AljaziralPress

By Akpovoke Otiti

As Preparations heighten for the celebration of the creation of Delta State since 28 years ago, the Delta State Commissioner for works, Chief James Augoye says he appreciates and thanked Deltans for believing in stronger Delta and Thanked everyone in making Delta a confortable place for us all, especially voting for Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, it is a reason to celebrate Delta @28

Augoye who was fielding questions in Asaba with Aljaziralreporters News said , “as a state created 28 years ago, our leaders and indeed, all Deltans have cause to celebrate because the state has recorded huge socio- economic and political transformation within the period. We may not have been able to develop to a level we anticipated, but today we have been able to record considerable number of milestones that we can be proud of as a state in various areas of development”.

‘He said successive and present administration in the state have been able to focus on construction and maintenance of the vital infrastructure like roads , bridges and drains.
Specifically , Chuef Augoye pointed out that the Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration since assuming office has embarked on construction of roads , covering a distance of kilometers , realizing that road development and construction is the backbone for the achievement of the SMART agenda and STRONGER DELTA.

The roads, he pointed out , “ are intended to link up our various communities to enhance social- economic development in the state. The movement of farm produce from one locality to another has been enhanced with the provision of motor able roads linking our communities.”
“The unprecedented growth in our state capital as witnessed in recent times is indicative of the fact that the dividend of democracy is gradually trickling down to the masses” , he opined, adding “ today the state capital is growing at a phenomenonal speed, we have been able to add a level of momentum , the fact is that the state capital has moved away from a glorified local government headquarters to something that looks more like an urban center”, he added.

He said Asaba , being the state capital has been enjoying unprecedented level of peace, as a result of the conscious efforts of our past and present leaders of the state. You will agree with me that the rapid socio-economic development of asaba, especially the invasion of Nollywood actors into Asaba is as a result of the peaceful nature and environment of the fast growing city.

In the area of education, Chief Augoye explained that, “we are still registering a level of progress as the state is paying more attention to vocational training for our students to reduce the incidence of unemployable graduates . The state is focusing on graduating students who can not only employ themselves but graduates who can become employers of labour” .
Commissioner for works said , “ It is on record that the state government has repositioned the technical and vocational schools in the state by investing huge resources to ensure that they become center of excellence, for example, His Excellency Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa approved the upgrade of infrastructure and equipment in Agbor, Ofagbe and Sapele technical colleges as well as the Issele-uku, Ogor and Utagba-Ogbe technical colleges”.
According to him, a lot of policy initiatives have also been directed at the tertiary institutes as the Delta State University and the state polytechnics have received various degrees of attention from the government in the recent times in terms of upgrade of facilities and funding.
He further stated that the state has also achieved a lot in the areas of Healthcare ,

Agriculture , Transport, culture and tourism and many more.
He said in spite of the huge successes recorded as a state within this 28 years, the state government is not rolling out the drums , He said Governor Okowa is building on the foundation laid by the administrations of James Ibori and Emmnauel Uduaghan, “ we are sustaining the mother and child healthcare programme, the aged are also being taken care of , we just introduced the contributory health insurance programme , a number of hospitals are being revamped , we are hoping that our revenue improves , so that we can start addressing some other challenges in the state.”

He pointed out that “ As a state government we are not owning our workers, the state government has taken steps to pay the pensioners.

DELTA COCOA REVOLUTION PROJECT

SPECIAL INVITATION:
You are invited to the official flag off of the DELTA COCOA REVOLUTION PROJECT and the inauguration of the INTERIM COMMITTEE OF THE COCOA FARMERS ASSOCIATION, DELTA STATE BRANCH under the distinguished Chairmanship of OLOROGUN OTEGA EMERHOR (OON).

Special Guests of Honor: HON. COMMISSIONER FOR AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES, HON COMMISSIONER FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AND HON COMMISSIONER FOR WORKS.

CHIEF HOST: PERMANENT SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: DR. EGHOSA UWAGBOE, COCOA RSEARCH INSTITUTE, IBADAN.

Date is Saturday September 7, 2019.
Time: 11am.
Venue: Songhai Agriculture Centre, Amukpe.

ANNOUNCER: DR. DAVID T. EJENOBO, COORDINATOR, DELTA COCOA REVOLUTION PROJECT.

Leaders and members of the Delta State Ex-Councillors Forum have refuted a story published in Vanguard Newspaper of August 23, 2019, credited to some members of the group that the Hon. Felix Ayemidejor’s led executive has been replaced by a new executive led by one Mr. Kema Egenu.

In a statement signed by Hon. Sunday Iyeke, PRO of the group after its executive meeting in Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta state over the weekend, said the Hon Felix Ayemidejor’s led executive remains the authentic executive of the forum.

The statement described the perpetrators of the said publication as impostors whose greed and desperation overshadowed their logical reasoning and judgment.

According to the statement, “the perpetrators are been used by some PDP ex-councillors who defected to APC before the last general election to rubbish the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s led administration in Delta state.

While assuring members of the Delta State Ex-Coucillors Forum who served between 2014 and 2017 of its avowed commitment of fighting for their interest irrespective of distractions, the Hon. Felix Ayemidejor led executives enjoined relevant government authorities, members of the ex-councillors forum and the general public to disregard the so-called publication.

By Akpovoke Otiti

DELTA – C E N T R A L , Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the Deputy President of the Senate and Senator representing Delta Central has blessed loyal and sincere party members as he dash out Cars, tricycles, Okada &grinding mechines for All Prigressive Party, APC, party faithfuls in his constituency. Beneficiaries include Local govt, APC, party Chairmen, party youth leaders, party women leaders and party ward Chairmen who do not play anti-Party during the general ele

The ceremony which took place in Orhomuru, Orogun, the hometown of the Deputy Senate President, the DSP, ably represented by his own younger brother why he was away attending to official matters , Mr. Jimmy Omo-Agege, while addressing Journalists noted that sustainable empowerment is the best thing that must have to be done to those you believed that worked during electioneering and is the key factor to a safer and better society. Beneficiaries of this gesture were elated and thanked the DSP and the APC for this show of love towards them.

High point of the empowerment ceremony was the distribution of the items to beneficiaries: “ but many of the APC family where seen Unhappy lamenting how thair names were been short changed.” Though many party faithfuls said the empowerment programme is been over due. That the items distributed today where items supposed to be shared to party members during Agege first tenure. But however, beneficiaries thanked Agege for the kind gestures and the smiles melted on their face today.

Accoeding to Agege, ‘I will represent my people with the very best of my heart, and am doing this so that we can reach out to the party faithfuls and help them to be self-sufficient.” Through the proper useage of the items given to them today. Many more are coming, ‘he said.

By Akpovoke Otiti

ABUJA – Engr. Henry Minabowanre Baro has described the ministerial portfolio of Chief Festus Keyamo (SAN) as a blessing to the Delta State, Baro who made the assertion on wednesday, immediately after the inuaguration and swearing in of The ministers, arrangements has been concluded to honour the New Minister of State, Niger Delta Affairs, Festus Keyamo.SAN.

Baro noted that Keyamo as Minister of State, Niger Delta affairs, will ease the pains of underdevelopment of the people of Urhobo Nation and especially Niger Delta as a whole. He said, “We are privileged to have my Boss, leader, and my elder brother in office at the center in charge of State, Niger-Delta Affairs . This effectively means we have a synergy between Urhobo and the Federal Government to accelerate and actualize our current plans for infrastructural development,” he
Baro stated that part of his priorities is finding a lasting solution to developmental issues in the Delta state.

While Congratulating His Boss and Elder Brother, Chief Festus Keyamo (SAN) and thanking President Mohammedu Buhari for the choice of Keyamo as the Minister of State, Niger-Delta affairs, Baro says President Buhari is an Icon of our time who must be celebrated while alive.”Buhari is a man filled with ingenuity “He is the true face of Democracy in our land today.

D E L T A State government, through the Ministry of works has said that it is yet to receive a refund from the Federal Government for rehabilitation done on FG roads state, rather it had received a promissory note.The State Commissioner for Works, Chief . James Aguoye who stated this on Monday in Asaba, said that the state has mobilised a team of engineers to patch all the federal roads.He explained that the state has embarked on rehabilitation of failed Federal Government roads in order to avoid the deaths of citizens plying the road.Aguoye said, “We have been intervening on the Federal Government failed roads; Benin/Sapele/ Agborh Eku roads and Asaba/Kwale/ Ugheli road to make it safer for Deltans and other road users.“As we speak, the state has not been refunded but we have received a promissory note from the Federal Government on the job we executed. We have also defended it at the National Assembly.“We are now working on the sector ‘A’ of Ughelli/Asaba road, earthwork cannot be properly done as a result of rainy season.“We are taken actions to address the challenges of road construction across the state especially this rainy season. Our people are facing serious challenges and complaining, so we have to intervene on these federal roads because it is our people that are using it.While reiterating the need for communities to take ownership of projects within their domain, the Works Commissioner, however, clarified that the contractor handling Asaba-Ase/Abari communities road in Ndokwa axis has not been demobilised from site to warrant protest from the people.“What we are doing now is stone base work, after the rain, the contractor would be fully mobilised to site, no road project has been abandoned, so I don’t know why the community protesting,” Aguoye said.

BREAKING NEWS.

Ekweremmadu – ‘Top Igbo Leaders should be very careful, more stones awaiting us, there’s a pain, there’s anger, and there’s the collective rage in the heart of Youths in the Land.

Nigerians are empty of options and are seeking Avenues for a purge; for catharsis. The season of retribution maybe upon us soon or later than we’ve imagined.

The physical abuse I had yesterday by some young abled men cannot be overemphasized in Nuremberg, Germany, though condemnable, betokens the onset of nemesis that will consume us if care is not taken.

Whilst I was been lobotomized and assaulted, my abusers could be heard saying: “What have you done? People are dying. I managed to escaped yesterday, tomorrow maybe the turn of top Igbo leaders, they should be very careful, they might not be as lucky as I’m.!

Ekweremmadu speaks intensively and warning of top igbo leaders of the danger of looking down of the youths in the land.

http://therepublicannews.news

The Federal Government has said it is planning an alternative to the Big Brother Naija reality TV show which it says does not portray the true Nigerian culture.

Director-General of National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Segun Runsewe, said this on Friday when the President of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Gloria Shoda, paid him a visit.

The NCWS came to show their support for the way the government handled the display of semi-nude women on Lagos road by singer, Tekno.

Runsewe said the government had held talks with digital Pay TV, Startimes, on launching a modified Big Brother Naija show that would reflect the true Nigerian culture where Nigerian food would be eaten and Nigerian dresses worn.

According to him, the NCAC would in 2020 represent the 2008 Nudity Bill titled “A Bill for an Act to punish and prohibit nudity, sexual intimidation and other-related offences in Nigeria,” sponsored by the former chairperson of Senate Committee on Women and Youth, Eme Ekaette.

Runsewe said: “I will take up the issue of Big Brother Naija; I have spoken with officials of the National Broadcasting Commission because what is going on now is terrible. Having love affairs on screen is not part of our own culture at all.

“Let me use this forum to tell Nigerians that a new Big Brother Naija is on its way coming and we are working with Startimes. We are doing BBN that will reflect the true Nigerian culture. We are already working on it, all that will be eaten there will be Nigerian food, the dresses will be Nigerian dresses.”

Big Brother Naija 2019 housemates, Khafi and Gedoni, have been involved in sexual acts three times in the house.

Sequel to an alert issued by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) warning Nigerians of imminent increase in flooding, in September, the Delta State Govt thru its Orientation Bureau has stepped -up campaigns to manage flooding/prevention and mitigations across the various local government areas in the state.

The Director-General of the State Orientation Bureau, Barr Uzum Azuka Eugene, while paying a courtesy visit to the Commissioner for Environment on Monday in Asaba, said the Orientation Bureau has kicked started the grassroots sensitization and awareness campaigns in identified flood-prone areas within the state.

“We are embarking on house to house campaign which includes market, Private and public places in flood-prone areas.”

Whilst urging residents living in the affected areas to move out, the Orientation boss said that his team would not only provide ways to cope effectively with the impending flood but advised residents to heed evacuation warnings.

In a reply, the Hon Commissioner for Environment, Mr Chris Onogba, thanked Barr Uzum and his Orientation team for the efforts and synergy with his Ministry, he stressed that they must be attitudinal change by the people, as some of the things they do will endanger their lives and the environments.

Mr Onogba said though the State government will set up camps for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in the flood affected areas, he however urged stakeholders to key in for a stronger Delta

A non-governmental organisation, Centre
for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade (CHURAC) have filed a lawsuit against Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori and others over the appointment of Hon. Michael Diden (aka Ejele) as Chairman of the Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC.

Aljaziral reporters Online understands that the lawsuit filed by CHURAC and its registered trustees who are the claimants sought the nullification of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s appointment of Ejele as Chairman of the oil commission.

The suit which was filed against the Governor of Delta State and the Attorney General of Delta State, Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, and Hon. Michael Diden as 1, 2, 3, 4 defendants has Suit No. W /154/2019.

Among other reliefs, the human rights body is seeking a declaration nullifying the appointment of Hon. Michael Diden as Chairman of the Board of DESOPADEC.

In the originating summons, deposed to by J. P. Oromoni, Esq. of T. O. IFETA & CO. on behest of the Claimant/Applicant, they are asking the court for determination of the following reliefs:

“Whether by virtue of the community reading of the provisions of Section 7(1) a, b & c and (2) a & b of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Law, 2015 (as amended in 2019) the 1st Defendant can validly appoint the 4th Defendant as Chairman from Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality into the governing board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission having earlier appointed one Godwin Ebosa as Chairman in the Governing Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) from the same Itsekiri ethnic nationality in 2015.

“Whether by the community reading of the provisions of Section 15 (1), (2) a & b and (3) of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Law, 2015 (as amended in 2019) the 1st Defendant can nominate any person for appointment into the Governing Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) whose ethnic nationality produces the immediate past member of that Board.

“Whether by the community reading of Sections 2 and 7(1) a, b & c and (2) of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Law, 2015 (as amended in 2019) the 4th Defendant is qualified to be appointed as Chairman in the Governing Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) whose ethnic nationality has produced the last chairman of the Governing Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

“Whether by the community reading of Sections 2, 7(1) a, b & c and (2) and 15(1), (2) a & b and (3) of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Law, 2015 (as amended in 2019) an ethnic nationality who has produced or is producing either the Chairman, the Managing Director or the Executive Directors can succeed itself without following the rotational circle as provided in the Law.

Whereof The Claimant Claims Against The Respondents Are As Follows:

“A DECLARATION that by virtue of the provisions of Section 7(1) a, b & c and (2)a & b of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Law, 2015 (as amended in 2019) the 1st Defendant who has earlier appointed one Godwin Ebosa representing the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality as Chairman in the Governing Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) cannot validly appoint the 4th Defendant who is also from the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality as Chairman in the Governing Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

“A DECLARATION that by virtue of the provisions of Section 15(1), (2) a & b and (3) of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Law, 2015 (as amended in 2019) the 1st Defendant cannot nominate for appointment any person as a member of the Governing Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) whose ethnic nationality produced the immediate past Board Member of the same office.

“A DECLARATION that by virtue of Sections 2 and 7(1) a, b & c and (2) of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Law, 2015 (as amended in 2019) the 4th Defendant is not qualified to be appointed as Chairman in the Governing Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) whose ethnic nationality has produced the immediate past Chairman of the Governing Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

“A DECLARATION that by virtue of Sections 2, 7(1) a, b & c and (2) and Section 15(1), (2) a & b and (3) of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Law, 2015 (as amended in 2019) no Ethnic Nationality who has produced or is producing either the Chairman, the Managing Director or the Executive Directors can succeed itself without following the rotational circle as provided in the Law.

“AN ORDER OF COURT compelling the 1st Defendant to withdraw the appointment of the 4th Defendant forthwith who is not qualified to hold office as Chairman of the Governing Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) whose ethnic nationality has produced the immediate past Chairman of the Governing Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

“AN ORDER OF COURT nullifying the purported confirmation of the 4th Defendant by the 3rd Defendant as chairman in the Governing Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Law (DESOPADEC).

“AN ORDER OF PERPERTUAL INJUNCTION restraining the 4rd Defendant from acting in the capacity of the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) or whatsoever subject to the provisions of the Law relating to the rotational circle as provided in the Law.

“AN ORDER OF COURT compelling the 1st Defendant to comply with the provisions of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Law, 2015 (as amended in 2019) in constituting the new Governing Board Members of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

The claimant argued that Governor Okowa had on 18th day of July 2019, forwarded the name of the 1st Defendant to the 3rd Defendant for confirmation as members of the governing board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC):

The governor had said the appointment of the new governing board of DESOPADEC was in pursuance of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Law, 2015 (as amended in 2019). The 3rd Defendant (Oborevwori) in receipt of the name duly acted within its legislative power and confirmed the said appointment on the 23rd day of July 2019.

They also argued that the 1st Defendant in the exercise of his statutory power vested on him by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Law, 2015 appointed the following persons into the governing board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) on the 26th day of August 2015 also appointed, Mr. Godwin Ebosa, Chairman, Chief Williams Makinde, Managing Director, Chief Askia Ogieh, Executive Director among others.

“That the immediate past chairman of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) Governing Board, Mr. Godwin Ebosa who was appointed by the 1st Defendant in 2015 is from Itsekiri Ethnic nationality from Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.

“That the new chairman nominee/appointee who is the 4th Defendant in this matter is also from the same Itsekiri Ethnic nationality from the Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.

They therefore argued that the purported appointment of the 4th Defendant as chairman of the Governing Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) is not in line with the provision of the Delta State Oil Production Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) Law, 2015 (as amended in 2019).

“That it will be in the interest of justice for this court to make an order compelling the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Defendants from validating the purported appointment of the 4th Defendant as Chairman of the Governing Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

“That the grant of this originating summons will not prejudice the Defendants”.

In the Motion On Notice in support of the application, the claimant stated that the 1st Defendant who has earlier appointed one Godwin Ebosa representing the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality as Chairman in the Governing Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) cannot validly appoint the 4th Defendant as Chairman in the Governing Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) who is also from the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality.

Consequently, they pray the court for a declaration that by virtue of the provisions of Section 15(1), (2) a & b and (3) of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Law, 2015 (as amended in 2019) the 1st Defendant cannot nominate for appointment any person as a member of the Governing Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) whose ethnic nationality produced the immediate past Board Member of the same office.

The claimant also sought a declaration that by virtue of Sections 2 and 7(1) a, b & c and (2) of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Law, 2015 (as amended in 2019) the 4th Defendant is not qualified to be appointed as Chairman in the Governing Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) whose ethnic nationality has produced the immediate past Chairman of the Governing Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

“A declaration that by virtue of Sections 2, 7(1) a, b & c and (2) and Section 15(1), (2) a & b and (3) of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Law, 2015 (as amended in 2019) no Ethnic Nationality that has produced or is producing either the Chairman, the Managing Director or the Executive Directors cannot succeed itself without following the rotational circle as provided in the Law.

Meanwhile, the claimant has ask the court to grant an “ORDER Of INTERLOCUTORY INJUNCTION restraining the 4rd Defendant from acting in the capacity of the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) or whatsoever subject to the provisions of the Law relating to the rotational circle as provided in the Law pending the determination of the substantive suit.

“AN ORDER OF COURT compelling the 1st Defendant to withdraw the appointment of the 4th Defendant forthwith who is not qualified to hold office as Chairman of the Governing Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) whose ethnic nationality has produced the immediate past Chairman of the Governing Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) pending the determination of the substantive suit..

“AN ORDER OF COURT compelling the 1st Defendant to comply with the provisions of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Law, 2015 (as amended in 2019) in constituting the new Governing Board Members of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) pending the determination of the substantive suit”.

In an affidavit in support of Motion On Notice deposed to by Stella Ebie, on behest of the claimant, the rights group argued that the 1st Defendant forwarded the names of the said appointees referred to in Paragraph 11 of this Affidavit to the Delta State House of Assembly for confirmation and were accordingly confirmed in exercise of its legislative powers on the 26th day of August, 2015.

“That a notice of the said confirmation was published in the Vanguard newspaper of 27th August, 2015 edition at page 12. A Certified True Copy of the said Vanguard Newspaper publication is hereby attached and referred to as EXHIBIT CH 2.

“That the immediate past chairman of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Developing Commission (DESOPADEC) Governing Board, Mr. Godwin Ebosa who was appointed by the 1st Defendant in 2015 is from Itsekiri Ethnic nationality from Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.

“That the new chairman nominee who is the 3rd Defendant in this matter is also from the same Itsekiri Ethnic nationality from the Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.

They, therefore maintained that the purported appointment of the 4th Defendant as chairman in the Governing Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) is not in line with the provision of the Delta State Oil Production Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) Law, 2015 (as amended in 2019).

“That it will be in the interest of justice for this court to make an order restraining the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Defendants from validating the purported appointment of the 4th Defendant as Chairman in the Governing Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The defendants have within thirty (30) days after service of the summons on them, inclusive of the day of such service to cause an appearance to be entered for them and file any other process in response to the summons which is issued upon the application of the Originating Summons, failure to which, such orders will be made and proceeding may be taken as the Judge may think just and expedient.

The matter is slated for hearing at the High Court of Delta State sitting in Warri on the 19th of August, 2019.

In a related development, alleged fraud running into billions of naira perpetuated by the immediate past board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, have been shrouded in secrecy, aljaziral reporters Online can report.

Sources from the state disclosed that the issue of alleged mismanagement of funds in DESOPADEC which have been within the corridors of power in the State for weeks have been the basis for the governor’s recent speeches over prudence and accountability by political office holders in the state.

But a top official of government told one of our correspondent that Governor Okowa would never allow recklessness or administrative rascality in any government agency or parastatal, maintaining that it was not possible that the Governor is aware of any alleged misappropriation of funds in the oil commission and swept it under the carpet.