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Akpabio denies claims jailed Prof. worked for him

Eyewitness reporter

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has debunked insinuations that Professor Peter Ogban, who was jailed for election fraud, worked for him.

The Minister, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary in a statement, Anietie Ekong, claimed that the Akwa Ibom State twisted the context of the judgment and maliciously claimed that the election was rigged in his favour.

It would be recalled that a High Court in Akwa State on Thursday sentenced Peter Ogban, a Professor of Soil Science with the University of Calabar, who served as a returning officer in the 2019 General Elections in Akwa Ibom North-West District, to three years imprisonment and asked him to pay N100,000 fine for manipulating the election results of Oruk Anam and Etim Ekpo Local Government Areas of the State.

Senator Akpabio argued that the claim by the PDP that the electoral officer was convicted for allegedly rigging an election in his favour and the All Progressives Congress(APC) was “spurious, unfounded and malicious”.

He maintained, “Contrarily, Senator Akpabio was a victim of the fraudulent manipulation of the election of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District held on 23rd February 2019. He is vindicated that the perpetrators of the electoral fraud are being brought to justice. At last, the chickens are coming home to roost.

“It could be recalled that Senator Godswill Akpabio had approached the National Assembly Election Tribunal to challenge the outcome of the February 23, 2019 Senatorial District elections, which held in Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District.

“Amongst those who were sued was the Returning Officer of Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District, Professor Ogban who alongside the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Mike Igini, hijacked the Election Results from the Senatorial District Collation Headquarters, Ikot Ekpene to another Senatorial District at the INEC office in Uyo, where the collated votes of Senator Godswill Akpabio were maliciously and arbitrarily cancelled by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini and Prof Ogban.”

The Minister noted that in the election, his votes totalling about 61,329 scored in his home Local Government Area – Essien Udim Local Government, having been collated, were not announced by Prof. Ogban in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

“Rather, Prof Ogban , who served as the Senatorial District Returning Officer, joined the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to Uyo, where the votes of Senator Akpabio were cancelled in various polling units and collation centres of various Local Government Areas constituting Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District, including 61,329 votes of his home local Government,” he explained.

Senator Akpabio expressed surprise that it was only the Returning Officer that was charged while the REC was still parading himself in freedom.

“In a considered judgment of the Court of Appeal, the Justices allowed the appeal by Senator Godswill Akpabio and ordered a Rerun election, while the Certificate of Return of the PDP candidate was withdrawn and nullified.

“The court condemned the action of the Independent National Electoral Commission and that of Prof. Ogban for which Prof. Ogban was charged, found guilty and sentenced to three years imprisonment and a fine of N100,000.

” The sentence has vindicated Senator Akpabio and the APC that the election was massively rigged,” he added.

He also noted that Prof. Ogban, in a bid to manipulate the election and rig Senator Akpabio out, hijacked the electoral results of Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District from Ikot Ekpene, the Senatorial District headquarters to Uyo, where it was announced after cancellations of lawfully collated votes and against the dictates of the Electoral Act”

The Senator mentioned that the collated votes from Abak, Etim Ekpo and Ini Local Government Areas were cancelled by Professor Ogban, the Retuning Officer, when it got to Ikot Ekpene, the Senatorial District headquarters.

Senator Akpabio pointed out that in Obot Akara, the Local Government Area of his opponent, where a clear case of over voting was recorded and the votes annulled by the Local Government Returning Officer, Professor Ogban strangely validated the votes in INEC office in Uyo to give an advantage to his opponent.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Prof Ogban never announced Senator Akpabio as the winner of any election. Instead, he cancelled his lawful votes and announced Senator Akpabio’s opponent as the winner of the manipulated election.

“It is the height of mischief for anyone to say that a man who arbitrarily cancelled lawfully collated votes of the APC and announced PDP winner of the election was working for Sen. Akpabio.

“It is obvious that some persons are being haunted by the ghost of the last election which they massively manipulated to reach a predetermined conclusion, a position which was confirmed by the Court of Appeal in Calabar.

” In due time, we believe all the conspirators will be brought to justice as Prof. Ogban, either through the judiciary or divine”

“However, Senator Akpabio had since moved on to face his present National assignment. He should not be distracted by baseless and unfounded reports by the PDP hatchet men and mischief makers,” the statement concluded.

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Tompolo pays glowing tribute to Wike on his 58th birthday.

Funso OLOJO

High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has eulogised the uncommon courage, resilience and unwavering sense of duty of Barrister Nyesom Wike, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory(FCT), describing these attributes as those that align with the Tantita’s objectives and work ethic.

Tompolo, the Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, make this observation in his message to Wike on his 58th birthday, where he paid a glowing tribute to the FCT Minister.

According to him, Wike’s public life is a reflection of courage, conviction and an unwavering sense of duty.

Tompolo said Wike’s journey through public service—marked by legal brilliance, political audacity and firm decision-making—has consistently demonstrated that true leadership is defined by impact, not rhetoric.

He noted that from Wike’s formative years in public administration through his tenure as Governor of Rivers State and now as FCT Minister, his performance has remained anchored on results, resilience and a relentless commitment to public good.

“In the Federal Capital Territory, your presence is already being massively felt.

” The renewed focus on infrastructure, order, and accountability speaks to a hands-on leadership style that understands Abuja’s symbolic and practical importance to Nigeria’s unity and governance,” Tompolo said.

The TSSNL founder commended Wike for recognising the intrinsic connection between security, development and national stability, stressing that the minister’s insistence on law, order and institutional discipline aligns strongly with Tantita’s mission of protecting critical assets and fostering a safe environment for sustainable growth.

He added that Wike’s reputation as “Mr. Project” was well-earned, given his consistent record of performance and the courage to take difficult decisions when duty demanded it.

“In moments that demand firmness, you have chosen responsibility over convenience, standing by your convictions even when the path was difficult,” he said.

Tompolo prayed for renewed strength, sharper vision and continued success for the minister as he marks another year, expressing confidence that Wike’s service would continue to leave a lasting imprint on national development.

“Please accept my sincere best wishes for good health, wisdom, and continued success. May the years ahead bring fulfilment and further contributions to the progress and unity of Nigeria,” he added.

Headlines

Nigeria denies ownership of detained vessel

VLCC SKIPPER

Funso OLOJO

The management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has clarified the status of a tanker vessel, MT SKIPPER, currently intercepted and detained by the United States Coast Guard(USCG) over alleged oil theft and other transnational crimes.

According to the statement from the Nigeria’s maritime industry apex regulatory agency, the vessel , Very Large Crude Carrier,is not a Nigerian – flagged vessel while its purported owners, Thomarose Global Ventures Limited, are not registered with NIMASA as a shipping company.

“An analysis of the vessel’s movement, monitored through the Agency’s Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence (C4i) Centre, shows that the vessel was last sighted in Nigerian waters on 1st July 2024.

“After departing Nigerian waters, the vessel continued on its international voyage pattern and was tracked operating in the Arabian Sea (Asia) and later in the Caribbean region, where the U.S. interdiction eventually took place.

“Records indicate that SKIPPER which was formerly owned by Triton Navigation Corp, has undergone multiple name changes over time.

“The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders, including U.S. authorities, in the ongoing investigations. He emphasized that criminality will not be tolerated in Nigerian waters” NIMASA stated in a public statement.

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Adeniyi, Akutah, Fakolade, Warredi, Maiwada headline 10th anniversary of seminar for maritime journalists in Lagos

Funso OLOJO

First Mediacon media group, the convener of the annual seminar for maritime journalists, has lined up an array of industry’s stakeholders to sharpen the intellectual capacity of maritime journalists at this year’s workshop.

The annual event, which is the 10th edition this year, holds December 17th, 2025 in Lagos.

According to the organisers of the programme, the cream of the maritime industry have been lined up to engage the industry’s media in intellectual discussions that will deepen the knowledge of its practitioners in digital trade facilitation, regulatory efficiency and the economic reforms.

Key speakers at the event include the Comptroller- General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Barrister Akutah Ukeyima who is expected to deliver the keynote address, Mr Tola Fakolade, Director of the National Single Window, Mr Warredi Eniosuoh, who is expected to chair the event and Deputy Comptroller of Customs and the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada.

Maiwada is expected to deliver a practical training on “Data Analysis for Effective Maritime Reporting”

According to Mr. Sesan Onileimo, CEO of First Mediacon Network Limited and convener of the seminar, “the past decade has proven that accurate, data-driven journalism is vital to the growth of the maritime economy.

“This platform empowers journalists with the tools to properly analyse reforms, interrogate investments and provide the business community with credible information.”

Now in its tenth year, the seminar has become a major business intelligence platform, equipping maritime journalists with the technical insight required to analyse policy decisions, market trends and operational performance within the nation’s blue economy.

Over the years, it has helped strengthen the information value chain that supports investment decisions across ports, logistics, shipping, and inland trade corridors.

This year’s edition comes at a time when Nigeria’s maritime economy is undergoing significant transformation, driven by digitalisation, regulatory restructuring and demand for greater operational transparency.

Marking a decade of consistent impact, the organisers reaffirm their commitment to strengthening the professional capacity of the maritime media, while promoting a more transparent, efficient and investment-friendly maritime environment.