₦airaland Forum

The police high command has said it should not be blamed for the lack of diligent prosecution against the alleged mastermind of the Nyanya bus park bombing where about 70 people were killed and several others injured, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, as the Directorate of State Security (DSS) was the sole prosecutor.

The charges against Ogwuche were on Monday struck out by a Federal High Court in Abuja for lack of diligent prosecution by both the police and the DSS.

Security watchers who have been following the rivalries among security operatives have blamed the high level of insecurity in the country, Ogwuche’s alleged bombing inclusive, on lack of synergy among the security operatives.

But in a swift reaction to the allegation, the Police Force said its involvement in the case of the alleged bomber was just to extradite him from Sudan where he had fled immediately after the bombing, and that Ogwuche was promptly handed over to the DSS operatives immediately he landed in the country.

According to a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Emmanuel Ojukwu, the purported prosecution/arraignment by the police could not have happened as the Force could not have prosecuted a suspect it never arrested, never investigated nor had in its custody.

The statement read: “The attention of the Nigeria police high command has been drawn to a most misleading media report that charges filed by the Nigeria police at the Federal High Court in Abuja, were struck out for lack of diligent prosecution in respect of the suspected terrorist, Ogwuche.

“It would be recalled that the DSS that had intelligence on the Nyanya bombing and was investigating it, made a formal request to the Nigeria Police to assist in extraditing one Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche to Nigeria from Sudan, through the Interpol channel of which the Nigeria Police is well versed.

“It was at this stage and for this reason that the Nigeria Police Force filed charges against Ogwuche, based on information that he fled to Sudan.

“The filing of charges against the suspect is a legal procedure to enable the Nigeria Police formally request the Sudanese authorities to grant Nigeria’s extradition request in respect of the suspected fugitive.

“For the records, a copy of filed charge(s) against a fugitive must be appended to documents in support of extradition request made to the host country, which in this case, is Sudan.

“These facts were made known to the court when it insisted on the production of the accused even before his extradition to Nigeria.

“Following Ogwuche’s extradition which the Nigeria Police accomplished successfully, the DSS, obtained a court order to remand the suspect for an initial period of three months in line with the Prevention of Terrorism Act and also liaised with the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to undertake his prosecution.

“For the record, at no time did the Nigeria Police arraign the suspect in court for terrorism related offences. Moreover, the purported prosecution/arraignment by the police could not have happened as the police could not prosecute a suspect it never arrested, never investigated nor had in its custody.

“It is therefore grossly erroneous, mischievous and malicious to impute lack of diligent prosecution to the Police. The Nigeria Police Force is manifestly and positively committed to the will of Nigerians to rid the nation of violent crimes like terrorism. Many of our officers have paid the supreme sacrifice on account of this.

“The police, while respecting the rights of the media to publish, however appeals that due diligent check be observed to ensure that misleading information is not disseminated to the reading public.”

All efforts to get the DSS’s reaction to this allegation proved abortive as the service spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, did not pick several calls made to her nor answer her text in connection with the report.

Source - http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/police-blame-dss-for-weak-charges-against-ogwuche/195258/

Chai, there is God ooooo.

Na so Naija go forfeit $9.3 million cash to South African government.

The revelation that the Aviation Minister Ms. Stella Oduah arm-twisted the National Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to buy two armored BMW cars for $1.6 million dollars has raised a lot of questions. How we answer some of these questions will determine if we will be able to reduce corruption in our society. I will now tackle some of your frequently asked questions.

Q1. Why Ms. Stella Oduah?
Answer: Because she was caught, red-handed, if I may add.


Q2. Isn’t that what they’ve all been doing? They are all corrupt.
Answer: When a police radar clocks your car for driving faster than the speed limit and you are pulled over, that some other drivers were driving faster than you will not let you off the hook. That they all do it does not exonerate you.


Q3. Why now? Isn’t this a calculated attempt to frustrate her? Is this issue not orchestrated by the special interests she sidelined in order to carry out impressive work she is doing in the aviation sector, like the airport renovations?
Answer: Every person in authority deals with special interests. In a place where there is no transparency and standards, people in power favor some and disfavor others. This is something that following laid down procedures will save them from. Those you did not favor may be unhappy, or even be antagonistic. For every Dangote favored there is an Ibeto disfavored. They may wish that you disappear from your position, but they will not force you to spend $1.6 million to buy two armored cars.


Q4: Stella Oduah is not the first person to be caught misappropriating public funds. There is Farouk Lawan, Dimeji Bankole, why is everyone piling on her?
Answer: I went back to look at news reports of the time when major corruption scandals broke. They looked to me as if everyone was piling on those people, too. In fact, it appears as if those who complain that a particular corruption suspect is being piled on are the same people who derided another suspect in the past.

The only change that I see in Stella Oduah’s case is that Nigerians are getting more frustrated by the day. And social media is expanding the more. If you think Stella Oduah had it rough, wait until the next scandal that will break. In fact, President Jonathan complains of being the most criticized Nigerian president but my pity is with the next president- whoever that may be. It’ll be rough, rough, rough.


Q5. Are we not innocent until proven guilty in a court of law?
Answer: Yes. But that’s in a sane society. In a society where a suspected thief is lynched on the street or a police officer regularly shoots a suspect and plants evidence on him, what do you expect? Isn’t it ironic that some of the same people who are quoting the law in the case of Ms. Oduah will gladly pour petrol and light the matches on a suspected thief?


Q6. Isn’t the fact that she’s a smart Igbo woman a factor?
Answer: I hope she is not the first smart Igbo woman in government. And I hope she will not be the last. If my memory serves me right, in September of 2007, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Patricia Etteh was accused of authorizing the spending of N628 million naira (about $5 million) to renovate her official residence and that of her deputy and also for the purchase of 12 official cars. She was forced to resign by public outcry, even when President Olusegun Obasanjo was solidly behind her. I don’t remember her being a smart Igbo woman.


Q7. Isn’t this whole thing a plot by the opposition to embarrass the president?
Answer: As far as I know, the opposition did not order the purchase of the two cars. And the opposition did not take delivery of the cars, either.


Q8. But someone leaked the information. And that person must be working for the opposition. Don’t you think?
Answer: The person who leaked the information is working for Nigeria. He or she is a hero- a Nigerian hero. We need more of them everywhere. That he or she is now facing 10 years in jail should worry us all. Meanwhile, if convicted of violating procurement act, Stella Oduah will only get 5 years in jail. For a thoroughly corrupt society like ours, we need a law that protects whistleblowers. We need it yesterday.


Q9. The Yoruba Lagos-Ibadan press is just lynching an Igbo woman. Can’t you see that?

Answer: The Lagos-Ibadan press phenomenon is like the Kaduna mafia. Like a phantom, it exists and at the same time it doesn’t exist. That the media in Nigeria is fractured and flawed is not in question. But the majority of the Lagos-Ibadan media is owned by people from the minority ethnic groups. By the way, Igbo people own enough newspapers in the Lagos-Ibadan axis that, if what is going on is an ethnic war to expose corrupt practices of government officials from other ethnic groups, the Igbo have the means to get into the game.

Of course, that is not what is happening. But should that be, Nigeria would be the beneficiary if all corrupt elements are exposed.
The engine driving the Stella Oduah’s story does not come from the Lagos-Ibadan press. Saharareporters broke the story. And Saharareporters and Premium Times have kept the heat on. The Lagos-Ibadan press is reluctantly following along. Saharareporters and Premium Times are not owned by Yoruba people.

Online, the Igbo own more news websites than any other ethnic group. So nothing stops them from exposing the corrupt practices of other government officials. And you can be sure that once the evidence is out, the Lagos-Ibadan press will join in to lynch the suspect.


Q10. Why is the press not reporting that Governor Babatunde Fashola also bought a bulletproof car?
Answer: The simple answer is that the press has no evidence to support that story. The only reason why the Stella Oduah’s story gathered momentum was that Saharareporters presented irrefutable evidence. Those who have such evidence on any politician will always find a media outlet that will publish it. In the media, there is a difference between what is known and what can be supported by evidence. People in the media know a lot but are limited in some cases by a lack of proof. And that is where they need help from the public and whistleblowers. If, for any reason, no media will touch an authentic story with verifiable evidence, the democratization of the media means that anyone can put such material in public domain. The social media has made it so simple.
Politicians are frustrated by social media. They can buy up all the reporters and editors in Nigeria but they cannot buy every Tunde and Obi and Sani with a cell phone in hand.


Q11: What will now happen to the airports if Stella Oduah is sacked?
Answer: Somebody will take over from her and carry on from where she stopped. If she is the only person that can do the work in a country of 160 million people, then, you should know that we have more serious problems than we thought.


Q12. Now that you’ve said all these things, how can we eradicate corruption in Nigeria?

Answer: Aside from the structural flaws, the single most challenging issue facing Nigeria is corruption. It has eaten so deeply into every facet of Nigerian life that it undermines what would otherwise have been beneficial initiatives. Can corruption be effectively tackled without first undertaking the task of restructuring? My answer would be no, because the synergy needed to push for a clean society is difficult to gather in a structurally weak country like Nigeria. The reason why Mr. Andy Ubah and his group will destroy government properties in Awka and nothing could be done is because of the prevailing structure that places the center over the region. People in each state or region can handle their renegades but not when the federal might is behind the renegades.

But what could be done while we await the inevitable restructuring of Nigeria?

First, why are we so corrupt? We are corrupt because we have a poor and lawless country where there is no freedom of information and whose leaders/citizens - who have no shame - are overloaded with exaggerated sense of importance. Those are dangerous combinations. They have guaranteed corruption in all societies where such propensities exist. It is the same in Bangladesh. It is the same in Mexico. It is the same in Haiti. And it is the same in Kenya.

Anyone living in the West can attest to the fact that without the enforcement of law and order, these western societies would, in a short time, deteriorate into corrupt societies. The primary task of lawmakers and law enforcement agencies is to stay one step ahead of the lawbreakers. It is a perpetual battle that every generation redefines. In the case of Nigeria, the ball was dropped soon after independence, as men became gods and civil service became self-service.

What we have in Nigeria is power without accountability, action without consequences and citizens without a say. Everyone, it seems, is either already corrupt or is searching for a chance to be corrupt. The few who are not yet corrupt are busy fighting off the pressure to be corrupt. Those who are rich by means of corruption have nothing to fear and those who are poor because of corruption have nothing to love. In a society where corruption thrives, the dream of a fair and just society can never be attained. And with that dies the hope of a prosperous society for all.

It is, therefore, in the interest of all Nigerians that corruption is eradicated. Corruption does harm to everyone of us. It is indirectly responsible for a great percentage of all unnatural deaths of Nigerians. When a corrupt politician connives with a corrupt contractor to award and execute a frivolous road contract and people die in accidents due to poor roads, it is an indirect result of corruption. When a corrupt businessman connives with a corrupt hospital administrator and supplies adulterated medications to hospitals and patients die in doctors’ care, it is an indirect result of corruption. When a policeman confuses bribery with bonus, frees a criminal and the criminal kills an innocent man, it is an indirect result of corruption.

Tackling corruption will require a three-way act – prosecution, prevention and education. So far, none of these is happening in Nigeria at the level it should. Prosecution of corrupt practices must be swift, severe and steady. It must proceed with a thorough investigation. It must be across the board. It must be carried out by competent individuals. Prevention of corruption entails the reduction of opportunities for corruption in existing procedures and practices of government departments and private organizations. Education of the citizenry must integrate the importance of ethics in civic and business life.

Without leaders who uphold higher standard of integrity, the task is hard to begin. The tendency for blackmail is great when leaders are themselves stained by the oil of corruption. In such situation, emphasis should be built around public institutions. An efficient public complaint structure should be established as an avenue to initiate actions. Civil servants must have firm and independent-minded monitors. With citizens’ rights enthroned, accountable democratic institutions could be built from down to up.

process of making bids, awarding contracts and procurements must be made public. If the Ministry of Works, for instance, says that it spent 400 billion Naira in road constructions in the last year, the public should know how the bidding was done, who won the contract and why. Also, the public should know who supervised the job, who approved the job completion, and who should follow up with the maintenance. Nobody should need to invoke the Freedom of Information Act before they find out how much elected officials and civil servants make.

To build a clean society we have to start by creating an open one. Any Nigerian should be able to know the assets of our public officials. Public servants who declared marginal assets when they went into office and came out with mega wealth should be probed and the source of their newly found wealth exposed. The same should go for public officials who throw money around. We should be able to demand and receive information on what each public official costs us and where the money goes. Those found wanting in their handling of public funds must be punished severely and should be made to pay restitution. As we close up loopholes to embezzlement, we have to teach our children social contract and the beauty of abiding by it.
Eradicating corruption in Nigeria may sound like an oxymoron now but, if we really mean it, we can make it happen.

By Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo
http://saharareporters.com/column/stella-oduah-frequently-asked-questions-rudolf-ogoo-okonkwo

THOUSANDS of All Progressives Congress supporters that streamed to the Port Harcourt International Airport and the Rivers State Government House left in disappointment after learning that the national leadership of the opposition had put off their planned visit to Rivers State on Monday.

It was gathered that the APC leaders’ visit to the state, which had been rescheduled to Tuesday (today), was postponed as a result of logistic challenges.

The leadership of the APC, including a former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and a former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, were expected in Port Harcourt on Monday to woo Governor Rotimi Amaechi to join the party.

A large crowd had converged on the Government House as early as 7am to receive the bigwigs of the opposition party, a development that caused a heavy traffic along the popular Azikiwe Road in the state capital.

The situation was replicated at the airport where many people, who were mostly youths and women, sat for several hours waiting to no avail for the arrival of the APC national leaders.

But the crowd at the airport and Government House began to disperse at about 3pm when information trickled in that the party dignitaries would no longer be in Port Harcourt.

It was learnt that the national leaders of the APC decided to reschedule their visit because their earlier plan to visit Port Harcourt on Monday coincided with the travelling arrangement of the President’s wife, Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

Mrs. Jonathan was billed to travel back to Abuja from Port Harcourt after the burial of her stepmother, late Mrs. Charity Oba, on Friday.

However, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, attributed the inability of the APC leaders to show up in Port Harcourt to coordination and logistic problems.

One of the APC supporters, who identified himself as Tonye Benson, told our correspondent that though he had spent more than seven hours waiting for Buhari and Tinubu, it would not deter him from visiting the Government House on Tuesday (today).

According to Benson, who is a businessman, “We have been here since 7am and waited for the leaders of APC. We learnt that they could not come for some reasons.

“But since Buhari and Tinubu will be here tomorrow (Tuesday), I will come here (Government House) again to hear what they have for us as far as 2015 election is concerned.”

Also, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Tony Okocha, told The PUNCH in a telephone interview that the APC national leaders put off the visit to Rivers State to show respect for the President’s wife, who was billed to travel through the Port International Airport same day.

Okocha assured that the level turnout by Amaechi supporters at the airport and Government House would be doubled on Tuesday (today) when Buhari, Tinubu and other APC national leaders eventually visit the state.

“Nothing went wrong with the arrangement. The national leaders of the APC were showing respect for the First Lady who was expected to travel through the airport and you know that it also has to do with the airspace.

“The number of people that turned out to receive the national leaders of APC in Rivers will double on Tuesday because some of them got wind of the planned visit late and will be ready to come tomorrow.

“The turnout today is to let the world know that Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is still in charge in River State,” Okocha added.

Earlier, the lawmaker representing Rivers South East in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe, said that nobody would enslave or intimidate the people of the state.

Making a veiled reference to the allegations by the State Peoples Democratic Party that the current administration in the state had received over a trillion as allocation, Abe said, “They have told you what Rivers State earns which is correct and on the net. Have they told you what accrues to the FG?”

Meanwhile, the PDP in Rivers State has described APC’s rescheduled visit to the state as a waste of state resources.

“The postponed visit of the APC leaders to Rivers State is another waste of state resources by Governor Amaechi. The governor should channel tax payers’ money to productive ventures than engaging in political jamborees.”



http://www.punchng.com/news/apc-leaders-postpone-rivers-visit-meet-amaechi-tuesday/

Add my pin 7bb6e340.

In spite of the troubleshooting efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the faction of the Peoples Democratic Party led by Alhaji Abubakar Baraje has said it will not abandon its mission to salvage the PDP. To prove its seriousness, the faction known as the New PDP, has gone to a Lagos High Court in Ikeja, seeking to stop officials of the National Working Committee of the Bamanga Tukur-led faction from parading themselves as members of the National Executive Committee of the party.

Besides the suit which was heard on Monday by Justice Ganiyu Safari, and adjourned till Monday, September 9, the New PDP will on Tuesday (today) open a parallel secretariat at the Maitama District of Abuja. In the suit, the plaintiffs – Baraje, Dr. Sam Jaja, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and the PDP – asked the court to restrain Tukur, Prince Uche Secondus, Mrs. Kema Chikwe, Olisah Metuh and others from parading themselves as PDP NEC members.

The plaintiffs, according to a statement by Oyinlola, who is the national secretary of the faction, also sought a motion exparte, asking for the leave of the court to serve the defendants outside their jurisdiction. They said in the statement which was made available to journalists in Abuja on Monday, that the court granted them leave to serve the defendants in their various locations. On the claim by the faction that the NWC officials parade themselves as NEC members, the court said there was no urgency as to the fact of who should hold what office. It then directed that the status quo be maintained till September 9 when their arguments on the motion on notice would be heard.

“What this means is that in the meantime, both executive committees are to remain until the court resolves the matter,” the statement explained. Before the statement was made public, the Baraje faction which has a former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara); Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); and Rabiu Kwakwanso (Kano) as some of its key leaders, had said that it was encouraged by the overwhelming support it had been receiving across the country. Because of this, the group said in another statement by Oyinlola, that it would not abandon its mission of rescuing the party.

The statement reads in part, “Alhaji Baraje and other leaders of the party appreciate the overwhelming outpouring of support and encouragement from genuine members and leaders of the party across the country. We assure them that we will not disappoint them in the mission to make the PDP work again in the interest of Nigeria and its people.

“We also appreciate the efforts of leaders of the party, particularly President Jonathan and former President Obasanjo who, we note, have scheduled a meeting of the party elders for this week. “We respect the elders and will be guided by them.” Baraje had earlier on Monday told an online news agency on the telephone that the parallel secretariat of the New PDP was equipped with “the needed paraphernalia of office” ahead of its opening on Tuesday.

“Our plan is to address the media and announce the names of other members of our National Working Committee at our own secretariat,” he added, declining to give the exact address of the secretariat in Abuja. If the faction opens the secretariat, it would be the second time in PDP’s history that it would split into two groups, each operating from separate secretariats. A group led by Lar, and a former Deputy National Chairman, Shuaib Oyedokun, had on June 9, 2006 formed a parallel faction after accusing the then Ahmadu Ali-led leadership of sidelining many founding members.

The group then proceeded to open a new secretariat in the Jabi District of Abuja. The Obasanjo administration promptly deployed security agents to seal the secretariat. A meeting on Sunday night between Jonathan and the PDP governors, including Aliyu, and Ahmed over the factionalisation of the party had ended in a deadlock.

A top source in Abuja, who disclosed this, said the meeting, which would continue at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday (today), might also end in a deadlock. “This is why the elders or leaders would meet in Abuja on Thursday to chart a new course and see if they could achieve anything new,” he stated.

The PUNCH learnt that the elders’ meeting which is being convened by Obasanjo would have among others, a former Vice-President, Alex Ekwueme, a former Chairman of the party, Chief Solomon Lar, and former military President Ibrahim Babangida in attendance. Obasanjo had on Sunday implored the two factions to “maintain the status quo” while efforts were being made by the elders to broker a truce.The Tukur-led faction however said on Monday that it would make its position on the action of the G-7 and Abubakar known at the end of its consultations.

Its National Publicity Secretary , Chief Metuh, said after the inaugural meeting of the newly constituted NWC in Abuja that, “Consultations are going on at the highest level of this party. The President, national chairman of our party, the chairman BoT and the PDP governors are meeting on this and their discussions so far have been very encouraging.”

Source: http://www.punchng.com/news/pdp-crisis-gets-messier/

Facebook can make you miserable16 Aug 2013 2:01 AM

Using Facebook can make you feel like you have a lot of friends, but it does not make you happier, according to a new study.Anyone who has had to look at photographs of their friends having more fun than them, or read endless posts providing minute updates about someone else’s upcoming wedding, will already know this.Scientists have confirmed that Facebook can make you miserable.
A study comparing how young adults felt at different times of the day with their Facebook use showed that the more they logged onto the social networking site, the less happy they were.The more the participants had other forms of contact with people, such as face to face or over the phone, they tended to feel better over time.They also found that the participants were not more likely to use Facebook when they felt unhappy. The findings suggest that the act of checking Facebook itself was leading people to feel less happy.“On the surface, Facebook provides an invaluable resource for fulfilling the basic human need for social connection,” said Ethan Kross, a social psychologist who led the work at the University of Michigan“

But rather than enhance well-being, we found that Facebook use predicts the opposite result – it undermines it.”The study asked 82 young adults who had Facebook accounts and smartphones to reply to a series of text messages sent to them at random times each day for two weeks.They were asked how they felt, if they felt lonely, or felt worried and if they had used Facebook since they were last contacted or if they had interacted with people in any other way.The more the participants used Facebook during the period of time between being contacted, the  worse they felt.The authors also asked the participants to rate their level of life satisfacton at the start and end of the study.
Those that had used Facebook more over the entire two weeks suffered a decline in satisfatction.The researchers said that they found no evidence that people used Facebook when they felt unhappy already. They were, however, more likely to use it if they were feeling lonely.“This is a result of critical importance because it goes to the very heart of the influence that social networks may have on people’s lives,” said neuroscientist Dr. John Jonides, another author of the study, which is published in the journal PLOS ONE.—

telegraph.co.uk

Jonathan queries CBN Governor over N1b donation to Political Party
Posted by: Our Reporter on August 6, 2013 in Exclusive Leave a comment

In a move that has surprised many, President Goodluck Jonathan has queried the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, over various infractions detected in the apex bank’s 2012 audited account.
The query, which covered 22 issues bordering on massive fraud at the bank, was sent to the governor on May 6 and the response, though expected back on May 8, was submitted to the President on May 21.
The query of the bank’s account, which its auditors, Ernst and Young, passed without officially signing, with only a comment that it complies with the CBN Act, covers issues such as investment of a huge amount of money in an Islamic bank in Malaysia without any guarantee of its generating returns.
Others are write-off of about N3.5 billion CBN staff housing loan and the donation of about one billion naira to a political party to open up offices across the country. This donation, which was given under the special access item in the account, is believed to be geared towards furthering Sanusi’s alleged political ambition in the 2015 general elections.
The query touched other issues such as refusal of the apex bank to consolidate in its account, the trillion debt owed by the Asset Management Company, AMCON, and  the non-disclosure of the total liabilities through the bond floated by the company.
The governor was also asked to explain the discrepancies noted in the 2012 account regarding the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, a subsidiary of the apex bank.
Other issues include the controversial donations made to some higher institutions in the country.  Investigations have shown that some of the donations were inflated in the bank’s books.
For example, while the Bayero University Kano, BUK, was said to have collected N4billion, the school authorities claimed it got only N1billion.
The apex bank’s account became suspicious when the governor refused to submit it to the Financial Reporting Council, FRC, the body with the mandate to ascertain the compliance of companies with accounting standards, and the International Financial Reporting Standards, IFRS.
Rather than submitting it to the body, the governor requested for seven years’ grace for the CBNto comply with FRC stipulations.
The audit report of the account, which was submitted directly to the President, was later forwarded to the economic adviser to the President for his appraisal. The official okayed the account and noted that it complied with the CBN Act.
However, unhappy with the economic adviser’s comment, Jonathan returned the report to him and drew his attention to the refusal of the auditor to sign the account.
An official of Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria, ICAN, told our reporter that an audit report is worthless when it does not carry the signature of the auditor.
This is not the first time the CBN account will be open to scrutiny but the bank has always hidden under its autonomy to stave off close inspection. The apex bank is on the first line charge and receives its appropriation directly from the federation account and exercises enormous financial autonomy.
In May, the public accounts committee of the House of Representatives also had cause to query several expenditure items amounting to N4.7 billion in the CBN accounts. This included the N2.8billion which the bank said it spent on the construction of its Port Harcourt branch.
The House in turn had worked with a report from the office of the auditor general of the federation which queried extravagant expenditure by the apex bank for which documents were not made available for verification.
Chairman of the House committee on public accounts, Solomon Olamilekan at a meeting with officials of the bank alleged that there were indications that due process was not followed in expenditure as no documents were provided.
Some of the transactions that the committee queried include the sums of N23 million and N50claimed to have been spent for the same purpose of renovating the governor’s official residence as well as N848 million spent on the purchase of a property from the National Planning Commission without any transaction agreement.
However, like many probes of public institutions by the National Assembly, the matter appears not to have been pursued.
The N4 billion donation to BUK questioned in the President’s query had not even been known to the public. What had irked many Nigerians, including federal lawmakers, was the donation earlier in the year of N100 million to victims of terrorism in Kano, Sanusi’s hometown.
The House of Representatives entertained a motion on misuse of public funds on the donation which degenerated into a rowdy session. Many members accused Sanusi or misuse of public funds.
Member from Yobe State, Goni Lawan, described Sanusi’s donation of  N100 million to Kano State and another N25m gift to Madalla bomb blast victims as “an act of terrorism”, arguing that attacks in Yobe and Borno states did not attract the same monetary consolations from the CBN governor.
“When I first heard of the action of the CBN governor, I was surprised. I asked whether Yobe andBorno states were not parts of Nigeria, as these attacks took place there first,” Lawan said.
Attempts to get the apex bank to react our story were unsuccessful.  Over a week ago, when our reporter contacted the corporate affairs director of the CBN,  Ugochukwu Okoroafor, and confronted him with the various issues noted in the CBN 2012 audited account, he claimed ignorance of any presidential  query to the governor.
“I don’t know what donation you are talking about. Was it done in cash? I’m not aware of the things you are saying. If you can provide me with this document that would help, because I haven’t seen it,” he said.
Okoroafor said he was out of town on an official assignment in Abia State and would not be back until last weekend.
A mail asking him to respond to specific allegations about a write-off of about N3.5 billion CBN staff housing loan, donation of about N1 billion to a political party to open up offices across the country as well as the donation of N4 billion to the Bayero University Kano, among others, has not been replied.
Also, reminder text messages to the CBN spokesman have been ignored.
>
Courtesy International Center for Investigative Reporting ICIR

Keyamo Petitions Prisons over Attempt to Sodomise Charles Okah

31 Jul 2013
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Mr Charles Okah

Lagos lawyer, Festus keyamo, has written a petition to the Comptroller General of Nigeria Prisons, over allegations of acts of sodomy taking place in Kuje Prison, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

In the petition dated Tuesday, Keyamo complained that his client, Mr Charles Okah, elder brother of jailed Henry Okah, was almost raped by some prison officials on the pretext that they wanted to confirm if he had stuffed some substance in his anus.

According to the petition, “On Wednesday, 3rd July, 2013, at about 6.30 am, some prison warders, specifically Mr. Isah Musa (the chief clerk), Mr. Tanko Gokuje, (the assistant yard master) and three (3) other prison warders (hereinafter referred to as the culprits) entered our client’s cell (No.1) and demanded to search his anus because they claimed they had information that he was hiding ‘incriminating’ materials therein. Before entering his cell, they made sure all other inmates were locked up in their cells.”

The lawyer maintained that although his client protested the so-called examination, the warders overwhelmed him in the cell, and when he eventually allowed the examination to be carried out, he saw Musa, the chief clerk, undressing, armed with a full and “sustained” erection of his organ, forcing him (Okah) to raise the alarm, calling for help.

According to the petition, Okah had heard of such acts of sodomy within the prison among other inmates. But until that fateful morning, he had not experienced it.

In his words: “Having heard from other inmates in the past that this is a known pattern used by warders to sodomise inmates, our client initially resisted the attempt, but was forced to succumb after much pressure and insistence by the culprits.

“However, having succumbed, to the utter shock and dismay of our client, he saw that Mr. Isah Musa pulled off his clothes and with the sustained erection attempted to carry out the acts of sodomy on him. To achieve this, our client was then held to the ground by Mr. Tanko Gokuje and three (3) other warders. Our client had to intensify his struggle and resistance to prevent the completion of the criminal act. Our client screamed for help and this was heard by other inmates.”

Keyamo said although the report of the incident was made, the prison authorities led by DCP Felix Lawrence, pleaded with Okah not to formalise the complaint and urged him to “kill the report”.

The lawyer noted that “this criminal act has been reported as a common and recurring phenomenon in the Nigerian prisons. It simply shows the despicable level of moral decadence of the officers who are paid to take charge of prison inmates.”

While urging the Comptroller General of Prisons to investigate the allegation, Keyamo called for the application of “appropriate sanctions” on those found wanton in the case.

I rarely add comment on NL, we are ignorant and most of the time we make un-informed comments. I am not here to defend the CBN governor. I work in the financial sector and if you know the damage these BDC mallams are doing to the economy you will weep for the country. These BDC mallams buy so much US dollars, failed to render account of how the US dollar was used by way of injection into the economy, they sell to your corrupt politicians who then carry the raw cash $$$$$$ under diplomatic passport to Dubai, China, India and other countries with lenient anti money laundry laws.

More than 80% US Dollar sold by CBN find its way outside Nigeria and that is why despite weakening US Dollar, Naira could not appreciate. If you have a genuine need for US dollar, take your documents to bank and buy at N151 -N154.

I am writing from Maiduguri and things are really bad, such that banks now get threat letter from boko haram. They rob banks to finance their operation, and our management decided that we operate between 9am-2pm.

There is a corper from SE serving with our bank and he mentioned that only about 900 reported to camp out of the 2000 corpers posted to Bornu State. Out of the remaining 900 more than 600 have been redeployed due to the crisis. The reason he is not redeploying now was because he is serving with the bank with better prospect, good pay and free accommodation.

I will advise you not to wait your time boycotting, report to camp and redeploy immediately after the 3 weeks orientation, redeployment is very easy, no condition attached.

@JeSoul
Which school are you going to in Boston?

I am attending boston university this fall

Is there any Nigerian living in boston, I will be resuming school in August, and i need off-campus accommodation

If this report is true, then, why are south east leaders always phocking up? why make so much noise and then go back to your vomit. It would have been better if they accepted the position initially without exposing their stupidity. The SSG did not have any power at all, he does not control any govt apparatus, he is just some highly glorify house boy which the president can fire at anytime. Can we all remember how UMY fire Babagana Kingibe.

A president cannot just fire the senate president or house speaker without deplore heavy resources of the state. Though OBJ fire some senate president, but he met his match in Anyin Pius Anyim and Ken Nnamani and he failed woefully trying to instigate reps against Ghali Naaba. The power of the wields by the senate president and house speaker almost equal that of the sitting president.

What is happening to Ndigbo, the Nigeria state is gradually pushing them to minority status.

Men cheat because the devil make us do it. Forget the devil, what you women call cheating, to a guy is fun and adventure filled with danger and we love getting into trouble. Most men arent even aware that they might be cheating, because it so natural with us, and trust there are lots of women always sending tempteous signals. Men are actually soft at heart, forget the hard posture, and it takes the Grace of God not to fall for these temptations.

But a time will come, when we will hang our boots and retire, and any woman that comes around then will enjoy fidelity.

@OP just check out illbliss song "ibo boys". Very nice jam (my favorite at a time) with all the necessary hip hop swagger. The singer illbliss is from south east. I think you have a phobia for yorooba people.

This is not a rape case or violation of an under age. I am currently working in the north, and marrying underage including havin s, x (from 12years old) is their culture, they say their religion permit it. I was shocked, when i just got here to see a man of 40+ with these underage girls living as husband and wife. I thot it was a father/daughter relationship since i normally joke with these girls until my northern collegueas warned me to be careful or else.
According to their culture it is a big shame for your daughter to marry or have any affair with a non-muslim. The only saving grace is for your guy to convert to their religion and marry the girl.
To them the guy is an infidel and will be killed or if lucky castrated. PERIOD. He should have known that you dont risk your life with aboki daughter.

Please help your guy in any way you can.

if the 2 people are ok with it, then none of your business

YES. Africa is still a colony of Europe and it is so disappointing that after more than 50 years of independence, we still give Europe one reason or another to interfere with African problems. How can one person be ruling for 10, 20, 30, and 40 years and when the lose election they would rather destroy their country and people than leave office.

Sir K,
Please help me with this VIN JT3HP10V7T0100590

God bless u

@ poster,
the success or failure of your marriage depend on you. Infact the success or failure of any marriage depend on the wife, that is the responsibility you took onto yourself when you get married. You have GOD to help you build your home and HE is ever ready only if you call to intervene. GOD will change your husband and give you the wisdom to manage your home.

Husbands (including me) are like big, overgrown baby with a very large ego, so dont be confrontational in your approach, it wont get you anywhere rather it will escalate the situation.

Finally, if you cant stand him again seek for divorce.

OP, it is very important for you to believe in GOD, because if you dont then you automatically believe in Lucifer (the devil) even without you knowing. You will find out the reason later in life, there is a lot of spiritual energy surrounding everybody (good/evil). If you get caught up in evil spiritual energy, then you will understand why you must believe in GOD.

It is very important to point out here that going to church,mosque or any religious centres/places has nothing to do with believing in GOD. You can believe in GOD and not have to attend any of those centres/places. A philosopher once mentioned that religion is the opium of the people and its not more than that. AN OPIUM.

But GOD (Divine Trinity) is the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and Omega, the Source of All LIfe. HE is UNSUBSTANTIATE which cannot be understood by man. Man must just accept to himself that GOD exist.

please send the link to ifisau@yahoo.com

Can it go for 780K

I am bidding 600k, is custom paper available

Serious buyer N950,000

@larry, please how much will i get a 1998/1999 toyota sienna with solid engine, automatic transmission, factory fitted A/c + other options. send me a mail @ ifisau@yahoo.com

@larry, please how much will i get a 1998/1999 toyota sienna with solid engine, automatic transmission, factory fitted A/c + other options. send me a mail.

@ poster, I am married and I was in your shoes about 2 years ago. my wife and I agreed that no family will stay with us and we will be informed of their visits, but after marriage my MIL moved in stylishly, from one visit to frequent visits and then to permanently moving in. when i saw this i did argue, fight my wife or remind her of our earlier agreement about family. i just encouraged my cousins and aunt to drop by often since my mother was late. while my wife relates with her mother most of the time, i relates with my cousins and naturally we grew apart, and the house was choking us with so many people around. i didnt enjoy it, because i love my privacy, i just endure it while it lasted at a point she could not understand what was going on again and she asked what is it will all these people around, this is not our plan.

i thanked her for reminding me about our plans and how forgetful we were, i then asked her what do we do. she suggested we talk to every family member around about our need for privacy and asked them for support. in return i will make financial committment to them and assure them that they did need to come around if they need anything. they should call for help and we will credit their account with whatever we can afford to give.

so we drew up a plan you talk to your mom and i will talk to my cousins and aunt. end of story. you dont need to argue, fight or quarrel to run your home.

@poster, just get pregnant for your husband ofcourse and make sure that 10 months after delivery you are carrying another pregnancy. your Mr. man (do good) will forget about a certain pretty chic now with sagging bosoms and body full of strecth marks.