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The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) presidential candidate, Nuhu Ribadu, said yesterday that he would not spare any corrupt leader in his party if elected president in next month's presidential election. Mr. Ribadu spoke yesterday at a forum organised by the Murtala Muhammed Foundation in Abuja for five presidential candidates who presented their plans to Nigerians. Mr. Ribadu and the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) and the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP) candidates, Ibrahim Shekarau and Pat Utomi, participated in the programme. President Goodluck Jonathan of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and Muhmmadu Buhari of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) did not show up for the event and gave no reason for their absence.

"I want to assure you that I am Nuhu Ribadu, and I will remain Nuhu Ribadu forever and ever," the Adamawa State native told the audience. "It is too late for me to change. I am 50 years old. I can assure you that I will do what is right. I will do justice. I will stand by the people. There are areas I can never compromise. I can assure you I will not be corrupt, and I will not allow corruption in my government. I will not allow anyone close to me to be corrupt. If you cross the line, you will face justice."

The former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission chairman criticised the PDP, saying its administration had failed Nigerians. He expressed his disgust with the way government officials, including former ministers, enriched themselves before moving on to other parties where they were celebrated. Mr. Ribadu, who described the late Murtala Muhammed as his hero, said that the country needed redirection to make it work.

"If given the chance, I will give the country the best direction," Mr. Ribadu said. "We will not cheat Nigerians. We will tell the world and Nigerians that hard work is what is needed."

Promoting social justice

Mr. Shekarau, on his part, promised to focus on human development and social justice. The Kano State governor said that he would continue with the privatization process involving government-owned agencies, but would ensure that it was properly implemented. He also said that in order to achieve adequate power supply, his administration would bring clusters of states together to initiate a system to improve power generation.

"The earlier we decentralize power generation, the better for us," he said.

Mr. Shekarau said that he would improve security by adequately funding the police and other security agencies. He also said that to enhance the performance of the force, his government would address the payment of retirement benefits, the issue of welfare, and the provision of adequate facilities and training.

Passionate about education

Mr. Utomi described Nigeria as one of the world's poorest nations, adding that he had a blueprint with which he could reposition the country. The presidential hopeful from Delta State said that he would embark on massive infrastructural development, if elected. Mr. Utomi also talked about revamping the country's education sector.

"The system has broke down completely," he said. "If garbage goes into university, what exits is garbage. Let us start with primary education and we will get it right. It is the foundation."

Mr. Utomi said that he would free up funds for existing universities by reversing the government's decision to open new federal universities.

"I am not in politics because of position but because the country is dying," he said. "If the opposition progressive parties had united, I do not mind if I am given the role of cleaner."

Three Nigerians were yesterday jailed for a total of 18-and-a-half years for setting up a fake educational institution, called Bogus Colleges, to help illegal immigrants remain in the United Kingdom. The UK Border Agency’s London Immigration Crime Team, told the prosecution that its investigations revealed the dirty deals of the three, which include a husband and wife, Tiamiyu and Christiana Bello, aged 75 and 67 respectively, and a 39-year-old solicitor, Adeyinka Adeniran..

The couple were arrested following a raid on a property on New Cross Road in South London in July 2007, while Mr. Adeniran was later arrested following a search of his office on Old Kent Road. The sentence yesterday followed an 11-week trial at Croydon Crown Court, where the Bellos were found guilty of conspiring to assist unlawful immigration and conspiracy to possess articles for use in fraud. They were both sentenced to five years in prison each. Mr. Adeniran was also found guilty of conspiring to assist unlawful immigration, which the judge described as a “disgrace to his profession.” He was sentenced to eight and a half years behind bars..

Revelations

The UK Border’s Agency said its raid on Mr. And Mrs. Bello’s office, which was registered to the address of “Academic College of Education” and the “Academic College of Training and Recruitment”, institutions for which the Bellos were the principals, led to the seizures of documents.

“During a search, a large number of documents were seized, including letters purporting to be from the Academic College of Education and counterfeit qualification certificates. Many of the files seized from that address contained documentation from the Bellos’ college. Officers soon discovered that the building was a collection of bedsits and there was no evidence of lessons being taught there,” the agency said.

UK officers told the court that though the scam had been on for many years, the entirety of the business structure totally, “involved the supply of fake qualification documents which were then used to support visa applications to the Home Office. Many applicants were then represented by Mr. Adeniran through his legal practice.”

The wife of the former Governor of Delta State, Theresa Ibori, has been sentenced to jail for five years by a London jury after she was found guilty on a two count-charge of money laundering.

Found guilty with Mr Ibori’s attorney, Bhadresh Gohil, who was on trial with Theresa. Mr Gohil was found guilty on a similar charge and was remanded in police custody.

He will be sentenced after the conclusion of another trial involving the laundering of proceeds of V-Mobile shares by James Ibori, Henry Imashekka, David Edevbie and former Akwa Ibom governor, Victor Attah. The trial will commence next Monday.

The recent anti-corruption campaign on the Ibori’s has also seen the conviction of the former governor’s sister Christine Ibori-Ibie; and mistress, Udoamaka Okoronkwo-Onuigbo in a previous trial for helping him move an estimated £70 million worth of looted funds through several London banks. The two women are currently serving five-year jail terms each in a London prison.

Mr Ibori is currently detained in the United Arab Emirates where the Dubai court of First Instance ruled in October that he should be extradited to the United Kingdom to face charges on corruption, official theft and money laundering saying he has “a case to answer in the UK.” But he is appealing the judgement at the Emirate’s Supreme Court where he is reported to have sought political asylum.

Mr Ibori was arrested in the Emirate by the International Police (INTERPOL) in May after he was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly mismanaging N528 million shares of Delta State in Oceanic Bank a month before his arrest in the UAE after evading arrest in Nigeria. A warrant of arrest was also issued on him by the UK Metropolitan Police for money laundering......

"It's like someone who cheats but doesn't think it's cheating if they don't get caught," Judge Marsha Revel saidin finding that Lohan had violated the terms of her probation forreckless driving and two DUI charges from 2007. Revel noted severalinstances over the last few years in which the actress lied about takingdrugs and drinking.

A teary Lohan addressed the court before being sentenced.. She said that "as far as I knew I was in compliancewith my programs."

"I wasn't trying to get special treatment," said the actress, whose credits include Mean Girls, FreakyFriday and Herbie Fully Loaded. "I have to provide formyself. I have to work. Having said that, I did everything to balance myjobs and showing up. I'm not taking this as a joke. It's my life. It'smy career. ... I take responsibility for my actions. I've tried to dothe best I can. It's been such a long haul, I don't want you to thinkthat I don't respect you."

After she's out of jail, Lohan must do 90 days in a rehab center. She'll surrender in two weeks.

A federal grand jury is about to indict John Edwards, sources tell the National Enquirer. The grand jury has been investigating the former presidential candidate since April 2009 for possible misuse of campaign funds -- Edwards had mistress Rielle Hunter on his payroll -- and indictment is now imminent. The Enquirer talked to one friend who revealed that John was "terrified":

"While he believes he's done nothing illegal in trying to hide his extramarital affair with Rielle and their daughter, he thinks the Feds are going to make an example of him."

It hasn't been a great winter for the former presidential candidate. On the one hand, there has been Andrew Young, former Edwards aide and admitted accomplice in concealing the affair, stepping forward with a tell-all memoir of campaign trail debauchery and details of an Edwards-Hunter sex tape. On the other, recently-separated-from wife Elizabeth has threatened to sue Young for "alienation of affection," while friends told the Enquirer that Edwards beat her in a marriage-ending fight.

Meanwhile, rumors float about that Edwards proposed to Hunter and the two plan to move into a recently purchased $3.5 million beachfront home. If the couple do in fact intend to move in together, plans could be delayed if Edwards ends up serving jail time.