Bode George no longer ex-convict - Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of Nigeria today quashed all charges of corruption earlier leveled against PDP Chieftain and close pal of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Bode George. The Supreme Court Judges headed by Justice Afolabi Fabiyi while passing their verdict said the charges of contract splitting brought against Mr Bode George by the EFCC was unknown to the law at the time he was convicted of the crime. A Lagos high court judge, Justice Joseph Olubunmi Oyewole on Oct 2009 convicted Chief Bode George and 5 others for corruption and diversion of funds totalling N84billion when they served on the board of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA. He was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment and was released Feb 26 2011. So now, he's no longer an ex-convict.

Teenager arraigned in Lagos for stealing N765,000

A teenage boy was arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate court yesterday over allegations of burglary and theft. Saheed Gafar, 19, appeared before the court sitting in Ikeja after he was said to have stolen a cash sum of N765,000. Gafar is being charged with two counts for the offence.

Vanguard reports:

The police prosecutor, Iranus Nnamonu, told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offences sometime in July 2013 at 16, Fadara Street, Ogba in Ikeja area of Lagos. He said Gafar broke and entered into the apartment of one Donatus Onyeagbara and stole N750,000 and tiles worth N10,500, all property of Onyeagbara.

Nnamonu said the offence contravened section 306 and punishable under section 285 of the Criminal Law ii Vol 44 Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011. Earlier, the defendant had pleaded not guilty when the charge was read. However, the magistrate granted him bail in the sum of N200,000, with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case to February 28, 2014.

Man with 3 wives sentenced to death by hanging for impregnating sister

Upper Sharia court in Bauchi has sentenced a 30-
year-old man, Umar Mohammed Kandahar to
death by stoning, for impregnating his younger
sister. The court records, made available to
journalists on Wednesday in Bauchi , showed that
Umar was arraigned before Upper Sharia Court
Unguwar Jaki, by the Bauchi State Shari’ah
Commission, where he was accused of
impregnating his younger sister from the same
father.

Counsel to the Shariah Commission,
Barrister Dayyabu Ayuba, told the court that the
suspect is married with three wives, but forcefully
had sex with his younger sister.

According to
Ayuba, the younger sister was brought to his
house by their father to help take her to school,
but instead, he forced her and had sexual
intercourse with her, when she was 16 years old.

The act resulted in pregnancy and she has already
delivered a baby, contrary to section 136(1) of the
Bauchi State Penal code law 2001. When asked
by the presiding Shariah court judge, the accused
pleaded guilty, but disagreed that he forced her to
have sexual intercourse; instead he maintained
that she accepted to have a sex with him.
The Shariah Court Judge, Musa Barde sentenced
him to death by stoning. Meanwhile, the accused,
has filed an appeal against the judgment before
the Bauchi State Sharia Court of Appeal, arguing
that he did not agree with the judgment. Counsel
to Umar, Barrister Sadiq Abubakar on Wednesday,
filed a motion before Bauchi State High court
number seven, asking for the bail of the accused,
pending the determination of his appeal by the
Sharia Court of appeal.

He told the court that the
accused family suffered because of his detention
since 2011 and asked the court to release him on
bail, to ease the sufferings of his family. The
Presiding Judge, Justice Aliyu Baba Usman, has
fixed Monday, November 25, 2013, for mentioning
of the appeal.

Aviation Minister Fakes Attack On Her Car To Stop Jonathan From Taking Action Against Her

How do you describe a situation that men of the Nigerian police saw a metal object where the Aviation Minister Stella Oduah claimed her car was shot at three times, but they don’t think what they saw is a bullet? That is the ridiculous state of the alleged attack on one of Stella Oduah’s cars in Abuja last weekend.

 It’s funny that Mr Joe Obi, the man who confirmed the purchase of N255m bullet proof cars for Stella, but was asked to keep quiet, is also the one saying the attack is true. “You said you heard that the minister’s car was shot at, right? Of course that is true and it happened last Friday at about 10.30pm.” But the Police is not moved. The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Altienne Daniel, said… 

“The incident was reported to us on Monday at exactly 5.45pm and we are subjecting the metallic object we recovered from the car to ballistic test. I can’t say whether the object is a bullet or not. So I can’t give you any information on it for now.” There has been several efforts to change President Gooodluck Jonathan’s mind and stop him from taking action on the report of the Committee he set up to investigate Stella Oduah. I hear the report is damning!

Tania Omotayo shows off Rolex watch, gift from Wizkid?

Wizkid's girlfriend Tania Omotayo showed off her expensive Rolex watch on instagram last night and made reference to her man. She tweeted - 'He's the best'. If the Rolex is a gift from Wizkid, then dude is really serious. That watch is not less than $18k.

[Music]: Vector- On Fire [Prod. Pheelz]

Lyrical Rap king "VECTOR" is back with another bang...... Click on the link below to download

Download Mp3 Here

#FreshHeat [ New Music ] Chillychillz- somewhere in nigeria

Chigozie oluwaseyi chineke popularly known as Chillychillz (@chillychichillz) is a final year student of Enugu State University (Esut). Of mixed parents, this rap recording artiste has an amazing talent dat will in no time, storm the music industry. Check out his brand new single here “Somewhere in Nigeria” and see what this lyricist entertainer has got to offer.

Download mp3 here

#AnambraElection: I did not rig alone, I was used and dumped – Arrested INEC official confesses

A principal actor in the controversial Anambra governorship election of November 16 has reportedly made sterling revelations to his interrogators in Abuja.

 Mr Okeke Chukwujekwu, the electoral officer in charge of Idemili North local government area of Anambra State, currently in police detention over his role in the electoral saga, was said to have told his police investigators that he was “being used and dumped”. 

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, had, in the heat of the controversies generated by the flawed poll, admitted that the “electoral officer” in Idemili North “messed up” and that he would be handed over to the police for prosecution. Chukwujekwu was moved to Abuja on Sunday, just as INEC said it was conducting a probe into the deliberate sabotage of the governorship election.

 A top official involved in the election confided in LEADERSHIP yesterday that the arrested INEC official had made useful statements even as he was apprehensive that top directors of INEC might be “implicated”. “The way this whole thing is going, it looks as if many heads will roll in INEC because the young man has made useful statements and if what he said is anything to rely upon, it then means that some big names in that commission might fall with him. “At first, he was trying to rationalise his action in that local government area when he was verbally quizzed before the intervention of the police; but, after some time, especially at the point of his detention, he started to cooperate but the cooperation is loaded because he has mentioned some top officials of INEC, especially directors and a PDP chieftain, as those who ‘put him in trouble’. 

Although the source declined to disclose the identities of those involved, he said “preliminary confessions” point to the fact that the bungled election in most LGAs of the state was “packaged by aggrieved politicians in connivance with top INEC officials both in Abuja and Awka” adding: “It was a well-funded package.” “All fingers point to some aggrieved politicians and it was a well-funded package that involved quite a lot of people; that is why the man is saying he has been used and dumped,” he said.

 Meanwhile, Jega has said all enquiries regarding arrests made in the bungled Anambra election should be referred to the police. Jega’s chief press secretary, Kayode Idowu, told LEADERSHIP on the telephone that INEC would not comment on the arrested official who allegedly played a key role in the flawed poll. “One, I cannot say anything on his matter because the police has taken over a larger chunk of the matter; only the police can say something on the role of the man arrested and how far they have gone with their investigation; so you have to contact the police.

 “Again, it will be out of place for me to reel out what the commission intends to do. Mind you, INEC is also carrying out its administrative interrogation on his matter,” he said. 

  INEC does not need court order to cancel tainted 

poll - APC The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused INEC of being economical with the truth by saying only the courts can order the cancellation of last Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra in which about 1.3 million of the 1.7 million registered voters were unable to exercise their franchise. In a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday by its interim national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party reminded INEC that it did not wait for a court order to cancel the National Assembly elections in 2011 when it was obvious that many voters across the country could not vote due to the late arrival or non-delivery of voting materials. 

‘’In announcing the cancellation of the National Assembly election in 2011, INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega said, among others, that it was to ‘maintain the integrity of the elections and retain effective overall control of the process’,’’ it said. APC said the situation in Anambra last Saturday was even more serious because, in addition to the fact that voting materials were either late or not delivered at all, most voters were disenfranchised by an INEC official who apparently tampered with the 2011 voters’ register for the state. 

‘’Therefore, there are more compelling reasons now to cancel the Anambra governorship election than what led to the cancellation and rescheduling of the National Assembly election in 2011, unless of course INEC is still acting out the script handed to it for the ill-fated election,’’ the party said. 

Apologise to Nigerians, HURIWA, TCN tell Jega 

In a related development, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) and the Transparency Center Network (TCN) have asked INEC chairman Prof Attahiru Jega to apologise to Nigerians for the apparent failure and administrative flaws that marred the November 16, 2013, governorship poll in Anambra State. The groups also asked the hierarchy of the electoral body to name, shame and prosecute all the electoral officials that in one way or the other colluded with reactionary political forces to undermine the transparent conduct of the bungled election which was declared inconclusive.

 According to the groups, the bulk of blame and responsibility lies with INEC which is constitutionally empowered to conduct free, fair and transparent elections nationally. The groups stated this in a joint statement signed by the national coordinator of HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, who is also the deputy chief of mission for Transparency Center Network (TCN), an officially accredited election observer to the Anambra election, as well as the national director of media affairs of HURIWA, Miss Zainab Yusuf.

 They noted that the failure of INEC in Anambra is an unfortunate foretaste of what may happen in 2015 unless and except comprehensive reforms are executed in INEC by the National Assembly to make it transparent, accountable, effective and efficient.

#AnambraElection: APGA’s Obiano thanks INEC for providing a level playing ground

The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, candidate Chief Willie Obiano has described last Saturday governorship election as a sign of great things to come to the state. 

Chief Obiano was speaking to journalists at his home town of Aguleri in Anambra East council area yesterday. Chief Obiano said the outcome of the election had confirmed that people of the state could forge a common front and take their destiny in their hands. 

He noted that the electorate had made a strong statement through the decision to vote massively for a candidate of their choice. The APGA candidate said the election was free and fair and thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for providing a conducive environment, and INEC for offering a level playing ground for all political parties as well as security agencies for maintaining law and order. 

He equally thanked the people of the state for their orderly conduct during the election and for giving him massive support and APGA for finding him worthy to fly its flag. Chief Obiano enjoined areas involved in the coming supplementary polls to participate actively and ensure peaceful conclusion of the exercise.

 In the The State Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Elder Chris Elumuno said the socio and cultural organization was satisfied with the conduct of the election as INEC provided a level playing ground for political parties and followed due process and lay down rules in the conduct of the election process. Earlier Elumuno who is also the President General of Nkwelle Ezunaka Town Union, explained that electoral materials arrived early in their areas and every eligible voter had opportunity to exercise their franchise. 

He enjoined those who lost the election to accept the result in good faith as the contest was not a do or die affair as they had no right to call for cancellation when the people of the state have made their choice. A former governor of the State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife said the election was fair, credible and violence-free. He emphasized that nobody should call for cancellation when INEC was already preparing for a supplementary elections to correct whatever hitches perceived. Also speaking, the President General of Association of Town Unions, ASATU, Dr. Innocent Onwubuya said INEC conducted commendable election that reflected the will of the people and enjoined the areas where supplementary election will be conducted to participate actively.

 The Traditional ruler of Nteje, Igwe Renald Odegbo also commended INEC and security agencies for proper conducts of the exercise, while thanking President Goodluck Jonathan for providing a conducive environment for a hitch-free election. Igwe Odegbo noted that the result at hand represent the decision of the people and recorded that those who are calling for cancellation were only trying to smear the image of the State. He also said that some people that planned to rig, but were stopped by the vigilance of security agencies were the people crying foul. Also presenting the stand of 16 political parties, the Chaiman of Congress for Progressive Change ( CPC), Prince Chuba Ikeagwu said they would also back INEC in its proposed supplementary elections for the conclusion of the governorship election to enable INEC declare the result without further delay so that the state could move forward. They commended INEC, security agencies and other stakeholders for conducting a peaceful election without loss of life and destruction of properties in the State. 

The political parties assured that they would give total support to whoever emerged the winner of the election. In his contribution, the State Chairman of KOWA, Evangelist Isaac Omouka said the election was free and fair and there was no ground for the call for cancellation nor resignation of INEC officials. 

Evangelist Onwuka stressed that the collective interest of the state should be placed above every other considerations. Also speaking, the State Chairman of ACD, Mrs. Oby Okafor enjoined INEC to conduct the supplementary election as soon as possible to declare the winner of the election. Speaking in a similar vein, the state Chairman of National Conscience Party (NCP), Sir Peter Okala said everybody should accept and support the outcome of the election as the will and mandate of the people should not be compromised.

INEC refuses to declare APGA’s Obiano winner after clinching majority votes

The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has refused to declare APGA’s Willie Obiano winner of the Anambra gubernatorial election with majority votes of 174,710. 

This was because the total numbers of cancelled votes was more than the difference between the numbers of votes cast for the winner and the runner up of this election according to the State INEC official who read the results at about 6am Monday morning.

 The PDP had 94956 while the APC had 92300. The INEC official however said that there will be a supplementary elections in the areas where election where canceled. 

He also enjoined politicians to give peace a chance. More details soon

Wale and Chipmunk to perform at Ice Prince’s FoZ concert

Grammy award nominated rapper, Wale is set to perform in Nigeria for the first time at Ice Prince’s Fire Of Zamani concert. The big-budget concert is part of activities to commemorate the release of his critically acclaimed second album.

 UK rapper, Chipmunk will be performing at the Fire Of Zamani concert along with Africa’s biggest rapper, MI Abaga. Ice Prince will be hosting this explosive music concert on November 23 2013 at the prestigious Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Fuji Artiste, Pasuma In Murder Mess…

One of Nigeria’s most prominent Fuji musicians, Wasiu Alabi Odetola, popularly known as Pasuma Wonder is currently enmeshed in a murder mess. From all indications, the Fuji veteran who recently celebrated 20 years on stage may be on his way into police net if matters are not well handled. 

Eye witnesses are saying that a member of the convoy of the Fuji star over-ran a teenage fan after Pasuma’s vehicle knocked down the victim on their way from a show at Idimu-Council area of Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State. 

The victim, Bidemi, a 12-year old fan of the ‘Orobokibo’ singer is said to have been lurking around to get a glimpse of the star as he was leaving the St. Augustine Events Hall, Isheri-Idimu where the show took place only to lose his life in the process. ‘Pasuma was trying to avoid the area boys as he was leaving and so he was driving fast and it happened that he knocked the boy down and the vehicle behind him ran over the boy’, an eye witness told NET correspondent. 

Pasuma is said to have been driving in his newly acquired Range Rover Sports and did not bother to slow down to find out what had happened. ‘He sped off without caring’, another eye witness said. But the singer’s minders insist he’s innocent and absolutely unaware of what happened after he left the event venue.

 Those close to Pasuma told NET he wasn’t initially aware of the situation and that the decease may have been hit by a random car coming behind the musician. NET investigations reveal that ‘Paso’, as the singer is fondly called in the streets was trying to avoid the area boys who were desperate to extort him. 

It has become an accepted tradition in the Fuji industry, for Fuji artistes who perform in an area to ‘settle’ the area boys because they form the largest percentage of their fan base. Pasuma according to a few ‘area boys’ who were at the scene of the incident said the self- acclaimed Oganla of Fuji is fond of not ‘settling’ the area boys and it was in this bid to avoid being extorted that led to the untimely death of the teenager. 

‘Paso no dey like to settle. Na because e no wan settle make am drive fast like that’, one of the area boys said. Other sources say he actually tipped fans and some miscreants, but like Oliver Twist, some camps wanted more and the musician sped off after he had had enough.

 Speaking to NET in a telephone conversation, Pasuma’s manager, Afolabi Oyekoya refused to confirm or deny the allegations. He was yet to issue an official statement as at press time, and NET enquiries were left unanswered. The family of the victim could not be reached for comment. 

Our correspondents’ visit to the St. Augustine Events Centre, venue of the show did not yield results as the management refused to comment on the incident. All efforts to get the police officers at Idimu Police Station Area M also proved abortive, as the officers refused to entertain any questions and directed that we referred the inquiry to the office of the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, whose number was switched off at the time. 

Pasuma is not the first celebrity to be involved in a hit and run. Years ago, the current president of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, Ibinabo Fiberesima was arrested and imprisoned for killing a Lagos doctor. Also, last year, singer Terry G was alleged to have been involved in a hit and run situation. It is not clear how the case ended.

Terrible: 4 people die in Kogi after attack on police station

Unidentified gunmen yesterday invaded the area police station at Osara in the Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State. The attack, the motive for which is yet to be identified, left three police officers and one passerby dead. 

 The assailants reportedly used explosives as well as guns during the operation which started at about 10pm.

 The gunmen were said to have shot sporadically to scare all the villagers and the students from the neighbouring polytechnic away before proceeding with their attack.

 Vanguard reports: 

 An eyewitness said some of the villagers scampered into the bush to avoid being victims. The villager who died in the attack was said to be visiting a friend who lives near the police station. He was hit by a stray bullet while running from the gunmen. 

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Romanus Nwaneri, who confirmed the incident said investigation was ongoing on the motive of the attack, stressing that the gunmen were unable to get any weapon from their armory.

Comedian Seyi Law opens multi- million naira lounge in Ikorodu

Popular comedian Seyi Law recently opened a multi-million Naira lounge in Ikorodu called Xcess Lounge and Comedy Bar. It features a restaurant, bar and night club and will be officially launched on Monday November 25th. Congrats to him.

Terrible: How woman kidnapped these TWIN BOYS belonging to her former tenants (PHOTO)

A woman in Abia State has been arrested by police officers attached to the Abayi Division of the state on suspicion of kidnapping. The woman, identified simply as Chioma, allegedly abducted the twin sons of her former tenants, Mr. and Mrs. Okwudili Nwaeze. 

According to reports, Chioma went to the couple’s new home on the pretext of paying them a visit but instead went into the house when no one was looking and took the boys named James and John. 

The Nation reports : 

The Nation gathered that Chioma visited her former tenants’ home to, according to sources, exchange pleasantries with them.“ Mrs. Nwaeze, who was on her way to the bathroom, apparently uncomfortable with the visitor, changed her mind and waited until she (Chioma) left the compound. Mrs. Nwaeze was said to have gone back to the bathroom, leaving her twins (James and John) inside their room, unknown to her that her ex-land lady was still in the compound.

 A source close to the Nwaeze family said: “When she finally returned to their room, the twin babies (James and John) had disappeared. It was at this point that she started to raise alarm. In agony, she began a desperate search for her babies. Neighbours who had seen Chioma carry the babies told Mrs Nwaeze that her ex-tenant had the babies.

 An Afor Ule market trader, Abayi Aba, said nobody suspected that Chioma abducted the babies beacuse she had lived with the children’s parents before the incident. She said Chioma, on getting to Afor Ule junction, flagged down a commercial tricycle driver, who took her and the kids away. 

An unconfirmed report said Chioma had, at the initial contact with the children’s family, demanded a ransom of about N10million, which the family told her they did not have. On how the ex-tenant was apprehended by the police, sources said she was caught by some people selling wares at the Afor Ule market. They spotted her while she was attempting to drop the children on the main road. 

They took her to the Abayi Divisional police station where the Nwaezes had reported that their children were missing. When contacted, the Abia State Police PPRO, Geoffrey Ogbonna, said he was yet to be briefed on the incident. But, a police source at the Abayi Police Division confirmed the incident, adding that the police were still investigating the matter.

Police Kill Two Suspected Armed Robbers As Others Escape With Wounds In Jigawa

The Police in Jigawa on Wednesday killed two suspected armed robbers along the Kano- Ringim highway. 

The state’s Police Commissioner, Mr Theophilus Kayode, made the announcement at a news conference in Dutse. Kayode said that the robbers were gunned down by policemen at about 5 a.m., noting however, that two of the robbers escaped with bullet wounds. 

The commissioner said that two locally-made pistols, an AK 47 riffle and eight live cartridges were recovered from the robbers. According to him, other items recovered from the hoodlums include a Honda car with registration number AG 201 KCH, a hand set and N148,520. Kayode pleaded with the public to help the police with relevant information to get rid of criminals in the society.

I Am Going To Marry Nadia Because My Family Love Her – Jim Iyke

This love is really strong no doubts, I don’t know about you guys but I’m really happy for them, they seem really good enough for each other, it doesn’t matter but they have my blessing. If you are one of those who still habour doubts over Nigerian actor, Jim Iyke’s true intentions for Ghanaian actress, Nadia Buari, then it is time to hold your peace, as the now born again Jim has come out to say that he intends to marry Nadia because his family members love and adore her. 

Jim’s stand has now become necessary as many fans of Nadia, especially in her home country, do not believe that he will marry her in the end, as some see him as a serial heart breaker who has used and dumped many ladies. But the one-time bad boy of Nollywood movies has responded, saying that he has finally come to the point where he knows he must settle down, as he loves Nadia with all his heart. Jim has this to say; “Yes we have discussed marriage. But we are taking it one step at a time.

 I am actually at a point where starting a family is becoming an attractive proposition. Nadia and I have been to Nigeria and my family members love and adore her.”

Our party is the fastest route to Igbo presidency – APC

The South East spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Osita Okechukwu, has described the opposition party as the fastest vehicle for the actualisation of president of Igbo extraction. He stated this during a campaign rally held at Eke in Udi local government area of Enugu State. 

He insisted that under the PDP, it would be practically impossible for Ndigbo to produce the president or vice president in 2015 on the ground that President Goodluck Jonathan is a brother to Ndigbo and they cannot therefore deputise him. “Secondly, for 2019, it will be wishful thinking to wish that PDP will nominate an Igbo; because the rotation-convention is predicated on North versus South.

 “Therefore, a careful analysis of the gazette that APC presents is the fastest vehicle for Ndigbo to become president or vice president in 2015 or 2019”, he stated. Mr Okechukwu advised Ndigbo to vote for APC in local government council elections coming before 2015 and especially vote for Senator Chris Ngige as the governor of Anambra State.

Tragedy: Bridegroom, wedding guests killed by gunmen in Adamawa

A bridegroom, family members and friends were said to be among 30 persons killed yesterday in an attack by insurgents believed to be members of Boko Haram in Michika local government area of Adamawa State. The victims, eye witnesses said, were returning from a wedding Fatiha in Michika town when they ran into an ambush laid by the insurgents. The incident, it was learnt, happened along Bama- Banki -Firgi highway. One of the eye witnesses, a motorist, told our correspondent, in Maiduguri, Borno State capital “ I travelled on Adamawa- Michika – Bama- Maiduguri road. When we reached a place in the Firgi area, we saw many bodies many of which were riddled with bullets while some were covered in blood having been slaughtered beside the road. My passengers advised we should return to Michika, but I told them God was in control”. A source in one of the federal owned hospitals in Maiduguri said: “We have received the bodies of over 30 people suspected to have been killed while coming from a wedding Fatiha as most of them wore same wedding uniforms (Anko in Hausa) on Saturday evening, but we are are yet to ascertain who are those behind such a deadly attack”. Spokesman for the 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Lt. Colonel Mohammed Dole, and the Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP, Gideon Jubrin could not be reached for confirmation of the attack at the time of going to press.

Nigeria: Crises Have Slowed Down Economic Development - Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, lamented that the crises in some parts of the country has slowed down economic development. He stated this while being presented with the 2013 Africa Peace Award from the United Religions Initiatives URI, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. According to the president, internal stability is essential for the development of the country saying that, "there can be no meaningful economic development where people are fighting."

Jonathan said: "Even when countries are fighting at the end of the day they will still come to the dialogue table to resolve. Problems could hardly be resolved through the barrel of the gun. Even if you have the most sophisticated weapon to fight, you will still come to negotiate otherwise you can never live in peace.

"If you go to the Southern part of this country you hear about kidnapping and if you go to the North you have the issue of Boko Haram. For us to develop our country we must all embrace peace. There is no way the government can perform magic when the people are shooting guns, because economic growth and development is in the hands of the private sector."

The President added: "There cannot be economic development without peace. For you to develop economically there must be peace and political stability. So the leadership of African Union and ECOWAS have changed and we believe that we must help ourselves and help our states and govern our states the way it should be governed. If there are crisis we should intervene and that has been helping us significantly."

The president who dedicated the award to Nigerians promised that he will continue to focus on providing the enabling environment in the country for businesses to thrive.

He said: "This award is dedicated to my people and my country Nigeria. We couldn't have been qualified for this award if my people did not encourage me. In Nigeria God has given us that unique privilege to be fairly more robust than some of our African countries and we are one of the African countries that the whole work look up to, to assist in one way or the other. So this award is for Nigeria and not for Goodluck Jonathan.

"We would continue to do our best. For me as an individual, I will continue to play my role in spite of the challenges. Let me use this unique opportunity to call on all Nigerians and all the people of the world to embrace peace. You cannot talk about development when you are fighting," the President emphasised.

The Regional Director of URI, Ambassador Mussie Hailu while presenting the award to the president said it was in recognition of President Jonathan's immense contributions to religious harmony in Nigeria and peace keeping operation under the United Nations.

According to him, "we have been following with great interest the great role the President play in his country, West Africa and Africa as a whole since he took office as President of Nigeria. We commend his leadership qualities in West African sub region in particular as ECOWAS Chairman and also lauded the current transformation agenda of his administration.

25 arrested as ‘Okada’ men fight in court

The Federal High Court in Abeokuta, the Ogun State
capital, was the scene of a violent clash with some
commercial motorcyclists aka “okada” being taken
into custody for causing the fracas.
Police officers in the state arrested a total of 25 of
the bike riders after the clash which reportedly left
dozens of people injured.

The motorcyclists were within the court premises
over a case filed by one of the members of the
Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and
Riders Association (ACOMORAN) claiming that he
was illegally detained by a former chairman of the
association.

Nigerian Eye reports:

The former Secretary of the association,
Lateef Yekini filed the suit challenging his
alleged detention sometime ago by the
association’s Chairman, Alhaji
Shamsudeen Apelogun.

However, shortly after the case was
adjourned by the presiding judge to
December 3, the association’s members
began to fight at the court premises,
leaving the state ACOMORAN Treasurer,
Razaq Sotayo, critically injured.
An eyewitness revealed that the
hoodlums freely used dangerous
weapons, including guns and machetes,
forcing many people in the area to
scamper for safety.

It was gathered that the sporadic gunshots
of the okada men attracted the attention
of security agents from the military,
Police, Department of State Services, DSS
and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence
Corps, NSCDC, who restored normalcy
after some of the fighters were
apprehended.

Confirming the incident, the state Acting
Police Public Relations Officer, Mr.
Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed that no
fewer than 25 suspects had been arrested
in connection with the fracas.
Oyeyemi, an Assistant Superintendent of
Police, said normalcy had already been
restored and that the suspects would face
prosecution.

He said: “Currently, about 25 hoodlums
were arrested and they are undergoing
interrogation. They are going to be
screened. Those who were not part of the
fracas will be definitely released.
“But those who perpetrated the act are
going to be prosecuted at the law court.
Few people sustained injuries, but I
cannot confirm their number at the
moment.

“Our own concern is to bring the situation
under control and make sure those who
perpetrated the act are dealt with
according to the law.”
Meantime, the Apelogun group had
accused the former Secretary of inviting
security agents into the matter.
Apelogun, who spoke with newsmen,
absolved himself from the fracas, saying it
was the former Secretary that mobilised
armed hoodlums from Ibadan and some
neighbouring towns to cause crisis.
He said: “The former secretary was facing
criminal charge at the Magistrate’s Court
over embezzlement. He later sued me for
unlawful detention, even though I’m not a
security agent.

“Today (yesterday), the presiding judge
asked us to bring all our trustees to
court.”

PHOTO : OJB Discharged From Hospital In India, Expected Back In Nigeria Soon

Popular music producer and musician Babatunde
David Okungbowa aka OJB Jezreel has been
discharged two months after he left Nigeria to
India for a kidney transplant. Ojb had a successful
operation, is currently recovering well and sent
out this message to thank Nigerians. Dear fellow
Nigerians, Greetings from far away India! I am
sure this note from me will catch you with a little
surprise.

I have been reading a lot of news about ME being
published on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and
different Blogs by my good friends. I thought I
must take out a quick moment and let you know
that I am officially discharged today from the
hospital, after a successful Kidney Transplantation
Surgery, by God’s Grace. I would like to take this
opportunity to thank all Nigerians for your prayers
and good wishes, without which all this would not
have been possible. I also take this opportunity to
thank my friends, fans and family for all the love,
prayers and good wishes for a Speedy Recovery!!
Be home with you soon……. Thank you once again
sincerely, Your very own OJB Jezreel.

PHOTOS : 2Face Idibia Pays T- Pain A Visit At His Home

Nigerian legend 2Face Idibia today posted pictures
from when he paid a visit to fellow singer T-
Pain’s house in Atlanta, Georgia. The two are
good friends, having worked together on Rainbow
remix, for 2Face’s last album.

“Pornography made me do it” – Boy, 14, who raped 9-year-old girl to death confesses

The death of a nine-year-old girl, which was reportedly caused by continual rape, is being investigated by the police with a 14 year old boy being fingered as the prime suspect. Police investigators in Lagos State have been told how the teenager allegedly had forceful intercourse with the deceased over 5 times which caused injuries and subsequently led to her death. 

 The accused, Onyi Adimabua, is a student in the Ikorodu area of the state and his father is reportedly the proprietor of the school the deceased attended before her death.

 Nigerian Eye reports: Simeon Jigo, the father of the deceased, said his daughter opened up about the rape when she started having medical problems. The 77-year-old man said his daughter died on October 3, 2013. He said, “Up until my daughter’s death, she was a pupil of Fulfilled Greenland School, Ikorodu, and she was in primary three. One day, she came home and started complaining of pains around her vagina, stomach area. 

We rushed her to Ikorodu General Hospital. “A doctor checked her and after conducting some tests on her, told us that my daughter had sustained medical complications due to forced sexual intercourse.

 I was alarmed by this; so, I had a private discussion with my daughter. “She told me that it was her school proprietor’s son, Onyi, that had been raping her. The boy had threatened to kill her if she ever told anyone about it.” The indigene of Ondo State revealed that after initial treatments, he took his daughter to Arogbo in Ondo State to be taken care of but her condition continued to deteriorate. 

 A few days after the troubled father travelled to Ondo State, Onyi, accompanied by his parents, also travelled to Ondo State, to apologise to Jigo’s family. The girl, however, was said to have died that very day. “On getting to the house where my daughter was, we discovered that she was dead. Onyi confessed that he had been raping my daughter prior to her death,’ Jigo said. We learnt that after the girl’s demise, irate youths in the area attempted to lynch the 14-year-old boy. 

The bereaved father was said to have intervened and reported the matter to a nearby police station, where the teenager was held for safe keeping. The next morning, Onyi and his parents travelled back to Lagos. The alleged rapist’s parents, in company with a chief in Ikorodu, reportedly visited Jigo when he returned to Lagos. The group were said to have pleaded that the bereaved father should not pursue the case but he refused.

 Jigo said, “I went to the Ikorodu Police station to report the case but was surprised when the policemen on duty said I should not write any statement. They only told me to write down my telephone number and said they would call me later. “After waiting for many days without any call, I wrote a petition and the matter was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.” It was however learnt that Onyi had been taken to his father’s hometown in Delta State thereby stalling police investigation. The teenager’s parents, however described the incident as the handiwork of the devil. 

 The 14-year-old boy’s father, Andrew Adimabua, said, “I trained that boy in the way of the Lord and expected so much from him. He has confessed to the act; there is nothing to hide. He told me that he learnt about sex by watching blue (pornographic) films. “We are not hiding him and we will cooperate with the police. On the day the little girl died, he was beaten up and made to stay in the rain for hours. As a result, he contracted pneumonia so we sent him home for treatment. When he recovers, he’ll be taken to the police for questioning.

"

 Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the telephone, expressed shock at the development. Braide said Onyi would be re-arrested in the course of investigation. “It is appalling that a teenager could indulge in such act. The matter is under investigation and the culprit will be re- arrested.”

Kanye West planning extravangant wedding with fight jets next year

Kim K's third wedding will be as extravagant as

her second wedding if her fiance Kanye has his

way. Kanye, in a radio interview yesterday with

Power 106's morning radio show, hinted at an

extravagant wedding to take place next summer.

When asked for a hint about his upcoming

wedding, Kanye said;

"Two words: 'fighter jets'" He went further to

explain "Kim knew I was eventually going to

ask her to marry me. I just had to get that

ring right. I worked with four different

jewelers. Three rings were made and only

one hit the ringer and that was Lorraine

Schwartz's. 'I actually changed the ring the

night before. The ring was less than four

hours old when I gave it to her.'

"I wanted to marry that girl from the first

time I saw her,' he said. 'Kim and I are the

perfect balance.''I had to wait through a

bunch of other relationships to finally get the

chance"

ASUU Strike: NMA Expresses Fears over Medical Education, Training

As the effects of the nationwide strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) bit harder across the country, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Sunday in Abuja expressed fears over the strike, stating that it is negatively impacting medical education and training of medical professionals in the country. In a statement made available to THISDAY, NMA observed that the four- month strike had further worsened the education system that was previously under deterioration. In the statement, NMA President, Dr. Osahon Enable, said the association "expresses great worry over the inability to resolve the logjam in the universities occasioned by the lingering issue of ASUU and the federal government." The body explained that, the impasse has continued to hamper the smooth operation of medical training and education in tertiary institutions. "We are deeply concerned with the impact of crisis on the quality of university graduates, including medical graduates, as well as the negative impacts of the deteriorating educational system with a lots of capital flight on account of increasing enrolment of Nigerian students in stable foreign universities." Further, the NMA called on ASUU and the federal government to expedite action in reaching a common ground for settlement, and ensure the implementation of agreements reached. Meanwhile, ahead of the Physicians' Week, the NMA has deplored the contributions of state government to the sustenance of primary healthcare system in the country.

Lagos lawyer sues FG/ASUU over strike

A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr.Daniel Onwe, has dragged the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, before a Federal High Court, Lagos, over violation of the fundamental right to the dignity of person of the affected students, who have been out of school following the union’s strike. The suit, FHC/CS/1360/13, was brought pursuant to Section 46(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, Order II of the Fundamental Human Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009 and Article 5 of The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. 10, LFN, 1990. Onwe is asking the court for a declaration that the indefinite strike leading to the closure of government-owned universities across the country violates the fundamental right to the dignity of person of the affected students guaranteed under Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution. He is seeking for an order directing the Federal Government and ASUU to resolve their differences and forthwith re-open universities, including an order mandating ASUU to call off their ongoing strike action and resume their job of lecturing in the said universities immediately. Hearing on the suit, before Justice Ibrahim Buba, is on November 13.

Massive traffic jam on Niger Bridge leads to death of 2 people

Calamity struck yesterday when a normal
occurrence of a traffic jam resulted in the
unexpected deaths of two bus passengers.
The duo, who are yet to be identified,
reportedly died of exhaustion while
trapped in a traffic gridlock atop the Niger
Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State
The deceased, a little child and a middle-
aged man, had reportedly spent long
uncomfortable hours in the vehicles
conveying them to their destinations and
this resulted in their deaths.

Vanguard reports:

Vanguard sources, however, said that the
deceased whose identities were not
immediately known was a minor who
was coming back with his mother in a
commercial bus from Lagos, while the
second victim, was a trader who travelled
all the way from the North to Onitsha to
sell his goods.

It was learnt that while the small child
died instantly on her mother’s lap at the
Bridge, the business man died minutes
after crossing the bridge to Onitsha from
the North. It was alleged that the child
had cried for a long time due to heat in
the vehicle while waiting to cross the
bridge before the mother eventually
discovered that her child was no longer
breathing.

The bewildered mother was said to have
become hysterical as she burst into tears
running helter-skelter when she
discovered that her child whom she
thought fell asleep was actually dead.

The trader was also said to have boarded
the vehicle from the North and travelled
smoothly until the Asaba end of the
Bridge where they spent several hours
under the scorching heat in an attempt to
cross the Niger Bridge. An eye witness
account said that the victim and other
passengers with him in the vehicle had
already crossed the bridge and was
offloading his goods from the vehicle
when he suddenly slumped and died.

The Federal Government had repeatedly
promised in the last 10 years to build a
second Niger Bridge to ease traffic
congestion on the bridge which is the
gateway from the Lagos and other South-
west states to the South-east and South-
South.

Ain't worried about nothing"-Wizkid tweets as fans failed to showup for his ABJ concert(Photos)

If Wizkid was disappointed about the low
turnout at his highly publicized Wizkid
Live Abuja Invasion concert, he didn't
show it .
The show which held last night  at the
International conference centre, Abuja
was virtually empty as fans only trickled
in around 9 despite the show slated to
start at 5:30pm.He tweeted this morning
"Up! Aint worried abt nothing..on to the
next one…owo n wole wa!(money is
coming in)

Obagoal: Obafemi Martins Welcomes Baby Number 3 From 3rd Baby Mama, Mario Balotelli’s Sister

He scores when he wants, he makes a baby when he
wants! Nigerian footballer, Obafemi Martins has
welcomed his 3rd child with 3rd baby mama, with the
latest mama being Italian striker, Mario Balotelli’s
Younger sister, Abigail Barwuah
The new child was given birth to last weekend in Italy
according to reports making rounds.
Hopefully Martins decides to settle for the latest if
not, then another goal

[Photo] Donjazzy and Media Mogul Dele Momodu at Half of a Yellow Sun movie premiere

Music Producer, Donjazzy was a guest at
the screening of Chimaamanda’s Half of a
Yellow Sun Movie premiere in West End
london yesterday and he was pictured
alongside Dele Momodu.

N 255 m Car Scandal: Minister Stella Oduah Gets 72 hrs To Resign

The heat is on . Nigeria' s most visible
anti- corruption watchdog led by a
former legislator, Hon. Dino Melaye ,
has given Nigeria' s Minister of
Aviation , Stella Oduah 72 hours to
resign from office .

The ultimatum follows revelations that
she arm - twisted a cash -strapped
agency, the NCAA , to purchase two
armored BMW 760 Li cars for her at
highly inflated prices from N96 m to
N255 m .

Date 360.net gathered from a top
source in Abuja that even President
Goodluck Jonathan is shocked at
Stella Oduah' s spending of N255 m for
just two cars but he can ' t do anything
due to some reasons.

Anyway, Dino Melaye said his group
will embark on series of actions to
force President Jonathan to fire Mrs.
Oduah as a minister of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria as well as order
her to return the $1 .6 million to the
Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, which
was forced to buy the cars.
Dino Melaye said the purchase of the
vehicles was done in violation of the
various rules and law guiding such
high- level procurement by
government officials , particularly the
monetiazation policy of federal
government.

First, Dino Melaye said he is heading
to court next Tuesday to force the
EFCC to prosecute the Minister.
On the cost of the vehicles , Melaye
described them as “unconscionable ,”
recalling that the Speaker of House of
Reps also purchased two Armored
Mercedes Benz S- 600 B 7 grade
armored cars a year ago for less than
$800 ,000 .

He also disclosed that he had
requested for quotations from
Germany that show that the vehicles
actually cost less than $ 200 ,000 each.
Even then , he stressed, the Minister
has no right to purchase the vehicles
for her personal use in the first place.
Stella Oduah is the co -chair of
President Jonathan’ s main
presidential campaign team ,
Neighbor- 2- Neighbor hence she may
not be sacked since Jonathan is
known to romance corrupt people
openly.

Date360.net

Police nab fake LUTH doctor

According to a report by Vanguard the Lagos State Police Command on Thursday October 18th paraded a 40-year-old man, Adeyemi Stephen Akintolure (pictured Below), a suspected fake medical doctor, who claimed to be a staff of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, with card No. 13541, identifying him as a surgeon and gynaecologist. He said he is from Ondo State, studied Marketing at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, as a part- time student and graduated in 1997. The fake medical doctor was said to have fraudulently obtained N500,000 from one Joy Umosekhaimhe of 2, Adesanya Close, Ifeko-Gbagada. Akintolure, who said he uses the wife’s car as a mobile clinic, said the money in question was borrowed from Umosekhaimhe, adding “actually, it was not N500,000. It was N260,000 she lent me to use for my brother’s ailment.” According to Akintolure, “I have not treated more than 10 people. I just treat them for malaria and typhoid and I also give injections too because of my experience at Rivic Hospital at Akure.” When asked how he got the identity card, he said he got it from a business centre and that the computer operator signed it for him. He said that he charges between N3,000 and N4,000 per patient, adding that his wife was not aware of his trade. Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ngozi Braide, said she received a petition at the area H Police Command Headquarters, Ogudu, on July 19, that one Adeyemi Stephen Akintolure obtained N500,000 from one Joy Umosekhaimhe. Braide said that a letter was written to LUTH on July 23 to authenticate Akintolure claims of being a staff. She said: “On October 10, LUTH replied that the suspect is not an employee of the hospital and was not issued the identity card. “In view of the revelation, the suspect confessed that he is not a medical doctor, but has been practising for about four years, using his wife’s vehicle as a mobile clinic.” She said his house and vehicle were searched and drugs, injections, syringes and laboratory coat were recovered.

Comedian Saka’s Message To All Single Ladies (Tweet)

Saka, the popular comedian, also has some
thoughts for ladies who are very selective.

What shall it profit a lady to die as a virgin
and still go to hell fire? Dear single ladies,
please be guided.

Vector acquires MAZDA CX9 SUV

Months after falling out out with his
record label and returning the official car
they gave him, one of Naija's hottest
rappers Vector has picked up a new ride.
Vector this week acquired a MAZDA CX9
SUV said to be worth about $45,000. Big
congrats to him.

Veteran actor Pa Kasumu in dire need of N12million for treatment

Nollywood veteran actor Pa Kasumu is
presently fighting for his life as he's
currently battling heart and liver
diseases. He's been in and out of
hospital since 2009 and is in dire need of
N12millon to solve his heath issues. He
told Goldmyne TV:

"Ever since this started, none of my
colleagues have shown up. Only
myself, my son, my sister...just my
family.

Sad! Please if you'd like to make a
donation to him, find the account details
below....

Olukayode Olugbenga Odumosu.
Diamond Bank. 0036059543.

Electricity Workers Threaten Nationwide Blackout If FG Doesn’t End ASUU Strike In 7 Days

Labour activist and General Secretary, National Union
of Electricity Employees, NUEE, Joe Ajaero has given
the Federal Government one week to resolve its
differences with the Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU) or cripple the country with the
mother-of-all-strikes. Ajaero who was speaking during
the opening of a training workshop organized for
labour leaders in Enugu, threatened to ally with other
unions across the country to join ASUU on a solidarity
stike if the impasse persists. Ajaero said government
was being insensitive to the plight of Nigerian
students because the children of the rich are studying
outside the country. He said:
“If ASUU issue is not addressed, we will shut this
country alongside other unions. We will ally with
other unions and make sure that nothing works in
this country. This is not a strike based on demand, it’s
based on agreement. As government, you must
honour your agreement. Here, there’s no social
security, the price of food is high, the same goes for
electricity tariff. We are going to join our children
to stay at home and let them run the system,” he
threatened.

Sunny Okosuns’ family disowns ex-queen, Ethel, says she’s not their father’s daughter

Ethel Okosuns won the Miss Earth Nigeria
pageant in 2005 and is currently the
project director of Exquisite Face of Africa
pageant.

In an interview with Vanguard
just last month, Ethel talked about
growing up as Sunny Okosuns' daughter
and said she still missed her dad...
But the Okosuns family in a statement
exclusively made available to Vanguard
and signed by the singer’s son, Sidney
Ehimare Okosuns disowned Ethel. The
wrote:

"We wish to state categorically that
Ms. Ethel is not our sibling. She is
not the daughter of our father. Our
father had four children: Sidney
Okosuns, Michael Okosuns,
Adesuwa Okosuns and Ebony
Okosuns.

This is not the first time Ms. Ethel
has … used our late father’s image
and likeness as “name dropping” to
achieve whatever affluence she
seeks. She needs to stop identifying
herself as the daughter of the
Ozziddi great musician.

Years ago, Ms. Ethel as a teenager
wondered into our Yaya Abatan home.
Our parents ran a liberal attitude home,
welcoming visitors and strangers to our
sprawling Ogba Estate. Thus, our home
was always busy with people from all
walks of life.

Ms. Ethel walked into our home, pleaded
with my dad that she wanted to sing and
had no other place to live in Lagos. My
parents welcome her to our compound,
offered her unconditional food, shelter
and love. She never left for several years.

The generosity and kindness of providing
her food and shelter does not give her
automatic birth right to the Okosuns.”

“Two houses were demolished” – Boko Haram ammunition storage centre destroyed by troops in Kano

The attempt by Boko Haram insurgents to
once again find a safe haven for operation
in Kano State has been nipped in the bud
by security troops.
Security agents yesterday found a cache of
ammunition in a building suspected to be a
hideout for the members of the terrorist
group in an operation which led to the
death of one man.
The troops embarked on the operation
after receiving a tip-off about the location
of a bomb factory and an alleged plan to
attack innocent citizens during the
approaching Sallah celebrations in the city
which has being enjoying relative peace.

Nigerian Eye reports:

Security agents acted on a tip-off to
launch the attack on Gubduwawa village
in Gezawa Local Government Area where
they discovered a bomb factory.
The two houses involved were
demolished.
The person killed is believed to be the
son of the landlord, who rented the
house to the suspected terrorists.
For about eight hours, guns boomed in
the area as the suspected terrorists and
the operatives fought for supremacy.

The Joint Task Brigade Commander of
the Army 3rd Brigade Command
Headquarters, Brig.-Gen. Illyasu Isah
Abba, along with the Director of DSS in
Kano, Mr. Bassey Eteng, said: “At about
2:00 a.m. on 8 October 2013, a combined
team of the JTF troops and Department of
State Security Services (DSS) personnel
attacked Boko Haram terrorists’ hideouts
at Gunduwawa village in Gezawa council
of Kano State.
“The raid, was conducted following a
lead on intelligence reports; we made no
arrests as the terrorists fled the village as
the JTF troops and DSS personnel
arrived.
“The combined team was also able to
recover weapons, working tools and
materials used for making Improvised
Explosive Devices (IEDs). The weapons
include assault rifle, two AK 58 rifle
magazines with 193 rounds of 5.5mm
ammunition, one AK 47 rifle magazine
with 107 rounds of 7.62mm (Special)
ammunition, bows, and arrows.
“The materials used for making IEDs
found in the buildings raided include 3
primed cylinders of IEDs, one primed
explosive suicide back pack, 18 empty
IED cylinders, 24 detonators, small bags
of fertiliser, IED timers, cortex wires and
three remote control devices.
“Other items recovered include work
tools, five Motorola hand-held radios,
four communicators, six alarm clocks,
two cartons of 9-volt batteries, a scale,
one external hard-drive and one heavy
duty charger/battery.
“These weapons, ammunition and other
heavy dangerous materials were meant
to wreak havoc on Kano during the Eid-
El-Kabir festivities and other festivities
before the end of the year.
“The JTF is aware that the terrorists are
trying to establish some safe havens on
the outskirts of Kano metropolis in order
to resume their nefarious activities
which had been curbed within the city.
“In order to ensure Kano remains a safe
place for all, we are keeping a watchful
eye on the surrounding towns and
settlements through which the terrorists
may use as access into the metropolitan.
“The JTF appreciates the cooperation of
the public in the fight against terrorism
and enjoins all well-meaning citizens to
come forward with relevant information
towards dealing decisively with the
terrorist group. We shall continue to
uphold the confidentiality of our sources
and follow up every information to a
conclusive end,” the Army boss stated.
The Kano DSS Director said the terrorist
group had devised a new trick similar to
that used in the Boston, United States,
suicide-bombing, by carrying explosives
on back-pack bags. He urged the public
to be wary of such tricks.

Monarch unhappy with Ngige’s insistence on holding rally in Onitsha

The Obi of Onitsha, Dr. Alfred Achebe,
the Igwe of Onitsha has expressed
unhappiness with Senator Chris Ngige,
following the insistence of his party, the
All Progressives Congress, APC, to hold
their flag- off campaign on Tuesday in
Onitsha, despite the traditional Ofala
festival being celebrated by the monarch.
The Ofala festival is a yearly celebration in
Onitsha where the monarch of the town
is celebrated, and Igwe Achebe was to
round up the ceremony Tuesday but was
surprised that Ngige took his campaign
flag off to the town to disrupt the event.
While rounding up his Ofala festival
Tuesday, the angry Obi said it was very
disrespectful for a political party, in spite
almost one year notice for the Ofala, to
fix their rally the same day.
He reminded that anyone who
disrespected the land would be hunted by
it, and that such a person should not run
away when the land begins to take
revenge on him.
Earlier he debunked the rumour
in some quarters that he resigned
as the Chairman of Anambra State
Traditional Rulers Council on account of
differences with Gov. Obi, insisting that
having been in the position for over 5
years that it was time for others to serve
too.
He said he enjoyed good and harmonious
relationship with Obi, who accorded him
due respect punctuated by reciprocity.
The monarch said he was behind him in
the support for Anambra North to
produce the next Governor in the spirit of
equity and fairness.
Commenting on the issue, Gov. Obi also
condemned APC rally, expressing surprise
that a true Igbo son, Dr. Chris Ngige
would allow his party to fix rally at
Onitsha the same day the Obi of Onitsha
was performing Ofala festival.

Fresh violence in Benue community leaves one dead

At least one person has been killed in
renewed violence that broke today in
Ogwumogo Community in Agatu Local
Government Area of Benue state.

A reliable source informed DailyPost
Wednesday night that one Adamu Adio in
his mid-fifties, was murdered by some
armed Fulani invaders earlier in the day.

Adio was a farmer and Seriki Muslim (the
Head of Islam faithful) in the community,
The residents are reportedly in
fear, even as they await the
arrival of security operatives.
Our source said the people are now living
in fear of a midnight attack.

“We are ready to defend ourselves.
Nobody will sleep tonight in this
community,” an indigene said.
DailyPost could not reach the Benue
Police PRO as at press time.

Dailypost

Duro Onabule: Trap setting in the struggle for power

By the way, Jonathan, in denying
any agreement to serve for only one
term, dared his opponents to
produce any evidence as proof. On
that score, those who must be most
embarrassed are the Governor of
Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, and
Katsina State Governor, Shema.

President Goodluck Jonathan’s media
chat was more of a minus-plus.
Accordingly, he remains standing with
his future political fate to be decided
by his party’s nomination exercise. All
the same, he opened new areas of
contention. He would not be Goodluck
Jonathan if he did not. Out of the lot,
two are very remarkable.

The first is that he cannot make his
stand known on whether he will
contest the 2015 presidential election
moreso, as he claimed though wrongly,
in compliance with the provisions of
the Electoral Act. The second
contentious point Jonathan made was
the denial of any agreement with
anybody or group, NOT to contest in
2015. At a glance, it may appear that
Jonathan upset all criticisms on the two
points, which is not the case.
It is not correct, as Jonathan claimed,
that he would be violating the
Electoral Act if he declared his
intention to contest the 2015
presidential elections. Specifically, the
act neither limits the timing of
declaration of intent to contest, nor
criminalises declaration of the intent.

The only violation under the Electoral
Act is election campaign if commenced
before three months to the elections, a
stipulation which in itself violates
series of fundamental human rights
under Nigerian constitution. Some of
these are right to assemble, right to
hold and express political views, etc.
Equally, it is a matter of honour and
integrity on any matter of agreement
among associates or contemporaries.

From all indications, the controversy
on whether Jonathan should have
contested the 2011 elections could not
have died down within the PDP
without some sort of agreement. The
only snag might be that in that
particular case,  the agreement was
not documented and if insisted on by
one of the parties to the agreement,
could easily have been  interpreted as
lack of trust in fellow party men.
Unfortunately, that trust emerges
today to have been misplaced.

On the other hand, Jonathan’s
opponents within the PDP have poorly
mishandled their case in basing their
challenge to a determination to return
the presidency to the North. Hence,
the counter punch of Jonathan’s
supporters that their man (quite
rightly) is entitled to two terms of four
years each under the constitution.
Jonathan’s opponents could have,
instead, faulted him for lack of
integrity in dishonouring a
gentleman’s agreement, a stand which
could be pursued to the convention for
the nomination.

By the way, Jonathan, in denying any
agreement to serve for only one term,
dared his opponents to produce any
evidence as proof. On that score, those
who must be most embarrassed are
the Governor of Niger State, Babangida
Aliyu, and Katsina State Governor,
Shema. The challenge to Jonathan to
honour the disputed agreement was
first thrown by Governor Aliyu. From
the least expected quarters, Senator
Kanti Bello came to the defence of
President Jonathan that there was
never such an agreement.
That further widened the row over the
agreement as Governor Shema
impliedly affirmed the existence of the
agreement about which he claimed
Senator Kanti Bello, also from Katsina,
was ignorant. Jonathan has since
turned the table against Governor
Shema by recruiting him for the dog
fight against Rivers State Governor,
Chibuke Amaechi, in the battle for the
leadership of Nigerian Governors
Forum. Sensing defeat by Amaechi,
Katsina’s Shema stepped down for
Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang,
who still lost to Amaechi. Little wonder
that Jonathan is now so frontal  in
challenging anybody, who cares for
the proof of the agreement.
No matter the strong feelings, history
both at home and abroad is on
Goodluck Jonathan’s side. In Nigeria,
in particular, dishonouring agreement
had always been employed as a trap
employed by public figures to have the
edge over rivals.
In 1992, Egyptian veteran diplomat,
Boutros Ghali, was virtually selected
by the United States as the sixth
Secretary-General of the United
Nations, strictly on the condition that
he would serve for only one term of
four years. When the moment came in
1996, Boutros Ghali insisted on
running for a second term. When
reminded on why he changed his mind
against the honourable agreement  to
serve for only one term, Boutros Ghali
responded, “only a fool does not
change his mind.”

That submission may attract Goodluck
Jonathan except that United States
vetoed Boutros Ghali out of office after
only one term as the sixth Secretary-
General of United Nations.
Political trap from which the victim
never escaped the predator. That was
what politicians made of every
seeming gentleman’s agreement. The
1959 pre-independence federal
elections ended in a federal coalition
government between Tafawa Balawa’s
Northern Peoples Congress and
Nnamdi Azikiwe’s NCNC, with Balewa
as Prime Minister and Zik as governor-
general, later president in 1963. The
implications were not obvious until
1964 constitutional crisis over that
year’s federal elections.
It suddenly emerged that unlike
before independence, executive
powers, especially authority over
armed forces rested in the Prime
Minister. So, the President/
Commander-in-Chief, Nnamdi Azikiwe,
was advised by his legal experts,
federal  attorney-general Taslim Elias,
and legal adviser, Dan Ibekwe. The
dispute over the allegedly rigged 1964
federal elections was, therefore,
settled for “a broad-based NATIONAL
government.”

When Balewa submitted his cabinet
list, it was for only a broad-based
government, deliberately excluding
one of the major political parties to
create a schism with its alliance
partner for alleged betrayal. In the
struggle for political power, that might
even be tolerable. Why unite your
opponents with strength against the
next round of a contest?
The initial January 1966 military coup
and the counter-coup of July 1966
were apparent traps. The January
version was touted as a revolution,
which by historical standard is ever
all-consuming.
The revolt was partially consuming, a
justification similarly touted for the
counter-coup six months later. Also
partially, if disproportionately
consuming, the next in the chain of
command, whatever his role or aim
during the bloody events, was trapped
and had to escape aboard a ship to
United Kingdom where he was
announced as Nigeria’ new high
commissioner.
Owing to disturbing uncertainty about
Nigeria’s future and indeed survival, a
reconciliation conference was held at
Aburi, Ghana, presided over by the
military ruler, General Ankrah. The
agreement voluntarily signed by the
two sides turned out to be a trap,
perhaps, unintended but which
nonetheless not only prolonged but
worsened the crisis, leading to the civil
war. Aburi was not honoured.
After the cancellation of the June 12,
1993 elections, naive politicians and
elites openly called on General Sani
Abacha to “save the country” with the
bargain from him that he would, on
assuming office, de-annul the
elections. General Abacha further
ridiculed the elite and politicians by
declaring that “the June 12, 1993
election was a watershed.” Politicians
were encouraged not only to take
appointments as ministers but also to
recommend elite and intellectuals to
fall into the trap.
It was laughable that Nigerians,
desperate for ministerial
appointments, believed General
Abacha would risk his life in a military
coup to hand-over soonest to civilians.
It was no escape for the next five
years.
To appease the South-West for the
largely peaceful but unrelenting
opposition to the cancellation of the
June 12, 1993 elections, retired
General Olusegun Obasanjo was
recruited and imposed on Nigeria by
his political benefactors, General
Ibrahim Babangida, General
Abdulsalami Abubakar and Lt. General
Aliyu Gusau. The understanding was
that Obasanjo would serve one term of
four years, as an elected president.
Obasanjo agreed but it was a trap for
his benefactors.
Obasanjo breached the agreement and
contested second term, which he also
attempted to breach with the futile
third term bid.
On his part, Goodluck Jonathan
presumably agreed with his party and
governor colleagues to contest for one
term. If Jonathan now breaches the
agreement, it is a pattern not only in
Nigeria politics over the years but also
in the Old PDP.
There was this other fact, dating back
to 2010 or shortly before 2011
elections. Media widely reported that
at a National Working Committee (or a
special caucus) meeting of the PDP,
Jonathan was confronted by genuine
doubters and tactfully requested to
commit himself to contesting for only
one term. Jonathan, according to the
same newspaper reports, neither
confirmed nor challenged the request.
Tony Anenih saved the rising tension
by promising that Jonathan would
serve only one term. How far Tony
Anenih’s assurance can be valid or
tenable in the present circumstances is
anybody’s guess.
Given the history and standard
practice in the PDP, everybody
distrusts another. That was the
message the new President Jonathan
sent out in 2010 when he instantly
sacked the then national chairman,
Vincent Ogbulafor, for announcing
that Jonathan  would not contest the
Presidency in 2011.
In the matter of mutual distrust
among PDP members, two dicey
events are worth recalling. The
possibility could then be there that if
Jonathan had agreed to step down in
2011 with a promise (or agreement,
which is never honoured) to be
allowed to contest in 2015, the poor
chap might have been played out.
Equally, if the core PDP had fallen for
President Goodluck Jonathan on his
new mandate in 2011, in the attempt to
amend the constitution to introduce a
single six or seven-year term,
especially on the public assurance that
he, Goodluck Jonathan, would not
contest under the proposed amended
constitutions, he, Jonathan, too would
have trapped the country.
In the PDP, the main expertise is trap-
setting. Accordingly, the lesson for our
public figures is that any such
agreement must be in the hand-
writing of the conceding party and
signed by all the parties involved. It
must also be so worded that the
agreement is legally binding on all the
parties concerned.
Integrity would thereby have been
restored to any undertaking by our
public figures.