News

Delta Commissioner, Patrick Ukah, in Trouble over N16m Debt

Published

8 years ago

June 10, 2018

Eric

The Delta State Commissioner of Information, Honourable Patrick Ukah and his firm Ventolite Nigeria Limited have been dragged to a Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere by Nigeria Advertising Service (NAS) Limited for failing to honour his debt obligation to the tune of N16, 025, 000.

According to court documents, Nigeria Advertising Service and her Chief Executive, Ify Onukwuba claimed that the Delta State Commissioner had sought and hired one of their billboards located at Sura Loop, Lagos Island for their client Crusader Sterling Pensions and the services was rendered between 2013 to 2016 but the commissioner and his organization have not been able to pay NAS rent due them for the period to the tune of N16, 025, 000.

However, both parties have initially agreed to a repayment of the said debt at N500, 000 monthly until the total amount is liquidated. The defendant (Ventolite) has allegedly rescinded the agreement after paying N500,000 monthly for two months, leaving a balance of N15, 025,000.

The new court session were initiated on the prayers of the claimant that the defendant should take obligation of the debt and commit to full repayment. Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo has now referred the case to the Court of Arbitration for the parties to seek amicable settlement on the matter.

Mrs Onukwuba while departing the court premises said she has faith in the judicial system in helping to resolve the case, and hoped that the defendant and his legal team would match whatever resolution reached with action

“We have faith in the court and that is why we brought this case here, to exercise our faith in the system and we are confident of a favourable resolution”

We called the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah for comment, who later instructed General Manager of Ventolite Nigeria Marketing, Mr. Wole Morankinyo to respond to our inquiry. Speaking on the issue, Morankinyo said that he has personally called Ify Onukwuba severally and entered into a memorandum of understanding with her on modalities for payment of the said debt.

He explained that his company actually began payment but that payment stopped when Onukwuba went to court. He added that but for the issue in court, the debt would have been liquidated by at least 75 percent.

He explained that the issue of referring the matter to Court of Arbitration was yet to be communicated to his attention, noting that what happened with his company and NAS was nothing personal but a business transaction that should be settled out of court and regretted that going to court stalled payment.

News

Two Rivers Lawmakers Step Down from Impeachment Proceedings Against Fubara, Sue for Peace

Published

13 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Eric

Two members of the Rivers House of Assembly, who are loyalists of former Governor Nyesom Wike, have withdrawn from the impeachment move against Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers.

The Minority Leader of the assembly, Sylvanus Enyinna Nwankwo, and Peter Abbey, who represents Degema State Constituency, urged their colleagues to exercise restraint and allow for dialogue to maintain stability in the state

In a video widely circulated on Facebook and an excerpt published by Rivers State Television, the lawmakers urged their colleagues to prioritise the overall interest and stability of Rivers above partisan disagreements.

Call for ‘cooling-off period’

The legislators stressed that the prevailing political climate demands calm, dialogue and a “cooling-off period” within the assembly to allow, in their words, “wisdom and truth to prevail” in the legislative chambers.

Although they did not expressly mention the impeachment process during the briefing, their intervention is being interpreted by political observers as a withdrawal from the impeachment push against Mr Fubara, which has heightened tensions in the state.

Background to impeachment moves

The Rivers assembly parted ways with Mr Fubara because of the feud between the governor and Mr Wike, who is the FCT minister.

The current impeachment notice on Mr Fubara is the third attempt in less than three years to remove the governor. The previous efforts had split the legislature into two factions, causing President Bola Tinubu to declare a six-month state of emergency in the oil-rich state and suspend the governor, the deputy governor, and the lawmakers.

The lawmakers accused the governor of constitutional breaches and administrative misconduct, allegations his supporters have dismissed as politically motivated.

Source: Premium Times

News

I Won’t Surrender Rivers N700bn IGR to Anyone, Fubara Vows

Published

5 days ago

January 8, 2026

Eric

Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has resisted alleged pressure to hand over N700 billion, representing 35% of the State’s internally generated revenue (IGR), to anyone, sparking a heated power struggle with former Governor Nyesom Wike, now Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister.

The dispute has raised concerns about the welfare of Rivers State residents, with 4.4 million people living in multidimensional poverty.

The feud between Fubara and Wike, who unilaterally chose Fubara as his successor, has escalated into violent confrontations, defections, and legal battles.

Wike has threatened to make Rivers State “ungovernable” if Fubara fails comply, while his supporters have vowed to “deal with” Fubara.

In response, Fubara has warned that he cannot be intimidated, saying: “Rivers State is not a playground” and that he’s prepared to defend the state’s interest.

His supporters have also threatened to mobilise protests against Wike and his allies.

The crisis had paralysed governance, prompting President Bola Tinubu to declare a six-month emergency rule in the State last year.

The situation remains tense, with both sides maintaining their respective stance.

The outcome will have significant implications for Rivers State and Nigerian politics.

The dispute highlights concerns about godfatherism in Nigerian politics and its impact on governance.

Wike has accused Fubara of ingratitude, while Fubara sees the former’s demands as an attempt to undermine his authority.

News

Rivers Assembly Begins Impeachment Proceedings Against Fubara

Published

5 days ago

January 8, 2026

Eric

The Rivers State House of Assembly has commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The legislature kicked off the process at plenary on Thursday.

The lawmakers are accusing Fubara and his deputy of gross misconduct.

Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, is presiding over the session.

The day’s proceedings bear the imprimatur of renewed hostilities between Fubara and his predecessor Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

On December 5, 2025, a horde of the Rivers assembly lawmakers led by the speaker, announced their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Days later, Fubara formalised his own switch from the PDP to the APC.

However, the sabre-rattling and thinly veiled remarks between Wike and Fubara, which culminated in the declaration of emergency rule in the state in March 2025, have persisted.

Most of the Rivers lawmakers have stayed loyal to Wike.

TheCable