Akwa Ibom State governor, Pst Umo Eno has declared a state of emergency on primary education in the state.
The governor also directed immediate renovation and upgrade of facilities in primary institutions across the state.
The governor gave the directives when he paid an unscheduled visit to Christ the King Primary School, located along Willington Bassey Way, Uyo, on Friday.
He said that the school would be upgraded to standard with the renovation of structures, provision of educational materials, solar lights, pipe-borne water and staff quarters.
Besides replicating the model in schools in rural areas in line with the rural development thrust of his administration’s A.R.I.S.E. Agenda, Eno said that the state would provide special incentives for teachers in rural and riverine areas to encourage them to perform maximally in those communities.
“Education is a key thing in the A.R.I.S.E. Agenda and so we are determined, especially at the grassroots level. The grassroots level of Education begins with primary school.
“This school is next to the Government House. So it should be a model. We want to start here to create that model primary school we’re talking about. I have just interacted with the pupils, they are vacating on the 28th, and we will use that holiday to remodel this school, working very hard with the Ministry of Housing, the Architect and the rest.
Source: The Punch
Six suspects identified as Afam Ezenwa, Chijioke Ifeanyi, Collins Obadom, Abuchi Okechukwu, Chima Obiekezie and Sunday Okafor have been apprehended for allegedly gang-raping a 19-year-old girl in Anambra State.
It was gathered that the incident happened in the Anam community, Anambra West Local Government Area of the state, a few days ago.
The suspects, who are between the ages of 16, 17, 18, 20 and 27 years old, were said to have carried out the act after ambushing and forcing the victim into a room where they took turns to defile her.
The state Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, in collaboration with security operatives in the state arrested the suspects.
Obinabo added that the rape victim had been rescued and the suspects transferred to the state Criminal Investigative Department of Police in Awka, where they would be charged to court for their crime.
She said the arrest was carried out following a viral video on the internet of a 19-year-old girl who was allegedly gang raped by about six boys in Anam, Anambra West LGA.
“The high rate of crimes amongst delinquents in Anambra is alarming. Parents and guardians should stop sparing the rod and thereby spoil the child.
She said, “The ministry and security operatives did not only rescue the victim but equally apprehended the suspects and had the case transferred to the state criminal investigative department of police in Awka where they would be charged to court for their crime.
Source: The Punch
The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Enugu State, on Saturday, ordered substituted service of a subpoena issued on the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Enugu State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Chukwu.
The tribunal had earlier issued a subpoena ordering the Enugu REC to bring before the court the BVAS machines used for the March 18 governorship election.
When the case came up on Saturday, the petitioners’ counsels led by Valerie Azinge, SAN, who appeared with Chief Alexander Ejesieme, SAN, among others, drew the attention of the tribunal to the subpoena issued on the Enugu REC and inquired as to whether or not he was in court.
At this point, Azinge asked the court to allow Ejesieme to take over the proceeding.
Ejesieme asked the counsel to the 1st respondent, INEC, whether the subpoenaed witness was in court.
In response, the INEC counsel, Hyacinth Okoli, said: “Unfortunately, the subpoena was not served on the REC as stated and as required by law. The law is so specific about subpoena service.”
Citing Order 20 Rule 23 of the Federal High Court Rules 2009 which provides that a subpoena shall be served personally unless the court orders that same be served by substituted means in extreme cases, he said: “The REC was ordered to be served with the subpoena and he is always in the office. My submission is that whom the subpoena was served on is not the REC but one Grace Onuoha a legal officer with INEC.”
Going further, Okoli said: “I urge my Lords to set aside the service of the subpoena served on Grace Onuoha. There is no evidence that the REC evaded service and the tribunal didn’t make an order for substituted service on Grace Onuoha.
“The said subpoena has been returned to the tribunal in the of a letter and an affidavit. We urge the honourable tribunal to set aside the service of the subpoena on Grace Onuoha.”
Similarly, Chief Alex Iziyon, SAN, counsel to the respondents held the same position.
In a counter aurgment, the petitioners’ lawyer, Ejesieme, told the tribunal that the letter and the affidavit returning the subpoena was served on him a few seconds ago.
Replying on points of law, Ejesieme said, “I will be relying on the same Order 20 Rule 23 of the Federal High Court Rules 2009 and I urge my Lords to make an order for a substituted service on Grace Onuoha.
“Also, I will be relying on a similar order made by this tribunal in EPT/003 where the tribunal gave a similar order that the subpoena be served on the counsel.”
In its ruling, the tribunal, chaired by Justice K. M. Akano held that the circumstances surrounding the return of the subpoena and the fact that the petitioners have just tomorrow, Sunday, which is the 16th day of July, 2023, to conclude their case, warrants the granting of the application.
It granted the order for substituted service and ordered that the subpoena be served on Grace Onuoha who is a legal officer in the Enugu office of INEC.
Source: The Sun
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