₦airaland Forum

The Code of Conduct Bureau on Tuesday re-opened the controversy surrounding the alleged foreign accounts linked to a former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu saying that he still had a case to answer.



Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the CCB Chairman, Mr. Sam Saba, said the case against the former governor was not yet closed.



The Action Congress of Nigeria had alleged on Sunday that there was a plot by the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party to instigate Tinubu’s prosecution for alleged graft by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The Presidency, however, denied the allegation.



A charge was said to have been filed against Tinubu at the CCB about five years ago, in which it was alleged that he operated foreign accounts in his name and those of his wife and children during his tenure as governor.



But nothing has been heard about the prosecution while Tinubu had on several occasions said such did not exist.



But Saba said, “Only yesterday (Monday), the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mrs. Farida Waziri, and I discussed the issue. I told her that it is the responsibility of the bureau to prosecute him (Tinubu). His case is still with us.



“I will meet the EFCC chairman and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, to get the case file. The case against the former governor and his family is not closed yet. Very soon, it will go to the (Code of Conduct) Tribunal.”



He also urged the National Assembly to assist the CCB by prescribing the terms and conditions under which the public could access the assets declaration of public officers. He stated that the speedy passage of the Freedom of Information Bill would be useful.



Saba also disclosed that 22 out of 25 former ministers who failed to declare their assets had complied, adding that steps would be taken to ensure compliance by the remaining rest.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201012082593457

The recent resignation of Wilson Oruma from active football means Portsmouth‘s Nwankwo Kanu is the only member of the triumphant Japan ’93 World Cup Golden Eaglets still playing topflight football 17 years after winning the U-17 World Cup in Japan, writes ’TANA AIYEJINA



Emmanuel Okhoneboh



First choice goalkeeper at the tournament, Okhoneboh kept in five out of the six games of the tournament only being rested for the last group game against Australia. Not much has been heard of him after the tourney.



Emmanuel Babayaro



Emmanuel Babayaro, elder brother of Celestine, was second choice goalkeeper at the tourney. He played only one match against Australia. He was a member of the U-23 team that won gold at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. He started his career at Plateau United in 1993 before he moved to Besiktas of Tukey in 1996. But he quit football in 1998 due to injuries and went into the entertainment industry.



Last year, Emmanuel launched his rap career with two singles Naija Area and My Party. He worked as a TV analyst during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa before he released his debut album, Best of Both Worlds in September.



Karibe Ojigwe



Ojigwe who holds German citizenship played as a midfielder in Japan before joining Kaiserslautern in the Bundesliga from Enyimba. He went on to play for Koln, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Monchengldbach and 1860 Munich before he retired in 2007. He won the Bundesliga title in 1998 with Kaiserslautern and then reached the UEFA Champions League final with Leverkusen only to lose to a Zinedine Zidane inspired Real Madrid in 2002. He found it difficult to tie down a regular role in the Super Eagles. He is a FIFA licence agent and resides in Germany.



Blessing Anyanwu



Last year Anyanwu was released by Lierse who were relegated to the third division but he returned to Belgium after trying his luck at Israeli side FC Ashdod but failed to secure a contract. The former Enyimba and Iwuanyanwu Nationale player played for lowly side VC Houvenne in Belgium last season before he called it quits with the game.



Peter Anosike



Anosike was second highest goal scorer at the competition with five goals. The former Julius berger of Lagos striker went on to play club football for clubs in Belgium, Australia and Singapore after leaving Nigeria. He‘s rumoured to be a security worker in Singapore after his career ended in 1999.



Eloka Asokuh



Not much has been heard of defender Asokuh, but he was last known to have played for Finn Harps in the League of Ireland in 2003. He also played for Udoji United, BCC Lions, Enugu Rangers and Gabros.



Ibrahim Babangida



Babangida, younger brother of former Super Eagles winger, Tijani Babangida, surprisingly quit the game in 2002 after showing promise earlier in his career. He retired before Tijani, who is three years older. He played for Katsina United, Stationery Stores of Lagos and Bank of the North before moving to Dutch club FC Volendam where he called it quits eight years ago.



Sambo Choji



Choji played for FC Saarbrucken and Eintracht Braunschweig in the German Bundesliga II between 1995 and 2003. He looked headed for the top after he scored 85 goals in 183 appearances for Saarbrucken but he soon faded afterwards. He tried out his luck at Persepolis of Iran before moving to Austria where he could not hold a place in SKN St. Polten and SV Reid, where he retired in 2007.



Nwankwo Kanu



Kanu scored five goals at the tourney to announce his arrival in world football. He was given a contract at Ajax from Iwuanyanwu Nationale in 1993. At a point, he was Africa‘s most decorated player before Cameroon‘s Samuel Eto‘o overtook him. After playing for other big sides like Inter Milan and Arsenal, the two-time African Footballer of the Year plays in the English second tier with Portsmouth.



Kanu won the UEFA Champions League with Ajax Amsterdam in 1995, UEFA Super Cup in 1995 and the Intercontinental Cup. Won the UEFA Cup with Inter Milan in 1998. He won the Premier League with Arsenal in 2002 and 2004. He won the FA Cup in 2002 and 2003. In 2008 he helped Portsmouth win the FA Cup. He was the African Player of the Year in 1996 and 1999.



Wilson Oruma



Oruma was the captain of team and was the highest goal scorer of the tournament. He was also in the victorious Atlanta ’96 squad. He played at the France ’98 World Cup, scoring one goal. Some felt he never quite fulfilled his potential. He played his club football mainly in France for Lens, Nancy, Nimes, Sochaux, Marseille and Guingamp. He also had spells in Turkey (Samsunspor) and Switzerland (Servette). He retired recently after a season at Greek side Kavala.



Celestine Babayaro



Aside from Kanu, Celestine Babayaro, is the most successful member of the squad, but despite being the youngest squad member he retired early – in 2008 at US Galaxy Stars. He won gold at Atlanta ’96. Earlier, he won the league and Super Cup double with Anderlecht of Belgium in 1995. At Chelsea he won the UEFA Cup, Winners Cup and the UEFA Super Cup in 1998. He also won the FA Cup in 2000. Individually, he was voted Belgian Young Footballer of the Year 1995 and 1996. He is the youngest player to play in the UEFA Champions League. He played at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. He also played for Newcastle United.



Mobi Oparaku



Diminutive right-back, Oparaku, also went on to play for the Atlanta ’96 Olympics and France ’98 World Cup squads. He played for clubs in Belgium and then for the Connecticut Wolves in the United States but returned home to the domestic league before he quit in 2008.



Others



Manga Mohammed Festus Okougha, Abiodun Ogbebor and third choice keeper Destiny Iyonu all retired a long time ago while Festus Odini, who notched two goals at the tourney, is allegedly involved in automobile business. Charles Okonedo is also out of football.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20101208255337

There was commotion at the gates of the National Assembly on Tuesday as riot policemen and State Security Service operatives prevented some suspended members of the House of Representatives from entering the premises.



Those stopped were Mr. Dino Melaye, Mr. Anas Adamu, Mr. Solomon Awhinawhin and Mr. Bitrus Kaze.



The four were among the 11 lawmakers suspended on June 23, 2010 by the House for ”disorderly conduct.”



They had accused the House leadership of misusing N9bn out of the capital vote of the lower arm of the National Assembly.



Melaye, Adamu, Awhinawhin, Kaze and Mr. Independence Ogunewe had also gone to an Abuja Federal High Court to challenge their suspension on the grounds that it was illegal.



On Thursday last week, the court delivered judgment in their favour.



But on their way to resume sitting on Tuesday in compliance with the judgment, hordes of riot policemen stopped them at the first gate.



Melaye, in particular, was said to have protested loudly, telling the policemen that he was complying with a court judgment. He reportedly outsmarted the policemen at the first gate as he abandoned his car and practically dashed on foot to the second gate.



On getting to the second gate, more policemen and SSS operatives cordoned off the area and prevented the lawmaker from gaining access into the premises.



A bailiff from the court who came with the lawmakers to the National Assembly was said to have been manhandled and chased away from the first gate.



The Sergeant-at-Arms to the National Assembly, Col. Emeka Okere (retd.), and the Director of the SSS Unit at the National Assembly, Mr. Mohammed Abdulrahman, were seen coordinating operations at the gate.



Melaye was later led away by some of the riot policemen to the first gate where he joined Kaze, Awhinawhin and Adamu before they left the scene.



The development caused serious traffic chaos on the road leading to the National Assembly for over one hour as Melaye blocked a section of the road with a vehicle.



Before the lawmakers left the scene, they accused the police of obstructing the course of justice.



Melaye, who spoke on their behalf, said, ”We have a judgment, they don‘t have a superior judgment, they don‘t have a stay of execution.



”Yet, they are stopping us and using the Nigeria Police to obstruct justice. They are using the police to stop us from going into the chamber. The National Assembly is supposed to be a respecter of the constitution and the courts of the land.



”If now as I am standing here, they serve me with a superior order that supersedes what I have, I will go back home.”



Describing the drama as ”satanic and draconian”, Melaye added that though the suspended lawmakers came with a bailiff, the security personnel disregarded the court official.



Many senators and members of the House were caught up in the traffic chaos. They were forced to disembark from their cars to trek into the premises.



Among them were the Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, and Senator Iyiola Omisore. Ekweremadu‘s driver later negotiated through the traffic jam to get to the second gate.



But the gate remained shut and Ekweremadu had to wait for a few seconds before it was opened for him to enter the premises.



Omisore had to abandon his vehicle outside the gate as he could not drive into the premises.



The Minority Whip of the House, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, and another member, Mr. Mayor Eze, suffered a similar fate.



As of 10.30am, many members of staff and visitors to the National Assembly were still locked out as a result of the commotion.



Those who were already in the premises could not go out as both the entrance and exit gates were locked.



It was learnt that the Speaker of the House, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, had to use an alternative gate near the fence of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa to enter the premises.



At least four bullion vans conveying cash to the branches of some commercial banks operating at the National Assembly were turned away from the gate.



It was not until 11.15am that the first and second gates were opened after the police and the SSS were satisfied that the lawmakers had left the scene.



A policeman, who did not want to be named, claimed that they had ”directives from above” to stop the lawmakers.



Speaking at a news conference later, the spokesman of the House, Mr. Eseme Eyiboh, defended the actions of the policemen and the SSS.



He stated that the bid by the lawmakers to enter the National Assembly was likely to cause a breach of ”national security” if they had not been stopped.



Eyiboh said that the House had filed an appeal against the judgment of the court and also filed for a stay of execution.



According to him, whenever the two steps stated above are taken in respect of any matter, the parties must revert to the statusquo.



“This issue does not call for arguments. A notice of appeal has been filed and we filed for a stay of execution. The question of when the court will decide it is at the discretion of the court,” Eyiboh said.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201012082511632

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on his supporters to work hard to ensure he gets the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket to contest the 2011 general elections, saying losing it to President Goodluck Jonathan would be a tragedy.

Atiku made the call yesterday in Gombe when his campaign organisation paid a courtesy call on the Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Danjuma Goje, at Government House to woo party delegates ahead of the party’s primaries.
The former vice president, chosen by the nine-member Adamu Ciroma-led committee as the North’s consensus candidate, was accompanied by supporters of General Ibrahim Babangida, General Aliyu Gusau and Bukola Saraki, notable among whom were former senate president, Ken Nnamani, former minister, Dr. Yakubu Lame and former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo.

He disclosed that all the four camps had been integrated from top to bottom to ensure that the ticket would be clinched by the group, maintaining that the zoning arrangement of the party must not be jettisoned by any individual or group of individuals.
Atiku called on his supporters to work hard to ensure his victory. He said: “It will be a tragedy if the ticket is not taken by the group. I will urge you all to support it. It is your property, it is your destiny.”
In his response, Goje congratulated Atiku for emerging the consensus candidate of the North, saying it was not a mean feat in view of the hurdles that were placed before the former vice president by some politicians in the PDP.

He said: “It is not a small feat because after he left the PDP, some of us thought he would never come back. He came back even amidst controversies to be accepted in the PDP and in the end, he emerged the PDP consensus candidate for the North; it is a big achievement.”
Meanwhile, Atiku has asked Nigerians to discountenance the claims of political soothsayers that vacancy does not exist in Aso Rock as a brand new President will emerge by May 29, 2011.

According to a statement by the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation in Abuja reacting to Anenih’s declaration in Benin that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock in 2011, the former vice president said the former PDP BoT chairman is no longer taken seriously because of his antecedents.
“Nigerians should be wary of the utterances of Anenih. The sovereignty lies with the people and not with Anenih. He does not have the mandate to speak on behalf of the people who are yet to cast their votes in the 2011 elections,” it said.

It said “No Vacancy” was the same battle cry Anenih used to win favour with the late Gen. Sani Abacha, former President Obasanjo and now Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is his latest victim in his desperation to reclaim relevance.
It wondered how Anenih who has no political space in his home state in Edo State because of his widespread unpopularity, can now promise the Presidency to someone else.

Describing Anenih as a drag on Nigerian democracy, the Campaign said it is ridiculous to describe the presidency not vacant when the President himself has pledged to conduct free and fair elections.
“If indeed, the Presidency is not vacant, then there is no reason to conduct a presidential election in 2011 because the winner is already known according to Anenih’s odd theory of democracy,” the Campaign stated.
It warned President Jonathan to distance himself from Anenih and his ilk or risk losing credibility in his avowed commitment to free and fair elections in 2011.


According to the Campaign, Anenih has no iota of credibility in the political life of Nigeria because of his infamous records of treachery, rigging and dishonor.
Describing Anenih as “an unstable politician,” it recalled how Anenih abandoned the late Chief MKO Abiola to his fate after late General Sani Abacha took over in November 1993.
“As the Chairman of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) on which platform
Abiola contested the election, he (Anenih) chickened out rather than fighting like a man to defend Abiola’s mandate,” the Campaign noted.
“He was an opportunist who fixed an appointment for himself with the late
Abacha military regime while Abiola was languishing in jail.

“And while serving the Abacha administration, he became a major political
consultant for the actualization of the General Abacha’s self-succession agenda,” the statement added.
He took his anti-democratic tendencies to a new low in justifying the hanging of the late Ogoni activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others when he granted an interview to the BBC in 1997 during the Commonwealth Summit in Scotland.

Mr. Anenih, who described himself as an observer during the interview because
Nigeria was under suspension at the time, maintained that, the Ogoni activists were duly convicted by the Abacha government.
It accused Anenih of being the brain behind the failed bid for life presidency by former President Obasanjo.
“It was the same Tony Anenih that declared that Aso Rock was not vacant because of plan to cause massive rigging and destroy voter sovereignty. Outside rigging, for which he is a notorious expert, Anenih cannot win a vote anywhere.
Signed:
Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organization
No. 1 Luanda Crescent
Wuse II
Abuja.
Website: www.atiku.org
Facebook: facebook.com/atiku2011
Twitter: twitter.com/atiku11



Governor Goje said it was disheartening that despite giving one of the highest votes in the North to the PDP in the last elections; no tangible project had been executed by the Federal Government in Gombe State to reciprocate the gesture.
He said the state would work tirelessly to ensure that the PDP maintained its rule in the state in the 2011 general elections, but called on whoever would emerge to remember to pay back the people of the state for their unrelenting support to the party.









http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/dec/08/national-08-12-2010-01.htm

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, remained adamant on Tuesday over his statement that 25 per cent of the Federal Government‘s budget overhead was spent on the National Assembly.



Sanusi, who appeared before the House of Representatives joint committees on appropriation, finance, banking/currency and drugs/narcotics and financial crimes, said he was convinced that the figure he gave was correct.



He repeated virtually the same defence he had put up earlier when he met with the Senate on Wednesday last week.



The CBN governor said he got his figure from a document from the Office of the Director of Budget, Mr. Bright Okogun, and it was the same document that the Federal Government used in preparing the 2011-2013 Medium Term Expenditure it sent to the National Assembly two weeks ago.



”I remain convinced that the figure I used, based on the most authentic source that I have, is correct”, Sanusi insisted.



According to him, the figure he used as total Federal Government overhead is N536bn, out of which the National Assembly‘s share is N136bn.



Sanusi had stated the figure at the eight convocation of the Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State last month, where he delivered the convocation lecture.



He told the committee that if there were other figures, which the DG budget office did not make available to him, the office should take the responsibility of making the necessary clarification(s).



The CBN governor made the comment after the committee established that there were three conflicting figures on Federal Government‘s overhead in 2010.



Sanusi also presented some documents to the committee . The members, after going through them (documents), observed that one of them contained a separate N814bn, a figure different from the N536bn that Sanusi said he got from the budget office.



Similarly, the Minority Leader of the House, Alhaji Mohammed Ndume, who moderated the session, observed that the total government overhead in the initial 2010 Appropriation Act and the two subsequent supplementary budgets was N1.3tn.



Ndume added that the implication was that the National Assembly‘s share (N136bn) was around 8.9 per cent and not 25 per cent.



He also said that if the aggregate total of the 2010 budget (about N5tn) was used, the share of the National Assembly would be three per cent.



The lawmaker added that since one of Sanusi’s documents showed another figure of N814bn, “it means that the percentage of the National Assembly should be lower than what the CBN governor quoted.”



The committee accused Sanusi of using a “political figure” to tarnish the image of the National Assembly.



When Sanusi tried to explain how he came about the N814bn, he was overruled by the committee. But the CBN governor went on to deny that he had a political motive in making his statement.



Sanusi, who admitted to having a cordial relationship with the National Assembly, wondered why many Nigerians were often embittered whenever they were told the truth.



He said he had made a reference to the 25 per cent expenditure during his lecture at the Igbinedion University not because he wanted to malign the National Assembly, as portrayed in some quarters.















Sanusi added that his statement was not in any way aimed at ridiculing the National Assembly, as it involved all other sectors of the economy.



Sanusi said, ”I don‘t have a motive to malign the National Assembly. What is the motive of a CBN governor to go out and malign the National Assembly?



”There are times in the course of our work when we have to say things that may not be pleasant. Every time we say things that people are not happy with, they take it as an attempt to malign them.



“I believe it is extremely important for the CBN to express its opinion, it should not be taken as an insult or attack. I was speaking about the growth prospect of the Nigerian economy. I spoke about the structure of government finance.



“More and more of our money is being spent on overheads, unless we widen our revenue base, we will continue to use our money to service debt.



“As a country, we cannot continue to spend our money on recurrent expenditure, especially when we are borrowing.’’



He disclosed how he had once been summoned by ”Mr. President” after he had made a comment that Nigeria was pursuing the wrong economic agenda.



He revealed that when he appeared before the President, he admitted that he made the statement.



Sanusi said he told the President that there was no way the economy would make a headway if the country did not find a solution to the problem of power.



”The President said ”yes”, I agree with you”, he added.



Sanusi held the view that the media blew the matter out of proportion by harping on the National Assembly overhead, thereby making the real focus of his lecture secondary.



When asked whether based on the three conflicting figures that had been established, he still believed that he was correct, Sanusi replied, ”Was the number right based on the fact that I had? I say yes.”



He consistently referred to the document of the budget office, insisting that ”if there were other figures that were not added”, the blame should go to the budget office.



Sanusi said what was not in doubt was the fact that the country was spending heavily on recurrent expenditure.



He recalled that in 2009, about 20 per cent of the national revenue was used to service domestic debts spent on overhead.



In 2010, Sanusi disclosed that the percentage jumped to 26 per cent, an indication that it would rise again in 2011.



”Increasing overheads lead to pressure on inflation and we at the CBN have a challenge of stabilising the system, especially the interest rates”, he added.



Sanusi cited the case of the N500bn the government spends on fuel subsidy, adding that it was not healthy for Nigeria to engage in borrowing just to spend on subsidising fuel importation.



The session came to an abrupt end after the committees established that there were three( N1.3tn, N814bn and N536bn) conflicting Federal Government overhead figures ”being bandied around.”



”As it is, there is uncertainty over which of the figures is authentic,” said Ndume, who claimed that the committees had invited Okogun to clarify the conflicting figures.



Akogun was not at the session and it was unclear why he did not show up.



Both the committees and Sanusi admitted that the comment of the CBN governor had caused unnecessary controversy.



The Chairman of the Committee on Appropriation, Mr. Ayo Adeseun, advised Sanusi to weigh some of his public utterances because of the sensitive nature of his office.



Though Sanusi described the incident as ”unfortunate”, he maintained that ”a modern economy needs an independent CBN, which must be allowed to express its views.”



Details of the document Sanusi presented to the committee showed that the N814bn he quoted was on ”recurrent”, not overhead expenditure.



Recurrent is larger than overhead, which is a component of the recurrent expenditure.



Meanwhile, the Chairman of IRS Airlines, Alhaji Isyaku Rabiu, has expressed worry that National Assembly members think more about their welfare than their primary responsibility of lawmaking.



”The present crop of office –holders only think about their own welfare as could be seen in the attitude of some members of the National Assembly,” said Rabiu at the unveiling of Nigerian Youth Connect in Abuja.



He challenged youths in the country to ensure that they voted only creditable persons into public offices during the 2011 elections.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201012082503217

As the police are still trying to unravel last Friday’s attack in Jos, Plateau State, which claimed seven lives, wife of the Special Task Force Commander, Brigadier-General Hassan Umaru, was allegedly killed at the weekend.
The commander’s wife, Rifkatu Umaru, owned a popular restaurant, named “Reeves Heritage Kitchen,” situated at the National Commission for Museum and Monuments, Jos.

The source stated that the deceased, who had gone to Bokkos Local Government Area of the state for a wedding along with some friends returned to Jos at about 8:30 pm and when she got to the gate of her house at Police Training College, near Army Engineering, Jos, she met it locked.

On coming out of the car to enter through the smaller gate to find out what was amiss to have warranted closing the gate early, the assailants who had allegedly laid ambush, pounced on and strangulated her.
After killing her, they allegedly dumped her body in a well in the house and fled immediately without being noticed by people living within the vicinity.

It was learnt that her remains were discovered on Sunday morning by those who wanted to fetch water from the well. They raised the alarm which attracted attention of those in the neighborhood.
When her body was removed from the well by men of the special task force, it was discovered to have marks on the neck and parts of the body which showed that there was a struggle with the assailants before they overpowered her and threw her in the well. Her remains was deposited at the Air force Hospital in Jos.
When Daily Sun visited to the headquarters of the task force, beside Hill Station Hotel, Jos, the commander was not available while some men of the force were seen discussing the unfortunate incident, even though they refused to comment.

The commander later confirmed the incident on phone to journalists but would not say much on it.
The Reeves Heritage Kitchen looked deserted as the few people in the area were also seen discussing the incident.
When contacted, Plateau State Police Commissioner, Mr. Abdul Rahman Akano, said it was just an accident. He said the lady fell into the well accidentally and that he did not think that anyone would like to kill the wife of the STF boss because they were doing a good job in Plateau State.
The task force members had been accused of complicity in the recent attacks by Fulanis in Jos because they are often at the scene of the incidents after the havoc had been committed.

Even though the task force commander had complained of difficult terrain as hindrance for them to reach the villages that are being attacked on time but many accuse thewm of looking the other way when the incident is taking place.
But Daily Sun has been unable to confirm if this recent killing has anything to do with the incessant attacks in the state as at the time of sending report, nobody has been arrested.




http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/dec/07/national-07-12-2010-03.htm

The Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) on Monday slammed a two-year suspension on former attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Chief Micheal Aondoakaa over allegations of gross misconduct while in office.

Secretary of LPPC and Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mr. Sunday Olorundahunsi in a statement in Abuja explained that the decision to suspend Aondoakaa was reached after the body reviewed the report of the sub-committee, which investigated some allegation of misconduct brought against him (Aondoakaa).

The sub-committee which had hitherto stripped him of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) was set up to investigate a petition lodged by the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) against the AGF. The Committee had recommended the temporary suspensision of Aondoakaa from the inner bar pending the conclusion of its investigation.

In addition, the committee also considered the judgment of the Federal High Court, Calabar Division delivered on June 1, 2010, where it reviewed the ignoble role of Aondoakaa in instructing the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] not to comply with a court order to issue a Certificate of Return to Emmanuel Obot for the House of Representatives ticket.

The statement communicating the development and signed by Olorundahunsi read:
“The former attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoaka has finally bagged a two-year suspension from the use of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), after the meeting of the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) held today, 6th December, 2010 in Supreme Court of Nigeria, Abuja.

“The decision to suspend the former AGF was reached after due consideration of the report of the sub-committee earlier set up to review the petition of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, the judgment of the Federal High Court, Calabar on June 1, 2010 declaring among others that he is unfit to hold the office of Attorney General or any public office in Nigeria; and the declaration of his person as persona non grata for offences relating to corruption and the consequent revocation of his entry visa by the American Government earlier in the year.”



http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/newsonthehour/2010/dec/07/newsbreak-07-12-2010-001.htm

Minister of Finance, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, yesterday decried the patterns of spending by all tiers of government and the high recurrent expenditure in the country, which, he noted, has not translated into improving the quality of life. As one of the world’s top 10 economies in terms of growth, the minister said there was no excuse for the high unemployment level and poverty in the country.

He told a public hearing on the justification for bilateral and sovereign loans by the federal and state governments organized by the House of Representatives that though the economy was doing well, the rate of borrowing had not matched growth.

President Goodluck Jonathan had forwarded a request for an approval of the National Assembly to borrow the $3.7 billion from donor agencies, almost with zero interest.

Aganga said: “Our economy as of now regardless of what anyone says is doing well, this means that the level of growth which we have experienced in this year is much more higher than that of most other countries in the world.
“ We are in the top 10 in the world in terms of growth. But the problem we have which the economic management team is addressing is that ‘yes the numbers say we are doing well; GDP growth is high’, our level of borrowing is low compared to any other country.

“It is telling that we are introducing strong fiscal framework, but our level of unemployment is high. So we have growth without job creation and employment. Therefore, the impact is not felt well enough in the life of the average Nigerians.”
The minister remarked that the focus of government now “is on measuring our success by measuring the jobs we create; making sure we are focusing on job creation.”

Aganga disclosed that a committee had been set up to look at the issue specifically, so that next year’s budget would address job creation.
The minister informed the lawmakers that a Bill for the establishment of the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) would soon be submitted to the National Assembly, adding that Nigeria is the only oil bearing state that does not have a SWF.

“So what we are doing is to create a fund that will have three boxes, one is a saving element for the future of Nigeria, your children, great grand children because they have the right to benefit from what we are all benefiting today.
“The second is going to be towards stabilization which is going to help us when we have a sustained fall in oil prices.
“The last part is for infrastructure development to narrow the infrastructure deficit of the country which will make it easier for local and foreign investors to come and invest in the country.”

While lamenting the growing rate of Federal Government’s re-current expenditure, he disclosed that “what we need to do is to restructure our budget.”
Aganga said as a result of the recurrent expenditure, there was not enough money to be invested in capital projects, noting that measures were being taken to improve on the country’s quality of spending to ensure that the right value was achieved for the amount of money spent.





http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/dec/07/national-07-12-2010-01.htm

Former military president, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has denied a report published by the Sunday edition of a national newspaper (not Daily Sun), claiming that he had jettisoned the consensus arrangement and would run in the 2011 elections.

In the opinion of the newspaper, it stated that the consensus option had collapsed and that in deference to his supporters, Babangida was bowing to pressures from his associates, friends, political allies and followers to have a shot at the Presidential election.

A statement from the media spokesman to the IBB Campaign Organisation, Prince Kassim Afegbua however, denied the report stating categorically that, “ IBB is not contemplating jettisoning the consensus option because the rationale for the consensus in the first place, is still very much in place.”

Members of the IBB 2011 Presidential Campaign Organization, Afegbua emphasised “are already being accommodated in the Amalgamated Atiku Campaign Organization, to give the necessary support to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the forthcoming PDP primaries.”

Afegbua observed with dismay that “in recent times, this same newspaper is gradually becoming unethical in promoting baseless, unsubstantiated, ridiculous, misleading and very frivolous stories against the person of IBB in a manner that tends to suggest that the newspaper had an ulterior motive.” He sermonized that “ it was not only instructive for journalists to be very thorough and profound in their news reportage, they must at all times cross-check their facts and figures in order not to mislead members of the public who rely on their news items for one purpose or another.”

While describing the report as untrue, the media spokesperson stated that the fact was, there was no ‘marathon’ meeting in Kano, Kaduna, Minna and Lagos as it was reported by the newspaper.
The statement read further: “We also wish to state that in asmuch as we appreciate the support, endorsement and open invitation of the leadership of the National Democratic Party (NDP) towards General Babangida, there has never been any platform where formal dialogue was entered into.

Before now, the National Democratic Party has been in support of the presidential aspiration of the former President (and) that is why we do not see its present support as something new. Former president Babangida appreciates the overwhelming support being extended to him by distinguished Nigerians; home and abroad, and feels very strongly that the quest for the leadership of the country was not a personal and self-serving desire, but one that was borne out of altruistic and patriotic intentions to help rescue the country from its present economic and political morass.

“As a distinguished Nigerian and a gentleman officer, he is of the considered view that democracy cannot flourish if all the essential ingredients are not well garnished to provide opportunity for all with equal access to the levels of power. He’s of the strong opinion that the rule of law, as a cardinal principle of democracy, cannot be circumvented in a manner that tends to undermine the stability and unity of the country.”

Babangida’s call for respect of the provisions of the PDP Constitution still stands and must be respected by all members who subscribe to the party, Afegbuaa asserted, warning that “nobody should assume the role of an unauthorized spokesman for the erstwhile campaign organisation of IBB.”

Should there be need to give any further directive, he volunteered that “we will use the appropriate organs to do so,” insisting that “the ideas, perspectives, viewpoints and dimensions expressed in the said newsreport are purely those of the authors but certainly not that of General Ibrahim Babangida or his campaign organisation.”
He informed further that “our followers and supporters have been properly directed and briefed; hence we view this news item as utterly misleading and grossly uninformed.”



http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/dec/06/national-06-12-2010-018.htm

The cream of the society which included former presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida witnessed the thanksgiving service held by the former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola to mark his exit from office.

Apart from the two leaders, others at the service held at St Michael’s Anglican Cathedral, Okuku, Osun State include: Governors Gbenga Daniel and Adebayo Alao-Akala of Ogun and Oyo States respectively, Minister of Youth Development,

Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, Secretary to Oyo State Government, Chief Olayiwola Olakojo, former SSG, Osun State, and Alhaji Fatai Akinbade. Others including: Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, Mallam Yusuf Alli, SAN, Alhaji Adebayo Adelodun, SAN, Otunba Kunle Kalejaye, SAN, Otunba Femi Pedro, Generals Patrick Aziza and Tunde Osanupin, former Commander, Brigade of Guards were also in attendance.

Oyinlola, in his remarks thanked God for giving him the opportunity to serve the people for seven and a half years just as he expressed his deep appreciation to Nigerian people for their “wonderful show of support” since the Court of Appeal verdict that ousted him. He urged the people to fortify his successor with prayers because “Osun State is our Jerulsalem.”

Oyinlola said his joy knew no bounds for the achievements he recorded while in power stressing that the welfare of the people he ruled over was the focal point of his seven and a half years in power. The ex-governor while thanking the labour force in the state noted that no worker was unjustly treated by his administration throughout his tenure just as he said projects were evenly distributed across all zones in the state irrespective of the politics of the areas.

On the court verdict which ousted him, Oyinlola said he had not lost any sleep over the matter because “if there is no disappointment, their cannot be appointment.” The former Lagos State military administrator who thanked Obasanjo, Babangida, Daniel, Akala, the minister and all other dignitaries for honouring him with their presence noted that it was wonderful that an array of people across the country witnessed the thanksgiving service despite the fact that he did not send out any formal invitation letters or cards.

He prayed that Almighty God would continue to take charge of the affairs of the state for the good of the people of the Osun state.





http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/dec/06/national-06-12-2010-020.htm

The vice president, Namadi Sambo, has refuted claims that he is plotting to take over President Goodluck Jonathan’s job, saying the allegation is false.

“The entire story as reported is premised on hearsay and falsehood and smacks of sponsorship” a statement signed by the special assistant to the Vice President on media and publicity, Umar Sani said.

He added that the whole episode “is clearly intended to spread mischief and cause disaffection in the formidable Goodluck/Sambo camp.

“At no time has Sambo ever contemplated being the vice president of the federation but for President Jonathan who nurtured and ensured its maturity.” He said it was therefore preposterous for anyone to even speculate that Mr Sambo will “stab the President in the back going by the synergy they have developed which has always been a source of nightmare to their political opponents”.

Mr Sani also said the Mr Sambo has never minced words in condemning the consensus arrangement by the Adamu Ciroma led Northern Leaders Political Forum.

“He has maintained that he is the political leader of the North going by the precedence already established in governance by his position as the vice president and that no such group should go on a journey of usurpation. He believed conscientiously that such an effort was an exercise in futility,” Mr Sani said, adding that the Vice President “holds tenaciously and cherishes his fraternal relationship with President Goodluck Jonathan and could not have condescended so low as to embark on a rat race with his boss”.

Mr Sani further noted that political battles are better fought on the political as well as electoral turf based on issues and “not through outright falsehood sponsored on the pages of newspapers”.

“Political opponents should be prepared to confront the formidable team of Goodluck/Sambo train which is unstoppable rather than promote and propagate falsehood,” he said.


http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5650325-147/sambo_denies_reported_rift_with_jonathan.csp

", President Goodluck Jonathan who has given permission to the four men to purchase their current living quarters.", what the hell does that mean? DISGRACEFUL!!!, an example of how they spend the 25% of the national budget! somebody is bound to have a nervous breakdown reading about all these spending. loosing faith fast. replacing one corrupt politician with another. money changing hands with consideration. same ol' same ol'. no accountability. complete disregard for the citizenry. i hope the well runs dry, and fast. shameless people.

On Tuesday, November 30, 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan approved the sale of the official residences of the presiding officers of the National Assembly. The Senate President, the Deputy Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, have all been given leave to purchase their current living quarters, presidency sources told NEXT over the weekend.

The 2011 Appropriation Bill, which is yet to be brought to public notice, has already made N1.5 billion available for the construction of replacements for the yet-to-be sold properties.

Till date, the presiding officers of the Assembly have not enjoyed the monetisation policy put in place by President Olusegun Obasanjo which would have entitled them to reside in their private homes and thus receive accommodation allowances as other legislators do. Rather, the federal government provides official residences for the four officials. Human Rights lawyers however say that it is a contradiction for the federal government to allow presiding officers benefit from the old policy and in the same vein spend public funds to replace those houses.

“You cannot in a seeming fitful adherence to the monetisation policy at the same time approve money for the construction of new houses. It is contradictory and does not make sense. This is abuse of office,” Jiti Ogunye, a Lagos based human rights attorney said.

Some legislators, who are offended by Mr. Jonathan’s actions, believe that the president is trying to garner a more robust support base ahead of the 2011 Elections in the light of recent divisions in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), on whose platform, President Jonathan hopes to run.

Ima Niboro, the spokesman of the president however denied any knowledge of such an approval for the sale of these houses to the lawmakers.

“I cannot confirm. You may have to speak to the FCT minister,” Mr. Niboro said in a text message.

Further enquiries at the Federal Capital Territory Administration indicated that the officials are not aware of the current deal between the presidency and the lawmakers.

“The president is desperate. You know, there are so many things that he wants from them so they are taking advantage of the situation,” a legislator, who spoke on condition of anonymity said to NEXT in Abuja.

Mr. Ogunye agrees with the legislator’s conclusions.

“Given the timing of the unholy gesture, I would be right to suggest that it is an attempt to curry support for the 2011 project. What is going on now is nothing but a grand abuse of office which to me is coming at the time when Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency is interfacing with caucuses in the National Assembly and begging for their support for his attempt to govern the country again,” he said.

Building new houses

Last week, the minister of finance, Olusegun Aganga, met with committee chairs in the Senate during which time many believe he shared with them details of the 2011 Appropriation Bill. Although the bill is yet to be read on the floor of the Senate, a copy of the document obtained by NEXT shows that provisions have been made for the building of new living quarters for the principal officers of the National Assembly.

This document also carries the signatures of the chairs of the Committee on Appropriation in the Senate and the House of Representatives, Iyiola Omisore and Ayoade Ademola respectively.

The bill indicates that N1.5 billion is the budget for the:

“Design and Construction of National Assembly Presiding Officers Residence (Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker House of Reps).” Spokespersons for the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives however vehemently denied any knowledge of the move by their principals to purchase the said properties.

“Not to my knowledge. It is not possible now. If it is sold, where will the next person [speaker] stay? Will he stay under the bridge or in a hotel? It is not possible,” Musa Ebomhiana, the chief press secretary to the speaker of the House of Representatives, said.

“I’m not aware about bidding. I’m not aware of any approval by President Jonathan. I’m not aware at all,” Kola Ologbodiyan, the spokesman of the Senate President said.

Controversial spending

This is not the first time that public spending on the residences of the NASS officials has raised questions.

The first public uproar came in 2007 when the House of Representatives, under the leadership of Patricia Etteh, awarded contracts to the tune of N628 million for the renovation of her house and her deputy’s.

The controversy led to her resignation later in the year. In 2008, the federal government approved a total ofN200 million to be spent in renovating the residences. The officials only recently moved back into their official residencies after the massive renovations that were carried out.

Mr. Ogunye says that it is irresponsible of the government to keep making a fuss of the residences of the lawmakers.

“We are talking about a government that is not building roads. So what then is the case of perpetually renovating, building and selling of legislative quarters?” he said.

Just another largesse

Should the sale of the houses be made to the leaders of both chambers of the Assembly, it will be an extra largesse for them.

Mr. Mark, who became the Senate president in 2007, has been a Senator since 1999. He, alongside other serving legislators between 2003 and 2007, benefitted from the sale of the Apo legislative quarters, residence to the legislators. Same for Mr. Bankole who was also a member of the House of Representatives when the Apo quarter houses were sold to serving federal lawmakers. Mr. Bankole lived in his Apo quarters house until early this year when he moved to his official- now to be bought- residence.

“These national assembly leaders apart from owning houses in Apo quarters also own property in choice areas in Abuja. Why then would the President want to give them largesse now,” a visibly angry former lawmaker, who benefitted from the sale of the Apo quarters said.

Need to work together

The decision by President Jonathan to sell these houses to the presiding officers may also not be unconnected with the need for all of them to work together in order to benefit from the PDP zoning arrangement.

Except President Jonathan returns as President in 2011, there is hardly any chance that either of the four house leaders will remain in his position. As it currently stands, Mr. Jonathan is from the South South; the Vice President, Namadi Sambo is from the North West; Mr. Mark is from the North central; his deputy Ike Ekweremadu is from the South East; and Mr. Bankole is from the South West.

By implication, should the PDP ticket be secured by a northern aspirant, who may go ahead to win the general elections, both Mr. Mark and Mr. Bankole, if they return to the national assembly, may lose their leadership positions. While Mr. Mark has signified his intention to return to the senate, his House of Representatives counterpart is yet to declare if he will return to the house or contest for the Ogun State governorship election.

Both Eseme Eyiboh, the spokesman of the house of Representatives; and Ayogu Eze, the Senate spokesman declined to pick their calls or respond to text messages.



http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5649840-146/mark_and_bankole_to_buy_official.csp

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has alerted Nigerians to surreptitious and dangerous moves to silence one of its leaders, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The party alleged that the plot was aimed at stopping the progressive train that is blazing its way through the South-west in particular and the nation in general.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the two-pronged plan being hatched by some agents of evil involved using the EFCC to intimidate and put away the undisputed champion of progressive politics as well as trying to compromise his security to expose his life to danger like the late Bola Ige.

It said the recent, justifiable reverses suffered by those who had arrested the nation’s progress through their brand of politics, which involved massive vote rigging and perpetration of violence under the theme of ‘do-or-die politics, had scared them into seeking unorthodox ways to stop the man who, through legal recourse instead of self help, was behind the successes.

“We are aware that President Goodluck Jonathan, who hitherto has resisted every pressure to use his office to influence the judiciary in favour of his party, has been under tremendous pressure to in turn put pressure on the EFCC Chairman to frame Asiwaju under spurious charges to put him out of circulation, thus empowering those who know they cannot win free and fair elections ahead of the 2011 polls.

“The proponents of this plan argue that former President Olusegun Obasanjo successfully used the EFCC to hound his perceived opponents and to ruin their chances just before the 2007 general election, thus paving the way for his party to have a field day in ruining the polls and awarding victories to those caught its fancy.
“If President Jonathan continues to allow himself to be guided by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which he has pledged to uphold and defend, then those putting pressure on him have also mapped out a fallback position under which they intend to infiltrate Asiwaju’s security and expose his life to mortal danger,’’ ACN said.

The party warned, however, that Nigerians were very discerning and would easily recognise when an innocent man is being framed for political reasons. “The days of anarchy, when innocent people were slammed with spurious charges to satisfy the egotistic penchant of a megalomaniac, are gone,’’ it said. On the attempt to compromise Asiwaju’s security, ACN warned it would fail, especially now that such devilish plans had been exposed.

“The life of any human being, including Asiwaju’s, is in the hands of God. As we have always warned, human life is so sacred that no one should do anything to take it. That has been and remains our stand,’’ the party said.




http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/dec/06/national-06-12-2010-001.htm

Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo (popularly known as D'banj, born June 9, 1980), He adopted the stage name D'banj, a combination of his first name Dapo and his surname Oyebanjo.

[quote author=Mr¬Cork link=topic=561426.msg7263185#msg7263185 date=1291362959]he is IBO. what do u expeeet? [/quote]Who told you he is IBO ?

Sorry for you, pitiful Daniel.Dont you know that the time to be most afraid of ''your father'' as you called him is when he starts sharing meals with you? Go and ask Audu Ogbe, former PDP Chairman about his last pounded yam meal with Baba Ota Karma has gone full circle Gbenga, beware the Ides Of March!

The threat by former Lagos State governor, Ahmed Tinubu, that the Action Congress of Nigeria will take over all organs of government in the southwest in 2011 elections would not come to pass in Ogun State, as the ruling Peoples Democratic Party has the means to retain power, Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel, has said.

Mr. Daniel, who spoke at Ijebu-East local government at the inauguration of some projects, bluntly asked Mr. Tinubu not to dare the state, as he {Tinubu} cannot spring any surprise therein as he thought.

He said the fortune of the state before the PDP took over in 2003 was abysmal, especially in the area of infrastructural development.

“I want to state here categorically that no amount of threat or pressure from the Tinubu’s party will make our party to lose. They should not just come near our state. Ogun is a no go area for them,” Mr. Daniel said.

A different town

“Before we took over from the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 2003, we knew how the state was. Ogun State, between 2003 and now, is a different story. Our administration in the last seven and a half years had brought about tremendous development. This success story will definitely work for us in the coming election.

“All our party members that have gone astray are now returning to the party. There is no other party in Ogun than the PDP and by the grace of God, we shall win in the general elections. Our party is a great party. In Ogun State in the last election, we had 100 percent victory and by the grace of God, we shall repeat the same feat in the coming election,” the governor said.

He also denied any face off with former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, maintaining that there is cordial relationship between them.

“For the doubting Thomases, I have good relationship with our father, Olusegun Obasanjo. In fact, I had a sumptuous breakfast with him yesterday (last Monday).”


http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5648948-146/daniel_dares_tinubu___.csp

Within 201 days in office, President Goodluck Jonathan says he has kept to the promise of offering the country the best in three key areas of electoral reforms, electricity supply and energy security, the Senior Special Assistant on Research and Documentation, Oronto Douglas has said.

Douglas, at the inauguration of the northern zone of the “Jonathan Project” listed the areas under the acronym of three Es also said the present leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been acknowledged as credible.

Douglas, a renowned Environment Rights Activist, stated that President Jonathan knew the problem of the country was getting the right leadership without which getting the right means of choosing credible people would continue to stall the progress of the country. He therefore, went for credible people to fashion out the means of getting our leaders, Douglas recalled.

“He ensures that those who will handle INEC must be people of integrity. When two people who had political leanings were appointed as INEC Commissioners and people pointed it out, he immediately changed them,” the Special Adviser said. Douglas said all the resources which the electoral commission demanded to make its work easier had been released to it, adding that the maxim of free and fair polls had been so important to the President that since May 6, when he assumed power he had used the expression 1,646 times.

On electricity, Douglas said the President had so far built on the efforts of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and was steadily moving the country towards self-sufficiency as there was a steady addition of more megawatts as well as the building of new transmission line to evacuate generated power. He admitted that there was so much money being spent on the power sector but reminded the audience that the grid in the country was built with the population of 70 million in mind but since then, the population had doubled without a corresponding increase in power facilities, hence it would take more to update.

On energy security, he said the Niger Delta was the host of resources that the country relies on to carry out its internal and external obligations hence peace in the Niger Delta means steady power supply and fuels. He added that ensuring the resolution of all conflicts within the region through implementation of amnesty programme was a way to ensure that there was no interruption in energy security.

Douglas regretted that the value system of education had been lost, a reason he said the President would on December 20, in Lagos launch a programme “Bring Back the Book Project “ that would restore the values Nigeria use to have in the educational sector.

He said the project would emphasise the values in acquiring knowledge and restore the reading culture of the people against the practice of get-rich- quick without proffering solutions to the problems of the country. He also said reforms were afoot as the practice in the past whereby fertilisers meant for farmers and its subsidy ended up in the pockets of rich men which in turn, impacted negatively on the sector and insisted that Nigeria would attain its full potentials in agriculture under Jonathan.




http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/dec/03/national-03-12-2010-019.htm

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered the immediate readmission of six members of the House of Representatives, saying their indefinite suspension by the House amounted to ”tyranny of the majority.”



In his judgment on the applications by the lawmakers, Justice Adamu Bello, held that the suspension of the lawmakers — Dino Melaye; Independence Ogunnewe; Solomon Ahwinahwi; Bitrus Kaze; Adamu Adamu; and Austin Nwachukwu— was illegal.



The judge also held that to allow their suspension to stand would amount to shortening their tenure of office.



The six lawmakers were among the 11 members of a group in the House, ‘Progressive-Minded Legislators’, suspended after their bid to hold the leadership of the House accountable, degenerated into a free-for-all on June 22, 2010.



The group led by Melaye had accused the Speaker, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, of allegedly misusing N9bn out of the capital vote of the House.



Seven of them — Melaye, Ogunewe, Adamu, Awhinawhin, Nwachukwu, Doris Uboh and Kase – had gone to court to challenge their suspension on the grounds that it was illegal.



Nwachukwu later withdrew from the suit, claiming that he had been advised by his constituency to do so. Four others — Kayode Amusan, Mr. Gbenga Oduwaiye, Gbenga Onigbogi and Ehiogie West-Idahosa — did not go to court.



Onigbogi and West-Idahosa have since been pardoned and re-admitted by the House after they wrote to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges claiming that they did not fight .



Oduwaiye, Amusan and Nwachukwu also approached the committee to seek for a review of their case.



The House had earlier asked all those who went to court to withdraw their suit and tender an apology to their colleagues before they could be pardoned.



The court had assumed jurisdiction in the suit by the six lawmakers . On Thursday, it held that legislative immunity did not cover constitutional violations and said that they (plaintiffs) were suspended without due process.



According to the judge, the action of the House leadership is tantamount to ”tyranny of the majority which cannot be justified in law.”











Bello said that the House of Representatives goofed because it failed to give the members fair hearing before placing them on the suspension.



He further held that the House breached its own standing order by placing the lawmakers on indefinite suspension when in law, it ( House) could only suspend erring members for 14 legislative days.



Bello, however, agreed that the House had the power to discipline any errant member but pointed out that such power must be exercised within the ambit of the law.



He said that when it became evident that the lawmakers caused the publication of malicious materials against the House and its leadership, the right decision would have been to refer their action to the Committee on Privileges and Petition.



The committee, according to him, would have subjected them to interrogation.



Bello, who said “the House must caution itself from arbitrary actions that could make mockery of our law,” advised the House to use the judgment to facilitate total reconciliation.



A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr, Femi Falana, filed the suit on behalf of the six lawmakers while Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Mr Yusuf Ali (SAN) represented Bankole and the House respectively.



The Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Eseme Eyiboh, who reacted to the judgment, hinted that the House might appeal if necessary.



He said, “We have to study the content of the ruling (judgment) and follow the provisions of the rule of law.



“It is either we appeal against the ruling (judgment) or we abide by it. The case was concluded but not foreclosed.”



When reminded that except there was an appeal against the judgment, the House had no choice than to re-admit the six lawmakers immediately, Eyiboh insisted that any steps to be taken depended on studying the judgment.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201012032312143

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in collaboration with the Serious Organised Crime Agency of the United Kingdom, has made a recovery of N26.5bn ($110m) from perpetrators of cybercrimes in the past three years.



Within the period, the agencies also intercepted 12,000 scam mails that were intended to swindle their recipients of various sums of money.



A Principal Staff Officer at EFCC, Mr. Bala Sanga, disclosed these at a press conference addressed by the hosts of the first West Africa Cybercrime Summit, which ended in Abuja on Thursday.



He also disclosed that the organisation had been able to secure 300 convictions in cybercrime cases, despite the fact that the nation’s legal system did not permit the admission of computer-generated evidence in the law courts.



“The possession of certain documents is criminalised and the EFCC has used this element of the law to obtain 300 convictions in cybercrime,” Sanga said.



He added that the money recovered from the fraudsters, in collaboration with SOCA, did not represent the entire recoveries made by the EFCC.



Sanga said the summit became necessary following the migration of cybercriminals from Nigeria to neigbouring West African countries.



According to him, some of the competencies available in Nigeria for fighting cybercrimes are not available in the neighbouring countries and, therefore, there is the need to broaden capacity for effective eradication of the menace within the region.



Also speaking at the briefing, Director, Digital Crimes Unit of Microsoft, Mr. Jean-Christopher Le Toquin, said there was an urgent need to channel the energy of youths in the West African region into productive uses in order to check the incidence of cybercrime.



In a communiqué issued at the end of the programme, the summit said there was also an urgent need to adopt a legislation and electronic evidence throughout the Economic Community of West African States.



The communiqué read in part, “Adopting legislation on cybercrime and electronic evidence will not change in itself the future of our sub-region, but it is the first step that will develop trust in our countries and accelerate investment and economic development.



“We must look into developing a strategy with the right policies in place to address the multifaceted aspects of cybercrime, including legal framework and enforcement, education and training, awareness, technology, continuous research, monitoring and education.”



It was also decided that the conference should hold on an annual basis in order to evaluate the progress made in the fight against cybercrime and map out additional strategies to win the campaign.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201012033131190

THE Chairman, Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited, Dr. Wale Babalakin, on Thursday, said the company had commenced remedial work on the deteriorating sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway ahead of the Christmas festivities.



The Federal Government handed over the 105-kilometre road to the company on May 26, 2009, on a concession agreement to renovate, expand, modernise and maintain it for a period of 25 years.



Babalakin, who spoke at a press conference on the state of the project at the old toll gate, Lagos, said that proper rehabilitation and reconstruction work would commence in January next year.



Even as he said that the final design of the project had been submitted to the Federal Ministry of Works for ratification, he stressed that the remedial work would make the road passable for those travelling home for the yuletide.



He said, ”Between now and the end of the year, we intend to make the road passable by ensuring that there are no craters and potholes on the road that can hinder movement. By the time we move into next year, we would have commenced more extensive work.”



Although Babalakin did not disclose the funding arrangement for the project, he said that the company would deliver a first class road that would be the pride of the nation.



”Let me assure Nigerians that the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway will be constructed as the most attractive, users-friendly and environmental-friendly designed road, not only in Nigeria, but also in Africa,” he said.



He also explained that the delay in the commencement of major works on the road was to perfect the design and ensure that the final output was of international standard.



The final design, according to him, has incorporated the scope of work, Environmental Impact Assessment report, engineering design, bill of engineering measurement and evaluation.



Babalakin also said that both the remedial and major reconstruction works would be executed with minimal disruption to the movement of vehicles on the road.



Already, he said a new route was being created at Kilometre 32, where traffic would be diverted at the peak of work for ease of movement.



Road signs and sign posts have also been erected to warn motorists and other road users at the approach of major construction site and dangerous spots.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20101203317279

The Federal Government may soon issue a warrant for the arrest of a former United States Vice-President, Mr. Dick Cheney, Bloomberg.com reports.



The prosecuting lawyer to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Godwin Obla, told Bloomberg in an interview in Abuja on Thursday that the indictment would be lodged in a Nigerian court in the next three days.



He said, “An arrest warrant for Cheney will be issued and transmitted through Interpol,” the world’s biggest international police organisation.”



Cheney’s spokesman, Peter Long, said he couldn’t immediately comment when contacted today and said he would respond later to an e-mailed request for comment.



Obla said charges would be filed against current and former chief executive officers of Halliburton, including Cheney, who was CEO from 1995 to 2000, and its former unit KBR Inc. based in Houston, Texas; Technip, Europe’s second largest oilfield services provider; Eni SpA, Italy’s biggest oil company; and Saipem Construction Co., a unit of Eni.



Obla didn’t identify the former officials whom he said held office when the alleged bribes were paid.



Last week, EFCC operatives arrested at least 23 officials from companies including Halliburton, Saipem, Technip and a former subsidiary of Panalpina Welttransport Holding AG in connection with alleged illegal payments to Nigerian officials. Those detained were all freed on bail on November 29.



Authorities in the West African nation are probing Halliburton, Saipem and Technip for the alleged payment of $180m in bribes to win a $6bn Liquefied Natural Gas contract. Panalpina is being investigated for illegal payments it allegedly made to Nigerian customs officials on behalf of Royal Dutch Shell Plc.



“Eni confirms its availability to cooperate with the local authorities in the ongoing investigations, as it has done in the past with Italian and US authorities,” Gianni Di Giovanni, spokesman for the company, said in an emailed statement today.



Christophe Bélorgeot, who is listed on Technip’s website as a spokesman for the company, didn’t answer his phone when called today. No one answered the phone at Halliburton’s Nigerian office when called for comment. A person who answered a call to Halliburton’s Houston office said no one was available to comment. Teresa Wong, Halliburton’s spokeswoman, didn’t immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment. Heather Browne, a spokeswoman for KBR, said by e-mail the company has no comment.



Cheney, 69, left Halliburton in 2000 to become US President George W. Bush’s running mate and then vice president. He formed the company’s KBR Inc. unit after acquiring Dresser Industries Inc. in 1998.



The EFCC arraigned a former aide of President Olusegun Obasanjo, Mr. Bodunde Adeyanju, on six counts of money laundering on October 13 in connection with the alleged payment of bribes.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20101203395165

Men of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) have allegedly sacked Ayakoromo village, the country home of “General” John Togo, wanted leader of the Niger-Delta Liberation Force (NDLF).
Daily Sun learnt that more than 50 people have been killed in the military operations that commenced on Wednesday.

A source within the town revealed that though Togo hails from Ayakoromo, he does not operate from the community.
The invasion, according to him, might not be unconnected with the fact that men of the JTF could not lay their hands on Togo when they raided his camps in Ayakoromo and Okirika on Wednesday.

The JTF had on Tuesday declared Togo wanted and warned people habouring him to turn him in to avoid being caught in the crossfire with the ex-militants. When Togo could not be arrested, the JTF led by Major-General Charles Omoregie, reportedly overran suspected camps being operated by Togo on Wednesday.

Many of Togo’s boys were said to have sustained bullets wounds in the gun duel with the JTF forces.
“The soldiers burnt half of the town till nightfall on Wednesday and they resumed the burning this morning (Thursday).
“John Togo, an indigene of Ayakoromo used to work with Tompolo. He is not happy with amnesty programme and decided to be on his own,” the source stated.

Daily Sun source in Ayakoromo community maintained that there was a shootout between the JTF and John Togo boys on Wednesday. The JTF dislodged the ex-militants with its superior arms as they employed both aerial and land attacks during the operation. Meanwhile, reactions have continued to trail the attack with the member representing Burutu Constituency I in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Frank Enekorogha, the Ijaw Monitoring Group (IMG) and the traditional ruler of Ayakoromo community, His Royal Majesty Pere Bigborogha II (JP) Pere of Ngilebiri Mein Kingdom describing it as uncalled for.

Eneorogha said the Ayakoromo people were peace-loving and law-abiding and wondered why the JTF would direct its anger on the them. According to him, the Ayakoromo community and the JTF have been rubbing minds and fashioning ways to fish out the outlaw and unrepentant leader of the NDRF, John Togo. The lawmaker said it was unfair for JTF, which responsibility is to protect lives and property, to carry out the onslaught on Ayakoromo, a peaceful community.

“The question that bothers my mind was that, in the time past, John Togo and the JTF were dining together at the supposed camp named John Togo farm; but now they are visiting the sins of Togo on peace loving people,” he said.
Also, the traditional ruler of Ayakoromo community in his reaction in Kiagbodo said it was sad hearing that Ayakoromo community was under attack, with several persons killed and houses burnt down.

Bigborogha condemned militancy in its entirety and appealed to the JTF to withdraw their men from the community.
The royal father noted that in the world over, no one uses violence in resolving issues. Rather, they resort to the roundtable. He said those JTF have killed so far were all innocent people. He lamented that the action of the JTF was inhuman and appealed to the government to intervene in order not to wipe out the community.

The IMG in a statement signed by Comrade Andrew Elijah, the Chief of Staff to the National Coordinator, Comrade Joseph Evah, who is out of the country for medical check-up, described as “barbaric, lawless and outright terrorism against innocent Ijaw women and children” the JTF operations in Ayakoromo and surrounding communities.
The IMG said the recent JTF attacks in the area were not targeted at militants but against peace-loving Ijaws in Ayakoromo and villages around.

“The JTF mobilizing all the armed forces to bombard innocent villages in the name of looking for less that 20 militants clearly shows that JTF was only playing to the gallery to convince the oil companies and other sponsors to retain them in the region.

“We want the world to ask JTF how arms returned to militants and how did less than 20 young men regroup after accepting amnesty without the knowledge of military intelligence or SSS? What is the work of the intelligence arm of the JTF? Are Ijaw villagers suffering like the Iraqis because JTF wants to prove a point for the Federal Government and oil companies to continue to spend over $500 millions every year to maintain them instead of using such money to develop the region and bring permanent peace to our homeland?”

The group urged the United Nations to investigate the special security outfit in the Niger Delta to know the level of innocent people killed and property destroyed as well as order JTF to spend further genocide in the Ayakoromo area.
“We have not seen military men sacking communities along Lagos- Ibadan expressway because of the criminal activities of few individuals. The UN and international community should not allow JTF to use this barbaric act to justify the huge billions of naira wasted on the unconstitutional outfit,” IMG stated.

But in a swift reaction yesterday, spokesman for the JTF, Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Antigha, denied allegations that the taskforce had commenced a massacre in the two communities. “These militants who the troops are searching for have just embarked on a cheap blackmail in order to paint the force black before well-meaning Nigerians,” he told Daily Sun on phone.

He explained that there was no way the JTF would go out of its operational directives to carry out massacre on innocent Nigerians who lived in the villages around the camps of the militant leader. “The blackmail is being carried out by criminals in the area who do not want the JTF to achieve its objectives. We never carried out such massacre; those who were killed so far are mainly criminals. Why should the JTF embark on such massacre? These people are Nigerians and there is no need for massacre of innocent civilians because the operation was carried out in broad daylight. We saw where we were going and we know where we were going.

“We have placed intelligence on the fleeing John Togo for over one year and we planned the operation for one month. So we could not have made such mistakes of killing innocent Nigerians or descending on a whole village,” he stressed.
Colonel Antigha who vowed that the JTT would apprehend John Togo, reminded critics of recent warning by Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Oluseyi Petinrin to residents of the communities located around the camp of the militants to relocate to avoid collateral damage.

Colonel Antigha had in a statement on Wednesday said: “As part of the ongoing operation to eliminate criminal gangs from the Niger Delta, troops of the Joint Military Task Force, Operation Restore Hope, at about 4pm Nigerian time seized the notorious John Togo’s camps located at Ayakoromo and Okirika, Delta State. The operation which lasted about an hour was undertaken by combined force of all JTF components.”


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/dec/03/national-03-12-2010-001.htm

A Peoples Democratic Party presidential aspirant, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has unfolded a five-point programme, which he intends to implement if elected president in 2011.



The former vice-president, in a policy document issued on Thursday, said his administration would concentrate on the five areas that would “unleash the potential inherent in the Nigerian economy.” Abubakar listed the five areas as employment generation and wealth creation, power generation and infrastructure development, education and social services, law and order, good governance and the war against corruption as well as the Niger Delta.



He admitted that administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration “witnessed a modest turnaround in Nigeria’s economy.” The former vice-president said the Obasanjo administration introduced some policies that had the potential of accelerating Nigeria’s economic growth.



Among such initiatives of the Obasanjo administration were pension fund reform, better fiscal management and institutionalisation of due process procurement mechanism, he noted, adding that the benefits of the growth were “generally perceived to be primarily limited to the upper strata of the society.”



Factors militating against the economic recovery of the country are inadequate and decaying infrastructure, a weak real sector, insecurity and low purchasing power of Nigeria, he noted.



“Rising income inequalities coupled with concentration of the benefits of economic growth within a tiny minority have led to reduced support for the economic reform efforts of the government. It is critical that the next government makes a determined effort to build upon the successes recorded in recent years and ensurea that the ‘dividends of democracy’ are enjoyed by the totality of Nigerians,” the aspirant said.



Abubakar promised that within 12 months of his administration, “there must be some immediately discernible and tangible benefits to Nigerians.” According to him, his policy on job creation will, among others, develop entrepreneurs through high impact job creation initiatives.



He vowed that he would encourage infrastructure development that would engage many Nigerians. Abubakar stated that industrial activity would be revived as a fallout of the improved infrastructure.



On the power sector, he said his administration would place emphasis on “independent and effective economic and technical regulation to attract private sector participation and investment while concomitantly protecting the public interest.” He described the Nigerian transport system as primarily ‘unimodal,’ with the result that over “90 per cent of freight and passengers move by road.”



Abubakar said his administration would place emphasise on “intermodalism – characterised by coordinated planning and building of transport infrastructure; seamless operations (road/rail/air/road); efficient infrastructural and operational linkages; and modal choice.” He also promised to carry out a comprehensive reform of criminal justice system in the country.



He said, “In this regard, the issue of sanctions is paramount. Notwithstanding the fact that they have a significant influence over the people’s behaviour, sanctions have been largely absent in Nigerian public life.



“Both the executive and the legislature must provide examples to the public. The example must come from the top. The existing system is largely dysfunctional. The next government shall explicitly make a commitment to always obey court orders.”



He also said that the transformation of the Niger Delta required collaboration involving the federal, state and local governments.



Abubakar stated that government must ensure that no child was left uneducated, adding, “The state has a duty (due to the intrinsic value; benefits to society etc) to provide basic education to individuals up to the age of 16.”


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201012033464439

The General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, and Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, will on Saturday (tomorrow) attend the launch of a N50m Endowment Fund and thanksgiving service in commemoration of 50 years of the graduation of the 1956/60 Old Students set of Ilesa Grammar School, Ilesa, Osun State.



A statement on Thursday by the President of the Golden Jubilee set, Chief Tunde Olojo, and a former Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Wale Omole, said Adeboye, a member of the set, would deliver a sermon on the occasion. The Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, Oba Adekunle Aramolaran, who is the father of the day will lead other obas and chiefs to the event.




Link;http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20101203247993

There was a dramatic twist to the scheduled appearance of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, before the House of Representatives on Thursday, as lawmakers backed down.Sanusi had been summoned to appear before the House in plenary to defend his statement that 25 per cent of Nigeria’s annual total overhead cost was spent on lawmakers.



But on Thursday, rather than admit Sanusi into its chamber as planned, the lawmakers resolved to refer him to the committees on finance, appropriation, banking/currency and drugs/narcotics/financial crimes.



The committees were mandated to hear the CBN governor and forward a report to the House before December 11.



The U-turn took place after Sanusi, who arrived at the National Assembly about 9.45am, had waited for over one and a half hours in the office of the Clerk of the House, Mr. Sani Omolori.



The sitting of the House, which was fixed for 10am, did not start until 11am. Sanusi‘s case was mentioned by the presiding Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Usman Nafada, at about 11.25am.



Signs of the drama that the day held emerged as soon as Nafada and other principal officers arrived in chamber for the commencement of the day‘s proceedings.



There was anxiety in the chamber as lawmakers moved from row to row, discussing in groups.



Rather than kick-starting the proceedings, Nafada invited at least six lawmakers and the Clerk for a brief meeting.



Those Nafada discussed with were the Chief Whip, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha; the Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, Mr. Ita Enang; the Chairman of the Committee on Finance, Mr. John Enoh; the Chairman of the Committee on Banking/Currency, Mr. Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi; and the Chairman of the Committee on Gas Resources, Mr. Igochukwu Aguma.



After the short meeting, the session started formally. Nafada asked the Majority Leader, Mr. Tunde Akogun, to move a motion to usher Sanusi into the chamber.



As Akogun made to move the motion, Aguma interrupted him by raising a ”counter motion.”



When the floor was yielded to him, Aguma looked at the Order Paper of the day and claimed that since there were “more important issues” there was no need to admit Sanusi as earlier scheduled.



He added that the House had also confirmed “this (Thursday) morning” that only 13.8 per cent and not 25 per cent of the recurrent budget was spent on lawmakers.



The lawmaker was not explicit on who confirmed the figure he quoted.



Aguma went on to suggest that Sanusi should be referred to the committees where the issues at stake would be better addressed as against appearing before the entire House.



Just as Nafada was to rule on Aguma‘s motion, Enang interjected by reminding the House that there was no provision for counter motions on the Standing Orders and Rules of the House.



He explained that the only alternative was for Akogun to withdraw his motion for Aguma‘s to be admitted.



Nafada deferred to Enang‘s argument, following which Akogun formally withdrew the motion to invite Sanusi to the chamber.



He was seconded by Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha.



With the development, the House upheld in a majority voice vote to refer Sanusi to the committees.



At the lobby of the National Assembly, Sanusi, who was crowded by some of his aides said, “I will come back.”



He tried to flee from journalists, who chased him right to the entrance of the lobby, seeking for further comments.



He was then ambushed and stopped from entering his vehicle until he had offered a few more words.



He said, ”There is nothing to say; it will be disrespectful to the House to speak on an issue that has been referred to a committee.



“I will come back on Monday; thank you all.”



Meanwhile, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties has said that the current set of lawmakers have turned the National Assembly into a ‘trade centre.’



The National Publicity Secretary of the CNPP, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, in an email on Thursday, advised the lawmakers to focus on how to reduce their jumbo pay and allowances rather than haunting Sanusi



Okechukwu was reacting to the National Assembly’s invitation to the CBN governor over his comment.



He said that Sanusi did not say anything new about the huge amount of money being spent on lawmakers.



He challenged them to prove to Nigerians that their salaries were in accordance with the “emolument and allowances benchmark prescribed by the Federal Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.”



Similarly, the National Publicity Secretary of the Afenifere Renewal Group, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, challenged the National Assembly members to disclose their income to justify their claim that the CBN governor was wrong.



He said that before Sanusi’s comment, Nigerians had complained in bitter terms about the disparity between the salary of elected public office holders and others.



He called on Nigerians to take the issue very seriously because of its negative impact to the nation.



The Congress for Progressive Change has also called on the National Assembly to publish, in details, facts concerning the basic salaries and allowances of its members.



On Thursday, the CPC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Aghanya Dennis, said, “This observation has become very necessary in view of the recent summoning of the CBN governor by the Senate to explain his claims that 25 per cent of overhead of the government’s revenue is spent on the National Assembly.”



The statement noted that constituted authorities should be allowed to function without any form of intimidation from any arm of government.



“Instead of summoning him in the usual manner of the National Assembly, his office should have been simply asked to forward its records to substantiate his claims,” the statement added.



The party further called on Nigerians “not to be intimidated by the incessant summoning by the National Assembly as they were selected to represent us” .



It noted, however, that one of the ways “the members can be effective in the discharge of their functions was through such observations like that of the Sanusi.”



“By our understanding, the National Assembly has housing, furniture, car, sitting, travelling, and wardrobe etc allowances. These are the things Nigerians want to have detailed knowledge of,” it said.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201012032293256

Reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has launched an investigation into the 2009 rerun election in Ekiti State has been applauded by Nuhu Ribadu, an Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) presidential aspirant.

Mr. Ribadu said in Abuja yesterday that monitoring INEC officials will ensure free and fair elections in the country.

“It is the right step in the right direction. The only way to ensure free and fair election is when you have a system in place to check the excesses of all officers,” he said.

Over the weekend, a national daily reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the leadership of Attahiru Jega, has concluded plans to begin probing the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in charge of Ekiti state at the time of the elections, Ayoka Adebayo. According to the report, INEC had set up a three man committee to begin this probe as a first step to cleaning its house in preparation for the upcoming 2011 Elections.

Protect your vote

The results of the controversial April 2009 rerun elections in Ekiti State were widely believed to be a result of coercion. Six months later, the results which saw Segun Oni of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) returned as Ekiti State governor were upturned and Kayode Fayemi of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was sworn in as the new governor of the state.

Referring to the upcoming 2011 elections, Mr. Ribadu, the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), urged Nigerians to resist voters’ intimidation.

“Stand up against intimidation, protect your vote, and do what is right,” Mr. Ribadu said.

Meanwhile, the presidential bid of the former anti-graft boss has been endorsed by the youth wing of the Ohaneze Nd’Igbo, the World Igbo Youth Congress (WIYC). The group, led by Ronald Okechukwu, paid a courtesy visit to Mr. Ribadu in his campaign office in Abuja yesterday assuring him of their support.

“There must be a 360-degree deviation from ‘Chop - I - Chop’ stance by Nigerian political gladiators for Nigeria to really move forward. Without fear of contradiction, I want to say that Nigeria is in dire need of an emancipator that can save her from the current state of abject penury,” Mr. Okechukwu said.


http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5647537-147/ribadu_supports_jegas_probe_committee_.csp

Mr. Atiku is simply NOT electable. The US Senate 330-page Report released in February 2010 cites how US$2.8 million of Siemens AG bribe was wired to three accounts held by Atiku's fourth wife, Jennifer Douglas Atiku. Siemens AG also acknowledged publicly, also quoted in the report, that they, in addition, made cash payments of about US$2 million to Jennifer on behalf of Atiku. Jennifer's response when interviewed by the US Senate Sub-committee was that she had no knowledge of the source of the transfers and payments and only assumed they were coming from her husband (Mr. Atiku). Fellow Nigerians, Atiku, said he has not been corrupt as per the interview published by 234NEXT.com yesterday. I shall suggest to all well-meaning Nigerians and Editors of Nigerian newspapers to read pages 173 to 195 of the Report. Is this man who is so steeped in corruption that Nigerians want to foist as their President in 2011? Personally, I cannot allow such a person to be my President. If this ever happens, Tufiakwa, I shall take the United States citizenship immediately and send my Nigeria's passport to Atiku. He can then go to the loo with it if he so desires.

Obasanjo is comical says Atiku Campaign Organisation *Makes new appointments By Festus Owete November 29, 2010 Ben Obi had barely been formally named the campaign chief for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar before he aimed a few salvos in the direction of the man everyone loves to hate, Mr. Abubakar’s estranged former boss, Olusegun Obasanjo. Mr. Obasanjo, who was president when Mr. Abubakar served unhappily as his deputy, is little more than a jester, Mr. Obi said Monday at a news conference in Abuja, in response to Mr. Obasanjo’s stated reaction to news that his former deputy had emerged as the “consensus” candidate for the North. Mr Obasanjo had last Thursday laughed off the selection of Mr. Abubakar while talking to reporters in Abuja. Asked to respond to the news, the former president had simply said, in pidgin, “I dey laugh.” “We look at him and said the man is always comical with his comments,” Mr Obi said. “We don’t need to engage him, we don’t intend to engage him in matters of that nature.” Mr Obi, a former senator, also dismissed suggestions that the former vice president will face challenges to his membership in the PDP, as indicated at the weekend by the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio. He described Mr Akpabio as a busybody who should not be taken seriously since he is neither the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nor its spokesman. “I am happy you refer to him (Akpabio) as Akwa Ibom State governor and not the chairman of the PDP. He does not double as the spokesman of the PDP. That is a busybody,” Mr Obi said. Mr Obi will run an Atiku campaign that has just absorbed the campaign organisations of his three other rivals, all from the political North, who have agreed to step down for him. These were former military strongman Ibrahim Babangida, the former national security adviser Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, and the governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki. Mr. Obi said the Atiku campaign also has appointed several officials from the erswhile rival campaigns. These include Chris Mammah, who will serve as principal spokesman for the campaignand Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim, who will run campaign operations.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5647446-146/obasanjo_is_comical_says_atiku_campaign.csp

The Senate on Monday described the allegations by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi, that the National Assembly consumes 25 per cent of the national budget, as baseless and unfounded.



Sanusi had alleged that 25 per cent of the recurrent overhead of the budget of the Federal Government was used to fund the National Assembly.



Spokesman for the Senate, Senator Ayogu Eze, said that the 25 per cent figure as supposed by Sanusi was misleading, as the National Assembly only got 3.5 per cent of the 2010 budget.



He said, “I want to state categorically that that is not true. The total budget figure for the year 2010 as amended is N4,427,184, 596,534. That is the entire budget of the federation. And the entire budget of the National Assembly, including the Senate, the House of Reps, the National Assembly Service Commission, our legislative aides and all the entire current and capital expenditure for the year 2010 is N158,916,167,627.



“If you reduce this to mathematics, what we have is N4.427tn for the entire federation and what the National Assembly get is N0.158tn which is 3.5 per cent of the entire budget of the federation. So where did the mathematics of the 25 per cent come from?



“I think that this is not only mischievous, it is calculated to tarnish the image and reputation of the National Assembly, and it is part of the orchestrated assault, verbal and sometime physical, against the National Assembly by some misinformed and some people who do not wish the National Assembly well, otherwise I do not see how that kind of figure can be bandied about by the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, if it is true that he said so.”



Eze noted that the reports credited to Sanusi portrayed the legislature as having crippled the economy, adding that the statement was embarrassing and directed towards dragging down the institution of the legislature.



He said, “This is pure fallacy. I do not know where this fabrication is coming from and he did say that the National Assembly has taken 25 per cent of all the overhead cost. And I want to state that the total overhead cost of the federation is N2,137,574,700,030.



“So even if you look at the whole budget of the National Assembly as a percentage of the entire recurrent of the federation, you cannot get 25 per cent no matter how you push this figure.



“My instinct is to believe that the governor of the Central Bank was misquoted and if he is not misquoted, we expect that he should retract this very fallacious and very damaging report with an apology because he does not have a foundation in facts.”






http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201011302415615

The Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation on Monday described Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, as ‘a busybody.’



The Director-General of the organisation, Senator Ben Obi, told newsmen in Abuja that the governor was not in a position to comment on the waiver granted him by the National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party to contest the party’s presidential primaries.



Akpabio had said on Sunday in Abuja on Sunday that the PDP might set a screening committee to look into the waiver granted him by the PDP NWC.



But Obi said Akpabio should not be taken seriously. He said it was unfortunate that rather than face the numerous challenges in his state, Akpabio had chosen to dabble into an issue that did not concern him.



Obi said, “Akpabio is not the chairman of the PDP. When he is appointed the spokesperson of the PDP, then we will take him seriously.



“For a man to say that somebody who fought for the enthronement of democracy, who stood against tenure elongation, is not marketable, then such comment is unfortunate.”



Obi described Abubakar as the best choice for the presidency.



He said, “On record, he is the most maliciously investigated political leader in history alive today; yet his integrity and honour remain unscathed.”



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201011300474696