₦airaland Forum

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=83272&printer_friendly=1


National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday came down heavily on journalists and the Nigerian media, when he described them as “ignoramous and complete illiterates."
Speaking in Abuja when he granted audience to Imo State Working Committee of the party who paid him a courtesy visit, Ali, apparently not satisfied with the manner the media reported his utterances where he criticised the privatisation policy of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, said “mark my words, it is most probable, mark my words, I know we have a press that is largely ignoramous and they tend to say that they don’t understand or they cannot decipher my English, because they never studied the way I studied.
“ I say it because it is totally a different kettle of fish, I think there is a difference. I emphasis that because by now, they will go ahead and write a different thing. Please can you (ordering his security details) get rid of them. Get rid of them,” he said, and directed his security details to chase journalists out of the PDP National Secretariat in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja., after which he shouted on top of his voice, “good riddance.”
THISDAY gathered that Ali was not happy with journalists for reporting that the privatisation policy of Obasanjo was ill-informed.
Ali had said in Abuja, during an investiture on him that there must be a subsidy for the agricultural sector, while criticising the planned sale of unity schools as unnecessary, explaining that they represent part of the country's national heritage.
In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, John Odey, titled "Re: Ali Condemns Obasanjo's Reforms," the party said "Senator Ali's position, therefore, is for subsidy on Agriculture to be maintained, so that our farmers can have access to affordable farming implements to boost production, which will in effect, contribute to employment and National Security. The land reform programme of the present administration is targeted to achieve this purpose.
"Subsidy on agriculture is also a major policy thrust of developed nations of Europe and America. The European Union and the United States governments till today, heavily subsidises agriculture by engaging in bulk buy back of products and restriction of production to avoid glut and waste. Generous tax incentives are also given to farmers."
On the planned sale of unity schools, the statement from PDP said there is the need to preserve "our national heritage which our unity schools represent."
THISDAY gathered that the need for the National Chairman of PDP to re-clarify its position was as a result of several calls he received from some top government officials.
Also, a source told THISDAY that for Ali to inisist that there is the need for agriculture subsidy, when in actual fact, Obasanjo's eight years regime was against it, is an indication of a crack.

Has Dangote heard of this  Egyptian Telecom mogul  Naguib Sawiris, the CEO of Orascom group. He is worth $10 billion  and yet he does not go around seeking for attention. Your money and investment will surely find  you out, not  by underbidding and underpaying for refineries because of govt connections.

Oprah is worth over $1.5 Billion = N200 Billion Naira. What's the market value of dangote company which Aliko partly owns? Did he calculate his loan portfolio as well. His biggest creditors Nexim and IFC are listening

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/10/07billionaires_Naguib-Sawiris_4MRK.html

Has Dangote heard of this Egyptian Telecom mogul Naguib Sawiris, the CEO of Orascom group. He is worth $10 billion and yet he does not go around seeking for attention. Your money and investment will surely find you out, not by underbidding and underpaying for refineries because of govt connections.

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/10/07billionaires_Naguib-Sawiris_4MRK.html

Have u ever seen Nelson Mandela in a suit? He always wears this traditional S/African clothe that looks good on him. Maybe we also need to tell Arabian kings and princes to change their way of dressing.

If you are tired of being a Nigerian, try being a muslim and tell me the difference

Militia,
I could see your myopic understand of Nigerian men. “Nigerian men do not read newspapers" I wonder how many Nigerian women who read newspapers as compared with Nigerian men. If you have issues with "some” Nigerian men, don’t just put everybody in the same box. There are two sides to every divorce story. You even preempted the poster by labeling her husband " so called" Then again you migrated to paper issues without hearing from the poster the reason she is seeking for a divorce. You are sounding like someone who is over-confident that she is ahead of everyman (including her papa and brothers)
Westerners always complain of Nigerian men not acting like westerners, but how many times do Nigerian men complain that their western wives/girlfriends do not act like Nigerian women? Zero. A Nigerian dating a westerner does already have a mindset of how westerners behave and what they can’t do and can do, but westerners always want Nigerians to go above and beyond in order to meet their expectations their fellow country men cannot meet. If a Nigerian man breaks up with a lady in Manchester, she will tell the whole world that Nigerian men are heart breaker as if to say she was a “virgin’ when she met the Nigerian dude. Why did you not cry foul when your several western boyfriends left you? Oh! Maybe they had the visa for free entry and exit and Nigerian men are in for the rest of their lives. lol I don’t know why Nigerian men are not speaking up on how they have been mistreated by their western girlfriends/wives. I am tired of westerner always profiling Nigerians as if to say that someone is forcing them into a relationship. I wonder if Nigerian men go about looking for information on how to discredit their wives and girlfriends. Why all the fuss about paper when Europeans still marry for papers in UK. Besides, most of these folks know that some of these men do not have papers and will go ahead and marry them thinking that they will forever be their punch bags. Polish, Russians, Romanians still marry and file papers for their spouses with not qualms. Maybe they believe in “love" more than "papers”. It’s just like saying that Prince Harry's future wife may not marry him because of his royalty. Do Nigerian men tell their western spouses that they don’t really like women who smoke, do drugs, have kids, depend on government benefits? No, because they know that the society they live in does not frown at some of these vices, so they join the bandwagon.


good luck

babe please go to attention seekers dot com to post your story

if everything about Nigeria is bad change your nationality

Suspect's accent leads to arrest in girl's death
(http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/447174,CST-NWS-girl28.article)

June 28, 2007

BY ANNIE SWEENEY AND NORMAN PARISH Staff Reporters

Among the gang slogans shouted on the street in the minutes before 13-year-old Schanna Gayden was shot Monday, one was distinct.


Witnesses told police they heard a Jamaican-sounding accent -- a detail that perked the ears of longtime Chicago Detective George Figueroa, who has tracked the Imperial Gangsters for about 20 years.

Figueroa, who keeps notes and pictures on the gang, didn't know of any Jamaicans, but he knew an African immigrant who started running with the Imperial Gangsters a few years ago.

Mwenda Murithi -- known as "Kenya" on the street -- was immediately arrested. Shortly afterward, a second reputed Imperial Gangster, 19-year-old Tony Serrano, was picked up. Both were charged with Schanna's murder Wednesday after giving statements to police.

"The only one that came to mind was Murithi,'' Figueroa said. "He does have a thick African accent. That gave it away. Sometimes you get lucky."

Schanna's mother said she took comfort that police made the arrests so quickly.

"If I am lucky, they will be in [jail] forever,'' Rita Sallie said. "That is the least that can happen."

Serrano lives about three blocks from Schanna's family. Wednesday, Logan Square residents referred to the Serrano home in a three-flat as "the gang house."

Susanna Rosa, 38, who told the Sun-Times she took Serrano in after his mother left a few weeks ago, said, "We feel bad for [Schanna's] parents, but we also feel bad for Tony."

Rosa claimed Serrano was forced into the gang after moving into the neighborhood last fall and getting caught up in the street life. "This is the ghetto," she said. "It's a rough neighborhood."

Rivalry goes way back

Police think Murithi told Serrano to shoot at rival Spanish Cobras congregating on the other side of Central Park, the street that divides the two gangs. Serrano allegedly missed and struck Schanna, who was standing at a fruit vendor at a playground at 2030 N. Central Park.

Witnesses heard the group yelling, "Get the gun,'' and, "Light them up,'' before the shots were fired.

Murithi, of the 3600 block of West Fullerton, has been arrested 28 times, including for four felonies. Serrano, of the 3500 block of West Dickens, has two prior arrests.

"Hopefully there will be more arrests," said Grand Central Area Cmdr. Joseph Salemme. "The community has been very forthcoming.''

The rivalry between the gangs goes back as long as Figueroa can remember. This dispute seems to have started with taunts, escalating to a shooting.

"It's like they had tunnel vision,'' Figueroa said. "All they could see is it's rival gang members, and they start shooting. This poor girl just happens to be on the street at the wrong time.''

Figueroa, an officer for 31 years, started tracking the IGs back when he was a gang crimes specialist.

His knowledge is so deep that his bosses have asked him to monitor the case of Ronnie Carrasquillo, the leader of the incarcerated faction of the Imperial Gangsters. Carrasquillo is in prison for the 1976 killing of Chicago Police Officer Terrence Loftus, but he has lined up a prominent congressman, two state legislators, a city alderman and a County Board commissioner in his bid to win freedom through parole.

Contributing: Eric Herman

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=82261&printer_friendly=1

Yar’Adua: I’m Worth N850m
From Josephine Lohor in Abuja, 06.29.2007

For the first time in the history of Nigeria, a sitting president has made his asset declaration public. President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, in fulfilling a promise he made earlier to the nation, yesterday released for public knowledge details of his assets declaration as contained in Form CCB1 submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau as demanded by the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution.
This is expected to put a moral obligation on other public officers, especially state governors and ministers, to follow suit, although the Constitution does not make public declaration of assets compulsory.
Yar’Adua had also blazed a trail in 1999 by making his assets declaration public when he assumed office as governor of Katsina State, a tradition he continued when he was re-elected in 2003.
The President declared a total assets value of N856,452,892, including N19 million belonging to his wife, Turai. He confessed that in the last one month since he was sworn in, he had faced the dilemma of whether or not to make his declaration public. He eventually decided to do so despite the fact that the Code of Conduct Bureau “counselled against the move on the grounds that such an action would put pressure on other categories of public officials to do same even when the Constitution makes the exercise a confidential matter”.
Shortly after winning the presidential election last April, Yar’Adua had told a newspaper that he was worth “around N500 million”, although with a caveat that he needed to crosscheck the figures to be cocksure.
Special Adviser to the President on Communi-cations, Mr. Olusegun Ade-niyi, who released details of the President’s assets to State House correspondents yesterday, stated that “having weighed the two sides, the President has come to the conclusion that since he will not be breaking any law, he cannot go back o his promise to the nation”.
According to the details obtained from a copy of the assets declaration form “dispatched” May 28, 2007, President Yar’Adua has no foreign account or foreign assets, but has liabilities worth N88,793,269.77, being outstanding loans secured with the Unity Bank Plc, Imani Estate branch, Maitama, Abuja .
The President’s assets include remunerations, savings, campaign donations, post-campaign contributions, buildings and vacant plots of land, farms and orchard, cash at hand and vehicles, while the bulk of his assets as at yesterday, were listed under the remunerations, savings, campaign contributions, post-campaign contributions and 29 campaign vehicles located in Katsina and Abuja.
The total annual income from his assets is put at N18.7 million while his wife has a total annual income from her assets at a value of N132,000.
Mr. Adeniyi said that the President’s declaration “was borne out of his conviction that the war against corruption cannot have meaning until those at the helm begin to live by example”, adding that Yar’Adua would work with the leadership of the National Assembly “to see what can be done to make assets declarations an effective weapon in the fight against corruption and abuse of office”.
A breakdown of the assets declaration shows that the President has a total of N43,702,892.43 as cash at bank, being remuneration, savings, campaign and post campaign contributions lodged with the Bank PHB in accounts with numbers 03710001531, 055100 000100 and 042100000041. Details show that while a total of N26,602,681.00 stands as credit at the Bank PHB, Nagogo Road , Katsina State branch; N12, 000,264.21 is in the Apapa, Lagos State branch. Also, a total of N4,999,947.22 is at the head office of the bank in Kaduna .
The President declared N7.5 million as cash in hand which he recorded as being derived from savings, campaign and post campaign contributions. The President declared a total of N88,793,269.77 as his liabilities, being cash in Nigerian banks as loans and debit at the Imani Estate, Maitama, Abuja branch of Unity Bank Plc (formerly Intercity Bank) worth N26,817, 362.19 in account number 0173362/001/000 and another N61,975,907.58 in the same branch of the bank in account 017336200100 respectively.
President Yar’Adua also declared a total assets value of N577,000,000 under buildings, vacant and undeveloped plots sections. This include the Yar’Adua family compound at Yar’Adua Quarters in Katsina State, valued at N105,000,000. This was acquired through inheritance in November 1997. There is also multi-storey building at A8 Wuse 2, Abuja with total value of N212,000,000. The land was granted by the Federal Government to him in 1988.
There is also a duplex at Malali, Kaduna State with a value of N120,000,000 that according to the President was originally a three-bedroom bungalow and a gift from his late senior brother, Major-General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and another 7-bedroom duplex at 2 Lema Jubril Close valued at N90,000,000 that was built from savings in 1987.The President also declared that he has a vacant plot at Asokoro New Layout in Abuja valued at N50,000,000. This was granted by the Federal Government to him in 1998. He also declared two farms worth N25,000,000 in Katsina State . they include the one at Ruwan Godiya in Faskari Local Government of Katsina State valued at N10,000,000. This was acquired in 1982. Another farmland and orchad is also located at Ajiwa, Batagarawa Local Government in Katsina State and is worth N15,000,000. It was acquired in 1993.
Under shares, debentures and other securities in and outside Nigeria, President Yar’Adua declared that he has 2,000,000 units of shares of Habib Bank acquired in 1998 which is in the process of being converted to Bank PHB; 100,000 units of shares of Intercity Bank Plc also in the process of conversion to Unity Bank Plc and another 100,000 units of shares of Muradi Hotels Limited.
While disclosing that he has vehicles worth N181,250,000, the President stated that he has 29 new cars worth N174,700,000 in both Katsina and Abuja that he described as campaign vehicles, adding that he owns a Honda Accord car worth N350,000 and a Mercedes Benz worth another N6,500,000.
The President added that the First Lady’s assets are made up of three local houses worth N1,5000,000 acquired in 1998; one twin bungalow valued at N15,000,000 located in Kofar Kaura layout in Katsina State acquired in 2002 and three vacant plots in Katsina acquired in 2003 worth N2,500,000.
He also disclosed that household furniture in Katsina acquired when he was a director of Habib Bank is worth N3,000,000.
Mr. Adeniyi also spoke on the position of the Freedom of Information Bill during his maiden press briefing at the State House. “The President is equally interested in discussing with the National Assembly leadership on the Freedom of Information Bill which lapsed with the last administration, with a view to ensuring quick passage in pursuit of his determination to instil transparency and accountability in the conduct of government business,” he said.
Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, also made his assets declaration public in May 1999 shortly after he was sworn in, although when he was re-elected in 2003, he did not make any public statement on it again.

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/editorial_opinion/article02/230607

Without ridiculing anybody, I must confess that the state of the treasury I saw between Thursday and yesterday is quite frightening. I have made this known to the workers' leadership, the government is struggling to borrow the more than N700 million from banks to pay them". These are the words of the new Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu. But he is not the only Governor that is complaining. In Jigawa State, the newly elected government led by Alhaji Sule Lamido has announced that his predecessor, Alhaji Saminu Turaki, left him liabilities to the tune of about N45 billion, including internal debts. In Akwa Ibom state, Godswill Akpabio has inherited a debt of over N45 billion, and according to him, an empty treasury. His words: "Not only did we meet an empty treasury, but we are talking about an indebtedness that is well over N45 billion and the banks will not wait for us."

In Plateau, the new Governor, Air Cdr. Jonah Jang is also protesting: he has inherited an empty treasury and a debt profile of over N70 billion. Ex-Deputy Governor Michael Botmang who, has been accused of amassing most of these debts as acting Governor, has been all over the media to proclaim his innocence. The new government in Enugu State has also announced that the state treasury is empty; what has been left behind is a debt of N4 billion (this is a relatively modest figure under the circumstances). In Sokoto state, the new Governor: Aliyu Wamakko has been engaged in a verbal warfare with his predecessor, Attahiru Bafarawa, over the latter's claim that he left a surplus of N13 billion in the state treasury. Wamakko insists that this is a lie, his transition committee has since found out that the former administration left-behind an empty treasury, and a debt of N5.3 billion. In Bauchi state, the story is the same, with Alhaji Isa Yuguda pointing to a debt burden of over N50 billion.

Not many Nigerians would be surprised that the state treasuries are literally empty. The existing culture of governance in Nigeria is such that a sitting Governor sees public funds as a form of personal allocation; as his own personal share of the proverbial national cake. Since the civil war, it has been standard practice for a new administration to inherit debts and an empty treasury. On the eve of their departure from office, military governors and administrators in the past carted away public funds and property. The most dramatic case being the realisation by the General Sani Abacha government that some past military administrators had in fact, cleared out the treasury within two days. New government appointees who were allocated government quarters met empty apartments; it was common practice for departing government officials to park away government furniture, including kitchen utensils and mattresses.

The new men would then apply afresh for furniture allowances, and they too would later repeat the same pattern of outright theft. Cars were not spared either. Every government official had a panel beater on stand-by, just in case, as well as extra drivers who could move government vehicles to a safe location at short notice. As a rule, new administrators did not complain, since this was a possibility for the new men too at the end of their tenure. This is the sordid tradition that civilian administrators have inherited. In the Second Republic, a Kano State Governor, the famous Barkin Zuwo kept government funds in his bedroom! "What's the problem?", he allegedly retorted. "Government money in government house, any problem with that?"

The return to democracy in 1999, in the context of the drawn-out struggle against military rule did not change these traditions of the past. Any hope that the emergent political elite would behave differently was misplaced. This is one bitter lesson that Nigerians have had to learn. Because Nigerian leaders between 1999 and 2007 did not draw the necessary line between their personal assets and public assets, the EFCC has been having a running battle with many of the ex-Governors. But one glaring fact should be noted: the complaints about empty treasuries have come largely from those states where the opposition got into power, or where the new Governor got the position in spite of the former Governor, or with the help of other Godfathers. In those states, where the departing Governor succeeded in arranging succession for his own "boy"; there has been no complaint whatsoever about debts and empty treasuries.

If anything, those anointed successors have been full of praises for their Godfathers. The most amusing example in this regard is that of Celestine Omehia, the Odili boy in Rivers State who appeared on NTA, with his Godfather by his side, to tell Nigerians: "I am the luckiest Governor in Nigeria today". But what was he expected to say? It is not impossible that the treasury is empty in other states as well, but in a situation where the former Governor is spending a Third Term in office by proxy, no one should expect any open protests. Less fortunate ex-Governors who have had to deny the suggestion by their successors that they emptied the treasury are not amused at all.

One has said that he is a victim of organised vendetta. Another ex-Governor is on record as saying that he at least left the allocation for May 2007 and the new Governor should be grateful instead of grumbling about debts. This particular ex-Governor is perhaps right. In many other states, even the allocation for May 2007, which arrived two days before the inauguration of a new government on May 29, could not be traced. One other Governor faced up to the issue and asked his successor why he was looking for money in the treasury anyway. He advised him to wait until he receives his own allocations.

The attitude of elected representatives to public funds is that scandalous. In 2003, some in-coming Governors had to instruct banks to stop paying out cheques issued at the eleventh hour by the departing administration. The effect, this time around, is that in many of the states, the hands of the new administrations have been tied with debts and liabilities. This explains why across the country, one month into the life of a new government not much is happening anywhere in the states. The new Governors are all looking forward to the allocation for June 2007 before they can start governing. What this further exposes is the over-dependent nature of the states in Nigeria. They have not yet developed into centres of productive activity; they are for the most part rent-collection centres, forever relying on the monthly Manna from Abuja. This raises not only a crisis of federalism, but also the poor quality of governance in the states.

In the states that are heavily-indebted, the new Governors may have nothing to show when they mark their 100 days in office. The Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, has in fact been honest enough to tell the public not to expect any miracle from his government for the next six months. But what created this situation? The greed of the ex-administrators does not explain everything. The roots of the problem should also be traced to the failure of the Accountants-General and Auditors-General in the states and the complete abdication of responsibility by the State Houses of Assembly.

To loot a state treasury is easy, in a situation where the Governor is considered an Executive Governor (a position that is unknown to the 1999 Constitution!), where he is also the state party leader whose word cannot be questioned, and where everyone from Accountant-General to Auditor, to Speaker of the House of Assembly are his political subjects. Financial records can only be kept as His Excellency dictates. And who would dare probe state accounts and risk losing party nomination in the next elections? The banks, already fingered as culprits by the Jigawa Governor are also often too willing to help a state Governor hide public funds in private accounts under fictitious names. To make matters worse, what is called handing-over ceremony between an outgoing Governor and the in-coming one is a charade. The former usually does not render any account. Some outgoing- Governors submitted to their successors, a description of the geography of the state and no more!

The new Governors who are complaining about empty treasuries should go beyond the politics of it. They should force the issue by setting up probe panels to take a second look at the state's financial status, and where necessary, the Accountant-General and the Auditor-General should be made to provide information and respond to queries. Public sector accountants and auditors are the main facilitators of corruption in government. Whoever is found to have been negligent should be reported to both the EFCC and the Disciplinary Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN)

A proper audit of government property should also be conducted. The new government should look for missing vehicles, curtains in guest houses, cutlery and so on. Even a car that is left behind should be checked. In the past, certain officials removed the engines of brand new cars, and replaced the new engines with used ones. The stolen engines found their ways into the departing official's personal vehicles. To merely raise an alarm, and leave the matter at that level would only confirm the position of the ex-Governors who have dismissed the allegation of empty treasuries as mere red-herring. The public would like to know the truth. Sule Lamido of Jigawa who has been most voluble in complaining about an empty treasury and the notorious role of the banks has also now reportedly declared that he does not intend to conduct any probe because he does not intend to witch-hunt anybody. What is his problem? He should have kept quiet then if he didn't mean to "witch-hunt" anybody.

Secondly, the complaint about empty treasury should not be an early justification for non-performance. By announcing that the Niger State treasury is empty and that he should be left alone for six months, Governor Babangida Aliyu may think he has created a perfect alibi for his government. He would have to come up with a stronger alibi, please. Thirdly, in an attempt to raise funds, the complaining state Governors should not shift the burden to the people by introducing new taxes. That would be double jeopardy. It was the people's money that was misappropriated in the first place.

Interestingly, the Governors have all taken their case to the Presidency. They want some money from the Excess Crude Account to be shared so the cash-strapped states can get going. An agitated President Yar'Adua told them that the era of "empty treasury is over." His words: "If what I have been hearing from some states is correct, it would seem some of you may spend the next four years managing debt. Such a situation is unacceptable. This must be the last time we will experience this empty treasury phenomenon. What some of you are now experiencing must not happen again" Sir, it is so easy to blow hot air!

The difference between the states where the opposition is in power, and the states where anointed successors are in charge, can only lead to one consequence: in the future, every out-going Governor would work, tooth and nail to leave his own boy behind, to cover up, and to forestall any likely embarrassment. Those who took this option are today enjoying the status of Godfathers in the states they once ruled. Those who did not or who failed, are busy defending their integrity. In Abuja, President Umar Yar'Adua is fast earning the reputation of a "Baba Go Slow". But no one would dare link this to an empty Federal Government treasury. The Godfather syndrome in Nigerian politics has come to stay, it seems.

http://www.thenewsng.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2925

By Tony Orilade & Nnamdi Felix/Abuja

In a landmark judgement this afternoon, the Supreme Court ruled that former governor Peter Obi of Anambra State should go back to the Government House as governor of the state till March 17, 2010. The court also ordered that the incumbent Governor, Cheif Andy Uba, should vacate office as he ceases to be governor as from today. In the lead judgement, Justice Katsina Alu said INEC erred in law by conducting election in Anambra State when Peter Obi has not served his four-year term.

The court ruled that the four year tenure of Obi commenced from the day he was sworn in and will terminate on 17 March 2010.

All the six justices of the apex agreed with the lead judgement. They all agreed that a governor should only vacate office four years from the day of assuming office.

They said Obi had not served the constitutionally stipulated four years in office. The Supreme Court justices said a fuller explanations of the judgement will be given on 13 July, 2007.

Obi was not in court but his deputy Dame Virginia Etiaba was in court.

As at the time of filing this report, there was jubilation in Abuja by supporters of Obi in court.

In the second case involving former Governor Rasheed Ladoja of Oyo State who also sought an extension of his tenure, due to his impeachment, the apex court referred the matter to the high court for adjudication.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=80822


CBN Fires Spring Bank’s MD
•To drag directors before EFCC •Resign now, Agbetuyi tells Soludo
By Ayodele Aminu in Lagos and Kunle Aderinokun in Abuja, 06.13.2007

A few days after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sacked the board of Spring Bank Plc, excluding its Managing Director, Mike Chukwu, the banking watchdog yesterday descended on the bank’s MD and reconstituted a “totally neutral board” of directors to take over the affairs of the bank.
But the ongoing board squabbles in the bank took another dimension yesterday as  the  erstwhile Chairman of the bank, Reverend Segun Agbetuyi, asked the CBN Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to resign.
Spring Bank emerged from the defunct Guardian Express, Omega Bank, Fountain Trust Bank, ACB International Bank, Citizens International Bank and Trans International Bank.
The CBN Governor who announced the new board for Spring Bank in Abuja, however assured customers of the safety of their deposits, vowing to hand over the directors to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for  investigation and prosecution,  if found culpable.
The board, which was reconstituted by the CBN and Nigeria Deposit Insurance  Corporation (NDIC), is made up of Mr. Vincent Omoike as chairman; Dr. S.A. Ndanusa as Managing Director and Abdulrahaman Umar, Bature Muhammad Abubakar, Bulus Dareg, H.I. Muhammed and Emmanuel Onucheyo as members.
Soludo said the Board of Spring Bank was dissolved upon the discovery that the bank made false claims on its capital at end of the recapitalisation exercise which ended on December 31, 2005.
Specifically, he said only two of the six “legacy banks” brought positive capitals to the merger. He however, assured on the safety and soundness of the banking system.
He said although the CBN had asked the legacy group of shareholders to nominate some members of the board and the bank with the highest shareholders’ fund to produce the Managing Director, “but the CBN cannot rely on the reconstituted board to make a positive impact, because the members could not agree with each other.
“Initially, we decided to give the legacy group of shareholders a chance to nominate some members of the board and the legacy bank with the highest shareholders’ fund, Guardian Express, to produce the MD. From the acrimonious public pronouncements of the various camps, it is evident that we can’t rely upon the reconstituted board drawn from the legacy groups to move forward.
“Consequently, the CBN and NDIC have decided to reconstitute a totally neutral board.”
Soludo assured that “the CBN and NDIC stand to provide necessary support to the new board to recapitalise the bank and ensure that it meets the aspirations of the shareholders, depositors and the Nigerian public,” which he said would be completed within the shortest possible time.
He also assured all depositors of Springbank that their money is safe, advising that “the public should go about their normal banking business with Springbank.”
Soludo however stated that the Central Bank was “compiling the infractions of the various directors and management of the legacy groups and will ensure that appropriate sanctions are applied and /or report same to the EFCC and the Police for any criminal investigations and prosecution.”
He added that the apex bank was also “compiling the list of non-performing loans of the bank, stressing that the culprit will be handed over to the EFCC and the Police for necessary action.”
The CBN governor appealed to “the general public to ignore the vexatious, albeit libelous publications of those who either want to divert attention or destroy the bank,” pointing out that “some want to hide under the umbrella to reopen their lost debate on banking sector consolidation.”
He assured Nigerians and the world that the CBN and NDIC are committed to ensuring that the Nigerians banking remain the safest and fastest growing among the emerging markets.
Soludo recalled: “The Springbank merger was consummated some few days to the end of the consolidation programme, after each of the six legacies institutions had experienced repeated failed attempts to merge with other banks.”
He noted that the inability of the bank’s board to resolve the issue of the contributions of each legacy institution to its capital led to special CBN/NDIC examiners to re-certify the bank’s capital. A bank-by-bank contribution to the shareholders’ fund revealed that only the former Guardian Express Bank and ACB International brought positive capital to the merger.
“However despite its weak capital base, the other indicators show that the bank has a strong promise; its deposit base and liquidity situation are strong. It was in the light of this that the new capital structure of the bank (and relative contributions of the legacy institutions) as well as the deeply divided and acrimonious board, that the CBN decided earlier to dissolve the board and call for a reconstitution by the legacy institutions,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the letter asking the CBN Governor to resign, dated June 11, 2007, and copied President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua and several heads of government agencies including the regulators, accused  the officials CBN and Nigerian Stock Exchange of facilitating the acquisition of Spring Bank by a fellow bank.
“In supervising the post merger adjustments, CBN officials consistently and glaringly adopted double standards. They collaborated with some Directors of Guardian Express Bank towards a hidden-agenda to push out the real and true owners of Spring Bank; to weaken Spring Bank and thereafter sell it for next to nothing to another bank.
“Cosmas Maduka, principal owner of legacy GEB,  is a major shareholder in that bank. He is probably also one of the few, if not absolutely the only one in Nigeria today who was able to secure CBN approval to serve on the Boards of 2 out of 25 mega banks. That Bank is currently raising funds in the capital market, part of which is to be used to illegally acquire the Spring Bank “carcass” for nothing.
“In preparation for this, Mr. Maduka acting jointly with Spring Bank MD and with subterranean regulatory support had long gotten the Nigerian Stock Exchange to fully suspend trading on shares of Spring Bank, so as to weaken its value. This was done arbitrarily, recklessly and without Board consent, knowledge or approval. This fraudulent action has caused Spring Bank shareholders to lose billions of naira on the Stock Exchange,” Agbetuyi alleged.
Efforts to get Spring Bank’s response to these allegations proved abortive yesterday.
But the spokesman of the NSE, Mr. Sola Oni refuted Agbetuyi’s claim, saying the shares of Spring Bank were placed on full suspension to protect the fortunes of the bank, its shareholders and other stakeholders.
“We placed the shares of Spring Bank on full suspension when we were reliably informed that there were unresolved issues arising from post merger and we gathered that the issues will materially affect the fortunes of the bank.
“In order to protect investors and prevent a run on the bank’s share price, we placed it on full suspension. The suspension of the company’s board by the CBN has justified our position,” he stressed.
The ex-chairman of Spring Bank also accused the CBN officials of aiding and abetting the alleged fraud in Spring Bank.
“Despite disagreement amongst the shareholders representatives, which has stalemated the post merger adjustment, CBN has locomoted and coerced the exercise to a fraudulent outcome showing that the only bank with a positive shareholders capital is GEB! In pursuance of a tribal and commercial agenda, the CBN has abandoned its role as a regulator and arbiter, descending into the arena by aiding and abetting fraud.
“Once it became clear that CBN was involved in this complicity,  some of our Directors sought help in the law courts and petitioned the office of the Attorney-General & Minister of Justice. The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice reviewed the criminality of legacy GEB’s bubble capital and indicted its five directors; namely – Maduka, Chukwu, Onejeme, Ezenna and Moemena with directives that they should be removed from the Board and prosecuted.
“Mr. Governor Sir, you ignored this directive contained in the Attorney-General’s letter of the 24 May 2007 and an earlier one to you, and in defiant prejudice to various litigations before the Law Courts where the CBN was duly represented, you moved, through your directive of 6 June 2007 to remove every Director of Spring Bank , except Mr. Chukwu, the Managing Director,  citing the provisions of Banks & Other Financial Institutions Act No 25 of 1991 (as amended),” he said.
With these developments, he added, Soludo has “given institutional support to depriving the true owners so as to hand their bank over to another bank, under a well orchestrated agenda. In a civilized world, you do not deserve to remain in office as Governor of the Central Bank.”

majamaja,
dont act like you have been a victim of identity theft. Go back to all your posts recently to see where I have challenged on insulting some tibes. I always wrote a rejoinder but your never responded. If you say that you have not encountered my postings, then I will repost some of of your write-ups. Unless someone stole your name to do those postings.

majamaja,
you are very incompetent to call people tribalist because your posts always smack of tribalism

Laudate,
Adconline, you are entitled to your own opinion, and you are free to 'see' what you wish to see, in any comments that are being made. If you claim "there hasn't been any impartiality or equality of thoughts in your posts whenever Igbo issues are mentioned", kindly spell out the specific ways, in chapter & verse, why you feel this is so. You have a habit of generalising, which I do not find comfortable. All I have done in many of my posts, is to point out areas where my thoughts & views, differ from the perspective of others, and I have often done so, to set the records straight & to try and avoid misinformation. I do not subscribe to group-think. It is defeatist.

I like reading from you but your views have not always been balanced whenever Igbo issues are on the table. Some instances:  I wondered why northern Nigeria would have 68% of Abuja land leaving the rest of Nigeria with 32%. You came up with phoney figures as to why they deserved it. You had to call El Rufai's figures incorrect in order for you to make sure that favouritism, nepotism and tribalism were not at play. You conjured figures to counter El Rufai's figures, worst still your figures did not add up.   From these I deduced that you are hell bent on rewriting history in order to serve your purpose of denying tribalism or nepotism in Nigeria.

Secondly, you defended Yoruba issues in particular when I responded to your victim mentality by saying that Awo gave Igbos 20 pounds after the war and your pendulum of opinion swung in defense of his actions. Then I "assumed" your tribe to be Yoruba and asked you to tell me why your "kinsmen” had always voted  for a president  from their tribe  in  the last 47 years with the exception of Yar'dua, you  immediately went tribeless even though you have not defended Igbos that same  way

I also cited educationally less advantaged states   as listed on JAMB brochures, you said that your cousin got admission at a northern university, so you would always want us to ignore facts and believe your stories  not El Rufai's facts or JAMB facts. When you say that some people are crying wolf even when the facts are glaring, it becomes impartiality of thoughts. Just like someone denying that Holocuast never took place or slavery was never a crime because Europeans and Arabs were also enslaved

You claim that "what The One accused you of, is what Laudate is guilty of". Now am highly amused by this remark. If you had taken The One directly to task, over his comments, it would have made more sense. Instead, you did a quick detour to address your remarks to me. When I clarified my earlier comments, you decided to take it further by saying I "always pop up on tribal issues that have to do with Igbos." Oh, so it is now a crime for a non-Igbo to make a comment, when issues that concern Igbos are being discussed? Kindly enlighten me.

I took him or her on earlier and still waiting for a response, so you drummed up the support and concurred with this assertion and I took you head on because the basis of this allegation is predicated on the fact that I discuss tribal issues. I also find you in this category so your reason for concurring with that assertion does not in any way exonerate you.



Finally you stated that "Its either other tribes were also treated badly without looking at the frequency or your victim mentality analogy." Are you saying that other tribes have not been treated badly? Or are you saying that Laudate is wrong for pointing it out?

You have to always check the frequency because your analogy is based on the fact that every other person was treated badly. Can two wrongs make a right? Should the basis for justice be based on the fact that everybody   has been a victim of injustice?  Mind you Igbos have not denied that other tribes might be unjustly treated, but they have to take on their issues with Nigeria. Its like saying to man  who lost his business to fire, shut up because  Mr. 'A ' lost his shop too.

FG plans N97 per litre fuel price hike
http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/headline/f108062007.html

THE Federal Government plans to hike the current fuel price of N75 per litre to N97 even as the dust raised by the price increase in the dying days of the Obasanjo administration is yet to settle.

This indication was given by the Federal Government delegation to a meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on resolving the looming crisis over the price hike.
Labour is threatening to call out workers on strike to protest the hike.

Meanwhile, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has observed that nearly 100 years after its first convention on working time, over 600 million people are engaged in excessive long hours of work— over 48 hours a week— thereby contributing to declining productivity around the world.

Yesterday’s tripartite meeting lasted over six hours with the NLC and TUC asking government to revert to the former price of N65 per lite. Government, however, said this was not possible.
Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr Funso Kukpolokun, said government subsidising fuel price to the tune of N200 billion annually.

Excessive work hours reduces productivity — ILO

Meanwhile, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has observed that nearly 100 years after its first convention on working time, over 600 million people are still engaged in excessive long hours of work — over 48 hours a week— thereby contributing to declining productivity around the world. It described its new findings on excessive long hours of work as worrisome.

The ILO report noted that attempts to reduce hours in countries where excessive working hours are prevalent have “been unsuccessful for various reasons including the need of workers to work long hours simply to make ends meet and the widespread use of overtime by employers in an effort to increase their enterprises’ output under conditions of low productivity.”

The organisation which prefers a maximum 48 working hours a week in line with its Convention emphasised that work within this period reduced the risk of occupational injuries, illnesses and “their associated costs to workers, employers, and society as a whole” and urged member countries to ensure that the ILO Convention on working hours is implemented in their countries.

Nigeria is signatory to the ILO Convention and has since adopted the 40 hours per week: eight hours for five days work schedule.

A new report: “Working Time Around the World: Trends in Working Hours, Laws and Policies in a Global Comparative Perspective,” being discussed at the on-going 96th conference of the ILO in Geneva, Switzerland noted: “An estimated 22 per cent of the global work force or 614.2 million workers, are working (excessively) long hours.”

It has, therefore, called on members to adopt “family-friendly working time measures adapted to national circumstances, such as flexi-time, emergency family leave, and part-time work.”In addition, the ILO recommended that member countries promote “the development of high quality part-time work, shaped by local institutions and traditions and informed by the principles and measures found in the ILO’s Part-Time Work Convention, 1994 (No. 175), which can help promote gender equality.”

It said shorter hours of work have positive side which include “benefits to workers’ health and family lives, reduced accidents at the workplace, as well as greater productivity and equality between the sexes.

“At the same time, the study says a considerable number of short-hours workers in developing and transition countries may be underemployed, and thus more likely to fall into poverty,” it added.It identified countries where people engage in excessive long hours.

“In terms of those countries with the highest incidence of long working hours for 2004-05 (defined as more than 48 hours per week), Peru topped the list at 50.9 per cent of workers, the Republic of Korea as next at 49.5 per cent, followed by Thailand at 46.7 per cent and Pakistan at 44.4 per cent .

“In developed countries, where working hours are typically shorter, the United Kingdom stood at 25.7 per cent, Israel at 25.5 per cent, Australia at 20.4 per cent, Switzerland at 19.2 per cent, and the United States at 18.1 per cent,” the report said.In addition, the report noted what it described as “gender gap” in working time. It noted that men tend to work longer average hours than women worldwide, with women working shorter hours in almost every country studied.

Laudata,
@You have only been sarcastic in a few of your responses.  Kindly do a quick recap of what The One said. He mentioned a few people (including you), who have a way of turning any debate, into an issue that pitches your tribe against other ethnic groups. His exact words were "Whatever the topic of the thread, it ends up as Igbos vs. Everybody else."

I agreed with him, because it is a trend that I have noticed on this site.

I would always want to remind you that I have not seen any  impartiality or equality of thoughts in your posts whenever Igbo issues are mentioned. Its either other tribes were also treated badly without looking at the frequency or your victim mentality analogy. May I remind you, what "TheOne' accused me of, you are already guilty of because you always pop up on tribal issues that have to do with Igbos. So if discussing these issues makes me a tribalist, then you are in the same category with me. That's what I call equality of thoughts.

majamaja

@^{Can I ask all you people here saying River state is not IGBO.  what is the difference between someone from OYO< ONDO AND OGUN STATE?  they are all Yoruba people, what is the difference between people from KADUNA, KANO, AND SOKOTO ? 
They are all HAUSA'S.  You guys from the SO CALLED IGBO SPEAKING AREA can't even unite or come together as one and yet you want Nigerians to entrust you with the right to police the nation?  not until you guys come together as one and resolve all your tribal differences, we will always exclude you from vital post.}

Must  you always spit venom in order to attack or belittle Igbos from your KK supremacist ideologies.? Why do you always think that your kinsmen are more united that every other clan. You really need to grow up.  I don’t know where you get this notion that the mere fact that your ‘‘kinsman’ is in power gives you a free pass to NEPA,NNPC and toll ways? Do you pay a different pump price from the rest of Nigerians?  I also don't know why you arrogated yourself with the power of  dishing political appointments by saying " we will exclude you from vital post'' You need to get of your euphoric thinking that Nigeria belongs to you whenever your kinsmen are in a position of authority. You also need to come to terms with the fact that power shifts in Nigeria. I don’t know if your kinsman is still in power?

http://www.orangeprize.co.uk/opf/winner.php4



Author Adichie wins Orange Prize
Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been named winner of the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction.
She beat five other contenders for the £30,000 women-only award, including Kiran Desai, shortlisted for her Booker Prize winner The Inheritance of Loss.

Adichie's novel, Half of a Yellow Sun, is her second work and set during the Biafran War of the 1960s.

The new writer's award worth £10,000 was presented to Karen Connelly for her novel The Lizard Cage.

Moral responsibility

Adichie's first novel, Purple Hibiscus, was also shortlisted for the award - formerly known as the Orange Prize for Fiction - in 2004.

Bookmakers Ladbrokes made her favourite to clinch the honour after a flood of bets in recent days.

Desai would have become the first author to win both the Orange and Booker Prizes for the same novel if she had triumphed.


CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE FACTS
Born 1977 in Abba, Nigeria
Was educated in the university town of Nsukka
Has a Masters degree in creative writing from Johns Hopkins University in the US
Was a Hodder Fellow at Princeton University, teaching introductory fiction
Divides her time between Nigeria and the US

Half of a Yellow Sun tells the story of people caught up in the unfolding political turmoil in west Africa, whose loyalties are acutely tested when troops advance on the dusty university town they inhabit.

The novel examines ethnic allegiances, moral responsibility, class and race.

The award ceremony took place at the newly-refurbished Royal Festival Hall on London's South Bank, and the judging panel included broadcaster Muriel Grey and best-selling writer Marian Keyes.

Previous recipients of the award have included Zadie Smith for On Beauty (2006), Andrea Levy for Small Island (2004) and Helen Dunmore for A Spell In Winter (1996).

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/entertainment/6726901.stm

Published: 2007/06/06 18:15:22 GMT

© BBC MMVII

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=80197&printer_friendly=1

IGP: Gani Decries Exclusion of Igbo

IGP: Gani Decries Exclusion of Igbo
By Davidson Iriekpen, 06.06.2007

Human rights lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, has decried the exclusion of officers of Igbo extraction as Inspector-General of Police, 47 years after independence as a nation by successive governments, saying it is unfair, unjust and unconstitutional.
In a statement yesterday, Fawehinmi said “the leadership of the police has consciously or deliberately eluded the Igbos who constitute one of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria".
Chronicling the roll call of occupants of the office of the Inspector-General of Police in Nigeria from independence to date, the Senior Advocate lamented that from the first, Mr. Louis Edet, to the incumbent, Mr. Mike Okiro, 13 in all, none was Igbo.
The human rights lawyer who said he was worried because he holds the unity of this country so dearly, added that the unity of Nigeria must be taken as a religion in the sense that not only should we believe in unity, we must be seen to be doing things to promote unity.
According to him, "firstly, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as contained in the Preamble is to establish equality and justice. This was contained in both the 1979 as well as 1999 Constitutions, a period of twenty-eight (28) years (1979-2007).
"Secondly, Section 14 sub-section (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1979 which is the same as Section 14 sub-section (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 provides inter alia that:- '14(3). The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty.
“The point is that the fundamental law of the nation, has never supported, since 1979 the deliberate exclusion of the Igbos from the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force because Police is an integral part of the government of the Federation.”
He added that whatever may be the reason, or non-reason for the exclusion of an Igbo from an appointment as Inspector-General of Police cannot be right, noting that something should be done about it so that every Nigerian whatever may be his or her tribe or his or her religion is taken as a member of a united family of Nigeria.
"I asked myself: the exclusion of the Igbos from the leadership of the Police since after the civil war which ended in January, 1970, could that also be the reason? As a Nigerian, who was in Nigeria after the end of the civil war, the Eastern part of Nigeria, which was the main theatre of the civil war returned to the Nigerian family. Consequently, I believe that the exclusion cannot be ostensibly attributed to the civil war. But does that exclude the psychological effect of the civil war? Only those in power can answer that question," he added.
"The next person to Sunday Ehindero who retired on Friday, June 1, 2007 is Ogbonna Onovo who is an Igbo from Enugu State. He is a Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG). If he was qualified to be a Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), why should he not be qualified to be an Inspector-General of Police (IGP)? I demand an explanation from the Yar’ Adua administration".


http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=80197&printer_friendly=1

laudate @

Anybody that wants to keep his/her sanity should stay away from any thread featuring xtycod, adconline, docokwy & donzman. Whatever the topic of the thread, it ends up as Igbos vs. Everybody else.


WORD!!! Preach it brother, pre-e-ee-each!!

Not   acknowledging that tribalism or nepostism exists in Nigeria is nothing but  tribalism itslef. Keeping away from tribal issues from Nigeria is just postponing a doom's day. Laudate,  I wish  you can specifically tell me where I have insulted your non existing tribe (  remember that you are related to all the tribes in Nigeria except Igbos).

Good luck in your thinking that discussing Nigerian issues that alwys border on tribal lines makes one a  tribalist.

http://news.uk.msn.com/19_years.aspx


Man wakes up from 19-year coma

A Polish man has woken up from a 19-year coma to find food is no longer rationed and the Communist party has lost power.

Railway worker Jan Grzebski, 65, fell into a coma after being hit by a train in 1988.

"Now I see people on the streets with mobile phones and there are so many goods in the shops it makes my head spin," he told Polish television.

He puts his survival down to his caring wife Gertruda.

Doctors gave him only two or three years to live after the accident.

"It was Gertruda that saved me, and I'll never forget it," he told news channel TVN24.

She is said to have moved her husband every hour to prevent bed sores.

"I cried a lot, and I prayed a lot," Mrs Grzebski said on Polsat television.

"Those who came to see us kept asking: 'When is he going to die?' But he's not dead."

When Mr Grzebski had his accident Poland was still ruled by its last communist leader, Wojciech Jaruzelski.

"When I went into a coma there was only tea and vinegar in the shops, meat was rationed and huge petrol queues were everywhere," Mr Grzebski said.

The following year's elections ushered in eastern Europe's first post-communist government.

Poland joined the Nato alliance in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.

"What amazes me today is all these people who walk around with their mobile phones and never stop moaning," said Mr Grzebski.

"I've got nothing to complain about."

THE ONE
@Anybody that wants to keep his/her sanity should stay away from any thread featuring xtycod, adconline, docokwy & donzman. Whatever the topic of the thread, it ends up as Igbos vs. Everybody else.

  I would not want to join issues with you, but would like to engage you in a feisty debate on some of these issues. I have always debated tribal injustices in Nigeria. Your partial opinion swings in favour of “Majamaja” who called Igbos all sorts of names even though you never mentioned his name.  I would want you to go all through my posts and tell me if I have insulted   any tribe in Nigeria. I have always risen in defense of marginalized tribes. Its foolhardy for people like you to infer that tribalism does not exist in Nigeria. I had an issue with the poster from Texas who posted Oprah's link about Nigerian scam and singled out Igbos or when people blamed Niger Deltans for their problems or their governors for corruption in Nigeria.

If my comments on Nigeria issues with some ethnic inclinations are offensive to you, I have no regrets, but I would want you to engage me in these issues, not by running away from them, because they will still be there.

olumutiwa
Wen are we going to stop all this TRIBAL bullshit when?abeg the thing is tearing us apart and our leaders are using it to DIVIDE US.Does it really matter where the guy comes from?does it?


Maybe you should tell Yar'dua not to be president, because he is not more qualified than Utomi and Duke. Tell also PDP to do away with zoning arrangement. Nigerians acting like they live in space.

what would you call a situation where your junior was promoted to lead your office? as for me its discrimination. maybe racial or tribal

Kenya 'miracle baby' wife jailed
The wife of Kenyan pastor Gilbert Deya accused of child trafficking has been sentenced to two years in jail by a Nairobi court for stealing a child.
Mary Deya claimed that one of her two accomplices had given birth to the child, but the court proved the woman was not the biological mother.

"The actions and claims of miraculous birth deserve no mercy," Magistrate Teresia Ngugi said.

Kenya has requested the extradition of UK-based evangelist Mr Deya.


No amount of the sentence can undo the damage done to the life of the child
Magistrate Teresia Ngugi

He runs a number of churches in UK cities and says he aids infertile couples by prayer.

Kenyan police allege the Gilbert Deya Ministries is an international baby-snatching ring, allegations Mr Deya denies.

Some children were taken into care in Kenya when DNA tests showed they were not related to women claiming to be their mothers.

"No amount of the sentence can undo the damage done to the life of the child who may never know who his biological parents are," said Ms Ngugi is quoted by Kenya's Daily Nation as saying on Wednesday.

Mrs Deya's co-accused - Miriam Nyeko and Rose Kiserem - were also jailed for two years.

The women claimed that Ms Nyeko, who is a British citizen, had given birth to the baby boy.

She was sentenced to another one year in prison - to run concurrently - for obtaining a false birth certificate.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/6707107.stm

Published: 2007/05/31 09:09:51 GMT

Majamaja
people lets be realistic. what is the percentage of crime committed in Naija from? ask anyone and they will tell you IGBO boys are the most arm robbers in Nigeria, the evidence is there for all to see, go to Spain, even AMERICA here most of the dope peddlers are from Niger Delta region and Igbo boys, so what the hec are you guys saying? its not about attention, I have my evidence. BOMBACLOT. there was a script ran on NBC couple months ago called how to ROB A BANK, there were like 15 naija boys arrested, and 9 of them are from IGBO speaking tribes, ill post the link in a minute

This guy is the most uninformed person on this forum. "How to Rob a Bank" was on CNN not NBC. This has just invalidated all your tribal remarks. You hide under the cloak of tribal supremacy to incite hatred against Igbos. What can you achieve if your tribe does not come into play? What you have as a person (not we as a tribe) achieved that you think that a person of another tribe cannot achieve?
Here is link for you. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0605/20/cp.02.html. Read carefully if you can and tell us how many Igbos were indicted in that documentary.

Maybe you should post your link.

has OBJ chairmanship position benefitted you as a person? Do you pay N25 per litre of petrol as opposed to N75  Nigerians pay?

Nigeria Files Suit Against Pfizer By AP

(KANO, Nigeria) — Authorities in northern Nigeria have filed a $2 billion civil case and were preparing criminal charges against the US. drug company Pfizer, accusing it of conducting a drug experiment that led to deaths and disabilities in a group of children more than a decade ago, according to court papers.

A notice of intent to file criminal charges, seen Wednesday, was submitted May 9 and the civil case was filed May 17. Officials said the civil suit could open as soon Monday. It was not clear when the criminal case — to be lodged against eight Pfizer officials — would begin, officials said.

Find this article at:
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1626465,00.html

Norway is most peaceful country: study
Norway is the most peaceful country in the world and Iraq the least, according to a study launched.

New Zealand ranks second and Australia is 25th on the list, which notably puts Japan near the top and Russia and Israel close to the bottom.

The Global Peace Index, published a week before a Group of Eight (G8) summit in Germany, rates 121 countries from Algeria to Zimbabwe on factors including levels of violence, organised crime and military expenditure.

While most European countries including Britain rank in the top, more peaceful, half of the league table, the United States is nearer the bottom in 96th place, while Russia is fifth from last on 118th.

"This is a wake-up call for leaders around the globe," said Steve Killelea, who commissioned the study from the Economist Intelligence Unit, which is linked to the news weekly The Economist.

"Countries like Japan and Germany can give hope and optimism to countries further down the Index that there can be light at the end of what may seem at the moment like a very dark tunnel," he added.

The index is backed by international figures including the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former US president Jimmy Carter and US economist Joseph Stiglitz, all winners of the Nobel peace prize. It is also supported by Queen Noor of Jordan.

Overall the study found that small, stable countries which are part of regional blocs such as the 27-nation European Union are most likely to be more peaceful. Income and education are crucial in promoting peace, it said.

"I believe there is a link between the peacefulness and the wealth of nations and therefore business has a key role to play in peace," said Killelea.

The Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Buddhist leader who fled China after an aborted uprising in 1959, said the launch of the Index could be a useful tool for policymakers.

"Compiling and maintaining an Index of which countries are the most peaceful and publishing the results will undoubtedly make the factors and qualities that contribute to that status better known, and will encourage people to foster them in their own countries," he said.


The top 25 on the Global Peace Index:

1 Norway
2 New Zealand
3 Denmark
4 Ireland
5 Japan
6 Finland
7 Sweden
8 Canada
9 Portugal
10 Austria
11 Belgium
12 Germany
13 Czech Republic
14 Switzerland
15 Slovenia
16 Chile
17 Slovakia
18 Hungary
19 Bhutan
20 Netherlands
21 Spain
22 Oman
23 Hong Kong
24 Uruguay
25 Australia

The bottom 10 on the Global Peace Index:

112 Angola
113 Ivory Coast
114 Lebanon
115 Pakistan
116 Colombia
117 Nigeria.

118 Russia
119 Israel
120 Sudan
121 Iraq


http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/Norway-is-most-peaceful-country-study/2007/05/30/1180205336789.html