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The Federal Government has directed the immediate transfer of victims of the recent tanker explosion at Dikko Junction in Suleja, Niger State, to tertiary health facilities for advanced medical care. The directive was announced by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, during a visit to Suleja on Sunday. Speaking during the visit,
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has said that the total allocation…
The counsel to the Indigenous Displaced People of Bakassi Communities, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, has faulted the position of the Cross River State House of Assembly, which accused Chief Amboni Iyadim, former chairman of Bakassi LGA, of treasonable felony and threatened to arrest him and other leaders of the Indigenous People of Bakassi Communities for submitting
Bakassi leaders slam Cross River Assembly over treason allegation
The counsel to the Indigenous Displaced People of Bakassi Communities, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, has faulted the position of the Cross River State House of Assembly, which accused Chief Amboni Iyadim, former chairman of Bakassi LGA, of treasonable felony and threatened to arrest him and other leaders of the Indigenous People of Bakassi Communities for submitting a petition to President Bola Tinubu, listing their demands.
He explained that the main grouse of the Bakassi leaders is their complaint that their council is being treated as an appendage of Akpabuyo LGA and that their allocations are spent in Akpabuyo LGA, never used for the development of the actual Bakassi communities.
In a swift reaction to the Assembly’s resolution yesterday, Obono-Obla said that the petition to the President sought settlement for the Displaced People of Bakassi, adding that it had been distorted by antagonists.
He stressed that the position taken by the House of Assembly was outrageous and inconceivable.
“We urge the House to reverse its stance and stand in solidarity with the hapless Displaced People of Bakassi. History will judge the House harshly if it fails to act.
“Contrary to claims, the petition isn’t solely about delisting Bakassi LGA from the Constitution.
“Its core demand is that Bakassi LGA shouldn’t be an appendage of Akpabuyo LGA.”
Obono-Obla explained that the Supreme Court’s judgment on February 23, 2023, in INEC vs. Asuquo and Others invalidated Cross River State Law No. 7 of 2007, which created wards in Akpabuyo LGA to form New Bakassi LGA.
He clarified that the judgment emphasized the House of Assembly’s power to adjust boundaries, not create wards.
He said, “It was alarming that the Assembly remained silent on the illegitimate gerrymandering, where Bakassi’s headquarters is situated in Ikot Effiom, Akpabuyo LGA, instead of Abana, in Dayspring Island, Bakassi LGA.”
He maintained that this was a clear case of injustice and disregard for the people’s welfare, which should be addressed.
But the Speaker of the Assembly, Elvert Ayambem, said that there was no way the capital of Bakassi could have been in Abana, which is part of the territory ceded to Cameroon in 2002 by the Green Tree Agreement of the World Court in The Hague.
The Assembly argued that spending Nigeria’s resources in Abana would amount to developing Cameroonian territory to the detriment of the Bakassi people.
Ayambem condemned the petition as “a complete misnomer and facade,” warning that attempts to blackmail or politicize sensitive issues would not derail the state’s ongoing development.
The member representing Bakassi State Constituency, Hon. Eyo Bassey, clarified that he was not consulted before the petition was submitted, reaffirming his commitment to addressing the needs of the Bakassi people through constructive engagement rather than political agitation.
Bakassi leaders slam Cross River Assembly over treason allegation
The Lagos State Task Force has said it is investigating the alleged extortion of a Nigeria Customs Service officer by its officers. PUNCH Metro reported on Wednesday that the Customs officer, who identified himself simply as Cyril, accused the task force officials of extorting him N200,000 at their head office in the Bolade area of
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The Lagos State Task Force has said it is investigating the alleged extortion of a Nigeria Customs Service officer by its officers. PUNCH Metro reported on Wednesday that the Customs officer, who identified himself simply as Cyril, accused the task force officials of extorting him N200,000 at their head office in the Bolade area of
