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By Madu Obi Motorists playing the Enugu - Onitsha expressway had a terrific experience along the Awkuzu- Umunya section of the road on Saturday following a road accident there. No fewer than eight persons lost their lives in the accident and men of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, were still battling to clear the road as at 6pm. Recall that vehicles have been using the completed one lane of the expressway, with its attendant risks. Following the accident, vehicles going to Onitsha from the Awka end were diverted at Awkuzu and forced to use the abandoned lane of the expressway, while those traveling from the Onitsha end were diverted at Umunya junction to use the Airport - Nteje road to join the expressway at Awkuzu. At press time, the two trailers, one Jetta car, a Sienna bus and a Toyota car involved in the accident were still there. An eye attributed the accident to speeding by one of the trailers coming from the Onitsha end, which collided with another truck from the Awkuzu end and in an attempt to avoid a head -on collision, hit the other vehicles. Some of the victims died on the spot, while others died on their way to the hospital. The injured persons are still receiving treatment in various hospitals, while the dead have been deposited in the mortuary. The incident caused traffic gridlock on both sides of the completed lane of the expressway, Narrating his experience, one of the drivers, Mr. Philip Odo, said he spent about two hours at Umunya before finding a way to join the abandoned lane of the expressway. He said that what annoyed him most was that the policemen at the checkpoint along the expressway relocated to the Umunya- Airport road, thereby causing more hardship to the motorists.

From our roving reporter. Workers at Eha Amufu now defy collapsed bridge to keep their jobs at the College of Education. The bridge linking the College to the residential area of a good number of workers at the College is in a collapsed state and workers must go to work to keep their jobs. The old bridge needs urgent attention but no one is making any effort to repair the bridge until a disaster occurs at the scene. Pedestrians and other road users grumble as they cross the bridge while some others keep praying for safety while hoping that God will touch the heart of government officials responsible for road maintenance.

Enugu State today witnessed demonstration on the new road leading from Nike lake hotel to Opi in Nsukka. The protesters were seen carrying various placards reminding the government of the state of it's duty to protect the citizens from the nefarious acts of kidnappers, terrorists and brigands from within and outside the state. The demonstration caused a traffic gridlock on the way as the demonstrators wanted all and sundry to feel their pain at the nefarious activities of criminals in the state. Some of those interviewed at the scene blamed the government for abneging on its duty to protect the citizens in the state. From our roving reporter

Iheanyi Chukwudi Miss Joy Mmesoma Ejikeme of Anglican Girls Secondary School (AGSS) Nnewi, has emerged the overall best student in the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) organized by Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB). Joy got the crown with an aggregate score of 362. The 2023 JAMB bride scored 98 in Use Of English, 89 in Physics, 94 in Biology, and 81 in Chemistry.

Iheanyi Chukwudi Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah on Friday shunned the order of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Enugu State by refusing to appear before it. The Tribunal led by Justice Kudirat Akano made an order on Thursday for a subpoena to be served on Mbah through his counsel for him to appear before it to clarify issues surrounding the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate which he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the March 18 governorship election. When the court resumed sitting on Friday, counsel to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Alex Amujiogo, reminded the Tribunal of its order and noted that Gov. Mbah was not in court. Addressing the panel he said, “This Honourable Tribunal had on June 22, 2023 made an order that the subpoena be served on Barr Peter Mbah through his counsel. We have since done that for him to appear today. “My Lord, it is obvious that he is not in court under the pretence of immunity. And today is my last day for me to close my case; my hands are tied and I have no choice than to close my case.” The panel asked the counsel to the 1st Respondent to open his defense, the counsel, Humphrey Okoli, applied for a date and when his application was not objected to by any of the parties, the chairman of the panel, Justice Akano adjourned the case to Saturday, June 24 for the 1st respondent to open defense. Speaking to newsmen on his next line of action, Amujiogo said, “It is now left for the tribunal, in the course of this matter to know the next step that they will undertake as regards his (Mbah) refusal or inability to appear today before the Tribunal; let us watch and see what the battle will be like, between the tribunal and the governor “It has two legs, the tribunal can exercise its power of sanctions against the person who refuses his order; you also know that judgment is always at hand; it is the last option. The ball is on the court of the Tribunal to do things one way or the other.” Disagreeing with him, the lead counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Anthony Ani (SAN) said there is no issue of sanction because the petitioner did not comply with the provisions of the law in serving the subpoena, stressing that if the right processes were followed, the Governor would have been in court. He said, “The petitioner has not complied with the mandatory provisions of the law; the default provision, respecting election petitions, is the Federal High Court Rules, which is very clear on service of Subpoena Testificandum or Duces Tecum. “Now when you serve a subpoena, that subpoena should have been filed alongside the originating process that is the petition. And in filing it, you have to comply with the relevant order; I think Order 3, Rule 4 of the Federal High Court Rules and serve the witness you are subpoenaing with what we call Form 1A; that form 1A, will mandate the witness to file witness deposition on oath, and then you also serve the witness you are expecting with your pleadings. “In this case, they should have served the Governor with the petition, to enable the Governor file a deposition on oath, and then come to court to adopt that deposition. “So you don’t serve just ordinary paper, that’s what the Court of Appeal called it, you don’t just serve only the subpoena without the accompanying documents. If they had complied with the provisions of the rules of court, I’m sure the Governor must have been here; “There is no issue of immunity here; if they had done the proper thing, the Governor would have been here, but they didn’t comply with the law, if you comply we will comply, if you don’t, we won’t comply.”

Iheanyi Chukwudi Niger Delta warlord, Asari Dokubo, has been warned to desist henceforth from attacking the Igbo. Leadership of the Movement for Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) who handed the warning on Thursday said Dokubo should wake up from his unrealistic dreams and face realities. While berating Dokubo for his recent remarks where he called Ndigbo slaves and conquered people by Kalahari and Ijaw tribe, MASSOB asked former Niger Delta agitator to desist from his "unnecessary and unachievable" attacks against Ndigbo, insisting that he will never succeed. MASSOB described Dokubo's statement as a ranting of a drowning man, noting that the unwarranted verbal attack on Ndigbo by him has woken the lion spirit and bravery in Ndigbo. Addressing Dokubo in statement on Thursday, MASSOB Leader, Uchenna Madu said, "In the traditional history of conquest, warfare and bravery, of Ndigbo and Ijaw people, it is on record that Ijaw people with their allies have never achieved seven per cent of the conquest, dominion and domination of what Ndigbo have achieved both in pre colonial era and in this modern era. "Asari Dokubo in his bourgeois stupidity forget that it was Ndigbo that stopped the British colonial rulers from changing and deleting the native names and cultural heritages of Ijaw people during the conquest of the British colonial adventure. "How can a prodigal son whose known grandfather with some kinsmen from Abam town in Abia state of Igbo land conquered Dokubo Asari"s Kalahari community where he is still claiming his origination will turn and say that the Kalahari community Ndigbo conquered and still dominating their economic and social lives is our master. "Dokubo Asari have once again proved his low mentality and puff puff nature. That Ijaw people are neighbors to Ndigbo and that Ndigbo treat them as brothers and sisters does not warrant competing with Ndigbo in every spheres of life both nationally and globally. Even the Hausa, Yoruba and Fulani generally sees the Ijaw people as extension of Ndigbo from Eastern region." His statement further reads, "MASSOB reminds Dokubo Asari that no amount of his loyalty and errand boyish services to Yoruba, Hausa and Fulani of biased Nigeria will make him a hero or accord him celebrated recognition because the federal government hate Ijaws more than Ndigbo." Madu however, said that Ndigbo, irrespective of Dokubo's irresponsibility, still respect elderly statesmen from Ijaw land including Chief Edwin Clerk and former President Goodluck Jonathan. He added, "We still recognize Ijaw people as our brothers subjected in the same British created artificial entity called Nigeria."

Iheanyi Chukwudi The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Enugu, today ordered the state Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, to appear before it tomorrow, Friday, June 23. The Governor's invitation which is through subpoena is for him to come to clarify issues surrounding the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate which he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the March 18 governorship election in the state. His invitation is just as the NYSC declined the request to tender the letter of disclaimer that it issued against Mbah's certificate, terming it forged. Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Kudirat Akano, issued the subpoena at the resumed hearing of the petition brought against Mbah's victory in the March 18 governorship election by the candidate of People's Redemption Party (PRP), Elder Christopher Agu. Agu's counsel, Barr. Alex Amujieogu, had told the tribunal that Gov. Mbah was evading service to be subpoenaed and therefore prayed the tribunal to make an order empowering the court bailiff to use substituted means to serve the governor through his lawyer in court. The Counsel to INEC, Mbah and PDP opposed the application, saying that it ought to have come by way of motion, supported by an affidavit during pre-trial session. They were overruled by the Tribunal which granted the application and ordered that Mbah be served through his lawyer, Ikechukwu Onuoma and adjourned the matter till Friday, June 23. However, the NYSC which declined the request by the tribunal to tender the letter of disclaimer that it issued against Mbah's certificate, cited an Abuja High Court order as an excuse. Its legal officer, Aliyu Muhammadu, who was in the court in compliance to the subpoena issued to the DG of the agency, however presented an affidavit of facts of the matter to the tribunal. The tribunal also adjourned to Saturday, June 24, the application brought by the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Chijioke Edeoga seeking for Mbah to appear before the tribunal to answer questions bordering on some of the documents he supplied to INEC before the election. LP's lawyer, Eyitayo Fatogun (SAN), in a motion for interrogatories, said Mbah's presence would help clear the doubts about the issues at stake, which includes place of service and when he was appointed Chief of Staff to the Governor. The application was however, opposed by counsel to INEC, Mbah and PDP, who argued that it amounted to the accuser asking the accused to prove his case. The tribunal adjourned to Saturday to decide whether Mbah should answer the questions or not. Speaking to newsmen shortly after the sitting, PRP lawyer, Amujiogo said, “Our PW2 (Christopher Agu) has already testified before the Honourable Tribunal and he has given a clearer picture, the synopsis of what transpired during the election and we are urging the Tribunal to set aside the purported result in favour of Peter Mbah, the Governor. “We had an issue of subpoena against Barr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, in which the Tribunal is urging him to appear before it to clarify certain issues against him, based on his NYSC certificate and other matters. “Surprisingly, he was not in the Tribunal today and the bailiff informed the Tribunal that he is invading service, he cannot find him, the security cannot allow him to serve Mbah the subpoena. “Then, the Tribunal in its own wisdom, after I have applied, has now permitted the bailiff or myself, to now serve Mbah through his counsel, for him to appear before the Tribunal tomorrow, being 23rd of June, 2023 and clarify certain issues against him before the Tribunal and we have already served him the said subpoena through his lawyer, Ik Onuoma today in court. “So he must obey the summon of the Tribunal by appearing in person tomorrow, Friday.” Also speaking to newsmen one of Edeoga's lawyers, Barr Ifeanyi Ogenyi, said the proceeding was a continuation of the pre-hearing session. He said, “Pre-hearing started on 16th June and continued today; the petitioners brought an application, a motion interrogatories, seeking for answers from the second respondent, that is Mr Peter Mbah. “Interrogatory is a legal questionnaire; it is seeking for answers to those questions. “And some of the questions raised by the petitioners to Peter Mbah which we are urging the Tribunal that he (Mbah) should answer are: when and where did he serve? When was he appointed as Chief of Staff, the date? When was he made commissioner for finance in Enugu State? We want to know the duration he served. “Because in his pleading, in his reply to the petition, he told the Tribunal that he was once Chief of Staff to Governor Chimaroke Nnamani in 2003, we want to know the year and the date he was appointed. “We equally want him to produce before the Tribunal, the letter of appointment as Chief of Staff, the letter of appointment as commissioner for finance under Chimaroke and the institutions he said he attended; we want to have the documents showing that he attended those institutions. “And the court is to deliver a ruling on that on 24th of June, that is on Saturday, whether he should answer those questions or not.” “On their own side, they said ‘No’, they are not going to answer those questions; that answering those questions means that we want him to prove our case for us. “But that is not the position. It is required under the law that where somebody has made volunteered some information, you can seek for further particulars; “What we are seeking for is further particulars; he should clarify the Tribunal and us information on those issues he raised in his own pleadings. “On 24th, we will be here for ruling and possibly conclusion of pre-hearing, and after pre-hearing and report is issued, we can now proceed to substantive hearing."

Iheanyi Chukwudi Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has approved the appointment of 24 aides including the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Bar. Victor Udeh and two Media aides. Those appointed Media Aides are Mr. Dan Nwomeh, Senior Special Assistant, Mainstream Media and Mr. Reuben Onyishi, Senior Special Assistant, New Media. In a statement released by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Chidiebere Onyia, the list of political appointees includes, Ken Chukwuegbo, Principal Secretary; Kenneth Ugwu, Head of Service; Tony Okenwa, State Accountant General; Ms. Angela Nnamani, Executive Chairman, Enugu State Internal Revenue Service and Prof. Linda Obiamaka Egbo, Special Adviser, Public Financial Management. Others are Arinze Chilo-Offiah, Special Adviser, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises; Dubem Onyia (Jr), Special Adviser, Donor Relations; Mike Ogbuekwe, Special Adviser, Agriculture; Barr. Osinachi Nnajieze, Special Adviser, Legal; Fred Nnajiofor, Chief of Protocol; Osita Onuma, Senior Advisor, Digital Transformation, Technology, Innovation, Industries of the Future and Industrial Strategy and Ozurumba Elechi Afigbo, Senior Special Assistant, Delivery Unit. Also appointed are Uche Anichukwu, Senior Special Assistant, External Relations; Barr. Juliet Okonkwo, Senior Special Assistant, Legal and Inter-ministerial; Mrs. Loiusa Chinedu-Okeke, Senior Special Assistant, Policy and Project Management; Vincent Onyeabor, Senior Special Assistant, Security Matters; Nonso Nwankwo, Senior Special Assistant , ICT; Mrs. Adenike Okebu, Senior Special Assistant, Revenue; Dan Chukwuma, Senior Special Assistant, Protocol; Barr. Joshua Ejeh, Special Assistant, Research and Publication and Mrs. Sandra Chinweuba George, Special Assistant, Revenue Generation and Monitoring.

Iheanyi Chukwudi The Enugu State Governorship and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal on Tuesday dismissed the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Chief Uche Nnaji's petition against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate and incumbent Governor of the state, Dr. Peter Mbah; Labour Party (LP) candidate, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Mr. Frank Nweke Jr. Nnaji had petitioned the court in a pre- hearing notice, alleging that the three aforementioned candidates were not qualified to contest the governorship election held on March 18 in the state with him. But in it's rulling on Monday, the Tribunal held that the pre- hearing notice filed by the petitioner, Nnaji, was premature and ran foul of the 2022 Electoral Act. Recall that Nnaji and his party have been boasting that the candidates of three other political parties were not qualified to contest with him and that it would be very easy to disqualify them and declare him governor of Enugu, just as the believed that what happened in Imo State will repeat in Enugu for them.

Iheanyi Chukwudi President Bola Tinubu, on Monday sacked all Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Advisers, Comptroller-General of Customs and approved their immediate retirement from Service. The President's approval which is with immediate effect, also saw thee appointment of the Special Adviser on Security, Nuhu Ribadu as the National Security Adviser (NSA). A statement from the Director of Information, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey, named the new appointees as, Chief of Defence Staff, Maj. Gen. C.G. Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen T. A. Lagbaja; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admirral E. A. Ogalla and Chief of Air Staff, AVM H.B. Abubakar. Others are Acting Inspector-General of Police, DIG Kayode Egbetokun and Chief of Defense Intelligence, Maj. Gen. EPA Undiandeye. Also appointed are Brigade of Guards Commander, Col. Adebisi Onasanya;¿? Guards Battalion, Asokoro, Abuja, Lt. Col. Moshood Abiodun Yusuf; 177 Guards Battalion, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Lt. Col. Auwalu Baba Inuwa; 102 Guards Battalion, Suleja, Niger, Lt. Col. Mohammed J. Abdulkarim and 176 Guards Battalion, Gwagwalada, Abuja, Lt. Col. Olumide A. Akingbesote. The President has approved the appointments of other Military Officers in the Presidential Villa: (N/14695) Commanding Officer State House Artillery, Maj. Isa Farouk Audu; (N/16183) Second-in-Command, State House Artillery, Capt. Kazeem Olalekan Sunmonu; (N/14656) Commanding Officer, State House Military Intelligence, Maj. Kamaru Koyejo Hamzat; (N/12860) Commanding Officer, State House Armament, Maj. TS Adeola and (N/18578) Second-in- Command, State House Armament, Lt. A. Aminu. President Tinubu also approved the appointments of two additional Special Advisers, and two Senior Assistants. They are Special Adviser, Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman; Special Adviser, Culture and Entertainment Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa; Senior Special Assistant, National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Abdullahi Abubakar Gumel and Senior Special Assistant, National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), Hon. (Barr) Olarewaju Kunle Ibrahim. Also approved is the appointment of Acting Comptroller General of Customs, Adeniyi Bashir Adewale. The statement also reads in part, “It is to be noted that the appointed Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and the Comptroller General of Customs are to act in their positions, pending their confirmation in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."

Iheanyi Chukwudi President Bola Tinubu on Friday, led other Nigerians to console former President of the Senate, Ken Nnamani, at the burial of his wife, late Lady Jane Nnamani, at his country home, Amechi-Uwani, Enugu South Local Government of Enugu State. The President who was represented at the funeral service by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio noted that the demise of Lady Nnamani is a monumental loss to the former number man in Nigeria and the entire family. The funeral service which took place at the Offia-Utu Community Field, Amechi-Uwani, saw the new Senate boss leading a large number of Presidential entourage including some aides to President Tinubu. Among the entourage includes the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume and Special Adviser to the President on Security, Nuhu Ribadu. Also at the burial service were the wife of the President of the Senate and a daughter of the state, Mrs. Unoma Godswill Akpabio; the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu; Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah and his Deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai; former Senate President, Pius Anyim; Senators Dave Umahi, Victor Umeh, Kevin Chukwu, former Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Rochas Okorocha, Ibikunle Amosun, Jim Nwobodo, Sam Egwu, Okwy Nwodo and many serving and former Senators and House of Representatives members. There were also former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Azụbuike Ihejirika; Archbishop of of Enugu Province Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, and the Chairman, South East Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzo. In his condolence message read on his behalf by Akpabio at the well attended service officiated by the Methodist Archbishop of Enugu, Most Rev. Christopher Edeh, President Tinubu addressing the chief mourner said, “It was with immense sadness that I learnt of the demise of your beloved wife, Mrs. Jane Nnamani. There is no doubt that her loss is a monumental one for you and entire Nnamani family. “The enviable milestones you have achieved in your political career and even in private businesses could not have been possible without the psychological and emotional support of a dutiful and loving wife like late Jane Nnamani. Even though she died at a very young age of 58, hers is an apt vindication of the adage that it is not how long one lives but how well that matters. She should surely continue to inspire fun memories in the hearts of those who loved her and whose lives she touched. “As her remains are buried today, I pray that God Almighty grant you, the children and every member of the family the strength band fortitude to bear the loss.” Meanwhile, in his sermon titled “What is the essence of life?,” Archbishop Edeh decried the blind pursuit for money, power and influence among Nigerians, stressing that it had led people into doing abominable things. On the politicians he said that their rampant acquisition of wealth have left several Nigerians hungry. The Archbishop said, “People think that money is the essence of life and from acquiring money, they turn to power. In search of power, they do terrible things including election rigging, forgeries and spilling of blood. It is here in Amaechi that eight people were killed and set ablaze in the quest for political power. Most Nigerian politicians have blood dripping in their hands but I tell you that whoever kills to acquire power will continue to have his hands in blood forever.” Quoting profusely from the bible in Jeremiah, James and Psalms, he said that primitive acquisitions have continued to set the country back in development and increased poverty and urged the politicians to change their lives and know that it is God that has given them opportunity of their various positions. The Archbishop asked Nigerians to repent and seek forgiveness in the way they do things to enable the right healing of the country to come.