₦airaland Forum

How police, soldiers burnt Abala community witness (1)

It was more like a commando operation, a repeat of the Odi massacre when soldiers stormed and set the place on fire. But this time around, it happened in Abala autonomous community, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State. However, police and the community are trading words over who takes responsibility for this crime against humanity. Whereas the community is blaming the police and soldiers, the police, on the other hand, insist they had nothing to do with carnage. In this interview with Correspondent, Ben Duru, an eyewitness who doesn't want his picture printed, Nnenna Udo, traced the root of the crisis to the time the police and soldiers stormed the community. Excerpts:


Could you tell us what happened in your community recently?


Last Wednesday about 4 O'clock in the evening, we were in the village, Abala autonomous community, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, I travelled home. Actually, I travelled home on Tuesday evening and in the morning I saw the villagers running to every direction in confusion. I asked them what was happening, but no one stopped to answer me, they kept running in different direction. I now discovered that policemen and soldiers were gathered everywhere, burning houses. So, everyone in the village fled to different directions.
What actually did you see?


I saw the policemen and soldiers setting houses on fire. Before that day the policemen and soldiers were trailing a gang of armed robbers, passing through the area to a nearby community. If you know Abala community very well, it is like a roundabout with one road leading to Akwa Ibom State and the other leading to Ukwa Local Government, that is, Azumiri, Akirika and the one leading to Abala. So, they were trailing these armed robbers. Before the police came we saw many vehicles passing through the village and within a short time we also saw police vehicle following the vehicles used by the armed robbery suspects. About four in the evening we started hearing gunshots everywhere and people started running in confusion. People thought there was an invasion of the village nearby, because it was so serious that even where we were staying people were already fleeing. The following day police and soldiers came and started burning houses.

About how many houses were burnt on that day?


[b]The houses the police and soldiers burnt were more than 50, especially in my own area. In my compound, we had three buildings burnt; my father owns two and my uncle one. These buildings, including the kitchen the police and soldiers burnt all. The thing is too much to understand. You see people who stored oil in drums in their houses; everything went up in flames. The house of an Assistant Commissioner of Police from the area was also burnt; another storey building belonging to a popular businessman based in Aba was completely razed to the ground. This man deals in building materials and had some of his materials in the house; everything was totally burnt. Houses that belong to important men in the village were also completely burnt, and the worse thing was that most of these people were not around when this thing happened. Nobody knew what the police and soldiers were going to do, we suddenly saw them and immediately they entered the village they started to setting the buildings ablaze. Properties worth billions of naira were lost because majority of the people, especially the important people in our community were not around when the burning started. [/b] Did anybody in the village get to know why the police and soldiers embarked on this action?


[b]We don't know, and the police and soldiers did not tell us anything. In fact, immediately they entered the village they started shooting in different directions to scare everybody away. As the people were running for dear life, the police and soldiers began to set the buildings on fire, nobody had the courage to stop and ask why they were doing what they were doing, because we believed that with the way they entered the village anybody who tried to question them would be killed instantly. They destroyed everything, from household property to cash crops, goats, fowls everything around especially those belonging to those who rear their goats and chickens inside their compounds. But all we know is that the police were trailing criminals the previous day, but both the criminals and the police did not stop in our village. If you want to see the police, I can lead you there, so you can understand what I am talking about. Where the police and the armed robbery suspects engaged in shooting is very far from our village. We knew there was a shoot-out because we saw the vehicles of the armed robbery suspects when they were passing, but we did not then except when we immediately saw the police vehicles also trailing them, with up to five patrol vans and it was after sometime that we started hearing gunshots and the whole village began to flee in confusion. The following day we heard that police vehicles were burnt and the criminals made away with some money. [/b]

To be continued tomorrow


http://nigeriaworld.com/cgi-bin/axs/ax.pl?http://odili.net/news/source/2009/feb/23/702.html

LUTH and the shame of a nation

SIR: I had reason to visit LUTH recently, and I was appalled at what I saw. Though I had read several reports about the decay in the once glorious teaching hospital, I never for once imagined that the institution had reached the fabled ground zero.


The entire environment looked like a huge junkyard. The whole place was so filthy that I was surprised that decent men and women who perhaps have visited hospitals like LUTH abroad could allow the place to degenerate so badly.

I wept when I entered the House Officers quarters. I could not hide my disgust as I told my hosts that their environment was a monumental eyesore. The stairs were filthy, the surroundings were filled with junk and terrible smells oozed from the gutters and sewage nearby. I am afraid that those who go to LUTH to seek medical care face a double jeopardy. They will probably not receive quality care, and the filthy environment may make their condition worse. Passing by the supposed CMD lodge, I saw that the house was decrepit and abandoned. It reflected the image of a king who had abdicated his throne.

There was only one positive sight for my sore eyes. These were the graceful royal palms that lined the entrance to the hospital. They still appeared well-tended. I pray and hope that one mad man may not fell those trees someday. They remind us that LUTH may become graceful again

:-x

:d

what about those that claim they are not Nigerian??

Drug traffickers: ‘Number of igbos in foreign jails unknown’
By John Ameh, Abuja

The Director-General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mr. Lanre Ipinmisho, said on Thursday that the number of Nigerians involved in the trafficking of hard drugs across international borders had taken a frightening dimension.

Lanre Ipinmesho, DG, NDLEA

He called for additional support for the agency by all segments of the Nigerian society to combat the problem, which, he said, was fast destroying the country.

Ipinmisho, who appeared before the House of Representatives’ Committee on the Diaspora, headed by Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa in Abuja, disclosed that as at 2005, about 1,120 Nigerians were languishing in jails outside the country for drug-related offences.

The NDLEA boss admitted that the figures were grossly underestimated as the agency did not have the figures for 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

He blamed the lack of reliable statistics on the alleged non-compliance with Section 45 of the NDLEA Act by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ipinmisho said, “This section mandates all heads of Nigerian diplomatic missions abroad to forward to the NDLEA every six months, statistics of Nigerians in jail abroad for drug offences.

“Lack of cooperation stems from foreign countries particularly the Western world of United Kingdom and the United States of America.”

Reacting to the statistics provided by Ipinmisho, Dabiri-Erewa and other members of the committee expressed shock, saying that the situation demanded urgent intervention from government.

She said, “Obviously, this is not good for us as nation. It is not good for our image. The NDLEA needs massive support, in funding and logistics.”

“At the level of the committee, we shall try and assist by collaborating with the Committee on Foreign Affairs to overcome some of your challenges.”


“These countries refuse to provide relevant information relating to Nigerians involved in drug trafficking in their countries on grounds that double jeopardy exists in the Nigerian law –Decree 33 of 1990.”

Giving a breakdown of current available statistics, he said that over 600 Nigerians were in jail in Thailand as at 2002, out which 521 were transferred home between 2003 and 2008.

There were 229 in Russia (2001); 226 in Pakistan (2006); 28 in Indonesia (2003); another 12 in the same country in (2004); and 25 in Italy (2004).

“As can be seen from above, the statistics available are not up to date and very unreliable as the agency neither has the capacity nor the resources to gather these statistics.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a very crucial role to perform in this respect”, he added.

But, quoting from the 2008 report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for West and Central Africa , Ipinmisho stated that out of 1,357 couriers arrested, “Nigerian citizens were by far more detected nationally, accounting for about 57 per cent of the total arrested.”

He noted, “Between 2005 and 2008, at least 46 tons of Cocaine were seized in West African Sub-Region; this is alarming when compared with the fact that before then, the entire continent hardly seized a ton.

“About 3.4 tons of Cocaine were seized from 1, 357 West African couriers on commercial flights from West Africa to Europe between 2004 and 2008.

“53 per cent of those arrested in South Africa in 2005 were Nigerians while in 2006, 31 per cent of those arrested for drug trafficking in France were Nigerians.”

The DG, who told the committee that the “problem was getting more alarming”, said it had reached a point where out of every 100 suspects arrested, 55 per cent were Nigerians.

“Sadly, 90 per cent of these Nigerians are from the South-East, especially Anambra State .

“We have been engaging the South-East governors, traditional and religious leaders in discussions and they are doing something about it,” he stated.

Locally, he revealed that Kano State had the highest number of consumption of all illicit drugs, while the South-West supplied 90 per cent of Cannabis Sativa (Indian hemp) in the country.

Meanwhile, the House in plenary, mandated the joint Committee on the Diaspora, Foreign Affairs and Justice to investigate within three weeks and submit a report on the circumstances leading to the killing of a Nigerian, Shefiu Salaudeen, in Ukraine on January 18, 2009.

http://www.punchng.com/article_comments.aspx?theartic=Art2009012339235

igbo man.

igbo man.

Kidnappers abduct Dep CBN Gov’s mother in Imo
Written by Tony Edike
Monday, 23 February 2009


ENUGU—THE aged mother of the Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Ernest Ebi was kidnapped Saturday night by unknown persons from heraged mother of the Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Ernest Ebiof Imo State.
Madam Ebi said to be over 70 years, was kidnapped by a six-man gang, who stormed her home at about 7 pm Saturday in two unmarked private cars, a Toyota Cressida and a Mazda.

Sources close to the family said the woman was being driven into her compound when the assailants who were trailing the vehicle from a distance forced their way into the premises and forced her into their vehicle, leaving her driver behind.

According to a source, although the kidnappers were armed with sophisticated weapons, they did not release any shot as they met no resistance.

“They dragged the woman into one of their cars and drove away unchallenged. Before taking her away, they made sure that she was with her GSM handset apparently to ensure easy communication with members of her family,” the source said.

It was learnt that when some members of her family and sympathisers called the phone few minutes later, the kidnappers answered and requested that the call be repeated later as they were too busy to take the call at the time.

The source said that when the kidnappers were reached on the same line yesterday, they demanded a huge sum of money as ransom, but the amount could not be immediately confirmed, even though it was learnt that the family was willing to negotiate the release of the woman without much delay.

“We are really worried by this ugly development because one can’t understand why these hoodlums should continue to terrorize innocent people in this area without any intervention by the law enforcement agencies. The woman is aged and you can imagine the trauma she would pass through as a result of this evil act. We just hope that they will not harm her,” the source added.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/29422/45/

Nigeria: Meningitis Ravages the North - Over 70 Reported Dead, Hundreds Infected
Damaturu
21 February 2009


Aliyu M. Hamagam — Outbreaks of Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis continue to rear their ugly heads in Northern Nigeria, even as statistics revealed continue to raise concerns. In Kano State, the disease has led to the death of 21 persons out of the 278 cases reported in the state.

The Deputy Director, Disease Control of the state's Ministry of Health Dr. Ashiru Rajab, said a total of 278 cases have been reported since the outbreak of the disease in November 2008. Then in Yobe State, many people, including children and women have been confirmed dead following an outbreak in about ten local government areas in the state.

The representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the state, Dr. Isa Adamu, confirmed this in Damaturu yesterday and stated that Gulani, Fune and Fika Local Government Areas have recorded more casualties. Dr. Isa said at present about 178 cases have been reported in the affected local government. "As for the deaths, I cannot give you figures now but we are trying to collate reports from the affected areas to come out with a comprehensive and up to date report on the disease," he said.

Alarmingly, in Gombe State, the disease has claimed the lives 14 people with 224 infected patients undergoing treatment in various health facilities across the state. Speaking to newsmen in his office, Gombe's Commissioner of Health, Dr. Isa Umar, said the first suspected case of the epidemic was reported from Funakaye Local Government area, where it was identified that the outbreak started from a Qur'anic school of almajiri setting. He added that the ministry swooped into action by embarking into immunization of all the Qur'nic schools in the area, saying this had become necessary for subjecting the situation of the epidemic under control in the LGA which had help in only recording the death of a single individual. The North-East's coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Hajiya Fatima Abdu Usman disclosed this to Weekly Trust in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Although Kaduna State heeded the warning of the impending epidemic, the outbreak in Ikara Local Government caught its officials napping. Dr. Everton Yarison, the Commissioner of Health, said: "Actually, we have been preparing since last year because there were warnings of an impending outbreak of Meningitis in the North. Before you embark on mass immunisation, especially when you have an epidemic, you have to determine the strain of the bacteria. There are many types of antigens, the seed of the disease. You have to be sure of the antigens that you are vaccinating against. Unfortunately, when the disease breaks out - and even when you know clinically that it is Meningitis - you have to have a laboratory back-up so as to know the antigen that you are dealing with so that you can be able to give effective vaccines. And there is only one of such laboratories in the country and it is in Lagos." Yarison said that is the main problem the healthcare officials fighting the disease are facing.

According to Dr. Rajab in Kano, "since the outbreak of the disease last November to date, we have recorded a total of 278 cases in 28 of the 44 local governments areas of the state and out of this figure, 21 people did not survive". He added that the state's health ministry is not surprised at the outbreak of the disease. "The World Health Organization has already alerted states about the anticipated outbreak therefore we have taken all control measures. This happens every ten years or so". Dr Rajab further explained that the state has also embarked on reactive immunization where only people in affected areas are immunized as against the mass immunization saying, this is as a result of shortage in the supply of the vaccine from the Federal Ministry of Health. "[Kano] state has in stock oily chloramphenicol, which is one of the strongest drugs in treating the disease in all hospitals across the state," Dr. Rajab said.

Yarison, in Kaduna, cautioned against lackadaisical approach to signs of the disease. "This is an epidemic and it has the tendency of spreading rapidly. What we are doing is to prepare to go in for treatment in those areas where the cases have been reported, since the vaccines have not arrived. People should as much as possible stay in airy environments because Meningitis thrives where there is poor ventilation and over-crowding. Also, we should boil our water before drinking." In addition, he said, personal hygiene is of utmost importance. Curiously, Yarison mentioned that even states in the country which were not hitherto in the 'Meningitis zone', like Ebonyi, Cross River and Akwa Ibom, have recorded cases. "The Meningitis belt is growing, even in Africa. It used to stop around Equitorial Guinea but it has extended down."

Gombe's Commissioner of Health, Dr. Umar said the disease was commonly found in Northern Nigeria because the region lies within what he described as the 'West African Meningitis belt'.

In Maiduguri, Usman said 824 cases of Meningitis were recorded in Jigawa and then out of this figure, 54 deaths were recorded. A laboratory analysis was carried out. Out of the analysis, 10 were negative while 25 were Positive Type A and one case was Positive Type B. Usman said even though Borno enjoys a calm weather at the moment, is very prone to attacks because there are lots of densely populated areas, while the state is famous for intense heat which is likely to be witnessed in a month to come.

In Yobe, the people of Ngalda village in Fika Local Government Area expressed disappointment with poor response from the state Ministry of Health despite an outbreak reported some days ago in Bajoga Local Government area of neighbouring Gombe, which claimed several lives. A resident of Ngalda, Mallam Musa, said: "The state authorities have no explanation to give because this has been an annual occurrence, so they should have taken measures to save the people".

Relevant Links
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Back in Borno, Usman said that NEMA has already began campaigning to sensitise people on preventive measures as she urged that especially authorities in boarding schools and residents of crowded areas on the need to adopt preventive measures which include avoidance of sleeping in congested rooms, leaving windows opened through out, reporting symptoms such as severe headache, fever and stiffness around the neck to hospitals while those affected should be isolated to avoid spread.

With varying levels of treatment carried out across the states of the North - and the shocking inclusion of states not typically within the 'Meningitis Belt,' - varying results are bound to be recorded. But as the people of Ngalda village rightly raised alarm, will it be enough? That is the question on the lips of concerned Nigerians.

Police battle prostitutes in Abuja
By Jide Babalola
Published: Sunday, 22 Feb 2009
efforts by the police to rid the federal capital, Abuja, of prostitutes may after all not come to fruition as the latter have vowed to continue in the ancient business.

The police, SUNDAY PUNCH learnt, began surprise raids and prosecution of suspected prostitutes last Sunday in a bid to contain the rising incidence of prostitution in the city.

However, barely few days after the crackdown started, many prostitutes, including those caught and taken to court, had resurfaced and resumed the business in full swing.

”They are an adamant lot, but if they refuse to listen and insist on practising prostitution in this city, we will continue to raid their usual spots and arrest them.

“We will continue taking them to court for prosecution,” the Area Commander of Metro Police Station in Maitama, Mr. Sunday Odukoya, told Sunday Punch.

Odukoya, a Chief Superintendent of Police who is heading the operation, asserted that the police were determined to rid the city of crime and the ubiquitous prostitutes.

At Maitama Police Station, where 53 suspects were paraded on Monday, many of them said their arrest by policemen was an unfair act that could not bring the business to an end.

”We do not want to be a burden on anybody, that is why some of us are doing this business. If there is no customer, and if not for ‘condition‘, nobody will be doing this. Nobody came to look at Zuma rock; we are all struggling to make it in this Abuja,” a young girl who gave her name as Agnes told SUNDAY PUNCH.

In an interview with our correspondent, Police Public Relations Officer in the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Moshood Jimoh, admitted that the existing legal provisions placed a strong limitation on how far the police could go towards stopping prostitution.

”Police raids began along major roads such as Ademola Adetokunbo Street, Herbert Macaulay Way and in known prostitute hangouts around Wuse area of Abuja around midnight last Sunday.

“Fifty-three ladies with indecent dressing and those suspected of wandering or soliciting for men were picked up and taken to the Maitama Police Station.

”The only basis we can presently charge them is for breach of Section 183 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, by constituting public nuisance but we believe that such raids will serve as a deterrence to many. The fines they are made to pay in court tend to be so light that many of them go back into the trade immediately they are freed,” he stated.

At an Abuja Magistrate court where the suspects were taken on Monday, one Sandra Ochor was discharged for being under the statutory age of 18.

The presiding magistrate, Mrs. Josephine Obianor, set her free because she pledged to discontinue with prostitution.

Nine others who pleaded guilty were fined N1,000 each.

They are Nancy John, Joy Ojo, Patience Sunday, Gift Benson, Jennifer Obiagwu, Blessing John, Stella James, Joy Samuel and Lilian Akabueze.

Forty-two others who pleaded not guilty were granted bail in the sum of N10,000 and ordered to bring one surety each.

Further hearing in the case has been adjourned to Thursday.

In spite of police crackdown, findings indicate that hordes of young, scantily dressed ladies were openly seeking men along major roads in Abuja.

”Unemployment, poverty and the looting of national resources along with inadequate moral enlightenment by parents account for the widespread prostitution in Abuja. Our so-called big men who lavish so much for one night of perversion, are also to blame,” Mr. Moses Adedeji of the Childrens‘ Rights Network told Sunday Punch

Home News National News Assassins kill Ebo, PDP chieftain in Abia

Assassins kill Ebo, PDP chieftain in Abia
Written by ANAYO OKOLI
Sunday, 22 February 2009

A PDP chieftain, Mr. Rex Ebo was, Thursday night, killed by unknown persons in Umuahia. Ebo was killed, according to sources at about 10.30 p.m. He hailed from Aforugiri in Umuahia North Council Area of Abia state, and was said to be about 55 years old.
Incidentally, Ebo, an American based business man was gunned down directly in front of the railway police station, near the Abia State secretariat of NUJ. The killers were said to have gunned down Ebo and drove away his red-coloured jeep.

It was not clear whether it was a case of assassination or armed robbery.

A father of four, Ebo’s family still lives in the United States of America, where his business of hospital equipment supplies still goes on. Ebo was said to have actively participated in the campaign by Chief Onyema Ugochukwu of PDP to contest the governorship of Abia State which the party lost finally last week.

He was said to have been around since the election 2007 till he was killed, but intermitently visited America to see his family and business.

There were varying reports of how Ebo was killed. One source said that he was relaxing at a small joint opposite the railway police station when his killers came and inquired of the owner of the jeep. On coming out they were said to have demanded for the key which he gave them before they pumped volumes of bullets in him, and drove off with the jeep.

Another version said that he was chatting with some body in front of the joint when the people came and demanded for the car key and immediately pumped volumes of bullets in him. They aimed at the chest region which also scattered one of his arms. He died instantly.

His body was removed yesterday morning by his relations and political associates and deposited at the Alaoma Specialist Hospital morgue. The relations and political associates were seen at the Central police station yesterday afternoon where they had gone to make formal report. Sunday Vanguard learnt that the operator of the bar was picked up and had made statement at the central police station.

Telephone calls to the police commissioner, Mr. Edgar Nanakumo was not picked Saturday evening. The telephone rang out three times but was not picked. An aide in his office said that he was out of town on official duty, and the telephone of the PPRO, Mr. Ali Okechukwu was also not through when called.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/29340/43/

Akunyili, UN Envoy In Verbal War
Christian Okeke, Abuja - 21.02.2009

IT was a bitter experience on Friday as the Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili and the country representative of United Nations Childrens’ Fund (UNICEF), Dr. Suomi Sakai engaged in hot exchanges over the controverisal figure assigned to Nigeria in the 2009 State of the World’s Children Report.


The report has it that 189 out of 1,000 births which translates to one death out of every five before the age of five year were recorded in Nigeria. On maternal mortality ratio, the figure of 1, 100 maternal deaths per 100, ooo live births was announced at the launch and that translates to one maternal death in every nine live births. Also, under exclusive breast feeding, the report says that the country’s status is 17% for 2009, indicating an icrease form 11.7% in 2007.


Though, the minister vent his anger against the statistics, fresh trouble started when the UNICEF boss paid a visit to the minister not knowing that it was going to turn to a scene of verbal war.


It was at that point that the minister who seemed to have been ‘laying ambush’ on her immediately swooped on and lashed out on her on the ‘shoddy’ job done by her office.


In her words, “Those figures should be reviewed. Last year when I complained of 2008 figure, I was told it was 2003/2004 statistics and it is very wrong that we are still using 2003 data in 2009. No, it is unfair on Nigeria as it tells us as a place where children are dying like rats. And it is wrong at this period we are talking about rebranding.”


As if the defence was unbearable, the no-nonsense minister replied Dr. Sakai who was already sobing, “We are not going to put ourselves down just because we want to get grant. I should appeal to those people who wish to publish controversial figures against the country just to attract fund to have a rethink. In this era of rebranding, Nigeria is no longer going to accept that and enough is enough. If we get that kind of unacceptable figures again, we are going to send independent researchers to the field and use their figure to contradict that”.


http://www.tribune.com.ng/21022009/news/news14.html

Ogun spends N1.5b on Daniel’s 50th birthday, foreign trips 21/2/09

By our reporter

THE Ogun State government has been accused of spending over N1.5b on the 50th birthday celebration of the state governor,Otunba Gbenga Daniel, foreign trips and what has been described as “maintenance of law and order” between 2004 and 2006.
A petition sent to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes Commission (ICPC) and the Inspector General of Police has alleged large scale spending spree in the state.
According to the petition, Daniel and his wife, Yeye Olufunke, embarked on 49 and 31 foreign trips respectively at a cost of N450 million.
The petitioner also alleged that the state spent N487,968,745 during the governor’s 50th birthday celebrations.
Giving a breakdown, the petitioner said the sum of N15,202,560 was spent in paying for the celebration, another N1,200,000 on production of personal memoir with cheque no 00000695 drawn in favour of a new generation bank, another cheque of N7,242,560 from the same bank.
The petitioner reveals further that a cheque of N1.5m in respect of the birthday was also issued. The money was withdrawn from a first generation bank. The cheque number was given as 41640863.
Also in preparation for a get-together for the birthday, N5,260,000 was issued in respect of the same first generation bank, the petitioner alleged.
In 2005, during the governor’s 49

thbirthday celebration, it was alleged that two separate cheques were issued for the lecture delivered on that day. The amounts, N1,550,000 and N807,400 were withdrawn from the defunct Bond bank.


The governor was further accused of spending N281m on what the petitioner described as "maintenance of law and order."

In the petition, it was alleged that N23m was spent in combating cultism under such titles as "curbing violence in Ogun State".

"Government claims that it spent an average of N1, on "Anti-Violence Committee" on campuses every month while cash position as at May 21, 2004 recorded that N1.5m was spent," the petition equally alleged.

But this was contrary to the actual as records showed that N300,000 was paid to the committee for the month of August 2004 while N1m was recorded as having been spent on eradication of cultism. Another sum of N7.4m "was recorded to have been dolled out to Youth leaders in Ogun State," the petitioner alleged.

The sum of N303m was also spent as risk allowance, according to the petition. The breakdown is as follows: a cheque of N5m (N5,095,455) in favour of the Secretary to the State Government on July 2, 2006. It was drawn on a new generation bank, on July 17, 2006, N5m while N8.8m was also drawn in September 2004.

"Still under the cover of Special Security Vote," the state spent N90m. The amount was withdrawn through a cheque issued in favour of a first generation bank.

Since 2004, about N173m was allegedly dolled out to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) women on a quarterly basis, it was further alleged.

The breakdown: the governor released N2,490,000 in the third quarter (as at July 2, 2004) but this increased to N4,190,000 on May 13, 2005. It was drawn on another new generation bank cheque.

The state government-owned hotel, Gateway Hotel was also a beneficiary as it received a total of N280, 652,000. In November, 2003, a first tranche of N3,500,000 was paid for outstanding bills while the debt rose to N15m by April 2004. Between April and May 2005, the hotel further received the sum of N10,797,013.

Another cheque of N30m was equally issued to the hotel in two instalments. They were all debts owed the hotel.

"The government is claiming to still owe the hotel an outstanding of N45,000,000, the petitioner alleges.

The petition further reveals that a catering outfit in the state was also a beneficiary of the government’s largesse.

Between May 2004, and March 2006, the outfit received N7m, N5,131,252 and N1.5m, respectively from the government.

http://www.thenationonlineng.com/dynamicpage.asp?id=77710

nna man.

;d