News
Rivers APC bombs Ugochinyere, says his comments are the invidious rants of a meddlesome interloper
… demands an unreserved apology to Rivers people within 48hrs
The Leader/Chairman of the Caretaker Committee (CTC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Sir Tony Okocha has described the comments made by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, the Honourable Member Representing Ideato Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives as “the invidious rants of a meddlesome interloper.”
Sir (Chief) Tony Okocha made this submission on Wednesday while briefing the press at the Rivers State Secretariat of the APC in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Recall that Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, one of the opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives, under the aegis of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) had expressed strong disapproval of the Amendment of the Local Government Law of Rivers State by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
In a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, 22nd March, 2024, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, who prides himself as the “Spokesman” of CUPP described the action of the Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly as an act of “impunity”, “legislative rascality,” and “a coup against democracy.”
Speaking to newsmen earlier today, the Leader/Chairman of the CTC of the Rivers APC said that the Rivers APC is peeved at the concocted tissues of lies by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, wondering where he got the locus to speak so vehemently, since he doesn’t represent any of the 13 Federal Constituencies in Rivers State.
Speaking further, the Leader/Chairman of the APC in Rivers State said: “We are aware, stemming from profound research, that Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere represents a Constituency in Imo State, and that he did nothing and said nothing at the time Imo State was a human slaughter slab. Is Hon. Ugochinyere speaking about Rivers State as an “Amicus”? Here too, he falters.”
Sir (Chief) Tony Okocha thanked Governor Hope Uzodinma, who stood up to the occasion at the time, and stopped the human slaughter in Imo State.
“How can Hon. Ugochinyere know that the Assembly vetoed over a bill to become law, without serving it on the Governor, and allowed the required time by the constitution”?
“How can Hon. Ugochinyere insult the sensibilities of Rivers people in exercise of his usual verbal diatribe”?
“When did Hon. Ugochinyere qualify to cast aspersions on duly elected representatives who were elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly?, the Rivers APC leader queried.
He added that: “Hon. Ugochinyere displayed overtly that he was speaking from his pocket, otherwise, though a kindergarten yet in the Green Chambers, he should know what constitutes quorum in an Assembly of 32 Members.”
Sir (Chief) Tony Okocha further added that, “for the meddlesome interloper to charge 3 members of Assembly, to meet as Assembly to make laws for the State, Hon. Ugochinyere is tampering with a matter in Court, when he declared the seats of the 27 Assembly Members vacant.
He went on to say that, “if he was well grounded, he should have been abreast with Section 68 (G), and Section 109 (G) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
The Rivers APC Chairman went on to submit that, ‘To get the Crux of the matter, why wouldn’t Hon. Ugochinyere, lambast his paymaster, Governor Siminialaye Fubara, for lacking in mission and vision, and so offering absolutely nothing to Rivers State and the mass of her people”?
“Why didn’t he see the financial profligacies of Governor Siminialaye Fubara, part of which he’s benefitting”?
“Why did he not see the sin in cladding some Rivers women half-naked, and showed off on traditional and new media, just for paltry sums”?
“He didn’t see any reason why the Governor of Rivers State is at daggers drawn with the legislative arm and so, seek to donate suggestions to mend the fence”?
“He is not curious to know why the Governor of Rivers State has blatantly refused to provide resources and support to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), to conduct Local Government Election in Rivers State”?
“Hon. Ugochinyere speaking from his pocket is comfortable with the weekly ostentatious charades and jamborees sponsored by the Government of Rivers State in what is dubbed “thanksgiving”.
“I know him. He knows me very well. In case he attempts a denial, he should at least remember that it is that man who was Chief of Staff, Government House between 2012 – 2015.”
In conclusion, Sir (Chief) Tony Okocha, the Leader/Chairman of the CTC of the Rivers APC concluded with the following demands:
(1) We demand that Hon. Ugochinyere should within 48 hours, apologize to Rivers people for the insults rained on US.
(2) That he stays within the lane of the appellation – Honourable – as he pulls himself up from the gutters.
(3) He should be warned of the dire consequences of hatchet job such as he is hired to do.
By Francesca Hangeior
The Oyo high court in Ibadan has sentenced Olaniyan Gbenga Amos to 63 years imprisonment over a string of investment fraud.
The presiding judge, Olusola Adetujoye, convicted Amos alongside his company, Detorrid Heritage Investment Limited.
Amos was arraigned by the Ibadan zonal directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 30-count charge bordering on fraudulent dealings.
The charges bordered on false pretences, an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.
“That you Olaniyan Gbenga Amos and Detorrid Heritage Investment Limited on or about 18th of June, 2020, at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N995, 000.00 (Nine Hundred and Ninety-five Thousand Naira) only from Bada Titilope, when you falsely represented to him that the money is meant for registration and investment with Crime Alert Security Network with a promise of 30% return on Investment in 6 weeks (30 working days), which representations you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence of Obtaining Money under false pretence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006,” part of the charge sheet reads.
“That you Olaniyan Gbenga Amos and Detorrid Heritage Investment Limited on or about 29th of January, 2020, at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N920, 000.00 (Nine Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira) only from Onifade Isaac Olawale, when you falsely represented to him that the money is meant for registration and investment with Crime Alert Security Network with a promise of 30% return on Investment in 6 weeks (30 working days), which representations you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence of Obtaining Money under false pretence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
After the plea was taken, Sanusi Galadanchi, counsel to EFCC, opened the prosecution’s case on February 17, 2022.
Galadanchi called eight witnesses, tendered several exhibits, and closed the case on January 24, 2023.
Afterwards, the defendant filed a no case submission, which was rejected by the court.
The court also ordered the defendant to enter his defence against the prosecution’s case.
Subsequently, Amos opened his case and testified as the lone witness for himself and on behalf of the second defendant, his company.
The defendant closed his case on October 17, 2024.
During the court proceedings on Monday, Adetujoye convicted and sentenced the defendant to seven years imprisonment on each count of 6, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23 and 24.
The judge discharged and acquitted him on counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 respectively.
The court ordered that the sentence should run concurrently.
The judge also ordered the defendant to make restitution to the victims.
In December 2023, Amos was convicted and sentenced to 75 years imprisonment by Bayo Taiwo, a judge of the Oyo state high court, for a similar offence.
The defendant also has two other ongoing trials before federal high courts in Ibadan.
Tension as no fewer than 26 soldiers were reportedly killed when their truck hit an improvised explosive device in restive Borno State, Northeast Nigeria.
Another 20 soldiers were also reported to have been seriously wounded and taken to the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army hospital in Maiduguri, the state capital.
Military sources on Tuesday evening revealed that the incident occurred when a military truck conveying soldiers from Damboa to Maiduguri hit a landmine.
According to the source, “Twenty-six Nigerian soldiers were killed today (Tuesday) as they were moving from Damboa to Maiduguri, Borno State capital. The incident happened when their truck hit a landmine, killing 26 soldiers on the spot. Twenty other soldiers were equally wounded and have been taken to the 7 Division, Nigerian Army Hospital for treatment.”
The deadly blast one of sources who pleaded anonymity said occurred while the handing over ceremony of the former General Officer Commanding 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Haruna, to the new GOC for the Division, Brig-Gen. V. I. Una Nwachukwu, was taking place.
The incident comes amid increasing violence in northeast Nigeria in recent days, with the death toll rising to at least 50 people.
The region has been plagued for decades by armed groups, including the ISIL affiliate in West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram, with violence flaring up in recent days.
The Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on Telegram on Tuesday.
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, had earlier told Nigeria’s defence minister and military chiefs that Boko Haram and ISWAP were entrenching themselves in Lake Chad islands, Sambisa Forest, and Mandara mountains on the border with Cameroon due to “military setbacks.”
Meanwhile, the military has yet to confirm the incident as efforts to speak with the Acting Director, Nigeria Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Apolonia Anele were unsuccessful as she could not be reached on telephone as at the time of filing this report.
SAHARA REPORTERS
Rilokwah Jatau, a 23-year-old student of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), was found dead in an apparent suicide in the university’s senior staff quarters.
The discovery was made on April 27, 2025, by Emmanuel Gyawo, a security officer at the university, who was directed by Professor Shedrack Jatau to check on his son.
Upon arriving at the residence, Gyawo found Rilokwah hanging from the ceiling.
Professor Jatau, who was reportedly out of state at the time, was informed of the incident. A team of police detectives, led by the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) of Angwan Lambu, was dispatched to the scene.
The body showed no signs of violence, and no suicide note was found. Rilokwah was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Keffi, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor. His body has been deposited in the hospital morgue.
Police sources say investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
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