₦airaland Forum

Why is OBJ telling us this now. He would have said it when the heat was on. Who is he fooling that he has nothing to do about it. Are we babies? What of, if the effort had materialized? Will he tell us the same thing. Imagine all the monies wasted in lobbying and he is just waking up now to tell us that if he had wanted it he would've got it. OBJ wanted it but he didnt get it. He failed woefully...his god deserted him. Abeg, next thing jare!

Naturally, Nigerians are proud people and that should not necessarily be classed as being arrogant. Like Americans, we are naturally aggressive and have this domineering tendency whereever we find ourselves. This attribute has not made us a 'beloved' in the eyes of some African Nations although some do actually like us.We always strive to be first in many things except governing ourselves(we have failed woefully on this).Where other African countries would chicken-out, Nigeria would want to try.This is not about economics or infrastructural development but just a kind of inherent trait. My Gambian friend once referred to us as America in Africa not because we are highly developed but because we are too forward with life. Many Africans are laid back and are just recently waking up, coming out of their cocoons and riding on the back of Nigeria's aggressiveness (positive one). Nollywood, for example is a phenomenon that projects Black Africa to the whole world and it's Nigeria brand.

Honestly, Nigeria was once a promising and respected country as I was told by my parents but nowadays things are no longer at ease. In fact, Things appears to be falling apart. However inspite of all these problems we are still pushing...that's the spirit I am talking not necessarily arrogance. Survival Instincts!

The greatest regret as a Nation is that somehow, the foundational problem bedevilling Nigeria has not been solved for the past 50yrs. We have not been fortunate with leadership and we are yet to understand ourselves.Believe me, if we had been lucky with governance and mixing it with our inherent proudness, we will be admired worldwide.

I like some of the contributions here but unfortunately it's kind of saying the obvious - solution is what we need. Whether SA or Ghana or Botswana is/are the best, it does not really matter now. What matters is how do we solve our biggest problem of 'leadership' and 'followership'?

Adieu! Rest in Peace. What a world full of evil.

Nigerians! Let's learn to support our OWN.
Yes, she had made mistake by advocating subsidy removal, but I think she must have learnt her lessons. It is not bad if a Nigerian occupies that position, nothing is impossible these days. If it is possible for a black man to occupy the reverred 'white house' then it is possible for NOI to be president of World Bank.

Whether it is convenient for Ikwerre to be called Igbos or not, the facts remains that language (mother-tongue) and culture are the main factor/entity that defines a people regardless of geographical spread. Ikwerres are Igbos based on these facts. However, it is up to them(Ikwerres) to chose to be something else they want to be for whatever reasons they like, only that Language (mother-tongue) and cultural attachments are too strong to be easily swept under the carpet. When Peter Tosh sang that song 'no matter where you come from, as long as you are black man, you are African'. He was breaking even language and cultural barriers. Not sure why all these debates!

Interesting statistics!

Let's wait and see why OBJ voluntarily resigned.
No smoke without fire!

What's going on? With all the EFCC's local and int'l haunts well shown in tv's, now that Erastus is in their domain they failed to prosecute him. All 26-counts charges quashed! Hmn, wonders shall never end!

FORMER Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Intercontinental Bank Plc (now Access Bank), Dr. Erastus Akingbola, yesterday secured a major judicial victory in his ongoing trial at the Federal High Court, Lagos over financial impropriety as the court yesterday discharged him of the 26-count amended charges preferred against him by the Federal Government.

Apart from discharging him of the charges, the court also dismissed the charges and barred the prosecution from appearing before the court or another judge of the Federal High Court over the matter on what the court termed ‘serious and professional incompetence’ of the prosecution team made up of five Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN).

In a dramatic turn of event at Courtroom Seven, the venue of the proceedings, the trial Judge, Justice Charles Archibong, directed the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN) to disband/sack/debrief the current prosecution team, comprising five SANs and their respective firms from handling the matter for serious abuse of court process and incompetence in their prosecution of the charges against Akingbola.

According to the judge, the prosecution team is ‘a drain on the public purse, a fact the AGF should be mindful of now if he was not before.’

“This prosecution team has chosen to pursue a campaign to scandalise the court, which amounts to serious and professional incompetence in the prosecution of the accused.

“This prosecution team or any part of it shall not be given further audience in this court in relation to the charges against the accused either before this presiding judge or any other judge of the Federal High Court, for the reason, I have given in the foregoing.

“Furthermore I take judicial notice that the accused herein is presently facing charges before the Lagos High Court emanating from his tenure as the managing director and chief executive officer of the Intercontinental Bank Plc, the AGF may wish to regain control of this process and his untrammelled right to prosecute the accused in another charge, he chooses before any appropriate court, as he can of course do so at any time of his choosing.

“Meanwhile, the prosecuting team presently employed is indulging in professional incompetence to the extreme had been unmindful of the accused right to have the case against him clearly stated. They have been dismissive of his right to a ‘speedy’ trial, which in reality should be the credible procedure.

“I therefore dismiss the charges amended or otherwise for this incompetence and abusive prosecuting team. I discharge the accused accordingly and leave the AGF to consider his options.

“This enrolled order shall be served to the AGF and the prosecution team.

“I shall be referring the conduct of the learned senior advocates that led the prosecuting team to the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) for further consideration and determination of the issues raised.

“The record of this proceedings shall be forwarded to the AGF and the LPPC and this proceedings is at its end,” the court ruled.

Before freeing Akingbola of the charges, the court had earlier in its ruling allowed the prosecution to amend the charges even though it was contested by Chief Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN) counsel to Akingbola on the ground that the prosecution was employing a piece meal approach in its prosecution of the charges.

The court had urged Akingbola to take his plea on the new charge, before Chief Godwin Obla for the prosecution decided to urge the court to take the application for stay of proceedings pending appeal to the court’s earlier decision.

But the drama ensued when the court allowed Obla to move the application for a stay, only for him to ask for adjournment, which he said will enable him compile the record of the appeal, the prosecution filed on February 7, 2012.

Infuriated by this application, Justice Archibong said the prosecution team was incompetent and abusing the court process.

The judge also noted that prosecution were not willing to commence the trial, hence the several applications they are bringing to court at the detriment of the accused right for speedy trial and dismissed the charge.

The prosecution had amended their charge against Akingbola up till three times, before the same judge.

They had even petitioned the judge to the NJC, alleging bias while the current president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) had at one of the sittings walked out on the judge over the ruling of the court.

Author of this article: By Bertram Nwannekanma (The Guardian Newspaper)

FORMER Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Intercontinental Bank Plc (now Access Bank), Dr. Erastus Akingbola, yesterday secured a major judicial victory in his ongoing trial at the Federal High Court, Lagos over financial impropriety as the court yesterday discharged him of the 26-count amended charges preferred against him by the Federal Government.
In a dramatic turn of event at Courtroom Seven, the venue of the proceedings, the trial Judge, Justice Charles Archibong, directed the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN) to disband/sack/debrief the current prosecution team, comprising five SANs and their respective firms from handling the matter for serious abuse of court process and incompetence in their prosecution of the charges against Akingbola.

According to the judge, the prosecution team is ‘a drain on the public purse, a fact the AGF should be mindful of now if he was not before.’

“This prosecution team has chosen to pursue a campaign to scandalise the court, which amounts to serious and professional incompetence in the prosecution of the accused.

“This prosecution team or any part of it shall not be given further audience in this court in relation to the charges against the accused either before this presiding judge or any other judge of the Federal High Court, for the reason, I have given in the foregoing.

“Furthermore I take judicial notice that the accused herein is presently facing charges before the Lagos High Court emanating from his tenure as the managing director and chief executive officer of the Intercontinental Bank Plc, the AGF may wish to regain control of this process and his untrammelled right to prosecute the accused in another charge, he chooses before any appropriate court, as he can of course do so at any time of his choosing.

“Meanwhile, the prosecuting team presently employed is indulging in professional incompetence to the extreme had been unmindful of the accused right to have the case against him clearly stated. They have been dismissive of his right to a ‘speedy’ trial, which in reality should be the credible procedure.

“I therefore dismiss the charges amended or otherwise for this incompetence and abusive prosecuting team. I discharge the accused accordingly and leave the AGF to consider his options.

“This enrolled order shall be served to the AGF and the prosecution team.

“I shall be referring the conduct of the learned senior advocates that led the prosecuting team to the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) for further consideration and determination of the issues raised.

“The record of this proceedings shall be forwarded to the AGF and the LPPC and this proceedings is at its end,” the court ruled.

Before freeing Akingbola of the charges, the court had earlier in its ruling allowed the prosecution to amend the charges even though it was contested by Chief Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN) counsel to Akingbola on the ground that the prosecution was employing a piece meal approach in its prosecution of the charges.

The court had urged Akingbola to take his plea on the new charge, before Chief Godwin Obla for the prosecution decided to urge the court to take the application for stay of proceedings pending appeal to the court’s earlier decision.

But the drama ensued when the court allowed Obla to move the application for a stay, only for him to ask for adjournment, which he said will enable him compile the record of the appeal, the prosecution filed on February 7, 2012.

Infuriated by this application, Justice Archibong said the prosecution team was incompetent and abusing the court process.

The judge also noted that prosecution were not willing to commence the trial, hence the several applications they are bringing to court at the detriment of the accused right for speedy trial and dismissed the charge.

The prosecution had amended their charge against Akingbola up till three times, before the same judge.

They had even petitioned the judge to the NJC, alleging bias while the current president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) had at one of the sittings walked out on the judge over the ruling of the court.

Author of this article: By Bertram Nwannekanma (The Guadian Newspaper)

As far as Mrs Nwoye's hands are clean and she's steadfast in prayers, those charms will not be potent. From my experience, anyone that trust in Jesus Christ will always win the battle. This is a threat! But I will concluded that most cowards go diabolic if they fail in the physical battle, otherwise why not match her - sense to sense, muscle to muscle.

Carelessness in high places! Why did the bus company transport school girls at that time of the day. Do they think that Nigeria is safe or what? The bus company messed up big time. This has been a common practise only that at this time they were not lucky. Will you ever think that the police will arrest the perpetrators of this acts? This is a sacrilage! Those robbers are simply animals and should be caged or killed. I weep for these innocent girls, this is the price you pay for being a Nigerian citizen existing and moving in a malfunctioning system called Nigeria. Who will bail the cat? Who will think for us? To your tents O'Nigerians. This is the time or never...

Every Nigerian knows that electric power is a major problem. It does not sound good at all that the news of a Nigerian fabricating a Wind turbine for power generation is being greeting with such jealousy and hatred. Can't something good come out of Nigeria? Are we gonna remain a consumer nation forever...consuming every manufactured products from other countries? Or are lesser a country? Are we inferior? Many products from Taiwan, China, Malaysia, Indian, S.Korean,etc have been produced before by Europeans, Americans & Japanese but they relentlessly started with the so called 'taiwan'version but evidently they produced it themselves. Indian TATA would not have gone into commercial production of vehicles because it has been done before by Japanese/koreans... is that what is meant?. We should not be joy killers by bringing such comparison about a Malawian boy who did similar thing, instead we should encourage the feat. Think of how to help this country yourselves. Nigeria seriously need help. Do not mind the government for they dont know what they are doing. Let's look inward, identify and encourage such talents. Bill Gates wasnt the first person to know about computing neither is Steve Job; but they are well celebrated by their people (Americans) and the world over. Let our positive brand also be nutured to limelight and not drug trafficking,419, fraud, kidnapping,bribery, corruption, etc. Are we doomed?

I am not surprised at all about this feat. When I was in South East,I have seen a made-in-Awka water drilling rig fabricated by a secondary school leaver (GTC) which can drill upto 700 feet through the thick IMO Shale prevalent in that area. The rig is fitted with powerful auxilliary gear and was highly sought out by drillers during those days (2003). The same applies to Onitsha, Nnewi and Aba. The South East people are highly gifted in technology and business.They dont even go to school to learn these things. This human resource should be tapped in developing Nigeria.Let's look inward and empower people with such gifts. South Korea, China, India, Malasia, etc are all doing it themselves and are now international brands. It's not magic but simply embracing your own technology. We are the one in tropics and should be able to manufacture locally electric fans and A/C and not to import. We have such huge population and should have been producing our mass transit buses. Molue bus and 911 truck has it's body locally fabricated and why have we not improved on this all these decades. Anyway,we cannot see b/c we are blinded by corruption (easy money) which is almost bringing Nigeria to halt. I rest my case. Innoson, I salute!

What a joy! He brought solace to the family.
God is too much!

Nigeria is simply unfortunate!
Military helped Ghana evolve it's democracy.In Nigeria case, it failed woefully
Civilian Democracy helped South Africa & Botswana to stand strong. In Nigeria case, it failed terribly
Which way Nigeria? May be we should shut-down this country and send everyone out. When we are out, sufferred, learnt and ready we can then come back (like Israel) and start all over again.
This is not life we are living!

Rowan Williams decision to accept the ordination of gay Bishops/women clergy in US Episcopal province in 2008 nearly split the anglican communion.
The heat generated is yet to abate but he decided to step down and return to acdemics.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17399403.
His resignation, is it good or bad for Anglican communion. Can anglican patch up from the schism that nearly buried it?

According to The Guardian of today, Borno Governor Kashim Shettima yesterday approved the immediate appointment of 77 Special Assistants and three special advisers.I kind of wonder and trying to understand why such number of aides. This is kind of record breaking number of appointment since the inception of the state in 1976. I think this is well well too much but considering that it is the heaven of Boko Harams, may be some of the appointments is purely for political gratification

Nice info! These bad peoples have always bombarded my email box with all sort of 'look-alike' GT Bank services and products.I have always escaped their trap b/c I would never click-on any link to my account from my email box. Good Nigerians should be very careful!

Can't believe that SA will forget in a hurry Nigeria's help/magnamity during the scary Apathied era.We see them as our brothers/sisters and helped them immensely but now they are paying us back with hatred. They should ask Mandela, Thabo mbeki,Oliver Thambo, etc on how the struggle was financed.

It's so sad that it has gone this bad. Denial of one's citizenship portends danger. Government should wake up fast!

Boko Haram should tell this tale (from moonlight) to 2yrs kids and not insult us.
Their cup is full of blood already. The Brits made the mistake of forcing peoples of different culture, language and belief together and after 50 years, it's all come back to haunt everyone. It's only 'English Language' that unites us (and not really all of us).

Oh my God, unbelievable! Nigeria is stinkingly corrupt.
What a revealation! This story is sending shivers down my spine.
I feel like throwing up. Hmn, even pension money! The culprit should be shut out for life.

Stop the blame game. The mission was simply a failure.
Nigeria is a dysfunctional state and very weak to stop Boko Haram.
Little wonder why UK came to rescue his own.Italy would have done same too.
Nigeria! Nigeria ! Nigeria! Will you survive this onslaught?

Tinubu telling us that we dont have a nation yet. Hmn, is it not obvious?
He is among the prominent character that contributed to the dysfunctional system.Why reminding us?

What a country! What a people! When will all these mess end?
The pains and suffering is too much on the masses and yet some group of people are buying Prado for themselves with our collective Tax Money. What are they even legislating? I am really sick about this nation!

Please kindly check this VIN for me: SHSRD68515U306740
Many thanks

Satan also asked similar question!

God is not a democrat! When He appoints someone to a position of leadership who are you to ask for rotational leadership. It was this kind of question that Korah the son of Izhar asked Moses and Aaron in Numbers 16 :1-3 saying that Moses takes so much upon himself after all everyone in the congregation of the Israelites are Holy. Asking why Moses exalt himself above the Assembly of the Lord. We all know what God did to him. You cannot be in the camp of God and be asking such rebellious question.

In the current dispensation the position of General Overseer has been abused and politicised by many but that does not mean that there are no genuine one. For the genuine one, there is an atmosphere of love around him or her and not opulence and oppression. Do you not know that Satanic Agents have disguised themselves and have turned church to business. The real Christians are very very few and not so easy to be spotted but the counterfeits are so many.

Finally, God does not rotate leadership. If you mess up in your duty He will simply replace you and you will not go unpunished.

'The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh' is a truth depending on which camp you belong. Two forces have been in contention since the fall of Adam and these are forces of Light and darkness. If you belong to the camp of God (light), surely darkness cannot comprehend you. Darkness has power and control and yet is powerless before God. Anyone under the camp of darkness is no longer under the protection of God even though such person was created by God. And interestingly you have a free choice of which camp you want to belong.

In Jobs case, it is a contest of faith, patience and trust in God as Satan has accused Job of being under the protection of God and has prospered. Job as a character does not know what he was contending with but throughout the contest he stood his ground and remained in the camp of God inspite all the insults and degradation. I am not sure any person born by woman except Christ has sufferred as job has (lossing everything!). At the end of the contest, Job won and God doubled his blessings. All that he lost, he recovered in many folds. Similarly, Satan tempted Jesus Christ, and he lost. When he desired Peter, Christ intervened because of His future program for Peter. For Judas case, it was a disaster!

Another angle is the grace of God. Even if you fall at Satan's trial, if you turn to God for help, surely He will not turn His back on you. King David failed woefully by taking count of Israelites and realising his error and the punishment to come. He chose the option of being punished by God than man because He said God is merciful. Which camp do you belong?

None of these Ethnocentric Nigerians here in Nairaland can even fight against ordinary subsidy or even lekki toll gate imposed by Govt of today talk more of waging and sustaining a war for 3yrs to defend your people. Let us learn from History because history is repeating itself again in Nigeria. Killings are going on in the North by Boko Haram, what has these ethnocentric nairalanders done? Heroism is not a wish but a work. Tinubu have given insight on how Ojukwu should be percieved but some yesterday children are asking why mid-west was invaded.  I think if you read your history book you will know better. Adeui Ojukwu! You are not a perfect man but you are wiser than your foes.