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Rivers Lawmakers Challenges Fubara’s Claims Amid Ongoing Political Crisis

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Fubara

Rivers Lawmakers Challenges Fubara’s Claims Amid Ongoing Political Crisis

Rivers lawmakers challenges Fubara’s claims amid ongoing political crisis. The political rift between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the State House of Assembly has deepened following recent Supreme Court rulings.

The reinstated lawmakers, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, have refuted several claims made by the governor, accusing him of insincerity.

Budget Controversy
Assembly spokesperson Hon. Enemi George stated that the governor’s claim of being blocked from presenting the 2025 budget was false. According to George, the Assembly had invited Fubara to present the budget within 48 hours after the Supreme Court’s ruling but received no response. He further alleged that the governor’s supposed letter requesting a presentation date was never officially received by the Assembly and only surfaced on social media.

Governor’s Alleged Exclusion from the Assembly Complex
George dismissed reports that lawmakers locked the governor out of the Assembly complex, explaining that Fubara had demolished the complex and that legislative sessions were now held at their quarters. He claimed that the governor arrived at the quarters unannounced and staged a brief press conference outside the locked gate, using public sentiment to frame lawmakers as obstructionists.

Commissioners’ Legitimacy and Legislative Interference
The lawmakers insisted that Fubara’s appointed commissioners were invalidated by the Supreme Court and urged him to submit a new list for approval. Instead, the governor allegedly instructed his commissioners to take legal action against the Assembly and barred state agencies from receiving communication from lawmakers.

RSIEC and Chief Judge Investigations
The Assembly accused the governor of interfering with legislative oversight, claiming that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) chairman refused to acknowledge their summons. Regarding the Chief Judge’s alleged age falsification, lawmakers said they had referred the matter to federal authorities, as they were unable to conduct an independent investigation.

Indefinite Adjournment and Impeachment Speculations
George clarified that the Assembly’s adjournment was due to logistical reasons and not a political move.

Rivers State Assembly

Rivers State Assembly

He also denied any ongoing impeachment plans against Fubara, stating that such a decision would require formal discussions and an investigative process.

Financial Challenges
The lawmakers accused the governor of withholding their allowances for over a year, affecting not only members but also Assembly staff and essential operational expenses.

Amidst the escalating tensions, the lawmakers urged all parties to prioritize governance over political rivalries, warning that the crisis was stalling the state’s progress.

Economy

Strike: NASU Gives WAEC 7-Day Ultimatum

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NASU Gives WAEC 7-Day

Strike: NASU Gives WAEC 7-Day Ultimatum

Strike: NASU gives WAEC 7-day ultimatum. The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) management to address a four-point demand related to workers’ welfare and alleged victimization of labor leaders.

NASU Gives WAEC 7-Day

NASU Gives WAEC 7-Day

 

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Monday, NASU General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, warned that all WAEC offices across the country would be shut down from Monday, March 24, if the demands are not met.

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Economy

Akwa Ibom LG Chairman Sets To Report Construction Company For Poor Performance

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Akwa Ibom

Akwa Ibom LG Chairman Sets To Report Construction Company For Poor Performance

Akwa Ibom LG Chairman sets to report construction company for poor performance. Ikot Ekpene Chairman, Hon. Aniefiok Nkom, has threatened to send digital copies of the Ikot Ekpene – Aba road one-lane construction to Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, despite allegedly underperforming as a council chairman in recent months.

Nkom, whose achievements have been limited to painting the old Ikot Ekpene council secretariat, grading truck parks, and providing limited educational support JAMB forms, made this announcement during a peaceful demonstration by students of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua.

The students were protesting persistent brutality and harassment by officers from the Nigerian Police Force, Ikot Ekpene Division, and QIU, Ikot Ekpene Division.

The council chairman accused the construction company, Messrs CGGC Global Projects Nigeria Limited, of building a one-lane carriage instead of the approved dualized road, referencing Contract No.6569 and Project Code ERGP12141436 under the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, awarded in 2019.

Nkom stated, “For those of us from Ikot Ekpene, you have seen this road. For those coming from Aba, you can see where they stopped the dual carriage.

Now, they are constructing a single lane to Ikot Ekpene. This is what we are talking about when we mention injustice.”

Akwa Ibom

Akwa Ibom

He further mentioned his intention to document the road’s condition with NTA and send the footage to the Senate President, calling the situation a serious embarrassment to Akwa Ibom State.

Addressing the issue of police brutality against Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic students, Nkom asserted that any policeman or army officer who harasses a student without any offense will face consequences, urging students to always carry their identity cards.

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Crime

EFCC Arraigns 2 Chinese Nationals, Nigerian For Cyber Crimee In Lagos

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EFCC Arraigns 2 Chinese Nationals, Nigerian For Cyber Crimee In Lagos

EFCC arraigns 2 Chinese nationals, Nigerian for cyber crimee in Lagos. EFCC alleged that they engaged in this foreign exchange without going through the official foreign exchange market authorised by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) on Monday dragged a Nigerian, two Chinese nationals, and their company before the Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged multibillion-naira cybercrime.

The defendants Huang Haoyu, Friday Audu, An Hongxu and a company, Gentting International Ltd., are standing trial before Justice Daniel Osiagor on a 12-count charge of cybercrime.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, Bilikisu Buhari, told the court that the defendants committed the offences sometime in 2024 in Lagos.

Ms Buhari said the defendants allegedly conspired among themselves to commit the offences with one Dualiang Pan, who is now at large.

She said the defendants allegedly willfully caused to be assessed computer systems organised to destabilise Nigeria’s economic structure.

Ms Buhari also said the defendants allegedly procured Nigerian youths to falsely represent themselves as persons of foreign nationalities.

They were alleged to have procured one Chukwuemeka Okeke to retain $1.2 million in his crypto wallet, which they ought to know forms part of fraudulent activities.

They were alleged to have also procured one Alhassan Garba and Ifesinaci Jacobs to retain $1.3 million in their crypto wallet, being proceeds of crime.

They were also alleged to have retained in the Union Bank account of Gentting International Ltd the sum of N3.4 billion, which also forms part of the proceeds of their fraudulent activities.

The prosecutor alleged that they transferred, among others, N106 million and N913 million to Mr Dualiang’s UBA account, which also forms the proceeds of their fraudulent activities.

The transfer and several other transfers were said to be made from Gentting Ltd.
Besides, the defendants were said to have illegally negotiated a foreign exchange transaction with one Alhassan Garba to the dollar equivalent of N1.1 billion, N962 million, and other sums.

EFCC alleged that they engaged in this foreign exchange without going through the official foreign exchange market authorised by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Court

Court

All monies are said to have formed part of the proceeds of their fraudulent activities.
She said the offences contravened section 29(2) of the Foreign Exchange Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 2004.

It also contravenes sections 18 and 27 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition) Act 2015, as well as sections 18(2)(d) and 21(c) of the Money Laundering Act 2021.

The court adjourned the case until March 20 to hear the defendants’ bail application.

The judge ordered the defendants to be remanded in EFCC’s custody pending bail.

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