Borderline News 24

By DADA AYOKHAI The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has trained and empowered 240 persons on alternative means of livelihoods in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo. The activities took place when NCF held a programme tagged “Alternative Livelihoods Enhancement Training’’ on Friday at Udo, in Edo. Addressing the beneficiaries, Dr Muhtari Aminu-Kano, Director-General, NCF, said that the programme was designed to seek better relationship with the foundation, the host communities and Okomu National park. Aminu-Kano, who was represented by Mr Adedayo Memudu, Biodiversity and Protected Area Management (BIOPAMA) Programme Manager of NCF, said that the training would also enhance the beneficiary’s capacity. He said that it would “improve and boost livelihoods and secure long term support for the management of Okomu National park so that the biological resources for which the park is known for will continuously be protected.’’ In the same vein, Dr Ibrahim Goni, Cons...

By DADA AYOKHAI The Edo State judiciary has released the posting of High court judges  in the state which saw the reassigning of justice Ohimai Oviagele from Benin high court to  that of Uromi/ Ubiaja. This list which is contained in Circular made available to TheNigeriaLawyer, dated 1st March, 2021, and which was signed by the Chief Judge of the state, Hon. Justice E. A. Edigin with Ref. number: EDCJ/PJ/12/Vol.1/101  also contained the names of newly elevated high court judges.   The Circular Letter partly reads: “Owing to the experience of the service, the following postings have been approved". The posting saw the state chief judge,Hon. Justice E.A. Edigin, presiding over    High Court 1,   while Hon. Justice J.I. Acha is in charge of High Court 2, . other high judges in benin high Court from 3 to14 are Hon Justice D. I. Okungowa, Hon Justice A. N. Erhabor,   Hon Justice E. O. Ahamioje,Hon Justice H ACourage-Ogbebor,Hon Ju...

By: DADA AYOKHAI The Edo State leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) yesterday denied  the statement credited to Governor Godwin obaseki that her last  strike action which was later suspended  was politically motivated to derail the state government's educational programmes. Recall that the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, had on Monday, March 1, 2021 during the launching  of  "let's go to school and ‘Parent’s First’ campaigns"in Benin City blamed the recent strike embarked upon by the union on a section of the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) that wants to continue to politicise education. The NuT reaction was contained in a communique issued by the  union and  signed by Pius Okhueleigbe, state chairman,  Moni Mike, the Assistant Secretary General and three others . The communique further said;  “Let me make it clear that we do not have any problem or challenges with our teachers. The 11,000 teachers t...

By DADA AYOKHAI Local Government Chairmen across the 18 Local governments  in Edo State have been directed by Gov. Godwin Obaseki to hand over to their respective local government administrators on before the 5th of March The directive is contained in a memo dated March 2, from the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs. The memo with reference number: FMLC.170/vol. 111/646 , signed by the Permanent Secretary, M.E. Jos-Bazuaye, asked the chairmen to vacate office on the said date because their tenure will expire. Jos-Bazuaye also said that the directive affects all councilors and political appointees of the 18 council areas of the state. “I am directed to refer to the above subject and to request all Local Government Council chairmen are to hand over the administration of the 18 Local Government Councils to the respective Heads of Local Government Administrators in their various Local Government latest by Friday, March 5, 2021,” the memo read. It be r...

By DADA AYOKHAI The final transition programme of former Edo State Head of Service, HoS, and later Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr Simon Imhuekemhe, has been released. The late erudite administrator and technocrat begins his final home journey on Thursday, March 11, with a vigil mass at St Paul Catholic Church, Benin City, Edo State capital.   Late Dr Simon Imhuekemhe passed on a few weeks ago after a brief illness.  According to the release issued by the Imhukhemhe family, the body of the late Dr Simon Imuekemhe will be interred on Friday, March 12, in his hometown in Ikhabigbo, Etsako West local government area, after a funeral mass. This will be followed by a Thanksgiving service at St Paul Catholic Church in Benin.  A close confidant of the deceased, Mr Paschal Ogie, who also claimed to have been mentored by him, described Dr Imuhuekmhe as a brilliant, principled,  compassionate and erudite technocrat who devoted himself to the service...

By DADA AYOKHAI The war of words which erupted between Edo State Gov. Mr Godwin Obaseki and the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, over the poor handling of the Benin storm water project,  has refused to abate.  Prince Agba, who was  Edo State Commissioner of Environment at the time of the project's execution, came under serious attack from the state governor over his poor handling of the project.  Gov Obaseki had described the minister in a most uncharitable manner  and went on to blame the minister for the "stall" the project has witnessed in recent times as a result of design defects.  Prince Agba  in his  reply to the governor Obaseki over his untrances during an assessment tour of the water storm in Benin said  the governor choice of words against him were uncalled and diminishes the  office of a governor which Obaseki presently occupies. The  minister further reminder the governor...

By Ikhili Ebalu,  A Socio Political Group, The  Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM) Worldwide, has called  on the National and Edo State leadership of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA)  to urgently  call Barr. Olayiwola Afolabi to order before he destroy the respect and trust the people have for the profession.  The President, Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM) Worldwide, Elder Comrade Curtis Eghosa Ugbo     made the call in Benin City while speaking with journalists    .      In an interview with newsmen in Benin, Elder Ugbo said he hired the services of  Barr. Olayiwole Afolabi to help prosecutes Chief Atseleghe and 7 Others for alleged conspiracy, kidnapping and murder  of Sunny Etchie, Okheigele of Kolokolo Community in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State Accordi g to Elder Ugbo  "Last week, the O.C. Legal at the AIG office called to inform me that there is a petition against me. When l asked wh...