Imams’ visit: CNPP wants Yar’Adua removed
From JACOB EDI, Abuja
Monday, April 05, 2010


Yar’Adua
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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Last week’s visit by Chief Imam of Abuja, Ustaz Moahmmed, has opened fresh demands by the opposition for urgently invoke Section 144 of the nation’s constitution. By the provisions of the section, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) is empowered to declare vacant the office of the president of the country if he is incapacitated.

The demand for the invocation of the section became intense since the return of President Yar’Adua into the country and yet he has not been seen in public. The Tunde Bakare-led Save Nigeria Group (SNG) has been at the forefront of the agitation even before the cabinet was dissolved.
But on Sunday, in Abuja, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) renewed the call for the invocation of Section 144 of the constitution by the Federal Executive Council.
CNPP’s statement, signed by Osita Okechukwu, it National Publicity Secretary, said the need for President Yar’Adua to be declared incapacitated was based on the statement credited to the Chief Imam of Abuja.

“The visit of the Chief Imam of Abuja National Mosque, Ustaz Mohammed, and three other Muslim clerics to President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, has once more brought to the front burner the imperativeness of the new Executive Council of the Federation (EXCOF) to invoke Section 144 to avail Nigerians of the true state of his health,” the statement said. CNPP said Nigerians were eager to know the state of President Yar’Adua’s health and whether he is capable of discharging his responsibilities as president .

“The invocation of Section 144 is imperative, for going by the statement of the Chief Imam, the capacity of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to discharge the functions of his high office is questionable; more so when the visit was not made public nor either the acting president or the president of the Senate and speaker of the House of Representatives were offered the golden opportunity accorded the Imams.

“In the absence of doubting the veracity of the sImams’ visit, the state of the health, and indeed the permanent capacity of the president to discharge the functions of his office, cannot be measured or determined by any other scale except the one clearly stipulated in the 1999 Constitution – Section 144.

“Consequently, CNPP challenges the new EXCOF to, as a matter of urgent national importance to invoke Section 144 and break the gridlock and the paralysis of a divided-presidency,” the statement insisted. However the question on many lips at the weekend was whether the new FEC is in a better position to declare Yar’Adua incapacitated or the FEC which had been dissolved.




http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/apr/05/national-05-04-2010-002.htm

Yar’Adua posters flood Kaduna

Written by Hassan Ibrahim
Supporters of ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua  in Kaduna might have commenced preparations to celebrate his purported return to office as speculated by pasting his colour posters  on  buildings, trees and  billboards on major streets  in Kaduna, even as people were seen in groups on Sunday, discussing the purported visit by some Islamic clerics to the president recently.

Although the sponsors of the Yar’Adua posters are still unknown, the glossy portrait had the logo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at the top with Nigeria, written boldly beneath, while a smiling Yar’Adua dressed in fine guinea brocade seemed to be assuring all that he was now okay.

Recently, a pro-Yar’Adua group in the state capital said to be sponsored by one Alhaji Alasore, staged a rally and traversed the nooks and crannies of the city in a convoy with hundreds of youths chanting Nigeria Sai Yar’Adua!

http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/3564-yaradua-posters-flood-kaduna.html

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan with President Umar Yar’Adua. Photo: NAN


Jonathan drops Seven-Point Agenda

By Sebastine Ebhuomhan


April 4, 2010 11:59PM
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As Nigeria’s acting president, Goodluck Jonathan, inaugurates a new cabinet next week, he appears bent on carving his own legacy by dropping ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua’s famous Seven Point agenda.

Mr. Yar’Adua had reduced his blueprint for the socio-political and economic transformation of Nigeria into seven sectors which his government promised to revitalise before the 2011 general election. The failure of his government in revitalising any of those sectors has been the bane of his administration.

Shortly before he dissolved the Executive Council of the Federation therefore, Mr. Jonathan was under severe pressure from influential Nigerians to dump the ailing president’s agenda, which had formed the pivot of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) programme.

Growing pressure

A presidency source disclosed that the agenda is scheduled for review once the new federal cabinet is inaugurated.

“There is a growing pressure on the acting president to review and possibly streamline the seven point agenda for a lasting and effective performance,” said the source. “A decision will be reached soon.”

The source said Mr. Jonathan will be substituting Mr. Yar’Adua’s agenda with something more practical. Speaking in the same vein, Ima Niboro, the acting president’s spokesman said, “Too much emphasis has been put on the seven-point agenda, particularly in the media. It is not a living document; just a set of guidelines that the Yar’Adua administration has used to implement key strategies. It would be foolish of us not to build on the very good work that has been done in the past three years. Some of the things will be adopted by the Acting President and yes other things will also be brought in. We are not completely discarding the ideas which have been proven to work.”

PDP keeps watch

As Mr. Jonathan considers changing the policies outlined in the Seven Point Agenda, it is not known how the change will be received by the PDP whose National Working Committee continues to watch the situation in silence. The opposition Action Congress (AC) has however advised Mr. Jonathan to throw out the seven point agenda without further delay.

According to Lai Mohammed, the party’s national publicity secretary, the government should concentrate on just three key areas of governance.

“Our position in the AC is that the acting president should just concentrate the government’s focus on the three major areas of electoral reform, Niger Delta and power instead of continuing with seven point agenda,” he said. “While the others are no less important, he should concentrate mostly on electoral reform. This is because electoral reform forms the basis and foundation of good governance, which is necessary for the country’s development.”

Mr. Mohammed’s view was echoed by Festus Iyayi, a former president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, who also urged the government to concentrate on just three prime areas of governance.

“If I have to advise the acting president, especially as he has a short time to spend, he should concentrate on just two or three agendas instead of wasting time on a long list of seven points that are not achievable,” Mr. Iyayi said. “The government should address the problem of Niger Delta within the context of energy and work towards the provision of infrastructure. In terms of the processes leading to the formation of a government, Acting President Jonathan must address the problem of electoral reform properly.”



http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5549557-146/jonathan_drops_seven-point_agenda__.csp

At least two killed in Nigerian riot: witness, media
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Slideshow:Nigeria Unrest 40 mins ago
LAGOS (AFP) – At least two people were killed when police fired live rounds to disperse a group of protesting youths in a suburb of Nigeria's commercial hub Lagos, a witness and local media said Sunday.

"The incident happened on Saturday at Ajegunle during a riot by some youths against the killing of a young man on Thursday by the police," witness Ebun Oyegunle told AFP.

She said the youths had marched to Ajeromi police station when police fired live bullets into the sky to disperse the crowd and in the process two of the protesters were hit by stray bullets.

"The two protesters died on the spot," she said.

Oyegunle said one police officer was injured when the protesters hurled stones and broken bottles at the police during the protests.

Local media said four protesters lost their lives in the incident.

Lagos police spokesman Frank Mba confirmed the riot took place, but said nobody was killed.

Nigeria's under-funded and under-equipped police are often criticised for corruption, inefficiency, human rights violations and extra-judicial killings.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100404/wl_africa_afp/nigeriaunrest?

machine happy sales

Woman conceals drugs in private part
•Hides some in 6-year-old twins’ pants
By UCHE USIM
Saturday, Aprilh 03, 2010



•Mrs. Adebukola Jimoh showing where she concealed the drugs
•Photo: Sun News Publishing
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A desperate couple eager to make quick money through drug trafficking has landed in the net of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The couple and their six-year-old twins were nabbed by officials of the NDLEA at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while boarding an Arik Air flight to London on Sunday, March 28.

According to the spokesman of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, the family head, Jimoh Oladega Bashir (46), his wife, Jimoh Mulikat Adebukola and their six-year-old twins were carrying 4.050 kg of white powdery substance that tested positive to cocaine.
Though the man had no drugs on him, the wife concealed 3.350kg in almost every part of her body. She had some on her breast and underwear. The innocent six years old twins were also used in packing 700 grammes of the illicit drugs.

According to Ofoyeju, the couple has a supermarket at Ajah, Lagos, adding that it was painful that they still engaged in the illicit act.
“Their reason for carrying drugs was that they were swindled of N2.2 million and needed to smuggle the drugs to enable them pay the school fees of their children.
Ofoyeju quoted Jimoh as saying: “We were to be paid £3,000 while some quantity of the drugs would have been given to us. Initially, I rejected the suggestion but they convinced my wife who persuaded me to do it. My son is at the Fountain University, Osogbo and I need to pay their school fees.”

The wife also blamed their involvement on school fees and other family financial responsibilities. In her words: “I have problem of my children’s school fees. I have six children and I intend to give them good education. I also have younger ones and aged parents to take care of. They asked me to swallow the drugs, but I was afraid, that is why I packed them in my body,” she stated.

The NDLEA spokesman said the twins had been released to the family members, but the couple will soon be charged to court.
Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, at a public forum in Bauchi State, last week, had warned real and potential culprits of hard drugs that the agency was ready, willing and able to keep up the fight against hard drugs.
He had called on stakeholders to intensify drug control efforts, as he identified illicit drug trafficking as a major threat to political stability in West Africa.



http://www.nigeriannews.com/

Jonathan unaware of Yar’Adua’s meeting with Imams
By Ihuoma Chiedozie, Abuja, Published: Saturday, 3 Apr 2010



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Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan


Acting President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan had no knowledge of President Yar‘Adua‘s reported meeting with some clerics, close friends and political associates in the Presidential Villa, Saturday Punch investigation has revealed.



Rather, our correspondent gathered that the Acting President got wind of the reported meeting from media reports.



There were reports on Friday that the ailing Yar‘Adua, who had not been seen in public since he took ill and was evacuated to Saudi Arabia on November 23 last year, met with some clerics, close friends and associates on Tuesday and on Thursday.



The Chief Imam of the Abuja National Mosque, Ustaz Musa Muhammed, was credited with the disclosure of Yar‘Adua‘s meeting with the delegation.



Those who reportedly had audience with Yar‘Adua included a businessman reputed to be one of his best friends, Alhaji Dahiru Manga; a member of the House of Representatives representing the Faskari Constituency, Alhaji Inuwa Shehu; and Bauchi State Governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, who is also his son-in-law.



Yar‘Adua was said to have met the above named individuals on Tuesday, March 30. Also, on Thursday, April 1, the President reportedly met with four Islamic clerics, namely, the Chief Imam of the Abuja National Mosque, Ustaz Musa Mohammed; leader of the Izala Muslim sect in Katsina State, Sheik Yakubu Musa; Sheikh Isa Pantami; and the President of the Supreme Council of Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN), Sheikh Ibrahim Datti Ahmed.



A British Broadcasting Corporation report quoted Ustaz Mohammed as saying that Yar‘Adua sat next to his wife, Turai. and shook hands with the clerics, but he could not talk.



However, a source in the Presidential Villa told our correspondent on Friday that Yar‘Adua‘s reported meeting with the concerned individuals was unknown to the Acting President.



”The Acting President was not aware of this development. It came to his attention through media reports”, the source said.



The source added that ”there was nothing wrong in the President deciding to meet with his spiritual counsellors and close friends, even if he is yet to see or be seen by his deputy, the Acting President.”



There were feelers in the Presidential Villa on Friday that the reported meeting was arranged by the Yar‘Adua camp as ”a sort of public confidence building measure to assure Nigerians that the President is in the Presidential Villa and recovering.”




http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100403363968

wish u happy sales.

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bump

nice one, this my dream car, happy sales - but i thought lexus 204 is RX330 NOT 350.

Page last updated at 17:19 GMT, Thursday, 1 April 2010 18:19 UK
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Nigeria corruption fighter Nuhu Ribadu may return

Nuhu Ribadu fled Nigeria in fear of his life
The Nigerian government has requested the withdrawal of criminal charges against Nuhu Ribadu, the former head of the anti-corruption agency.

Mr Ribadu faces charges of not declaring his assets while in office.

The request is seen as paving the way for the appointment of Mr Ribadu as a special advisor on fighting corruption to acting President, Goodluck Jonathan.

On Wednesday, Nigeria's Senate approved 38 of Mr Jonathan's 39 nominees for a new cabinet.

As head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ribadu brought more than 1,000 cases to court.

Before his appointment no company in Nigeria had ever been charged for bribery.

But in 2007 he was removed in controversial circumstances and later charged with not declaring his assets while in office, a contravention of the 1999 constitution.

Anti-corruption campaigners say Mr Ribadu had upset powerful former state governors by trying to bring them to justice for alleged embezzlement.

He is currently in the United States but says he wants to return to Nigeria one day.

Mr Jonathan was named acting leader in February due to the on-going illness of President Umaru Yar'Adua, who has not been seen in public since November 2009.

Mr Ribadu was sacked shortly after Mr Yar'Adua won elections



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8599528.stm?

Army parades leader of Anambra kidnap gang
By Adelani Adepegba, Enugu, Published: Friday, 2 Apr 2010



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Governor Peter Obi


The 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu on Thursday paraded one Ebuka Ikenwachukwu, an alleged leader of a gang of kidnappers in Anambra State, which claims affiliation to the outlawed Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra.



Ikenwachukwu, who was dismissed from the Army in 2008, was arrested for impersonating an army officer on December 22, 2009 at Nnewi by soldiers from the military cantonment in Onitsha.



He was arrested with a locally –made pistol, two GSM handsets and numerous sim cards, which were seen as the paraphernalia of kidnappers.



The Army alleged that he was the head of a notorious kidnapping gang in Nnewi, Anambra State involved in the kidnapping of a Chinese man on March 7, 2009.



The Army said suspect was about being handed over to the police for prosecution as an impersonator on Tuesday when an intelligence report indicated that he was a suspected high profile criminal who had been declared wanted by the police for involvement in the kidnap of the Chinese, who died in captivity and was buried by the gang in Ebonyi State.



To establish the veracity of the allegations against the suspect, the Army showed a video clip of a MASSOB member, Innocent Orji, who mentioned Ikenwachukwu as the trainer of his gang members at a press conference held by the former Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro in Abuja last year.



Orji alleged that Ikenwachukwu led his boys to attack a police post at Nnewi, where they allegedly stole an AK 47 rifle.



But responding to questions, the suspect described himself as a freedom fighter and not a kidnapper or criminal.



He insisted that though he was acquainted with Orji, most of the allegations the MASSOB member made were false.



He denied allegations that he was dismissed from the Army, saying he had an honourable exit from the military.



He said he was asked to keep the Army identity card found on him until he is paid his gratuity by the authorities.



Ikenwachukwu said he would die fighting MASSOB’s cause even as he claimed to be a captain in the Biafran Army that the military uniform he was wearing belonged to the Biafran Army.



He said, “I didn’t train MASSOB members as criminals or kidnappers; I trained them as freedom fighters. The pistol found on me was confiscated from our security because our movement is non-violent.”



But the General Officer Commanding, 82 Division, Maj. Gen. Muhammed Isah, dismissed Ikenwachukwu’s defence, saying he is one of those giving the Nigerian Army a bad name through his alleged activities.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201004023112720

Nigeria makes fresh $5m pledge to Haiti
By AGENCY REPORTER, Published: Friday, 2 Apr 2010



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Nigeria has pledged $5m for the reconstruction of Haiti following the devastation caused by an earthquake on January 12.



The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Nigeria made the pledge on Wednesday in New York at the International Donor Conference for Haiti, where nearly $10bn was realised.



At the conference, co-hosted by the United Nations, the US and Haiti, UN member states and international partners pledged $5.3bn for the next two years and $9.9bn in total for the next three years and beyond.



Nigeria‘s Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Joy Ogwu, who announced the country‘s donation, said it was in addition to the 1.5 million dollars cash presented to the UN Flash Appeal Fund for Haiti in January.



The immediate past Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, presented the donation in New York and also pledged humanitarian and medical supplies worth $3.5m.



Ogwu told the UN-backed donor conference that in addition to the pledge, Nigeria would “assess and decide further ways to assist the people of Haiti.”



She said the challenge before the international community was to ensure that “medium and long-term measures enable the Haitian government to grow its economy, provide social services and meet its national and international obligations.



“The support we must give must be coordinated, coherent and consistent to avoid duplication, waste and overlap.



“Bilateral and multilateral donors must also take into account Haiti‘s national development strategy and offer comprehensive assistance that benefits the generality of the people.”



The Nigerian envoy, who was a prominent voice at the UN Security Council for the International Donor Conference for the long-term development of Haiti, emphasised Nigeria’s historical affinity with the people of Haiti.



“This affinity impels us to feel the pain and sorrow of Haitians in their most trying moments,” she said.



In an interview with NAN, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Benin Republic, Mr. Jean Marie Ehouzou, said the task ahead of the international community in rebuilding Haiti was huge.



Ehouzou expressed optimism that the African Union would make real its resolution to assist the Caribbean country following a resolution at the last meeting in Addis Ababa.



The foreign minister downplayed the absence of AU representatives at the meeting, insisting that “Africa has a special link with Haiti and we are here to support them.”



The European Union, an active participant in the donor conference, pledged $1.7bn to the rebuilding efforts in Haiti.



As many as 300,000 people were reportedly killed in the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti, regarded as the poorest country in the western hemisphere.



The disaster crippled the government and caused damage estimated at between $8bn and $14 bn.



Aid agencies have advocated that Haiti should be directly involved in the reconstruction efforts, but monitoring mechanisms should be included.



There are indications that the World Bank is due to act as a “fiscal agent” of a Multi Donors Trust Fund for Haiti.




http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100402422665

please jonathan get ur house in order and forget gadaffi, nigeria are expecting much from you and your new ministers to deliver fast,

Jonathan warns Ghadaffi over comments on Nigeria

By Elizabeth Archibong


April 1, 2010 12:09PM
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Acting president, Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday in Abuja warned African leaders to be diplomatic when making statements about other nations.

He said this while receiving the Liberian President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf who was visiting to broker peace between Nigeria and Libya over statements by the Libyan leader, Muammar Ghaddafi that Nigeria should break up.

Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf was received at the presidential villa at about 5pm yesterday by Mr. Jonathan and his protocol team, aides as well the National Security Adviser, Aliyu Gusau and the Secretary to the government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed. She came with a special envoy from the Libyan government which was led by Muhammed Sherif, Secretary General of World Islamic Call Society based in Tripoli. Others present were Rafa Al-Madani, the executive secretary of Forum for Arab-African Non Governmental Organisation and three Embassy staff in Nigeria.

Speaking to journalists after the closed door meeting between both presidents and their aides, Ima Niboro, the special adviser to the acting president on media, said the meeting was to create a rapport between the two countries and to mend fences.

"It is actually an initiative on her part to broker rapprochement between Nigeria and Libya; so she came with two special envoys from the president of Libya, President Ghadaffi and the purpose of the meeting basically is to establish the level of rapport so that the two nations can put behind them the recent statement that has been made and move forward. So it is a process that has been initiated and it is continuing and, God willing, we will see it to the end," he said.

When asked if Nigeria is actually ready to mend fences, Mr. Niboro said: "the acting president made it clear that all leaders should be diplomatic in their comments about other nations, that there are certain kinds of statement that you can make that can substantially ruffle feathers in other nations. So he actually said that there should be an effort from all other leaders to be a little circumspect over the affairs of other nations."

The peace process, he said, is brokered by the president of Liberia ‘to reinstate African unity, and to move ahead.' "The Liberian president is worried about the statements that the Libyan president made and their potential effect on African unity and that is why she came and has made this commendable effort to broker this peace," he said.



http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5548574-146/jonathan_warns_ghadaffi_over_comments_on.csp

here is real source from yahooooooooo, this not april fool, truth always bitter, but with truth you can achive many things, nuhu ribadu u are welcome back,



Nigeria drops charges against ex-head of graft body
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Facebook Twitter Delicious Digg Fark Newsvine Reddit StumbleUpon Technorati Yahoo! Bookmarks Print AFP/File – The Nigerian government has asked for charges to be dropped against the former head of its anti-graft … Thu Apr 1, 5:39 am ET
LAGOS (AFP) – The Nigerian government has asked for charges to be dropped against the former head of its anti-graft body who is on trial for failing to declare his assets while in office, his lawyer said Thursday.

"The federal government filed the application to discontinue the trial of Nuhu Ribadu before the code of conduct bureau. The application will be approved on April 8," Femi Falana told AFP.

Ribadu, a senior police officer, was appointed by former president Olusegun Obasanjo to head the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He was removed as head in controversial circumstances in December 2007 and accused of not declaring his assets while in office in compliance with the 1999 constitution.

Anti-graft campaigners say that Ribadu fell foul of powerful former state governors by trying to bring them to justice over embezzlement charges, arguing that the anti-corrption war has lost steam since his removal.

Transparency International still ranks Nigeria as one of most corrupt countries in the world





http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100401/wl_africa_afp/nigeriacourtcorruptiontrial?

Nigeria charges 20 with terrorism in Jos attacks
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Facebook Twitter Delicious Digg Fark Newsvine Reddit StumbleUpon Technorati Yahoo! Bookmarks Print Play Video Terrorism Video:Did Insurance Settlement Fund Cabbie Terror Plot? CBS 2 Chicago Play Video Terrorism Video:Bombs in Dagestan, Chechens claim Moscow blasts AP Play Video Terrorism Video:Insecurity cams? About half in NYC don't work AP 21 mins ago
JOS, Nigeria (Reuters) – Nigerian authorities charged 20 people on Thursday over their roles in sectarian clashes that killed hundreds in central Plateau state last month, and some could face the death penalty.

Authorities are under growing pressure to prosecute those behind the March 7 attacks on three villages near Jos, the capital of Plateau state, in a bid to prevent future violence.

More than 160 people have been arrested and police say more suspects will be charged in the coming weeks, but Nigeria's judicial system is known to be slow and it can take months before any are convicted.

Police said last week that of the 162 suspects arrested, they intended to charge 41 with terrorism and culpable homicide, which are punishable by death.

All 20 who were charged pleaded not guilty to five counts of arson, terrorism, killing, maiming and possession of dangerous weapons at a federal court in Jos.

Justice Stephen Adah ordered they remain in prison and adjourned the case until April 15.

Fierce competition for control of fertile farmlands between Christian and animist indigenous groups and Muslim settlers from the arid north have repeatedly sparked unrest in central Nigeria's "Middle Belt" over the past decade.

Politicians, diplomats and rights groups have called on the government to prosecute the community leaders and gangs behind the fighting if it wants to avert future conflicts.

Those arrested in past violence have been freed after a few weeks, rights groups said.

(Reporting by Shuaibu Mohammed; Writing by Tume Ahemba; Editing by Randy Fabi and Elizabeth Fullerton




http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100401/wl_nm/us_nigeria_clashes_charges?

Nigeria drops charges against ex-head of graft body
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Facebook Twitter Delicious Digg Fark Newsvine Reddit StumbleUpon Technorati Yahoo! Bookmarks Print AFP/File – The Nigerian government has asked for charges to be dropped against the former head of its anti-graft … 17 mins ago
LAGOS (AFP) – The Nigerian government has asked for charges to be dropped against the former head of its anti-graft body who is on trial for failing to declare his assets while in office, his lawyer said Thursday.

"The federal government filed the application to discontinue the trial of Nuhu Ribadu before the code of conduct bureau. The application will be approved on April 8," Femi Falana told AFP.

Ribadu, a senior police officer, was appointed by former president Olusegun Obasanjo to head the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He was removed as head in controversial circumstances in December 2007 and accused of not declaring his assets while in office in compliance with the 1999 constitution.

Anti-graft campaigners say that Ribadu fell foul of powerful former state governors by trying to bring them to justice over embezzlement charges, arguing that the anti-corrption war has lost steam since his removal.

Transparency International still ranks Nigeria as one of most corrupt countries in the world



http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100401/wl_africa_afp/nigeriacourtcorruptiontrial?

truth always bitter, but with truth you can achive many things, now nuhu ribadu will come back home, all the corrupt politician will hide their head in shame, soon many will be in prison, please act presdo we want him to head ( efcc or inec boss ) congratulation mr ribadu, u are welcome back to naija again, this evil men's in politics must brought to book soon, change has come to nigeria, nigeria leaders stoooooooppppppppppp lootiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnggggggggggggg

sorry april foolllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

« #1 on: Today at 08:39:19 AM »

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I heard INEC chairman


Ribadu is ok for inec chair

wowooooooooooo it's april foollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

| EFCC, ICPC have failed—Bankole
EFCC, ICPC have failed—Bankole
01 April, 2010 02:09:00 Our Reporter
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Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole yesterday said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had failed to carry out their responsibilities effectively, in spite of several recommendations from the National Assembly.

Bankole also stated that trillions of naira in non-remitted Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from the federal ministries and parastatals end up in private pockets annually.

He expressed concern that some of the findings of the House of Representatives through its oversight function, bordering on corruption were not being properly handled by the EFCC and allied bodies.

He spoke in Ibadan, Oyo State capital while delivering a keynote address at the official inauguration of the Board of Trustees and Governing Council of the Yoruba Academy, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) founded by Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) and some Yoruba leaders of thought.

While condemning the noticeable high profile corruption in Nigeria, he said between N800billion to N1trillion Internally Generated Revenue were being collected annually "but not remitted to the Treasury."

"No arrest was also made on many of such revelations despite the House of Representatives recommendations," he said, stressing that corruption in the country was not a national problem alone but also a visible phenomenon at the states and local government levels because Nigeria is a country where people do not want to be asked questions.

Bankole said the House of Representatives findings following its oversight functions at the Nigeria Ports Authority [NPA] sometime ago showed that the parastatal only remitted into the treasury a paltry sum of N11billion out of N548billion it generated, while it took the anti-graft agencies a long time to respond to the House reports on the development. "Who else are the EFCC and ICPC looking for?" he queried.

He challenged the Yoruba race to strive towards achieving her lost glory which, he said, had been terribly eroded in the last 10 years in the comity of states in Nigeria.

He said it was no longer a secret that the Yoruba, which over the years played prominent role in the scheme of things in Nigeria, has already been relegated to the background. He implored the newly established Yoruba Academy to strive to correct the situation in order to give hope to the coming generations.

He noted the poor performance of Nigerian students in public examinations including the recently released Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by National Examination Council [NECO] saying that the South West, which used to treasure education like industry has already been caught by the bug.

‘’South-West should be the bastion of education, but something has gone wrong in the last 10 years and somebody not properly educated would lack culture,’’ he said.

Hon. commended the motivator of the academy, for its commitment to the renaissance of Yoruba culture, language, ethics and other attributes that in the past distinguished the race from others.


http://www.champion.com.ng/index.php?news=30264

Ghadaffi apologises to Nigeria over comments
National News Apr 1, 2010 *As Jonathan warns African leaders

By Daniel Idonor

ABUJA—APPARENTLY remorseful over his misguided comments on Nigeria, Libyan dictator, Colonel Mamman Ghadaffi yesterday began an apologetic moves aimed at healing wounds inflicted on Nigeria, following the diplomatic row that resulted from his call for the splitting of Nigeria along religious lines.

This is coming on the heels of the Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan’s warning that African leaders should exercise restraint while making statements that affect the psychology of the people and governments of other countries of the continent, insisting that leaders must be very diplomatic in their comments and utterances.

Ghadaffi’s move was announced at a meeting between Jonathan and the Liberian President, Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson who led a high power delegation of the Libyan government headed by that country’s special envoy and the Secretary General of World Islamic Call Society based in Tripoli, Muhammed A. Sherif.

Another member of the Libyan peace mission to Nigeria is Mr. Rafa Al-Madani, the Executive Secretary Forum for Arab-African, a Non Governmental Organisation, NGO, also based in Tripoli and three embassy staff in Nigeria.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the diplomatic talks, the Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President on Media and Publicity, Mr Ima Niboro, said the move “is actually an initiative on her (Liberian president) part to broker rapprochement between Nigeria and Libya.”


http://www.nigeriannews.com/

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Judge jails ex-Lagos LG boss two years without option of fine
By Kazeem Ibrahym, Published: Thursday, 1 Apr 2010



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An Ikeja High Court on Wednesday sentenced a former Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government Council, Luqman Ajose, to two years imprisonment without an option for fine for defrauding the council with N1.03m.



The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission had arraigned the convict on a six-count charge of using his office to confer corrupt advantage during his tenure as the chairman.



According to the anti-graft agency, the offence is contrary to Section 19 of the ICPC Act of 2000.



When the charge was read to the convict, he pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the offence.



Delivering his judgment, Justice Joseph Oyewole held that the convict was guilty on counts one, two, five and six but acquitted him on counts three and four.



The judge said, “I have considered the allocutus (plea for leniency) of the learned defence counsel as well as the entire circumstances of this case.



“Corruption has been broadly identified as major impediments to the growth of our nation and as given to monstrous proportions in that wise, every proven incidence thereof must not be treated with kid gloves if the monster is to be tamed.



“In the circumstances therefore, the defendant is hereby sentenced to two years imprisonment without the option of fine on each of counts one, two, five and six.”



The anti-graft agency had accused the former chairman of collecting N183,500 belonging to the council for purportedly attending a three-day seminar organised by Abuja Chambers of Commerce and Industry between June 27 and 29, 2000 which he never attended.



The agency also accused Ajose of using his position as chairman of the council to confer corrupt advantage upon himself by collecting N141,400 belonging to the council for purportedly attending a workshop on Local Government Policy Administration and Implementation Strategies, in June 2000 which he never attended



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100401491242

Assets declaration: FG withdraws case against Ribadu
By Tobi Soniyi and Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja, Published: Thursday, 1 Apr 2010



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former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu


The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation has applied to the Code of Conduct Tribunal to withdraw the case of non-declaration of assets instituted against the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.



The Head of Press and Public Relations at the CCT, Mrs. Idowu Jokpeyibo, said that the decision to withdraw the case was made known at the resumed hearing of the tribunal on Wednesday in Abuja by Dr. J.O. Olatoke, the Special Assistant on Litigation to the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation, Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN).



At the sitting, Olatoke declared that the move had nothing to do with a new application which the defence counsel intended to submit for the CCT to strike out the case.



Ribadu’s lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, represented by Mr. Samuel Ogalla, had earlier told the tribunal’s Acting Chairman, Justice Murtala A. Sani (SAN), of his intention to submit an application for the tribunal to strike out the case against his client.



Ogalla’s application was rejected by Justice Sani based on the fact that the tribunal had no substantive chairman and therefore could not take a new motion. Also, he said the CCT could only attend to non-controversial matters.



Justice Sani then advised Olatoke to formalise his application for the withdrawal of the case for proper documentation at its next sitting on April 8, 2010.



Speaking after the sitting on what prompted the withdrawal of the case, the prosecuting counsel said, “Before the dissolution of the cabinet, the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), reviewed the cases on ground and directed that this case should be withdrawn.”



Olatoke said the 1999 Constitution vested on the AGF the power of Nolle Prosequi to discontinue criminal prosecution at any stage of a case and that it was within the perogative of the AGF under the constitution to decide the cases he wanted to prosecute.



Reacting to the decision to withdraw the charges of non declaration of assets against Ribadu, Falana said his client had sent his declaration forms to the tribunal two weeks ago and that the forms were admitted in evidence.



He said that government may have discovered that there was no reason for the case in the first place.



He said, “Two months ago, we sent his asset declaration forms to the tribunal and they were admitted.



“There was no need for the case in the first place and this could be the reason the government withdrew it.”



On November 20, 2009, the CCT had ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, to arrest Ribadu for refusing to appear before it.



Acting on the tribunal’s order, the police last December declared Ribadu wanted.



The signal, which was marked “immediate,” was also addressed to INTERPOL



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201004013284770

Jonathan adds Turai's name to ministerial list (By Tolu Ogunlesi)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oh, it's April Fools Day!

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5548575-146/jonathan_adds_turais_name_to_ministerial.csp

UK to invest £30m in Nigerian public transport systemBritain to pay for buses and trains to replace molues and danfoes - Lagos's legendarily hectic buses and minibuses
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John Vidal
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 31 March 2010 17.06 BST
Article history

Lagos is set for a major transport overhaul Photograph: Pius Utomi Ekpei /AFP/Getty Images

Anyone who has experienced the "molues" and "danfoes" - the notorious buses and minibuses of Lagos - will understand the word anarchy. They carry huge numbers of people round the African mega-city but they respect no traffic lanes, bus-stops or policemen, many are falling apart and they belch some of the the dirtiest smoke in Africa.

But Britain is hoping to bring some order to the city of legendary traffic jams and road rage by trying to rationalise its public transport system. Over the next few years it will invest more than £30m increasing the number of bus routes, bringing in bigger buses and helping to build two new train lines to go through some of the most densely populated areas of Lagos.

Lagos has a population of 16 million but the Nigerian government expects this to grow to over 25m in the next 20 years, leaving the city authorities unable to provide clean water and electricity, or to keep pace with the growth of slums. Unless investments are urgently made in the infrastructure, says the UK's Department for International Development, the situation will become critical. It now plans to invest in improving slum areas in other African cities.

The switch to investing in the urban environment rather than rural areas marks a significant shift in approach to combating poverty. Until very recently most aid has been directed at rural areas to try and stem the flow of people to cities and boost agriculture. But there is a new understanding that hunger in large cities and poverty is now as bad in cities as in rural areas.

"Investing in urban areas is a different set of challenges," said international development minister Gareth Thomas. "We have watched the rise of the mega-city, especially in Africa. Places like like Addis Ababa, Cairo and Johannesburg will all see massive expansion over the next 20-30 years. Unless we act now people will only live in slums.

"People find it difficult to access work outside their own impoverished areas due to lack of transport and potential industry around the slums is hampered by unreliable electricity sources," he said.

UN predictions show that, by 2030, 700 million people will live in towns or cities in Africa and of them, 70% will live in slums.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/mar/31/nigeria-molues-danfoes-uk-invest?

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