OSOPADEC N61.63billion: Ilaje Youths protest Ajimuda’s release by EFCC, accuses govt of mismanaging funds

Hundreds of aggrieved youths from Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State today protested in Akure,the state capital over the released of the embattled Chairman of the State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission [OSOPADEC], Prince Debo Ajimuda by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC].
The protesters also accused the state government of appointing Ajimuda as the chairman of the commission in order to loot the treasury of the oil region, despite earlier protest over Ajimuda’s appointment.
The youth under the aegis of the Ilaje Democratic Network for Development (DND) marched on Akure, particularly around Alagbaka area and other parts of the state capital, with placards of various inscriptions.
The inscriptions read: “Commissioner for Finance, where is the 40% of the 13% oil derivation for the past three years?”; “The sharing of Ilaje money must stop now” .
“Those who have participated in the looting of Ilaje money will account for it and we will not allow them to have peace until full account is rendered.”
The  Youth Leader, Aladetan Babatunde, said it was the pick of heartlessness for some people to have mismanaged funds meant for the development of the oil producing areas which have been damaged by pollution resulting from oil producing activities.
“In 2007 when Governor Olusegun Mimiko came to campaign in Ilaje, he raised our hope by promising that he would increase the OSOPADEC fund from 40% to 45% of the oil derivation from the federation account. But we cannot see 2% in the last three years of this administration.
“However in 2009, the LP ‘s government met a budget of N18bn left by the immediate past Dr. Olusegun Agagu government. Yet they could not continue with the on-going projects nor initiate new ones. The money went down the drain.
“The most embarrassing thing is that in 2010, OSOPADEC had a budget of N26bn and it was squandered on frivolities. No single developmental project has been put in place to salvage the environment already damaged by pollution and erosion arising from oil exploration and exploitation.
“This is antithetical to the spirit of the law that established the commission and the interest of our people that are wallowing in penury.”
It will be recalled that the OSOPADEC Boss was apprehended last week by officials of the Anti-graft agency in Alagbaka area hiding in his neighbour’s house, putting on singlet and boxer.
“Daily Post” gathered that the state governor, Olusegun Mimiko who  said he was not aware about the coming of the EFCC to the state was disturbed about the EFCC officials.
It was also gathered that the state governor allegedly offered the team leader of the anti-graft agency N25million bribe in order to stop the arrest of Ajimuda, but rejected by the team leader.
15 of his flashy cars are presently in the custody of Ondo State Police Command in Akure.
Already, Ajimuda has been released on Monday, but three officials from accounting department in the commission have been invited by the EFCC for further interrogation.

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JTF searches houses for Boko Haram, kill four

It was another raid has men of the Joint Task Force embarked on a thorough search for members of the Boko Haram today in Maiduguri, the state capital of Borno as four suspected Boko Haram after a gun battle.

The attack by JTF came up as a result of incessant killings by men of the dreaded Islamic militants in Maiduguri, including the killing of a prison official and a retired police inspector.

“Daily Post” gathered that several military patrols stop in Maiduguri neighbourhoods and carry out house to house searches.

Boko Haram has been unrelenting in its low level violent campaign against President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, which has continued since a brief flirtation with peace talks collapsed at the beginning of last week.

Months of gun and bomb attacks blamed on the sect have killed hundreds since it launched its uprising more than two years ago to try to carve out an Islamic state in Nigeria.

On Saturday, gunfire erupted in Maiduguri and in the north’s biggest city of Kano, to the west, as militants battled with security forces.

The Islamists attacked two police stations with explosives on Saturday, spokesman for the JTF, Sagir Musa, said, although they were repelled and three were killed.

Musa said on Wednesday that two militants, including a commander, were killed during an attempt to arrest them the day before as part of the crackdown.

“Following a tip-off, a special operation was conducted that resulted in the arrest of a commander of Boko Haram who was involved in recent attacks in Maiduguri,” he said, adding that he was arrested with his lieutenant in Jajeri area of the city.

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EFCC Witness Testifies Against el-Rufai

Mr. Sunday Idowu, a prosecution witness in the trial of former Minister of the FCT, Nasir el-Rufai, told an Abuja High Court that el-Rufai did not declare all his assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau.

el-Rufai

Idowu, an EFCC officer who led the investigations for the arraignment of el-Rufai and two others, said that the accused only declared one instead of the nine plots of land after he left office in 2007.

Arraigned with el-Rufai are Altine Jibrin, former Director-General of the Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS) and former General Manager, Ismail Iro.

The EFCC is charging the trio for abuse of public office and illegal conversion of a land meant for the construction of transmitting/injection sub-stations of the PHCN at Plot 1201 of Asokoro.

el-Rufai is accused of allocating 10 plots of land in Asokoro District in various sizes to his family members, including his two wives, Hadiza and Hasiya.

The EFCC claimed that he committed the offence between 2003 and 2007.

At the resumed hearing presided over by Justice Abubakar Umar, the EFCC said that investigations also revealed that el-Rufai was on the Board of the Directors of four firms that benefited from the Asokoro land allocation.

Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Adebayo Adelodun (SAN), Idowu told the court that investigations at the Corporate

Affairs Commission, also linked el-Rufai to the ownership of System Property Development Company.

Other companies owned by the accused, according to Idowu, are Micro-duct Nigeria Ltd, Pure Environmental Services Ltd and Express Procurement Nigeria Ltd.

“These companies got some choice land scattered in the highbrow area of Asokoro district where the PHCN sub-station was supposed to be built,’’ Idowu added.

Another EFCC witness, Mohammed Alhassan, a former Executive Secretary of the FCDA, while being cross-examined by el-Rufai’s counsel, Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN), maintained that el-Rufai ignored his advice.

Alhassan told the court that he advised el-Rufai against diverting the plot of land allocated to the PHCN to other purpose.

“But the former Minister ignored my advice,” he added.

The court through Alhassan, admitted a letter written by Julius Berger Plc to the FCDA, dated Jan. 26, 2007. The letter was a reminder that the plot of land in dispute in Asokoro District, Abuja, was earmarked for PHCN.

The second document tendered was a letter written by the Engineering Department of FCDA, to the Secretary, Planning Department, FCDA, dated April 28, 2007.

Alhassan also presented to the court a memo he wrote to el-Rufai, dated Feb. 6, 2007, advising him not to alter the Master Plan.

Reading the memo in the court, Alhassan said: “Mr Minister may wish to consider reversing the approval granted to redesign the area and return the land to status quo.”

Also during cross examination by Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), counsel to the second accused (Jibrin) and third accused (Iro), Alhassan agreed that the power to allocate and revoke land in the FCT was vested in the minister.

Umar adjourned the case to April 25 and April 26 at the instance of Agabi and ordered the Legal Department of the FCDA to produce the certified true copies of the two memos written to el Rufai by Alhassan.

The judge also ordered the Department of Land and Planning to produce the original site plan for the PHCN sub-station in Asokoro.

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Renegade Mali soldiers announce takeover

Rebel troops have appeared on Malian state TV to announce they have seized control of the country, hours after attacking the presidential palace.

The rebels said that a nationwide curfew was in force and that the constitution had been suspended.

The renegade troops had staged a mutiny on Wednesday, trading gunfire with soldiers loyal to the government.

The mutineers say the government is not giving them enough arms to tackle a rebellion by ethnic Tuaregs.

On Wednesday the mutineers had taken over the state radio and TV broadcaster in Bamako and took it off air.

After several hours of footage of traditional Malian music and dancing, a group of soldiers appeared on screen early on Thursday morning, with a caption identifying them as the "Committee for the Re-establishment of Democracy and the Restoration of the State".

A spokesperson for the rebels, identified on screen as Lt Amadou Konare, said they had ended the "incompetent regime" of President Amadou Toumani Toure.

Lt Konare condemned the "inability" of President Toure's government to "fight terrorism", and said the soldiers would look to hand over to a democratically elected government.

There has not yet been any reaction from President Toure to the announcement.

Tuareg unrest

The unrest began on Wednesday as the country's defence minister started a tour of military barracks north of the capital.

Soldiers fired in the air during the inspection, prompting an immediate strengthening of security around the presidential palace.

Troops are upset with the government's handling of a Tuareg rebellion in the north of the country, and are also reportedly opposed to any potential talks with the rebels.

There was heavy gunfire in Bamako throughout Wednesday, and armoured vehicles had moved in to protect the presidential palace. Gunshots reportedly continued to ring out overnight.

A member of the presidential guard described the fighting to AFP news agency.

"We are in control of the presidential palace. People are shooting towards us and we are returning fire," he said.

The BBC's West Africa correspondent Thomas Fessy says it is unclear whether President Amadou Toumani Toure was inside the palace at the time.

In the northern town of Gao, young recruits were said to have begun rioting at a military base, according to the Associated Press.

Both the US and France have urged the soldiers and government to resolve their dispute through peaceful means.

The Tuaregs have forced the army out of several northern towns in recent months.

Earlier this week Ecowas, the West African regional organisation, urged its member states to support Mali with military equipment and logistics.

A presidential election was due to take place in the country in just under a month.

The government had so far refused to postpone the poll, despite the unrest involving Tuareg-led rebels.

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N44m bribery scandal: House constitutes ad hoc committee

The House of Representatives yesterday disbanded its Committee on Capital Markets over allegation of N44 million bribery scandal leveled against its Chairman, Hon. Herman Hembe by the Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Aruma Oteh.

The Speaker, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, therefore constituted an eight-member committee to continue with the public hearing which is focusing on the near collapse of the capital market.

The new probe panel led by Ibrahim El-Sadu (Taraba) include Ini Udoka, Toby Okechukwu,Buba Jibril,Usman Adamu Mohammed, Dogara Daramola and Rose Okoh.

Aside the disbanding of Hembe committee, Tambuwal also directed the Ethics and Privileges Committee led by Samson Osagie to investigate Oteh’s allegations and report back to the House. Osagie is also the Deputy Minority Whip. He was asked to chair the committee since the substantive chairman is a member of the disqualified capital market committee.

The decision on the embattled lawmaker (Hembe) was arrived at during the meeting of principal officers of the House with the Speaker yesterday. The parley resulted to a two-hour delay in the commencement of plenary yesterday. At the meeting , the Speaker and the principal officers agreed that the only way to redeem the image of the House in the bribery allegation was to disqualify Hembe and his committee from continuing with the probe . He was asked to voluntarily step aside alongside his committee members to facilitate the setting up of a new panel to conclude the probe.

On resumption of plenary, the Speaker quickly examined and approved the votes and proceedings of the previous legislative day. As the Speaker was about to enter into the business of the day as marshaled out in the Order Paper, Hembe in line with the resolution at the principal officers’ meeting raised a point of order to lay personal complaints, which was duly granted.

He immediately drew the attention of the House to the ugly development while investigating into the down-turn in the capital market as mandated by the House a couple of weeks ago. He said that he was seeking the permission of the House to express his innocence in the saga.

Hembe told the House that he did not make any attempt to collect any bribe or inducement of any kind from the SEC, but rather alleged that he made an effort to resist the attempt made by Ms Oteh to entice him with a N30 million bribe.
He said that he had an internal memo from the SEC office to substantiate his claim, stressing that he was innocent and would never let the House down.

Soon after he spoke, the Chief Whip, Ishaka Bawa, raised a motion asking for the disqualification of Hembe and his committee from continuing with the probe. He recommended that an eight-man adhoc committee be set up to continue with the public hearing.
The Speaker endorsed the motion and announced the new panel as well as members of a committee to investigate Oteh’s allegations.

Tambuwal said: “This morning, we have passed through yet another challenge which though not unusual in the democratic process, has subjected this institution to further refining. These challenges are necessary for the strengthening of our democratic institutions.

“Before I proceed further, let me thank the Chairman of the House Committee on Capital Market, Hon. Herman Hembe and the entire members of the committee for their courage in voluntarily withdrawing from this investigative hearing. It is not a popular propensity of public officers in our clime, but it is in line with our legislative agenda of transparency in the conduct of government business.

“The incidence of 15th March, 2012 which forms the basis of the deliberations just concluded, arose from an investigative hearing which was being conducted pursuant to a resolution of this House. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) in Sections 88 and 89 places upon the legislature the duty and responsibility to conduct investigations into the activities of government for the purpose of exposing corruption, waste and inefficiency. This is no doubt a responsibility which is hazard-prone. However, as I have stated elsewhere, these hazards notwithstanding, it is a duty from which we cannot and must not abdicate.

“Let me assure Nigerians once again that we are totally committed to the fight against corruption and shall deploy all energies available at our disposal to fight this war. The old saying that “when the going gets tough, the tough gets going,” will continue to be our guide. I also wish to assure Nigerians that in fighting this war, we recognize that we must, like Caesar’s wife be above board and suspicion.
“For the avoidance of doubt and the benefit of those who may be uninformed, all committees of the House have constitutional backing.

“My dear colleagues, we were not elected to lie on a bed of roses. Those who elected us expect that we represent their yearnings and aspirations. Nigerians have chosen presidential democracy as a bulwark against dictatorship, against corruption and waste and above all, against executive recklessness, this is the duty to which we have been called and we have sworn to promote, protect and preserve the will of the people enshrined in the Constitution.

“Pursuant to this resolve, the ad-hoc committee just constituted, will commence the investigative hearing based on the earlier resolution of the House de novo and for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians. To avoid role conflict and in order to ensure fair hearing for all, the Chairman of the Ethics Committee, who happens to be a member of the committee on capital market is hereby excused from the position for the purposes of the present investigation. Similarly, the Deputy Chairman of the Ethics Committee, who is now a member of the ad-hoc committee is also excused, from the Ethics Committee, for the purposes of the ethics investigation”, Speaker Tambuwal said.
Reacting to the Hembe-led panel’s sack yesterday, SEC through its spokesman, Obi Adindu, expressed pleasure over the development.

In a statement, SEC said: “The Securities and Exchange Commission welcomes the timely action of the House of Representatives under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal in creating the Ad hoc Committee to preside over the Public Hearing on the Nigerian Capital Market.

“There is no doubt that the action of the House aligns with our position and the view widely held by most Nigerians that the Hearing had deviated from the course set for it by the House and degenerated instead to a hostile attack on the Securities and Exchange Commission, and its Director General, Ms. Arunma Oteh.

“We note the allegation made by Hon. Hembe on the floor of the House and on live television that it was Ms. Oteh who made financial overtures to him. We wish to state unequivocally that at no time and in no place did the SEC offer Hon. Hembe any financial inducement.
“We confirm that the SEC received a document in respect of the public hearing with a list of items with cost implications totaling N39,844,490.00.”

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Boko Haram rules out talks with FG

 

MAIDUGURI, - A purported spokesman for Nigerian Islamist sect Boko Haram said on Tuesday the group had "closed all possible doors of negotiation" with a government of "unbelievers" that it cannot trust, and called on Muslims to join the fight against it.

The statement to local journalists in the sect's heartland of Maiduguri came two days after a Muslim cleric brokering initial peace talks pulled out, dimming hopes of a negotiated end to the insurgency.

"Almighty God has told us repeatedly that the unbelievers will never respect the promises they made. As such, henceforth, we will never respect any proposal for dialogue," Abu Qaqa, a shadowy figure who frequently communicates with journalists on the sect's behalf, said by phone in the northern Hausa language.

The departure of Datti Ahmed, a former ally of Boko Haram's founder, could be a major blow for talks which were only in their early stages, although some security sources doubt peace talks are possible with a sect so fragmented and radicalised.

The negotiations were aimed at ending months of bomb and gun attacks by Boko Haram that killed hundreds, mostly in the majority Muslim north, and have at times dominated Goodluck Jonathan's presidency.

The group has said it wants to impose Islamic sharia law across the oil-rich country split equally between Christians and Muslims.

"We are certain we will dismantle this government and establish Islamic government in Nigeria," Abu Qaqa said. "There is no doubt in our minds we will emerge victorious. We are calling on all Muslims in this part of the world to accept the clarion call and fight for the restoration of the Caliphate."



MISTRUST, VIOLENCE

Political and diplomatic sources told Reuters last week that people close to Boko Haram had been carrying messages back and forth between the sect's self-proclaimed leader Abubakar Shekau and government officials.

Three days later, Datti pulled out, saying he could not trust the government after news of the talks was leaked.

The latest statement from Abu Qaqa was unusually detailed.

He talked about restoring the Caliphate of Usman dan Fodio, ruler of 18th century Sokoto, one of West Africa's most powerful Islamic kingdoms in which he said "the white man fought and destroyed," during Nigeria's colonisation by Great Britain.

He confirmed the details of the meetings between mediators going between the government and said Datti, whom he said the sect had "enormous respect" for, had made contact with them offering to mediate talks.

They accepted on condition the government releases their jailed members, he said, but then talks fell through.

"As far as we are concerned, we know that the federal government will not live up to its responsibility. A true believer will not allow himself to be cheated twice."

Recent arrests and deaths of senior figures have weakened the group, analysts say.

It has not managed to launch a widescale, coordinated attack since one in Kano that killed 186 people in January, reverting to crude bomb attacks and drive by shootings.

Suspected Boko Haram militants on the back of a motorcycles opened fire on a police checkpoint in Sharada, Kano state, on Tuesday, killing a policeman and two civilians, Kano police Lieutenant Iweha Ikedichin said.

Nigerian authorities blamed a faction of the sect for the killings of a British and Italian hostages two weeks ago in the northwest, although Qaqa has denied any link.

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Mass massacre:JTF kill 9 Boko Haram members, arrest 2 in Kano

Hell was recently let lose in the camp of Boko Haram at Tudun Wada Local Government Area, Kano, Wednesday when the JTF and the Islamist sect engaged in a gun battle leaving nine of its members and killed and two others arrested.

It was exclusively gathered that the group invaded the armoury of Tudun Wada Police station with three vehicles at about 2 a.m., bombed the station and made away with some arms and ammunition.

According to the Brigade Commander of 3 Brigade (Bukavu Barracks), Brigadier-General Illyasu Abbah who briefed newsmen on the incident, no life was lost on their side, except nine Boko Haram that were wasted by the security operatives in a gun battle that lasted for hours.

His words: “They did not succeed in breaking into the vault containing about N2 million.

“Within the hours of 2 and 7 a.m. on Wednesday, hoodlums went to Tudun Wada which is about 100 kilometers from Kano. They used explosives to blow up the police station in the area.

“They destroyed the DPO’s house, went to the police station and did the same. They also used explosives to blow up Unity Bank adjacent the police station,” the Army Chief told journalists, adding that the Islamic militants carted away rifles from the bombed police station.

“On getting the information, at about 1:30 a.m. security operatives mobilised, blocked Falgore, Jos and Kano axis because definitely, they came from Kano to operate and move back.”

Abbah further disclosed thus: “Only God knows what these weapons would be used for if they had succeeded in carting them away. This hoodlums lack arms and they have been in desperate mood to get these items. That is why their best place of attack are police stations.”

600 rounds of 5.6 mm bullets, 176 cartridges of Pump Action gun, 147 rounds of 9mm bullets, two AK 47 rifles, three pistols, two assorted rifles, two smoke guns, 21 magazines, two dane guns, one Pump Action gun, six containers of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), 70 Canisters of Tear Gas, one Lap Top, police uniforms and helmets were items recovered from Boko Haram after the clash.

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Tevez makes heroic return as City down Chelsea: Full review

MANCHESTER, - Carlos Tevez made a heroic return to action by setting up Samir Nasri’s late winner as Premier League title hopefuls Manchester City came from behind to complete a rousing 2-1 win over Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.
Sergio Aguero netted a penalty on 78 minutes after Michael Essien was deemed to have handled in the box before Tevez – on for Nigel De Jong after 66 minutes – slipped the ball into the path of Nasri to chip Petr Cech for the winning goal on 85 minutes as scenes of euphoria engulfed the stadium.

It was Tevez's first appearance for City six month after he infamously refused to appear as a substitute during a Champions League match at Bayern Munich.

City are now only a point behind leaders United after a 20th straight league win at home - a record for the Premier League - with nine games left in their quest for the flag.

How they got there is something of a minor miracle with Chelsea proving stubborn opponents for much of the night under their caretaker boss Robert Di Matteo,who tasted his first defeat as manager of the London side since replacing the sacked Andre Villas-Boas earlier this month.

City carved out the first chance of the evening when Pablo Zabaleta slipped the ball to David Silva who knocked a shot over the bar before Juan Mata did likewise at the other end by ballooning an effort from Fernando Torres's pass.

Nasri was desperately unfortunate to hit the bar with Cech beaten from his shot on 11 minutes while Mario Balotelli should have scored on 29 minutes when he was presented with the ball by Frank Lampard, but he could only knock a shot wide of goal with Cech getting a glove to his effort.

City opted to wheel on Gareth Barry at half-time for Balotelli with Chelsea having the misfortune of losing the injured Branislav Ivanovic midway through the first period.

Nasri hit the bar for a second time in the contest with Cech tipping his cross onto the woodwork on 56 minutes before the visiting team struck the opening goal, one of their rare attacking moments in the second half.

Cahill saw a hopeful shot deflect off Yaya Toure before spinning beyond the England goalkeeper Joe Hart, who could not recover as the ball deflected beyond him low to his left.

Chelsea were forced to hit on the break by this stage, but were undone just when they seemed to have done the hard part. Zabaleta drove a shot at the Chelsea substitute Essien, a replacement for Raul Meireles, who had no complaints after lifting his arms in the area.

Aguero sent Cech the wrong way from the penalty spot before Nasri clipped the winner into the net seconds after Cech had held a blistering shot by the vibrant home midfielder.

The win was all the more vital after City lost in Swansea 10 days ago. They will move two points clear of United at the top of standings if they win at Stoke City on Saturday before their city foes host Fulham at Old Trafford on Monday evening.

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Genevieve Nnaji,Stella Damasus,Omotola Jalade Nominated For Cameroon Entertainment Awards

   Nollywood stars,Omotola jalade, Genny Nnaji, Stella Damasus, Jim Iyke have been nominated for Cameroon Entertainment Awards . 

    They were nominated in PAN African Actor/Actress Category alongside Ghana's john dumelo and Majid Michel.

    P square has also been nominated for PAN African artist of the year alongside Akon, Awilo longomba, fally ipupa, Viviane Ndour  and patience dabany.

   CEA was created to comprehensively recognize cameroonian entertainers from all over the world, both English-speaking and French-speaking.and  encouraging talent, nurturing it to an internationally-rated standard.

   The Maiden Edition of the  CEA Awards will be taking Place at The Prestigious Cramton Auditoriun In Howard University in DC, July 28th 2012.

       Footballer Samuel Eto'o, Lez Nubians, and Roger Milla are among the Honorees 

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“I’m guilty!” Student who tweeted vile comments about Muamba

Liam Stacey today admitted to tweeting sick comments about Bolton Wanderers midfielder, Fabrice Muamba, who is in intensive care after collapsing during an FA Cup clash at White Hart Lane.

The 21-year-old wrote: “LOL [Laugh out loud] **** Muamba. He’s dead!!! #haha.” and pleaded guilty to psoting racial comments on the social network. Stacey has been told he faces jail term when he gets sentenced next week. He was also told he must stay off social networking websites as a condition of being released on bail.

“Fabrice Muamba collapsed on the pitch and was believed to have died. “Shortly after Stacey posted on Twitter: ‘LOL, F*** Muamba. He’s dead.” Prosecutor Lisa Jones told Swansea Magistrates’ Court. Stacey also went on to fire back at other tweeters who took offence to his update.

He the tried to exempt himself from the tweets by claiming his account was hacked. He also tried to delete his page but he got arrested on Sunday morning at his student home in Swansea, South Wales. Stacey told the police that he was drunk at the time. “I was at the bar when I heard what had happened to Muamba. I don’t know why I posted it. I’m not racist and some of my friends are from different cultural backgrounds,” he said.

Stacey is a Biology undergraduate and is originally from Pontypridd, South Wales. He was close to tears as the evidence was given about his tweets. Moments after he sent out the tweets, he sent an sms to a friend saying, “I said something about Muamba that I shouldn’t have and tweeted back to some people who abused me. Getting police on me now which isn’t good at all.”

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Perm sec caught with N2bn cash

A serving federal permanent secretary (names withheld) has been arrested over a N18 billion scam uncovered in the police pension scheme with N2 billion cash found in his residence.

The matter has been handed over for prosecution to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The permanent secretary was a director in a federal ministry from where he was seconded to one of the newly-created ministries.



Two other accomplices, who are also a serving director (names withheld) in two federal ministries but who had earlier worked with the Police Pension Fund office, have also been arrested and handed over to the EFCC and ICPC for more investigation. EFCCs spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the report, saying that apart from the permanent secretary, there are four other top civil servants involved.

Sources in the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) told Daily Sun that investigation showed that there is a syndicate which operates in the ministry. A cheque of N300 million was used to clear money from an account which is being kept for that sole purpose.
The permanent secretary and his accomplices have been handed over to the EFCC and ICPC but investigations are still ongoing. On conclusion, we expect ICPC and EFCC to take the matter to court...

EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, had earlier confirmed the investigation at a parley with newsmen last week.
Meanwhile, indications emerged at the weekend that PRTT Chairman, AbdulRasheed Maina, has rejected fraud allegations leveled against his team by Assistant Chief Accountant in the Police Pension Office, Mr. Toyin Ishola.
Ishola had earlier testified before the Senate Joint Committee on Establishment and Public Service and States and Local Government Administration investigating pension management and administration.
He told the committee that Maina allegedly distorted the existing Police Pension Account by transferring N21 billion into three different accounts domiciled in three different banks.
The Joint Committee Chairman, Senator Aloysius Etok, and his co-Chairman, Senator Kabiru Gaya, thereafter issued a warrant of arrest against Maina.

The warrant, which was dated March 8, 2012, pursuant to Section 89 of the 1999 Constitution.
But in a 50-page written submission to the committee, Maina insisted that the PRTT has so far saved and recovered N151.6 billion and 6 million for the country from 2010 to date, out of which N74 billion was appropriated as part of the N4.877 trillion 2012 budget.

Another N24 billion was reportedly earmarked as contingency for harmonization of arrears particularly with police, where officers in the cadre of AIGs/Commissioners of Police are paid monthly pensions between N84, 000 and N101, 000.
The documents showed that the two accounts in two different banks were opened with the authorization from the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation vide an August 9, 2011 letter. The new mandate showed that Yakubu Kolawole Adeyemi, Edwin Ementa Nwokoye are the new signatories as at September 5, 2011, replacing Ishola and one Mike Okoro.

Furthermore, the PRTT noted that it discovered that there were illegal withdrawals by staff of the Police Pension Office, using multiple cheques in fictitions names in excess of 30 cheques per day to withdraw cash from their bankers.
Such illegal withdrawals amounted to N14 billion. The PRTT, assisted by the law enforcement agencies, have made substantial recovery of the said stolen monies. A staff of the Police Pension Office (names withheld) turned in N1billion cash.

Another surrendered three luxury estates with about 27 blocks of deluxe flats he built in Abuja and many others...
Maina equally indicated in the documents submitted to the committee that while he is from Biu in Borno State, Danjuma Zubairu is from Kabba in Kogi State; in a direct response to allegations that the account in a bank in the Central Business District branch, was domiciled in the account of his younger brother.
Zubairu, Maina maintained, is the Group Head, Private Banking, Abuja region of the bank. Repeated calls and text messages to Etok and Gaya were unanswered.

source: http://sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/ ... 2-001.html

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Muamba now breathing without medication and also moving arms and legs

Emerging reports claim that Fabrice Muamba is showing signs of improvement. The Bolton midfielder has been under intensive care since he suffered a heart attack and collapsed in an FA Cup game against Spurs. But encouraging news has been received this evening, which say the Congo-born player is speaking minimally and moving his arms and legs.
“Fabrice Muamba remains in intensive care at the London Chest Hospital, where today he is showing small signs of improvement,” a statement released by Barts, the London NHS Trust and Bolton Wanderers read. “His heart is now beating without the help of medication and he is also moving his arms and his legs. However, his long-term prognosis will remain unclear for some time. He is still critically ill and will continue to be closely monitored and treated by staff in The London Chest Hospital’s intensive care unit.”
Muamba’s fiancee, Shauna Muamba, took to Twitter to thank all those who have been sending messages. “God is in control. Please keep @fmuamba in ur prayers xx. Please keep praying for @fmuamba its really helping I can feel it xx.”
She later tweeted: “For all your messages of love thank u so much. Where there is life there is hope xx”
Fellow footballers Ashley Cole, Johan Djourou and Shaun Wright-Phillips visited the stricken star today.

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Policeman shoots tanker driver over N20k bribe, kills painter with stray bullet

An unidentified police sergeant attached to Area ‘C’ Police Command, Iponri, Surulere, Lagos, allegedly went beserk and shot a truck driver on his left hand and a stray bullet he fired killed another person while he was making efforts to escape from the scene of the incident to avoid being lynched by an angry mob.

An eyewitness said that trouble started when the cop with about five others who were operating in a (danfo) commuter bus blocked the truck with a Lagos registration number RV538 EKY driven by Saheed Mufutau (pictured above). The incident occurred at Jimoh Odutola Street, by PHCN office, Surulere, Lagos on Friday.

According to the source, the policeman, after checking the truck’s particulars and they were up to date, demanded for a N20,000 bribe which the driver pleaded he could not afford because he was in the area to off-load empty containers.

During the ensuing argument, the sergeant allegedly shot the driver in his left hand. Sensing danger, his colleagues in the danfo bus sped off and left the sergeant to his fate.
In his desperate bid to escape from the scene, the cop fired several shots into the air to scare the mob from lynching him. One of the bullets he fired hit Dotun Alawiye, a motor spray painter at a nearby workshop. He died instantly.
The erring sergeant still managed to escape with the help of a motorcyclist he forced to ferry him away from the area.

He was later arrested at Bode Thomas Police Division and handed over to the Area ‘C’ Police Command where he was serving.
Chairman of Artisans Association at Doyin bus stop, where the deceased painter had his workshop, Mr. Gbenga Shoneye, said they heard the gun shots at the bus stop but did not know one of them had been hit by a stray bullet.

“We are appealing to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to ensure that justice is done because the deceased had a wife and four children,” he said.
Wife of the deceased Mrs. Omolara Karounwi, 30, said she was shocked to hear that her husband was killed by a stray bullet because he was an easy-going person who never got involved in any trouble.
“We had been married for 15 years and blessed with four children. How am I going to cope with the upkeep and training of the children?” she wept.
She called on the authorities to ensure that justice is done on the murder of her husband, while also soliciting for the assistance of kind Nigerians on the upkeep of her four children.

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Nigeria in 'indirect talks' with Boko Haram - Africa - Al Jazeera English

Nigeria's government and Islamist group Boko Haram have been in indirect talks to end deadly violence blamed on
the anti-state group, sources familiar with the discussions have revealed.

"There have been preliminary talks between a Boko Haram-appointed intermediary," a senior security official told the AFP news agency on condition of anonymity, adding that Boko Haram has set out terms for a temporary ceasefire.

The diplomatic source said contact had been made between Nigeria's government and Boko Haram through intermediaries.

The security official said Boko Haram has proposed a three-month truce if all of its detained members are released and if the government halts any further arrests. He said the government was looking at the proposal.

The news of planned negotiations comes as more violence was reported in the troubled town of Maiduguri, in northern Nigeria.

Authories said two people were killed on Thursday by gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram. Click here for the full story Nigeria in 'indirect talks' with Boko Haram - Africa - Al Jazeera English

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Certificate forgery: 37 police recruits arraigned in Ilorin

Thirty-seven newly recruited policemen, who were undergoing training at the Police College, Ilorin, Kwara State, have been arraigned for allegedly presenting fake certificates.

Our correspondent learnt on Friday that the suspects had spent five months at the college before they were discovered to have allegedly presented fake certificates and other documents which had aided their recruitment into the force.

It was learnt that the suspects were discovered on March 12, 2012 when a screening team of detectives from the Monitoring Unit of the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, led by Deputy Superintendent U.C. Chika, arrested them for presenting fake documents for recruitment.

Chika alleged that the accused were recruited into the police with various certificates.

The certificates included Senior Secondary School Certificate, National Certificate of Education and university degrees, which were said to have been allegedly forged.

They were also accused of falsifying their ages.

Police First Information Report on the matter said that after

investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department, it was confirmed that the suspects committed the alleged offences. On discovery of the alleged fake documents, the suspects, who included eight females, were arraigned before three separate magistrate’s courts in Ilorin on charges of criminal conspiracy, forgery, impersonation and using as authentic certificates known to be fake.

The alleged offences contravened sections 97, 363, 132, and 163 of the Penal Code Law of the Federation of Nigeria.

The prosecutor, who had informed the court that the alleged offences were not ordinarily bailable, objected to their bail applications.

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30,000 Nigerians to study in UK by 2015 – British MP

A Member of the British Parliament, Mr Iain Stewart, has said that about 30,000 Nigerian students would be studying in various universities across the United Kingdom by 2015.
He said this at a two-day seminar entitled: “Nigeria/UK Best Practice in Education.”
The seminar was organised by Focus Learning Support in collaboration with Global Development Partnerships, Sodji Sports Foundation and the University of East London at the Westminster, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
“There will be nearly 30,000 Nigerian students in the UK BY 2015,” the Europe correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes Stewart as saying on Thursday.
“These numbers account for seven per cent of the total UK university population; this is a very significant number,” he added.
The MP who explained further that the international students market was worth nearly 10 billion pounds, urged the UK politicians and the academic sector to place more importance on the sector.
“It is a global market and we have to offer the very best courses and best academic practices if we want to continue to attract students in large numbers,” he stressed.
Stewart commended FSL for supporting many students from Nigeria to further their studies in the UK to enable them compete with the global demands.
Also speaking, Dr Sam Wodi of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, in his presentation on the Rivers experience, faulted the perception that the standard of education in Nigeria had fallen.
“This cannot be sustained as more than 40 Bachelors Degree graduates from various Nigerian universities sent on Rivers State Government scholarship to pursue masters degrees in the University of Coventry and Teesside, performed excellently with seven first class.”
Earlier, Chief Executive Officer of FSL, Dr Elizabeth Achinewhu-Nworgu, said the organisation in collaboration with the UK Border Agency had facilitated the admission of more than 600 students into the UK universities and colleges since inception in 2003.
“Out of this number 98 per cent have graduated and gone back home to better utilise the skills gained from the British education.
“In 2011, 33 Masters degree Rivers State Scholarship Board (RSSB) sponsored students graduated from the University of Coventry and Teesside and have since returned to work for their communities in Nigeria,” Achinewhu-Nworgu said.
She commended Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, for the scholarship initiative and urged other states to emulate the gesture.

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Putin wins Russia's presidential poll

MOSCOW - Vladimir Putin claimed victory in Russia's presidential election before tens of thousands of cheering supporters Sunday, even as the opposition and independent observers insisted the vote had been marred by widespread fraud.

At a massive rally just outside the Kremlin, Putin thanked his supporters for helping foil plots aimed at destroying Russia, sounding a nationalistic theme that has resonated with the prime minister's core supporters amid a wave of unprecedented protests.

"I have promised that we would win and we have won!" he shouted to the flag-waving crowd, which responded with shouts of support. "We have won in an open and honest struggle."

He said the vote showed the majority of Russians has rejected "political provocations" by his opponents aimed at "destroying Russia's statehood and usurping power."

Putin tallied 58-59 percent of the vote, according to exit polls cited by state television. Communist Party candidate Gennady Zyuganov received about 18 percent, according to the surveys, and the others — nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky, socialist Sergei Mironov and billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov — were in single digits.

Official vote results from the far eastern regions and Siberia where the count was already completed seemed to confirm the poll data. With about 48 percent of all precincts counted, Putin was leading the field with 64 percent of the vote, the Central Election Commission said.

If thousands of claims of violations made by independent observers and Putin's foes are confirmed, they would undermine the legitimacy of his victory and fuel further protests by Russians exasperated with corruption, rising social inequality and tight controls over political life.

The opposition is gearing up for a massive rally in downtown Moscow on Monday.

"These elections are not free ... that's why we'll have protests tomorrow. We will not recognize the president as legitimate," said Mikhail Kasyanov, who was Putin's first prime minister before going into opposition.

Golos, Russia's leading independent elections watchdog, said it received numerous reports of "carousel voting," in which busloads of voters are driven around to cast ballots multiple times.

Alexei Navalny, one of the opposition's most charismatic leaders, said observers trained by his organization also reported seeing extensive use of the practice.

Putin's campaign chief, Stanislav Govorukhin, rejected the claims of violations, calling them "ridiculous."

Evidence of widespread vote fraud in December's parliamentary election drew tens of thousands to protest against Putin, who was president in 2000-2008 before moving into the prime minister's office because of term limits. They were the largest outburst of public anger in post-Soviet Russia.

Putin has dismissed the protesters' demands, casting them as a coddled minority of urban elites working at Western behest to weaken Russia. His claims the U.S. was behind the opposition protests appealed to his base of blue-collar workers, farmers and state employees, who are suspicious of Western intentions after years of state propaganda.

"Putin is a brave and persistent man who can resist the U.S. and EU pressure," said Anastasia Lushnikova, a 20-year-old student who voted for Putin in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don.

Authorities gave permission to Putin's supporters to gather just outside the Kremlin walls, and tens of thousands flooded the big square immediately after the vote ended. Some participants in the demonstration, including employees of state organizations, said they were forced by management to attend it under the threat of punishment.

The authorities denied the opposition's bid to hold the rally at the same place Monday, but allowed them to gather at a nearby square.

An honest election would have seen Putin failing to score an outright victory and facing a runoff, said Sergei Udaltsov, one of the organizers of Monday's protest, saying its participants will protest the outcome. "Dirty technologies have been applied, and they have become more subtle," he said.

A first-round victory was politically important for Putin, serving as a proof of majority support in the face of opposition protests.

He has given generous social promises during his campaign and also initiated limited political reforms in a bid to assuage public anger. His spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Putin will seek to modernize the nation's political and economic system, but firmly ruled out any "Gorbachev-style liberal spasms."

Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, has become increasingly critical of Putin's rule. "These are not going to be honest elections, but we must not relent," he said after casting his ballot.

Putin has promised the vote would be fair, and authorities apparently have sought to take the steam out of the protest movement by allowing more observers to monitor the vote. Tens of thousands of Russians, most of them politically active for the first time, had volunteered to be election observers, receiving training on how to recognize vote-rigging, and record and report violations.

Golos said monitors have recorded fewer obvious violations than during the December election, but they still believe that violations were extensive. This time, election officials are using more complicated and subtle methods, Golos deputy director Grigory Melkonyants said.

According to data based on official figures from polling stations attended by Golos observers, Putin still garnered about 55 percent of the vote, while Zyuganov won about 19 percent.

Zyuganov told reporters after the polls closed that he will not recognize the vote, calling it "illegitimate, unfair and intransparent."

His campaign chief, Ivan Melnikov, claimed authorities set up numerous additional polling stations and alleged that hundreds of thousands of voters cast ballots at the ones in Moscow alone in an apparent attempt to rig the vote.

Prokhorov said on Channel One television after the vote that authorities kept his observers away from some polling stations and were beaten on two occasions.

Oksana Dmitriyeva, a Duma deputy from Just Russia party, tweeted that they were witnessing "numerous cases of observers being expelled from polling stations" across St. Petersburg just before the vote count.

Unlike Moscow and other big cities, where independent observers showed up en masse, election officials in Russia's North Caucasus and other regions were largely left to their own devices. The opposition said those regions have seen the most blatant examples of vote rigging in the past.

A webcam at a polling station in Dagestan, a Caucasus province near Chechnya, registered unidentified people tossing ballot after ballot into boxes. The Central Election Commission quickly responded to the video, which was posted on the Internet, saying the results from the station will be invalidated.

Web cameras were installed in Russia's more than 90,000 polling stations, a move initiated by Putin in response to complaints of ballot stuffing and fraudulent counts in December's parliamentary elections.

Opinion polls before the vote had shown Putin positioned to win easily. He presided over significant economic growth and gave Russians a sense of stability that contrasted with the disorder and anxiety of the 1990s, when Boris Yeltsin led Russia's emergence from the wreckage of the Soviet Union.

"Under Boris Nikolayevich, life was simply a nightmare, but, you know, now it's OK. Now it's good, I'm happy with the current situation," said 51-year-old Alexander Pshennikov, who cast his ballot for Putin at a Moscow polling station.

The police presence was heavy throughout Moscow and other Russian cities Sunday. There were no immediate reports of trouble, although police arrested three young women who stripped to the waist at the polling station where Putin cast his ballot; one of them had the word "thief" written on her bare body.

In the province of Dagestan where attacks by Islamic militants occur on daily basis, gunmen raided a polling station, killing three police officers. One of the assailants was also killed, according to the local police.

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UNHCR gives Liberian refugees in Nigeria ultimatum to leave

LAGOS - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said it has given Liberian refugees in Nigeria till July, 2012 to leave the country and return back to Liberia or be declared migrants thereby denying them of the legal status protecting them.

The refugees are few survivors of one of the world's bloodiest conflicts in which over 180, 000 people were killed and millions displaced across the African continent

“If you wish to return back to Liberia, you can repatriate immediately after registering for the voluntary repatriation programme. On July 1, 2012, you won’t be refugees in this country anymore” a UNHCR spokesperson said.

“You'll lose the legal status which protected you during your years of exile here” she added.

Nigeria is among the countries in the world known for inaccurate data keeping and it is not sure if those reluctant to go home could face repatriation troubles by the country's immigration agency.

"This is just cheap talks for the sake of formality and legality, there is no way you can say who is a Nigerian or not in this country unless there are changes in skin color or accent, which incidentally we share the same with Liberians" Seyi Balogun, an analyst at the briefing said.

Some Liberians are however of the opinion that the country (Liberia) is still unstable and are reluctant to return back home reminiscent of the First  and Second Liberian Civil Wars which spanned through a 14 year period from 1989 to 2003 despite a break of relative peace when former President Charles Taylor took over in 1996.

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Chelsea sack manager Villas-Boas

Andre Villas-Boas has been sacked by Chelsea after less than a year in charge at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea's decision comes on the back of Saturday's 1-0 defeat by West Bromwich Albion and a run of just three Premier League wins in their last 12 games.

The 34-year-old Portuguese only took over as manager in June 2011.

Former Chelsea midfielder Roberto di Matteo has been put in charge as first-team coach on an interim basis until the end of the season.

A statement on the club's website read: "Unfortunately the results and performances of the team have not been good enough and were showing no signs of improving at a key time in the season."

Chelsea are facing two tough games in the FA Cup and Champions League over the next 10 days.

They visit Championship side Birmingham for an FA Cup fifth-round replay on Tuesday and the following week they must overturn a 3-1 deficit against Italian side Napoli at Stamford Bridge to avoid exiting the Champions League at the last 16 stage

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Pictures of Nanka N1.1Billion Gully Erosion Project

The New entrance into Isiakpuenu Gully Site in Amako

The Nanka Gully Erosion landslide of August 2008 which saw the loss of properties and livelihood appears to have finally received the approipriate attention. Work has finally begun at the site – Isiakpuenu Gully Erosion Site in Amako village. The Engineer on site [Hybron based in Port Hacourt] has begun to slowly mobilize to site. The Consultant – Isa Abdulahi – has yet to report to site. But the pictures below show the ongoing progress at the site as indicative of activity involvement by the contractor and the community.

The Gully Site according to an [NGO] Rural Community Development Outreach measures 64,000 linear feet in lenght by 9,000feet in width by 4.500ft in depft. It is expected that when the construction beginnings in full steam that a Tree Planting Campaign will be used to supplement the battle again the gully.

Nanka Students Union [NSU] in their effort has begun preparations for the launch of a 100,000 Tree Planting Campaign for the major gully erosions in Nanka. The Tree Campaign is slated for April 7, 2012.

To help the Tree Campaign call :- 0813 669 7979

See more photo.........

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N25M COMPENSATION: COURT GIVES NDLEA 21 DAYS TO PAY BABA SUWE

An Ikeja High Court says the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has only 21 days to pay N25M as compensation in ‘damages’ to comedic Yoruba actor Baba Suwe.

The agency had appealed the court’s decision to compensate the actor, after it was determined that it wrongfully detained him for 24 days on suspicion of him carrying illegal drug substances.

The judgement was made by presiding judge Justice Yetunde Idowu on Friday, March 2, 2012 at the Ikeja High Court. Justice Idowu said the agency had no right not to grant the request made by the Plaintiff (Baba Suwe).

She has ordered the NDLEA to give the Chief Registrar of the court the N25M before the 21 day deadline expires. The registrar will then pay the money into an agreed upon bank, into an interest-yielding account.

This means that if the case drags on, Baba Suwe stands a chance to receive more than the money he has been awarded.

‘The decision of the court is wonderful, is correct and sound enough and that is what we asked for. It is very clear the decision is quite just. We thank God for that’, Counsel to Baba Suwe’, Barrister Bamidele Aturu told NET.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA, represented by their counsel, Theresa Asuquo, are not giving up without even more of a fight. Speaking outside the court, she said ‘We will still have to appeal this judgement’.

Both the plaintiff (Baba Suwe) and defendant (NDLEA) were absent from the court room.

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