CitizenShipWatch

Over 500 Christian residents mowed down with matchetes by fulani herdsmen in Jos

2010-03-09T19:01:00.004+01:00

Over 500 residents of Dogo Hawa village in Jos, were massacred in the early hours of Sunday morning by Fulani herdsmen .

This attack came despite the curfew by the state sequel to the mass attack that occurred few weeks ago in various crannies of Jos.

Pointblanknews.com learnt that the herdsmen who sneaked into the village during the wee hours of Sunday, shot sporadically into the air before launching the attack.

According to our source, after the sporadic shooting, the scared and curious residents ran out of their homes only to be mowed with machete wielding Fulani killers. They then went from house to house torching the homes as they rampaged.

Pointblanknews.com learnt that most of those killed were women and children.

The curious question making the rounds is, how did these killers beat the security cordon occasioned by the curfew.

Acting president, Goodluck Jonathan, has already put chiefs on red alert.

Corrupt Murderer Marwa roams a free man in South Africa

2010-03-08T22:01:00.005+01:00

Raj Bhojwani is trapped in Jersey and fighting to save his name and freedom whilst the primary accused in the same deal sits in Johannesburg free from any problem or persecution. In fact he was nominated by the President of Nigeria in 2008 as Nigeria's ambassador to the Republic of South Africa ! He is Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.) It is ironic that in an interview to the Sunday Trust newspaper - H.E. Amb. Marwa said.... "that there is a perception that Nigerians are generally unlawful, dishonest people, scammers and all the negative attributes. .and that he wanted to demonstrate that Nigerians are essentially solid people, good, trusting, law abiding, hard working and decent people" Yet his own track record in public office during the regime of Gen. Abacha has now come to light during the ongoing trial of Mr. Bhojwani in Jersey, Channel Islands, where in the court it was alleged by the prosecution that: Mr. Bhojwani entered into 2 contracts for the supply of TATA vehicles with the Nigerian Govt. for a total sum of approx. US$178m from which almost US$100m was paid in 'bribes' to Gen. Abacha and Gen. Marwa, who had both been in on the plan from the start. Sahara Reporters, a well known anti-corruption website established through available documents that apart from the proceeds from the above TATA contracts, Gen. Marwa also helped the Abacha's to transfer the sum of US$17m from the account of the Nigerian Permanent Mission to the U.N. to the Trans-national bank, Nairobi, Kenya in 1996. Gen. Marwa confessed to his misdeeds of helping Abacha and himself to stealing after he was arrested, detained and interrogated by the EFCC in a letter he wrote to President Obasanjo dated 18th May, 2006 - captioned ''LETTER OF PROFOUND APOLOGY AND REMORSE'' In the letter Gen. Marwa apologized to President Obasanjo pledging his allegiance to the former president and insisting that he was commanded by the former Head of State as a military officer to carry out the acts of stealing, under duress, pleading that he could not have disobeyed the late dictator because he never thought the transfers to be illegitimate as they were ordered by the Head of State ! Reports said that he must have known too well that the money went to Abacha's cronies and their private accounts for their personal benefits. It became more obvious and incriminating when it was discovered that Gen. Marwa himself benefited substantially from the movement of all these funds.

Police minister condemns Nigeria police 'killings'

2010-03-08T21:26:00.008+01:00

Nigeria's police minister has launched a scathing attack on the force, accusing officers of killings, robbery and other abuses.

Ibrahim Lame said the lack of security was "condemnable and unacceptable".

Human rights groups have frequently accused Nigeria's police of abuses and corruption but it is rare for the government to make similar charges.

The national police chief blamed the security problems on poverty, corruption and religious tension.

Mr Lame told a meeting of police commanders: "The current rate of crime across the nation, rising cases of extra-judicial killings, human rights violations, robberies, high-profile assassination and deliberate failure to comply with government directives are testimony to the sheer incapacity or wilful defiance of police high command" to government directives.

Inspector General of Police Ogbonna Onovo said the police were "operating under unbearable conditions", reports the Vanguard newspaper, adding that criminals were often better armed than the police.

Last year, a BBC investigation found that staff in the mortuary in the south-eastern city of Enugu were unable to cope with the large number of bodies the police were delivering - many of whom had been accused of being armed robbers.

Jonathan Removes NSA Sarki Mukhtar

2010-03-08T20:08:00.008+01:00

The acting president Goodluck Jonathan has removed the national security adviser Sarki Mukhtar with immediate effect. He has been replaced with Aliyu Gasau. Sarki's removal was announced at the National Security Council meeting called by Jonathan to review the Jos crisis.

Press Statement: Gusau Replaces Mukhtar as National Security Adviser The Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has appointed Lt. Gen. Aliyu Gusau (Rtd), as National Security Adviser.

He replaces Maj. Gen. Sarki Mukhtar (Rtd)
Dr. Jonathan thanked the outgoing NSA for his services to the nation and the present administration, and wished him well in his future endeavours.

Ima Niboro SSA Media and Publicity to the Acting President

8th March, 2010

How the Governors Forum used and dumped Goodluck Jonathan

2010-03-05T20:12:00.009+01:00

Extensive investigations by Saharareporters have uncovered details of the secretive maneuvers and high stakes politics of greed and dishonesty that resulted in members of Nigeria’s powerful “Governors Forum” frustrating Goodluck Jonathan’s acquisition of real political power. In what one of our sources described as “the invasion of Aguda House,” the governors met with “acting President” Jonathan and delivered to him a set of strange orders that effectively changed his status from hopeful substantive “President” of Nigeria to a lame-duck who may remain Vice President to ailing Nigerian ruler, Umaru Yar’adua. During a fiery meeting with Jonathan two nights ago, the governors queried his decision to appoint a Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC) without consulting them. They accused him of selecting men and women who are ‘paperweight’ in their various states. Above all, they said Jonathan overreached himself by appointing such a powerful committee with a Northern Christian and Southern Christian as Chairman and Deputy Chair respectfully. They also asked Jonathan to shelve the plan to invoke section 144 of the constitution at yesterday’s Federal Executive Council meeting, insisting that Yar’adua should continue as President while Jonathan should remain “Acting President.” Two sources told Saharareporters that Jonathan looked dazed and helpless. “He was especially stunned when the governor of his home state, Timipre Sylva, became very vocal and confrontational at the meeting,” said one of the sources. The governors also bitterly complained about recent press interviews by Minister of Information, Dora Akunyili, accusing her of causing “disaffection and overheating the polity” by her utterances. They asked Jonathan to censure her immediately. When the meeting was over, the governors took over the airwaves to announce a rash of decisions and orders given to Jonathan. As soon as they left, the PDP leadership also came up with its assault on Jonathan. The party leaders told Jonathan to forget the idea of running for presidency after his tenure as Acting President. “After what happened two nights ago, the governors have effectively stripped Jonathan of most of his power to take presidential decisions,” said a source close to one of the governors. He added: “They have also restored the Presidency to an unseen and unwell Yar’adua.” “It’s a victory for Turai Yar’adua who will wield those powers on behalf of her sick husband,” a diplomatic source told Saharareporters. “It’s a sad reversal for Nigerians and one hopes that it’s only a temporary setback.” The governors’ move to checkmate Jonathan has been described as an “expedient volte-face driven by greed and avarice.” A few weeks ago, the same state governors – some of Nigeria’s most rabid looters – boosted Jonathan’s path to presidential power when they met and decided that Yar’adua’s prolonged absence from Nigeria was overheating the system. The leader of the group, Bukola Saraki, was particularly miffed that he was rebuffed when he visited Saudi Arabia a few days after Yar’adua was evacuated from Nigeria on medical emergency. On his return to Nigeria, Governor Saraki used his father to push a series of campaign against Yar’adua through his “Northern Union” pressure group.

Gov. Ikedi Ohakim, a coup plotting governor and the limits of S.308 immunity clause

2010-03-03T20:56:00.009+01:00

The long forgotten immunity clause in the constitution has made is way back to our political discourse. It did thanks to governor Ikedi Ohakim’s decision to once again thumb his nose at the law by taking it upon himself to unilaterally accuse, prosecute, convict and punish citizen Ikenna Iwuoha with Koboko whipping and by so doing he has once again raised the issue of the desirability or otherwise of the immunity clause found in s.308 of the 1999 Constitution. During the Olusegun Obasanjo administration of 1999-2007, it became the ready-made excuse for government’s failure or refusal to enforce the law against thieving state governors, vice president and the president. The blame-it-on-the-immunity-clause excuse eventually lost is potency as I always knew it would. I knew it would lose its potency because I could see beyond the political shenanigans underlying it. There was no way it could maintain its potency in light of the fact that the president, vice-president and many state governors left office in May 2007 and almost everyone of them is out there enjoying fresh air without ever spending a night in jail, except for the occasional Farida Waziri’s “shakedown arrests” when she needs a share of the looted money for herself. My personal position on the immunity clause is patently clear from my several articles dealing with the subject matter. I view the provision as an anti-people anti-accountability, anti-law enforcement and anti-democratic provision that should have been excised from the constitution with the urgency of yesterday. It is an affront to a society that is engaged in a losing battle against the suffocating, overwhelming and corrosive forces of corruption. Given the last time I heard anyone mention s.308, I could have been fooled into believing that s.308 was no longer in our constitution. But the once check-bouncing governor Ohakim was not going to let any one fool me. He stood up for me by making sure he reminded every Nigerian of his immunity from the law. He ensured that with his “Koboko-whip-the-critic” truancy. I understand Ikedi Ohakim has been dragged to court, although I am not sure if this is in his personal capacity or as an agent of his state government. As usual, I expect the appropriate courts to engage in a regurgitation of the limited jurisprudence in this area of the nation’s constitution law, which is that a sitting governor has absolute immunity from prosecution, notwithstanding the seriousness of the allegations against him, and the source and time of the cause of action. The time and source of the cause of action are important considerations in the context of s.308 for reasons that I will touch on later in this article. I will play the devil’s advocate for one moment by postulating that it is not incomprehensible for the court to be sympathetic towards Ikenna Iwuoha and find Ohakim’s Imo state government liable for his excesses and award damages against the state government. This will be a creative way to circumvent s.308 but it will be a creativity driven primarily by the tort law primary consideration of making the damaged whole again and one that postpones pronouncement on the governor’s criminal conduct. Given the all or nothing approach that the courts have taken towards s.308, this creative approach of compensating the victim of Ohakim’s exuberance is recommended and will be worth applauding as a step forward if it materializes. But it will remain an approach that is unlikely to assuage Mr. Iwuoha’s feelings because it will postpone pronouncement on the governor’s criminal conduct. It is an approach that will grant the governor reprieve, though a temporary from being held liable for violating Iwouha’s fundamental human rights. Finally, it is an approach that will postpone the governor’s imprisonment.

Ibori committed ‘massive theft’,

2010-03-03T19:53:00.009+01:00

British prosecutors today began to lay out the money laundering case against associates of former Governor James Ibori by telling a London court that Ibori committed ‘massive theft’ during his eight-year tenure as governor of Delta state. In the resumed money-laundering trial of Ibori’s associates, prosecutors told the Southwark Crown court, presided over by Mr Christopher Harding, that Ibori used third party agents and nominees to siphon state funds and acquire properties and assets within and outside Nigeria. The case is being presented before a jury of 12 randomly selected members of the British public. The jurors were called in about 3:25p.m. (London time), following which the prosecution team called in Mr. Chima Umezurike as their first witness in the case. The witness, a lawyer who is a member of both the Nigerian and English bars, testified on the Nigerian constitutional requirements and code of conduct for public office holders in Nigeria, including governors. Mr. Umezurike was asked to explain the grounds on which a governor may be disqualified from public office. He spoke on section 182 of the criminal code, stating that a public official may be disqualified on the ground of theft or the handling of stolen goods, including the use of third party agents and nominees for the same purposes. Asked to clarify what items are included in the declaration of assets, according to the 5th schedule of the 1999 Nigerian constitution and the code of conduct for public officers, the witness stated the following: one, that public office holders shall not maintain a bank account outside Nigeria and, two, that public office holders shall provide written declaration of assets and properties to the Code of Conduct Bureau. He explained that any property or asset declared, but found not to be linked or attributed to known income, is deemed to be evidence of a breach of the code of conduct. Mr. Umezurike testified that the Revenue Allocation and Fiscal Commission, established by the 1999 constitution, sets the salaries for public office holders. The salaries of public office holders, which is available to the public via the official website of the commission, stipulates a basic annual salary of N849,000 for the governor, including allowances for accommodation, transport and furniture, which are, respectively, 100%, 350% and 300% of the basic salary. On the question of the punishment prescribed for breach of the stated laws, the witness responded that these are listed in section 18 of the 5th schedule of the constitution, as well as any additional penalties prescribed by the constitution. These punishments include vacation of the office (in this case governor), seizure or forfeiture to the state of any asset or property acquired corruptly, and imprisonment.

Too hot in the kitchen: Corrupt Aondoakaa flees Abuja for Senegal, Spain

2010-02-14T21:04:00.005+01:00

Nigeria's controversial and notoriously corrupt public officer, Michael Aondoakaa, the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, who was recently demoted to the ignominy of cabinet “Special Duties,” may have fled the heat of the kitchen. Andoakaa, who is also under fire from a fellow minister, Dora Akunyili, over reckless statements he made over her actions in recent cabinet meetings, may not be in a position to respond to her seven-day ultimatum, which expires in five days. He quietly left for Senegal on Thursday night, apparently to avoid the consequences of his dubious errands on behalf of the kitchen cabinet, which began to crumble last week. The former AGF also faces mounting pressure from several interests that he extorted for cash as he went about his duties heavily compromised. A family source told Saharareporters in Abuja that his decision to travel out of Nigeria was abrupt as they were planning to meet with him in his hometown in Benue State this weekend, but Aondoakaa promptly traveled out of the country after he applied for a 30-day leave. It is unclear if the government approved the application before he left. Sources close to the Minister told our reporter that he lost his swagger and suddenly became fearful for his life after he was removed from office as AGF, choosing to run away to Dakar, one of his favorite destinations. He is expected to travel to Spain from Senegal until things cool down a bit. Aondoakaa’s disappearance is coming on the heels of the jetting-out of James Ibori, a kitchen-cabinet colleague, purportedly to spend Valentine's Day in Dubai and South Africa with his new girlfriend, Senami Sosu. His wife is in London, preparing to face trial, while his mistress, Mrs. Udoamaka Okoronkwo is also unavailable, as her trial commences in a right after Valentine's Day. It is believed that owing to the recent political developments, the kitchen cabinet members might have started considering other options, especially fleeing Nigeria.

Apology letter without apology: Dora Akunyili taking Corrupt Aondoakaa to court next week

2010-02-12T21:50:00.010+01:00

The disagreement between Dora Akunyili, the Minister for Information and Communications and Michael Aondoakaa, the former Attorney General of the Federation, is going to court next week.That is unless Mr. Aondoakaa issues a clear apology to Mrs Akunyili and publishes it in the media, including The Nation, the newspaper in which Mr. Aondoakaa issued his offensive statement earlier this week. In a letter to Mr. Aondoakaa on behalf of Mrs. Akunyili, Kop Odidika of SOWER & MESSUARIUS SOLICITORS, said the former AGF’s letter to Mrs. Akunyili was unacceptable, as Aondoakaa had “most disingenuously tried to put a spin on an otherwise clear and unambiguous statement that has only one interpretation, to wit: that our client committed some untoward acts while at the helm of affairs in NAFDAC.”

He described Mrs. Akunyili’s integrity as unimpeachable. “Her tenure at NAFDAC can accurately be described as the golden years of that establishment as no other head whether prior to, or subsequent to, her appointment has achieved so much as to even merit comparison with her.”

The new Minister for Special Duties, who fell from the dizzying heights of the office of the AGF only two days ago, now has seven days to meet Mrs. Akunyili’s terms or find himself looking for a lawyer.

Below is the full text of the letter from Mrs. Akunyili’s lawyers:
February 11, 2010

Chief Micheal Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN

Minister for Special Duties

Federal Secretariat

Abuja.

Dear Chief Aondoakaa,

Libelous publication against Prof. Dora N. Akunyili

We are the solicitors to Prof Dora N. Akunyili on whose behalf and instruction we write to you in connection with the above subject matter.

It is our instruction that you issued a statement which was published on Monday the 8th of February 2010 in a widely circulating national newspaper, The Nation, wherein you said, inter alia “Bringing the memo to Federal Executive Council is just to make herself an angel. She wants to be seen as populist. Whatever she wants from it is still personal. None of the FEC members has disrespect to the Vice-President. As far as we are concerned, the VP is our leader and he is leading us. What she is trying to do is self-seeking: let her go and confront herself with what happened in NAFDAC”.

Our client has been inundated with telephone calls and personal enquiries from numerous people about your said statement concerning the implication that she did something wrong while she was the Director General of NAFDAC. She duly informed you of these enquiries and demanded by her letter to you dated February 8, 2010 that you confirm the authenticity of the authorship of the statement and if confirmed to supply full particulars of your allegations of her misdeeds in NAFDAC to which you alluded.

By your letter of February 9, 2010 addressed to our client, you admitted making the statement but most disingenuously tried to put a spin on an otherwise clear and unambiguous statement that has only one interpretation, to wit: that our client committed some untoward acts while at the helm of affairs in NAFDAC.

There is no doubt that as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, you are presumed to be conversant with not only legal matters but with English Language as well. Whilst one can concede your privilege to use any language, no matter how crude and unbecoming of a lawyer and public servant, in your private home and office, same should be tempered and civilized when describing and referring to another person.

More regrettable is the fact that your libellous publication was against our client whose integrity has been unimpeachable. Her tenure at NAFDAC can accurately be described as the golden years of that establishment as no other head whether prior to, or subsequent to, her appointment has achieved so much as to even merit comparison with her.

Our client therefore finds it totally unacceptable that her peers and generality of Nigerians have begun to question her integrity and now consider her a disreputable person because of the statement you made. Your said letter of February 9, 2010 therefore begs the issue.

We hereby demand that you issue a clear apology to our client and cause the said apology to be published prominently in the media including The Nation newspaper. Please TAKE NOTICE that unless this demand is met within 7 days from the date hereof we shall commence legal proceedings, against you to compel obedience and seek financial compensation for the injury done to our client’s reputation.

Please treat as very urgent.

Yours faithfully,

SOWER & MESSUARIUS SOLICITORS

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01

KOP ODIDIKA

Principal Partners

Court declares Kenny Martins, Ibrahim Dumuje and Joni Icheka wanted

2010-02-12T21:01:00.005+01:00

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, sitting at Gwagwalada, and presided over by Honourable Justice Mwada Balami today, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY, 12TH, 2010, issued bench warrant for the arrest of the following persons: 1. KENNY MARTINS; 2. IBRAHIM DUMUJE and 3. JONI ICHEKA. This same Court had earlier issued bench warrant against all the four accused persons in the case on the 11th of December, 2009 but later vacated the bench warrant on the 13th January, 2010 upon the application brought by the accused persons wherein counsel to the accused persons undertook to produce the accused persons in court in the next adjourned date being 22nd January, 2010. However, on the said 22nd of January, 2010, counsel to the accused persons who are acting as shield to the accused persons approached the court with an application, but the court ordered that it will not hear any application from the accused persons until they appear in court, since the matter is a criminal matter which cannot be heard in the absence of the accused persons. The matter was therefore adjourned to today being 12th February, 2010 for the accused persons to appear, have the charges read over to them and to take their plea. Today, being 12th of February, 2010, three of the accused persons refused to appear in court in disobedience of the order of the court. The only accused person that was in court is COSMOS OKPARA who is a legal practitioner. As a result, counsel to the prosecution therefore applied for a bench warrant to be issued against the 1st, 2nd & 3rd Accused persons who are in disobedience of the orders of the court and who have vowed not to appear before the learned justice to face their trial. Please find attached scanned copies of the three warrants of arrest. This was sequel to a charge filed by Mr. Festus Keyamo who got a special fiat (authorization) of the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation, to prosecute the accused persons.
Consequently, Mr. Keyamo filed the following charges at the High Court:

“COUNT 1 That you Kenny Martins, Ibrahim Dumuje, Joni Icheka ‘m’, and Cosmas OKpara ‘m’ on or about the 31st day of March, 2006 at Corporate Affairs Commission Wuse Zone 5, Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony to wit: forge documents relating to Corporate Affairs Commission in a bid to fraudulently change the members of the Board of Directors of NIGERSTALG LIMITED, original partner with the Federal Government on the Police Equipment Fund, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97(1) of the Penal Code, Cap 532 Laws of the Federation Nigerian 1990 (Abuja).

COUNT 2 That you Kenny Martins, Ibrahim Dumuje, Joni Icheka ‘m’, and Cosmas Okpara ‘m’ on or about the 31st day of March 2006 at same place within the Abuja Judicial Division did forge form CAC.7 of NIGERSTALG LIMITED with intent to defraud the Police Equipment Fund and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 364 of Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990 (Abuja)”.

The matter has been adjourned to 12th March, 2010, for the prosecution to produce the accused persons and for arraignment.
Signed: For: Festus Keyamo Chambers

OGHENOVO O. OTEMU, ESQ. Counsel

Dora Akunyili:Corrupt Aondoakaa eats his words W

2010-02-12T20:40:00.005+01:00

Trying to minimize personal and political damage, Minister without portfolio, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa, has retracted his suggestive comment aimed at Dora Akunyili, the Minister for Information and Communications, saying his words were merely misunderstood. Last week, following Mrs. Akunyili’s memo to the Federal Executive Council to reconsider its stand on transferring power to the vice-president in view of Umaru Yar’Adua’s extended sickness abroad, Mr. Aondoakaa had told a newspaper his colleague was seeking personal glory, and that, instead, she should “go and confront herself with what happened in NAFDAC.”Mr. Aondoakaa did not say “sorry,” either to the person whose reputation he had clearly injured. It is not clear if Mrs. Akunyili, who had given him seven days to purge himself and who now has in her hands both the knife and the yam, will take further action.

Money-Laundering Reveals Holes in Regulations

2010-02-08T21:45:00.005+01:00

A new Senate investigation alleges top African politicians and their families have evaded anti-money-laundering laws to bring hundreds of millions of dollars into the country.

The Senate's permanent subcommittee on investigations, in a 330-page report detailing the transfer of funds suspected of being tainted by corruption, calls for tighter anti-money-laundering restrictions on banks and the expansion of the law to cover lawyers and financial professionals such as realtors.

The committee will hold a hearing Thursday to seek responses from Treasury, State Department and immigration and customs-enforcement officials, as well as anti-money-laundering officials from Bank of America Corp. and the U.S. unit of HSBC Holdings PLC. The committee will present findings from a two-year probe involving officials from Nigeria, Angola, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea -- from presidents to central bankers.

Lawyers representing some of the African politicians, and alleged by the committee to have assisted in suspect fund transfers, also have been subpoenaed to testify.

"It's a long-standing goal of ours to try to see if we can keep corrupt money out of this country so we don't aid and abet people who pay this money," Committee Chairman Sen. Carl Levin (D., Mich.) told reporters at a briefing.

"Particularly now, when we're focusing so much on the threat of terrorism ... we've got to take strong steps here to make sure that we do not aid and abet dirty money," he said.

The bipartisan committee, with an eye toward the regulatory overhaul effort underway, wants legislation to strengthen bank controls related to accounts held by top foreign officials.

Akunyili: Where are the men?

2010-02-08T17:01:00.009+01:00

I could imagine the emotions on the faces of members of the Federal Executive Council when Dora Akunyili presented the now-famous memo. Surprise and disbelief. After these initial reactions, anger seemed to be the dominant mood at the meeting as the hawks rudely shot the memo down. The pretext was that it didn’t follow due process as it should have been circulated to members at least one week before it was discussed in council. But that is bunkum. What the Minister presented to the council was not a memo per se, but a note. There is no need to adhere to the one-week-notice rule with notes. In times of crises, or during emergencies, a minister can introduce matters of urgent attention through a note. You wouldn’t expect a patriotic minister to have the luxury of a seven-day wait before introducing an urgent matter to the council. That’s enough time for Jos to burn, and for Al-Qaida run rings around Nigeria.

To boot, the last Jos crisis was discussed in Council without FEC members following the one week rule. Same for the Abdulmutallab issue. No doubt, those were issues requiring urgent attention. With Jos, a major Nigerian city was gripped by ethno-religious violence while our image was being assaulted by foreign media because of the imprudent action of the alleged Nigerian bomber. If the ministers could waive the rule in those cases, couldn’t they adopt the same approach with the matter Akunyili brought to council?

Or, is the 74-day absence of the President not serious enough to be regarded as a an ‘urgent national issue?’

Of course, It is and Akunyili was right to bring the matter to council. The minister of information and communications was brave and deserved commendations for that action. Just imagine! A 42-member council made up of at least 36 men, not one of them could speak up for what they know is true in their heart of hearts. I have strong suspicion that these men are great patriots .... in the privacy of their bedroom. There, they could analyse all the issues regarding the president’s ill health and give countless reasons why he should step aside for his deputy. They are heroes only to their wives and girlfriends who they regaled with their ‘deep insight’ on the constitutional crises brought about by the president’s misadvised action. But Nigeria does not need men like them. We do not need men who will not speak up for their convictions in public, who will say the opposite of what they know is true and right. Nigeria needs statesmen, men who will place national interest above self.

Men like Akunyili. Yes, I know, she is not a man. But do you call cowards who can’t stand up for their beliefs men? Do you?

I was grated by news reports that a good number of the ministers later congratulated Akunyili behind, telling her that what she did required guts. I took that as an admission that they lacked it. Since they are lily livered and cannot stand up when history demands it, they have no business being in the cabinet. We can’t trust them to be bold enough to defend our interests in cabinet meetings.

The scenario playing out in the cabinet underlines the postulations of some scholars that the majority is sometimes, if not often, wrong. And the dictatorship of the majority is a very terrible thing indeed. It could easily prop up leaders without moral compunction. It is reason why the worst dictators in human history got away with genocide. Imagine there had been serious revolt in Hitler’s cabinet, that someone like Goebbels or Himmler seriously canvassed an alternative view, instead of egging the Fuehrer on. The course of human history might have changed for the better, and millions of lives would have been probably saved. But what we have mostly is the silence of men in the corridors of power. Men who are afraid to speak the truth because it might jeopardise their daily bread. But no nation can truly develop if we only consider our self interest above everything else. There must be a time to stand up tall for what you believe in and damn everything else.

As Vice President Goodluck Jonathan assumes office as acting President Which Members of the Federal Executive Council should be sacked.....ASAp

2010-02-08T13:08:00.000+01:00

Anambra state election 'gravely flawed

2010-02-08T12:55:00.004+01:00

An election for governor of Anambra state in Nigeria's oil-rich Delta region has been condemned amid reports of vote-buying and ballot-box theft.

Peter Obi was re-elected but just 300,000 people cast their ballots from an electorate of 1.8 million.

Gangs of youths intimidated and harassed voters and snatched three ballot boxes from polling stations.

The chaos has dampened hopes of improvements to Nigeria's voting system ahead of national elections in 2011.

President Umaru Yar'Adua had promised to sort out Nigeria's notoriously corrupt elections after he was elected in a widely-criticised poll in 2007.

But even the winning candidate in Anambra conceded that the vote had been subject to "age-old inadequacies" such as poor preparation.

Mr Obi had initially refused to vote because he discovered he was the only member of his family whose name appeared on the electoral roll. He later changed his mind.

Chukwuma Soludo, who came third in the poll, complained of "brazen manipulation".

"Let me use this opportunity to congratulate my friend Mr Peter Obi," said Mr Soludo.

"In spite of the grave flaws, INEC [Independent National Electoral Commission] has declared you winner of the election."

The BBC's Fidelis Mbah in Anambra says he witnessed three ballot boxes being stolen by gangs of youths - at least one of whom was armed and dressed in police uniform.

He says one polling station had 500 registered voters but just three people could find their names on the list.

Although the manipulation appeared to be politically motivated, our correspondent says it is not clear who was responsible.

Many polling stations opened hours late and there were confrontations as voters discovered their names were not on the electoral register.

The resignation of Prof. Akunyili will be a victory for retrogressive forces

2010-02-07T21:43:00.006+01:00

Providence and altruistic ethical and moralistic personal responsibilities have once more thrust the truthful captainship of Nigeria’s axiological path and apophthegm on a person of Igbo extraction to act as the conscience of the sinking Nigerian nation. In a country where loyalty to oil blocks and licenses, kick-backs, quid pro quo, and brazen embezzlement are the norm, it did not surprise a handful of us when the brave and courageous Dora Nkem Akunyili stood-up for the “truth”. Courage is not lacking in Igboland, and Nigeria’s history is replete with courageous acts by sons and daughters of Ndi-Igbo. From the Nwanyeruwa instigated 1929 Aba women’s revolt, to the winning of Nigeria’s independence by Nnamdi Azikiwe with pure and natural intelligence from the British without a single gun shot being fired, to the actual prediction of the events of today’s Nigeria by a 33 year old Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. Even when two super powers, Britain and the Soviet Union, with all their weapons of mass destruction like napalm and other sophisticated military weaponry, expertise, and intelligence network, economic blockade and starvation of innocent old men, women and children; Ndi-Igbo stood truthfully firm and fought all the Nigerian ethnic nationalities with their two murderous collaborating super powers for three years. At the end, notwithstanding that the Igboland of Port Harcourt, Calabar and other sea ports were criminally stolen from Ndi-Igbo; the hard work, ingenuity, good sportsmanship, individual and collective commitment to the Nigerian nation have neither diminished nor withered away. Ndi-Igbo have continued and will continue to serve and act as the conscience of a morally depraved, ethically felonious and crime prone Nigeria, a country that is truly accursed by the spirits of Biafra’s dead.

Nigeria’s Information and Communications Minister, Dora Nkem Akunyili, has been in the news lately. Her prominence is not predicated on the subversion and inversion of the Constitution – à la Michael Aondoakaa, or for taking a Supplementary budget to Saudi Arabia to be assented to by a biologically dead president - à la David Edevbie, or for paying exorbitant attorney fees for the joint criminal defense of a wife and a mistress – à la James Ibori. Her recent adulation is for a cause that every parent, husband, sons and daughters, kit and kin and all lovers of decency, probity, truthfulness, honesty, accountability and reverence toward God would take a joyous delight in. Prof. Akunyili has redeemed herself and made her nation very proud. At the end of a dark and corruption infested tunnel, there always is a light, no matter how dim and how weak. A ray of hope gives Nigerians a very shaky believe that all hopes are not lost. And Prof. Akunyili today is that ray of hope.

Our dear country is a country manifestly rich in evil and devious scheming. A country where the light of truth is easily and ruthlessly extinguished without remorse. A country where evil triumphs with a thunderous applause by professional leeches. A country where callousness is the order of the day. A country where good men and women are abundant but are dominated by rotten, amoral, dishonorable, vice-laden, unconscienced and intellectually defective and villainous goons, scummy, tainted, yecchy, wormy, reechy, mephitic, scurfy and nidorous bunch that reign and dictate the affairs of the nation. But as in all things with a beginning and an end, the end of mass deception, unmitigated lies and personal ambition over country will surely end.

Anambra Elections: An Eye Opener On Our Real Problem

2010-02-07T21:33:00.005+01:00

Like most Anambarians, non Anambra indigenes and residents, I spent most part of yesterday following the reports of polls via the internet. As usual, anticipated and highly expected, there were several skemishes. Despite all these, a new lesson was learnt on why our electoral system and programme are perenially problematic. It is the complacency of the voters. Yesterday was the day when gladiators of Abuja and Anambra politics tried to outwit and outsmart one another in what seemed like a do-or-die affair. Names like Prince Arthur Eze were copiously reverberating across most news reports as a result of his notoriety at what Nigerian 'politicians' are good at- rigging.

I'm not surprised that the PDP stalwarts deployed every artillery in their arsenal of weapons to rally around the founder of Soludoeconomics, neither was I disappointed that INEC's voters' registers bore names of late eminent Nigerians like Fela and Bola Ige, it is Iwu's way of paying glowing tributes, and INEC's role at ensuring that ballot papers of those who were disenfranchised of their fundamental human right were thumb printed for the candidate of their choice. Believe me, there is a compehensive and all encompassing voters' register, you can only on days apart from the day of election. It's part of the fault proof plan!

What is the however disheartening is the complacency of Anambarians who were intimidated either by the big grammar and charts of Soludo, or by the blood red eyes of political thugs. One after another, we hear stories of hoodlums distrupted electoral process, carting or snatching away ballot boxes to be snuffed with thumb printed ballot papers of those whose names weren't on the voters' list, while voters look on.

In times past, I thought only we the Yorubas feared trouble, compelling us to stay at peace when things are breaking into pieces, Anambarians had shown that the siddon look attitude is a national phenomenon that permeate all ethnic groups. United, in fear, we stand!

This makes me wonder why are Nigerians afraid to defend their votes, standing arms akimbo or running helter sketter when they ought to stand against the insignant fraction that wants to jeopardize the collective destiny of all?

Is it the weapons that are brandished by the disgruntled elements, or their blood shot eyes? Is it the deep baritone voice or Yokosuna thick biceps muscles? Or is it our inate tendency to flee at any sign of trouble knowing that there is nobody to watch your back? Many questions.

Going by the Anambra elections, it becomes evident that a million and one Wole Shoyinka and the likes cannot empower the voters, voters must empower themselves.

Swiss Conspiracy:Swiss court awards Haiti funds to Baby Doc Duvalier

2010-02-04T21:53:00.007+01:00

At least $4.6m (£2.9m) in Swiss bank accounts must be returned to the family of Haiti's former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier, a Swiss court has ruled.

A lower court had previously awarded charities the money - but that decision was overturned on 12 January and the ruling released on 3 February.

However, the Swiss government has blocked the release of the money until a law is passed to return it to Haiti.

The exile, known as Baby Doc, allegedly looted millions. He denies wrong-doing.

The court decision was made hours before the Haiti earthquake killed at least 150,000 people and left 1.5 million homeless.

The three-week delay before the ruling had been released was a common feature of Swiss courts, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

The Federal Supreme Court reversed the lower court's ruling that the money should go to aid groups in Haiti because the statute of limitations on any crimes committed by the Duvalier clan expired in 2001.

US: Atiku Abubakar in $40million money-laundering accusation with wife, Jennifer

2010-02-04T21:23:00.006+01:00

A United States Senate report has accused Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former Vice-President, of laundering over $40 million in suspicious funds into the United States between 2000 and 2008. And his partner in the lucrative effort was Jennifer Douglas, his fourth wife. Ms. Douglas is sometimes known as Lady Jamilah Jennifer, or Douglas E, or Jennifer Iwenjora, the name by which she was known in the 1980s when she was a reporter with the Nigeria Television Authority in Lagos. According to the report, which was written by the Senate Subcommittee on Investigations, most of the funds were through wire transfers sent by offshore corporations to U.S. bank accounts. Of the $40 million identified in the US investigation, $25 million was reportedly wire-transferred by offshore corporations into more than 30 U.S. bank accounts opened by Ms. Douglas, primarily by Guernsey Trust Company Nigeria Ltd., LetsGo Ltd. Inc., and Sima Holding Ltd. “In a 2008 civil complaint, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission alleged that Ms. Douglas received over $2 million in bribe payments in 2001 and 2002, from Siemens AG, a major German corporation,” the report says. “While Ms. Douglas denies wrongdoing, Siemens has already pled (pleaded) guilty to U.S. criminal charges and settled civil charges related to bribery and told the Subcommittee that it sent the payments to one of her U.S. accounts.

Maurice Iwu’s INEC declared unfit to conduct any elections in Nigeria

2010-02-04T21:08:00.007+01:00

In a case that may have immediate political reverberations, Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court in Lagos today ruled that the present Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is not competent to organize any election in Nigeria. Delivering judgment in a suit filed by Femi Falana on behalf of the Osun State chapter of the Action Congress against INEC and four others, Justice Liman ruled that the membership of the electoral body was not properly constituted, and that any election conducted by INEC would consequently be unconstitutional. This rule comes less than 48 hours before INEC, which is currently led by Maurice Iwu, is to set to conduct a governorship election in Anambra. The ruling has cast the legitimacy of that election in serious question. In going to court to challenge the constitution of the current INEC, the AC had contended that the present chairman and four commissioners of INEC contravened section 159 of the 1999 Constitution which stipulates that INEC is to be run by a chairman and 13 commissioners. The said section also stipulates that one–third of the 13 members (comprising five members) must be present before any decision could be taken. The plaintiffs sued INEC Chairman, Mr. Maurice Iwu, Mr. Phillip Umeadi, Mr. Victor Chukwuani, Mr. A Soyebi and the Resident Electoral Officer of Osun State as co-defendants. Delivering his verdict, the judge said it was shameful that Iwu and his commissioners could take the country for granted by perpetrating illegalities that they clearly knew was against the constitution of the land. Justice Liman dismissed the submission of INEC lawyers who challenged his jurisdiction. He stated that he was competent to entertain the matter. The judgment stressed the role of a properly constituted INEC in the country’s democratic progress. Judge Liman said, “Before I end this judgment, let me remark on a very sad note that INEC constitutes the most important indispensable bedrock on which our democratic institutions are built.” He went on to state that the electoral commission’s “functions are central to the smooth and enduring evolution of our political structure. It is not an overstatement to say that without a functional INEC, no election into any political office will be possible.” He then wondered “how come that in the 11th year of the country's journey into constitutional governance, we do not have an electoral body with its full complement of members?” The judge expressed profound disappointment that “We continue to pretend that all is well with our electoral system while its membership continues to drop from 13 to four and it seems we remain complacent as if all is well.”

Dora Akunyili's "shock and awe" memo: Yar'Adua's kitchen cabinet faces tough week ahead

2010-02-04T20:32:00.004+01:00

Members of Yar’Adua’s kitchen cabinet are disoriented over the shock memo presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday by Information Minister Dora Akunyili asking Yar’Adua to present a letter of vacation to the Senate as required by section 145 of Nigeria’s 1999 constitution. But aides and kitchen cabinet members loyal to ailing Yar’Adua are now strategizing on how to react to the memo, which we understand she will represent at the FEC's meeting next Wednesday. Already, a core member of t Yar'dua's loyalists, Nigeria's notoriously corrupt Attorney General, Michael Aondoakaa has called on Mrs. Akuyili to resign from the cabinet. Saharareporters sources say the kitchen cabinet has reactivated the option of calling in the military to take over power, in preference to handing power over to Goodluck Jonathan, Yar’Adua’s deputy. It is now known that Akunyili’s five-page memo, which she first circulated yesterday at the FEC meeting, has now been formally submitted by the minister, who is insisting that the FEC change its earlier position that Yar’Adua was fit to continue in office and therefore does not need to hand over power to his deputy. According to a minister who did not wish to be named, after Mrs. Akunyili presented her circular to the FEC yesterday, Yar’Adua's loyalists led by the Minister of Agriculture, Sayyad Abba Ruma, shouted her down, but Akunyili stood her ground and insisted that the memo be discussed. Things reportedly got out of hand as a majority of the ministers said she had not properly presented the document to the body through the office of the Secretary to the Federal Government, Ahmed Yayale. Sensing that the memo might be sabotaged, Akunyili agreed to withdraw the circular and went out of the council chamber to call on one of her aides to present it as a memo. She succeeded in submitting it to the FEC before the meeting was over. She is insisting that the memo be discussed next week and our sources confirm it is now part of the agenda for next week’s FEC meeting. Her memo specifically asked the cabinet to rescind its 3 December 2009 declaration that the President is not incapacitated.

Do The "HAWKS" In FEC Have the Authorization to Sack Dora Akunyili

2010-02-03T22:25:00.003+01:00

Alliance of the feudal North and decadent West

2010-02-03T22:07:00.004+01:00

Frederick Forsyth, in his controversial book The Making of an African Legend: The Biafra Story, writes: “Victors write history, and the Biafrans lost.” It should be recalled that at the end of the civil war in 1970 General Yakubu Gowon famously declared that there were no victors and no vanquished, even though it is clear to all that the civil war established the military power clique that superintends over the country to this day. At independence in 1960 Nigeria was said to stand on a tripod of East, West and North. The civil war ensured that the North in alliance with the West defeated the East. The oppressed minorities of course took sides with the victors. That is a simple historical fact, and any other embellishments only exist to serve expedience. Samuel Johnson in his History of the Yorubas writes: “Light and civilization with the Yorubas come from the North.” According to Michael Crowder in The Story of Nigeria, “When the British occupied Nigeria they had almost no contact with the large Ibo and Ibibio population of the East, whilst already many Yoruba had received English education and provided a small intellectual elite in Lagos. Population pressures and land hunger in the East forced many Ibo and Ibibio to migrate to the cities of the West and North, where they proved remarkably successful as clerks, railway workers and storekeepers.”

In The Trouble with Nigeria Chinua Achebe writes: “Nigerians of all other ethnic groups will probably achieve consensus on no other matter than their common resentment of the Igbo… The origin of the national resentment of the Igbo is as old as Nigeria and quite as complicated. But it can be summarized thus: The Igbo culture being receptive to change, individualistic and highly competitive, gave the Igbo man an unquestioned advantage over his compatriots in securing credentials for advancement in Nigerian colonial society. Unlike the Hausa/Fulani, he was unhindered by a wary religion and unlike the Yoruba unhampered by traditional hierarchies. This kind of creature, fearing neither god nor man, was custom-made to grasp the opportunities, such as they were, of the white man’s dispensation. And the Igbo did so with both hands. Although the Yoruba had a huge historical and geographical head-start the Igbo wiped out their handicap in one fantastic burst of energy in the twenty years between 1930 and 1950.”

The fear of the other tribes could not have been assuaged by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe’s statement, to wit: “It would appear that the God of Africa has created the Ibo nation to lead the children of Africa from the bondage of the ages…” When Majors Emmanuel Ifeajuna and Patrick Nzeogwu struck to end the wobbling First Republic, the coup was tagged an “Igbo Coup” even though the plotters had planned according to them to release Chief Obafemi Awolowo from prison and compel him to rule the country. On why the coup-makers wanted Awolowo as the leader of the country, Major Ifeajuna wrote in his unpublished manuscript: “Chief Awolowo launched forth his party on a platform of tribalism, and for his parochial and partisan approach to national issues, he got deserving blame. But probably in the later Awolowo of after the 1959 Federal election that began the fiasco, our people saw for a second time an image of honesty, courage and discipline… In time he came to win the respect and admiration of even his greatest detractors, and what was more, he came to represent a rallying point for the young and the intellectual, for all that sought progress and nationhood for our country.

FEC fall apart: Akunyili submits "Yar'Adua step down" memo

2010-02-03T20:38:00.004+01:00

Yar’Adua’s Minister for Information, Dora Akunyili, created a fiasco at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja today as she submitted a memo calling on the FEC to face up to the reality of Yar’Adua’s incapacitation. She expressed the view that they should urge their principal to transmit a letter to the National Assembly to facilitate a smooth transition. Predictably, the memo, in which she warned that the FEC had taken the Nigerian people for granted for too long and should do the right thing by urging the president to step down, was shot down by hawks in the cabinet, who did not permit it to enter the agenda. An FEC source told Saharareporters that although Mrs. Akunyili's brave memo was rejected by the hawks, a “cowardly” majority of the members actually supported her position and some of them even congratulated her after the meeting, which lasted only 90 minutes. After the meeting, Mrs. Akunyili briefed the media about the downward “review” of Federal Capital Territory land rates, but did not say anything relating to Yar’Adua’s health. The atmosphere after the FEC meeting was reportedly tense, and the ministers hurriedly left the Aso Rock Villa to avoid speaking to the press. Last week, the Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa, claimed after the FEC meeting, in response to a 14-day Federal High Court order that lapses this Friday, that Yar’Adua was fit to continue in office .

DoraAkunyili with Yar'adua

President Umaru Yar’Adua’s failure to write National Assembly is an impeachable offence

2010-02-02T17:13:00.011+01:00

The prolong absence of President Umaru Yar’Adua from government without handing over to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan is a gross violation of section 145 of the Nigerian constitution and hence an impeachable offence. Section 145 mandates the president to formally inform the national assembly of is medical trip and transfer power to the vice president in an acting capacity. This episode also marks the jurisprudence of constitutional supremacy and its effect on the office of the president in our democracy. Constitutional im

peachment provisions were copied from English practice to the degree the section on impeachment was. In England, impeachment was a device to remove from office one who abused his office, misbehaved, or neglect of duty but who was protected by the Crown.

President Andrew Johnson of the United States in 1869 was impeached by the House on the ground that he had violated the Tenure of Office Act of 1775 by dismissing a Cabinet chief. The US Congress, in impeaching President Johnson stated that, ''An impeachable high crime or misdemeanor is one in its nature or consequences subversive of some fundamental or essential principle of government or highly prejudicial to the public interest, and this may consist of a violation of the Constitution, of law, of an official oath, or of duty, by an act committed or omitted, or, without violating a positive law, by the abuse of discretionary powers from improper motives or for an improper purpose.”

Section 143 of the Nigerian Constitution provides that the President or Vice President may be removed from office on impeachment for gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office. The Nigerian constitution unlike the US constitution that did not define what is high crime and misdemeanor went further to define gross misconduct as a grave violation or breach of the provisions of the Constitution or a misconduct of such nature as amounts in the opinion of the National Assembly to gross misconduct.

Thus, the operative legal standard to apply to an impeachment of a sitting President is gross misconduct as a grave violation or breach of the provisions of the Constitution.

Behold, A Rat! Or Can’t You Smell It?

2010-02-02T16:56:00.005+01:00

The latest in today on the shameful concert a-stage in Abuja is from the Arewa Consultative Forum. The ACF would want the clause in the “Constitution” on incapacitation of the President to be respected. It wants Mr. Goodluck Jonathan to be allowed to assume the mantle of power as president given Mr. Musa Yar’Adua’s continuing health-related incapacitation and abdication. I don’t know about you, but even though I’m not a rat, I do smell rat here. It doesn’t take a genius talk less a class in introductory political science for anyone to discern that the same line-up of individuals who hold the realization of genuine democratic transformation in Nigeria hostage are scrambling again to abort the current opportunity to achieve that necessary condition for Nigeria’s progress and development. They all know that the game they play so well is up again. They are ever busy now scrambling to salvage the rump yet another time. Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo’s shameless “God punish me” response to a question in Abuja the other day, and the excursion to Abuja by the so-called Elders last week, are all indicators of the same desperation to abort by the line-up. People of goodwill must not allow them to succeed this time.

That Yar’Adua has been badly compromised on health grounds to hold up the trough that these characters feed off to the detriment of the peoples of Nigeria and their over all destinies is not lost on them. That, has been evident from the time it has taken them to scramble up counting from the day he went out on a stretcher in the middle of the night more than two months ago to Saudi Arabia. Did it slip their minds that the relevant clause that should apply in this case in the “Constitution” they produced in 1999 and brandished in our name must be triggered into effect? They have been busy tinkering to see how much time they can buy to sustain the status quo. The tide has turned on them, and they know it too. That’s why they have signaled their readiness now to move to their next act of holding true democratic transformation in Nigeria hostage. We must stop them this time.

Work-chop-cracy

2010-02-02T16:29:00.004+01:00

A group of individuals known as the ‘Face of Lagos’ recently accused Gov. Babatunde Fashola of financial recklessness and impropriety. Following these allegations, the Lagos State House of Assembly (LSHA) in a swift response constituted a panel to investigate these allegations. If we are happy to see James Ibori, Lucky Igbinedion, Orji Kalu go to jail, but we are not interested in investigating allegations of corruption levelled against Fashola because we think he his performing. Such attitude smacks of hypocrisy.

As we know, a group of individuals known as the ‘Face of Lagos’ recently, through paid newspaper advertorial, accused Gov. Babatunde Fashola of financial recklessness and impropriety. Following these allegations, the Lagos State House of Assembly (LSHA) in a swift response constituted a panel to investigate these allegations

As I write, the motive of the investigation panel is still been queried by members of the public. Some have described it as the proverbial “hand of Esau and voice of Jacob”. Some consider the investigation as the first step in the plot to impeach the state governor. There are insinuations that the disagreement between the godson and godfather is because the former has not allowed the latter to have an unfettered access to the state vault. There have even been comments about why the LSHA has not probed the 8-year rule of the supposed godfather.

State Of The Nation: Is President Yar’adua Actually Alive Afterall?

2010-02-02T15:44:00.008+01:00

Last week, the spin doctors of President Yar’Adua made Nigerians believe that he has substantially recovered and in good and stable condition to return to the country. But this turned out to be another hoax. Rather, there are fresh speculations and another spin that he will return this week. And this again has raised the question of the actual where about and state of health of the President. If to be alive means to be living, breathing, active, lively and energetic, then it is not out of place for concerned Nigerians to ask: Is President Yar’adua actually alive?

When a highly respected national newspaper authouritatively reported that President Yar’Adua has become an invalid as a result of a catastrophic chemically-induced brain damage he suffered from treatments he received at the Saudi hospital and that he continually goes in and out of coma, the President’s handlers merely described the report as an expression of the opposition mindset.

However, the newspaper report coupled with the Abuja protest march, and the Abuja High Court 14-day ultimatum forced the President’s handlers to stage the acting of that Saudiwood “Umooru Are Dead Part II” produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

And ever since, who else, maybe apart from his wife Turai Yar’adua, has spoken to the President? Not even his deputy, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan. Is it not curious that the President has refused to talk with anybody even his close aides? How can the President’s handlers explain this awkward situation? It has been said that if the President is actually alive and still breathing, he may likely be in a state where he cannot talk, eat and interact not to talk of coming back to govern the country. And we have to believe it since there is no alternative explanation.

Let’s look at an extract of the comments on the internet by a Nigerian US-based medical expert who actually is well informed on the gravity of the President’s ailment: “Yar’adua is now probably a shadow of himself and if by a miracle, he is able to make any decision, such decision cannot be trusted because it would be from a drug induced mind as he is most likely under chemically induced coma.

“Under chemically induced coma, he is sedated. As a result, he is not capable of making any decision. With heavy sedation, he will not be alert, oriented to time, place or person. Even if the sedation is stopped, it will take sometime for him to speak. His decision should be questioned because he will be making them under the influence of mind-altering drugs.”

So it is laughable for the Eminent Elders Group, the leadership of the National Assembly, and the wide spectrum of aggrieved opposition to continue to insist that “the only way to solve the problem of the current power vacuum at the Presidency is for the President to make his vacation formal and for the National Assembly to insist that there is a penalty for refusal to submit a letter. Which President is going to make his vacation formal- Umaru Yar’adua or who?

Burundi arrests 'coup plotters'

2010-02-01T14:52:00.006+01:00

Thirteen soldiers in Burundi have been arrested for plotting a coup to overthrow President Pierre Nkurunziza, the army chief of staff has said.

Major Gen Godefroid Niyombare said the 12 soldiers and one officer had been caught in a meeting near Lake Tanganyika earlier on Friday.

Correspondents say there are fears this may affect elections due in June.

They will be the second polls to be held in country since the end of the deadly 12-year, ethnic-based civil war.

Major Gen Niyombare said those arrested were from both the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups.

Investigations were ongoing and more arrests should be expected, he added.

In 2007, former President Domitien Ndayizeye was acquitted of charges of plotting a coup.

A former rebel leader himself, President Nkurunziza was elected five years ago under a deal to end the years of conflict between the Tutsi army and Hutu rebels.

Some 300,000 people are believed to have died during the war.

Arewa backs power transfer to Jonathan

2010-02-01T14:15:00.007+01:00

The Arewa Consultative Forum, the foremost northern socio-political group, on Sunday accused members of the Executive Council of the Federation of lying to Nigerians when they announced last Wednesday that President Umaru Musa Yar'adua was fit to continue in office.

In a press statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Anthony N.Z. Sani, the Arewa Forum described the action of the ministers as, "a deliberate attempt to foist falsehood on the Nigerian people".

The group said the ministers' resolution, "is aimed at playing down the reality of President Yar'Adua being either on vacation or incapacitated, considering the obvious fact that the President has been away from his duty post for more than two months now.

This kind of resolution by the Council calls into question our leaders' commitment and adherence to constitutional governance, to the peaceful unity of the nation and to Nigeria's image in the comity of nations," the group said.

While it only had harsh words for the Executive Council, the group expressed support for the position of Nigeria's former leaders which canvassed that Mr. Yar'Adua should handover to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan.

"The Arewa Consultative Forum commends the Eminent Elders Group (as symbolised by former President/Heads of State and elder Statesmen) in lending its weight to the voice of those who have been saying that the National Assembly should pressure President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to transmit a letter to its leadership to the effect that he is on vacation, or he is hospitalised, in line with Section 145 of the Constitution. This would be in the interest of constitutional democracy and in the in the interest of the nation and its economy."

Yar’adua camp spends N20 billion to scuttle his removal

2010-01-31T21:30:00.004+01:00

Saharareporters has learned authoritatively that the closest associates of missing and sickly Nigerian ruler, Umaru Yar’adua, have gone on a bribing spree to scuttle moves to remove him from office. In the face of increasing local and international pressure on Yar’adua to handover power to his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan, the ailing “president’s” kitchen cabinet has handed Speaker of the House, Dimeji Bankole, the sum of N2 billion and another N4 billion to Senate President David Mark to stop any legislative or judicial initiative to either impeach Yar’adua or compel him to hand over power to Jonathan. Some of the top players in Yar’adua’s unofficial but powerful inner cabinet are his wife Turai, former Governor James Onanefe Ibori, special economic aide, Tanimu Yakubu, Attorney General Michael Aondoakaa, and Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara. Former President Ibrahim Babangida maintains constant consultation with the group.

It is not known how the kitchen cabinet hopes to impose their agenda on restive Nigerians, but Tanimu Yakubu reportedly told Bankole and Mark yesterday that the Yar’adua group was prepared to spend three times what Obasanjo spent on his third term agenda to stop the popular movement for Yar’adua to resign and hand over power to Jonathan.

The group’s selling point against Jonathan is to tell legislators, judges and Nigerian opposition groups that Jonathan is too close to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and, as president, would be controlled by the hugely despised Obasanjo.

In interviews with several lawmakers as well as sources close to the Yar’adua camp, Saharareporters gathered that the huge pay offs to Bankole and Mark were part payment of a N20 billion campaign to stop the judiciary and the legislature from acting against Yar’adua as he struggles against a deteriorating health condition.

SERAP asks ICC Prosecutor to probe alleged crimes against humanity in Jos

2010-01-31T21:10:00.012+01:00

A civil society group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has petitioned Luis Moreno Ocampo, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague, The Netherlands requesting him to use his position “to investigate allegations of unlawful killing of at least 326 people and perpetration of other crimes under international law during the violence this month in Jos, Plateau State of Nigeria; and the reports that the military and police used excessive force against both Christians and Muslims in responding to the violence.” In a petition dated 29 January, 2010 and sent to Mr Ocampo by Solicitor to SERAP, Mr Femi Falana, the group said that “Nigeria is a state party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and deposited its instrument of ratification on 27 September 2001.” According to Falana, “the Plateau State Police Command said that at least 326 people were killed during the violence. Tens of thousands are displaced, and denied access to humanitarian assistance and basic necessities of life such as food and medical care. Many have not been assisted to return to their homes and land, or provided with alternative accommodation.”
“The latest violation of international law in Jos is coming just after the apparently unlawful killings of more than 700 people that followed the Boko Haram crisis last year. Inter-communal, political, and sectarian violence have claimed the lives of more than 20,000 people, including women and children, during the past 10 years,” the group added. The group also said that, “Those who are suspected to be responsible for the latest violence and previous outbreaks of deadly violence in Jos have not been arrested let alone brought to justice because the government has shown itself to be too weak to act, contrary to its international legal obligations, including under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The government usually response to outbreaks of violence in many parts of the country by setting up commissions of inquiry, but few of them have ever published their reports, and even when they have, their recommendations have rarely been acted upon or led to prosecutions.”

The Time to Act is Now-Ken Nnamani

2010-01-28T21:33:00.007+01:00

Text of a Press Conference on Thursday, January 28, 2010 by Sen. Ken Nnamani GCON, Chairman, Steering Committee, Good Governance Group (3G): As the nation slouches towards avoidable constitutional and political crisis, the words of Dante Alighieri, the Italian poet that the hottest part of hell is reserved for whoever fails to act in a moment of moral crisis should sound clear in the ears of every Nigerian. Nigeria faces crisis of unimaginable proportion today on account of the ill-health of President Yaradua. It is a big shame that a country that pretends to aspire to become the 20th leading economy in the world by the turn of this decade cannot manage the transition of power in the wake of the hospitalization of the President. The Constitution has provided sufficient guidance on what should be done when unexpectedly an elected President can no longer continue to exercise executive power as President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That guidance is in Section 144 of the Constitution. It requires that the Federal Executive Council, the body with the greatest proximity to the President, should declare him incapable of exercising executive power so that he could be replaced by the Vice President.
The failure of the Executive Council of the Federation to initiate action based on the provisions of Section 144 of the Constitution is a failure of leadership. Chief Ojo Maduekwe, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, declared in an interview at the United Nations recently that he is a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not of President Yar'adua. This is right. The implication is that the primary responsibility of the Executive Council of the Federation is to promote the efficacy of the Federal Executive power. The Federal Executive is an institution not a person. To refuse to rise up to the patriotic duty of declaring the President incapable is a fundamental breach of the Constitution by members of the Executive Council of the Federation.

Your Lobbying on behalf of James Ibori: Potential Breaches of the Code of Conduct for the Bar and the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament

2010-01-28T20:37:00.006+01:00

Dear Mr Baldry:
1. I refer to your letter to me dated 8 January 2010. In the letter, you admitted writing a letter to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Attorney-General, the Secretary of State for Justice, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, and the UK High Commissioner to Nigeria on behalf of the serial convict Mr James Ibori.
2. In the letter you alleged that: “The letter I wrote concerning Nigeria was entirely in my capacity as a barrister, properly instructed and fully in accord with the Code of Conduct for the Bar.” 3. You will be aware that Part X of the Code Conduct for the Bar provides a comprehensive definition of legal services. It provides that: ‘"legal services" includes legal advice, representation and drafting or settling any statement of case witness statement affidavit or other legal document but does not include: (a) sitting as a judge or arbitrator or acting as a mediator; (b) lecturing in or teaching law or writing or editing law books articles or reports; (c) examining newspapers, periodicals, books, scripts and other publications for libel, breach of copyright, contempt of court and the like; (d) communicating to or in the press or other media; (e) exercising the powers of a commissioner for oaths; (f) giving advice on legal matters free to a friend or relative or acting as unpaid or honorary legal adviser to any charitable benevolent or philanthropic institution ...’

4. Therefore not everything done by a barrister is done in his or her capacity as a barrister and thereby in accord with the Code of Conduct for the Bar. I suggest that lobbying fellow Members of Parliament in senior Cabinet positions to interfere politically with ongoing judicial and prosecutorial is not covered by the above definition of ‘legal services’ under the Code of Conduct for the Bar.

5. In a similar letter to SaharaReporters you referred to section 303(a) of the Code of Conduct for the Bar. You stated: “I would simply observe that the Code of Conduct for the Bar in the England states that ‘. . . a Barrister must promote and protect fearlessly and by all proper and lawful means the lay client’s best interests and do so without regard to his own interests or to any consequence to himself or any other person’.”

6. You appeared to have overlooked the fact that said section 303(a) of the Code of Conduct for the Bar is found under the part of the Code specifically listed as “applicable to practising barristers.” It does not cover political lobbying.

Her imperial majesty, Turai Yar'adua

2010-01-28T19:54:00.008+01:00

For discerning persons who know how the Yar’Adua administration has worked since inception, the controversy that Vice President Goodluck Jonathan called Turai Yar’Adua, the first lady, to get directives on performing the duties of the president is really no news. With the structure at the seat of power in Abuja, it would not have been surprising to Aso Rock insiders that Jonathan called Turai to intimate her of political developments. A few weeks ago, the Federal High Court, Abuja ruled that the vice president could perform the duties of the president in the latter’s absence. Controversy broke out in the media when it was reported that rather than follow the ruling, the vice president was awaiting the reaction of President Umaru Yar’Adua or his wife. Specifically, Jonathan was said to have telephoned the first lady to intimate her of the ruling by Justice Dan Abutu and ask for directives on what to do. However, the vice president in a statement signed by Ima Niboro, special assistant on media, denied calling the first lady to take directives. Stating that Jonathan last spoke to Turai on January 5, after he had spoken to Yar’Adua, the statement declared that the vice president was not indecisive but was in charge and able to discharge the responsibilities of the office of president without seeking instructions from anyone. But Turai, in the power structure in the presidency has before now been one who has always called the shots. Her authority and hold on the levers of power have not even diminished by her absence due to her husband’s illness. Turai has always been the power behind Yar’Adua — in the home, when he was governor and now, that he is president. An incident of many years ago perhaps best dramatizes the power that Turai has always wielded in the president’s life and work. The words, words of wisdom as it turned out, were sown over two decades ago. But they have germinated in the pregnant belly of time and have finally been born in the political events that currently haunt Nigeria. In 1991, Umaru Yar’Adua, then somewhat a political neophyte, aspired to contest in the governorship race in Katsina State. Ordinarily, the election would have been a walk over. After all, his elder brother, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, a retired major general, was one of the most influential men in the Social Democratic Party, SDP, and the strongest political force in the state. But the older Yar’Adua would not support his brother. In fact, he was reported to have given tacit support to his brother’s opponent, Saidu Barda, candidate of the National Republican Convention, NRC. When SDP stalwarts went to the retired general to appeal to him to change his mind he reportedly asked them whom they wanted to put in Government House, Katsina; Umaru or Turai, his wife?

No payout for EU 'fraud' reporter

2010-01-27T21:53:00.007+01:00

A European Union court has rejected a claim for damages from a journalist who says he has been persecuted by the EU anti-fraud office, Olaf.

Hans-Martin Tillack was arrested by Belgian police and his files were seized after he exposed wrongdoing at the EU statistics agency, Eurostat.

He claimed damages from the European Commission, arguing that Olaf had triggered the Belgian police action.

But the court said there was no "causal link" between Olaf and his arrest.

Bribery allegation

Mr Tillack wrote two articles for Stern magazine in 2002 on alleged fraud at Eurostat, where large amounts of money were siphoned off into secret bank accounts.

Olaf then publicly accused "a journalist" of bribing one of its officials to obtain an internal memo.

It passed information to the authorities in Belgium and Germany, which led to Mr Tillack's arrest.

However, the EU's Court of First Instance ruled there was "not a sufficiently direct causal link between the forwarding of the information by Olaf to the Belgian judicial authorities and the damage claimed".

Mr Tillack denied paying for the Olaf memo, and accused Olaf of making the bribery allegation on the basis of rumour.

He took the case to the European Ombudsman, Nikiforos Diamandouros, who agreed that Olaf had made the allegation without a factual basis, and said this constituted a case of maladministration.

Question: Who Is In Charge? Yar’Adua or Minister of Agriculture, Abba Ruma

2010-01-27T21:37:00.002+01:00

FEC ruled Yar'Adua "capable of continuing his functions," says Aondoakaa

2010-01-27T21:32:00.005+01:00

Almost a week after a Federal High Court judge directed Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council to give a concrete affirmation that Nigeria’s ailing leader, Umaru Yar’adua was capable of performing his functions as “President”, his Attorney General, Michael Aondoakaa, this afternoon organized a bizarre and combative press briefing where he claimed that the cabinet has confirmed the bedridden Yar’Adua is in no way incapacitated, and is passed “fit” to continue as president. The AGF provided no evidence to the horde of journalists who asked him questions about how he and members of the FEC arrived at the decision. Mr. Aondoakaa merely stuck to the refrain that Yar’Adua was capable of performing his functions as president. Yar’Adua was hurriedly evacuated from Nigeria on November 23, 2009, after his health failed considerably. Since his departure, no one has seen him in person except, reportedly, his wife and two close aides. Before his departure, Yar’Adua characteristically did not hand over power to his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan, as mandated by the constitution.

The Petition:To Collect 1 Million Signatures Barring All Past and Present Nigerian Public Office Holders from being granted medical visas.

2010-01-27T21:16:00.002+01:00

Hand power to Vice-President, Senate tells Yar'Adua

2010-01-27T21:00:00.006+01:00

The Senate today resolved, in a landmark move, that sickly Nigerian leader, Umary Yar’Adua, should hand over power to his deputy by transmitting a letter to the upper house without delay. The resolution was swiftly commended by the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), which commended the Senate for coming to patriotic and democratic judgment in the resolution of the unwarranted constitutional crisis imposed by President Umaru Musa Yaradua and his handlers. It further called on the House of Representatives to follow suit. The Senate, which is dominated by Yar'Adua's People's Democratic Party, had been meeting in last 48 hours in the effort to come to a resolution. The issue has generally generally polarized and paralyzed the upper chamber. The Conference said in a statement, signed by Osita Okechukwu, its National Publicity Secretary, "CNPP has maintained that it is incongruous, unpatriotic and undemocratic for President Yaradua and his handlers to subordinate constitutional order under personal survival, in other words the survival of our fledgling democracy under self glorification and self service." It commended the Senate for appreciating that the power vacuum created by the absence of the Commander-in-Chief has unleashed unintended consequencies on Nigerians, thence sliding our democracy to quasi-dictatorship, rubbishing our image abroad and hindering peace, order and good governace. "We had wondered on what is wrong for a president availing himself of section 145 of the constitution which in all intents and purposes is the safety-net and common ground in the midst - 143,144 and 146." It further asked "the handlers of Mr President and the pliable Federal Executive Council to place the interest of the corporative existence of Nigeria above petty and selfish concerns."

Madam secretary Hillary Clinton: please blacklist the following Nigerians

2010-01-27T20:22:00.006+01:00

Dear Mrs. Clinton:
With all your years in politics, foreign affairs and the resources available to the United States government, I do not think there is anything about Nigeria that I need to tell you. You have read about it and you have been there to see for yourself. You know who the big players are in the country’s world of corruption and you know where they have stashed their stolen wealth. You have openly, and presumably diplomatically, condemned corruption in the country, During your August 2009 visit to Nigeria, you made overt references to the fact that Nigeria’s problems are rooted in its failure to deal with corruption. Just today, while addressing state department employees during a town hall meeting, you again seized the opportunity to tell the whole world about Nigeria’s failure to address the legitimate needs of its people and how such failure is gradually turning the country into a breeding ground for all sorts of undesirable elements. On behalf of millions of Nigerians, I thank you and the Obama administration profoundly for the above efforts. However, there is so much more to be done.

More than ever before, there is an urgent need to increase the pressure on Nigeria’s corrupt-beyond-redemption political class in order to prevent a total breakdown of law and order and possible civil war. If U.S. diplomatic history provides any clue with respect to conflict resolution, it is that a break down of law and order in Nigeria will force the US to make gargantuan human and material commitment to Nigeria and the Sub-region: a situation that is unnecessary in light of the options available, a situation that neither ordinary Nigerians nor the United States want; a situation that would create a refugee problem of a magnitude not seen in recent human history and be destabilizing to West African, European and North American countries.

In order to prevent Nigeria from descending into a civil war or several civil wars as is more likely to happen because of the country’s ethnic and tribal configuration, urgent steps must be taken to effect immediate and long term changes in the country. Nigeria is where it is today mainly because of the “elements” in charge of the country and their devious device which they have christened government. Permit me to suggest we are requesting the urgent assistance of the Obama administration in putting in place a no-visa list consisting of Nigeria’s leading government officials and their private sector collaborators. The no-visa list should at the very minimum contain the following:

• The country’s current leader (whoever that is) should be limited to the United Nations and Harlem the way Fidel Castro was during his 1960 visit;
• all past leaders and governors;
• all current state governors with the exception of one or two who are doing their jobs;
• all past and current federal ministers and state commissioners;
• all past and present lawmakers at the federal and state levels
• all past and current local government chairmen/chairlady and the elected councilors who assist them in looting their respective treasuries;
• past and present managers of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, and other leading government corporations;
• past and present MD/CEO’s of all banks in the country;
• all past and present ambassadors of the country for their roles as agents of an evil regime;
• all previous and present police and military officers beyond the rank of Major or its equivalent;
• all judges from the magistrate courts to the Supreme Court of Nigeria for their roles in accepting bribes and perverting the course of justice;
• the present chairperson of the EFCC for her role in legitimizing corruption;
• the children and wives of those on the no-visa list;
• all known enablers of corruption not caught by the above list.

A serious consideration of the above list will show that 99.99% of the individuals who have destroyed Nigeria and stolen the people’s commonwealth will be found on the list. Having them on the no-visa list hurts no one but the crooks themselves. I believe in the list and given the power to implement it, it is exactly what I will have in place. Realizing that I do not have the power to implement the list and given other considerations, the above list maybe unwieldy and may lose the desired effect. Consequently, I will suggest a more pragmatic list made up of the following:

• Umaru Yar Adua and Goodluck Jonathan;
• all the current governors
• immediate past president and governors, especially those indicted or convicted for corruption (i.e. Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, Lucky Igbinedion, Orji Kalu, Peter Odili, and James Ibori – ignore the Kangaroo court discharge);
• all current federal ministers and state commissioners, particularly, Michael Aondoakaa, Dora Akunyili, Ojo Madueke and Rilwani Lukeman;
• all current senior officers of the police and armed forces
• all current managers of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Power Holding Corporation of Nigeria and other leading government corporations;
• Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga, Dahiru Mangal and all Nigerian billionaires because there is no legitimate Nigerian billionaire (those who want to argue their cases should be asked to submit their income tax returns for examination);
• The judges and justices of the Federal, Appeal and Supreme Courts for their roles in accepting bribes and perverting the course of justice;
• The current chairperson of the EFCC, Farida Waziri;
• The current officers of the National Assembly, including the David Mark, Dimeji Bankole and Jubril Aminu who has been indicted in the Siemens bribery scandal but is still angling to become the vice president in the event Goodluck Jonathan becomes the president of the country;
• The chairpersons of all the banks indicted by the Central Bank of Nigeria, including Cecilia Ibru and the coward called Erasmus Akingbola who claims to have accumulated assets of over $2 billion (N322 billion) dollars with a monthly salary of $10,000 (N1.5 million). An eye should also be kept on below-rader crooks like Chukwuma Saludo – former Central Bank governor, Jim Ovia of Zenith Bank and Tony Elumelu of Uba who are just as corrupt as the indicted ones;
• Some traditional rulers and pastors for their roles in providing recognition to corrupt politicians in exchange for part of the looted funds;
• Including Journalists who have sold their souls in exchange for Abuja land and other pecuniary benefits will force them to return to their basic responsibility of holding government accountable to the people;
• The children and wives of all those on the list because they school and live in the west with monies looted from the ordinary people of Nigeria;

Is Corruption A Crime Against Humanity....? If so it amounts to Terrorism

2010-01-27T20:13:00.003+01:00

Who Killed These Men and Women?

2010-01-27T20:01:00.003+01:00

In Nigeria, more so in the last thirty years, killing has become a way of life. Depending on the regime in power, killings can either be a past time or a trade. The government and or some elements within the Nigerian State, has been killing those they hate, envy or are tired of. For instance, when the Nigerian government didn’t know what to do with Dele Giwa they blew him up. When they didn’t know what to with Ken Saro-Wiwa, they cooked up phony charges and then hanged him. When Alfred Rewane was becoming a thorn on their flesh, they silenced him. Along with these eminent citizens are dozens of unsung Nigerians who were also murdered by the state or by individuals within the state. Nigeria is probably the only country in Sub-Sahara Africa were human life means nothing; it is perhaps the only country were humans are slaughtered the way chickens are slaughtered. Humans are swatted the way one would a housefly. Killing is done without feelings, without regards and without remorse. For a buck -- for a lousy buck -- you could lose your life. You may lose your life if you say the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time. Instead of legal actions in the court of law, people resort to extralegal actions. Instead of justice, there is jungle-justice. The level of intolerance is such that unknowingly stepping on toes could cost one his or her life. Living is so expensive; life has become cheap.

Three years after Jerry Agbeyegbe was killed, the police have yet to successfully resolve his murder. In their murky attempt to resolve his murder, they almost soiled his reputation. Today the case remains an unresolved homicide. Who killed Sunday Ugwu, Momoh Lawal, Odunayo Olagbaju and Janet Oladapo? Who killed them? Who killed Ahmed Pategi and his police orderly? And who killed Victor Nwankwo, the younger brother of Arthur Nwankwo? I wonder if any murder case has ever been conclusively and satisfactorily resolved in Nigeria.

I have wondered in the past: how many Nigerians have to lose their lives before this government comes to the realization that something is terribly wrong with our security and legal system? Why do we have a government -- when government can not assure us of our safety? Beyond the obvious, this is a sad commentary on us as a nation because, even in peace time, Nigeria is like a country in perpetual war mode. Only in times of war do people lose their lives. Only in times of war, do parents bury their children. Only in times of war does the populace live in unending fear. Only in times of war and political instability does anarchy rein supreme. But not so in Nigeria.

There are several ways to be killed in Nigeria including but not limited to firing squad, parcel-bombing, hanging, tea or food poisoning, armed-robbery style killing, staged vehicular accidents, and deliberate road-side shooting. Sadly, this is the situation in today’s Nigeria. It is one thing to be known as a nation of the parasitically corrupt; but quite another to be known as a nation of callous and cold-blooded murderers.
Harry Marshall’s death is still unresolved even though the evidence seems to points to the River State government house. Who killed Kudirat Abiola, John Nunu, Funsho Williams, Chimere Ikoku, Ayodeji Daramola, Dele Arojo and Isyaku Muhammad? With the passing of each month the list grows longer and longer and longer. Who killed Udo Marcus Akpan, Ogbonnaya Uche, Theodore Agwatu, and Emily Omope? And who can forget the killing of Abigail and Barnabas Igwe -- the husband and wife team who devoted their lives to the betterment of humanity. And does anyone know who killed Bala Mohammed? In a very positive manner Bala was amongst the very first who caught my young and impressionable political mind.

How to Start a Revolution

2010-01-21T21:53:00.005+01:00

The roving demonstration by Nigerians around the world is a good thing. It is proof that there is still a juncture where Nigerians will rise up to reject abysmal failure, absurd whims and voracious greed. While we celebrate this return to activism, after years of complicit acquiescence, we must not confuse it for what it is not. Soon after the Abuja demonstration, some Nigerians declared that the revolution had begun. Others claimed that in our own eyes, the New Nigeria had been born. The reaction of most Nigerians falls in line with that affliction that has been killing us all – low expectations.

It is low expectations that make us clap for a governor who pays workers’ salaries on time. It is low expectations that make us name a governor who repaired roads as the governor of the year. It is low expectations that make us include the Nigerian factor whenever we make plans, programs and projections. Low expectations make us celebrate mediocrity.

Nigerians are interesting people. We get excited very easily. We get tickled by trifles. We get bemused by buffoons. We get pillaged by priests. We are tormented by the thugs in our midst.

A demonstration does not make a revolution. While it may lead to one, it does not on its own make a revolution.

Survivor describes Nazi camp at Demjanjuk trial

2010-01-21T21:38:00.009+01:00

Jewish prisoners had to unload decomposed corpses at the Nazi death camp at Sobibor and were forbidden to warn new prisoners that they would be gassed within the hour, a survivor testified Thursday at the trial of John Demjanjuk.

The Ukrainian-born Demjanjuk, an 89-year-old retired Ohio autoworker, is accused of serving as a low-level guard at the Nazi camp in occupied Poland and is charged with accessory to murder in 27,900 deaths. Demjanjuk rejects the charges, saying he never served in Sobibor or any other Nazi camp.

Sobibor survivor Philip Bialowitz told the Munich state court that Jews being brought from western Europe largely believed the Nazi ruse that they were being resettled and arrived at the camp relieved that their long journey was over.

The 84-year-old testified that he and other Jewish prisoners helped unload the trains, under the watch of German SS and Ukrainian guards. Music was played over loudspeakers to keep the atmosphere calm.

"When I helped the Jewish passengers with their bags, some of them offered me a tip," said Bialowitz, who was born in Poland and now lives in New York. "My heart was bleeding because I knew that they would be dead in less than an hour and I couldn't warn them."

China teen seen as hero for killing local official

2010-01-21T21:30:00.007+01:00

When Li Shiming was stabbed through the heart by a hired assassin, few of his fellow villagers mourned the local Communist Party official many say made their lives hell by seizing land, extorting money and bullying people for years.

Instead, villagers in the northern town of Xiashuixi have made Li's teenage killer something of a local hero. More than 20,000 people from the coal-mining area petitioned a court for a lenient sentence.

"I didn't feel surprised at all when I heard Li Shiming was killed, because people wanted to kill him a long time ago," said villager Xin Xiaomei, who says her husband was harassed for years by Li after the two men had a personal dispute. "I wanted to kill Li myself, but I was too weak."

The murder trial has again cast a harsh light on abuses of power by communist cadres and the frustration many ordinary Chinese feel with a one-party system that sometimes allows officials to run their districts like personal fiefdoms.

China's leaders have identified corruption as a threat to the country's progress, but an opaque political system dominated by the ruling Communist Party — which brooks no dissent — and the lack of an independent judiciary contribute to the problem.

Nigeria may collapse if... NDIG

2010-01-21T21:21:00.007+01:00

Being a Communiqué’ Issued At The End Of An Emergency Meeting Held In Ugheli, Delta State On The 20th Day Of January 2010 @ 12:30 P.M. Nigerian Time.
The NIGER DELTA INTEGRITY GROUP (NDIG) held an emergency meeting at Ugheli, in Delta State on the 20th of January 2010 concerning matters of urgent importance in the Niger Delta Region. At the end of the meeting, the NDIG resolved as follows: 1. That Nigeria stands the risk of a constitutional crisis owing to the prolonged absence of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. To prevent this impending crisis, the Group lends it voice to those calling for the immediate swearing-in of the Vice President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan (GCON) as acting President. In our view, the lacuna created by the absence of President Yar’Adua will escalate tension, mistrust and unnecessary power tussle, which are inimical to good governance and the rule of law. The Group affirms the corporate existence of Nigeria as an indivisible entity, and holds the view that the stability of Nigeria transcends ethnic, religious and party barriers.

2. That the Federal Government should implement the Post-Amnesty programme in a sustainable and holistic manner without any further delay. The Group strongly believes that the relative peace the Niger Delta People savour now may soon be truncated by the non-implementation of the programme. There are already palpable fears that militancy is likely to rear its ugly head if the tempo of peace is not sustained. The implementation of the Post-Amnesty programme should go simultaneously with the implementation of the 25% derivation funds in our collective push towards an equitable fiscal federalism. The Post-Amnesty Programme should not be politicized.

3. The NDIG calls on the Federal Government to revive all the moribund industries in the Niger Delta Region and Support the establishment of new ones to create employment for the teeming unemployed youths in the Region. With specific reference to Bayelsa State, the Federal Government needs to embark on physical infrastructural projects such as roads because of the huge capital outlay involved coupled with the difficult terrain. The NDIG believes that the slow pace of development in most States of the Niger Delta Region is as a result of lack of Federal presence in terms of industries and infrastructure that can attract foreign investments. In addition, special financial grants be given to Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta and Akwa Ibom States for the huge sums of money spent in the prevention of militant activities from snowballing into full-scale war. The monies spent in paying militants, the Joint Military Task Force and other matters pertaining to conflict resolution could have been committed to development projects.

Ibori moves to strike out London case

2010-01-20T21:29:00.008+01:00

As was widely expected, lawyers to James Ibori and his associates in the UK have now moved to strike out the money-laundering charges against associates of the former Delta State governor at the Southwark Crown Court in London. At the first mention today, the judge handling the case gave directives for a full hearing scheduled for Monday and Tuesday next week, the 25th and 26th of January 2010. Ibori is asking the judge to quash the charges against his associates and wife because the case against him at the Federal High Court in Asaba has collapsed, and the case in London should follow suit as a consequence. In detailed reports, Saharareporters had revealed how the former Chief Judge of Nigeria, Justice Abdullahi Mustapha, the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Michael Aondokaa as well as a judge of the federal court of appeal, Justice Amina Adamu Augie colluded with Ibori to set up a high court in Asaba paid for by the Delta State government and staffed by Ibori. The judge in the case Justice Mercel Awokulehin was paid $5 million to quash the case. The course of the new motion tallies with the plan of Nigeria’s Attorney General, Aondoakaa and James Ibori, to frustrate all manners of criminal charges brought against Ibori in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. In recent months, Ibori had also hired a British Member of Parliament, Tony Baldry, a lawyer by profession but a politician and businessman with extensive business interests in Africa, to interfere in the case within the British judicial system. In September 2009, Mr. Baldry wrote scathing letters to the office of the Attorney General in the UK excoriating the office for engaging in the trail of Ibori and his associates in London, conveying the impression Ibori is being persecuted, not prosecuted.

No room for evil to breathe in 2010

2010-01-20T21:22:00.004+01:00

What a year this is! In fact the exigencies of 2009 never gave Nigerians the time to shut down on the old year and prepare for the new one. From the punch of the economic crunch to the breakdown in service delivery, no fuel, no light, no food and then the dirt being kicked into our eyes by those brewing one controversy after another in a bid to profit from the circumstances created by the health status of our ailing president there was no room for a breather! Don’t even think about enjoying the little time tucked into the Christmas and the New Year holidays. Too much for a people to grapple with; too much for no good course. What impunity on the part of those who dare to visit such torture on our psyche. What cruelty on from those we gave the opportunity to serve us in very high places. Never mind the fact that most of these people were either rigged into such opportunities or were appointed by those who rigged their way to power, we gave them the opportunity because we failed to resist them when they began their evil manifestations from the word go.

Today Nigerians at home and abroad are trooping out to protest the political impasse created by the sick president, I wish we could turn back the hands of the clock to 1993 when the fairest elections we ever had were annulled. Of course there were protests that yielded some great results but how I wish we had the show of agree and solidarity from the larger public that we have today! I also wish I could turn back the hands of the clock to 2006/2007 when Gen Olusegun Obasanjo started scripting this Yar’adua drama that we all have become willy-nilly actors; actors in a tragedy that’s set in our own lives! How in the world has this come to be?

Drama everywhere! Innocent people on a Christmas day flight have a technical fault to thank for the air they still breathe. I’m trying not to get personal on that issue because at that point I begin to wonder who should take the blame for the making of a stray terrorist! I’ll allow discipline schedule that for another day. I will also try not to join deal with the controversial claims to the presence of terrorists in our country. Semantics and sentiments complicate issues and slur judgments.

Nigeria: Use Restraint in Curbing Jos Violence-Investigate Killings and End Discriminatory Policies-HRW

2010-01-20T21:16:00.003+01:00

Nigeria should ensure that its security forces use restraint and comply with international standards on the use of force in responding to the latest deadly outbreak of inter-communal violence in the city of Jos, Human Rights Watch said today. The government should also investigate and prosecute those responsible for the killing of at least 200 people during the violence, the latest of several deadly outbreaks in Nigeria, and address the underlying causes. This latest violence comes just over a year after Christian and Muslim clashes and the excessive use of force by the security forces responding to the conflict left more than 700 dead in Jos, the capital of Plateau State in central Nigeria.

“This is not the first outbreak of deadly violence in Jos, but the government has shockingly failed to hold anyone accountable,” said Corinne Dufka, senior West Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Enough is enough. Nigeria’s leaders need to tackle the vicious cycle of violence bred by this impunity.”

Clashes between Christian and Muslim mobs reignited in Jos on Sunday morning, January 17, 2010. There are conflicting reports of what triggered the violence. Civil society leaders report that it began with an argument over the rebuilding of a Muslim home destroyed in the November 2008 violence in a predominately Christian neighborhood. The Plateau State police commissioner, Greg Anyating, said the trigger was an attack by Muslim youth on Christian worshippers in the Nassarawa Gwom district of Jos, an allegation that Muslim leaders deny.

According to credible reports from civil society leaders, and national and international media, the violence was carried out by sectarian mobs armed with guns, bows and arrows, and machetes. Roving gangs are reported to have burned and looted houses, cars, and shops, as well as several churches and mosques. There are also several credible reports that the military and police used excessive force in responding to the violence.

Jos crisis escalates "beyond official control"

2010-01-19T21:41:00.004+01:00

Amidst conflicting reports on who or what actually started the latest round of bloodletting in Jos, Plateau State of Nigeria, Saharareporters has learnt that the crisis has escalated beyond control and is fast spreading to other areas of the state. An eyewitness report told Saharareporters by e-mail today that the crisis reignited when one Mallam Kabiru Muhammad, whose house was burnt at the beginning of the latest fighting but also destroyed during last year's crisis of November 28 and 29th 2009, went with some bricklayers to rebuild his house. The Christians in the area allegedly stopped him from realizing his plans, telling him no non-indigene would be lowed to renovate his house in the area anymore. Although there no confirmation about exactly who started the physical attacks, our source claims the Christians were responsible, leading the Muslims, who had stockpiled weapons to begin a reprisal attack.

Somali pirate clashes over ransom kill at least six

2010-01-19T21:38:00.004+01:00

Intense fighting between Somali pirate gangs over a record ransom amount paid for the release of a Greek oil supertanker has killed at least six people, elders and pirates said.

Three pirates and a civilian were killed in the latest bout of fighting that erupted in the town of Harardhere late Monday, elders and pirates told AFP by phone.

Tension has been high in the central Somali pirate lair since an estimated seven million dollars were dropped by a small plane on Sunday for the release of the VLCC Maran Centaurus.

The Greek-flagged supertanker is a third of a kilometre (300 yards) long and carrying two million barrels of crude oil.

"The situation is calm this morning but there is still tension between the pirates. Three of them, including a senior pirate leader, were killed so far and three others were injured," local elder Moalim Abdalla Hasan told AFP.

"We are trying to mediate between them because they are disturbing our peace. A civilian was killed in the crossfire and the residents are very concerned about this feud," he added.

Hasan Nile, a local grocer who could not open his shop on Tuesday because of the security situation in Harardhere, said the pirate vendetta involved heavy weapons.

Fresh Crisis Spreads In Jos

2010-01-19T21:33:00.002+01:00

Despite the calmness, initially experienced yesterday in jos, renewed hostilities occurred at Rikkos, Bauchi ring-road, Ali Kazaurf, Congo Russia and Katako area of Jos this morning. According to our correspondent, with the resumption of hostilities in Jos this morning, Plateau State government in consultation with the state security council, reviewing prevailing situation in Jos metropolis has directed the immediate imposition of a twenty-four hour curfew in Jos and Bukuru. According to a police official, who declined to be identified, said as many as 60 people may have been killed since Sunday when clashes started Police initially imposed a nighttime curfew on Jos on Sunday to ease tensions and prevent a repeat of the November 2008 clashes that killed hundreds of residents. But violence flared up again on Tuesday, forcing the police to extend its curfew. In a statement by commissioner for information and communication, Gregory Yenlong, residents are advised to adhere strictly to the directive. "In view of this situation in town, I hereby declare a 24-hour curfew starting from now," said Gregory Anyating, the state's police commissioner.

As Jos boils: who is the commander-in-chief?

2010-01-19T21:22:00.006+01:00

The sheer irresponsibility of a tiny power cabal keeping the country headless for selfish desires has again come to the fore with the bloodletting going on in Jos, Plateau State, without a Commander-In-Chief to take charge and deal with the situation. Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) notes with sadness that a little over a year after the last Jos crisis, another one has taken place, costing destruction of lives and property. It is more worrisome that the government has yet to take any concrete step on the previous crises in the city before the latest one broke.

What is more disturbing is that there is no Commander-In-chief who can even handle the situation effectively as President Umar Yar’adua has been away for 57 days now without handing over the reins of authority to his deputy.

It was the same situation when Farouk Mutallab saga happened and there was no president in Nigeria to talk to the American president.

24 hours after granting favourable ruling, Chief Judge Dan Abutu adjourns cases unfavourable to Yar'Adua

2010-01-15T14:14:00.003+01:00

One after the other, the serious legal challenges to the continuation as President of ailing Nigerian leader, Umaru Yar’Adua, were this morning at the Federal High Court in Abuja adjourned by the Chief Judge, Dan Abutu. It all happened one day after the same judge heard a bogus case that was hurriedly filed last week, and determined that the Vice-President does not need a formal transfer of power to "act" as President with Yar'Adua incapacitated.

First to be adjourned today was the case filed by the Nigerian Bar Association. It was followed by the case filed by civil rights attorney Bamidele Aturu on behalf of Honourable Farouk. They were both adjourned by one week, until January 22, for judgment.The third case, filed by West Africa Bar Association president, Mr. Femi Falana, was more eventful, as Mr. Abutu found himself booted by the law to the sidelines.

The case was transferred to another judge as the plaintiffs asked the Chief Judge to recuse himself to avoid likely bias in the handling of the case since he has already given a suspicious judgment yesterday in a similar case before him.In his judgment in that matter, which was filed by hitherto unknown litigants only six days earlier on January 7, courtesy of Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa, the Chief Judge declared that there is no vacancy in the presidency and as such Goodluck Jonathan can only act in those areas where Yar’Adua has delegated authority to him.

Nigeria House: New York City to sue Nigeria over unpaid real estate taxes

2010-01-14T15:33:00.005+01:00

The city has filed a federal lawsuit in Manhattan against the Nigerian government, claiming that the African nation failed to pay real estate taxes, officials announced today. The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court, claims that the Nigerian government failed to pay taxes for commercial offices and other non-tax exempt spaces in the 22-story building it owns at 828 Second Avenue in Manhattan.
The exact amount is not known because of the refusal of the Nigerian government to supply the city with documentation.As a result, the city is seeking between $4.1 million and upward of $16 million in unpaid taxes, other charges and interest from Nigeria, city officials said.The city provides a tax exemption to all foreign governments for their United Nations Mission and their consulates, officials said.The building -- known as “Nigeria House” -- is used partially for tax-exempt purposes, including as offices for the Nigerian Consulate and the Nigerian Mission to the UN.

Yar’ardua and The BBC hoax

2010-01-14T13:44:00.003+01:00

The BBC said President Yar'adua spoke with them via a telephone. Under normal circumstances one would have expected more quality control from the BBC, but no, they chose to place themselves in the middle of a raging civil issue in Nigeria. They forgot that when a bystander pulls a gun in a fight, he is no longer a bystander. He has become an active combatant. I wonder if they wanted us to accept the hoax they perpetrated.

Of course, it is well known that was another hoax by the Yar'adua handlers to hood wink the country into believing that he is recuperating well. Is it not just coincidental that it was on the eve of the civil rights march to the National Assembly? Of course we had been warned 24 hours to the time that they had something for Nigerians and the telephone hoax was it! The question now becomes why did the BBC not insist as a sign of professional etiquette to have a face-to-face interview with the man.

Their inability to secure a sit down interview with the man is a sign that all is not well with Mr. President. Someone tried to pull off an elaborate hoax by pretending to be Mallam Yar'adua. That was not he and this will be the second scam in a month from the PDP. First it was the Oluwole budget and now this. I hope they know they will account for their misdeeds some day soon. As if that was not bad enough, the supposed Mr. President chose to talk to only Northern Nigeria. He supposedly granted an interview to BBC Hausa service alone. In other words, the rest of the country that I want to safely assume supposedly voted for him could go to hell. That means the rest of us who do not understand the Hausa language do not count. That means he is the President of Northern Nigeria and the rest of us are just convenient appendages, yet he will not let go of us to find our own.

Judicial Perfidy: Chief Judge Dan Abutu's "arranged" judgement-Hard Copy attached

2010-01-14T13:38:00.003+01:00

Nigeria’s most bizarre judicial charade of the season, Federal High court in Abuja presided over by Chief Judge Dan Abutu endorsed the current vacuum created in the country by the continued absence of 'President' Umaru Musa Yar’Adua from his post. The suit filed late last week (January 7 2010) by Mr. Amobi Nzelu, an Abuja based lawyer acting in conjunction with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mike Aondoakaa, who was personally present in the court, declared that there is no vacuum whatsoever in the discharge of the functions of the President’s office.

The order of the court merely rubber-stamped the status quo ante-the stubborn refusal by ailing Yar'adua to hand over to his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan. Jonathan reportedly fell for the scam this time around!

Corruption up among China government officials

2010-01-12T08:21:00.005+01:00

China's anti-corruption watchdog has said that 106,000 officials were found guilty of corruption in 2009, an increase of 2.5% on the year before.

The number of government officials caught embezzling more than one million yuan ($146,000; £91,000) jumped by 19% over the year.

The government says the increase is due to better supervision of the problem.

But corruption is consistently rated the number one concern by Chinese, ahead of pirated goods and pollution.

There is widespread anger at the ostentatious lifestyle enjoyed by some Communist Party officials, police chiefs and bosses of state-owned companies, says the BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Beijing.

With no independent oversight of the ruling communists, corruption has bloomed.

Yar’adua’s health status: The lies, cover up and manipulation continue

2010-01-12T07:55:00.008+01:00

Rumors that Umaru Yar’adua, Nigeria’s sickly “president", had died swept through Nigeria and among Nigerians abroad after a hitherto little known website, “American Chronicles,” claimed in a report that the Nigerian “leader” had passed on December 10 2009 at the King Faisal Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The report, which turned to be false, quickly spread amongst Nigerians through the Internet and phone calls. Saharareporters received numerous telephone and email inquiries as to whether we could confirm the report.

The speculation about Yar’adua’s demise came on the heels of another news report carried by Lagos-based newspaper, Next, reports from sources that told the publication that Yar’adua was “brain-dead”.

A source in government in Abuja told Saharareporters that members of Yar’adua’s cabinet could not scramble to come up with a response to the Next story yesterday because Yar’adua’s absence had paralyzed governmental operations, and many ministers had skipped out of town, some of them abroad.

Segun Adeniyi, Yar’adua’s spokesperson, had traveled to watch the African Cup of Nations in Luanda while Information Minister, Dora Akunyili, had gone to Germany “to meet with her doctors and beauticians,” according to a presidency source. Foreign Minister Ojo Maduekwe was away in Ghana.

Last week, Ahmed Yayale, Secretary to the Federal Government, made what a source described as a “futile trip to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to assess Yar’adua’s condition.” This source said Yayale spent five days in Jeddah, but was not allowed to see Yar’adua. Our source said that, on his return three nights ago, Yayale voiced private fears to a few confidants that he feared Yar’adua was comatose.

Yayale’s failure to see Yar’adua also further exposed the lies orchestrated by Yar’adua’s handlers that the bed-bound “president” made phone calls to numerous officials, including VP Goodluck Jonathan, House Speaker Dimeji Bankole, and Senate President David Mark. Accounts of the alleged calls were leaked to the Nigerian press by Yar’adua’s Chief Economic adviser, Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi. The hoax was part of Mr. Kurfi’s effort to convince Nigerians that “Yar’adua was now recuperating well and well on his way to work and.”

Mexico opens 2010 with one of its deadliest days

2010-01-12T07:50:00.005+01:00

Mexico opened the new year with what could be its most dubious distinction yet in the 3-year-old battle against drug trafficking — 69 murders in one day.

The country resembled a grim, statistical dart board Saturday as law enforcement and media reported the deaths from various regions, including 26 in the border city of Ciudad Juarez, 13 in and aroundMexico City and 10 in the northern city of Chihuahua.

More than 6,500 drug-related killings made 2009 the bloodiest year since President Felipe Calderon declared war on the cartels in late 2006 and deployed 45,000 soldiers to fight organized crime, according to death tallies by San Diego's Trans-Border Institute.

Two weeks into 2010, gang bloodshed is becoming more grotesque as drug lords ramp up their attempts at intimidation. Last week a victim's face was peeled from his skull and sewn onto a soccer ball. On Monday, prosecutors in Culiacan identified the remains of 41-year-old former police officer divided into two separate ice chests.

"You wonder how this will end, and it seems impossible," said Daniel Vega, an architect in the northern city of Monterrey. "I doubt Mexico can override drug use, especially since demand for the drugs, as well as all the money and weapons, come from the United States."

Is president Yar’adua dead?

2010-01-09T14:28:00.005+01:00

The Nigerian President Umar Yar’Adua has been away from duty since November 2009. The rumor about his health is as strong as that about his death. In the news, one could see statements such as “The president is sound and fit”; “President Yar’Adua spoke with the Vice-President, Senate President, and Speaker of the House of Representatives.” It is curious that President Yar’Adua could “speak” with those three Nigerian officials and not care to put through a call and speak with President Obama of USA about the recent terrorism event involving a Nigerian, which has made Nigeria to be included in the list of countries of interest to the USA with regard to terrorism.

Will it not be correct to claim that President Yar’Adua, who reportedly “spoke” with the three Nigerians mentioned above, did not know of the efforts by the Nigerian to bomb an airline, and the fallout of the action? Even if he did not know about it, which would be strange for someone who is “alive and well” and able to engage in three phone conversations with three different people on the same day, didn’t any of those three Nigerians raise the issue with him, especially considering the “ultimatum” issued to the American government by the Nigerian legislature? If President Yar’Adua knew about the bomb affair and the resultant inclusion of Nigeria in the ignoble list that has generated a lot of anger among some Nigerians, and yet did not deem it necessary to call up President Obama could this not be interpreted as one more piece of evidence that President Yar’Adua is selfish and only cares about himself, his position, and power? Assuming President Yar’Adua was able to engage in the phone conversations that he reportedly did, and he did not send a single message to Nigerians, especially those who have been “praying” for him (none of the three officials conveyed to Nigerians any goodwill messages from Yar’Adua for the new year) would it not be appalling and buttress the perception that this president has no regard for Nigerians and their feelings?

Nigeria President Yar'Adua budget signature 'forged'

2010-01-08T23:37:00.004+01:00

Allies

of Nigeria's ailing president forged his signature on the country's supplementary budget last month, opposition politicians ha

alleged.

They have written to the police asking them to investigate the forgery claims.

The government said President Umaru

Yar'Adua signed the budget despite being treated for a heart condition in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Yar'A

dua has been away for six weeks, fuelling fears of a power vacuum in Africa's most

populous nation.

Doctors say he is suffering from acute pericarditis - inflammation of the lining of the heart. He also has a long-standing

kidney complaint.

In a bid to dispel fevered speculation over Mr Yar'Adua's health, ministers have insisted the president is recovering from treatment.

Information Minister Dora Akunyili said the president had spoken to his colleagues over the telephone on Tuesday.

Several court cases have been launched demanding that power be officially handed to the vice-president.

And one group of activists has even suggested the president should be declared a missing person, and a search party should be sent out.

Nigeria and its hijackers

2010-01-05T20:51:00.006+01:00

Nigeria is in danger of entering an unprecedented stage as a hijacked entity. In fact, the polity is in the throes of what ought to be called its proper name, a coup-in-progress. A small but desperate cabal is surreptitiously consolidating its illegitimate power grab. Nigeria has been reduced to Umaru Yar’Adua’s private toy, a plaything reserved for the sole pleasure of the man and his cronies.
As I write, Mr. Yar’Adua (whose self-appellation as servant-leader has become the cruel joke it was designed to be) has been away from Nigeria for more than forty days. Apart from his wife, and a tiny circle of associates, few Nigerians can swear that they know for certain where Yar’Adua is. All we know for sure is that he’s not in Aso Rock, the official residence of the Nigerian president. Most Nigerians imagine, of course, that the man is in a hospital in Saudi Arabia – not because it’s proven fact, but it’s simply the official line. It’s impossible to vouch for any information that comes from a government that’s raised duplicity and deception to the level of art.Forget, for a moment, that Yar’Adua’s “presidency” still reeks – despite the shameful verdict of the Supreme Court – of illegality. Worse, before our very eyes, a cabal hitched to Yar’Adua is usurping the sovereign will of Nigerians. That group is acting in the name of an enfeebled man who (at this writing) has absconded from his post.Michael Aondoakaa, Yar’Adua’s Attorney General, may not be at the center of this usurpation, but he strikes me as chief coordinator of this orchestrated conquest of Nigeria. Yar’Adua’s wife, Turai – who’s perhaps the most ambitious “presidential” spouse in Nigeria’s history – appears to be the chief engineer.It no longer startles Nigerians to hear it said that Aondoakaa is the worst attorney general in his country’s history. Nigeria has had some pretty unimpressive attorney generals, but Aondoakaa stands in a class all his own for mediocrity and crassness. Now he’s adding something even more dangerous and troubling to his resume: a facility for defending the degradation of the Nigerian constitution.

NLF calls for prosecution of British MP, Tony Baldry hired by Ibori to obstruct justice

2010-01-05T20:14:00.013+01:00

The Nigeria Liberty Forum (NLF) in London has asked the Metropolitan Police to investigate Mr Tony B aldry, the Honourable MP for Banbury, for a 24 September 2009 letter the MP wrote to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which he sought to pervert justice in the ongoing trial of associates of James Ibori, the former Governor of Delta State.
NLF calls for prosecution of British MP, Tony Baldry hired by Ibori to obstruct justice. The Nigeria Liberty Forum (NLF) in London has asked the Metropolitan Police to investigate Mr Tony Baldry, the Honourable MP for Banbury, for a 24 September 2009 letter the MP wrote to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which he sought to pervert justice in the ongoing trial of associates of James Ibori, the former Governor of Delta State.In the 30 December 2009 petition signed by Mr. Kayode Ogundamisi, the NLF said Mr. Baldry's letter, which was copied to several top officials of the government, constitutes an offence under Section 328 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The Forum called for the matter to be investigated , with a view to the urgent prosecution of Mr. Baldry.

Sir Paul Stephenson

The Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police

Metropolitan Police Service

New Scotland Yard

Broadway

LondonSW1H 0BG

Dear Sir

Potential Breach of section 328 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 by the Honourable MP for BanburyOn or about 24 September 2009, Mr Tony Baldry, the Honourable MP for Banbury, wrote a five-page letter to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Rt Hon David Milliband MP, and copied same to the Attorney-General, the Rt Hon Baroness Scotland QC, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, the Rt Hon Jack Straw MP, and the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP, apparently seeking to cause the discontinuation of an ongoing prosecution of the associates of the former Governor of Delta State of Nigeria, Mr James Ibori, for various money laundering offences at the Southwark Crown Court.I believe this action by Mr Baldry constitutes an offence under section 328 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Section 328(1) provides that:A person commits an offence if he enters into or becomes concerned in an arrangement which he knows or suspects facilitates (by whatever means) the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property by or on behalf of another person.

Death Of Innocence

2010-01-04T20:51:00.004+01:00

The world, nay Nigerians got a rude re-awakening when the news of the failed attempt to bomb the Delta flight over Detroit filtered through. I remember sitting bolt upright from my bed on that Christmas day. I was savoring a quite Christmas somewhere in Delaware flickering through just the comedy channels and skipping the hard news channels. It was Christmas and I did not want to be bothered. The world can go to hell for all I care. But I was mistaken. The scream from my wife downstairs that I should switch to CNN immediately rattled me. She was not the CNN type.
She was more the Tyra Banks, Oprah and Discovery health type. I knew immediately it had to be big news. Sure it was. A Nigerian youth had just failed in an attempt to blow up a Delta flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. 23 year-old Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab, who boarded the KLM flight from Lagos Nigeria, has just been arrested after his suicidal attempt to blow up the Delta plane with over 200 passengers failed and resulted in fire gutting his thighs and the seat area where he sat. Thanks to the sharp reflexes of some of the passengers, mother luck and above all God's intervention what I had thought was a beautiful white Christmas would have turned out to be a black Christmas and perhaps one of the worst Christmas days ever recorded.But that was not to be. I spent the entire day glued to the TV. I switched from one channel to another. Grabbed my laptop to monitor developments around the story. I wanted to gulp in as much information as possible. At first, I prayed there was a mistake somewhere and the said chap was not a Nigerian.Infact, I tried to find an explanation for the incident by trying to justify the fire as arising from the attempt of a cigarette addict or knuckle head attempting to have a quick smoke in flight.
However, five hours after the news broke and more information became available, reality dawned on me. With that reality came sadness and an apprehension never experienced before for Nigerians and Nigeria. I was in the USA, working at the Voice of America when September 11, 2001 happened. My office was less than 5 miles away from Pentagon, so it came close home. I covered the aftermath then and continuously for almost 8 years reported on the US led war on terror. From Pakistan, to Iraq, to Afghanistan the terrorists roamed. On the streets of London and other European capitals they planned, plotted and struck. The USA never rested. It worked with other countries to curtail and destroy the terrorists. It became an engaging war and Nigeria was not left out in supporting the USA and the international community in confronting terror.

Declare ‘president’ Yar’adua missing

2010-01-04T20:44:00.006+01:00

Worried by the prolonged absence from his presidential functions in Nigeria due to ill-health and the total ignorance by the Nigerian citizens of the whereabouts of President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, a call has gone to the National Assembly legislators billed to resume today, to declare the president missing and order a search team to locate precise whereabouts of our president and report back to Nigerians with verifiable video evidence.
Human Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA) a pro-democracy and development focused civil society organization which made the plea to the National Assembly legislators in a statement authorized by its National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko averred that the search team to be made up of top government officials, National Assembly leaders and some leaders of the organized civil society including Nigerian Medical Association and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) should ensure that when located, the ailing president should respect section 145 of the 1999 constitution by transmitting Presidential power temporarily pending his full recuperation to vice president Goodluck Jonathan to fill the leadership vacuum currently existing in Nigeria occasioned by President Yar’adua’s absence.

Three Malians to Soon Stand Trial in US Courts for Alleged Narco-Terrorism

2009-12-30T20:53:00.004+01:00

Three citizens of the West African country of Mali will soon go on trial here in the United States on charges of conspiracy to commit acts of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Oumar Issa, Harouna Toure, and Idriss Abelrahman were arrested on December 16 in Ghana after they allegedly agreed to transport cocaine through West and North Africa to Europe for al-Qaida, al-Qaida in the Islamic Magreb and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia known as FARC.

The three organizations have been designated by the U.S. State Department as foreign terrorist groups. Lou Milione, supervisory special agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said the arrests were made after a series of undercover meetings. “In the complaint, it lays out that there were series of undercover meetings where there were audio and video recordings, And during those negotiations, our undercovers, one of them presented himself as a member of the FARC. And the other undercover presented themselves as a Lebanese sympathizer or Islamic sympathizer and also anti-American,” he said.

This Decay Can Inflict Poetic Justice, Alhaji (Dr.) Mutallab

2009-12-30T20:12:00.005+01:00

The New York Times described him as “a prominent Nigerian banker and former government official”. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula boastfully called his son; their “Nigerian brother” who successfully outwitted airport security systems even though his determined efforts to wreck the havoc he was deployed for was marred by a ‘technical fault’.
Since Christmas Day when fate foiled 23-year old Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab’s attempt to bri ng d own a je tliner over Detroit one has watched in dismay as his father, Alhaji (Dr.) Umaru AbdulMutallab and the rest of his family embarked on a subtle PR ploy to cast themselves as unfortunate victims of their son’s indiscretion. Some, particularly in the popular press seem to have bought into their ploy: In a side bar, The New York Times proclaimed: “Parents of Suspect Offer Help”. From his London base, one Eddie Iroh in comments made in Nigeria’s Next newspaper was quick to praise Mutallab, the father for alerting Nigerian authorities and the US Embassy in Nigeria that his son had gone AWOL. My reading and assessment of Alhaji (Dr.) Mutallab’s alert is that he simply dialed 911 to for help that could bring his son back to him. The family statement confirmed as much: “We were hopeful that they would find and return him home”, it reads in part. The US Embassy cared less and rightly so, to use their system to help a man who pays neither tax nor tight to sustain it to look for his son and bring him home. That US authorities simply inserted the lad’s name into the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment, or TIDE, the extensive collection of data on more than 500,000 people, instead of the “far smaller no-fly list, which has only 4,000 names, or the so-called selectee list of 14,000 names of people who are subjected to more thorough searches at checkpoints” underscores the validity of my assessment even further. As for the Nigerian authorities, it’s premature at this point to even bother to infer why they wouldn’t bate an eyelid in response to Mutallab’s distress call. That fact will unfold clearly a little later in this piece.

Nigerians Fear Backlash Over Attempted US Bombing

2009-12-30T19:26:00.007+01:00

Many Nigerians think his action harmed the image of their country; the government plans to fight any attempt to stigmatize its citizens in the incident.

The botched Christmas Day bomb attack on a U.S. airliner involving a suspect from Nigeria has prompted concerns for Nigerians traveling abroad. Vice President Goodluck Jonathan warned the incident could trigger more scrutiny and "harassment" of Nigerians. The Nigerian government says it will fight any attempt to stigmatize its citizens in the wake of the alleged attempt to blow up a U.S. passenger jet by a Nigerian, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. The suspect has said he was trained by al Qaida in Yemen. Many Nigerians think his action harmed the image of the West African nation. But the government says the alleged attack was an "isolated incident" and cannot be an excuse to discriminate against Nigerians living or traveling abroad. House of Representatives member Abika Dabiri, who chairs the House Committee on the Diaspora, says Nigerians living abroad are very worried. "We've heard many complaints and worries from Nigerians in the diaspora as to how they are being treated, all of a sudden because of this," Dabiri said. "So we are worried about that, but we want to stress that the act of this Nigerian, this alleged act of terrorism, it doesn't represent the face and conscience of Nigerians so it should not be an opportunity or a reason to treat Nigerians all over the world shabbily." Nigerians have often complained about being targeted at international airports for stricter screening," Ekhomu said. "In Lagos, security consultant Ona Ekhomu says even more stringent security measures await Nigerians at foreign airports. "To all Nigerians, when you are flying abroad please have a great attitude. Do not go there and do our normal Nigerian thing. We are brash, we are very self-assured, we know our rights and stuff … you will end up in jail." The West African nation is without a leader at the moment, as President Umaru Yar'Adua is still receiving medical treatment in Saudi Arabia for a heart condition. Image-conscious Nigeria also faces unrest in its oil-producing region as well as endemic corruption, a high crime rate, poor infrastructure and other problems.

How Babangida killed Maryam

2009-12-30T18:50:00.008+01:00

Only God knows how painful Maryam Babangida's death has been to her husband of 40 years, Ibrahim. From all indications, it must have been very painful. They had never been separated for four decades, living together through the good, tough and bad times. When Babangida annulled a free and fair election in 1993 and was given the boot, he found comfort in his wife. She was never known to have failed to render him unconditional love and support. Even when Babangida character as a ruthless dictator was in play, Maryam never spoke badly about anything her husband did. Contrarily, she used her husband's position to her greatest benefit.
How b ad it must have been for Ibrahim to have spent the last few months like an ordinary human being attending to a sick wife in the United States? One of Nigeria's richest and most crowding-drawing leaders must have been humbled, going back and forth in an American hospital to care for a sick wife. Babangida was not ordinary. He had lots of mone y. He could have bought the hospital where his wife died and all the medical staff, if he wished, and shipped them to Minna. What went wrong? This did not happen, did it? Nigerian leaders know when they leave the shores of Africa, they lose the air of importance accorded at home. Quite often, they drive their own cars and are treated with courtesy but with none of the 'rankadede' accompaniments in Nigeria. When they eat their snacks, they have to throw the wrap in the bin like everyone else. When they go to the post office, they have to wait in line as everyone else. When they get to the airport, they must obey the rules. It must have been very humbling for Ibrahim Babangida to have gone through the 'disrespect' of the American life while at the same time tendering to a seriously ill wife.

Fresh Boko Haram crisis; Eight die in Bauchi

2009-12-28T20:57:00.004+01:00

Eight persons including two soldiers were feared dead today in renewed sectarian strife in Bauchi State. Members of a religious group, Kalakato, were said to have gone on the rampage in a bid to avenge the killings of some members of the Boko Haram sect about six months ago.
Two members of the group and four children aged between two and six are among the casualties. The children were burnt in a house they sought refuge.The Federal Low Cost Housing neighbourhood at Zango in the Bauchi metropolis was a no go area as armed soldiers and riot policemen battled the fundamentalists.The area was the scene of a similar skirmish last February 18.Soldiers and policemen are patrolling the street to restore normalcy.

Why is the Nigerian Army Promoting Senior Military Officers

2009-12-28T20:36:00.006+01:00

VP Goodluck Jonathan at logger-heads with Turai Yar’adua but still plays his card cool, Coup rumours and secret meetings; why is the Nigerian Army announcing the promotion of officers in the cadre of General? To bribe and stop them from organising a coup?

Eight officers were elevated to the rank of Major General, while 49 others were moved to the rank of Brigadier General.
Nigerian sick President, Umaru Yar’adua still on AWOL in Jeddah Saudi Arabia, high-wire intrigues and intense power struggle goes on inside Aso Rock, Nigerian caught in US airline terrorist attack, more pipelines explode in the Niger Delta, Banks in melt-dwon, Economy in doldrums, Anambra political crisis nears a powder keg, Maryam Babangida is dead, letter bombs explode in Lagos, Concerned Nigerians wonder what will happen on January 1st 2010, when there won’t be a Chief Justice of the Federation of Nigerian to swear in Jonathan Goodluck even if the powers that be agree to declare Yar’Adua incapacitated by then. Pointblanknews.com reports that some notable politicians said to be close to the ailing President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua may have approached some top military personnel with a whooping N10 Billion to take over power and subsequently hand over to them after six months.
Saharareporters say the first lady, Turai, Yar’adua’s wife insists that the military be allowed to take over power after a vacuum would have been created by January 1st 2010, when there won’t be a Chief Justice of the Federation of Nigerian to swear in Jonathan even if they agree to declare Yar’Adua incapacitated. The military, under the plan, would intervene to “prevent chaos and unconstitutionality from derailing Nigeria’s unity and corporate existence”.

Chinese ship crew 'rescued' from Somali pirates

2009-12-28T20:00:00.005+01:00

China says it has rescued the 25 crew members of a ship hijacked by Somali pirates in October.
No mention of ransom payment was made, despite reports that $4m (£2.5m) was delivered on Sunday.
The De Xin Hai bulk carrier is under Chinese naval escort after the rescue operation, the foreign ministry said.
The hijack was the first of a Chinese ship since China posted three warships to join the international anti-piracy force in the Gulf of Aden.

Bomb suspect came from elite family, best schools

2009-12-28T19:31:00.010+01:00

As a member of an uppercrust Nigerian family, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab received the best schooling, from the elite British International School in West Africa to the vaunted University College London.
But the education he wanted was of a different sort: Nigerian officials say his interest in extremist Islam prompted his father to warn U.S. authorities. As Abdulmutallab was being escorted in handcuffs off the Detroit-bound airliner he attempted to blow up on Christmas Day, he told U.S. officials that he had sought an extremist education at an Islamist hotbed in Yemen.
A portrait emerged Sunday of a serious young man who led a privileged life as the son of a prominent banker, but became estranged from his family as an adult. Devoutly religious, he was nicknamed "The Pope" for his saintly aura and gave few clues in his youth that he would turn radical, friends and family said.
"In all the time I taught him we never had cross words," said Michael Rimmer, a Briton who taught history at the British International School in Lome, Togo. "Somewhere along the line he must have met some sort of fanatics, and they must have turned his mind."
Abdulmutallab has been charged with trying to destroy a Northwest flight on Christmas Day with 278 passengers and 11 crew members on board. The detonator on his explosive apparently malfunctioned and he was subdued by other passengers.

Through an official, Abdulmutallab's father "expressed deep shock and regret over his son's actions."
His family home sits in the city of Funtua, in the heart of Nigeria's Islamic culture. Religion figured into the family's life: His father, Alhaji Umar Mutallab, who had a successful career in commercial banking, also joined the board of an Islamic bank — one that avoids the kind of interest payments banned by the Quran.
The large house, surrounded by a wall and a metal fence just off the main road running through the city, stood empty, a common occurrence for a jet-set family that sought an education abroad for Abdulmutallab. Family members told The Associated Press they could not comment but expected the family to issue a statement.

Beyond the tears for Mrs. Maryam Babangida

2009-12-28T19:14:00.008+01:00

While sympathizing with General Ibrahim Babangida over the death of his darling wife, Maryam, I am co mpe lled to recall a portion of my address at the at the public presentation of THE GATEKEEPERS on December 16, 2009 at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos when I observed inter alia:
“The Pius Okigbo Panel revealed that the Ibrahim Babangida junta diverted the huge sum of $12.2 Billion from the Dedicated Accounts in the Central Bank from 1998-1992. If a little part of the stolen wealth had been channeled towards the improvement of the health sector Nigerians would have had access to affordable and qualitative health care delivery system. But since that was not done the former military president himself had to be flown to Paris , France where he underwent surgery for radiculopathy when he was in power. Right now, his wife, Mrs. Maryam Babangida is receiving treatment for cancer in a foreign hospital.

Even though Nigeria made more petrol dollar during the Olusegun Obasanjo years than any other period in her history the Federal Government neglected the health sector. It was so bad that government officials and other privileged citizens had to travel abroad to treat all manners of ailment. The President’s wife, Mr. Stella Obasanjo lost her precious life in the hands of quack doctors in Spain . The leader of the team of doctors has since been convicted and ordered to pay compensation of $120,000.00 to the son of the deceased.

During the presidential campaign in 2007 Governor Umaru Yaradua was rushed to a German hospital to treat catarrh! When it was rumoured that he had died President Obasanjo called him on phone. As soon as Alhaji Yaradua denied the ugly rumour President Obasanjo who was then at a campaign rally at Abeokuta, Ogun State sang a song taken from Psalm 35 which goes thus: “Awon to nniwa lara Baba, niwon lara ” (O God, take up our case with them that subject us to harassment). Regrettably, the press did not take up the challenge of finding out why President Obasanjo was imposing an ailing successor on the nation.

Obama orders air security review after jet bomb attempt

2009-12-27T20:34:00.004+01:00

US President Barack Obama has ordered a review of air security measures after a Nigerian man allegedly tried to blow up a trans-Atlantic jet on Christmas Day.
Spokesman Robert Gibbs said the president wanted to know how a man carrying dangerous substance PETN had managed to board a flight in Amsterdam.
He said the system of watch-lists would also be examined after it emerged the man was listed and known to officials.
A US record for 23-year-old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was created last month.
Mr Gibbs told ABC News that the review would examine, firstly, the system of watch-lists used by government agencies, which includes three lists which become progressively shorter as risk increases.
'Dangerous substance'
The lists include a watch-list, with some 550,000 names on it, a "selectee" list with 18,000 people within the higher-risk category, and a "no-fly" list with 4,000 names of people who are not permitted to board planes.

Mr Abdulmutallab was placed on the lowest-risk list by US authorities in November 2009, after his father alerted authorities about the behaviour of his son.
Mr Gibbs said the number of people on the watch-list was "a huge number".
"The president has asked that a review be undertaken to ensure that any information gets to where it needs to go, to the people making the decisions. The president wants to review some of these procedures and see if they need to be updated," he said.
On 24 December Mr Abdulmutallab travelled from Nigeria to Amsterdam and then on to Detroit with an explosive device attached to his body, US officials say.
Shortly before the flight was due to land in the US, he allegedly attempted to detonate the device beneath a blanket but he was overpowered by passengers and crew.
Mr Abdulmutallab, the son of a prominent Nigerian banker, has been charged by US authorities with trying to blow up the Northwest Airlines flight as it was coming in to land.
US airlines especially have tightened security after the attempt, increasing screenings and body searches and, in some cases, confining passengers to their seats without pillows or blankets for the last hour of their flight.

Ibori’s Pyrrhic Victory in Asaba is Without Prejudice to the Case against Him and His Associates in London

2009-12-22T20:28:00.007+01:00

The report of the infamous judgement of Justice Marcel Awokulehin (dismissing the 170-count indictment of James Ibori purportedly for lack of evidence) by the Associated Press on Thursday December 17, 2009 rightly condemned the complicity of the Nigerian government in high level corruption. According to the report, which was carried by many international news media, “Ibori represented an opportunity for Nigeria to hold to account government officials long criticized for lining their own pockets instead of helping the poor, especially in the restive Niger Delta. As an associate of Yar'Adua, he also stood as a test of the president's vow to crack down on corruption”.
“That widespread corruption led U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to lump Nigeria with Cuba this week as governments ‘able but unwilling to make the changes their citizens deserve’”, it concludes. Therefore, come 2010, which will be the 50th anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence from Britain, long suffering Nigerians, failed by their own government, will be looking up to the old colonial master for justice in this matter when the trials of Ibori’s wife Theresa Ibori, his mistress Udoamaka Okoronkwo, his sister Christine Ibori-Ibie, his former personal assistant Adebimpe Pogoson and his London-based solicitor Bhadresh Gohil for conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering restart at the Southwark Crown Court. Ibori’s conviction in Asaba would not have harmed the Crown’s case against his associates in London, which perhaps explains why the first set of trials was adjourned twice to allow the dithering Justice Awokulehin to deliver his judgment, but such a conviction is not required to prove the case against him and his associates. In his ruling in 2008 on the preparatory hearing on the admissibility of the evidence provided to the prosecution by the EFCC during Ribadu’s tenure, Judge Rivlin QC summarised the money laundering charges as follows:

Averting a grave constitutional crisis: An open letter to the FEC

2009-12-22T18:59:00.004+01:00

President Umaru Yar'Adua has been a patient in a foreign hospital since 23 November 2009. The day before he left, a public statement by the Presidency announced the President would travel to Saudi Arabia for a medical review.
48 hours later, the President was rumored dead. In response to the rumor, the President’s personal physician informed Nigerians he was being treated for “acute Pericarditis”. This is how Nigerians learnt that the President had, in fact, been evacuated for medical attention abroad.
No one has yet credibly confirmed to Nigerians the diagnosis that detains our President overseas. His prognosis is undisclosed. No one is sure when or how he will return.

Since the President was medically evacuated, the public officials that he left behind have served him and Nigerians disreputably. Some of them have claimed that they are in regular contact with him in hospital. Others have claimed knowledge of when he will return.
These claims are false. It is now reasonably clear that no one except the attending medical professionals and the President's closest family members have had access to him since his medical evacuation. Their relationship with him is confidential.
The prolonged absence of the President from the country and the mismanagement of public communication on his health by the federal government undermine the principles of constitutional and accountable governance.

Turai Yar'Adua our modern day Imelda Marcos and Hillary Clinton Lesson

2009-12-19T22:01:00.009+01:00

Imeld a Marcos is known in world history as the schemer of Philippines but also the “jointe presidento” of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos became the 10th President of the Philippines, he took the oath of office to defend the constitution of Philippines but in practical terms gave the “right to rule” to his amiable, strong wife, the “rose of Tacloban” and “iron butterfly” Imelda Marcos.
Today Nigeria is presenting to the world her own Imelda Marcos in the person of “Her Excellency” Hajia Turai Yar’Adua, wife of the bedridden President of the Federal republic of Nigeria, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Turai like Winnie and Hilary also finds herself in the throes of very sad historical circumstances. For her right now, there is the need to rise up from the ruins of a heart that should be shattered by the fate of her terminally ill husband who is also the president of a country in turmoil and stand on the side of her country. Turai must choose between the privilege s of being the wife of a president and the rights of a country in need of a president; a president at work. She also needs to choose between the needs of a helpless man who must be challenged by the fact he is indeed dying and her need to enjoy the splendour, influ ence and ostentation that attend the life of a president's wife in Nigeria. Inspire of the despicable things we do to each other in a bid to survive and be influential, we are a nation of people with the African spirit; we share deep fraternal ties and true love for one another. Inspire of the fact that Stella and her husband abused the faith of Nigerians, we sympathised with him and her family. We are quick to empathise with our neighbour in distress and do whatsoever we can to ease the pain. That is why it is painfully embarrassing to see that we have been denied the privilege to empathise with the Yar'adua family over the predicament of their son and Turai must take the bulk of the responsibility for that because of the obvious choices she has made. She must be held accountable for the fact that rather than cushion her husband's pains, she is fuelling the outrage that compounds his situation by insisting that he hangs unto power at the expense of Nigeria and his life. How much could a man possibly hold unto at a time like this? It's amazing to see how she has evolved from the rustic woman who suddenly found herself in Aso rock to this sophisticated trendy woman with an insatiable appetite for power and the accessories that make it addictive. Turai leaves no one in doubt about her aspirations and she seems to be acting a well thought out plot that should culminate in her enthronement.

El-Rufai challenges Nigeria corruption arrest warrant

2009-12-19T21:57:00.007+01:00

A high-profile former Nigerian minister has gone to court to challenge moves to arrest him over corruption allegations.

As a close ally of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Abuja Minister Nasir el-Rufai used to be one of Nigeria's most powerful people.

His lawyer has described the international arrest warrant issued last week as part of a "witch-hunt".

Mr el-Rufai is currently in the US but has promised to return to Nigeria before the end of the year.

He is wanted over the alleged disappearance of some $246m of government funds.

The warrant was issued after the authorities said he had missed several invitations to answer the allegations against him.

He denies any wrong-doing and his lawyer says the charges are politically motivated.

Last week, his lawyer Robert Amsterdam suggested that the warrant had only been issued because President Umaru Yar'Adua is sick in hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Mr el-Rufai was one of more than 50 prominent Nigerians who signed a letter calling on President Yar'Adua to step down because of his health problems.

The calculated controversy

2009-12-19T21:50:00.006+01:00

South Africa's ruling African National Congress is desperately trying to bridge the widening cracks in its partnership with the South African Communist Party (SACP) after its youth wing leader Julius Malema was booed and heckled at the SACP's national conference recently.

As a close ally of President Jacob Zuma, Mr Malema, 27, is one of the most influential people in the country.

He is also one of its most divisive.

The communist delegates booed Mr Malema after he had called SACP deputy general secretary Jeremy Cronin a "white messiah" in a row over proposals to nationalise the country's mines.

After being heckled, Mr Malema stormed out, saying that he would report the matter to the president.

Following the row, the ANC distanced itself from his statements - not for the first time - but no disciplinary action has ever been taken against Mr Malema.

His own man?

The ANC youth league leader garnered a lot of support for Mr Zuma in the run-up to the April elections, so some argue that the president is in some way indebted to him.

It has been suggested that his outrageous utterances may be coming from higher up in the ANC.

During Mr Zuma's long legal troubles, which his allies blame on a plot by then President Thabo Mbeki, Mr Malema infamously said: "We are prepared to take up arms and kill for Zuma".

His statement drew widespread condemnation from politicians and South Africans - opposition parties questioned why President Zuma, who was also present at the rally, had not publicly reprimanded Mr Malema.

But whether from his own thoughts or taking a cue from his seniors, what Mr Malema has said has sometimes come to pass.

He was among the first to announce that Mr Mbeki would be sacked as president.

Oil Spill ravages Mobil Host community at Qua Iboe field

2009-12-19T21:38:00.004+01:00

Ibeno community, near Eket in Akwa Ibom at the weekend reported another major oil spill at the Qua Iboe oil field operated by Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN). Director in charge of oil spills at National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) Mr. Musa Idris confirmed the oil spill. Musa said that NOSDRA was in receipt of the oil spill report and had commenced investigation to disclose the volume of oil discharged into the environment. “The oil spill has been reported, the pipeline was tampered with as a result of construction activities, at the oil field, a team from Department of Petroleum Resources, NOSDRA and Akwa Ibom ministry of environment would visit the oil fields tomorrow”, Musa claimed Fishermen who operate along the Ibeno shoreline sighted crude oil discharge from the Idoho Oil Platform within the Qua Iboe Iboe field on Sunday. "Clean up" activities had commenced as about 10 vessels were seen deployed for the clean up exercise on Monday. The Spill had contaminated fresh water within one kilometer radius from the Idoho oil well as the vessels laden with dispersants were see on Monday trying to contain the oil spill.

Nigeria rebels attack oil pipeline

2009-12-19T21:34:00.005+01:00

Armed men in the Niger delta of Nigeria say they have attacked an oil pipeline overnight, putting a two-month truce with the government in doubt.

A faction of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta said it attacked the pipeline.

A spokesman said it was because the government was delaying peace talks due to the absence of ill President Umaru Yar'Adua, who is in Saudi Arabia.

Attacks have cost Nigeria millions in lost revenue over the years.

The faction said, in an e-mailed statement, that the "warning strike" was carried out by 35 men on five boats with assault rifles, rocket launchers and heavy-calibre machine guns.

It said the pipeline was in Abonemma, about 50km (30 miles) west of Port Harcourt.

Nigeria's military has not commented on the attack.

Peace talks were suspended when President Yar'Adua was hospitalised in late November in Saudi Arabia.

Mend said it would review the ceasefire within 30 days.

"While the Nigerian government has conveniently tied the advancement of talks on the demands of this group to a sick president, it has not tied the repair of pipelines, exploitation of oil and gas as well as the deployment and re-tooling of troops in the region to the president's ill health," it said.

Guinea leader 'should be tried for massacre' - HRW

2009-12-19T21:28:00.006+01:00

Guinea's military leader Capt Moussa Dadis Camara could be held responsible for the massacre of 157 protesters in in September, a report says.

The Human Rights Watch report says the killings were designed to silence opposition to military rule.

The authors say Guinea's presidential guard fired into the crowd until they ran out of bullets.

Capt Camara has previously blamed the deaths on "out of control" elements in the military.

The junta has said that 57 people died - and most of these were trampled underfoot, rather than shot.

The Human Rights Watch report says the military tried to cover up the massacre by removing bodies from hospital for secret mass burials.

They say this was a crime against humanity, coming under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.

The report names several military officers, including the current head of state, Capt Camara, who it says should be investigated further and face trial.

He is currently undergoing hospital treatment in Morocco after being shot by one of his aides.

The aide, Lt Toumba Diakite, on Wednesday said he had shot Capt Camara, because the military leader was trying to blame him for the massacre.

How Ohakim loots Imo State-National Daily

2009-12-19T21:22:00.004+01:00

EFCC begins probe • Gov.’s Aides, top contractor panic • Petitioner alleges threat to life. WHAT is the true identity of Governor Godson Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State? Take one: New Face of Imo State? No. Take Two: New Rogue of Imo State? Addendum: Only the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and the court of law can establish whether Ohakim is a saint or devil. Indeed only the Law court can judge between Ohakim and his traducers who have accused him of monumental fraud even as he bestrides the South-East chest-thumping his achievement as an action governor across the Niger.
This curious question is also knocking from all corners; Is Ohakim guilty or innocent of crunching the bone hung on his neck by unbridled looting of Imo State treasury? No matter what Ohakim's defense may be, the document on his alleged misdeed available to National Daily is damnable. National Daily influence revealed that Governor Ikedi Ohakim is today a subject of investigation by the EFCC following series of petitions forwarded to the commission's office in Abuja accusing him of offenses bothering on contract inflation and money laundering. Ohakim is said to have bilked Imo State of monies amounting to Billions of naira. For instance Ohakim was accused of perpetuating fraud in the award off the N8 billion dredging of Nworie River. The contract was said to have been awarded to Ruodo Nigeria Limited owned by Chief Tony Chukwu. He aligned with the Ohakim government to defraud Imo State of colossal sums through inflated contracts. The Ohakim-Chukwu dubious partnership was said to have started over two years ago and climaxed in the N8 billion Nworie River dredging contract awarded in March, 2009. It was learned that over 50 per cent of the contract sum has already been paid to Tony Chukwu as “mobilization”.

For Ibori's prosecution Aondoakaa must resign

2009-12-18T22:02:00.006+01:00

The Benue people are people of integrity an ethnic group that uphold the ethics and morality of life. What baffles my imagination is how the present Attorney General of the Federation will put the hard earned reputation built by the Benue leaders to public ridicule for his selfish motive and greed for materialistic quest for wealth. You will all agree that the likes of J.S TARKAA, fought gallantly for the emancipation of the present middle Beltans, where we are day. Sorry for taking readers back, a little. But it’s for the sake of clarity. The appointment of KAASE MIKE AONDOAKAA was a hope for the anti grafts agencies and Nigerians in general, more so that he was coming from a background that has no political history. Hopes were high. Today, the young man has become a barrier for the fight against corruption. The exoneration of Ibori from all the charges leveled against him by the EFCC did not come as a surprise to me because of the corrupt issues surrounding the AGF. He was first petitioned by the committee for the Defence of Human Right, CDHR. Many thought it was political, later he was fingered as Ibori, s protector. Then sentiments came in that the Yoruba’s are interested in the office just to deviate from the truth. But here we are today, knowing fully well that Ibori is guilty of the charges leveled against him, but the AGF hired assassin Justice MARCEL AWOKULEHIN of the FHC Asaba delivered a kangaroo judgment in favour of Ibori just to please his master AGF. No wonder the minister is no disposed to the issue of Special Court . (AGF AONDOAKAA) YOU MUST GO. ALI MUST GO WILL REPEAT ITSELF.

“Operation Zuma”: Kangaroo Court frees Ibori!

2009-12-18T21:59:00.007+01:00

The Federal High Court judge in Asaba today discharged and acquitted James Ibori, the former governor of Delta State, of all of the 170-count charge of corruption and abuse of office proffered against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). It is a shameful verdict that has been expected for a long time. Saharareporters had reported that the trial judge, Justice Marcel Awokulehin, who was personally vetted for the job by Ibori, to lead the court that was established for the specific purpose of ensuring that Ibori was not sent to jail, had struck a deal with the ex-governor and two-time ex-convict, to squash the charges for a princely sum of $5 million.

Signs that the judge was going to deliver his highly compromised judgment have been available since the date of the verdict was set. And then twice in the past several weeks, Judge Awokulehin looked around the courtroom only to postpone a verdict he had boasted was ready even before the first date he had given.

But this morning, it was clear that an understanding had been reached to set Ibori free when heavy security, which our source said was being personal ly coordinated by the Director-General of the State Security Service in Abuja, was noticed at the venue.
Judge Awokulehin arrived at 8:41a.m for an event that had become, as much about him as about the accused, but Ibori did not arrive until 8:58a.m. Our reporter said Ibori’s arrival was notable for his “absolute confidence” and uncommon swagger.

The bizarre ruling today marks the end of another byzantine compromise of the Nigerian judiciary that started in December 2007 when Ibori was arrested by the EFCC, arraigned and remanded in prison custody, far away in Kaduna.

Ibori: This Judgement Can’t Stand – EFCC

2009-12-18T21:48:00.008+01:00

The decision of Justice Marcel Awokulehin of the Federal High Court, Asaba to quash all the 170 count charge against former governor of Delta state, Mr James Onanefe Ibori today has not come as a surprise to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

In view of our determination to prosecute this case to a logical conclusion, and our strong belief that this hazy judgement cannot stand based on available evidence we have to prosecute the case, we have instructed our lawyers to immediately file an appeal against Justice Awokulehin’s judgement at a higher court.

We are convinced that this judgement cannot stand especially at this critical time in our nation’s history when the judiciary is being hailed for rising to the challenge of delivering fearless judgements against the corrupt in our society.

This kind of judgement if not challenged is capable of deepening the menace of corruption in our country rather than contributing in any way to the cause of justice which is the basis of sustaining our democratic governance.

This explains why the leadership of the Commission will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the case is taken to a logical conclusion given the enormity of evidence available to prosecution. Femi Babafemi Head, Media & Publicity

Mexico: Top drug cartel leader killed

2009-12-18T21:25:00.008+01:00

In a strong blow to one of Mexico's most notorious drug cartels, Mexico's navy killed a top drug kingpin in a shootout Wednesday at an upscale resort.

Arturo Beltran Leyva, head of the Beltran Leyva cartel, was killed in the Mexican city of Cuernavaca, the navy said.

Six other cartel members died in the gunbattle at a housing complex called Altitudes, navy spokesman Adm. Jose Luis Vergara said Thursday. He added that one of the gang members killed himself as authorities closed in.

Three navy personnel were wounded by hand grenades, one fatally, President Felipe Calderon said from the U.N. climate conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Navy 3rd Petty Officer Melquisedet Angulo Cordova died while being treated for his injuries, he said. One of the other two navy men was in serious condition, and the other was in stable condition, Vergara said.

The Beltran Leyva cartel is one of the most violent and feared drug organizations in Mexico.

Authorities presented to the media three people -- two women and a man -- who were arrested in the raid. Their role with the cartel was not made clear.

The arrested women were identified as Catalina Castro Lopez and Gabriela Vega Perez. The man's name was not immediately released.

Arturo Beltran Leyva was one of Mexico's top three most-wanted criminals, Calderon said.

Why Gov. Peter Obi is a Disappointment

2009-12-16T21:54:00.001+01:00

At the recent Achebe Colloquium, a distinguished panel made up of Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and Gov. Peter Obi discussed the upcoming election in Anambra state. Following the discussions, I asked Gov. Obi a question in which I stated openly that the governor had disappointed me. Thereafter, I noticed the governor walking around like a chicken beaten by the rain. The smile on his face had vanished. His bones moved as if they had become brittle. I also had people, who had no idea where the rain began to beat us, come up to me to argue in defense of the governor. Decency, therefore, requires that I explain why Gov. Obi is a disappointment. I used to believe in Peter Obi. I committed it to writing, too. I have met Peter Obi several times and have listened to him in public and in private. For a long time, I believed the words that came out of his mouth. I was convinced that he was a different kind of politician. While most of our political actors often argue that the end justifies the means, Peter Obi always insists that, “when the premise of an argument is wrong, the conclusion is also wrong.” While Nigerian politicians believe in a ‘do-or-die’ approach to politics, Peter Obi repeatedly states a new premise. “The society we abuse today,” he says, “will take its revenge on our children.” Little did I know that it was all talk. Yawa! When he got his mandate back, after the Supreme Court sent Andy Uba packing, I watched to see how Peter Obi would handle himself. At first, there was a feeling of relief that the renegades were off the purse of the state. Like many observers, I relaxed. And months and months after, there were signs that Anambra state was not emerging as the hub of distinction we had hoped for. The state was not leading the renaissance we had been promised. To be fair, after Gov. Ngige’s transformation from a member of a gang of bandits to a reformed citizen and his success in using his stolen mandate to improve the lives of the people of Anambra state, the expectations were high. Peter Obi bought into that by projecting himself as a different kind of governor. He was supposed to be the wise one, the deliberate one, and the one who would shift the paradigm. Three years after, it was apparent that Gov. Peter Obi dropped the ball where it mattered most. His first and greatest failure is his inability to build a political party behind him. Under Peter Obi, APGA diminished. A party that was supposed to spread its tentacles into the five eastern states lost its grip on Anambra state.