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By Madu Obi The case of the alleged defrauding of a 23 year- old Anambra orphan and mother of four, Miss Victoria Mbachu of her inherited property worth N10m at Nnobi in Idemili South local government area of the state, took a different dimension yesterday when it was observed in court that the two statements made by the complainant in the matter, Mr Bonaventure Ezekwenna, were missing. When Ezekwenna was being cross-examined by the defense council, C.N. Ndife, the third statement he made at the Force Headquarters following an allegation against him by the first defendant, Mr. Chijioke Okaa, a native doctor, was produced, while the two statements he made earlier concerning the purchase of the controversial land, could not be produced. Okaa and an indigene of Benin Republic, who is a bricklayer at Nnobi, Olufemi Salako, are facing trial for defrauding Mbachu of her property by tricking her to pat with the documents of the property after promising that they would build a house for her. The complainant told the court yesterday that he made two statements at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Lagos and at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, Alagbon, before the third one following a complaint against him by Okaa. The police prosecutor, Ifeanyi Eze, however, told the court that the case file was transferred to Anambra State from the Force Headquarters, adding that it was that file that he was using to prosecute the matter. Answering questions from the defense council, Ezekwenna said he took possession of the said property in September, 2021after paying Mbachu the sum of N10m through N9.8 million bank draft and N200,000 cash. Evidence of the payment was admitted as exhibits yesterday in court. Recall that in the suit, 'Commissioner of Police vs Chijioke Peter Okaa and Olufemi Salako', the prosecution had alleged that Okaa and Salako had sometime within the months of July 2020 and October, 2021 at Nnobi did attempt to commit felony by inducing Miss Nzube Victoria Mbachu, an orphan, to change a title document of her land in favour of Okaa. Salako and Okaa were also accused of conspiring to promise Nzube that Okaa would build a house for her and relocate her and her children from her family compound and provide more money to her. The presiding Chief Magistrate, Ken Nwoye adjourned the matter to August 11, 2023 for further hearing.

By Madu Obi Suspected cultists have killed a middle-aged man near the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka and dumped the corpse inside an immovable tricycle. The presence of the corpse attracted the attention of passersby who assembled to have a look at the yet -to -be identified victim. Rival cult groups have been attacking each other in parts of Awka, leading to deaths, such that even people who returned to Nigeria from their locations abroad had lost their lives in similar circumstances. It was not clear when the latest killing took place, but eyewitness said it happened few hours ago.According to the eyewitness, three boys came down from the parked tricycle, adding that it was discovered shortly that there was a corpse inside the Keke. “We saw when some people parked the tricycle at the scene and alighted. It was when we looked inside the Keke that we saw the corpse at the back seat. We thought they would return to pick up the tricycle and the corpse, but it was there for a long time," he said. The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed the incident. He added that the corpse has been removed and deposited at a mortuary, explaining that investigation had begun to unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing.

By Iheanyi Chukwudi President Bola Tinubu has added the former Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN), as a Ministerial nominee, bringing the list to 48. The President has also withdrawn the nomination of Dr. Maryam Shetty as a Minister, replacing her with Mairiga Mahmud, from Kano State. These are contained in Tinubu's a letter read by President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio on Friday’s plenary of the Senate. According to the President's letter, Mariga Mahmud is to replace Dr Shetty as a Ministerial nominee while Keyamo from Delta State and Tinubu/APC Presidential Campaign spokesman, is added to the list of nominees.

By Iheanyi Chukwudi Former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, has been elected the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party. The election which took place on Thursday at the 12th NEC meeting of the APC held at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton in Abuja also saw the former Senate spokesman, Ajibola Basiru, from Osun State elected as the National Secretary. Present at the NEC meeting included President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, chieftains of the party in the National Assembly and the first National Chairman of the party, Bisi Akande. Ganduje who addressed party leaders after his election, thanked President Bola Tinubu and promised that his tenure will ensure internal democracy. He also pledged to ensure a scientific register of party members and pay utmost attention to election management and conflict resolution. The ex-Governor promised that there will be level playing field for all party members during party primaries, just as he pledged to hit the ground running to ensure victory for the APC in all forthcoming governorship elections across the country. Also addressing the 12th NEC of the party, President Tinubu said the APC has won the elections and it is now time to deliver the promises of good governance to the Nigerian people. He insisted that the 2023 general elections was the best in Nigeria’s election history. The immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo were absent from the meeting. The NEC meeting followed Wednesday’s session of the APC national caucus. Recall that two members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Senator Iyiola Omisore resigned Mid-July, as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.

By Madu Obi THE Owerri Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has cried out over the suspension of officials of the union in the Federal University of Technology, FUTO, Owerri, Imo State, by the management of the university. The Owerri zone of ASUU is made up of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam; Federal University of Technology, Owerri; Imo State University, Owerri; Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. At a news briefing in Awka on Thursday, ASUU said its attention was drawn to the consistent and concerted efforts of FUTO administration to ridicule the leadership of ASUU FUTO and cause disaffection in the branch. Coordinator of ASUU Owerri zone, Professor Dennis Aribodor accused the institution's management of replacing the suspended officials with its cronies in acting capacities. "The leadership of ASUU Owerri Zone hereby informs the general public that the legitimate leadership of ASUU FUTO is the executive committee led by Comrade Chinedu Ihejirika. "Any other group that claims leadership of the union at FUTO is but a group of impostors as they are not known to the leadership of ASUU Owerri Zone and the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Union", he said. Aribodor questioned the rationale behind the directive that a chairman or an executive member of a staff union in the university returning to his residence in Owerri (a trip outside the University) should seek for approval to return home. He added: "ASUU Owerri Zone also hopes that the FUTO administration understands that the staff of FUTO are accountable to the university only between the hours of 8 am – 4 pm on working days only. The blanket directive can only come from minds that are obviously warped. "There is also a letter from the Vice Chancellor, Professor Nnenna N. Oti, giving all staff unions two weeks to submit the duly signed membership forms of members authorizing deduction of check off dues and any other monies from their salaries. This is in violation of the extant provisions of the Trade Union Act and the Constitution of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in an attempt to stifle the Staff Unions in FUTO". On the purported resignation of the Vice Chancellor as a member of ASUU, Aribodor said she ought to have known that labour laws do not permit an employer to belong to a union of employees in the first place. "As Vice Chancellor of FUTO, she is not a member of the ASUU. If she desires to resign her membership of the union, she should resign in her individual capacity following the extant provisions of the Constitution of the Academic Staff Union of Universities as stipulated in Article 3 Section (vii). "The forgoing is the unfortunate rationale for the onslaught on the leadership of ASUU FUTO. The Vice Chancellor should be told that the honourable thing to do in the light of the revelations is not to resign from ASUU, but to resign from her office as Vice Chancellor. "As we speak, the secretariat of ASUU FUTO is still under lock and key in spite of the appeals made to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Nnenna N. Oti, by the leadership of ASUU Owerri Zone and a group of professors in FUTO. "The university is where we seek the truth, find the truth, teach the truth, defend the truth and preserve the truth no matter whose ox is gored", the ASUU zonal coordinator said.

By Iheanyi Chukwudi Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) leaders have confirmed the suspension of the Congress' ongoing mass protest and strike over anti-poor and anti-people policies of government. The suspension allegedly followed the intervention of President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate. The resolution to suspend the protest and strike was taken at the National Executive Council meeting of the Congress. Disclosing this in a terse message Thursday morning, the National Treasurer, Hakeem Ambali, said, “Protest suspended due to the Senate intervention and meeting with President Tinubu yesternight.” The NLC mass protest which commenced across the country on Wednesday, prompted an emergency meeting between the President and the labour leaders.

By Madu Obi Members of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), have asked President Bola Tinubu not to forget them in the ongoing appointments, saying they are even prepared to work as sweepers in Aso Rock, the seat of federal government. The Southeast zonal leader of MACBAN, Allhaji Gidado Siddikki said the call became necessary because cattle breeders across the country prayed and voted for the president during the February 25 presidential election. Siddikki said: "We are demanding for appointments from Tinubu's government. Even if it is as office sweepers, we are okay with it. All we want is for us to be part of the government at the centre. "During the election, to my knowledge, my people voted for President Tinubu because his predecessor, President Mohammadu Buhari, told my people to vote for him and they all did so. "We prayed, supported, endorsed and did everything politically possible to ensure his victory. So he should not abandoned us. "In the appointments the President has made so far, no Miyetti Allah member is among, including the recent Senate screen Ministerial nominees. "In addition to the N8,000 proposed palliative and other benefits of the government, he should appoint us too, even as sweepers at the Presidential Villa." While commending the South East governors for their continued support for the association in the region, Siddikki appealed to governments at all level to also fund the livestock sector, arguing that it might go into extinction if not properly funded.

By Iheanyi Chukwudi Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu state has suspended the operations of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA). The suspension which took effect from Wednesday, August 2, was contained in a public service announcement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Chidiebere Onyia. He said the suspension is necessitated by the need to carry out detailed review of the activities of the Authority, its processes, and transparency of its operations. Government also directed third parties that collect Motor Park, Keke Park, Truck Park fees on behalf of ECTDA, to submit their relevant Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to the Office of the SSG on or before August 9. The statement reads in parts, "During this period of review, only operations directly authorized by His Excellency, the Governor of Enugu State will be treated, to ensure the State attends to the needs of the public that cannot wait for the completion of the exercise. "All third parties and individuals who currently collect any form of Motor Park, Keke Park, Truck Park fees on behalf of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority are to submit their relevant Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government on or before 9th of August 2023. Failure to comply will result in the suspension of such MOU’s." While urging the public to be guided accordingly, government assured them that the exercise "will be concluded as soon as possible, and recommencement of operations will be duly communicated."

By Madu Obi THE kidnapped Anambra State-based native doctor, Chukwudozie Nwangwu, a.k.a “Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki”, who recently regained his freedom after six days in the kidnapper's den, is set to convert to Christianity. Nwangwu was abducted in his hotel at Oba, Idemili South local government area of Anambra State after killing two of his aides. He was released after N350 million was allegedly paid as ransom. Nwangwu was not known to have associated with Christianity before now, which was why it was surprising that he is planning a thanksgiving in the church on Sunday to mark his release by kidnappers. The social media is already awash with the planned thanksgiving. One of the commentators said: "The native doctor is going to church for thanksgiving for being released . In all, our God is the ultimate." Another commentator said: "I post this to show those who worship idols that God is still number one. "Akwa is set for thanksgiving at Oba Anglican Church next Sunday being 6th of August. As his fans, please be there to thank and praise God for his release". Recounting his experience in the hands of the abductors, Nwangwu said: “They killed up to 20 people before me. They just came to kidnap and their targets were people who have money. They wanted to kidnap as many as 50 people from my hotel that day, but instead of allowing them to do that, I decided to follow them.” Recalling what happened before his abduction, Nwangwu further said: “What happened was that I was at home that day, at around 11:30pm, when someone called me and said they were in my hotel, and that they were spending money and had spent close to N300,000 and they wanted me to be around. “I obliged them and drove to the hotel. Not up to 30 minutes, gunshots rented the air. People started running helter-skelter. I went out to see what was happening and the people started shooting at me, but you know... “They killed two of my security men. I don’t want to reveal much now, but I know that two things can only save a man. If your charms don’t save you, your money will save you. Anyone who has charms should have money. The people took me into their car and drove off.”

By Iheanyi Chukwudi The Presidential Steering Committee on Palliatives, is meeting now at the Chief of Staff Conference Hall, Aso Rock, Abuja. The Committee is comprised of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and government representatives When the meeting held last week Friday, the organized labour stormed out of the meeting fuming that there was no top government officials to negotiate with them and accused government of not being serious with issues at hand. That meeting was meant for the Committee to take briefings from three subcommittees of Mass Transit, the CNG and Cash Transfer, which the government had proposed to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal. The NLC President, Joe Ajaero; his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo; the General Secretary of NLC, Emma Ugbaja; the TUC Secretary, Nuhu Toro and other members of the organized labour are present at the meeting. Details later

By Madu Obi The Anambra State government has said that it would soon establish Local Government Road Maintenance Agency to ensure all year -round motorable roads in all the communities in the state. The Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters, Hon. Collins Nwabunwanne said in Awka that the agency would be funded through the state / local government joint arrangement that ensures judicial expenditure of the allocation to the third - tier of government. He said that with the mandate of the governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo who has spelt out the right direction for the state, the success of the local governments determines the success of the state. Nwabunwanne said: "If the local governments don't work, then the state government automatically collapses. One of the major challenges in the state was that the local government system was in disarray when we came on board. "Workers were not going to their offices and with the new system of payment of salaries through the electronic banking, people were getting salaries without working. In fact, some of the workers only went to their offices towards the end of the month to confirm that their names were still on the payroll. "When we investigated, we found out that the reason people were not going to work was because there were no basic working tools. We discovered that most offices either did not have chairs, or the available ones had broken down; there was no electricity, no computers and termites were growing in many offices because people no longer entered them. "Some of the local government chairmen were living in hotels outside their areas and we wondered how any meaningful development could take place under such a situation. "However, during our visit to the councils, the workers assured us that they were ready to work if the working tolls were provided and that is why we have decided to put their offices in good shape. "We also discovered that majority of local government workers belong to the junior cadre who have not been exposed to any training. Today, the story has changed as we have trained about 2000 of them and by the time this administration celebrates second year in office, we would have trained additional 3000 workers, while others will be exposed to seminars that would help to enhance their promotion." The Commissioner also explained that most of the community leaderships have been democratized, recalling that at the time the present administration came on board, over 80% of the communities were run through caretaker committees. According to him, the caretaker committees became a norm as a result of the influence of some powerful men in the various communities, who believe they must decide who became what in their areas. "We have put machinery in place to conduct election in all the communities and already, over 100 communities have elected their Presidents General and with that, development has commenced in those communities. "We will not impose anybody on them, but we will encourage them to evolve smooth means of electing their leaders, he said.

By Madu Obi The Ogbaru Division of the Anambra State Police command has smashed a notorious armed robbery gang that has been tormenting members of the public in Okpoko, Obosi, Atani, Oba and environs for several months. The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr Tochukwu Ikenga said the feat was achieved in collaboration with the community vigilante groups in the area. According to him, the leader of the gang, whose name was given as Jekwu, was earlier arrested on 11th July, 2023. He added that during interrogation, Jekwu provided clues that were followed up and surveillance mounted on other members of the gang, which culminated in the arrest of another member as he attempted to evacuate the gang's arms from Jekwu's hideout. Ikenga said one pump action semi-automatic gun and two locally made pistols were recovered, while the second gang member was also taken into custody. He added that further interrogation led to the recovery of five stolen tricycles from the gang, with registration numbers NSH 156 VU, NNE 622 UW, NSH 203 VU, UKP 349 UV and UML 359 WV. Ikenga said the state Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye, while commending various vigilante groups who partner with the police to provide quality security for people of Anambra State, called on owners of the recovered tricycles to come forward with proof of ownership to collect them.