The Federal Government is enmeshed in court cases in the U.S. and UK over a curious $1.1bn (about N155 billion) payment made to a company belonging to former oil minister, Dan Etete.



Four years after he was convicted of money laundering in France, Dan Etete, a former Petroleum Minister, through his company Malabu Oil, has become a billion dollar richer, courtesy of the Nigerian Government and Shell.



According to documents (filed March 22, 2012) before the Supreme Court of the State of New York in the US, President Goodluck Jonathan discreetly approved the transfer of the sum of $1.1bn to Mr. Etete on April 29, 2011, two weeks after he was re-elected.



The money was first paid to the Federal Government by two multinational oil companies: Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited (Agip) and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (Shell) in respect of oil block OPL 245.



But shortly after the funds were credited to the Federal Government's account, Mr. Jonathan ordered that it should be secretly transferred to a London account of Mr. Etete's company, Malabu Oil.



It is not clear what deal Mr. Jonathan struck with Malabu, and on what basis the payment was made. President Jonathan's spokesperson, Reuben Abati did not answer or return calls seeking his comment for this story. He also did not respond to a text message sent to him for the same purpose.



The government made the payment to Mr. Etete’s company even when it had repeatedly insisted that the award of the oil block to Malabu was done in violation of laid down procedures.



Shell insisted it had no knowledge that the government passed the funds to Mr. Etete's company.



OPL 245: History



While serving as Petroleum Minister under late Head of State, Sani Abacha, Mr. Etete awarded his own company, Malabu, an oil block, OPL 245 in 1998.



The allocation was however reversed by the Federal Government under President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2001 when the FG described the allocation process as dubious. The block was allocated to Shell in 2002.



Following the revocation, a prolonged legal battle ensued with Malabu taking the Federal Government to court. In 2006, the Federal Government reversed itself and re-allocated the oil block to Malabu. This angered Shell which then filed arbitration proceedings in Washington.



Following the protracted legal battles, an agreement was reached between all parties.



The agreement



In an agreement titled “Block 245, Malabu resolution agreement” dated April 29, 2011 between Malabu and the Federal Government, the FG agreed to pay Malabu $1,092,040,000 in “full and final settlement of all its claims, interests or rights relating to OPL245.” The agreement also stated that the rights to the oil block would be reallocated to Agip and Shell.



In a separate agreement between Shell and Nigeria, titled “Block 245 resolution agreement,” the two multinationals (Agip and Shell) agreed to Pay the same sum “for the purposes of FGN settling all and any existing claims and/or issues over Block 245…”



In other words, the multinational oil firms agreed to pay $1.1bn to the FGN with the knowledge that the money would be used to settle any existing claims that existed by any other party to the oil block.



We didn’t pay to Etete



Despite knowing that the money was to be paid as settlement to a third party and knowing that Malabu was the only company with bragging rights over the oil block, Shell claims it did not know the money was to be paid to Mr. Etete’s Malabu.



“Shell was not aware that that money was to be paid to Malabu,” said Precious Okolobo, a communications officer with the oil company in a telephone interview.



Mr. Okolobo confirmed in a follow-up email that the “the Federal Government of Nigeria has allocated the deepwater offshore block OPL 245 jointly to Nigeria Agip Exploration (NAE) and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo),” and that “each now holds 50 percent in OPL 245, with NAE as operator of the block.”



“Any payments relating to the issuance of the license were made only to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the Shell official said saying “in line with Shell's information policy, we cannot reveal commercially sensitive information, and hence cannot comment further on the papers filed in the New York court proceedings.”



The American court case



Mr. Etete ‘s company is being sued in the United States for alleged refusal to honour an agreement with ILC, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands. The company claims it helped negotiate the agreement Malabu had with the FG and was thus entitled to payment under “an engagement letter and fee agreement” it signed with Malabu on January 19, 2010.



“ILC contends that it fully performed its obligations under the fee agreement entitling it to a 6 per cent success fee amounting to $65,522,400 and that Malabu has indicated that it will not pay this amount,” the company told the court.



Another company allegedly owed by Malabu over OPL 245 had also sued the company in the UK which led to a court freeze of some accounts linked to the company and also to Nigeria.



The Federal Government, through the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke had objected to the freezing of its account in a letter dated July 16, 2011 to the court saying “the FGN does not submit to the jurisdiction of the English courts and that this letter is sent only to claim immunity.



A history of corruption



Mr. Etete, who served as minister between 1995 and 1998, was convicted of money laundering in France in 2007. He was sentenced to three years in prison and given a fined $300,000. He was also asked to pay $150,000 to the Nigerian Government.



The former Minister appealed the ruling. In March 2009 however, a French appeal court confirmed the money laundering charges against Mr. Etete, and fined him $10.5 million after conviction.



Apart from money laundering and his controversial in oil block dealings, Mr. Etete is also believed to be a major beneficiary of the Halliburton bribe where $180 million dollars was paid as bribe to senior government officials by a consortium including a subsidiary of an American company, Halliburton.



Mr. Etete was an ally and business associate of Jeffery Tesler, the British middleman who coordinated the bribe scheme and who was recently convicted in the United States for his role in the bribe payment.



Neither Mr. Etete nor any other Nigerian has been convicted for the collection of the bribes; though the companies that made the payment and the middlemen have all been convicted or indicted in the United States and other host countries.







Link: http://saharareporters.com/news-page/jonathan-shell-etete-fresh-n155billion-scandal-premium-times

I will like to have one. My e-mail is olawale_olowogoke@yahoo.co.uk.

Thanks.

GEJ is not doing his party and his political future any favor with the way he leads. I just don’t see how anyone with common sense will vote for more of this stupidity if such continues till 2015. It is only GEJ supporter that will argue that the president is only one year long into office but these blind followers could not ascertain to the truth that GEJ have actually held the position of the office of the president of Nigeria for 3 years and have achieved nothing. Just recently in the news and to add to GEJ’s legacy as the president, Vanguard news reported that GEJ’s aides are now asking for N5 Million bribe just to see the president, and the same news media reported that GEJ will not even accept the responsibilities for the uncontrollable looting of public funds under his presidency and let’s not forget that GEJ’s government is now the record holder for the highest number of Nigerians slaughtered on her own soil since the end of civil war. Tell me, do we really have to think of voting for this stupidity again? Surprisingly, only his kinsmen sees anything good about this inept president.

The North-West and North-East zones of the Peoples Democratic Party are banking on the South-West geopolitical zone to help them wrest power from President Goodluck Jonathan come 2015.

One of the PDP governors from the zones, who confided in one of our correspondents on what he said was the plan of the North to stop Jonathan in 2015 said the zone was already reaching out to people from other parts of the country. The governor asked not to be named.

He spoke as there were indications that the Middle Belt, a major power block in the North, might not support the region’s power brokers’ bid to stop the President in 2015.

The Coordinator of the Federation of the Middle Belt People, Manasseh Watyl, in an interview with one of our correspondents in Jos, Plateau State capital, said the belt should produce the next President of the country.

But the governor from the far North who spoke to our correspondent said both the political leaders and the traditional rulers from the zone were tired of the Jonathan Presidency, which he described as “unimpressive.”

He said it was evident that the President might no longer be acceptable to the South-West, which despite the popularity of the party controlling the zone, Action Congress of Nigeria, ditched its presidential candidate in 2011 to vote for Jonathan.

He said he knew that the zone was not happy with the number of cabinet ministers assigned to it by the Presidency and “besides the people of the northern part of the country are also aware that Jonathan had refused to appoint people from the zone to strategic positions in his government.”

He said, “We are confident that we will get the support of the people from the (South) West. We are aware that the people of the zone are no longer happy with the President because of the way he treated them and their leaders.

“We are also aware that the President has refused to appoint prominent people from the zone to strategic positions and we have started meeting with the leaders of the South West.

“Those who are saying that we no longer have a monolithic north should wait. When the chips are down, we know how to handle ourselves.”

Apart from that, he said the zone would also liaise with some governors from the South-South in order to compel the President to honour his agreement with the party that he was running to complete the tenure of (President Umaru) Yar’Adua in 2010.

He said it was on the basis of that understanding that the governors and the party supported his presidential aspiration in 2010.

Faulting the Northern governors, Watyl stated that they were entitled to their opinion on the presidency in 2015.

He stated, “Like I always say, the Middle Belt is also asking for Presidency come 2015. We are qualified. The North has ruled this country for over 30 years without any improvement. Let us try somebody from the Middle Belt. Gowon did very well in bringing Nigeria together.”

On the Northern governors’ support for the Presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s comment on the 2015 polls, Watyl said that this was borne out of their desperation for the presidency in 2015.

He said, “They have no option than to support Buhari because they are desperate to have the presidency back to the North. They should wait for their time. They have not spoken the minds of the Middle Belt.”

Also, the President of Afonja Descendants Union, Ilorin, Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulkarim Kasum, on Monday cautioned the northern governors who were plotting to stop Jonathan from contesting the 2015 presidential election to stop distracting the President.

In a telephone interview with our correspondent in Ilorin on Monday, he said the action of the governors were capable of derailing good governance and delivery of democracy dividends to the people.

Kasum said the northern governors should rather focus their energies and resources on providing good governance in their states, rather than plotting against Jonathan.

Meanwhile, investigations have revealed that the Northern governors’ defence of Buhari in his altercation with the Presidency was borne out of fear of confrontation with the former head of state.

Our correspondents learnt that because of the security situation in the core north, the governors decided to avoid a confrontation with Buhari.

An aide to one of the governors in the North-West, who pleaded anonymity, told one of correspondents that “The governors’ statement was meant to defuse tension in the polity. Many people in the far North have rightly or wrongly taken Buhari as a folk hero. They think he is representing the interest of the core north.

“If the governors had attacked Buhari, they would have succeeded in whipping up support and sentiment for him. Their reaction was very diplomatic.”

The former head of state, had, while hosting members of the CPC from Niger State who had paid him a courtesy visit in Kaduna, warned the PDP against rigging the 2015 polls, else there would be bloodshed in the country.

Since Buhari made the comment, there had been altercations between him and the Presidency. But while the PDP had also attacked the former head of state, the Northern Governors Forum had said that Buhari’s statement was in order.



Link: http://www.punchng.com/news/2015-north-banks-on-swest-to-stop-jonathan/

Like the common saying “all things work together for our good,” so it was for 32-year-old single mother, Mrs. Kikelomo Ilori, who after making several attempts to abort a pregnancy, ended up giving birth to a boy in a Cherubim & Seraphim Church, allegedly clutching a Holy Quran.

Her words: “I repeatedly tried to abort the baby, but, instead, the baby kept getting stronger by the day, which made me to give up on abortion. Then I started wearing a cross around my waist to protect the baby and myself but the cross kept cutting. When the pregnancy got to its eleventh month, I told my friend, Kenny Ogunlana, about it and she now took me to Morning Star Church (Cherubim & Seraphim) in Ejigbo where I was delivered of the baby.”

Kikelomo, a cosmetologist, said she was delivered of the baby that has now been described by many as a “miracle child” on Monday (7 May, 2012), four days after going to the white garment church. She stressed that she had been warned by a prophet not to terminate the pregnancy while trying to abort it.

The prophet, according her, said the baby in her womb was unique; but she felt it was a way of discouraging her from abortion.

“When I discovered I was pregnant, I wanted to abort the baby. I’m not married. Even in church, I was warned not to go for abortion because the baby is from God. But I still went ahead with the abortion plan.”



The mother of the baby claimed she was abandoned by the man who impregnated her, saying he denied responsibility for the pregnancy and encouraged her to abort it. But after she was delivered of the baby, members of the man’s family have been pleading with Kikelomo and her family to receive him as the father.

When Sunday Vanguard visited where the baby was kept at 1 Shonde Street, Ijeshatedo, Surulere, Lagos, the place had virtually become a tourist centre, with a huge crowd converging to catch a glimpse of the baby. In the crowd were mostly Muslims from different parts of Lagos, chanting “Allahu Akbahu”.

The National Missioner of Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria, Alhaji Abdul Raheem Ameen, who led delegates from Kwara State on a visit to the baby, took time to pray for both baby and mother, noting that it was a sign of good things that will soon overtake the country.

An Imam of Ramatu Ishamiya Mosque in Ijeshatedo, Lagos, Alhaji Ashimuyu Omotosho, who was invited to look at the Quran found in the baby’s right hand, said it was the mark of God, adding: “ The amazing thing was that the family of Kikelomo is Christian. It shows that we are one from God, but came into the world to choose and go our separate ways.”

The midwife, Victoria Moses, in her 60s, said she had been in the business of helping mothers deliver babies for long and had seen where babies come into the world holding ropes, but nothing like the latest baby, adding that out of fear she had to ask Kikelomo and her family to leave without paying her.

She said: “I tell you, it was God who delivered that baby. I’ve seen cases where babies come into the world, holding ropes, but nothing like this! I used to help mothers deliver babies. I’ve delivered a lot, but I’ve never seen anything like this. When the mother of the woman came, I showed her the item I found in the right hand of the baby.”

Victoria narrated that one of the mysterious things was that PHCN supplied power just as the baby’s head appeared and interrupted it after she had cleaned up the baby, stressing that it was a symbol that the baby is unique.

Kikelomo’s sister-in-law, Ayomide Akinsoji , narrated what she witnessed during the delivery of the baby. “When the Quran was with the baby, in the baby’s palm, the baby folded his hand in a way that the Quran was not visible. But now, if you put the Quran in the baby’s hand, it is bigger than the baby’s hand because it has become bigger. Maybe as the baby grows, the mini Quran will be getting bigger.”

She noted that the Quran was wrapped in a transparent water proof item. “But, at first glance, it looked like it was wrapped in nylon, which made it difficult for anyone to see. Some Islamic scholars said that the wrapping was to ensure that the mother’s blood did not touch the mini Quran.”

Sunday Vanguard spoke with the grand-mother of the baby, who simply gave her name as Mrs Bola; when asked to give account of what happened, she said: “I just got to the church when my daughter put to bed and I saw the thing (mini Quran) in the baby’s hand shaking. I am surprised about the thing (mini Quran) which was very small but, with time, it started getting big. So we dropped it for the Imam to come and look at it. I am a Christian and the baby will be with me for some time.”

Meanwhile, the boy was on Monday given a Muslim name before a crowd of Lagosians who gathered at 110 Olateju Street (Ogba Solomon Hall), Mushin.

After the Imam of Zakat Sadaqat Foundation, Lagos, Jamiu Tirmdhi Akano, announced that the baby would receive free nursery, primary and secondary education from Tayyibat Group of Schools Gbagada (a day & boarding school), the baby was named “Abdul Wahab Iyanda Ademilola Irawo”.

Akano said when he was informed of the Quran, he conducted a research and found out that, in the world, such Quran is to be five. But there are two already in existence, adding, “And where the volume of the first one ended was where the second one started from, they come in volumes. But what I cannot say is how the thing (Quran) got into the hand of the baby.”

He announced that the brother of the baby’s mother and some members of Kikelomo’s household met with him to disclose their intention to become Muslims. “The baby’s mother is now known as Sherifat, her brother’s name is now Mosiud and Kikelomo’s mother is now known as Rodiat, he added.”

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State Sunday berated the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the 2011 general election, General Muhammad Buhari (rtd), on his recent remarks that 2015 general election should not be rigged.

According to him, “When General Buhari took over power from President Shehu Shagari in 1983, he categorically told the world that the coup was carried out because all the political parties engaged in various acts of rigging and other form of election malpractices.”


Lamido said this at the weekend, during a courtesy visit by his Katsina State counterpart, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, when he paid a visit to the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Muhammadu Nuhu Sunusi.

“Buhari has no moral right to accuse anybody on rigging because his party CPC also rigged election in the last general election at the area it was strong enough to do so,” he said.


The governor stated that Buhari had earlier argued that not only the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) rigged the election then but also that all the other four political parties rigged election according to their strength and might at their constituencies.

However, Lamido maintained that no matter how elections were allegedly rigged, the elected political leaders have the people's mandate to stand up against the present predicaments that have befallen the North.


“In respect of our political differences we as leaders our main focus is to correct the anomalies and the institutions that were bastardised by past military regimes,” he said.


By what I have seen in terms of developmental project executed by Katsina State Governor and other state governors in the federation I am optimistic that Nigeria will soon get out from the current predicament provided our democracy remain sustainable,” Lamido said.


Earlier, Shema told the emir that the current situation in the country required collective effort to get it resolved through mass prayers.

Also, Sanusi had commended the duo on their foresight and commitment toward providing new lease of life to their people by executing a number of developmental projects.


The emir added that, the secret behind the peace and progress enjoyed in Jigawa and Katsina States was as a result of good and just governance.

Barely two weeks in the Big Brother Africa House, Nigerian reps Ola and Chris have decided to leave the game due to Ola’s health problems.

Ola broke the news to Biggie during their Diary Room Session that they had to leave the House voluntarily because he has high blood pressure and so he needs to seek medical attention out side the House.

Biggie was in shock on learning the news, atleast by the sound of his voice, but he said to them that he respects their decision and that it’s important for Ola to get medical attention, Biggie however tells them that he is going to miss them because they were very funny Housemates.

Both later break the news to fellow Housemates as instructed by Biggie, however, the sad news were not taken so lightly as most female Housemates shed tears.

Ola explains that he can not live in the House any more because of cat fights that have recently taken place in the House, he stresses that these made him feel uncomfortable, he points out the recent face off between Zainab and Seydou!

Ugandan rep, Kyle points out that the House is never going to be the same without the duo, he concludes that the two usually made the House lively with their funny jokes.

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Wayne Rooney has revealed his new look to the world after posting the first picture of himself following his hair transplant surgery.

The 25-year-old had the treatment at Queen Anne Street Medical Centre in London last week, and after the operation Tweeted to his followers that he was "delighted with the result".

The England striker added that he was too bruised and swollen to post a picture at the weekened, but on Monday morning he posted a picture on image sharing website yfrog.com showing off his improved hairline.

"Hi all, there's my head," Rooney wrote in a message alongside the picture.

"It will take a few months to grow. Still a bit bloody but that's all normal," he added to explain the slightly painful appearance of his bonce.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/world-of-sport/article/51307/

The axe over his head is that of corporate responsibility as the head of the House of Reps. We need to be very cautious with the way we attack this issue otherwise Bankole may be vindicated at the end of the day. If following the what is at stake, everybody will now have to go home and ask our reps members that served during the period the question like “what they did you know about the stolen money"and the share

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, has opened up on how lawmakers shared the N10bn loan the House took from a commercial bank.



Bankole named the former Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Tunde Akogun; the Deputy Leader, Mr. Baba-Shehu-Agaie; and the former Chief Whip, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, as the major beneficiaries of the loan.



He also listed the former Deputy Whip and contestant for the position of speaker, Mr. Aminu Waziri-Tambuwal; and former Minority Whip, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila (before he became the Minority Leader), as among the beneficiaries.



The former speaker, who made the revelations in a statement by his media aide, Mr. Idowu Bakare, in Abuja on Sunday, denied benefiting from the N10bn.



He also claimed that his former deputy, Alhaji Usman Nafada, did not benefit from the loan.



According to the former speaker, the House took the loan following a decision by all lawmakers to increase their quarterly allowances (running costs).



He said that the decision to take the loan was reached at a closed-door meeting held on March 30, 2010.



“The report was approved by the House in executive Session of March 30 2010”, the statement added.



Bankole claimed that contrary to insinuations that he and Nafada benefited from the loan, only other principal officers and members shared the money.



He insisted that before the increment in quarterly allocation, which necessitated the taking of the loan, he received N100m per quarter while Nafada collected N80m.



Bankole added that after the increment, the two presiding officers continued to receive the old rate.



However, he revealed that from N46m, Akogun’s allowance was jacked up to N60m, a difference of N14m.



Agaie now took home N57m, up from N43m, a difference of N14m.



Similarly, he said that Ihedioha’s was raised to N55m from N41m, with a difference of N14m, while Waziri-Tambuwal got N54.5m as against the old rate of N40.5m.



Gbajabiamila, who was receiving N36m per quarter, had his own jacked up to N50m.



The former speaker stated that other members, who hitherto received N28m each per quarter, raised theirs to N42m each.



By this new sharing formula, the six former principal officers were said to be sharing N456.5m every three months since March 30, 2010.



The document explains further, “Before the increment, quarterly allowance to the Office of the Speaker was N100m while his deputy received N80m.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201106062191526

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo caused a little surprise on Sunday when he showed up at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Abeokuta, venue of a thanksgiving service for the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun.



The former President entered the church, located in Ake area of the state capital, while the service was on.



Obasanjo equally held a closed-door meeting with Amosun at the Presidential Hilltop Mansion in Abeokuta after the church service, details of which were not known.



Addressing journalists after the thanksgivings service, the former President said he came to rejoice with the governor as a father of all Nigerians being the former head of state and president of the country.



“Having been Nigeria Head of state and President, all Nigerians are my sons and all Nigerians are my daughters but this Governor (Senator Amosun), by accident of birth, been born where I was born, so in a way, he is my son just like all other Nigerians are my sons,” he said.



Obasanjo advised Amosun to work and pray hard for a successful administration and do the best for the people of the state.



At the service, Amosun, cautioned elders and traditional rulers in the state against abuse of laws.



The governor of St. Peter, said the laws were above everybody, adding that all, whether rich or poor, must obey the law.



He added that his administration would not condone act of illegality from any quarters, assuring the traditional rulers and the state elders of cordial relationship at long as established laws were not infringed upon.



“Let me say that our traditional institutions and elders will be respected very well but, if at any time that respect is mistaken as a ticket to break laws,that would not be tolerated. Any of our elders that break laws would not be spared,” Amosun stated.



The cleric, Rev. Samuel Ogundeji, in his teaching at the service, urged Amosun to give priority to the education and health sectors in the state.



Ogundeji described the sectors as among those in dire need of attention.



“You must be concerned with the health, education, agriculture, roads, power and other sectors that will make people applaud your administration. Remember some people will complain but you must remain focus.



“I challenged you as you have come to give thanks to God today to commit to the Lord all you do and your plans will succeed,” he said.






http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201106061533198

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, has been summoned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the N10bn loan crisis rocking the House.



Findings indicated on Tuesday that a letter inviting Bankole to appear at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday (tomorrow) had been forwarded to his office.



It was learnt that the anti-graft agency took the step following a petition submitted to its Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, by some youths last week.



Waziri, had while receiving the youths, assured them that the matter would be thoroughly investigated.



The youths had chronicled the financial atrocities allegedly committed by Bankole during his tenure as Speaker, urging the EFCC to probe him because no Nigerian was above the law.



They had noted that the case of the N2.3bn car scam and alleged “misuse” of the N9bn capital budget of the House for 2008/2009 were yet to be resolved.



According to the spokesman of the youths, Mr. Jumoke Ilyasu, the speaker has to account for his excesses.



Ilyasu had said, “Only recently, there were allegations that Bankole approved a loan of about N10bn for the House without any resolution supporting the said loan.



“It is public knowledge that the honourable members have not received their remunerations due to the inability of the House to pay its members following the withholding of their statutory allocations by the United Bank for Africa.”



Bankole had come under fire two weeks ago from his colleagues after the N10bn loan was blown open by a member of the House, Mr. Dino Melaye.



Melaye informed the House that the leadership took the loan without the approval of lawmakers, while the purpose for the money was not known.



He added that a commercial bank withheld the second quarter allocation of lawmakers owing to the loan.



“Though the Central Bank of Nigeria duly released the statutory allocation for the payment of allowances for members, the bank holds onto our money because of the indebtedness”, the Kogi State-born lawmaker told his colleagues.



He also accused the leadership of the House of being unable to account for the accumulated allowances of the 11 suspended but readmitted members.



The group demanded a probe of the matter and called for the removal of Bankole over the development which led to the inability of the House to pay the salaries and allowances of its members.



Reports had it that the House leadership had included the huge loan in its 2011 budget which was passed only on Tuesday by the lower arm of the National Assembly.



Last week, the House resolved to send a delegation to be led by Bankole to seek President Goodluck Jonathan’s assistance in raising funds to pay the salaries and allowances to the lawmakers.



An EFCC operative familiar with the investigation into the N2.3bn car scam by the House leadership said the case was still very much alive as a criminal matter was not time bound.



When contacted, the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi, confirmed that there was indeed a petition against Bankole, which the commission was investigating.



“I am aware that a youth vanguard brought a petition to the commission last week urging us to investigate the matter,” he said.



He added that he could not speak much on the issue because he was out of the country at the moment.



Also, the Speaker, through his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Musa Ebomhiana, said, “I cannot comment on that; there is no comment.”



It will be recalled that in the case of the N2.3bn car scam, Waziri had admitted last year that the commission had concluded investigation into the matter.



She, however, claimed that the report on the findings of the agency was sent to the Presidency rather than making it public.



Waziri explained that the commission was waiting for approval by the Presidency before making the findings public.



Meanwhile, Nnamani, a serving senator is presently in the custody of the EFCC over fresh allegations of corruption against him.



Babafemi, also confirmed this, saying he (Nnamani) is being quizzed by the operatives of the commission.



Nnamani, a serving senator, facing prosecution by the EFCC over a N5.5bn money laundering charge at the Federal High Court in Lagos.



The former governor is currently facing a 105- charge of corruption and fraudulent embezzlement.



The EFCC has also launched a manhunt for the Chief Executive Officer of an oil firm, Facegood Oil and Gas, Mr. Clark Ejeren.



The commission is looking for Ejeren over a suspicious transfer of $5.3m into the account of the oil firm.



The anti-graft agency has also quizzed the managing director of the first generation bank that carried out the transaction for its failure to alert the Financial Intelligence Unit of the EFCC on the transfer.



The commission said it was seeking to question Ejeren on the business deal that fetched his company such a huge amount through wire transfer.



Babafemi confirmed that the EFCC was investigating the suspicious transfer.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110525510068

You are on your own

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The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has asked an Oyo State High Court to commit the out-going Governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ladi Abdulsalam, and Mr Ganiyu Ajiboye, a purported traditional chief in Oyo town to prison for severally flouting the orders of two courts, directing the non-recognition of the latter as the Alago-Oja of Ago-Oja, Oyo.

Governor Alao-Akala had in 2006 installed Ajiboye as Alago of Ago-Oja, in the Atiba Local Government area, which is the Alaafin’s domain, an action, which was nullified by a state high court, following a legal challenge by the Alaafin and subsequently upheld by the court of Appeal. Justice O.A. Akinola of the high court in his ruling of February 29, 2007 declared that “the creation, appointment and installation of Baale Ago Oja was illegal, null and void, unconstitutional” and ordered Ajiboye to stop parading himself as such and vacate the official residence.

Justice J. A Fabiyi-led Court of Appeal in a ruling delivered on April 30, 2008, had upheld the order
But, the three defendants in the suit were said to have ignored the court verdicts and kept on recognizing Ajiboye as the Alago. This prompted the new action by the Oyo monarch, who is also the Chairman of the state Council of Obas and Chiefs. He has prayed the court through his counsel, Mr Adeola Omotunde, for the committal of the three defendants for contempt of court, following their alleged refusal to comply with the rulings of the law courts.

Aside this, the order became imperative, according to the lawyer, when it became apparent that the defendants were not making themselves available to receive the court notice. Justice Adegboye Gbolagunte of the state High Court, Ibadan, had on Wednesday, last week, granted an order for substituted service of the Form 48 and other legal processes relating to the matter on the respondents.

In the order, the court granted Alaafin’s request to either paste or drop the form within the premises of the Government House, Ibadan for the out-going governor; premises of the Ministry of Justice, Ibadan for the Attorney General; and the official residence of Ajiboye.

In his judgment, Justice Akinola had declared the title of Baale Ago-Oja as “non-existent, illegal, unconstitutional, null and void”, adding that the certificate of office issued him was a ‘“worthless piece of paper’”. Similarly, the Appeal Court sitting in Ibadan , Oyo state capital, comprising Justice J. A Fabiyi, Justice I. Thomas, and Justice C.N Uwa had ruled that the order made by Justice Akinola, pronouncing the installation of Ajiboye as illegal, unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect, was still subsisting.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/may/23/national-23-05-2011-001.html