Appeal Court did not freeze Imo accounts as reported by Vanguard

The Imo State Government has denied the banner headline report of the Vanguard Newspaper Stating that the “Appeal Court has ordered the freezing of all the accounts of the Imo State Government for the money in the affected accounts to be used to settle the debt owed to the litigants”, with the Government stressing that the Appeal Court did not give any order or ruling freezing the accounts of the State government as claimed in the report.
The Attorney-General of the State and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Miletus Nlebedim told media practitioners on Tuesday September 27, 2016 the same day, Vanguard Newspaper carried the disputed report, that the story was nothing but a deliberate mischief and then challenged those behind the false report to publish their facts.
Hear the AG, “I want to categorically state that the Court of Appeal Sitting in Owerri did not make an order or gave any ruling freezing the accounts of the State Government as reported by the Vanguard Newspaper. The burden now lies on the Vanguard Newspapers to authenticate their Claim by Publishing their facts”.
“There is no such order or Judgement from the Court of Appeal and for the avoidance of doubt, what happened relates back to the year 2011 when a company called E.C. Network Nig. Ltd. took out an action against the state government claiming the sum of 800million naira as contract sum for a contract awarded to them during the time of His Excellency Chief Ikedi Ohakim. The contract has to do with the supply of waste bins to Imo State government when the then government was pursuing its clean and green policy”.
“The goods were not delivered to Imo State government. The contention of the claimant was that he imported the waste bins in pursuance of the contractual agreement, the goods arrived the Apapa wharfs but couldn’t be cleared because the government was unable to provide funds to him and as a result the goods were seized. This is his Claim. The goods in question never reached the state, he now made claims of the contract sum and damages”.
“The sum of 800 million naira was claimed as contract sum and 200 million as damages, that was the claim before the Court. The High Court sitting in Owerri granted his relief and awarded the sum of 1billion naira to him”.
“The government of Imo State appealed against that judgement to the Court of Appeal in 2012. The appeal was argued last year, and judgement dismissed the appeal by the State government”.
“Two days after the judgement, we filled an appeal to the Supreme Court challenging the judgement as delivered by the Court of Appeal as it was a malicious judgement looking at the facts and contract agreement. There was a clause there that said that if there is a misunderstanding between the parties, that, they will first go for arbitration and if it fails either party could then go to Court. That arbitration clause in the agreement was not followed, as such it was challenged that the case was premature as it did not follow the due process as agreed by the parties”.
“We did not stop at appealing at the Supreme Court, we followed it up with filling a motion for stay of execution. The motion for stay of execution is even yet to be heard in Court”.
“I wonder where the Vanguard Newspaper got the information of the Appeal Court then freezing the accounts of the State government when there is a pending motion for stay of execution and a pending appeal at the Supreme Court”.
“The issue of freezing of account does not even arise as the Claimant never included it in its prayers to the Court, both at the lower Court and Appeal Court. In law the law does not give what was not asked for”.
“There is no way the Court of Appeal would have awarded the respondent what he did not claim”.
The publication by Vanguard is misleading and malicious as they never even cared to verify their facts from the office of the Attorney-General before going for publication. It is now left for them to publish what they have to prove that they were not on blackmail trip”.

Uwajumogu sworn into office as the first APC senator from the S/East

History was made a short while ago in Abuja, after the former Imo Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu, was officially sworn in as a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Performing the swearing in ceremony at the hallowed red chambers of the National Assembly, the Clerk of the Senate, Mr Nelson Ayero, charged the new Senator to always be guided in the discharge of his duties in line with the rules of the Senate and in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of the country.
Responding, Senator Uwajumogu, who described the event as historic, not only to the people of Okigwe zone and Imo state in particular, but to the people of the South east zone in general, added that it is a new dawn for the people of the area.
He pledged to use his new mandate as a Senator of the federal republic of Nigeria to uphold the principles and tenets of the country's constitution in doing good to all manner of persons, irrespective of their tribe and religion.
Senator Uwajumogu, who paid glowing tributes to the good people of Okigwe senatorial zone for their painstaking effort in enthroning a new political order in the zone, assured that his representation would spark up even development at every nook and cranny of the zone.
With his formal inauguration as a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after last Thursday's postponement, Uwajumogu now becomes the only APC senator of Igbo extraction in the current dispensation.

Aregbesola, Bello others felicitate with Okorocha on his 54th birthday

Gov Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has joined many eminent Nigerians in wishing Imo State Governor and Chairman Progressive Governors Forum, Dr Rochas Okorocha a happy birthday.
The Governor in his letter to his brother Governor stated:
"I write on behalf of my family, the government and the good people of Osun to extend our felicitations on the occasion of your birthday anniversary celebrated on Thursday, 22nd September, 2016. Evidently, this attainment attests to the fact that you have enjoyed tremendously the Divine grace and protection of Almighty God for sparing your life to witness this occasion.
I join your friends, political associates and well-wishers across the country and beyond to felicitate with you and the entire family on this attainment full of accomplishments and service to humanity. Attaining this age is not of much concern but the positive impact of your life on the people that you govern. You have proved to all that governance is nothing but service to the people.
On this occasion, you are fondly remembered for the good leadership you have been providing and astonishing transformation that has taken place in Imo state despite the economic downturn. It is pleasing to acknowledge that since you assumed your present position, you have demonstrated uncommon dedication and commitment in the service to Imo state and our dear country, Nigeria.
As you look forward to your next birthday anniversary, my wish and prayer is for the Almighty God to continue to strengthen you for more fruitful services to Imo state and Nigeria as a whole.
Once again, wishing you happy birthday and many happy returns"
The letter was personally signed by the Governor.


Similarly, governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has described the patriotism and commitment of the Governor of Imo State as second to none.
He said the continued resilience and dedication of his Imo State counterpart over the years have been the rallying point for the cohesion and unity of the diverse nationals and the federating units of this country.
In a statement to commemorate the 54th birthday of Gov. Okorocha, the Niger State governor described the Imo State helmsman as a "formidable, dependable and reliable bridge" that holds the political and cultural diversity of this country.
Gov. Sani Bello maintained that Okorocha’s political doggedness, resilience and unifying audacity are some of the special qualities that endeared him to his people and to many other Nigerians across the socio-cultural divide.
The statement signed by Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Sani Bello, commended the leadership and direction Gov. Okorocha has given to the Progressive Governors Forum since he was saddled with the responsibility.
Gov. Sani Bello noted that Okorocha has also written his name in an indelible ink on the wall of fame of philanthropists with array of gestures that have brought smiles to many indigent children and widows across the six geo-political zones of the country.
"It is worthy to note that your contributions in the area of education have helped many Nigerian youngsters who hitherto have no hope to fulfil destinies. Many Engineers, Doctors, Lawyers and many professionals have been made through Rochas Okorocha Foundation in Kano, Minna and Jos".
"On behalf of myself, family and the good people of Niger State, I join your family, friends and well-wishers all over the world to warmly congratulate you as you add another year of personal fulfillments.
"I pray to Almighty God to bless you with many more healthy years in distinguished services to Nigerians and humanity at large," Gov. Sani Bello stated.

Okorocha inaugurates amnesty Committee on repentant militants, cancels MoU between host communities and Oil companies

Following the surrendering of arms and embracing of peace by Avenger militants fighting in the oil producing areas of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta in Imo, the State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha today, inaugurated the Amnesty Committee, and two others, including the committee on the Review of the Activities and Infrastructural Development of state owned Higher Institutions, and the Technical committee for the take-off of the Eastern Palm University, Ogboko, Imo State. The committee members have also been briefed by the governor on their terms of reference.
And to demonstrate the importance of the Amnesty Committee, the Governor appointed the first lady of the state, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha as chairman, while the Transition Committee chairmen of the oil producing local government areas of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta, the Assembly members from the two state constituencies, the managing director of Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC) and the Special Assistant to the Governor on Niger Delta are members.
In the terms of reference to the Amnesty Committee, the governor charged them to come up with programmes and ideas that would ensure the sustenance of the peace recently restored in the oil producing areas of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta.
The governor equally asked the committee to address all the issues the repented militants had raised when they surrendered including allegations that the oil companies operating in the areas have been igniting some of these troubles for their own selfish reasons.
The committee would therefore define what should be the role of the oil companies in the areas and to make them stop igniting crises in the areas.
It was also discovered from the testimonies of the born-again militants that some of the Traditional rulers from the areas are also culpable considering their roles in the crisis that enveloped the oil producing areas, equally for their own selfish reasons. For that reason, the governor cancelled all the memorandum of understanding (MoU) the communities or Traditional rulers must have entered into with the oil companies, with the governor also directing that the government must be aware of any such MoU from now onward.
The Amnesty committee was also asked to write to the oil companies not to deal with the communities or traditional rulers again without the approval of the State Government, with the Committee also directed to meet with all the relevant bodies and persons.
The Amnesty Committee was also directed to work towards ensuring that the names of the militants who surrendered their guns and embraced peace are removed from any record or list of militants, organize medical tours in the oil producing areas and ensure special employment of one thousand Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta Youths into the State Civil Service. The Amnesty committee has three months to submit its report.
The Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Acho Ihim is the chairman of the committee on the Review of the Activities and Infrastructural Development on state owned higher institutions, with fifteen others as members. The committee has also been asked to review the movement of certain faculties and departments of the Imo State University to Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala campus of the University.
The committee was also charged to reconsider the location of the Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH) and its viability in Orlu and the location of the main campus of the University in the State Capital, with the committee expected to find out whether IMSUTH won’t be more useful to our people if located in Owerri.
And whether it is not more advisable to take the main campus of IMSU to a more serene location suitable for university education and where it would have the opportunity of expanding as time goes on. The committee has been given three weeks to submit its report.
The Technical Committee for the Take-off of the Eastern Palm University at Ogboko built through Public and Private Partnership (PPP) has Ambassador Nonye Rajis Opara as chairman and the committee has six other members.
The work of the committee is to ensure the smooth take-off of the university. The committee would also go for churches or organizations that were given money and lands by the State Government to encourage them establish private universities, but up till now, such organizations have not done anything to that effect.
The governor charged the members of the committees to demonstrate high level of patriotism in carrying out these assignments, in the overall interest of the state and her people.

Rio 2016 Paralympics: Okorocha rewards gold medalists from Imo

Three Imo State-born athletes who won gold medals for Team Nigeria at the just concluded Rio 2016 Paralympics held in Brazil have been honored by Governor Rochas Okorocha.
The governor rewarded each of the victorious athletes with a brand new car and the sum of one million naira each. He also rewarded their coaches.
The medalists who broke world records on their way to winning gold medals include Roland Ezurike, Nwosu Ndidi and Orji Josephine Precious. The Imo State Commissioner for Public Safety, Youth and Sports, Rodney Ajaelu had on arrival at the Government House presented the 3 gold medalists to the governor for recognition. The victorious athletes sang a Happy Birthday song for the Governor and promised to continue to set the pace.
The Governor while addressing the athletes said that the best things that can happen to Nigeria will always come from Imo state saying they did not only make the state proud but the entire nation.

Okorocha disengages Info. Commissioner, others, appoints Evan Enwerem Jnr.

Imo State Governor , Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha  has disengaged the Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Public Utilities, Dr Vitalis Orikaeze Ajumbe and directed him to hand over all government property in his custody to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.

A release signed by the Principal Secretary to governor, Dr Paschal Obi, says the disengagement is with immediate effect, also relieved of their duties were, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Enlightenment and Orientation Dr Kelechi Okpaleke, the Special Assistance to the Governor on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Justus Ojike and the Transition Committee Chairman for Ikeduru Local Government, Engineer Obinna Nshirim.

The release directed the affected political office holders to hand over all government properties in their possession to the most senior civil servant in their department with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, Governor Okorocha has approved the appointment of Pastor Ralph Afoaku as the new Director General of Imo State Broadcasting Corporation IBC.  The governor also approved the appointment of Mr Evan Enwerem Junior (son of former Imo State Governor and Senate President) as the new Transitional Chairman for Ikeduru Local Government Area.

Others appointed are Mr Anayochukwu Idion as the Principal Officer to the Governor on Electronic Media, and a retired Deputy Inspector of Police Mr Hillary Opara as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters.