₦airaland Forum

I need to see the toilet!

Senator Bukola Saraki (PDP, Kwara Central) is the immediate-past governor of the state. Now identifying with the Alhaji Kawu Baraje-led new PDP, he says, the Nigerian Senate deserves commendation for the discovery of the fuel subsidy discrepancies. Above all, he avers that those who think President Goodluck Jonathan is weak are wrong.

You appear to have identified with the new PDP; can you tell Nigerians your reasons for this as a former governor on the platform of the party

I believe the issue is that we are trying to have a party that should stand for fairness and equity; a party that will be all- encompassing. There is need to get a strong party in preparation for the next election because there are concerns that the party is drifting; it’s not showing the readiness of sticking to the constitution and principles of the party, and there is need for us to address these issues. We can list many different scenarios happening in different states that give us concern. One of the key things that will always undermine the party is if the internal democracy mechanism is not strong leading to the election. So the sooner we address the issues the better for us; it is then that the public will see this is a party to trust, and we can’t do that without taking a look at what will be happening around in the country. PDP must reposition itself stronger and better and we believe such is not happening now.



Can you tell us specific constitutional breaches in the party and by who could be held responsible for such?

Constitutional breaches in the party are many; for example, there are issues that occurred in states like Adamawa, constitutional procedure on how you suspend members of the party, procedures in primary, if you look at what happened in Anambra state, it’s a concern, how a party can run two primaries at two different locations, as at today as we speak we don’t have a candidate in the next election; whether we like it or not, that is not good for the party, the party must be able to resolve its differences. We must get it right and the signals are not encouraging and that is why its better we shout now.



The formation of the new PDP appears to be the highpoint of the crisis within the party; did the leadership of the new PDP before the formation of that group, take advantage of internal crisis resolution mechanisms of the party before the final step?

Yes, unfortunately I was not at the convention, but you can see that one of the fundamental issues is that there were requests that certain procedures as agreed within the convention should be followed; but it found that delegates from some states were removed for those who were not delegates at all. Things like these made people to stage the walk out.



Is it just about lack of internal democracy in the party or breaches of party constitution; is the formation of the new PDP on a mission to stop President Jonathan from re-contesting in 2015?

How can that be?



But that’s the view of most Nigerians?

How can that be the issue for the formation of the new PDP, That is not the issue, may be that is what is exciting that could sell newspapers, people pick what they want to hammer on, no it’s not that. Look, there are about 18 states out of the 23 where you will have a change of baton at the states and you know what it’s like when there is change of baton in a state, the political activities become fierce and it is not like 2011 when most of governors were coming back; it was an easier transition then, but when you have this kind of situation without a strong internal party democracy or dynamics that party will stem serious problems, danger looms. If already you are having problem of delegates or state executives that is child play compared to when you will start dealing with primaries, if you go by one state already where we have two primary PDP by the time we are now doing 18 states. Is there any PDP person that can confidently say we have strengthened the party enough to ensure that we will not have crisis at the point of change of baton? Forget the issue of stopping President Jonathan, we are talking about the base, unlike before in 2003 in some places some places once you win the PDP ticket, you can go and sleep because you will win the general elections but it’s not like that anymore, and once it’s no longer like that, we must adjust because it is not the party that makes people, the people make the party.



You are the first leader of the new PDP that is saying Jonathan in not the issue, the G-7 governors and perhaps press statements by the new PDP always cite one of the conditions as President Jonathan’s second term ambition, are you disagreeing with them?

The issue of President Jonathan let me correct you, I am not saying that is not the only issue there are eight reasons we have put down; one out of eight in my mathematics is 13 percent, but we are talking about the remaining 87 percent rather than on the 13 percent. As much as we talk about it at the end of the day it’s a decision of his; decision of his in the sense that it’s a moral decision, at President Jonathan’s meeting with governors what did he commit, what did he tell Nigerians I am sure there will be recording of the past, what President Obasanjo said at Eagles Square, what he said somewhere, interpretation of meetings with people and all the rest. But it’s a decision of his at the end of the day; he should take a look at the environment to take a decision so at the end of the day it’s a moral decision; the decision is his individual choice.



Do you believe Tukur is the problem and his exit as chairman will solve the problems of the party?

What I will say is that the way the party is now, there is a problem presently under the chairmanship of Alhaji Tukur, the problem started when the new executive was put in place since then, we all saw the internal fighting within the party, now in going forward, sacrifices have to be made and one of the sacrifices is different leadership for the party, there is no doubt about that because that is the demand of the majority of the people now and in putting that in place, it must be a leadership that honestly people will believe can provide sanity. For instance, before, even if you are messed up in PDP, you have nowhere to go to; today, there are options because if you mess up a popular person, he can go to another party and mess up PDP.



But a national convention has been conducted, how do you effect a change of leadership at the national level?

Those are the challenges before the party.



There is the perception that those of you in the new PDP are up in arms against President Jonathan and Tukur because the president is perceived to be weak. Could you people have done this under ex-president Obasanjo?

I want to categorically say that President Jonathan is not a weak president. Even if ex-president Obasanjo is the president now, it would not have changed the current tempo and situation as it affects the new PDP. These are the kinds of stories some people in government tell the president, that Mr. President, don’t accept this, they think are weak, they always say you are weak and things like that, that because you are not from the majority Hausa/Fulani, or Yoruba or because you are from the minority; stories that will always make the man make mistakes. These are the people creating problems in this government. The difference between 2003 and now are wide; democracy is beginning to have meaning to the ordinary Nigerian, institutions are striving and people are more conscious of their rights and responsibilities as citizens.

They now ask questions more often than before, they are more enlightened. The National Assembly for instance is stronger, the media is more conscious and even the NGOs are becoming more conscious of their responsibilities. You cannot compare ten years ago to now. Once institutions are stronger, the people in government get weaker and answerable to the people. That is what people misrepresent to mean President Jonathan is weak; he is no weak at all, that is a misconception. For instance when we were governors and state of emergency was declared in Plateau, some of us waned to intervene but the reaction was fear, hey don go against the president, he will declare same in your state, but it is not like that now because in the first place, the constitution is clear even on that. So what Obasanjo could get away with then, Jonathan cannot, not because he is weak but because the institutions are stronger.



One basic issue the G-7 governors and the new PDP in their meetings with the leaders of the party has raised is the government has been using the anti-corruption agencies, particularly the EFCC to harass those who are not doing the biding of the present government at the centre. Do you believe in this demand?

That’s not true, it was not a demand; it was never a demand.

It wasn’t a demand? But it has never been denied before and that the demand was made to save you from investigation.

I am denying it; it was never a demand, there is a difference. Let’s separate the issue, you started rightly by saying the perception is that those who are not for government or anti-government are being persecuted, that is the perception, now it’s not a demand; for me, I think I am one of the most investigated; I have been to all agencies, EFCC, SFU etc, and the point is that I have not asked anybody on my behalf to say that one of the demands should be that EFCC should stop. Some of us are saying, if you look at certain things, any person standing from the sidelines will raise an eye-brow. I left government for two and half years ago, now EFCC or SU was asking about is what happened 13 years ago, the question is why now? In 2011 when I raise the fuel subsidy issue on the floor, it was the same time SFU remembered I had a commercial transaction in 2010, not a public transaction, even in the case of the EFCC, I was called and I went to EFCC and I anytime they call I am ready to answer, it’s not that any politician, particularly those of us in the new PDP that has a case to answer with EFCC should not be investigated as part of the deal, that’s not part of the deal; what we are saying is that politicians and government should not get this agencies dragged into politics; they should be left to do their jobs. I can speak for myself, I did not tell anybody to say don’t prosecute Saraki as a condition as part of the nPDP demand, you saw our eight demands. What we are worried about is that each time an issue that people in government are not comfortable about is raised, the anti-corruption agencies dust up petitions that they did not find worthy and harass people with them.



Are you now telling Nigerian you are being harassed by anti-corruption agencies because of your stance on some issues?

What I am saying categorically is this: my visits to these agencies most of the time coincide with periods I take positions on issues government believes are unpleasant. I never knew SFU office before, I have never been to SFU office in my life until after the fuel subsidy issue I raised on the floor of the senate and I believe SFU has been set up for many years; the petition at SFU was over seven months ago by the time I was called upon.



This brings the issue of our motion on the fuel subsidy claims. As it stands now, so much has accrued to the federation in terms of what was mopped up from the subsidy claims. As the person who opened the issue of discrepancies on the floor of the senate, how do you feel in the light of this?

One feels vindicated because when I started the issue some people felt oh Saraki does not like President Jonathan, he wants to bring down the administration; but today, the ministry of finance is congratulating itself for this and even the petroleum ministry praising itself for the efficient way it has managed the subsidy claims. The bottom line is that until, I raised fundamental issues with the support of my colleagues in the senate about leakages in the system where we felt that the quantity of petroleum products said to be supplied for local consumption does no tally with the declared imported quantity and that there was the need for us to have a more efficient process, so much, close to about N600 billion that would have been wasted has been saved because of that. Even if that is the only thing the National Assembly has done for four years, that singular act it deserves commendations because the executive had the figures, they did no need us to make necessary changes but until the National Assembly stood up to the challenges, there was nothing in that direction.

Recently in the cause of the struggle, when it really started to get new PDP to the consciousness to Nigerians your security aides were withdrawn, how are you coping with this development

I don’t know the reason for that don’t know what my security as to do with it, it’s not something that was given to by favour, it is backed by law, just one day you will come and withdraw security, these are the things I am talking about, I didn’t leave office yesterday, I left office two and half years ago, just one Sunday in the heat of all this new PDP my security aides were withdrawn, tell me is it all former governors security aides that were withdrawn?



Have they been restored, if no, what steps are you taking in that direction?

I have written to the IG and I have given him time to respond and if he doesn’t I will go to court to seek redress.



What is the way out of the current crisis?

The way out of it is to look at the demands that have been made. The truth is PDP cannot be the same PDP without the new PDP, that’s the truth, if you are a practical politician you do your homework, you will see anybody that is saying they can do without the new faction is not being honest, and no politician is in a hurry to leave the party he has helped to build or formed, definitely both sides will be looking for a solution but at the same time as you know as politicians if those options are not readily available they will look at other options



What other options are you looking at?

These are not for newspapers, but you know that a politician will always have options; that is why we are saying dialogue should be explored.



You made your intention known in 2011 to be president, are you still interested in running for the presidency?

Anybody who is talking about political office now when you don’t know if the party will exist or not is not a serious politician because the foundation must first be built and when you lay that foundation then we can come back again and ask ourselves what are we are we planning to do, go back to the senate to contest or any elective position or go and do whatever, for some of us, the issue now is that let us get that foundation right.

It is with Shock that I announce to you that some enemies

of progress have reduced the normal 3 fishes inside "TITUS" sardine to 2Fishes.

NAFDAC has to act now or we will protest. If this situation is not addressed, u

will open "TITUS" Sardine one day and find only the oil...

[quote author=inspired_m]Yes Sir, We are Registered Vendors With quite a Number of Banks

You can send us an Email for List of Banks We are Vendors With

Cheers
Inspired[/quote]Sent and awaiting a fast response.

Thanks

Dum.b Govt!! Always putting the cart before the horse!

For God's sake

[quote author=inspired_m]Sorry About that, We Value All Out Potential Customers, We have Replied Sir

Cheers
Inspired[/quote]Inspired, are you registered to any bank as a vendor?

If yes, what banks?

[quote author=inspired_m][/quote]Inspired, are you registered to any bank as a vendor?

If yes, what banks?

it will definitely have to do with s.ex!

I was expecting to see a lot of southern faces in the crew.

gerald09: I still don't understand y Nigerians still give attention to these good for nufin nPDP governors. They have no respect for Nigeria n Nigerians. Every becker, vexing and name calling is all for selfish reason. I am not saying GEJ or NOI are good people but dey both have changed the "status quo" in government and these greedy SOBs have not bin able to catch up with dere 21st century politics so the cry out to Nigerians dat are as st*upid as dey are. I am not askin u to accept my views but b4 u judge ask urself, how has these nPDP governors or sympathisers actually help impact real change to Nigeria. This is not about GEJ/NOI incompetence, its about lack of money to loot for themselves. So please b4 u start insulting me go and findout their true intentions, I bet u will be disappointed u ever trusted them (nPDP).

Agreed these governors want to loot but the point is where is the money at the moment?

Are we really going broke?

Shop rite is not sitting waiting on the profit of burgers and chips we end users bring.

A lot of big brands like samsung, MTN, glo etc wants to get recognized with the brand shoprite is
portraying so they can reach out to their own customers.

These companies are involved in a lot of big deals amongst themselves.

Placing your companies brand/product banner in any shoprite no matter the low patronage or traffic doesn't come cheap.

No more fun. This is getting serious.

Ogaaa ooooo

Qrisful: AMERICA: Where politician think about the masses
NIGERIA: Where politician thinks about looting
AMERICA: Where one citizen is killed and the president make a speech
NIGERIA: Where one hundred thousand are killed and the president is talking 2015
AMERICA: where Justices is for very body
NIGERIA: Where the justice are for the opposition
AMERICA: Where principle are the pinnacle of governance
NIGERIA: Where individuals threatens our collective integrity
AMERICA: Where woman are the light of Nationhood
NIGERIA: Where woman tell us how beautiful their private p---ts is facebook
AMERICA: Where a senator walks freely in the street
NIGERIA: Where siren is the order of the day, even councilors use them
AMERICA: Where Artist and hard work are rewarded handsomely
NIGERIA: Where Artist beg Alaba to pirate his/her song
AMERICA: Where criminals are put behind bars
NIGERIA: Where criminals eat and dine with inspector general of police

NB: Hope to survive this...........

By: Qris Ebeatu #cyclone #facts

Sad really sad

My first set of concerns arose when I decided to study the law that established the EFCC.

And even though I am not a lawyer or anything, I was shocked to see that it was so badly drafted and it seemed dangerously tilted in the direction where it could be abused. I suggest every well meaning Nigerian takes a closer look at the EFCC Act. It contains provisions that clearly conflict with the Constitution, particularly those provisions that relate to due process.

Also, the Act vested rather sweeping powers on the Commission in the area of law enforcement in general. Also, it was not quite clear how this Commission was going to interact with the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. There seemed clearly to be a very poorly designed agency with no clear mandate or institutional structures in place. But at this initial stage, I was not worried too much. I saw some of these problems as the product of the rush and desperation of Government in search of solutions. Also, I paid rather close attention to the provisions of Section 39 of the EFCC Act, which empowered the Attorney General of the Federation to make rules and regulations for any aspects of the operations of the EFCC. I was of the belief that with such rule-making powers vested in the Attorney General of the Federation, there would be ample opportunity for the Commission to be steered in the right direction and to keep it well situated within the institutional arrangements for law enforcement in the country, of which the office of the Attorney General is the key.

Since its establishment in 2002 and subsequent take off in 2004, the EFCC has taken corruption head-on in its fight against the social menace and has recorded some degree of successes in this respect. For example, Chief Bode George was arraigned by EFCC alongside five other suspects (Aminu Dabo, Olusegun Abidoye, Adullahi Tafida, Zanna Maidaribe, and Sule Aliyu) on a 163-count charge (truncated to a 68-count charge) that bordered on an alleged misappropriation of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) funds to the tune of N85 billion, and inflation of contract costs contrary to Section 22(3) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. Thief (sorry, Chief) Bode George was however convicted and sentenced to concurrent term of two years imprisonment. For this singular conviction, EFCC has recorded yet another impressive success in its fight against corruption.

The pioneer chairman of the agency (though accused at some point of helping OBJ witch hunt his political enemies) actually took the war against corruption to the doorsteps of perpetrators. He (Ribadu) instituted cases against former governors and public officials. Ribadu prosecuted and secured the conviction of the former Inspector General of Police, Mr Tafa Balogun, who pleaded guilty to eight counts of money laundering charges to the tune of N16 billion in 2005. He was sentenced to six months imprisonment. Same went for Alamieyeseigha for money laundering. He was convicted and released on plea bargain.

After Ribadu’s exit from the EFCC, the zeal to fight corruption went from 100 to zero amid the negatives.

Ever since, the corruption trials have not gone beyond the plea stage, some for as long as six years after first arraignment in court. Many ex-government office holders, who had been accused of corruption, are still walking the land free. Some of them are in the National Assembly making laws for the country.

What do I intend to show with this report? I intend to bring public consciousness to the number of the abandoned cases by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Let’s take a look at some of the top cases that have either been thrown out, a plea bargain reached or literally abandoned by the EFCC:

Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello:

In April 2008, the EFCC began the investigation of Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello for receiving N10 million stolen from the Ministry of Health. The former Minister of Health and the deputy were also on trial for stealing over N30, 000,000 from the Ministry’s unspent funds from the 2007 budget. Although the Minister and his deputy lost their jobs, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello dramatized her case out of the court and eventually went scot-free. The court has maintained silence on the case. No acquittal, no adjournments.

Chimaroke Nnamani;

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on 10 August, 2009, sealed off the premises of Cosmo FM Radio Station, Rainbownet Nigeria Limited and other companies believed to be owned by the ex-governor of Enugu State, who later became a Senator of the federal republic. The properties were seized by the EFCC through a Lagos Federal High Court order in May 2007 following the indictment of Nnamani over alleged corruption and embezzlement of state funds to the tune of N5.3 billion.

After arraigning the ex-governor in court for prosecution, it appears the case had been stepped down because as at 25th September, 2010 there was neither conviction nor an acquittal. Rather, the case is suffering prolonged adjournments and is still pending. He was a member of the Senate between 2007 and 2011.

Chief Onyema Ugochukwu;

The EFCC charged the former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Abia State in the April 2007 general elections, and former Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Onyema Ugochukwu before a Federal High Court, Abuja for corrupt practices. Chief Ugochukwu was accused of corrupt handling of about N10.2 billion while serving as the Chairman of the NDDC. The report reveals that the charges were prepared by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation. The charges accused Chief Ugochukwu of inflating contract value and making false statements in respect of N9.3 billion allegedly trapped in the distressed Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria; inflating of a contract value for the construction of a 15 kilometre road in Obehi-Mkpologwu from N250,260 million to N880,000 million; while the second count accused him of inflating contracts value for the construction of a road in Umuahia from N180 million to N462 million.

In the third count, Chief Ugochukwu was accused of furnishing of false statements in respect of N9.3 billion claimed to have been trapped in Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria, but which sum was said to have been disbursed by the former Chairman of NDDC while in office. The EFCC seems to be handicapped in prosecuting these criminal cases that have been investigated. There is seemingly an expression of reluctance in prosecuting the cases cited above. This strengthens the speculation that the anti-graft agency is selective in its operations.

Saminu Turaki;

Saminu Turaki, former governor of Jigawa State was alleged to have misappropriated the sum of N36 billion from the State funds. Turaki was also alleged to have laundered public funds of various values, an offence the Legal and Prosecution Unit of the EFCC states is punishable under section 14(1) (b) of the money laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004. Aminu Turaki argued that a substantial sum out of the N36 billion allegedly siphoned, was invested into the People’s Democratic Party third term project (Ploughing the seed of corruption back into party project depicts that government encouraged politicians to misappropriate public funds for personal interests).

His case with the EFCC is undecided till date. His bail was contested by the EFCC on the grounds that the former governor possessed multiple nationalities and could jump bail, if granted. Turaki had meanwhile secured the transfer of his trial to his home state. While the argument over his bail was on, Turaki won a seat in the Senate. He was in the National Assembly between 2007 and 2011.

Alao Akala

EFCC had arraigned Alao-Akala; a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters and incumbent senator, Hosea Agboola; and a businessman, Femi Babalola, over alleged misappropriation of N11.5 billion. The EFCC had accused the trio of conspiracy, illegal award of contracts, obtaining money by false pretence and acquiring property with money derived from illegal act as well as concealing the ownership of such property. One of Alao Akala’s co-conspirators is a serving senator of the federal republic of Nigeria.

Orji Uzor Kalu:

Former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu was arraigned on July 27, 2007 before an Abuja High Court on a 107 count charge of money laundering, official corruption and criminal diversion of public funds in excess of N5 billion. He approached the Court of Appeal to set aside the ruling of the Federal High Court that he had a case to answer. The appellate court dismissed the appeal for lack of merit and gave the anti-graft agency the nod to prosecute him. With the charges still hanging on his neck, the former governor is touting himself as a possible presidential candidate in 2015. He still strolls around till date not only as a free man, but as a self-acclaimed spokesperson for the Igbo people.

Joshua Dariye:

Another pending case is that of former Governor Dariye of Plateau State, who was arraigned by the EFCC before an Abuja High Court on a 23-count charge involving the sum of N700million. He was granted bail, but he later challenged the jurisdiction of the court to try him. He argued that the alleged offence committed by him took place in Plateau State and the funds involved belonged to the state, and argued that his trial ought to take place in the state, not in Abuja. The judge dismissed Dariye’s objection, which prompted him to approach the Court of Appeal, which also threw out the application and ordered him to go and face his trial. While the case is still pending before the court, Dariye won a senatorial seat in the 2011 polls.

Jolly Nyame:

Former Governor Jolly Nyame of Taraba State was docked on 41-count charge in July 2007. He was alleged to have embezzled N1.3billion and collected N180million from a contractor as a kick-back from a N250 million contract awarded to the company for the supply of stationery to the state government. His case is still undecided six years later.

Dimeji Bankole and Usman Nafada

The alleged contract inflation by the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole. He was arraigned on June 8, 2011 over a 16- count charge. Bankole and his deputy, Usman Nafada, were dragged to court over a 17-count charge alleged misappropriation of a N10 billion loan. However, the case was thrown out on January 31, 2012.

Ndudi Elemelu:

Former Chairman of House Committee on Power, Ndudi Elemelu, was docked over a N5.2billion fraud charge brought against him by the EFCC . Justice Garba Umar ruled that he had no case to answer, but the case is still pending at the Abuja High Court before Justice Adebukola Bolajoko.

Peter Odili:

EFCC began moves to swoop on Rivers state officials in late 2006 when it issued a report of investigation into the state’s finances in which it said over N100 billion was diverted during Odili’s two terms.

The report contained allegations of large-scale fraud, conspiracy, conversion of public funds, foreign exchange malpractice, money laundering, stealing and abuse of oath of office against the former governor.

To stave off impeding prosecution of officials, the then Rivers state attorney general went to court and got a perpetual injunction in March 2007 restraining EFCC from investigating the state government.

A year later, months after he had left office in May 2007, Odili himself went to court and asked to be made to benefit from the injunction and the court granted his prayers, making him perpetually immune from arrest, investigation or prosecution.

In October 2008, EFCC challenged the perpetual injunction at the Court of Appeal, but no judgement has yet been given nearly four years after, because of what a source close to the matter said was lack of diligent prosecution and official interference.

In the meantime, the commission had built a case against Odili and other officials, hoping to move in to file charges as soon as the injunction was lifted, sources familiar with the matter said.

But about two years ago, the commission dropped further action against Odili, and retrieved the case file from the lawyer handling the matter, because of what a source said were “orders from above.”

James Ibori:

On December 12, 2007, Ibori was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Kwara State Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja. The charges he faced included theft of public funds, abuse of office, and money laundering. These corruption charges brought against Ibori by the government of former President Obasanjo are among many begun by anti-corruption czar Nuhu Ribadu against former officials of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Ribadu additionally alleged that Ibori attempted to bribe him to drop the charges with a cash gift of $15 million, which Ribadu immediately lodged in the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN. The cash remains in the CBN as an exhibit.

On December 17, 2009, a Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, discharged and acquitted Ibori of all 170 charges of corruption brought against him by EFCC. The EFCC filed a notice of appeal against the December 17, 2009 judgment, and had begun a new round of investigations on the former governor following a petition by members of the Delta State Elders, Leaders and Stakeholders Forum, which was made available to the public in March 2010.

In April 2010, about three months after the takeover of government by Goodluck Jonathan, Ibori’s case file was reopened. A new allegation that he embezzled N40 billion ($266 million) was pressed against him. Attempts to arrest him were unsuccessful. It was reported that he fled from Abuja to Lagos and then to the creeks of Oghara, his homeland in the Niger Delta. It was reported that he has been guarded by armed militias and they once had a shootout with government security forces. He claimed that the charges were frivolous and that he was a victim of political persecution.

In April 2010, Ibori fled Nigeria, prompting the EFCC to request the assistance of Interpol.[15][16] On 12 July 2010 the Governor of the CBN, Malam Sanusi Lamido revealed that Ibori had used Delta State as collateral for N40 billion loan when he was governor. He was later arrested in Dubai and extradited to the UK where he is currently serving jail terms for money laundering.

Lucky Igbinedion

In January 2008, Lucky Igbinedion, a former Governor of Edo State, was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on 142 counts of financial fraud. This concerns allegations that he embezzled $24 million (£12m) using front companies.

The former governor’s overseas properties are valued conservatively at about N6 billion. Some of the identified overseas properties include: Mansion in Cape Town, South Africa, numerous houses in Johannesburg, South Africa. The famous Kenwood mansion in United Kingdom (UK), valued at £3.3m and paid for in one day. Igbinedion did not only embark on a shopping spree, he also set up a vast business empire. His younger brother, Bright, is allegedly the overseer of his estimated N7 billion business in South Africa.

It includes the five-star Hotel Constantia along Airport Road in Benin Benin-City, managed by his wife, Eki Igbinedion. The hotel is valued at about N4 billion.

Chief Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the Federal High Court, Enugu in charge No FHC/EN/6C/2008 on a 191-count charge of corruption, money laundering and embezzlement of N2.9b. In a plea bargain arrangement, the EFCC through its counsel Mr. Rotimi Jacob reduced the 191-count charge to one – count charge. The single charge read:

“That you, Lucky Igbinedion (former Governor of Edo State) on or about January 21, 2008 within the Jurisdiction of this honourable court neglected to make a declaration of your interest in account No. 41240113983110 with GTB in the declaration of assets form of the EFCC and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 27 (3) of the EFCC Act 2004”.

The terms of the plea bargain were that the prosecutor would reduce the 191 – count charge to one – count charge and in return, Lucky Igbinedion will refund N500m, 3 properties and plead guilty to the one – count charge.

To be continued….

Segun Dada

You two are saying the same thing in two different ways.

The terror attack on a Kenyan shopping centre that has left 68 dead was being led by the white English widow of a 7/7 bomber, it was claimed today. Islamist terror group Al Shabaab,claimed responsibility for the atrocity that has witnessed the killing of men, women and children once they could not recite the Koran or name the mother of the Prophet Mohammed and said on Twitter that 29 year-old Samantha Lewthwaite from Buckinghamshire (inset and pictured right) , the 'white widow' of London 7/7 bomber Jermaine Lindsay, was 'in their ranks' and a 'brave lady'.

Kenyan soldiers confirmed this statement when they said - 'a white woman wearing a veil was shouting orders to gunmen in Arabic during the bloody massacre inside the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi'.

Al Shabaab claimed two British men from London, Liban Adam, 23, and Ahmed Nasir Shirdoon, 24, were also among the ‘holy warriors’ in the attack.

http://riverajooa..co.uk/2013/09/updates-kenyan-terror-attack-was-led-by.html

Click to see unveiled pictures

The group is said to be highly organised, with huge amounts of ammunition as well as night vision equipment. They have destroyed CCTV cameras inside the shopping mall, meaning they cannot be watched.

It's happening today!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A42jauiOH90

Night With The Masters

IF I WERE PRESIDENT JONATHAN NOW...

I would immediately summon and preside over an informal but serious meeting with
my wife, Vice President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of Service
of the Federation, Chief of Staff, minissters, special advisers, special assistants, ambassadors,
Bamanga Tukur, and Tony Anenih.

I would be seated in an only simple and single chair while everyone else would sit in
a classroom formation in front of me - with my wife, Deziani and Adaeze seated next
to one another and the other invited women seated beside them in the front row of the 'class.'

Without any 'opening prayer' and pleasantries, I would begin the meeting with the following announcements:

1. Labaran, Reuben, Doyin, this meeting is off-press.
2. Bamanga, ignore all those calling for your resignation.
3. Adoke, the anti-corruption agencies must do their work without interference.
4. My dear wife, you will now be only my wife. All your First-Lady projects and programmes will henceforth be handled by Ministry of Women Affairs. You may remain with me in Abuja or go to Yenagoa and fully occupy your permanent secretary office there.
5. Deziani and Adaeze, henceforth, see me only regarding your formal ministerial issues.
6. Also henceforth, no alcohol nor any other intoxicant will cross my lips or nose - not that I ever took any of that, anyway.

I would then deliver the following short address:

Ladies and gentlemen, between now and the PDP presidential primary sometime next
year, I do not want to hear anything about PDP. The mandate we are holding is extra-PDP; it
is a cross-party and even non-party mandate. Therefore, we would be failing the good people
of Nigeria if we allowed our personal and PDP interests to distract us from the all-Nigeria mandate
that we are holding.

We owe good governance to all Nigerians, but some self-interested and self-conceited
individuals want to use PDP to distract and destabilise us. We must not play into the hands
of those persons. Ignore the PDP elders, ignore the the PDP governors, ignore the PDP legislators,
ignore news and rumours of split, ignore reports of formation of other parties by those who
no longer want to remain in the PDP. It is their constitutional and democratic right to do so.

But I want them to regret their attempted blackmail of this administration ... not by fighting
them but by showing to Nigerians that our below-average performance so far has been because
of the persons who have left the party. Though we have barely a year to PDP presidential primary
in respect of a general presidential election that may hold in November 2014, we can achieve
a great deal in terms of public perception, good governance, service-delivery and projects
within a year.

From now on, I don't want to hear that even one kobo of Nigerian taxpayers' money has
been embezzled, misappropriated, misused, misapplied, stolen or spent recklesslessly. I don't
want to hear that any contract has been awarded without following due process, has been
delayed in being awarded or being executed, or has been certified executed below agreed
specifications.

Ministers of Defence, Police Affairs, Justice, Transport, and Petroleum Resources, I
don't want to hear that even a drop of crude oil or a bottle of natural gas has been
stolen or wasted. I want us to maximise national earnings from petroleum deals and taxes; without
wasting a kobo of our revenue to corruption and on usual frivolities such as foreign trips, rallies,
talk-shops and girl/boyfriends, we would have all the money to 'embarrass' even our detractors
with unprecedented infrastructural development and evidence of good governance.

And we may not have to borrow a cent from anyone to deliver on any of these. Yes, you
heard me right. No foreign trips for us for the year; the ambassadors will handle any business
with the foreigners on our behalf or ask the foreigners to come here instead. Whoever will not
comply fully with the letters and spirit of this address should resign at once or will be sacked
without the prevarications of the past. You bet, this is the new me.

Now, go back to your offices and surprise Nigerians. Ministers of Education and Finance, fulfill
all the terms of the 2009 agreement with ASUU and end the ASUU strike before the close of
work tomorrow. Henceforth, let us talk little and let our actions speak for us. Let us see how,
after a whole year of the new us.

Bamanga's rump will not give us ticket and how appreciative Nigerians will not vote for us massively
across party and non-party lines in the general election. Or how, if they want to use threat of impeachment
to distract and destabilise us at any time within the year, the good people of Nigeria will not rally to our
support and protection. They did it before and will do it again with our renewed innocence.

Chinedu Jideofo Ogbuagu

Great rappers like Terry, OD and Mode-Nine really have nothing much to show for all their effort except the craft.

Show-biz is bigger than free downloads, freestyles and Cyphers.

QUESTION- Who has fared better?

Olamide has albums, awards, endorsements and 2013 shows/concerts in and outside the shores of Naija aint complete without him.

Ordinary Bariga Bot

Phyno has brought something new but he is still an upcoming artiste whose career is still undecided. Please you guys should not do him a Mode-9.

Don't over-rate him, allow him to get in line with the money rakers- the Olamides, the MI's, the Ice princes, the Davido's, Wizkid's etc

If not, his spirit will ever keep haunting you in years to come.

I don talk mah own!

Phyno is a complete revolution of Igbo rap and that's where it stops. Before him- Ill Bliss doubles as The best rapper from the east as well as the wackest rapper on Naija scene. Sometimes I wonder how he still stays relevant. Thanks to Clarence

Olamide is way ahead of Phyno, an upcoming artiste.

Those ones nah tinubu and fashola

How can militants get so rich and start buying jets because their kinsman is president.

No be dem fault sha. . . .

Interesting . . ,