The Sanusi Revolution

'Culpable Bank executives should be in jail or even be shot dead' - Sanusi
This will shock you. Make you angry. Leave you at a boiling point and leave you thoroughly mentally and spiritually exhausted.
It is the story of how the former governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank, Chukwuma Soludo connived with the Bank executives to ruin the Nigeria Banking System and destroyed families and people’s investment and left Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to clear the rot. In the end, the story will help you to know you don't have to envy all those fools looting Nigeria blind and throwing their evil wealth around. Their end is nigh

The FOI Bill and Nigerian Corrupt Lawmakers

Please help us collect the email address of all elected Lawmakers in Nigeria. We will launch a campaign to force our senators and Representatives to pass the Freedom of Information and the Whistle blowers Bill. Every concerned Nigerian should write to his senator, his Representative and ask: Where is our Freedom of Information Bill?

Quote: "The business of bringing information to the people is vital to the sustenance of societal goals. Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light, the most efficient policeman. But publicity is the oil that greases the whee1s of democracy because only a well-informed citizenry can promote the cause of democracy". Ray Ekpu
But to Nigerian fat and corrupt Lawmakers, the FOI Bill should be killed and "The reasons are obvious, and we know them. And because they are afraid”, says as a member of the House of Representatives Hon. Aliyu Pategi.
Hopes that the Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill may be passed into law during the current session of the National Assembly dimmed yesterday as a member of the House of Representatives Hon. Aliyu Pategi said the bill was unlikely to scale through the numerous hurdles erected along its path.

Senate suspends N300bn contract report that indicted Anenih and others for corruption

The Senate yesterday indefinitely shelved consideration of the report of its ad-hoc committee which indicted Tony Anenih, a former minister of Works and former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees and other serving and former ministers of culpability in the misuse of N300 billion in the transportation sector during the immediate past administration.
Earlier the Senate ad hoc committee on transportation led by Heineken Lokpobiri (PDP Bayelsa State) that investigated alleged corruption in the transport sector since 1999 had subsequent submission of its report a fortnight ago.
The report is filled with revelations of alleged serial malpractices and shows how in 10 years, through multiple contract fraud, unhelpful connivance between contractors and government officials, N633 billion was spent on only 4,752 kilometres of road; short-changing the government of N47 million per kilometre of road.
Based on the report, between 1999 and 2009, the Ministry of Transportation, gave contracts for the construction and rehabilitation of 11, 591km roads at a cost of N1.7 trillion – about N87 million per km – and with only 24 per cent of the roads achieved, 64 per cent of the contract value has already been paid; about N133 million per km.
Senate spokesman, Senator Ayogu Eze denied insinuations of underlying intrigues in the removal of the issue from the Senate agenda at a press conference yesterday.

N200 Million Paid To Free Pa Soludo

The police in Anambra State this morning in Awka told journalists how abductors of Pa Simeon Soludo, father of former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Charles Soludo, released the old man last night. He was said to have been released at a location in Uga in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State. According to the police, the kidnappers had earlier called the

Ohio alleged serial killer in court

A convicted rapist from Cleveland is charged with multiple murders after police found 10 corpses and a partial skeleton on his property.

Portsmouth chief Peter Storrie charged on tax evasion

Premier League boss Peter Storrie was charged with tax evasion yesterday.
The Portsmouth chief executive, 57, was arrested during a three-year probe into corruption in sport.
He is accused of cheating the public revenue between July 1, 2003 and August 12, 2005 by concealing a £250,000 signing-on fee for Senegalese star Amdy Faye. Prosecutors allege that the money was put into the account of agent Willie McKay with no tax or national insurance paid.

Nemesis, man & war crimes

So, two decades after the plunder of Ondo State, six years after capturing South-west for Obasanjo, two years after helping to foist Yar’Adua on the nation, getting rewarded handsomely with the coveted medal of CON, so the all-CONquering Bode George would end up a common convict.
According to reports, the Commodore ushered into Kirikiri Prison last Tuesday afternoon was a complete nervous wreck, unlike the bumbling fox that had sauntered into the Lagos court earlier in the morning to hear the verdict after a trial that dragged more than a year. In fact, the PUNCH quoted an eyewitness recalling that George’s feet actually wobbled as he walked away from the prison van that conveyed him to Kirikiri.

Andy Uba's "Governor-in-waiting" panel deadlocked, adjourns till November 13 2009

A five-justice panel of the Court of Appeal, Enugu, today failed to agree on a verdict in a case filed by Emmanuel Nnamdi (Andy) Uba pleading to be declared Anambra State’s governor-in-waiting. Instead, the court, led by Justice J. S. Ngwuta, has set a new date of November 13 for its ruling.A source close to one of the justices told Saharareporters that the court’s inability to hand down a ruling today was largely dictated by our detailed expose on the intrigues and scandals involved in the gubernatorial elections petition appeal case brought by Mr. Uba. Our reports had disclosed that Mr. Uba, who amassed a huge wealth during the eight years he worked as former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s aide on domestic matters, had arranged to furnish some of the justices with millions of dollars in cash in exchange for a ruling that he must assume the governorship next March.

Anambra kidnappers free Soludo's father

Kidnappers released the father of former Central bank governor Charles Soludo a few hours ago according to reliable sources. Pa Simon Soludo, 79, was kidnapped by gun men from his country home in Isoufia village in Anambra State last week. Saharareporters could not confirm if ransom was paid to secure his release.

PHOTONEWS-Coronation of Corruption: Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Utuama, at Umaru Abdullahi's coronation

2003 an Abuja Upper Bwari area court judge, Anwwal Yusuf, described how James Ibori tried to compromise him. His tool: the current deputy governor of Delta State, Professor Amos Utuama.
“I had a meeting with Governor James Ibori in the presence of one Bala Ngilari and Professor Amos Utuama, Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice at the Delta State Government House located on Asokoro district Abuja on the 23rd of January 2003 where Governor Ibori promised to pay me cash of 10 million in any currency,” Judge Yusuf said.

Dr. Damages Interviews Andy Uba, Ngige, Soludo & others

When I was a five year old, I watched my first concert. It was performed by the students of St. Monica’s women’s teachers’ training college, in Ogbunike. I recalled how the curtain opened and these young women, dressed in elegant gown, high heel shoes and long wigs came out to sing in their angelic voice, the song called Anambra State.Then, I had no understanding what a burden it was to be born in Anambra State. For this special edition of the Tonight Show with Dr. Damages, I have invited the same choir to come and sing that same song for us. Three decades after, their voices have cracked, their backs have stooped and their faces are wrinkled. They are not wearing elegant gowns or high heel shoes or even wigs, but the essence of the song has remained the same. Please give it up to the St. Monica’s choir.

My Hubby, BG, As A Scapegoat

My name is Ilori George. I am the wife of Bode George who was recently sent to jail by a Kangaroo court in Lagos. I write this article to show my discontent over the wrong imprisonment of this great man who has served his country with an affective disorder to make sure that the vestiges of corruption democracy were uprooted. My hubby is a patriot, lovely and almost perfect husband. Although sometimes stingy, he did everything to send his children to the best school in the world; and me to the best shopping malls across the globe. Although older than I, he’s better than most young men – even in bed. What else does his country want from him? What and what else?

Where is the 2009 EFCC report?

On September 28, 2008, I questioned the whereabouts of the annual report of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the National Assembly.
In the words of the EFCC (ESTABLISHMENT) ACT of 2004: “The Commission shall, not later than 30th September in each year, submit to the National Assembly, a report of its activities during the immediately preceding year and shall include in such report the audited accounts of the Commission.” But by the 30th of September last year, it was clear the EFCC had ignored this critical responsibility. In subsequent comments, on October 11 and 18, 2008, I called on Mrs. Farida Waziri, the Commission Chairman, to resign, and then to be fired.

Corruption indicators

By its nature corruption can be difficult to detect as it usually involves two or more people entering into a secret agreement (You don’t give a receipt for bribes!). The agreement can be to pay a financial inducement to a public official for securing favour of some description in return. This list is not exhaustive and the ingenuity of those involved in corruption knows no bounds! You may be aware of:

Economic and social effects of corruption
Bribery and corruption impacts upon the poor and vulnerable people in developing countries, it undermines public services and has an economic impact, increasing the costs of doing business whether the corruption is overseas or domestic.
One very real example that helps us to understand why the proactive attack on corruption must be stepped up is a story told to our head of Anti Corruption, Keith McCarthy, while overseas.
It involved a young mother in a developing country who died in childbirth along with her new born baby. The new road that she and her husband chose to travel to the Hospital had not been completed. In fact part of it did not even exist due to the corruption of a public official by a UK person
Corruption Indicators

Delta state officials and Ibori plan celebration ahead of planned 'acquittal'

Saharareporters has gathered details of a plan by former Governor James Onanefe Ibori to have a grand celebration of his arranged acquittal by a compromised judge of the Federal High Court in Asaba, capital of Delta State. The ruling is scheduled for this Friday (November 6 2009).
Several of our sources revealed that the arrangement for Mr. Ibori’s acquittal has reached frenzied dimensions as Princess Faith Majemite, the executive assistant (political) to the current governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, has begun raising funds for a party planned for next Saturday.A source familiar with the intricacies of the deal told Saharareporters that Mercel Awokulehin, the judge in the sham trial, gave definite assurance last weekend that he would dismiss the case on technical grounds. Several of our sources said the judge received a bribe of $5 million through a deal brokered in Singapore. One indication that Ibori’s team received advanced notice of the verdict was exposed when Majemite went about town asking PDP politicians and contractors to donate towards a “thanksgiving party” scheduled for Saturday in Asaba and Ibori’s hometown-Oghara. The fundraiser was directed mostly at the party’s “inner caucus” as well as businessmen who had profited during Ibori’s eight-year reign as well as those who have received contracts as well as political appointments from Uduaghan.

God can't save Africa

Manmade problems require manmade solutions - Ebenezer Obadare
It is easy to see why a growing number of people in the west have started to see religion as a possible engine of development where the state has failed so dismally in Africa. Across the continent,religious organisations have gained a new visibility by stepping into the void created by anaemic state bureaucracies.
In several rural and urban communities, the pastor or imam (these days often an unemployed university graduate) has replaced the elected councillor. State½society disconnect, long predicted as the inescapable logic of worrisome trends in African governance, is now a profound fact of life. The crisis of the state in Africa has brought society to its knees, and a majority of citizens have, literally, remained there.
The interior expressions of religion on the continent are even more insidious and most clearly evident in an intellectual surrender that sees its current crises as the making of a divine being, one who will, as soon as current earthly arrangements are brought to their imminent end, sort things out and compensate the longsuffering faithful. Religion, therefore, has effectively become Africa½s shadow state, enhancing its dubious social agency, even as the authority and legitimacy of the state rapidly diminishes.

Andy Uba; who is blackmailing the Appeal Court Judges?

Andy Uba is right to go back to court if he believes that the court decision was arrived at fraudulently. Peter obi is right to cry foul at what seems an attempt to resurrect an issue the court has already decided. I am right to criticise Andy Uba for engaging in a course I believe is an abuse of court processes; But the Appeal Court Judges should be allowed to decide “without fear or favour, affection or ill-will”.
Andy Uba; who is blackmailing the Appeal Court Judges?
As the battle for the governorship of Anambra State shifts to the appeal Court next week, a strange and dangerous dimension has been introduced to the case brought by Andy Uba for the interpretation of the tenure of Mr Peter Obi, the Governor of Anambra State. Uba wants the court to declare him “a governor-in-waiting”. But some characters have already decided what the court decision will be.
Rather than allow the courts as independent arbiters to give their judgement free from Undue influence, these characters have taken it upon themselves to influence the direction of judgement. Their aim is to fetter the courts discretion.
In a widely circulated missive on the internet, one Mr Ode Murphy declared that the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu has moved the day for judgement on Andy Governor-in-Waiting case from the 5th to the 6th of November.

Jacques Chirac, former French president to be tried for corruption

Jacques Chirac, the former French president, has been ordered to stand trial on embezzlement charges over accusations he rewarded cronies with payments for non-existent jobs while mayor of Paris.
If the case goes ahead it will make Chirac the first holder of France's highest office to face a corruption trial.The Paris public prosecutor has previously said the charges should be thrown out and is expected to appeal against the ruling by an investigating magistrate, Xavière Simeoni, that the evidence against Chirac warrants a trial.
Chirac was mayor of the French capital between 1977 and 1995 before being elected to the Elyseé for 12 years. He is accused of having used his position as mayor to award 21 "ghost" contracts to his political aides and paying them from the city payroll.
Upon hearing news of Simeoni's recommendation, Chirac declared himself to be "serene" and "determined to prove" that the allegations are false.
Protected throughout his two terms as president by constitutional immunity, the 76-year-old political grandee's name has been mentioned in several alleged corruption controversies since he was succeeded by Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007.
The "sham jobs" affair, as the local media have dubbed it, is the first to have led to the prospect of him standing trial. The charges were first made in November 2007 and stem from 35 allegedly fictitious contracts awarded while and just after he was Paris mayor.

Nigerian MP's election 'rigged'

An election appeals tribunal in Nigeria has sacked a senator, ruling that his election two years ago was rigged.
A new election must be held within 90 days to replace Iyiola Omisore, who represented part of Osun state in the south-east for the ruling PDP.
The opposition Action Congress had appealed against a tribunal ruling last year which upheld his election in 2007.
It means Mr Omisore must step down from his influential post of chairman of the Senate budget and finance committee.
The election appeals tribunal ruled that there had been widespread breaches of the electoral act, including the use of political thugs to break up voting stations and intimidate voters.
A BBC website reader on election day in 2007 texted from Iwo in Osun state: "Polling booths in Oke-Odo are deserted. People are scared to come out to vote."
After his election to the presidency in 2007, Umaru Yar'Adua promised to reform the electoral process as most

Delaware beats Switzerland as most secretive financial center

Move over Switzerland. The tiny state of Delaware beats the Alpine country in a contest for the most secretive financial jurisdiction, a tax justice rights group said on Saturday.
The United States, led by the eastern seaboard state, took in $2.6 trillion in deposits from non-resident corporations and individuals in 2007, according to a survey of financial jurisdictions analyzed by the Tax Justice Network.
The survey of laws, practices and size of inflows in 60 jurisdictions found Delaware coming in first, followed by Luxembourg and then Switzerland. The Cayman Islands and the United Kingdom round out the top five.
"While the U.S. has been jumping up and down and saying 'Aha, bad, wicked Swiss banks,' the U.S. is doing exactly the same things as far as non-resident bank account holders," said Sarah Lewis, executive director of the group, based in the U.K.
Switzerland has been the poster child for financial secrecy over the past year. The United State sued Swiss global banking giant UBS AG, which paid a $780 million fine to settle a lawsuit against it by the government. As part of the deal, UBS admitted it actively helped Americans evade U.S. taxes.
The ranking is based on a composite of total offshore activity and measures such as whether a jurisdiction obtains beneficial ownership information about companies and the degree of cooperation in turning over requested financial information.