Police arrest four with over 1000 PVCs in Benue

FOUR youths suspected to be party members were arrested in Benue State in possession of over 1,000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) belonging to other individuals.

   The Guardian learnt that the suspects, who were arrested by the ‘A’ Division of the state police command in Makurdi, have been transferred to the police headquarters for interrogation.

   Confirming the arrest, Commissioner of Police, Hyacinth Dagala, said the suspects were arrested after a tipoff and were under investigation for being in possession of such large number of other people’s PVCs. Dagala said the suspects were yet to reveal the political party they belong to.

NBA condemns upsurge in violence

Meanwhile, the Benue chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the upsurge in crime in the state, including the recent murder of their member, Peter Terhemba Gbetuha.

   Irked by the development, the union called on the police and other law enforcement agencies to be alive to their responsibilities of protecting lives and property rather than “serve as errand boys to wives of political office holders and celebrated party thugs.”

   In a statement by the NBA Chairman, Mike Assoh, members lamented that a few weeks ago, Labe, a pharmacist and final stage student at the law school was shot by armed men at his pharmacy in Gboko.

   Calling on President Goodluck Jonathan and the Inspector General of Police to order a full-scale investigation into the murder of its members, the union equally urged its national body to back its call on relevant bodies to act fast on the matter.

Assembly summons Suswam’s aides over revenue, salaries

And barely three months to the end of Governor Gabriel Suswam’s administration, the state House of Assembly has demanded of him a cogent explanation on the four-month salary arrears to workers and general financial status of the state.

   The Guardian learnt that the development followed insinuations in government quarters that the state was broke, which led to workers being owed for several months. 

   Consequently, the lawmakers, led by Speaker Terhile Ayua, yesterday at plenary summoned the Commissioner for Finance, Omadachi Oklobia, Chairman of Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), Jacob Asen, and Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Solomon Wombo, before it next Tuesday with good explanations.

   The officers are expected to submit all relevant details of the Federation Account funds that accrued to the state, expenditure, internally generated revenue, cash flow and disbursement to councils.

Ortom sues Radio Benue, Ashiwaves, others for libel

Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Samuel Ortom, has sued four organisations, claiming in damages the sum of N3 billion for libel and defamation of character.

   The media houses are Radio Benue, Ashiwaves FM, Global Media Mirror Limited, publishers of National Mirror newspapers, and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

   In the suit that came up at the Federal High Court in Makurdi on Wednesday, presiding Justice Binta Nyako granted the motion by the plaintiff’s lawyers for service out of jurisdiction on Global Media Mirror Limited and the NBC. Justice Nyako has adjourned the matter to March 31 for mentioning.