₦airaland Forum

Nigeria and the United States of America government might be heading for a diplomatic row over the decision of the latter to freeze some of the accounts of the country's embassy in Washington, DC.

Bank of America, M&T Bank and Wells Fargo received directive from the US government to close the accounts of the Nigerian embassy in Washington and its consulate in New York on suspicion of money laundering after traffic on the various accounts raised a red flag.

The decision is sequel to intelligence report generated by a panel comprising representatives of the US Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Department of Treasury, unknown to Nigerian embassy officials, to monitor wires and traffic in all the accounts operated by the embassy.

A credible online website http://www.huhuonline.com/ had reported yesterday that the US on Wednesday vowed to ignore a request by the federal government urging Bank of America and Wells Fargo to unfreeze Nigerian embassy's bank accounts in Washington, DC, and New York.

The move, according to sources, is setting the stage for a potential showdown between the two countries with Nigeria also threatening to reciprocate by freezing the US embassy's accounts in the country.

The online media stated that about $3.6 million dollars was said to have entered and left the accounts in under a month, the latest transaction being the withdrawal of $50,000 in hard cash by a top embassy staff.

In rejecting the federal government's request, a source in the State Department was quoted as saying, "The Nigerian embassy was unable to respond to requests for clarification about payments and transactions into the account and there are reasonable grounds to believe that the accounts are being used as channels for money laundering and other financial crimes.''

The source, who said the move was not targeted at the country's embassy alone, told the online news blog that the embassies of two other unnamed African countries were affected by the freeze.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1782-money-laundering-us-govt-freezes-nigerian-embassys-accounts

Ahmed Ubale Mai-Nama yesterday set ablaze an Upper Shari'a Court in Funtua town of Katsina State over alleged dissolution of his marriage.

The estranged husband, according to a witness, Malam Shu'aibu Garba, set the court on fire in the early hours of yesterday and stood watching as it consumed the entire building.

Garba told Daily Trust that the man was letter arrested and handed over to the police by the court's local guards and some passers-by. The man is now being held at the Funtua police area command, it was gathered.

Daily Trust learnt that about two weeks ago Garba was said to have filed a case before the court seeking it to safeguard his marriage. A senior court official, who pleaded anonymity, told Daily Trust that "when the man realized that he would not win the case, he demanded all he spent during the wedding from his wife's family and the court granted his prayers; so he was paid all the expenses incurred".

The man, it was learnt, was said to have serious quarrel with his wife over alleged demand for divorce.

When the dispute persisted between the two, Garba took the matter to court in order to safeguard the marriage.

"Unfortunately for Garba, the judgment favoured his wife as the marriage was dissolved by the court," according to a source close to the court.

In the early hours of yesterday however, the complainant went to the court and set the building on fire resulting to the destruction of the judge's office, the chamber and the registrar's office, Daily Trust gathered.

Hundreds of case files, some over 40 years, were also lost to the fire, an official of the court, who craved for anonymity, said.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1772-ahmed-ubale-mai-nama-sets-court-ablaze-for-dissolving-his-marriage-in-katsina

KnowAll: Are u for real Mr Igbinedion, were u not practising when your name sake and former Governor of Edo State was instructed by the courts in Nigeria to pay a paltry N1.5 million as funds misappropiated from the state despite the fact that there was no visible development in the state for 8 years making the Oba of Benin to ban him from coming to Benin City after his tenure ended. OR are you also oblivious to your neigbouring State Governor's discharge and acquital by the same Nigerian Court. I think Mr Igbinedion your thirst and salivating for where you have not sown is befuddling, and clouding your views, obviously this case can be your one and only chance from escaping the charge and bail circus you have been accustomed to, this is one chance a poverty stricken lawyer would not want to go amiss.

Knowall, I expected better logic from you than this twisted crap you spewed.
Maybe I expected too much, forgetting that when it comes to the issue of religion men are allowed to lose their common sense

President Goodluck Jonathan has denied claims that the bribery scandal that has greeted the House of Representatives investigation into the management of the fuel subsidy is a plot by his office to unseat the leadership of the House.

The Presidency in a statement signed by the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Reuben Abati, reaffirmed its commitment to the subsidy probe, stating that the president “has absolutely no reason or desire to meddle in the affairs of the House of Representatives and its leadership.”

It described as ‘lame and diversionary’, attempts by some national dailies to drag the person and office of the President into the bribery scandal.

The statement from the presidency alleged that some edition of Thursday’s newspapers claimed the whole bribery scandal was a plot cooked by the presidency to unseat the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“The mischievous insinuation in today’s editions of newspapers that the entire affair, in which the two key players (Farouk Lawan and Femi Otedola) have publicly confessed their roles, is part of a plot by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the executive arm of government to unseat the leadership of the House of Representatives, is totally false and baseless” the statement said.

The Chairman, House of Representatives’ ad hoc committee on Fuel Subsidy, Farouk Lawan is alleged to have collected $620,000 as part payment for a $3million bribe, which he demanded from billionaire and oil magnate, Femi Otedola in a bid to exonerate his companies from the fuel subsidy probe.

“Neither the President nor anyone acting on his request or order has anything to do with the scandal that has sadly engulfed the House ad-hoc committee on fuel subsidy. The attempt to drag the Presidency into the matter is entirely speculative and without factual foundation” said the statement.

The president also expressed his avowed commitment to the effective prosecution of the war against corruption in Nigeria, and urged the media to allow members of the House and law enforcement agencies to conduct and conclude investigations without further unhelpful distractions.

The House of Representatives has already recalled its members from recess for a special session to deliberate on it tomorrow.

The statement further confirmed that despite the bribery allegations and all that surrounds it, President Jonathan’s directive to the Attorney-General of the Federation on the report of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy, as adopted by the House of Representatives, subsists.

Adding that the president expects all those indicted in the report, to be duly investigated and prosecuted, if a prima facie case is established against them.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1769-faroukgate-jonathan-denies-plot-to-unseat-speaker-tambuwal

The High Court in Ogun State sitting in Ota, Wednesday, fixed July 12 for judgment in the suit involving the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide and the young lady who was slapped during a church service in 2009.

Robert Igbinedion, a Lagos based lawyer who filed the suit on behalf of the young lady, is seeking the court to award N2billion as 'general and exemplary damages' against the flamboyant pastor among other reliefs.

Mr. Oyedepo was named the richest pastor in Nigeria last year by Forbes magazine with an estimated worth of over N20billion.

At the hearing on Wednesday, Dele Adesina, counsel to Bishop Oyedepo, complained to the court that Mr. Igbinedion added new grounds to his further counter affidavit which he served him on Wednesday morning.

Mr. Adesina, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, also told the court that they did not have a photograph and the video where the Bishop slapped the young lady.

Mr. Igbinedion had amended his charges by substituting Living Faith Christian Church International, whom he joined earlier as respondents, with the Board of Trustees of Living Faith Church Worldwide also known as Winners Chapel.

He also added that he is a human rights activist.

The judge ruled that the hearing would continue.

Mr. Adesina argued that there was nothing to show that the young lady who was slapped in the video – who had been dubbed 'Miss Justice' in the course of the suit - is a living person.

"There is nothing to show in the application that 'Miss Justice' is a living and existing person entitled to claim under the provisions of the 1999 Constitution," Mr. Adesina said.

"We humbly submit that 'Miss Justice' is a fictitious person, not capable of being represented in court.

"For the applicant to establish that he is suing on behalf of another person, that person must be determinable and identifiable," he added.

On his part, Mr. Igbinedion asked the court to grant him all his reliefs since the respondents, in denying that the young lady was slapped, had failed to help the court arrive at justice.

"The respondents rather chose to lay their defence on all imaginable legal technicalities without attacking or denying the several damaging allegations," said Mr. Igbinedion.

A mild drama played out in court when the presiding judge asked David Olushola, who was representing Bishop Oyedepo's church, to leave the court room.

Mr. Olushola, a pastor in the church, dressed in a white, collarless shirt in a black suit, sat at a place reserved for lawyers only.

After he identified himself as a lawyer, the judge insisted that he leave since he was improperly dressed.

Mr. Adesina's intervention, however, saved the day as he argued that sending Mr. Olushola out of the court would be a subject for news.

Mr. Igbinedion told us after Wednesday's sitting that he is confident of a favourable ruling on the judgment day.

"I have full confidence in the Nigerian judiciary because if I don't have, I would stop practicing," Mr. Igbinedion said.

Efforts to get Mr. Adesina's response were not successful. Phone calls were not answered and text message was not replied.

"I can do nothing but to wait for judgment," Mr. Igbinedion added.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1768-exorcism-slap-court-fixes-july-12-for-judgment-in-suit-against-bishop-oyedepo

The Federal Government said it plans to stop refined petroleum products importation within the next two years, after it was done with the turn around maintenance, TAM, of its traditional four refineries, which first phase has commenced with thePort Harcourt refinery.

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, gave the hint yesterday, while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the ongoing 5th OPEC International Seminar inVienna,Austria.

The minister, who was responding against the background of the observations by panellists at the first day of the conference that high oil prices affect the economies of developing nations more than the others, said the move would reduce the impact of oil volatility on the Nigerian economy.

She said: “The reference here was to oil price volatility because for countries that import crude in a very large volume, it obviously does affect their GDP and that was the discourse.

“We, of course, do import crude but not at too high a volume and also produce to a certain extent, but it affects us as well because higher oil prices obviously affect our Gross Domestic Product, GDP, as well interest rates go up as you heard earlier and cause increases in-country.”

She said government was tackling the issue of market volatility from various angles, one of which is to reduce products importation and eventually stopping it completely.

Speculation and volatility

With regard to the impact of the activities of commodity speculators on crude oil prices, which spike high prices, the minister also revealed that Nigeria was in the process of setting up its own trading firms and own its own speculative market.

She said: “In terms of our own assets, we are just actually beginning to look at those markets from an in- country perspective. I know that we are discussing here the global perspective, but we also need to talk about it from the Nigerian perspective.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1765-petroleum-products-importation-to-end-in-24-months

The bribery scandal involving the Chairman of the House of Representatives ad hoc Committee on fuel subsidy got messier on Tuesday.

A source privy to the police investigation into the matter told The PUNCH that the Force had launched a new investigation into a fresh allegation that an additional N11bn in bribes changed hands.

The source, who spoke to one of our correspondents, on Tuesday night, said a member of the committee had told police investigators that some members of the committee solicited bribes totalling N11bn from some oil marketing firms.

The source said that the member, whom he said sang like a canary, also explained how the money was shared.

Efforts made by our correspondents to confirm this new twist to the case, late on Tuesday night, however were abortive.

Also on Tuesday, the Chairman of Zenon Oil, Mr. Femi Otedola, visited the police headquarters in Abuja to brief investigators on his own side of the story.

Sources said Otedola voluntarily went to the police to state his side of the story.

He reportedly spent about an hour answering questions from detectives in the Special Task force team headed by Commissioner of Police Ali Ahmadu.

Our correspondents learnt that the police had invited Lawan but the lawmaker did not honour the invitation to appear before the panel on Tuesday.

He is however expected to show up before the end of the week.

Asked if the lawmaker would be arrested if he did not show up, the source said it was too early to talk about arrest, expressing confidence that the lawmaker would come and shed light on the weighty allegations made against him by Otedola.

Otedola had alleged that the lawmaker pressed him for a bribe to remove his firm from the list of companies indicted by his committee for oil subsidy fraud. He said the request compelled him to involve security agencies in a sting to catch Lawan.

The Otedola-security agents’ collaboration was said to have led to a video recording of Lawan receiving a $500,000 bribe with a promise to remove Otedola’s company’s name from the list. The Clerk of the Lawal-led panel, Boniface Emenalo, also received $100,000 as part of the $3m allegedly negotiated with Otedola by Lawan.

The lawmaker from Kano State had sworn that he did not meet nor collect any money from Otedola. Barely 24 hours later, however, Lawan admitted receiving the said bribe sum from Otedola but that he did so only to expose the businessman’s bribery moves.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1757-subsidy-probe-panel-in-a-new-n11bn-bribery-scandal

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed and Former First Lady, Hajiya Turai Umaru Yar'Adua, are poised for a bitter struggle over the ownership of a plot of land in the Central Business District, the heart of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Controversy over the land started after the FCT revoked ownership, which had been granted to a non-governmental organisation (NGO) Women And Youth Empowerment Foundation (WAYEF), sponsored by Hajiya Turai.

The land was then purportedly re-allocated to another organisation, African First Ladies Peace Centre, to which by the current first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, is believed to be a sponsor.

Although the minister is suspected to be fighting a proxy war for the first lady, LEADERSHIP could not confirm if she is aware of it.

Records of the transaction obtained by LEADERSHIP, showed that the choice plot of land, beside the ThisDay Dome, was allocated to WAYEF on February 19, 2010 only for another document dated August 11, 2008 to surface from the FCT administration, indicating that the same plot had earlier been allocated to the African First Ladies Peace Centre.

In response, WAYEF filed a suit at an Abuja High Court challenging the action of the FCT administration, which has turned a blind eye to the ongoing construction. In a ruling delivered by Justice Peter Affen on March 5, 2012, the court issued an injunction ordering the FCT to restrain all parties from any further activities at the site.

Two weeks after the injunction was issued, however, persons believed to be working for the African First Ladies Peace Centre have resumed work on the disputed land, forcing Turai's lawyers to file contempt proceedings against the FCT Minister.

Also joined in the suit are the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke; Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS); and the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

Turai's lawyers claimed that WAYEF, had not only obtained the requisite approvals, but had also paid N166million of the statutory N184million in September 2011, to the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) for the right of occupancy. A balance of N18million was paid in November 2011.

However, despite the said payments, the FCT revoked WAYEF's title to the property.

Although the August 2008 C of O issued to the African First Ladies Peace Centre had indicated that the land was to be used only for ''public institution,'' the centre is not listed in any official document as an agency, department or parastatal of the federal government.

Yet, according to the letter of revocation dated, November 2, 2011 and signed by Mrs Asma'u Mukhtar on behalf of the FCT Minister, the title was revoked "due to an overriding public interest."

In the same vein, another letter of revocation was also issued to the African First Ladies Peace Centre by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory signed by Mrs Asma'u Mukhtar and also dated November 2, 2011.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1759-fct-minister-bala-mohammed-seizes-turais-land-for-dame-patience

"Good day!” These were the last two words the courageous pilot told air traffic controllers before the Dana Air flight 0992 crashed into a residential building in Iju-Ishaga, Lagos, killing all the 153 people on board and 10 people on ground on Sunday, June 3, 2012.

The transcription of the last conversation between the air traffic controller and the crew revealed that the pilots did everything to land the aircraft safely on Runway 18 Right of the Murtala Muhammed Airport.

The recording, a copy of which was obtained exclusively from a top official of the Ministry of Aviation on Monday by our correspondent, showed that the flight crew did not lose hope even up till the last second before the aircraft crashed.

The crew had believed the aircraft would make it to Runway 18R of the Lagos airport.

The transcription revealed that the aircraft had indeed lost its two engines, shortly after which the pilot declared an emergency.

This revelation is, however, contrary to the view of Dana Air’s Director of Flight Operations, Captain Oscar Wason, who had said it would be premature to conclude that aircraft lost its two engines.

Wason claimed that there was nothing to indicate that the pilot told the air traffic controller that the two engines of the aircraft had been lost.

The transcription revealed that the pilot told the controller he had “dual engine failure.”

Apart from having dual engine failure, the pilot also told the air traffic controller that he had “negative response from the throttle.”

Overall, the transcription revealed that the airplane was in a very devastating condition.

This explains why it was said to have descended very fast shortly after the pilot declared emergency, saying, “May Day, May Day”

Air traffic controllers, who spoke to our correspondent under condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to comment on the matter, confirmed that the aircraft descended very fast.

The video recording of the radar also revealed that the aircraft pilot declared emergency at about 5,000 feet above the sea level.

It further revealed that the ill-fated Boeing McDonell Douglass-83 plane disappeared from the radar at about 800 feet above the sea level.

The recording, however, confirmed Wason’s claim that the pilot of the ill-fated plane never spoke with air traffic controllers in the Control Tower.

Rather, the pilot spoke with ATCs in the radar control room of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, which is also located at the airport.

The recording also revealed that the pilot was handed over to the ATCs in the Control Tower, but he never had a chance to speak with them before the crash.
From the recording, the last words the pilot told the radar control unit was, “1181, good day,” in response to some information he had received from the ATC on duty.

The ATC had told him to contact the Control Tower on frequency 1181. The pilot, who had declared emergency to the ATCs in the radar control room, replied, “1181 good day,” meaning he had got the information.

According to ATCs, “good day” is the usual parlance they and pilots use in signing off from a conversation.

From his accent, it was obvious he was the Indian co-pilot, Mr. Mahendra Roathore, who spoke with the ATCs during the last minutes of the tragic flight.

The pilot, an American, Captain Peter Waxtan, was said to have been busy, struggling to keep the aircraft in flight, while the co-pilot spoke with the ATCs.

Below is the word-for-word account of the conversation between the crew of the ill-fated plane and the ATC on duty.

Co-pilot: “Lagos Tower, Dana code 0992!”

ATC: “Dana Code 0992, this is Lagos radar, go ahead!”

Co-pilot: “May Day! May Day! May Day! Dana code 0992 Five November Romeo Alpha Mike! (5N-RAM) dual engine failure!”

ATC: “Dana Code 0992, read me?”

Co-pilot: “I read you five by five! Dual engine failure! Negative response from throttle! Requesting for direct straight approach!”

ATC: “Alright, position it one mile to touch down, Runway 18R! Contact tower now on 1181!”

Co-pilot: “1181 Good day!”

Unfortunately, the crew never spoke with the control tower. The aircraft crashed into the residential building a few seconds after this discussion.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1753-dana-air-pilots-last-conversations-with-air-traffic-controller

Former head of state and 2011 presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) General Muhammadu Buhari has clarified his position over his recent comment on the 2015 general elections, saying he was misinterpreted.

Buhari, who spoke in Hausa while addressing members of the CPC from Niger State last month, was reported as having said that the 2015 elections would be bloody if they were not transparent.

While receiving the CPC delegation from Bauchi State in Kaduna yesterday, however, Buhari said that his statement was perceived and translated in different ways by the opposition.

He said, "First of all, I m going to speak in Hausa language, because most of the people here understand the language. And those who wish to comment negatively against the actual truth should better mind their business because our people would respond to whatever they say.

"I'm happy that our legal adviser, Malam Abubakar Malami (SAN), is here to hear what the people from Bauchi came to say at this particular time.

"Each time people ask me to run, I keep telling them to hold on because we have a lot to do at various levels."

He made reference to his earlier statement: "When the people of Niger State came, we entered my room with their Exco to discuss some issues; there were some people that used that opportunity and followed without the party Exco inviting them.

"They were on their own, they chartered buses and came, so I had to come out and address them at the premises of my house and I spoke to them in Hausa language. And I reminded them of what the opposition did to us in 2003 ,2007and 2011 where we follow our case up to the Supreme Court for the final verdict.

"So one day in the future, if you the youth, your own children and grandchildren asked you why the country was allowed to rotten, you would have evidence to tell them that we followed our mandate from the lower court up to the Supreme Court.

"In that statement, I also told them how we were treated, including the elections in Kogi, Adamawa, Sokoto and other by-elections.
"I said, instead of the government to do the right thing, to do justice, they refused. So in the by-election in Igabi constituency of Kaduna State, the opposition all converged including their members in the House of Representatives and state Assembly, and did 'Kare jini Biri jini', meaning 'Each side had struggled hard to win'.

"And we won they had no option except to give us that seat. They had to give us our mandate. That is all I said. And I also said that, in 2015, they should go and tell their people: each polling unit must be Igabi. That is all I said because we had followed all the necessary steps legally but they did not do justice to us.

"They even said people can't do anything; after all, they claimed to work for the people. If they are representing the people's interest, how about the pension? People had served the country and have retired but were denied their pension. Pensioners are dying but they refused to pay them their entitlements, just a few people ganged up and diverted the money to their private accounts."

To the party members, the former head of state said: "We must be united and work as a team. And what happened in Bauchi, Kano, Sokoto and other states... despite knowing full well that these states are our stronghold, they brought confusion to the extent that those officials in acting capacity in our party had to come out and contest the general elections.

"In Katsina State when the party was thrown into confusion, they had to come together and win. They decided who got what.

"It does not matter if I decide to live in Kaduna or move to Katsina and allow party loyalists with problem of leadership. Our manifesto is to take care of our people, stop corruption and indiscipline.''

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1746-i-was-misinterpreted-over-2015-comment--buhari

At least three aircraft totally in precarious conditions are still being operated by one of the existing airlines in the country, Saturday Tribune can authoritatively reveal.

It was exclusively learnt that the airline had flagrantly defied several orders by the aviation authorities and has been logged on a number of occasions by air traffic control officers.

A senior air traffic control officer in one of the nation's airports, in an exclusive chat with Saturday Tribune on the critical issues in the aviation sector, said one of the aircraft was indeed a bomb waiting to explode with the airline not caring a hoot.

He spoke against the backdrop of the ill-fated Dana Airline that crashed at Iju-Ishaga, Lagos, on Sunday, claiming 163 lives.

The source, who pleaded anonymity, while assessing the conditions of some aircraft operating in the country, specifically identified an airliner that prides itself as top flight, noting that ironically, it had several technically deficient aircraft in its fleet.

He described the condition of that particular aircraft as worse than the crashed Dana plane.

"One of their aircraft also had two incidents with me about three months ago; it is in the log book. It was so terrible to the extent that I wrote two serious reports about it. On one occasion, it was staggering, it could not take off. On another occasion, it took off and lost radio contact.

"The other time, they said it requested priority landing. In fact, the last time they released that aircraft, I was angry with my boss- 'didn't you check the log book that this aircraft should be grounded totally?' the source recalled.

On the crashed Dana aircraft, he said it was initially intended to fly directly from Uyo, the Akwa-Ibom State capital, to Lagos before being routed via Abuja, allegedly for financial considerations.

The source also narrated how the aircraft had undergone a test flight to Ibadan, Oyo State, the previous day.

He alleged, "The pilot of the Dana plane observed that it had a technical challenge and suggested that it be flown directly to Lagos, but the airline authority insisted that he fly it to Abuja to pick more passengers en route Lagos."

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1733-3-faulty-planes-still-flying-top-aviation-chief

THOUSANDS of residents of Enugu metropolis were yesterday disconnected from the city capital as a 37-year-old main bridge linking Abakpa Nike with the rest of the state collapsed during a heavy rainfall.

The bridge, said to have been built in 1975, did not show any sign of threat before its sudden collapse at about 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday night. No causality was, however, recorded.

Our reporter, who visited the scene in the afternoon yesterday, discovered that the Enugu State government had deployed Arab Contractors Construction Company to the location, while the bridge had been barricaded with security men keeping vigil at the place.

Children, who used the bridge to cross over to their schools like Nike Grammar School and Army Day Secondary School, were seen trekking long alternative distances while others swam through the Ekulu River.

Commercial bus operators have hiked their fares as alternative routes of Trans Ekulu and Nike Lake road are now being used with compounded traffic.

More; http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1720-37-year-old-abakpa-nike-bridge-collapses-thousands-displaced

The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Aviation this afternoon withdrew the operating license of Dana Airlines following the crash that left over 160 dead two days ago.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1705-fg-withdraws-operating-license-of-dana-airlines

The ICPC on Monday filed a criminal suit against former Inspector-General of Police, Sunday Ehindero.

The commission also listed the suspended Commissioner of Police in charge of Budgets at the Force Headquarters, John Obaniyi, in the suit.

The suit, with file number FCT/HC/CR/92/2012, was filed on behalf of the ICPC by prosecution counsel, Paul Bassi.

The duo are alleged to be involved in N557 million arms and ammunition scandal.

It would be recalled that the ICPC, on April 2, quizzed the former police boss on the alleged misappropriation of the sum during his tenure.

The commission will, on June 6, file an application to Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court 4, Maitama, who has been assigned the case, to grant it leave to arraign Messrs Ehindero and Obaniyi.

Mr. Ehindero was the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police from 2005 to 2007.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1701-n557million-arms-scandal-icpc-files-criminal-charges-against-ex-igp-ehindero

UPDATE: The Group General Manager, Public Affairs, NNPC, Levi Ajuonuma, unconfirmed sources say was on the plane that crashed

http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1690-dana-air-plane-heading-from-abuja-to-lagos-crashes-in-iju-agbado-lagos

Update: Egypt's ex-President Mubarak arrives at Tora prison to begin his life sentence, State TV reports

http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1687-egypts-ex-president-hosni-mubarak-sentenced-to-life-in-prison

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on Wednesday, revealed that some Nigerian lawmakers were tarnishing the image of the country through non-participation in sponsored foreign training and legislative experience with US Congress,Harvard and Oxford Universities.

The embittered deputy Senate president, who stated this during an interactive session with chairmen of committees of the

House of Representatives and members of the Governing Council of the National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS), chided the lawmakers for the ugly development and called for attitudinal change.

According to him, "there was an instance when I was attending a programme at Oxford along with some of our colleagues. They didn't show up until the last day. In fact, at the US Senate, it took about six months to resolve the problem because they said each time we sent people, they never came.

"So they said they won't accept any nominees coming for exchange programmes in the US Congress. But we have been able to resolve that. So I want to appeal that if you are nominated for a course, programme or exchange visit, if you will not be able to attend, let us know early enough.A situation where you don't show up is very embarrassing and doesn't speak good of us."

He, however, added that "for those who don't attend seminars, we must try to bring about some kind of sanctions to ensure that we get our colleagues to attend and if they cannot attend, give the space to those who can attend."

The Director-General of NILS, Dr (Mrs) Ladi Hamalai, who also expressed dissatisfaction over the lawmakers' attitude to legislative training, impressed it on them that the training was for their own good.

She said, "I have to express my fears. I held a meeting at the International Law Institute in Washington and one of the questions I was asked was: Ladi, we are willing to come and do the strategic legislative management training in Abuja, but can you guarantee that they will attend? I said I will get back home and consult and let them know.

"I had to say this because when two or three committees were invited, only half of the members expected at the training programme attended."

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1684-us-congress-rejects-nigerian-lawmakers-over-truancy-ekweremadu

A former Head of State, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), has said the appalling state of Nigeria and the hardship of the citizens in the midst of abundance compelled him to weep openly for the nation in 2011.

Buhari said this while addressing journalists during his visit to the headquarters of his political party, the Congress for Progressive Change at Utako in Abuja on Thursday.

Buhari, who was the CPC’s presidential candidate in the 2011 election, said he wept when he looked at the way the country was blessed by God, but its citizens were poor.

He said, “This is a country that is well-blessed both materially and otherwise. God has blessed us more than we expected. We have so much land for agriculture.

“But majority of Nigerians can’t send their children to school, can’t afford medicine for their children, and no potable water to drink. Where does the money go to?

“This was why I broke down when I was rounding off up my presidential campaign in 2011.”

Buhari added that he became a democrat when the old Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, a development he said changed his political belief.

“That was the time I became a democrat because I believed that democratic system is superior to any form of governance. Otherwise how can an empire collapse like that,” he said.

He took a swipe at the one year old regime of President Goodluck Jonathan and declared that the country was retrogressing.

He argued that with the level of corruption in the country and the poverty level of majority of Nigerians, there was nothing to show that the country was moving forward.

Buhari said, “From the level of exporter we have moved to the level of importer of oil? Are you surprised? All the infrastructure were allowed to die and decay.

“And now they say they want to remove subsidy. I was there when the refineries were built with Nigeria money and we didn’t borrow any kobo to do that.

“Now we have ended up buying fuel from the world market. I believe that God will punish those who have perpetuate corruption in this country and put us where we are today.

“I think we are reversing. With what is happening in the petroleum industry and all the corruption, we are reversing. You know about the pension scam?”

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1674-why-i-wept-openly-for-nigeria--buhari

Nsukka people should get to the root of this shameful act.

ension mounts in Opi, Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State as masquerades took turn in the series of rape stories synonymous with the community. The alleged rape of a female student, Ngozika Ugwu, presented mixed feelings and reactions to what may have bedevilled the community in the recent past.

Rape stories in Opi, a community in the university town of Nsukka, have occupied major national dailies, hitting banner headlines, from the three quarters that make up the community, Idi, Ogbozalla and Ibeku.

In 2011, the story of the rape of women between 70 and 80 years spread like wild fire in the country, raising eyebrows on the motive for such inhuman and barbaric act by, especially, youths of the community. Some of them were fingered and allegedly arrested, interrogated by the police but could not be persecuted because of want of evidence.

Following this development, Ada Enugu Women Organisation led by Mrs. Kate Ezeofor stormed the community for a church service at St. Charles Catholic Church parish, Opi to cleanse the land and the old women that were defiled.

Few months later, Opi women took to the streets in protest of yet another rape at Ogbozalla–Opi. The protest attracted the quick intervention of the Chairman, Nsukka Local Government Council, Mr. Tony Ugwu who invited all the stakeholders in the community to discuss the ugly development and proffer solutions. Though it was later discovered that the protest had political undertone, the council boss brokered peace to the satisfaction of all.

Barely few months of enjoying peace in the area, masquerades took turn in the series of rape stories in the community by defiling a 28-year-old undergraduate nursing mother. The victim told Crime Alert in tears that the trauma of the rape will forever live with her but stated that she had forgiven the rapists.

While narrating her ordeal, she appealed to local, state and federal governments to ensure that truth prevails in this country by fighting for the poor masses. Ngozi, who dropped out from her NCE programme at the Enugu State College of Education (Technical)due to lack of funds after her ordeal, called on concerned Nigerians to come to her aid to enable her go back to school.

She also hinted that the release of one of the suspects on the flimsy excuse that he was going to write his JAMB examination was not encouraging, attributing it to the fact that her family is poor and helpless.

Her story:

It happened on March 21, 2012. There were three masquerades that day but two were spotted and people started running. I was going to fetch water and as people were running, I equally ran and hid somewhere until the two masquerades passed. After the masquerades passed, I came out and continued with my journey. Soon, I heard a child saying that another masquerade was coming. I didn't see the masquerade but people were running and I ran to enter into someone's house.

The masquerade emerged from a corner (apiam way) and pushed me into the building where I was running to. I tried to escape but could not. It caught up with me and started beating me. What surprised me was that the masquerade said it has been looking for me for long and had now caught up with me. I sought to know what I did to deserve such treatment and at the same time pleading for forgiveness but it continued with its threat.

This time, it swore to take me to a bigger masquerade inside the forest, saying it has been long I had been insulting them. My cries for help and that I was a nursing a baby fell on deaf ears. As the masquerade was dragging me along, a man with wrapper came and pleaded with the masquerade to leave me but it refused, saying that I have insulted them for too long. It insisted on taking me to the bigger masquerade which will compel my clan to bring a cow as sacrifice.

All my pleadings with the man who came to my rescue failed. The masquerade dragged me to a bush path,threw me on the ground fell on me. It held me on the neck to prevent me from shouting and blocked both my eyes and nose. At this stage, I nearly lost consciousness until one man came and rescued me from its grip. He removed the face of the masquerade and that was how he was identified.

As soon as he was identified, he ran away.

More people gathered there and helped to take me where I was given first aid treatment at a chemist before I was taken to St. Joseph Hospital, Opi. I didn't know when I was taken to the hospital. When I started gaining consciousness, I did not see my pant and my bra was torn. It was then I realised that the masquerade raped me. Fear gripped me that the masquerade may have transmitted HIV/AIDS into me.

More Explosive: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1673-masquerade-rapes-undergraduate-nursing-mother-in-nsukka

After the newspapers that had published stories that he is gay and a member of the Illuminati Secret Society had failed to retract their stories; controversial musician Charles Oputa (popularly known as Charly Boy) has given his lawyers "very firm instructions to do everything legally possible to make the people responsible for this accountable to the fullest extent of the law."

In a press statement made available to us on Thursday, Charly Boy said that he is taking the step to protect his name and brand from "ignominious extinction".

"I have made a career of fighting for the rights of others and I will certainly not be shy in fighting for my own rights in a situation such as this," Charly Boy, 60 said.

Last weekend, the National Mirror published stories from Danfo Express, a new publication, in which Mr. Oputa purportedly declared that he is gay and "not ashamed of being gay."

In the article, Mr. Oputa was described as the second publicly known homosexual in Nigeria; the article also held that Charly Boy is the leader of the Illuminati in Nigeria.

Charly boy's tweet after the story went viral on various websites and blogs; vehemently denied the claims the newspaper made. He also asked the National Mirror and another newspaper, the Daily Independent, to publicly retract the stories.

"Ever since these stories broke... I have been inundated with angry calls by my friends, admirers, business associates and family members who have expressed their disgust, disappointment and shock at the 'confessions' they have been reading about in different forums.

"My businesses have irreparably suffered and my family seriously mortified in the public eye.

"I have essentially become an object of ridicule worldwide as a result of these wicked lies being reported as fact.

"In fact, one of my daughters recently wrote me a heart-breaking letter on how this development has affected her emotionally to the point where she was even ashamed and scared of going out in public," Charly Boy said.

Mr. Oputa further stated the newspapers refusal to remove the article from their websites has confirmed his suspicions that they were interested in increasing their circulation rather than reporting the truth.

"For the avoidance of any doubt, I want to assure Nigerians that I am not gay and I am not part of any organization called the 'illuminati' in any way shape or form," Charly Boy said.

"I also categorically state that any reports of my alleged 'confession' to any newspaper is a figment of the imagination of my detractors, and a very insidious attempt to destroy my hard-earned reputation, and that of my Charly Boy brand, all in the mad rush of some newspapers, specifically the National Mirror and the Daily Independent, to increase their circulation through spurious and attention grabbing stories."

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1669-charly-boy-goes-to-court-over-illuminati-homosexuality-allegations

A compound found in marijuana can treat schizophrenia as effectively as antipsychotic medications, with far fewer side effects, according to a preliminary clinical trial.

Researchers led by Markus Leweke of the University of Cologne in Germany studied 39 people with schizophrenia who were hospitalized for a psychotic episode. Nineteen patients were treated with amisulpride, an antipsychotic medication that is not approved in the U.S., but is comparable to other medications that are.

The rest of the patients were given cannabidiol (CBD), a substance found in marijuana that is thought to be responsible for some of its mellowing or anxiety-reducing effects. Unlike the main ingredient in marijuana, THC, which can produce psychotic reactions and may worsen schizophrenia, CBD has antipsychotic effects, according to previous research in both animals and humans.

Neither the patients nor the scientists knew who was getting which drug. At the end of the four-week trial, both groups showed significant clinical improvement in their schizophrenic symptoms, and there was no difference between those getting CBD or amisulpride.

"The results were amazing," says Daniel Piomelli, professor of pharmacology at the University of California-Irvine and a co-author of the study. "Not only was [CBD] as effective as standard antipsychotics, but it was also essentially free of the typical side effects seen with antipsychotic drugs."

Antipsychotic medications can potentially cause devastating and sometimes permanent movement disorders; they can also reduce users' motivation and pleasure. The new generation of antipsychotic drugs also often leads to weight gain and can increase diabetes risk. These side effects have long been known to be a major obstacle to treatment.

In the German study, published online in March by the journal Translational Psychiatry, weight gain and movement problems were seen in patients taking amisulpride, but not CBD.

"These exciting findings should stimulate a great deal of research," says Dr. John Krystal, chair of psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine, who was not associated with the research. He notes that CBD not only had fewer side effects, but also seemed to work better on schizophrenia's so-called "negative symptoms," which are notoriously hard to treat.

Negative symptoms include social withdrawal, blunting of pleasure and lack of motivation, which commonly occur in schizophrenia. Since current antipsychotic medications can themselves cause the same problems, however, it wasn't clear whether CBD was better than amisulpride at treating these symptoms, or whether CBD simply caused fewer side effects to begin with.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1664-marijuana-treats-schizophrenia-clinical-trial

The school authority of Moshood Abiola University, Lagos has asked all students to vacate the school premises before 11am this morning

The school will be shut down for two weeks in the first instance.

In a related development, our roving crew gathered that the UNILAG ALUMNI has taken the federal government to court over the re-naming of the institution without due process.

The Presidency and the leadership of the National Assembly we gathered will be meeting by 12 noon today to smoothen the rough edges concerning the renaming of University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University of Lagos.

Meanwhile, on the day 2 of ongoing #OccupUnilag the protesting students have barricaded the Third Main Land Bridge in Lagos, causing heavy vehicular traffic along that axis

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1658-maulag-closed-for-2-weeks-alumni-takes-fg-to-court-for-name-change

A New Jersey man allegedly cut out his entrails in front of police and then threw bits of his flesh and intestines at them.

The gruesome scene played out at a home in Hackensack, N.J., where 43-year-old Wayne Carter allegedly barricaded himself in on Sunday, NBC New York reported.

Officers got a call that morning when a witness said Carter was threatening to harm himself with a knife. Two cops responded, kicked in the door and found Carter in the corner, the station reported.

Carter allegedly ignored officers' orders to put down the knife, and instead began stabbing himself in the abdomen, neck and legs.

An attempt to pepper spray the bleeding man had no effect, the Associated Press reported.

That's when Carter -- disemboweled but responsive -- reportedly threw bits of his skin and intestines at the officers.

They decided to retreat and call in the Bergen County SWAT team, Hackensack police Lt. John Heinemann told reporters. The team was able to subdue Carter and get him to a hospital, where he remained in critical condition on Monday.

Heinemann said he believes that drugs or mental illness may have led to the horrific incident, but those details haven't been confirmed.

No charges have yet been filed due to the unusual nature of the incident.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1652-man-throws-intestines-at-officers-after-stabbing-himself-police-say-

Reports reaching of Channelkoos indicate that thousands of students of the University of Lagos are protesting the change of name of the school announced this morning in a nation wide broadcast by President Goodluck Jonathan to mark this year's Democracy Day.

The students are chanting and singing anti-government songs. They are accusing the president of having taking a poor decision regarding the renaming of the institution and they have vowed to resist the renaming of the institution.

The protesters are heading towards the school gate and are about pouring into the streets.

The school was renamed after late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, who was died on July 7 1998. He was the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 election considered by many as the most credible election Nigeria ever had.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1650-massive-protest-in-unilag-over-renaming-of-university-after-mko-abiola

Massive Protest In UNILAG Over Renaming Of University After M.K.O Abiola

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1650-massive-protest-in-unilag-over-renaming-of-university-after-mko-abiola

agabaI23: O na-agu m aguu ihu gi.

O na-agu m aguu ihu gi = I am longing to see you.

^This is close, but not exactly sir.

The Nigerian Army on Monday began the court-martial of 14 soldiers serving in Special Task Forces in Maiduguri, Jos and Bauchi for alleged misconduct.

The accused include two Colonels, a Master Warrant Officer, seven Lance Corporals and four Privates.

The GOC, 3 Armoured Division, Jack Nwaogbo, while inaugurating the court at the 3 Armoured Division in Jos, said the trial is to determine the culpability of the accused in the charges brought against them.

"Court-martial is one of the procedures in the Armed forces to right some of the perceived wrongdoings by either officers or soldiers who may have erred or allegedly erred in the course of performing their duties," he said.

"This court-martial is meant to try alleged offences committed by officers and soldiers serving in 3 Armoured Division, the Special Task Forces in Plateau and Bauchi, and the Joint Special Task Force in Maiduguri."

Mr. Nwaogbo explained that the 3 Division is the only location in the North authorised to set up such court to try erring personnel.

The GOC urged members of the public to always report cases of abuses and misconduct by military personnel. He said that such reports would help the authorities enforce discipline and the rights of victims.

"For now, all of them (accused) are presumed innocent until proven otherwise by the court; it is not my duty to pronounce any one of them guilty for now," the GOC said.

"That is why in line with my responsibility as the GOC, and also in line with the Armed Forces Act CAP A-20 laws of the federation of Nigeria, I have set up this court to look into these cases and to adjudicate as appropriate."

Mr. Nwaogbo urged the defence counsels to look into the charges proffered against their clients to ensure that justice is done. He also encouraged the prosecuting counsels to cooperate with the court.

Stephen Andow, General Staff Officer, 3 Division, explained that the offences leveled against the accused are beyond the powers of their various commanders.

The President of the six-man Court, Adamoh Salihu, pledged to be fair and just in the discharge of their duties.

The details of the charges were not given.

One of the defence counsels, who spoke on condition of anonymity, however said the accused are facing a two-count charge of negligence in the performance of military duties and miscellaneous offences relating to service property.

The offences are punishable under sections 62 (b) and 58 of the Armed Forces Act CAP A-20.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1642-nigerian-army-court-martial-14-stf-soldiers-for-qgross-misconductq