Unconfirmed reports surfaced, saying that veteran highlife musician Fatai Rolling Dollar, is dead.
Born 22nd July 1926, Rolling Dollar was known for his verve and dexterity on the guitar.

His zest for life and energy, even in old age, was also a marvel to all who beheld him perform.

The 85-year-old highlife music icon who had his career revived at a point when it seemed all hope was lost, is reported to have passed away today June 12, 2013 at Ahmadiyya hospital located in the Igbado-Iyaiye environ of Lagos.

He was admitted into the local hospital weeks ago, although he came out last week to say he’s back on his feet and warming up to perform again.

NET could not immediately confirm reports of his death from family sources. But condolences are already streaming in via social media Twitter, Facebook and several blogs.

A few popular names in the Nigerian showbiz industry are already mourning, with many OAPs, musicians, actors and journalists sending out condolences on different platforms.

Fatai Rolling Dollar, born in the mid-twenties made highlife music very popular in the 60s and 70s. He had his career revived and made a comeback in the late 90s revamping the evergreen classic ‘Won kere si number wa’.
More UPDATE soon....

Source http://news.naij.com/36911.html

A former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, will today, Wednesday deliver a lecture to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election.
The election, described as the freest and fairest so far in the democratic journey of Nigeria, was won by late business mogul, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.
It was annulled by the military regime of retired General Ibrahim Babangida.
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the election, Kalu will speak on the topic: “20 years after June 12: Options for survival,” at a lecture organized by the Oodua People’s Congress.
The lecture, which holds at Excellence Hotel, Ogba, Lagos State, on June 12 at 11am, according to the National Coordinator of the OPC, Otunba Gani Adams, who is also the Chief Host, will have Kalu as the Guest Speaker and renowned academic, Prof. Akin Oyebode as Chairman.
The Special Guests of Honour for the lecture will be the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji; a former President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Dame Priscilla Kuye; and the President, Campaign for Democracy/Women Arise, Dr. Joe-Okei-Odumakin.

The British deputy high commissioner (DHC), Mr Peter Carter, has described as criminals those involved in illegal bunkering, pipeline vandals and others involved in illegitimate scooping of Nigeria’s oil.

Carter also expressed deep fears that if the trend is not addressed appropriately, the impact it will have on the economy would be colossal.

The high commissioner stated this during an interview with LEADERSHIP in Lagos yesterday. He cautioned the federal government on the steps being taken, saying full measures have become imperative now to wrestle the criminals.

“Those who steal the Nigeria oil are criminals and their activities are not in the economic interest of the country and her people,” he bluntly declared.

He also said pipeline vandalism occasioned by militant activities in addition to other forms of illegal acts on oil facilities have led to unquantifiable damage to the environment.

Carter, who perhaps was speaking on the strength of the country’s dependency on oil, warned that except drastic approach is taken with the concerted effort of all stakeholders, the oil thieves will continue to hold the nation to ransom.

He observed that the loss coming from oil theft is enormous and may create shock on the economy which is on the path of recovery.

The British envoy also maintained that without a legislative infrastructure and effective government policy in place, achieving real change in economic models as well as public and private behaviour would be significantly difficult.

He called for attitudinal change among the people but emphasised on the need for government to provide adequate fund mechanism to address dearth of infrastructure needed to prop the economy.

He added that the British government had shown keen interest in the country’s energy sector.

Carter said his government is discussing directly with the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) to develop a sophisticated carbon supply and demand forecasting tool for Nigeria.

He said, “We are also engaged in discussions with the Lagos State commissioner for energy and minerals in particular on renewable energy such as solar to power street lamps, energy from waste and hydro-power.”

Akpos, rukewe and John decided to go
to China for vacation.
Since they were new to the place they
had to stay
in a hotel. And their room was on the
60th floor. The policy of the hotel was that at
midnight the elevators were shut down.
The next
day, this guys rented a car and explored
the city. They enjoyed themselves and
arrived at the hotel past midnight. The elevators were shut
down.
There was no other way to get to their
room but
to take the stairs all the way to the 60th
floor. John said'''for the first 20 floors, I
will tell jokes to keep us going. Then
Tito could say
wise stories for the next 20 floors and
lastly, we will
cover the final 20 floors with sad stories from akpos.''
So,John
started with jokes. With laughs and
joy, they
reached the 20th floor. Tito started
saying stories full of wisdom. They learned a lot while reaching the 40th
floor.
Now it was time for sad stories. So,
Akpos
started: ‘My first sad story is that I
left the key for the room in the car

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was in the news recently, as he was quoted to have endorsed Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa state for the 2015 presidential election. Considering the profile of the former president, who fought for the realisation of third term agenda in 2007, his endorsement of Lamido seems suspect and reveals the desperation of the former Nigerian leader to remain relevant in the affairs of the nation’s politics.
It is a fact that the rumour mills have been agog with reports that Obasanjo, who plotted the Yar’Adua/Goodluck presidential ticket in 2007, has fallen out of favour with the former Bayelsa state governor who was later sworn in as president following the demise of Yar’Adua in 2010.
While the Ota farmer was reported to have been engaged in a game of meddlesomeness to control the then ailing President Yar’Adua, the resistance of the then First Lady, Hajiya Turai, was to curb the excesses of the former president who was determined to control the presidency from his farm.
With Yar’Adua’s death in 2010, Obasanjo then thought the coast was now clear, and that there was no stopping him from running the nation through an assumed proxy. It was even said that with Dr Goodluck Jonathan as president, Obasanjo was thought to have come back to the corridors of power through the back door.
As Jonathan was attempting to consolidate his position and ensure he takes full charge, he was mindful of issues that introduce festering relationship with Obasanjo. As someone who has come to appreciate the values of the African tradition that places premium on respect for elders, Jonathan was willing to do everything to ensure trouble-free relationship with OBJ.
After his victory at the 2011 presidential election that was described as fair and transparent, Jonathan began to extricate himself from the undue influence of persons that could distract his commitment to the Nigeria project. This action by the president, of course, was seen as a deliberate attempt to be independent. People like Obasanjo saw this as not only a political affront, but a ploy to undermine and diminish his influence within the corridors of power.
The emergence of Jonathan had finally laid to rest several issues that have been thrown up in the polity. Before now, it was unthinkable that a minority could assume the presidency of the country. Jonathan did it. Jonathan exposed the hypocrisy of the Northern region as a cohesive area believed to be hegemony for Nigeria’s political dominance.
With that singular feat, the old Northern hawks, who are being rattled by his emergence, have woken up from their slumber and are working hard to turn the tables against the present administration.
To get the old political horses of yesterday back to relevance, a desperate attempt is being launched by the progenitors of the old order to re-launch their relevance and that of their wards. This they are doing through re-awakening the dead but powerless group that are seen as determinant of where the pendulum will swing to in 2015. The old North, oblivious of the rapid transformation that has been experienced in the country, is launching its last arsenal to recapture what it lost in 2010.
Taking advantage of the Northern outcry to recapture power, Obasanjo is attempting to test his popularity. By asking Jonathan not to contest in 2015, he is invariable calling on him to embrace the Mandela option of a single tenure. One recalls that despite several pressure mounted on Obasanjo by prominent Nigerians to step down in 2003, he refused and went ahead to contest for the 2003 presidential poll. Even after he exhausted his two terms of four years, his kitchen members were engaged in campaigning for yet another third term for him.
The recent sordid revelation on how Obasanjo plotted to realise his third term agenda is fully documented in Malam Nasir El-Rufai’s ‘Accidental Public Servant.’ What moral right does Obasanjo have to advise Jonathan to embrace the Mandela’s option which he turned down in 2003? I think something fundamental is wrong and we need to see to it that the populace, who will ultimately determines the fate of President Jonathan if he chooses to run, are told the truth.
There is no doubt that despite Obasanjo’s criticisms of the Jonathan administration, it is clear that the present government has done much to move the nation forward. More than anything, the insecurity that had trailed the affairs of the country is being tackled. What with the discovery of a large cache of arms by the Joint Military task Force in Kano. The JTF has now commenced in earnest a deliberate move to flush out insurgents in the country. The peace that once pervaded the North is slowly returning, while sponsors of the insurgence are on the run.
Obasanjo, who had accused the Jonathan presidency of not acting decisively, is not even commending the president who have demonstrated patience and endurance and given the insurgents a long rope before acting. Those who though Jonathan will continue to be patient despite the destruction of lives by the terrorists have now realised that there is always an end to everything. If they thought they would deploy the issue of insecurity as a campaign issue, they have discovered that current moves by the federal government to tackle the violence in the North is slowly shooting up the profile of the president as someone who can be trusted to deliver on his promises.
Obasanjo may be right to pursue his dream and campaign for his candidate if he so chooses. To state that one can find a job for someone, but may not be able to assist the person to do the job is a slap on the sensibilities of Nigerians. Was this not this man who was virtually exhumed from the gallows of death after the demise of General Sani Abacha in 1998 and made to assume the presidency? If God can make a way for a prisoner to be president, is it a greater feat for God to make a governor a president? Obasanjo should stop playing God and face realities.
He is free to drum up support for Lamido and others, all in a bid to get relevance in the present dispensation. But he should allow Nigerians to choose when the time comes. To start flying on the wings of the night and engaging in endorsement galore is nothing short of desperation. When Obasanjo plotted the Yar’Adua/Goodluck ticket in 2007, was he not aware that someone like Lamido could perform better? It is unfortunate that it took Obasanjo over six years to realise this. That only shows the quality of political leadership in the country.
Jonathan has never declared for 2015, but the current gale of opposition mounted by expired political jobbers and their paid masters is something that is alarming. One expects Obasanjo, who has been the beneficiary of God’s mercies, to be on the side of truth and equity. His recent endorsement of Lamido and open castigation of the Jonathan administration does not befit his status as a former Nigerian leader who is supposed to know better.
Power belongs to God and He gives to whosoever He will. No man can give to another. If power is given by man, then the third term agenda of 2007 would have scaled through. But because it was not permitted by God, it could not pass through.
Those in a hurry to show Jonathan the way out of power should be patient to allow the man declares for the polls.

What is your vision for Democracy
what do u think is lacking in Nigeria


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Reacting to the outrageous incident, former militant leader Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo, Asari, who converted to Islam as an adult, said last night in a Facebook comment:
“The man who went to Libya to bomb the country into primitivity and gun democracy….the one who is funding the mass murder in Syria to give Palestinian Land,….and maintain the illegal presence of Europeans and sundry nationalities in Palestine nicknamed Jews….There should be balanced condemnation of these evils….What happened in London is totally totally out of Islam and humanity….So also what is happening in Syria, Palestine, Nigeria, etc….Actively engineered and funded by Britain. What you sow is what you get.”

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The United States has expressed concern about renewed fighting sequel to the declaration of emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states on Tuesday by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Also, the US is deeply concerned about what it described as “credible” allegations of gross human rights violations being levelled against the country’s security forces.
A statement by the Secretary of State, John Kerry, therefore, enjoined the security forces to be disciplined and enforce fundamental human rights while carrying out peacekeeping operations.
The statement issued on Friday reads: “The State United States is deeply concerned about the fighting in northeastern Nigeria following President Jonathan’s declaration of a state of emergency in the Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.
“We are also deeply concerned by credible allegations that Nigerian security forces are committing gross human rights violations, which, in turn, only escalate the violence and fuel extremism.
“The United States condemns Boko Haram’s campaign of terror in the strongest terms. We urge Nigeria’s security forces to apply disciplined use of force in all operations, protect civilians in any security response, and respect human rights and the rule of law.”

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Hmmmmmmm ok Noted Passing on

FULL TEXT OF PRESIDENT JONATHAN'S NATIONAL BROADCAST MAY 14, 2013
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCFR
ON THE DECLARATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN BORNO, YOBE AND ADAMAWA STATES IN
ORDER TO RESTORE PUBLIC ORDER, PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY
IN THE AFFECTED STATES OF THE
FEDERATION
MAY 14, 2013
Dear compatriots,
1. It has become necessary for me to address you on the recent spate of terrorist activities and
protracted security challenges in some parts of the country, particularly in Borno,
Yobe, Adamawa,
Gombe, Bauchi, Kano, Plateau and most recently Bayelsa, Taraba, Benue and Nasarawa states. These
unfortunate events have led to needless loss of lives and property of many innocent Nigerians
including members of our security forces.
2. The
recent killing of security operatives by a cult group in Nasarawa state is particularly
condemnable. I have directed that no effort or expense be spared in identifying and bringing to
justice all those who had a hand in the killing of the operatives.
3.
The activities of insurgents and terrorists have been reprehensible, causing fear among our
citizens and a near
-
breakdown of law and order in parts of the country, especially the North. We
have taken robust steps to unravel and address the root causes of t
hese crises, but it would appear
that there is a systematic effort by insurgents and terrorists to destabilize the Nigerian state and test
our collective resolve.
4. Since I returned to the country after cutting short my visit to South Africa and aborting
a planned
state visit to Namibia, I have received detailed briefings from our security agencies. These briefings
indicate that what we are facing is not just militancy or criminality, but a rebellion and insurgency by
terrorist groups which pose a very se
rious threat to national unity and territorial integrity. Already,
some northern parts of Borno state have been taken over by groups whose allegiance is to different
flags and ideologies.
5. These terrorists and insurgents seem determined to establish con
trol and authority over parts of
our beloved nation and to progressively overwhelm the rest of the country. In many places, they
have destroyed the Nigerian flag and other symbols of state authority and in their place, hoisted
strange flags suggesting the
exercise of alternative sovereignty.
6. They have attacked government buildings and facilities. They have murdered innocent citizens
and state officials. They have set houses ablaze, and taken women and children as hostages. These
actions amount to a decl
aration of war and a deliberate attempt to undermine the authority of the
Nigerian state and threaten her territorial integrity. As a responsible government, we will not
tolerate this.
7. Previously, we adopted a multi
-
track approach to the resolution of
this problem through actions
which included persuasion, dialogue and widespread consultation with the political, religious and
community leaders in the affected states.
8. We exercised restraint to allow for all efforts by both State Governors and well
-
me
aning Nigerians
to stop the repeated cases of mindless violence.
9. Yet, the insurgents and terrorists seek to prevent government from fulfilling its constitutional
obligations to the people as they pursue their fanatical agenda of mayhem, mass murder, d
ivision
and separatism.
10. While the efforts at persuasion and dialogue will continue, let me reiterate that we have a sacred
duty to ensure the security and well
-
being of all our people and protect the sovereign integrity of
our country. Therefore, we
shall, on no account, shy away from doing whatever becomes necessary
to provide the fullest possible security for the citizens of this country in any part of the country they
choose to reside.
11. We have a duty to stand firm against those who threaten th
e sovereign integrity of the Nigerian
state. Our will is strong, because our faith lies in the indivisibility of Nigeria.
12. Following recent developments in the affected states, it has become necessary for Government
to take extraordinary measures to re
store normalcy. After wide consultations, and in exercise of the
powers conferred on me by the provisions of Section 305, sub
-
section 1 of the Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, I hereby declare a State of Emergency in Borno,
Yobe
and Adamawa states.
13. Accordingly, the Chief of Defence Staff has been directed to immediately deploy more troops to
these states for more effective internal security operations. The troops and other security agencies
involved in these operations h
ave orders to take all necessary action, within the ambit of their rules
of engagement, to put an end to the impunity of insurgents and terrorists.
14. This will include the authority to arrest and detain suspects, the taking of possession and control
of
any building or structure used for terrorist purposes, the lock
-
down of any area of terrorist
operation, the conduct of searches, and the apprehension of persons in illegal possession of
weapons.
15. The details of this Proclamation will be transmitted t
o the National Assembly in accordance with
the provisions of the Constitution. But in the meantime, let me make it clear that within the purview
of this Proclamation, the Governors and other political office holders in the affected states will
continue to
discharge their constitutional responsibilities.
16. I urge the political leadership in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states to co
-
operate maximally with
the Armed Forces and the Police to ensure that the exercise succeeds. We call on the citizenry to co
-
operat
e with our security agencies to ensure a return to normalcy within the shortest possible time.
17. I am again approaching our neighbouring countries, through diplomatic channels, as done in the
recent past, for their co
-
operation in apprehending any terro
rist elements that may escape across
the border.
18. Nigerians are peace
-
loving people; these sad events perpetrated by those who do not wish our
nation well have not changed the essential character of our people.
19. I want to reassure you all that thos
e who are directly or indirectly encouraging any form of
rebellion against the Nigerian state, and their collaborators; those insurgents and terrorists who take
delight in killing our security operatives, whoever they may be, wherever they may go, we will
hunt
them down, we will fish them out, and we will bring them to justice. No matter what it takes, we will
win this war against terror.
20.I am convinced that with your support and prayers, we shall overcome these challenges and
together, we will restore
every part of our country to the path of peace, growth and development.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
What say your You and how would you rate this Speech

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The Presidency on Monday defended one of its own, Kingsley Kuku, over a recent statement credited to him to the effect that the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 will be the only condition for sustained peace in the oil-rich Niger Delta.

But Abuja in the same breath disowned founder of the outlawed Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo, over similar statement, saying his drum beats on the 2015 elections “should be ignored by Nigerians who are conversant with his antecedents.”

At separate fora, the duo were reported to have threatened that Nigeria would not know peace if the President was not re-elected come 2015.

Kuku, the Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta and chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Office, was reported to have made the statement in the United States last week while addressing State Department officials.

Although he has denied making such a statement linking peace in the Niger Delta region to the second coming of Jonathan, Asari-Dokubo has remained unremorseful, daring the nation’s security agencies to come after him.

“I stand by my statement. There will be no peace, not only in the Niger Delta, but everywhere, if Goodluck Jonathan is not President by 2015,” he had responded following hostile reactions to his earlier threats.

However, Political Adviser to the President, Ali Ahmed Gulak, told Daily Independent on Monday that the controversies generated by the statements were “unwarranted and politicised in many respects; hence, there is the need to put the records straight and let Nigerians know that the Presidency does not promote violence.”

“From many quarters, insinuations have come that Mr. President is encouraging his kinsmen to threaten violence; I say without any equivocation that this is absolutely untrue and unduly politicised by those who seek cheap relevance and hide under the opposition to ventilate ignoble comments.

“For purposes of clarification, however, it has become very necessary for us to state that there is the need to separate these two statements allegedly made by the Presidential Adviser and Asari-Dokubo.

“Apart from the fact that both statements are not the same, hence do not deserve the same treatment, it is important to state that Kuku, who oversees the Presidential Amnesty Office was grossly misquoted and deliberately misinterpreted out of context.

“This is said with utmost sincerity because we have cross checked the facts relating to what he said in the United States and we are convinced that he said just what is real and purposeful, that just like other Nigerians, President Jonathan should not be denied the opportunity to run in 2015 if and when he so decides.

“Kuku, unlike Dokubo, did not say there will be crisis if President Jonathan is not re-elected.

“Of course, we all know that the right to accept or reject anyone at the poll rests with the voters who are the ordinary Nigerians.

“However, it is very vital to state with every sense of responsibility that the views expressed by Dokubo do not enjoy the support of the Presidency, neither do such views or comments represent anything near democracy and the rule of law.

“Therefore, Dokubo should be ignored by Nigerians who are conversant with his antecedents. Here is a man, who just a few months ago took the person of the President and high ranking officials to the cleaners for no just cause,” Gulak said.

He added: “Unlike Kuku, who was quoted out of context, Dokubo is an unserious fellow who speaks from both sides of the mouth even from the highest bidder.

“Nigerians are therefore urged to disregard whatever he says and ignore him as not representing the views of the government.”

Many groups, organisations and individuals, including the House of Representatives and Niger State Governor, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, had condemned Kuku and Asari-Dokubo for their statements.

Indeed, the House last week urged the Inspector General (IG) of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to probe Asari-Dokubo and Kuku for their inflammatory utterances following a motion moved by member representing Dala Federal Constituency of Kano State, Aliyu Madaki.

But the Ijaw Republican Assembly supported the controversial comments. Spokesperson of the group, Annkio Briggs, said the statements credited to Kuku and Dokubo represented the aspirations of the people of the Niger Delta.

Also on Monday, Ijaw National Leader, Edwin Clark, came down heavily on the House of Representatives over its resolution ordering the arrest of Kuku and Asari-Dokubo.

Clark, in a petition to Speaker of the House, Aminu Tambuwal, berated the House leadership and members for allegedly ignoring previous provocative statements by some Northern leaders about 2015 Presidential election.

http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/05/2015-presidency-disowns-asari-dokubo/
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It was chaos at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital Thursday as irate officers of the military Joint Task Force descended heavily on doctors and patients after they were told there was no more space for corpses.
Witnesses say the soldiers had arrived the facility with an unknown number of corpses in pick-up vans, many killed in routine raids, but were told by hospital officials that the mortuary was filled to the brim and that there was no room for more.
The soldiers then descended on hospital staff beating some of them to coma, a witness, who does not want to be named for fear of retribution, said. The officer also vandalised hospital properties as staff, scared stiff, fled for dear lives.
There were claims that some doctors were so mercilessly beaten and tortured that they were hurriedly wheeled into the theatre for surgery after calm returned to the facility but that could not be independently confirmed Thursday night.
“The JTF went to Teaching Hospital to deposit corpses and they were told no space,” a relative to a doctor in the hospital said. “Many of my friends including a brother doctor beaten and broken up by JTF. Some of the doctors are in surgery now fighting for dear life. They beat up patients and don’t know if they killed any doctor yet. May God Bless Nigeria.”
Another source said she was told by a patient who witnessed the incident that the JTF operatives raided the hospital shooting sporadically and harassing anyone in sight.
“She (the patient) just called me from the hospital that there’s chaos in TH (Teaching Hospital). JTF have raided the building and have been shooting ever since. Even Dr Bashir (he is the oga (boss), the CMAC) was seriously beaten from head to toe. Dan Allah (oh God) what type of tashin hankali (madness) is this? Even doctors in their places are not safe again. She said they’ve all been asked to lie down flat for fear of stray bullets,” the source said in exasperation.
It is not known yet how many people were injured or whether anyone was killed in the attack.
It is also not clear why the JTF operatives acted that way. Spokesperson Sagir Musa, a Lieutenant Colonel, could not be reached for comments Thursday. So also were officials of the hospital.
But sources within the security services said the operatives were angered by recent reports quoting officials of the hospital as accusing the JTF of extrajudicial killings.
A chilly report this week by the New York Times suggested that the JTF routinely round up innocent people in neighbourhood sweeps, lock them up in Giwa barracks or shoot them dead without evidence they are members of the extremist Boko Haram sect.
Officials of the Teaching Hospital were quoted in the report as saying the JTF at times brought up to 120 corpses of young men who died “from beating, bullets, maltreatment”.
“They just throw the corpses on the ground,” the hospital’s medical director, Dr. Mohammed Ghuluze was quoted as saying in the report. “Yesterday they came in and just threw five corpses on the ground.”
“Sometimes it’s 20, 30 (corpses) a day,” another top health official reportedly said.
PREMIUM TIMES’ recent investigation of Giwa Barracks had exposed the facility as Nigeria’s number one centre of inhuman detention, torture and extrajudicial killings.
The detention and torture at the facility, which human rights groups have branded “torture,” and have urged their immediate end, have defined the federal government’s military operations against the Boko Haram sect, which burrows itself within the civilian population, from where it delivers devastating blows, providing a platform for the Joint Task Force to get back at the perpetrators, and often times, the innocents.
As the insurgents sustain their assault, so has the federal government which has hit back forcefully with grounding military operations that often violate basic conflict rules recognized internationally, with many innocents killed and several thousand displaced.
Allegations are rife of soldiers firing indiscriminately into crowd in retaliation for the killing of a personnel, and vested interest using the JTF to get back at perceived enemies who they label as members of the sect.
Military authorities have constantly denied any of such exist, vowing to sanction errant officers involved in untoward practices.

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The Senate has denied knowledge of the $40m Internet surveillance contract the Federal Government awarded to an Israeli company, Elbit Systems.
The Leader of the Senate, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, told one of our correspondents in Abuja that he did not know if a provision for the project was in the 2013 budget.
He said, “I am not aware of the contract. We don’t have those details. There are thousands of items in the budget. It will be difficult for me to say.”
Asked if the Senate would investigate the matter, he said, “I cannot answer that question now. It will simply be academic to give any answer since I do not have the details.”
Also, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Ahmed Lawan, while responding to inquiries, said he did not have details on the contract.
He said, “I am trying to get the details of the contract. I don’t have to be frivolous; once I get the details, then we will talk.”
However, the 2013 budget allocation to the Office of the National Security Adviser has a total of N18.66bn for projects relating to communication technology.
The items include N9.84bn for what is described as Data Signal Centre (North Central) and another Satellite Communication (Including training) has a total of N6.78bn.
The acquisition of Iridium (used in scientific instruments) communication platform will cost N2.04bn.
An online medium, Premium Times, had on April 25, 2013 reported that the Jonathan administration had awarded a $40m Internet surveillance contract to an Israeli firm.
According to the report, the project is to help spy on citizens’ computers and Internet communications under the guise of intelligence gathering and national security.
On Sunday, the news medium also reported that the Federal Government had summoned the management of Elbit Systems, an Israeli security firm; to explain why the contract should not be revoked after it allegedly breached a confidential agreement in the contract.
But in an interview, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the report he read did not mention the African country that awarded the contract to the Israeli company.
According to him, the people who were interpreting the report were the ones mentioning Nigeria.
Abati had said, “Speaking theoretically, you will note that in an age of terrorism, and with the kind of security challenges we have in the world today, many countries have seen the need in combating terrorism to upscale their intelligence gathering methods.
“And in many of the countries that we like to quote, that we like to refer to, you know for a fact that several methods are taken to monitor what happens in cyber space and to prevent cyber crime, and to ensure that nobody abuses an important medium as the Internet. But that is speaking theoretically.”

Former Anambra State governor and now Senator representing Anambra Central District, Chris Ngige, was on Monday endorsed for the state’s governorship election by the influential Rainbow Coalition.
Immediately after his endorsement, Ngige demanded to know how over N2 trillion belonging to Anambra tax payers was expended by Governor Peter Obi.
He contended that what is on ground is nothing compared to the amount in question.
Ngige, who made this claim at the Rainbow Coalition’s stakeholders’ meeting of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and Democratic People’s Party (DPP) in Awka, contended that anyone that wants to make a comparison between his administration and that of Obi, should consider the revenue while they were in power.
“While I was there as governor, I worked with about N80 billion as total budget and executed about N69 billion; and if we go by this data and figure, you will discover that the four budget, which I persecuted, I had about N150 billion, including the Internally Generated Revenue.
“Yet, we delivered services and built roads and lifted the embargo on employments and promotion, which the then governor placed while in office”.
“But, when you compare my administration with that of the incumbent, Governor Peter Obi, you will see the difference.
“He has received the N1.2 trillion in total as allocation from Federation Account and about N800 billion as local government allocation, which makes it up to roughly N2 trillion in the last seven years.
“Yet, we have nothing to show for it. I wish to ask, what do we have in Anambra State in terms of infrastructure to show for the N2 trillion received by the governor?
“Even if you allow for inflation by doubling the N150 billion to N300 billion, does the situation in Anambra State justify the huge resources that has come into the state since then?”
Speaking at the occasion, the convener of the meeting and coordinator of the Rainbow Coalition, Ben Oranus, explained that after due investigations and understanding of the personalities gunning for the 2013 gubernatorial election, they have found Ngige as the person good enough and better experienced to take up the task of managing the affairs of Anambra State.
Oranusi continued: “We are urging him to come and contest this election and continue from where he stopped.
“We have been holding this meeting for months now and now is the time to call him up and say go for us and become our governor again.
Former National Assembly member for Anambra East and West Federal Constituency, Ralph Okeke, later moved a motion for Ngige to contest 2013 gubernatorial election and was seconded by Ezike Nwosu, an All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) member in Ezinifite Aguata in Anambra South and was also supported by Chidi Abasilim of Idemili South and Paul Obianaso, who do not belong to any political party.

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guy1234: We are gradually going the way of China and the Arab world,we are losing our freedom.What is this govt really scared of?

Hmmmmmm questions that are yet to be answered

Blackberry services could be at risk of being banned in the country as a new regulation by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, will run counter to the technical operating standards of the phone’s distinct network.

Our source gathered yesterday that the telecoms regulator was working on a regulation, which would make it mandatory for any licensee in the nation’s telecoms market to provide access to its communications facilities for necessary interception by the law enforcement agencies.

To be called ‘Lawful interception of communications regulations”, the regulation, which is currently at the draft stage, is based on the need to provide a legal and regulatory framework for the lawful interception of communications in Nigeria and the collection and disclosure of intercepted communication.

It will also specify the nature and types of communications to be intercepted; prescribe penalties for noncompliance with the regulations; provide a notification to the commission of all warrants issued, amended, renewed or cancelled under the regulations as well as ensure the privacy of subscribers as contained in the Nigerian constitution. It was gathered that Section 13 of the regulation Protected or Encrypted Communications will run counter to the technical operations of Blackberry.

By their designs and unlike other mobile devices, Blackberry messages are encrypted and where criminal investigation is required, the law enforcement agents will face denial of access to Blackberry network.

Specifically, Section 13 of the regulation empowers the National Security Adviser, NSA, and the State Security Service, SSS, to request the disclosure of protected or encrypted communications.

According to the regulation: “Where the communications intercepted is an encrypted or protected communication, the licensee shall provide the National Security Adviser and the State Security Service with the key, code or access to the protected or encrypted communication.

“Where the key or code is in the possession of another person, the licensee shall be under an obligation to request such other person to disclose the key or code to the National Security Adviser and the State Security Service for the purpose of complying with a warrant.” The regulation, under Section 20, also specifies the penalties for contravention.

“If a licensee or any of its officers, manager, chief executive officer, secretary or other similar officers of the licensee required under this regulation fails to comply with the provision of this regulations, such licensee or its officers shall be liable to a fine of N5m. If such an offence is continuing, such a licensee or officer shall be liable to a daily default penalty of N500,000.” The regulation clearly states that the commission may revoke the licence of the licensee for failure to comply with the regulation.

“The commission shall give a prior written notice to the licensee of such revocation, not less than 30 days to the withdrawal of the licensee.” Also, the commission may institute an action for non-compliance through injunction or specific performance or any or such other judicial means of enforcing a duty or obligation imposed on a licensee pursuant to the regulations.

However, Blackberry messenger, email and web services are sent over an encrypted network and the company maintains a strict policy of non-disclosure of pass codes or keys to government officials.

Last year, officials of Blackberry said the Blackberry users in Nigeria were about three million and these individuals face an uncertain future in case of possible revocation of Blackberry licence by the regulator, given its stern position not to release the key to its encrypted network to any government officials.

Blackberry has continued to face widespread concern over its strong data encryption, which is beloved by corporate customers eager to guard secrets, but troublesome for some governments in the Middle East and Asia that it could be used by militants to avoid detection.

It will be recalled that between 2010 and 2011, Indian government threatened to ban Blackberry over the phone manufacturer’s failure to provide access to customers’ corporate e-mails to the government.

The Indian government request for access to the Blackberry network was part of a broader effort by the country’s intelligence to monitor security threats made via mobile phones and the internet. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had also in 2010 threatened to cut off Blackberry services due to its encryption policy.

National Mirror also gathered that the NCC’s current move was in line with strategic measures of the Federal Government to ensure maximum national security by providing a legal framework that empowers the law enforcements agencies to access any licensed communication network in the country.

Source: National Mirror

A reliable source who confirmed his death to codewit.com said he gave up the ghost an hour ago in India. (9pm Nigerian Time)
His Excellency, the late Governor Sullivan Chime had battled an undisclosed illness for months. When citizens began questioning his prolonged absence from Enugu, the official story was that he was on a long vacation accrued over a period of 5 years.
Meanwhile, the latest information reaching us was that The PUNCH’s Enugu State correspondent, Ozioma Ubabukoh, was harassed by seven men who claimed to be security agents in front of his apartment in Enugu around 11.45pm on Saturday after the news was first reported.

The men seized Ubabukoh’s phone and his laptop in order to stop him from sending stories to the head office.
As at press time, the men were still in Ubabukoh’s apartment and insisted that they were not leaving until 3am.
Efforts to get across to some commissioners in the state were not successful as their phones were switched off.
More details will be updated.
Source: Codewit World News

An Osogbo High Court on Monday sentenced a dismissed police officer, Kelvin Ighodalo, to 45 years imprisonment for stealing the cell phone of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun.
The accused was arraigned on a six-count charge of conspiracy, theft, obtaining by false pretence, obtaining by force and impersonation, among other offences.
Justice Jide Falola of High Court 5, citing Section 1, Sub-section 1, paragraph `C’ of the Advance Fee Fraud Act and Section 218 Cap 35, Laws of Osun State, 2003, found the accused guilty as charged.
The accused was sentenced to 10 years for each of counts 1, 2 and 3 and 5 years each for three other counts.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
The defence counsel, Mr Ngu Amaechi, had earlier urged the court to consider community service sentence since the accused had served previous jail terms.
But the counsel to the plaintiff, Tiamiyu Adegboyega, expressed his satisfaction with the judgement.
The governor’s cell phone was stolen on Nov. 28, 2010, at his swearing-in-ceremony.
Six months later, Mr. Ighodalo, a dismissed police officer, used the phone to swindle the governor’s friends and associates.
The accused had earlier served jail terms for murder, theft and political thuggery.

Two scroungers who chopped off their own hands and tried to claim the insurance payout have been exposed as cheats - because they performed the amputations so well.
The unnamed men who are Spanish, whose cases are not linked, both thought they could pocket up to £2million if they could hoodwink insurers into believing unforeseen accidents had caused their injuries.
They are among a wave of penniless desperados in recession-ravaged Spain who are increasingly turning to more extreme measures to make ends meet.
Power fool: Incredibly, one of the men used a chainsaw to amputate his hand but told insurers it had been torn off in a car crash
Authorities said the first claimant removed his hand with an electric saw but told insurers it had been ripped off in a car accident.
He then made claims to 11 insurance companies demanding £2million in compensation.
But when medics examined his wound, it became clear that the cut was 'too clean' to have been torn in two.
José Luís Nieto, president of Gesterec, which investigates accidents, said: 'The cut was too clean between the bone for a car crash, which is never so clean.
'This man might have got someone to use a saw to cut off his hand. A surgeon would never have done it.'
The second man chopped off his arm above the elbow and claimed €600,000 from insurers, saying that he had suffered an accident with an electric saw.
Both cases come amid a steep rise in the number of false insurance claims that have been revealed since Spain plunged into recession in 2008.
The Investigation Co-operative of Insurance Companies (ICEA) said that there had been a 50 per cent increase in the past five years.
'There is no doubt that there has been a rise in false cases because people do not have any money in the crisis,' Mr Nieto said.
Even Spain's criminal gangs are getting a slice of the action, simulating car crashes and reaping the insurance money under false names. Investigators said they should have won Oscar, such was their web of deceit.
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Here is a very important information for the 47 million Nigerian Internet users. Big Brother, in the form of the Jonathan administration, is watching you, and your communication is no longer safe.
It is one of the most far-reaching policies ever designed in Nigeria’s history to invade the privacy of citizens.
The Jonathan administration secretly, and in open violation of lawful contracting procedures, has awarded an Israeli firm, Elbit Systems, with headquarters in Haifa, a $40million contract to help it spy on citizens’ computers and Internet communications under the guise of intelligence gathering and national security.
Elbit announced the contract award Wednesday in a global press release but was silent on the Nigerian destination of the contract. Its general manager, Yehuda Vered, opaquely announced that “Elbit Systems will supply its Wise Intelligence Technology (WiT) system to an unnamed country in Africa under a new $40 million contract announced on 24 April… for Intelligence Analysis and Cyber Defense,” but effusively claimed, in the statement, that his company is “proud to be selected to supply this unique system, which is already field-proven, fully operational and customisable.
“Elbit Systems is a world leader in the fields of intelligence analysis and cyber defense, with proven solutions highly suitable for countries, armies and critical infrastructure sites. We hope that additional customers will follow in selecting our highly advanced and cutting edge systems in these fields as their preferred solution,” Mr. Vered added.
Multiple and very reliable sources in the administration confirmed that Nigeria is indeed the “unnamed African country,” and with details from the Elbit statement, our sources say the contract will now help the Jonathan administration access all computers and read all email correspondences of citizens in what is clearly, an infringement on constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression.
No single policy of this administration has so far affected, in one fell swoop, the lives of 47 million citizens, a third of the Nigerian population and about four times the number of voters who brought the president to power two years ago.
Nigerian netizens, the horde of active citizens that use the computer and Internet, are the 10th in a global ranking that make them 27 per cent of Africa’s total Internet users, far ahead of Egypt [19th global ranking] and South Africa [37th in global ranking].
The growth path of the Internet in Nigeria has also been dramatic, rising from a mere 200,000 Internet users in 2002 to 47 million this year, according to data from the Global Internet user, one of the Internet audit groups.
This development has not always gladdened public officials in Nigeria many who have expressed open displeasure at the use of the Internet by social media activists and the power of its possibilities as an empowering medium for popular communication. The calls for regulation have been loud in both the administration and in the Nigerian legislature.
The earliest hint that the Jonathan administration had desires to invade privacy of citizens surfaced ealy April when researchers at the Munk School for Global Affairs at the University of Toronto alerted the world that Nigeria, Egypt, and Kenya were deploying Internet surveillance and censorship technology developed by an American company, Blue Coat, which specializes in online security. Blue Coat’s technology will allow the government to invade the privacy of journalists, netizens and their sources. Its censorship devices use Deep Packet Inspection, DPI, a technology employed by many western Internet Service Providers, to manage network traffic and suppress unwanted connections.
Civic groups kick against DPI because, they say, it makes it possible for censors to look into every single Internet Protocol packet and subject it to special treatment based on content (censored or banned words) or type (email, VoIP or BitTorrent Protocol).
DPI not only threatens the principle of Net Neutrality and the privacy of users, civic groups say, it makes single users identifiable and, in countries that flout the rule of law and violate human rights, often exposes them to arbitrary imprisonment, violence or even torture.
While details of the Blue Coat contract appears to have managed to evade scrutiny up till this point, the Elbit annunciation of the contract, opaque as it was, terribly rattled top administration officials – from the presidency to the National Security Adviser’s Office, and the National Assembly.
“The presidency had wanted this contract to be a top secret,” said one of our sources. “The presidency did not envisage that Elbit was going to make it public. Monitoring computers and Internet use is a contentious issue and the National Security Adviser had tried to keep the contract secret.”
Elbit says it will take it two years to complete the project, by which time it claimed, the administration will have “a highly advanced end-to-end solution, [to] supports every stage of the intelligence process, including the collection of the data from multiple sources, databases and sensors, processing of the information, supporting intelligence personnel in the analysis and evaluation of the information and disseminating the intelligence to the intended recipient…[that] will be integrated with various data sources, including Elbit Systems’ Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) solution and Elbit Systems’ PC Surveillance Systems (PSS), an advance solution for covert intelligence gathering.”
The administration had indicated in the 2013 budget that it would procure a Wise Intelligence Network Harvest Analyzer System, Open Source Internet Monitoring System and Personal Internet Surveillance System at a cost of N9.496 Billion ($61.26 million).
Now that the contract has been awarded to Elbit for about $40million, it is unclear if the National Assembly will raise questions as to what becomes of the extra $21million earmarked for the project.
Investigations indicate that in awarding the contract to the Israeli firm, no tenders or calls for bids were made just as there were no public announcements. The contract was awarded following a proposal from a single vendor who dictated the contract sum and the terms of the contract.
The procedure for public procurement of services as stipulated by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), the Nigerian agency charged with the duty of ensuring transparency in all matters concerning government contracts, were largely ignored. In addition, there are no public records indicating that the BPP approved this contract.
The manner of award directly contravenes the 2007 Public Procurement Act. While the Act gives room for single source contracts, the Elbit contract met none of the requirements under which such special contracts could be awarded.
Section 47 (3) (iii) of the 2007 Act stipulates that single source contracts are to be awarded in emergency situations such as “natural disasters or a financial crisis”.
Presidential spokespersons, Reuben Abati, and Doyin Okupe were not available for comments Wednesday. They didn’t answer or return calls seeking comments.
Calls to Elbit’s headquarters in Haifa, Israel, were also unanswered.
Shari Clarkson, a spokesperson at the company’s subsidiary in the United States declined comments on the contract saying only Dalia Rosen, a spokesperson based in Israel, could comment. Rosen’s phone was unanswered.

The National Economic Council, NEC, on Thursday approved the conversion of one university in each of the six geo-political zones to a ‘Mega University.”
The recommendation for the conversion was part of those contained in the report of the Peter Obi-led Technical Committee on the recommendations of the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Universities, CNANU. All the recommendations were approved, Mr. Obi, Governor of Anambra State told journalists after the meeting.

The NEC is made up of the president , the vice president, state governors, ministers and others.

The Committee recommended the upgrading of one university in each of the six geo-political zones to the status of a Mega University to expand their intakes from the present number of students.

Mr. Obi stated that government wants to create universities that are capable of taking up to 200,000 students as against the less than 30,000 admitted by some of the biggest universities in Nigeria.

A decision has not been taken on which universities will be considered for selection.

The committee’s report, which followed an extensive review of the CNANU report presented to the Federal Executive Council on September 19, 2012, therefore made the following recommendations towards changing the fortunes of the universities:

“The Committee agreed with CNANU that funding was a big issue in tertiary education and recommended that both the Federal and State Governments should prioritise funding by raising budgetary allocation to schools and guaranteeing that funds for education are disbursed as appropriated to ensure that the necessary facilities are provided.

“It recommended the strengthening of the composition and character, especially of external members, of the Governing Councils of the Universities by populating the board with members who have a direct stake in academics to ensure better management of the universities.

The committee had noted that the Nigerian University system is grossly understaffed and recommended the introduction of attractive incentives towards promoting post-graduate education and upgrading the academic qualifications of all lecturers to PhD level within a given period.

“The Committee also recommended the designation of a focal Federal University per geo-political zone to be upgraded towards expanding its absorptive capacity to between 150,000 – 200,000 students in the medium term,” Mr. Obi said.
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The American Ambassador also condemned extra-judicial killings.
The United States has for the umpteenth time told President Goodluck Jonathan to be serious about the fight against corruption, saying only if the president does so, will he be seen as serious about good governance.
The American Ambassador to Nigeria, Terence McCulley, stated this in an editorial published on the U.S. embassy website.
Mr. McCulley called on the government to show more sincerity in the fight against corruption; pointing out that corruption causes economic hardship and helps spread violence and other forms of violent criminality.
“Corruption in Nigeria diverts financial resources from building roads, hospitals, schools, and otherwise investing in infrastructure that would serve businesses, attract foreign investment, and create jobs. Ultimately, corruption serves to promote criminal and extremist activity by creating barriers to legitimate economic endeavors,” the ambassador said.
“By attacking corruption, Nigeria will send a clear signal the country is indeed committed to good governance, to the security of its citizens, and to its rightful place as a significant actor on the global stage.”
This comes about a month after the U.S. condemned the pardon granted by the Jonathan administration to Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, a former Bayelsa Governor who was convicted of stealing state funds.
The U.S. said it saw the pardon granted the ex-governor, who is still wanted in the U.K. for money laundering after he jumped bail, and Shettima Bulama, a rogue banker as ” a setback in the fight against corruption.”
Condemns extra judicial killings
Mr. McCulley also advocated for more respect for human rights in the country saying “it is the keystone for peace and stability.”
He also condemned the senseless killings and attack by the insurgent Boko Haram.
In an apparent criticism of the planned amnesty for the sect members by the Federal Government, Mr. McCulley said “any persons or groups who use violence must be held accountable.”
He also raised concern at the growing complaint of extra-judicial killings levelled against the security forces fighting the insurgency. He called on the government to take appropriate action against those found responsible. He said that the use of excessive force by security forces could be counterproductive in the fight to flush out extremists.
“We remain deeply concerned about reports of extra-judicial killings, illegal detention, and destruction of property by security forces. Such acts create a deadly cycle of mistrust, harming the very citizens the security forces pledge to protect. We urge the Government of Nigeria to investigate reports of excessive use of force by security forces, and to take the necessary legal actions against those responsible,” he said.
“The fundamental principle remains that a nation’s security forces must protect its citizens: the government of Nigeria remains responsible for providing security for the people of Nigeria, and the United States remains a dedicated partner in this effort.”
Freedom of the Press
In the light of recent crackdown on media houses with dissenting opinions from that of the government, the ambassador said a free press and the freedom of expression are crucial to a functioning democracy.
“A vibrant free press is critical to illuminating public discussion on issues key to Nigeria’s democracy, including security and corruption. The silencing of journalists, political critics, and others, whether via arrest and detention, threats, or other forms of intimidation, has no place in a democratic society. Respect for the rule of law is paramount and must start with the government itself,” he said.
Mr. McCulley called on Nigerians to be united, irrespective of different ethnic and religious orientations, towards fostering of democratic principles and the respect of human rights.

The President of Slok Group, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, will, between April 28, 2013 and May 7, 2013, visit India to finalize the deal for the establishment of a steel rolling mill in Abia State by Prime Group, India, the owners of Prime Electric Company.
The steel rolling mill is to be cited in Kalu’s hometown, Igbere in Abia State.
Slok Group, a dominant name in the Nigerian and international business environment, has interests in different sectors of the economy.
These include manufacturing, oil and gas, trading, banking and insurance, real estate, logistics, import and export, shipping, construction and agriculture amongst others.
In January 2013, Rohan Mehta, the Managing Director of Prime Group, India and a strong business partner of Slok Group, had, on the invitation of Kalu, visited Igbere to conduct a preliminary and investment analysis for the proposed multimillion dollar steel rolling mill.
Kalu will thus be visiting India to conclude the deal.
Among those on his entourage to India, a statement by his Special Adviser, Oyekunle Oyewumi, said, will be Chief David Uche, Engineer. J. Raju, Engineer Sali Abba, and Engineer Peter Nowsu.
They will arrive India on April 28, 2013 to follow up discussions with Prime Electric Company and other top leading companies in New Delhi, Punjab, Hyderabad and Mumbai.
Kalu and his team will also use the opportunity to hold discussions with the Bank of India, financial partners of the proposed project, the Tata group and the Renaissance Group.
Mehta will host a dinner in honour of Kalu at the Tata Majal Hotel, New Delhi on April 29, 2013.
The dinner will be attended by Nigeria’s Ambassador to India, leading Indian investors and top Indian Government officials among others.
Dr. Kalu is also expected to pay courtesy calls on the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Manmohan Singh, and the Gandi family before leaving India on May 7, 2013.
The steel rolling mill is to be cited in Kalu’s hometown, Igbere in Abia State.
Slok Group, a dominant name in the Nigerian and international business environment, has interests in different sectors of the economy.
These include manufacturing, oil and gas, trading, banking and insurance, real estate, logistics, import and export, shipping, construction and agriculture amongst others.
In January 2013, Rohan Mehta, the Managing Director of Prime Group, India and a strong business partner of Slok Group, had, on the invitation of Kalu, visited Igbere to conduct a preliminary and investment analysis for the proposed multimillion dollar steel rolling mill.
Kalu will thus be visiting India to conclude the deal.
Among those on his entourage to India, a statement by his Special Adviser, Oyekunle Oyewumi, said, will be Chief David Uche, Engineer. J. Raju, Engineer Sali Abba, and Engineer Peter Nowsu.
They will arrive India on April 28, 2013 to follow up discussions with Prime Electric Company and other top leading companies in New Delhi, Punjab, Hyderabad and Mumbai.
Kalu and his team will also use the opportunity to hold discussions with the Bank of India, financial partners of the proposed project, the Tata group and the Renaissance Group.
Mehta will host a dinner in honour of Kalu at the Tata Majal Hotel, New Delhi on April 29, 2013.
The dinner will be attended by Nigeria’s Ambassador to India, leading Indian investors and top Indian Government officials among others.
Dr. Kalu is also expected to pay courtesy calls on the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Manmohan Singh, and the Gandi family before leaving India on May 7, 2013.
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Nigeria: U.S. Tells Jonathan Administration to Respect Press Freedom

The U.S. Consular General stated this in Lagos.

Apparently worried by the seemingly increasing attack on the press by the Goodluck Jonathan administration, the United States has told the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure press freedom.

The U.S. made its position at a public forum through its Consular General in Nigeria, Jeffery Hawkins.

Mr. Hawkins stated this on Wednesday in Lagos, at a programme to celebrate Joe Okei-Odumakin, who was recently honoured with the International Women of Courage Awards by the U.S. government for her steadfast struggle for entrenchment of democracy and the respect for human rights.

"The freedom of the press is crucial. Nigerian vibrant media should be allowed to operate freely," the Consular General said.

Mr. Hawkin's statement comes at a time the Nigerian government is intensifying its strong-arm approach at silencing media organisations across the country.

Early this month four journalists from the Leadership Newspapers were detained for refusing to name the source of a story which alleges that the Mr. Jonathan is planning to truncate the merger of opposition political parties in the country.

The journalists - Chinyere Fred-Adebulugbe, Chuks Ohuegbe, Tony Amokeodo and Chibuzor Ukaibe - were summoned to the police headquarters in Abuja and then detained for refusing to divulge the source of the document from which the story was written.

Two of the journalists and the newspaper have since been charged to court after condemnations locally and internationally at the government's tactics.

"President Jonathan and his handlers need to tell Nigerians and the civilized world why they have suddenly moved from describing the document as "fiction," to a do-or-die obsession with knowing the source; they need to tell Nigerians most of who now live in mortal fear of their personal safety and security, if clamping down on the press has now become a priority sport," said Azubike Ishiekwene, managing director of Leadership Group of Newspapers.

Also, last December, officials of the Directorate of Security Service (DSS), in ten cars stormed the houses, military style, of journalists of Hausa speaking newspaper, Al Mizan, in Kaduna. They rough handled the journalists and their family members. The journalists were arrested after a critical piece about the human rights violations of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Potiskum, Yobe State. They were subsequently taken to an unknown detention centre. The reporters were released without charge after over a week in detention.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201304250464.html

Gunmen believed to be members of Boko Haram early Thursday morning attacked security bases in Gashua Town of Yobe State shooting for hours and engaging security forces in a shootout.
Fati Umar, a female school teacher in Gashua, sent a text message at about 1 a.m. saying “please do pray for us! We are in danger.”
The spokesman of the peacekeeping Joint Task Force in Yobe, Lieutenant Eli Lazarus, confirmed the incident via a text message sent to reporters at about 12:35 a.m.
In his text, Mr. Lazarus said; “fighting is currently ongoing between JTF troops in Yobe State and suspected Boko Haram terrorists who attacked military location and the police station in Gashua town of Bade LGA. Other details would be provided later. Please acknowledge.”
Ms. Umar later confirmed in a telephone interview that dozens of Boko Haram gunmen invaded their Mobile Base area of Gashua at about midnight shooting and chanting Islamic slogan ‘Allahu Akbar’
“From the way they were moving, it was like they were going house to house. They shot several gunshots around our house but the gate was firmly locked.
“It was this morning we heard they attacked police station and the prison,” she said.
The mother of three said “we are still locked up inside the house now because the soldiers said no one should come outside till 1p.m.”
more details of the incident later as the come to us.

Spirited attempts to ensure that former Senate presidents, speakers of the House of the Representatives also enjoy their perks of office, allowances and pension already enjoyed by former presidents and heads of state were summarily thrown out in the Senate yesterday.
Lawmakers also rejected a bill seeking to “provide former presidents such amounts as may be recommended from time to time by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and approved by the National Assembly, as up-keep allowance in addition to the pension entitlement under the 1999 Constitution.”
Former vice presidents, ex-CJNs were also included in the botched package.
On the death of the former leaders, their families and spouses shall continue to collect the allowances annually until the death of the last spouse of the office holder.
Section 2 (1) specifically provided that “members of the families of the deceased former presidents and vice presidents shall be entitled to annual payments as shall be recommended by the RMAFC and approved by the National Assembly and in a manner as shall also be prescribed by the Senate.”
But a divided Senate yesterday rejected the bill on the premise that former presidents and heads of states were already being taken care of by the executive, while some also argued that presiding officers of legislative houses were not entitled to pension outside office.
Thrice, the bill was passed in both chambers of the National Assembly and thrice, the bill was returned to the federal legislature as unsigned.
On the fourth attempt yesterday, however, Senators refused to see any merit in the bill and kicked it out outright.
Senators refused to allow the bill scale the crucial second reading when it was debated in the chamber yesterday on the premise that the new law contravened section 84 of the 1999 Constitution.
Federal lawmakers strongly opposed a new law which would allow former presidents Shehu Shagari, Olusegun Obasanjo, and former presiding officers of the National Assembly such as former Senate presidents Anyim Pius Anyim, Adolph Wabara, Ken Nnamani, Hon. Ghari Na,aba, Aminu Masari and Dimeji Bankole draw extra-allowances and pension from government coffers.
Senators went a step further by handing down strict warnings that at no time should former military heads of state be ever considered for allowances and pension because they truncated the democratic process in Nigeria.
In his lead debate on a bill for an Act for the remuneration for former presidents, heads of legislative houses and Chief Justices of the Federation and other ancillary matters, Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba reminded his colleagues why former leaders should be taken care of and why former presiding officers of the National Assembly should be included in the remuneration package which was already being enjoyed by the executive and the judiciary.
He said: “This bill was passed by the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth National Assembly. Unfortunately, the president didn’t assent to the bill for inexplicable reasons before it lapsed.
“I decided to re-introduce this bill due to the exigencies of our time and the uncomfortable and sometimes, embarrassing economic situation of last leaders of this country.
“The thrust of this bill is essentially to repeal the provisions of CAP R6 LFN 2011 which provides for remuneration packages for former presidents, heads of state, vice presidents but it also applies to those who have attained offices as presiding officers of both houses of the National Assembly and those who have attained the position of the CJN which is a sharp difference of CAP R6 LFN 2011 which provided for the executive arm.
“We read in the Sun Newspaper where a former presiding officer, former Senate President Joseph Wayas (Second Republic) said he’s living on charity. I think that’s a most uncharitable way for our leaders to live like that.
Senator Ayogu Eze argued that forthright leaders should be taken care of “if people have served and given their best to the country. “They shouldn’t live in penury and lamentation as the Senate Leader has said,” but the Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory, Smart Adeyemi countered him.
Rather than approve remuneration for past military leaders, Adeyemi posited that they should be prosecuted for subverting the democratic process in Nigeria.
“I disagree with my colleague, Senator Aisha Al-Hassan that former military rulers should benefit from this package. We should instead look at punitive measures for coup plotters and I don’t even know whether some of them are here. They should tender a letter of apology to Nigerians for organizing coups against the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“In fact, they should be banned. All those who have derailed democracy shouldn’t tell us that they are now champions of democracy. If you’ve derailed the system before, how come you are now saying that the system is good? We should rather look at punitive measures.”
Minority Whip Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon wondered why past presidents including Olusegun Obasanjo, late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan refused to assent to the bill.
He asked whether it was because it included former presiding officers of the legislature. “Why have successive governments refused to assent to this bill? If you look at the Judiciary and the Executive, from time immemorial, it has been benefiting from this gesture. The only arm of government left out is the legislature.
“Should the president refuse to assent to it, we should overturn his veto.”
Chairman of the Water Resources Committee, Heineken October Lokpobiri supported the bill on the premise that it would help strengthen democracy as well as “remove corruption from the system.”
Senator George Sekibo, on his part, opposed the bill because approving a new remuneration package for the former leaders would be a strain on the economy because “no former president or head of state will say he’s not benefitting from the Federal Government.”
Besides, Sekibo wondered why presiding officers in the National Assembly should be included in the remuneration package which, if passed would “mean that there would be more coups in this Senate.”
Former Anambra State governor, Chris Ngige, warned the chamber not to make laws that would contradict the 1999 Constitution (As amended). “We cannot re-invent the wheel. If we want to include former presiding officers in the remuneration package, we have to go through an amendment of the Constitution and Nigerians should say whether they want it or not.
“I rest my case and I would not be part of any illegality. If we have anything to do, we should take it to the Constitution Review Committee.”
Attempts by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu to save the bill failed. Twice he put the question that the bill be read a second time and twice, Senators rejected the move which sounded the death knell for the bill in the Senate.
It can only be re-introduced after a hiatus of six months.

Some residents of Kano metropolis on Wednesday decried the scarcity of small currency denominations in circulation in the city.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the scarcity affects denominations like N5, N10 and N50 the most.
Mr Eze Nwosu, a tricycle operator, told NAN that ``this is causing `wahala' with many people that patronise us.
``This change matter is disturbing our business. Most passengers will not tell you they don't have change until when you drop them.
``It is even worse when you carry passenger to all these GRA's where you will not even see anybody to beg for change."
Malam Idris Muhammad, a trader at the Kwari Market, also urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ameliorate the challenges faced by traders and their customers because of the shortage of lower currencies.
``It is unfortunate that we are having misunderstanding with our business partners.
``The CBN should direct banks to release those currencies since they constitute the largest exchange among the common man," Muhammad appealed.
NAN observed that most of the smaller denominations are old, tattered or even defaced.
The CBN had, over two months ago, said it would increase the quantity of such small denominations in circulation. (NAN)