Did NDDC boss, Bassey Abia really beat up Abuja airport staffers?

In the last two to three weeks, there has been this flying gist that Barrister Bassey Dan Abia, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), was involved in an open brawl at the departure hall of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The story goes that the tall and heavily-built but always-smiling former Justice Commissioner cum Attorney-General in Akwa Ibom State beat up some staffers of the airport and Arik Air over some misunderstanding that bordered on his luggage.

We heard that at a point the noise generated became so loud and tumultuous, and as some observers were putting up efforts to calm frayed nerves, his police orderly, who apparently had gone on an errand within the precincts of the airport, also displayed his own violence. Gist merchants said the orderly, a corporal, was uncontrollable and threatened to shoot, aside persistently dishing blow after blow on the face of the unlucky staff.

The genesis of the quarrel was that the Arik Air flight that Abia boarded from Port Harcourt arrived Abuja about 8.15 pm without a piece or two of his luggage on board. And he was not prepared to accept any explanation for such carelessness.

The source added that the two airport officials who are staffers of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Arik Airline respectively sustained serious injuries.

Up till this moment, neither of the parties is willing to make any comment about the incident either to confirm or refute same; but someone who confessed to being on that flight said it would be very upsetting to miss one’s luggage after the flight was delayed for over three hours.

But some people are still wandering if the cool-headed and easy-going former commissioner in two AKS ministries did really trip over his limit.

CRS CHIEF JUDGE SWEARS IN WIFE, SON, 26 OTHERS AS NEW MAGISTRATES

As part of the efforts of the Governor Liyel Imoke-led-Cross River State to reposition the judiciary, the Chief Judge of the state and Chairman, Judicial Service Commission, Justice Okoi Ikpi Itam, swore in no fewer than 28 new magistrates at the premises of the High Court No. 1 on Mary Slessor Avenue, Calabar.

The ceremony was witnessed by the representative of the governor and the speaker of the State House of Assembly, amongst several other dignitaries.

These functional magistrates are expected to preside over 34 Magistrate’s courts and 9 Special courts like revenue, sanitation, forestry, pharmaceutical, DOPT, FRSC and prison decongestion courts.

Sources say that out of 130 lawyers that applied, the commission was limited to recruit only 20 fresh intakes and eight through Conversion/Transfer of Service. The move was applauded by all. And this is where the fun fare stopped.

There are talks here and there that the wife of the chief judge, Helen Okoi Itam was among the eight that were converted, while his son, Itam Obasesam Okoi was also among the remaining 20 on fresh appointment. And trust Cross Riveriens, several questions are already rearing their ugly heads begging for answers.

DELTA WORKS COMMISSIONER, FUNKEKEME SOLOMON IN MESSY DIVORCE

The once very peaceful marriage of Hon. Funkekeme Solomon to his wife, Stella has headed for the rocks, and the home is now in shambles as the couple are at war with each other.

A close family source has it that in what seems to be a messy divorce, the Ijaw-born Delta State Commissioner for Works, Hon. Funkekeme Solomon has asked an Oshimili North Area Customary Court in the state to end his 8-year old marriage with his Delta North-born-wife, Mrs. Stella Chinye Funkekeme.

In a suit number ONACC/32/1 dated 15/11/ 2013, filed in the Oshimili North Area Customary Court, holden in Akwukwu Igbo, Delta State, Funkekeme claimed that he married his wife under customary law at Illah in the same local government area in December, 2007. Funkekeme also claimed that from December 2007 to June 2013, he was living with his wife at House 4, Commissioner’s Quarters, GRA, Asaba.

That the wife travels within and outside the country without his consent, adding further that she was temperamental and destroyed his properties at the slightest provocation.

There is also an allegation that the wife was cruel and disrespectful to his mother and family members, stressing that the marriage did not produce any child. He is now praying the court to dissolve the marriage and that the wife should refund the bride price paid on her.

Despite the matter becoming a headline at every fora, none of the parties is ready to discuss the issue.

SHAN GEORGE’S SON, JAGA DROPS SINGLE

That Jaga, the London-based 25-year old second son of Cross River-born-Nollywood producer cum actress, Shan George is not into white collar job as his father wished, but music, is no longer news.

What is news and top of the moment is that the upcoming crooner who started music at 16 is gradually climbing to the top with the sole aim of dominating the chart. Remember in January this year, he stormed our shores from his United Kingdom base to conclude arrangements for the release of his songs. His first single Raceline was thereafter released in April 2014, with the audio and video still doing well so far.

On Monday, June 16, to be precise, Jaga dropped a new song, Mboro, which he sang in his mother’s native language. It is coming on the label of Sand & Stones

Before now, Jaga, whose 27-year old elder brother, Delnoi works as a director in his father’s company, ZYX Ltd, had released a maiden single, Egba mi to follow up on his growing influence and acceptance as a hip hop musician in the UK. Then he was known as ‘Mista Dry Gin’.

Delnoi and Jaga are both graduates of University of East London, UK; and as part of his career building, Jaga also works as a producer and sound engineer.

LAST WORD

A boy was with his father when he saw his girlfriend coming. Boy: Have you come to collect your book entitled, Speak English, My Dad Doesn’t Understand It? by Ngozi Okafor. Girl: No, I want that our hymn book called Where Should I Wait For You? Boy: I don’t have that one…may be you should take the other one Under The Mango Tree by Crooks. Girl: Fine but don’t forget to bring I Will Call You In 5 Minutes while coming to school.

Boy: I will also bring, I Won’t Let You Down by Chinua Achebe. At that point the wrongly-presumed illiterate father chips in: ‘These are too many, will she read all of them? Boy: Yes dad, she is very smart. Dad: Okay, don’t forget to give her the one on the table entitled, I Am Not Stupid, I Understood Everything You’ve Been Saying by Shakespeare.

Have a swell week ahead.