Arik Airline: Was Suspect targeting five Americans, top politicians as facts come to light

Posted by Paul "EFCC" Hawk Adams on April 4, 2010 at 9:24pm

Attack on airline: Suspect targeted five Americans, top politicians Now claims he is INSANE !

Strong indications have emerged that the suspected terrorist who drove a car into Margret Ekpo International Airport's tarmac, Calabar, and hit the underbelly of a parked aircraft belonging to Arik Airline on Wednesday might have targeted the five Americans and top politicians on board the aircraft.

Investigations by SUNDAY PUNCH revealed that the suspect, Mr. Aniefiok Elijah Okon, from Akwa-Ibom State might have been on a sponsored suicide mission to either embarrass the airline or the country.

Apart from the five Americans, top politicians including the Chairman, Cross River State Forestry Commission and former governorship aspirant in the state, Mr. Odinga Odinga, were on board the plane.

It was gathered from the police that the manner in which the suspect carried out the aborted attack gave confirmation that he was handed down clear instructions and details of his target by his alleged sponsors.

The police in Calabar, Cross River State, disclosed to our correspondent that they were working on a theory that the suspect was engaged in a sponsored mission, adding that thorough investigation was ongoing to unmask the sponsors of the futile attempt.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Etim Dickson, refused to speak on the matter, claiming he was on inspection tour of police formations in the state with the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, when the incident occurred. A top police officer said investigation was in progress.

However, another police source who craved anonymity said that two Air Force officers who were on duty when the incident occurred had been recalled to their base for interrogation.

Referring to the incident as a security breach, he wondered why the security operatives could not stop the suspect before he got to the tarmac.

He said, "I can assure you that we are doing everything possible to get to the root of this matter. It is a serious security breach and all those involved in it must be fished out and punished. There were five Americans and top politicians on board that plane and we are working on the theory that the futile attack was targeted at them. It was a suicide mission."

The suspect, who is being interrogated at the Criminal Investigation Department of the police command, he added, had been feigning madness.

He said: "Because the attack was not successful, his behaviour at this preliminary stage of our interrogation was expected. We know he is just feigning madness. We know he is just acting a script. He will eventually tell us the truth. The earlier he tells us the truth, the better for him because we must get to the bottom of this matter.

"No madman could have done what he did. He drove a car crashing through two security gates and headed straight for a boarded aircraft. In the process, he even did a U-turn and squeezed the car underbelly and now he is claiming to be mad. We cannot be deceived."

He added that the management of the airline had premonition of the attack but did not expect it to occur in Calabar.

He said the airline confirmed it had received several threats of possible attack on its aircraft by unknown persons, but that it did not expect the attack to occur in Calabar.

But the Arik Media Officer, Mr. Banji Ola, who spoke to our correspondent on Friday, denied the claim.

He frowned on the insinuation saying, "how can we have premonition of such a dastardly act. It is not true."

On Wednesday, tragedy was averted when a lone occupant of Audi NA 234 KAM breached security at the airport by breaking two gates manned by officials of the Nigerian Air Force and gaining access to the tarmac.

Okon who had driven a distance of about 500m in the tarmac unchallenged, headed for the left wing of Boeing 5N-MJJ aircraft, but made a U-turn and buried the car underbelly.

Despite the impact, the suspect had remained in the car probably waiting for possible explosion until airport security operatives dragged him out of the scene.

But Okon who has been described as a Christian extremist, instead of showing remorse for his action, had rained abuses on everybody at the airport.

He had repeatedly said, "You are all sinners. All of you deserve to die because mankind is turning away from God. People in the world are turning away from God. Every human being is wicked and deserved to go to hell except you repent."

The impact of the car on the 95-passenger aircraft which was about taxing down to the runway for take-off had sent jitters into the spines of the passengers who immediately jostled down for safety.

April Fool early ? as Yar’adua returns to work next week

Posted by Paul "EFCC" Hawk Adams on March 22, 2010 at 9:16pm

Yar’adua returns to work next week – Associates – Daily Trust

March 22, 2010 by Bunmi Awolusi

The on-going scramble for positions in a soon to be reconstituted Federal cabinet could shortly hit a brick wall because President Umaru Yar’adua intends to resume duties in his office next week, a top source close to the ailing president told Daily Trust yesterday. However, another family source separately told Daily Trust that Yar’adua will be fit to resume work by the end of next month.

According to the top sources, Yar’adua intends to make a national radio and television broadcast to signal his resumption of work as early as Monday or Wednesday next week. They said Yar’adua may not write a letter to the National Assembly intimating it of his return because he did not transmit a letter before he proceeded on medical vacation, even though his spokesman later said Yar’adua recognised Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as the Acting President.

Both sources said Yar’adua has made much progress physically since his return to the country late last month, and that his remaining medical problem now is speech-related. The sources said the ailing president now walks around the house and also around the garden, where there are many birds and animals.

They said Yar’adua brought a speech therapist with him from the Saudi Arabian hospital and the doctor has been working since then to improve his speech. Both sources said he has made progress in his speech. One of the sources told Daily Trust that Yar’adua’s return to the country last month was “premature,” and that he was brought back before he finished his therapy “for political reasons.”

India Bangladesh settle by act of nature as Disputed isle in Bay of Bengal disappears into sea !

Posted by jackie webLondonGirl on March 24, 2010 at 6:33am

I guess the isle just got tired of it all !

NEW DELHI – For nearly 30 years, India and Bangladesh have argued over control of a tiny rock island in the Bay of Bengal. Now rising sea levels have resolved the dispute for them: the island's gone.

New Moore Island in the Sunderbans has been completely submerged, said oceanographer Sugata Hazra, a professor at Jadavpur University in Calcutta. Its disappearance has been confirmed by satellite imagery and sea patrols, he said.

"What these two countries could not achieve from years of talking, has been resolved by global warming," said Hazra.

Scientists at the School of Oceanographic Studies at the university have noted an alarming increase in the rate at which sea levels have risen over the past decade in the Bay of Bengal.

Until 2000, the sea levels rose about 3 millimeters (0.12 inches) a year, but over the last decade they have been rising about 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) annually, he said.

Another nearby island, Lohachara, was submerged in 1996, forcing its inhabitants to move to the mainland, while almost half the land of Ghoramara island was underwater, he said. At least 10 other islands in the area were at risk as well, Hazra said.

"We will have ever larger numbers of people displaced from the Sunderbans as more island areas come under water," he said.

Bangladesh, a low-lying delta nation of 150 million people, is one of the countries worst-affected by global warming. Officials estimate 18 percent of Bangladesh's coastal area will be underwater and 20 million people will be displaced if sea levels rise 1 meter (3.3 feet) by 2050 as projected by some climate models.

India and Bangladesh both claimed the empty New Moore Island, which is about 3.5 kilometers (2 miles) long and 3 kilometers (1.5 miles) wide. Bangladesh referred to the island as South Talpatti.

There were no permanent structures on New Moore, but India sent some paramilitary soldiers to its rocky shores in 1981 to hoist its national flag.

The demarcation of the maritime boundary — and who controls the remaining islands — remains an open issue between the two South Asian neighbors, despite the disappearance of New Moore, said an official in India's foreign ministry, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on international disputes.

Bangladesh officials were not available for comment Wednesday.

Ibori goes Underground as EFCC can’t find the master criminal

Posted by Paul "EFCC" Hawk Adams on March 28, 2010 at 8:13pm

There is a massive hunt for James Ibori, the former governor of Delta State, in connection with recently launched investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on his role in the illegal disposal of about 500 million units of Delta State-owned bank shares..

Sources in Abuja, over the weekend, said that Mr. Ibori, who is wanted for questioning over some of his actions while he was governor of the oil rich state from 1999 to 2007, has ‘disappeared’ and has not been seen in the past two weeks since NEXT exclusively reported that a new round of investigations into his activities had been launched.

Looking for him

Efforts to obtain an official position from either Mr. Ibori or the EFCC were unsuccessful at press time. But a source in the commission, who asked not to be named, told NEXT that “EFCC operatives were out looking for him to interrogate him. I think he got wind of it and has disappeared.”

Indeed, according to other sources, Mr. Ibori has cut off communication with all but few associates and relatives. “It is believed that he may be communicating with the Delta State governor, who is related to him,” the source said.

Indeed, Mr. Ibori, who was hitherto very visible in government circles, has suddenly become very scarce. It was not uncommon to find Mr. Ibori in the company of Vincent Ogbulafor, chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the presidential villa, in the era of the Yar’Adua presidency. However, he has not been seen in the State House in recent times.

Fresh charges

Asides the 107 count-charges brought against Mr. Ibori by the EFCC in 2007, the commission is preparing fresh charges against the former governor following a petition signed by some leading citizens of his state.

The latest petition, signed by 10 leading citizens of Delta State headed by a former minister of information, Edwin Clark, includes a demand for a probe of the former governor over the alleged illegal disposal of 528 million shares belonging to Delta State, in Oceanic Bank.

The EFCC responded by launching investigations.

The investigations led to the unravelling of some facts, which have now led to the latest move to interrogate the former governor..

Mr. Ibori allegedly sold off Delta State assets to fund private investments while he was still in office.

“The search has to do with the N44 billion loan which he took from Intercontinental Bank. He used Delta State shares in Oceanic Bank as security for the loan. He later asked the bank to sell off the shares, over 500 million units, to repay the loan,” our source said, adding however that Mr.

Ibori’s disappearance has now stalled the EFCC’s investigations.

Volcano Ash Relief as flights resume in Europe

Posted by 9jabook.com on April 21, 2010 at 7:13pm

Relief as flights resume in Europe Lagos gets Euro passengers after 1 Week !

Stranded passengers arrive Lagos
By Ade Ogidan, Adeyemi Adepetun and Chika Goodluck Ogazi
CHEERS and whoops of joy rent the air at airports around the world as airplanes took to the skies after five days of being grounded by a volcanic ash cloud that had crippled European travel.

But weary passengers might have to temper their enthusiasm as only limited flights were allowed to resume at some European airports. United Kingdom (UK) authorities also said London airports - a major hub for thousands of daily flights worldwide - would remain closed for at least another day due to new danger from the invisible ash cloud.

And in Lagos, it was a cocktail of emotions as some Nigerian-bound passengers that had been stranded in Europe finally arrived yesterday

Some felt marooned, while others felt they were providentially domiciled at the various airports in Europe, due to a most unexpected natural cause-the volcano ash from Iceland that blanketed the skies

With over 95,000 flights cancelled in the last week alone, airlines face the enormous task of working through the backlog to get passengers where they want to go - a challenge that certainly will take days.

Still, in airport hubs that have been cauldrons of anxiety, anger and sleep deprivation, yesterday marked a day of collective relief.

The boards at Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport announcing long-distance flights - which had been streaked with red "cancelled" signs for five days - filled up with white "on time" signs yesterday and the first commercial flight out since Thursday left for New York's John F. Kennedy Airport.

"We were in the hotel having breakfast, and we heard an aircraft take off. Everybody got up and applauded," said Bob Basso of San Diego, who has been staying in a hotel near Charles de Gaulle since his Friday flight was cancelled.

"There's hope," he said. Basso, 81, and his son had tickets for a flight to Los Angeles later yesterday.

At New York's JFK, the first flight from Amsterdam in days arrived Monday night.

"Everyone was screaming in the airplane from happiness," said passenger Savvas Toumarides of Cyprus, who missed his sister's New York wedding after getting stranded in Amsterdam last Thursday. He said the worst part was "waiting and waiting and not knowing."

The Eurocontrol air traffic agency in Brussels said it expects 55 to 60 per cent of flights over Europe to go ahead yesterday, a marked improvement over the last few days. By midmorning, 10,000 of Europe's 27,500 daily flights were scheduled to go.

"The situation today is much improved," said Brian Flynn, deputy head of operations at the Brussels-based agency. "The outlook is that bit by bit, normal flights will be resumed in coming days."

The agency predicted close to normal takeoffs by Friday.

Still, an international pilots' group warned that ash remains a danger and meteorologists say Iceland's still-erupting volcano isn't ready to rest yet, promising more choked airspace and flight delays to come.

Ash that had drifted over the North Sea from the volcano in southern Iceland was being pushed back over Britain yesterday by shifty north winds, Icelandic scientists said.

"It's a matter of wind directions. The volcano's plume is quite low actually, still below three kilometers near the volcano," said Gudrun Nina Petersen, meteorologist at the Icelandic Met Office.

A Eurocontrol map showing the ash cloud yesterday listed the airspace between Iceland and Britain and Ireland as a no-fly zone, along with much of the Baltic Sea and surrounding area. The ash cloud also spread westward from Iceland, toward Greenland and Canada's eastern coastline.

The volcano in southern Iceland is still spewing smoke and lava, but the ash plume is lower than it previously was, posing less threat to high-flying aircraft.

Three-year old daughter of Mr. Gbolohan Diyan literary flew like a cat from a two-metre distance into the arms of his father, who had arrived from Frankfurt, Germany, with a Lufthansa Airline flight.

Diyan described the experience, during his three-day stay at Frankfurt airport as "highly discomforting".

"The turn of event was most unexpected. When the news of the flight inhibiting volcano ash reached us, some of us thought that it would only last for a day or two. So, with enthusiasm, I went to Frankfurt Airport, expecting a minimal delay, which however, stretched till this morning (Tuesday).

"All along, my worries were centered on my family at home here in Lagos. With uncertainty enveloping everywhere at the airport, some little comforts that came our way were far from relieving us. People were sleeping everywhere, mostly on the floor. Some had sleeping materials provided by the authorities. But I am happy to be home at last, to the warm embrace of my darling daughter, other members of my family and friends."

Meanwhile, airlines and other operators at Nigerian airports have been counting their losses. Among these are the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Skyways Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL), the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (nahcoaviance), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the bureau de change operators and the duty free shops.

Investigations by The Guardian revealed that Arik Air, which operates from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos with A340 aircraft daily and B737-800 from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja has lost close to N700 million to the disaster even as it promised to resume flight operations immediately the airspace is opened.

Spokesperson for the airline, Mr. Banji Ola confirmed that the airline has recorded huge loss due to the suspension of operations since last Thursday, but could not put a figure to the amount lost.

He said that since the volcanic eruption began last Wednesday, the airline has been unable to operate its flights into London Heathrow, adding that the suspension was in compliance with directive from UK Air Traffic Control Services (NATS) and for safety reasons.

Also, the General Manager, Public Affairs, NAMA, Mr. Supo Atobatele, confirmed that the agency had lost some revenue from the navigational charges it collects from the international airlines, especially from Europe. Atobatele noted that the agency is currently compiling its losses.

The Corporate Affairs and Business Development Manager of nahcoavaince also said most of the foreign airlines especially from Europe for which the company does ground handling services for have not been landing at the country's international airports.

Bureau de change operators at the international wing of the Lagos Airport are not left out. One of them who spoke with The Guardian, Alhaji Musa Jibril, lamented that business had been dull since last week, stressing that most of their clients who are businessmen and women have not been coming.

He said:

"The fact is that we have been affected by the recent disaster, which has enveloped the whole of Europe. Most of our customers who usually patronise us on a daily basis have not been coming because they have not been able to travel out or come in to the country and since they can't move, there is no way we can generate revenue too."

As the duty free shops at the MMIA showed a lull in business as most of the occupants of the shops sat idle discussing the volcanic ash

Crises Rocks LM Ericsson, as Mass Sack of Nigerian Workers Loom

Posted by Paul "EFCC" Hawk Adams on April 14, 2010 at 8:42pm

Crises Rocks LM Ericsson, as Mass Sack of Nigerian Workers Loom

By huhuonline

Nigeria News | Tue, 24 Nov 2009

It is no news that the excruciating heat of the credit crunch is taking serious toll on many businesses in the world and that has been making some companies, out of their managerial defects to lay off their staff in an indiscriminate manner with total

disregard to labour legal provisions. No doubt the operations of end-to-end telecommunications infrastructure giant, LM Ericsson in Nigeria may soon be grounded if it caries out its threat to retrench its Nigerian workers..

This is because the morale at the company with headquarters at Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island in Lagos, has hit an all time low now. The workers who have vowed to resist an impending mass sack with everything in them are no longer motivated to put in their best in any way. Consequently, they are silently protesting the highhandedness of the management of the company which earlier illegally banned them from active participation in unionism. Huhuonline.com gathered that after Ericsson sent out a circular to members of staff that due to its current reorganization exercise as a way to cut cost, some of them would be the way out of the company, Nigerian workers in the company could not imagine the justification for the grim news. Sources reckon that the Nigerian operation of the Swedish company has continued to yield a lot of profit for the company despite the economic meltdown that has halted economic activities all over the world. Infact, we learnt that the Nigeria operation is only one of the few operations of the company that has continued to be profitable inspite of the recession.

There are indications that the decision of the company to send local workers packing is fallout of its activities In South Africa. LM Ericsson was said to have ran at a loss in 2008 in South Africa but was unable to retrench workers as a cost cutting measure as a result of strong labour laws in South Africa. The result of its loss in South Africa is now about to be visited on Nigerian workers, as the company feels that anything goes in Nigeria as Labour Laws are hardly recognized let alone been enforced. We also gathered that as a result of protest by Nigerians working in the Company, the management decided to carry out its intention through the back doors. Local workers have been asked to resign and reapply to the company. This was vehemently rejected as it amounts to the same mass purge of the local workers by another deceptive guise. Local workers have continued to mobilize as the management seems detrimental in carrying out its intimidating mass sack threat.

Meanwhile, there are indications that the company may have flouted immigration laws and Expatriate Quota regime in its employment of expatriate staff. Huhuonline.com discovered that foreign workers hired as consultants for just a three month period end up working for the company for years. At a time, it was gathered that there were close to 300, such expatriate consultants who illegally worked for the company. Sources say that the problem is, these expatiates do not contribute as much as the local workers, they are better remunerated. The company accommodates, feeds and places them on a high salary scale, hey equally use state-of the-art-official cars.

Huhuonline.com checks also have it that the management of the company has reserved a couple of positions in the company for only expatriate workers despite the fact that there are \several Nigerians better qualified to handle such positions. Hence the tension at the company is now palpable. Though, the Precision Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association (PERESSA) which is affiliated to the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria is poised for a showdown with the management of LM Ericsson. In a letter dated han 30th of October 2009and signed by T.K. Olatunji, Ag Gen. Sec, the group warned of dire consequences, should the company's management proceed to to retrench local workersin the guise of cost cutting. However, the group requested for a meeting with the management of Ericsson but threatened to mobilize the full force of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria for appropriate response, if the planned move is not suspended.

Information gathered at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for comments showed that te Commission may take actions if L.M. Ericsson continues to flout Nigerian laws by carrying out actions that are impossible in other countries. L.M. Ericsson is one of the leading telecommunications equipment suppliers in the world and the supplier of choice for Nigeria as most operators deploys for their services. Operators that make use of Ericsson switches and other equipments include MTN, Zain, Zoom Mobile, MTEL and a couple of others. Meanwhile while LM Ericsson was reacting to this scandal through it Director, HR and Blair Mackenzie maintained that Ericsson like any other global corporations has had to respond to global financial crisis to remain competitive and well poitioned for the future, and that Ericsson has embarked on a cost reduction and right sizing exercise and the sub-Saharan part of this adjustment is currently underway and will also affect Nigeria. As a result of this exercise there are likely to be some job losses.

It was further confirmed that the exercise would be handled with utmost sensitivity and professionalism, Ericsson has communicated openly about there structure and potential for redundancies through letters, emails, workshops and all-employee meetings since July 2009, and provided all employees with opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed restructure as well as suggestions for avoiding job losses. For those that could ultimately b affected by the redundancies, Ericsson Nigeria has consulted labour lawyers to ensure that those employees are treated and compensated fairly and in accordance with the provisions of Nigerian labour law.

It is unfortunate to see Nigerian citizens turning out to be an object of ridicule and victims of labour chastisement by foreign nationals, this is one, too many a call. Such national slap is apparently sending a signal that Nigeria is a country where rights of labour can be trampled on without recourse to justice. However, as a good people great nation, Ministry of Labour and other stakeholders in the country need to look into these irregularities to ensure that the constitutional rights of Nigerians as it relates to labour are not flouted by any alien who would not respect local content and other rules of engagements. It is not just LM Ericsson there are several other companies in Nigeria found culpable of a similar act. There are cases of machines and chemicals deforming people while in active service and due compensations are not given to them.

Jonathan in US for nuclear summit as FG signs bilateral agreement Meets Obama on CNN with Amanpour today

Posted by 9jabook.com on April 11, 2010 at 10:43pm

Nigeria’s Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan yesterday arrived the United States of America for a four-day working visit during which he will participate in the international Nuclear Security Summit to be hosted by US President Barack Obama.

Mr. Jonathan, who was on his first official visit to a foreign country since he assumed leadership was scheduled to meet with Mr Obama at 5-30pm (11.30pm Nigerian time) and is expected to have lunch with US Vice President Joe Biden today.

Details of the meeting with Mr Obama were not known at press time, but a presidential source said the US had previously indicated interest in electoral reform, returning peace to the Niger Delta, the country’s unity, and Nigeria’s cooperation in the war against terrorism and nuclear proliferation, so these will probably form the focus of the discussions.

A Nigerian, Farouk Abdulmutallab, is facing trial in the US for attempting to blow up a US plane over Detroit on Christmas day and this led the American government to put Nigeria on its list of ‘countries of interest’ in terrorism.

The acting president arrived the Andrews Airforce Base, Virginia, at 9.30am local time (3.30pm Nigerian time) and was received by US Ambassador to Nigeria, Robin Sanders; her Nigerian counterpart, Ade Adefuye and other ranking Nigerian and US officials.

The Andrews Airforce Base is reserved for use by select foreign leaders and special dignitaries of the American government.

Mr Jonathan was accompanied on the trip by Foreign Affairs Minister, Odein Ajumogobia and former Nigerian ambassador to the US, Hassan Adamu.

On arrival, he proceeded to Westin Grand Hotel, Washington DC, where he was received by governors of Imo, Edo and Zamfara States, Ikedi Ohakim, Adams Oshiomhole and Aliyu Shinkafi; as well as Joy Ogwu, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) and other top diplomats at both the Washington DC mission and the UN office.

Important meetings

The acting president’s itinerary, released by presidential officials, shows that after lunch with Mr Biden, he will proceed for a meeting with the President of the World Bank, at the World Bank Building, also in Washington DC and later, in the evening, join other visiting Heads of Government and delegations for a working dinner with Mr Obama.

Hilary Clinton, the US Secretary of State and her energy counterpart, Steven Chu, will host Mr Ajumogobia and Diezani Allison-Madueke, Minister of Petroleum Resources.

Tomorrow, Mr Jonathan will join other world leaders for the first plenary session of the Nuclear Security Summit before proceeding for a working lunch with the US president. He will thereafter participate in the second plenary, which marks the end of the nuclear summit.

The Acting President will begin his schedule for Wednesday with a breakfast meeting with officials of the Centre for Global Development in Washington DC. The governors of Imo, Edo, Rivers and Zamfara along with the foreign affairs, petroleum and finance ministers are expected to be in attendance.

He will later meet with members of the Nigerian community in the US and the President of ExxonMobil Oil Company. These meetings are also to be attended by the governors and the ministers, along with other presidential aides.

The Acting President returns to Nigeria on Wednesday, 14th April,2010.

Closing gaps

Mr. Jonathan’s trip to the US also marks the first time in almost three years that a Nigerian leader will be visiting the US. Nigeria’s president, Umaru Yar’Adua studiously refused to visit the US after the caustic comments of US officials on the election that brought him to power. His ill health also stopped him from attending the United Nations General Assembly meeting which held in New York - leaving the former foreign affairs minister, Ojo Maduekwe, to meet US and UN officials.

Mr Obama pointedly avoided Nigeria during his last trip to Africa but he used his trip to Ghana to lecture African leaders on the virtue of free elections and financial accountability.

Commiserates with Poland

Mr Jonathan, yesterday sent his condolences to the acting president of Poland, Bronislaw Koromowshi and the Polish people over the death of President Lech Kaczynski, his wife Maria, and other ranking officials of the Polish government in a plane crash on Saturday.

He described the incident as tragic, noting that Poland had, in one fell swoop, lost the commanding heights of its political leadership.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria, I condole with your good self and the people of Poland over the death of President Lech Kaczynski, his wife Maria, high ranking officials of your Government and other nationals in the tragic plane crash of Saturday.

“Poland has lost some of its best and brightest to this accident, and Nigeria mourns with you at this moment of grief.”

Nigeria resumes gas supply to Ghana, others as power generation hits 3,558MW

Posted by 9jabook.com on March 23, 2010 at 7:09pm

Barkindo said that the resumption of gas supply to the countries was because domestic gas supply had improved, hinting also that supply to Ghana was initially stopped to satisfy local demand.

The NNPC GMD, who was speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a meeting organised by the corporation titled, "Stakeholders' forum on gas to power: Achieving alignment for delivering gas to power in Nigeria," said, "Today, we have started supplying the West African Gas Pipeline, which we had to shut down in order to divert the gas for domestic utilisation."

He added that the reason for the resumption of supply was "Because power generation has started to go up."

The West African Gas Pipeline Company, the firm delivering Nigeria's gas to Ghana, had in a statement issued in November 2009, said, "WAPco, last April delivered its first natural gas supply to VRA's Takoradi Thermal Plant at Aboadze near Takoradi, under an interim gas supply arrangement.

"This initial supply enabled VRA to commission one of its 100 megawatts' turbines and generate power in Ghana from natural gas.

"Since May 2009, however, WAPCo has not received gas from N-Gas Limited for further delivery to VRA due to vandalism of gas supply pipelines in the Niger Delta region, several kilometres upstream of the WAGP connection to the Nigerian Gas Company's Escravos-Lagos Pipeline system."

Corroborating Barkindo's statement on increased power generation , the Executive Director, Operations, Power Holding Company of Nigeria, Mr. John Ayodele, who was also speaking on the sidelines of the conference in Lagos, said power generation was 3,558 megawatts on Monday morning and could climb to 3,700MW by Tuesday morning.

Also, Barkindo, had, in a presentation at the opening ceremony of the event, explained reasons why the oil industry could not achieve the 1.2 billion standard cubic feet of gas- domestic -gas- target agreed between it and government in 2008 and which government provided adequate funds for.in 2008 and 2009 budgets.

According to him, although the industry achieved 885 million standard cubic feet, it fell short of the target beacuse of the security situation in the Niger Delta, which was poor between 2008 and 2009 and operational challenges in the various oil producing companies.

Barkindo said, " The 1.2 billion scfd, domestic gas supply obligation was distributed among Joint Venture companies, including the NNPC and some of the Production Sharing Contracts' operators like Pan Ocean. In each of the companies, they had internal challenges. Now, this meeting that we convened will give us the opportunity to jointly review and address these challenges in order to come out with a joint programme of action, that is realistic, flexible and will enable us, not only to achieve the missed target but also to bring forward the projects which are being funded in the 2010 budget."

He stated that the outcome of the conference would be presented to Acting President Goodluck Jonathan

Ministers:Tony anenih's wife nominated plus Yarduas nephew as Senate gets 18 names as Ministers designate

Posted by Paul "EFCC" Hawk Adams on March 23, 2010 at 7:00pm

Several lists and names yesterday made the rounds at our nation’s capital, as anxiety mounted over the new cabinet being constituted by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan. However, it was learnt that a list of the first batch of nominees has been sent to the Senate President. Some names that are on one list do

not appear on other list(s), while some other names appear on more than one list.

Sources close to the Senate leadership confirmed the list has 18 names. However, the Information Committee chair, Ayogu Eze, while briefing reporters on Tuesday, said the official list will be in the Senate by today.

Names on the list include familiar faces like Adetokunbo Kayode, who is likely to return as justice minister, Godswill Orubebe, Nuhu Somo Way, Mohammed Daggash, Odein Ajumogobia, Diezani Allison-Madueke, and Bello Masari, former Speaker of the House of Representatives.

A few dose of surprises

There were a few surprises on the list such as Joy Anenih, wife of Tony Anenih; and Murtala Yar’Adua, an oil magnate, who is one of President Yar’Adua’s nephews. Neither of the two has held any significant political post prior to their nominations. There are also Labaran Maku, former deputy governor of Nasarawa State and student activist; and Segun Aganga, managing director at Goldman Sachs, one of the world’s largest investment bank.

Mr. Aganga, who hails from Ekiti, is also the co-founder of the Nigerian Leadership Initiative. Although he spends most of his time abroad, he is widely regarded as one of the soundest economic minds in Nigeria. His nomination supports the assertion that the Acting President intends to fill his cabinet with technocrats and not political jobbers. It is believed that Mr. Aganga will be charged with either the national planning or finance portfolio.

Mr. Eze, while speaking to journalists, said that there would be no special considerations given to anyone during the screening process.

“The screening will be as vigorous as it has always been,” he said. “Returnee ministers will be taking more questions based on their performance during their stewardship. Everybody will answer questions on what he or she has done or failed to do.

“Those who will be coming back will have the additional responsibility of answering for their stewardship while in office. That, of course, will be taken on board.”

Mr. Eze said the Senate postponed its vacation by one week so that they can finish with the screening of the ministerial nominees and get the government running in full swing.

The final list is still expected to be submitted before the end of the week and has been delayed by several last minute wranglings. Five governors visited Mr. Jonathan yesterday. These include Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State, Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Peter Obi (Anambra) and Theodore Orji (Abia).

Pepper as a Weapon of Mass Confusion (WOMC) as Indian military to weaponize world's hottest chili

Posted by 9jabook.com on March 23, 2010 at 7:02am

Naija man go first think of peppersoup !
GAUHATI, India – The Indian military has a new weapon against terrorism: the world's hottest chili.

After conducting tests, the military has decided to use the thumb-sized "bhut jolokia," or "ghost chili," to make tear gas-like hand grenades to immobilize suspects, defense officials said Tuesday.
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The bhut jolokia was accepted by Guinness World Records in 2007 as the world's spiciest chili. It is grown and eaten in India's northeast for its taste, as a cure for stomach troubles and a way to fight the crippling summer heat.

It has more than 1,000,000 Scoville units, the scientific measurement of a chili's spiciness. Classic Tabasco sauce ranges from 2,500 to 5,000 Scoville units, while jalapeno peppers measure anywhere from 2,500 to 8,000.

"The chili grenade has been found fit for use after trials in Indian defense laboratories, a fact confirmed by scientists at the Defense Research and Development Organization," Col. R. Kalia, a defense spokesman in the northeastern state of Assam, told The Associated Press.

"This is definitely going to be an effective nontoxic weapon because its pungent smell can choke terrorists and force them out of their hide-outs," R. B. Srivastava, the director of the Life Sciences Department at the New Delhi headquarters of the DRDO said.

Srivastava, who led a defense research laboratory in Assam, said trials are also on to produce bhut jolokia-based aerosol sprays to be used by women against attackers and for the police to control and disperse mobs.

Aki & Popo update as Nollywood Megastars Feature In AG Cellular TV Campaign

Posted by NollywoodMohits on March 25, 2010 at 11:05pm

It’s not often one gets to meetinternational movie megastars that you’ve never heard of, but Aki andPopo from Nollywood are exactly that. With over 100 movies to theircredit and a fanatical following throughout Africa – including SouthAfrica – these movie icons draw crowds wherever they go. Which is whyMann Made Media client, AG Cellular, uses them to promote their phonesand airtime contracts.

The problem for AG Cellular was that they just weren’t getting the mostvalue out of the relationship and so we were called in to leverage someopportunities. A quick brainstorm ensued with the two diminutive giantsof stage and screen resulting in two TV commercial ideas, a Diski Dancesession, a photoshoot and plans for an ongoing Mobile TV comedy dramaseries!

AG Cellular was working under extreme time pressures and so – true toform – Mann Made Media set up a full studio shoot featuring stills andvideo cameramen and crew, lighting, sound, props, costumes, and a castof Diski Dancers… for the very next day!

For the Mann Made Media team, one of the most interesting and rewarding experiences of working on this project is in discovering andleveraging an absolutely massive market of consumers and talent that waspreviously unknown to us.

Look out for Aki and Popo appearing on an AG Cellular mobile screen near you soon.

David Beckham: 2010 Worldcup Goodbye as he ruptures Achilles Tendon

Posted by Choochoo Sports Book on March 14, 2010 at 6:30pm

London, Mar 15 : Ace midfielder David Beckham, who was a near certainty to become the first England player to appear in four World Cups, is out of the game for 3-4 months after rupturing his Achilles tendon.

The England midfielder, 34, was injured playing for AC Milans 1-0 win over Chievo.

An Italian TV reporter said Beckham told the physios: Its broken, its broken as he was taken off on a stretcher in tears.

He was preparing to kick a ball unchallenged when he frantically signalled to the bench something was wrong, The Sun reports.

He will have an operation in Finland tomorrow and faces three to four months of rehabilitation, ruling him out of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Milan coach Leonardo said: Beckhams injury makes us feel terrible. He is an extraordinary guy and todays game proves it yet again.

I cannot enjoy this evening considering this serious injury. David understood immediately that he had torn his Achilles tendon, he said.

Three Lions boss Fabio Capell, who called Beckham after the game, now needs a serious rethink, with Becks rival for the right midfield berth, Aaron Lennon, also struggling with a groin problem.

And left-back Ashley Cole is in a race against time to make the finals as he recovers from a broken ankle.

MEND under attack as Army, Police launch manhunt for Okah

Posted by 9jabook.com on March 19, 2010 at 5:09am

Army, Police launch manhunt for Okah

Sola Adebayo pix2009062517473835%5B1%5D.jpg

The Delta State Security Council rose from a crucial meeting in Asaba on Thursday with a resolution to arrest a prominent leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta over Monday's bomb blasts in Warri, Delta State.

Leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Henry Okah.

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A source at the meeting who made this known did not give the name of the MEND leader. However, our correspondent noted through his description that Mr. Henry Okah was the ex-militant chief in question.

The source told our correspondent that security agencies had collated some intelligence reports on his alleged involvement in the blasts, which aborted a conference on amnesty in the oil-rich city.

According to him, the report showed that the MEND leader was sighted in Warri on the day of the incident, ostensibly to supervise the operation.

The source said, "We have a report that an internationally acclaimed MEND leader (name withheld) was in Warri in the early hours of Monday, apparently, to supervise and ensure the success of the bomb attacks.

"The security council rose from the meeting with a resolution to further dig into the intelligence report which indicted the MEND leader in order to arrest him .

"Since his group has claimed responsibility for the action, he (MEND leader) has to explain his business in Warri shortly before the bomb blasts."

But one of Okah's lawyers, Mr. Wilson Ajuwa, denied that the MEND leader was in Warri on Monday.

He told our correspondent on the telephone that Okah was in South Africa where he had been attending to his health since last year.

He said, "I can tell you, as one of his lawyers, that he has been in South Africa since last year after meeting with the President (Yar'Adua).

"So, to the best of my knowledge, he couldn't have been in Nigeria on Monday, let alone be in Warri. They (security agencies) should 'rearrange' their intelligence.

"Their claim is therefore far from the mark. He is still taking care of his health in South Africa."

The MEND leader is one of the militants who recently benefited from an amnesty granted them by ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua.

His involvement in the blasts is said to have dominated discussions at the Asaba meeting of the security council.

The council comprises heads of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service in the state.

The state Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN), and the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Ifeanyi Okonwa, were among the top government officials that were also in attendance at the meeting.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan presided over the meeting, which was shifted from its normal venue in Warri to Asaba, due to security reasons.

Though the deliberations and resolutions of the meeting were not made public, the Commissioner, Delta State Police Command, Mr. Yakubu Alkali, confirmed the meeting but said it was not unusual.

He said, "The Delta State Security Council met in Asaba on Wednesday but it was a usual security council meeting of the state, which usually holds on Wednesdays. Naturally, the issue of Monday's bomb blasts in Warri was discussed, but the meeting was not convened primarily because of the Monday's incident.

"But since the issue (Warri bomb blasts) borders on the security of the state, it was discussed at the meeting. I don't want to speak further on the matter; as you know, security matters are not discussed on the pages of newspapers."

Meanwhile, ex-militant leaders in the Niger Delta will meet on Sunday to deliberate on the recent security breaches in the region, especially Monday's bomb blasts.

It was learnt that the meeting was at the instance of Chief Government Ekpemukpolo (alias Tompolo) and the Secretary of the Federal Government Committee on Peace and Conflict Resolution in the Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku.

Alkhali, in a telephone interview with our correspondent, said that they deliberated on Monday's bomb blasts among other security issues in the state.

He, however, refused to comment on the details of the deliberations at the meeting and their outcomes.

The meeting is expected to hold at a coastal community in either Delta State or Ondo State.

It was learnt that the ex-militant leaders might also deliberate on the state of the nation and the implementation of the post-amnesty programme by the Federal Government.

A source close to Ekpomupolo said, "Former leaders of the freedom fighters in the Niger Delta are meeting on Sunday to review the security situation in the Niger Delta, particularly the Monday bomb explosions in Warri.

"The meeting will also deliberate on the post-amnesty programme, especially the fate of the ex-militant commanders in the plans of the Federal Government and the March 28 encampment of their lieutenants by the Presidential Sub-Committee on Disarmament, Rehabilitation and Re-integration of the former militants in the Niger Delta, headed by the former Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Godwin Abbe (rtd.).

"But a decision has not been taken on the venue of the meeting, it will either take place at our leader's (Tompolo) place in Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West LGA, or the place of our representative in the presidential sub-committee on disarmament (Kuku) in Arogbo-Ijaw, Ese-Odo LGA of Ondo State."

When contacted on Wednesday, Kuku confirmed the meeting but declined further comments.

London:Dog & Man murder 16year old 9gerian as Man found guilty of gruesome killing

Posted by 9jabook.com on March 19, 2010 at 5:00am

Man guilty of killing Nigerian in London

BBC
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A 22-year-old man, Chrisdian Johnson, has been found guilty of murdering a 16-year-old Nigerian, Oluwaseyi Ogunyemi, who was mauled by a dog before being stabbed in south London, the British Broadcasting Corporation reports.

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Johnson used his dog as a weapon on Ogunyemi before stabbing him in an attack in a park in Stockwell, the Old Bailey heard.

Oluwaseyi was brought down by one of the dogs as he tried to jump over a fence. He was then stabbed six times.

Johnson's brother Shane, 20, was cleared of murder.

The murder was described in court as unique because dangerous dogs were used as weapons to savage their victims before they were knifed.

Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, told jurors, "At the time of the attack, both dogs were unleashed, and chased and then brought down and savaged their victims, giving their human masters an advantage, enabling them then to access their victims in order to stab them with knives."

One witness said the behaviour of the youths in the attack was "vicious" and "mirrored the behaviour of a pack of wild animals," Mr. Altman told jurors.

Johnson was arrested as he fled from the scene of the murder in Larkhall Park bare-chested and covered in blood.

Johnson, of South Lambeth, south London, had been allowed to keep the animal only when a court imposed strict conditions on his ownership in late 2007.

He was also convicted of the attempted murder of the victim's 17-year-old friend, Hurui Hiyabu, said to have been lucky to survive after he was knifed nine times.

Detective Inspector Mick Norman said, "Seyi Ogunyemi was a young man of slight stature, suffering from Crohn's Disease.

"He was attacked by a dog released by Chrisdian Johnson and taken to the ground. While on the ground, he was stabbed where he lay. He didn't stand a chance."

Johnson was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on Friday (today).

Plane Crash averted: 52 People escape death as plane overshoots runway in Port Harcourt •10 passengers sustain injuries

Posted by 9jabook.com on March 14, 2010 at 12:00pm

Forty seven passengers and five crew members narrowly escaped death yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when a Nig.erian Air Force plane veered out of control after landing at the Port Harcourt International Airport.

The passengers, comprising journalists, officials of the National Emergency Management Agency as well as other agencies responsible for rescue operations in the country, ironically, were taking part in a simulated exercise to demonstrate the responsiveness of the relevant agencies to emergency situations.

Although no death was recorded from the incident, 10 of the passengers on board the flight sustained injuries, eyewitnesses who emerged from the crash said
Mr. Onyebuchi Ezigbo, the THISDAY Abuja Bureau correspondent, who emerged from the crash unscathed but traumatized, confirmed that only one of the passengers sustained a fracture to his hand and was immediately rushed to Teme Clinic, Port Harcourt for medical attention.

The fuselage of the Air Force plane, he said, was damaged beyond recognition and was left inside the bush where it skidded to a halt in the mud.

The passengers, most of them officials of the Nigerian Air Force, Federal Fire Service, N.igerian Police Force, National Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Commission and journalists were flown to Port Harcourt from Abuja aboard an Air Force Plane 950 of the G888 series.

Ezigbo explained that the plane landed safely but instead of decelerating a few seconds after hitting the tarmac, it kept accelerating at terrific speed until it overshot the runway.

Ezigbo and other passengers were thankful that the plane did not burst into flames, disclosing that the fire fighters at the airport responded promptly to the accident.

The Port Harcourt airport, located in the Omagwa community, some 30 kilometres away from the city, was immediately closed to traffic.

An Arik Airline aircraft from Abuja that wanted to land was turned back midair, however another Arik aircraft a few hours later was given clearance to land and take off from the airport.

Only last month, an Augusta reconnaissance helicopter belonging to the Ni.gerian Navy crashed at Isiokpo in Ikwerre Local Government, Rivers State, killing all the occupants.

NEMA’s director, Search and Rescue Operations, Air Commodore Yomi Bankole who later addressed the press at the airport said the exercise was meant to be a simulated one as they set out hoping to take steps to move from the textbook approach by getting some practical experience before the unfortunate incident occurred yesterday.

“It was an unfortunate incident. A plane we used veered off the runway,” he said, but promptly refused to speculate on the cause of the accident.

“In the aviation industry, we do not run into hasty conclusions until after investigations,” but he assured that a team of investigators from the Air Force has already taken over investigations and at the appropriate time the Air Force would provide insight into what caused the incident.

The director general of NEMA, Alhaji Audu Bida who was billed to be in Port Harcourt but had to go to Kano due to a fire incident in the northern city, when called on the phone said, “it is a sad event but we are only happy that no one lost his life.

“This is why we should all be very proactive. Incidents like this can never be predicted but it is always good that the country prepares very well to handle them whenever they occur.”

According to him, it was due to events like this that prompted NEMA into planning the exercise which was interrupted by the near mishap and led to the cancellation of the exercise. He promised that NEMA would review the entire incident and plug the loop holes.

Senate Committee chairman on NEMA and other search and rescue agencies, Senator Smart Adeyemi who was at the airport after the accident said the incident has “exposed how unprepared we are given the equipment on the ground.

“It is unbecoming that we have only fire fighting vehicles in the airport. Our only luck was that the plane did not burst into flames, otherwise, the equipment on the ground would not have contained the disaster.”

All 47 civilian passengers flew back to Abuja yesterday on board a 6.30pm Arik Airways flight, while the five-man Air Force crew was flown aboard a helicopter to the military hospital at the Air Force base, Port Harcourt.

Jos Crises Renewed Killing again as 100 people Dead

Posted by 9jabook.com on March 7, 2010 at 12:40am

Huhuonline.com can disclose that killing along religious lines has commenced in Jos,Plateau State , Nigeria. Over 100 people were murdered in renewed attacks by some suspected militia in Dogo Nahawa in Shen of Jos South Local government area. Sources told that Fulani Militia raided the Du district in Jos South Local government government area, Killing mostly women and children. As result of

unprovoked attacks, the state governor, Jonah Jang, summoned a meeting of security agencies in the state. More to come

EFCC Target Igbinedion :As lucky as he can be or why is former Edo State Governor not Convcted ?

Posted by Paul "EFCC" Hawk Adams on March 7, 2010 at 7:30pm

EFCC yet to act on Igbinedion's conviction

Adelani Adepegba

Sixteen months after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission vowed to appeal the conviction of a former governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion, on one-count charge of money laundering, corruption and embezzlement, the agency has not acted on the processes it filed on the matter, SUNDAY PUNCH investigations have gathered.

former Edo State Governor, Chi

Justice Abdul Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Enugu had on December 18, 2008 found the former governor guilty on a one-count charge after he entered into a plea-bargain with the EFCC which led to the dropping of the other 190 charges of corruption and financial impropriety preferred against him.

Igbinedion did not go to jail as he was merely fined N3.6m which drew criticism from members of the public particularly the Nigeria Bar Association.

The commission, which dragged Igbinedion alongside four companies in which he had interests, had rejected the judgment, and insisted on filing an appeal against the conviction.

It said in a statement that it "would rather go the long way of prosecution than to settle for a plea-bargain verdict that has no bite or will not serve any deterrence purpose. The outcome of the exercise at the court in Enugu however fell short of our expectation.

"It is believed that the essence of a plea bargain is not only for suspects to forfeit the proceeds of crime but that such should go with a sentence which will serve as deterrent."

Subsequently, the agency claimed it had filed an appeal on the matter.

But findings by our correspondent last Wednesday indicated that no action has been taken on the processes filed in the appeal against the court judgment as checks at both the registries of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, Enugu showed that nothing has been done on the appeal filed by the anti-graft agency.

Following the inaction on the matter, the case file has already been taken to the archive where old case files are kept by court officers.

Attempts to get the comment of the Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Femi Babafemi, was not successful as calls and a text message to his GSM telephone were not responded to.

But the man who led the EFCC prosecution that secured the conviction, Mr. Rotimi Jacob, told our correspondent that he personally filed the appeal, but said he did not know why no action had been taken on the suit.

"I remember that I filed the appeal immediately after the conviction in early 2009, but I don't know why no action had been taken on the suit. What I heard was that they are compiling the record on the matter, but I can't say why this has not been concluded one year after the appeal was filed," Jacob said over the telephone.

The EFCC, which had filed a 191-count charge of corruption, money laundering and embezzlement against Igbinedion and the companies made a volte face a day before the judgment by dropping the charges.

Instead, it filed an amended 24-count charge but arraigned him on just one-count.

Igbinedion, who had earlier pleaded not guilty to the 191-count charge, admitted being liable to the one-count charge in which he said that he neglected to make a declaration of his interest in the account No. 41240113983110 with GTBank in the declaration of Assets Form of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, an offence punishable under section 27(3) of the EFCC Act, 2004.

The second accused, Kiva Corporation, was convicted on two of the 23-count charge preferred against it and ordered to pay N500m fine and to forfeit its landed property to the Federal Government.

The property include a parcel of land at Asokoro, Abuja, a detached building on two plots comprising four-bedroom and two outer houses in GRA, Benin, and a storey building in Benin.

The prosecution had told the court that the former governor failed to disclose in his assets declaration form that he had N3,579, 524.16 in GTBank and tendered five exhibits, including the certified true copy of the assets declaration form, the statement of account of Kiva Corporation which showed how monies were paid into the GTBank account; and payment vouchers from the Edo State Government House showing how monies were withdrawn and lodged into the account of the company.

The index of payment received from the Government House showing withdrawals and payments of money to the company was also tendered.

Jacob had while proving the case prayed the court to consider the ingredients under count two and three where payments totaling N30m was made to Kiva Corporation on January 10, 2007 and another N70m paid to the same company on May 17, 2007 by one Pat Eboigbodin, an Edo State Government official which showed that the company

Pastor Adeboye: Natural disaster imminent as Uganda landslide claims over 300

Posted by 9jabook.com on March 7, 2010 at 7:00pm

Natural disaster imminent in Nigeria - Adeboye
Written by Adewale Adebiyi
Sunday, March 7, 2010

UNLESS Nigerians sincerely seek the face of God, a natural disaster is imminent in the country. The General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, had at the Special Holy Ghost Service for the month of March, warned Nigerians not to be non-chalant in their prayer lives as a natural disaster may soon occur in the country.

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Pastor Adeboye urged Nigerians on Friday to pray against natural disasters as several countries have been hit by earthquakes, landslides, rainstorms, etc in recent times.

"Earlier this year, there were prophesies that natural disasters would take place in some countries around the globe, what has happened in Haiti, Chile, Taiwan, France and Jerusalem has confirmed this.

"Recently, another one took place in Uganda, that means it is getting nearer. The present climatic condition is a clear signal that the natural disaster is gathering momentum unless we pray against it.

"Although I'm not a prophet, as a pastor, I hear when God speaks. If we do not pray fervently to avert this, Nigeria's turn of the disaster is very soon," he warned.

He advised those fond of dumping refuse in drainages to stop doing so, urging them to clear all debris to prevent flood and also pray against flooding.

Uganda mudslide prompts evacuation of thousands

Many bodies may never be recovered, officials say

Thousands of people are being evacuated from hillsides in Uganda where a mudslide is believed to have killed more 350 people.

The BBC's Joshua Mmali in Kampala says about 4,000 people are being removed from their homes on the slopes of Mount Elgon as heavy rains continue.

Three villages in the eastern district of Bududa were buried in a cascade of rocks and mud earlier this week.

Only about 90 bodies have been recovered so far.

The dead include about 60 schoolchildren who had taken shelter in a health centre.

Entire families have been wiped out, our correspondent says.

As the evacuation operation began, Bududa district chairman Wilson Watira told AFP news agency that in the "longer term" up to 35,000 people might need to move.

Authorities have blamed the disaster on local people cutting down trees on the hillsides to cultivate crops.

Uganda's minister for disaster preparedness, Musa Ecweru, told the BBC that the government wanted to move people away from areas at risk from mudslides.

"These people must be located to areas which are safe, and we must find land and re-locate them," he said.

"But there is a big problem about separating people from areas that they have traditionally known for ages."

He said essential supplies were being distributed to those made homeless by the mudslide.

The Ugandan Red Cross says it is distributing food and other aid to some 1,500 households.

Teams of volunteers and soldiers are still trying to recover bodies under as much as 5m (16ft) of mud.

The operation has been slowed down because the terrain is too steep for heavy machinery and rescuers are having to use hand-held tools.

Yar’Adua confirms Jonathan as Acting President. Senior Special Adviser Segun Adeniyi reads note

Posted by 9jabook.com on February 25, 2010 at 9:28am

Ailing President, Umaru Yar’Adua has acknowledged Goodluck Jonathan as the nation’s Acting President.
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In a broadcast, the Senior Special Adviser to the President, Segun Adeniyi, who read a note from the ailing president, said all aides in the presidency, including all those who just returned from Saudi Arabia, are to work under the acting president until President Yar’Adua fully recovers.

In an interview with newsmen, Mr Adeniyi said, “We run one presidency and the Acting President has already called for a meeting and I believe the meeting will hold tomorrow to brief us on how things will go and how he will run the presidency and everybody is included, especially those who just returned from Saudi Arabia. So it’s just one presidency and we are all under Mr Jonathan now as the acting president and commander in chief until the president returns to office fully.”

He also said it was unfair for people to say Turai Yar’Adua has taken over power, because Jonathan wanted to pay her a visit, adding that Mr. Jonathan paying a visit to the first family is the right thing to do.

“It’s been very unfair to the first lady at the time she is nursing her husband. So there is no such thing and you don’t expect the Acting President to report to the first lady, it is abnormal and it won’t happen. What the Acting President actually said was that he was going to see the first lady and ask about the husband, that is the president, and probably see him. To me, it is a normal situation, which I believe, is the natural thing to do.” Mr. Adeniyi said.

On the relationship between the president and Mr Jonathan, Mr Adeniyi said “Good. Very cordial relation. I know for a fact that when the president was in Saudi Arabia medical report of the president was being sent to the Acting President on the instruction of the president. The last one last Friday, Dr. Salisu, the president’s chief physician, sent to the Acting President through the ambassador, I was copied, I have a copy of the medical report on the president’s health.”

NI.G.E.R.I.A.N chorister in Vatican prostitution ring as Vatican is Hit By major Gay Sex Scandal

Posted by 9jabook.com webmadam on March 6, 2010 at 6:16am

The Vatican has been thrown into chaos by reports that one of the Pope's ceremonial ushers, as well as a member of the elite Vatican choir, were involved in a homosexual prostitution ring.

The allegations came to light after Italian newspapers published transcripts of phone calls recorded by police, who had been conducting an unrelated corruption investigation.

The tapes appear to record Angelo Balducci, a Gentleman of His Holiness, negotiating with Thomas Chinedu Ehiem, a 29-year-old Nigerian Vatican chorister, about men he wanted brought to him for sexual purposes. Balducci was allegedly paying 2,000 euros ($2,714) for each man he met, according to the Irish Times.

Balducci is recorded describing precise physical details of the men he wanted. The transcripts record that during five months in 2008, Ehiem procured for Balducci at least 10 contacts with, among others, "two black Cuban lads," a former male model from Naples, and a rugby player from Rome.

A report by the Italian Carabinieri on the case said: "In order to organize casual encounters of a sexual nature, he availed himself of the intercession of two individuals who, it is maintained, may form part of an organized network, especially active in [Rome], of exploiters or at least facilitators of male prostitution."

The police probe into corruption resulted in Balducci and 4 others being arrested. Allegations of prostitution were only revealed later, and have resulted in Ehiem's dismissal from the Vatican choir.

Balducci held a high position within the Vatican and carried the coffin of Pope John Paul at his 2005 funeral. He has now lost his position as a Gentleman of the Holiness. His trial for corruption is still pending.

The Catholic Church has weathered a storm of controversy in recent years over allegations of sexual abuse by its members. Whilst homosexuality is not outright condemned within the Church, it is taught that homosexual acts are "are intrinsically disordered."

Yar’adua returns to work next week – Associates – Daily Trust

Crises Rocks LM Ericsson, as Mass Sack of Nigerian Workers Loom

Uganda mudslide prompts evacuation of thousands

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