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

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

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'

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

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

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

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’,

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

Anambra state election 'gravely flawed

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

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

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

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

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.