BREAKING: RIVERS STATE DEPUTY GOVERNOR DUMPS APC, DEFECTS TO PDP

The Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Tele Ikuru, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party from the All Progressives Congress while urging his supporters to vote for PDP
Ikuru declared his defection on Sunday, six days to the general elections.
More details later

RIVERS COURTS RE-OPEN MONDAY AS JUDICIARY WORKERS SUSPEND STRIKE

At last, the judiciary in Rivers state, which had been shut since eight months ago, will reopen on Monday as workers in the state judiciary have suspended their strike.
The state judiciary was shut down July last year following the crisis that rocked the state judiciary over the appointment of a chief judge for the state and alleged attacks on members of the judiciary.
Reprieve came the way of stakeholders of the state judiciary on Saturday as the National Publicity Secretary of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Kayode Igbarago, in Port Harcourt directed judicial workers in the state to resume work on Monday, February 2.

RIVERS: WHY WE REFUSED PDP USE OF STADIUM FOR PRESIDENTIAL RALLY

The Rivers State Government has said it refused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) use of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Igwuruta-Ali, for its presidential campaign rally because the facility was unsafe as work was ongoing at the site.
In a statement issued by the state Commissioner of Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, the government said it was not impressed by the threat of the PDP that it would force its way into the stadium if the government did not grant its request to use the facility.
“At a different time and under different circumstances the Rivers State Government would have ignored the PDP’s ranting but with the party’s penchant for violence and its recent bombings of people and property all over the state, it is pertinent that the Rivers State Government raises this alert and sounds a note of warning to the PDP that the Rivers State Government will not trifle with its responsibility to guarantee the safety of lives and property irrespective of whom is affected.”

RIVERS ASSEMBLY GRANTS AMAECHI ACCESS TO N19BN RESERVED FUNDS

The Rivers State House of Assembly on Monday approved a request by Governor Chibuike Amaechi to access the sum of N19 billion from the State reserved funds.
Amaechi, in a letter read on the floor of the assembly, stated that he needed the funds to complete on-going capital projects in the state.
Tthe Speaker of the assdembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan-Amachree, explained to members that the state government had unpaid bills due to financial crunch, adding that with the huge money in the reserve funds, it was proper to approve the request.
Source: Thisday 

DECLARE EMERGENCY RULE IN RIVERS, IYANAM TELLS JONATHAN

A former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Akwa Ibom State, Victor Iyanam, has called for a declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State due to the constitutional crisis and the total breakdown of order in the judiciary.
There had been a tussle as to whether it is the president of the customary court of appeal that should be the acting Chief Judge of the state or the judge that had been appointed by the National Judicial Council to preside, pending the appointment of a new chief judge.
Iyanam who made the recommendation in a chat with Daily Independent in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, said constitutional crisis that is intractable is worse than having a riot, or even a civil insurrection, even of the type seen in the north-eastern part of the country.
He said the River’s strife is a threat to democracy itself.
“Right now, the judiciary is not functioning in River’s State owing to what I see as strong headedness of the governor, and perhaps it suits his purpose for the judiciary not to work.
“This calls for a declaration of the state of emergency in that state, until such a time that things are brought to normalcy.

RIVERS GOVT KICKS AS POLICE LEAD OKOCHA INTO COURT PREMISES

The political tension which engulfed Rivers State is rebuilding as the state Commissioner of Police, Dan Bature, yesterday led Justice Daisy Okocha, who was appointed administrative judge by the National Judicial Council (NJC) into the court premises in Port Harcourt to preside over a meeting of judges.
The court premises had been sealed by members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) when they embarked on an indefinite strike following conflicting directives from the state government and NJC over who should be the chief judge of the state.
Yesterday, about 20 heavily armed policemen who arrived in three operational Toyota Hilux Vans broke the main gate of the state high court at about 10.30a.m. to lead Okocha into the premises of the court.
The gates of the court had been locked since June 10 when the judiciary workers went on strike.

16-YR-OLD GIRL GANG-RAPED BY 16 MEN IN PORT HARCOURT

A sixteen- year-old girl (names withheld) was allegedly gang-raped by 16 adults, after taking some alcoholic drink laced with unknown substance at a party in Ogbunnabali area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
This was as three of the 16 suspected rapists, Tambari Dumlesi (40), Ikechukwu Akah (22) and Friday Esau (27) had been arrested, while the remaining 13 suspects are still at large.
Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr Tunde Ogunsakin, made the disclosure while parading 16 suspected criminals, including two females, before newsmen during a press briefing at the state police command on Thursday.

AMAECHI: WIKE CAN’T BE GOVERNOR OF RIVERS

Rivers State Governor, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, has said the supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, cannot hope to be his successor because both of them belong to the same ethnic group in the state.

Amaechi said the Ikwerres are morally barred from contesting the 2015 governorship election and that the contest would only open to representatives of other groups.
He spoke when the chiefs and elders of Ogu/Bolo paid him a solidarity visit in Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday.

The governor described those from Ikwerre nationality warming up for next year’s governorship election in the state as desperate politicians and called on the people to vote out the People democratic Party (PDP).

RIVERS CJ BOWS TO NJC, COMPLIES WITH SUSPENSION ORDER

Despite his legal moves to stave it, embattled Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Peter Agumagu, has proceeded on the indefinite suspension slammed on him by the National Judicial Council (NJC) for breach of oath of office, Nigerian Tribune has learnt.
He was suspended at the council’s 10th emergency meeting last Wednesday but got both his suspension notification and query the next day.
The council gave him four days to explain why he should not be booted out of service.
The ultimatum for his response expires today.
As at press time, checks showed that the expected reply to the query had not come in.
The four days were not inclusive of last Saturday and Sunday, which extended the ultimatum till today, according to a source.

RIVERS GOVERNMENT SAYS NJC LACKS CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS TO DISMISS ITS SITTING CHIEF JUDGE

… Repudiates Body Over Alleged Partisanship
The Rivers State Government has reacted strongly to the suspension slammed on the newly appointed Chief Judge of the State, Honourable Justice P.N.C. Agumagu, by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
In a statement issued late Thursday by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Ms. Ibim Semenitari, the government expressed dismay at the NJC’s decision which it described as “unprecedented,” “unlawful” and “against the clear provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the established tenets of federalism.”
While insisting that Justice Agumagu’s appointment as Chief Judge of Rivers State fulfilled all the provisions as prescribed by the constitution of the federal republic, the Rivers State Government further said the NJC failed to take into consideration the ruling delivered by Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High Court Port Harcourt and the pending suit at the Court of Appeal seeking an interpretation of Section 271 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as regards the appointment of a chief judge of the state.
THE FULL TEXT OF THE STATEMENT READS:>>>>>

NJC SUSPENDS RIVERS CHIEF JUDGE

The last not been heard about the lingering crisis in the Rivers State Judiciary where Governor Rotimi Amechi is locked in a battle of wits with the National Judicial Council, NJC, over the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge for the state.
The governor had on 18 March sworn in Justice P.N.C Agumagu as the substantive Chief Judge of the state without the recommendation of the NJC, which is a constitutional requirement for such appointment.
At an emergency meeting of the Council at Abuja on Wednesday, it suspended Justice Agumagu as a judicial officer, saying his appointment did not have constitutional backing.
The NJC in the course of its deliberations on Rivers State judicial crisis, noted that section 271 (1) of the Constitution provides that appointment of a person to the Office of the Chief Judge of a state shall be made by the governor of the state on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, subject to the confirmation of the appointment by the House of Assembly of the state.

COURT NULLIFIES APPOINTMENT OF RIVERS CJ •WE WILL APPEAL —GOVT

THE appointment of Justice P. N. C. Agumagu as the acting chief judge of Rivers State was, on Wednesday, invalidated by a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
This was as Justice Lambo Akanbi also instructed the state governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, to conform to the provisions of the constitution in the appointment of an acting chief judge.
The judgment followed a suit filed by a group, Kengema Unity Forum (KUF), challenging the selection and swearing-in of Agumagu, president of the state customary court of appeal, by Governor Amaechi.
In his judgment, Justice Akanbi said the 1999 Constitution (as amended) was clear on who should be appointed as the acting chief judge of the state, adding that the most senior judge in the state High Court should be selected to occupy the position whenever there was a vacancy.

RIVERS: CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM GREETS MBU’S REDEPLOYMENT

Officials of the Rivers State government and political parties in Rivers State have welcomed the redeployment of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, with cautious optimism.
While they said it was a normal routine police exercise, they also said it was too early to celebrate as they needed time to study Mbu’s replacement.
The State commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said, “We believe it is a routine police exercise. We also believe that the police command will have its reasons.”
She also said it was too early to predict the impact of the change in the political situation in the state.
Source: Thisday

MBU BANS POLITICAL RALLIES IN RIVERS

THE Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, on Monday placed a ban on any form of political rally in the state.
Mbu, who said the decision was based on the increasing political tension in the state, specifically said the ban affects political rallies under any guise.
The State Police Command had before the outright ban on political rallies, directed that those holding rallies in the state should apply for police permission.
He also prohibited activities involving the Grassroots Development Initiative, Save Rivers Movement, and the Rivers Leadership Advancement Foundation.
“The Rivers State Police Command wishes to inform members of the public that as a result of increasing political tension in the state, the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command, has banned all political rallies in the State under whatever coloration or name.
“Accordingly, all public activities involving rallies of Grassroots Development Initiative, Save Rivers Movement , Rivers Leadership Advancement Foundation and whatever other names, are hereby banned,” a statement signed by the Command’s spokesman, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad read.

MONEY LAUNDERING: IBORI TO COMPLETE PRISON TERMS IN UK

The chances of ex-Governor James Ibori of Delta State to complete his jail term for money laundering in Nigeria look remote,according to indications yesterday.
It had been suggested that he could be repatriated from London to Nigeria to complete his jail term following an agreement between Abuja and London for Nigerians currently serving terms there to complete their sentence at home.
After a five-year legal ordeal, Ibori was jailed for 13 years in April 2012 by Justice Nicholas Pitts.
He said although the official figure alleged to have been laundered by Ibori was £50million, it could be up to £250milllion.
Pitts found him guilty of money laundering and conspiracy to make instruments contrary to section 1 (1) (a) of the criminal act of 1977.
He is however expected to spend only four and a half years in prison.

RIVERS CRISIS: POLICE MAKE U-TURN

Inspector General of Police Muhammed Abubakar yesterday intervened in the face-off between Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Police Commissioner Joseph Mbu and directed that the police should give protection to a rally by the pro-Amaechi Save Rivers Movement (SRM) at Bori-Ogoni, today.
Two previous rallies held by the group were disrupted: the first by the police who fired into the crowd, injuring Senator Magnus Abe; and the second by militants.
The Chief of Staff at Government House , Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, confirmed yesterday that the rally would be peaceful as the police had agreed to ensure maximum security.
Amaechi is expected at the rally and he vowed, as he did last week when the last rally was disrupted that he was ready for the bullets of militants allegedly hired to cause trouble.

RIVERS CRISIS: PDP, APC SCRAMBLE FOR MILITANTS

Except there is an early intervention, Rivers State may possibly witness a bloody political clash similar to what transpired in the days of cult crisis that rocked the peace of the state in 2005/2006 when the entire Port Harcourt city and beyond were turned into theatre of war by politicians.
Our findings revealed that politicians from both the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have started employing the services of ex-militants and cultists with a view to win the forthcoming 2015 general elections.
While a good number of the militants maybe well disposed to the PDP politicians, it is not very clear who among the ex-militant generals are in the camp of the APC.
Last week, when Okrika people staged a peaceful protest in support of the state Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, at the national field, Okrika, the protesters had to match to Ateke Tom, leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF) who promised to take their demands to the President.

RIVERS: HOODLUMS OPEN FIRE ON PRO-AMAECHI RALLY

HOODLUMS suspected to be militants on Sunday invaded the Save Rivers Movement rally in Bori, Khana Local Government Area and unleashed terror on members of the group.
The militants, who wore masks were said to have shot sporadically mostly at vehicles parked at the venue of the event by state government officials.
The Secretary to the State Government, Mr. George Feyii, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Tony Okocha, and some journalists were among those that escaped death by a whisker.
Some however sustained serious bullet injuries during the incident that occurred barely a week after a similar rally was disrupted by operatives of the Rivers State Police Command in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

RIVERS COMMISSIONER RESIGNS OVER AMAECHI’S DEFECTION

The Rivers State Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Marshal Uwom, on Monday resigned his appointment.
Uwom, who spoke with newsmen shortly after submitting his resignation letter at Government House in Port Harcourt, said he was not comfortable with the defection of the State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, to the All Progressives Congress.
he said, “Series of recent developments, especially the decision of my boss, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, to dump the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress formed the basis of my decision to leave the cabinet.

NJC REJECTS AMAECHI’S NOMINEE AS AG CJ

A major constitutional crisis may be brewing in Rivers State judiciary as it has reportedly remained without a functional Chief Judge since November 20th when the three-month acting tenure of Justice P.C.N Agumagu expired.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) had rejected Agumagu since his nomination by Governor Rotimi Amaechi in August, recommending Justice Daisy Okocha in his stead.

Amaechi disregarded the council’s directive by appointing Agumagu who is the president of the state Customary Court of Appeal in acting capacity for three months as specified by the law.