Abia Chief Judge frees four inmates, grants five others bail

December 22, 2017

By Ijendu Iheaka

The Abia State Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Uzokwe has freed four accused persons during a jail delivery exercise at Aba prisons.

Uzokwe also and granted five others whose cases were at different stages at different courts in the area bail.

The Chief Judge said that those released either were unlawfully detained, under-aged or had their remand warrant expired without the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) filing information to process their trial.

The released inmates were Sopuruchi Nnabugwu, detained in October 2017 following accusation of stealing yam but he said he did not steal but indeed unknowingly ate from broth of stolen yam.

Others are Wisdom Onyekachukwu,under-aged, detained in November 2017 for alleged burglary, stealing and malicious injuries, Emmanuel John, detained October 2017 for conspiracy to murder, arson, stealing and malicious injury.

Emeka Iheanyi, detained in April 2017 but accused of armed robbery was among those freed.

The CJ lamented the shoddy work of the DPP and urged that they do their work properly to ensure that people who should not be in prisons are not taken there. 

However, the CJ granted bail to five others namely: Ofoke Osuku detained in November for alleged  conspiracy and stealing, and Chinelo Edebeatu, detained in November 2017 and accused of breaking and stealing.

Others were Prince Uchenna accused of burglary and stealing and detained in November 2017, Izuchi Nwaforala, accused of kidnapping and detained in May 2016.

Uwakwe said she was granting Izuchi who was accused of kidnapping and selling of two of their male siblings between ages 2 and 4 bail but would not want her matter to be compromised.

She charged the prosecution to ensure that her release would come after she had testifies against her elder brother and sister who she said masterminded the selling of their father’s two sons from another mother.

She warned her not change her story later adding that she would face more severe punishment if she recants later.

The Deputy Controller of Prisons, Aba Federal Prisons, DCP Stephen Ugbah told the CJ that the prison has no place to keep under-aged inmates and asked for assistance. 

The Chief Judge promised to return in January 2018 to treat the cases of many inmates especially women and under-aged persons whose cases were not dealt with for want of time.

Uzokwe during her last jail delivery in Aba Federal Prisons in April 2017 released six inmates while granting five others bail

Commissioner urges Abia residents to support environmental courts

 December 22, 2017

 By Ijendu Iheaka

Abia Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ikechi Mgboji, has advised people of the state to support the efforts of the state’s environmental courts to ensure cleanliness in the society.

Mgboji gave the advice in Aba on Wednesday when he received an award for supporting environmental sanitation from Aba-na-Ohazu Environmental Court, presided over by Senior Magistrate Diamond Olewengwa.

He said that the preservation of the environment must be promoted so as to the preserve human life, hence the need to ensure safe, secured and sanitised environment.

“The environment belongs to all of us; it is what makes us and it can also unmake us.

“When I was doing my post-doctoral work at the International Environmental Centre (IEC), Germany, I came across very reputable persons working in the field of environmental law.

“Some people thought that the environment is something they could mess up with.

“If you look around, you will see sachets of water and plastic bottles; all kinds of pollution going on.

“You should realise that God has given us our environment to keep; it is our duty and responsibility to keep this environment until Jesus Christ comes.

“If we fail to do so, we are in great peril.

“So, the establishment of the environmental court is not something to be scoffed at but something that we all have to be proud of.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Education and the governor of Abia State, I encourage you to strive for the best in the work you are doing at the Aba-na-Ohazu Environmental Court,” he said.

Mgboji pleaded with the citizens of Abia and Aba residents, in particular, to support the work of the court.

He urged the people to care for the environment, pledging that the government would play its own part by supporting their efforts.

In his address, the judge of the court, Olewengwa, said that the event was organised to thank God and personalities who had supported the court’s activities.

He noted that the persons and organisations that received awards at the event had distinguished themselves in preserving the environment and supporting efforts to keep it clean.

He said that a clean environment would ensure good health for the citizens.

Olewengwa thanked the President, Abia Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Anyalewachi Onwuchekwa, and Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia for giving him an opportunity to serve the state.

Court dissolves 12 year-old marriage for lack of love, long separation

December 20, 2019

By Ijendu Iheaka

An Aba-la-Ohazu Customary Court in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia has dissolved the marriage between one Emeka Emeodi and his wife Ijeoma on grounds of lack of love, long separation, and irreconcilable differences.

 Ijeoma the petitioner told the court that her husband had caused her much pain and emotional trauma and made her the laughing stock of the locality where they co-habited.

She said that they got married in December 2005 according to the native law and custom of Ndimbara Umuko, Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo State.

However, in 2014, as Ijeoma narrated, her husband, Emeka and his family drove her away from her matrimonial home and since then she has been living apart from her husband.

She said that since that time, Emeka had continuously frustrated her life by shutting down her three shops and forcefully collecting her three vehicles including a Toyota Venza Jeep.

She also said that he wrote to Nigerian Law School and stopped her Call to Bar since 2015 and had with police arrested her seven times and paraded her before people as a common criminal. 

She said Emeka insisted that she must stop her university education four months to graduation, relinquish her land title documents to him, and quit her businesses to become a full house wife if the marriage must stand. 

She further said that her marriage with him was dead and over, being marred by extreme cruelty, threat to life, merciless abuse, degradation of her womanhood and dignity and battering.

Ijeoma therefore urged the court to dissolve the marriage, give her custody of her first son who Emeka, her husband said DNA evidence showed was not his.

She also prayed the court to order him to collect his N60.00 (sixty Naira) bride price at the Court Registry.

Emeka, through a counter petition said Ijeoma blackmailed him into marrying her with a pregnancy which DNA test showed was not his and caused his pastor to ask him to marry her.

He admitted in evidence that their first son was not his blood child although he prayed the court to refuse granting Ijeoma’s request to dissolve the marriage.

In his ruling, the presiding Senior       Magistrate, Diamond Olewengwa said that evidences before him showed the parties had consented to the dissolution of their union in one way or the other.

 He said that the marriage having broken down irretrievable because of lack of love, long separation, incompatibility and irreconcilable differences stands dissolved.

He ordered the petitioner to return N10, 000 bride price Emeka paid to him through the Court Registry and also gave custody of their first child to Ijeoma.

Olewengwa gave custody of their two younger children to Emeka and said that both parties were free to see the children during holidays adding that Ijeoma was free to revert to her maiden name, Akabogu.

The magistrate said the parties were free from all encumbrances to marry any other persons of their choice and urged them to maintain the peace as they go their separate ways.

ABSUTH Workers yet to resume two days after strike suspension

December 18, 2017


By Ijendu Iheaka


Work is yet to resume at the Abia State University Teaching hospital, Aba two days after their two month old strike was called off on Friday.

Our reporter in Aba who visited ABSUTH on Monday reports that even at 11 am, the main hospital complex entrance was still under lock and key.

A staff who spoke under anonymity told our reporter that the workers were not showing willingness to return to work because the government still owed them 8 months’ salary.

“Government owed us 8 months’ salary when we went on strike in October with promises they never fulfilled and now the ABSUTH Joint Health Unions says we should come back with 8 months’ salary debt owed us, what changed?

“They keep making promises they do not fulfill. If they have not cleared the 8 months salary arrears before this time, how are we sure they will fulfill their promises of paying us in December with elections round the corner and the politicians seeking money to re-contest?, he asked.

However, the Chairman, ABSUTH Joint Health Unions, Chief Emea Ukariwe said that they called off the strike following government’s promise to pay them with the next tranche of Paris Club refund.

He said that the Commissioner for Health, Dr John Ahukanna persuaded them to return to work to enable him make a case for their salaries to be fully paid.

Ukariwe said that the government promised to pay ABSUTH workers first it receives the third tranche of the Paris Club refund.

He said that government still owed the ABSUTH workers 8 months’ salary arrears after paying them February, March and April salaries in the last two months while they were on strike.

Ukariwe said that they asked the workers to resume to give government the benefit of the doubt and to hold it at its words while hoping for fulfillment of their promise this time.

Don canvasses change in Nigeria’s social-economic efforts for better results

December 18, 2017

By Ijendu Iheaka

Dr Acho Orabuchi has canvassed a paradigm shift from a mono-economy to a diversified economy to boost Nigeria’s industrial growth and expansion and to shore up the nation’s revenue base.

This was contained in a media release signed by Mr Edwin Nwachukwu, and sent to our reporter in Aba.

Orabuchi, a former adjunct professor, Paul Quinn College, Dallas, U.S.A, made this call in his book “Views from America: A Sojourner’s Memoir” to be unveiled on December 28 in Owerri.

Orabuchi, a Nigerian living in USA said that the overhaul of the Nigerian local government system was central to solving the lingering socio-political problems of the nation.

The educationist further called state governors to revitalize their states’ revenue bases through job creation to improve the economic status of the nation.

He further called for creation of employment for young Nigerians saying ``we cannot resign ourselves to losing a generation of young people who do not have the dignity of work’’.

The author also expressed the hope that President Muhammadu Buhari would exercise more strength in his bid to curb corruption and its vestiges in government to improve Nigeria’s fortunes.

Orabuchi expressed belief in the power every Nigerian possesses to help build a better nation and to bring about the realization of the Nigeria of everyone’s dreams.

 The 253- page book had its forward written by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremmadu and Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to President Mohammadu Buhari, Mr Femi Adesina.

The book which had its preface written by former Imo state governor, Dr Ikedi Ohakim was edited by a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Senior Editor, Mr Edwin Nwachukwu.

Work at Enyimba Industrial City to start January - Commissioner

December 11, 2017


By Ijendu Iheaka


Chief Uche Ihediwa, the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Physical Planning in Abia, says the survey of areas earmarked for the construction of Enyimba Industrial City will start in January 2018.

Ihediwa said this in an interview with our reporter in Aba on Monday.

He said that the survey, which was scheduled to start in the second week of this month, was postponed partially because of the huge capital outlay of the project.

“We have not started work; over 32 communities are involved and surveying is not a joke.

“We held a meeting, after the announcement that the surveying would start in the second week of January, where the surveyors informed the project promoters of the financial involvement.

“We also need to appoint community liaison officers to handle certain issues.

“You know this is Christmas season, a very busy time; so we decided to start work in January,” he said.

Ihediwa said that an urban, industrial and infrastructure firm from Singapore was appointed as the lead consulting company for the city planning, adding, however, that the state government would still use the services of local town planners.

“The local town planners will be involved in the project.

“Surbana Jurong is the International Consultant that will do the planning and when they finish, they will bring the plan to the Ministry of Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development.

“That is where we will get involved, you know we have to approve anything anybody is doing. Our town planners are also involved,” he said.

The proposed Enyimba Industrial City covers Ugwulagbo, Ukwa East and Ukwa West Local Government Areas of Abia.

The Abia Government projects that over one million jobs would be created for its citizens via the massive industrial development and expanded business opportunities, which the construction of the city would bring. 

Ohaneze reassures disengaged non-indigene Abia Workers

December 5, 2017


By Ijendu Iheaka


The Ohaneze Ndigbo has assured non-indigenes disengaged from the Abia State workforce by the administration of Theodore Orji in 2011 of justice in their matter.

The state President, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Elder Justice Ajuzieogu gave the assurance in Aba while addressing a large number of the disengaged workers at the Christ the King Catholic Church, (CKC) Aba.

Ajuzieogu said that his visit and address to the people followed a petition they wrote to the national body of Ohaneze Ndigbo some time ago which conveyed their pathetic situation.

He said that the present Ohaneze Ndigbo executive council led by Chief Nnia Nwodo is committed to restoring the dignity of the Igbo man and urged them to be a little more patient.

He encouraged the affected persons, promising that Ohaneze Ndigbo would fight their cause to a satisfactory conclusion without compromise.

Ajuzieogu further urged them not to relent in their desire for justice and prayers for it noting that without God’s help, they would fight in vain.

Speaking on their plight, Mrs Comfort Okoro, Lady Joy Ogugua and Mrs Chinyere Emereoge pleaded for an urgent attention and treatment to their issue.

They said that most of them were on the verge of retirement before their disengagement and having served many years were pensionable but regretted that they were disengaged without benefits.

In her speech, the leader of the group, Mrs Fidelia Ihejirika appreciated the response of Ohaneze Ndigbo to the matter which she said had lingered for about 7 years now.

Ihejirika expressed hope that Ohaneze Ndigbo would pursue the matter on their behalf without delay noting that the disengaged workers have suffered for a long time and needed reprieve soonest.

NAFDAC confiscates over N5m worth of products in Abia

December 5, 2017


By Ijendu Iheaka

The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Abia State office, confiscated food and drug products worth over N5 million between October and Dec. 4 in Abia.

The NAFDAC Coordinator for Abia State Office, Mr Olisa Okeke, disclosed this during an interview with our reporter in Aba on Tuesday.

He said that the confiscated products include: beverages, food stuffs and drugs which were being sold without NAFDAC’s permission at night.

He said that the agency had also sanctioned seven shops selling provisions in Aba and Umuahia because of the status of the goods they were selling to unsuspecting residents.

The coordinator said that most of the shops were selling expired products to the public at night.

He said that the Abia NAFDAC Office Surveillance Team got information from residents which resulted in the bursting of the sales of the expired and unregistered products in Aba and Umuahia.

Okeke said that some unscrupulous business men were bringing into the state unregistered and expired products to making quick money during the impending Christmas period and warned residents to be watchful.

“We have noticed that activities are heightening this Christmas season and NAFDAC has started feeling the heat.

“You know that during this period, unscrupulous businessmen like to bring into the state all kinds of goods and products including unregistered, substandard and spurious products and those whose expiry dates had been altered.

“This might be on the increase so we are alerting our citizens, especially those in Abia , to be watchful to ensure they are not taken unawares.

“On our part, we have increased our surveillance to check the incidence of infiltration of harmful products into the state.

“Residents, however, owe the agency a duty to volunteer information that could help investigation and bursting of perpetrators of these evils to save lives,” he said. 

FG partners Abia to build Enyimba Industrial City

 December 1, 2017

By Ijendu Iheaka

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, of Abia says the Federal Government is partnering the state to construct Enyimba Industrial City spanning three Local Government Areas near Aba.

Ikpeazu said this on Thursday in Aba, while speaking to representatives of communities in Ukwa East, Ukwa West and Ugwulagbor Local Government Areas whose lands were included in the industrial city’s plan.

He added that the Federal Government had budgeted about N5 billion in 2018 budget to support the construction of the Industrial City.

According to him, the project involved partnership between the Federal Government, Abia State Government, the private sector and some multilateral institutions such as the World Bank.

He urged the communities to understand that his government was working for their interest and the future of their children and asked them to key into it for the benefit of their future generations.

He said that the city planned to create a business hub like Dubai would create over 1 million jobs and change the lives of the people of the area forever if they accept the proposal and support it.

Ikpeazu said he was working so hard to lift the status of Abia citizens, adding that he would regret all his life if he failed to change the lives of his people before exiting office.

Chief Uche Ihediwa, Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Physical Planning, said his staff had visited the land donors hence the meeting was to start the second phase of the project which was the land verification.

He said the project would change the revenue diversification drives in Abia, create jobs and all-round development while urging the landowners to cooperate with the surveyors about to start work.

Ihediwa said that the project was being handled by Singapore’s Surbana Jurong, one of Asia’s urban, industrial and infrastructure consulting firms specialising in architecture, master planning, engineering and other services.

He said the firm would be in Abia first week of December and would move with surveyors to communities to select and tell the 32 communities involved the locations for the project.

The Project Coordinator, Chief Darl Uzu said that Enyimba Industrial City aims at creating markets for local products and increasing the concentration of industries in that part of South East.

According to him, the city will create a new ecosystem that will change the economic system of the whole South East and South South zones.

The Chairmen namely Ugwulagbor, Ukwa East and Ukwa West local government traditional ruler’s councils namely Eze Moses Ugochukwu, Eze Godwin Ukanna and Eze Ikeabuchi Ekeke thanked the governor for the idea.

They promised to support the vision and expressed the hope that the project would not be abandoned by this administration or any other one in the future.

Enyimba stadium: Abia completes initial payment, returns contractor to site

November 28, 2017 

By Ijendu Iheaka

The Contractor handling Enyimba Stadium, Aba, MoniMitchelle Sports Facilities Construction limited has promised to deliver the stadium before the new Nigerian league season starts on January 14, 2018.

Mr Ebi Egbe, the Director, disclosed this in Aba on Tuesday in an interview with our correspondent after inspecting the stadium with Abia Sports Commissioner, Dr Martins Okoji.

“We are back on site because it is a money play. Government has paid and so we are back to work. Enyimba is also my team so we are doing everything to return Enyimba home.

“But you know once there is a delay in contract, it gives rise to variation. But it will not stop us from doing what we need to do as contractors to assist the state”, he said.

Egbe said Abia government’s delay in fulfilling their contract had raised the cost of the work but promised to be working and talking with the government to ensure timely completion.

Egbe while conducting the commissioner round the stadium said two stairways needed reconstruction to avoid death as well as public conveniences and upgrading of its dressing rooms.

 He also noted that Enyimba stadium needed a Video Replayer Electronic Scoreboard and LED floodlights to attain FIFA standard which would drive usage traffic to it to the benefit of the state.

The Abia Sports Commissioner, Okoji said that he came to access the level of work done and what needs to be done at the stadium to return Enyimba FC to the stadium before January.

“Abians are interested, state government is interested, sports lovers are interested to see that Enyimba boys return to their stadium. 

“The state government is committed to seeing Enyimba stadium fixed. From what you, Monimitchelle has told us that you are going to commence work immediately, ensure much is done before the January 14, 2018 league kickoff”, he said.

Okoji urged the contractor to visit his office for discussion on anything that could hinder his timely completion of the work promising to forward such to Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu for immediate action.

He also charged him to deliver quality work that will leave Abia state people excited instead of disappointed.

The Abia State government gave out the contract to Monimitchelle limited to reconstruct the stadium and plant semi-artificial grass on it in December 2015 with mandate to complete it in 90 days.

However, the delay in the initial contract payment completion hindered the work resulting in Enyimba FC of Aba playing their league matches in Port Harcourt and Calabar stadia for two seasons.

Enyimba FC stadium which sits about 25, 000 spectators has a football pitch measuring 110 X 74 meters which is rated the biggest pitch in the world.