By: Celestine Ukah

Victory Gbakara a Delta born upcoming artist has won the Nigerian idol season 8 singing completion Sunday July 16, 2023.

Victory Gbakara was immediately after declaring him as the winner of the completion presented with a prototype type cheque of 35 million Naira representing the real sum and SUV car key.

He was also given Bigi drink for a year a one week vacation trip to Cape Town in South Africa among other prizes and privileges associated with the award.

Victory Gbakara throughout the competition has consistently impressed both the judges and the audience with his soulful voice and captivating performances. With each passing round, he moves closer to his dream of becoming the next Nigerian Idol.

Victory Gbakara is a songwriter and he is 26 years old.

Operatives of Tantita Security Limited and Nigerian National Petroleum Company have set ablaze, a vessel ladened with 150,000 metric tons of stolen crude be oil in Delta State.

The vessel, MT TURA II(IMO Number:6620462) with Registration Number, RC 813311 is reportedly owned by Holab Maritime Services Limited.

It was learnt that the vessel was conveying crude oil from Nigeria to Cameron when it was arrested with 11 Nigerians and one Ghanaian onboard on Saturday, July 7.

Tantita Executive Director on Technical Operations, Capt. Warredi Enisuoh in a chat with newsmen said the government made a swift decision to destroy the vessel.

He said, “the whole idea of destroying the vessel is to send a strong message to all would-be investors that this is what they’re to face if they tow this type of business.”

Enisuoh said illegal bunkerers and their sponsors should be ready to lose their assets as the government and security forces will do all it takes to bring them to book.

Our Correspondent who monitored the exercise reports that officials of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Airforce, Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC as well as officials of the Delta State Government were on ground during the burning of the vessel.

*Accuses Gov.Oborevwori, Delta Council Chairman, Brown Of Outrageous Levies

Angry Commercial tricycle operators in their hundreds on Saturday July 15, 2023 staged a warning protest over alleged extortion by touts in Udu Local Government Area, Delta State.

The protest held at Jigbale market as the tricycle operators blocked the road leading to Orhunwhorhun Community.

The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as,”Say No to illegal parking task force More”,”Say No to Agbero task force wrong parking” and “Go to work”.

The Tricycle operators accused the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori and the Udu Council Chairman of allegedly imposing outrageous levies on them to pay in the area.

One of the commercial tricycle operators Anthony Igbebe who spoke with Our Correspondent said the protests is a warming to the Delta State Government to come and address the issues raised. failure to which, they will block the Udu main bridge and deny every access through the area by Monday July 17.

According to him,”by the time 10,000 workers are affected by Monday,Governor Sheriff Oborevwori will come here.”

Igbebe also appealed to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to expand the road so that commercial tricycle operators, motorcycle operators and other road users can park very well to avoid the extortion on them.

Another Commercial tricycle operator,Azubuike Alu said they don’t want molestation by the touts any more.

He said the Udu Council Chairman and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori are not fair to them with the alleged extortion on them.

Another Commercial tricycle operator simply identified as John said they came out in the protest because they heard that the Council Boss want to ban Keke in the area.

The Chairman of the Delta State branch of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights,CDHR,Comrade Peter Edariese swung into action and doused the tension down to avoid destruction of properties by hoodlums just like the way a bank was burnt down during the naira scarcity in the Country.

Comrade Edariese who addressed the protesters advised them to be law abiding and desist from the destruction of any properties in the area.

While noting that they have rights to freedom of protests, Comrade Edariese said,”don’t be disorderly and destructive” stressing that the CDHR is behind them in the peaceful and warning protest.

Two children have been admitted at Federal Medical Center FMC in Asaba Thursday July 13 after been hit by suspected Nigerian Drug law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) stray bullets as alleged.

According to an anonymous tip, the children had just returned from school to their mums shop from school when they unimaginable happened.

The younger boy got a bullet wound on his eye while the older boy got a bullet on his abdomen with an exit wound.

It was also disclosed that the mum heard a loud bang inside the shop only to come out to ask what happened until she discovered that her child’s uniform was changing from white to red.

According to an eye witness report, the NDLEA personnels were in the vicinity shooting up and rapidly while chasing drug peddlers at Okpanam road and that is not the first time they are doing so, the bullet pierce through the glass and through the plyboard before hitting the child, it was particles of the glass that hit the younger child a toddler on his eyes”

Another eye witness report statted that “they wore red jackets with NDLEA body written and that it was a joint force with the police , they even came to chemist here to treat themselves when they learnt someone was killed and they ran away.”

While speaking with a staff of the hospital, “we were here when the child came in and we did all we could as all hands were on deck to keep the child but the bullet was obviously from a powerful gun and destroyed many internal organs.”

His Royal Majesty Omon’Oba N’Edo Uku’Akpolokpolo Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin paid a visit to President Bola Tinubu at the State House on Friday.

The reason for the meeting is unclear, but it is believed that the visit was to formally congratulate Tinubu on his inauguration as president and to discuss issues related to the Nigerian people, Channels TV reports.

Earlier, the Federal Government appointed the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, as the Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria in May. During a courtesy visit by the management of the university to the Oba in Benin City, Edo State, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Olufemi Peters, assured that the university’s fortunes would improve under the new Chancellor.

The Oba expressed gratitude to ex-president Muhammadu Buhari for appointing him as Chancellor and promised to use his experience to help the institution.

The Delta Broadcasting Service, DBS, Warri Song of the Year Season 4 annual Singing competition audition will hold Friday July 28 to Saturday July 29, 2023 at DBS Warri Edjeba Office by 8am as top winner will go home with 1 Million Naira.

While the second runner up will go with 500 thousand Naira and third runner up goes with 200 thousand Naira as well as selected top 10 contestants receiving fantastic consolation prizes respectively.

The event which is a talent discovery programme has been on for the past four years organised by the DBS media outfit in Warri.

According to statement signed by the Chairman DBS Song of the Year Season 4, Mrs Obes Isonguyo and Comrade John Glover noted that the music talent hunt programme is sponsored by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, is part of the cooperate social responsibility of Delta Broadcasting Service Warri and that it’s aimed at discovering and grooming talented singers to greatness.

Mrs. Isonguyo and Comrade Glover urged interested talents to go to the nearest designated centres to pick up the form which is sold for one thousand Naira at DBS Warri Edjeba Office from Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm, Lascurt Intercontinental Hotel NPA Expressway by Niger Cat Junction Ekpan and Party World Shop 58 Delta Mall Effurun.

The forms are also available at Lizzy Fast Food at No 5, Adeola Road Sapele, Solid Foundation Educational Centre Isoko Road Ughelli and Akaba Entertainment World Number one Jefia Close Enerhen Road.

Hon. Ndudi Elumelu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who lost the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency of Delta State seat at the House of Representatives to Labour Party’s, LP, Hon. Ngozi Lawrence Okolie, is being alleged of inducing the Tribunal Judges that consists of Hon. Justice A.Z Musaa, Hon. Justice C.K Nwankwo and Chief Magistrate Khadijat .M. Ibrahim to upturn the massive victory recorded by Okolie.

It was gathered that the LP Candidate emerged victorious at the February 25th General Election to the surprise of Elumelu who was then the Minority Leader of the 9th National Assembly.

He has however influenced some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and petitioned the victory of Okolie at the Tribunal.

Due to his financial muscle, he has been alleged to have bought over some INEC officials and the Judiciary to favour him.

It would be recalled that Concerned constituents of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in Delta had earlier raised alarm over the plot by Elumelu to compromise the Judges through his supposed deep pockets.

The Concerned Aniocha/Oshimili Constituents also alleged that all those concerned in the Tribunal are allegedly targeted for this sinister plot regarding the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency election which Ndudi Elumelu massively lost to Ngozi Okolie of the Labour Party.

Months back, President of Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network, CRRAN, Olu Omotayo, had lamented that the Court of Appeal has since the signing into law of the Electoral Act 2022 abundantly established the issue of locus standi in matters relating to challenging the outcomes of the primary election of political parties.

Omotayo said both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court had also before the passage of the Electoral Act 2022 equally frowned on what he termed the busybody attitude of some political actors, who challenge the primary elections of parties other than their own.

The lawyer and activist had said that although the lower courts appear to be divided on the subject, the Court of Appeal had through several recent verdicts shown that the nascent Electoral Act 2022 had not changed anything about who could challenge the processes leading up to as well as the conduct and outcome of primary elections of political parties.

He cited the January 5, 2023 decision of the Court of Appeal Port Harcourt Division in the case ABUEH & Others V. PDP & Others Suit No: CA/PH/557/2022, where the court held: “A political party is not allowed by extant Electoral Act, 2022 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to sue another political party in a bid to challenge the nomination of the latter party’s candidates elected from primary election conducted by the latter political party and seeking to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from acting on the list of candidates submitted to it by the political party sued”.

He also cited a January 23, 2023 decision of the Makurdi Division of the Court of Appeal in PDP & Others V. INEC & Others, Appeal No. CA/MK/PE/15/2022 where the Court was called upon to interpret the cumulative effect of Sections 77(2) and (3), 82(1), (2) and (5); 84(1), (4)(a)-(c) and (13) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

Justice Biobele Georgewill, who read the appellate court’s judgement stated: “In the light of all I have stated above, it seems clear to me and I so firmly hold that by whatever canons of interpretation employed on the provisions and wordings of Section 285(14) (c) of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 as amended it can neither accommodate nor confer any locus standi on one political party to challenge the internal affairs or planning, preparations and holding of the primary election of another political party.

“Simply put, the Appellants/Cross – Respondents, being PDP and its candidates for the House of Representatives in the 2023 General Elections lack the locus standi to challenge by way of instituting their Suit before the lower Court to challenge the planning, preparations and holding or even non holding of primary elections by the 2nd Respondent, APC”.

Furthermore, Omotayo referenced another Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division’s judgement of November 29, 2022 in the case of PDP V. INEC & OTHERS, Appeal No.CA/PH/480/2022 where the court went further to add that only aspirants, who participated in a primary, not just any member of a particular political party, could challenge the process of a primary election.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Gabriel Kolawole stated: “The appellant is a member of PDP not APC, and even if he is a member of the APC, he would have no locus to challenge the nomination of the 1st Respondent as he is not one of the Aspirants who participated in the primary election. In my view he is a meddlesome interloper who having assumed the position of hired mourner is crying more than the bereaved”.

The activist added that the decisions were in tandem with the verdicts of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court before the coming into force of the Electoral Act 2022, citing the Supreme Court in the Case Alhasan & Ano V. Ishaku & Others in SC.907/2015, which was delivered on January 8, 2016.

The Supreme Court held: “Only an aspirant at the primary election is permitted by Section 87(9) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) to challenge the selection or nomination of a person for an elective office. Apart from an aspirant who took part in the primary election, no other person is authorized to file an action to challenge the selection or nomination of a candidate by a political party for an election.

“As I said earlier, the appellant is a member of the PDP, not APC and even if he is a member of the APC, he would have no locus to challenge the nomination of the 1st Respondent as he is not one of the aspirants who participated in the primary election.

“In my view, Appellant is a meddlesome interloper who, having assumed the role of a hired mourner, is crying more than the bereaved”.

Omotayo regretted a situation where the judiciary is bugged down by a plethora of litigations even on matters already abundantly decided and eloquently made clear by both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, and called on the political parties and politicians to play by the rule to strengthen the nation’s democracy.

The Majority Leader of Delta State House of Assembly and member representing Aniocha North Constituency, Hon. Engr. Emeka Emmanuel Nwaobi has congratulated the newly appointed Chairman of Delta State Board of Internal Revenue Service, Hon. Solomon Ighrakpata, affirming that the former lawmaker truly merits the office he was appointed into as a thoroughbred Accountant.

The lawmaker noted that Hon. Ighrakpata will reorganise the revenue sector of Delta State economy as well shore up revenue to boost development.

He said Ighrakpata is indeed a square peg in a square hole, positing that he is confident the new Chairman would deliver on mandate.

Nwaobi in the statement, also commended the Executive Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for meticulously choosing a diligent and well experienced public administrator in the person of Ighrakpata to organise the revenue sector of the State’s economy.

He further described the action of Mr. Governor as that of a man who already knew where he is going to in governance.

It could be recalled that Hon. Nwaobi as the Majority Leader of the State Assembly, vehemently moved a motion with excitement, calling on his colleagues to adopt the letter of the Governor conveying the appointment of Ighrakpata, for consideration.

Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme (left) presenting a souvenir to Sir Dele Omenogo, when the Council of Knights, Anglican Communion paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Asaba

Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme, Wednesday, July 12 called on Christians to make themselves readily available for the work of God.

The Deputy Governor, made the call when the Council of Knights, Diocese of Ndokwa, Anglican Communion. paid him a congratulatory visit at Government House, Asaba.

He stated that job schedule should not be a barrier to carrying out the work of God.

“We should always contribute to the growth of Christianity; even when you are not there physically, contribute your quota to the work of God,” Sir Onyeme said.

He observed that there are a lot of benefits derivable from working for God and urged the Council of Knights not to relent in contributing to the growth of the church.

Speaking on behalf of the Knights, Dr. Dele Omenogor, said that the visit was to congratulate Sir Onyeme on his successful assumption of office as Deputy Governor and to intimate him as a Knight of St. Christopher, the activities of the Council of Knights, Diocese of Ndokwa, Anglican Communion.

The Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Asaba, Sir Christopher Osakwe, Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Engr. Dan Ossai witnessed the courtesy call