The Abia State Police command has accused the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of playing propaganda and maligning security agencies in the state with the burial of his parents, Eze Israel Okwu Kanu and his wife ABN TV reports.

The police also accused Nnamdi Kanu of blackmailing the police in the state, insisting that the Force will resist attempts to truncate the peace currently enjoyed by the people of Afaraukwu community and Umuahia in general.

Addressing newsmen in Umuahia, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Ene Okon said the police is prepared to guarantee peace and security of Abians and residents during the burial ceremony slated to take place on Friday, February 14, 2020.

CP Okon denied the allegation that he is trying to scuttle the burial ceremony of the late traditional ruler, saying he has mobilized men of the state command, prepared them well to ensure that there will be peaceful burial ceremony.

While revealing that half the number of Afaraukwu Community have deserted the area over mounting tension, he accused people he described as outsiders of attempting to hijack the burial of their Eze Israel Okwu Kanu and his wife.

The police chief alleged that intelligence report reveals that some people suspected to be members of IPOB were smuggled into the late Royal father’s compound, urging the traditional council of Afaraukwu not to allow IPOB members whom he said are outsiders to Bury the late king.

The police also frowned at the mounting of CCTV cameras on public roads around his house by Nnamdi Kanu, saying it is illegal and has security implications.

While reiterating that the police is committed to a hitch-free burial of the late traditional ruler and his wife, CP Okon appealed to elders in the community to warn Nnamdi Kanu against scuttling the exercise through propaganda.

He also ordered the immediate dismantling of CCTV cameras in public roads around Nnamdi Kanu’s compound.

He called on those leaving the community not to leave again, saying he and members of the state police command will guarantee them adequate security.

The prosecution of a journalist, Agba Jalingo took another twist on Thursday morning as the Cross River State government has reverted to the initial charges of treason, terrorism, cultism and attempt to topple the Cross River state government against him.

Jalingo was docked before Justice Sule Shuaibu of the Calabar division of the Federal High court for the first time after former trial Judge, Simon Amobeda recused himself.

And, when the matter was called up for Jalingo to take a fresh plea on the amended charges filed on October 11, 2019, which bordered on three counts of terrorism and one count of cybercrime, the Judge discovered that a clean copy was not filed by the former prosecutor, Dennis Tarhemba.

Despite the explanation given by the defence counsel that both parties have relied on the copy of the charge used as an annexure to the motion to amend charges, Justice Shuaibu said it was not a proper process filed before the court and can not stand on its own.

Taking the hint of the court, the prosecution counsel and Attorney General of Cross River State, Tanko Ashang said they will rely on the initial charges filed on August 30, 2019, which included charges of treason, terrorism, cultism and attempt to topple the Cross River state government.

Jalingo pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The matter is still ongoing with the defence counsel expected to move the motion for bail.

The Abia State Police command has accused the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of playing propaganda and maligning security agencies in the state with the burial of his parents, Eze Israel Okwu Kanu and his wife ABN TV reports.

The police also accused Nnamdi Kanu of blackmailing the police in the state, insisting that the Force will resist attempts to truncate the peace currently enjoyed by the people of Afaraukwu community and Umuahia in general.

Addressing newsmen in Umuahia, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Ene Okon said the police is prepared to guarantee peace and security of Abians and residents during the burial ceremony slated to take place on Friday, February 14, 2020.

CP Okon denied the allegation that he is trying to scuttle the burial ceremony of the late traditional ruler, saying he has mobilized men of the state command, prepared them well to ensure that there will be peaceful burial ceremony.

While revealing that half the number of Afaraukwu Community have deserted the area over mounting tension, he accused people he described as outsiders of attempting to hijack the burial of their Eze Israel Okwu Kanu and his wife.

The police chief alleged that intelligence report reveals that some people suspected to be members of IPOB were smuggled into the late Royal father’s compound, urging the traditional council of Afaraukwu not to allow IPOB members whom he said are outsiders to Bury the late king.

The police also frowned at the mounting of CCTV cameras on public roads around his house by Nnamdi Kanu, saying it is illegal and has security implications.

While reiterating that the police is committed to a hitch-free burial of the late traditional ruler and his wife, CP Okon appealed to elders in the community to warn Nnamdi Kanu against scuttling the exercise through propaganda.

He also ordered the immediate dismantling of CCTV cameras in public roads around Nnamdi Kanu’s compound.

He called on those leaving the community not to leave again, saying he and members of the state police command will guarantee them adequate security.

The federal government has re-arraigned Omoyele Sowore, convener of #RevolutionNow Movement, on a two-count charge of treasonable felony.

At the court on Thursday, Aminu Alilu, the prosecution counsel, asked that the previous seven-count charge, which was filed in September 2019, be substituted with an amended charge.

Upon re-arraignment, Sowore and Olawale Bakare, his co-defendant, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In the new charge, the offences which bordered on fraud, cyber-stalking and of insulting the president were removed.

The government accused them of staging “a revolution campaign on 5th day of August 2019, tagged #RevolutionNow” aimed at removing the president during his term in office by unconstitutional means.

The prosecution counsel informed the court of the presence of the first witness whom he said was ready to give evidence.

But Abdul Mahmud, counsel to the defendants, told the court they cannot proceed with the trial because the prosecution was yet to comply with the order directing it to provide statements of the witnesses it intends to call.

He said only the summarised statements of witnesses were served on them.

“We were served with summary statements of Moses Amadi, Usman Bafa, Paul Okafor (technical video engineer) and Paul Clement (financial analyst/investigator),” he said.

Mahmud added that the video recording and tape mentioned in one of the witnesses’ statement had not been served on them.

Aliyu said since all his witnesses would be referring to the video evidence, he would need two weeks to enable him to serve the necessary evidence on the defence team.

He also informed the court that the N200,000 cost awarded against the prosecution has been paid to the defence team.

Mahmud confirmed payment of the said sum.

Ijeoma Ojukwu, the judge, adjourned the case till March 11, 12, 13 for trial.

The prosecution of a journalist, Agba Jalingo took another twist on Thursday morning as the Cross River State government has reverted to the initial charges of treason, terrorism, cultism and attempt to topple the Cross River state government against him.

Jalingo was docked before Justice Sule Shuaibu of the Calabar division of the Federal High court for the first time after former trial Judge, Simon Amobeda recused himself.

And, when the matter was called up for Jalingo to take a fresh plea on the amended charges filed on October 11, 2019, which bordered on three counts of terrorism and one count of cybercrime, the Judge discovered that a clean copy was not filed by the former prosecutor, Dennis Tarhemba.

Despite the explanation given by the defence counsel that both parties have relied on the copy of the charge used as an annexure to the motion to amend charges, Justice Shuaibu said it was not a proper process filed before the court and can not stand on its own.

Taking the hint of the court, the prosecution counsel and Attorney General of Cross River State, Tanko Ashang said they will rely on the initial charges filed on August 30, 2019, which included charges of treason, terrorism, cultism and attempt to topple the Cross River state government.

Jalingo pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The matter is still ongoing with the defence counsel expected to move the motion for bail.

The federal government has re-arraigned Omoyele Sowore, convener of #RevolutionNow Movement, on a two-count charge of treasonable felony.

At the court on Thursday, Aminu Alilu, the prosecution counsel, asked that the previous seven-count charge, which was filed in September 2019, be substituted with an amended charge.

Upon re-arraignment, Sowore and Olawale Bakare, his co-defendant, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In the new charge, the offences which bordered on fraud, cyber-stalking and of insulting the president were removed.

The government accused them of staging “a revolution campaign on 5th day of August 2019, tagged #RevolutionNow” aimed at removing the president during his term in office by unconstitutional means.

The prosecution counsel informed the court of the presence of the first witness whom he said was ready to give evidence.

But Abdul Mahmud, counsel to the defendants, told the court they cannot proceed with the trial because the prosecution was yet to comply with the order directing it to provide statements of the witnesses it intends to call.

He said only the summarised statements of witnesses were served on them.

“We were served with summary statements of Moses Amadi, Usman Bafa, Paul Okafor (technical video engineer) and Paul Clement (financial analyst/investigator),” he said.

Mahmud added that the video recording and tape mentioned in one of the witnesses’ statement had not been served on them.

Aliyu said since all his witnesses would be referring to the video evidence, he would need two weeks to enable him to serve the necessary evidence on the defence team.

He also informed the court that the N200,000 cost awarded against the prosecution has been paid to the defence team.

Mahmud confirmed payment of the said sum.

Ijeoma Ojukwu, the judge, adjourned the case till March 11, 12, 13 for trial.

A 26-year-old man, Kelechi Emeka, on Thursday appeared before an Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State for allegedly assaulting a police officer performing his lawful duty.

Emeka, whose address was not provided, is facing a charge of assault to which he pleaded not guilty.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Mary Ajiteru told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Jan.29 at about 9:00 a.m. at Kokoro Abu along Sabo Road, Ikorodu.

Ajiteru said that the defendant assaulted the complainant,  Insp. Babatunde Kadiri,  by dragging him around for asking him to obey the traffic rules.

Ajiteru said that the offences contravened Section 172 of Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The Magistrate, Mrs Tunji-Careena, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50, 000 with one surety in like sum.

Tunji-Careena adjourned the case until Feb.20 for mention.

Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on federal roads in the country.

He made the call when members of the Senate Committee on Works led by its Chairman, Sen. Adamu Aliero, paid him a courtesy visit on Thursday in Abeokuta.

The governor said that the call became imperative as some of the roads; especially those in the South-West region were very deplorable.

“The township, rural and connecting roads are very deplorable. I want to call on you to declare a state of emergency on the federal roads because it’s as if our roads are nonexistent,’’ he said.

He said that as a result of the state of the roads, his administration was making efforts towards finding ways and means to ensure that people moved about easily.

“This effort we are doing is to ensure there is no loss of productive time and loss of lives.

“The Lagos–Ibadan expressway is being reconstructed; it is going to be a six-lane road. The population explosion on that corridor has far exceeded in that dimension. That road which is the busiest in Nigeria should at least be a 10-lane road at the minimum.

“By virtue of our location, we have federal roads including the Lagos–Ibadan expressway which traverses through Ogun, the busiest highway in the country, Sagamu-Ikorodu and the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta road.

“We have the problem whereby our roads see more and more unusual traffic that they were built for.  We have a problem,’’ he said.

He described travelling on the Sagamu-Ikorodu highway as a harrowing experience.

“When I was informed you were coming on that highway, I shook my head knowing the harrowing experience.

“This is because this is the state of this particular highway that was the main link between the north and the south in the past before the Lagos–Ibadan express was built.

“It continues to remain the alternative road for people going to Ibadan from Lagos, it would have been that which provided relief for the number of vehicles travelling on the Lagos–Ibadan expressway,’’ he said.

He noted that the vision of his administration was to provide focused and qualitative governance while creating an enabling environment for public-private partnership.

Abiodun further said that public-private partnership was fundamental to the economic growth of the state.

“The Lagos state governor and I said that since these roads are common to both of us and affecting the economy of both states and the quality of life of our people, what we should do is how to encourage public-private sector partnership,’’ he said.

He appreciated the members of the committee for the visit and sought their assistance towards ensuring the completion of the roads.

Aliero said that the Benin-Ofosu-Ore-Ajebandele-Sagamu dual carriage was funded by SUKUK.

He said that very soon, the National Assembly would give approval to President Muhammadu Buhari to borrow 29 billion dollars.

“We are sure that most of this money will be used in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of all ongoing road projects in the country.

“Government is not borrowing money to spend on recurrent expenditure; government is borrowing money to spend on infrastructure; for that reason, the National Assembly is committed to granting that request,’’ he said.

He further said that the National Assembly would enact a law that would promote public-private partnership.