Inspector-General of Police (IG) Ogbonna Onovo has described the abduction of Pa Simeon Soludo, father of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Chukwuma Soludo as a blow to the police’s efforts to stop kidnapping in the South-East.
Onovo, who spoke during a working visit to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday in Abuja, sought the assistance of the military to train 150 policemen at the School of Infantry.
He was received by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike.
His words: "I am here to pay compliments to renew the cordial relationship between the Police and the Defence Headquarters. This is my first time to visit the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) since I came into office though you have been of tremendous help to us, especially when I had my baptism of fire a day after I was appointed with the Boko Haram crisis in Bauchi State.
"The DHQ was of tremendous help to us in quelling the crisis. I don’t know how we would have coped without your assistance. We were overwhelmed by the crisis because it was something unexpected but with your aid to a sister security agency we were able to curtail the problem. The situation was brought under control though not without some controversy but peace was restored."
Besides, Onovo said the visit would afford him the opportunity to be advised by the CDS on the need to train and retrain policemen.
"I recalled the advice you gave on the need for our men to be trained and retrained and you have offered to do so at your School of Infantry and I am here to say we are ready to take you on your offer. We have 150 men ready for that training and we thank you for the cordial relationship between the military and the police," he said.
While he appreciated the lessening friction between the lower ranks of the police and military, Onovo noted: "Anybody in conflict situation knows that his saviour might not be any family member but another man in uniform. Since you came on board, the skirmishes have reduced due to your able leadership."
He went on: "I want to also commend the effort made be you to ensure joint effort by the police and the military in tackling crime like in the Niger Delta during the militancy era which has been brought under control.
"We have security problems all over the world but Nigerians want an environment of peace and security hence we have to give all to provide that."
Replying, Air Chief Marshal Dike said the request to train 150 policemen will be honoured as soon as the modalities have been worked out.
"The Police have done well and we are willing to render any assistance to aid your smooth operations. As concerning your request, as soon as the modalities are in place, we will inform you accordingly," he said.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Students unhappy over third term plans
Colombian President, Alvaro Uribe, was at Harvard University where he spoke to a packed audience and responded to pointed questions on the possibility he will seek a third term in office.
Uribe was elected president in 2002 and retains an approval rating of nearly 70 per cent due to the improvement in national security under his administration.
He detailed the many ways his country has advanced in the past seven years, and he also laid out his vision for a stable and united Colombia. "Colombia has seen many administrations that have not seen a single day of peace," Uribe said.
His plan to seek a third term in office by amending the Colombian Constitution took center stage when he began fielding questions from the audience. Were Uribe to succeed, it would mark the second time he has passed an amendment in order to remain in power.
"The referendum that is pending to allow yourself to serve a third term could set a dangerous precedent for future leaders," Jake Sloane, a 200-Level student, told the President.
Juan Felipe Botero, a Law student, asked: "What will be your advice to the person who shall replace you as President in less than a year’s time?" The question, which implicitly demanded Uribe step aside for the next election, was cheered by the audience.
Uribe responded to both questions by pointing to political and economic gains made by his administration and stressing that the separation of powers in Colombia would prevent the unfair perpetuation of power.
Alex W. Palmer, another 200-Level student and member of the IOP forum committee, said he enjoyed the event despite Uribe’s somewhat evasive responses.
Uribe was elected president in 2002 and retains an approval rating of nearly 70 per cent due to the improvement in national security under his administration.
He detailed the many ways his country has advanced in the past seven years, and he also laid out his vision for a stable and united Colombia. "Colombia has seen many administrations that have not seen a single day of peace," Uribe said.
His plan to seek a third term in office by amending the Colombian Constitution took center stage when he began fielding questions from the audience. Were Uribe to succeed, it would mark the second time he has passed an amendment in order to remain in power.
"The referendum that is pending to allow yourself to serve a third term could set a dangerous precedent for future leaders," Jake Sloane, a 200-Level student, told the President.
Juan Felipe Botero, a Law student, asked: "What will be your advice to the person who shall replace you as President in less than a year’s time?" The question, which implicitly demanded Uribe step aside for the next election, was cheered by the audience.
Uribe responded to both questions by pointing to political and economic gains made by his administration and stressing that the separation of powers in Colombia would prevent the unfair perpetuation of power.
Alex W. Palmer, another 200-Level student and member of the IOP forum committee, said he enjoyed the event despite Uribe’s somewhat evasive responses.
Bode George, others should return stolen wealth’
The National Conscience Party (NCP) governorship candidate in Ogun State in the April 14, 2007 election, Mr. Lanre Banjo, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) not to stop at the conviction of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Bode George and others, for fraud, but to recover the stolen wealth.
George and former Chief Executive of NPA Aminu Dabo, Olusegun Abidoye, Abdullahi Tafida, Zanna Maideribe and Sule Aliyu were on Monday jailed by Justice Olubunmi Oyewole of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, for two-and-half years each without an option of fine over N85 billion contract scam at the NPA.
They were sentenced two years on each of the seven-count charge of abuse of office and six months each for the 27-count of disobedience to constituted authority.
Banjo advised the commission to return to court to seek the return of the stolen funds or confiscate all the properties of the convicts.
This, he said, would serve as a deterrent to others.
Banjo, who spoke in an online interview with The Nation, said corruption by public officials had remained a major impediment to progress.
He praised Justice Olubunmi Oyewole for serving the course of justice.
"His statement that when public office is abused, the entire populace is assaulted lifted Nigeria in the eyes of the world. It gave us hope. When he continued that this must not be condoned or treated with kid gloves, and if the quality of service in our public life is altered to the appreciable standard of the civilised world, the right deterrent should be given. This statement strikes the nerves of people with conscience and sends fear into the inner spines of looters," he said.
Banjo denounced George’s supporters, who prevented photo-journalists from taking pictures and harassed prosecutors and reporters in the court premises.
He urged the Lagos State House of Assembly to make a law that would make it unlawful for anyone to violate people’s rights within the court premises.
Also yesterday, the Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress (AC) hailed the conviction of George and others.
It described the development as a positive development in the anti-corruption war.
In a statement in Lagos by its Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, the party berated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for saying it would fight to free George.
The party said the statement showed that the PDP was "remorselessly committed to promoting corruption."
"The conviction of Bode George is a welcome development and we believe that even as the sentence handed down to him was mild, it sends a positive signal to those who loot the treasury that someday, they will stand trial for their offences. We are happy that this character has been thrown to jail for his sundry role in looting the NPA and we salute the EFCC Chairman for effortlessly pulling this conviction through. We believe that there are many Bode Georges in the PDP and that the conviction of George will serve no useful purpose if other looters are not brought to justice.
"We must note that there were frantic moves made by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration to shield George from justice. This rendered the work of the former leadership of the EFCC a huge joke as this desperate effort lasted. It also showed that the Obasanjo government was merely using anti-corruption as a ruse to promote his political interests. We hope the present government will not do same on the critical issue of fighting corruption," the statement reads in part.
The party frowned on PDP’s defence of George after his trial before a court of competent jurisdiction.
George and former Chief Executive of NPA Aminu Dabo, Olusegun Abidoye, Abdullahi Tafida, Zanna Maideribe and Sule Aliyu were on Monday jailed by Justice Olubunmi Oyewole of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, for two-and-half years each without an option of fine over N85 billion contract scam at the NPA.
They were sentenced two years on each of the seven-count charge of abuse of office and six months each for the 27-count of disobedience to constituted authority.
Banjo advised the commission to return to court to seek the return of the stolen funds or confiscate all the properties of the convicts.
This, he said, would serve as a deterrent to others.
Banjo, who spoke in an online interview with The Nation, said corruption by public officials had remained a major impediment to progress.
He praised Justice Olubunmi Oyewole for serving the course of justice.
"His statement that when public office is abused, the entire populace is assaulted lifted Nigeria in the eyes of the world. It gave us hope. When he continued that this must not be condoned or treated with kid gloves, and if the quality of service in our public life is altered to the appreciable standard of the civilised world, the right deterrent should be given. This statement strikes the nerves of people with conscience and sends fear into the inner spines of looters," he said.
Banjo denounced George’s supporters, who prevented photo-journalists from taking pictures and harassed prosecutors and reporters in the court premises.
He urged the Lagos State House of Assembly to make a law that would make it unlawful for anyone to violate people’s rights within the court premises.
Also yesterday, the Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress (AC) hailed the conviction of George and others.
It described the development as a positive development in the anti-corruption war.
In a statement in Lagos by its Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, the party berated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for saying it would fight to free George.
The party said the statement showed that the PDP was "remorselessly committed to promoting corruption."
"The conviction of Bode George is a welcome development and we believe that even as the sentence handed down to him was mild, it sends a positive signal to those who loot the treasury that someday, they will stand trial for their offences. We are happy that this character has been thrown to jail for his sundry role in looting the NPA and we salute the EFCC Chairman for effortlessly pulling this conviction through. We believe that there are many Bode Georges in the PDP and that the conviction of George will serve no useful purpose if other looters are not brought to justice.
"We must note that there were frantic moves made by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration to shield George from justice. This rendered the work of the former leadership of the EFCC a huge joke as this desperate effort lasted. It also showed that the Obasanjo government was merely using anti-corruption as a ruse to promote his political interests. We hope the present government will not do same on the critical issue of fighting corruption," the statement reads in part.
The party frowned on PDP’s defence of George after his trial before a court of competent jurisdiction.
Discrepancies jolt Oni’s witnesses
The Ekiti State Election Petitions Tribunal resumed its sitting yesterday with revelations of discrepancies in the results of the governorship rerun election conducted in Usi Ward in Ido/Osi Local Government Area.
Witnesses brought to the tribunal to give evidence in support of the victory of Governor Segun Oni were jolted in the witness box as they were confronted with discrepancies discovered in the official result sheets they tendered before the tribunal.
Some witnesses admitted under cross-examination that the total number of ballot papers used exceeded the total number of ballot papers supplied to their units.
They passed the buck of to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which organised the election.
A witness admitted before the tribunal that his children wrote his statement on oath.
It was the continuation of hearing of the defence of Oni, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) standard bearer at the poll, whose election is being challenged by the Action Congress (AC) and its flag bearer, Dr. Kayode Fayemi over alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2006 and the election manual.
The tribunal had on Friday adjourned sitting to yesterday to allow the Chairman, Hon. Justice Hamma Barka, attend the funeral of his stepmother who passed on last week in Gombe State.
Six witnesses testified. They were Adufe Omotayo, Adebayo Ilori, Kolawole Lawrence, Obasola Olofin and Akinyemi Ojo.
They claimed the election was free and fair, and devoid of any violence.
Records supplied in Form EC8A (the official results sheet) tendered for Unit 10 in Usi Ward, showed that the presiding officer could not account for 10 ballot papers out of the 300 ballot papers issued to the unit.
Also, the presiding officer for Unit 16 in the ward, recorded 450 as the number of ballot papers issued, while he recorded 511 as the total number of ballot papers issued in the Form EC8A where the result was recorded.
The implication was that the number of ballot papers used in the affected units exceeded the number of those supplied for the April 25 rerun poll.
A witness, Adebayo Ilori, who was led in his evidence-in-chief by Oni’s counsel, Mr. Adebayo Adenipekun (SAN), had tendered the result issued to him as the PDP agent for Unit 10 in Usi Ward.
He said the election conducted in the unit was free, fair and devoid of violence.
Ilori, the respondent witness 10 (RW 10), under cross-examination from the petitioners’ counsel, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), said 300 ballot papers were issued to his unit, with 25 recorded as unused and 257 as valid votes and eight ballot papers rejected.
Pressed to sum up used and unused ballot papers, the witness arrived at 290 ballot papers.
He said 10 ballot papers were unaccounted for in the official result sheet, Form EC8A for the unit.
Witnesses brought to the tribunal to give evidence in support of the victory of Governor Segun Oni were jolted in the witness box as they were confronted with discrepancies discovered in the official result sheets they tendered before the tribunal.
Some witnesses admitted under cross-examination that the total number of ballot papers used exceeded the total number of ballot papers supplied to their units.
They passed the buck of to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which organised the election.
A witness admitted before the tribunal that his children wrote his statement on oath.
It was the continuation of hearing of the defence of Oni, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) standard bearer at the poll, whose election is being challenged by the Action Congress (AC) and its flag bearer, Dr. Kayode Fayemi over alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2006 and the election manual.
The tribunal had on Friday adjourned sitting to yesterday to allow the Chairman, Hon. Justice Hamma Barka, attend the funeral of his stepmother who passed on last week in Gombe State.
Six witnesses testified. They were Adufe Omotayo, Adebayo Ilori, Kolawole Lawrence, Obasola Olofin and Akinyemi Ojo.
They claimed the election was free and fair, and devoid of any violence.
Records supplied in Form EC8A (the official results sheet) tendered for Unit 10 in Usi Ward, showed that the presiding officer could not account for 10 ballot papers out of the 300 ballot papers issued to the unit.
Also, the presiding officer for Unit 16 in the ward, recorded 450 as the number of ballot papers issued, while he recorded 511 as the total number of ballot papers issued in the Form EC8A where the result was recorded.
The implication was that the number of ballot papers used in the affected units exceeded the number of those supplied for the April 25 rerun poll.
A witness, Adebayo Ilori, who was led in his evidence-in-chief by Oni’s counsel, Mr. Adebayo Adenipekun (SAN), had tendered the result issued to him as the PDP agent for Unit 10 in Usi Ward.
He said the election conducted in the unit was free, fair and devoid of violence.
Ilori, the respondent witness 10 (RW 10), under cross-examination from the petitioners’ counsel, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), said 300 ballot papers were issued to his unit, with 25 recorded as unused and 257 as valid votes and eight ballot papers rejected.
Pressed to sum up used and unused ballot papers, the witness arrived at 290 ballot papers.
He said 10 ballot papers were unaccounted for in the official result sheet, Form EC8A for the unit.
The man Justice Oyewole
The saying that a gold fish has no hiding place holds very true for Justice Olubunmi Oyewole. Whenever he happens to be the subject of discussion in legal circles, positive things are always said about him.
No wonder he has been nominated to the Court of Appeal by the National Judicial Council (NJC), even though there are many who have spent more years at the Bench than him.
One of Justice Oyewole’s favourite sayings when addressing lawyers in court is: "Counsel, I fear only God!"
He has the singular reputation of being very brilliant. He is known as a no-nonsense, intelligent, hardworking, courageous and incorruptible judge who handles his cases with efficiency and dispatch.
A graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, the Osun indigene has handle more high profile criminal cases than most judges. That such cases are usually assigned to him make a statement as to his resourcefulness.
Before his appointment to the Bench on May 24, 2001, he was into private legal practice,where he distinguished himself as a fearless advocate. His being appointed from private practice to the Bench makes a statement in itself as to what he represents.
Those who knew him as a student at OAU said he was vocal, focused,and once ran for the student union executive.
He was a member of the Students Representatives Council (SRC). At some point, he was a mobilisation officer for the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
Justice Oyewole spearheaded boycott of classes when the Buhari-Idiagbon military administration attempted to commercialise education.
Some of the cases he has handled as a criminal trial judge include the conviction of the General Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, Chukwuemeka Ezeugo (a.k.a Rev. King) for murder. He sentenced him to death by hanging.
Justice Oyewole also adjudicated the case involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Emmanuel Nwude in which a Brazilian bank was defrauded of $254. He found Nwude guilty and ordered the forfeiture of his fraudulently acquired wealth.
The case of attempted murder of the Publisher of The Guardian, Mr. Alex Ibru, preferred against Major Hamza Al-Mustapha was also before him at some point, including the trial of Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, a former Chief of Army Staff.
Justice Oyewole handled the drug case involving Nollywood actress, Hassanat Akinwande (a.k.a Wunmi), who was found guilty of illegal drug trafficking.
He also handled the case of advance fee fraud (419) involving a Lagos lawyer, Mr. Fred Ajudua.
He sentenced an Islamic cleric, Rasheed Yusuf and his accomplices to 120 years imprisonment for obtaining money under false pretence. He also ordered them to return over $130million to the victim.
Proceedings in his court are always spiced with humour, as he will always crack jokes with lawyers.
He also has a good rapport with journalists, as he is one of the few judges who would welcome them in his chambers and chat with them, but without compromising standards.
Justice Oyewole comes to lawyers’ rescue when they run into trouble.
Outside the courtroom, he is known to be very friendly and humane, yet firm.
No wonder he has been nominated to the Court of Appeal by the National Judicial Council (NJC), even though there are many who have spent more years at the Bench than him.
One of Justice Oyewole’s favourite sayings when addressing lawyers in court is: "Counsel, I fear only God!"
He has the singular reputation of being very brilliant. He is known as a no-nonsense, intelligent, hardworking, courageous and incorruptible judge who handles his cases with efficiency and dispatch.
A graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, the Osun indigene has handle more high profile criminal cases than most judges. That such cases are usually assigned to him make a statement as to his resourcefulness.
Before his appointment to the Bench on May 24, 2001, he was into private legal practice,where he distinguished himself as a fearless advocate. His being appointed from private practice to the Bench makes a statement in itself as to what he represents.
Those who knew him as a student at OAU said he was vocal, focused,and once ran for the student union executive.
He was a member of the Students Representatives Council (SRC). At some point, he was a mobilisation officer for the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
Justice Oyewole spearheaded boycott of classes when the Buhari-Idiagbon military administration attempted to commercialise education.
Some of the cases he has handled as a criminal trial judge include the conviction of the General Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, Chukwuemeka Ezeugo (a.k.a Rev. King) for murder. He sentenced him to death by hanging.
Justice Oyewole also adjudicated the case involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Emmanuel Nwude in which a Brazilian bank was defrauded of $254. He found Nwude guilty and ordered the forfeiture of his fraudulently acquired wealth.
The case of attempted murder of the Publisher of The Guardian, Mr. Alex Ibru, preferred against Major Hamza Al-Mustapha was also before him at some point, including the trial of Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, a former Chief of Army Staff.
Justice Oyewole handled the drug case involving Nollywood actress, Hassanat Akinwande (a.k.a Wunmi), who was found guilty of illegal drug trafficking.
He also handled the case of advance fee fraud (419) involving a Lagos lawyer, Mr. Fred Ajudua.
He sentenced an Islamic cleric, Rasheed Yusuf and his accomplices to 120 years imprisonment for obtaining money under false pretence. He also ordered them to return over $130million to the victim.
Proceedings in his court are always spiced with humour, as he will always crack jokes with lawyers.
He also has a good rapport with journalists, as he is one of the few judges who would welcome them in his chambers and chat with them, but without compromising standards.
Justice Oyewole comes to lawyers’ rescue when they run into trouble.
Outside the courtroom, he is known to be very friendly and humane, yet firm.
Changing face of Edo Assembly
Between 1999 and 2007, all the 24 members of the Edo State House of Assembly were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was then the ruling party .
Nothing could better illustrate the "family affair" claims of the PDP than the romance between the lawmakers and the executive, which led to easy passage for bills.
Also, decisions at the plenary sessions of the House were always products of issues that had already been discussed at meetings of the PDP. As such, there was never opposition to motions moved on the floor of the House, as the lawmakers were always ready with an "Aye" to bills.
All that, however, changed after the 2007 general elections, when the Action Congress clinched eight of the 24 seats in the Assembly. The PDP settled for the remaining 16.
While the AC members had their say, the PDP members who were in the majority, always had their way.
A former member of the House, Hon Fred Omogberai, said at a PDP rally recently that the party used superior arguments and ideas to defeat the minority AC.
Some observers, however, believe that the fears of the AC members then, centred on the uncertainty over the long drawn battle between Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Prof. Oseriheimen Osunbor, over who, between them, was the validly elected governor. The AC members were particularly concerned about the chances of Oshiomhole at the tribunal. Hence, they chose to tread with caution.
The likes of Hon Uyi Igbe, Patrick Osayimwen, Jude Ise-Idehen, rarely contributed to issues being discussed at plenary then. Whatever the "Ayes" said was what they followed.
Hon Peter Aliu, Phillip Shuaibu, the Minority Leader, Hon Paul Ohonbamu, Bright Osayande and Etinosa Ogbeiwi sometimes made meaningful contributions during plenary but that was not sufficient to position the AC as an effective opposition political party in the House, as the numerical strength of the then ruling PDP remained a major advantage for the party.
This was the situation until the emergence of Oshiomhole as Governor of Edo State through the Court of Appeal judgment of November 12, 2008.
There are indications now that legislative business in the Edo Assembly may take a new dimension, following the emergence of new faces who were recently inaugurated as members of the House. This is sequel to the validation of the elections of some petitioners at the Appeal tribunal.
The new members who have had their elections validated and got inaugurated as members of the House are: Mr. Kabiru Adjoto, representing Akoko-do Constituency 1; Uwamose Amadasun, representing Uhunwode Constituency; and Folly Ogedegbe, representing Owan East Constituency.The three new members belong to the AC. They came in as replacement for PDP members- Anslem Agbabi, Fred Omogberai and Mrs. Elisabeth Ativie, whose elections were nullified by the election appeal tribunal.
Their coming to the House is thus seen as a a huge loss to the PDP, which is gradually losing the majority it used to enjoy in the Edo Assembly.
Adjoto, while receiving his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission, said his coming into the House had ended the era of ‘I concur’. This, he said in apparent reference to the inability of the AC to make much impact in the PDP-dominated House.
Observers believe that the few contributions made by Uwamose during plenary, was an indication of the kind of opposition the PDP members are set to experience in the House.
Ogedegbe told The Nation in an interview that the few weeks he had spent in the House had been challenging, adding that he found law making a wonderful task. He was optimistic that the advent of more AC members in the House will change the pattern of law making.
"There are enormous problems in my constituency that need attention. The two years of legal battle was a major setback for my people. I intend to bring attention of the problems in my constituency to the governor with a view to getting them accommodated in the 2010 budget", He said, adding that the quality of the discussion in the Assembly will also impact on governance in the state.
Commenting on his experience in the House, Amadasun said law making is quite challenging "because you have to capture the mood of the people, their desires, their hopes and expectations."
"We have passed two bills since I came in, including the anti-kidnapping bill. These have been challenging, because you have to do a lot of research and reading", he added.
With six more cases yet to be decided at the Court of Appeal, the PDP, at present has 13 members, while the AC has 11 in the House.
The PDP members whose cases are pending are Chris Umogbai, representing Etsako Central; Patrick Aisoweiren, representing Orhionmwon; Kingsley Ehigiamusoe, representing Igueben; and Segun Saiki, representing Akoko-Edo Constituency II.
Those of the AC are: Phillip Shuaibu, representing Estako West; and Bright Osayande, representing Ovia North East Constituency 1.
The non-confirmation of Oshiomhole’s nominees for the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) by the PDP- dominated House has further widened the political gap between the AC members and their PDP counterparts.
However, there appears to be some measure of uncertainty around the Speaker of the House, Zakawanu Garuba, whose leadership had led to a crisis- free House when compared to the number of times previous Speakers were removed between 1999 and 2007.
Should the AC emerge the majority party in the House, the party may demand for a speaker elected on its platform, as a matter of right.
With AC as the ruling party in the state, the PDP needs control of the House to remain relevant and reaffirm the faith of its supporters in the party.
If unconfirmed reports about plans by some PDP members to defect to the AC are anything to go by, then the fate of Garuba would no longer depend on the pending court cases, but on how soon the PDP members make good their planned defection.
Whichever way it goes, the changing trend in the Edo Assembly
Nothing could better illustrate the "family affair" claims of the PDP than the romance between the lawmakers and the executive, which led to easy passage for bills.
Also, decisions at the plenary sessions of the House were always products of issues that had already been discussed at meetings of the PDP. As such, there was never opposition to motions moved on the floor of the House, as the lawmakers were always ready with an "Aye" to bills.
All that, however, changed after the 2007 general elections, when the Action Congress clinched eight of the 24 seats in the Assembly. The PDP settled for the remaining 16.
While the AC members had their say, the PDP members who were in the majority, always had their way.
A former member of the House, Hon Fred Omogberai, said at a PDP rally recently that the party used superior arguments and ideas to defeat the minority AC.
Some observers, however, believe that the fears of the AC members then, centred on the uncertainty over the long drawn battle between Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Prof. Oseriheimen Osunbor, over who, between them, was the validly elected governor. The AC members were particularly concerned about the chances of Oshiomhole at the tribunal. Hence, they chose to tread with caution.
The likes of Hon Uyi Igbe, Patrick Osayimwen, Jude Ise-Idehen, rarely contributed to issues being discussed at plenary then. Whatever the "Ayes" said was what they followed.
Hon Peter Aliu, Phillip Shuaibu, the Minority Leader, Hon Paul Ohonbamu, Bright Osayande and Etinosa Ogbeiwi sometimes made meaningful contributions during plenary but that was not sufficient to position the AC as an effective opposition political party in the House, as the numerical strength of the then ruling PDP remained a major advantage for the party.
This was the situation until the emergence of Oshiomhole as Governor of Edo State through the Court of Appeal judgment of November 12, 2008.
There are indications now that legislative business in the Edo Assembly may take a new dimension, following the emergence of new faces who were recently inaugurated as members of the House. This is sequel to the validation of the elections of some petitioners at the Appeal tribunal.
The new members who have had their elections validated and got inaugurated as members of the House are: Mr. Kabiru Adjoto, representing Akoko-do Constituency 1; Uwamose Amadasun, representing Uhunwode Constituency; and Folly Ogedegbe, representing Owan East Constituency.The three new members belong to the AC. They came in as replacement for PDP members- Anslem Agbabi, Fred Omogberai and Mrs. Elisabeth Ativie, whose elections were nullified by the election appeal tribunal.
Their coming to the House is thus seen as a a huge loss to the PDP, which is gradually losing the majority it used to enjoy in the Edo Assembly.
Adjoto, while receiving his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission, said his coming into the House had ended the era of ‘I concur’. This, he said in apparent reference to the inability of the AC to make much impact in the PDP-dominated House.
Observers believe that the few contributions made by Uwamose during plenary, was an indication of the kind of opposition the PDP members are set to experience in the House.
Ogedegbe told The Nation in an interview that the few weeks he had spent in the House had been challenging, adding that he found law making a wonderful task. He was optimistic that the advent of more AC members in the House will change the pattern of law making.
"There are enormous problems in my constituency that need attention. The two years of legal battle was a major setback for my people. I intend to bring attention of the problems in my constituency to the governor with a view to getting them accommodated in the 2010 budget", He said, adding that the quality of the discussion in the Assembly will also impact on governance in the state.
Commenting on his experience in the House, Amadasun said law making is quite challenging "because you have to capture the mood of the people, their desires, their hopes and expectations."
"We have passed two bills since I came in, including the anti-kidnapping bill. These have been challenging, because you have to do a lot of research and reading", he added.
With six more cases yet to be decided at the Court of Appeal, the PDP, at present has 13 members, while the AC has 11 in the House.
The PDP members whose cases are pending are Chris Umogbai, representing Etsako Central; Patrick Aisoweiren, representing Orhionmwon; Kingsley Ehigiamusoe, representing Igueben; and Segun Saiki, representing Akoko-Edo Constituency II.
Those of the AC are: Phillip Shuaibu, representing Estako West; and Bright Osayande, representing Ovia North East Constituency 1.
The non-confirmation of Oshiomhole’s nominees for the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) by the PDP- dominated House has further widened the political gap between the AC members and their PDP counterparts.
However, there appears to be some measure of uncertainty around the Speaker of the House, Zakawanu Garuba, whose leadership had led to a crisis- free House when compared to the number of times previous Speakers were removed between 1999 and 2007.
Should the AC emerge the majority party in the House, the party may demand for a speaker elected on its platform, as a matter of right.
With AC as the ruling party in the state, the PDP needs control of the House to remain relevant and reaffirm the faith of its supporters in the party.
If unconfirmed reports about plans by some PDP members to defect to the AC are anything to go by, then the fate of Garuba would no longer depend on the pending court cases, but on how soon the PDP members make good their planned defection.
Whichever way it goes, the changing trend in the Edo Assembly
Tension in Osogbo over burning of Aregbesola’s billboards
There was tension in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, yesterday over the burning of bill boards of the Action Congress (AC) governorship candidate Rauf Aregbesola by suspected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs.
One of the billboards was installed on Monday evening at about 6:00pm at Ola-Iya Roundabout, Osogbo, the state capital, and it was burnt by suspected PDP thugs around 7:00pm on Tuesday.
The other billboard at Oja-Oba, was in stalled on Tuesday afternoon by 3:30pm and it was burnt by PDP thugs same day around 7:00pm.
It was learnt that some hoodlums, who pretended to be working for the Ministry of Environment, burnt the bill boards.
On Tuesday between 7.00pm and 9.00pm, the hoodlums were said to be going round the town to burn the billboards.
AC sympathisers around the areas trooped out to chase the hoodlums away.
A leader of the AC in Osogbo, Alhaji Fatai Oyedele, reported the case at the State Police Command.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Vincent Okodua, reportedly summoned a meeting of political parties to douse the tension.
But while the meeting was underway, some men, accompanied by armed police men and some security agents, were said to have driven to Orita-Olaiya in a pick-up van with the Government House number plate, and tore what was left of the burnt bill boards into shreds.
An eyewitness said the men claimed to be officials of the Ministry of Environment.
But some shop owners in Olaiya said they had been served letters to pay some fees on their sign posts, which they are yet to do.
An aide of Aregbesola, Mr. Bosun Oyintiloye, said nobody served them such notice, adding that if they were served they would have complied.
Aregbesola’s media aide, Mr. Gbenga Fayemiwo, said candidate’s bill boards as an act of provocation.
Police spokesman Clement Akinola said the police did not call any meeting because of the bill boards.
He, however, said complaints were made about removal of some bill boards.
But, the Osun State government last night berated Aregbesola for "illegally erecting campaign bill boards without approval".
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Lasisi Olagunju, the government accused Aregbesola of deliberately provoking the law by not following the procedure in placing outdoor adverts.
The government said it had nothing against Aregbesola starting his campaign for the 2011 polls "after his disastrous outing of 2007 but he must carry out everything he does within the confines of the law. Even PDP members who put up billboards applied to the ministry for permission to do so and paid the necessary fees."
One of the billboards was installed on Monday evening at about 6:00pm at Ola-Iya Roundabout, Osogbo, the state capital, and it was burnt by suspected PDP thugs around 7:00pm on Tuesday.
The other billboard at Oja-Oba, was in stalled on Tuesday afternoon by 3:30pm and it was burnt by PDP thugs same day around 7:00pm.
It was learnt that some hoodlums, who pretended to be working for the Ministry of Environment, burnt the bill boards.
On Tuesday between 7.00pm and 9.00pm, the hoodlums were said to be going round the town to burn the billboards.
AC sympathisers around the areas trooped out to chase the hoodlums away.
A leader of the AC in Osogbo, Alhaji Fatai Oyedele, reported the case at the State Police Command.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Vincent Okodua, reportedly summoned a meeting of political parties to douse the tension.
But while the meeting was underway, some men, accompanied by armed police men and some security agents, were said to have driven to Orita-Olaiya in a pick-up van with the Government House number plate, and tore what was left of the burnt bill boards into shreds.
An eyewitness said the men claimed to be officials of the Ministry of Environment.
But some shop owners in Olaiya said they had been served letters to pay some fees on their sign posts, which they are yet to do.
An aide of Aregbesola, Mr. Bosun Oyintiloye, said nobody served them such notice, adding that if they were served they would have complied.
Aregbesola’s media aide, Mr. Gbenga Fayemiwo, said candidate’s bill boards as an act of provocation.
Police spokesman Clement Akinola said the police did not call any meeting because of the bill boards.
He, however, said complaints were made about removal of some bill boards.
But, the Osun State government last night berated Aregbesola for "illegally erecting campaign bill boards without approval".
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Lasisi Olagunju, the government accused Aregbesola of deliberately provoking the law by not following the procedure in placing outdoor adverts.
The government said it had nothing against Aregbesola starting his campaign for the 2011 polls "after his disastrous outing of 2007 but he must carry out everything he does within the confines of the law. Even PDP members who put up billboards applied to the ministry for permission to do so and paid the necessary fees."
Changing face of Edo Assembly
Between 1999 and 2007, all the 24 members of the Edo State House of Assembly were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was then the ruling party .
Nothing could better illustrate the "family affair" claims of the PDP than the romance between the lawmakers and the executive, which led to easy passage for bills.
Also, decisions at the plenary sessions of the House were always products of issues that had already been discussed at meetings of the PDP. As such, there was never opposition to motions moved on the floor of the House, as the lawmakers were always ready with an "Aye" to bills.
All that, however, changed after the 2007 general elections, when the Action Congress clinched eight of the 24 seats in the Assembly. The PDP settled for the remaining 16.
While the AC members had their say, the PDP members who were in the majority, always had their way.
A former member of the House, Hon Fred Omogberai, said at a PDP rally recently that the party used superior arguments and ideas to defeat the minority AC.
Some observers, however, believe that the fears of the AC members then, centred on the uncertainty over the long drawn battle between Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Prof. Oseriheimen Osunbor, over who, between them, was the validly elected governor. The AC members were particularly concerned about the chances of Oshiomhole at the tribunal. Hence, they chose to tread with caution.
The likes of Hon Uyi Igbe, Patrick Osayimwen, Jude Ise-Idehen, rarely contributed to issues being discussed at plenary then. Whatever the "Ayes" said was what they followed.
Hon Peter Aliu, Phillip Shuaibu, the Minority Leader, Hon Paul Ohonbamu, Bright Osayande and Etinosa Ogbeiwi sometimes made meaningful contributions during plenary but that was not sufficient to position the AC as an effective opposition political party in the House, as the numerical strength of the then ruling PDP remained a major advantage for the party.
This was the situation until the emergence of Oshiomhole as Governor of Edo State through the Court of Appeal judgment of November 12, 2008.
There are indications now that legislative business in the Edo Assembly may take a new dimension, following the emergence of new faces who were recently inaugurated as members of the House. This is sequel to the validation of the elections of some petitioners at the Appeal tribunal.
The new members who have had their elections validated and got inaugurated as members of the House are: Mr. Kabiru Adjoto, representing Akoko-do Constituency 1; Uwamose Amadasun, representing Uhunwode Constituency; and Folly Ogedegbe, representing Owan East Constituency.The three new members belong to the AC. They came in as replacement for PDP members- Anslem Agbabi, Fred Omogberai and Mrs. Elisabeth Ativie, whose elections were nullified by the election appeal tribunal.
Their coming to the House is thus seen as a a huge loss to the PDP, which is gradually losing the majority it used to enjoy in the Edo Assembly.
Adjoto, while receiving his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission, said his coming into the House had ended the era of ‘I concur’. This, he said in apparent reference to the inability of the AC to make much impact in the PDP-dominated House.
Observers believe that the few contributions made by Uwamose during plenary, was an indication of the kind of opposition the PDP members are set to experience in the House.
Ogedegbe told The Nation in an interview that the few weeks he had spent in the House had been challenging, adding that he found law making a wonderful task. He was optimistic that the advent of more AC members in the House will change the pattern of law making.
"There are enormous problems in my constituency that need attention. The two years of legal battle was a major setback for my people. I intend to bring attention of the problems in my constituency to the governor with a view to getting them accommodated in the 2010 budget", He said, adding that the quality of the discussion in the Assembly will also impact on governance in the state.
Commenting on his experience in the House, Amadasun said law making is quite challenging "because you have to capture the mood of the people, their desires, their hopes and expectations."
"We have passed two bills since I came in, including the anti-kidnapping bill. These have been challenging, because you have to do a lot of research and reading", he added.
With six more cases yet to be decided at the Court of Appeal, the PDP, at present has 13 members, while the AC has 11 in the House.
The PDP members whose cases are pending are Chris Umogbai, representing Etsako Central; Patrick Aisoweiren, representing Orhionmwon; Kingsley Ehigiamusoe, representing Igueben; and Segun Saiki, representing Akoko-Edo Constituency II.
Those of the AC are: Phillip Shuaibu, representing Estako West; and Bright Osayande, representing Ovia North East Constituency 1.
The non-confirmation of Oshiomhole’s nominees for the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) by the PDP- dominated House has further widened the political gap between the AC members and their PDP counterparts.
However, there appears to be some measure of uncertainty around the Speaker of the House, Zakawanu Garuba, whose leadership had led to a crisis- free House when compared to the number of times previous Speakers were removed between 1999 and 2007.
Should the AC emerge the majority party in the House, the party may demand for a speaker elected on its platform, as a matter of right.
With AC as the ruling party in the state, the PDP needs control of the House to remain relevant and reaffirm the faith of its supporters in the party.
If unconfirmed reports about plans by some PDP members to defect to the AC are anything to go by, then the fate of Garuba would no longer depend on the pending court cases, but on how soon the PDP members make good their planned defection.
Whichever way it goes, the changing trend in the Edo Assembly will be of advantage to the Comrade Oshiomhole led-administration.
Nothing could better illustrate the "family affair" claims of the PDP than the romance between the lawmakers and the executive, which led to easy passage for bills.
Also, decisions at the plenary sessions of the House were always products of issues that had already been discussed at meetings of the PDP. As such, there was never opposition to motions moved on the floor of the House, as the lawmakers were always ready with an "Aye" to bills.
All that, however, changed after the 2007 general elections, when the Action Congress clinched eight of the 24 seats in the Assembly. The PDP settled for the remaining 16.
While the AC members had their say, the PDP members who were in the majority, always had their way.
A former member of the House, Hon Fred Omogberai, said at a PDP rally recently that the party used superior arguments and ideas to defeat the minority AC.
Some observers, however, believe that the fears of the AC members then, centred on the uncertainty over the long drawn battle between Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Prof. Oseriheimen Osunbor, over who, between them, was the validly elected governor. The AC members were particularly concerned about the chances of Oshiomhole at the tribunal. Hence, they chose to tread with caution.
The likes of Hon Uyi Igbe, Patrick Osayimwen, Jude Ise-Idehen, rarely contributed to issues being discussed at plenary then. Whatever the "Ayes" said was what they followed.
Hon Peter Aliu, Phillip Shuaibu, the Minority Leader, Hon Paul Ohonbamu, Bright Osayande and Etinosa Ogbeiwi sometimes made meaningful contributions during plenary but that was not sufficient to position the AC as an effective opposition political party in the House, as the numerical strength of the then ruling PDP remained a major advantage for the party.
This was the situation until the emergence of Oshiomhole as Governor of Edo State through the Court of Appeal judgment of November 12, 2008.
There are indications now that legislative business in the Edo Assembly may take a new dimension, following the emergence of new faces who were recently inaugurated as members of the House. This is sequel to the validation of the elections of some petitioners at the Appeal tribunal.
The new members who have had their elections validated and got inaugurated as members of the House are: Mr. Kabiru Adjoto, representing Akoko-do Constituency 1; Uwamose Amadasun, representing Uhunwode Constituency; and Folly Ogedegbe, representing Owan East Constituency.The three new members belong to the AC. They came in as replacement for PDP members- Anslem Agbabi, Fred Omogberai and Mrs. Elisabeth Ativie, whose elections were nullified by the election appeal tribunal.
Their coming to the House is thus seen as a a huge loss to the PDP, which is gradually losing the majority it used to enjoy in the Edo Assembly.
Adjoto, while receiving his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission, said his coming into the House had ended the era of ‘I concur’. This, he said in apparent reference to the inability of the AC to make much impact in the PDP-dominated House.
Observers believe that the few contributions made by Uwamose during plenary, was an indication of the kind of opposition the PDP members are set to experience in the House.
Ogedegbe told The Nation in an interview that the few weeks he had spent in the House had been challenging, adding that he found law making a wonderful task. He was optimistic that the advent of more AC members in the House will change the pattern of law making.
"There are enormous problems in my constituency that need attention. The two years of legal battle was a major setback for my people. I intend to bring attention of the problems in my constituency to the governor with a view to getting them accommodated in the 2010 budget", He said, adding that the quality of the discussion in the Assembly will also impact on governance in the state.
Commenting on his experience in the House, Amadasun said law making is quite challenging "because you have to capture the mood of the people, their desires, their hopes and expectations."
"We have passed two bills since I came in, including the anti-kidnapping bill. These have been challenging, because you have to do a lot of research and reading", he added.
With six more cases yet to be decided at the Court of Appeal, the PDP, at present has 13 members, while the AC has 11 in the House.
The PDP members whose cases are pending are Chris Umogbai, representing Etsako Central; Patrick Aisoweiren, representing Orhionmwon; Kingsley Ehigiamusoe, representing Igueben; and Segun Saiki, representing Akoko-Edo Constituency II.
Those of the AC are: Phillip Shuaibu, representing Estako West; and Bright Osayande, representing Ovia North East Constituency 1.
The non-confirmation of Oshiomhole’s nominees for the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) by the PDP- dominated House has further widened the political gap between the AC members and their PDP counterparts.
However, there appears to be some measure of uncertainty around the Speaker of the House, Zakawanu Garuba, whose leadership had led to a crisis- free House when compared to the number of times previous Speakers were removed between 1999 and 2007.
Should the AC emerge the majority party in the House, the party may demand for a speaker elected on its platform, as a matter of right.
With AC as the ruling party in the state, the PDP needs control of the House to remain relevant and reaffirm the faith of its supporters in the party.
If unconfirmed reports about plans by some PDP members to defect to the AC are anything to go by, then the fate of Garuba would no longer depend on the pending court cases, but on how soon the PDP members make good their planned defection.
Whichever way it goes, the changing trend in the Edo Assembly will be of advantage to the Comrade Oshiomhole led-administration.
History haunts Brazil U-17 coach
The past, it is often said, serves as a yardstick for measuring progress in all human endeavours. Brazil’s rubost football history, in all competitions, seems to be the biggest tomentor of that country’s U-17 national team coach, Luiz Nizzo, whose wards suffered a surprise loss to Mexico Tuesday night in Lagos. The loss now puts the little Samba Boys in a precarious situation, having garnered only three points from two matches.
Coach Nizzo whose sideline workrate is second to none in the ongoing championship looks visibly shaken as he braces against the unknown.
What signal would it send to the rest of the football world about Brazilian football if the three-time champions got eliminated in the first round of the U-17 championship?
Coach Nizzo whose sideline workrate is second to none in the ongoing championship looks visibly shaken as he braces against the unknown.
What signal would it send to the rest of the football world about Brazilian football if the three-time champions got eliminated in the first round of the U-17 championship?
Bode George, others denied home food
Jailed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Bode George was disallowed from having the food brought for him from home.
He has appealed the verdict, imprisoning him for 30 months for contracts fraud.
Members of his family who brought the food were turned back by warders at the Kirikiri Prison.
George, sources said, has not been eating since he got to the prison on Monday.
A source said his action may have been informed by the poor quality of food served.
It was gathered that George and his fellow convicts may have demanded that food be brought to them from their homes. But there was no approval for their action, a source said.
Spokesman of the Nigerian Prison Service (NPS), Lagos command, Mr Ope Fatinikun, told The Nation that inmates were expected to apply to bring in food.
The prison, he said, is a sensitive security area, adding that proper procedure must be followed before food could be brought in.
The Nation
learnt that George may soon be moved from the Kirikiri prison for security reasons.
It was gathered that the prison authority is not comfortable with the number of people coming to see him since his arrival.
A source told The Nation that George is likely to be moved if his supporters pose a security threat at Kirikiri.
But Fatinikun said it was too early for anybody to begin to contemplate such a move.
He said any group that poses a security threat to the prison would be dealt with.
The inmates are yet to get their prison numbers, but the process has begun, it was learnt.
A source said they have not been given their numbers because the system is computerised.
According to the source, the numbers are in five digits but only four digits will be issued an inmate. The last digit will only be known to the prison – for security reasons.
The inmates have, however, been allocated their cells and uniforms.
George and others filed their notices of appeal at the registry of the Ikeja High Court.
In the appeal is a motion urging the court to grant them bail, pending the determination of the appeal.
Their lawyers refused to release copies of the papers, alleging that reporters had deliberately sensationalised the reports of their clients’ conviction.
The lawyers, who also refused to reveal their names, came into the court premise around 2pm, and finished filing the papers at about 4.00pm.
They accused the media of acting in bad faith by reporting that their clients were sentenced to 28 years imprisonment. This newspaper reported two and half years(The Nation).
Entreaties from reporters, who besieged the registry on learning that the lawyers were around, were ignored.
He has appealed the verdict, imprisoning him for 30 months for contracts fraud.
Members of his family who brought the food were turned back by warders at the Kirikiri Prison.
George, sources said, has not been eating since he got to the prison on Monday.
A source said his action may have been informed by the poor quality of food served.
It was gathered that George and his fellow convicts may have demanded that food be brought to them from their homes. But there was no approval for their action, a source said.
Spokesman of the Nigerian Prison Service (NPS), Lagos command, Mr Ope Fatinikun, told The Nation that inmates were expected to apply to bring in food.
The prison, he said, is a sensitive security area, adding that proper procedure must be followed before food could be brought in.
The Nation
learnt that George may soon be moved from the Kirikiri prison for security reasons.
It was gathered that the prison authority is not comfortable with the number of people coming to see him since his arrival.
A source told The Nation that George is likely to be moved if his supporters pose a security threat at Kirikiri.
But Fatinikun said it was too early for anybody to begin to contemplate such a move.
He said any group that poses a security threat to the prison would be dealt with.
The inmates are yet to get their prison numbers, but the process has begun, it was learnt.
A source said they have not been given their numbers because the system is computerised.
According to the source, the numbers are in five digits but only four digits will be issued an inmate. The last digit will only be known to the prison – for security reasons.
The inmates have, however, been allocated their cells and uniforms.
George and others filed their notices of appeal at the registry of the Ikeja High Court.
In the appeal is a motion urging the court to grant them bail, pending the determination of the appeal.
Their lawyers refused to release copies of the papers, alleging that reporters had deliberately sensationalised the reports of their clients’ conviction.
The lawyers, who also refused to reveal their names, came into the court premise around 2pm, and finished filing the papers at about 4.00pm.
They accused the media of acting in bad faith by reporting that their clients were sentenced to 28 years imprisonment. This newspaper reported two and half years(The Nation).
Entreaties from reporters, who besieged the registry on learning that the lawyers were around, were ignored.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Our country will rise above the present rot!
Former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman Nuhu Ribadu was ecstatic yesterday over the imprisonment of Bode George for contracts fraud.
Ribadu, who as EFCC chair probed George’s tenure as chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), said it was heartening that the investigation was not in vain.
He said in a statement issued from London that "ultimately, the law catches up with the bad guys", adding: "Nigeria will be great again".
The statement entitled: "Our country will rise above the present rot" reads: "The conviction of Chief Olabode George, former Chairman Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), and four other board members, at the court of Justice Joseph Olubunmi Oyewole, in Ikeja Lagos, marks a great reference point in the investigation, prosecution, and trial of corruption cases in Nigeria.
"I salute the courage and intellect of the learned judge who has demonstrated over time that he is an exemplary reference point in the fight against corruption and for a true definition of rule of law in the country.
"As is very well known, the successful resolution of cases in favour of justice and equity commences from a thorough investigation. In this regard, we must also salute the long and strained investigation leading to the indictment of Bode George in 2005.
"At moments like this, investigators, stretched out in exhilarating adrenalin, are rightly thrilled that their hard work is rewarded by the society and its best institutions.
"It is a measure of the shamelessness of our elite and the institutions that fuel their values that Chief George could be awarded a national honour in our country, and that he could later sue some newspapers for libel on account of the damning indictment report I prepared against him.
"Chief George’s subsequent prosecution is evidence that ultimately the law catches up with the bad guys.
"Cynics will find therapy in the courageous stature of Justice Oyewole whose extraordinary example, in concluding a full trial of such a complicated case in just 14 months, ought to guide other courts where cases of grand corruption are still trapped.
"Nigeria will be great again!"
Ribadu, who as EFCC chair probed George’s tenure as chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), said it was heartening that the investigation was not in vain.
He said in a statement issued from London that "ultimately, the law catches up with the bad guys", adding: "Nigeria will be great again".
The statement entitled: "Our country will rise above the present rot" reads: "The conviction of Chief Olabode George, former Chairman Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), and four other board members, at the court of Justice Joseph Olubunmi Oyewole, in Ikeja Lagos, marks a great reference point in the investigation, prosecution, and trial of corruption cases in Nigeria.
"I salute the courage and intellect of the learned judge who has demonstrated over time that he is an exemplary reference point in the fight against corruption and for a true definition of rule of law in the country.
"As is very well known, the successful resolution of cases in favour of justice and equity commences from a thorough investigation. In this regard, we must also salute the long and strained investigation leading to the indictment of Bode George in 2005.
"At moments like this, investigators, stretched out in exhilarating adrenalin, are rightly thrilled that their hard work is rewarded by the society and its best institutions.
"It is a measure of the shamelessness of our elite and the institutions that fuel their values that Chief George could be awarded a national honour in our country, and that he could later sue some newspapers for libel on account of the damning indictment report I prepared against him.
"Chief George’s subsequent prosecution is evidence that ultimately the law catches up with the bad guys.
"Cynics will find therapy in the courageous stature of Justice Oyewole whose extraordinary example, in concluding a full trial of such a complicated case in just 14 months, ought to guide other courts where cases of grand corruption are still trapped.
"Nigeria will be great again!"
Anambra: INEC Bars Soludo from Election Activities
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Anambra governorship candidate, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has yet another battle to fight as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday announced he would be excluded from activities leading to the February 6, 2010 election, on account of a court order. Also, the electoral umpire has picked issues with the party over the controversial method through which Soludo emerged as its flagbearer.
But in yet another twist, Judge B. O. Nwankwo of the Anambra High Court yesterday granted an injunction restraining INEC from removing Soludo's name as the candidate of the PDP in the governorship poll. The injunction followed a prayer sought by Okey Muo Aroh, one of the 47 aspirants in the botched PDP governorship primaries.
INEC's decision to officially exclude Soludo follows an Abuja High Court order restraining him from parading himself as the party candidate. According to the Anambra State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Chief Rowland Uwa, who spoke to newsmen in Awka, the Anambra State capital, the commission had no option than to obey the Abuja court order which was served on it yesterday. Uwa, however, explained it was only Soludo as a candidate and not the party that is being excluded from the activities that would lead to the governorship election next year.
He disclosed that INEC is planning a forum for all candidates of political parties for the election as well as their respective parties tomorrow. Soludo would therefore be unable to attend as a result of the court order, he said. The resident electoral commissioner also stated that the commission's Chairman, Prof Maurice Iwu, would address the stakeholders’ forum. He advised all governorship candidates and their deputies to collect their letters of accreditation from his office on or before 6pm today.
Chairmen and secretaries of the respective political parties involved in the election should obtain duly signed letters of credence from their national secretariats, he added. Uwa further stated that all INEC accredited observers and civil society groups who participated in the 2007 election were invited to the forum which would kick off by 12 noon. Meanwhile, Iwu expressed its disappointment with the way Soludo emerged last week when he met with the National Chairman of PDP, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor; the Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Harilu Mohammed Bello; the National Secretary of PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje; and the National Legal Adviser of the party, Chief Olusola Oke, at INEC office in Maitama, Abuja. According to sources, the INEC chairman lambasted the PDP chieftains for not leading by example in ensuring that internal democracy thrives in their party.
“INEC is not happy that internal democracy did not take place in the selection of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo as your party’s flag bearer for the Anambra State governorship election. We are particularly not happy that PDP as a ruling party is not showing good example over the institution of internal democracy in the affairs of political parties”, Iwu was quoted as saying by the source. It was gathered that Iwu urged PDP to take advantage of the December date for the substitution of candidates to put its house in order. The National Chairman of PDP, Ogbulafor, was said to have thanked the INEC chairman and asked the National Legal Adviser of the party, Oke, to respond to his comments.
In response, Oke reminded the INEC chairman of the legal tussles which the party waded through before it eventually decided to adopt Soludo as a consensus candidate. Oke told Iwu that before the National Working Committee (NWC) took the decision, there were nine legal constraints against the party. According to Oke, the PDP chose Soludo in line with its constitution as contained in articlexs 17.1 and 17.2. Oke specifically referred the INEC Chairman to the Supreme Court verdict on the rights of political parties to choose or select their candidates as contained in the apex court’s landmark judgment of Ehinlanwo vs Oke earlier this year.
The legal adviser stated that no one has the right to meddle in the affairs of political parties, particularly with regard to the choice and selection of candidates, provided they are in line with the constitution of the party. After the meeting, Iwu again, urged the party to take advantage of the December date for substitution. In another development, a rally believed to have been organised by Mr. Chris Uba in the state has been suspended by the party.
In a statement, the Zonal Secretary of PDP, Vin Okpalaeke, said the NWC of the PDP directed the rally scheduled for today in Awka be suspended based on grounds that it aimed at undermining "the gains" of the party in the state and Soludo's candidacy. "For the avoidance of doubt, our great party will initiate appropriate actions against all persons who flout this directive,” it said.
But in yet another twist, Judge B. O. Nwankwo of the Anambra High Court yesterday granted an injunction restraining INEC from removing Soludo's name as the candidate of the PDP in the governorship poll. The injunction followed a prayer sought by Okey Muo Aroh, one of the 47 aspirants in the botched PDP governorship primaries.
INEC's decision to officially exclude Soludo follows an Abuja High Court order restraining him from parading himself as the party candidate. According to the Anambra State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Chief Rowland Uwa, who spoke to newsmen in Awka, the Anambra State capital, the commission had no option than to obey the Abuja court order which was served on it yesterday. Uwa, however, explained it was only Soludo as a candidate and not the party that is being excluded from the activities that would lead to the governorship election next year.
He disclosed that INEC is planning a forum for all candidates of political parties for the election as well as their respective parties tomorrow. Soludo would therefore be unable to attend as a result of the court order, he said. The resident electoral commissioner also stated that the commission's Chairman, Prof Maurice Iwu, would address the stakeholders’ forum. He advised all governorship candidates and their deputies to collect their letters of accreditation from his office on or before 6pm today.
Chairmen and secretaries of the respective political parties involved in the election should obtain duly signed letters of credence from their national secretariats, he added. Uwa further stated that all INEC accredited observers and civil society groups who participated in the 2007 election were invited to the forum which would kick off by 12 noon. Meanwhile, Iwu expressed its disappointment with the way Soludo emerged last week when he met with the National Chairman of PDP, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor; the Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Harilu Mohammed Bello; the National Secretary of PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje; and the National Legal Adviser of the party, Chief Olusola Oke, at INEC office in Maitama, Abuja. According to sources, the INEC chairman lambasted the PDP chieftains for not leading by example in ensuring that internal democracy thrives in their party.
“INEC is not happy that internal democracy did not take place in the selection of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo as your party’s flag bearer for the Anambra State governorship election. We are particularly not happy that PDP as a ruling party is not showing good example over the institution of internal democracy in the affairs of political parties”, Iwu was quoted as saying by the source. It was gathered that Iwu urged PDP to take advantage of the December date for the substitution of candidates to put its house in order. The National Chairman of PDP, Ogbulafor, was said to have thanked the INEC chairman and asked the National Legal Adviser of the party, Oke, to respond to his comments.
In response, Oke reminded the INEC chairman of the legal tussles which the party waded through before it eventually decided to adopt Soludo as a consensus candidate. Oke told Iwu that before the National Working Committee (NWC) took the decision, there were nine legal constraints against the party. According to Oke, the PDP chose Soludo in line with its constitution as contained in articlexs 17.1 and 17.2. Oke specifically referred the INEC Chairman to the Supreme Court verdict on the rights of political parties to choose or select their candidates as contained in the apex court’s landmark judgment of Ehinlanwo vs Oke earlier this year.
The legal adviser stated that no one has the right to meddle in the affairs of political parties, particularly with regard to the choice and selection of candidates, provided they are in line with the constitution of the party. After the meeting, Iwu again, urged the party to take advantage of the December date for substitution. In another development, a rally believed to have been organised by Mr. Chris Uba in the state has been suspended by the party.
In a statement, the Zonal Secretary of PDP, Vin Okpalaeke, said the NWC of the PDP directed the rally scheduled for today in Awka be suspended based on grounds that it aimed at undermining "the gains" of the party in the state and Soludo's candidacy. "For the avoidance of doubt, our great party will initiate appropriate actions against all persons who flout this directive,” it said.
Court jails Bode George, five others for fraud
The sensational life of a Lagos politician, Olabode Ibiyinka George, collapsed yesterday at the gate of a prison.
A Lagos High Court, Ikeja jailed the former chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and five others for two and half years each apiece without an option of fine. George is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader.
Justice Olubunmi Oyewole sentenced them to two years on each of the seven-count charges of abuse of office and six months each for the other 27-count charge of disobedience to constituted authority. The jail sentences will run concurrently
The other convicts are former CEO of NPA Aminu Dabo, O. Abidoye, Abdullahi Tafida, Zanna Maideribe and Sule Aliyu.
They were driven out of the court premises in a prison pick-up van amidst threats from George’s supporters who shielded them from photographers.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the convicts on charges that bordered on wilful disobedience to constituted authority, contract splitting and conspiracy in August, last year.
They were, however, not found guilty on the other charges as the prosecution led by activist lawyer Mr. Festus Keyamo, the court noted in its findings, could not prove the commission of the offences alleged against them beyond reasonable doubt.
Mid way into the more than three hours judgment, one of those who stormed the court in apparent solidarity with the convicts slumped and was taken out to be revived. Mr Justice Oyewole went on with the delivery of the judgment.
In the course of the trial, the convicts had said they were not charged in their personal capacities but as members of the board of NPA and that unless shown, the board of NPA is a public office, and they should be acquitted.
But the court held: "The facts indisputably before the court are that the defendants are natural persons who were appointed to serve as directors on the board of the NPA, a public corporation owned solely by the Federal Government of Nigeria and established under an Act of the National Assembly….
"It is an evident fact upon which the court can take judicial notice that only natural persons are appointed to hold public offices and not corporate or incorporate bodies.
"Furthermore, the board of a corporation is an organ of that organisation and does not possess a corporate legal existence separate from that of the corporate body it belongs to. It cannot, as such, possess legal identity as to sue or be sued independently."
The court also knocked the convicts defence that they cannot be held liable for acts committed by their subordinates.
"Persons acknowledged out of millions of Nigerians by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to be of proven integrity and of cognitive experience in relation to the activities of the NPA cannot claim ignorance or simply play Pontius Pilate when obviously irregular contracts placed before them were approved by them without question. It amounts to wilful blindness and must have its consequences.
"By Section 10 (3)(b) and (5)(c) of the NPA Act the board of the NPA is given powers to control the managing director and executive directors of the NPA.
"The board was also given express powers in the said Act to obtain advice from non-members and co-opt such special members for specific purposes. Such a board cannot claim inadequacy. After all, as the ancient wisdom says; you cannot bear the title of eagle and be unable to prey on chickens. The culpability of the defendants in this regard is direct and not vicarious.
"I therefore reject the defence put forward by the defendants in this regard as totally untenable.
"I hold that the defendants while employed in the public service as chairman and directors respectively on the board of the NPA at the material times of exhibits D2 and D3 did approve split contracts. It is an arbitrary act which prejudiced the approving authorities superiority to the NPA board constituted by them at that time, and that they thereby abused their offices."
The convicts said they failed to abide by laid down financial regulations because it will affect the nation’s economy.
But Justice Oyewole disagreed, saying the convicts cannot be more Catholic than the Pope.
"The position of the learned prosecutor and the other prosecution witnesses was that while there may be good reasons to seek a presidential waiver in respect of the application of the said circular, flagrant disobedience was not the proper course of action.
"As appointees of the President of Nigeria, the defendants are subject to his direct and indirect authority.
"The authority behind the circular, exhibit P3, extends not only to the President but ultimately to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
"Paragraph 2 of the said circular begins with the following word:
‘After extensive consultations with stakeholders, the following guidelines are being issued to fully implement the new government policy.’
"An implication of the preamble is that exhibit P3 is not the product of some whim but based on wide consultations extending beyond the narrow purview of the NPA.
"The defendants cannot claim to be more Catholic than the Pope.
"While infallibility is beyond any man, the overall mandate to administer the polity, including the NPA, is that of the President and where government functionaries are at liberty to apply or reject government policies as they so will, anarchy would ensue. Such is the manifestation of a failed state."
Sentencing the convicts after their lawyers’ request for mitigation, Justice Oyewole said: "When public office is abused, the entire system is assaulted. This must not be treated with kid gloves, if the quality of service in our public life is to be attained to an appreciable standard of the civilised world.
"For the right deterrence to be served, therefore, sufficient firmness must be demonstrated."
Justice Oyewole rose immediately the sentence was pronounced.
Earlier, Mr Tunji Ayanlaja (SAN), George’s lead counsel, in his plea for mitigation, told the court that the conviction of his client on a technical charge could scare others who interested to serve the nation.
He pleaded that the court should not send the convicts to prison but caution and discharge them in order not to truncate their political careers even as it has not been shown that they benefited personally from the offences.
"I will like to draw your lordship’s attention to a comment that was made 47 years ago in a felony case in this court ‘blessed be your lordship’s judgment and your lordships pronouncement in this judgment.’
"I will urge your lordship to put this into consideration. Public service in our country today has been left to those who should not be there and those who have risked their lives to serve will have to bear the brunt of public service that is what this judgment has made obvious, that if you serve in public service you must bear the burden.
"The trial has taken 14 months, it has subjected the defendants to a lot of suspense and immense pressure. My lord, you will find out from the evidence that none of them has been accused of making profit or from making unjust enrichment from serving the mother land. You found them guilty on some of the counts; some of the counts are very, very technical in nature.
"Henceforth, if public servants are held to technical offence, nobody will take public service. My Lord, I want you to put into consideration that all the defendants have attended the trial as honest and committed Nigerians. None of them has been found guilty of any offence in serving the mother land before now.
"The first defendant (George) is somebody who served in different capacities. He was in the armed forces, a military governor of Ondo State and has not been accused of any criminal action. The pressure the trial has put on them is enough condemnation and I urge your Lordship not to put a comma on their public career so that they can still offer their services to the nation. All the time they were acting they thought they were acting in the interest of the nation. I urge your lordship to be very lenient to all the accused persons. I know it is in your power to caution and discharge them because the offence is so technical and no evidence that the nation lost anything by the decision they took.
"The silence in the court room shows that what is being considered is very serious and you have shown a strong signal to the whole country that it is no longer business-as-usual. The Bar has been enriched by this judgment."
Ayanlaja urged the court to apply Solomon’s wisdom in handling the matter, instead of destroying the political careers of the convicts.
Other silk lawyers in court are: Deacon Dele Adesina, Otunba Kunle Kalejaiye and Bolaji Ayorinde.
Adesina, in his allocutus, described Dabo as a professional architect who still has the zeal to serve even as he described the demeanour of all the other accused as remorseful.
A Lagos High Court, Ikeja jailed the former chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and five others for two and half years each apiece without an option of fine. George is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader.
Justice Olubunmi Oyewole sentenced them to two years on each of the seven-count charges of abuse of office and six months each for the other 27-count charge of disobedience to constituted authority. The jail sentences will run concurrently
The other convicts are former CEO of NPA Aminu Dabo, O. Abidoye, Abdullahi Tafida, Zanna Maideribe and Sule Aliyu.
They were driven out of the court premises in a prison pick-up van amidst threats from George’s supporters who shielded them from photographers.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the convicts on charges that bordered on wilful disobedience to constituted authority, contract splitting and conspiracy in August, last year.
They were, however, not found guilty on the other charges as the prosecution led by activist lawyer Mr. Festus Keyamo, the court noted in its findings, could not prove the commission of the offences alleged against them beyond reasonable doubt.
Mid way into the more than three hours judgment, one of those who stormed the court in apparent solidarity with the convicts slumped and was taken out to be revived. Mr Justice Oyewole went on with the delivery of the judgment.
In the course of the trial, the convicts had said they were not charged in their personal capacities but as members of the board of NPA and that unless shown, the board of NPA is a public office, and they should be acquitted.
But the court held: "The facts indisputably before the court are that the defendants are natural persons who were appointed to serve as directors on the board of the NPA, a public corporation owned solely by the Federal Government of Nigeria and established under an Act of the National Assembly….
"It is an evident fact upon which the court can take judicial notice that only natural persons are appointed to hold public offices and not corporate or incorporate bodies.
"Furthermore, the board of a corporation is an organ of that organisation and does not possess a corporate legal existence separate from that of the corporate body it belongs to. It cannot, as such, possess legal identity as to sue or be sued independently."
The court also knocked the convicts defence that they cannot be held liable for acts committed by their subordinates.
"Persons acknowledged out of millions of Nigerians by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to be of proven integrity and of cognitive experience in relation to the activities of the NPA cannot claim ignorance or simply play Pontius Pilate when obviously irregular contracts placed before them were approved by them without question. It amounts to wilful blindness and must have its consequences.
"By Section 10 (3)(b) and (5)(c) of the NPA Act the board of the NPA is given powers to control the managing director and executive directors of the NPA.
"The board was also given express powers in the said Act to obtain advice from non-members and co-opt such special members for specific purposes. Such a board cannot claim inadequacy. After all, as the ancient wisdom says; you cannot bear the title of eagle and be unable to prey on chickens. The culpability of the defendants in this regard is direct and not vicarious.
"I therefore reject the defence put forward by the defendants in this regard as totally untenable.
"I hold that the defendants while employed in the public service as chairman and directors respectively on the board of the NPA at the material times of exhibits D2 and D3 did approve split contracts. It is an arbitrary act which prejudiced the approving authorities superiority to the NPA board constituted by them at that time, and that they thereby abused their offices."
The convicts said they failed to abide by laid down financial regulations because it will affect the nation’s economy.
But Justice Oyewole disagreed, saying the convicts cannot be more Catholic than the Pope.
"The position of the learned prosecutor and the other prosecution witnesses was that while there may be good reasons to seek a presidential waiver in respect of the application of the said circular, flagrant disobedience was not the proper course of action.
"As appointees of the President of Nigeria, the defendants are subject to his direct and indirect authority.
"The authority behind the circular, exhibit P3, extends not only to the President but ultimately to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
"Paragraph 2 of the said circular begins with the following word:
‘After extensive consultations with stakeholders, the following guidelines are being issued to fully implement the new government policy.’
"An implication of the preamble is that exhibit P3 is not the product of some whim but based on wide consultations extending beyond the narrow purview of the NPA.
"The defendants cannot claim to be more Catholic than the Pope.
"While infallibility is beyond any man, the overall mandate to administer the polity, including the NPA, is that of the President and where government functionaries are at liberty to apply or reject government policies as they so will, anarchy would ensue. Such is the manifestation of a failed state."
Sentencing the convicts after their lawyers’ request for mitigation, Justice Oyewole said: "When public office is abused, the entire system is assaulted. This must not be treated with kid gloves, if the quality of service in our public life is to be attained to an appreciable standard of the civilised world.
"For the right deterrence to be served, therefore, sufficient firmness must be demonstrated."
Justice Oyewole rose immediately the sentence was pronounced.
Earlier, Mr Tunji Ayanlaja (SAN), George’s lead counsel, in his plea for mitigation, told the court that the conviction of his client on a technical charge could scare others who interested to serve the nation.
He pleaded that the court should not send the convicts to prison but caution and discharge them in order not to truncate their political careers even as it has not been shown that they benefited personally from the offences.
"I will like to draw your lordship’s attention to a comment that was made 47 years ago in a felony case in this court ‘blessed be your lordship’s judgment and your lordships pronouncement in this judgment.’
"I will urge your lordship to put this into consideration. Public service in our country today has been left to those who should not be there and those who have risked their lives to serve will have to bear the brunt of public service that is what this judgment has made obvious, that if you serve in public service you must bear the burden.
"The trial has taken 14 months, it has subjected the defendants to a lot of suspense and immense pressure. My lord, you will find out from the evidence that none of them has been accused of making profit or from making unjust enrichment from serving the mother land. You found them guilty on some of the counts; some of the counts are very, very technical in nature.
"Henceforth, if public servants are held to technical offence, nobody will take public service. My Lord, I want you to put into consideration that all the defendants have attended the trial as honest and committed Nigerians. None of them has been found guilty of any offence in serving the mother land before now.
"The first defendant (George) is somebody who served in different capacities. He was in the armed forces, a military governor of Ondo State and has not been accused of any criminal action. The pressure the trial has put on them is enough condemnation and I urge your Lordship not to put a comma on their public career so that they can still offer their services to the nation. All the time they were acting they thought they were acting in the interest of the nation. I urge your lordship to be very lenient to all the accused persons. I know it is in your power to caution and discharge them because the offence is so technical and no evidence that the nation lost anything by the decision they took.
"The silence in the court room shows that what is being considered is very serious and you have shown a strong signal to the whole country that it is no longer business-as-usual. The Bar has been enriched by this judgment."
Ayanlaja urged the court to apply Solomon’s wisdom in handling the matter, instead of destroying the political careers of the convicts.
Other silk lawyers in court are: Deacon Dele Adesina, Otunba Kunle Kalejaiye and Bolaji Ayorinde.
Adesina, in his allocutus, described Dabo as a professional architect who still has the zeal to serve even as he described the demeanour of all the other accused as remorseful.
Climate Change: Developing Countries Push for $400bn Compensation
As the build-up to the global summit on climate change in Denmark gathers momentum countries of the developing world have asked the industrialized nations to cough-out $400bn as financial reparation for the economic and social losses brought upon them as a result of many years of carbon emission into the atmosphere.
The demand by developing countries which formed the main plank of their articulated positions for the world conference on Climate Change coming up in December, came on the heels of the decision of Africa to forge a common front at the summit with Ethiopia and Nigeria playing a leading role in presenting the continent’s position.
One of the discussants at yesterday’s inter-ministerial committee’s meeting held in Abuja and the Director of Finance in the Climate Change Unit of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr. Peter Tarfa, said as part of the effort to attract the required level of funding for adaptation programmes, developing countries were making a proposal to developed countries to contribute between $200bn and $400bn yearly to support the poor nations.
“Developing Countries are seeking between $200bn and $400bn as compensation from industrialized nations to assist them in managing the effects of climate change which they believed were mostly brought about by the economic activities of these rich countries”, he said.
Tarfa also said Nigeria faces a looming threat of economic losses up to about $100m annually as a result of the debilitating impact of desertification, deforestation, flooding, erosion and coastal sea rise if nothing is done to improve our adaptation capacity.
He said the developing countries are also asking for a new financial architecture which can enable them access donor funds easily without any hinderance or technicalities.
Tarfa who presented a paper on the nature of financial bail-out that countries of the developing world are making demand for, said African, countries are insisting that they would no longer subscribe to the idea of using loans to manage the damaging impact of climate change.
According to him global agreement that would take care of funding for such areas as in adaptation, technology and capacity-building is what developing countries were pushing for.
The Minister of Environment, John Odey, in his speech warned that Climate Change will drastically impact every facet of life in Nigeria as it aggravates.
According to him “although the impacts of Climate Change are going to be global, reports have shown that Nigeria and the continent of Africa will be worse hit. This is in spite of the fact that Africa contributes least to the emissions responsible for Climate Change.”
“The most important and globally accepted agreement to address climate change is the Kyoto Protocol. The processes leading to the Protocol commenced in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro when leaders of the industrialized nations met at a UN Climate Convention and agreed to stabilize their greenhouse gas emission concentration at a level that will not be inimical to the Climate System.
“However, the Protocol has virtually failed to address the purpose for which it was signed. Since signing of the Protocol by over 184 countries, the green house gas emission situation has taken a turn for the worse as the industrialized nations have not been able to tame their emission level. The Protocol will span out in the year 2012 and the negotiations of the successor of the Protocol are due to be finalized in Copenhagen in December, this year.
“In preparation of our negotiation position towards Copenhagen , the ministry has taken cue from Mr President’s declaration that even though we are not one of the countries responsible for the emissions, we are prepared to be part of the efforts to arrest the effects.
“Nigeria’s position, which was put together by this Committee in June this year, is very much in line with Common African Position following the resolutions at the African Union Summit in 2008 that in preparations towards Copenhagen Conference, African nations should build a common African Position.
“This position has taken special recognition of the fact that being an oil producing nation, our country seeks to benefit from funds that could be deployed for adaptation and mitigation measures as well as for the development of alternative sources of energy under the Clean Development Mechanism.
“For us in Nigeria , the up coming Conference in December is very crucial to our Development Agenda and our National Vision.
“Climate change scenarios for Nigeria indicate that the climatic variability currently being experienced is likely to increase and
intensify. Droughts, floods and storms are likely to increase in both frequency and intensity. Changes in precipitation levels and patterns are also likely to occur thus having an impact on agriculture and food production.
“In coastal areas, sea level rise and rising sea temperatures will threaten coastal areas and fishing activities in the southern region. The prospective impacts on our society and the economy are huge and cross-cutting.”
“In our efforts to promote low carbon economy in Nigeria , we have successfully increased the number of registered Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in Nigeria from one to three in the last one year. The first was the Kwale Gas Utilization Projects while the second and the third projects are the Pan Ocean Gas Utilization Project and the Save 80 Fuel Efficient Wood Stove respectively.
“This achievement is first of its kind in Africa and it has placed Nigeria ahead of every other African nation in the number of Certified Emission Reduction (CER) units. The projects would go a long way in reducing problems of deforestation and accompanying land degradation across the country. This achievement will also significantly compliment the objectives of Mr. President’s nation-wide Afforestation Program.
“In order to build on this success however, Nigeria should seize the opportunity of the Copenhagen Conference to urgently exert its political muscle in and out of the continent to insist not only that Africa must be compensated for the impacts of climate change and opportunity lost”, he said..
The Head of Climate Change Unit in the Ministry, Dr. Victor Fodake said Africa has resolved that it will neither accept replacement of Kyoto Protocol nor its merger with any new agreement.
“Developed Countries must reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2020 and at least 80% to 95% below 1990 levels by 2050, in order to achieve the lowest level of stabilisation assessed by the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report”, he said.
He said at the last meeting of the African countries aimed fashioning a common front ahead of the conference in Denmark, the countries agreed that Ethiopia and Nigeria should play a leading role in driving the continent’s position at the summit.
Yesterday’s meeting was attended by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Minister of Aviation, Minister of State for Agriculture, Minister of Special Duties, Minister of Foreigns Affairs amongs others.
The demand by developing countries which formed the main plank of their articulated positions for the world conference on Climate Change coming up in December, came on the heels of the decision of Africa to forge a common front at the summit with Ethiopia and Nigeria playing a leading role in presenting the continent’s position.
One of the discussants at yesterday’s inter-ministerial committee’s meeting held in Abuja and the Director of Finance in the Climate Change Unit of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr. Peter Tarfa, said as part of the effort to attract the required level of funding for adaptation programmes, developing countries were making a proposal to developed countries to contribute between $200bn and $400bn yearly to support the poor nations.
“Developing Countries are seeking between $200bn and $400bn as compensation from industrialized nations to assist them in managing the effects of climate change which they believed were mostly brought about by the economic activities of these rich countries”, he said.
Tarfa also said Nigeria faces a looming threat of economic losses up to about $100m annually as a result of the debilitating impact of desertification, deforestation, flooding, erosion and coastal sea rise if nothing is done to improve our adaptation capacity.
He said the developing countries are also asking for a new financial architecture which can enable them access donor funds easily without any hinderance or technicalities.
Tarfa who presented a paper on the nature of financial bail-out that countries of the developing world are making demand for, said African, countries are insisting that they would no longer subscribe to the idea of using loans to manage the damaging impact of climate change.
According to him global agreement that would take care of funding for such areas as in adaptation, technology and capacity-building is what developing countries were pushing for.
The Minister of Environment, John Odey, in his speech warned that Climate Change will drastically impact every facet of life in Nigeria as it aggravates.
According to him “although the impacts of Climate Change are going to be global, reports have shown that Nigeria and the continent of Africa will be worse hit. This is in spite of the fact that Africa contributes least to the emissions responsible for Climate Change.”
“The most important and globally accepted agreement to address climate change is the Kyoto Protocol. The processes leading to the Protocol commenced in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro when leaders of the industrialized nations met at a UN Climate Convention and agreed to stabilize their greenhouse gas emission concentration at a level that will not be inimical to the Climate System.
“However, the Protocol has virtually failed to address the purpose for which it was signed. Since signing of the Protocol by over 184 countries, the green house gas emission situation has taken a turn for the worse as the industrialized nations have not been able to tame their emission level. The Protocol will span out in the year 2012 and the negotiations of the successor of the Protocol are due to be finalized in Copenhagen in December, this year.
“In preparation of our negotiation position towards Copenhagen , the ministry has taken cue from Mr President’s declaration that even though we are not one of the countries responsible for the emissions, we are prepared to be part of the efforts to arrest the effects.
“Nigeria’s position, which was put together by this Committee in June this year, is very much in line with Common African Position following the resolutions at the African Union Summit in 2008 that in preparations towards Copenhagen Conference, African nations should build a common African Position.
“This position has taken special recognition of the fact that being an oil producing nation, our country seeks to benefit from funds that could be deployed for adaptation and mitigation measures as well as for the development of alternative sources of energy under the Clean Development Mechanism.
“For us in Nigeria , the up coming Conference in December is very crucial to our Development Agenda and our National Vision.
“Climate change scenarios for Nigeria indicate that the climatic variability currently being experienced is likely to increase and
intensify. Droughts, floods and storms are likely to increase in both frequency and intensity. Changes in precipitation levels and patterns are also likely to occur thus having an impact on agriculture and food production.
“In coastal areas, sea level rise and rising sea temperatures will threaten coastal areas and fishing activities in the southern region. The prospective impacts on our society and the economy are huge and cross-cutting.”
“In our efforts to promote low carbon economy in Nigeria , we have successfully increased the number of registered Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in Nigeria from one to three in the last one year. The first was the Kwale Gas Utilization Projects while the second and the third projects are the Pan Ocean Gas Utilization Project and the Save 80 Fuel Efficient Wood Stove respectively.
“This achievement is first of its kind in Africa and it has placed Nigeria ahead of every other African nation in the number of Certified Emission Reduction (CER) units. The projects would go a long way in reducing problems of deforestation and accompanying land degradation across the country. This achievement will also significantly compliment the objectives of Mr. President’s nation-wide Afforestation Program.
“In order to build on this success however, Nigeria should seize the opportunity of the Copenhagen Conference to urgently exert its political muscle in and out of the continent to insist not only that Africa must be compensated for the impacts of climate change and opportunity lost”, he said..
The Head of Climate Change Unit in the Ministry, Dr. Victor Fodake said Africa has resolved that it will neither accept replacement of Kyoto Protocol nor its merger with any new agreement.
“Developed Countries must reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2020 and at least 80% to 95% below 1990 levels by 2050, in order to achieve the lowest level of stabilisation assessed by the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report”, he said.
He said at the last meeting of the African countries aimed fashioning a common front ahead of the conference in Denmark, the countries agreed that Ethiopia and Nigeria should play a leading role in driving the continent’s position at the summit.
Yesterday’s meeting was attended by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Minister of Aviation, Minister of State for Agriculture, Minister of Special Duties, Minister of Foreigns Affairs amongs others.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
EFCC grills bank debtors at secret location in Lagos
Operatives quizz BankPHB, ETB, Spring Bank chiefs
Contrary to expectation, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday met with some bank debtors at a secret location in Lagos.
The meeting, which was billed for the EFCC Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos office, was moved to the secret location following the debtors’ plea, sources told The Nation.
The debtors, among whom are frontline politicians and eminent industrialists, pleaded for the change in venue to avoid what they called the "prying eyes" of the media.
Besides the debtors, the EFCC operatives quizzed the Financial Controllers and Company Secretaries of Bank PHB, Spring Bank and Equitorial Trust Bank (ETB) yesterday.
It was learnt that upon the receipt of the letters of invitation, the debtors pleaded with EFCC Chairman Mrs. Farida Waziri to protect them from the media.
A source said: "These highly-placed debtors said the coverage of their presence in EFCC’s office by the media was affecting their image and causing them depression.
"They pleaded that they be allowed to appear before the commission in Abuja instead of Lagos. The debtors sought the protection of their privacy.
"But due to logistics, the EFCC insisted that it would meet with them in Lagos but with a change of tactics.
"That was why we moved our operatives to a secret location, in line with the request of the debtors."
The source added: "We took this step because the list of the debtors is already known to the public. We are really not trying to censor the press."
On the outcome of the interaction with the debtors, the source added: "Some of them came to reconcile their accounts. They also made commitments to offset their debts.
"Some of the debtors could not make it. They contacted the commission and rescheduled their visit.
"I think they are scared of the presence of the media because of a likely backlash on their reputation and business."
The source said it was too early to give any debt recovery figure.
The Financial Controllers and Company Secretaries of Bank PHB, Spring Bank and ETB were quizzed at the EFCC Ikoyi office.
Another source said: "We grilled these officials on alleged insider abuse; board decisions; and strange payments made by the banks.
"So, their invitation was part of the probe of the three banks by the EFCC. Some of the Managing Directors arrested have opened up on some decisions taken by their banks. We need to crosscheck relevant documents."
EFCC spokesman Femi Babafemi said: "Yes, we interacted with some of the debtors. They promised to repay their loans."
On the bank officials interrogated, Babafemi said: "It is part of the ongoing investigation in the banks."
Reporters and photographer besieged the EFCC office early yesterday in anticipation of the debtors’ visit.
They arrived as early as 8a.m. and waited until late in the day when they learnt that the debtors would not be coming.
EFCC spokesman in Lagos, Wilson Uwuigiaren, who confirmed the secret meeting, said some of the debtors pledged to repay part of their debts today.
He said others were being expected today as there is no "definite deadline" for payment.
He, however, failed to give the names and number of the debtors.
"We’ve decided to withhold their names with the belief that they will honour their words to begin to repay their debts as from today. Those who did not show up today (yesterday) will do so tomorrow (today)"
Sacked Managing Director of BankPHB Mr. Francis Atuche has applied to the EFCC to grant him bail or charge him to court rather than detaining him perpetually.
Atuche was arrested by the commission’s operatives last Friday and has since been in custody.
In an application for administrative bail delivered to the commission yesterday by one of his lawyers, Dr. Nnamdi Dimgba, Atuche said his continued detention was against constitutional provision.
The application jointly written by three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) – Chief Antony Idigbe, Rickey Tarfa and Chief Adeniyi Akintola – reads:
"We wish to draw your attention to the fact that under our constitution, except in very limited circumstances, which do not apply in this case, no person should be detained for more than 48 hours without either being released on bail or arraigned in a lawful court.
"We note that our client has been in your custody for a period longer than the above. We are therefore humbly applying that you kindly release him on bail pending such a time that you are ready to prefer charges against him, if any.
"We further apply that he be released on his self recognisance or upon any other reasonable and practicable condition that you may in your discretion prescribe."
A customer of Springbank named as debtor by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Arcturus Merchant Trust Limited, said it had repaid what it owed the bank prior to the CBN intervention.
Its lawyer, Mr Erasmus Baderinwa, said yesterday that the debt was repaid in line with the terms of settlement executed by both parties on May 16, 2008, and endorsed by a Lagos State High Court.
Baderinwa exhibited a copy of the terms of settlement and a letter by Springbank dated June 18, 2008, addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Panti, Lagos, acknowledging the settlement of the said debt.
The firm said it had not borrowed any other money since then from the bank, adding that the inclusion of its name on the CBN’s list must have been a mistake.
Contrary to expectation, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday met with some bank debtors at a secret location in Lagos.
The meeting, which was billed for the EFCC Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos office, was moved to the secret location following the debtors’ plea, sources told The Nation.
The debtors, among whom are frontline politicians and eminent industrialists, pleaded for the change in venue to avoid what they called the "prying eyes" of the media.
Besides the debtors, the EFCC operatives quizzed the Financial Controllers and Company Secretaries of Bank PHB, Spring Bank and Equitorial Trust Bank (ETB) yesterday.
It was learnt that upon the receipt of the letters of invitation, the debtors pleaded with EFCC Chairman Mrs. Farida Waziri to protect them from the media.
A source said: "These highly-placed debtors said the coverage of their presence in EFCC’s office by the media was affecting their image and causing them depression.
"They pleaded that they be allowed to appear before the commission in Abuja instead of Lagos. The debtors sought the protection of their privacy.
"But due to logistics, the EFCC insisted that it would meet with them in Lagos but with a change of tactics.
"That was why we moved our operatives to a secret location, in line with the request of the debtors."
The source added: "We took this step because the list of the debtors is already known to the public. We are really not trying to censor the press."
On the outcome of the interaction with the debtors, the source added: "Some of them came to reconcile their accounts. They also made commitments to offset their debts.
"Some of the debtors could not make it. They contacted the commission and rescheduled their visit.
"I think they are scared of the presence of the media because of a likely backlash on their reputation and business."
The source said it was too early to give any debt recovery figure.
The Financial Controllers and Company Secretaries of Bank PHB, Spring Bank and ETB were quizzed at the EFCC Ikoyi office.
Another source said: "We grilled these officials on alleged insider abuse; board decisions; and strange payments made by the banks.
"So, their invitation was part of the probe of the three banks by the EFCC. Some of the Managing Directors arrested have opened up on some decisions taken by their banks. We need to crosscheck relevant documents."
EFCC spokesman Femi Babafemi said: "Yes, we interacted with some of the debtors. They promised to repay their loans."
On the bank officials interrogated, Babafemi said: "It is part of the ongoing investigation in the banks."
Reporters and photographer besieged the EFCC office early yesterday in anticipation of the debtors’ visit.
They arrived as early as 8a.m. and waited until late in the day when they learnt that the debtors would not be coming.
EFCC spokesman in Lagos, Wilson Uwuigiaren, who confirmed the secret meeting, said some of the debtors pledged to repay part of their debts today.
He said others were being expected today as there is no "definite deadline" for payment.
He, however, failed to give the names and number of the debtors.
"We’ve decided to withhold their names with the belief that they will honour their words to begin to repay their debts as from today. Those who did not show up today (yesterday) will do so tomorrow (today)"
Sacked Managing Director of BankPHB Mr. Francis Atuche has applied to the EFCC to grant him bail or charge him to court rather than detaining him perpetually.
Atuche was arrested by the commission’s operatives last Friday and has since been in custody.
In an application for administrative bail delivered to the commission yesterday by one of his lawyers, Dr. Nnamdi Dimgba, Atuche said his continued detention was against constitutional provision.
The application jointly written by three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) – Chief Antony Idigbe, Rickey Tarfa and Chief Adeniyi Akintola – reads:
"We wish to draw your attention to the fact that under our constitution, except in very limited circumstances, which do not apply in this case, no person should be detained for more than 48 hours without either being released on bail or arraigned in a lawful court.
"We note that our client has been in your custody for a period longer than the above. We are therefore humbly applying that you kindly release him on bail pending such a time that you are ready to prefer charges against him, if any.
"We further apply that he be released on his self recognisance or upon any other reasonable and practicable condition that you may in your discretion prescribe."
A customer of Springbank named as debtor by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Arcturus Merchant Trust Limited, said it had repaid what it owed the bank prior to the CBN intervention.
Its lawyer, Mr Erasmus Baderinwa, said yesterday that the debt was repaid in line with the terms of settlement executed by both parties on May 16, 2008, and endorsed by a Lagos State High Court.
Baderinwa exhibited a copy of the terms of settlement and a letter by Springbank dated June 18, 2008, addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Panti, Lagos, acknowledging the settlement of the said debt.
The firm said it had not borrowed any other money since then from the bank, adding that the inclusion of its name on the CBN’s list must have been a mistake.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Return of the evil genius
There are widespread speculations that former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida has his eyes on Aso Rock come 2011 elections. In this report, Deputy Editor Adewale Adeoye examines the chances of the former leader who once ruled the country for eight controversial years
Can former military leader, General Ibrahim Babangida rule Nigeria again.? Probably the answer should be ‘yes’ and ‘no’. In the eyes of the Nigerian law, nothing debars him. But in the court of public opinion, scores of thorns lay his path. This will however depend on what public you belong to, especially in a country where truth has many colours flavoured with ethnicity, individualism, ego and faith. ‘If he contests the next election, we shall mobilize both home and global opinion against him’ the National Publicity Secretary of the Alliance for Democracy, AD, Mr Popoola Ajayi told The Nation.
Recently, Babangida was reported as saying he was ‘still consulting’ as regards 2011 presidential race. Many who have mastered his well known tradition of intrigues are reading meanings to his latest statement. Some see Babangida as a politician who acts like a typical lady in a love tango who would never say "yes" or "no" to a love proposal. When she says ‘No’ she means ‘maybe’ and when she says ‘maybe’ she actually means "Yes I do’. So recently when Babangida reportedly said he was still consulting on the 2011 presidential race, those conversant with his political tradition are anxious to conclude that the former dictator, who ran the country for close to a decade, under his iron fists, actually meant ‘yes, I wlll contest the election.’
In the past, observers say Babangida had said things he would later deny, and had denied things he would later say.
Some analysts think at 69, if his official age is real, the 2011 election seems his best and possibly last chance to seek control of the Nigerian state again. But will he contest the race? If he does, can he breast the tape? The pendulum that swings to his side is the fact that given the current geo-political equation, what seems to have almost become an unwritten constitution among all the political parties is the fact that the North should produce the president in 2011.
Babangida is from the North. But there is a clause, a very significant one. The slot of the north should terminate in 2015 when the baton is expected to go to the South, meaning that the North’s candidate, even if Babangida is one of them, will only have a maximum of four years, yet Babangida has no reputation for handing over whatever he holds so easily without sometimes a messy, if not bloody fight. Again, there are strong indications that President Umaru Yar’Adua, despite unconfirmed reports of his ill health, said to be occasioned by kidney related ailments, is anxious to seek re-election come 2011. Already, a contact committee has been put in place led by some Peoples Democratic Party, PDP chieftains a like Tony Anenih, Iwuanyanwu and many others, are part of the new machinery. Analysts think Babangida’s arithmetic ignores this reality to his own peril. ‘Babangida will come out to contest the 2011 election. He is already oiling his political machinery’, one reliable source hinted The Nation. The source told how Babangida held a ‘political dinner’ with his associates recently in Minna, the Niger-State capital. The source claimed that many former military administrators who served under his government (1985-1993) were gathered. ‘Though Babangida did not expressly disclose his intention, but the attendants participants at the meeting knew his intension was to rule the country again,’ the source claimed.
Other factors might make the race a virgin contest among contending, sometimes mutually inclusive Northern interests. For instance, The Nation gathered that Northern leaders are worried about the floundering fortunes of the Nigerian state, the mounting threats to unity of the country, which the north desperately deserves for obvious economic reasons, and under President Yar’Adua’s, government and the fact that a new person from the North in 2011 will make it easier for the North to toy with elongated rule through the backdoor. ‘The North has never been so vulnerable, would wish Yar’Adua to continue in office, but we are concerned there is the need for a stronger personality to stir the affairs of the state,’ one top PDP member told The Nation saying that the current leadership has failed woefully to manage the seething religious, ethnic and political crisis that continue to threaten the already fragile foundation of the country.
The source said the core-North is worried that if Yar’Adua gets a second chance and midway he fails to push ahead, given possible natural factors, the Vice-President, a Southerner would emerge and that would offer an elongated tenure to the South through the 2015 election. The source said there are concerns about ‘the health of the President.’ There is the thinking among a section in the north The Nation heard last Wednesday that it is better for the zone to produce an alternative candidate in 2011. The source also hinted that such an alternative candidate will give a double edge advantage to the north, chief of which is the possible of such a fresh candidate spending eight years in power, providing an additional four-year term to the North. ‘There is the plan to pick another presidential candidate from the North with a vice president from the Igbo East’ the source hinted.
One Babangida’s aide said the former military president is watching the political calculus for him to take adequate leap. On the other hand however, several factors seem to stand as obstacles to Babangidas possible game plan. Top on the list remains his eight year tyrannical rule which left the country reeling in anguish. He came into power in 1985, exploiting the euphoric anti-human, anti-media rights and the obvious plans to delink from Western dependency, under Gen Mohammadu Buhari, his predecessor. IBB came to power on August 27, 1985 in a bloodless coup which swept away his superiors. There were rumors that before he struck, the army authority had put a search light on his ‘nefarious’ activities and that he would have been retired from the army if not for the coup he staged. Initially, Babangida struck the nation as a liberalizing force when, at the budding state of his regime, he released political prisoners, abrogated the obnoxious anti-press Decree 4 of 1984. He also rose to meet initial admiration based on the self-initiated mystery of his ancestry, leaving many to guess he was Yoruba from Ogbomoso or was both Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani, two domineering ethic blocs in Nigeria. He was latter to denounce the speculation about his root when his government issued official statement that he hails from Bagawatse of the Sulubawa stock in Sokoto, affirming his Fulani ancestry, but that was years after he had stabilized his regime. He also initially selected a cabinet considered by many as fine apart from his populist programs like Directorate for Food, Road and Rural Infrasture DFRRI, Mass Mobilisation for Social and Economic Recovery MAMSER, National Directorate of Employment NDE and the Peoples Bank.
Later Babangida introduced what many considered the worst economic and political systems never witnessed before in the country’s troubled history. He was generally seen as a deceitful leader who mastered the pauperization of his people and ended up enriching himself and his rookies, Ayo Awosode, a strong member of the Nigerian Bar Association in Ibadan told The Nation.
An official of the Movement for the survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, Mr. Patrick Nagbaton told our correspondent that Babangidas second coming ‘will spell doom for Nigeria’ saying that his regime set the tone for the emasculation of the Ogoni People and the entire people of the Niger-Delta.
Leader of the Supreme Egbesu Assembly SEA, Mr. Digifa Warinipre told The Nation that ‘I will be surprised to see any political party listing Babangida as it’s presidential candidate.’
IBB’s government sought and obtained loans from the International Monetary Fund, IMF after a well tailored public debate the conclusion of which he already drew, ab initio. The loan and the consequent introduction of the Structural Adjustment Programme, SAP sent the nation’s economy tumbling down the cliff. Poverty, want, deprivation and hopelessness took the better part of the country. When Babangida came to power in 1985, the value of the naira was 1 to 5 dollars, by the time he left power, the value of the naira had depreciated to 1 to 80 dollars. Unemployment rose in geometric progression, manufacturers closed shops, the commanding height of the economy was privatised and sold to his cronies, millions lost their jobs and societal values pummeled to an all time low and the dignity once associated with the image of Nigeria home and abroad, ebbed.
His human rights records were horrendous.
For instance, despite global outrage, IBBs government took the lives of several senior military officers in 1986, including that of Gen Mamman Vasta who was his best man when he married Mariam. He accused Vatsa of planning to overthrow his government. In 1990, about 78 young soldiers linked to the April 22 1990 putsch were shot dead by his government. Many of those killed claimed innocent. The martial court usually had the defence lawyer and the judge provided by the military. His government deliberately launched an offensive against the university system, attacking ideological lecturers which he accused of revolutionizing the students movement. In one instance, his armed men pounced on Dr Patrick Wilmot who was sent out of the country from the Ahmadu Bello University, ABU. In another instance, his Secret Service agents pounced on Dr Festus Iyayi, then of the University of Benin. Iyayi’s household was thrown into the streets in broad day light.
IBB carried out similar attacks on students and the intelligentsia, a generation of which never completed their education up till today or were compelled to flee the country. Many continue to link the spate of violence and rise in cultism in Nigerian Universities to Babangida. One retired soldier who worked in the espionage department of the Directorate of Military Intelligence, DMI told The Nation that Babangida armed several reactionary students on campus in his bid to emasculate the student movement, the result of which was the mushrooming of armed cult groups. The labour movement also faced direct onslaught from IBB. He did not only ban and unbanned the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, he also imposed administrative cronies.
Critics say under Babangida, corruption, naked abuse of power, opaque system of governance became almost elevated to the level of the directive principle of state policies. On IBB, Dr Timothy Othman of the Manitoba, California, US University wrote: ‘Despite the laudable policies and programs (of IBB), Nigeria went through catastrophic economic collapse. During the IBB era, official corruption expanded dramatically. The cancer consumed every government establishment at all levels impeding sincere execution of developmental projects.’
His iron fist rule was backed by draconian laws that held captive once a vibrant and prosperous nation. Though his supporters describe him as being liberal with everything including cash, but some think that such only epitomized the spendrift nature of his government and the share lack of decency in the utilization of public fund. His enemies insist IBB ruined every sector he believed was opposed to him including his own constituency, the "military": His government survive on the ruins of ethnic cleavages which he helped fuel.
Born in Minna, he had no higher civil education apart from his military training. He joined the army in 1970, at a time of the civil war when the force was largely propelled by the need to unite the country at all cost and not based on any compelling humanitarian ideology. His rise in the army, like many of his contemporaries has little link with any statesmanship achievements but rather propelled by his place of birth, the advantages and pecks associated with his being a potential crony of the Northern oligarchy and the usually noticeable membership of a wing of the military that seems committed to a blind determination to defend a significantly decadent status quo.
But there are those who think that the heinous economic and political harm committed by IBB’s successors, first by Gen Sanni Abacha, whose agents killed political opponents on the streets, hounded the nation to a state of coma, President Olusegun Obasanjo, whose soldiers sacked a whole Odi village, leaving sorrows, tears and blood, and even now with the recent onslaught on the Niger-Delta people, show that IBB’s failings are not extraordinary. ‘If the tunnel look irredeemably dark, then what is special in another blind leading the flock’ a clergy man who does not want to be named told The Nation on Wednesday. But Madam Kudirat Naibi who sells grocery in downtown Lagos took solace in the saying of the common man ‘IBB for president again,? Ha, for this country anything can happen. But, one day one day, monkey go go market, he no go come back.’ Her expression of hope is that one day, the circle of deceitful lordship and cruel manipulation of the Nigerian people may one day be brought to an end. But that remains a wish, a mere wish.
Can former military leader, General Ibrahim Babangida rule Nigeria again.? Probably the answer should be ‘yes’ and ‘no’. In the eyes of the Nigerian law, nothing debars him. But in the court of public opinion, scores of thorns lay his path. This will however depend on what public you belong to, especially in a country where truth has many colours flavoured with ethnicity, individualism, ego and faith. ‘If he contests the next election, we shall mobilize both home and global opinion against him’ the National Publicity Secretary of the Alliance for Democracy, AD, Mr Popoola Ajayi told The Nation.
Recently, Babangida was reported as saying he was ‘still consulting’ as regards 2011 presidential race. Many who have mastered his well known tradition of intrigues are reading meanings to his latest statement. Some see Babangida as a politician who acts like a typical lady in a love tango who would never say "yes" or "no" to a love proposal. When she says ‘No’ she means ‘maybe’ and when she says ‘maybe’ she actually means "Yes I do’. So recently when Babangida reportedly said he was still consulting on the 2011 presidential race, those conversant with his political tradition are anxious to conclude that the former dictator, who ran the country for close to a decade, under his iron fists, actually meant ‘yes, I wlll contest the election.’
In the past, observers say Babangida had said things he would later deny, and had denied things he would later say.
Some analysts think at 69, if his official age is real, the 2011 election seems his best and possibly last chance to seek control of the Nigerian state again. But will he contest the race? If he does, can he breast the tape? The pendulum that swings to his side is the fact that given the current geo-political equation, what seems to have almost become an unwritten constitution among all the political parties is the fact that the North should produce the president in 2011.
Babangida is from the North. But there is a clause, a very significant one. The slot of the north should terminate in 2015 when the baton is expected to go to the South, meaning that the North’s candidate, even if Babangida is one of them, will only have a maximum of four years, yet Babangida has no reputation for handing over whatever he holds so easily without sometimes a messy, if not bloody fight. Again, there are strong indications that President Umaru Yar’Adua, despite unconfirmed reports of his ill health, said to be occasioned by kidney related ailments, is anxious to seek re-election come 2011. Already, a contact committee has been put in place led by some Peoples Democratic Party, PDP chieftains a like Tony Anenih, Iwuanyanwu and many others, are part of the new machinery. Analysts think Babangida’s arithmetic ignores this reality to his own peril. ‘Babangida will come out to contest the 2011 election. He is already oiling his political machinery’, one reliable source hinted The Nation. The source told how Babangida held a ‘political dinner’ with his associates recently in Minna, the Niger-State capital. The source claimed that many former military administrators who served under his government (1985-1993) were gathered. ‘Though Babangida did not expressly disclose his intention, but the attendants participants at the meeting knew his intension was to rule the country again,’ the source claimed.
Other factors might make the race a virgin contest among contending, sometimes mutually inclusive Northern interests. For instance, The Nation gathered that Northern leaders are worried about the floundering fortunes of the Nigerian state, the mounting threats to unity of the country, which the north desperately deserves for obvious economic reasons, and under President Yar’Adua’s, government and the fact that a new person from the North in 2011 will make it easier for the North to toy with elongated rule through the backdoor. ‘The North has never been so vulnerable, would wish Yar’Adua to continue in office, but we are concerned there is the need for a stronger personality to stir the affairs of the state,’ one top PDP member told The Nation saying that the current leadership has failed woefully to manage the seething religious, ethnic and political crisis that continue to threaten the already fragile foundation of the country.
The source said the core-North is worried that if Yar’Adua gets a second chance and midway he fails to push ahead, given possible natural factors, the Vice-President, a Southerner would emerge and that would offer an elongated tenure to the South through the 2015 election. The source said there are concerns about ‘the health of the President.’ There is the thinking among a section in the north The Nation heard last Wednesday that it is better for the zone to produce an alternative candidate in 2011. The source also hinted that such an alternative candidate will give a double edge advantage to the north, chief of which is the possible of such a fresh candidate spending eight years in power, providing an additional four-year term to the North. ‘There is the plan to pick another presidential candidate from the North with a vice president from the Igbo East’ the source hinted.
One Babangida’s aide said the former military president is watching the political calculus for him to take adequate leap. On the other hand however, several factors seem to stand as obstacles to Babangidas possible game plan. Top on the list remains his eight year tyrannical rule which left the country reeling in anguish. He came into power in 1985, exploiting the euphoric anti-human, anti-media rights and the obvious plans to delink from Western dependency, under Gen Mohammadu Buhari, his predecessor. IBB came to power on August 27, 1985 in a bloodless coup which swept away his superiors. There were rumors that before he struck, the army authority had put a search light on his ‘nefarious’ activities and that he would have been retired from the army if not for the coup he staged. Initially, Babangida struck the nation as a liberalizing force when, at the budding state of his regime, he released political prisoners, abrogated the obnoxious anti-press Decree 4 of 1984. He also rose to meet initial admiration based on the self-initiated mystery of his ancestry, leaving many to guess he was Yoruba from Ogbomoso or was both Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani, two domineering ethic blocs in Nigeria. He was latter to denounce the speculation about his root when his government issued official statement that he hails from Bagawatse of the Sulubawa stock in Sokoto, affirming his Fulani ancestry, but that was years after he had stabilized his regime. He also initially selected a cabinet considered by many as fine apart from his populist programs like Directorate for Food, Road and Rural Infrasture DFRRI, Mass Mobilisation for Social and Economic Recovery MAMSER, National Directorate of Employment NDE and the Peoples Bank.
Later Babangida introduced what many considered the worst economic and political systems never witnessed before in the country’s troubled history. He was generally seen as a deceitful leader who mastered the pauperization of his people and ended up enriching himself and his rookies, Ayo Awosode, a strong member of the Nigerian Bar Association in Ibadan told The Nation.
An official of the Movement for the survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, Mr. Patrick Nagbaton told our correspondent that Babangidas second coming ‘will spell doom for Nigeria’ saying that his regime set the tone for the emasculation of the Ogoni People and the entire people of the Niger-Delta.
Leader of the Supreme Egbesu Assembly SEA, Mr. Digifa Warinipre told The Nation that ‘I will be surprised to see any political party listing Babangida as it’s presidential candidate.’
IBB’s government sought and obtained loans from the International Monetary Fund, IMF after a well tailored public debate the conclusion of which he already drew, ab initio. The loan and the consequent introduction of the Structural Adjustment Programme, SAP sent the nation’s economy tumbling down the cliff. Poverty, want, deprivation and hopelessness took the better part of the country. When Babangida came to power in 1985, the value of the naira was 1 to 5 dollars, by the time he left power, the value of the naira had depreciated to 1 to 80 dollars. Unemployment rose in geometric progression, manufacturers closed shops, the commanding height of the economy was privatised and sold to his cronies, millions lost their jobs and societal values pummeled to an all time low and the dignity once associated with the image of Nigeria home and abroad, ebbed.
His human rights records were horrendous.
For instance, despite global outrage, IBBs government took the lives of several senior military officers in 1986, including that of Gen Mamman Vasta who was his best man when he married Mariam. He accused Vatsa of planning to overthrow his government. In 1990, about 78 young soldiers linked to the April 22 1990 putsch were shot dead by his government. Many of those killed claimed innocent. The martial court usually had the defence lawyer and the judge provided by the military. His government deliberately launched an offensive against the university system, attacking ideological lecturers which he accused of revolutionizing the students movement. In one instance, his armed men pounced on Dr Patrick Wilmot who was sent out of the country from the Ahmadu Bello University, ABU. In another instance, his Secret Service agents pounced on Dr Festus Iyayi, then of the University of Benin. Iyayi’s household was thrown into the streets in broad day light.
IBB carried out similar attacks on students and the intelligentsia, a generation of which never completed their education up till today or were compelled to flee the country. Many continue to link the spate of violence and rise in cultism in Nigerian Universities to Babangida. One retired soldier who worked in the espionage department of the Directorate of Military Intelligence, DMI told The Nation that Babangida armed several reactionary students on campus in his bid to emasculate the student movement, the result of which was the mushrooming of armed cult groups. The labour movement also faced direct onslaught from IBB. He did not only ban and unbanned the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, he also imposed administrative cronies.
Critics say under Babangida, corruption, naked abuse of power, opaque system of governance became almost elevated to the level of the directive principle of state policies. On IBB, Dr Timothy Othman of the Manitoba, California, US University wrote: ‘Despite the laudable policies and programs (of IBB), Nigeria went through catastrophic economic collapse. During the IBB era, official corruption expanded dramatically. The cancer consumed every government establishment at all levels impeding sincere execution of developmental projects.’
His iron fist rule was backed by draconian laws that held captive once a vibrant and prosperous nation. Though his supporters describe him as being liberal with everything including cash, but some think that such only epitomized the spendrift nature of his government and the share lack of decency in the utilization of public fund. His enemies insist IBB ruined every sector he believed was opposed to him including his own constituency, the "military": His government survive on the ruins of ethnic cleavages which he helped fuel.
Born in Minna, he had no higher civil education apart from his military training. He joined the army in 1970, at a time of the civil war when the force was largely propelled by the need to unite the country at all cost and not based on any compelling humanitarian ideology. His rise in the army, like many of his contemporaries has little link with any statesmanship achievements but rather propelled by his place of birth, the advantages and pecks associated with his being a potential crony of the Northern oligarchy and the usually noticeable membership of a wing of the military that seems committed to a blind determination to defend a significantly decadent status quo.
But there are those who think that the heinous economic and political harm committed by IBB’s successors, first by Gen Sanni Abacha, whose agents killed political opponents on the streets, hounded the nation to a state of coma, President Olusegun Obasanjo, whose soldiers sacked a whole Odi village, leaving sorrows, tears and blood, and even now with the recent onslaught on the Niger-Delta people, show that IBB’s failings are not extraordinary. ‘If the tunnel look irredeemably dark, then what is special in another blind leading the flock’ a clergy man who does not want to be named told The Nation on Wednesday. But Madam Kudirat Naibi who sells grocery in downtown Lagos took solace in the saying of the common man ‘IBB for president again,? Ha, for this country anything can happen. But, one day one day, monkey go go market, he no go come back.’ Her expression of hope is that one day, the circle of deceitful lordship and cruel manipulation of the Nigerian people may one day be brought to an end. But that remains a wish, a mere wish.
House where Dele Giwa was bombed now hospital
It is an irony of fate that the same building where Dele Giwa, the founding Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch Magazine, was bombed to death 23years old now houses a hospital, reports Sunday Oguntola.
Time was 11.40am. It was a sunny Sunday that October 19, 1986. 1980s Nigeria’s most outspoken journalist, Dele Giwa, was at home having breakfast. Rather than eat on the dinning table, he chose his study, ostensibly to also spend the few minutes reading. On hand was Kayode Soyinka, the then London Bureau chief of the magazine. Giwa’s 19-year-old son, Billy walked in with a parcel in a light brown envelope given to Musa Zibo, the security guard by a 504 car without registration number, which zoomed off after delivery. The parcel had a seal of the Nigerian Coat of Arms with the inscription "From the office of the C—in-C" on one side on the top. Dele Giwa’s name was typewritten on the parcel with an instruction "nobody except the addressee should open it".
Having received similar letters from the presidency, Giwa hurriedly placed the parcel on his lap, after remarking "this must be from Mr. President". No sooner had Giwa opened the parcel that a loud explosion occurred. Within seconds, Dele Giwa’s stomach and thigh had been scattered into pieces. The bombed journalist was rushed to First Foundation Medical centre, Ikeja where he was pronounced dead. The then military government of General Ibrahim Babangida was widely speculated as the brain behind the dastardly act that marked the first assassination via letter bomb in Nigeria. The assassination took place at Dele Giwa’s private residence on 25 Talabi Street, Ikeja.
Last Wednesday, our correspondent went in search of what has become of the building where the assassination took place. Talabi Street, off Adeniyi Jones in Ikeja, is by all means an exclusive estate. No doubt about it that residents must be rich and powerful. A metal bar close to the main gate ensures entry and departure are monitored as well as curtailed. Had this been there 24 years old, maybe the merchants of death that delivered the deadly parcel would have been arrested. After the heavy downpours in the early part of the day, every where was silent as our correspondent exchanged greetings with the two soldiers on guard and made for the estate.
Parents walked in and out of a private school to pick their wards after closing hours immediately after the main gate. Other than them, the estate was deserted. Since the building is situated on house no 25, there was no doubt one had a little way to go. Walking into the sharp bend, it became obvious one was only a few houses away. Keeping an eagle eye on the houses and their numbers, one walked slowly to avoid passing by the targeted building with no notice. Suddenly, house no 23 came into view. Beside it is house no 24 with an unpainted gate, the only one on the street. Where then is House no 25? For the first time in almost five minutes, two persons were seen seated and chatting by the roadside.
With house no 25 missing, it became wise to ask the two middle-aged persons for description. One is in military uniform, meaning he is a security guard. Another is in mufti but also looks every inch a security guard. After exchange of pleasantries and calculated friendly moves, the atmosphere was now suitable to ask for house 25. "25? I don’t know where that is. Why not check further?" the uniformed guy replied. Could it be that the building has been evacuated? It’s been 23 long years. But then, there is no vacant space, confirming the suspicion of evacuation. The house must be somewhere. Why not lead these men into one’s real mission so that they could at least help out?
Forcing a smile, our correspondent asked, "do you know the house where Dele Giwa was bombed on this street? The question finally came intended to be as harmless and as non-threatening as possible. With a trained soldier on the other side, such weighty question, harmlessly as it was meant to sound, was bound to attract curiosity. After few minutes of explanations, the uniformed man pointed, "that is the building". The one-storey building sits on a plot of land. The fresh white paint leaves one in no doubt it has undergone recent renovation. It was hard to know it if it is still residential or not. The frontage has no signpost to indicate otherwise. But then, the design convinces one it has to be used for commercial purpose. If it is now commercial, how come there is no security guard or a signpost around?
To ascertain the true state of things, one approached the building. The sophisticated main door opened and showed an exquisite reception. Before one could take in the beauty of the reception, a unformed, private security guard surfaced. Concerned on how to beat the man to see the right persons, two ladies thankfully showed up. One of them who said she is Gloria finally let out the cat. "We run an hospital here," she stated on what takes place in the building. How come there are no patients, nurses or human movements? "We just moved here. We have our headquarters elsewhere and we are just working here skeletally," she added.
Perhaps sensing she was letting out too much, she suddenly became cold, saying "I cannot tell you any more. You will have to go to our headquarters to get whatever you need". The note of finality in her voice left one in no doubt a brick wall had been created. So, why not proceed to the headquarters of Mother and Child Hospitals on Adeniyi Jones Ikeja for further reactions? Meanwhile, it would be nice to gauge residents of the estate on how it feels to live on the street where unprecedented assassination took place. Being working hours, one had to contend with passers-by and security guards. A guard who said he is Sule simply shrugged and said, "that one no be my wahala". Pressed further, he suddenly switched over to Standard English, "it is nothing really. Thank God, I did not witness it so it does not affect me".
Rose, who was taking her boss’ son home from school, did not know Dele Giwa was assassinated on the street until that afternoon. "Is that so? Eh, I no know at all. That is interesting then". Now that she knows, how would she react to the knowledge? "I go pretend I no hear you. I no want anything to disturb me". With no human beings on sight for further reactions, it was time to visit the headquarters of Mother and Child Hospitals. Sandwiched among other commercial buildings, the hospital was a beehive of activities when our correspondent arrived. Quick introductions earned one a waiting seat for the Medical Director, Dr Olarenwaju.
Told that "a certain Mr. Sunday from The Nation Newspapers is waiting to see you sir" as he emerged from the consulting room, the averagely-built doctor retorted, "Oh, that is interesting. I am also Sunday". Hope of having an extended conversation evaporated when he courteously disclosed that he was going to attend a naming ceremony. "I am a pastor and the father’s business comes first," he informed. But the distance between the reception and the parking lot can be utilised for few comments. He wasn’t indisposed to this, as long as it did not keep him any minute. So, is he aware the building where his hospital’s extension sits was where Dele Giwa was murdered?
After a long thought, he said, "I got to know that recently after I had bought the building". How then does that make him feel? "Well, it is unfortunate; I mean the incident but there is nothing one can do now. The place should have been an historical centre". As if reading one’s mind, he went on, "but that is not the first building where murders had taken place. I mean people die everywhere. People die in houses and people still live there. People die in hospitals and you still save some in that same place. You won’t because of that abandon the building or hospital. So, it is really nothing". But the gracious Dr Olarenwaju had more information about the building before he made for the owner’s seat of his chauffeured-jeep, "I bought it from a company, I think ACA, an accountant firm owned by foreigners. They moved to the Island and were not interested in working around here again. We have been renovating for over a year now".
It is certainly an irony that the same building where Dele Giwa was bombed to death is now a hospital that will save many lives. In other places, maybe it would have been turned to a monument. But Dele Giwa is likely to be satisfied in death that on that same address where he was murdered gruesomely by suspected state agents at 39, has become a place where several lives would be saved from untimely deaths.
Time was 11.40am. It was a sunny Sunday that October 19, 1986. 1980s Nigeria’s most outspoken journalist, Dele Giwa, was at home having breakfast. Rather than eat on the dinning table, he chose his study, ostensibly to also spend the few minutes reading. On hand was Kayode Soyinka, the then London Bureau chief of the magazine. Giwa’s 19-year-old son, Billy walked in with a parcel in a light brown envelope given to Musa Zibo, the security guard by a 504 car without registration number, which zoomed off after delivery. The parcel had a seal of the Nigerian Coat of Arms with the inscription "From the office of the C—in-C" on one side on the top. Dele Giwa’s name was typewritten on the parcel with an instruction "nobody except the addressee should open it".
Having received similar letters from the presidency, Giwa hurriedly placed the parcel on his lap, after remarking "this must be from Mr. President". No sooner had Giwa opened the parcel that a loud explosion occurred. Within seconds, Dele Giwa’s stomach and thigh had been scattered into pieces. The bombed journalist was rushed to First Foundation Medical centre, Ikeja where he was pronounced dead. The then military government of General Ibrahim Babangida was widely speculated as the brain behind the dastardly act that marked the first assassination via letter bomb in Nigeria. The assassination took place at Dele Giwa’s private residence on 25 Talabi Street, Ikeja.
Last Wednesday, our correspondent went in search of what has become of the building where the assassination took place. Talabi Street, off Adeniyi Jones in Ikeja, is by all means an exclusive estate. No doubt about it that residents must be rich and powerful. A metal bar close to the main gate ensures entry and departure are monitored as well as curtailed. Had this been there 24 years old, maybe the merchants of death that delivered the deadly parcel would have been arrested. After the heavy downpours in the early part of the day, every where was silent as our correspondent exchanged greetings with the two soldiers on guard and made for the estate.
Parents walked in and out of a private school to pick their wards after closing hours immediately after the main gate. Other than them, the estate was deserted. Since the building is situated on house no 25, there was no doubt one had a little way to go. Walking into the sharp bend, it became obvious one was only a few houses away. Keeping an eagle eye on the houses and their numbers, one walked slowly to avoid passing by the targeted building with no notice. Suddenly, house no 23 came into view. Beside it is house no 24 with an unpainted gate, the only one on the street. Where then is House no 25? For the first time in almost five minutes, two persons were seen seated and chatting by the roadside.
With house no 25 missing, it became wise to ask the two middle-aged persons for description. One is in military uniform, meaning he is a security guard. Another is in mufti but also looks every inch a security guard. After exchange of pleasantries and calculated friendly moves, the atmosphere was now suitable to ask for house 25. "25? I don’t know where that is. Why not check further?" the uniformed guy replied. Could it be that the building has been evacuated? It’s been 23 long years. But then, there is no vacant space, confirming the suspicion of evacuation. The house must be somewhere. Why not lead these men into one’s real mission so that they could at least help out?
Forcing a smile, our correspondent asked, "do you know the house where Dele Giwa was bombed on this street? The question finally came intended to be as harmless and as non-threatening as possible. With a trained soldier on the other side, such weighty question, harmlessly as it was meant to sound, was bound to attract curiosity. After few minutes of explanations, the uniformed man pointed, "that is the building". The one-storey building sits on a plot of land. The fresh white paint leaves one in no doubt it has undergone recent renovation. It was hard to know it if it is still residential or not. The frontage has no signpost to indicate otherwise. But then, the design convinces one it has to be used for commercial purpose. If it is now commercial, how come there is no security guard or a signpost around?
To ascertain the true state of things, one approached the building. The sophisticated main door opened and showed an exquisite reception. Before one could take in the beauty of the reception, a unformed, private security guard surfaced. Concerned on how to beat the man to see the right persons, two ladies thankfully showed up. One of them who said she is Gloria finally let out the cat. "We run an hospital here," she stated on what takes place in the building. How come there are no patients, nurses or human movements? "We just moved here. We have our headquarters elsewhere and we are just working here skeletally," she added.
Perhaps sensing she was letting out too much, she suddenly became cold, saying "I cannot tell you any more. You will have to go to our headquarters to get whatever you need". The note of finality in her voice left one in no doubt a brick wall had been created. So, why not proceed to the headquarters of Mother and Child Hospitals on Adeniyi Jones Ikeja for further reactions? Meanwhile, it would be nice to gauge residents of the estate on how it feels to live on the street where unprecedented assassination took place. Being working hours, one had to contend with passers-by and security guards. A guard who said he is Sule simply shrugged and said, "that one no be my wahala". Pressed further, he suddenly switched over to Standard English, "it is nothing really. Thank God, I did not witness it so it does not affect me".
Rose, who was taking her boss’ son home from school, did not know Dele Giwa was assassinated on the street until that afternoon. "Is that so? Eh, I no know at all. That is interesting then". Now that she knows, how would she react to the knowledge? "I go pretend I no hear you. I no want anything to disturb me". With no human beings on sight for further reactions, it was time to visit the headquarters of Mother and Child Hospitals. Sandwiched among other commercial buildings, the hospital was a beehive of activities when our correspondent arrived. Quick introductions earned one a waiting seat for the Medical Director, Dr Olarenwaju.
Told that "a certain Mr. Sunday from The Nation Newspapers is waiting to see you sir" as he emerged from the consulting room, the averagely-built doctor retorted, "Oh, that is interesting. I am also Sunday". Hope of having an extended conversation evaporated when he courteously disclosed that he was going to attend a naming ceremony. "I am a pastor and the father’s business comes first," he informed. But the distance between the reception and the parking lot can be utilised for few comments. He wasn’t indisposed to this, as long as it did not keep him any minute. So, is he aware the building where his hospital’s extension sits was where Dele Giwa was murdered?
After a long thought, he said, "I got to know that recently after I had bought the building". How then does that make him feel? "Well, it is unfortunate; I mean the incident but there is nothing one can do now. The place should have been an historical centre". As if reading one’s mind, he went on, "but that is not the first building where murders had taken place. I mean people die everywhere. People die in houses and people still live there. People die in hospitals and you still save some in that same place. You won’t because of that abandon the building or hospital. So, it is really nothing". But the gracious Dr Olarenwaju had more information about the building before he made for the owner’s seat of his chauffeured-jeep, "I bought it from a company, I think ACA, an accountant firm owned by foreigners. They moved to the Island and were not interested in working around here again. We have been renovating for over a year now".
It is certainly an irony that the same building where Dele Giwa was bombed to death is now a hospital that will save many lives. In other places, maybe it would have been turned to a monument. But Dele Giwa is likely to be satisfied in death that on that same address where he was murdered gruesomely by suspected state agents at 39, has become a place where several lives would be saved from untimely deaths.
How Soludo’s CBN got N750m bribe
Fresh facts have emerged how the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN under its former governor, Professor Charles Soludo in 2006 received N750million as graft in the polymer note contract which runs into several billions of naira.
It became clearer yesterday that the controversial N750million bribery scandal, trailing the award of the polymer banknote contracts, actually took place in 2006, when Soludo was the CBN boss.
There had been allegations of shady deals between some CBN officials and Securency International Pty of Australian Reports indicated that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) is already probing alleged N750million offered by Securency to win the contract.
President Umaru Yar'Adua had in company with the new CBN governor, Sanusi launched the new N5, N10 and N50 polymer notes on September 30 at the Presidential Villa.
The circulation of the new bank notes coincided with Nigeria’s 49th Independence Anniversary day celebration.
Investigation by The Nation, however, revealed that although the contract for the printing of N5, N10, N50 notes were awarded in April this year, the bribery scandal involving Securency was perpetrated in 2006.
A reliable source, who knew about the contracts, spoke with our correspondent in confidence last night.
He said: “If you are talking of any bribery, it must have been perpetrated during the initial award of contract for the supply of polymer substrates to Securency in 2006 for the N20 banknote.
“The same template used for the N20 banknote was also applied to N5, N10, and N50 without any fresh bid. It is curious that the CBN officials chose to adopt the same template in November 2008 without fresh bid. The contracts for the printing of 1.915billion of N5, N10, and N50 notes were only awarded in April this year.
“So, the approach adopted by the CBN was suggestive of a conspiracy or an understanding. The bribery scandal predated the award of the contracts in April this year.
"I don’t think the decision to print N5, N10, and N50 notes in polymer was the key thing. The bribery must have been done in 2006. The terms of the deal were only extended to the contracts for N5, N10, and N50 notes.
"To show you that a cabal was at work, not every party was involved in the evaluation process.
"It was a sealed deal because the CBN dictates who prints abroad, what substrates to print on as well as the quantity. The CBN even decides the companies that will clear and do the freight."
A document obtained by The Nation also showed the CBN tender results for banknotes in 2006 where Securency bid for N20 polymer note at Euro 73.475 per 1000 notes including freight charge.
But it was learnt that the cost was later reduced to Euro 59.88 by the CBN when the N20 polymer contract was awarded in 2006.
Others involved in the bid were Global Securency ( Australia ); Gieesecke and Devrient (G &D) of Germany ; De La Rue (the UK ); FC Oberther ( France ) and Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC).
According to findings, the bid was opened on March 27, 2006 and finally concluded by April 4, 2006.
A March 16, 2006 letter from the Director of Currency and Banking Operations of the CBN had invited the five firms for the bid.
After the bid, G&D and NSPMC were awarded contract for the printing of the notes. But Global Securency won the bid for the production of polymer substrates.
On the CBN relationship with Securency, the source added: "There is a memo to show that the apex bank was already in discussion with the Australian firm since 2004.
"So, Securency has been in the system in the last five years. To have their way through, the government was deceived to believe that polymer substrate is cheaper.
"The truth is that polymer substrate is about 1.7 times more than the cost of paper. A survey had also confirmed that polymer lasts four times more than paper note."
It became clearer yesterday that the controversial N750million bribery scandal, trailing the award of the polymer banknote contracts, actually took place in 2006, when Soludo was the CBN boss.
There had been allegations of shady deals between some CBN officials and Securency International Pty of Australian Reports indicated that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) is already probing alleged N750million offered by Securency to win the contract.
President Umaru Yar'Adua had in company with the new CBN governor, Sanusi launched the new N5, N10 and N50 polymer notes on September 30 at the Presidential Villa.
The circulation of the new bank notes coincided with Nigeria’s 49th Independence Anniversary day celebration.
Investigation by The Nation, however, revealed that although the contract for the printing of N5, N10, N50 notes were awarded in April this year, the bribery scandal involving Securency was perpetrated in 2006.
A reliable source, who knew about the contracts, spoke with our correspondent in confidence last night.
He said: “If you are talking of any bribery, it must have been perpetrated during the initial award of contract for the supply of polymer substrates to Securency in 2006 for the N20 banknote.
“The same template used for the N20 banknote was also applied to N5, N10, and N50 without any fresh bid. It is curious that the CBN officials chose to adopt the same template in November 2008 without fresh bid. The contracts for the printing of 1.915billion of N5, N10, and N50 notes were only awarded in April this year.
“So, the approach adopted by the CBN was suggestive of a conspiracy or an understanding. The bribery scandal predated the award of the contracts in April this year.
"I don’t think the decision to print N5, N10, and N50 notes in polymer was the key thing. The bribery must have been done in 2006. The terms of the deal were only extended to the contracts for N5, N10, and N50 notes.
"To show you that a cabal was at work, not every party was involved in the evaluation process.
"It was a sealed deal because the CBN dictates who prints abroad, what substrates to print on as well as the quantity. The CBN even decides the companies that will clear and do the freight."
A document obtained by The Nation also showed the CBN tender results for banknotes in 2006 where Securency bid for N20 polymer note at Euro 73.475 per 1000 notes including freight charge.
But it was learnt that the cost was later reduced to Euro 59.88 by the CBN when the N20 polymer contract was awarded in 2006.
Others involved in the bid were Global Securency ( Australia ); Gieesecke and Devrient (G &D) of Germany ; De La Rue (the UK ); FC Oberther ( France ) and Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC).
According to findings, the bid was opened on March 27, 2006 and finally concluded by April 4, 2006.
A March 16, 2006 letter from the Director of Currency and Banking Operations of the CBN had invited the five firms for the bid.
After the bid, G&D and NSPMC were awarded contract for the printing of the notes. But Global Securency won the bid for the production of polymer substrates.
On the CBN relationship with Securency, the source added: "There is a memo to show that the apex bank was already in discussion with the Australian firm since 2004.
"So, Securency has been in the system in the last five years. To have their way through, the government was deceived to believe that polymer substrate is cheaper.
"The truth is that polymer substrate is about 1.7 times more than the cost of paper. A survey had also confirmed that polymer lasts four times more than paper note."
Friday, October 16, 2009
Nigeria joins UN Security Council (The Nation)
Nigeria ranked among five nations elected yesterday to the prestigious United Nations (UN) Security Council for a two-year tenure, beginning from January 1, next year.
The other countries are Brazil, Gabon, Bosnia and Lebanon.
The election as non-permanent members of the UN’s most powerful organ falls quite short of Nigeria’s crusade for permanent membership under a restructured system of the world body. It nonetheless enhances the country’s relevance in global affairs, and locates her under more intense global scrutiny.
The permanent members under the current system are the five veto-wielding world powers namely the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China.
Agency reports said yesterday that unlike most previous Security Council elections, there were no contested seats this year. As a result, the five countries nominated by regional groups won an easy victory on first ballot in the voting by the 192-member General Assembly.
Even then, Nigeria led the way with 186 votes, according to the results announced by Assembly President Ali Treki. Gabon got 184 votes; Bosnia, 183; Brazil, 182 and Lebanon, 180 votes.
Treki’s announcement of the results reportedly elicited a burst of applause from diplomats at the world body.
The other countries are Brazil, Gabon, Bosnia and Lebanon.
The election as non-permanent members of the UN’s most powerful organ falls quite short of Nigeria’s crusade for permanent membership under a restructured system of the world body. It nonetheless enhances the country’s relevance in global affairs, and locates her under more intense global scrutiny.
The permanent members under the current system are the five veto-wielding world powers namely the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China.
Agency reports said yesterday that unlike most previous Security Council elections, there were no contested seats this year. As a result, the five countries nominated by regional groups won an easy victory on first ballot in the voting by the 192-member General Assembly.
Even then, Nigeria led the way with 186 votes, according to the results announced by Assembly President Ali Treki. Gabon got 184 votes; Bosnia, 183; Brazil, 182 and Lebanon, 180 votes.
Treki’s announcement of the results reportedly elicited a burst of applause from diplomats at the world body.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Land for Sale
A plot of land is available for sale at Ikorodu,along agura road.
Asking Price- 400k
Offer opens- 16-09-09
Closes- 25-09-09
Call Mr. Kayode on 08023915839,07037436395 for more Information.
Cheers
Asking Price- 400k
Offer opens- 16-09-09
Closes- 25-09-09
Call Mr. Kayode on 08023915839,07037436395 for more Information.
Cheers
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