Unlocking The Force Behind NDDC’s Governing Board – Exclusive Profiles Revealed!
Mr. Chiedu Ebie, the newly appointed Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), is not just a lawyer but a seasoned technocrat who represents transformative leadership for the Niger Delta Region.
His vast experience and innate capabilities make him well-equipped to combat the enormous challenges ahead and leave a monumental impact on the development of the Niger Delta Region.
He was born into the family of Professor John C. Ebie, a respected psychiatrist, academic, and pioneer Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). This rich pedigree is the foundation of his illustrious career, propelling him to amass over three decades of varied experiences from the private and public sectors. With an undergraduate degree in law from the University of Benin, a certificate of call to the Bar from Nigerian Law School, and a postgraduate diploma from the University of London, his academic credentials are just as impressive.
His journey as a corporate and commercial lawyer saw him offering advisory and transactional services to diverse multi-industry clients. Delving into the intricate world of startups, specifically in the oil and gas sector, he managed an indigenous upstream company operating in the Niger Delta.
As a man of results, his tenure in the public sector was marked by efficiency and the breaking down of bureaucratic barriers. He introduced and implemented government policies through processes that translated into a seamless, result-oriented working environment. Before long, recognition came in droves for him, particularly by former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, who lauded him as his most outstanding appointee during the third anniversary of his first tenure when he served as Commissioner for Education (Basic & Secondary). This accolade culminated in a higher responsibility. He became the Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG) during Okowa’s second term. In this dynamic political environment, his calm demeanor, humility, and strategic insight became a source of guidance and stability, further solidifying his reputation as an invaluable asset to Delta State.
Chiedu Ebie: The Technocrat and Beacon of the Niger Delta Region
He stands out as a vivid patch in the vast tapestry of Nigerian governance and development. His humility, unwavering commitment to knowledge, due process, and teamwork place him at the forefront of driving change and making pivotal decisions.
Demonstrating his leadership skills, he co-convened the Delta Unity Group (DUG) aimed at promoting unity and harmony within the political domain of Delta State. This structure was crucial in grassroots mobilization for progressive candidates during the 2023 general elections.
As he takes the reins of the board of NDDC, his vision for the Niger Delta Region is clear and promising. It is a vision that seeks to improve and change the outlook of the Commission while at the same time rebuilding trust and confidence among critical stakeholders.
Chiedu Ebie is a leader, reformist, and architect of progress, ready to shape a brighter and more prosperous future for the Niger Delta Region.
The Nigeria Police Force has paraded four suspects, including two nephrologists, over an alleged organ-harvesting syndicate in Nasarawa State.
According to the police briefing reported by Channels Television, the suspects allegedly targeted vulnerable young men, luring them into kidney donations and paying them far less than the alleged value of the organs.
Police said one victim was allegedly paid about $1,250, while another reportedly received N7 million after his kidney was removed.
Investigators also alleged that forged documents, including birth certificates, affidavits, consent letters and identification documents, were used to facilitate the procedures and conceal the identities of some victims.
One alleged victim recounted during the briefing how he was deceived into donating his kidney.
A representative of Wellington Clinic, where some of the procedures allegedly took place, also addressed the media, claiming that the hospital only provided the platform for the surgeries and was unaware of the alleged illegal activities involving changes to donors’ identities.
The police said investigations are ongoing as they work to identify and apprehend other members of the alleged syndicate.
The lawyer to social media influencer VeryDarkMan, Marshall Abubakar, has alleged that vulnerable young Nigerians are being lured into illegal kidney harvesting schemes by medical practitioners and their agents under the guise of medical procedures.
According to Abubakar, more than 10 young Nigerians may have fallen victim to an alleged illegal kidney harvesting network involving medical practitioners and their agents.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Friday, Abubakar said the case came to light after a young man approached the Martin Luther King Centre, headed by VeryDarkMan, with a medical report indicating that his left kidney was missing.
He said the centre independently verified the report at two hospitals in Abuja, including a government medical facility in Jabi, where the absence of the young man’s left kidney was reportedly confirmed.
He said the young man was allegedly given about $1,300 after the procedure, while his identity was changed and an affidavit obtained in another name in an attempt to conceal the circumstances surrounding the operation.
Abubakar further alleged that other youths had been similarly targeted around Masaka, Nyanya and Mararaba, with some allegedly recruited through agents.
He claimed that kidneys harvested from some victims were subsequently sold for between ₦50 million and ₦70 million, while the donors received only a fraction of the proceeds.
Abubakar described the alleged practice as a criminal enterprise, stressing that lawful organ donation requires informed consent and must not involve financial inducement.
He also alleged that the families of the affected youths were not informed before the procedures and only became aware after the cases emerged. (Channels)
Gunmen have killed the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, Hon. Ishaq Yunusa, and abducted another occupant of his vehicle.
The incident occurred on Thursday along the Itobe-Ochadamu Expressway, around Ojuwo Olijo in Ofu Local Government Area of the state.
The Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Afusat Saliu, confirmed the incident in a statement made available to journalists in Lokoja on Friday.
Saliu said the attack occurred at about 5pm when armed assailants emerged from the surrounding bush and opened fire on motorists.
She said a blue Toyota Corolla, with registration number GWA 636 CH, was subsequently found abandoned along the highway.
“The driver, identified as Hon. Ishaq Yunusa, was found dead in the vehicle, while another occupant was taken into the bush by the assailants,” the statement said.
The police spokesperson said the command, in collaboration with other security agencies, had intensified operations in the area, with personnel combing the surrounding forest to locate and rescue the abducted victim and apprehend the assailants.
She said the deceased had been evacuated to Grimard Hospital, Anyigba, for autopsy, while the command was pursuing all available leads in connection with the incident.
The Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, directed sustained security operations along the affected corridor and ordered efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The command urged motorists and residents along the route to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements to the police or other security agencies.
