₦airaland Forum

It was very unfortunate that Eng Segun Oni was imposed on Ekiti people.This was the main reason why his government failed to meet the expectations of the indigines.However, I’ll like to commend his efforts as regards the close monitoring of the state’s revenue collectors. It is a pity that some of these rogues were celebrating his exit because they felt that might pave way for their “freedom” since some of them are already under probe and close watch.Gov. pls a stich in time saves nine.

EKITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi on Sunday gave a hint that he might probe the administration of Mr. Segun Oni, who was removed last Friday by the Court of Appeal, Ilorin.



Fayemi, who spoke at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Ado-Ekiti during a thanksgiving service on Sunday, said that he inherited infrastructure that were virtually comatose, but assured the people that efforts would be made to impact their lives within the possible time.



The governor who spoke in Yoruba said that although his administration would not be vindictive, “no sinner would go unpunished but God will give us the wisdom to do that.”



Fayemi acknowledged the support of the people saying, “Endurance and perseverance pay. There is a lot of work to be done in the state and I am not a magician but we will do everything to make our people smile. I will keep the promise I made with our people.”



He stated that the essence of the struggle against bad government was to serve the people who had been impoverished.



The church service was attended by Fayemi’s supporters and dignitaries that included a Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant, Prof. Adesegun Ojo.



After the service, the governor, in a short interview with journalists, said that he would soon announce the names of persons that would form his cabinet.



According to him, “Appointments will soon come.”



Earlier during the service, the Bishop of Ekiti Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye had urged the governor not to regard anyone as his enemy.



Ajakaye who gave Fayemi’s victory to the people’s resilience against tyranny, urged them to support their governor.



The cleric said, “Remember that you are not the governor of the Action Congress of Nigeria alone. Don’t see anybody as your enemy.”



Ajakaye said that rigging had now become a taboo in the state, saying Fayemi’s victory had confirmed that the people would never allow an impostor to lord it over them.



He warned him against relying on any godfather but to seek direction from God.



According to the cleric, “This victory teaches us that there is no legitimate mission that cannot be accomplished. Do not try to please everybody. That is the only way you can achieve your eight-point agenda.”



Meanwhile, Fayemi has denied media reports (not THE PUNCH) that he had demoted Permanent Secretaries in the state civil service.



A statement from the governor’s office on Sunday e-mailed to THE PUNCH, said Fayemi was misrepresented in the said report.



He clarified that what he did in his inaugural speech was to emphasise the government’s decision to review some recent promotions.



“There is no where in the entire inaugural address where such a statement was made, purportedly suggesting or insinuating the demotion of any Permanent Secretary. Rather, the Governor only emphasised the government‘s decision to review some recent promotions and otherwise as they affect the position of Permanent Secretaries in the civil service from May 28, 2009.



“Government wishes to state that the Ekiti State Government under Governor Fayemi will be civil-servant-friendly and shall not do anything to jeopardise or truncate its structure as it holds the civil servants as critical stakeholders in the development of Ekiti State.



“However, the State Government commends the media for the adequate support it has been giving to Ekiti State even at the time of her political troubles. Government calls on the media to further join hands with Fayemi‘s administration to achieve the desired development for the once beleaguered state.”


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201010183572910

First inland bank plc, stop bragging just go ahead with the rule and the law of the land

First Inland Bank Plc has began moves to sell property belonging to a former governor of Enugu State, Senator Jim Nwobodo for failing to settle a N258,350,421.34 loan.



According to documents in the possession of The Punch, the bank had granted Nwobodo’s company, E.M. Micheletti & Sons Nigeria Limited, loans totalling N200m l between 2008-2009 at 18 per cent interest per annum.



The loan sum plus interest is put at N258, 350, 421.34 as at June 25, 2010.



Following the failure to repay the loans, the creditor has threatened to sell Nwobodo’s property at 8, Okpara Avenue and 59, Park Lane Avenue, Enugu, w hich he mortgaged to bank for the loan.



When contacted for his reaction to the development,Nwobodo did not deny that his company was indebted to the bank. He told our correspondent that he would take up the matter with the Managing Director of First Inland bank .



“I was actually out of the country; I just came in and I was confronted with this. I am taking up the matter with the bank MD and by next week, everything will be settled. It is not an issue we should be discussing over the telephone, but I can tell you we are working towards settling it,” he said.



Nwobodo had sought for a N100m loan in February 28, 2009 for the re-opening of Savannah Bank Plc following the Appeal Court judgment of February 5 which ruled that the Federal Government had no right to shut down the bank and the decision of both the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation to formally hand over the beleaguered bank to him.



In a letter to the Managing Director of Finbank, signed by the former governor and the Secretary to Micheletti & Sons, Eugene Okebugwu, the Savannah Bank Chairman had promised to repay the loan within 18 months or as soon as the CBN and the NDIC pay awarded damages to Savannah Bank.



He offered his property at Park Avenue, GRA, Enugu valued at N200m as collateral for the facility.



The former governor went further to sign a guarantee and indemnity to Finbank on behalf of Micheletti on July 1, 2008 in which he pledged to pay N150 million and also consented that “until the ultimate balance owing to the bank has been paid or satisfied in full, the bank shall have a lien on all property or assets belonging to me from time to time in the possession of and a charge over all stocks, shares and marketable or other securities from time to time registered in the name of the bank or its nominees whether the same be held for safe custody or otherwise.”



However, after writing series of letters and holding meetings with the politician to get him to settle the debts without success, the bank engaged the services of a law firm (recovery agents) to get its money from Nwobodo.



A letter addressed to the former governor by the law firm of Ugwu Anichi & Co, dated September 23, 2010 said Nwobodo had failed to fulfill the personal guarantees he gave to repay the debts.



The letter signed by Okenna Nnaji and Gospel Adam, said the bank would commence court proceedings against him , for him to be declared bankrupt in line with Sections 1 (a) (ii) (e), 4 and 7 of the Bankruptcy Act to enable it recover its money by force of law,



“As you well know, both the 1999 constitution and the Bankruptcy Act expressly prohibit a certified bankrupt from holding any office in the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the letter stated.





http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201010182571940

Babangida ,Adamu Ciroma , Aliyu Gusau , Atiku and Bukola saraki should find somewhere to hide their face . Nigerians are tired of seeing your names that you are contesting . I dont even know what EFCC is doing , ’cos these were some of leaders that spoiled this great nation. If you guys think you have gathered the whole wealth in this world and you can do and on do, you are deceiving yourselves , inshal allah you will not go unpunished . The wrath of God shall descend on you all. You UNSHAMEFUL

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Dr. Bukola Saraki and two other presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party from the North on Sunday said the committee saddled with the responsibility of producing a consensus candidate among them was still meeting.



Other members of the group are a former military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.) and a former National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu Gusau (retd.).



They said in a joint statement by their directors of campaign that there was no iota of truth in newspaper reports that the Mallam Adamu Ciroma-led committee was having problems arriving at who to pick among them.



Those who signed the statement are Udenta O. Udenta, Chris Mammah, Chief Dr. Raymond Dokpesi and Sen. Ben Obi.



They claimed the intention of the reports was to create disharmony among the various campaign organisations and distract the Committee charged with the task of selecting a consensus presidential candidate from discharging its responsibility.



They said, “The committee charged with the onerous duty of selecting and adopting a consensus candidate is working diligently and assiduously to complete its assignment.



“We collectively reiterate that the committee enjoys the confidence and support of the four presidential aspirants and their various campaign organisations as well as the confidence and support of well meaning Nigerians nation-wide!



“The four presidential aspirants who we represent are irrevocably and irreversibly committed to the process that will throw up a single presidential candidate and are fully briefed by the committee on the progress of its task.



They said all the aspirants would not only accept the decision reached by the committee but would also collectively work towards the emergence of the PDP flag bearer.



“It is necessary that we emphasize that the philosophy behind the idea of a consensus candidate is designed to reinforce the key ingredients of our national unity and stability, democratic governance and the right of our citizenry to freely express their preferred choice,” they added.



Meanwhile, former military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, on Sunday said that the Peoples Democratic Party’s consensus candidate of the North would emerge very soon.



According to Babangida, who spoke at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos the four Northern candidates contesting under the platform of the PDP had agreed to go by the decision of a committee of northern elders set up to select a consensus candidate.



He said, “The four of us agreed that for best sign of statesmanship, we will support whoever comes up. And we have those who have earned unimpeachable integrity, those you call the committee of wise men or committee of elders, to choose a candidate for us.



“They (the committee members) are as far I am concerned, have served this country than everyone of us; they are not corrupt, have unimpeachable integrity, and any other person will go by their sound judgement of whatever they come out with because of who they are.”



Babangida said that he would be ready to step down if the decision of the committee failed to favour him.



The former military leader, who argued that the Northern aspirants from PDP were not candidates of the North but Nigeria, said the decision followed PDP’s failure to honour the zoning arrangement.



According to him, “The party signed that political office of president should be zoned, and all we are asking for is a simple thing-let the party’s rule and regulations be followed, where it is not followed then you go through the same process of convention and jettison that rule.”



Babangida stressed that zoning had been on since 1979, and argued that it had helped to stabilise the nation’s polity.



He said the idea of zoning came because parties wanted to attract more people to join them.



Also, Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said he fully supports ongoing move by northern leaders to have a consensus candidate on the platform of the PDP in the 2011 presidential election.



Atiku who was addressing party supporters and delegates in Kaduna said having a single candidate from the region would demonstrate their seriousness. ”I am not against consensus candidate. I am fully in support of it. What I don‘t like are such undemocratic terminologies as ”automatic ticket”, ”voting by acclamation”, ”right of first refusal” and ”caucus voting”, Atiku said.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201010183114362

God bless President Jonathan. Nigeria must survive as a Nation of equals, and the people who have made it a career to loot public funds through politics must be screened out of the system. Politics should not be about winning at all cost, it should be about service to the Nation. May the Force be with you President Goodluck Jonathan .

President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed the hope that credible leaders that would transform Nigeria and make life more meaningful for the citizenry will emerge from the 2011 elections.



Jonathan stated this at a civic reception organised for him in Owerri, Imo State, on Saturday, during his two-day official visit to the state, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.



“For me, this election is about overcoming the challenges facing us as a nation, such as the effective management of our God-given resources so as to improve the living standard of all Nigerians.



“The election must set agenda that defeats poverty and abolish illiteracy,” the president said.



He said the election must not be characterised by bickering and bitterness, adding, “At 50, we know what is good for our country and what is not.‘‘



The president said, “The Nigeria of my dream is a place where all parts is an equal partaker in the enjoyment of the fruit of our collective toil.



“The new political direction must lay emphasis on the progress of the nation rather than individual, sectional or the comfort of special interest.”



He charged politicians in the country to eschew acts that could smear the integrity of the electoral process.



“Our people must demand for a transparent electoral process and internal democracy within the political parties so that only men and women of character are presented to represent the people,” he said.



The president expressed his commitment to “providing the needed leadership in word and action toward ensuring electoral justice as well as a credible, free and fair election.”



“I insist on one man, one vote,” he said, adding that “my action so far points to the fulfillment of my vow to ensure the sanctity of the ballot as the most credible way of selecting our leaders.”



He said the appointment of a credible Independent National Electoral Commission chairman and non-partisan members were steps designed to ensure the impartiality of the commission in the conduct of the polls.



“I have also given full support to the commission to ensure the conduct of free and fair election and I keep away from interfering in the process,” he said.



He enjoined all those involved in the process to ensure that the polls were concluded before the end of April, to ensure that the May 29 handover date would not be tampered with.



In his speech, Gov. Ikedi Ohakim, decried the politics of bitterness and acrimony in the state and appealed to the president to immediately wade into the issue.



Ohakim thanked the president for his concern toward tackling the erosion problem in the South East but decried what he referred to as “the shoddy execution of federal government’s projects in the state.”


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201010182315412

The hope of Samson Siasia landing the job of tinkering the Super Eagles is not lost as the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) insists it will satisfy the yearnings of Nigerians by offering him the job.

NFA’s Assistant General Secretary (Technical), Mr. James Peters, told Daily Sunsports that Siasia is still in reckoning for the job of managing the senior national team, but that the final decision to offer him the job will be left for the board to take.

He said the management would still recommend Siasia for the job because of his antecedent and also because Nigerians were rooting for him to take over the Super Eagles having made impact at both the World Youth Championship with Flying Eagles and national Under-23 at the Beijing Olympics.

“At a point, we were beginning to consider Austin Eguavoen for the job after negotiations between Siasia and the former NFA board were deadlocked over wages but the match in Conakry against Guinea has changed all that and Siasia is back to reckoning. But then, he has to take what the federation has to offer him and not the other way round.

“Siasia will get the job by popular demand but then, he should brace up as managing the Super Eagles is a different ball game from handling the age grade teams. He has not been quite successful with some senior clubs he had handled before, so he must brace up for the big task. “I will recommend him for the job ahead of any other coach now but he has to agree to the conditions of the NFA and not him giving the conditions. He stands the best chance for now except the board decide to go for a foreign coach.

“As I said earlier, the board has the final say on who will be the next Eagles’ coach” he said.
It will be recalled that Samson Siasia’ demand of N15 million as salary and a sign on fee of one million USD stalled his being signed in July but after the NFA00 elections, the idea to contract him was jettisoned and the job was thrown open for other coaches to apply.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/sports/2010/oct/18/sports-18-10-2010-001.htm

Lets see what will happen !

Details of the involvement of the special assistant to former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Mr. Bodunde Adeyanju, who is standing trial before an Abuja Federal High Court on a six-count charge over the $180 million bribery Halliburton scandal have emerged.

Available records in the possession of Daily Sun indicated that Mr. Adeyanju had, in a confessional statement to the Police, claimed that sometime around 2002/2003, when the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in crisis, he approached Mr. Gaius Obaseki amongst other people for financial assistance for the party.

Bodunde, who was arraigned by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and granted bail in the sum of N1 million by the court had, in the confessional statement dated June 22, 2009, admitted before the Police that he collected monies in three instalments of $2million, $1 million and $1million US dollars respectively, adding however, that other disbursements were delivered to Alhaji Lawan Batagarawa, the former minister of Integration and Cooperation in the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

Bodunde Adeyanju claimed to have been born in Ekiti in 1964 to Mrs. Elizabeth Adeyanju and late Mr. Lawrence Adeyanju. He added that he was a 1987 Sociology graduate from University of Lagos after which he did his National Youth Service. He later did his postgraduate programme in History in 1991 before working as a sales representative with a private firm and later joined the African Leadership Forum in 1994 as personal assistant to the former president Olusegun Obasanjo.

Bodunde, who pleaded not guilty before the court on the six-count charge, however, told the Police in his written confessional statement that he received the monies in three instalments on behalf of the ruling PDP which was facing financial difficulties, owing to the rift between the former president Olusegun Obasanjo and his deputy, Atiku Abubakar, that affected the funding of the party.

The Statement reads in part; “I Bodunde Adeyanju a Sociology graduate of the University of Lagos and an aide to former president was born in Ekiti State in 1964. My parents are Mrs. Elizabeth Adeyanju and late Lawrence Adeyanju. Having graduated in 1987 and after NYSC I worked in a consultancy outfit for nine years and later went back for the graduate programme in history in 1991. I worked briefly as a sales representative for Food Beverage Services Ltd. From there I moved to Obasanjo’s African Leadership Forum (NGO) in December 1994 as the personal Assistant to the former President till he came to the government in 1999. At the inception, I was his personal assistant up till 2003 when the portfolio was changed to SA.”

Bodunde said he was the personal assistant and later special assistant to former president Obasanjo but did not, however, state his position in the party either as a national officer or financier of the party that required his intervention in sourcing for funds for an insolvent party. However, he maintained that he collected the monies for the survival of the party and for the purpose of prosecuting election campaigns.

Part of Bodunde’s statement to the Police stated thus; “sometime around the year 2002/2003 when the party was in deep crisis, i.e. “PDP,” of fund, I approached Gaius Obaseki among others to help assist the party at that time of the crisis and at the first instance he did not but later after much talk and discussion which was about 3-4 weeks after we met….”
The special assistant to the former President, however, claimed that he not know Halliburton and that he did not carry out any business with them. He equally denied having any contact with anybody working with the company, stressing that all he collected was for the party through the assistance of Mr. Gaius Obaseki, whom, he insisted, called him on all the occasions to pick up the money.

“The total amount might be around $4-$6 million US dollars in two or three tranches in a briefcase. All what was collected was handed over to the party and on no occasion did I have any meeting with anybody on the issue,” Bodunde said.
Bodunde further said other prominent Nigerian businessmen (names withheld) were contacted to assist the party, adding that in all the transactions, his colleague, Mr. Andy Uba, who was also special assistant to former president Obasanjo, was kept abreast of every development even as he added that the said monies were collected by Alhaji Batagarawa for the party variously at Julius Berger office and Nicon (Hilton) Hotel.

In another statement to the Police dated 23/6/09, Bodunde said there was no witness between him and Batagarawa when he (Batagarawa) collected the money from him (Bodunde) since it was based on trust. He said Alhaji Batagarawa was a trusted and loyal party member during the crisis period.

Bodunde further said; “He (Batagarawa) was one of those to be trusted around us then.”
In his own separate confessional statement to the Police dated 23/06/09, a representative of Julius Berger Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mark George (a German), said when the company was approached by Mr. Gaius Obasaki to assist in funding the PDP, it turned down the request based on his company’s policy and legal advice not to donate money to a political party.
Mr. George, however, said he was later approached by Mr. Stockhausea, seeking the assistance of Julius Berger to provide logistic support to move funds, which did not belong to it to the PDP on the request of Mr. Obaseki, adding that after some thoughts and concerns, he accepted to assist as a way of supporting the democratic process in Nigeria.

According to George’s statement to the Police; “In August 2002, a first transfer arrived in an account with Union Bank of one million USD. Subsequent transfers took place twice in January 2003 and April 2003 of 1 million USD.
“The total amount remitted added up to $5 million US dollars. I informed after every transfer Mr. Obaseki that an installment arrived.” (Sic)

George further said: “In February 2003, I was requested by Mr. Obaseki to provide and move some funds. I packed 1 million USD in a pilot suitcase, drove to Hilton Hotel, went to the room of Mr. Obaseki and met Mr. Obaseki and a representative of the PDP, whom I was told is Mr. Bodunde. I handed over the suitcase. I believe I mentioned the amount and left.

“This procedure, I executed three times myself, each 1 million USD. One handing over took place at the premises of JBN, when both persons arrived in the evening with a Jeep and loaded it with the equivalent of one million USD, amounting to 140 million Naira. One transaction in Naira-equivalent was executed on my request by Mr. Christ,” Mr. George said, stressing, however, that Julius Berger, as a company, was not involved in the Halliburton bribe scandal.

In his own two-page statement dated 30/06/09, former Minister of Integration and Cooperation, Alhaji Lawal Tukur Batagarawa, said he might have collected monies from Bodunde between 15 to 20 times, totalling about N30 million and not in dollars, adding that on one or two occasions, he asked his orderly, Wilson Osuagwu, or his Chief Detail, Usman Danlami, to go and collect the money.

Commenting on the source of the money, Batagarawa said all he knew was what Bodunde told him that Mr. Gaius Obaseki would talk to some friends to help the party, saying, however, that; “who these friends are or what interest they represent, I do not know. As such, to the best of my knowledge, the source of these funds I do not know.”
In his own statement to the Police, former Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Gaius Obaseki said he did not know what amount Mr. Adeyanju Bodunde ever collected from Mr. George of Julius Berger neither did he ever acknowledge receipt of such monies.

Mr. Bodunde is being charged with accepting cash payment of one million US dollars from Mr. George Mark between 2002 and 2003, contrary to section 1 and 15 [d] of the Money Laundering Act, 2004 which is punishable under section 15 [2] [b] of the Money Laundering Act, 2004.

The personal assistant to former President Obasanjo is also accused of accepting cash payment of N140 million from Mr. George Mark of Julius Berger Nigeria Limited thereby committed an offence contrary to Section1 and 15 [d] of the Money Laundering Act, 2004, which is punishable under Section 15 [2] [b] of the Money Laundering Act, 2004 in addition to another $500,000 US dollars from Mr. Hans George Christ between 2002 and 2003 thus committed an offence contrary to section1 and 15 [d] of the Money Laundering Act, 2004 also punishable under Section 15 [2] [b] of the Money Laundering Act, 2004.

The Federal Government had earlier withdrew charges against Julius Berger Plc over alleged complicity in the $ 180 million Halliburton bribery scandal based on a mutual agreement between the two parties even as the government seeks to file a civil action against Halliburton Corporation of the United States towards getting compensation and restitution.



http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/oct/18/national-18-10-2010-001.htm

No talk !

I think this is good for the south south people who insult northern leaders without any regard. If a northerner can initiate a process why should a south south man eliminate the process? this is just an assignment for all Nigerians

The Niger Delta peace process has suffered a setback with the withdrawal of Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, from the Aaron Initiative.



The initiative is a concept recommended by the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta as an alternative to the amnesty programme of the Federal Government.



The AI, which was headed by Soyinka on MEND’s recommendation, met about twice with former President Umaru Yar’Adua before his death in May 2010.



This was just as Vice-President Namadi Sambo on Thursday restated government’s determination to punish the culprits and sponsors of the October 1 twin car bomb blasts in Abuja, which claimed 12 lives.



Also on Thursday, a South African Magistrates’ court in Johannesburg turned down the request of the leader of the MEND, Mr. Henry Okah, for the court to strike out the charge of terrorism against him. The court also adjourned hearing in Okah’s bail application till Friday (today).



THE PUNCH had sent an SMS enquiry to Soyinka, asking about how MEND’s claim of responsibility for the attacks would affect the initiative.



But Soyinka, in a short SMS response on Wednesday, said he withdrew from the peace process before the twin car bombings.



He added that he had since July 2010 warned that he would pull out of the process because of lack of ‘seriousness’ in the negotiations.



Soyinka, however, did not say if the lack of seriousness was on the part of the Federal Government or MEND.



“Even before the Abuja bomb blasts, I had withdrawn from this initiative. I gave warning of this likelihood as far back as July, citing a lack of seriousness.



“I have since sent word that I had taken the decision to pull out,” the playwright said.



MEND which claimed responsibility for the Abuja bombings, has however, continued to flay the amnesty programme. It also said on Wednesday that the programme had failed to address the fundamental issues that caused the crisis in the Niger Delta.



The group’s spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, who responded to questions from THE PUNCH through an e-mail, said no key MEND members had embraced the amnesty programme.



Gbomo said that only the implementation of the Niger Delta Technical Committee headed by Mr. Ledum Mitee, would resolve the crises in the region.



When asked which of the presidential aspirants would best address the Niger Delta crisis, he said that three of them neglected opportunities to do something concrete about it in the past.



In apparent reference to President Goodluck Jonathan, who is one of the aspirants, Gbomo said, “One has the opportunity now but has done nothing significant.”



But he dismissed the allegation that MEND was bent on destabilising Jonathan’s administration, saying, “We have not done anything different.”



The interview with Gbomo reads in part:



What actually are the grievances of MEND against the amnesty programme of the Federal Government.?



The amnesty programme has not addressed the root issues tat led to the unrest in the first place. It has been hijacked by con men for a money making scheme and has become one big scam.



If key members of MEND have embraced it, why has your faction not embraced it?



No key member of MEND has embraced the amnesty. The only two persons were in the rank of commanders and that is not significant. There are no factions in the group.



In concrete terms, how can the problems be addressed?



It is simple. It first has to be tabled and addressed. The government is even avoiding the Ledum Mitee report and that is clearly an indication they are not willing to address this injustice.



How do you react to an allegation that the October 1 bombing was a betrayal of the Niger Deltans, who you are fighting for?



It was a golden opportunity to highlight the unresolved issues in the region and our objective was achieved.



Meanwhile, Sambo declared government’s determination to apprehend the bombers while receiving members of the national executive of the Nigerian Union of Journalists in his office. Sambo, according to a statement by his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Mallam Sani Usara, also said government had acquired tracking equipment for the police and other security agencies, as part of efforts to combat kidnapping in the country.



Sambo described the October 1 bombings as unfortunate, adding, that “Nigerians today are concerned about how do we create wealth, jobs and drive away poverty among our people, while others are fighting against these for their selfish interest.”



He said the tracking equipment and various other operational gadgets acquired by the government for the police, State Security Services and other agencies would soon be unveiled by President Goodluck Jonathan.



He also commended Nigerian journalists for support the government, saying no administration could succeed without working with the media.



Earlier, the leader of the delegation and National President of the NUJ, Malam Muhammadu Garba, said they were at the State House to felicitate with the government and people of Nigeria on the nation’s 50th Independence Anniversary. He also condemned the bomb attacks and urged the government and all security agencies to expose the perpetrators.



Okah, who was arrested in Johannesburg last Saturday in connection with the bomb attacks, is facing a two-count charge of engaging in terrorist activities, conspiracy to engage in terrorist activity and delivering, placing and detonating an explosive device.



The News Agency of Nigeria reports that when Okah appeared in the court on Thursday, his lawyer, Rudi Klause, urged the court to strike out the case as the prosecution had no written authority to prosecute the case. The request forced Magistrate Hein Louw to adjourn.



However, when the case resumed later on Thursday, the prosecution tendered the certificate to authorise prosecution, and Okah’s lawyer then applied for his bail. The Nigerian government opposed it, insisting that Okah was the mastermind of the October 1 bombings and a leader of MEND.



A letter from Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), was read by prosecution counsel, Mr. Shaun Abrahams. The prosecutor said Nigeria opposed the bail because it believed that Okah, in concert with others, was responsible for the explosions.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2010101514101323

Glory be to God this did not happen to her in Nigeria, she would have died even at the best of our hospitals because the butchers who call themselves doctors will not know what to do if they are around, or at worst, they will be on strike. God help Nigeria.Many of them who don’t know what to do have joined politics.SHAME TO A Nation and her professionals.

Canada athletics coach Carla Nicholls on Sunday played a critical role in saving the life of Nigerian long jumper Comfort Onyali, who suffered a seizure and collapsed at 60,000-seat Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi, India.



Nicholls and a television cameraman, both of whom were trained in first aid, eventually revived Onyali before she was taken away on a stretcher.



She was discharged from hospital without requiring an extended stay, although details of the diagnosis are not publicly known.



”I coached two medals and saved a life in one evening,‘‘ Nicholls told The Gazette on Tuesday in Delhi, India, shortly before beginning her journey back to Canada.



”I was standing on the track coaching when I felt a tap on my shoulder.



”I turned around and there was this young girl standing there, crying.‘‘



It was Onyali.



”She introduced herself and then gave me a big hug and thanked me,‘‘ Nicholls continued. ”Then her coach came and thanked me as well. That was kind of cool.‘‘



Nicholls was alerted to Onyali‘s situation by the cameraman - whose first name is Happy - when he began calling for help. Onyali had suffered a seizure and was not breathing.



Nicholls was able to open Onyali‘s airways by holding her jaw with both hands. The cameraman performed artificial respiration, which was required three times before Onyali‘s condition began to improve.





http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2010101513405826

Gov.obi has never done any reasonable thing in anambra state as far as am concerned,he is full of empty promises and big bgrammar. he has failed us as his successors did,please we did people like ngige to continue where he had stopped.

Anambra State Governor Peter Obi said in Awka, the state capital, on Thursday, that he would use the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the state on Friday (today) to showcase the decay of federal infrastructure in the state.



The governor said that the visit was not meant for celebration but an opportunity for the President to see Anambra State.



He said,“The visit will enable the president to see what we are doing and to listen to our problems with the view of assisting us.



“The visit will also afford him the opportunity to see the deplorable state of federal infrastructure in the State and we are confident he will be moved by what he will see.”



Obi said he was not keen on project inauguration, saying formal inauguration of completed projects were wasteful jamborees that should be discouraged.



The governor said this while inspecting some projects slated for inspection by President Goodluck Jonathan, on Friday during his visit.



“I am not against inauguration of projects, I do that sometimes, but all I am saying is that emphasis should be on execution of projects,” he said.



He explained that funds spent on inaugurating projects could be used to execute smaller utility projects.



Obi agued that though his government was constructing two giant pavilions at the Alex Ekwueme Square, the square was not available for inauguration.



He said the President would, however, inaugurate the more than 100 patrol vehicles for the police and formally distribute 6,000 laptops to some schools in Anambra State.



The governor also inspected the completed phases of the state secretariat, which his government started and completed.



He said there was nothing special about being the governor that built the first secretariat complex for the state because that was what the government ought to provide in the first place.



He however explained that the excitement that followed the execution of such projects was informed by the fact that those in position of authority who ought to have done such things failed in their duties.



Obi, who visited the new teaching hospital, the State Emergency Management Agency building and other sites the president is scheduled to visit, appealed to the people of Anambra State to come out en masse and welcome the president.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2010101514135237

An affiliate of the U.S. oil firm ExxonMobil, on Thursday said the motive behind the abduction of head of its staff school in Eket on Wednesday, was yet to be ascertained.



Gunmen, on Wednesday morning, abducted Mrs. Lakshmi Tombush, the Principal of Mobil Pegasus Schools in Eket, Akwa Ibom State.



MPN’s Executive Director, Mrs. Gloria Essien-Danner, according to News Agency of Nigeria reports, said in a statement that investigation into the incident was in progress.



Essien-Danner said, “Mobil Producing Nigeria, operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC / MPN Joint Venture, confirms that the Head of the Pegasus Schools supported by the company in Akwa Ibom State, has been reportedly abducted by unknown persons.



“The motive for the kidnap is yet to be ascertained.



“Relevant authorities have been notified of the situation and investigations into the incident are underway.”



Meanwhile, a NAN correspondent who visited the school on Thursday said it was closed following the incident. Heavy security presence was also noticeable.



Two policemen, one of them an escort attached to Tombush, and her driver, were shot dead during the incident.



Akwa Ibom Police Command spokesman, Onyeka Orji, said the police were on the trail of the gunmen who were yet to establish contact with anybody.



Tombush runs Mobil Pegasus Staff Schools, and a motherless babies’ home in Eket funded by Mobil Producing Nigeria, operator of the Qua Iboe Oil fields in Akwa Ibom State.an affiliate of the U.S. oil firm ExxonMobil, on Thursday said the motive behind the abduction of head of its staff school in Eket on Wednesday, was yet to be ascertained.



Gunmen, on Wednesday morning, abducted Mrs. Lakshmi Tombush, the Principal of Mobil Pegasus Schools in Eket, Akwa Ibom State.



MPN’s Executive Director, Mrs. Gloria Essien-Danner, according to News Agency of Nigeria reports, said in a statement that investigation into the incident was in progress.



Essien-Danner said, “Mobil Producing Nigeria, operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC / MPN Joint Venture, confirms that the Head of the Pegasus Schools supported by the company in Akwa Ibom State, has been reportedly abducted by unknown persons.



“The motive for the kidnap is yet to be ascertained.



“Relevant authorities have been notified of the situation and investigations into the incident are underway.”



Meanwhile, a NAN correspondent who visited the school on Thursday said it was closed following the incident. Heavy security presence was also noticeable.



Two policemen, one of them an escort attached to Tombush, and her driver, were shot dead during the incident.



Akwa Ibom Police Command spokesman, Onyeka Orji, said the police were on the trail of the gunmen who were yet to establish contact with anybody.



Tombush runs Mobil Pegasus Staff Schools, and a motherless babies’ home in Eket funded by Mobil Producing Nigeria, operator of the Qua Iboe Oil fields in Akwa Ibom State.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20101015141600

Alabo Timaya my brother, in dis life people will always talk about you when you are bing made, but dont mind them becouse you are blessed, i am happy to be one of your fan in port harcourt, as for President Dady Goodluck.jonathan, there is no two ways about it he is alredy there come 2011. God bless Nigeria.

Timaya, a musician, came to the spotlight about three years ago, but has since been greeted with many controversies. He talks about some of the scandals and why he is supporting Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 presidential election in this interview with ’NONYE BEN-NWANKWO



Somebody seeing you for the first time may not be able to reconcile the controversial Timaya and you as a person.



This is just me. I don‘t have a dual personality like most people think. Most people see me from different perspectives. A lot of people say Timaya is arrogant and they go ahead to say a lot of things. Entertainment is make-belief. We are all acting. Some people can go on stage and act as if they just snuffed cocaine, but they don‘t even drink alcohol. Some people may not be able to do what you are doing unless they get high. That doesn‘t mean that you too will always get high before you do that thing. The way I pose, especially in my album, gives people the impression that I am a bad boy. But I just like the look. I am not trying to paint myself white. I don‘t even want to present a good boy image. I am not cut out to impress anybody; there is nothing you do in this life that will please everybody. I like to live my life.



It is widely believed that you became arrogant as soon as your music became a hit.



I have always been like this. Nobody can say that I became arrogant when my music became a hit because they didn‘t know me before then. I am not arrogant.



Many even believe that apart from being arrogant, you are also rude.



In Nigeria, if you are outspoken, they will see you as being rude. Some blunt people are seen as bad people in the eyes of so many people. If you do anything to me that I don‘t like, I tell you to your face. I also expect you to do so to me if I do something you don‘t like.



It is a surprise that you speak good English.



Oh yes. I am, glad you mentioned it. Some people said Timaya can never speak a correct sentence, but when they listen to me, they get stunned. Because I sing, ‘Timaya don blow‘, that doesn‘t mean I cannot read or write. That is one thing about life.



It is just three years that you hit the spotlight and within these few years, a lot of negative stuff have been said and written about you. Do all these controversies get to you?



I used to feel bad because I wasn‘t used to such things. But now, I don‘t even mind going nude and snapping myself and putting the pictures in newspapers. It makes me more popular. People see me and they think there must be a rifle with me all the time. I just laugh. But then, if you try to kill me, I will kill you first. I can‘t wait for you to kill me and then you will go and serve a jail term.



We hear you are one of the artistes that are supporting President Goodluck Jonathan to become President in 2011. Is it because he is from Bayelsa like you?



He is a nice man. He is the best candidate. We are tired of old people ruling us. Let us try something different. I am not being tribalistic, but let us just try something else for a change. I like the steps he has taken so far.



Critics might also say you are supporting him because he has given you some money.



No way. I support him because he is the best so far. When US President Barak Obama was contesting, Pididy said, ‘Obama or I die.’ It didn‘t mean Obama gave him money. I will not lead my people in a wrong way. Nobody really knew about Bayelsa that much; I made people get to know Bayelsa. A lot of people have a wrong perception about Bayelsans. They think we are fighters and kidnappers. But I love Bayelsa. Chief Timipre Sylva is like a father to me. I have always said in my song, ‘whom God has blessed, let no man curse.’



Are you cooking something for Goodluck in the studios?



Of course. It is not out yet. I don‘t like rushing things; I am taking my time. But I am not doing this because he is my godfather or anything. I can‘t barge into his office because he is from Bayelsa. I am not a beggar. Goodluck Jonathan‘s elevation to the office where he is today is a practical show of divine intervention. If you move around the four corners of Nigeria, you will sense that beyond tribal sentiments and regional barriers, Nigerians have a renewed hope and faith in the leadership of Goodluck Jonathan.



As a Bayelsan, have you tried to disuade militants by spreading the message of the negative influence of militancy?



Everybody has their business. I don‘t tell people what to do. They know the right thing to do. If that is their own means of getting money, that is their business. I have sworn to God that I will never do anything bad. Everybody has his own lifestyle. If you live by the gun, you will die by the gun. Remember they are fighting for something; it is just that they are fighting for it in the wrong way.



We hear you are into rituals



People keep saying this. It is a good thing. In life, if people don‘t talk about you, that means you are nobody. If you achieve something significant in a short while, what people have been trying to achieve in a long while, it will amaze them. I hold onto God. I believe so much in God. He has everything, including life, good health and money. It is a prayer point in my life, the day I put my hands on anything fetish, let me die that day.



Why do you sing about yourself all the time?



Why should I sing about some other person? I am talking about myself and you are complaining. I don‘t know how to gossip. The story of my life will not finish because my life has not come to an end. Life must go on. I know I am inspiring a lot of people‘s lives. The God that did it for me can do it for you.



So most of your songs are true life experiences?



Yes. I sold plantain. I have every reason to sit down and thank God. There was a time N5 was like 1bn to me. Now, I have millions of N5. Sometimes, I just burst into tears because I now know that God is too much.



Was life that bad back then?



It was too bad. I didn‘t have anybody to help me out. My mother was a cleaner in the Niger Delta University.



Were you people that poor?



Not really. My father worked in the bank for years. He was a bank manager. But then later, things went bad. He became sick. It is better for you to be poor than for you to be rich and later you become poor. It is a terrible experience.



Did you decide to go into music when things became bad?



No. I have been singing right from the time I was in primary school. I knew then that music was my calling. But my father never liked the idea. He wanted me to be a banker. I was so close to my father. We were 15 in the family and I am the last born. He wanted me to be the banker in the family. But I didn‘t want that. I cannot be looking after someone else‘s money when I can make my own money. Before now, people felt that music was for the never-do-wells but now, they have come to realise that there is money in it. There is no country in this world that at least, one person will not know who I am.



When things were so bad, did you ever think that you will be a success one day?



I would have been surprised if I hadn‘t made it. I knew I was good and I believe in God. I wanted music to put food on my table. I didn‘t want to do any other thing that would distract me from my dream.



We learnt you were paid to perform in a show in London, but you refused to perform.



I was given part payment. He (the organiser) was actually supposed to pay me 75 per cent up front, but he begged and he paid 50 per cent, saying he would pay the balance when I got to London. I arrived on the day the show was scheduled to hold. He insisted I should come to the venue of the show and take my balance. I told him I wasn‘t going to do that. I just wanted to be professional, this is my job. He refused to pay my balance so I didn‘t bother going to the venue. He sent two hefty guys to come and force me to come for the show. Can you imagine? I just pushed them out of my way and went into my room and slept off. The following day, I bought my ticket and I came back home.



Some time ago, you used to pull off your pants after every performance; do you still do that?



It was one of the crazy things young men do; youthful exuberance. I can no longer do that. Everything has a stage. There was a time we used to wear blings and chains. Right now, we can‘t do that. You see us going on stage wearing suits.



Have you made up with Nicco Gravity who did a ‘diss‘ song with your name?



I don‘t know him. I don‘t think he is important. If he were important, I would have answered him. If it was somebody like Dbanj or 2Face or PSquare that sang about me, I would readily have answered back. Nico Gravity has no level at all. He has been there since the days of Daddy Showkey. I used to listen to his music then. One guy in Port Harcourt has done another song about me saying, ‘How can a friend betray a friend?‘ Now, I am his friend, see me. I have never been his friend. Well, he wanted to shine using my name. I am hot and I am happy about it.



We learnt you beat up a journalist the other day.



I have never done that. I only shouted at a journalist. I went for a show and I met this guy. A trained journalist would have first asked me how the show was and how I felt my performance was and questions relating to the show and organisers. But this guy just met me and said he wanted a quick interview. I agreed and the first question he asked was, ‘how is empress?’ I was so angry. Is that an issue? Was she the reason we came for the show? I looked at the guy and asked him if he had sense.



But a lot of people say you are a street fighter.



All the people saying this have not seen me fight one day. They say Timaya is rough, but you need to come out with proof. They said I went into a church to fight but they are yet to give me proof. Am I normal? So I no longer have the fear of God that I should enter a church and beat up a pastor? Camera phones still exist. People should have taken pictures when Timaya was beating up a pastor.



Would you allow your current relationship to be publicised like the last one you had with Empress?



The last one was publicised because she was a public figure. Anyway, she was a little bit popular. That was the problem. I never had a problem with the press until I went into that relationship.



Do you regret going into that relationship?



Big time! I have never regretted anything I had ever done in life except that relationship. It is one of those things. I have learnt my lessons, but I wished I learnt the lessons from another person. What caused the problem apart from hearsay? She would tell me she heard I was sleeping with this person or that person. But we all do the same thing.



Will you ever date or marry an actress again?



No way, unless she wants to quit acting.



Can‘t you quit for her?



No. I love my mother so much. Even if she tells me to stop music or she dies, I don‘t think I will quit. If I stop singing, I will die. It is not because of the money. Music gives me joy.



But is marriage on your to-do list?



The thought comes and goes. Sometimes I feel like marrying and other times, I don‘t even want it. Marriage is not something you jump into, you must be ready for it so as not to fall out of it. I know what I am talking about because I am from a polygamous family. The reason I am smart today is because I am the last born and I was close to my father before he died.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201010091275025

with all this i still give it to OBJ for he is far better than IBB !

Clark has seized to respect the culture of the elders, and has now choosed to join issues with chickens talking when his opinion is not required, and keeping mute when talking is needful.The essence of hoaring head is lost, may God help Edwin Clark, Amen.

South-South Leaders and Elders Forum has said it plans to meet in Abuja to take a stand on the bomb blast that marred the Independence Day celebration in the FCT last week.



The leader of the forum, Chief Edwin Clark, who described the explosion as an unfortunate incident stated that the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta which claimed responsibility for the attack, had ceased to exist and could not have planted the bombs.



Speaking to newsmen in Abuja on Monday, the Ijaw leader absolved the leader of MEND, Mr. Henry Okah, and other militant groups of invelvement in the explosion.



Okah is currently being tried in South Africa over the blasts.



Clark said Okah and other ex-militants could not have master-minded the attacks because they all accepted the amnesty offer of the Federal Government.



He said, “‘Henry Okah and others could not have been involved because they have all accepted the amnesty programme offered by the Federal Government. It is an unfortunate incident and we pray for the families that lost their loved ones that God will give them the fortitude to bear the loss.



“Mr. President should not be disturbed, MEND no longer exists. Anyone who says MEND is involved is wasting his time.”



Clark called for the dissolution of the Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, adding that the party executive’s emergence did not follow due process.



He said there was no congress in the ward, local government and state levels before the executive came into office.



Clark explained that the Independent National Electoral Commission had directed that a new congress should be held in the state. He added that the congress had postponed.



“The purpose of the congress is to ensure internal democracy. The President told the whole world that there would be free and fair elections in the country. Nobody should put pressure on him to change this position,” he stated.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201010051283187

What surprises much is when people talk of Nigerian democracy they will go ahead to compare us with America that Obama has done in America. those who make that comparism display the level of their ignorance of Nigerian politics or even that of America. Did these people bother to know how many years the black went through difficulties before now? why can’t we agree we didn’t reach that stage yet? Please John understand.

A governorship aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kaduna State, Alhaji Suleiman Hunkuyi on Monday told Governor Patrick Yakowa to forget his dream of returning to the Government House after the 2011 elections.



Hunkuyi who belongs to the camp of the former governor, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi, also condemned the recent endorsement of Yakowa as a consensus candidate of the party for next year’s governorship poll by the members of the state House of Assembly and the leadership of the PDP in the state.



He warned that Yakowa would be committing a political blunder if he relied on the power of incumbency to secure the governorship ticket in the forthcoming PDP.



Yakowa had recently before his formal declaration last Friday insisted that that he would contest the 2011governorship election regardless of the existing zoning formula in the state concerning the sharing of political offices.



The governor had argued that he had the constitutional right to return to the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House next year.






http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201010051312662

President Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday called on ex-leaders of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND)and other ex-militants in the region to assist government unmask those behind the October 1 bloody bomb blasts that claimed the lives of 12 people, in Abuja.

Speaking during a solidarity visit by ex-militant leaders, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Jonathan expressed delight over the pronuncment by ex-MEND leaders that they had no hands in the blasts and therefore called for their help in the onging investigations.

“I am happy that all of you have pledged with the government and I know you are in the position to help us to unearth some of these issues. I am happy that you have told Nigerians and the rest of the world that it is not MEND that did it.

This has opened the eyes of the government the more to see how we can improve on our security network, to see that this kind of thing does not happened again”. Jonathan thanked the ex-militant leaders for their show of solidarity and assured them of government"s unwavering commitment to the amnesty programme.

“I want to pledge here that we will not disappoint you. We would even work harder to see that amnesty succed. We will work with you and men and women from the region,” he said.

Karomema Mabiye, leader of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), who led the delegation said “we recognise that we live in a political environment at this time and beginning a political environment, all sorts of old tendencies will play out and that is why we regret the recent bomb blast that happened on the day all of us were beginning to believe in this country and putting our hearts and minds in making sure that a responsible leadership emerge from this political system”.

http://www.businessdayonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14155:jonathan-ex-militant-leaders-meet-in-abuja&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=18

Mr Atiku, so it is you we should trust or your brother IBB

Former military president, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has decried much concentration of power at the centre urging that power should be decentralized to the federated units. Speaking in Abuja at the Leadership Independence Conference organized by the Leadership Newspaper on Nigeria at 50, Babangida said, there was the need to devolve more powers to the states and the local governments.

“The Federal Government is holding a lot of responsibilities and you can go down and make sure that you elect a president who would have time to go and play golf, tennis or watch soccer because the federating units are very strong. They can survive on their own. So, all you need is to provide leadership at the highest level and the federal government may be only talking about defence, foreign policy, economy et cetera. I see that happening in the next 50 years.”

Continuing, Babangida said, we knew the problem of the country and we should lay a proper foundation for a new Nigeria. “I think the question we should ask ourselves should be: How do we feel? A lot of us will not be 50 yet but then, the foundation stone must be laid down as from October 1, 2010.

“And from everything we have said, I found out that we can now go back and say we want to build a truly Federal Nigeria in concept and in practice. The operative units should be allowed to grow at their own pace; at their own time and allow them to control their own resources within their own states. In other words, through the federal and regional. I think the time to start building is now,” Babangida stated.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant further said we should start laying foundation for a private-driven economy. “I also believe that we should lay now, the foundation for a private-sector-driven economy not the commanding height of the economy being dominated by government.




http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/sept/30/national-30-09-2010-015.htm

Sequel to the failure of former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, to comply with a court order on the interim forfeiture of his assets earlier obtained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the anti-graft agency on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 sealed two houses belonging to the former governor in choice areas of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

According to statement signed by EFCC spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the properties which were located at 1, Fagbohun Street, GRA, Iyaganku and another near Court of Appeal, GRA, Ibadan had to be sealed to give effect to the court order after it was discovered that the former governor had defied the subsisting court order and the houses criminally broken into and occupied.

The EFCC had on July 27, 2006 obtained a court order on the interim forfeiture of asset and properties belonging to Fayose after he was discovered to have engaged in fraudulent activities and money laundering when he held sway as governor of Ekiti State. He was subsequently arraigned by the commission on a 51-count charge in a Federal High Court, Lagos for alleged money laundering, illegal diversion and misappropriation of the sum of N1.2 billion.

The presiding judge, Justice Tijani Abubakar, had ordered then that an interim forfeiture be placed on the former governor’s property pending the determination of the case. EFCC subsequently executed the order of the court by placing the former governor’s property under seal.

However, without vacating the court order, the former governor and his family returned to the properties in defiance of the subsisting order hence, the commission’s decision to re-seal the property. Part of the court order reads: “An order of interim forfeiture of the asset and properties listed in the schedule set out below and attached to this motion as Exhibit EFCC4 which the application is satisfied are the proceeds and disbursement arising out of financial crimes pending the hearing and determination of the charge No FHC/179C/2006…”

Ayodele Fayose was first arraigned by the EFCC on December 17, 2006 but was later granted bail by the court. Though he took his plea, he had since been filling frivolous applications in his attempt to prolong and delay trial. In one of such instances on March 17, 2008 when the matter came up for hearing, proceedings were stalled due to the absence of the former governor in court as he was reported ill. Earlier this year, the governor challenged the jurisdiction of the court on his trial in Lagos; the case had now been transferred to Ekiti Federal High Court.




http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/sept/30/national-30-09-2010-016.htm