News
Chaos at National Assembly as DSS operatives brutalize 2 senior staff
Two senior staff of the National Assembly were in the early hours of Friday brutalized by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, for allegedly not properly identifying themselves at the second gate of the Complex.
The staff, Chris Odoh, a Deputy Director, and John Nnadi, of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), ran into trouble with the DSS operatives who have been drafted to man the entire National Assembly Complex, at about 11:45 am, when they were asked to identify themselves at the gate.
The DSS officers claimed that the staff could not properly identify themselves but “just flashed their identity card at the gate”.
The operatives, thereafter, forcefully blocked the staff when they attempted to proceed to their offices at the White House, a section of the National Assembly Complex.
In the ensuing altercation, the National Assembly staff were assaulted by the security operatives, while other workers watched helplessly.
Efforts made by passersby to resolve the situation angered the DSS operatives, who after being joined by four of their colleagues, started rough handling the staff and any other person that tried to broker peace.
The operatives dragged the two staff from the linking point, which is about 125 metres in distance.
The incident attracted the sympathy of staff of the Unity Bank, United Bank for Africa, UBA, Senate Committee on Public Accounts and journalists in the Senate Press Centre, whose offices were in the area.
Miffed by the embarrassing scene, staff of the National Assembly from various offices at the White House, including the Mace Bearer in the Senate, spontaneously gathered at the front of the DSS office to demand the immediate release of the two staff.
It took the intervention of the Divisional Police Officer of the National Assembly, Alex Annagu, and the Deputy Clerk of the Senate, Legislative, Mrs Ilobah Isabella, who calmed frayed nerves as they appealed to the irate workers to go back to their offices.
Amidst the crisis, John Nnadi stormed out of the DSS office located underground and started shouting solidarity songs and was immediately joined by other workers who were still hanging around to see the outcome of the confusion.
Chanting ‘We no go gree o, we no go gree’, the irate staff marched to the office of the Clerk of the National Assembly to register their grievance, but he was yet to arrive before they were dispersed by the DPO, who appealed to them for calm.
In the past two weeks, the National Assembly management has replaced its official security arm, Sergeant-at-Arms, who are familiar with staff and the legislative aides and other personnel, with DSS operatives who are daily having altercations with those accessing the Complex.
The Catholic Diocese of Warri, has suspended Rev. Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe from the priesthood following his reported marriage in the United States.
This was made known in a statement titled: ‘Decree of Suspension’, dated Thursday, January 16, 2025, jointly signed by Bishop of Warri, Rt. Rev, Anthony Ovayero Ewherido and Chancellor/Notary Very Rev. Fr. Clement Abobo.
The statement alleged that Oghenerukevwe entered into marriage with one Ms. Dora Chichah at the Streams of Joy Church in Dallas, USA, on 29 December 2024, noting that the footage of the marriage had been widely circulated on social media.
By this action, the church said that Oghenerukevwe has incurred a Latae Sententiae suspension in accordance with the provisions of Canon law of the church.
“Most Rev. Anthony Ovayero Ewherido, Bishop of Warri, do hereby officially decree that he is suspended from the exercise of sacred ministry.
“On November 30, 2024, Rev Fr Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe, who has been out of active ministry and without any official assignment in the United States of America, contacted me with a request to be released from all canonical obligations and responsibilities associated with Holy Orders within the Roman Catholic Church.
“The Diocese of Warri reached out to Fr. Oghenerukevwe, requesting the submission of documents required to initiate the process. However, on December 29, 2024, Fr. Oghenerukevwe entered into marriage with Ms. Dora Chichah at the Streams of Joy Church in Dallas, USA. Footage of this marriage has been widely circulated on social media.
“May God grant him the grace to reflect on this situation and guide him on the path of reconciliation,” the statement said.
The spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka, has rubbished claims that his principal traveled to London for medical treatment.
Olayinka expressed disbelief, querying how Wike could have been rushed to London on Thursday night and yet returned by Friday to visit the Dape community in Life Camp.
He criticized those perpetuating such rumors, noting the irony of questioning the health of a minister who is actively visible in public.
In a Facebook post, Olayinka said, “Some are claiming that FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, was flown to London for medical attention on Thursday night.
“They’ve even provided specific times and an aircraft number.
“Well, if Wike was indeed flown to London on Thursday for urgent medical treatment, then he must have used witchcraft to return on Friday to visit the Dape community in Life Camp, as well as Gishiri and Pigba Sama communities in Abuja.
“Interestingly, the Minister will again use his so-called witchcraft to return to Abuja on Monday to commence the commissioning of road projects.
“People who haven’t undergone a medical check-up in over ten years are the ones speculating about the health of a Minister who is actively seen every day performing his duties. Let them continue!”
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has disclaimed a purported recruitment announcement for the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), warning the public against falling victim to fraudulent schemes.
In a statement released on its official X handle (formerly Twitter) on Friday evening, the oil company clarified that no separate recruitment process was ongoing for PHRC beyond the one initiated in 2024.
The statement, titled “NNPC Ltd Disclaims Purported Recruitment Announcement for PHRC,” was signed by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye.
“The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has urged members of the public to discountenance purported recruitment announcement for the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) circulating in certain online platforms,” the statement read.
NNPC Ltd further explained that its recruitment process, which commenced last year, covered all its subsidiaries, including PHRC. The company noted that candidates who passed the Computer-Based Aptitude Test were proceeding to the interview stage.
“The purported recruitment link being circulated in various online platforms is the handiwork of fraudsters who are keen on taking advantage of the newly revamped Port Harcourt Refinery to fleece unsuspecting members of the public with a phantom recruitment announcement. We, therefore, call on members of the public to be wary of the ploy and not fall for it,” the statement warned.
Catholic church suspends priest over alleged secret marriage in US
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