FRAUD: EFCC arrests man for cloning FCT Minister, Fashola’s wife, Okonjo-Iweala’s Facebook accounts

ABUJA — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested a Lagos State University graduate for cloning the Facebook accounts of prominent Nigerians and using same to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.

Before his arrest, yesterday, Anthony Ezechukwu, 38, had successfully used the names of Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala;  wives of Lagos State Governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola, Federal Capital Territory Minister, Aisha Bala Mohammed and the Director of the Abuja Geographical Information Systems, AGIS, Jamilah Tangaza to transact his illegal business and smile to the bank.

According to EFCC, Ezechukwu went on to solicit for various forms of business and assistance that fetched him hundreds of thousands of Naira after cloning the accounts of the prominent Nigerians.

Armed SSS Operatives Storm El-Rufai’s Abuja Home

By Premium Times
Armed operatives of the Department of State Security Service  are currently at the Abuja  residence of a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir El-Rufai, trying to force their way in to arrest the former minister, Mr. El-Rufai has told PREMIUM TIMES.

The operatives did not produce any arrest warrant, the former minister said.

Mr. El-Rufai is currently not at home but he said he would rush back home after picking his children from school.

The SSS had on Thursday invited Mr. El-Rufai,  the Deputy National Secretary of the opposition All Progressives Congress [APC] in connection with a statement credited to him that there might be violence if the 2015 general elections were not free and fair.

Nigeria Customs Service indicts Okonjo-Iweala, says import waivers massively abused under her

The Customs says under the waiver regime supervised by  Okonjo-Iweala, more than 65 percent of  incentives on export were for  questionable goods 
In the last three years, Nigeria lost a staggering N1.4 trillion on import waivers – not N171 billion as claimed by finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala — and lost hundreds of billions of naira more as authorities recklessly grant import/export incentives on unapproved goods from rice to fish to kolanuts, with no significant bearing on the economy, the Nigeria Customs Service has said in a new document seen by PREMIUM TIMES.
Comparing the government’s export grant to the well-abused fuel subsidy, the Customs said more than 65 percent of beneficiaries received the grant for goods not approved by the government, which ordinarily should be limited to raw materials, machinery and spare parts.
Recipients of the export grant hold an instrument called Negotiable Duty Credit Certificate, NDCC, which they use in the payment of import and excise duties.
A new memo signed by the Minister of State of Finance, Yerima Ngama, and dated December 11, 2013, now says the federal  government has expanded the scope of the NDCC to cover “other goods,” a decision, Mr. Ngama said was reached by the Federal Executive Council, FEC.
Warning of possible further abuse than already recorded, the Customs service spoke of being “apprehensive” about the purported directive and said it was yet to see the original approval by FEC.
“If the ‘other goods’ are those that can contribute to the growth of the economy, the Service will have no quarrel. But when ‘other goods’ are in most cases those that will not contribute to the economy, the Service becomes apprehensive,” the Customs said in the document that highlights abuse in the administration of waivers.

SSS invites El-Rufai over alleged provocative remarks

The former Minister El-Rufai reportedly declines invitation
The Department of State Security Service, SSS, on Thursday invited the Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Nasir El-Rufai.
Although the reason for the invitation was not clear, PREMIUM TIMES learnt it was in connection with a statement credited to Mr. El-Rufai that there might be violence if the 2015 general elections were not free and fair.
While speaking at the Transformed to Transform, T2T Nigeria, Conference and Career Fair, a leadership and empowerment initiative for the National Youth Service Corps members in Abuja on Wednesday, the APC deputy secretary said the elections could be marred by riots and other forms of violence that might lead to loss of lives and properties unless the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the security agencies ensured they were free.

Nigerian governors lament yet another cancellation of Economic Council meeting

Governors say urgent issues need to be discussed
Nigeria’s state governors have lamented the continued cancellation of the National Economic Council meeting by the presidency, describing the development as disturbing.
The meeting is supposed to hold monthly and is constitutionally headed by the vice president.
The governors’ lament was contained in the communiqué they issued after the meeting of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, which held Wednesday at the Rivers State Governors lodge, Abuja.
The communiqué, which was signed by the Chairman of the NGF, and Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, said the governors were disappointed at yet another postponement of the NEC.
“The forum is concerned that a pattern is emerging where the National Economic Council meeting has been postponed for five consecutive months,” the NGF said.

Witches Predict Victory For Jonathan In 2015 -Sam Nda-Isaiah

Good news for Jonathan. THE UNION, the brand new newspaper out of Lagos, reported yesterday that it had had an exclusive interview with the spokesperson of the Witches and Wizards Association of Nigeria (WITZAN), Dr Okhue Iboi, who declared that the matter of President Jonathan’s victory had been decided in the covens. A coven is a community or gathering of witches. An ideal coven is usually made up of 13 witches and wizards. So what this Dr Iboi is saying is that they have settled for Jonathan.

There must be something unique about the Jonathan presidency that thieves, crooks, militants and now witches and wizards love so much that they want him to continue, if possible, forever.  Everyone will agree that anyone who profits from a crime must be guilty of it. I do not know whether Jonathan has any relationship with these devils, as the spokesman did not say so.

Fresh crisis for Sanusi •FRCN uncovers rot in CBN, submits report to Jonathan

FRESH trouble appears to be brewing for the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, following reports indicating that the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) has uncovered some rot at the apex bank, details of which are now being considered by President Goodluck Jonathan.
But the CBN through its Director of Corporate Communications, Ugochukwu Okoroafor, has absolved itself of any wrongdoing.
Sources told Sunday Tribune at the weekend that the executive secretary of the council, Mr. Jim Obazee, was sighted at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday, apparently to shed more light on the findings at a meeting with the president.
It was gathered that the government had been reviewing a number of reports relating to the CBN in recent months, especially following the audit of the bank by international accounting firms.
A source in the administration said it was not sure why Obazee held a two-hour meeting with Jonathan, but sources in the financial sector insisted that the council had uncovered a number of unwholesome practices at the apex bank and had made the report available to the administration.

Adamu Muazu Is The New PDP Chairman

Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, a former Governor of Bauchi State, has been chosen as the new National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),

Mu’azu, 58, was unanimously adopted on Sunday night at a meeting attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih; Senate President David Mark and all the state Governors elected under the PDP amongst others.

THEWILL gathered that Mu’azu was later invited to join the meeting at the Presidential Villa after the leaders had agreed on his choice.

We further gathered that he gave a commitment that he’ll reposition the party and strengthen it ahead of the general elections.

THEWILL also gathered from our source, who is a very influential member of the party, that Mu’azu will be unveiled formally on Monday at a Special NEC meeting of the party.

FG places restriction on foreign medical trips by govt officials

Worried by the alarming rate at which politicians and individuals rush to foreign countries for medical attention, which has led to the depletion of the country’s foreign reserve, the Federal Government, yesterday, said that only public servants, whose medical cases are approved by the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi  Chukwu, would be allowed to seek treatment abroad.
Minister of Health, Prof. Chukwu Onyebuchi, weekend in Benin, Edo State, expressed concern over the increasing numbers of Nigerians detained in Indian hospitals and other countries on account of their inability to offset their medical bills, saying that his office had been inundated with series of letters requesting for assistance.
It was gathered that over N78 billion was lost annually through capital flight by Nigerians and public officials seeking medical treatment abroad.

Gay man receives 20 lashes for homosexual offences in Bauchi

-BBC
A 20 year old man, Mubarak Ibrahim received 20 lashes for gay practice he committed 7years ago in Bauchi. This was after an Islamic court in Bauchi convicted him of homosexual offences. Under Islamic law, courts can punish homosexual acts by stoning to death, but the judge, Nuhu Muhammad said he took into account that Mubarak carried out the acts seven years ago, and had stopped the practice. Mr Ibrahim, who had pleaded guilty to the charge, was ordered to lie on a bench, and an official whipped his back in front of a packed courtroom. After the lashes, Mubarak was ordered to pay a fine of about $30 (£18).

Along with Mr Ibrahim, 11 other Muslims and a Christian man were arrested last month accused by the authorities of being homosexuals.


The trial of two other men was adjourned to 23 January.

The fate of the nine other men arrested on the same charge is unclear but the Sharia Commission in Bauchi said the Christian would be tried by a "conventional court", not an Islamic court.

PDP’s problems beyond Tukur’s resignation – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday said that the problems of the Peoples Democratic Party were beyond the resignation of Dr. Bamanga Tukur, as the party’s national chairman.

The media aide to the former President, Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye, in an interview with one of our correspondents in Abuja, said Obasanjo had nothing personal against Tukur.

But he said Obasanjo would not comment on Tukur’s resignation, arguing that the issues earlier raised by the former President had not been addressed with Tukur’s exit.

“Baba (Obasanjo) has no comment on the resignation of  Tukur. He has nothing personal against Tukur. His last letter to Tukur was very clear. The issues raised are beyond Tukur’s resignation and they are yet to be addressed,” Oladunjoye said.

Obasanjo had, in his letter to Tukur, a copy of which was sent to President Goodluck Jonathan as the national leader of the party, accused the PDP of negating the principles of morality, decency and discipline in its decisions, especially as they affected the South- West.

In pictures: Nigeria remembers the fallen heroes

Nigeria’s political leaders, from President Goodluck Jonathan to all the 36 state governors marked the Armed Forces Remembrance Day today.

Some photographic mementoes of the event

President Jonathan lays a wreath

Jonathan sacks Nigeria’s military chiefs

President Goodluck Jonathan has sacked all the service chiefs, who are statutorily the heads of the nation’s military apparatus.

This was contained in the Twitter and Facebook posts by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, on Thursday.

No reason was given for the changes.

The post read, “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria approved the following changes in the nation’s Military High Command:

“Air Marshal Alex Badeh takes over from Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim as Chief of Defence Staff.

Tukur, PDP chairman resigns

Embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has resigned,  THE PUNCH learnt.

A senior member of the divided National Working Committee of the party, who spoke with our correspondent in Abuja on Wednesday, said President Goodluck Jonathan will inform the meeting of the National Caucus of the party tonight in Abuja about the development.

With the resignation, Tukur has escaped being suspended from the party by the members of the NWC if he had refused to resign.

Tukur was to be suspended by about eight members of the NWC, while the National Executive Committee of the party would ratify his suspension on Thursday.

Sanusi Lamido Explodes: How vested interests are killing Nigeria [Video]

Some readers might not have had enough bandwidth to watch the famous Sanusi Lamido Sanusi  remarks made last August at the TEDxYouth platform in Maitama, Abuja. It was however not available for public access until last week, but now we offer it to readers in transcribed text.

Hello everyone and good morning.
I’m very happy to be here with you. Just to tell you that I am a rather outdated person. I never really knew what the TEDeX event was, and when my daughter spoke to me about it, she said something about youth and development.
I thought I’d just come here and talk about young people and job creation and the usual stuff we talk about until a group of young ladies came to me to explain that I was actually expected to speak in 16 to 18 minutes about one idea that can change the world.
I thought that was crazy because I don’t have any idea that can change the world. And the thing with young people is that they are the most difficult audience to address. I have found myself in situations to address people of your generation and frankly the questions I get are more incisive, more intelligent, more thought-provoking than the questions I get from people of my generation. At all levels.
I am actually just beginning to understand how difficult it is for those of us who were in the analog generation to have a conversation with our children.
I have am eight to nine-year-old daughter that I always see in the morning and she goes to school, she comes back… I’ve never really had serious conversation with her. Two days ago we were at the table with her sister who is about 15 or 16 who then said to me you know dad it’s time for us to start talking about boys. Before I could answer, this younger one who’s eight or nine looks up and said ‘you want to talk to dad about boys? He won’t understand. He is a man. He’s a big boy.’

Borno government officials, not Boko Haram, carried out Maiduguri bomb blast, ex-governor Sheriff says

The ex-governor was rushed out of Maiduguri.
A former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, who has come under attack since Tuesday’s bomb blast in Maiduguri, has said the outlawed Boko Haram sect is not responsible for the blast.
Mr. Sheriff blamed Borno State government officials and members of his All Progressives Congress, APC, for the blast that is believed to have killed at least 31 people with dozens more injured.
The blast, carried out by a suicide bomber in a pick-up van, occurred at about 1:30 p.m. in the state capital.
Shortly after the incident, angry youth gathered in their hundreds and attacked persons and property linked to Mr. Sheriff. They blamed the ex-governor, who returned to the state over the weekend after a 11-month absence, for the attack. Several cars, and buildings, were damaged and burnt by the youth.
While the rampaging youth went wild, the ex-governor, who was billed to hold an inaugural All Progressives Congress, APC, meeting where interim party officials in the state would be inaugurated, shelved the meeting and left the city. He was accompanied by the state police commissioner and other top security chiefs in the state.
SHERIFF REACTS
In his reaction, Mr. Sheriff blamed officials of the APC in Borno State for being the architect of the blast and coordinated attacks on his property and vehicles of his supporters.
He alleged that the attacks, including the bomb blast, were not the handiwork of the Boko Haram but a plot by his fellow APC politicians to undermine his influence and frustrate his regular visit to the state ahead of 2015.
Mr. Sheriff made this allegation in a statement signed by his Campaign Organisation Chairman, Bako Bunu.
“The bomb blast that rocked Maiduguri the Borno state capital yesterday, was not from the dreaded Islamist Boko Haram sect but an act of arson targeted at former governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff who was in the state for a condolence visit,” the spokesperson said.

Fresh Attempt By Brain Damaged Governor Suntai To Resume Office Fails As He Could Not Recognize Aso Rock

By Saharareporters, New York
A fresh attempt by a political cabal in Taraba State to return to office Danbaba Suntai, the governor who suffered brain injuries in a 2012 plane crash, failed yesterday following a weeklong series of maneuvers.

Working in collaboration with some media outlets, the cabal last Monday took the ailing governor to his office in Jalingo along with some of his physical therapists to see if he could be smuggled back into office but after five minutes, Mr. Suntai could not tell what he was doing. He was then rushed back to the governor’s mansion where, when asked where he was, he answered, “Airport.”

The group behind the efforts, which is reported to be funded by former Nigeria Minister of Defence, Theophilus Danjuma, then shipped Mr. Suntai to Abuja to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan in the hope that a public outing with the president would help provide an official veneer to their shenanigans.  However, sources say that sensing that Mr. Suntai was still unstable, President Jonathan sent some security agents to meet with him; when they asked if he knew the location of Aso rock, Suntai replied that he was in Jalingo and not Abuja.

Sokoto APC crisis: Two sets of executives emerge

A governor and his predecessor lead separate factions of the party

by Abdoulaye Kay

Barely 24 hours after the Governor Aliyu Wamakko-led All Progressives Congress, APC, issued a statement naming members of the party’s Sokoto State Interim Executive Committee, another set of interim executives has been named by a rival faction in the state.

A second APC faction led by ex-Governor Attahiru Bafarawa met and presented, Monday, its own interim executive committee.

A statement signed by the Secretary of the Bafarawa-led Committee, Lawal Faru, said members of the committee were drawn from the political parties that merged to form the APC, including the ANPP, CPC and the ACN.

“After due consultations with stakeholders of all our merging parties that include All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Sokoto state, His Excellency, Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, APC leader has approved the constitution of the Sokoto state Interim Executive Committee of our great party as per the harmonization of our legacy parties are concern,” the statement read.

I have not resigned as PDP Chairman – Tukur

 Mr. Tukur said he has the backing of President Jonathan
The embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bamanga Tukur, has denied media reports that he resigned his position.
Mr. Tukur’s statement comes amidst reports, Tuesday, on the internet, that he resigned his position ahead of the meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee, NEC, on Thursday.
The statement also comes amidst high-level politicking within the PDP; with an emergency meeting ongoing between party leaders at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday evening as at the time of this report.
In a statement by his media aide, Oliver Okpala, in Abuja on Tuesday, Mr. Tukur said he has not resigned and has no plan to resign his position.
Mr. Okpala said the reports should be disregarded because the national chairman was busy fashioning out new structures and areas of taking the party to greater heights.
“Be informed that contrary to the reports making waves in the internet and other social media, the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji (Dr) Bamanga Tukur has not tendered any resignation letter to any person or quarters,” the statement said. “Please, disregard any information or report in this regard since the national chairman is busy fashioning out new structures and areas of taking the party to greater heights.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Mr. Tukur had, in a separate statement signed by Mr. Okpala, denied media reports quoting him as saying that only a national convention of the PDP, and not the leader of the party, President Goodluck Jonathan, could remove him from his position.
Mr. Tukur was elected at the March 2012 national convention of the party and has faced stiff opposition since before his election.

Ball is in Tukur’s court — Obasanjo

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday insisted that the national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur should address the issues raised in his letter saying that entreaties to him to reconsider his withdrawal from the party were wrongly based.
Obasanjo spoke following pleas from Tukur and allegedly from President Goodluck Jonathan on him to reconsider his withdrawal from the party.
Noting that he had raised issues and conditions for him to involve himself in the affairs of the party, he said that the national leadership should address those issues in its stead.
Among the conditions raised by Obasanjo in his fiery letter was that Buruji should be brought down from his place of prominence in the affairs of the party. Obasanjo had said that he would not subject himself to the leadership of a suspect fleeing from justice in the United States.
Obasanjo who spoke through his media aide, Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye said: “President Obasanjo wrote a letter and in that letter there were conditions, there were issues he raised and he is a member and card carrying member of PDP but he is not going to participate in activities of the party until the issues he raised are addressed.”
“So the question should not be to Obasanjo, your question should be to the people who received the letter and to how they are going to address the issues he raised.”

Read Tukur’s reply to OBJ

Why ex-president can’t leave – Tukur
The reply of Alhaji Bamangar Tukur, PDP National Chairman, to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter.
“It is an honour that you deemed it fit and proper to intimate me with an issue important to your mind and our party in the South-west zone. It is my wish and prayer that such cordial and positive relationship will continue between your good self; former President and former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of our great party on one hand, and my humble self, the National Chairman of our party on the other hand.
“Buruji Kasamu came to limelight in politics as a result of the role he played in the politics of Ogun state where both of you come from. He later became a rallying point in the South-west following the Courts’ Orders in the series of cases brought about as a result of disagreements among leaders of the party in the South-west, and Ogun State in particular.

PDP holds emergency caucus meeting over Tukur

The meeting was ongoing at 10:00 p.m
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is holding an emergency caucus meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting was ongoing at about 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday night and started several minutes before then.
PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the embattled PDP National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, will try to convince party leaders at the meeting of the need to retain his position.
Those in attendance at the meeting include Vice President Namadi Sambo; Senate President David Mark; Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu;  Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha; and House Leader,  Mulikat Akande.
Also in attendance are Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio; Kaduna State Governor, Ibrahim Shema; and Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Tony Anenih.

Obasanjo Withdraws From PDP (Scanned copy of Letter Attached)

• Obasanjo withdraws from PDP      
• Writes Tukur, copies Jonathan 

OBJFormer President Olusegun Obasanjo has fired another letter, this time, to the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, in which he gave a notice of his withdrawal from the activities of the party.

Obasanjo also sent a copy of the letter to President Goodluck Jonathan as National Leader of the party. A copy of the letter was obtained by the Saturday Tribune. 

The former president, in the letter, said he was withdrawing from all activities of the party because the PDP had been negating the principles of morality, decency and discipline in its decisions, especially as they affect the South West where he comes from.

The letter, dated January 7, 2014, according to a source at the national secretariat of the party, was received in the office of Tukur on Wednesday, 8 January, 2014. It is believed that President Jonathan also got his own copy on Thursday.

Obasanjo accused the party leadership of imposing someone (names witheld), who he described as a criminal wanted abroad, on the party as its South West zonal leader and proceeded to add that he was forwarding with the letter, “recent documents” on the alleged activities of the person.

Efforts to get copies of the “recent documents” by Saturday Tribune from both the PDP national secretariat as well as from Obasanjo’s side were, however, not successful but a source at PDP’s national secretariat confirmed that the letter came with attachments. He did not give further details.

The three paragraph letter reads:

“While I believe that a good and truly national political party must be a microcosm of the nation in its membership, made up of all sorts of characters from near-saints to near-satan, I also believe that on no account should a known habitual criminal that is wanted abroad to face criminal charges levelled against him be extolled as a political leader in a respectable and wholesome nation-building political party.

“(...Names witheld) has been so extolled in PDP in South-West geo-political zone which I personally find unsavoury. Politics played by any national political party must have morality, decency, discipline, principles and leadership examples as cardinal practices of the party. I have attached here recent documents that clearly indicate that your extolled PDP Zonal Leader in the South-West zone of Nigeria and an indigene of Ogun State is, to say the least, not a credit to the party as a member, let alone being a zonal leader.

“Since I stick in my practice of party politics to the hallowed and cherished principles enunciated above, I take this opportunity to let you know that while I continue to remain a card-carrying member of PDP, I cannot and I will not subscribe to a wanted habitual criminal being installed as my zonal leader in the party; a criminal for whom extradition has been requested by the US government. In the meantime, I will consider withdrawing my activity with PDP at local, state, zonal and national levels until the anomalous and shameful situation is corrected.”

Presidential Panel Indicts Stella Oduah In The N255m Car Scandal

The committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to probe the N255m bulletproof car scandal in the aviation ministry has indicted the Minister, Ms. Stella Oduah.

It was gathered in Abuja on Sunday that the report of the presidential committee tallied with some findings of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation on the scandal.

In October, there were reports that with the approval of the minister, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority purchased two bulletproof BMW cars at an allegedly inflated rate of N255m.

The development sparked a countrywide controversy with many Nigerians and groups calling for her sacking.

The House subsequently mandated its Committee on Aviation to probe the allegation against the minister.

On December 19, 2013, the House endorsed the report of its committee and agreed that the minister breached the 2013 Appropriation Act.

It therefore asked Jonathan to review Oduah’s appointment for approving expenditure of over N643m for the NCAA to procure 54 vehicles last year.

The spokesperson for the House, Mr. Zackary Mohammed, had explained that the lawmakers wanted the minister sacked.

He said, “The word ‘review’ here means a change in status. It is a mild way of saying that Mr. President should sack the minister.”

Jonathan signs same Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill into law

..Gays, lesbians risk 14-year jail term
In spite of protests from some countries, President Goodluck Jonathan has signed Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill 2013 into law.
The assent to the bill was devoid of fanfare to reduce diplomatic tension which it may likely attract.
Some foreign embassies were shocked by the development leading to ‘curious’ inquiries from the Federal Government. Despite the inquiries, the Federal Government said there is no going back.
The signed bill says the gays in Nigeria will however risk a 14-year jail term if they do not retrace their steps and renounce such marriage. Also, any person who operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organizations directly or indirectly will earn 10-year imprisonment. Those who administer witness, abet or aid the solemnization of a same sex marriage are going to bag 10-year jail term.
Investigation by our correspondent showed that the President assented to the Act on January 7, 2014.
The assent note, obtained by our correspondent yesterday, reads in part: “I certify that this Bill has been carefully compared by me with the decision reached by the National Assembly and found by me to be true and correct decision of the Houses and is in accordance with the provisions of the Acts Authentication Act Cap. A2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. I assent.”
A reliable source said: “The President has signed the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill into law. This has foreclosed any pressure on President Jonathan not to assent to the bill.
“We received inquiries from some foreign embassies on why the bill was signed into law. But we told them that our cultural values do not tolerate same sex marriage.
“Also, we made it clear that since most Nigerians were opposed to the bill, the parliament acted in line with the wish of the majority. We are in a democratic setting, the President has no choice than to bow to the wish of the people.
“These embassies were shocked but there is no going back. We hope they will also abide by the decision of Nigerians.”
The details of the new Act was obtained yesterday by our correspondent.

Sack Me If You Can - Tukur Dares Jonathan (Saharareporters)

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has challenged President Goodluck Jonathan to remove him from office if he can.

Tukur's outburst followed the refusal of members of the party's National Working Committee to attend a meeting he called at the party's secretariat in Abuja last Wednesday.

The Adamawa State born politician, who is growing isolated at the top levels of the party where he is being held responsible for its dwindling influence and the defection of members, was infuriated by the attitude of his fellow national officers. He told reporters that he can only be removed from office through a properly conducted National Convention and that unless and until that takes place, nobody, including President Jonathan can remove him.

The National Chairman also dismissed the allegation that he has been asked to resign by the President, and accused the opposition of planting the story to create disharmony in the party.

Jonathan, Sanusi Resolves Disagreement, CBN Governor to Stay Till June 1

Concerned over the cry by well meaning Nigerians that the forced departure of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, could send the wrong signals to the international investmentcommunity, president Goodluck Jonathan has bowed to calls not to force the CBN Governor to resign.

President Goodluck Jonathan had asked Mr. Sanusi to resign on the grounds that he leaked the letter that he had written to the president on the unremitted $49.8 billion oil revenue to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

But Sanusi immediately denied the allegation and refused to step down, reminding the president that he could only be removed by two-thirds of the Senate.

Both the president and Sanusi were reported to have engaged each other in a heated telephone exchange after being asked by the president to resign.

Sanusi had on Wednesday met with the staff of the central bank them that his earlier decision to go on terminal leave in March had been rescinded and that he was prepared to stay out his tenure.

Jonathan Orders Sanusi To Resign Over His Letter; Sanusi Says No

Sycophancy is the problem that has kept Nigeria backward all these years, it’s so bad that no one can dare to challenge the President even if he is wrong. Sanusi Lamido has said such can’t happen in the CBN:

As you read this, President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to resign immediately on the grounds that the letter Sanusi wrote to him on the unremitted $49.8 billion oil money to the Federation Account was leaked to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo by Sanusi himself.

But Sanusi said all that is cheap politics and vowed that Jonathan can’t force him to resign because based on the constitution of Nigeria, he could only be removed from office by two-thirds of the Senate.

Jonathan called Sanusi on phone but he was shocked as they had a heated exchange…
According to THISDAY, the president had called Sanusi and accused him of leaking the letter to Obasanjo, which enabled the former President to use it as one of the many allegations he levelled against Jonathan in his letter titled: “Before It is Too Late”.

Jonathan considers Southwest candidates for Sanusi successor

PUNCH Newspaper has it that, amid intense lobbying by candidates hoping to succeed the incumbent Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, indications have emerged that President Goodluck Jonathan is looking towards the South-West for the plum job.

Sanusi’s five-year single term tenure expires in June and he has consistently said he will not seek a second term in office.

Among those reportedly vying for the position of the CBN governor are the Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede; Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Mr. Bisi Onasanya; and Managing Director, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, Mr. Mustapha Chike-Obi.

Others are the four Deputy Governors, Mr. Tunde Lemo (Operations); Dr. Kingsley Moghalu (Financial System Stability); Dr. Sarah Alade (Economic Policy); and Alhaji Suleiman Barau (Corporate Services Directorate); as well as the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga; and the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama.

Out of the lot, Onasanya, Alade and Lemo are from the South-West region, while Aganga is representing Lagos State in the federal cabinet, though originally from Edo State in the South-South region.

A source told one of our correspondents in Abuja on Sunday that although the President had not picked any candidate for the post, he was keen on fulfilling a promise he made to some Yoruba leaders a few months ago.

The South-West leaders had during a visit to the President complained about the alleged marginalisation of the zone, especially in the area of political appointments under Jonathan’s administration.

“You May Not Survive This” – Obasanjo Informs Jonathan

While the nation [Nigeria] grapple with the oily grips from the quibble between a political godfather and a political godson, little is made of the actual behind the scene factors that led to the crack in the formerly rosy relationship. Information available to 247ureports.com through sources close to the principal actors within the warring camps reveal what appears an unspoken truth – that dates back to the fall of Biafra to the Nigeria troops led by the then Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo in Owerri, the then capital of the federal republic of Biafra.

According to the consortium of sources who spoke on the true causative factors responsible for the turn in demeanor in the former People Democratic Party [PDP] godfather, General Olusegun Obasanjo towards President Jonathan, indicate that the chief reason for the effort to halt Jonathan’s presidency before 2015 points to the formerly agreed upon policy towards the former eastern region – which later became the Biafra territory – that then lost the war the Nigerian troops.

According to a competent source, the self – acclaimed victors of the Nigerian civil war, the likes of Buhari, Babangida, Obasanjo, Gowon, Murtala Mohammed and company – had an agreed upon policy of under-development of the region – to aide sedated the urge for another agitation group to find its footing. The policy was particularized for the south east zone.

Power Sharing: Crisis Looms In APC

Despite its growing acceptability within the country’s political circle, all appears not to be well with the All Progressives Congress as a crisis over power sharing and control is brewing in the party.

Investigations showed that the five governors, who defected to the APC from the Peoples Democratic Party, were locked in a supremacy battle with some leaders of the three political parties that merged to form the APC. The parties that merged to form APC are the Action Congress of Nigeria, All Nigeria Peoples Party and the Congress for Progressive Change.

Investigations in Abuja on Thursday showed that the looming crisis was threatening the nationwide membership registration, which the party had scheduled for early this year. To forestall problem, however, the party has set up reconciliation committees in some of the affected states.

The governors, who left the PDP for the APC, included Alhaji Muritala Nyako (Adamawa); Dr. Rabiu Kwankwanso (Kano); Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Alhaji Abdufatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Mr. Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers). It was gathered that besides the struggle for position between the defected governors and ‘old’ members of the fast growing party, the APC was also contending with various crises in the states it is currently controlling.

The tussle for power in the APC states is principally between the governors and those who are against their total control of the state party structure. It was learnt that the problem had manifested in Kwara, Kano, Sokoto and Adamawa states among others. Findings showed that the outcome of the party’s reconciliation efforts would determine when the membership registration would hold.

The defected PDP governors that are said to be engaged in power struggle with old APC members include Nyako, Kwankanso, Wamakko and Ahmed. In Kwara State for instance, members of the parties that merged to form the APC have described the leader of the PDP defectors, Senator Bukola Saraki, as a burden instead of an asset to the APC. Saraki is the political godfather of the state governor. The members are of the opinion that the party does not need Saraki to win elections in the state.

A former governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, Mr. Dele Belgore, is the leader of the APC members opposed to Saraki’s take-over of the party. A leading member of the Belgore group, Rev. Bunmi Olusona, said this in a statement, in Ilorin on Thursday. In the statement titled, “Issues before the John Oyegun mediation committee,” Olusona stated, “We aver that we do not need Bukola Saraki to win elections in Kwara.

In fact, the coming of Bukola Saraki is a huge burden on the Kwara APC. “We now have a daunting task of convincing Kwarans that we remain a part of their hope for change. Without federal support, Bukola Saraki cannot win any election! “We will never accept the leadership of Bukola Saraki and we will never accept any arrangement that cedes the party structure to any new entrant into the party.”

Jonathan Calls Obasanjo, Begs Him To Stay In PDP

President Goodluck Jonathan has telephoned former President Olusegun Obasanjo to deny responsibility for promoting a controversial member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Buruji Kashamu, as an influential party leader in the south-west geo-political zone.

Obasanjo and Jonathan Exclusive: Jonathan Calls Obasanjo, Begs Him To Stay In PDP
Jonathan told Obasanjo that he had never met Mr. Kashamu before and never instructed anyone to accord the controversial Ogun State politician a special or preferential treatment in the party.

“Baba, believe me, I don’t know Kashamu,” our sources quoted Mr. Jonathan as saying. “I think it is the chairman (Tukur) that knows him. Personally, I have nothing with him. But I will ask chairman (Tukur).

“Kindly consider your decision again. The PDP belongs to us all and we need to correct whatever is wrong together.”

The president then promised to “hear from” Tukur, and to “do something” about the matter, those informed about the discussion told Premium Times.

In his response, Obasanjo was said to have explained to Jonathan his frustration at explaining to world leaders how an alleged criminal, wanted by the United States, ended up as a leader of Nigeria’s ruling party.

Tukur replies Obasanjo, begs him to stay in PDP

PDP Chairman, Bamanga Tukur

Mr. Tukur rationalised the influence of Mr. Kashamu.
The National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bamanga Tukur, has replied former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter. Mr. Tukur begged the former president not to leave the PDP.
Mr. Obasanjo had earlier sent a one-page letter, dated January 7, to Mr. Tukur, telling the National Chairman that he intended to withdraw from the party’s activities at the local, state and federal levels over the allegation that the Chairman of the Organisation and Mobilisation Committee of the party in the South West, Buruji Kashamu, is a wanted man in the United States of America.
Mr. Tukur asked Mr. Obasanjo to reconsider his decision to withdraw from the activities of the party. He also explained the circumstances that led to the emergence of Mr. Kashamu as a leader of the party in the South West.
In his letter, the PDP chairman said Mr. Kashamu came to limelight in politics as a result of the role he played in the politics of Ogun state where both himself and Mr. Obasanjo come from.
He added that Mr. Kashamu became a rallying point in the South-west following the Court Orders in the series of cases brought about as a result of disagreements among leaders of the party in the South-west, and Ogun State in particular.

Man Sues Close-up Toothpaste After Failing To Attract Single Girls

In what could prove to be a major marketing and legal embarrassment for Unilever Nigeria Limited (UNL), a 26-year-old man has filed a case against the company, which owns the Close Up toothpaste brand, for ‘cheating’ and causing him ‘mental suffering’.
The plaintiff has cited his failure to attract any girl at all even though he’s been using Close-Up toothpaste for over seven years now. Close-Up advertisements suggest that the product helps men in instantly attracting women by letting their breaths out.

Anthony Olatunfe, the petitioner, also surrendered all his used, unused and half-used Close-Up tubes to the court, and demanded a laboratory test of the products. Anthony was pushed to take this step when his female boss slapped his face when he tried to kiss her after brushing his teeth with the Close-Up toothpaste.

“Where is the Close-Up effect? I’ve been waiting for it for over seven years. Right from my college to now in my office, no girl ever agreed to even go out for a tea or coffee with me, even though I’m sure they could smell my breath. I always brush my teeth with so much close up gel to make sure the girls get turned on by my fresh breath as they usually show on TV. “

Senator Magnus Abe hit by bullet as Rivers Police disrupts APC rally

The Senator representing Rivers Central Senatorial district, Magnus Abe has been hit by a rubber bullet shot by officers of the Rivers State police command.

This was confirmed by his Personal Assistant and Information Officer, Honour Siranwo.

Senator Abe had led members of Save Rivers Movement, to a venue where they were to hold an inauguration and thanksgiving programme for the Obio-Akpor Chapter of the group.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi was expected at the event before the incident occurred.


In his reaction, Chief of Staff, Government House Port Harcourt, Tony Okocha said the police wants to militiarize the state.

Okocha said the Save Rivers Movement had applied to the state police command.

According to him, the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, orchestrated the attack. He also alleged that he bribed the Police Commissioner in the state, Joseph Mbu to carry out the attack.

Dailypost reports that the police shot sporadically and released tear-gas to disperse the crowd.

War of letters: Obasanjo attacked again!

*He framed Asari-Dokubo up in Benin Republic – S/West PDP leader, Kashamu
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, came under a fresh attack from the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-west, Chief Buruji Kashamu, who described him as a hypocrite.
Kashamu spoke in response to a letter purported written to the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, by Obasanjo alleging that the leadership of the party in the South-west is now in the hand of a drug baron.
Obasanjo, also in the purported letter, dated January 7, 2014, notified Tukur of his withdrawal from the PDP, hinging his decision on the imposition of Kashamu, who he described as a criminal wanted abroad, on the party as its South-west zonal leader.
“In his usual hypocritical manner, he (Obasanjo) talked about not being able to work with me because of his principles and decency,” Kashamu said yesterday.
The Chairman of the Organisation and Mobilisation Committee for the PDP in the South-west alleged that Obasanjo was behind the detention, late last year, of the former militant leader and founder of the Niger-Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPUF), in Benin Republic.
“I am even told that just like he did to Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, he has even gone as far as asking the Beninoise government to frame me up anytime I visit the country,” the PDP South-west leader said.
The altercation between the former President and Kashamu came in the wake of the letter by Obasanjo to President Goodluck Jonathan which attracted a reply in which Jonathan dismissed the former president’s claims as lies, and a letter from Obasanjo’s daughter, Iyabo, in which she said her father did not own Nigeria.

I stepped on powerful toes – Oduah

Opinions differ about the situation on ground in the aviation sector when you came in as minister in 2011. Some people claim the situation was bad. Others say it was not so bad. What exactly was the situation?
The first thing I did upon my appointment as Minister of Aviation on July 2, 2011, was to take a comprehensive assessment tour of all airports, all agencies and parastatals as well as their facilities and installations across the country. I found that safety and security-critical equipment and installations were obsolete, unserviceable or unavailable. Infrastructure all round-airport terminals were dilapidated and derelict.
Airport facilities and services such as air conditioning, toilets, trolleys, elevators, directional signage, power generators, etc were unserviceable, unreliable, unavailable or not user-friendly. Security screening equipment at airports was obsolete and mostly unreliable. Airport fire stations and fire fighting equipment were in poor condition, with fire hydrants unserviceable and firemen and women had gone without proper kits for years. Working condition of staff in airport offices was terrible and unsafe (i.e. leaking roofs, broken floors, no power supply, etc.).

Gunmen kill 3, injure 12 others during mosque attack in Kano –Police

The Police Command in Kano on Wednesday confirmed that gunmen had killed three persons and injured 12 others in Kwankwaso village, Madobi Local Government Area of Kano State.

Some gunmen had on Tuesday night attacked a mosque in Kwankwaso, where the Diastrict Head of Madobi, Alhaji Musa Sale-Kwankwaso, was attending the late evening prayers.

A statement issued in Kano by the command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Magaji Majiya, said the incident took place at about 7:30 p.m, when people were praying inside the mosque.

“The District Head of Madobi and father to the State Governor, Alhaji Musa Sale Kwankwaso, who was also in the congregation, escaped unhurt.

“Although the attack was repelled by policemen who were in the congregation, three persons were killed and and 12 others sustained various degree of injuries,’’ it said.

The statement said those injured had been taken to hospital where they were receiving medical attention.

Jonathan’s Watch List: Myth or reality?

In December, 2013, ex-president, Olusegun Obasanjo, wrote an open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan claiming to have received report of the President’s keeping of over 1000 people on a political watch list and secretly training snipers. The former president also insinuated that President Jonathan assisted el-Mustapha to secure acquittal from a murder case, in order to get the former army officer’s assistance to organize a Gestapo unit as he was believed to have done for his late boss and former military despot, Sanni Abacha. The letter appears to have opened a floodgate of allegations from politicians who now claim to have unveiled plans by the President to assassinate them. More disturbing is the fact that the allegations are coming from very eminent Nigerians. Commentators have expressed concern over the issue, noting that it is a grave thing to sound the alarm on very inadequate grounds just as it is grave to ignore such alarms. Whether by design or not, the political climate in Nigeria is being gradually poisoned by the unsavoury development.

Obasanjo’s letter

Though Obasanjo made many weighty observations in his December letter entitled “Before it is too late”, it would seem the part concerning the mysterious watch list and al-Mustapha’s possible assignment drew the most reactions from Nigerians, moreso because it came from someone like Obasanjo whom, many believe, is in a position to know. Some observers, however, have pointed out that Obasanjo was only merely rehashing the rumours he claimed to have heard, and has since refused to speak more on the issue when challenged to prove his allegations.

They particularly expressed disappointment with the former president for not making the effort to confirm the speculations before going to town with them.

Obasanjo wrote: “Allegation of keeping over 1000 people on political watch list rather than criminal or security watch list and training snipers and other armed personnel secretly, and clandestinely acquiring weapons to match for political purposes like Abacha and training them where Abacha trained his own killers, if it is true, it cannot augur well for the initiator, the government and the people of Nigeria.

“Here again, there is the lesson of history to learn from for anybody who cares to learn from history. Mr. President would always remember that he was elected to maintain security for all Nigerians and protect them. And no one should prepare to kill or maim Nigerians for personal or political ambition or interest of anyone. The Yoruba adage says, ‘The man with whose head coconut is broken may not live to savour the taste of the succulent fruit.’

“Those who advise you to go hard on those who oppose you are your worst enemies. Democratic politics admits and is permissive of supporters and opponents. When the consequences come, those who have wrongly advised you will not be there to help carry the can. Egypt must teach some lesson.

“Presidential assistance for a murderer to evade justice and presidential delegation to welcome him home can only be in bad taste generally but particularly to the family of his victim. Assisting criminals to evade justice cannot be part of the job of the presidency. Or, as it is viewed in some quarters, is he being recruited to do for you what he had done for Abacha in the past? Hopefully, he should have learned his lesson. Let us continue to watch.”

The insinuation has since spawn alarms from politicians who claim to be in the watch list, among them former military Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.); Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi; a former Osun State Governor and Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (PAC), Bisi Akande, and a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai. These notable leaders have accused President Jonathan of being after their lives. Speaking to journalists recently, they accused the President of having their names on a sniper list.

Man drags Bauchi Deputy Speaker’s son to court

Hon Saleh Dumba (Deputy Speaker, BAHA)

The son of the Deputy Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly Saleh Jumba, has been dragged to Sharia court number 3 for allegedly killing a man by his vehicle.

It was alleged that the Deputy Speaker’s son killed one Husseini Ibrahim by knocking him down with his car and the family of the deceased has gone to court to seek for compensation of N35 million known as Diyya in Islam.

Speaking to newsmen in Bauchi, the deceased’s twin brother, Hassan Ibrahim who said that the family decided to drag the accused Abubakar Adamu to court to seek justice as provided for in the Sharia law noted that life has become difficult for Husseini’s two wives and seven children since he was sent to his early grave at Bakin Kura in Bauchi.

According to Hassan, his brother was killed when Adamu lost control of his car and hit Husseini on his motorcycle before ramming into a house in March 2012.

Full Text of Edwin Clark's Letter To Obasanjo: Let The Truth Be Told Before It Is Too Late

My Dear Chief Olusegun Obasanjo,

LET THE TRUTH BE TOLD BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE

This indeed is a season of open letters, the session of which you heralded with a contemptuous one to His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Your eldest daughter and a former Senator. Dr. lyabo Obasanjo, feeling uncomfortable with your antics quickly fired a response to your now infamous letter that has gone viral and continue to generate negative national discourse.

President Goodluck Jonathan GCFR, an amiable gentle man to whom you routed your vicious open letter would not tolerate Presidential aides writing nor commenting on your letter, and so ordered a stay of action. He in his characteristic manner of respect and decorum said he would personally reply. I am quite certain that the President did not want to join issues with a benefactor and former President. He would have wanted the charged atmosphere your open letter orchestrated to ride itself out until normalcy and calm return to the polity, as witnessed in other incitive comments by well placed Individuals in the recent past.

However, as you well intended the echoes of your vicious letter continue to reverberate negatively. The President had no option left but to reply you through the same medium of an open letter. With a deep sense of responsibility the President touched all the damaging allegations you heaped on his administration and today Nigerians are better informed.

In the light of the forgoing, it has become incumbent upon me at this point in our national life to refute some of the issues highlighted in your letter especially about the Ijaws so that Nigerians must know that you are not the saint you claim to be, but a mischief maker, an ego maniac who always wants to play to the gallery. As rightfully put by your daughter lyabo “Nigeria does not belong to Obasanjo”. In addition, I want to buttress the assertion that all Nigerians are equal no matter where they come from, that is, no one is a second class citizen of this nation. You have no right to plunge Nigerians into crisis as your past actions and recent open letter to the President connotes. The generality of Nigerians think your letter is treasonable.

Why I write

Ordinarily, I never intended to join in the affray of accusations and counter accusations between a former President and a sitting President and a daughter in between. But, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in your usual characteristic hatred and use of sarcastic remarks about Ijaw, you have again berated and insulted us the Ijaws in your letter to Mr. President. Dr. Goodluck

Secondly, as a Nigerian and an Ijaw man, I am proud to belong to both entities. Unlike you Obasanjo who is a Yoruba man first before being a Nigerian, I Chief E.K. Clark am the accepted leader of the Ijaws, while unfortunately you, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, are not accepted as leader of the Yorubas despite being Head of State twice, because you lack the virtues and honour deserving of a Yoruba leader. Your devilish and inciting remarks about the Ijaws are unfounded.

My dear former President, I know my letter will not come to you as a surprise because you know I would respond in equal measure, I have written several open letters to you in the past for your mismanagement of Nigeria affairs with Atiku Abubakar between 1999-2007, when you were the President and he your Vice President. I have also criticized and commented on your incessant interference with the government of Late President, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and I have commented on your unwarranted interference with his administration because of the confusion you generate. Reproduced hereunder is your myopic, rude and irresponsible remarks about Ijaws in your desperate letter to Mr. President:

My Stand On Who APC Should Field For The Presidency/VP - Femi Fani-kayode

MY STAND

The first challenge that the APC has is to build a formidable party that not only has a strong foundation and structure but also has a clear left of centre ideological leaning. Such a party must also be led by an impressive set of educated, articulate, clear thinking, historically-literate and courageous leaders who are ready to risk all, including their lives, to fight Jonathan and save Nigeria from the evil called the PDP.

The second challenge is for the party to identify and field a northern Presidential candidate that is acceptable to both northerners and southerners and to both christians and muslims from all over the country.

The third challenge is to identify and field a Vice Presidential candidate from the south west who can win the confidence, trust, minds, hearts and votes of the overwhelming majority of the yoruba people. If the south west does not provide the Vice Presidential candidate I fear that the APC may not win. The yoruba deserve no less and we must ensure that we are never marginalised or treated with contempt and levity again.

Updated: 2 Courts bombed in Rivers State

Two High Courts located at Ahoada and Okehi Divisions in Rivers State were today bombed by yet to be identified persons.
The bombing coincided with a hearing at the Ahoada High Court on the order barring Evans Bipi from parading himself as the Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly.
Justice Charles N. Wali of the Ahoada High Court had issued an exparte order ordering Bipi from parading himself as the Speaker of Rivers House of Assembly, following a motion filed by Speaker Otelemanba Dan Amachree and some other members of the house.
Wali adjourned the motion on notice for hearing till today January 6, 2014 for hearing.
But today the court was hit by an explosion which damaged the offices of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
The Rivers House of Assembly has been in turmoil since July 9, when an attempt to illegally remove Amachree as Speaker resulted in a free for all fight thereby leading to the sealing off the Assembly complex by the police.
Bipi is the leader of the six-member anti-Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi lawmakers and self-styled speaker of the House of Assembly.
He had recently advised Mr. Amaechi to recognize him as speaker if he still wanted to remain on his seat as governor of the oil rich state.

Stella Oduah Lied About Her MBA Degree

By Saharareporters, New York
Stella Oduah, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation who is embroiled in a scandal of towering proportions in the ministry, faces new integrity questions as her Masters’ degree has been challenged by the United States school which supposedly awarded it.

Her resume, which she presented to the Senate as a ministerial nominee in 2011, indicated she obtained a Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) from St. Paul’s College Lawrenceville, Virginia, United States.

But SaharaReporters has learned from the President of the college that it has never in its 125-year history had a graduate school or graduate program.

Another Open Letter: Obasanjo an egomaniac, says Edwin Clark

Chief Edwin Clark

The Ijaw pre-eminent chief and political godfather of President Jonathan, condemned Obasanjo for writing what he called a treasonable letter to the president, adding that Nigeria does not belong to Obasanjo as pointed out by Iyabo Obasanjo in her open letter to her father.
“Ordinarily, I never intended to join in the affray of accusations and counter accusations between a former president and a sitting president and a daughter in between. But, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in your usual characteristic hatred and use of sarcastic remarks about Ijaw, you have again berated and insulted us the Ijaws in your letter to Mr. President. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has never for once acted nor behaved as an Ijaw man since he took office as President, and we hold no grudge against him for that.
“In addition, I want to butress the assertion that all Nigerians are equal no matter where they come from, that is no one is a second class citizen of this nation. You have no right to plunge Nigeria into crisis as your past actions and recent open letter to the president connotes. The generality of Nigerians think your letter is treasonable,” Chief Clark stated.
The former minister goes further to describe Obasanjo as an unrepentant trouble maker, adding that he had in the past embarrassed former Heads of State through his devilish open letters.

BREAKING!!! -High Court bombed in Rivers state

Ahoada East High Court in Rivers state was bombed this morning, according to sources in the South South region of Nigeria.
The bombing of the court came on the heels of reports that law enforcement operatives in the state    are under pressure to release the six suspected armed thugs of Hon. Evans  Bipi and Senator George Sekibo arrested over the weekend in Ogu  by the Joint Military Task Force (JTF).
Tension had been high in the area since last month when the Presiding Judge, Hon. Justice C. N. Wali, delivered a ruling barring   Bipi, leader of the G6 rebel members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, from parading himself as Speaker of the Assembly.

Presidency shops for Tukur’s replacement

The Presidency has finally moved against the National Chairman of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, as it is now certain that it is shopping for his replacement.
Reliable sources told Vanguard that Tukur “will lose his position on January 16, as his exit is now a foregone conclusion.’’
The sources said the out-going Chairman may be replaced by Waliki Adamawa, Alhaji Hassan Adamu.
The sources said the party needed a new hand to pilot its affairs as it seemed that many party faithful were against the chairman, whose alleged imposition of his maternal cousin as a candidate for one of the elections in his home state, Adamawa, precipitated the crises that had been rocking PDP for over a year now.
The party postponed its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting from January 8, to 16 because the National Assembly was on recess, and most of its members, who would participate in the meeting, travelled for their vacation.

Snipers: Security spreads probe over Obasanjo’s accusations

Security agencies are probing former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s claim that about 1,000 Nigerians have been placed under watch by the Federal Government, as reported in a national newspaper today.
The probe, which is being coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), may be extended to similar allegations raised by Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
Besides, members of the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) have started consultations on how to approach the petition sent to the commission by President Goodluck Jonathan.
A source said the commission would follow the rules of procedures in treating Jonathan’s petition.
All security agencies are involved in the probe of the allegation of training of snipers to deal with 1,000 Nigerians on a watch-list, it was learnt.

5 Policemen Detained For Renting Rifle To Kidnappers

OWERRI — Five policemen, serving in Imo State police command, including the armourer of New Owerri police division, are now in detention over how one of the AK-47 rifles officially issued for guard duties, ended up in the hands of dare devil kidnappers operating in the state.
Confirming the develpoment to Vanguard in a telephone interview yesterday, the state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Musa Katsina, said while four of the five policemen were explaining their involvement in the sordid act, the armourer is being tried for negligent conduct.
Katsina said: “It is true that I ordered the arrest, detention and interrogation of four serving policemen of this command for allegedly renting one of the rifles assigned to them to dare devil kidnappers.”
According to the CP, all the police officers, including the armourer, arrested in connection with the sordid finding are now facing orderly room trial.
He said: “I have constituted a panel to try them. They have been given the opportunity to explain and anybody found to be involved in the crime would be made to face the full weight of the law.”
Giving a graphic account of how the police recovered the weapon from fleeing kidnappers, Katsina said the command’s Ambush Squad gave a hot chase to a gang of kidnappers and in the process, they abandoned the gun in their operational vehicle and ran away.

INVESTIGATION: Jonathan seeks N1.8billion to fund ghost project INVESTIGATION: Jonathan seeks N1.8billion to fund ghost project

President Jonathan budgets billions for Bayelsa project long completed, and fully paid for in 2006.
President Goodluck Jonathan is asking the National Assembly to appropriate about N1.8 billion this year to help connect his home state of Bayelsa, to the national electricity grid, but this request suggests that federal officials only want to pocket the money.
PREMIUM TIMES investigations into the proposed project reveal that President Jonathan is asking money for projects that have been completed seven years ago, and that were all fully paid for in 2006 when he was the governor of the state.
In the 2014 Federal budget recently presented by the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to the National Assembly for consideration and approval, the government lists as priority, the need to connect the state to the national electricity transmission network, but this shocking blunder is drawing attention to the absence of project monitoring and evaluation principles in policy making under the current administration, and the shabbiness that attends to budget preparation.
When contacted, the Special Adviser to the President on Power, Beks Dagogo-Jack, could not explain how the provision found its way into the budget, but claimed the issue might involve some complicated technical explanations only the bureaucrats at the Federal Ministry of Power could make.
PREMIUM TIMES investigations reveal that such provisions, that many federal crime investigators are familiar with, are some of the several fraudulent financial requests smuggled into budgets to steal public funds.
The Special Adviser to Bayelsa State governor on Power, Olice Kemenanabo, on Tuesday, confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that Bayelsa State was indeed linked to the national grid more than eight years ago.