I can convincingly say we don't have a police force in naija, if the NPF can go this far to kill a sister agency operatives, the civil populace should therefore be extremely careful and wary of the police because they wouldn't mind to waste lives and let blood shed over slightest confrontation or argument or even when challenge for asking/demanding bribe.

A former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Hafiz Ringim, is allegedly seeking asylum in the United Kingdom, as reports say, he has an application before the UK Border Agency.

Dailypost learnt that not long after his sack on January 25, 2012, Ringim traveled to the UK and has not returned ever since.

Sources say his request is on the grounds that the dreaded islamic sect, Boko Haram, may target his life once he returns to Nigeria.

The former Police boss in his application informed UK officials that he narrowly escaped death inJune 2011, when the Force Headquarters in Nigeria’s capital city of Abuja was bombed, few days after he threatened to crush the terrorist group.



Ringim told the British agency that on June 6, 2011, his Deputy, Abubakar Ningi was murdered alongside the police orderly and a driver, an incident claimed by the Boko Haram sect.

He also referred to the killings of the former military chiefs, including the November 2012 murder of a civil war veteran, General Mamman Shuwa.

It would be recalled that it was under Ringim’s tenure, that the United Nations’ office in Abuja was bombed. 25 people lost their lives, while several others were injured.

The UK government is yet to send a reply to the inquiry made on the matter.

http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/03/25/former-igp-hafiz-ringim-seeks-asylum-in-the-uk/

Abegi, we are tired of all this bullshit, the. Police knew they goofed big time on this case and are trying all means to cover up their shame.The house public hearing on the issue already revealed how NPF murdered the truth in a bid to cover up during its investigation. It's a big time SHAME.

sureteeboy: What is the name of his church

CAC agbala itura. aka world soul winning evangelical ministry (wosem).

I was privileged to watch the broadcast this morning. I think what that woman was trying to say is that the security of the country is a collective responsibility and should not be left alone for the security agencies, that Nigerians should learn to be vigilant on things around around us. For real, we are not security conscious in this country, if not some things should not have happened. In the US, you can't just be moving around aimlessly on the street, before u know it, the cops av surrounded you because they are highly security conscious. With need to learn that in Nigeria as it will help us guide against unwarranted attacks in the country.

Now APC is now saying the correct thing.....they are the ones to blame for their clueless arrangement....

However, source plsssss

He was evasive and highly slippery

The pint sized mallam is brilliant though but highly deceptive and slippery

El rufai was evasive and chameleonic in his approach to questions posed on focus Nigeria programme today

Fellow Nairalanders, mallam el rufai confessed today on the programme that he lost confidence in Ribadu and also was accused of biting the finger of the obansanjo's regime that fed him. Is el rufai really a patriot? Or can he be truly trusted?

me like this clarification ooo

Following the removal of the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Harold Demuren, President Goodluck Jonathan has nominated, the rector of Ilorin College of Aviation, Kwara state, Fola Akinkuotu to take over the helm of the agency.


The rector of Ilorin College of Aviation, Kwara state, Fola Akinkuotu

In a letter to the Senate, President Jonathan asked the lawmakers to approve the confirmation of appointment of Mr Akinkuotu as the DG of NCAA.

According to a statement released by the Federal Government, Mr Demuren was sacked for failing to give a “satisfactory response” to stakeholders in the aviation sector.

The three paragraph statement read: “Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the removal of Dr. Harold Olusegun Demuren from office as the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) with effect from 12th March 2013.

“This is consequent upon a careful consideration of Dr. Demuren’s unsatisfactory response to the numerous concerns of stakeholders in the aviation sector.”

Following the Dana Air crash in June last year, the National Assembly had launched into a probe of the aviation sector.

The investigation by both chambers of parliament had unearthed the rot in the sector and blamed Mr Demuren for turning a blind eye to the underhand dealings in the sector and compromising safety.

This led to the insistence by the House of Representatives for his sack.

The Senate had also confirmed the reappointment of Suleiman Barau as the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

http://www.channelstv.com/home/2013/03/14/jonathan-nominates-akinkuotu-as-demurens-replacement/

Bob_E: How I wish every murder case in “Edo” or else where in Nigeria is given equal concern.

you right jooo

mamikky: The AGF without further ado, should collaborate and synergise efforts with Edo state DPP, whom he claimed has the constitutional authority to unravel the killers and allow the truth and justice to prevail, only this can exonerate him from accusation of complicity or compromise.

yes, i support the comrade Gov readiness and dogeddness to get justice, and this will go along way to set the pace of things right in the country especially in the administration of justice.

And they parade themselves as chief security officers of the their respective state with huge security vote. Shame. Aside Borno state Gov. that said he has startrd dialogue with the sects...others have not taken a step...and oush the whole blame of federal government as if it is the FG that came to their domain to plant Boko Haram.

Palpable fear has gripped Delta State following the invasion of Warri this morning by gunmen who killed at least seven officials of the Nigeria Prisons Service.
It was gathered that the bloody incident took place at about nine o’clock in the morning when the vehicles in which the prison warders were conveying some of the prison inmates to court was attacked at the Okere Roundabout in Warri.
 
Sources said that four of the prisons officials were killed on the spot when the gunmen suddenly opened fire on their vehicle.  Three other officials were said to be lying critically hurt in an undisclosed hospital in the area following gunshot wounds they received during their gun battle with the attackers.
 
The armed gang were said to have operated with two vehicles which they parked at the ever-busy roundabout unknown to the prison officials.
Police authorities, confirming the report, said that the gunmen laid an ambush for the court-bound van.
 
The Okere Roundabout, which is normally busy with human and vehicular traffic, is situated about 200 meters from the Warri Prison in the heart of the oil-rich city of Warri, the administrative headquarters of Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
 
Speaking to our reporter, the Warri Area Commander, Mr. Hussaini Rabiu, said information available to the police showed that two prison wardens and a court-bound suspect were killed instantly when the gunmen launched the attack.
 
According to Mr. Rabiu, three other prison officials who were shot were being treated in an undisclosed hospital.  He further stated that three of the prison inmates who fled with the attackers after the encounter had been re-arrested by the police and handed over to the Prisons Department in Warri.
Saharareporters learnt that the sporadic shooting during the attack created panic and had people running for dear life.
 
An eyewitness told our reporter that some morning worshipers at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cathedral also ran for cover as no one knew exactly what the shooting was all about.
http://mobile.saharareporters.com/news-page/panic-delta-gunmen-invade-warri-seven-prison-warders-killed

All through the day,the media was awash with hot exchange of words which ensued between the comrade Gov, Adams Oshiomhole and the attorney general of the Federal,Mr Bello Mohammed Adoke over the undue delay and unnecessary excuses in unravelling the killers of his personal private secretary, olaitan oyerinde. Whatever the form of bureacracy,excuses in form of constitutional jurisdiction/power to act or not,even after d report on findings have been laying unattended to for months in the AGF's office and skirmishes to trivialise the murder case by being economical with the truth in trying to sideline the efforts of the SSS in the investigation saying their duty is to gather intelligence while trying to shield the police whose findings were shoddy.

The short and long of the matter however, is that if Adokie is to proof his integrity and show his sincerity, let him use his office and the tool of govt authority in his possession to get and do justice by bringing to book the real culprits, masterminders and the sponspors of the killers of oyerinde. I seriously wonder if a minister of justice can no longer administer justice,and I share d plight of the comrade Gov.,that if a sitting gov cannot get justice, who else will? Or what becomes of the ordinary nigerian.

abegi, aero mgt shd do something, i be don book online and dont ve manother money to spare and board via another airline.

yeyenatu!!!!!!!! joke of the day

Arysexy: JTF no mercy! fish them out from their ant hole and send the bastards back to allah! shege damburuba kawai!

i concur....these bastards should not be given amnestry rather JTF should intensify efforts aimed at wiping them out completely including their sympathizers, sponsors and financiers.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is not bound to register the emergency African Peoples Congress to spite the opposition parties from merging as All Progressives Congress (APC), it was learnt yesterday.
Besides, said a source, INEC has so far received only a letter of intent from the emergency group.
The letter of intent was reportedly submitted at the INEC office without any interaction with the commission’s officials.
According to a source, the African Peoples Congress rushed to INEC last week with a letter of intent to be registered as a party.
The source added: “The African Peoples Congress submitted only a mere letter of intent last week without requisite information. Legally, we are expected to look into the application within 30 days and, administratively, we ought to determine the fate of the group within 90 days.
“So far, we have got the letter of intent without requisite information, like the list of representatives of the party, its board of trustees, the address of its headquarters in Abuja and the list of its offices in the 36 states of the Federation.
“As I am talking to you, no one in INEC knows the promoters of the African Peoples Congress. They have not supplied any tangible information to show that they are serious.
“We hope that the group will make these information available as soon as possible. Or else, the electoral commission might see the group as playing to the gallery.”
Asked how the application was received, the source added: “A lawyer just walked in and submitted the letter of intent.
“As a commission, we cannot shut our doors to any group seeking to register as a political party.”
The source clarified that by virtue of Section 222 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 78 of the Electoral Act, INEC is not bound to register the emergency African Peoples Congress.
“Although we are to entertain applications for registration of parties on the basis of first come, first served, we are not bound to register All Peoples Congress, except all conditions are met as contained in Section 78 of the Electoral Act.
The section reads: “A political association that complies with the provision of the constitution and this Act for the purposes of registration shall be registered as a political party, provided that such application for registration as a political party shall be duly submitted to the Commission not later than six months before a general election.
“The Commission shall, on receipt of the documents in fulfillment of the conditions stipulated by the Constitution, immediately issue the applicant with a letter of acknowledgement stating that all the necessary documents have been submitted to the Commission.
“If the association has not fulfilled all the conditions under the section, the Commission shall within 30 days from the receipt of its application notify the association in writing, stating the reasons for non-registration.
“A political association that meets the conditions stipulated in the constitution and this Act shall be registered by the Commission as a political party within 30 days from the date of receipt of the application, and if after the 30 days such association is not registered by the Commission unless the Commission informs the association to the contrary, it shall be deemed to have been registered.
“An association which, through the submission of false or misleading information pursuant to the provisions of this section, procures a certificate of registration, shall have such certificate cancelled.
“An application for registration as a political party shall not be processed, unless there is evidence of payment of administrative fee as may be fixed from time to time by the Commission.
“The Commission shall have power to deregister political parties on the following grounds; breach of any of the requirement for registration and for failure to win a seat in the National or State Assembly election.”
http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news/proxy-apc-inec-has-only-letter-of-intent-says-official/

Some forty Nigerian soldiers surrounded a suspected militant's hideout in Badoo suburb of Sokoto township leading to a fierce gun battle. A soldier and five militants have reportedly died from the ensuing gunfight that lasted hours.

The suspected gun men reportedly rented a flat in a new housing Estate in Bado area, using the house as their operational base.

Last year May Islamist militants in Sokoto were attacked by British and Nigerian soldiers in a botched attempt to rescue two Europeans held hostage there.

Just last week armed robbers in broad day light attacked traders at old market and carted away goods and cash worth several millions of naira after they have injured several people.

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/five-dead-gunfight-between-nigerian-troops-and-islamist-militants-sokoto

This mallam is just too slippery, chameleonic and tactical in his approach....anyway....his submission was fair.

The First Lady is the latest victim of online hacking scam targeting high profile celebrities and U.S. political figures. Compromising personal financial data has been made available online — a scary development that really crosses the line of celeb info made public.
Even Michelle Obama isn’t safe from ruthless online hackers! A website is currently under investigation for claiming that they have obtained the First Lady’s private financial information and publishing it for anyone interested to see. Could this scary security breach be an online hoax, or has her personal information been compromised?
Michelle Obama’s Personal Finances Revealed In Hacking
Online hackers have targeted a string of United States political figures, allegedly hacking and publishing detailed private information. A website has published what the hackers themselves claim are the First Lady’s personal credit score, Social Security number, and personal phone numbers. The website’s name is not revealed, as it is currently under investigation.
Michelle Obama: Latest Financial Hacking Victim
Unfortunately, this online hacking does not start or end with Mrs. Obama. She is the latest victim of this ongoing online breach of security. Other United States political figures have been targeted by the same website, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, Vice President Joe Biden, and former Vice President Al Gore. The hackers published less detailed information about these public figures, and the information revealed is not as compromising as the First Lady’s private finances.
The website has allegedly even hacked a long list of high-profile celebrities, including Kim Kardashian and Donald Trump, publishing what the hackers claim to be the celebs’ personal earnings and spendings, credit card bills, and personal addresses.
U.S. Political Figures: Hacking Under Investigation By FBI
The FBI has confirmed that they are currently investigating the hacking claims, but have not divulged to what extent. Investigators are hoping to determine whether this website is posting accurate information or if this an elaborate hoax with political agenda.
Are YOU shocked that Michelle was hacked?
Culled from Hollywoodlife.

http://www.osundefender.org/?p=95576

El -rufai for sure has shown himself to be a mouth piece for boko haram in recent times.

The Lagos State Government has shut down the Isolo General Hospital Mortuary to allow for reconstruction of the morgue.

The closure of the mortuary takes effect from tomorrow (Tuesday), while the government has asked members of the public whose loved ones are in the mortuary to evacuate them immediately before the closure.

There has been complaint by the public of serious stench emanating from the mortuary in Isolo area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris said the closure of the mortuary was in conformity with public health norms.

He said any member of the public who still required accommodation for their loved ones could make arrangements to transfer them to Gbagada General Hospital Mortuary or the Lagos General Hospital Mortuary.

Idris added that they could also take their dead ones to the mortuary at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Lagos Island General Hospital, Ikorodu General Hospital and Epe General Hospital.

The Commissioner however noted that the recently renovated Mortuary in Mainland General Hospital has now been designated a Social Responsibility Centre and that as such, it would henceforth receive and accommodate only some categories of dead bodies.

“The Mainland General Hospital mortuary will receive and accommodate only the following categories of bodies: bodies in respect of which a Coroner has directed an autopsy to be conducted, pursuant to the Coroners’ System Law, 2007, including bodies found on the State’s roads and highways or which have been picked up by the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU), bodies of individuals who died while in custody or shortly thereafter and bodies which have been abandoned in other State mortuaries,” Idris explained.

He reiterated government’s commitment to continue to serve the people while striving to improve social amenities, health outcomes and quality of life of the people of the state.

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2013/03/11/lagos-shuts-isolo-general-hospital-mortuary/

The Ansaru Islamist sect yesterday posted a video on the internet showing the bodies of some of the foreign hostages kidnapped last month in Jama’are, Bauchi State. The video, posted by the al Qaeda-linked Ansaru, whose full name is Jama’atu Ansarul Musilimina Fi Biladis Sudan (Vanguards for the Protection of Muslims in Black Africa) and dated March 9, showed a gunman standing next to a pile of bodies, then close-ups of their faces lit up by a torch.

A later shot in the video showed three male corpses, one of whom appeared to have been killed by a gunshot wound in the head. The video carries the Arabic title, “The killing of the seven Christian hostages in Nigeria.”A caption underneath says in Arabic and in English: “In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.”

Fellow Nairalanders, political pundits and religious scholars,are these killings and shedding of innocent blood in the name of ALLAH as advanced by these terrorists, truly islamic? pls, what's your take?

Ladipo Market May Be Reopened Before The Weekend – Fashola


Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, Thursday told DailyPost and other media organisations that the Ladipo market which it shutdown may be re-opened before weekend, if the clean-up exercise currently ongoing in the market is completed.

Governor Fashola said this while on an unscheduled visit to the market alongside his Imo state counterpart, Rochas Okorocha.

Gov. Rochas Okorocha, appealed to the traders to cooperate with the state government on the clean-up exercise in order to reap some benefits from the government.

He urged the governor to rehabilitate some bad portions of the Ladipo Road.

The visiting governor advised the traders in the market to eschew factions, adding that there was a lot to enjoy from government if they could unite. He said, “Please cooperate with the governor”

When next I come here, I want to come and launch the new Ladipo Market with the governor, with electricity, good road network, water and other things you want. Please cooperate with him.



“When I asked him what can be done to improve the lives of our people, he said to me that he can do anything to make the Igbo happy here. “I sincerely thank the governor for bringing me, because the impression out there is different from what I am seeing.”

While responding, Gov. Fashola said he was concerned about the plight of the traders, but stressed that the environmental degradation in the market could not continue unchecked. The Governor insisted that business must be done in a sustainable manner in the market.

He said, “While you are doing your businesses, your landlords and those who live around here must be able to access their homes.

“The factories here must be able to operate while you are also doing your businesses so that all of you will generate the revenue that we need to upgrade your market.”

Fashola said the market would be opened if the traders could quickly finish up the cleanup before weekend.


http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/03/08/ladipo-market-may-be-reopened-before-the-weekend-fashola/

A former Head of State and Leader of the Congress for Progressive Change, Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari, has accused the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission of being deep in corruption.

Buhari, in a lecture he delivered at the African Diaspora Conference in London, said only wholesale changes in the top echelons of INEC could could cure it of the malaise.

A copy of the lecture at the Monday conference was made available to The PUNCH on Thursday.

According to Buhari, INEC, as currently constituted, “would be unable to deliver any meaningful elections in 2015.”

He said, “INEC’s top echelons are immersed deep in corruption and only wholesale changes at the top could begin to cure malaise. What is required is a group of independent minded people, patriotic, incorruptible but with the capacity to handle such a strenuous assignment of conducting elections in Nigeria.”

Buhari, who also did not spare the Judiciary for its role in previous elections in the country, said that it was appalling that the electoral body had developed a very cozy relationship with the Executive and Judicial arms of government that its impartiality is totally lost.

To butress his claim, the Katsina State-born general stated that in the run-up to the last elections, INEC requested (and received with indecent haste) in excess of N80bn (about £340m), a hefty sum by any standards, so that it could conduct the elections, including organising biometric voters data specifically for the 2011 elections.

“But when opposition parties challenged the patently dishonest figures INEC announced and subpoenaed the biometric data in court, INEC refused to divulge them on the laughable excuse of ‘national security,”’ Buhari said.

Buhari narrated his experiences as a participant, in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections and criticised the commission and the judiciary for stunting the growth of democracy in the country.

“In 2003, INEC tabled results in court which were plainly dishonest. We challenged them to produce evidence for the figures. They refused. The judges supported them by saying, in effect, failure to produce the result does not negate the elections.”

He added, “In a show of unprecedented dishonesty and unprofessionalism, the President of the Court of Appeal read out INEC’s figures (which they refused to come to court to prove or defend) as the result accepted by the court.

“The Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, said this was okay.

“In 2007, the violations of electoral rules were so numerous that most lawyers connected with the case firmly believed that the elections would be nullified.

Buhari then went ahead to mention two of such violations – the neglect of one of the core provisions of the Electoral Act 2006, and results that were prepared one or two days before elections were conducted in 2003 as well as April 31, a day that does not exist on the calendar.

He said, “The Act stipulates that ballot papers shall be serially numbered and voters result sheets must also be tallied on serially numbered papers. INEC produced ballot papers with no serial numbers and also used blank sheets, thereby making it well nigh impossible to have an audit trail.

“ In 2003, the courts rubber-stamped this gross transgression of the rules. Some election returns confirmed by INEC stamps included, April 28, two days before the election, April 29, a day before the election and astonishingly, April 31, a date which does not exist on the calendar, illustrating the farcical nature of the election.

“The Supreme Court split 4-3 in favour of the government.”

Buhari lamented that in 2011, all pretences at legality and propriety were cast aside by INEC.

He claimed that in the South-South and South-East, INEC put voters turnout at between 85 and 95 per cent even when reports showed low participation in the poll.

According to him, the electoral body recorded 46 per cent turn out in the zones where opposition parties had large followers.

He said, “ In the South-South and South-East states, turnout of voters was recorded by INEC at between 85 per cent and 95 per cent, even though in the morning of the election, the media reported sparse attendance at polling booths.

The rest of the country where opposition parties were able to guard and monitor the conduct of the presidential election turn-out averaged about 46 per cent .

“In many constituencies in the South-South and South-East, votes cast far exceeded registered voters.”

These, according to him, “bring us to the need for an impartial judiciary in a democratic setting.”

Lamenting the absence of Rule of Law in the country, Buhari argued that “elections in Nigeria since 2003 have not been free and fair.

To Buhari, an independent and impartial judiciary would have overturned all the presidential elections since 2003.

He alleged that since 1999, the Federal Government, under the control of the Peoples Democratic Party, had “successfully emasculated the judiciary and turned it into a yes-man.”

He said that in recent elections in Nigeria, many voters had to be guided – like blind men and women – as to which name and logo represent their preferred choices or candidates to vote for.

He added, “When one does not know what the thing is all about, it is difficult to arrive at a free choice. It will be even more difficult to hold elected office holders to account and throw them out for non-performance at the next election. Under these circumstances, democracy has a long way to go.”

Buhari argued that “for democracy to function perfectly, a reasonable level of ethnic, linguistic or cultural homogeneity must exist in a country.

http://www.punchng.com/news/inec-leaders-corrupt-judiciary-partial-buhari/

Taraba State Governor Danbaba Suntai is suffering from loss of speech and inability to comprehend what people say to him because of brain injuries that could take years to fully cure, one of his personal physicians told Daily Trust.
Dr. Zakari Yusuf Aliyu, a professor of Medicine and Public Health, and Chief Medical Director of Taraba State Specialist Hospital Jalingo, said he recently visited the governor in Germany where he has been receiving medication since October last year, following the crash of a plane he was piloting near Yola, Adamawa State.
Aliyu said Suntai suffered injury to his brain during the plane crash, and that it could take “weeks, months, even years for him to come back to his pre-accident state.”
There have been conflicting accounts of Suntai’s health, with media reports quoting sources saying he is in a bad shape while his aides insist that he has recovered and would soon return to Nigeria.
Prof. Aliyu’s revelation is the first time a doctor and Taraba State public officer is coming out publicly to discuss the governor’s state of health.
Speaking to Daily Trust in Jalingo at the weekend, Aliyu said: “The basic problem that I saw with Governor Danbaba when I was with him included things like expressive aphasia (characterized by the loss of the ability to produce language—spoken or written), some degree of receptive aphasia (a patient’s inability to comprehend language or speak with appropriately meaningful words), and spinal cord persistent.
“Spinal cord injuries occur when blunt physical force damages the vertebrae, ligaments, or disks of the spinal column, causing bruising, crushing, or tearing of spinal cord tissue, and when the spinal cord is penetrated, e.g. by a gunshot or a knife wound….
“All these are things that will occur or improve gradually with time. But there are some aspects of procedure head injury in him that only time will tell and I believe we should be patient enough to give him another minimum of three months before we can start talking about anything else.”
Prof. Aliyu said he was with Suntai soon after the crash on October 25, 2012, and had been visiting him in Germany since then.
“I have the privilege and honour to see him. But first of all let me say that Governor Danbaba is my friend and very strong ally and a very strong family friend. I was there a day after his plane crash and I was one of those that helped to evacuate him to Germany.
“I actually visit him in Germany, and I was impressed he has progressed significantly. With substantial assistance he was able to undergo shower, brush his teeth, to feed himself; so he has made tremendous progress.
“But there is still a substantial amount of rehabilitation that has to occur. People should understand that he has what is called head injury. However I must also emphasize the fact that there are setbacks in this kind of situation as pendulum moving up and down. A moment the patient may look sound well and there are moments same patient will actually go down.”
Asked if it is possible for Suntai to return to Nigeria soon as claimed by his aides, Prof. Aliyu said: “Well, you never say impossible in medicine, but that is very unlikely. I think the concern should be less about when will Governor Danbaba return, it should be more on when he recovers. As a human being, he needs time to have full recovery.
“But for anyone to think that Governor Danbaba Suntai will be back in next couple of days, I think that is blatant misrepresentation of facts or trying to conceal facts. The truth about the matter is that the degree of head injury that he has, he needs substantial rehabilitation.
“And that’s why I am advocating he should be transferred to the United States of America to the best centre in the world, so that he and his family will be settled in one place in US, where there is intensive experience when it comes to rehabilitation of persons with head injury.
“If I may explain further, he no doubt suffered traumatic head injury which is secondary to blunt force trauma as a result of the plane crash accident…. In a nutshell, Governor Suntai has suffered a closed head injury. It occurs as a result of sudden stop following a high speed movement as in an aircraft or chopper crash. In the instance when this happens, the brain could move back and forth, left and right, colliding with the bony cranium.
“It may take weeks, months, even years for him to come back to his pre-accident state. It may take quite long for the head and brain to resolve the imbalance as a result of the TBI. The good news however is that he improves, so with time he can be able to function independently.”
Aliyu said he preferred for Suntai to be moved to the John Hopkins University Hospital in the United States.
“Already, I discussed this with the acting governor and also with his wife on the need to transfer him to US so that we consolidate everything in one place,” he said.
On the photos showing Suntai with the Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, published recently, Prof. Aliyu said, “There is what is called information spin. I was not there when Plateau governor visited him, he might find him while on good track. But to say that Governor Danbaba is having a 24-hour and very smooth conversational period to the extent that he can resume his executive activities as an executive governor, I think that’s far from the reality.”
But Taraba State Information Commissioner, Mr. Emmanuel Bello, said Prof. Aliyu had no authority to speak on Suntai’s health.
“Only the main medical team of the governor can say anything authoritative on the details of the governor’s health. Zakari is not Governor Suntai’s personal physician, nor is he on the medical team attending to the governor in Germany,” Bello told Daily Trust yesterday.
“That distinction goes to Governor Suntai’s personal doctor, Dr. Ahmed Kara. I advise you hear from Dr Kara who by law can speak authoritatively on the matter. However, information available to me shows that Danbaba is improving on daily basis and would soon be back.”

http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/index.php/top-stories/52050-suntai-s-true-health-condition-by-his-doctor

Anyone convicted of rape may be facing life imprisonment, if the report on a bill for an Act on violence against persons (prohibition), is taken wholesale.

In addition, persons convicted of gang raping a victim shall be liable jointly and severally to a minimum of 20 years imprisonment without an option if fine.

However, where the offender is less than 14 years, the offender shall be liable to a minimum of 14 years imprisonment and a minimum of 12 years without an option of fine.

Presenting the report on the Bill consisting, of 51-clause bill that was extensively considered and adopted by the lawmakers, Abike Dabiri-Erewa said on Tuesday that it has become expedient for the bill to become law going by the rising cases of violence against persons in the country.

The lawmakers in considering the Bill are also recommending imprisonment not exceeding five years or a fine of N100, 000 or both for anyone convicted of willfully causing or inflicting physical injury on another person by means of any warp on, substance or object.

Any person who incites, aids, abets, or counsels another person to commit the act of violence and is guilty of the offense is also liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to a fine not exceeding N200,000 or to both fine and imprisonment.

It was also recommended that any person who compels another by force or threat to engage in any conduct or act of sexual or otherwise to the detriment of the victim’s physical or psychological well being commits an offense and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding N500, 000 or both.

Female circumcision and general mutilation also drew punishments as any person convicted of performing it or engaging someone to carry it out risks four year jail term or a fine not more than N200, 000 or both.

Aiding female circumcision attracts N100, 000 or two year jail term or both while any person convicted of frustrating investigation and prosecution of offenders is guilty of felony and liable on conviction to imprisonment not more than three years or a fine not exceeding N500, 000.



However, the recommendation that the victim has the right to terminate pregnancy resulting from rape and proved harmful to the health of the victim was rejected by the lawmakers and deleted from the report.

http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/03/reps-want-life-imprisonment-for-rapists/

Kaduna, Maiduguri, Damaturu — The Sultan of Sokoto yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to use the opportunity of his visit to Maiduguri scheduled for tomorrow to grant amnesty to Boko Haram fighters in order to restore peace in the North.

Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar spoke in Kaduna at the opening of the annual central council meeting of the Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI), which was attended by senior traditional rulers and Muslim leaders from across the country.

This is the first time the Sultan publicly canvassed amnesty for members of the Jama'atu Ahlis Sunnah Lid Da'awati Wal Jihad, though he had previously urged for dialogue between government and the sect.

Abubakar said President Jonathan should use the few members of the sect who denounced terrorism to reach out to others who have yet to do that. He was apparently referring to a Boko Haram faction which announced a ceasefire recently but was later disowned by sect leader Abubakar Shekau.

"I want to use this opportunity to advise the President, as we heard he is planning to visit Borno State on Thursday, to see how he can declare total amnesty to all combatants without thinking twice," said the Sultan, who is President-General of the JNI.

"This will make any other person who picks up arms to be termed as a criminal. If the amnesty is declared, it will make all those who have been tired of running and hiding to come out and embrace the amnesty.

"Some of them have already come out. In fact, we heard stories in the papers that some have come out. Even if it is one person that denounces terrorism, it is the duty of the government to accept that person because he can be used to reach others. Whether it is true or not, the government should accept that person first and then interrogate him to see if he really belongs or not.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201303060497.html?aa_source=mf-hdlns