Paradise News

Tag: Enugu State

  • Police Being Used To Witch-Hunt Us, Lawyer Imprisoned In Enugu Cries Out

    Police Being Used To Witch-Hunt Us, Lawyer Imprisoned In Enugu Cries Out

    By Ovat Abeng

    A Lagos based senior lawyer, Barrister Vincent Okafor who was remanded in prison custody by an Enugu Magistrate Court, has cried out, saying that the police were being used to witch-hunt him for doing his job as a legal practitioner.

    Okafor bared his mind before another lawyer, Patrick Agazie who paid a legal visitation to the Enugu Correctional Centre Thursday, to see him and two other detainees, Theophilus Chukwu and David Okeke.

    Recounting his ordeal before his visiting colleague, the lagos lawyer said he was arrested, handcuffed like a common criminal, arraigned and remanded in prison on a concocted three-count charge, simply because he was rendering legal services to the two other detainees who were labelled unknown gunmen by the Traditional Ruler of their community, Agunese Mmaku, Igwe Cyprian Maduabuchi.

    The senior lawyer said that Chukwu and Okeke were arrested on an allegation that they gave false information to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), which was not true.

    Read Also: Sending Soldiers To Chase Allottees From Cocoa Estate When There Is A Court Order  Is Bad – Mba Ukweni, SAN

    According to him, Theophilus Chukwu was arrested on May 6, 2024 in Abuja by men of the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), Nathaniel Bitrus and Ayuba Sunday and was charged for conspiracy and giving the police false information.

    He said Chukwu was arraigned in court and remanded in Enugu Correctional Centre for three months, but released on August 13, only to be re-arrested at the gate of the correctional facility by men of the D9 State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Enugu, headed by one Nnamdi.

    Okafor narrated further: “The Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Blessing Oguche, charged him for instigating local war and pursuing the Traditional Ruler of Agunese Mmaku Community, Igwe Cyprian Maduabuchi Nevobasi with dangerous weapon, such as guns, cutlasses and others. He was also charged for cyber stalking.

    “David Okeke was arrested on the 18th of May in Enugu and he has not been arraigned in any court. He has been in prison for three months without any arraignment.”

    Asked what gave rise to the false information, the imprisoned lawyer said: “What gave rise to the false information was a petition that we wrote to the Inspector General of Police (IG) against the Igwe. In the petition, we described the Igwe as self-styled Igwe. It was stated that the Igwe is a serial arsonist and that he tagged the men unknown gunmen.

    “He said in a video that he burnt down one man’s car in Aroma Junction and wanted to kill, before the Governor of Anambra State stopped him. In 2005, his thugs burnt down the car of Alphonsus Orji.  The IGP assigned the petition to the FIB. The police refused to investigate the petition. Rather, the petitioners were told to go and reconcile with him.”

    Regarding his own arrest, Okafor said without any prior invitation by the police, he was arrested on September 5, 2024 from my office at 36 Ibezim-Obiajulu Street, Surulere Lagos and taken to Panti.

    He said he was brought out from Panti by 6am in the morning the next day and Blessing Oguche, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) from D9 State CID Enugu gave him a paper to write a statement.

    Okafor narrated: I asked for the petition against me. They gave me a faint copy of the petition and a voice note that they claimed that I made. I told them that I was not composed enough to write a statement. We left Lagos around 1 pm and arrived at Enugu by 2pm.

    “I was taken on handcuff like a common criminal to the State CID. There, I requested for a paper to write a statement but they refused. Their Oga, one Nnamdi said that they should just say that I refused to write a statement.

    “They took me to Enugu Magistrate Court 1 presided over by Osondu Chukwuani. I was fettered. My handcuff was removed in the dock. I was charged for an offence they said was committed in Agunese Mmaku on the 13th day of August, 2024 and the court remanded me in Prison.

    “On that particular day that they said the offence was committed, I was before the Lagos Magistrate Court in Charge No.-M/044/2024 between COP Vs. Odinaka Orji. The last time that I was in the village was on June 28, for the burial of my late Uncle’s wife. Since then, I have never visited the village.

    He maintained that the police officers in D9 Enugu, Blessing Oguche and Nnamdi were being used to victimize them, adding that he learnt that another petition has been written against them.

    “Their plan is to re-arrest me as soon as I come out from Prison, the same way that they re-arrested Theo at the gate of Enugu Correctional Centre after his release on August 13, re-arraigned and sent back to prison.”

  • APC Group Calls For Sack Of Tinubu’s Minister

    APC Group Calls For Sack Of Tinubu’s Minister

    A prominent APC support group in Enugu State, Enugu Progressive Ambassadors has called on the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sack the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji for what the group described as unworthy and shameful representation of Enugu State APC in the cabinet of the president. The group noted that Enugu State APC has many qualified party men and women with credible credentials, personalities and integrity that would make the state proud rather than Uche Nnaji that has been involved in many scandals thus, giving Enugu State a bad image among other states at the ministerial level.

    The group in a press conference in Enugu noted with dismay that Chief Uche Nnaji since his day one in office has been working against the interest of building the party in the state but rather causing division and further polarizing the unity the party has been enjoying before he was made a minister. Chief Uche Nnaji has been fingered as mastermind of many internal party crises in Enugu State using his position as minister to wreck havock within the party. This is the reason many party faithfuls and loyalist has been threatening to leave the party if urgent step is not taken to address the issue in which Enugu State APC have unanimously agreed that the ministerial slot of the state given to Uche Nnaji is a curse rather than blessing to the state, hence demanded his removal as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    According to the spokesperson of Enugu Progressive Ambassadors, Chief Tochukwu Obinna who addressed the newsmen said that Chief Uche Nnaji is too scandalous to represent Enugu state APC at the ministerial level and therefore saw it as a shame that APC members in the state could not bear any longer, hence the urgent need to address the president, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the press conference. In his words, “Enugu Progressive Ambassadors is speaking on behalf of Enugu State APC that we seek the sack of the minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Chief Uche Nnaji, a man we referred to as scandalous minister. We are not comfortable that a man with fraudulent national service certificate is the one representing us.”

    Read Also: EXCLUSIVE: 25 States In Nigeria Spend Alarming N149.8billion on Debt Servicing In Three Months

    “It is on record that Uche Nnaji has been the brain behind many crises in Enugu state APC. His ministerial position is not favouring Enugu State APC but we rather see it as a curse to us. This is the bitter pill we have been trying to swallow since his emergence as minister from our state. He has been using his position which should be a benefit to the state to fuel discord to the extent that majority of our loyal and faithful members have been threatening to leave the party just because of him. Here is a man that has been promoting drugs, giving money to young men and sponsoring them abroad for the sake of his drug business. These are not mere allegations but facts and realities that are in the open in Enugu state. We are speaking out to save the integrity of our party as we look forward to the coming 2027 elections in the state”

    “We use the opportunity of this press conference to call on Mr President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to save Enugu State APC from doom by relieving Uche Nnaji of his position and appointing a credible and loyal party man that would rebuild Enugu state APC to represent Enugu State at the ministerial level.”

    “We also call on our president for the sake of his Renewed Hope Mantra to call on the relevant agency to investigate and prosecute Uche Nnaji for forging national service (NYSC) certificate. Enugu State APC deserves the best in this Renewed Hope Administration and we look forward to giving the president a landslide victory in Enugu State in the coming 2027 presidential election.”

  • Sports Minister Inspects Facilities In Enugu, Expresses Desire To Partner With State For Sports Development

    Sports Minister Inspects Facilities In Enugu, Expresses Desire To Partner With State For Sports Development

    The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh has expressed the Federal Governments desire desire to partner with the Enugu State Government to ensure the development of sports in the country not only at the grassroots level but also to unlock its economic potentials in line with global realities.

    Senator John Owan Enoh disclosed this during a courtesy visit on the Executive Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency Dr Peter Ndubusi Mbah held at the Government House Enugu, the Enugu State Capital.

    Senator Owan Enoh stated that the new vision and thinking of the Federal Government was to make sports a profitable venture by moving the sector away from mere recreation to a business.

    Read Also: Tinubu commissions N1.5bn TETFUND projects in UI, Ibadan Poly

    He explained that his visit to the Executive Governor of Enugu State was to discuss on how both the Federal and Enugu State Governments can partner together to explore ways to fully unlock the economic potentials of sports in Nigeria and in the process, unleash one of the most consequential transformations of the 21st century.

    The Minister informed that sports was  a five trillion dollar industry that has the capacity to inspire and change the world. That It has the power to give hope when there is despair.

    “Sports speaks to the youth in the language they understand. Sports has more power than government to break barriers and boundaries of racial discrimination and injustices,” he said.

    The Minister stated that it was for these reasons and many more that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his wisdom, decided to create a separate Ministry of Sports Development and has  also recently endorsed the National Sports Industry Policy (NSIP) in the Renewed Hope Agenda of government to provide opportunities for the private sector participation in the  development of sports in Nigeria.

    The Minister informed that the policy outlines some incentives that can attract private sector investors such as “tax exemption and rebate for a period of 5 years for investors in the value chain of sports; land provision and waiver for certain fees on lands meant for sports; single digit loan interest rates for corporate organisations and private individuals investing in the sports value chain as well as independent Government Grant through the establishment of an Independent Athletes Welfare Fund (AWF) from which athletes representing the country can draw support for education and trainings amongst others.”

    Senator Owan Enoh who commended the Executive Governor and the good  people of Enugu State for their commitment to the development of the sports sector in the state through various innovative and comprehensive upgrade and rebranding of sporting facilities in the state, stated that sports has the capacity of solving challenges of unemployment as it is capable of creating jobs opportunities for our teeming youth,  alleviate poverty as well as contribute to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    He added that sports has remained the most unifying factor in Nigeria and that if well harnessed, it can bring the desired peace and security the country requires.

    In his response, the Executive Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency Dr Peter Ndubusi Mbah stated that Enugu State was ready to partner with the Federal Government in its effort to unlock the economic potential of sports in the country.

    He assured that the state
    would play a significant leadership role in catalysing the change that the nation sought to achieve in sports development, especially as the Sports Policy of the Federal  Government, is in line with that of his vision.

    The Governor noted that the Vision of the Federal Government on Sports Development “is reassuring because that is in line with the vision of this administration, which is also in our manifesto, on how youth are going to be integrated into the economic development trajectory. Enugu State has a growth trajectory of $4.4 billion to $30 billion in the next eight years and we are very mindful of the role sports will play to achieve this target.”

    Dr Ndubus, who called for more collaboration between the government and private sector to expand the horizon of sports development for economic growth of the nation, informed that his administration was
    building back Enugu Rangers and re-enacting it back to what it used to be.

    “We have the branding of the Rangers jersey by Afrinvest, and we have other private investors who are also showing interest in investing in the club. We will not be left behind; we will fight toe to toe with the Federal Government and make sure we change the way sports is perceived in the country and Enugu will be a model for that,” the Governor assured.

    It is worthy to note that the Honourable Minister of Sports Development Senator John Owan Enoh since his assumption of office has been canvassing for massive private sector investment and participation in sports development in Nigeria as well as echoing assurances of the Federal Government’s readiness to incentivize Critical Areas of Sports Development in line with global realities.

    It is the desired hope of all sports loving Nigerians that the efforts of  Senator Owan Enoh should pave way for the transformation of this critical industry.

  • Minister of Sports Pays a call to Nigeria’s Coal City to Discuss Sports Development in the State

    Minister of Sports Pays a call to Nigeria’s Coal City to Discuss Sports Development in the State

    …Sports has worked in other climes, it can also work in our clime

    The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh had an engagement with the Enugu State government ,where topical concerns on the potency of sports to significantly impact,and open up value chains at National and sub National levels were discussed. He further  mentioned how it will create jobs and grow the economy while helping to address insecurity.

    Senator John Owan Enoh, made this known during a courtesy visit to the Government House, Enugu on Sunday.
    The Minister commended Governor Mbah for his commitment to promote the sports sector in the state through his innovative and comprehensive upgrade and rebranding of sporting infrastructural facilities in the state, saying the federal government was interested in collaborating with the state to make sports a profitable business.

    “Sports is a $5 trillion industry. Sports has the power to inspire and change the world. It has the power to give hope when there is despair. Sports speaks to the youths in the language they understand. Sports has more power than government to break barriers and boundaries of racial discrimination and injustices”, the minister stated.

    He said this informed President Bola Tinubu’s decision to create a separate Ministry of Sports Development, adding that sports was expected to contribute in so many ways more especially in job creation and security in the country.

    “We have a challenge of unemployment, and there is no sector that can help in tackling this if not sports and even for our economic growth”, he said.

    Read Also: Nigerian Army Rescues Woman From Committing Suicide In Lagos

    Senator Enoh commended the contributions of Enugu to sports development, saying it has a rich history with an international brand like the Rangers football club.

    “Sports is no longer for leisure and recreation; it is a critical business sector. We need to start thinking of how we can translate the passion and energies in our youths for sports business, which will boost Enugu’s economy and the country’s economy.

    “The national sports policy is talking about infrastructure, incentives, and investment because the business man who wants to invest in sports needs to be assured of his return on investment. Sports is doing much more than it is appreciated because it has the potential to contribute between 4 to 7% to our GDP”, he said.

    Also speaking, the Enugu State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Barr. Lloyd Ekweremadu said the sport sector is vital for economic development in the state, while commending the federal government for sharing the same vision with Governor Mbah’s administration and seeking collaboration with it to boost the economy, reduce youth unemployment and improve the security in the state.

    Responding, Governor Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia said the state would play a significant leadership role in catalyzing the change that the nation seeks to achieve in sports and youth development.

    “It is reassuring because that is in line with the vision of this administration, which is also in our manifesto, on how youths are going to be integrated into the economic development trajectory, because Enugu State has a growth trajectory of $4.4b to $30b in the next eight years. And we are very mindful of the role sports will play to achieve this target,” he stated

    He noted that the National Bureau of Statistics’ designation of sports as a mere leisure and recreation was discouraging. He therefore called for a change in the designation from leisure and recreation to business, saying this would change the mindset of people towards the sports sector.

    The governor called for more collaboration between government and the private sector to expand the horizon of sports and youth development for economic benefits and to ensure sustainability.

    “We are building back Enugu Rangers and re-enacting it back to what it used to be. We have the branding of the Rangers jersey by Afrinvest, and we have other private sector investors who are also showing interest in investing in the club.

    “We will not be left behind; we will fight toe to toe with you the federal government and make sure we change how sports is perceived in the country and Enugu will be a model for that”, he said.

    The Honourable Minister of Sports Development reiterated the need for private sector involvement at different levels to enable for significant progress in the sports sector
    “If there’s any sector that needs a lot of support,it is the sports sector,due to the long period of neglect.”

    He stated the need for expansive private sector involvement for Sports Development in the Country, while the government steadily gives the trust and enablement for such collaborations and partnerships to thrive.