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Double Dealing is the Real Reason Seplat Sack Austin Avuru

The last appears not to have been heard about the removal of Mr. Austin Avuru as a Non-Executive Director of Seplat Energy Plc. by the Board of the company, as emerging facts show that the businessman had in March 2020 acquired interest in another oil firm, Chappal Petroleum Development Company LTD, as a founding shareholder and Director even while holding sway as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Seplat, but failed to declare same.

Avuru equally accepted an appointment as Chairman of Chappal Petroleum Development while still holding the position Non-Executive Director of Seplat, which he did not also declare to the Board of the latter.

Both amounted to a conflict of interest in connection with Seplat’s business, especially in its planned acquisition of some Nigerian assets in which ExxonMobil Corporation has interests.

The establishment of the undeclared conflict of interest, which is considered both unethical and inimical to the business interests of Seplat, it was further gathered, led to the resignation of Mr. Xavier Rolet as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Seplat.

It is recalled that Seplat had in a 23rd December 2021 corporate filing to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX) announced that its Board had on 22nd December 2021 terminated Avuru’s appointment as Non-Executive Director of the company.

According to Seplat’s Director, Legal and Company Secretary Edith Onwuchekwa, the action was hinged on “breaches of the company’s corporate governance policies and his fiduciary duties”.

“In line with Seplat Energy’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, Platform Petroleum Limited has been asked to nominate a candidate for his replacement on the board, and a further announcement will be made in due course,” the statement read.

However, in a swift reaction, Avuru, through his lawyers rejected the sack, saying it not only breached due process, but also an attempt to tarnish his reputation.

In a statement by Osaro Eghobamien and Folabi Kuti, Perchstone & Graeys, the law firm representing the embattled oil entrepreneur, said the action was aimed at “damaging his hard-earned reputation” relaying on “fictitious allegations”.

Although the law firm’s statement instructively admitted that Avuru had taken a dignified position on the issues leading ‘ill-advised action’ by him, it did not give details of the said “ill-advised action’.

It described Seplat’s action as a “dramatic summersault”, given its alleged January 9, 2021 letter “urging our client to act with confidentiality”, which the law firm said was customary to its client’s “impeccable character”.

It is recalled that Austin Avuru, who is a co-founder of Seplat, had retired CEO of the company on July 31, 2020, but remained on the Board of the Company as a “Non-Executive Director (as appointed in October 2020) until December 22, 2021 when the appointment was terminated by Seplat’s Board over what it described as “breaches of the company’s corporate governance policies and his fiduciary duties”.

The meat of the matter

By the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, directors owe fiduciary obligations to their company. They are duty bound, among others, to promote the success of the company for the benefit of its members, avoid conflict of interest, declare interest in any proposed transaction, and, in fact, exercise their powers and discharge their duties honestly, in good faith and in the best interests of the company. They are equally expected to exercise that degree of care, diligence and skill, which a reasonably prudent director would exercise in comparable circumstances.

Specifically, Section 305 of CAMA 2020 provides: “A director of a company stands in a fiduciary relationship towards the company and shall observe utmost good faith towards the company in any transaction with it or on its behalf.

“A director shall act at all times in what he believes to be the best interests of the company as a whole so as to preserve its assets, further its business, and promote the purposes for which it was formed, and in such manner as a faithful, diligent, careful and ordinarily skilful director would act in the circumstances”.

Section 306 provides: “The personal interest of a director shall not conflict with any of his duties as a director under this Act.

“A director shall not—(a) in the course of management of affairs of the company, or (b) in the utilisation of the company’s property, make any secret profit or achieve other unnecessary benefits”.

Also, Section 308 provides: “Every director of a company shall exercise the powers and discharge the duties of his office honestly, in good faith and in the best interests of the company, and shall exercise that degree of care, diligence and skill which a reasonably prudent director would exercise in comparable circumstances.

“Failure to take reasonable care in accordance with the provisions of this section is a ground for an action for negligence and breach of duty”.

Likewise, the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance (NCCG) 2018, makes it mandatory for a Managing Director (MD)/CEO to declare any conflict of interest.

“The MD/CEO should declare any conflict of interest on appointment and annually thereafter. In the event that he becomes aware of any potential conflict of interest at any other point, he should disclose this to the Board at the first possible opportunity. Actions following disclosure should be subject to the Company’s Conflict of Interest Policy”, it states clearly.

However, a search at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) shows that Chappal Petroleum Development Company Ltd., which was incorporated in 2020 with a registered office at No. 12, Oluwole Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, and with N10 million authorised share capital divided into 10 million shares of N1 each, has Austin Avuru as a founding Director.

Section C of the incorporation document (Particulars of First Directors and their Consent Act) names Avuru Ojunekwu Augustine, male, born on August 17 1958 and with international passport number B50004012 as number one on the list. The other founding Director is Imevbore Victor Ohozie.

Also, the form containing names and addresses of subscribers dated February 21, 2020 has Avuru, Imevbore, and SLG Chemicals Ltd as the shares subscribers.

One of the major worries, however, is that Avuru was still the CEO of Seplat at the time and both Chappal and Seplat operate in the same industry. The other, according to available documents, is that he was appointed the Chairman of Chappal, while still a Non-Executive Director of Seplat. Even more worrisome, is that both companies were competing for assets in which ExxonMobil has interest. Chappal’s bid for the said asset has been well reported in the media.

Following the discovery of the undeclared conflict of interest, Seplat instituted an enquiry where Avuru had on December 1, 2020, reportedly admitted his conflict of interest in Seplat’s business, especially in the proposed acquisition of some Nigerian assets in which ExxonMobil Corporation has interests. He equally allegedly confessed on the same day to his appointment as Chairman of Chappal as well as to Chappal’s invitation by ExxonMobil Corporation for discussions and likely access to their database in respect of the said assets it intended to dispose.

The Board was therefore said to have been very peeved by the fact that Avuru had already acquired interest in Chappal as a Director and founding shareholder in March 2020, which was nine clear months as at the December 2020 enquiry and while he was also the CEO of Seplat. He was also serving as Chairman of Chappal while serving as Non-Executive Director of Seplat

Seplat Board was particularly miffed by the fact that he failed to declare his conflict of interest to the company while he sat Seplat’s highly strategic meetings, including meetings where the bid for the ExxonMobil Corporation assets, which Chappal was also biding for, were discussed.

This is therefore seen as flagrant corporate espionage and breach of trust, Seplat conflict of interest policy, Nigeria Code of Corporate Governance (NCCG), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Code, and provisions of CAMA 2020. This is so because whereas Avuru knew that Seplat where he was a Non-Executive Director at the time was equally interested in the assets, he participated in Seplat Board’s discussions relating to Seplat’s bid for the assets in spite of his clear conflict of interest, which he did not declare.

Besides, as a company that enjoys a standard listing on the London Stock Exchange’s Main Market, Seplat is obliged to voluntarily conform with the United Kingdom’s Code of Corporate Governance (“UK Code”) to which it had committed ab initio.

Just as the NCCG, by the provisions of the UK Code, it is expected of directors of Board to maintain highest ethos and integrity and comply with the company law of in their operations.

Meanwhile, the development took a major tool last year as Mr. Rolet, an Independent Non-Executive Director of Seplat, stepped down, citing personal reasons without giving details.

In a notice signed by the Seplat’s Director, Legal and Company Secretary, Mrs Onwuchekwa, and filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), the company said: “The Board of Seplat Energy Plc today announces that Mr. Xavier Rolet, KBE, an Independent Non-Executive Director (“INED”), has decided to step down from the Board of Seplat Energy effective 11th November 2021 for personal reasons.’’

However, sources say Rolet’s resignation was not unconnected with what individual members of the Board see as a major betrayal of trust. The ExxonMobil Corporation asset is a major one that could further raise the profile of the company if successfully bided for, but have been seriously jeopardised.

Shell and ExxonMobil Corporation lead the International Oil Companies (IOCs) seeking to divest from their onshore and shallow water assets in Nigeria. The American oil giant, which boasts of over 100 oil platforms in Nigeria is also seeking to divest from upstream assets not only in Nigeria, but equally in the US Gulf of Mexico, the UK North Sea, Vietnam, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Malaysia, Indonesia, Romania, and Azerbaijan to raise USD25 billion by 2025 from such divestments.

Whereas Seplat had last December confirmed through Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Emeka Onwuka, the company’s bid for ExxonMobil assets in conjunction with a partner, media reports are rife that ex-Seplat Non-Executive Director, Avuru had launched a rival bid for the ExxonMobil licenses.

–Nairametrics

FG Deactivates Sowore’s National ID Card, Permanent Voter Card, International Passport

The Federal Government has reportedly deactivated the biometric identification of the publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore.
While the reason for the deactivation is yet to be made open, Naija News understands that Sowore’s documents allegedly deactivated include his national identity card, permanent voter card, international passport and driver license.

The development was disclosed in a publication by Sahara Reporters on Wednesday, January 12.

Naija News understands that the deactivation means the former presidential candidate would hence not be able to use any of the national documents to carry out any transaction within and outside the country as the cards cannot be read biometrically.

It was gathered that President Muhammadu Buhari-led government had recently attempted to freeze Sowore’s bank account domiciled with Guaranty Trust Bank.

It could also be recalled that the Department of State Services, DSS had in 2019 frozen the activist’s account, alleged Sowore had received huge funds from the United Arab Emirates to overthrow the Buhari regime.

The allegation was later dropped when the DSS realised Sowore had never been to the United Arab Emirate, Naija News understands.

In December 2021, the court vindicated Sowore against the DSS after the agency seized his mobile phones and was awarded monetary damages of an N2million.

The DSS had sometimes accused the activist of planning to overthrow Buhari’s government by calling for a revolution.

The government had since secured a court order that confined Sowore to Abuja, Naija News reports.

BREAKING: Otunba Alao-Akala, Former Oyo Governor, Is Dead

Alao-Akala, a former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, is dead. Details of his death are sketchy but sources close to the politician confirmed it…

The politician, who had been battling terminal ailment for a while, died in his Ogbomoso country home, on Wednesday morning, according to sources.

A top source in the All Progressives Congress (APC) who confirmed his death to Daily Trust on Wednesday morning, said he died in his room.

“It is true that Oga is dead. He died in the early hours of Wednesday in his room in Ogbomoso. He was full of life last night. In fact, I head he was playing with his children before he went to bed. We are in a mourning mood now,” he said.

Akala was the governor of the state between 2007 and 2011.

Born on June 3, 1950, at Ogbomoso in the Ogbomoso North Local Government Area of Oyo State, Alao-Akala had his elementary school at Osupa Baptist Day School, Ogbomoso before proceeding to Kamina Barracks Middle School, 5th Battalion of Infantry in Tamale, Ghana.

This is the third known death of a prominent Ogbomosho native in a month.

On December 12, 2021, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi, the Soun of Ogbomoso, passed on.

On January 8, 2022, Prof Taibat Danmole, his daughter who was a lecturer at the Lagos State University (LASU), also died.

The deceased, who was a professor of education was married to another university don, Prof. Hakeem Danmole, who is the Dean College of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin.

BREAKING: EFCC Arraigns Mompha For Fresh N6b

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a Dubai-based internet celebrity, Ismailia Mustapha, aka Mompha and his firm, Ismalob Global Investment Limited for alleged money laundering to the tune of over N6billion.

The agency arraigned Mompha and Ismalob before Justice Mojisola Dada of an Ikeja Special Offences Court on eight counts bordering on the offences.

The defendants were accused of conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activity, retention of such funds, transfer of funds for a suspect Olayinka Jimoh a.k.a Nappy Boy, and unlawful transfer of funds for a record label, among others.

The sums named in the charge seen by The Nation are N5,998,884.653.18, N32million, N120million and N15,960,000, totalling over N6billion.

The EFCC also alleged that Mompha concealed his interest in expensive wristwatches and other movable assets valued at over N70million.

Mompha pleaded “Not guilty” to the eight counts while Islamob Limited (represented by Mompha) was named in and pleaded “not guilty” to the first six counts.

Mompha is also standing trial at the Federal High Court in Lagos alongside Ismalob Global Investment Limited on an amended 22-count charge bordering on cyberfraud and money laundering to the tune of N32.9bn brought against him by the EFCC.

He pleaded not guilty to each of the counts.

Details shortly…

NIA storms Peoples Gazette’s head office Over Leaked Secret Memo on DG

Operatives of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) on Monday stormed the head office of Peoples Gazette in Abuja, demanding to see the online newspaper’s managing editor, a reporter and bearing a letter that threatened “other options” should the journalists fail to cooperate with stipulation for the source of a confidential memo that was published in December.

The Gazette had obtained — and published in a series of three articles — a memo that spy chiefs at the foreign intelligence office had written to President Muhammadu Buhari, warning him against retaining Rufai Abubakar as the director-general on the grounds that he lacked intellectual and physiological rigour for the position.

On Monday, nearly three weeks after the articles, four officers arrived in a white Toyota Hilux truck shortly after 1:00 p.m., intimidated security personnel at the gate and forced their way into our offices on the second floor.

The agents from the nation’s external security service then demanded to see The Gazette’s Managing Editor Samuel Ogundipe and reporter Hillary Essien. One of the officers, who adorned a cream kaftan with a matching cap, gave a letter to The Gazette’s front desk staff. Pages of the letter were subsequently scanned and transmitted to The Gazette’s lawyers in Lagos.

The officers left after they realised that Mr Ogundipe and Ms Essien were not at the office, but indicated in their letter that they will make additional efforts to realise the agency’s mission.

The three-page letter described the content of the memo written to the president by the directors as being “full of falsehood,” adding that “it is even worse that Peoples Gazette did not deem it necessary to validate the allegations in such a letter with the other party before running to press.”

The NIA, in the letter signed for the DG by Amstrong Machunga, asked The Gazette to reveal the identities of the officers responsible for the memo and its disclosure.

“It should be on the record that the NIA, as a Secret Service, is sensitive to undue publicity, but not shy of accountability and ready to engage on any issue of concern with responsible media outlets. The malicious publication under reference falls in the category of undue publicity and is most unwelcome.

“Peoples Gazette, therefore, has to come clean not the falsehood it published and prove that it is not working for people with ulterior negative motives against the NIA, by forwarding to us a copy of the letter from which the publication emanated and identify signatories to the purported letter.

“This could set the stage for engagement and resolution of the damage that has been caused to the image of the Director General of the NIA and the organisation. Failure to take advantage of this opportunity may lead to activation of other options to seek redress,” the letter, dated December 23, 2021, but delivered today, said.

The Gazette made efforts to obtain comments from the NIA prior to running the articles but received no response. However, presidential spokesman Garba Shehu acknowledged the letter and said the president had addressed the concerns raised by the directors.

The Gazette stands by its story and urged Mr Abubakar and the NIA management to focus on addressing the protests of the officers who wrote the letters rather than deploying resources towards unearthing their identities.

“The NIA directors recognised the risks involved when they pushed that confidential memo to the president,” Mr Ogundipe said. “Our newspaper will not take part in breaking that confidentiality.”

“Mr Abubakar should clear the air on whether or not he failed promotional exams on three different occasions, as well as the allegations of corruption and nepotism we saw in the memo,” the Managing Editor added.

Chidi Odinkalu, a constitutional law expert and former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, said the NIA had breached the Nigerian Constitution by sending its agents to The Gazette’s office in the manner it did.

“The NIA acted unlawfully,” Mr Odinkalu said by telephone on Monday afternoon. “If they have anything, they should collaborate with the State Security Service or the Nigeria Police Force who have the responsibility of internal security operations and law enforcement, respectively.”

Mr Odinkalu said the NIA’s move against The Gazette underscored the growing threats to journalism practice under the Buhari regime. It came a year after the regime blocked The Gazette’s website in Nigeria after a report exposed the dwindling capacity incompetence of the president’s chief of staff Ibrahim Gambari.

Buhari Terminates Atiku’s Company Contract With NPA

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has suffered a terrible business blow in the hands of the federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari.
This is as the President has terminated the contract won by Integrated Logistics Services (Intels) to carry out the restoration of the boat pilotage for the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

Naija News reports that Intels, which is partly owned by Abubakar and an Italian national, Gabriele Volpi, won the pilotage contract in January 2021.

According to ThisDay, President Buhari cancelled the contract following legal advice from the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

The newspaper added that the Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), and Acting Director-General, Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) also advised the president on the matter.

In a letter dated January 7, 2022, and signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari, President Buhari directed the termination of Intels contract with the NPA.

Buhari’s letter addressed to Malami and the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, directed that the procurement process initiated by NPA be forwarded immediately to the BPP for action within 60 days to avoid further loss of revenue.

The President added that the Ministry of Transportation should present a memorandum on the procurement process to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for consideration.

He, however, directed the NPA to ensure that the sanctity of the agreements with respect to Onne 4 (Berths 9, 10 & 11) be maintained, as there is no subsisting contract with Intels for their utilisation.

BREAKING: Former Nigerian leader, Ernest Shonekan is Dead

Former Nigerian President, Chief Ernest Shonekan is dead.

Shonekan who headed the interim national government that succeeded the junta of General Ibrahim Babangida, has died.

Shonekan died at Evercare hospital, in the Lekki area of Lagos state, at the age of 85.

NIMC Server Hacked? – FG Reacts To Viral Reports

The Federal Government has reacted to viral reports claiming the nation’s National Identity Management Commission, NIMC server was hacked.
Naija News reports that a cyber-tech who identified himself simply as Sam, on Monday claimed in an article that he hacked into the nation’s NIMC server and stole over three million National Identification Number, NIN of Nigerians.

Sam’s claim has stirred a barrage of reactions among Nigerians on social media, as many berated the nation’s cyber security system.

The hacker had boasted in his post on infosecwriteups.com, that he got access to ‘juice’ on the Nigerian Government agency’s server and that he could go ahead to do whatever he desired with the sensitive data at his disposal.

Reacting, however, in a statement on Tuesday, the NIMC authority said its servers were not hacked but are fully optimised at the highest international security levels.

According to the Director-General of NIMC, Engr. Aliyu Aziz, the organization has built a robust and credible system for Nigeria’s identity database, therefore it couldn’t be possible for some hackers to have access to details of citizens.

Naija News understands that the official statement quoted Aziz as saying that the commission, as the custodian of the foundational identity database for Africa’s most populous nation, has gone to great lengths to ensure the nation’s database is adequately secured and protected especially given the spate of cyber-attacks on networks across the world.

The statement read partly: “Over the years, through painstaking efforts, NIMC has built a robust and credible system for Nigeria’s identity database. The Commission and its infrastructure are certified to the ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System Standard which are revalidated annually”.

The statement signed by NIMC’s head of corporate communications, Kayode Adegoke, explained that the possession of an individual’s NIN slip does not amount to access to the National Identity Database.

According to Aziz, NIMC had ensured maximum security of its systems and database because of the critical nature of the identity data which the Commission collects, manages and maintains as critical assets for the country.

The Commission assured the public that it will continue to uphold the highest ethical standards in data security on behalf of the Federal Government and ensure compliance with data protection and privacy regulations.

The NIMC Director-General explained that the Commission does not use nor store information on the AWS cloud platform or any public cloud despite the usefulness of the NIMC Mobile App available to the public for accessing their NIN on the go.

It noted that the NIMC MobileID application has no database within the app, nor does it store information in flat files.

The Commission has made this app available to the public to reduce and eliminate any delay or challenge(s) in accessing one’s NIN.

The statement added: “The public should be aware that the possession of a NIN slip does not amount to access to the National Identity Database, but that the NIN slip is just a physical assertion of a person’s identity. Under the data protection regulations, no licensed partner/vendor is authorized to scan and store copies of individuals NIN slips but rather authenticate the NIN using the approved and authorized verification platforms/channels provided.

“As part of its policies to protect personally identifiable information stored in the National Identity Database, the public may recall that the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy through NIMC launched the Tokenization features of the NIN verification service. This solution is to safeguard the personal data of individuals and ensure continuous user rights and privacy.”

The commission commended the concerted efforts of several Federal Government agencies such as Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Immigration Services, Pension Commission (PenCom), the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Correctional Service, the Nigeria Customs, and a host of others, who have streamlined their services in line with the use of National Identification Number (NIN) as the valid means of identification.

ShopRite, Banks, Shops Close As Gunshots Rock Enugu

Gunmen suspected to be enforcing sit-at-home order, Monday, forced businesses to shut in Enugu metropolis.

The affected businesses include ShopRite on Abakaliki road, banks, shops and schools. Motorists, who had begun the day’s activities, were also forced to park.

A security man at ShopRite told our correspondent that, “We opened but around 9:30am, we began to hear that gunmen were shooting at Garki. So the management asked us to close.”

A customer, Rose, said “I was inside the premises of ShopRite shopping. Suddenly, we were asked to leave.”

A shop owner opposite Parklane, Nkechi Eze, told our correspondent that, “We have closed for the day. No gunshot took place here, but we were told that they were moving around, chasing people away.”

It was gathered that the gunmen stormed Garki early in the morning and started shooting sporadically.

A trader said, “We thought the sit-at-home has ended. It was terrible. I don’t know if anybody was injured, but we managed to escape.”

Police and military operatives were seen moving round the metropolis to ensure orderliness.

As at the time of filing this report, the city of Enugu was deserted.

The sit-at-home order on Mondays was initially pronounced by the Indigenous People of Biafra to press home the release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. He I facing trial on felony, jumping bail, among others.

However, IPOB has since cancelled the order.

A security expert, who did not want his name mentioned, said the enforcement of the order would likely be renewed following President Buhari’s reneging from using political solutions to settle Kanu’s matter.

A survey conducted by our correspondent shows that no police checkpoints were manned around the metropolis.

Port Harcourt Soot: Gov Wike Declares 19 Illegal Oil Refinery Owners Wanted (Full List)

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has declared 19 illegal oil refinery kingpins in the state wanted.

The Governor in a statewide broadcast on Sunday accused the identified persons of causing the black soot which has constituted both an environmental and health challenge in the state capital of Port Harcourt.

Apart from the illegal refiners, Naija News reports Wike also ordered the Rivers State Head of Service to query a Director in the State Ministry of Energy, Mr. Temple Amakiri whom he accused of aiding the illegal oil bunkering activities.

Amakiri is to be handed over to the Polic for prosecution, the Governor ordered.

Wike in his speech on Sunday said the details of the identified illegal refinery owners has been submitted to the Rivers Police Command, urging those on the list to present themselves willingly to the security agents.

“We have also identified those behind illegal bunkering activities in Okrika communities, Port Harcourt Township, Rivers South-East and Rivers South-West Senatorial Districts and their names would be soon published and declared wanted, if they fail to voluntarily report to the Police,” the Governor said.

The persons declared wanted by Wike are: Mr. Azubike Amadi, OSPAC Commander, Ogbogoro community and Chairman of Akpor Central OSPAC; Mr. India, of Rumuolumeni community and Chairman of Oil bunkering Association in Akpor kingdom; Mr. Okey who is in charge of Oil bunkering in Rumupareli; Mr. Anderson, who is in charge of oil bunkering activities in Ogbogoro community; Amadi Gift of Ogbogoro community; Azeruowa of Ogbogoro community; and Kingsley Egbula, also of Ogbogoro community.

The others alleged to be in charge of oil bunkering activities in Isiokpo community of Rivers are: Mr. Kemkom Azubike, Mr. Mezu Wabali, Mr. Chigozi Amadi, Mr. Opurum Owhondah, Mr. Bakasi Obodo ,Mr. Opus, Mr. Galaxi Mas, Mr. Chioma, Mr. Ogondah, Mr. Soldier, Mr. Chefo, and Nkasi.

While affirming the total ban on the use of motorcycles in Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt councils, Governor Wike also accused some traditional rulers of allowing street trading to go on unchecked in their domains because of money they are collecting from the traders.

He threatened that if such monarchs don’t bring the situation under control, they should be prepared to be removed from office.

Those in the category according to the Governor are the traditional leaders, including members of Community Development Committees and youth leaders of Rumuola, Rumuogba and Okoro-nu-odo communities.

“Consequently, I hereby direct the traditional leadership of Rumuola, Rumuogba and Okoro-nu-odo communities to immediately stop all street trading activities around, in or under the flyovers in their respective domains or be deposed, arrested and prosecuted.

“Similarly, the traditional leadership of Rumuwoji Mgbuduku, Obiekwe, Nkpolu-Oroworokwo, Abali, Rebisi, Rumukalagbor-Oroworokwo and Ezimgbu communities are hereby directed to enforce the ban and ensure that no form of trading takes place around and under the flyovers located in their communities,” he ordered.

Governor Wike also directed the enforcement of a ban on the use of umbrella and table trading stands in the entire old and new GRAs of Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City, Eleme councils.

In his view, criminals are using the means to monitor the movement of important persons in the society.