NEWS Curve

By Lucky Isibor. Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 19, 2020 governorship election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has appealed to the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki to pardon the 14 absentee  APC  members- elect in the 2019 Edo State House of Assembly election and opt for out of court settlement. The appeal comes barely 48 hours after APC lost its bid to prove alleged certificate forgery suit against the Governor who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the governorship election at the Supreme Court. The members-elect who were elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019 are Vincent Uwadiae, Ovia North-East II; Ugiagbe Dumez, Ovia North-East I; Washington Osifo, Uhunmwode; Victor Edoror, Esan Central; Kingsley Ugabi, Etsako East and Michael Ohio-Ezomo, Owan West, were unavailable for inauguration when the 7th Assembly was proclaimed on June 17, 2019 by the Governor. Also affected members-ele

By Lucky Isibor. The Secretary to the  Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie (Esq) has sent his heart felt congratulations to the Governor of EDO State, Godwin Obaseki on his well deserved victory at the Supreme Court.                   Osarodion Ogie. Secretary to the Edo State Govermenmet In a  statement, Ogie said the judgement has gone a long  way to  confirm and affirm the confidence of the people in Governor Obaseki. "We  were not expecting anything different because Governor Obaseki had the best legal team that represented him and they were able to prove to the various courts up to  the Supreme Court that the opposition could not establish their case beyond any doubt"  The SSG Said Edo people deserve the best and the governor will always give them the best  and he reassured the people  and encourage them to continue to support the Govermor Godwin Obaseki led State administration. Edo people and Nigerians have been in celebration mood since last Friday when t

By Lucky Isibor. Case of State vrs. Iyatsere of Warri, Chief Johnson Atselege and 11 others in the alleged murder of the Okaighele of Kolokolo Community, in Ologbo Dukedom , Edo State, Nigeria , has been adjourned to 31st May and 2nd of June, 2021 for continuous hearing.   At today’s trial, the Prosecution Witness( PW 1),, Sgt. Otoide Marvelous, tendered the statement of the first accused person, Oluwa Esimijie before the court for admittance which was taken. But the defence counsel, O.T . Okeke objected to admission of the statement, alleging that the statement was taken under duress, that it was not taking voluntarily. He argued that his client was forced against his will to sign the statement as such it will not be fair to admit it as his client's statement. Based on the objection, the Presiding Judge, His Lordship, Justice Mary Itsueli , adjourned for further hearing to enable the court conduct trial within trial.   According to her, the case was adjourned to 31st o

By Lucky Isibor. Against the backdrop of the crisis rocking the Edo State chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), the Edo Central Senatorial District of the party have yespassed a vote of confidence on Governor Godwin Obaseki, his deputy, Hon. Philip Shaibu, the state chairman of the party, Hon. Tony Aziegbemin and cautioned party members against inflammatory comments on the crisis.  The position of the Edo Central Senatorial District of the party was made known in a communique at the end of a meeting of Esan PDP leaders held at the residence of Senator Odion Ugbesia in Benin City. While calling on Governor Obaseki, his deputy, Hon. Shaibu, the state chairman, Hon. Aziegbemin and the state Executive Committee of the party not to spare any effort in resolving the crisis, the party leaders directed the Senatorial Executive to revisit the suspension of Chief Tom Ikimi with a view to lifting the suspension.  "Esan Party Leaders passed a vote of implicit confide

By Lucky Isibor. The Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM) world wide has warned those enchroaching on lands belonging to the Oba of Benin at Ogiso street in Oredo Local Government Area and Obazuwa town in Ovia North-East Local Government Area to quite or face dire consequences.  The president of BSM, Elder Curtis Ugbo gave the warning at Ogiso street, Benin City on Friday, 21 May while erecting sign boards on lands belonging to the Benin monarch in the two communities.  Addressing journalist at Ogiso street, Elder Curtis Ugbo said, "this is actually the second time that we are coming here on the instruction of our royal father, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare11. “It came to our knowledge that the piece of land measuring 1000 by 1000 on Ogiso Street which belongs to the Omo N’Oba, has been encroached upon by land grabbers. “We are calling on the land grabbers and those that bought land from them to report to the Oba of Benin’s Palace immediatel

By Lucky Isibor. Stakeholders in Edo State Wednesday, finalised the formulation of Monitoring and Evaluation (M and E) plan for the operationalisation of the draft Edo State Integrity and Accountability Strategy (EDSIAS). The stakeholders comprising representatives of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Edo State government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and the media, met at a workshop organised by the state Ministry of Justice and the Rule of Law and Anti-corruption (RoLAC) programme in Edo State between Monday 17th and Wednesday 19th May to develop instruments for monitoring and evaluation of the EDSIAS. Members of the Technical Working Group with RoLAC consultants in a group photograph. The Edo State Integrity and Accountability Strategy (EDSIAS) is the Edo State version of the National Anti-corruption Strategy. The strategic objectives of the EDSIAS are Prevention, Public Enlightenment, Ethical Re-orientation, Enforcement and Sanctions; Assets Recovery and

.....Sues for Commitment to Oath of office, reaffirms support for Judiciary By Lucky Isibor. The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Monday, swore-in Honorable Justice Joe Acha as the Acting Chief Judge of Edo State, charging His Lordship to carry out  his duties with justice, honesty and transparency. Acha’s swearing-in, which was held at the New Festival Hall in Government House, Benin City, followed the retirement of Justice Esther Edigin. L-R: Chief Mike Ogiadome; Wife of the Acting Edo State Chief Judge, Mrs. Christiana Acha; Edo State Acting Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Joe Acha; Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, at the swearing-in of the Acting Chief Judge at the Government House, in Benin City, on Monday, May 17, 2021. Obaseki noted: “The peaceful, orderly and predictable transfer of power within the leadership of all arms of government, is the single most important hallmark of a civilized working democra

By Lucky Isibor. Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki will next Monday, the 17th of May swear-in Honourable Justice Joe Itsebaga Acha as the Acting Chief Judge of Edo State.         Hon. Justice Joe Itsebaga Acha. This is sequel to the retirement of the outgoing Chief Judge, Hon. Justice  Esther Edigin due on Monday, 17th. A statement signed by the Chief Registrar of the Edo State High Court, Mr Benson Osawaru, on Friday in Benin stated that Edigin would clock 65 years on May 17 which is also the constitutionally prescribed age for retirement in the bench. The Hon. Justice Esther Edigin, the seventh substantive Chief Judge of Edo State was sworn-in as Chief Judge of the state in 2019.

BY Lucky Isibor The National President of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Mr. Anderson Ezeibe has assured of the Union's resolve to continue their indefinite strike action embarked upon by the union.  The ASUP president stated this yesterday during an emergency congress meeting at the Federal Polytechnic Auchi as part of his visit to polytechnics in the country for sensitization and the level of compliance.  Mr. Ezeibe who commended members of the polytechnic union for complying with the directive to embark on the nationwide strike acton by ASUP, said that until all their demands are met by the federal government, the strike will continue.  He, however stated that the strike has yielded some positive responses from the federal government by appointing and inaugurating Governing Councils for polytechnics across the country, setting up of visitation panels, restatement of some dismissed members while offering to pay #15 billion revitilazation of infrastructur

By Lucky Isibor. Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have been admonished to be honest in their dealings with donor agencies especially in the development of proposals for programme fundings. The Challenge Initiative (TCI) Technical Support Lead for Adolescent and Youth Reproductive Health (AYSRH) for Edo State, Dr. Emomena Bernard who gave the admonishion at a one day training for Advocacy Core Group (ACG) and media forum on Resource Mobilisation and Proposal Development noted that donors and Organisations are  not obliged to fund projects and programme for CSOs adding that such support must be earned. According to Dr. Emomena, "Organisations are not obliged to give you support, they must earn it and what will make them buy into your proposal is what you put forward, what will be in tandem with the interest of those you're soliciting support from". While enumarating the issues that will enhance successful resource mobilisation, Emomena urged participants to put in a lot o

By Lucky Isibor. Edo State University Uzairue, formerly known as Edo University Iyamho has soared to the top echelon at the international level, as the university is ranked 4th in Nigeria in the 2021 World Impact Rankings of Universities (WIRU). The ranking was done by The Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings’ global performance tables that assess universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Edo State University Uzairue secured the unprecedented 4th position in its first time of being assessed by the International Organization, having met the required criteria, for consideration for the ranking, which includes the level of extensive research work carried out by universities, global visibility, and outreach, stewardship, knowledge transfer, international outlook, webometrics development, teaching curriculum, amongst others.  The university came behind the University of Lagos in the 3rd position, while Covenant University and the Unive

By Lucky Isibor. The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ has called on the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki to present the draft Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill recently prepared by stakeholders as an executive Bill to the Edo State House of Assembly for consideration and passage. Executive Director of ANEEJ, the Rev. David Ugolor, made the call last wednesday, 28 April at a news conference held in Benin City to round off activities under its Civil Society Advocacy to Support Anti-corruption and Rule of Law in Nigeria (CASARN) project implemented by the organization in collaboration with the State Government, other Civil Society Organisations and Stakeholders in the state. Represented by his deputy, Mr. Leo Atakpu, the ANEEJ helmsman said the organization has implemented a number of activities and has been involved in series of initiatives to advance governance and anti-corruption in Edo State and in Nigeria at large.  “ANEEJ has trained CSOs

By Lucky Isibor. Edo State University, Uzairue has secured approval for first clinical accreditation for the Bachelor of Medicine; Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).  The approval was the outcome of the consideration of the report of the MDCN accreditation visit to the university in January 2021. With this feat, the college of medical sciences of the university is now qualified to conduct examinations in pharmacology and pathology for medical students. Edo State University Uzairue, with invaluable potentials and remarkable achievements in the provision of quality education, which have formed the basis for its recognition and universal acceptability, already has its first set of medical students in 500 level of their educational pursuits. The university, since its establishment in March 2016 has broken new grounds in the area of technological advancement such as being the first university in West Africa to adopt the CANV