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?
Thursday, October 29, 2009
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!"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)