₦airaland Forum

Nearly two decades after making Nigeria proud at the Africa Nations Cup in Tunisia in 1994, the Super Eagles' players and their officials to that event still reel in pains, arising from unfulfilled promises made to them by the Federal Government.

A crack Super Eagles' squad had won the Africa Nations Cup in Tunisia 1994, Nigeria's second triumph in the continental fiesta. The team followed it up with a superlative outing same year at the World Cup in the USA.

The performance, which perhaps impressed Nigerians, made the federal government under the late Gen. Sani Abacha to promise to give houses to the players and their officials for their gallant efforts.

Since then, the players have been struggling to lay their hands on the property, but have not succeeded because the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) bluntly refused to attend to their case. Daily Sunsports gathered that out of the 23 players and eight officials that got the promises, only very few have got their allocations. Those who have yet to get their own allocations, are now calling on the FHA to give them their own houses, stressing that they would want to have them before they die.

Some members of the squad, while speaking with Daily Sunsports on condition of anonymity, pleaded with the FHA to allocate them houses from the 105 units of houses that are close to Isheri Olofin Estate (Phase II) in Lagos, as the ones that were promised to them are now under litigation.

“It's heartbreaking and frustrating that after 16 years the Federal Government under General Sani Abacha promised to give us houses after we won the Nations Cup in Tunisia, the promise has yet to be fulfilled. This is something we sweated for, but somebody has been sitting on that promise and has refused to release our houses to us. “It is even worse to know that some players in our glorious squad have got their own houses, while we are left in the cold. Each day, when you wake up and remember the unfulfilled promise, you feel like cursing the nation.

“We have on our own made several attempts to see if we could get our house allocations, but every of our effort appears to have hit the brick wall.
“Last year, after the Daily Sun publication of July 3 and 24 editions, the FHA told us to come for our houses. We felt, at last, we were going to laugh at last, but on meeting them, we were told a different story.

“To say the truth, we are tired of their dribbling; FHA has dribbled us severally. All we are saying now is that they should please allocate us our houses from the 105 units of houses, which are close to Isheri Olofin Estate (Phase II). The estate is almost completed. If they could give us allocations from the new estate, we will be happy. We plead with them to stop dragging their feet on this issue.

“But come to think of it, imagine the Golden Eaglets that won the junior World Cup in South Korea in 2007 and were promised houses by the federal government have got their allocations, so, why is our case different? “Fulfilling the promise will serve as encouragement to upcoming players to give their best when they are called for national assignment,” the aggrieved squad members said.



http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/sports/2010/july/30/sports-30-07-2010-001.htm

Nearly two decades after making Nigeria proud at the Africa Nations Cup in Tunisia in 1994, the Super Eagles' players and their officials to that event still reel in pains, arising from unfulfilled promises made to them by the Federal Government.

A crack Super Eagles' squad had won the Africa Nations Cup in Tunisia 1994, Nigeria's second triumph in the continental fiesta. The team followed it up with a superlative outing same year at the World Cup in the USA.

The performance, which perhaps impressed Nigerians, made the federal government under the late Gen. Sani Abacha to promise to give houses to the players and their officials for their gallant efforts.

Since then, the players have been struggling to lay their hands on the property, but have not succeeded because the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) bluntly refused to attend to their case. Daily Sunsports gathered that out of the 23 players and eight officials that got the promises, only very few have got their allocations. Those who have yet to get their own allocations, are now calling on the FHA to give them their own houses, stressing that they would want to have them before they die.

Some members of the squad, while speaking with Daily Sunsports on condition of anonymity, pleaded with the FHA to allocate them houses from the 105 units of houses that are close to Isheri Olofin Estate (Phase II) in Lagos, as the ones that were promised to them are now under litigation.

“It's heartbreaking and frustrating that after 16 years the Federal Government under General Sani Abacha promised to give us houses after we won the Nations Cup in Tunisia, the promise has yet to be fulfilled. This is something we sweated for, but somebody has been sitting on that promise and has refused to release our houses to us. “It is even worse to know that some players in our glorious squad have got their own houses, while we are left in the cold. Each day, when you wake up and remember the unfulfilled promise, you feel like cursing the nation.

“We have on our own made several attempts to see if we could get our house allocations, but every of our effort appears to have hit the brick wall.
“Last year, after the Daily Sun publication of July 3 and 24 editions, the FHA told us to come for our houses. We felt, at last, we were going to laugh at last, but on meeting them, we were told a different story.

“To say the truth, we are tired of their dribbling; FHA has dribbled us severally. All we are saying now is that they should please allocate us our houses from the 105 units of houses, which are close to Isheri Olofin Estate (Phase II). The estate is almost completed. If they could give us allocations from the new estate, we will be happy. We plead with them to stop dragging their feet on this issue.

“But come to think of it, imagine the Golden Eaglets that won the junior World Cup in South Korea in 2007 and were promised houses by the federal government have got their allocations, so, why is our case different? “Fulfilling the promise will serve as encouragement to upcoming players to give their best when they are called for national assignment,” the aggrieved squad members said.


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/sports/2010/july/30/sports-30-07-2010-001.htm

Individuals who wear T-Shirts on which the word ‘Police’ is inscribed will be arrested and prosecuted, the leadership of the Ogun State Police Command said at the weekend.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said in Abeokuta, the state capital, that information at the disposal of the police has established that the T-Shirts are being use to commit various crimes in the society.

Similarly, the command warned that shops where such materials are being sold will be closed and the owners prosecuted. “The Command will beam its searchlight on dealers of shops where T-Shirts with Police inscriptions are stored or sold, for these shirts are being used to commit crimes in the state and enough is enough. The Command wishes to warn that anyone found in possession of these shirts or clothing will be arrested and charged to court accordingly,” Mr Adejobi said.

He also appealed to the public to understand that these steps taken by the police are meant to ensure more effective policing in Ogun State.




http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5595554-146/wear_t-shirts_with_police_inscription_and.csp

A bill that is expected to effectively eliminate multiple taxation in Lagos State was signed into law on Monday by Governor Babatunde Fashola.

The bill, recently passed by the state’s legislature, has 15 sections and one schedule which contained the 16 levies collectible by the local councils and the administration of the levies. Ade Ipaye, the special adviser to the governor on taxation and revenue, said the administration of the law will “enthrone an orderly tax system” in the state. “This (law) is of public interest because it solves a long-standing problem in Lagos State,” he said. While introducing the bill, Abdul-Lateef Abdul-Akeem, the special adviser to the governor on legislative and political bureau, said the need for the bill became obvious at a stakeholders meeting on taxation held in December 2007 where several participants expressed their misgivings towards the mode of collection and attitudes of collecting agents. “This bill will sanitise the system and lay to rest the issue of multiple taxation and use of touts,” he said.

Mr. Fashola, while addressing an audience including local council chairmen and members of the state executive council present at the public assent, said he proposed the bill after listening to the complaints of people. “We needed to demonstrate that we are serious in addressing the complaints of our people,” he said, “Especially because of the misgivings arising from activities of touts. Citizens who we are supposed to protect have become object of harassment by people who do not have our mandate.”

Highlight of the law

The schedule to the law listed all the 16 levies that local governments can collect, thereby eliminating inexplicit charges that are forcefully collected. The law excluded motorists from the payment of Radio and TV licence by limiting the collection to residential apartments alone. However, it means Lagos residents will henceforth pay to obtain the domestic animal licence before they can have a pet. Mr. Ipaye also explained that annual levies will be combined on a single assessment notice in order to harmonise all the levies into a singular payment.

The law, while prohibiting road block, also establishes a State Joint Revenue Committee, comprising local council chairmen and state officials, which will annually fix the rates of the approved levies. However, Mr. Ipaye said the rates may vary depending on the cosmopolitan nature of each local council. Henceforth, a chart listing the approved levies and rates must be conspicuously displayed at the revenue office of each local council, and any local government official or approved revenue agents must be clearly identified with name badge.

The law did not fail to prescribe penalties ranging from N500,000 fine to three years imprisonment for various offences like touting, collection of levies without remittance, and collection of rates higher than prescribed. However, Mr. Ipaye explained that tenement rate is already included in the land use charge and will not be collected separately by the local councils.


http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5593078-146/story.csp

President Goodluck Jonathan has withdrawn the Super Eagles from all international tournaments for two years following the poor performance at the World Cup, Ima Niboro, the president's spokesman, told reporters today in Abuja.

The President has also ordered the dissolution of the Nigeria Football Federation.

More to follow.



President Goodluck Jonathan has withdrawn the Super Eagles from all international tournaments for two years following the poor performance at the World Cup, Ima Niboro, the president's spokesman, told reporters today in Abuja.

The President has also ordered the dissolution of the Nigeria Football Federation.

More to follow.

The Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has announced its intention to adopt Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential flag bearer in the next general elections in 2011.

This was made known yesterday in Abuja, by the party’s national chairman, Edozie Madu, being the decision taken by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party. Mr. Jonathan is the incumbent president who won the mandate as a vice president on the ticket of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with late Umaru Yar’Adua in 2007.

According to Mr. Madu, the CDC has decided to transfer the solidarity and support given to the late president, Musa Yar’Adua, to his successor to ensure continuity.

In a telephone conversation with NEXT, CDC’s chairman stated that the party is adopting Mr. Jonathan because he “is the most qualified person to lead this country at this time because he has been a deputy governor, a governor, a vice-president, and now a president. So, no one has the depth of experience he has garnered in his political career.”

Mr. Madu further adds that the party is also standing by its original policy, which was the adoption of late President Umaru Yar’Adua as its flag bearer in 2009.

“We want a man who can continue with the amnesty plan, the seven-point agenda, and the great legacies of the late president”, Mr. Madu added.

The party’s leader noted that the party would officially hand over the ticket to the incumbent president at its convention later in the year. “CDC will hold its first ever convention this year, since the party was officially registered in 2006. The convention will ratify this decision and officially present President Jonathan the ticket to run as our party’s candidate,” he said.

The chairman said that the party had no intention to present its own presidential candidate until 2015, to allow adequate preparations that would deliver victory to the party. He gave the assurance that the party would continue to support Mr. Jonathan to ensure sustainability of democracy in the country. “Jonathan has over the time acquired the necessary experience to drive Nigeria to its promise land,” he said.

The party, he added, would contest all elective positions, except the presidency: “CDC is youth-based and has more than 1000 candidates ready to contest election at different levels.”

He promised that details of the party’s expansion programme and convention would be made public soon.

Jettison zonning

Mr. Madu, however, called on Nigerians to shun any sentiments over the issue of zoning or rotation of power, saying, “the region candidates come from is immaterial to national development. Nigeria should by now have outgrown the logic of politics based on race, and focus on national interest and development,” he said.

CDC is one of the over fifty political parties in Nigeria, and on its website, it claims to be the first youth-oriented political party in Nigeria.

Former Nigerian leader, Olusegun Obasanjo has been described a Judas, “who would betray his people,” who lacks credibility and squandered “all the enormous goodwill,” which he carried into office “with a performance that left him with a second term short of tangible achievements.”

Oba Sikiru Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland made this character portrait of Obasanjo in an autobiography launched at the weekend at the Awujale’s 50th coronation anniversary at Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, South-West Nigeria.

Obasanjo himself attended the launch of the 275 page book, now in mass circulation countrywide.

Oba Adetona recalled an event on 24 July 2002, the late Abraham Adesanya’s 80th birthday in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, when in a ride with Obasanjo to a makeshift helipad he told Obasanjo how disappointed he had become over Obasanjo’s pussy-footing on the issue of federalism. “This was the dividing line for me in our relationship,” Awujale recalled and

Adesanya’s birthday presented an opportunity for him to tell Obasanjo how he felt about him, when they rode together in a Mercedes Benz limousine, with former Ogun governor, Olusegun Osoba, as witness. ‘‘It was going to be a short trip

but I had something to say and so it had to be said quickly enough while the three of us shared some privacy. I said there was a time when I had trusted Obasanjo so much so that I could swear by his name, but that the trust was now gone. Obasanjo asked why. I answered that Obasanjo was no longer credible.” The Oba recalled further in the book,

that at another time when he visited Obasanjo in Aso Rock, Obasanjo revisted their earlier conversation during which he told the Awujale, accusatorily, that he painted him a Judas. Awujale reconfirmed the labeling according to his account.

“I told him that I not only remembered but still maintained that he was a Judas who would betray his people…I had no qualms about speaking plainly to him. In high office, people who surround leaders tend to skirt around the truth,” Awujale wrote.

The Awujale book also threw some revealing light on the travails of Globacom Chairman, Mike Adenuga in the hands of the Economic and Finnacial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and how Obasanjo , in “the heat of the mess” did two puzzling things.

“He (Obasanjo) called Mike to meet him at a social event in Lagos – Engineer Olapade’s birthday celebration. Mike and Obasanjo were both captured by press photographers in the newspapers at the event. Following the celebration, Obasanjo asked Mike to accompany him to Ota. It was in Ota that he solicited for the construction of the administration block of his university, Bells University in Ota. Mike agreed and Carchez Turnkey Projects Limited handled the project for him.”

Obasanjo, A Judas.


But as the Awujale penned, even this gesture did not keep the EFCC off the trail of Mike.

The Awujale was clearly not impressed by Obasanjo’s tenure as Nigeria’s leader as he dismissed his efforts in this way: “all the enormous goodwill which Obasnjo carried into office was squandered with a performance that left him with a second term short of tangible achievements. Eight years in office was ample time to put electricity on a very strong footing. Eight years was enough to put down a strong foot against corruption and make a clear difference. Eight years was adequate for orderliness and the rule of law to triumph in every facet of our society. These were the basis upon which I gave my support for the office.”

The book dwelled on Awujale’s story from a rascally young boy and school truant, who later became his town’s monarch, to his family life, his business engagements , his many political involvements, interventions and battles with national and state leaders. He also told the story of his relationship with former Ogun State governor, Chief Bisi Onabanjo and his leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo

Nigerian Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi said he expects three international lenders, a number of private equity houses and local lenders to submit offers for banks bailed out by the Cental Bank by mid-July, Blooberg reported today The interested parties are undertaking “detailed” due diligence, the Central Bank governor said.

Nigeria imposed new management and injected funds into eight banks last year in a bid to nurse them back to health and find potential buyers.

“We’ve got three international banks that have remained in the serious running to acquire banks,” Sanusi said in an interview yesterday in Basel, Switzerland.

“There’s also a number of local banks and private equity firms. By the middle of August we should actually have clear visibility on at least five of the banks.” The financial crisis left the country’s lenders with toxic assets of about $10 billion, New York-based Eurasia Group estimated a year ago. The central bank fired the top managers of eight of the country’s 24 lenders and gave the industry an injection of 620 billion naira ($4.1 billion) to stem the decline.

“Securing a future for Union Bank, Oceanic, Intercontinental, PHB and Afri is the priority as these banks are the most “systematically important” to Nigeria,”Sanusi said.

The Central Bank is waiting for presidential approval for a law that will create the Asset Management Corp. of Nigeria, a government entity that will buy bad debts from the banking sector, using funds raised through government-guaranteed local bond issuance.

The bonds will be issued on a deal by deal basis and the presidential approval is expected early next month, Sanusi said.

Sanusi said he sees no reason now for a change in the benchmark interest rate. “A rate cut at this particular moment in time doesn’t appear to be necessary

“There is no compelling imperative at this point to review the interest rate stance,” he said.


http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2010/06/28/sanusi-offers-5-banks-for-sale-bank-phb-union-oceanic-listedbanks/

Sanusi said the next monetary policy meeting will take place on July 5.

The Bayelsa State House of Assembly has impeached the state Deputy Governor, Mr. Peremobowei Ebebi.

His impeachment followed the outcome of the probe of an investigative panel which found his guilty of nine charges of illegal conduct.

Members of the House of Representatives may be violent in conduct, but in principle, they abhor aggression on the part of others.

A day after the brutal showdown, where lawmakers were stripped and injured by their colleagues, the chamber yesterday voted unanimously to urge the federal government to do all it can to contain rising violence in the country.

In its second motion of the day, the members condemned “in its entirety” every form of “violence and riots” in the country, hinting clearly the typical ‘do-as-I-say’ and not ‘do-as-I-do’ principle.

“A country cannot prosper in the face of unwarranted violence that leads to wanton destruction of lives and properties,” said Samson Osagie, a member from Edo State, who argued in favour of the motion.

The strange resolution, which also mandated the minister of information and communication to apply the rebranding Nigeria campaign against incessant hostilities, came a day after 11 lawmakers were suspended from the chamber in fiercely violent means.

The affected members formed the group, known as ‘The Progressives’, which had accused Mr. Bankole of corruption and had asked him to quit.

When the issue came up for consideration on Tuesday, the members were manhandled, suspended, and forced out of the sitting by their colleagues, loyal to the speaker.

A day after, the chamber remained calm with no member openly making mention of the incident. Mr. Bankole said it was an “unusual day”, in response to an issue raised by a member.

After that, the lawmakers passed quick resolutions namely, urging the government to raise its maintenance effort on public structures and facilities, and condemning violence and asking for a way out.

The motion on the riots and violence mentioned no incident in particular, but referred generally to cases of mayhems, which they said occur daily in the country, leaving many dead.

“This house resolves to call on all religious bodies to redirect their attention to preaching the need for peaceful co-existence to the members and adherents,” the statement of the resolution reads.

PDP condemns

Meanwhile, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has decried what it called “the embarrassing scenes” in the House of Representative on Tuesday, and ordered the lower legislature to offer a public apology to Nigerians.

The party made this statement at a meeting yesterday to review current events within the party and the nation. In a statement issued at the end of the meeting, signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufai Ahmed Alkali, the party expressed its disappointment over the fracas in the House of Representatives, where members openly threw caution to the wind and engaged one another in unparliamentary conduct, .

“The NWC condemned the resort to violence which was carried out in the full glare of the public, including school children, who had gone to the National Assembly to experience the process of legislation first hand,” the statement read.

“The outcome of the sitting of the House of Representatives on the 22nd of June, 2010 is regrettable, and does not tally with the mood of the nation and the policy thrust of President Goodluck Jonathan, which encourages constructive engagement.

“The shameful act carried out by some members of the House of Representatives, some of whom are members of our party, also negates the new philosophy of discipline and decorum which the new national chairman, Okwesilieze Nwodo, has set out to instill in the party,” it said.

The party also announced that it has invited the leadership of the house for briefing on the incident vis-à-vis all those involved in the unruly behavior, to explain their roles and enable the party take the next line of action.

Members of the House of Representatives in Abuja, Nigeria, this morning exchanged blows during the plenary session, the first of the last in the legislative session, when Hon. Chile Ogbuagu attempted to move a motion in line with the order on privileges.

After he was asked to do so by the Speaker, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, Chile cited some sections of the constitution and the rules and orders of the house, stating that his privileges as a member of the House had been badly bruised by the remarks credited to some members of the House which he said were uncomplimentary.

Chile cited section 60 of the constitution and section 24 of the Legislative and Privileges Act.

In his motion, Ogbuagu stated that some of the members were making allegations that the House was corrupt.

He said such members should be suspended indefinitely.

But Ogbuagu had hardly concluded his observation when some members booed him while chanting points of order.

Hon. Doris Ugoh and Hon. Dino Melaye then went to Ogbuagu and snatched the paper he was reading from him.

This action sparked off commotion in the House and a free for all ensued.

Some members in the process were beaten to a stupor while the sergeant-at-arm protected both the mace and the Speaker.

In response to the assault on Hon Ogbuagu by the aggrieved members, others who were apparently in the majority resolved that the members causing crisis in the House should be sent out of the chamber.

Consequently, Hon. Dino Melaye, Solomon Awhinawhi, Independence Ogunewe, Bitrus Kaze, Austin Nwachukwu and Doris Uboh were forcefully bundled out of the chamber when they tried to resist the decision to suspend them.

Austin Nwachukwu, Melaye, Kaze were almost stripped naked as they got their clothes torn as they were being evicted.

After they were successfully bundled out, peace returned to the chambers at about 11.45 a.m. and the plenary session continued.

In his remarks, the Speaker, Hon. Bankole apologised to Nigerians for the rowdiness of the House. He further asked Hon. Chile Ogbuagu to conclude on his motion.

Ogbuagu concluded by asking that the 11 members who have dragged the House in the mud be suspended.

They are: Hon. West Idahosa, Austin Nwachukwu, Gbenga Onigbogi, Doris Uboh, Gbenga Oduaye, Independence Ogunewe, Solomon Achinawhi, Dino Melaye, Kayode Amusa, Anas Abass, and Bitmus Kaze.

Less than two years after it was built, a portion of the over N5 billion LASU-Iba road built by the Lagos State Government has collapsed, leading to heavy traffic gridlock in the area.

A portion of the road from LASU towards Igando at Agboroko and Nigerian Army Officers’ Village bus stop had collapsed after a heavy downpour at the weekend.

Heavy traffic gridlock was noticed to and from LASU all throughout the day as motorists groan and spent hours in hold up occasioned by the collapse of the road, thus, making the lane from Iba to Igando impassable.

Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA and the Federal Road Safety Corps had a harrowing experience in controlling traffic on the ever busy route.

The contract for the road was given to the China Civil Engineering and Construction Company, CCECC and the construction of a bridge. The road was barely two years old before it collapsed on Sunday night. Motorists who took that route were trapped in the traffic for hours.

Those who could make a u-turn had to do so at every available place to escape from the traffic jam that lasted throughout yesterday, while motorists who could not turn were trapped for several hours.

Hundreds of Lagosians gathered at the failed portion of the road, wondering what could have happened to the newly constructed road to have collapsed so soon.

The road collapsed, leaving a gaping hole across it.

“It happened not too long before I got to the place and luckily there was no vehicle at the spot or commercial motorcycle,” said an eye witness, Mr. Tunde Sulaimon.

Another resident in the area said that “The heaps of refuse and used plastic bottle water inside the hole indicates that the road has been wearing at that portion for long. When it could no longer withstand the pressure of the torrential rain on Sunday, it caved in.

“The fear now is that we do not know whether there are several other places like that on the road that can fail in the nearest future.”

P.M.NEWS observed that many commuters resorted to trekking as the vehicles they boarded was stuck in the traffic gridlock.

They called on Governor Babatunde Fashola to do something urgent about the road in order to alleviate the plight of the people.

In the next few days, many Lagosians will still experience traffic gridlock in the area as the failed portion had not been fixed by the state government.

As a result of the traffic gridlock, transportation fares charged by commuter bus drivers went up. The drivers now charged between N150 to N200 from a trip from Ikotun and Iyana-Ipaja to Iyana-Iba instead of the normal N100 fare.

LASTMA officials, the police and the Federal Road Safety Corps were mobilised immediately the incident happened and they went to the scene to control the chaotic traffic situation.

Attempts by the fugitive former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, to seek political asylum in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ran into a hitch Thursday after police authorities in Dubai revoked the bail it granted him on May 13.

The spokesman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Femi Babafemi, said the commission had received official report on the bail revocation. "I can confirm that Mr Ibori is in custody, we were briefed by the authorities in Dubai," he said.

EFCC sources said his arrest was based on the conviction of his associates in UK, the protest from Nigerian authority and the threat to retrieve the license of flight Emirates Airlines and evidence from the EFCC supporting the fact that he fled from Nigeria to evade justice.

On what the EFCC plans to do next, Mr Babafemi said "we will just continue to ensure that he be brought to answer questions either in Nigeria or in the UK."

The EFCC had declared Mr. Ibori wanted as part of its investigation of alleged misuse of state funds while he was governor. Its operatives were on his trail before he sneaked out of the country and turned up in Dubai.

The former Delta State governor was arrested in Dubai by the police on the orders of the International Police (INTERPOL). The operation is linked to the British Metropolitan Police, who has been fighting to have Mr. Ibori extradited to the United Kingdom to face other fraud charges.

Early this week, his sister, Christine Ibori-Ibie, and his female friend, Udoamaka Okoronkwo, were jailed by a UK court after they were found guilty of all charges of money laundering and mortgage fraud.

The women were also found to have helped the former governor move an estimated £70 million worth of looted funds through several London banks during his reign in office from 1999 to 2007.

Mr. Ibori, who was declared wanted by the anti-graft agency weeks ago, in connection with the illegal disposal of 528 million shares belonging to Delta State in Oceanic Bank, refused to turn himself in and thwarted all efforts by the EFCC and the Nigeria Police to arrest him.

A security source, however, said the revocation of Mr. Ibori's bail, following which he was clamped into a Dubai jail, was only one more step in the efforts of the MET to take him to London.



http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5579242-146/dubai_revokes_iboris_bail__.csp

A 12-member jury deliberating on the money laundering trial of associates of the former Delta State governor, James Ibori, has found his sister, Christine Ibori-Ibie, guilty of all charges of money laundering and mortgage fraud.

The jury, however, acquitted Mr Ibori's former assistant, Adebimpe Pogoson, of the charges against her.

The jury is yet to announce its verdict pertaining to the third accused aide, Udoamaka Okoronkwo, who is Mr Ibori's mistress.

The money laundering trial involving Mr Ibori's female aides began in September 2009 at the Southwark Crown Court, London, after Ms Pogoson, (a personal assistant on confidential matters during his tenure as the Delta State governor) and his sister Christie Ibori-Ibie, were charged in December 2007 on three counts of conspiring "together with Mr Ibori, Udoamaka Onuigbo and others, to defraud the Delta State government".

The aides allegedly helped the former governor move an estimated £70 million worth of looted funds through several London banks.

Mr Ibori is currently detained in the United Arab Emirates where he was recently arrested by INTERPOL after evading arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Nigeria.

Pour journey in life is made meaningful through relationships. You may have things but only people get to remember you when life ends. Creating or building a relationship is a job for a large heart as small minds think of ‘me’ but large ones consider others, how to please or help them realise their goals.

As I grew up to realise this innate desire of man, life has been a lot easier for me. Understanding why people do certain things and why they expect so much of others has also become relatively meaningful.

Most people could go to any length just to get and keep a relationship, while others, on the other hand, look for what they can gain from it. But whatever the case, we need each other to survive.

To be a bit more specific, I’ll love to narrow this discuss to how lovers should treat and behave towards each other.

There are definitely things we expect to hear or see in the people we love. Sometimes we may not exactly know what to expect but can tell for sure that we want a bit more than what is being given at the moment.

The feeling of deprivation brings so much pain that regret becomes inevitable, but will regret do any good to your life?

The way out is, find what works and get on with it, pick the bits and pieces of your life and make love stay. This is why I have suggested some of the things that could help build your love:

•Talk to me: Do you know what kind of lover will not want to talk to the one he/she loves? Relationship is about talking; it helps you to know the other partner better and deeper. It is said that ‘your mouth is a window to your heart,’ it is only when you talk or act in a certain way that someone can have an idea of what you appreciate or detest. Talking together, whether on phone or face to face, is also a great way to have fellowship that gladdens the heart and nourishes love.
In talking to or with our loved ones, we should also be careful about what we say and how we say things to them as well. Nice things will help build the other person, find something good to say about them but avoid lies.
The other aspect of talking to your partner tends towards your ability to handle unpalatable situations when they occur. It is impossible to relate with people without hurting or stepping on their toes, but having a fair understanding of what is expected of you in the relationship will help you mind your language even in anger.

•Help me: The word ‘help’ is the yolk of relationship. In whatever we do to or with each other, the whole idea is ‘help.’ We are simply helping others to be the best they could be. If you had stayed besides a loved one in times of challenges, you had offered ‘help.’ We could then boldly say that being there for people is helping them get through life. Your spouse needs this more than you could ever imagine. A young man, a Prince, just told me how he tested a woman’s love for him after many years of courtship. Here is the account.
“I met Tina during my degree programme in the UK. She gained admission a year before me and settled to a new life away from what we were used to as Africans. Tina knew exactly where to get what and at a reasonable price, so all my shopping had to revolve around her free days or when she would be ready to shop as well. Doing things together was a pleasant experience I treasured so dearly and she was ever ready to squeeze my plans into her schedule just to make sure I did not feel strange or lonely. Time and events brought us so close that we could hardly do without seeing and spending quality time together. The next thing I said to myself was, if I have found a woman of this nature, why don’t I make up my mind to spend the rest of my life with her? As her 24th birthday anniversary was drawing near, I thought of the most romantic way to express my love to her and probably go a step further by proposing marriage. A week to the time, I shared my thoughts with my very good friend and he asked if I was sure I wanted to marry her. My natural answer was a firm ‘yes,’ but he further asked if I was sure she could be there for me in times of challenges. I quickly reminded him how the girl had been there for me since I came to study in England. His last words were: “Test her love before you propose marriage.” I discarded his words and planned a trip to Africa, but before I left, I told Tina there was something special I wanted to tell her and that would be over the phone once my holiday was over and getting ready to come back to the UK. She agreed and awaited the surprise. We had a good time and she dropped me off at the airport with tears of love, telling me how difficult the coming weeks would be for her without me. I assured her of my love, even though we were going to be apart for a while and she let me go with a wobbly farewell. After spending one week in Nigeria, I called Tina’s phone and left a desperate message. She called back and I told her about the accident and that I was still in the hospital trying to recover. When result of my x-ray was brought, it was clear to all I would not be able to walk again except by divine intervention. Once this information was made open to Tina, her calls reduced drastically and the next time she managed to pick my call, she made it clear to me the relationship was over as she would not be able to spend the rest of her life HELPING a man on the wheel chair. This was when I needed Tina’s help the most but she declined.”

•Be grateful: There is need to say simple ‘thank you’ to your spouse when and where necessary. Don’t ever take anything for granted or claim right of service. Notice, even the minutest effort to help. People love to be appreciated even when they are doing what they’re paid for, while‘thank you’ makes them want to do a lot more.

•Give: Giving to our loved ones should be a natural instinct. It is difficult to convince someone of your love when there is nothing you are giving as love gives. It is possible to give without loving, but it is absolutely impossible to love without giving.

•Physical contact: There is no special way to express this as it is obvious we desire to be with the people we love. Find time to stay with your spouse and bask in the joy of discovering each other. It is surely a strong language of love.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has been sworn in as the President and Commander in Chief of the Nigerian Armed forces by the Chief Justice of Nigeria at the Aso rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

In a brief ceremony presided over by Yayale Ahmed, Secretary General of the Federation, the President's oath of office was administered by the Chief Justice, Aloysius Katsina-Alu. The opening prayers were said by a Muslim cleric and a Reverend Father.

The ceremony was not open to the public but present at the occasion were David Mark the Senate President, Dimeji Bankole the Speaker House of Representatives, Vincent Ogbulafor the national chairman of the President's party (PDP) and members of the governors forum.

The former Acting President became the substantive president following the death of Musa Umaru Yar'Adua, who passed away on the 5th May 2010.


http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5564900-146/jonathan_sworn_in.csp

A withdrawal of N2.8bn from the accounts of the Independent National Electoral Commission took place between Thursday and Friday, sources in INEC have claimed.

The sources, who are privy to happenings in the accounts department of the commission, told our correspondent in Abuja on Sunday that the withdrawal made the electoral body’s most senior officer, Mr. Philip Umeadi, to freeze the accounts on Friday.

It was learnt that cheques for the sum were backdated to cover payments for contracts and other projects by the commission.

Our sources, however, did not say who gave the directive for the issuance of the cheques and who signed them.

The former Chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu, who was directed to proceed on pre-disengagement leave by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, is yet to hand over to Umeadi.

One of the sources said, “The amount of money withdrawn from the commission’s account in the last few days is unprecedented in the history of the commission.

“This is so because this is not an election year and we are not involved in any major contract. But now, we are almost broke due to the massive withdrawal of money.”

THE PUNCH gathered that Iwu, due to complete his tenure in June, lobbied to be retained for a second tenure of five years.

The professor of Pharmacology was said to have told his close friends in the commission that since he was just going on terminal leave, he would still be accessible till June 13.

However, our correspondent gathered that there were moves by Iwu to lobby some Peoples Democratic Party governors to convince Jonathan to allow him hand over to Prince Adedeji Soyebi, a national commissioner in charge of Logistics.

Investigations on Sunday showed that while Umeadi became a national commissioner in August 2006 and is due to complete his first tenure in August 2011, Soyebi on the other hand was appointed a national commissioner in September 2007.

Before then, Soyebi was a resident commissioner in the commission and was elevated to the position of national commissioner when Mrs. Kemi Odebiyi died.

When contacted on Sunday on the alleged withdrawal of N2.8bn from INEC’s account, the Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Emmanuel Umenger, politely declined comments.

Umenger had in a statement on Friday said that with Umeadi’s assumption of office, the alleged vacuum in INEC’s leadership had become a non-issue.

“This development should naturally put an end to insinuations from some segment of the media that there is a vacuum in the leadership of INEC at the moment,” Umenger said in statement.

Cases of financial abuses involving INEC staff are pending in court, including a corruption charge against Iwu’s Chief Press Secretary , Mr. Andy Ezeani.

Ezeani is facing a two-count charge of corruption at an FCT High Court, Abuja.

In the suit filed on behalf of the Federal Government by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ezeani, a deputy director with the commission, was accused of criminal misappropriation and dishonesty.

He was alleged to have fraudulently deducted N5. 9m from the N7.7m donated to the Abuja chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists by the commission.

Besides, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties had last year petitioned the EFCC over an alleged N28.8bn fraud in INEC.

The coalition, in the petition, said the fraud was committed in transactions relating to the printing of ballot papers, buying of communicating gadgets, among others.

A former governor of Kaduna State and CNPP chairman, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, signed the petition.

Others signatories were Chief A. Nwodo of Progressive Action Congress; Mr. Mani Ibrahim of African Democratic Congress; Mallam Yunusa Tako of National Conscience Party; Mr. Milson Ezegwu; and Mr. Osita Okechukwu.

Detailing the allegations, the CNPP said that the commission on January 4, 2007 awarded a contract for the printing of ballot papers for the last presidential, national assembly, and governorship election to the Minting Company, Abuja at the sum of N6,580, 200,000.00.

It said that while INEC paid 80 per cent of the sum, the company failed to abide by the contractual agreement, which required it to deliver the materials within 10 weeks from the date the contract was awarded.

It explained that since the minting company had no facility to execute the contract, the INEC re-awarded the contract to some British and South Africa firms to print the same set of paper “at a much high cost.”

The CNPP, in the petition said, “To our consternation, not only did the contractors default in execution of the project, indeed none was utilised for the conduct of the elections and up till date no refund of the said sum has been made to the coffers of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

On Radio equipment, the conference alleged that while a contract of N222m was awarded by INEC for the activation of existing VHF radios in the states to a favoured contractor, ‘the contractor defaulted as the radios were not activated up till now. “The said sum of N222m has not been refunded,” CNPP alleged.

On voters’ registration, it was alleged that a contract was awarded for a supply of 33,000 units of Direct Data Capture machine at a cost of N4.95bn.

The conference further alleged that the while the term of contract was breached, the company also did not supply the actual number that it was asked to.

It said, “This led INEC to fraudulently change to laptops, commercial fingerprints and cameras and the N4.95bn unaccounted for.


http://punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100503284173

James Ibori's counsel has filed a fresh suit to restrain the EFCC from arresting him over alleged fraud involving the shares of some companies.

Joined in the suit are the Attorney-General of the Federation, the EFCC, the Inspector General of Police and the Director, State Security Service (SSS).

In the suit, FHC/ASB/CS/34/2010 filed at the Federal High Court, Asaba, Ibori wants the court to stop the respondents from arresting him.

It was filed after Justice Ibrahim Buba adjourned proceedings in the substantive suit to May 10. Buba had on Wednesday refused to grant Ibori's oral application to restrain the EFCC from arresting him.

The suit is entitled "The Matter of an Application by Chief James Onanefe Ibori for the Enforcement of his Fundamental Rights to Fair Hearing and Personal Liberty under the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules 2009".

Ibori's counsel Mr Joseph Daudu, is specifically asking for an order of injunction restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th respondents from arresting his client.

He also wants the court to restrain the respondent's officers, agents, privies and assigns from arresting, harassing and intimidating Ibori in any manner pending the hearing and determination of the motion.

Daudu also asked the court to make any other orders that it might deem fit to make in the circumstances.




http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5561802-146/ibori_files_fresh_suit_against_efcc.csp

Convinced that Space Science is critical in the development of any nation, Nigeria has completed work in the building of two more earth observation satellites, NigeriaSat 2 and Nigeria Sat X, said Seidu Mohammed, the Director General of National Space Research and Development Agency, NASRDA.

Mr. Mohammed, who stated that the satellites will be due for launch on October 2010, adding that specifically, the Nigeria Sat X was designed and built by 27 Nigerian Engineers.

“Satellite projects, like building projects, are in phases. We have finished most of the phases. The spacecraft are now ready. The Nigerian engineers were there to design and implement Sat X and they have done that and are back home.

“The next stage is to move the satellite to the site for launch. It takes a lot of time, the launching company has to look through its programme, get itself ready and by October, the satellite will be launched,” he said.

He further stated when the two satellites are eventually launched, they will impact positively on agriculture, defence, and almost all other sectors of the Nigerian economy.

“The fact that Nigerian Engineers designed and built Sat X brings confidence into us that it is possible here. We are going to provide data for efficient agriculture all over Nigeria, and the launch of Sat 2 with 2.5m resolution enables all cities to go ahead with cadastral plan to have information to increase their revenue, as Lagos State is doing now, and provide enough information about cultural development in terms of soil characterisation, water resources development, road corridor selection, and so on,” Mr. Mohammed said.

He also noted that Nigeria’s foray into the space science and technology world has enabled the development of a critical mass of space engineers, revealing that 15 engineers were trained for NigeriaSat, which will expire by December 2010. 54 were trained for NIGCOMSAT-1, while 27 were trained for Sat 2 and Sat X, with an additional 25 Scientists trained in geospatial application.

He added that it was only right for Nigeria to build its own satellite, considering the huge capital outflow to source satellite data. He said that today, space technologies have become integrated into everyday life, so deeply that modern and traditional societies cannot function without them.

“Survey conducted by NASRDA in 2004 showed that capital out-flow paid by African countries for their international telephone traffic is about $445 million per year, hence making tariff on communications the highest in Africa than in any other continent. Nigeria alone pays as much as $200 million per year to lease satellite transponders,” he said.

The Director General insisted that the space technology will help in addressing some environmental concerns in Nigeria.

“As a result of recent trends of earthquake in Haiti, Chile, Japan, and China and recent trends in crustal deformation in Nigeria, as evident by tremors in the country and continuous monitoring of Ife-Wara-Zungeru faults in Nigeria, the International Astronomy Agency, IAA, has approved the first expert study for Africa at the request of NASRDA,” he said.

“By this request, IAA is expected to put experts together all over the world to study the equatorial plane for the benefit of the countries within the equatorial region.”



http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5560312-146/nigerian-built_satellites_for_launch_in_october.csp

Former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, came under heavy attack on Sunday over his statement that there were no competent younger Nigerians to lead the country.

Babangida, in a Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation interview which was published on Sunday, had stated that his intention to contest the 2011 presidential election was necessitated by his observed dearth of younger Nigerians with the right leadership qualities.

Responding to a question on why he was not interested in younger politicians ruling the country, Babangida had responded thus, “Because we have seen signs that they are not capable of leading this country and so, we feel we should help them. May be they are not given the proper education, that is why.

“I have spent 17 years since I left office, But a country like Nigeria cannot be ruled by people without experience. People like Obama that you are speaking about have the experience.”

However, Babangida’s position angered many politicians on Sunday, as they described it as warped.

Those who reacted on Sunday include a senator; the Afenifere Renewal Group; a former governorship candidate in Lagos State; and the Convener of the Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare.

The Deputy Minority Whip in the Senate, Olorunnimbe Mamora, said Babangida’s position was consistent with the realities of what the older generation of Nigerian leaders had done to the country.

Mamora said, “ I disagree with Babangida. What he said is consistent with the realities of what the older generation has done to this country. It is the older generation that has brought this country to its knees. I am conscious of avoiding generalisation, because there are a few older generation politicians that have been good to this country.

“Even if you look at the older democracies, it is the younger generation that is making all the difference. Look at Obama, Tony Blair, Clinton, etc. These are people in their younger ages who have made impact. Why should the case of Nigeria be different?”

The governorship candidate of the Democratic Peoples Alliance in the 2007 elections in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, said it was time for the former military president to be demystified.

Agbaje stated, “He is in for a big surprise come 2011. He forgets that he and many of his mates governed this country as members of the young generation. What experience or education did he have then? With electoral reforms and commitment by Nigerians, IBB will withdraw from the race. Or else, he will be demystified.”

The ARG, through its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said it was obvious that Babangida had passed a vote of no confidence in the same section of the population from which he was seeking votes.

Odumakin stated, “IBB has passed a vote of no confidence in the younger generation and still wants their votes to be President. It is a challenge for us to ask him to dissolve the younger generation and elect another to vote for him. Seventy-five per cent of our population are under 45 and they owe it a duty not to allow IBB annul them.

“There must be a youthful presidential ticket for 2011 around which the younger generation must be mobilised. The Obama generation must thank IBB for this rude awakening.”

Also, the Serving Overseer, The Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, described the statement as a bundle of contradiction.

Bakare, who spoke in LRA on Sunday, wondered the special qualities the older generation possessed that were lacking in the younger ones that would allow the older generation to lead Nigeria till eternity.

The cleric said, “This is a master of contradiction and treachery. How can you say there is no qualified younger Nigerian that is qualified to lead the nation? You have done your own part and you also want to appropriate the lot of the younger generation. What sort of wisdom does he have?”

“Which school did he attend that other Nigerians did not attend? Let him know that he is a political dwarf pretending to be a political giant,” he said.

Bakare restated his position that IBB had not had not apologised to Nigerians for annulling the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

“He only said he took responsibility for what happened; was that an apology? ‘I take responsibility, so, what can you do?,’ that’s the meaning,” said the cleric, who explained that he was not in support of the younger ones that canvassed that the older generation should be wiped out.

“I can’t support the campaign of the young ones that say the older generation, having being identified as the problem of the nation, should be wiped out. Gowon was a bachelor when he became the head of state; he was barely 30 when he married. So, what are we talking about. But the righteous God will do justice in Nigeria.”

The SNG convener disclosed that the group would be organising a programme in Abuja on May 5, where the group would set “a new political agenda” for the country.

Bakare added that the meeting would be attended by representatives of the caucuses of the Senate and House of Representatives as well as officials of the Presidency.

“We want to set a new political agenda for the country; it is time for us to tell these politicians that there is a standard that the citizens of the country expect of the leaders which they must not go below. We have been taking for a ride for a long time. We are talking to this generation to reject the likes of thieves. We are taking this campaign to all sections of this country but we are starting from Abuja on May 5,” he said.



http://punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201004192533515

A Maiduguri High Court, yesterday ordered the federal government, Borno State government and the Inspector General of Police, Ogbonnaya Onovo to pay N100 million as compensation to the family of late Baa Fagu.

Mr Fagu, who was the father in-law of the late leader of Boko Haram sect, Mohammed Yusuf, was killed on July 31, 2009 while in detention at the headquarters of the Borno Police Command. The applicant, Baba Fagu, the deceased’s son, had filed a suit against the respondents for the unlawful killing of his father. The sect leader, Mr Yusuf, was also killed while in police detention.

The presiding Judge, Mohammed Mustapha, in his judgment held that the detention and subsequent extra judicial murder of the deceased by the respondent (the Nigerian Police) just for being an in-law to the Boko Haram leader violated his right to life.

The murder, he added, also contravened the right of the deceased to fair hearing as stated in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Mr Fagu was arrested and detained by the police after a round of violence broke out in Northern Nigeria in July 2009, when the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, called for the imposition of sharia law across the country while attacking security operatives.

According to the judge, the facts before the court prove that the applicant’s late father was detained by the agents of the respondents on the fateful day and was subsequently murdered while in their custody.

“It was illegal, unconstitutional and violated his right to life as protected by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the African Charter as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

``The killing of the applicant’s father did not only offend the Constitution, but also the sensibilities of human beings, decent and right thinking Nigerians. It is against everything that is decent. I don’t think even the Spanish inquisitors would have done worse than this brutal murder,” Mr Mustapha said.

The judge said that the court was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the applicant established without contradiction his entitlement for redress.

Proper burial

The Judge also ordered the respondents to exhume the corpse of the late Fagu wherever it was and release the body to his family for burial.

The respondents were equally ordered to jointly and severally apologise to the applicant for what the judge described as their ``reprehensive and unconstitutional’’ acts.

Mr Mustapha declared that public officials and their agents wherever they might be should be restrained from harassing or intimidating the applicant.

The applicant, Mr Fagu, welcomed the judgement, which he claimed proved that the judiciary was the last hope of the common man.

However, Counsel to the respondents, Usman Tattama, declined comment, saying he would notify his clients who will then decide on the next line of action.

The Spokesperson of the Nigerian Police, Emmanuel Ojukwu avoided reacting to the ruling, saying that “the force is yet to get the judgement and it will decide the next step to take once it get the full details of the ruling.”



http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5554385-146/n100m_compensation_granted_in_boko_haram.csp

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared the former governor of Delta State, James Ibori wanted on corruption and money laundering charges.

The commission said this in a statement issued by its head of media and publicity, Femi Babafemi. "Following persistent public enquiries over the status of the case involving the former governor, we will like the public to know that James Ibori is wanted by the Commission for interrogation," the statement said.

It stated that letters of invitation had been sent to Mr Ibori's known addresses in Lagos and Abuja, and a warrant obtained for his arrest.

NEXT had earlier reported on Mr Ibori's disappearance after the anti-graft agency commenced a massive hunt for him over his role in the illegal disposal of about 500 million units of Delta State-owned bank shares while he was governor of the oil rich state from 1999 to 2007.


http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5554238-146/efcc_declares_ibori_wanted__.csp

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan took Nigerians by surprise Wednesday with his last-minute nomination of President Yar'Adua's wife, Turai, for a ministerial position.

Mrs. Yar'Adua's subsequent confirmation by the Senate instantly took her into the history books, not only as the first ever Nigerian First Lady to simultaneously hold a cabinet-rank position, but also as the only Nigerian ever to be screened for a ministerial position in absentia.

The inclusion of the First Lady's name in the list of nominees took the Senators by surprise, becoming known only after the final batch of nominees had been screened. Moments after Mr. Segun Aganga, the last of the candidates scheduled for Wednesday, took his bow before the Chambers, the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Mohammed Abba-Aji, was sighted making his way to the front of the chambers, where he spent minutes conferring with the Senate President.

While the conversation was going on, Mr. Abba-Aji handed over some documents to the Senate President, who broke into a smile when he browsed through them. When the Senate President finally addressed the Chambers, it was to make the surprise announcement - that Acting President Jonathan had, in a bid to increase the quota of women represented in the incoming cabinet, submitted the name of the First Lady for screening.

The Senate Chambers erupted in uproar, which took the Senate President several minutes to calm.

The Senate President then asked Senators to make an exception for the First Lady and screen her in absentia, taking into consideration the fact that her convalescing husband required her presence at his bedside.

There were a few voices of protest, but most of Senators agreed on a symbolic screening. The Senate President proceeded to announce Mrs. Yar'Adua, and then asked her to "bow and go in absentia." This was followed by loud cheering spearheaded by the female Senators present.

With Mrs. Yar'Adua's confirmation, the number of women in the incoming cabinet has risen to six, and the total number of screened nominees to thirty-nine.

The Yar'Adua family is also making history as the only family in recent times to have two nominees in a federal cabinet; as Mrs. Yar'Adua joins Murtala, her husband's nephew, who was screened on Tuesday.

It is being speculated that Mrs. Yar'Adua will be assigned the proposed ‘Power Ministry', which insider sources in the Presidency say should not be confused with the Ministry of Power.

Oh, it's April Fools Day!

I am interested too. jide_ik@yahoo.com is the address. and i have bus
thank i will wait for ur reply you can call me on this number 08033475081

ECONET>VMOBILE>CELTEL>ZAIN>AIRTEL>BANGATEL next is jidsoontel

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission this afternoon filed a six count charge against some associates of the Bayelsa state Governor; Chief Timipreye Silva who allegedly collaborated with the Governor to defraud the state of 4.5 billion Naira.

The Governor’s associates whose name s were given as Mr. Francis Okokuro, Abbot Clinton and Ikobho Anthony Howells were alleged to have conspired with Governor Silva sometime in October 2009 to convert properties and resources of Bayelsa state amounting to Two billion Naira and derived personal gains from the illegal act with the aim of concealing the illicit origin of the said amount thereby committing an offence contrary to section 17 (a) of the money laundering Prohibition Act 2004.

The Governor who escaped being charged alongside his associates on account of the constitutional immunity he enjoys as a Governor was also alleged to have conspired with one Dr. Charles Silva Opuala; the Commissioner of Finance who is currently on the run, on the 22nd January, 2010, to convert the sum of Three Hundred and Eighty Million Naira, property of the state through the account of one Mr. Habibu Sani Maigida; a Bureau De Change operator with account number 221433478108 in Finbank Plc with full knowledge that the fund represented a proceed of crime with the intent of concealing the source and nature of the illegal act.

Count three also allege that the Governor’s associate acting in collaboration with Silva also converted the sum of Fifty Million Naira through an account belonging to one Enson Benmer Limited with number 615203001946 in First Bank of Nigeria, knowing the said sum to be proceeds of illegal act. They were also alleged to have laundered another Twenty Million Naira pilfered from the coffers of the  state through yet another account belonging to one Mr. John Daukoro in First Bank with account number 04800250000418.

The Governor Silva gang was also alleged to have conspired to induce Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, with the intent to defraud, to deliver to Bayelsa state Government, the sum of Two Billion Naira under the false pretence of using the money to augment the salaries of the state Government. This offence, the anti graft agency insists, offends the provisions of section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Act of 2004.

Governor Silva whose name was very visible in the charge sheet was not listed as an accused person for obvious reasons. Section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria cloths him with immunity from trial as long as he remains the governor of the state.

His associates who are currently in detention have been with the anti graft agency for about two weeks now as the agency secured the nod of the court to detain them. The disappearance of the Finance Commissioner also helped the anti graft body in securing the court’s approval for the accused person’s detention.

Barring any unanticipated development, Silva’s men will be arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja tomorrow morning.

Goodluck Jonathan Dissolves The Federal Executive Council

The dissolution of the cabinet had been anticipated as many believed that it would create room for Jonathan to inject new life into his administration by appointing new ministers that would share his vision and move the nation forward.

Jonathan wielded the big stick after today’s Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting.

It was not clear when he will constitute a new cabinet as details were sketchy at the time of filing this report.

Goodluck Jonathan Dissolves The Federal Executive Council

Update (1430): Gregory Yenlong, the state’s commissioner for information, in an interview with the AFP, confirmed the attack, stating, "I can confirm that 13 people have died while six others have been critically injured, and those wounded are now being treated at a missionary hospital in Vom, near Jos."

The spokesperson for the Nigeria Police in Plateau State, Lerama Mohammed, also told the AFP that they had received reports that the attacks were carried out by Fulani herdsmen.

"We received reports of an overnight attack on Riyom, by people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen,” he said. "Our men are already there to assess the causality and the situation."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Troubled Plateau State experienced yet another wave of violence in the early hours of Wednesday, March 17, with at least 11 people killed in Riyom, just outside Jos, state radio was reported as saying.

Speaking to NEXT over the phone, Davou Rwang, a resident of Jos, said, "It is true. We heard 11 people have been killed in Ryom, just outside of Jos."

Another resident, who lives around Jos and asked not to be named, told us that the attacks were carried out by some groups.

"There were carried out by three groups because three villages were attacked," he said. “They also set houses ablaze."

The police said they have begun investigating the incident.

This latest killing comes only days after the Army said it had intercepted a truck conveying 44 people suspected to be militants, on their way to Jos. Jos was rocked by violence 10 days ago, when mostly women and children were killed at night, in another settlement just outside the city.

The March 7 violence occurred weeks after hundreds died in four days of sectarian violence.




http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5542047-146/more_trouble_in_jos__.csp

Good job

Former Nasarawa State governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, was yesterday morning arrested by operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged reckless award of unexecuted contracts and looting of public funds to the tune of over N15 billion.

THISDAY learnt that the former governor was picked up by operatives of the anti-graft commission at about 10am and was quizzed for hours by its Director of Operations, Stephen Otitoju.
Adamu, who is also the national president of the Nigerian Farmers Association, is accused of granting phoney contracts running into over N15 billion while in office. He was governor of the state from 1999 to 2007.

The alleged unexecuted contracts were said to have been for the construction of roads, markets, schools and hospitals.
While some of the projects were said to have been abandoned at foundation stage, many of them were said not to have taken off at all, with all the contract sums allegedly paid upfront.

A source further disclosed that after interrogation, Adamu was transferred to EFCC’s Economic Governance Department which has been on his trail for over one year.
The former governor, who is presently the Secretary of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees, according to the source, may be detained by the anti-graft commission until he is arraigned on a later date.

The source disclosed that the ex-Nasarawa governor’s alleged crimes include the contract for the construction of an engineering complex at Nasarawa Polytechnic in Lafia awarded to Faslan Venture Ltd in 2001 for N71,708,479, a project which allegedly never saw the light of day.

Others include a contract for the construction of an administrative block at Nasarawa Polytechnic awarded to Kaigama Construction Co. Ltd for N 34,082,700 in 2002, which was also reportedly not executed, and a contract worth N1.1 billion for various projects which were awarded to Niccus Industries Ltd in 2005, without due process.

Other projects which the source said Adamu is being held are the provision of floodlight, electronic score board, extension of VIP stand on both sides and a stand by generator and a generator house at Lafia Stadium at N299,701,689, design and construction of one storey library at the contract sum of N99,784,800, construction of chalets at Farin Ruwa Fall which includes the provision of water and overhead tank, electricity and landscaping N100 million among many others.

The source added that even though these projects were fully paid for, there was no sign of their execution.
Spokesman of EFCC, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrest of the former governor. He however declined further comments.



http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=167108

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Abdullahi Aminchi, has again assured that President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s health is improving. Aminchi, who spoke with the AFP on Monday, also said doctors attending to the ailing president in Saudi Arabia, and not the Kingdom’s authorities, were refusing access to him in his Jeddah hospital.
Aminchi said he himself had visited Yar’Adua last Saturday and that the condition of the president was improving. “I saw him the day before yesterday, He’s really feeling better now,” Aminchi told AFP.

Aminchi confirmed that a delegation of House of Representatives members was not allowed to see Yar’Adua earlier this month despite coming to Jeddah on a mission to gauge the health of the 58-year-old president, who checked into King Faisal Specialist Hospital on November 23 for an acute heart condition.

He said it was Yar’Adua’s doctors and not Saudi authorities, as some officials had alleged, who had denied access to the president. “It is only the doctors assigned to him who are preventing them (visitors) from seeing the president,” despite a green light from the Saudi authorities, Aminchi stressed.
Aminchi has regularly given assurances that Yar’Adua’s condition is improving, saying in mid-January that he was awaiting doctors’ permission to return home. But there have been no official reports on his health.




http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/feb/23/national-23-02-2010-8.htm

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja canvassed for a minimum wage of N100,000 for civil servants in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the current minimum wage at the federal level is N7,500.

The Chairman of ASCSN information unit, Mr. Atuoba Obed, said this at a one-day seminar organised by the union.

The theme of the seminar is: “Creating a conducive working environment for improved productivity in the workplace.’’

Obed said the theme of the seminar was derived from the need to empower the members with the knowledge of managing the present socio-economic and political situation in the country.

He lamented the condition of workers in the civil service, saying, “The unbearable means of human survival in the country has continued to impoverish Nigerians.

“The salary of civil servants is very meagre, and the high cost of living in the country has eaten deep into the stipend called salary.

“We use this opportunity to call on the Federal Government to look into the present meagre salary of the civil servant and increase it to at least N100,000 for the least paid official.

“Also, the policy of consolidated salary and high tax on the salary of civil servants is a sorry case, which is widening their scope of financial and health predicaments.”

Obed also called for regular trainings for information officers to improve on their duties, especially in this era of information technology.

He described information and communications technology as the mouthpiece of the nation, saying that information officers, by virtue of their office, ought to understand government policies to give to the people the desired image of the country.

He said, “We use this opportunity to call on all ministries, departments and agencies to embark on regular training and retraining of their staff.

“Training programmes should be transparent, not to be used to favour some staff because it is not a personal project, but rather a Federal Government programme designed to improve the staff on their duties.’’

While declaring the seminar open, the Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, tasked ASCSN over better conduct in order to achieve the desired goals of the nation.

Akunyili, who was represented by the Director of Research and Production in the ministry, Mr. Ladan Ndam, said the theme of the seminar showed that workers were willing to make things better this year.





http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201002234474031