Group releases scorecard on Imo lawmakers, urges deeper constituency engagement

The Orluzurumee Youth Assembly, a socio-cultural organisation in Imo West Senatorial District, has released its legislative scorecard evaluating elected lawmakers representing the district from 2023 to 2026 to promote civic accountability.

The National President of the group, Izunna Obiefule, who read the assessment report on Sunday, said the evaluation served as a constructive civic initiative, rather than an instrument of political persecution.

“The adoption of this report is not intended to ridicule, embarrass or persecute any individual,” Obiefule said, emphasising that public office remained a sacred public trust.

According to him, lawmakers were graded on legislative participation, accessibility, transparency, responsiveness to community needs, oversight functions, and tangible youth empowerment initiatives within their constituencies.

He said the group rated the Deputy Speaker of the Imo House of Assembly, Amara Iwuanyanwu, as the best-performing lawmaker in the state assembly, while Udeze Okechukwu, representing Ideato North, received the lowest score.

In the House of Representatives category, he said Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere, representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency, emerged as the top performer, while Rep. Canice Nwachukwu, representing Orlu, Orsu and Oru East Federal Constituency, was ranked the worst-performing representative.

He added that Sen. Osita Izunaso, representing Imo West Senatorial District, scored 50 out of 100, earning what he described as a “minimal pass”.

According to him, these scores are neither a verdict on the worth of any individual nor an endorsement of any political interest, but reflects constituent feedback.

Obiefule said the report revealed widespread constituent concerns regarding inadequate community engagement, limited public accountability, poor communication of legislative activities, and insufficient local empowerment programmes across the senatorial zone.

The president urged underperforming representatives to utilise the assessment as a practical pathway to deepen public trust, expand local initiatives, and embrace greater legislative transparency.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Legislative Performance Assessment Committee, Mr Achi Nnamdi, explained that while lawmakers sponsor bills, legislative success must be measured by how visibly public service impacts ordinary human lives.

“Our vision is an Orlu Zone where legislators regularly engage their constituents, communicate their legislative activities, and attract development projects,” Nnamdi said.

He noted that the committee discovered a major disconnect between several lawmakers and the communities they represent, leading to the high number of failing grades in the report.

Nnamdi stressed that “democracy does not end on election day,” noting that good governance required informed citizens, who constantly monitor public institutions and hold elected leaders accountable with facts.

The chairman emphasised that the assessment established an enduring tradition of civic accountability that would encourage future excellence in public service and deepen democratic governance across the entire region.

Nnamdi further said that the committee carefully reviewed legislative records, constituency activities, public engagements, and the real impact of lawmakers on local communities.

“The committee also undertook field visits, project verification exercises, media engagements, and community-based assessments,” Nnamdi said.

He said that the physical inspections and stakeholder consultations across the 12 Local Government Areas ensured that the final rankings remained completely objective, balanced, and strictly evidence-based.

The chairman expressed confidence that the comprehensive report would serve as a valuable national resource for policymakers, future leaders, and citizens seeking to strengthen democratic accountability.

Nnamdi commended the assembly’s national leadership for the opportunity, expressing deep appreciation to the civil society groups and media partners who aided the successful investigation.

However, he outlined specific recommendations for lawmakers, emphasising a practical pathway toward stronger representation, increased legislative visibility, and significantly improved service delivery across the zone.

“We urge those whose performance fell below public expectations to regard this report as a constructive call to deepen engagement with their constituents,” Nnamdi urged.

He recommended that elected officials immediately expand their local empowerment initiatives and prioritise transparent, regular communication regarding their ongoing legislative activities with the public.

He further advised citizens to use the scorecard as a vital reference guide to peacefully hold leaders accountable during subsequent electoral cycles. (NAN)

Arraignment

Alleged fake agency scam: Police to arraign Adeniyi Adeyemi on Tuesday

The police is to arraign Adeniyi Adeyemi, the Director-General (DG) of a non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), in the Federal High Court on Tuesday.

The police, in a fresh court document marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, charged presently Adeyemi and two others with eight counts of forgery, impersonation, among others.

The charge was filed on Nov. 27, 2025, by Wisdom Madaki, a police prosecutor.

NAN reports that on June 16, when the case came up for the suspects to take their plea, Adeyemi was said to be indisposed and Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned the matter.

According to the court documents, witnesses listed in the case are the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila; Paul Emmanuel, Jeremiah Imoukhede and Ituah Sylvester.

Other witnesses are civil servants working in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (AGoF), Akimbo Shola and Adamu Balongu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, who were on the list.

Also listed as witnesses are Ojo Victor, Omeh Amarachukwu, and Wakili Saidu, all of whom were allegedly posted to work with Adeyemi at the non-existent agency.

Others are Joy Ngwoke, the owner of Kachi Hotel in Abuja, and Ven Okoriko, the pastor of St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Maitama.

The documentary evidence expected to be tendered by the police includes the police investigation report, Gbajabiamila’s petition dated Oct. 17, 2025; and Adeyemi’s fake presidential appointment letter dated March 8, 2024.

These also include the request for a note verbally by Adeyemi sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the approvals he got to open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), a request for approval of self-accounting Adeyemi sent to the AGoF and the conveyance of approval for take-off of the PFIPC.

Other documents listed by the prosecution are a letter of request for collaboration with the ministry in the area of land acquisition and offices across the 36 states of the federation; statements of all the witnesses and that of the defendants, and pictures.

The police, in the court document, said: “The prosecution shall at the trial call any other related witness or witnesses to prove its case.”

Adeyemi was alleged to have operated the fictitious agency from the 2nd Floor of the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja, Phase III, before his arrest.

NAN reports that President Bola Tinubu had, on Tuesday, directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a thorough investigation into the activities of the fictitious agency.

The president gave the ICPC 30 days to complete the investigation. (NAN)

Security

Don urges states to emulate C’River’s security model

A lecturer at the University of Calabar (UniCal), Dr Bobby Ekpenyong, has described Cross River as a model state for security in Nigeria, urging other states to adopt its approach.

Ekpenyong, of the Department of Security Studies, stated this while speaking with newsmen on Sunday in Calabar.

He noted that the improved security situation in the state had repositioned its business environment and attracted increased investment opportunities.

The lecturer commended Gov. Bassey Otu for establishing a security architecture that has restored public confidence and made the state safe for residents and investors.

According to him, the turnaround in the state’s security landscape remains the most significant achievement of the Otu administration in its three years in office.

“One major area of achievement I must credit His Excellency for is security,” he said.

Ekpenyong recalled that prior to Otu’s emergence, residents lived in fear due to incidents of kidnapping and violent crimes.

“It got to a point where residents slept with both eyes open. There were growing cases of banditry in the state.

“Parts of Biase Local Government Area became hotspots where people were attacked, kidnapped and killed on a weekly basis.

“It was a dangerous route. From 4 p.m., commuters and transporters avoided passing through Biase despite the presence of security checkpoints,” he said.

He, however, commended the governor for what he described as a strategic approach to tackling insecurity through investment and deployment of expertise.

“I commend him for effectively utilising security resources to address insecurity.

“Today, we only hear of isolated cases of kidnapping, and such incidents are promptly addressed.

“Cross River is now a model state in terms of security. The primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property, and this has been largely achieved.

“A safe environment encourages investors and businesses to thrive. Calabar, the state capital, is becoming vibrant, green and attractive,” he said.

Ekpenyong also praised the Calabar Urban Development Authority for clearing drainages and evacuating refuse, noting that these efforts had reduced flooding in the metropolis.

He further cited road infrastructure development and transparency in employment processes as reasons for his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“You can go round Calabar and hardly recognise it as the same city it was five or six years ago.

“The roads are smooth, traffic lights are functional, and there is ongoing rural road construction in Akamkpa, Ikom, Yakurr and Biase,” he said.

On employment, he noted that many residents had secured jobs through transparent processes involving public advertisement and online applications.

Ekpenyong urged voters to support Otu for a second term to consolidate on the gains recorded.

“If we want Cross River to attain global recognition, we must give the governor another four years. He has achieved a lot in the last three years,” he said(NAN)

Drugs

NDLEA intercepts South African woman with 5.75 kg of heroin

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a 38-year-old South African woman at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, for drug trafficking.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said that the suspect was found to have concealed 14 large blocks of heroin weighing 5.75kg in her luggage.

He said that the suspect used her three-year-old son as a cover to beat security checks and evade thorough screening.

He also said that the suspect was arrested by NDLEA officers on July 6 during the inward clearance of passengers on Qatar Airways flight QR 1433 from Doha to Abuja.

“She initially denied travelling with check-in bags.

“After operatives were able to quickly establish that the two bags containing the drugs had tags which tallied with the claim tags attached to her passport, she recanted and admitted ownership of the bags, adding that she forgot she checked in the two bags,” he said.

“She claimed to have travelled from Cambodia through Doha to Abuja.

“Intelligence leading to her arrest indicates she is a member of a transnational drug trafficking organisation along with her husband/partner based in Cambodia from where they operate their drug network along the Cambodian-South African axis,” he said.

In another successful interdiction operation, NDLEA officers at the Terminal II Arrival Hall of the Muritala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos on June 28 intercepted a commercial motorcycle.

Babafemi said that the 48-year-old Okada rider was arrested following his arrival from Madagascar via Addis Ababa aboard an Ethiopian Airways flight.

He said that a thorough search of his backpack, which he had checked in, led to the discovery of 87 wraps of methamphetamine concealed within cloths in his bag.

Babafemi said the suspect claimed he had worked for 15 years as an Okada rider at Oke-Afa area of Lagos before his Uganda-based friend recruited him into drug trafficking.

“He said he ingested the recovered pellets of methamphetamine in Uganda before embarking on his planned journey to Madagascar to deliver the drug consignment.

“He, however, said that upon arrival in Madagascar, he was denied entry by Immigration authorities.

“As a result, his friend and sponsor based in Uganda rerouted his flight to Lagos, where he was eventually arrested by NDLEA officers,” he said.

The NDLEA Media Director said the suspect, being unable to state the exact number of pellets he ingested in Uganda, was placed under “excretion observation” for a period of three days.

“Between the date of his arrest and July 1, he was able to excrete 13 pellets in addition to the initial 87 wraps recovered from him.

“That brought the total number to 100 wraps of methamphetamine with a gross weight of 1.715 kilograms,” he said. (NAN)