Former Council Chairmen of 21 out of the 23 Local Governments Area (LGA) in Rivers State on Monday staged a protest at their various council areas.

In Buguma, council headquarters of the Asari-Toru LGA, former Chairman Onengiyeofori George, alongside his supporters marched through the streets of the town as they gyrate to songs in solidarity with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

They waved placards with inscriptions asking the police to continue occupying the council headquarters. Some of the inscriptions read, “Sim Fubara Can’t Continue to Act As He likes” and “There’s No Vacancy in Asari-Toru Council”.

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The former Council Chairmen of 21 out of the 23 Local Governments in Rivers state are protesting at their various council areas this morning.

The pro-Wike former LGA bosses protested in their local councils despite an advisory against protests issued by the Rivers State Police Command.

At Asari-Toru LGA, the protest almost turned violent when some men believed to be operatives of Asari Dokubo’s private military company colloquially known as Amama Soldiers attempted to attack the protesters.

The Amama Soldiers were swiftly restrained by policemen who were very alert. The demonstrators later presented a protest letter to the police.

Watch video below courtesy Channels TV

The protest in Rivers state almost turned violent when some men believed to be operatives of Asari Dokubo’s private military company colloquially known as Amama Soldiers attempted to attack the group.

They were swiftly restrained by the police who were very alert#CTVTweets pic.twitter.com/qn2eWRuUHy

— Channels Television (@channelstv) June 24, 2024

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Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have nabbed two former bankers for allegedly stealing money belonging to a deceased customer.

EFCC’s spokesman Dele Oyewale said the agency’s operatives in the Markurdi Zonal Command arrested the suspects for allegedly stealing N4,199,500 belonging to a deceased customer.

“The suspects, Idah Ogoh and Agbo Okwute were arrested on Friday, June 21, 2024, in Makurdi, Benue State,” Oyewale said in a Saturday statement.

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“Their arrest followed a petition against them by the bank on fraudulent debits on a deceased customer, Emmanuel Azer Agenna’s account. Their dealings were uncovered when the family of the deceased approached the bank for the balance on the account of the deceased for probate processing. The family disputed the balance given to them by the bank and subsequently sent a complaint to the bank regarding unauthorised debits on the account.

“Based on their complaints, the bank carried out an internal investigation and its findings revealed that a debit card was procured on the deceased’s customer account on May 10, 2023, by Ifah Ogoh, one of the bank’s Sales and Service Associates which was authorised by the bank on the same date.

“Further findings by the bank showed that the procured card by Ogoh was handed over to another Sales and Service Associates, Agbo Omwute who eventually delivered the card to an accomplice for transfer and withdrawal of funds from the account of the deceased. Several withdrawals were allegedly made by the suspects through the accomplice.”

The anti-graft agency said the suspects would be charged to court after an investigation.

The Police in Ekiti State have arraigned three men before a Chief Magistrate Court, Ado Ekiti District for alleged possession of explosives.

The defendants – 46-year-old Adamu Abdullahi, 57-year-old Haruna Musa and 26-year-old Sanni Garba are facing a count charge of possession of explosives.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Akinwale Oriyomi told the court on Friday that the defendant committed the offence on June 5, in Ado Ekiti.

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The prosecutor alleged that “the defendants had in their possession three 32mm cartridges, detonating cord and firing cables.

“The offence contravened Section 1(c) and was punishable under Section 1(e) of the Explosive Act 1964 and Explosive Regulation 1967,” Oriyomi stated.

He urged the court to adjourn the case to enable him to study the file and assemble his witnesses.

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The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.

Counsel to the defendants, Mr Ademola Richard, urged the court to grant the defendants bail, with a promise that they would not jump bail.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Olarewaju Owoleso, granted the defendant bail of N500,000 with one surety each in like sum.

The court adjourned the case till July 29, for a hearing.