₦airaland Forum

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2010/08/17/police-dpo-arrested-over-stolen-bus/

A Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) attached to a Divisional Headquarters, (name withheld) is currently being interrogated over a stolen bus in his possession. He was arrested by police detectives at Ogun State Police Command headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, South-West Nigeria.


Police sources revealed that a Mazda bus marked XT 963 FST now painted in yellow commercial colour was snatched from its owner, Mr. Alexander Abel, in January this year and the incident was reported at Elere Police Station in Agege, Lagos State, Nigeria.

The police at Okokomaiko also in Lagos State, however, recovered the Mazda bus and failed to inform the owner.

The bus was registered with exhibit number Cer/213/2010 at the station after it was recovered from those who had snatched it.

P.M.NEWS investigation further revealed that after the DPO converted to it his own personal use and repainted it as a commercial bus, the driver of the bus was said to have taken it to a mechanic workshop for repairs when its owner saw it and reported the matter at the Agbado Police Station.

During interrogation, the driver confessed that the bus belonged to the CSP and when the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Musa Daura, was told, he ordered that the CSP should be arrested and transferred to Ogun State Police Command.

All efforts made to speak with the Divisional Police Officer at Agbado, ThankGod Obiajuku, a superintendent of police, about the incident proved abortive.

He said: “It’s purely a police affair.”[b][/b]

When our corrrespondent tried to reach the Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Muyiwa Adejobi, on phone, he declined to pick his calls.

When the Lagos Police Command spokesperson, Superintendent Frank Mba, was contacted, he said: “I will call you in one hour time, I am trying to gather my information.” He never got back to our correspondent as at the time of this report.

FIFA has informed Nigeria that they have 48 hours to reverse the decision to ban the team from international competition or face the consequences.

President of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan has banned the team from participating after a disappointing World Cup in which the Super Eagels finished bottom of their group, collecting just one point from three games.

That display was massively below expectations, but FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke believes that the game's governing body must act against political interference in football.

Nigeria went too far and Nigeria will be suspended if they don't change their position in the next 48 hours," Valcke told South African press.

"You can't allow a government to say all national teams can't play anymore in any international tournaments

Nigerian presidential spokesman Ima Niboro had claimed that the move was taken by the West Africans to avoid 'further embarrassment' after such a disappointing campiagn.

But Valcke insists that FIFA cannot censure France for political involvement and not act on the situation in Nigeria.

"Why should we be so strong on France when they did what they did and we say nothing about Nigeria," he added.

"We have 208 members. If you have one country going against our statute, going against the football system, the pyramid of football, all is destroyed."
[url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/89/africa/2010/07/02/2005907/fifa-give-nigeria-48-hours-to-reverse-withdrawal-decision-or
]
http://www.goal.com/en/news/89/africa/2010/07/02/2005907/fifa-give-nigeria-48-hours-to-reverse-withdrawal-decision-or
[/url]

Yes, the company (Inntercontinental Securities) still exist and in business.

Suicide mission
• Desperate man sneaks into Delta Airline plane’s tyre compartment with the aim to be smuggled into the US, but arrives Atlanta as mangled dead body
By CHIOMA IGBOKWE
Saturday, April 17, 2010


The family of a Nigerian, who wanted to play James Bond and perhaps, shock the world with his plan, is currently gnashing its teeth, as the venture has ended in tragedy.

Saturday Sun gathered that a young Nigerian, Mr. Emeka Okechukwu Okeke, recently wanted to do the impossible by smuggling himself into the United States, but ended up arriving not only in body bag but also as mangled body.

Impeachable sources at the Murtala Muhammed International, Lagos, revealed that Okeke had beaten all security at the airport, traced his way to the tarmac and sneaked into the tyre compartment of a Delta Airline’s plane scheduled to depart for Atlanta, United States.

It was gathered that the plane had departed Lagos, without Okeke being detected, and safely arrived Atlanta. Ground staff of the airline, in the United States, were said to have discovered pieces of flesh and blood smear on one of the tyres of the plane and raised an alarm.
A check on the plane revealed the mangled body of Okeke in one of the tyre compartments of the aircraft. The check also revealed a bag and a mobile phone on what remained of the body of the young man.
Saturday Sun gathered that shocked officials of Delta Airlines, in the US, had put on the mobile phone and scrolled through the numbers. To find out the identity of the man, they were said to have called the last number dialed and made inquiries. The man, who received the call, was said to have revealed that the owner of the phone had travelled to the United States.

Delta Airlines officials in the United States had transferred the case to Nigeria, where it was discovered that Okeke, who is married, had confided in some of his friends and relatives that he was travelling to the United States on the night he sneaked into the tyre compartment of the aircraft. His family has been contacted and its members have identified the corpse of Okeke.

According to our source, Okeke is from Anambra and had tried unsuccessfully for years to get a visa to America. Owing to desperation, he decided to embark on the risky venture, which eventually claimed his life. Although, he told his family that he was travelling to US, he never revealed that he was going to sneak into the tyre compartment of the aircraft.

According to our source, Okeke colluded with airport officials to gain access to the tarmac, before finding his way to the plane in the dark. He was said to have wrapped himself in a blanket, not knowing that the aircraft tyres would get to where he was and kill him.

Meanwhile, Delta Airline staffers, who guarded the plane at the airport on the day the incident happened, have been arrested by the police, to explain how Okeke sneaked into the tyre compartment of the plane.
Saturday Sun gathered that Delta Airline has a security policy, whereby its plane at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, is guarded from the time it arrives Nigeria, in the afternoon, till when it departs with passengers in the night.

With such security arrangement, the airline is, therefore, shocked that somebody could have access to the plane undetected and embarked on a suicide mission, which has caused the airline a scandal.
The police at the airport command are currently battling to find out how security was breached at the airport that day.

An airport official, who pleaded for anonymity, told Saturday Sun, that many people had been smuggled out of the country by sneaking into aircraft.

The source said: “That route is for people who have guts and all efforts to leave Nigeria have failed. The man has bad luck; it is not his destiny to leave Nigeria. Maybe he did not follow the instructions given to him on how to survive under there. This is not the first time people are sneaking out of Nigeria through that means. Sometime last year a woman travelled through that means and arrived safely.
“If this man arrived safely, we would not be talking about this. He was careless with his life. Now innocent staff of the airline are going to suffer for his mistake. Those who guarded the plane that night were arrested.”

The racket at the airport
The question being asked by people is, how possible is it that somebody would gain access to the tarmac undetected, considering the tight security in the airport? Our source explained that such illegal movement is being coordinated by a syndicate at the airport, which also works with airlines’ workers.
It was gathered that people who need such services pay as much as N800,000. They tutored on how to survive in the aircraft compartment. For one, it was learnt that they are given blankets and winter clothes with which they would keep warn while the plane is in flight across the Atlantic.
In the country of destination, the illegal immigrants are received by agents in the syndicate, who smuggle them into the country.

Our source blamed the level of corruption at the airport on poor working condition, alleging that some of staff are paid N30, 000 monthly.

“In this present day, how can one survive with such an amount of money? We have to survive; that is why there can never be a cure for the level of corruption at the airport. There is nothing like absolute security; the people at the helm of affairs smuggle things into the plane also, despite their fat allowance,” an airport worker said.
When contacted, officials of Delta airlines refused to comment. However, a policeman at the airport command confirmed the incident and said investigation was going on.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/apr/17/national-17-04-2010-003.htm

Suicide mission
• Desperate man sneaks into Delta Airline plane’s tyre compartment with the aim to be smuggled into the US, but arrives Atlanta as mangled dead body
By CHIOMA IGBOKWE
Saturday, April 17, 2010


The family of a Nigerian, who wanted to play James Bond and perhaps, shock the world with his plan, is currently gnashing its teeth, as the venture has ended in tragedy.

Saturday Sun gathered that a young Nigerian, Mr. Emeka Okechukwu Okeke, recently wanted to do the impossible by smuggling himself into the United States, but ended up arriving not only in body bag but also as mangled body.

Impeachable sources at the Murtala Muhammed International, Lagos, revealed that Okeke had beaten all security at the airport, traced his way to the tarmac and sneaked into the tyre compartment of a Delta Airline’s plane scheduled to depart for Atlanta, United States.

It was gathered that the plane had departed Lagos, without Okeke being detected, and safely arrived Atlanta. Ground staff of the airline, in the United States, were said to have discovered pieces of flesh and blood smear on one of the tyres of the plane and raised an alarm.
A check on the plane revealed the mangled body of Okeke in one of the tyre compartments of the aircraft. The check also revealed a bag and a mobile phone on what remained of the body of the young man.
Saturday Sun gathered that shocked officials of Delta Airlines, in the US, had put on the mobile phone and scrolled through the numbers. To find out the identity of the man, they were said to have called the last number dialed and made inquiries. The man, who received the call, was said to have revealed that the owner of the phone had travelled to the United States.

Delta Airlines officials in the United States had transferred the case to Nigeria, where it was discovered that Okeke, who is married, had confided in some of his friends and relatives that he was travelling to the United States on the night he sneaked into the tyre compartment of the aircraft. His family has been contacted and its members have identified the corpse of Okeke.

According to our source, Okeke is from Anambra and had tried unsuccessfully for years to get a visa to America. Owing to desperation, he decided to embark on the risky venture, which eventually claimed his life. Although, he told his family that he was travelling to US, he never revealed that he was going to sneak into the tyre compartment of the aircraft.

According to our source, Okeke colluded with airport officials to gain access to the tarmac, before finding his way to the plane in the dark. He was said to have wrapped himself in a blanket, not knowing that the aircraft tyres would get to where he was and kill him.

Meanwhile, Delta Airline staffers, who guarded the plane at the airport on the day the incident happened, have been arrested by the police, to explain how Okeke sneaked into the tyre compartment of the plane.
Saturday Sun gathered that Delta Airline has a security policy, whereby its plane at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, is guarded from the time it arrives Nigeria, in the afternoon, till when it departs with passengers in the night.

With such security arrangement, the airline is, therefore, shocked that somebody could have access to the plane undetected and embarked on a suicide mission, which has caused the airline a scandal.
The police at the airport command are currently battling to find out how security was breached at the airport that day.

An airport official, who pleaded for anonymity, told Saturday Sun, that many people had been smuggled out of the country by sneaking into aircraft.

The source said: “That route is for people who have guts and all efforts to leave Nigeria have failed. The man has bad luck; it is not his destiny to leave Nigeria. Maybe he did not follow the instructions given to him on how to survive under there. This is not the first time people are sneaking out of Nigeria through that means. Sometime last year a woman travelled through that means and arrived safely.
“If this man arrived safely, we would not be talking about this. He was careless with his life. Now innocent staff of the airline are going to suffer for his mistake. Those who guarded the plane that night were arrested.”

The racket at the airport
The question being asked by people is, how possible is it that somebody would gain access to the tarmac undetected, considering the tight security in the airport? Our source explained that such illegal movement is being coordinated by a syndicate at the airport, which also works with airlines’ workers.
It was gathered that people who need such services pay as much as N800,000. They tutored on how to survive in the aircraft compartment. For one, it was learnt that they are given blankets and winter clothes with which they would keep warn while the plane is in flight across the Atlantic.
In the country of destination, the illegal immigrants are received by agents in the syndicate, who smuggle them into the country.

Our source blamed the level of corruption at the airport on poor working condition, alleging that some of staff are paid N30, 000 monthly.

“In this present day, how can one survive with such an amount of money? We have to survive; that is why there can never be a cure for the level of corruption at the airport. There is nothing like absolute security; the people at the helm of affairs smuggle things into the plane also, despite their fat allowance,” an airport worker said.
When contacted, officials of Delta airlines refused to comment. However, a policeman at the airport command confirmed the incident and said investigation was going on.

Good day

Please help check this VIN

4T1BG22K9YU652159

Thanks

LESS than 24 hours after the Presidency announced that Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, was regularly given medical report on President Umaru Yar’Adua while he was in Saudi Arabia, the State House has retracted the claim.

In an interview on Thursday, Special Adviser to President Yar’Adua on Media/Publicity, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, said the medical report of the President was regularly given to Jonathan but on Friday, the special adviser said only one report was given to the Acting President.

The Thursday statement from Adeniyi said, “I know for a fact that when the president was in Saudi Arabia, medical report of the president was being sent to the Acting President on the instruction of the President.

“The last was the one the president’s chief physician sent to the Acting President. I was copied, I have a copy of the medical report on the president’s health” but Friday statement said only one report was given to Jonathan.

The second statement, also signed by Mr. Adeniyi said, “Further to my interview with State House correspondents yesterday (Thursday), I wish to clarify that only one medical report on President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was sent to the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, by the chief physician to the President, Dr Salisu Banye, through the Nigerian ambassador to Saudi Arabia. This was on Friday, February 19, 2010.

“The Acting President has not received any other medical report before or after that date,” the statement concluded.



http://www.tribune.com.ng/sat/index.php/news/446-jonathan-was-given-only-one-medical-report-presidency.html

* Saudi Govt picks bills
*Saudi Doctor ion why Yar’Adua can’t be seen

By Luka Binniyat

SIX days after returning from Saudi-Arabia in a futile search for ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua, the five-man delegation of the House of Representatives failed to submit a report of their visit to the House last Thursday.

But sources from office of the leader of the delegation said though the Reps were not allowed to see the President, Nigerian Embassy Staff in Saudi Arabia and close relations of the Saudi Monarch painted a grim picture of the President

Leader of the delegation, Hon.Baba Shehu Agaie (PDP/Niger), representing North Central, is also the Deputy minority leader of the House. Hon. Ali Ndume (ANPP/Borno) who stood in for the North East in the delegation is Leader of the Minority in the House. Others are Hon. Patrick Ikhariale (South-South). Hon. Maruf Fatai (South West), Hon. Jubril Adamu (North West) and Hon. Nnenna Ukeje (South East). Ukeje did not make the trip. She said at a press conference that she was schemed out of the trip because she was resolute in her demand that the ailing president respect Section 145 of the 1999 constitution, a position that was at variance with the resolution of the House at that time.

After procrastinating for about a month, the 5-man delegation left for Saudi Arabia last Sunday.

The source said that the delegation was well received by the Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Aminchi and embassy staff.

“The Honourable members were briefed by the embassy on what they knew about the condition of the president, and they warned the members that they may never be allowed to see the President”, said the source.

The Ambassador was said to have informed them that even he, as a Nigerian saw the president about two months back.

This was said to have surprised the Reps, who knew that Aminchi was his deputy for eight years when he was Governor of Katsina State.

But the members, all the same insisted that they had a mandate of the Nigerian parliament to see the President and would do nothing less than seeing their President.

Subsequently, the Embassy put together logistics for the movement of the Reps to Jeddah about an hour flight South-West of Riyadh.

On arriving Riyadh, the source said that the Reps checked into a Crown Plaza Hotel Jeddah.

After driving to the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, in Jeddah, the Reps were told after about four hours waiting that they would not be able to see the President that day on the ground that it was not a visiting day at the hospital. It was gathered by our source that the Hospital was treating an ailing member of the Saudi monarchy, very important government officials and prominent people from other Islamic nations.

“The Hospital is a heaven of its own, and the members marvelled at how such a facility could ever be built on an Arab soil”, said Saturday Vanguard source.

The sources said that on Tuesday someone who claimed to be very connected to the Saudi King, promised to get a note from the King so that the doctors and security network would make special arrangement for them to see the President, even if they did not speak to him. But by nightfall, it was apparent that it was not going to be feasible.

By Thursday, the Reps members were briefed by a Medical Doctor said to be of Asian stock on why the President could not be seen, said our source.

“They were told that he was kept away from visitors because his condition was so delicate that any opportunistic infection, can reverse all the efforts made so far on him”, the source said.

“The doctor was said to be very apologetic but stuck to his ground that the Nigerian President cannot be allowed to see anyone outside the three people that have been ‘prepared’ to see him once or twice daily”, he said.

They are his wife, his Chief Security Officer and the Aide de Camp.

“That day, one of the Ministers of the Kingdom also addressed them. He told them that Ya’Adua’s treatment is on the Bill of the Government of Saudi”, said our source. “The official said that Nigeria should have nothing to worry about as all efforts are being made to revive the sick President”, our sources added.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/02/20/yaradua-what-we-saw-heard-in-saudi-arabia-reps/

Comedian, Ayo Makun, is known for his expertise when it comes to cracking jokes.

But at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos recently, not a few were disappointed with his violent behaviour.

An eyewitness who spoke to Life and Beat said trouble began when some security agents disallowed a passenger from entering the boarding gate because she was carrying some fluids. The passenger, it was gathered, vehemently refused to check in the fluids and the security agents told her she would either do that or not board her flight.

According to our source, AY, who was on his way to Port Harcourt, decided to play the good Samaritan by pleading on her behalf.

Only God knows what the female security agent must have told AY, for it was alleged that almost instantly, AY landed a dirty slap on the lady’s cheek. And before she could recover from that, he landed another hot slap on the other cheek.

As if that was not enough, AY allegedly pushed the lady out of the security post and confidently walked into the boarding gate.

It was as if the other secuity agents, who must have been shocked beyond composure, suddenly rediscovered themselves as they ran after AY and told him he would not be allowed to get on board because of his violent act.

AY stormed out of the airport with parting swear words, “be intimate with you and be intimate with your airport.”

Life and Beat gathered that many passengers expressed disappointment that AY slapped a woman, and in public for that matter.


http://www.punchontheweb.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201002060184748

New facts have emerged on the sensational claim by a section of the media that Prophet Timothy Obadare, who took ill in the United States of America, resurrected four days after being proclaimed dead and claimed he saw the late Pastor Bimbo Odukoya in hell.


The Founder and General Overseer of Fountain of Life Church, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya married the late Pastor Bimbo Odukoya about two decades ago and they both ran the church until her demise in December 2005 in a plane crash.


Throwing more light on the “hell report,” Prophet T. O. Obadare’s son, Pastor Paul Obadare, said the report should not be relied upon as his father never died and the stories were fabrications.


The younger Obadare made this known in a video documentary titled: The Signs Of The Times made available to P.M.NEWS by Reverend Ladi Thompson, the pastor of Living Waters Unlimited Church, Maryland, Lagos, who said he has been a close associate of the Obadare family for the past 17 years.


Thompson said he travelled to Baltimore, Washington, USA, where Prophet T.O. Obadare currently resides, to ascertain the veracity of the report. He said he met Pastor Paul Obadare and the senior Obadare’s wife.


According to Thompson, “the son (Paul) said the family and the church were embarrassed by the false allegations and dismissed them as malicious and slanderous.


“The truth was that the octogenarian evangelist needed to rest, after an illness due to stress. Then, the family decided that their patriarch needed to retire,” he added.


“Knowing that such rest was impossible in Nigeria, we took him to the United States of America,” Paul Obadare said in the video.


Paul stressed further that the rumour mill took advantage of the absence of Prophet T.O. Obadare and the death of Pastor Bimbo Odukoya to fabricate the story.


Also speaking in the video documentary, the senior Obadare’s wife, Mama Obadare, said the family was very much disturbed about the publications.


“My husband and I were shocked to learn of publications, as my husband never died. I am sure my husband never knew Bimbo Odukoya in her life time.”


When Prophet Obadare was asked to speak on tape, he declined, saying he is too old to start refuting stories he knew nothing about.


Instead, he preferred to call the wrath and judgment of God upon those involved in the scandalous stories.


Pastor Taiwo Odukoya said recently that he and his late wife never met Prophet Obadare.


“When the rumour started, Papa Obadare’s son, Paul, called me from the United States and said ‘Pastor Taiwo, I am sorry for this rubbish, my father never died, my father never said those things credited to him.”


http://thepmnews.com/2010/01/07/bimbo-odukoya-not-in-hell-%e2%80%94-obadare%e2%80%99s-son

dappssee (m)

This means he was a Forbes billionaire though not rated and why cant the CBN just inject the funds into the bank and put it back on the path of profitability.

@dappssee
The value being quoted here include the current value of all his assests (UK properties inclusive) and not just cash in bank accounts

A United Kingdom Court in London has ordered a temporary forfeiture of all assets, both identified and unidentified, belonging to the wanted former group managing director and chief executive officer of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr. Erastus Akingbola.

The order, known, as Mareva order, covers all assets traceable to him globally, including his investments, cash in bank accounts and property, among others.

It was granted on December 23, 2009.

The order is used to preserve assets in a situation where there are fears that the other party in a case may waste or dissipate the assets in contention.

It was gathered that the temporary forfeiture order was jointly sought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the new management of Intercontinental Bank, following a tip-off that he was in the process of moving £3.3 million about N858 million from Isle of Man, an Island in the Caribbean to London.

His total investment in the Island is said to be about N12 billion.

The Island is known in the banking world as the safe haven for bankers to hide slush funds.

Before the move by the commission, Akingbola was alleged to have moved a huge sum of money from his investment in the Island to purchase some property in London.

In the Mareva order, which is now in the possession of the anti-corruption agency, property allegedly bought by Akingbola during the initial cash movement reportedly included houses on numbers 17, 18, 19, 20 on Finchey Road, London, as well as the property located at 26, Chesire Terrace, London.

EFCC, which is set for the implementation of the order, was said to have moved in particular for the all-covering order to stop Akingbola from dissipating the assets, which the commission claimed were proceeds of crime.

The commission was said to have convinced the court to grant the global order after it was able to provide evidence that he had initially moved monies from the Island to buy property in London.

In the charge filed against him in a Federal High Court in Lagos by the commission, which is being used to push for his extradition, the property traced to him were described as proceeds of the alleged crime he committed with shareholders’ funds, while at the bank.

Commission’s spokesperson, Mr. Femi Baba-femi could not be reached on his mobile phone for comments on the development.


http://www.tribune.com.ng/27122009/news/news2.html

http://www.punchontheweb.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200912271541851

The President & his entourage will need those aircrafts for the 2011 campaign since he will have to lead the campaign train to all the state capitals and bearing in mind that the roads are no longer motorable.

Also, do not forget that we have a medically challenged President, so there must be enough standby aircrafts for emergency evacuation if and when the need arises.

Banks and N100b agric fund
By Sun News Publishing

Editorial Index



The disclosure that two leading commercial banks in the country, First Bank Plc and UBA Plc, have refused to disburse a hefty N100 billion lodged with them by the Federal Government as intervention fund for the agriculture sector, is deeply shocking. It is, indeed, objectionable. The fund has been with the two banks for the past six months and, perhaps more disheartening, is the revelation that they have made an astonishing profit of N6 billion since they began warehousing the N100 billion.

The regrettable act by First Bank and UBA came to light during a recent tripartite meeting of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Governors’ Forum and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources. A substantial amount of the fund is set aside as soft loans to commercial farmers across the country.

The farmers are partners with government in its food security policy and a total of 215 commercial farmers reportedly applied for the loan, and 106 were successful. Nine viable projects that would boost agriculture production were also approved by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources. But the hiccup is the non-disbursement of the fund by the two banks.

The banks were alleged to have imposed stringent conditions before they could release the fund to the farmers. One of the conditions is a demand for 20 percent equity contribution. This, government insists, is not part of the conditions for the disbursement of the funds.
We view the shylock behaviour of these two banks as most reprehensible. This largely explains why the agric sector which is supposed to be the engine of growth of our economy remains where it is today – comatose.


The three weeks ultimatum given to the two banks to commence immediate disbursement of the funds or face sanctions, is fast running out without any report of compliance. We urge the government to impose the maximum sanction against the banks if they fail to do so. De-listing the them as facilitators of key government policy initiatives as the CBN has threatened to do, will be a welcome deterrent measure.

Indisputably, the action of the two banks is a direct assault on one of the President’s Seven Point Agenda, – which is food security and agriculture. Clearly, the action is a strong disincentive to local food production and processing and an invitation to continued massive importation of basic staple food items. The local commercial farmers are encouraged to bridge food production gap through such intervention fund. This is the case in many countries.

Disturbingly, at present, according to statistics, Nigeria imports about 65 percent of its domestic staple food items such as rice, beans and other grains. Between 1999 and 2003 alone, we imported over 600,000 metric tonnes of rice annually. This is a massive drop in 40 years when Nigeria, in 1969, achieved a level of sufficiency in local rice production with 99 percent self-sufficiency.

Considering the impact of agriculture on the economy and food security, a potential food crisis is likely if the action of the banks is not visited with corresponding deterrent measures. They should not be allowed to continue sitting on the fund for the selfish purpose of making profits. They should equally be compelled to cough up the profits already made.
Henceforth, a mechanism should be put in place to prevent a recurrence of this kind of transaction.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/opinion/editorial/2009/nov/10/editorial-10-11-2009-001.htm

CBN spent N100bn to print N420bn for troubled banks - We ’ll print more naira to save other banks - CBN - Reps set for showdown with CBN gov

From Odidison Omankhanlen, Gbola Subair, Friday Ekeoba and Idowu Samuel - 02.09.2009

THERE are strong indications that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) expended over N100 billion to print the N420 billion bailout funds for the five troubled banks in the country.

The cost of printing the currency was borne by the apex bank at the normal rate currencies are printed, which is usually three times less the value of the current value of the naira.

However, the CBN has said that it will print more naira to bail out more banks as it concludes auditing of 11 other banks in the ongoing audit process.

The currency notes, which were printed abroad, was done without the approval of the National Assembly, a development which the legislature had kicked against as usurpation of its power by the CBN. All efforts to get the response of the apex bank proved abortive.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/02092009/news/news3.html

The NSE suspended and barred him from attending any of their council meetings (as the 2nd Vice President) pending the determination of the court case. I think this is fair enough on him. CIBN should have done likewise by giving Akingbola an opportunity to defend himself. or rather constitute a panel to hear him.

Group Managing Director of Global Fleet Group, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, has said the revelation that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) printed the N420 billion it recenty injected into five banks in the country has justified his suggestion last year that the nation should print more naira in response to the economic and financial crisis.

[b]Responding to a question at a Town Hall meeting with stakeholders in London on how the CBN sourced the N420 billion it recently injected into five banks in the country, CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi said: “We printed money. We created an asset on the balance sheet basically to pump money into the system because money supply had been negative in the first half of the year. We did not borrow money.”[/b]The Global Fleet chief had in July last year while reacting to the global economic meltdown suggested that the apex bank should print more naira. The suggestion was widely criticised and allegedly discarded by CBN under its immediate past governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
But now, according to Ibrahim, the new CBN governor has “followed the advice and unknown to many, it has quietly gone underground to print more naira”.

After Ibrahim made the recommendation, countries such as the United States of America and Britain printed more money under one form of monetary policy or the other.

In Britain, the policy measure was called quantitative easing, which succeeded in injecting fresh 125 billion pounds into the British economy. In the US, the authorities called it direct intervention.

Reacting to the payments made so far by debtors of the five banks in Nigeria, Ibrahim said the debtors as published by CBN are highly credible individuals who have made meaningful contributions to the development of the economy by taking risks.

CBN may sack 7 other bank Mds - As CBN may release audit report this week - Reps summon Sanusi over N400bn bailout - Intercontinental Bank’s substantive CEO, Alabi, resumes
From Odidison Omankhanlen, Friday Ekeoba and Leon Usigbe - 01.09.2009

NO fewer than seven more banks may come under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) hammer, as the apex bank is set to announce the completion of the audit exercise conducted on another set of 11 banks.


According to a dependable source at the apex bank, the CBN Governor, Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, will this week announce the full results of the examination exercise which ended last week, adding that more bank chief executives would be affected.


He explained that the CBN auditors made startling discoveries on the level of rot in the banks, stating that the bank chiefs were involved in insider abuses, coupled with breach of corporate governance in their respective banks.


The source further said that the level of non-performing loans discovered in the first round of the audit report was small compared with that of the 11 banks that had just been audited.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/01092009/news/news1.html

Odidison Omankhanlen, Lagos - 31.08.2009

THERE are strong indications that many employees in the auditing departments of some of the accounting and auditing firms that audited the accounts of the five banks that failed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Commission (NDIC) examination, will be sanctioned.

In response to calls by experts and stakeholders in the financial sector, that the bank executives cannot be punished in isolation against the backdrop that the various auditing firms had always given clean bill of health to the banks, various professional bodies had decided to punish their erring members.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that secret probes were already being conducted on the respective audit firms with a view to bringing them to book. CBN governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, had said the chief executives of the banks were sacked due to high level of non performing loans in the five banks which was attributable to poor corporate governance practices, lax credit administration processes and the absence or non-adherence to the banks’ credit risk management practices.

He put the total loan portfolios of the five banks at N2,801.92 billion, margin loans amounted to N456.28 billion and exposure to oil and gas was N487.02 billion, while aggregate non-performing loans stood at Nl.143 trillion representing 40.81 per cent.

In a related development, there are strong indications that the weekend London Road Show embarked upon by the CBN and other industry stakeholders to woo foreign investors into the sector might be a huge waste of scarce resources and exercise in futility.

Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that since the CBN governor assumed office, foreign investors and banks had been cautious about his policy direction, adding that the recent sack of top executives of five banks confirmed the fears of the foreigners.


http://www.tribune.com.ng/31082009/news/news4.html

one of the conditions is that he must have resided in the state for a while (i think up to 5yrs) before the election.

As more debtors are coming forward to repay their loans, one hope that it does not trigger another form of liquidity problem on the other banks. Considering the large amounts involved and knowing well that the money will surely be from another bank. Hope the CBN gov and his advisers have a bailout plan for the remaining supposedly strong banks in place.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has declared wanted the recently sacked Chief Executive Officer of Oceanic International Bank Plc, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru, and her Intercontinental Bank Plc counterpart, Mr. Erastus Akingbola.

According to a statement released on Sunday by the anti-graft agency, “the two former bank executives are wanted in connection with fraudulent abuse of credit process, insider trading, capital market manipulation and money laundering running into billions of Naira.”

Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri, directed that the two former bank executives be declared wanted at the weekend following their failure to honour the Commission’s invitation.
“Apart from failing to honour the Commission’s invitation, intensive search for the two executives in the last one week has not been successful. They obviously went into hiding to evade arrest.

“This development has made it imperative for the Commission to solicit for useful information from Nigerians who know their whereabouts.
“In the same vein, it is necessary to warn that anybody who harbours the two former bank executives will be treated as an accomplice or accessory to crime,” the statement added.


Femi Babafemi
Head, Media & Publicity
23/8/09


http://www.efccnigeria.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=700&Itemid=34

if this is coming from the new management, coupled with the fact that CBN admits a typograhical error on the list on the claims by Dangote and others, then it seems CBN was too much in a hurry.


http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=152170

United Alliance Loan Performing, Says Intercontinental
By Emele Onu, 08.20.2009

Add To Favorites
Print This Article
Post Comment

THISDAY Special Release

The new management of Intercontinental Bank led by Joseph Ajewole has declared the N16 billion loan granted United Alliance Company of Nigeria Limited, in which the Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, Aig-Imoukhuede, and his deputy have interest, as performing, contrary to advertorial by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in some newspapers yesterday, which classified the credit as non- performing.
Intercontinental Bank in a letter dated August 19 and addressed to the Chief Executive of United Alliance, Mr Chizoba Ufoeze, said that the facility granted the latter has been performing. This development has absolved United Alliance and the two Access Bank chiefs of involvement in the huge non-performing loans of Intercontinental, which the CBN put at about N211 billion - representing 28 per cent of the bad loans of the five troubled banks.
In the letter from Intercontinental Bank to the Chief Executive of United Alliance, jointly signed by the Head, Remedial Management of the bank, Rasaq Yusuff and the Group Executive, Credit Risk, Yemi Ogunfeyimi, Intercontinental Bank stated: “Please be informed that you are up to date on both principal and accrued interest due on the account as at today.”
Intercontinental Bank in the letter, which was obtained by THISDAY acknowledged the receipts of payments made recently on the loan by United Alliance. The payments included N170 million paid to Intercontinental by United Alliance on July 3, this year; the sum of N725 million paid to Intercontinental on July 15, 2009; N440 million paid the bank on August 11, 2009 and N360 million also paid to Intercontinental on August 10 this year.
The CBN had published the list of the big debtors to the banks to compel them to clear the indebtedness without further delay, failing which, it said the banks would take all appropriate legal actions to ensure repayments.

No more arrests of motorists with ‘fake’ MOT
Monday, 17 August 2009 00:00
Juliana Francis & Emmanuel Ukudolo

MOTORISTS in Lagos State can now drive their vehicles without apprehension over the issue of the Ministry of Transportation (MOT) test certificate.

Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday directed that, henceforth, no motorist should be arrested for being in possession of alleged inauthentic or fake MOT certificate.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Mr. John Oluseyi Coker, and his Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) counterpart, Mr. Akin Hanson, who represented the governor at a press conference at Alausa, Ikeja, said that the process henceforth, was that enforcement officers should give an offending motorist a 21- day moratorium to obtain genuine documents.

Coker disclosed that the governor also directed that motorists should only be contravened, if in breach of clear traffic offences as specified in the Traffic Law and Highway Code.

He, however, denied insinuations that the state road law enforcement and traffic management strategies were aimed at revenue generation, adding that they were to ensure safety on the roads for law-abiding citizens, as the MOT test programme was aimed at ensuring a culture of road safety.

He said: “Recently, the ministry discovered through the activities of the Vehicle Inspection Unit (VIU) that fake MOT certificates were in circulation, which lacked the security features on the authentic certificate.

“It also came to the attention of the ministry that certain centres whose operators failed to renew their licences have continued operating, using touts that often use their test centres for MOT certificates and documents such as bank pay-slip and allied documents.”

He explained that the procedure for obtaining genuine MOT test certificate should be personally done by vehicle owners.

He said: “The vehicle owner must first make a statutory payment at government-approved bank (Sterling Bank) before the vehicle and bank pay-slips are taken to any duly certified MOT test centre for the issuance of MOT certificate, after necessary inspection has been conducted on the vehicle.”

Coker noted that the step was aimed at putting touts and criminally-minded persons who, on the pretence of enforcing MOT requirement, harass motorists.

He said that there were 463 duly-licensed MOT centres where motorists could approach for the original certificate, which costs N1,000 each, adding that motorists who are harassed over alleged fake MOT documents should lodge complaints by sending SMS to 08033056975, 08033239051, 07028249983.




http://www.compassnews.net/news/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25568:no-more-arrests-of-motorists-with-fake-mot&catid=43:news&Itemid=63

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama concedes his words — that a white police officer "acted stupidly" when he arrested a black university scholar in his own home — were ill-chosen. But, while he invited both men to visit him at the White House, Obama stopped short of publicly apologizing for his remark.

The president personally telephoned the two men, Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Cambridge, Mass., police Sgt. James Crowley, in an effort to end the rancorous back-and-forth over what had transpired and what Obama had said about it. Trying to lighten the situation, he even commiserated with Crowley about reporters on his lawn.

Hours earlier, a multiracial group of police officers had stood with Crowley in Massachusetts and called on Obama to say he's sorry.

It was a measure of the nation's keen sensitivities on matters of race that the fallout from a disorderly conduct charge in Massachusetts — and the remarks of America's first black president about it — had mushroomed to such an extent that he felt compelled to make a surprise appearance in the White House briefing room to try to put the matter to rest. The blowup had dominated national attention just as Obama was trying to marshal public pressure to get Congress to push through health care overhaul legislation — and as polls showed growing doubts about his performance.

"This has been ratcheting up, and I obviously helped to contribute ratcheting it up," Obama said of the racial controversy. "I want to make clear that in my choice of words, I think I unfortunately gave an impression that I was maligning the Cambridge Police Department and Sgt. Crowley specifically. And I could've calibrated those words differently."

The president did not back down from his contention that police had overreacted by arresting the Harvard professor for disorderly conduct after coming to his home to investigate a possible break-in. He added, though, that he thought Gates, too, had overreacted to the police who questioned him. The charge has been dropped.

Obama stirred up a hornet's nest when he said at a prime-time news conference this week that Cambridge police had "acted stupidly" by arresting Gates, a friend of the president's. Still, Obama said Friday he didn't regret stepping into the controversy and hoped the matter would end up being a "teachable moment" for the nation.

"The fact that this has garnered so much attention, I think, is testimony to the fact that these are issues that are still very sensitive here in America," Obama said.

Obama, who has come under intense criticism from police organizations, said he had called Crowley to clear the air, and said the conversation confirmed his belief that the sergeant is an "outstanding police officer and a good man."

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs refused to say whether Obama had apologized to Crowley.

Asked repeatedly about that, Gibbs said if Obama "doesn't want to characterize" his remarks to Crowley, "I'm not going to get ahead of him."

The story had taken on a life of its own, and the White House scrambled to keep up.

Gibbs said just Friday morning that the president had probably said most of what he was going to say, and that the only problem was media "obsession."









http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090725/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_harvard_scholar

President Barack Obama has waded deep into an increasingly bitter race row by saying that a white police officer "acted stupidly" in arresting a renowned black Harvard professor, Henry Louis Gates, after he forced the door of his own home.

The president's additional comments about a long history of police racism amid accusations that one of the country's most prominent African-American scholars was detained only because he is black has dampened enthusiasm for claims that Obama's election takes America "post-racial".

Gates was arrested for disorderly conduct after neighbours called the police when they saw him and a black taxi driver attempting to force the jammed front door of his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

What transpired is disputed but after producing identification to show that he was at his own house, a row ensued in which Gates demanded an officer's name and badge number and accused him of racial profiling. The police sergeant then arrested him for disorderly conduct.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/23/obama-race-henry-louis-gates

When the strongman of Ibadan politics, Chief Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu died last year, the fear of every resident of the ancient city of Ibadan was: what happens to thousands of hangers-on and social miscreants that converged on his house everyday for their daily meals and other needs?






advertisement

The fear was further stressed at the eight day fidau prayer for the deceased politician when the invited Islamic cleric and Kano-based fiery preacher, Sheik Muideen Bello, openly told Ibadan elite at the event to expect a difficult time ahead in terms of armed robberies, burglaries and other crimes from the miscreants left behind by Adedibu.


Bello’s statement did not go in vain. For the past one year, Oyo State has not known peace. Incidences of armed robbery attacks, burglaries, rape, and until recently, kidnapping, have been on a geometric progression.


The men of the underworld have tasked the energy and professional competence of the state police command more than any time before. Although, there were some breakthroughs by the security personnel, it was evident that the command has never had it so worse.

To the residents, the prophecy of Sheik Bello has come to pass. To them, most of the crimes committed were perpetrated by the Adedibu’s boys or their cronies.


But the Chairman, House Committee on Security in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Afeez Jimoh, would never tow that line of thought. He absolved Adedibu’s supporters of any involvement in criminal activities in the state, especially armed robbery.


In an exclusive interview with Daily Sun in Ibadan, the lawmaker rather pointed accusing fingers at Lagos State Government and the development of security network by Governor Babatunde Fashola-led administration in the state.


“I want to disagree with the view that most people that were seen in Adedibu’s house must have resorted into armed robbery after his demise. No. Most of the people you see in Adedibu’s house are politicians and this government has made sure that most of them are engaged in one way or the other; most of them now earn their living.


“It is not because Baba has died that you don’t see them in Molete again, it is because most of them has been involved at the state and local government levels in one way or the other. So, I want to disagree with the view that they are the ones that are involved in robberies.


“What is causing the increase in robbery incidents in the state is the issue of Lagos State and the economic meltdown that is happening all over the world. It is not just about Nigeria. Even those people that are working still find it very hard to live within their means. So, those are the main causes”, he stated.

Hon Jimoh admitted that the efforts of Lagos State government in security network has yielded result, saying that informed the decision of his to visit the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Baba Adisa Bolanta, on the expectation of the people of Oyo State from him.


“Due to the efforts of Lagos State on security, which is now forcing most criminals in Lagos to relocate to neighbouring states, like Oyo State, due to its closeness to Lagos State, we also need to review the security of our state and also be on our toes.


“We don’t want Oyo State to be the new hideout for criminals. From the look of things and despite his newness in the state, the police commissioner is performing. So, we need to encourage him to do better than he is doing”, he stated.


The lawmaker explained that his committee was also looking at the possibility of borrowing a leaf from the initiative of Lagos State Government as regard Public-Private Partnership in security network.

According to him, his committee would soon propose a motion on the need for a Police Trust Fund for the state, which would be exclusively devoted to the security needs of the state and its people.

“We too are looking at it from that angle. We want to suggest to the Executive that we should have a trust fund for the security of the state that would be funded majorly by the government in collaboration with private companies and banking institutions in the state.


“All those corporate companies that are really in need of security will contribute to the trust fund, so that we can always dip our hands into the fund whenever we have something to do with security. Not just to be used by police alone but for all the security outfits in the state. Very soon, something will emanate from the House to the Executive”, Hon Jimoh.


The lawmaker also declared that violence, which has been a permanent feature of every election conducted in the state, would no longer rear its head because of new realities in the political circle.

In his view, the decentralization of politics, the political reform embarked upon by the federal government as well as the new awareness from the electorate would spell doom for any politician who still believes in using violence to get votes.


“The way politics is now, everything is decentralized. With what the federal government is doing in reforming the electoral processes, with that every politician now know that you have to earn the confidence of your people before you can get to a political position.

“So, people now know better that it is not violence that can get you into position but the ability to be popular among your people. I know that politicians are waking up to that reality and I believe that is going to help the conduct of future elections in the country and the emergence of political office holders”, he added.



http://odili.net/news/source/2009/jun/12/516.html

Nigeria not ready for credible elections – S’African electoral chief


A Provincial Electoral Commissioner with the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) of South Africa, Mr. Mosery Mawethu has said that Nigerian leaders are yet to demonstrate requisite political will that would engender sound and transparent elections in the country.

He said Nigerian leaders were yet to show the required commitment and willingness to subject themselves to a democratic process that would be fully based on the principle of fair play and equity.
He made the observation when he presented a paper entitled: “Internal Best Practices for Political Transitions” at a civil society strategy session and workshop organized by the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDIIA) in Abuja on Monday.

According to Mawethu, who is the incumbent Provincial Electoral Commissioner for the KwaZulu Natal Province, “There was electoral fraud in your last elections to the point that your President even acknowledged it. And on that basis, I expect that Nigerian leaders would demonstrate a strong political will that would justify their readiness for a credible elections. But this is yet to be.

“We have difficulties in South Africa, but we have risen above issues of lack of fair play and equity. Overtime, we have engaged ourselves with a lot of genuine training and education both at the party, electorate, and government levels. Nigeria can also achieve all these but first, there must be enough willingness on the part of the leaders to do so.

“In terms of a democratically elected president, we are just five years older than Nigeria. And l also do not agree with the argument that our democratic stability is largely because of our lesser population when compared with Nigeria or as a result of the presence of white minority in South Africa.
“We have quite many races in South Africa unlike Nigeria, and this would have been a major issue. So, first Nigeria must do what is right. For instance, there should be a well-structured electoral reform. And everything that has to do with elections must be independent of the ruling party.

Mawethu further said, “In our last election, an African observer said to us, South Africa you cannot fail us. And I am also telling Nigeria, in terms of economic and resources, the continent depends much on you. But the distorting views on your democracy have been the problem. We have electoral problem in Kenya, Zimbabwe among others. Ghana has done, Nigeria can as well do it.

Also speaking at the event, which paraded former Senate president, Senator Ken Nnamani, notable lawyer, Bamidele Aturu among others, Tova Weng of Century foundation USA canvassed for independent candidacy in the forthcoming Nigeria’s election.

She said: “Africa and Africans are the only ones that can prove their readiness to the world. Nigeria has to demonstrate enough transparency at all levels. Independent candidacy must be encouraged as part of the commitment to give every one equal opportunity. In the last elections in the USA, the State of California had over 365 contestants at the gubernatorial level out of which independent candidates were in the majority.”



http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2009/june/09/national-08-06-2009-03.htm

Gift John: Principal witness goes dumb in court
By TOYOSI OGUNSEYE
Published: Sunday, 17 May 2009



The principal witness in the ongoing trial of Mrs Gift John, owner of Good Shepherd Orphanage, went dumb while giving her testimony before Court 17 of the Lagos High Court on Friday.

The witness, Bose Owolabi, was being asked questions by the state counsel, Mrs. C.R. Odutola, when she suddenly held her neck with both hands and went speechless.

The presiding judge, Mrs. Deborah Oluwayemi, ordered the court registrar to call a nurse to give first aid to the witness. “I have never seen this kind of thing before,” she said.

The nurse was not available and Owolabi could not continue with her testimony as she did not regain her voice until the court rose.

Nothing was amiss when the witness started giving her testimony around 10.30am. After introducing herself to the court, she said, ”I knew the first and second accused person (Mr. Gift John and Mr. Kenneth John) when I started working in the orphanage as a resident nanny in 2003. I was living with them and I had my two children with me.

”After about three months, Mrs. John said she noticed I was pregnant and advised me to give the baby to the government. According to her, I could not take care of three children at the same time. She said I shouldn‘t tell anybody that I gave my child to the orphanage.

”She also said……, ”

It was at this point the witness could no longer talk.

”She also said what?” asked the judge. Owolabi just held her neck and stared into space. The judge asked her if she had a headache or was afraid to talk because the accused persons were in court but Owolabi shook her head.

Oluwayemi asked the witness‘s sister who accompanied her if Owolabi was sick before she came to court. She said, ”She has had malaria for a while but since she got a letter that she would be testifying in court, she started complaining of sickness in her head.”

Odutola vehemently protested the speechless state of the witness, ”My Lord, this is remote control. I ask that the witness be allowed to give her testimony in your chamber because she has been intimidated by the defence counsel who has been raising unnecessary objections since the proceeding began.”

Oluwayemi turned down the request and said, ”Even if I allow her to give her testimony in my office, I don‘t think it would make a difference. Since you knew your witness was intimidated, you should have submitted an application for a hearing in my chambers before now.”

The judge advised the state counsel to submit Owolabi‘s written statement if she could not give an oral testimony before the court.

Earlier, the defence counsel to the Johns, Mrs. Taiwo Salau, raised objections several times and accused the state counsel of asking the witness ‘leading questions.‘

When the judge asked if there were other witnesses in court, the state counsel said the case file that contained their statements was stolen. ”Owolabi is a very important witness in this case. We want to finish with her testimony before bringing others. The case file was stolen but we have certified copies of the statements of other witnesses locked up somewhere,” Odutola said.

Owolabi is a key witness in the case no 1D/20C/2007 between the Lagos State Government and four defendants: Mrs Gift John, Mr. Kenneth John, Mrs. Eniola Olaide and Mrs. Grace Eluku.

The witness had alleged that Gift John deceived her into giving her baby away.

The couple are facing an eight-count charge bordering on child stealing and illegal hospital registration.

Olaide, an official of the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Welfare is being tried for allegedly facilitating the illegal adoption of a baby and conspiring to steal a child at Nato‘s clinic, Orile, Lagos. Eluku is also being charged for conspiring with Olaide to steal the child at the hospital.

The Good Shepherd Orphanage located at No. 31, Ogunromibi Street, Lagos, was shut down by the Lagos State government on February 23, 2005, for allegedly engaging in child trafficking and selling of babies.

After the closure, a total of 18 children, six pregnant teenagers, and 11 others were rescued from the orphanage and taken to the state‘s transit homes while Gift John and her husband were arrested for prosecution.

The case has been adjourned till June 10

http://www.punchontheweb.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200905171521829