Who be Usoro Akpabio wey President Tinubu appoint as MD of South South Development Commission?
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu don approve di appointment of Miss Usoro Akpabio as Managing Director of di South South Development Commission (SSDC).
Dis one dey for di letter wey Senate President Godswill Akpabio read as di President dey ask di red chamber to confam di appointments e make for di governing boards and managing directors of di recently established north-central, south-west and south-south development commissions.
For di South South Development Commission (SSDC), di President appoint Chibudom Nwuche as chairman and Usoro Akpabio, wey come from Akwa Ibom, as managing director.
For di board, di President appoint Marcus Eji (Rivers), Aganaba Steven (Bayelsa), Timi Ayibatonye (Delta), Joseph Ugheoke (Edo), and Sony Abang (Cross River).
Oda members include Larry Odey (Cross River), Charles Zuofa (Bayelsa), Nkereuwem Ebong(Akwa Ibom), Chika Chinedu (Rivers), Femi Oise (Edo), Charles Enukhowhate (Delta), Tijani Kaura(north-west), Tabitha Sallah (north-east), Yusuf Amao (north-central), Joseph Mmamal (south-east), and Bukonola Braimoh (south-west).
E remain for relevant committees of di Senate to screen and confam all dis appointments.
Who be Usoro Akpabio?
Dem born Usoro Offiong Akpabio on 10 June, 1983, for Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
She come from Ibibio ethnic group and attend primary and secondary schools for Uyo. She later get a degree in political science from one Nigerian university, and e equip her wit insights into governance, public policy, and community engagement.
For her undergraduate years, she bin take part in student unions and civic outreach projects, wey help her organisational and communication skills. All dis experiences give her good foundation for a career wey dey dedicated to regional growth and inclusive development.
Usoro Akpabio career don see her go through public administration, political strategy, and community development. After university, she join a state goment ministry as a policy analyst. Na dia she research rural infrastructure challenges and propose practical solutions to improve road access and school facilities. Her good work here make her to join various task forces wey focuse on youth empowerment and women health.
She also play vital roles for political campaigns and planning committees as she advise local candidates, help dem connect with grassroots communities as she listen well and translate dia needs into ogbonge campaign promises.
Within a few years, her network grow across di South South geopolitical zone. Her work on small-scale solar power projects and vocational training centres show her belief say sustainable progress dey come wen communities dey empowered wit skills and resources.
By her late thirties, she don get reputation as a changemaker wey dey turn bold ideas into workable plans.
Beyond her public work, Usoro get close ties wit her family and home community. She give credit to her parents for giving her a sense of service and discipline.
Usoro dey balance her busy schedule wit personal hobbies. She love African dance and traditional drumming, activities she say dey keep her connected to her heritage. She also like to read biographies of women leaders around di world, to draw lessons from dia perseverance.
Close friends note say her ability to listen deeply and offer thoughtful advice, make her a valued confidante. Even amid demanding work, she still get time for quiet reflection and community volunteering, weda na to mentor young women wey get interest in politics or to support local health awareness campaigns.
Wetin be SSDC?
Di South South Development Commission (SSDC) na one of di newly established bodies wey dia aim na to drive infrastructure improvements, social services, and economic opportunities across di six states of Nigeria oil-rich South South region, wit headquarters for Uyo, di Akwa Ibom State capital.
Di SSDC represent ogbonge effort by di Nigerian goment to address long-standing development gaps and to ensure say resource revenues translate into real progress for local communities.
Di Senate go review her nomination bifor dem go give di final confamation. If approved, she go lead an eighteen-member board wey get four core priorities:
1. Improve roads and power supply.
2. Empower youths and women through skills training.
3. Foster sustainable economic ventures such as local agriculture and tourism.
4. Partner wit both local agencies and international organisations to secure funding and expertise.
Her role go involve coordinating wit state govnors, traditional rulers, and civil society groups to design projects wey reflect local aspirations. She go also oversee project selection, budget management, and performance monitoring to ensure transparency and accountability.
As di SSDC first Managing Director, she dey face di challenge of turning an ambitious regional blueprint into tangible improvements like paved roads, reliable schools, accessible healthcare, and thriving small businesses.
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Di witness also tender in evidence two boxes containing Kanu personal belongings like shoes, wrist-watches, and perfumes, plus some broadcasting equipment like microphones, tripods, laptops, ipads, and internet modems. PW2 - Mr BBB Di second prosecution witness - Mr BBB start im own testimony on 7 May, 2025. E tok say im na one of di lead officers wey investigate Nnamdi Kanu, afta di den AGF Abubakar Malami, write a petition to DSS complaining of di broadcasts wey di Ipob leader dey make on social media using Radio Biafra. Dis witness tender video evidence wia Nnamdi Kanu announce di creation of di Eastern Security Network (ESN), and wia e threaten Bola Tinubu and say e go destroy im properties for Lagos. Mr BBB also say dia investigation show say Nnamdi Kanu broadcasts dey directly connected to di violence and killings wey dey go on for di southeast region. E also tender as exhibit, di death certificate of Ahmed Gulak, wey be chieftain of di All progressives Congress (APC) wey jaguda pipo bin kill for Owerri Imo State on 30 May, 2021. Di witness claim say na Ipob fighters kill Gulak sake of say e disobey di sit-at-home order wey Kanu bin give for dat May 30 - a day wey Ipob dey mark as Biafra Remembrance Day. During cross-examination, BBB deny say no be DSS pipo arrest Kanu for Kenya. E say dia work no dey cross outside Nigeria. Also, Kanu lawyers tender video evidence of di Govnor of Imo State as e tok say Ipob no dey responsible for di killings for di state, rather na politicians dey do am. Dem also play videos of retired Major General for di Nigeria Army, T.Y Danjuma, and di current Director-General of di DSS Adeola Ajayi wia dem dey tell di public make dem rise up and defend diasef from terrorists and bandits PW3 - Mr CCC Dis witness na also one of di officers wey bin investigate Kanu wen dem arrest am from 2015. E tok say im and two oda DSS officers bin interview Kanu on October 21, 22, 23 and 24, and again on November 4 of dat 2015, and e present di video recording of dat interview to be tendered as evidence. However, one of Nnamdi Kanu lawyers, Paul Erokoro inform di court say Kanu tell am say im bin dey under duress wen e make di statement. Prosecution lawyer say no be true, say Kanu make di statement voluntarily witout any force. To determine weda to accept di video in evidence, Justice Omotosho order for trial within trial. Dem play di video for court and e show say Kanu bin complain several times say e dey entitled to a lawyer but di DSS no wan give am im lawyer. Justice Omotosho rule say e no go admit di evidence bicos e go against di evidence act wey clearly state say a defendant must to make im statement in di presence of im legal representative. "I hereby order as follows: Dat di statement of di defendant dated 21 to 24 October and November 4 2015 dey inadmissible in evidence. "Dat di video recordings of di statement wey I bin don admit and marked PWQ and PWR, also dey inadmissible and hereby marked rejected," Omotosho tok. PW4 - Mr DDD Anoda DSS officer, dis witness say e work for di Imo State command between 2019 and 2022, and na im lead di team wey recover di radio transmitter wey Kanu bin allegedly import into di kontri illegally. Oga DDD say dem use ogbonge technology to geolocate one video wey Kanu bin make wia e tell im followers say dia radio transmitter don land. E say dem locate di equipment for Ubuluisiuzor Community, for Ihiala local goment area of Anambra State, for di compound of one Benjamin Madubugwu. Dem hide di transmitter inside di container and cover am wit household items like mattresses and washing machines, e tok. Dis witness also tell di court how one IPOB/ESN commander wey police arrest, bin confess say Nnamdi Kanu order dem to bury one of dia commander wey police kill wit 2000 human heads, but na 30 pipo dem don get so far bifor police arrest am. According to DDD, dis arrested Ipob member name na Uzoma Benjamin, a.k.a 'Onye Army. However, e admit say no be im interview di suspect, but na wetin di newspapers publish. Di witness tender a publication of Vanguard Newspaper of 3 July, wey contain di report. E also tok claim say na Ipob kill Ahmed Gulak bicos e disobey sit-at-home order wey Nnamdi Kanu bin declare. However, during cross-examination, one of Kanu lawyers Onyechi Ikpeazu, point out say Gulak na politician, and na im be di chairman of di primary election wey produce Uzodinma as di APC govnorship candidate for Imo State. Ikpeazu ask di witness why e be say di killers kill only Gulak, but dem no touch di driver of im vehicle and di oda passenger wey dey wit am dat time, since na all of dem disobey di sit-at-home order. E also point out say di govment of Imo State later come out to explain say di killing of Gulak dey politically motivated. PW5 - Mr EEE Dis last witness tell di court say im work na to investigate wetin happen during di End SARS nationwide protest of October 2020 for Nigeria. EEE insist say di issue of police brutality na di secondary cause of di protest, but di underlying reasons na bicos say some subversive elements, like Nnamdi Kanu, bin don dey incite di public against di goment. E tender document of dia investigation as evidence, and di document show say about 175 security officers - including policemen, army pipo and DSS pipo - bin die across di kontri during di protest. For di cross-examination, Ikpeazu ask di witness say: Shey you dey categorically tell di court say di End SARS protests na Biafran issue?" Di witness respond say "my assignment no be to investigate Biafra, my assignment na to investigate di End SARS protest to which di defendant bin incite di public." Ikpeazu den point to di report of di panel of enquiry into di End SARS protest for Lagos State, and say di report no mention Ipob or Nnamdi Kanu anywia as di pipo wey dey responsible. E also try to poke holes for di document wey Mr EEE bin tender, as e point out say di document no get di signature or stamp of di pipo wey claim say na dem write am. Also Ikpeazu point out say di document get inconsistencies, like wia e refer to Osun State as Ekiti State, and places wia details of di dead bodies of di security pipo wey dem claim say Ipob/ESN pipo kill durin End SARS no dey clear. As cross-examination end, Awomolo, counsel to di goment inform di court say dem dey close dia case for hia, as dem believe say di evidences dem provide and di witnesses dem call don dey sufficient. No-case submission Kanu Agabi, di lead defence counsel inform di court say dem go file no-case submission, since di prosecution don exhaust dia case. "Chief Awomolo get di misfortune of trying dis case, and we get di misfortune of defending am, bicos we no see any case at all for dis charges against our client," Agabi tok. E ask di trial judge to give dem some days to file dia written address on di no case submission. Justice Omotosho grant di defence team 14 days to fille dia written address, and also 14 days to di prosecution team to file dia own. Omotosho adjourn di matter to 18 July, 2025, for di two sides to come and adopt dia addresses so dat e go rule, perhaps afta Judges come back from dia annual Vacation wey dey start from late July to early September. Di Charges against Kanu Since 2015 wen di Nigeria goment first arrest Nnamdi Kanu, na only April dis year im trial start well-well. Remember say di matter bin dey bifor Justice Binta Nyako of di Federal High Court Abuja, and na she bin grant Kanu bail on health grounds in 2017, but Kanu run for im life comot for Nigeria afta soldiers bin carry out security operation for im House in Umuahia, Abia State for southeast Nigeria. In June 2021, security pipo for Kenya arrest Kanu and carry am by force come bak to Nigeria to face trial. Di initial charges against di ipob leader bin dey 15, but Justice Nyako bring am down to seven. Even though di Court of Appeal later strike out all di charges and discharge Kanu, di Supreme Court reinstated di seven charges as dem tok say di Ipob leader get questions to ansa. Here na di seven charges:
