₦airaland Forum

There was palpable tension in many parts of the Niger Delta as speculations became rife on Wednesday that a militant group in the region, the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND, could resume attacks in the country on Friday.

Media reports quote MEND as saying in a statement signed by its spokesman, Gbomo Jomo, that it would commence a series of attacks in the country, codenamed “Hurricane Exodus”, at midnight on Friday.

Read details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/128149-mend-threatens-to-resume-attacks-in-niger-delta-on-friday.html

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has replaced Shem Obafaiye as the Lagos State Commandant of the outfit.
The Commandant General, Olu Abolurin, made this known during a visit in Lagos at the weekend.
Clement Adesuyi, from the Oyo State Command, takes over from Mr. Obafaiye as the new Commandant.

See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/national/127973-my-oga-at-the-top-obafaiye-replaced-at-civil-defence-without-reason.html

President Goodluck Jonathan has again pushed forward the timeline for his administration’s pledge to deliver improved power supply, telling Nigerians Sunday they would continue to live with epileptic electricity supply at least until 2014.
Mr. Jonathan made the comment on Sunday after his Easter message at Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, was interrupted by power outage.

See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/127728-hopes-dashed-as-president-jonathan-again-pushes-forward-timeline-for-stable-electricity.html

Professor Saburi Adesanya, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, said on Thursday that the institution would recall 120 lecturers retrenched in 2009.
The institution had in 2009 retrenched 962 teaching and non teaching staff.
The Vice Chancellor said this in Ago-Iwoye at a news conference to mark the beginning of the 22nd convocation ceremony of the university. See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/regional/127381-ogun-university-to-recall-120-sacked-lecturers.html

The federal government has urged Nigerians to be patient on the worsening security situation, saying the challenges cannot be resolved overnight.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade, stated this while briefing journalists on the performance review of his ministry for the year 2012, after the weekly Federal Executive Council Meeting which was chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Read details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/127211-nigeria-begs-for-patience-on-growing-insecurity.html

The Joint Task Force in Yobe State said on Wednesday that it killed at least four suspected members of Boko Haram in a gun duel in the north-eastern border city of Gaidam.
Gaidam is located 230 km away from Damaturu, the state capital.
Read details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/127115-four-boko-haram-members-killed-in-yobe-gun-duel-jtf.html

Some officers of the Nigeria Police Force, Wednesday, allegedly attacked men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, at Ikorodu Lagos.
The civil defence officers were returning from a site of arrest of some pipeline vandals when the police officers opened fire on them, according to witnesses.
Witnesses put the time of the incident at between midnight and 3 a.m.
See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/127107-police-attack-civil-defence-officers-kill-two-free-pipeline-vandals.html

A federal high court sitting in Abuja Wednesday morning, vacated the arrest warrant issued by Nigerian Senate against the sacked chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, PRTT, Abdulrasheed Maina.
Justice Adamu Bello, in his one hour judgment held that the arrest warrant issued did not comply with section 88 of the 1999 constitution as amended.
See details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/127097-breaking-news-court-vacates-arrest-warrant-against-ex-pension-boss-maina.html

Opposition, civil society and others are denouncing the governor.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has come out in strong defence of one its governor’s, Godswill Akpabio, who confessed to rigging the party’s primary election in the northwestern senatorial district of the state in 2007.

However, opposition parties and civil society organizations expressed outrage over the governor’s action and confession, saying in sane societies and democracies, Mr. Akpabio should have been kicked out of office.

Mr. Akpabio had confessed that he manipulated PDP primary election in the district in favour of Aloysius Etuk in 2007.

The governor, who made the open confession during the “Good Governance Tour” led by the Information Minister, Labaran Maku, to the state, said, “The people of Ikono and Ini (LGA) from 1960 have never produced a senator. I used my own hand to strike out the name of the person who has won before, and I said it is important for me to give that region a senator in 2007, and I produced Senator Aloysius Etok for you; that is where he comes from.”

Mr. Etuk, who subsequently won the main election that year, is currently in his second term in the Senate. During his first term, the senator served as the Chairman of the Committee on Appropriation of the upper legislative chamber.

PDP defends its own

The PDP spokesman, Olisa Metuh, told PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview that the video clip in which the governor said he manipulated the primary election was doctored; adding that it was an attempt to ridicule the governor who he said is a great and loyal member of the party.

“We have already raised the alarm that some people are targeting Gov Akpabio and put him to public ridicule. This video, which from all intent and purpose is doctored evidence, is proof of what we have said before,” Mr. Metuh said.

” The video, I must say, however, is a poor attempt at ridiculing one of the giants of the party. We are happy with his performance in Akwa Ibom State and he is a great and loyal member of the PDP.”


http://premiumtimesng.com/news/127091-pdp-defends-akpabio-over-election-rigging-video.html

The armed militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, on Tuesday condemned the 24-year jail term passed on its leader, Henry Okah, by the South African High Court over charges that he masterminded a series of terrorism incidents, including the October 1, 2010 twin bombings in Abuja.
The group threatened ‘hell’ over the conviction of Mr. Okah. Read details at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/127047-mend-threatens-hell-over-okahs-jail-as-keyamo-condemns-judgement.html

The plan by the African Peoples Congress to become a political party crashed on Monday as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said it would not register the association because it failed to meet the conditions for registration.
In a letter dated March 21 and sent to the political association, the commission said the group breached section 222 (a) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and thereby cannot be considered for any further registration as a political party. See details at:http:///P3HKy

Hundreds of widows in Akwa Ibom on Monday trooped to the Government House, Uyo, urging Governor Godswill Akpabio to empower them financially to enable them establish small-scale businesses
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the widows, who came in buses from the 31 Local Government Areas in the state, could however, not see the governor.
See details at: http:///GVw4T

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday assured Nigerians of equitable distribution of Federal Government projects and appointments.
The President was speaking to a 16-member delegation of the Southern Kaduna Consultative Forum at the State House. See details at: http:///DDlqV

Former Bayelsa State governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, may be paid billions of naira, the value of the assets seized from him after his conviction for money laundering.
President Goodluck Jonathan had granted Mr. Alamieyeseigha a presidential pardon, rendering the former Bayelsa State governor a freeman.
See details at: http:///lwdIx

The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, acted alone when he donated N230 million at the launching of St. Stephens Anglican Deanery and Youth Development Centre, Otuoke, President Goodluck Jonathan’s home town in Bayelsa State, some of his colleagues have said. See details at: http:///0wDtv

Over a 100,000 devotees gathered at the St Peter’s Square in the Vatican where Pope Francis was inaugurated as the 267th pope in the history of the Catholic Church.
Over six heads of state including controversial Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe; and United States Vice President, Joe Biden; were on ground at the Vatican to celebrate with the first Latin American Pope of the church. After the mass, the pope was seen exchanging pleasantries and a handshake with Mr. Mugabe.
Read more at: http:///syDfq

Nigerian R&B singer, Darey, has released the video for his hit single, Asiko, featuring South African group, Jozi, and acclaimed Nigerian rapper, Ice Prince.
The video, which was directed by Mark Hofmeyr, has a futuristic feel and shows that Darey has really set a standard for himself.
Also, the “Ko Soro” hit maker, Mo’Eazy is back to take over the air waves.
The U.K.-returnee surprised fans on Monday with a double combo of his latest singles, ‘Smile’ and ‘Never Going down’ featuring Darey; and released simultaneously with a big-budget video. Watch videos at: http:///Q4Go6

Nigeria’s February Consumer Price Index, CPI, which measures inflation, rose by 9.5 per cent year-on-year, compared to 9.0 per cent in January, the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, NBS, has said. See details at: http:///iiZNS

Contrary to his claim that he was yet to decide whether or not to accept the controversial wedding gifts presented to him and his wife by Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, hip pop musician, Tuface Idibia, has taken delivery of the controversial car.
A photograph (below) released today by the Akwa Ibom state government, showed the musician and wife, taken delivery of the car. Only one car was shown in the photograph. See details at: http:///18qRx

Scores of inmates may have been freed last night after gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram attacked a prison facility in Gwoza Town of Borno State, witnesses said.
A civilian was said to have been killed by stray bullet during the shootout. See details at: http:///05xvX

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State on Thursday rose in stout defence of his controversial wedding gifts to hip pop musician, Tuface Idibia, saying the gesture was to reward the musician’s wife for standing by her husband in the face of difficulties. See more at: http:///DFBeP

The new head of the 1.2 billion-member Catholic Church is Pope Francis the first. He was elected on Wednesday at the end of the conclave of 115 cardinals.
Below are 16 facts about the new pope.

1. His real name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio
2. He is 76-years-old
3. He is an Argentinean
4. He is the first Jesuit priest to become Pope
5. He is the first Latin American to become Pope
6. He was the runner-up during the last conclave that elected Pope
Emeritus Benedict XVI
See more at:: http:///dpwYj

The Council of States headed by President Goodluck Jonathan, Tuesday, granted state pardon to his former boss and ex-Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreiye Alamieyeisegha. Get full story at: http:///fG2Av

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in a ridiculing tone, Tuesday, said the newly formed All Progressives Congress, APC, is an illusion and its leaders ‘politically naïve’.
The ruling party lambasted the APC leaders saying they left out something as basic as registering their name and that their APC will not exist, as the acronym has already been taken.
Get the full story at: http:///OYk6t

Akwa Ibom Government said on Monday in Uyo that its slot in the Federal Government’s Amnesty Programme had been taken over by non-indigenes.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Ita Udo, stated this during a one-day public hearing conducted by the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions on Monday in Uyo. Read details at: http:///j3KB7

Barring any last minute change in plans, President Goodluck Jonathan will today request the National Council of State to ratify a presidential pardon for the disgraced former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. See details at: http:///qgYQj

The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum got off to a poor start Monday with the embattled Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Rotimi Amaechi, and five other governors shunning the maiden meeting of the group in Abuja. See details at: http:///7qAet

After years of trials and baby-mama dramas, Nigerian singer, 2face, and Nollywood actress, Annie Macaulay, have succeeded in convincing sceptics that their over a decade long relationship was not just a flash in the pan, as their traditional marriage rites holds on Friday, at the Apostolic High School, Esit Urua Community, Eket – Ibeno Road, in Uyo, the bride’s hometown. Read more at: http:///0MrDh

Nigeria Can’t Trace Sponsors Of Ghost Workers That Defraud Government Of N100bn

Government wants Nigerians to come up with ideas on how to fish out ghost workers on its pay roll.
The Nigerian government has been unable to trace any of its officials responsible for introducing about 45,000 ghost workers into the government’s payroll that cost the nation over N100 billion, the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said.

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said this in Abuja on Thursday during a media briefing on the 2013 budget.
Her colleague, Yerima Ngama, the Minister of State for Finance, had said last month that the federal government discovered over 45,000 ghost workers on its payroll after auditing 153,019 government workers.

The audit was executed in January on 215 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, MDAs, of the Federal Government.
“What we have done so far, we have covered 215 MDAs and we have discovered 45,000 ghost workers and that has reduced the total bill by about N100 billion,’’ Mr. Ngama said.

A month after Mr. Ngama made the statement, no official has been held responsible for the fraud.
Unable to catch fraudsters

While responding to a PREMIUM TIMES enquiry during the media briefing, the finance minister said the government was still trying to identify the culprits.

“We haven’t caught anybody. I can’t tell you that today we have one person yet,” Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said. “But, it is something that is exercising our minds that if we are getting this, we must try to trace how some of these things are entering. If we don’t, they may enter again.”

The Minister appealed to journalists and Nigerians to suggest ways of identifying the officials responsible for the fraud.

“It’s something we have been thinking about how to get to. So, if you have any ideas of how people do this, please share with us. We are open to information,” Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said.

She said the government was baffled about how the names of the ghost workers always manage to get into the pay systems of the MDAs.

“It may be a little difficult to identify who has actually put the names of the ghost workers in the system,” Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said. “We (federal government) cannot verify the details of the person, because there is no biometric information. What is obvious is that there is someone there who is not real. But how their names got into the system, from which MDA (ministry, department or agency) they came is a little more difficult to trace.”

The minister said the federal government “hears stories of certain officers in the ministries slotting in names for themselves.”

“But how to ascertain that is something that is not very easy. What we have been asking ourselves is: How do we figure out who put in those names, so that they can be dealt with? It is a task that government has,” she said.

She explained that the government was working with some forensic auditors to find ways of resolving the problem; adding that periodic forensic audits and checks would continue to rid the system of the ghost workers.

http://premiumtimesng.com/business/123689-nigeria-cant-trace-sponsors-of-ghost-workers-that-defraud-government-of-n100bn-okonjo-iweala-says.html

President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that there would be no amnesty for members of the Islamic fundamentalist group, Boko Haram, unless they show themselves physically for negotiations. See details at: http:///lySyd