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CelebritiesRe: Ini Edo Fights Oge Okoye Over Her Husband by Kennyblues(m): 2:41pm On Jun 24, 2011
did her husband go to location with her?
PoliticsRe: Insult On Awo: Apologise Or Else: -yoruba Tells Omatseye by Kennyblues(m): 10:32am On Jun 24, 2011
With all due respect to mama HID, Omatseye has done no wrong but spoken the truth. Those calling for his head should rescind now
PoliticsTokyo Sues Oyo Cp Over Alleged Defamation by Kennyblues(op): 1:13pm On Jun 23, 2011
IBADAN – ONE of the factional leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, on State Police Command wanted list, Alhaji Lateef Akinsola aka Tokyo, has dragged the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Baba Adisa Bolanta to court over alleged defamation of his character.

Tokyo, who was reinstated by the National Industrial Court, NIC, as the authentic chairman of NURTW in the state, and another factional leader, Alhaji Lamidi Mukaila aka Auxiliary had engaged each other in bloody clashes that claimed several lives over the control of the union.

Alhaji Akinsola, on whom the police placed a N.5million ransom, is demanding N200million damages from the CP who he accused of partisanship in the intra-union dispute and resultant mayhem.

He accused Mr. Bolanta of supporting his rival, Auxiliary.

Exonerating himself from the NURTW induced orgy of violence in the state, Tokyo said, “the facts are there that it is Auxiliary that has been going about town with guns and dangerous weapons, killing and maiming innocent members of the public while Bolanta continues to look the other way, for reasons best known to him.”

He noted that the posters displayed by the CP at strategic locations in the state declaring him (Tokyo) wanted over the recurring crises in the transport workers union in the state was intended to malign his good name.

He called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim to prevail on the Commissioner from further defamation of his name.

Tokyo said, “Bolanta should stop spoiling my good name by his sponsored publications. Has Bolanta ever seen me leading any thug to kill anybody at motor parks?


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/06/tokyo-sues-oyo-cp-over-alleged-defamation/
European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga)Chelsea Appoint Villas-boas by Kennyblues(op): 11:20am On Jun 22, 2011
Chelsea have confirmed the appointment of Andre Villas-Boas on a three-year deal.

The Blues have been locked in talks with Villas-Boas after his £13.3million release clause from Porto was activated on Monday.

"Andre was the outstanding candidate for the job"
Chelsea Quotes of the week

Now Chelsea have wasted little time in securing the deal and they were delighted to confirm his appointment in a statement.

"Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce that Andre Villas-Boas will be the club's new manager.

"He has signed a three-year contract and will start work immediately.

"Andre was the outstanding candidate for the job. He is one of the most talented young managers in football today and has already achieved much in a relatively short space of time.

"His ambition, drive and determination matches that of Chelsea and we are confident Andre's leadership of the team will result in greater successes in major domestic and European competitions.

"Andre will bring his coaching experience back to a club he is already very familiar with, having previously worked here for three years.

"He has always been highly regarded at Chelsea and everyone here looks forward to welcoming him back and working with him."



http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_7000299,00.html

http://www.teamtalk.com/premier-league/7000012/Villas-Boas-handed-Chelsea-reins
PoliticsBankole And Nafada Granted Bail In The Sum Of N500m by Kennyblues(op): 4:16pm On Jun 16, 2011
I just overheard it now on radio that the embattled former Speaker and his deputy have been granted bail by the Abuja High Court in the sum of N500M,
FamilyMother Hopes To Donate Womb To Her Daughter by Kennyblues(op): 4:41pm On Jun 15, 2011
A 56-year-old says she hopes to become the first woman to have her womb transplanted into her daughter.

Eva Ottoson who lives in Nottinghamshire has agreed to take part in the medical procedure that would see her donate her uterus.

Her 25-year-old daughter, Sara, who lives in Sweden, was born without reproductive organs.

If successful she could become pregnant and carry her child in the same womb that she herself was carried in.


[size=8pt]Adoption discussed[/size]

The mother and daughter hope the procedure could happen in Sweden next spring.

The pair have undergone tests to ascertain their suitability for the transplant operation.

Sara Ottoson was born without a uterus because of the condition Mayer Rokitanksy Kuster Hauser (MRKH) syndrome.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote

Eva Ottoson Mother

Her mother, who moved to England from Sweden three years ago, said: "From the start when we realised what her condition was she [Sara] has always been talking about adoption.

"Then this opportunity came along last autumn.

"So I think there are loads of young women out there, who for one reason or another, can't get their own babies and if this could be some way of doing it in the future, why not?

"Both me and my daughter are rational about it.

"It's just an organ like a kidney or whatever. She needs it, I have it. I don't need it anymore.

"I can't see the ethical problems about it really."

The only previous womb transplant widely reported occurred in 2000, in Saudi Arabia.

A womb from a 46-year-old was given to a 26-year-old but it had to be removed 99 days later because of complications.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-13752288
FamilyRe: Strange! : Woman Delivers Seven Babies In 11 Months (pictures) by Kennyblues(m): 9:33am On Jun 13, 2011
This woman actually 'PUSHED' eight (cool times in a year or were those kids delivered through CS. I need to know.
PoliticsFormer Senators Pay N1.6m For Cars, Office Items by Kennyblues(op): 9:13am On Jun 08, 2011
Former senators pay N1.6m for cars, office items
By Oluwole Josiah, Abuja
Wednesday, 8 Jun 2011


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The National Assembly has finally sold the 109 Toyota Camry V6 Model cars to members of the Sixth Senate for a paltry some of N1.5m.



They also paid an additional N100,000 for other items such as computers, TV sets and other disposables which they had used in their offices during the last four years.



Our correspondent gathered that the ex-senators were not quite happy with the value placed on the cars by the management of the National Assembly as they considered it too expensive.



At the House of Representatives, ex-members paid N850,000 to go away with each of the 407 Peugeot cars and their office items.



One of the senators, who benefited from the sale, told our correspondent in confidence that most of the cars sold to them had really depreciated.



He said, “You need to see the cars we are talking about. We have been using them in the last four years. They were used for oversight functions; some of them were even used for election campaigns.



“I am paying N1.5m and I think it is too expensive. It is not fair, but there is nothing we can do now.”



The cars were purchased for about N6m in 2008 and were meant to assist the lawmakers in their committee work.



Meanwhile, the Movement for Revolutionary Change has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to look into the sale of the cars to ex-members of the National Assembly.



In a letter to the EFCC Chairman signed by its Coordinator, Mr. Babatope Babalobi, the group is asking the commission to investigate the sale of the cars against the background of the extant Federal Government’s monetisation policy.



The letter read in part, “We like to refer your commission to the Federal Government Monetisation policy as legalised by the provision of the Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances etc) Act 2002 by virtue of which the Federal legislators were not supposed to purchase official cars in the first instance, since their transport allowances had been monetised.



“We also refer to the alibi given by the leadership of the National Assembly at the time the inflated cars were being bought that the vehicles were meant for work of the committees of the National Assembly.



“Against these background, we write this petition requesting your commission to investigate the following: Whether the purchase of the cars few years ago was not against the monetisation policy of the Federal Government and laid down rules; whether it was proper for the members of the sixth National Assembly to sell off the cars and equipments to themselves; whether in determining the buyers of the cars/equipment and the selling price of the cars/equipment the management and leadership of the National Assembly followed due processes, government regulations and civil service rules.”



The group asserted that the purchase and eventual sale of the cars were an infraction on the criminal code, the EFCC Act and an economic crime against the Nigerian people, requiring the trial under the law.



http://punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201106084394934
PoliticsRe: Tambuwal Is The New Speaker For The 7th Assembly by Kennyblues(m): 6:07pm On Jun 06, 2011
Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (PDP) Sokoto State has emerged as the new Speaker of the 7th session of the House of Representatives of Nigeria.

He defeated Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola who is popularly tagged as the candidate of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP and the presidency.

Tambuwal was a deputy chief whip in the 6th session of the House of Representatives. He ran against Hon. Mulikat Akande in defiance to the endorsement of the ruling PDP.

The new speaker emerged by polling 252 votes to defeat Mulikat Akande-Adeola, who polled 90. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha was elected as Deputy Speaker.
PoliticsGov. Amosun Escapes Bomb Attack by Kennyblues(op): 6:05pm On Jun 06, 2011
Gov. Amosun escapes bomb attack
By By Ernest Nwokolo 33 minutes ago
Font size:

Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun
Governor Ibikunle Amosun, his Deputy,Prince Segun Adesegun and 26 new lawmakers luckily escaped mass death and injuries today at the Ogun state House of Assembly [OGHA]when an explosive device planted under a ring inside the chamber was detected and evacuated while it was yet to explode.

The explosive material which the Police authority told The Nation is an "Improvise Explosive Device[IED]" was planted few meters away from where Amosun, his Deputy and key officials of OGHA were billed to seat.

The device, The Nation learnt, was locally made. Anti - Bomb Disposal unit of the Ogun state Police Command detected it around 10:am and safely removed it before the arrival of the Governor and his Deputy.

The Governor was expected at the OGHA to witness as well as inaugurate the first sitting of the seventh legislative Assembly of Ogun state House of Assembly. There was unease and apprehension at the Assembly premises.

However, when the new legislative Assembly commenced sitting around 10:03am,Hon. Suraj Adekunbi from Yewa emerged the Speaker of the OGHA while Hon. Tola Banjo, representing Ijebu - Ode state constituency was elected Deputy Speaker.

Banjo nominated by Hon. Remmy Hazzan [Odogbolu] defeated Hon. Motunrayo Oladapo - Adeleye [Ifo 11] his co - contestant to the office of Deputy Speaker.

Adekunbi was nominated for the office of a Speaker by Hon. Odofin Shonuga[Ikenne]and Hon. Olakunle Oluomo [Ifo].

With no counter nomination, 23 of the 26 lawmakers voted in support of Adekunbi becoming the Speaker.And taking his oath of office by 11:03am, he pledged to work harmoniously with the executive to ensure peace and development of Ogun state.

Reacting, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, said the discovery of an explosive substance suspected to be a bomb within the OGHA just as he was about to inaugurate the seventh session of the Assembly, is "condemnable" and act of "wickedness."

The Governor added that it depicts the desperation of some people who are accustomed to levying violence on others. He charged the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to book.




http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news-update/8534-gov-amosun-escapes-bomb-attack.html
PoliticsRe: Ogun Assembly Nullifies Sale Of Gateway Hotels by Kennyblues(op): 9:28am On Jun 02, 2011
I am just loving it, the way the assembly is working in consonance with the ideas of the government for the betterment of Ogun people
PoliticsOgun Assembly Nullifies Sale Of Gateway Hotels by Kennyblues(op): 9:13am On Jun 02, 2011
Ogun Assembly nullifies sale of Gateway Hotels
By Ernest Nwokolo 9 hours 4 minutes ago
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THE Ogun House of Assembly yesterday nullified the concessioning of the three state-owned Gateway Hotels by former Governor gbenga Daniel.

It also reversed Daniel’s return of 29 public secondary schools to missionaries and communities about a year ago.

Speaker Tunji Egbetokun said the process that led to the concession of the Gateway Hotels in Ijebu–Ode, Ota and Abeokuta was “fraudulent, against the laws of Ogun State and inconsistent with the government and public interest”.

The reversal, the Assembly said, took immediate effect.

Job Akintan, representing Yewa North 1, moved the motion for House Resolution 250, which sought the reversal of the concession of the hotels, arguing that “Daniel had deceived the people of Ogun State” in the manner the deal was sealed.

Deputy Speaker Remmy Hassan, who supported the motion, said it was unthinkable that the hotels, valued at over N1.2billion, could be given away to the concessionaires at barely half a billion naira.

The Assembly approved the renaming of the newly constructed N1.5bilion Ogun State Property Investment Company (OPIC) building in Abeokuta Central Business District (ACBD) as OPIC Towers.

The 12-storey building was named OGD Plaza few hours after it was commissioned by Daniel.

Egbetokun said the Ibikunle Amosun administration would be law-abiding, adding that reverting the Gateway Television and Gateway Radio to their old names should not be with immediate effect but until their enabling bill is either repealed or amended by the Assembly.

The House also resolved to confer its honorary memberon six Ogun indigenes – including Prof. Sheriffdeen Tella, former Vice-Chancellor, Crescent University, Abeokuta; and G-15 Legal Adviser, Mr Abraham Adeoye, whom it said stood behind it in its struggle against the many illegalities of the executive arm of the government.

Amosun has approved the dissolution of the boards and governing councils of state-owned parastatals and higher institutions.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant Funmi Wakama, the governor directed the chairmen and heads of the parastatals and institutions to hand over to the most senior civil servants in their establishments.

Amosun yesterday swore in the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Taiwo Abiodun Adeoluwa.

The governor, who described Adeoluwa as a silent achiever, urged him to dedicate himself to the service of the state, noting that the issue is neither about the SSG nor Amosun, but the development of the people.


http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/8155-ogun-assembly-nullifies-sale-of-gateway-hotels.html
PoliticsRe: Students Storm Oyo Gov’s Office Over Hike In Fees by Kennyblues(m): 11:08am On Jun 01, 2011
adefemi1:
Students storm Oyo gov’s office over hike in fees
By Olalekan Adetayo
Wednesday, 1 Jun 2011



Students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, on Tuesday stormed the Governor’s Office, Agodi, Ibadan to protest the hike in their school fees by the immediate past administration in the state.

The students, in their hundreds, attempted to force their ways into the premises, compelling security operatives to quickly shut the main gate leading into the secretariat.

Their action caused a serious traffic gridlock on the major road in front of the secretariat and other adjoining roads.

It took the intervention of armed policemen drafted to the scene, who fired some canisters of teargas to disperse the students.

Unconfirmed report had it that about four of the protesting students were arrested. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adisa Bolanta, told our correspondent on the telephone at about 3pm that he had not been briefed on any arrest.

The students’ action came at a time the newly-inaugurated Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, was attending an inter-faith prayer session at the Governor’s Office as part of activities for his inauguration.

At 12 noon, the traffic situation on the Bodija-Secretariat Road was still hectic.

About five police patrol vans were stationed in front of the secretariat while stern-looking, armed policemen and some officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were stationed under the bridge at the entrance of the secretariat.

One of the protesting students, who did not want his name in print, had earlier told journalists that their intention was to seek the governor’s intervention in reducing their tuition fees.

He said the last administration had raised the tuition fee of HND II students to about N100,000 while HND I students were asked to pay N84,000, adding that the accommodation fee was put at N17, 500 despite the fact that the school rarely had electricity.

He said, “There are no facilities in the hostels, yet the management is forcing us to pay. This is unacceptable to us. We have paid 60 per cent of the fees and they are compelling us to balance up within a week.

“We cannot agree with this. Governor Ajimobi had before his inauguration promised to reduce the fees by 50 per cent. We have paid even more than half of the fees and so we are calling on the governor to address the situation.”

In reaction, authorities of the polytechnic ordered its immediate closure.

According to a statement by the Registrar, Mr. Tosho Ayanwale, the school would remain closed down until further notice.

He attributed the closure to what he called the lawless attitude of the students, who invaded the office of the governor.

The statement read, “The management has consequently directed all the students of the institution including those in Saki and Eruwa campuses to proceed to their various homes until further notice.
Thought the bolded had been redeployed during the last general election to delta state, bty, why did the students wait till Akala left office to protest
PoliticsBreaking News: Gej Just Signed Foi Bill by Kennyblues(op): 5:05pm On May 31, 2011
Just heard from the news on Radion Continental 102.3 FM, think GEJ is starting on right path
CrimePolice Sergeant Sentenced To Death For Murder by Kennyblues(op): 9:39am On May 24, 2011
Police sergeant sentenced to death for murder
| Print | E-mail
Written by Uchechukwu Olisah, Benin City
Tuesday, 24 May 2011

A Benin High Court has sentenced a police sergeant, Kalejaiye Ola, to death by hanging for the murder of one Paul Erimafa on June 23, 2003.

The court presided by Justice Roland Amaize while delivering judgment, on Monday, held
that the act of the accused was premeditated as against the defence of accidental discharge which the accused offered.

Justice Amaize said the accused initially reported a case of armed robbery against the deceased but that investigation proved that the alleged robbery was a ruse.

According to him, there were contradictions in the convict’s extra-judicial statement and oral testimony in court.

“It is the view of the court that there was no justification for the convict to have shot and killed the deceased who was harmless as at the time of the incident,” Amaize declared.

Justice Amaize said evidence from the police doctor who performed post-mortem on the corpse showed damaged urinary bladder and profuse bleeding which led to the death of the victim.

The court also held that the evidence of one of the expert prosecution witnesses on the handling of arms and ammunition showed that the Ak 47 rifle was not at the safety cache when the incident occurred.

He added that the evidence of another prosecution witness present at the scene of the crime was not challenged.

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/22394-police-sergeant-sentenced-to-death-for-murder
PoliticsCourt Stops Severance Pay For Alao-akala, Aides by Kennyblues(op): 9:33am On May 24, 2011
Court stops severance pay for Alao-Akala, aides
| Print | E-mail
Written by Adebayo Waheed
Tuesday, 24 May 2011

An Oyo State High Court, on Monday, ordered that the severance gratuities of outgoing governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala and those of his aides, be stopped.

The presiding judge, Justice Eni Esan’s order, came when she granted a three-point ex parte motion brought before her by Mr Lasun Sanusi, on behalf of a league of 11 retired judges of the state, who had been battling the governor for their severance pay for two years after their retirement from the state judiciary.

The retired judicial officers, after exploring a sustained judicial process, secured judgment against the governor, as the court ordered that their allowances be paid with interests.

However, the governor has since filed a notice of appeal against the judgment.

In a motion ex parte filed at the state High Court on Monday, the applicants prayed the court for reliefs to stop the governor, whose tenure lapses on Sunday, from paying himself and his appointees their gratuities without first paying theirs.

The applicants also joined Ladi Abdu Salami, state Attorney-General; the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Olayiwola Olakojo; Head of Service, Alhaji Tajudeen Aremu and the Accountant-General, Mr Waheed Olaitan, as co-defendants in the suit.

The applicants comprised three former chief judges, two acting chief judges and six other judges, who worked with the state judiciary throughout their careers as judicial officers, and sought to restrain the defendants from paying Governor Alao-Akala, Olakojo and Abdu Salami, as well as other political appointees’ severance gratuities or any other terminal allowances till the claimants/applicants had been paid their respective gratuities as retired judicial office holders.”

The trial judge had fixed June 23 for movement of motion on notice.

The litigants were before Justice Akintunde Boade for arguments on an application for stay of execution of order filed by the governor.

Governor Alao-Akala was praying the court for a relief to suspend the order granted by Justice Muktar Ladi Abimbola while delivering judgment on an application by the retired judges to compel him to pay their severance packages.

In one of the paragraphs in support of the government’s affidavit in support of its application, the governor had said funds were available to the retired judges, but would not pay until the appeal court dispenses with the application he filed against the judgment.

Justice Boade had also fixed his ruling on the governor’s application for Friday, May 27


http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/22423-court-stops-severance-pay-for-alao-akala-aides
PoliticsRe: Yar'adua Died Without Building A House Of His Own; An Example Of Humility by Kennyblues(m): 3:45pm On May 17, 2011
No be lie?
CrimeRe: ‘Don’ Jailed Four Years For Certificate Forgery by Kennyblues(op): 4:48pm On May 05, 2011
If there is anything I have learnt on NL is to ignore dimwit like him ( texazzpete ) and mind you I enjoy posting mainly on politics section, so go get a life
Politics‘lagos Has Capacity To Borrow’ by Kennyblues(op): 11:19am On May 05, 2011
In what could be described as its response to the reports that Lagos State is the most indebted state in the country; the state government on Wednesday said that the state should not be compared with other states in the country because it had the capacity to carry its debt profile.



The state’s commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze, at a ministerial press briefing to commemorate the fourth anniversary of Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration said that what economist looked for was not the amount of the debt, but whether the debtor could sustain its portfolio, adding that Lagos had the capacity to borrow.



“There was a time that Nigeria owed $35bn which was declared unsustainable, while the United States of America, which owed trillions did not suffer the same fate. Debt owning is about carrying capacity,” Akabueke said.



The commissioner, who did not revealed how much the state owed, said that the state burrowed only for capital projects.



He added that the citizens’ appreciation for the work being done by the government had manifested in the prompt payment of taxes and other levies, which in turn helped the ministry to drive the translation of the policy thrust of government into achievements.




http://www.nigeriamasterweb.com/
PoliticsI Have Made Life Better For Oyo People – Alao-akala by Kennyblues(op): 11:02am On May 05, 2011
In what seemed like a valedictory speech, Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State on Wednesday said that his administration had worked hard to achieve a better living condition for the people of the state.



A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Abraham Ojo, said the governor, who lost re-election bid last week, made the claim while inaugurating 33 units of waste compactor trucks purchased by his administration in collaboration with the state chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria.



The governor said that his administration’s record of achievement would continue to speak for him.



Alao-Akala also said that the procurement of the waste compactors was a further demonstration of his administration’s determination to rid Oyo State of dirt, adding that the equipment would be distributed to the 33 local government areas for effective waste disposal.



He disclosed that his administration had also purchased 25 units of roll-on, roll-off refuse trucks to remove refuse on the roads while skip bins were also procured and strategically located along major roads to discourage dumping of refuse on roads.



The governor also stated that flood and erosion control of major streams were undertaken to control flood, which had made destruction of lives and properties a thing of the past, adding that modern public toilets, tagged “Alao-Akala comfort stations” had been provided for the comfort of citizens and visitors to Ibadan.



He appealed to all the 33 local government authorities to make judicious use of the waste compactors and ensure their regular maintenance.



In his address, the state chairman of ALGON, Mr. Ademola Ojo, said that the procurement of the waste compactors was part of Alao-Akala’s administration’s efforts aimed at taking the state to the promised land in the area of environmental sanitation.

http://www.nigeriamasterweb.com/
SportsRe: Is Mikel Obi A Lazy Player,As Some Football Pundits Reckon ? by Kennyblues(m): 6:06pm On May 04, 2011
Mikel is still the BEST holding midfielder in chelsea, he's also the BEST passer of the ball in chelsea, in my own opinion, we lost to man.united because we lacked neat passes from the midfield, he's a very confident player, once the ball is with him,he protects it as when a mother HEN protects its chick from the hawk, very strong player and also gifted, he should neva be left out of any match again, 



http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6912145,00.html
Crime‘Don’ Jailed Four Years For Certificate Forgery by Kennyblues(op): 12:15pm On May 04, 2011
‘Don’ jailed four years for certificate forgery
By Augustine Tsenzenghul 12 hours 8 minutes ago
Font size:   

Fwelve 12 years, he paraded fake credentials with which he got a job at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi.

    Yesterday, the law caught up with Daniel Ishola Owoademi, 51. He was jailed four years for certificate forgery.

Chief Magistrate Isa Mohammed, sitting in Bauchi, said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Police Prosecutor Inspector Iliya Bitrus, told the court: “The Chief Security Officer of the university,  Mallam Garkuwa Ilimi, reported to the Police, on behalf of the university management,  that the Governing Council had discovered that Owoademi, a lecturer, possessed fake credentials.

“The credentials include four testimonials, a Higher National Diploma (HND) certificate, all of them from the Institution of Modelling in the United States of America, and one of the certificates is a B.Sc, which he claimed to have been issued by a university in Canada and with which he secured employment with the university and has since April 4, 1999, been an employee of the university.”

Bitrus added: “The suspect admitted before the Governing Council of the university that the said credentials are fake and that he forged them. More so, he could not give satisfactory account of how he came about the credentials.”

The offence is contrary to Sections 363; 364 and 321 of the Penal Code.

Owoademi admitted he was guilty of the offenses as charged, describing his act as “the devil work”.

He pleaded for leniency.

His counsel, D.T. Bukar, said it was “the first time Owoademi was involved in something like this”, praying the court to temper justice with mercy.

He said Owoademi was a pastor who presided over a church and has a family.

“Over and above that, he has shown remorse by accepting the charges against him without taking the court through any pains,” Bukar said.

Delivering judgment, Mohammed overruled the counsel’s pleas and sentenced the accused to one year imprisonment on the first count with an option of N10,000 fine.

On the second count, the Chief Magistrate sentenced Owoademi to a year imprisonment with an option of N20,000 fine.

On the third count, the convict was jailed for two years with an option of  N30,000 fine.


http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/4988-%E2%80%98don%E2%80%99-jailed-four-years-for-certificate-forgery.html
European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga)Alex (manu) Could End Up Empty-handed by Kennyblues(op): 10:23am On May 03, 2011
ALEX FERGUSON is on the verge of leading Manchester United to a brilliant domestic and European double.
Fergie will celebrate 25 years in charge at Old Trafford in November.

And it would be some effort if this legend of a manager is holding both the Premier League and Champions League crowns when he reaches that amazing landmark.

But I believe United could end the season with absolutely nothing.

That their season could end in tears.

They find themselves in a terrific position against Schalke for tomorrow's Champions League semi-final, second leg.

They are 2-0 up after the clash in Germany and I'm certain they will reach the final. United are also three points clear of their nearest challengers in the League which ordinarily, with just three games to go, would be an incredibly strong position.

But at the moment, I actually make Chelsea slight favourites to snatch the title. Amazing, when you think 15 points separated the two clubs on March 1.

I tipped Chelsea at the start of the season but thought I'd got it totally wrong when United hit cruise control and seemed to be moving clear.

But as we saw at the Emirates on Sunday, United are still unconvincing on the road and this is proved by the fact they have won just five times away from home.

Their record at Old Trafford is strong but on Sunday they face a Chelsea team who have won on two of their previous three visits, so it is going to be some match.

People talk about Carlo Ancelotti's ageing squad but I believe the experience of the group is giving them an edge at this crucial part of the season. They have been here before.

Ancelotti and his troops are also getting a bit of luck at this stage of the season, as we saw against Spurs on Saturday.

But Chelsea still have players who can cause real damage when they are on their A game.

That is why I think they will beat United on Sunday and, against all the odds, the west Londoners could edge the title.






It has been such an inconsistent season from all the big teams and it's almost seemed like no one wanted to win the title.

Obviously if you finish top, then you are the best team in that division. But there has not been an outstanding side. United have kept slipping up, there was the Chelsea blip and Arsenal have drawn too many games.

I certainly do not think we will see another campaign when the top sides make so many mistakes.


While there is not an absolutely amazing team in the Premier League, you have to remember that winning the championship is no mean feat. It is still a top achievement.

It would be remarkable for Fergie to guide the club to their record 19th championship, even though he has put together teams which have been more spectacular.

Equally, it would be some occasion to see United win Europe's top honour at Wembley.

But while they will clearly breeze past their German opposition in the last four, Barcelona are the likely opponents in the final.

Right now, I think United would struggle against the Spaniards.

United were disappointing at Arsenal and there is no doubt that my former team deserved to win.

It was a bit frustrating seeing the side put in a performance like that because I looked back at some of their slip-ups at home against Sunderland, Blackburn, Newcastle and West Brom, and asked myself why they could not win those matches.

I am sure Arsene Wenger will finally spend some money in the summer, although the same applies to Chelsea, Manchester City and United.

Players like Ashley Young and Gareth Bale will be in great demand and I'm sure records will be broken for the amount of cash being thrown about.

Because, at the moment, the chasing pack - including teams like City, Spurs and Liverpool - are not that far away.

And we should all be thankful that English football's top-flight is certainly not predictable.

Courtesy SEM Gr


http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3559747/Ian-Wright-believes-Manchester-United-boss-Alex-Ferguson-could-end-up-empty-handed.html
PoliticsRandy Filipino Impregnates 13-year- Old Nigerian Girl by Kennyblues(op): 11:14am On Apr 21, 2011
Randy Filipino impregnates 13-year- old Nigerian girl
• Wants friends to beg her family
By MATTHEW DIKE
Thursday, April 21, 2011
• Alex
Photo: Sun News Publishing
More Stories on This Section

A Philippine national, simply identified as Alex, has run into troubled waters for allegedly impregnating a 13-year-old Nigerian girl.
The victim, Nkechi (not real name), is a junior sister to Alex’s domestic staff, Victoria, who he sacked after putting the Junior Secondary School one (JSS I) girl in the family way.

The suspect was dragged to Apapa police station, after Victoria and other members of her family discovered that their daughter was six months pregnant for the randy Filipino.

At the station, Alex did not only tell the detectives that devil was responsible for his action, he also told them that he ate the forbidden fruit ‘only three times.’ He, however, pleaded for forgiveness and urged the victim’s relatives not to take the matter to court. He also promised to take good care of the girl till she puts to bed.

But the victim punctured his claim, saying he had sex with her five times. Nkechi, a native of Akwa Ibom State, recalled how the immoral act with Alex started. According to her, he first deflowered her in the bathroom before the ones that took place in his bedroom four times. She also disclosed how he enticed her with money before she fell for his bait, after resisting the temptation many times.

She explained that he usually gave him N100 and sometimes, N1,000. “It was when he threatened to sack my elder sister from work and evict us from the house that I succumbed. He forced me the first day and succeeded in having sex with me. My sister was not at home that day. But Alex had earlier told her that he would send me to buy boiled rice for him at Anjorin Market, Apapa. It's not too far from his residence at Randle Road, Apapa.

“I was living with my sister at the ‘Boys’ Quarter’. When I came back, I noticed he had locked all the windows and doors, leaving only the entrance door open. So, immediately I entered the house, he quickly locked the door. I wanted to wash clothes in the bathroom when he entered, tying towel round his waist.
“He warned that If I turned down his love overtures, he would sack my sister from work and send us out of the house. And I didn't want him to sack my sister or send us out of the house. I didn't want my sister and I to suffer,” she said.

The victim also recalled how blood gushed out from her private part when Alex first had sex with her.
“He has caused problems for me now. I'm a JSS1 student, I cannot marry him, he is wicked. He forced me and had sex with me when my sister travelled to the village.” The girl believes she can still go back to school after putting to bed. “I will not go to the Philippines with him, I will not marry him. If I put to bed, I will go back to school.

Alex begged the victim's family to allow him to take care of their feeding as well as hospital bill. But the family turned down the offer, saying the suspect was only looking for an opportunity to escape justice. Victoria, 23, told Daily Sun that Alex's contract as a canteen manager in a construction company was over. She said she suspected Alex to have concluded plans to escape before her younger sister is delivered of a baby.

“Alex was paying me N12,000 monthly. My duty was to cook food, wash clothes and clean the house. He sacked me when I fell sick and asked me to pack my property out of the house. I was rushed to a General Hospital in Lagos, where I spent one week before I was taken to a church, where I also spent one week. And when I returned to continue my job, Alex told me I had been sacked. I've been working for him more than four years now.”

Meanwhile, the suspect had invited some of his Nigerian friends to mediate in the crisis. One of them, a businessman, who identified himself simply as Kabaya, however, blamed the suspect for using a minor to satisfy his sexual urge

"We just want to assist him so that his family and that of the suspect will reach an agreement. Since a child is involved, I believe, the best thing to do is to make peace because of the child. We don't want the victim and her baby to suffer", he said.



http://www.nigeriamasterweb.com/
PoliticsRe: Ibori Path To 14yrs Jail by Kennyblues(m): 2:10pm On Apr 20, 2011
RICHIE BOI:
Fugitive former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori who was extradited to London from the United Arab Republic(UAE), appeared last week at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with 25 offences relating to money laundering and fraud. The maximum penalty for these offences is 14 years in Jail under the British Law.
Money laundering is the practice of disguising the origins of illegally-obtained money. Ultimately, it is the process by which the proceeds of crime are made to appear legitimate. The money involved can be generated by any number of criminal acts, including drug dealing, corruption, accounting and other types of fraud, and tax evasion. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication from simple to complex.

There are now five basic money-laundering offences under the British law, they include, assisting another to retain the benefit of crime, acquiring, possession and use of criminal proceeds, concealing or transferring proceeds to avoid prosecution or a confiscation order (also called Own Funds money laundering) and failure to disclose knowledge or suspicion of money laundering.

According to information obtained from UK Crown Prosecution Service(CPS), the law explicitly states that if an accused “conceals, disguises, converts, transfers or removes criminal property” on indictment could spend up to 14 years imprisonment or a fine or both.

For a lesser offence of “failure to disclose knowledge, suspicion or reasonable grounds for suspicion of money laundering” on indictment, the accused will go to jail for up to five years or a fine or both.

These was the offence for which three of ex-governor of James Ibori’s associates: his estrange wife, Therese Nkoyo Ibori, blood sister and mistress, Christine Ibie-Ibori and Udoamaka Onuigbo, were convicted and now in Holloway prison serving 5years jail term each after they were found guilty of money laundering by the Southwark Crown Court. James Ibori’s Bhadresh Gohil a partner at Arlington Sharma Solicitors, London was jailed for 7years.

It is this second part of the offence that may also indict several Ibori associates including Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan who was named by Therese Ibori as well as David Edevwie, late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s former aide and former Delta state commissioner for Finance.

The Charges against Chief Ibori include:
1. Conspiracy to defraud: That James Ibori between the 1st day of September 2005 and the 1st day of january 2007 conspired together and with Bhadresh babulah Gohil, Lambertus de Boer, Daniel Benedict Mc Cannn, Victor Attah, David Edevbie, Love Ojakovo , and others to defraud states within the Federation of Nigeria, namely Delta State and Akwa Ibom State, of sums representing part of the sale of shares owned by the said states in Vee Networks (Nigeria) Limited (trading as V Mobile) to Celtel (Nigeria) BV, and held in the names of their respective authorized ministries or agencies the said sums being paid to a company named African Development Finance Limited or its predecessors under an Exclusive arranger Agreement to a total invoiced value in excess of $37,000,000 United States dollars Contrary to common law. H.O 53/4 Local None CJS COL011 2. Make a false instrument with intent it be accepted to genuine-Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 between 01/09/2005 and 01/07/2007

2. Conspiracy to make false instruments: That James Ibori between the 1st day of September 2005 and the 1st day of July 2006 conspired together and with Bhadresh Babulal Gohil, Lambertus de Boer, Daniel Benedict McCann, David Edevbie, Love Ojakovo and others to make false instruments, namely letters and other documents which purported to be made on date or otherwise in circumstances in which they were not made, in relation to alleged services provided by African Development Finance or its predecessors in relation to the sale of shares by Delta State in Vee Networks (Nigeria) Limited (trading as V Mobile), with the intention that they or another should use the said letters and documents to induce somebody to accept them as genuine and by reason of so accepting to do, or not to do, some act to his own prejudice or that of any other person. Contrary to section 1 (1A) of the Criminal Law Act 1977. H.O 61/21 Local None CJS FC81002 3. Proceeds of Crime-arrangement re criminal property -money launder Between 15/04/2006 and 09/09/2009

5. Money laundering:
That James Ibori on or about the 21st December 2006 together with Bhadresh Babulal Gohil, Lambertus de Boer, Daniel Benedict MCCaann, Victor Attah, Henry Imasheka and others concealed, disguised, converted and transferred criminal property, namely the sum of $10 million (USD) being a purported loan from African Development Finance Limited to a company named Ascot Offshore (Nigeria) Limited, they knowing or suspecting that that sum constituted the benefit from criminal conduct of another person, or that it represented such benefit in whole or in part and whether directly or indirectly. Contrary to section 327 of the proceeds of crime Act 2002
H.O. 38/1 Local None CJS PC02020

During the session, Chief Ibori’s lawyer, Jonathan Akinsanya, did not apply for bail perhaps because the court already knew that the former Delta State was a high level flight risk who would try to skip bail.

He was remanded and sent to Wandsworth Prison in London. His next appearance will be on April 28th, 2011 at the Southwark Crown Court, the same venue where his accomplices were tried for similar offices.

They got five years each.
The Southwark Crown Court in London, which has sent James Ibori money-laundering associates to jail in recent months, granted a confiscation of proceeds of crime order against the jailed sister of the former Delta state governor.

Judge Christopher Harding ruled that Christine Ibori-Ibie, who was jailed for five years last June, benefited from looted Delta state funds by over £4 million.

Christine, who appeared in court, refused to give evidence in the confiscation trial. Under the order, she is required to pay £832,000 in the next six months or risk bagging a fresh five years in the slammer in addition to the five years she is now serving for engaging in money laundering with James Ibori. The £829, 000 is made of up of the value of her property in London minus what she owes in mortgage loans.

Despite Christine’s refusal to give any evidence, her lawyers agreed that the figures were correct. She made it known, however, that she did not agree that she benefited from the Delta State loot to the extent of the amount declared by the court.

The London Metropolitan police, working through the “Proceed Of Crimes Unit” (POCU), comprising a few Scotland Yard police detectives: John MackDonald, Peter Clarke, Paul Garnener and Ben Irons, have relentlessly pursued former governors James Ibori, Dipreye Alamieyeseigha and Joseph Dariye. The three former governors of Delta, Plateau and Bayelsa States used UK banks, to launder funds looted from their respective states.

In 2005 whilst James Ibori was the Governor, the Delta State owned 18% of the shares in V Mobile and The Akwa Ibom state owned 10% with Obong Victor Attah in power. Both were on the board of V Mobile and privy to all the dealings. So in June 2005, when a sale of the company was considered there were already offers on the table from major international operators such as Vodaphone, Virgin, Celtel and Econet amongst others.

By late 2005 the market had been fully tested and although there was no requirement for any additional advice and due to the greed of both James Ibori and Victor Attah together decided to plunder the asset and divert funds to their own coffers.

Other Nigerian officials accused in the scam are currently at large. They include former Governor Victor Obong Attah of Akwa Ibom, David Edevbie, a former Principal Secretary to Umaru Yar’Adua, Love Ojakovo, a former commissioner of Finance to Ibori and Henry Imashekka, a business associate of Ibori.

Gohil was recruited and it was he who masterminded a simple scheme and set up a fake company as a consultancy called ADF (Africa Development Finance) which would charge exorbitant fees ( five to six times of that charged by top UK solicitors, for their alleged service and to arrange the sale. Gohil created a pretence that it was necessary for the Delta State and Akwa Ibom state to consult another company-ADF and charged $19 million and $18m respectively and sent to Access bank in Nigeria.

The basis of the fee would be a 5% flat commission and 25% -30% success fee for any price achieved over $6.5 per share. This even though the market was already established at between $6.45-$8.05 per share. The prosecutor Sasha Wass said “it is like betting after a race is concluded”. The fees were not legitimate or necessary but merely a mechanism to divert money to James Ibori and Victor Attah.

It was always intended that no work would be undertaken but money diverted. Mr. Gohil from his luxury offices in St James in London, created a false paper trail by his own efforts and by instructing his junior trainees. A false agreement was typed up and Gohil forged the necessary signatures.

Once funds were received at the Access bank in Nigeria various company vehicles were used to launder the cash including Brookes Aviation, E F Samuels, Ascot Offshore Nigeria Ltd, Econet and Cran Brasil Nominees Ltd. Both De Boer and McCann were FSA approved and were recruited by Gohil to play a part.

Commenting on the issue, Dr. Richard Tosanwumi, a former Delta State Commissioner for Health said “the evil that men do lives after them is unarguable playing itself out in the on going Ibori trial saga in the UK”

According to him, this is a lesson for other members of the Ibori/Uduaghan cabal, particularly those who participated in the looting of Delta State treasury since 1999.

“Amazingly, many Deltans hardly believed us when we took up the self-imposed struggle to bring Ibori, Uduaghan and their cabal members to justice for the mindless way our state resources were squandered and stolen. Today we have been vindicated by the commencement of Ibori’s trial in London. Truly, an evil doer will eventually pay for his sins, because the British judiciary is one of the best in the world.” He said

Dr. Tosanwum stressed that Chief Ibori will definitely get a fair trial just like his wife, mistress, sister and UK lawyers who were convicted and are now serving various jail terms.

“Obviously, Ibori will be convicted and sent to jail in the UK and Deltans must see Ibori’s travails as divine intervention designed to sanitize their land and deliver them from evil leaders in future.

What remains to be done now is for Deltans to cleanse all the vestiges and relics of Ibori’s cabal from their state in order to achieve this task. Uduaghan must be booted out of office at the April 26th governorship elections in the state. We shall be placing the life of our children in great jeopardy if we allow Uduaghan to rig the election again. The stakes are too high for us to toy with” he concluded

Commending on this development, Comrade Igbini Odafe Emmaneul, Delta State PRP Governorship candidate said “I just dey laf. What is new about Britain’s action? Is Britain’s record of aiding and abetting corruption, looting and crime not a well known fact in the world?”

According to him, “We are celebrating but Britain celebrates most because the British government knows she now has hundreds of millions of pound sterling she will steal from my brother, Chief James Ibori. Congratulations Great Britain, at least now that your government is in economic crisis and can’t sustain her financial obligations to her students and citizens, Ibori’s money will help. Congrats once more!”

For Nigerians, particularly my Urhobo people all over the world, he said, “I weep for us because not too long we shall realize the consequence our FOOLISHNESS in supporting any ethnic group in Nigeria who rightly sees Ibori as a threat to the political ambition of their own people.”

“Have Urhobos not faded away from Politics and Relevance in Nigeria today? Yet we the Urhobos are happy that we are now SLAVES to other Nigerians. Today we shamelessly worship other Nigerians in order to get the crumbs which fall from their table.”

“Everyone knows that I have never supported corruption and looting of public funds rather, it is on record that I led the opposition against corruption and lootings in Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, and other States of Nigeria but what is sadly clear today is that the action against Ibori is a Political Persecution in view of his rising political profile nationally.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2Q430E/nigerdeltastandard.com/?p=247
According to Nigerian Law, for the selected few, how many years does it stipulate?
NYSCRioters Lock In 50 Nysc Members, Set Building On Fire by Kennyblues(op): 10:29am On Apr 20, 2011
THEY never knew that evil was on the way. All was calm in the neighbourhood, although the news had been broken that rioters were on the rampage in the city.

Suddenly, it got noisy and rowdy outside the building where no fewer than 50 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members huddled together, feeling safe, away from the madness that had seized the city by the throat.

Angry youths protesting the results of the presidential election stormed the Nigerian Christian Corpers Fellowship (NCCF) Secretariat in the heart of Minna, the Niger State capital.

They forcibly locked the Corps members in and set the building on fire.

But the leader of the Corps members, fondly called Papa by his colleagues, found the strength to break down the door and set his colleagues free.

“Some had burns,” one of the lucky boys and girls told The Nation at the Army Barracks, where they are taking refuge.

He said they were initially few at the “Family House”, as the secretariat is called by NCCF members, but many rushed in to escape the rioting near their homes in other parts of the city.

“We were taken by surprise. We couldn’t retrieve anything from the fire,” he said, pleading for anonymity so that, according to him, his relatives would not panic over his safety.

The building was smouldering yesterday.

The irate youths also burnt the NCCF 18-seater bus, which was bought two months ago, and a motorcycle belonging to the fellowship.

The development has forced the NYSC to direct all Corps members in Chanchaga (Minna) Local Government Area to relocate from their homes to the Nigeria Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) barracks on the outskirts of the city.

Two NYSC officials were taking care of about 200 “refugees” at the barracks. Religious organisations have sent relief materials to them.

The Family House of the NCCF, a fellowship centre and a lodge for Christian corps members, was one of the seven worship centres burnt by the youths who said they were protesting the emergence of Dr Goodluck Jonathan as winner of the presidential election.

If the “Minna 50” were lucky, not so four of their colleagues and two police officers in Bauchi. They were killed by rioters.

Christian Association of Nigeria {CAN} chair Bishop Musa Tula said more than 20 people died in the violence unleashed on innocent people by those he suspected to be political thugs.

Several churches, cars, homes and business houses were burnt.

The police said over 200 suspects had been arrested in connection with the violence in Bauchi metropolis, Misau and Azare Dambam.

Banks and government businesses in the state capital have closed. Three churches, including Gospel Life Church and Deeper Life Church in the state capital, were burnt. Another one in Bara, Alkaleri Local Government Area, was burnt.

It was learnt that trouble started when some youths said to be CPC supporters suddenly went berserk over the results of the election.

The new police commissioner deployed to the state to ensure a hitch-free election, Ammama John Abakasanga, told reporters yesterday that over 200 suspects had been arrested.

He said four Youth Corps members were killed in Itas Gadau during the election. He added that no fewer than 20 other Corps members were still missing.

The Commissioner said the police rescued 20 of the 51 corps members in Itas Gadau, Jamare and Dabam local government areas.

The rescued Corps members are at the Police Officers’ Mess, Bauchi.

But the NYSC secretariat in Bauchi yesterday kept quiet over the corps members.

Abakasanga said a Divisional Crime Officer (DCO), Police Division, Jama’are Local Government Area and a woman Corporal were killed in Giade. The Divisional Police Officer and DCO of Dabam Local Government were injured. They are hospitalised.

The police boss said his men recovered three ballot boxes and 10 locally made guns from the suspects, who include two under age children.

There were looting and burning yesterday by youths who seized shops, business premises and the streets as early as 7a.m., attacking innocent citizens.

Residents of Igbo quarters, Zango, Railway and most parts of the metropolis fled to the Army and Police barracks as the arson continued.

The INEC offices in Bauchi, Jamare, Misau, Dabam and Itas Gadau were torched.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Senator Iliya Audu, told reporters that all the offices were looted before being set ablaze.

Audu said at the INEC office in Bauchi, 500 laptops, 16 power generating sets, cabinets and burglary proof belonging to the commission were stolen before the building was set on fire.

No fewer than 6,000 persons have been displaced, Abubakar Adamu, Bauchi State Secretary, Nigeria Red Cross Society, said.

According to Abubakar, about 23 others, who are injured, have been hospitalised.

On the over 6000 displaced, the Red Cross boss said: “No food or any kind of aid has been supplied to them. They desperately need food. And the State Emergency Management Agency is yet to respond, despite their knowledge of these people’s situation.”

He said residents who ran away for fear of being attacked were returning to their homes.



http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/3592-rioters-lock-in-50-nysc-members-set-building-on-fire.html
PoliticsRe: I'v Start Regreting Why I Voted For Gej. by Kennyblues(m): 10:24am On Apr 20, 2011
OP, do not regret as you have voted right,
CelebritiesJennifer Lopez Named The Most Beautiful Woman In The World by Kennyblues(op): 6:07pm On Apr 18, 2011
International superstar Jennifer Lopez has been crowned the World's Most Beautiful Woman by People magazine. The 41-year-old feels "honoured" to be chosen, but admits that looking good is just "part of [her] job".
In fact, she takes her work so seriously, that she gets her hair done every two weeks!
The star has also revealed that although she enjoys getting glammed-up for work, she prefers to go without make-up when not on duty.
"Just being able to touch my face and rub my eyes and my fingers in my hair and not having to worry about messing it up. It's so much better




http://www.talkofnaija.com/news/jennifer-lopez-named-most-beautiful-woman-world

PoliticsRe: Rmd And Kefee Quarrel Over Great Ogboru's Campaign Song by Kennyblues(m): 8:58am On Apr 15, 2011
Don't we have freedom of association again in this country?
SportsRe: Who In Your Opinion Would Most Likely Win The 2011 Fifa World Player Of The Year by Kennyblues(m): 4:50pm On Apr 14, 2011
cr7
PoliticsI’m The Symbol Of Pdp In Lagos- Bode George by Kennyblues(op): 10:53am On Apr 13, 2011
BY DAPO AKINREFON
CHIEF Olabode Ibikunle George, is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State. During the rescheduled National Assembly elections held last week, Chief George bared his mind on issues bordering on the recent defection of some PDP stalwarts to the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, his incarceration and the infighting in the state chapter of the party. Excerpts:

Would you say that PDP in Lagos State is prepared for this election?

Very prepared. It is not only when you see adverts in the newspapers, the base of the pyramid are the downtrodden and we have appealed to their hearts and minds. The people have found that they are the employers of those elected and not the other way round. With all the harsh pressures on the people, how do you get them to vote for you? The middle and upper class are crushing under the heavy weight of taxation; so, it is obvious to the people.

What is your take on comments that some PDP leaders were angry that you are responsible for the division in the party?

You know people who were admitted to the PDP came from the Alliance for Democracy, AD. They are not used to the culture of the party; they came from a party which is undemocratic.

What of Wahab Dosunmu and Adeseye Ogunlewe?

They are the same, they both came from there. Remember, they jumped ship from the time they were in the Senate. That is the kind of character they exhibit; they refuse to learn the ropes, they want to be the big boys. But in this kind of game, you bid your time, grow with the party and learn the culture of the party. They cannot impose their own culture on the party.

Of course I was the symbol and I am still the symbol of the party in Lagos. Honesty of purpose, commitment and loyalty, they don’t have it. They don’t even understand these two words: loyalty and commitment, that is why they are junketing. They think they can just come through the back door and hit the roof top, it does not work that way.

Seriki came from the same back ground. You see when you come from the background of the AD, where one man selects and puts you in a position at his own whims and caprices, you cannot do that in the PDP. Why did he (Seriki) jump ship? He tried to be the governorship candidate but lost, he feels he is now an acting big man.

But you have been accused of imposing Dosunmu…

But you people (press) covered the primaries. It is like saying that we imposed President Jonathan, did you not watch the primaries live? Was the Lagos State primary done in secret like the other parties? So, how could you say we imposed? I was not even there, I was in prison and the people decided. In terms of education background, in terms of intellect, service, exposure, academic laurels, he is the best. Which of them matches him?. People can decide on what they want to do and what they want to say, but for me, it does not make sense.

While in prison, you were said said to be the defacto PDP leader in Lagos?

That is what happens to most political leaders, if you are worthy of yourself as a leader, no matter where you are, people will gravitate towards you. When Papa Awolowo was in prison, what happened? When Mandela was in prison, what happened?

But people have argued that you cannot equate yourself with Mandela and Awolowo because they were political prisoners while you are not.

You don’t think that I was a political prisoner? Do you know what we were charged with? Was Papa Awolowo not charged with treason? What is treason by the Nigerian Constitution? Is it not felony? Those who are saying that, are talking out of malice and out of very little knowledge of the history of this country.

Papa Awolowo was charged with treasonable felony, if you remember, what was Mandela charged for, was it not criminal? We were accused of not following government’s regulation, secondly that we split contracts. It was the Lagos State Attorney-General and the Lagos State Government that convicted us for an offence that is supposed to be an offence at the federal level. So, if we don’t see political connotation in that, then, I don’t understand what you mean. We are waiting, we want the constitution of this country to be interpreted.

People like the former President Olusegun Obasanjo said you should not have been celebrated after your freedom, what do you say that?

That is Baba’s (Obasanjo’s) opinion and I have said that because of our culture, I will not take him on in the public.To me, that statement was uncalled for, I have said it before. I wish him the best of luck. I won’t say more than that. The charges are in the public domain, they did not say we stole any money, they did not say money from NPA was missing. It is not a matter of say: Where is N100 billion in a Federal government corporation? Does the board chairman, who is a part time chairman, have access to even the banks? Do we run the place on a daily basis? These is simple logic.

But it was the EFCC and not Lagos State Government that charged you?

Under which law? EFCC prosecuted me as chairman of a federal parastatal with the laws of Lagos State. What were we charged with? Were we charged with the laws of Federal Government? The Executive Director (Finance) was not arraigned, the Executive Director (Engineering) who brought the memo was not arraigned; so it is Bode George, who is a part time chairman, brought to Lagos State to be prosecuted. If it is not political, then what is it? I am not afraid of these jokers at my age. I was brought up in the Christian tenets that whatever you sow you would reap.

What are the chances of PDP in Lagos State?

We have appealed to the hearts and minds of the people, they have heard. Whatever comes out will be their decision. What we are saying is let the people’s will prevail. If they now want to manipulate that will, then, they are looking for trouble.


http://www.nigeriamasterweb.com/

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