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Diri To Cabinet Members: Prepare Your Handover Notes

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Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has directed members of his cabinet to begin to prepare their handover notes as his first term in office winds down.

He gave them the directive during the 126th state executive council meeting inside the Executive Council Chambers in Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday.

Diri will be sworn in for another term on February 14, 2024, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

He was declared the winner of the November 11, 2023, off-cycle governorship election, polling a total of 175,196 votes to defeat his major opponent, Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress, who scored 110,108 votes.

READ ALSO: [JUST IN] Bayelsa: INEC Presents Diri Certificate Of Return

The governor asked the political appointees to tidy up their handover reports to achieve a smooth transition to his second term, a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, said.

He commended his cabinet members for adding value to the state through their performance and thanked them for the selfless service they rendered in the last four years, noting that the achievements recorded by his administration in its first term were collective and were not an exclusive preserve of himself or his deputy.

While urging them to continue to contribute their best till the end of the term, Diri said, “As you are aware, our administration is winding down its first tenure and I know you will not wait for me to tell you to start preparing your handover notes. I believe some of you have started from last year. At the end of the day, everybody will see what you have done.

“I want to commend you for the selfless service you have rendered in the last four years and as you prepare your notes, dot the i’s and cross the t’s. So, for future purposes, those who will take over or even if you are continuing, you will be guided.

READ ALSO: Nembe-Bassambiri Chiefs, Youth Body Remain Suspended — Diri

“I commend you for the spirit of oneness, unity and love we all saw in this executive council. That is why we have achieved so much under this four years. That is why the people said this government must come back for the next four years.

“It was not an exclusive preserve of myself as governor or my deputy governor. Yes, we led the pack but all of you contributed very well to the successes we have recorded in infrastructure, education, health, sports, security and even in the judiciary. So on behalf of the deputy governor, I say a big thank you to this state executive council. We have not dissolved the cabinet yet and today is not the last day.”

Earlier, the council held a valedictory session for the late former Commissioner for Finance, Steven Ogullah.

Diri said it was the policy of his administration to honour Exco members who served meritoriously, adding that he would propose an amendment to the policy to ensure that only those who served the state without blemish would be honoured.

READ ALSO: Bayelsa Poll: What I’d Have Don If Diri Had Lost – Jonathan

He described the late Finance Commissioner as a dedicated man who gave his all to the service of the state and that he would be greatly missed.

The governor said even out of office, Ogullah remained committed to service to the state, as he was very supportive of his administration until his last days.

He also stated that Ogullah formed an organisation to galvanise support for his re-election and expressed gratitude to the departed commissioner for his abiding loyalty and support.

Diri urged members of his family to be comforted by his footprints in the development of the state, which he said will remain indelible.

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Why Abia Policeman Dropped His Rifle, Uniform, Walked Away From His Job – Report

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An investigative journalist known as 99% Oppressed on X.com has raised concerns about the situation of a police officer, Ugochukwu Nwaso, attached to the Abia State Police Command.

According to the journalist who also claims to be a private investigator hated by all security agencies in Nigeria, Nwaso, a corporal in the force, resigned for yet-to-be-confirmed reasons.

In a tweet directed at the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Wednesday, the journalist who tweeted as @PIDOMNIGERIA, highlighted concerns about mental health issues and toxic work environments within the police force, emphasizing the need for those challenges to be urgently addressed to prevent further incidents.

The journalist noted that all efforts by his fellow policemen to convince Nwaso against his action proved abortive as he was resolute in his decision.

READ ALSO: Drama As Outage Disrupts Power Minister’s Speech At N’Assembly

The journalist wrote, “Hello @Princemoye1, are you aware that a corporal in the Nigerian police @PoliceNG force, Ugochukwu Nwaso, attached to Abia State Police Command, went to his station in Umuahia, dropped his rifle, dropped his uniform, and all the things the Nigerian Police gave to him. He packed all his personal belongings in the station and left.

“He said that he is no more interested in being in the force. All efforts made to persuade him to change his mind proved abortive. What is the Nigerian police force doing as regards depression, mental health issues and toxic work environment?

“So many police officers are battling one mental health issue or the other without the authorities knowing. Some are battling depression, that triggers them to commit murder. While some are being frustrated by their superiors at their place of work. They make life unbearable for them. The work is so toxic to them, that they easily transfer their aggression to innocent citizens whom they are paid to protect. Corporal Ugochukwu Nwaso a trained young man, who knows how to use firearms, will now be an ordinary civilian on the street.”

In response, the State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Maureen Chinaka, refuted the claim.

READ ALSO: Outrage, Protests In Edo Community Over Alleged Plan To Impose Traditional Ruler On Indigenes

She stated that the information was untrue, asserting that the officer in question was currently on active duty and had not tendered his resignation from the Force.

She wrote, “This information is false. I want to clarify that Copral Ugochukwu Nwaso, serving at Eziama Division, Abia State Police Command, is currently on duty at his division and has not resigned from the force. He is still very much in service and stationed at his Division.”

Affirming the claim, the journalist went ahead to present a police wireless message by one Supol Eziama, confirming Nwaso’s resignation.

The police wireless message revealed that Nwaso resigned following a misunderstanding with a fellow police officer, ASP Onyinyechi Nwuju.

READ ALSO: Detained Binance Chief’s Wife Drags Nigeria Before US Parliament

He wrote, “ASP Maureen Chinaka, @MaureenChinaka before @PIDOMNIGERIA posts anything on X, there must be evidential receipt at hand. You can ask about me if you want. But because you said my information is false, attached here is a Police @PoliceNG wireless message, confirming my claim about Corporal Ugochukwu Nwaso. Deny this if you can, I will post more evidence. @Princemoye1.”

The police wireless message read, “Be informed that today, at about 1530 hours, one F/NO. 520044 CPL Ugochukwu Nwaso dropped his rifle, uniform and packed his belongings and left the station that he was no more interested in the force following a misunderstanding with W/ASP Onyinyechi Nwuju. All efforts made to bring him back proved abortive. Above for your information please.”

In May 2023, a police officer, Corporal Fauzziyah Isiak, lamented how the Nigeria Police Force detained her after she put in her resignation.

Isiak, who narrated her ordeal on X.com, said after she submitted her resignation letter she was called into the office and was detained even as she disclosed that she was on her menses.

The officer, who was also an entrepreneur at the time, lamented the treatment she received for wanting to resign. She said she never saw her plight coming as she never thought she’d be put in detention without interrogation.

 

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Police Probe Assault On Two Delta Varsity Students

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The Nigeria Police has condemned the assault on two yet-to-be-identified students of the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, by some unidentified men suspected to be police officers.

This follows a viral video on X (formerly Twitter) which generated several reactions from police operatives.

The video, posted by an X user with the handle, ‘Ughellivibes’, on Monday, showed two scenes where some young men were being beaten with batons by police officers as onlookers gathered.

READ ALSO: 14-year-old Boy Killed In London Sword Attack

Reacting to the incident, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, condemned the act, stressing that the Force did not support any indecent and unprofessional conduct.

He, however, urged the Delta State Police Command to look into the incident and bring the perpetrators to book.

He said, “Look into this. We should be able to justify our actions always. The beating is condemned, not professional. Like I always say, the police have powers to arrest, search, enforce the law, and apply minimum force to carry out their operations, but such must be done with decorum, professionalism and proportionality. We don’t support any indecent and unprofessional conduct. No way.”

READ ALSO: LIST: Nigerian Passport Ranked Among Worst Globally

Reacting to the incident, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, demanded that members of the public provide the command with details of the victims.

Edafe wrote: “Please, whoever knows the victim should send him this number 09155570008 or any of our CRU lines.”

Efforts to contact Edafe to know more about the progress the police had made proved abortive, as several calls and texts sent to him were unanswered as of the time of filing this report.

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DSTV Hike: Lawyer To Paste Restraining Order At MultiChoice Office

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The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal in Abuja has ordered that its interim order, restraining MultiChoice Nigeria Limited from increasing DSTV tariff, be pasted at the firm’s “corporate headquarters or any known address of the branches of MultiChoice Nigeria Limited across Nigeria.”

The chairman of the tribunal, Saratu Shafii, who made the order dated April 29, 2024, said the document should also be MultiChoice’s known email address, social media handles and any means of communication publicly known for MultiChoice.

The interim order, restraining MultiChoice from increasing its tariff, was granted in favour of an Abuja-based lawyer, Festus Onifade, who is aggrieved by MultiChoice recent announcement to increase the tariffs on its DStv and Gotv packages effective from May 1.

In his suit, marked CCPT/OP/2/2024, Onifade listed   MultiChoice Nigeria Ltd and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission as defendants.

READ ALSO: Multichoice Hikes DStv, GOtv Prices

He sought  “an order of interim injunction of this honourable tribunal restraining the 1st defendant whether by themselves, her privies, assigns by whatsoever name called from going ahead with impending price increase scheduled to take effect from 1st May 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

“An order restraining the 1st defendant from taking any step(s) that may negatively affect the rights of the claimant and other consumers in respect of the suit pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”

On Monday, April 29, the tribunal issued an order stopping MultiChoice from increasing its tariffs and cost of products and services scheduled to take effect from May 1.

The three-member tribunal, presided over by  Shafii, gave the order following an ex parte motion moved by Ejiro Awaritoma, counsel for the applicant.

READ ALSO: Tribunal Restrains MultiChoice From hiking DStv, Gotv Subscription Rates

The company was restrained from effecting its planned price hike pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed before it.

However, upon moves by the tribunal to serve Multi-Choice, the bailiff alleged that staff at the Abuja office of the company refused to receive service of the order and other court documents.

The bailiff claimed that one of the company’s top managers at the Abuja office refused to receive the documents and instructed that the documents be sent to the Lagos office, being the headquarters.

Following the bailiff’s feedback, the tribunal issued an order of substituted service on MultiChoice pursuant to Section 48 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018; and Part N, Order 14 Rule 11(1) of the CCPT Rule, 2021.

READ ALSO: MultiChoice Turns Down Canal+ Buyout

In the certified true copy of the order of substituted service, the Shaffi-led panel directed that the ex-parte order in suit number: CCPT/OP/2/2024, be pasted at the corporate headquarters or any known address of the branches of MultiChoice Nigeria Limited across Nigeria.

She also ordered that the documents be sent to the company’s “known email address, social media handles and any means of communication publicly known for Multi-Choice and shall also be pasted in the CCPT communication outlet.”

Multi-choice had recently announced price increments across its DStv and GOtv packages effective May 1, 2024.

The pay-TV company had claimed the price hike was due to the cost of business operations in Nigeria.

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