News
Koko Community In Crisis Over Leadership Tussle, N567M Fraud
By Ikhili Monday EBALU, Benin City
Hostility among members of koko Community Management Authority(KCMA), heightened recently in koko, the administrative headquarters of Warri North Local Government councils when some suspected political thugs attacked executive members of KCMA, destroyed properties worth several millions over the leadership of the KCMA.
The ongoing face off between youths of the community over the leadership of the community had sparked up a protest in the sleepy town of koko on Monday, when hundreds of irate youths stormed the koko Divisional Police headquarters in a commando style and attacked legally elected members of the KCMA.
The KCMA executive members led by its Secretary, one Mimi Solomon , had gone to perfect the bail conditions of two elders in the community allegedly arrested on the orders of a rival political group, said they were ambushed at the koko police station by some political rivals in the community and their thugs.
When National Trail visited the community, Solomon who said he narrowly escaped death by the whiskers and several other members of KCMA, was in critical condition following series of machete cut inflicted on him and receiving medical treatment at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital in Oghara.
He alleged that armed youths in their hundreds, led by David Onieyeburutan and Yinka Atie, assaulted them, in a bid to over throw the leadership of the KCMA.
Solomon said the youths stormed the koko police station under the watchful eyes of police officers and brutally attacked them with different weapons without any reprisal attack by the executive members.
Solomon explained that two Elders, namely Papa Richmond Atsenuwa aged 94 years and Papa Emmanuel Kpenose were detained by the police on the orders of the youths, who are determined to foment trouble in the community following the investigation of their alleged embezzlement of the community funds amounting to N567 million.
“My Camry car was destroyed beyond repair, several youths in the premises of koko police station, sustained various degrees of injuries, and others maimed but no lives were lost.” Solomon said.
According to Solomon, “We have been probing the fraudulent activities of these youths in KCMA but they want to cover their fraudulent activities by taking control of the community leadership by force. These youths are operating with the backing of some notable Itsekiri leaders and lawmaker and anybody who resist them, they come after violently.
“The elders they arrested were not supporting them. These elders backed the present executive and because the elders frowned at their illegal actions, and were obviously against them in their plot to forcefully take over the community leadership, they orchestrated their arrest.”
However, factional members of KCMA, David Onieyeburutan and Yinka Atie, were at large when newsman made frantic efforts to contact them on the alleged attack on members and financial misappropriation leveled against them.
At the time of filing this report, the detained elders were granted bail.
Meanwhile an effort to reach the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to comment on the issue was unsuccessful as he was said to be out of town in the heat of the crisis.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain the status quo in a dispute over the party’s candidates emerging from the Benue State APC primaries for the 2027 general election.
The order was made on Thursday by Justice Inyang Ekwo during proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, filed by Engr. Sesugh Akaagba and other aggrieved APC candidates from Benue State against the APC and INEC.
The plaintiffs had, through an ex parte motion filed on July 5, 2026, sought six interim reliefs, including an order restraining the APC from substituting its validly nominated candidates in Benue State through its June 29, 2026 correspondence, or any subsequent communication, to INEC, pending determination of the substantive suit.
They also sought an order compelling the APC to immediately transmit to INEC the names of candidates validly nominated during the primaries monitored by the electoral commission.
When the matter first came up on July 8, 2026, the court declined to grant the interim application immediately, directing both APC and INEC to appear and respond before any decision was taken. The matter was adjourned to July 16.
At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel representing the APC and INEC were present in court, while the plaintiffs were represented by Mohammed Ndarani, SAN, alongside his legal team.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that since issues had been joined by the parties particularly with INEC now before the court, the defendants were required by law to preserve the subject matter of the litigation pending determination of the substantive suit.
When counsel to the plaintiffs urged the court to caution APC and INEC against taking any further action that could affect the disputed list of candidates, the judge responded that it was “not a matter of advice but of law,” stressing that the defendants were bound to maintain the status quo.
The court consequently restrained APC and INEC from taking any action capable of altering the disputed list of candidates pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The defendants did not object to the restraining order.
At the commencement of proceedings, the court noted that all parties had voluntarily submitted to its jurisdiction by duly filing and exchanging their respective processes.
It held that there was no procedural or jurisdictional impediment to the expeditious determination of the substantive action, and directed that the matter be heard without further delay.
In furtherance of the objective of preserving the res and safeguarding the efficacy of the judicial process, the court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit, restraining any act or omission capable of prejudicing the rights of the parties or rendering the proceedings nugatory.
The court further directed that INEC be served forthwith with the originating and all consequential processes.
The effect of the subsisting order is that INEC is restrained from tampering with the existing list of candidates pending final determination of the suit, and from receiving, recognising, or acting upon any purported substituted list of National Assembly candidates from Benue State submitted by the APC.
The matter was adjourned to July 21, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former First Lady Patience Ibifaka Jonathan recently celebrated a significant family milestone as they attended the graduation ceremony of their son, Ariara Goodluck Jonathan, at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom.
The proud parents joined family members and well-wishers to witness Ariara receive his degree, marking the successful completion of his academic programme. The occasion was filled with joy as the Jonathan family commemorated the achievement, highlighting the importance they place on education and personal development.
The graduation ceremony attracted warm congratulatory messages from friends, associates, and admirers, who wished the graduate continued success in his future endeavours.
The Following names joined the political family of Sen. Dr. George Akume today after leaving the sinking Alia ship .
Under the leadership of Barr. Emmanuel Jime .
The are ;
Chief Nelson Alapa
Douglas pepe SAN senatorial Aspirant zone A,
Engr Peter Ashiekaa
QS Clement Beetseh
Former commissioners
Joy Luga
Ann itodo
Barr martins Shaagee
Miss Dorcas
Prof Usar Joseh
Prof Cephas Tushima
Chief Patrick Idoko
Hon Patience Akor
Hon Fred Idoko
Hon Lawrence Ekpo Onoja Jnr
Hon Andrew Abah
Hon Agbo Innocent Ikwumonu
Hon Simon Omachoko
Hon David Egboja
Dr John Garba
Among together,
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