As part of efforts aimed at raising funds to upgrade the face of infrastructure in the University, the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, over the weekend, organized its inaugural Alumni Convergence, held at the ASUU-NAU Secretariat. At the event, various awards of recognition were conferred on deserving Nigerians, including the House of Representatives Member for Awka North and South Federal Constituency, Prof. Lilian Orogbu; the Senator representing Anambra South, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah; Iyom Uche Ekwunife; and Prof. Charles Esimone, for their outstanding contributions to the University and humanity at large. Other notable award recipients include Chief Hyacinth Johnpaul Chidiebere, Chief Jerry…
Author: Kenechukwu Ofomah
The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) on Friday, condemned the duly and lawfully constituted Governing Councils in the Federal Universities, Polytechnics, Monotechnics, Colleges of Education, and other Degree Awarding Institutions. Presently, there are at least 203 Federal Government controlled Degree Awarding Institutions in Nigeria including 92 Monotechnics, 43 Universities, 41 Polytechnics, and 27 Colleges of Education. Since June 2023, at least 203 of those Degree Awarding Institutions have been without ‘duly constituted Governing Councils, following the Federal Government’s unilateral dissolution of Boards and Councils of Federal Agencies, Parastatals, and Institutions including the Governing Councils/Boards of…
Gunmen on Thursday morning shot dead, a former President-General of Amansea Development Union in Anambra State, Chief Cajetan Nwokike. Nwokike’s death comes less than two months after the President-General of Umuoji, Chief Silas Onyima, was shot dead in his bedroom by assassins. The death of the former President-General was disclosed by the National President of the Association of Past Presidents-General of Anambra State, APPAS, Chief Omife I Omeife, in a statement forwarded to journalists on Friday. The motives for the killing remain unknown, although the Amansea community has of late, become a haven for cultists, who have fled the state capital city of Awka, following the cult wars in…
The Marine Police of Anambra State Command says it has recovered the bodies of the three remaining victims of the unfortunate boat accident involving a movie cast on Wednesday. Recall that the unfortunate boat, which was one of the two that conveyed the crew to a film location in Anambra West LGA of Anambra State, was returning to Asaba, where it took off, from when the accident happened. Six actors and an actress were successfully rescued from the water immediately. Two others who were unconscious were also pulled out with the aid of fishermen and conveyed to the Delta State Command Marine Police Jetty…
Residents of Anambra State may soon heave a sigh of relief if the recent promise of the State Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye is anything to go by. CP Adeoye is warning cultists, insurgents, and other hoodlums attempting to destabilize the state that their days are numbered, as there is no hiding place for them anywhere in Anambra. Recently, the state capital has witnessed renewed cult-related killings, with over 12 persons counted to have been killed in the past week. But while reacting to another massive feat recorded by the Police-led Joint Security Force in the State, which invaded and destroyed…
Educational materials worth millions of naira were on Wednesday, distributed to pupils of various schools in Enugwu-Otu community in Anambra East Council Area of Anambra State. The items were sourced from the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, and some well-meaning illustrious people of Enugwu Otu community, in keeping with the Public Private Community Partnership program of the State Government. The distribution happened at the launching of Enugwu Otu Education Development Program. (E.D.P.) Presenting the items, the State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh said it was in line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s decision to make quality education accessible to the rural populace of the hard-to-reach areas in Anambra…
As Eid-El Fitr celebrations take shape across the country, members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), in the Southeast have been urged to be upbeat in their quest for more appreciable terms of engagement with the governments of the geopolitical zone. A chieftain of the MACBAN and immediate past MACBAN Chairman, South East Zone, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki made the call in a goodwill message to Muslim and Christian Brethren across South East Nigeria and beyond on the occasion of the 2024 Eid-el Fitr celebration. Siddiki said the Southeast MACBAN is appreciative of known expressions of warm fellowship towards them, but solicits for expansion and sustenance of…
As part of its statutory mandates and obligations to protect lives and property, the Anambra State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Comdt. Maku Olatunde on Wednesday visited the Eid prayer ground at Amawbia, in Awka South Council Area of the state. The visit, according to the Anambra NSCDC Commandant, was to supervise and coordinate the already emplaced security to keep all worshippers safe and avoid any eventuality. Recall that as part of measures to achieve a smooth Eid-El Fitr celebrations in Anambra, the NSCDC had announced the deployment of 951 of its personnel across the 21 Local…
The Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof Charles Esimone, has made it clear that only the Federal Ministry of Education will appoint the next acting Vice Chancellor of the university in accordance with the necessary university laws. Dr Emmanuel Ojukwu, the Special Adviser on Public Relations and Special Duties to the Vice Chancellor, made the clarification in reaction to a media report alleging that there were plans to impose somebody on the university early in June as its new Vice Chancellor of the institution, described the allegation as unfounded and false. The tenure of the present Vice-Chancellor is expected to end in the coming months and…
Achina Community in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State may not be blessed with a vast land mass like its neighbors, but that is the least of the worries of members of the community. A major challenge also contributing to the shrinking of the inadequate land space, is the menace of erosion, which has eaten deep into the people’s lands, vacated homesteads, and separated families from their kits and kins. TNC correspondent who visited the community recently, reports that the inhabitants are living in fear, as the clouds gather for another season of rain. With over ten active erosion…
In what appears to be a major political upset in Anambra State, critical stakeholders from Anambra Central Senatorial District have rooted for Valentine Ozigbo, a prominent Nigerian business leader and philanthropist, to emerge as the next governor of the state, come 2025. The stakeholders’ position came to the fore during an interactive meeting they had with Ozigbo in Awka, over the weekend. The stakeholders drawn from the various wards in Anambra Central said they are only interested in securing a better Anambra. Addressing the stakeholders, Ozigbo promised to lead the State to a more enviable height and for only one term of four years if voted to power, after which he…
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa, has strongly condemned the violence and senseless killings targeting innocent residents of communities in Kogi State, notably in areas such as Bagana, Otutubatu, Iyade, Agbenema, Agojeju-Odo, and other affected regions within Omala Local Government Area. Unknown gunmen had invaded Agojeju Odo in Omala local government area of Kogi state, leaving 19 people dead and several houses set ablaze. Just recently, gunmen attacked remote villages in North-Central Nigeria’s Plateau state, killing at least 140 people. In Benue, no fewer than 50 persons, including a family of seven, were…
The Imo State Police Command says its operatives of Obowo Divisional Headquarters, have arrested the owner of ‘Our Guest House’, Umulogho, Obowo, Ibe Obasi, 38yrs, who was allegedly involved in the murder of a 25-year-old Ebuka Udemba, an indigene of Umuokpa in Obowo LGA of Imo State. The arrest followed an outcry raised by a Rights Group, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, RULAAC, after it received complaints about the arrest of people of the community after they protested over the death of the young boy. TNC investigations gathered that the late Chukwuebuka, was on Thursday, accused of stealing a cell phone…
The commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Aderemi Adeoye has raised concerns that some influential persons are deploying resources to undermine his command’s efforts to restore normalcy in the State. According to him, such sabotage has resulted in the few security breaches that occurred in the state in recent times, which are the attacks on police stations and the cult-related killings that recently surged in Awka. Recall that last weekend, about six persons were murdered in the state capital city of Awka. Also, recall that last year had seen so many protests sponsored by some individuals alleging a lot…
There is serious outrage among citizens of Nigeria, following the recent commencement of implementation of the new Electricity Tariff, as announced by the Federal Government. A notice it issued last month said in furtherance to the April 2024 Supplementary Multi-Year Tariff Order, the Federal Government had effective from the 3rd of April, 2024, directed an upward tariff adjustment of N225 per kilowatt of electricity for customers on Service Band A. The new tariff represents over 300 percent increase on the initial charge for a kilowatt of electricity which was put at N68. Some citizens resident in Anambra State, in…
A joint group comprising the enforcement team of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) and men of the Anambra State Vigilante Group (AVG) on Thursday, dislodged illegal occupants from an uncompleted building at Amawbia, Awka South LGA, intended for use as a hotel, due to concerns over threats and nuisances to the surrounding environment. The move, which was prompted by a surge in drug peddling and other illicit enterprises within the environment, saw the combined team act swiftly to dislodge over 300 individuals from the structure. TNC’s further inquiries revealed that the occupants were people from different states including…
Parents who raise their children to appreciate material possessions over love and hard work have been reminded that they are only setting their children’s growth and worldview on a negative path. The wife of Anambra State Governor, Mrs Nonye Soludo made this known while speaking with members of the women’s wing of Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), at the governor’s lodge Amawbia. ASATU is the umbrella body of all town unions in the state and the women’s wing comprises leaders of the women’s arm of the town unions across all communities of the state. Addressing the women, Mrs.…
The Ihiala High Court sitting in Nnewi, Anambra State, presided over by Justice C.N. Mbonu-Nwenyi, has rejected an oral application for bail brought before it by Ikenna Obidiegwu Esq, counsel to Chukwudi Odimegwu, the first accused person currently standing trial in connection with the abduction of the Labour Party governorship candidate in the 2021 Anambra State governorship election, Chief Obiorah Agbasimalo. The court rather directed the defence counsel to prepare a written application for bail and file same at Ihiala High Court for adjudication. The development followed an oral application brought by Obidiegwu shortly after the fourth Prosection Witness, PW4,…
Over one thousand former political appointees of former Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, have threatened to work against the re-election of the incumbent governor, Chukwuma Soludo, and his All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) during the 2025 Governorship election, if he fails to pay their severance allowances within one month. At a Town Hall meeting held in Awka, the former appointees agreed in a communique that the failure of Governor Soludo to pay their severance allowance would leave them with no other option than to work for another candidate in the upcoming election. The appointees, who included former commissioners, Special Advisers (SPAD), Senior Special Assistants (SSAs), Special Assistants (SA), and Executive Assistants (EA) from between 2014 to 2022, said the ultimatum became necessary after the governor failed to…
As part of efforts to promote quality education for pupils in his constituency, the member representing Aguata Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon Dom Okafor on Tuesday, inaugurated a 3-in-1 classroom block he completed at Community Primary School, Umuona in Aguata Council Area of Anambra state. Also on Tuesday, the federal lawmaker inaugurated a batch of all-in-1 solar street lights he executed in the Umuona community. The classroom project was sponsored by the Federal Arbitration Panel, Abuja, while the solar projects were sponsored by the Federal Cooperative College, Oji-River, all attracted by Hon Okafor under the 2023 National Budget…
The Joint Security Force in Anambra State on Tuesday said it has intensified the manhunt for insurgents who attacked two Police Stations in the State recently. Recall that insurgents had late last month, attacked the Neni Divisional Police Headquarters with Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, although no personnel was hurt, nor any arm carted away. Also in the past month, the Anambra State Vigilante office at Amichi was attacked and an operative set ablaze, alongside the building and a security vehicle. The Security forces immediately launched a manhunt for the attackers. Speaking with newsmen on Tuesday, the spokesperson of the Police in Anambra…
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the 13th Zonal Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Ukpo-Dunukofia, AIG Godwin Aghaulor, has ordered investigations into an allegation that one Mrs Mmesoma Odili of Umuosiegbo village in Umunya, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra state has lost her three-month-old pregnancy while in detention at the Zone 13 Headquarters, Ukpo. The Command’s Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Ihunwo disclosed this in a chat with our correspondent in Ukpo, the headquarters of the command. Recall that the police had to arrest Mmesoma when they could not lay hands on her husband over a land dispute in…
A stalwart of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Valentine Ozigbo has called on the people of Anambra, and all Nigerians to remain steadfast, and to use this Easter season to reflect on how best to discharge our primary responsibilities as citizens, which is to effectively hold our government and leaders accountable. Ozigbo, who was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP during the 2021 Governorship Election in Anambra State, made the call in an Easter Message he signed on Sunday. According to him, this citizen’s task entails demanding qualitative good governance from the nation’s leaders, in fulfilment of Section…
Anambra State Police Command says its operatives have raided a camp belonging to insurgents in Ogbunka community in Orumba South Local Government Area of the state. Police Public Relations Officer, in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga made the disclosure in a press statement issued on Saturday in Awka, Anambra State Capital. He said the raid was ordered following constant attacks on police facilities, using improvised explosive devices (IEDs). “In the hunt for gunmen who attacked two Police Stations at Awgbu in Orumba North and Neni in Anaocha LGA in the last two weeks, Police-Led Joint Security Force was ordered by…
The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development, FENRAD, says Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, through his policies in the pension administration and infrastructure areas, is giving a human face to governance. FENRAD Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nwafor made the observation, following the governor’s promise at Christ the King Cathedral (CKC) Aba, where he pledged to commence payment of pension. Nwafor noted that many senior citizens had confirmed credit alert receipt in outstanding pensions. The FENRAD boss described the governor’s disposition as commendable, given that he had initially stated that he couldn’t clear the outstanding backlog as promised earlier…
Former Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has been called out for being responsible for the heightened insecurity and violence pervading parts of the Southeast region. A retired Professor of Political Science at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, and rights activist, Prof Obasi Igwe made the allegation while unveiling a Special report on insecurity in the Southeast, launched by the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, RULAAC, and the Action Group on Free Civic Space, AGFCS. The launch of the report took place in Enugu. Presenting the report, Prof Igwe posited that at the onset of President Buhari’s administration, there…
Anambra State High Court sitting in Awka, the state capital, has adjourned a suit seeking the return of their schools taken over by the East Central Government in 1970 by some proprietors of the schools. The Proprietors of the said schools had at the court session, presented their 5th evidence in the ongoing case it instituted against the State Government. Among some of the schools affected were Metropolitan College, Onitsha, Basden Memorial School, Isulo, among others. After Counsel to the Plaintiffs announced the presence of a witness, Mr. Anthony Chude, the court admitted as/in evidence two depositions earlier made by…
Following the successful conclusion of a two-day Riverside Resilience workshop, aimed at unveiling Anambra’s flood-resilient building traditions, the Anambra State Physical Planning Board, ANSPPB in conjunction with Heinrich Böll (a German NGO) and ADD.apt (an urban planning Architectural firm), on Wednesday, embarked on a field visit to select coastal communities in Anambra East and West Local Government Areas. The two-day workshop held in Awka attracted key stakeholders to develop initiatives aimed at exploring methodologies to pair indigenous knowledge with innovative solutions that ensure the environmental preservation of traditional architecture to build flood-resilient communities in flood-prone areas. The target was to find ways to develop…
As part of steps to unravel the roots, multiple dimensions, and consequences of insecurity in the Southeast, and proffer appropriate recommendations to holistically address insecurity, a Special Report on Insecurity in the Southeast was on Wednesday launched in Enugu. The report titled ‘Unveiling the Roots of Insecurity, Healing the Wounds of Human Rights Violations in Southeast Nigeria: A Path towards Peace, Open Democratic Space and a Prosperous Future’, was published by the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, RULAAC in partnership with Action Group on Free Civic Space (AGFCS). The report was a sequel to the various stakeholders convening…
Prince and Princess Ltd, developer of properties at a multi-billion naira estate belonging to Praco Ltd has sent a passionate appeal to President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene in the unlawful demolition of it’s property located at Pot 581 E27 Cadastral Zone, Kugbo- Abuja. The Developer disclosed that officials of the Federal Capital Development Agency, acting on the orders of the FCT Minister, Barr Nyesom Wike, had on Wednesday 27th March, 2024, invaded the project site with a detachment of over 300 security personnel including the Army, the Navy, the Police and many others, and destroyed the properties. The said…
