It has been a long torturous wait for the Pastor of Grace of God Mission, Ikenna Nnadi, since his disappearance last February under controversial circumstances.
His disappearance continues to be dogged by intrigues, denials, inactions, and cover-ups by the authorities concerned.
The story began on Wednesday, 3rd February 2021, when his elder brother, Uchenna Nnadi, received a text message from an unknown number. The text message simply read: “With heavy hearts, Utchi District Pastor, Ikenna Nnadi’s station found it hard to break this sad news to you that Pastor Ikenna (Nnadi) was involved in a water accident and haven’t been seen till now after much search”.
Not quite clear as to the import of the message, Uchenna waited. The following day, the text message was repeated, apparently re-forwarded to his number. And that began the bizarre journey of unraveling what happened to the Pastor.
A follow-up call to the number was able to provide a sketchy account of what happened. It turned out that the person who sent the text message (names withheld) is only a lay member of the congregation, and was not even officially qualified to speak on the issue. But he recounted the following story.
It was said that Ikenna went to their Church meeting on the 3rd of February at Utchi, Ugboma, in Ndokwa North of Delta State on 3rd of February 2021, with two other pastors. After the meeting, they were on their way back, the speed boat carrying them took in more passengers.
The boat was carrying the two Pastors and seven others, including three women, apart from Ikenna. It was said to have capsized and the only person that was drowned was allegedly Ikenna.
“The Family made attempts, though unsuccessful, to contact the General Overseer of the Church, Bishop Paul Nwachukwu Jnr, who is the current head of the Church and the son of the Founder of the church”, Nnadi told this Magazine.
All the calls were ignored until he sent text messages.
The following conversations took place.
Uchenna: We are having a great challenge locating my younger brother, Pastor Kevin Nnadi of Okpai Ibusu, Grace of God.
Paul Jr: Is he missing
Uchenna: That appears to be so, we have no clear information from his district/station after they attended church meetings across the river.
Paul Jr: Do you have the no of their leader
Uchenna: Nope, except for a number that sent me a text that my brother is missing:
After these conversations, the family waited for any further information but none was forthcoming. The Church made no efforts to contact the family of the missing Pastor. Not even his wife, who is one of them, was communicated with. The wife has been battling with trauma and has been admitted to a hospital (name withheld) since the news filtered in that has husband was missing. After waiting in silence, the family decided to go to the church station where he pastored. The terrain was riverine, and difficult to navigate. So on 10th February 2021, they filed a missing person’s report at the local police station, which was the divisional Police Post, Ashaka, Ndokwa East Local government area. There, it was found out that the Church has made no entry about the missing Pastor to the Police.
This seemed strange to the family of the missing person, who had to mobilize the police to search for those who were with the pastor in the boat.
Subsequently, the vigilante group in the area was called in to help the Police navigate the terrain, and arrests were made of those that traveled with him to the meeting, including the boat driver and the host pastor for the meeting. The reason given by the police not to have been able to affect the arrests alone was that the riverine place has been a difficult and hostile environment for the police as they are known to violently resist arrests.
Some police officers had lost their lives while trying to effect arrests there.
There appears to be a palpable lack of will to prosecute by the local police.
In fact, there were alleged threats by both the community and Church authorities to the family of the missing persons for daring to report the case to the police. But the local police eventually approved of the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigations Department, Asaba. This was on 23rd February 2021.
The suspects were moved to the state headquarters the following day.
It was only after the transfer of the case to Asaba that the Bishop decided to call the family and, in a condescending manner, tried to talk them out of continuing with the case without providing any hope of resolution. He was angrier about the family reporting the case to the police than anxiety over his missing pastor.
This attitude was bizarre, to say the least. And after that, the family started feeling dissatisfied with the way the state police were handling the case that they resolved to petition the Inspector General of Police on the issue.
By then, the suspects have been released from custody.
In a petition dated 15th February 2021, and addressed to the DIG, FIB Abuja, the family Lawyer petitioned the IG on the Issue. On March 10, 2021, a detachment of police detectives arrived in Asaba to take over the case.
Ikenna had graduated from GGM’s theology school in Ọnịcha, Anambra State, and ordained a pastor in 2012. In November 2014 he was posted to the riverine area of Ọkpai Ibusu, and there he has been till the 3rd of February, 2021.
Due to the terrain he worked in, he moved his family out of the parish but remained there. He was, however, always in contact with the family before the unfortunate incident.
Efforts to reach Nwachukwu Jnr by this Magazine were fruitless as his phone was said not to be reachable.
Governor Nyesom Wike is one of the most powerful Governors in the country in terms of his far-reaching influence in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and his position as one of the Governors of Nigeria’s oil producing states. The Governor, who is not oblivious of these facts, has ensured that he used his position to influence salient national issues, though some people insist that his outbursts are sometimes misplaced and politically motivated.
In spite of this, the Governor has continued to gain traction for his constant criticisms of President Muhammadu Buhari, his Government and others he perceive as political enemies, particularly former Governor Chibuike Ameachi.
The former Minister of state for Education under the administration of Goddluck Jonathan has not spared his predecessor in his attacks, a situation that, often overhears the polity. He is blunt. And brash.
Wike’s supporters and indeed his critics are now asking: what does Governor Wike want? While some say the governor is warning up to seek higher political office when his tenure expires in 2023, others who have been closely monitoring his actions since he became the state’s helmsman in 2015, after defeating Dakuku Peterside, a former Director General of NIMASA, said the governor is just naturally a no-nonsense man who does not broach rubbish from any quarters, especially when his state and the Niger Delta is the topic.
Governor Wike’s stubborn stance on these two issues, which many consider to be very close to his heart, according to critics, can be viewed from the manner he takes up those he believe have underdeveloped the oil bearing region, particularly politicians from the area, including the Minister of Transportation, who he accused of not fighting enough for the interests of the region.
Recently, he accused the former governor of mismanaging the resources of the state and hiding under the cover of the Presidency, which he said shields him from prosecution. The governor, again, opened the old wound with his predecessor recently, after accusing the former governor of failing to account for the proceeds from the sale of some state assets. As if that was not enough, Wike also knocked Amaechi and the Federal Government for inaugurating narrow gauge railway from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri at a time the rest of the world was building standard gauge railway.
Wike stated this during the inauguration of 6.1-kilometre Omuihuechi-Omuoko-Omokiri Link Road in the Aluu Ikwerre Local Government Area, last week, insisting that the Minister does not mean well for the State and people of Niger Delta.
According to a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, Wike said it was appalling that the APC Federal Government had continued to shield Amaechi from prosecution for his inability to account for $308m from the sales of the state-owned power plant and other critical assets when he was the governor.
President Muhammadu Buhari
The statement said “People gave you opportunity. You sold our properties, everything. And people are talking in this state because of the government that says they are fighting corruption and protecting people. You (Amaechi) sold our property for $308m and kept for us $208,000.
“That is the kind of people parading themselves in government, for a government that says they are fighting corruption, shame,” he added.
The Governor said it was wrong for the Buhari administration to say it is fighting corruption when people like Amaechi are walking free despite corruption allegations against them. He urged the people of the State not to be deceived by the antics of the APC on the narrow gauge rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, adding that the project is politically motivated.
Wike’s clincher for Amaechi: “Let me warn the man who thinks he has President , he has soldiers, he has police; you should have learnt your lesson by now, that when God has left you there is nothing you can do again.”
The Governor had earlier, in February, slammed Amaechi’s boss, President Buhari accusing him of destroying the country, noting that the President’s successor would face a herculean task repairing the country from the mess that the APC government has created.
Wike said despite the glaring insecurity, religious and ethnic division in the country, the Buhari administration has been living in denial that Nigeria is now more united and secure than ever.
Former governor Godswill Akpabio and minister of Niger Delta Affairs has also come under Wike’s radar of attack after the former was accused of being the sponsor of the Niger Delta Avenger Force, who two weeks ago, called on the Governors from the region to account for over N50 trillion that has accrued to the six oil producing states since 2019.
The militants accused the Governors of mismanaging funds accruals from international oil companies, IOCs internal generated revenue, IGR and federal allocations which should have been used to develop the area.
But while responding to the militants’ threat to shut down oil production, Governor Wike pointed accusing fingers at Akpabio as the one behind the militants.
The six south-south governors had initially set up a confrontation with the Minister after they expressed their dissatisfaction, through Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state and Chairman of the South south Governors’ Forum, the manner Akpabio is running the NDDC and failure by the President to inaugurate a board for the interventionist Commission. Akpabio had responded insisting that the Governors cannot dictate to him or the President .
But Wike blasted Akpabio saying that the Governors are only trying to clean the mess left by the former Governor and other leaders who mismanaged their resources.
“We will tell him that when he was the governor he was acting like a king. There was money that time. The exchange rate was N150 per dollar. Today, it is N500 for a dollar. Akpabio had money but he had the temerity to ask South-South governors what they are doing with 13 percent derivation, the governor said, adding that, “Akpabio should not talk to Rivers State at all. He has no such authority. He is not qualified to talk to Rivers State. If he wants to talk he should concentrate on Akwa Ibom State or else we teach him a lesson here. Akpabio should know that enough is enough.
“If he should talk here I will teach him a lesson. I am not a sycophant and I am not an inconsistent person. I don’t give a damn. He cannot say he sees me in the villa. If he does it again, he will regret it. I am not one of those governors he can turn around.
“I will show you a video where the President said they should come and learn from me what we are doing here. He (Akpabio) went and asked so-called South-South militants that we should render an account of N55 Trillion naira. Where did he get the N55 Trillion from? Akpabio be careful. Don’t go and pay money to people to type propaganda against governors. You will suffer for it at the end of the day. We know what Akpabio was doing as a governor.
“Now he has the temerity to insult South-South governors. We will meet one day. If he did well, why did he fail his senatorial election? You will finish from Abuja and you will come here,” Wike stated.
His dispute with Amaechi
Both were once allies after serving in the administration of former Governor Peter Odili. What has now set them apart, analysts say, is not unconnected with the struggle for control of the soul of the state, ahead the 2023 presidential election when the two leaders are expected to play a critical role.
Even though Governor Wike has not made his interest known concerning the presidential election coming up in three years time, there are suggestions that he intends to run a joint ticket with Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state, who has been widely projected as the PDP trump card for the 2023 presidency. Tambuwal, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives was Governor Wike’s choice as Presidential candidate in the 2015 election, before he lost to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who later clinched the PDP ticket by consensus.
Wike, many insist has yet to forget that painful loss and from all indications, still trying to re-enact the Tambuwal presidential ticket under which, it is speculated, he intends to run as vice president, according to those monitoring, closely, the recent actions of the rivers governor.
For instance, those in this school of thought cited the donation of a whopping N500 million to Sokoto state after a fire incident that gutted the state’s central market in January.
A statement released by Muhammed Bello, spokesman to GovernorTambuwal, after the donation, said Governor Wike has further strengthened the bond between the two states, adding that the funds will go a long way to support the state’s rebuilding efforts, as well as to assist affected traders.
The statement said “River state government has pledged the sum of half a billion naira to support Sokoto State government in rebuilding the Sokoto central market ravaged by fire on Tuesday morning” adding that “Gov. Wike, who visited Sokoto earlier on Wednesday, barely 24 hours after the disaster, said he was shocked and disturbed when he learnt about it.”
The philanthropic gesture sparked a lot of controversies as many said the Governor’s action did not reflect the mood in the state, while others criticized him for making the donation at the expense of the needs of his people.
For instance, some pensioners who were yet to receive their entitlements said the N500 million could go a long way to pay what the government owes them and bring respite to their suffering members.
Charles Jaja, a youth leader in the state lampooned Governor Wike for what he called his financial recklessness, blaming the people of the state for keeping quiet on the matter when they were supposed to speak out. He said “I am disappointed because I am simply worried about our elder statesmen and the good number of youths who sing the praises of the Governor in the face of this financial irresponsibility.”
On his part, Chairman of the Rivers Civil Society Organizations Enefaa Georgewill, said the donation was a misplaced priority when the governor has yet to fully develop the state, adding that residents of the state are still battling to survive due to the current economic hardship. He said the fund was not appropriated by the state House of Assembly.
He said “There are flooding issues that need urgent attention that have not been looked into, every year buildings, plants and people’s source of livelihood are being destroyed due to the disaster that can be managed if the government simply pays attention.
” What Governor Wike has simply done with that donation to Sokoto is eye service and dirty politics. The Governor should be concerned about removing the log in his own eyes before removing the spec in another person’s eyes.”
Governor Wike had remained defiant despite the criticisms insisting that what he did was to extend a handshake across the Niger, noting that Nigerians must come together and build bridges across the country, to forestall religious and ethnic division.
“For those that can connect the dots, Governor Wike is gradually preparing the grounds for the 2023 presidential elections. That he did that in Sokoto where the governor and his ally, Tambuwal, is rumoured to have presidential ambition should mean a lot to the opposition as well as those in the PDP, where the Rivers governor is coming from. Apart from the fact that no other state is known to have made such a donation, half a billion is not what you just throw away except you are setting your gaze on something very important,” Sam Adeoye, a political analyst told the magazine.
Rotimi Amaechi
According to him “Governor Wike, in his estimation, is also trying to turn the attention of the North to the timeworn affiliation with the South-south ahead the 2023 and the fact that he intends to be a kingmaker in the mould of the role played by former Governor Amaechi in the election of President Buhari.”
Adeoye also mentioned the role recently played by Governor Wike to broker truce between Governors Samuel Otom of Benue state and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state, after the latter said herdsmen are entitled to carry AK 47 rifles to defend themselves against cattle rustlers, as a pointer that the controversial governor is nursing a very important ambition.
Mohammed’s comments came amidst public anger against gun wielding herdsmen killing and raping women is some parts of the south and Benue state, particularly where the government has recently signed a law against open grazing of cattle. Otom had responded firmly to the comment made by his PDP colleague, describing him as one of the sponsors of terrorism and herdsmen attacks in the country.
The confrontation between the two PDP governors further polarized the PDP with some party members already taking sides, before Governor Wike waded into the matter by bringing Otom and Mohammed to Rivers state, where they eventually settled.
Speaking after the duo had buried the hatchet, the Governor said he waded into the rift to stop the ruling APC from cashing on it to further decapitate the PDP as the party is preparing to take power come 2023, despite the obvious fact that the Buhari-led administration has failed to provide leadership in the country.
Wike said “We give God the glory today that those differences have been sorted out. We are members of one political party. Like what the Governor of Bauchi and Governor of Benue said, we don’t want the inefficiency, we don’t want the incapacity of the Federal Government in handling the issue of insecurity in the country to rub on us.
“Everybody knows that the Federal Government has failed in providing security for this country. And of course you will not blame them. They (Ortom and Mohammed) are under pressure from their various states. It is not as if they have any personal issues.”
Governor Wike has gone far in his preparation for the next election, according to insiders who said this formed part of the reasons he has been consulting with various political actors across party lines, of the need to form a realignment of forces ahead of the critical presidential election.
Not a few politicians from the PDP and ruling APC have been invited by the Governor to the state, in the last few months to commission some projects. They include, former governors Sule Lamido of Sokoto state and Rochas Okorocha of Imo state, an APC stalwart and senator representing Imo West in the National Assembly.
On January 11, Okorocha, who was speaking in the state to inaugurate the Rumuche/Rumuakunde/Ohna Awuse Link Road in Emohua Local Government Area, shocked not a few Nigerians after he said likeminded politicians from the APC and PDP are already meeting on the future of the country. The Senator who said his visit to the state was part of the realignment of forces among the political parties ahead the 2023 election, said he’s prepared to work with Wike to achieve a better Nigeria.
Okorocha said “in this dispensation, there are many bad people in APC, many bad people in PDP. I think the good people of APC and good people of PDP must come together for the purpose of making Nigeria great.
‘’I can imagine joining forces with Wike to take this country to greater heights. Governor Wike, this is my hand of friendship. Let us bring all like minds, all great people of Nigeria together rather than complaining , let us come together to make this country greater and greater as it should be.”
It remains to be seen whether Wike’s efforts will pay off at the end of the day.
The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led Lagos State Government has come hard on Cultists who engage in heinous activities.
Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, approved a 21-year jail term for convicted cultists in the State, pledging to curtail and curb cult activities in the State, which have taken many lives.
Approving the jail term, the Governor signed the bill for the Prohibition of Unlawful Societies and Cultism 2021 into Law at Lagos House, Ikeja. He, also, signed three other Bills into law – the Lagos State Audit Service Commission (Amendment) Law of 2019, Lagos State Public Procurement Bill of 2021 and Coronavirus Pandemic Emergency Law of 2021.
According to him, the State has suffered the negative effects of unlawful societies and cultism and the new law seeks to make parents more responsible.
He said the new law sought to make parents show more interests in the upbringing of their children and wards to ensure they did not become a burden to society.
The State House of Assembly, in February, passed the anti-cultism bill, which stipulated a 15-year jail term for anyone found guilty of abetting cultists and residents who willfully allowed their property to be used as meeting points by cultists.
The anti-cultism law repealed the Cultism (Prohibition) Law of 2007 (now Cap. C18, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015) and provided for more stringent punitive measures.
It also made its application all-encompassing and applicable to the general public, as against the restriction of the previous law to students of tertiary institutions.
The bill to amend the State’s Audit Law of 2015 was initiated by the executive to address observed flaws hindering the successful implementation of the extant Audit Law, Cap. A13, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
With the amendments, the Central Internal Audit (CIA) which was a department in the Ministry of Finance would now be a department under the Audit Service Commission.
This was to bring auditors under one body for effective administration and independence of internal auditors in line with best global practices.
The Lagos State Public Procurement Agency Law originally enacted in 2011, formed the legal bedrock for the public procurement regime in the state.
The Law was based on the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) model which was a properly regulated procurement system standard on international best practices.
While discussing the terrifying insecurity in Nigeria, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wasa, dared say that Nigerians in the Diaspora had no business discussing the horrific situation. Here, a Nigerian in Diaspora tells Wasa calls Wasa ignorant, and tells him how disgraceful his (Wasa’s) opinion is
I was appalled to hear of the disgraceful statements attributed to Nigeria’s Deputy Speaker that Nigerians abroad have no right to speak about insecurity at home.
Such an asinine remark is shocking, but not unexpected. Indeed it is part of the logical consequences of brain drain that dim wits will fill the power vacuum. At a time that Nigeria is exporting global leaders like Ngozi (Okonjo)Iweala, Akin Adesina and Amina Mohamed to the headship of multilateral institutions, it is the likes of Idris Wase left in power.
So, Nigerians abroad who remit $22b yearly to Nigeria are NOT Nigerian enough to comment on Fulani violence, but Fulanis from abroad can come into Nigeria, kill Nigerians and harm our agro-economy with impunity?
Sensible countries understand the value of their Diaspora as a strategic foreign human capital reserve and woo them accordingly. President (Olusegun) Obasanjo’s administration certainly did so and introduced the Annual Diaspora day. Indeed, when on a VOA interview with one of Obasanjo’s ministers he said Diaspora was “inconsequential”, we immediately took him up as out of tune with his President’s policy priority.
Unfortunately, the intellectual quality of leadership has gravely declined under President Muhammadu Buhari that you can now find members of Parliament representing cows over humans.
At a time when US President Joe Biden’s administration has appointed more high profile Nigerians than ever in history, it is pathetic that Idris Wase is denigrating us at home. Thus, it is said that a prophet is without honor in his own home.
The reason why the US and UN do not, as a principle, negotiate with terrorists is not for lack of funds or concern, but strategic – do not create a precedent that will make your citizens or diplomats become easy profit targets for kidnappers!
Gov. Nasir El-Rufai sought out Fulanis abroad and paid them money not to kill Kaduna state people because he, their Fulani brother, was now the Governor.
What did this mean?
It meant that these foreign Fulanis could now monetize the killing of Kaduna people.
It meant that they could do so with impunity because their brother, the Fulani, was Governor.
What happened?
Fulani kidnap syndicate now have established entire kidnap villages in Kaduna state where hostages are housed, fed, killed or freed from, with impunity.
The two-hour Abuja-Kaduna road is now more dangerous from Fulani kidnap syndicate than from Boko Haram on Benesheikh road in the North-east.
Bad governance has consequences as does lack of principles.
Nigerians in Diaspora on the other hand save the country. While politicians are looting money abroad, our remittances have stabilized the economy from hemorrhaging.
Indeed, recently the CBN switched to dollar remittances for money transfers to make up for the shortfall in petro-dollar incomes.
Nigerians abroad are part of the few nationalities in Diaspora who get nothing in return for the economic value they bring.
The time has come for us to consider having a member of the National Assembly representing the Diaspora.
Idris Wase does not represent well the good and hospitable people of Plateau who host more expatriates than any state in the North.
He represents a typical Nigerian politician who doesn’t know his job and is illiterate on democracy and governance.
The Management of one of Nigeria’s Domestic Airlines, Arik Air, is up in arms against a passenger, R.O. Iselalumhe, a Legal Practitioner in Benin.
The Airline, in a press release, is accusing the Lawyer of ignorance, of causing public panic, and of deliberately de-marketing it.
The Airline is, therefore, threatening to take action against the Lawyer.
Arik’s reaction, in a statement signed by its Chief Executive Officer, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, stemmed from a post in the Social Media, by Barrister Iselalumhe where he narrated what he termed a traumatic experience on board the Airline on two consecutive days – March 7, and March 8.
In the post, titled ARIK AIR, A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN Isenalumhe said that trouble began on March 7, when he boarded an Arik Air flight from Benin to Abuja. He said the aircraft struggled on taking-off, to the apprehension of passengers. He said it took them 90 minutes to land in Abuja, a trip which, ordinarily, ought not to have been more than 30 minutes.
He said as if that was not enough, he had a more traumatic experience on his return journey, March 8, on the same aircraft. After a delay, of about an hour, they had an air return.
15 minutes into the flight, he narrated, the Pilot informed the passengers of a problem, and said he was returning to Abuja and added that NEMA and Fire Service trucks had been informed, and were waiting for them. However, he said it took them about 75 minutes of hovering before they finally landed, for, according to the Pilot, he was burning fuel before making a landing.
Isenalumhe then expressed fear over the safety of passengers using Arik Air, and alleged that it does seem that AMCON, which took over the running of the Airline on Receivership, was more interested in collecting money to off-set the debt owed it by Arik Air, than servicing the Aircraft for the safety of the passengers, dismissing the fleet as non-serviceable
But the Management of the Airline has taken a serious exception to the lawyer’s narrative. Isenalumhe’s allegation reads;
ARIK AIR: A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN.
“On the 7the of March 2021, I boarded an ArIk fight from Benin to Abuja. The flight was 5.50pm from Benin.
The take-off from Benin Airport was traumatic and clearly indicative that the plane was not in order.
“We, however, managed to land at Abuja Airport after 1 hour 15 mins.
“I was to return back to Benin on the 8th March 2021, at 4.15 pm with same aircraft.
“After an hour delay, we managed to take off. 15 minutes into the flight, there was an announcement from the pilot that the flight cannot continue. The reason given was that there is an opening somewhere may be a door. The plane is to return back to Abuja before any disaster.
“One hour after the announcement, the plane was still hovering around and could not land. The pilot explained that he had to burn out fuel before landing. At this time, those praying have ceased. Those wailing have become quiet too.
“Suddenly, the pilot announced that he was about to land. He assured us that fire brigade was fully mobilised on ground as well as NEMA. Tension increased once more inside the aircraft. Prayers started once more
“However we managed to land at the Abuja Airport .
“Two passengers confirmed that they had two previous experiences with the same aircraft. Another narrated how one of the aircraft engine had failed to start in an aborted Lagos – Abuja flight.
“I have not recovered from the trauma.
I am told that the particular aircraft is still flying.
“It appears that AMCON, the new managers of Arik Air, is only interested in recouping the debt owed by Arik Air which they have purchased from the banks. And in doing that, passengers lives don’t matter.
This is a warning to all air travelers. ARIK AIR IS A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN UNLESS URGENT STEPS ARE TAKEN TO GROUND THEIR AIRCRAFTS WHICH ARE NO LONGER SERVICEABLE.
“R. O lsenalumhe Esq ( Benin based legal practitioner)”
But in a Press statement titled: Arik Air Operations Safe the management accused the lawyer of mischief and deliberately causing panic. It said its crew were professionals, and took a professional decision to return to base after noticing a fault.
Vouching for the integrity of its fleet, Captain Ilegbodu, said the Airline operates with new generation aircraft, with fittings which enhance safety operations. He, also, exonerated AMCON from the allegation of milking the Airline dry to the detriment of the safety of the travelling members of the public.
Finally, he threatened action against Barrister Isenalumhe, accusing him of mischief, and wondering why he did not make a report to the right channels, instead of going to the Social Media to cause panic, knowing how sensitive the Airline industry is.
Following is the Airline’s statement titled: Arik Air Operations Safe
“Our attention has been drawn to stories published on the social media claiming that Arik Air operations are unsafe following an incident last week.
“The incident referred to by the author of the article occurred in Abuja on the 8th of March 2021. For the records, the actions taken by the crew of the flight were strictly precautionary as the Pilot-in-Command of the aircraft took the necessary safety measures by returning the aircraft to land as they have been well trained to do in line with standard practice, after observing a cautionary indication light in the cockpit.
“Our aircraft are modern, next generation aircraft equipped with redundancies and annunciators that enhance safe operations in all stages of flight.
“Arik Air in line with standard practice and being a responsible corporate organization notified the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), who subsequently checked, certified and returned to service the aircraft after all mandatory reports and processes had been fulfilled in accordance with global safety standards.
“It is unfortunate that one R. Isenalumhe, a trained lawyer who raised the alarm displayed an unprofessional approach to this issue as he is not an expert to declare an aircraft unsafe. We had expected him to go the extra mile to investigate and ask probing questions from professionals in the industry or refer the incident to the appropriate regulatory body, the NCAA, if he felt so concerned about air safety. We wonder what his motive may be and Arik reserves the right to take action on this libelous and unprofessional conduct.
“Arik Air as an organization goes over and above safety standards in all facets of our operations. This is clearly evident in our over 14 years of operating as an airline. Safety is our cardinal policy and we will never operate an aircraft that is unsafe. We seize this opportunity to assure our esteemed customers of our unflinching commitment to safety which can never be compromised.
“Arik has not made any repayments to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) on its pre-receivership debt as claimed by Mr. Isenalumhe. Neither has AMCON put any undue pressure on Arik for repayments at the detriment of operation. Instead, AMCON had provided funds and all forms of support to assist the airline in its operations.
“Signed
Captain Roy Ilegbodu
Chief Executive Officer”
Arik Air, founded in 2002, was once the largest Airline in Nigeria, with an appreciable modern fleet, called new generation Aircraft. But due to alleged bad management, and interference from its founder, Michael Arumemi-Ikhide, the Airline was enmeshed in debt, and a depletion of its fleet.
AMCON bought over its indebtedness, and it has been on receivership since 2017.
The Ondo State Government has accused the immediate past Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Agboola Ajayi, of holding on to Government properties, almost, a month after leaving office.
The former Deputy Governor is reported to have refused to return official vehicles attached to his office.
Ajayi ceased to be number two citizen of the state on 23rd of February, after completing his four-year tenure.
This information was obtained through a letter from the office of the State Head of Service.
The letter, addressed to the former Deputy Governor, dated 16th February, 2021, indicated that he has been officially informed to submit to the General Administration Department of the Governor’s office, all Government properties in his possession, including vehicles and other movable and immovable assets on, or before 23rd February, 2021.
Three weeks after his tenure ended, Ajayi was still in possession of Government vehicles.
Another follow up letter, was said to have been addressed to the former him with the tittle “Re: Submission of All Government Properties”.
The letter which was dated 1st March, 2021 showed that Ajayi was still in possession of one Land Cruiser SUV and two New Toyota Hilux vans.
There has been no response from Ajayi so far.
The former Deputy Governor had an untidy relationship with Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. He resigned from the APC, the party under which both of them came into office, and joined the PDP, without resigning from office as the Deputy Governor.
His hope to run against the Governor under the banner of the PDP was dashed when he lost at the PDP Governorship primary.
He dumped the PDP within weeks, and joined the Zenith Labour Party, a relatively unknown party in the state, with former Governor Olusegun Mimiko as it’s most prominent member.
Ajayi’s much touted popularity failed him, as he was trounced by Akeredolu, even in his Local Government Area.
Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has reiterated the need to raise the bar of excellence in support of the people’s expectations of good governance, just as he cautioned relations and friends of political office holders not to put unnecessary pressure on them.
The Governor maintained that his administration was committed to sustaining the bar of achievements recorded during his first term and even raise it to an optimal level.
Governor Akeredolu spoke on Monday at the Swearing-In of four new commissioners in Akure, the state capital.
The Governor had, last week, sent the names of the four Commissioners to the State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.
The newly inaugurated Commissioners are: Sir. Charles Titiloye, Mr Donald Ojogo, Mr. Raimi Aminu and Mr. Wale Akinterinwa.
According to the Governor, Sir. Charles Titiloye will serve as Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Ojogo will also return to the Ministry of Information and Orientation while Akinterinwa will return to the Ministry of Finance, Aminu who was the special Adviser to the Governor on Lands, Work and Infrastructures in the first term will now serve as the Commissioner for Works.
Governor Akeredolu stated that he did not play-down other Ministries, adding that all agencies are equally important in the State of polity.
“The choice of four Ministries as Agencies of Government requiring immediate attention should be clear to the discerning.
“The other ministries and agencies of the State are equally important”
He noted that the choice and quick resolve to bring the new Commissioners back, so soon, after the dissolution of the State Executive Council, underscores the importance attached to the quality of the services rendered to the State in the First Term.
He also stressed that his administration would tackle all manners of decadence in the public service.
“Our administration will discourage recklessness, disloyalty and all acts which interrogate any claims to decency and propriety.
The battle for the actual winner of the Senatorial By-election for Imo North continued Monday morning, March 15, with the dismissal of a suit filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Frank Ibezim, at an Abuja High Court. The suit was meant to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to issue him with a Certificate of Return.
The seat became vacant when Senator Ben Uwajimogu, APC, passed on in 2020. During the by-election, the APC candidate, Ibezim, won. But it was a victory enmeshed in controversy, forcing INEC to declare the APC, as a party, winner, but without the name of the candidate who won.
INEC said it was left for the Court to decide the winner in the APC. The INEC decision stemmed from the fact that the APC had two candidates, both of whom contested – Ibezim and Senator Ifeanyi Ararume. It was the consequence of a division among those who screened both Ibezim and Ararume at the Primary. While a fraction declared Ibezim as the candidate, another declared Ararume winner, disqualifying Ibezim for alleged discrepancies in his educational certificate. He committed perjury, it was alleged.
Ibezim was backed by the Imo APC Government and the party structure. In a court action instituted by Ararume, he, (Ararume), was defeated upto the Supreme Court level. But it was not uhuru for Ibezim as a Federal High Court, also, disqualified him based on the alleged certificate forgery against him.
Moves by the PDP candidate, Emmanuel Okewulonu, who came second, to be given the Certificate of Return, based on the disqualification of both Ibezim and Ararume has not materialised. It is still a subject of litigation in the court.
On his part, Ibezim went to an Abuja High Court to compel INEC to issue him with a Certificate of Return, INEC having declared APC winner, and Ararume having lost in Courts to him.
It was the case that was thrown out this Monday by the Court. He probably forgot Okewulonu’s case in court, against him, for perjury.
The High Court sitting at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, where Ibezim went to, presided over by Justice Danlami Senchi, struck out his case for lack of merit.
This judgement, however, is not likely to end the controversy over the winner.
Ibezim and the APC are likely to pursue the case upto the Supreme Court, for whatever it will be worth.
Meanwhile, the Imo West Senatorial Zone suffers without a representation in the Senate. Imo State is the ultimate loser.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has spoken on the declaration of Biafra State by former Militant and Niger Delta agitator, Alhaji Muhajeed Asari Dokubo.
Mohammed, speaking for the Federal Government, described the reported declaration of Biafra Customary Government by Asari Dokubo as a “theatre of the absurd by a joker seeking attention’’.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on the development in Lagos on Monday, Mohammed said President Muhammadu Buhari administration will not be distracted by such absurdity.
“I am sure you have heard of the theatre of the absurd, that is the best way I can describe it.
“If Asari Dokubo wants to form and run a phantom government, I think he is free to do so.
“This administration will not be distracted because we still have a lot to do.
“We are not ready to give any attention or time to a joker like Dokubo who is just looking for attention.
“We will just take it as one of these entertainment things.
“The beauty about Nigeria is that it is never a dull country, you must have one thing or the other to entertain you,’’ he said.
Dokubo, leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Salvation Force, on Sunday, March 15, announced himself as the leader of the new Biafra Customary Government of the Biafran State.
The fanthom Government was announced with names of some leaders by one Uche Mefor, who claimed to be its head of Information and Communications.
For years now, Dokubo has relocated to Benin Republic where he has a University and a lot of establishments.
For the second time in four days, armed bandits have invaded a Primary School in Kaduna State.
In broad day light, 9.00am, on Monday, bandits stormed LEA Primary School in Rama village, Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area, whisking away yet to be ascertained number of teachers and pupils.
Reports say, the incident took place around 9;00am when the pupils were leaving the assembly ground, heading to their classes.
Kaduna State government confirmed the incident, saying that, it was still putting together the actual number of pupils and teachers reported to have been kidnapped.
Eye witness accounts say the bandits rode on about 12 motorcycles.
One parent, Halilu, was quoted as saying he saw his son on a motorcycle being whisked away. Another man, Mohammed Birnin Gwari, in agony, said two of his brothers, both teachers, were abducted.
The State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said, “The Kaduna State Government is receiving security reports of kidnapping of some pupils and teachers in a primary school located in Rema, Birnin Gwari local government area.
“According to preliminary reports, the incident occurred at an LEA Primary School in the LGA.
“The Kaduna State Government is currently obtaining details on the actual number of pupils and teachers reported to have been kidnapped and will issue a comprehensive statement as soon as possible,” Aruwan
One resident, Malam Usman Mohammed, said, “for now, we don’t know the number of people taken by the kidnappers. They came on motorcycles, about 20 motorcycles, which they used to carry the pupils and their teachers. As we speak, only two teachers have been confirmed to be among the victims, but for the pupils, we can’t say for now.”
Another resident, Mai Saje Rama, who said many of the locals have gathered in the school said Security Agents have been sent for.
However, vigilante groups, have braved the situation, and are said to be in hot pursuit of the bandits.
