Awajis George News

  The Rivers State Government has taken over the prosecution of the case of Professor David Ogbonna who is standing trial for alleged rape of a female student in the premise of Rivers State University. At resumed sitting , representative from the office of Attorney General, filed an application to the court that the Ministry is taking over the prosecution of the matter. However,the case was adjourned to 15th August 2022 by Chief Magistrate Poromon Menenen .  Recalled that Professor Ogbonna was first arraigned on the 28th of June 2022 where he pleaded not guilty  to the one count charge of rape.

    Rivers State Deputy Governor Dr.  Ipalibo  Banigo has urged eligible voters to obtain their voter's card before the 5pm deadline of Sunday 31st of July 2022.   Dr. Banigo stated this while playing host to Women Leaders and Stakeholders of Rivers West Senatorial District of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at  Government House in Port Harcourt    The Deputy Governor said the people must realize that their vote is their voice, stressing that they must get their PVCs now and participate actively in electing the right leaders of their choice, because the people deserve the best, and surely, every vote must count in 2023.    “We thank God for the new Electoral Act that has been signed into law, that Act does not allow anybody to snatch the Ballot Box". You see the problem we have now in Rivers State is that a lot of people are not going to collect their cards, even INEC is complaining, please go and educate our people, our brothers, and...

  President Muhammadu Buhari has summoned the Service Chiefs to an emergency security meeting tomorrow, this is coming barely  48  hours after the Presidential Brigade Guards came under attack by terrorists. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, made this known to Newsmen  in Abuja. Troops of the 7 Guards Brigade which provides security for the Presidential Villa and the Federal Capital Territory ,FCT; were ambushed in the late hours of Monday while on patrol along the Kubwa-Bwari Road in the nation’s capital. The situation, which led to the death of three soldiers, forced the authorities to close down academic institutions in the FCT.

Opposition political parties Senators have issued a six-week ultimatum to President Muhammadu Buhari to tackle the security challenges plaguing the Nation. The Senators threatened to commence impeachment proceedings against the President should he fail to address the insecurity within the period given by the lawmakers.  Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Philip Aduda, made the position of the lawmakers known while briefing Newsmen at the National Assembly in Abuja.  Senator Aduda said the caucus is giving President Buhari a six-week ultimatum to address the security crisis in the country failing which they will commence impeachment proceedings against him. Before the briefing, the opposition lawmakers staged a walkout following a call to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari during today's plenary. Mr.Aduda had raised a point of order asking the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to discuss the security situation in the country and the impeachment of President Buhari. Senate...

  Following the award for the construction of the eleventh and twelfth flyovers by the Rivers State Government, Civil Rights Council in the state has urged the Governor, Nyesom Wike to create employment opportunities for the teeming youths of the state rather than concentrate on infrastructure development . Rivers State Conference Chairman of the Civil Rights Council Mr. Arinze Robinson told Newsmen in PortHarcourt that while physical constructions and infrastructural development is plausible, the Council consider the huge resources invested in them too massive and concentrated in small geographical location of the state in the face of rising poverty and poor standard of living of  Rivers people.  "With an unemployment rate of over 43 % and a rising youth population, it is expected that government would invest in human capital development, especially of its youth population, and create an enabling environment for job creation and support for MSMEs, rather than strangle th...

    The Rivers State Government has described as “fake news” a viral report alleging that Governor Nyesom Wike, has set up a Marriage Monitoring Task Force in the State. Special Assistant on Media to the Rivers State Governor, Mr.Kelvin Ebiri in a statement said the government considers as spurious and morally offensive the viral report alleging that the State had ordered 'any Rivers man willing to marry must have at least 5Million Naira or a property in the equivalent of the stipulated amount.'   According to the statement,Although fake news is not a new phenomenon, it is most appalling, and wrong on part of those who are deliberately circulating misleading and incorrect information to the unsuspecting public.   He added that the State government will not hesitate to take necessary legal action against the purveyors of the malicious news if they do not desist from their morally reprehensible act.    

  The International Director ,Greater Evangelism World Crusade ,Pastor Isaac V. Olori has called on Christians to rekindle their hope in the midst of hopelessness,no matter the situation as God has the ability to bring beauty out of ashes. The clergy while ministering at this month's Healing Service at the church World Headquarters Airport Road PortHarcourt,spoke on the topic "Divine Appointment" took his message from the book of Isaiah chapter 61 verses 1 to 3  Pastor Olori said the Healing service was instituted to provide all round healing, which every worshipper  needs to connect in the realm of the spirit to receive healing. The man of God who spoke extensively on Ashes ,which represents pain, sorrow  and mourning ,stated that God specializes in turning Ashes to beauty. He added that God will not only turn Ashes to beauty, but give believers the capacity to stand any pressure. The church which will be celebrating her 50th Anniversary from 4th to 11th September 2...

A widow, Mrs Onyenyechi Odunze and a mother of two has accused her late husband's elder sister, Prophetess Ngozi Odunze and some members of the late husband's family of chasing her out of her home and sharing her late husband's property.   The widow in an interview with our Correspondent accused the Prophetess of forcefully taking over her husband's property located at Agip Estate, PortHarcourt and converting it to her church while still sharing other property among members of the family   The mother of two said the concocted stories by the Prophetess and some members of her late husband's family; that  she was a concubine to Mr. Odunze and that her late husband was married to a white woman, is totally false as no woman had called her or confronted her that she was  her late husband's wife or heir.   She lamented the untold hardship she is going through with her children as a result of the development and called on the public to come to her aid.  ...

  A widow, Mrs Onyenyechi Odunze and a mother of two has accused her late husband's elder sister, Prophetess Ngozi Odunze and some members of the late husband's family of chasing her out of her home and sharing her late husband's property.   The widow in an interview with our Correspondent accused the Prophetess of forcefully taking over her husband's property located at Agip Estate, PortHarcourt and converting it to her church while still sharing other property among members of the family   The mother of two said the concocted stories by the Prophetess and some members of her late husband's family; that  she was a concubine to Mr. Odunze and that her late husband was married to a white woman, is totally false as no woman had called her or confronted her that she was  her late husband's wife or heir.   She lamented the untold hardship she is going through with her children as a result of the development and called on the public to come to her aid....

  The World Health Organization has          declared  monkeypox outbreak, which has affected nearly 16,000 people in 72 countries, as a global health emergency. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a press conference said  monkeypox outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern. Mr. Ghebreyesus stated that a committee of experts who met on Thursday was unable to reach a consensus, so it fell on him to decide whether to trigger the highest alert possible. “WHO’s assessment is that the risk of monkeypox is moderate globally and in all regions, except in the European region where we assess the risk as high,” he noted. Monkeypox has affected over 15,800 people in 72 countries, according to a tally by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  published on July 20. A surge in monkeypox infections has been reported since early May outside the West and Central African countries where the disease has long been end...

  The Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State has dragged, the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC;Accord Party and fourteen others before a Federal High court sitting in Port Harcourt over alleged non compliance to new electoral act in the conduct of their just concluded party primary elections. The PDP are asking the court to compiled INEC not to recognize Accord Party and their National Assembly candidates for allegedly violating the new electoral act. When the matter came up for men tion, counsel to PDP, Dike Udenna asked the court for more time to enable him respond to preliminary objection raised by counsel to Accord Party, Abdulhameed  Mohammed . Presiding Judge, Justice Stephen  Daylop-Pam after listening to the Counsels directed the parties to respond to process and adjourned till 29th of July for hearing. Meanwhile,Counsel to PDP, Dike Udenna told our Correspondent that  Accord Party did not comply with requirements of electoral act in nominatio...

  Rivers State Police Command says it's attention has been drawn to rumour making the rounds in some electronic media, that the Commissioner of Police imposed a curfew in the State.   Police Public Relations Officer DSP Grace Iringe-Koko speaking with our Correspondent said to  keep the record straight, the Commissioner of Police CP Eboka  Friday at no time imposed curfew in any part of the State as he has no powers to do so. She said the Commissioner of Police, CP Eboka Friday warned those peddling the rumour to desist forthwith as perpetrators will be made to face the wrath of the law.  DSP Iringe-Koko advised members of the public to report any one trying to create or take undue advantage of the rumour to the Police authorities for necessary disciplinary action.

  As part of the Inspector General of Police ,IGP;Family Welfare Insurance Scheme, the Commissioner of Police,  CP Eboka Friday has presented a cheques of Twenty Five Million, Seven Hundred Thousand naira  to families of forty-nine deceased Police Officers who died while in active service.  CP Friday while presenting the cheques appreciated the IGP for improving the welfare of officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force and urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the money.     One of the benefiting families, Stephen  Sam who spoke on behalf of other beneficiaries, thanked the Inspector-General of Police for the welfare package, promising to use the money for the upliftment of the families left behind by their benefactors. 

  A 21 year old man, Sunday Orime from Ebonyi State has allegedly committed suicide at his residence in Mile 3 Diobu, PortHarcourt Rivers State . Investigation revealed that the deceased is a car mechanic apprentice.   Chief Security Officer of Nkpolu Oroworukwo, Comrade Godstime Ihunwo in an interview with our Correspondent said he received a distress call by residents of the compound at about 8pm last night on the development. Mr Ihunwo said he quickly rushed down to the compound and informed the Police. The cause of the suicide is yet to be ascertained. Meanwhile,Police Public Relations Officer DSP Grace Iringe-Koko told our Correspondent that the corpse have been   deposited in the mortuary while investigation is ongoing   

  A nursing mother Mrs Sorle Akari has cried out over alleged threat to her life by one Prophet Smile Eboh. Mrs Akari in an interview with our Correspondent said that she was introduced to Prophet Eboh by a friend she complained to about the series of miscarriage she was having in 2020. Mrs Akari revealed that the Prophet who resides at Rumuigbo had  told her to bring  three million, eight hundred thousand naira that he will use the money to consult other Men of God  that will also pray for her. The woman stated that she sold her valuables such as jewelry and borrowed money to raise the money for the Eboh but later discovered that everything done by supposed man of God was intended to defraud her. She said when it became clear it was fraud,she went to Prophet Eboh resident but found out that he has packed out. According to the woman, the prophet resorted to threatening her life when she told him to refund the money he collected from her under the guise of stopping th...

  Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Eboka Friday has directed enforcement on the ban on the use Police SPY Number Plates by vehicle owners in the State. This is in accordance with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Baba on the ban across the federation. CP Friday therefore ordered the Department of Operations, Divisional Police Officers, Area Commanders and Tactical Team Commanders to ensure that all police SPY Number Plates currently in use in the State whether authorized or otherwise are confiscated with immediate effect. Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Grace Iringe-Koko  in a statement said the Commissioner of Police enjoined law abiding citizens who are in possession of such number plates to submit same to the Police Headquarters or the nearest Police formation. According to the statement, the Commissioner of Police further orders that, Police officers and other sister security agencies attached to VIPs who also use SPY Number Plates in ...

  The Commission met in an extraordinary session today, Friday 15th July 2022, and discussed among other things, the suspension of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR). This followed the judgement delivered by the Federal High Court on Wednesday 13th July 2022 in which it dismissed the suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) which is seeking an extension of the exercise beyond 30th June 2022. The Court has affirmed that INEC is at liberty to appoint a date of its choice to suspend the CVR, provided it is not later than 90 days before the date fixed for the General Election as provided in Sec. 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022. In compliance with the interim injunction of the Court pending the determination of the substantive suit, and in order to enable more Nigerians to register, the Commission continued with the CVR beyond 30th June 2022. For this reason, the CVR has already been extended beyond 30th June 2022 for a period of 15 days. Wi...

  Report Says suspected Cult members killed one person and burn two houses  in  Abarilpo community in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. This comes barely one week after the killing of a suspected cultist popularly known as Baddo in Ogbo community . A native of the community who spoke on condition of anonymity disclosed that the leader of the cult group responsible for the attack reportedly warned some stakeholders in the area to desist from speaking to press on the incident or face dire consequence. Some stakeholders in the community had turned down a request for an interview with Newsmen on claims of threat from suspected cultists that any stakeholder whose name or voice is heard on media regarding the latest incident will face consequence. Suspected Greenland and Iceland cult groups have been engaged in supremacy battle and territory control in some communities in Ahoada East Local Government Area for the past three weeks. Meanwhile,Spokesperso...

  The Independent National Electoral Commission ,INEC; says it has reported to the police the alleged discovery of Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs;in a drainage system at Rumuodara Obio Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. INEC Administrative Secretary in Rivers State Mr.Richter Alabraba in a statement said the commission reported the matter following the viral video making round on social media showing PVCs in the drainage. Mr. Alabraba stated that finding of the investigation will be made public once concluded. He added that the Commission will continue to work with the security agencies and well-meaning Nigerians to preserve the integrity of the Electoral processes.

  The Lagos State Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court sitting in the Ikeja area has convicted and sentenced Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, to 16 years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old minor. Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, in a judgment that lasted two hours also convicted Baba Ijesha of four out of the six counts for which he was charged. Baba Ijesha was convicted for indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault. The judge, however, discharged and acquitted him of counts one and six, which were: sexual assault by penetration and attempted sexual assault by penetration. The court held that the prosecution could not prove those offenses.

  By Ike Wigodo The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has described as misleading and outright falsehood the allegation that the Rivers State Ministry of Youth Development is meddling into the affairs of the Students Union in the state. The NANS leader in Rivers State, Comrade Levi Sam Okuru who dismissed the false alarm raised by one of the factions of the Nigeria Union of Rivers State Students (NURSS) over the weekend in Port Harcourt, said the ministry of Youth Development decided to wade into the matter and reconcile the two factions based on several petitions received by the ministry from various groups. Okuru regretted that the faction led by one Chimene instead of attending the meeting, rather chose to go on social media to allege that the ministry intended to dissolve his faction of the Students' Union body. According to him," the ministry wanted to have a unified students' Union body that will promote unity and peaceful co-existence among the studen...

    Rivers State Sector of the Federal Road Safety Corps has deployed a total of one thousand one hundred and ninety two  personnels to various parts of  highways  in the State for the Eid-El Kabir celebration to prevent  road crashes during and after the holidays.  Sector Public Enlightenment Officer,Juliana  Eni in a statement said  more than twenty five patrol vehicles has also been sent across the State with two  Ambulances on standby in case of emergencies. According to the statement the Commander promised that special patrol men will engage in sensitizing the public through public education and surveillance activities among others  with a view to regulate and check the excesses of bad drivers. Members of the  public are urged to drive safely, avoid the use of phones while driving, avoid drunk during driving, overloading and to always obey traffic lights especially the newly installed traffic light located within the ...

  Federal Government has declared Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th July 2022, as public holidays to mark this year's Eid-el-Kabir celebration. The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, announced this in a statement by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Shuaib Belgore. Mr. Aregbesola, who congratulated all Muslims and Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora on the occasion, urged them to use the period to pray for peace and prosperity for the country. “I call on Muslims to continue to imbibe the spirit of love, peace, kindness and sacrifice, as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) and to also use the period to pray for peace, unity, prosperity and the stability of the country, considering the challenges of insecurity we face at the moment,” the statement read in part. According to him, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to the security of lives and properties of all Nigerians, empowering the citizens for successful living, the p...

  Former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, have pleaded not guilty to the charges of human trafficking and organ harvesting in the United Kingdom. Senator Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice were arrested by the British police on June 23rd on allegations of human trafficking and organ harvesting that violate the country’s Modern Slavery Act. The police authorities had accused the lawmaker of conspiring to bring a child to the United Kingdom for organ harvesting, saying the victim was a 15-year-old boy. During the hearing, the court accepted that the kidney donor in Ekweremadu’s case was not a minor. The prosecution have accepted that he is 21years old. The court thereafter fixed August 4th as the date for the next hearing.  The Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC; to transmit the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the biodata information of an alleged Minor to the Attorney General of the Federa...