₦airaland Forum

rasputinn: @ OP
See your mouth like war.You wish.Some members of the family were derailing and were on the verge of betraying the family that gave them life,projected them to whatever stage they are right now,made them who they are politically,so as a responsible family,steps were taken to whip them back in line before they do further damage to themselves,of course,they were jolted back to the realisation that they would be nobody without the family.What they are doing now is the expected "sulking in their rooms",they'll be fine,some of their egbons are already explaining the reality of political life to them.

You mean members of the Killer Family

Johnnoah1st: 3rd to comment?

9jacrip: Firstly, I think the term 'cultism' is exaggerated or maybe some groups fall under that tag?
For me, being in a frat depends on how you as a person defines it, for some it is all about just being there whilst living normal life like every other person, for some it is about intimidating others and accruing 'power'. Which boils down to what 'cult' the OP supposedly joined (or referring to), he didn't state.

I will tell you categorically that Pyrates & Buccaneers have moved way beyond what most ignorant people take it to be and it at times becomes peevish to me when people ramble ignorantly about activities of these two groups without doing a proper research.

Check with the Corporate Affairs Commission you will find the two groups I mentioned above to be duly registered and leaving is a matter of penning a letter of your dis-membership (if of course your membership is legal and you're registered with them, not the rif-raffs in schools/streets who muscle things).

@ the Q, I can only speak for these 2 groups, I do not know about others and it would be unfair for me to say things I do know nothing about. If at all you're referencing these 2 groups and your membership is very legit then you can leave even if you're in school, you just have to channel your message(s) to the proper bodies as there are upper bodies who have final say. And if at all you need help then you could PM me.

Eight persons died on Sunday along Ibadan-Lagos Expressway when the commercial vehicle conveying them rammed into a truck.

Witnesses say the crash, which occurred in Mowe area of the expressway, a stone throw to Redeemed Christian Church of God headquarters, was caused by the truck driver who was reversing on the highway.

The eight passengers, travelling in a space-wagon, were heading towards Lagos from Abeokuta, when the driver, already on a high speed, unexpectedly drove straight into the truck.

All eight passengers died on the spot of the accident, alongside the driver.

PREMIUM TIMES correspondent, who was at the scene, said it took the accident rescue team almost an hour, before the corpses of the victims could be retrieved from the wreckage.

Other motorists and passengers plying the road who met the accident, could not hold back tears, as the battered bodies of the victims were being pulled from the car.

As at the time of this report, the number plate of the commercial vehicle had been removed, while the truck which caused the crash had been towed to the police station.

The corpses were deposited in the mortuary, as efforts were ongoing by the authorities to locate the families and relatives of the deceased

He said, “We have gone through a painstaking procurement process that lasted for about 13 months and at the end of the procurement the preferred bidder has emerged. It is important to let Nigerians know that very competent consortia bid for this particular project.

Noble Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has described the “Good Governance Tour” the Minister of Information Labaran Maku is leading around the country as a big scam.

Speaking in Benin on Friday, Mr. Soyinka commended the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, for refusing to acede to a request by Mr. Maku to fund the team’s visit to Edo State.

“I am happy that Oshiomhole told the leader of the Good Governance Tour, Labaran Maku, to go to hell. It is a big scam,” Mr. Soyinka said in response to a question from journalists who sought his views on the tour.

The Nobel Laureate fielded questions from journalists at the Edo State Press Centre after visiting the Benin Moat, a major tourist attraction in the Edo State capital.

Governor Oshiomhole had on Tuesday revealed that he had rejected a multi-million naira proposal by Mr. Maku asking him to bankroll the so-called “Good Governance Tour”.

Speaking at a seminar on tax laws in the state on Benin, Mr. Oshiomhole said he was not prepared to waste the state’s limited resources on an unnecessary project conceived and promoted by the federal government.

“It is not proper to use Edo State tax payers’ money to finance a Federal Government programme,” the governor said. “If they pay me a courtesy visit, I will receive them, but I don’t have a dime to spend on them because I do not need them to come to tell Edo people how I built roads and schools. My achievement speaks for me.”

He said Mr. Maku’s team had sent in a proposal requesting him to provide accommodation, feeding and logistics for over 120 delegates when they visit the state next week. He said he opposed the proposal when it was tabled for discussion at a Governors’ Forum meeting sometime ago.

“Whenever Edo State government officials travel to Abuja for official duties, the state takes responsibility and not the Federal Government,” Mr. Oshiomhole said.

However, the Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, denounced Mr. Oshiomhole a day later, saying the controversial exercise received the backing of all 36 state governors.

“I confirm and reaffirm that we all (governors) collectively agreed to this programme,” Mr. Uduaghan said.

Mr. Maku has been travelling with a delegation of officials, journalists and civil groups to states purportedly to highlight projects achieved by the federal and state governments.

The delegation has covered more than 15 states, and the tour, dismissed by critics as a jamboree, is continuing.

Sincere 9gerian: @Moderator,
Front page pls!

But you said previously that you dont beg for Front Page. Why this

He said, “We have gone through a painstaking procurement process that lasted for about 13 months and at the end of the procurement the preferred bidder has emerged. It is important to let Nigerians know that very competent consortia bid for this particular project.

If procurement process could last for 13 months, I wonder how long it will take to deliver the bridge. Just an observation, Abeg Insincere_9igerian no kill me oo, I know say na your work you dey do

The biggest chunk of the payoffs went to Nduka Obaigbena's Leaders and Company Ltd, the publishers of ThisDay newspapers, Raymond Dokpesi's Daar Communications PLC, owners of African Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower FM, John Momoh's Channels Television Ltd, and Newswatch Communications Ltd, publishers of Newswatch magazine whose chief executive is Ray Ekpu.

SaharaReporters has obtained detailed draft charges that never made it to the courts regarding the brazen looting of Rivers State treasury by the state’s former governor, Peter Odili. The documents show how Mr. Odili used a combination of government officials and personal companies disguised as fronts to fleece Rivers State to the tune of N100 billion between 2004 and 2007.

Saharareporters’ analysis of the draft charges, which were prepared by well-known Nigerian lawyer Festus Keyamo on behalf of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under the chairmanship of Mrs. Farida Waziri, reveal that, between December 2004 and September 2006, Emmanuel Nkatah, a personal staff of the governor operating at the Rivers State liaison office in Abuja, alone withdrew over N4 billion naira from Zenith Bank account No. 6010916567 which belonged to Rivers State Government House.


The 220-count draft indictment targeted Mr. Odili and 24 others regarding allegations of theft, conspiracy to commit theft, money laundering and fraud.

The draft charges listed other accused persons and beneficiaries of Mr. Odili’s extensive looting. The list includes founder of Arik Airline, Johnson Arumemi-Ikhide, former Minister of Aviation, Babalola Borisade, two former People's Democratic Party chairmen, Ahmadu Alli and Barnabas Gemade. Also listed as co-accused are Pauline K. Tallen, Mrs. Olufemi Agagu, Ike Nwachukwu, a retired general, and Ukandi Damanchi, a professor.

The businesses named in the charge sheet include Courage Communications Ltd, Attn Ltd, Ragolis Water Ltd, M/S Wetland Health Services Ltd, Transky Ltd, Foby Eng. Ltd, First Medical/Sterile Company Ltd, Habila Resources Ltd, Rockson Engineering Co. Ltd, Ojemai Farms Ltd, Ojemai Investments Ltd, and Godsonic Oil Company Ltd, an oil company owned by Peter Odili which also has business interests in the Nigeria/Sao Tome Joint Development Zone (JDZ) Block 4.

The documents reveal, for instance, that between January 2004 and December 2006, Mr. Johnson Arumemi-Ikhide, the alter ego of Rockson Eng. Ltd, received over N60 billion from the accounts of the Rivers State government. Also between September 2005 and the year 2006, Mr. Borishade was the beneficiary of an illegal diversion of over N4 billion in the guise that it would be used to rehabilitate Port Harcourt International Airport. On March 3rd and March 10th 2006, then Governor Odili withdrew the sum of $2 million U.S. dollars for personal use but in the guise that the money would be used to sponsor senior government officials on a trip abroad. As his tenure as governor drew to a close, Mr. Odili intensified the questionable withdrawals. On March 16, 2007, he withdrew another $2 million for the same purpose of sponsoring senior government officials on a foreign trip. On April 20th 2007, he withdrew another $2 million for the same purpose. On May 23, 2007, days before he left office, he withdrew another $1 million.

Of particular interest in the indictments is Mr. Odili’s corrupt entanglement with several major media organs. The charge sheet listed some media companies that received huge sums of money from Mr. Odili’s loot. SaharaReporters learnt that the dole-outs to the media were designed to buy their silence.

The biggest chunk of the payoffs went to Nduka Obaigbena's Leaders and Company Ltd, the publishers of ThisDay newspapers, Raymond Dokpesi's Daar Communications PLC, owners of African Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower FM, John Momoh's Channels Television Ltd, and Newswatch Communications Ltd, publishers of Newswatch magazine whose chief executive is Ray Ekpu.

In particular, the charge sheet stated that between 2004 and 2007, Gov. Odili channeled almost N2 billion to Daar Communication, over N300 million to Leaders and Company, N50 million to Channels Television Ltd and over N100 million to Newswatch Communications Ltd. all received part of the loot from Mr. Odili's slush fund.

In addition, Mr. Odili was notorious for doling out cash to numerous prominent editors, columnists and reporters. Thanks to his policy of bribing the media, he received little or no negative publicity during his eight-year rule. “Governor Odili presided over Rivers State at a time when a lot of revenue was rolling in here,” said a Port Harcourt-based politician. “Yet, the state capital, Port Harcourt, was in very bad condition and the state had no good roads or other infrastructure. Where did all the money go? Why did members of the press not ask questions?”

Sometimes, Mr. Odili splashed cash on party officials as well as other notable figures. Among those who received N20 million each were Mr. Ahmadu Ali, Mrs. Olufemi Agagu, Mr. Barnabas Gemade, and retired General Ike Nwachukwu.

The documents indicate that the scale at which public funds were converted to private use was staggering. There was clear evidence of money laundering and blatant stealing of Rivers State funds for the personal use of the governor and his cronies.

Mr. Odili’s legal trouble started on October 31, 2006 when a petition came into the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The commission launched investigations into various allegations of corruption and financial crimes leveled against Mr. Odili and other officials of the Rivers State Government. On December 12, 2006, the EFCC issued an interim investigative report and prepared a draft of 223 charges against the governor.

In a counter-move, the then Attorney-General of the state, and later Nigeria's Foreign Affairs minister, Odein Ajumogobia, on February 23, 2007 sued the EFCC, the then Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rotimi Amaechi, and other defendants in a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt. In the suit, Mr. Ajumogobia asked Justice Ibrahim Nyaure Buba of the federal High Court in port Harcourt to bar the EFCC from investigating, prosecuting or ever harassing Mr. Odili and officials of his administration. In the suit (number FHC/PH/CS/78/2007), the then Attorney-General claimed that the EFCC had no powers to investigate the state government and that such a move went contrary to provisions of Nigeria’s Constitution which gave such power to the State House of Assembly. The suit asked the court to bar the EFCC from sharing whatever information it had gathered with the media or coercing the State House of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings on the governor.

On March 20, 2007, Justice Buba granted the Rivers State government all that the state’s Attorney-General prayed for in what is now called a perpetual injunction. Upon leaving office, Mr. Peter Odili again went to court and asked that he should be made a beneficiary of the perpetual injunction granting him permanent immunity from prosecution. Again, Justice Buba’s court agreed. The judge imposed “a perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC from arresting, detaining and arraigning Odili on the basis of his tenure as governor based on the purported investigation.”

In 2007, the Nuhu Ribadu led EFCC claimed they immediately file an appeal but the court of appeal never assigned the case as Mary Odili was a judge with enormous powers at the Court during the period.

Again in 2008, the EFCC filed an appeal against Justice Buba’s ruling. In the brief, the EFCC argued that the commission had the right under the statute that created it to investigate economic crimes allegedly committed by the state government and Mr. Odili. It also argued that the Buba Court was wrong in proceeding with an “Original Summons when it was obvious that the parties were in serious contentions on the facts.” The appeal described Justice Buba’s action as “at best incompetent,” insisting that the court “lacked jurisdiction” to hear the case. It concluded that “the judge was wrong to have issued the declaratory orders and injunctions against the Appellant (EFCC) which amount to prohibiting [the EFCC] from carrying out its statutory functions and setting aside its report when in fact the report was not even placed before him.”

Five years after, the EFCC’s appeal is still at the Appeal Court of Nigeria in the Port Harcourt judicial division waiting for the lower court’s verdict to be vacated.

Meanwhile, Mr. Odili also went to the same court and on January 27, 2011 won a ruling that he should be joined as an interested party in the substantial case.

However, no date has been set for the hearing. Sources close to Saharareporters said that the administrations of former President Umaru Yar’Adua and incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan have had no interest in seeing Mr. Odili tried. “Both President Yar’Adua and now President Jonathan subtly encouraged the no-action status quo,” a legal source in Abuja told SaharaReporters.

In fact, while Mr. Odili’s charges had been prepared and awaiting filing at the Federal High court, President Jonathan nominated his wife, Mary Odili, to the Supreme Court in May 2011. Several sources told SaharaReporters that Mrs. Odili played a key role in the plot to scuttle the wide-ranging indictment against her husband.

After governing the oil-rich Rivers State from 1999 to 2007, Mr. Odili ran for president in 2007. But he was forced to withdraw when some interests within his party confronted him with the numerous allegations of embezzlement of government funds during his governorship.

In his autobiography, Conscience and History, published last year, Mr. Odili acknowledged that he negotiated the charges against him with then President Olusegun Obasanjo. Mr. Odili offered to drop his presidential bid in exchange for a sort of soft landing that initially included being offered the Vice-Presidential slot. That slot was later given to Mr. Goodluck Jonathan.

Former Governor Odili is one of the nine governors whose corruption cases are in perpetual limbo in the courts. Others are James Ibori of Delta State, currently serving jail time in London for corruption, Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State, Joshua Dariye of Plateau State, Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia state, Lucky Igbinedion of Edo State, Saminu Turaki of Jigawa State, Boni Haruna of Adamawa State, and Jolly Nyame of Taraba State.

In spite of the swirl of corruption around Mr. Odili, he had no difficulty persuading Lincoln University, one of America’s most prestigious historically Black colleges, to accept donations from him, a fact noted by Human Rights Watch. By the end of 2006, Mr. Odili had become one of the school’s largest donors, with at least $1.64 million in donations. During that year, the university bestowed a controversial honorary degree on Mr. Odili. Lincoln held a luncheon in his honor, and named a building after him, actions that drew outrage from Nigerian groups as well as Human Rights Watch.

Political sources in Abuja told SaharaReporters that several factors have helped Mr. Odili evade prosecution so far. One factor is his wife, whose position as a justice of the Supreme Court makes her an insider who is able to ensure that her husband will not face a no-nonsense judge. Another factor is that Mr. Odili was very close to former President Obasanjo, and was an early and enthusiastic supporter of Mr. Obasanjo’s failed plan to change the Nigerian constitution in order to continue as president. Besides, since the end of his tenure as governor, Mr. Odili has moved to Abuja where he maintains a quiet profile, making as little political noise as possible. After years of feuding with his successor, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Mr. Odili and the Rivers State governor had a kind of reconciliation in 2011, just as Mrs. Odili was elevated to Nigeria’s apex court. In a country where political considerations are often paramount, Mr. Odili has ensured that he is not perceived as a political threat to President Jonathan and other powerful political interests while his businesses which are proceeds of corruption booms.


Full Draft Charges Will Be UPLOADED On Monday...

chiover: Internal crisis in the new mega party while PDP is waxing strong. Flocks mark my word today, okorocha will soon go back to his former party which is PDP while Buhari and Tinubu wil have power prob as well. Nigerian. Politics is still at infantory

He said the relationship was for the good of Nigeria and the state in particular, adding that the partnership had yielded many dividends for the state

The opposition party said the Nigerian presidency has lost any credibility it had.

The presidency has come under intense attack for misleading the public to believe the president’s wife, Patience Jonathan, was holidaying in Germany when, indeed, she was gravely ill and closed to dying.

At a lavish thanksgiving event on Sunday, the First Lady admitted she was literally dead for seven days and her doctors lost hope.

Her position contradicted repeated assurances from President Goodluck Jonathan and aides that Mrs. Jonathan was resting.

In a statement on Monday, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, rejoiced with Mrs. Jonathan over her miraculous return, but slammed the presidency saying it lost “whatever was left of its credibility” in its handling of the events.

“While we felicitate with the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on her recovery from whatever illness it was that afflicted her, we will be remiss if we fail to recollect how the presidency denied ‘rumours’ of the First Lady illness and poured scorn on the media and the imaginary enemies of the government for fuelling the ‘satanic rumours,” the party said in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Lai Mohammed.

”We will also like to remind the presidency that its denial, instead of full disclosure that would have elicited nothing more than fervent prayers from Nigerians, fuelled the rumours that the First Lady suffered from sundry afflictions or the consequences of tummy tuck!” ACN said.

The party recalled how aides and even the president released misleading information and carried about their duties as though nothing was wrong.

“’The issue here is simple if the presidency can so shamefacedly lie on an issue of such public interest as the health of the First Lady, why should we not believe it can lie on any other issue, whether it is economy, politics, social development or any other matter?” the party asked.

“For how long has this presidency been misleading Nigerians on critical issues, since we now have reason to doubt its credibility? Does it occur to this presidency that it has turned Nigeria to a laughing stock by its now routine denials of the truth?”

The party urged the presidency to apologize for the apparent deceit and insisted on transparency.

”Like we have said time and again, any government needs to be credible to win the trust of the citizens, without which it cannot govern effectively. With the revelation by our back-from-the-dead First Lady, it is clear that the Jonathan Presidency has egg on its face, and must apologize to Nigerians for lying to them. Also, the spokesmen for this government have lost total credibility, hence their words will henceforth be taken with a pinch of salt,” the party said.

”It is sad that despite what we and many Nigerian groups and individuals have said on this issue, the Jonathan Administration took its script directly from the Yar’adua group’s book of deceit when the late President was ill and flown abroad. Now, Governors Sullivan Chime of Enugu, Danbaba Suntai of Taraba and Liyel Imoke of Cross River are all playing according to the Jonathan script.

Sincere 9gerian: I suspect GEJ initially didnt want to re-contest in 2015 (which may have necessitated his 7yr single tenure proposal). But from all indications, it appears the antics of the opposition and senseless critics have made him change his mind just to prove them WRONG.

“We really understand his (Obi) predicament and as an appointee of President Goodluck Jonathan, you do not expect him to declare open support to whatever move that is targeted at sacking the People’s Democratic Party. However, the spirit of Governor Obi is with us in APC and at the appropriate time, his body, which is presently with the PDP, will definitely join the spirit in APC.”

First Lady Patience Jonathan Admits Undergoing Nine Surgeries In One Month As Lavish Thanksgiving Party Shuts Down Abuja
About 5000 guests, including 18 state governors, have overrun Abuja for a lavish thanksgiving party thrown for Nigeria’s First Lady, Patience Jonathan, at a cost of N500 million.

Also in attendance are members of the Federal Executive Council; wives of state governors; the wife of Senate President; the Deputy Senate President; Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha; members of the National Assembly; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; the Head of the Federal Civil Service, Alhaji Bello Sali; the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria; and several members of the international community.
The function, which commenced at 3p.m. Nigerian time, is expected to go on into the late evening.

There were early invitations for 3,000 people, but the Banquet Hall of State House was quickly filled to capacity, with several guests unable to find a place to sit down.
Several trucks bearing gifts from government officials and contractors lined the streets of the presidential villa waiting to deliver gifts to the First Lady.

Our reporter saw luxury official cars parked everywhere around the Presidential Villa, from the Supreme Court to the Villa in Asokoro area of Abuja. Many of the guests parked their cars at the Eagle Square, where buses were provided to convey them to the venue of the event.

Sincere 9gerian: I like the way the president uses his powers INCREMENTALLY

coogar: you have comprehension problems....:
the official said delivery can cost up to $60,000 if there are complications. there has to be an allowance for women with multiple births and stuff so you cannot really place the minimum value on child birth. i think $140,000 is about right.

the official did not say they would charge $140,000 or $60,000 for every delivery - she only said it can cost up to that if there were to be complications - especially women who deliver quintuplets and quadruplets.....so you people should read and comprehend before ptyalising bullshyte!




you are a consummate rëtard, you homoerotic illiterate!

US Embassy Chief of Consular Section, Ms. Carol Cox, in an interview with select journalists in Abuja, yesterday disclosed that it would cost at least $60,000 to have a baby in the US.

In instances where complications arise from the delivery, the medical bills may go as high as $140,000.
Availability of the funds, Cox said is very important as it is necessary to ensure that American taxpayers do not have to pay such bills.
“We owe the American public who pay taxes to make sure that those who seek medical services in the US pay for such services. This is essential because there are those who have the money and are not willing to pay.