By Madu Obi Following Miss Ejikeme Mmesoma's admission that she faked her Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, score despite earlier denial, the chairman of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, has announced the withdrawal of the scholarship he offered her. This came as Mmesoma's father, Romanus Ejikeme tendered an unreserved apology to JAMB and Nigerians on the unfortunate action of his daughter. Chukwuma had said that he had already deposited N3 million into a dedicated account for Mmesoma's university education following a report that she scored highest in the examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB. A statement by Innoson Group Head of Corporate Communications & Affairs, Cornel Osigwe said: "In recent days, we have been involved in the process of investigating allegations surrounding the 2023 UTME examination results of one of our scholarship recipients, Miss Joy Mmesoma Ejikeme. "It was reported initially that Miss Joy scored exceptionally high on the exam, a feat that led to her being awarded a scholarship by our company."However, subsequent reports of discrepancies in her UTME score led us to seek clarification from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and to allow her to voice her stance, we engaged in direct dialogue with Miss Joy. "Further to this, a committee set up by the Anambra State Governor, Dr. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, carried out a thorough independent investigation into this matter. "The findings from this rigorous investigation have now confirmed that Miss Joy Mmesoma Ejikeme did manipulate her UTME results. This conclusion is deeply disappointing and stands in direct contravention of the values we hold dear at Innoson Vehicles, particularly those that underscore our scholarship program."In line with these principles and response to the confirmed findings, we have made the difficult decision to withdraw the scholarship awarded to Miss Joy Mmesoma Ejikeme." This action is a testament to our unyielding commitment to honesty, integrity, and merit-based recognition. "We acknowledge that this development is regrettable, and it has undoubtedly caused dismay among those who stood by Miss Joy, including her school principal and other well-meaning supporters." "However, it is crucial to maintain the integrity of our scholarship program and the values it represents. Innnoson Vehicles Manufacturing remains steadfast in its mission to support deserving students, invest in the future of our education sector, and uphold the highest ethical standards. "We have always been deeply committed to advancing educational excellence and upholding academic integrity through our scholarship program." "We believe in rewarding exceptional students who display not just academic prowess but also embody the values of honesty, transparency, and respect for the processes that govern our educational system." "We extend our appreciation to the public, JAMB, the Anambra State Governor's committee, and all those who have shown understanding and support during this challenging situation. We remain committed to fostering educational excellence in Nigeria." Meanwhile, the father of the girl, Mr Romanus Ejikeme, in his apology, admitted that Mmesoma lied about her UTME scores

By Madu Obi The National Coordinator of APGA Media Warriors Forum, Chinedu Obigwe, has said that despite the challenges of providing security, Anambra State remains the safest state in Nigeria. In a statement on Saturday, Obigwe said the Anambra of yesterday is no longer the Anambra of today under Governor Chukwuma Soludo, adding that a lot has changed in the state for good. "When people talk about insecurity, the thought that usually comes to mind is that Governor Soludo himself has been a victim. "If Governor Soludo was chicken hearted and lily livered as at the time he was attacked by unknown gunmen, he would have chickened out of the governorship election race. "Only few would experience such attack and continue with the governorship project pursuit. The only thing that made Governor Soludo to continue is the sincere desire to change the situation for the good of ndi Anambra", he said. He recalled the incident that happened during the governorship electioneering campaign when Soludo was attacked by unknown gunmen at his isuofia country home where he was holding a meeting with his people. According to Obigwe, the attackers came purposely to assassinate him, but succeeded in killing his Police guards. He added: "This experience was enough to make Soludo to withdraw from the governorship election race, but he did not. Rather, he said to himself that this was one of the challenges tormenting the good people of Anambra State and knowing that he joined the governorship election race with the sole aim of solving all the challenges tormenting us, he vehemently refused to quit. "He ran the race to the last line and the first thing he tackled on assumption of office was the problem of insecurity. "As at the time he came into office, the story of unknown gunmen killing was like a daily occurrence, but as at today, we hardly hear news of unknown gunmen killing of innocent people in Anambra." "Nobody would have ever believed that the criminals that masquerade as unknown gunmen will resort to scaremongering tactics and spread of propaganda to frighten people. "That is what they have been reduced to in Anambra State by Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo well equipped and fortified security architecture." He said further: "During this period someone called Simon Ekpa declared seven days sit at home in Southeast, we watched videos of unknown gunmen shooting sporadically in Enugu, Ebonyi and imo State, but such did not happen in Anambra State. "The only thing that happened in Anambra State was that the evil minded cohorts of unknown gunmen deployed scaremongering tactics and propaganda to frighten people. "I saw people running up and down without seeing anybody pursuing them. I visited some of the places they claimed that witnessed unknown gunmen shooting in Onitsha and discovered that it was a fabricated tissue of lies. "That made me to now believe that the evil minded unknown gunmen have been reduced to nothing in Anambra State hence their reason for deploying scaremongering tactics and propaganda to frighten ndi Anambra. "The reality has dawned on them that they don't have what it takes to dare Governor Soludo's watertight security architecture. "Many of them have been sent to their early grave and our gallant security operatives are still ready to send more to their early grave if they dare to torment ndi Anambra again. "They can no longer come out boldly to operate in Anambra State as they did recently in our neighbouring States of Ebonyi, Enugu and imo State. "The reality on ground is that Anambra is now more secure than before. One can hardly commit crime in the state and go scot-free because Governor Soludo's watertight security architecture is always on guard watching over the state and the good people of Anambra."

By Madu Obi THE landslide that cut off one lane of the Onitsha-Owerri expressway at Oba in Idemili South local government area of Anambra State may soon swallow the popular Rogeny Games Village and the multi million naira First Choice Plastics Ltd located in the area. Also threatened are buildings and acres of land already ploted for development. It was discovered that more cracks have developed on the other lane currently being used by motorists. The further spread of the erosion menace was noticed on when the Senator representing Anambra Central zone, Chief Victor Umeh, led members of Oba Royal cabinet to inspect the site. Umeh defied the security threat in the state on Friday to inspect the landslide. He said that what he saw requires an emergency intervention from the federal government. The Senator said: "There is no guarantee that the other lane will survive another two weeks from what we have seen. Many factories and houses are already collapsing and people working in those companies have suddenly lost their jobs, unless emergency work is done." "This is a major gateway to the Eastern part of Nigeria. The second Niger Bridge is not far from here and all the vehicles coming from the Western part of the country into the South East and South South states pass through this road, which is why urgent action is needed." "Almost every community in the state is threatened by erosion. South East is small in land size and it is regrettable that we are losing even the small land we have to erosion." "I will show the video clips of the site to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio by next week because even his people of Akwa Ibom pass through this road and they cannot go home if this road is cut off." "The East-West road that connects the South South from Lagos has become a nightmare even after enormous amount of money was spent on it and so, everyone uses this Onitsha- Owerri road." Umeh advocated for the development of an erosion map for the South East to serve as a guide in combating erosion in the zone.

By Madu Obi THERE was commotion in parts of Anambra State on Friday when the presence of operatives patrolling the streets triggered the scare of the presence of unknown gunmen. Recall that the Simon Ekpa faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, had earlier issued a notice that it was the turn of Anambra State for people not to come out of their houses on Friday.. However, the sight of the men of the AVG in parts of the state, made people to start running when they sighted the masked AVG operatives.The information later spread, forcing people to close their businesses. Schools also closed abruptly as many parents rushed to pick their children, just as vehicle operators abandoned them at the motor parks and headed home. Governor Chukwuma Soludo's press secretary, Mr. Christian Aburime, while regretting the panic, assured members of the public that the state was safe.He said: “Everything that happened was more like a rumour. Nothing actually happened today. At the end of the day when security operatives came out, they discovered that everything was normal. "People saw some members of the Anambra Vigilante Group who were wearing mask, and who were attending to their broken-down vehicle started panicking and running in Onitsha, while others joined“That panic also gave rise to other people running in other parts of the state. "From the security report that we have, everything was a rumour. Nobody can actually pinpoint and say it was so and so people that came to attack, because they were reacting based on rumour. “As I speak, the state is calm and peaceful and people are going about their normal businesses in Onitsha, Nnewi, Awka, Ekwulobia and other parts of the state. "Anambra is safe and remember that Anambra will never obey any sit-at-home order from the non-state actors; not even the one from one Simon Ekpa. “Governor Soludo and the security forces are on top of the situation. So we assure the residents of the state that there is no need for them to panic.” The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, in the statement also debunked the gunmen attack , His statement read: “The Anambra State Police Command has observed with great dismay, the mischievous act of persons sharing false security alerts/messages, and doctored old videos of security incidents to cause tension/panic in the state. Given this, the police command shall invoke relevant cyber laws on persons found wanting in this regard. “The confidence reposed on us by Ndi Anambra in the protection of lives and properties shall not be taken for granted. The Police, with other security forces have intensified patrols, improved security dominance and surveillance in the state."

The one week sit-at-home got to the 4th day, today being Friday, the 7th day of July, 2023. The roads were virtually empty with almost all shops in the major streets under lock and key as residents feared a repeat of the events of Wednesday. The banks opened for business following the directive of the state government and the threat to close businesses observing the sit-at-home. This reporter got to one of the banks and transacted business with ease as the banking hall was virtually empty, but for the few workers waiting for customers. The reporter visited the New Haven market which happened to be open for business but the customers are not there as at 2:30pm. Most of the shops remained under lock and key. As at 2:00pm, a visit to the Trans-Ekulu bridge and the environs showed that even the vegetable vendors kept away from their usual position at the entrance, immediately after the bridge. The reporter could only sight a few security men on the road, including the security men who abandoned their vehicle and ran away on Wednesday, when the sit-at-home enforcers stormed the city of Enugu. From our roving reporter

Our Reporter The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday granted suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Abba Kyari bail in the cost of N50 million in a charge he and two of his siblings were accused of failing to declare assets to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). A 24-count charge was filed against Kyari and his brothers — Mohammed Baba Kyari and Ali Kyari by the NDLEA at the court Ruling on application for bail, the presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho granted conditional bail to Abba Kyari in the sum of N50 million with two sureties by in like sum. The sureties, the Judge said must have property worth N25 million within the court’s jurisdiction, among other conditions. Justice Omotosho however, held that even when Kyari meets the conditions, the endorsement of his release warrant will be subject to developments in a sister-case in which he is being tried with four others on alleged involvement in dealing on illicit drugs. His two siblings were earlier granted bail by Justice Omotosho.

A non state actor by name Simon Ekpa declared a one week observance of the sit-at-home in spite of the recent stance of the Enugu State government cancelling the observance of the sit-at-home as it was inimical to the business interest of the state. By Monday and Tuesday, various radio programs discussed the readiness of the state government to put an end to the observance of the sit-at-home and urged people to go about their normal business. The radio discussants narrated government preparedness: the engagement of the security agents and the vehicles donated to the security agents for the purpose of public safety The government went ahead to use its coercive powers to threaten a shut down of businesses that close shop in observance of the sit-at-home. Monday and Tuesday witnessed mild incidents as enforcers of the sit-at-home showed defiance of the government order. But Wednesday witnessed a drastic change in the story as gunshots were heard in several places in town and there was pandemonium in town. An eye witness said a Toyota Sienna pulled by his side at a road side eatery He was making an order for food when somebody dropped from the Sienna with an automatic rifle. The eye witness could not recall how he leaped over a wall until he sustained an injury. According to the eye witness, the food vendor abandoned her duty post and the money realized from the business as she ran for her dear life. Another eyes witness told how some security agents prevented him and several others from seeking shelter at the station, while another narrated how security men at a road block disappeared from sight as soon as they heard that unknown gun men where within sight. The most disgusting thing, said one eye witness is the defeatist attitude of the security agents as they claimed that it was useless shooting the enforcers as they claimed that the enforcers are insulated from gunshots. From our roving reporter

Iheanyi Chukwudi The Archbishop, Enugu Province and Bishop of Enugu Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma has called on President Bola Tinubu to probe former President Muhammadu Buhari and some of his corrupt former ministers. He asked President Tinubu not to limit his corruption probe to the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefile and former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, but ensure that their boss, Buhari and his other corrupt appointees are probed. Chukwuma who spoke in Enugu at the end of the 3rd Session of the 18th Synod of Enugu Diocese, reiterated that Buhari’s government was the worst and most corrupt in Nigerian history. The Archbishop stressed that will be unjust to arrest and probe Emefile and Bawa for corrupt practices leaving their boss under whose nose, directives and approvals such actions were taken and some of his corrupt ministers including the one that he said played Nigeria and Nigerians ‘419.’ “We are calling on the federal government to probe those under Buhari government who have messed up; because Buhari government is the worst and most corrupt government we have ever had in this nation. And I made bold to say it, the worst and most corrupt government that we have ever had in this country. “Buhari himself should be probed. You cannot arrest Emefile and keep Buhari away, they should account for how much they spent on his medical care overseas. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs was collecting 500 billion every month, she should be also probed. Who are the people that she gave that money for poverty, 500 billion every month for poverty, where did she spend the money? “The Minister of Information should be probed, the Minister of Aviation that did us 419 with Ethiopian Airline, he should also be arrested and probed. He scammed us, robbed powder on Ethiopian Airline plane and said it is Air Nigeria, these people cannot go scot-free. Even the former Minister of Works and Housing should be arrested because all the money budgeted for Enugu-Onitsha expressway we have not seen the effect of it. “The 2nd Niger Bridge they said they have completed is lie, nobody is using it now. So let them open the 2nd Niger Bridge for usage and let us know it is true, if not so, that is 419 by Buhari and it is not acceptable,” he said. Chukwuma who restated his call for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, which received laud applause from the large congregation said, “Again, we want them to know that all the cries for Nnamdi Kanu, is enough, this man should be released. He has not done worse than the Fulani herdsmen and the bandits. Releasing Nnamdi Kanu will less the suffering in the South East, this sit-at-home will vanish. “We commend the Governor of Enugu state for what he is doing but some people are still aggrieved that Nnamdi Kanu is still being held. If holding him is a punishment for the South East, Tinubu should know is not fair. Tinubu should be particular about the peace of the South East and make sure that Nnamdi Kanu is released. “Also we are appealing to him to use his diplomatic office to speak to the King of England to reduce sentence of Ike Ekweremadu and wife or grant them amnesty. We accept the judgment but we pray that they reduce the sentence to make them stay little time and come back. He has not committed any crime than care for his child.” He called on all government officials to reduce their convoy, stressing that with high cost of fuel it would amount to waste of resources to put 12 to 20 vehicles one covoy saying, “President, Governors and all those political officers should reduce their convoy, where someone has and is going with 12, 20 vehicles in his convoy, that is abuse and recklessness and it is not good for us.”

Iheanyi Chukwudi Schools, markets or shops that fail to open and function normally from in Enugu State on the on account of the illegal one week sit-at-home order declared by faceless non-state actors in the South East will risk, indefinite shutdown by the state government. The state government on Tuesday warned that it will come down hardly on any school, market or shop that will obey the illegal sit-at-home. It expressed dismay over alleged directives by proprietors of private schools in the state to their pupils and students not to come to school from Monday because of said illegal sit-at-home order and vowed to revoke the license of any school that refused to open and function normally immediately. In a public service announcement issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Chidiebere Onyia, the government also warned that it will also come down hard on purveyors of fake news and those who encourage the illegal order on social media. Government said it will deploy the full instrumentality of the law such as the Cybercrime Act 2015 to go after and prosecute anybody, individuals, groups and organisations that were intentionally encouraging the illegal sit-at-home order, by “instilling fear on residents, raising false alarm to disturb public peace, etc, through fake news sharing and propagation of falsehood connected with the illegal sit-at-home order on social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, etc.” It also reiterated its ban on any form of illegal sit-at-home in all parts of the state, describing it as evil and antithetical to all values that the people hold dear to, such as the Igbo spirit of industry, hard work, creativity and productivity. The SSG’s statement reads in parts, “The attention of the Enugu State Government has been drawn to reports on social media this Tuesday morning that proprietors of private schools in the state are sending messages to their pupils and students to the effect that they should not come to school from today on account of the illegal one week sit-at-home order allegedly declared by faceless non-state actors in the state. “The Enugu State Government is alarmed and dismayed by this development and hereby warns that any school that fails to open and function normally from today will have its license revoked immediately. “The Enugu State Government also extends the same warning to market unions and shop owners in the state. All markets and shops in the various markets must be open to customers from today or be shut down indefinitely.” It urged the public to go about their normal daily activities assuring that it has put in place adequate security measures to protect lives and property, warning however, that it will no longer sit by and watch faceless groups and misguided individuals issue illegal orders, dictating to “us how to lead our lives, when to go to work or market and when our children go to school, while they ply their trade and their children go to school. This is no longer acceptable and must be confronted and defeated with every power and resources at our disposal.” The government however, said its decision to enforce some laws is not to work against the people’s human rights, “This, however, is by no means, depriving citizens freedom of speech and information as enshrined in the constitution,” the statement added.

By Madu Obi The Anambra State government has instituted a panel of inquiry to probe allegation of forgery of UTME score of 362 by Miss Mmesoma Ejikeme. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has declared Mmesoma's score as fake, The state Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, while speaking on the issue in Awka, described the development as very embarrassing. She regretted that the unfortunate incident happened at a time the Professor Chukwuma Soludo - led administration was repositioning and getting education right in the state. According to her, security agencies are already investigating the allegation of falsification of result levelled against Miss Mmesoma Ejikeme, who had earlier been showcased in the social media as having scored the highest in the examination. She, however, said that the state government has continued to celebrate Miss Nkechinyere Umeh, an indigene of the state, who was declared by JAMB as scoring the highest in the UTME. The Commissioner said the JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, at the 2023 policy meeting for tertiary institutions in Abuja, disclosed that Nkechinyere Umeh scored 360 marks to emerge the best in the examination.

By Madu Obi Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh has saved the state from what could have resulted to a scam if she had gone ahead to honour Miss Mmesoma Ejikeme, the girl whose alleged 362 JAMB score went viral. Mmesoma, a student of Anglican Girls Secondary School, Nnewi, became an instant celebrity after her alleged 362 score was said to be the overall best score in the 2023 UTME. However, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), which conducts the UTME, on Sunday, declared Mmesoma’s 362 UTME score as fake following inquiry by the Anambra State government. According to the examination body, the girl's score was manually inflated, adding that her original score was 249. Commissioner Chuma-Udeh said she was the one that raised the alarm after discovering that the girl's score was not directly from the JAMB printout. She said that after Mmesoma's result was published online, she invited her for the purpose of a recognition by the state government, adding that when Mmesoma brought her result, she observed the anomaly. The Commissioner said she became suspicious, which made her to get in touch with JAMB to confirm the result, stating that she was surprised when JAMB told her that what Mmesoma was circulating was not its result. In the meantime, the chairman of Innoson Motors, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, who earlier announced N3 million university scholarship award to the 16-year-old Mmesoma shortly after her result went viral, has said that with the latest development, the girl cannot access the fund until investigation into the matter is concluded. According to Chukwuma, “the little girl I saw looked so innocent and I can’t believe that she could manipulate her score," adding, “If I find out that she deliberately faked her result, I will cancel the scholarship because I can’t encourage a criminal as such a person cannot be useful to the society." He, however, said that if he finds out that she did not have a hand in the manipulation and that the score was given to her in error or that someone manipulated the result for her without her knowledge, he would not cancel the scholarship. Chukwuma said he was excited when he heard that the young girl came tops in the UMTE because he found out that she studied in a public school. He said: “When I was told that a student of a public school recorded the highest score in the JAMB examination, I sent for the principal of the school and the principal confirmed to me that it was true that the girl scored the mark. “I said to myself that such a brilliant girl, if properly educated, will be beneficial to our country and the world at large, so I decided to award her scholarship so that nothing will stop her from attaining a university education. “When I awarded her the scholarship, I deposited ₦3,000,000 in a dedicated bank account and told the principal that the money is strictly meant for Mmesoma’s education in the university, which means that any time she needs to pay any fee in the school, they will let me know so that I will sign for withdrawal of the money from the account. "I made the arrangement so that nobody, including the girl’s parents, can divert the money to another thing. "I didn’t know the girl before. I heard that she hails from Enugu State, but studied in a public school in Anambra State, so my interest is to make sure that I support her to realize her potential in education and be useful to our nation, as well as encourage other younger ones to take their education very seriously.”

By Madu Obi THE leadership of the South East zone of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), insisted yesterday that its members are not kidnappers, but merely herders who look for ideal grazing land for their cattle. The statement by the South East zonal chairman of MACBAN, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki followed allegation in some quarters that some of the herdsmen are sometimes involved in kidnapping and other vices. Siddiki said in Awka that because of that impression, some members of the association were wrongly arrested, adding that they have been languishing in prison custody without trial for the past five years. He said: " We are here for our business, which we are all aware of and that is ranching of cows in the bushes and not for kidnapping. "Many of our people have been in the prison for more than five years without the government looking into their case files or try them. "On behalf of MACBAN in the South East, I am appealing to the state government through the Ministry of Justice and the Prison authority in the state, to look into the matter, so that our people that are in the prison custody will either be prosecuted, freed or sentenced according to the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, after trial. "The association stands on its position that any Fulani herder who is caught in any criminal act in the cause of discharging his legitimate business will be dealt with in accordance with the laws of the association. "MACBAN, under my watch in the South East, will continue to support the social-economic development of the region."