Niger Delta

ACN Chieftain Sues PDP, Claims N100m Damages

Published

13 years ago

August 9, 2013

A chieftain of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Barrister Eyo Nsa Ekpo has dragged the Peoples Democratic Party to court over an alleged libelous publication by the party intent on destroying his reputation.

The party is still battling the litigation slammed on it by four of its aggrieved councillorship candidates protesting alleged imposition of some candidates in the forthcoming council polls without recourse to normal party primaries as enshrined in its guidelines.

In the latest litigation, Barrister Ekpo who is the Secretary of the Elders’ Forum of the defunct ACN in a statement of claims in suit number HC/268/2013,endorsed by his counsel, Prof. Tony Ukam, is demanding the sum of N100 million as damages for libel, ’’to assuage his psychological, reputational? retardation’’ as well as N500,000 being cost of prosecuting the said suit.

Ekpo alleged that the PDP had “from the evening of Friday, the 3rd of May,2013 to the morning hours of Sunday, the 5th of May,2013, consistently and continuously published and or caused to be published both on radio and television services of Cross River Broadcasting Corporation(CRBC) a list of the PDP caucuses and Elders Forum Members in Odukpani Local Government which list included the name of the claimant as a member of the PDP Elders Forum in Odukpani Local Government Area’’.

According to the statement, the ACN chieftain[claimant] wrote the defendants (PDP) on the 7th day of May 2013,’’seeking a retraction, an apology and payment of compensation’’, but surprisingly ‘’on 10th of May,2013 the defendants again caused a publication of the same false, malicious and offensive materials concerning the claimant in the Nigerian Chronicle Newspapers of same date.

“In between these two offensive publications, the defendants cause another offensive vile, false and malicious publication to the effect that the claimant has been dropped from the list of members of the defendants’ Elders Forum, the clear imputation being that the claimant is a member of the list of defendants.

The statement mentioned that by reason of the alleged malicious publication, “the claimant has been injured in his reputation and character and thereby incurred damages which accordingly has impacted negatively on his health and psyche, political, social and economic life and even in his professional calling were he is being treated with disdain’’.

The writ of summons served on the PDP and Ntufam John Okon (PDP State Chairman) as Defendants in the suit urged them to within 7 days of the service cause an appearance to be entered for them and/or judgment may be given in their absence.

It would be recall that, the PDP Chairman, Ntufam Okon had during a media briefing recently to announce his party’s readiness for the forthcoming council polls in the state admitted the publication, but denied knowledge of any threat of litigation by the ACN chieftain.

Niger Delta

NPC Unveils Digital Registration System In Delta

Published

4 days ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

The National Population Commission (NPC), on Friday, launched the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System (eCRVS) in Delta State, designed to strengthen data generation and vital statistics management.

The Tide’s source reports that the system was launched by the Delta Federal Commissioner, Mrs. Blessyn Brume-Ataguba, at a news briefing in Asaba.

Brume-Ataguba recalled that President Bola Tinubu formally launched the eCRVS in November 2023 as part of the efforts to modernise Nigeria’s civil registration process.

She said the initiative followed resolutions reached at the Sixth Session of the Conference of African Ministers Responsible for Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Addis Ababa in 2022.

According to her, African ministers urged member states to automate civil registration processes and implement the UN Legal Identity Agenda.

“Nigeria responded by developing an electronic, technology-driven system to enhance data generation and improve civil statistics nationwide,” Brume-Ataguba said.

She said NPC, in collaboration with UNICEF, produced an eCRVS Operational Readiness Assessment Report to guide implementation.

She explained that the partnership aims to establish a fully digital civil registration system that converts records of vital events into reliable statistics for effective planning and decision-making.

Brume-Ataguba described the initiative as a complete shift from paper-based documentation to a modern digital platform aligned with international best practices.

She said the system would transform the way births and deaths were recorded, tracked and analysed across the country.

“This process marks a complete departure from the traditional paper-based recording of vital events to a state-of-the-art digital solution that conforms to international best practices.

“This eCRVS promises to revolutionise how vital events are recorded, tracked and analysed in the country.

“This will ensure commitments, and a sustained national, international financial and political investment for birth registration within the CVRS in Nigeria, ” Brume-Ataguba said.

She also said the launch demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening civil registration data capture and processing.

She further said improved vital statistics would support national development planning and help Nigeria achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Brume-Ataguba continued that the state-level launch was necessary to sensitise the media and the public on the significance of the digital registration system.

She described the media as a vital partner in informing and educating citizens about the importance of registering vital events electronically.

She further assured residents that competent ICT personnel were available at the state level to address technical challenges and provide support.

The NPC commissioner emphasised that the eCRVS would overhaul the registration of births and deaths in the country and lay a solid foundation for efficient civil statistics management.

She urged stakeholders to collaborate with the commission to realise its goal of providing accurate and timely vital registration data.

She announced that the current phase of the e-CRVS programme would be concluded in March.

In her remark, the NPC State Director, Mrs. Jane Odigwe, appealed to the Delta Government to support the implementation of the system in the state.

“Your partnership is vital in helping us to reach this goal,” Odigwe said.

She also urged parents to register their children, saying that a birth certificate is essential for access to education, healthcare and other opportunities.

She said that registering children today would secure their identity and future participation in Nigeria’s development.

“To every parent in Delta, I urge you to bring your children forward for birth registration.

“A birth certificate is not just a document but your child’s key to education, healthcare and global opportunities.

“By registering your child today, you are giving them a voice in Nigeria of tomorrow,” Odigwe said.

Niger Delta

Police Uncover Suspects’ Armoury … Recover Weapons In Delta

Published

4 days ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Delta State has recovered assorted weapons from a criminal hideout in the state.

Spokesman for the Command, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this to newsmen, who on Friday in Warri, said the weapons were recovered on Thursday by the operatives of the Command’s Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), led by ASP Julius Robinson.

He said the feat was achieved following a confession by a suspect handed over to the police team by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Orerokpe Division, for further interrogation.

Edafe said the suspect was alleged to be a member of a criminal syndicate terrorising commuters and residents on the Warri/Sapele Road.

“On February 19, acting on information obtained during interrogation, the suspect led the operatives to a concealed armoury located on the Sapele/Warri Road by the Adheje Community axis.

“A thorough search of the hideout resulted in the recovery of a locally made long gun, a locally made cut-to-size gun.

“Also recovered were a fabricated Beretta pistol loaded with five rounds of live ammunition, 10 live cartridges and a dagger,” he said.

Edafe stated that the investigation into the matter was ongoing.

He, however, quoted the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Command, Mr. Aina Adesola, to have reiterated the command’s resolve in dismantling criminal networks, and mopping up illegal firearms, among others, in the state.

Niger Delta

Police Caution On Lawless Protests On Court Matters In A’Ibom

Published

4 days ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State has cautioned on threats of lawless protests by some members of the public over matters that are already before the courts.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, told newsmen in Uyo on Friday that illegal protests could undermine public peace and order.

“When matters are already in court, let’s follow legal and civil means to seek redress. That is how a civilised society works.

“Although we recognise the constitutional rights of citizens to lawful expression and peaceful assembly, illegal protests are not allowed,” he said.

Azare said the Command would not tolerate threats or acts of nude protests, unlawful occupation of public or private facilities, and disruption of government, economic or social activities.

He said anyone found culpable of engaging in acts or threats of illegal protests would be prosecuted in line with the law.

“As a Command, we are committed to the maintenance of law and order, we are also committed to protecting lives and property”, he stated.