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FCT
The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM)
has  promised to invest more funds in other projects to be embarked upon by the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in 2015.
The Chairman, Finance and Appropriation of the commission,  Mr Bashir Birni-Gwari, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Our correspondent reports that NAICOM funded ABU’s N93 billion Digital Centre Project which took about six months to complete.
Birni-Gwari said the commission also had ongoing projects in about 11 other universities.
He commended the efforts of the ABU management in the effective execution of the digital centre project.
“Money has been appropriated in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between NAICOM and ABU.

Katsina
The Katsina State Immigration Command says it
has arrested 10 suspected victims of human trafficking and the trafficker at the Kongolam border in the state.
The Comptroller of Immigration in the state, Mr Emmanuel Ogbumuo, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Katsina while briefing newsmen.
Ogbumuo said that the victims were arrested in a bus with Registration No. XC 997 APP.
“Our eagle-eyed patrol officers arrested them at about 5 a.m. at the Kongolam border in Katsina State.”
He said all the suspected victims and the trafficker were found lying or sitting on the floor of the vehicle as it had no seat.
He gave the name of the trafficker as Mohammed Usman, who was arrested while conveying his victims to Niger Republic.

Lagos
The National Emergency Agency (NEMA) has con
firmed five persons dead in an accident involving four vehicles at Igando area of Lagos State in the early hours of Tuesday.
Our correspondent reports that the accident involved three trucks loaded with alcoholic drinks and a Honda salon car.
The accident occurred near the Igando General Hospital in Alimosho local government area of the state.
The Spokesman of NEMA, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye,  who confirmed the accident, told newsmen that the corpses have been deposited at the morgue of the hospital.
He said that the victims, who were all male, were burnt beyond recognition.

Nasarrawa
A former Attorney-General and Commissioner for
Justice in Nasarawa, Mr Innocent Lagi, has declared his intention to contest for the state’s governorship seat in 2015.
Lagi, who made the declaration in Wamba Local Government area of the state, said that he was contesting on the platform of the Labour Party.
He told journalists that he had informed the national headquarters of the party of his intention.
The former attorney-general said that his aspiration was borne out of the desire to facilitate the development of the state.
He dispelled insinuations that he was being used as a mole by other aspirants for the governorship seat.
Ogun
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged Ni
gerian youths to be God-fearing and to develop good characters and values to enable them succeed as future leaders.
Obasanjo made the appeal at the First Green Legacy Moments With Chief Olusegun Obasanjo On Leadership and Human Security In Africa.
The programme was organised by the Centre For Human Security (CHS), an arm of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), in collaboration with the University of Ibadan and the Green Legacy Resort.
The former president said the fear of God, good character, values and the ability to impact on lives and the society were marks of successful life.
According to him, the totality of a man’s character determines who he or she is and also influences his or her reputation.
“Character influences your reputation and your reputation determines your altitude,” he added.

Osun
A senior lecturer at the Department of  African
Languages, Obafemi Awolowo  University, Ile-Ife, Osun, Dr Biodun Ogunwale has described youths as indispensable change agents.
Ogunwale said this in an interview with newsmen at Ede, Osun State.
He said the only way a nation could grow without hindrance was to breed and have productive youths.
“The youth, who is vibrant, is always in a better position to make a change. That is where the question of culture and values come to play.
“There is no way the young minds will be productive without instilling a clear-cut culture and values that will guide them.
“A good value system in a cultured environment brings about reliable, productive and patriotic youths who are completely equipped to change their nation for the better.
Oyo
The immediate past Chairman, Nigeria Union of
Journalists (NUJ), Tribune Chapel, Mr Tunde Ogunesan, has joined the house of assembly race in Oyo State.
Ogunesan picked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination form to contest for the Saki East House of Assembly seat in 2015.
He told newsmen in Ibadan that his entrance into politics was a call to serve his people.
Ogunesan, who hails from Sepeteri in Saki-East council area, was a Senior Reporter with African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc publishers of the Nigerian Tribune newspaper.
Plateau
The former Plateau House of Assembly Speaker,
has picked the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination form for 2015 governorship poll.
Lalong, who paid N5.5 million for the nomination and express of interest forms at the party’s headquarters in Jos, said there was need for “urgent change’’ in the Plateau.
“Plateau must change its political leaders if we must move forward,’’ Lalong, a former member of the PDP, told newsmen shortly after he picked the form.
He said he had prayed and fasted before making up his mind to contest, and declared that he was in the best position to bring “sanity’’ to the state because of his experience.
The ex-speaker, however, expressed the optimism that he would clinch the APC ticket.

Sokoto
The  Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association in
Sokoto State, Mr Steven Nwoke, says it is morally wrong for the police to withdraw security personel attached to Speaker Aminu Tambuwal.
Nwoke told newsmen in Sokoto that the Speaker’s defection to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC)  did not warrant such an action by the  police.
He said that the police should have waited  for the members of the House of Representatives to impeach the speaker before the withdrawal of his security details.
He advised  the police to, as matter of urgency, restore the speaker’s security details for peace and political stability in the country.
Zamfara
The Zamfara chapter of the All Progressives Con
gress (APC) says it will not conduct primary elections, following a consensus among the aspirants for various positions of the party.
The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Sani Gwamna, announced this to newsmen in Gusau.
Gwamna said the party’s Reconciliation Committee in the state, headed by Governor Abdul’aziz Yari, had succeeded in reconciling the aspirants vying for all the positions, from governorship to the state House of Assembly.
He said that the success was due to the cooperation and maturity shown by the aspirants.
He said it was “an indication of success of the party towards 2015 general elections”.
“Even before setting up the reconciliation committee, our members were united and always worked together; we therefore expect such cooperation and understanding from them in all elections.”

 A Youth Leader, Mosunmola Umoru (left), presenting an award to Vice President Namadi Sambo, at the 2014 International Youth Day Celebration in Abuja, recently.

A Youth Leader, Mosunmola Umoru (left), presenting an award to Vice President Namadi Sambo, at the 2014 International Youth Day Celebration in Abuja, recently.

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Rumuaholu Community Denies Land Grabbing Allegations, Accuses Obio/Akpor Chairman of Interference in Land Dispute

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The Ekeanyanwu family of Rumuaholu Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State has strongly refuted allegations of land grabbing levelled against it, describing recent media reports as false, misleading, and deliberately fabricated.
The family made its position known during a press briefing held on Wednesday at the residence of Dr. Colonel Ogwumerum Eke in Rumuaholu. The briefing was attended by community leaders, stakeholders, and family representatives.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Dr. Eke dismissed claims attributed to the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Hon. Gift Worlu, which allegedly labelled the family as land grabbers. He described the allegations as baseless, frivolous, and lacking any factual foundation.
According to Dr. Eke, the Ekeanyanwu family remains the legitimate owner of the parcel of land known as Ohia Agbada, comprising approximately 6,000 plots situated along the Obiri-Ikwerre Airport Road corridor. He further maintained that Victory Estate, located within the disputed area, belongs exclusively to the Ekeanyanwu family and not to the Rumuosi Community as claimed by the council chairman.
Dr. Eke stated that ownership of the land had been affirmed by the courts, citing Case No. CCC/22/2015 at the Choba Customary Court. He explained that while the suit was instituted against another family in Rumuaholu, the Rumuosi Community sought to be joined in the matter but their application was rejected by the court.
He further disclosed that the family currently holds 15 subsisting court judgments in its favour relating to the disputed land, including judgments from the Customary Court, High Court, and Court of Appeal.
The family spokesman alleged that the Obio/Akpor council chairman, in collaboration with the local Anti-Land Grabbing Committee, was attempting to undermine the court decisions and dispossess the family of its land through what he described as “backdoor means.”
Dr. Eke accused the chairman of assuming the role of an appellate authority over matters that had already been conclusively determined by competent courts.
Expressing concern over recent developments, he alleged that individuals acting under the influence of the council chairman had destroyed properties worth millions of naira within Victory Estate. He described the action as a direct affront to existing court judgments and the rule of law.
Displaying copies of court judgments during the briefing, Dr. Eke questioned the rationale behind branding judgment creditors as land grabbers, insisting that those challenging the court rulings were the real offenders.
He called on members of the public to disregard what he termed misleading radio announcements purportedly made by the council chairman and urged government institutions and security agencies to uphold the sanctity of court judgments.
Also speaking at the briefing, Elder Prince Ndaokani, Principal Oji Owhor of Rumuaholu Community, supported the Ekeanyanwu family’s claims. He maintained that the disputed land originally belonged to Dr. Eke’s late father, who, according to Ikwerre native customary law, acquired ownership through the clearing and development of the land.
However, the allegations were dismissed by the Chairman of the Obio/Akpor Anti-Land Grabbing Committee, Chief Alex Wali, who responded on behalf of the local government council.
Chief Wali declined to engage directly with the claims made by Dr. Eke, stating: “That man cannot be gifted with our valued response to his tirades. People like that should not be in public but should be rotting in jail for heinous crimes against humanity.”
He maintained that nothing would prevent the council chairman from carrying out his constitutional responsibilities as the chief executive and chief security officer of the local government area.
According to him, the protection of lives and property remains a fundamental responsibility of government at all levels, and the council would continue to discharge its duties in that regard.
The dispute is the latest chapter in a long-running land ownership controversy in the area, with both sides maintaining opposing claims over the disputed property.
By Akujobi Amadi
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Asarama Kingdom Condemns Gruesome Murder of A Commercial Vehicle Driver

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The Asarama General Assembly in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State has condemned the gruesome murder of a commercial vehicle driver by some identified criminal elements in the community.
It would be recalled that on Thursday the 28th of May  2026, the kingdom was thrown into mourning, following the gruesome murder of a commercial vehicle driver by some criminal elements
The Assembly which said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt also called for the establishment of a Mobile police and police anti cultism departments  at the Asarama Police Division.
The Okangh Ama /Paramount Ruler of Asarama kingdom HRM king Appolus J Nteijaewaye who read the text for the briefing onbehalf of The Asarama General Assembly at the briefing said the community condemned in totality the gruesome incident.
He said the kingdom also extends its condolences to the bereaved family of the murdered driver, stressing that as a kingdom it would leave no stone unturned to ensure that such an incident never occur within it’s territorial space again.
The General Assembly also commended the prompt intervention of the Nigerian police Force which led to the arrest of some members of the criminal gang, adding that even though the crime was committed at Asarama, some of those allegedly involved were not indigenes of Asarama kingdom.
“As a kingdom we use the sober moment of this unfortunate incident to further commend the prompt reaction of the leadership and men of the Nigeria Police Force in Rivers state that led to their effective results aimed at eliminating criminality and deterring the evil ones in our society “
The Community also described the incident as a pointer to the level of vulnerability of not only Asarama kingdom but the entire society, against the background that the sanctity of life ought to be sacred and protected by individuals, groups, communities and governmental institutions”
Meanwhile ,The Asarama General Assembly has called for the establishment of a Mobile Police  as well as police anti cultism departments at the Asarama Police Division
It said this has become necessary inview of the strategic location of the kingdom as a gateway to the rest of Andoni communities and Opobo -Nkoro Local Government Area.
“Owing to the peculiarity of our geographical location especially the amphibious nature of Asarama kingdom, intricately linked with its neighbouring inter ethnic Ogoni and Opobo -Nkoro Local Government Areas in general and intra Andoni communities in particular, the relevant authorities should urgently approved special mobile police force,Anti cultism and Marin units to be attached to the Asarama Divisional headquarters”
The kingdom also decried the continuous neglect of the Asarama police Division, since it’s establishment adding that the division up till date,does not have a single firearm as well as enough personnel
It said this situation has exposed the community to activities of criminal elements.
“The sordid state of the only security outfit that ought to police our territory and beyond now seems to complicate the delicate insecurity that we are already exposed to, first as a nation and second as a people inhabiting an intricate amphibious gateway kingdom
“Consequently we hereby cry to the appropriate authorities to urgently equip the Asarama Divisional Police headquarters with adequate men arms and ammunition “the Community said.
John Bibor
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Rivers Commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

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The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.

Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.

The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.

“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.

Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state

He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.

“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.

While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.

He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process.

Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.

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