NDLEA ARRESTS MAN WITH CANNABIS

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a Malian, Kone Ali with compressed cannabis weighing 4kg. The suspect, a businessman and student at Guangdong University of Technology, China holds dual citizenship of Nigeria and Mali. He was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos while attempting to board a Kenyan Airways flight to China. The cannabis was hidden inside foodstuff like melon, dried bitter leaf and assorted local spices.

The 22-year-old suspect who is studying Chinese language was travelling with a Malian international passport no. B0563273. Preliminary investigation revealed that his Ibo name is Ebuka Onyedigbo and he hails from Okija, Anambra State. Kone Ali has lived in Guangzhou, China since March 2013. He was found with a student identification card of Guangdong University of Technology, China.

NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Mr. Hamza Umar said that the suspect was nabbed while trying to check in his luggage. “The arrest of Kone Ali by NDLEA officers took place at the departure hall of the Lagos Airport when he brought two bags for check. The first bag was searched and no drug was found. While searching the second bag, it was discovered that five compressed parcels of dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis were packed together with foodstuff” Hamza stated.

In his statement, Kone took responsibility for his arrest. “I am a victim of carelessness. My friend in China called me that I should bring a bag containing foodstuff from Nigeria. I had every opportunity to have turned down his request, so I take full responsibility for my actions. A man who identified himself as a Ghanaian brought the bag to me in Lagos. He said that he was instructed by my friend in China to bring the bag. At the screening, the drug was found by NDLEA officers. Now I cannot go back to my school and my parents are angry with me” Kone stated.

Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade said that the suspect has violated the provisions of the NDLEA Act. “It is pertinent to stress the position of the law on unlawful possession and attempt to export illicit drugs. The fact is that drug was found in his bag. Investigation is ongoing and I urge members of the public not to collect bags or items from people when travelling. If they must collect bags, they should insist that the owners must witness the search at the airport” Giade cautioned.

The suspect will soon be charged to court.

 

Man, Wife  in police custody for allegedly killing 12 year -old ward.
By Patience Ogbo


Domestic violence against children is a growing concern in Nigeria.
This follows the arrest on May 27th of a couple over allegation they killed their 12 year-old  ward.
The couple would have gotten away with the alleged  crime but police men attached to the Pen- Cinema police station while on patrol of the area ,   received an anonymous  call that a man Paul Obiefule of No.22, Omitola Street, Agege Lagos and his wife had beaten a boy living with them named Onyedikachi Mbanozo 12years to death.
The  police patrol vehicles moved to the scene and brought the suspects and the deceased to the station for a detailed investigation.
the case is currently under investigation at Pen Cinema Division.

Father kills son for stealing  N1000.

While children were looking forward to Children's Day, a boy identified as  Bright was not  among the children celebrated as his father had  allegedly sent him to an early grave for allegedly stealing N1000.
Police reports said the boy's father allegedly beat the him  with iron belt on his head at their home at No.6, Olarewaju Street, Oregun Ikeja On May 26th .
The boy was rushed to the  Divine Private Hospital at Lawal Street Oregun where he was confirmed dead.
The corpse has been deposited at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Ikeja mortuary for autopsy. The case is now under investigation at State Criminal Investigation Department Yaba.

Boko Haram attacks Nigerian military base, 24 personnel feared killed

Sani Tukur

Published: May 27,2014

The attack occurred on Tuesday evening, a few minutes after 5:00 p.m.
Gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram have attacked a security base in Buni Yadi, the headquarters of Gujba Local Government Area killing 24 officials, residents of the area have said.
The victims include 13 soldiers and 11 police officers, the residents said.
The attack occurred on Tuesday evening, a few minutes after 5:00 p.m.
Residents of the town informed the BBC Hausa service that the attackers came in ten Hilux vans, an armoured tank, and several motorcycles.
The insurgents reportedly told the residents to go back home and stay indoors as their target were the security personnel in the town.
A resident of the town, who refused to be named for security reasons, informed PREMIUM TIMES over the telephone that the attackers also torched some part of the traditional ruler’s residence, and several other buildings.
“They also raided that local government secretariat and burnt most of the vehicles inside the complex,” he said.
The Boko Haram had on February 25 attacked the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, killing about 59 students although the military said 29 male students were killed.
About 24 buildings of the school were also burnt down during the February attack.
When contacted, the Nigerian Army spokesperson, Brigadier General Olajide Layeye, said he was “not aware” of the Tuesday attack.
“I just left my boss few minutes ago and he didn’t mention that,” he said.
The Defence Headquarters spokesperson, Chris Olukolade, a Major General, could not be reached as his telephone number was not unreachable.

Obasanjo initiates contact with Boko Haram to help #BringBackOurGirls

Ini Ekott

Published: May 28,2014

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

A former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has commenced efforts to reach out to the extremist Boko Haram sect, in a series of attempts at negotiating with the sect to free over 250 school girls it abducted more than a month ago from Chibok, in Borno State.
A source close to the former leader told PREMIUM TIMES Tuesday that Mr. Obasanjo has contacted a go-between, who assisted him in his unsuccessful attempt at mediating with the Boko Haram group in 2011.
The go-between, a lawyer, was led by a prominent civil rights activist, Shehu Sani, to meet with Mr. Obasanjo weekend in his Otta farm in an “exploratory” effort, our source said.
Mr. Obasanjo’s 2011 attempt at negotiations with the deadly sect ended on a bloody note with the murder of Babakura Fugu, the man who received him and made effort to establish a link between Boko Haram and the former president.
The effort was reportedly not at the instance of the federal government, officials said at the time.
Mr. Fugu, a brother-in-law of the slain leader of Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf, was shot to death shortly after Mr. Obasanjo’s departure from Maiduguri, Borno State, where he had flown to seek peace talks with the group.
The attack ended one of the best known efforts at reaching out to the deadly sect, which is responsible for thousands of deaths.
Since 2011, the group has killed thousands more, and recently drew the outrage of the international community with the abduction of hundreds of girls from their dormitory in Chibok, Borno State.
After more than a month, the Nigerian military said Monday the locations of the girls have been established. The defence chief, Air Chief Marshal Alex Madeh, however ruled out the use of force to free the girls, citing the risk.
But the Nigerian government has insisted it will not negotiate with Boko Haram, which has asked to trade the abducted girls with detained members of the group.
Government insiders however say the administration is pushing for talks behind the scenes to free the girls. A spokesperson, Mike Omeri, who heads the National Orientation Agency, had also said all options were open to the government.
The source said government’s push is different from the move by Mr. Obasanjo.
He said Mr. Obasanjo is deeply disturbed by the insurgency and has recently come under local and international pressure to act and help free the girls.
Mr. Obasanjo wanted to first ascertain the whereabouts and availability of the lawyer who put him in touch with Mr. Fugu in 2011, and whether he would be willing to help.
Mr. Sani however helped tracked the lawyer down and then travelled with him to Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital for a meeting with Mr. Obasanjo.
Our source said the lawyer promised to help. But Mr. Obasanjo, who planned to brief President Goodluck Jonathan on his moves, requested the intermediary to establish preliminary contact and begin exploratory talks with the sect.
The former president requested the lawyer to provide him with regular feedback so he could brief Mr. Jonathan of his initiative and progress so far made on his return from a London trip.
When contacted Tuesday, Mr. Obasanjo declined comments on the matter. He only said, “What do you want me to do? Do you want me to fold my hands why this insurgency continue? How do you expect me to sleep well when these innocent girls are being held by their abductors?”

CHILDREN ASK "WHEN ARE THE CHIBOK GIRLS COMING BACK?"

Children are appealing to the government and the suspected kidnappers of more then 200 school girls in Borno state Nigeria to being back the girls .

The children made the appeal at the 2014 Children's Day security summit organised by the Security Watch Africa Media in collaboration with the Lagos State police command.

The children from various schools had one question "When are the abducted Cbibok School girls coming back?"

The Inspector General of Police Mohammed Dikko Abubakar who was represented by the Lagos state commissioner of police Mr. Umar Manko however  reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria police Force to protect children.

CP Manko said “ I am attending this children security summit as a representative of the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Dikko Abubakar who is the light of present-day Nigeria police. The IGP takes security of children very seriously and this speech I am presenting today is his speech sent to me from Abuja for this event . The IGP and the Nigeria Police Force is committed to security of our children  both in their schools and when they are at play”

The IGP assured the children that their rights will be protected by the police just as the police will ensure that persons who abuse children will not go scot free. He also assured the children that security agencies are doing their best to bring the abducted Chibo School girls back.

“Children have rights and these rights are not negotiable. They have rights to life, rights to education, and rights to a secured environment where they are loved and nurtured to become good citizens. The unborn child  has to be protected from harm and as law enforcement agents , the police is conversant and  committed to protecting and upholding these rights at all times and that is why we have the human rights desk in all our police formations; children should not open doors to strangers without the consent of their parents , every child should know  his or her parents’ name , phone numbers and address and other security tips they need to know”

Officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service, the National Drug law Enforcement Agency and also took time to speak to the children about security tips.

Mrs Kate Onyechi from the NDLEA charged the children to shun illicit drugs.

“Acts of terrorism are influenced by taking hard drugs and this is why the fight against terrorism also involves the NDLEA checking the abuse of hard drugs in our society. Some of you take stimulant to keep you awake when you are reading for exams but abusing that stimulant by taking excess of it is bad for your health. Do not take alcohol and too much caffeine ;report any adult who is luring you to abuse drugs to the appropriate authority. You should read ahead of you examination so that you do not end up taking stimulant to keep you awake at night” she said

Ishola John , the Zonal Public Relations officer  Zone A Nigeria Immigration service, represented the Comptroller  General Nigeria Immigration Service .

He said the Nigeria Immigration Service is collaborating with other security agencies to check crime against children in the country.

Grace Ama, a Nollywood actress and NDLEA Ambassador, Prince Afam Chibuzor the president of the Nigeria Society of Cinematographers alongside Mr. Wilson Ighodalo the president of the Drug Salvation Foundation,  were present at the event and praised the organizers of the programme.

The children urged the government and other security agencies to check insecurity in the country as well as expedite action to bring back the abducted Chibok school girls.

Ayodeji  Oluwasegun said “I have learnt a lot from this programme. I will go out there to become a security ambassador. I know what to do to keep safe and to avoid taking illicit drugs.”

Favour John said “ The Chibok girls are children and they should be celebrating children’s day but they are in the forest, government said they don’t even know where they are, this is sad, they should ensure that the girls are returned home soon”

The children were also presented with certificate of participation and some of them were named Security Ambassadors.

Boko Haram: Nigerian Police to commence threat analysis on boarding schools

Nnenna Ibeh

Published: May 20,2014

Abubakar Shekau, self aclaimed Boko Harm leader

Mr. Mba said the result of the exercise will help reduce the vulnerability of schools across Nigeria.
The Nigerian Police on Tuesday said it will commence threat analysis and security audit in all boarding schools.
The exercise, which was ordered by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, will help strengthen security network around boarding schools in Nigeria.
Nigeria has hundreds of boarding schools across the country owned by federal and state governments as well as private individuals and organisations.
A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said the outcome of this exercise will greatly assist police authorities and other security agencies in the task of designing security strategies that will help in promoting safety and security in the schools.
The announcement comes days after two male boarding schools in Benue State received threat letters purportedly from members of the Boko Haram sect.
In the letter, the group had threatened to attack the schools on Monday and kidnap some of the students. The Benue police subsequently beefed up security around the schools and other boarding schools in the state; and no such attack occurred.
The announcement by the Nigerian police chief also comes over one month after over 250 girls were abducted by Boko Haram terrorist group Chibok, Borno State.
The girls were abducted from their school dormitory in Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State on April 14.
The girls’ abduction has gained global attention with United States, United Kingdom and other countries offering assistance to Nigeria in an attempt to rescue the girls.
Mr. Mba said the result of the exercise will help reduce the vulnerability of schools across Nigeria.
With this new order, Commissioners of Police are expected to work in conjunction with other security agencies, the state Ministry of Education in Nigeria, the management and staff schools, Parents Teachers Association, PTA, the host communities and other stakeholders to obtain the most reliable intelligence.
Mr. Mba said the police boss also reassured Nigerians that the police along with other security forces will remain committed to their mandate of protecting the lives and property of all citizens, at all places and at all times.

POLICE PARADES FORMER NURTW BOSS FOR ALLEGED ILLEGAL GUN POSSESSION

The Lagos state police command on Tuesday paraded a former chairman of the Oyo State National Union of Road Transport Workers, Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi over allegations of illegal gun possession.

The Lagos State commissioner of Police Mr. Umar Manko while briefing journalists stated that operatives attached to the Special Anti- robbery Squad led by the Officer –in-charge of SARS Aba Kyari arrested Mr. Lamidi at the Olodo area of Ibadan on May 10^th, following confession by an illegal arms dealer Abdulazeez Amao who was arrested with arms hidden in bags of flour.

Mr. Manko said investigations revealed that Mr. Lamidi allegedly bought one AK-47 rifle and one English pistol from Mr. Amao.

The police boss added that after his arrest, the police recovered two magazines and fifty lives ammunition from Mr. Lamidi’s Nissan Quest Space bus.

He said “Sequel to the arrest of a notorious arms dealer Abdulazeez Amao who smuggled AK-rifles from Mali and Burkina Faso to Nigeria on March 10^th, 2014 and the recovery of ten AK 47 rifles, Abdulazeez Amao confessed that one Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi popularly known as Auxiliary, the immediate past chairman of the Oyo state chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers bought one AK-47 rifle and one English pistol for him”Mr. Manko said.

The police boss added that the police are on the trail of one Tirimisiyu Olowoposi whom Mr. Lamidi allegedly confessed he gave his AK47 rifle to.

Mr. Lamidi, however denied the allegation that he was using his gun to commit crime. He stated that he bought the gun for self defense after his eldest  son was killed by his suspected enemies. He also added that his arrest was politically motivated.

“I am a strong PDP member and the Oyo state chapter of ACN( Action Congress of Nigeria) political party set me up with this allegation  because I refused to join them. Yes I am the owner of the pistol. I bought it(gun) N300,000  after gun men invaded my house and killed my first son. I was wounded in that attack but I survived. Since then I decided to get a gun for self defense. I have never used this gun to commit crime. I never gave it out to anybody to use to commit crime. I am being set up by the ACN because I told them I cannot abandon my political party because of money they are offering me. They know that I have huge followers I can convinced to join the ACN so when I refused to join them, they set me up with this allegation just to punish me”

In a related development, the police also paraded nine fake soldiers for alleged impersonation.

President Jonathan’s Cruel And Unusual Punishment Of Federal Pensioners Is More Pain Than Transformation.

Posted: May, 01 2014, 3:05PM

By Dr. Wumi Akintide

I just came back from a 5 week vacation in Nigeria. I went home wearing two caps. I took the vacation to take care of some personal business and to check on the status of my Federal Pensions which were paid from 1986 but stopped in June 2010 because the Pensions Office in Abuja was more concerned now about  the threat posed by a few ghost pensioners. The office has suddenly realized I might have been a ghost worker and they were not going to resume payment until I show my first letter of appointment issued some 51 years ago or produce the gazette announcing that appointment and my last promotion before retirement. Only God can tell how many pensioners like me including those whose entire life depends on that pension have been sent to their graves by our so-called transformational President and his incompetence, the failure of policies and the bureaucratic problems at the Federal Pensions Office in Abuja.
I went home to find out for myself what is really happening at home on the so-called transformation pledge of President Jonathan when he took office raising so much hope of people like me who believed the President was going to make a difference. I was curious to know if the reports I read on the world wide web and the news media are really true or grossly exaggerated. I went there as a a correspondent and regular columnist with the Sahara Reporters of New York and the Chat Afrik News Forum based in Washington, DC and Maryland.
I am talking of a President who swims in an ocean of contradictions. This President has been known to condone the promotion of his first lady to an absentee Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa State to boost her salaries and retirement benefits. His policies on hindsight, have denied millions of current pensioners who are not as lucky as his wife. Here is a President who has spent millions of Naira to bury his adopted mother-in-law and more millions on the wedding of his adopted daughter and several millions as ransom to free up his brother who was recently kidnapped. The President has woefully failed to get to the bottom of pension funds which are being looted under his watch. 234 students were kidnapped by Boko Haram and it has to take a public demonstration of parents and concerned citizens to rescue them.
The Government Jonathan has inherited as President successfully made arrangements to have Nigerian pensioners of British origin paid their pensions right there  in the UK till now following such pensioners’ retirement from Nigeria more than 54 years ago.. This  President has had no qualms denying Nigerian pensioners of their benefits and entitlements using the most stupid excuses. I could speak to these lapses as a Federal pensioner and a one time Head of the Pensions Unit and a one time Secretary for Staff Development under Madam Francesca Yetunde Emanuel as Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Establishments more than 40 years ago.
President Jonathan would tell you he is busy transforming Nigeria but what he would not admit is that Nigeria is worse off today than it has ever been under all of his predecessors in that office. Within a few minutes of my arrival at the Murtala Mohammed air port, I could see very little to nothing has changed in Nigeria. I started sweating profusely as soon as I got out of the aircraft. I got another rude shock as Immigration and Customs officials, Drug Enforcement agents and Aviation and Airline staff pounced on passengers who were therefore compelled to offer bribes and kickbacks in broad day light to just get past their barricades only to meet a crowd of touts and taxi drivers waiting outside the airport.
The airport which is a carbon copy of the Schipol Airport in Amsterdam looks more like a  motor park than an international airport. I took a few pictures on my camcorder not realizing that what I have seen was only a tip of the iceberg. The journey from the air port to my vacation stop at Oko Oba Agege which should normally have taken less than 20 minutes drive took close to 3 hours. I knew right there and then what I call a vacation was really going to be more than I bargained for. When President Jonathan and his loyalists talk of Nigeria, you will think they are talking about a different country when you compare the reality on the ground.
President Jonathan on assumption of office promised he was going to be a transformational President meaning he was going to make a special effect to make a difference. He surely has not delivered on that promise from all I was able to see. Around the time of my arrival in Nigeria, the news was everywhere that Nigeria’s GDP has suddenly risen above that of South Africa arguably the most powerful and the most economic vibrant country in the continent. I actually heard the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo Iwealla addressed a press conference in Abuja in which she gave the credit to  herself and by extension to her President who strongly believes he is going to ride back to power in 2015 based on such empty propaganda and glowing reports of the Nigerian economy. If you believe that crap, you will believe anything. What is so scary in all of this is the President’s state of mind when he is ever so ready to make very false declarations on a transformation agenda that has caused more pains than relief for the silent majority of Nigerians I spoke to or came across.
I would be the first to admit that I could not in 5 weeks see and evaluate and judge every index of progress that the President may have been arrogating to his policies, but there are a few observations that any visitor to Nigeria could not miss. I am basing my assessment on those indicators and the situation at the Federal Pensions Office in Abuja where I visited every day for one week from Monday to Friday from the 6th to the 11th of April.
There are lots of things wrong with Nigeria other the pensions office. The state of national security in Nigeria is nothing to write home about as the Boko Haram bomb blast in Abuja has now confirmed that the Boko Haram insurrection and mayhem are no longer localized to Bornu, Yobe, Adamawa or some isolated parts of the North.
It is fast spreading to the nation’s capital and beyond and our Commander-in-Chief and his so-called powerful military which is known to have performed wonders restoring peace and stability to Liberia, Sierra leone and few of the ECOWAS states is totally helpless in performing the same feat at home under Jonathan’s command. You hear of random kidnap in the South/South and the Southeast and ritual killings in the Southwest. All the President could do is put all the blames on Governors of the affected states while exonerating himself and his Administration so to speak. The dog is supposed to wag its tail but in Nigeria the tail is wagging the dog.

A Nation In Distress; The Urgent Necessity To Impeach This Incompetent Treasury Looting Ruling Class By Jaye Gaskia

Posted: May, 02 2014, 11:05AM

By Jaye Gaskia

Our nation is in state of paralyzing distress as we are pushed further and further to the edge of a cataclysmic precipice, by the bungling incompetence of a congenitally inept light fingered ruling class.
Agents of irrational violence, unperturbed by the spilling of the blood of children let alone fazed by their abduction rampage across the land.
Armed insurgent child molesters and rapists have laid siege to our schools, and converted the learning environment into the butcher’s slab and a place to shop for virgins. And they do this while their civilian cohorts, the political child rapists and child molesters perpetrate and perpetuate actions that further enhance the vulnerability of our children.
And just as any half-baked or would be insurgent can brazenly enter any school, butcher kids at will, and cart away survivors to brutalise in the comfort of their insanity; so also can they now walk into any location across the country and drop bombs and other IEDs at will.
How did we get to this point? Let us ask some very necessary but factual questions? How many vehicles, even if it is luxurious buses will it take to evacuate 234 abducted girls? How much time will be expended on loading the vehicles with the frightened abducted girls; 234 of them? How many hours will such an operation last factoring in the journey to and from the school, the place of abduction? How invisible to the naked eye can a convoy conveying 234 girls along with their abductors, whom we are told numbered in their scores, be? How is it possible that more than 40 of the abducted girls could escape on their own, after several hours and days, and yet the authorities have no inkling of where there abductors might be? How shameless really can this thieving ruling class and its overwhelmed and out maneuvered military and security forces be?
In other climes, by now the intelligence services would be on the hot trail of these perpetrators of evil. With the information from the escaped girls, they would have developed profiles of the abductors, developed even their composite pictures, as well as retraced the steps of the escaped girls to where they made their escape. By now both the school in Chibok and the scenes where the escapes took place would have become finely combed crime scenes, with a wealth of forensic information already yielded.
But alas here we are still surviving on rumours and speculations, still being informed by distraught parents. It is a shame, a very big shame, but unfortunately this ruling class is incapable of feeling shame.
Let us place this alongside the ease with which every manner of criminal can stage armed attacks on military bases at will, and throw bombs at civilians in markets` and bus stops whenever they so desire. This is compounded by the brazenness of the insurgents in striking in the same vicinity and within days as if to underscore their supremacy over the security and armed forces.
Otherwise how on earth could a repeat bomb blast have taken place in less than a three week interval, in the same area, and almost at the same location? What message is being amplified by the insurgents? If the first caught the security forces unawares, then how do you explain a second attack within days, and after Nyanya came under military protection and occupation?
The events of the last few weeks are such that have come to completely lay bare, the gross failure of the security architecture; and along with unmanageable levels of poverty and unemployment in the country [70% poverty rate or 112 million people living in poverty; 24% general unemployment; 54% youth unemployment, or 39 million unemployed youths; 18 million housing deficits, or nearly 90 million living in inhuman habitation]; the manifest inability of the state to ensure according to the constitution, the ‘security and wellbeing of citizens’. Given this inability and incapacity of the state in fulfilling its constitutional obligation to the people, we can draw only one other conclusion. And this is the total and complete failure of the treasury looting class; and hence the urgent necessity for its self abdication, or its forced impeachment by the citizens.
Why is this a failure of the entire ruling class? It is a collective responsibility of the class because they are all implicated regardless of party affiliations not only in the circumstances leading to the impoverishment, misery, and jobless nature of citizens; but also directly in the grooming and arming of idle and disillusioned youths into armed party thugs and the personal armed forces of political Godfathers and Godmothers. For as it is common knowledge from the findings of all the commissions of enquiry into violent clashes in the country; there has been no armed militancy or insurgency, religious or ethnic, which was not originally under the sponsorship and protection of key elements of the ruling class.
If this is thus true, then it follows that the real perpetrators and perpetuators of these forms of violent criminality are members of the ruling class.
And in this specific case of mindless insurgency of BH, the blame for inaction, for incompetence, falls squarely not only on Aso Rock, but also on the various government houses in the affected states; not only on the National Assembly, but also on the State Houses of Assembly, not only on the President, but also on the respective governors, and not only on the ruling PDP but also on the opposition APC. It is why the ruling class bears collective responsibility for the carnage, why it is collectively implicated; and why the resignation of one wing and not the other would be completely fruitless.
It is in this sense that because of the ruling class collective guilt, that it must as a class take responsibility, and self abdicate, or be forced out through the agency of popular collective impeachment of the thieving class by the masses through their Organised Conscious Self Activity.
In the face of the total irresponsibility and failure of the ruling elites, the only option open to us is to once again down the road of the January Uprising, and this time effect the impeachment of the ruling class.

Delta State Bursary Scam Whistleblower Remanded In Prison

Posted: May, 01 2014, 6:05PM

Ambrose Ezeanwani

By SaharaReporters, New York

The Delta State whistleblower, Mr. Ambrose Ezeanwani, is the man known to have exposed the racket in the Delta State Students’ Bursary Scheme. It is a scheme that was allegedly spearheaded by the Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Hope Eghagha.  SaharaReporters has leaned that in spite of blowing the whistle, Ezeanwani has been remanded in prison custody by a Delta State Magistrate Court for an extended stay.
Ezeanwani, 32, is an ex-University of Lagos student. He was arraigned at the Delta State Magistrate Court 1, in Asaba, on Wednesday, April 30th. He was denied bail after pleading ‘Not Guilty’ to a two-count charge brought against him by the state prosecution, led by the counsel representing the Delta State Commissioner of police.
According to the two count charge, it reads in part, “That you, Ezenwani Ambrose ‘M’ on the 24th day of April, 2014, at the Bursary Board, in Asaba, in the Asaba Magistrate Diststrict, did publish false defamatory matters against the National Association Delta State Students (NADESSTU) over a Bursary controversy. That publication you know to be false, or does not exist, and thereby (you are) committed an offence punishable under section 375 of the criminal code law, Cap C21 Vol1 laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006
“That you Ezenwani Ambrose ‘M’ between the month of July 2012, and April 2014, in the aforementioned Magistrate District, did present yourself falsely with (the) intent to defraud, and obtained various sums of money in the thousands of Naira from Members of NADESSTU, University of Lagos and Delsu. (These motions were made) in a pretext to facilitate their bursary allowances which (the) representation you know to be false, or does not believe it to exist, and thereby, committed an offence punishable under section 419 of the criminal code Law CAP. C21 Vol 1 law of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.”
However, Pat Adigwe, counsel to Ambose Ezenwani pleaded with the court to grant bail to her client. Yet that plea was turned down by the presiding judge, in a ruling that lasted less than five minutes.
The judge noted that her decision not to grant bail to the applicant was based on the present prevailing circumstances, where high placed individuals were libeled, and defamed, by what he referred to as “backyard and low quality gutter publications” amongst others, and by the powers conferred on him to express his discretion on the matter in consonance with the provisions of, “section 375 of the criminal code law Cap C21 Vol1 laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006 and section 419 of the criminal code Law CAP. C21, Vol 1 law of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006, “I hereby remand Ambrose Ezenwani in Prison Custody” and the case adjourned till May 9, 2014.
Ambrose Ezenawni, was apprehended  on Wednesday, April 23rd while on his way to the Federal college of education (Technical) Akoka by some men in mufti. They allegedly pulled up in front of him, and attempted to force him into their car and he resisted. He later headed for the police station in Sabo instead, where the men followed him, and asked the police to hand him over, but were refused.
As a way to clear his name from the alleged fraud, the state commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Hope Eghagha, in a statement titled, “DELTA STATE STUDENTS PROTEST NON-PROSECUTION OF BURSARY SCAM IN UNILAG was made available to journalists. It said, “I have been in government, trying to practice what I preached as a critic, by ensuring judicious use of public funds. I have NEVER been involved in fraud, and will never get into fraudulent actions. I have, working in concert with others, and with the approval of our prudent Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, saved Delta State Government millions of Naira by plugging leakages. What Ambrose and his cohorts are spearheading is a backlash against us for being the driving force against years of bursary scam.”
“The first point to be made,” Eghagha went on to say, “is that on assumption of this office as Commissioner for Higher Education in 2009, I was confronted with one sad reality: some funds meant for students never got to them. A cabal within the institutions and others cornered funds meant for students. Along with members of the Scholarship Board headed by Monsignor Buchi Aninye, we took steps to sanitize the process.
That process, so says Eghagha continues to be a challenge, adding, “All staff were transferred and new persons posted to the board from the Civil Service. A new Executive Secretary, was also appointed by the Governor. We introduced online registration so that potential beneficiaries could deal directly with the Scholarship Board. This yielded fruits. Twenty-three thousand fake names were discovered and expunged from the list.
Eghagha’s lengthy statement to reporters didn’t stop there, when he said, “I was surprised that two days after we announced to the world that fake names were found on the bursary list, some students, including Ambrose and his ilk, demonstrated in Asaba, and accused members of the Board of inserting the names. They targeted the Executive Secretary, who is the Chief Executive of the Board. At that time, my name was not mentioned. Suddenly, it is ‘Mr. Hope Eghagha’ that inserted the fake names.
“The following is the breakdown of releases made since 2009,” Eghagha had offered to the media. “In 2009/2010, the approved sum was N514, 706.035.75. Of this, N434, 646,035.75 was expended while savings amounted to N80, 060,000. In 2010/2011, the approved sum was N653, 700,932.29; the sum of N481, 145,432.29 was expended; savings amounted to N172, 555,500. In 2011/2012, the approved sum was N610, 134,868.46; amount expended was N 555,134,868.46. N55, 000,000.00 was saved. “In 2012/2013, the sum of N699, 650,256.50 was approved for the bursary. Payment is on-going. Each year, whatever was saved as a result of plugged leakages were ploughed back into payment for the next year with the approval of the State Executive Council.”
At press time, it is unclear as to what fate Ambrose Ezeanwani is likely to face with this damning accusation of fraud, and libel. His remanding in prison while a hearing is set, is in effect, a set-back to his supporters, and attorneys. The entire affair is baffling while also being played out in a public forum where many in the public realm remain skeptical of claims by officials they are in the clear in a case that remains murky.

Chibok Abduction: Nigeria Military Surrenders Information Management to Borno State Government

Posted: May, 02 2014, 10:05AM

Protesters demanding release of Chibok high school girls abducted by Boko Haram militants

By SaharaReporters, New York

Nigeria’s federal authorities on Monday surrendered to the government of Borno State its information responsibilities concerning the abducted Chibok girls.
In a curious statement, Defence Headquarters spokesman Major General Chris Olukolade, who famously made the false announcement two weeks ago that the girls had been rescued, and then rescinded it, said the Borno government “in whose facility the incident occurred” would now provide the public with regular briefing on the matter.
“Accordingly, security agencies on ground in Borno State will continue to interact and support the State Government officials in their efforts to inform the public on the Chibok incident and progress in the search without any prejudice,” he said.   “The Nigerian Military has always subscribed to the importance of information flow to the public and will continue to sustain this policy in all its internal security operations.”
Borno and two other states have been under emergency rule in the past year, presumably swamped by federal security agencies, and the DHQ statement seemed to stand Nigeria’s constitutional structure on its head.  “The security forces on ground in the state have been directed to coordinate with the State Government and provide them with necessary information on the search for the girls,” the statement said.
It is unclear how federal authorities will handle the supposed search for the girls, while the state government will brief the public about their progress, if any.

EFCC Press Release : N47.1bn Theft: “You Have A Case To Answer”, Court Tells Rogue Banker, Erastus Akingbola

Posted: May, 02 2014, 10:05AM

"Rogue Banker" Erastus Akingbola

By Wilson Uwujaren

Justice Lawal Akapo of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja on Friday, May 2nd, 2014 told a former managing director of defunct Intercontinental Bank, now Access Bank, Mr. Erastus Akingbola and his associate, Mr Bayo Dada, that they have a case to answer and dismissed two separate applications filed by the defendants, seeking to quash the N47.1 billion theft charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for lack of merit.
 In his ruling, Justice Akapo said the duo were charged with stealing, obtaining money by false pretences and receiving stolen property ,which clearly distinguished their case from that of Okey Nwosu, which they alluded to in their defence. The charge against Nwosu, according to the judge, had its roots in capital market transactions.
He noted that the failure of the defendants to produce the charge preferred against Akingbola at the Federal High Court robbed the court of the opportunity of comparing both charges to determine if the new charge was an abuse of court process. Besides, the judge pointed out that the Lagos State High Court had jurisdiction to try offences charged under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.
“The offences as charged are within the purview and competence of the state high court. In the result, I find no merit in the applications and they are hereby dismissed," he said.
Akingbola and Dada had challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the 22-count charge filed against them by the EFCC.  Lead defence counsel, Wole Olanipekun (SAN),   told the court that the alleged offences related to banking operations and capital market issues.
He submitted that only the Federal High Court had the jurisdiction to entertain such matters in line with Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Olanipekun relied on the ruling of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, on November 21, 2013 where it upheld the argument of a former managing director of Finbank, Okey Nwosu, that the Lagos High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the charge preferred against him by the EFCC. He drew similarity between Akingbola and Nwosu’s case and submitted that Akingbola’s trial at the Lagos High Court was an abuse of court process as he was “facing a similar charge before the Federal High Court, Lagos.”
In a similar vein, Professor Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), holding brief for Dada, told the court that, the offence allegedly committed by his client related to buying and selling of shares on behalf of Intercontinental Bank and that, such offences could only be entertained by a Federal High Court.
However, EFCC counsel, Godwin Obla (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the no-case submission filed by Akingbola and Dada, stressing that the two defendants were facing trial for stealing which was different from the charges against Nwosu.
 "If you steal money, whether from Bank, Financial Institution or from an individual, the State High Court has jurisdiction. The jurisdiction is the same for the second defendant (Bayo Dada) who is charged under the Advanced Fee Fraud Act", he said.
Obla further stated that, "the charge against the accused persons is clear, and it is stealing bank money, so let's not massage it".
Justice Akapo adjourned further hearing in the case till June 23, 24 and 25, 2014.
 It would be recalled that, Akingbola and Dada are being prosecuted by the EFCC on a 22- count charge bordering on stealing N47.1 Billion belonging to former Intercontinental Bank (now Access Bank).

Charles Okah Sues Prison Authorities N500 Million

Posted by African Examiner Crime Watch, Featured, Latest News Thursday, May 1st, 2014

Charles Okah, who is currently being detained at Kuje Prison has dragged the prison authorities to court over various acts of inhuman treatments asking the court to award him N500 million as damages from the prison authorities.
The case has been assigned to Justice A.S Adepoju of the FCT High Court No. 31, Kuje and is slated for hearing on 12th of May, 2014.
In the form of Writ of Summon, Okah added the Minister of Interior, The comptroller General of Prisons and the Nigerian Prisons Service as defendants in the suit.
Okah, through his client, Festus Keyamo Chamber is seeking a declaration that the fumigation of his cell while he was inside by the officers of Kuje Prisons, Abuja under the control and authority of the defendants amounted to a breach of his fundamental human right to life and dignity as guaranteed by Sections 33 (1) and 34 (1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
The Keyamo Chamber is also seeking a declaration that the administration on the plaintiff of the drug called Epilim Sodium Viproate, (ESV), primarily used for the ailment of epilepsy, when the plaintiff was not epileptic and had no history of epilepsy, by the officers of Kuje Prisons, Abuja under the control and authority of the defendants, amounted to a breach of the fundamental human right to life and dignity of the plaintiff, as guaranteed by Sections 33 (1)and 34 (1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
It sought a further declaration that the intentional denial of the plaintiff of medication for the treatment of the plaintiff’s hypertension and high blood pressure, by the officers of Kuje Prisons, Abuja under the control and authority of the defendants amounted to a breach of the fundamental human right to life and dignity of the plaintiff, as guaranteed by Sections 33 (1) and 34 (1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
The chamber is seeking an order awarding the sum of N500 million as damages against the defendants, for the actions of the officers of Kuje Prisons, Abuja under the control and authority of the defendants, in breach of the fundamental human right to life and dignity of the plaintiff, as guaranteed by Sections 33 (1) and 34 (1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
It prays for an order mandating the officers of Kuje Prisons, Abuja under the control and authority of the defendants to allow the plaintiff access to proper medication as and when due and also an order restraining the officers of Kuje Prisons, Abuja under the control and authority of the defendants from administering the drug called Epilim Sodium Viproate, (ESV), primarily used for the ailment of epilepsy, and any other harmful drug on the Plaintiff.

May-Day: Police Disperse Protesters In Lagos With Tear Gas

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest News Thursday, May 1st, 2014

Kayode Adelowokan, Lagos

It was a mild drama in Lagos between men of Nigeria Police Force and a group of concerned Nigerians protesting against the abduction of 234 female students writing exams at the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.
The protesters had planned to take off on their march from CMS to Onikan Stadium but were dispersed by a large number of policemen who shot tear gas canisters at them.

Concerned Nigerians protesting against the abduction of 234 female students Thursday in Lagos

African Examiner learnt the protesters did not obtain a permit from the police before embarking on the protest.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, had warned all workers to engage in peaceful rallies and avoid using the Workers Day celebration to disrupt peace of the nation.
Scores of Nigerian women, and a few men, had also protested Wednesday in Abuja to demand the release of over 200 girls kidnapped on April 14 by insurgents believed to be members of the extremist Boko Haram sect.
The women, coordinated by Dr Obi Ezekwesili, Mariam Uwaiz, Saudatu Madi and Hadiza Bala Usman, marched from the Unity Fountain from about 3:30pm, singing to register their anger even as the police guided them to their destination.
They said that the demonstration was to register the agony they are feeling as a result of the abduction of the girls.
Thegroup held up placards with inscriptions like; Rescue Our Children, Please Find Our Daughters, Save Our Sisters, Rescue Our Chibok Girls.
Intermittently, they stopped to address the crowd, insisting that not even the rains can stop them until they get to the National Assembly, where the leadership of the National Assembly also defiled the rains to address them.
The Senate President, David Mark, House of Representatives’ speaker, Aminu Tambuwal and his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, addressed the women.
They stressed that the National Assembly had scheduled a meeting with the president to discuss the issue and assured the women that they would do their best to ensure that the girls would be rescued soon.
Moments later the women returned to the take-off point, where they poured out their anger over what they have been through so far following the abduction of the girls.
Some Nigerian men and concerned fathers, including human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, wonder why the authorities are paying lip service to the welfare and security of the citizens.
This is the second demonstration following the perceived inaction by security agencies
over the abduction and continued detent

Police begin documentation of abducted Chibok girls

City Voice Published: May 2, 2014

The Commissioner of Police in Borno, Lawan Tanko, on Friday appealed to parents whose wards were abducted in Chibok to forward the names and photographs of the girls for documentation.
Tanko, who made the appeal at a news briefing in Maiduguri, said the move followed difficulties in accessing the records of the girls due to the burning down of the school by the abductors.
“We want to appeal to parents of the abducted girls to please come forward with the names and photographs of their wards, so we can come up with a tentative figure of those missing.
“The April 14 attack on the school by suspected insurgents has damaged the entire structure, including the administrative building where records were kept.
“This makes it difficult to get records on the number of girls actually abducted at the school,” he said.
Tanko said available information had revealed that 530 candidates registered at the school for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE).
“Candidates from five areas – Ashigashiya, Izge, Chibok, Waraba A, and Lassa, registered in the school for the SSCE.”
The police commissioner noted also that it was still not clear on the number of girls that were abducted when the insurgents attacked Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno, on April 14.
“At present, there are flying figures on the actual number of the girls abducted.
“About 276 students were allegedly abducted by the insurgents going by claims of the people.
“Out of the number, 53 have regained their freedom, and going by the figure about 223 girls are believed to be in the abductors’ den.
“But we need the parents and guardians to come forward with genuine claims like names and photographs so we can get the actual figure,” the police chief said.

CATERER  ATTEMPTS TO SMUGGLE   CANNABIS HIDDEN IN NOODLES TO BOYFRIEND IN PRISON

A 35-year-old caterer in Lagos will soon be remanded in prison custody for attempting to smuggle cannabis hidden inside noodles to her boyfriend in prison.
Officials at the Kirikiri Prison, Lagos discovered the drug during routine examination of food items brought for inmates. The suspect in her statement said that her detained boyfriend directed her to a woman to collect two cartons of noodles.
The Lagos State commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Aliyu Sule said that the suspect who was transferred to the State command by the prison authority will soon be charged to court. “A 35-year-old single lady, Oyinyechi Ezirim was transferred by the Prison authorities for smuggling cannabis to inmates. The compressed dried weeds concealed inside noodles tested positive for cannabis and weighed 4.1kg. She will soon be charged to court” Aliyu noted.
According to the suspect, “I used to buy noodles for my boyfriend who has been in prison custody for one year. He promised to get married to me and we have been in courtship. Last week, he told me that a former inmate promised to send him two cartons of noodles. He asked me to contact the man on phone. When I did, the man referred me to his wife who gave me the noodles. Unfortunately, when I got to the prison, twenty packs of the noodles were found to contain hemp. That was how I found myself in this case”. Oyinyechi who hails from Imo State is a graduate of Imo School of Catering.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade while commending the Prison authority said that the case will be thoroughly investigated. “I commend the Prison authority for the arrest and prompt transfer of the suspect for prosecution. This case will be properly investigated. We shall get to its root and arrest other persons involved in the criminal act. Members of the public must be careful in their dealings and avoid getting involved in drug trafficking” Giade stated.

Police Recover Head Of Beheaded Boy;Arrest 4 For Killing "Mad Man"

The Ogun State Police command has recovered the head of the 2 year old boy that was beheaded recently at Ofada ,Mowe area, in Obafemi Owode Local Government of Ogun State.The boy was beheaded at Ofada area Owode Egba on 12th of April by one Mamodu Bashir Ibrahim, who fled the scene immediately he perpetrated the evil act before he was later arrested at Mowe on 16th April by the police detectives attached to the Department of Criminal Investigation Eleweran Abeokuta with the help of community members in the area.The suspect took the investigation team to Mokola area of Ibadan Oyo State where the head was recovered in a bag in the bush on Tuesday 22nd April. He has confessed to the crime but still keeping some information to himself as to those who sent him to get the "commodity".The commissioner of police Ogun State CP Ikemefuna Okoye has however directed the detectives to intensify efforts to uncover the buyers and those who engaged in such dirty deals in our society.In a related development,the Police operatives attached to Adatan Division of the command , led by the Divisional Police Officer, have arrested 4 suspects in connection to the killing of a suspected person of unsound mind known as Kazeem Akindele, 35 years of No 1, Onikola Street Iberekodo Abeokuta, on Tuesday 22nd April about 1800hrs at Kugba area Abeokuta for allegedly attempting to kidnap a lady of 19 year old.The deceased was attacked by the suspects and other angry youths in the area who are at large presently; the commissioner of police had ordered for the arrest of the fleeing suspects who embarked on that jungle justice that led to the death of the mad man.The suspects arrested include Fausat Ogunbiyi,f, Mariam yahaya,f, BlessingJoseph,m, and Nurudeen Adebayo,m.These suspects will be charged to court as soon as the command concludes its investigation.The commissioner of police ogun state CP Ikemefuna Okoye has further directed that anyone caught in the act of jungle justice or attempting to do so be arrested and prosecuted accordingly as the police will not in anyway to