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Airforce Chief Visits Yola, Charges Troops to Sustain Onslaught
The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao has charged personnel of the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) to sustain the current onslaught against terrorists and insurgents in the North East. He gave the charge while on an operational visit to frontline troops of 105 Composite Group, Maiduguri and 103 Strike Group, Yola. The visits which served as morale booster to personnel of the Air Component afforded the CAS the opportunity to interact with them with a view to addressing some of their immediate operational challenges.
The Airforce Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, in a statement, noted that on arrival in Maiduguri, Air Marshal Amao was briefed by the Air Component Commander, OPHK, Air Commodore Nnamdi Ananaba, who gave a summary of the major achievements recorded by the Air Component towards degrading the capabilities of insurgents in Borno State, especially in the last 30 days.
The CAS thereafter commended the troops for their commitment to the current onslaught against insurgents in the North east, while urging them to sustain and maintain the momentum. According to him, ‘The outcome of our air operations have been very encouraging and positive and we must sustain these efforts to remain on course towards meeting our overall end state of ridding the Region of these criminals.’ He went on to charge the troops to remain focused and committed towards their operational objective. ‘Absolute commitment, discipline and dedication is required at this point in time for us to get the job done’, he said. The CAS also expressed optimism that the security threats confronting the country would soon be a thing of the past as the NAF, in synergy with other sister Services is working assiduously to flush out all criminal elements so as to enable all Nigerians go about their daily lives and businesses without fear. He went on to state that in view of the centrality of air power in joint operations, the NAF would continue to provide the much-needed air support for the surface forces in all theatres of operation in the country.
While at Yola, Air Marshal Amao expressed appreciation to the personnel for their commitment and dedication to duty and charged them to continue to synergize their efforts with other security agencies within their location. He also assured them that the entire Nation remains grateful for their sacrifice and commitment towards keeping Nigeria safe. During the interactive session, several issues pertaining to welfare, promotion and discipline, among others were addressed by the CAS on the spot.
The CAS was accompanied on the visit by some Branch Chiefs from Headquarters NAF and Air Officers Commanding Tactical Air Command and Air Training Command.
The Order of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for the arrest of Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and granted by Justice Emeka Nwite on the 31st of January, 2024, has been set aside, today, 25th April, 2024.
Justice Emeka Nwite had on January 31 ordered Ehie’s arrest in connection with the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly on October 30, 2023.
The police, in the charges, alleged that Ehie and five others masterminded the bombing of the Rivers State House of Assembly amid a plot to impeach Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
The five others are Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benedict, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri, and Chibuike Peter, alias Rambo.
Justice Emeka Nwite while reading the ruling setting aside the order given by the court against Eddison Ehie declaring him wanted and granting an order of arrest said it as now becoming a mere academic exercise.
The judge further granted same to the 2nd-5th Defendant/Applicant in same suit.
Eddison Ehie had a team of representation including Falana SAN, Wole Oladoye SAN, Dr Bimpe Ajegbomogun and Barr. Asmau Yakubu
Though Ehie’s name was mentioned in the counts, he was not listed among the defendants.
He said, “He was never invited by the police for anything. All that he saw was that they filed a charge; they mentioned his name in four out of seven charges for murder and arson.”
Aladedoye also argued that it was strange that the Inspector-General of Police left all the courts in Rivers State, where the alleged offences were committed, to file an application before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
“Your Lordship has no jurisdiction to entertain the matter here, “Aladedoye said.
Counsel for the other defendants, Femi Falana (SAN), said the crime his clients were alleged to have committed were state offences.
In the application it was stated that “What is disclosed are state offences; it is our submission that this court cannot exercise any jurisdiction in state offences without the fiat of the Attorney General of Rivers State.”
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has revealed that the now embattled former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, withdrew $720,000 from the State government’s account to pay his child’s school fee.
The EFCC boss disclosed this to journalists in Abuja.
The former governor was last week declared wanted by the commission for alleged N80.2 billion fraud.
EFCC operatives, during the period, stormed Bello’s residence in Abuja to arrest him, but were stopped by his security aides.
Two courts of coordinate jurisdiction also issued conflicting rulings on the matter. While the Kogi State High Court in Lokoja restrained the EFCC from arresting the former governor, the Federal High Court gave the commission the go-ahead to arrest Bello preparatory to his arraignment for alleged fraud.
Olukoyede said: “A sitting governor, because he knows he is going, moved money directly from government to bureau de change, used it to pay the child’s school fee in advance, $720,000 in advance, in anticipation that he was going to leave the Government House.
“In a poor State like Kogi, and you want me to close my eyes to that under the guise of ‘I’m being used.’ Being used by who at this stage of my life?
“I didn’t initiate the case; I inherited the case file. I called for the file, and I said there are issues here.
“On my own, I called him, which I am not supposed to do, just to honour him as an immediate past governor. ‘Sir, there are issues. I’ve seen this case file. Can you just come let us clarify these issues?
“He said, ‘Ha! Thank you, my brother. I know, but I can’t come. There’s one lady that has surrounded EFCC with over 100 people to come and embarrass me and intimidate me.
“I said if that is the issue, I’m going to pass you through my own gate, and you will come to my floor. We will accord you that respect. I will invite my operatives; they will interrogate and interview you in my own office. What could be more honourable than that to allay the fear?
“You know what he said: ‘Thank you, sir, but can’t they come to my village? “
The National Coordinator, Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), CSP Okuwobi Olabisi, has congratulated Nigerian Chess Master Tunde Onakoya for his world record-breaking chess marathon campaign at the Times Square in New York, the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), has learnt.
The POCACOV boss took to her X handle to offer her congratulatory messages, while encouraging the youths to emulate Onakoya’s fighting spirit. She emphasized that cultism can never put anyone on the world map, only innovation and creativity. She applauded the victory more as it occurred on a day dedicated creativity and innovation.
She wrote, “POCACOV congratulates the Nigerian rave of the moment, Tunde Onakoya @Tunde_OD on setting a new world chess record and being exemplary to other Nigerian youth on resilience, innovation and creativity at the world centre stage.
“I wish to congratulate and identify with you today being 21st of April; which is the World Innovation and Creativity Day!
“Cultism and criminalities can’t attract both local and international accolades to no one! Say No to Cultism and Say Yes to Creativity and Innovation, and be a champion like Tunde Onakoya.”
She added, “I use the World Day for Innovation and Creativity to congratulate the Champion of the Guinness World Chess marathon.
“I also admonish Nigerian youth to shun cultism and criminality while urging them to emulate the new world champion by being resilient, innovative and creative. Note that belonging to cultism and engaging in crimes can never attract accolades to no one.”
