IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Chidiebube Okeoma, Owerri

A former governor of Imo State and senator representing Imo West, Rochas Okorocha, on Sunday accused the state government of auctioning his private vehicles, those belonging to his aides and Rochas Foundation Colleges.

Okorocha, in a statement issued in Owerri, the state capital, on his behalf by his spokesperson, Sam Onwuemeodo, accused the governor Hope Uzodiinma-led administration of engaging in tyranny.

The statement disclosed that the vehicles in question were impounded on February 21, 2021, at Royal Spring Palm Estate in Owerri, when Okorocha, his aides and government officials clashed at the estate, which led to the arrest of the former governor.

The statement said that they had evidence that the state government had begun the auctioning of the vehicles, including bank payments.

Part of the statement read, “Okorocha was taken to the Police Headquarters to meet with the CP, according to the police officers on the operation.

“Others arrested were detained for weeks before fourteen of them were arraigned at Magistrate Court 4 and charges levelled against them. They were granted bail after three sittings by the court and the matter has been going on.

“The expectation was that, the Police who carried out the operation, must have taken into custody, all the vehicles recovered at the scene of the attack or incident, including buses belonging to ROCHAS FOUNDATION COLLEGE, and taken them to the Police Headquarters and not to the Government House.

“Or, the cars would have been taken to the court, where some of the owners of the Cars recovered at the Hotel, have been standing trial, especially when the Vehicles may be tendered as exhibits in the course of the trial .

“Unfortunately, the vehicles were taken to the Government House and not to either the Police Headquarters or the Court where some of the owners of the Vehicles have been standing trial.

“The government has gone ahead to auction the private cars of the former governor of the state, those of his security personnel, those of his aides, political associates, those of Rochas Foundation College and so on, who were with him on the day the attack at Royal Palm Hotel took place. In doing that , they had thrown caution to the wind. And you ask, on what ground were the vehicles auctioned?

“ln all the cases involving Okorocha and the lmo State Government, including the one decided by Justice Njemanze (rtd), which is now at the Appeal Court, the government never mentioned Okorocha’s personal cars and those of his aides, associates, his security details, Rochas Foundation College, et al , for any reason. Why auctioning his vehicles and those of others?

“Aside these vehicles, there are valuable materials and documents in some of them, including lnternational Passports, and one had expected that the police would have taken all those items or materials and documents into their custody.

“And if the government could auction the private vehicles of the former governor and his aides and associates, it means they must have also shared the important materials and documents we are talking about among themselves.

“They must have also disposed of other assets with cases on them, either at the High court or the Appeal Court.”

When contacted, the state Commissioner for information and strategy, Declan Emelumba, said that Okorocha’s spokesperson was misleading the public.

Yesterday, 8th July 2022 saw the inauguration of the Imo Youth Parliament (Second Assembly) at the Imo Youth Centre Owerri that led to the emergence of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ekewuba Eze (Member Representing Oguta LGA Youths) and the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Akuchie Stephen (Member Representing Mbaitoli LGA Youths). 

The Imo Youth Parliament, a structure under the aegis of the Nigerian Youth Parliament (NYP) is a Legislative and Developmental Training Institution, created to strengthen, reinforce and consolidate efforts in empowering Young People through meaningful Youth representation in driving Nigeria’s developmental agenda.

The Youth Parliament sits and deliberates on matters of national importance as it affects youth development and is mirrored after the Nigerian Senate with functions, roles, responsibilities and businesses carried out in like manner as the Nigerian House of Representatives. 

Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the Imo State Governor on Youth Affairs, Hon. Eric Uwakwe charged the Parliamentarians to represent their constituents in good faith, maintaining integrity and make laws for the best interest of the people. 

The Honourable Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. Okey Anusiem took time out to school the Parliamentarians on how best to navigate the waters of leadership and effective representation. 

The Clerk of the Imo State House of Assembly ably represented by the Head of Legislative Department, IMHA, Mr also educated the newly inaugurated Parliamentarians on the rudiments of legislation and proceedings of the Hallow Chamber.

The event was graced by dignitaries involved in governance, social work and lots more.

President Muhammadu Buhari has visited the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, the nation’s capital. It had been reported that terrorists attacked the centre and freed inmates including 64 of their members held in the custody during the attack.

Shortly before the President’s arrival, the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, had told journalists that there are strong indications that terrorists invaded the facility to free their members from being held in detention. He explained that the Federal Government is working hard to ensure that other fleeing inmates were being recaptured and kept back in the facility. “Most likely, they are Boko Haram because we have a sizeable number of Boko Harams that are in detention,” the minister said.

“Presently, we could not locate any of them. I think there are about 64 Boko Haram (members) in prison, they have all escaped.” Also, the Nigeria Correction Service, stated that said one personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and four inmates died during the incident. 

NCS spokesman, Umar Abubakar, in a statement, said the terrorists used explosives on the centre’s fence and its main entrance to gain access to the facility. Noting that a total of 16 inmates and three custodial officers were injured during the attack, Abubakar stated that 879 inmates escaped from the facility while 443 had been recaptured and 551 are still at large.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday reshuffled his cabinet, seven months before the 2023 presidential election in the country. The President also administered an oath of office to seven newly appointed ministers recently confirmed by the Senate.

The new ministers took the oath of office shortly before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council Meeting at the Council Chamber. He urged the new ministerial appointees to consider their emergence as a call to duty that demands diligent service to the nation.

Those sworn in are Henry Ikoh (Abia), Umana Okon Umana (Akwa-Ibom), Udi Odum (Rivers), Ademola Adegoroye (Ondo), Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub (Kano), Goodluck Nana Opiah (Imo) and Ekumankama Nkama (Ebonyi). The new ministers replace those who resigned their appointments to contest for various elective offices during the 2023 general elections in April.

Before the council meeting, a minute of silence was observed in honour of the outgoing Secretary-General of OPEC Mohammed Barkindo who died on Tuesday evening, hours after meeting with Buhari. Meanwhile, physically in attendance is the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari.

Paul Pogba is set to rejoin Juventus on a free transfer after his Manchester United contract expired. It is understood the 29-year-old France midfielder will have a medical at the weekend before completing the move. Pogba joined United from the Italian side in 2016 for a then world-record fee of £89m.

United and Pogba failed to agree on a new contract and the club confirmed at the start of June that he would leave as a free agent this summer. It is anticipated Pogba will begin training with Juventus next week prior to their trip to the United States, where they will face Barcelona and Real Madrid on 27 and 30 July respectively. For the second straight season, Juventus finished fourth in Serie A, 16 points behind champions AC Milan.

They had been Italian champions for the preceding nine seasons, with Pogba playing a key role in their title wins from 2012-13 to 2015-16. He scored 34 goals from 178 games in his previous spell with Juventus having also joined on a free from United in 2012, after coming through the Old Trafford academy.

During his first season back at Old Trafford, Pogba helped United win the EFL Cup and Europa League but they would prove to be the only trophies he won in his second spell.