The Super Eagles team that would come face to face against the Argentinian side this afternoon includes Enyeama, Odiah, Taiwo, Shittu, Yobo, Kaita, Etuhu, Obasi, Lukman, Aiyegbeni and Nsofor.

The match which is scheduled for 3:00pm today (Nigerian time)would take place at the Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

Ooops! What an eye-catching scene over there in South Africa, venue of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off in less than 24 hours.
If you aren’t feeling the World Cup excitement yet, then the body language of thousands of South African ladies across the country readily puts you in great competition mood.
The babes are baring everything they have; their beauty, curves and poise all to make the visitors feel at home during the mundial.
While many say posing unclothed is a normal way of life amongst young South African ladies, some believe that the trend is restricted to the grossly under-developed areas of the former apartheid enclave. Whatever the insinuations, South Africans are already in a joyous celebration of their country’s readiness to host the world and they are not hiding it.



South African dancers cheer Chile's national football team before their friendly international against New Zealand at the Kanyamazane Stadium near Nelspruit yesterday, two days ahead of the start of the 2010 World Cup football tournament. AFP PHOTO



Only yesterday during the pre-World Cup friendly match between Chile and New Zealand, thousands of South Africans, including their ladies, stripped themselves unclothed and filed out to cheer the teams at the Kanyamazane Stadium, near Nelspruit.
The pretty damsels appeared happy to showoff their bodies as they danced around in Sandton, north of Johannesburg city centre, where a big party was held in anticipation of the beginning of the world showpiece.


Many of the ladies who spoke to international journalists say whatever they do is ‘for the good of the game’ and an honour for their nation. Reports say the presence of the ladies is not only felt on the streets of South Africa, some unsuspecting players are getting distracted, especially when the babes come around their training grounds and near their hotels. It was gathered that security personnel have been up and doing to ensure that the 32 teams, including the host, Bafana Bafana, are focused on the mundial, the first to be staged on Africa’s soil.

The House of Representatives leadership yesterday averted an outright confrontation with members amid allegations that it withheld approval for more funds that would raise members’ quarterly allowance to N42 million.

Anxiety rose at Tuesday’s sitting, which was the first to be held after allegations that lawmakers asked for a new allowance package were made public.

Up we go

Members, according to sources who were part of the House closed-door meeting two weeks ago, tried to convince their leadership on why the current N27.2 million allowance they receive every four months, needs to be reviewed upwards..

Short of funds apart from that appropriated for allowances, lawmakers understand the implication and have encouraged the Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, to go ahead and draw funds from other sources to the tune of N15.1 billion.

Mr. Bankole, according to sources close to him, is uncomfortable with the suggestion and has withheld his assent even after he orally agreed with the members.

However, he and his deputy, Usman Nafada, face an impeachment threat if they fail, the sources say.

But the House spokesperson, Eseme Eyiboh, who heads the committee on Media, denied the reports, saying the Speaker has no such powers to unilaterally raise pay, and so cannot be expected to do same.

Yesterday’s plenary was the first after the reports became public.

The notion gained fillip when Mr. Bankole failed to show up at the sitting, and Mr. Nafada had to conduct proceedings.

After preliminary procedures, Independence Ogunewe, a member representing Ahiazu Mbaise, Imo State, claimed his privilege as a lawmaker had been breached, and said he could only disclose his worry if Mr. Nafada ordered a closed-door session.

“What I am talking about, affects me, affects you and affects other members, it is not for the public,” he told said.

Targeting the Speaker

Mr. Nafada however insisted that the matter be discussed openly. “Go ahead and say it, say it, or you meet me in my office,” he said repeatedly, rejecting the option of an executive session, and pushing the session into a row that lasted more than 15 minutes.

Both lawmakers were then approached by colleagues, who prevailed on them to resolve the issue peacefully.

Sources indicate that Mr. Nafada’s effort against the closed-door sitting was in furtherance of an alternative belief that the agitation for new allowances, when made open and available to the media, would be severely weakened.

However, Mr. Ogunlewe finally apologised to the Deputy Speaker, who subsequently ordered for an executive session that lasted for more than one and a half hour.

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Dear 9jabookers,

Brothers & Sisters ,It is now time for The youths IN this Nation to stand up as one and demand for this Birthright.Some countries call it Welfare or Benefit.Maybe we will call it poor man egunje ,It is yours So let us Take It .The Nation can afford it .Naija is RICH,LOADED ! .

We must organise and mobilise a strategy so that this bill must become Law ! Great Naija Unemployed Graduates ! Aleuta Continua let us not rest until Victoria Acerta !

Regards from Your Naija Webmaster & General Ajekpako nice guy

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Main Article

The Senate, on Thursday, significantly advanced legislation on a new bill seeking to establish a social security system for Nigerian unemployed and aged..

The bill is sponsored by Anyim Ude (PDP, Ebonyi State). The bill proposes to set up a social security system that will enable the government pay out N15 000 or at least N10 000 monthly to unemployed graduates and persons above 60 in Nigeria.Photos: Youths Working on Rubbish heap Markets in Lagos.

Mr Ude, 69, was inspired to draft the bill after listening to contributions of a Senate motion on the corruption of the National Poverty Eradication Program (NAPEP) in February last year..

"It is estimated that over 70 per cent of our people live below poverty level and that is why I agree with the passionate suggestion -- that day ...that the Senate should devote one week of its session to address the issue of poverty and corruption in this country." Mr Ude said.

"This bill is another opportunity to put smiles on the faces of the aged and unemployed.

"Our children have no access to basic health care and education, unless their parents have money. Our system has made no provision backed by law for the unemployed, the destitute, the poor, and the aged. These crops of people are on their own, without hope or future. Some of them take their frustration out on the society by engaging in social vices and the society pays dearly for this," Mr Ude argued in his debate.

He added that even though it will cost the nation money, Nigeria will be better off as exemplified by the benefits other countries are reaping from similar systems.

He cited African countries benefiting from the scheme to include: Malawai, South Africa, Kenya, Mauritius, Botswana, Republic of Seychelles, and Libya.

The bill proposes that the beneficiaries of the system will be unemployed graduates of the colleges of education, polytechnics, and the universities, and people above 60 years.

The cost

The bill suggests two wages scenarios: a minimum of N10 000 and a maximum of N15 000 monthly. According to Mr Ude's estimations, based on a population growth rate of 2.5 per cent per annum, the scheme would cost the nation N77 billion in the next five years, starting from January next year, if the government decided to pay every beneficiary N10 000.

If the government decides to pay the maximum N15 000, it will cost the government N111.6 billion for five years.

He estimated that in 2011, it will cost the government N12.6 billion or N17.7 billion if they pay out N10 000 or N15 000 respectively. In 2012, it will cost 13.4 billion or 19.0 billion. In 2013, the scheme will cost 15.1 billion or 22.0 billion. In 2014 it will cost 17.05 billion or 24.96 billion. Arguing in favour of the bill, Uche Chukwumerije (PPA Abia State) said that it will require only a fraction of the loot politicians and past leaders robbed the nation of to run the scheme.

Pessimistic senators

Although the bill was accepted by majority of the senators, some were pessimistic and sceptic about the practicability of the recommendations of the bill.

Kabiru Gaya (ANPP Kano State) argued that it is too expensive for the nation. He said that considering that Nigeria produces about 70 000 graduates annually from the three categories of tertiary institutions in the country, the expenses will be too much.Photos:Vocal Slender of the "Illfated" BBC Welcome to Lagos Documentary.Who was billed to perform at the Indigo O2 Arena London.

Nicholas Ugbane (PDP Kogi State) argued that although the idea is good, it might be very difficult to distinguish the intended beneficiaries of the scheme.

"Do we have a reliable and dependable statistics of the unemployed? Can we identify a Nigerian?" he asked. "The idea is laudable but the kind of system we have will make it difficult to run." Others, however, argued that the cost of not instituting the social security system is higher than the cost of running it. They also argued that the possibility of corrupting the system should not deter the bill.

"You cannot rule out fraud, but the fear of fraud cannot overrule the importance of the bill." Bassey Ewa-Henshaw (PDP Cross River State) argued.

The bill was later committed to three Senate committees who would organise a public hearing on it and report back to the Senate for passage into law. It is, however, very unlikely that the bill will be passed into law before the expiration of the present Senate because the committees working on the bill were not given a time limit. High priority was not placed on the bill and the Senate has only one year left in their tenure.

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Nigerian-born former Togo international and Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor is due to arrive in Lagos on Tuesday at the invitation of the Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola and his football preparatory school, the BRF Youth Football Academy.

According to the Head, BRF Board of Trustees, Yomi Pearce, Adebayor‘s visit to the Nigeria is in fulfilment of his partnership with the academy.

The former Arsenal star is expected to train with the students of the academy and give them inspiration talks on Wednesday at Campos Square, Lagos, after which he will visit the Lagos Youth Correctional Centre at Oregun to talk to the housemates.

”Adebayor is well celebrated international football star with well known Nigerian roots. He is from a humble background from where he has grown to achieve success in world football. He serves as an example to many young men and women on the possibility of great achievements, ones circumstances notwithstanding,” Pearse said..

People are talking and saying that What Turai did was mere childsplay that we are about to see the mother of all First Ladies in 9ja ! READ ON: Shocking Revelations await

Article:

It used to be that our government officials, their wives, aides, and hangers-on were prolific in the exercise of poor judgment and the making of horrible choices that always exacted a terrible price from the rest of us. When I read newspaper reports last week that Mrs. Patience Jonathan had travelled to Dubai and Beirut “on a private visit”, I concluded that our nightmare had just been made worse. It means that these fellas ruining our lives in Abuja and the state capitals have now graduated from the congenital exercise of poor judgment that afflicts all of them, to an outright assassination of judgment.

Let’s dispense first with some of the half-witted commentaries of the ponces of power that have been running riot on the Internet. Dame (the title maniacs have quietly introduced the ‘Dame’ thing in the media) Patience Jonathan, we are told, has the right to travel anywhere privately as a free citizen of Nigeria bla bla bla and more bla. Fine. The emergency contractor-defenders of the civil rights of the First Lady should please remind her not to use the presidential jet for the Abuja-Lagos leg of such private trips next time. Once the Nigerian taxpayer foots the bill of any part of the First Lady’s private trips, it is our responsibility to make our basketmouths to start dey leak again - apologies to Fela.

Of all the destinations that Patience Jonathan could have visited on this horribly ill-timed and unbelievably ill reflected “private trip”, it had to be Dubai, an increasingly popular money laundering route/destination for Nigerian politicians, government officials, and their courier-wives and concubines. And this is a Patience Jonathan who is still waiting for her day in court for corruption charges bordering on money laundering (by the way, her EFCC indictment file must not disappear)! Pray, when your neighbours suspect you of stealing the dogs in the neighbourhood for 404 purposes, must you be heard boasting of your affection for puppies in the market?

It gets worse.

Our friend, Elder Chief Stakeholder James Ibori, was apprehended by Interpol in Dubai. One week later, Patience Jonathan is on the plane to Dubai. Is there, by any chance, any of the handlers of the Jonathans who was thinking correctly?

The couple has a retinue of aides and advisers responsible for the packaging of their every move. We need to know which of them thought it was a great idea for the Patience Jonathan to head out to Elder Chief Stakeholder Ibori’s embrace in Dubai at this most inauspicious of times.

Ibori’s embrace? Am I perhaps stretching metaphor and speculation? You bet I am! I am more than happy to help the Jonathans ruin the little goodwill that ushered them into Aso Rock since squandering that goodwill appears to be their first order of business. And that is precisely what Nigerians are doing online. It’s an orgy of wild speculations out there. What does Elder Chief Stakeholder Ibori know?

What is the nature of the beans he is threatening to spill to the Dubai and British authorities that may have warranted presidential pacification? Does he perhaps have more embarrassing details on that little matter of Patience Jonathan’s money laundering wahala? Who knows what the Yar’Adua cabal revealed to him about the Jonathans when he played godfather over Aso Rock.

There is also considerable Internet chatter about madam having gone on a jewelry shopping spree. All the chatter about going to pacify Elder Chief Stakeholder Ibori or waste our money on jewelry is deserved. That is what you get when you have a Presidency that has been so perennially clueless in the management of public perception. Segun Adeniyi and his crew perpetually mismanaged the public perception of the Yar’Aduas. They were so incompetent that they couldn’t even tell coherent lies to the Nigerian people. Ima Niboro and his crew don carry dem own come. Not one of them suggested to their Oga and his Madam that this woolly-headed trip couldn’t have come at a worse time?

Beyond Internet chatter about the ill-advised trip to Dubai, it does appear that we, first lady-weary Nigerians, will once again have to contend with the spectre of that unconstitutional assault on our sensibilities. Patience Jonathan is already showing all the symptoms of a looming no break no jam first ladyship. There is always a competition to surpass the last occupant of that constitutionally non-existent office in overbearing showiness, gra-gra, and ostentation.

What is wrong with Nigerian men? Why do they find it so difficult to tell their ever ambitious madams that our Constitution does not recognise their predilection for transforming oga’s political office into a divahood launching pad? Every time someone gets selected to office, they make a heck of a noise about not tolerating the first lady aberration, only to get to the bedroom and sing a different tune to madam. After Maryam Babangida, Miriam Abacha, Stella Obasanjo, and Turai Yar’Adua, Nigerians are more than ready for a return to the first ladyless days of Shehu Shagari and Muhammadu Buhari. Deopka Goodluck Jonathan must therefore be advised to exercise no patience with Patience on this matter.

By Pius Adesanmmi

For only $1,900 a month, you can rent an apartment President Obama lived in during his years at Columbia University.

The apartment itself is shabby, a one-bedroom, third-floor walk-up. And while living there is unlikely to shed any light on the issue, it’s interesting that so little is known about that era of Obama’s life.

Obama spent two years Occidental College in Los Angeles, transferring to Columbia University in New York City in 1981 and graduating two years later. Little is known about Obama’s time at Occidental, but even less is known about his time at Columbia.

The president did not release his transcripts from either school during his campaign for the presidency, as John McCain, John Kerry, George W. Bush and Al Gore did. Occidental and Columbia have said they are prevented by federal law from releasing the transcripts.

Obama’s thesis on nuclear disarmament, on which he spent a year at Columbia, has apparently been lost. Obama says he doesn’t have a copy and his professor at the time thinks he lost it when he moved a few years ago.

Obama barely mentions his years at Columbia in his two autobiographies. He has said he didn’t know many people at Columbia and that he spent most of his time in the library reading, “like a monk.” Indeed, Fox News contacted 400 of Obama’s former classmates – no one remembered him.

Some of Obama’s Columbia classmates have since come forward, saying they remembered Obama there. Both schools have confirmed Obama was their student.

Columbia is where Obama “stopped getting high,” he wrote, which his old roommate verified to reporters.

To the New York Times, Obama “declined repeated requests to talk about his New York years, release his Columbia transcript or identify even a single fellow student, co-worker, roommate or friend from those years.” A spokesman told the Times Obama “doesn’t remember the names of a lot of people in his life.”

At Occidental, Obama was better known by classmates. There, he gave what is thought to be his first public speech. In it, he urged his school to disinvest from South Africa because of apartheid.

In “Dreams From My Father,” Obama wrote he socialized with black students but also “the foreign students. The Chicanos. The Marxist professors and structural feminists and punk-rock performance poets … When we ground out our cigarettes in the hallway carpet or set our stereos so loud that the walls began to shake, we were resisting bourgeois society’s stifling constraints.”

A professor at Occidental, Roger Boesche, told the Los Angeles Times Obama was “a very thoughtful student and a very curious student … You didn’t take my European Modern class without wanting to think about deep ideas.”

The White House did not reply to a request for comment.

Naija don dey hard o ! Even Oil Company staff don dey kidnap !.

Omotayo Mobolaji Johnson, a geologist and staff of Chevron PLC has been arrested in connection with the attempt to kidnap a bank executive at Ikoyi, Lagos.

Two middle-aged suspects, Tommy Ebikeme and Edward Anigbhoro were also arrested during the June 1st kidnaping which the police said was masterminded by Mr. Johnson who allegedly used a pseudo name ‘Olumide.’ He was allegedly assisted by a woman called Anita to recruit both Mr. Ebikeme and Mr. Anighboro who are militants from the Niger Delta, to carry out the kidnap.

Their luck ran out when the police got a tip off and arrested them when they were about to kidnap their victim at Ikoyi.

The Lagos State commissioner of police, Marvel Akpoyibo while parading the suspects at the state command yesterday said the command’s intelligence -led policing strategy led to the arrest of the suspect.

“Events that led to the arrest of the suspects started on June 1st, 2010, when the command’s intelligence Unit intercepted information that a group of persons had perfected plans to kidnap a high profile target in Lagos. Members of the gang recruited from the Niger delta of Nigeria were said to have intended to kidnap the target victim from his office in Lagos island and whisk him away to Ibadan, where Omotayo Mobolaji Johnson had a farm at the outskirt of the town where the victim was to be taken to, after which a demand for ransom will be made.” He said, “Acting on the strength of the information, intelligent and undercover operatives were deployed in and around the office and premises of the target victim for high level surveillance mission, the efforts of the police yielded positive result when hours later, operatives were able to effect the arrest of three suspects connected to the plot.”

Mr. Akpoyibo added that preliminary investigation shows that the kidnap was masterminded by Mr. Johnson.

“His wife works in one of the companies owned by the father of the target victim. The suspect worked with one Anita now at large. Mr. Johnson owns a four star hotel and other investment in Ibadan. He promised the other suspects a cash reward of ten million naira from a windfall of fifty million naira expected to be made from the illicit deal if the victim was taken to Ibadan. Some substances recovered from the suspects include sleep inducing drugs, syringes which they had intended to inject the victim with the substances Halothane and Velum to facilitate his losing consciousness before moving him to Ibadan.” Mr. Akpoyibo said.

Mr. Johnson however declined to comment on his involvement in the crime. He said “I will not say anything until my lawyer is here.” Mr. Ebikeme however confessed to the crime. He indicted Mr. Johnson saying he was the one who recruited them and drove them to the scene of the botched kidnap.

The oil company, Chevron could not be reached as at press time for its comment.

Sacked workers of Mouka Foam were seen loitering around the company premises on Tuesday. They were hoping that they would be called back or compensated by the company for letting them go ‘unjustly.'

About 71 workers of Mouka Foam were sacked because some of them refused to work last week Thursday, due to the public holiday declared by the federal government to mourn the late President Umaru Yar'Adua, who died on 5th of May, 2010.

When NEXT visited the head office of Mouka Foam Limited on Tuesday, located at Plot ‘M', Awosika Avenue, Ikeja Industrial Estate, Lagos, some of the workers said they hope the company would rethink its decision; while others sat dejectedly by the gate.

A casual worker, who identified himself as Mr. Chibike, said, "On Thursday, the Federal Government declared a public holiday but the management insisted that we should work, but the union said that we should be paid before we work, since it is supposed to be a work free day. But, the management did not agree, so the union said we should go home since they did not agree. Only for us to come on Monday (10th May) and we were told that we have been sacked."

One of the former leaders of the workers' union at the Mouka Foam branch of the National Union of Chemical Footwear Rubber Leather and Non-Metallic Product Employees (NUCFRLANMPE), who craved anonymity, narrated that on the said day, the plant manager insisted that they must work, but they (former union leaders) pleaded that the management gives the workers some incentives, since they would be working on a day that had been declared work free.

"But the Management refused to heed our call, and so we told the workers that they can go and honour the memory of the late President if they want to go, and they can stay if they want to stay. They printed names of people that didn't stay and sacked them without notice. Some had spent years here, and some have been injured in the course of doing this work."

About 71 of the casual workers were sacked out of 99 casual workers. The 28 remaining workers were some of the workers that stayed behind," he said.

Mr. James, one of the workers who was not sacked, said they no longer have a union. The former union has been dissolved.

"So, nobody is fighting for them. They (Mouka Foam) used the police to chase them away from the compound," he said. Mr. Ikechi, also a casual worker that was sacked, cried out, "I have been working here for more than 3 years. It is shocking what they did to us. I don't know where to start from. I am a student doing part-time at the University of Lagos. How do I pay my fees now?"

A public relations officer for Mouka Foam, Agbo Agbo, in a phone conversation, said that the casual workers were not sacked because they refused to work on a public holiday. But that they decided to let some casual workers go because they have no need of them.

The President of The National Union of Chemical Footwear Rubber Leather and Non-Metallic Product Employees (NUCFRLANMPE), Boniface Isok, said that they are not aware of any problems their members may be facing at Mouka Foam.

A long standing cause
Although there have been less news on the struggle against casual staffing in the country, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said it has not yet relented in its effort to fight against the use of casual staff by companies and businesses in the country.

Denja Yaqub, the assistant general secretary of the NLC, defending the lull in the union's fight against temporary staffing, told NEXT in a previous report:
"Most people believe the NLC has lost the fight against casualisation because of the other struggles we have embarked on. The fight against casual or contract staffing by employers in the country is still on, and we are planning to take it up as a big issue from December to June, next year (2010).

"Casual workers are not entitled to be part of any trade unions, as they are not fully employed. This has been affecting the way the employers treat their staff, and the struggles for a decent workplace by the trade unions."

Mr. Yaqub maintained that the practice of engaging people in casual jobs infringes on the right of Nigerians to have decent jobs, adding that, "Section 42 of the Act empowers Labour to fight against it, and this is what we will do since the government has failed us."

9ja politics is now like a football league where people hange clubs at will !

The race for the Vice-President’s position heated up yesterday, even as arrangements were made to lay the body of the former president to rest.PHOTO: NUHU RIBADU

It emerged yesterday that several groups used Mr. Yar’Adua’s burial as a forum to lobby and express interest in the job. Some of the groups who have started lobbying include the PDP, the northern political group, Arewa political forum, and the family of the deceased former president.

As many as 20 names were bandied about yesterday in the nation’s capital, and all the groups have drawn up shortlists which they will submit to the president.

Theophilus Danjuma, Yayale Ahmed, and Nuhu Ribadu have emerged as early favourites to be appointed vice president as early as next week. Other names that were rumoured were Aminu Masari, Nasir El-Rufai, Aliyu Gusau, Adamu Aliero, Bukola Saraki, and Isa Yuguda.

Theophilus Danjuma, a Christian northerner, would be a surprise choice, given that he prefers to be more of a kingmaker. He has certainly earned the president’s trust after he was named chair of the presidential advisory board.

Yayale Ahmed, the secretary general of the federation, has played a pivotal role in the transition of power to Goodluck Jonathan. He would be seen as a safe pair of hands to steady the ship over the next twelve months.

During Yar’Adua’s three month visit to Saudi, Yayale largely handled the administration of state affairs in the late president’s absence.

Nuhu Ribadu would be a populist choice and NEXT has exclusively reported that he was already earmarked for a role in Jonathan’s administration.

The intention had been to appoint him as a special adviser on anti-corruption, but the dynamics of power have changed in the past 48 hours. Widely seen as an incorruptible individual, his presence in the vice-president’s position would considerably raise the nation’s profile internationally. Furthermore, he would no longer have the stigma of a court case hanging over him, as the federal government officially withdrew all charges against him a few days ago.

The recently returned Nasir El-Rufai would also be a widely accepted pick. Unlike Ribadu however, he must still contend with charges brought against him by the EFCC if he is to realistically stand a chance. The former FCT minister has remained coy about his political ambitions over the next year, but has firmly stated that he would return in some capacity.

Aliyu Gusau has been more overt about his intentions for higher office, but he lost out to Yar’Adua in 2007 after contesting for president. He was surprisingly appointed National Security Adviser by Jonathan in February, and many saw that as a stepping stone to the vice presidency, and to something ultimately higher. At 68, Mr. Gusau is a shrewd politician and would fit in to the role with aplomb.

The Yar’Adua family is believed to have nominated the Bauchi state governor, Isa Yuguda, but his chances are not believed to be particularly good.

The former speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Masari, is a dark horse in the race, but certainly has the credentials to be considered. Another Obasonjo confidante, Mr. Masari has been a very vocal champion of electoral reform, a key policy in Jonathan’s fledgling administration. A Katsina State indigene, he is one of the suspended members of the PDP reform forum and had a poor relationship with Yar’Adua.

Mr.Saraki, a member of the Governors’ Forum, has long harboured ambitions for the presidency and this may be an opportunity for him to fulfil his ambition. The Kwara State governor has done some noteworthy things during his tenure, but Mr. Jonathan will be wary of the power that the Governors’ Forum wields.

A balancing act says Judge .An Eye for An Eye.

The court heard that trouble started when Ajikere, his brother and two girls boarded an unpainted taxi cab operated by Fabiyi, who was in plainclothes. The group had to alight from the cab following disagreement on the fare charged by the driver.

Fabiyi was angered by the group’s decision to abandon his taxi in preference for another and made his resentment known to the group, following an exchange of uncomplimentary words between both parties.

Bent on getting his pound of flesh, Fabiyi trailed the group to a mobile police check-point close to a five-star hotel along GRA and hurriedly lied to the policemen that the occupants of the other cab were criminals and should be dealt with.

Testifying at the trial, the younger brother of murdered Ajikere said the group was ordered out of the cab and frog-jumped, beaten black and blue and ordered to lay face-down on the tarred road. This was even as the policemen refused to listen to their own side of the story.

Photo:instance of police brutality

Unable to bear the torture any longer, he said, Ajikere tried to stand up and was shot at point-blank range by Cpl. Aminu. His life could not be saved as he was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital that said Ajikere died of excessive bleeding.

Delivering judgment after sentencing the men to death by hanging, Monday, Justice Boma Diepreyi said the sentence would serve as a deterrent to other uniformed men “whose stock-in-trade is to kill innocent citizens under the guise of accidental discharge.”

Diepreyi said it would be unfair to take the plea of both Fabiyi and Aminu for mercy, adding: “In as much as I sympathize with them, there is the blood of the young Nnamdi Ajikere, the deceased 20 year-old final year student of University of Port Harcourt crying for vengeance.

“Justice is a balancing act and the only way to a balanced justice in this case is to make the accused persons face the consequences of their reckless act and hope that this will serve as a deterrent to those who may want to emulate their terrible example.”

Meantime, in preparation for the 2011 elections, the Nigeria Police Force has warned its officers to steer clear of inducements by politicians or their agents during the elections stressing that officers found culpable may be dismissed from service and jailed.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations, Mr. John Hamza Ahmadu, who gave the warning, Tuesday, while addressing the officers at the state command headquarters in Ilorin, also announced that N2billion has been released for the housing projects for officers nationwide.

Ahmadu charged the officers not to compromise their professional ethics and destroy their career because of what he described as chicken fees from politicians assured them that all their allowances would be paid before the elections.

He also urged politicians to warn their supporters to restrict their campaigns to their manifestos and play the game according to the rules adding that those who foment trouble will be dealth with.