By ABEL JOHNGOLD

The National Association of Seadogs (a.k.a Pyrates Confraternity), Vito Corsica Deck (Aniocha/Oshimili and Ika Federal Constituencies), last Saturday, 15th July, 2023, concluded her celebration of the year 2023 Feast of Barracuda (FOB) with scintillating lectures

This year’s celebration tagged “Effective Home Management Towards Attaining An Effective And Better Home”, which was chaired by Mr. Okuma Aghogho, a retired Permanent Secretary in Delta State Civil Service, had in attendance members of the Pyrates Confraternity with their respective families, members of the Civil Society Organizations, journalists, some members of Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) as well as other invited guests.

The lectures were delivered by Patricia Arinze (Mrs) and Dr. Eseoghene Oluwasemilore Enejedu, a dietician, while Comrade Vivian Nkechika, an ace broadcaster/Presenter with the Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS), served as the moderator of the day.

In his welcome address, the Cap’n of Vito Corsica Deck of NAS, Engr Emeka Okolo, stated that the Feast of Barracuda was an annual event of the Pyrates Confraternity where salient national issues were discussed and possible solutions presented.

He asserted that “In today’s world, managing our home effectively has become more crucial than ever, that we often find ourselves balancing multiple roles and responsibilities making it help us run our households smoothly.

“In this lectures, we will explore various aspects of home management upon areas such as budgeting, Time Management, Meal Planning and Home Maintenance.

“We have arranged expert speakers and facilitators with Great wealth of experience in this field, our expectation is that they will share invaluable insights and practicable techniques that can be implemented immediately at home.” Engr. Emeka Okolo added.

Presenting her paper themed “REQUIREMENT FOR EFFECTIVE HOME MANAGEMENT TOWARDS ACHIEVING A BALANCED AND HAPPY HOME”, the Keynote speaker, Patricia Arinze, opined that “currently the country’s economy was tainted with gloom. The skyrocketing prices of goods and services, many Nigeria seem to agree that getting on with their daily lives has been pretty difficult and indeed, the country is teetering dangerously on the edge of the abyss.”

She said there was need for a clarion call in order to rejuvenate the economy and save it from total collapse that the situation had brought about an increase in the poverty situation in our various homes and society.

According to Arinze “For many homes, this is a challenging time and it requires a lot of sacrifice and adjustment and prudence in the management of limited resources to navigate the economic crisis. We should not allow the current economic situation to degenerate into medical problem such as hypertension. Some spouse can be intolerant and that can create tension in the family. We should show love even amid these challenging situations. And above all, we should surrender all our problems to God.”

Taking her turn to lecture the audience on the topic “Embracing Good Nutrition As A Woman To Ensure A Healthy You And A Healthy Family”, a dietician with the Asaba Specialist Hospital, Dr. Eseoghene Oluwasemilore Enejedu, stressed the need for every adult to see exercising as a daily ritual.

Enejedu urged adults to be mindful of what they consumed and maintain good hygiene to live a healthy living.

In a research, Spadeng.com researched that the concept of the Feast of Barracuda is derived from the experience of Seafarers of old who encountered the Barracuda, a large predatory tropical marine fish and an opportunistic predator that preyed on other aquatic lives and sometimes humans.

Oral traditions has it that sailors and merchants of old saw this predator as a huge impediment to their smooth sail, travel and trades. Because the barracuda was considered an impediment to seafarers, they would feast on it at any point where they were able to conquer it. Relating the idea to NAS, the event puts forward topical issues that militates against the attainment of an egalitarian society for debates and possibly proffer solutions. Therefore, such gathering is celebrated as the Pyrates Confraternity’s Feast of Barracuda (FOB).

The highlight of the event was the unveiling of the “Barracuda” by the Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Aghogho Okuma, as participants feasted on it with utmost excitement.

By ABEL JOHNGOLD

The Network Of Information Communication and Technology Dealers Association (NICTDA), have Congratulated Chief (Mrs.) Shimite Bello, aka. Madam Sabificate, the immediate past Executive Assistant on Export Initiatives, Coordinator UNIDO Center And Executive Secretary Small and Medium Micro Enterprise in the last Administration, on her appointment as Special Adviser by His Excellency, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff F. O. Oborevwori, the Governor of Delta State.

Describing her as a pragmatic leader par excellence, great mobilizer, goal getter, and a Philanthropist in a congratulatory message signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Comrades Kenneth Nwaobi and Ejiro Ejiro R. Onwuegbuzie (Mrs), NICTDA said “We rejoice with you on your well deserved appointment. May the Almighty God grant you Wisdom & Grace to discharge your duties efficiently & effectively in the actualisation of the M.O.R.E Agenda for all Deltans & non- Deltans.

“The impact of your wealth of experience, generosity & Philanthropic nature has been widely spread across the State as you equally played vital roles in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded National and State Elections.

“NICTDA, the Umbrella body of all Computer Engineers/Technicians and ICT Dealers in Delta State, once again congratulates the Akpeli Ugo Fufu I of Ebu Kingdom.”

The National and State House of Assembly Election Tribunal sitting at Asaba has been prayed upon to dismiss the entire election petition filled by Hon. Ndudi Elumelu and PDP against INEC, Labour Party and Hon. Ngozi Okolie.

The Counsel to the 3rd Respondent, (Hon. Ngozi Okolie), Chike Onyemenam, SAN, made the prayer last Saturday, 15th July, 2023 during the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunal sitting at Asaba, Delta State.

Chike Onyemenam, SAN, told the Tribunal that, the following points were, from the written addresses and the oral arguments canvassed, the Petitioners, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu and PDP abandoned their Claims that Honourable Ngozi Okolie of the Labour Party (LP) won the Election into the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency by a Landslide Victory by defeating Honourable Ndudi Elumelu with more than Twenty Thousand Votes.

He noted that, the Petitioners also abandoned their Claims that the Election was rigged or was invalid and that the Tribunal should declare the Election Null and Void and order INEC to conduct fresh Election for Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency.

Chika Onyemenam, SAN, Counsel for the 3rd respondent, consequently urged the Tribunal to Strike out Grounds 14(2) & 14(3) of the Petition and paragraphs 15, 18-33 of the Petition since both Parties agree that they have been abandoned.

4. The 3rd Respondent’s Counsel argued that, the only Ground remaining in the Petition is the Claim by the Petitioners that Hon. Ngozi Okolie was not qualified to contest the Election for several reasons.

Counsel to Hon. Lawrence Ngozi Okolie now prayed the Honourable Tribunal to dismiss the entire Petition with the submission that, “since none of Three Witnesses called by the Petitioners adopted a Depositon or gave any Oral evidence to say that Hon. Ngozi Okolie was not qualified to contest the Election for any reason, the Petition is deemed in law to have been abandoned as the Supreme Court has decided that where a Petitioner fails to field a Witness to adopt his Depositon or fails to lead oral evidence in respect of the Petitioner’s Claims, the Petitioner is dead and cannot be revived by looking for evidence from the Opponents(Defendants) to revive a dead Petition”.

He further cited Supreme Court decisions which recently held that the Tribunal is also not permitted by Law to start inspecting the INEC Documents and Reports tendered by the Petitioners’ Counsel from the Bar and by the INEC Witness on Subpoena without any evidence to support or link the Documents and Reports to any part of the Petition; so as to discover violations inside the Documents, because the Supreme Court has decided that such Documents dumped on a Tribunal without Oral evidence are worthless Documents.

The 3rd Respondent’s Counsel also cited Supreme Court Judgements which established that PDP and its Candidate do not have the Locus Standi or right to complain that Labour Party and its Candidate did not hold Primary Election for which the Petitioners equally did not lead any Oral evidence in respect of, save to tender Reports and Exhbits not linked to any Oral evidence or any part of the Petition and urged the Honourable Tribunal to dismiss the Petition for failure of the Petitioners to lead any evidence, let alone, credible evidence, to make out a prima facie case against Honourable Ngozi Okolie and Labour Party.

Justice Christiana Obadina of an Osun State High Court sitting in Ikire on Monday, July 17, sentenced a clergyman with the Cherubim and Cherabum Church, Solution Chapel, Ikoyi-Ile. Phillips Segun, to death by hanging for conniving with one Owolabi Adeeko, 23, to kill a final year student of Lagos State University, Favour Daley-Oladele,who was Adeeko’s girlfriend.

The court while delivering judgement sentenced Adeeko, 23, to death by hanging for the brutal murder of the final year Sociology student after luring her to Ikire from Lagos while his mother, Bola, 46, was convicted for eating human flesh.

During the trial, the prosecution team from the Ministry of Justice led by Mrs Adekemi Bello, called nine witnesses, including the police investigating officer and tendered several exhibits before the court, while the convicts testified in their respective defence without calling any other witness. The prosecutors told the court that Owolabi and Favour had been dating for about a month before he lured her to Ikire under the pretense that she should come visit his uncle while Owolabi, his mother and Prophet Segun had concluded plans to kill her and use her body parts for money ritual.
The prosecution team said unknown to Favour that her boyfriend had planned to kill her, she agreed to follow him to visit his Uncle. However when they got to Ikire, Favour was killed in the church after Owolabi smashed her on the head with a pestle and her organs used for ritual before her remain was buried in a shallow grave outside the church on December 8, 2019.

The prosecution team told the court that few weeks later, the body was exhumed by the police after arresting the suspects who confessed to the murder and they were first arraigned before the court in November 15, 2021 on two counts bordering on conspiracy and murder contrary to sections 324 and 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap. 34 Laws of Osun State, 2002.

In her judgement, Justice Obadina said that prosecuting counsel has proven her case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The troops of the 192 Battalion Army operating in the 81 Division Area of Responsibility on Saturday intercepted an ammunition smuggling syndicate while transporting a truckload of smuggled ammunition from Mali to Anambra State.

Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu revealed this in a statement shared on Nigerian Army’s Twitter page on Monday.

The truckload of the ammunition was discovered by the troops during a stop and search operation along Ajilete-Owode road in Yewa North LGA of Ogun State.

The statement partly read, “The troops, who acted on actionable intelligence conducted a meticulous and rigorous Stop and Search operation along Ajilete-Owode Road in Yewa North LGA of Ogun State and uncovered the illegal ammunition in a truck with Registration number ENU 697 XY, loaded with 720 packets of Red Star Cartridges of 12 Calibre, containing 25 cartridges per packet, totalling 18, 000 cartridges and an additional 250 packets of live (black) cartridges containing 10 packets each, totalling 2500 cartridges of the same calibre.

“Identified suspects, Mr Eric Seworvor, a Ghanaian national, and the driver, Mr Lukman Sani, have been taken into custody and are helping with ongoing investigations.

“Information gathered during preliminary investigation revealed that the ammunition, which was surreptitiously concealed in a supposed empty truck was imported from Mali, via Idiroko International Border, where the criminals had successfully beaten several other checkpoints en route their final destination in Onitsha, Anambra State, where they intended to deliver the illegal ammunition.

“Timely intervention by the vigilant troops however thwarted the chaos that such volume of ammunition would have unleashed on innocent members of the public, if the criminals had succeeded.”

No fewer than 26 inmates at the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos State, have graduated from the National Open University of Nigeria in various disciplines.

The inmates, who received their certificates at the convocation ceremony organised by the institution on July 13, 2023, were pronounced graduates after the completion of their various programmes for the 2022/2023 academic session.

They comprised of three females and 23 males who had undertaken courses for both Masters Degrees, Post Diploma in Education, and undergraduate degrees.

It was gathered that three inmates graduated with Second Class Upper Division, while another one completed a Master’s Degree programme in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution.

Speaking at the ceremony, Adekunle Ogungbe, who represented the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, praised the management of the facility for giving the inmates such an opportunity.

He said such feats should be emulated by other inmates yet to undertake any programme with the institution.

According to him, other inmates should seize the opportunity and maximise their time by emulating their graduating colleagues.

He said, “As they are seeing their colleagues and counterparts being celebrated today, they have to be emulated or be motivated to register with us. Once they register with us, learning has started.

“Those that are here are still going through a trial for one offense or another, but as you know, education is a tool to facilitate moral changes, overall learning, and development of the individual.

“So once the mind of the individual is developed, it means that there is going to be a change in character and behavior and when there is a change in character and behaviors, we are saying that, the person has learned.”

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, a faith-based organisation in Nigeria, are in partnership until June 2024 to galvanize support for internally displaced persons in Nigeria.

Currently, over 3.3 million people are internally displaced in Nigeria.

As a part of this partnership, Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society will organise fundraising activities to mobilise resources to support internally displaced persons in Nigeria.

“This partnership with UNHCR is an expansion of the work Al-Habibiyyah is doing to support the less privileged in society. In Ramadan, we feed at least 2,000 people every day with our food bank program in Abuja. Moreover, we have over 20 years of experience in fundraising as evident in our annual distribution of Zakat,” said Imam Fuad Adeyemi, National Chief Imam of Al-Habibiyyah.

The over 3.3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria cut across different regions of northeast, northwest, and northcentral. The perennial farmers-herders clashes in the northcentral as well as the banditry & kidnappings in the northwest have added to the displacement emergency in the northeast caused by non-state-armed groups.

These displaced communities are in dire need of support for basic amenities such as shelter, health, education, access to clean water, and protection from sexual violence.

UNHCR has been at the forefront, responding to the needs of these IDPs, but the increasing number of displaced persons in Nigeria has exacerbated resources.

This partnership between UNHCR and the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society intends to mobilise support from Nigeria’s Muslim community and galvanise the spirit of Islamic philanthropy as a tool to support some of the most vulnerable populations amongst us.

About Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society:
Al-Habibiyyah is a faith-based organization in Nigeria whose mandate includes the propagation of Islam in Nigeria and beyond, Islamic & secular education, inter-religious dialogue, provision of social services such as health care, education & welfare assistance to people in need as well as the advancement of Islamic culture in all facets of human activities.

Al-Habibbiyyah collaborates with fellow Muslims, Islamic organizations, and other refutable impact-making organizations whose vision & mandate matches theirs to deliver interventions that promote the well-being of the people and human dignity.

About UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency:
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, leads international action to protect people forced to flee because of conflict and persecution. We deliver life-saving assistance like shelter, food and water, help safeguard fundamental human rights, and develop solutions that ensure people have a safe place to call home where they can build a better future.

Since its formation by the United Nations General Assembly in 1951, UNHCR has helped millions of forcibly displaced people restart their lives and has received the Nobel Peace Prize twice.

In line with its global mandate, UNHCR in Nigeria works to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees and asylum-seekers, refugee returnees, internally displaced people (IDPs), and stateless men, women and children.

For media inquiries:
– Hajiya Habiba Ahmed, habibagini@gmail.com, +234 809 541 8003
– Amina Rai, raia@unhcr.org, +254 792 339 766

By Fejiro Oliver

And this government starts with soured Ukodo.

You have started a shortlived government with resentment.

All your security details are outsiders.

ADC is Yoruba, Chief Detail is Yoruba, SSS liason officer from Rivers who is the only person that has been with you for years and acceptable, CSO is Ishan, Orderly is from Jigawa.

This is the first time in Delta State history that only outsiders minus Barry, that all security insiders of a governor have no Deltan and you campaigned on Pan Deltan agenda. You allowed Okowa to give you CSO who’s his former MOPOL coordinator.

I will mention names and every fact that comes with it.

Dear Sheriff, you are my bossom friend and a good one but you will hear this truth.

You have messed up and goofed badly.

You and I know what was promised each person and what you finally did. How did Governor Ifeanyi A. Okowa blackmail you to make such mistake?

You promised Daniel Mayuku SSG while Chief of Staff to be given to Solomon Ighrakpata.

Today, you have chosen Okowa’s sole nominees as SSG, COS and SPOLAD.

You have refused to appoint Director of Protocol that you promised an outgoing lawmaker who’s supposed to match Okowa’s SSG choice for you and now want to take a DOP for you. You said you are under pressure to break such promise.

You promises Mideno Bayagbon the Principal Secretary but gave it to Lyna Ocholor.

What does Lyna Ocholor have against you apart from the sleaze that occurred between both of you as Speaker and Clerk of House of Assembly?

So many things happened in the House of Assembly that I am privy to but overlooked for the sake of our flourishing friendship but this particular one happened in your last days in office and I will tell the world today.

Over N100M was left in the assembly coffers.

What happened?

You gave each elected HOA member N2M each to pack their bags from office and Lyna Ocholor who’s is just a clerk N3.5M secretly without members knowing.

You have started on a wrong footnote that will be disastrous to your few months in office.

As it is, Okowa has hijacked your security and also taken over the government with the imposition of my good friend Kingsley Emu as SSG.

The appointment of DOP to the person you promise is your only redemption from the Owa-Alero cabal and Solomon Ighrakpata as Revenue Board Chairman.

I do not want to be part of those to drive a wedge in your shortlived administration with tye slogan of ‘Sheriff is a Toy’.

Okowa is a bad boy

Fejiro Oliver

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has urged traditional rulers to give priority attention to matters of security in their domains.

Oborevwori, made the call on Friday during the presentation of Staff of Office to His Royal Majesty, Simpson Sapele Obruche, Obruche 11, the Odion R’ode of Uwheru Kingdom, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

The governor who was represented by his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, assured that his administration will continue to hold traditional rulers in high esteem.

He urged them to work closely with the law enforcement agencies and local government councils to ensure that peace prevail in their domains.

According to him; “the traditional institution remains a priceless legacy in any African society for which there is yet no credible substitute, as a rallying point for the people.”

The governor stated that traditional rulers should improve on the high sanctity of their office by leading their people to greater prosperity.

He urged them to be transparent while upholding the virtues of justice, fair play and equity in all their dealings with the people.

“In everything you do and in every decision that you take, I appeal to you to place the interest of the majority of your people and the fear of God above all other considerations,” Oborevwori stated.

The governor used the occasion to charge youths to be involved in productive activities, noting that his administration will always accord education prime place of importance.

In an address delivered on behalf of Uwheru Traditional Council, the Chairman Central Planning Committee for the event, Hon. Esemeteye Benjamin, thanked Oborevwori for presenting the Staff of Office to their traditional ruler.

The Chairman, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Hon. Adode Godwin, at the occasion, urged the youths to ensure that peace is maintained in the kingdom while they channel their energy to positive activities.

He expressed worry over the constant attack of herdsmen on the kingdom, saying that the situation has become unbearable and called for prompt intervention of government to curb the situation.

Pics:
Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme presenting Staff of Office to His Royal Majesty, Simpson Sapele Obruche, Obruche 11, the Odion R’ode of Uwheru Kingdom, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State on behalf of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Friday, 14/07/23.

By Peace Aikhuere-Caleb

In a shocking turn of events, a 46-year-old man has lost his life in a drinking competition with a friend in Sapele, Delta State.

Known for his notorious involvement in the production of counterfeit beverages and multiple encounters with law enforcement agencies, the man was reported to have met his untimely death in an undisclosed area within the timber town.

According to a source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the man was swiftly rushed to a private hospital after collapsing from excessive alcoholic intake in the contest.

Unfortunately, despite the efforts made to save his life, he died at the said private hospital.

The source disclosed that the dead man was always participating in dangerous alcoholic drinking contests and other perilous activities.

Evidently consumed by his passion for alcoholic beverages, the dead man was reported to have boasted to be invincible to the effects of alcohol.

The anonymous source expressed dismay, saying “he thought he could do anything with alcohol.”