NEWS Curve

By Margaret Okoh. Mrs. Jane Imasogie has emerged the chairperson of New Benin Market women. Her emergence came after a careful perusal of the characters of all the contenders to the position, while Madam Margaret Osula emerged the vice chairperson.                 Mrs. Jane Imasogie. Leader, New Benin Market Women         Association Addressing the women during the inauguration of the New Benin Market women executive, the leader of Edo Market Women Association, Madam Blacky Ogiamen said New Benin Market was the one of the oldest markets in Edo State and needs an experienced and level headed woman of Mrs. Jane Imasogie's callibre as chairperson. According to her, "after a careful study of market women, the leadership of Edo State Market Women Association, alongside market women here, it was resolved that Mrs. Jane Imasogie should be made Market Leader and Madam Margaret Osula as Vice. This decision followed their capabilities to provide the much needed sanity for th

By Margaret Okoh. Mrs. Jane Imasogie has emerged the chairperson of New Benin Market women. Her emergence came after a careful perusal of the characters of all the contenders to the position, while Madam Margaret Osula emerged the vice chairperson.               Madam Blacky Ogiamien Addressing the women during the inauguration of the New Benin Market women executive, the leader of Edo Market Women Association, Madam Blacky Ogiamen said New Benin Market was the one of the oldest markets in Edo State and needs an experienced and level headed woman of Mrs. Jane Imasogie's callibre as chairperson. According to her, "after a careful study of market women, the leadership of Edo State Market Women Association, alongside market women here, it was resolved that Mrs. Jane Imasogie should be made Market Leader and Madam Margaret Osula as Vice. This decision followed their capabilities to provide the much needed sanity for the benefit of all." While applauding the decisi

By Lucky Isibor. An Ogbeson Magistrate Court 2 sitting at Ogbeson, in Benin City has adjourned a case of alleged forgery of land documents preferred against a Benin legal practitioner, Smart Agbonlahor and Osaigbovo Uwangue to the 13th and 14th of September.  The adjournment was sequel to an oral application by the Police prosecutor, Inspector Charity Asemota praying the court for adjournment following the inability of the prosecution to provide the necessary documents to prove its case.  The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Charity Asemota at the resumed hearing pleaded with the court for an adjournment as only the proof of evidence was ready and had been served, though not filed. Inspector Asemota told the court that she had served the defendants proof of evidence apart from the statement on oath of her witnesses in proof of the alleged forgery She therefore pleaded for a time  to regularize her papers and serve the statement on oath. In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Mutairu O

…assures of decisive action, calls for calm. By Lucky Isibor. The Edo State Government has condemned, in very strong terms, the planned coronation of Idriss Addano as the ‘Sultan of Shuwa Arab of Edo State’, describing the purported move as sacrilegious and a threat to peace and security in the state. In a statement, Secretary to the Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie, Esq., assured citizens that firm and decisive action will be taken to prevent the actualization of the illegal and sacrilegious act.                     MrGodwin Obaseki.                   Governor of Edo State. The statement reads: “The Edo State Government has been inundated with complaints from indigenes and residents of the state over the purported move to embark on the coronation of one Idriss Addano as ‘Sultan of Shuwa Arab of Edo State’. “The Edo State Government wishes to state as follows: That whether or not this event is held at the said, or any other location within the state, it would constitute

By Lucky Isibor. The Netherlands Embassy in Nigeria has provided solar  mini-grid for an uninterrupted power supply to Kalaba Community in Bayelsa State.  In a press release issued on the subject, the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) said it implemented the project with technical support from Community Research and Development Centre (CREDC) in the establishment of the project. Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria, ERA/FoRN has been at the forefront in advocating for switch to solar energy and other forms of clean energy for the preservation of the environment. The 8.5 kw power project was completed and commissioned recently by Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo, Executive Director of the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Dr. Uyi Ojo who was represented by Nosa Tokunbor Esq. According to the statement, "The solar mini-grid station has been channeled to supply electricity to houses in the communi

By Lucky Isibor. A university Don and Chief Responsibility Officer of Josemaria Escriva Foundation (JOSEF), Dr. Jude Obasanmi has admonished youths to be mindful of their reproductive health adding that if they do, they stand the chance of regulating world population and food supply.  Dr. Obasanmi gave the admonishion at JOSEF activities marking this year's International Youth Day with the theme : Transforming Food Systems : Innovation for Human Planetary Health".  This year's celebration which was celebrated by JOSEF in conjunction with the Challenge Initiative TCI, Connected Advocacy and Edo State Ministry of Health took place simultaneously at Ekpoma, Auchi and Igueben. Addressing young persons during an outreach at Ekpoma, Esan West LGA, the Chief Responsibility Officer of JOSEF,  Dr. Jude Obasanmi said the theme for the 2021 International Youth Day was apt in the sense that it has now been recognized globally that for there to be a transformation in the Fo

By Lucky Isibor. The Inspector General of Police, Baba Alkali Usman has ordered the Assistant Inspector General of Police, zone 5 headquarters, Benin, to investigate  the activities of land grabbers in  Okhuoronmi Community in Oredo local government area of Edo. This was contained in a statement titled RE: "Bandits in our clients farmland in Edo State: Request for urgent arrest of leaders of the group" signed by the Ag. CP Idowu Owohunwa, Principal Staff Officer to the Inspector General of Police in response to a petition filed by Otamere & Otamere for his claimant, Shalom Jare Ventures ltd and made available to newsmen in Benin City.                     Baba Alkali Usman               Inspector-General of Police . The statement read in part"Attached herewith is a copy of letter dated 27th May, 2021 received from Otamere & Otamere chambers, on the above underlined subject. "It is the directive of the Inspector General of Police that you investiga

........reinterate call for sack of HYPREP Acting Project Coordinator. By Lucky Isibor. Nigeria’s foremost environmental advocacy group, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), has called for  increased over sight on the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) by the National Assembly. HYPREP is involved in the clean up of Ogoniland. ERA/FoEN stated this in a statement it issued in its headquarters in Benin City Wednesday, condemning the response  by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) to its recent report; No Clean Up, No Justice: a decade of failures? ERA also reinterated its earlier call for the sack of Prof. Philip Shekwolo, the Acting Project Coordinator of HYPREP because he's one of those that created the environmental crisis in Ogoniland. While describing the HYPREP advertorial  as spurious and diversionary, ERA challenged the agency to focus more on delivery of a proper clean up that benefits the people

By Lucky Isibor Residents of Oghede Community in Ovia North- East local government area of Edo State, yesterday, staged a peaceful protest accusing the Nigerian Army, Ekenwan Barrack of land grabbing and  demolishing over hundred houses in the community. The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions such as ' government help us from the hands of Nigerian Army, destroying our building is an abomination in Edo land, please leave us in peace among others. Addressing newsmen, the leader of the protesters, Chief Felix Aghahowa said the land rightfully belong to them and that they have valid documents to show that they were living in the community  before the army baracks in Ekenwan was built.  A cross section of the demolished        buildings. He alleged that the army has taken over their lands, chasing people out of their houses, adding that they could no longer go to their farms. "We can  no longer sleep with  two eyes closed  as a result of Army invasion

By Lucky Isibor. The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has expressed grief and shock over the passing of renowned sportswriter and National Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Comrade Ahmed Aigbona.             Late Comrade Ahmed Aigbona. Obaseki, in a statement, said the late Aigbona personified excellence in sports journalism and served as a rallying point for sports stakeholders in Edo State and Nigeria. The governor noted: “I received with rude shock and disbelief, the sad news of the death of renowned sports writer and former chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Edo State chapter, Comrade Ahmed Aigbona. “The late Aigbona personified excellence in sports reporting in the country. He was a dogged, vibrant and committed patriot who brought passion to his job, deploying his expertise and wealth of experience to advance sports writing and development in Edo State and Nigeria. “His sudden demise has indeed created a big vacuum

  By Lucky Isibor. The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, yesterday lamented that the introduction of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) has further impoverished it members in the university system Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, National President of SSANU who made this assertion in Benin, Friday, at the 2nd Regular Zonal Executive Council meeting of SSANU, South-South, noted that what Nigerian leaders told their members as regards the IPPIS is quite different from what is being experienced presently. Prof. Liliana Salami receiving the award from SSANU national president, Mohammed Ibrahim According to him, due to the implementation of IPPIS, several allowances his members are entitled to are being denied, adding that they can no longer access the money they save through their multi-purpose co-operative. He said the IPPIS which has denied Vice-Chancellors of universities to employ even a single staff has made the so-called unive

By Lucky Isibor. Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) welcomes the recent disclosure by Shell that it is now ready to pay the Ejama-Ebubu community in Eleme local government area of Rivers state, over $110 million or N45.7 billion naira as full and final settlement for an oil spill that occurred in the area. The environmental rights organisation however accused Shell of rip-off against the backdrop of a recent consent judgement of a Federal High Court wherein the indebtness of Shell in the earlier judgement debt was drastically reduced to N45.7billion ERA/FoEN, in a statement issued from the organisation's headquarters in Benin City and made available to newsmen, applauded the people of Ejama-Ebubu community for their steadfastness in the pursuit of justice, remediation and restoration of their destroyed environment as well as the well-deserved compensation for the losses they have suffered.  According to the statement, "in 1970, oil

There was an uneasy calm in Aduwawa area of the Benin metropolis as Edo state Majority leader Henry okharuobo in what could be said to be an attempt to subvert  justice allegedly invaded a contested landed property with armed thugs shooting sporadically while residents ran for their lives as the thugs  razed down crops worth millions of naira after a Benin High Court have restrained him from entering the said landed property  belonging to Osaigbovo Uwangue and Barrister Smart Agbonlahor.               Hon. Henry Okhuaroboh Trouble seems to have started when the Edo law maker approached the owners  of the property to sell a portion of the landed property to him  to enable him build a hotel since it was in a choice area of Aduwawa and they declined because they couldn't reach an agreement. The lawmaker angered by the breakdown of transaction  however threatened to use his government power to falsefully grab the land and unleash terror on him. Owing to his threat and subse

By Lucky Isibor. The Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has called on the Nigerian Government and other African countries to start investing in renewable energy sources so as to catch up with the rest of the world in the ongoing global movement from dirty energy to clean energy. ERA/FoEN stated that time was running out against African countries as it is lagging behind the rest of the world by their slow approaches to accepting and investing in solar energy. The Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo gave this warning in a keynote address on "Transitional Justice and Nigeria Beyond Oil" during a 2-day conference on "Climate Justice" held August 9-11, 2021 in Port Harcourt.  While stressing the need for African countries, particularly Nigeria to divest funds from fossil fuels to renewable energy, Dr. Ojo noted that as other countries are making comprehensive plans to transit from fossil fuels to renewable ener

By Lucky Isibor. The Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), has called for the overhaul of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and the immediate removal of Prof. Philip Shekwolo as the Acting Project Coordinator of HYPREP. These calls are contained in the recommendations made in the ERA/FoEN comprehensive report titled, “No clean up , no justice: a decade of failure?" ERA/FoEN noted in the report that Prof. Shekwolo, being a senior member of Shell, should have no place in the HYPREP which is undertaking the cleanup of Ogoniland pollution earlier caused by Shell. ERA/FoEN is likened his inclusion in HYPREP as one becoming a judge in his own cause which is against natural justice an intolerable situation, adding “we cannot solve the devastation of the Ogoni environment utilizing the same persons who exacerbated the situation in the first place”. ERA/FoEN disclosed that Prof. Shekwolo was the Head of the Shell team charged

By Lucky Isibor. The Enogie of Ukhuri, His Royal Highness (HRH) Godwin Aigbe (Esq.) has warned youths in Ukhiri to steer clear of land transactions in the area saying the Benin native laws and customs does not vest land issues in them.                 HRH Godwin Aigbe (Esq)                 Enogie of Ukhiri Dukedom. The Enogie who gave the warning while addressing elders and youths at an enlarged meeting of Ukhuri village intimated the people of the new Private Property Protection Law that has just been put in place by the Governor Godwin Obaseki led administration of Edo State. He that the Governor Godwin Obaseki has zero tolerance for land grabbing and urge people to steer clear of such evil. "Looking at the present administration, it will be stupid for any person to break the law. The government of Governor Godwin Obaseki doesn't have sympathy for any person that breaks the law", he said. While reinterating that sales of land in Benin kingdom is not the resp

The leadership of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ today, Thursday turned back a group of protesters led by one Lucky Orukpe purporting to be members of Edo State Goat Butchers Association.  Journalists who turned back the Lucky Orukpe-led protesters said the protesters couldn't have been goat butchers as Lucky Orukpe who led the protesters is not a butcher adding that they're impostors noting that the NUJ can not be used by chalattans to wrongly confront the Edo State Govermenmet. Orukpe-led Fake Butchers at NUJ premises According to a source, the leadership of the Edo State Goat Butchers Association had last Tuesday led a delegation to the Edo State Council of NUJ with a verbal notice to be received by union on Wednesday in a protest. But the Butchers did not turn up, apparently because maybe the issues that would have necessitated the protest has been resolved or over taken by event. But we're surprised that today, Thursday, one

The publisher of Esan Magazine, Peter Odia Iwelomen has clocked 63.  Peter Iwelomen was born at Ivue, Uromi on 13th, August 1958.                    Peter Odia Iwelomen               Publisher, Esan Magazine . After his education he had a short stint with Vono Products Plc a division of United Africa Company, UAC where he had an early retirement after a distiguished and unblemished career. He incorporated Welo International Coy Ltd, a printing and publishing concern. He pioneered the publishing of community tabloids with the establishment of Esan Magazine.  Other publications in the staple are "The Correspondenct News" (TCN), "Who is Who in Esanland", "Emminent Personalities in Esanland", among others. Through dint of hard work, Peter Iwelomen has been able to grow Esan Magazine to become a voice in the wilderness crying and calling for the development of Esanland, galvanising and mobilising the people to come together to uphold the culture and

By Lucky Isibor. The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has commended the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, for his support and collaboration with the government to check the criminal activities of land grabbers in the state. Obaseki gave the commendation when he received the newly inaugurated Governing Council of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) who were on a courtesy visit at the Government House, Benin City. The Governor who assured the institution that his administration will do everything necessary to recover portions of its land that had been encroached upon, said his administration is taking the issue of enchroachment and land grabbing seriously as it portrays the state in bad light with the potential of scaring away investors.               Governor Godwin Obaseki       Going though against land grabbers. Hailing the Benin monarch for his stance against the activities of land grabbers and support for the state’s n

_...to prosecute abusers with Child Rights Law The Edo State Government has suspended the Principal of Edo College, Benin City, Mr. Peter Edomwonyi and the House Master for Akenzua House of the school, Mr. Oamen Stanley, over the shameful viral social media video of abuse by students of the college, who were writing their National Examinations Council (NECO) final examination. In a statement, Secretary to the Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., said all the students involved in the abusive behaviour have been handed over to the Ministry of Justice for investigation and prosecution in accordance with the Child Rights Law.                 Osarodion Ogie (Esq) Secretary to Edo State Government. According to the statement, “The Edo State Government has watched with disdain the disturbing viral social media video of abuse by students of Edo College, Benin City, the Edo State capital. “The State Ministry of Education on enquiry discovered that the incident took place at th

By Lucky Isibor. Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) have deplored the recent disclosure that Shell has concluded plans to sell its land based and shallow offshore oil fields and infrastructure in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.  The foremost environmental rights Organisation said Shell  in its characteristic nature, having almost drained the region dry of oil and gas resources and engaged in destruction of the natural environment by deliberate action because of its reckless and unconscionable operations in the region, now seeks to walk away from its ecological crime scene with billions of dollars in its kitty.   ERA/FoRN stateted this in a statement signed by it's Director of Programmes, Mike Karikpo and made available to journalists in Benin City it's head office. According to the statement, ERA "strongly deplores the insensitivity of the transnational corporation that has over the last few years been divesting from the regi

By Lucky Isibor. Members of Amangba community has lauded Governor Godwin Obaseki for the revocation of the Certificate of Occupancy of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu for the 18 Hectares of land he acquired in their community alleging that the said land was decietfully acquired. In a statement signed by Hon. Joseph Iduoriyekemwen, the Odionwele of Amagba and four others on behalf of Amangba community stated that the 18 Hectares of land does not wholly belong to Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.           Governor Godwin Obaseki. The other signatories to the statement which stated that the community has been writing protest letters to the Governor on the issue include  Elder Victor Aigbe, Elder O. Igbinidu, Monday Iduoriyekemwen and Elder John Eware. It will be recalled that Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State recently revoked Ize-Iyamu's title to 18 Hectares of land lying and situate at Amangba Community in Oredo Local Government Area of the state. According to the statement, "We,