of the Department of Educational Management.
A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Dr. Ngozi Okiridu, said the centre will, among other things, identify and develop high potential skilled leaders and talents.
It will also evaluate participants through multi dimensional approach rather than rely on subjective perceptions, indulge in leadership trainings, and generate income from services with succession planning.
Similarly, Senate also approved the establishment of a centre for languages, digital Humanities and intercultural studies as proposed by the Dean of Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ibiere Ken-Maduako.
The proposed centre, according to he statement, will have seven units namely language teaching unit, where French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, German, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Rivers State indigenous languages will be taught.
It will also have Translation and interpretation unit, indigenous languages documentation unit, Digital Humanities Laboratory, Artificial intelligence and language teaching unit, professional certification unit, as well as Research and Publication unit..
The statement quoted the Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ken-Maduako, the centre will offer certificate in language proficiency for beginners, intermediate, advanced Diploma programme, translation and interpretation courses, Digital Humanities certification programme, Artificial intelligence and language technology workshops, online and Hybrid learning programmes, weekend and evening public classes, indigenous languages documentation training and Business and professional communication courses.
Professor Ken-Maduako firther said the center “will increase visibility of the University nationally and internationally, generate sustainable internally generated revenue, increase opportunities for grants and donor funded projects, enhance interdisciplinary research output, promote cultural preservation and community engagement, strengthen the University”s profile in innovation and digital transformation, attract research collaboration and international partnerships, and improve graduate employability and digital competence.”
In his speech, the Chairman of Senate and Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, encouraged sponsors of the centre to source for funds for the take off of the centre.
He explained that Directors will be appointed for the self-sponsored centres and reiterated that his administration will continue to support all proposals geared towards the growth of the University as long as they are consistent with the academic brief of the Ivory Tower.
Earlier, Professor Samuel Otamiri commended Professor Veronica Okogbaa for the proposed centre which, he said, is a remarkable development, amd described it as a robust programme that would attract the necessary patronage .
In another development, the Senate welcomed a suggestion by Professor Priye Iyalla-Amadi that Valedictory Senate sessions be introduced and held for retired Professors.
Results from the Postgraduate School as presented by the Dean of the School, Professor Chibuzor Chile Nwobueze, was approved by Senate.
Senate also approved that presented by the Director of the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE), Professor Goddey Wilson, and that of the Graduate School of Business by Dr. Florence Ironawusi.
Sogbeba Dokubo
The National President, Forum of Inclusive Educators and Readers (FIER), Mr. Onyeka Innocent, has admonished school owners and parents alike to learn how to prepare their children/wards ahead time in order to beat challenges irrespective of the angle they may spring up from.
Innocent made this known at the Forum’s meeting held partly in honour of the Spelling B, 2025 winners, in Port Harcourt.
“Soldiers are not trained during war, rather, they are trained and kept in the Barracks, waiting for war”, he said.
He said students must be provided with the necessary educational tools capable of boosting their academic pursuit.
According to him, proprietors of schools must conform with the Government’s authorities and guidance if they are determined to succeed in the project.
Another solution to educational management, he said, is the availability of Education Committees in schools, saying that it will improve the quality of its learning process.
Though he did not rule out decay in the society, he said there are few that still hold fast to determination and sincerity.
The FIER leader said his association was one of the bodies with the zeal to right wrongs in the society, especially in the Education sector.
He noted that his group was also prepared to reduce the number of out-of-school children by ensuring that education was taken to all parts of the Country.
On registration of private schools as directed by the State Government, he said his members are in compliance and assured of a cordial relationship between the Government and his Association.
Meanwhile, the winners of the Competition were Master Fredrick Jeffrey of Daisy Dan School, who emerged first; Badubulachi Maryan of Fertile Vineyard Academy, 2nd; and Itode Samuel of Baridoo Sam Joel School, 3rd.
They winners where rewarded with cash prices of N100,000, N50,000 and N30, 000 respectively.
King Onunwor