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Rivers Sole Administrator Seeks More Time to Brief Reps Panel on Emergency Governance

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By Gloria Ikibah 

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), has appealed to the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight for more time to adequately prepare a comprehensive briefing on the current state of affairs in the state.

Speaking during an interactive session with the committee at the National Assembly complex on Thursday, Ibas expressed regret for his inability to honour the committee’s earlier invitations, citing the pressing demands of stabilizing a state under emergency as the primary reason.

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“Today is exactly 10 days after the first invitation, and in between, we’ve had four days that were public holidays, plus the weekends. The absence, of course, was not out of disregard, but due to the weighty and urgent demands of stabilizing governance,” he said.

Vice Admiral Ibas acknowledged the vital role of the National Assembly and commended the committee for its commitment to upholding the nation’s democratic and constitutional framework. He described his appearance before the lawmakers as both an honour and a solemn responsibility.

While noting that the situation in Rivers State is currently calm but fragile, he stressed the need for careful and thorough engagement with the committee, particularly given the complexities surrounding the state’s transitional period.

“I only request your understanding and the indulgence of this committee to grant me additional time to adequately prepare and present a comprehensive and constructive briefing,” Ibas said.

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The retired naval chief reaffirmed his full commitment to cooperating with the committee and assured members that all relevant information would be made available in due course to support their oversight function.

He also extended appreciation to the press for their role in supporting the federal government’s efforts in the state, concluding with a message of gratitude to the lawmakers for their continued service to the nation.

The House Ad-Hoc Committee was set up to monitor developments in Rivers State following the declaration of a state of emergency amidst political unrest and governance challenges.

Earlier in the session, the Chairman of the House Ad-hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, highlighted the crucial role of the National Assembly in legitimizing and monitoring the emergency administration currently in place in Rivers State.

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He pointed out that the federal legislature is not just a bystander but a key actor in guiding the state’s transition during this period.

Prof Ihonvbere welcomed the eventual appearance of the state’s administrator, noting it as a positive development following previous missed appointments. He stated that the committee had already outlined some of its expectations in earlier correspondence with the administrator.

Referring to provisions in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), he clarified that while the President holds the authority to declare a state of emergency under Section 305, such a decision cannot stand without the formal approval of the National Assembly.

“For that state of emergency, the gazette must be sent to the National Assembly for approval. It’s only that approval that gives life to the state of emergency. I repeat that so that you know how critical the National Assembly is to that process,” he said. 

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He further referenced Section 11(4) of the Constitution, which empowers the National Assembly to take over the legislative functions of a state assembly when it is unable to function.

“That also means that all functions of the state House of Assembly, including budget approval, must come to the National Assembly and, by implication, this very committee,” he explained.

Prof Ihonvbere took a moment to shed light on the committee’s earlier efforts to establish communication with the Rivers State administrator at the onset of the crisis.

He explained that although several attempts had been made including formal letters securing the administrator’s presence had taken time.

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The Chairman urged the administrator to engage freely, and noted that the committee was made up of carefully chosen members drawn from diverse geopolitical backgrounds and with solid legislative experience.

“I want you to feel relaxed because the members you see here were carefully selected based on zonal representation and membership of the House—to advance the progress that Rivers State needs to make in order to be part and parcel of the holistic structure of democracy that Nigeria represents today,” he said.

He reiterated the committee’s readiness to discharge its duties with diligence and fairness in the interest of the people of Rivers State and Nigeria at large.

“We have demonstrated again and again our preparedness to do this job efficiently and effectively,” he assured.

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Prof Ihonvbere acknowledged that the meeting was held at the administrator’s request and expressed optimism that it would mark the beginning of a collaborative process toward restoring stability in the state.

“We are glad you are here as you promised yesterday. This meeting actually at this time was at your instance, and we are happy that you are here. So you are welcome,” he said.

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Woman bites off manhood of s3x partner over argument

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A woman has bitten off her lover’s genitals during a sex argument in Rivers.

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 43-year-old woman identified as Gift for allegedly biting off the tip of her lover’s penis during a domestic dispute in the Mile 3 area of Diobu, Port Harcourt.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday, sent shockwaves through the densely populated Bishop Okoye Street when news of the act emerged.

According to sources, the altercation began when Gift’s lover, identified only as Sunday, requested to have s3x.

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Gift reportedly refused, accusing him of using s3x-enhancing drugs that made their encounters excessively prolonged.

A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “Mr. Sunday became angry and allegedly descended on his female partner for her refusal.

“In the process, Gift managed to get hold of the man’s manhood with her mouth and chop off the cap of the penis.”

The man’s screams reportedly drew the attention of neighbours, some of whom attempted to mob the woman before police intervened.

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“The cap of the man’s penis was completely bitten off by the woman,” the source added.

Gift was rescued by officers from the Nkpolu Police Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, and taken into custody.

The victim, Sunday, was rushed to an undisclosed hospital in the city for urgent medical attention.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Superintendent of Police Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident on Friday.

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“Yes, I can confirm the incident. The woman (suspect), aged 43 years, has been arrested and investigation is ongoing,” Iringe-Koko said.

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INEC Releases Details Of 2025 Anambra Guber Candidates

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The Independent National Electoral Commission has released the personal particulars of candidates for the 2025 Anambra State governorship election.

The publication of the particulars followed the conclusion of party primaries by 16 political parties and the upload of candidates’ nomination forms for the election by the deadline of 6 pm on May 12, 2025, when the dedicated portal automatically shut down.

This was disclosed in a statement by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, on Saturday, titled ‘PUBLICATION OF PERSONAL PARTICULARS OF CANDIDATES FOR THE 2025 ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION’.

The Anambra State governorship election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, November 8, 2025.

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The statement read, “Following the conclusion of party primaries, 16 political parties have uploaded their candidates’ nomination forms for the Anambra State Governorship Election by the deadline of 6 pm on Monday, May 12, 2025, when the dedicated portal automatically shuts down.

“As provided in Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2022 and listed as item 4 on the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election, the Commission has published the personal particulars of each candidate and his running mate by displaying copies of the Form EC9, along with all the accompanying academic credentials and other documents submitted by them, at our state headquaters and the 21 local government offices across Anambra State.”

INEC called on Nigerians to assess the candidates’ documents.

The candidates documents displayed by INEC
The candidates’ documents displayed by INEC. Credit: INEC/X
It also urged aspirants with reasonable grounds to believe that a candidate provided false information to challenge the nomination of the candidate in court.

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It also disclosed that the final list of candidates would be published on June 9, 2025, which is at least 150 days before the election.

This, it said, was in line with the provision of Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.

It said, We appeal to Nigerians to scrutinise the documents. Any aspirant who participated in his/her party primaries with reasonable grounds to believe that the information provided by a candidate is false can challenge the nomination in a Federal High Court as provided in Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022.

“The final list of candidates will be published on June 9, 2025, which is at least 150 days before the day of the election, in line with the provision of Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and listed as item 7 on our Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election.”

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Alleged $1m, £34,537 Scam: EFCC Presents First Witness, Peter Okoye against Ex-P-Square Manager

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Unidentified EFCC Operative Takes Own life

The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, May 16, 2025, presented its first prosecution witness, PW1, Peter Obumuneme Okoye,( a.k.a Mr P) against Jude Chigozie Okoye, elder brother and former Manager of Paul and Peter Okoye, before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.

Okoye is standing trial alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd., on a four-count charge bordering on alleged stealing to the tune of $1m and £34,537 .

Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Mohammed Bashir, the PW1 told the court that his brother’s wife, Ifeoma, owned 80 per cent of Northside Music Ltd, while Jude retained the remaining 20 percent shares.

He said: “ I went to the EFCC with my lawyer to submit the petition on January 22, 2024. I initially wrote Northside Music as the respondent. But upon various investigations carried out by the Commission, it was discovered that Jude’s wife, Ifeoma, is the owner of the company because she owes 80 per cent shares, while Jude retains the remaining 20 per cent.

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“I submitted the petition and I never spoke to either Paul or Jude until early April in 2024 when the EFCC asked if my twin brother was involved and I said I did not know.

“The Commission discovered there were over 47 bank accounts used by Jude to receive royalties.”

He also told the court that though both Paul and Jude were later invited by the Commission, the latter was detained.

In his further evidence, he said: “Jude never denied that he committed the crime. However, my twin brother told me during a meeting at the EFCC office that our elder brother owns P-Square.

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“Paul told me Jude owns 40 per cent, while the two of us owe 30 per cent each.

“Ifeoma was never part of our engagement and I was not aware when Northside Music was registered.

“Northside Music, according to my findings, was registered in 2015 and had been operating illegally two years prior to our break-up.”

The prosecution, thereafter, sought to tender the petition dated January 22, 2024.

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There was no objection to its admissibility by the lead counsel to the defendants, Clement Onwuenwunor, SAN.

Earlier in the proceedings, the witness had told the court that he and his twin brother, Paul, started their music career in 1999.

He had also told the court that between 2005 and 2006, they floated a company, Northside Entertainment Ltd, where they were directors and shareholders.

He, however, said Jude was the sole signatory to the company’s three accounts domiciled in Eco Bank, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Zenith Bank.

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“ They were both Naira and Dollar accounts and Jude was the sole manager of all the accounts.

“In September 2017, P-Square broke up and we came back together in November 2021.

“Within the period, I never received any royalty paid into our company.

“Before we broke up in 2017, every royalty was being paid into Northside Entertainment Ltd., where the three of us were shareholders.

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“We have two aggregators (streaming platforms that generate income): I-rocking.com and Free me digital, which I was aware of.

“When people play our songs on their mobile phones, it generates income: and so, we receive funds from these two aggregators prior to our split.”

The PW1, who said he went solo as Mr P after the group broke up and got a different manager, further told court that “ When we got back without him being our manager, I discovered a similar company was run by our brother known as Northside Music.

“I started seeing some discrepancies in the way royalties were sent to me and my twin brother . When I went for a tour in London, some individual approached us if we would like to sell our catalogs, but they needed to see the back-end.

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“After so much attempt to get the back-end from Jude, I discovered that he had tampered with the original one, which made over seven companies to have a rethink of purchasing the catalogs.”

The case was adjourned till May 23 for continuation of trial.

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