The court affirmed the candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Ngozi Okolie, as the duly elected lawmaker.

in February that Ngozi Okolie of LP polled a total vote of 53,879 to defeat the incumbent minority leader Elumelu of the Peoples Democratic Party who pulled 33,456 while Tony Nwaake of polled 11, 712 votes

However, the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, Delta State, declared Ndudi Elumelu of the PDP as the winner of the 2023 House of Representatives election for the constituency, in July

The Director,  Army Public Relations,  Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Sunday, said the security operatives carried out a sting operation on the site after an intelligence report.

He added that “the vigilant troops on storming the illegal refining site, discovered 35 modular ovens used for illegal refining of crude oil, three fabricated reservoirs, 30 dug-out reservoirs, and 75 galvanised pipes.”

Onyema said,  “In a sustained effort to deny oil thieves freedom of action in the  South-South Nigeria and protect the oil sector from economic sabotage, troops of 181 Amphibious battalion of the Nigerian Army, operating in 6 Division Area of Responsibility, in conjunction with operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, as well as operatives of Tantita Security, have uncovered a major illegal oil refining site at Owahwa community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

“The combined team of anti-oil theft troops discovered on Saturday, July 29, 2023, in a sting operation following a surveillance report on the illicit activities of illegal oil refiners in the area.”

This, he said, will help “to ensure more employment opportunities and discourage locals from supporting foreign elements/security forces who are deeply involved in the unholy vandalisation of sensitive national assets and facilities.”

This was contained in a personally signed statement by the monarch dated 16th July 2023, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri, Delta State on Sunday.

According to the monarch, “With the recent arrest of the foreign bunkering vessel by the authorities of the Tantita Security Limited, owned by High Government Owezide Ekpemukpolo alias ‘Tompolo’, it is now clear to everyone that the company cannot only deliver on its mandate but that it has the patriotic zeal to save the nation’s economic well-being.”

While noting with concern that the illegal activities and vandalisation by the oil thieves have been adversely impacting the national economy and also destroying the Niger Delta environments, the traditional ruler stated that “Tantita has taken the highest security risks against known and unknown cartels whose stocks in trade is pipeline vandalism and environmental pollution, adding that the Federal Government should reciprocate the company’s gestures by expanding its current job scope so that the Nigerian economy can again be restored through the hard work of this patriotic Niger Delta security operatives.”

The statement read partly, “Government must not only properly fund the Tantita to meet its financial needs to the growing staff list and huge technology that is involved in carrying out this all-important security assignment, but government through relevant agencies, should urgently expand the scope of the job.

“Government and its agencies responsible for this project must leave up to its corporate social and economic responsibilities by regularly funding the project as the economic saboteurs are all waiting for its failure so that they launch their attacks again in more disastrous manners, God forbid!”

The monarch further added that people who work hard in ensuring the safety of the nation’s assets should be allowed to reap from their efforts.

“Let those who have laboured and take the risk of protecting sensitive national assets benefit from their labour so that others can be encouraged to follow such patriotic paths,” he stated.

The Deputy Controller of Corrections, DCC Edo Ineku, disclosed this when he led a team from the Correctional Centre on a courtesy visit to the Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Michael Tidi, at the Council Secretariat.

He noted that the courtesy visit to the Local Government Council was part of his familiarisation moves since his arrival in April 2022.

He said, “It is clear that the synergy among stakeholders in criminal justice system is key. The Federal Government cannot do this alone, hence we need your assistance.”

Welcoming the visiting team, the council chairman congratulated the newly-deployed boss of the Warri Correctional Centre, assuring him of the Local Government’s support at all times in the speedy dispensation of their duties.

Tidi remarked, “I appreciate you and your team for the visit. Warri is known for peace and security; as a stakeholder in Warri South in terms of security, you are important to us.

“Here in Warri South, we believe in collaboration of all stakeholders in prevention of crime in Warri, we are proactive in terms of security of our people. “I must not forget to commend your level of professionalism and how you operate your skill acquisition centre in reforming and refining the inmates.”

The gunmen ambushed the police and the vigilantes at the customs checkpoint.

“There were heavy gunshots along Issele-Azagba, Wednesday evening by unknown gunmen.They attacked security men along the highway and shot discriminately, in the process they set ablaze custom van” a witness narrated.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Edafe Bright, on Thursday confirmed the attack, saying that no police were killed in the attack.

He said, “The armed robbers shot at the vigilante group but they quickly took cover, no death was recorded.

“They attacked vigilante men but the vigilante quickly took cover. Nobody died.”

Chairman of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry, Justice Celestina Ogisi (retd.), when presented the panel’s report, disclosed that the Panel received 86 petitions and 49 were heard on merit while 37 were struck out for various reasons.

Justice Ogisi stated “In total, the Panel received 86 petitions and 49 were heard on merit while 37 were struck out for various reasons. The Panel also received 10 petitions which sought the enforcement of judgments of various High Courts of the State against the Police for acts of Police brutality and extra-judicial killings. The Panel recommended the payment of compensation to victims and/or their families for various acts of Police brutality and extra-judicial killings in Delta State. We also recommended the enforcement of all judgment debts awarded against the Police, which they have refused to obey till date”.

Meanwhile, the State government said it has concluded the consideration of that particular report except for a few items that needed to carry out some investigations with a view to arriving at the right decision.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu stated that on October 14, 2021, the state EXCO continued consideration of the white paper of the findings of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry.

“The State Executive Council concluded the consideration of that particular report except for some few items that we have to carry out some investigations with a view to arriving at the right decision. Particularly some directives that will require the Attorney General to find out further details so that we don’t take decisions in error. In all, we have gotten to the end of that consideration except those other few items we jumped because we needed further information before we can ratify or possibly approve the report of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry”

The convener of the #EndSARS protests in Delta State, Comrade Israel Joe, disclosed this to journalists in Warri on Monday.

He, however, stated that “the procession would depend on whether the Delta State Government will implement the judicial panel report or not.”

He said, “We are doing a wider consultation in Asaba, Ughelli, Sapele, Abraka, Warri, Udu, Kwale, etc. The governor had told us that the report is before the Exco and we want the implementation process to commence before the 20th of October. We have been getting several calls from both families and victims of police brutality for which compensations were awarded. We will make our stance known before the weekend after all due consultations with stakeholders, #EndSARS committee, and others.”

The Presidency had described the ban and other resolutions reached by the governors as “acts of politicking intended by its signatories to demonstrate power.”

The Presidency’s position is contained in a statement titled, ‘President Buhari okays deep-rooted solutions to herdsmen attacks, clears way for ranching and revival of forest reserves,’ signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

Reacting to the statement, Okowa who is the Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, faulted the Presidency.

He stated, “They said act of politicking and so what? If they want to call it politics, it is nothing to us.”

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Falana stated that the Federal Government cannot lay claim to the fund under any law.

He said “The Federal Government ought to be commended for pursuing this matter having regards to the fact that this case is a collabo issue between the EFCC under Malami/Ribadu and the Metropolitan Police in the United Kingdom. Having acknowledged the role of the Federal Government, the fund has to return to the source. As the Attorney General has said, the money is over £100 million. So what has been released now is the first tranche of £4.2 million. Since the money left the covers of the Delta State Government, it has to be returned once it is recovered.”

This was announced on Tuesday by the British High Commissioner to Nigeria,  Catriona Laing in Abuja, at the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and the government of the UK.

Laing at the signing of the MoU at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Justice said the money was recovered from friends and family members of the former governor.

Laing however warned that the UK will no longer be used as a destination for looters to siphon proceeds of crimes.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who also spoke at the ceremony, said the recovery of the stolen fund is part of the efforts of the current administration to fight corruption.

He said, “I wish to remark that today’s ceremony and the recoveries attached thereto has again underscored the fact that international cooperation and mutual trust can yield great benefits for the citizenry in developing countries who are the direct victims of acts of corruption.

“Hence, the governments of Nigeria and the United Kingdom have concluded negotiations for the return of £4.2m to Nigeria pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding earlier executed by the two governments in 2016.

“It is to be recalled that the Nigerian government had all along provided the required mutual assistance and backup to the British authorities while the prosecution of James Ibori lasted in London and today, we are rightfully taking benefit of that cooperation.”

Based on the agreement signed, the £4.2million is to be returned two weeks from now.

Ibori, who was Delta State Governor from 1999 to 2007, was convicted by a UK court in 2012 and was sentenced to 13 years in jail after admitting fraud of nearly £50m (N26.3bn), even though prosecutors say the actual amount stolen was about £250m (N131.7bn).

He pleaded guilty to 10 charges of fraud and money-laundering in February 2012 and is the most prominent Nigerian politician to be successfully prosecuted for corruption.

He was released in 2016 after serving a fraction of his term.