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BREAKING: NDDC Board: Senate Confirms Bernard Okumagba, 2 Others

Published

2 years ago

May 23, 2023

The Senate has confirmed Bernard Oboatarhieyeren Okumagba from Delta State as a board member of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

Also confirmed on Tuesday by the Senate are Patrick Aisowieren, Member, Edo State and Kyrian Chidiebere Uchegbu, Member, Imo State.

The confirmation of nominees of President Muhammadu Buhari, for the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC was sequel to the presentation and consideration of the report by the Acting Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Bulus Amos, APC, Gombe South.

Recall that the Upper Chamber had last week forwarded to its Committee on Niger Delta Affairs for screening and subsequent confirmation and to report at plenary this week.

President Buhari had penultimate week written the Senate, seeking for the screening and subsequent confirmation of of three new nominees for the board of the NDDC.

The President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan who read the letter of President Buhari, said that the nominees are for Delta, Edo and Imo states.

President Buhari who wrote Lawan, said that the Correspondent was in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(2)A of the NDDC( establishment etc Act, Cap N 86, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, just as he said that ” Iam pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of under- listed three( 3) nominees as members, representing Delta, Edo and Imo States in the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.”

The names are Bernard Oboatarhieyeren Okumagba member, Delta State; Patrick Aisowieren, Member, Edo State and Kyrian Chidiebere Uchegbu, Member, Imo State.

The screening was then carried out on Friday following an Executive Communication by the Senate Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir, APC, Sokoto East last week for the Confirmation of the nomination of three persons for appointment as members of the Governing Board of NDDC that the Senate do consider he request of Mr. President on the confirmation of the nomination of the following persons for appointment as Members of the Governing Board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC in accordance with the provision of Section 2( 2)(a) of the NDDC ( Establishment) Act, Cap N86, LFN, 2004.

The confirmed board members would complete the names as members of their respective states for the NDDC board.

Recall that President Buhari had last year forwarded to the Senate for confirmation, his Special Assistant on new Media, Lauretta Ifeanyi Onochie from Delta as Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC and fourteen other Nominees for the board.

According to Buhari in the letter, Chief Samuel Ogbuku would serve as the Managing Director for a term of two years to complete the term of his predecessor in office. Bayelsa State, South-South while Major General Charles Airhiavbere, retd is the Executive Director, Finance and Charles Ogunmola, Executive Director Project, Ondo, South-West.

Other members of the NDDC board as forwarded to the Senate are Former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dr. Pius Odubu as State Representative, Edo State, South -South; Dimgba Erugba (State Representative, Abia, South-East); Dr. Emem Wilcos Wills, State Representative, Akwa Ibom, South -South; Elder Dimaro Denyabofa, State Representative, Bayelsa State, South -South; Hon. Orok Duke, State Representative, Cross River, South-South; Engineer Anthony Okanne, State Representative, Imo State, South-East and Hon. Gbenga Edema, State Representative, Ondo State, South – West.

Others were Elekwachi Dinkpa, State Representative, Rivers State, South-South; Alhaji Mohammed Kabir Abubakar, ( Zonal Representative, Nasarawa State, North-Central; Alhaji Sule Iko Sadeeq Sani Sami (Zonal Representative, Kebbi State, North-West; and Professor Tahir Mamman, SAN, (Zonal Representative, Adamawa State, North-East.

Also recall that soon after the list was read, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, APC, Delta Central however protested that the there was no representation from Delta State in line with the act establishing the NDDC that each state of the NDDC must have a representative, just as he pleaded with the Executive to correct the anomaly.

Lawan however promised that he would ensure that the Act was adhered to as he promised to take it up and that due process would be followed by adhering strictly to the Act establishing the NDDC in order not to delay the screening.

Former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dr. Pius Odubu as State Representative, Edo State, South -South did not appear for the screening which neccesitated the nomination of a new person.

VANGUARD

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JUST IN: EFCC Declares Ex-Bayelsa Governor Timipre Sylva Wanted

Published

1 hour ago

November 10, 2025

Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Timipre Sylva, the former Bayelsa state governor, wanted.

A statement on Monday by Dele Oyewale, the EFCC spokesperson, said Sylva, who also served as minister of state for petroleum resources, is wanted in connection with an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257.

The anti-graft agency urged anyone with useful information about his whereabouts to contact any of its offices or the nearest police station.

“The public is hereby notified that TIMIPRE SYLVA, a former Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, and former Governor of Bayelsa State, whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of Conspiracy and Dishonest Conversion of $14,859,257 – part of funds injected by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a Refinery,” the statement reads.

“Sylva, 61, is from Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The notice follows a November 6, 2025 warrant issued by [a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos].

“Anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should contact the Commission in its Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt, or Abuja offices, via 08093322644, e-mail info@efcc.gov.ng, or the nearest police station.”

In October, soldiers reportedly raided Sylva’s residences in Abuja and Bayelsa, arresting his brother amid allegations linking the former Bayelsa governor to a failed plot to overthrow the Bola Tinubu administration.

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Julius Bokoru, special assistant on media and public affairs to Sylva, confirmed the raid on Sylva’s residence, but said the claim was politically motivated.

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‘Why We Won’t Commemorate Saro-Wiwa, Other Fallen Heroes’

Published

6 hours ago

November 10, 2025

Editor

President /CEO Ogoni Liberation Initiative, Dr Fabeke Douglas, has stated categorically that they won’t commemorate November 10 when Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight innocent environmental activists were unjustly executed for advocating justice for their people.

Fabeke, in statement made available to The Guardian in Abuja, explained it’s due to numerous threat messages they received, and in the light of the planned attack when over 1,000 individuals gathered for prayer, which involves security personnel from the Bori division held two months ago.

Also, a former delegate of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) at the United Nations, John Idamkue, has urged President Bola Tinubu to wipe away the tears of Ogoni people in Rivers State

Idamkue, an environmental public policy consultant and former trusted aide to the late Ken Saro-Wiwa, made the appeal in a statement in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday.

He lamented that successive Nigerian governments abandoned Ogoni ethnic nationality and failed to address issues which the late environmental activist, Saro-Wiwa, advocated for.

This is as Fabeke regretted that the heinous incidents that transpired on that day was an unprecedented attack in Africa’s and the world’s history, where they gathered for the innocent environmental activists and to pray for God’s intervention in Ogoniland and Niger Delta region in general.

“Many have inquired about the events we are organizing to commemorate this day”.

“We wish to inform the public that we will not observe the day to share the ideology of Ken Saro-Wiwa and other fallen heroes with few important diplomatic leaders outside Nigeria.”

The OLI President declared that this incident will continue to remain fresh in their minds, and they are awaiting the police report on the cause of this grievous attack, which, but for divine intervention, would have resulted in loss of lives.

“Upon personal investigation, I discovered that numerous individuals were involved, including some whom I hold in high esteem. The incidents leading to the manipulated judgment against Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others were orchestrated by a high-level conspiracy involving evil conspirators from Ogoni.”

According to Dr Fabeke, these groups of people collaborated with those interested solely in exploiting Ogoni resources, rather than promoting the development of its people.

Explaining further, he maintained, “In this regard, we hereby announce to all members of the Ogoni Liberation Initiative to remain calm, as the organisation will not host any public events until we obtain answers regarding the events of September 27, 2025.

“We advise all members to continue praying and trusting in God to provide unexpected answers that will guarantee sustainable freedom for a better society. We have withdrawn from participating in public gatherings related to Ogoni issues until this matter is properly addressed.”

He therefore expressed concern that numerous young individuals have been unknowingly recruited into this evil circle, enticed by fleeting gains that cannot fulfill their destinies, but we are scared of their future. We pray that God will open their eyes and have mercy upon them.

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Why I Don’t Drink, Smoke – Actress Sunshine Rosman

Published

6 hours ago

November 10, 2025

Editor

Popular Nollywood actress, Sunshine Rosman has revealed that she doesn’t drink alcohol or smoke.

The movie star explained that she has a “natural highness” and doesn’t need to indulge in alcohol, cigarettes or illicit substances to enhance her energy.

Speaking in a recent episode of the Open Up podcast, Rosman shared that people are often amazed by how hardworking she is and her energy at parties despite not indulging in alcohol or illicit substances.

“There was a time I said I wanted to be sustaining myself from acting alone and gigs were coming but I felt empty. I felt like I was always searching for something to complete myself,” she said.

“People often ask me what I drink after seeing my videos. I don’t drink. I don’t smoke either. But guess what? If we are at a party, I would be more turnt than anybody in that room.

“I went to film in Enugu and the production team organised cast members and crew party -and I love celebrating with cast and crew members, especially when you created a beautiful body of work.

“Those are the kind of parties I like to be at, not randomly at a Lagos club. And we were dancing and partying, if you see me in those videos, I was like, ‘Jesus, who is this girl?’

“Somebody asked me what I drank, I said, ‘Nothing.’ I don’t drink anything. I don’t need anything to influence me. I have all the happiness and highness that I want inside myself. God has given it to me freely. I don’t need to take anything to influence me,” the actress added.