Ikpeazu gives scholarship to seven secondary school students in Aba

Aba,  July 9, 2021 

By Ijendu Iheaka

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia on Friday awarded scholarships to seven students of Cor Mariae Comprehensive Secondary School, Umungasi, in Aba for welcoming him to the area.

Ikpeazu who disclosed this during the inauguration of Immaculate Heart Avenue, Umungasi, Aba said he was impressed by the student’s welcome address they read to him during the event.

He said the scholarship would cover the period the seven students would be studying at the Cor Mariae Comprehensive Secondary School, Umungasi, Aba.

He said that his government was building roads in Abia that would last beyond the tenure of his administration stressing that completing the road reconstruction would enable him face others.

The governor thanked residents of the area for their patience during the years the reconstruction lasted adding that the road built with cement-pavement technology would last for fifty years

The Deputy Governor, Ude Oko-Chukwu in his speech expressed happiness at the inauguration of the road which he said was very critical to residents around it and Aba generally.

“We will continue to work and inaugurate more projects. I thank everyone who came out to welcome the governor because you are happy”, he said.

Chief Bob Ogu, Abia Works Commissioner thanked Ikpeazu for enabling the reconstruction of the Immaculate Heart Avenue which should link Ogbor Hill through a bridge.

He said the governor’s desire to have the link bridge built was being realized as the bridge’s drawing plan was ready for execution.

He also said that the road would have street lights when completed stressing that by the third week of July, the street lights would have been be fitted.

The Chairman, Landlords Association of the road, Prince Nweze, on behalf of the association, thanked Ikpeazu for reconstructing the road for the residents of Aba.

He said the reconstruction of the road confirmed Ikpeazu’s desire to make Abia a better place hence it will check the menace of hoodlums in the area.

Chief John Okiyi Kalu, Abia Information Commissioner said the roads were ongoing projects of the government of Ikpeazu who is determined to make a difference with road infrastructure in Abia.

He said parts of the infrastructure development of Ikpeazu included the remodeling of Ngwa Road market and other major roads like Omuma, Ohanku, Obohia and Ngwa Road in Aba.

“Governor Ikpeazu has passion to deliver roads that will last for fifty years.

“In the next 12 months, he will be delivering 250 kilometer roads targeted at rural communities in Abia. Ikpeazu is in deed working”, Kalu said.

Four suspects in Court for murder of two brothers in Aba

Aba,  July 7, 2021 

By Ijendu Iheaka

Four men arrested by the police in connection with the murder of Bright and Victory Chima were on Wednesday brought to an Aba High Court to answer for their alleged crimes.

Bright (9), and his brother Victory (7) were strangled to death in their father’s house at Abayi-Ogbuligba in Osisioma LGA, Abia on April 2, when their parents went out.

The men, Chigozie Ikeokwu, Amanna Temple, Chukwuebuka Nnamani and Chimezie Emmanuel were brought before Justice Teddy Eruba sitting at High Court III in Aba for arraignment.

However, the arraignment, which in law means presenting suspects in court and having them respond to questions of “guilty or not guilty” during a pre-trial session was botched.

The arraignment failed to hold because two of the men who allegedly took part in the murder of the two brothers had no lawyers to represent them legally in court.

When the matter with suit no HOS/13C/2021 was called up, Mr Chima Esom and Chidi Nwachukwu, announced appearances for Chimezie Emmanuel, and Chukwuebuka Nnamani, third and fourth respondents.

However, when the Judge inquired, the first and second defendant confirmed that they had no lawyer to represent them.

Eruba therefore told the prosecution led by a Senior State Counsel, Ms Uloaku Nwogu, and the defence lawyers representing the fourth respondent to take a date for a short adjournment.

Eruba said such a serious criminal case could not go on without the defendants having lawyers defending them.

Esom and Nwachukwu, the third and fourth defendants’ lawyers and the prosecution, however settled for August 4, 2021.

But before the judge ruled, the fourth defendant’s lawyer pleaded with the judge to move the suspects who were coming to court from state CID facility in Umuahia to Aba Correctional Centre.

He said this would reduce cost of moving them to court in Aba and to also give the lawyers easy access to their clients.

Eruba, after hearing from the prosecution lawyer, Nwogu who had no objection to the appeal, ordered the defendants to be transferred to Aba Correctional Centre.

Justice Eruba, further adjourned the case to August 4, for continuation of pre-trial.

He, however urged the first and second defendants to get themselves lawyers to defend them or risk having to remain in detention for a long time

Community lauds Apostle Chinyere’s investment in children’s future

Aba July 3, 2021 

By Ijendu Iheaka

Ikwuorie Community in Ohanku, Ndoki in Ukwa East LGA of Abia has lauded Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere’s investment in their children’s future through a scholarship scheme Chinyere instituted for them.

Chief Reginald Ogudu, the community leader, who spoke to Our Correspondent on Saturday in Ikwuorie, expressed his community’s gratitude to Chinyere for his selfless services.

Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, is the  General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries (OPM) in Port Harcourt and a son of Ikwuorie community.

Ogudu said that the general overseers’ services to God and mankind has made lives of people around him in Ohanku and elsewhere better and urged him to continue the good work.

He thanked the pastor for reconstructing the Ikwuorie Comprehensive Secondary School, Ohanku and for awarding scholarship to its students from Junior to Senior Secondary School levels.

Chibuike Nwachi, a priest with the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Ikwuorie, was also elated by the OPM pastor’s desire to help save the future of the community’s children.

“He has established a free Nursery / Primary School in our community and awarded scholarships to our indigent students to study in Turkey, Poland, and United States of America.

“Chibuzo has also secured international jobs for more than 8 Ohanku youths and no fewer than 25 others are now at the OPM free skills acquisition centre to acquire different skills.

“We are very grateful to God for sending such a man to us and pray God to bless and multiply his source and to give him the strength and grace to do more for God and humanity”, he said.

Chinyere said he acted on a call from the principal of the secondary school that the government was about closing it down because the students who could not pay their fees were no longer attending school.

“I asked them if 50 children go back to school will they still close down the school, they said if they see 50 children they will no longer close down the school.

“I then decided to give every student of the school scholarship from their first year in junior secondary to their last year in senior secondary school education because many of them could not pay school fees”, he said.

Our blog reports that Chinyere has renovated the dilapidated secondary school, built additional structures including NYSC Quarters and donated lockers for the school and a generating set for corps members posted to the school.

Chinyere’s intervention in the school also saved it from being delisted as a West African Examination Council’s exams centre.

Two brothers murdered by suspected hired killers, buried in Imo.

Aba, June 26, 2021 

By Ijendu Iheaka 

Two brothers, Bright and Victory Chima strangled to death in their father’s residence in Aba, Abia were on Saturday buried amidst wailings at  Umungwa, Obowo LGA, Imo.

 

During the funeral service at Umungwa village, Evang. Christian Ofoegbu of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, St Stephens Parish Church, Umungwa warned that God's judgement would come upon evil-doers soon.

 

He said that although the evil machinations of men's evil heart had taken the two children from their parents, they are with God in his bosom in Heaven.

 

Ofoegbu said only men who repented of their sins and became like children who know not evil would be with God after death in Heaven.

 

The church prayed that the killers of Bright and Victory will be rewarded by God accordingly.

 

Their father, Chima Osuagwu told Our Correspondent that the death of his sons was suspected to have been planned and funded by one of his own kinsmen, Chimezie Ojukwu alias designer.

 

He said Ojukwu was arrested after the killers of his sons identified Ojukwu as their sponsor and their hard drug supplier.

 

He said that Ojukwu had visited his shop at Ariaria International market and threatened to “consume” his children since his plans to kill him (Chima) had been failing.

 

He said that Ojukwu also visited his shop in his absence on the day his children were killed and when he saw him returning, he ran off exclaiming that a Wizard had arrived.

 

He said that he expected the government of Abia to could have intervened in the matter to ensure justice for him and his family but  has not had any help from them.

 

Osuagwu said when he was asked to do the autopsy of the children which cost him about N500, 000 he was left alone to foot the bills with his family alone.

 

“The government should have helped me in that area or ask the suspects to do it.

 

“A situation like this one leaves me with painful feelings for myself, family and poor Nigerians who may be involved in cases requiring autopsy to prove cause of death.

 

“It means that if such a person cannot afford the cost of the autopsy, the culprit would be made to go free and continue in his wickedness”, he said.

 

Osuagwu begged governments to ensure they cover the cost of autopsy for victims of killings to ensure justice is given to all parties and to keep the society stable.

 

Bright Chima (7) and Victory Chima (9) were strangled to death by suspected hired killers in their father's residence at Abayi Ogbuligba, Osisioma LGA, Abia on Good Friday, April 2, 2021. 

 

The unfortunate incident happened after their parents had gone to the market leaving them at home.