February 05, 2007

Airline operators lose N630 million to bird strikes

Domestic airline operators have lost N630 million to the incessant menace of bird strikes in major airports in the country.

Sola Adekola, Lagos - 05.02.2007

Disclosing this, the business development manager of Aero Contractors, Mark Snoxell, said his own airline had suffered losses to the bird strikes.

Due to the heavy losses, many of the operators have confronted the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to put an end to the menace.

Bird strike incidents, which have become incessant in the recent past especially at the Lagos airport, Port-Harcourt International Airport and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, had forced many airlines to cancel or delay their flights.

The airlines took the bird strike case to FAAN, it was disclosed, to force the authorities to tackle the menace.

Narrating the ordeal of Aero Contractors, Snoxell disclosed that at times, the airline lost more than three blades as a result. The strike, according to him, did not go to the core of the engines, but through the fan blade.

Posted by Publisher at 02:56 PM | Comments (0)

Tension in Ibadan: Fear of reprisal attacks heightens - How Ladoja, Akala were held hostage in Akure

PALPABLE tension has enveloped Ibadan, Oyo State, following the violence in Akure, Ondo State, on Saturday.

By Tope Abiola, Akin Durodola and Yinka Oladoyinbo - 05.02.2007

Fear has gripped the people of the state over likely reprisal attacks on Governor Rashidi Ladoja’s camp, which was alleged to have caused the death of Oladunni Olaniyan, a nephew of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) standardbearer of the state, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, during the party’s rally on Saturday.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that some aggrieved individuals in Ibadan and Ogbomoso from the Akala/Adedibu camp had vowed to avenge the deaths of Akala’s nephew and two others.

Some political thugs belonging to the two camps, the Nigerian Tribune gathered, had equipped themselves with guns, knives and charms as they move round the state to hunt for one another.

A source told the Nigerian Tribune that the Akala/Adedibu men were now poised to meet the governor’s followers anywhere in the state to avenge the death.

“The battle line is drawn and we shall show them that they don’t have the monopoly of thuggery,” an aide of the deputy governor declared.

Asked by the Nigerian Tribune how innocent citizens of the state would not be molested in the course of the attacks, he stated that “we know our enemies. Anybody who is not identified with the attack in Akure would not be touched. But I can assure you that they would not go scot-free.”

But the deputy governor, Otunba Alao-Akala, appealed to his people to be calm and concentrate on how to win the April election, rather than taking revenge.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, Mr. Dotun Oyelade, head of media and publicity of Akala’s campaign organisation, said that “the deputy governor is a peaceful man. He is not interested in taking vengeance. Though, he felt disturbed and surprised that the governor had to export violence to a neighbouring state, all in his bid to secure the gubernatorial ticket. This is very shameful and barbaric.”

Also speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, Alhaji Yayah Adetunji, aide of Chief Lamidi Adedibu, said that “Baba is not interested in violence. He is not ready to launch a reprisal attack, his focus now is how to win the election. What we are planning is how to record victory in the April election but not on how to be killing people. God will take vengeance.”

Ladoja also tasked the security agencies to investigate and bring to book those that were responsible for the act of violence aimed at him.

Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Prince Ade Adekanmbi, the governor, who said his camp was not noted for thuggery, called on the security agencies to do their job.

“Things cannot continue like this, especially when there is a breach of peace and security. We are not noted for thuggery, we expect the security agencies to investigate the incident and bring to book the perpetrators of the dastardly act,” he said.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the tension is high mostly in the Iwo Road area of Ibadan where violence erupted on Saturday night when the news of the deputy governor’s nephew’s death got to his friends.

In another development, Senator Ladoja and Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala were held hostage in Akure till Sunday following the clash between their supporters on Saturday.

The two principal actors in the political crisis rocking the state could not return to Ibadan after the flag-off of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-West campaign held at the Akure Township Stadium.

The governor and his deputy had planned to return to their state capital after the programme but could not do so because of the tension that greeted the clash among their supporters.

Some of the advanced teams of Ladoja and Akala that left the venue had to return to Akure following the reports that the supporters had laid ambush for reprisal attack on the Akure-Ilesa express way.

Many of the vehicles that conveyed the supporters of the deputy governor were at the main entrance of the Ondo State Government House, Alagbaka, as at 11.00 p.m. on Saturday.

Sources at the Government House said that the governor and his deputy were housed at different locations within the Government House.

While Ladoja was said to be with Governor Olusegun Agagu in his lodge, Akala was lodged at the residence of the Ondo State deputy governor, Otunba Omolade Oluwateru.

It was learnt that the two were not put in the presidential lodge according to protocol, in order to avoid a breakdown of law and order in the government house.

The source, however, stated that it was Agagu that prevailed on the two of them not to return to Ibadan because of the tense situation. They, however, left early in the morning on Sunday.

However, in spite of keeping the governor and his deputy at the Government House, their supporters still engaged in another clash at the front of the governor’s main lodge after that of the stadium was suppressed by the police.

Following the crisis, the military authorities had deployed military personnel to strategic areas of Akure, the state capital, to forestall the escalation of the crisis.

At Old Garage area, more than 50 solders from 33 Artillery Brigade in Akure were stationed in the area in army vehicles marked NA192B01 and NA 714B01.

It would be recalled that three people were on Saturday killed during a clash between the supporters of the governor and that of his deputy.

Besides, several vehicles belonging to the Oyo State government were destroyed in clash during which suspected political thugs brandished dangerous weapons like cutlasses, axes, guns and charms.

The clash followed the final adoption of Akala as the governorship candidate of the PDP in Oyo State for the April elections.

The supporters of the Oyo State deputy governor had rushed out of the Akure township stadium, venue of the rally, to celebrate the final announcement of Alao-Akala as party’s candidate when they clashed with the supporters of Ladoja.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Police in Abuja said that it had arrested six suspects in the Saturday mayhem, while also confirming that a vehicle with registration number Pilot 1 OYO has been impounded.

Force Public Relations Officer, Haz Iwendi, in a press statement, said that the police so far were interrogating six suspects, while investigation were still in progress.

“The police swiftly moved into the scene of the fracas and restored normalcy. Two of the miscreants were arrested and 34 rounds of ammunition were recovered from them.

“A vehicle with registration no Pilot 1 OYO that was found at the scene was impounded when the vehicle was searched, for prohibited firearms and 131 rounds of live catridges were recovered.”

The police, therefore, warn all those involved in political thuggery to desist in their own interest.

However, sources close to the state government said the discovered firearms might have been planted in the impounded vehicle by opponents when trouble broke out.

The source close to the security department said that it was possible for the opponents to plant incriminating weapons in the vehicle “because at the time of the mayhem, the police escorts who are majorly occupants of the vehicle had gone with the state governor to the venue of the rally, leaving behind only the driver, who also took to his heels and ran for dear life when pandemonium broke out.”

Posted by Publisher at 02:55 PM | Comments (0)

North in confusion over Yar’Adua, Atiku, Buhari

THE three geopolitical zones of Northern Nigeria are now in a dilemma over the choice of a presidential candidate for the April polls with the trio of Umar Yar’Adua, Atiku Abubakar and Muhammadu Buhari at the centre of the controversy.

By Olawale Rasheed - 05.02.2007

Nigerian Tribune findings revealed that from Kano to Borno and down to Kaduna, the candidature of the trio was a subject of controversy among the Northern political elite, with the situation compounded by the candidature of Governor Attahiru Bafarawa said to be holding sway in the Sultanate states.

While Buhari took the lion share of Northern votes in 2003, the situation is now reportedly muddled up as the three camps are threatening to split the usually monolithic votes of the North in previous elections.

Findings showed that in the Northwestern geopolitical zones comprising Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi states, the situation has changed with Yar’Adua, Abubakar and Bafarawa grabbling part of Buhari’s previous base.

In Kano and Jigawa, Nigerian Tribune gathered that Buhari’s hold on the ancient city was being challenged by both Vice President Abubakar and Governor Yar’Adua.

It was learnt that the battle for the soul of Kano might be determined by who Governor Ibrahim Shekarau decides to support between Abubakar and Buhari.

Shekarau is said to have fallen out with Buhari for reasons best known to the duo who were together in the 2003 polls.

In Katsina State, the popularity of Buhari is reported to be still high despite the Yar’Adua candidature, just as reports from the state showed that the duo of Atiku and Yar’Adua are making inroads.

For the North-East zone comprising Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba and Adamawa, the situation is said to be similar to that of the North-West as the three candidates have also sharply divided the Hausa-Fulani elite in the zone.

Findings showed that the vice president has the upper hand in the zone but his hold was being threatened by the candidature of both Yar’Adua and Buhari.

Buhari who gained millions of votes in the region in the last polls was being overtaken by Yar’Adua who has the backing of some leading Hausa-Fulani elite who are fighting both Buhari and Abubakar.

The situation in the North Central where the chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) hails from is reportedly even more confusing.

Top leaders of minority tribes, especially in the Middle Belt, are said to be divided over the trio with Chief Solomon Lar leading the pro-Atiku group while Chief Paul Unongo is leading the pro-Yar’Adua group.

It was learnt that the main Middle Belt group, the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), had become polarised due to the question of who to back for presidency.

Sources within the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) told the Nigerian Tribune that the body could not take any position because the outcome was not predictable.

According to the source, who is an official of the ACF, the candidature of the trio was an issue that could not be decided upon because “the factors and questions at hand are many.”

It was also learnt that the same lack of unanimity existed within the council of emirs and chiefs in the North, a reality briefly touched upon by the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, on Saturday at his palace.

The ACF official said “the greatest fear we are having now is that the South may decide who wins the presidency for the North.”

Posted by Publisher at 02:53 PM | Comments (0)

April polls: FG places security agencies on red alert

THE Federal Government has placed all its security agencies on red alert nationwide while it has also ordered immediate embargo on annual leave of all security personnel in the various services.

Jacob Segun Olatunji, Abuja - 05.02.2007

Presidency sources told the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday in Abuja that the action became necessary following unfavourable security reports across the states on the activities of some politicians and ethnic militia groups allegedly threatening to disrupt the forthcoming general election.

The source named the states already marked out as operational centres as Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Rivers, Bayelsa, Edo, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Bauchi and Abuja.

Public buildings and installations were also said to have been marked for attacks.

The source revealed that those behind the plot had also reportedly singled out the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja and its state and local government offices for attack should certain candidates either be fielded or disqualified by the commission from the elections.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the police high command had directed all the state police commissioners to put their commands on red alert while situation reports in the states should be forwarded to the force headquarters, Abuja, on daily basis.

Apart from this, the commissioners of police have also been directed to meet with all stakeholders, including leaders of the various political parties and leaders of thought in their respective states on the need for peace to reign.

The commissioners of police are also expected to monitor the activities of all political parties, aspirants, candidates, politicians and various interest groups and report same to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero.

Mr. Ehindero had warned against any lapses from any of the state commands as this would be viewed as an act of disloyalty to the Federal Government.

A similar directive had also been sent out by the heads of other security agencies such as the State Security Services (SSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), while both the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) had also been placed on similar alert at the nation’s air, land and sea borders.

Only last week, the police impounded seven trailer-load of assorted weapons which had been moved to Abuja for further investigation.

Posted by Publisher at 02:51 PM | Comments (0)

Lagos ANPP threatens to sue Tinubu - Over plan to borrow N14bn

CRISIS is imminent between Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the state over plans by the state government to borrow N14 billion for local governments in the state.

Kayode Akinmade, Lagos - 05.02.2007

ANPP’s governorship candidate, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, said in Lagos at the weekend that the state government would be dragged to court if it continued with its plan to borrow the money.

He also said the state must conduct council elections this month, failure which it would also be dragged to court.

Speaking at a press briefing, the senator said plans by the state government to borrow the N14 billion were in violation of financial regulations and the constitution of the country.

He said that the governor had no business borrowing money on behalf of the councils since they were another arm of government.

“Why borrow money for local governments if you believe in separation of powers? The move is against what we fought for in Lagos State. We are at the forefront of the battle for fiscal federalism”, he said.

The senator warned that any bank that “colluded” with the state government to realise the plan did so at its own risk.

Posted by Publisher at 02:49 PM | Comments (0)

December 22, 2006

Again, 17 killed in Ondo auto crash

NO fewer than 17 people were killed in an auto accident that occurred on the Akure-Ondo road on Thursday. The accident, which involved two Toyota Hiace commercial buses, was said to have happened at about 6.30 a.m. at Wasimi Village, Ondo Road.

Yinka Oladoyinbo, Akure - 22.12.2006

An eyewitness said that the two 18-seater commercial buses involved in the accident with registration number XA 419 KTP and XB123 AKR were conveying traders to the market. Only three passengers, including a three-month-old baby whose mother also died, survived the accident.

They were, however, in intensive care at the State Specialist Hospital , Ondo. The Ondo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr. Ahmed Hassan, who confirmed the accident, said that it was due to excessive speeding.

According to him, the drivers of the two vehicles, who also died in the accident, were said to be on top speed when it happened. He said one of the vehicles was trying to overtake another vehicle when it had a head-on collision with the on-coming commercial bus.

Sympathizers and passersby were said to have used cutlass, axe and other sharp objects to cut the vehicles before the trapped bodies of victims could be removed. Hassan added that 11 men and six women, mostly traders, died in the accident, while many of the victims were Igbo traders.

He said the bodies of the victims had already been deposited at the mortuary of the State Specialist Hospital in Ondo. Many Igbo traders trooped to the hospital as the news of the accident reached the town, to identify the bodies of the deceased.

Sympathisers, particularly women, were seen wailing at the hospital. Hassan advised motorists to be careful on the highways and adhere strictly to the highway codes.

Posted by Publisher at 01:24 PM | Comments (0)

December 19, 2006

Supreme Court out with new guidelines for becoming SAN

NEW guidelines have been approved for the conferment of the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on legal practitioners by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee.

Lanre Adewole, Abuja - 19.12.2006

The Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mr. Danlami Zenchi, who briefed journalists on Monday on the development, said applicants for the title would start paying a mandatory non-refundable fee of N200,000 for the application from 2007.

The application had before now been at no cost. Zenchi said the fee would be used by the conferring committee to travel around the country to authenticate the claims of applicants in their forms.

He added that the committee decided to take the cost of investigation off the Federal Government as it was the practice in the United Kingdom, where applicants for the title of Queen’s Counsel, an equivalent of SAN, pay about 2,000 pounds.

The Chief Registrar said the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) which had some of its senior members on the committee that fashioned out the new guidelines, received the guidelines with applause.

Though a part of the new guidelines was released to newsmen, some of the new criteria considered as confidential were kept back by Zenchi.

He added that there would be no waivers on the application fee, stating that those that had earlier applied for the 2007 award must pay the fee before their application could be considered.

Submission of applications, according to him, would end on March 31, 2007 after which the committee would commence its work.

Posted by Publisher at 08:01 AM | Comments (0)

November 15, 2006

PTDF probe: Senate extends panel’s sitting

THE report on the probe of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) account by Senate ad-hoc committee may not be ready on time, as the Senate resolved to extend committee’s sitting by four weeks on Tuesday.

IDOWU SAMUEL, Abuja - 15.11.2006

The Senate said the extension became necessary in the light of unforeseen circumstances which had affected the committee’s sitting.

The Senate Committee Chairman on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, disclosed that the ad-hoc committee would welcome testimonies from both President Olusegun Obasanjo and Vice President Atiku Abubakar both of whom had signified intention to appear before it.

Ndoma-Egba also stressed that live telecast of the public sitting of the committee would not be discouraged, saying any media organisation which desired to give the public sitting live coverage should forward the request to that effect early enough to the committee.

According to Ndoma-Egba, the probe of the PTDF account by the Senate required a long time to enable members of the committee digest huge volumes of documents and memoranda it had received.
He said the four-week extension of the committee sitting did not mean that the Senate was foot dragging on the job, stressing that the Senate had earlier under-estimated the volume of documentary evidence on the matter.

He disclosed that the last Sallah break, the crash of ADC aircraft which claimed the life of one of the committees members, Senator Sule Yari Ghandi and the initial delay in receipt of memoranda were factors which slowed down the progress of the committee.

Posted by Publisher at 09:37 AM | Comments (0)

November 13, 2006

I will contest in 2007, Atiku vows

IN spite of the lingering face-off between him and President Olusegun Obasanjo, Vice President Atiku Abubakar vowed at the weekend that he would contest the presidential election in 2007.

BOLA BADMUS, Abuja - 13.11.2006

Abubakar made the vow when he received a delegation of political stakeholders from Gombe State led by former deputy governor of the state, Mr. Joshua Lidani, at his residence in Abuja.

The group had come on a solidarity visit and also to call on the vice president not to relent in his efforts to seek the office of president in 2007.

Reports monitored on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) network quoted Abubakar as saying that he would reveal his presidential plans before the end of the year, just as he said he wanted to serve the people of Nigeria for the rest of his life.

“I have the constitutional right to contest for the position of the president and when the time comes, I will inform everyone of my desire to do so,” the vice-president said in a statement issued by his Chief Information Officer, Stephen Nelson.

Speaking on the ongoing registration of voters, Vice President Abubakar urged the delegation to educate the people to participate fully in the exercise.

pointing out that that was the only way they could help choose a leader of their choice and ensure a peaceful change in the polity come 2007.

“Democracy remains the only means that guarantees the freedom of choice for us,” he added.

Posted by Publisher at 02:02 PM | Comments (0)

November 05, 2006

Dariye’s impeachment: Assembly members missing

An air of apprehension has gripped members of the Plateau State House of Assembly over the whereabouts of the two members of the Plateau State House of Assembly who refused to support the impeachment move initiated by six members of the House against Governor Joshua Dariye.

Isaac Shobayo, Jos - 05.11.2006

Already, the sixteen members of the state House of Assembly have declared that they do not recognise the panel set up by the Acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Lazarus Dakyen, and would have nothing to do with the findings of the panel.

Members of the House and close relations of missing lawmakers, Peter Azi and Pam Dongs, told Sunday Tribune that since they were moved to Lagos last week, they had been making efforts to get in touch with them without success.

A member of the House who spoke with Sunday Tribune on condition of anonymity, said the two lawmakers and the Clerk of the House, Mr. Cornelius Shilobal, who have been in detention in Abuja, were moved to Lagos with the aim of charging them to Court, but were neither charged to court nor taken back to their detention cells in Abuja.

He added that some members of their families had gone round the various EFCC cells in Lagos State last week but could not trace them, adding that they returned to Abuja and still did not find them.

He also claimed that the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc committee looking into the Plateau crisis, had asked that they should either be charged to court or released, adding that it was based on this that people were of the opinion that they might have been released.

Posted by Publisher at 11:04 AM | Comments (0)

October 31, 2006

Anambra lawmakers relocate family members

FOLLOWING alleged threat on their lives, some members of the Anambra State House of Assembly have relocated their families to neighbouring states.

ALPHONSUS AGBORH, Asaba - 31.10.2006

Nigerian Tribune gathered that some of the legislators are now taking refuge in Asaba, the Delta state capital.

The chairman, House committee on information, Honourable Echezona Okechi, however denied the allegation at the weekend when he addressed the press in Asaba.

But in a save-our-soul letter addressed to the police in Awka, copies of which were distributed in Asaba, 17 of the 30 lawmakers said Governor Obi had threatened them and alleged that they intended to perpetrate arson.

The legislators added that Governor Obi was inciting Anambra citizens to burn their properties.

They also alleged that the governor had been instigating traditional rulers to ostracise them.

Earlier, the lawmakers had denied that there was a parallel House of Assembly in the state.

Honourable Okechi told reporters that the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, should arrest those who constituted themselves as principal officers of the House illegally.

Posted by Publisher at 09:06 AM | Comments (0)

October 21, 2006

Our Leaders Should Undergo Psychiatric Test - Ribadu

THE chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Thursday in Lagos declared that those intending to become the leaders of the country should be mandated to undergo psychiatric test to check the growing rate of public looting.

By Dapo Falade and Dele Ayeleso - 21.10.2006

Ribadu gave the charge while speaking at a public lecture tagged “Social Renewal and the Opportunity for Retroopectives” organised to mark the 60th birthday anniversaryof Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe (rtd) at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).

According to Ribadu, who was represented at the event by Mr. Ibrahim Ramon, the rate of looting of public funds was becoming alarming and, as such, those coming in to assume leadership responsibilities must be made to undergo thorough medical examinations.

Alleging that more than N43 trillion naira has so far been looted from the national treasury. the EFCC boss said Nigeria has more than enough resources to make it grow at par with most of the western countries but for the alarming rate of public corruption which, he said, was retarding national growth and development.

Stating that corruption has long been established in the country before the advent of the late General Sani Abacha in power, he noted, however, that the late maximum ruler had made a name for himself and his family as the greatest looter Nigeria had ever produced.

“As you are all aware in this hall, there has never been any other president in this country that was as corrupt as the late General Abacha,” he said.

Various speakers at the event eulogised the virtues of the celebrant, Admiral Akhighe, whom many of them saw as being in a good stead to become the nation’s next president.

Former Vice President Alex Ekwueme said he was proud of the celebration, adding that he was proud of the determination of General Abdulsalam Abubakar and Akhigbe to hand over the reigns of governance to a civilian government in 1999, noting that it had never been easy giving up a position of power voluntarily.

For the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akolu, the birthday lecture signified two things namely, hope for Nigeria and that the efficiency and capability of the Nigerian Police to make positive changes in the country was not in doubt.

“Nuhu Ribadu and his team has achieved what Napoleon could not do. But they should not do what they should not do. They should act within the ambit of the law and they should not fear anybody, even if Akiolu is involved. And they should not allow themselves to be used as personal instrument,” he noted.

Posted by Publisher at 02:20 PM | Comments (0)

October 14, 2006

Merger With ACD Deceitful - AD Scribe

CONTRARY to media report that the Alliance for Democracy (AD) was planning to merge with some other political parties to form the Action Congress (AC), the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Rafiu Salau has disclosed that there was no plan on the part of AD to such an effect.

By Dapo Falade - 14.10.2006

In a statement he made available to Saturday Tribune, Mr. Salau alleged that the much talked about merger with the Advance Congress of Democrats (ACD) and five other political parties was “a hatchet plan of the splinter groups from various parties to deceive the people into a state of bewilderment.

“I believe Nigerians are yet to see the last of the splinter groups. The same people who defected to form ACD have come up with a deceitful agenda that they will merge the parties they left long ago with their party, ACD.”

Stating that AD cannot lose its identity or merge with ACD to form a mega-party which had no focus, the AD chieftain said: Unfortunately for them, AD is deeply rooted, not only as a political structure at all levels but also in the minds of the people.

“The fact is that AD is irreplaceable. It has its democratic root right from the First Republic. So, it cannot now be thrown into the dustbin because of the personal interest of some individuals.

“Being the oldest party and the only one identified with the people and without any tribal or religious sentiment, AD cannot leave democracy, the tool of the people for progressive governance, in the hands of political traders.”

Posted by Publisher at 11:28 AM | Comments (0)

October 10, 2006

EFCC hunts for Kalu’s mum, brother: They’re assassins from Presidency - Kalu

Efforts of the men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC) to arrest the mother of Governor Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State, Chief (Mrs.) Eunice Uzor Kalu, in her Aba residence early on Monday proved abortive as the security men attached to the woman proved a hard nut to crack for the EFFC operatives.

Biola Azeez, Umuahia - 10.10.2006

Nigerian Tribune investigation revealed that the EFFC men, numbering over 50, had been on the trail of the woman, the governor’s brother, Mascot, and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, in the past four days without success.

However, the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State (BCA) on Monday morning said the people that attacked the residence of the mother of the governor were suspected assassins, who did not succeed in gaining entry into the home of the woman in Aba.

Nigerian Tribune investigations revealed that the EFCC retreated because they did not want stray bullets to kill anyone in the neighbouring houses. It was also gathered that the EFCC operatives who had their base in Port Harcourt , Rivers State , only had few of their men on surveillance in Abia State before the attempt was made to arrest the mother of the governor.

Nigerian Tribune also gathered that the mother of the governor, the governor’s brother and other members of the household had been taken to the Government House, Umuahia, where security men attached to the governor were keeping vigil. It was also learnt that security had been beefed up around the Government House.

However, Governor Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State has condemned what he called an assassination attempt on his mother by unknown persons in police uniform who claimed they were from the presidency.

The governor, in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Onuoha Udeala, said if not for God’s intervention and the resistance put up by the security men at the gate, the assassins would have gained entry into the residence after shooting for over two hours.

He said that in recent times, his mother and members of his family had been receiving death threats from unknown persons who claimed they were not comfortable with his outspokenness on national issues.

Kalu called on the law enforcement agencies to start a full-scale investigation into the incident with a view to determining the veracity of their claim that they came from the presidency.

Posted by Publisher at 09:23 AM | Comments (0)

October 08, 2006

Plot to remove Iwu, INEC boss, exposed

A clandenstine plot which would lead to the removal of the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Maurice IWU from office was unfolded in Abuja on Friday.

Taiwo Adisa, Abuja - 08.10.2006

Presidency sources told Sunday Tribune that following a compilation of the alleged sins of Iwu by some insiders in the Commission, two seniopr officers of the Commission from the South South geo-political zone, are being positioned for the job.

What is not clear so far to the plotters is how President Olusegun Obasanjo would react to the moves.

Sources told Sunday Tribune that the insiders in the commission, playing on the suspicion that the Presidency was disatisfied with the way Iwu was carrying out his assignment had compiled his 'sins' and forwarded same to the Presidency.

Some of the issues the INEC chieftains believed the Presidency was unhappy about included the adoption of the Direct Data Capture (DDC) for the registration of the voters' register, which would also entail the opening of databank for thumbprint and photographs of voters and the use of electronic components as part of the 2007 elections.

It was believed that such measures could derail the attempt by certain forces to influence the outcome of elections. "Iwu is seen as someone who wants to take the computerisation matter too far, the measures he is introducing could upset some rigging plans," a source said, adding that plans have been concluded to either force INEC to adopt the manual method of registration for the 2007 election or get the chairman replaced by ensuring that the presidency is dissatisfied with him.

Iwu is due to appear before the Senate on Tuesday to demonstrate the electronic component of the voters' registration machines. Sources also said that the N20 billion INEC cheque, which was rejected by the Central Bank last week may have been a part of the deal to frustrate the Commission's preparations for the 2007 elections.

It was gathered that some emmisaries, claiming to be speaking the minds of some power brokers have already sent emmissaries to the Chairman to immediately jettison the use of eletronic register for the forthcoming elections.

The Commission's funds, with which it hoped to place orders for the equipment are still trapped between the Central Bank and the Due Process Unit of the Presidency.

But it was confirmed that the INEC Chairman has decided to set aside some areas as special areas for the purpose of the registration. The special areas are to flag off the voters' registration with the use of Direct Data Capture machines in view of the shortage of the equipment.

Iwu was said to have told his Comissioners that instead of postponing the exercise, the registration should commence in the special areas, with difficult terrains, while it woulkd be done afterwards in the other areas across the country.

The exercise is to start with 150,000 units of the DDC machines. But no official of the electoral Commission could be reached for reaction on Friday.

Posted by Publisher at 10:47 AM | Comments (0)

OBJ writes Vatsa’s widow on IBB

President Olusegun Obasanjo has finally reacted to a petition by Safiya, the widow of late Gen. Mamman Vatsa, who was executed by the regime of Gen. Ibrahim Bagangida over alleged coup plot in 1986.

Lanre Adewole, Abuja - 08.10.2006

In a letter obtained exclusively by Sunday Tribune Safiya was told by the President that she should drag to God the former military president, Gen. Babangida and others in the regime she claimed killed her husband unjustly.

The President also told Safiya in the letter that the federal government would have instituted a legal action into the issues raised by her, but for the unending legal issues which such move could generate.

The President’s letter was entitled “Re-Request for Very Important Urgent Security Meeting: Late Gen. Mamman Vatsa Demand of the Widow - Chief (Mrs.) Safiya Mamman Yiya Vatsa and Children.”

The letter reads: “I write to thank you most sincerely for your courtesy call on me, during which you presented some demands on your behalf and that of your children.

“I have gone through each of the demands you made regarding your late husband. The demand include payment of his outstanding entitlements, compensation for his illegal killing, and the return of his seized assets. You also demanded the exhumation of his body and its return to the family for full military burial.

“Each of these demands, considered from the point of view of an aggrieved spouse wishing to redeem the image of her late husband, is a legitimate and understandable endeavour.

“You will however agree with me that the demands have to be considered within the context of the existing legal order of the time, overriding public policy and national interest.

“For instance, re-opening this matter now will give rise to a conundrum of legal issues which may be difficult to resolve definitely.

“Meeting demands such as these will no doubt re-open old wounds arising after a period of over twenty years and would therefore negate the current efforts of national reconciliation and forgiveness.

“In addition to his contribution to various areas of national life, your late husband made invaluable contributions to the development of Abuja as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“Government will therefore consider any measure to ensure that his contribution is not forgotten. “For a start, since forfeiture of assets is not part of the prescribed punishment for coup plotting, government may consider your request for the return of your husband’s seized assets in due course.

“You can therefore assist government to achieve this objective by forwarding a list of such assets to aid further action in this regard. “Finally, in matters like this, God is the ultimate arbiter and as believers, we must therefore feel encouraged to turn over all that has happened to Him, trusting in His infinite capacity to provide solutions to all problems.”

Our sister publication, the Nigerian Tribune, had exclusively reported that Safiya’s petition was transferred to the Ministry of Justice for legal advice by the Department of State Security Service (SSS) after the latter had concluded preliminary investigations on the issues raised in the petition.

The ministry was expected to return the matter to the SSS for a final probe, before final decision would be taken on the ways to address the controversial claims made by Safiya and her children against Gen. Babangida and his regime.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), was reportedly abroad during the referral to the ministry and the package from the SSS was said to have been received by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Professor Ignatius Ayera.

With no denial from any quarters on the exclusive referral story, General Babangida’s camp reportedly contacted top Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) in readiness for a possible prosecution over the matter.

Safiya was accused by the Babangida’s group of being a tool in the hands of some powerful forces, including the Presidency, who were desirous of stopping Babangida from participating in the presidential election in 2007.

President Obasanjo is believed not to be disposed to the idea of having Babangida as a successor. A governor from the North-West, who is believed to be eyeing the presidency, is being alleged by the Babangida’s camp as the mastermind of Safiya’s protest on the killing of her husband.

The Babangida camp had called for the prosecution of all past military leaders, including the incumbent president, should the federal government decide to try Babangida over Vatsa’s execution.

Posted by Publisher at 10:26 AM | Comments (0)

Zamfara lawmakers run away as EFCC storms Gusau

Members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have gone into hiding by the time Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC) stormed the state to arrest the legislators last week Friday.

Muhammad Sabiu, Gusau - 08.10.2006

An impeccable source at the State House of Assembly dropped this hint while speaking with Sunday Tribune in Gusau on Saturday. The source said the EFCC arrived the premises of the State House of Assembly in the early hours of Friday to effect the arrest of the 24 members of the House but none of the legislators was seen.

According to our source, the EFCC, after staying for several hours and could not make any arrest, left the premises of the House in their two black jeeps. Investigations conducted by Sunday Tribune revealed that, as at Wednesday, some of the members were sighted at the Government House, trying to see the governor.

The Speaker of the House, Alh. Muhammed Bawa Gusau, was seen leading some members of the House to donate some items to the victims of the recent flood disaster in the state. When contacted, the Speaker,Alhaji Muhammed Bawa, said he was not aware of any attempt by the EFCC men to arrest any member.

He maintained that if the EFCC wanted any clarification on anything in the state, they were ready to comply. He denied the rumour that members of the House had gone into hiding to avoid arrest.

It will be recalled that only last week, the EFCC was reported to have sent a report indicting the Zamfara State governor, Alhaji Ahmed Sanni Yerima, of several offences to the State House of Assembly.

It was learnt that the Zamfara lawmakers initially refused to look into the report, but that a new twist in their approach made them to state their readiness to begin the impeachment proceedings any moment from now.

It was further learnt that like the case in Bayelsa and Ekiti, the shift was consequent upon the discovery of some constituency projects the lawmakers were supposed to execute but which were either not done or abandoned after receiving substantial amount of money from the state treasury.

The threat to arrest the lawmakers, it was gathered, softened their hard stance and changed their positions. This necessitated the new resolve to begin the impeachment move.

The EFCC boss, Nuhu Ribadu, during his visit to the National Assembly, had described the situation in Zamfara as direct dipping the hand into the state treasury. Sources close to the EFCC further described the Zamfara case as the only fool proof evidence of corruption where all the facts and evidence needed were in the hand of the body.

Posted by Publisher at 10:25 AM | Comments (0)

October 03, 2006

Pressure mounts on Plateau Lawmakers to impeach Dariye

There are strong indications that pressure is being mounted on the embattled Plateau State House of Assembly members in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to commence an impeachment process against Governor Joshua Dariye.

ISAAC SHOBAYO, Jos - 03.10.2006

The EFCC last Friday arraigned 15 members of the Assembly in a Lagos High Court on a 39-count charge of money laundering and discharged two of the lawmakers, Nanchan Napchwat and Hosea Azi, after the commission withdrew the charges against them.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the manner the lawmakers were being arraigned in batches was giving Plateau State government, especially those around the governor sleepless night and giving room for speculation that EFCC had started working on some of them to sign for an impeachment of the governor.

It was learnt that the fear became more apparent following the impeachment notice served by the Ekiti State House of Assembly on Governor Ayo Fayose and his deputy last week.

Posted by Publisher at 02:39 PM | Comments (0)

2007 polls shaky - INEC’s N20bn trapped in CBN

IF what the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said in Abuja yesterday was anything to go by, then the 2007 elections appear to be shaky. Professor Maurice Iwu, on Monday, said the commission’s N20 billion was trapped in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

JACOB SEGUN OLATUNJI, Abuja and SULAIMON OLANREWAJU - 03.10.2006

Professor Iwu revealed this while speaking with newsmen in Abuja at the opening ceremony of a one-day media workshop on “Nigeria’s 2007 General Election: The Critical Challenges of the Media.”

The INEC boss disclosed that after the commission had followed due process for the appropriation and the release of the fund, its N20 billion got trapped in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the cheques issued for the procurement of vital materials for the conduct of voters’ registration exercise bounced.

Professor Iwu declared that despite this, the commission had a fall back and quickly made alternative arrangements to procure the material for the smooth take-off of the exercise.

Professor Iwu promised to open up on the development behind the whole episode after the elections might have been held and a new government put in place.

“It is our sacred duty to conduct free, fair and credible elections come 2007. We will adapt to any situation, we will not hide under non-release of funds as an excuse to stall the elections, even if we don’t get the materials.

“We will still go ahead with the elections as planned, even if it means Nigerians raising up their hands on the election days, so it be.

“We don’t want any distraction now, that’s why we don’t want to speak about it. Our pre-occupation now is how to conduct free and fair elections.

“I will speak out on the controversial N20 billion issue after May 29, 2007 when the entire elections must have been completed and new governments installed”, he declared.

Professor Iwu, who said that the voters’ registration exercise would kick-off on October 7 as scheduled, pointed out that the commission had procured 33,000 machines needed for the registration exercise and that the exercise would start with special areas in Taraba State, a section of Adamawa State, the new Bakassi, the riverine areas of Lagos and Ondo states and Warri, among others, for the first two weeks.

He said that the rest of the exercise would be from October 21 to November 30 after which the list would be displayed for review while the final list would be published on February 14 next year.

Professor Iwu, who urged leaders of the political parties to mobilise their members for the exercise, disclosed that the commission had put necessary measures in place to make it difficult for politicians to manipulate the exercise as it used to be in the past.

When contacted, Head, Corporate Affairs of the CBN, Mr. Festus Odoko, said being a public holiday, he did not have the full details of the issue.

He, however, asked rhetorically, “Is it possible for INEC to have funds with the CBN and the CBN will refuse to release such fund? As a banker, the CBN will not fail to pay a customer that has funds with it.”

Mr. Odoko later added that the INEC boss had access to the governor of the CBN as well as the director, Banking Operations and should have explored all the avenues if, indeed, the commission had money with the apex bank.

Posted by Publisher at 02:38 PM | Comments (0)

Militants, again, kill 5 soldiers

About five soldiers have been confirmed dead while nine others were still missing after some militants yesterday attacked a Shell Petroleum Development Company facility at Cawthorne Channel in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.

BOLAJI OGUNDELE, Port Harcourt - 03.10.2006

Nigerian Tribune gathered that militants, numbering about 70, in five speed boats, stormed the facility being guarded by 15 soldiers between 1:00pm and 2:00pm and opened fire on them, leaving five of them dead.

It was, however, gathered that one of the soldiers escaped from the scene of the attack and that it was the soldier who alerted people to the attack.

It could not be ascertained at press time the fate of the nine missing soldiers. When reached on phone, the Army Public Relations Officer of the Amphibious Brigade in Port Harcourt, Major Sagir Musa, confirmed the incident and the death of the soldiers to journalists.

According to him, “we have received reports of an attack on a Shell facility at Cawthorne Channel and that some of our men were involved in the attack.”

A source in SPDC confirmed to the Nigerian Tribune that 25 staff members of a contractor company working with Shell were missing after the attack.

In a swift reaction to the attack, the Joint Revolutionary Council (JCR), comprising the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Martyrs Brigade and Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), claimed responsibility for the attack.

In a statement signed by Cynthia Whyte and sent to journalists in Port Harcourt, JCR said the attack was merely to show the Federal Government that it could take Nigeria on in battle any day and anywhere.

Posted by Publisher at 02:38 PM | Comments (0)

Anti-, pro-Fayose rallies spread in Ekiti - House in crucial session today

HUNDREDS of youths took to the streets of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, on Monday to register their support for the ongoing moves to impeach the state governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, over allegations of corruption and mismanagement of funds.

Adeolu Adeyemo, Ado-Ekiti and JACOB SEGUN OLATUNJI Abuja - 03.10.2006

Just about the same time, Ekiti State Councillors Forum carried placards in support of the embattled governor. The youth, who went round the town peacefully, were armed with placards with different inscriptions.

The rally, the second within the last 72 hours after the impeachment notice was served on the governor, saw the youth appealing to the speaker of the state House of Assembly, Chief Friday Aderemi, not to let them down on the impeachment.

The spokesman of the youth, Mr Bunmi Ojo, accused the governor of failing in his constitutional responsibilities and said that his administration in the last three years had been characterised by harassment, brutalisation and intimidation of the citizenry.

They asked the lawmakers to quicken the process of removing Fayose. The demonstration of the youth was not disrupted by the state police command but policemen were fully on the ground to maintain law and order.

Also in a release made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti by the opposition parties, they warned the South West governors not to interfere in the impeachment move.

The statement, signed by the coordinator of the Ekiti Agenda, Chief Idowu Odeyemi, the umbrella organisation for the opposition groups in the state, said their intervention on the matter might lead to the wrath of Ekiti people on them.

“Fayose should be allowed to answer the charges against him and if found innocent, he should be allowed to complete his tenure but if the governor is found guilty, he should be removed from office immediately,” he said.

Odeyemi affirmed that he was not surprised that the intervention had failed this time round because the gods of Ekiti had decided to fight the enemies of the state.

Also, the National Conscience Party (NCP) in a statement yesterday commended the EFCC for what it called its courage to eradicate corruption in the state.

“Our party wishes further to encourage the Ekiti State House of Assembly not to be deterred by any form of harassment, intimidation or blackmail aimed at making them to abdicate their constitutional responsibilities,” the party said.

However, the Ekiti State Councillors Forum on Monday expressed their support for Governor Fayose with an assurance that the governor, with the help of God, would emerge victorious in the present crisis.

The councillors mobilised themselves as early as 8.00 a.m. and accused the state legislators of greed and self-aggrandisement, saying they were out to take over the government of the state to enable them to have access to the treasury.

They assured the governor that they were behind him in the problem he was having with both EFCC and the state legislators. Their spokesman, Mr Sunday Asana, said they resolved to stand by the governor because of the role he played in their election and his care for them.

Meanwhile, barring any last minute change, the Ekiti State lawmakers will hold a crucial sitting today, apparently on the notice of impeachment served on both the state governor and his deputy.

Twenty four of the 26 members of the House of Assembly on Friday served the governor and his deputy impeachment notices on sundry allegations.

Though the venue of the sitting was unknown as at press time, the Nigerian Tribune gathered that it was not likely the legislators would hold it at the chambers of the House of Assembly in Ado-Ekiti.

To sit without any hitch, it was gathered that the speaker of the House, Hon. Friday Aderemi, had written to the police authorities in Abuja to provide the lawmakers protection to enable them carry out their legislative duties.

The source said the legislators could sit anywhere as long as they had the symbol of authority, the mace, with them. Meanwhile, the police high command has warned against protests in whatever form in Ekiti State.

A competent source at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, told the Nigerian Tribune on Monday that a directive had been given to the Ekiti State command to warn all the people of the state not to embark on any form of protests over the impeachment notice.

According to the source, the state police command was specifically advised to remind the people again that the ban on public rallies and protests without police permit was still in force and that any breach of the provisions of the public act would be viewed with all seriousness.

More anti-riot policemen have also been directed to be drafted to the state House of Assembly.

Posted by Publisher at 02:37 PM | Comments (0)

Nigeria cuts output by 115,000bpd - Loses $52.3m daily to oil fields closure

Global oil prices rose yesterday after Venezuela and Nigeria cut production. Nigeria was said to have cut its production by 115,000 barrels per day.

MARTIN AYANKOLA, Lagos with Agency Reports - 03.10.2006

By late morning in Europe, US light crude had risen seven cents to $62.95 a barrel, while London’s Brent crude was up 10 cents to $62.58 a barrel.

Oil producers group, Opec, said Venezuela and Nigeria were acting on their own. Although both are members of Opec, the body is sticking to its stance that there are no current plans to reduce overall production.

The 11-member group currently has an official production ceiling of 28 million barrels per day, which has been in place since July 2005. Petromatrix analyst, Olivier Jakob, said speculation about OPEC cuts urged prices higher, while the market was “torn between the macro players wanting to be long on OPEC policy and the micro players wanting to be short on the ever deteriorating fundamentals.”

While OPEC decided earlier this month to hold to a 28 million barrel a day output quota, many traders said the group would like to rein in production if crude-oil futures dropped much lower than $60 a barrel.

“The market seems to have reached a floor in the low-$60s due to the widespread feeling among traders that OPEC may be galvanized to control output or cut production if prices are below $60 a barrel,” said Victor Shum, an analyst with Purvin & Gertz in Singapore.

The cuts announced by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) take 115,000 barrels of crude oil a day from Nigeria’s current OPEC quota of 2.3 million barrels daily. The reduction began on Sunday. Refiners often decrease their output to conduct maintenance during the slow season.

Venezuela, a major oil supplier to the U.S. and a founding member of OPEC, is already thought to be producing well below its OPEC quota - around 2.5 million barrels a day instead of the 3.2 million barrels it reports to the cartel.

World oil prices have dropped to six-month lows recently as demand slackens with the end of summer travel in major oil consuming regions.

Meanwhile, supplies are generally believed to be ample, and experts say the latest production cuts will have little impact on the fundamental supply-demand picture.

Nigeria and oil producing companies in the country are losing an average of $52.3 million daily on the 872,000 barrels per day of crude oil shut-in in the Niger Delta because of crisis or for maintenance reasons.

Until recently, it was believed that Nigeria had only shut-in about 600,000 barrels of crude oil but the Minister of State for Petroleum and the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) President, Dr. Edmund Daukoru, disclosed at an international forum in Vienna, Austria, recently that the country had actually shut-in 872,000 barrels per day.

International Energy analysts said that the latest figure released, which is about 300,000 barrels higher than the earlier figure, “could be a ploy to shield the West African nation from an output cut if OPEC formally lowers its 28 million barrel a day production quota ceiling”.

A report by Dowjones Newswires quoted a Senior Energy Industry official as saying “This really could be maintenance issues behind Nigeria’s increased (production) outage number, but it raises suspicions because of the timing.

“Prices are falling and we know very well the reluctance of OPEC countries to lower their quotas. This is about revenues for them,” the official said.

Posted by Publisher at 02:37 PM | Comments (0)

September 27, 2006

2007: Mu’azu admonishes Nigerians

Bauchi State governor, Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, has said that caution should be the watchword on discussion of any political issues especially at this crucial period in the nation’s history.

ISHOLA MICHAEL, Bauchi - 27.09.2006

The governor said this became imperative as the nation transits from one civilian administration to another.

Speaking when he received the Director General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Dr. Tonie Iredia, who paid a working visit to the state, the governor solicited the collaboration of the media in the transition.

While advising NTA to avoid the suppression of news items on any political aspiration, he stressed the need for everyone to be given equal opportunity to present his programmes to the people.

Mu’azu, who indicted journalists in the state for what he described as “under reporting the activities of my administration in the past few weeks,” however, commended NTA’s initiative to go international and hoped that it would be sustained.

Ealier, the Director-General of the Nigeria Television Authority, (NTA) had lamented the epileptic transmission of services at the NTA Bauchi, describing it as unacceptable.

Posted by Publisher at 01:25 PM | Comments (0)

September 23, 2006

Anenih Dumps OBJ? - May Join AC

The gulf of divide tearing the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) apart continues to widen as a strong member and chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, may have dicided to dump President Olusegun Obasanjo.

By Wale Adele- 23.09.2006

Saturday Tribune gathered authoritatively that Chief Anenih had been holding discussions with the newly inaugurated Action Congress (AC) even before last weekend’s inauguration of the party.

Sources within the leadership of the new mega party disclosed that Chief Anenih participated actively in the process that gave birth to the AC, adding that even after the launch, he was part of the review committe that held an all night meeting between last Sunday and Monday.

Chief Anenih was reported to have dicided to team up with the progressives following a no -love- lost relationship now existing between him and President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Chief Anenih, called “Mr. Fix It”, was said to have incurred the wrath of President Obasanjo because of the alleged negative role he played in the botched third term saga.

He reportedly sought and got presidential approval to travel abroad to attend to his “ failing health” when his services were crucially needed at home during the third term campaign. Consequently, President Obasanjo was said to have marked him down.

ST was told that it was after that experience that Chief Anenih normalized his relationship with Vice President Atiku Abubakar and opted to team up with the progressives.

Because of security surveillance on Atiku, Chief Anenih was said to have been attending the progressives meetings and feeding him back later.

Chief Anenih played a significant role in the emergence of President Olusegun Obasanjo as the PDP presidential candidate in 1999 and his return for second term in 2003.

He was minister for works between 1999 and 2003 and later, Chairman, BOT, a position he still holds till date.

Posted by Publisher at 12:32 PM | Comments (0)

June 12: IBB Double Speaks - Rebuffs EFCC’s Threat

THIRTEEN years after the controversial annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential elections, former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, may have resolved to once again, take Nigerians into language laboratory.

By Wale Adele and Hasan Ibrahim - 23.09.2006

Babangida, the man at the centre of the historic political logjam that almost plunged the country into another civil war, told his audience on a BBC Hausa service programme in Kaduna that he did not annul the election, but cancelled it.

On June 24, 1993 the national dailies reported the annulment of the election through an unsigned statement distributed at the Villa by the then Chief Press Secretary to Vice President Augustus Aikhomu, Mr. Nduka Irabor.

The statement, in part, read:
The Federal Military Government declared that:
•All court proceedings pending or to be instituted in respect of the June 12 presidential election be stopped.
•The Transition to Civil Rule Decree No. 52 of 1992 and the Presidential Election Decree No. 13 of 1993 repealed; and
•The National Electoral Commission (NEC) suspended and all its acts of commisison or omission nullified.
It also declared that a decree backing the above decision had been signed into law.

On June 24, 1993, some of the dailies carried the story under headlines such as “Govt. annuls transition decree, suspends NEC”, “Presidential election nullified”, “Why June 12 presidential election was cancelled, by Babangida”.

However, General Babangida, apparently caught in his own web, as a way out, told his listeners during the week that he did not annul the election but cancelled it.

The Chambers Dictionary in its meaning of the words “annul” and “cancel” says “cancel”: To cross out, to annul or suppress, to abolish or wipe out, while it describes “annul” as: To make null, to reduce to nothing, to abolish.

Therefore, the two words can be said to be interchangeable and that was what the media did then, using either annul or cancel as the case may be.

Even Babangida’s vice, Admiral Augustus Aikhomu while explaining government position on the election’s annulment said “In annulling the presidential election it required the courage and commitment of this administration to act the way it did”.

Babagida told the BBC "It may interest you that my son went to the EFCC out of his own volition and he answered all the questions put to him to the best of his knowledge."

According to IBB," people are entitled to their own opinion. “I live in a country where you will get about a million opinions on any matter. But my own understanding of the relationship between me and the president is that it has been very cordial. Don't forget that we were in the Army together and he was my senior. Up till now, I have respect for him," he added.

He, however, refuted the allegation that he annulled the June 12, 1993 presidential election, but rather, said that he cancelled it. The former president admitted that the June 12 presidential election was the freest, fairest and the best election ever held in the political history of the country, but argued that he was constrained to cancel the election as a result of the prevailing circumstances then. "Elections were held and those of you in the media adjudged them as the freest, fairest and most peaceful elections in the chequered political history of the nation.

"But it was not annulled, it was rather cancelled. We gave the reasons. We told Nigerians that we cancelled the election because of the prevailing circumstances then,"he added.

He explained further that the cancellation of the June 12 presidential election would not stop him from aspiring to lead the nation again.

"My government performed meritoriously in the development of Nigeria and I possess the leadership qualities to rule the nation again.

"Insha Allahu, I have said so before, I have a presidential ambition and I will definitely contest on the platform of my party."

Posted by Publisher at 12:32 PM | Comments (0)

September 19, 2006

OBJ orders probe of Generals’ death - Declares 3 days of mourning

Major-Gen. BamaliPRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday cut short his foreign trip and ordered an immediate investigation into Sunday’s plane crash in which some military officers lost their lives.

By OUR REPORTERS - 19.09.2006

List of the dead
1. Major General S.O. Otubu
2. Major General S.M. Lemu
3. Major General J.T.U. Ahmedu
4. Major General J.O. Agbola - Military Secretary
5. Major General A.N. Bamali - GOC 2 Division
6. Major General J.O. Adesunloye - GOC 81 Division
7. Major General P.M. Haruna
8. Major General B. Duniya
9. Brigadier-General Y.J. Braimah
10. Major General M.B. Bawa
11. Lt-Colonel N.A. Mohammed
Three crew members (a Group-Captain) and the co-pilot died. One of the crew members is female.

SURVIVORS
1. Colonel A. L. Dusu
2. Colonel O. C. Ajunwa
3. Colonel N. I. Angbazo

Major-Gen. BamaliPRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday cut short his foreign trip and ordered an immediate investigation into Sunday’s plane crash in which some military officers lost their lives.

The president’s directive came on the heels of the claims by airspace experts of the possible cause of the crash, attributing it to “foggy weather.”

A statement signed by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs. Oluremi Oyo, said President Obasanjo, who was shocked and saddened by the incident, ordered that a thorough investigation be commenced.

The statement also said the president ordered three days of national mourning for the departed officers, while all flags should fly at half mast for the three days.

Major-Gen. AdesunloyeDescribing the crash as a monumental national tragedy, President Obasanjo prayed God to give the families of the deceased the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

At Mbakunu Village, a border village between Benue and Cross River states, passengers aboard the plane were rescued by a team of Air staff, Army staff, governor of Benue State, deputy governor of Cross River State and a medical team.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Owoye Azazi, who was among the early callers at the scene of the incident on Monday, appreciated the efforts of the villagers at rescuing the five passengers that survived the crash.

He gave them N480,000 for doing a good job. When the Nigerian Tribune visited the Defence Headquarters on Monday, activities were at its lowest ebb. Flags at the military headquarters were at half-mast.

Major General LemuWhen asked to comment on the loss to the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Felix Chukwuma, the Director of Defence Information, was short of words.

He, however, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. He noted that the vacuum created by the demise of the senior officers was a great one as he said that “one does not become a General the day he joins the military”.

As part of activities to mourn the departed souls, the general disclosed that black arm-bands would be worn by soldiers at the Defence Headquarters beginning from today (Tuesday) as a mark of honour.

Also, Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed shock and disbelief at the loss of the officers. The vice president described the death as a national tragedy and a big blow to the Armed Forces.

Major-Gen. OtubuAtiku extended his condolence to the Minister of Defence, Rabiu Kwankwaso; the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. General Martin Luther Agwai and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Owoye Azazi.

“May the Almighty Allah grant the souls of the departed eternal rest and give their families the fortitude to bear the loss”, Atiku said. As a mark of respect for the crash victims, Atiku directed his Presidential Campaign Organisation not to respond, for now, to alleged ongoing campaign to smear his name.

Oyo State governor, Chief Bayo Alao-Akala, has also described the plane crash as a national tragedy. The governor, in his condolence message signed by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, expressed shock and sadness over the loss of those he described as some of the best brains in the military profession.

Major-Gen. OtubuChief Alao-Akala described General Bamali, who was a member of the security council in the state, as a brilliant and gentle man whose contributions to the security of the state were highly appreciated.

He prayed God to give the families of the the fortitude to bear the loss and that God should grant them eternal rest. Also, Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State has expressed heartfelt condolences on behalf of himself, the government and the people of Kwara State to the Nigerian Army and the Federal Government over the plane crash.

He described the incident as a great loss to the nation and prayed God to grant the families and dependants of the victims the fortitude to bear the loss.

Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, on Monday expressed shock at the news of the death of some senior military officers.

Major-Gen. DuniyaPrince Oyinlola, who knew many of the victims intimately, in his condolence letter to President Obasanjo, described them as “some of the best brains in the Nigerian military,” describing their death as a national tragedy.

He expressed similar views in his condolence letters to the army and military authorities. “The news of the sad incident came as a rude shock considering the calibre of those involved. By this development, the Nigerian Armed Forces in particular, and our nation in general, have been robbed of the invaluable services of accomplished and vibrant senior military officers whose contributions to the development of the armed forces would remain indelible in the annals of Nigeria.

Official government business in Minna, the Niger State capital, was on Monday paralysed following the confirmation of the death of three military officers of the state origin in Sunday’s aircraft crash.

Major-Gen. AgbolaThe trio were Salihu Musa Lemu, a Major-General and until his death, the Chief of Army Administration. He hailed from Gbako Local Government Area; Brigadier-General Mahmud Bawa and Lt.-Col. Ndatsu Mohammed of the Military Intelligence.

The state governor, Alhaji Abdulkhadir Kure, on Monday cancelled his official engagements as part of the mourning. He later paid a condolence visit to General Ibrahim Babangida who lost his former Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Major-General Nuhu Bamali, GOC Second Mechanised Division.

Special Adviser to the governor on Media, Alhaji Mahmud Abdullahi, told the Nigerian Tribune that the Army Headquarters had contacted the families of the late officers.

Abdullahi, who described the death of “our three illustrious sons” as very sad and painful, said the government had also reached out to the families of the deceased.

Major-Gen. HarunaThe President of the Senate, Senator Ken Nnamani, has described the death of the military officers as a national loss. The loss of the officers, he said, would create a vacuum that would be very difficult to fill.

The comments of the Senate President were contained in a statement issued on his behalf by his Special Adviser on Public Communication, Augsten Adamu, and made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja on Monday.

Former military president, General Babangida, on Monday expressed sympathy with President Olusegun Obasanjo, the country and the Armed Forces over the death of the Generals.

Babangida, who spoke through his media spokesman, Prince Kassim Afegbua, in Abuja also sympathised with the families of the deceased, describing the deaths as a huge loss to the country.

According to General Babangida, the deaths were a huge loss to the country as the officers involved were brilliant and had distinguished themselves in the various capacities they had served the country.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also condoled with President Obasanjo and families of the military officers who died in the plane crash.

In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Senator Ahmadu Ali and made available to newsmen in Abuja, the party expressed shock at the incident, saying that it came at “a time the nation is going through a process of reform and regeneration of the system.”

The party pointed out that the loss “is particularly painful because these patriotic officers have been involved in the responsibility of re-engineering and professionalising the armed forces.”

Also, the governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose, has expressed deep shock and sadness at news of the plane crash which took the lives of senior military officers.

He prayed God to grant President Olusegun Obasanjo and the families of the officers the fortitude to bear the loss.

Posted by Publisher at 02:33 PM | Comments (0)

September 16, 2006

IBB, Fawehinmi In War Of Words

APPARENTLY hiked by Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN’s verbal assault on former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, IBB Vision 2007, has challenged the Ondo High Chief to make public his yearly tax receipts from his annual income.

By Wale Adele, Seyi Gesinde and Kunle Olayeni - 16.09.2006

IBB Vision 2007 national chairman, Alhaji Adekunle Makama, speaking to Saturday Tribune on phone, said Chief Fawehinmi could not claim to be a saint, while he dubbed every other leader as corrupt, adding he has been evading tax payments.

But, while reacting, Chief Fawehinmi debunked the allegation and instead, insisted that it was the former military president who looted the nation’s treasury in a monumental proportion while in office.

Makama said “we make bold to ask Chief Fawehinmi to make publc how much tax he pays to the coffers of government from the sales of his weekly law reports and such other incomes if he is that clean”.

He said while IBB was in power, he allowed Fawehinmi to monopolise the publication of the high selling weekly law reports, adding “even when he was in various detentions, his books were not stopped from being sold.” IBB campaigner insisted that Chief Fawehinmi’s support for the Malam Nuhu Ribadu led Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was niformed by his agency job for the commission, saying he was only rendering service for the money he collected.

His words: we are not affraid by intellectual anarchists like Chief Fawehinmi, we have all it takes to march him. Makama also challenged Fawehinmi to electoral soap box to test his popularity, saying even in his home town, Ondo, a Babangida backed candidate would floor him in a local government contest.

He said when the chips were down, the likes of Chief Fawehinmi could not stop IBB from emerging the next president in 2007.

Fawehinmi also described IBB’s ambition to succeed President Olusegun Obasanjo in the 2007 elections as a ruse, saying as a result of the Pius Okigbo Panel which allegedly indicted the Minna General of misappropriating the $12.5 billion Gulf Oil windfall, he was not eligible to contest in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

According to Fawehinmi, “every government has always looked at my tax because that was where they felt they could blackmail me, but they were stunned that I’ve been above board with no default in my tax whether at the state or national level.”

“I was the only presidential candidate who had proof for tax for 37 years when I contested election in 2003, though they did not demand for it,” he added.

The Lagos lawyer explained that “in view of the Okigbo report, IBB is not qualified to contest election because, according to the section 137, subs section 1(i) of 1999 Constitution which states that no candidate is qualified to contest presidential election if he has been indicted for fraud by a commission of enquiry or tribunal or arbitrative panel of enquiry, then Babangida cannot contest”.

On the purported missing of the Okigbo report which allegedly indicted General Babangida, Chief Fawehinmi said that he can produce a copy of the report which, according to him, was in 352 pages.

“I have a copy of the report and I am not the only person who have it,” he stated.

Posted by Publisher at 01:50 PM | Comments (0)

Oyo PDP Moves Against Oppositions

IN it desperate bid to remain in power beyond 2007, the power that be in Oyo State is said to have ordered a clampdown on the opposition, with the newly inaugurated Alliance Congress (AC) as the target.

By Our Reporter - 16.09.2006

Competent party source in the pacesetter state confided in the Saturday Tribune that, “one of the party faithful had been specifically told to steer clear from rally organized by the AC or incur the wrath of the power that be in the state.

According to the source, who berated those behind the illegal clamping down on the opposition in the state, “we have it on good authority that political thugs have been ordered to destroy posters of any of aspirants on the platform of the AC in the state. More worrisome, the source added, was the refusal of the state to allow it hire for use buses in the pool of the state owned transport company, TCTC, for today’s inauguration of the party in Abuja.

“When we approached the company for the buses, we were specifically told that we could not be given the buses because of an order from above to that effect, even when we were prepared to pay for the service”, the source narrated.

Speaking further, the revered politician disclosed that, “when we now decided to contact members of the state chapter of the NURTW, we were given a caveat by the state leadership of the union, that the buses, which we would pay for, will only be released to us if we agreed not to have the posters of the party on the buses within the state.”

Posted by Publisher at 01:37 PM | Comments (0)

September 13, 2006

V-P sues AGF, EFCC, N/Assembly

VICE President Atiku Abubakar has asked a Federal High Court, Abuja to restrain the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Assembly, “their servants, agents and privies from acting or further acting on the reports of the EFCC and the Administrative Panel of Inquiry” which indicted him.

OLATUBOSUN SOWEMIMO

This is part of the 10 reliefs he sought in an originating summons filed at the court yesterday to challenge the legality of the EFCC’s and the panel’s reports.

The EFCC report dated August 24, 2006, entitled, “Investigative Report: Alleged conspiracy, fraudulent conversion of funds, corrupt practices and money laundering”, submitted by the EFCC to President Olusegun Obasanjo had accused the Vice president of abuse of office.
Besides, the president forwarded both the EFCC and the panel reports to the National Assembly.

Joined as co-defendants in the suit are Chief Ojo, Minister of Education, Mrs Obiageli Ezekwesili, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai, Otunba Bamidele Dada and National Security Adviser, Major General Abdullahi S. Mukhtar (rtd).

Others are the EFCC, the National Assembly, the Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Masari.

The suit filed by six Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), former Attorney General of the Federation, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim (SAN), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Dr Alex A Izinyon (SAN), Rickey Tarfa (SAN) Prof Taiwo Osipitan (SAN) and Emeka Ngige (SAN), is seeking for 10 reliefs from the court.

They include: A declaration that the first to seventh defendants were in breach of his (Atiku’s) right to fair hearing in their reports submitted to the president and that the reports are null, void and of no effect whatsoever, A declaration that the decisions of the Federal Executive Council as represented by the first defendant (AGN) concerning and indicting the Vice President are unconstitutional, unfair, unjust, illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

The Vice President is also praying the court to declare that the EFCC acted ultra vires the powers conferred on it by its enabling law and also that the Administrative Panel of Inquiry set up by the president is unconstitutional and illegal.

In an affidavit in support of the originating summons deposed to by the personal assistant to the vice president, Mr Umar Pariya, it was stated that the assertion of the second to fifth defendants that one Otunba Fasawe is a close friend of the Vice President and that all monetary placements done by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) were made to benefit him (Fasawe) was false.

According to the affidavit, Otunba Fasawe is a very close friend of the president and was one of the major financiers of his (the president’s) campaign in 1999 and 2003 elections.

“Otunba Fawawe had on diverse dates and times given various sums of money to the president’s party (The PDP) for electioneering campaign and other expenses to the knowledge of the president”.

The Vice President also indicated that he would be presenting evidence that Chief Otunba Fasawe is indeed a friend and benefactor of President Obasanjo by presenting 11 (eleven) bank drafts to prove it.

Posted by Publisher at 02:24 PM | Comments (0)

Don’t take weapons home - IG orders policemen

WORRIED by the rate at which arms and ammunition of the Nigerian Police Force are getting into wrong hands and the increasing crime rate in the society, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, on Tuesday banned police personnel from taking home their weapons.

JACOB SEGUN OLATUNJI, Abuja - 13.09.2006

Mr. Ehindero, who announced the order in Abuja at a meeting with top police officers from the rank of commissioners of police and above, directed that henceforth, all weapons after use must be deposited with the armourers in all police formations nationwide.

He equally directed all state police commissioners to directly take charge of arms and ammunition in their respective commands and to furnish him with the details of weapons in their commands next Monday.

On the increasing robbery cases in the country, especially Abuja, Mr. Ehindero disclosed that the police would have to embark on “operation stop and search” on vehicles in Abuja with immediate effect while a similar exercise should be extended to the states to curb the trend.

The police boss directed that operatives of the CID must be available to screen those apprehended during the “operation stop and search” exercise and warned against extortion.

He warned the state commissioners of police not to tolerate any robbery case in their command as they would be held responsible for any lapses.

On the preparations for the 2007 general election, Mr. Ehindero urged the state police commissioners to monitor campaigns and rallies in their state and guard against any form of political violence.

He said that the state commands should ensure that the provisions of the public order act were enforced with regard to public processions, rallies and campaigns.

The IGP, who equally decorated the newly promoted commissioners of police, disclosed that the set would be the last batch to be promoted before the implementation of the reports of the Police Reforms Committee.

He added that henceforth all officers would have to go through a rigorous promotion exercise.

Posted by Publisher at 02:19 PM | Comments (0)

Reps: OBJ, Atiku risk impeachment - Atiku files suit in court

THE House of Representatives on Tuesday formally received President Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter and EFCC report accusing Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of gross misconduct, with some members indicating that both the president and his deputy risked impeachment if investigations by the House found them guilty.

BOLA BADMUS and TAIWO ADISA, Abuja - 13.09.2006

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Bello Masari, at the commencement of yesterday’s plenary session, read the president’s letter covering the said report which indicted Vice-President Abubakar over his handling of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).

“The report of the administrative panel of inquiry chaired by the Attorney General of the Federation and the conclusion of the FEC on the issue are hereby forwarded to you for information of members of the House of Representatives,” the president said in the letter.

No date was fixed for the consideration of the report after the letter was read by the Speaker. However, Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon. Halim Agoda, in an interview with newsmen, said in line with what the president stated in his letter, the report remained a piece of information which the president only wanted the members of the House to be aware of.

According to him, the House was not bound to debate the issue but would consider it as a piece of information. But both Hon. Dalti Baba Ahmed and Hon. Abubakar Momoh disagreed with Agoda, saying the President had accused his deputy of gross misconduct which constituted an impeachable offence as stated in the constitution of the country.

They argued that there was no way the House would overlook such an accusation without taking action. According to Dalti, the House would on the strength of the report investigate Atiku and, if found guilty, impeach him.

Hon. Abubakar equally agreed with Hon. Dalti’s submission, but added that the House would consider allegations made by Atiku against the president in the course of its investigations.

According to him, if both of them were discovered to have abused their offices, they would be impeached. Other members contacted refused to give their reactions on the issue as they preferred to watch the events as they unfold.

Also, the Senate was on Tuesday divided over the modalities to be used in considering the reports of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Administrative Panel of Inquiry forwarded to the upper legislative chamber last week.

The senators, after heated deliberations lasting about an hour in a closed session, resolved to refer the matter to the Senate Committee on Judiciary headed by Senator Oserhiemen Osunbor to advise it on the ways of handling the reports.

The 11-member Judiciary Committee has been given two weeks to submit its report. The Senate is to then debate the report of the judiciary committee on its submission.

Other members of the committee are Senators Julius Ucha, Udoma Udo Udoma, Dalhatu Tafida, Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), Tawar Umbi Wada, Abubakar Sodangi, Saidu Dansadau, Iyabode Anisulowo, Timothy Adudu and Ike Ekweremadu.

President of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani, told reporters at the end of the closed session that “we discussed matters of procedure and agreed that we would continue to adopt our laid down rules and procedures.”

He did not give details of what transpired at the closed session. But some senators told the Nigerian Tribune that there were heated arguments on procedure to handle the reports on Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

While some senators were said to have favoured the composition of an ad hoc committee, others were of the opinion that the issues be debated at a committee of the whole.

A senator said that some senators argued in favour of the intervention of the Judiciary Committee because they only received the reports on Tuesday.

Said the senator: “Some of us only received the reports today and how can we debate what we don’t know?”

Meanwhile, Vice President Abubakar said the decision of the Senate to send the report on him to the Committee on Judiciary was a welcome development.

He expressed optimism that the Senate would throw out the report at the end of the day. In a statement signed by his media consultant, Mallam Garba Shehu, Atiku said “the report would afford the committee the opportunity to study it and “realise its emptiness.

“There is nothing to it. The purported indictment of the vice president is politically motivated. Our distinguished senators are wise and mature enough to know that the president’s action is part of the smear campaign to stop Atiku from contesting the 2007 election,” the statement said.

In a related development, Vice President Abubakar has gone to court to enforce his right to fair hearing which he claimed was infringed upon by the EFCC report and that of the Administrative Panel of Inquiry which examined it.

Atiku, in a writ of summons supported by a 28-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Umar Pariya, his personal assistant and jointly issued by his six SAN team: Abdullahi Ibrahim, Wole Olanipekun, Alex Izinyon, Rickey Tarfa, Taiwo Osipitan, Emeka Ngige, asked the president and nine other defendants to appear at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Their appearance is to determine whether having regard to the provision of section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, Atiku’s right to fair hearing had not been breached in the EFCC’s and administrative panel’s reports.

The court is also to determine whether the purported indictment of Atiku following the deliberations of the Federal Executive Council meeting held on September 6 after he was denied access to meeting by the president was not a breach of the rule of fair hearing as provided by section 36 of the 1999 Constitution and whether or not the president acted outside his powers by his request to the United States Attorney’s office to carry out investigation with regard to a business venture involving an American company, iGate and a Nigerian company, NDTV.

Atiku is also seeking the court’s declaration that the administrative panel of inquiry did not qualify as a panel within the contemplation of the Tribunal of Inquiry Act Cap 447, Laws of Nigeria 1990, or within the constitution and so be declared unconstitutional.

The court was also asked to nullify the decision of the Federal Executive Council and to declare the exercise of the power of the president conferred on it by enabling law and contrary to the purported request made by him to the United States for certain investigation in regard to a business venture involving the American company and the Nigerian company as illegal.

Posted by Publisher at 02:18 PM | Comments (0)

Another oil worker killed in Niger Delta - Army declares Ateke wanted

A Nigerian oil worker was yesterday killed and another injured in an armed attack on a supply ship at an oilfield operated by Chevron, an industry source said.

BOLAJI OGUNDELE, Port Harcourt with Agency Reports - 13.09.2006

It was the latest in a string of attacks on oil workers and comes a day before unions are to stage a three-day stoppage over rising insecurity in the Niger Delta.

“Armed men came alongside the vessel at 0300 hours and got on board to look for things to take. They shot one of the crew when they didn’t find anything,” the source said, asking not to be named.
The supply ship is operated by Edison Chouest Offshore, a Louisiana-based oil services company, the source added. Edison Chouest Offshore officials were not available to comment.

The oilfield is located about three miles offshore and is part of the Escravos oil export system, which normally exports about 160,000 barrels of oil per day.

Escravos is in the western delta where a series of attacks and kidnappings earlier this year forced Royal Dutch Shell to evacuate hundreds of workers and reduce output by 477,000 barrels per day.

A Chevron company spokesman, Femi Odumabo, confirmed there had been an incident, but declined to give details. Military officials said they had no reports of casualties in the attack.

In a related development, the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in Port Harcourt has placed N5 million on the head of the leader of the banned Niger Delta Vigilantes, Tom Ateke.

The JTF, which has been on a manhunt for the militia leader for more than a week now, had accused him of various criminal offences ranging from armed robbery to abduction of oil workers.

It will be recalled that at the beginning of an operation, which the JTF codenamed ‘Cordon and Search’ last week, a cache of arms and ammunition was allegedly retrieved from the Okochiri abode of Ateke.

However, a statement bearing the seal of the Commander of the Military Task Force, Brigadier General Samuel Salihu, warned that any person seen rendering assistance to him or aiding him in any manner would be treated as his accomplice.

According to the statement, “the Joint Task Force operating in Rivers State wants to alert the public, doctors, nurses, herbalists and all persons with medical knowledge that one Mr. Ateke Tom, also known as ‘godfather’, is wanted by the Task Forces in connection with various breaches of national security, including murder, robbery and illegal oil bunkering”.

Posted by Publisher at 02:17 PM | Comments (0)

Atiku lied, presidential campaign directors declare

THE Director of Media and Publicity of the Obasanjo/Atiku presidential campaign, Mr. Akin Osuntokun, on Tuesday denied the claim that the controversial Marine Float Account was a presidential campaign account.

Kolawole Daniel, Abuja - 13.09.2006

The media consultant to Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Malam Garba Shehu, had claimed in a statement on Monday that the account was maintained to finance presidential campaign activities of 2003 and was held in trust by Otunba Oyewole Fasawe.

But in a joint press conference addressed by Mr. Osuntokun, who is the Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and the Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Alhaji Idi Faruk, who served as director of media and publicity and deputy director of media and publicity in the 2003 presidential campaign respectively, denied Malam Shehu’s claim.

Mr. Osuntokun said “the Marine Float Account was opened in 1992 by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and since that time, it had been functioning. PDP was not in existence in 1992, it was only Social Democratic Party (SDP) and National Republican Convention (NRC) that were in existence.

“The vice president should be bold enough to defend himself. Out of all the report by EFCC on him, only one item was focussed on. “The statement is very confusing, the president never operated any joint account with anybody to fund his campaign in 2003.

“It is wrong to say this account was opened or maintained to fund the campaign. As directors in that campaign, we feel pained,” he said.

Posted by Publisher at 02:17 PM | Comments (0)

Fuel scarcity looms as oil workers begin strike

FUEL scarcity looms as workers in the oil and gas industry under the aegis of the NUPENGASSAN will from this morning commence a three-day warning strike that will effectively shut all chains of supply of crude oil and refined petroleum products in the country.

By OUR REPORTERS - 13.09.2006

The decision to kickstart the strike, according to the President, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN), Comrade Peter Esele, in a telephone interview with the Nigerian Tribune, was as a result of the inability of the Federal Government to address the grievances of the oil workers at a meeting that lasted till Tuesday morning in Abuja.

The meeting ended in a deadlock. According to a reliable source in the industry, the labour ministry’s stakeholders’ meeting had failed to be held twice before the one which ended in a deadlock yesterday.

Meanwhile, a reliable source from PENGASSAN said the meeting might not yield any fruit as the delegation on the government side had no mandate to make a commitment that might temporarily stall the strike.

The source added that another meeting called at the instance of the NNPC might not change the original plan of a three-day warning strike.

He said that if by Friday, when the warning strike would have ended, there was no strong commitment on the part of the government to address issues, an indefinite strike

Posted by Publisher at 02:16 PM | Comments (0)

Shell to add 630 MW to power generation in 2007

Shell Petroleum Development Company’s refurbishment of the Afam Power Plant will add 630 MW to the nation’s power generation capacity by 2007, the company has said.

Martin Ayankola, Lagos - 13.09.2006

The Federal Government is handing over the running of the plant to Shell under a Rehabilitate, Operate and Transfer [ROT] arrangement.

The power project involves the purchase of the existing 276 MW Afam V power plant facilities and the largely non-functional Afam I-IV assets from PHCN and construction of a new (Afam VI) 630 MW combined-cycle power plant, together with associated infrastructure and residential quarters.

It also involves construction of a 240 million scf/d gas plant at Okoloma and refurbishment of the existing 120 million scf/d Alakiri non-associated gas (NAG) plant in order to supply the necessary gas.

Posted by Publisher at 02:16 PM | Comments (0)

EFCC takes war against crimes to cyber cafes

IN its bid to curtail cyber crimes in Nigeria, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has ordered all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and operators of internet cafes, popularly called cyber cafes, in the country to register their businesses with it.

SEUN AYANTOKUN, Lagos - 13.09.2006

Cafe customers are also mandated to register their various cafes with all details about them. The registration is, however, free.

The commission had earlier put a stop to the operation of the cafes in the night believing that cyber criminals spent the period to perpetrate crimes.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the operators of internet cafes were initially not well disposed to the idea of not operating in the night, saying it would reduce their revenue.

Some of them, as a result, began to increase their tariffs by 100 per cent, claiming that the EFCC encouraged them to take the step. In most parts of Lagos, the Nigerian Tribune gathered that the cost of internet browsing per hour is now N200 as against the N100 that was previously charged, while 30 minutes now attracts N100 or N120 as against the previous N50 or N60.

Posted by Publisher at 02:15 PM | Comments (0)

Suspected assassins raid Anita Hogan’s home

SUSPECTED assassins on Tuesday invaded the home of the embattled actress, Anita Hogan in Surulere, Lagos.

Olalekan Olabulo, Lagos - 13.09.2006

The invasion, which happened at No 1 Oduduwa Street, Surulere, started around seven o’ clock in the morning when three armed men stormed the building.

Nigerian Tribune investigation revealed that the hoodlums were however disappointed as thier target, Miss Hogan, was nowhere to be found.

A cousin of the embattled actress, John Akerele, who was the only person around when the incident happened, informed the police that the hoodlums ordered him round the building in seach of Miss Hogan.

He further stated that when the hoodlums were convinced that Miss Hogan was not around, they ransacked the whole building and took away a yet to be determined amount of money.

The hoodlums also made away with jewelry and other accssories belonging to the actress.

Posted by Publisher at 02:15 PM | Comments (0)

OBJ charges youths on agriculture

IN his bid to raise and sustain the interest of youths in agriculture, President Olusegun Obasanjo has constituted a high-powered committee in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

OLAYINKA OLUKOYA, Ijebu-Ode - 13.09.2006

This was contained in his presidential message to the swearing in of Batch A corps members deployed to Ogun State.

He said there was the need for the corps members to be actively involved in institutionalising a sustainable succession of farmers in order to ensure self- sufficiency.

President Obasanjo, speaking through the Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, enjoined the corps members to embrace his administration’s reform programmes.

The speech was read by the state Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr. Bukola Olapade.

They were also advised to work towards the success of the 2007 general elections in their respective places of assignment, adding, “you must do everything you can to show that there is no alternative to democracy as a form of governance.”

In her speech, the state NYSC coordinator, Mrs. Keziah Okonofua, urged the corps members to take advantage of the service year in developing their fatherland and also tasked employers of labour to absorb them into their various organisations for the good of all.

Posted by Publisher at 02:14 PM | Comments (0)

Adedibu restates support for Akala

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Chief Lamidi Adedibu, has reiterated his support for Governor Christopher Alao-Akala in the 2007 governorship election.

By ADEBAYO WAHEED - 13.09.2006

Chief Adedibu, while speaking on Monday during the governor’s official visit to Akinyele Local Government Area of the state, said his support for the governor was not a ruse.

He said the state had witnessed development since Governor Akala assumed office.

The governor, who commended the council chairman, Prince Yemi Aderibigbe, for a job well done, said the area had witnessed peace in the last three years.

He added that the PDP was the party to beat in the 2007 general election.

Akala, who noted that the party had no intention of sending its members away, appealed to those who were yet to join to do so.

Aderibigbe, in his speech, said his administration was committed to the provision of service aimed at improving the lives of the people.

According to him, the attainment of 100 per cent goal was due to determination of his administration with the support and encouragement of the state government.

Posted by Publisher at 02:12 PM | Comments (0)

Marwa visits Lagos today

tHE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Dr. Mohammed Buba Marwa, will visit Lagos State today in continuation of his campaign tour of the country for the party’s presidential ticket.

Kayode Akinmade, Lagos - 13.09.2006

Marwa, who was governor of Lagos State between 1996 and 1999, would be received by political associates, party leaders, friends and other well-wishers.

According to the itinerary of the former governor released by the Marwa Presidential Campaign Organisation Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Bola Bolawole, Marwa would also tour the South-West states of Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti.

The Marwa political train in Lagos will kick off with a visit to the PDP secretariat and the Oba of Lagos and he would also drive round major roads in the Lagos metropolis in a re-union with the people.

Posted by Publisher at 02:02 PM | Comments (0)

Co-contenders pay new Osemawe homage

THE selection of Dr. Victor Adesimbo Adenrele Kiladejo as the Osemawe of Ondoland in Ondo State has been endorsed by other contenders to the throne as his brother princes have paid him a courtesy call.

By TAYO LEWIS - 13.09.2006

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune in his first interview with a national newspaper after the formal announcement by the sate government, Oba Kiladejo said as long as it was to be one of his brothers who would be picked, it was a win-win situation for him.

The new king declared that he had already been a winner even before his final selection by the traditional kingmakers and official announcement by the government of the state.

The 53-year-old medical practitioner said the choice of the kingmakers that the Okuta family should present the next Osemawe had already declared him a winner.

“For me, it was win, win situation. What I mean is that the best thing that could have happened was that my family was chosen to present the next candidate to occupy the revered throne of the Osemawe of Ondo kingdom.

“The issue was not whether I was eventually the choice but that anyone chosen would still have been a member of my family. I am happy still that I turned out to be the people’s choice,” the new Osemawe told the Nigerian Tribune in Ondo at the weekend.

Posted by Publisher at 02:01 PM | Comments (0)

Anambra govt signs base map contract for Awka

ANAMBRA State government has signed contract for the production of base map for Awka town with the Mega-Tech Digital Systems Limited.

SYLVANUS EZE, Awka - 13.09.2006

This was disclosed on Monday by the Permanent Secretary, Lands, Survey and Urban Planning Department, Sir Gregory Obunadike, who expressed the state government’s determination to produce a suitable base map and functional master plan for some major cities in the state.

Sir Gregory who addressed newsmen after the base map contract, stated that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Human Settlement programme (UNHSP) was also signed for the production of another master plan in Nnewi and Onitsha.

He said that the base maps would be a prelude towards the realisation of the master plans.

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Primary school teachers begin strike in Delta

The Delta State wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has called out primary school teachers on an indefinite strike.

13.09.2006

The teachers were protesting against the non-payment of their 2004/2005 promotion arrears and their exclusion from the monetisation of workers' benefits.

The union had issued a two-month strike notice for the redress of both grievances, which expired at the end of August.

Rising from an emergency meeting in Asaba on Monday, the teachers issued a communiqué in which they resolved to embark on an indefinite strike.

They expressed regret that their plight had continued in spite of negotiations and an agreement reached between them and the state government in May.

Noting that Governor James Ibori had approved the payment of arrears amounting to N315 million, they claimed that "some interests somewhere are working against primary school teachers in the state".

The communiqué, signed by NUT chairman, Jonathan Ojobu and Secretary, Eddy Uloho, singled out Governor Ibori, Deputy Governor, Benjamin Elue and Commissioner for Education, Veronica Ogbuagu, for commendation.

It, however, lamented that in spite of the good disposition of the trio towards teachers' welfare, the NUT ''finds it compelling to direct primary school teachers to withdraw their services from today.”

Posted by Publisher at 01:57 PM | Comments (0)

‘Road to 2007 elections hazardous’

The Vicar General, Catholic Archdiocese of Jos, Reverend Father Cletus Tanimu Gotan, has condemned the political class for making the road to the 2007 elections hazardous.

ISAAC SHOBAYO, Jos - 13.09.2006

Reverend Father Gotan, who made the condemnation while delievering a lecture entitled: Plateau:Towards a peaceful politiking and election, organised by the Plateau State chapter of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations ( NIPR), said the ongoing development in the nation’s polity was least expected in view of what the political class and the nation had passed through in the past.

The cleric, who said only a few politicians had learnt their lessons, added that it was regretable that the phenomenon of personal antagonism, thuggery, character assassination and intolerance still featured in the country’s polity.

He added that the assasination of political opponents underscored the desperation of the politicians to outsmart their opponents.

Posted by Publisher at 01:56 PM | Comments (0)

3 in police net over exam malpractices

THREE persons have been arrested by the Kwara State Police Command in an attempt to register for another person for the forthcoming National Examination Council (NECO) examinations.

YEKINI JIMOH, Ilorin - 13.09.2006

The zonal officer of NECO in charge of Kwara and Kogi states, Alhaji Kola Abdulraheem, disclosed this to newsmen in his office while receiving an award from the students of the Faculty of Business Science, University of Ilorin, on Monday.

He said the three persons were arrested in his office when they came to register for the NECO examination.

Alhaji Abdulraheem noted that the suspects embossed a passport photograph different from the passport photograph on the attestation card.

He said immediately it was discovered, the three suspects were arrested and handed over to the police.

The zonal officer stressed that the state government had put in place a machinery to fight against examination malpractices.

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Plateau govt alleges plan to destabilise Assembly

Plateau State government has raised alarm over moves by some politicians to stampede the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into declaring the seats of the 16 state legislators who defected to the Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) vacant.

ISAAC SHOBAYO, Jos - 13.09.2006

According to a press statement issued by the state government, signed by the Commissioner for Information, Honourable Yakubu Dati, the state government expressed surprise at the stance of INEC over the petition by the PDP in the state.

The state government also frowned on the way some members of the state House of Assembly were apprehended on their way to the court on the same matter.

He added that from the way the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) carried out the arrest, it was glaring that natural justice was set aside “to satisfy the appetite of those who have taken everybody hostage for the achievement of their own objectives.”

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Bayelsa govt absolves Jonathan of alleged money laundering

BAYELSA State government has denied the report that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seized N104 million from the wife of the state governor, Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

JACOB SEGUN OLATUNJI, Abuja - 13.09.2006

Addressing newsmen in Abuja while debunking the report, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Goodluck Jonathan on Media and Publicity, Mr. Dennis Sami, said “there was no iota of truth in the speculations making round that the wife of the governor has been arrested over money laundering.”

Mr. Sami said the principal target in the rumoured money laundering saga was Governor Jonathan. “As at today, nobody has interrogated or detained Her Excellency,” he said.

He lamented that the report mentioned Mrs. Jonathan as an accomplice in the N104 million money laundering involving one Mrs. Nacy Ebere Nwosu.

While stating that no such money was moved from the Bayelsa State treasury, Mr. Sami declared that the state government would cooperate with the EFCC to get to the root of the matter.

He urged the people of the state to disregard the allegations, saying it was the handiwork of the opposition.

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Obasanjo speaks on Nigeria’s multi-ethnicity

President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that Nigeria’s multi-ethnicity was one of the strengths of the country.

13.09.2006

The President was speaking to a delegation of the Itsekiri National Youths Council at State House, Abuja, on Monday.

He said every ethnic group had an identity and an interest, pointing out that this must be respected in the context of the collective national interest.

“If the interests of the whole country are taken care of, then the interest of the individual groups would have been met. It is not the interest of the individual group that determines the national interest, but vice versa”, he stated.

President Obasanjo assured all groups in the country that the Federal Government had a responsibility to all Nigerians, saying “whatever group you belong to, you are a Nigerian and government has a responsibility to all”.

He recognised that minorities were struggling for identity in most states, but stated that “everybody must be understood, protected and sustained within the federation”.

Posted by Publisher at 01:54 PM | Comments (0)

Delta DPP inaugurates 10-man caretaker committee

Delta State chapter of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) has inaugurated a 10-man caretaker committee to organise the wards, local governments and state congresses of the party.

SYLVESTER IDOWU, Warri - 13.09.2006

At the end of a meeting presided over by the Deputy National Chairman of the party, Honourable Benjamin Egbalor, last Saturday, the party fixed September 13 , 16 and 21 for its wards, local governments and state congresses.

According to Honourable Egbalor, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in the state, Chief Joe Unuame, was appointed the chairman of the committee while Mr Fred Okpozo will serve as the secretary.

Other members of the committee include Mr Asoro Afokaiye, Mr Amos Utiri, Evangelist Ossai Abeh, Mr. Joe Odede-Williams, Chief W.O.Esedo, Deacon Fouboh Berlin; Mr. Austin Oborigbeye, Mr. Fred Okpozo and Mrs. Tokpe Ejinyere.

Addressing party members, the deputy national chairman said the party resolved to dissolve the state executive and replace it with the caretaker committee to pave the way for the congresses of the party.

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I’ll soon break scoring jinx - Obafemi

Obafemi Martins has described his second outing with Newcastle as a successful one after his debut game in the premiership ended with an injury as he looks foward to his first premiership goal.

TOSIN OMOJOLA and OPEYEMI OLAKUNLE, Abuja - 13.09.2006

Martins, who had a 75 minutes game in his second match for the English Premiership side against Fulham, which ended 1-2 is optimistic that when he started scoring he will not go down again.

“I’m beginning to get used to the game here and it’s really helping me to get acquainted with the English football. I want to score goals because this is what I’m paid to do,” said Martins, who also told africansportsdigest.co m that once he breaks the scoring jinx, he will not stop hitting the back of the net.

“Fans are looking forward to seeing their striker scoring. I’m working towards it. Getting injured in your very first match could be disturbing, but I’ve decided to push that behind me and move on. I am having a lot of support from the club and it’s good for me psychologically.”

The Newcastle striker, who is also Nigerian national team top forward, maintains he would soon settle down comfortably in the Premiership with the support he is getting from players in his team, friends and family members.

“I will be fine. Pretty soon things will start happening. I am looking forward to the next game. Maybe, just maybe I am a slow starter, but it’s not good to be down with no goals.”

Posted by Publisher at 01:53 PM | Comments (0)

Poor facilities aid athletes defection - Ka’oje

MINISTER of Sports, Alhaji Bala Bawa Ka’oje says Nigerian athletes defect after major international tournament due to absence of modern training facilities in the country.

BOLA BADMUS, Abuja - 13.09.2006

Ka’oje made the disclosure on Tuesday while appraising the 2006 budget performance as it affects sports before the House of Representative’s Committee on Sports headed by Hon. Joel Danlami.

Accompanied by his permanent secretary, Mr. Daniel Hart and other top officials of sports ministry, Ka’oje blamed the very poor facilities available for athletes in Nigeria’s stadia as being largely responsible for the defections anytime the country participates in international sporting engagements.

According to him, defectors during international tournaments such as the Olympics realise they had potentials to achieve greatness and compete well with their foreign counterparts if they had access to train with modern equipment.

The minister also blamed some foreign agents aiding and abetting the defectors to perfect their documents to enable them to secure permanent stay in various European countries.

According to the minister, this development largely explains why Nigerian-born athletes are numerous in the colours of European countries.

Ka’oje believes the best way to stop the trend, which he noted was not to peculiar to Nigeria, was to adequately fund sports in the country so that facilities could be upgraded.

Ka’oje appealed to the House of Representatives to ensure that more funds were voted for sports development in the 2007 budget.

Posted by Publisher at 01:52 PM | Comments (0)

Ogun hosts 2006 final

Ogun State is to host this year’s edition of the Coca-Cola FA Cup final. The Group Carbonated Soft Drinks Manager, Marcia Brown, disclosed this at the national draws for the 2006 Coca-Cola FA Cup which took place in Lagos on Tuesday.

NIYI ALEBIOSU, Lagos - 13.09.2006

Marcia noted that the company was committed to its decision to take the final around Nigeria. She recalled that in 2003, it was Kaduna, Benin City hosted the final in 2004 while it went to Port Harcourt in 2005.

The theme of this year’s tournament is: “We All Speak Football,” which according to the Coca-Cola Manager, is a re-affirmation of “our commitment to the competition and football in Nigeria.”

Marcia disclosed some recent decisions by the company to move the game of football forward in Nigeria through the Coca-Cola FA Cup.

In this regard, Coca-Cola has agreed with the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) that matches would only be played in standard venues in eight centres around country.

“Apart from improved standard of play, the need to ensure live telecast of matches also plays a role in reducing the number of venues,” she explained.

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Win 2008 Nations Cup - Adamu charges Lulu-led NFA board

THE first target before the newly-constituted board of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) is to win the Ghana 2008 Nations Cup, Dr. Amos Adamu Director of Sports Development in the Federal Ministry of Sports and Social Development has said.

By TOSIN OMOJOLA - 13.09.2006

Dr. Adamu told journalists at a ceremony held in his honour by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in Abuja that the board had been tasked to win the next edition of the African soccer event.

The newly-appointed FIFA executive committee member said that the second goal set for the board was that it should ensure that the country got as far as the final of the 2010 World Cup to be hosted by South Africa.

The former sole administrator of the NFA, while defending the recent election into the association’s board, said that members of the board were people of like minds who decided to come together and put things right in the country’s house of football.

“I have read and listened to various comments since the election was held, some said I put the board there. Agreed that I did like they alleged, all I know was that there was an election and it went peacefully, now we have an NFA board in place, we can now progress,” he said.

Dr. Adamu canvassed support for the Lulu-led board, saying that the new board needs the support of all Nigerians, including journalists, stating that, “it is time for all of us to work together and move Nigerian football board, it is not about individuals, it is about Nigeria and we are all Nigerians.”

On his appointment into the FIFA executive committee, Dr. Adamu said he said it as a big challenge, promising to ensure that Nigeria gains from his presence on the committee.

Posted by Publisher at 01:51 PM | Comments (0)

FA Cup: Coca-Cola introduces grants for teams

Coca-Cola Nigeria and Equatorial Africa Division have introduced motivational grants for football clubs participating in the 2006 edition of Coca-Cola FA Cup competition.

NIYI ALEBIOSU, Lagos - 13.09.2006

These motivational grants are exclusive of the prize monies and awards. The Group Carbonated Soft Drink Manager, Marcia Brown, disclosed this on Tuesday at the national draw for the 2006 Coca-Cola FA Cup in Lagos.

Details of the grants are as follows: N600,000 for the fourth place team, N1 million for the third place team, N2 million for the runner-up and N3 million for the Coca-Cola FA Cup champion.

Coca-Cola also disclosed ancillary awards for a broad spectrum of participants, namely The Iginewari George Trophy for the Best Coordinated (peaceful) host state. This is in memory of a young and ambitious Nigerian footballer who was killed during an FA Cup match riot in 1995.

Other awards include N200,000 and trophy for the Most Valuable Player (MVP), N200,000 and trophy for the Highest Goal Scorer, N100,000 and trophy for the Best Referee and N50,000 for the first runner-up.

In addition, two outstanding rookie teams that qualify for the round of 16 will get N250,000 each. Also, as Coca-Cola FA Cup Goodwill Ambassadors, semi-finalists will receive N25,000 each. In addition, Coca-Cola products are to be donated to charities of choice in their country.

All teams will be kitted from the round of 16, while veterans, as well as members of the media, would be rewarded for their contribution to the development of the game.

Coca-Cola also announced that a television programme, ‘The Coca-Cola FA Cup Show” has been packaged with glamour, exitcement, and a new level of passion to showcase stars of the competition among other things. It will feature the championship teams every week as the competition progresses.

Coca-Cola completely took over the FA Cup in 1999 to improve the quality of the competition as well as to lift the standard.

Posted by Publisher at 01:51 PM | Comments (0)

September 05, 2006

Corruption: FG swoops on military

THE Federal Government is planning to introduce strict monitoring of fund disbursed to the Armed Forces. This is with a view to checking corruption and mismanagement of fund in the military.

FOLUSO AKINWUMI, Abuja - 05.09.2006

The Minister of Defence, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, made the disclosure in his speech presented at the 2006 Defence Advisers annual conference held at the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

The minister, who was represented at the event by the Minister of State for Defence, Ambassador Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, stated that this had become imperative due to paucity of funds in the country.

“It is pertinent to mention that we must strive to continue to achieve our set goals and objectives despite the obvious limitations necessitated by competing demands on defence budget.

“The truth is that the demand on public funds far exceeds the available resources at any given time. The defence sector must compete with other public sectors in the allocation of scarce resources.

“This is to say that priority issue of defence and national security will be given the desired attention. Despite these limitations, however, we should strive to do our best to ensure that there is judicious use of scarce resources to achieve the optimum objectives.

“However, may I seize this opportunity to remind you that there is an absolute need to comply with the principle of accountability, transparency and judicious use of resources.

“The era of wasteful spending is over as there is the desire of the Federal Government to block all avenues that are counter productive”, the minister said.

The minister also impressed it on the defence advisers hitherto called Defence Attaches to face their primary objectives in their place of posting as well as show unalloyed loyalty to the government in power in this country.

“You must show exemplary conduct not only in attending to your official duties but also in your general conduct at home and at your various duty posts.

“Remember that the hallmark of ambassadorship at any level is high integrity and absolute loyalty.

“Therefore, as good ambassadors of this great country, nothing short of the desired objectives is expected of you,” he told the defence advisers.

Kwankwaso also emphasised the need for the military to re-professionalise to enable it discharge its responsibilities under democratic governance.

He charged the military to coordinate their activities and utilise the opportunities given to them to enhance professionalism in the Armed Forces.

Kwankwaso said that Nigeria's recent withdrawal from Bakassi was a manifestation of the nation's democratic resolve to respect the rule of law of the international community.

“The feat has proven Nigeria as a peace-loving country among the comity of nations. Indeed, history has been made by Nigeria for withdrawing peacefully from Bakassi,'' he said.

Posted by Publisher at 02:47 PM | Comments (0)

Nigeria moves against terrorists - Acquires monitoring gadgets

NIGERIA has acquired Strategic Intelligence Communication Network and Terrorist Monitoring and Surveillance Equipment. The equipment is to be handled and maintained by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

FOLUSO AKINWUMI, Abuja - 05.09.2006

The disclosure was made by the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Halidu Giwa, in his address presented at the Defence Advisers’ annual conference which kicked off in Abuja on Monday.

According to the General, the nation acquired the equipment to place itself on a good pedestral and protect itself against being made a home to terrorists or being attacked by terrorists.

The nation, he said, would not wait until it was under the threat of terrorists before making moves to defend itself. The agency, he disclosed further, was prepared to curb the tide of violence and communal conflicts which could be turned into internal terrorism.

Internal security challenges like insecurity in the Niger-Delta, he said, had continued to threaten the social and economic wellbeing of the country.

With 2007 elections around the corner, the agency, he said, had identified flashpoints in the country and also taken various measures at curbing violence in identified places.

Under the establishment review programme of DIA, the agency, he said, had established nine intelligence cells in addition to its Lagos annex which had been converted to a cell.

The cells, he said, were located in flashpoints such as Port Harcourt, Lagos, Warri, Calabar, Ibadan, Onitsha, Sokoto, Kaduna, Maiduguri and Yola.

Plans were also underway to establish cells in other flashpoints such as Kano, Jos, Makurdi, Kainji, Gusau, Saki and Gombe, the DIA boss disclosed further.

Posted by Publisher at 02:47 PM | Comments (0)

September 04, 2006

Niger Delta Security: FG gives US conditions - Rejects deployment of American marines

The Federal Government has given conditions for the acceptance of the offer of the United States government to assist in addressing the security challenges in the Niger Delta, saying the acceptance of such an offer would exclude the deployment of US Marines in the region.

UCHECHUKWU OLISAH, Benin City - 04.09.2006

Special Assistant to the US President on Security in the Gulf of Guinea, Mrs Linda Greenfield, had last week indicated the interest of the American government to assist President Olusegun Obasanjo to tackle security concerns in the Niger Delta.

Reacting to the US’ expression of interest at the weekend in Edo State, the Special Adviser to President Obasanjo on Policy and Programmes Monitoring, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, said Nigeria would only accept logistics and technological support and not the deployment of American Marines.

Ihonvbere stated that the Nigerian government was capable of curbing the restiveness in the Niger Delta. “For technical assistance, yes. Logistical support, yes. They have satellites, so they can see things going on. So with their superior technology they can offer this to us. They have training experiences all over the world.

“But in the sense of dealing with the practical issue on the ground in the Niger Delta, the Federal Government of Nigeria is capable of deploying logistical, military, security and other resources needed.

“The Obasanjo government believes in peace, dialogue and consultations and that is what we have been doing in the Niger Delta over time. I have seen some youth groups, elders of the area coming to Abuja to declare their loyalty to the President. In fact, very soon, the Itsekiri Youth Movement is also coming to see the president. The president has an open door policy. Any group that wants to see him will see him and he will tell them the truth.

“This administration will do everything to see that the problems of the Niger Delta become a thing of the past, but we will never do that to the detriment of the nation. I know that more than any government in this country, this present administration has shown more sensitivity to the plight of the Niger Delta. I am from the Niger Delta too, so I feel the pains of our people.

“But it is not the Federal Government that the people are actually holding responsible because I talk to many of these young people. They blamed years of neglect on the oil companies, the local government and, in some cases, the state government.

“So I think the issue is that there is a new direction, there is a new re-alignment of forces and there is a new commitment. And if at all these levels, everybody join hands together, there is no reason why we cannot improve the area,” he stated.

Speaking on the alleged threat by some Ijaw leaders over the recent clamp down on some militant youths in the region by men of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Professor Ihonvbere described it as “unnecessary”, pointing out that “each time these leaders have meetings, they should first of all ask themselves what they have done to bring peace to their communities. They are leaders in these communities but they see kidnappings, assassinations, invasions, they have the responsibility to call these boys to order because they know them but they never did.

“So instead of sitting down always to say they will resist the Federal Government, they should resist those who are creating instability, tension and insecurity in that particular area, that is number one. Number two, there is no fight between the Federal Government and the Ijaws, if they have ideas that will help the government resolve the problem, let them put it forward.”

Posted by Publisher at 12:33 PM | Comments (0)

September 01, 2006

Cheaper Tokunbo cars coming - Senate plans removal of 2% duty

Nigerians may soon start driving cheaper imported (tokunbo) cars as the Senate on Thursday passed a bill seeking to remove the two per cent duty on imported cars under the National Automotive Council Act.

TAIWO ADISA, Abuja - 01.09.2006

Chairman of Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Effiong Bob, who presented a report of the Committee on the National Automotive Council (amendment) Bill 2005 on the floor of the Senate on Thursday, said that the committee discovered that the use of tax as an instrument of trade did not add much value to government coffers but discouraged investment opportunities.

Bob said that the committee discovered at its public hearing on the bill in Kaduna on March 14, 2006, that most special taxes in Nigeria did not end up in the Federation Account, therefore, giving rise to issues of accountability and transparency.

“In the consideration of the bill, the committee noted that most of the special purposes taxes did not accrue to the Federation Account and consequently gave rise to issues of transparency and accountability,” Bob submitted.

The committee, therefore, recommended the adoption of the amendment by the Senate. The committee stated that the amendment would discourage multiple taxation in the system and simplify the tax reform process.

A major component of the amendment bill is the abolition of the two per cent duty on imported vehicles under the National Automotive Council Act. The finance committee stated that the amendment would also stimulate economic growth and development by simplifying tax regime.

Besides, the Senate also approved other sources of funding for the automotive council to include sums provided to it by the government, contributions by the private sector and money collected as a result of services rendered by the council or research efforts and sums accruing from sale of assets.

Posted by Publisher at 11:46 AM | Comments (0)

August 28, 2006

US ranks Nigeria among world’s trouble spots - Afghanistan, Iraq top list

THE United States government has listed Nigeria among the 29 trouble spots in the world. Nigeria was ranked among such countries as Afghanistan, which topped the list, Iraq, Indonesia, Iran, Liberia, among others.

FEMI OSINUSI, Associate Editor - 28.08.2006

Other countries on the ranking by the US government are Algeria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, East Timor, Eritrea, Haiti.

The remaining countries on the list are Israel, Cote D’Ivoire Coast, Kenya, Lebanon, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Uzbekistan, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

The US government has, therefore, asked its citizens to avoid travelling to these countries, describing them as volatile spots in the world.

According to the report, the warning on Nigeria was being issued over what it called the deteriorating security situation in the country, reflecting in the number of kidnappings occurring in the area and the alleged killing of hostages in the land.

“The Department of State continues to warn US citizens of the dangers of travel to Nigeria. The lack of law and order in Nigeria poses considerable risks to travellers. Violent crimes committed by ordinary criminals, as well as by persons in police and military uniforms, can occur throughout the country and tend to peak between November and January,” the statement by the department said.

According to the report, the security situation in the Niger Delta had deteriorated significantly. “Travel to the region remains very dangerous and should be avoided,” the statement further added.

The statement also said apart from the Niger Delta area, crimes had continued to take place in Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the country.

“Crime in Lagos and Abuja is an ongoing problem. Some expatriates have been robbed in the outlying Lagos suburb of Lekki and in Abuja, the Maitama area has seen a series of home invasions. In a working class section of Lagos Mainland, an October 25, 2005 clash between police and residents left several dead.

“Even Victoria Island and Ikoyi, which are generally safer than other parts of Lagos, have experienced attempted bank robberies and have seen an increase in smash-and-grab car robberies, including some involving some expatriates,” the statement added.

The statement, therefore, advised American citizens travelling to Nigeria and the other 28 countries listed to register through the State Department travel registration website or register directly with the nearest US embassy or consulate.

Posted by Publisher at 09:39 AM | Comments (0)

Police report on Funsho Williams out early September

THE Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, will next month make public the outcome of police investigation into the murder of a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State, Engineer Funsho Williams.

ADELOWO OLADIPO, Lagos - 28.08.2006

Nigerian Tribune gathered at the weekend that the failure of the British Police to return to the police authorities in Nigeria samples of the fingerprints lifted and medical examinations conducted on the remains of the late Williams might have made it impossible for the IG to announce his findings until now.

A reliable police source told the Nigerian Tribune that the large number of people whose finger and footprints were taken at the time and the perceived sensitivity of the matter might be the reason why the British police were yet to send their report.

The source noted that the inability of the police authorities in Nigeria in conjunction with the Federal Government to modernise their forensic equipment, which it described as outdated, necessitated the invitation to the British police.

The source said: “We still use binoculars in our forensic and fingerprints department at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos.”

The source assured Nigerians that the police would leave no stone unturned in unmasking the killers of Engineer Williams. Further checks have revealed that all the case files relating to the murder of Williams had been transferred to the office of the Inspector General of Police.

The source disclosed that some of the arrested suspects were still being detained at the Force Criminal Investigation Department. “Those released, like politicians and the Director General of the National Maritime Authority, Engineer Festus Ugwu, had their international passports seized by the police, with an instruction to them that they should be reporting to F.C.I.D. Alagbon, Ikoyi, periodically pending when the case would be disposed of,” the source added.

Posted by Publisher at 09:31 AM | Comments (0)

August 23, 2006

EFCC charges 3 Ekiti Commissioners over fraud

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will soon arraign three commissioners in Ekiti State for alleged fraud in connection with the Ekiti State integrated poultry project.

AKEEM NAFIU and ERIC IKHILAE, Lagos - 23.08.2006

The three commissioners, Chief Boboye Olanipekun, Kayode Osho and Richard Toyin Ojo, are in charge of Agriculture, Works and Finance, respectively.

They were accused alongside Gbenga James and Biological Concepts Nigeria Limited of fraudulently concealing the true source of about N27.5m being part of the amount meant for the execution of the Ekiti State integrated poultry project.

According to the charge sheet No. FHC/L/CS/188, the offence was allegedly committed between May, 2004 and April, 2006.

The 12-count charge alleged that Chief Boboye Olanipekun and Gbenga James on the 29th of September, 2004 in Ado-Ekiti, collaborated with Biological Concepts Nigeria Limited to conceal the genuine origin of the sum of N2.5 million.

The charge sheet further alleged that Kayode Osho sometime in December, 2005 in Ado Ekiti, collaborated with Gbenga James and Biological Concepts Nigeria Limited to conceal the genuine origin of the sum of N8.5 million while Richard Toyin Ojo was accused of accepting the cash payment of the sum of N1 million from Biological Concepts of Nigeria Limited.

Also, in one of the charges, Gbenga James, Biological Concepts Nigeria Limited and Kayode Osho were accused of converting the sum of N720,000 from the money meant for the execution of Ekiti State integrated poultry project.

It will be recalled that Gbenga James is currently undergoing trial alongside Goke Olatunji a personal assistant of the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, for alleged money laundering and illegal diversion of public funds.

When contacted for the Ekiti State government’s comments on the matter, the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Elder Idowu Adelusi, said he was not aware of such a development.

Posted by Publisher at 12:39 PM | Comments (0)

Vatsa’s wife falls sick

Given her exertions on the bid to seek justice over what she sees as the unjust and cruel execution of her husband in 1985, Hajiya Sefiya Vatsa has fallen slightly ill.

Hassan Ibrahim, Kaduna - 23.08.2006

Sequel to this, her personal physician has advised her to stop speaking to the press and putting herself under stress.

On Monday, while receiving Mr. Shehu Sani and others, Mrs. Vatsa had stated that she had documents that would nail General Babangida in the particular case of her husband’s execution and in the general case of how Babangida ruled Nigeria.

But when the Nigerian Tribune visited Mrs. Vatsa in her Kaduna home yesterday, she refused to entertain any more press interviews for now, as she had been advised by her doctor.

When the Nigerian Tribune called her on her mobile phone after the attempt to talk to her in her home, Mrs, Vatsa sai, “you people should leave me alone for now. I have said all that I need to say for now. Please go to my children if you need to hear anything. They are in Abuja.”

Posted by Publisher at 12:33 PM | Comments (0)

August 21, 2006

OBJ’s allies plan 6-month renewable tenure extension

A new plot to extend the tenure of the Obasanjo administration by a renewable six months was the subject of several high level meetings held in Abuja over the weekend.

By OLAWALE RASHEED - 21.08.2006

Nigerian Tribune findings revealed that the argument of illegality against the Interim National Government prompted the fresh plot to achieve tenure extension in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

From last Monday till now, Nigerian Tribune learnt that more than six top level meetings were held with two principal ones held over the weekend.

Apart from the earlier meetings with the leadership of the National Assembly which generated controversy last week, it was learnt that a two-phase meeting was held last Wednesday with the Governors Forum, the first being general and the second with close loyalists of the president among the governors.

On Saturday, Nigerian Tribune was told that Dr. Andy Uba hosted some South-South governors with the president in attendance and with the subject being 2007 and the extension question.

It was further gathered that the president left the meeting at Dr. Uba’s place to attend another at the Aguda House where the invitees reportedly gathered at the first lady’s wing of the old presidential lodge.

The Aguda House meeting was said to include South-West governors and selected caucus members.

Nigerian Tribune findings showed that a central focus of all the meetings was the formulation of strategies on how to exploit the constitution to achieve their goals ahead of the 2007 polls.

“Section 305 is the focus of all the meetings. We heard the plot is to induce the National

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Security agencies trail presidential, governorship aspirants - Dig into their past

SECURITY agencies have launched investigations into the past of those seeking to occupy public offices through the 2007 general elections, the Nigerian Tribune has exclusively gathered.

LANRE ADEWOLE, Abuja - 21.08.2006

Sources revealed that the probe officially commenced last week, when security agencies were despatched from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to all the states of the federation, to dig into the past of the aspirants, with a view to disqualifying those with criminal and immoral past.

The probe, according to sources, would include the family background of each aspirant, academic pursuit, business interests, as well as his/her business associates and social friends.

Contrary to previous practice when such findings were handled by the state commands, the Nigerian Tribune gathered that the operatives had been ordered by the agencies’ high command to report directly to the Abuja office.

Apart from digging into the past of the aspirants, the operatives are also to gather information on their current political, professional, social and economic activities.

Our sources further disclosed that beyond going to their states of origin and their places of birth to ask questions, the security operatives may also be trailing the aspirants to monitor their movements and those they relate with.

It was also gathered that the aspirants, especially those who are new on the political terrain, may be required to submit their curriculum vitae to the security agencies, for the verification of claims made, even before the primaries of the major political parties.

The ongoing exercise, according to sources, was to achieve, among other ends, drastic reduction in the number of the aspirants jostling for political offices in 2007, especially for the office of president and governor.

It is said to be the conviction in security circles that the violence trailing the preparations for the next general election was due to the large number of aspirants jostling for very limited seats, with everybody trying to do anything, including killing, to gain advantage.

Sources added that preliminary findings were being expected from this week. Almost all the leading presidential aspirants have been subjected to investigations by the anti-graft commissions and the security agencies.

In states like Kogi and Delta, about 10 aspirants are seeking to be governors in just one political party.

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August 18, 2006

No plan to extend OBJ’s tenure - Masari

SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Bello Masari, said on Thursday that there was no plan by the National Assembly to extend the tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo beyond May 2007.

BOLA BADMUS, Abuja - 18.08.2006

Masari made this declaration while inaugurating the newly elected officers of the House Press Corps led by Mr. Hammed Bello. The speaker described the report published by a newspaper (not Nigerian Tribune) as very sad, saying it was quite misleading for anyone to think along that line.

Masari stated that the condition for the extension of tenure of a government was spelt out in the constitution and could only be permitted in case of emergency. According to him, such a situation had not arisen, expressing the hope that Nigeria would not get to that stage whereby the President would ask the National Assembly to extend his tenure by giving him emergency powers.

Besides, the Speaker disclosed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus of the House which met before the said meeting with President Olusegun Obasanjo never discussed anything bordering on politics.

He, however, did not say exactly what the caucus discussed and what the outcome of their meeting with Obasanjo was. Masari noted that the media were expected to set an agenda for the country.

Commenting on the alleged belief in some quarters that the spate of assassinations of politicians, especially the gubernatorial aspirants of the PDP, would scare away good and credible people from participating in politics, Masari admitted that impression could be true.

However, he argued that it was wrong for anybody to conclude that it was politicians who were assassinating other politicians, saying it was possible that criminals and miscreants could be involved.

“We should encourage good people in politics,” he maintained. The Speaker stated that it was not only the responsibility of the House of Representatives to ensure that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted free, fair and credible elections in 2007, but it was a call to duty that must be performed.

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Oyo gov’s convoy in auto crash

ONE person was killed in an auto crash involving the convoy of the Oyo State governor, Otunba Bayo Alao-Akala, on Wednesday. This came barely 10 months after seven aides of the impeached governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, were killed in an auto crash.

By AKIN DURODOLA - 18.08.2006

The accident, which claimed the life of the driver of a Peugeot 504 station wagon car in the convoy, the Nigerian Tribune gathered, occurred around Sagamu area on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway around 6.00 p.m.

The governor was going to Lagos ahead of Thursday’s 90th birthday celebration of the former sole administrator of the Western Region, Dr. Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi, when the incident happened.

Five other occupants of the vehicle, including one Engineer Bello, elder brother of the governor’s wife, sustained varying degrees of injuries. Engineer Bello, it was gathered, joined the convoy to Lagos to board a flight to Abuja.

The occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, Alhaji M.A. Afolabi, were immediately rushed to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, for medical attention. Alhaji Afolabi was said to have died around 1.00 a.m. on Thursday.

Those who sustained injuries and rushed to the hospital for medical attention at the emergency unit of the hospital were the Special Assistant to the Governor on Strategy, Mr. Marcus Ajibade; Personal Assistant to the Governor on Utility, Mr. Leke Adewole; Engineer Bello, Mr. Muyiwa Kayode and Mr. Taye Oyekunle, both from the protocol department of the governor’s office.

A top aide of the governor, who asked not to be named, confirmed the incident, describing it as unfortunate, adding that the driver of the vehicle was not on high speed.

He said it was the tyre of the vehicle that got burst as a result of a deep pothole the vehicle ran into. This made the vehicle to somersault several times.

Immediately the accident happened, the governor was said to have come down from his official car, making contacts on how the victims could be rushed to the hospital.

The Secretary to the State Government, Chief Layiwola Olakojo, was said to have led the rescue team, while he made frantic efforts to make sure the victims were attended to.

As at the time of filing this report, three of the victims, Engr. Bello, Mr. Kayode and Mr. Oyekunle, have been discharged from the hospital.

The deputy governor, Alhaji Azeem Gbolarumi; wife of the governor, Mrs. Kemi Alao-Akala; Chief Olakojo and the Chief of Staff, Dr. Saka Balogun, were at the hospital early Thursday morning.

The governor’s office wore a mournful look on Thursday as colleagues of the deceased and other sympathisers gathered in groups to discuss the incident.

It will be recalled that exactly a week ago, a private security man slumped and died at the Agodi Governor’s Office.

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August 16, 2006

EFCC cannot detain without trial - Court

THE Economic and Fi-nancial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lacks the legal power to detain suspects without trial, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ruled on Tuesday.

By TOPE ABIOLA and DAPO FALADE - 16.08.2006

The court condemned the commission for the continued detention without trial of an Abuja-based lawyer, Mr Rickey Tarfa (SAN), who holds briefs of the Turaki Vanguard, the political campaign organisation of Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

As at yesterday, the senior advocate had spent six days in the custody of the commission, having been arrested last Thursday.

The presiding judge, Justice Anwuri Chikere, described the EFCC action as illegal and ordered the immediate and unconditional release of the detained lawyer.

Tarfa was arrested in Abuja by men of the EFCC over the controversial sale of a property located in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

All Abuja-based senior advocates, led by the most-senior, Mr. Joe Kyari, represented the detainee while more than 80 lawyers physically witnessed the proceedings.

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August 14, 2006

Williams: Police trail 3 Lagos PDP guber aspirants

THE Nigeria Police has decided to arrest three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial aspirants in Lagos State for allegedly failing to honour its invitation in connection with investigations into the murder of Engineer Funso Williams.

ADELOWO OLADIPO, Lagos - 14.08.2006

The three aspirants are Chief Owolabi David Salif, Chief Tunde Fanimokun and Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (rtd). Police authorities are also considering stopping the three politicians from contesting in the 2007 elections.

The police at the commencement of the investigation invited all the governorship aspirants in the PDP with about 16 of them honouring the invitation.

All the 16 are still being detained by the police at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon. “If the politicians want to be seen or portrayed in good light, they should in their own interest honour the police invitation for investigation into the murder of Funsho Williams,” the police source said.

The source also said the police by inviting all the aspirants to help in its investigation was guided by the provision of the constitution which gave it power to invite anybody for interrogation.

The police advised the remaining three governorship aspirants of the PDP to show up at the FCID to clear their name. The source said if they allowed the police to arrest them, it might not augur well for them.

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August 13, 2006

NCWS crisis deepens

THE crisis rocking the National Council of Women Society (NCWS) has continued to deepen, following allegation of financial misdemeanour levelled by members against the leadership, amid other allegations.

By Idowu Samuel - 13.08.2006

Indications that confidence has broken down within the rank and file of the women organisation emerged during the week when representatives of the organisation from about 28 states held an emergency general meeting in Abuja during which they accused the council’s president of working for the collapse of the group.

Members of the NCWS, in a communique made available to Sunday Tribune, stated that their President, Dr. Bolere Ketebu Nwokeafor, failed to account for a loan obtained by the group from NAPEP in 2002 and which they alleged was paid into her personal account.

The women said despite failure by their president to account for the loan, she has been threatening members of the organisation and cajoling them to extend her tenure by an extra year under the pretext of ensuring that the controversial loan would be repaid by her within the period of extension.

The communique read “The council secured a loan under her (Ketebu) leadership in 2002 from NAPEP which was guaranteed by her husband, instead of the Councils Board of Trustees. The loan was disbursed by Ketebu herself instead of the registered trustees of the council.”

The communique stated also that the NCWS president used a paid advertorial last year “to threaten members to give her illegal extension of one year to her legal term of 4 years in office under the pretext of making sure that the said loan is collected and paid. Yet the loan is not paid.”

Members of the NCWS also accused their president of amending the constitution of their group unilaterally to suit her whims and caprises, such that she was unilaterally fixing non-members of the NCWS into the Executive Councils of different states.

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August 10, 2006

IBB In Trouble: FG refers Vatsa’s petition to Justice Ministry

The findings of the security agents who investigated the circumstances surrounding the death by firing squad of Major-General Mamman Vatsa over the 1986 coup, have been turned over to the office of the Attorney- General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo for judicial advice, the Nigerian Tribune has exclusively gathered.

LANRE ADEWOLE, Abuja - 10.08.2006

The report was said to have been forwarded to the justice minister’s office on Tuesday. It could not be done on Monday as planned because those packaging it reportedly worked late into the evening.

The minister, who is on his annual leave, is currently out of the country and would not return until August 21.

A source revealed that the findings of the investigative team are being treated as highly classified, with the members of the team said to be reporting directly to the National Security Adviser, Gen. Sarki Mukhtar (rtd) instead of their Director-General.

The said Director-General was said not to have been privy to the findings of his officials before the report was forwarded to the office of the Justice Minister.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the minister was being expected to offer expert advice, before another round of investigations would take place on the matter.

The minister is being involved, according to our source, to point out legal pitfalls in the unfolding Vatsa saga, before attempts would be made to move for the prosecution of the principal actors in the General Babangida regime, which sentenced Vatsa and others to death over alleged involvement in attempts to overthrow the regime.

The move to probe into Vatsa’s death by the Federal Government is seen in many circles as an attempt to rope Babangida into culpable homicide, and use the murder charge to stop him from contesting the 2007 presidential election, for which he is seen as a front-runner.

General Charles Ndiomu (rtd), was the chairman of the military tribunal that sentenced Vatsa and others to death, with General Domkat Bali (rtd) announcing to the whole world that the convicted coup plotters, including Vatsa, had been executed “about an hour ago”, at a time almost the whole world was pleading that their lives be spared.

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August 08, 2006

2007: Presidency moves against IBB

FORMER military president, General Ibrahim Babangida’s dream to become the next president after the exit of President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2007 may not be realised as the presidency is said to be making moves to frustrate the General in several ways, including freezing his bank accounts.

BOLA BADMUS, Abuja - 08.08.2006

Some recent reports have indicated that General Babandiga and Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who has been engage in a face-off with President Olusegun Obasanjo, were being subjected to an alleged secret probe.

The commission was reported to have commenced investigations into alleged business deals involving the two top Nigerians by allegedly asking banks in the country to supply it with records of transactions involving them as well as the bank accounts.

Sources who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the presidency might have concretized an action plan to stop the former military president from contesting the 2007 polls.

According to them, one of the ways was to ensure that any bank account perceived to belong to Babangida should be frozen with a view to making it difficult to draw campaign funds. The other approach, Nigerian Tribune learnt, was the erection of anti-Babangida billboards across the country to sensitize Nigerians to the alleged atrocities committed by the General when he ruled as military head of state.

Indeed, on the alleged first plan of some presidential hawks to freeze Babangida’s bank accounts, the Babangida’s camp is divided as to its truth or motive behind it. While some in the camp are said to have dismissed such a move coming from the presidency, others are said to have seen it as basically designed to embarrass the General and make him jettison his ambition to succeed President Obasanjo.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that on the issue of anti- Babangida’s billboards, a governor from the Northern part of the country had been commissioned to handle the alleged project. The alleged project which several millions of naira is said to have been voted, according to sources, would have billboards with inscriptions such as “Who killed Dele Giwa?”, “Who annulled June 12?”, among others.

The billboards, it was gathered would be erected in strategic locations in the country’s capital cities and towns. The planned anti-Babangida billboard campaign is said to be coming against the backdrop of eyebrows being raised in the General’s camp over alleged removal of a billboard erected for Babangida at the Abuja Airport junction on the alleged orders of the FCT authorities.

The billboard in which Babangida’s picture was said to have featured prominently in traditional Aso-Oke was said to have been removed at the commencement of the recently concluded Sullivan Summit which was held in Abuja.

According to Nigerian Tribune findings, the governor said to be championing the anti-Babangida billboards was also said to be backing the recent agitation by the family of the Late General Mamman Vatsa to ensure the probe of Babangida by the Federal Government over the execution of their son who was convicted of coup plotting.

Commenting on the report, the Director of Publicity of the Babangida presidential campaign organisation, Barrister Venetius Ikem, denied that the presidency was working against the Minna General.

“We are not aware of any such plot. But if there is any, we are sure it is not from the presidency; it is likely to be from fellow aspirants who are afraid of the General. “As far as we are concerned, there is nothing in the electoral act or the 1999 Constitution that bars our principal from contesting. We are not going to be intimidated and I can assure our teeming supporters that the General would submit himself to the electorate.

“What we are saying is that Nigerians should be allowed to determine the fate of all aspirants on a level playing field. That is our expectation. “In our view, this is democracy and the voters should have the final say. Who is afraid of the General, that is our question,” he said.

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Fuel shortage imminent - As tanker owners begin strike

OWNERS of fuel tankers, who are transport contractors to the major oil marketers, have embarked on a strike to protest at the high cost of diesel, which they say is affecting their profit margin.

By MARTIN AYANKOLA, and QUDIRAT HAKEEM APANPA - 08.08.2006

Nigerian Tribune was told by an impeccable source in the oil marketing industry that the strike would paralyze petroleum product distribution activities nationwide as the tanker owners who operate under the umbrella of National Association of Road Transport Owners [NARTO] own “hundred per cent of the trucks being used for fuel transportation by the major marketers”.

“They own all the trucks, we only give them specifications and brand them [vehicles] in our colours”, the source said.

With the strike in effect, the NARTO members have withdrawn their trucks which means that only the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation owned trucks could be lifting products from the depots.

The Nigerian Tribune source said that some of the conditions given to them and were yet to be met by the major oil marketers included the payment of five per cent withholding tax which the major marketers were not remitting to the Federal Government coffers since they started the deduction.

Other reasons are the constant increase in the price of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) known as diesel, which was about N65 per litre as at the time of negotiation but has now risen to N93 per litre.

Meanwhile, the national operations coordinator of NARTO, Alhaji Lawal Isa, in a notice of suspension of service he sent to all the depots across the country, insisted that until the matter was resolved, they would dis-continue services under the prevailing condition.

Efforts by the Nigerian Tribune to speak with the Special Depot Manager (SDM) of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Apata, proved abortive, as he was said to be in a crucial meeting.

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August 07, 2006

Race to replace Okonjo-Iweala hots up

LOBBYING for Abia State’s ministerial slot vacated last week by the former Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, reached a high point in Abuja at the weekend as the Nigerian Tribune gathered that Okonjo-Iweala may be replaced by the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Professor Joy Ogwu.

TAIWO ADISA, Abuja - 07.08.2006

Sources told the Nigerian Tribune that Ogwu, who hails from Delta State, may be named the new Foreign Afairs Minister in line with the practice during the days of the military, where Directors General of the NIIA were often drafted to the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Sources also confirmed that President Olusegun Obasanjo might have decided to pick a high profile person in order to successfully close the gap vacated by Okonjo-Iweala, a World Bank technocrat.

“Ogwu’s name started making the rounds on Friday and I can confirm to you that the president is giving serious thoughts to that,” a source said.

If Ogwu gets it, Delta State would have three people in the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The other Delta State representatives are the Minister of Police Affairs, Ferederick Bozimo, and the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Roland Orisetjafor.

It was further revealed that lobbyists for the slot of Abia State intensified their efforts but were told that the presidency favoured a serving diplomat for the post.

Sources confirmed that the diplomat may have already been nominated as he was summoned to the presidential Villa for discussions.

Those who were also considered for the post included the Special assistant to the President on Public Communications, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, former deputy governor in the state, Chief Enyinnaya Abaribe, the former boss of Hallmark Bank Plc, Sir Mac Wabara, and two diplomats.

Presidency sources, however, told the Nigerian Tribune that the credentials of of the diplomat were compelling.

Sources also confirmed that a minor cabinet reshuffle would herald the appointment of Ogwu and the new Abia nominee when they were eventually confirmed by the Senate.

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Lawmakers threaten to impeach OBJ - If disqualification, ING bills surface

AS the National Assembly commences plenary sessions this week, legislative opposition forces are regrouping, threatening to file an impeachment motion on President Olusegun Obasanjo if the bills on the Interim National Government and disqualification of certain elected officers are presented before the two chambers.

By OLAWALE RASHEED - 07.08.2006

The Nigerian Tribune findings showed that key leaders of the coalition of opposition lawmakers who joined hands to scuttle the third term bid have been meeting in the last one week to fine-tune strategies to checkmate the president as they suspect that loyalists of the president are nursing another hidden agenda.

It was gathered that the group believed those behind the failed third term bid were working on three fronts to scuttle next year’s poll.

They are alleged to be deliberately under-funding the electoral commission, championing the disqualification of leading opposition politicians from contesting elections and exploiting loopholes in the constitution to foist interim government on the polity.

Opposition lawmakers who reportedly met last week in Abuja are said to have commenced extensive mobilisation to kill three bills said to be coming to the assembly this week, namely the one giving more powers to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the bill requesting office holders to resign three months to the election and a bill proposing interim government if election could not be held in 2007.

While those at the meeting are not sure of what forms the various bills will take, Nigerian Tribune was told that the directive issued at the meeting was that the members should be vigilant and attend all sittings.

A leading member of the group, Dr. Usman Bugaje, was said to have particularly insisted that the opposition lawmakers should pay close attention not only to bills coming from the executive arm of government but also those coming from the pro-presidency lawmakers.

Beyond the strategies to kill the various bills, Nigerian Tribune was told that the last year of this legislature would be used to beat the president into line over power play on who succeeds him.

The main presidential contenders who believe the president is working against them are said to have directed their loyalists in the two chambers to tighten the noose on the president.

Loyalists of Generals Ibrahim Babangida, Muhammadu Buhari, Aliyu Gusau and Vice President Atiku Abubakar, were reportedly under instruction to take legislative actions on all the reports of the public hearings conducted by both chambers since inception with a view to raising indictments against the executive arm.

The groups which fused together against the third term bid are said to be determined to also force the presidency to release the funds meant for the electoral commission while also raising queries on the issue of illegal deductions from the Federation Account.

On INEC, Nigerian Tribune was told that the opposition will push for a probe into why the commission could not secure due process certificate from the due process office and to determine whether the action was deliberate on the part of the due process office.

A very reliable insider told the Nigerian Tribune that a foundation was being built for the raising of an impeachment motion against the president, adding that “this time round, it will be a joke very close to reality.

“If all the rumours turn out to be true, the president is going to have it rough. We will push for impeachment and we will damn whatever consequence.”

Further investigation, however, revealed that previous impeachment bids were stalled because of the fear of a segment of the opposition about what an Abubakar Atiku presidency will mean for the 2007 presidential race and Nigeria in general.

Some loyalists of General Babangida were said to be wary of an Atiku stepping into the presidency less than ten months into the next presidential election. The issue did not, however, crop up this time round as the groups are said to be more concerned about taming the president before he (the president) destroyed them (opposition leaders).

Posted by Publisher at 01:36 PM | Comments (0)

August 03, 2006

Dying Castro hands over to brother

Beating on cooking pots and honking car horns, hundreds of Cuban exiles streamed into the streets of Miami’s Little Havana to celebrate news that Cuban president, Fidel Castro, had handed over power.

By Our Reporter - 02.08.2006

Calle Ocho, the main street of the Spanish-speaking neighbourhood in Miami that is the heart of Castro’s exiled opposition, was awash in Cuban flags and dancing people who had waited years, and in some cases decades, for this moment. Fireworks exploded in parts of Miami.

Castro’s announcement on Monday night that he was handing over power temporarily to his younger brother and designated successor, Raul Castro, while he underwent surgery was greeted by Cuban exiles in Miami as a signal of his imminent demise.

“I am elated but I am sad at the same time, because there are so many of us who could not be here to see this,” said Ana Maria Lamar, referring to exiles who spent their lives fighting Castro and the thousands of Cuban rafters believed to have perished trying to flee the communist-ruled Caribbean island.

An estimated 650,000 people of Cuban descent make their homes in Miami, the Florida city remade by Cubans who left the island in waves following Castro’s 1959 revolution.

Lamar, 62, said her late father fought at the Bay of Pigs in the 1961 U.S.-backed attempt to unseat Castro.

“He is celebrating in heaven,” she said, tears in her eyes. She was wrapped in a red, white and blue Cuban flag and nearby were six of her relatives, representing three generations of family.

Cars streamed along Calle Ocho, drivers honking horns as passengers leaned out of windows, waving flags. Young women in bikini tops popped up through the sunroofs of parading SUVs and couples danced on the beds of pickup trucks.

President Castro was undergoing intestinal surgery and provisionally handed over power to his younger brother Raul, according to a statement read on Cuban television on Monday night.

It is believed to be the first time Castro has temporarily ceded power to his brother since taking over power 47 years ago, according to The Associated Press.

Castro, 79, has led Cuba since a 1959 revolution Raul Castro, 75, is the first vice president of the country and, as such, the designated successor to his brother.

Castro’s secretary, Carlos Valenciaga, read a letter he said was from the president in which he said stress had forced him into surgery and that he would be in bed for several weeks after the operation was complete.

Castro turns 80 on August 13. Raul Castro also assumes control over the armed forces and the leadership of the Communist Party, according to the statement.

Last week, Castro joked that he had no plans to still hold power when he turns 100, Reuters reported. Hours ahead of the announcement of Castro’s illness, President Bush called the Cuban’s government a “tyrannical regime” in an interview with a Miami TV station.

“Our objective is to free the Cuban people,” the president told WPLG. “That’s our objective.” The streets of Miami’s Cuban-exile community erupted in excitement after news of Castro’s illness spread.

People poured into the streets waving Cuban and American flags, chanting “Cuba Libre (free Cuba).” The roads were gridlocked with honking cars and fireworks lit the skies.

“It is a cause for celebration,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez, while asking residents to show some restraint and keep traffic flowing throughout the city. “We certainly don’t want to hinder in any way, shape or form ... the enthusiasm we all feel.”

The White House took a more measured approach to the announcement from Havana. “The White House is monitoring the situation. We cannot speculate on Fidel Castro’s health,” White House spokesman, Peter Watkins, said. “We continue to work for the day of Cuba’s freedom.”

The transfer of power in Cuba has not triggered a response from the U.S. Coast Guard, which monitors the Straits of Florida for refugees fleeing the island.

Posted by Publisher at 01:17 PM | Comments (0)

August 01, 2006

Court strikes out Lar’s faction’s suit against PDP

A heavy blow was dealt the faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Chief Solomon Lar on Monday as it lost in its bid to get an Abuja High Court to declare as illegal, the executive of the party led by Senator Ahmadu Ali.

LANRE ADEWOLE, Abuja - 01.08.2006

The breakaway group had approached the court in the wake of the leadership crisis in the party, asking that the Ali-led executive be declared illegal because the members were not elected at an elective convention, as ordered by a court of law.

Delivering his ruling, Justice Ibrahim Bukah said that the suit brought by the Lar faction was an abuse of court process, given the pendency of an appeal on the same subject matter.

The judge also held that the plaintiffs lacked the locus standi to institute the action, because they had not shown that the convention had affected their interests negatively, since none of them stood for any elective posts at the convention.

Apart from being late in instituting the action, the plaintiffs’ action, according to the judge, was incompetent because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not joined as a party.

“In the determination of whether the convention was held accordingly, the INEC should be a party. The action is, thereby, incompetent because INEC was not joined as a party in the suit, given that it is the supervisory body for all political parties”, Justice Bukah said.

The Ali-led exco had gone on appeal, following an order by an Abuja High court in Gwagwalada that the last convention of the party should be elective, contrary to the position of the party leadership.

Justice Bukah held that the Lar faction was aware of the appeal, and its pendency rendered any action on the subject matter a mere abuse of court process.

Reacting to the ruling, the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. John Odey, said the ruling was a victory for democracy, while the Lar group said it was going to appeal the decision.

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July 24, 2006

Atiku/Jefferson dea: EFCC probes top govt officials - Atiku’s aide

THE last may not have been heard about the alleged deal between Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a member of the US House of Representatives, William Jefferson, as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was said to have asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to interview three state governors in Nigeria and other officials who had contact with the Louisiana Democrat.

By Our Reporter - 24.07.2006

Media Adviser to Vice-President Abubakar, Dr. Onukaba Adinoyi Ojo, was quoted by The Washington Post to have said there was more to the alleged deal than had been revealed.

According to the report, the FBI had asked the EFCC to work harder in its search of corrupt officials, adding that already, three serving governors and other top government officials were currently being quizzed by the commission.

The report neither mentioned the names of the governor nor their states.

The corruption investigation of Jefferson and Vice President Abubakar has been on for many months with allegations and counter-allegations from the two sides.

The latest was Abubakar’s denial of ever having any relationship with Jefferson either personal or private.

“I have no relationship with Mr. Jefferson, personal or private, other than the usual diplomatic courtesies extended to a high-ranking US official who states that he is interested in promoting trade, investment and the transfer of technology to Nigeria”, Vice President Abubakar said.

To give the vice president a clean bill of health, his media adviser, Onukaba cited the discovery of the cash in Jefferson’s freezer, adding “this is absolutely the clearest evidence of Abubakar’s innocence”.

Jefferson, according to him in The Washington Post, “was just dropping his name to commit fraud... to extort money from people. The vice president asked for nothing”.

When contacted on phone yesterday, Onukaba said it was true he granted the interview but added that he did not mention that the FBI had asked the EFCC to interview, three governors.

According to him, “I did not say three governors are being interviewed by the EFCC. What I said was that Jefferson has been coming to Nigeria for long and had a deal with many important government officials. You can ask the EFCC about this.”

The Head of Media Affairs of the EFCC, Mr. Osita Nwajah, when contacted, said he was not aware of the interview of the three governors.

“I am not aware of the probe. He (Onukaba) is neither an EFCC official nor FBI official, so I am not aware of any probe”, he said.

Posted by Publisher at 07:41 PM | Comments (0)

July 21, 2006

I never bribed Atiku - Jefferson

UNITED States Congressman, William Jefferson, has said that he never gave money to Vice President Atiku Abubakar during their brief meeting in August last year in Maryland, USA.

Our Reporter- 21.07.2006

He also said Atiku never requested money or any favour from him.
Mr. Jefferson spoke through his media aide, Judy Smith.

“The Vice President never accepted or agreed to accept any money from the congressman”, she said in an interview published in The New York Times of yesterday.

“The selective disclosures made by the Department of Justice continue to create false impressions,” Ms. Smith further said.

Atiku has consistently denied that he accepted bribes or had a business relationship with William J. Jefferson, the Louisiana Democrat who is the target of a federal corruption investigation.

In a statement made available by his Washington lawyer, Edward Weidenfeld, Atiku insisted that he had “no relationship with Mr. Jefferson, personal or private, other than the usual diplomatic courtesies” extended to an American official promoting development in Nigeria.

Weidenfeld said that “there is nothing linking the vice president with Congressman Jefferson except Mr. Jefferson’s own false, self-serving statements.”

The lawyer also said that his client was entitled to a statement from federal prosecutors that he was “an innocent victim.”

Jefferson’s new position contradicts his earlier claim to an FBI informant that he gave Atiku $100,000 bribe to facilitate a business transaction in Nigeria.

The marked money was discovered two days later wrapped in a foil paper and concealed in his freezer at his home.

Posted by Publisher at 01:32 PM | Comments (0)

July 20, 2006

No going back on strike - Labour leaders

SECRETARY to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Ufot Ekaette, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, will today lead the government side in a meeting with the leadership of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) over the sack of 33,000 in the civil service and the threat of the workers to embark on a nationwide strike.

SOJI-EZE FAGBEMI, Abuja - 20.07.2006

The emergency meeting would be held today even as the labour leaders, who were quizzed by the State Security Service for their roles in the planned nationwide strike, vowed not to be deterred, intimidated or cowed by the arrest or any further moves to force them into submission.

The meeting, which would be held at the office of the Head of Service, would have in attendance three ministers, five permanent secretaries, three director-generals; chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, the Accountant-General of the Federation and all the executive members of the eight unions under the JNPSNC.

A letter entitled: “Emergency meeting of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council,” and sent to the participants, said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the proposed industrial action by the eight public service trade unions under the auspices of the JNPSNC.

The letter, with reference number: CND27/S.1/02/T dated 18 July, 2006 and signed by the head of the civil service, said: “The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the proposed industrial action by the eight public service trade unions under the auspices of the JNPSNC, union side, in protest against the impending rightsizing and downsizing of about 33,000 workers in the ongoing implementation of the public service reforms programmes.

“Please note that representation at the meeting should not be below the level of a director for the government side. The trade union side should be the appropriate national officers as well as the federal branch chairmen and secretaries of the eight public service trade unions only.”

Due to the urgency demanded to resolve the issue before the seven-day ultimatum given by the workers lapses tomorrow (Friday), the head of service pleaded that the letter should be treated “as urgent and important.”

Already, the unions leaders have given a seven-day ultimatum within which the government should react, call them for negotiation with a view to reversing the mass sack or face a nationwide strike.

The ultimatum expires tomorrow, and another meeting of the workers had been slated for tomorrow to decided on the next line of action.

However, in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday, the spokesperson of the JNPSNC, Comrade Fidelis Edeh, who was one of those quizzed by the SSS on Tuesday, said there was no amount of arrest or intimidation that would stop them from pursuing the struggle.

“We are already determined, we have investigated, we have responses from the workers who told us what is going on in their various ministries,” Edeh said. Comrade Edeh added: “Let them fault the process we are using or the facts we are going to canvass, because there is no amount of intimidation that would make me concede to the fact that the livelihood of Nigerians, who are primarily supposed to be protected by the government, are sacked from their jobs without due process.

“So, I don’t see the intimidation that would make me concede that, if somebody has not been fairly treated in terms of exit from service, I will say yes. That means I am the one compounding the man’s problem, I would better pull out from such a negotiation than make concessions that would portray me as not a good representative of those who have elected us to represent them.”

General Secretary of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Mr. Solomon Onagbinon, said the question of intimidation should not arise as they could not be intimidated. Barrister Onagbinon said the council had declared a trade dispute already and given a seven-day ultimatum, adding that they would only go ahead to restate their position and objection to the exercise and expect them to justify why they were doing that.

“If government has a broad mind towards the issue, we shall resolve it with little or no difficulties. It is a statutory provision and no amount of invitation by the government security agencies or intimidation will force us to accept the mass sack. We are going ahead with the strike if government refused to accept our own position. We are invoking the Trade Disputes Act Cap 432, Section 48. So, it is a settled issue and a question of strike or no strike does not arise.”

Posted by Publisher at 02:11 PM | Comments (0)

July 18, 2006

Nigeria loses seat in UN - Over human rights records

Citing poor human rights record against Nigeria, the country has been denied a seat on a United Nations’ committee/Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

LANRE ADEWOLE, Abuja - 18.07.2006

Nigerian Mrs. Saudatu Mahdi was stopped as one of the 12 experts elected to serve on the CEDAW Committee, which holds the mandate to monitor countries’ compliance with the Convention.

Mrs Mahdi, who is the Executive Director of the Women Rights Advancement and Protection Agency {WRAPA}, confirmed to the Nigerian Tribune that her loss was due to the human rights record of the Nigerian government.

She was one of the 23 experts that applied for a seat on CEDAW. Most of the voters at the election reportedly acknowledged Mahdi’s expertise, but her lobby for Nigeria was said to have been rebuffed by them, while making known their preference for the candidacy of any West African country other than Nigeria.

A protest vote reportedly saw Dorcas Ama Frema Coker-Appiah of Ghana emerge in the Nigerian’s place as one of the 12 experts elected to serve on the CEDAW committee.

The election, which was held on June 23, 2006, had 181 of 183 states who are signatories to the convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women participating in the election.

Mahdi said that the controversial redeployment of the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Bukhari Bello, the arraignment of two journalists for sedition, as well as the alleged poor human rights record of Nigeria, which had sent tongues wagging in the international community, combined to make Nigeria a hard-sell for the seat, despite its glittering track record.

The successful candidates are Ferdous Ara Begum (Bangladesh), Meriem Belmihoub-Zerdani (Algeria), Saisuree Chutikul (Thailand), Dorcas Ama Frema Coker-Appiah (Ghana), Cornelis Flinterman (Netherlands), Naela Gabr Mohamed Gabre Ali (Egypt), Ruth Halperin-Kaddari (Israel), Violeta Neubauer (Slovenia), Pramila Patten (Mauritius), Fumiko Saiga (Japan), Hazel Gumede Shelton (South Africa) and Dubravka Šimonovic (Croatia).

They will begin four-year terms on 1 January 2007, and will replace the 12 experts whose terms will expire on 31 December 2006. The committee members who will continue to serve until their terms expire on 31 December 2008 included: Magalys Arocha Dominguez (Cuba), Mary Shanthi Dairiam ( Malaysia), Françoise Gaspard (France), Tiziana Maiolo (Italy), Silvia Pimentel ( Brazil), Hanna Beate Schöpp-Schilling (Germany), Heisoo Shin (Republic of Korea), Glenda P. Simms (Jamaica), Anamah Tan (Singapore), Maria Regina Tavares da Silva (Portugal) and Xiaoqiao Zou (China).

To preside over the fourteenth meeting of states parties, the committee elected Andreas Mavroyiannis (Cyprus) as chairperson, as well as the following three vice-chairpersons: Meshak Kitchen (Zimbabwe), from the group of African States; Birute Abraitiene (Lithuania), from the group of Eastern European States; and Sean McDonald (Ireland), from the group of Western European and other states.

Posted by Publisher at 02:05 PM | Comments (0)

July 17, 2006

PDP drags DPP to court over name

Founders of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), Sokoto State governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, and former FCT Minister, General Jeremiah Useni, are now before a Federal High Court in Abuja defending why their new party should not be de-registered.

LANRE ADEWOLE, Abuja - 17.07.2006

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Imo State, Honourable Tony Anyanwu, dragged the party to court over the similarities in its name and symbol with that of the PDP.

Anyanwu is claiming that the name, DPP, was creating confusion, because everything about it had too much semblance with the PDP. He wanted the court to order the Independent National Electroral Commission (INEC), which he joined as a defendant in the matter, to deregister the party formed by Bafarawa and Useni.

Alternatively, Anyanwu, a legal practitioner, is asking for an order compelling a change in the name and the symbol of the new party that are similar to that of the PDP.

Failure to do so, according to the plaintiff, would cause confusion among voters in the 2007 election, especially among the PDP supporters.

The suit is supported by a four-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Patricia Umaru, a legal practitioner.

Posted by Publisher at 02:54 PM | Comments (0)

July 14, 2006

Adenuga is innocent... - EFCC

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday stated that no crime had been established by the commission against the chairman of Globacom and Consolidated Oil, Dr. Mike Adenuga.

By OMODELE IDRIS - 14.07.2006

EFCC, in a statement signed by its Head, Media and Publicity, Mr. Osita Nwajah, stated that Dr. Adenuga was innocent until proven otherwise.

The commission emphasised that its invitation to and interaction with Adenuga was normal.

“It must be emphasised, however, that EFCC’s invitation to and interaction with Chief Adenuga is normal. No crime has been established against him. He is innocent until proven otherwise”, the statement read.

The commission added that Dr. Adenuga’s arrest was carried out in a professional manner with due respect for his rights as a citizen of Nigeria and in accordance with established rules and regulations, stating that no injury was done to his person or damage to his property.

EFCC stated that Dr. Adenuga was released immediately after his interaction with the EFCC officials at the commission’s office at Ikoyi, Lagos.

Posted by Publisher at 02:30 PM | Comments (0)

July 12, 2006

US resumes direct flight to Nigeria

A U.S.-based airline will start New York-Lagos flights next week, three years after a dispute between Nigeria and the United States halted direct flights between the two countries, an American aviation official said yesterday.

By Our Reporter - 12.07.2006

North American, a unit of World Air Holdings Inc., has secured a permit to fly direct to Lagos after Nigeria apparently backed down in a dispute with Washington over flagship airline, Virgin Nigeria, a diplomatic source said.

“I can confirm that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has given North American a technical permit to fly to Nigeria and they will begin operations next week,” a spokesman for the authority said.

Virgin Nigeria, 49 per cent owned by Briton Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and 51 per cent owned by Nigerian investors, was set up after the liquidation of Nigeria Airways, which used to fly from Lagos to New York and London.

Last year, the United States barred Virgin Nigeria from flying to New York, citing Branson’s interest in the airline. Washington argued it would be unfair to permit a partly British-owned airline to benefit from the U.S.-Nigeria open-skies agreement.

Nigeria countered by banning Continental Airlines from flying the same route. The Lagos-New York route is very popular and when flights are available, they are usually packed.

The diplomatic source said the dispute over Virgin Nigeria had still not been resolved. New York-based North American, a charter and scheduled passenger airline, said it would offer three weekly round trips with its Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, which has 30 business class and 176 economy seats. The airline currently flies to Ghana and the Gambia.

“Lagos is a logical addition to the North American Airlines system,” the airline’s chief marketing officer, Rob Binns, said in a statement. North American had already tried to fly to Lagos in 2003, after Washington lifted a 10-year ban on direct flights to Nigeria, but that was called off after a few months following the collapse of a partnership with little-known Rite Time.

Posted by Publisher at 01:08 PM | Comments (0)

Atiku’ll regret leaving PDP - Ali

National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmadu Ali, has said that the alleged plan by Vice President Atiku Abubakar to leave PDP will be a grievous mistake.

Kayode Akinmade, Lagos and LANRE ADEWOLE, Abuja - 12.07.2006

Ali, in an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday, said it would be too bad for the vice president to leave the house he struggled to build for another.

He said, Vice President Atiku was a foundation member of PDP and that it was pointless for him to leave for another party at this time, adding that nobody was pursuing him.

On whether his exit would affect the fortunes of the party in 2007 election, Senator Ali said it would not affect the party at all, adding that Atiku alone was not PDP.

On why the party could not achieve true reconciliation among aggrieved members, Senator Ali said the intention to reconcile members was genuine, but added that some people were giving conditions for them to return to the party, which the party believed was a deliberate attempt to promote their hidden agenda of going to another party.

While insisting that PDP was the party to beat in 2007, Ali said Nigerians ought to have commended President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government for debt relief because 30 per cent of the country’s revenue, which went for debt servicing, would now be used to better the lot of Nigerians.

On whether the NEC was planning to dissolve the state executive councils, Ali said the party had not taken such a decision, adding that the status quo remained.

In another development, the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been described as an illegal body. This position was canvassed by the faction of the party led by its former national chairman, Chief Solomon Lar, in its counter-affidavit to the preliminary objection filed by the Senator Ahmadu Ali-led executive, against a suit of enforcement of fundamental rights brought before a Federal High Court in Abuja by the Lar faction.

The counter-affidavit was tabled before the presiding judge, Justice Anwuri Chikere, at yesterday’s proceedings, even as the Lar faction restated its claim in a press statement issued on Tuesday, in which the national chairman was referred to as an illegal chairman.

The Lar faction is insisting that the convention that brought the PDP executive in was non-elective, contrary to the directive of the court that the convention should be elective.

But the suit was adjourned by Justice Chikere after she complained of ill-health, while directing the parties in the suit to file written submission on their respective cases.

Her attempt to determine both the preliminary objection and the substantive suit was thwarted by the insistence of the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi (SAN), counsel for the police.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter to 19 September for the adoption of parties’ submission on the preliminary objection of the respondents.

Meanwhile, Senator Ali has been accused of vandalising the secretariat of the Lar faction. In a press release signed by Alhaji Ibrahim Iro-Safana on behalf of the Lar faction’s Interim Management Committee, Senator Ali was accused of vandalising the secretariat of the Lar faction.

According to the statement, “we are in court again this morning in actualisation of our strong belief in the rule of law as the pillar upon which democracy rests. Our being in court in pursuit of justice is a credit to our civility in approach in comparison to the uncivilised way. Col. Ahmadu Ali, the illegal chairman of PDP, vandalised our secretariat at Mabushi in the full glare of the police who have laid siege for a month now.”

Reacting to the claims of the Lar faction, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. John Odey, described the alleged vandalisation of the faction’s secretariat by Senator Ali as a blatant lie.

He stated that the issue of faction had been laid to rest by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and that it was absurd for the Lar’s faction to describe the ‘mainstream’ executive as illegal.

Posted by Publisher at 01:08 PM | Comments (0)

July 11, 2006

Bomb blast rocks P/Harcourt, again - Odili’s in-law targeted

YOUNGER brother of the Rivers State governor’s wife, Justice (Mrs.) Mary Odili, Okey Ezenwa, narrowly escaped death Sunday evening when unknown people dropped an explosive suspected to be a bomb on his Presidential Estate home in Port Harcourt.

BOLAJI OGUNDELE, Port Harcourt - 11.07.2006

Similar attacks had targeted the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Austin Opara and the Rivers State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Kenneth Kobani, both in Port Harcourt.

All these took place within a month. Nigerian Tribune gathered that the explosive, which shattered the security post at the entrance of the house, was thrown in from outside, indicating that the assailants were unable to gain access into the compound.

Although nobody around the house was ready to speak with journalists on the incident, it was claimed that there was no casualty from the attack.

When efforts were made at seeing Mr. Ezenwa, who lost his daughter in the Sosoliso air crash last December, the five policemen at the gates denied newsmen access into the house, saying Mr. Ezenwa was not in the house.

From what could be seen from the outside, the explosive must have landed in or close to the security post because a better part of its roof was blown off by the impact of the explosive. A crack could also be seen on the wall from outside.

It could not be ascertained if there was any serious damage to the main building. Nigerian Tribune gathered from a reliable source that Mr. Ezenwa was seen at the Government House on Monday morning.

Police authorities in Port Harcourt confirmed the incident, but could not provide detailed information into what had happened. Worries were expressed from various quarters that the bomb attacks on influential personalities in the state, particularly those in the Peoples Democratic Party, were becoming too many with the police and other security agencies virtually helpless.

It will be recalled that in the wake of the series of bomb attacks on politicians in the state, the state governor, Dr Peter Odili, had appealed to politicians in the state not to allow the emerging political contest to degenerate into one in which attempts would be made at each other’s lives.

Dr Odili, who made this appeal at a stakeholders meeting in the Government House, the same day Hon Opara’s home was bombed, told politicians from all party backgrounds in the state to realize that all of them in politics were in it for the benefit of the people and the state and so, there should be no reason why anyone should think of harming or killing an opponent.

“As Christians who believe and trust God, is there any need for us to fight each other, break our heads or destroy what we have? There is no need because no matter what you scheme, plan, manipulate, if God hasn’t said yes, it will not happen.

Nobody can take what God has destined for another person. So that realization should touch us and make us work like brothers. Let me appeal to all of us and to the political parties to approach this contest as if we are all from the same womb”, Dr Odili had appealed.

Posted by Publisher at 01:14 PM | Comments (0)

28 killed in Lagos, P/Harcourt accidents

IT was a tragic day for the people of Lagos and Rivers states as about 28 people were feared dead in three accidents in the states. While 12 people were feared dead as a bus and a car plunged into the Lagos lagoon on the Third Mainland Bridge on Monday, about 16 people were feared dead in a boat accident in Buguma jetty, in the Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.

From KAYODE AKINMADE, ADEWALE AJAYI, OLALEKAN OLABULO and BOLAJI OGUNDELE - 11.07.2006

The first accident in Lagos, which occurred around 8.30a.m. involved a Volkswagen commercial bus (faragon) heading to Ketu which hit the railings of the bridge. The vehicle somersaulted and plunged into the lagoon.

Some of the occupants of the bus attempted to escape but died in the process, according to eyewitnesses. Four people died instantly. One of those who died in the bus with registration number XP492LND was a nursing mother, but her baby was said to have survived.

Men of the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) and Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS) were at the scene of the accident trying to rescue the passengers.

The second accident was said to have occurred around 9.00am and it involved a private car that scaled the railings of the bridge and plunged into the lagoon.

The accident occurred at the Adekunle intersection of the Third Mainland Bridge. Rescue divers were seen combing the lagoon for survivors. The car was said to have four occupants in it.

Marine police were reported to have later recovered one of the bodies from the lagoon and deposited it at the public mortuary for autopsy while the injured occupants were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

The Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Mr Olubode Ojajuni, confirmed the reports to the Nigerian Tribune. At least 16 lives were lost in a boat accident near Buguma Jetty in Buguma, headquarters of Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State on Sunday.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the boat, which had 23 persons on board, was on a journey en route the Abonnema Wharf Jetty in Port Harcourt. It was said to be overloaded.

According to an eyewitness, Mr. Kuroyan Maxwell, all the passengers on the boat had travelled to Buguma for a chieftaincy coronation and were returning after the ceremony.

He said “the people were returning to Port Harcourt after a chieftaincy ceremony. Actually, the boat had to turn back to the Buguma Jetty, probably to drop some of the passengers because the boat was overloaded. It was in the process of turning that the boat turned upside down and all the people fell inside the river”.

He added that 14 of the people aboard the boat were brought out of the water dead after a search by swimmers and fishermen in the water for missing persons.

A police source confirmed the incident to the Nigerian Tribune, adding that the number of corpses had risen to 16 and that the search was still on.

Another indigene of Buguma, who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune on condition of anonymity, said the incident was a strange one as it was still not clear why the people chose to make their trip back to Port Harcourt by boat, adding that the waterway was no longer popular since a road linking the city to the capital had been built.

Posted by Publisher at 01:13 PM | Comments (0)

July 10, 2006

I have pact with IBB, Buhari - Atiku

Vice President Atiku Abubakar returned to Abuja on Sunday after his leave, declaring the existence of a political alliance among him, General Mohamadu Buhari and even General Ibrahim Babangida.

Taiwo Adisa, Abuja - 10.07.2006

Atiku, who spoke to newsmen at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after a three-week vacation, said that the alliance was aimed at strenghtening democracy.

The vice president confirmed that he had to team up with the former dictators, who are otherwise regarded as his political foes, to protect democratic growth in the country.

He explained that the alliance would not affect the presidential ambitions of any of them.

He urged Nigerians to continue to be vigilant, as according to him, enemies of democracy were still around.

“My accord with Buhari and Babangida is based on my belief that all politicians should work together to strengthen our democracy. In that context, I am working with all politicians to strengthen our democracy.

“We are just collaborating, so our democracy does not crumble. If democracy collapses today, no politician will be able to aspire to any office. So we must put aside our differences and we can confront the enemies of democracy. If the enemies of democracy are forging alliances and working together, why must those of us who want democracy to survive in our country not work together?

“That we are working together to strengthen democracy does not affect our individual ambition to be president.”

Atiku could, however, not confirm if the alliance would lead to a coalition ahead of the 2007 polls.

“I can’t say for now. But we will see how events unfold,” he said. He stated that he was still in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring: “As far as I am concerned, I am still in the PDP. You wait and see what unfolds in the next few months.

“My plan is that once I return from vacation, I have to start full-blown campaign. The time has come for us to rev up the campaign. Now that I am back, we shall roll out our programmes for the campaign.

“I definitely hope to consult with my supporters and political associates. Then, we will come out with a timetable and programme of events for the rest of the year. I am definitely going to make my formal declaration this year.”

He also denied insinuations that he boycotted the last Economic Summit, saying that he took permission from the President to be away.

“I did not overstay in the US. The period of time I spent is actually the leave that was approved for me by the president, so I did not in anyway extend my stay.

“Regarding the Nigerian Economic Summit, I requested to be exempted from the programme and the president exempted me.”

Posted by Publisher at 01:16 PM | Comments (0)

I will not step down for Atiku - Marwa

A presidential aspirant in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), General Mohammed Buba Marwa, has said that he will not withdraw from the race to help Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in spite of the fact that they come from the same state and belong to the same party.

HASSAN IBRAHIM, Kaduna and KAYODE AKINMADE, Lagos - 10.07.2006

General Marwa, who fielded questions from newsmen in Kaduna on Sunday after an interactive session with Muslim clerics at the Arewa House, said in the business of politics, there was no deal.

“The deal is for all those who aspire to lead this country to submit themselves before the electorate. It is not about how much money somebody has or how much riches he has. It is not about how many deals he can cut behind the scenes, it is truly about the electorate being given the opportunity in a free and fair environment to elect their choice,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Northen Council of Ulamas and Imams have endorsed the candidature of Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa and pledged to mobilise their followers for his success at the presidential polls in 2007.

In a communique the council issued at the weekend in Kaduna after an interactive session with the presidential aspirant, they stated that the choice of Marwa was based on his performance in Lagos State.

Posted by Publisher at 12:54 PM | Comments (0)

July 07, 2006

Obi of Onitsha gets death threat - 10 policemen abducted

THE crisis in Onitsha, Anambra State, has taken another dimension as the traditional ruler of the town, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, has received a threat letter from a gang in the town.

SYVANUS EZE, Awka - 07.07.2006

The monarch is accused of collaborating with the Federal Government to eliminate the mafia said to be behind the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

Meanwhile, it has been reported that about 10 policemen have been abducted, and others killed by the mafia group in the last two weeks.

This has made security officers in the town to devise more secure way in their operations.

Activities in the business city on Thursday ceased, while Ose, New Market and Ogbaru International Markets only operated skeleton services.

When contacted for his comments on the development, the Anambra State Commissioner of Police was said to be in a meeting, but the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Fidelis Agbo, confirmed that police had lost some members of the command, while some had been kidnapped by militant groups in Onitsha.

On the threat to the traditional ruler of the town, the PPRO said “the matter had not been reported to the police officially.”

Posted by Publisher at 02:08 PM | Comments (0)

July 06, 2006

Militants kidnap 4 naval men

Four men of the Nigerian Navy attached to the Conoil platform were yesterday abducted by some Ijaw youths in Bayelsa State. But a police source stated that it was a retired naval officer that was kidnapped.

From SOJI AJIBOLA and BOLAJI OGUNDELE - 06.07.2006

The youth were said to have attacked the platform of the oil company over what they described as the insensitivity of the company to the plight of the people in Sangana area of the state.

During the attack which lasted for some hours, the youth overpowered the security men and also took away their rifles. As at the time of filing this report, the identities and the destination of the captives were not known.

A source revealed to the Nigerian Tribune that the incident might not be unconnected with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding which was said to have taken place in Lagos instead of the state capital, Yenagoa.

The state government, it was gathered, was supposed to be part of the signing of the MoU, since it bordered on the welfare of the people of the host community, but was left out.

Angered by this development, the youth were said to have vented their anger on the company, demanding for equity, fairness and justice.

When contacted on phone, the state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Hafiz Ringim, said he learnt of the incident from a sister organisation, but that he was yet to confirm it. He added that it was a retired naval officer who was abducted.

Efforts at reaching the naval base in Port Harcourt, NNS Pathfinder, were not successful as the Nigerian Tribune was informed that both the commanding officer and the Navy Public Relations Officer of the base were in a meeting.

It will be recalled that the Nigerian Navy, last month, lost five of its men in a confrontation with militants at the Cawthorne Channel Operations field in Rivers State when the militants abducted five South Korean staff members of Daewoo.

Posted by Publisher at 03:16 PM | Comments (0)

18 bank chiefs sacked through telephone - Take case to Obasanjo

TEN managers and eight accountants working with Aso Savings and Loans Limited have petitioned President Olusegun Obasanjo over the manner of their sack by the bank.

FOLUSO AKINWUMI, Abuja - 06.07.2006

The managers alleged that they were informed of their dismissal from the bank through telephone calls.

According to the petition signed on behalf of other petitioners by one Musa Maikano, who claimed he was affected by the sack, 100 people were sacked by the Federal Government-owned mortgage institution on 27 March.

Their sack, he added, did not follow the due process of staff disengagement as stipulated in the general reform policy agenda document of the present administration.

The petition, a copy of which was seen by the Nigerian Tribune, stated that the mortgage bank effected a 100 per cent increase in the salaries of other workers retained while the sacked workers were shortchanged in the calculation of their severance allowances.

The former employees claimed that their disengagement benefits were paid based on the company’s old salary structure which amounted to 50 per cent of what they were supposed to be entitled to.

“It is worthy of note that within code and following the old salary structure settlement, most staff had debit balances”, the petitioner added.

In fact, some disengaged staff, the petitioner alleged, got next to nothing as it was revealed that one Adamu from Bauchi State received the sum of N36,000 despite” the fact that he held a sensitive position in the mortgage department of the bank.

Urging the president to come to their aid and prevent their families from dying of starvation, the petitioner disclosed further that “most of the affected staff are already roaming the streets, their children out of school, and some already thrown out of their rented apartments by their landlords.”

Posted by Publisher at 03:16 PM | Comments (0)

Akinfenwa withdraws suit against Akande, INEC

SENATOR Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, a factional chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), has withdrawn all cases in court against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Chief Bisi Akande.

By DEBO ABDULAI and TAIWO ADISA - 06.07.2006

This effectively puts an end to the over two years protracted legal battle that had pitted the AD against itself. In a release signed by Senator Akinfenwa, he explained that he was doing this for posterity and the future of AD, “which remains the best hope of the masses.”

While lamenting the long legal battle for the soul of AD, Akinfenwa, who said he had been under intense pressure to allow peace to return to the party, said, “those who caused the protracted crisis in the AD through blind ambition by convening an illegal convention as against the one fixed for the Eagle Square in Abuja on December 16, 2003, by the NEC of our party are sent to the court of public opinion. Whoever decides to cheat will live under the shadow of perpetual fear and worry.”

The factional leader also explained that he decided to withdraw the case because he was mindful of his place in history. “I am mindful of my position with history particularly when the history of the Alliance for Democracy is to be written... The Alliance for Democracy, one of the foremost parties in the country, must not and will never die. It is a party of history and destiny. Too much sacrifice went into its birth, nurturing and growth. It must not only survive, it must return to its winning ways”, he explained.

While commending Right Reverend Bolanle Gbonigi and Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu for their intervention, Senator Akinfenwa said, “I believe I have done my best in the pervading circumstances and I hope the essence of this sacrifice shall not be wasted. Party men and women of goodwill, I leave the rest to you, wounds need to be healed, full reconciliation, integration and coming together of all our members and sympathisers, a necessity.”

The move is capable of ensuring the removal of a near ban placed on the party by INEC. INEC had refused to release the funds due to the AD while disbursing N600 million to the political parties recently.

It cited the non-recognition of either of the factions as the reason for the action. But Chief Bisi Akande’s faction of the AD was unaware of Senator Akinfenwa’s move until the Nigerian Tribune put a call through to some of its chieftains.

One of them pleaded that he should be allowed time to cross-check the veracity of such a move by Akinfenwa, saying “if that is true, then it is great.”

The current move would automatically afford the party INEC recognition. Spokesman of INEC, Mr. Segun Adeogun, who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune on AD’s crisis and the possibility of its deregistration, had said that the party was only stranded in court and that the electoral body had nothing against its existence.

Posted by Publisher at 03:15 PM | Comments (0)

Britain takes away N6.8 trillion from Africa in one year

Britain took away far more money from sub-Saharan Africa than it gave in aid and debt relief last year, despite pledges to help the region, the charity, Christian Aid, said yesterday. In all, it took away £27 billion from Africa.

By Our Reports - 06.07.2006

In the 12 months since an annual Group of Eight (G8) summit in Scotland last July, the British economy gained a net profit of more than £11 billion ($20.3 billion) from the region, Christian Aid said.

The charity calculated that almost £17 billion flowed from Britain to sub-Saharan Africa in the past year, including donations, remittances from salaries earned by Africans in Britain and foreign direct investment.

At the same time, more than £27 billion went in the opposite direction, thanks to debt repayments, profits made by British companies in Africa and imports of British goods and capital flight.

The findings came after British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, put tackling African poverty at the heart last year’s G8 summit of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, and the United States.

“The conclusions from this are stark,” said Claire Melamed, Christian Aid’s senior trade analyst. “The British government and its people sometimes think that because we are one of the best aid givers among the rich nations, that we are making real progress on poverty. This is just not the case,” she said in a statement.

“In order for aid and debt relief to be really effective, we have to plug the leaks of resources from Africa to rich countries like Britain.” Melamed named the main culprits as large corporations and rich individuals who took £22 billion from sub-Saharan Africa last year in profits and capital flight — defined as the, often illicit, transfer of funds from wealth holders in one country to banks or other financial institutions in another.

“This money could have been used to build up local economies in Africa but instead, it sits in British banks,” she said. “The British government must take action to close the tax loopholes and end the banking secrecy which allows capital flight to flourish,” she said.
Christian Aid, a charity based in Britain and Ireland that tackles poverty and injustice, said London donated £1.35 billion worth of aid and debt relief last year and paid out nearly £7 billion for importing goods.

An estimated £460 million flowed out in remittances from salaries earned by Africans in Britain and there was an estimated £6.8 billion in foreign direct investment by British firms, making the £17 billion total.

As for the £27 billion flowing out of African, this included debt repayments of over one billion pounds from Nigeria and other African countries to Britain, over £4 billion worth of profits made by British firms, plus nearly £4.5 billion worth of imports of British goods.

Posted by Publisher at 03:15 PM | Comments (0)

Tafa Balogun’s health worsens

THE health condition of the former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, is now a source of concern to his family members. A family source, who revealed this to the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja at the weekend, said the health of the former police chief had worsened.

JACOB SEGUN OLATUNJI, Abuja - 06.07.2006

The source said the former IGP had been hospitalised at the National Hospital, Abuja, since he was released from jail. His lead counsel, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, confirmed the development to the Nigerian Tribune, saying that Balogun was critically ill.

Nigerian Tribune further learnt that the family was considering taking the former police boss abroad for medical attention. However, it was learnt that the travelling documents of Balogun was seized by the state immediately he was arrested in 2004.

Dr. Abayomi disclosed that arrangements were being made to take Mr. Balogun abroad for medication. Mr. Balogun was jailed last year for six months while several of his properties were confiscated.

Posted by Publisher at 03:14 PM | Comments (0)

Preparation for IBB’s declaration begins

THE Director of Publicity of the Babangida Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mr. Venatius Ikem, has confirmed the setting up of a campaign directorate for the Minna General, disclosing that a comprehensive action plan had been put in place from now till the 2007 polls.

By OLAWALE RASHEED - 06.07.2006

Ikem, who until recently was a Special Assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Privatisation Matters, told the Nigerian Tribune that the campaign directorate was now formally announced, confirming the Nigerian Tribune exclusive story on the composition of the organisation.

“We are meeting the representatives of the media to show members of the directorate. Humprey Abbah is in charge of administration, Professor Idowu is for Research and Planning, Bibi Farouk is for Organisation and Dr. Bitrus Kpogu is for Protocol and Special Duties.

“This is to tell the nation that we are here and ready for this serious assignment. We are privileged to be entrusted with this responsibility and we intend to do our best to see to the election of our principal, General Ibrahim Babangida, as the next president of Nigeria,” Ikem said.

Posted by Publisher at 03:13 PM | Comments (0)

Rivers govt warns political opponents

THE Rivers State government yesterday said it would not be intimidated by the media campaign sponsored by some political aspirants allegedly against Governor Peter Odili.

Bolaji Ogundele, Port Harcourt - 06.07.2006

According to a statement released yesterday by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Magnus Abe, some unnamed politicians had been visiting media houses to sponsor negative and false materials aimed at tarnishing the image and reputation of Governor Odili.

The statement added that while the government and people of the state had “remained calm in the midst of this embarrassing conduct, those who have little or nothing to show as their record of performance have continued to dance naked in the marketplace.”

The statement added that the people of River State “would continue to give account of their enviable stewardship before God and man through the delivery of verifiable, concrete and people-oriented projects and programmes for the improvement of the quality of life of the people.”

It noted that the Rivers State government would prove its detractors wrong by remaining focused, result oriented and undistracted by the “malicious publications sponsored by elements that are consumed by envy.”

Posted by Publisher at 03:12 PM | Comments (0)

Police committee seeks media support

THE National Coordinator of the Presidential Committee on Police Equipment Fund (PCPEF), Chief Kenny Martins, yesterday in Ibadan said that the task of ensuring the security of life and property could not be done by the government alone.

By DAPO FALADE - 06.07.2006

Describing the PCPEF as a child of circumstance, the national coordinator said everybody needed to be involved in the task of making the nation’s security better.

He said the visit to Tribune House was to solicit for media support on the need to get everybody involved in the private sector initiative to raise N100 billion within the next 12 months for equipping the Nigeria police.

He described the media as a potent force in letting the people know the idea behind the interventionist programme, which he said was with the consent of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Responding on behalf of the management of ANN Plc, the Managing Director and Editor-In-Chief, Mr. Segun Olatunji, said the task of equipping the police psychologically and physically was enormous.

Stating that the major concern of every society was security, he declared that “it is when you are alive that you can say, do or be anything you want.”

Agreeing that drawing the police away from the government would increase their efficiency, he assured the committee of the maximum support of the Tribune titles for the initiatives through adequate publicity.

Posted by Publisher at 03:12 PM | Comments (0)

Communal crisis: Gov Attah faults Reps’ decision

Governor Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom State has faulted the decision of the House of Representatives to send a delegation to the state to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the communal crisis in Ika Local Government Area of the state without first ascertaining from him steps taken on the matter by his administration.

JOHN OGBEDU, Uyo - 06.07.2006

The governor also condemned the member representing Ika federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Honourable Ezekiel Anaka, for raising the motion on the crisis at the House without consultation with him as the chief security officer of the state.

Attah said this in Uyo when he received members of the House’s Joint Committee on Special Duties and National Emergency and Disaster Management, led by its chairman, Honourable George Sekibo.

He said that he was touched by the concern shown by the House on the Ika crisis.

He also added that “it was not the constitutional responsibility” of the House to delve into the crisis when a joint military task force, set up by the Federal Government, has already waded into the crisis.”

Posted by Publisher at 03:11 PM | Comments (0)

We’ll monitor aspirants - Edo PDP chieftain

Fomer military administrator of Rivers State and Chairman, Edo State Peoples Democratic Party[PDP] Reconciliation Committee, General Godwin Abbe[rtd], has said that the party will monitor and scrutinise every aspirant on its platform.

UCHECHUKWU OLISAH, Benin City - 06.07.2006

General Abbe said that this was necessary in order to ensure that when the aspirants became elected, they would not only represent the PDP, but would also continue with the programmes and policies of the party.

The Edo PDP reconciliation committee chairman spoke when he and members of the committee met with party members in Oredo Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday in Benin City.

According to him, ‘’we want to encourage those who think they are criticising us to join politics so that they too can come and help change the system. We have had a few problems in the past and that is why we want to mend fences.

“In a few days time, we are going to have a big rally to again tell the people who are aggrieved to come back.’’ He urged party members to remain loyal and dedicated.

Posted by Publisher at 03:10 PM | Comments (0)

July 03, 2006

Deadlier bird flu hits Nigeria - 20 farms affected, many chickens killed

THE most lethal strain of bird flu has been detected in Taraba State, bringing to 15 the number of states, out of a total of 36, to be affected by the virus, a state official said Saturday.

By Our Reporter - 03.07.2006

“Last week, an outbreak of bird flu was confirmed in Ibbi Local Government Area of the state and it has spread to Gassol,” said Yusuf Sanda, a spokesman for the state governor. “So far 20 farms have been infected and chickens killed.

“The case has been taken over by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture for containment and culling,” he said.

“The state government has set up a committee to look into the ways and means to assist the farmers. Veterinary experts have been sent to these area to ascertain the damage and the extent of the spread,” he added.

The presence of the H5N1 virus was confirmed by a laboratory of the National Institute of Veterinary Research at Vom, Jos, after tests on samples provided by three local government departments in Tabara.

Bird flu has been detected in several northern Nigerian states and in the federal capital, Abuja. More than 450 000 chickens have already been slaughtered in Nigeria, mainly in the North where the disease was detected last February for the first time in sub-Saharan Africa.

In addition to Nigeria, three other West African countries - Cote d’ Ivoire, Niger and Burkina Faso - have reported cases of the disease.

So far no country in sub-Saharan Africa has registered cases of human contamination. West African ministers last month adopted a plan for fighting the outbreak of the deadly avian influenza in the region and preventing its spread to humans.

The plan, which includes setting up an emergency fund, was agreed at the end of a one-day meeting in Nigeria of ministers in charge of agriculture, health, livestock, environment and integration in Economic Community of West African states.

Posted by Publisher at 01:30 PM | Comments (0)

June 30, 2006

PDP threatens Lar’s arrest - Suspends Omilani, National Vice Chairman

THE leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday warned that it would have no other option but to order the arrest of the chieftains of a group led by Chief Solomon Lar and Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun should they continue to parade themselves as officers and members of the party.

From JACOB SEGUN OLATUNJI and JACKSON UDOM - 30.06.2006

The National Chairman of the party, Senator Ahmadu Ali, handed down the warning in Abuja while receiving a delegation of the Sokoto State chapter of the party who was at the National Secretariat of the party on a solidarity visit.

Senator Ali declared that since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had already released the names of registered political parties and their national officers, the issue of national officers of all the political parties, including the PDP, had been laid to rest.

He made it clear that the party would not fold its arms and watch while it was being disorganised. Senator Ali said that should those involved continue to parade themselves as officers and members of the PDP, the party would make a formal request to the appropriate security agencies for their arrest.

On the 2007 elections, Senator Ali said that only credible candidates would be fielded at all levels while all aspirants would have to face the primaries.

In another development, the South-West zonal leadership on Thursday suspended with immediate effect, zonal vice chairman of the party, Senator Yinka Omilani. The suspension, which was part of the six-point communique issued at the end of the zonal executive meeting of the party, held in the conference room of the Premier Hotel, was signed by 15 zonal officers of the party.

The communique, which was read by the zonal youth leader, Mr. Dare Adeleke, accused the suspended vice chairman of disregarding an order from the zonal exco to the senator, noting that “the meeting evaluated the leadership of Senator Omilani and considered the issues raised on the call to order and notice of vote of no confidence served him and the meeting noted with regrets Senator Omilani’s utter disregard to the order.

“Due to the refusal of Senator Omilani to the issue raised and the need to move the party forward in view of the forthcoming general election, the zonal executive committee unanimously decided to suspend with immediate effect, Senator Yinka Omilani as the vice chairman South-West of the party,” the communique added.

According to the communique, “the zonal executive committee hereby appoints Chief Okanlawon Soboyede, the incumbent Zonal Secretary as Acting Vice Chairman South-West of the PDP, pending the extraordinary meeting of the governors of the South-West and our proposed meeting with the leader of the party, President Olusegun Obasanjo.

“Similarly, the Osun State chapter of the party would be contacted to submit their nominee for the position,” the release added. Reacting to the rumour that the suspension of the vice chairman might not be unconnected with the cold war between Omilani and the Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Bode George, Mr. Adeleke stated that, “the development has nothing to do with the relationship of the duo, “in fact the two of them are best of friends and it is entirely a zonal matter.”

Speaking further, Adeleke stated that “the inactiveness of the party chieftain and his inability to inject life into the party in the zone was the major reason behind this action. When Chief Bode George was here, we saw how he was able to inject action into the party, which saw the South-West zone falling like a pack of cards to the party in 2003.

“In less than a year to an election, the party is not heard and seen in the zone, hence the need to suspend him from office so that the party can move forward.” Calls made to the various mobile sets of Senator Omilani for his reaction on his suspension did not go through as the phones were switched off.

Posted by Publisher at 12:43 PM | Comments (0)

June 28, 2006

We are back to Decree 4 days - Buhari

FORMER presidential candidate of the All Peoples Party (APP), Major-General Mohammed Buhari (rtd), who is also former of Head of State, on Tuesday in Abuja accused President Olusegun Obasanjo of introducing the much -dreaded Decree 4 to victimise and harass media professionals in the country.

BOLA BADMUS and AYODELE ADESANMI, Abuja - 28.06.2006

Buhari made the accusation at a one-day forum of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Women Leaders and stakeholders across the country which took place at the party secretariat, even as he condemned the arrest and arraignment of the African Independent Television (AIT) correspondent, Mr. Gbenga Aruleba and his counterpart at Daily Independent, Mr. Rotimi Durojaiye.

According to Buhari, who was the initiator of the decree which made his regime unpopular before it was toppled through a military coup, Obasanjo was engaging in victimising the media with the actions so far taken against the two journalists because of the alleged role played by the media in scuttling the third term agenda.

The general, who was represented at the occasion by Alhaji Buba Galadima, said the action was nothing short of introducing the much dreaded Decree 4 through the back-door, saying the government ought to have approached the issue in a civilised manner.

He counseled that it was better for anybody who felt unhappy with the criticism of the government of President Obasanjo to go to court, pointing out that the criticism of the president could and must not be equated with sedition.

Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday refused an oral bail application by Mr. Aruleba and Mr. Durojaiye.

The two men who have been in the custody of the States Security Service (SSS) were arraigned on a six-count charge of conspiracy and sedition by the Federal Government.

Aruleba, who dressed in a black suit without a tie, said he did not understand the charges against him.

“My lord, I did not understand the charges, maybe my lawyer will do. I understand the particulars of the charge but not the offence. But all the same, I am not guilty my lord”, he said.

Durojaiye, who looked unruffled in court, said “I understand the charges against me, but I’m not guilty of any of the charges”.

Counsel to the journalists, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) and Godswill Marakpor, urged the court to grant them bail.

But Justice Babs Kuewumi declined the application, insisting that the application be brought formally before him. The case has been adjourned till tomorrow.

Chief Raymond Dokpesi the chairman of AIT, described the trial as democracy in action.

He, therefore, expressed the need for the Federal Government to allow journalists do their work.

Posted by Publisher at 02:32 PM | Comments (0)

June 26, 2006

IBB, Buhari reconcile - Get chieftaincy titles

TWO former heads of state, Generals Muhammadu Buhari and Ibrahim Babangida, who have not been on good terms for some years, were at the weekend reconciled. Two duo were even given chieftaincy titles after the reconciliation by the Emir of Borgu, Alhaji Haliru Dantoro, at a lavish ceremony.

DIPO LALEYE, Minna - 26.06.2006

Buhari has been angry with Babangida following the coup which ousted him and led to the emergence of Babangida as head of state, an act Buhari saw as a betrayal by his Chief of Army Staff. However, the turbaning of the duo by Dantoro provided another meeting point for the two men who decided to bury the hatchet after the emir had a meeting with them before the installation ceremony.

General Buhari was the first to be invited to the podium for the turbaning as the protocol demanded but immediately the master of ceremony invited the former military leader to the stand, General Babangida stood up and followed him. The crowd cheered as both generals walked holding hands as they headed for the podium.

They also sat side-by-side on the seats provided on top of the podium for the turbaning ceremony. However, Generals Buhari and Babangida were not turbaned, but given spears to serve as their instruments of office. General Buhari was appointed Maje of Borgu Kingdom (Strong Pillar of Borgu Kingdom) while General Babangida was made Mayaki of Borgu kingdom (Invisible War Commander of Borgu Kingdom).

Two other prominent Nigerians — Chief Sunday Awoniyi, Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum and Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, Abia State governor and PDP presidential hopeful, were also honoured by Dantoro.

Chief Sunday Awoniyi was turbaned the Ba’a Zhukun of Borgu Kingdom (Most Respected Elder Statesman) while Dr. Kalu got the title of Ba’a Danide (The Epitome of Integration). Alhaji Dantoro, after performing the ceremony, said the dignitaries were turbaned as a way of building “bridges of political friendship among Nigerians”.

The Emir extolled the virtues of those turbaned and expressed the hope that they would continue to struggle for the unity, peace and progress of the country. Responding on behalf of the recipients, Chief Awoniyi said they would live up to the expectations of those that considered them fit for the honour, especially when these “titles are not bought”.

Governors Abdulkhadir Kure of Niger State, Adamu Aliero of Kebbi State, Senators Uche Chukwumerije and Idris Kuta were among the dignitaries at the ceremony

Posted by Publisher at 04:16 PM | Comments (0)

June 24, 2006

South South May Boycott Election

PROMINENT leaders and political opinion moulders in the South-South geo-political zone have sent a passionate appeal to foreign powers with influence on Nigerian leaders to prevail on the Federal Government to concede the presidency to the zone in 2007.

Jacob Segun Olatunji & Bankole Makinde, Abuja - 24.06.2006

They also want the foreign powers to impress it on the leadership of the 37 registered political parties the imperativeness of fielding only South-South candidates as their presidential flagbearers for the 2007 presidential elections.

Failure to do their bidding, the South-South leaders have vowed to boycott the 2007 election. Saturday Tribune gathered authoritatively that high level consultations are already in top gear in the zone to see to the full realisation of the project.

The leaders reportedly argued that the North, which is currently jostling for the position should not hold the illusion that the presidency is their exclusive preserve and should not erroneously think that they could rule the country for ever.

One of the leaders of the South-South think-tank who pleaded strict anonymity declared that since the North had ruled for 34 years and other geo-political zones had produced Nigeria’s leaders at one time or the other, equity dictates that the South-South should naturally be allowed to produce the president in 2007.

Describing the South-South as the neglected proverbial goose that lays the golden egg, the South-South leaders challenged the North to produce any of their candidates who has better candidates than those already shortlisted by the South-South.

ST also gathered exclusively that after marathon meetings by the South-South leaders, the names of Governor Donald Duke of Cross River State; Peter Odili of Rivers State and Victor Attah of Akwa-Ibom State were agreed on as presidential materials to be presented by the zone for the presidency in 2007.

Governor Donald Duke was however said to be the leading candidate due to his non-controversial disposition since his coming to office in 1999. Governor Attah and Odili, though, also tipped were seen as being proponents of the alleged tenure elongation project of president Olusegun Obasanjo, which was, however, aborted by the National Assembly.

These shortcomings, the Sough-South leaders reportedly reasoned would make Attah and Odili a hard sell in the North who already hold the feeling that the president would be imposing his surrogates on the country following the failure of the third term project.

The South-South leaders affirmed that if peace must prevail in the country in 2007, the international powers should prevail on other sections of the country to give them a chance to produce the president in 2007.

Leading contenders for the plum job from the North include General Ibrahim Babangida, Muhammed Buhari, Buba Marwa alongside Professor Jerry Gana, governor Sam Yerima of Zamfara State, governor Adams Mu’Azu of Bauchi State and Musa Shehu Yar’Adua of Katsina State.

Incidentally, all the leading candidates being proposed by the South-South leaders are all members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Posted by Publisher at 11:12 AM | Comments (0)

June 23, 2006

Taylor’s trial may start January

The trial of Liberian ex-president, Charles Taylor, could start in The Hague in January 2007, an official said. Harpinder Athwal, from the prosecution team at a UN-backed war crimes court, told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that is the date they are currently working towards.

By Our Reporter - 23.06.2006

However, she said the date might change, depending on how quickly the defence prepares its case and whether new judges are needed. Mr. Taylor denies 11 war crimes charges, related to Sierra Leone’s civil war. He was transferred to the Netherlands on Tuesday, due to fears that putting him on trial in Sierra Leone could lead to renewed conflict.

Both Sierra Leone and Liberia are trying to rebuild after a decade of interlinked wars, in which Mr. Taylor played a central role. Meanwhile, the chairman of Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has told the BBC that he would like Mr Taylor to give “his side of the story” in their hearing.

Jerome Verdier said he did not expect Mr Taylor to appear in person but said that “creative” ways could be found. He was speaking ahead of the formal launch of the TRC in the Liberian capital, Monrovia.

Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf set up the TRC, rather than trying to bring alleged war criminals to justice — the path chosen by Sierra Leone.

The seven-member commission does not have the power to try cases but will investigate crimes committed between 1979 and 2003, when civil war ended. After a decade of instability, Mr Taylor launched a rebellion in 1989, before winning elections in 1997.

In February, Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf said it was important that the “truth is told”. Ms Athwal, special assistant for the prosecution at the Special Court for Sierra Leone, said they had handed over 32,000 pages of evidence to Mr Taylor’s defence team.

She said that more judges may have to be appointed, if one of the trials currently underway did not finish this year. If Mr Taylor is convicted, the UK has agreed to host any jail term he may serve. The Dutch government agreed Mr Taylor’s trial could take place in The Hague, as long as he is imprisoned in another country if he was convicted.

The tribunal’s chief prosecutor once described Mr Taylor as the third most wanted war crimes suspect in the world. The trial is due to take place in the facilities of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, but legal officials from the Special Court for Sierra Leone will conduct proceedings.

Mr Taylor is accused of funding Sierra Leone’s former rebels, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) by selling diamonds on their behalf and buying weapons for them.

Posted by Publisher at 01:57 PM | Comments (0)

June 21, 2006

Ngige, others caused Onitsha crisis - Obi

ANAMBRA State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has blamed the security policies of his predecessors for the ongoing crisis in the state, as he asked the Federal Government for more troops.

FOLUSO AKINWUMI, Abuja and SYLVANUS EZE, Awka - 21.06.2006

Obi, who spoke on the security situation in the state during his visit to the national headquarters of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Abuja, said both former governors Chinwoke Mbadinuju and Chris Ngige encouraged and supported local security.

He said the genesis of the problem could be traced to the invitation of Bakassi boys to Anambra by Mbadinuju while Ngige supported the vigilance groups.

The groups, he said, had become entrenched in the state and regarded themselves as alternatives to the police and other security outfits, a situation, Obi said, he refused to embrace.

“On assumption of office, I was advised to set up a private security outfit in the shade of these groups, but I declined. I prefer to stick with the official security outfits in the land like the police, SSS and the Army. This did not go down well with some people who resorted to violence.

“I want to restate that my administration will not be cowed by anybody. The ban on these illegal outfits including MASSOB and NARTO stays,” he stressed.

He noted that the situation in the state was getting better as he took a swipe at MASSOB for fomenting trouble in Onitsha, adding that the law enforcement agencies were there to put a check to their activities.

The Anambra State governor also, in Abuja, pleaded with the Federal Government to intervene in the Onitsha mayhem and bring the situation to normal.

As he was leaving Awka for Abuja, he ordered the combined team of police and soldiers in the city to shoot on sight any miscreant seen fomenting trouble or perpetrating a crime in the name of the crisis.

The call for Federal Government’s assistance, he said, was necessary because of the ban on MASSOB, NARTO, AVS and NURTW.

Posted by Publisher at 11:43 AM | Comments (0)

June 20, 2006

Onitsha violence escalates - 5 declared missing

AS the clash between the police, members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the National Association of Road Transport Workers (NARTO) entered the third day yesterday, five persons were declared missing and the 3-3 area police station burnt down.

SYVANUS EZE, Awka - 20.06.2006

A police officer, ASP Ikechukwu Egbochukwu, who took the state governor, Mr. Peter Obi, round the burnt station, said the miscreants released two detained persons before burning down the 3-3 area police station at Onitsha.

An eyewitness, Mr John Iwu, said NARTO members, angered by the ban placed on them and their activities in Anambra State, re-ignited the clash that had almost died down on Sunday, went out on the streets of Onitsha, shooting sporadically and making bonfires and singing Biafran freedom songs.

He said that five persons who were said to be passers-by were arrested by the miscreants in NITEL area of Upper-Iweka and their whereabouts were unknown.

One of the relations of the missing persons, Mr. Madueke Nwige, who said he came from Ojoto in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, disclosed that they had searched for their missing brother, Mr. Emmanuel Nwigwe, in all the police stations in Onitsha and other parts of Anambra State without success.

He added that the police denied arresting him and NARTO also denied knowing anything about his whereabouts.

The development prompted the state governor, Mr. Peter Obi, to make a second broadcast to the people of the state after that of Saturday, to assure them of the state government’s preparedness to see that peace returned to Onitsha.

He placed a dusk to dawn curfew on Onitsha from 6 p.m. to 6a.m. daily for one week and called on residents of the town to stay calm and go about their lawful business without fear of molestation.

Governor Obi said that President Obasanjo had returned to the country and had taken necessary action to calm the situation and appealed to the miscreants in Onitsha and other parts of Anambra State to desist from their actions henceforth.

Meanwhile, soldiers have taken over control of Onitsha streets in an attempt to protect life and property of the residents of the city.

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June 19, 2006

UN orders Taylor’s transfer to The Hague

UNITED Nations Security Council on Sunday unanimously paved the way for the transfer of former Liberian President, Charles Taylor, now awaiting trial at a United Nations-backed tribunal in Sierra Leone on charges related to his alleged role in that country’s bloody civil war, to The Hague, Netherlands, where he would be tried for war crimes.

Our Reporter - 19.06.2006

Acting under Chapter VII, the Council adopted a United Kingdom-drafted resolution allowing a chamber of the Freetown-based Special Court for Sierra Leone to sit outside its jurisdiction, and requested United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, “to assist, as a matter of priority, in the conclusion of all necessary legal and practical arrangements” for Taylor’s transfer to the Special Court in the Netherlands, and the provision of the necessary courtroom facilities for the conduct of the trial.

The International Criminal Court has agreed to allow the use of its premises for both detention and trial. Noting that the ex-Liberian leader’s continued presence in the West African subregion “is an impediment to stability and a threat to the peace of Liberia and of Sierra Leone”, and that the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda was already too busy to handle the case, the council decided that the special court would retain “exclusive jurisdiction over former President Taylor during his transfer to and presence in the Netherlands”.

It decided further that the Dutch government would smoothen the progress of the trial proceedings by facilitating Mr. Taylor’s transportation within the Netherlands outside areas under the authority of the special court; and enabling the appearance of witnesses, experts and other persons required to be at the special court.

The council noted the willingness of the International Criminal Court to allow the use of its premises for Taylor’s detention and trial, including any appeal, and requested all states to cooperate to that end, particularly to ensure his ultimate appearance in the Netherlands.

The text “encourages all states, as well, to ensure that any evidence or witnesses are, upon the request of the special court, promptly made available to the special court for this purpose”.

The council’s action capped a series of events sparked by Taylor’s late March disappearance and then arrest in Nigeria — where he had been living in exile since fleeing Liberia in 2003 — and transfer back to Liberia, and, finally to the Special Court, to face an 11-count indictment for crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law, including sexual slavery and mutilations allegedly committed during Sierra Leone’s decade-long civil war.

But the Special Court, as well as newly-elected Liberian President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, feared that Taylor’s presence in the countries where he allegedly fomented uprisings during the 1990s could shatter the fragile peace that was taking hold in the long-troubled West African region.

They asked the council, and other concerned countries to step in. Shortly after Taylor’s arrest, the Netherlands expressed its willingness to host the Special Court. Expressing a similar sentiment, the Council’s resolution recognizes that the proceedings in the case against Taylor would contribute to achieving truth and reconciliation in Liberia and in wider West Africa, and it also requests the Special Court — with the help of the Secretary-General and relevant states — to make the trial proceedings accessible to the people of the subregion, including through video link.

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Don’t leave PDP - OBJ appeals to IBB

IN an effort to enhance the reconciliation of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), President Olusegun Obasanjo is said to have employed the platform of his recent meeting with former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, to lobby him not to leave the party but use it to realise his presidential ambition come 2007.

BOLA BADMUS and JACOB SEGUN OLATUNJI, Abuja - 19.06.2006

Both Obasanjo and Babangida met at a closed door meeting about two Sundays ago and sources told the Nigerian Tribune on condition of anonymity that their discussions centred on the presidential ambition of the General and the party for its realisation. General Babangida, it will be recalled, had declared his intention to contest the presidential election in 2007 but refused to say in which party he wished to do so.

However, he had said that he needed a strong party for his ambition to be fulfilled, even as the National Democratic Party (NDP) had about a year ago adopted him as its presidential candidate for the 2007 polls.

The PDP embarked on a nationwide reconciliation of its members and leaders following the face-off between the president and his deputy, Abubakar Atiku, over the issue of the failed third term agenda, the sudden emergence of the ACD and currently the split of the PDP into two factions, one led by Colonel Ahmadu Ali and the other by Chief Solomon Lar, founding chairman of the party.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that Obasanjo was said to have asked for an update of the General’s ambition while he enquired from the General about the PDP, which the president was said to have insisted was the party they both belonged to.

The General was said to have concurred with the President that the PDP was “our party,” and the president was said to have pleaded with him to remain in the party and contest with other presidential aspirants at the PDP primaries coming up soon.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that loyalists of General Babangida within and outside the PDP were divided over how best to realise the General’s ambition.

Indeed, some of his core loyalists, including some retired Generals in the PDP, were said to believe strongly that Babangida should contest the primaries of the PDP, arguing that given the clout of the General, he would defeat any opponent and go on to win the presidential election.

But the others believe that Babangida was not deeply rooted in PDP and did not control its machinery, such as its leadership, which would ultimately decide who wins the presidential primaries.

It could not be ascertained whether or not Babangida agreed to seek the ticket of the PDP, more so as he had been offered that of the NDP ahead of 2007.

Nigerian Tribune, however, gathered that even as the parley between the president and Babangida held, a directive might have gone to organisations in support of the candidature of the General to collapse into the NDP. Such directive, according to investigations, pointed in the direction of Minna.

Involved in this exercise to fortify the base of the NDP are said to be organisations promoting the better life programme of the wife of the General, Mrs. Maryam Babangida, a programme said to have expanded in scope to cover the whole of Africa.

According to sources, some of the affected groups were said to have complied with the directive while some were said to have reached the final stage of doing so.

A source disclosed to the Nigerian Tribune that some of the heads of the affected organisations were being offered positions of responsibility in the party and were doing well in mobilising for the party and Babangida’s presidential ambition.

In addition, huge campaign materials promoting the ambition of the General are expected to be received any time from now at the NDP national secretariat in Abuja, the source revealed.

In another development, Vice President Atiku Abubakar at the weekend revealed that the leadership of the PDP had long ago stopped inviting him to the party’s meetings.

The vice-president disclosed to the Nigerian Tribune during an interview that this informed his absence at last Thursday’s meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party held in Abuja.

The National Secretary of the party, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, had told newsmen after the NEC meeting that Vice-President Atiku was duly invited for the meeting and could not say why he did not attend, saying he (Atiku) might be holding fort for his boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was outside the country then.

President Obasanjo had in the NEC meeting held in May this year said that his deputy actually took permission from him that he would not be able to attend that meeting due to health reasons.

But Vice-President Atiku, who spoke through his media aide, Mallam Garba Shehu, dismissed the claims of the party, insisting that no invitation was extended to him regarding the NEC meeting as claimed.

The vice-president revealed that the party leadership had long ago stopped inviting him to the party’s NEC meetings as well as caucus meetings.

According to him, “you can not go to where you’re not invited, the vice-president is a member of the national caucus of the party but they no longer invite him to such meetings due to reasons best known to them.”

On the fresh resolution of the NEC empowering the National Working Committee (NWC) to invite Vice President Atiku for a probe over alleged anti-party activities, the vice-president said he was ready to face any panel, anywhere, any day.

According to him, “I’m a loyal, committed and disciplined party member, but things have to be done according to laid down rules and in line with the constitution of the party and that of Nigeria.”

The NEC at its last meeting mandated the NWC to invite the vice-president for questioning for alleged anti-party activities and to report back to it at its next meeting.

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June 16, 2006

Reps split over Obasanjo’s impeachment

HOUSE of Representatives on Thursday divided over planned moves by a group of lawmakers to impeach President Olusegun Obasanjo as some members came out to say that their concern was to guide democracy and allow a smooth transition in 2007.

BOLA BADMUS, Abuja - 16.06.2006

Reports had indicated that a group of lawmakers in both arms of the National Assembly had started planning to impeach the president for allegedly committing 127 impeachable offences.

Speaking with newsmen during a press conference jointly addressed by chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Ita Enang; Chairman, Committee on Judiciary, Hon. Bala Ibn Na’Allah; chairman, Committee on Privatisation, Hon. Celestine Ughanze and Hon. Bala Ngilari, the lawmakers stated categorically that the time was not auspicious for such impeachment moves against the president.

The lawmakers, who spoke on the major activities of the House in the last legislative year and the input of the House Committee on Business and Rules, declared that they were not prepared to be dragged into such exercise, saying they were much concerned with guiding the ship of the nation to berth and anchor safely in 2007.

According to Enang, the House rather preferred to have President Obasanjo hand over to his successor than allowing an exercise such as impeachment moves to rock the boat.

Speaking on the bills and motions addressed by the House of Representatives in the last legislative year, Hon. Enang disclosed that a total of 62 bills were introduced and 39 passed.

He said 31 out of the 62 bills were executive bills while 30 of them originated from members of the House. Enang stated that the House received and considered 49 motions and 41 petitions.

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June 14, 2006

Buhari, Atiku, Kalu form alliance - To wrest power from OBJ

General Muhammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in 2003, has formed an alliance known as United Democratic Alliance (UDA) with Vice President Atiku Abubakar, governors Bola Tinubu and Orji Kalu of Lagos and Abia states respectively, with the aim of presenting one presidential candidate in 2007.

KOLA OYELERE, Kano - 14.06.2006

Disclosing this while addressing a press conference at the Tahir Guest Palace in Kano, Hajia Najatu Muhammad, Chairperson, North-West Sub-committee of UDA, stated that the notable politicians resolved to form the alliance known as G4 with the goal of creating a single and very strong political platform for the 2007 elections.

Hajia Najatu stated that the PDP had become a demon but that without concerted efforts of all Nigerians, it would not be easy to get rid of the demon.

She revealed that the membership of the alliance was made up of ACD, AD, PRP, PSP, TAAM and TBO while discussion was still on to bring in others, such as APGA, JP and PACK into the fold.

She added that the UDA had a clear political manifesto with emphasis on tackling insecurity, Niger Delta issue, power, unemployment, transportation and official corruption

Hajia Najatu berated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), adding that it was perceived to be partisan and a tool being used by the PDP and its leader, President Olusegun Obasanjo.

She declared, “I have no illusions about the serious task ahead of us as Nigerians, who genuinely desire a representative and responsible government which shall satisfy our aspirations”.

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June 13, 2006

Arewa chief: MKO represents new Nigeria’s dream

EMINENT politicians, pro-democracy activists, human rights activists and journalists on Monday converged on Lagos to commemorate the 13th anniversary of the annulment of June 12, 1993 election, believed won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.

KAYODE AKINMADE and ADEWALE AJAYI, Lagos - 13.06.2006

The groups, which organized two separate lectures to mark the anniversary, agreed that for the memory of the annulment to be kept alive, the Nigerian government must ensure that elections in the country are free and fair.

Speaking at the lecture organized by pro- democracy activists, elder statesmanm, Pa Anthony Enahoro, said that the late Chief Abiola fought a noble fight and would for ever be remembered a hero.

According to him, the late politician was a symbol of the dream of the new Nigeria, adding that his death would forever be tragic. “Because his dream and the dream of many Nigerians could not be fulfilled through him”, he said.

While recalling his last encounter with the late Abiola, when he was in detention, he said Abiola was never chicken-hearted, despite his travails.

Shedding more light on the importance of June 12, Colonel Ahmed Alli of Arewa Consultative Forum explained that it was a process that should be protected and that the winner of the election, Chief Abiola, represented the dream of a new Nigeria.

Speaking on the importance of June 12, Professor Pat Utomi of the Lagos Business School said that there was the need to reinvent what June 12 stood for.

He stressed that June 12, 1993 election stood for accountability and that there was the need for Nigerians to be able to ask their leaders how they were being governed, saying that the annulled election gave an insight into how Nigerians wanted to be governed.
Speaking at a different lecture organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos State chapter, Senator Udo Udoma stressed that a good way to re-invent the June 12, 1993 election was for the Federal Government to conduct free and fair elections which were the hallmarks of the annulled election.

He maintained that for a credible election like that of 1993, INEC should adopt the modified option A4, which is open secret ballot election and which made the 1993 elections such a success.

Senator Udoma said the spirit of June 12 election was kept alive when the National Assembly stood for justice and fairness by killing the amendment bill aimed at elongating the tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 16, 2006.

According to the former speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba, personalization of political office had remained the problem of leaders in Africa and many African leaders failed because they personalized the office they occupied.

He stressed the need to empower Nigerians so that nobody would be much concerned about where his leader or president came from. Mr. Femi Falana, Lagos lawyer, said June 12 represented the unity of Nigerians and the stand for common purpose by unanimously voting in Abiola and putting religious and ethnic sentiments aside.

He said that anybody aspiring to rule the country should be willing to discuss issues and tell Nigerians why they aspired to rule and the difference they would bring into governance.

Professor Omo Omoruyi, in his paper, called for the implementation of those things that made June 12, 1993 election a credible election and the need to make the electoral umpire a trusted one.

He stressed that June 12, 1993 was a date democracy was re-defined in Nigeria. Present at the occasions were Rear Admiral Ndubusi Kanu, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Mr. Wahab Oba, Chairman Lagos NUJ; Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly; Dr. Frederick Fasehun, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Honourable Abike Dabiri, among others.

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June 12, 2006

Lawmakers plan to impeach OBJ - Raise 127 impeachable offences

THE crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new dimension as lawmakers in both chambers of the National Assembly are reported to have slated an impeachment motion against President Olusegun Obasanjo.

12.06.2006

Impeccable assembly sources told the Nigerian Tribune that 127 impeachable offences were to be slammed against the president with signature collection said to have reached an advanced stage in the House of Representatives.

Among the constitutional breaches allegedly listed against the president was the award of 250 million dollars defence contract for the purchase of drone planes from Israel without the involvement of the Defence Ministry.

The lawmakers were reported to have discovered that the contract was awarded without compliance with due process while it was also reportedly inflated to the tune of 100 million dollars.

The president was also accused of withdrawing several millions of dollars from the excess crude oil account without the authorisation of the National Assembly, an issue on which the president wrote the lawmakers a week ago.

As part of the new plot, those behind the move against the president were reported to have revived the Abdul Ningi committee which was earlier set up to probe impeachable offences said to have been committed by the president.

The committee set up following the filing of an impeachment motion last year by some lawmakers has not submitted its report since then, an issue the anti-presidency forces have vowed to re-open.

Nigerian Tribune was also told that reports of various impeachment offences levelled against the president since 1999 in both chambers were being added to the newly planned motion reportedly scheduled for mention any time from this week.

It was learnt that the move against the president was prompted by reported plans of the Presidency to clamp down on some leaders of the PDP who fought the president over the third term plan.

Some hawks within the Presidency were said to have pencilled in eight members of the House and six senators for suspension as a reprisal for their roles in the killing of the third term bill.

The anti-presidency forces were also reportedly angry about the manipulation of the ongoing reconciliation within the PDP as well as the ongoing bid to ensure the retention of Dr. Ahmadu Ali and his executive ahead of the 2007 polls.

While the collection of signatures is continuing, Nigerian Tribune was told that the group behind the removal bid was not against reconciliation with the president but that certain conditions must be fulfilled.

According to the source, the minimum conditions for peace are the removal of Dr. Ahmadu Ali, Chief Tony Anenih, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Chief Bode George and Professor Jerry Gana from leadership positions within the party.

The other condition, according to Nigerian Tribune findings, is the consequent convocation of fresh conventions and congresses with the election to be held under open/secret voting method.

When contacted for his comments, the Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. John Odey, refused to pass any comments other than “I don’t respond to rumours.”

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June 10, 2006

INEC Adjusts Elections Time-Table

Against a backdrop of protests over the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently released time-table for next year’s general elections, the leadership of 37 political parties may have to persuaded the commission to re-draw the time-table to have the election in two separate days with Saturday ruled out altogether.

Bola Badmus, Abuja - 10.06.2006

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had recently come out with its time–table which would see elections commencing on April 7 and ending on April 28.

The time–table showed that elections would be staggered and would hold on Saturdays.

Saturday Tribune gathered from sources close to the meetings of political party leaders and INEC which held at the INEC headquarters in Lagos with the commission’s chairman in attendance, that the party leaders as well as the INEC resolved that the redraw of the time–table for election was absolutely necessary.

Findings showed that the meeting resolved that instead of having reelections run on one poll per week, two elections should be held per week.

ST learnt that to this end, the stakeholders at the all important meeting at the INEC headquarters agreed that the elections for the House of Assembly and governorship should be held on the same day.

The presidential and National Assembly polls that would produce the president, senators and House of Representatives members should be held together at another date.

Sources told the ST that it was also agreed that no election should hold on Saturday as planned in the original INEC election time-table but instead elections should hold on week days.

It was the reasoning of the stakeholders that elections held on week days like Tuesday or Wednesday would guarantee fairness and transparency as well as mass participation.

However, it was learnt that the meeting considered that the president, Olusegun Obasanjo should be urged to declare those two days public holidays while it argued that such request was appropriate considering that the Federal Government declared public holidays for the conduct of National Census Exercise, another important national assignment.

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June 09, 2006

2 killed as building collapses in Lagos

ANOTHER building collapsed in Lagos on Wednesday, leaving two people dead and several others injured.

OLALEKAN OLABULO, Lagos - 09.06.2006

The two storey building, at Number 35, Zion Street, Sari Iganmu, collapsed around 11.00 a.m. killing Eneikan Ibunija, a 27-year-old and Akpan Friday, 25-year old both of whom were residents of the house.

When the Nigerian Tribune visited the scene, rescue and evacuation by a combined team of policemen, firefighters and officials of the Lagos State government were going on.

A resident of the area who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune on condition of anonymity said what they heard was a thunderous sound and that when they came out, they saw that the building had collapsed.

Another resident of the area who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune said “I just passed through the building to buy something at the other end when I heard the explosive sound.”

The Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Mr. Olubode Ojajuni, while confirming the incident to the Nigerian Tribune, said police had begun investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the building.

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June 07, 2006

Atiku demanded for $.5m bribe - US Reps

UNITED States House of Representatives member, William Jefferson, told a business associate that the Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, was demanding half the profits of a telecommunications partnership the congressman was involved in, according to court records unsealed on Monday.

07.06.2006

He added that the vice president sought up to $500,000 and a stake in the technology venture. But the Jefferson’s statement may have to be taken with a pinch of salt as the money which he said he gave to Atiku was found in a freezer inside his house.

An alleged plan to bribe Atiku Abubakar to exert influence over the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) had been alluded to in earlier court documents in the 15-month federal investigation of Jefferson, but Atiku had not previously been identified by name.

Prompted by separate lawsuits filed by The Washington Post and The Times-Picayune, judges in Maryland and Louisiana agreed to unseal parts of the FBI documents filed to support the August 3 search of Atiku’s home in Potomac, Jefferson’s residences in New Orleans and Washington, and the New Orleans office of the congressman’s accountant, Jack Swetland.

Jefferson has not been charged and has denied taking bribes to perform his public duties. His attorney declined to comment on Monday.

Atiku’s attorney said the vice president had done nothing wrong and continues to cooperate with federal authorities in their investigation. The attorney, Edward Weidenfeld, said Atiku had met with Jefferson out of the courtesy given between elected officials of different countries, but that was the extent of their relationship.

The court documents include excerpts of wiretapped recordings of Jefferson’s conversations with Lori Mody, a wealthy northern Virginian who was secretly working for the FBI.

One of the surprises in the court records opened Monday was the name of another target in the case: Suleiman YahYah, chairman and CEO of Rosecom.Net, an Internet service provider in Nigeria. Rosecom was to have been the Nigerian partner for Mody’s company, which was called W2IBBS Ltd.

According to the transcripts, Jefferson told Mody that Atiku was demanding 50 per cent of the profits earned by YahYah’s company. Jefferson said Atiku had made the demand during a private one-hour meeting at the vice president’s home.

“We have a deal with him,” he told Mody. He also told her in a separate wiretapped call that YahYah was critical to the success of the venture in Nigeria.

“We need him,” Jefferson told her over dinner in Washington. “We got to motivate him real good. He’s got a lot of folks to pay off.” Jefferson told Mody that it was best that the two of them didn’t know what YahYah was up to.

“If he’s gotta pay Minister X, we don’t want to know,” Jefferson said. “It’s not our deal. We’re not paying Minister X a damn thing. That’s all, you know, international fraud crap. We’re not doing that. . . . Whatever they do locally, that’s their business.”

According to the affidavit used to search the vice president’s house, the FBI expected to find a $100,000 cash bribe in a reddish-brown briefcase that Mody had given Jefferson. The cash was to guarantee Atiku’s cooperation, to ensure “the little hook is in there,” according to wiretapped transcripts.

A day later, the FBI intercepted Jefferson’s cellphone signal in the vicinity of Atiku’s home. And later, Jefferson assured Mody that he had given the money to Atiku, referring to it as “African art.”

But $90,000 of the cash, marked by investigators, was found in a freezer at Jefferson’s Capitol Hill home during the August raid. A reddish-brown briefcase was found by the FBI during the search of Jefferson’s New Orleans home on Marengo Street the same day.

The FBI said Jefferson was using his influence to help a small Kentucky firm, iGate Inc., launch its novel high-speed Internet technology in Nigeria. In exchange, the FBI says, Jefferson sought shares of iGate and cash payments funnelled to companies set up in the names of his wife and five daughters.

In all, the government said Jefferson received more than $400,000, millions of shares of iGate and a 30 per cent share of Mody’s Nigerian company set up to run the operation overseas. In their search of his New Orleans home, FBI agents found a certificate showing that Global Energy & Environmental Services LLC, which Jefferson said he set up on behalf of his daughters, owned 1.5 million shares of Mody’s Nigerian firm.

For the first time, court records name Jamila Jefferson, one of the congressman’s daughters, as the lawyer who Jefferson insisted do the legal work to set up Mody’s Nigerian company. Mody paid the law firm Jamila Jefferson worked for “thousands of dollars for legal work,” court records say.

The documents also suggest that Rep. Jefferson was involved with more than telecommunications deals in West Africa. In taped conversations, former Jefferson aide, Brett Pfeffer, told Mody that Jefferson would want a share of another company, Enterprise Information Management Inc., a Virginia information technology firm that he also had agreed to help.

According to a transcript, Pfeffer told Mody on March 31, 2005, that Jefferson was in the Middle East to help EIM. Records show he was travelling in Egypt and Qatar at the time.

“He would want a piece of EIM if something happens,” Pfeffer told Mody, who had agreed to invest $3.2 million in the company. “You know he ain’t going over there to be nice to me and Bruce” Lyman, president of EIM.

Mody then asked what Jefferson would want. “You’d probably have to put his brother-in-law on the payroll, or something. I don’t know,” Pfeffer said. “I mean, who knows. You know, Bruce says we’ll take care of him any way we have to take care of him. I mean, he won’t ask for anything crazy. He knows. . . . He’s a businessman.”

EIM’s Lyman could not be reached for comment. Pfeffer pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to commit bribery and abetting bribery of a public official. Last month, a judge sentenced him to eight years in prison, although he is expected to serve less because he is cooperating with investigators.

Jefferson, Pfeffer and iGate CEO, Vernon Jackson, had been named as targets of the federal probe in documents released weeks ago. Jackson also has pleaded guilty and is cooperating but has not been sentenced.

However, an aide to Vice President Atiku Abubakar said the report was not saying anything new but an attempt by some people to make it a running story.

The aide, who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune on condition of anonymity, noted that some people were just interested in keeping the story alive.

He said Jefferson had only proved to be a liar, adding that at a time, he said he had given the money but the money was found in a fridge in his home.

“If there is any new development from the court apart from this, I would be ready to react to it, but on this one, it is a non-issue”, the aide said.

Posted by Publisher at 12:24 PM | Comments (0)

June 06, 2006

IBB launches campaign organisation - Names DG, directors

IN a move to put paid to speculations on whether he will run in 2007 or not, General Ibrahim Babangida has launched his campaign organisation with a director-general and six campaign directors already appointed.

By OLAWALE RASHEED - 06.06.2006

Impeccable sources within the Babangida group told the Nigerian Tribune that a campaign headquarters had also been secured in Abuja while the newly appointed campaign directors had been given appointment letters.

The National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the North-Central, Alhaji Abubakar Magaji, has been appointed the director-general while the name of a campaign chairman of Southern origin is being held close to the chest of the General.

The directors already appointed include a former national officer of the PDP from the South South zone manning the publicity directorate. He is said to be a serving official of the Federal Government.

The director of youths mobilisation is from Anambra State while the director of research and planning is a professor from Ekiti State.

The director of administration is from Kogi State while the director of organisation hails from Yobe State.

Nigerian Tribune was told that the directors had already resumed duty at an undisclosed campaign headquarters in Abuja with the source telling the Nigerian Tribune that at the right time, “the campaign organisation will be made public.”

In a related developments, latest reports showed that loyalists of the Minna General may have been directed to fuse into the newly registered Democratic Peoples Party (DPP).

As exclusively reported by the Nigerian Tribune three weeks ago, the DPP recently registered by the Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, as a fall back position for the General if he fails to get the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the same way as the Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) is reported to be a front for Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

Already, a faction of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), said to be loyal to the Minna General, has moved enmasse into the new party alongside Governor Bafarawa while consultation was said to be on with the leadership of the National Democratic Party (NDP), a party that had earlier adopted the General as its presidential standard-bearer.

A few weeks ago, the chairman of NDP, Alhaji Habu Fari, told the Nigerian Tribune that the goal of his party was to ensure the election of General Babangida as president, noting that all efforts and arrangements to realise that goal would be supported by his party.

He, however, noted that the NDP would prefer other like-minded political parties to fuse into it with General Babangida as the standard-bearer, a position the NDP boss was said to be under pressure to change.

It was learnt that contacts had been established between the protem leadership of the DPP and the NDP though the outcome of the interaction was not known as at the time of filing this report.

The acting Publicity Secretary of the DPP, Mallam Samaila Sani, told the Nigerian Tribune that the party was working hard to provide space for many other groups that want to come into the fold.

According to him, the party leadership was in touch with several party leaders in the 37 political parties, noting that the DPP would soon announce details of its national convention.

Even though Mallam Sani did not confirm this, it was learnt that the proposal for other groups to fuse into the DPP would be ratified at the convention to be held soon.

Posted by Publisher at 12:02 PM | Comments (0)

June 05, 2006

Katung wins BBN show - Carts away N14.5m

TWENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD Katung Aduwak joined the league of millionaires yesterday when he carted home the N14.5 million prize money of Big Brother Nigeria (BBN) MNET’s television reality show.

By YEJIDE OJO - 05.06.2006

Katung joined the race three weeks into the 91-day journey but he made up for lost time by proving himself as an intelligent and hardworking young man.

Katung excelled in all his tasks and became the in-house clown. K-black, as he was called in the BBN House, was a scriptwriter before entering the House.

The 26-year-old Kaduna-born student of the school of Big Brother Nigeria graduated at the top of his class and won the prize.

Katung, a graduate of Political Science, proved he was the life of the BBN House before and after his position as the last guy standing.

He made friends with every housemate and his strategy worked out, making him one of the youngest and the newest millionaires in Africa, courtesy MNET and other sponsors.

The production assistant had the best result during the ‘make a one minute movie task’ and was very creative in his moulding of a perception of the Big Brother’s head.

He proved himself and developed a large fan base. Towards the end, he showed his stuff and convinced the viewers to give him the chance of entering the millionaires’ world.

MNET’s dream became a reality when the show ended yesterday and a winner emerged.

The Big Brother Nigeria show was a long journey which started in March with the 26-year-old coming first out of 14 other contestants in a house with cameras and microphones.

Posted by Publisher at 12:56 PM | Comments (0)

June 03, 2006

INEC Timetable, A Hidden Agenda - Atiku

THE growing list of critics against the 2007 election time table recently released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) soared yesterday with the inclusion of Vice President Atiku’s political organisation which described the time table as calculated to achieve a hidden agenda.

By Olufunso Fafowora - 03.06.2006

Speaking through the Turaki Vanguard, the Atiku camp said the time table was an indication that the INEC was not sincere with its plan for 2007.

It shows that INEC has no plans for free and fair and transparent elections in 2007. This arrangement now prompts us to ask why INEC seems incapable of getting anything right with respect to the 2007 polls.

This arrangement now prompts us to ask why INEC seems incapable of getting anything right with respect to the 2007 polls.

Why can’t INEC conduct the presidential election in February just like the military government of General Abdulsalami Abubakar did? the statement said.

The release which was signed by the National Coordination of the Turaki Vanguard, Alhaji N.A. Galla and the Director of Media and Communication, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze said the time table did not have sufficient room for the resolution of possible disputes arising from the elections.

While alleging that the time table was politically lopsided and seemed calculated to achieve a hidden agenda, it advised INEC to demonstrate that it was more than a mere department of the ruling PDP and make Nigerians to “have faith in its actions and a smooth transition to another elected government devoid of crises.”

In another development, the new leadership of the Adamawa State House of Assembly has paid a courtesy visit on Vice President Atiku Abubakar in Abuja to intimate him on the recent changes in the House.

At the meeting which had all the members of the State House of Assembly in attendance, the new Deputy Speaker, Bidiyono Bamaiyi said the recent changes in the house was to bring about cordial relationship among members and between the House.

Posted by Publisher at 09:55 AM | Comments (0)

2007: Gusau, Odili Plan Joint Ticket

FORMER National Security Adviser (NSA) to President Olusegun Obasanjo, General Aliyu Gusau may have flagged off consultations preparatory to the announcement of his presidential ambition.

Taiwo Adisa, Abuja - 03.06.2006

The General, who lost his job in a major cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday was said to have met with Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili on Wednesday to discuss the possibility of the duo running on a joint ticket.

A meeting of the president’s tacticians the same day was said to have tipped Odili as a major forces to reckon with in the presidential race and a possible running mate to an anointed Northern candidate in the event that the south fails to win the race for the presidency in 2007.

Besides the secret talks between the duo, sources had confirmed that as a result of Odili’s new found special status in the government, the security agencies have been told to provide special security around him.

A source said that with the secret meeting between Odili and Gusau, the real game plan of the pro-Obasanjo camp might just be unfolding.

It was contemplated that if the Obasanjo caucus should adopt a retired General as candidate for the next election, it should also tinker with the possibility of fielding a person with strong economic base as the running mate.

That was where the choice of the current Minister of Finance, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the possible vice presidential candidate came up.

It was thought that since she hails from South South and is married to a South East person, she could be seen as a cross breed, whose candidature could easily appeal to both geo-political zones.

But the meeting that discussed the possible presidential and vice presidential candidates tipped Odili tops.

Although there were isinuations that the presidents men may be looking for a joint ticket that could feature the Kaduna State governor, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi and Odili, there appeared a lot of confusing signals from the president’s camp as the choices kept swinging between persons with military background and pro-Obasanjo governors.

Posted by Publisher at 09:54 AM | Comments (0)

May 31, 2006

Anxiety over Solomon Lar - OBJ, Atiku express worries

THE presidency has expressed anxiety over the health of the pioneer national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Solomon Daushep Lar, wishing him a quick recovery.

SOJI-EZE FAGBEMI, Abuja - 31.05.2006

President Olusegun Obasanjo and Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who paid visits to Chief Lar, said they learnt of the former PDP chairman’s poor health with distress.

Specifically, President Obasanjo said he was distressed to learn about the ill-health of the elder statesman, especially at this time of the political evolution of the country.

The president, according to a statement signed by the Personal Assistant to Chief Lar, Mr. Lawan Barau, therefore, sent a get-well-quick message to him.

While President Obasanjo’s message was delivered by a Senior Special Assistant, Mr. Bodunde Adeyanju, Vice President Atiku, who was accompanied by some PDP faithfuls, described Chief Lar as a national asset of which every Nigerian should be proud.

The vice president recalled the sacrifices Chief Lar and other patriots made for the enthronement of democracy in the country and for the emancipation of the down-trodden, even at the risk of their lives.

He prayed God to grant the veteran politician and former governor of old Plateau State “a speedy recovery and many more years of fruitful service to the nation.”

Meanwhile, Chief Lar, who has cancelled all official engagements in keeping with his doctor’s advice, has described the death of Colonel Yohanna Madaki as a rude shock.

Chief Lar, who said his death was so sudden, pointed out that he was not even aware of his ill-health, adding that Col. Madaki was a democrat to the core.

He stated that he worked closely with the late former military governor of the defunct Gongola State and Benue State as a politician, stating that “I admired his love not only for democracy and the party, but also for the unity of the country.”

As a member of PDP, he said Col. Madaki was very frank and fearless in proffering his learned legal advice to the party and expressed no doubt that the PDP he (Madaki) helped to midwife, would have been different if he were still alive today.

Posted by Publisher at 09:49 AM | Comments (0)

May 30, 2006

Mantu admits approving N40m memo to self

THE final defence of Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, against charges of financial misdemeanour totalling N112 million levelled against him by the Senate has been seen by the Nigerian Tribune.

BANKOLE MAKINDE, Abuja - 30.05.2006

Therein, Senator Mantu argued that it was unfair for the Senate to contemplate reprimanding him for the alleged offence, even after admitting that he personally approved N40 million “as memo” to himself.

He, however, said what he approved and endorsed to the Clerk of the National Assembly, who is the Chief Accounting Officer, Alhaji Nasir Arab, was a memo from his chief of staff, initiating action for the furnishing of his official residence.

The probe of Senator Mantu is being handled by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, headed by Senator Titus Olupitan from Ondo South Senatorial District.

In a letter dated May 22, endorsed by Senator Mantu and addressed to Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, he (Mantu) argued that if the Senate in its wisdom had decided to come up with future approval of memos for such amount, he would have complied and thus pleaded that he should not be reprimanded for the oversight of the senators.

Posted by Publisher at 08:27 AM | Comments (0)

Ribadu slams Obasanjo - Over presidential library

CHAIRMAN of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday condemned President Olusegun Obasanjo for launching the presidential library fund while in office.

OKEY MUOGBO, Abuja- 30.05.2006

Answering questions on African Independent Television (AIT) programme, Ribadu said the president should have launched the fund after leaving office in 2007.

“If the president had sought my advice, I would have told him to launch the fund after leaving office”, Ribadu said in reply to a question from the panel of interviewers.

On why his commission had not prosecuted governors and other public officers who donated to the presidential library, the EFCC boss said his commission had not traced any of such donations to public funds.

According to him, all the donations came from private funds, insisting that if any of the donations had been traced to public funds, the commission would have taken on the donors.

The EFCC boss said his commission slowed down its activities since February because of the third term issue so that the public would not see the commission as being a part of the elongation agenda.

He said that his men would resume their investigations now that the third term issue was over.

Ribadu, in answer to another question, said the EFCC was beaming its searchlight on the emerging presidential aspirants, assuring Nigerians that the commission would never allow corrupt people to rule the country.

He said the commission could not do much on allegations that National Assembly members were given N50 million to give President Obasanjo a third term because, according to him, there were no evidences or traces of the movement of the money.

Posted by Publisher at 08:20 AM | Comments (0)

May 29, 2006

FG sells National Sugar Company for N5.6 billion

THE Federal Government at the weekend finally sold the moribund National Sugar Company, Bacita, Kwara State, to private investors for N5.6 billion. The bid for the company was won by Josepdam Sugar Company.

By OMODELE IDRIS - 29.05.2006

The handing over ceremony was performed by the Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Dr. Irene Chigbue, and the Minister of Industry, Ambassador Fidelis Tapgun, at the company’s premises in Bacita at the weekend.

This followed the payment of the total bid price of $40 million (N5.6 billion) by the local private investors. The payment for the sugar company was sponsored by Wema Bank Plc.

With the acquisition of the company, the new owners, Josepdam Sugar Company Limited, will revamp the firm, modernise the factory and upgrade all facilities to world-class standards.

The company is expected to produce 180,000 metric tonnes of refined sugar a year. In her speech at the occasion, the Director-General of BPE said the company was handed over to Josepdam Sugar Company because it had successfully fulfilled all privatisation transactional requirements for the company.

She said, given the strategic importance of sugar and the demand gap in the Nigerian market, the sugar company was established to enhance the local production of sugar with a view to ensuring that Nigeria achieved at least 70 per cent self sufficiency in sugar requirement.

Sugar production commenced in Nigeria in 1964 but started to decline in the 1980s due to ageing infrastructure and mismanagement.

The sugar company thus had its fair share of waste, which characterised most government owned enterprises before the aggressive reform and privatisation programme.

According to Chigbue, the BPE decided to fast-track the transaction under the second phase of the privatisation programme, given the strategic importance of the sugar company to the nation.

In her own speech, the Managing Director of Josepdam Sugar Company, Mrs. Josephine Kuteyi, said the country currently produces about five per cent of its total sugar requirement locally, stating that the low investment in the sugar sub-sector was a fall-out of the relatively long gestation period of sugarcane and the high outlay involved in setting up the agro-allied business.

A solution to Nigeria’s heavy dependence on sugar imports, she said, must be sought, adding that there was the need to develop outgrowers with the aim of expanding the industry.

The Managing Director of Wema Bank Plc, Mr. Adebisi Omoyeni, said the bank readily gave its support to Josepdam as financial partners having seen the viability of the sugar project.

He said as a result of the recent consolidation exercise, the bank had grown the capacity to be able to offer jumbo financial support packages to its worthy customers.

According to him, the initial value of the support package was N5 billion while a post-acquisition investment accounted for another N19 billion, adding that in the long run, the envisaged investment requirements might hit about N25 billion.

Posted by Publisher at 10:53 AM | Comments (0)

May 26, 2006

NITEL workers begin strike today

STAFF of the Nigerian Telecommunication (NITEL) will commence a nationwide strike today in protest against the non-payment of their salaries and allowances.

SOJI-EZE FAGBEMI, Abuja - 26.05.2006

But, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Hassan Lawal, appealed to the workers not to disrupt activities in the company.

Already, NITEL workers nationwide have embarked on a warning strike for the past one week, but resolved to commence a full strike today.

The workers were protesting the non-payment of their salaries for the past four months while leave, housing and furniture allowances have not been paid for the past seven months.

Last week, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, led the workers to close down the NITEL Headquarters, Abuja and gave support to the protest embarked on by the workers, saying that the NITEL staff had genuine reasons and grievances to go on strike.

Oshiomhole, however, promised to write a letter to President Olusegun Obasanjo, Communications Minister, Chief Cornelius Adebayo and the NITEL management.

Posted by Publisher at 12:26 PM | Comments (0)

May 25, 2006

INEC out with 2007 election time table

THE general elections in 2007 in Nigeria will be held between April 7 and 29 across the country, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced.

GILL NSA-ABASI, Calabar - 25.05.2006

Chairman of the commission, Professor Maurice Iwu, disclosed this to newsmen in Calabar, Cross River State, at the end of a three-day retreat of the commission which he said was held to appraise the 2004-2007 Strategic Plan.

He said the commission would soon come out with a time table to specify which election comes first and the order it would go, adding that the elections would be by secret ballot but that the ballot papers would be made to carry the pictures of the candidates, the name of their parties and symbols.

Professor Iwu said the commission had reached the conclusion that one of the ways to ensure credible elections was to have a credible voters’ register and as such, the computerised voters’ register was the best option.

“What we have now is a situation where people register to vote, they would claim their name is not in the register or there is a fictitious register that has a lot of dead people in it or people who are not entitled to vote.

“So we decided that voter registration is a major factor and doing that, the only way we know you can have a durable register that is updatable, that is reliable and robust enough, that can not be tempered with, is to use electronic device and database which will contain people’s photographs and fingerprint. Smaller countries do it. Ghana is one example,” he said.

He added that “there is no big do about it, the electronic voters’ register, we are going to use and we are going to update. We are using a technique called direct capture which means that there will be no filling of forms, you just come and your photograph is captured and your fingerprint after few questions and your card will come out. The voters card will be like the smart card.”

The INEC boss stressed that his commission was 70 per cent ready for the elections going by its implementation plan and that the just concluded retreat in Calabar had helped the commission to correct everything, saying that INEC was determined to create a level playing field.

He disclosed that two additional parties were registered last week to bring the number of parties in Nigeria to 37, adding that the commission might register more parties as more requests were being considered.

Posted by Publisher at 09:20 AM | Comments (0)

May 24, 2006

US indicts Atiku’s wife in corruption scandal: We’re innocent - Atiku insists

VICE-PRESIDENT Atiku Abubakar’s wife, Jennifer, has been indicted in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe of US Congressman, William Jefferson, over bribery involving a transnational tele-communications deal. Jennifer resides in the Potomac, Maryland home of Atiku which was raided on August 3, 2005, by the FBI in connection with the bribery investigation.

LANRE ADEWOLE, Abuja - 24.05.2006

In a report on Tuesday, the FBI revealed that a taped conversation between Jefferson and a wired Mody saw the embattled American lawmaker describing Jennifer as a “front”. Jefferson told Mody that the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Gede Foundation, being operated in Washington by Jennifer, was a front, being used to channel illegal funds by the Atiku family.

Gede Foundation, according to the founder, was to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The affidavit recently unsealed by the FBI on the investigation also quoted Jefferson as describing Atiku Abubakar as “a businessman who has more deals than the man in the moon and he’s a very well, the word might be... corrupt”.

The part of the detailed affidavit entitled “Dinner conversation”, says that; “Through Brett Pfeffer, a former aide to Jefferson who pleaded guilty in January, a dinner meeting was set up between Mody and the congressman. They decided to go ahead with the iGate deal in Nigeria. But first, Jefferson told Mody, a key palm needed to be greased.

“In a recorded conversation, Jefferson said that a top Nigerian official was scheduled to arrive in Washington shortly. Jefferson described him as a businessman “who has more deals than the man in the moon” and “he’s a very well, the word might be... corrupt.” The official, Jefferson later said, could be bribed by funnelling money through a charitable foundation run by the official’s wife, which Jefferson called a “front”.

“The official’s name is shown from the search warrant affidavit, but it is believed to be Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar, whose Maryland home was also raided in August by the FBI. His wife, Jennifer, operates an AIDS foundation in Washington D.C. “Jefferson later told Mody that the unnamed official demanded 50 per cent of profits from a joint venture launched in Nigeria and would probably need $500,000 upfront, $100,000 of which was in the briefcase she handed to Jefferson three months later.”

The vice-president had denied doing any deals with Jefferson, though there was a meeting between them shortly after Jefferson reportedly collected part of the bribe money, he claimed was meant for Atiku. The FBI search of Jefferson home revealed that the money had not been passed across to the vice president.

Mody was used by the FBI to investigate the scam, after she was denied access to the rights to iGate’s technology despite paying $3.5 million for it. She subsequently reported to the FBI, who wired her for the latter part of her business relationship with Jefferson. The FBI had also detailed another Nigerian company called Netlink, known as NDTV for probe, over the iGate deals scam.

Netlink was fingered as the company that agreed to finance iGate’s business before Mody entered the scene. According to the affidavit; “the FBI detailed one deal involving a Nigerian company called Netlink, known as NDTV, which had agreed to finance iGate’s business before Mody entered the scene. “The deal is significant because it introduces another cooperating witness besides Mody,” with first hand knowledge of the transaction. The witness told the FBI that Jefferson demanded $5 per subscriber for the broadband service in Nigeria.

“But in early 2004, NDTV pulled out of the deal and sought its $6.5 million investment back. The company hired attorneys in the United States and they wrote to Jefferson suggesting that he had violated criminal and civil laws in Nigeria. “I have also attached a list of your bank accounts through which you insisted money be paid (which it was) to you in relation to the iGate/NDTV transaction,” the lawyer wrote.

Reacting to the new development, the vice-president restated his innocence and that of his entire family in the saga. Speaking through his media aide, Shehu Garba, the vice-president urged Nigerians to wait till the end of the investigations before passing judgement. Nigerian Tribune was told on phone that; “the vice-president and his family have not done anything wrong. By the time investigations are concluded, the facts would be known and his innocence would be shown to the Nigerian public.”

When prodded to react to the specific allegations, Garba said that he would not add anything to the recent defence put up for the second family.

Posted by Publisher at 11:36 AM | Comments (0)

May 23, 2006

We’ve not given up on constitution amendment - PDP

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday declared that it had not given up on getting the 1999 Constitution amended.

JACOB SEGUN OLATUNJI, Abuja - 23.05.2006

Addressing a world press conference in Abuja, National Secretary of the party, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, disclosed that “this commitment is total and re-invigorated by the temporary setback of the current legislative period”.

Chief Maduekwe said Nigerians must not in the face of political disagreements over simple options on term limits deny “the people full benefit of the capacity of the political class to resolve problems and create a new template for national engagement, which was what the whole constitutional amendment exercise was all about.”

According to him, “the political class must display the necessary creativity to disaggregate issues and deal with them on their merit without fear or favour, and on this, PDP, being the only party in Nigeria’s political history to possess institutional memory of over seven years in national governance, will continue to lead from the front.”

Posted by Publisher at 01:15 PM | Comments (0)

May 22, 2006

IBB picks Nnamani as Vice President

SENATE President, Chief Ken Nnamani, has been reportedly tipped as the running mate to former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), for the 2007 presidential race. General Babangida declared his intention to contest the presidency in 2007 a few weeks back, and he was reported to have stepped up his campaign, following the stopping of the tenure elongation agenda by the National Assembly.

LANRE ADEWOLE, Abuja - 22.05.2006

The decision to have Nnamani on the Babangida’s ticket was reportedly taken by the Babangida political camp about three weeks ago at a meeting which, unknown to the conveners, was taped. Nigerian Tribune findings revealed that Nnamani accepted the offer in principle, and this reportedly accounted for his decision to join forces with the opposition to stop the incumbent president from getting an extension in office.

Nnamani had, contrary to his earlier resolve, allowed voice vote in stopping the constitution amendment bill from scaling the second reading. The deal was said to have been finally sealed shortly after the Senate dumped the bill, at another meeting, which was also reportedly taped.

It was revealed that it was at the second meeting that the group decided to dump the South-South geopolitical zone in the zoning of the first three top positions at the federal level. The reasoning at the meeting, according to a source who is in possession of the records of the meetings, was that the South-South, despite its agitation for the presidency, would not pose any problems for the camp in executing its strategies for the presidency.

It will be recalled that the South-South geopolitical zone is the only zone in the country that has not produced the nation’s leader. Apart from taking the vice-presidency position beyond the zone, the Nigerian Tribune learnt that the Babangida camp had also zoned the Senate Presidency beyond the zone.

All calls made to Nnamani’s spokespersons, Austin Adamu and Reginald Okochi, went into their phones’ voice-mail box, and as at press time, there had been no feedback from them. When Max Gbanite, the spokesperson of Project Nigeria, the umbrella campaign group of Babangida, was contacted, the response from his phone showed that he was out of service area of the provider he uses.

One of his associates told the Nigerian Tribune that he might have gone abroad. However, Babangida might be playing a double game with his choice of vice-president, because there are indications that he might have promised another ex-Senate President the plum job. The former Senate President had reportedly met in Abuja with emissaries sent by Babangida, but a source could not say whether the former Senate President accepted to run with him.

Posted by Publisher at 11:35 AM | Comments (0)

May 19, 2006

Supreme Court determines Ibori’s fate today

THE Supreme Court will lay the ex-convict saga involving Delta State governor, James Ibori, to rest today as it makes a final pronouncement on whether the governor was the same Ibori convicted on 29 September, 1995.

LANRE ADEWOLE, Abuja - 19.05.2006

Messrs. Goodness Agbi and Anthony Alabi had initiated a suit at the Abuja High Court, claiming that Ibori was an ex-convict who is not constitutionally qualified to occupy public office through elections. Section 182(1)(e) of the operational 1999 Constitution forbids ex-convicts from standing for elections in the country.

The provision reads; “within a period of less than 10 years before the date of election to the office of governor of a state he has been convicted and sentenced for an offence involving dishonesty or he has been found guilty of the contravention of the Code of Conduct.”
The plaintiffs claimed that Governor Ibori was convicted of negligence and criminal breach of trust by a Bwari Upper Area Court in 1995.

The magistrate who claimed he convicted the governor, Anwal Yusuf, also testified before the lower court.

The Supreme Court earlier held that a James Onanefe Ibori was duly convicted and sentenced to a year imprisonment, with an option of fine, and ordered a fresh trial to unmask the identity of the convict.

But, Justice Husseini Yusuf of the Abuja High Court held in his judgement that the governor was not properly identified as the convict of 1995, and awarded victory to the governor.

The plaintiffs’ appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja was a disaster, as all the five justices that sat on the panel unanimously dismissed the appeal, while describing Anwal Yusuf, the star witness of the plaintiffs, as an unreliable witness.

Counsel for the plaintiff, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, had moved to the apex court after the Court of Appeal’s decision.

Posted by Publisher at 08:47 AM | Comments (0)

May 17, 2006

How last efforts to save 3rd term failed

THE defeat of the third term bill on both the floors of the Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday has been attributed to the alleged tactical withdrawal of President Olusegun Obasanjo and some governors from the elongation of tenure project.

BOLA BADMUS, Abuja - 17.05.2006

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the decision to withdrawal from the controversial project was reached Monday night between the president and some state governors with the Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani and Speaker, House of Representatives Alhaji Bello Masari, in attendance.

It was learnt that the villa meeting which dragged on till early Tuesday was said to have been called to review the acts and strategies on how to achieve the third term especially in the light of the apparent failure that the bill was likely to suffer if urgent steps were not taken by the presidency.

According to the Nigerian Tribune sources, both the Senate President and the Speaker were said to have expressed their inability to manipulate any rule of the National Assembly to enable the passage of the controversial third term clause.

The Senate President was even said to have confessed that he feared that he would be impeached by the Senate if he dared changed any rule. Besides, it was learnt that a majority of the pro-third term Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors present at the meeting were also said to have backed out of the agenda, expressing the opposition of their people.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that with the exception of just three governors, all the others were said to have declared that they were prepared to leave in 2007. According to a source, it was the decision at the meeting that informed the tide of debate on the floors of the National Assembly with another source insisting that what the National Assembly leadership did on Tuesday amounted to providing a soft landing for President Obasanjo and not waiting till the time of voting on clause by clause.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that asking the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Austin Opara, whose declaration literarilly knocked off the third term bill to make his contribution was part of the script to offer such soft landing. A source said the deputy speaker was not normally expected to have spoken when he did, citing the statement made by the Speaker before the commencement of the debate Tuesday that 86 members were yet to make their contributions on the debate.

By the time the Deputy Speaker spoke, only 26 lawmakers had contributed, a source observed, adding, “whereas he was expected to speak last, that is if he would be permitted to speak again, as he had already spoken at the commencement of the debate as co-chairman of the NJCRC.”

Posted by Publisher at 03:37 PM | Comments (0)

May 15, 2006

ANPP announces presidential candidate August

ALL Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) disclosed at the weekend in Abuja that its presidential candidate for the 2007 polls as well as party’s national chairman would emerge at its national convention slated for August 5, 2006.

BOLA BADMUS, Abuja - 15.05.2006

Governor Mohammed Adamu Aliero, who is the party’s Chairman, National Convention Planning Committee (NCPC), made the disclosure while addressing newsmen at the Kebbi State Government Lodge in Abuja.

According to the governor, the decision to pick the party’s presidential flagbearer and national officers on August 5 came following the approval of the scheduled time table for congresses and convention by the NCPC.

Aliero said the party would pick its governorship candidates for the 36 states at the state congresses that would be held nationwide on July 5. He announced that both the ward and local government congresses would hold on June 3 and 17, 2006 respectively.

“The congresses and convention guidelines had already been released to the state, local government and wards throughout the federation, he said.

Aliero said the NCPC would set up a committee to handle appeal, petitions and complaints arising from the conduct of the congresses and convention, saying that the committee would provide level playing field for every party aspirant and candidates for elections.

Posted by Publisher at 02:05 PM | Comments (0)

May 11, 2006

Mantu in auto crash

THE convoy of the Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, was on Wednesday involved in what was called a minor auto accident within the Central Area, Abuja.

TAIWO ADISA, Abuja - 11.05.2006

Mantu, who was said to have released his men after getting home from the day’s engagement in the Senate, went out with what was called a light convoy.

The accident, which occurred at the Ministry of Finance Junction, Central Area, Abuja, however, did not lead to any major casualty.

One of the cars in the light convoy was said to have lost track of the vehicle in the front and hit it from behind as the Deputy Senate President was approaching the Ministry of Finance.

Mantu, who was one of the occupants of the vehicle at the back, was said to have escaped from the scene unhurt.

His Media Adviser, Mr. Uba Mana, who confirmed the incident to the Nigerian Tribune, said it was a minor incident in which no one was injured.

“It was a minor incident that is not with even reporting. He had earlier discharged most of us and he went out private, I think one of the vehicles lost track and hit the one in the front, it was this bumper to bumper thing and the DSP (Mantu) just left the scene in one of the vehicles,” Mana said.

It was also gathered that the Deputy Senate President headed for where he was going rather than return home.

“What happened is not in anyway serious,” Mana added.

Posted by Publisher at 06:33 PM | Comments (0)

May 09, 2006

Security beefed up around pro-third term lawmakers

AS the National Assembly resumes debate today on the controversial constitution review bill, security has been reportedly beefed around senators and House of Representatives members who identified with tenure elongation for the president and governors.

LANRE ADEWOLE, Abuja - 09.05.2006

Many of the federal legislators, especially those from the lower chambers were said to have besieged the leadership of the State Security Services (SSS) with requests to tighten security around them due to threats over their supports for tenure elongation.

With majority of Nigerians believed to be against the planned tenure elongation, the pro-third term lawmakers were said to be daily harassed by their constituents, with many reportedly finding it difficult to visit their constituencies.

Posted by Publisher at 03:19 PM | Comments (0)

May 08, 2006

How Pfizer used Nigerian kids as experiment

A panel of Nigerian medical experts concluded that phar-maceutical giant, Pfizer Inc, contravened international law by testing an unapproved drug on children with brain infections in 1996.

08.05.2006

United States based newspaper, Washington Post, reported that those findings were detailed in a Nigerian government report that had remained unpublished for the last five years.

The paper got its hands on a copy of the report and said that the document had attracted considerable interest from the Congress. The report said that the Nigerian government never authorised Pfizer to administer Trovan, the unauthorised drug on nearly 100 children and infants at a field hospital in the city of Kano, when an epidemic of meningitis was ongoing. Approved drugs were being dispensed by doctors without borders during that time.

The Nigerian panel came to the conclusion that Pfizer was conducting “an illegal trial of an unregistered drug,” in what was a “clear case of exploitation of the ignorant”.

The test was first made public by The Post in December 2000 and was met with street demonstrations, lawsuits and demands for reform in the drug testing process in Nigeria.

Pfizer’s contention was that it had been to Nigeria on a purely humane mission to help out during the meningitis epidemic, which ultimately claimed 15,000 lives. But the Nigerian panel was unequivocal in stating that Pfizer had violated Nigerian law, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and The International Declaration of Helsinki related to medical research.

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May 04, 2006

46 passengers cheat death in Lagos

ABOUT 46 commuters travelling in a commercial bus popularly called “Molue” escaped death on Wednesday when the vehicle rammed into the steely side of an articulated vehicle on the Iganmu/Ijora intersection in Lagos.

04.05.2006

They were travelling from Orile on the Mainland to CMS on the Island.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent reported that sympathisers immediately rushed to the scene of the accident with hammers and chisels to open up the crushed bus for the trapped passengers, including the driver, to escape.

It took the sympathisers, comprising mechanics, body fitters, soldiers and naval personnel about 30 minutes to rescue a male passenger who sat directly behind the driver as his legs were trapped under the driver's crushed seat.

The man, who also sustained a cut on his head, was immediately rushed to an undisclosed hospital by officials of the FRSC for treatment.

One of the commuters, Mr Sabinus Okere, in an interview with NAN, alleged that the bus driver,actually saw an articulated vehicle (trailer) which was on its way to Ijora but was unable to stop because of his speed.

He claimed that the bus, with registration number XP917KJA had no brakes, adding that if it had, the driver would have been able to stop since the trailer was already at the intersection.

Posted by Publisher at 09:49 AM | Comments (0)

May 03, 2006

Nigeria among world’s failed countries - Ranks 22nd out of 60

NIGERIA has been named as one of the failed states in the world. Indeed, the country was placed 22nd on the failed states’ ladder, ranking with such countries as Uganda, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Somalia, Liberia, among others.

03.05.2006

In fact, a country that has just survived a war, Rwanda, fared better than Nigeria on the ranking as it was placed above Nigeria in the failed states’ list.

About 60 countries of the world made the list just released by a United States-based agency, Fund for Peace, in conjunction with Foreign Policy magazine.

Among the factors used to rate Nigeria on this list were the various regional, ethnic and religious crises that had bedevilled the country recently. Prominent among them were the crises in Niger Delta which continue to affect the oil price situation in the world.

Despite large-scale U.S. support, Iraq and Afghanistan also rank among the world’s 10 most vulnerable states. In its second annual “failed states” index, Foreign Policy magazine and the Fund for Peace concluded that Sudan was the country under the most severe stress because of violent internal conflict.

Eleven of the 20 most vulnerable countries of the 148 examined in the survey are in Africa. The Democratic Republic of Congo and Ivory Coast, both chronically volatile in recent years, ranked second and third.

Each country was given a score based on data from numerous available sources. A “failing state” was described as one in which the government does not have effective control of its territory, is not perceived as legitimate by a significant portion of its population, does not provide domestic security or basic public services to its citizens and lacks a monopoly on the use of force.

Sudan received low grades in virtually all areas surveyed, including protection of human rights, “group grievances” against the government and numbers of refugees and displaced persons. The western Sudanese region of Darfur has generated well over two million displaced since 2003.

According to the review, the situation in Iraq (No. 4) and Afghanistan (No. 10) deteriorated since 2005, the first year the survey was taken.

“For Iraq, the index category that worsened most was human flight,” the report said. “The exodus of Iraq’s professional class has accelerated, leaving the country without the trained citizens it needs to staff.

The Failed Countries:
1. Sudan
2. Democratic Republic of Congo
3. Ivory Coast
4. Iraq
5. Zimbabwe
6. Chad
6. (Tie) Somalia
8. Haiti
9. Pakistan
10. Afghanistan
11. Guinea
11. (Tie) Liberia
13. Central African Republic
14. North Korea
15. Burundi
16. Yemen
16. (Tie) Sierra Leone
18. Myanmar
19. Bangladesh
20. Nepal
21. Uganda
22. Nigeria
22. (Tie) Uzbekistan
24. Rwanda
25. Sri Lanka
26. Ethiopia
27. Colombia
28. Kyrgyzstan
29. Malawi
30. Burkina Faso
31. Egypt
32. Indonesia
33. Syria
33. (Tie) Kenya
35. Bosnia-Herzegovina
36. Cameroon
37. Angola
38. Togo
39. Bhutan
40. Laos
41. Mauritania
42. Tajikistan
43. Russia
44. Niger
45. Turkmenistan
46. Guinea-Bissau
47. Cambodia
47. (Tie) Dominican Republic
49. Papua New Guinea
50. Belarus
51. Guatemala
52. Equatorial Guinea
52. (Tie) Iran
54. Eritrea
55. Serbia-Montenegro
56. Bolivia
57. China
57. (Tie) Moldova
59. Nicaragua
60. Georgia

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May 01, 2006

IBB loyalists plan new party

INTENSE consultations took place over the weekend in Abuja for the formation of a new political alliance loyal to General Ibrahim Babangida and similar to the Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) said to be a front for Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

By OLAWALE RASHEED - 01.05.2006

This parley came a few days after some retired Generals loyal to General Babangida reportedly met their leader urging him to frontally tackle the third term scheme, as they said it posed a serious threat to their group’s interests.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the new party would be composed of two existing political parties and two factions of two other parties, all committed to the presidential aspiration of General Babangida. The Publicity Secretary of General Jeremiah Useni-led All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Alhaji Samaila Sani, dropped this hint over the weekend but said that leaders of the merging parties were still consulting over how best to go about the formation of the new grand alliance.

Groups said to be involved in the talks, the Nigerian Tribune learnt, include the National Democratic Party (NDP), the Akinfenwa faction of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), the Useni faction of the ANPP, the United Nigeria Peoples Party (UNPP) and five other registered political parties. “Leaders are consulting especially as the Etiebet faction is now for third term. A new party is likely to emerge with a candidate in whom all the groups have interest,” Sani told the Nigerian Tribune.

Further investigations showed that some party chiefs favoured the fusion of all other pro-Babangida groups into the NDP currently led by Alhaji Habu Fari, a position said to be creating heated discussions among the loyalists. The NDP had, in compliance with its constitution, adopted General Babangida as its presidential candidate, urging the General to quit the PDP which it said would not give him (Babangida) a presidential ticket.

Party chiefs outside the NDP who are favourably disposed to a fusion into the NDP are, however, reported to be calling for a change in the leadership of the NDP while others are calling for the formation of an entirely new party for all pro-Babangida groups. Reports from within the NDP also showed that its leadership believed it had sacrificed a lot to build the party and to further the interests of the Minna General, holding the view that loyalists of the General should have no problem in entering the NDP.

Nigerian Tribune was, however, told by inside sources within the NDP that its leadership was prepared to make more sacrifices as long as this would further enhance the ambition of General Babangida. In a related development, top retired Generals loyal to the Minna General were reported to have met their leader in Minna recently to urge him to take a more active role in the ongoing national political development.

Informed sources told the Nigerian Tribune that the Generals, reportedly including General John Shagaya, were said to have cited the activities of Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to convince their leader that the nation wanted him to become more visible and be counted. The loyalists were said to have noted that any inaction on the part of Babangida would only be an advantage to the Vice-President’s camp, calling on their leader to take on his former boss, President Obasanjo, for the sake of history.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that General Babangida lectured his loyalists that his status as a former president precluded him from publicly criticising the president, stressing that he had conveyed his position on burning national issues to the president in private. A loyalist of the General who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune on condition of anonymity refused to confirm or deny the story, but affirmed that the General’s opposition to the third term agenda was not in doubt.

“The General has said third term won’t work and Governor Kure has been very active in opposing the third term thing. Even a Niger senator who supports third term is facing recall threat. It is for us to act now,” the loyalist said.

Posted by Publisher at 12:30 PM | Comments (0)

April 28, 2006

House-to-house 3rd term campaign begins - Senate begins debate Wednesday

PROPONENTS of the third term agenda and those opposed to the plot engaged in house-to-house campaigns at the Apo Legislative Quarters from late Wednesday to the early hours of Thursday in an attempt to woo legislators, particularly from the South-West to their side.

Governors of the five states controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had met with President Olusegun Obasanjo alongside legislators from the zone on Tuesday night at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to dissect the third term agenda.

The president had mandated the governors to meet with their legislators and ensure that they were convinced on the agenda. The main charge given the governors was the need to win the hearts of the 31 members of the House of Representatives who are members of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

The AD has 31 members in the House of Representatives and five in the Senate. The governors at the Apo Quarters specifically targeted the homes of AD lawmakers. Some of the AD lawmakers were invited to dinner and a breakfast meeting on Wednesday and Thursday in the houses of their PDP colleagues.

The governors were joined by the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the PDP, Chief Olabode George, in the house-to-house campaign. The lobby was, however, done on a state by state level, with Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala leading the Oyo lobby team. The governor had to stay back in Abuja till late Thursday as a particular influential AD lawmaker was said to have proved difficult.

But Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, caused a stir in Abuja when his emissaries also stormed the legislative quarters to insist that the AD legislators resist the third term campaigners. Tinubu’s men also went from house to house, telling the lawmakers that it would be wrong of them to adopt the plot as it would prove dangerous to the South West region zone.

The meeting of Ogun and Osun legislators with their governors also discussed the need to explore all avenues to win over the AD legislators.
Meanwhile, the Senate will on Wednesday commence debate on the constitution amendment bill which contains the controversial third term bill.

Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, who made the announcement at the National Assembly on Thursday, said that the senators would commence debate on the bill next week. The Senate, which resumed sitting and sat for only five minutes after the joint sitting to receive the visiting Chinese President, Hu Jintao, said all was set for the all-important debate.

The Senate had passed the bill through the first reading last week but further debate on it, which was expected to resume this week, was rescheduled for next Tuesday before the Senate eventually settled for Wednesday.

Attempts by the Senate bureaucracy to correct the omission of the clause that approved a third term in office for governors by publishing another National Assembly journal to accommodate the clause were rebuffed on Tuesday as anti-third term lawmakers alleged that the clause was being smuggled into the bill.

The move, which was discovered when some chamber aides were distributing the new National Assembly journal containing the fresh amendment, threw the Senate into commotion.

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It’s fight to finish - Atiku

VICE-PRESIDENT Atiku Abubakar on Thursday said there would be no retreat in the ongoing political battle, even if the price to be paid would be enormous. He also said that there would be no sitting on the fence in order not to attract the wrath of posterity.

The nation’s number two man has never hidden his resentment for the plot by the leadership of his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to secure tenure extension for his boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Since he made his opposition known to the third term project, the centre has not held between him and his boss. Atiku spoke at the public presentation of a book, “Judicial integrity, independence and reforms”, written in honour of the retiring Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais.

Calling on Nigerians to demonstrate courage against the agenda, Atiku said; “this is not a time for neutrality or sitting on the fence. You either believe that democracy and the rule of law are good and must be secured or you do not.

“I remember the immortal words of Frantz Fanon that every on-looker is either a coward or a traitor. The price for standing up for the truth and justice may be stiff. “But we cannot really call ourselves leaders and civilised citizens if we do not have the courage to uphold the truth and struggle for what is right. If we allow fear to paralyse us, then we are running away from democracy and freedom. This is not a good option.

“As our current political situation shows, the struggle for democracy and freedom is a long and tortuous one. Those committed to that struggle must prepare for the long haul. And they will continue to require a courageous, independent and impartial judiciary in that struggle.

“The law remains the last hope of the common person in a civilised community. Where the law fails or those who wield power disregard the law, people tend to take the law into their own hands and anarchy tends to reign. We must collectively struggle to prevent that fate from befalling our country. We are too important a people and too important a country to Africa and the world to let that happen. Posterity will never forgive us if we do.

“As everyone here knows, our country is, to say the least, going through very difficult political times. This is largely because of the inability of some of us to appreciate that every modern society, especially complex ones such as ours, has to be rule-driven if they are to survive and thrive.

“Our recent history has been one characterised by brutal military dictatorship, one-man rule and attempts to subvert the will of the people in order to perpetuate dictatorship. Our people collectively fought those attempts successfully, although many paid very dearly for it.”

He commended the retiring Chief Justice for what he called his forthrightness, intellect and clean record, submitting on the need for a justiceable institutions of rule of law.

Reacting, the Chief Justice said the book was a comprehensive commentary on his being, thumbing-up the authors in the process. The 26-chapter book was written by the chief judges of the states and the federation.

Posted by Publisher at 01:03 PM | Comments (0)

Anxiety over Gov Alao-Akala

IBADAN, the Oyo State capital, and other states in the South-West, were on Thursday awash with rumours about the fate of the state governor, Otunba Bayo Alao-Akala, as unconfirmed reports said his government had run into troubled water and that he might have been removed as the governor.

Several calls were made by dignitaries, including government officials from outside the state, asking about the whereabouts of the governor and the developments in the state.

Such enquiries included: “Why are policemen all over the secretariat”? “What is happening in the House?” and many others which indicated that all was not well in Ibadan. Many even called to suggest that the governor might have been detained in Abuja following the discovery that his government had run into problems.

The governor’s Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, also confirmed receiving many calls, adding that his friends in Lagos and Osogbo called him to make enquiries about the news.

He was quick to add that the rumour was from their detractors as nothing happened to the governor. “The governor is away in Abuja attending to official matters. I have spoken with him and he has given me an assignment to do for him. So there is no problem at all”, he added.

According to him, the presence of security men at the secretariat may be as a result of the monthly security council meeting which brings together the Commissioner of Police, the GOC, 2nd Mechanised Division, the Navy boss, the Customs boss, the Immigration boss, the SSS director, among others.

“All the officers were at the meeting and their orderlies and bodyguards were outside, maybe that was what some people saw. Actually, there is nothing as such. Impeachment is not something that can be done overnight”, he said.

Mr. Odeyemi appealed to the people to desist from spreading rumours, adding, “it does not help anybody and nobody should pray for a military coup because democracy is the best.”

Mr. Odeyemi said the governor was billed to return to Ibadan yesterday evening, adding that everybody would see him (Otunba Alao-Akala) on the monthly programme of the state’s radio and television station where people ask questions from him.

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NITEL workers begin protests

SOME employees of the Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) besieged the Tribune House on Thursday protesting the non-payment of their salaries and allowances by the management of NITEL since February.

The protesters, led by the chairman, Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies, NITEL branch, (South-West chapters), Mr. Okey Erondu, lamented the hardship which the non-payment of their salaries had brought on them.

“We are being owed three months salaries and allowances while the management cannot convince us on why this has to be so. Our members are dying and our children as well as other family members are suffering. We are tired of waiting, let them pay our money,” said one of the aggrieved protesters.

Also speaking, Mr. Mathew Ayoola, chairman, Oyo State chapter of the National Union of Postal and Telecommunication Employees, blamed NITEL management for the plight of the workers, saying, “we are tired of a situation in which our welfare as staff is not always being taken seriously by the management.

“The NITEL authorities have not always been giving attention to our welfare, instead they pay for contracts and overseas trips at the expense of staff salaries and other allowances,” he said.

The General Manager of NITEL, South West zonal office, Ibadan, Mr. Segun Oguntoyinbo, when contacted by the Nigerian Tribune, confirmed that the workers were owed three months salaries but appealed for calm as the management was addressing the matter.

“It is true they are being owed, but I spoke to them this morning on the need to exercise patience because our headquarters office in Abuja is addressing the issue and if by Friday next week, the situation remained the same, they could resort to all these protests they are embarking on,” Oguntoyinbo said.

The NITEL boss, denied any knowledge of what could cause the delay in the payment of the salaries, but said that the management regretted the circumstances that culminated in the ugly development.

Nigerian Tribune, however, learnt from an impeccable source that the development could be as a result of the Federal Government decision to stop giving subventions to NITEL.

Senior staff of NITEL, Abeokuta branch, also started an indefinite strike over non-payment of salaries and allowances for the past three months.

The angry staff, who had converged at about 8.00 a.m. on Thursday at the four-storey Ikija House with various placards amid solidarity songs, lamented that many of their colleagues had lost children because of inability to pay hospital bill.

According to their spokesman, Mr. Yinka Fashina, many of the staff had received quit notices from their landlords while some had lost their family members.

Fashina, who said that the strike would be called off if some of their demands were met, said the demands included payment of salaries and allowances, government facilitation of NITEL privatisation process and quick downsizing of staff.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, one of the staff, Mr. Allen Taylor, said he lost his two-month-old daughter because he could not pay hospital bills.

Another worker, Mr. Soyobi Funsho, lamented that his undergraduate son had dropped out of the university because he could not afford his fees.

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NICON sacks 1,200, pays them N3.5 billion

NICON Insurance Corporation has dispensed with the services of 1,200 workers, paying them N3.5 billion terminal benefits immediately.

However, the terminal benefits of the former NICON Managing Director, Ms Prisca Soares, were withheld as she was referred to the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

Presenting the cheques to the affected workers, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NICON Group of Companies, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, said the disengaged staff also had an opportunity of re-applying.

He said the staff who received amounts ranging from N500,000, were laid off in line with the restructuring programme of the new NICON management.

Mr. Ibrahim said before they were given their terminal benefits, they had been given lectures on how to invest their money.

The NICON boss said the terminal benefits eluded Ms Soares and the company secretary because they allegedly had cases to answer on the governance audit.

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Oil companies are destroying our lands - FG

THE Minister of Environment, Chief (Mrs.) Helen Esuene, on Thursday accused oil and other multinational companies of contributing to the environmental degradation in the country.

This came just as a United States expert on environmental, Mr. Norton Jessup, said Nigeria was losing four billion naira over its inability to manage waste products.

According to Chief (Mrs.) Esuene, who was speaking at the stakeholders forum on integrated solid waste management in Abuja, most of the oil companies and multinationals were not practising the three Rs of solid waste management (Reduce, Recycle and Re-use).

“What many people and organisations do is to relocate the waste away from sight believing that once it is out of sight, it is probably out of impact.

“When we relocate this waste out of sight, they end up in open dump sites which impact the environment negatively in many ways.

“They emit harmful fumes and whenever it rains, the run-offs from the dumpsite carry bacteria and contaminate both surface and ground waters,” she said.

Posted by Publisher at 01:00 PM | Comments (0)

Mass sack will ruin families - Oshiomhole

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has described 2006 as a “mix- bar” for Nigerian workers as they celebrate the year’s Workers’ Day.

He added that the planned mass sack in the public sector would do a lot of damage to many families.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune at the ongoing 4th Ordinary Session of the Labour and Social Affairs Commission of the African Union in Cairo, Egypt, Oshiomhole, who is celebrating his last May Day as president of the congress, said the year had witnessed a lot of job losses in the private sector while the speculation about sackings in the public service was a negative development.

“We have witnessed a lot of job losses and there is speculation about massive lay-off in the public sector which we believe will do a lot of damage to many families.”

However, Oshiomhole said there had been some achievements in the year, adding that last year, he organised what turned out to be a successful rally which forced the government to abandon its own market based policy on petroleum products pump prices.

He added that as a result of pressure on the government, it was looking through the report of the Shonekan committee on which NLC had its own representation and working on the consolidated pay package which he said would have positive effect on workers.

Posted by Publisher at 12:59 PM | Comments (0)

ACD urges N/Assembly to shun PDP threats

The Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) has urged members of the National Assembly to ignore the threats of the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and vote against the proposed third term project of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The party, in a statement by its chairman, publicity committee, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the threat not to re-nominate them if they opposed third term agenda was “grandstanding and cheap blackmail”.

According to the release, the PDP was no longer a credible party, adding that the imminent collapse of third term project lead to the death of the party.

“Our patriotic anti third term members of the National Assembly, therefore, needed not to lose a night sleep over such an empty threat,” it added.

The release further warned members of the “use and dump” strategy of the PDP. It advised that they should take a cue from what happened to their colleagues who helped the president during the impeachment saga at the National Assembly in 2002.

“We wish to warn all members of the National Assembly and all stakeholders in the project that the third term is simply not an option for the country because in the unlikely event of the third term becoming a reality, the nation called Nigeria may not be able to survive the social upheaval that will ensue,” it emphasised.

Posted by Publisher at 12:58 PM | Comments (0)

Northern governors divided over 3rd term

A crack emerged in the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Thursday in Kaduna as the governors sharply disagreed over the ongoing constitutional amendment to allegedly achieve the third term agenda.

Also, anti-third term legislators under the aegis of the 2007 Movement stormed the venue of the governors’ meeting and appealed to them to reject the temptation of tenure extension.

At the end of the governors meeting at the General Hassan Katisna House, Kaduna State, amid tight security, Chairman of the NGF and governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who read the communiqué said among other things that after an extensive deliberation on the ongoing constitutional amendment in the country, the forum had resolved that members should go ahead to consult with their respective constituencies.

However, some governors who were not comfortable that a position was not taken by the forum on the constitutional amendment, addressed newsmen insisting that the exercise would lead to distortion of Nigeria’s constitutional order.

Governor Ahmed Sani of Zamfara State, along with his counterparts from Adamawa and Niger and the deputy governor of Benue State, said they had followed with keen interest the debate on the 1999 constitutional amendment and noted with concern the manner the process was being conducted.

Posted by Publisher at 12:58 PM | Comments (0)

NICON boss drags insurance commission to court

THE Group Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of NICON Group of Companies, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, has taken the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to court.

NAICOM, the sole regulatory organisation in the insurance industry, had earlier issued an ultimatum to Mr. Ibrahim asking him to stop parading himself as the Managing Director/Chief Executive of NICON Insurance Plc or risk the sealing off of the company.

Mr. Ibrahim said NAICOM was not the interpreter of the law, but the court, disclosing that it was the court that could decide the matter.

He said he was the Group Managing Director of NICON Group of Companies and not NICON Insurance Corporation.

Disclosing that NAICOM should be able to differentiate between NICON Group and NICON Insurance Corporation, Mr. Ibrahim said no forces could remove him as the Group Managing Director of NICON Group of Companies.

Posted by Publisher at 12:57 PM | Comments (0)

Kalu dumps PDP? - It can’t be true says Aide

Governor Orji Kalu of Abia State may have finally dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party he co-founded and which brought him to power as governor since 1999.

Nigerian Tribune authoritatively gathered from a competent source close to the seat of power in Umuahia, Abia State, that all arrangements had been concluded by the governor, among other progressives in the country, to float a new party to be called Progressive People Alliance (PPA).

But the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Iyke Ekeoma, said that Governor Orji Uzor Kalu was still a member of the PDP.

Mr. Ekeoma, in a telephone interview with the Nigerian Tribune, said “Governor Kalu is still a member of the PDP. PDP has not expelled him, he has not left the PDP. That is a speculation. When he decides to join another party, we shall let you know.”

It was also learnt that the governor would run for president on the ticket of this new party, apparently aware that the leadership of the PDP might not allow him to run as its candidate due to the purported third term agenda of President Obansanjo and his poor relation with the president.

It will be recalled that Governor Kalu had said on many occasions in recent times that the PDP could not expel him, adding that if the party denied him a presidential ticket, he would buy a British Airways ticket, giving the indication that he was about to dump the PDP.

When the Nigerian Tribune asked the source the possible difficulty the PPA might face in getting INEC registration, he said the new party would be registered.

He also added that Nigerians would be surprised to know the calibre of personalities that are in the new party, stressing that the new party would give PDP a run for its money.

It will be recalled that Governor Kalu had insisted and maintained that he would not run for a third term as governor, but was only interested in the 2007 presidency.

He had also been quoted as saying that he would run for the 2007 presidency on the PDP ticket, adding that the party could not expel him.

Governor Kalu had said in an interview that Nigerians should watch out for something big and surprising in April.

Also, Governor Kalu has come out with his manifesto and programme for the 2007 presidential bid.

Posted by Administrator at 12:30 AM | Comments (0)

April 26, 2006

Mantu in fresh scandal -It’s not true - Mantu

Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, now under investigation by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, has been accused of laundering $592,000 (about N77 million) through a front.

A report published by Elendureports.com, an internet news organization, said that the front, a woman, is from Gudi in Nasarawa State. Formerly married to a medical doctor, Tina (as she is popularly known among her friends in London) is a lawyer who relocated to the United Kingdom in the late 1980s to pursue a doctorate degree in Law.

Tina currently operates an employment agency as well as a nursing business in London. The transfers, according to Elendureports.com, were made between October 2005 and January 2006 in this order: $410,000.00, $106,000.00, and $76,000.00.

Mantu, it was alleged, transferred the money from his former Nigerian bank account to the London bank accounts of the lady. The international transfer numbers are: 02141470995222; 08479255321231; and 05354241603749.

While the Deputy Senate president who comes from Plateau State is still fighting for his political life, there are reports that the presidency is not satisfied with him and may have concluded plans to dump him.

Mantu, during an interview with Elendureports.com in Abuja, professed his undying love for the president. But the spokesman of the Deputy Senate President, Mr. Uba Mana, who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune on behalf of Mantu, said that his boss was not aware of the Elendureports.com allegations.

Mana, who took time off to consult with Mantu, told the Nigerian Tribune that the Deputy Senate President was not aware of the report. “What he is saying is that he is not aware of any probe by the EFCC linked to the Elendu report and that if there is anything like that, they would have intimated him. He is attributing this to his political enemies. They will fail in all these tricks,” he said.

Posted by Publisher at 11:21 AM | Comments (0)

April 24, 2006

Auto crashes claim 29

NO fewer than 29 persons lost their lives in ghastly auto accidents in Osun and Niger States. The accident in Osun State involved an 18-seater commercial bus and a vehicle conveying musicians on Osogbo-Sekona road at Akoda village in Osun State.

The accident left nine persons injured and are now on danger list at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo. Nigerian Tribune investigations revealed that the accident happened in the night and that the two vehicles had a head-on collision.

There was wailing by sympathizers and passers-by who stopped at the scene to help in removing bodies from the vehicles. Also, a combined team of men of the Federal Road Safety Corps [FRSC] and the police was seen evacuating the deceased to LAUTECH hospital mortuary while the injured were taken to emergency wards of the hospital.

Speaking on the accident on Sunday, the FRSC Sector Commander in Osun State, Mr. Halidu Halilu, stated that the accident occurred because one of the drivers fell asleep.

He explained that the commercial bus, with registration number XA 656 JJK, was coming from Ore in Ondo State and heading to the North while the vehicle conveying the musicians was heading towards Sekona from Osogbo end of the road before the accident occurred.

The sector commander urged Nigerians whose relatives travelled on that road at the weekend to visit LAUTECH teaching hospital mortuary to identify the corpses and also check emergency wards for those receiving treatment.

Meanwhile, about 12 persons lost their lives in an auto crash which occurred at Gumi Bridge near Sarkin Pawa town in the Munya Local Government Area of Niger State onThursday.

An eyewitness told the Nigerian Tribune that most of those that died were traders going to the weekly Sarkin Pawa market. The drivers of the two vehicles which collided, according to the eyewitness, also lost their lives in the accident.

According to the eyewitness, the accident occurred when an oncoming truck tried to overtake a passenger bus on the bridge leading to a head-on collision, which subsequently resulted in the passenger bus falling into the bridge.

Good samaritans who rushed to the scene managed to save the lives of three of the passengers, while those the vehicle landed on died instantly.

Irate youths in the area who witnessed the accident set fire to the truck.
The action of the youth, according to eyewitnesses, was because they felt it was the vehicle’s driver that caused the accident and the “untimely death” of the traders.

The police in the area confirmed the incident, saying a report had been made to the headquarters in Minna. However, no official comment could be got from the police public relations department on the issue.

Meanwhile, the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the Minna General Hospital mortuary.

Posted by Publisher at 01:20 PM | Comments (0)

April 21, 2006

Presidency in dilemma over 3rd term vice presidency

THE scheming for the vice-presidency under an Obasanjo third term presidency has created further cracks within the third term caucus with the presidency said to be in a dilemma on how to handle the situation.

Top flight sources within the third term camp disclosed to the Nigerian Tribune that three principal governors leading the push for the third term amendment were unhappy about reports that the vice-presidency had been given to the Katsina State governor, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua.

It was learnt that key leaders within the president’s camp had opted for the Katsina governor as a way of compensating the family of the late General Sheu Yar’Adua and as a strategy for splitting the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) currently controlled by Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

Though the suggestion was not yet approved due to the ongoing amendments, the Nigerian Tribune learnt that three Northern governors, namely Adamu Muazu of Bauchi, Adamu Abdulahi of Nasarawa and Ahmed Makarfi of Kaduna, believed the arrangement was not acceptable.
The disagreement still being managed for an amicable resolution was reported to have further weakened the numerical strength of pro-third term senators and representatives, especially from the affected states.

In the recent voting on Senator Ibrahim Mantu, three senators from one of the three states voted against the deputy senate president, an action said to have created panic within the third term camp.

The three senators were quoted as saying that they had instruction to vote against the deputy senate president as a way of sending warning signals on the scheming over the selection of a vice-president for the president’s third term bid.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the infighting was being mediated by a top leader within the president’s camp who was quoted as assuring the governors that no decision had been taken on the vice-presidency slot.

Meanwhile, the third term camp is reported to have dropped the Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, as the arrowhead of the third term campaign with Senator David Mark now in charge.

The decision, it was gathered, was taken due to the increasing hostility of many senators to the deputy senate president following his ongoing probe by the Senate Ethics Committee.

The presidency was also said to be shocked by the tight outcome of the voting on the deputy senate president as the result was taken by many as an indication that the third term could not be pushed through in the National Assembly.

Other reasons cited by the administration source was that Senator Mantu’s personal political problems were now distracting attention from the pursuit of the amendments with some leading senators calling for a change of leadership in the third term camp of the National Assembly.

Further investigations revealed that Senator David Mark was later selected due to what presidency strategists considered his background and influence among the senators.

Mark, a retired General, was reported to have swung into action to mend the increasing wide cracks within the third term camp in the Senate, leaving Senator Mantu to face his many political problems.

Nigerian Tribune was, however, told that Senator Mantu was still a close ally of the presidency though it was not clear whether the presidency would save him from impeachment after the ongoing probe.

Posted by Publisher at 02:09 PM | Comments (0)

April 20, 2006

Awoniyi, on sick bed in Britain, writes OBJ: Don’t try third term

FROM his sick bed in Britain, the chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Chief Sunday Awoniyi, on Wednesday sent a letter to President Olusegun Obasanjo, pleading with him not to attempt staying in government May 29, 2007.

Awoniyi, currently receiving treatment in a London hospital after an encounter with gunmen at his private residence in Maitama some weeks ago, asked President Obasanjo to make a special announcement to Nigerians about his preparedness to leave power in 2007.

The ACF boss said that his decision to write the president on the issue was borne out of his personal love for him. He warned on what he described as harassment of members of the opposition by security operatives,stating that such had introduced a dangerous precedent into national politics.

Awoniyi’s letter, made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, read:
“The way the third term project was conceived in brazen deceit and contempt for decency, and the ruthless methods being used to force-feed it into an unwilling populace by intimidation, blackmail and all manner of corruption, are in complete contradiction to your administration’s sermons on intergrity, transparency and accountablity. They are immoral, they are irreligious.

“Therefore, I beg of you, for your own good and for our country’s good, make a simple announcement to say that you are not interested in a third term and that you plan to go back to Otta in 2007

“This will bring down the political temperature dramatically. You will be amazed at the favourable public and nationwide reaction to such an announcement. Your crediblity nationwide will be restored considerably. Some of them who have been battling with a moral dilemma on their conscience on the project will be greatly relieved.”

Awoniyi further urged the president to be humble enough by accepting that he had committed mistakes in the past and with a resolve to find answers to some problems now bedevilling Nigeria.

Obasanjo, the ACF chairman stated, must show gratitude to Nigerians by putting an end to all actions which he said were capable of plunging Nigeria into communal and sectarian strife and even civil war.

“Whatever solution you may have to offer for Nigerians to have any chance of success, you must begin by mending fences and regaining the trust of those leaders and groups of influence whom you have grievously and needlessly let down”, he added.

Posted by Publisher at 02:02 PM | Comments (0)

April 19, 2006

OBJ explodes, again - Threatens to walk out Gov Attah from meeting

PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday threatened to walk out the Akwa Ibom State governor, Obong Victor Attah, from a conference. It was at the Presidential Council on Coastal States in the Niger Delta held in Abuja.

President Obasanjo, who was unimpressed with the presentation made by Governor Attah on how to develop the area, repeatedly interrupted the governor’s speech to disagree with the presentation.

When the governor attempted to explain himself, the president threatened to walk him out of the meeting. As Governor Attah was reading his speech, the following ensued.

Attah: NDDC should immediately implement the cassava project in Akwa Ibom State and we are waiting for this to take off. Also we will appeal to NDDC to...

OBJ: Governor.
Attah: Sir
OBJ: Governor
Attah: Sir

OBJ: We also know what the NDDC will ask you to do, what your own citizens will ask you to do. We ask you, what are you doing...
Attah: Yes, we have that, we have that.

OBJ: Please governor, please governor, with all due respect, what I am asking you is not what you want NDDC to do? What are you going to do. I came up here. I told you what we (Federal Government) are going to do, when and how and by what time. If you haven’t done that, go home and do that or I will walk you out of this meeting.”

The meeting was called for states and stakeholders in the Niger Delta area, especially coastal states which produce oil. Obasanjo, also in his address, promised to end uncoordinated development of the area.

At the conference were Governors Victor Attah, Lucky Igbinedion, Jonathan Goodluck, James Ibori and Olusegun Agagu as well as NNPC and oil company chiefs, all of whom made a commitment to help develop the Niger Delta area.

Meanwhile, President Obasanjo has said his government will build a $1.8 billion highway and create 20,000 new jobs to address the crisis in the Niger Delta.

Obasanjo announced the measures, which included dredging the River Niger, at the meeting. “We have a wonderful opportunity for a new beginning,” Obasanjo told delegates in the presidential villa, adding that the government had made mistakes.

Obasanjo listed a series of projects to be undertaken by the Federal Government — including a $1.8 billion East-West highway and 20,000 new jobs in the military, police, state oil company, and teaching — and called on state governors to come up with plans of their own for the next council meeting on July 18.

Minister of State for Petroleum, Edmund Daukoru, who was at the meeting, said he believed the announcements would soften the resistance of militants opposed to oil companies returning to oilfields abandoned because of MEND’s attacks.

“It’s very solid, very positive ... in the next couple of days, literally, we should get access (to the abandoned oilfields),” he told Reuters after a news conference.

Posted by Publisher at 01:08 PM | Comments (0)

FG bans plane from flying in Nigeria

THE Federal Government has banned the Russian made light aircraft, Antonov T2, declared missing last week from flying in the country’s airspace.

The plane, with two Americans onboard, had technical landing in Sokoto en route Yaounde, Cameroun, last Tuesday, but could not be located at estimated time of arrival in Yaounde and this caused panic in the country’s aviation industry.

The managing director of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Roland Iyayi, who disclosed this in Lagos on Tuesday, said that the behaviour of the pilot was unethical.

According to the NAMA boss, the pilot of the American registered aircraft, shortly after departing Sokoto around 7.55 a.m. penultimate Monday, reported only to Abuja airport controllers.

He further explained that by the approved flight plan of the pilot, the aircraft was to land at Obudu before heading to its final destination in Yaounde.

Iyayi, who disclosed that all the airspace managers in the country had been alerted to this development, said his officers were able to trace the aircraft on Tuesday when the pilot asked for “start up” from an airstrip between Calabar and Cameroun.

Iyayi stated that if not that the location of the aircraft fell within the territory of Cameroun, the aircraft would have been grounded and the pilot sanctioned for his unprofessional act.

Posted by Publisher at 01:05 PM | Comments (0)

April 18, 2006

Govs, others have betrayed me - Atiku

Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said that he will remain undaunted despite verbal attacks on him by those in support of the third term agenda.

Atiku, who played host to supporters from Bauchi and Taraba states at Government House in Yola on Sunday, also expressed regret for being a godfather to a number of politicians in Taraba State, including Governor Jolly Nyame, who, according to him, had betrayed him in the fight against the alleged agenda.

The vice-president said he was surprised by the position of the people in government on the alleged third term and that of some National Assembly members who were poised to ensure that the agenda got accelerated passage.

Atiku, therefore, charged Nigerians to ensure that the Mantu report on the amendment of the constitution, which would pave the way for President Olusegun Obasanjo to actualise his third term in power, does not get approved.

“The third term is a roadblock to democracy, smooth transition and progress of the country. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership was elected to champion the noble cause of moving the nation forward but the reverse is what we are witnessing.

“Nigerian people are no longer allowed to express their feelings on issues of national importance while decisions were taken without due consultation with the electorate. This attitude is designed to muzzle the feelings of Nigerians”, he said.

Atiku told the Bauchi State contingent, led by Alhaji Aminu Mohammed, that the action of the present PDP leadership was at variance with the tenets of democracy and the beliefs of the founding fathers of the party, hence his fight against third term which Nigerians never bargained for at the inception of Obasanjo’s administration.

He disclosed that the face-off between him and his boss was because he was opposed to the third term agenda, adding, “my grievous sin was because I am opposed to the third term agenda”.

The vice-president, who, shortly after receiving the Bauchi contingent, played host to the supporters from Taraba State, expressed regret for being a godfather to Governor Jolly Nyame.

A number of speakers, including Alhaji Ahmed Shaibu, Alhaji Aminu Mohammed, among others, commended Atiku for defending the cause of the North and of the Nigerian people at large.

They encouraged Atiku not to relent in his fight against the alleged third term agenda, as the proposed elongation of Obasanjo’s tenure would hamper the development and growth of democracy in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Adamawa State chapter of the PDP has described as baseless, the purported suspension of Vice-President Atiku from the party as announced by North East Vice Chairman of the party, Paul Wampana, saying “the statement holds no water as it is not the true representation of the party in the state.”

Addressing journalists in Bauchi last weekend at Zaranda, Adamawa State, PDP Secretrary, Tahir Shehu, declared that “the statement came to us as a surprise because there was never a time such a decision was taken by the party, we are with the vice-president and he is with us as a loyal party man.”

Shehu added that “Paul Wampana, who was said to have made the statement, is no longer a registered memeber of the party in Adamawa State or any other place in the country. He resigned his membership of the party a long time ago and I still have his letter of resignation which is still valid because he has not written any other contrary to that one.”

He continued, “during the 2003 general elections, the same Paul Wampana worked against the interests of the party for the opposition and in fact, he was at the election tribunal to testify against the PDP in favour of the ANPP, he even told the tribunal that our party did not win the presidential election in Adamawa State. What other thing do we need to prove that this man is not a member of the PDP?” he asked.

Meanwhile, the silence of President Obasanjo over the third term agenda may be a strategy in the event of the agenda failing. Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that the pro-third term camp wanted the president not to openly commit himself to the agenda until it was certain that the constitution amendment would sail through at the National Assembly.

According to a source, “if the president does not publicly commit himself to the agenda, it will be easier to disown it once it is clear that it won’t be passed by the National Assembly.” Giving an insight into the whole programme of the third term campaigners, the source said those promoting it would intensify their campaign in the days ahead.

The campaign, the source added, would be backed up with coercion and intimidation of the opponents to try to overwhelm them. “The plan is to weaken the anti-third term elements, especially in the National Assembly to ensure that the required two-thirds majority of the lawmakers will vote to approve third term,” the source further said.

However, if a few days before voting, two-thirds members of the National Assembly have not been safely secured, the president would be asked to make a broadcast to the nation to disown the agenda and declare that he would leave office on May 29, 2007, the source added.

He cited the harassment of Freedom Radio leading to its partial closure and the pressure mounted on PDP senators to back third term as part of the coercion and urged media houses to brace-up for further harassment in the days ahead.

It will be recalled that despite the huge attention generated by third term, President Obasanjo has not openly accepted that he was interested.

Posted by Publisher at 03:15 PM | Comments (0)

Ogun commissioner beats up 75-year-old woman

Ogun State Commisioner for Works, Mr. Olayiwola Taiwo, over the weekend threw caution to the winds when he beat up a 75-year-old woman over a disgreement between the old woman and his wife.

The incident, which happened around Okesuna Junction, Iganmode Road, Ota, Ogun State, started last Friday afternoon but got to its crescendo around 8.00 p.m. when the commisioner slapped 75-year-old Madam Sakirat Olayiwola Salako and then hit her with the keg with which she was performing her ablution.

Nigerian Tribune investigations revealed that the commisioner’s conduct brought to an abrupt end the prayer session going on in the mosque beside the old woman’s house.

According to one Olaide, a resident of 130, Iganmode Road, Ota, the incident started last Friday afternoon when the commisioner’s wife, Toyin Taiwo, ordered that a certain Azeezat who operated a phone centre beside her shop should remove her kiosk, claiming that the kiosk was blocking her wares.

The commisioner’s wife’s insistence that the kiosk should be removed and the refusal of the owner to remove it led to an exchange of words and later confrontation between the duo .

Efforts by neighbours, among them Madam Salako, to settle the quarrel failed as the commisioner’s wife insisted that the kiosk must be removed while the owner was also adamant.

Some hours after the matter, over 10 people suspected to be cultists stormed the area and invaded Madam Salako’s house, beating everybody in the house .

Azeezat, who must have had a premonition of the impending danger, had run away to avoid the hoodlums who came in a Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Students Union bus.

However, occupants of 130, Iganmode Road, Ota, were not as lucky as some of them were not only beaten, but also had their handsets taken away.

The commissioner, who was not around at the time of the incident, came back later in the day and made straight to the woman’s house where he met her performing ablution in preparation for the evening prayer session.

In the words of Jide, another occupant of the house who was in the mosque when the incident happened, “the commisioner went straight to where Alhaja was sitting and slapped her several times before he hit her with the keg of her ablution.

When the Nigerian Tribune visited the scene of the incident, the commissioner was seen at the side of the road threatening fire and brimstone. He even stated that the people of the town were ingrates having received so much from him.

The old woman, who was seen in front of her house, was too shocked to talk and all she could manage to mutter was Lai fo mi leti which means Lai slapped me.

Meanwhile, a family member of the old woman informed the Nigerian Tribune that the case had been reported at the police station, but a police source denied any report against the commissioner.

The commissioner, in a telephone conversation with Nigerian Tribune, neither denied nor confirmed the allegation, but told the reporter to write anything he wanted to write.

The kiosk in question had since been removed and taken to the secretariat of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area. When contacted at the police station, one CSP Olokode said he did not know anything about the incident as he was not around then. He, however, confirmed that the case was reported at the station.

Posted by Publisher at 02:55 PM | Comments (0)

April 17, 2006

Atiku’s group declares war on Obasanjo

Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s group has drummed up opposition among his people in the North East zone to the controversial third term agenda, just as President Olusegun Obasanjo has been called upon to drop the idea or face the wrath of the people of the zone.

Addressing a press conference on the issue on Saturday in Bauchi, North East political and opinion leaders and elders declared that “having failed to honour his pledge to defend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in view of his betrayal of the common will of the people and his working against the spirit of the Nigerian constitution, we hereby call on President Olusegun Obasanjo to resign forthwith, failing which the National Assembly should initiate the process of his impeachment.”

The group stated that “we want to make it abundantly clear that the Vice-President is not without a political base. We are comforted that he is at home everywhere in Nigeria and no amount of threat will deter him from visiting any part of this country just like no one can stop any other Nigerian from visiting their homes in any part of the country.”

In the statement which was read on behalf of all those who attended the meeting held at the Zaranda Hotel, Bauchi, by Gambo Lawan, the people of the North-East zone appealed to all Nigerians to suport their position because, according to them, “President Olusegun Obasanjo is undoubtedly the greatest problem of Nigeria today”.

It called on members of the National Assembly to rise up to the ocassion and help save the country by throwing out what they described as “unwholesome gambit that can only portend future woes for the people who are bearing the brunt of the whole reform”.

The group, which has members like Magaji Muazu, Ibrahim Hassan, Hassan Kareto, Tijjani Tumsa, Lynn Nathan, Aminu Dan Bauchi and others, declared that “let it be on record that we support all the recent comments of our son, Turaki Atiku Abubakar. We salute his courage in standing with the people in defence of the constitution, which he swore to uphold.”

It said there were now tension and anxiety in the country and blamed them on the government under the ruling PDP. It stated that the leadership of the PDP was now composed of military yes men.

The group also explained that the stand and not necessirily the ambition of Vice President Atiku Abubakar in oppossing the desire of the ruling clique to extend the tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo is responsible for all the changes that the proponents of the now proverbila third term have sought to put in place.

Posted by Publisher at 01:56 PM | Comments (0)

Makarfi, Aminu tipped to replace Atiku

Following the moves being made to get Vice President Atiku Abubakar to resign his position in view of his disagreement with President Olusegun Obasanjo over the tenure elongation issue, some members of the presidential think tank have proposed Kaduna State governor, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi and former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Senator Jubril Aminu, as his possible replacements.

Makarfi has been an ally of President Obasanjo for sometime now and is seen as one of the main supporters of the tenure elongation project.

At a stage, it was considered in his camp that he should also step forward and join the presidential race particularly in view of the declarations for the 2007 election by the likes of the former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the former military administrator of Borno and Lagos states, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (rtd).

Sources in the presidency told the Nigerian Tribune that Makarfi and Aminu were now being looked at as those who could take over from Atiku. The sources said that this was in view of the no going back situation the Obasanjo/Atiku feud had reached.

“We do not envisage any reconciliation any more with the vice-president and those of us in the president’s camp, it is the time to move forward; we have options in Makarfi and Senator Aminu and we are carefully looking at these two men,” a source said.

Although a serious thought was said to have been given to the situation of the North East, where Atiku comes from and mention was also made of the possibility of bringing in Brigadier General Buba Marwa, it was feared that the Atiku camp might find it easy to condemn the recourse to a military/military ticket and that Nigerians might also be sympathetic to his argument.

“What we are looking at is what would happen to the North-East as it would be difficult to just leave the zone for Atiku to manipulate, that is why the options are narrowed to Aminu and Makarfi,” another source said.

It was gathered that the calculation in the president’s camp is that once the due process was followed in the trial of the Vice President ordered last week by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Vice President can be conveniently expelled from the party.

His accusers would then approach the National Assembly for possible impeachment and, according to sources, if that would prove difficult, the Supreme Court could be approached to interpret whether it was possible for a non-party member to hold the office of vice-president, especially as they claimed that there was no division in the party.

The president’s men are of the view that if the third term agenda worked, whoever was picked among the duo should be able to carry on the reforms of the government at the end of that tenure and that if the agenda failed, the person should be one that could rally the support of a majority of Nigerians.

Posted by Publisher at 01:54 PM | Comments (0)

Celtel buys Vmobile for N148b

Nigerian Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) operator, Vmobile, may again change its name as it concludes a conditional agreement with Celtel International for Celtel to takea majority stake in the company.

Putting paid to weeks of speculations, Vmobile, in a statement endorsed by its Public Relations Manager, Mr. Emeka Opara, and released to the press in Lagos on Sunday, said the agreement, sealed on Sunday, gives a 65 per cent stake in the company to Celtel for a total consideration of around $1.005 billion (about N148 billion).

“The remaining shareholders have an option to sell their shares to Celtel at a similar valuation at a later date,” the statement said.

Celtel International is the African subsidiary of Kuwaiti’s telecoms giant, MTC. MTC is expected to pay the deal fee within the stipulated number of days believed to be 35 from the day the deal is struck.

Celtel’s earlier forays into Nigeria in 1998 when it was MSI Cellular Investments were unsuccessful as inconsistent policies and continuously interrupted licensing process ensured the operator could not launch operation in Nigeria

The name changed to Celtel in May 2005, when it was acquired by MTC of Kuwait for $3.4 billion. The MTC Group is a leading provider of mobile telecommunications services in the Middle East and is listed on the Kuwaiti Stock Exchange.

MTC via Celtel has been doing quite a number of buy-in in recent times one of which is the increase in its stake in Mobitel of Sudan from 39 per cent to 100 per cent.

Celtel is one of the best-known branded businesses in sub-Saharan Africa with mobile licences covering approximately one third of Africa's population, some 270 million people.

Celtel operates mobile cellular operations in 14 countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar; Malawi, Niger, Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

Vmobile Nigeria is a telecommunications company providing GSM services in Nigeria. Incorporated in 2000, the company on August 5, 2001 became the first GSM company to launch its services in Nigeria.

It currently has five million active subscribers with coverage in over 600 towns and 8000 communities across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

Posted by Publisher at 01:53 PM | Comments (0)

Ijaws demand for 2007 presidency

The Ijaw ethnic group in the Niger Delta region on Sunday laid down conditions for peace and demanded that the area produce the next president in 2007.

“The Ijaws can no longer be mere spectators but would want to be effective participants in the Nigerian national project, including the issue of producing the next president of Nigeria,” said a statement from the Ijaw National Congress, representing Nigeria’s fourth largest ethnic group.

The INC said that denial of their rights had forced their youths to engage in armed struggle, including the kidnapping of oil workers and the destruction of oil installations.

“Without constructive dialogue to address the decades of neglect and deprivation, our youth would not stop at anything but radical and violent expression of our collective grievances and plight,” the statement said.

The INC demanded more political and economic participation, creation of two new states for the ethnic Ijaw, employment for its youths, and repair of its damaged environment and control of oil resources.

They also demanded the release of two Ijaw leaders being tried for treason and corruption, as well as the immediate demilitarisation of the region.

President Olusegun Obasanjo is due to chair a committee meeting tomorrow to mull development projects designed to improve the lives of Niger-Delta’s residents.

Meanwhile, the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force (NDPVF), whose leader, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, is currently facing treason charges, has announced the launch of an armed offensive, code-named "Operation Isaac Boro".

In a statement circulated online on Sunday evening by the NDPVF command spokesperson, Colonel Sunny Tari, the group stated that the decision was in line with Dokubo-Asari's directive.

While the NDPVF called on all its units and cells to reactivate in commencement of operations, it said it would be working in collaboration with other groups that had been fighting what it called the common cause in recent times.

"Session resolved to take up armed struggle again as sanctioned and directed by our supreme and esteemed leader, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari. Therefore, we will work in close collaboration and cooperation with all other patriotic organisations which have risen up against the illegal occupation of our fatherland and country by the occupation forces of the Nigerian state.

"Session directed all units, commands and divisions of the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force (NDPVF) to mobilise and reactivate all cells in preparation for the recommencement of Operation Isaac Boro.

"Session appealed for the return of all those who had voluntarily left the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force (NDPVF) to come back and join hands in this great task of liberating our beloved fatherland, people and country", the statement read.

Posted by Publisher at 01:52 PM | Comments (0)

British Parliament debates Nigeria tomorrow

THE British parliament is to discuss the Nigerian political situation tomorrow with a view to taking a clear position on the third term agenda, sources said in Abuja on Sunday.

It was gathered that a high-powered delegation of the Nigerian government was already on its way to London to witness the event, which could either give a positive or negative signal to the tenure elongation project.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr, was said to be leading the Federal Government delegation, which is due to leave Abuja today for London.

It was gathered that series of calls on the parliamentarians and the vast British interest in Nigeria prompted the British lawmakers to debate the Nigerian situation.

But the fact that the British authorities have not been able to pinpoint a possible replacement for President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2007 was also said to be another underlining reason for the debate.

Sources said the thinking in the British government circles was that Obasanjo had been a good ally so far and that considering the strategic position Nigeria occupies as a former colony of Britain and a business partner, whoever would take over from Obasanjo must be properly scrutinised.

So far, the British authorities were said to have failed to locate a possible ‘friend of Britain’ who could take over from Obasanjo.

Sources also confided in the Nigerian Tribune that during his visit to Switzerland last week, the Swiss government promised to continue to support the president and that he should go and convince his people about the tenure elongation project.

Posted by Publisher at 01:50 PM | Comments (0)

April 13, 2006

Marwa joins presidential race

FORMER military administrator of Borno and Lagos states, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (rtd), on Thursday in Abuja declared his intention to contest the 2007 presidential election. Marwa, who addressed newsmen in Abuja, denied media reports which last week indicated that he had jettisoned his ambition.

“I called this press conference for two fundamental and interconnected reasons: (1) to dispel the groundswell of insinuations from a variety of recent news reports in the mass media regarding my standing and orientation with unfolding political process and (2) to state unequivocally, directly, categorically and unambiguously that I will vie for the nomination of my great party, the PDP, to contest for the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Marwa declared.

He stated that he had in the last two years consulted widely among local and national opinion leaders as well as intellectuals and was thus convinced that he should serve, “if and when the time is ripe and appropriate”.

According to him, the time had come for him to publicly offer himself for service for the greater good of his fatherland. “I believe that I am eminently qualified to lead this great country. To start with, I have the fear of God in me, and this directs my conscience. I am disciplined by background, training and self-development, antecedents that guide my conduct. I have the necessary mental capacity and intellectual disposition, depth and robustness as well as the energy to grasp and tackle the complex and multi-dimensional determinants of a rapidly transforming modern economy,” Marwa stated.

He declared that the driving force of his presidential aspiration revolved around the burning desire to provide for the people, ensure the consolidation of the democratic process, strengthen and sustain the “laudable economic reform agenda” of President Olusegun Obasanjo and take the country to higher heights.

He promised that his government would keep with the basic tenets of NEEDS and consider the current macro and micro economic reforms in the area of security of life and property, vigorous pursuit of poverty alleviation, wealth creation, overall development of the Niger Delta and sustenance of the anti-corruption agenda of the current administration.

Marwa denied that his declaration for the presidential race was aimed at checkmating the ambition of Vice President Atiku Abubakar, declaring that running for the presidency was a serious business meant for serious minds.

Posted by Publisher at 02:11 PM | Comments (0)

2 govs under probe - US govt

THE State Department in the United States has said that two state governors in Nigeria are being investigated by the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over allegations of money laundering.

This disclosure was contained in the latest report on Nigeria by the Department for March 2006. The identities of the governors were not made known.

Assessing the anti-corruption campaign in Nigeria, the department stated that “two sitting state governors are currently the subject of money laundering investigations. The EFCC, working with the FBI, also has an active case involving a group of money brokers using banks in the United States to launder money.”

Analysing the activities of the various anti-corruption agencies in the country, the department thumbed-up the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), though its alleged shortcomings were also highlighted.

According to the report, “in 2005, the EFCC marked significant successes in combating financial crimes. The EFCC also has the authority to prevent the use of charitable and non-profit entities as laundering vehicles, though no such case has yet been reported.”

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) was upbraided by the department for allegedly not doing enough, despite the adequate resources at its disposal.

“Depending on the nature of the case, the tracing, seizing and freezing of assets may be done by the NDLEA, NPF, or the ICPC, in addition to the EFCC. The proceeds from seizures and forfeitures are remitted to the Federal Government, and a portion of the recovered sums is used to provide restitution to the victims of the criminal acts.

“The NDLEA handles all narcotics-related cases. While the NDLEA has adequate resources to trace, seize and freeze assets, it made no significant asset seizures in 2005.”

The department also called on the Nigerian government to insulate the anti-corruption agencies against the influence of politics. According to the monitoring body; “the Nigerian government should continue to pursue their anti-corruption programme and support both the ICPC and EFCC in their mandates to investigate and prosecute corrupt government officials and individuals, while at the same time, maintaining the independence of those entities from the realm of politics.”

The Federal Government was also advised to take the banking supervision off the Ministry of Commerce. “The supervision of banking and non-banking financial institutions should be strengthened and moved from the Ministry of Commerce. Nigeria should construct a comprehensive anti-money laundering regime that willingly shares information with foreign regulatory and law enforcement agencies, is capable of thwarting money laundering and terrorist financing, and conforms to all relevant international standards.”

Posted by Publisher at 01:40 PM | Comments (0)

April 12, 2006

PDP launches final onslaught on Atiku - Begins his trial, Kalu, Kure, others too

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday began the trial of Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and others over alleged indiscipline and anti-party activities in line with article 16 of the constitution of the party.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that others being tried along with the vice-president by the party’s National Disciplinary Committee, headed by Alhaji Ibrahim Shema (Deputy National Chairman — North), included Governors Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia), Abdukadir Kure (Niger) and Boni Haruna (Adamawa).

It was learnt that the trial of the vice president and the others followed a formal complaint lodged with the National Disciplinary Committee by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) based on reports against them from their respective zones as members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.

The Alhaji Shema National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) met behind closed doors for several hours on Tuesday at the National Secretariat of the party over the matter and took some far-reaching decisions. Though details of the decisions taken at yesterday’s sitting were still being kept secret, Nigerian Tribune learnt that the committee might resume sitting today “if need be”, as the party’s NWC was being expected later in the day over the matter ahead of tomorrow’s (Thursday’s) NEC meeting.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after the meeting, Alhaji Shema said that the meeting was being held “on regular basis to look into discipline matters as they affect members in line with Article 16 of the constitution and can also hold an emergency meeting when the need arises.” According to him, “matters of discipline are in every organisation, including the Peoples Democratic Party and what we are doing is fundamental to all issues pertaining to the article 16 of the constitution of our party, relating to discipline of all our members no matter highly placed, who violate or contravene the provisions of the section.”

Alhaji Shema, who was elusive about whether the case of the vice-president was before his committee, made it clear that the committee was looking into all cases of indiscipline and gross violation of the party’s constitution by some members of the party, adding that Vice-President Atiku’s case was not an exception. According to him, “the control of members of clubs, organisations, associations or political parties is within the provisions of the constitution of such clubs, associations, organisations or political parties and should be in accordance with the law of the land, so PDP is not an exception, we have to follow all procedures in handling all the cases before our committee.”

He explained that the alleged case of indiscipline and anti-party activities against Vice President Atiku had been reported by the Adamawa State chapter of the party to the North-East zonal chapter of the party which in turn brought the case before the national leadership of the party for necessary action.

According to Alhaji Shema, offences under article 16 of the party include:
•Any breach of the party constitution.
•Acts, conduct or utterances likely to bring the party into disrepute, hatred or contempt.
•Disobedience or neglect to carry out lawful directives of the party or any organs or officers of the party.
•Engaging in dishonest practices, defrauding the party, its members or officials.
•Engaging in anti-party activities.
•Engaging in any other activities likely to cause disaffection among party members or likely to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of party business.
•Unauthorised publicity of party dispute or creating parallel party organ(s) at any level.
•Fractionalisation or belonging to any group(s) within the party under whatever name(s) other than as provided for in the constitution.
•It shall not be lawful for the party or any member thereof to organise, retain, train, equip or encourage the organising, retention, training, equipping of any member or group of members for the purposes of employing the use or display of physical force or coercion or any form of intimidation whatsoever.

He said that the disciplinary procedure as contained in the article 16 was being followed to the letter. He listed the punishment stipulated in the article 16 for violators to include reprimand, censure, fine, debarment from holding any public office, removal from office, suspension from the party and expulsion from the party.

Alhaji Shema urged Nigerians to first look at the PDP’s constitution and consider for themselves whether or not there was a violation of any of the provisions of the constitution of the party by some members before making comments or passing any judgement.

Vice-President Atiku with governors Kalu, Kure and Haruna along with some party members in the National Assembly had met with the opposition last week during which speaker after speaker, including Atiku, openly confronted President Olusegun Obasanjo over his alleged third term bid.

Governor Kalu vowed to be militant should the third term bid scale through at the National Assembly.

Posted by Publisher at 01:53 PM | Comments (0)

April 11, 2006

Distressed banks’ depositors to wait longer for payment - NDIC

BANK depositors whose money is currently trapped in 14 distressed banks will have to wait a little more to get their money.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive of Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Mr. Ganiyu Ogunleye, disclosed this on Monday on the occasion of the 2006 biennial Law Week of the Ilorin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

Mr Ogunleye stated that the corporation had invited 25 banks to show interest in those 14 distressed banks and that a week had been given to the banks to respond to the bid the NDIC had sent to them.

“The purpose is to adopt a procedure which is known as a purchase assumptions. We want to encourage the banks to receive the liabilities of the banks that have failed,” he said.

He stated that if the banks agreed, some depositors would become the customers of those banks as some depositors might not want to withdraw their money immediately but may continue to transact business with those banks.

He added that the Central Bank had given a blanket guarantee that private depositors would be paid in full in those banks, stressing that it would be an opportunity for some of those banks to extend their network.

Mr Ogunleye urged owners of distressed banks to retrace their steps and not to allow depositors to suffer. The NDIC managing director, in his keynote address, warned that political stability was one of the prerequisites for economic development, adding that the rule of law which ensured justice and fair play contributed significantly to the development of a democratic culture as it ensured equity, promoted social order and eradicated economic crimes thereby guaranteeing sustainable democracy.

He reminded the legal profession not to take actions which were capable of threatening democracy, adding that urgent steps should be taken to ensure speedy administration of justice through the reform of judicial process.

“I wish to urge the Attorney-General of the Federation to pursue with vigour, steps initiated by him towards the reform of administration of justice in Nigeria,” he stated.

Posted by Publisher at 12:49 PM | Comments (0)

April 10, 2006

56 political groups okay Atiku for presidency

Worried by the plan to thwart Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s 2007 presidential ambition under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), about 56 political associations, in conjunction with the Turaki Vanguard, have adopted him to vie under any party.

The decision for his adoption, which was contained in a communiqué of a meeting of the groups held in Abuja, was said to have been informed by the alleged plan by President Olusegun Obasanjo’s close associates to realise the third term ambition of the president.

The communique, which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Yola, Adamawa State, was signed by the Coordinator – General, Alhaji N.A.B Galla and National Director, Media Affairs and Public Communication, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka.

The meeting, which was attended by many union groups, traders, student leaders, members of NURTW, artisans, professional bodies, university teachers and a host of others, described the recent political development in the country as a replica of the military regime of Abacha transition.

The communiqué, among other things, said “whereas the Abacha-led military junta’s transition to civil rule was tailored to avail him of the opportunity to transmute his dictatorial regime in a civilian government, Obasanjo’s transition programme is anchored on his ambition to perpetuate himself in office for long tortured years.

“Just like what befell pro-democracy groups in Abacha’s days, Nigerians opposed to President Obasanjo’s grand design to elongate his tenure beyond the constitutionally stipulated two terms of four years each have been made to pass through untold intimidation, humiliation and flagrant violation of their fundamental human rights.”

According to the communiqué, following the growing opposition to the third term agenda, the Obasanjo’s government had devised clamping down on the opposition as the surest means of actualising his 2007 presidential ambition, advising Nigerians to resist the move.

“We believe that clamping down on opposition groups, political organisations and harassing political stalwarts opposed to the third term agenda will only spur them and other Nigerians to strengthen their firm resolve to scuttle the undemocratic tendencies of the Obasanjo administration”

The communiqué condemned the alleged disruption of Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s parley with lawmakers last Wednesday in Abuja. While holding to the belief that the Federal Government must have the power to maintain order and punish offenders, the communiqué stated that rules and procedures should be complied with in enforcing laws and order, which should be public, explicit, and not be arbitrary.

In a related development, a former president of the Senate and three-time minister of the Federal Government, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has been appointed to lead the campaign of Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for the office of president.

Ayu’s appointment as director-general was announced by Vice-President Atiku. Ayu, who is classified as a radical politician, was born on November 26, 1950 in Gboko, Benue State. For his education career, he attended Mount Saint Gabriel Secondary school, Makurdi and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria from 1974-1976.

His political sojourn included membership of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Ayu served the Obasanjo administration for two years (1999-2000) as Industry Minister and returned to the familiar terrain as Minister of Internal Affairs and later, Environment, when the Obasanjo-led government was elected for a second term in 2003.

The role he reportedly played in ensuring that Obasanjo won conveniently in Benue State during the April 19 presidential elections was said to have accounted for his being compensated with ministerial appointment by President Obasanjo.

He later left the cabinet to prepare for the huge responsibility that awaited him in the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign. In another development, South West zonal Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Muyiwa Collins, has justified the decision of members of the party in Lagos State to stage a protest against Vice-President Atiku on Saturday.

Collins, in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, said that the party’s followers in Lagos and other parts of the country were frustrated by Atiku’s alleged antagonistic posture to President Obasanjo. “Our members have been holding back for a long time, but it was apparent that the man would not retreat, he has continuously unleashed his men on President Olusegun Obasanjo and we see that as disrespectful.

“In the South-West, we don’t disrespect elders but we have to move against the vice-president to show him nobody has a monopoly of violence,” Collins said. “We got wind that they wanted to hold some meetings and our people were enraged and they insisted that if the vice-president wants to plot against Baba, it should not be in Lagos,” Collins added.

Meanwhile, the promise of an additional state for the South-East region has been luring the political leaders in that zone to back the third term agenda of President Olusegun Obasanjo, sources have told the Nigerian Tribnue. The National Political Reforms Conference held last year had recommended the creation of an additional state in the South-East and with the National Assembly committee on constitution review declaring that the 1999 Constitution must be followed in any exercise of state creation, the South-East has started making moves to get the creation actualised.

Members of the South-East caucus of the National Assembly who visited the president last Thursday were said to have pledged their support for the president’s aspirations “now and in the future.” A legislator who was on the trip to Aso Rock told the Nigerian Tribune that though the president did not tell the lawmakers that he was vying for the 2007 election, leaders of the caucus told him to count on their support now and in the future.

“He did not tell us anything about third term, but we need his support for the additional state to be created and we were the ones doing the talking and pledging our support because that is what our people want,” the source said. Chief Ken Nnamani, Senate president, is set to present the recommended state to the National Assembly for consideration.

Meanwhile, Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Ogun State, rising from its regular senatorial meeting, has condemned the third term bid of President Obasanjo. The party spokesman, who also doubles as the senatorial aspirant in Ogun East, Mr. Bisi Adegbuyi, while addressing journalists after the meeting held in Ijebu-Ode, said the party condemned what he described as the double speak of President Obasanjo over the third term agenda .

Posted by Publisher at 04:12 PM | Comments (0)

April 08, 2006

We Won’t Support Unconstitutional Government - Canada

THE Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. David Angell has said that his country will not support anything unconstitutional in the political affairs of Nigeria.

He was speaking against the backdrop of the alleged third term agenda of President Olusegun Obasanjo in an exclusive interview with Saturday Tribune in Lagos.

According to Mr. Angell, it was left for the Nigerian people to decide if they wanted a third term for President Obasanjo but he stressed that all actions must be in consonance with the dictates of the Nigerian constitution.

He recalled that his country was the first to close its high commission in opposition to a Nigerian government under the late General Sani Abacha due to her disregard for commonwealth values such as a shared commitment to the responsibility of government to promote democracy, good governance and human rights.

“We were, I believe, the only country to suspend our diplomatic relationship and, in effect turn our back on the government of the day — albeit without in any way turning our back on the Nigerian people. The position of principle was painful at the time but has stood the test of bilateral relationship in good stead”, he added.

The Canadian High Commissioner who was delivering an inaugural lecture of the commonwealth partnership for the support of Health” at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Lagos last Thursday also disclosed that Canada was among the principal supporters of the international campaign for the eradication of polio.

According to him, the Canadian government has contributed 58.9 billion naira in the fight against polio within the past few years with much of those resources dedicated to sub-saharan Africa, including Nigeria.

He also disclosed that Canada was playing a leading role in the battle against HIV/AIDS having contributed 91 billion naira in AIDS-related development assistance to commonwealth countries.

Dignitaries who graced occasion include Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former secretary-general of the commonwealth, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, former vice-president of Nigeria, Chief Mathew Mbu and Otunba Niyi Adebayo, former Governor of Ekiti State.

Posted by Publisher at 05:28 PM | Comments (0)

You Are A Disgrace, N/East PDP Tells Atiku

THE leadership of the North-East Zone of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), on Friday took Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to task over his meeting with the opposition and the members of the National Assembly on Wednesday where he made some uncomplimentary comments against his boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo, describing him (Atiku) as a bad representative of the zone.

Addressing newsmen after an emergency meeting of party stakeholders from the zone, National Vice-Chairman (North-East), Senator Paul Wampana declared that “Enough is enough” and that they were “all collectively tired of the Vice-President’s penchant for mischief-making, treachery and disloyalty to Mr. President, the Federal Government, which he serves, and the party to which he belongs”.

According to him, “Nothing in the hallowed tradition and culture of the proud people of a zone that has often provided quality leadership for the Federal Republic supports such brazen display of treachery, bad faith and cowardice which has continued to mark the public outings of Vice President Abubakar, the climax of which occur red last Wednesday”. “We condemn in very clear terms the position of the Vice-President. His conduct is very embarrassing and unbecoming and totally unacceptable, he cannot and should not decide for us all and should not persistently insult our sense of decency and unity”; he declared.

Senator Wampana who was flanked by General Buba Marwa, a presidential aspirant from the zone and others assured President Obasanjo and the National leadership of the party, on behalf of the zone to rise to the challenge thrown by the “erring Vice-President”, saying that the Adamawa State of the party had been directed to look into the activities of the Vice-President and act accordingly in line with the provision of the constitution of the party.

The zone appealed to President Obasanjo not to allow himself to be distracted by “the Vice-President’s lack of capacity to be an effective Vice-President”, and that he should continue to unite the country and press on with the reform agenda of this administration. The zone pointed out that it would have been honourable for the Vice-President to quit office immediately rather than embarking on cowardy and treacherous acts.

The statement reads:
We PDP leaders and stakeholders from the North-East geopolitical zone of the Federal Republic receive with utmost shock, utterances credited to our brother, Vice-President Atiku Abubakar (Turaki Adamawa) that PDP has been hijacked for a particular agenda. He went further to say: “...There were no elections. It was hijacked so that a particular agenda of the party could be used to achieve another agenda” against party leadership at all levels with the sole objective of undermining the credibility of the party and even its survival.”

“The Vice-President made these remarks at a meeting which featured prominent opponents of the very administration in which he occupies a highly esteemed position. “Speaking for the leaders stakeholders and millions of PDP members and supporters in the North-East Zone, we wish to state categorically that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. We are all collectively tired of the Vice-President’s penchant for mischief making, treachery and disloyalty to Mr. President, the Federal Government, which he serves, and the Party to which he belongs.”

But in a swift reaction to the statement, an aide to the Vice President, Alhaji Garba Shehu described the press statement as a funeral oration of the PDP in the country. According to him, the press conference and the statement emanating from the conference could only pass for a funeral oration of the People’s Democratic Party.

“What else do you want me to say to a statement that described the Vice-President as disloyal. Vice President Atiku is loyal and must be loyal in the context of the constitution he swore to defend. “The Vice President has chosen to be loyal to the constitution he swore to defend. These people are not with their people. If they know the feeling of the people they represent, they won’t be saying what they are saying.

“I read their statement and it is like calling President Obasanjo a liar. If the victory party in Aso Rock after the 2003 election, the president gave the credit to Atiku, so what has happened between them and now? Are they saying that the president lied. If the president acknowledged that Atiku gave them their victory in 2003, is that not enough testimony to the capacity and ability of the vice president”? he queried.

On the allegation that the vice president statement was an act of cowardice, Alhaji Shehu drew attention to the presence of General Buba Marwa at the press conference. “General Marwa was on the high table when those statements were made. Have you forgotten that General Marwa dropped his presidential ambition when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pursued him. So who is a coward, is it a man that has decided to stand on the side of the nation’s constitution or those who at the slightest threat would abandon their stand?

This is the kind of people at that meeting and there was no point losing sleep over whatever they say.” “The time to tremble under their yoke is over, we are ready to square up with them now,” a source close to the vice president said on Friday. According to the source, the much touted dossier the presidency was said to have packaged on Atiku was a ruse as according to him, the vice president equally has tons of information on alleged shady activities of people in government.

“Just as it happened with the case of the N100 million said to have been received from Governor Joshua Dariye of Plateau State, they wanted to use one of the government agencies to rope in the vice president but the chairman of the body was bold enough to tell Baba that he could not do so, then they instructed the party to issue the statement saying that the vice president knew about the money, but the vice president only told them that he was aware of how N50 million of the said money was paid while the presidency should be made to explain how the balance was refunded,” the source said.

He added that the vice president will be a fool not to be able to lay his hands on anything after seven years in office. One area Atiku’s men are looking at is the oil sector which our source said the worst financial record and which is presided over by the president himself. “Notwithstanding this claim of transparency, it is clear that they give oil blocks to whosoever they deemed fit, so we will call them to question on some of these thing.”

The source further said that the vice president would not leave the PDP now because it was a party he had helped to build from the scratch. “He will still adopt a wait and see attitude to the whole saga,” the source said. Vice President Atiku Abubakar has made up his mind to contest the 2007 presidency, one of his aides, Alhaji Shehu has said.

“Vice President Abubakar is determined to run on the basis of a new vision for a united and prosperous Nigeria, and he believes he has the experience for the job having been the vice President for eight years.” Atiku aide, Alhaji Shehu further said that “Atiku’s view on the on-going reform is that it could be modified after consulting widely with stakeholders so that he can better implement it in the interest of the country and the people.

“He would need the required technocrats. From within and outside Nigeria but generally, he doesn’t believe he could lead all alone. He doesn’t believe leadership is about a single individual but the ability of a leader to assemble some of the best hands to help him realise his objectives”.

According to Alhaji Shehu, Atiku said that a lot need to be done and quickly so and that he could make a lot of difference. On the war against corruption, Alhaji Shehu also stated that Atiku also believed that the war would need to be expanded to cover state and local governments. “Likewise poverty which affects about 70 per cent of the population could be drastically reduced through the creation of massive number of jobs say between four and ten million jobs in four years.”

However, jolted by the statement made by Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over the contentious third term issue, the pro-third term group in the presidency has summoned a meeting of all pro-third term PDP members including state governors and lawmakers to denounce the vice-president on the statement credited to him in preparation towards the suspension of the vice president from the party.

An informed source in the presidency told ST that president Obasanjo returned to the Aso Rock Villa on Friday with the intention of calling a meeting of all members of the PDP who are in support of the third term. “The mood in the Villa is changed now, the president hurriedly came back from his Otta farm house and all seems set for the meeting aiming at nailing the VP,” the source said.

Posted by Publisher at 05:27 PM | Comments (0)

Libel Suit: Court Orders Arrest Of IG

A Lagos State High Court presided over by Justice Inumidun Akande, has ordered the immediate arrest of Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, over his refusal to appear before it in the case of a libel suit.

In the same vein, a warrant of arrest has also been issued on the Investigative Police Officer (IPO) in the matter, Mr. Samuel Oluwole Agboola, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, for his failure to appear before the court on the same issue.

Justice Akande gave the directive after several attempts to ensure the presence of the duo in court to throw more light on an alleged complicity of the police in a case involving one Chief Funso Ologunde, Carnaud Metal Box Toyo Glass Nigeria Plc and Adetutu Buraimoh had failed.

The plaintiff, Chief Funso Ologunde, is claiming the sum of N150 million as aggravated damages for libel against the defendants, Carnaud Metal Box Toyo Glass Nigeria Plc and Adetutu Buraimoh for words falsely and maliciously published by them against him.

The second defendant, Mr. Adetutu Buraimoh, had written a petition to the police where he accused the plaintiff, Chief Ologunde, of a plot to terminate his life after he was relieved of his appointment with the company.

The presiding judge, Justice Inumidun Akande, had adjourned till April 20, 2006 for continuation of the trial.

Posted by Publisher at 05:25 PM | Comments (0)

April 05, 2006

FG dumps Mantu’s report - May adopt Abacha’s constitution

Following the heightening tension generated by the plan to ensure a third term in office for President Olusegun Obasanjo, the presidency, which is already rethinking its options, has decided to dump the report of the Joint Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (JCRC) led by Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu, which adopted the three terms of four years for president and governors.

Instead, presidency tacticians are said to have prepared a position which favours the adoption of the 1995 Abacha Constitution, which guarantees a six-year single tenure of office for the president and governors. A position paper prepared by a think tank working on the third term agenda, which was adopted on Monday, indicated that the option would be rancour-free and capable of allaying the fears that President Obasanjo could become a life President after securing a third term.

The position paper, which was obtained by the Nigerian Tribune further indicated that the North would be substantially pacified that Obasanjo, rather than getting an additional 12-year tenure in line with the proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution adopted by the Mantu committee, would only be entitled to a six-year tenure if he agrees to contest in the new arrangement.

Highlights of the new arrangement include the jettissoning of the zoning formula, whereby the actual zoning would only start counting from the first person to win the 2007 election. Besides, the new proposal promises to throw open the political landscape to all comers, including former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida. In a preamble to the report, the think tank said: “We have watched with keen interest the developments in our domestic political situation, and thought we should make some informed intervention for the sake of our polity and generations of Nigerians yet to be born.”

It says further that Nigeria, having come this far, must be kept as one indissoluble unit, which must also grow to the aspirations of her peoples.
It also stated that Nigerians, in analysing the current political situation in the country, had allowed sentiments to becloud their reasoning. Besides throwing open the political landscape,there is also the proposal to approve the 25 per cent derivation formula for the South-South, set up a commission to clear the streets of almajiris (street children), set up a Niger Delta Ministry and approve a new state and local government areas for the South-East.

Following are excerpts from the report obtained on Tuesday in Abuja:
"Mindful of the need to lower the political temperature and to assist the country to move forward, we suggest as follows: (i) that the National Assembly should dust up the Abacha Constitutional provision vis-à-vis rotation of the office of President amongst the six geopolitical zones with one term of six years per zone. The rotation will oscillate between the North and South beginning with the zone that will win the election in 2007. Every eligible Nigerian will be free to vie for the highest office in the land;
“(ii) In appreciation of the peculiar problems of the Niger Delta, a Ministry for Niger Delta Affairs should be established;
“(iii) The percentage for derivation should be 25 per cent for all resources like oil and gas, solid minerals etc;
“(iv) One additional state should be created in the South-East. Similarly, more Local Government Areas (LGAs) should be created in that zone;
“(v) Provision of basic amenities like water, education, roads, health care, security, employment should be fundamental human rights enshrined in the constitution;
“(vi) Plight of almajaris in some Northern states should be adopted as a national malaise. A commission should be established to wipe out this phenomenon in 10 years;
“(vii) Establishment of a Pilgrims (Hajj) Commission;
“(viii) Construction of all Federal roads should be by BOT and by reputable construction companies;
“(ix) A new taxation regime should be established;
“(x) The scourge of corruption must be eliminated from our body politic;
“(xi) All attempts must be made to consolidate and deepen the ongoing economic and political reforms.

“It is instructive to note that the world over, political parties have always been in the vanguard to canvass, negotiate and moderate tendencies in the polity. Ours should not be different. Today, Nigeria has more than 30 political parties. The democratic space is huge enough to accommodate all intervening interests,” the report further stated.

While urging stakeholders to work on their legistators across the board, the report canvassed that this was a time “for people of goodwill from all the geo-political zones using the instrumentality of political parties to articulate the interests of their people through their legislators,” adding that President Obasanjo should be supported to take the first shot at the six-year single term of office when the constitution is finally amended.

The report is, however, silent on the contentious immunity clause and the fate of the local governments in the new constitution. But in arguing in favour of the seting up of the Niger Delta Ministry, the report stated that the United Kingdom has something similar when it set up the Secretariat for Scottish Affairs and Secretariat for Northern Ireland Affairs in the UK cabinet.

Posted by Publisher at 01:59 PM | Comments (0)

Bank customers with over N3m deposit may face EFCC

THE Senate on Tuesday passed a bill empowering state high courts to handle advance fee fraud cases which hitherto were exclusively heard by federal high court. This followed the amendment of the Advance Fee Fraud (419) and other related offences act.

Also, the Senate has amended the Money Laundering Act, increasing the threshold in any cash transaction through a financial institution from N500,000 to N3,000,000 (for individuals) and from N2,000,000 to N5,000,000 for corporate bodies.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Senator Rufai Sani Hangs. which processed the two bills, said “as a result of constraints on jurisdiction, and considering the inadequate number of federal high courts in the country, there are several cases left pending without speedy trial in all the states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

“This has resulted in gross violations of the fundamental human rights of suspects as enshrined in the constitution.” On the Money Laundering Act, senators at the sitting on Tuesday altered the figures on the grounds that Nigeria is a cash-carrying economy and that there was the need to raise the respective amounts.

Under the new act, any transaction in a bank or any other official financial institution in excess of N3,000,000 and N5,000,000 for individuals and corporate bodies must be reported to the appropriate government agency.

Posted by Publisher at 01:58 PM | Comments (0)

Freed American hostage arrested for robbery

A few days after being released by militants in Nige