National Leader, Action Congress of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has urged the Federal Government to implement the Senate’s resolution on immortalising the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993 election, Chief MKO Abiola.

He said the upper chamber had, at one of its plenary, resolved that the National Stadium, Abuja be renamed after Abiola.

Tinubu stated this in an interview with journalists shortly after the inauguration of Rehoboth House, Lagos Central Senatorial Constituency Office, Yaba, Lagos State.

He said since the Senate resolution, the Federal Government had not deemed it necessary to implement it.

He said the renaming of University of Lagos after the fallen politician by the Federal Government portrayed him (Abiola) as a sectional leader, which he was not when he was alive.

Tinubu said the mandate Abiola had was a national one not ethnic, stressing that giving him an honour from one section was not good.

The ACN leader said, “There is a pending Senate resolution asking that the National Stadium, Abuja, be named After Chief MKO Abiola.

“Why did the Federal Government ignore that resolution? Abiola was not a sectional leader – he did not have a sectional mandate – he had a national mandate.”

He said the whole exercise was an attempt to bring division in Lagos State.



Link: http://www.punchng.com/news/implement-senates-resolution-immortalising-abiola-tinubu/

Prominent Nigerians on Tuesday suggested ways in which the Federal Government could immortalise the winner of the 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola.

These include the Secretary-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Dr. Lateef Adegbite; Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji and Niger-Delta activist, Ms. Ankio Briggs as well as a former member of the Senate, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora.

They spoke at the Lagos residence of the the late Abiola during the 19th anniversary of June 12 tagged ‘June 12 Democracy Day Celebration’ organised by June 12 Movement, Change Agents of Nigeria Project and Kudirat Abiola Initiative for Democracy.

Adegbite lamented that Nigerian authorities had yet to accord due recognition to the historic day.

He urged President Goodluck Jonathan, whose election he described as the closest in “cleanliness” to Abiola’s on June 12, 1993, to do more in honouring the late politician.

Adegbite said, “Release officially the results of the elections. Declare Chief M.K.O Abiola the winner of the election. Confer posthumously on MKO Abiola all the honours due to an elected President of Nigeria including the award of the national honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic.”

He added that June 12 should be declared MKO Abiola Day to replace May 29 currently observed as Democracy Day.

Ikuforiji, who supervised the laying of a wreath at the tomb of Abiola, noted that the deceased paid the supreme price for the enthronement of democracy.

‘‘We must continue to fight for what he stood for. A day must be set aside to honour Abiola. The National Assembly must enact a legislation to declare June 12 MKO Abiola Day. We call on the electoral body to as a matter of national importance declare Abiola as winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election,” he stated.

Briggs stated that the yearly celebration of June 12 was meant to correct all the ills and injustices that had existed in the country.

She added that one of the ways to honour Abiola was to recognise him alongside other democratically-elected Presidents in the country.

Briggs said, ‘‘In my opinion, one of the ways to honour Abiola is for a government to recognise him as a true President of Nigeria. His picture should be hung along with other democratically-elected Presidents in this country. It must be shown that he was elected on June 12, 1993 as President.’’

Mamora, who recommended that June 12 should be declared as MKO Abiola Day, added, ‘‘If you name a monument after him, chances are that incoming generation will forget. But if June 12 was named after him, questions will always arise as to what happened that day.’’

President, CAN Project, Mr. Olukayode Salako, bemoaned the country’s leadership style, which he said, continued to make the citizens hopeless.

In their separate speech, Mumini and Jamiu Abiola thanked the guest for keeping the memory of June 12 alive and urged them to stand for what Abiola died for.


http://www.punchng.com/news/how-to-immortalise-abiola-adegbite-ikuforiji-briggs/

The controversy over $620,000 fuel subsidy bribe allegation deepened yesterday with the Chairman of the House of Representatives’ ad hoc committee that probed the fuel subsidy regime, Hon. Farouk Lawan, accusing Chairman of Zenon Oil and Gas, Mr. Femi Otedola, of offering a $3 million bribe to spare his company in its report.

He said Otedola made a $500,000 down payment with a promise to pay up the remaining $2.5 million if the committee spared Zenon, but that the matter had been reported to the police. He dismissed Otedola’s claims that he and his committee’s secretary, Mr. Boniface Emenalo, collected $620,000 bribe from him unaware it was a sting operation as “diversionary,” saying Otedola actually offered Emenalo $100,000 to shield Zenon during the probe.

Lawan said the probe had subjected his life to a chain of threats, but that he remained unshaken. The lawmaker said shortly after Otedola approached him with the money, he duly informed Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Crimes.

In a letter dated April 24, 2012, Lawan wrote: “Attached (to the letter) is the sum of five hundred thousand dollars only, offered to me with another promise of two million, five hundred thousand dollars.”

The lawmaker said that his decision not to raise the matter on the floor of the House was deliberate, as he did not want anything that would overshadow the fuel subsidy probe.

“I had considered bringing this issue as a matter of privilege on the floor of the House later today (April 24), but I am concerned that the controversy it will generate will dwarf the contents of the report, which needs public attention so that necessary reforms in the sector could be effected,” the letter read.

“Given the desperation of Mr. Otedola, handling this matter, in a firm but diplomatic manner, is necessary as he had also made some veiled threats which put me and members of the committee in a delicate situation.”

To underscore Otedola’s desperation, said Lawan, Emenalo, had in a letter dated April 24, 2012, raised the alarm that Otedola offered him $100,000. “I wish to inform you that I was on his invitation, at the residence of their Chairman, Mr. Femi Otedola, in Maitama (Aso Drive ) this morning and he offered me the sum of one hundred thousand US dollars in two bundles of $50,000 each. The money is hereby forwarded as evidence,” Emenalo’s letter read.

The Acting Inspector-General of Police(IGP), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, said Lawan had on May 9, 2012, directed a task force to interact with him. The Acting IGP in the letter marked CR:3000/IGP.SEC/STF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL 2/309, drew Lawan’s attention to an interview he granted a national newspaper on April 28,2012, directing “a discreet investigation into the matter.”

The Commissioner of Police, Special Task Force, Ali Amodu, signed the letter. In another letter dated May 16, 2012 also marked CR: 3000/IGP.SEC/STF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL 2/319, and signed by Amodu, the IGP requested money exhibit, names of witnesses and other material evidence from the lawmaker

In a response dated May 31, 2012, Lawan told the IGP that the House leadership had referred the matter to the relevant committee for investigation. The IGP, in a letter to the Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, dated June 4, 2012, said investigation had been launched into the matter.

Titled: “Investigation activities: Letter of invitation in a case of criminal conspiracy and attempt to pervert the course of justice by offering gratification,” the office of the IGP stated that “the Inspector-General of Police had directed a detailed criminal investigation into the matter.” But in an interview granted ThisDay yesterday, Otedola stated his own version.

The Zenon boss narrated how at the beginning of the probe, Hon. Lawan had approached him to get some insight into how the downstream oil and gas sector works. This, he obliged Lawan by ensuring that his managing directors of Forte Oil Plc and Zenon Oil appeared at the subsidy probe during its public hearing after the two firms were invited by the committee.

Mr. otedola said that the committee was informed that Zenon does not and never made claims for subsidy payments because the company deals solely in the importation of diesel, a product which he said, is not subsidized.


Zenenon Oil Managing Director, Mr. Kanmi Kareem Otaru, had denied that the company had anything to do with the subsidy regime. “For the avoidance of doubt, Zenon never participated or benefited from the subsidy scheme or Petroleum Support Fund (PSF)”.

Otaru said going by the PSF Act: “Zenon Oil couldn’t participate in it because we don’t have a network of PMS retail outlets which was one of the key criteria beneficiaries must meet and as such, we are not qualified to participate to draw from subsidy payments on PMS. So, we never collected as records will show”.


Otedola said that in spite of Otaru’s clarification made at the hearing, Lawan still approached him a few days before the report was to be tabled on April 18, 2012 before the House of Representatives demanding money so that Zenon’s name will be kept out of the report”.

“When this happened, I was very angry and reminded him that Zenon has never participated in the subsidy scheme and that it would be criminal to rope in the company for something it didn’t do. “But Lawan responded, stating that several other marketers were playing ball and had offered the members of the committee large sums of money to ensure that their companies’ names were not published in the report”, he said.

The Zenon boss said that he initially backed at Lawan’s alleged attempt to extort money from him and to the lawmakers that he would not pay up, as the company had not committed any crime. Otedola said that he could not believe it the next day when the report came out and Zenon’s name had been listed under the category of companies that had bought foreign exchange from the Central Bank, but had not imported petrol.

The amount ascribed to Zenon in the report was $232,975,385:13. Reacting to the development yesterday, some lawmakers spoken to were divided on the matter. While some expressed outrage at the allegation, saying it had further dented the image of the House, others dismissed it as a ploy to shield “friends of those in power.”

They, however, refused to speak on record, choosing to align with the official position expressed at the weekend by their spokesman, Hon. Zakari Mohammed. The House spokesman had said the leadership would investigate all the allegations levelled against some of its officers when they return from break.

Said one lawmaker; “You know we are on break and can do very little until we reconvene on the 19th. This is sad. We were just smarting from the damage (Hon. Herman) Hembe did to our reputation. Now this,” a member, who didn’t want his name in print, told Daily Sun.

When we sought why he didn’t want his name in print, he said: “The House leadership has taken a position on the matter. It would be wrong for me to say something that would be out of sync. Another member, who chairs a standing committee, said that the allegations were weighty, but cautioned that restraint be exercised on the matter.

A female lawmaker told Daily Sun that she was surprised that Lawan was fingered in the allegation, saying he was a man who had always striven to leave above board.


“What is happening is unfortunate. Farouk (Lawan) has chaired several standing and ad-hoc committees from information to appropriation, from inter-parliamentary to education. He had been in the system long enough to know that fire burns, reason I nurse my reservations on the allegations against him.

However, a principal officer disclosed that the House would not be able to take any stand until the 19th when it reconvenes. “As matters stand, we have to allow the relevant agencies conduct their investigations,” he offered.



http://www.sunnewsonline.com/national/article/3m-bribe-scandal

CHAIRMAN of the House of Representatives Committee on the probe of fuel subsidy mismanagement, Mr. Farouk Lawan, said on Sunday that the video purportedly showing him receiving a bribe from an oil marketer was doctored.

The Lawan committee, which discovered that subsidy thieves had stolen N1.7trn from government coffers as a direct consequence of malpractices in the oil sector, had been embroiled in bribery scandal since last week.

A video recording of the bribe deal between the oil marketer and the lawmaker is believed to be in the possession of the State Security Service.

However, Lawan said that the allegation that he collected $600,000 from the oil marketer to influence the report of the House probe panel was a ploy to divert attention from the recommendations of the committee.

The Rep at a press briefing in Abuja on Sunday said, “I categorically deny that I or any member of the committee demanded and received any bribe from anybody in connection with the fuel subsidy probe and I believe that this is evident from the thorough and in-depth manner the investigation was carried out.

“The present mudslinging is not unexpected in view of the calibre of people whose actions and inactions were found wanting in the report.

“I am aware that in their desperation to discredit the report and divert attention of the public from the real issues of large scale fraud in high places established in the report, a video footage displaying a caricature of my person allegedly having a dealing with a marketer, reminiscent of the military era when dignitaries were invited to the villa to watch a video clip of a phantom coup involving Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, is already in circulation.”

The Sunday briefing was Lawan’s first reaction to the alleged scam.

He recalled that he had cried out during the probe that there were pressures on the committee and that he alerted the public that a marketer “promised to fly in a jet loaded with dollars, which he intended to share among the House leadership and members of the ad hoc committee.”

“I did not go to Nnamdi Azikwe Airport or any other place to collect money from anybody. The allegation is diversionary,” he added.

But a source at the House on Sunday also told one of our correspondents that Lawan had confessed to his colleagues in the chamber that he indeed collected the said amount from a businessman but that he intended to tender same as a bribery evidence.

The source said the other lawmakers, however, did not buy Lawan’s explanation and declared that “since he collected the money without informing them until the lid was blown open on the deal, he would need to carry his cross.”

The source, a lawmaker also, said the businessman who is also a fuel marketer, had reportedly invited the lawmaker to his Lagos residence, “where the deal was struck.”

The businessman’s firms was indicted by the committee but he allegedly offered a $3m bribe to safeguard his business interests.

It was said that the businessman recorded the meeting between him and the lawmaker and later refused to pay the balance of the deal after paying the initial $600,000 instalment.

Another source in the House added that after the lid was blown off the deal, the leadership of the House summoned the lawmaker for interrogation, where he owned up to receiving the money.

The committee chairman was said to have declared only $300, 000 initially, unknown to the leadership that the actual part payment was $600, 000.

“It was after the evidence and facts of the issue were made bare to the leadership that he was summoned again and he admitted that indeed the money was $600, 000”, the second source confided in The PUNCH.

Chairman of an influential committee of the House confided in our correspondent that most members had rated the embattled lawmaker as “a smart man”, but were surprised that he allowed himself to be ridiculed in this manner.

He said, “The sad aspect was how he tried to trick even the leadership by declaring only half of the money at first. When the truth came out, he now wanted the House to assist him by requesting to present the money on the floor as evidence of bribery.

“But, the Speaker (Aminu Tambuwal) said ‘no’, having been aware of the facts that he (Lawan) went to the house of the businessman in Lagos to negotiate the bribe.

“How can you be probing somebody and you went to his house in Lagos to negotiate with him. We thought he was smarter than this.”

A principal officer of the House disclosed to The PUNCH on Sunday that there was no way the entire House would allow itself to be dragged down with the lawmaker if he failed to prove his innocence.

The officer said, “The House did not send any individual to go and engage himself in such illegality.

“Yes, it is true that we constituted an ad-hoc committee to investigate the fuel subsidy scam, but we did not say ‘go and commit illegality.’

“So, if he decided to use it as an opportunity to enrich himself, let him face the consequences, not the House. This House is not about any single individual or sacred cow.”

The SSS could not confirm on Sunday whether it was true that a video evidence was with it.

The SSS Deputy Director, Press Relations, Marylyn Ogar, did not pick calls to her mobile phone nor reply text message on the subject.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said it had no record that the bibery scandal in the House was being investigated by it.

Spokesman for the anti-graft agency, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said, “I am not aware that the matter is being investigated by the EFCC.”



http://www.punchng.com/news/my-image-in-n96m-bribe-video-doctored-farouk-lawan/

All is not well within the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party as the Chairman of the party, Dr. Bamaga Tukur, and Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, are reportedly on warpath.

Our correspondent learnt that Oyinlola, in some memos, accused some Tukur’s aides of working against the party.

He specifically accused Tukur’s Principal Secretary, Alhaji Habu Fari, of having no regard for the laws and constitution of the party.

In the memo dated June 8, 2012 with reference PDP NS 03/12 to Fari and Tukur, Oyinlola warned that the party was heading for a major crisis if the activities of Tukur’s aides were not curtailed.

In the letter titled, ‘Illegal Acts Prejudicial to the Interest of the Peoples Democratic Party,’ Oyinlola wrote, “It has become imperative for me to invite your attention to some very unethical acts which are capable of causing disharmony within the leadership of the PDP as well as cause incalculable damage to relationships and smooth conduct of business at the national headquarters of the party.

“You will certainly recall that I have also had occasion to discuss this trend of unbecoming conduct with you while I have also written to you in the past from acts prejudicial to smooth conduct of activities of the NWC.

“I am constrained to once again react to your continued disregard for the laws and constitutions guiding activities of our great party which you claim to be serving at the national headquarters of the PDP.”

The former Osun State governor also accused Fari of engaging in external correspondence with some members of the party, which he claimed ought to be his duty.

Our correspondent learnt that Oyinlola was not happy that Fari, allegedly on Tukur’s directive, wrote an introductory letter to the National Chairman’s Special Adviser on National Assembly, Mr. Abdullahi Gumel, on the need to mount pressure on the members at the National Assembly to pay their dues to the party.

But Tukur said his aides could act on his behalf with or without the knowledge of the NWC members, including Oyinlola.

It was learnt that the chairman, further argued that in line with the constitution of the party, his most senior personal aide was in the best position to issue letters appointments to other aides, a situation said to have infuriated Oyinlola.

Fari, a former Chairman of the National Democratic Party, was first named as Chief of Staff to the National Chairman, but had his title changed when the NWC members protested that such an office was not known to the party’s constitution.

They also said there was no record to show that Fari had left the NDP and had indeed registered with the PDP.

Oyinlola, in his memo, also accused Fari of usurpation of power by writing letters introducing the Special Advisers to different people and offices.

It was learnt that Oyinlola also wrote to all state chairmen, directing them to disregard any memo from the party’s national headquarters not carrying his signature.

Investigations showed that the development had polarised the NWC.

While Tukur is believed to be working towards getting President Goodluck Jonathan a second term ticket, the other faction is believed to have the support of the governors elected under the PDP’s banner.

Tukur was said to be Jonathan’s candidate for the job while the governors, before they agreed to support his candidature, insisted that Oyinlola must be the party’s secretary.

It was also learnt that a faction of the NWC has vowed to reduce Tukur’s power.

The former minister was said to have been surprised when his memorandums to the NWC on how to reform the party was turned down on Wednesday.

Tukur was said to have, among other things, proposed that some directors should be redeployed as part of his reforms in the party.

The NWC also rejected his request to establish more committees that would ensure smooth running of the party.

It was gathered that the NWC members were not happy over the setting up of the 50-man advisory committee led by the former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme without their approval.

Apart from Tukur, only two members of the NWC were in attendance during the inauguration.

They were the National Treasurer, Mr. Bala Kaoje and the National Woman Leader, Mrs. Kema Chikwe. The National Youth Leader, Mr. Garba Chiza, came when the event had almost ended.

Even, the two members of the NWC, who were listed as members of the advisory committee, stayed away from its inauguration on May 30.

They were the Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Dam Jaja and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.


http://www.punchng.com/news/tukur-oyinlolas-power-tussle-divides-pdp/

Yesterday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting was held in honour of the victims of last Sunday’s Dana Air crash in Lagos, as well as those of the Allied Air Limited, that crashed at Accra, Ghana.

This is even as three ministers, Edem Duke of Culture and Tourism Development, Senator Umar Idris of Transport as well as Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada, narrated their narrow escape of the ill-fated flight. While Duke was ferried into another airline against his choice of Dana on arrival at the Abuja airport, Idris flew the same plane into Abuja from Lagos while Obada was waiting to board the same plane from Lagos to Abuja.

The special session concluded the three-day national mourning as declared by President Goodluck Jonathan and members turned out to Council Chamber suitably dressed to reflect the mood, to discuss the incident, make relevant suggestions and express condolences to affected families and the country as a whole.

The Special FEC meeting, which commenced at about 11.45 am was for the first time open to members of the media who sat through the session, which ended at 3 p.m. The only memo for the meeting originated from President Jonathan which was mainly on the crash issue.

The meeting commenced with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, reading out the focus of the meeting, after which a roll call of victims was read out, one-minute silence was observed, followed by tributes by members of council, signing of national condolence register and the visits by the selected three teams , made up of six ministers, one from each geopolitical zone to some victims’ family residents in Abuja.

Aviation minister, Stella Oduah gave briefing and roll call of victims. She reported the dual engine failure at 3.42 p.m. on Sunday, June 3. Fire trucks mobilised within 20 minutes. Rescuers reported promptly immediately after crash. Victims include 136 adults, five children, six infants and six crew members. The pilot was an American, while the co-pilot was an Indian.

Oduah also reported that Allied Air cargo plane overran runway in Kotoka Airport in Ghana, on Saturday, June . She said the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) was being supported by the aircraft and engine manufacturers according to international laws. According to her, 148 bodies (including those on ground) had been recovered as at Tuesday.

The ministry, she said had taken the following steps: To re-intensify all the ongoing institutional reforms, a technical and administrative investigative panel had been established. They will commence work immediately to ensure comprehensive reports on airlines are submitted within six weeks. Panel will make recommendations. She said NCAA would be strengthened more, assured on immediate implementation of report of CBN/FMA committee and the commencement of total audit of all aircraft registered in Nigeria. She said the country had sent a request to relevant authorities for Nigeria’s participation in investigation ongoing in Ghana on the Cargo plane that crashed.

In his condolence remarks, Minister of Health, Dr. Onyeakachi Chukwu, condoled with the President, Vice President Namadi Sambo, members of FEC, bereaved families and Nigerians. “It was a weekend of sorrow for Nigerians. Actions taken so far by Federal Government ministry, Lagos State etc are all in good direction. Nigerians should remain calm and put their trust in God.

Government will ensure victims don’t die in vain. Aviation sector is like medicine, safety cannot be taken for granted. Government will take proper action if and any lapse is found during investigation. May God intervention heal our nation.” Minister of Interior, Abba Moro described the incident as unfortunate. “God will grant President Jonathan the courage to weather the storm.” He commended rescue workers and assured that the panel’s recommendations would address many issues.

Transport Minister, Senator Umar Idris said: “There is destiny in everything. There is hand of God in everything. Every man will taste death. Any time any one dies, his time has come. I used that same aircraft same day from Lagos and came to Abuja by 2pm. In the conduct of investigation, certain issues will be addressed to avoid recurrence.

Works Minister, Mike Onolememenen, said this was clearly not the best of time for Nigeria. “While we pray for the repose of the victims, it calls for retrospection. We’ve experienced several crashes. The circumstances recur years after. It appears that the only motive for operators is economic at the detriment of lives of Nigerians. It is time to float a national airline. It may not be wholly owned by government, some people can subscribe to it. The lives of Nigerians are too precious to be left at the whims and caprices of businessmen whose main objective is to make profit.”

Water Resources Minister, Stella Ochepe, commended Aviation minister for measures taken so far. She drew attention to the need to look at work ethics to ensure seriousness in all that we did, stressing service to God and humanity and not for personal gains. “Collectively, we should strengthen those we are doing well and jettison those we are doing wrongly and embrace best practices.

The crowd at Ghana crash site was well conducted but not so in Nigeria. Rescue team had herculean task to reach the victims at the crash site. We have to re-intensify our campaign of national reorientation. Personal letters of condolences should be written by you, Mr. President to all bereaved families that cannot be visited.

The problems in the country are too many. When certain things become too much, we have to draw closer to God. In addition to national mourning, there is need for three-day fasting and national prayer for God to be merciful and clear the cloud hovering on our nation. In the Bible, nations like Nineveh did it and God intervened and so did Queen Esther and God intervened and saved the Jews.

The Coordinating Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said: “To the bereaved, we cannot replace their loved ones. But we can enhance safety so that our airspace will not become a place of carnage and loss of lives. We should also look at the financial and economic strength of the airlines to work towards consolidation.”

Agriculture Minister, Dr. Akinwumi Adeshina, said: “We must take every measure to say never again. The number of economic operators not in aviation sector alone but in all sectors. Investigations are always conducted without implementation. This must not continue. Total overhaul of the aviation. Federal Capital Territory Minister, Bala Mohammed said: “Aviation sector has witnessed a lot of turn around. We have a lot of gaps in terms of infrastructure, personnel etc. But still, we have done a lot. We have to make a lot of sacrifices financially to get equipment and training. Compensation and insurance should come quicker than before.”

Petroleum Minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke said: “I watched the take off of the aircraft at the airport before I left Abuja. We saw the fire when we were landing and we asked ourselves what was causing the fire. I was very sad on landing to hear that the plane had crashed.

We lost five of our trusted hands. It is a turbulent time for Nigeria. Our prayers must be deeper because deep must call to deep. We must further tighten our delivery. We need to say that 20 years old plane can fly, they do all over the world. But we must ensure that engines are replaced when due. Punitive measure when we find out the cause must be fully implemented.”

Head of Service of the Federation, Isa Bello Sali, described the incident as tragic as many professionals perished in the crash. “We join all Nigerians in mourning.” Minister of Culture and Tourism Edem Duke said infants, who had no knowledge of the world, young adults with visions and ambitions, professionals who had contributed immensely all perished. “A critical lesson to the living is that the future is not in our hands.

Those who have the opportunity to serve this country must ensure love bond and know that every minute counts. I was lucky to be navigated around them and ushered into another flight, which was not my preferred flight.

The Minister of State for FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide said: “We can use it to show that we value every life and that we can transform Nigeria especially the Aviation sector. There should be no cover-up. Ensure thorough job. Ensure all airlines, domestic and international, passenger and cargo, should be uncovered. International Aviation experts should be included in the investigation.

Minister of State for Agriculture, Bukar Tijani said: “It is a period of reflection. Our destinies are not in our palms. God decides when and how we return.” The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Zainab Maina said: “I have phobia for aircraft. I am always tensed when I enter aircraft. It is a national tragedy. We have been praying but we need to intensify our prayers. So many things have happened.”

The Minister of Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe said, 75 per cent of plane crashes worldwide was attributed to human error and further to finance. “A lot of money needed for equipment, capacity building etc. We need to create a framework to make funds available to the sector. It is another wake up call.”

Minister of State, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Orthum said, it was a trial and setback. “Do not be distracted. It is important that we draw closer to God at this time. Nobody has its destiny on its hand. He quoted 2 Chronicles 7.14. We need healing and God can do that for us.”

Minister of State for Education Wike said: “I see the mood of people who are in pain and sorrow. Most trying period of this administration. It occurred at a time the transformation agenda is on cause. Nigerians should be patient and await the outcome of the steps taken so far.”

The Minister of Communication Technology, Mobolaji Johnson decried the insensitive manner the use of communication gadgets were deployed. “A few hours after the incident, causes were speculated. A victim’s wife got to know about the crash through BB used to spread manifest. Nigerians should be responsible as we use the technology.”

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu said, “Is shocking and unbelievable, it is a total calamity. Children orphaned, family wiped out. I commend Nigerians who started rescue operations before agencies of government arrived. People found culpable should be dealt it. People should exercise duty of care.

Minister of State Niger Delta Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi said, “Destiny can’t be changed. Prayers are necessary. We need to give the necessary support to the aviation minister to put an end to the incessant tragedy. Build more capacity in rescue works”.

Minister of National Planning Shamsudeen Usman said, “Investigate properly and take appropriate steps. We need to take certain steps ourselves. We can’t just say it is predestined. Issue of corporate governance and ethics of works of Indians have gotten to their country and they are also concern. Nigeria is not being vilified on this”.

Minister of Education, Prof. Rukiyyah Rufa’i said her Ministry lost six person’s including the husband of the Minister of State 1 on Foreign Affairs, who were on national assignment and said those culpable should be punished to serve as a deterrent to others.

Vice President Namadi Sambo said the reports by the committee set up by the President would help in sanitising the industry. He offered prayers for the repose of souls of the departed and fortitude for the love ones to bear the loss.


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/news-hour/article/how-3-ministers-escaped-death

There was controversy on Tuesday over the alleged closure of the nation’s airspace for a Presidential jet carrying the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, to land in Lagos on Sunday.



The closure was said to have prevented the pilot of the distressed Dana Air’s plane from making an emergency landing at the airport.



But the Ministry of Aviation denied the report, saying the President’s wife came to Lagos on Saturday and not Sunday.



Reports circulated through Facebook and BlackBerry Messenger on Tuesday had claimed that although the Dana plane had an engine failure, the distressed aircraft could have made it to the airport if it was not delayed by the VIP movement.



The social media also said the Presidential movement on Sunday affected some owners of private jets who were forced to story in the air for some times.



But a statement by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Joe Obi, said the airspace was never closed for the First Lady on Sunday.



He said, “There is a widely circulating rumour that the airspace was closed to facilitate the First Lady’s movement and that that was partly responsible for the Dana plane crash of Sunday June 3, 2012. The Federal Ministry of Aviation will like to clarify that nothing could be farther from the truth.



“For the records, we wish state that the First Lady arrived in Lagos at about 4.45pm on Saturday, 2nd June, 2012 and only departed for Abuja on Monday, the 4th of June, 2012 at 1.30pm, whereas the ill-fated Dana flight 0992 departed Abuja on Sunday, 3rd of June, 2012 at 2.54pm and its last contact with the Lagos Control Tower was at 3.42pm as has already been announced. We wish to stress that the First Lady did not fly on Sunday, the 3rd of June, 2012 as is widely been speculated.”



An air traffic controller at the Lagos airport, who spoke under condition of anonymity, also said the airport did not record any Presidential movement on Sunday.



According to the official, an air traffic controller on duty on Sunday had told him earlier there was no time the “airfield was sterilised” for any VIP on Sunday.



In a statement by her Special Assistant, Mr. Ayo Osinlu, the wife of the president described the report as an orchestrated plan to politicise the Sunday crash.



She said it was “callous, inhuman and devilish” for anyone to have thought of wrapping such national calamity in political garb by insinuating that the plane crashed because the airspace was closed for her movement in Lagos.



“In compliance with her itinerary, the First Lady arrived Lagos on Saturday. She was at a public event on Sunday when the accident occurred and promptly abandoned the ceremony as a mark of respect for the victims and retired to the State House, Marina. She left Lagos at exactly 13.15hrs on Monday, 4th June, 2012, according to schedule.



“It is therefore surprising that some mischievous persons will see this moment of national mourning as an opportunity to blackmail and impugn the First Lady’s integrity.



“This is the time for all Nigerians to be sober and pray for the repose of the souls of the victims and not a time to subordinate the interests of our nation to narrow self-serving interests.



“Let us all put the interest of the nation first in whatever we do.”



The message which necessitated Mrs. Jonathan’s reaction had read in part, “Is there any way of getting confirmation about news I’m just getting that the Dana plane was distressed for a while but could not make an emergency landing because the airspace was closed for 2 hours for – the Presidential Jet carrying Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan.



“Private jet owners who had to hover in the air same time leaked this. This was apparently the reason local news didn’t report the crash for so long till CNN and foreign news stations started reporting it.



“Local news was ‘blacked out’ trying to kill the story of the airspace being closed while a distressed plane couldn’t land.”



A source however said, “It would be shocking if so. Though there was engine failure, there was still time for the plane to have landed apparently.



“You do know anyway that the airspace is closed for up to two hours each time the Presidential Jet needs to go into the air; two hours for a 15-minute takeoff or landing!”


http://www.punchng.com/news/patience-jonathan-not-responsible-for-crash-govt/

On Sunday May 13, Edo State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) addressed a press conference in Benin City, fingering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of alleged plans to rig the July 14 governorship poll through voters’ registration which was billed to commence two days later.

The ruling party, ACN no doubt had learnt a bitter lesson on how not to contest electoral victory at the tribunal due to its tortuous road and a likely unfavourable judgment, immediately mobilized youths to INEC office in Benin City to abort the plan. By Monday, May 14 when ACN members occupied INEC office and true to the allegation, a young man with a calibrated Direct Data Capture (DDC) machine was arrested.

INEC National Commissioner, Dr. Ishmael Igbani, said that a staff of the commission in the Benin office accused by the ACN of allegedly manipulating the voters’ register, had been removed The dismissed officer, who said that he used the DDC machine meant for Igueben local government area to register people in Uromi was, however, attacked before the police rescued him. He had embarked on this terrible mission before the actual commencement date which was May 15.

The ACN had alleged that the PDP at a recent meeting in Abuja presided over by a leader of the party in Edo State, discussed extensively their detailed plans on how to manipulate and mutilate the voters’ registration in alleged collusion with the ICT unit of INEC both in Abuja and in Benin with a view to rigging the guber election.

At the risk of being caught napping, INEC immediately called the political parties to a meeting at its Benin office to resolve the issues at stake. INEC Head of ICT in Abuja, Chidi Nwafor, who was also accused, set the tone of discussion at the meeting when he explained that 450 DDC machines had been made available, out of which 384 would be deployed for the updating of voters’ register which was expected to commence Tuesday, May 15.

Nwafor said two DDC machines would be deployed in each of the 192 wards, saying that National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members would be recruited for the exercise and the election proper, adding that INEC was determined to be transparent.

The ACN state chairman, Thomas Okosun, alleged that the opposition party had “at the meeting resolved to bring in thugs from neighbouring states to, amongst other things, register them in some targeted units for two purposes; one, increase their votes given the fact that they (PDP faithful) don’t have supporters; secondly and more dangerously, to register such thugs in units where they will be used to foment trouble during the election”.

“As if to confirm our apprehension in the said petition, we have discovered that the modalities and methodologies for the forthcoming registration tend to raise more questions than answers. If the purpose of the exercise is intended to capture those who have attained the age of 18 since the last election of 2011, and given the projected population growth rate of 3 percent, why embark on a full blown voters’ registration?

“First, we are aware that before the gubernatorial elections in Adamawa, Kebbi, Sokoko, Bayelsa and Cross River states, INEC conducted continuous registration only at local government headquarters level. In the case of Cross River, there was no continuous voters’ registration at all and yet, elections were conducted by INEC.

“However, we are aware now that INEC had decided to deplore 472 fully calibrated DDC machines for use in all the 192 wards in Edo State, thus, giving the exercise a resemblance of a full blown or fresh voters registration exercise.

“Against the backdrop of the fact that INEC has restricted itself to conducting the continuous voters’ Registration in other states herein before mentioned, why has Edo state now become so special to warrant it veering off from its established pattern? If INEC were to do exactly what they did in other states, INEC will require 18 DDC machines and if it were to conduct registration in the 192 wards of the State, it would require 192 DDC machines and not the 472 DDC machines already deployed to the State for the exercise. What would INEC do with the excess DDC machines of 454 and 280 respectively for either the local government or ward levels? The question is; what is the failure rate of the DDC machine that they would require over 100 per cent back-up machines?

“The answer is simple; for the Edo PDP to achieve their massive rigging plan allegedly perfected with the INEC ICT unit in Abuja and Benin, they must deploy excess DDC machines to enable them achieve their aim of manipulating the process in the forthcoming election. The PDP would also use such excess machines to register their imported thugs from neighbouring states to manipulate the entire electoral process.

“No wonder, Mr. Fix It reportedly boasted that given the arrangement going on in the state, and the Presidency and the National Executive Committee of the party, we are sure that PDP will return to Edo State come July 14, 2012”.

Though, INEC’s Chairman, Prof Atahiru Jega had, in his wisdom cancelled the exercise, the PDP kicked; they want the exercise to continue. That’s not all; some other persons caught in this electoral malfeasance have since been arraigned in Edo, thereby giving vent to the allegation by the ruling party that there are plots to rig the poll.

Three persons were arraigned at the magistrate courts in Afuze, headquarters of Owan West LGA of Edo State for electoral offences. They were alleged to have conspired in the procurement and dealing in INEC Voters Cards contrary to section 124(5) and punishable under section 120 (!) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

The three accused-Richard Usikhifo, 61, Segun Omoarebu, 40 and Ajayi Ohikhuemi, 30 were charged before Magistrate W. I Aziegbevbin at the Afuze Magistrate Court on Tuesday. Their case had been adjourned to June 19.

These are the issues putting Edo State in the news and on the other side of history. We are all aware that the ruling ACN have severally raised allegations that some PDP agents were out to purchase voters’ cards and true to the allegations, they have proved themselves and played into Oshiomhole’s hand.
•Alhaji Akpeji, a Public Affairs Analyst, wrote in from Benin City.


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/national/article/how-acn-aborted-plot-rig-edo-guber-poll

A cargo plane crash-landed on Saturday near the airport in Ghana's capital Accra after overshooting the runway and hit a bus on the ground, killing at least 10 people, but the crew survived, officials said.
Wreckage from the Boeing 727 Allied Air plane could be seen in an area near the airport along with a badly damaged bus. Rescue, police and fire officers flooded the scene and cordoned off the immediate area of the crash.
The plane had arrived from the Nigerian economic capital Lagos when it attempted to land in Accra.
Ghana's airport operator confirmed in a statement that "flight number DHV 111, cargo aircraft, operating from Lagos to Accra, has overshot the runway on landing on Saturday June 2, at 7:10 pm local time."
It added that "the crew of four people on board all survived the accident and are currently receiving treatment at the airport clinic. The aircraft collided with a minivan, resulting in 10 confirmed fatalities ..."
One witness reported seeing the plane come down and hit the bus, killing those inside.
"I closed from work, walking home in the rain, only to see the plane falling and people in the Benz bus crushed to death," said Kofi Anor.
A senior military officer said the plane crash-landed and also spoke of 10 dead. The bus was severely damaged, while the plane's wings and tail had broken off from its body.
The plane crashed in an area just outside a stadium, near the airport and a military base. It did not appear to strike any houses, and scores of people gathered in the area seeking to get a view of the crash.
Ghana Vice President John Dramani Mahama told reporters at the airport that a thorough investigation would be carried out.
"No early conclusions should be drawn," he said before heading toward the scene of the accident.
"We should allow investigations to arrive at the actual cause of the accident. But I can assure Ghanaians that the situation is under control."
Someone who answered at a number listed for Allied Air in the Nigerian oil hub of Port Harcourt said he could not comment because he did not have details, but provided a number for someone else, who also said he could not comment.
Ghana's airport operator, Ghana Airports Company Limited, said operations were continuing as normal at the airport and flights were as scheduled.
Kofi Kportufe, head of Ghana's national disaster management agency, said "this is a sad day for Ghana as our people have died in the accident."
"But we are grateful for the military, fire service, for the quick response which averted further disaster," he said. "We want to assure Ghanaians and the entire world that everything is under control. There's no cause for alarm."
Ghana, a West African nation of some 24 million people, is not known to have had any recent plane crashes.
AFP.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/article/10-killed-nigeria-cargo-plane-crash-lands-ghana

Several hours after the Dana plane crashed in Iju, Lagos, killing about 185 people, three children aged 11, nine and seven, are still searching for their parents yesterday, wailing. The Dana aircraft crashed into their two-storey building after developing fault midair in the Lagos suburb. Four houses were destroyed when the plane landed on them.

Amid sobs, Joel, 11, Esther, nine, and seven-year-old Chisom Okwuchukwu, were at the crash site yesterday frantically searching for their parents with nobody taking care of them until Governor Babatunde Fashola intervened.

Joel told our correspondent that their parents sent them on errand, only for them to come back and met their home being razed by the ill fated Dana aircraft, which crashed into it. They have not located their parents since then.

Joel said they slept in the house of a Good Samaritan on the night of the incident, wailing that they had not seen their parents since the incident happened. According to him, their father had asked him and Chisom to look for Esther, who was sent to fetch an electrician from the neighbourhood but had not returned.

Joel said since Esther was not forthcoming, their father asked them to look for her, pointing out that it was while they were coming with Esther that the incident occurred. Confused, the children said they could only remember the name of one of their uncles in Abuja, who is called Tony Okechukwu.

Meanwhile, Governor Fashola immediately took custody of the children by taking them to the Lagos State House, Ikeja, pending when a relative of theirs would be found. Fashola said government would take care of the children, saying they were fully protected . A Help Line – 08023414111 – was also opened at the Lagos State Television (LTV), on Lateef Jakande Road, Ikeja, to enable anybody, who knows the children, including their uncle, Tony Okwuchukwu, to contact the state government with sufficient proof for a possible reunion with their parents and relations.

The governor, who spoke with journalists after inspection of the crash site said: “My sympathy and condolences go to all of the victims and their families. It is really hard, finding words to express our pain and grief here but our condolences go out to the families of the bereaved and friends and relations, ordinary people, trying to earn a living end up so tragically and the families of young Nigerians whose lives had been cut short.”

“It is a very traumatic and painful experience but we condole with the management and staff of Dana Air and we want to commend the first responder, the fire service, LASEMA, NEMA and Red Cross for the support received.”

The governor, who appealed to the media and other people thronging the crash site to allow rescue operations take place, noted that it was not a tourist site. “It is an investigation site and we should keep our distance and allow the first responder to do their work. The difference between whether anybody would have survived or not is a question of how quickly they can get to that person and we should not be in the way of the first responder when they come to this kind of site,” he added.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/national/article/we%E2%80%99re-looking-our-dad-and-mom

WORDS of condolence, commiseration and comfort poured forth from prominent Nigerians and aviation stakeholders, yesterday, as news of the crash of the Dana Air plane settled on the country.

Many of those who reacted last night said it was an irony that the crash happened at a time that it was believed that the problems that had for long bedeviled the aviation sector were about being overcome.


While commiserating with families of the victims, Senator Mark promised that the Senate would investigate the cause of the aircrash in a bid to ensure that there is no recurrence.

Mourning loss of lives

In a statement issued on his behalf by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Kola Ologbondinyan, Mark said: “I feel so sad and heartbroken hearing the news of this ugly incident. It is quite unfortunate and disheartening. We mourn the loss of lives and prayed God to put a stop to every form of evil in our land. The Senate will definitely investigate the cause of this ugly incident to checkmate any future occurrence.”

Speaker Tambuwal who said he received news of the crash with great shock and sadness, said the unfortunate incident came at a time Nigeria made giant strides in the area of aviation safety. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Imam Imam, the Speaker encouraged Nigerians not to be deterred from using air travel on account of yesterday’s crash.

Ekweremadu described the incident as “shocking and emotionally devastating,” noting: “This is shocking beyond words, especially given the noticeable efforts at repositioning the nation’s aviation industry and when we thought we had put the air disasters of early 2000s behind us.”

Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Odua who was on her way to the scene yesterday said: “I am extremely saddened by the news of the crash and I assure the nation that investigations are underway.”

Her predecessor, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode on his part said: ”This is so sad. All that blood and life just wasted. We warned them about safety standards. Aviation is the sector I presided over. I know it inside out and now I am in pain. May the souls of those that died in that crash rest in peace.”

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola said: “It is unfortunate that your expectations to welcome and embrace your loved ones after their journey could be cut short so abruptly and in such unexpected manner. There is no gainsaying the experience could be traumatic,” regretting that the incident would destabilize homes as well as cause disruption to the lives of the affected families.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has described the death of over 150 people in a plane crash at Iju, in Lagos as a great loss to the nation. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Peter Okhiria, the Governor said: “I received with great shock news of the plane crash at Iju, in Lagos, in which over 150 people lost their lives. I wish to convey the deepest condolence of the people and Government of Edo State as well as my personal commiseration to the families of the victims.”

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State described the crash as unfortunate and national disaster of monumental proportions. He advised aviation authorities to stop at nothing in finding out the caused of the Iju plane crash in order to avert future occurrence, prayed God to grant families of the victims of the two unfortunate incidents the fortitude to bear the loss.

Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State described the crash as a major loss and a sad day in the country’s history. Wada himself a pilot while sympathizing with the families of the victims commended those who were on hand to lend a helping hand at the crash site.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodimma on his part expressed shock over the crash and lamented that it occurred at a time when the Federal Government had put in place the necessary machinery to turn around the aviation industry.He called for an immediate probe into the air accident by the necessary authorities in the aviation ministry with a view to unearthing the cause and averting future occurrence.While commiserating with families of the victims, the senator expressed the resolve of his committee to put in place laws that would guarantee the safety of air travelers in Nigeria.

The PDP in a statement issued by its national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh on behalf of Tukur condoled with President Goodluck Jonathan and families of the victims over the incident. He said: “The entire members of our Party share in the grief, the pain and the anguish of the families of those who have lost their loved ones, their confidants, their sisters and brothers; their fathers and mothers; breadwinners and employers; and all those who are affected by this national calamity.”

“We (all Nigerians)are united in our grief and our condolences go to you all as we pray that Almighty God will in His infinite mercy and compassion console and comfort you at this most trying period of your life and give the bereaved families the fortitude to bear their irreparable loss.”

The Southwest chapter of the PDP also spoke in the same vein describing the crash as sad and painful.In a statement issued by its Zonal Publicity Secretary, Hon. Kayode Babade, the PDP commiserated with President Goodluck Jonathan, minister of aviation, governors and government of Lagos and Ogun states, management of DANA Airline, the entire Nigerians, especially those who lost their relatives in the crash.”

This is very sad and painful and all that we can say is that God in His mercies will console those who lost their relations in the crash,” PDP said.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/06/dana-air-crash-govs-senators-ministers-others-lament/

TOP government functionaries had a tough time selling the new electricity tariffs regime to Labour leaders yesterday at a town-hall meeting in Abuja where President of the Trade Union Congress, Peter Esele, shredded the proposal.

Curiously though, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was conspicuously absent from the forum, which had Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, his Labour and Productivity counterpart, Emeka Wogu, Minister of State for Power, Darius Ishaku and Chairman, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi, leading government’s charge.

Esele listed several fault lines in the proposed tariffs regime, concluding that the Federal Government had again put the cart before the horse in conceiving and implementing the policy.

For instance, the TUC president queried the rush to implement the new tariffs against the backdrop of erratic power supply nationwide.

He also faulted the argument that the new tariffs would make the power sector attractive to prospective investors, stressing that the same polemics had been deployed in not too distant past to vote billions of dollars to the power sector, which funds went down the drain.

Esele submitted that Nigerians would not pay for the illegality that the planned increment represented.

In his presentation, Amadi had assured that in the next 12 to 18 months, the power distribution companies would supply meters to most electricity consumers in the country.

Besides, the NERC chief explained that what would take off on June 1 was an adjustment in the tariff, which would make the poor pay less.

The poor in the electricity context, according to Amadi, is the least consumers of power.

He stressed that the rich and poor have nothing to do with their geographical location but the kilowatts of electricity they consume, which graduates them from one class to the other.

Although Nnaji admitted that the Federal Government has a record of trust deficit, he assured Nigerians that the current attempt to reform the power sector would be different.

He explained that upon the privatisation of the power sector in October this year, the power distribution companies would quicken metering in order to reduce losses of revenue.

But these arguments failed to persuade Esele, who stated: “One of the issues also has to do with the political leadership; sometimes they put the cart before the horse. NERC says it wants to make meters available for everybody so that we start paying for what we consume in 18 months. My question is: If right now I am not paying for what I consume, will I continue to pay illegal bills for 18 months before the meters are available?

“NERC says the new tariff will be pro-poor. I told the chairman that I would like to see how the tariff would be pro-poor. The Central Working Committee (CWC) of the TUC will be having a roundtable that will look at the nitty-gritty of the new tariff with NERC. The minister of power makes references to different various reforms. I will also like to raise some questions.

“Why would I not want regular power supply for 24 hours? I know Nigerians will give anything to ensure power supply for 24 hours. But why are Nigerians worried about the new tariffs? There is parable that says that when a snake bites a child, even a long lizard will scare him.

“The minister spoke about power reform, we have spent billions of dollars over the years on the power sector and the plan was to make it attractive to investors. If after spending billions of dollars and power sector is still not attractive, how do you want Nigerians to trust you on this new tariff regime?”

The TUC president noted that the Federal Government had cleverly desisted from stating its power supply target in order not to be held accountable for failure.

His words: “In the past, we used to hear 3,000mw, 4,000mw by December, but now, we no longer hear that and we have not been told why that was not achieved.”

Ishaku disclosed that the Federal Government had directed the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) to re-train disengaged electricity workers to prepare them for the eventual hand-over of the successor companies to Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in October.

He stressed that those found with the right skills would be engaged by the new owners of the public power facilities.

In response to a question on the current status of PHCN, the minister stated: “PHCN has ceased to exist. It has been unbundled to make 18 successor companies while its workers have been redeployed to the successor companies.”

On the fate of the nation’s electricity workers when the privatisation process is concluded, Ishaku noted: “The current PHCN workers will be disengaged. Let me add here that we have effected a 50 per cent increment in the salary of our electricity workers and have since started paying.

“The idea is for their salaries and emoluments to be scaled up to give those of them who are highly skilled to have upper hands when the new owners come. We do not want our workers to be under-valued.

“We are hoping that the new owners would engage them on a higher skills basis. We are training them at the moment to make them highly relevant in the new scheme of things.”

Nnaji also explained why Nigeria currently supplies electricity to Niger Republic when its own citizens largely live in darkness.

His words: “We have two of our electricity dams that share boundaries with Niger Republic. We supply some electricity to that country as part of the agreement for us to use that dam. If we don’t supply them electricity, they may turn off the dams from their own end and that can be disastrous for us.”

http://businessnews.com.ng/2012/05/25/labour-shreds-nnajis-electricity-tariff-hike-plan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=labour-shreds-nnajis-electricity-tariff-hike-plan

Every right thinking Nigerian will conclude that OBJ was saying the truth but my problem with him is that he failed to come to the realization that he is the architect of these vices he is now condemning in the National Assembly. In a sane country, he should have been cooling his feet in prison now because of his fraudulent modus operandi in governance during his reign. He wasted billions of dollars on power project and yet nothing to show for it, he wasted billions of Naira to induce the Lawmakers to smuggle third term agenda into the constitution but they collected the money and voted against the tenure elongation. He empowered Adedibu in Oyo state and the old man then supervised the impeachment of the then Gov Ladoja by less than 10 lawmakers in an hotel. Many other revelations abound. He has no moral justification to call anyone rogues in this country. What I know is that he will never stop being controversial.

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo’s ‘rogues and armed robbers’ comment attracted more umbrage across the country on Thursday.

Obasanjo on Tuesday at the Fourth Academy for Entrepreneur Studies, Nigeria, annual national conference in Lagos, had said that the National Assembly and the state Houses of Assembly had armed robbers and rogues as members.

The Senate on Wednesday challenged the former President to name the rogues and robbers in its chamber, while the House of Representatives set up a panel to investigate the comment.

Speaking on Thursday, First Republic Information Minister, Edwin Clark, submitted that Obasanjo lacked the moral strength to call anyone corrupt.

Clark said, “In this country, Obasanjo accused the federal legislators, labelling some of them as armed robbers. He is not the person to make that statement because he too has not given a good example to Nigerians.

“He (Obasanjo) was brought from the prison to become President of Nigeria for eight years and granted pardon. He contested election in 1999, even when he had no money.

“I am told that his military friends like the Generals (Theophilus) Danjuma, Ibrahim Babangida and others were the people who provided the money with which he won the election. But today, Obasanjo is one of the wealthiest people in the world.”

The duo of Itsay Sagay and Olisa Agbakoba, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria, dismissed the comment, adding that it could not be acted upon by the courts and anti-graft agencies.

Sagay said, “That statement is too general. There is nothing the police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other anti-corruption agencies can do about it. If he had mentioned names, it would have been a useful piece of information for the police or the EFCC.

“He made the statement in a political atmosphere. The allegation is weighty but I think he made it because he was a bit carried away. The applause was much at the event; he made the statement at the end of a very lengthy presentation.”

Agbakoba, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, added that Nigerians were tired of allegations like the one made by Obasanjo. He said Nigerians had remained a laughing stock in the world because its government had failed to show enough seriousness in fighting the menace of corruption.

He said, “When Obasanjo made the allegation, I took it as a joke. Obasanjo is aware that nobody is taking him seriously. Obasanjo himself was accused of corruption. Nigerians are tired of stories and allegations of corruption. The truth of the matter is that Nigeria has remained a laughing stock as one of the most corrupt nations in the world because of the government’s failure to take corruption seriously.”

Rivers State lawmakers however told Obasanjo that they were not rogues.

The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Otelemaba Amachree, said the members of the assembly were men of integrity, adding that rather than making a general statement the ex-President should have mentioned names.

Ondo State lawmakers said the Obasanjo statement was reckless.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the Minority Leader of the House, Mr.Ifedayo Akinsoyinu, described as unfortunate if such comment could come from Obasanjo. He challenged the ex-President to provide evidence to back up his claim.

Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu, declined comment on the issue but another lawmaker in the state, Yisau Adesope, said it would have been acceptable and true if Obasanjo had called the Peoples Democratic Party lawmakers rogues and armed robbers.

Adesope said, “His comment lacks credibility because he does not have the full information about all the lawmakers in Nigeria at his disposal.

“If he is talking about lawmakers in the PDP, that is understandable but he cannot claim to know what is going on with others, especially those in other parties. He should tender an apology to the legislators and desist from general comments.”

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, said Obasanjo’s comment was sad and unfortunate.

In a statement by his spokesman, Rotimi Adebayo, the Speaker insisted that the legislature had been saving the country from total collapse.

He said, “Chief Obasanjo’s comment is not only sad but unfortunate. It is necessary to educate the likes of the former president that, but for the legislature, Nigeria’s democratic development would have been long derailed.

“For instance, it is on record that it was the legislature that saved our great country from disintegration when federal lawmakers were heavily pressurised to the point of monetary inducement to legalise his (Obasanjo’s) infamous third term agenda.

“It appears Obasanjo, an elder statesman, is now hitting back at the nation’s lawmakers that prevented him from realising his third term agenda.”

Coalition of opposition political parties under the aegis of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties on Thursday asked Obasanjo to render account of his eight years in office.

The Nationa Publicity Secretary of the CNPP, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said since the ex-President cast the first throne, it behoves on him to render account of his rule between 1999 and 2007.

In a statement, Okechukwu said, “Obasanjo’s regime harvested unprecedented oil revenue without commensurate project performance; a regime that bastardised our democracy and a regime which simulated the fault lines hence Boko Haram and other insurgencies.

“Those who live in glass houses, the saying goes, should not throw stones, for we recall with pain how Obasanjo, who came out of prison as poor as a church rat, paradoxically has become one of the richest Africans after eight years of looting in power.”

Meanwhile, the PDP may have chosen not to interfere in the current exchange between its Board of Trustees ex-chairman and lawmakers.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the party did not believe that there was any face-off between the former President and members of the National Assembly.

“Is there any face-off? The former President made a comment and the members of the National Assembly reacted. That is the end. As far as we are concerned, there is no face-off. All is well,” Metuh said.

A member of the National Working Committee of the PDP, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, however said the party would not want to be involved in the matter.

He said though the party felt that the statement by the former President was capable of causing disaffection among its members, the party was also aware that the Assembly was made up of members of other political parties.

“It was a comment by a former President and he is allowed to speak as an individual. It is his opinion,” the source said.



http://www.punchng.com/news/criminal-lawmakers-opposition-parties-lawyers-legislators-blast-obasanjo/

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A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday condemned in strong terms the issuance of a warrant for the arrest of former governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki.

Justice Gladys Olotu while ruling on Saraki’s application to withdraw his application to stop the police from arresting him, said that the police undermined the authority of the court when it issued a warrant for Saraki’s arrest and also declared him wanted after they (the police) have submitted to the jurisdiction of the court.
She also set aside the order issued by the police declaring Saraki wanted on the ground that such order foisted a fait accompli on the court.

The judge rejected the arguments of the police counsel, Mr. Femi Falana, that the court did not have the power to stop the police from carrying out their constitutional duties.

According to her, once a party has submitted a dispute to the court and the other party has been served, the proper thing to do is to allow the court to determine the dispute.

She rejected the arguments could come to the court to stop their arrest hiding under the rule of law. The judge found that the plaintiff’s case had been overtaken by events.

The judge said: “I am of the view that the plaintiff has unfettered right to come to court.”
She upheld the arguments of counsel to Saraki, Mr. Lawal Rabana (SAN), that it did not lie in the mouth of a party to declare a case an abuse of court but that it should be the duty of the court to so declare after hearing all the parties.

The judge noted that the police admitted that they obtained a warrant while the case was pending and also executed the warrant in the public domain instead of serving it on the plaintiff.

She said: “The police’s excuse is not tenable. It would have been wise to await the decision of this court. They undermined this court and should have come to this court if they became aware that the plaintiff planned to run.

“It was this court that should have issued the warrant. It is this court that should have declared him wanted. This is because the police's power to do anything has been technically suspended. The sanctity of the rule of law must be protected at all costs and at all time. The warrant of arrest and the order declaring him wanted are hereby set aside. This case is hereby struck out.”

Justice Olotu struck out the case on the ground that the reliefs had been overtaken by events.

Rabana had asked the court to make pronouncement on the action of the police declaring Saraki's wanted when he had already filed a suit and the police had been served with the court process. He said: “The steps taken by the police had undermined the process filed. This is not in the best interest of justice and tenets of rule of law. When parties had submitted themselves to the jurisdiction of the court parties ought to stay action.

“This is a condemnable act which this court should view seriously as undermining the processes before this court,” he said.

But Falana told the court that the warrant for the arrest of Saraki was issued by a federal high court in Lagos, a court of competent jurisdiction.

He also told the court that Saraki was declared wanted when the police got the hint that he (Saraki) wanted to run away.

http://www.nigeriamasterweb.com/paperfrmes.html

Serving detective and three former Scotland Yard officers held in investigation into allegations of police bribery

Three former Scotland Yard police officers and a serving detective have been arrested as part of an investigation into allegations that members of the force's anti-corruption unit were paid thousands of pounds in bribes.

The Metropolitan police said the 45-year-old male detective was arrested on suspicion of receiving payments for information at a residential address outside London.

Two of the former police officers, men aged 53 and 58, were arrested during raids at a business address in central London. The pair were arrested on suspicion of bribery of a police officer and remain in custody.

The third former police officer attended a south London police station by appointment and was also arrested on suspicion of bribery of a police officer. He also remains in custody.

A Scotland Yard source with knowledge of the arrests confirmed the central London premises raided this morning belonged to RISC Management, a firm of private investigators that was working for a notorious Nigerian fraudster, James Ibori. The arrested 53-year-old was understood, the source said, to be Keith Hunter, the chief executive of RISC Management and a former Met detective.

The Guardian revealed on Tuesday that the Met was investigating allegations RISC Management may have paid bribes to police officers in the Met's proceeds of corruption unit.

Ibori was recently jailed after pleading guilty in the UK to laundering £150m. He was under investigation by the Met anti-corruption unit around the time RISC Management is alleged to have made the payments.

Hunter, from Banstead in Surrey, claims to have worked on "high-profile investigations of national and international organised crime" at Scotland Yard before entering the private investigations industry in 1997.

Prior to his arrest, Hunter denied allegations of wrongdoing, telling the Guardian: "RISC management does not need to pay serving police officers for confidential information as we pride ourselves on our ability to provide positive solutions and accurate information legitimately. RISC Management has a highly respected reputation for conducting professional investigations."

Hunter added that his company was "proud to have a network of highly professional consultants, contacts and resources". He said: "These individuals are hired precisely because of their unique skill set and expertise."

The identity of the second former Met police officer to be arrested along with Hunter was not known.

Details of the case were brought to the attention of parliament on Tuesday when Mike Schwarz, a lawyer for one of Ibori's co-accused, gave evidence to the home affairs select committee about the case.

Schwarz, from Bindmans solicitors, gave details about a set of invoices he said suggested RISC Management had paid around £20,000 to sources close to the police investigation into Ibori.

The committee is holding an inquiry into whether private investigators should be subject to statutory regulation. Schwarz, who represents Bhadresh Gohil, a London-based solicitor jailed along with Ibori for orchestrating his money-laundering scam, told MPs the case amounted to an undetected case of "apparent corruption right at the heart of Scotland Yard".

After the evidence, Hunter accused Schwarz of "grandstanding" in front of the Commons committee, instead of taking the "correct course of reporting the matter to the police". He said Schwarz had not produced any evidence to support his claims and acted for a convicted solicitor, Gohil, who was jailed for seven years for money laundering.

The Met was first made aware of the allegations of bribes in August last year, when the force was anonymously posted the set of invoices referred to in parliament by Schwarz.

It was another three months before the force's directorate of professional standards (DPS), which investigates internal corruption, opened an internal inquiry. This investigation is being supervised by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which had been anonymously posted the documents around the same time.

Until recently, the Met had not contacted RISC Management or interviewed any of the police officers suspected of taking bribes. Last week, the force indicated to the Guardian that it had "uncovered evidence that casts doubt on the credibility" of the allegations against police officers. However, that position changed on Tuesday, when the force issued a statement suggesting new developments in the investigation.

The Met said in its latest statement it is "investigating an allegation that illegal payments were made to police officers for information by a private investigation agency". It added: "Officers from the [DPS] have today executed search warrants at a business address in Conduit Street, London and arrested two men."

The Met added: "Both are at present in custody pending further inquiries. This was a pre-planned operation that forms part of a long and complex investigation by the directorate of professional standards."


http://saharareporters.com/news-page/ibori-four-arrested-met-police-corruption-inquiry-guardiancouk

Nothing will come out of it as EFCC died with Ribadu.Everything is toward 2015 as slowpoke President Badluck Jonathan wants People to see him doing something and thereby instructed EFCC to do something to avoid Pressure groups taking to the streets one more time.Let EFCC take student Lawyers while the Oil Mafias go for SAN,nothing will come out of it,Nigeria is a failed Nation and on till we have uprising that will consume these Men,progress can never come our way, Presidential Election is going on in EGYPT and LIBYA now because their people said enough of rubbish.I respect BUHARI and Ribadu for their comments toward 2015,PDP should rig and no more Nigeria…..Travel outside Nigeria and you will weep for our leaders,JAPAN,THAILAND dont have Oil but a letre of Petrol is 38 naira and i have never see Generators in these Cities.13yrs of PDP,no Electricity and that Stupid Jonathan can still be talking about 2015.

There were indications on Wednesday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission might have begun the overhaul of its legal department as a way of presenting a strong legal team to prosecute perpetrators of financial crimes and those indicted in the fuel subsidy probe report.

A source, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said the leadership of the commission had expressed serious concerns over the manner in which the commission’s cases were being handled.

The source stated that the commission was not very comfortable with the way lawyers entrusted with the responsibility of handling the case involving the former Managing Director of Afribank, Mr. Sebastian Adigwe, and six other accused persons handled the case.

It was learnt that the commission’s reaction followed the condemnation of the commission by the trial judge for failing to produce a witness in the trial involving the bank chiefs.

Investigations conducted by our correspondent revealed that the commission might come up with serious changes in its legal team to ensure that cases being taken to court were not thrown out of court.

It was learnt that the commission was engrossed in moves to ensure that young lawyers with serious dedication to the principle and ideals of the commission were brought into the legal team.

The source lamented that the commission was not getting the requisite services from the huge sums of monies being paid to prosecute its cases.

The source said the pioneer Chairman of the Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, engaged the services of the young lawyers who were hungry for success and displayed a strong zeal for their work.

It was learnt that the immediate past chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, decided to go for the use of very senior lawyers which according to the source, had not made the difference.

“Well, I can tell you that the commission is worried about the way some of these high profile cases are being handled.

“We are worried that some of the lawyers are not living up to expectations of the commissions and I think steps will be taken to reverse the trend. This is not helping us at all. We are going to review this arrangement with some of the lawyers,” the source said.

The Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mike adoke, whose ministry supervises the EFCC started on Tuesday that the Federal Government would ensure a thorough investigation of the raging subsidy saga for effective prosecution.

He said that the EFCC had been instructed to do a holistic investigation in consonance with presidential directive.

http://www.punchng.com/news/efcc-overhauls-legal-team-for-subsidy-thieves-trial/

A president of just yesterday calling those he handed over authority thieves and armed robbers!
The souls of the more than a million innocent children deliberately starved to death by Nigeria are setting up confusion in Nigeria; their agonizing spirits had since set out to punish the name, Nigeria. In a country where those who directly or indirectly murdered more than a million children are termed heroes whose labours shall not be in vain, what do we expect? Perhaps, this is just the beginning. Nigeria starved to death more than a million children it set out to force back to One Nigeria in what it branded a civil war. Senseless! No where else was a civil war fought with starvation to death of over a million children. And the survivors are still visited with injustice. The class war has just begun.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, on Wednesday stopped a move by lawmakers to protest former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s verbal attacks on members of the national and state houses of assembly.

The Senate also challenged Obasanjo to name the rogues and criminals among the lawmakers, saying a lot of people had called for clarification on the former President’s comments.

Before Tambuwal’s intervention, fuming Reps had taken exception to the former President’s chastisement with the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr. Suleiman Kawu, already submitting that “Obasanjo lacked the moral authority to call lawmakers rogues and armed robbers.”

The ex-President on Tuesday at the fourth Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies, Nigeria, annual national conference in Lagos, said most members of the legislature in the country are rogues and criminals.

Kawu had raised an order under matters of urgent public importance to table the ex-President’s attack on lawmakers on the floor.

Although Tambuwal initially obliged him, the Speaker quickly stopped Kawu when he started raining abuses on Obasanjo.

He accused Obasanjo of being without a good reputation and that such a man had no “moral authority to call lawmakers armed robbers, Mr. Speaker.”

But Tambuwal cut him short amid murmurs from members and promptly referred the issue to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges for investigation.

The speaker reasoned that it would be hasty to respond to the allegations in anger as none of the lawmakers was present at the forum where the former President reportedly made the allegations.

Tambuwal noted that the House should avoid a situation where Obasanjo would deny having made the allegations or that he was quoted out of context.

He explained that an investigation by the committee would clarify any doubts on the matter, following which the House could debate it and take a position.

The committee was given up to next week to submit its report.

Also, while briefing journalists on the reaction of Senators to Obasanjo’s comments, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Information, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said Obasanjo should help the National Assembly by coming up with the names of those he believed were criminals.

He said, “We have been getting too many enquiries relating to the statement by former President of Nigeria that the National Assembly is full of rogues. Our statement is as follows: The National Assembly has great respect for the person of the former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and the National Assembly can never engage in any talk back with the President.

“We actually feel that the former President would help the National Assembly and indeed also help Nigeria in the new spirit of transparency and openness in assisting the National Assembly by naming those that he knows in the National Assembly as either rogues or criminals.

“That will help us to sanitise the polity. We sincerely thank him for his role in Nigeria as someone who cares very deeply about the Nigerian state as at the moment.

“Not just President Obasanjo, we also urge other Nigerians who are concerned about Nigeria to in the spirit of transparency let us know whatever information that they have so that we can use it to check ourselves so that we will be able to make Nigeria a better place.”

Abaribe however would not take questions after the briefing, saying that that was all he had to say about the issue.

Chief Whip of the House, Mr. Isiaka Bawa, told The PUNCH that lawmakers would not take further actions until the committee had turned in the report of its findings.

Bawa said, “As a leader of the House, once the House takes a stand on any issue like this, we can no longer talk on it. The matter came up on the floor and we resolved to investigate it thoroughly before making any reactions.

“For example, we have to hear from the former President whether he actually said what was attributed to him.

“He may say that he never said such or that what he meant was not accurately reported.”

When asked whether the investigation would involve inviting Obasanjo to the House, Bawa replied that it depended on the methodology the committee chose to apply.

The Minority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, said he supported Tambuwal’s decision not to debate the matter on the floor because “it is not worth it.”

He said, “It is not worth debating if you asked me. Obasanjo is expressing his freedom of speech.

“So, if he calls you a rogue, armed robber or thief, you call him double rogue, double armed robber.

“Both of you would be seen to be exercising your freedom of speech.

“The other arm of it is that either of you may sue for defamation of character, the laws allows it.”

He said that he could not believe that Obasanjo, who he said allegedly spent $10bn to fund his “failed third term bid”, would call another person an armed robber.

“Part of his problem is that he will do or say anything just to be in the limelight.He should be ignored, honestly”, the lawmaker added.

http://www.punchng.com/news/criminal-lawmakers-senators-angry-reps-reply-obasanjo/

Hell no !

We are waitting to see those that will be jailed !

Nice one guy !

The Nigerian Medical Association has denied media reports (not in THE PUNCH) that some sacked doctors had started lobbying the Lagos State government to be reinstated.

A statement by the association in Lagos on Monday said the media report was not only false but a product of the imagination of the reporters.

The association condemned the report and described it as an attempt to cause a division between its National President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, and the leadership of the Medical Guild.

The publication had reported that some of the sacked doctors were lobbying the state government to be reinstated and also alleged that the NMA President was against the strike embarked upon by the Medical Guild.

The NMA stated, “We describe the story as scurrilous, an outright falsehood and a desperate attempt to blackmail the President and the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association, as well as distract the NMA leadership from her commitment to a just and quick resolution of the conflict between its members and the Lagos State government.”

The story which was published in the Monday edition of the newspaper said an anonymous source had said that the President of the NMA, was unhappy with the position of the Medical Guild on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, but was afraid that if he failed to dance to the tune of the doctors, he might be impeached.

“To say that Enabulele, who was overwhelmingly elected only 17days ago would be bothered about impeachment over his courageous and progressive handling of the Lagos quagmire is ridiculous and ludicrous,” the NMA said, pointing out that the NMA leader had an unblemished track record as a progressive crusader for social justice.

“Nigerians and indeed the whole world are very much aware that for over a week, the NMA President and the national leadership of the NMA have consistently made efforts to resolve the labour crisis in Lagos State, despite the hard line anti-labour posture of the Lagos State government,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the government on Tuesday urged the National Industrial Court to refuse to entertain the suit filed by 788 doctors sacked by the state.

The doctors had filed the suit prior to their sacking to pre-empt the government from taking any disciplinary action against them for embarking on a three-day warning strike in March 2012.

Their counsel, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, on May 16, 2012, filed another application, seeking the court to reverse the sacking.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner of the state, Mr. Ade Ipaye, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria told Justice Benedict Kanyip to strike out the suit.

However, the judge said, “This court came to existence to avoid the technicalities obtained in the conventional courts. What is the point in declining jurisdiction and striking out the case by mere looking at the suit on the surface, when we know there is no other court that has jurisdiction to hear the matter.”

Ipaye insisted the suit was incompetent on the basis that it was instituted on behalf of the doctors’ association – the Lagos State Medical Guild – not recognised by law.

Aturu, however, argued that the association could sue in a representative capacity.

Kanyip, who affirmed his promise to give the case an accelerated hearing, adjourned till May 24 to deliver ruling on government’s application.

http://www.punchng.com/news/we-did-not-beg-lagos-govt-sacked-doctors/

This may sound funny to you but believe me when I say this: those men and women behind those church and mosques won't find this funny in anyway cos they are running at a big loss round the clock. Well, the Govt rules and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) in conjunction with the Lagos State Task force on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, yesterday Monday May 21, shut down two churches and two mosques in the state for noise pollution after numerous warnings to the religious centres to stop the noise.

The affected churches are: The Christ Chosen Church, Onipanu, and The Evangelical Apostolic Church. The affected mosques are Darusalam Mosque at Sabo, Yaba, and Ayegbesin Mosque at Mafoluku, Oshodi ...Source