IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday granted permission to former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha to travel to the United States for medical attention. While granting the permission, Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered the Registrar of the Court to release the traveling passport of the former governor to him to undertake the medical trip.

The order of the Judge followed an application argued by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mister Ola Olanipekun, who notified the court that his client has been having health challenges in the receipt times. Olanipekun argued that Okorocha, now a Senator representing Imo North in the Senate, will not abuse the order and will return to the country for his trial.

Although, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) represented by Mr Chile Okoroma had sought to vehemently oppose the request, the commission soft-pedalled when Justice Ekwo explained that the request would be granted with a caveat by the court. While granting the request, Justice Ekwo ordered Okorocha to return the passport to the Court Registrar not later than three days of his arrival in the country.

Justice Ekwo subsequently fixed November 7 for his trial in the money laundering criminal charges brought against him by the Federal Government.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the spate of insecurity and the audacity with which terrorists ravage the country unchallenged, under what the party terms a “rudderless” All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

According to the opposition party, the simultaneous terrorist attacks on the advance convoy of President Muhammadu Buhari in Katsina State as well as the Correctional Facility in Abuja, the nation’s capital, underscores the collapse of the nation’s security command and control structure.

In the PDP’s opinion, the failure of the APC to tame the violence and secure the citizens only adds to affirming assertions that the ruling party is complicit in the matter.

PDP Spokesman, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, in a statement on Wednesday noted that the terrorist attack on President Buhari’s convoy in his home State of Katsina as well as the “ferocious invasion and the freeing of hundreds of terrorists and criminals from the Kuje Correctional Facility further confirm that Mr. President has lost control of the security of the nation and that Nigerians are no longer safe under the APC”.

The West Minister Magistrates Court, the United Kingdom on Thursday accepted that the kidney donor in the case of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice is not a minor.

Ekweremadu and his wife were arrested by the British police on June 23 on allegations of human trafficking and organ harvesting that violate the country’s Modern Slavery Act.

The police authorities had accused the lawmaker of conspiring to bring a child to the United Kingdom for organ harvesting, saying the victim was a 15-year-old boy.

During the continuation of the case, the prosecution has accepted that he is 21 years old, contrary to earlier claims that he is 15 years old. 

The Federal Government has declared Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th July, 2022, as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration. The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government on Thursday, congratulated all Muslims and Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora on this occasion.

“I call on Muslims to continue to imbibe the spirit of love, peace, kindness and sacrifice, as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) and to also use the period to pray for peace, unity, prosperity and the stability of the country, considering the challenges of insecurity we face at the moment” Aregbesola stated in a communique.

The Minister assured Nigerians that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is “committed to the security of lives and properties of all Nigerians, empowering the citizens for successful living, the provisions of social investments programmes and adequate security in the schools”.

Aregbesola, while wishing Muslims a happy Eid-el Kabir celebration, urged Nigerians to take responsibility by reporting any suspicious individuals and criminal activities they observed around them to law enforcement agencies with the use of N-Alerts application that has been designed to mitigate security challenges with prompt response from security agencies: as soon as you “See Something Do N-Alerts”, most especially during this festival.

He also enjoined all Nigerians to be vigilant and observant of intruders in their communities. “We must all take responsibility for the security of lives and property as we celebrate this year’s festival,” he admonished. 

Department of State Service says none of its personnel is involved in the escape episode of the Kuje prison attack as reported in Vanguard online newspaper on the 6th of July 2022 that there was an hot chase by gallant officers.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Director of public relations Department of State Service Peter Afunanya.

He says, at the point of the attack on the prison, no DSS personnel was an inmate at the holding facility just as the claim of carrying out a special assignment was non-existent. 

The Vanguard report is not factual and therefore misleading. The public is advised to disregard it.

..... Seeks redress in court

The rightful Candidate of the just concluded PDP primaries for Orlu/Orsu/Oru-East Federal Constituency Chief Aloy Igwe has urged his teeming supporters to remain calm amidst uncertainties in the election.

Speaking with Newsmen in Owerri the State Capital, Chief Igwe sounded it loud and clear that he remains the Candidate of the party in the election having garnered the highest number of vote and returned elected in an election that was supervised by INEC and Security agencies.

According to him, "You all know what happened. On that fateful day, the delegates of Orlu, Orsu and Oru East LGAs voted for me and I won my election squarely. I even have the Certified True Copy of the Election that where I was declared winner."

He berated some power mongers who in a bid to override the election that produced him, went and conducted a 'RERUN' election which he boycotted because according to him 'is neither here nor there.'

He thereafter approached approached a Court of Competent Jurisdiction to seek redress on the matter and to save the Party from chaos during and after the Elections.