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