Ritual killing: Seven sentenced to death in Owerri

Justice was done on Tuesday, when an Owerri High Court sentenced seven men, accused of the gruesome murder of a young motor cyclist, (inaga) Okechukwu Osuji to death by hanging. Three others accused of the same offence were acquitted for lack of evidence. Justice C. I. Ohakwe who presided over the case, sentenced Ejike Okoro, Cajethan Okoro, Raphael Ike, Paul Njoku, Eric Igbo, Chidiebere Njoku and Anayochukwu Unamba, all between 18 and 25 years, as at the time of the crime from Owalla, Uratta in Owerri North Local Government Area, to death for the brutal murder of Okechukwu Osuji, also from the same village, on May 11, 2001. Regaining freedom were Uchenna Udeh, Ikechukwu Ukonu…

Justice Not Sympathy for Imo State Pensioners

Recently the democratically elected government of Imo State declared that with effect from April 2013 retired civil servants will be paid pension only at the Community Government Council offices of their home communities where the traditional rulers are to identify them as genuine pensioners. The general meaning of this directive is that government gazettes of appointments, promotions and retirements of these pensioners as well as the series of biometric capturing exercises held since 2006 are unreliable records until they are confirmed by traditional rulers who have no records to verify the claims of the pensioners. No wonder that in its editorial comments of May 2, 2006 “The Guardian” said that in advanced societies the respect…

Terrorism: US paid N19.7b reward to 80 informants in 29 years

Hope appears to haves risen for those who can locate Boko Haram leaders as the United States (US) confirmed the payment of N19.7billion ($125million) reward to 80 informants in 29 years. The payment was made through The Rewards for Justice programme, which is being managed by the U.S. Department f State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security. Some of the beneficiary informants included those who provided clues for the arrest of Uday Hussein, the eldest son of the former President of Iraq, Saddam Hussein. Besides the payment, some of the informants were also relocated to undisclosed safe haven to prevent being hurt by terrorist groups. The US statement followed recent $25 million bounty placed on key leaders…

Corruption: The 37th State of Nigeria

There is a cloned hydra-headed monster on a tiny-lined white thread seen with the third-eye only making up the 37th State of Nigeria.  It is CORRUPTION.  On May 27, 2012, the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Owerri Diocese, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna celebrated a thanksgiving Mass for the State Government to mark its one year in office at the Maria Assumpta Cathedral Owerri.  In his homily, the Archbishop called for an alternative Nigeria. The alternative Nigeria, he explained would be “Nigeria that is just and fair, a Nigeria where there is rule of law and respect for justice and fairness, a Nigeria where the leaders will shun double standard life and enthrone good governance…

Arrest Boko Haram Leader, Get $7m – U.S.

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has described the $7m bounty on Abubakar Shekau and other members of Boko Haram as a positive development. The IG therefore called on Nigerians to take the matter seriously and give security agencies relevant information that would lead to the arrest of terrorists. He stated this during the inauguration of newly completed ultra-modern hospitals at the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos on Tuesday. He said while fielding questions from journalists, “Yes, the move is good. Anybody who has information should come forward and claim the reward.” The United States had on Monday officially declared the leader of Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau wanted and placed a $7m bounty on…

Jonathan imposes emergency rule on Adamawa, Borno, Yobe

President Goodluck Jonathan has declared a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.  However, the governors of the affected states are to continue in their constitutional roles.  In a nationwide radio/television broadcast on Tuesday, President Jonathan ordered the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, to deploy more troops to the affected states for more effective internal security operations. The soldiers had been given full orders to take necessary action, within the ambit of their rules of engagement, to end the impunity of insurgents and terrorists. Full texts of the President’s broadcast on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 reads. It has become necessary for me to address you on the recent spate…

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR C 12/5/2013

OPENING PRAYER Father, help us keep in mind that Christ our Saviour lives with you in glory and promised to remain with us until the end of time.  FIRST READING A READING FROM THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 7:55-60 Theme: I can see the son of man standing at the right hand of God. Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven  and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand.  “I can see heaven thrown open”, he said, “and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this all the members of the council shouted out and stopped their ears with their hands; then they…