₦airaland Forum

Ibori Latest: UAE Seizes His Passport; UK Sources Say Extradition Still On Course

Posted: April 3, 2011 - 16:04


By SaharaReporters, New York

SaharaReporters’s story yesterday about a sudden “medical release” granted James Ibori, the troubled former governor of Delta State, may have thrown a spanner into his get-out-of-Dubai scheme. United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities today seized his passport to frustrate any quick escape from Dubai.

Details of the "medical release" granted Ibori, who is awaiting extradition to the United Kingdom from the UAE, are emerging. SaharaReporters has learnt that the shady process involved Ibori depositing a huge amount of cash as "surety" for himself, an unprecedented legal maneuver.

SaharaReporters checks today indicate that Ibori remains in Dubai, although he did perfect his release papers at about 5:00 p.m. UAE local time on Saturday. However, his accomplices in Nigeria and the UAE are said to be desperate to get him out at all cost, the very purpose behind the dubious medical bail granted him.

UK sources today refused to discuss individual extradition cases, but a source within the UK diplomatic corps told a SaharaReporters correspondent they were shocked Ibori was able to acquire any form of release, no matter how limited. He denied they were consulted by the UAE authorities regarding this development.

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/ibori-latest-uae-seizes-his-passport-uk-sources-say-extradition-still-course

Ibori “Released” ; May Return To Nigeria

Posted: April 2, 2011 - 19:16

By SaharaReporters, New York

James Onanefe Ibori , who is known to be awaiting extradition to the United Kingdom to face money-laundering charges, may already be a free man following the intervention of the Government of Nigeria, a source in the Nigeria government said today.

Another source in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said today that Ibori had been allowed to move to a hospital facility to treat a “heart condition” but the Nigeria government source told SaharaReporters described that as a ruse to grant Ibori time to sort out his release and plot the immediate future. He is expected to return to Nigeria as a “hero”.

The source noted that in the past few months, Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, has paid at least eight secret trips to the United Kingdom on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, to negotiate Ibori’s release.

SaharaReporters has previously reported that Mr. Jonathan, working with Ibori’s cousin and Governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, was negotiating with the UK to have Ibori returned to Nigeria rather than be extradited to the UK to face money laundering charges similar to the ones that have so far sent his wife, sister, lawyer one mistress and other accomplices to jail in that country.

UK Home Office sources told SaharaReporters that Ibori has lately engaged in various legal ploys to remain permanently in Dubai, where he was picked up by Interpol last year before two courts in the UAE ruled that he be extradited to the UK to face charges of money-laundering.

As previously revealed by SaharaReporters, Ibori exploited another legal loophole in the UAE a few weeks ago by deliberately engaging in real estate fraud. Sources said Ibori and his lawyers voluntarily admitted to engaging in a mortgage transaction malfeasance that, by design, saw him beginning a new round of legal trials in the UAE.

The UAE extradition treaty, as amended, requires that once an extradition candidate commits any offense in the UAE, that offense must first be discharged before the accused person can be transferred.

Taking advantage of this provision, Ibori apparently decided he could help his own cause with layers of offences. It was while he was awaiting trial for the so-called mortgage fraud that he began to orchestrate a sudden “medical condition,” claiming his health had deteriorated immensely.




A source told the story of his Dubai release as this: "He (Ibori) was granted what a judge referred to as “medical reprieve,” a semi-bail condition that permits him easier living conditions within a medical facility. In his new location, Ibori will enjoy a telephone and fewer restrictions."

All of this provided time for the negotiations between President Jonathan and the current government of the UK, which is not as interested in Nigeria, or in the Ibori matter, as the previous Labor government of Mr. Tony Blair.

To underscore the hush-hush nature of Ibori's so called “medical release,” his media aide, Tony Eluemunor, today sent a media guide to select journalists saying, "Dear Colleagues, I am not issuing a statement yet. But owing to a deluge of inquiries about Ibori in Dubai, please find here the bare facts that could inform your reportage. Please don't quote me as I did not issue any statement officially. Thanks.”

He then wrote, "It appears some reprieve has come the way of the embattled former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, in Dubai at the weekend, though details were still sketchy at press time. It was gathered that the United Arab Emirate authorities may have been swayed by Ibori’s deteriorating health conditions and thus granted him access needed to provide himself with adequate health care.”

That seems to be coded language meant to prepare sympathetic insiders for a blockbuster statement about Ibori about his return to Nigeria, which may already have happened.


If and when Ibori returns to Nigeria, the EFCC is expected to "arrest and prosecute" him for money laundering.

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/ibori-%E2%80%9Creleased%E2%80%9D-may-return-nigeria

8:54 Keffi, Nassarawa State: Ebiti Ndok, the only female presidential candidate, is in detention in Keffi following a court order. She is accused of presenting a dud cheque and is to remain in detention until after presidential polls.

9:06am Amuwo Odofin, Lagos: Generally, the mood in Amuwo is peaceful. Nothing unusual. Some women seen frying Akaras, a group of youth gather at a viewing centre to watch TV, two men clear the grasses in front of their house. At the polling unit in Monkey Village, Maza Maza, an elderly couple who turned up early complain about INEC's unseriousness. "My plan was to come early, get accredited, then come back later to vote. I cannot stay here till afternoon just because I want to vote," said the elderly man.

9:07am, Ikorodu: People are waiting at PU24/12/05/039, no sign of INEC officials.

9:14am Obio/Akpor LGA, Rivers: INEC officials yet to arrive at PU 32/15/17/007.

9: 15am Kastina State: As early as 8am Kastina INEC headquarters scanty. No electoral staff seen yet. A score of security officials and a few residents are outside the premises checking list of voters posted on the wall.

9:15am, Isheri/Ojodu, Ogun State: Polling material and INEC staff yet to arrive at Isheri/Ojodu Ward 5 Ifo local. Party agents and corps member who spent the night at a police station for safety are awaiting the arrival of INEC officials.

9:19am Kubwa, Abuja FCT: Still no sign of INEC official in any polling booth as officers of police, civil defence and FRSC all waiting endlessly.


9:21 am LadyLak, Bariga, Lagos: Accreditation process about to start.

9:21 am, Cameron Road, Ikoyi: No INEC offical, voters are earnestly waiting.

9:30 am Obawole ,Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos : No INEC official at PU:24/10/06/010. Police and voters are waiting on the field.

9:38 am, Oyo State: Senatorial election fro Oyo central not holding today due to shortage of materials.


9:40am: Akute, Ogun State: Accreditation yet to commence at Akute, Ajuwon, Olambe and Oke Aro in Ifo local council in Ogun State.

Report Yourself On Election Day!
Posted: April 2, 2011 - 01:49

Report yourself

SR

Dear Citizen Reporters: We owe ourselves a patriotic duty to record the national legislative elections today with every technology available to us.

SaharaReporters, we will be processing and broadcasting the information from you all to the world by way of regular updates on the website-www.saharareporters.com.

We encourage you to send your short and concise reports with geolocational information as a text/photo/audio/video and every other documentary evidence applicable.

Send your election reports to the following channels:-

1. Skype Id: Saharareporters

2. Text to +16467701291

3. Emails to :publisher@saharareporters.com,




4. Voice calls to: +1718-577-1398.

5.Twitter: Saharareporters; hashtags: #saharareporters

6. Become a SaharaReporters fan on Facebook to get updates

We urge you to march on and reclaim your electoral dignity of our time.

This message supercedes, nullifies, and renders any other counter orders and /or by the incoherent agencies of government who might working hard to steal your votes. May the force be with you all!

REPORT YOURSELF!

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/report-yourself-election-day

National Assembly election update
April 2, 2011 08:52AM
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7:30am: With accreditation of voters scheduled to commence by 8am,there is no sign of INEC officials at some of the polling centres in Ilupeju.

7:40am Ilupeju, Lagos: Police officers from Ilupeju police Station started moving to various polling centres in the area. No INEC staff yet.

8:05 am Ward 9, Oyibo LG, Rivers State: No accreditation process going on.

8:07 am Uyo, Akwa- Ibom State: The atmosphere in Uyo is calm and people are getting ready to be accredited.

8:15am Ilupeju, Lagos: A youth identified as Sunday on Adeshiyan Street close to a polling centre causes a scene, says name was removed from the list of ACN accredited agents.

8:17am Amuwo Odofin, Lagos: A couple of police officers at the polling unit on Iyekantan street , Kuje Amuwo. Electoral officers yet to arrive.

8:20am, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos: At the Moradeyo Polling booth, two police officers just arrived, about 5 voters, no INEC.

8:23am Alausa, Lagos: Three police officer per polling unit in Alausa, but INEC officials are yet to arrive 23 minutes after accreditation was supposed to have started.

8: 25am: INEC officials arrive in Fola - Agoro, Lagos. accreditation process is yet to start.

8:28am, Ikoyi, Lagos: No INEC official at polling unit PU24/08/09/109.

8:30am Ikorodu, Lagos: Thirty minutes behind schedule, no INEC official has arrived at any polling point in Ikorodu when voters accreditation should have commenced @8am. Roads and open space have been converted into fields as youth play football across Ikorodu.

8:40am Amuwo Odofin, Lagos: A heated debate on whether it is right/wrong to receive money from aspirants to vote them at the Polling unit Iyekantan Street. he solitary police officer there looks uninterested. No INEC staff.

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reader comments (11)



Posted by paquito bites on Apr 02 2011
go wake them up we do not want a hitch.


Posted by Elijah on Apr 02 2011
My place here in ibafo ,ogun s tate,nothin yet o.


Posted by Joseph Bello on Apr 02 2011
Also in Owerri,there are no INEC officials in any of the voting centres.


Posted by Gradient on Apr 02 2011
I in particular and Nigerians at large is watching


Posted by Joseph Bello on Apr 02 2011
here in owerri nothing yet and we have not seen any of the officials.


Posted by ndudim on Apr 02 2011
even in lafia nasarawa state no sign of inec


Posted by Booquie on Apr 02 2011
No shaking, this na African Time 101; dem go show up.


Posted by Babs on Apr 02 2011
They are here now in my area in Fola-Agoro, but they haven't sat down to start accreditation


Posted by 'kole on Apr 02 2011
hop Jega is pullin an April Fool. guess d process shd be ok. we r still growing


Posted by Manli on Apr 02 2011
African time will never stop in nigeria,mayb change in government will also change our attitude, we need 2 chang e dis government


Posted by common sense on Apr 02 2011
i need updates from badagry and Ota, pleaseeeeeeeee


http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5686962-146/national_assembly_election_update__.csp

Osun farmers get N.15b loan

Soji Adeniyi, Osogbo 01/04/2011 01:01:00

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday approved N153 million loan to farmers.

One thousand, four hundred and fifty eight farmers under 65 cooperative societies benefited from the gesture, tagged: "Quick Impact Intervention Programme on Agriculture."

The beneficiaries will get between N500,000 and N3 million.

Handing over the cheque to the Managing Director of the Bank of Agricultural Development, Dr. Mohammed Turaki, Aregbesola urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the money.

He said his administration had acquired 30 hectares for mechanised farming across the 30 local governments.

The governor assured farmers that the state government would buy and market their products.

Aregbesola said his government, in collaboration with the Nigeria Railway Corporation, would transport their farm produce at no cost.

He said the government would soon establish an international food market in Osogbo, the state capital.

http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/32457.html

ACN urges EFCC, ICPC to probe PDP’s N9.6b campaign funds

Sunday Omoniyi and Ologun Sanni, Abuja 28/03/2011 00:49:00

•Party dismisses allegation


The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of using kickback funds creamed off the proceeds of a rice waver to funds its campaign for next month’ elections.

The party, in a statement issued in Ilorin, Kwara State, yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the PDP-controlled Federal Government granted a duty concession on the importation of 500,000 metric tons of rice (10 million bags) to what it called an unscrupulous firm, and then received as kickback N9.6 billion, representing two-thirds of the clearing charges, which the party has been using to fund its electioneering campaign.

In addition, it said, the waiver - which can only be granted by the President - resulted in a loss to the Federation Account of N14.5 billion in duty, surcharge, CISS, ECOWAS fee, rice levy and clearing charges, while also causing a distortion in the economy by putting the rice market in disarray.

Challenging PDP to deny these claims, ACN called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate this act of corruption and economic sabotage, for its corrosive effects on the economy and the general elections.

Explaining the details of the duty concession, the party said after the Federal Government gave duty concession to some unknown oil companies, to import 500,000 metric tons of rice, the companies then hawked the concession to an unscrupulous rice importer, with a gratification payment of two-thirds of the import duty payable, which was then given to the PDP for electioneering campaign at the detriment of the country and other rice importers who have paid correct duty on their own importation as stipulated by law.

‘’Genuine importers of rice are now unable to sell their rice with a landing cost of N7,000 per bag at the current price of N6,000 per bag - the price at which the importer that received the waiver from the government is selling. Consequently, these genuine importers who employ thousands of people have been forced to lay off their workers as they face huge bank loans.

‘’Furthermore, the public is being denied the opportunity of buying high quality rice because of the price differential between the rice imported under the duty concession, which is of inferior quality, and the various brands of high quality rice brought in by genuine importers.

‘’This deal (duty concession), which we warned against in a statement last year, has exposed the unpatriotic attitude of the PDP and its bigwigs, their win-at-all cost mentality and their disposition to corrupt practices and other acts that are detrimental to the economy of the country,’’ the ACN said.

But the PDP described ACN’s allegation as wild.

The Director of Media and Publicity of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Mallam Abba Daboh, said: "I will say it is another wild allegation. Rubbish. Another wild, wild ACN allegation. They are clinging at straws again. I see it as another allegation of the ACN that it has become infamous for without recourse to finding any decent way to defend it. I dismiss the allegation in its entirety."

http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/32063.html

Parade Oyo voter register fraudsters, Ajimobi urges IG

Monday, 28 March 2011

The Ajimobi Campaign Organisation has charged the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, to parade suspects arrested in the voter register fraud in Oyo State recently.

The campaign organisation said in a statement issued by its Director of Publicity, Mr Yanju Adegbite, that there was an alleged cover-up between the government and the police to ensure that the suspects were let off the hook.

The organisation said that the government, in spite of the denials of many of its functionaries that the PDP-led government did have a hand in the fraud, was actually neck-deep in the fraud and a parade of the suspects would put a lie to all the PDP denials.

According to the statement, the PDP was merely crying wolf about alleged plan of the ACN in the state to cause chaos when it was a known fact all over that the Adebayo Alao-Akala government in the state was the mastermind of present and past “electoral machinations in Oyo State.”

The gubernatorial candidate also urged the PDP to “go beyond the realm of sophistries and allegations and name who in Oyo ACN was planning to cause chaos and how, without necessarily shouting for shouting sake.”

The campaign organisation also alleged that the PDP was planning to use state government ambulances to convey thugs/hoodlums during the election period.

“We want the security agencies to be on the alert and do their jobs diligently. We believe that the security agencies are ordinarily unbiased and will remain like that during the forthcoming elections.”

“ Members of the public are also advised to be vigilant, especially when they sight any ambulance during the elections,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the ACN gubernatorial candidate in the state, has urged Nigerians to carry out an integrity check on all the candidates, in order to ensure that corruptible individuals are not voted into office.

Addressing some professionals and intellectuals in Ibadan on Sunday, Senator Ajimobi said that only candidates with good track records and exemplary leadership skills can save the country, especially Oyo State, from her deplorable state.

He pointed out that his administration, if voted into power, will ensure the monthly publications of all government financial transactions in national dailies, in order to eradicate shady deals and corrupt activities.

Senator Ajimobi said, “it is only candidates with good integrity, credibility, selfless service and masses-oriented vision, good intention and commitments that can move Oyo State forward and take it to its rightful position as indeed a pacesetter.

“Government is about service to the people. One should not be in government and allow the people to suffer. We should always be ready to alleviate their sufferings and let them feel the impact of government.

“I am ready to serve and make Oyo State better. The citizens will benefit immensely from ACN government in the state and Oyo State itself will wear a new, better and improved look,” Senator Ajimobi added.

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/19565-parade-oyo-voter-register-fraudsters-ajimobi-urges-ig

PDP plots last minute strategy

Monday, 28 March 2011 00:44 Suleiman M. Bisalla & Muideen Olaniyi


President Goodluck Jonathan met at the weekend with the governors of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and top members of his campaign council where they reviewed their options and planned key strategies ahead of next month’s general elections.


The meeting which took place at the presidential villa in Abuja on Friday ended at about 12 midnight and was said to have reviewed the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) plans for the elections and the challenges posed by the opposition before and during the elections.


A source at the meeting told Daily Trust that top leaders and ‘fixers’ within the party said that they were not comfortable with INEC and many of the measures being adopted by the electoral body.

The source said the meeting resolved that PDP “must win” the election, a challenge which President Jonathan allegedly emphasised to the meeting.

Part of the plan agreed, said the source, was to ensure that the governors get adequate funds ahead of the elections. The president was said to have agreed to disburse what is left of the excess crude account this week.

It would be recalled that over N1 billion from the account was disbursed before the primary elections of the various political parties, leaving N300 million dollars in the account.

Due to what is seen to be the fire walls built around INEC, Daily Trust learnt, the meeting considered other options, especially when some governors raised alarm over what they called the use of violence by opposition parties to intimidate PDP.

One governor from the Northeast zone was said to have complained that the opposition “knows that they are going to lose the election so they are resorting to violence” while another from North-central advised that it would not be in the party’s interest to spare trouble shooters.

Following this and the INEC challenge, the PDP leaders reportedly decided to focus their attention on security which is within the purview of the presidency. They planned on how to utilise that to enhance their electoral success.

“INEC rules will be respected,” Daily Trust source said, explaining, however, that armed policemen have to be deployed some meters away from the polling units as that will be normal police duty. But the source said the police may eventually be useful.

INEC’s guidelines have prohibited unaccredited policemen, including those attached to governors and other top government functionaries, from coming near polling units.

It would also be recalled that the PDP only reluctantly signed INEC’s code of conduct which the other political parties participating in the election signed a fortnight ago.

When contacted yesterday for comments over the president’s Friday meeting with the PDP governors, the PDP National Publicity Secretary Professor Rufa’i Ahmed Alkali neither confirmed nor denied the conduct of the meeting.

He however explained that the party could not be expected to be revealing its strategies ahead of next month’s elections considering the activities of the party’s “desperate opponents”.

He said: “I want to remind you that the general election is around the corner and PDP is a major stakeholder in the forthcoming election. You should remember also that we have opponents who are desperate. I do not think it is tactically correct for us to be making noise about our plan for election. If there is any need for us to speak, we shall speak at the appropriate time”.

http://dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14947:pdp-plots-last-minute-strategy&catid=2:lead-stories&Itemid=8

ACN, CPC back Jega on vote counting at polling units
By Niyi Odebode, Olamilekan Lartey

Monday, 28 Mar 2011



The Action Congress of Nigeria and the Congress for Progressive Change have expressed their support for the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to allow voters witness the counting of votes at polling centres.


But the ruling Peoples Democratic Party faulted the decision, saying it was not only dangerous, but that it contradicted Section 62 (2) of the amended Electoral Act 2011.


The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had a week ago told civil society groups in Abuja that voters would be allowed to stay till the end of voting to witness the counting of votes.


Jega explained that under the new system, accreditation of voters would start at 8am and end at 12noon. He added that before voting, the actual number of accredited voters would be determined.


He stated that the result of a polling unit would be annulled, if the number of votes cast exceeded the number of accredited voters.


But last Friday, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, said voters would only be allowed to “stay at a reasonable distance from the voting centres.”


“I want to assure all Nigerians that every vote will count. But we will not allow a situation where people will vote, stay around and cause problems,” Ringim said during his meeting with assistant inspectors- general of police and commissioners of police in Abuja.


In the elections conducted since 1999, voters were asked to leave the polling units after casting their votes.


Reacting to the development, the CPC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Fashakin, said INEC had the final say on the procedure for the 2011 elections. The party said that it would abide by INEC’s instructions and direct its supporters to act accordingly. voters during the elections.


Also, the National Publicity Secretary of the ACN, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said INEC’s latest directive was the best under the present circumstance.


He argued that with the decision, the electorate would be able to police votes and reduce electoral fraud.


Mohammed said, “This is a welcome decision. Let voters stay and protect their votes. This is the best for the system at the moment. You see, the electorate must know the results and go home with the knowledge of how the result went in their respective polling units.


“This again, too should make the Police be on the alert to protect the people. If everybody is waiting to hear the results of the units where they have voted there will be little room for violence. Since voting will start and end at the same time, I think it will create room for better policing of the peoples votes cast.”


However, the Director of Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Mallam Abba Dabo, accused Jega of pandering to the wish of the CPC.


He said, “Jega should tell us what Paragraph 62 (2) of the amended Electoral Act 2011 says. What is the provision of that section? Does it say that voters should wait after casting their votes?”


Quoting the section, Dabo said, “After the declaration of the close of polls, no voter already inside the polling unit shall be permitted to remain in the polling unit unless otherwise authorised under this Act.”


“Clearly, those who vote are supposed to leave the polling unit. Jega is attempting to legalise the slogan of the CPC. That is a very dangerous development .


“The CPC has adopted a slogan. It has been asking people to remain at polling units after voting and even cause some actions to be taken. Even the leader of the party has been saying that people should lynch or kill whoever they think is tampering with votes.


“If Jega decides to ignore section 62 (2) what he is doing in effect is attempting to adopt the slogan of the CPC as that of INEC. It is quite unfortunate. We are interested in following the rules as agreed to by all. These rules as agreed to by all are in the amended electoral act 2011.”


He said that Jega’s position was a recipe for chaos, adding that the PDP was uncomfortable with it.


ACN youths had converged on Abuja on Wednesday to map out strategies to prevent rigging during the general elections which commence on April 2.


At the meeting, the party said it would not tolerate “incidents of massive vote theft, snatching of ballot boxes and falsification and alteration of election results right from the polling units.”


The ACN added that it would not allow what happened in 2007 to repeat itself.


The party’s National Youth Leader, Mr. Miriki Ebikibina, explained that the meeting was to strategise ahead of the challenges of the general elections.


Ebikibina said it was part of the preparation and demonstration of the ACN’s readiness for the election.


“We are going to strategise on how to enthrone a strict compliance for free, fair and credible polls at all levels,” he said.


He said the ACN was concerned about the deteriorating political situation ahead of the elections.


“With the April elections just by the corner, it is worrisome and disheartening to note the unacceptable level of political violence, killings and unnecessary intimidation of opposition parties by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, especially candidates and members of the ACN across the country. It is condemnable and speaks volume of a failed government.” Ebikibina said.


Also at the meeting, the ACN’s Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. Wale Oshin, said, “You must know that no candidate, whether councillor or governor, would allow his own children or member of his family to be used as thugs.”


The party said it would take the crusade for change to all the nooks and crannies of the country to sensitise and galvanise the support of the people through young people.


In a related development, the CPC said it had established voter vigilance groups to protect votes at the all levels of the elections.


Spokesman for the CPC presidential candidate, Maj.-Gen. Buhari, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said the idea behind the voter vigilance groups was to ensure that voters were galvanised to defend their votes the way neighborhoods protected their communities against armed robbers.


“The voter vigilance is to monitor every stage of voting in every booth, every polling unit up to INEC office, to the national secretariat,” he said.


The CPC said it had introduced vote canvassers at the ward level to assist the party build the consciousness that would protect the party’s votes.

http://punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201103283304443

Buhari, Ribadu in fresh gang-up against Jonathan

HeadlinesMar 28, 2011

By EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor & ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

ABUJA – THE 2011 presidential contest, weekend, inched towards more suspense following renewed secret efforts by opposition candidates to mount a united front against President Goodluck Jonathan, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.



Vanguard learnt from authoritative sources that the outcome of this weekend’s National Assembly elections would form the basis of choosing between Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, who would wear the common mantle of the opposition.
President Jonathan on his part was unrelenting. After ending his open campaign for votes at the Abuja Grand Finale rally on Saturday, the President immediately resorted to dialogue with critical stakeholders through the constitution of 15 committees expected to fan out to critical segments of the society where support for Jonathan has not been totally consolidated.
First ballot
It was gathered that while the President was confident of winning the race at the first ballot, he was, however, becoming concerned on building a legacy framed on a free and fair contest.
Vanguard was told that Jonathan was equally not giving up on bringing fellow presidential contenders in the PDP, President Ibrahim Babangida, Atiku Abubakar and Gen. Aliyu Gusau on board.
The gestures towards the three aspirants were irrespective of insinuations, weekend, in Abuja that Babangida, Atiku and Gusau were now covertly supporting the Buhari campaign.
The three were part of the Northern Political Leaders Forum, NPLF, scheme to realize a Northern presidential candidate for the PDP.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Research, Documentation and Strategy, Mr. Oronto Douglas, said yesterday: “President Jonathan is not the one to say he is closing his doors to dialogue especially when it concerns Nigeria.”
While noting the President’s determination to bring everybody on board, Douglas played down speculations that the President spurned an agreement desired by the NPLF to coerce him to name the zone that would succeed him.
He said the President was not one that would allow the common destiny of Nigeria to be so determined in an undemocratic and closeted manner, adding that the committees would be bringing fresh air to smoothen the President’s election.
Campaign of ideas
Douglas said: “What is happening is that a massive campaign of ideas has been launched as the second phase of the 2011 campaign. His campaign is now moving from zone to zone, state to state, local government to local government, neighbour to neighbour and door to door and because Jonathan emerged from the grassroots, he has returned once again to the grassroots with a view to uplifting the grass roots to the rooftops of rapid development, equity and justice.”
In affirming that the President would win more than 70 per cent of the votes and would not need a run_off, he said the voting pattern at the primaries showed that the President won 53 per cent of the votes from the Northwest and coasted to victory in four out of the seven states of the region.
He said: “From all the analysis, internal and external, it has become clear to us that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan will win the presidential election by as much as 75 percent of the total votes cast. You don’t need to look too far to see where the opinion polls are pointing towards.”
On the patriotic inclinations of IBB, Atiku and Gusau, he expressed hope that the erstwhile presidential gladiators would come aboard the Jonathan/Sambo campaign train, adding: “IBB, Gusau and Atiku desire the good governance of Nigeria and will never exclude themselves from good.”
Jonathan can win without North West – Yakassai
Meanwhile, the President’s campaign efforts were being boosted by the seeming support for stability in the polity from Kano elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakassi, who until recently was a known opponent of President Jonathan’s election bid.
Yakassi, weekend, affirmed that the President could win the contest without the Northwest. In an interview with a local radio station in Kano, Pyramid Radio, Yakassi, noted that the reality on ground favoured the PDP flag bearer.
He said: “It will be easy for him to win without the North West. As it stands now, if Jonathan goes ahead to win 25 per cent of the total votes cast in the 17 Southern states, what is left for him is to get similar percentage in just seven states of the North, and he wins.”
Meanwhile, apprehensive of the seeming momentum for Jonathan, Vanguard learnt that the opposition, was articulating a last minute initiative to stop the President.
At the centre of the plan is to field a common presidential candidate from the North. The CPC and ACN who both have Northern presidential candidates, it was learnt, have bought into the scheme which is to be concretized after the National Assembly elections.
A reliable senior official in one of the two parties said: “The National Assembly polls will show which of the parties is stronger on the ground and it is based on this that we will now ask one of the candidates to step down.”
The Director of Media in the Nuhu Ribadu Campaign Organisation, Mallam Ibrahim Modibo, also confirmed the ongoing arrangement. He told Vanguard on the road to Jalingo where Ribadu is holding a presidential campaign rally today: “It is not ruled out and it would be wonderful if we are able to present a common candidate.”
President appeals to Islamic leaders
Meanwhile President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, in Kaduna appealed to Islamic leaders and scholars under the auspices of the National Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar 111, on the need to continue to educate their members to seek peace and stability in the country, noting that Nigerians tend to listen more to religious and traditional leaders more than they do their political leaders.
Speaking at the well attended meeting with the eminent Islamic leaders across the country, President Jonathan said: “We have to revere and rely on our religious leaders because it is you that will tell the people the truth.
You are holding unique offices and so you are the only ones that can talk to Nigerians to avoid chaos during the elections.”
President Jonathan who apologized for not meeting the leaders and clerics before embarking on his nationwide campaign earlier solicited for their prayers and counsel to guarantee the much needed peaceful co-existence amongst Nigerians particularly as the elections were around the corner.
He said nobody should carry weapons to kill or maim people in the name of politics arguing that no country can develop in the midst of crisis and that crisis will scare away investors.
Pursuit of power stability
President Jonathan assured the leaders that if renewed, his government will vigorously pursue power stability as well as revitalize the irrigation projects through the introduction of modern farming equipment.
While condemning the recent killings and destruction of property in Akwa Ibom, he assured that his government will give priority to security of lives and property.
He said: “Due to my humble background, I should be the last person to put bumps on people’s paths, I will never do anything to stop anybody from expressing himself.”
The Sultan of Sokoto Muhammed Sa’ad Abubabar III, said muslims in the country were concerned about ways of tackling the incessant political/religious crisis in the country and the way forward.
He said: “As a leader I am only the mouthpiece of all Muslims in the country. All Muslim leaders are very serious about leadership in the country and our belief is that it is Almighty Allah that gives leadership to whom he bestowed.”
Sultan Abubakar commended President Jonathan for reaching out to all religious and traditional rulers and other groups across the country, saying he was the first to do so urging him not to relent.
Islamic leaders present at the meeting were the Emirs of Kano, Zazzau, Katsina, Shehu of Borno and prominent Islamic scholars across the country.
Also present were Ministers of Science and Technology, Transport, National Planning and Agriculture as well as ministers of state, Defence and Power.
Acting PDP chairman, Dr Haliru Bello and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed and presidential aides were also present.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/03/buhari-ribadu-in-fresh-gang-up-against-jonathan/

Fire razes Aregbesola’s office
NewsMar 27, 2011

FIRE has destroyed documents and equipment in Osun Govenor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s office in Osogbo. The fire which occurred weekend affected some offices in the executive chamber, burnt vital government documents and office equipment.
The timely arrival of some artisans working in the building, saved the day. The artisans were said to have noticed smoke from one of the offices and called security men.
The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, was said to be among the first callers at the scene of the incident and personally monitored the operation of the fire men.
Oyetola told newsmen shortly after the fire was put out that neither the extent of damage nor the cause of the fire could be ascertained.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/03/fire-razes-aregbesolas-office/

Former minister Seriki, others defect to ACN

Headlines, NewsMar 27, 2011

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Lagos State has suffered a major set-back , Sunday, when some of its stalwarts , led by former Minister of State for Defence, Mr Demola Seriki, Alhaji Lanre Rasaq, Mr. Tunde Salau, Mr.Wale Ahmed amongst others defected and declared for Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN saying that PDP is a dead party.
They accused PDP chieftain, Chief Olabode George, popularly called “Lagos boy” of being the one behind the party’s woes, and using criminal tactics to rule the party in the state.
The defectors, who are eight in number with their teeming supporters at the ongoing ACN rally in Eti-Osa Local Government Area, described the PDP as filled with bunch of criminals, lacking in good political ideologies.
According to Seriki, who was also the gubernatorial aspirant in the last PDP primary in Lagos; “We have been in Lagos politics for awhile, there are lots of difference between Governor Babatunde Fashola and the so called Dosumu. We, the true indigenes of Lagos state, we know ourselves. Don’t let us throw away our votes…

Demola Seriki
“We have worked with the Federal government and now is the time to save Lagos State. They are playing politics with Lekki and its environs.
“I come from Bode’s ward, he can’t win his ward. PDP is dead and after the elections we will do the burial ceremony of PDP. The reason why we are defecting is that PDP is a non people friendly party. They have planned to destabilise Lagos State but we will tell them that Lagos belongs to all of us. The best of Fashola is yet to come.”
Alhaji Rasaq in his address said, Tinubu is doing wonders in Lagos, “let us follow good people and not irredeemable debtors.
“We don’t want criminals, we will not accept criminals, and will not follow criminals and criminals shall not be in charge of the state in Lagos.”
According to Wale Ahmed, ” I thank God that from today, I will no longer have to be defending the indefensible, I thank God almighty that from today I will no longer be justifying the unjustifiable as from today I will be in a position to celebrate good and responsible leadership.
When I was Publicity Secretary of PDP, I discovered that we always look for something to say but actually they have not done anything. I have been itching to be with Fashola and Asiwaju Tinubu. In their party they are more united unlike PDP who are irresponsible leaders, intolerant, they don’t want to create peaceful environment in the democratic setting.”
He described Tinubu as a visionary leader that brings up young people to occupy position of leadership, “bye -bye to PDP rubbish.”
Salau in his address also described Tinubu as a dynamic leaders who produced a wonderful leadership in Fashola who has provided an exemplary leadership. “I won’t deceive you the PDP they know this is a wonderful government and they wish they are part of us that are here today.
ACN chieftain, Senator Bola Tinubu in his speech welcomed the defectors into the fold even as he expressed confidence in their ability to work hard for the success of ACN in the coming elections.
Tinubu, however warned PDP whom he said were already fomenting troubles in different parts of the state to steer clear or meet their waterloo. “PDP will meet their match in Lagos.”
While addressing members of ACN at the rally, Governor Babatunde Fashola asked the electorates in the state to prepare adequately for the elections.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/03/former-minister-seriki-others-defect-to-acn/

April poll: Jega redeploys electoral officers

By John Alechenu

Sunday, 27 Mar 2011

Barely six days to the National Assembly poll, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has shuffled electoral officers across the country.


Leaders of most of the 63 registered political parties had at a meeting with the INEC Chairman on Wednesday, complained about the activities of some of the electoral officers.


They had alleged that some of them had been compromised by state governors and incumbent local government chairmen who were acting on behalf of some governors.


Jega had asked for proof, even as he promised that he would redeploy some electoral officers in a manner that would not be disruptive.


It was gathered that the redeployment was sequel to complaints lodged by a majority of the party leaders.


Confirming the development, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, said, “Yes some will receive their letters over the weekend.”


He gave no further details.


At Wednesday’s meeting, the National Chairman of Labour Party, Chief Dan Nwayanwu and the Chairman of African Liberation Party, Emmanuel Okereke, expressed fears about the credibility of some INEC officials.


They specifically, alleged that some state Resident Electoral Commissioners and members of their staff, especially electoral officers had remained in their post for close to 10 years.


This, they argued, had made some of them cannon fodder in the hands of governors to the disadvantage of opposition parties.


Jega had in response explained that it would be difficult to move RECs around in a manner that would not be disruptive, adding however that if they had proof against any REC he was ready to do what was necessary.


Giving a hint that he was prepared to shuffle other categories of workers, he said, “We will carry out the necessary redeployment of staff before the election but we will also ensure that it is not disruptive.”


Jega also assured the party leaders that issues that bordered on security implications were being handled by security operatives.


He said, “It will be too much a risk for someone to impersonate as a security agent.

http://punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201103272223651

Banky W, Eldee Boycott Goodluck Jonathan Concert

March 25, 2011 09:42AM

Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) boss, Bankole Wellington aka Banky W has announced that he would not be present at the Goodluck Jonathan concert scheduled to hold today in Abuja. The artist took to his Twitter account on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 to inform his followers that he would be committing himself to the ?What About Us? cause; a movement formed by respected youths to engage on public platforms, men and women aspiring to occupy government offices come April 2011 on their plans for the Nigerian youth. ‘‘4 the record I WILL NOT be performing @ the GEJ Concert in Abj on the 25th. I’ll be at d what about us debate’’, Banky W tweeted from his personal handle (@bankyw).

In the same vein producer-entertainer Lanre Dabiri popularly known as eLDee clearly disassociated himself from the Goodluck Jonathan campaign family on his Face book page the same day as Banky W did. Eldee who has been very involved with several advocacy groups wrote, in a note published on his Facebook account, that himself and a couple of other artists including D’banj, Tuface, M.I, P Square, Banky W, Duncan Mighty, Wizkid had earlier scheduled a similar concert tagged ?Our Time’ to sensitise the youth on the need to vote and most importantly guard their votes.According to the hip-hop star, the TV commercial shot for the ‘Our Time’ concert was altered and paraded as ‘Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s Presidential Campaign Concert’. This was followed up with a full-page newspaper advert in the Vanguard newspaper of Tuesday, March 22, 2011, displaying his picture and other aforementioned artists as headliners.

Now I was being touted as a representative of the youth in support of the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan presidential campaign. What’s even more interesting is that Silverbird TV ran this new advert before and after the Dbanj interview with Goodluck Jonathan, as if it were part and parcel of that GEJ campaign initiative’, eLDee wrote.

I have never, and even more so now will never be a part of any campaign for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, therefore please do not expect me to be at the supposed concert’.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/ArtsandCulture/x2/Entertainment/5685316-146/banky_w_eldee_boycott_goodluck_jonathan.csp

Akwa Ibom crisis: ACN demands IG’s resignation

Kamarudeen Ogundele and Sanni Ologun, Abuja 26/03/2011 02:11:00

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has asked the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Hafiz Ringim, to resign before next month’s general election, having shown that he cannot lead the police to be non-partisan at this critical stage in the election process.
In a statement issued in Ilorin, Kwara State on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also accused the police boss of blatantly disregarding court orders, a trend it described as dangerous for a top law enforcement officer and an invitation to anarchy.

It said the IGP exhibited gross partisanship in handling the pre-election violence in Akwa Ibom, hence cannot be trusted to lead his men to be neutral and fair during the polls.

The statement reads: ‘’The IGP is a major player in the collusion between the Akwa Ibom State Government and the Police to put away our gubernatorial candidate in the state, Senator John James Udoedehe, on flimsy and politically-motivated charges before the election, to give easy and undeserved victory to Gov. Godswill Akpabio, who knows he cannot win a free and fair election in the state.

‘’The IGP invited our candidate, Senator Udoedehe, to his office, only for him to detain the candidate and charge him to court for treasonable felony, despite a subsisting court order not only that Senator Udoedehe should not be arrested but that the police should give him protection from now till the end of the elections.

"The IGP, who was duly served with the orders of the court, willfully disregarded it, just to please his pay masters. Instead, he made a villain out of a victim. Where is the fairness in that, when Senator Udoedehe is the victim in the government-instigated violence? This is the way and manner the police under IGP Ringim have been behaving in the run-up to the elections.

"We are therefore left with no choice but to ask the IGP to step down, unless of course he wants to confirm the rumour that he was appointed specifically to work for a PDP victory at the polls.

‘’In the event that he fails to heed our call to resign, we call on the international election monitors now converging on the country to note the highly partisan role of the police under him. After all, election is a process while the voting day is just a part of the process.’’

The party also demanded the immediate release of Senator Udoedehe and an end to the intimidation of all ACN candidates and supporters in Akwa Ibom State, in the interest of peace and tranquility.

It expressed shock that the State Security Service (SSS) had joined the police in their acts of intimidation of the opposition, wondering why they would invite for questioning the attorney for Senator Udoedehe simply because he appeared on the TV to explain what happened in the Akwa Ibom crisis.

‘’The arrest of Senator Udoedehe is only the latest in a series of acts designed by the state government, acting in concert with the police, to put him away before the elections, just because of his immense popularity and acceptability by the people. The government has persistently used state machinery to suppress and persecute him. After they failed in their attempt to frame him for murder, they instigated this violence as a last resort.

‘’We have it on good authority that the government has compiled the list of all ACN leaders in the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom, which has been handed over to the state police commissioner – a close associate and crony of the governor. This is disturbing and unacceptable. The PDP cannot because of one election destroy Nigeria, considering that government-concocted violence

against the opposition is also pervasive in Kwara, Benue, Taraba and several other states.,’’ it said

ACN said the much ballyhooed promise of a free and fair elections by President Jonathan is looking and more like a mirage, against a backdrop of unbridled violence being perpetrated by his party and the partisanship of the security agencies, especially the police.

http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/31863.html

Osun ACN accuses FG, IG of aiding PDP

Soji Adeniyi, Osogbo. 26/03/2011 02:14:00


Action Congress of Nigeria in Osun State has accused the Federal Government and the police of supporting the People’s Democratic Party to unleash terror on innocent people in the state during their political campaign rallies.

Addressing a press conference at the party secretariat in Osogbo, Osun State, the party’s state acting chairman, Elder Adebiyi Adelowo, said the PDP in Osun State was delibately using the Federal Government’s backing for impunity to cause violence during their campaigns across the state.

The ACN chairman said the state police authorities had refused to make a single arrest in spite of complaints of myriads of attacks on the ACN members during their campaign rallies.

He alleged that the police had deliberately refused to cub the spate of violent attacks during political rallies in the state.

He cited the Omisore sponsored thugs’ attack on ACN supporters during their Oriade/Obokun campaign rally on March 22, 2011.

He accused the Inspector-General of Police of aiding the PDP by granting permit to the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidates without recourse to the officers on ground in the state and consequently resulting in the ACN and PDP holding their rallies same day.

Adelowo also accused the Federal Government of giving some soldiers to Senator Omisore, who were on his campaign train to intimidate the ACN members.

"On March 22, 2011, our Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency rally scheduled for Ibokun was botched by thugs belonging to one Senator Iyiola Omisore, PDP candidate for Osun East Senatorial District. Our candidate for the Federal Constituency, Barrister Nathaniel Agunbiade had obtained police permit and preparation were in top gear when word came that Omisore had been granted permission by the same police.

"Agunbiade made inquiries and was told that Omisore was granted the permit by the Inspector General of Police. Amazing as that revelation was, the shocker soon came when some people, apparently thugs but kitted in soldiers’ camouflage uniform were seen in all the towns and villages of the entire local government.

"To everybody’s amazement and consternation, these soldiers and thugs were seen removing posters of our candidates in the environment. If the IGP expressly gave Omisore permission to hold a rally without a recourse to his officers on ground, who gave ‘soldiers’ to him to tear the posters of our candidates? Most importantly, of what use are the soldiers in the course of campaign? If soldiers are engaged in election campaign, what will be used on the election day?" the ACN chairman asked.

The state police commissioner, Mr. Solomon Olusegun, in a press conference, denied the allegation that the police was backing the PDP in the state.

http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/31865.html

INEC bars govs, others from movement on election days

By Fidelis Soriwei, Abuja

Saturday, 26 Mar 2011



Unlike in previous national elections, the movement of all the 36 state governors, all political office holders and candidates of all the political parties would be restricted during the general polls in the country starting on April 2, 2011.


Mr. Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said on Friday in Abuja that such politicians would only be allowed to cast their votes in their respective polling stations after which they could go to their respective houses.


He said that political office holders would not be allowed to move from one poling unit to the other in the guise of monitoring the election, contrary to the practice in the past.


He said, “All these stakeholders are being accredited to enable them move around because actually on that day, as has been said, people, including politicians who are office holders, incumbent and all that, will not be allowed to move around.


“They will only be required to cast their votes and return home. There is no room for monitoring, going from one polling unit to the other. At all levels, people will cast their votes and go home.”


While the assembly polls hold on April 2, 2011 across the country, the presidential ballot is scheduled for April 9, and the governorship election holds on April 16.


SATURDAY PUNCH gathered that the commission had started receiving the first batch of ballot papers for the election.


Idowu said that the list of those accredited to monitor the election was being processed and was nearing completion.


He explained that while the list of the domestic monitors had been completed, that of their international counterparts was being compiled.


Idowu said that accredited media practitioners were being compiled and would be completed days before the elections took off.


“The list of domestic monitors is on the web site. Foreign monitors are known. And their list is also being compiled. The list of media practitioners is being compiled and will be completed close to the election because there will be restriction,” he added.


Idowu said that the commission had concluded arrangements to ensure the deployment of a vast number of ad hoc workers for election duties put at over 360,000.


He said that the 360,000 ad hoc workers were to be deployed to effectively man the 120,000 polling units across the country.


Idowu said that three ad hoc workers of INEC were expected to man each of the 120,000 polling units, while regular members of staff of INEC would be deployed to man the sub units.


“We have a minimum of 360,000. It will actually be more because you know, we have approximately, 120,000 polling units and each of those would be manned by three officials,” he said. “But we also have sub units that will be manned by members of staff and so it will be more than 360,000 and that is not to talk of the regular officials that will be deployed. So, it is such a huge number.”


Idowu assured Nigerians that INEC was ready to execute the task of giving Nigerians free and fair elections starting from April 2.


According to him, the preparedness of INEC for the election is not in doubt as the commission has made all the necessary arrangements.


He said “Well, INEC is very well prepared and the issue, actually for INEC, as the chairman said a couple of days ago, is whether all the other stakeholders are prepared. Virtually all things that need to be done have been done or are in the process of being done.


“The ballot papers have been printed and are being delivered. The polling units and voting arrangements have been put in place. Non-sensitive materials have been deployed to the states and will shortly be deployed to the local government and ward levels. Because for the first time for this election, the deployment on election eve would actually be from the ward level, not the local government level as it used to be.


“And this is to address the issue of delay, and late arrival of materials at polling units. So, there would be deployment to the ward level on the eve of the elections and there would be camping by officials, materials and security agents at the ward level.


“And with the plan, the logistics for the deployment are being perfected. Already, state offices have submitted the description or topography of difficult terrains to enable security agencies that have offered logistic supports like the air force to do dry runs.


“So, all these things have been put in place. And the commission, in the last one week, has been consistent on the issue of manpower build up, capacity building, manpower wise.


“Actually, as at Wednesday this week, the commission met with political parties in a no-holds barred meetings and showed them everything about the election, described the guidelines of accreditation and voting, display the dummy ballot papers to them and displayed the ballot boxes to them. The voting cubicles were displayed just to sensitise and get the people aware and ready for the election. So, the commission is prepared.”


On security, Idowu said that INEC was satisfied with the operational plans being put in place by the various security agencies for the election.


He said that the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security put in place by the commission to provide effective coordination of the security agencies had taken care of the threat of violence in Borno, Bauchi, Plateau and other crisis ridden areas in the country.


He said that INEC had every cause to believe that the security agencies meant business after looking at their planning and operational orders for the elections.

http://punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201103263592157

Exclusive List Of Judges For Election Petitions Tribunals

Posted: March 25, 2011 - 01:22

By SaharaReporters, New York

SaharaReporters has exclusively obtained the list of judges selected to handle election petition cases in the aftermath of Nigeria’s general elections scheduled to hold next month.

Included in the roster are some judges notorious for accepting bribes in exchange for verdicts during their previous assignment after the highly flawed 2007 general elections.

In publishing the full list, SaharaReporters encourages citizens with solid information about ethical lapses on the part of any of the judges to contact us. In addition, we suggest that those with verifiable information on the inappropriateness of any of these judges should petition the President of the Court of Appeal.

“Corrupt judges who preside over electoral cases are a big threat to democracy – and deserve to be exposed and removed before election petitions start rolling in,” said an Abuja-based Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
S/N NAMES STATE OF ORIGIN REMARK

1. HON. JUSTICE K. C. NWANKPA ABIA
2. HON. JUSTICE C. H. AHUCHAOGU ABIA
3. HON. KADI M. M. ALKALI ADAMAWA
4. HON JUSTICE F. C. NWIZU ANAMBRA
5. HON. JUSTICE A. C EMEMBOLU ANAMBRA
6. HON JUSTICE A.E ARCHIBONG AKWA IBOM
7. HON. JUSTICE ALIYU M. LIMAN BAUCHI
8. HON. JUSTICE M. A. AYEMIEYE BAYELSA
9. HON. JUSTICE E. T. INEIFE BAYELSA
10. HON. JUSTICE A. KAKA’AN BENUE
11. HON. JUSTICE U.B. BWALA BORNO
12. HON. JUSTICE M. O. ENEJI CROSS RIVER
13. HON. JUSTICE P. O. ONAJITE-KUEJUBOLA DELTA
14. HON. JUSTICE A. E. UBIRI DELTA
15. HON. JUSTICE EZE UDU EBONYI
16. HON. JUSTICE PATRICK UHUO EBONYI
17. HON. JUSTICE P. I. IMOEDEMHE EDO
18. HON. JUSTICE A. L. OGUNMOYE EKITI
19. HON. JUSTICE F. C. OBIEZE ENUGU
20. HON. JUSTICE G. C. NNAMANI ENUGU
21. HON. JUSTICE A. M. YAKUBU GOMBE
22. HON. JUSTICE C. I. OHAKWE IMO
23. ABDULHADI YELWA SULEIMAN JIGAWA
24. HON. JUSTICE KADI MUH’D INUWA ALI JIGAWA
25. HON. JUSTICE I. ALIYU KADUNA
26. HON. JUSTICE B. S. ADAMU KANO
27. HON. KADI ABDULLAHI WAIYA KANO
28. HON. JUSTICE M. BAKO KATSINA
29. HON. JUSTICE E, A, KARATU KEBBI
30. HON. JUSTICE R. O. OKPANACHI KOGI
31. HON. JUSTICE A, N, AWULU KOGI
32. HON. JUSTICE H, O, AJAYUI KWARA
33. HON. JUSTICE I. O. KASALI (MRS) LAGOS
34. HON. JUSTICE O. A. WILLIAMS (MRS) LAGOS
35. HON. JUSTICE J. G. ABUNDAGA NASARAWA
36. HON. JUSTICE A. A. BIMA NIGER
37. HON. JUSTICE O.S. OLUSANYA OGUN
38. HON. JUSTICE T. A. OKUNSOKAN OGUN
39. HON. JUSTICE O. A. ADEGBEHINGBE ONDO
40. HON. JUSTICE A. B. ABDULKAREEM OSUN
41. HON. JUSTICE A. D. OLADIMEJI OSUN
42. HON. JUSTICE M. A. ADEGBOLA OYO
43. HON. JUSTICE Y. B. NIMPAR PLATEAU
44. HON. JUSTICE C. L. DABUP PLATEAU
45. HON. JUSTICE B. E. UGBARI PLATEAU
46. HON. JUSTICE M. H. BINJI SOKOTO
47. HON. JUSTICE J. Y. TUKUR TARABA
48. HON. JUSTICE YUSUF A. BASHIR TARABA
49. HON. JUSTICE N. U. GUMMI ZAMFARA
50 HON. JUSTICE BELLO MOH’D TUKUR ZAMFARA
51. HON. JUSTICE D. Z. SENCHI F.C.T.
52. HON. JUSTICE A. M. LIMAN F.H.C.
53. HON. JUSTICE S. E. CHUKWU F.H.C.
54. HON. JUSTICE C. T. ADIELE ABIA
55. HON. JUSTICE A. D. MAMMDI ADAMAWA
56. HON. KADI MUSA HASSAN BAZZA ADAMAWA
57. HON. JUSTICE V. N. UMEH ANAMBRA
58. HON. JUSTICE E. I. EDEMEKONG AKWA IBOM
59. HON. JUSTICE IFIOK E. UKANNA AKWA IBOM
60. HON. JUSTICE RABI MUSTAPHA BAUCHI
61. HON. JUSTICE T. I. COCODIA BAYELSA
62. HON. JUSTICE E. OMUKORO BAYELSA
63. HON. JUSTICE E. N. KPOJIME BENUE
64. HON. JUSTICE C. A. MAMZA BORNO
65. HON. JUSTICE O. A. OGAR CROSS RIVER
66. HON. JUSTICE K. O. OKPU DELTA
67. HON. JUSTICE P. O. ELECHI EBONYI
68. HON. JUSTICE H. A. NJOKU EBONYI
69. HON. JUSTICE F. O. AKINBAMI EDO
70. HON. JUSTICE A. EDODO-ERUAGA EDO
71. HON. JUSTICE O. I. O. OGUNYEMI EKITI
72. HON. JUSTICE K. N. UDEH ENUGU
73. HON. JUSTICE J. A. AWAK GOMBE
74. HON. JUSTICE P. I. APOLLOS GOMBE
75. HON. JUSTICE GODDY I. ANUNIHU IMO
76 HON. JUSTICE AHMED ISA GUMEL JIGAWA
77. HON. JUSTICE JIBRIN GANTA JIGAWA
78. HON. JUSTICE M. M. LADAN KADUNA
79. HON. JUSTICE N. Y. GALADANCHI KANO
80. HON. JUSTICE KADI IBRAHIM DALHATU KANO
81. HON. JUSTICE KADI KABIR ABUBAKAR KATSINA
82. HON. JUSTICE SAMAILA BASHIR HARUNA KEBBI
83. HON. JUSTICE H. A OLUSIYI KOGI
84. HON. JUSTICE A. O. SALIHU (MRS) KOGI
85. HON. JUSTICE I. B. GARBA KWARA
86. HON. JUSTICE A. O. GBAJABIAMILA LAGOS
87. HON. JUSTICE L. B. LAWAL-AKAPO LAGOS
88. HON. JUSTICE A. M. AHMED NASARAWA
89. HON. JUSTICE AISHA A. L. B. BWARI NIGER
90. HON. JUSTICE S. A. BOLA ONDO
91. HON. JUSTICE N. S. ADEYANJU ONDO
92. HON. JUSTICE O. D. AFOLABI OSUN
93. HON. JUSTICE O. A. OJO OSUN
94. HON. JUSTICE O. I. AKIN OYO
95. HON. JUSTICE Y. G. DAKWAK PLATEAU
96. HON. JUSTICE D. D. LONGJI PLATEAU
97. HON. JUSTICE J. N. AKPUGHUNUM RIVERS
98. HON. JUSTICE D. B. SAMBO SOKOTO
99. HON. JUSTICE ALI ANDENYANGTSO TARABA
100. HON. JUSTICE G. M. NABARUMA YOBE




BATCH 1

S/N NAMES STATE OF ORIGIN REMARK

1. HON. JUSTICE C. I. JOMBO-OFO ABIA
2. HON. JUSTICE A. U. KALU ABIA
3. HON. JUSTICE W. I. LEHA ADAMAWA
4. HON. JUSTICE C. O. NWEKE ANAMBRA
5. HON. JUSTICE P. C. OBIORAH ANAMBRA
6. HON. JUSTICE STEPHEN E. OKON AKWA IBOM
7. HON. JUSTICE B. G. SANGA AKWA IBOM
8. HON. JUSTICE RAPHEAL AJUWA BAYELSA
9. HON. JUSTICE T. TUR BENUE
10. HON. JUSTICE T. A. KUME BENUE
11. HON. KADI U. R. MUKA’ILA BORNO
12. HON. JUSTICE ELIAS O. ABUA CROSS RIVER
13. HON. JUSTICE V. I. OFESI DELTA
14. HON. JUSTICE A. A. NWAIGWE EBONYI
15. HON. JUSTICE O’ CONNEL OGBONNA EBONYI
16. HON. JUSTICE M. O. IGHODALO EDO
17. HON. JUSTICE M. O ABODUNDE EKITI
18. HON. JUSTICE N. P. EMEHELU ENUGU
19. HON. JUSTICE NWOBODO ENUGU
20. HON. JUSTICE HALIMA S. MOH’D GOMBE
21. HON. JUSTICE U. D. OGWURIKE IMO
22. HON. JUSTICE K. A. OJIAKO IMO
23. HON. JUSTICE UBALE AHMED TAURA JIGAWA
24. HON. JUSTICE B. U. SUKOLA KADUNA
25. HON. JUSTICE B. MOHAMMED KADUNA
26. HON. JUSTICE LAWAN WADA MAHMOUD KANO
27. HON. JUSTICE ABDULLAHI YUSUF KATSINA
28. HON. JUSTICE SULEIMAN AMBURSA KEBBI
29. HON. JUSTICE ABBAS AHMAN KEBBI
30. HON. JUSTICE A. A. ADEBARA KWARA
31. HON. JUSTICE E. B. MOHAMMED KWARA
32. HON. JUSTICE W. A. E. AYO (MRS) LAGOS
33. HON. JUSTICE JOHN A. VIKO NASARAWA
34. HON. JUSTICE CHRISTOPHER I. AUTA NIGER
35. HON. JUSTICE M. A. OJO OGUN
36. HON. JUSTICE O. OGUNFOWORA OGUN
37. HON. JUSTICE W. A. AKINTOROYE ONDO
38. HON. JUSTICE F. E. AWOLALU (MRS) OSUN
39. HON. JUSTICE M. A. ADEIGBE OSUN
40. HON. JUSTICE S. A. AKINTEYE OYO
41. HON. JUSTICE M. O. ISHOLA OYO
42. HON. JUSTICE M. I. SIRAJO PLATEAU
43. HON. JUSTICE O. O. DANIEL-KALIO RIVERS
44. HON. JUSTICE S. O. TEETITO RIVERS
45. HON. JUSTICE MOHAMMAD S. SIFAWA SOKOTO
46. HON. JUSTICE B. S. S. MOHAMMED TARABA
47. HON. JUSTICE G. K. KAIGAMA YOBE
48. HON. JUSTICE MUKTARI YUSHA’U ZAMFARA
49. HON. JUSTICE F. A. OJO F.C.T
50. HON. JUSTICE C.M.A. OLATOREGUN-ISHOLA F.H.C.
51. HON. JUSTICE TIJANI ABUBAKAR F.H.C.
52. HON. JUSTICE ORY ZIK-IKEORHA ABIA
53. HON. JUSTICE HAFSATU ABDULRAHAMAN ADAMAWA
54. HON. JUSTICE KADI IBRAHIM WAKILI SUDI ADAMAWA
55. HON. JUSTICE O.M. ANYACHEBELU ANAMBRA
56. HON. JUSTICE UMOEKOYO E. ESSANG AKWA IBOM
57. HON. JUSTICE JOY I. UNWANA AKWA IBOM
58. HON. JUSTICE KUNAZA N. HAMID BAUCHI
59. HON. JUSTICE B. M. UGO BAYELSA
60. HON. JUSTICE A. O. ONUM BENUE
61. HON. JUSTICE A. K. BAAKI BENUE
62. HON. JUSTICE A. G. KWAJAFFA BORNO
63. HON. JUSTICE B. E. IKPEME CROSS RIVER
64. HON. JUSTICE G. E. GBEMRE DELTA
65. HON. JUSTICE BENSON OGBU EBONYI
66. HON. JUSTICE JOHN IGBOJI EBONYI
67. HON. JUSTICE J. I. ACHA EDO
68. HON. JUSTICE J. O. OKEAYA-INNEH EDO
69. HON. JUSTICE A. A. ADELEYE EKITI
70. HON. JUSTICE L. O. OKEREKE ENUGU
71. HON. JUSTICE M. A. PINDIGA GOMBE
72. HON. JUSTICE P. O. NNADI IMO
73. HON. JUSTICE NONYE OKORONKWO IMO
74. HON. JUSTICE UMAR M. SADIQ JIGAWA
75. HON. JUSTICE M. L. MUHAMMED KADUNA
76. HON. JUSTICE L. D. ABA KADUNA
77. HON. JUSTICE DIJE ABDU ABOKI KANO
78. HON. JUSTICE SADA ABDULMUMINI KATSINA
79. HON. JUSTICE SANI ADAMU KEBBI
80. HON. JUSTICE UMAR ABUBAKAR KEBBI
81. HON. JUSTICE S. O. OTU KOGI
82. HON. JUSTICE M. A. AKOJA KWARA
83. HON. JUSTICE H. A. SALEEMAN KWARA
84. HON. JUSTICE R. I. B. ADEBIYI (MRS) LAGOS
85. HON. JUSTICE S. U. DIKKO NASARAWA
86. HON. JUSTICE MARIA SANDA ZUKOGI NIGER
87. HON. JUSTICE AMINA A. WAMBAI NIGER
88. HON. JUSTICE O. A. JIBOGU OGUN
89. HON. JUSTICE T. O. OSOBA ONDO
90. HON. JUSTICE O. AKINTAN-OSADEBAY ONDO
91. HON. JUSTICE A. A. G. ONIBUKUN OSUN
92. HON. JUSTICE M. L. ABIMBOLA OYO
93. HON. JUSTICE A. L. AKINTOLA OYO
94. HON JUSTICE D. G. MANN PLATEAU
95. HON. JUSTICE D. W. OKOCHA RIVERS
96. HON. JUSTICE S. O. IRAGUNIMA RIVERS
97. HON. JUSTICE BELLO DUWALE SOKOTO
98. HON. JUSTICE JOSEPH J. JELLA TARABA
99. HON. JUSTICE ALI GARBA YOBE
100. HON. JUSTICE BELLO MOH’D SHINKAFI ZAMFARA
101. HON. JUSTICE M. N. ONIYANGI F.C.T.
102. HON. JUSTICE P. O. AFFEN F.C.T.
103. HON. JUSTICE A. R. MOHAMMED F.H.C.
104. HON. JUSTICE E. O. OSINUGA OGUN
105. HON. JUSTICE I. U. BELLO F.C.T.
106. HON. JUSTICE O. A. ADENIYI F.C.T.
107 HON. JUSTICE A. L. ALLAGOA F.H.C.
108 HON. JUSTICE A. A. O. AJILEYE KOGI


http://saharareporters.com/news-page/exclusive-list-judges-election-petitions-tribunals

Jonathan’s Wife Responsible For Appointment Of New ICPC Acting Chairman, Abang-Wushishi, A Former PDP Senatorial Aspirant

Posted: March 25, 2011 - 02:07


By SaharaReporters, New York

Wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, has been identified as the one of the key persons involved in the conspiracy that led to the removal of the former Acting Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Uriah Angulu, on Tuesday, March 22, by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the appointment of the new Acting Chairman, Dr. Rosemary Abang-Wushishi.

This revelation is coming on the heels of the denial by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Muhammed Bello Adokie, of the Saharareporters’ expose of the scandal behind the hurried sack of Uriah Angulu.

Saharareporters was reliably informed by a source inside the presidential villa, Abuja, that Mrs. Jonathan was however acting on the promptings of the newly appointed Acting Chairman of the ICPC, Dr. Rosemary Abang-Wushishi, a member of the board of the Commission. Abang-Wushishi, a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) and formerly a member of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), under which she tried unsuccessfully to get a senatorial ticket in Cross Rivers State in 2003, is said to have persuaded Jonathan’s wife to speak to her husband and the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Bello Adokie, to appoint her in place of Angulu.

Our sources at the villa indicated that even though Mrs. Jonathan was at first unaware of the plot by the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu and AGF Adokie to persuade the former acting Chairman of the ICPC to drop the investigations of the N6 billion fraud at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in which the CJN was implicated, Abang-Wushishi brought it Mrs. Jonathan’s notice and convinced her to step in to push for the appointment of “a woman” - and one who had been a member of the PDP - in place of Angulu.

Mrs. Jonathan, who is described by a source in the villa as “a meddlesome, even if semi-literate, power-grabbing woman,” was said to have jumped into the fray immediately to support Abang-Wushishi, “who is not only a woman”, as our source puts it, “but is also one from the Niger Delta” like the First Family. Mrs. Jonathan reportedly persuaded her husband and AGF Adokie that Abang-Wushishi can be “trusted” with the “sensitive” position at the ICPC “in this critical period.”

This intervention was said to have made Adokie, who was doing the bidding of CJN Katsina-Alu very happy, because it provided a “strong supporting voice” for him in the attempt to persuade President Jonathan to approve the immediate removal of Angulu over the investigations into the NJI fraud and the prosecution of the Minister of Health, Alhaji Suleiman Bello. Adokie had been fighting Dr. Uriah Angulu over these two major cases. As reported earlier, Adokie’s office compulsory hijacked the prosecution of Suleiman Bello from Angulu’s ICPC in February in the attempt to destroy the case and save Bello, a former INEC commissioner accused of graft, from prosecutrion.

Saharareporters learnt that, unknown to many, since the decision to appoint her as the acting Chairman of the ICPC, Abang-Wushishi has since convinced Mrs. Jonathan to ensure that after the expected “victory” of her husband at the polls in April, she should be appointed at the substantive Chairman of the ICPC. This move, if successful, will put spanners in the works of those rooting for the retired justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Pius Olayiwola Aderemi, whose nomination had earlier been rejected by the Senate as they claimed he was "too old". A secret pact was reached recently between the presidency and the leadership of the Senate for the re-presentation of Justice Aderemi’s appointment, which is expected to be approved by the Senate.

However, Abang-Wushishi has persuaded Patience Jonathan that she is “eminently qualified” to head the ICPC, since, as she claimed, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri, was her “junior in the police force.”

Our sources at the ICPC hinted that Adokie might have agreed “in principle” to this arrangement, since he and CJN Katsina-Alu are not sure of what would be the attitude of Justice Aderemi to the scandal involving the CJN and other matters of investigation and prosecution before the commission, those in which Adokie and “his handlers” are interested.

Abang-Wushishi, who a source at the ICPC described as an ‘inept, physically and mentally tired woman who resumes work around 2 PM in the afternoon,’ is expected to be to AGF Adokie what Farida Waziri of the EFCC was to the disgraced former AGF, Michael Aondoakaa, “a tool to protect the fraudster-friends of the president and the AGF,” as a source puts it.

Abang-Wushishi, who sought to represent the Central Senatorial District in Cross Rivers State for the PDP in 2003, had accused the then Governor Donald Duke and other leaders of the party of “manipulating” the PDP primaries in declaring Senator Victor Edoma-Egba as the unopposed candidate of the PDP in late December 2002. The woman who is now herself a tool of a clique at the villa and the Justice Ministry, had accused Governor Duke and others of constituting a “a negative clique” in the PDP. “What audacity do they have to do that?” she queried in late December 2002.

The retired police officer and her “godmother”, Mrs. Jonathan, and the AGF, who helped them to realize Wushishi’s ambition, are now facing a similar question from Nigerians regarding the controversial removal of the former acting Chairman of the ICPC, Dr. Angulu.

However, in a statement issued on his behalf by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ambrose Momoh, in Abuja, AGF Adokie stated that, “For [the] avoidance of doubt, AIG Abang Rosemary Wushishi’s appointment was made in compliance with the provision of section 3(4) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Act, CAP. C31, LFN 2004, which states that the chairman shall be a person who has held or is qualified to hold office as a judge of a Superior Court of record in Nigeria.”

Added Adokie, “Since this requirement also applies to appointments made in an acting capacity, it was necessary to guide against any likely challenges of the powers exercised by Dr Uriah Angulu who did not possess the requisite qualification.”

Critics have described Adokie’s statement as “a puerile and futile attempt” to further cover up the scandals that his office has been trying to cover up. One highly placed source in Abuja told Saharareporters that the AGF’s “peculiar logic” in the statement shows a failed attempt at what experts in the art of falsehood and deception calls ‘the concealment of the very process of concealment.’

“The question,” asks another source, “that Adokie should answer are these: Why did it take the chief legal counsel to the president and the only minister whose office is a statutory one, that is, one sanctioned and authorized specifically by the Constitution, more than three months to recognize that Angulu did not meet the primary criterion for his appointment as the acting chairman of the ICPC? Even a youth corps member who studied law in Adokie’s office would have ‘discovered’ this before Angulu’s appointment was announced; that is, if indeed that was the reason for the sudden sack of Dr. Angulu. Two, and this is what really shows the duplicity of the AGF and the fraudulence of the Jonathan administration when it announced that it was committed to the anti-corruption war and the rule of law: Does Abang-Wushishi meet the criterion that Adokie just brought to our notice in the ICPC Act? If so, that is, if she is qualified to hold office as a judge of a Suprerior Court of record in Nigeria, why didn’t Adokie recommend her to the president last November when Justice Ayoola’s term came to an end? She was there then as a member of the Commission’s board, wasn’t she?”

In further defense of his controversial actions in recent times, AGF Adokie, in his press release, stated his “personal commitment” “to the war against corruption”. Adokie added that he “will, therefore, not be deterred by baseless allegations and insinuations designed to achieve pre-conceived ends.”

While making this baseless claim of his commitment the rule of law, justice and transparency, Saharareporters can authoritatively reveal that not only has Adokie vowed to end the prosecution of the Health Minister, he has also “briefed” the new Acting Chairman of the ICPC to discontinue the investigations into the N6 billion fraud at the NJI in which the Chief Justice of the Federation is implicated. If Wushishi complies, Adokie has promised that she may be able to retain her position, as substantive chairman of the ICPC after President Jonathan “must have won the April elections.”

http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/jonathan%E2%80%99s-wife-responsible-appointment-new-icpc-acting-chairman-abang-wushishi-former-pdp

April polls: First Lady gives fund to female candidates
NewsMar 24, 2011
   
BY DANIEL IDONOR

ABUJA – FIRST Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, Wednesday hosted over 809 female candidates from all the registered political parties nationwide and doled out undisclosed amount of money to each of the candidates for the April polls.
The candidates, who were treated to a dinner at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential villa, Abuja, are those that made the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, list for the 2011 general elections .
Mrs. Jonathan held dialogue with the female candidates who had won their primaries, the first in history by any First Lady in Nigeria.
Through her Women for Change and Development Initiative, she gave out undisclosed amount to five female governorship candidates, 88 women contesting for senatorial seats, 218 House of Representatives and 493 state Houses of Assembly candidates.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/03/april-polls-first-lady-gives-fund-to-female-candidates/

Japan on the road again

5:30 AM Friday Mar 25, 2011

What a difference a week makes. After the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, clean-up workers are already making a difference.

These pictures, issued by the Associated Press agency, show a road in Naka, in Ibaraki prefecture, seriously damaged by the quake on March 11 and fully repaired by March 17.

The highway company Nexco East said its workers restored the 150m rift in the highway, which runs near the shattered Fukushima nuclear power station through to Tokyo.

The feat of engineering and efficiency could be an inspiration for Cantabrians whose lives are still disrupted by their February 22 quake.

Large parts of the city centre are still cordoned off and residents and business-owners are forbidden to enter.

Roads in the city are also severely affected by diversions and lane closures because of damage.

In Japan, fuel shortages and petrol rationing are still in force in large areas, so there is little traffic to use the repaired road.

The country faces a huge recovery task. The Japanese Government puts the damage at $414 billion. More than 18,000 buildings were destroyed.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10714818

Jonathan lobbies Emirs, Imams

Thursday, 24 March 2011 00:00 Suleiman M. Bisalla, Abuja & Auwalu Umar, Kano


Pressident Goodluck Jonathan
Following stalled talks between Pressident Goodluck Jonathan and the Northern Leaders Political Forum (NLPF), the President has shifted his focus on Emirs and Imams from the north to woo the regions’ votaers ahead of the April presidential polls. Daily Trust learnt from reliable sources that the President has deployed a team of elderly Northern politicians to canvass support for him with Emirs and Muslim religious leaders.


Those on the team, our correspondent learnt, include Alhaji Tanko Yakassai and Dr. Shettima Mustapha, two members of the Ciroma-led NPLF as well as Dr. Hassan Adamu, Wakilin Adamawa and Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Tafidan Adamawa.

As at last weekend, the Committee led by Dr. Mustapha, former Minister of Agriculture and member of the PDP board of trustees had toured most of the North Central and the North-Eastern States, sources said.

Many of them could not be reached for comments but Alhaji Yakasai, former Special Adviser to the Second Republic President yesterday dispelled insinuations that he is vigorously campaigning underground for President Goodluck Jonathan to win the next presidential election scheduled for April 9.

He however said he from the north-west and former minister Alhaji Shettima Mustapha from the north-east are touring the north to meet with various religious and opinion leaders on the need to prevail on their followers not to cause violence in whatever form throughout the election period.

Yakasai told Daily Trust last night that he accepted to move round the area to preach the gospel of peace at the request of national deputy chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Bello Buhari.

He said when the PDP national deputy chairman approached him for the job he was reluctant because he is not a card carrying member of the PDP but rather a member of G15 which former military president General Ibrahim Babangida is chairing.

Yakasai said he finally accepted to do the job with Shettima Mustapha when chairman of the G15 General Babangida made clarification that they can preach for peace in the region as requested provided that such will not be a campaign in disguise for any presidential candidate.

He said he could not have campaigned for Jonathan when openly came out from day one to defend the zonal arrangement, saying he still maintains his position on zoning which he said is now the turn of the north.

Daily Trust learnt that, the last meeting the President and the NPLF held failed to make progress because the delegation that he appointed to the Seven-man Joint Committee with the Northern leaders did not report back to him.

http://dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14719:jonathan-lobbies-emirs-imams&catid=2:lead-stories&Itemid=8

We do not endorse Jonathan –Okada owners

Thursday, 24 March 2011 00:00 Auwalu Umar, Kano

Commercial motorcycle owners popularly known as Okada riders under the aegis of Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN) have dissociated themselves from the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for the April presidential election by a splinter group of the association.
The Okada riders, who spoke in Kano yesterday through their national president Alhaji Muhammadu Sani Hassan, said nobody was endorsed by the association as every member of the association has the right to vote for any candidate of his choice. “We only advise members to vote for credible and God-fearing people from councillorship to the office of the President”, he said.

They also said President Jonathan has been “deceived and misinformed by one dubious group” that claimed to be leaders of the association; saying the culprits will be brought to book accordingly.

He said his leadership was officially confered on him on August 2, 2009 by the National Board of Trustees as contained in the ACOMORAN‘s constitution articles 17, 18, 22 and 23 respectively. Later on August 9, 2009, according to him, one Chief Alfred W. Opara created a faction for his personal interest which brought a duplication of leadership.

This, he said, informed the resolve of the national board of trustees to take Opara along with two others to a federal high court which restrained Opara, Oladapo Egunjobi and their purported caretaker committee, led by one Babangida Maihula from parading themselves as leaders of the association.

He described the recent endorsement of Jonathan by the splinter group as contempt of court, saying “the President was misled and deceived” and therefore urged the president, security agencies and government officials to stop dealing with them in any transaction concerning the association.

http://dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14687:we-do-not-endorse-jonathan-okada-owners&catid=1:news&Itemid=2

Shagari hails introduction of Shariah

Thursday, 24 March 2011 00:00 Rakiya A.Muhammad,Sokoto

Former president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, yesterday said implementing Shariah or introducing it in Nigeria was a good sign that democracy operates in the country.
“The introduction of Shariah is a good indicator that signifies freedom of choice and practices at the individual and collective levels. Thus to us, this is one of the important reasons for the implementation of Shariah in some states of the federation”,he said. The former president who spoke at the 5th national

conference of Shariah implementing states in Nigeria held in Sokoto, recalled that the motivating factors for the institution of Shariah arose from the increasing rate of crime, social vices and indiscipline in the society. Shagari noted that Shariah as an institution with a mixture of law, religion and ethics has all the ingredients and capability to resolve such vices which he observed all other systems failed to do. According to him, introduction and implementation of Sharia provides a more comprehensive solution to complex human problems bedeviling the society. He pointed out that misunderstanding, misconception and misinformation on Shariah led to the fear exercised by some over it.

http://dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14682:shagari-hails-introduction-of-shariah-&catid=1:news&Itemid=2

Police in Bayelsa begin 3-day fasting for violence free election

Thursday, 24 March 2011 00:00 Hope Abah, Yenagoa

The police in Bayelsa State yesterday commenced a three day fast to seek divine intervention on the forth coming elections.
Speaking with Daily Trust in Yenagoa, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) said, “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but safety is of the lord”.

He said previous elections in the country were characterized with violence that led to the destruction of lives and property, adding that to minimize that trend, promote peace and safe guide lives of citizens, it was imperative for members of the police force to equip themselves spiritually.

He said the prayer and fasting, which began on Tuesday to end on Friday is for the benefit of the police and people of the state.

http://dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14681:police-in-bayelsa-begin-3-day-fasting-for-violence-free-election-&catid=1:news&Itemid=2

Obaigbena's THISDAY Newspaper Sues ACN, CPC, PDP Spokespersons For Libel, Demands N40 Billion In Compensation

Posted: March 23, 2011 - 23:42

By SaharaReporters, New York

ThisDay publisher Nduka Obaigbena, under heat for his paper's publication of a questionable opinion poll on the April 2011 elections, has directed Thisday's lawyers to sue officials of opposing parties for libel. In a report received today by SaharaReporters, Mr. Obaigbena's paper announced that it was suing three spokespersons of ACN, Team Ribadu and CPC, for accusing his news organization of concocting a discredited opinion poll.

A few days ago, ThisDay published an ostensible opinion poll in which the paper claimed that more than 60 percent of voters favor Goodluck Jonathan, the presidential candidate of the ruling PDP to win the the April 9 presidential poll. Mr. Obaigbena is also reportedly suing a PDP spokesman for questioning aspects of the alleged poll.

Mr. Obaigbena, who has a long history of putting his publications at the propaganda service of Nigeria's military and civilian governments, has faced pointed censure since his paper's publication of the bizarre poll results.

Mr. Obaigbena's lawsuit, which will commence tomorrow at the Federal High Court, Abuja, targets Joe Igbokwe of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Ibrahim Modibbo of the Ribadu Campaign Organization (also known as "Team Ribadu", Yinka Odumakin of Congress for Progressive Change, and Cletus Akwaya of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Mr. Akwaya is a former reporter with Mr. Obaigbena's Thisday but currently serves as Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to the Governor of Benue State. Mr. Akwaya had criticized the "poll" for stating that Governor Suswam of Benue, a PDP candidate, would lose his bid for reelection.

One Abuja-based lawyer said it was highly unlikely that Mr. Obaigbena's lawsuits are going to succeed. "I think the likely outcome is that the judge hearing this libel case will conclude that Thisday is guilty of gross abuse of the court process," said the lawyer, adding that the paper brought justified criticism on itself by selling bogus polls to its readers.

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/obaigbenas-thisday-newspaper-sues-acn-cpc-pdp-spokespersons-libel-demands-n40-billion-comp

Over 170, 000 travel by water every day – LASWA
BusinessMar 24, 2011
   
BY GODWIN ORITSE
THE Lagos State Waterways Authority LASWA has completed the ridership exercise on users of water transport in the state and disclosedthat  more than 175,000 commuters use the water ways on a daily basis.
Disclosing this to Vanguard in Lagos recently, Director of operations of  LASWA, Mr Segun Adekoya said that the authority has to carry out the exercise with a view to making projections water transport in  the future.
He stated every  every boat and the number of passengers  carried were  counted at the point of loading adding that the numbers of boats and jetties were also put into consideration in the course of the exercise.
Adekoya stated that the authority was happy with the number of people that ply the waters every day, noting that with the figure, the authority has an idea of where they are likely to make adjustment and expansion of facilities  in the future.
“In Lagos we have about 170,000 commuter using the water ways every day and this is because of the quality of leadership the authority is currently providing.
“The provision of infrastructure and other facilities to aid water transport are  increasing and are  up dated to meet the challenges we encounter every day.
“With the current trend in the use of water transport the facilities in Ikorodu, Badore, Ijede, Bayeku, Langbasa, and Aja  needs to expanded because we also discovered majority of the commuters come to the Island”. He stated
On why the concentration on the Ikorodu axis, Adekoya explained that the authority is focusing on that axis because the population of the town has increased tremendously over the years.
He noted that  there is only one way in and out of Ikorodu adding that the water ways has provided an alternative to commuters.
He was of the opinion that Ikorodu can be classified as a mega city due to the number of smaller towns and development springing up within the town.
He also disclosed that plans have been concluded to rehabilitate the Mile 2 jetty in a few months following the construction of the ten lane high way which according to him will make that jetty to be very strategic to commuters on the Badagry-Ojo axis.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/03/over-170-000-travel-by-water-every-day-laswa/

15,000 benefit from Osun free eye treatment

Bisi Oladele, Ibadan and Soji Adeniyi, Osogbo 24/03/2011 04:01:00


Over 15,000 patients have benefited from the free eye treatment initiated by Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola since it began 10 days ago.

It includes free eye test, glasses and surgery.

The programme, tagged "Jigi Omoluwabi," was flagged off at the State Hospital in Osogbo, the state capital, on March 14.

It is handled by a 100-man medical team, led by Dr. Jumoke Ibidapo. The programme is being executed by the state government in collaboration with a socio-cultural group, Oranmiyan Worldwide.

The Orangun of Ila, Oba Wahab Bibire, has described the exercise as "a divine intervention for his people."

He said the programme brought relief to many of his subjects and thanked Aregbesola for his intervention.

Oba Bibire said: "I was planning to send my relations to Ilorin, Kwara State, for eye surgery, when Aregbesola came up with this programme. I was just trying to pull resources together to ensure that my three relations, who were almost going blind, go for the surgery. They have been treated and are now able to see clearly."

The programme was also carried out at Ile-Ife, Ilesa, Iwo and Ila-Orangun.

More than 1,000 surgeries were done to remove cataract and glaucoma.

Over 5,000 patients were given free eye glasses in Ila. The team is expected to move to Ede soon.

Osun State students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) have vowed to boycott the institution’s matriculation today.

The students, under the aegis of the National Association of Osun State Students, took the decision at a congress held on the school campus yesterday.

They said the decision was to protest the alienation of their state government in the administration of the school jointly owned with the Oyo State Government.

They objected to the unilateral appointment of the institution’s vice-chancellor and registrar.

They decried the increment in tuition fees by the Oyo State Government and its plan to move medical students to Ogbomoso from Osogbo.

Also yesterday, the House of Assembly passed the 2011 Budget of N102, 864,633,360.

About N53, 081,064,170 is earmarked for capital projects.

Speaker Adejare Bello urged the governor to implement the budget effectively.

Chairman, Finance and Appropriation, Femi Farombi observed that the authorities of LAUTECH did not appear for the defence of estimates.

The committee said: "The much publicised elevation of the Director-General, Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, to Permanent Secretary has been reversed. The elevation of some directors to general-managers has also been reverted."

The committee said the Federal Government had been collecting revenue through the Ministry of Environment from hotels without remitting the state’s share.

The committee recommended, among others, that government should remove impediments to improved revenue generation, ensure timely release of funds for capital projects and release outstanding promotion letters of staff.

http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/31643.html

I’m under pressure to rig election -Anambra REC

Written by Okodili Ndidi, Onitsha

Tuesday, 22 March 2011

The Resident Electoral Commisioner in Anambra State, Professor Chukwuemeka Onukogu, has disclosed to journalists that he is under intense pressure to compromise the April polls, even as he maintained that he will not give in to the demands of mischievous politicians.

Onukogu, who made the disclosure in his office in Awka, the state capital, said that some politicians had approached him with demands to do their bidding during the elections, adding that his strength of character and commitment to the task of giving Nigerians a free and fair election could not be sacrificed for any person or group of persons.

He decried the antics of politicians which he described as irresponsible, stating that they did not adhere to nor respected the constitutions of their various political parties. “Politicians cannot even put their houses in order, I wonder the kind of leadership they can offer,”he stressed.

Reacting to the call for his redeployment by some politicians over alleged bias, the REC, boasted that no amount of blackmail or intimidation would force him or his staff to go contrary to the task of conducting a free and fair election.He declared, “I am not biased rather my refusal to do the bidding of politicians has elicited malicious reactions from politicians but no amount of blackmail can change my stance”.

Onukogu, who also allayed the fears of voters and political parties over the discrepancies in the voter register, said that his office had received software to correct any short coming, assuring that no registered voter would be disenfranchised.

The REC maintained that, mischievous politicians who are hoping to win through rigging will be disappointed as there cannot be a successful rigging if the REC is not committed to rigging, “it is impossible to rig election in a state if the REC is not totally committed to it, so in Anambra State it will be impossible to rig the election because I will not change my zero tolerance to electoral vices”.

He, however, declared that the mindset of the 21 electoral officers in the state had changed and were ready to do it right, warning that any staff found indulging in any form of electoral malpractice would be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the law.

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/19254-im-under-pressure-to-rig-election-anambra-rec