CONCORD ONLINE NEWS

         Queen Erediauwa           Cross section of personalities at the event  Hendrix Oliomogbe Queen (Oloi) Evbagharu Erediauwa may have been gone for 10 years but like a true heroine in that folk story, her name has continued to echo. Her good deeds did during her sojourn here on Mother Earth were certainly not interred with her remains.  In commemoration of the legacy of the people's queen as she was fondly called, friends and royal family members gathered in Benin last weekend for the third anniversary of Oloi (Queen) Evbagharu Erediauwa Foundation (OEEF) and the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of her transition. OLEEF was established in 2013, seven years after the queen consort passed away on August 20, 2016, to preserve and celebrate her enduring legacy of compassion, service, and commitment to community well-being. Her Royal Highness Oloi (Queen) Evbagharu Erediauwa (the Obarisiuwa N’Erie) was one of the be...

Dr. Oshiomhole surrounded by staff of Ministry of Health during the birthday celebration  Hendrix Oliomogbe  The  Edo State commissioner of  Health, Dr. Cyril Adams Oshiomhole has reiterated the determination of the government to strengthen synergy with development partners to guarantee adequate funding of the health sector for efficient service delivery.  Speaking Monday in his office during a surprise birthday party hosted by staff  including heads of agencies of the ministry, Dr. Oshiomhole used the opportunity to reinstate Governor Monday Okpebholo's commitment to providing affordable and accessible health care services to Edo people. He disclosed that the state government has established a healthy relationship with development partners, and donor agencies in the health sector, including the world Health Organisation (WHO), resulting in the funding of its programmes by the international body.  While reaffirming his unwavering commitment to the fait...

Hendrix Oliomogbe  The Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has vowed to mobilize all its progressive affiliate unions to demonstrate against attempt by the Edo State House of Assembly to tamper with the Edo State House of Assembly and Judiciary Autonomy Law, 2021. A statement Monday in Benin City by the caretaker committee chairman, Prof. Monday Lewis Igbafen reiterated its full solidarity with the Edo State Chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) in its ongoing protest. The caretaker committee chairman reiterated the determination of the union to sustain the peaceful resistance should there be any attempt to gamble with the autonomy law. Prof. Igbafen , a lawyer recalled that the Supreme Court of Nigeria spoke unequivocally in 2022 when it nullified Executive Order 10 and upheld the autonomy of state legislatures and the judiciary.  Continuing, the statement added that In doing so, the court affirmed Section 121(3) of the 1999 Constitution, ...

.     HOSTCOM members with the Chief Judge (m) during the visit  Hendrix Oliomogbe  The chairman of the Edo State chapter of Host Community of Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM), Hon. Kenneth Aduwaye has lauded the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa for the establishment of the special court to handle cases related to Cultism kidnappings in the State.   The court which took off on July 1st, 2026 was set up Justice Okungbowa at the request of Governor Monday Okpebholo following an upsurge in cases of violent kidnappings for ransom. Hon. Aduwaye, who spoke recently in Benin City during a courtesy visit to the chief judge said that the initiative by Governor Okpebholo was very timely considering the activities of daredevil kidnappers. The new special criminal court has further brought peace to the various host communities, noting that Edo people can now sleep with their two eyes close as a result of the  initiative. The HOSTCOM chairman further co...

  Hendrix Oliomogbe  The Edo State council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has vowed to resist a bill presently before members of the Edo State House of Assembly, which seeks to repeal or/and amend the  Assembly and Judiciary Autonomy Law of 2021. A statement Thursday in Benin City by the caretaker committee chairman, Prof. Monday Igbafen maintained that the development is a dangerous setback to the struggle for financial and administrative autonomy of the legislature and judiciary in the country. Prof. Igbafen emphasized: “Any Bill seeking to amend or ticker with the autonomy law that would compromise the independence of the judiciary and legislature must be resisted. The control of the purse and personnel of the judiciary and legislature by the executive is antithetical to judicial and legislative impartiality in the state." Prof. Igbafen called on the new Speaker Yekini Idiaye to immediately halt the move by lawmakers to repeal or amend the Law of 2021. He describ...

  By Doris Ogbeifun The key duty of government is to deliver security and welfare to its citizens as enshrined in section 14(2)(b), section 16, and section 17 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. To ensure quality and effective service delivery to the people, the federal government employs dedicated institutional instruments, monitoring context to provide good governance and dividends of democracy.  Against this backdrop, section 27(3) of the “Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 empowers ICPC to examine reports or information viz-a-viz suspected crimes as provided under the Act that are “otherwise received” by an officer. With a statutory focus on addressing corruption, bribery, and abuse of office within public sector institutions”. Therefore, it suffices to say that ICPC operates under its statutory obligation to prevent and investigate all malfeasance across the public service. This decree validates the creation of the Co...

Hendrix Oliomogbe  In a move which may not be unconnected with the feud  between The Speaker of the Eso State House of Assembly, Mr. Blessing Agbebaku Monday in Benin City reigned from office in a move which sources say may not be unconnected with a raging feud between him and an influential aide to Governor Monday Okpebholo. In place of Mr. Agbebaku, who stands suspended pending the outcome of investigations of financial improreity and poor leadership against him, is Mr. Yekini Idiaye from Akoko Edo Constituency I. The ex-speaker was slammed with an indefinite suspension following his resignation from office over allegations of corruption and poor leadership. Mr. ‎Agbebaku from Owan West Constituency  resigned  during plenary, shortly after reports emerged of a plot by lawmakers to Kickstart impeachment proceedings against him,  ‎The immediate past speaker, formerly of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was elected as speaker during ex-Governor Godwin Obaseki's...