News

Bayelsa Killings: Stakeholders Indict Lawmaker, Demand His Arrest

Published

7 years ago

August 25, 2018

Eric

Some stakeholders on Saturday indicted the lawmaker representing Brass Constituency 1 in Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Israel Sunny-Goli, over the violence that left three persons dead and many others injured in Brass Local Government Area of the state.

Also, a civil society organisation, Network for Peace and Development, called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Sunny-Goli, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, following the killings and constant mayhem in the area.

But Sunny-Goli, who is the only APC member in the state Assembly, has since denied the allegation, saying he did not win his mandate through the barrel of the gun.

One of the residents and aide to the Caretaker Chairman of the council said the violence, which occurred on Monday started when suspected armed cultists attempted to attack his boss, Victor Isaiah.

The aide, who craved anonymity, said his boss was fortunate to have been absent when the assailants launched the attack.

The source said, “From the reports available to us, the plan of the hoodlums was to assassinate the council boss before the political season that is approaching. The APC lawmaker is responsible for the crises in Twon-Brass.

“There is this thug that died in the incident. He was reported to have led the breaking of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad cell in Yenagoa some months ago, an event that led to the dismissal of four SARS officers.

“Since then, this thug and other cultists were used by the APC member to terrorise innocent people in Brass Island and neighbouring communities. We recall the case of the killing of a promising youth in Okpoama community, Iruo Ayibatonyo Jnr by the same group of boys sent by same APC leader in February 2018 during a youth election there.”

He wondered why the security agencies left the APC chieftain to go unpunished despite his involvement in a series of cult-related happenings in the area.

He said the people of Twon Brass have been living in fear for several years since the politician began using known cultists in the community.

The NPD also said until the APC chieftain is arrested and made to face the law, the oil-rich Brass Kingdom will not know peace.

The group in a statement by its Coordinator, Mr. Temple Igbikiri, accused the APC member of arming youths of Brass and recruiting known cultists to advance his political interest.

The group noted that the APC stalwart shunned every avenue to bring peace to Brass and reportedly refused to honour the invitation of the police to clear his name from the recent crisis in the area.

News

Appeal Court Affirms Ruling Barring VIO from Impounding Vehicles, Fining Motorists

Published

3 days ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday upheld the judgment that stopped the Directorate of Road Traffic Services and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) from seizing vehicles or imposing fines on motorists.

In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel, the appellate court found no basis to set aside the Federal High Court’s ruling of October 16, 2024, which restrained the VIO from harassing motorists.

The appeal filed by the VIO was dismissed for lacking merit. Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi delivered in the lead judgment.

The high court had earlier ruled, in a judgment by Justice Nkeonye Maha, that no law authorizes the VIO to stop motorists, impound vehicles, or impose penalties for alleged traffic offences.

The case arose from a fundamental rights suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023) filed by lawyer Abubakar Marshal.

Marshal informed the court that VIO officials stopped him at Jabi in Abuja on December 12, 2023, and seized his vehicle without lawful reason. He asked the court to determine whether their actions violated his rights.

Justice Maha agreed and ordered the VIO and its agents not to impound vehicles or impose fines on motorists, describing the actions as unlawful. She held that only a court can impose fines or sanctions.

She ruled that the VIO’s conduct breached the applicant’s constitutional right to property under Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 14 of the African Charter. She further held that the VIO has no legal authority to seize vehicles or penalize motorists, as doing so infringes on rights to fair hearing, movement and presumption of innocence.

Although Marshal, represented by Femi Falana, SAN, requested ₦500 million in damages and a public apology, the court awarded ₦2.5 million.

The Directorate of Road Traffic Services, its Director, its Abuja Area Commander at the time (identified as Mr. Leo), team leader Solomon Onoja, and the FCT Minister were listed as respondents.

They appealed the decision, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.

News

Tinubu Nominates Ibas, Dambazau, Enang, Ohakim As Ambassadors

Published

4 days ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the immediate past sole administrator of Rivers State and a former Chief of Naval Staff, as a non-career ambassador.

Tinubu also nominated Ita Enang, a former senator; Chioma Ohakim, former First Lady of Imo State; and Abdulrahman Dambazau, former Minister of Interior and ex-Chief of Army Staff, as non-career ambassadors.

News

Senate Confirms Chris Musa As New Defence Minister

Published

4 days ago

December 3, 2025

Eric

The Nigerian Senate has confirmed General Christopher Musa, the former Chief of Defence Staff, as the country’s new Minister of Defence.

The announcement was contained in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu.

Musa, who retired from the military just 40 days ago, was nominated by President Tinubu on Tuesday to succeed former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who stepped down on health grounds.

According to Onanuga’s statement, the Senate approved Musa’s appointment on Wednesday through a voice vote, following a thorough screening session during which lawmakers posed numerous questions.

“Senate confirms Gen. Christopher Musa as Minister of Defence The Senate has confirmed the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, as the Minister of Defence. The Senate confirmed Musa on Wednesday via a voice vote after a rigorous screening session in which lawmakers asked him many questions,” the statement read in part.