News

IYC Vows To Confront FG Over True Federalism, Resource Control, Justice

Published

5 years ago

October 31, 2020

Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), the umbrella body of Ijaw youths worldwide has declared readiness to confront the Federal Government with their demands for equity, justice and resource control.

Leaders of the umbrella body while converging on Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital over the weekend expressed vexatious over the issues of true federalism, the militarisation of Niger Delta communities, gas flaring, water resource bill and restructuring.

The IYC zonal leaders, elders, past presidents and deputy presidents of the council including Dr. Chris Ekiyor, the Special Adviser to Bayelsa State Governor on Ijaw National Affairs, Onifie Jon Jon, among others, were present at the well-attened meeting chaired by the President of the IYC, Comrade Peter Igbifa.

They resolved that a final position on the issues raised at the consultative meeting would be unveiled at the end of the ongoing consultations with various ethnic groups and state governors across the Niger Delta.

Igbifa, at the end of the consultative meeting told journalists that though the council was undergoing consultations with Ijaw stakeholders, the IYC was ready to take their destinies in their hands and confront the Federal Government over contentious issues of true federalism, restructuring and the militarisation of the Ijaw communities.

Igbifa said, ”Ijaw as the 4th largest ethnic nationality in the country, we have a wide range of consultations to do. For sure, we have issued statements and taken a position that our people should take their destiny in their own hands.

“We have said the issue of resources control is key to us. God, not being mad, has gone to Zanfara State to give them gold and help them to tap their resources and sell. So, we are also preparing ourselves to take our oil in our own hands and sell our oil to make our society what it ought to be.

“And the consultation is preparing our house and putting ourselves ready for what is ahead of us. We have said several times that no life will be lost in the course of taking our destiny in our own hands. In our last meeting, I said the military should not prepare for war because with these consultations,we want to put an end to the militarisation of ijaw communities.

“The military excesses have become unbearable and under the guise of chasing oil criminals, they go around Ijaw communities and burn down homes. They run around freely in Ijaw communities and burn down houses. They have taken away the people’s rights and destroyed the ecosystems. Then they come again and chase the people.

“When you say there are criminals in Ijaw communities, you can go there and let us see the criminals. We say there should be no more burning down of Ijaw communities. You saw what the #EndSARS protesters pushed for, it was an end to brutality. So, we have suffered more than any other ethnic groups when it comes to the brute force of the military on communities.”

Also speaking, the spokesman for the IYC, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, noted that the position of Ijaw youths on various contentious issues of resource control, restructuring and many others would be a watershed for the country in the next few weeks.

He stated, “Nigeria at the moment is at the crossroads and Ijaw youths are ready to make their demands from the Federal Government. The Ijaw youths are more ready and united to confront the challenges in the next few weeks.”

News

Bank MD Jailed Five Years For N32m Fraud

Published

42 minutes ago

October 31, 2025

Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured a five-year conviction of a former Managing Director of Bonghe Micro Finance Bank, Grace Karka, for her role in a N32m fraud, with an option of fine.

The PUNCH learnt in a statement by the EFCC on Thursday that the agency received a petition from the bank alleging that the defendant transferred N32m while she was the bank’s MD to an unknown account.

The statement noted that the petitioner said the fraudulent act was discovered during an audit of the bank’s account domiciled with a commercial bank.

She was subsequently arraigned before Justice Benjamin Lawan Manji of the Adamawa State High Court on counts of criminal conspiracy and cheating.

One of the charges read: “That you, Grace Andreas Karka and Prince Moses Batalu, between August 2020 and March 2021 in Yola, Adamawa State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did agree amongst yourselves to do an illegal act, to wit theft of N66,792,960.00 from Bonghe Micro Finance Bank Nigeria Limited (account number 2013668857 domiciled with First Bank Nigeria Limited) by dishonestly moving the said sum without necessary approval, contrary to Section 61(2) of the Adamawa State Penal Code Law 2018.”

According to the statement, the defendant was arraigned in November 2024, but she pleaded not guilty, which led to a full trial.

The EFCC said during the trial, the prosecutor presented witnesses and tendered several documents, while the defendant presented three witnesses.

Following the trial, the judge found the defendant guilty and sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment.

“Justice Manji, on October 17, 2025, while delivering judgment, said the prosecution proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted the defendant accordingly on counts one and two.

“The judge also sentenced Karka to five years’ imprisonment with an option of N3m each on counts one and two. The sentence is to run concurrently.

“In addition, the court ordered the convict to restitute the balance of N29,877,040 to the petitioner,” the statement added.

This is not the first time a former bank MD has been jailed for fraud.

News

Edo Lauds Germany On Partnership To Boost Creative Community

Published

1 hour ago

October 31, 2025

Editor

The Edo state government has commended Germany’s Filmakademie on its partnership to boost the state’s creative community.

The government noted that the plan by the German outfit to use Edo artefacts as basis for harnessing potentials would no doubt impact positively on the state’s creative sector.

The state’s deputy governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa said this when he hosted the German Filmakademie, Ludwigsburg in Benin on Friday.

In a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Friday Aghedo, the deputy governor, who commended Filmakademie for choosing to partner with the state, said that the collaboration will open channel for the training of filmmakers in the state.

The Filmakademie team led by the Director, Entertainment and Creative Economy, Edo Creative Hub, Amb. Solomon Okosun, said that the partnership aligned with policy direction of Governor Monday Okpebholo on creative industry.

Idahosa announced, “Senator Okpebholo is a fantastic and people oriented Governor; a visionary leader that believes in the gifts and potentials of Edo people.

“Exposure to documentary filmmaking and observance of international filmmaking standards through the interface of Edo State trainees with counterparts/students from the German Filmakademie would boost further film production and content creation.

“This will be based on present training of participants on the rudiments of cinematography, film production, film editing, and directing.

“The exposure will enable them gain invaluable skills at story telling and weaving beautiful stories which showcase the rich arts and cultural heritage of Edo State and its people,” he explained.

Idahosa commended the efforts of the two finalists who would make it through to the German Filmakademie after a rigorous three weeks training/workshop, Idahosa urged

“such participants should hone their skills, influence their peers, and push the content and quality of Edo state filmmakers to international standards,” he said.

Idahosa nonetheless appreciated the Director, Edo Creative Hub for collaborating with the foreign film academy, which has helped to expose talented youths from the three senatorial zones.

He advised the beneficiaries to take the training seriously.

According to him, “I expect and encourage participants who have benefitted from this programme to take it very seriously.

“This is because, if the opportunity is given and two of you decide to go to Germany to learn this high profile skills in the movie industry, you will not just keep those opportunities for yourself, you will come back and affect your brothers and sisters, you left behind, thereby, giving more opportunities to our people.

“Our dream is to have a lot of people, God has given potentials to, in the entertainment industry.”

He assured of government’s support to the state’s entertainment industry through the German Filmakademie, in order to help grow the industry in the state.

He told his visitors that the state is safe and prepared to welcome investors from any part of the world.

On his part, the director, Edo Creative Hub stated that as one of its collaborators, the German Filmakademie came into Edo state to prepare trainees for the AFFRIFF/Nollywood Film Workshop.

He said the best two persons that emege from the participants after the workshop would be sponsored to Germany for further studies.

He said, “After a three weeks stay in Benin, trainees would head to Lagos State for the AFRIFF Film Festival haven learnt how to shoot documentaries, training on how to use the high end “ARRI ALEXA 35″ cinematography camera.”

Project Manager, Nollywood Workshop, 2025, from the Filmakademie, Ludwigsburg, Germany, Abel Alechenu, an alumnus of the Filmakademie said over the past two years, indigenes of Edo State have come to the Filmakademie to study under the four months programme and then, came back home to pass on the knowledge to others.

He said, “This year, the Filmakademie chose to promote the rich cultural heritage of the Benin people.

“We have been to the National Museum, and to Igun Street, to know the process and see the artefacts and those who created them. It is really a connecting point for both of us.”

News

NAF Redeploys 25 Senior Officers

Published

2 hours ago

October 31, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Air Force has approved the redeployment of several senior officers to key command and staff positions as part of efforts to enhance operational efficiency and align its structure with the leadership vision of the new Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke.

No fewer than 19 officers received new appointments, while six others were posted to various defence and inter-service establishments.

A statement on Friday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the restructuring was aimed at improving decision-making, strengthening coordination across units and commands, and reinforcing readiness in response to current security challenges.

Under the new postings, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Abdullahi becomes Chief of Policy and Plans, while AVM Adeniran Ademuwagun assumes duty as Commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna. AVM Ibitayo Ajiboye was appointed Group Managing Director of the Nigerian Air Force Investment Limited Group of Companies.

AVM Precious Amadi is now Chief of Operations, just as AVM Nnamdi Ananaba becomes Chief of Air Intelligence. AVM Ebimobo Ebiowe will serve as Superintendent of Standards and Evaluation, and AVM Ahmed Dari as Chief of Training. The Transformation and Innovation Branch will be headed by AVM Mohammed Ibrahim.

“In the logistics and engineering domains, AVM Olufemi Ogunsina has been appointed Chief of Aircraft Engineering, and AVM Michael Onyebashi assumes command as Air Officer Commanding, Mobility Command. AVM David Pwajok is now Chief of Communication and Information Systems, while AVM John Ukeh takes charge as Air Provost Marshal.

“Further reinforcing NAF’s administrative and welfare structures, AVM Simon Peter has been appointed Managing Director, NAFIL Housing and Construction Company, while AVM Chidiebere Obiabaka becomes Air Secretary. AVM Anthony Martins now serves as Chief of Administration, AVM Abubakar Sule takes over as AOC, Logistics Command, and AVM Abdulrasheed Kotun has been appointed Managing Director, NAF Farms. The new Chief of Civil-Military Relations is AVM Edward Gabkwet, while AVM Osichinaka Ubadike has been named Deputy Commandant, AFIT, ” the statement added.

The statement added that other senior officers — including AVMs Ahmed Bakari, Albert Bot, Idi Sani, Muhammed Suleiman, Jibrin Usman and Japheht Ekwuribe — have been deployed to various defence and inter-service establishments to strengthen joint operations.

The Chief of the Air Staff assumed office on Thursday, and the redeployment exercise followed the following day.

His decision to reshuffle senior officers comes just a day after his counterpart in the Nigerian Army also announced a major reorganisation of top commanders