₦airaland Forum

[size=14pt]Top Delta govt officials on the run[/size]
By Sola Adebayo and Olusola Fabiyi, Published: Thursday, 22 Apr 2010

Some top officials of the Delta State Government are believed to have gone underground as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission continues the search for evidence that could help its investigation into an allegation of graft against former Governor James Ibori.

The officials, said an EFCC source on Wednesday, were mostly heads of some ministries and departments in the oil-rich state.

The source, who pleaded not to be named, did not give the names of the officials. But he told one of our correspondents that the operatives began the search of some ministries and departments in the state on Monday for incriminating materials against Ibori.

He said the operatives ransacked some offices in the Ministry of Finance and the office of the Accountant-General on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The anti-graft agency official made this disclosure shortly after the Nigeria Police Force said that the search for the ex-governor continued.

It was learnt that the detectives had on Monday intimated the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, with their mission in the state.

Our source said that the operatives briefed Okowa of the ministries and departments whose records they intended to examine and the officials they hoped to quiz.

He explained that the operatives pleaded for the cooperation of the state government in making vital documents relating to the alleged fraud against Ibori available to them.

When contacted on the telephone on Wednesday evening by one of our correspondents, the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi, confirmed that most of Delta officials that the commission planned to interrogate were on the run.

He said, “Most of the top government officials we are looking for in Delta State have gone underground and that is why we are intensifying efforts to locate them wherever they are.”

Babafemi, who declined to give the names of the officials, had earlier said the commission would not bow to sentiment and blackmail by Ibori and his loyalists.

He said, “Everybody involved in the shares scam shall be made to explain his or her role in accordance with the laws of the land.

“We have had series of such insinuations and sentimental expressions since the EFCC began the fresh move to investigate Ibori; at every point, we have taken time to explain to the public our intentions and motives to have audience with the man.”

Ibori was declared wanted by the anti-graft agency last week for failing to honour an invitation to defend an allegation of corruption levelled against him by the Delta State Elders and Stakeholders Forum.

The forum, which is led by a former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark, had alleged in a petition to the EFCC that the former governor sold millions of shares belonging to the state and used the proceed to offset a loan which his company, Ascot Nigeria Limited, used to buy an American oil firm, Wilbros.

On Tuesday, a team of security operatives led by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in Charge of Zones 5 and 6, Mr. Udom Ekpoudom, stormed Oghara, Delta State to arrest Ibori but was resisted by armed youths numbering over 1,000, some of whom were said to be militants.

The ex-governor reportedly escaped and his whereabouts remained unknown.

But the raids on the ministries and departments were interpreted by some officials in the state as an extension of EFCC’s alleged mandate to intimidate the present administration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

A top government official said, “We are in a dilemma as to the real mission of the EFCC in the state. The way and manner they have been invading ministries and government departments and parastatals since Monday easily create the impression that the mandate of the detectives goes beyond the investigation of a petition by some Delta leaders.

“Some top government officials, particularly the civil servants, have gone underground; they don’t come to the office again because of the fear that they could be arrested by the EFCC operatives. Most of the offices are deserted. The latest clampdown on the state by the EFCC could ground government businesses if the trend continues.”

Reacting to the failure of the team led by Ekpoudom to arrest Ibori, the EFCC chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, reminded the fleeing ex-governor that he could not be above the law.

Waziri, who fielded questions from journalists in Abuja, however, said that Ibori would not get away with his action.

She said, “We went there with the assistance of the police, the militants chased us out. Nobody should be above the laws of the land. And if you feel your hands are clean, you should come out and go to the court and clear your name.

“But when you make it impossible and you say you are above the law and you can’t answer to a call by a law enforcement agency to come and clear some issues, it is a pity.”

The EFCC chief added that with the encounter on Tuesday, the EFCC and other law enforcement agencies would need to map out fresh strategies on how to arrest Ibori.

“We are going back to the drawing board with the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, then we will decide what next to do,” she stressed.

When contacted, Force Pubic Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, said the police were still on the manhunt for the embattled former governor, adding that his whereabouts were unknown as at Wednesday.

Ojukwu, who spoke in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, said the warrant of arrest against Ibori was still valid.

“There is nothing new from what happened on Tuesday in Oghara, Delta State, when we (police) tried to arrest former Governor James Ibori. But the warrant of arrest remains open until it is executed and we shall continue to make efforts using all legal means to get him arrested as directed by the court,” he added.

Ibori has, however, denied that he is being guarded by militants.

A statement by his Media Assistant, Mr. Tony Eluemunor, said Ibori would also want the world to know that the police, the State Security Service and the EFCC had all been served with the ruling of the Asaba Federal High Court, which he said asked that the status quo be maintained.

He added that no militants or any group at all engaged security agents in any fight as the Oghara people were peace-loving and law-abiding.

The former governor said that he was afraid that the falsehood might be an excuse for security agencies to wreak havoc on defenceless people, especially the children and women of Oghara.

“We categorically refute the unfounded allegation that militants disturbed the policemen, who stormed Oghara on Tuesday April 20, 2010, ” he said.

Meanwhile, the DSLESF on Wednesday asked the EFCC to give effect to the warrant of arrest issued against Ibori by an Abuja High Court.

It said that the position of Ibori that the Federal High Court, Asaba, ruled that the status quo should be maintained by not arresting him, should be ignored.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201004222545451

[size=14pt]Jos Killings: Group drags Jang, Onovo before ICJ criminal court[/size]

By AGENCY REPORTER, Published: Wednesday, 21 Apr 2010

A Kaduna-based human rights organization, the Civil Rights Congress has dragged Governor Jonah Jang and the Plateau State Government before the International Court of Justice at the Hague seeking to enforce the fundamental human rights of residents of the state affected by the recent ethno-religious crises in the state.

The CRC also joined the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ogbonaya Onovo in the suit.

CRC Director of Publicity, Suleiman Ahmed told newsmen on Wednesday in Kaduna that after assessing the recent spate of violence and killings in Plateau state, the human rights organization filed a case against the defendants at the ICJ in accordance with the rules of the court.

The CRC spokesman said also said that the human rights body would be seeking the prosecution of the perpetrators of the Jos killings and the payment of compensation to the victims.

Ahmed disclosed that the ICJ had already acknowledged the receipt of the CRC court processes and documents and had said that it would address the matter in accordance with the rules of the court.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2010042119133775

Sun of god:
Ibori must think he is 'Rambo'.

If those militants have any sense they should distance themselves from Ibori.

He will end up tarnishing their reputation.

Let them not get involved in his predicament and face their own political problems.

Those aren't militants. Militants fight for a cause.
They are thugs, hoodlums and armed robbers; they were armed by Ibori for the purpose they are playing. The govt should treat them like the scum they are and mow them down along with Ibori if need be.

Can't the governors sign death warrants on themselves?

On a serious note. A lot needs to be done about our justice system. It is grossly immoral that 80% of inmates are awaiting trial (and have been doing so for years).
Our jail system were originally designed by the colonial power, to lock up "troublesome" black men; after independence, it has evolved into a place to hold "troublesome" poor or disenfranchised folk. Some urgent introspection and catharsis needs to be to take place to change our immoral societal setup.

Sun of god:
It only equally minded criminals that would sympathise with Ibori.

If he is so innocent let him go to the nearest police station with his lawyer and defend the allegations made against him.

He has cases outside Nigeria he must also answer in judiciary systems that wont allow him of the hook.

His days as a free man are numbered - Unless he can adopt his lifestyle to living among militants in the swamps of the Niger Delta.

You definitely don't know them creeks! He can find his way to Benin Republic via creeks alone!

Meanwhile. . .

Ross Brawn seems to be getting a lil bit tired of rusty old Schumi;

“I think what we saw was that in Bahrain it was still, even for someone who has been in Formula 1 as long as he has, it was still all a bit new,” Brawn told reporters on Saturday evening in China.

“It was sort of catching up on things – we have so little testing now. So I think in Bahrain I saw, as I expected, that Michael had to settle in.

“I saw [in] Bahrain, Melbourne and Malaysia a very strong progress. He’s got an extremely quick team-mate so there is a great reference there and I saw him closing that reference to the point where, quite honestly in Malaysia, in the dry there wasn’t much to tell between the two of them.

“So today and this weekend has been a bit of a surprise and I think we have to understand what’s happened because it goes against the progress he’s been making in the first three races.”

After qualifying a lowly ninth in China, Schumacher complained of a lack of rear-end grip, as well as general balance problems, with his W01 before then going on to struggle badly with tyre wear on the intermediate rubber in the race.

Brawn said Schumacher had been losing most time in the circuit’s slower corners – a problem the Englishman admitted was strange.

“I struggle to explain it as well,” he said.

“It is unusual that a driver should be suffering in slow corners. Normally fast corners, difficult corners, are where drivers vary.

“You normally find within the slower parts of the track drivers are very similar in terms of their performance.

“So we have got to understand with Michael and Michael’s car why he was losing so much in what were relatively simple parts of the track.”

-Ross Brawn

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?id=48271


. . .Pretty damning stuff!!!

Sky Blue:
Firstly, what is there to be pessimistic about? Nothing concrete has been proposed and people are already willing to pop champagne? I quote from the article:

"Once the stakeholders have agreed on the blueprint, government will unveil it to Nigerians soon"

So have you had secret meeting with the people in the know in which you were informed about specifics of details in the plan? So what exactly are we getting excited about? A blueprint? For real?

Secondly, I dare you to point to any post in this thread whereby someone said the project/blueprint/whatever-it-is isn't achievable.

Could it be that you are willing to see things that are not there?

Now lastly and as always, a genuine question. What exactly do you want me to get excited about here?

Nobody asked you to be excited, not everyone can / will generate power. Let those with the potential see the possibilities and align themselves in the right direction in case the promise bears fruit. Those who can generate 1 MW would rather not be caught out, neither will they be pessimistic where there's serious dosh to be made.

Sanusi Maijama, the president of the The Nigerian Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI) was on AIT recently, bitterly complaining about how Sanusi is killing off the small scale sector industrial in Nigeria with his agbero tactics. I wonder if it's just that Sanusi (being a mere bush man) does not see the leveling of industry in the name of "risk management" to be a concern, but Gusau, the National Security Adviser, very rightly does? Was Sanusi Maijama imagining things, when he basically called for Jonathan to wash Sanusi away?

Sanusi is just a bush man flailing for breath in a job that is beyong his marabout talents. Whereas, the National Security Adviser is a wily intelligence man of World renown. . . two poles apart.

While the argument rages, can someone prepare marshal music and a firing squad at bar beach? Let's fulfill one of Sanusi's dreams.

chidichris:
@beaf,
is ibori wanted for armed robbery.
is the act of having security a crime in nigeria?
do u know the name, chris uba? do u know what he did with his security men in anambra when he ousted a seating gov(chris ngige)?
go back to school as[b] u are still too young to mingle here[/b].

Maybe, you are so old, you clawed your way out of the grave to type the above?

Please show me what law allows a man to have the 1000+ armed men that you naively call "security".
Chris Uba is not Ibori and Obj's regime is not Jonathans, your logic is bent on itself.
Lastly, Ibori and his cohorts acted in ways to make Nigeria unstable, endangering 160 million, just to protect his illicit wealth. He is an enemy of the state and is now rightly wanted dead or alive for those crimes.

Sky Blue:
No need to repost what is already in the article, just read what you said, simply referring to the statement below

Perhaps in a fit of 'blueprint excitement', you made it sound like finally anybody could just put up a solar panel and power their own house, and I was simply mentioning the fact that nothing was really ever stopping anyone from doing that.

Abeg, find your square root. You have no point.
I posted that info because, who know? You might be blind!

youngies:
If I recall correctly, I have met this patient before.
Unfortunately I tried my best to treat him, but later found out that his illness has no known cure

His affliction can only be MANAGED

Please bear with me

Ha! We better hand him over to the Klitschko brothers for alternative treatment then.

chosen04:
Story, Which will be 1st:-

Motor to run on water

OR

Blue print on electricity to materiaize.

Yar'Adua promised to declare 'Emergency on electricity'

Jonathan now promising to 'draft electricity blueprint'

^^^^BEAF, why rejoice over nothing?

Jonathan is not Yar Adua.
As for the motor running on water, the blueprint is about creating an enabling environment for smaller players to access existing provisions of the law; that's what my elation is about. I pray this comes speedily.

Sky Blue:
According to you the plan would give "every man and woman the opportunity to generate their own power"; your words not mine. Simply saying I would wait for it to pass blue print stage first and announcement is made before I start jubilating. At this rate if someone told you Jonathan had dream about holding meeting to draft blue print to fix roads, you would probably wet yourself in sudden ecstasy. I am simply speaking for myself and I am saying I will wait before I get excited. Do you actually know how many of these proposals have been put on the table before? This one no even get shoddy 3D concept model yet sef, LOL.

Ah! I see that you need to familiarise yourself with the background of some of the statements mentioned in the article. The blueprint is based on EPSR Act5, now here's an except of what lisencing under that act is about;

Under the EPSR Act5 , NERC is empowered to licence all industry participants involved in the following activities:

   * Electricity Generation in excess of 1MW
   * Electricity Distribution in excess of 100KW
   * Electricity Transmission
   * System Operation
   * Trading
   * Electrical Installation/Wiring

http://www.ip3.org/pub/2006_publication_001.htm

Generating 1MW or distributing 100KW is as small as small scale gets. Isn't it?
If you produce or distribute less than the cut off's above, you will not need a licence. Now, these are the things the blueprint is going to give teeth.

^
Doctor, please analyse the mind that generated this (the owner might need your expert help);

becomerich: . . .Tunde. Thinking aloud, Tunde where is Ruku.  Ruku. Ruku. Ruku. . .

chidichris:
nigerians and madness. today, orji uzor kalu and everybody say woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, kill him , kill him, tomorrow atiku , kill him kill him, next day, ibori, kill him kill him but how many of these guys have been killed?
the wife of jonathan goodluck is facing trail and why not kill the first lady first? atiku was convicted by ribadu and obasanjo but is he not walking tall in our streets today? IBB  - $12billion and he will soon be president. ribadu - kick and run, obasanjo - gang leader, tony annenih - N300 billion ibadan-benin expressway now npa chairman, who among these guys is innocent?
ibori left office may 2007 and this 2010, 3 yrs on, why now? it is just that the elections are arround the corner so all opositions must face efcc or keep their mouth shut.
in the real sense of it, the so-called criminals are the mouth piece of the masses.
look at all those who said no to third term, they are facing one charge or the other but those who said yes are ministers and ambassadores.
nairalanders, pls stop decieving urselves.
ibori must learn to fight this fight as his last fight and use whatsoever is available to him who knows, we can be [b]liberated [/b]through the condemed criminal.

My friend, go and rest!
Do you know that Ibori's bodyguards went on rampage yesterday, holding up and robbing innocent people on Warri-Sapele Road? They even attacked a bullion van.

A man gathers a private force of 1000+ men, they even have the temerity to attack the police, army and navy! And you are questioning why he is wanted?
Shame! You even want to be "liberated" by the demon, Ibori?

Damn!

becomricha:
. . .
[size=14pt]President Buhari is my friend father friend[/size]. His friend Idiagbon children were my schoolmate.  President Ernest Sonekan my classmate uncle. Emir of zaria is my roommate uncle. The governor of kaduna is my friend brother. . . Obasanjo son in law my friend. . . The world famous human right activist Gani fawehinmi my grand aunty step son. [size=14pt]With militia in the niger delta, I did my best to make sure thier leader did not die in jail[/size].  femi Falana  nephew my schoolmate. [size=14pt]Tunde. Thinking aloud, Tunde where is Ruku.  Ruku. Ruku. Ruku[/size]. You dont want to be in a fight with Ruku. He was 7 feet tall.
. . .

Damn!
Is there a doctor on NL?

Sky Blue:
Abegi. And police was stopping you before from generating your own power? I am used to hearing a lot of talk. You only hear news of a "blue print" which has not been finalised and you are already doing smiley face.

Don't you understand what I said? Because, I don't see the point you are trying to make.
It is obvious to all that private power generation for profit is neither allowed nor incentivised in Nigeria. We all know what happened when Lagos tried to go ahead with private power.
The govt has provided the the cardinal points of its blueprint and the foundation is pretty sensible and practical.

If you like no smile for beta tinking! Your face go turn to stone!

At last! I have long advocated this! Give small scale operators, local govts and every man and woman the opportunity to generate their own power; whether it's through solar, wind, ocean or whatever. Decentralise (or totally liberalise) the system and we will see an explosion in power generation capacity.

Time for me to make some cool cash!

[size=14pt]Government to draft power development blueprint[/size]
By Bassey Udo

Minister of State for Power, Nuhu Wya, said yesterday that the federal government will soon come up with a comprehensive blueprint on the development of our nation’s power sector.

Though the minister did not disclose when the stakeholders meeting is scheduled to hold, he said the presidential committee on power meeting held last Monday in Abuja reviewed and fine-tuned the content of the document expected to be unfolded any moment from now, by the Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan.

“Power (supply) is a national issue. That is why the federal government wants all stakeholders that have been identified to come together to contribute ideas and agree on the blueprint being worked out for the sector. Once the stakeholders have agreed on the blueprint, government will unveil it to Nigerians soon,” he said.

Earlier, while declaring open the seventh annual conference of the African Forum for Utility Regulators (AFUR), the minister had called for the consolidation of policy reforms in key sectors of the nation’s economy, including power, telecommunications and transportation, saying attaining sustained economic growth will remain elusive without it.

Noting that policy reforms in themselves do not necessarily translate into automatic improvements in sector development and economic growth, the minister underscored the role of “a robust, efficient and effective regulatory framework”.

Global economy and poverty reduction

Drawing a link between global economic growth rate and poverty reduction, the minister told participants at the conference that the level attained by most African nations is still incapable of significant impact, blaming the continent’s underdevelopment over the last two decades on inappropriate domestic policy regimes in most countries.

“Based on this view,” he argued, “the common denominator is centred on economic policy reforms aimed at removing impediments to infrastructure development to boost economic development. It is evident that economic growth and performances have been better in countries that have undertaken and sustained a reasonable measure of reforms in the key sectors of their economy.”

Identifying the major challenge Nigeria is facing as acute imbalance between electricity supply and demand, the minister emphasized the need to tackle the multifaceted problems of the country’s power sector in a pragmatic manner, if sustainable, adequate and reliable electricity supply is to be attained.

He said it was the priority attached to the problem that informed the decision by the Goodluck Jonathan administration to undertake several initiatives aimed at redressing the problem within the shortest possible time, adding that deregulation has been identified as the most viable option to guarantee progress in the sector.

“This administration is poised to pursue the sector reforms in line with the provisions in the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act, 2005. The overwhelming objective of the electric power policy statement on total liberalization, competition and private sector-led growth is to ensure that Nigeria has an Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) that can meet the needs of its citizens in the 21st century,” he said.

Removing investment barriers

Noting the crucial role of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in removing all barriers to investment and creating the enabling environment for investors, the minister urged the regulatory body to ensure that the tariff regime in the country is cost-reflective as well as provide the necessary regulatory frameworks for feed-in tariff for renewable power and distributed power generation alternatives.

The NERC Administrator, Imamuddeen Talba, said the AFUR is a voluntary organization of African Utility Regulators established in November 2002 through the instrumentation of clause 10 of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development framework document for the promotion of principles and approaches to the regulation of the utility infrastructure in the continent.

Mr. Talba said the current strategic focus of the commission is to encourage private sector participation through effective regulation, pointing out that part of the initiative to help realize its objective has been the approval of the multi-year tariff order (MYTO), currently being reviewed for the sector, development of a regulatory framework for distributed/embedded generation and independent electricity distribution networks, as well as for renewable energy.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Money/Business/5557681-147/story.csp

[size=14pt]Becomerich, go and sleep. You're very tired![/size]

Tell them jare!
Ibori is now running for dear life like a common mouse! Next will be Aondoaka, Abba Ruma, Tilde etc.

English indeed! As if 9ja doesn't have serious problems to deal with. Nonsense!

At the time Uncle Joe came in, Nigeria was producing 2,275 MW of electricity. Goodlucks focus has jerked that up pretty sharply to 3,600 MW, hence the noticeable changes.
. . .And there is more to come! Over last weekend and this week, there's been intense work going on to further jerk up the supply in the gas powered stations situated in the ND. [size=14pt]Watch out![/size]

globalaid:
what sort of useless authority do we have, why declared the man wanted on the pages of newspaper without coordinating how to arrest him afterall he is being guarded by nigerian policemen, they should have done their home work well, map out his arrest before declaring him wanted, we always talk before reasoning.

That is why Onovo deserves the sack. Perhaps, a few EFCC folk should go too. Everything was done with the police's usual inept "roger" methods. That man is an enemy of the state, he had 29 mobile police guarding him; yet when he was declared wanted, there had to be a motorcade of some of the countries top (and most fat bellied) policemen. What about the 29 mopols?!! Could they not have done the job? How could a mere gangster slip past the upper echelon of our police and make it into the creeks?

simplychic:
If it were to be yar adua or obj,that someone is complaining of his english,am sure this silly guy called beaf will support the poster but because jonathan is from his niger delta region he is taking sides. Yeye boy.
Let him go & brush up his english so as to gain some personality,he talks as if he is afraid of something,he needs some confidence & he can only gain that by brushing up his english
[size=27pt]Abacha is far better than him. [/size]

You must be an id!ot. Unlike you, I don't do petty stuff.
If Abacha is your hero, then I say, you are a damned fool.

Dede1:
I am shocked to the bone reading from the seemingly voices of reason have decided to jettison cardinal bedrock of democracy in order to have pound of political flesh of an individual alleged to be corrupt. Chief Ibori is entitled to full and proper legal proceedings including the manner the so-called EFCC arrived to his indictment.

I have to disagree. All democratic requirements have been met in the pursuit of the gangster, Ibori.
Aside from the theft of billions of Naira, he has flouted the EFCC's invitation several times, he has flouted an arrest warrant issued by a Nigerian courts.

In his bid to escape, he endangered the lives of several senior police and EFCC officers by attacking them with sophisticated weapons, whilst resisting arrest. With this attack on agents of the govt, all options are now open; including his death, if he persists with armed resistance.

Ibori is now a dangerous criminal. All bets are off.

violent:
^^ I bet the guy would have bailed out of the country a long time ago, but he had no where to go.  Stepping into the UK is a no no, and neither is the US!

All the Police need do is to put a price tag on him. . ,  I trust Naija men!

He has been moving freely between here and Dubai for quite sometime now. With the mind boggling amounts he and his other cabal members have stolen, "beneficial" foreign ties can be created at the drop of a hat. Nigeria must be ready to throw its full weight behind its bark.

[size=27pt]In the meantime, Uncle Joe, sack Onovo for incompetence![/size]

The security agencies better get MEND (or other ND guides) on their side to fish out the basta'rd, because our security agencies are a sorry sight in the creeks; Ibori might well be between Lagos and Ogun states right now, on his way to Seme.
The army better be ready to head right into Benin Republic to get him, if he makes it across the border.

[size=14pt]Splinter groups throws PDP into disarray[/size]
By Musikilu Mojeed

The Peoples Democratic Party descended into chaos last night when a powerful splinter group squared up with the national leadership of the party. Already, the PDP leadership has threatened to discipline a former President of the Senate, Ken Nnamani, and other members of the group for alleged anti-party activities.

In what may grow into a full-blown crisis in the days ahead, reminiscent of the 2006 factionalisation of the party, the splinter group, which calls itself PDP Reform Forum, gave indications that it will meet in Abuja tomorrow to take crucial decisions about the ruling party.

“You are cordially and specially invited to a crucial meeting of the PDP Reform stakeholders. At this meeting, very historical and momentous decisions affecting our great party shall be taken,” the faction said in a press invitation signed by Chairman of DAAR Communications, Aleogho Dokpesi, and distributed by one Michael Davies last night.

The planned gathering, which will hold at the Conference Hall of the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, is a follow-up to the series of secret and nocturnal meetings by the reform forum, which boasts influential party chiefs as well as members.

It is not clear what resolutions will be reached at the meeting but the group had been calling for a comprehensive reform of the PDP and the removal of Vincent Ogbulafor as chairman. Concerned by the surreptitious activities of the forum and afraid that the group might strike at the National Executive Committee meeting, Mr. Ogbulafor, seen by some party members as ineffective and corrupt, put off a NEC meeting scheduled for March and then ran to state governors for help.

On Sunday night, the PDP governors met in Abuja and expressed support for the party chairman. But that appeared to have energized the reform group to rev up its opposition to Mr. Ogbulafor.

Disciplinary panel

The PDP leadership which got wind of the planned meeting of the group earlier yesterday, promptly issued a statement inviting members of the group to face a disciplinary panel at the party’s headquarters at noon on Thursday.

“The National Working Committee is in possession of facts linking some respectable members of our party with a scheme to subject our great party to disrepute, contempt and hatred,” the PDP spokesperson, Rufai Alkali said. “The said members and others, meeting under the umbrella of PDP Reform Group, are reported to be engaging or to have engaged in conduct likely to cause disaffection among members of the party or likely to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of the business of the party, or otherwise engage in anti-party activities or precipitate faction and belong to a group under the guise of the party, by whatever name called, not being one provided for in the constitution of the party,” he said.

“Mr. Alkali added that, in consonance with his party’s “commitment to the principles of justice and fair hearing”, Mr. Nnamani and his colleagues should “appear before the party to clear themselves of allegations linking them to these plots.”

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5557787-146/splinter_groups_throws_pdp_into_disarray.csp

Ibime:
Na lie oh, dey must carry out jungle justice on the spot. . . . I no want story like Bode George wey dey chillax for 2 years only. . . if dem no deal with the guy kpatakpata, whoever is President in 2011 may pardon him sef. . . you know Naija "do and undo" politics between competing cabals. . . for resisting arrest under force of arms, there is every legal justification to send this weasel called Ibori to the great beyond.

You wicked o!
But we need to recover his loot and any gains he has made from it. So what about he gets the other half of Abacha's apple after signing the relevant docs?

[size=14pt]Jail awaits.[/size]

[size=14pt]. . .JTF, police storm Delta creeks[/size]
From EMMANUEL OGOIGBE, Warri
Wednesday, April 21, 2010

A combined team of the Joint Military Task Force and plain clothes policemen yesterday moved into the Delta creeks in search of the fleeing ex-governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori.
Investigation revealed that the latest development was heightened following hints from different quarters that Chief Ibori, is allegedly taking refuge in the Escravos area of the state.

Unconfirmed report also had it that the former governor may be hiding at the multi-billion naira Federal Government-owned Escravos Gas-to Liquid (EGTL) which is occupying a big expanse of land.

Daily Sun gathered that private security have been brought in to ward- off any intruder, especially anti-terror squads.
Although earlier unconfirmed report said the ex-governor was smuggled into one of the strongholds of the repentant ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemukpolo, alias Tompolo, his spokesman, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo denied the story, saying all his men have been in Abuja since the past weeks.

When contacted, the national co-ordinator, Ijaw Observer Group, Comrade Austine Ozobo, confirmed that Ibori was actually taking refuge in the Escravos area of Delta State “Ibori should come out of hiding and defend himself before the EFCC as this will only save him from further humiliation. If he is brave and claims to be innocent, he should come out to prove the innocence, said the group leader.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/apr/21/national-21-04-2010-23.htm