₦airaland Forum

I think Devil Mark is having an affair with this bitch thats why he does not want to lose her

The controversy surrounding who is the lawful representative of the people of Anambra North senatorial district in the senate has become more interesting with different interest groups laying divergent claims to the post on Tuesday.

As was anticipated, Alphonsus Ubanese Igbeke, who currently holds the Certificate of Return from Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the validly elected senator to represent the zone, was in the senate chamber but he was, for the third time, denied admittance.

On his second attempt last Thursday, he was denied admittance on the basis of the two excuses that he was late to the plenary, and that there was a notice of a court process challenging the Enugu appeal court ruling, which validated Mr. Igbeke’s election into the senate.

According to a report forwarded to the National Executive Council of All Nigeria People’s Party last weekend, the senate president, David Mark, claimed Mr. Igbeke did not present himself at the chambers early enough. But on that same day, the senate spokesman told reporters the senate was not yielding to the order of the appeal court because there was a Supreme Court notice on same case served on the senate.

Contradictory claims

On Mr. Igbeke’s third attempt yesterday, the senate plenary was held back for two hours as opposition lobby groups were seen lobbying the senate president before the commencement of plenary; perhaps, to admit Mr. Igbeke.

On the other hand, fans of Joy Emordi, the deposed senator, led by John Obiora, were also seen lobbying against Mr. Igbeke’s admittance.

Senators from minority parties also shunned the chambers at the beginning of Tuesday’s plenary, as they were huddled in a meeting with Mr. Igbeke. Later, the senate went into a closed door session.

Sources close to the senate leadership said Mr. Mark claimed he needed more time for consultations before admitting Mr. Igbeke into the senate. Also, the senior special assistant to the senate president on media, Kola Ologbodiyan, claimed Mr. Igbeke did not present himself before the senate president or any of the principal officers as part of the ritual of swearing in.

However in deviation from the senate president’s position, Ayogu Eze, the senate spokesman, held onto his line of argument that the senate will not swear in Mr. Igbeke because there is a Supreme Court notice of court process, contesting the appeal court’s ruling that ordered them to admit Mr. Igbeke, which has been served on the senate.

“To the best of my knowledge, the senate has not disobeyed any court order, based on our standing order 53 sub section 5,” Mr. Eze told reporters, reiterating his earlier position on the issue.

“There is a notice filed on us that the appeal filed in Enugu has been taken to the Supreme Court and that additionally, the appellant has applied for a stay of execution to the highest court in the land.”

Mr. Igbeke has remained silent over the controversy, which might not be unconnected to allegations that he has bought the media to promote his cause.

Osama10:
He's in a real deep poo right now.

Boiling pot!

Strong indications emerged on Saturday that the former Delta State governor, James Ibori, may be in fresh trouble as the Metropolitan Police in the United Kingdom have given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission court records and documents of his alleged conviction in the UK.



SUNDAY PUNCH also gathered that the Police in Dubai, United Arab Emirate have seized the former governor‘s travelling documents.



This is coming on the heels of the trip of a team of operatives from the EFCC and the MET Police to the United Arab Emirates on Friday. The EFCC team comprising lawyers, it was learnt, also went to Dubai with Ibori‘s case file and other documents to hasten the former governor‘s extradition to Britain.



Our correspondent learnt that the EFCC is planning to use Ibori‘s alleged record of conviction as one of the charges against him during his prosecution in the United Kingdom.



A security source said, ”His previous criminal conviction in the United Kingdom is definitely one of the charges against him because he lied on oath and obtained under false pretence the salary of government for eight years.



“A convict should not be a governor but he deceived the people and used his position to collect remuneration that he shouldn‘t have gotten. His travelling documents had to be seized to prevent him from sneaking out like he did in Nigeria.”



According to the source, security operatives and embassy officials are watching the ex-governor round the clock.



She said, ”We have security agents and embassy officials monitoring him. The Dubai police have assured us that he will not sneak out of their country. They assured us that they only granted him bail but he is still under ‘strict surveillance and restriction.”



Our correspondent gathered that security operatives from Nigeria, Britain and Dubai will start the extradition process on Monday.



The source said, ”The legal process of extraditing him will begin on Monday. You know that courts don‘t work on weekends. By Monday, all members of the investigating teams from Nigeria and Britain will all be in Dubai, then we will be in court to start the extradition proceedings.”



Explaining the importance of the MET Police in Dubai, the source said, “Even though we have a heap of evidence against him, there is no treaty between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates even though the treaty is under way. We are working with the MET police because the United Kingdom and Dubai have this treaty. They are the only ones that can get him for us.”



It was also learnt that after the former governor‘s extradition, he will face charges in Britain before returning to Nigeria. She added, ”When he gets to the UK, he will face all the charges he has pending before him in their court which will not take more than one month. If he is sentenced, he will not immediately serve the sentence. Ibori will be brought back to Nigeria where he will be made to face the charges here. If he is also sentenced in Nigeria, he will serve the sentence before going back to fulfil that of Britain.”



When contacted, the EFCC head, Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said, “All I can tell you is that our operatives have left for Dubai. We are all aware that he refused to turn himself in and thwarted all efforts by the EFCC to arrest him.



“We also know that he has a pending case in Nigeria which we cannot abandon mid way. The EFCC promises to continue with this matter using all the tools in our arsenal and bringing it to a logical conclusion.”



Ibori was last Thursday arrested in Dubai by the International Police after he was declared wanted by the anti-graft agency four weeks ago, in connection with an alleged illegal disposal of 528 million shares belonging to Delta State in Oceanic Bank.



Ibori who has maintained that he was being persecuted due to his political belief, accused his enemies in Nigeria and their UK co-conspirators of framing up the charges against him.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100516422440

A construction company worker, Akwa Jacobson, who was allegedly shot in his left leg by a trigger-happy cop, for laughing at him, has appealed to the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, and the governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to come to his aid.

Jacobson, who was groaning in pains as he narrated his ordeal to Daily Sun, said there was no longer money for medical treatment. He recalled how he was sitting in front of his compound, discussing with some friends before the incident occured.

He said as they were joking and laughing, a mobile policeman alighted from the bus and started discussing with another mobile policeman, who was riding a motorcycle.

He revealed that the policeman on the motorcycle, later walked towards them and accused them of laughing at him. “We were surprised at his allegation because we did not know him before. We explained to him that we had no reason to laugh at him, as we had not met him before,” he said.

He said the policeman held his shirt and insisted that he must follow him or be dealt with. But the victim said he resisted the attempt to drag him out of the place. At that point, the cop allegedly took the pistol from his colleagues waist and attempted to hit the butt on his head. “I started running, but as I was about to jump over the gutter, he shot at my leg. I am not a criminal, I was not accused of any criminal act. He only accused me of laughing at him. When did laughing become a crime,” Jacobson asked.

He said he was later rushed to the Mainland General Hospital, where he was treated, adding that he left the hospital for a herbal home, as he had no money to continue treatment at the General hospital.
The victim has, however, appealed to the police to save his life and bring to book, the trigger happy policeman.

The man said he had since been incapacitated by the gunshot wound, as he is now unable to stand on his legs. “I now live on charity because I can’t get up from my bed and people are becoming fed up in assisting me.”

However, the state police spokesman, Mr. Frank Mba, said the case was under investigation. He told Daily Sun that the officer had been arrested and undergoing interrogation at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos.

The much-awaited end of the 2009/10 English Premier League (EPL) season has come today, as league leader, Chelsea, welcomes Wigan Athletic at the Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea needs outright victory in today’s match to realise its dream of lifting this year’s league shield. Anything short of that may see its effort all through the season go up in flames, as Manchester United is on its heels in the race for the trophy.

Man United, on its part, also needs victory if ever its hope of making history by winning the league shield for a record four times in a row will come to fruition. The Red Devils will welcome Stoke City at the Old Trafford this afternoon.

Both Chelsea and Manchester United have difficult huddles to cross because their opponents in today’s games are difficult sides to meet.

It would be remembered that Wigan was the first team in the EPL to stop Chelsea’s unbeaten run this season, and if that record is anything to go by, today’s encounter at Stamford Bridge will definitely be difficult for the Blues. And Stoke can be stubborn if it chooses to.

No doubt, it is not going to be easy ride for Chelsea and Man. U in these final games of the season.

I still don’t understand why at this age we are still very tribalistic
We preach against tribalism in our school and churches but it seems to be the main thing controlling us.
I have browsed almost all Nigerian newspapers today and all I see is the VP WAR
The northern govs holding meeting and everybody talking of this northern VP of a thing.
Are we all not supposed to be one Nigeria irrespective of tribe?
Does our constitution says that the P most be from a regions (as it is it now, south) while the VP must be from the north?
Can’t the P and VP be from same region and still move the country forward?
We the elite that are educated seems so keep quite and we allow the archaic, foolish, selfish, wicked, unrepented, old and devilish self-imposed so-called leaders to decide our destinies.
Everyday this thing happens in political appointment and it’s the reason Nigeria has remained stagnant.
When are we going to be wise and use the best and most qualified candidate irrespective of tribe or region since we are all Nigerians?

PLEASE LETS SAY NO TO TRIBALISM

Turai takes over as VP

Did Ibori, the chief financier of the cabals, the self-turned fugitive, attend the burial ceremony of Yar,Adua?
I watched to see but I am doubtful.
Perhaps the EFCC may just pity him because it is mourning time or do otherwise.
I pity that guy!

ABUJA—IT was a theatre of the absurd, weekend, in Abuja when beggars residing in the nation’s capital city struck, attacked men of the Abuja Social Development Secretariat, Abuja Environmental Protection Board, AEPB, as well as detachment of the Nigeria Police while resisting moves to evacuate them from the streets of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

The event which took place in front of the National Mosque had the irate beggars numbering well over 60 mostly women, children and young boys, as well as old men with various degrees of physical disabilities.

Sighting the law enforcement agents and knowing fully well that they were out for them, the beggars in defence picked up sticks, stones, clutches and cudgels and attacked the force comprising seven mobile police men and five staff of AEPB.

The irate beggars, some of who were on wheel chairs and clutches overpowered the task force and smashed the windscreen, as well as side glasses of the Hiace bus with registration No Kano XA491MDB that conveyed the task force to the National Mosque for the exercise.

According to the beggars, it became imperative for them to take that action because they needed to defend their rights as citizens of Nigeria, just as they claimed that they equally have the right to live anywhere in Abuja like the money bags.

At the end of the fight and when they escaped being lynched by the angry beggars who rained curses on them and the FCT administration the task force officials scampered for safety to the back of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, where they took cover.

It was gathered that when the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Senator Bala Mohammed was briefed on what happened, he was said to have given the head of the taskforce a directive to reinforce team with more policemen and carry out the exercise, just as it was also gathered that he insisted that beggars must be removed from the streets of Abuja, rehabilitated and conveyed to their states of origin.

Some of the beggars who expressed their anger in Hausa admitted that they must feed and there was the need for them to come out, beg and fed for themselves when administrations after Mallam Nasir El-Rufai abandoned them, adding that during his administration they were taken to a place well built with all the facilities and he was paying them N4,000 monthly as allowance.

According to them, the government was not serious with what it termed repatriation policy as they were often dropped off far the road from their destination in the name of repatriation.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/05/03/beggars-resist-arrest-attack-security-agents/

Chief James Onanefe Ibori’s counsel filed a suit Wednesday 28th April 2010 seeking to restrain the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Inspector General of Police and the Director, State Security Service (SSS), from arresting him.

The suit number FHC/ASB/CS/34/2010 titled “The Matter of an Application by Chief James Onanefe Ibori for the Enforcement of hisFundamental Rights to Fair Hearing and Personal Liberty under the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules 2009”, was filed at theFederal High Court Asaba, immediately after Justice I. N. Buba adjourned proceedings on the substantive issue till 10th May 2010.

According to a press statement signed by Ibori’s Media Assistant, Mr.Tony Eluemunor, the motion ws filed by Ibori’s Counsel Mr. J. B. Daudu, SAN, specifically asking for “An Order Injunction restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Respondents by themselves or through their officers, agents, privies and assigns from arresting, harassing and/or intimidate the Applicant in any manner whatsoever and howsoever pending the hearing and determination of the Applicant’s substantive Motion on Notice which has been adjourned for hearing to the 10th of May, 2010 and for such further orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances”.

The affidavit in support of the motion signed by Chief Azikiwe Ako (JP) said that he was in court on the 19th of April 2010 when EFCC’s counsel Mr. Chile Okoronma, on EFCC’s behalf “specifically stated in court that since the service of the court processes, they have not done anything and will not do anything that will make the determination of this matter a fiat accompli” because of which the Judge saw no reason to make a preservative order. The affidavit continued that “contrary to Okoronma’s undertaking in open court, on Tuesday 20th April 2010, the respondents arrived Oghara to affect Ibori’s arrest.

The affidavit continued: “That unless restrained by this Honourable Court, it is now apparent that there is a real and strong likelihood that the Applicant’s fundamental rights will be infringed upon by the Respondent before hearing of the substantive Motion on Notice adjourned to the 10th of May, 2010 and that the Applicant will suffer great, untold and exceptional hardship”.

The press statement said the latest motion was filed immediately after the Court rose on Wednesday saying it could not grant a restraining order beyond the ruling of Monday 19th April 2010, because Ibori’s counsel made that request orally instead of filing it as a written motion.

Meanwhile, Ibori has expressed his gratitude and appreciation to his teaming supporters across the country that have rallied to his defence since this round of political persecution and not legal prosecution against him began. He challenged them to always maintain the peace because he is not only a lover of peace, but he has implicit faith in Nigeria’s legal system.

http://www.thetimesofnigeria.com/Article.aspx?id=2578

The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (second from right, front row) with other members of the Council of Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) after a meeting in Sudan, recently

INDICATIONS emerged on Sunday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission might engage the International Police to arrest the fleeing former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori.



A reliable source in the commission, who made this known to our correspondent in Warri, explained that the action became imperative following reports that the embattled ex-governor had fled the country.



The source said the management of the anti-graft agency had substituted the regular operatives deployed in Delta State in the wake of the fresh investigation into the leadership of the state by Ibori between 1999 and 2007, with undercover agents to gather information on the present location of the former governor outside the country.



It was learnt that the commission hoped to rely on the intelligence gathering network by the undercover agents to pin Ibori down to a specific country before the INTEPOL would be contacted for assistance.



Speculations were rife that Ibori fled the country after Tuesday’s futile attempt by a combined team of the EFCC and the police to arrest him in his country home in Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.



The team which was led by a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Udom Ekpoudom, retreated when it was attacked by armed youths, suspected to be militants.



Some reports had it that Ibori sneaked out of the country on either or Wednesday or Thursday to a neighbouring West African country while others said he was moved to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where he is believed to own a luxury home.



Our source said, “We have the report that the former governor has fled the country to evade arrest by our operatives. There are conflicting reports about the country where he has relocated to. The initial report we have was that he has moved to a West African country.



“But our undercover agents are gathering reports to that effect. The regular operatives of the commission are being withdrawn gradually to pave the way for the undercover agents to do their job.



“The management of the EFCC is optimistic that the undercover agents should be able to gather credible intelligence report to ascertain his exact location outside the country.



“Thereafter, we are going to seek the help of the INTERPOL to track him down.”



When contacted on the telephone on Sunday, the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Femi Babafemi, confirmed that the commission was in possession of an intelligence report that Ibori had left Nigeria.



But he added that the agency was exploring all avenues within and outside the country to apprehend him to face justice.



Babafemi said collaboration with the INTERPOL was one of the options to get Ibori back in the country.



“We have the report that former Governor Ibori has ran out of the country and we may likely contact the INTERPOL for assistance to get him arrested,” he added.



Ibori’s latest travail followed a petition to the EFCC by a group, Delta State Leaders, Elders and Stakeholders Forum, led by a former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark.



The DSLESF had in its petition alleged that Ibori sold millions of shares belonging to the Delta State Government and used the proceed to purchase an American oil servicing firm, Wilbros, during his tenure as governor between 1999 and 2007.



Despite the ongoing legal action instituted by the embattled former governor to extricate himself, the commission declared him wanted and launched manhunt for him.



However, our source in the EFCC stated on Sunday that the authorities of the commission had concluded plans to seek the assistance of the INTERPOL whenever the location of the former governor was determined by its undercover agents.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201004265464445

Former Delta State Governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, may have fled Nigeria in the wake of the intense manhunt for him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and security agencies.
The ex-governor has apparently become a fugitive after a two-week standoff with the EFCC, which had invited him over allegations bordering on misuse of millions of Delta State shares running into billions of naira during Ibori’s tenure between 1999 and 2007.

But the immediate past Delta chief executive had spurned the invitation, claiming that the EFCC breached due process by declaring him wanted four days before the April 17, 2010 date on his invitation letter.
He also alleged political vendetta by the Acting President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, who he said was using the anti-graft agency to witch-hunt him because of alleged political differences.

Besides, Ibori expressed fears that the EFCC was planning to extradite him to the United Kingdom where he is still on trial for alleged money laundering. Sunday Sun investigation however revealed that he may have stealthily beaten the security dragnet around him and escaped in a boat through the Oghara River en route the Escravos area of the state initially to one of the neighbouring countries.

Sources say he left Oghara in the wee hours of Wednesday after the botched police raid on the community the previous day and that his escape was facilitated by a well-known Itsekiri former militant leader in the state.
His destination is still uncertain but it was gathered that he may be headed for Dubai in the oil-rich United Arab Emirate, where the ex-governor reportedly has a home.

In the last one week, a combined team of the police and soldiers attached to the military Joint Task Force (JTF) in Delta had made futile attempts to arrest him at his Oghara country home.
Thousands of youths, women and children had last Tuesday and Wednesday mounted barricades that prevented the police from entering the community, following a directive by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ogbonnaya Onovo, that Ibori be fished out.

The harried ex-governor was initially suspected to be holed up in the creeks of the Niger Delta and was being allegedly shielded by fierce-looking armed militant youths.
But a JTF source informed that this was unlikely, as the security outfit had reportedly combed the creeks of Delta and Bayelsa states in the bid to smoke him out.
According to the source, “we have searched everywhere, including some of the camps used by former militants. But the man (Ibori) is not there. As I speak to you, we are not sure he is still in Oghara. But we have not given up our search and we are sure we will get him.”

Delta government officials panic
The Ibori saga has caused a scare among officials of the state government as some of them have reportedly gone underground to escape arrest by the EFCC.
Sunday Sun learnt that fear has gripped top officials of the state Ministry of Finance following the invitation of a director in the ministry by the EFCC. At the time of this report, it was gathered that the director in charge of investments in the ministry was still being detained almost two weeks after he was invited by the anti-corruption agency.

The permanent secretary in the ministry and Auditor-General of the state are also said to have gone into hiding. Their whereabouts were unknown when EFCC operatives visited their ministry and department in continuation of the agency’s investigation on the allegations of fraud against the former governor.

Why we’re defending Ibori – Oghara chief
In an unprecedented development, Ibori’s Oghara community had on Tuesday resisted his arrest when EFCC operatives and a security team led by Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr Udom Ekpoudom, stormed his country home.
A septuagenarian and well-respected chief in the community, who does not want his name in print, however defended the action of the youths, saying they believe Ibori was being witch-hunted.
“No matter what happens, Ibori is our son. We cannot fold our arms and watch him being disgraced for reasons that border on political vendetta.

“Besides, it will amount to betrayal of Ibori if we had kept quiet and allowed the police to pick him just like that. Ibori is our hero and we are very proud of him. If not for Ibori, Oghara would not have known development. Come to Oghara and see what I’m talking about.
“Today, Oghara has a stadium, a well-equipped general hospital, polytechnic, college of education and other social amenities. It was during the Ibori administration that the road to Oghara was dualised with street light. At night, people say Oghara is small London. Do you now want us to abandon such a person at a time like this because of an allegation that has not been proved? Oghara people are ready to die for Ibori and we mean it,” the elder said.

He’s not on the run – Aide

When contacted on the telephone, Ibori’s media aide, Mr Tony Eluemunor, said the former governor was not on the run and that he had no reason to flee the country.
He defended his principal’s refusal to turn himself in to the EFCC, saying Ibori stands by the ruling of the court that all parties must maintain the status quo. Excerpts…
We hear Ibori has fled the country…
First of all, Ibori has no reason to run from anywhere, from anybody. We went to court and it ruled that all parties in this case maintain the status quo. So he is not running from anybody.
So is he still in the country and when is he likely to hand himself over to the EFCC?
Hand himself over to where? I just told you that everybody was asked to maintain a status quo, including the EFCC. So can’t somebody ask EFCC to leave Ibori alone?
So what is his stand?
Ibori stands on that court ruling. Every party should maintain the status quo. I’m sure your paper had Ibori’s position on Wednesday or so.
So what you are saying is that he has no reason to leave Nigeria
God bless you for this. He has no reason to be on the run because there is a court ruling and the EFCC woman is a lawyer. I know she knows the right thing to do. The IG, (Ogbonnaya) Onovo, may also be a lawyer. But most of all, I know that Onovo is a gentleman. Anybody who now says he is looking for Ibori is breaking the law. That is it.
If Ibori runs abroad, he will be playing into the hands of his enemies. This is persecution and not prosecution. It is close to the election year, so some people want him out of the way. Ibori said he does not want to contest for anything but they want him completely out of the way. That is why they are after him. There is no case against him. EFCC itself has not mentioned one single charge against him. Nothing. They just declared somebody wanted without a charge. People are wanted for bank robbery or for murder. For him, nothing. Ibori is the first person in the whole wide world who has been wanted not for any reason.


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/apr/25/national-25-04-2010-001.htm

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, awoke to find a rash of campaign posters in strategic places proclaiming Acting President Goodluck Jonathan as a Peoples Democratic Party presidential aspirant in the country’s 2011 general elections.


The posters were seen at the Garki Area 11 junction in Abuja and read: “For Positive Change, Goodluck Jonathan for 2011 presidential election.” But when contacted the acting president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Ima Niboro, said he had not seen the posters and was not aware how they got there.


Coming barely one week after the acting president’s interview on Cable News Network where he had given a vague response with regard to his political future, the posters tend to give credence to some analysts’ view that he may run for the presidency.
In an interview with Christianne Amanpour of CNN in the United States, Jonathan neither ruled himself out completely nor categorically said he would run for presidency in 2011.


He, however, declared that there are options for him such as running for Vice-President.
Jonathan also said that he is currently preoccupied with the numerous challenges facing the country in order to make an impact in the shortest time possible.


When asked pointedly by the CNN correspondent if he was considering running for election, he replied with a rhetorical question.
"If the country is not moving, what will I tell Nigerians if I want to contest?"
He then went on to narrate the circumstance of his emergence.


"I came in as the vice-president to run with President Yar'Adua, of course, getting close to period of election, he took ill. And I have to take over under somewhat controversial circumstances. So let us see how Nigeria will move forward first. I had a similar experience when I was governor of my state." he said


Jonathan said the most pressing problem Nigeria faces is basic infrastructure particularly electricity. The next, in his view, is the conduct of free and fair elections where the votes of the citizens would count.
However, with the ruling PDP’s decision that its presidential slot will be retained in the north, Jonathan has apparently been ruled out.


Jonathan had also commented on the fate of the Chairman of the Indepe-ndent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Maurice Iwu. Jonathan said the issue is whether the present electoral body can conduct free and fair election or not.
He added that within the period that he has been Acting President, three elections were conducted by INEC and "it was free and fair." This, he argued, proves that the issue goes beyond the INEC commissioner. Anyone can conduct a free and fair election, he opined.


Asked if Iwu is competent, the Acting President said: "I know that this question continues to come up. What I've said is, the issue is beyond Mr. Iwu."
He continued: "I agree that within the period there are quite a number of controversies. I agree. There are quite a number of concerns. There are quite a number of controversies.
So I know what I'm telling you; that this very Iwu, I'm not trying to argue for him. The Iwu we are talking about has conducted free elections these past three elections that I've made reference to that are credible."

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=171716

Embattled former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, has resorted to sending emissaries to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, to beg the Acting President to intervene in his case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.



Ibori has been in hiding since last week when the EFCC declared him wanted for refusing to appear before the Commission and answer to questions raised in a petition written against him by the Delta State Stakeholders and Elders Forum.



Efforts by operatives of the anti-graft agency and the police to arrest him in his hometown of Oghara, Delta State on Tuesday were thwarted by more than 1,000 youths who engaged the law enforcement agents in a gun duel.



But Saturday Punch investigation revealed that the former governor had been sending emissaries to the Presidential Villa to beg Jonathan to prevail on the EFCC Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, to change her hardline posture in respect of the anti-graft agency’s bid to arrest and put him on trial.



Among those believed to have visited the Acting President to plead for Ibori is the Minister of Niger Delta, Mr. Godsday Orubebe.



According to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity, Orubebe went to Jonathan after receiving the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, in audience in his Abuja office on Tuesday.



Uduaghan had paid a courtesy call on Orubebe to discuss issues relating to his appointment and the desired development of the region.



But the source disclosed that he also used the visit to plead with Orubebe, reputed to be one of the closest ministers to Jonathan, to reach out to the Acting President on behalf of Ibori.



Ibori is Uduaghan‘s first cousin. Ironically, the Delta State Governor had opposed the nomination of Orubebe as a minister.



The source said, ”Ibori has been mounting pressure on Jonathan every few hours to prevail on the anti-crime bodies to drop the issues against him.



”But the Acting President is surprised that people are linking the issue to him. He wonders if they expect him to provide a presidential shield for people who have matters to settle with the law. There can be no two laws for different people in the country,” the source said.



It was learnt that Jonathan had told his aides that he was surprised that people were approaching him on the Ibori matter with the EFCC, saying that he had nothing whatsoever to do with Ibori’s face off with the law.



The source stated further that Jonathan had been insistent on leaving Ibori to settle the issues he had with the law, stressing that it would only be fair for him to be subjected to the law.

The spate of kidnappings, assassinations, political murders and general insecurity in the country may have forced politicians, top government officials, wealthy businessmen and other affluent Nigerians into a rush for bullet-proof cars.



Latest information released to our correspondent by a top American auto armouring company also revealed that the closeness of the 2011 general election has caused politicians to massively place orders for heavily fortified anti-ballistic vehicles.



Following reports that politicians and wealthy Nigerians had expanded the internal security around their residences, particularly in the face of high profile kidnappings, our correspondent made an online enquiry from the Country Representative of Texas Armoring Corporation, Mr. John Uwaya, on how many new orders he had received for protective vehicles.



Uwaya, however, decided to forward the enquiry to the head office of the company in Texas, United States of America.



On Tuesday, the Executive Vice President of Texas Armoring Corporation, Mr. Jason Forston, responded by disclosing that the Presidency, governors, politicians and other wealthy Nigerians had raised their demands for new anti-ballistic vehicles from the company since the former governorship candidate of the Action Congress in Ogun State, Otunba Dipo Dina, was shot dead by unknown gunmen on January 25 this year.



Dipo had been shot dead at a spot in front of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State after his assailants blocked his Toyota Camry SUV while he was returning to his Lagos home from Abeokuta in company with his driver and a woman said to be a prophetess.



”Orders have certainly increased as 2011 elections draw nearer. With the untimely death of Dipo Dina and kidnappings/murders on the rise, many political candidates and hopefuls have felt the need to protect themselves,” Forston wrote in his reply.



The AMC vice president further disclosed that their Nigerian clients preferred the heavily fortified Cadillac Escalade that sells for about $400,000 (about N60m) per unit. This brand has its floor, roof, pillar posts and window overlaps armoured.



Giving a breakdown, Forston disclosed that the Presidency, Lagos State and Rivers State governments patronised his company the most, adding that on Tuesday alone, these Nigerian clients placed orders for 30 different grades of armoured vehicles worth $5,357,550.00 (about N803,632,500).



He wrote, ”In a given year, we could send approximately 50-100 units to Nigeria alone… About 30 per cent of our market is from Nigeria. Over the years, we‘ve probably sent close to 800-900 armoured vehicles to Nigeria.”



Contacted on Thursday, an official of the Lagos State Government who preferred anonymity because of the security implication of the contract, said that most of the anti-ballistic vehicles bought from the AMC were donated to the Rapid Response Squad for its operations.



”The Executive Secretary of the Security Trust Fund will be in a better position to explain the purchases,” he said.



Below is the transcript of the online interaction between Forston and our correspondent:



As we approach the 2011 elections, have orders for bulletproof and armoured cars from Nigeria increased?



Orders have certainly increased as 2011 elections draw nearer. With the untimely death of Dipo Dina and kidnappings/murders on the rise, many political candidates and hopefuls have felt the need to protect themselves. Clients have been trending toward higher armour levels along with our CEO package as well. Here is a sample gallery (picture of the vehicle is displayed). We call this vehicle ”The BEAST” and it‘s becoming increasingly popular among wealthy Nigerians. One BEAST vehicle can sell for approximately $400,000.00 USD.



How many has the Federal Governmet ordered? Which state government or business tycoon has ordered the most?



We‘ve met with Nigerian government officials, advisors, governors and generals at the highest levels. They‘ve come to our facility and met with us here in the U.S. They need protection, and they trust Texas Armoring Corporation to provide the best armoured vehicles worldwide. Our vehicles will stop multiple, black market armour-piercing rounds from an AK-47 or M-16, and although they‘re protected so well, they‘re also extremely lightweight, which means better performance and handling. The most popular vehicles we sell to Nigeria are the Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG, Lexus LX570, Toyota Landcruiser, Mercedes-Benz GL550, Mercedes-Benz S550, and the Cadillac Escalade. Typically, vehicles are not sold through a federal channel (e.g., a public federal bid). Sales come through private channels for clients with Federal connections. Many politicians are wealthy from other business ventures, so funds are from private accounts as opposed to bids or contracts.



In fact, just today (Tuesday, April 20), we received a contract for $5,357,550.00 USD for 30 units for various politicians and businessmen throughout Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Lagos. Lagos State and Abuja State are probably the clients that buy the most. In a given year, we could send approximately 50-100 units to Nigeria alone.



Can you give an estimate of how much the coy you represent has reaped from orders secured from Nigeria i.e. from the various governments, politicians, expatriates and business tycoons?



About 30 per cent of our market is from Nigeria. Over the years, we‘ve probably sent close to 800-900 armoured vehicles to Nigeria. We also met with a special advisor to the Presidency a few months back to discuss long-term partnerships for Nigeria.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201004243145171

idifu:
the consul-general is rite about Nigeria bussinessmen compeling the chinese companies to produce sub-standard products, i know a man in Oregun that went to China with a can of power horse engery drink with Liquid content in it to China and told dem to produce the sub-standard Power horse engergy drink for him, which they did and he shipped it back to Nigeria,
so those of y'all dat consume power horse, red wines,red labels,hennessy,Alomo bitters pls stop it ooo your star,harp,gulder,33 are better than all of those things o

Is the Nigerian govt not supposed to do something about these threats. I take these drinks you mentioned, apart from alomo bitter!
i dont know how to really be sure they are original ,though i normally buy from good supermarkets.
its so difficult to differentiate real from fake these dayz

In another development, embattled National Chairman of PDP, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, has blamed the crisis rocking the party on the devil who he said was tempting the hierarchy of the party.

He noted, while receiving some state chairmen of the party on a solidarity visit in his office on Wednesday in Abuja, that he was confident the problem was temporary and his leadership would not, therefore, allow itself to be distracted.

The party leadership has engaged in a war of words with some of its prominent leaders who operate under the name of PDP Reform Forum and are believed to be working for the removal of the national chairman over sundry allegations.

According to him, “no amount of distraction can stop this party. It is a party that has vowed to lead this nation and to support the acting president and our governors and the National Assembly to deliver democracy dividends to the people who have elected us.”

“But the devil came to tempt us and we shall defeat him and we pray that our president is recovering and God will continue to grant him speedy recovery and similarly, may God continue to grant the acting president the spirit to unite everybody in this umbrella and this party,” he said.

While assuring the state party chairman that the national leadership would continue to do what they were elected to do, he promised to hold the party together, saying that “we don’t think that any amount of temptation, any amount of distraction will make us to shift ground.”

ADAPTED FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

If you have that blue small tiger generator aka 'i better pass my neighbour' you will know the trauma one goes through using these low sub-standard products. You must be forced to know how to repair it because the gen can barely work for 2 weeks. The materials are so weak and frangile.

China has blamed Nigerian businessmen for the fake and sub-standard products coming into Nigeria from China.

Consul-General of China in Lagos, Mr. Guo Kun, made the allegation at an interactive session between the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and a delegation of Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) held at NIIA, yesterday in Lagos.

Mr. Kun said some Nigerian entrepreneurs compel some Chinese companies to produce sub-standard goods and Chinese companies consent because they do not want to lose good business.

"It is a real problem for a product that is say 10 dollars (about N1500) of standard quality, some of the [Nigerian] entrepreneurs went to China, and asked the host to make it thinner and cheaper. At the very beginning, some of the [Chinese] companies were very reluctant to produce for them. But later, you know they are entrepreneurs, they want to make money. These host factories don’t want to make for them, to produce for them. Finally they [Nigerian entrepreneurs] went to many factories, at least they can find one or two factories to make for them sub-standard goods and they bring it back [ to Nigeria]," he said.
When asked what Chinese government is doing to stop the production of sub-standard goods in China.

Mr Gun said: "We have regulations. We also educate Chinese entrepreneurs. As I am a government official, I also talk with Chinese in the so-called China Village and with those in Balogun market, ‘don’t bring these to the Nigerian market".

He promised that the Chinese government will strengthen its products quality control system in order to stop the production of sub-standard goods in China.

Earlier in his address, the leader of CPAFFC delegation, Mr Feng Zuoku, who spoke through an interpreter, said the visit is to strengthen bilateral relationship with Nigeria given the strategic positions both countries occupy in their respective continents and in the world as well.

Mr. Zuoku said future co operations between the two nations are very broad since their respective leadership have continued to share similar positions on global issues and have shown increasing commitment to work together.

http://www.champion.com.ng/index.php?news=31241