Innocent Ojefia Blog

Senior lawyer and human rights activist Femi Falana SAN has spoken on the dangers of the Buhari administration flouting the law setting up the agencies of the federal government. Speaking at a lecture to mark the Third Anniversary of the administration of Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in Akure on Wednesday, February 27, Falana said the administration is flouting the law setting up the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by appointing an interim management committee for the agency. The rights activist noted that the administration’s actions on the NDDC and other such agencies where the laws have been subverted leave the actions in these agencies open to litigation, a point that has been raised by rights groups and lawyers since the government set aside the Board for the Interim Management Committee (IMC). In Falana’s words, “The management of the economy includes the appointment of personnel, the board members. These agencies that are owned by the country h...

In line with the provisions of Part V1, Section 21 of Niger Delta Development Commission Establishment Act, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the composition of a Monitoring Committee for the commission. Members of the committee are, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Chairman, Minister of State, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Omotayo Alasoadura, Member, and Olusola Adesola, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Member. Other members are; Mr. Shamsuddin Bello, representing the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Charles Ikeah, representative of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Atanda Kolawole Musiliu, representing the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ms. Aisha Umar, representing Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr. M.K Mohammed, representing Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Dr. Dorothy Nwodo, representing the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and ...

The Delta State Executive Council on Tuesday, approved the construction of a 500-capacity auditorium and more road projects across the state. At a post-exco briefing in Asaba, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, disclosed that the decisions reached at the meeting on the projects and other issues would impact positively on the lives of the people. Aniagwu, who was in company with his Works and Urban Renewal counterparts, Chief James Augur and Chief Arthur Akpowhowo, said, "today, at Exco meeting presided by our Governor, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, a lot of projects were approved for construction and with me here are the Commissioners in charge of concerned ministries, including Director-General, Warri/Uvwie and Environs Development Agency, Comrade Ovuozorie Macaulay, whose agency is working hard to transform Warri, Uvwie and environs. "At the meeting, a 500-sitting capacity auditorium was approved for School of Health Technology, Ofuoma and soon...

The Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has expressed felicitations with former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Victor Ochei, on their birthday. The former Governorship aspirant turned 51 today. In a felicitation letter personally signed by him, Senator Omo-Agege commended Ochei for his immense contributions to nation-building. According to Senator Omo-Agege, Ochei's rare chemistry of integrity and tenacity of purpose-led to his emergence as one of the youngest Speakers of state assemblies in Nigeria at the age 42. "As a three-time lawmaker, your uncommon services to the people of Delta State positioned you as an individual with well-honed leadership skills and a passion for public service. "You remain an asset not only to Delta State in particular but also to Nigeria in general. "As you continue to strive to make our dear nation the envy of other nations through your impactful contributions and selfless serv...

It was a roll call of who is who in the political and economic sector as several national and State top dignitaries attended the thanksgiving service of His Excellency, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege on Sunday at the Mother of Redeemer Catholic Church, Effurun. Among the dignitaries present include  Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Secretary to the Federal Government, Boss Mustapha; Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Nasiru El-Rufai (Kaduna), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa) and Hope Uzodinma (Imo). Others are former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori; APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Silva; Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo SAN; Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, lawmakers from both chambers of the National Assembly, captains of industry, among others. Nigeria’s Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan and Delta State Gover...

·          Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan and governor of Delta, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, on Sunday, called for concerted efforts by Nigeria to make the country more progressive. They spoke at the Mother of the Redeemer Catholic Church, Effurun, during a thanksgiving service by Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege. According to them, with collective efforts and determination, Nigeria would be better. Specifically, Osinbajo said, "with the steadfastness in the Senate, we will get it right in the country. "Omo-Agege is committed and we thank God that we are here with our brother to celebrate." Senate President, Lawan, while lauding Omo-Agege for his "courage", said, "as a diverse people with different ethnic and religious backgrounds, we should work together to make Nigeria better." On his part, Okowa said that there was a lot of work to be done and stressed that while Nigerians...

The Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has visited the affected communities for on the spot assessment of the criminality of herdsmen. Displeased by the purported killing of his constituents, aided by military personnel, t he Senator, representing Delta Central in the National Assembly paid an unscheduled visit to Agadama community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State to sympathise with the victims of suspected attack.

The Governor of Delta State, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, on Sunday commended the Nigerian Army and the Police for their prompt intervention in the clash between suspected herdsmen and Uwheru communities in UghelliNorth Local Government Area. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika, the governor expressed gratitude for the peace that had been restored to the communities through the instrumentality of the security agencies. He, however, said that he was saddened by reports of persons, including security agents, feared to have lost their lives. Okowa restated the confidence of the state government in the security agencies to rise to security challenges in the state. He thanked the army authorities for the sustained support to the state in providing security and protecting public facilities across the state. The governor called on the communities affected in the crisis to maintain the peace that had been restored, assuring that the security agents would ...

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has condemned in strong terms, the killing of eight persons in Uwheru Kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. While calling on the Nigeria Police to immediately bring the suspected herdsmen who carried out the unprovoked attacks to justice, Senator Omo-Agege charged the Nigerian Army to fish out its personnel alleged to have accompanied the killers  to perpetuate the heinous crime. The lawmaker called on security agencies to restore normalcy to the affected communities, even as he appealed for calm. On Thursday, suspected herdsmen allegedly aided by soldiers, were said to have attacked Avwon, Agadama, Ohoror, and other communities of Uwheru Kingdom, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. They reportedly killed over eight persons with several others sustaining serious injuries and property, including farms, destroyed. Reacting, Omo-Agege said: "I condemn the unprovoked atta...

The Deputy President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege over the weekend paid a visit to the Olu of Warri, His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Godfrey Abiloye Emiko, Ikenwoli 1 at his Palace in Warri.  The Deputy Senate President also paid a visit to some prominent political leaders across Delta central senatorial district. He visited Chief Ighoyota Amori at his home in Mosogar, Chief Frank Ovie Kokori at his Ovu residence and Chief Pa. Ideh at his Otu-Jeremi residence.    

The Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has emerged the Chairman, South-South Governors’ Forum. Okowa was reportedly selected after elaborate consultation to take over from the outgoing Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, who concluded his two-term in office on Friday, February 14. A statement by Dickson’s Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, congratulated Okowa and called on the governors to extend the same cooperation the outgoing governor enjoyed to Okowa. He noted that the forum could only collectively proffer solutions to the myriad of challenges confronting the South-South region if the governors worked as a team. Meanwhile the Delta State Governor Aide on Media Ossai Ovie Success has Congratulated the governor on his emergence as Chairman, South-South Governors’ Forum.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Duoye Diri, as the winner of the Bayelsa election. The INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, who made this announcement on Friday at the INEC headquarters in Abuja said the certificate of return will be issued immediately to the winner. Yakubu while briefing journalists at the INEC Headquarters confirmed receiving the true certified judgement of the court. According to him, the commission met on Friday morning to review the results of the election, without the votes of the APC which have been voided by the court. The total votes cast after excluding those of the APC now stand at 146,999. PDP polled 143,172 and scored 25 percent as required by the law. As at the time of this report, Senator Diri is in the conference room to receive his certificate of return. He is accompanied by dozens of his supporters, including some leaders of the PDP.

The Governor of Delta State, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, has congratulated the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over Thursday's Supreme Court ruling sacking Bayelsa governor-elect, Mr. David Lyon and his running mate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo. The Court ruled that Degi-Eremienyo presented forged educational certificates, including those of primary, secondary and tertiary schools, to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It held that the Form CF 001 Degi-Eremieoyo submitted to INEC for the purpose of the Nov. 16, 2019 governorship election in the state, contained false information of fundamental nature. The apex court held that since Degi-Eremieoyo shared a joint ticket with the governor-elect, his disqualification invalidated their nomination by the All Progressive Congress (APC). In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba, Okowa described the ruling as a welcomed development for the PDP and its candidates in the governorshi...

The Supreme Court, on Thursday, sacked the governor-elect of Bayelsa State, David Lyon and his Deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo.   The apex court, in a unanimous decision by a five-man panel of Justices led by Justice Mary Odili, held that Degi-Eremieoyo presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.  It held that the Form CF 001 Degi-Eremieoyo submitted to INEC for the purpose of the November 16, 2019, governorship election in the state, contained false information of fundamental nature.   Justice Ejembi Eko who delivered the lead judgement reinstated the November 12, 2019, Judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja that disqualified Degi-Eremieoyo from participating in the governorship poll.   The apex court held that since Degi-Eremieoyo shared a joint ticket with the governor-elect, his disqualification invalidated their nomination by the All Progressive Congress, APC.   ...

Less than 48 hours to the inauguration of Chief David Lyon as the new governor of oils rich Bayelsa State, cracks have emerged in the relationship between him and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva. The crux of Sylva’s grouse with the incoming governor is the refusal of the latter to allow the minister, who helped him win the All Progressives Congress (APC) guber ticket, as well as the election proper, nominate key members of the cabinet. Sylva, a former governor himself, investigations revealed, was proposing to nominate Lyon’s Chief of Staff, Secretary to the State government, as well as commissioners of works, and of finance. Loyalists of the barely literate Lyon are reportedly opposed to Sylva’s move to “hijack the government so early in the day”. One told Pointblanknews.com that he shouldn’t try to cause the kind of trouble he caused when Dr. Good luck Jonathan was Vice President. However, one ally of the minister told Pointblanknews.com ...

Zamfara State Projects Verification Committee revealed how former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar purchased 110 exotic cars for his wives, friends, and appointees. The committee was set up by Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle to verify contracts awarded by the former governor from 2011 to 2019, whether there was any form of over inflation; and the level of payments. Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Ahmad Abubakar Gusau while presenting an interim report of the findings said over 1500 vehicles were bought at a total cost of N8billion, representing 66% of the vehicles purchased by the State Government between 2011 to 2019, which however have not been accounted for. He said the vehicles were procured through the office of the then Secretary to the State Government (SSG) without any accounting officer because only the SSG and former Governor Abdulaziz Yari were awarding contracts, since the Permanent Secretaries were sidelined. “In the course of our duty we we...