₦airaland Forum

TWO separate governorship polls petitions panels yesterday upheld the elections of Governor Jonah Jang (Plateau State) and Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State.

The Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta affirmed that the April governorship election, which brought Amosun to power, was free and fair.

Amosun contested the election on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and won convincingly.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Adetunji Olurin, who placed second in the election, accepted defeat and congratulated Amosun. But the PDP later went to the tribunal to challenge the polls’ result and that of two others.

But the tribunal yesterday dismissed the PDP’s petition “for lack of merit” and ordered the party to pay the respondents — Amosun and two others — the sum of N10,000 each.

In a reaction, the state Chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday lauded the judgment, describing it as “correct and pro-people.”

In his own reaction, Amosun said: “The judgment is a further confirmation of the mandate freely given to me by the people of Ogun State.”

The Plateau panel sitting in Jos dismissed the petition brought before it by the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Pauline Tallen, against Jang, challenging his return as duly-elected governor of the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the April 26 governorship elections. The tribunal affirmed the election of Jang as having the majority of lawful votes cast.

Delivering judgment yesterday, the tribunal chairman, Justice Joseph Jella, pointed out that the witnesses called by the petitioners did not help their case as all of them fatally contradicted themselves during cross-examination by the respondents’ lead counsel, Mr. Israel Olorundare (SAN).

Jella, in his three-hour judgment, declared that the LP could not establish a link between the avalanche of documents and witnesses as the petitioners just dumped the documentary evidence on the court.

He ruled: “No multiple voting, no stuffing of ballot papers, no snatching of ballot papers, no threats, no intimidation as alleged. All amounted to speculations and contradictions during cross-examinations.

“It is a settled law that all these offences are criminal cases which must be proved beyond reasonable doubts. It is not the duty of the tribunal to investigate, as the tribunal is not an investigative tribunal. It is not the responsibility of the tribunal to go on a voyage of discovery.”

Jella therefore, dismissed the petition as not proved. He did not make any order as to costs.Read more,

TWO separate governorship polls petitions panels yesterday upheld the elections of Governor Jonah Jang (Plateau State) and Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State.

The Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta affirmed that the April governorship election, which brought Amosun to power, was free and fair.

Amosun contested the election on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and won convincingly.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Adetunji Olurin, who placed second in the election, accepted defeat and congratulated Amosun. But the PDP later went to the tribunal to challenge the polls’ result and that of two others.

But the tribunal yesterday dismissed the PDP’s petition “for lack of merit” and ordered the party to pay the respondents — Amosun and two others — the sum of N10,000 each.

In a reaction, the state Chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday lauded the judgment, describing it as “correct and pro-people.”

In his own reaction, Amosun said: “The judgment is a further confirmation of the mandate freely given to me by the people of Ogun State.”

The Plateau panel sitting in Jos dismissed the petition brought before it by the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Pauline Tallen, against Jang, challenging his return as duly-elected governor of the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the April 26 governorship elections. The tribunal affirmed the election of Jang as having the majority of lawful votes cast.

Delivering judgment yesterday, the tribunal chairman, Justice Joseph Jella, pointed out that the witnesses called by the petitioners did not help their case as all of them fatally contradicted themselves during cross-examination by the respondents’ lead counsel, Mr. Israel Olorundare (SAN).

Jella, in his three-hour judgment, declared that the LP could not establish a link between the avalanche of documents and witnesses as the petitioners just dumped the documentary evidence on the court.

He ruled: “No multiple voting, no stuffing of ballot papers, no snatching of ballot papers, no threats, no intimidation as alleged. All amounted to speculations and contradictions during cross-examinations.

“It is a settled law that all these offences are criminal cases which must be proved beyond reasonable doubts. It is not the duty of the tribunal to investigate, as the tribunal is not an investigative tribunal. It is not the responsibility of the tribunal to go on a voyage of discovery.”

Jella therefore, dismissed the petition as not proved. He did not make any order as to costs.

Among other claims, the petitioners had alleged election irregularities in five local councils against the respondents namely, Barkin Ladi, Jos South, Langtang, Mikang and Riyom.

According to the suit, LP alleged that the malpractices complained of were perpetrated by the agents of Jang.Read more,

DIGNITARIES at the commissioning of a Federal High Court complex in Osogbo, Osun State, were shocked, on Thursday, when the state governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, ignored protocol by snubbing Vice-President Namadi Sambo, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan.

Aregbesola, who was not at the event, sent a speech through his deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, in which he said he refused to recognise the person of the vice-president in protest against the interception, by the police, of some of his supporters, who were going to Abuja on Tuesday.

Although Aregbesola was in Abuja on Wednesday for the trial of Senator Bola Tinubu at the Code of Conduct tribunal, it was not immediately clear why he elected to stay off the state while the vice-president was visiting in official capacity.

Aregbesola, in his speech, said, ”you will notice that I did not salute the person of the vice-president in my opening. I only recognised his office. I mean no disrespect for him but I did it in protest of the outrageous manner the Federal Government, through its agency, the police, has treated my person and office in flagrant violation of federal principle, rights of citizens and liberty of people.”

Aregbesola noted that the act of the police was a declaration of hostility against his person and office as the governor of Osun State. ”I demand an explanation. We must be very careful and watch out for acts capable of destroying the constitution. Reckless disregard for and unconscionable violation of the principles of federalism which position the states and the Federal Government in a union in which the later is just primus inter pares has become the hallmark of the police, as it is (sic) aided in evil mischief by the Federal Government all the time.

“This has subverted the federal principles in the constitution and has de facto turned the country into a unitary state in which the Federal Government assumes the position of a headmaster over the states that are now treated at will like pupils, “ Aregbesola explained.

President Jonathan, in his speech read by the vice-president, urged anybody who was aggrieved to always seek justice in the law court, because that was why the judicial authority was brought closer to them.

He said bringing the judiciary authority closer to the people was for people to be able to lodge their complaints.

Sambo was apparently referring to the allegation by Aregbesola, who complained that his office was disrespected by the police by turning back his supporters.
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Good habits are most easily established young. If you wish to save a lot of money on dentist visits and spare your child the pain of tooth decay, you will begin them very young in the behavior of caring for their mouths. Brushing new teeth should change into as routine as taking baths and washing hands.

First teeth start erupting when a baby is between three and 6 months. Once or twice a day you'll be able to clear your babies gum ridges with a finger lined in a clear baby washcloth. A baby washcloth is best than an peculiar one as a result of it is thinner and will probably be much less material to trigger your baby to gag.

When baby is starting on their first stable foods across the age of six months, you may observe up with sips of water. Drinking water is an effective method to clear out a mouth, and additionally it is an ideal alternative to begin to transition a child to drinking from a cup. Even should you plan to breastfeed your child into their toddler years, your child can nonetheless be introduced to water in a cup during meals of strong foods. If the drinking water in your home doesn't have fluoride you must consider a fluoride complement in your child between the ages of 6 months and sixteen years.

Upon getting a few teeth of their mouth to brush, you possibly can switch from the washcloth to a child's or toddler's toothbrush. Brush gently when you can't avoid the gum area. You are able to do without the toothpaste until they're sufficiently old to spit it out, which is across the age of three. There are also toddler toothpastes avaiable for purchase that are safe for children to swallow. If the family toothpaste is just too strong in taste for the child you can attempt a children's toothpaste or milder-flavored toothpaste with out synthetic sweeteners that may be discovered in lots of health meals stores.

You will probably need to present a large amount of supervision in the teeth brushing till a child is seven or eight years old. Earlier than then you may let the child take the toothbrush in hand and take a look at it themselves, but many children have issue with the up and down movement needed to wash teeth alongside the gum line. Verify after they have brushed, make a visual spot examine and follow up with the comb when food may be seen along the gum line or caught in molars. Read more,

Many couples who have experienced the joys of pregnancy and childbirth are surprised to find that they may have difficulty when attempting to conceive another child. If you have given birth to one or more biological children, and are now unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term, then you are suffering from secondary infertility.http://www.rrc.com/resources/faq.php Kansas City fertility doctors know that secondary fertility is a common occurrence—so common that it accounts for up to 60% of infertility cases and affects over three million Americans.

You should consider visiting fertility doctors in Kansas City if you have been having regular, unprotected sex for a year, are under 35 years of age, and still have not become pregnant. You’ll want to consult Kansas City fertility doctors sooner if you are over 35 and have been engaging in regular, unprotected sex for six months without conceiving. Like primary infertility (a childless couple’s inability to become pregnant), the causes are nearly identical: poor egg or sperm quality due to age, ovulatory issues, uterine problems, disease or infections are all common reasons.

Misconceptions abound regarding secondary infertility. Often couple are told to “just keep trying” by medical practitioners who do not have adequate training in fertility issues. It’s also difficult to realize that one has actually become infertile after successfully having a child. Because of this, many couples do not seek infertility treatment.

Dealing with the emotional issues of secondary infertility can also be difficult. Friends and family members may be unable to comprehend why it is a problem since you already have one or more children. They may be unable to provide you with emotional support for the pain and loss you are experiencing due to infertility. Finding a support group either locally or on the internet can help get you through the challenging times and allow you a place to express your feelings. Your fertility doctors in Kansas City should be able to give you referrals for community organizations in the Kansas City area.read more

Libya's new leaders will declare liberation on Sunday, officials said, a move that will start the clock for elections after months of bloodshed that culminated in the death of longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi.
But the victory has been clouded by questions over how Qaddafi was killed after images emerged showing he was found alive and taunted and beaten by his captors.
The long-awaited declaration of liberation will come more than two months after revolutionary forces swept into Tripoli and seized control of most of the oil-rich North African nation. It was stalled by fierce resistance by Qaddafi loyalists in his hometown of Sirte, Bani Walid and pockets in the south.
Sirte was the last to fall, but Qaddafi's son and one-time heir apparent and many of his fighters have apparently escaped, raising fears they could continue to stir up trouble.

With Qaddafi gone, however, the governing National Transitional Council was moving forward with efforts to transform the country that was ruled by one man for more than four decades into a democracy.
In Tripoli, residents said they were relieved Qaddafi was killed, not captured, allowing the nation to move forward without fear that his supporters would try to sabotage the transition to democracy.
"If there was a trial, it would take some time. , Maybe there would be revenge attacks," said Hosni Bashir, an oil worker who was attending the first meeting of a new political party in a Tripoli hotel. "Now, they (Libya's new leaders) can start."
Initially, NTC officials said the declaration of liberation would be made Saturday. But spokesman Abdel-Rahman Busin said preparations were under way for a Sunday ceremony in the eastern city of Benghazi, the revolution's birthplace.
The transitional leadership has said it would declare a new interim government within a month of liberation and elections for a constitutional assembly within eight months to be followed by a parliamentary and presidential vote within a year.
On Saturday, acting Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril, who has said he plans to resign after liberation, said the interim government "should last until the first presidential elections."
Speaking at the World Economic Forum on the Jordanian shores of the Dead Sea, he also said the NTC must move quickly to disarm rebels who helped to overthrow Qaddafi's nearly 42-year-old regime. He said it was a priority to ensure huge caches of weapons are turned in over the "next few days."

Jibril also said the Libyan people must remember the agony of the past and choose a different path for the future. He said he was "relieved" after Qaddafi's ouster, describing it as a "great moment in my life."
Qaddafi's blood-streaked body has been put on display in a commercial freezer at a shopping center in Misrata as Libyan authorities argued about where to bury the remains. Abdel-Basit al-Mzirig, the deputy justice minister, said Qaddafi will be buried according to Islamic tradition, but his burial place will be kept secret.

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Big profits are promised by the forex signals gamers within the forex transmission industry. Every one of these players advertises which their own forex signals as the greatest among all. Any beginner, who is new towards the forex buying and selling, is bound to get confused using the so much of sound around him or her. A good amount of homework with an appropriate knowledge gathering in the domain of forex trading assists in the long run. The way the marketplace operates and the understanding of nitty-gritty associated with foreign exchange market allows the actual buyer to make the best choice inside an area that is seeped along with cut neck competition.

This is not to deny the actual connected high-risk as well as higher obtain. These types of changes happens to the foreign exchange market on a regular basis. Obtaining the right information in the proper period is tremendously essential in Forex market. By using astonishing advances which are happening in neuro-scientific technology in addition to technology, these Forex Signals can be easily procured, possibly by way of cell phone, web else pager. The actual format that is usually used to display various types of trade in addition to Forex-signals is in fact the refined or even up-to-date release of the old structure associated with ticker machine videos.

These indicators can also be observed often about the television stations which provide the trader using the most recent trade information. These signals provide a lot of services, therefore are useful in order to a number of traders. Thus, along with the adjustments of the spread, this strategy of Forex trading needs the trader to follow the actual period developments in the market. An educated forex investor would not follow such Forex Signals. Unlike all of them, numerous beginners will be oblivious of the financial trap, known as multi-target buying and selling exactly where, because talked about, the profits aren’t actual however in air. The need for any kind of forex buyer is to follow the forex signals, which provide numerous parameters like take profit, cease reduction at one clear entry for each foreign currency. Trade your way to financial freedom by trading forex using the best Forex signalsin the world.

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Men and women are really different in many aspects: the way of thinking, their needs, expectations.

For example, gifts mean a lot to women, but we can't say the same thing about men. A woman knows how to ''read'' the message that a gift is giving, but men doesn't pay too much attention and importance to a gift.

So, choosing a right gift for a woman can be very difficult. The right gift tells her you're thoughtful, observant and you really understand her, but the wrong one can tell her just the opposite. Any gift that says you love her, that you cherish her, know her, is pretty safe. What happens if your gift doesn't transmit your real feelings for her?

A gift worth more than a thousands words for a woman. Not many of us, men, know which a bad gift for a woman is. In order to not surprise her negative with your gift, here are some gifts you should avoid buying her:

1. Insult gifts:

-Awful flowers – for women flowers have a big importance and that's why you have to realize the difference between good flowers and bad ones; if you don't know anything about flowers, you may ask a female florist to help you choose the right bouquet for your girlfriend; you don't want to go there with some flowers you may give to her grandmother, don't you?

-A cheap perfume – no matter how fancy it looks, you can't fool her; women usually know many things about the beauty products, perfumes, and which the best are

-Lingerie – is a risky bet; a lingerie made of flannel will be definitely not on her taste; you have to choose the correct size, the right style for her; you have to choose something that she likes and not what you'd like her to wear; if you didn't choose the right size, the message she will understand is or that she is too fat, or that you are insinuating she needs a breast enlargements; so, forget it,

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SIRTE, Libya (Reuters) - Muammar Gaddafi called the rebels who rose up against his 42-years of one-man rule "rats," but in the end it was he who was captured cowering in a drainage pipe full of rubbish and filth.

"He called us rats, but look where we found him," said Ahmed Al Sahati, a 27-year-old government fighter, standing next to two stinking drainage pipes under a six-lane highway.

Government fighters, video evidence and the scenes of sheer carnage nearby told the story of the dictator's final hours.


Shortly before dawn prayers on Thursday, Gaddafi surrounded by a few dozen loyal bodyguards and accompanied by the head of his now non-existent army Abu Bakr Younis Jabr broke out of the two-month siege of Sirte and made a break for the west.

But they did not get far.

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When the concept of maternity clothing comes into your mind, you will visualize it as something hideous and fairly expensive. But the concept has changed a lot since the majority of women prefer good quality designer maternity clothes to cover their expanding stomach. In other words, it’s not a wrong thing if you say that it has become a trend to choose plus size maternity dresses during the maternity phase. So, the best thing is to learn the right things about plus size clothes before you consider purchasing them for you. Pregnancy is not something that you should feel ashamed of because of ugly body as you think it to be. If you look at the issue positively, pregnancy has been a phase where the woman can show how sexy she can be. You may come across variable clothes for formal wear, business and lingerie meant especially for the pregnant women. There is high demand of plus size maternity clothes in the market and therefore, you will have difficulty in finding out the most suitable option that you can choose during the latter months of a pregnancy. Pregnancy is the time when you can show off as to how stylish you can be. But the thing is the issue of affordability since maternity clothes can be expensive. Most women consider it as expensive deal because such maternity garments are worn for a short period of time. However, it is possible to find the affordable garments available these days. It is because of huge level of competition among the retailers and merchants, there is reasonably priced and easy availability of plus size garments. If you look at the lifestyles of the celebrities who have undergone the maternity phase and used such clothes, you will realize that how plus size maternity garments are fashionable that you can enjoy. Well, it is up to you what to choose and how to make shopping for clothes when it comes to experiencing the situation for yourself. When you are pregnant, then you will really feel the necessity of getting the best fit clothes for yourself. All women want to look beautiful even during the later months of pregnancy and nothing can be more perfect fit than maternity clothes. It’s good to show off your beautiful curves but what will you do when you’ve put on extra weight? The smart shopping is the key to making a functional, stylish, and flattering wardrobe during your pregnancy.

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THE Federal Government on Monday said that cross border flow of the global proceeds from criminal activities was estimated to be about N240 trillion (USD 1.6 trillion annually). It observed that this amount comes from "particularly corruption and economic crimes estimated to be between USD 1 to 1.6 trillion annually.”

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), made this revelation in Abuja at a workshop on stolen assets recovery and management of the proceeds of crime organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with Justice for All and International Centre for Asset Recovery.

In his keynote address entitled, "Recovering Stolen Assets and Management of Proceeds of Crime,” the AGF said that "half of this amount is looted from developing and transition economies. “Statistics further revealed that USD 20-40 billion of this inflow originated in bribes to public officials from these countries,” saying that the equivalent of more than half of the continent's external debt are held in foreign bank accounts.

He further noted that it was vital for the affected nations to have the political will to pursue recoveries.

Against this backdrop, the justice minister said he had articulated plan for a wide range reform in the justice sector for improved institutional mandates and structures of anti-corruption institutions in the context of efficient justice delivery and accountability.

Also speaking on the occasion, the coordinator of the National Economic Team and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said it took Nigerian government five years to recover stolen funds by former military head of state, General Sani Abacha.

She said the recovered stolen funds from Abacha was 80 per cent utilised in the provision of social infrastructure, adding that the recovery took place under the civilian government of former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Read more,

Naira Could Be Allowed To Devalue If: - Sanusi

Nigeria’s naira could be allowed to devalue if oil prices and foreign exchange reserves continue to fall and monetary intervention attempts are exhausted, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said on Wednesday.

The CBN has been pumping the United States dollar into the market at bi-weekly auctions, to help support the local currency, but without any sustained success.

CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi said there was no change in the foreign exchange stability stance for now, but the bank would not support the naira at all costs.

“Certainly if we do continue to see threats to oil price, if we do continue to see threats to the reserve position and if we think we have exhausted the limits of monetary intervention, we will have to do that and we will have to announce, but if there’s going to be a depreciation, it’s something we want to be in control of and we want to be the ones that will announce it,” Sanusi said on CNBC Africa television.

He added that “at the moment, the pressure is coming from a number of sources. There are questions about security, there are questions about the expansionary fiscal position for 2012 and, of course, there are the international issues.”

The CBN broke its target of keeping the naira within three percent above or below 150 to the US dollar again on Wednesday, after breaching the band for the first time last week, deepening the naira’s decline further.

CBN sold $400 million at 155.40 at the bi-weekly auction on Wednesday, short of the $685.37 million demand, as the local currency was trading at 162.25 to the dollar in the interbank market, its weakest ever.

By pumping dollars into the system, the CBN was dipping into Nigeria’s foreign reserves, which are built up through the sale of its crude oil.

Foreign exchange reserves fell to $31.7 billion by end-September, the lowest in 13 weeks.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), earlier this year, had said the naira was overvalued and that a more flexible approach to currency control would cushion external shocks to sub-Saharan Africa’s second-largest economy.

But Sanusi said a stable exchange rate was crucial for maintaining price stability and attracting foreign investment.
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