News

Obaseki Reshuffles Cabinet, Rationalizes MDAs

Published

2 years ago

September 23, 2022

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has approved a cabinet reshuffle and rationalization of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state government.

In a statement, Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., said the governor gave the approval at the Executive Council (EXCO) on Wednesday.

He noted that, “The rationalization of the MDAs is as a result of dwindling accruals from the Federation Account, which can no longer sustain the existing structure of the government.”

Ogie said the cabinet reshuffle and rationalization of MDAs led to the merger of certain ministries and re-deployment of Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries across MDAs.

According to him, “As regards the cabinet reshuffle, Andrew Emwanta has been moved from the Ministry of Communication and Orientation to the Ministry of Youths and Humanitarian Affairs, while Chris Nehikhare will now man the Ministry of Communication and Orientation.

“A new Office of Special Duties is to be headed by a Commissioner, Osasere Malachi Evbuomwan.”

He continued: “The affected Permanent Secretaries include Osagie A. Peter who has been moved from the Ministry of Housing to the Ministry of Youths and Gender Issues while Felicia Edwards is now at the Ministry of Public Security and Safety.

“Edionwe Joel, formerly of the Ministry of Public Security and Safety is now in the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, while Efe Iserhienrhien of the former Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning is now in the Ministry of Business, Trade and Cooperatives.

“Barbara Nekpen Aluyi Osobajo of the former Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issues is now in the Ministry of Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development.

“Ifueko Alufohai of the former Ministry of Youth and Humanitarian Affairs is now in the Ministry of Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs while Abieyuwa Naps from the Ministry of Business, Trade and Cooperatives is now in the Ministry of Digital Economy, Science and Technology.

“Washington Abbe from the Ministry of Transport has been moved to the Local Government Pensions Bureau while Gilbert Egwakhide has been moved from the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Special Duties,” Ogie added.

Ogie further noted, “Okodugha Birgitta has been moved from the former Ministry of Science and Technology to the Edo State Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA).

“In the new structure, the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning has been merged with the Ministry of Finance to become the Ministry of Finance, Budget, Economic Planning and Development.

“The Ministry of Youth and Humanitarian Affairs is now the Ministry of Youth and Gender Issues while the former Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issues is now the Ministry of Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs.

“The Ministry of Science and Technology is now the Ministry of Digital Economy, Science and Technology, while the Ministry of Mining, Oil and Gas has been merged with the Ministry of Energy to become the Ministry of Mining and Energy. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives is now the Ministry of Business, Trade and Cooperatives.

“The Ministry of Housing has been merged with the Ministry of Physical Planning, Urban and Regional Development to become the Ministry of Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development.”

“The Ministry of Local Government has been merged with the Ministry of Community and Chieftaincy Affairs and now the Ministry of Local Government, Community and Chieftaincy Affairs,” he stated.

News

JUST IN: Court Clears Ex-AGF Adoke Of Money Laundering Charges

Published

1 hour ago

April 19, 2024

Editor

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday discharged and acquitted former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN) of the money laundering charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, while delivering a ruling on a no-case submission filed by the former AGF, held that the EFCC failed to establish a prima facie (sufficient evidence) case against him.

“I find that there is no evidence to prove the alleged offences against the first defendant (Adoke),” the judge said.

However, Justice Ekwo ruled that Aliyu Abubakar, the second defendant, has to open his defence because he has a case to answer.

EFCC had preferred a 14 counts charge against Adoke and an oil mogul, Aliyu Abubakar.

In the charge, the anti-graft agency alleged that Adoke sometime in August 2013 in Abuja accepted a cash payment of the dollar equivalent of N300 million from Abubakar and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 16(2)(b) of the money laundering Prohibition Act 2011 as amended.

Details later…

News

Police Seal Off Benue APC Factional Secretariat

Published

2 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Editor

Armed policemen have sealed off the secretariat of the All Progressive Congress,APC, in Makurdi, the capital city of Benue State.

The party secretariat belongs to the Austin Agada-led APC Working Committee located along JS Tarka Way opposite the Railway Market in Makurdi.

There are two party secretariats in the capital city.

The other one belongs to Benjamin Omakolo’s team which is located along Kashim Ibrahim Way.

The Publicity Secretary of the Agada faction, Daniel Ihomun, said that the sealing off of their secretariat may not be unconnected with the inauguration of members of the zoning committee for the forthcoming local government election.

“We are to inaugurate members of the zoning committee for the coming local government election today at our secretariat only for the government to send policemen and their thugs to seal off the secretariat,” Ihomun said.

It was learnt that policemen and Armour Personnel Vehicle were deployed to the Agada-led office as early as 6am on Friday.

Efforts to get the reaction of the state Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, to ascertain the reason for the sealing off of the party secretariat were not successful as her phone rang out at the time of filing this report.

The Agada-led faction had constituted a 21-men zoning committee drawn from the three senatorial districts of the state and was expected to be inaugurated on Friday.

But in a swift response, the Omakolo-led team had in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Terseer Agber, called on all party members and the general public to disregard the zoning committee constituted by the Agada-led committee.

News

JUST IN: Army Releases Delta Monarch Arrested Over Soldiers Killings

Published

2 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Editor

The Nigerian Army has released the traditional ruler, Clement Ikolo, earlier declared wanted and arrested over the gruesome murder of 17 soldiers in Delta State on 14 March 2024.

The monarch was declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters alongside seven others for alleged involvement in the act.

He was released to Senator Ede Dafianone who stood surety.

He was released during a brief at Army Headquarters by the Director, Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu.

Details later…