₦airaland Forum

mikeansy:
Am not sure you can really give King Abdollah or the leadership of any soveriegn country a deadline to respond to your letter. Keep in mind these guys can not go until they have response from the Saudis. Otherwise it will be a futile excersize.

But what they can do is make sure this letter to King Abdollah has a lot of publicity in the international community, that will put some pressure on them as they can be accused of complicity if they do not react.
Our Government can also lobby the Americans to put pressure on Saudi if the Saudi's are not forth coming. However it make's no sense to have a dealine. But this can progress quickly if we on the sidelines protest any intentional administrative delay.

The protest on the streets and in the local media has to continue. If the Saudi's waste time a protest in front of the Saudi Arabian embassy in Abuja, London and New York will also be a good idea.
But I don't expect the Saudis to go down this route.

I do appreciate your support for the visitation to the President.But a fact still remain,the FEC don't need to be knee begging the saudi authority for them to see Mr president.For God sake Mr president is an embodyment of the nation called Nigeria,application for Visa is an enough notice to the Saudi authority of the intend visit to the ailing president.If they are not allowed to see him,then the nation will either declared him kidnapped or ask the Saudis to send him back with the next available flight.

Edo PDP accuses Oshiomhole of awarding fraudulent contracts •PDP is mischievous - Govt
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Written by Uchechukwu Olisa

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to task for allegedly awarding fraudulent contracts to his cronies and obtaining of loans for unspecified purposes.

Besides, the Edo PDP called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to examine the fiscal policy of the state government since, according to it, the debts being incurred by the Oshiomhole administration could no longer be serviced by statutory allocations and internally generated revenue (IGR).

Addressing journalists on Monday in Benin City, the chairman of the PDP in Edo state, Chief Dan Orbih, also challenged Governor Oshiomhole to disclose and make public the financial state of affairs in the spirit of accountability and the oath of office he swore when he assumed duty as governor of the state.

Chief Orbih said that apart from the N18.8 billion debt profile which the Oshiomhole administration had accumulated from November 2008 when it came into office and December 2009, the administration had, between January 2010 and now, obtained loans of N5 billion, N2.2 billion, another N5 billion from Skye Bank, Equitorial Trust Bank (ETB) and UBA Plc.
Orbih further said the state government had concluded negotiations to obtain yet another loan of N2.9 billion from FirstBank Plc. The PDP alleged that all these loans were being obtained for unspecified reasons and that if something was not done, the state’s debt profile might put the people of the state in perpetual state of debt repayment.

He further alleged that the governor gave over N20 million to some traditional rulers in Edo South to request for a constitutional position of Speaker of the state House of Assembly, adding that the government claimed it spent N2.7 billion on Auchi erosion control project, N4 billion on the design of erosion control projects in Benin City and its environs and N250 million to remove sand from gutters, all of which, he added, no visible job had been done.

But the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Abdul Oroh, disagreed with the PDP, saying the PDP was not just being mischievous but was also lying to the people of the state. He said while it was true that the state government was committing about N50 billion to road projects, it was not true that the government was obtaining frivolous loans.

“Some of these loans are in the best interest of the state. And the Commissioner of Finance briefed the House of Assembly on these loans and it was satisfied. We are not worried. We think the projects are appropriate, they are necessary, they are in the interest of the people. There is nothing wrong in taking loans. Governments all over the world do take loans. We are confident we are going to service the loans,” Oroh added.


http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/1399-edo-pdp-accuses-oshiomhole-of-awarding-fraudulent-contracts-pdp-is-mischievous-govt.html

House delegation returns empty-handed: Yar'Adua very sick, isolated and abandoned in Jeddah


House delegation returns empty-handed: Yar'Adua very sick, isolated and abandoned in Jeddah
Written by Saharareporters, New York
Saturday, 13 February 2010 12:06




Digitally modified image of Yar'adua-Bed-ridden
Nigeria's ailing "president," Umaru Yar'Adua, may be in far worse condition at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Jeddah than has previously been revealed to the Nigeria public. He appears to be abandoned and isolated, with a Saudi official ominously saying Yar'Adua will soon be delivered to Nigeria "dead or alive.". This is the devastating picture the delegation of the House of Representatives, which returned from the kingdom this morning, brought back. The delegation returned after a fruitless five-day visit in search of Yar’adua via Emirates Airlines to Lagos. Sources in Jeddah said that as hard as they tried, members of the delegation failed to set eyes on the ailing Nigerian leader on even one occasion. But they met Yar'Adua's wife, Hajia Turai, on the third day of their visit and were alarmed at her "bad shape," as she has lost weight considerably, and her few words, insisting that it is Allah that gives power and life and he would do whatever he like with it.

Turai however confided in a member of the delegation said to be close to her that she is very disappointed in the "Katsina boys" in the government as they have paid little or no attention to their principal's core needs, only jostling for power in Abuja and amassing wealth. She told the source that she was aware that Sayyad Abba Ruma had approached “Acting President” Jonathan Goodluck to be made VP.

Saharareporters learned that upon their arrival in Jeddah, members of the delegation were given a program drawn up by the Nigerian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Aminchi, in which he offered sweet deals for them to embark on an all-expenses paid Umrah in Mecca and to also visit Medina. That program would have taken three days off their schedule. But fearing that the Nigerian public was watching every move they made, they rejected the offer and insisted upon seeing Yar’Adua in order to pay homage and deliver the solidarity and get-well wishes of the House.

Strangely, they were only permitted to meet Yar'Adua's Aide-De-Camp, who assured them as usual that the president was doing “well” but couldn’t meet them as he was “resting” in the Royal wing of the hospital. He asked if they would love to tour the kingdom or move to better hotels, but the group reportedly turned down the offer and insisted they wanted to see Yar’Adua.

It was when negotiations became intense and the delegation found they were making no progress that they requested that they meet Turai, which they did on the third day. Members of the delegation were shocked at her condition and her countenance, which may suggest she may be losing hope.
http://www.saharareporters.com/real-news/sr-headlines/5152-house-delegation-returns-empty-handed-yaradua-very-sick-isolated-and-abandoned-in-jeddah.html
The delegation was able to meet Yar’Adua’s physicians who said they could not disclose anything to them since the Yar'Adua family and the Saudi government had signed a confidentiality agreement with them. They however told the delegation that no one could enter to see Yar’adua because there are lots of complications for now, and that he is totally isolated due to various infections. What appears to be the most disconcerting point of the visit was the statement by the Saudi government official that they would be discharging Yar’Adua to Nigeria “dead or alive” sometime soon.

The delegation was led by House Minority Leader, Hon. Ali Ndume, and included, Hon. Baba Shehu, Hon. Patrick Ikhariale, Hon. Moruf Akinderu and Hon. Jubril Adamu. When they as they group began its initial maneuvers, they dropped Hon. Nnenna Ukeje from Abia State.
Our reporters sighted two members of the delegation-Baba Shehu and Ali Ndume as they made to board an Aero Contractor flight to Abuja at 3:30 PM Nigerian time.

The delegation would be reporting back to the House next week Tuesday, but already there are fears that the Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, might block the report due to his corruption and cash-backed loyalty to the Yar’Adua

~Sauron~:
She has a chance albeit remote!!!
If she gets in here and delivers her baby. . . . . .I think the baby becomes British by birth.
The mother however must wait for 7+ years before she can get a permanent stay which she can then convert into a British passport.

Give or take, she's looking at 12 years.

British citizenship by birth in the United Kingdom
Under the law in effect from 1 January 1983, a child born in the UK to a parent who is a British citizen or 'settled' in the UK is automatically a British citizen by birth.

Only one parent needs to meet this requirement, either the father or the mother.
"Settled" status in this context usually means the parent is resident in the United Kingdom and has the right of abode, holds Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), or is the citizen of an EU/EEA country and has permanent residence. Irish citizens in the UK are also deemed to be settled for this purpose.
Special rules exist for cases where a parent of a child is a citizen of a European Union or European Economic Area member state, or Switzerland. The law in this respect was changed on 2 October 2000 and again on 30 April 2006. See below for details.
For children born before 1 July 2006, if only the father meets this requirement, the parents must be married. Marriage subsequent to the birth is normally enough to confer British citizenship from that point.
Where the father is not married to the mother, the Home Office will usually register the child as British provided an application is made and the child would have been British otherwise. The child must be aged under 18 on the date of application.
Where a parent subsequently acquires British citizenship or "settled" status, the child can be registered as British provided he or she is still aged under 18.
If the child lives in the UK until age 10 there is a lifetime entitlement to register as a British citizen. The immigration status of the child and his/her parents is irrelevant.
Special provisions may apply for the child to acquire British citizenship if a parent is a British Overseas citizen or British subject, or if the child is stateless.
Before 1983, birth in the UK was sufficient in itself to confer British nationality irrespective of the status of parents, with an exception only for children of diplomats and enemy aliens. This exception did not apply to most visiting forces, so, in general, children born in the UK before 1983 to visiting military personnel (eg US forces stationed in the UK) are British citizens by birth.

MrPrsdent:
ONLY these countries:
   
*  Argentina
    * Barbados
    * Brazil
    * Canada
    * Colombia
    * Jamaica
    * Mexico
    * Pakistan
    * Peru
    * Romania
    * United States
    * Uruguay

A. By birth

Art. 5. – The children born from Romanian citizens on Romanian territory are Romanian citizens.

Furthermore, Romanian citizens are also those:

a) born on the Romanian territory, even if only one of the parents is a Romanian citizen;

b) born abroad and both parents, or only one of them has a Romanian citizenship.

The child found on Romanian territory is a Romanian citizen if none of the parents is known. http://www.romanianpassport.co.il/english/romanian-citizenship-law/

Birth in Malta
Any person born in Malta between 21 September 1964 and 31 July 1989 automatically acquired Maltese citizenship at birth.

From 1 August 1989, a person born in Malta only acquires Maltese citizenship at birth if a parent of that person is

a Maltese citizen; or
born in Malta.



http://www.foreign.gov.mt/Library/Citizenship%20Forms%20and%20Templates/CEA1-BIR.pdf

nuzo:
Na you get your mouth.
You do not expect me to begin to sound politically correct in order to please naija-swag and co, do you?
Were you expecting me to thank him for calling me a thief without proof?
Oh. . . please!

How many NGOs and charity organizations do Nigeria need at this time? Like I said before, what she needs now are people who are going to make policies and laws that will encourage development. . . they must not stop at that. They must make sure these laws and policies are enforced without fear or favor. . . thats what am up for!

Fantastic response,that is how to be a politician.

asha 80:
Why are you behaving like an uncivilized person bringing his dad into this matter.Do you know whether his dad is still alive?

nuzo:
Nigerians and double standards sha.
Were'nt you the brain damaged goon canvassing for black liberation, yet you are shamelessly advising me to migrate to london?

And what is one suppose to be doing in london apart from studying?

Whichever way, Nigeria will crumble within 24hrs without China. That country is becoming more relevant to Nigeria much more than your UK and all the European countries put together.

I indicated my locations as requested, fool!

Joker?

nuzo:
I have no idea what you are talking about. I mean, do I have to state all the charity works I have rendered to my people in my entire existence before you can deem me fit for a legislative post?
I thought that by now Nigerians would have realized that philanthropy and charity works are just ingredients that supplement development and not the solution.

What Nigeria needs now is strict implementation of laws. But before we get to that, we need men and women who will make the laws and stand their grounds without fear or favor.

On a side note, my extra contributions in Osun state during my NYSC service year was never in anyway mandatory.

You should consider championing an NGO and do your philanthropic and charity work rather than venturing politics/governance which is more of policy decision making.

nuzo:
Dude, stop making fool of yourself.
I mean if people could get real international passports without going to immigrations, what makes you think one cannot be registered in a party without him/her knowledge?

Listen again, some dudes were sent by some PDP stalwarts to inform me that they have registered me in their party after they noticed the force I was coming with. I told them that am not going to accept that until the youths and women who asked me to contest decides which platform I will run on. And even if the youths chose PDP, it must be free and fair.

I wont hesitate to step down the moment the youths think its the right thing for me to do. . . but until, COWARDS like you cant stop me.

Get to know one before you conclude on who they are.

This guy is just a bully.Better go back to China if they will allow you back.
As an aspiring public figure,you should learn to take criticisms as they come and take time to explain why you think you a better for that post without been abusive.

princekevo:
No building will ever stand without a good foundation, the failure of our leaders gave birth to all the crimes we are suffering from today.

Good point

Clinton: Nigeria failing to curb extremism-AP
Written by Matthew Lee, Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, 26 January 2010 16:03




Hillary Clinton
WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton criticized Nigeria on Tuesday for corruption and poor living standards that she said encourage the sort of extremism typified by the attempted bombing of an American airliner.Speaking at a town hall meeting of State Department employees, Clinton said the Nigerian government has failed for years to address the legitimate needs of its people. She said that has contributed to a growing sense of alienation, particularly among the young who are then more susceptible to extremist ideologies. "The failure of the Nigerian leadership over many years to respond to the legitimate needs of their own young people, to have a government that promoted a meritocracy, that really understood that democracy can't just be given lip service, it has to be delivering services to the people, has meant there is a lot of alienation in that country and others," she said.

"There has to be a recognition that in the last 10 years a lot of the indicators about quality of life in Nigeria have gone in the wrong direction," Clinton said. She said illiteracy was growing, health standards were falling and described corruption in the country as "unbelievable."

She said those conditions meant that "Nigeria faces a threat from increasing radicalization" by providing "an opening for extremism that offers an alternative world view" as shown by the young Nigerian man — Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab — who allegedly tried to blow up the Detroit-bound Delta flight on Christmas Day.

Abdulmutallab, the son of a prominent Nigerian banker, did not grow up impoverished, but Clinton noted that he identified with the kind of ideology often fueled by poverty.

"The young people in the world today, they see other options," she said. "They are all interconnected through the Internet and the information we have on the Christmas Day bomber so far seems to suggest that he was disturbed by his father's wealth and kind of living conditions that he viewed as being not Islamic."

http://www.saharareporters.com/news/4951-clinton-nigeria-failing-to-curb-extremism-.html

kosovo:
Thats the dumbest thing i have in weeks, you want him to turn Benin to New-york in one year?

There is nothing wrong telling the Comrade Governor to work.Knowing fully well he have hired all the PDP mechineries as decampees to AC.The same people who bring the state to her present sorry state are the same people parading themselves as the messiahs of Edo state.
-Pastor Ize-Iyamu was the SSG to Lucky Igbinedion that plunder the state dry.
-Madam Igbafe,the present Director of Poverty Alleviation agency,was the Women leader of PDP

-Francis Inegbeniki a former political son to Anenih was even in Fugar to the Etsako Central people that he was one of those used by PDP to rig election.He was actually mentioned by one of the witnesses in the Comrade stolen mandate in court.How do you want that same witness to face this same criminal as his political leader.
[DOC] Various wards were collated and the results released except ward 9
File Format: Microsoft Word - View as HTML
That one Francis Inegbeniki was said to have led a group of mobile Poliemen and thugs to and thugs to come and carry the ballot box. ,
www.oshiomhole.com/tribunal.doc - Similar

AIG Ogbaudu reads riot act
By MIKE OSAROGIAGBON


BENIN CITY - The newly deployed Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in Edo State, Mr. Felix Ogbaudu has read the riot act to people of the state during the Etsako Central Constituency House of Assembly re-run election holding tomorrow.


Briefing newsmen yesterday in the Office of the state Police Commissioner, Benin City, AIG Felix Ogbaudu identified what he termed serious offences during the Etsako Central re-run election tomorrow.


The offences according to him, include: unlawful possession of firearms, ballot box snatching, loitering around or refusing to leave the polling or collation centre after vote casting, unlawful possession of genuine/fake election materials and obstructing the highway of human and vehicular traffic.


Others are: attempting to or actually monitoring the election without due accreditation, assaulting election officials, inciting violence, attempted murder and preventing registered voters from voting, among others.


AIG Felix Ogbaudu however advised politicians and the electorate conduct themselves lawfully as the police would be on ground to provide a water-tight security.


While enjoining government officials and politicians not to move around with uniform personnel on the day of the election in Etsako Central, AIG Ogbaudu maintained that any one caught would be arrested.


He further advised members of the public to eschew acts capable of causing destruction, noting that it takes little to destroy but so much to build as we cannot afford to do to ourselves what nature did to Haiti.


Meanwhile, over 4,000 riot policemen deployed to the state on Wednesday to provide security before, during and possibly after tomorrow’s poll have been redeployed to Etsako Central Local Government Area with a charge to be civil in the discharge of their duties and ensure no voter is denied the right to vote.



http://www.nigerianobservernews.com/22012010/news/othernews3.html

toba:
Ac will win

It is very easy to say AC will win,Since mr President is not in Abuja,Oshiomole will have to sweat to win.Fingers crossed.

Yar’Adua’s Aides Blow N10b On Foreign Trips
January 14, 2010 16:02 (3 hours ago), 574 views

By Moyo Fabiyi

Since President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was flown out of the country on 23 November 2009 on account of ill-health, his ministers, special assistants, advisers and other aides were alleged to have been junketing from Abuja to other parts of the world on frivolous trips that have so far gulped N10 billion.

According to Aso Rock sources, ministers and other presidential aides have been embarking on trips to Saudi Arabia for about seven weeks now on the pretext of visiting President Yar’Adua or carrying out one official mission or the other in the country.

P.M.NEWS sources in Abuja said while the President was still in the country the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) used to serve as the clearing house for officials who wished to embark on foreign trips.

Investigations, however, revealed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) made up of ministers did not hide their resentment towards the process designed by the presidency to regularise foreign trips by government officials at the federal level.

Therefore, immediately President Yar’Adua was flown out, a source told our correspondent that, overseas trips became an all comers affair, adding “each minister or ministry now sees it as part of its functions to send its officials to Saudi Arabia.”

For some weeks now, P.M.NEWS learnt that there has been a cold war between the FEC and the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye, over the uncontrolled foreign trips.

The central electronic Travel Desk, approved by the president and manned by Oronsaye as HOCSF, had been at loggerheads with the FEC recently on the oversight functions of the desk to control foreign trips.

P.M.NEWS gathered that this has led to an exchange of correspondence between HOCSF, Oronsaye and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa.

While the AGF in his letter to the HOCSF wants him to tread softly on the matter, Oronsaye on the other hand maintains that his office has constitutional backing.

However, the looting spree through frivolous trips to Saudi Arabia has continued unabated. The source regretted that the ministers and other presidential aides were not interested in the health of the president but their target was the estacode that would accrue to them, especially in hard currency.

P.M.NEWS gathered that Yar’Adua’s aides have spent about N10 billion on estacode and other related expenses on trips to Saudi Arabia in seven weeks.

Aso Rock sources added that apart from using the trips to steal public funds, there were other areas public officers explore to enrich themselves.

http://thepmnews.com/2010/01/14/yaraduas-aides-blow-n10b-on-foreign-tribs

Be aware the COA is free of charge and lead time is below.You can also call if in doubts.

3.12 We recommend that applications are sent by Royal Mail Recorded Delivery.
You should allow between 20 and 70 working days for your application to be
processed.
3.13 The certificate is valid for three months from the date it is issued. You must
give your notice to marry or register your civil partnership within this time. The
certificate allows you to give notice to marry or register your civil partnership and
does not mean you will be guaranteed leave as a spouse or civil partner.

Can you give more details about the immigration status of the applicants.

Those on ground should please post footage-God Bless.



Save Nigeria Group (SNG) requests police security at Tuesday's public rally
PDF | Print | E-mail
Written by Saharareporters, New York
Monday, 11 January 2010 15:49

Preparing for tomorrow's massive public rally, the Save Nigeria Group today requested the Nigeria Police Force to provide security personnel for the event. In an application made by the lawyer to the group, Femi Falana , the Group drew upon the 2008 judgment given in the case of the Inspector General of Police vs the All Nigeria Peoples' Party, in which the Court of Appeal famously upheld the fundamental right of Nigerian citizens to hold rallies without the necessity of a police permit. 

Save Nigeria Group plans to begin its rally tomorrow at the Unity Fountain, Abuja, at 10:00a.m., and finish at the National Assembly.  It is expected to be attended by thousands of Nigerians who are concerned about the situation in the country.

The text of SNG's application is as follows:
January 11, 2010

The Inspector-General of Police,
Police Force Headquarters,
Louis Edet House,
Abuja.

REQUEST FOR SECURITY AT A PUBLIC RALLY.

We are Solicitors to the SAVE NIGERIA GROUP (hereinafter referred to as “our client”) on whose behalf we write this letter.

We have the instructions of our client to request you to provide security personnel at a rally slated for Tuesday, January 12, 2010. The program which will commence at 10.00am at the Unity Fountain, Abuja is expected to be concluded at 2:00pm at the premises of the National Assembly.

This request is firmly predicated on the historic judgment of the Court of Appeal in the case of the Inspector-General of Police v. All Nigeria Peoples Party (2008) 12 WRN 65, where the fundamental right of Nigerian citizens to hold rallies without police permit was upheld. According to Adekeye JCA (as she then was):

“… a rally of placard carrying demonstration has become a form of expression of views on current issues affecting government and the governed in a sovereign state. It is a trend recognized and deeply entrenched in the system of governance in civilized countries – it will not only be primitive but also retrogressive if Nigeria continues to require a pass to hold a rally. We must borrow a leaf from those who have trekked the rugged path of democracy and are now reaping the dividend of their experience”.

In the light of the foregoing, it is hoped that you will grant our client’s request having regard to the above judicial authority.

Yours sincerely,



FEMI FALANA

Speculations are on it again that the Comrade Governor of Edo state is changing Camp having dished the Chief Anenih's Camp and settled with the new decampees from PDP to AC.
The scope now is for him to send some executives packing to create room for new members from PDP.
The question now, is this is a flirt or government of state unity?

Vanguard gathered that the major cabinet shake up would also afford the governor the opportunity to give some of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) decampees the opportunity to produce commissioners.

http://odili.net/news/source/2010/jan/7/312.html

kosovo:
I couldn't stop laughing, the truth, NO ONE CARES,
I thought Nigerians were clamoring for a black American president, and when i never supported Obama here, i was almost stoned to Death via the internet/Nairaland, Now where is the love?

What do you expect from Obama,to spare Nigeria?You are joking.
Nigeria is still better than Somalia because the oil is still there.When the oil dry up,Nigeria will be better imagined than said.

debosky:
When there is no president what do you expect?

If a president was on the ground to give firm assurances that this was a one off and to actually deal on the same level with the US president this wouldn't have happened. The patently weak leadership offered by the country has led to this action by the US.

Mark can scream himself hoarse - Obama would be facing an almighty climb down if he took Nigeria off the list after this and the US press would savage him so there's no chance of this happening.

That is the point.

felifeli:
You people have very little understanding. If we allow attitudes like this to go on against Nigeria we will eventually become the greatest joke in the world - you and me included. Do you continue with a marriage in which you are being treated like a dog ?. No, it is a nonsense marriage. I will vote that Nigeria suspends diplomatic relationship with US until the matter is resolved. Let us be able to walk with our heads high for a change rather than grovelling for acceptance. We are a great and intelligent people, not criminals like these countries are turning us into.
Yes , let's break diplomatic relationship with USA. It will be the biggest shock that they will receive and it will catch the world's attention that Nigeria means business- at last.

Thanks for your patrotic indulgence as a Nigerian,bear in mind that Ignorantia facti excusat but ignorantia juris non excusat.
You should know that the world have been watching Nigerian as nation with the bad names from 419,Corruption,financial scandals(all Banks are now sitting on the edge).The president is AWOL ,all the arms of government are corrupt.
Nigeria desire what she get from the international communities
I only pity for Nigerians,but we have to manage it otherwise the nation will be dead.Where are our students?

Siena:
I read your post well, but if you're not sure what to do, isn't it wise your boss does this himself?

Or doesn't he know how either?

That what PAs/Secretaries/Protocol Officer are paid for.

Baby kidnapping/trafficking mess in Chanchangi flight of Dec 31, 2009: A true ‘live’ story
Written by Chike Orjiako
Friday, 01 January 2010 10:26






--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



When I got that text and subsequent call from Aero Contractors on 30 December 2009, that my pre-booked flight from Owerri to Lagos has been cancelled on some flimsy reason, I was naturally furious. However, since flights started dropping from the Nigerian air space like balloons, I have learnt to take every flight disappointment with measured resignation. This was my mood on 31 December 2009, when I got to Sam Mbakwe airport to collect my refund from Aero and buy any other airlines’ ticket for same day. The Chanchangi flight that I eventually settled for to take me to Lagos was scheduled to take off by 12.30pm but for some inexplicable reason had a two hour delay that saw us departing the Sam Mbakwe airport by 2.30pm.

I have hardly settled-in for the 50 minutes flight than a lady who perhaps could be in her late 30s or early 40s started talking harshly to some elderly woman well into her 60s or more sitting adjacent to her and carrying a baby that looked weak and sleepy. When the younger lady whom I later identified as Mrs. Okpi started shouting that the older woman may have stolen the Child she was carrying, our interest, {the passengers} in the airbus was sufficiently aroused. I waited patiently for the plane to take off and stabilize before I approached Mrs. Okpi and introduced myself and requested to know what informed her suspicion. She told me that her motherly instincts suspects that the older woman could neither be the biological mother of the baby nor a regular nanny for the baby she was carrying because she was stuffing the poor 5-month-old baby with biscuits.

A quick glance at the older woman and the innocent baby she was carrying convinced me I should take more than a passing interest on the matter at hand. I had naturally argued with myself whether I could have enough time to see through the mega drama unfolding before us. However, I was overwhelmed by sheer passion and my natural affinity with the un-arguable innocence of babies. This forced me to sit beside the older woman who by now was looking bemused and a bit confused. I quickly re-assured her through my approach of friendliness that I was beside her to assist in sorting out whatever it was that may be causing the impasse between her and the younger woman.

After confirming that she was from ‘Item’ Umuahia ‘in Abia state, I quickly continued my discussion with her in Igbo language which made her a little more comfortable, and she was able to narrate her story to me without further hesitation. The brief interview went thus:

Me: what is your name?
Woman: my name is Ijeoma Uko
Me: what is the name of this fine boy?
Woman: Ukachukwu Chidozie Uko.
Me: how old is he, he appears too young?
Woman: he will be five months tomorrow 1 January 2010.
Me: really? Is he your grandson or?
Woman: No, he is my sister’s son.
Me: Ah ah! Where’s your sister and what is her name?
Woman: My sister is waiting for me in Lagos and her name is Onyebuchi Uko.
Me: why is she in Lagos and her child is with you in Owerri airport?
Woman: Looks at me and confides in a low voice that, “ my sister is old and can no longer have a child of her own so our cousin who is a matron at Amachara general Hospital arranges for this child together with my two nephews Emeka Uko and Alfred O. Uko to bring this child for my sister Onyebuchi Uko”. She continues, “You know it is not right for a woman who has advanced in age not to have a child she could call her own”.
Me: Ok, but this your sister Onyebuchi, is she married?
Woman: she and her husband have been divorced for years now and maybe it is because of childlessness.
Me: do you have children, and if yes, where are they?
Woman: I have a child and her name is comfort, she lives and schools in Aba and presently in JSS3.
Me: Who brought you to the airport and have you flown or been to Lagos before?
Woman: My nephew Alfred O. Uko arranged a special drop that brought us to Owerri airport and my other nephew, Emeka Uko accompanied us. I have neither flown nor been to Lagos before.
Me: where do Emeka and Alfred Uko reside and work?
Woman: Emeka Uko is a pastor in a church in Umuahia and Afred O.Uko works for Abia Transport Company and they both live in No 3 Ohafia Street, Umuahia.
Me: where has this child been since birth and who have been taking care of him?
Woman: The child has been at Ubakala the home of our matron cousin, Chinasa Ihuoma and I was brought from Aba to look after him and since the child is used to me, they { Chinasa, Emeka and Alfred} decided I should be the person to take him to Lagos.
Me: Is Chinasa married?
Woman: Yes, and lives with her husband at Ubakala near Umuahia town.
Me: thank you madam, I will try to see to it that no harm comes to you at this airport today.
Woman: thank you, please help me, I have told you nothing but the truth and I did not steal this child.

It was after this interview that a few other passengers joined and together we took contact with the crew; who gave us all the necessary co-operation to politely detain all passengers right inside the aircraft for more than 30 minutes after landing to enable us plan our next move and alert both the airport security who promptly responded. We gave back the child to the old ‘Nanny’ to stay alone with the child after we have placed a call and confirmed that the said Ms Onyebuchi Uko was actually waiting at the MM2 airport terminal for her prized baby.

A joint team of airport security and the Domestic Division of the Nigerian Police force that conducted the whole matter in a most professional manner promptly arrested them immediately.

On preliminary interrogation by Ayuba B. Pam {Superintendent of Police} in charge of the domestic airport, police asked Ms Onyebuchi Uko how she came about the baby. Onyebuchi who gave out a business card that reads:

“Joseph Mynah & co”
Solicitors
Commissioner for oaths,
Listed her names as, Rachel Uko, LLB {Hons}
Principal Solicitor
She also listed a London address thus:
Unit 54, Grove Business Centre
560-568 HighRoad
London N17 9TA,

While at the back of the card, she listed the following: Crime, Immigration, Conveyancing, Employment, Commercial and Family, maybe as probable areas of specialization.

She further claims, “She does not know the mother of the child even though she had claimed earlier that the mother was a 15-year-old girl niece that preferred abortion before she intervened to come and adopt the baby at delivery”.

I believe that passing judgment at this stage will be rather premature since the Commissioner of police in Lagos is said to have shown interest in the case and ordered an all out investigation.

However, one can not but speculate on the rampant cases of baby swapping and outright theft in local hospitals where helpless mothers are usually informed their children are dead or still born and have had to be thrown away.

We know how difficult it is for the police to push this kind of case when there are no apparent complainants at hand to fund the very expensive investigations that must ensue to unravel the true story behind these conflicting claims. In the face of this challenge, let me appeal to the Inspector General of Police to use his good offices to place his most experienced Men in this case to unravel the masquerades’ behind this dastardly act. I am not under any illusion that certain claims are not adding up yet and on proper investigation, the truth will emerge to confront the perpetrators’. For all we care, there maybe one hapless mother out there nursing the grief of loosing her baby at birth while the same baby is alive and waiting to board a London based plane. Worst still, we do not have sufficient proof to state categorically that the baby in question is not a kidnap victim waiting to be used as bait for ransom.

While at this, let me please digress to observe briefly that Citizen Abdul Farouk Muttalab who has placed Nigerians name ingloriously at the International high crime arena is a citizen of the world and not just Nigeria. It has become fashionable for the rich and famous in Nigeria to outsource parenting of their wards to different schools around the globe. My first reaction and I believe that of many Nigerians on hearing the sad news was that we do not convey bombs that will eventually kill us alongside the targeted victims. In other words, we are no suicide bombers. That some crazy foreign National may have illegally acquired our International passport that could easily be obtained at beer joints. I was rudely shocked hours later when the identity of citizen Farouk was unveiled. One thing that gave me solace was that citizen Farouk because of his highly privileged background, was educated and raised in all manner of places but Nigeria. So, the young lad never identified with our perennial problems of energy challenge, debilitating road networks, ASSU strikes, crippling corruption and total absence of a secured future for kids of his age group and beyond. It was while his parents were trying to shield him from these problems that they decided to outsource his early training first to a British International School in Lome and later Uk, Dubai and Yemen. It was while in Yemen that some ‘teachers’ thought him nonsense and he totally forgot that Nigeria in spite of the fact that we may share the same religious beliefs with the citizens of these countries, but our challenges as a country are far more threatening than the esoteric pursuits of Al Qaeda.

Can you now see why everybody should join hands to fix our schools, our hospitals, our electricity, our roads and even our brains? Poor Muttalab senior, he wanted the best for his son but the system frustrated him, just as I would like to send my heart felt sympathy to IBB who would have loved to send his dear wife to a Specialist Cancer Centre in Abuja but for the system. Now, this same ubiquitous system has kept away our dear President in a Saudi hospital instead of the National Hospital Abuja since the last decade. This system, Haba! Wetin self!.

Chike Orjiako
Guest Contributor
Lagos Nigeria

http://www.saharareporters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4698:baby-kidnappingtrafficking-mess-in-chanchangi-flight-of-dec-31-2009-a-true-live-story&catid=81:external-contrib&Itemid=300

http://www.josephmynah.com/6.html

CIA should conduct a background check on this dude and his family.



The father  is a heavy investor/director of THE PROPOSED JAIZ INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC(Islamic Bank).So there should be fundamentalist blood in his family.

2010 Budget can be downloaded here

http://www.edostate.gov.ng/2010budget.pdf

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has suffered another setback with the defection of thousands of its members to the Action Congress (AC) in Uhunmwode Local Government Area.

The defectors include the chairman of the council, Barrister John Obaze, his supervisors, councillors and other prominent citizens of the local government.

Receiving the defectors, Governor Adams Oshiomhole said the new members have the same rights as old members.

He added that he was delighted at the assemblage, eager to be part of the movement for genuine democracy and popular participation.

The Governor insisted that the greatest punishment that could be inflicted on the forces of evil in the state is to enthrone quality governance.

According to him, the Action Congress (AC) is a party that preaches genuine internal democracy.


http://thenationonlineng.net/web2/articles/29909/1/PDP-suffers-fresh-setback-in-Edo/Page1.html

Hmmmmmmmmm naija na wetin bi dis self ??

http://www.examiner.com/x-19801-San-Diego-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m10d17-Professional-Boxer-Albert-Onolunose-is-a-wanted-man