Aondoakaa Expresses Satisfaction On The Conduct Of Tor Jechira's Selection

...Charges the winner, Engr. Ujege to rule the Jechira people with the fear of God

By Iortyer Eric

The Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Benue State on Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Denen Aondoakaa, has  expressed satisfaction over the conduct of the selection of Tor-Jechira II, which produced, Chief. Engr.  Edward Ujege as the new Tor-Jechira following the demise of the late. Tor-Jechira......

The Special Adviser made this known after conclusion of the selection process witnessed by him and Directors of the Bureau, king makers of Jerchira  Secretary to the Tiv Traditional Council, representative of The Tor Tiv, Tor-LOBI HRM. Moses Anagende. Mr Aondoakaa revealed that the transparent selection processes witnessed in the on-going exercise of filling vacant positions of traditional rulers in Benue State is at the instance of His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia and in line with the provisions of the Benue State Chieftaincy law. 

Mr Aondoakaa also appreciated His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia for the provision of the needed resources and the enabling environment for the successful conduct of the events. 

The Special Adviser called on the newly selected Tor-Jechira, His Royal Highness, Engr Edward Ujege, to use his wealth of experience as a retired Director of Federal Highways with the Federal Ministry of Works as well as, the former President general of "Mzough U Tiv"(MUT), to rule the Jechira Component with the fear of God as well as to promote the cultural identity of the people in his domain. 

Representative of the Tor-Tiv, Tor-Lobi, His Royal Highness, Moses Anagende congrtulated and presented the certificate of return and a cover letter from the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to HRH, Engr. Ujege, for his victory. He called on fellow contestants of the stool and the good people of Jechira to  support the new monarch to succeed. 

In a closing remark, the Executive Chairman of Vandeikya Local Government Council, Hon. Dennis Guda, appreciated Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia for ensuring a transparent selection exercise of Tor Jerchira and congratulated the new monarch as well as eulogized His Royal Majesty, Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, Tor-Tiv. V, in conjunction with Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, lead by Mr Denen Aondoakaa, for effective monitoring and inspection of the process and assured the new Tor-Jechira select of maximum support.

During the selection, Sir, George Wegba scored 2votes, Arc. (Dr) Gabriel Iwua Sen, 1vote, Timothy Tyoanande Gungul, 2votes, Engr. Michael Mitting Zungu, 1vote, Chief. Engr. Edward Iyorshaghaa Ujege, 19votes as well as Dr. Linus Nguhwa Ikpahindi. Chief Engr Edward Ujege was declared the winner.

On the other hand, result from the selection of the District Head of Mbayongo, in Vandeikya include: Ierver Iange, 1vote and Iormough Wayo, 14votes. Chief Iormough was declared the winner as the District Head of Mbayongo District in Vandeikya Local Government area.

Iortyer Eric is the Media and Publicity Aide to the SA on BLGCA, Benue State.

Alleged Official Misconduct: British School Petitions AGF, Seeks Probe Of DPP

By Dansu Peter 

A British school, Whiteplains School Abuja, has petitioned the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), demanding the investigation of the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Babadoko.

Director of Whiteplains British School, Dr Francis Nwufoh, in the petition to the AGF, dated March 4, 2025, alleged that Babadoko, unilaterally removed a caveat emptor placed on a property of the school in dispute, with the motive of aiding the sale of the property to Maryam Abacha American University of Niger (MAAUN).

Dr Nwufoh informed the AGF that the former DPPF, Mohammed Umar had upon receiving several investigation reports; "First by IGP IRT on the 1st of April 2019, secondly by FIB CR: 3000/FIB/ABJ/TA/FBN/Vol. 1, thirdly by National Assembly (Report of the Committee on Public Petitions) dated June 17, 2019, and the fourth report, I haven't had access to till date" issued a "Caveat Emptor" on the property file at the Abuja Geographical Information System(AGIS). 

He said he learnt it on good authority that some people wanted to sell the property in issue, which made him to write series of letters to the AGF, the latest being the one dated 9th August 2024.

Findings by the Director of Whiteplains, revealed that Babadoko wrote to the AGIS to lift the caveat emptor placed on the property.  

Dr Nwufoh wondered why upon assumption of office as DPPF, Mohammed Babadoko, removed the caveat placed on the property, without the notice of Whiteplains, the complainant. 

He therefore requested the swift intervention of the AGF to stop the DPPF from eroding the positive strides already made in the investigation. 

"We plead that the caveat is restored and that the Police properly investigates the matter by interviewing the bank staff named and whose signatures are on the forged, offensive Tripartite Legal Mortgage in issue" Nwufoh demanded.

In the petition made available to judiciary correspondents on Thursday, Dr Nwufoh narrated how his ordeal in the hands of First Bank started.

"The school secured a facility of N650m loan from First Bank and paid back a total of N300m within a space of two years for a loan with a maturity period of five years. 

"The bank thereafter frustrated the continued repayment of the loan and subsequently sought to foreclose and takeover the school.

"This led to series of litigation which culminated in an appeal at the Court of Appeal. 

"When it was discovered that the Tripartite Legal Mortgage Agreement that the bank had predicated its case on was forged, a formal request was made to your esteemed office to intervene in the matter. 

"Your office subsequently directed the Nigerian Police Force to investigate the allegation of forgery.

"The report that was sent back to your office by the Police had so many lacunae, whereupon the then Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Umar, asked the Police to reinvestigate the matter along specified lines" Dr Nwufoh told the AGF. 

Up till date, Nwufoh said he has not been intimated on the outcome of the last investigation and forensic report.

He prayed the AGF to

compare all the reports by the investigative intelligent officers to see for himself the facts and trace out the discrepancies.

Due to the extenuating circumstances, Nwufoh said he had sent a letter to the DIG of Police dated 18th July 2024, titled "Letter of complaint of my dissatisfaction of how my matter is being handled"

Murder: American Rights Advocate Offer Life In Exchange For Convicted Nigerian, Sunday Jackson

By Dansu Peter 

Renowned American Cleric and Human Rights Advocate, Dr. William Delvin, has called on the Nigerian government to take his life in place of one Mr Sunday Jackson, who was sentenced to death by the Supreme Court last week for killing a Fulani Herdsman. 

Jackson had been on death row for about ten year but last week, the Supreme Court sealed his fate by dismissing his appeal, which ordered that he should be sentenced to death.

The Supreme Court had the opportunity to declare Sunday Jackson innocent but didn’t. He has become an international case for human rights, and we will continue to advocate for him.

He said, "I am 70years old amd I'm ready to lay down my life for Sunday Jackson. The government of Nigeria should take my like instead of that of Sunday Jackson. He is a young man if about 30years and while I am about 70 years old"

He also said the case has assumed international dimension. 

"The case of Sunday Jackson has become an international case because there is obviously a miscarriage of justice against Sunday Jackson, who was on death row for ten years but has finally been affirmed by the Supreme Court.  

"The case of Sunday Jackson has become a major embarrassment to the Nigerian government.  He was attacked by Fulani  Islamist, he is innocent and we are here to appeal to the governor of Adamawa state  to grant him pardon so that he can take care of his two young daughters. 

"This is a major abuse of human rights in Nigeria and as I travel back to the United States, we will continue with the advocacy and even take it to Canada as well as the continent of Africa. We are going to make it an international case in Western Europe.  We are here to advocate for the release of Sunday Jackson", Delvin said

Also, a US based lawyer and founder of US Law Group, Barrister Emmanuel Ogebe, described the justigement as injustice against Jackson, who was just 20 years old student in 2015 as at the time of his arrest. 

He said he had been involved I  the case since 2015  adding that the apex court did not avert it's mind to certain facts of the case. 

"I've been involved! In this case since 2021 since he was sentenced to death. The Supreme Court did not avert it's mind, as far as we can tell since the cericiend true  opy has not been released. 

"The judge delivered the judgement 167 days after the adoption of final addresses by parties when the 1999 Constitution says it should be 90 days.

"There is a reason why the Constitution said it must be 90days so that you don't forget some of the material elements of the case. She gave judgment unrelated with the evidence before thethe court.

"For example, in the judgement, the  ourt agreed that he was attacked in the leg but that he should have rum away. How is somebody who is injured in the leg able to run. In his evidence, he said he actually ran but the man caught up with him amd stabbed him in the head. 

"So, he attempted to run, how can you now sentenced ce him to death because you feel he should have ran away.