By Our Correspondent

In a bid to rid Rivers stata of criminality, Rivers State Police Command has announced the dismissal of four police officers involved in the killing of a 22-year-old graduate, Anthony Obodo in Port Harcourt.

Anthony Obodo, a fresh graduate of the University of Port Harcourt, awaiting NYSC call-up was killed on Thursday August 27 by a Trigger-happy Police Officer, Louis Alfred at the Agip/Ada-George area of Port Harcourt, after being chased by a patrol team led by Fabian Kpeanebari, attached to Agip Police Division.

The incident sparked tension across the state with youth shutting down section of Agip Road, and Rundele axis of the East West Road on Friday, Saturday and Monday in protest, demanding justice for the murdered Anthony Obodo.

Briefing journalists in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, said the officers involved in incident have been arrested and undergoing disciplinary actions.

CP Adepoju also announced the arrest of 14 suspected members of ‘one chance’ robbery syndicates operating in Port Harcourt and environs, by operatives of the Command.

Giving details of the incident, CP Adepoju said “Anthony Obodo died following a police pursuit and shooting by a patrol team.

“During the pursuit, Corporal Alfred Louis, who is attached to the patrol team, opened fire at the vehicle and a bullet hit the driver identified as Anthony A. Obodo ‘M’ who sustained gunshot injury,” he said.

According to the Commissioner, the victim was immediately rushed to Palmer’s Hospital, Port Harcourt, where he was later confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.

Adepoju stated that “the three members of the patrol team were immediately arrested and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Port Harcourt, where a comprehensive investigation was carried out. Efforts were also intensified to arrest Inspector Solomon Nwrogu, who reportedly absconded after the incident.

He said that the dismissed officers, including the one at large, will subsequently be charged to court to face criminal prosecution in accordance with the law.

He posited that the Command remains committed to professionalism, accountability and respect for human rights, adding that no officer found to have acted outside the law will be shielded.

“Following the conclusion of the investigation and the establishment of the culpability of the officers involved, they have been tried in orderly room and recommended for dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force.

“This action demonstrates that the Nigeria Police Force will not shield personnel who abuse the powers entrusted to them or act contrary to the law and professional standards of the Force. Let me reiterate that no police officer is above the law,” Adepoju said.

Speaking further on the crackdown on ‘one chance’ robbery in the state, the CP said the Command arrested 14 suspects following sustained intelligence-led operations by the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU.

He said one of the suspects, Identified as Idakiniselegha during interrogation, confessed to being part of a five-man syndicate and revealed the existence of another four-man syndicate operating along Garrison, Aba Road, Rumuola, Air Force, Rumuokwurusi, Obiri-Ikwerre and Choba axes of the state, terrorising residents.

The CP added that one Matthew identified as a member of the Iceland cult group and the ring leader of a syndicate operating around Aba Road, East-West Road, Choba and NTA Road was also arrested by operatives of the Command.

Adepoju said exhibits recovered from the suspects include one Keke mini-bus with registration number RGM 823XE, black and white in colour, and sixteen assorted mobile phones suspected to have been stolen from victims.

He further disclosed that investigation revealed that Idakiniselegha specialized in extracting SIM cards from victims and using them to facilitate unauthorized withdrawals from their bank accounts.

“Efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the syndicates, dismantle their network, identify and trace their victims and recover other proceeds of crime in their custody,” he said.

The CP assured residents that tactical and investigative units have been directed to sustain operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks responsible for one-chance robbery, kidnapping, armed robbery and cult-related activities across the state.

He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons, vehicles and incidents of police misconduct through appropriate channels, and to avoid taking the law into their own hands.

“The Rivers State Police Command under my leadership remains committed to professionalism, accountability, transparency, respect for human rights and service to the people,” Adepoju said.

By Our Correspondent

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has blamed years of violations of the Abuja Master Plan for the devastating flooding along the Airport Road corridor and Lokogoma, declaring that all structures obstructing waterways will be demolished.

Speaking during a media chat on Tuesday, Wike said the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had launched a full-scale investigation into the flooding to determine its causes and identify permanent solutions.

He disclosed that immediately after receiving reports of the incident, he directed the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the Director of Development Control to inspect the affected areas, including Airport Road, Lugbe and Lokogoma.

According to the minister, the investigation will establish whether the flooding resulted from human activities or natural causes.

He noted that while man-made problems can be addressed, natural disasters require different interventions, making a thorough assessment necessary.

Although he acknowledged that the recent rainfall in Abuja was unusually intense, Wike said preliminary findings showed that widespread violations of the Abuja Master Plan had significantly worsened the flooding.

He explained that several buildings were illegally erected on natural waterways and designated road corridors without proper approvals, obstructing the natural flow of water.

The minister vowed that the FCTA would strictly enforce the Abuja Master Plan and remove every structure found blocking waterways, particularly along the Airport Road corridor.

He identified Lugbe as one of the worst affected areas, saying developers had consistently ignored planning regulations by constructing buildings without approval and encroaching on roads and drainage channels.

Wike also revealed that the administration had begun disciplinary action against officials who aided illegal developments on green areas and waterways.
He disclosed that a director had been suspended under civil service regulations for issuing unauthorised temporary approvals to businesses operating on designated green areas, while another official was sanctioned for unlawfully reallocating park land under the guise of security clearance.

The minister dismissed claims that some buildings slated for demolition had government approval, insisting that approvals secured through undue influence or issued in violation of established policies would not protect owners from enforcement.

He maintained that government policy prohibits any form of development on green areas and waterways, stressing that such illegal approvals would not be recognised.

On infrastructure delivery, Wike assured residents that every ongoing project awarded under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, as well as inherited projects, would be completed before the end of the administration’s tenure.

He said 76 of the 107 road projects awarded by the current administration in the FCT had already been completed, while another 10 would be delivered before the forthcoming elections.

The minister further disclosed that the administration had completed 23 of the 25 projects inherited from the Muhammadu Buhari administration and six of the eight projects inherited from the Goodluck Jonathan administration, while also reviving abandoned projects dating back to the Olusegun Obasanjo era.

He described the feat as unprecedented since 1999, saying no previous FCT administration had awarded and completed such a high number of projects, adding that records of the achievements had been made public through national television broadcasts.

Defending the Federal Government’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy, Wike urged Nigerians to demand accountability from state and local governments, which now receive increased federal allocations.

He cited the revival of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit system and major road infrastructure projects across the FCT as evidence that the policy was yielding visible benefits.

The minister also criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s recent comments on restoring fuel subsidy, arguing that attention should instead focus on how states have utilised the additional funds generated by the subsidy removal.

According to him, the reforms have enabled states to pay salaries and pensions more regularly, while governments now have greater capacity to execute projects and public universities have enjoyed uninterrupted academic activities.

Wike also paid tribute to his late political associate, Chief Dan Orbih, describing him as a principled and courageous leader who remained steadfast despite intense political pressure.
He recalled visiting Orbih at the London Clinic before his death and admitted that the loss had deeply affected him.

On Rivers State politics, the minister reaffirmed his commitment to political stability in the state, revealing that key political stakeholders had united under a “Rainbow Coalition” in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while dismissing the chances of a divided opposition in future elections.

By Our Correspondent

The House of Representatives Committee probing the Unestablished Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council PFIPC has absolved the Chief of Staff to the President Hon.Femi Gbajabiamila of any wrong doing in the allegation that he approved the existence of the agency.

The panel said all available documents to it had revealed that the Chief of
Staff to the President immediately alerted all relevant security agencies of the existence of the agency as soon as he got information on its existence and the appointment letter of the embattled Director-General of the agency was not signed by the office holder.

The Committee however did not exonerate the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation OSFG of the allegation that its official approved the federal secretariat office complex if the agency

The panel also said that it has uncovered an additional twelve (12) other existing fake agencies with existing bank accounts in the course of its investigation into the activities of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council and the Presidential Economic Council.

Chairman of the House Committee Hon.Yusuf Adamu Gagdi disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at a press briefing at the National Assembly where he said that the report of the committee is based on records, oral testimonies and interview of the heads of agencies involved in the saga

He said that the Committee held very painstaking investigative hearings on the matter with a view to unraveling the truth adding that the report is a preliminary report and not a final report on the matter.

The Plataeu born lawmaker had hinted that the House Committee had invited and grilled the heads of government agencies and other government officials from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation OSFG, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, State House, Ministry of Finance, Nigeria Police Force NPF, Department of State Service DSS and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC for the investigation

The other agencies grilled by the House Committee are Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ICPC, Federal Roads Safety Commission FRSC, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation OSFG, other institutions and private organizations

The House Committee had stated in its report that none of these agencies invited and grilled at the hearings had presented documents showing the authorzied existence of the controversial agency.

It however revelealed that some of these invited agencies presented inconsistent documents to the committee during the probe panel.

The Committee had stated that the documents presented by the embattled Director-General of the agency Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi is fake as no such appointment was approved by the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

The Committee also said that there is a fabrication of take-off funds documents of the agency that is also fake

They added that the format and administrative feature of the appointment letter alleged to have been issued by one Mr Akanbi iAdewale the Director of Administration Support Services State House is fake as the office is non existent from their inquiries

The House panel listed the other fake agencies as United Nations Youths Agency, United Nations Global Foundation, World Entrepreneurship University Limited, World Enterprises Limited, FCT Investigation Council and Olubafan of Ibadan Foundation among others.

The House Committee Chairman said that all these fake agencies and they have fifty-eigjt (58) bank accounts linked to Bank Verification Numbers BVN adding that they are linked to the embattled Director-General of the agency.

The probe panel said that it took exception to the non-appearance of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation OSFG at the investigative hearing despite repeated invitations and warned that it has been given one more opportunity to appear Unfailingly or risk sanctions.

The House Committee Chairman Hon.Gagdi said that the panel is still investigating the matter with these entities and assured that final report will be presented to the House in session at the conclusion of the investigation.