₦airaland Forum

Senator Babafemi Ojudu representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District on Tuesday in Ibadan expressed pessimism about Nigeria getting out of its economic doldrums except the nation has a determined president that is ready to serve the nation with the last blood in his veins.

Ojudu expressed this while delivering a lecture on “Rekindling Patriotism in the Public Service”, at the 3rd edition of Radio Nigeria monthly lecture, suggesting that leaders found guilty of corruption should be executed just as they do in China and some Asian countries.

According to him, “I do not want to sound pessimistic but I am. The system has become so bad that even when you are good, by the time you get in there, by the time you get to office or politics, you would have been so panelbeaten that when you are coming out, you will not recognise yourself again.”

He said further, “Nigeria’s problem is about leadership. We have not had leaders in Nigeria who are prepared for the job. The leaders we have been having are accidental leaders who get to office unprepared.”

Ojudu disclosed that public hearings on the floor of the National Assembly have exposed ugly findings that at some point someone who is emotional may get furious and angry.

“I was yet to recover from the startling revelations at the public hearing conducted by the Senate on pension reforms when l got the invitation to speak here today. Just as l was getting over that, we were confronted again with the report of the fuel subsidy probe of the House of Representatives, a report that shows how determined some people are to shipwreck Nigeria. How could a single man operate over 500 accounts just to hide stolen funds? How can a sane man look into a camera and defend corruption? How could a waste management company be tasked with the importation of PMS?”

The ACN Senator disclosed that the civil service is over bloated, stressing that as at 2005, the number of civil servants in Nigeria was 2.2 million.

He further pointed out that successive governments over the years had done badly, adding that “every stratum of our public service, from law enforcement to social welfare, electricity and other sectors is deeply enmeshed in rot and non-performance.”

He blamed both the civil servants and politicians for the woes of the nation.

Among the solutions he profferred for the country’s problems include encouraging best graduates to serve in the public sector, probing of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in its job of regulating the financial institutions, making political offices less lucrative, and shooting anyone caught stealing public money.

By Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan
http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/05/22/senator-ojudu-wants-corrupt-leaders-shot/

The Magistrate’s Court 1 sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, has sent three officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, and two others to Kirikiri Prison for allegedly taking bribe from motorists.

The LASTMA officials are Mr. Anjorin Sakiru, 43 years, a Principal Traffic Officer I, Mr. Shafari Fakumogun, 50, and a female, Omisakin Temitope, 33 years while two other suspected accomplices were also sent to Kirikiri with them.

The accused pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of N200,000 each, with two sureties in like sum, but they could not meet the bail conditions and were remanded at Kirikiri. The matter was adjourned till 19 June, 2012.

The three LASTMA officials were arrested by the LASTMA Monitoring Team at Tollgate for allegedly extorting money from motorists, while the other two accomplices in mufti helped the LASTMA officers to extort money from motorists.

Luck ran out on them when the LASTMA officials stopped Mr. Kelvin Ogbonnaya, who was driving a Space bus and ordered him to part with some money. Ogbonanya said seven other vehicles stopped by the LASTMA officials had their drivers begging for mercy from the LASTMA officers, while he alerted the LASTMA Monitoring team which came to the scene and promptly arrested the culprits.

Investigations revealed that the other two men arrested posed as LASTMA officials and helped the real LASTMA officials to collect bribe from motorists. The culprits were brought to the Office of the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, Alausa, Ikeja and were detained on Friday before they were later arraigned in court. Taskforce Chairman, Bayo Sulaiman, said the law must take its course, saying that the culprits must be punished according to the laws of the state.

—Kazeem Ugbodaga
http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/05/22/bribery-3-lastma-officials-sent-to-kirikiri/

The Acting Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, has vowed to sack more policemen found to be corrupt in the discharge of their duties.


IGP Abubakar

Abubakar said this Monday when he visited the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

The police boss said he was ready to change the face of the police force, saying that during his tenure, corruption would be a thing of the past.

“I have told my officers, those willing to go with the new change, qualitative service, zero tolerance to corruption will remain the hallmark of our duties..

“Anybody not willing to go with the change will fall by the road side,” he said.

Abubakar disclosed that 50,000 policemen were on the verge of being retrained as part of capacity building for police officers.

He added that 15,000 of those to be retrained would be trained on intelligence policing while 10,000 others would go for detective training.

“In any country in the world, you cannot achieve anything without intelligence gathering and this, we want to take seriously. I will do my best and I promise to change the police force,” he added.

Abubakar decried the poor welfare of police officers, saying there was no way they could perform better under such condition and promised that things would change.

He also disclosed that 300 patrol vehicles had been released for the police to monitor major highways in the country to foil incessant robbery attacks and other crimes.

—Kazeem Ugbodaga
http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/05/21/corruption-more-cops-to-be-sacked-police-ig/

Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi, says provision has been made for free installation of meters in the new electricity tariff proposed by the Federal Government. The new regime takes off on June 1.

He said the electricity distribution companies have been ordered to provide meters for their customers between 12 to 18 months, starting from June 1. He said only a connection fee would now be paid for meters of N5,000 by customers.

Amadi said this when he visited the customer services centre of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company.

He said the new tariff was a bitter pill Nigerians should endure for improved electricity supply which calls for better services from the distribution companies and accurate billing system.

According to the NERC boss, customer service is the core of the new tarrif order.

He said: “I think the Nigerian people will understand our predicament if we improve on our customer service. That is why we have made customer care the niche of the new tariff. We can really improve in terms of transparency and accountability especially in billing.

“We (NERC) will be having periodic check on the distribution companies because this is the most important component of the Multi-Year Tariff Order. Every CEO of the companies should ensure they have a forum office where customers’ complaints can be dealt with.”

A forum office constitutes member(s) of staff of the distributor company, NERC and civil society organisation who would address complaints from electricity consumers who did not get satisfactory attention from the PHCN.

He said it was illegal for communities to buy transformers, adding that it was the job of the PHCN to do so. He, however, said governments at all levels could do so to empower the people and upon installation, it becomes the property of the PHCN.

Chief Executive officer of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Engineer Abdulganiyu Umar, corroborated Amadi’s position, saying, “It is illegal for communities to buy transformers and it is also illegal for any PHCN staff to collect money from people in the name of procuring transformers for them.

“If anyone has evidence of such incident against my staff, we should be notified and we will deal with it.”

He warned PHCN customers to be wary of crooks who masquerade as community helpers to defraud them of money, insisting that “PHCN has not authorised anybody to collect money on its behalf.”

—Henry Ojelu



http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/05/18/electricity-consumers-to-get-free-prepaid-meters/

A big controversy is raging in Lagos following the birth of a baby boy said to be clutching a miniature Holy Quran at birth. The baby was born at a white garment church in Mushin, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria.

•The mystery baby. Inset: The miniature Holy Quran
While some dispute the claim, others say it is possible. A large crowd gathered at 1, Sonde Street, Ijeshatedo, Lagos home of the boy’s parents yesterday, as news of the birth spread rapidly.
His mother, Mrs. Kikelomo Ilori, 32, a Cosmetologist, told P.M.NEWS that he was born on Monday after she had carried the pregnancy for about 10 months. The single mother claimed she was abandoned by her husband who denied responsibility for the pregnancy and encouraged her to abort it. The woman told P.M.NEWS yesterday: “When I refused to abort the pregnancy, he deserted me, saying ‘that is your own problem’.” Mrs. Ilori expressed surprise at the birth of the boy. She added that the nurse who delivered her of the baby was physically challenged, but went about it commendably.
“When my baby was delivered holding a Quran in his hand, the nurse said the Quran should be thrown away. But I insisted my mother must see it before any action could be taken,” Kikelomo, who is a Christian, further explained.
Corroborating the story, Senior Rev. Victoria Yetunde Dada said during the pregnancy, Kikelomo was always coming to her for prayers and counselling.
“I advised her not to abort the pregnancy because she might die in the process. Again, I told her the foetus was sent by God and will be great,” Apostle Mother Dada told our correspondent. Controversy has continued to trail the seemingly spurious claim.
Reacting, Medical Director of Bodet Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Dr. Bode Tawak said scientifically, it was not possible for a baby to be born holding a Quran.
“How big is the baby’s hand to hold the Quran? How big is the Quran? How did the Quran get into her mother’s womb? I don’t know how a Quran can get into a womb. But there are things you can’t explain,” Dr. Tawak responded. He said while the incident cannot be explained medically, in Nigeria many mysterious things happen. A Kaduna-based medical practitioner, Dr. Munir Yusuf said from a medical point of view, it was not possible, but added that depending on the size of the Quran, it was possible metaphysically.
He explained that if the Quran is small enough to pass through the diameter of the vagina, with the child, it is possible. In the same vein, a herbal medicine practitioner, Chief Dr. Bola Adegunloye believes nothing is impossible, but said too much importance must not be place




http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/05/09/controversy-over-baby-born-with-quran/

LG Electronics plans to release televisions running Google TV in the U.S. by May 21, according to a report.

The South Korea-based company made the announcement early Monday, but offered no details such as pricing, display sizes, or specs, according to Reuters. An LG representative was unavailable for comment at the time of this writing.

LG-made Google TVs have been expected for several months after speculation about an LG Google TV surfaced in November. The company followed up those rumors with a January debut of its Google TV plans during CES 2012 in Las Vegas. The gadget maker said its Google TV-powered sets would include LG Cinema 3D displays between 55 and 84 inches (diagonal), a 3D conversion engine that can turn any 2D TV show or movie into a 3D spectacle, and an LG Magic Remote including a QWERTY keyboard.

LG's anticipated Google TV launch will likely be welcomed by the search giant as it struggles to keep relevant its platform designed to merge the Web with broadcast television. The company in October launched an overhaul of Google TV with a new streamlined interface and Android app support. But two years have passed since its debut in 2010 and Google TV is still supported in the U.S. largely by Logitech and Sony devices.

Logitech announced in November that it will cease producing new Google TV devices after losing millions on developing and selling the Revue, a Google TV-powered set-top box. Sony is focusing mainly on its “four screens” strategy that will tie its televisions, smartphones, tablets, and PCs into one Apple-like ecosystem. Meanwhile, LG will sell Google TV-powered sets alongside its own NetCast smart TV platform. Other manufacturers expected to roll out new Google TV devices include Vizio and Samsung.

Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt in December predicted that most TVs sold by summer 2012 will come with Google TV on board.

Connect with Ian Paul (@ianpaul) on Twitter and Google+, and with Today@PCWorld on Twitter for the latest tech news and analysis.

See more like this:lg,tv,google



http://www.pcworld.com/article/255116/lg_google_to_tvs_land_in_us_may_21.html

Despite President Goodluck Jonathan’s two paragraph denial of the allegations leveled against him by Henry Okah in a sworn affidavit, the president’s role as an accomplice in the bombing of October 1, 2010 will be a major issue in the upcoming trial. According to the affidavit, several of President Jonathan’s retinue of trusted aides met secretly with Henry Okah in South Africa to discuss ways to stop a northern candidate from contesting for the Presidency under the PDP in 2011.



Amongst the president’s aides that met with Henry Okah were Mr. Oronto Douglas, Mr. Tony Uranta and Mr. Godsday Orubebe. Mr. Orubebe later sent his aide, Mr. Abraham Gillow to discuss the importation of arms into Nigeria with Henry Okah.



The 42-page affidavit shows a series of embarrassing police work submitted as evidence by the Nigerian state. The SSS claimed that the bombs were detonated by the use of cellular phones while state witnesses and Nigerian detainees claimed that a timer was used. The forensic science laboratory analysis stated that nitro-glycerine based explosive was used while state detainees said dynamite was used.



Other claims were that the bodies in photographs turned in as evidence show no trauma, indicating that the corpses were taken from a mortuary for a photo shoot. Surrounded by burnt vehicles these bodies were spotless. Pictures taken were deliberately made to be of poor quality so as to hide the identities of the bodies.



The Nigerian government could not provide receipt of four out of the six vehicles said to have been purchased for the bombings. There were misspelled name of the buyer, no purchasers’ signatures and the two receipts were printed from the same computer by two different individuals.



The corpse of one of the victimz, Mr. Verty Bala, was said to have gone through a Post Morten examination that had several contradicting reports from what the medical practitioner at the National Hospital Abuja stated in his report. For example, while the medical report said that Mr. Bala’s corpse “was fresh and neatly dressed with only a 1mm puncture wound”, police report recorded cuts on the body.



There were other discrepancies. A single police man, Corporal Akor Emmanuel escorted seven victims to three different hospitals that are far apart. Corporal Emmanuel was recorded as the police man who escorted the corpse of Mr. Bala when Mr. Bala did not die on the scene. Contrary to Nigerian law which requires that forbids burial without possession of a death certificate, no death certificates were issued to any of the victims.



Mr. Okah stated that the bodies were brought from outside source and photographed at the scene of the bombing two days later.



In the case of victims of the March 15, 2010 bombing, the death certificate of one Mr. Igbe was issued eight months after his burial.



Mr. Okah swore that the bombings of 14th March and October 1, 2010 were the handwork of President Goodluck Jonathan in cohort with a faction of MEND. He stated that the ultimate goal of the October 1, 2010 bombing was “to create an anti-North sentiment nationwide in order to galvanize support from other sections of Nigeria against Northern candidates in the Presidential elections.”



Trouble started when MEND claimed responsibility for the bombing, making it difficult for the presidency to blame it on General Babangida and other Northerners. According to the affidavit, the presidency contacted Okah through Mr. Moses Jituboh to help get MEND to retract their claim of responsibility. When Okah refused to cooperate, President Goodluck Jonathan placed a call to President Jacob Zuma and requested Okah’s arrest.



Mr. Okah contended in the affidavit that the state is making, “a desperate attempt to construct its fictional case against me on its vague knowledge of my itinerary while in Nigeria, my relationship with President Goodluck Jonathan and other members of the Nigerian government.”



One of the Nigerian state star witnesses, Mr. Justin Malcolm Umejesi (aka Ben Jessy) has turned out to be feeding the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa with false information for years. Mr. Umejesi, declared wanted after the bombing, was also said to have been photographed with President Jacob Zuma.



In the affidavit, Mr. Okah is pleading with the court to grant him bail because the case against him is weak and the state cannot provide evidential material to support their case.



The case will begin on October 1, 2012, by which time he would have spent two years in jail. The State has lined up over 50 witnesses from Nigeria to appear in court in South Africa. Okah also plans to call over 100 witnesses in his defense.



SaharaReporters broke the story of Mr. Okah’s new affidavit two days ago, and immediately attracted the disguised scolding of President Jonathan. In a statement by his spokesman in which he denied Mr. Okah’s allegations, Mr. Jonathan referred to our report as “an entirely diversionary trial by the media aimed only at falsely impugning the character and integrity of the President and officials of his administration.”



He advised the Nigerian media “to respect the sanctity of the legal and judicial processes in this matter and avoid becoming willing tools in the hands of Mr. Okah and his agents.”



http://saharareporters.com/news-page/henry-okah%E2%80%99s-terror-trial-portray-president-jonathan-accomplice-october-1-2010-bombing

why am in the deputy Governor on Monday this is not the gate to the office

President Goodluck Jonathan who is presently in Cote d’Ivore where he is attending an Extra-Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, on the situation in Mali and Guinea-Bissau, has condemned Thursday’s bombings of ThisDay offices in Kaduna and Abuja.

In a statement issued on his behalf by Reuben Abati, his spokesperson, the President described the attack as “ignoble, misguided, horrendous and wicked.”

The President also reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to continuously uphold the constitutional right to freedom of expression in general and of press freedom in particular.

President Jonathan therefore urged media practitioners not to be dissuaded from carrying out their fearless campaign for peace, justice and equity as democracy cannot flourish without press freedom.

He also pledged that criminal elements bent on instilling fear in the minds of Nigerians and foreigners living in the country will not succeed.

The President commiserated with the bereaved families and other innocent victims of the explosions and also prayed that Almighty God will grant them succour in their moment of grief and the souls of the departed, peaceful repose.

He further assured all Nigerians that the administration remains undeterred in its resolve to ensure the safety of life and property at all times.



http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/04/26/attack-on-thisday-wicked-misguided-horrendous-jonathan/

In Pictures: Bomb explosion at Thisday Newspaper in Jabi, Abuja

Justice Anthony Pitts of the South Wark Crown Court in London was about sentencing former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, this afternoon after he pleaded guilty to money laundering charges in February.

The judge rose for a short break after today’s proceedings and would deliver his verdict shortly.

Ibori could bag ten years for the alleged crime he committed.

Unruly supporters of the former governor also besieged the court today just as they did yesterday and were ejected by the Metropolitan Police.

During yesterday’s proceedings, two Queen’s counsel, Sasha Weis and Nicholas Pennel, argued heatedly before the court for and against the freedom of Ibori.

The judge, Justice Anthony Pitts, had to ask both parties to come today so that the defence can conclude its plea for mitigation of sentence before passing his sentence.

Ibori had pleaded guilty to 10 out of the 23-count charge levelled against him on February 27, this year. Sasha Weis, QC, who is leading the prosecuting team yesterday called Ibori a thief in Government House.

She said Ibori schemed his way to power just to defraud the people of Delta State. Sasha said Ibori plotted everything before he became governor.

She said: “It is the prosecution case that during his two terms in office, he deliberatetely and systematically defrauded the people whose interest he had been elected to represent. The total sum that Mr Ibori has stolen remains unquantified. Investigation into his corrupt and fraudulent activities are still ongoing.

“However, the sums that are the subject of the two indictments to which Ibori had pleaded guilty amount to approximately £50 million. This sum represents a fraction of the total sum stolen by Ibori and those whom he engaged to assist him.

“The evidence makes it clear that Ibori planned his offences some considerable time in advance of his election to office. He did not become accidentially involved in a pre-existing culture of corruption. He changed his date of birth in 1996, three years before he was elected. This must have been done with the purpose of tricking his way into public office. The evidence demonstrates that from the moment Ibori was elected, he set about enriching himself at the expense of some of the poorest people in the world. His greed increased exponentially during the course of his governorship as did his arrogance.”

Ibori has faced corruption charges in Nigeria and in Britain, where he was pursued by a police unit which investigates the activities of foreign officials who seek to launder stolen assets in Britain



http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/04/17/ibori-goes-to-jail-in-uk/

Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has said he will not run for elective public office or hold any political office after his tenure as governor in 2014.

In a statement in Awka on Monday, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, said Obi would retire to his family and private life after completing his tenure.

Obienyem, who was reacting to reports that Obi was having issues with his Imo State counterpart, Chief Rochas Okorocha, said the governor had a passion to serve his people faithfully.

The report said the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Umeh, had declared that Okorocha would replace the late Chief Emeka Ojukwu as the leader of Igbo, instead of Obi, many had suggested for the role.

Obi has also been linked with an aspiration to run as Vice-President in 2015 after his tenure.

“The governor himself has said it for the umpteenth time that after serving the people of the state that he would not go for any other political job, senate, ministerial appointment or any other,” Obienyem said.

He insisted that Obi and Okorcha were not at loggerheads, saying the reports of their brawling were unfounded.

He called on the media to reject one-sided stories and ensure that the views of all sides to a story were reflected in the interest of objectivity.

Obienyem said, “I am sure if the writer of that story had contacted either of the governors’ aides, they would have got the right position, except he was clearly out for mischief.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/i-wont-run-for-public-office-again-obi/

DETECTIVES at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are questioning a Federal Permanent Secretary and two directors in some ministries for allegedly stealing about N14.3billion Police Pension cash.

The suspects, The Nation learnt yesterday, explained how they looted the pension funds.

The three suspects, whose names could not be immediately confirmed last night, have been released on bail, pending the conclusion of the investigation. But their passports have been seized to restrict their movement to the country.

An EFCC source, who pleaded not to be named because the matter is under investigation, said: “The Permanent Secretary and the two directors were at various times Director of Police Pension Funds. During interrogation, one of them admitted embezzling N1.9billion; the second said he mismanaged over N3billion and the third confessed to fiddling with N8billion.

“One of the suspects has retired from service. He has revealed where he kept the loot and how he spent some.

“We have written the Head of Service, Alhaji Isa Bello Sali, but we have not concluded investigation. All the suspects are on bail pending further action on the case.”

Responding to a question, the EFCC source added: “We deliberately did not release their names to the public in order not to jeopardise ongoing investigation. But they will be known at the appropriate time.”

As at press time, it was gathered that the serving Permanent Secretary and director have not been suspended from duty.

A source in government said: “The Civil Service Rules are rigid. You cannot just suspend, unless you have been indicted or arraigned in court. We have not heard the final word from the EFCC.”

The Pension Reform Task Team leader, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, has refuted the fraud allegation levelled against his team by the Assistant Chief Accountant in the Police Pensions’ Office, Mr. Toyin Ishola.

Ishola had told the Senate Joint Committee on Establishment and Public Service and States and Local Government Administration, investigating the management and administration of pension funds that the Pension Reform Task Team is riddled with fraud.

The source said Maina insisted in a 50-page written submission to the committee that the PRTT has so far recovered N151.6 billion and £6 million in the past two years.

He said Maina stated that out of the recovered funds, N74 billion has been appropriated as part of the N4.877 trillion 2012 budget.

Another N24 billion was said to have been put aside as contingency for the harmonisation of arrears, particularly in the police, where officers in the cadre of (Assistant-Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police, are paid between N84,000 and N101,000 monthly.

Details from the documents showed that the two bank accounts in Fidelity Bank and United Bank for Africa (UBA) were opened with authorisation from the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) vide an August 9, 2011 letter with reference number AGF/TRY/RB/508/VOL I/20

The document showed Yakubu Kolawole Adeyemi, Edwin Ementa Nwokoye as the new signatories as at September 5, 2011, replacing Ishola and Mike Okoro.

The PRTT said it discovered that there were illegal withdrawals by staff of the Police Pension Office, using multiple cheques with fictitious names in excess of 30 cheques per day to withdraw cash from their banks.

Such illegal withdrawals amounted to N14 billion, it was learnt.

The PRTT, assisted by the law enforcement agencies have made substantial recovery of the stolen cash.

An employee of the Police Pension Office (names withheld) turned in N1 billion cash.

“Another surrendered three luxury estates with about 27 blocks of deluxe flats he built in Abuja,” the source said

On the alleged discovery of pension funds lodged in his brother’s account, Maina said while he is from Biu in Borno State, Danjuma Zubairu, the man referred to as his brother, hails from Kabba, Kogi State.

According to Maina, Zubairu is the Group Head, Private Banking, Abuja region of Fidelity Bank.



http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/40283-we-looted-n14-3b-pension-cash-suspects-confess.html

Boko Haram  District

Unconfirmed reports say that at least 18 fresh graduates of Imo State University, Southeast Nigeria, have all died in a road accident.
They were said to be travelling to Taraba State, Northeast Nigeria when the incident happened.
The corps members are said to be for Batch A, NYSC orientation camps.
Apparently, these students who got their call-up letters very late yesterday from IMSU, chartered a small bus not very conversant with that long, bad road for a night trip in order to meet registration deadline.
The identities of the victims could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report.
By Simon Ateba



http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/03/09/18-corps-members-die-in-auto-crash/

Tension is now brewing between a former lawmaker and his Alesa-Eleme people, the hosts of two refineries and muti-billion Naira Ndoroma Petro-chemical, near Port Harcourt, Southsouth Nigeria, over the killing of a man by soldiers guarding his house and property in the community yesterday.
We gathered that two soldiers shot and killed a young man said to be slightly mentally unstable in Alesa, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The mentally unstable man usually used hard objects to smash parts of private cars without provocation but he was tolerated because of his mental state by many residents of Eleme.
We learnt from residents of Alesa community that the soldiers were on regular security guard duty at the home of a two-time former member of the House of Representatives, Chief Olaka Wogu, who had served as a two time Chairman of Eleme local Government, before proceeding to the National Assembly.
An eyewitness said the the soldiers were in a Hilux van on the way from the Refinery junction towards their duty post in Alesa when the man threw the bottle he was holding in their direction. It was not clear if the bottle hit any of the soldiers.
Angered by the impunity of the man, one of the soldiers stopped their vehicle and threatened to shoot him. But the man picked a stone and pelted at them.
This further angered one of the soldiers who shot him in the leg.
The eyewitness, who does not want his name mentioned, said another soldier who who was apparently not satisfied that his colleague only shot the man in the leg, perhaps unaware of the man’s mental state, quickly jumped down from the Hilux van and shot the man in the chest, killing him on the spot.
“It was not the first time this man was smashing the windscreen or side mirror of private vehicles. People in Eleme know him for that, but it is unfortunate he did what he did to the wrong people. The soldiers too thought that he was a violent person, “ an yewitness also said.
The incident triggered angry reactions by youths of Alesa community. They took to the streets to protest the killing of the man, but were later calmed by the executive chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Chief Oji Ngofa Oji.
Ngofa frowned at the action of the soldiers and called for the immediate withdrawal of the military men from the area.
“It is unfortunate that this kind of crude action is still being experienced in a democracy. Why will the soldiers just kill a man like that? I am calling for the immediate withdrawal of the soldiers from Eleme.
“I am aware that the soldiers were guarding a private person and a private property. Is it not the constitutional responsibility of soldiers to protect lives of Nigerians? How can soldiers shoot a man and another soldier came down from their vehicle and shot the same person? Now, they have killed him just like that. We as a council will not take this lightly. We must insist on the prosecution of these soldiers, because we know them,” the council boss said.
The Army Public Relations Officer (APRO) Lieutenant Colonel Aminu Ilyiasu has not reacted to the incident as he was said to be in a meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State over the incident.
Mr. Ken Atsuete, a Port Harcourt-based human rights lawyer, condemned the killing as” callous, inhuman and a violation of the man’s right to life. In the Niger Delta,what we have is an army of occupation killing the people at any slightest provocation.
“If their lives were threatened, shooting the man in the leg was enough to demobilise the alleged mentally unstable man rather than denying the man’s right to life.”
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Ben Ogbuegbulam confirmed the incident to our correspondent on telephone, saying, “Yes, I heard it, but I have not really gotten the details.”
Meanwhile, Alesa youths vowed to insist that Olaga Wogu and the Army authorities withdraw the soldiers from their community as they no are longer safe if two soldiers can shoot and kill one man.




http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/03/09/tension-in-alesa-as-soldiers-kill-man/

In the wake of election malpractices and irregularities in the country, former governor of Lagos State and leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has opined that Nigeria is not yet a nation.


Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Speaking at the 84th birthday and book launch of former governor, Old Western Region, General Robert Adeyinka Adebayo in Lagos yesterday, Tinubu reiterated that until Nigeria reaches that stage where one man, one vote is entrenched, it cannot be regarded as a nation.

Tinubu noted that it calls for concern that Nigeria is still fighting poverty in the midst of plenty.

He said there is urgent need for electoral reforms to save the country from anarchy and chaos.

Tinubu, who was the chairman of the occasion, said having fought tirelessly for the liberation of Nigeria during his active days, Gen. Adebayo by now should be reaping the fruits of a developed nation, but it’s unfortunate that the “country is rather sliding into doldrums.”

“We are still fighting poverty in the midst of plenty. Please forgive us and don’t be ashamed of the country you worked for. Just encourage us because we have no nation yet. We would have been better if there is one man, one vote.

“We put agencies together to entrench one man, one vote, but what we are getting is one man, many ballot papers. INEC is wallowing in logistic problems. There is no database. And our electoral system is getting to a point that the more you look, the less you see. But even if the ruling party continues to short change the majority, we will not give up,” Tinubu stressed.

He added that the country’s judicial system is under siege “because the ruling party has embarked on witch-hunting of jurists, just like in the case of Justice Salami. Are we not giving the nation to dogs and inviting chaos?”

Tinubu, however, called on the celebrant, Gen. Adebayo and other concerned Nigerians to fight for the reinstatement of Justice Salami.

Speaking on the topic ‘Rebranding Nigeria Through Elections’, Professor Justus Shokefun reiterated that the most accepted election in the history of Nigeria was held in 1993, adding that even the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua once said he was not proud of the election that brought him into office.

In his own remarks, Gen. Adebayo said: “Today is a great one for me. I’m overwhelmed. The future is more relevant than the past. I have done my best in the past and now I’m handing over to those younger, particularly those who passed through me because we want the future to be better than the past…but it appears those who are looking for positions in the future are not focused on development.”

He therefore suggested that INEC and the police should be truly independent and impartial, adding that INEC chairman and resident officers shouldn’t be appointed by the president of the country.

“There should also be a specialised court for election matters,” he concluded.

Some of the dignitaries who attended the birthday an the launch of a the book titled ‘Electoral Reforms In Nigeria’ were Chief Olusegun Osoba, General Mobolaji Johnson, Prince Tony Adejuyigbe and former Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, to mention a few.




http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/03/09/we-have-no-nation-yet-says-tinubu/

A 36 -year old driver and his conductor have been arraigned before Ejigbo magistrate’s court, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, for allegedly beating up a top official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, with charms.

Akeem Omotayo and his conductor, Owolabi Awofala, 35, are facing charge of assault before the presiding magistrate, Mrs M. B. Floami.

The defendants were alleged to have beaten Olagun Oluwatosin with charms, which made him lose his senses around Jakande Estate, Isolo, Lagos.

Oluwatosin became helpless, motionless and lost his senses and did not do anything while they were beating him.

While testifying before the court, Oluwatosin said the men used charms on him and he was watching them while they beat him up and damaged his properties. As a result, he sustained injuries.

He said he was unconscious until his colleagues forced them to bring the remedy before he regained consciousness.

The level nine-officer told the court that his ordeal started along Jakande Estate road when he stopped Omotayo, who was driving a commuter bus for breaking the traffic laws.

He said he wanted to take the driver to their office at Ejigb unit as the law stipulated. But the driver brought out a charm, which had been tendered as exhibit, from the boot of his bus and hit him with it.

Oluwatosin told the court that he became unconscious and with his conductor, tore his uniform, collected his walkie talkie and beat him up.

He said while they were beating him, he was watching them helplessly because of the charms they used on him.

He told the court that after they beat him, they entered their bus and was about to drive off when his colleagues, who saw his condition, forced them to bring the charms’ remedy so that he would come back to his senses.

Oluwatosin said it was then that the driver brought red oil and poured it on him before he regained consciousness.

When the officers at Ejigbo Police Station were contacted, they arrested the driver and his conductor and were arraigned before the court.

The matter has been adjourned till 28 March 2012



http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/03/08/driver-beats-lastma-chief-with-charms/

•The badly scalded buttocks of the victim








A 33-year old man has poured hot water on her daughter’s private part, damaging part of her vagina, for licking soup in the pot. The incident happened in Ikorodu area of Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria.


•The badly scalded buttocks of the victim

The girl, a 14-year old Junior Secondary School II student (name withheld) is currently undergoing treatment at a government hospital while the father, Mr. Solarin Muyiwa has been arrested by the Social Welfare Department of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, WAPA, and will be arraigned in court soon.

The incident, which took place at 3, Adeyiga Street, Ikorodu attracted lots of unsavoury comments about the father, a Laboratory Assistant at Spintex Mill

Muyiwa created a stir when he was brought to the WAPA Ministry after his arrest. Staff of the ministry, mostly women, described him as a wicked man to have inflicted such punishment on his daughter.

“The incidence took place two Fridays ago, but a concerned neighbour who saw the state of the young girl, put across a distress call to the ministry. We responded immediately and rescued the girl and she is presently being treated in the hospital,” said Mrs. Alaba Fadairo, Director, Child Development, WAPA.

“We were surprised when we saw the girl. There were deep wounds on her body. Her father poured hot water on her private part. He said she licked soup from the pot. The girl said she was given N50 for the day and that she wanted to test if the soup was hot or not.

“The father first beat her with a wooden stick and told her stepmother to heat some water when the wife reported to him that he caught the girl stealing from the soup pot. It was that hot water he poured into a plastic and ordered her to put her hands inside.

“His wife also confirmed that he asked her to boil the water and after that, he asked the girl to put her hands inside the water, but she said at that juncture, her baby was crying and she had to go and nurse her baby and she didn’t know what transpired. This incident happened on Saturday, February 25, and we got to know about it last Thursday and went to save the girl,” she stated.


•Solarin Muyiwa

Fadairo said the government would prosecute the father over the incident as it violates the girl’s right under the Child Right’s law.

“We are at the stage of prosecution. We have passed the stage of prevention; this is the stage of prosecution,” she said.

When asked, the father of the girl, Muyiwa confessed that he poured water on his daughter’s private part, saying his intention was not to harm his daughter he had during his secondary school days.

“I just want to apologise about it. I did it in annoyance. I regret what I did and I just want to apologise. She has been stealing, but I did not mean to pour hot water on her, I just wanted to scare her with the water so that she will know the difference between good and bad. I did not know it would result in this. I am very sorry.

“I took her to Jobi Hospital after the incident. I never knew it will get so bad like that,” he stated.

Narrating how he got a baby while in secondary school, he said his relationship led to pregnancy, saying that the last time he saw the mother of his daughter was in 2005 and now he does not know her whereabouts.

—Kazeem Ugbodaga

Intending Lagos State pilgrims for this year’s pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia will spend N3.27 billion as transport fare for the exercise, while the state government says no pilgrim will be allowed to embark on the journey without possessing a voter’s card, national identity card or census card with a Lagos code.

At least, 3,852 pilgrims will embark on the journey to hajj around October this year and they will spend N26 million in purchasing forms for the hajj, with each intending pilgrim spending N7,000 to obtain the form.

Each of the intending pilgrim is expected to make an initial transport deposit of N550,000, and the total is N3.27 billion pending the fixing of the hajj fare by the National Hajj Commission, NAHCON.

Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Oyinlomo Danmole said at the weekend that the state government wants to ensure that anyone going for the hajj must be a resident in Lagos and working in the state.

“The state decided to make available its hajj seats only to intending pilgrims who live in the state. These are people that the state government is legally bound to plan and make provision of its amenities.

“The residency status of all the intending pilgrims would be determined through the provision of one of the following documents-voters registration card, national identity card with Lagos State code and census card,” he said.

According to the commissioner, the era whereby people living outside Lagos rode on Lagos seats to hajj was over no matter how influential such people might be.

Danmole said government’s decision was part of measures put in place to checkmate the unruly behaviour of pilgrims, instill discipline and maintain orderliness among pilgrims travelling with the state government.

He maintained that the new order was not meant to discriminate against Muslim faithful in the country, but to give due privilege to Lagosians who might not be able to pay for the Hajj operation early enough for the available slot of 3,852 persons.

He disclosed that the Muslims Pilgrims Board would commence the sale of forms for this year’s pilgrimage on 19 March, 2012 at the premises of the Board.

The commissioner said that two sets of forms would be available to intending pilgrims for N2,000 (pre-qualification form) and the second for N5,000 which would be filled by certified and qualified residents of the state.

While disclosing that the intending pilgrims for this year’s exercise are expected to pay a deposit of N550,000 which is 55,000 higher than last year’s charge, the commissioner explained that the increment was a reflection of the innovation of improved services in the area of better hotel accommodation.

He added that any changes in the proposed charge either on the government’s or pilgrims’ side would be duly communicated or addressed.

He, however, used the opportunity to invite organisations and service providers to partner with the state government in the air-lifting, provision of visas and hotel accommodation for pilgrims.

—Kazeem Ugbodaga



http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/03/05/lagos-votes-n3-2b-on-hajj/

Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo clocked 75 today and declared that he was not willing to celebrate his birthday in a lavish manner until when God spares his life till he hits 80.


Olusegun Obasanjo

The 75th birthday of the former president was being marked at the premises of his Presidential Library located along IBB Boulevard, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria, as at press time today with the launch of two books to commemorate the milestone.

Obasanjo, who refused to make elaborate speeches, said the situation in Nigeria today called for sober reflection which will not allow him to celebrate his birthday in a big way.

He noted that the rate of unemployment and the lack of food and insecurity do not give him joy to roll out the drums to mark his birthday.

He expressed the hope that God will spare his life till the next five years and when he clocks 80, the Nigeria of his dreams must have been achieved and he would celebrate his 80th birthday better.

Speaking at the occasion, the Vice President of the World Bank, Oby Ezekwesili, eulogised the former President, saying that to the people outside Nigeria, Obasanjo is a role model and a leader worthy of emulation.

She urged Nigerians to tap from the wealth of experience of the former president.

She advised Africans to strive to achieve more on food production to achieve food security, stressing that instead of fighting themselves, they should fight hunger and poverty.

As part of the former leader’s 75th birthday today, school children presented a drama. They also recited some poems.

The programme was ongoing as at press time.

However, as low-keyed as Obasanjo might want his 75th birthday celebration, prominent Nigerians this morning started to shower encomiums on the former president.

First, President Goodluck Jonathan, in a message, described Obasanjo as a leader who had served Nigeria throughout most of his adult life.

Similarly, Senate President, David Mark; Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal; former military leader, General Ibrahim B. Babangida; Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State; Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo, National Vice Chairman of PDP in Southwest; Dr. Olusola Obada, Minister of State for Defence; former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and other prominent Nigerians bought spaces in national dailies today to congratulate him.




http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/03/05/i-will-celebrate-big-at-80-says-obasanjo/

Senator Liyel Imoke, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, standard bearer in the 25 February governorship election in Cross River State Monday took oath of office to begin a second tenure.

Imoke, who was handed the Certificate of Return on Monday, a day after he was declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was administered the oath of office by Justice Dorothy Iyamba, the Chief Justice of the state.

The swearing in ceremony which took place at the Main Bowl of the Cultural Centre Board was packed as thousands of politicians and well wishers from all over the state thronged the venue to witness the event.

Speaking after the oath of allegiance, Imoke told the crowd that the state was yet to witness the best as he was prepared to give his best in the next four years in the service of the state.

According to the governor more rural roads, hospital infrastructure, and human empowerment would take place in the state.

He said as he promised when he took the first oath of office in 2007, government would be taken to those who need government most.

“Improving and upgrading education and health care facilities as well as providing infrastructure such as roads, water supply and state-wide electrification remain integral to our objective of social transformation,” he said.

Imoke declared that he will position the state to eventually become self-sufficient, dynamic, competitive and a non oil-dependent economy for the 21st century.

“In other words, our economic growth should today be a factor of single natural resource but should emanate from a range of economic activities. Given our geographical location and proximity to our better endowed neighbours in the southsouth region it is better that we work to create a conducive business and leisure environment which will be attractive to investors and tourists, ” he said.

He stated that the renewal of his mandate was consequent upon his satisfactory performance and thus the overwhelming renewal of this mandate is a “clear confirmation and further attestation that we are moving in the right direction on this most important journey.”

The governor thanked the people for the outpouring of support and affection which he received during the campaign for re-election which he said was attributable to the great work he has done these past years all over the state.

“The work of this administration is rapidly and radically converting people to believe that their dream for Cross Rive State can be a reality in their own lifetime.”

Imoke said that though he has critics, “we completely and whole-heartedly embrace the criticism and view it as an opportunity to espouse and impart optimism. Not just by words but also by our deeds,” and assured that the work he is about to embark on today has great rewards to be reaped.

He called on those with better ideas on how to run the state and how to better the lot of the people of the state to come up with them “and we shall together work towards building a strong and virile state.”




http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/02/28/imoke-takes-oath-of-office-for-second-term/

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The former head of US construction company KBR was sentenced to 30 months in prison over the bribing of Nigerian officials to win contracts, the US Justice Department said Thursday.

Albert Stanley, the former chief executive officer of the engineering giant, also must pay his former company $10.8 million in restitution under the judgment handed down in a Houston federal court.

Stanley, 69, pleaded guilty to violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.KBR and its parent company, Halliburton, have also agreed to pay a $579 million fine after pleading guilty to corruption charges in Nigeria.

He was accused of participating in a bribery scheme between 1995 and 2004 to obtain construction contracts worth more than $6 billion, according to a US Justice Department statement.KBR was part of joint venture TSKJ — which also included French firm Technip SA, Dutch and Italian firm Snamprogetti Netherlands BV and Japanese firm JGC Corporation — to build a liquefied natural gas facility on Bonny Island in the Niger Delta.

The joint venture allegedly paid $183 million in bribes to a variety of Nigerian government officials, according to the Justice Department.Stanley, who was fired by Halliburton in 2004, cooperated in the investigation in exchange for a lighter sentence.The case sparked criminal investigations in France, Switzerland, Nigeria and Britain.

Two British men, attorney Jeffrey Tesler and businessman Wojciech Chodan, also were sentenced on criminal charges by a Houston judge. Tesler is getting 21 months in prison while Chodan is sentenced to one year of probation.Last month, Japanese trading house Marubeni, which the TSKJ joint venture hired to help get the engineering contracts, agreed to pay a $54.6 million fine in the United States, the Justice Department said.

In 2010, , Technip and Snamprogetti each agreed to pay $240 million fines while JGC settled for a nearly $219 million fine.




http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/02/24/american-jailed-over-nigerian-bribes/

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has congratulated Christians in Nigeria as they begin the observance of Lent.

As the dominant feature of the 40-day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday is constant prayers, penitence, fasting and self-denial, President Jonathan has urged Christians in Nigeria to pray fervently this Lent for greater peace, security and progress in the country.

The President also urged the Christian community to reflect deeply during the period on the virtues and ideals of human existence exemplified by the ministry of Jesus Christ on earth.

He called on Christians to commit themselves to making those virtues including brotherly love, tolerance, humility, service to others, honesty, fairness and equity more manifest in their daily lives.
President Jonathan prayed that God Almighty will answer the prayers of all Nigerians and bless the country with continued unity and rapid development




http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/02/23/as-lent-begins-jonathan-prays-for-peace/

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The Lagos State Government has shut down the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Ministry and six other churches in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria over noise pollution.

Officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA stormed a branch of the Lord’s Chosen Church at 25 Omobola Street, Lawanson, Surulere area at the weekend and shut it down.

Other affected churches are Bible Church, FESTAC; The Chapter of Christ Church, Oregun, Ikeja; Assemblies of God Church, Ikeja; The Golden Gate Church, Ifako-Ijaiye and Seek and Save Ministry, Abule Egba.

The closure of the churches is coming after pre-sanction notices were given to the churches to abate the noise pollution emanating from their worship centres.

General Manager, LASEPA, Engr. Rasheed Shabi said the closure of the churches became imperative after several abatement notices issued to them were disregarded.

According to him, some of the churches even rebuffed meetings called by the agency on how to resolve the issue.

“The agency’s stance is clear on issue of noise pollution level permitted. This has been communicated to all worship centres in the state.

“The level of noise pollution allowed in the state is between 55 decibel during the day and 42 to 45 decibel at night,” he said.

Shabi said the state government was determined to reduce noise pollution in the state because of the anomalies and diseases related to it.

He enjoined worship centres in the state to comply with the state’s standard on noise, while suggesting the use of sound proof equipment by churches to reduce noise during their worship services.

Meanwhile, the large expanse of land in Ayobo where the temporary headquarters of Deeper Life Bible Church is situated may soon become a subject of litigation, as the Olalere Family has asked the church to vacate the land.

The over 150 acres of land covering Amule, Ayobo and Onikanga communities, currently accommodates the Deeper Life Bible Church main auditorium, the International Bible Training College and the proposed Anchor University owned by founder of the church, Pastor Williams Kumuyi.

Although Deeper Life Bible Church has been in possession of the land for over 30 years, the Olalere Family who now claim ownership of the land has declared the church as an illegal occupant and warned that the family may resort to court action to evict the church if it does not legalise its tenancy of the land.

The Olalere family in a letter to the church dated 7 February 2012 noted that by virtue of a 2010 court ruling by Justice Oyekan Abdullahi, the entire Ayobo community land belongs to them, and any occupant currently on the land must renegotiate their tenancy with the family.

When our reporter contacted the church over the development, secretary to the church, Pastor Jerry Asemota, said he was personally unaware of any letter to the church by the Olalere family.

He, however, said that only the legal department of the church could confirm receipt of such letters.

When asked about the Olalere family’s claim of ownership to the church land, he said: “I can assure you that we are not illegal occupants. We have been in possession of this land for 30 years and if the initial owners have problem among themselves, they should settle it amicably.”



http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/02/21/lagos-shuts-down-lords-chosen-6-other-churches/

Lagos State Government on Sunday said the Oke-Odo and Alamutu markets in Agbado Oke Odo and Mushin local government areas shut down on Friday might remained closed for three months.

The closure came barely three weeks after another market, Mile 12 Market, was shut over environmental offences.

Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, who communicated the decision of the government to the market leaders, lamented that some markets in the state had refused to buy into the vision of the state in the area of environmental sanitation.

He said, “It is sad that most of our market men and women are still guided by the old traditional belief that rain is a blessing that must cart away refuse any time it rains.

“Lagos, as a coastal state, is susceptible to flooding, which is the more reason why we all must clear our drainages now, before the rainy season.”

He said the state government had embarked on pre-rainy season cleaning, clearing and dredging.

He expressed displeasure that in spite of government’s efforts, some people still disposed their waste indiscriminately.

He said, “For instance, traders in Alamutu Market have turned the drain constructed beside the market into a refuse bin.

“I have personally visited the area twice, to appeal to them to desist from this unsanitary habit. Meetings have been held with them, all to no avail.”

He also explained that traders in Oke-Odo Market; rather than trade within the confine of the market area, took over the entire stretch of a newly constructed road.

Bello alleged that the traders also dumped refuse indiscriminately in all the side drains as well as cause traffic snarl on that road.

“The State Government is left with no option but to close the market in order to prevent epidemic outbreak, and flooding when it rains.

“We are determined to sanitise our markets and environment. The rains are here and we shall ensure that the incidence of flood are reduced to the barest minimum in the state,” the commissioner said.

He warned that other market leaders in the state, who did not advise their members to buy into the government’s environmental policy also risked their markets being shut for three months.


1) Oke-Odo and Alamutu markets in Agbado Oke Odo

2) Mile 12 Market

3)Lagos Orders Indefinite Closure of Ladipo Market


http://www.punchng.com/news/lagos-may-shut-markets-for-three-months/

A total of 8,159 students graduated from the University of Lagos today.

Out of the total number, 4,375 received first degrees while 3,784 received post graduate degrees. Of the first degree graduating students, 122 passed in first class division, with the Faculty of Engineering topping the list.

The Lagos State Motor Vehicle Administration Agency, MVAA, will begin the replacement of the old vehicle number plates with the new national vehicle number plates in the state from Thursday.
Permanent Secretary, MVAA, Akin Hanson, in a statement said that owners of registered vehicles could replace the old number plates and also renew their vehicle licences at the MVAA’s 46 licensing offices across the state from Monday upon completion of necessary renewal forms and payment of prescribed fees.
“Vehicle owners applying for number plates’ replacement should visit any of the 46 licencing offices of the MVAA for a one-stop registration and completion of the replacement/issuance process.
“Alternatively, applicants can visit the website of Courteville Group (MVAA partners) at www.courtevillegroup.com for online completion of Form MVA01 before proceeding to the nearest licencing office with relevant documents to complete the issuance procedure,” he said.
According to him, the required documents included expired/existing vehicle licences, certificate of proof of ownership, sworn affidavit and police report, owner or representative’s passport photograph as well as valid means of identification such as international passport, driver’s licence or national identity card.
He added that applications and enquiries regarding confirmed fake registration numbers should be forwarded to the MVAA headquarters for consideration.
The inception of the replacement of old vehicle number plates is coming nine weeks after the state’s Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa flagged off the issuance of the new National Vehicle Number Plates on 16 November, 2011 with the issuance of the new plates to only owners of unregistered new or used imported vehicles.
Hanson said that the huge backlog of registration applications arising from the non-availability of number plates nationwide between September and October last year, which necessitated the phasing of the issuance of new vehicle number plates had been cleared, hence the commencement of the old number plates replacement phase.
He stated that special desks had been created at the licencing offices to enhance seamless simultaneous processing of applications by both the owners of new unregistered vehicles as well as registered vehicles with old number plates.


http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/01/31/lagos-begins-replacement-of-old-number-plates-thursday/

Efforts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to arraign the speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Adeyemi Sabit Ikuforiji, and his personal Assistant, Oyebode Alade Atoyebi at the Federal High Court, Lagos was unsuccessful Monday as the presiding judge, Justice James Tsogho, declined to hear the matter.
The EFCC had sought to arraign the speaker on a 20-count charge of alleged misappropriation of funds totaling N575, 992,584.50.
Justice Tsogho declined to hear the case citing personal reasons.
His words: “I decline the hearing of this case for personal reasons. The case file will be forwarded to the Chief Judge for possible re-assignment.”
Godwin Obla was the prosecution counsel, while Tayo Oyetibo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria was the defence counsel.
Count one of the 20-count charge reads: “That you, Rt. Honourable Adeyemi Sabit Ikuforiji and Oyebode Alade Atoyebi sometime between April 2010 and July 2011, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to do an illegal act, to wit accepting various cash payments amounting in the aggregate to the sum of N273,303,780 only from the Lagos State House of Assembly without going through a financial institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 18 (a) of the money laundering (prohibition) Act, 2011 and punishable under sections 16(2) (b) of the same Act”.
Count two reads “That you, Rt. Honourable Adeyemi Sabit Ikuforiji, whilst being the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly and Oyebode Alade Atoyebi whilst being the personal assistant to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly sometime between April 2010 and July 2011 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did accept a cash payment of the sum of N7,150,000 only from the Lagos State House of Assembly without going through a financial institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a)_ of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act, 2004 and punishable under section 15(2) (b) of the same Act”.



http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/01/30/efcc-vs-ikuforiji-judges-withdrawal-stalls-arraignment/

A young man, Niyi Ehindero, was on Thursday allegedly shot dead by soldiers attached to Operation MESA Unit on Bada Street in Mushin area of Lagos.

Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the soldiers shot Ehindero at close range in his car, when they went to the area to disperse hoodlums who were engaged in a fierce battle.

A friend of the deceased, who craved anonymity, said, “Ehindero and I just came to Bada Street to see a friend when we heard some gunshots.

“I ran into a nearby house but Ehindero was not fast enough. Eight soldiers ordered him to come out of his car but he argued with them. Suddenly, one of them shot him in the crotch and he died immediately.”

Hundreds of people gathered to see KUSH’S corpse, which was lying in a grey Toyota Highlander Sports Utility Van with number plate Lagos FF605 KRD.

Our correspondent learnt that another man identified simply as Wasiu was also shot in the leg by the soldiers.

The prolonged violence in the area recurred on Thursday as two factions of area boys engaged in a supremacy battle using guns and all manners of weapons.

It was learnt that many people sustained injuries while properties were vandalised in the violence which lasted for several hours.

The Fadeyi end of Ikorodu Road was littered with broken bottles and expended shells as well as bloodstains. Shops were locked and residents remained in their homes as the hoodlums took over the entire area.

The soldier, who headed the operation, and identified himself simply as Matthew, a Second Lieutenant, however told our correspondent that the victim was killed by the hoodlums.

He said, “We were on patrol when we realised that hoodlums had killed and injured many people. We have however arrested two of the hoodlums.

“The fight is a supremacy battle fuelled by thugs who wanted to control businesses in the area. I cannot say who started the fight but I know that because Lawani and Kadiri streets are economically buoyant, thugs from other areas always come to fight them.

“The sad thing is that innocent people either t sustained injuries or get killed when they start their fight.”

At 6pm, policemen attached to the Alakara Police Station were seen conveying the corpse to a patrol vehicle.

A resident who craved anonymity said, “He was killed by the soldiers. If the military authority is willing to investigate, all the residents are ready to testify. An autopsy will reveal that the bullet that killed him emanated from the guns of military men.”

It was learnt that Ehindero was in his 30s and was a contractor. He had two big trucks, which he used to supply sugar and rice to traders in Mushin.

He was married but had no child yet. He lived at 5, Oguntade Street, Maryland and had just returned from the United Kingdom on a business trip shortly before Christmas.

Ehindero, who was killed by OP MESA 33, was said to be a popular businessman in Mushin area where most of his customers are.

Hundreds of people gathered at the scene of his murder and rained curses on his killer and asked the Lagos State Government to invesigate his murder and brought the killers to book.

A man, who identified himself simply as Olawale, said, “How could they murder such a young and unarmed man like that in a broad day light?Even if they asked him to alight from his vehicle and he refused, is that enough to kill him?

“If they are interested in restoring peace in the area, they should have gone after the hoodlums who have been causing mayhem in the area for a long time. It is unfortunate that such a promising man should be unjustly killed in his prime like that. It is high time government restored law and order in the area.”

When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Mr. Samuel Jinadu, denied any violence in Mushin.

“Don’t go and write what did not happen. There is no violence anywhere,” he said.



http://www.punchng.com/news/soldiers-kill-businessman-in-mushin-during-argument/