₦airaland Forum

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has described as untrue allegations that it has become a tool in the hand of President Goodluck Jonathan to deal with state governors that favoured the Peoples Democratic Party‘s zoning arrangement ahead of its presidential primaries.

The commission stressed that its investigations of alleged fraud in some states was neither influenced by the President nor by any other person.

A statement on Friday in Abuja by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Femi Babafemi, dismissed alleged attempts by unnamed politicians to link the commission‘s activities with the next general election as cheap blackmail.

Reports in the media had accused the EFCC of deploying its operatives in some states to intimidate the governors, who were perceived not to be in support of the emergence of Jonathan as the presidential candidate of the PDP.

Some governors, whose names were not mentioned, had accused the commission of using its probe of petitions written by interested parties as a decoy to coerce them to support the ambition of Jonathan.

The petitions were related to mismanagement of statutory allocations and local government fund, especially accruals from the excess crude oil account.

The states so listed were Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi, Gombe, Jigawa, Zamfara, Bauchi, Kwara, Imo and Rivers.

Despite the alleged insinuations by the concerned politicians, the anti-graft agency insisted that it would not succumb to blackmail to drop the multi-billion naira fraud it was investigating in some states.

It said irrespective of the misgivings of those opposed to its operations, the EFCC was not prepared to shirk its statutory responsibilities.

The commission said it was more than ever committed to carrying out its role of investigating and prosecuting economic and financial crimes in any part of the country.

Babafemi said that the commission was vested with the powers to investigate and prosecute all forms of economic and financial crimes, no matter who was involved.

The EFCC spokesman said, ”This, we have been doing since the inception of the commission in 2003 and will continue to do within the ambit of the law.

”It is on record that the commission has continued to investigate various fraud allegations in several states of the federation, local government councils, federal agencies and private establishments.

”As such, ongoing investigations of multi-billion naira fraud allegations in Kebbi, Kwara, Imo, Jigawa and Rivers states are not different from what we have done in other states before now.

”Rather than making desperate moves to blackmail the commission by imputing illogical meanings to its legitimate duties in a bid to freeze its hands, the brains behind this propaganda have these questions to answer:

”Are there allegations of fraud against their (state) officials? Is the EFCC empowered to investigate such fraud allegations? Is there any law barring EFCC from investigating fraud allegations before, during or after elections?”

Another poser by the image-maker of the commission was whether election period should be taken as holiday period when law enforcement agents would have to close their eyes to the looting of public treasury.

He said he was convinced that by providing answers to these questions, the hidden agenda of those behind the alleged plot to frustrate the nation‘s anti-graft war would be exposed.

He restated the commission‘s commitment to the continued discharge of its duties in line with the act setting it up.

Babafemi insisted that the EFCC was not under any pressure from the Presidency or any other quarter to investigate any matter.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2010090415324618

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday dismissed the interlocutory injunction filed by Hon. Dino Melaye and the other six suspended members of the House of Representatives, namely, Independence Ogunewe, Solomon Ahiwinahwi, Bitrus Kazeh, Abba Anas Adamu, Austin Nwachukwu and Doris Uboh, in their struggle to return to the House.

In his ruling, Justice Adamu Bello said, ”The court cannot grant an order of interim injunction as sought by the plaintiffs in view of the fact that there is a challenge to the jurisdiction of the court, as laid down by the Supreme Court.

”Granting such an injunction would amount to reversing the orders of the Federal House of Representatives. In the case of Ayorinde versus Oyo State Government, it was a challenge to his suspension as the Chief Judge of the state and the subsequent appointment of an Acting Chief Judge, and the Court of Appeal declined to grant the injunction sought as it is a completed act. In the instant case, the action sought to be stopped is already completed which the court cannot reverse.”

The judge stated that the suspended lawmakers failed to establish whether the act they asked the court to stop was a completed or a continuing act.

He said, ”The effect of reversing a completed act is tantamount to reversing the order of the House and granting the substantive prayer before the court at this initial stage. This court cannot do that; the application is dismissed and the matter adjourned to Oct. 4 for the adoption of briefs of argument.”

Melaye and six others had asked the court to stop the Speaker of the House, Dimeji Bankole, from further preventing them from performing their legislative functions. In their joint motion, which was argued by their lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, the legislators had insisted that they were elected to serve for four years and that neither Bankole nor anybody else had the right to cut the tenure short for any reason.

They claimed that their suspension had denied their respective constituencies representation in the lower chamber of the National Assembly, and urged the court to set aside the suspension slammed on them on June 22, 2010, pending the final determination of their main suit.

But Bankole, through his lawyer, Mr. Afolabi Afolayan, urged the court to dismiss the motion filed by the suspended lawmakers as frivolous and lacking in merit.

He argued that what the lawmakers requested was a short-cut to justice, adding that there would be nothing left for the court to adjudicate upon if they were allowed to return to their seats.

Afolayan argued that the plaintiffs failed to give an undertaking for damages in their affidavit in support of the interlocutory motion as demanded by law and urged the court to reject the motion because it was defective.

In his submission, the counsel to the House, Mr. Yusuf Ali, SAN, said that the court could not make a binding order on any of the parties in the case until the determination of the issue of jurisdiction. He argued that the issue of jurisdiction was germane to any case being the foundation and asked the court to decline making any order.

Ali argued that the fracas, which brought about the suspension was being investigated by the police and as a result, the court should not make any order of injunction.

The Clerk of the Federal House, Alhaji Mohamed Sani Omolori, represented by Mr. Demola Bakare, argued that section 61 of the 1999 constitution, empowered the House to make laws for any constituency in case of the absence of the representatives and that their constituencies had nothing to lose.

Another suspended lawmaker, Mr. Olugbenga Onigbogi, had opted to settle his case with the Speaker out of court and so, he withdrew from the suit.

Onigbogi had through his counsel, Joseph Badejo, SAN, asked for a short time to settle with the Speaker, an application that was granted by the court.




http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009041536379

The Federal Government plans to remove fuel subsidies within six months and also put $1 billion into the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) when it takes off next month, the Minister of Finance, Mr Olusegun Aganga has said.

The subsidies cost the government N1 trillion ($6.6 billion) in 2009, said the Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi in June.

And the nation imports more than 80 percent of its refined fuel to meet local demand due to a lack of adequate refining capacity, according to the country’s petroleum ministry."

In three to four years’ time, Nigeria will be a different country," Aganga said in an interview in London, yesterday. He added: "We have a great story. The numbers tell you that."

Importantly too, Aganga said that the Federal Government plans to put $1 billion into the SWF when it kicks off next month, just as he noted that the nation is targeting 10 percent economic growth by creating an oil-financed infrastructure fund while pushing for foreign investment in the power industry as it backs off fuel subsidies that have drained the national purse.

"Today, we have a government that is committed to encouraging investment and also ready to deliver infrastructure, he said."

Power outages are a daily occurrence in Nigeria, where demand for electricity almost triples the current supply of 3,000 megawatts. Nigeria, Africa’s second-largest economy after South Africa, has a population of about 140 million.

Boosting growth to a minimum of 10 percent in coming years is "achievable" as investment in infrastructure climbs, Aganga said. The economy expanded 7.4 percent in the first half of the year, compared with 5.9 percent in the same period last year, driven by growth in the non-oil industries, he said.

The SWF will replace the Excess Crude Oil Account, which the government has often used to finance expenditure, Aganga said.

Part of the new fund will be dedicated to savings that the government can’t touch unless oil prices plummet, while most will finance infrastructure projects, he said.

The Excess Crude Oil Account should reach about $1 billion by the end of the year, from between $500 million and $800 million currently, Aganga said. That will be transferred to SWF and act "as a catalyst for both local and international investors," he said.

A third part of the sovereign wealth fund will be a stability fund, which will be similar to the current Excess Crude account, though harder for the government to access, Aganga said.

Already, Nigeria has received interest from investors for a proposed $500 million Eurobond, which the government will sell in October or November, according to Aganga. Investors have asked the Federal Government to increase the size of the bond, while the government has appointed advisers for the bond sale, he said.

The Federal Government believes that the sale of Nigeria’s first Eurobond will act as a benchmark, so that companies can price their bonds accordingly, Aganga said. The government has already selected advisers for the sale and is in the process of appointing book runners, he said.

Foreign investor interest in the planned Eurobond has been strong, with some investors asking Nigeria to increase the size to $1 billion, Aganga said.




http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/12104.html

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission yesterday said that there is no going back in its ongoing investigations of some state governors.

It also vowed that it would not succumb to cheap blackmail from the affected governors who have linked it to 2011 poll.

The commission, which made the clarifications in a statement in Abuja by its Head, Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi, confirmed that already, its operatives have stormed five out of the 10 states under investigations.

The states are: Kebbi, Kwara, Imo, Jigawa and Rivers.

A political group, the Norther Leaders Political Forum (NPLF), otherwise known as the "G15", however, kicked against the probed, which it alleged was targetted at brow-beating the governors into line over the 2011 elections.

The EFCC, in its statement, said it is investigating multi-million naira fraud allegations in the listed states.

The statement reads: "The EFCC wishes to describe as cheap blackmail attempts by some politicians to link its on-going investigation of multi-billion naira fraud allegations in some states to the 2011 elections.

"The insinuations in media reports that it is targeting pro-zoning governors ahead of the 2011 elections are calculated to freeze its hands.

"No amount of propaganda or campaign of calumny will stop EFCC from carrying out its statutory responsibilities of investigating and prosecuting economic and financial crime in any part of the country.

"We have a legitimate duty to investigate and prosecute all forms of economic and financial crimes in all parts of the federation. This we have been doing since the inception of the commission in 2003 and will continue to do within the ambit of the law.

"It is on record that the commission has continued to investigate various fraud allegations in several states of the federation, local government councils, federal agencies and private establishments."

The EFCC also gave insight into why its operatives had been deployed in the five states in question.

It raised four questions for the governors of the five states to answer.

It added: "As such, our on-going investigations of multi-million naira fraud allegations in Kebbi, Kwara, Imo, Jigawa and Rivers States are not different from what we have done in other states before now.

"Rather than making desperate moves to blackmail the commission by imputing illogical meanings to its legitimate duties in a bid to freeze its hands, the questions the brains behind this propaganda should answer are:

"Are there allegations of fraud against their officials? Is the EFCC empowered to investigate such fraud allegations?

"Is there any law barring EFCC from investigating fraud allegations before, during or after elections?

|Should election time be taken as a holiday period when law enforcement agents would have to close their eyes to the looting of public treasury?



"These are some of the pertinent questions whose answers will expose the hidden

agenda of those behind the plot to frustrate the nation’s anti-graft war.

"We will like to re-assure the public, as has often been stated long before now by the leadership of the commission, that the EFCC is not under any pressure from the Presidency or any other quarters to do anyone’s bidding on any issue.

"Attempts to link our operations to political considerations remain a blackmail which will not stop us from doing the needful within the ambit of our statutory responsibilities."

To underscore its determination to probe the affected governors, it was learnt that the EFCC yesterday reinforced its operatives on ground in the five states.

A reliable source in the commission added: "The EFCC chairman has ordered immediate reinforcement of all our operatives in the five states. We are moving to the remaining states next week.

"We have to reinforce because of alleged plans by some officials of the affected states to attack our operatives. We have security reports indicating that they are up to some mischief."

But the Northern Political Leaders Forum (G-15) yesterday asked President Goodluck Jonathan to stop using the EFCC intimidate and harass political leaders opposed to his presidential ambition.

The G-15, in a statement by its spokesman, DR. Iyorchia Ayu, said it is regretful that the nation is sliding back to the era of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The statement titled, "Use of EFCC to intimidate opponents poses threat to democracy, polity," warned the President against turning EFCC into a political Gestapo.

The Northern leaders said: "The Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF), the "G15", urges President Goodluck Jonathan to enthrone a regime of tolerance of political opposition and to desist from the use of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to intimidate and harass governors and political leaders who are opposed to his ill-advised attempt to subvert the agreed zoning formula by seizing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket in next year’s general elections."

"The NPLF wishes to draw the attention of all Nigerians to the inherent dangers of turning the EFCC into a political Gestapo of a particular candidate.

"The NPLF wants to make it clear that this development raises serious questions on President Jonathan’s repeatedly stated commitment to free and fair elections, and by extension the survival of the nation’s democracy.

"Sadly, it is giving President Jonathan away as a desperado who is prepared to whip everyone in line in order to confiscate a mandate that is clearly not his.

"In as much as the NPLF is not opposed to the fight against graft, it is, however, manifest that the current onslaught against state governors and political leaders is part of the measures at checking those not well disposed to the bid of President Jonathan.

"It is regrettable that we are witnessing today is a throwback to the Obasanjo days and portends great danger to the credibility of the political process, nay the polity.

"While we stand shoulder to shoulder with all our elected courageous governors in the current struggle, we call on the Presidency to retrace its steps by tolerating opposition without which there can be no enduring democracy and rule of law.

"We call on governors and all genuine lovers of democracy to close ranks and stand up against this strain of dictatorship."





http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/12105.html

The jinx over investigation into the $180m Halliburton bribery scandal was broken yesterday when the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Bello Adoke (SAN), filed charges against Adeyanju Bodunde, a former Personal Assistant to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Other suspects are: George Mark; Hans George Christ; Heinrich J. Stockhausen; Julius Berger Nigeria Plc; Bilfinger Berger GMBH; Ibrahim Aliyu (a former federal permanent secretary); AVM Abdullahi Dominic Bello; Mohammed Gidado Bakare; Urban Shelter Limited; Intercellular Nigeria Limited; Sheerwood Petroleum Limited; Tri-Star Investment Limited; Maizube Holdings Limited; TSKJ Nigeria Limited-(a) Technip S.A.; (b)Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. (c) Kellog Brown and Root Inc(d) Japan Gasoline Corporation of Japan.

All the suspects will be prosecuted by a team of lawyers led by J. B Daudu (SAN), E. C. Ukala (SAN) and Godwin Obla.

The two cases were filed yesterday by investigators having established a prima facie case against the suspects.

The first one, involving six of the suspects, was filed before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The other, involving nine suspects, was filed before a High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

In the first case, FHC/ABJ/CR/146/2010, six suspects were charged to court over alleged several cash payments of about $5million to Bodunde.

The suspects, including Bodunde, are: Mark, George Christ, Stockhausen; Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Bilfinger Berger GMBH.

The charges against the six suspects are as follows:

"That you, George Mark, Jeffrey Tesler(now at large), Hans George Christ, Heinrich J. Stockhausen; Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Bilfinger Berger GMBH, sometime between 2002 and 2003 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired among yourselves to make several cash payments in the sum of US$1million (five times) totaling in equivalent the sum of $5million to one Adeyanju Bodunde and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 16 of the Money Laundering Act 1995(as saved by Section 23(2) of the Money Laundering Act 2004) and punishable under Section 15(2) and (3) of the Money Laundering Act 1995(as saved by Section 23(2) of the Money Laundering Act, 2004).

"That you, George Mark, Hans George Christ, Heinrich J. Stockhausen, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Bilfinger Berger GMBH and Adeyanju Bodunde sometime between 2002 and 2003 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired among yourselves to do an illegal act, to wit: failing to report several cash payments totaling in equivalent the sum of $5million by one Jeffrey Tesler(now at large); thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 16 and punishable under Section 15(2) and (3) of the Money Laundering Act 1995.

"That the six suspects sometime between 2002 and 2003 did make several payments totalling in equivalent $5million to one Adeyanju Bodunde and thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 1 and 15(d) of the Money Laundering Act 1995(as saved by Section 23(2) of the Money Laundering Act 2004) and punishable under Section 15(2) and (3) of the Money Laundering Act 1995(as saved by Section 23(2) of the Money Laundering Act, 2004).

"That you, Adeyanju Bodunde, sometime between 2002 and 2003 did accept several cash payments in the sum of $5milion ($1million in five tranches) from George Mark, Hans George Christ, Heinrich J. Stockhausen, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Bilfinger Berger GMBH and thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 1 and 15(d) of the Money Laundering Act 1995 (as saved by Section 23(2) of the Money Laundering Act 2004) and punishable under Section 15(2) and (3) of the Money Laundering Act 1995(as saved by Section 23(2) of the Money Laundering Act, 2004).

"That you, George Mark, Jefferey Tesler(now at large), Hans George Christ, Heinrich J. Stockhausen, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Bilfinger Berger GMBH did transfer several sums of money received from one Jeffrey Tesler in the sum of $5million to one Adeyanju Bodunde in Nigeria, to wit did conceal and transfer to a nominee, knowing that it constitutes proceeds of a criminal conduct and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 16 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2002.

"That you, George Mark, Hans George Christ, Heinrich J. Stockhausen; Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Bilfinger Berger GMBH conspired among yourselves to do an illegal act to wit: corruptly procuring and transferring cash payments amounting to $5million on behalf of one Jefferey Tesler (now at large), to one Adeyanju Bodunde, Personal Assistant to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, CAP C38 LFN, 2004.

"That you, George Mark, Hans George Christ, Heinrich J. Stockhausen, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Bilfinger Berger GMBH did for and on behalf of one Jefferey Tesler (now at large) did corruptly procure and transfer $5million to one Adeyanju Bodunde, Personal Assistant to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 98A of the criminal Code CAP C38 LFN, 2004.

"That you, Adeyanju Bodunde, sometime between 2002 and 2003 while being a public official and in your capacity as the Personal Assistant to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria corruptly asked for and received several cash payments in the sum of $5million from one George Mark, Hans George Christ, Heinrich J. Stockhausen, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Bilfinger Berger GMBH for and on behalf of one Jeffrey Tesler (now at large) thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 98B of the criminal Code CAP C38 LFN, 2004.

"That you, Adeyanju Bodunde, sometime between 2002 and 2003 while being a public official and in your capacity as the Personal Assistant to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria accepted several cash amounting to $5million from one George Mark, Hans George Christ, Heinrich J. Stockhausen, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Bilfinger Berger GMBH for and on behalf of one Jeffrey Tesler(now at large) , being a reward beyond your proper pay and emoluments, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 98B of the criminal Code CAP C38 LFN, 2004.

"That you, George Mark, Hans George Christ, Heinrich J. Stockhausen, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Bilfinger Berger GMBH did make for yourselves and on behalf of one Jefferey Tesler (now at large) several cash payments in the sum of $5million to one Adeyanju Bodunde, personal Assistant to the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the purpose of financing the activities of a political party in Nigeria thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 38(2) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act CAP. C20 LFN 2004."

Concerning the other nine suspects in the second suit CR/95/10, they will face a 13-count charge.

They are: Ibrahim Aliyu (a former federal perm sec); AVM Abdullahi Dominic Bello; Mohammed Gidado Bakare; Urban Shelter Limited; Intercellular Nigeria Limited; Sherwood Petroleum Limited; Tri-Star Investment Limited; Maizube Holdings Limited; TSKJ Nigeria Limited-(a) Technip S.A.; (b) Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. (c) Kellog Brown and Root Inc(d) Japan Gasoline Corporation of Japan.

The charges read in part:

"That you, TSKJ Nigeria Limited-(a) Technip S.A.; (b) Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. (c) Kellog Brown and Root Inc (d) Japan Gasoline Corporation of Japan(all jointly trading in the name and style of TSKJ Joint Venture) awarded a contract for Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Project in Abuja within the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria sometime between 1994 and 2005 conspired among yourselves to commit a felony, to wit: giving the sum of US$130million to one Jeffrey Tesler(now at large) and Tri-Star Investments Limited for the purpose of gratification of public officials with the award of the contract of Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Project in Nigeria and thereby committed an offence under Section 96(1) (a) of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 118 of the Penal Code CAP 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.



"That you, Ibrahim Aliyu; Mohammed Gidado Bakare; Jeffrey Tesler(now at large); AVM Abdullahi Dominic Bello; Urban Shelter Limited; Intercellular Nigeria Limited; Sherwood Petroleum Limited; Tri-Star Investment Limited; Maizube Holdings Limited; TSKJ Nigeria Limited-(a) Technip S.A.; (b)Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. (c) Kellog Brown and Root Inc(d) Japan Gasoline Corporation of Japan sometime between 1998 and 2005 in Abuja within the Abuja Judicial Division of

the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria conspired among yourselves to commit a misdemeanour to wit: giving several sums of money in tranches totalling in the aggregate $7.7million without consideration to one Ibrahim Aliyu, a public official, then as chairman, Programme Implementation Committee of the Federal Government of Nigeria concerned with the proceeding or business of award of contracts for Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Project through companies under his control to wit: Urban Shelter Limited and Intercellular Nigeria Limited and thereby committed an offence under Section 96(1) (a) of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 120 of the Penal Code CAP 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.

"That you, TSKJ Nigeria Limited; Jeffrey Tesler (now at large); Ibrahim Aliyu; Mohammed Gidado Bakare; AVM Abdullahi Dominic Bello; Urban Shelter Limited; Intercellular Nigeria Limited; Sherwood Petroleum Limited; Tri-Star Investment Limited; Maizube Holdings Limited and(a) Technip S.A.; (b) Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. (c) Kellog Brown and Root Inc(d) Japan Gasoline Corporation of Japan(all jointly trading in the name and style of TSKJ Joint Venture) sometime between 1998 and 2005 conspired among yourselves to give $7million without consideration to one Mohammed Gidado Bakare, Sherwood Petroleum Limited, persons in whom Ibrahim Aliyu, a public officer (then Chairman, Programme Implementation Committee of the Federal Government of Nigeria concerned with the proceeding or business of award of contracts for Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Project is interested and thereby committed an offence under Section 96(1)(a) of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 120 of the Penal Code CAP 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.

"That you, Ibrahim Aliyu, sometime between 1998 and 2005 in Abuja while being a public officer (then Chairman, Programme Implementation Committee of the Federal Government of Nigeria concerned with the proceeding or business of award of contracts for Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Project) accepted several payments of money in tranches totaling US$7.7million without consideration through companies under your control to wit: Urban Shelter Limited and Intercellular Nigeria Limited from one Jeffrey Tesler (now at large), AVM Abdullahi Dominic Bello; Tri-Star Investment Limited; TSKJ Nigeria limited and (a) Technip S.A.; (b)Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. (c) Kellog Brown and Root Inc (d) Japan Gasoline Corporation of Japan(all jointly trading in the name and style of TSKJ Joint Venture) persons you know are interested or related to persons interested in the award of contracts for Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Project and thereby committed an offence under Section 119 of the Penal Code CAP 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.

"That you, Ibrahim Aliyu, dishonestly received several payments of money in tranches totalling in the aggregate $7.7million not due to you through companies under your control thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 122 of the Penal Code CAP 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.

"That you, Mohammed Gidado Bakare; Sherwood Petroleum Limited; TSKJ Nigeria limited; Jeffrey Tesler (now at large); AVM Abdullahi Dominic Bello; Urban Shelter Limited; Intercellular Nigeria Limited; Tri-Star Investment Limited; and (a) Technip S.A.; (b) Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. (c) Kellog Brown and Root Inc(d) Japan Gasoline Corporation of Japan (all jointly trading in the name and style of TSKJ Joint Venture) sometime between 1998 and 2005, conspired among yourselves to commit a misdemeanour to wit: giving the sum of $4million without consideration to one Ibrahim Aliyu, a public officer, and thereby committed an offence under Section 96(1)(a) of the Penal Code and punishable Section 120 of the Penal Code CAP 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.

"That you, Ibrahim Aliyu, obtained the sum of $4million through companies under your control to wit: Urban Shelter Limited and Intercellular Nigeria Limited from one Mohammed Bakare, Jeffrey Tesler(now at large); AVM Abdullahi Dominic Bello; Sherwood Petroleum Limited; Tri-Star Investment Limited; TSKJ Nigeria limited; and-(a) Technip S.A.; (b)Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. (c) Kellog Brown and Root Inc(d) Japan Gasoline Corporation of Japan, persons you know are interested or related to persons interested in the award of contracts for Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Project and thereby committed an offence and punishable under Section 119 of the Penal Code CAP 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990."

The $180million bribery scandal involved the former Halliburton’s subsidiary, Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR) in respect of the nation’s Liquefied Natural Gas plant in Bonny.

Albert J. Stanley admitted before a Houston Court in the US on September 4, 2008 that he orchestrated more than $180million in bribe to senior government officials.

Stanley alleged that the bribe was channelled through a UK-based lawyer, Mr. Jeffery Tesler, in four installments of $60million, $32.5million, $51million and $23million.

The bribe was allegedly facilitated between 1995 and 2005 in London.

The countries where the bribe money was allegedly stashed by some top government officials and their accomplices are: France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland , Portugal and Seychelles.

This is the third attempt at probing those who benefited from the N21billion bribe. The House of Representatives had raised a committee, headed by Mr. Chudi Offodile, to investigate the alleged bribery.

But a breakthrough was recorded by a former Chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu when he sent an interim report (EFCC/EC/01-048 of June 24, 2004) to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

On February 20, 2008, a progress report was also forwarded to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua by the EFCC.

Upon taking over as the EFCC chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri also sent a team of operatives to many countries.

The cumulative reports prompted the constitution of a Special Investigative Panel headed by a former Inspector-General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro, to identify those behind the scandal and bring them to justice.

The present Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke(SAN), had about three weeks ago assured that suspects involved in the Halliburton scam would soon be arraigned in court.

No date has, however, been fixed for the arraignment of the suspects.




http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/12106.html

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar yesterday said that the Igbo deserve to produce the president of Nigeria in 2015. He said they should allow the new alliance between them and the North to work for 2011 polls so that they can take their turn in 2015.

Abubakar, who spoke at the a lecture to celebrate Nigeria’s 50 years of independence at the Enugu Sports Club, Enugu, Enugu State, asked the Igbo not to allow the 2015 opportunity to slip past them. He said: "Some 40 years after the civil war, it is about time that someone who is Igbo, one of Nigeria ’s three largest ethnic groups, became president of Nigeria. This will be the boldest way to put the civil war behind us.

"That is why I fully support the agreement recently signed between the Northern leaders and the leaders of the South East. As agreed, the South East would support the North in 2011 to complete the remaining four years of its eight - year tenure, while in turn, the North would support the South East to produce the next president of Nigeria in 2015.

"This is the first time such an agreement for power rotation has been written and signed and made public. Again, I support that agreement. It is in writing, it was widely publicised and I want to be held to it". He said although all sections of the country have had experiences to complain, South-East has been acknowledged by most other sections of the country and that every government has a duty to address the situation in the South-East.




http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/12101.html

Akanwo Adetutu, popularly known as Isolate, is a musician and an actor. He speaks with Ademola Olonilua on his alleged misunderstanding with 9ice, his relationship with the late Da Grin, his music and his life in this interview. How did you come about the name Isolate?

I got it when I was in secondary school. I was a very quiet person and I always sat at the back seat, watching everybody‘s movement for the day without participating. I used to be a very quiet and neat student. One day one of my friends walked up to me and said I was too quiet, that I don‘t talk, instead, I isolate myself from everybody around me. Checking my behaviour and my character, I am different; the way I react, the way I live my life, so I decided to adopt the name, I went to the dictionary to know the actual meaning, and I got to find out that the definition matched my character that was how I adopted the name Isolate.

How did you get into music?

I started music professionally in 2000. Music originally started for me when I was in church. I was in the choir of my church, Celestial Church of Christ. I discovered I had an husky voice that could go for a lead vocal as a singer. Then I did a lot of back up for juju and fuji artistes. I recorded my first single in 2000; that was what set the pace for me as an artiste. One day I sat and thought that since I have been doing back up for other artistes and I had a passion for music, I could as well go professional.

Why did you choose to go into Yoruba proverbial lyrics?

I chose it because I discovered that my language is very important to me. I decided to pick my culture, which is deep in proverbs and make something unique out of it. We have a lot of Yoruba people all over the world. Whenever they hear my music, I want them to be able to relate with it and think of home. I infused my mother tongue with hip-hop to make it unique and danceableo. That was the main reason I chose Yoruba proverbial lyrics with an infusion of hip-hop to make it sound nice to my people.

Speaking of 9ice, people are of the opinion that you are imitating him.

I have been trying to correct that impression, but people still emphasise it. I would not say much on it. All I know is that it is good to be unique and create your own style, for me I am not trying to sound like anybody, I am Isolate. I am different and unique like my stage name implies. I would say the main reason people say that is because we both infuse Yoruba proverbial lyrics with hip-hop; that is why people choose to call me a photocopy but I am not, I am me.

Also, there are speculations that the 9ice track, Photocopy was intended for you. Is that true?

I would say yes, I do not see it to be a very important thing. When people listen to my voice or my music they would think it is 9ice, which is not supposed to be that is why I sang a song Ebiti, three years ago in response to people, to let them know that I do not sound like anybody other than myself.

But it was rumored that you sang the song in response to photocopy, to diss him.

No I did not; it was just to correct people‘s impression. I wanted them to know that we had so many people using Yoruba proverbial lyrics to sing. We have the likes of Obey, Sunny Ade, Lagbaja; people have being using Yoruba proverbial lyrics before us, the only difference is that we infused ours with hip-hop. All I was trying to do is correct the misconception not abuse anybody.

Right now, what is your relationship with 9ice. Would you collaborate on a song with him in the near future?

If it calls for, I would do, but for now nothing. I am fine with him. We are from the same town; I am from Oyo State, Ogbomoso Agbole Eleshin Meta California. He is like my brother so I don‘t have any reason to diss him, he has been there doing his music, kudos to him; he is my colleague in the entertainment industry so I have to have that respect for him. Other than that there is nothing; I am cool with him.

You were on a track on the late Da Grin‘s album. What was it like working with him?

It was a very vital experience for me. It was a great experience. Da Grin was intelligent and evergreen. He was different and unique. We chose to come together because of one thing. He listened to my song and acknowledged the fact that I had my own style. We became best of friends, he was a very good friend to me and I really miss him.

You sang a tribute to Da Grin; what makes yours any different from the ones other artistes have done?

Yes, I have two singles out now; the first is Party Avenue and the second is Tribute to Da Grin. A lot of people have waxed tributes to Da Grin, but they do not know what a tribute entails. It should not be a party song; it should be sober song so I decided to do a tribute song for my friend.

The song is a sober song, an explanatory song about what I know about him. Both songs would be on my on coming album, The Secret.

Can you say he was one of the people that made you known in the Nigerian music scene with the song you collaborated with him?

No, I would not say so. Before then I had featured in a hit song, Binu Binu, I would say that was the song that brought me to limelight. Also the song I had a song Ara online that helped alongside Ebiti, the song I sang in response to a major hit which is Photocopy on the 9ice album.

How did you delve from music to acting?

When I finished from my secondary school, I went for a practical course where I studied drama and cinematography with script writing. I went to the school under Afeesco Films. From there I started featuring in the movies. I initially went for music but it occurred to me that singing, performing on stage is almost the same as acting. So I decided to go for acting to improve myself and to make people know what I am good in.

You featured mostly in Yoruba movies; can you also do English movies?

I can do Yoruba and English movies, there is no difference. The same amount of work and energy I would put in Yoruba movie is the same I would to English. I can do them both. I can also do soap operas, series, everything.

What was your growing up like?

I would not say it was rosy. The road has been so rough and narrow. We have been pushing it all these years and that is what we are still on. Glory be to God for everything. It was hectic. I lost my dad in 2006. I am the only child of my parent; I only have my mother now. As an only child I never enjoyed. I left home to pursue my career. My mother supports me with everything.

Tell us a challenge you have faced as an artiste?

I just dropped my single, Ara, I went for a performance at Ebute-Meta, they called me for the show. When I got to the stage to perform, the compact disc I burned my music to was a new one I gave to the DJ to play, but each time I wanted to sing, he would not play my song. It was later I realised that some people had bought drinks to bribe the DJ not to play my song because they felt I was a threat to them and their artiste. They bribed the DJ not to play my song. I was so embarrassed.

How do you get to manage your fans, especially the female ones?

I would say we cannot do without our fans both male and females because they are the market. They are the one who would purchase our CDs and listen to our song. The females are like the major backbone of an artiste; we can‘t just do without them. I use my common sense to relate with them.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100904152353

The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Lagos, Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola, has said that voter registration will take place in Lagos between October and November 2010.

Ogunmola announced this when he paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission on Friday.

He said, ‘‘The voter registration exercise is expected to last two weeks. Unlike in the past where one machine was deployed to cover a whole area with so many polling units, now it is going to be one machine per polling unit. There will be no question of voter apathy this time. Lagos State currently has 8,465 polling units; so we are not expecting anything less than 8, 465 machines to register the voters.‘‘

Ogunmola said that each polling unit would be manned by three people, adding that those who registered during the last elections should do so again. While stressing the need for a hitch-free general election, the new REC commended LASIEC for its working relationship with INEC, Lagos, in the past.

He said, ‘‘I went through the handing over notes and I am impressed by the relationship between LASIEC and INEC. I hope to continue in the same manner. We cannot do without cooperation.

‘‘The assignment of INEC is greater now than before because people feel the electoral process must be devoid of malpractice. The whole world is now interested in our elections and if Ghana can pull off a free and fair election, Nigeria can too.‘‘

Addressing the new REC, the Chairman of LASIEC, Justice Abdulfatai Tajudeen Afolabi said, ‘‘LASIEC has always had a good working relationship with INEC; we have no reason to be at loggerheads. I am optimistic that we can have credible elections. But to do so, INEC has to be independent.

”If we want to be independent, funds have to be released on time. We all know what happened in the last dispensation when funds were not released on time. In Lagos, possibly because we have got a governor who is a lawyer, we don‘t have that problem with funds. We don‘t owe our workers.‘‘

Afolabi said that voter education had started, especially in areas where people had lost contact with the government.

He said, ‘‘We have already commenced voter education exercises in Takwa Bay, Banana Island, and Amuwo-Odofin. In these areas, people seem to be out of touch with the government. There will be a need for additional polling centres. All our findings will be made available to you.‘‘

Ogunmola explained that LASIEC and INEC‘s previous recommendation of additional polling units had not yielded results.

He said, ”We are hoping that the previous recommendations to approve 4,000 new polling centres will take care of those areas where voters can‘t get easy accessibility to other polling centres. We are still awaiting the outcome.‘‘

Reassurring Nigerians of a credible 2011 elections Ogunmola said the time table for the poll had not been released by INEC.

He said, ‘‘Generally, INEC intends to ensure all political parties have a level playing field. That is the first and major step. Once that is guaranteed, you are likely to have a hitch-free election. Furthermore, complaints will be minimal because as human beings, even when somebody loses normally, he will still want to complain. But such complaints will be minimal because they will lack substance.‘‘



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2010090415352342

Ignatio:
Most u be in coporate to be best dressed?

zenus:
All these guys are on suit (foreign wears) except 1. What about our own wears .

I wonder ooooooo!

r.i.p

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has affirmed that his Administration will give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) all the support it requires to conduct elections that meet global standards of acceptability next year.

Speaking at an audience with the new European Union (EU) Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Nigeria, Mr. David Macrae, on Thursday, September 2, President Jonathan said that the Federal Government was very aware of the great importance of the elections to the future stability of Nigeria and will welcome more assistance from the EU and Nigeria’s other development partners to assure its success.

The President told Mr. Macrae who was at the Presidential Villa to present his letters of credence that the Federal Government also recognized that because of Nigeria’s strategic importance in Africa, the international community had a keen interest in the general elections scheduled for early next year.

“The elections are very important and your concerns are genuine. Nigeria is very important globally because of its huge population, amongst other factors. A stable Nigeria will foster stability in West Africa and the rest of Africa. Successful elections next year will help us achieve greater political stability and we will appreciate further assistance from the EU for the elections,” he told Mr. Macrae.

Also today at the Presidential Villa, President Jonathan received the letters of credence of the new Ambassador of Ireland to Nigeria, Mr. Kyle O’Sullivan and the new Australian High Commissioner, Mr. Ian McConille.

At separate audiences with the new envoys, he called for improved economic cooperation between Nigeria and their countries, saying that Nigeria particularly wished to learn from Australia’s expertise in the commercial exploitation of solid minerals.

Mr. McConille assured President Jonathan that Australia will fully support the development of Nigeria’s enormous potentials in the solid minerals sector.

He noted that the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Musa Mohammed Sada is currently participating in a Mining Conference in Australia.



http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2010/09/02/credible-elections-will-foster-political-stability-president-jonathan/

Residents of Ilepa a community in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria, yesterday took to the streets to protest against the demolition of their properties.

The residents, numbering over 10,000, with placards marched from the main entrance of the town to the palace of the traditional ruler, Oba Fatai Oladipupo, the Baale and other community leaders.

P.M.NEWS learned that the people are protesting against the proposed demolision of their properties by the management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos.

Investigations revealed that the management of LUTH are banking on the fact that a portion of the property was given to them by the President Obasanjo administration for the purpose of building an annex of the hospital

P.M.NEWS gathered that the residents decided to protest when an official of LUTH gave them a verbal ultimatum of 100 days to vacate the property.

Speaking on behalf of the residents, Elder Peter Idowu, the chaiman, Ifesowapo Community Development Association, said that though the management of the hospital has annexed some portion of the property and the ultimatum is a calculated attempt by a group of people to convert the property for personal use, “and we will not watch and allow these people destroy a town made up of over 13 communities including Ilepa, Onhale and others, where do they want us to go? We sense a foul play by OBJ and others.”

Earlier, the Oba of the town advised the residents to maintain peace with a promise to speak with those in authority to assist in resolving the issue.

Also, counsel to the community, Barrister Gbolahan Agoro, said that the issue of the 100-day ultimatum is null and void and of no basis and promised to fight on.



http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2010/09/02/ifo-residents-protest-against-obasanjo/

The Lagos State Governor, South-West Nigeria, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, this morning swore in seven new judges in the state.

The new judges are Mrs. Mariam Olajumoke Eleya, Ibironke Olaleibosun Harrison, Lateefat Atinuke Fadeke-Oluyemi, Lateefat Abiola Morayo-Folami, Olubunmi Olutoyin Femi-Adeniyi, Christopher Ayodeji Balogun and Kaseel Omobolaji Dawodu.

The governor, while addressing them said with their appointment, the number of high court judges in the state has risen to 56.

He cautioned them on their lifestyle, saying that with their new appointment, there are now seen as men and women of integrity.

He also said that with advancement in technology and anticipated increase is crime wave, the state will appoint more judges with time.

“If we are not to slide back to the days of court congestion, the capacity of judges per litigant must be increased even as the state continues to pursue automation and technology to improve efficiency.” Fashola said.

Presently, there are 35 female and 14 male judges in the state.

In order of seniority, the top six positions are dominated by female judges



http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2010/09/02/lagos-appoints-7-new-judges-2/

FORMER Head of State and presidential aspirant on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Major-General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd), yesterday in Kaduna asked Nigerians to learn to bring their corrupt leaders to book.

Besides, he told them to reject candidates, who are incapable to deliver the dividends of democracy.

The two-time presidential candidate of the All Nigerian Peoples Party(ANPP) expressed grave concern over how the nation’s treasury is being milked by leaders, saying if Nigerians can not question them over their itching fingers, “maybe we should amend the laws to say that leaders such as the president, governor and local government chairmen can take the country’s money and do anything they like with it”.

He argued that as head of state, his government gave Nigerians a month-by- month account of its revenue profile and also set up a committee to investigate the country’s foreign debt and how they came about.

He, however, regretted that the report was not ready before his government was overthrown by General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) in August 1985.

Buhari also torched on his recent breakfast meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, saying that he did not discuss any issue, either about the conduct of the 2011 elections, or any other with the President.

The former Nigerian leader, who spoke on a Kaduna State radio programme, Vision Nigeria, monitored yesterday, said that he was invited by the President to the Villa to break his fast, adding that, that was exactly what happened.

He stated further that even though it is normal for two leaders to discuss issues relating to the development of their country, he did not hold any discussion with the President, adding that “I went there to honour the president’s invitation to break my fast. There were about 20 people there. We did not talk on any issue.

“Right from my car, I went straight to the breakfast table and after that, I went back to my car and left. So, I don’t know where people got the idea that we discussed. That is not true.”

The former military ruler, however, expressed belief in Jonathan’s ability to conduct a free, fair and credible election.

He added that he was prepared to support any government produced by any credible election, just as he said that he would continue to fight for credible democracy in the country, as long as elections are rigged by greedy and power hungry politicians.

To Buhari, participating in the 2011 elections by Jonathan will not in any way affect its conduct as being speculated in some quarters.



http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66916:buhari-to-nigerians-bring-corrupt-leaders-to-book-&catid=672:top-stories&Itemid=794

FORMER civilian governor of the old Kaduna State, Alhaji Lawan Kaita, has declared that if President Goodluck Jonathan emerges the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential flag bearer, the ruling party “is not only heading for a doomsday, but on a self-destruction mission”.

Kaita, who has lately been championing agitations against Jonathan’s speculated presidential ambition, predicted yesterday that Jonathan “would fail in his mission as well as destroy his political career”.

He declared: “Until now, I have remained among the few Nigerians, who never believed President Jonathan would want to commit such a political suicide because as far as I am concerned, Jonathan is heading for a clear suicide as he would be outrightly defeated but my only worry is his determination to allow his ambition destroy the PDP”.

Kaita, a governor of the old Kaduna State in the aborted Third Republic on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), categorically stated that there was no way the North would allow a Southern President beyond 2011, stressing that the conspiracy from certain quarters in the South, including the plot by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to deny the North the second term slot would be resisted by Northerners.

Northerners, he disclosed, are prepared to dump the PDP for another party that produces a Northern candidate if the ruling party’s presidential flag is handed over to Jonathan.

He said: “We are already working on two options; we in the North have met, pondered over the issue and arrived at a conclusion on what should be done in the event that the Northern mandate is eventually stolen.

“The options are that we either move to another party en-masse or remain in PDP and work against its interest in terms of using our votes to get what we want. One good thing about the entire saga is that we still have one or two parties that will present a Northern presidential candidate, like the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which most likely will feature General Muhammadu Buhari as its presidential candidate”.

He described as “a thing of joy” the decision by two prominent Northerners, former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to work together to ensure the actualisation of the desire of the North for a Northern President, pointing out that they have agreed to step down for one another at the appropriate time to avoid splitting their votes.

Jonathan’s ambition, he stated, had already overheated the polity, despite the reality that he is yet to pick the ticket, pointing out that “the moment Jonathan picks the ticket, the North will fight against injustice, cheating and immorality introduced into the nation’s politics by Obasanjo”.

Besides, he pointed out that it was becoming obvious that the PDP National Chairman, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, was brought back to the party by Obasanjo and his group to do Jonathan’s bidding.

“It is really embarrassing that such a polished man could allow himself to be used to the extent of bringing his credibility to question. I think his statement largely demonstrates his state of fear as every thing points to the fact that he is afraid of the President and those remote-controlling Aso Rock from outside”.



http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66920:kaita-on-zoning-pdp-heading-for-destruction-&catid=672:top-stories&Itemid=794

When Williams Ogundeji, 30, a commercial motorbike rider planned to leave Osun State to Lagos, his intention was to come and search for greener pasture.

Thinking that being friendly was one of the cardinal rules to getting a job, Ogundeji became very cordial with everybody. His cheerful and outgoing nature, however, led to his downfall.

He was drugged by his passenger, who lured him to an eatery and laced his drink with 20 tablets of a drug called Super Apeti, which induces sleep.

This made Ogundeji to sleep for 48 hours. The Super Apeti, a Multivitamin tablet, is supposed to be taken once a day.

Ogundeji, who claimed to have been a commercial motorcyclist at Osun for many years, explained that after graduating from Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, for many years, he could not secure any employment.

To keep body and soul together and not to be a liability to anybody, Ogundeji decided to travel to Lagos, to continue his commercial motorbike business.

He was however hopeful that in the course of riding his motorbike for money, he would get a good job with his degree certificate.

But since his encounter with James Iheme, who doped him just to steal his motorbike, Ogundeji had become very wary of strangers.

He said: “I have learnt my lesson! To even greet strangers now is difficult for me. Moreover, I have only spent three months in Lagos when this thing happened to me. Now, if I board commercial buses, I try to make sure that my body does not come in contact with anyone. I can’t trust anybody!”

Ogundeji’s distrust of strangers started that fateful August 23, 2010, after he picked Iheme at Ketu Bus stop, but was later drugged by the suspect.

Ogundeji explained that he was waiting at Ketu bus stop for passengers just like most commercial bike riders, when Iheme approached him.

He said: “ I believe it was on a Monday. The time was about 8pm. He told me that he was going to Magodo, at Isheri.

“I told him his money was N100. He accepted. We were close to the Magodo gate, near Royal eatery, when he said I should stop, that his friend wanted to give him some money. I stopped, he brought out his phone and called the person.

“I didn’t know what they discussed. He suddenly handed his phone over to me. The man on the line told me that I should not be angry, that I should wait for him, just for 10 minutes, so that he could bring the money to my passenger.

“He asked me where we were, I said close to Royal eatery. He said we go there and enjoy ourselves.

“This man(Iheme) bought a bottle of Sprite and Five Alive; the small pack. We started drinking. Suddenly police surrounded us. I started shouting that I was not a robber! I was not a robber!

“The policemen searched everywhere around the area we were sitting but found nothing. Suddenly, I didn’t know what happened next. When I woke up, I thought it was the following day.

“I saw a policewoman who told me that I had been sleeping for like two days. I couldn’t believe that I had slept for a whole two days!”

Police spokesman, Frank Mba, explained that what led to the arrest of the suspect took place precisely at Royal eatery, Magodo, in Shangisha, Lagos.

He said: “Iheme had early on taken a commercial motorcycle from Ketu bus stop; he eventually managed to trick the motorcyclist to Royal eatery with a grand design to drug him and steal his motorcycle.

“He had the Five Alive juice pack in his pocket as at the time he left his home and walked into the eatery, and when he got there, all he did was to order for a bottle of Sprite drink and then walked back to join the victim. But before he got to where the victim was sitting, he pulled out the Five Alive pack of juice from his pocket.

“He pretended as if he had just bought the Five Alive juice from the sales attendant at the eatery. He put the drinks on the table, but cleverly made sure that the victim took the Five Alive, which he had drugged from home. The victim lost consciouness!”

Mba said that after Iheme had successfully given Ogundeji the fruit juice and they were on the verge of leaving the eatery, apparently to take Ogundeji somewhere to conclude his criminal intentions, the manager, who seemed to have been monitoring the suspicious movement of both men, feared they might be robbers and quickly alerted the police. This call however turned out to be the saving grace for Ogundeji.

Iheme, 36, explained that he meant the victim no harm. Even though the police believe that he meant to harm Ogundeji, Iheme claimed that he was only after his motorbike.

“Yes, I brought the Five Alive from home and kept it hidden in my pocket. I put 20 tablets of Super Apeti into the juice. I knew it would not harm him because I had used the drug myself. No, I don’t use 20 at once, I used to ingest two or three tablets if I wanted to sleep.”

Although Iheme said nobody sold the idea to him on how to drug a commercial bike rider and steal his motorbike after he had fallen asleep, police however said that he was doing the dirty operation in connivance with some other people, whose names he had refused to mention .

Even when he was asked to mention the name of the man that spoke with Ogundeji after they stopped at Royal eatery, he said there was no one, insisting that the bike rider spoke with no one.

The police also believe that Iheme had been into this crime for long, but he claimed it was his first time.

Even as investigators hazard guesses that he wanted to use Ogundeji for ritual purposes, Iheme, a father of one, said: “All I wanted was just his motorbike! I didn’t want to sell it but use it for commercial purpose. I used to ride Okada myself, but it didn’t belong to me. I wanted to have my own Okada! Nobody taught me how to lace juice with that Super Apeti tablets. I know that it used to induce somebody to sleep. I know it would not kill the man. This is my first time of trying this. If this is not my first operation, let me or my only two-year-old son die!”

Mba urged members of the public on transit to be careful what they eat and drink.

“ Investigation is not concluded,” he said. “We want to advice citizens, particularly those that make use of commercial motorcycle and other forms of mass transportation to be careful about what they eat or drink while in transit with their customers. We intend to send sample of this drink to a laboratory.”



http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66967:how-robbery-suspect-stunned-victim-with-deadly-drug-to-steal-his-motorbike-&catid=40:crime-a-security&Itemid=696

INSPECTOR-GENERAL of Police (IG) Ogbonna Onovo yesterday claimed ignorance of the court order for his arrest.

Police lawyer Henry Njoku, a chief superintendent, told Mr Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court that Onovo only read of the order in the papers.

He said there was a breakdown in communication with the police.

Njoku was speaking at the resumed hearing of the case instituted against him by two policemen.

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi on Monday issued a bench warrant for Onovo’s arrest for contempt of court.

The order was reportedly served through FCT command yesterday.

Onovo is accused of unlawful detention of two non-commissioned police officers Corporal Onyebuchi Eze and Kenneth Chikwe.

They have been in detention since December, last year alongside Austin Duru for alleged kidnap of a yet-to-be-identified victim.

Onovo also disobeyed the order to produce the suspects in court.

Onovo, Commissioner of Police in-charge of Special Investigation Unit (SIU) and Audu Abel, a Chief Superintendent, were alleged to have disobeyed four orders issued on August 9, 12, 18 and 20.

The orders followed an application by the International Human Rights Protection Initiative on behalf of the suspects.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, Onovo, who had failed to honour earlier invitation was absent.

Njoku claimed ignorance of the bench warrant.

He said they only read about the bench warrant and the case in a national daily.

Communication broke down when oga was abt to be arrested but when police arrest & detain people illegally, communication is intact. Naija, I hail thee,

•TC member: Ume-Ezeoke’s removal irrevocable

Amidst speculations in the media that former military ruler, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, is planning to get the presidential ticket on the platform of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in case he meets a brick wall in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), one of his close aides has denied it, saying it is a figment of the imagination of those peddling the rumours.

The aide, who spoke to the Nigerian Compass on phone yesterday, though on the condition of anonymity, said Babangida is a bona fide member of the PDP, and would pursue his presidential ambition on the platform of the same party.

His words: “That matter is a non-issue; that cannot happen. Is Babangida an ANPP member? Babangida is a PDP member and he is going to contest for the president of Nigeria on the ticket of the party. That is what I know, my friend.”

But a highly placed source in the party told the Nigerian Compass that Ume-Ezeoke’s reluctance to leave the office (chairmanship) is owing to “their camp's promise and commitment to give the retired general the presidential ticket to contest on the platform of ANPP. But I can assure you that this is not going to happen.”

When our correspondent called Ume-Ezeoke on phone get his response on the issue, he said: “ Please, I am in a meeting of NEC right now and I can't talk to you.”

In another development, the Deputy National Chairman of Transition Committee, who is also the Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the party, Chief Abiodun Oyebolu, said Ume-Ezeoke’s removal was irrevocable because of his anti-party activities.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Nigerian Compass late on Wednesday night on phone from Abuja, Oyebolu said: “By midnight tonight today (Wednesday night), the tenure of Ume Ezeoke comes to an end and he is no longer the national chairman of ANPP.

“He remains removed constitutionally tonight, because he was sworn in on September 2, 2006. A new chairman of our great party will emerge at our convention slated for September, 17 and 18 this month at Eagles Square, Abuja.”



http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66915:ibb-is-not-joining-anpp-says-aide-&catid=672:top-stories&Itemid=794

DESPITE the Federal Government’s avowed commitment to the development of the Niger Delta region, the federal authority is indebted to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to the tune of about N500 billion, it was learnt yesterday.

The Managing Director of the commission, Mr Chibuzor Ugwoha, made the stunning revelation yesterday, while giving the record of his performance in office in the last one year during a parley with journalists in Lagos.

According to him, the debt forms part of the money needed by the commission to construct the East-West Coastal Road, which formed the plank of the three mega projects announced by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as part of the post-amnesty programme.

Ugwoha said that on completion, the road, taking off from Calabar, in Cross River State, through the oil producing states to Delta State, will open up the Niger Delta region to investment as it would ease the movement of goods and services.

While soliciting assistance for the NDDC on the N1.8 trillion road project, the NDDC boss disclosed that its design has reached 70 per cent completion and added that the road would have the longest bridge on it.

He also listed some of the peculiar challenges being faced by the commission, which he said included the not development-friendly topography of the terrain.

Ugwoha said: “In the Niger Delta region, to embark on any construction, unlike other parts of the country, a contractor, first of all, needs to reclaim land for the sitting of the project.

“The contractor also needs man-made land to settle. He also needs to transport materials (laterite, cement, others) for a long distance. All this makes construction more expensive.

“There is also the challenge posed by the rain. If you want to construct a bridge which requires 12 calender months in the Niger Delta, you will spend about four years because you hardly have three months of dry season.”

All this, according to him, makes people to think that the commission is slow or not doing enough.”

Despite the challenges, Ugwoha, however, said the NDDC under his leadership had, in the past year, transformed the region.

For instance, he disclosed that the commission, towards the end of last year, awarded 45 mega projects worth more than N180 billion spread across the states of the region.

On assumption of office on August 6, 2009, Ugwoha said he discovered the need to create a new Niger Delta region.

This, according to him, required the development of human capital, not just infrastructure.

Though he said the development of infrastructure was necessary, it will be incomplete without the development of the people, expected to bring about the development process.

His words: “Of course, it does not make sense to train a man who has no job at the end of the day.”

He informed that the commission conducted a survey on the need of the people and the areas they were needed.

Said the NDDC boss: “At the end of the survey, it was discovered that welding is an essential profession needed in the oil and gas industry.

“But we discovered that those earning fat salary in that area are foreigners from Asia and other areas.

“We know there were roadside welders but they did not have the skill required in the oil and gas. So, we decided to train some of the youths.”

He disclosed that 25 youths were selected, trained at Effunrun in Delta State and sent to South Africa to further sharpen their skills.

According to him, 24 of them have be internationally certified as welders who can compete with expatriates in welding.

“These 24 welders,” he disclosed, “are among only 38 internationally-certified welders in the country.”

He explained that the plan was for them to train others, starting with 700 youths already selected for the exercise.

“This is because there are over 2,000 vacancies for welders in the industry,” he noted.

In its holistic approach to the development of the Niger Delta region, Ugwoha disclosed that the commission set up a Niger Delta Technical Aid Corps.

The corps, he disclosed, has absorbed 2,000 hitherto unemployed youths, out of about the 57,000 graduates that applied.

These graduates are attached to private business concerns, even as he informed that each of the youths get N30,000 monthly from the commission while their employers pay them N15,000 each.

He said the arrangement was worked out to reduce unemployment and youth restiveness in the region as well as to ameliorate the socio-economic problems of the people.

He noted that the employed graduates could now have purchasing powers and can plan for their lives while the employers would also enjoy the services of qualified workers to grow their businesses.

Ugwoha also disclosed that the commission has commenced the training of about 100 youths in Norway in the oil and gas sector, while a private firm partnering with the commission has promised to train 65 youths in drilling.

He also disclosed that the commission has entered into a partnership with British firms to develop agriculture in the region.

“This is to ensure that the Niger Delta will be known not only for oil and gas, but also self-sufficient in food production,” he said.

The aim, according to him, was for the region to be able to feed the nation.

Speaking of his vision for the agency, Ugwoha spoke of plans to transform the Niger Delta region into an investors’ haven, “where a Lagosian will say at the weekend, I want to eat fresh fish in Port Harcourt.”

Warning that the commission should not be seen as the solution to all the problems of the region, he said the NDDC was doing all within its means to reconnect the people with the economy of the region.





http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66921:fg-owes-nddc-n500-billion-&catid=672:top-stories&Itemid=794

NOBEL laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, yesterday broke his silence on the zoning controversy, saying the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) arrangement should not be equated to a national agenda.

Soyinka spoke to reporters in Akure, the Ondo State capital, saying the issue of where the president should come from is a matter for the political party, which should not be subjected to national discourse.

He said: “The press should stop making the internal policy of a political party to be the policy of the nation. There is this habit in the media which try to turn the internal practices of a particular party to mean the constitutional rights of the nation. That is wrong.”

Also, he asked Nigerians to await the results of the 2011 general elections before condemning the approach towards the poll.

He said “President Goodluck Jonathan seemed determined to make the elections free and fair hence the people should watch and see how he wished to achieve that.

“He (Jonathan) seems determined that the elections will be free and fair. The decorations are marvelous, but we are waiting to see the results,” he said.

While delivering his lecture, Soyinka said a better way to promote and nurture democracy in the country was for the people to respect and uphold their traditional culture.

The nobel laureate, who paid glowing tributes to the late Chief Bola Ige and a celebrated Yoruba literature icon, the late D.O Fagunwa, noted with concern that lack of respect for the traditional values was affecting democracy in the country.

Rather than questioning the source of sudden wealth of certain individuals in the society, Soyinka regretted that people ended up celebrating them and electing them into positions of authorities.

He also said the use of thugs to scuttle or disrupt election process, kidnappings and all forms of social insecurity which was yet to be tackled by government was a threat to the nation’s democracy.

He said: “After about three decades of military rule in the country, the civilian administrations in the last 11 years was yet to restore civility to our system”

“Despite the rich traditional culture of the various tribes which frowns at celebrating mediocrity, the architects of our woes in the country are currently being celebrated.”

Soyinka did not mention names of individuals, he however, stated that majority of them who should be in jail are now major players in the nation’s political sphere.

By Babatope Okeowo & David Akinjagunla, Akure




http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66919:zoning-is-pdp-arrangement-not-national-agenda-says-soyinka-&catid=672:top-stories&Itemid=794

Ade Adefuye, a professor of History, is Nigerian Ambassador to the United States of America. He had served at the Commonwealth before his present posting. He spoke on Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s international rating, the US government’s interest in the 2011 general elections and planned assistance in the quest for good governance when Assistant Editor OLAYINKA OYEBODE met him.

What were the major challenges you met on ground as Ambassador to the US and how were you able to tackle them?

I resumed as Ambassador in the US at a time when relations between Nigeria and the US was at an all time low, because of a number of reasons. One : We didn’t have an ambassador on the spot. Two, there was a kind of (almost) a power vacuum at that time in Nigeria. And what further compounded matters was the unfortunate incident of Master Abdul Muttalab, who attempted to bomb a Detroit- bound plane and so Nigeria was placed on a terror watch list.

Unfortunately there was no reason for Nigeria to have been placed on that list; it was just an over-reaction on the path of the Americans. But we made such a good case explaining that there was an overreaction on that issue. But, we made the case in Nigeria instead of making it in Washington. And because we did not have an ambassador on seat, our voices were not heard.

Also at that time, it coincided with the period when the late President Umaru Yar’Adua was ill and was admitted into the hospital and the circumstances surrounding that was such that there was almost a vacuum because he did not leave a letter behind handing over to Dr. Jonathan and the international community was really worried about what was happening in Nigeria. Those were the circumstances under which I assumed duty.

How have recent developments affected performance of your dutues?

I was lucky that by the time I assumed duty the main features of Jonathan’s administration were evolving. It was clear that the man meant well for the country, he was determined to tackle the fundamental problems that beset our country. He has shown himself to be a very responsive and responsible person and he had his mind in the right places. So, I took that cue from him and adopted that approach in dealing with the problems of Nigeria. I assumed duty just before the nuclear security conference took place and I had to make a case for President Barack Obama to receive (then ) Acting President Goodluck Jonathan on a one-one basis.

How easy was that move ?

It was very difficult to make that case to President Obama. But, you know the Americans, when they see a good argument they buy it. I was able to make that case even though President Obama had limited the numbers of heads of state he wanted to see, but making the case for him that seeing President Jonathan would consolidate his position at home and expand his international image and against the background of the fact that the day Dr Jonathan was transformed from Vice President to Acting President, the U.S Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Mr. Johnny Carson, was in Nigeria and he stated that America supported that move which encouraged other nations to accept it. I made the point to President Obama that meeting Dr Jonathan would complete what members of his administration had started.

I think the agruement was accepted and Dr. Jonathan was received in audience and he made a very good impression on President Obama. He was invited to lunch by the Vice President, Joe Biden, and his performance was just excellent and thereafter the Secretary General of the UN requested to see him and he also saw him, and , again, the impression was quite positive. He also saw the President of the World Bank. And there were countless requests for interviews within two days. He granted an interview with CNN which was excellent. Within a period of four to five days Dr. Jonathan revived and restored Nigeria’s image and that point was made by a commentator during the Council of Foreign Relations that within four days, Dr Jonathan had done much to redeem the image of Nigeria than anybody had done within the past one or two years and from then he never looked back.

Aside this?

Apart from that, we were able to complete an agreement on a bi-national commission. The US and Nigeria now have a bi-national commission agreement. A bi-national commission is the highest level of strategic co-operation you can have between two countries, and the one between Nigeria and the U.S has four aspects: One is called "TGI" (Transparency, Good Governance and Integrity). It has the components of ensuring that we have a credible election. In fact, that is one of the reasons I am here right now. It has good governance and also the fight against corruption. They want to cooperate with us along that line. Also the aspect of energy and investment cooperation with us on the issue of oil & gas as well as power (electric) generation and investment in that area.

The third issue is on Niger-Delta and regional security and the fourth is on food security and agriculture. Each of these elements contains vital elements of our vision 20-20 and if America can cooperate effectively with us in all these vital areas, we would go a long way in achieving the objective of our vision 20-20. America as a nation is contributing mostly to the attainment of the objective of vision 20-20 through this bi-national commission agreement.

We have held a number of meetings. The first meeting on transparency governance and integrity was held in May. I attended that. I am here now to attend another meeting of the group, because members of the bi-national commission felt an urgence to work with Dr. Atthairu Jega, during which he laid down his plans for the elections- what he intends to do, how he intends to cope with it, the problem he has and how much the US can assist in that area. We have held another meeting in Washington on Energy and Investment and as a result of that, many American companies both in public and private sectors are now in Nigeria assisting us in generating electricity and helping with problems in the management of our oil sector.

In What other specific areas do we expect assistance?

We showed them our Petroleum Investment Bill and they passed comments and we have discussed it. We are going to meet on September 13 and 14 on the issue of the Niger-Delta and Regional Security. Many governors of the Niger-Delta are expected to attend; the Nigerian delegation would be led by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and also the Presidential Adviser on Niger-Delta Affairs, Mr. Timi Alaibe would be there. So, I am here in the country, first to participate in the meeting on the Transparency Good Governance with Jega, which we had on Tuesday and Wednesday we also made arrangements for the meetings in Washington on September 13 and 14 on Niger-Delta and regional security it is going to be in Washington.

What informed the choice of Washington for a meeting on Niger Delta ?

Well, it is within the context of the Bi-national commission agreement. We are holding the meeting at the State Department in Washington with top American officials in the relevant sectors. Regional cooperation on people who are experts on the issue of reconciliation, rehabilitation, conflict resolution would be there to rub minds with us. They will look at our amnesty program, how much we are trying to re-integrate the people and what they can contribute to fast track the process. Later on we shall discuss the issue of food security and agriculture, with delegates from both countries attending so the venue of that is yet to be decided, it’s likely to be in Nigeria.

Right now you remember that the U.S granted us category one by which our airlines can fly to America, We have been negotiating that for a long time and we got that just recently, now as Nigerians we have been removed from the terror watch list. If you go to the U.S now you are not subjected to any intense search at the airport. Now at the airports, you are treated courteously. I make it a point of duty that anytime I arrive Washington, or when I come from any other place I wait to see how they interrogate Nigerians when they are passing through immigrations and I am proud to say that Nigerians are no longer subjected to any form of harassment. They are treated respectfully.

Of course we have our natural attraction. Nigeria has an irresistible attraction to any potential investor and they know that we have all it takes to be a great nation and they are now willing to support us in our efforts to be the bastion of democracy, to be the leader in Africa, to be the source of good governance, integrity, effective governance and custodian of regional security in Africa.- which is to play our role- the role destined for us and they have seen in the government of Dr Jonathan the determination to put things right and I am sure they know well that we are going to get it right this time. That is why they are putting so much into the relationship with Nigeria.

Talking about the good governance and integrity, what have been the US government’s contribution to that?

Part of it is the meeting with Prof Jega. Jega had a presentation where he highlighted his plans for a credible election and they asked him questions, trying to find out the steps he would take to realise the objectives. Things like the voter’s registration, voters education, logistics and all that. And he also made clear to them some challenges and they promised to assist in overcoming these challenges.

They are also giving assistance in the battle to eradicate corruption. Last week, Madam Farida Waziri , Chair of EFCC and some officials were received by officials of the Department of States and of the Department of Justice and they discussed some techniques in crime detection, crime prevention, crime prosecution . And FBI will soon start a programme in Nigeria, training our operatives, especially EFCC. That will start any moment from now.

So, they want to help us have a credible election, they also want to help us to reduce corruption and they want us to have a proper democracy. So, these are the transparency we are talking about.

We are looking at 2011 elections. In view of the bi-national agreement, what are the other areas the US government plans to assist ?

The only way they want to assist is to ensure that the elections are free and fair, it is still Nigerians that will determine who they want as their president. They want the election to reflect the wishes of the people, so all the mistakes of 2007 would never happen again and we want an election that is conducted in a free, fair and credible atmosphere. So, all the issues about ballot snatching, ballot stuffing, they will assist in terms of logistics.

Is there any financial assistance, in form of grant ?

Of course those things cost money. When you say you are going to assist, it comes with money. That should be taken for granted. It may not be a case of we are releasing a certain amount , but it can come in terms of sending in an expert in logistics who will stay in your office and make sure that when votes are counted here, they are counted at the centre and the way they are transported to the centre for collation is fault proof. Nobody can just come in, hijack the ballot box and go away. And in terms of training of officials, so, it is not always about money, but more in the area of providing expertise, trainings, assisting voters to know their rights, helping out with a proper voter’s register.

There has been growing agitations by Nigerians in the Diaspora for an arrangement to allow them participate during elections. What are the embassies doing to regarding this ?

They have been asking me about this. Unfortunately they were asking me before Prof Jega was appointed. My reaction is that not with Iwu in charge of INEC. Let us get it right at home first. When we have not had a successful election in some states, how can we be talking about coming to do election here. Although they have a point, I know South Africans have an arrangement where the citizens vote from abroad. I think we should get it right at home first, then we can consider it.

But I also try to advise them that if they are really keen, they can travel home and cast their votes and even join political parties and contest. I believe there will be time for that later…certainly not now.

Is there any arrangement between the two countries for training the Nigerian military?

I know they want to assist in many areas. But what we are telling them is that we welcome their assistance in all areas, but when it comes to security, we prefer they deal with the structures that have been established. ECOWAS has a regional peace and security mechanism. You America , what we want you to do is to help our ECOWAS Stand -by Force in terms of equipment and training to maintain peace in West Africa. Help our own military in training and in logistics to develop their efficiency. Work through our establishment agents, work through ECOWAS, work through AU and because generally intra-African intervention is often preferred to extra –African intervention. We want to have our destiny in our hands. But then, in having our destinies in our hands, help us with equipment, with logistics.

The balance of trade between the US and Nigeria is believed to weigh heavily on the side of the US. What is the prospect of reducing this?

America is a bigger country, much bigger than Nigeria and it is the most powerful country in the world. And it has to weigh more on America, because the truth is that we need their expertise, we need their skills., we need their cooperation, so naturally, it has to weigh more on their part. By the way, what do you mean by weighing more, I thought it is an advantage, you should know that America is one country every nation wants to be associated with. America is the only single powerful country in the world and they are so influential. We have our own pride too, as a nation. But in terms of trade, I know that we are the fourth largest supplier of crude oil to America. And America trades with Nigeria. What we are trying to do through AGOA (African Growth Opportunity Act) is to decrease the emphasis on oil and to promote our non-oil exports, so that we can have a balanced economy . That is one of the four components of the bi-national commission – food security and agriculture. Agriculture used to be the main basis of our economy before oil came. We now want to revive agriculture with technological expertise, so we can de-emphasis the use of oil and emphasise the importance of non-oil exports so that we can have a balanced economy.

Nigeria is still an attraction to any serious investor ,so much minerals so much resources that would attract any serious investor to us. But for one reason or the other we have not been able to get our acts together. We now have an administration that has a new determined effort to get our acts together and to take our rightful position in the world. When America sees that ,they would naturally want to support us for the reason that they, America wants to ensure that there is peace and security in the world. And to achieve that, there must be peace and security in Africa. For there to be peace in Africa, it has to start from Nigeria. One out of five Africans is a Nigerian . One out of every nine black persons in the world is a Nigerian. So, Nigeria needs to get it right. We have the power and influence in Africa. We founded ECOWAS and it has been doing a lot to promote regional security in our continent and the example of ECOWAS is being followed by other regions. So, America only wants a strong and peaceful Nigeria to act as the bastion of peace, progress and stability in Africa.

What is the update on the Mutallab case?

It is a really unfortunate incident. There are two issues connected with it. First, Nigeria is not in support of any attempt by anybody to bomb an airline. It was a one off incident, we have never been in support of terrorism. I made it clear to them that within ECOWAS and AU, Nigeria has been leading the fight against terrorism. In fact, at the time I was presenting my letter of credence, we have in the National Assembly a bill by which Nigeria wants to gather international support against terrorism and that bill was drafted by Nigeria even before the Mutallab incident. So, I made the point clear to them that Nigeria was genuinely committed to the fight against terrorism. And I had an evidence to back it up, because I was armed with a copy of that bill and I showed them. So, they knew it was a one off thing .

Now, the case is still in court and our stand is this: He is a Nigerian, but we are not going to defend him, we are not going to take a lawyer for him, that is the duty of his family and they are doing that. His family is providing legal defence. We as an embassy, we ensure that as a citizen and as an accused, he is given all the rights entitled to an accused. We are not going to defend him. The embassy officials will observe his trial and report to me to ensure that whatever he is entitled to as an accused is not deny him. He is still in custody and investigation is on going, and the young man has not complained of ill treatment or torture. I am sure he has regretted the unfortunate incident. When the trial commences we will be there to observe. All we want is a fair trail.


http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/politics/11918.html

Zimbabwe Prime Minister, Morgan Richard Tsvangirai, yesterday arrived Nigeria to seek the face of God at the Synagogue Church of all Nations in Ikotun, Lagos, South West Nigeria, a source told P.M.NEWS this morning.

The source said that the Prime Minister, who has been in power tussle with President Robert Gabriel Mugabe, is visiting Joshua’s church to seek spiritual help ahead of the Presidential election in Zimbabwe.

The leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, MDC, arrived the country yesterday with some of his family members and security details, the source said.

“Just like the President of Ghana who came to Synagogue Church to seek the face of God during the election in his country, the Zimbabwe Prime Minister is also at the Synagogue Church to seek the face of God.

“There is an election coming up in Zimbabwe soon and as you know the Synagogue Church is a place of refuge for presidents and African nations in times of trouble, especially troubling elections.

“The Prime Minister arrived with his family members. His daughter is here and there are also security details that came with him,” the source said.

Since 2000, the Mugabe-led government embarked on a controversial fast-track land reform programme intended to correct the inequitable land distribution created by colonial rule.

Mugabe’s policies have been condemned in some quarters at home and abroad, especially receiving harsh criticism from the British and American governments because they said that the policies often led to violent land seizure. Inflation in Zimbabwe is one of the worst in the world.

In 2008, his party suffered a tight defeat in national parliamentary elections, but after disputed presidential elections, Mugabe retained presidential power with the signing of a power-sharing deal with opposition leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara of the MDC-T and MDC-M opposition party.

—Simon Ateba



http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2010/09/02/zimbabwe-prime-minister-in-synagogue-to-seek-help/

The caucus of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the House of Representatives yesterday condemned the Federal Government’s for demand of N500 million from foreign firms for the nation’s 50th independence anniversary celebration.

Minority Whip Femi Gbajabiamila, who spoke on behalf of the caucus, warned that soliciting for funds from foreign companies has far reaching implications.

He told reporters in Abuja that the government’s approach was not only unconstitutional but could compromise the sovereignty of the country.

Besides, he said Section 80 of the 1999 Constitution was explicit on whatever money raised in the name of the government.

Such money must be paid into the Federation Account and could only be spent through appropriation by the National Assembly, he said.

He said: "The proposal by government to go "a begging" by soliciting for funds from foreign companies has far reaching implications. In my considered opinion, I think it is unconstitutional for an agency of government that was set up without any legal backing to go in the name of the Federal Government to solicit for funds.

"Under our Constitution, Section 80 says any money raised by the Federal Government must be paid into the Federation Account or Consolidated Revenue Fund and therefore subjected to appropriation by an Act of the National Assembly.

"So if you go to look for money from foreign firms in the name of the Federal Government for the 50th anniversary, that money assuming that they give it to you belongs to the Federal Government and you cannot spend it without appropriation.

"Even the President cannot spend such money. Under what sub-head will he spend it unless it has been appropriated by the National Assembly."

He added that foreign companies operating in the country have terms and conditions attached to the donations they make.

According to him, Nigerians should not lose sight of the fact that there are immigration laws and other laws regulating the operations of the foreign firms in the country.

"I will like us to look at the laws upon which these companies were set up in Nigeria to see whether or not they have the powers and capacity to give money to foreign governments.

"It will be imperative to find out whether our laws and the laws of their home governments permit such acts," he said.

He also said that such funds expected from foreign firms should have been part of the revenue profile to be considered by the National Assembly during the preparation of 2010 budget.

The lawmaker asked, "On what conditions are you taking this money? Are you giving these companies tax incentives, tax breaks or tax holidays?"

He noted that the question became imperative "because in normal countries such donations will attract some tax incentives for the donor organisations.

"If it is so, it then means that on the long run, it will also affect our revenue as a country. Can the Presidency or one of its organs now give tax incentives like that without going through due process," he asked.

He recalled that the donation for anniversary funds is almost the same thing that happened during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration "when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government cajoled some companies to donate to a private project in the name of a Presidential Library and in one sitting they raised $7million."

"What account did that money go into? Isn’t that money supposed to go into the government coffers as revenue?

"These are things that ordinarily we should as legislators look at. It may seem innocuous and harmless when you say we are just asking for money to place adverts but it has wider legal and constitutional implications," Gbajabiamila said.



http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/12008.html

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) won’t get more fund until it exhausts the N87.9b appropriated for it by the National Assembly, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu said yesterday.

Speaking when he visited the National Headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)which was gutted by fire on Saturday, Ekweremadu said INEC would first justify the spending of the N87billion before seeking more money.

Ekweremadu said: "They (INEC) wanted N87 billion and we approved it. Even though I have reservation about the figure, but we need to support them to do a good job. We hope they apply the money appropriately.

"They brought 89 billion and N89 billion was approved, so that is no problem. But let them finish the N87 billion before coming for another one."

Ekweremadu called for measures to check fire outbreaks during the design of houses, promising that adequate steps would be taken to ensure that the new PDP secretariat under construction is fire proof.

He lauded the Federal Fire Service for its timely response.

The fire incident calls to questions the type of measures put in place in when buildings are being constructed, he said.

"It (the fire) calls to question some of the measures we take sometimes. If our preparedness is properly addressed, some of these things can be better averted.

"When people are building houses we should be able to put in place measures to address unforeseen circumstances. Now that we are building the new secretariat every measure should be taken to ensure that we forestall it when they arise.

"Our public buildings generally should be of standard to ensure that these disasters are addressed at design stage."

On whether the amended Constitution has become operational, Ekweremadu said: "The amendment is operational. Until they seek legal interpretation, the amendment has become operational. See, our business is to make laws and once those laws are made, we become what" lawyer call

"funtus officio."

"So, the law is operational until it is set aside by the court. We are not going to worry ourselves about that; as far as we are concerned we have done our job. If anybody thinks otherwise he goes to court and until the court makes pronouncement on it that is the law and that is what Nigerians will obey."



http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/12006.html

Factual truth abt Naija.
3. Do not eat everything on your plate; leaving some food is a signal that you have had enough. If you clean your plate, you are indicating that you want more food.  

Can't wait to get the rest of the story.

U don hear am Naija. Enough of 6 children family when the hubby is on minimum wage and wife underemployed.