₦airaland Forum

FG Inaugurates 15-man committee on sale of babies in Aba Hospital
Written by Chinyere Amalu
Thursday, 19 February 2009

The Federal Government has inaugurated a 15-man committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged sale of babies by Dr. James Ezuma of Ezuma hospital, Aba, in Abia State. Inaugurating the committee today in Abuja, Health Minister Professor Babatunde Oshotimehin, directed the Registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), to investigate the allegation as contained in the publication and to report the findings to him within one week.

It could be recalled that a serious report of unwholesome medical practices was published in the Newswatch magazine of 12th January 2009 involving one Dr. James Ezuma, a registered medical practitioner.

According to the minister, “accordingly, the Registrar constituted a six-man committee on 29th January, 2009 to carry out the investigation.

“The Six-member panel set up by the MDCN travelled to Owerri and tool evidence on the case from both the Abia State NMA president and the Director of Medical Service, Abia state Ministry of health, but could not get to Dr. Ezuma nor go to his hospital”.

He noted that based on this development, the Federal Government has decided to set up a 15- member investigation panel to carry out proper investigation on the incident and get to the root of the matter.

The terms of reference for the panel are; to review the report submitted by the Committee set up by MDCN on the directive of the minister of health; to review and recommend appropriate sanctions for the main suspect-Dr. James Ezuma where necessary; to determine the suitability or otherwise of the continues use of the hospital for the delivery of clinical services; to make appropriate recommendations to prevent a re-occurrence of such practices in future.

Oshotimehin, however, advised the panel to work fast and ensure speedy completion of the case as directed.

Responding, the Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Dogo Mohammed promised that the committee will would within the time frame and report back to the minister as directed.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/29154/42/

na wa.

:-x

Hauwa* =militia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY30JTYLejw

where in Abia people still eat human being?

those humaneaters.

Hauwa* =Almondjoy.

Oyo chief dies of gunshot wounds
By Adebayo Waheed and Adeolu Adeyemo - 19.02.2009

THE Mogaji Atingisi of Oyo town, Alhaji Rashidi Adebayo Salawu, who was shot by suspected assailants on Sunday night, is dead.

The 70-year-old man died on Tuesday night at the University College Hospital (UCH) shortly before operations could be performed on him.

The man, according to reports, was shot by a man on motorcycle before he was rushed to the hospital by Prince Ajibola Atanda.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ms. Olabisi Okuwobi, had confirmed the shooting of Mogaji Atingisi but could not confirm his death.

He was buried on Wednesday in Oyo town according to Islamic rites.

Speaking with newsmen on the demise of the deceased, a community head in Oyo town, Chief Lasisi Ayankojo, said “Atingisi’s death is very unfortunate, especially to those of us who have been target of similar attack in the past.

“We now live in fears in Oyo because of the fact that cases of murder in the town, especially that of Ashipa of Oyo, Alhaji Amuda Olorunkosebi, have been swept under the carpet.”

He, however, said his death was shocking and unexpected, while calling on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, to fish out the killers.

“We implore the IG, through the Commissioner of Police in the state, to help us fish out the perpetrators of these heinous crimes,” he said.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/19022009/news/news15.html

;d

closed thread,
GOOD BYE THREAD.

Yar'Adua suspends NERC boss, commissioners
Written by Emma Ujah Abuja Bureau Chief
Thursday, 19 February 2009

ABUJA—PRESIDENT Umaru Yar’Adua has suspended the Chairman of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Ransom Owan and his commissioners in line with the recommendations of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which is currently investigating allegations of graft leveled against them.
The President also appointed the commission’s Secretary, Mr. Imamuddeen Talba to oversee the affairs of the organization till further notice.

Dr. Rilwanu Babalola, the Minister of Power told journalists in Abuja, yesterday, that the suspension was to give the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) free hand to undertake full investigation into the alleged financial misconduct against the top officials.

“Based on its preliminary findings, the EFCC recommended to the federal government the suspension of the commissioners to allow it proceed with detailed and unfettered investigation of the matter.

“Following the recommendation of the EFCC, President Yar’Adua approved the suspension of the seven commissioners of NERC pending the resolution of the matter,” Babalola disclosed.

Dr. Babalola dispelled allegations that the arrest of Dr. Owan and his commissioners was a script written by those who wanted them out of office, noting that there was no basis for such a script and that ‘there was no script whatsoever’.

“The president is not interfering in the matter. I have no reason whatsoever to interfere in the matter. From this side, we prefer to work by facts. There has been allegations and these allegations are being investigated. There is no script. I can assure you that there is no script.

Let us not speculate. Let’s wait and see whether the allegations are true or not.”
The minister also clarified that those raising questions on whether or not the president had power to suspend the affected officials ‘must appreciate the fact that the law setting up the NERC provides that the president appoints the commissioners and could therefore ask them to vacate office.

According to him, it is only when the president wants to terminate the appointment of the commissioners that he would require Senate approval.

The minister who said that the nation’s power generation had fallen to between 3,000 to 3, 200 megawatts admitted that it was a shame for a country of over 140 million to be talking of such low power generation.

He was, however, not forthcoming when asked how long it would take president Yar’Adua to declare emergency in the power sector as he promised, early into his administration.

He said the power sector crisis had lasted a long time due to long term neglect but did not say when the emergency would be declared.

Babalola who did not say how long Mr. Talba would oversee NERC said he would be assisted by Engr. Alex Amakom.

Senate passes harmonized budget of N3.102 trillion
Written by Emmanuel Aziken
Wednesday, 18 February 2009

A consensus between the Senate and the House of Representatives authorizing the Federal Government to spend N3.102 trillion in the 2009 financial year was approved by the Senate today, Wednesday, Feb. 18. The N3.102 trillion spending limit approved by the Senate was upon the consensus arrived by the Joint Finance Committee of the National Assembly which harmonized differences between the two versions of the budget separately passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The report of the Joint Finance Committee was laid before the Senate by Senator Iyiola Omisore, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation and chairman of the Joint Finance Committee. According to the rules of the Senate the report was endorsed without debate.

The N3.102 trillion figure agreed by the Committee is remarkably higher than the figures earlier passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The figure is also higher than the N2.955 trillion expenditure proposal presented by President Umaru Yar`Adua last December.

The higher expenditure limit arrived at by the Joint Finance Committee was upon a raise in the statutory transfers to the Universal Basic Education programme and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to correspond with the adjustment to federal spending.

The joint finance Committee in its report presented to the Senate and endorsed without debate deposed that “the statutory transfers were reviewed upwards in line with the increased spending since the allocations to Universal Basic Education and the Niger Delta Development Commission are based on percentage of total spending.’’

In the budget plan passed by the Senate based on the report of the Joint Finance Committee, N1,627,287,216,097 was proposed for recurrent expenditure, N1,022,255,794,620 earmarked for capital expenditure, N168,620,847,114 was approved for statutory transfers while N283,649,892,795 was approved for the servicing of the Federal Government budget in the current fiscal year.

The total estimate of N3.102 is higher than the N3.048 trillion passed by the Senate in December and the N3.087 trillion passed by the House of Representatives last January.

The NDDC is to receive N29.5 billion as statutory transfer for the year and another N21.8 billion as outstanding arrears from its share of the 2008 excess crude account.

The National Judicial Council is to receive N78 billion and the Universal Basic Education scheme is to get N39.3 billion in the year.

Under the capital expenditure provisions approved by the Senate Works is to get the lion share of capital spending with a provision of N208 billion the highest ever allocation to the Ministry. The second highest allocation is Agriculture and Water resources with an allocation of N138.9 billion followed by the Ministry of Power which is receiving N94.6 billion.

Education which is receiving a capital provision of N40 billion, however, got the highest allocation for recurrent spending with an allocation of N184.6 billion followed by the Police N183.6 billion and the Ministry of Defence with a provision of N176.2 billion.

The National Assembly got an allocation of N101.3 billion for recurrent expenditure.

The newly established Ministry of Niger Delta got a recurrent allocation of N3 billion and a capital provision of N48 billion

http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/29052/42/

I Was Caught Because I Didn’t Carry My Juju

Until his arrest, Suleiman Fatai Onisemo was contracted by a Ghana-based robbery kingpin, Adeboye Seriki, alongside other accomplices to snatch exotic cars at gun point. He gave a blow-by-blow account of life since his arrest and all he achieved to Oluwole Adeboye.

Q: You claimed to be from a royal family?
A: Yes, I am from Onisemo ruling house in Lagos. And now I have brought shame to the entire family

Q: Which school did you attend?
A: I attended Eko Primary School and attended Idi-Oro High School. I came out in flying colours in my O’level examinations but I just couldn’t further my education because I wanted to make quick money.

Q: How long have you been into this shady business?
A: I started robbery in 1999. There was a day I went to fight on somebody’s land so as to snatch the land from the owner which was very bloody, we killed and wounded several innocent people. When I was arrested, I was charged to court and sentenced to six years imprisonment with no option of fine. I eventually completed my term in 26 December, 2008, and became a free man.

Q: You are expected to have turned a new leaf, having spent so many years in prison?
A: You see, when I was in prison, I went through difficult times but when I regained my freedom, I have to survive the hard times. On December 20, 2008, Bola, Dotun and Raimi came to tell me that they wanted to snatch cars. They asked me join them. I accepted and they went for an operation at 10 p.m. I didn’t follow them because I had an injury in my leg but when they returned, they gave me N50,000 to take care of myself.

Q: Maybe they used that as bait?
A: Yes, of course, even if I was working in a big company, would they have paid me that much in a day? On 27 December 2009, I went with Sunday, our gang leader, Alfa Gbenga and we snatched a Toyota Hilux bus at Mangoro. The victim had parked and was discussing with somebody. Sunday pointed gun at the man and he released the bus key.

Q: Where was the bus driven to?
A: It was driven to Adura bus-stop, along Alagbado. Any car we snatched, we used to hand it over to big daddy, I mean the commandant, Adeboye Seriki. The man is a super millionaire but you won’t know he engages in the dirty business, because he is a pretender.

Q: How many of you are in this team?
A: We are six and four are on the run.

Q: What have you achieved with all the money?
A: I built two houses and I have cars

Q: Where are the cars and the houses?
A: In Lagos, our hideouts

Q: What happened to your charms?
A: It was unfortunate that I didn’t put it on, otherwise, the bullet would not have penetrated when the police shot at me

http://thepmnews.com/2009/02/04/i-was-caught-because-i-didnt-carry-my-juju

Woman Turns Husband Into Punching Bag
February 18, 2009 15:39, 317 views

By Jamiu Yisa
A 50-year-old estate agent, Gbenga Ayeni, has approached an Agege Customary Court for the dissolution of the marriage with his wife, Moyosore, over alleged frequent physical attacks on him.


Ayeni pleaded with the court to dissolve the four-year-old union after accusing his wife, a hairdresser, of being responsible for his misfortune in life. The estate agent claimed that since he started living with Moyosore, he had had no rest of mind because she always fought him with broken bottles and other dangerous weapons any time they had misunderstandings.

He said there was a particular day she stripped herself when she fought with him and in the process, tore his clothes with the broken bottle she had in her hand. He told the court further that such repeated actions had made him to be fed up with the relationship and thus prayed the court to dissolve the marriage.

In her defence, the hairdresser said they were not legally married but her estate agent husband conned her into living with him as husband and wife. She said Ayeni borrowed some money from her, years back, to pay for his house rent, but when she needed her money to pay her own house rent, he could not pay her and in the process, she was sent packing by her landlord because she could not meet the deadline given to her.

She said Ayeni asked her to move into his house and that was how they started living together as husband and wife. The hairdresser further said that it was while living with Ayeni that she got pregnant and later bore him a male child, who is now one year old.

Moyosore added that she was surprised Ayeni wanted her out of his house after her money was used to rent the apartment in which they both lived, and impregnating her. Delivering his judgment, the presiding judge said since both agreed that the child was theirs, then, Ayeni should take the responsibility of the child’s upkeep. In addition, he was asked to get another rented apartment for Moyosore, for peace to reign.

http://thepmnews.com/2009/02/18/woman-turns-husband-into-punching-bag

Canada To Deport Nigerian Conman
February 18

A Nigerian immigrant, who pulled off an elaborate e-mail scam that cost a retired Winnipeg doctor more than $35,000, has been denied release back into the community while he awaits deportation.
Toluwalade Alonge Owolabi, 37, told the Federal Immigration and Refugee Board, Tuesday, that he wants to return to Toronto to spend time with his sisters and close down his trucking business before Canadian authorities ship him home.

He has just been granted parole after serving part of a 30-month sentence he received last year. Owolabi’s bid was rejected after the board ruled he posed a serious “flight risk” and would likely disappear if granted his freedom. He will remain in custody until his flight back to Nigeria can be arranged, which is expected to happen in the first week of March.

Owolabi pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud, for his role in the international con, which was uncovered in 2007, following an undercover Winnipeg police operation. A retired Winnipeg doctor was duped into thinking he was in line to inherit more than $1 million, which he planned to donate to Third World countries in their ongoing battle against the deadly malaria. In fact, the 84-year-old man was the victim of a common hoax that rarely leads to arrest.

The victim — a world-renowned expert on malaria, who has done extensive work with the World Health Organization — was contacted with an offer that must have appeared too good to be true. The mysterious e-mailer said he would be in line for a massive inheritance if he wired more than $35,000 to a bank in Ghana, Africa. The senior complied — moving money from a Swiss bank account he owned — and was expecting a windfall in return.

The victim called police after he was asked for more money, and Owolabi was arrested after he flew to Winnipeg from Toronto to meet the victim and collect another payment of $7,800.

http://thepmnews.com/2009/02/18/canada-to-deport-nigerian-conman

lol.

na wa.

:-x

your family are Useless people,

this thread is old.---------------------

GOOD BYE THREAD.

Yar’Adua inaugurates new minister
By Agency Reporter
Published: Thursday, 19 Feb 2009
President Umaru Yar’Adua on Wednesday deployed Mr. Humphrey Aba as the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry.

Aba took the oath before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House.

The new minister, who had been cleared by the Senate, brings the total number of ministers in the cabinet to 43.

Wednesday’s FEC meeting was one of the shortest as it lasted only about 30 minutes.

A contract for the construction of a laboratory in the Faculty of Engineering, University of Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State was also approved in the sum of N112m with a 24-week completion period.

The Minister of State for Information and Communications, Alhaji Aliyu Bilbis, who addressed journalists after the meeting, said the university intended to fully fund the project from its internally generated revenue.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2009021912533618

Ekiti Assembly Speaker sacks commissioners, Oni’s advisers
By Tony Amokeodo, Olusola Fabiyi and Bisi Olaniyi
Published: Thursday, 19 Feb 2009


Fresh crisis broke out in the Ekiti State House of Assembly on Wednesday when the Acting Speaker, Mr. Saliu Adeoti, announced the sack of all the commissioners and special advisers appointed by former Governor Segun Oni.

The purported sack also affected all the chairmen and members of boards of commissions, agencies and parastatals.

The development invariably heightened tension following the nullification of Oni’s election by the Court of Appeal, Ilorin on Tuesday.

But just as Adeoti made the contentious announcement after his inauguration, the Acting Governor, Mr. Olatunji Odeyemi, said all government machinery in the state would remain intact.

The Acting Speaker did not give any reason for the removal of the commissioners and the other political appointees. But his action drew immediate condemnation from some of the Assembly members, especially those in the G-8.

The G-8 comprises eight of the 13 PDP lawmakers in the Assembly. A rival group is the G18 which is made up of 13 Action Congress members and five PDP lawmakers referred to as “Progressives.”

When the former Speaker, Mr. Femi Bamisile, was removed in July 2008, the 13 AC members and five PDP progressives facilitated Odeyemi’s emergence as Speaker, before his elevation as Acting governor on Tuesday.

Proceedings commenced peacefully in the Assembly around 1.35pm on Wednesday when the Acting Clerk of the Assembly, Mr. Tunde Famoyegun, said that with Odeyemi’s elevation as the state’s Acting governor, Adeoti, an AC lawmaker who was his deputy, would be inaugurated as Acting Speaker.

Immediately after his inauguration, Adeoti expressed optimism that the three months Odeyemi would be away from the Assembly would be peaceful.

He lauded the members of the Assembly for their support, patience and understanding.

After his brief speech, Mr. Olufemi Adeleye then raised a Point of Order in which he reiterated that Adeoti was only acting as speaker, pending when the Acting governor would return to the Assembly.

Adeoti simply noted his observation and then announced that Famoyegun was the Assembly‘s substantive clerk.

The Leader of Government Business in the Assembly and a PDP member, Mr. Lai Oke, moved a motion to adjourn the sitting. It was seconded by Mr. Femi Fakorede.

It was at that point that the Acting Speaker announced the sack of the commissioners, the special advisers and the dissolution of boards of all commissions, agencies and parastatals.

That immediately caused a row in the Assembly, forcing the Sergeant-at-Arms and some of his officials to take away the mace, the Assembly’s symbol of authority, for safe-keeping.

All the lawmakers then rushed out of the chambers, with some of those in G-8 complaining loudly about the development.

But the 13 AC legislators and the ‘progressive’ members, as well as politicians in the public gallery in the Assembly expressed happiness about the removal of the commissioners and the other political appointees.

However, two members of the G-8, Mr. Bisi Kolawole and Mr. Adeolu Aluko, told journalists after the session that the Acting Speaker was on his own.

Kolawole said, ”He (Adeoti) is naive. He does not know what he is doing. He has no right to either sack the commissioners, special advisers or dissolve the boards.

“The Assembly cannot act in a unilateral manner. Adeoti did not consult us (other lawmakers). The persons he claimed he had sacked should continue in office. The Acting Speaker is on his own. The decision is personal to him. It is mere wishful thinking.”

On his part, Aluko said, ”This is not a military era. The sack and dissolution will not work.

“No question was put to members before the decision was reached. The House had adjourned before the Acting Speaker made the pronouncement.”

Two prominent lawyers backed their arguement, saying he had no the power to do so.

One of the lawyers, Mr. Festus Keyamo, said, “It is not possible for an acting speaker to sack the commissioners. Only the acting governor has the power to do so.”

The second lawyer, who preferred anonymity said, “The acting speaker does not possess the power. Only the acting governor can sack political appointees, as all commissioners and advisers are deemed to have gone with Oni.”

However, at the state executive council meeting earlier on Wednesday, the Acting Governor, Odeyemi, said every machinery of government would remain intact.

The state Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr. Odunayo Ategbero, who briefed journalists after the meeting, said that apart from ensuring continuity in government, the present administration would not do anything capable of paralysing government activities in the state.

According to him, Odeyemi had noted that the state witnessed tremendous development while Oni’s administration lasted.

The acting governor, according to him, warned that his government would not tolerate any act capable of portraying the state in bad light.

Odeyemi later told PDP supporters who paid him a solidarity visit that the re-run election would be won overwhelmingly by the PDP.

He said, “We have done it before and we would do it again. If I was not in PDP, I won’t be a member of the House of Assembly; if I’m not in PDP, I won’t be the Speaker of the House of Assembly and today, if I’m not in PDP, I won’t be an acting governor.

“I urge you to go back to your various wards and work assiduously towards ensuring victory for the PDP and on my own part as a party man, I will do everything lawful that will support our victory during the election, which will come up a few weeks. I therefore wish to congratulate you in advance.”

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission has said it is yet to receive a copy of the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which nullified Oni’s election on Tuesday.

The Commission’s Director in charge of Public Affairs, Mr. Segun Adeogun, who disclosed this told one of our correspondents in Abuja on the telephone on Wednesday that until the commission received a copy of the judgment, it would not be able to comment on it.

He also said that it would be too early to talk about preparations for the re-run election as ordered by the appellate court.

Adeogun said, “You know the judgment was delivered yesterday (Tuesday). As I speak with you now, we are yet to get a copy of the judgment.

“We need to get the judgment and know what the court ordered for. We cannot base our judgment on what we read on the pages of newspapers and magazines, or televisions.

“We need the judgment to enable us study it and know what to do, without that I don’t think it is proper to be talking about it.”

Gov Elechi threatens to expose corrupt officials   
Written by Dennis Agbo     
Thursday, 19 February 2009 

ABAKALIKI—Ebonyi state Governor, Martin Elechi, yesterday, said that his state stinks with corruption and has promised  to make public all corrupt officials  found to have soiled their hands in fraudulent practices. Governor Elechi said that once the corrupt public officials are rounded up, anybody coming to plead on their behalf, as had been the case, would be deemed to be an accessory to the crime and would equally be arrested.

The Governor also lamented the effects of the global meltdown and falling prices of oil on his state, saying that Ebonyi state lost N700million from its February revenue from the federation  account, just like states in the South-East like Enugu and Anambra have between N800m and N900m slashed from their allocations, respectively.

Governor Elechi however, said he would rather resign from office and allow the Ebonyi people appoint another governor than borrow money from banks or international agencies to pay salaries of workers in the state. Elechi spoke at an interactive session with stakeholders, leaders of thought and leaders of trade unions in Abakaliki, yesterday.

He said that until recently, he never believed there was any atom of corruption in the state, but expressed regret that the report of an audit panel revealed the existence of monumental fraud in the state.

“Until now, I never believed there is any atom of corruption in the state, but recent developments have shown that I was wrong. But with the way it is now, we are going to deal ruthlessly with those involved in these acts of sabotage. I was shocked when I discovered that the examination fees we paid for students never got to them as about 35% of the said money went into private pockets. But we are going to track them down.”

“The level of corruption in this state now is very unbearable, very soon we are going to be on collision course with some of our highly placed brothers and sisters because the swindling of public funds by these people is monumental. Should we now allow corruption to pull us down after struggling to get this state for over 39 years? The system is stinking and we must therefore sanitize it and anybody who tries to plead for leniency would be treated as an accomplice,” Elechi said.



http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/29090/45/