Tag: Abia State

Abia: Gov. Otti’s team attacked by unknown gunmen

Aminu Imam
Gov. Otti's team attack

An advance team of Governor Alex Otti of Abia escaped unhurt after unidentified gunmen opened fire on their vehicle in the early hours of yesterday, along the Umuowa–Ihite axis in Imo State. Reacting to the incident, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ukoha Njoku, said that an advance team of three members from the office of the governor from the Government House, Umuahia, who were on duty at the Sam Mbakwe airport, Owerri, were attacked by yet to be identified gunmen between Umuowa and Ihitte junction, on their way…

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Infrastructure: FEC approves $125m Islamic Development Bank loan for Abia 

Aminu Imam
FEC approves Abia

Abia State government has confirmed the approval of a long-anticipated $125 million financing facility from the Islamic Development Bank, (IsDB), for the Abia State Integrated Infrastructure Development Project. According to a statement issued yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Alex Otti, Ukoha Ukoha, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) gave its nod to the loan during its meeting on Wednesday. The statement described the approval as a major milestone in a project that has undergone extensive consultations and procedural steps. It is a key element in a broader co-financing…

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Abia: Soldier shoots self to death in front of army barracks gate

Aminu Imam
Abia suicide soldier

A senior non-commissioned officer serving at the 14 Brigade Headquarters, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s Barrack in Ohafia, Abia State, has tragically taken his own life. The soldier, identified as Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Vitalis, from Okpuala in Ngor-Okpuala, Imo State, was attached to the 144 Battalion’s Forward Operation Base (FOB) at Ngwa High School in Abayi, Osisioma local government area. CSM Vitalis shot himself in front of the FOB gate, leaving his colleagues and military authorities in shock. The reasons behind his decision to commit suicide are currently unknown, as no…

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Abia: ?Ex Gov. Ikpeazu transferred ?10bn airport funds onto 32 different accounts – Gov. Otti

Aminu Imam
Alex Otti Ikpeazu

Abia State governor, Alex Otti, has alleged that the immediate-past administration of Okezie Ikpeazu, transferred the N10 billion airport funds into 32 different individual company accounts. Otti made this known during his monthly media chat, tagged: “Governor Alex Otti Speaks to Abians”, which was held at Government House Umuahia,  the State capital, on Thursday. According to the Governor, the N10 billion had already been transferred from the State government account before they approached the Abia State House of Assembly for approval. While noting that Okezie’s denial was not unexpected, Otti…

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Abia emerges first State to end pension for ex-governors, deputies

Aminu Imam

The Abia State House of Assembly has passed a Bill to revoke the Abia State Governors and Deputy Governors Pensions Law No. 4 of 2001. This legislation effectively ends pension payments to former governors and their deputies in the State. The Bill, sponsored by Majority Leader Uchenna Okoro, aims to reduce government spending and redirect resources towards development initiatives. Speaker Emmanuel Emeruwa expects the Bill to be signed into law soon, taking effect immediately. Abia becomes the first Nigerian state to abolish such pensions, which have been a source of…

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Abia Radio/TV invasion: “Police action uncivilised” – BON, NUJ, Guild of Editors

Aminu Imam

…Lauds Ofili-Ajumogobia on NBC Code The Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, (BON), Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), Nigerian Guild of Editors, (NGE), have berated the Nigeria Police over its recent invasion of a Radio/Television station, ABN TV/Radio, based in Umuahia, Abia State. Recall that men of the Nigerian Police a few days ago invaded the TV/Radio station during a live programme, arrested a guest and destroyed equipment. The policemen attached to the Umuahia Area Command allegedly destroyed equipment and other property worth millions of naira at the station. BON’s Secretary-General, Yemisi…

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Niger-Delta: Clark demands the removal of Abia, Imo, and Ondo from NDDC

Aminu Imam

Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark, has urged President Tinubu to remove Abia, Imo and Ondo States from the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC). The elder statesman also urged President Tinubu to re-enact a new Bill for the Oil production States, which are: Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo and Akwa-Ibom. According to the chieftain, the States were included in the first place in the 2000 NDDC Act for convenience, though a political aberration. He, therefore, made demand for President Bola Tinubu to re-enact a new bill for the NDDC that would reflect the…

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Abia: Tribunal affirms Labour Party’s Alex Otti as governor

Aminu Imam

The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia has dismissed all petitions by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Okey Ahiwe, and his party against the election of Governor Alex Otti, of the Labour Party, (LP). The tribunal, which delivered the judgement yesterday, dismissed Ahaiwe’s case for lack of merit. Recall that Ahaiwe had challenged the declaration of Otti as the duly elected governor by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC). In his prayers, through his lawyer, Paul Ananaba, (SAN), Ahaiwe had urged the court to remove…

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Kano court denies sacking Alex Otti as Abia Governor-elect

Aminu Imam

A Federal High Court, sitting in Kano, has denied nullifying the candidature of the Abia Governor-elect, Dr Alex Otti. The court, however, said it nullified the election of the candidates for Kano Labour Party, (LP) that contested during the 2023 general election. Recall that a plaintiff, Ibrahim Haruna-Ibrahim, had filed an application seeking the court to revoke and set aside the certificate of return issued to all LP candidates declared winner in Kano and the 35 States of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Abuja. The respondents in…

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Gowon suspends Abia prayer rally after outrage

Aminu Imam

Former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) has bowed to pressure and shelved the planned Prayer Rally meant to usher in the administration of Abia State governor-elect, Alex Otti. Gowon, the founder of ‘Nigeria Prays’, had come under fire over his plan to visit Abia State on the ground of a Prayer Rally, scheduled for Sunday. Recall that the Peoples Democratic Party in the state had said Gowon should be apologising for his role in the Nigeria/Biafra civil war between 1967 and 1970 instead of organising prayer for…

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