By SaharaReporters, New York


Human rights advocate Femi Falana has repudiated the claim by the governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sullivan Chime, that he did not receive a brief from his wife to represent her to secure her release from the illegal detention imposed by her husband, the governor.

“I wish to say, without any fear of contradiction, that I have her instructions in writing to challenge her illegal detention at the Government House, Enugu,” he declared in a statement on Wednesday. “Through the assistance of some of the security personnel in the Government House she has since spoken to me on phone to confirm her instructions. Indeed, Mrs Chime's mother and her personal physician have also been in touch with me urging me to take all appropriate measures to secure her freedom from Governor Chime's illegal confinement.”

Beyond that, Mr. Falana pointed out that contrary to the governor’s diversionary statement, he does not need the instructions of citizens who are illegally detained to demand for their release.

“Without any instructions I am duty bound to file cases in court to secure the enforcement of the fundamental rights of detainees to personal liberty. For the avoidance of doubt, the doctrine of locus standi in the area of human rights has been abolished by the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 which came into force on December 1, 2009,” he said.

Mr. Falana noted that at the press conference Governor Chime succeeded in confirming the allegation that he has held his wife in illegal custody but attempted to justify the illegality by alleging that his wife has "a medical challenge".

Said the statement: “When Governor Chime was recently medically challenged he was not subjected to solitary confinement in the Government House but flown abroad for adequate medical treatment,” the lawyer said. “But Mr Chime has conspired with his private physicians to sentence his wife to unwarranted mental torture and psychological trauma in a room in the Government House for the past four months. If Mr. Chime's claim is correct that the wife is non compos mentis, when was the Enugu Government House converted to a psychiatric hospital?

“Having confirmed the allegation that he has willfully infringed the fundamental rights of his wife to personal liberty, dignity of the person and freedom of movement Governor Chime should release his wife from illegal custody [and] be warned not to divert attention from the brutal abuse of the rights of his wife. If he and his doctors are convinced that she is medically challenged they should send her to a hospital for quick recovery!”

Mr. Falana thanked the Director-General of the State Security Service who, he said, has directed the security service personnel attached to the Government House to desist from teaming up with the Governor to hold his wife hostage.


http://saharareporters.com/news-page/enugu-government-house-hostage-i-was-fully-briefed-mrs-clara-chime-asserts-femi-falana

Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State on Tuesday denied subjecting his wife, Clara, to house arrest.

Chime, who also vowed to protect his wife’s integrity, addressed journalists on the issue in the presence of Clara and her elder brother, Mr. Tony Igwe.

Also present at the meeting are governor’s siblings, Mrs. May Oji and Dr. Jide Chime, as well as Clara’s neuro-psychiatric doctor, Dr. Aham Agumuo, among others.

At the interview session, the governor’s wife denied sending any petition to the National Human Rights Commission alleging unlawful detention by her husband.

She also denied hiring the services of Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) to seek her freedom from an alleged house arrest at the Governor’s Lodge, Enugu.

Although, Falana had claimed in his letter to some media houses and the Inspector-General of Police that he was engaged by Clara to seek her freedom from the alleged house arrest.

The governor, however, said that it was “so disturbing” for him to speak out publicly about his wife’s health challenges.

He, however, vowed to do everything, no matter the personal pains, to protect his wife from ridicule.

He said, “Well, my wife has some medical challenges and it would be very unkind for me to talk about her condition on the pages of newspapers.

“I have done everything to protect her integrity and I’m not now going to expose her to ridicule because some people want to exploit her situation to drag me into a needless war of words.

“We’ve been battling this (Clara’s health challenges) prior to my inauguration in 2011. It was so bad at a time that she had to be taken out of here (Governor’s Lodge) for treatment.

“When she stabilised, I pleaded with her doctors for her to be brought back here to be receiving her treatment at home and they graciously accepted.

“There was a time she was confined indoors and that was strictly on her doctors’ advice. She’s here and she can confirm or deny it. Also, the doctors then advised against allowing her access to telephones and laptop.”

Then Chime paused, heaved a sigh and continued the story.

He said, “I cannot say or do anything to undermine her dignity. She is, first and foremost, my wife. The big blunder I committed was allowing her access to the telephone and her laptop, against the advice of her doctor. I’m paying dearly for that today, going by what is happening now.

“Her brother is here, her doctor is here with us too. You people (journalists) can confirm anything you want from them, either here and at your convenience.

“Would I have been a better husband if I asked her to leave the lodge because of her medical challenges? Would it not have been more convenient for me if I allowed her to stay and be treated in the hospital?

“But like I said earlier, I wanted the best for her and that’s why I pleaded with the doctors to have her treated at home. That is also why I allowed her access to her telephone and laptop, which unfortunately led to the stage where I’m now being falsely accused of imprisoning or detaining my own wife.”

When it was her turn to speak, Mrs. Chime could not. Her husband and brother had to persuade her for a long time before she could.

On the petition to the National Human Rights Commission, she corroborated an earlier text message she had sent to her husband that she had not met Falana or engaged him to seek her release from a purported unlawful custody.

She rather admitted that she wrote a letter to her doctor, Dr. Agumuo and another doctor overseas who she was introduced to and wondered how the letter leaked to the public.

Clara also admitted that she was once confined to a room without access to her telephone and laptop. She said, “That was when I had a serious crisis.”

The governor’s wife also confirmed that she has the key to her room and controls her entry and exit, contrary to the claim in the petition that she had beenlocked up for asking to be allowed to leave.

Her grouse was that she had not been allowed to leave the premises. “Though I attended mass last Sunday,” she said.

Her husband came in here and said, “All I want to reassure you is that she is safe here. Her confinement within the premises for now is at the instance of her doctor who is here.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/i-didnt-detain-my-wife-says-chime/

The National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), on Wednesday met behind closed-doors with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Dasuki is a member of the three-man administrative panel set up by Jonathan to probe the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, over the N255m bulletproof cars purchased for her by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

The panel, which is led by a former Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa Bello, also has Air Vice Marshal Dick Iruenebere (retd.) as members.

Dasuki came out of the President’s office at about 5.40pm and was driven out of the Villa.

It was not clear whether issues bordering on the probe formed part of the agenda of his meeting with the President.

His office is said to be saddled with the responsibility of approving amoured vehicles before they can be imported into the country.

The NSA refused to speak to journalists who approached him for comment on the works of the committee.

Jonathan had set up the committee at the peak of public outcry that trailed the purchase of the bulletproof cars.

In announcing the establishment of the committee, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, had said members were expected to, among other things, ascertain whether the procurement of the vehicles followed due process, ascertain the purpose of procurement and inquire into any other incidental matter.

The President also met with some governors in the Jonah Jang-led faction of the Nigeria Governors Forum on Wednesday.

Vice President Namadi Sambo and the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, also attended the meeting.

The governors in attendance were Vice Chairman of Jang’s faction, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo; Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; and Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State.

Dickson, who left the Presidential Villa earlier than others did not speak to journalists.

Uduaghan and Mimiko, who arrived at the same time, also left together at about 7.25pm.

Mimiko told journalists that the meeting was an informal parley with the President on issues bordering each state.

“It’s an informal meeting. From time to time, issues come up that we have to discuss with him (the President). They are issues bordering on governance,” he said.

Akpabio who left last exited the President’s office at about 8.45pm.

He did not talk to journalists.


Link: http://www.punchng.com/news/oduah-jonathan-nsa-in-closed-door-meeting/

It will be a landmark for the House of Representathieves,moreso this is not a tribal matter rather it is to serve as deterent to others in that category,EFCC on ur track,get set and Go if the Almighty president will ever allow you.Judiciary i hope u not set to compromise by giving her 2years imprisonment against 15years minimum that might be expected by well meaning nigerians

There were indications on Wednesday that the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation had established some infractions against the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

The committee is investigating the controversial purchase of two bulletproof BMW cars by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority allegedly for Oduah at a whopping N255m.

However, she testified before the committee, which is chaired by Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, and denied that the cars were bought for her use.

The panel ended its public hearing on the transaction on Monday.

Oduah was expected to appear before the Senate on Wednesday but could not because of the Federal Executive Council meeting.

Findings by The PUNCH indicated that the Onyejeocha –led committee might lay its report before the House on Thursday (today).

It was gathered that after deliberating on records before them, members of the panel had established some infractions against the minister and the NCAA.

Sources close to the committee confided in The PUNCH that “at least four issues are no longer disputable.”

According to findings, one of the issues is “extra-budgetary spending”, while the second is “approval beyond ministerial limit.”

It was learnt that the committee also established a case of “violation of public procurement procedures.”

Similarly, the panel confirmed that “indeed, N255m was spent to buy two bulletproof BMW cars and the use of waivers meant for EKO Games to import the cars.”

One of the sources told one of our correspondents that the committee tried to remain focused on its core mandate and not to veer off into other allegations that might have been levelled against the Ministry of Aviation.

The source said, “Some infractions have been established, no doubt.

“The recommendations of the committee will follow glaring issues that came up during the public hearing.

“For example, it has been established that while the National Assembly approved N240m for the NCAA to buy 25 vehicles this year, it spent over N643m to procure 54 vehicles.

“That is a case of extra-budgetary spending.

“We have heard the minister admitting that she acted on a proposal for lease financing of N564m.

“Whether she was not properly guided as she told the committee or not, what is clear is that the figure is above the N100m that a ministerial board can approve.

“What role did the Bureau of Public Procurement play in this transaction? No role at all; another infraction.

“The BPP came here to testify and they told us that there was no communication between them and the NCAA over the transaction.”

A member of the committee, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, confirmed that the report could be laid on Thursday(today).

“The report should be laid in plenary tomorrow (today). We are presenting it,” he stated.

Oduah however did not appear before the Senate on Wednesday as she sought a last-minute permission to attend the weekly FEC meeting.

Oduah had been summoned by the Senate to explain her roles in the October 3 plane crash in Lagos and her role in the purchase of the controversial bulletproof cars.

A source told one of our correspondents in Abuja that the minister sent “a last-minute letter to the Senate leadership on Tuesday evening, requesting another date because she needed tto attend the FEC meeting”

Our correspondent learnt that Oduah’s request was granted but was directed to appear on Thursday(today).

Immediately after the FEC meeting, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, whisked the embattled minister off from the Presidential Villa.

Sensing that State House correspondents might be waiting to engage her on the car scandal, he quickly engaged her in a discussion as they walked to where the SGF parked his Sport Utility Vehicle .

From, there both of them were driven away through the Service Chiefs Gate.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has interrogated five top officials of the NCAA over the N255m car scandal.

A top official of the commission, who made this known, said the NCAA chiefs arrived at the commission’s office in Abuja at 2pm.

It was learnt that they were asked to write statements on their involvement in the scandal and thereafter asked a few questions.

The source, who did not want his name in print, said that the NCAA chiefs were allowed to go at about 4pm.

He said the commission would also look into some transactions by the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria.

The source said, “The commission interrogated a team from Coscharis Motors on Tuesday. We have quizzed five top officials of the NCAA.

“The commission is not stopping with the NCAA, our investigators will also interrogate some officials of FAAN.”

When contacted, the Head of Media of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that the EFCC would also interrogate officials of some of the agencies in the aviation sector.

http://www.punchng.com/news/n255m-car-scandal-reps-panel-indicts-oduah-ncaa/

ASUU you have made your point very clearly, accept whatever FGN offers for now and keep the balance in view till next year 2014.. FGN can comfortably implement the ASUU/FGN agreement but it appears FGN is finding it difficult to do exactly that after four months of inaction. FGN is afraid of the negative effect if they agree to implement the agreement having lied on the oath that there is no money, when it clear to every one that the money is there. What of the 320 billion naira that NNPC failed to remit to the FGN account? who has stolen this money?

A two-minute 22 seconds video detailing the encounter between five of the seven rebel governors in the breakaway faction of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Divisional Police Officer of Asokoro Division, Abuja surfaced on YouTube on Monday.

The DPO, Mr. Nnanna Ama, was said to have led a detachment of policemen in three trucks to the Kano State Governor’s Lodge where governors Rabiu Kwakwanso (Kano), Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Aliyu Babangida (Niger), and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) were having a meeting.

In the video, Lamido was seen shouting at the top of his voice when Ama, who was putting on an orange T-shirt, walked into the meeting venue in company with some plain clothes policemen.

Ama, who had asked to see the host, the Kano State governor, might have resorted to speak with Kwankwaso in private on noticing the way and manner still and video cameras were directed at him as he insisted that he wanted to see “his Excellency.”

But Lamido, who was sitting on a sofa, hit the table intermittently and yelled at Ama, saying, “The governor (Kwankwaso) is here. Talk to him. What do you want from him? We are meeting alright. So, talk to him.”

At a point Lamido, who was obviously infuriated, stood up and ordered some of their security aides, who were in suit, to push the DPO out of the meeting venue.

One of the people sitting next to Babangida held Lamido in the hands and led him back to sit down.

“Push them (DPO and his men) out,” Lamido yelled.

One of their (rebel governor’s) security aides, who wanted to take action after Lamido gave the order, looked at the DPO eye-ball to-eyeball and asked, “What do you want?”

But the DPO replied that he had informed him before being taken before the governors.

“I have told you,” Ama replied, nodding his head.

In the course of the said invasion, Ama, who was seen smiling at intervals, tried to move in the direction of Lamido. But two of the security aides present held him from the back and prevented him from going further.

However, a scuffle was prevented as Ama, who appeared to have been treading cautiously, simply moved back without challenging the duo. Lamido reiterated his order and shouted again, “Get out. Who the hell is he?”

While the video lasted, some of the aides who witnessed the scenario were heard from the background asking if the DPO’s mission was to arrest the governors and other members of the breakaway faction attending the meeting.

Amaechi, who was also present at the meeting, was sighted in the video discussing and gesticulating with other attendees. At another time, Amaechi was seen rubbing his palms.

Kwankwaso, who crossed his legs while the altercations lasted, hinted that he was available to be briefed on the DPO’s mission.

“You can talk to me,” Kwankwaso told the DPO, who soon moved towards the governor to have a discussion with him. The video later went dead.

Meanwhile, mixed reactions have greeted the alleged disruption of the rebel governor’s meeting, with some people arguing that police “invasion” of the venue was a breach of their constitutional right to freedom of association and peaceful gathering. But others argued that since a court of law had declared the New PDP illegal it ought to have put a stop to calling and holding meetings.

A YouTube user, Adeolu Moronkeji, after viewing the video, wrote that it was wrong for a police officer to harass democratically elected governors who enjoy constitutionally guaranteed immunity on the orders of the powers that be.

She added that the invasion bore the hallmarks of the Presidency.

“This is very embarrassing. Is Nigeria a God-forsaken country? It appears that the era of totalitarianism and fascism is looming in Nigeria. GEJ na wa o!” Morenikeji wrote.

Also, on punchng.com, a reader with the name Gidi stated, “ If the New PDP is illegal, does it mean old friends cannot meet anymore? Is it that the powers that be don’t understand the fundamental right called ‘freedom of association’?

“Do they need to take a refresher course on the provisions of Nigeria’s constitution? Are we still under military rule? Even during the Abacha regime people still had some rights of association and movement. When is it a crime for one to host colleagues?”

But also on punchng.com, a reader, Fidel, said it was high time the rebel governors started expending their time and energy on productive endeavours that will better the lot of Nigerians rather than their incessant meetings which, according to him, were heating up the polity.

Gidi wrote, “These rebel governors could have been better appreciated by Nigerians if they have been spending the quality time they expend to transverse the length and breadth of Nigeria on finding a lasting solution to the menace Boko Haram that has ravaged the north.

“Almost on a daily basis, innocent people are being killed but that seems to mean nothing to the eyes of these so-called rebel governors and yet they said that they are fighting for justice. So what justice can be better than saving people’s lives? Instead they are seeking political recognition which is nothing but their selfish desire.”


http://www.punchng.com/i-punch/lamido-confronted-dpo-who-disrupted-rebel-govs-meeting/

Where are we heading to? The president just buried his mother in-law. How much was wasted, and yet there was no money to meet ASUU demands. May God help us in this country, amen.

The Federal Government, through Vice President Namadi Sambo, yet again appealed to the Academy Staff Union of Universities ASUU to end its four-month old strike in the interest of the students and the country. Sambo made the appeal yesterday, during the commissioning of Bauchi State University at Gadau in the northern zone of the state.

He urged the striking lecturers to come to terms with the current reality. Recall that university lecturers have been on strike since July 1 this year with the different negotiating teams failing to broker peace between the union and the Federal Government. The lecturers have remained adamant in spite of pleas by parents, stakeholders, insisting that its action is informed by the need to save university education from total

collapse The Vice President, who is the Chairman of the Federal Government team negotiating with ASUU said on the occasion, “ASUU wants the Federal Government to shift its positions. We have already done that. It is now the turn of ASUU to shift its position and call off the strike in order to save the education sector from deteriorating.

Sambo said that Federal Government had intervened in the funding of universities through TETFUND which is an indication that government believes its transformation agenda can only be realised through sound education. He disclosed that about N2.2 billion has been approved for the Bauchi State University as special intervention fund by the Federal Government.

He pledged Federal Government’s continued support and partnership with Bauchi State on education which is the thrust of President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda saying that no nation would grow without education.

“We will continue to provide education by providing conducive teaching and learning environment to all the people.

Sambo said the present administration has embarked on total rehabilitation of railway tracks, development of irrigation farming and training of youths on ICT for wealth- creation and improvement of the people’s economy.

Speaking, Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda said that the idea of establishing a state university was conceived by the immediate past administration but the implementation was carried out by his administration He said the university opened on September 23, 2011 following approval by the National University Commission (NUC). According to him, the state contributed two per cent of state’s statutory allocation while the local government areas contributed five per cent for the running of the university.

Yuguda said that so far, N16.5b has been spent on construction of hostels, library, road networks and blocks of classrooms. While commending the Federal Government for its intervention in the education sector, Yuguda appealed to government to include Bauchi in the supply of textbooks by Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme.


Link: http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/fg-begs-ASUU-end-strike/

Nigerian aviation authorities in Abuja today briefly grounded a private jet that was supposed to ferry some governors and politicians belonging to the break-away faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to Lagos en route Abeokuta. SaharaReporters learnt that the members of the new PDP were about to fly to Lagos on their way to a meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

A spokesman for the new PDP told SaharaReporters that the temporary grounding of the jet was “part of the Jonathan administration’s desperate war against us.” He added, “We will not be deterred in our struggle to enthrone true democracy within the PDP.”

The source added that this was not the first time the Ministry of Aviation was being used to ground a jet used by opposition figures within the party, citing the withdrawal of the flying privileges of a jet owned by Rivers State government.

When SaharaReporters made inquiries about the reasons for today’s brief grounding, two Nigerian aviation officials gave conflicting responses. The Aviation Ministry’s General Manager, Yakubu Datti, told SaharaReporters over the phone that the ministry was not involved at all in any delay of the flight. He claimed that the problem arose purely from a disagreement between the jet owners and the politicians, insisting that the issue had nothing to do with the aviation authorities.

However, Joe Obi, the spokesperson for embattled Aviation Minister Stella Oduah, offered a different account in an email to SaharaReporters. His email stated that the jet was briefly stopped from taking off in order to ascertain the pilot’s flight plans and to make other routine checks in accordance with aviation practices all over the world. He emphasized that the plane had since been cleared to fly.

Today’s brief grounding came on the heels of yesterday’s disruption of a meeting of the new PDP by a police team led by a plain-clothed Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Asokoro police station. The DPO laid siege on the Kano State Government Lodge in Abuja, the venue of the meeting by five governors who have rejected the PDP faction led by Bamanga Tukur. When the five governors and other participants at the meeting resisted the order to shut down their meeting, the DPO called for police back-up. However, a source at the meeting told SaharaReporters that they tricked the police into believing the meeting had just started when in fact it was ending.

SaharaReporters learnt that the Lagos-bound dissident governors were visiting Mr. Obasanjo to confer with him on a number of political issues. Former President Obasanjo has been estranged from President Goodluck Jonathan, and is believed to be advocating for the election of a president from the northern section of Nigeria in the 2015 presidential election.


Link: http://saharareporters.com/news-page/dissident-pdp-governors’-jet-grounded-abuja-aviation-ministry-says-it-was-routine-check

Enibobsky: i dont understand. powerful based on wat

Maybe he can now heal the sick.

Shegman22: Pls whr is nigeria president?

No where on the list.

Only GOD ALMIGHTY is the most powerful, mr forbes don't kill this man before his time.

Link: http://www.punchng.com/news/forbes-names-dangote-africas-most-powerful-man/

The President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has been named the most powerful man in Africa and 64th in the world by the Forbes magazine.

Dangote, who Forbes says is by far Africa’s richest man with a net worth of $16.1bn as of March 2013, was ranked ahead of the likes of Fifa President, Sepp Blatter (69); Speaker, United States House of Representatives, John Boehner (66); and Founder, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Mohammed Ibrahim (71).

The 56-year-old, Dangote, whose company is considered one of the most diversified on the list, is currently ranked 43 on the Forbes list of the world’s billionaires with his net worth over time said to be on the rise.

In August, the industrialist had announced plans by the Dangote Group to build a $9bn refinery and petrochemical complex in Nigeria, a move which is expected to help the group further diversify its current business model and increase his net worth.

Away from his business interests, mention was also made of his philanthropic efforts in his profile on the Forbes website.

It reads in part, “Inspired by fellow billionaires, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, Dangote is making a name for himself on the philanthropic circuit and has given away millions to education, health and social causes in Africa.”

Apart from Dangote, Ibrahim is the only other African on the list, which contains 72 people.

Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, topped the list, displacing United States President, Barrack Obama, who dropped to the second spot for the first time in three years.

Chinese President, Xi Jinping, occupies the third spot, while the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, debuts on the list at number four.

Pope Francis, who was elected in March this year, leads 12 other new entrants.

Other notable new names on the list are Samsung Chairman, Lee Kun-Hee (41); Volkswagen’s Martin Winterkorn (49); South Korean President, Park Geun-hye (52); and Janet Yellen (72), who has been nominated by President Obama as the next leader of the US Federal Reserves.

The Executive Editor of the New York Times, Jill Abramson (68), makes a return appearance after dropping off the list in years past.

Facebook Founder, Mark Zuckerberg, aged 29, and North Korean leader, Kim Jung-un, aged 30, are the youngest people on the list. Zuckerberg occupies the 24th place, while Kim is ranked 46th.

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, who occupies the eight spot, is the oldest person on the list. He is 89 years old.

The world’s richest man, Carlos Slim, is, however, not the most powerful man. The América Móvil honorary chairman occupies the 12th position.

According to Forbes, the Most Powerful People in the World list is an annual snapshot of the heads of state, financiers, philanthropists and entrepreneurs, who truly rule the world.

“It represents the collective wisdom of top Forbes editors, who consider hundreds of nominees before ranking the planet’s top 72 power-brokers – one for every 100 million people on earth – based on their scope of influence and their financial resources relative to their peers,” the magazine explained.

This year’s list features 17 heads of state, who run nations with a combined Gross Domestic Product of some $48tn.

Link: The President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has been named the most powerful man in Africa and 64th in the world by the Forbes magazine.

Dangote, who Forbes says is by far Africa’s richest man with a net worth of $16.1bn as of March 2013, was ranked ahead of the likes of Fifa President, Sepp Blatter (69); Speaker, United States House of Representatives, John Boehner (66); and Founder, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Mohammed Ibrahim (71).

The 56-year-old, Dangote, whose company is considered one of the most diversified on the list, is currently ranked 43 on the Forbes list of the world’s billionaires with his net worth over time said to be on the rise.

In August, the industrialist had announced plans by the Dangote Group to build a $9bn refinery and petrochemical complex in Nigeria, a move which is expected to help the group further diversify its current business model and increase his net worth.

Away from his business interests, mention was also made of his philanthropic efforts in his profile on the Forbes website.

It reads in part, “Inspired by fellow billionaires, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, Dangote is making a name for himself on the philanthropic circuit and has given away millions to education, health and social causes in Africa.”

Apart from Dangote, Ibrahim is the only other African on the list, which contains 72 people.

Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, topped the list, displacing United States President, Barrack Obama, who dropped to the second spot for the first time in three years.

Chinese President, Xi Jinping, occupies the third spot, while the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, debuts on the list at number four.

Pope Francis, who was elected in March this year, leads 12 other new entrants.

Other notable new names on the list are Samsung Chairman, Lee Kun-Hee (41); Volkswagen’s Martin Winterkorn (49); South Korean President, Park Geun-hye (52); and Janet Yellen (72), who has been nominated by President Obama as the next leader of the US Federal Reserves.

The Executive Editor of the New York Times, Jill Abramson (68), makes a return appearance after dropping off the list in years past.

Facebook Founder, Mark Zuckerberg, aged 29, and North Korean leader, Kim Jung-un, aged 30, are the youngest people on the list. Zuckerberg occupies the 24th place, while Kim is ranked 46th.

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, who occupies the eight spot, is the oldest person on the list. He is 89 years old.

The world’s richest man, Carlos Slim, is, however, not the most powerful man. The América Móvil honorary chairman occupies the 12th position.

According to Forbes, the Most Powerful People in the World list is an annual snapshot of the heads of state, financiers, philanthropists and entrepreneurs, who truly rule the world.

“It represents the collective wisdom of top Forbes editors, who consider hundreds of nominees before ranking the planet’s top 72 power-brokers – one for every 100 million people on earth – based on their scope of influence and their financial resources relative to their peers,” the magazine explained.

This year’s list features 17 heads of state, who run nations with a combined Gross Domestic Product of some $48tn.

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O boy fact: 40+ gold medals won during the last olympics won by nigerians who competed under d british, were refered to as "British" atheletes...some clown born n raised in d UK,neva been 2 9ja in his entire life,only bears a 9ja name, pulled dat crap yest n he's called a nigerian!!! C d double standard? Guy, dat chap is a British citizen n learnt all dat terrorist crap ova there o...nonsense!!

Why all this ?

Details have begun to emerge about the two men suspected of brutally murdering a serving soldier in a street in Woolwich, south-east London.

Sources have confirmed to the BBC both were known to the security services prior to the attack.

Police have yet to release the names of the two suspects, who are both under arrest but currently receiving treatment for injures after being shot by armed police.

But according to BBC sources, one of the men is 28-year-old Michael Adebolajo, from Romford in Essex.

He is believed to be the man filmed in a black hat in footage obtained by ITV News.

In it he said as long as British troops were in Muslim countries "you people will never be safe".

"Remove your governments, they don't care about you."

In the footage the victim can clearly be seen in the background, while the attacker talks to the camera in a London accent.

His hands bloodstained and holding a knife and machete, he said: "We swear by almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you.

"We must fight them as they fight us. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."

'Not a lunatic'
Sources told the BBC Mr Adebolajo left school 2001, where he was described as bright and witty.

A spokeswoman for Havering Sixth Form College in Hornchurch, Essex, told the BBC a student named Michael Adebolajo studied for A-levels there between 2001-2003.

He is understood to come from a devout Christian family but converted to Islam after college.

A member of the public who wished to remain anonymous told the BBC she often saw Mr Adebolajo handing out leaflets and preaching in Powis Street in Woolwich, which is a main shopping street.

Mizanur Rahman, who was convicted of terror offences, told the BBC he was sure the police would know who Mr Adebolajo is.


Michael Adebolajo was filmed by the BBC at a protest in 2007
"It certainly doesn't seem like he is somebody completely who came out of nowhere, he's certainly not a lunatic who's hiding his beliefs. He's been very outspoken about his concerns and grievances before and he has been arrested for those beliefs as well."

The BBC has uncovered its own footage of Mr Adebolajo taking part in an Islamist demonstration in April 2007 against the arrest of a man from Luton.

Mr Adebolajo can be seen standing in a crowd of men outside Paddington Green police station, holding a placard reading "Crusade Against Muslims".

The name of the second suspect is not yet known.

Earlier officers raided a flat believed to belong to one of the attackers on a Greenwich housing estate.

Neighbours said two sisters in their 30s, an older woman and a teenage boy were taken away in a police van.

An address in Saxilby, Lincolnshire, is also being searched in connection with the attack.

BBC correspondent Jeremy Ball spoke to people in Saxilby who said Mr Adebolajo had spent some years in the village.

The house is believed to have been where Michael, his parents, and his younger brother and sister lived, according to local people, although it appears Michael may have moved away some time ago.

Before armed police arrived to the scene of Wednesday's attack, some members of the public spoke to the suspects.

Ingrid Loyau-Kennett, a cub scout leader, who had been on a bus, got off and confronted them.


The suspects spoke to members of the public following the attack
She told The Daily Telegraph: "I asked him if he did it and he said yes and I said, 'Why?' And he said, 'Because he has killed Muslim people in Muslim countries, he said he was a British soldier' and I said, 'Really' and he said. 'I killed him because he killed Muslims and I am fed up with people killing Muslims in Afghanistan'.

"He was not high, he was not on drugs, he was not an alcoholic or drunk, he was just distressed, upset. He was in full control of his decisions and ready to do everything he wanted to do.

"I said, 'Right now it is only you versus many people, you are going to lose, what would you like to do?' and he said, 'I would like to stay and fight'."

Ms Loyau-Kennett then spoke to the second suspect, who she said was much more shy than the other.

Another eyewitness, Joe Tallant, said the two suspects asked people in the street to call the police.

"They could have just walked off and gone about their business and got caught later, but they were just walking around the body like they wanted the police to come and get them," he said.

"I was thinking, 'You're a madman. Why are you doing that for?'"


Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22636624

Details have begun to emerge about the two men suspected of brutally murdering a serving soldier in a street in Woolwich, south-east London.

Sources have confirmed to the BBC both were known to the security services prior to the attack.

Police have yet to release the names of the two suspects, who are both under arrest but currently receiving treatment for injures after being shot by armed police.

But according to BBC sources, one of the men is 28-year-old Michael Adebolajo, from Romford in Essex.

He is believed to be the man filmed in a black hat in footage obtained by ITV News.

In it he said as long as British troops were in Muslim countries "you people will never be safe".

"Remove your governments, they don't care about you."

In the footage the victim can clearly be seen in the background, while the attacker talks to the camera in a London accent.

His hands bloodstained and holding a knife and machete, he said: "We swear by almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you.

"We must fight them as they fight us. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."

'Not a lunatic'
Sources told the BBC Mr Adebolajo left school 2001, where he was described as bright and witty.

A spokeswoman for Havering Sixth Form College in Hornchurch, Essex, told the BBC a student named Michael Adebolajo studied for A-levels there between 2001-2003.

He is understood to come from a devout Christian family but converted to Islam after college.

A member of the public who wished to remain anonymous told the BBC she often saw Mr Adebolajo handing out leaflets and preaching in Powis Street in Woolwich, which is a main shopping street.

Mizanur Rahman, who was convicted of terror offences, told the BBC he was sure the police would know who Mr Adebolajo is.


Michael Adebolajo was filmed by the BBC at a protest in 2007
"It certainly doesn't seem like he is somebody completely who came out of nowhere, he's certainly not a lunatic who's hiding his beliefs. He's been very outspoken about his concerns and grievances before and he has been arrested for those beliefs as well."

The BBC has uncovered its own footage of Mr Adebolajo taking part in an Islamist demonstration in April 2007 against the arrest of a man from Luton.

Mr Adebolajo can be seen standing in a crowd of men outside Paddington Green police station, holding a placard reading "Crusade Against Muslims".

The name of the second suspect is not yet known.

Earlier officers raided a flat believed to belong to one of the attackers on a Greenwich housing estate.

Neighbours said two sisters in their 30s, an older woman and a teenage boy were taken away in a police van.

An address in Saxilby, Lincolnshire, is also being searched in connection with the attack.

BBC correspondent Jeremy Ball spoke to people in Saxilby who said Mr Adebolajo had spent some years in the village.

The house is believed to have been where Michael, his parents, and his younger brother and sister lived, according to local people, although it appears Michael may have moved away some time ago.

Before armed police arrived to the scene of Wednesday's attack, some members of the public spoke to the suspects.

Ingrid Loyau-Kennett, a cub scout leader, who had been on a bus, got off and confronted them.


The suspects spoke to members of the public following the attack
She told The Daily Telegraph: "I asked him if he did it and he said yes and I said, 'Why?' And he said, 'Because he has killed Muslim people in Muslim countries, he said he was a British soldier' and I said, 'Really' and he said. 'I killed him because he killed Muslims and I am fed up with people killing Muslims in Afghanistan'.

"He was not high, he was not on drugs, he was not an alcoholic or drunk, he was just distressed, upset. He was in full control of his decisions and ready to do everything he wanted to do.

"I said, 'Right now it is only you versus many people, you are going to lose, what would you like to do?' and he said, 'I would like to stay and fight'."

Ms Loyau-Kennett then spoke to the second suspect, who she said was much more shy than the other.

Another eyewitness, Joe Tallant, said the two suspects asked people in the street to call the police.

"They could have just walked off and gone about their business and got caught later, but they were just walking around the body like they wanted the police to come and get them," he said.

"I was thinking, 'You're a madman. Why are you doing that for?'"


Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22636624

"We're absolutely determined not to be intimated into not doing the right thing - whether it's here in this country or in Afghanistan or wherever we seek to serve the nation."

Continue reading the main story

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "We will never give in to terror or terrorism in any of its forms."
Continue reading the main story
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Security at Woolwich Barracks and others in London has been increased, and Gen Richards said: "I'm confident that base security is as tight as it's every been, and necessarily so.

"It's a very difficult balancing act. We are very proud of the uniform we wear, we have huge support around the country, this is a completely isolated incident."

Shortly after the killing a man, thought to be 28-year-old Mr Adebolajo, was filmed by a passer-by, saying he carried out the attack because British soldiers killed Muslims every day.

Sources said reports the men had featured in "several investigations" in recent years - but were not deemed to be planning an attack - "were not inaccurate".

According to BBC sources, Mr Adebolajo, a Briton of Nigerian descent, comes from a devout Christian family but took up Islam after leaving college in 2001.


Michael Adebolajo was filmed at a protest
The BBC has uncovered its own footage of one of the alleged Woolwich attackers, taking part in an Islamist demonstration in April 2007 against the arrest of a man from Luton.

Mr Adebojalo can be seen standing in a crowd of men outside Paddington Green police station, holding a placard reading "Crusade Against Muslims".

He is standing next to Anjem Choudary, who was the leader of al-Muhajiroun, a now-banned organisation.

Mr Choudary said Mr Adebojalo was previously associated with the group, but went his own way in around 2010.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission sent 12 investigators to look at the scene and its aftermath.

They have reviewed CCTV footage from a local authority camera, and saidtwo officers fired shots and one officer discharged a Taser.

One of the shot men received first aid from the firearms officers.