He is on right now.

Beaf:

GEJ can nominate any qualified person for the post, but chose to nominate her and give us our first ever female CJN.
My last post contains the letter GEJ sent to the senate. Please read it (and follow through with the relevant sections of the constitution that are quoted).

By the way, why do you think you should see GEJ in her profile, is he her husband or dad?

Thanks to all those who have assisted in giving you sound rejoinders. In this case, GEJ only did what he should by nominating her, since the NJC has already forwarded her name to him!

Clerverly: Why always North?

To answer you, I have always said that the manner in which the CJN is appointed leaves room for marginalization of any part of the country one may choose to. For instance, to prevent someone from the SE from getting to that position, simply ensure that the slot meant for the SE are always filled by elderly justices, who would slways retire (sometimes, as next most senior) before reaching the CJN position.

Congrats to Murkthar, BTW

Sorry, Beaf... I have read up the profile of the incoming CJN carefully, but can't see where GEJ is mentioned. Pray, tell us how appointing her is now a feather to his cap.

Last I checked, the rule is that the NJC usually recommends the most senior sitting justice of the supreme court (i.e, longest on the SC bench) to the Presidency for forwarding to the NASS. GEJ has no credit to take here, sorry.

Mandelaguy: Igbo's will not lie down to take nonsense from El rufai and his agents,we should all be careful what we follow o. This should be a time to build,not destroy lives the way this idiot Mallam has been pushing his people to.

No sensible Igbo or Nigerian for that matter would "follow" El Rufai, whether on twitter or in real life!

Nairalanders, lemme first of all apologies for posting such a long article.

When I first read of Prof Ayitey's ranting against Jona last week, my reaction was in turn to rail against him. Having been around the world a bit and studied the history of the black race extensively, I have very little patience for Africans who persist in looking at Africa with the lens borrowed from the white man. Now am seeing the Forbes report on Ghana's economy, stating clearly (which yours sincerely has known for some time now) is not only less managed than Nigeria's, but is intact among the 10 worst economies in the world.

I humbly submit that based on comparative statistics, none of Black Africa is truly out of the woods yet. NONE. Yet instead of banding together to become stronger, some prefer to ride on the back of others to simply gain the white man's acclaim. That was why, 3 years ago, GhanaIans were beating themselves on the chest simply because Obama went there rather than Naija,

Let's join hands, with constructive criticism, to build Africa up. I have criticized this present GEJ administration powerfully even on NL, yet we all including the toughest of critics, must know when to apply wisdom and band together As the black race,

My own two pence.

Prof. George Ayittey: Look Who’s Talking By Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo
Posted: June 30, 2012 - 01:34

George Ayittey
Columnist:  Correct Me If I Am Right By Rudolf Okonkwo
(In light of Prof. George Ayittey’s criticism of President Goodluck Jonathan, I republish this July 2000 article originally called Africa, Yucky Yucky. I hope it will help readers to get an insight into the views of the Ghanaian intellectual.)

Africa is a continent of many stories. Over the years, Africa's stories have resisted attempts by historians to bring them all together to make sense. They are like tissues that refused to be stitched together. Because Africa's stories do not yet make sense, African plight is always difficult to dissect and diagnose. One of those Africans in the forefront of marshalling out solutions to African numerous maladies is George B. N. Ayittey. Ayittey - a Ghanaian economic professor at American University in Washington who uses his columns in The Wall Street Journals to propound solution to Africa's problems. Some of his solutions are far from being palatable.
 
One of Ayittey's most controversial recommendations is that some African countries should establish what he called "free economic zone" where big businesses would be enticed with tax breaks and waivers on duties. Such countries would in return, give up sovereignty over such territories. For those countries that would not be interested in giving up territory, Ayittey suggested that they should lease out parts of their territories for some years in return for debt forgiveness. What Ayittey wants to see are lots of Hong Kongs in Africa. Nigeria for instance can give up the Sharia States to Microsoft and Coca-Cola. International business interest will then descend on those lands and turn them into an economic miracle. Apparently, it appears that to people like Ayittey, there really is no hope that Africa, left on its own, can crawl out of its predicaments.
 
Ayittey and his likes are only giving intellectual backing to those who are more and more concluding that Africa is once again lost and as such needs another dose of colonization as the only way to bring about 'civilization' to our once again darkening continent. This trend of portraying Africa in a bad light is exploding every other day. The Economist of London recently put Africa on its cover and declared Africa "A Hopeless Continent". And in America, policy makers picture Africa as a case of "wall-to-wall incompetence, disorder and danger." Despite the protest of a few that understands the complexity of the forces acting in Africa, these labels are sticking.
 
Many Africans are beginning to think that probably we chased the Europeans out too early. Some Africans are so disillusioned that they are nostalgic about those days when the Europeans were in absolute control. Africans have joined the rest of the outside world to refer to their homeland as a lost cause. An African man after a recent visit called his homeland "bush" and swore never to step in there again. He had thrown in the towel and turned his back permanently. Other Africans, who still care, do so reluctantly. Some are just waiting for their parents to die off before they finally slam the door on Africa. For the rest, it is a constant prayer that the immigration office will one day let them bring out their loved ones. Once that is accomplished, it is goodbye Africa.
 
Over three decades after most of Africa achieved their political independence, the trials and tribulations of the African have worsened. Why? Why? Why? Who failed Africa? Who lost Africa? Who will save Africa? Who will rescue her? Why is Africa, the motherland, the cradle of civilization, the home of all of humanity in such a huge despair? We know the usual suspects: Colonization, slavery, IMF, the West, AIDS, corruption, 'the Wasted generation', illiteracy, ignorance, ethnicity, religion, drought, flood, famine, Mobutu, Moi, Mugabue, malaria, mad cow disease, Ebola, Eyadema, soldiers, Obasanjo, Gaddafi, Abacha, warlords, witches, water-babies, mermaids, Ogboni and what have you. But what about you and me? Are these impediments insurmountable? Have we tried with all our might? Have we exhausted all our options?
 
It has been suggested that international donors and western nations and their financial institutions should tie aid to African nations to human rights observations and improvements in democratic institutions. Currently, that suggestion is being implemented. Ayittey has taken it a step further. He wants American aid to be tied to the existence of a strong central bank, independent media, courts and security forces. He wants war-torn countries like Sierra Leone taken over by the United Nations. To pay for the cost of running the country, clearing up the mess brought about by warlords and International Diamond businesses backing them, Sierra Leone's diamond deposits would be sold off.
 
Obviously, to the likes of Ayittey, the struggle to save Africa is an emergency situation that requires emergency measures. It is more or less a case of 'by any means necessary'. When one listens to the reports about AIDS and the devastation it causes; one is shaken up. The common phrase is that a generation of Africans is being wiped off the face of the earth. If nothing is done, by the time AIDS finished with Africa, there will not be anyone standing. The warlords will call for war and nobody will come out to carry their AK47. Drought will come and there is nobody to force into relocation. Leaders who are used to driving to the Central Banks and loading millions of dollars into trucks will not have children to give the money for safe keeping. The shadow of death will be all over Africa.
 
What is to be done? Mortgage Africa? For the second time? Are the results out? Did the colonial masters do better than African leaders?
 
The implications of Africa's failure are so unimaginable. The survival of the black race is tied up with the survival of Africa. If Africa shines, the black race shines. But if Africa remains on its knees, so shall all blacks all over the world. No black man will be able to stand tall and raise his head high with all boldness until Africa is on the path to progress. Nothing is as pathetic as seeing that there is no glimmer of hope anywhere in Africa. South Africa, with its comparative advantages is devastated by violence and AIDS. It also has the misfortune of having a president that TIME magazine recently tagged "a dissident."
 
The search for answers is proceeding unabatedly in every direction. The other day, Nigeria's Senate President, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo suggested that Nigeria should abandon the written constitution and adopt the unwritten code of conduct - a kind of indigenous democracy -which means that we may not have heard the last from medicine men and juju priests. In a different suggestion, the Eastern Mandate Union (EMU) abroad has called on Bill Clinton to use the opportunity of their meeting in August to compel President Obasanjo of Nigeria to call a National conference. As more African nations fight their first civil wars, and some prepare for their second, it is becoming clear that National Conferences may be the only way to go. Such a conference is needed in other to set up structures of nationhood and administration to be agreed upon by all nationalities and socio-political forces in these African countries. The exploitation of structural flaws in Africa's present nation-state by the ruling elite has been the bedrock of Africa's problems.
 
The needs of ordinary Kikuyu man eating Ugali in Nairobi or the ordinary Igbo man eating akpu in Sokoto are all the same. They all want a safe continent where there is hope and an opportunity for them to maximize their potentials. In their desperation, they may not care how that is achieved. But they have never forgotten how we got into this mess in the first place. It is therefore the duty of African intellectuals, especially the drive-by types who live outside Africa, to make responsible choices for Africans. In their anger and despair, they should not prescribe a remedy that in the long run will short change Africa and be worse than illness whose cure was being sought. Africa should not be short-changed and undersold. The greatest help will always be the self-help. The danger in assuming that Africa's survival can only be found in the laps of foreigners amount to an acceptance of Africans' inferiority. If the Indians, the Malaysians, the Brazilians, the Mexicans, the Hungarians, the Iranians are digging out rather than selling out, the Africans should have the courage and the decency to hang in there and dig out.
 
Do the likes of Ayittey consider the fact that exchange of flags did not end colonization? As they chunk out solutions the West should implement, did they consider the fact that the West has always been involved and often indicted in African tragedies? They plan the coups, bring up governments and bring down governments. They start wars and end wars. Have the West changed? Where did they find the milk of human kindness to come to Africa just to do good? What did they do with their self-interest that have always overridden their sense of what is right and what is wrong? What makes the likes of Ayittey develop so much trust for the same people who killed Patrice Lumumba?
 
An African-American kid was reported to have been asked by his teacher what he thought about Africa and he responded, "yucky, yucky". The same expression he uses when his mother asks him to taste broccoli or uncooked tomatoes. If we do nothing to rescue Africa ourselves, tomorrow, this African-American kid that will call Africa yucky, yucky, may be yours or mine. As for his children and his children's children, they will read our stories of today and declare our days, the dark ages.
 
Doesn't that possibility make you feel yucky?

http://saharareporters.com/column/prof-george-ayittey-look-who’s-talking-rudolf-ogoo-okonkwo

This is beyond just rejoicing that he's out at last. The man is clearly hurting now, he's a wounded soldier who needs to be nursed back to health and to his feet.

I urge us all to keep remembering him in prayer.

Which one is "play-killer" again?
This is an example of how can is fast becoming SLS' personal fiefdom.

We need someone to boldly correct all this!

Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi
By SaharaReporters, New York
SaharaReporters has learnt that the senior management of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is on an expensive week-long executive retreat in South Africa, in continuation of the Jonathan administration's declared public resolve to cut costs and keep expenditure to the barest minimum that is routinely laughed at in practice.

Our source within the CBN said today that the retreat was scheduled to begin last Monday, June 25, and end on Friday, June 29, 2012.
 
“Our group also believes that there are more than enough venues in Nigeria which can provide the necessary environment for business retreats in a serene environment,” said the source.  “Nigeria, despite the current upheavals still possesses tourist spots which can accommodate such business retreats.”

He expressed disappointment that an organization with the profile of the CBN, which is expected to lead the cause of fiscal responsibility and prudence in public expenditure, would choose this path.  “We hasten to add that the CBN is not alone in this practice - other Ministries, Departments and Agencies send staff abroad for the most mundane of reasons.”

Following the nationwide street demonstrations against the government’s hike of fuel prices in January, President Jonathan pledged to cut down on the size of his government, and review its lavish expenditures.  

But he has failed to do so, repeatedly traveling with extensive delegations to various destinations.  Last week, he was in Brazil with 116 people.  He is currently in Belgium at a non-descript Customs conference with another large group of officials and estacode-hunters.

His wife, Patience Jonathan, Mrs. Jonathan will leave Brussels for the United States with a whopping 36 aides to attend another inconsequential jamboree for African First Ladies organized by an unknown group.  

Under the governorship of Mr. Lamido Sanusi, the CBN has lately become controversial.  A few months ago, it abruptly donated N100 million to Kano, Sanusi’s hometown, following an attack upon the city by Muslim militants.  

Two weeks ago, the governor walked into the Bank for work in the morning in an impractical chieftaincy garb of the Dan Majen of Kano, following his installation a few days before.

“The cost of the [CBN Senior Management] so-called retreat to the Nigerian taxpayer must be immense,” our source said.


http://saharareporters.com/news-page/central-bank-senior-management-travels-south-africa-“executive-retreat”-0

Today won't be complete if I don't add my voice to those wishing this great man a happy birthday.

Cheers, man! We're all proud of you!!!

From all indications, this Rochas dey try sha!

Pls let's desist from giving these BH guys "ideas" about where to bomb and where they shd have bombed by now.

Am still in shock hearing this guy Jona openly speak for multinationals, saying that they're only for profit and not necessarily here for anything else. So we shd be grateful for whatever they give us, right

And he also says our gas belongs to the multinationals! Wow!

Pls someone shd remind his excellency that in the Joint Venture, Nigeria owns 60 percent.

alienvirus: Someone should help me ask this fisherman these:

1. Why did u remove Salami?

2. Why did u rename Unilag before forwarding it to the National Assembly?

Add more...

Why can't They even log onto Nairaland, Linda Ikeji blog, or FB, and pick questions for this chap?

I sympathize with all of us who are forced to listEn to these softball questions!

No wonder! Now it's clear why the NEMA officials refused to breakdown the casualty figures from last Sunday's mayhem into those who died from the bomb blast and those who died from the reprisals. Claimed it was sensitive.

Hm. Appears these Southern Kaduna guys in their characteristic manner gave out more than was bargained for.

Security forces take note.

Kaduna/Zaria mayhem: The tempestuous response from Christians
‘You have not seen anything yet’

By Luka Binniyat

Two volcanic explosions in two Churches in  Zaria, and another equally thunderous bang at another Church in Kaduna, erected the new foundation for the latest  rounds of mass human slaughtering  and heart wrenching destruction of property in Kaduna State last week.

Between 1987 and last Sunday, Kaduna state had witnessed 13 bloody clashes which almost always pitched residents of the state against Hausa/Fulani Muslims, with sympathizers on both sides as tag-team partners.

In Zaria, according official police report, Christ the King Catholic Church was bombed by a suicide bomber leading to the death of 14 worshippers, around 8:40am; 32 were injured.  Also in Zaria, the ECWA Church, Wusasa, was bombed leading to the death of 3 people. In Kaduna, Shalom Church International, which was hit by a suicide bomber in a Honda car, three people were killed, and unspecified number of others was injured – this was at about 9:30 am.


A car vandalized on June 17 by mobs in reprisal for action to a suicide bomb attack on the Shalom Church during a Sunday service in the Trikania neighbourhood in Kaduna. AFP PHOTO
Less than 15 minutes after the Kaduna bomb blasts, Christian youths South of Kaduna town responded with a murderous gust of vengeance in a shocking display of cold disregard for human lives,  human pity, and any sense of morose in a manner  that would leave even  Boko Haram shivering in disbelieve.

In just two hours, statistics later showed that not less than 70 Hausa Muslims had been sent to their graves, while hundreds others suffered severe injuries.

Then by 11am that same morning, a distraught Governor Patrick Yakowa ordered Kaduna State shut down.  A 24-hour curfew was imposed on the state that has been divided along physical, religious and political fault lines since the infamous Zangon Kataf fracas of the early 1990s.

It looked like a bottled up anger against all the killings in churches as a result of series of suicide bombings, and sometimes outright gunning down of Christians in some parts of Northern Nigeria.

In the Television area of Kaduna, which had been renamed, “New Jerusalem”, a 30-year old man was spotted issuing orders to a group of about 30 youths, supervising the demolition of Mosque still bellowing out smoke after it had been burnt.

He had set up a road block, where his members stopped cars and frightened passersby trying to figure out who was a Hausa Muslim.  While, the rest carried axes, machetes, diggers and clubs, the “boss” had no weapon of any sort.

Not far away, cars, trucks and buses belonging to Hausa Muslims were torched.
As he came towards this reporter and the women and children in the area, everyone took to their heels and headed into a room in a nearby building.

“Open this door and give us water, or we will open it ourselves”, he said.
This reporter opened the door as the women and children looked on in fright.  His boys with their clothes soaked in blood and sweat waited outside, chanting unprintable abuses, as their boss walked in.

All the contents of the fridge were emptied. It was actually another form of looting.
As they hungrily drank and ate, this reporter attempted a conversation with the leader.
“Bob, you guys are tough o!”

“You have not seen anything, yet; will you follow us”, he responded
“I will follow you if we go catch Boko Haram”

“See this Uncle, don’t you know that every Hausa man is Boko Haram?  If Hausa people don’t want Boko Haram in Kaduna, they will drive them away. So they are all Boko Haram”.

“Some people believe that Christians should not revenge”, I went on.

“That is Jesus! We are not Jesus. If Boko Haram enters Kaduna, we will not run under the bed. If Christians in other places don’t love them, in Kaduna we cannot tolerate them.  We are not their mates!

“But, if you are Christians, you should have been to church by now”
“In times like this, this is our work. And when they hit our people in Tudun Wada (Muslims dominated area)  later, we will match and take care of them”
In our five minute conversation, he rained  tirades  of abuses on the President and the state governor.

In Trikania, where a church was bombed, and where the Muslim and Christian population is about balanced, the Christian youth took the usually combatant Muslim population by surprise, launching deadly attacks on them.

At Sabo market, irate Christian youths messed up the meat meant for sale by vendors and stamped the meat under their feet. The street along that area was strewn with kola nuts, suya, cigarettes and used clothes -  merchandise that are almost the preserve of Hausa traders in that part of the state.

The military, police and other security agencies were stretched thin, as they kept running from one part of troubled area to another. The heavy teargas and bullets shots in the air could not tame the rage of the Christian youths.
By the time sanity was forced to return, a large disaster was left behind as a response to the bombing of two churches in Zaria and Kaduna leaving a about 17 worshippers dead.

Muslims hit back

On Monday, after the state government relaxed the curfew from 2pm to 6 pm, some members of the Hausa Muslim community trooped to hospitals in search of their relations that had not returned.
After burying their dead, the stage was set for counter reprisals.

On Tuesday, a Mobile Police man carrying a riffle, narrowly escaped death, after angry Hausa Muslim youths pounced on him, lacerating his body with knives. They snatched his riffle, but he managed to escape with the magazine. Another Immigration Officer in mufti also escaped being lynched near the Police man.

It was reported that some three Christian female traders were killed by a mob at the market.

Soon, a military helicopter was seen flying over thick fumes of smoke, as Tudun Wada, Unguwan Mua’azu, Trikania, Panteka and Kawo, were besieged by Hausa Muslim youths who picked up arms and set out for Christian targets.

Two students on their way to Kaduna Polytechnic were slaughtered because they took the wrong route, according to reports.

In Bardawa, far northern part of Kaduna town, with majority Hausa Muslims, fighting was reported to have broken out as minority non-Muslims residents waded off attacks by the Majority around 4pm on Wednesday. Some Churches and homes of Christians were reported to have been burnt, and many killed, but it was also said that Christian youths in some parts of the area, retaliated.

At the St. Gerald Catholic Hospital, the Public Relations Officer of the Hospital, Mr Sunday John, confirmed to Sunday Vanguard that five corpses were deposited with 14 injured persons, as a result of the fresh violence.

At the Barau Dikko General Hospital, an unspecified number of the deaths were taken there with many other injured persons.

It was also gathered that some other private hospitals were treating many other injured victims.
Another source told Sunday Vanguard, that a car conveying some four Igbo traders to their business premises on Jos Road, off Bayajida Street, was burnt with the four inside, Tuesday night.

“Their roasted bodies are still inside the roasted car”, said the source who asked not to be mentioned.

In the face of all these reports, Kaduna State Police Spokesman, ASP Aminu Lawan, did not pick calls put to him by Sunday Vanguard, nor responded to a text message to his phone asking for clarifications on the developments.

In Barnawa part of the town, the small Hausa Muslim population surrounded by Christians, it was reported that some trucks and buses had driven in and evacuated many women and children since the violence broke out last Sunday.

At far away Kawo, it was reported that Hausa Muslim youths were said to have hijacked vehicles, killing non Muslim travelers.

At Hiyin Banki, dominated by Hausa Muslims, many were reported killed, but that Christian youths had also responded by killing and burning some Hausa Muslims and there assets.

Curiously, the Christian dominated areas south of Kaduna River has remained calm, after last Sunday’s madness.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/06/kadunazaria-mayhem-the-tempestuous-response-from-christians-and-muslims/

Na wa o!

Abuja – Justice Abdul Kafarati, a Judge of the Federal High Court, on Thursday in Abuja threatened to discharge the 24 suspected Boko Haram members standing trial before the court.

The judge, who granted the police a last adjournment for Sept. 18, said that the prosecution counsel had not showed diligence in prosecuting the case.


Nineteen suspected members of the Ahlan Sunnah Lid Da'waati wal Jihad Yaanaa brothers, also known as Boko Haram arraingned at the Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida
“I should have discharged the accused persons today but I am compelled by justice to restrain such action and allow the prosecution one last chance.

“The court had adjourned this matter four times at the instance of the prosecutor, who had always promised to bring his witnesses to court but failed each time.

“I shall, therefore, discharge the accused persons should the prosecution fail to bring the witnesses to court on the next adjourned date.

“The prosecution was ordered to avail the accused persons’ lawyers’ proof of evidence.

“It is against the court procedure not to do that a year after the accused persons were arraigned,’’ Kafarati said.

Some of the suspects are Umar Alia 21, Musa Yakubu Gava (38), Awalu Mohd (35), Modu Bama (36), Yakubu Modu Kolibe (15), Mohd Alhaji Modu (23), Badare Hassan (27), Mohd Umar (21) and Mohd Sheriff (23).

The police alleged that the accused, who were facing a five-count charge, conspired to commit felony and act of terrorism in


The prosecution held that the accused committed an offence punishable under Section 33(1) (b) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2011, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

Thirteen months after the police arraigned the suspects, no witness had been presented.

At the resumed hearing, Mr Bernard Nnamdi, the Counsel to the police, filed an oral application, praying for the adjournment of the case because of the absence of the prosecution witnesses.

The application was jointly opposed to by Kevin Okoro, Mohammed Lucas and Mohammed Ipa, counsel to the accused.

They urged the court to discharge the accused on the grounds of lack of diligent prosecution.

They held that all the adjournments witnessed in the case so far were at the instance of the prosecution counsel.

They further noted that the police was only interested in the detention of the “presumably innocent persons.”

The counsel said that the prosecution had failed to avail the accused with the proof of evidence after over one year of their detention.

They also said that Section 280 of the Criminal Procedure Act empowered the judge to discharge the accused if the prosecutor failed to provide the cause of action. (NAN)

Source:

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/06/judge-threatens-to-discharge-24-suspected-boko-haram-members/

Abuja – Justice Abdul Kafarati, a Judge of the Federal High Court, on Thursday in Abuja threatened to discharge the 24 suspected Boko Haram members standing trial before the court.

The judge, who granted the police a last adjournment for Sept. 18, said that the prosecution counsel had not showed diligence in prosecuting the case.


Nineteen suspected members of the Ahlan Sunnah Lid Da'waati wal Jihad Yaanaa brothers, also known as Boko Haram arraingned at the Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida
“I should have discharged the accused persons today but I am compelled by justice to restrain such action and allow the prosecution one last chance.

“The court had adjourned this matter four times at the instance of the prosecutor, who had always promised to bring his witnesses to court but failed each time.

“I shall, therefore, discharge the accused persons should the prosecution fail to bring the witnesses to court on the next adjourned date.

“The prosecution was ordered to avail the accused persons’ lawyers’ proof of evidence.

“It is against the court procedure not to do that a year after the accused persons were arraigned,’’ Kafarati said.

Some of the suspects are Umar Alia 21, Musa Yakubu Gava (38), Awalu Mohd (35), Modu Bama (36), Yakubu Modu Kolibe (15), Mohd Alhaji Modu (23), Badare Hassan (27), Mohd Umar (21) and Mohd Sheriff (23).

The police alleged that the accused, who were facing a five-count charge, conspired to commit felony and act of terrorism in


The prosecution held that the accused committed an offence punishable under Section 33(1) (b) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2011, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

Thirteen months after the police arraigned the suspects, no witness had been presented.

At the resumed hearing, Mr Bernard Nnamdi, the Counsel to the police, filed an oral application, praying for the adjournment of the case because of the absence of the prosecution witnesses.

The application was jointly opposed to by Kevin Okoro, Mohammed Lucas and Mohammed Ipa, counsel to the accused.

They urged the court to discharge the accused on the grounds of lack of diligent prosecution.

They held that all the adjournments witnessed in the case so far were at the instance of the prosecution counsel.

They further noted that the police was only interested in the detention of the “presumably innocent persons.”

The counsel said that the prosecution had failed to avail the accused with the proof of evidence after over one year of their detention.

They also said that Section 280 of the Criminal Procedure Act empowered the judge to discharge the accused if the prosecutor failed to provide the cause of action. (NAN)

Source:

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/06/judge-threatens-to-discharge-24-suspected-boko-haram-members/

As distasteful as the idea of revenge is, looks like we're inevotably fast headed to that point if there's no let up to this maddening blood-letting on a weekly basis. The sec agencies better begin incorporating that scenario into their planning.
The northern political class has failed.

Well, NO, I didn't laugh after reading it. I still think that now, more than ever, Nigerians should stay away from trivializing our numerous issues under the guise of jokes.

Is he about to take a "higher" elective office?

Came across this on Omojuwa site. Surely it maketh an interesting read!

1)  And it came to pass after these things, on the first day of the first month of the twelfth year after the second millennium, that king Jona son of Bele announced to the people saying; there is no money left in the royal treasury, and the future of the kingdom is in great danger.

2) Therefore, a measure of oil shall no longer sell for three scores of silver and seven, but shall now be seven scores of silver and one. But the people grumbled aloud, and said unto another, what shall it profit our king to gain all these oil money and lose his throne?

3) For it is appointed unto him to reign but once, and after this prison, for many are the atrocities which he has committed.

4)  So they said unto the king, eat thou thy food in peace in the palace, and surround thou thyself with thine women, only touch not our oil price and do thy people no harm.

5) But the king would not listen, and said unto himself, I know my people, they shall only grumble for a while and soon they shall forget.

6) But the people would not forget, for the burden was too much for them to bear, and they said; now unto him that is able to increase the price of oil exceeding abundantly above all that his people can bear or think, according to the greed which worketh in him;

7) Unto him be curses in the streets by the masses throughout all ages, protests without end.

So they took to the streets and gave the land no peace, and there was no going out or coming in throughout the kingdom for two weeks, and the king feared greatly and said to himself, surely these people shall overturn me if I answer them not.

9) So he called the head of the labourers unto the palace, and gave him bags of gold, that they might turn off the wrath of the people against the king.

10) So the king assembled the people and said unto them; a measure of oil shall no longer be seven scores of silver and one, but shall now be four scores of silver, one dozen and one, to this your leaders have agreed. Praise me now therefore for I am a benevolent king.

11) And after all these, the Loudspeaker of the House of People said, let us inquire into the king’s claim that there be no money in the royal treasury. So they appointed Farcrook, son of Lawal.

12) And said unto him, gather ye now all the oil sellers, that we may know who stole from the kingdom. This did him with diligence, and came back with his report saying

13) Thieves abound in the land, and so have the oil sellers stole from the people, and gave them not oil, this they did with the help of Aliyaro the king’s mistress; and the amount he mentioned was unheard of in the land.

14) When the people heard this, they were dismayed, and sorrow gripped their hearts.

15) But the oil sellers went in unto the king in his chamber, and said; rememberest thou O king that the what we stole did we made available to thy campaign, and by thus did we make you king.

16) If thou deliver us unto the people that they may punish us, we will hold not our tongue to tell the people that thou art one of us.

17) And they said unto him, how else shall we destroy the message if not to destroy the messenger? Let us therefore implicate Farcrook the son of Lawal in this matter.

18) So they sent a certain rich man from the West by the name Otedollar, and he took Farcrook into his house and gave him some money, that he may alter the report which he had set before the people.

19) And it was that Otedollar went before an assembly of the people and said unto them, trust ye this man who said we stole from the treasury? Surely he is one of us, for he came unto me in the middle of the night, and he left with his pockets full of money.

20) And the people where amazed, and their hearts bled, for Farcrook was a man in whom they had to their trust.

21) So Farcrook arose, and said; Otedollar is my briber, I did not request. He maketh me to sit down in his Maitama house; he leadeth me beside the chilled champagne.

22) He exploited me greed; he leadeth me in the paths of marked dollars for subsidy’s sake.

23) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of EFCC, I will fear no arrest: for bribes are with me; my loots and my kickbacks they comfort me.

24) Thou preparest the dollars before me, in the presence of the SSS: thou anointest my mouth with wine; my pocket runneth over.

25) Surely the shame and reproach shall follow me all the days of my life, but I will dwell in the house of PDP forever and ever.

26) And the people wept, but there was no one to console them.

 

Ogunyemi Bukola

Source: http://omojuwa.com/2012/the-gospel-according-to-saint-farouk/

Eh? Did I just see PDP?

Ignorance is no more an excuse in this Internet age. Go to the official website of the Accidents Investigation Bureau (AIB) to download and study detailed reports of previous air mishaps in this country. I must say I was shocked to see even the crash report and so many others sitting out there in the open for all to see. In all honesty, our problem is not just over-aged aircraft!
Study and be personally informed.

http://www.aib.gov.ng/reports_%20publications.htm





S/N
REPORT NO
DATE
TITLE
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

 
Interim
13/3/2009
AIB INTERIM REPORT ON Beechcraft 1900D
Accident to Beechcraft 1900D Registration 5N-JAH at
Bushi Village in Obanlinku Local Government Area of
Cross River state, Nigeria on 15th March, 2008.

1
CIA 129
3/1/2008
AIRBUS A-310 ACCIDENT REPORT.

2
CIA 156
3/1/2008
CONCORD AIRLINES FAIRCHILD FH 227B AIRCRAFT
3
04/365
2/20/2008
CHANCHANGI AIRLINES'S BOEING 737-200

4
04/375
2/20/2008
EXPRESS AIRWAYS AIRCRAFTBANDEIRANTE EMB 110

5
04/350
2/20/2008
DASSAULT AVION FALCON 20F REGISTERED 5N-EPN

6
CIA 171
3/1/2008
THE PMAS DO-228-201 AIRCRAFT REGISTERED 5N ARI

7
FMA/AIPB/424
3/1/2008
SOSOLISO AIRLINES DC 9-32 AIRCRAFT

8
NILL
3/1/2008
ALOUETTE II S. A. 3180 NEAR WARRI AERODROME
CIVIL AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT ON ALOUETTE II S. A. 3180

9
CIA. 148
3/1/2008
THE OKADA AIR BAC 1-11 REGISTERED 5N-AOT

10
CIA 161
3/1/2008
BRISTOW HELICOPTER (NIG.) LTD

11
04/368
3/1/2008
CESSNA CITATION 501 AIRCRAFT

12
NILL
3/1/2008
ADC FLIGHT 086 BOEING 727 5N-BBG
THE PANEL OF INVESTIGATION 11W0
13
04/354
3/16/2008
REPORT ON THE ACCIDENT TO BOEING 737 AIRCRAFT REGISTERED 5N-AUA THAT CRASHED AT THE NEW KADUNA AIRPORT ON MONDAY THE 13TH NOVEMBER 1995.

14
FMA/AIPB/383
3/16/2008
FINAL REPORT ON THE ACCIDENT TO THE SKY EXECUTIVE AVIATION SERVICES' LET410-UVP AIRCRAFT REGISTERED 9Q-CGX ON THE APPROACH TO CALABAR AIRPORT ON TUESDAY 21" MAY 2002

15
04/375
3/16/2008
FINAL REPORT ON THE ACCIDENT TO THE EXPRESS AIRWAYS AIRCRAFT BANDEIRANTE EMB 110 REGISTERED 5N-AXM ON FINAL APPROACH TO KADUNA AIRPORT
16
04/344
3/16/2008
REPORT ON THE ACCIDENT TO THE NIGERIA AIRWAYS LTD'S BOEING 707 - 320C ON MONDAY THE 19TH DECEMBER 1994 AT KIRI KASAMA, HADEIJA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

17
NILL
3/16/2008
REPORT ON ADC AIRLINES (LIBERIA) 5N-BBE-DC-9-31 18 AUGUST 1994 AT JAMES SPRIGGS PAYNE AIRFIELD


18
CIA 119
3/16/2008
REPORT ON THE ACCIDENT TO ALOUETTE III HELICOPTER REGISTERED 5N-ALD AT MEREN 24 OFF-SHORE LANDING PAD (JACKET) ON FRIDAY THE 6TH OF DECEMBER,1985.

19
04/369
3/16/2008
FINAL REPORT ON THE ACCIDENT TO THE PAN AFRICAN AIRLINES CESSNA 208 CARAVAN I AMPHIBIAN AIRCRAFT REGISTERED 5N-PAN AT WARRI AIRSTRIP ON THE 25TH NOVEMBER, 1998.

20
CIA 122
3/16/2008
BELL 206B JET RANGER III HELICOPTER REGISTERED 5N-AQC AT A LOCATION OF IFIRA ON SATURDAY THE 26TH OF APRIL 1986.

21
CIA 169
3/16/2008
Nigeria Police Force's Bell 412 helicopter
22
NILL
4/30/2008
Incident
Preliminary report on the incident involving SA 365 N3 Dauphins2 helicopter 5N-BJF of Aero Contractors Comapany of Nigeria Limited

continue >>>

Israel seriously needs to preserve the Jewish nature of NOT ONLY Jerusalem but also the entire Jewish Stae! Abel bear with them. What they passed through in the Holocaust was something else,.. And they have vowed never to let such occur again.
Abet, fellow Africans, collect what they're of offerring and take off.

this is exactly why things go wrong in this country. Gone are those days when things like this happen and nobody talks until a major mishap occurs. Nigerian, take Ur destiny in your hands. Tis sits a thread for those who were on this flight. Tell us exactly what happened. Confirm it for Nigerians to hear and know exactly the kind of leadership we have!

WAS THERE AIRSPACE CLOSURE IN ABUJA EARLIER SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012, for so-called VIP movement?



Abuja airport

Smarting from the Dana disaster, it appears nothing has changed and no lessons learnt. Here is a passenger’s experience just minutes ago:

Boarded Arik Flight W3 127 from Lagos to Abuja. The flight was supposed to depart Lagos 9:15am but it was delayed and we finally left quarter past 10.

I must say we had a smooth flight until we got to Abuja. The plane commenced descent but we later heard the captain that he couldn’t land in Abuja because the airport is closed due to VIP Movement.

Everyone on board was scared and we started asking ourselves why they would close the airport because of few VIPs while a passenger plane would be denied landing privilege.

My brother we were all scared after the captain’s announcement. We spent up to 25mins hovering before we finally landed.

Is it fair that after the Dana tragedy, to subject citizens to this sort of traumatic experience.

We thank God for His mercies!

Passenger on the Arik Flight

Source:http://omojuwa.com/2012/vip-movement-in-abuja-airport-delays-flight-landing-scares-passengers-on-board/

Based on the BBC reports, they're from Niger, meaning they were Nigeriens, NOT Nigerians. Only difference is in the letter e vs a.

However, we mourn them regardless of from where they hailed. They could have as easily been Nigerians, of course. They died in the course of peace, may God comfort and strengthen their families.

ARE U GUYS KIDDING ME

After what happened last Sunday?

These guys really want a revolution, or what?

I just have to identify with the victims and their families, as someone who just did some flying myself this week. Although I didn't fly Dana, soberly I still realize that it could have been me. Thank God for yet another lease of life...