Others (22)

12166300684?profile=originalThe glamorous lovers’ day celebration on Monday turned bloody at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) when gunmen killed two students. Daily Sun gathered that the clash was between two rival cult groups, namely, Black Axe and the Buccaneers,’ over a female student allegedly snatched by the Capone of the Black Axe for Valentine celebration.

 

The action of the Capone , the source said did not go down well with the other group leading to the clash.
A student who witnessed the shooting said besides the two cult members who were shot dead, about four others sustained injuries and were ferried out of the campus by their leaders to shield their identity.

The sources said the cult members who carried out the attack were not UNILAG students but members from another campus, adding that the attack was carried out in a commando style with sporadic shooting.
An undergraduate student of English Department told Daily Sun that the Buccaneers’ group attacked the Black Axe members while another student returning from the Mosque said those who carried out the killing were not from UNILAG because they did not cover their faces.

It was learnt that as soon the shooting started, students scampered for safety while others took cover behind the wall and under cars packed around, while others ran into the halls to avoid being hit by stray bullets. 
A senior lecturer who confirmed the killings said the university management had met to curtail any reprisal attack while security personnel had taken over the investigation of the deadly cult clash.
When Daily Sun visited the troubled institution yesterday, there was uneasy calm, as most staff and students rebuffed efforts made by the reporters to get their comments.

However, one of the students who resides at Sodeinde Hall, said there was sporadic gunshots outside the premises which caused panic everywhere. 
It was gathered that the crisis, which erupted when the students were at the peak of lovers’ day celebration, created stampede on the campus as people ran for safety.

One of the victims of the attack reportedly ran into Sodeinde Hall for help, from where he was taken to the hospital.
Although the Hall Master of Sodeinde Hall declined comments on the issue, one of the officials, who wouldn’t want his name published, said the attack could not be linked to any cult group. He said there was increasing speculation that the perpetrators of the attack could be fighting for love. Efforts made by Daily Sun our reporter to ascertain the identities of the victims were unsuccessful.
The news bulletin of the university, Information Flash (ISSN 08195540) also captured the incident, while assuring the staff and students of the university of adequate security.

“The attention of the universities authorities has been drawn to the incident which occurred in one of the Halls of Residence in the late hours of Monday, February 14, 2011 where two persons were reportedly injured in fracas. The university management has commenced investigation into the unusual incident, in particular at a time when preparation for the first semester examinations due to commence on February 21, 2011 are in top gear. Security has been intensified to ensure safety of life and property on campus. Law enforcement agents have been involved to assist the university in this respect,” it said. 
Daily Sun learnt that students are leaving the campus because of the fear of reprisal attack while some parents called their wards on phone to return home until the situation is brought under control. 

The Deputy Registrar Information of UNILAG, Mr. Dare Adebisi refused to pick his calls or replied to text message sent to his phone.
When the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Samuel Jinadu (DSP) was called thrice, he promised to contact the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area and did not call back as at the press time....

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12166298501?profile=originalFive persons have been reportedly killed at the weekend while several others were seriously injured in a bloody clash in three different locations between two rival cult groups, the Eiye and Black Axe in Benin, the Edo State capital.

 

Daily Sun gathered that the victims were killed during a quarrel, as one of the groups was sharing money allegedly given to them by politicians during the conduct of primaries by one of the political parties in the state.

It was learnt that two men riding on a motorcycle, suspected to be members of the Eiye confraternity shot a member of a rival Black Axe cult group whose name was identified as Tony Idemudia at Uwelu, near Ogida area of the city. As soon as this happened, the Black Axe members were said to have stormed the Texiles Mill Road area apparently on a reprisal mission and swooped on two rival members killing them in the process.

Not satisfied, members of the Black Axe confraternity were said to have retreated and launched another attack on their opponents at the Second East Circular junction also in the state capital, where they shot two persons to death. One of the victims of the onslaught was identified as Osas.
The bloody scenes had left the residents of the affected areas scampering for safety. When contacted , the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Peter Ogboi failed to confirm the incident..

However, Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. David Omojola said nine persons had been arrested in connection with the incident. He attributed the killings to rival cult gangs and promised that those involved in the killings would be prosecuted, adding that investigations were on to unravel the circumstances surrounding the clash.

The corpses of the cult members have been taken to the morgue of the Central Hospital, Benin by policemen from the state command.

 

Previously in May 2010


The relative peace in Edo State was disrupted when cult groups clashed in Benin City, leaving 11 persons dead.

Oshiomhole_20100519jpg-283x336.jpg?width=283

Gov. Adams Oshiomhole, Edo State Governor.

The clash was between two rival groups, the Eiye and Black Axe confraternities.

P.M.NEWS
gathered yesterday that the battle, which took place last weekend, was a spill over from College of Education, Ekiadolor, near Benin City where cult rivalry claimed two lives recently.

Police sources confirmed the death of eight persons and six persons on danger list at different hospitals in Benin City.

Investigation revealed that Ogida and Useh quarters were the worse hit, recording a death toll of seven within six hours last Thursday.

Eye witnesses said that the cultists attacked their victims as soon as they dropped off the vehicles that brought them. It was further revealed that they pursued some of the victims to their family houses, killing some even in the presence of their parents.

One of the victims is called Erokpadamwen Asemota who was shot dead along with others at Useh quarters.

Bewildered residents who could no longer endure the war decided to appeal to security agencies and relevant bodies to intervene as lives and economic activities have been endangered in the area.

The hitmen and their victims are said to be in their twenties and some were alleged to be students of College of Education, Ekiadolor.

Describing the incident as unfortunate, the spokesman of Edo State Police command, ASP Peter Ogboi, stated that they intervened in good time to arrest the situation .

A bloody cult war between Black Axe and Maphite Confraternity reportedly claimed over 15 lives last March in Benin City.

—Yomi Obaditan/Benin

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12166212463?profile=original12166297874?profile=originalAS her husband, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, recuperates from a debilitating12166297460?profile=original stroke in a London hospital, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday approved the appointment of the former Biafran warlord’s wife, Bianca, as one of his aides.

 


Odumegwu-Ojukwu is a chieftain of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Besides Mrs. Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the President also approved the appointment of three other aides. The appointments, according to his spokesperson, Ima Niboro, takes immediate effect. Mrs. Odumegwu-Ojukwu was named Senior Special Assistant, Diaspora Affairs; Kingsley Kuku is the Special Adviser, Niger Delta Affairs; Ambassador Zakari Ibrahim, Coordinator, Anti-Terrorism and Mr. Oyewole Olugbenga Leke, Senior Special Assistant, Maritime Services...

 

Our Question still. To Serve your Country or to Serve your Husband .Ask what you can do for your Country and Not what your country can do for you . JFK

 

Who will now Aid the Ailing Warlord in these troubling times while his wife is aiding the President?

 

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ANPP Gov Aspirant Shot dead

As gunmen fell ANPP guber candidate, gov’s brother and five others *Hours after Northern govs raise panel on ethno-religious crises *Jonathan condemns his murder By NDAHI MARAMA & UMAR YUSUF, with agency report The violence and killings in the North East flank of the country took a more frightening dimension, yesterday, after unknown gunmen killed the ANPP governorship candidate in Borno State, Engineer Modu Fannami Gubio, and six other persons including the younger brother of Governor Ali Modu Sheriff, Alhaji Goni Sheriff, in Maiduguri. Engineer Gubio, 40, and until yesterday, the state Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development was killed as he arrived his family house from the Jummat prayers at the Shehu of Borno’s palace. Time was 2.15 pm. The assailants, said to be four in number arrived the scene on two motorcycles and appeared to have trailed him from the Jummat prayers. They opened fire as Gubio was greeting his father. Killed with him apart from Gov Sherif’s brother, were security aides and political associates. He himself was Governor Modu’s cousin. Ringim: Police IG He was the anointed choice of the ANPP hierachy in the state to succeed the incumbent and was generally seen as the candidate to beat in the April election. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state ASP Lawal Abdullahi confirmed the incident and said the State Police Commissioner CP Abubabar Jinjiri had led a police team to the scene with a view to commencing investigation. CP Jinjiri later spoke on phone and said seven people were killed and that the corpses had been deposited at the mortuary of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. Engineer Fannami was born in Gubio town on August 28th 1960. He attended Mafoni Primary School, Maiduguri 1966 to 1972, Yerwa Government Secondary School between 1973 and 1977 Ahmadu Bello University Zaria where he obtained Bsc. Building Engineering in 1986. He also had a Masters Degree in Business Management from the same institution. The deceased served at different times as Commissioner for Information, Home Affairs and Culture, and later moved to the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs. His last portfolio was Finance and Economic Development Ministry in the state. Maiduguri has witnessed many killings lately most of them masterminded by members of Boko Haram. Northern govs raise panel on etho-religious crises Gubio’s death came just 24 hours after Governors of the 19 Northern States constituted a three man panel to unravel the circumstances behind the escalating ethno-religious upheavals in the region. The committee comprises Governors Bukola Saraki, (Kwara); Dr. Gabriel Suswan (Benue); Ibrahim Shehu Shema (Katsina). The setting up of the committee was a highlight of the 9 point communiqué issued by the Governors at the close of their consultative forum in Yola, Adamawa state. The governors, in the communiqué, reaffirmed their determination to continue confronting the challenges of insecurity to lives and property, particularly unemployment and ethno-religious upheavals. They appealed to politicians and religious leaders across the country to stop using religion and ethnicity in the current political dispensation merely to advance the political interest of some candidates, and charged political actors and the people to be focused on issues that will engender national unity and development and the consolidation of democratic gains in the nation, stressing that , peaceful co-existence and national interest should be of utmost concern. Jonathan condemns murder President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday, in Ethiopia expressed shock over the murder of the ANPP gubernatorial candidate of Borno State, Alhaji Gubio. The President’s reaction was contained in a statement by Presidential Spokesman, Mr Ima Niboro, who said: “President Ebele Jonathan, who is in Addis Ababa to attend the 16th African Union Summit, has received with shock and consternation, the news of the murder, by suspected assassins, of the ANPP gubernatorial candidate of Borno State, Alhaji Fantami Gubio. “President Jonathan unreservedly condemns this killing and wants security agencies to find those behind it”. ... The President, said the era of do-or-die politics in Nigeria was over, and those bent on taking us back to that arbitrary past have no place in renascent Nigeria. “President Jonathan condoles with the Government and people of Borno State, as well as the families of those who were killed in cold blood and prays Allah to grant repose to their souls”.
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WikiLeaks, Jonathan and the others

12166232694?profile=originalLast week, WikiLeaks released cables about Nigeria. The information focussed on discussions between President Goodluck Jonathan and former U.S ambassador to Nigeria, Robin Sanders.12166297071?profile=original

Since the publication of the alleged conversations, many political opponents have tried to profit from the revelations, distorting and misinforming the public in order to score cheap political points.

Some would want us to believe the cables have portrayed the president as not being equipped for the job. According to a statement credited to Garba Shehu, spokesperson for presidential candidate and former vice president Atiku Abubakar, "this expose has once again continued what we have always said, Jonathan is not a man to be trusted". photo: the Sheep and the Leak

But away with political opponents and let us face the real contents of the leaks and look at them intelligently.

The leaked cables quoted Sanders quoting Jonathan as saying after her meeting with him on February 26, 2010, "I was not chosen to be vice president because I had good political experience... I did not. There were a lot more qualified people around to be vice president, but that does not mean I am not my own man."

Some people would want us to believe this means President Jonathan cannot be trusted: what an irony. It is uncommon, for a Nigerian politician to admit that he is not the almighty and the omnipotent. In a society where people who are trusted with public office immediately turn themselves into deities to be worshipped, never to be questioned, it is rare that a Nigerian could admit that he is not the only qualified person to occupy a public position.

Public office is not necessarily given to the most experienced, or the most educated, but to the man who is best able to bring about development, a man who embodies the two fundamentals of leadership as postulated by Steven R. Covey, the personal effectiveness guru: they are sense of service and knowledge.

President Obama had little public administration experience when he decided to run for the highest office in the country. But the American people followed him because they saw in him a man willing to admit his limitations and thus willing to learn. They also saw he had the passion and the will to serve. Leadership is not self-centred behaviour, but others centred behaviour. How many Nigerians can resist the temptation to trumpet their own credentials and exaggerate their achievements in order to impress?

According to the revelations Jonathan allegedly, also said he had intended to dissolve the Cabinet early in the week of February 22, and had planned to make that announcement at the February 24 FEC meeting but found out that Yar'Adua was returning and this dissuaded him from acting. He said the last Cabinet meeting was disastrous, included yelling and screaming, and was totally dysfunctional. Sanders reported that Jonathan said he is ‘not a politician' and had very limited experience as an administrator, but concluded, "I will not tolerate a brawl."

Is President Jonathan your usual Nigerian politician? The obvious answer is no. The president is not a desperate power monger, as some of his opponents would want the public to believe. In the heady days of the Yar'Adua debacle when the nation tottered on the brink, had Jonathan been your usual politician, our circumstances as a nation may have been different today. He would have dissolved the Cabinet, instead he was loyal to his boss when he learnt that he was arriving even though nobody told him formally or put him in the picture. But he remained calm, not desperate to prove a point, but willing and ready to step up to the plate at the appointed time. And he did.

Nigerians should be optimistic about the prospects of President Jonathan. He has the right frame of mind to determine that electoral reforms are germane to Nigeria's development. Sanders said: "His sole focus is to leave a legacy of both electoral reforms and credible elections, including changing the entire Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)."

The question we should ask is what can be revealed in leaked cables regarding other politicians in Nigeria especially the ones aspiring to become President in 2011? There is no need to wait for WikiLeaks to do that for us. A number of such names are synonymous with corruption. That is not the case with President Jonathan..

The leaks have shown him to be humble, truthful, sincere and patriotic. These may not be the best attributes for a politician in these climes but they are the attributes Nigeria needs at this time. Jonathan is a transforming leader not a transactional leader like those who have paraded the corridors of power for too long.

Read the final verdict from Sanders: "We believe the US government is firmly placed to advance our bilateral agenda, including the creation of enabling environment conducive to free, fair and credible elections with the approval and assistance of Nigeria's de facto head of state. Even if he decides to contest for the presidency, Jonathan seems sincere in wanting to leave a lasting legacy of electoral reform for Africa's most populous nation."

Afam is a public commentator and a pro democracy activist, he lives in Lagos

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No fewer than five persons, including a pregnant woman, her child and husband died, while several others have been declared missing in a petrol tanker fire in Lagos yesterday. Lagos Police Command Spokesman, Mr. Frank Mba, a Superintendent of Police, confirmed five persons dead and eight persons injured.

Daily Sun learnt the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals.
Mba’s statement reads: “Today at about 5.45a.m. a tanker with a registration number XZ 777 JJJ loaded with petroleum product suspected to be premium motor spirit was involved in a fatal accident near Fin-Niger Bus-Stop. The driver reportedly ran into a ditch under circumstances yet to be ascertained. The contents spilled on the road and it eventually went up in flames.”

He said the tanker and seven other vehicles were burnt, while five person were burnt beyond recognition and eight others sustained various degrees of burns.” Although the police put the casualty figure at five, Daily Sun learnt that more than 10 persons were consumed by the tanker fire.

Witnesses told Daily Sun that the cause of the tragedy should be traced to the tanker and another car on top speed which overtook the tanker earlier.
It was gathered that as the car suddenly moved in front of the long vehicle, the tanker driver attempted to maneuver to avoid ramming into it. In the process the tanker lost control, fell on its side, and spilled its cargo on the road.

The witnesses said the driver and conductor of the tanker tried to alert oncoming vehicles but the motorists failed to heed the warning and kept driving past.

It was gathered that the movement of the cars and mini-buses ignited the fire, leading to an explosion from the tanker.

Daily Sun gathered that the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations in the Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Abdullateef Junaid immediately proceeded to the scene to assist in the evacuation of the victims of the fire.

A witness who was identified as John Dickson said shortly after, the men of the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Civil Defence Service Corps, Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) and sympathizers arrived they were able to rescue eight people who suffered severe burns.
As at press time, nothing was heard about those who reportedly ran towards the swamp for safey. Efforts by the police only yielded scanty results as only two persons were rescued.

Some residents and sympathizers lamented that more people went towards the swamp, but only two were rescued.
They pointed to items such as shoes, groundnuts and baked cow pea which littered the vicinity of the swamp as evidence that there were still more people in the area. Dickson told Daily Sun that, “a man and his pregnant wife and their little baby were burnt to death in the fire. Some people died inside the swamp. Some are still missing. I believe more than 10 persons were killed in the fire.”
Some of the victims were reportedly rushed to Holy Family Hospital, Satellite Town, while others were moved to the General Hospital.

In tears and anguish relatives of the deceased thronged the scene of the incident to search for their loved ones.
A relative who was identified as Achike told Daily Sun that he was sleeping in a hut on a farmland with other farmers when all of a sudden they heard a loud bang which was followed by a huge fire
Achike said: “We ran for our lives, you know the farmland is swampy. As we were running for safety, some of us fell into the swamp and we believe they are still there.”

He noted that he was able to see some of his colleagues who ran for dear life, “ but as I am talking to you, my best friend Okon is nowhere to be found. I am sure he drowned in the swamp.
Maduabuchi Okone who took an early bus from Mile-2 on his way to Republic of Benin said he managed to escape from the fire. “Our bus ran into the fire. We have to rush out from the bus. I broke my leg. So, I could not run far but other occupants of the bus ran towards the farmland. I am still surprised that when we converged to continue the journey, some of the passengers were nowhere to be found.”
Continuing, he said, the fire fighters should, as a matter of urgency assist in combing the swampy area to fish out those that were missing.

Another person who could not control his anger, Martins Okoye said he was suspecting that his wife Rose might be among the dead. “I have searched through all the hospitals the police directed me to visit but I can’t find her. I believe my wife may have been burnt beyond recognition.”

He said his wife was travelling to Badagry in an unknown vehicle but that since the incident, her phone had been switched off. “The time the incident happened coincided with the time my wife called me that she was on her way to Cotonou and that she was around Fin-Niger.
He said the government should take the issue of citizens seriously by making sure that those who were trapped in the swamp were rescued and that the identities of those who lost their lives in the fire tragedy were ascertained.

An artisan at the Dantata Bus Stop area of the Badagry-Mile 2 who was identified as Adeosun Yusuf, who was on his way to work when the incident occurred described what he saw as a waste of human lives.
Adeosun, a vulcaniser told Daily Sun that he was shocked at the spread of the fire and the way it consumed everything in its path...

“This is a bad way to start preparations for Christmas this December. I was on my way to work. I usually come out early because of people who go to work early and may have flat tyres. It was while I was just trying to set my tools of work that I heard a loud sound and when I looked up, I saw that it was a tanker carrying fuel that fell. Then, the driver and conductor got out and started making calls as I walked closer to see for myself the extent of damage.

“Within a few minutes, the tanker exploded and those of us trying to get to the scene of the accident had to run back for safety. I saw cars, buses and small trucks trying to escape the fire. The fire was so much that we were just unable to do anything.
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ExxonMobil, others disown Emeagwali

The bottom has fallen out of Phillip Emeagwali's basket of false claims. American oil giant, ExxonMobil, has told NEXT exclusively that it hasnever dealt with the American-based Nigerian scientist, contrary to Mr.Emeagwali's repeated claim that he wrote the equations that the company used tosimulate the flow of oil, water, and gas inside its reservoirs...

Authorities at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, a United States Department of Energy laboratory, where Mr. Emeagwali claimed he sourcedthe Connection Machine for his award-winning experiment, also said they hadnever related with the Nigerian scientist.

Even the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, the world's largest organisation of computer experts, has reacted to the scandalsurrounding Mr Emeagwali by removing the scientist's profile from its website.Mr. Emeagwali's bio on the site contained some contentious claims, includingone that he has a doctorate.

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i wonder if they were tears of Joy or Sadness !
Tears as Babatope, Igbinedion, others escape air crash

A former Transport Minister, Chief Ebenezer Babatope and Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, owner of the defunct Okada Airlines, were among passengers who narrowly escaped death, yesterday, as their Aerocontractors’ flight flew into a very bad weather on approach to land at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.

Also on board the flight was Professor Olu Aina, who was said to be travelling to Ghana for an educational conference.

Vanguard gathered the plane, a Boeing 737, took off at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, for Lagos at 7:30 a.m, and was expected to land at 8:30am, but could not.

The pilot of the aircraft was said to have made seven attempts to bring down the aircraft but was impeded by the bad weather.

A source told Vanguard that some passengers wept profusely as the pilot battled storming wind to land the aircraft.

The pilot was said to have called for emergency landing, prompting the activation of fire tenders at the airport to prepare for the worst.

According to the source, the pilot, after hovering for close to an hour in the skies, eventually made forced landing at 9:30 a.m.

Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Dr. Harold Demuren, could neither confirm nor deny the incident.

One of the passengers, Babatope, narrated his ordeal: “ What happened yesterday will shake anybody’s confidence about flying in this country. I have never seen that kind of thing in my life. The plane was parked full and everybody was crying and praying.”

“When we took off in Abuja, the pilot told us the flight would take 50 minutes and that the weather in Lagos was good. But as soon as we were descending to land the Lagos, the weather changed and the pilot made several attempts to land, but he couldn’t. For a 50-minute flight, I discovered we were two hours in the air, that was when the apprehensions of passengers started. Air planes are made to fly in bad weather, but what happened yesterday is better imagined.”

Besides human error, bad weather had been identified as the second most important cause of air crashes across the world.

The latest air crash in Russia which killed Polish President, Lech Kazhinsky, and his wife and scores of other senior government officials, was blamed on inclement weather..

The Tupolev plane reportedly crashed into trees while trying to land amidst bad weather.
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Bankole, Oshiomhole, Fashola, others stranded in Europe • EU to resume limited air traffic today
By NDUBUISI ORJI

Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Speaker of the House of Representative Dimeji Bankole, Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, and Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola are among Nigerians stranded in Europe as result of rising Iceland volcano ash. Others stranded included some aides of the Acting President Dr Goodluck Jonathan. Also, the governors of Imo and Akwa Ibom States, Ikedi Ohakim and Godswill Akpabio are said to be among those stranded in the UK.

photo:Fashola


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The socio- political implication of this development that government business, which the affected officials were supposed to address have been left unattended.

For instance in Edo State, the launch of the ‘one man, one vote’ campaign earlier schedule for tomorrow has been postponed by one week because of the absence of Governor Oshiomhole..

Meanwhile, European officials carved up the sky yesterday, creating three zones to more quickly break the flight deadlock caused by volcanic ash flowing from Iceland over Europe. Many more flights will be able to take off today, the bloc said.

European countries can resume airline traffic in designated “caution zones” where the threat of ash is considered less dangerous, French officials said after a meeting of the bloc’s 27 transport ministers.

Under the accord, one area defined by the European air traffic control agency Eurocontrol will remain entirely off limits to flights. Another area will be open to all flights and a third area will be a caution zone in which some flights will be allowed.

Jean-Louis Borloo, the No. 2 French Cabinet official, said flights in the caution zone will be “very secure” with many tests to make sure jet engines are not damaged by ash.

EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas said after a videoconference with EU transport ministers and industry officials that “the decision increases air space available to air traffic. This is the final outcome.”

The EU said as of Tuesday morning “we should see more planes starting to fly.”

Meanwhile, airline losses from the volcanic ash cloud spiraled over $1 billion yesterday, the industry demanded European Union compensation and criticized European governments for relying too much on scientific theory not fact in their decisions to shut down airspace across the continent.

Shares of some European airlines fell as flight disruptions from the volcanic cloud moved into a fifth day, and the International Air Transport Association complained of “no leadership” from government leaders, one of whom admitted to EU dissension about how to respond.

“It’s embarrassing, and a European mess,” IATA CEO Giovanni Bisignani told The Associated Press. “It took five days to organize a conference call with the ministers of transport and we are losing $200 million per day (and) 750,000 passengers are stranded all over. Does it make sense?” IATA officials said the $200 million estimate was at the low-end of their projections, and that it could run as high as $250 million-$300 million a day.

Even as airline officials were clamoring for relief, both financial and operational, a senior Western diplomat told The Associated Press that several NATO F-16 fighter jets had suffered engine damage after flying through the cloud, suggesting government caution was warranted..

The official declined to provide more details on the military flights, except to say that glasslike deposits were found in the planes’ engines after they patrolled over unspecified European airspace. European civil aviation authorities held a conference call Monday about what steps could be taken toward opening airspace, and transport ministers of all 27 European Union members were conferring by phone and videoconference.

Dominique Bussereau, France’s transport minister, told reporters Monday that he had urged EU president Spain. ever since Saturday. to call the ministerial meeting immediately but Madrid declined. “Naturally, it would have been better if had taken place Sunday or Saturday,” Bussereau said.

British Airways said airlines have asked the EU for financial compensation for the closure of airspace, starting last Wednesday. With London among the first hubs shut down, the British carrier said it’s losing as much as 20 million pounds ($30 million) per day.

BA Chief Executive Willie Walsh pointed out that compensation had been paid to airlines after the closure of U.S. airspace following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. “This is an unprecedented situation that is having a huge impact on customers and airlines alike,” Walsh said. “We continue to offer as much support as we can to our customers, however, these are extraordinary circumstances that are beyond all airlines’ control.”

Environment Minister Jean-Louis Borloo, the No. 2 in the French Cabinet said a meeting of French airlines, travel agencies and the government was planned for Tuesday to examine possible state aid to the industry. “This aid will evolve of course based on the severity of the crisis. For that, we need a European pre-accord that we have obtained, an accord in principle so this sector aid can be allocated,” Borloo told France’s i-Tele.

German Transport Minister Peter Ramsauer said government decisions were based on a “sea of data” and defended the continued closure of air space in his country. He brushed off airlines’ complaints about losses, saying they know about their susceptibility to weather conditions.

“It is completely obvious that you have to calculate with such risks,” he told Radio station Deutschlandfunk. “And I defend myself right away against any calls to the government,” to compensate for the corporate losses. The IATA, in a statement, called on governments to place “greater urgency and focus on how and when we can safely reopen Europe’s skies”, such as through more in-depth study of the ash cloud.

“We have to not just use as the Europeans were doing, a theoretical model, let’s try to use figures and facts,” Bisignani said.” It means sending test planes at certain kinds of altitudes to check what was the situation with the ashes.”

While the association says “safety is our top priority,” Bisignani said in the statement that its member airlines have run test flights with no problems and “they report missed opportunities to fly safely.” Bisignani said that Europe, unlike the United States, for example is “not well-equipped” when it comes to planes that can test the air quality in the skies. He estimated that once flights in Europe do resume, it would take three to six days for traffic to return to normal.

France’s Borloo said disparate analyses needed to be brought together based on “real tests on real planes with real pilots,” so some air “corridors” could be reopened. “The issue today is not to reopen all European commercial airspace, the issue today is to increase the ability to reopen corridors to allow the general de-congestion of European traffic,” he told reporters.

Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, the No. 2 executive at Air France-KLM, said his company is losing euro35 million a day and called for more test flights to see if routes are safe to fly. He said the French-Dutch carrier conducted five test flights on its own Sunday and planned another seven Monday.

Speaking to reporters Monday at Air France headquarters near Paris’ main airport, Gourgeon said aviation authorities had relied on “insufficient” information when they imposed a near-blanket flight ban in some countries.

The prospect of continued losses and flight cancelations pushed down shares of many airlines. In early afternoon trade Europe, German carrier Deutsche Lufthansa AG was down 3.9 percent to euro12.24 in Frankfurt; Air France-KLM SA dropped 4.5 percent to euro11.87, and British Airways was down 4.4 percent to 224.6 British pence.

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Full List Below:


EIGHTY PERSONS, foreigners and Nigerians, the living and the dead, among them four former Heads of State and two of their wives, as well as former Governors and Ministers – indeed the top echelons of the country’s political and military establishments, including technocrats – have been indicted by the United States law enforcement officials over the N27 billion Halliburton bribery scandal.


Among the foreigners are Jack Chagoury, Gilbert Chagoury, and T.W. Oerlemans, an Australian; but they are rather small fish compared with indicted former Nigerian Heads of State Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha, Ernest Shonekan, and Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Maryam, the late wife of Babangida; Mariam, the wife of the late Abacha, and his son, the late Ibrahim, are included; likewise Mike Akhigbe, the second in command in the Abdulsalami junta; former Abia State Governor, Orji Kalu; and former military Governors of Rivers State, Anthony Ukpo and Samuel Ewang.

Also among the dead are Abdulkadir Ahmed, former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor; and renowned economist, Pius Okigbo, who headed the probe panel on the Gulf Crude Oil Excess sales set up by the CBN in 1994.

But among those alive are former Petroleum Minister, Rilwanu Lukman, and newly re-appointed National Security Adviser, Aliyu Gusau. (See full list).

According to the report of the investigators, the 80 persons received part of the N27 billion bribe facilitated by foreign contractors for Halliburton to get the contract to build the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) plant, Africa’s first, in Bonny, Rivers State..

The scandal dates back to 1994 when some foreign companies put up bids for the construction of the plant that was to cost $6 billion.

To win the contract, a joint venture company, named TSKJ, was set up – comprising equal holdings between some companies, Technip (French), Sanmprogetti (Italian), KBR (U.S.), and part of the Halliburton group and Japanese engineering and construction company, JGC.

The investigators said the consortium bribed political leaders and top government functionaries through Tri-Star Investment Limited and Marubeni Inc.

They also recruited British lawyer, Jeffery Tesler, to co-ordinate the affairs of Tri-Star, as well as Wojciech Chodan, an American, to co-ordinate the affairs of Marubeni.

TSKJ mandated Tri-Star to solely take charge of bribing Nigerian officials at senior level, Marubeni was restricted to bribing junior level officials.

Tesler disclosed in a court deposition that TSKJ mandated both companies to bribe the officials.

As part of the investigation, the Swiss Justice Department followed the steps of the Police Judiciare of France, which in 2003, started an investigation that revealed fraudulent Halliburton payments to Tesler.

In the U.S., KBR and Halliburton have admitted to violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by engaging in a decade-long bribing scheme to secure contracts in Nigeria.

Both agreed to pay a combined fine of $579 million to settle criminal and civil charges brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Justice.

Those Indicted

  1. Ibrahim Babangida
  2. Maryam Babangida
  3. Ernest Shonekan
  4. Abubakar Abdulsalami
  5. M. D. Yusufu
  6. T.W. Oerlemans
  7. Pius Okigbo
  8. Aminu Saleh
  9. Don Etiebet
  10. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau
  11. Edmund Daukoru
  12. Victoria Ihonde
  13. Toyin Olakunrin
  14. Gilbert Temisan Grant
  15. Gabriel Abolade Soyoye
  16. Patrick Dele-Cole
  17. E. Ihetu
  18. Onya (NNPC personnel)
  19. Sani Abacha
  20. Joshua Dogonyaro
  21. John Shagaya
  22. U. J. Itsueli
  23. Ombu Isokariari
  24. G.O. Ejiga
  25. Babagana Kingibe
  26. Hakeem Bello-Osagie
  27. J.O. Maduka
  28. Sena Anthony
  29. Dalhatu A. Bayero
  30. Ogenyi (NNPC official)
  31. I. Dapchi
  32. M.A. Olorunfemi
  33. Wilfred C. Eze
  34. Umar Baba
  35. Orji Kalu
  36. Jeremiah Useni
  37. Abba Gana
  38. Ibrahim Abacha
  39. Oladipo Diya
  40. Chamberlain O. Oyibo
  41. Judith Attah
  42. Abdulkadir Ahmed
  43. Anthony Ani
  44. O.O. Okwara
  45. Philip Asiodu
  46. Endo (Marubeni Nigeria)
  47. Hamman Tukur
  48. S.J. Ollerearnshaw
  49. Dan Etete
  50. B. Soyode
  51. Akin Ogunleye
  52. Tom Ikimi
  53. Gidado Idris
  54. Sola Alabi
  55. Ismaila Gwarzo
  56. Mariam Abacha
  57. Halilu Akilu
  58. Abdullahi Mohammed
  59. Hamza El-Mustapha
  60. Ibrahim Aliyu
  61. Edmund Ayoola
  62. Anthony Ukpo
  63. Samuel Ewang
  64. Ismaila Usman
  65. Tunde Soleye
  66. Christ Akerele
  67. Umaru Shinkafi
  68. Philip Chukwu
  69. Bunu Sherrif Musa
  70. Rilwan Lukman
  71. Aret Adams
  72. Mike Akhigbe
  73. Faruk Iya
  74. Hassan Adamu
  75. Prince Nzekwe
  76. Gen. Adeyosun
  77. Jasper Jumbo
  78. Jack Chagoury
  79. Gilbert Chagoury
  80. Mohammed Atiku
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A pregnant woman and four other suspects have been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for attempting to smuggle 6.3kg of narcotics out of the country.

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The agency, on Wednesday, disclosed that the pregnant suspect, Osatohanwen Esohe, 29, who was nabbed at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos for ingesting cocaine while trying to board an Alitalia flight to Rome, excreted 27 wraps of the drugs weighing 350g.

“Apart from Chukwuemeka Kingsley that ingested 1.4kg of heroin, Esohe and three others were smuggling 4.8kg of cocaine when they were caught,” said Mitchell Ofoyeju, spokesperson for the agency in a statement.

Hamza Umar, MMIA commander for the agency, disclosed that the pregnant suspect’s action shows no respect for human life, as he described the act as weird.

“They do not have respect for their own lives neither do they respect the dignity of their children,” he said. “This is the height of desperation by drug barons and their associates.”

Mr. Umar gave the names of the other four suspects that were recently apprehended as Arovo Moses, 42, who ingested 1.7kg of cocaine; Darlington Nwanwere, 48, ingested 1.3kg of cocaine; Okeke Anthony, 46, who ingested 1.46kg cocaine; and Chukwuemeka Kingsley, 34, who ingested 1.4kg heroin.

Explaining her reasons for involving in drug peddling, Ms. Esohe disclosed that she was rejected by the man who impregnated her, adding that she had to fend for herself in order to survive.

“I am three months pregnant, and the man that impregnated me refused to take responsibility,” she said. “That was how I got involved in drug trafficking. They promised to pay me 2,000 Euros and I needed the money to take care of myself and the unborn baby.”

According to the agency, Mr. Okeke, a trader and father of three who was to be paid 4,000 pounds, was nabbed on March 19, during screening of passengers on Virgin Atlantic flight to London, while Chukwuemeka Kingsley, the only suspect that ingested heroin, was arrested for swallowing 95 wraps of the substance while trying to board an Alitalia flight to Milan for the sum of 5,000 Euros.

The agency’s spokesperson, however, disclosed that the suspects are to be prosecuted according to the dictates of the law.

“All the suspects will soon be charged to court,” said Mr. Ofoyeju.

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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

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Turai’s consummate power play...Her secret emails, others facts

In the period between December 15, 2009 and January 17, 2010, the ailing President’s wife, Turai Yar‘Adua, was aggressively engaged in an intricate power manoeuvre to rally support for her
husband; reaching out and offering carrots to those previously classified

as ‘enemies’ of the administration; and building new allies with the sole purpose of keeping the seat of power safe. From her new base in Saudi Arabia, where she manages her husband’s health, fresh facts emerging from email
exchanges made exclusively available to NEXTonSunday, reveal the
fascinating web of the power machinery organized around Mrs Yar‘Adua
who, as the perfect Amazon, is emerging as perhaps the most politically
shrewd, even if desperate, ‘First Lady’ in the history of Nigerian presidency.

While Nigeria’s President, Umaru Yar’Adua lay critically ill in King Faisal hospital in
far away Saudi Arabia, throw the country into confusion over the
leadership vacuum, to Turai Yar’Adua the President, was surreptitiously
orchestrating an elaborate power scheme and was, in effect running the
affairs of the country.
Fresh
evidence, obtained exclusively by Next, shows a ground plan in which
Mrs Yar’Adua, assisted by some politically connected Northerners,
curbed the power of the Executive Council of the Federation and tried
to curry the favour of loyalists and foes alike in an effort the
family’s hold on power. For more than 2 months, the group- the
‘‘cabal’’- succeeded in warding off all efforts to fill the leadership
vacuum and thereby frustrated constitutional processes. It is not clear
whether Mrs. Yar’Adua was protecting the interests of her ailing
husband; indeed, it appears that she may have more interested in
holding on to the influence that her current position afforded her.

Spanning a period of about five weeks from December 15, 2009, series of email
show the lively discourse that took place between Mrs. Yar’Adua,
members of the executive council, legislators, presidential aides, some
prominent Northern elites. Events took a dramatic turn when in late
December, she went beyond her loyalists and reached out to a well
antagonist, Nasir, el-rufai, the former minister of the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT). Analysts believe that this may have been an attempt on
her part to garner support of the politically strong Northerners while
also bridging the gap between loyalists and rivals. Mrs. Yar’Adua’s
says otherwise.

‘‘Nasir Wallahitallahi duk yadda ka dauka bah aka bane (Nasir, by God,
honestly, it s not what you think) I just want to help you out,’’ the
first lady said in an email to Mr. el-rufai on January 14, 2010.

Seeking Power

While the nation simmered and accusations and counter accusations flew across groups, the parliament and the Presidency, Mrs Yar’Adua was subtly making plans on how to retain power. According
to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, the 80 day delay in
handing over Presidential powers to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan was engineered by the first lady’s to solidify her power in the light of her husband’s dwindling health.

‘‘This whole thing was about power. You must remember that she had the hope
that if her husband became incapacitated, she would be made the Vice
President,’’ our source said.

Having been assured of the loyalty of her husband’s cronies, Mrs. Yar’Adua took the next step to woo her antagonists.

‘‘It is all about power. She was trying to gather friend and to neutralize
enemies. Because she wanted to be made the VP, she felt that if she
could win over enemies, then they would not oppose her ambitions,’’
another source said,
When
contacted by Next, Mr. el-Rufai, who is currently exiled in Dubai and
has been in the fore front of asking for the President’s resignation,
said he did not know what sort of help Mrs. Yar’Adua wanted to offer
him.

‘‘I did not have a clue what help she was offering. I did not care and I
did not think that she was in a position to help me,’’ the former
minister, said.

A subsequent email sent by the first lady to the former minister of
however gives a clue on what Mrs. Yar’Adua hoped to offer Mr el-rufai
in return for his support.
‘‘Amma
nayi maka Alkawari ba wani wanda ya isa ya kara wata Magana Akanka (but
I make you a promise that no one will ever again complicate your
situation) if I remain the firs(t) lady,’’ Mrs. Yar’Adua promised in an
email sent to Mr el-Rufai on January 18, 2010. She may have been
referring to the eight-count charge, brought against the former
minister by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Last year, on Wednesday , May 6, 2009, the EFCC charged Mr. El-Rufai to
Court on charges including abuse of office, and followed this upnby
declaring him wanted on account of his failure to appear to appear
before the Courts. Mr el-rufai insists that he did no wrong and that he
was being persecuted by those whose toes he had steeped on while he was
the FCT Minister.

The Middle man

Serving as the channel for the initial correspondence between the two parties
was Baba Adams. Mr Adams, a Nigerian who serves as the director of
Research and Assessment at the North central University,
Prescott Arizona, presented himself as the middle man trying to
establish contact between the first lady and different parties. In one
of the messages sent on December 24, 2009, Mr. Adams in an email to the
President, via the first lady, appealed to him to cede power between to
his deputy. Mr Adams copied several parties in the Mil including
members of the Executive Council of the Federation, some legislators,
aides of the President, and some prominent Northerners. Mr Adams copied
Sultan of Sokoto; Buba Marwa, a former military Governor and current
Ambassador to South Africa; Mohammed Abba Aji, the Presidential adviser
on Presidential matters; David Mark, the Senate President; Taminu Yakubu, the President’s economic adviser; Babatunde Osotimehin, the Minister for health and a close ally of the Mrs Yar’Adua; Michael Aondoakaa, former Attorney General; and Ojo Maduekwe,
the Foriegn Affairs Minister among others. It is unclear what Mr Adams’
relationship is with these people but a legislator who was copied in
the email, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, a House of Representatives member, denied having a personal knowledge of Mr Adams while also denying a personal relationship with the first family.

‘‘I have no idea of what you are talking about. If you are talking of my role as a parliamentarian, and a member of Action Congress, no problem. But in terms of personal relationship, none at all. I met Yar’Adua once as Governor of Katsina State, when some House of Representatives members were on a visit to Katsina. Perhaps Mrs. Yar’Adua might recognize me as a member of the parliament, and a former NTA staff she
probably sees on TV sometimes. My stand was very simple: handover to
your deputy.

I believe Mr Adam copies his mail to some senators and members, as he normally
does,’’ Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa said to NEXT. Mr Adams’ next step soon after
that email was to take steps to link up Mr. el-rufai with the Mrs.
Yar’Adua.

‘‘I just got an email from Her Excellency Hajia Turai Yar’Adua, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Saudi Arabia. She wants to speak to you by telephone-so please can you email me your
best contact phone number. With all due respect to you and the First
Lady, we would appreciate if you will keep the communication
confidential to avoid any unnecessary altercations,’’ Mr Adams said in
an email dated December 26 2009. Thus began the correspondence between the former and the first lady.

‘‘Maganar taimakon da kike cewa za ki yi mani, nag ode amma ban a bukatar
taimakon wani dan Adam, domin na kai kara wurin Allah, Subhanahu wa
ta’ala (As for the assistance that you want to render to me, thank you
very much, but I do not need help from any human being because I have
left everything in the hands of Allah, Subhanahu wa ta’ala),’’ was the
final response sent by Mr el-Rufai to the first lady in an email,
dated January 16, 2010. Mr. Adams did not respond to email enquiry on
his motivation for the various mails sent to the different parties.

Neutralizing enemies

Mrs. Yar’Adua’s quest for power led her to seek reconciliation with those
who had hitherto fallen out of favor with her family. Mr el-Rufai was
just one of many. According to acknowledgeable sources, the aim of the
reconciliation exercise was for the sole purpose of neutralizing
opposition by renewing friendships which had long gone sour. Others who
Mrs Yar’Adua reportedly approached were Ahmed Muazu, the former
Governor of Bauchi State; Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, former Governor of Sokoto State; Atiku Abubakar, former Vice-President; and Ibrahim Babangida
former military President. ‘‘Initially, these people were her friends
but the relations between them deteriorated,’’ sources said.
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American varsity expels Musa Yar’Adua, 9 others Ten students of the Atiku Abubakar-owned American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola have been expelled for their involvement in clandestine and anti social acts. AUN is rated as the first University in sub Saharan Africa to introduce American style of education. Among those rusticated by the university is a family member of President Umaru Yar’Adua named Akilu Musa Yar’Adua. David Kosoko, the Director of Students’ Affairs of the American University of Nigeria, while briefing journalists on the school campus at the weekend the decision was informed by the university’s hard stance and none tolerance of unscrupulous behaviours by students. Kosoko confirmed that Akilu Musa Yar’Adua and nine others were expelled for indulging in drugs and other related offences. The Director of Student Affairs said: “It is the responsibility of the school to ensure safety of students on campus because if anything happens to them, we are accountable to their parents. “Therefore, we have put in place rules and regulations that will be an excuse in terms of what the institution is required to do. “If any students is involved in theft, drug related cases and fighting, the offence attracts outright dismissal and this forms the core of our zero tolerance for anti-social vices.” He further stated that in accordance with AUN’s policy, the affected students had been ordered to leave the school campus. The expulsion was the main highlight of activities marking the university’s orientation for its freshmen for the 2010 spring and the student affairs director added that 300 new students were to be enrolled for studies in the 2010 spring semester. He other serious misdemeanors such as unwarranted visitation, dormitory visitations, late night crawling in and outside the campus were punishable, warning the students to desist from any acts that could cause them to be punished. Similarly, the Academic Vice President of the institution, Bayo Lawal who also confirmed the expulsions decried the rising fears over rampant cases of laptop theft in the school. Lawal announced that 10 percent of the entire students’ enrolment into the institution every semester was on scholarship in line with the philosophy of the founder and former vice president Atiku Abubakar..
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DETECTIVES at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command are current growing grey hairs over the gruesome murder of a lawyer, Mrs. Pamela Ebuzeme and two of her domestic aides in Karu, a satellite town in Abuja on Monday advertisement According to family sources, the late Mrs. Ebuzeme, who ran a travels agency in the city centre, left her home for the office on Monday, dropping her daughter in school along the way. At about 11.30 a.m. she was driven back home by three men who went straight into the duplex located at Karu Phase Two where they axed Mrs. Ebuzeme to death. The assailants also killed their first victim's cook in her kitchen. Thereafter, they lured the gateman into the sitting room, who, when he saw the gruesome scene, attempted to make good his escape by running upstairs but was also hacked down. Having ensured that the three were dead, the assailants reportedly sped away in the late lawyer's sports utility vehicle, locking the gate with a padlock on the outside. At the close of school, Mrs. Ebuzeme's daughter, who expected her mother to pick her up, waited for her to no end. After putting several calls to her mother's phone which went unanswered, the worried daughter later called her father, Mr. Ekene Ebuzeme, who later came at about 4.00p.m.to take her home. When they got the house, Mr. Ebuzeme, a Quantity Surveyor, blared his car horn for the security man to open gate to no avail and decided to open the gate by himself with his spare key. In the house, Mr. Ebuzeme fell on the gruesome scene of the triple homicide and raised the alarm, which attracted neighbours. Later some policemen from Karu Division arrived at the scene. When The Guardian visited the house yesterday, a team of policemen led by the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 7, Mrs. Ivy Okoronkwo was there but declined to speak on the issue. But the Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT Command, Jimoh Moshood, confirmed the incident. His words: "I can confirm to you that the incident took place and we have started investigation with a view to arresting the perpetrators. We will inform you about the outcome of the investigation. We are determined to explore all avenues and the state CIC has commenced full investigation." Associate Parish Priest, St. Donald's Parish, Karu, Rev. Cyprian Imandeh, who was among the first set of sympathisers to arrive at the scene after the alarm raised by Ebuzeme, said it was "a case of gruesome murder." According to him, Ebuzeme and his late wife came to the church last Sunday and played significant roles in the conduct of the day's mass. He added: "They are very strong members of our church. Just last Sunday, we all met in the church where I conducted the mass. What I saw when we went to the house shocked me and I could not sleep when I got back home. This is a gruesome act but God will surely punish those involved."
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70-Year-old, 4 others nabbed with human skull

70-Year-old, 4 others nabbed with human skullA70-year-old man and four others are now in police net in Ilorin, Kwara state capital for allegedly being in possession of human skull.They are Hassan Ajala, Ibrahim Adamu, Afisat Raji , Umaru Kure and Samuel Kure .THISDAY checks revealed that the suspects were arrested by men of the state police detectives at Igbonna town in Oyun local government council area of the state last Sunday.It was learnt that, one of the suspects, one Ibrahim Adamu, was said to have brought the skull to the old man allegedly for money-making charms.Sources close to the police detectives in Ilorin told our correspondent that the skull was discovered at the shop of the old man where he sells local gin and other assorted drinks to the members of the public in the town.Sources added that, following a tip-off in the town, members of the police detectives led by ASP Alaku Asiagu went to the house of the old man where he was arrested with the skull.THISDAY further gathered that upon interrogation by men of the state Police Command, the old man’s confession led to the arrest of three other people, Ibrahim Adamu, Afisat Raji , Umaru Kure and Samuel Kure .In an interview with newsmen yesterday at the state police command, the principal suspect, Ibrahim Adamu, confessed that he got the skull from a dead body at a river in Gwagwalada area of Abuja.He said he brought the skull to the old man to make money charms.The 70 year-old-man, Mr. Hassan Ajala, who denied being an herbalist but a farmer, confessed that the skull was brought to his shop by Ibrahim Adamu so as to make charms money for him.Contacted yesterday, State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Ezekiel Daboh, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent said the five suspects would soon appear in court after the police authorities complete investigation into their alleged roles in the matter.
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Govt, others plan database of Nigerians abroad

Govt, others plan database of Nigerians abroad From Laolu Akande, New York THE Federal Government's focus on Nigerians living abroad is deepening as plans are being proposed by the National Population Commission (NPC), some Nigerian consulates abroad and the United States Census Bureau to establish an estimate of how many Nigerians are living outside the country. advertisement This might end the difficulty in arriving at an estimate of Nigerians abroad, especially those in North America and Europe once the scheme is completed. Nigerian government sources reveal that the NPC after a visit to the U.S., earlier in the year, is now considering collaborating with some embassies and consulates of the Federal Government abroad to commence an official count and database of Nigerians in foreign countries. Ambassador Ibrahim Auwalu, the Nigerian Consul General in New York, said yesterday that the NPC was indeed interested in working with the consulate on the issue, after the consulate recently launched a new Internet database of Nigerians in the U.S. The Consul General stated that it was the objective of the consulate to embark on a "scientific pilot platform for an accurate census of Nigerians in Diaspora." He said the consulate actually had the official endorsement of the NPC for the project and was also seeking the cooperation of the U.S. Census Bureau which possessed pertinent information about Nigerians in the U.S. Auwalu added that the outcome of all of this would "form the basis of Absentee voting for our compatriots here in the U.S." Already, by a judgment of an Abuja Federal High Court, Nigerians abroad have been deemed eligible to vote in future elections and the National Assembly is now working with groups of Nigerians in foreign lands, especially those in the United States and Canada to pass a bill designed to give legislative teeth to the right of Nigerians abroad to vote. The move by the NPC to also count the number of Nigerians abroad will broaden their increasing engagement in affairs and development of the country. Specifically, both the NPC and the Nigerian Embassy Consulate in New York are known to have started consultations on how to collaborate on the count, after the NPC visited the America and discovered that the Nigerian Consulate in New York, with covering- jurisdiction for Nigerians in over 20 U.S. states have already commenced an electronic database for Nigerians in the area for the purposes of gathering personal, professional and other pertinent information about U.S.-based Nigerians.
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DO Nigerians deserve the kind of leaders they have? Can Nigerian leaders offer the kind of leadership that will lift the country from the shackles of corruption? Can Nigerians develop the culture that abhors corruption? Can Nigerian leaders toe the path that has transformed a poor nation like Malaysia into an Asian Tiger? advertisement These are some of the questions that agitated many minds yesterday at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos. The event was the 11th session of the Emmanuel Onyechere Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Lecture Series. This edition's lecture: "Incorruptibility: A spiritual premise for material well-being", was delivered by Mahathir Bin Mohamad who was Prime Minister of Malaysia from 1981 to 2003. Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who was drafted to replace former Director-General of the NIIA and Ambassador to the United States (U.S.), Prof. George Obiozor, said he was elected Secretary-General during the reign of Mohamad. He hailed him as one of the best leaders in the world. Guest of Honour, and former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shaukat Aziz, who also said that he had a lot to learn from Mohamad "which is why I flew in from China," said that the nations of the world are in adversity and facing various challenges. One of the challenges, he said, is the global financial crisis, which has humbled many people and nations. He said that the crisis was not yet over. According to him, "there is the issue of water, food, energy, security" but the good thing, he pointed out, is that the world is coming together and the "solution lies in the home-grown ideologies. Leaders of nations must develop the roadmap and lead the people out of adversities." He noted further that terrorism remains an issue just like nuclear proliferation. He, however, said that the absence of interfaith harmony has led to some crisis. "We need to promote peace and harmony," he said. Stressing the importance of leadership and governance, Aziz noted: "We have good politicians but good leaders who can change the world are in short supply in the world today." On the battle Pakistan waged against corruption in his era, he said: "Corruption is endemic in the world and no country is immune. In Pakistan, to fight corruption in the civil service, we had to deregulate, liberalise, privatise and reduce state involvement and involve the private sector. But the state did not abandon the development and provision of infrastructure. Reforms were embarked upon." In his lecture, Mohamad dwelt on the sub-themes of leadership, governance and corruption. Listing the ideals of a good leader, he stated that a leader must be learned and well trained; have ideas far above those who work with him; he must be prepared to carry out what he preaches; he must be brave, disciplined; and capable of fighting his base inclinations. He must show a willingness to listen to everyone in and outside his cabinet and government. He must make up for his lack of knowledge with his readiness to listen and learn; he must not listen to only his officials as because they are more likely to be sycophants. He must have good lieutenants and with a good team in place, he is capable of leading a state. Drawing a parallel between a good leader and a company's Chief Executive Officer, he said that a leader must be in a position to gather information on the assets and liabilities of the nation in all spheres; he must then set realistic targets, taking into consideration the abilities and potentials of the nation. Mohamad added it was very important that every nation and leader find a model for its development. For developing nations, he said that the models would be recently-developed countries and not countries that developed under circumstances that are not applicable today. In this instance, he pointed out that no nation would adopt the model of the older nations that profited from colonialism. He said: "It is better to adopt a model than striking out on your own with untested models. It's up to a politician to choose the best model; a good leader must make the best of any model." According to him, a good leader must be decisive because "nothing is as debilitating as indecision. He must quit when he fails and nothing is shameful about quitting but a lot is wrong if he fails and stays. He needs almost superhuman skills; he needs not just to survive but also to manage things well." He admitted that "it is obvious that such a man cannot be readily found." Corruption, he said, is endemic; no country in the world is exempted. It is in the private sector, but if it is in the public sector that it is really bad. Many ways have been tried to stop corruption; many laws have been passed, anti-corruption agencies set but the results have remained dismal. "Some people have suggested that it is a way of life and there have been going rates for specific favours. It is the bane of governments and countries. "The reputation of the country is affected, undermining the development of infrastructure, investors stay away, causing unemployment and other social ills. "Corruption is a function of the culture of the people; it is their value system." And on how to stop corruption he said that, "every nation has to develop a culture that rejects corruption at home and in the schools." He said that the Japanese have a "culture that allows them to commit suicide, hara-kiri, when they do what is wrong." Stressing that a sense of shame is perhaps the most important value, he said that, "the fear of being shamed makes the Japanese do the right thing. They commit suicide or resign or return their loot when they are exposed." Every leader should develop a sense of discipline to reject what does not legitimately belong to him; he must reject corruption so that he will be respected and he will be listened to. There is need to have an incorruptible leader. Even in a clean society, once a leader is corrupt, everything else becomes dirty. He said that individuals have a role in ensuring that corruption ceases by voting in those who are not corrupt. "If people elect corrupt people into government, they don't have to complain about their actions. It is them who will decide whether they get good people or not. The government reflects the culture of the people." Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) who was represented by the state's Solicitor-General, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), on his part, declared: "Let me further assure you that on the level of good governance, we are not about to fail in Lagos. Nigeria shall overcome its problems in the same manner that Malaysia overcame hers." A member of the Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation, Miss Peace Osigwe-Anyiam said: "Corruption is actually one of the big issues in Nigeria right now and the continent in general... It became an issue because if we want the growth of the nation, we must deal with corruption at all levels and I guess one of the people who can talk about this issue is Muktar who did marvelous things for Malaysia and the country is one of the leading countries in the world today. "There are people who are not corrupt; we are not all corrupt, it is just a few people that give us a bad name. We cannot generalise on a nation of 140 million people." In his own address, former Nigerian Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme said: "During my presidential campaign in 1998/99, I used to say that my goal was to transform Nigeria from a third world country in the same way that Mahathir Bin Mohamad did in Malaysia. He is someone I have always admired and I was not surprised with his lecture. He spoke very frankly and I am sure that we have benefited from his frankness." The former Prime Minister of Malaysia is credited with being the figure behind transformation of Malaysia from a developing nation to a developed economy and prosperity. It was not quite a gathering of government officials; it was more a gathering of the diplomatic corps and corporate chieftains. The only government presence on the high table was Governor Fashola who was represented by the state's solicitor-general. Other guests were Alex Ekwueme; Ambassador Arthur Mbanefo, one-time Minister of Information, Chief Nnia Nwodo; Dr. Gamaliel Onosode; former Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Chief John Edozie; Executive Director of Ibru Organisations, Olorogun Oskar Ibru; university dons, some members of the religious community and traditional rulers.
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Senate report indicts Anenih, others for corruptionCan He go the Bode George way ? Who can Prosecute Mr Fix It a former Police Officer who is probably the foremost Pen Robber Alive in the Country taking after his infamous alteregos Laurence Anini aka the Law and DoubleAgent Policeman George Iyamu who met their Waterloo at the executioners bullets.Anenih a former Top Cop from Edo State has had his hands in virtually every moneypot made by him or by someone else in the murky corrupt practices of the nations political system.The Senate may now indict him, a former minister of Works and former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees today, if it adopts the recommendations of its ad hoc committee on transportation. Tony Mr fix it AniniThere are indications based on the Senate order paper, that the reports of a Senate ad hoc committee that investigated alleged corruption in the transport sector since 1999 will be discussed on the floor of the upper legislative chamber today.This came after the conclusion of the Heineken Lokpobiri (PDP Bayelsa State)-led ad hoc committee’s work and subsequent submission of its report a fortnight ago.(lawrence the Law Anini)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.Bidding without prior designThe report said during Mr. Anenih’s tenure as minister, and three others that later headed the ministry in the last 10 years, road contracts were awarded depending only on estimates that were submitted by the bidding companies without prior design by the ministry.They also “fixed prices even before the roads were actually designed by the companies,” the report said.Tony Anenih, Adeseye Ogunlewe, Obafemi Anibaba, and Cornelius Adebayo headed the Works Ministry within the period which the Senate probed. The horrible Lagos Benin Road major cause of countless Loss of LivesThe ad hoc committee in the report recommends that the four men and their ministers of state and the permanent secretaries should be prosecuted for corruption.Also recommended for prosecution is Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, who was the permanent secretary that served all the indicted ministers, but Mr. Anenih. He was said to have crafted a means of splitting contracts to sizeable amounts to bring the values within the approving authority of his office.With this, projects with single appropriation were allegedly awarded by him separately and besides that, he awarded contracts to non-existing companies.The report described the engineering representatives of the Works Ministry as one of the most corrupt and lacking in technical expertise; “they granted clearances to the contractors when the jobs were far from finished,” the report said.Former officials of the Ministry of Finance and the Bureau of Public Procurement (Due Process office), who were said to have provided funding and clearance for the unappropriated projects were also recommended for prosecution.The immediate past minister of Transportation, Diezani Allison, who literally wept while inspecting the condition of the Benin-Ore road, was said to have paid more than N1.2 billion into the private account of a company called Digital Toll Gates Limited against the written advice of the Due Process Office.The report took the ad hoc committee 18 months to produce. Ayogu Eze, the Senate’s spokesperson and a member of the committee, said the report took so long because it needed to be thorough and detailed in touching on the heart of the problem of road infrastructure in the country.Justice Joseph Oyewole, another convict will be coming your way soon. Please do Justice to Anenih (Mr Fix it). Please fix him for 29 years in prison. Anenih Must be JAILED. We all know he stole N300billion during his Tenor. The same God that ensured Bode Gorge was jailed will ensure Anenih and co receive appropriate judgement soonest.
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Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Shaibu Amodu has picked 23 players to represent Nigeria in next weekend’s all –important 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Kenya’s Harambee Stars in Nairobi.advertisementa href="http://www.9jabook.com"> On the list are skipper, Nwankwo Kanu, deputy skipper, Joshttp://www.9jabook.com/profiles/blog/neweph Yobo and the other 16 players who made the list for the last qualifier against Mozambique in Abuja, and five others.Nigeria tackles Kenya in a must –win final game of the qualifiers at the Karasani Sports Centre on Saturday, 14 November – the date for the conclusion of the African series for the 2010 FIFA World Cup to be hosted by the Republic of South Africa.Also listed are goalkeepers, Vincent Enyeama and Bamidele Aiyenugba, defenders, Elderson Echiejile and Obinna Nwaneri, midfielders, Yusuf Ayila and Osaze Odemwingie and strikers Obinna Nsofor and Obafemi Martins.The players will start arriving in Nigeria on Monday, November 9 and will depart for Nairobi aboard a chartered flight on the night of Thursday, November 12.
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