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Tag: Kogi

  • AEDC Staff Bags 6 Months Behind The bar For Illegal Power Disconnection In Kogi

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    A magistrate Court sitting in Lokoja, on Thursday sentenced one James Olayemia, a Staff of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), to six months imprisonment for unlawful disconnection of electricity supply to a customer’s house in Lokoja, Kogi state capital.

    The Chief Magistrate, Tanko Muhammed sentenced the first defendant, James Olayemi to six months imprisonment and ordered for the reconnection of electricity supply to the compound of Mr. Dennis Osanwuta with immediate effect.

    Earlier, the Complainant, Mr. Osanwota who is now a retired top Management staff of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) had dragged the duo of James Olayemi the Marketing officer and the Regional Manager, Lameed Obadaki to court over the damages of his property and unlawful disconnection of electricity supply to his house even after payment of N370,000 for February bill.

    The prosecution counsel, O.C. King Esq. who was represented by Emeje Aruwa Esq, the private prosecution was brought pursuant to sections 86, 87, 88, 107 (a), (e), 108(1) (c), 111, 112 and 113 of the Kogi State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2017, by Surveyor Dennis Osanwuta.

    According to the prosecution, the defendants, on March 10, 2020 along with others still at large, “maliciously and unlawfully disconnected electricity supply to electricity metre with Account number 715718350 supplying electricity to the building being occupied by the complainant No 1, NIWA Quarters, Lokoja, Kogi State.

    Aruwa also submitted that the duo did conspire to carry out a disconnection of electricity supply to the premises of the complainant in spite of the fact that he did not default in payment of his bills and described the act as unlawful.

    He urged the court to take cognizance of Regulation 10(8) of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, Connection and Disconnection Procedures of Electricity Services, 2007.

    However, the Counsel to the defendants, C.P. Ocheja Esq. urged the the court to determine whether they prosecution had made out a prima facie case against the defendants to warrant the court compelling them to enter their defence.

    Ocheja urged the court to strike out the case over presumed inability of the prosecution to establish a prima facie case against the defendants to link them with the alleged offences.

    In his judgement , the Chief Magistrate, Muhammed Tanko absolved the Regional Manager AEDC, Mr.Lameed Obadaki who is the second defendant in this case of any complicity on two counts charges of criminal conspiracy and unlawful disconnection of power supply.

    He therefore discharged and acquitted Lameed Obadaki, stressing that from evidence before him there was no link between him and the criminal activities of the first defendant .

    Tanko however sentenced the first defendant, James Olayemi for running contrary to Sections 5 and 11 Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission Connection and Disconnection Procedures for Electricity Services 2007 which he said is punishable under Section 94 of electric power sector reform (EPSR) Act 2005.

    According to him, “the provision of Section 5 stated that the electricity consumers are given maximum of 10 days for payment of electricity bill and 3 months before disconnection could be made after AEDC must have formally written to inform the customers of the impending disconnection.”

    “In view of evidence before me, the complainant has not be given such opportunity, therefore the first defendant is guilty as charged . I hereby sentence him to six months imprisonment with an option fifty thousand naira (N50,000) as fine”, he stressed.

  • Tragedy: Cement Coy Truck Crushes 4 To Death In Kogi

    Tragedy: Cement Coy Truck Crushes 4 To Death In Kogi

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    An articulated truck belonging to one of the cement manufacturing companies in Nigeria over the weekend crushed four persons to death in Kogi state.

    According to our Correspondent, the accident happened on Thursday at 7 p.m on Gadumo axis of Ganaja-Ajaokuta road under rehabilitation.

    Eyewitness told our correspondent that the tragic event occurred when the driver of the vehicle tried to avoid a pothole and in the process, had head on collision with the tricycle (kekenapep) coming in opposite direction, killing four of the five occupants instantly.

    Aggrieved over this ugly development sparked uneasiness as some irate youths in the area burnt the vehicle down on the spot.

    However, the quick intervention of the police arrested the frenzy atmosphere as the security outfit quickly dispatched many of its personnel to cordon off the area to ensure law and order.

    Some of the sympathisers who spoke with our Correspondent called on the company rehabilitating the road to install illuminating objects at the strategic portions of the road, most especially in the night, to aid the conduct of road users.

    They described the accident as the worst of its kind since the unending Ganaja road rehabilitation which commenced November 2020.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Kogi Police Command, DSP. William Aya, confirmed the the accident.

  • Comr. Usman Ogohi Emerges NYCN Chairman In Kogi

    Comr. Usman Ogohi Emerges NYCN Chairman In Kogi

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    Comr. Usman Ogohi on Thursday in Lokoja emerged as the new Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Kogi State Chapter.

    In a keenly contested election held at the old Lokoja township stadium Comr. Usman Ogohi polled 186 votes against his close rival, Comr. Ben Jerry, 40 and Job Amana Daniel 3 votes respectively.

    Announcing the results, the Chief returning officer for the 2021 Kogi NYCN election, Amb.Oladele Nihi, said Usman Ogohi who hail from Dekina local government area scored 186 votes to beat Ben Jerry who scored 40 votes.

    In his post election speech, Comr Usman Ogohi who promised to unite all the members of the NYCN in the State, urged those who contested the election to Join hands in moving the council forward.

    He promised to reposition the Council and to consolidate the gains recorded by the past Executives and commended Yahaya Bello for the priority attention given to NYCN and the youths in his administration.

    Other elected members are Comr.
    Okpanachi, vice chairman, Blessing Eleojo, Asst. Prog Officer. Comrade Abubakar Muhammad Ozi, Ass. Secretary while the post of
    Social Secretary went to Comrade Apeh Mordecai respectively.

  • Kogi NUJ Commiserates With Bello’s Aide Over Father’s Death

    Kogi NUJ Commiserates With Bello’s Aide Over Father’s Death

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Kogi state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condole the Special Adviser on Public Relations to Kogi State Governor, Hon. Ahmed Bolori over the demise of his father, late Alhaji Umar Bolori.

    In a statement signed by the Chairman Adeiza Momohjimoh and Secretary Ademu Seidu of Kogi State Council of NUJ and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Lokoja described the death of the octogenarian father as shocking and painful coming at a time his wisdom and wise counsel is most needed.

    The Council urged the Special Adviser to take solace in the fact that his father lived a very successful and impactful life as exemplified in the qualities of children the late Umar Bolori left behind.

    “Kindly convey our deepest condolences to your immediate family , friends and good people of Borno State on this painful incident.”

    “It is our prayer that the Almighty Allah will grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest and the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss”. the statement stressed.

  • Road Users Groan Over The Abandoned Ganaja Roads In Kogi

    Road Users Groan Over The Abandoned Ganaja Roads In Kogi

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    Road users plying Lokoja via Ganaja village to the eastern flank of the State have expressed worries over the abandoned reconstruction of the 7km Ganaja Junction to Ganaja Village road on the outskirt of Lokoja metropolis.

    Motorists who described the Contractors as incompetent, and showing lackadaisical attitude, blamed the Federal Ministry of works for lack of thorough supervision .

    Our correspondent reported that Motorists on Wednesday spent several hours at the usual flood spot, ‘Ganaja Village’ when some trucks were stucked and traffic hold up re-surfaced after a heavy done pour.

    Both Motorists and motorcyclists plying the eastern flank of the state were subjected to a severe hardship as the only optional route via 500 Housing unit has been damaged by rain as a result of lack of maintenance.

    Recalled that the road works began sometimes last year, but have subjected residents and motorists to severe hardship due to deceptiveness and showing the highest level of incompetence by contractors who even secured the contract in the first place.

    According to some respondents, the delay and poor quality of work done so far, with the contractors employing manual process in such a highly Technical work has led to loss of hope as the quality of work from all indication cannot stand the test of time.

    Recalled that sometimes last year, residents and motorists suffered untold hardship when the major roads through Ganaja village was submerged by flooding, but instead of taking serious proactive measures through a competent contractors before the flood this year, the reverse is the case.

    For instance, Shitu Abdullahi living in 500 Unit said the seeming incompetence of the contractors handling the rehabilitation of the Lokoja — Ganaja road, calls for serious questioning whether the contractors were properly mobilised.

    He lamented why a-7km – road be shared amongst four contractors, yet work is very slow and poor quality displayed before it was finally abandoned, fingered the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing for not ensuring quality and standard.

    Few weeks ago resident of the communities on the route had threatened to embark on a mass protest to demand revocation of the 7 kilometers road contract awarded to about four different contractors.

    It was gathered that on receipt of the threat letter from the Ganaja community, a suburb of Lokoja metropolis, the Federal Controller of Works in Kogi, Engr Jimoh Kajogbola, hurriedly convened a meeting of stakeholders where he urged the youths across the Communities to resist the temptation of embarking on protest over poor execution of road projects.

    The aggrieved residents had to sheath their swords owing to appeal by the Controller of Works and Housing, who promised an improvement.

    However, light has started reflecting at the end of the tunnel once again as Contractor handling the rehabilitation of ‘Gadumo’ portion on Friday, (25th June 2021) returned to site.

    This according to our correspondent is hope rising for motorists, other road users and residents living in the suburb community of Lokoja, the state capital, praying for the sustenance of the tempo.

  • CPP Dissociates From Parties Describing Bello As ‘Childish Leader’ In Kogi

    CPP Dissociates From Parties Describing Bello As ‘Childish Leader’ In Kogi

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Chairman of the Coalition of Political Parties in Kogi state, Dr. Sani Shaibu on Monday dissociated it’s Party from the purported publication that described Governor Yahaya Bello as a childish leader.

    CPP in a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr. Sani Shaibu and the Secretary, Ibrahim caution it’s counterpart, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), against use of vulgar language on leaders and constituted authority.

    The statement appealed to members of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), that they should rather embark on constructive and matured criticism devoid of insult and abuse.

    The leadership of the Coalition also advised CNPP to focus more on proffering solutions for good governance instead of engaging on “character assassination and pull him down syndrome.”

    “CNPP should stop unnecessary blackmail to attract undue attention and cheap popularity. Kogi is for all of us, the earlier we co-operate as citizens with leaders in their efforts to turn the fortunes of our dear state the better” the statement added.

    The statement described the prevailing challenges of
    insecurity, hunger and other upheavals bedeiveling Nigeria as pathetic, but expressed satisfaction with Bello’s proactiveness in tackling insecurity and provision of basic infrastructures.

    “CNPP should take into cognizance all the sectors of the economy and it’s variables before referring to the Governor as Childish, whether you like it or not, Alh. Yahaya Bello is the Governor of this state at the moment, and moral, decency and decorum should be applied inspite of our political differences.”

  • Police Nabs POS Robbers, Recovers Money In Kogi

    Police Nabs POS Robbers, Recovers Money In Kogi

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    A 38 year old Timothy James and Comfort David 44yrs both of Zaki-Biam, Benue State who specialises in robbing POS attenders have been nabbed by the Kogi state police Command.

    The operatives attached to intelligence Department of the Kogi State Police Command arrested one Timothy James  and Comfort David both of Zaki-Biam, Benue State for allegedly robbing one Jammai Maryam Bashir in Lokoja.

    In a statement made available to the press in Lokoja, the police public relations officer, DSP, William Aya said the suspects robbed their victim one Jammai Maryam Bashir 23, of the sum of fifty thousand, two hundred naira.

    The victim who was at her POS business point along Cemetery road, Lokoja was deceived under the guise of performing deliverance was unconscious and thereafter robbed her of the sum of #50,200.

    According to the statement, the victim, immediately after regain consciousness, raised alarm that led to the arrest of the duo at Nataco axis on their way to Abuja and recovered the sum of forty three thousand, two hundred naira from them.

    The suspects according to the statement who confessed to crime further admitted that they robbed in Jalingo, Makurdi, and Otukpo respectively.

    As efforts is ongoing to arrest other members of the syndicates, arrested suspects would be arraigned in court on completion of the investigation.

  • Abandoned Ganaja Road: Kogi Commissioner Urges FG to Intervene

    Abandoned Ganaja Road: Kogi Commissioner Urges FG to Intervene

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Kogi Commissioner for Works and Housing, Engr Abubakar Ohere on Thursday in Lokoja called on the Federal Government to order the Contractors handling Ganaja roads to return to site that has been abandoned over two months ago.

    Ohere who made the call while inspecting ongoing works across the state when he made a stop over to inspect work at the ongoing flyover bridge at Ganaja junction expressed dismay that the contractors have worsened the state of the road before abandoning it.

    Engr. Ohere disclosed that abandoning the ‘Ganaja junction — Ganaja village road’ is not in the best interest of the State and urged the Federal government to intervene to make it more motorable instead of living it in a such pathetic condition.

    According to the Commissioner, ”If you do stone base, the maximum it can last is twenty one days but if you live it for three months like the case of the Ganaja road, and you are not working on it, it becomes very retrogressive”, and called for the federal government’s intervention to alleviate the suffering of the masses.

    The Commissioner expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of works on the “Ganaja flyover bridge”, adding that Kogi has been turned into a huge construction site courtesy of Gov. Yahaya Bello, assuring that the Ganaja flyover bridge would be delivered as planned.

    Engr. Ohere disclosed that the bulk of the state’s resources is been channeled into infrastructure development inspite paucity of funds in the state.

    The Commissioner reiterated the commitment of Gov. Yahaya Bello’s administration to deliver the Ganaja flyover by December this year having achieved the level of work thus far.

    The commissioner who disclosed that the work would soon move to the next stage of capping, casing, mounting of hangers, bitumen, expressed satisfaction that the drain work and platforms for the street lighting is also ongoing.

    He commended motorists for their patience and understanding with the construction company and the government, assuring that when completed, the job would be for the betterment of the people.

  • Kogi Police Command Arrests Suspected Kidnapper In Kogi

    Kogi Police Command Arrests Suspected Kidnapper In Kogi

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    A Kidnap Syndicate Suspect, Mohammed Sani of Fulani Camp Ejale area, Okene Local Government Area has been arrested by the Kogi state Police Command.

    The police operatives attached to Ajaokuta Division on 15th June, 2021 at about 1800hrs acted on credible intelligence that some persons suspected to be kidnappers allegedly terrorizing Kabba-Okene axis were sighted at Speed-Break Bumps area around Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited.

    Immediately, it was gathered that the Police operatives swung into action and nabbed one Mohammed Sani of Fulani Camp Ejale area, Okene Local Government Area in Kogi state.

    The suspect confessed during preliminary interrogation that he belong to a kidnap syndicate terrorizing Kabba-Okene axis and had actively participated in several operations along Kabba-Ayere road in the Western senatorial district of Kogi state.

    In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP William Aya said the Kogi state Commissioner of Police, CP Ede Ayuba Ekpeji, ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation with a view to arrest other members of the gang.

    CP Ede Ayuba Ekpeji, however, reiterated the command’s high level commitment in collaboration with other security agencies in the State to sustain the ongoing onslaught against criminal elements in the State.

    Suspect will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation.

  • Police Killed two kidnappers, recovers two wooden AK47 in Kogi

    Police Killed two kidnappers, recovers two wooden AK47 in Kogi

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Kogi state Police command on Wednesday in Ajaokuta axis of the state killed two suspected kidnappers after exchanging gun battle.

    Suspected kidnappers dressed in military uniform were killed on Wednesday by Kogi state police command after a gun battle with security men in Ajaokuta Area while three other suspects escaped into the bush with gun injuries.

    According to the statement from the command, the alleged criminals numbering five had blocked the road stopping vehicles until the men of the Anti-Crime Patrol team of the Nigerian Police swooped on them and engaged them in fierce gun battle.

    The statement added that the police team are currently on the trails of the fleeing suspected kidnappers, combing bush areas around the location of incidence.

    Items recovered from the criminals, according to the statement include two wooden AK47, 25 assorted GSM handsets, one First Bank ATM card bearing Mohammed Jamiu and undisclosed sum of money.

    Meanwhile, the Kogi state government has praised the gallantry and swift response of the security forces who are ever poised to secure the state from criminal elements.

    The Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello through his Chief Press Secretary, Muhammed Onogwu called on citizens to go about their normal businesses as the state is battle ready to confront criminal elements.