₦airaland Forum

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Ibori: Aondoakaa endorses EFCC ‘s requests on 25 witnesses
Lanre Adewole, Abuja - 24.09.2009

Indications emerged in Abuja on Wednesday that the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa has endorsed a request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to have 25 operatives sent to London as witnesses in the money laundering trial of former Delta State governor, Chief James Ibori.

It was reliably gathered the minister gave the commission the requested go-ahead late on Wednesday evening following a fresh request submitted to his office a few hours earlier.

Commission’s secretary, Emmanuel Akomaye, according to sources privy to the submission of the request, signed the request letter submitted to the office of the AGF.

The commission and the minister had been involved in a ding-dong over the plan to send 25 operatives to London to testify in a money laundering case against Ibori in a Southwark Crown Court in London.
While indications from the commission suggested that the minister was opposed to releasing the operatives for the assignment by not endorsing an earlier request, the minister had denied ever stopping them from going.

He had claimed that the commission had not tabled a formal request before him as its supervising minister, while sources close to the commission claimed that he had pointedly told Akomaye who had reportedly been relating with him on the release of the operatives, that nothing would make him grant the request.

The minister was said to have premised his argument on a claim that all the ingredients of the alleged offence had taken place in Nigeria and not even the existence of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) between Britain and Nigeria, would make him budge.

After the hoopla that followed the alleged earlier rejection of the request, sources revealed that the commission’s boss who returned from lesser hajj on Wednesday evening, directed Akomaye to take a fresh request to the minister, who was said to have eventually buckled under intense pressure and signed the request late last night.

While clearing himself of the initial refusal to release the operatives for the assignment, the minister had said that, “On the issue of 25 witnesses needed by the Met Police, nobody has brought that information to my notice and immediately I saw the publication in the papers today, I contacted the Secretary of the EFCC, Mr. Emmanuel Akomaye, who said they will be bringing whatever they have got from the Metropolitan Police on the next working day as regards the witnesses to testify in Ibori’s case.

“I have no request on my desk in relation to these witnesses. As soon as my office receives the request, it will be treated with dispatch and as the law requires

“Let me make it clear on record that every Nigerian has a constitutional right of free movement and freedom of expression and therefore, the Office of the AGF will not breach the constitution by stopping anybody from testifying before any tribunal or court in Nigeria or outside, including the UK. That is the true fact.

“Lastly, these people are witnesses, they are not accused persons and they have a right to go anywhere to give oral testimony.

“So, the issue of trying to blackmail people and trying to create sensation does not arise. I will never prevent any Nigerian from testifying.”
http://www.tribune.com.ng/24092009/news/news19.html

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, yesterday foreclosed the possibility of returning the five banks whose management teams were recently sacked  to their former majority owners, saying the era of running banks as sole proprietorships was over.

This came hours after the banking watchdog said it will put out of circulation the current N5, N10 and N50 notes, which have now been replaced with polymer – a plastic material made from petrochemical products – by the end of March 2010.

Speaking at  an interactive session with the capital market community on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Sanusi  also said the results of the audit of the remaining banks would be made public early October 2009.

CBN had on August 14 sacked the managements of five banks – Afribank, FinBank, Intercontinental Bank, Oceanic Bank and Union Bank – over the huge non-performing loans of their banks and other alleged financial abuses.

The apex bank also injected N420 billion into them, saying lax governance had left the five banks undercapitalised.

Thereafter, it appointed new helmsmen into these institutions to stabilise and make them attractive for core investors.

Explaining the actions taken in respect of the five banks, Sanusi said that for now, the CBN had not offered them to any investors.

He said: “At this stage, we have not offered any of the banks to investors. We do not intend to force any investor on these banks. However, the CBN will not allow the banks to go back to the same one-man structure that led them to where they are. We will look for appropriate core investors, local or foreign that will bring the governance, the system and skills that will preserve the long-term value of shareholders by building an institution. We are not ready to hand over these banks to the former owners who ran them aground. We do not want sole proprietorships. Going forward, any bank that is licensed or that is operating must bear its mind towards becoming an institution and not sole proprietorship.”

The CBN governor said shareholders of the banks would be carried along whenever the time comes for them to be sold.

“Even when we have rights under the laws, we have chosen to use them responsibly. When there is a conflict between Banking and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) and Companies and Allied Matter Act (CAMA), BOFIA reigns supreme. However, the CBN is very concerned that there are many people who have bought shares in the banks and who have nothing to do with the conditions that the banks are and who must be treated in fair and transparent manner in everything that we do. We will no treat shareholders unfairly and we will go through all the processes we need to go through before any change is made.  But we will not allow the institutions to fall back to the scenario they were before,” he said.

Speaking on margin facilities granted by some of the banks to capital operators, Sanusi  advised banks to stick to any repayment arrangement made before the banking reform commenced.

Stockbrokers had told him that before the five CEOs were sacked, they had entered into restructuring agreements with banks to repay their loans over a certain period of time, but that the take-over of five of the banks has necessitated some of these banks to renege on the agreements.
Sanusi said he did not ask anybody to go after any stockbroker.

“How the banks organise with their borrowers to recover their money, whether two years or more the CBN will not dictate. If anybody tells you that I said go to that broker and recover your money, that one I did not do. What we said is that the banks should make provisions for the facilities that have depreciated due to the losses in the market.

“What we are saying is that make the necessary provisions and recognise the losses. If the market bounces back, take the profit. But for now recognise the losses. However, you can understand the pressure they are under and they have shareholders and they have made losses. The only way to minimise their losses is to accelerate recovery,” he said.

However, Sanusi blamed some of the banks and stockbrokers for the huge amount borrowed for stocks trading.

Sanusi, who said that the failure of all regulators in the financial system partly led to the current problems, added that the primary focus should be the lessons so far learnt from the incidences that led to the sack of the CEOs of the five banks and the fallout.

“For us all, what lessons have we learnt from the situation? I mean the CBN Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), NSE and the brokers. What changes are we putting in place to make sure that these mistakes do not happen again? Going forward, there should be more collaborative efforts among the regulators,” he said.

The CBN boss said that contrary to reports, foreign banks are still dealing with the five banks, adding that credits lines of the latter have not been withdrawn.

Meanwhile, the chief executives of the five banks have assured Nigerians that the  loan recovery efforts are on course. The CEO of Oceanic Bank,  Mr. John Aboh, said so far N20 billion has been recovered. Similarly, the CEO of Afribank Nigeria, Mr. Nebolisa Arah, disclosed that N20 billion had been recovered, while FinBank Plc, according to its CEO, Mrs.  Suzanne Iroche, had recovered N5.5 billion. The CEO of Intercontinental Bank, Mr, Lai Alabi said a total of N29.6 billon had so far been recovered.

On her part, the CEO of Union Bank, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, said the bank targets 35 per cent recovery before the end of the year, saying about 10 per cent had been achieved.

Meanwhile, the current N5, N10 and N50 notes billed to be phased out by the end of March 2010 will be printed in polymer and put in circulation from September 30 this year after a formal launch by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

The new notes will circulate side by side the old notes for six months when the latter will cease to be legal tender.

Sanusi said that the apex bank will from today commence sensitisation of the public on the new notes across the country, using various medium of communication.

He said the notes have retained their current sizes, designs and other key elements, adding that the watermark has been replaced with the transparent window and G-switch which turns from green to gold when the note is lifted.

The Governor said 1.9 billion pieces of the new currencies are ready for circulation, having been printed by the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company and a foreign printing firm.

The CBN had in 2007 during the tenure of the former Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, launched currency reforms. The first phase was the conversion from paper to polymer. The currency reform was meant to address the convenience, security, durability and cost effectiveness of the naira. Only the N20 note was converted that year.


http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=154713

Ribadu sneaks into Nigeria - Visits Gani’s family
Kunle Oderemi, Muda Oyeniran and Friday Ekeoba, Lagos - 11.09.2009

THE former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Thursday night, sneaked into the country from Britain to pay a condolence visit to the family of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), in Ikeja.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that Ribadu was accompanied by a popular Lagos-based lawyer cum constitutional lawyer (name with held) during the visit at exactly 7.00pm.

His visit triggered a little stir as there was no initial indication that the family was expecting such a high profile guest.

He wrote in the condolence register: “I have lost a father, a friend and mentor. But I’m greatful to God for the chance to have a very inspiring relationship with chief. He helped to shape my life. He made me to believe in the truth and justice and have the courage to stand by these ideals. May his kind and gentle soul rest in peace. God will be kind to Gani, because he was a kind and good man.”

Details of his visit to the family were sketchy at press time as most of the persons around the premises declined comments.

It could not be established the route he followed into the country, as the EFCC had declared him wanted for sundry allegations.

There was suspense everywhere before he arrived at the residence, following strange movements by some individuals involved in the burial rites for the deceased, which began on Monday.

His visit was brief, apparently because of anxiety that security operatives could be on his trail.

He signed the condolence register precisely at 7.00pm and simply wrote, “Ribadu, Oxford University,” where he has been studying since he left the country.

Attempts by our correspondent to speak with the widow of Gani, Alhaja Ganiat did not succeed, as other relations said she had gone to bed at 8.00pm.

But a text message from a member of the family to one of our correspondents, confirmed the visit. The text, which was a response to an inquiry from us, read, “Ribadu visits.”

Ribadu and the present leadership of the EFCC have been locked in claims and counter-claims over details of some cases handled by the commission during his tenure.

The police had sent him to the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, near Jos, Plateau State, for further study and replaced him with Mrs. Farida Waziri.

But his travails aggravated, when the police top hierarchy demoted him from the rank of a Deputy Inspector General of Police, claiming that his initial elevation was fraught with errors.


http://www.tribune.com.ng/11092009/news/news3.html

[size=13pt]FG stalls Halliburton scandal probe[/size]

Chris Agbambu, Abuja - 10.09.2009

THE Federal Government may have stalled further investigations into the $190 million Halliburton bribery scandal probe, following some revelations that have emerged from those so far quizzed and detained in connection with the scandal.

Informed and reliable sources disclosed to the Nigerian Tribune that the Federal Government was not comfortable with the linking of certain people and a political party with the bribe.

The source revealed that following this development, the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation decided to sit on the N50 million released two months ago by the government to facilitate further investigations on the matter.

Reliable sources disclosed that the French, Swiss and the British governments had given permission to the probe panel to visit their countries to unravel other details in the bribery scandal, but members of the panel could not access the money approved for it because of certain interests.

The source informed that the confession allegedly made by former Special Assistant to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Mr. Bodunde Adeyanju, that he personally collected the sum of $6 million from a former group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) jolted the authorities and were doing everything possible to stall further investigations.  

According to the source: “Even the search warrant issued by a competent court of jurisdiction to be executed on the house of Bodunde after his revelation was halted from the top.”

Nigerian Tribune learnt that about five people were deeply involved in the scandal and had been recommended to the Federal Government in the interim report that they should be prosecuted.

Among those recommended for prosecution included the former group managing director of NNPC, Chief Gaius Obaseki, brother of late head of state, Abdulkadir Abacha, who escaped to London in the wake of the probe and has since not returned.

Others are former Chief of Air Staff, AVM UD Bello and former Special Assistant to President Obasanjo, Mr. Bodunde Adeyanju.

Meanwhile, since the exit of the former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mike Okiro, who was the chairman of the probe panel, the new IGP, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, is yet to address members of the panel as he automatically becomes the new chairman.

Tongues are now wagging about what becomes of the panel as efforts made for further investigations into the scam are being frustrated. [/b]

http://www.tribune.com.ng/10092009/news/news3.html
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But why is everything about this government tending towards Backwardness ??

Fhemmmy:
You called him, he is still saying the same thing - You actually expected him to say somethng else, knowing fully well, with you, he can get away with murder?
you called his wife - That made you to be what? His other woman?
Told her she infected him - You sure worried cos you wanna keep screwing the man?
Maybe that will scatter them too, or what do you think? - It is not for me to think, it is for me to think, u need special prayer, or a big hit in the head and hopefully that will wake you up from your sleep.
I am sorry if i am being harsh, but almost everything out of your mouth is just making me sick and cant hold it back.

Honestly @phemmy, I don't cherish your sense of mis-judgement for such a woman in such a confuse state of mind.

By JOHN CURRAN, Associated Press Writer John Curran, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 14 mins ago
DUXBURY, Vt. – After 17 years together, Bill Slimback and Bob Sullivan couldn't wait another minute to get married. So they didn't.

With Vermont's new law allowing same-sex marriage only a minute old, they tied the knot in a midnight ceremony at a rustic lodge, becoming one of the first couples to legally wed under a law that took effect at midnight Monday.

Dressed in suits, saying their vows under a large wall-mounted moose head, the two Whitehall, N.Y., men promised their love, exchanged rings and held hands during a modest 17-minute ceremony. Moose Meadow Lodge co-owner Greg Trulson, who's also a Justice of the Peace, presided.

"It feels wonderful," said Slimback, 38, an out-of-work Teamster who is taking Sullivan's last name as his own. "It's a day I've been long waiting for, and a day I truly honestly thought would never come."

Slimback said he and Sullivan, 41, have long wanted to cement their relationship with a wedding, but since they couldn't legally marry in New York they chose to wed even before Vermont's gay marriage era officially dawned.

Vermont is one of five states that now allow same-sex couples to marry. Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Iowa are the others.

Vermont, which invented civil unions in 2000 after a same-sex couple challenged the inequality of state marriage statutes, was a mecca for gay couples who to that point had no way to officially recognize their relationships.

Since then, other states have allowed gay marriage, as did Vermont, which in April became the first state to legalize gay marriage through a legislative decree and not a court case.

Some couples — including many who obtained civil unions in Vermont — plan to return to the state to get married. But most are in no rush. City and town officials say only a handful of licenses had been issued to same-sex couples in anticipation of Tuesday's start.

"We've waited a long time to do this — basically, our whole lives," Slimback said Monday. "We've been waiting for a chance to actually solidify it," he said. He and Sullivan said they never wanted to obtain a civil union because they believe that's a kind of second-class recognition.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090901/ap_on_re_us/us_gay_marriage;_ylt=Ai60MGmBwhzNL5pCPbzPJ0eWwvIE;_ylu=X3oDMTJpY250bDVtBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwOTAxL3VzX2dheV9tYXJyaWFnZQRjcG9zAzYEcG9zAzYEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yaWVzBHNsawNzYW1lLXNleG1hcnI-

I got it on the facebook Now that Moladun is dead. But i want to be very careful about the news. Did you hear anything?

Baba Suwe's Wife Monsurat Omidina A.k.a Omoladun Is Dead

After a Weekend with Mosquitoes, Cecilia Ibru Collapses in Court
By Francis Ugwoke, 09.01.2009
 
The former Chief Execu-tive Officer of Oceanic International Bank Plc, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru, collapsed yesterday in court after battling mosquitoes in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commis-sion (EFCC) where she spent last weekend.
Ibru had surrendered herself to the EFCC last Wednesday at the commission’s Lagos office and rather than release her after interrogation, she was detained throughout the weekend.
The former Oceanic Bank CEO slept on a mattress in a four-wall room in EFCC detention camp.
Ibru’s lawyer told THISDAY last night that because of lack of power and the fact that EFCC had no diesel for its generator, at 7pm most days the former Oceanic boss’ room would normally be infested with mosquitoes.
Although Ibru was with her doctor, Major-General Gabriel Ovadje (rtd), in detention, the doctor was, however, restricted to the waiting area downstairs, a heartbeat away from the detention room.
Efforts by the doctor to get the EFCC officials to make diesel available for the generator yielded no fruit as they were said to have insisted they had no such brief.
The former Oceanic CEO who has been married to Olorogun Michael Ibru for close to 45 years is used to comfort.
Ibru, who all along appeared stressed up, suddenly collapsed in the dock after 18 of the 25-count charge had been read to her.
The development, which caused panic in the court, stalled proceedings for about 10 minutes before her doctor, who had accompanied her to the court, attended to her and certified her fit to continue with the trial. 
EFCC could not be reached last night to react to the lack of power at their detention centre on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi.


http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=153288

EFCC Quizzes Otedola, Arisekola Over Debts
August 28, 2009 14:12 (2 hours ago), 363 views

By Astro Jewoola

Frontline Ibadan-based businessman, Alhaji Azeez Arisekola and oil magnate, Mr. Femi Otedola, this morning appeared before the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with the debts they are owing some of the five banks, whose chief executives were sacked two weeks ago by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Arisekola, arrived the EFCC office at Awolowo Road, Ikoyi at exactly 11:35 a.m. decked in a white guinea brocade with a swagger stick.

He refused to declare his mission but P.M.News gathered that the visit might not be unconnected with the N5 billion his company, Lister Oil Limited, is owing Intercontinental Bank Plc.

Otedola, who arrived earlier also declined to talk to journalists. He went into the EFCC office, carrying some documents. Otedola’s company Zenon Oil, is owing Union Bank N6.2 billion.

As at the time of filing this report (12 noon), both men were still in the EFCC office.
, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,,, ,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,

Surely there's no billionaire in Nigeria.   Na so so Billiondebtors deyyyy


http://thepmnews.com/2009/08/28/efcc-quizzes-otedola-arisekola-over-debts

@riyenews, that where we ussually find you!!!! PDP thug.
If Amosun wins now, u will say it's Tinubu that paved way for him,
NO BE sooo?

Sorry, No be here i won Come. I Miss the Road.,.,., I hissed and close the page.

Pls let them continue with debt collection. You know that when what u like to eat is finished, it is what u dont eat that remains.
At All At All, Na Im Bad.

Euchena:
mogentle,

Too bad that my husband was not one of the 63 deported Nigerians. I've done everything for him to save his ass and he started making plans to leave me on the same week that his papers were approved. He does not seem to care that the first card is temporary and when it is time for us to sign the joint papers for the permanent card those Calabar harlots that he consorts with can't help him and I'll be long gone. Idimilli can have him back

Shocking

U.S. Deports 63 Nigerians
By Chinedu Eze, 08.28.2009


United States has deported about 63 Nigerians for allegedly being in possession of illegal firearm and residing in the country without legal documents, according to the country’s Immigration Service Department.
The Nigerian deportees were brought into the country by a Boeing 737 with registration number N739mi, which landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at about 11.15 am on Wednesday.
THISDAY learnt that the Nigerians were brought into the country from Miami, USA and they  included Nigerians who had spent many years in the United States, and may   not have visited Nigeria in the past 10 years.
Among the deportees were seven female and 56 male whose faces were grim, sad and wrinkled with rage and who kept mum during the exchange procedure with Nigeria Immigration Service.
Also reports confirmed that many of the Nigerians had spent many years in U.S. with the least spending only two years. [b]About 80 per cent of the deportees were illegal immigrants who did not have valid documents.[/b]One of them who refused to disclose his name said he was arrested while he was on his way to the market, but admitted that his documents that authorised him to live in U.S. had since expired.In addition, he also lost his job to the global economic meltdown about three months ago.
[b]He also disclosed that he traveled to U.S. in 2004 when he could not secure a decent job in Nigeria.[/b]Many countries had become intolerant of illegal immigration due to the economic recession that is ravaging the world.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=152909

Ogun guber election tribunal gave it to Gbenga Daniel
Written by Sahara Admin
Thursday, 27 August 2009 06:08


The elections petition tribunal sitting in Ogun State ruled in favor of incumbent governor of Ogn State state, Gbenga Daniel whose controversial election of April 2007 had led the court of appeal to order a retrial.

http://www.saharareporters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3559:ogun-guber-election-tribunal-gave-it-to-gbenga-daniel&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=18

Union Bank, Intercontinental, 3 others may be acquired
Gbola Subair, Abuja - 27.08.2009
THE five troubled banks, Union Bank, Intercontinental Bank, Afribank, FinBank and Oceanic Bank, may cease to exist as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) wants them taken over by other banks in a recapitalisation plan to be unfolded in London on Friday.

A CBN source told the Nigerian Tribune that the apex bank governor, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, preferred the ailing banks being taken over by other banks rather than setting up an asset management company to take over the non-performing loans.

To ensure that other banks take over the ailing banks, the apex bank source said the banks would be valued properly by a consortium of valuers to ensure that they were not undervalued.

Friday’s meeting with international banks, lenders and rating agencies, according to the apex bank would also be used to discuss the recent N420 billion bailout for the five banks.

Sanusi will be accompanied by the new management teams of Afribank, FinBank, Intercontinental Bank, Oceanic Bank and Union Bank.

The CBN had, on August 14, 2009, injected N420 billion into the five banks and sacked their managing directors and the executive directors over what it described as weak and unethical management, which left the banks very weakly capitalised to the point of collapse.

In injecting the bailout, the apex bank said the capital injection was only a temporary measure and that the institutions would be run as ongoing concerns until new investors could be found to recapitalise and take them over.

However, this intention of the CBN may pitch the CBN against the shareholders of these banks who have vowed to resist any takeover of the banks through the backdoor.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/27082009/news/news3.html

http://thepmnews.com/2009/08/26/top-banks%e2%80%99-debtors-surrender-choice-properties


Top Banks’ Debtors Surrender Choice Properties
August 26, 2009 14:44 (57 minutes ago), 276 views

By Tokunbo Olajide

To escape the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, hammer, some top bank debtors yesterday scurried to the agency’s office in Lagos to tender title documents of choice properties, as a guarantee they would repay their loans.

A source at the Ikoyi, Lagos office of the anti-graft body confided in P.M. News last night that scores of notable bank debtors trooped to the premises yesterday to beat the deadline to pay up.

The EFCC’s threat to the debtors to pay up or face prosecution, the source noted, was paying off, as about N6.7 billion had been recovered, as at yesterday evening, from debtors of Oceanic Bank alone.

The one-week ultimatum given to the debtors of troubled banks to pay up expired yesterday, and the anti-graft agency has vowed to turn the heat on the debtors by going all out today in search of erring ones.

The EFCC Chairman, Mrs Farida Waziri, ahead of the start of the manhunt for the debtors, relocated to Lagos yesterday alongside 100 operatives and two units of mobile policemen.

At a press conference she addressed yesterday evening, Waziri said some of the recalcitrant debtors were secretly plotting “to escape arrest and prosecution for economic crimes.”

The EFCC boss, who cut short a briefing she was having with newly appointed CEOs of the five troubled banks on their debt recovery efforts, said some of the bank debtors were already on their way to court to seek protection against arrest and prosecution.

She, however, urged the courts not to entertain such pleas by debtors to get injunctions to make them immune from arrest and prosecution.

“While it is the right of every Nigerian to seek legal redress against perceived wrong, we would crave the indulgence of the respected members of the Nigerian Bench not to consider any frivolous interlocutory injunction application from bank debtors,” Waziri said.

According to her, the crime of the bank debtors goes beyond just their taking loans and not repaying, as that would have been a purely civil matter between them and the banks, for which the EFCC shouldn’t have been involved.

“What some of these individuals and organisations have done is pure economic sabotage, and we should not allow them to escape with their loot,” declared the EFCC boss.

Waziri explained that the EFCC was yet to arraign a total of 14 bank chiefs now in its custody because it was compiling the list of their loan defaulters, in order to be sure about them so it can arraign them as conspirators alongside the indicted bankers.

The EFCC, she said, was after the bank debtors because “some of them took loans without collateral, while others did so under fictitious conditions.

“So, money laundering and economic crimes come in; so that’s the basis. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s a civil matter. If it was civil, we won’t even come in,” Waziri said.

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Pretty Bride!!!
Are u sure this is real you or a pics from the net.?

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=152729

Repentant Militants to Get Jobs in Oil, Gas Sectors
•Tompolo agrees to lay down arms
From Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Ahamefula Ogbu in Port Harcourt, 08.26.2009

The Federal Government has continued to seek ways to quell the Niger Delta conflict. And the latest effort is geared towards providing job opportunities for repentant militants  in  oil and gas, information and communication technology and agriculture sectors, THISDAY has learnt.
Besides, Honourary Special Adviser to President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on Niger Delta, Mr. Timi Alaibe, yesterday met with traditional rulers of Gbaramatu kingdom and Government Ekpumopolo aka Tompolo, who he said hadfinally agreed to surrender his arms.

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Ufot Ekaette, disclosed the employment initiative yesterday in Abuja while delivering a speech titled: “Our Roadmap to Peace and Security in the Niger Delta Region: The 7-Point Agenda Connection,” at the opening of a 3-day  National Programme on Human Resource Development for Enhanced National Security organised by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in collaboration with the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and Hiltton Communications Limited.

Information made available by the minister indicates that relevant private service providers that would train the militants has been identified.
“In preparation for the provision of employment for ex-militants, the ministry has already identified qualified private sector service providers to train and provide jobs for trainees," said Ekaette.

A programme for special skills acquisition will be introduced for the youths as well, it was gathered. Other areas of focus include artisanship and integrated agriculture.

Ekaette explained that “while the security agencies are handling the disarmament and demobilisation of the ex-militants, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has worked out modalities for the re-integration of those who sign up for the amnesty. The re-integration involves reconciliation of ex-militants with the society through value re-orientation, mental adjustment as well as rehabilitation."

Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the occasion, Professor Fab Onah of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, bemoaned  the lack of bio-data and forensic records as well as adequate funding for security agencies in the country which he said was affecting national security and  urged government to expedite action in this regard.

The event was attended by security agencies including the State Security Services (SSS), Police, Federal Road Safety Commission, Nigerian Navy. Ekaette was represented by Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs Ann Eneta.

Meanwhile, Alaibe has assured the country that Tompolo will participate in the amnesty programme with his boys, after holding talks with the militant leader. He, however, declined further comments as he said he had to brief the President first to avoid details of such a mission ending up on the pages of newspapers.

While the leaders and traditional institutions in the Kingdom whom he also met agreed to lay down their arms, they requested that their neighbours be disarmed to avoid being taken by surprise.

Alaibe who was accompanied by officials of Ijaw Youth Council and Ijaw Youths Congress, Dr. Chris Ekiyo and Kingsley Kuku toured Oporoza, Kurutie and Okerenkoko to see the extent of damage to houses and personal properties. He was said to be amazed at the level of destruction, especially the looting of Okerenkoko Cottage hospital where all equipment, beddings and drugs were removed.

At Oporoza where the community received him at the palace of the paramount ruler of Gbaramatu Kingdom, HRM Godwin Benenibo, the community said they were unhappy that their palace which took them 10 years to build was razed to the ground by JTF.

They said that athough they contributed a lot to the national purse, there was little or nothing in their kingdom to show for their contributions.

They also lamented that there was no justification for the destruction visited on 53 of their communities. They however said they would prove that they were peace loving people by accepting the Federal Government's amnesty.

The position of the Kingdom was made known by Chief J. Ari who demanded from the Presidency details of the post amnesty plans.

All of u have gone off topic.

mayrho:
I NEED TO KNOW?

I've never watched the programme but i learnt it's interesting.

My Dear @Topic you will know very soon! Just watch out for the drama of multiple episodes

http://www.tribune.com.ng/25082009/news/news2.html

THE Group Managing Director of Global Fleet, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, on Monday, paid N3 billion by wire transfer to the Oceanic Bank International.

The bank had, in a letter dated May 18, 2009, put the total indebtedness of the Global Fleet Group at N8 billion, having acknowledged previous payment of another N3 billion between December 2008 and May, 2009.

Acknowledging the payment, on Monday, the bank, in a letter, thanked Ibrahim for his cooperation.

“The bank undertakes to refund to you any excess charges or debits on the account that is not authorised by you, or interest rate that is not in compliance with our term of loan as soon as the reconciled account is mutually agreed upon,” the bank said.

Ibrahim said his loan was performing and blamed the bank for any outstanding in the account, which he attributed to poor banking relationship.
According to Ibrahim, in 2007, Oceanic Bank, by a letter dated May 23, 2007, credited Global Fleet account with N1.98 billion, being reversal of excess charges and accrued interest on the company’s account.

He said Global Fleet had no reason to stop its relationship with Oceanic Bank, but advised the bank to be transparent.

He maintained that CBN would succeed only if it published exactly what everyone was owing and avoid computer error that had reduced some
people’s debt.

Jimoh Ibrahim Will Repay His Oceanic Bank Loan Today

http://www.tribune.com.ng/19082009/news/news12.html

ACE Nollywood actor, Pete Edochie, on Tuesday, said that his kidnappers told him that he was seized in protest of the obscene display of Nigeria’s stolen wealth by politicians.


Edochie, in an interview monitored on the Africa Independent Television (AIT), on Tuesday afternoon, said he was well treated by his captors for the 24 hours he was with them, noting that his kidnappers accorded him much respect and dignity.


He revealed his kidnappers told him they were not happy with the situation in the country. He said they told him that they were into the criminal act because they wanted to get their own share of the wealth being displayed by politicians. He said the kidnappers stated that although, people were repulsed by the act of seizing people, there was nothing else they could do.


He said they refrained from shooting victims to show Nigerians that they were just focused on making money and not taking lives. Edochie, who said they were youngmen, said he was grateful to them for the respect they accorded him.


He appreciated Nigerians for the concern during his captivity, saying he had to switch off his phone because he was feeling pains in both ears from taking calls.
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NLDers, Does the bad situation of our economy substantiate the reason for Kidnapping?

teetalks:
am as afraid as you are,

So do I.

@Becomrich,u have come again with this your stale merger talk. NIGERIA _BENIN merger.,.,.,,.,HIGHLY IMPOSICANT.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/18082009/news/news11.html


Umar slams Yar’Adua over federal character abuse
Hassan Ibrahim, Kaduna - 18.08.2009

FORMER Military Governor of Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (Rtd), has lambasted President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua over the appointment of a new Conmptroller-General of Customs, alleging that the president had ignored the principles of federal character.


He said in Kaduna on Monday, that for not disclosing the reasons or the considerations that guided the selection and appointment of Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde, as the new Conmptroller-General of Customs, over and above his superiors and other peers, the president had erred.


Umar described the development as a semblance of nepotism and a presidential inability to treat the whole country as one, adding that the action was a gross violation of the federal character principles.


“President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s increasing disdain for due process and the tendency towards arbitrariness portend to have posed a grave danger both to the unity and security of the country,” he said.


“Having chosen not to disclose the reasons or the considerations that guided the selection and appointment last week of Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde, as the new Comptroller-General of Customs over and above his superiors and other peers, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua had given the impression that he was unconcerned with the increasing apprehensions and anxieties the public feels about the way he is using the powers of his office.”


“Without a question, the public is right and entitled to expect that the president exercises those powers transparently and always for the promotion of the larger interests of the entire country.”


The appointment, he added, was a clear manifestation of nepotism tendencies which signaled the steady emergence of a disturbing pattern of nepotism, cronyism and chronic dinability to treat the whole country as a single constituency.


“All too often, as in this instance, a high profile office falls vacant and the president rushes to locate an indigene of Katsina (or in some cases, Kano State), to fill it. Few can pretend not to notice or take issues with the choice of Katsina-born Alhaji Abdullahi Inde, an Assistant Comptroller-General, a lower level position in the hierarchy of that institution, as Comptroller-General after recent appointments of Katsina State indigenes as chief executive officers of string of parastatals, including the Petroleum Trust Fund, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, the National Inland Waterways Authority and, for that matter, Federal Road Maintenance Agency.”

He said that in the opinion of the Nigerian public, no matter the qualifications of the appointees, the fact that President Yar’Adua ignored agreed principles of the federal character and national unity in carrying out the appointments, the intention rendered any of such qualities untenable.


“This should be a matter of deep regret considering that at least, one part of his recent appointees, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Governor of the Central Bank, has proved to be uncommonly well informed, competent and an effective regulator; a big credit indeed to his profession.“
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Do we really Have legislators in this country? I think they are supposed to be checking all these excesses, but they just approve any appointment anyhow.
Kanonisation and Katsinisation of our system is on. Watch out for more appointments,.,.,.,,.

Kobojunkie:
No, I really would prefer you actually read the posts yourself. The first on the difference between Tinubu and Fashola is not far from fact. I don't know why anyone would have issues with stating facts as they are. This particular thread, not providing any source, does not provide anyone any way of refuting the information without himself providing a source. So I am not sure why anyone would have a problem with any of the two.

@ Kobojunkie, its better u face reality and play the fact of the game. Why will someone not get concerned about a sensitive story with zero source. Those stories posted by same person aiming at thesame target.
@desgiezd was right for his concern and so do i. Q. E. D.

If you are opportuned to have little intel on what is going on, you will shiver down to your pants and you will fear fear

@ Ilugun, pls lets know now!

nex:
I think I should know who you're working for. That's what I think.

I know i'm working for my conscience and on behalf of the set of people that believe that Mrs. Clinton was totally right and that our leaders are not yet ready to face reality. QED.