Nigeria says heroin was shipped from Iran

Nigerian authorities said Friday they had seized 130 kilograms (286 pounds) of high-grade heroin in a shipment that originated in Iran.
The drugs were hidden inside auto parts and were discovered because of intelligence reports from foreign collaborators, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency said in a statement.
The shipment was seized in the Apapa port in Lagos, Nigeria's largest city.
Some arrests were made, the agency said, though it did not provide any details.
"Drug barons will be frustrated out of the illicit drug business through similar undercover operations. We have successfully established links with our foreign collaborators and will maximize every opportunity to dismantle drug trafficking cartels in the country and West Africa," said Ahmadu Giade, head of the agency.
Last month, Nigeria's security service said that it had seized 13 shipping containers filled with illegal weapons, including rockets, grenades and bullets -- believed also to have come from Iran.
Nigeria reported Iran to the U.N. Security Council after the arms seizure.
Nigerian Foreign Minister Odein Ajumogobia said Tuesday the issue of the weapons shipment would be reviewed by a U.N. sanctions committee that was appointed by the Security Council to monitor the Iranian regime.
U.N. Security Council resolutions prevent Iran from sending weapons abroad.

Mosque Attack Signals a New Round of Violence

Two men were killed and one child was wounded after suspected members of Boko Haram, an Islamic sect whose name means “Western education is sacrilege” in the Hausa language, ambushed a mosque in northeastern Nigeria during Friday Prayer, in what a police spokesman said was the first daytime attack by the group in a new wave of violence. More than 1,000 worshipers were at the Gomari Jumat mosque in Maiduguri on Friday afternoon when two men arrived by motorcycle and used Kalashnikov assault rifles to kill their victims. The child was wounded by stray bullets, he said. Thirteen suspects were arrested in the attack and other killings in the area, he said.

Ijaw leader urges JTF, militants to embrace peace

As tension mounts in parts of Niger Delta over renewed hostilities between militants and operatives of the Joint Military Taskforce (JTF), Ijaw leader and elder statesman, Thompson Okorotie and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) have urged both parties to maintain restraint and embrace dialogue.
Okorotie, a former Political Adviser to the Bayelsa State Government, called on the militants not to return to the past that had brought so much destruction of lives and property.
The Ijaw leader and chairman of Bayelsa State Conciliators Forum (BSCF), who spoke on Thursday in Yenagoa, at an interactive session with journalists, said the citizens are worried over the renewed war in the coastal region.
He went on: “Clearly, we are seeing the scenario of some Niger Delta agitators flexing their muscles violently and attacking oil installations leading to losses as it were.
“The Federal Government and security forces are talking tough. This is a similar situation that characterised the environment when the Niger Delta agitators were uprooted in Delta State from their different camps by JTF with all its might resulting in the deaths of hundreds of our people in the Niger Delta and those alive rendered homeless, hungry and deceased. We are not sure these problems have been totally solved.”
The gun battle between security forces and militants at Foropa and Ogodobiri in Bayelsa and Delta States, had resulted in casualties, thereby generating anxiety as there are fears that innocent people may be affected in the war.
Okorotie, therefore, appealed to ex-militants to apply dialogue in making their demands, rather than opting for confrontation.
“We must remember at all times that when we make our demands with violence, the little development that we already have is depleted. This cannot be a sensible way of asking for development.
“On the other hand, the Federal Government should ensure that whatever department is responsible for implementing the different aspect of the amnesty programme should do so with efficiency and transparency,” the chairman said.
The ex-political adviser condemned the October bomb blast in Abuja and the stoning of Governor Timipre Sylva during the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the state, stressing that it was right time the people remove violence as a core component of their character.
He said: “Violence at the beginning was justifiable because hitherto no government listened to our cries. We have now made our points. We have been listened to and there is an amnesty programme that is running. Any hiccup in the process of implementation of this laudable programme should best be corrected through negotiation.”

Real Betis employ Finidi George

A member of the all-conquering 1994 Super Eagles, Finidi George, has been appointed a member of the technical crew of his former club, Real Betis in Spain.

The right winger, who was at one time adjudged to be the best crosser of the ball, was officially presented on Wednesday as the new International Director for the Spanish club side. George would be working hand in hand with coach Pepe Mel.

One of his tasks will include scouting for players. He expressed delight at being recognised by the club where he played for four years, and expressed his readiness to start work. “It is an opportunity you (the club) gave me to join the technical body and I look forward to work to bring in good players,” he said. He went on to say he would use the opportunity of his global assess and profile to raise the club to greater heights. “I am going to focus on football outside Spain like Africa, Europe and other places where there are good players who can come to Betis,” he said. “I know the coach very well and I actually played with the assistant coach Roberto Rios and the trainer Jesus.”

His career

Finidi joined Real Betis in 1996 from Ajax, in a deal worth $7.6 million, scoring 38 goals in 130 appearances before moving on to Real Mallorca, and Ipswich Town, in the English Premier League, before ending his career at Real Mallorca. At Ajax, he cemented his place as a legend by providing many memorable assists. In that club, he scored 18 goals in 85 appearances. He started his career as a central midfielder with Sharks in Port Harcourt, joining his older brother, Alari George, before his skills drew the attention of national selectors. He then spent two seasons with Calabar Rovers before returning to Sharks in 1993. In Port Harcourt, where he grew up and began his career, he is most admired for his creativity in midfield; but it was as a winger that he gained global recognition for the accuracy of his crossing, which was even rated ahead of David Beckham and Luis Figo at his prime.

Dutchman Clemens Westerhof recognized this, and Finidi’s crosses brought out the best in Rashidi Yekini making the latter Nigeria’s all time top scorer. He has been living in Spain and is very fluent in Spanish and Dutch. At the national scene, he made a goal scoring international debut for Nigeria against Burkina Faso in a thrilling 7-1 defeat where he set up 3 goals, scoring the last after coming on for Austin Eguavoen at half time. He also scored twice in the World Cup qualifiers that secured Nigeria’s first ever qualification for the USA 94 FIFA World Cup. Finidi featured for Nigeria at the Senegal 92 (bronze), Tunisia 94 (gold and Cup,) Nigeria/Ghana 2000 (silver) and Mali 2002 (bronze).

He also represented Nigeria at the USA 1994 and France 98 World Cup and was vice-captain to Sunday Oliseh when the team qualified for the 2002 World Cup; but both of them were controversially omitted from the final squad. His goal against Greece is best remembered for his “dog” celebration and is often replayed.

2011: Ibadan youths protest against IBB candidature

IBADAN—THE presidential campaign of the former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, IBB, suffered a major setback in the South-West yesterday as youths numbering 500 staged a protest against his re-emergence as the president.

While marching on major streets in Ibadan, the youths passed through the Old Ife road to Agodi telling residents in the city why IBB should be the last to be voted for having spent eight years on the exalted position before.

Armed with placards with various inscriptions such as “Say No to IBB,” “Don’t give in to IBB’s lies, they chanted anti-Babangida songs.

The Anti-Babangida Coalition, spoke through its National Coordinator, Mr. Sina Odugbemi, “We are saying No to IBB. We don’t want Nigerians to pass through the experience again. When they come with their gimmicks, we want people to see beyond their beautiful posters and rhetoric. We need to let them know what we passed through under IBB.”

Vanguard gathered that the youths stopped at each intersection and addressed the people not to waste their votes in 2011 by voting for the former ruler.

They said, “We are saying No to IBB. We don’t want Nigerians to pass through the experience again. When they come with their gimmicks, we want people to see beyond their beautiful posters and rhetoric. We need to let them know what we passed through under IBB.”

Police arrest lawmaker’s aide with Indian hemp

The personal assistant to a member of the House of Representatives who was arrested on Wednesday with 10 sacks of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp in Edo State said yesterday that he took advantage of his boss’ pilgrimage to engage in the illicit business.

The 37-year-old man, Nurudeen Ibrahim who works for Abdulazeez Abubakar, the member representing Mafaranka Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, was arrested by policemen along Auchi-Afuze road with sacks of Indian hemp loaded in the booth of the lawmaker’s official Peugeot 407 car, marked NASS FL 124 REP.

Mr. Ibrahim, who was paraded by the Edo State Police Command, told journalists it was the second time he was coming to buy Indian hemp in Edo State, having earlier engaged in the illicit business during the last Muslim holiday.

He said his friend introduced him to the business which he took up in order to “make up” and he used his friend’s car to convey the consignment of the weed during the first trip to Edo State.

Action to regret

Mr. Ibrahim, who claimed to have bought the 10 sacks of cannabis for N50, 000, also informed the police that he has somebody in Abuja who helps him to sell the weed.

“This is the biggest regret I ever have in life,” said Mr Ibrahim, who claimed to have worked for Mr Abubakar for three years. He also blamed his ordeal on those who sold the weed to him, alleging that they were the ones who leaked the information to the police.

Edo State Police Command spokesman, Peter Ogboi, advised those in authority to open their eyes and monitor the activities of their aides, pointing out that the suspect has taken the advantage of his work with the lawmaker to engage in drug dealing.

He said the case would be transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and eventual prosecution.

Chelsea name Nigerian Emenalo as assistant coach

Chelsea have named Nigerian Michael Emenalo as their assistant manager, the Premier League leaders said on Thursday.

The 45-year-old replaces Ray Wilkins as Carlo Ancelotti's right-hand man. Wilkins left Stamford Bridge last week for undisclosed reasons.

Emenalo joined Chelsea in 2007 and has been working as the club's Head Opposition Scout.

He represented Nigeria as a defender at the 1994 World Cup and played for clubs including Molenbeek in Belgium, England's Notts County and San Jose Clash in the United States

Nigerian militants warn of more kidnappings

Militants in Nigeria's southern Niger Delta warned on Friday that they would carry out more kidnappings from oil installations after the military rescued 19 hostages from one of their camps this week. "Our fighters have being instructed to carry out more raids on oil installations from where fresh hostages will be taken," the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said in a statement emailed to media.

Nigeria tops in school enrolment in US

Nigeria still leads other Sub Saharan African countries, whose citizens are studying in the United States, a statement by the US embassy in Abuja said yesterday.

According to the statement, a total of 6,568 Nigerians were enrolled in regionally accredited institutions in the US for the 2009/2010 session. The statement, which attributed its source to the Institute for International Education (IIE) annual Open Doors report on the flow of international students to the US said, “Nigeria has maintained its position as the number one country in Sub Saharan Africa for sending the largest number of students to the U.S.

“Nigeria’s increase contributed to the worldwide increase of 2.9% to 690,923 international students in the United States, and helped minimize sub-Saharan Africa’s decrease of 1% over the past year. A total of 6,568 Nigerian students were enrolled in regionally accredited institutions in 2009/10.”

The US Mission’s EducationUSA Advising Centres (EAC) in Lagos and Abuja, according to the statement, celebrated International Education Week (IEW) between November 15 and 19, 2010. The embassy said that, as part of its contribution, the Abuja centre will host several activities, including undergraduate and graduate essay writing workshops and session with selected secondary school students, parents, and teachers.

IEW is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education to promote programmes to prepare Americans for a global environment, and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States.

The U.S. Mission’s EducationUSA Advising Centre (EAC) promotes U.S. education by providing students and parents in Nigeria with unbiased information and counsel for study in U.S. universities and colleges.

Some of the services provided include guidance on the U.S. college application process, standardised testing, student visa requirements, and pre-departure orientation.

SSS recovers car bomb in hotel

Officials of the State Security Service (SSS) yesterday displayed a car that they said Henry Okah, purchased and wired with a bomb for use in the twin bombings in Abuja on October 1st.

Marilyn Ogar, a spokesperson for the agency, said the car, a Mazda 626 saloon with a Lagos license plate, was discovered parked in a hotel in Port Harcourt. The hotel’s management had discovered that it had been parked there for a long time. A sister of one of the suspects in custody assisted the service in recovering the fully-wired vehicle, which was towed to Abuja.

Other items recovered

Ms. Ogar also revealed that military items, including 10 bulletproof jackets, a large number of camouflage vests, boots, water bottles, and camp tents were intercepted from “a popular transport company which runs cargo courier services from Lagos to Port Harcourt.”

“The military items were sent by Charles Okah to one of the suspects for onward movement to militants in the creeks,” said Ms. Ogar. “In view of these discoveries, the service seizes this opportunity to warn transport and courier companies to be more circumspect in handling goods for customers, as they will be held responsible for conveying prohibited items.” The SSS said the new suspects, including those caught with military items will be charged to court on 25th of November.

Reps to sanction members opposed to Electoral Act

House of Representatives members in staunch support of the heavily-criticised amendment to the Electoral Act that gives lawmakers automatic membership of their parties’ National Executive Committee have demanded that members opposed to the amendment be sanctioned, NEXT learnt yesterday.

Their target are lawmakers who have gone public to state their opposition to the contentious amendments. The renewed determination to ensure the passage of the bill comes as a second member of the House viciously condemned the bill on a Television programme yesterday.

Ita Enang, the chairman House committee on Business and Rules, criticized his colleagues on a TV show on Thursday for introducing and seeking the passage of the proposed sections. He described the bill as “toxic” and called on Nigerians to press for its rejection.

“Certain provision in the bill to amend the Electoral Act is toxic,” he said. “We only allow it come to the floor and passed second reading so that the public will have the opportunity to contribute to it, it does not mean that the bill enjoys the support of the House.

“At the public hearing, the public will be able to make contribution and reject it because the 1999 Constitution had already empowered the political parties to run their affairs, it is not the responsibilities of the National Assembly to make such laws and it must be rejected”.

In his capacity as the chairman of the Rules and Business committee, Mr. Enang approved the bill for listing on the Order Paper for debate during the second reading of the bill.

He however urged his colleagues to reject the contentious clause in the bill at the final reading, saying it will not stand the test of time.

Growing opposition

Mr. Enang said the lawmakers should be more concerned with resolving the uncertainty caused by the court ruling which declared the amendment of the 1999 constitution as incomplete without the assent of the president.

He appeared with Patrick Obahiagbon, the Edo state lawmaker who staged the first public opposition to the bill’s passage at a press conference last Monday. Mr. Obahiagbon had said the attempt to introduce the controversial law, amounts to “legislative rascality”.

Since then, condemnations against the bill have grown with several opposition parties threatening mass protest against its passage.

Source said yesterday that majority of the members who have supported for the bill, view the remarks of the colleagues as contemptuous, and are already making calls for sanctions against them when the House resumes next week.

Eseme Eyiboh, the House spokesperson could not be reached yesterday.

Senate denies doing secret work on state creation

The Senate yesterday denied doing any selective work in favour of certain proposals for state creation submitted to it by people agitating for new states.

The senate spokesman, Ayogu Eze, on Thursday in Abuja, denied allegations that the senators have shortlisted a list of new states which they intend to rubber-stamp during the state creation exercise.

“There is no list of states to be created that has been drawn by the national assembly,” he said. “That matter is not being considered right now but we hope that we will consider it in the life of this sixth national assembly.” He added that currently, the lawmakers are only receiving requests and collating such requests and that the issue of state creation has been relegated until the constitution review exercise is finished.

“We don’t have any reason whatsoever at this stage to eliminate any request or to include any request because we have not started the consideration of any request,” he said.

Mr Eze said all the requests for creation of states are with the senate’s 44-member ad hoc committee on the alteration of the constitution, which would bring out criteria for selection of the states to be created - in accordance with section 9 of the constitution - “when the time comes.”

“All the requests that have been received are with us, we have not drawn up any list, we have not thrown away any request, and we have not taken any request onboard. All of them are intact as they have been made,” he said.

He insisted that the state creation exercise will follow the same pattern with that of the constitution alteration, as outlined in section 8 and 9 of the constitution. He added that it is through such a process that the lawmakers will determine which states would be created, depending on the mood of the public.

Altruistic lawmakers

He also added that the insistence of the lawmakers that the president need not sign an amendment to the constitution before it becomes effective is not an “ego trip,” but a necessary argument that will benefit the constitution in the end.

He also defended the ongoing amendment to the 2010 electoral act, part of which seeks to make the lawmakers members of the National Executive Committees (NEC) of their various parties.

“We are not making laws for ourselves because we are not going to stay in the national assembly forever,” he argued. “We think that if you pull in the representatives of the people into the decision making bodies of the parties, we are making it more democratic; we are bringing in more voices, and views; we are enlarging the political space within the parties and increasing the participation.” He added that the amendment is not strange, considering that only a few parties in Nigeria do not have all their national assembly lawmakers as members of the NEC.

Jonathan warns militants to desist or face fire

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday warned criminals who continue to hide under acronyms to engage in criminal acts of self-enrichment that they no longer have a hiding place, as orders have been given to law enforcement agencies to hunt them down. The President also affirmed that government will continue to pursue its programmes for the re-orientation, rehabilitation and reintegration of all genuine militants who had laid down their arms under the amnesty programme.

He commended the military high command and officers and men of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta for the safe rescue of the seven foreign and 12 Nigerian oil workers held by kidnappers in the region, yesterday.“While the Federal Government will continue to take all necessary steps to guarantee the safety of lives and property, as well as the security of oil workers and installation in the Niger Delta, all law-abiding citizens have nothing to fear,” the president said.

The security forces yesterday handed the freed hostages to their employers on Thursday.The release of the hostages is seen as a victory for Mr Jonathan’s administration.

Charles Omoregie, commander of a military taskforce in the Niger Delta, said the military had taken over several suspected militant camps in the region’s three main states, including those run by a newly emerging kingpin, known as Obese.“Two camps have been taken over in Delta, two in Bayelsa and three in Rivers ... (The hostages) were all rescued from Obese’s camp here in Rivers state after a sustained military operation.” He said the raids started on Monday and that Obese, thought to be a newfield commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)militant group, had contacted the security forces via former militant leaderswho accepted amnesty last year to tell them he was ready to surrender.

Mr Omoregie praised the role that former MEND field commanders, including Boyloaf and Farah Dagogo, who acceptedlast year’s amnesty, played in ensuring the release of the hostages.

Shocking Experience

The seven expatriates were taken from an offshore oil rig operated by exploration firm Afren on November 7. Eight of the Nigerians were abducted from an Exxon Mobil platform a week later, while the remaining four were employees oflocal construction firm Julius Berger.

One hostage, Canadian Robert Croke, described the ordeal.“It was a shocking experience. They gave us mattresses to sleep on,virtually nothing else. We were begging for food and water because what we were exhausted,” he told reporters. “We were not maltreated, they were not hostile to us, it was just that we lacked the basic necessities.”

Nigeria's Amos Adamu banned for three years

Nigeria's Amos Adamu has been suspended from all footballing activity by Fifa's Ethics Committee for three years and fined $10,000.
Tahiti's Reynald Temarii was suspended for one year and fined $5,000 by the committee.
The move follows allegations that the pair asked for money in return for voting on World Cup hosting rights.
It means they will not be able to vote on which countries will host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup.
Adamu released a statement protesting his innocence and vowing to fight the ruling.
"I am profoundly disappointed with the Ethics Committee's findings and had honestly believed I would be exonerated of any charges by now," he said.
"I am innocent of all the charges levelled against me by the Ethics Committee and I completely refute the decision they have made.
"I will be lodging a full appeal against it with immediate effect."
Four former executive members - Slim Aloulou of Tunisia, Mali's Amadu Diakite, Ahongalu Fusimalohi of Tonga and Botswana's Ismael Bhamjee - all received sanctions from Fifa.
Bhamjee was banned for four years, Diakite and Fusimalohi for three and Aloulou for two and all four were fined $10,000.
But the committee dismissed accusations of collusion between Spain/Portugal and Qatar, who are bidding to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups respectively.

Blair: World anxious about Nigeria’s 2011 elections

The international community is expecting a lot from Nigeria’s general elections next year, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said.

“Everyone, including the international community, is expressing a great deal of interest, a great deal of excitement for the elections and everyone is anxious for the elections to be conducted in the best possible way,” Blair told journalists at the Presidential Villa in Abuja after a visit to President Goodluck Jonathan.

“I think the preparations are going on and expectations are high around Nigeria, which is a great thing. Back in the West, things are pretty difficult politically, difficult economically. There is a hugely enhanced interest in Africa and in Nigeria. There is a lot of hope and excitement,” Blair said.

The former British leader told President Jonathan during their meeting that the Nigerian government is enjoying the support of the international community.

Nigeria denies pressure from the West on Iran

Foreign Affairs Minister Odein Ajumogobia has denied that there were pressures from Western nations on Nigeria to report its seizure of arms shipment from Iran to the United Nation’s Security Council.

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Joy Ogwu, on Monday formally notified the UN’s Security Council sanctions committee about the seizure of the arms by the State Security Services (SSS) which intercepted 13 containers labelled as building materials but which were actually rocket launchers, grenades and other explosives in October.

Mr Ajumogobia told reporters at the UN before leaving New York that “I feel we have international obligations to carry them out as responsible members of the UN and it is as simple as that, and I made that very clear to the Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki when I met him in Abuja last week’’ he said.

He said most senior foreign diplomats told him at the UN that they were impressed with Nigeria’s handling of the issue but declined to mention the specific countries that made the commendation. Mr Ajumogobia further explained that the next step for Nigeria was to continue with the ongoing investigation on the issue and submit a detailed report to the UN committee later.

Friendly match controversy

Another angle to the row was the cancellation of a friendly football match between Iran and Nigeria, less than 48 hours to the kick-off. Mr Ajumogobia however denied that the cancellation by the Nigeria Football Federation had anything to do with the row over the illegal arms shipment.

“My understanding is that they had some technical problems. There were some players who were supposed to play in the friendly match that were not available” he noted adding that “I think it was just a mere coincidence; it wasn’t connected as far as I am concerned.”

A France-based shipping company CMA CGM which transported the shipment said it was hidden in containers labelled as building materials and attempts were made to send it to Gambia before the Nigerian police seized them.

The foreign envoy however said that “my view is that if a third party is laying claim to a cargo in Nigeria then they will do so properly and through the proper channels. I haven’t had such claim brought to my attention. When it is, I will deal with it appropriately. In the meantime, the security agencies are still investigating that aspect of the claim on their own. But as a Foreign Minister, I will not speculate as to who or what is claiming to anything, because under the Resolution 1929, we have clear obligation to report any arms contravention to the UN,’’ he said.

Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki during a press briefing in Tehran on Monday also hinted that investigations had revealed that the arms shipment was destined for The Gambia.

Mr Ajumogobia noted that the seizure had brought to the fore the need for government agencies to be vigilant on resolutions and international conventions and that his ministry would ensure that other government agencies are notified about the need to enforce international sanctions.

Iran is currently under series of UN sanctions which cut across military equipment, financial transactions, business interests and travel ban on individuals associated with the Islamic republic’s nuclear programme. The country is banned from supplying, selling or transferring arms. The country however has good diplomatic relationship with Nigeria with the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visiting Nigeria in July where he pledged his nation’s support to help Nigeria with its nuclear technology for power generation.

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Party alleges plot to cause chaos in Ekiti

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday claimed there are plots to instigate chaos and instability in Ekiti State to force the federal government to impose a state of emergency in the state.

It said that the plans involve using the recent dissolution of local government councils in the state as a pretext to foment trouble throughout the state.

The party’s candidate, Kayode Fayemi, last month became governor of the state after the court ruled that the former PDP government has been illegally occupying the office since 2007. The two parties, which are evenly matched at the state assembly, have been at each other’s throat since.

Mr Fayemi recently dissolved the executive councils of all the local governments in the state and on Monday inaugurated a new care taker committee to take over the running of the councils. The sacked council bosses are all members of the PDP because the ACN, which was then in the opposition, boycotted the local government election that brought them in.

The state’s chapter of the PDP has, however, ordered the ousted local government chairmen and councillors to resume their office in open challenge to their sack.

This order, a statement issued by the ACN National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed said, is part of the plot by the opposition to trigger trouble that will be used “as an excuse to prevail on the President to impose a state of emergency on the state.’’ He warned that “any attempt to foment trouble will be resisted by the peace-loving but courageous and indefatigable people of the state. If the government has not deemed it fit to slam emergency rule on states like Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Abia where militancy and kidnapping are thriving, or states like Ogun and Oyo which have become hotbeds of political thuggery, why would anyone even brood such for a peaceful state like Ekiti,” he said.

The party said whoever thinks the law has been broken with the dissolution of the Ekiti councils and the appointment of caretaker committees should head to court rather than take to the streets.

It advised the PDP to emulate it (the ACN), which has always resorted to the courts to resolve any political logjam.

Lawmakers boycott

On the controversy over the decision of 12 members of the 26 member state house of assembly to ratify the dissolution of the assembly, Mr Mohammed said the blame should go to the PDP lawmakers.

“The decision by the PDP members of the Ekiti House of Assembly to boycott that sitting is in line with what the PDP has been doing in Edo State, where lawmakers have been boycotting assembly sessions for the past six months, hoping this will grind the machinery of state. If any member of the house anywhere refuses to attend sessions, he or she should be recalled, and possibly charged with treason,” he said.

The party also pointed out that it is out-numbered in Osun State House of Assembly, the National Assembly and many other states, but that its members have always ensured that “we will have our say, even if we can’t have our way.”

Iran says Nigeria arms "misunderstanding" settled

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran said on Monday it has resolved a "misunderstanding" over an arms shipment seized in Lagos which Nigeria is likely to report to the United Nations Security Council as a possible breach of sanctions.

"The seized cargo belonged to a private company and it was for sale legitimately to a West African country," Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters, without naming the country. "I think the misunderstanding has been resolved."

Diplomatic and security sources outside Iran said the intended destination of the weapons had not been clarified yet, but they added that investigations have focused on two Iranians believed to be senior members of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards.

"One of the Iranian citizens ... provided all the necessary explanations to Nigerian officials," said Mottaki, who visited Nigeria last week. He also criticised suggestions which "are aimed at harming our relationship with Nigeria", but did not elaborate.

Nigerian Foreign Minister Odein Ajumogobia said on Friday that Lagos would report Iran to the Security Council if it found any evidence that the shipment broke U.N. sanctions imposed over its refusal to halt sensitive nuclear activities.

The United States and its allies fear Iran's nuclear programme is a cover to build bombs. Tehran denies this, saying its nuclear work is aimed at generating electricity.

Ajumogobia added that he did not currently believe Iran had broken the sanctions. However, a Nigerian diplomat in New York told Reuters that the Security Council's Iran sanctions committee would definitely be informed.

A Security Council resolution bans Iran from "supplying, selling or transferring directly or indirectly from its territory or by its nationals ... any arms or related material".

Buhari’s party raises alarm over blackmail

CONTRARY to claims, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) on Sunday said its alliance talks with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and other parties was fully on course.

It said some opponents of the alliance were jittery thereby resorting to blackmail.

Raising the alarm in a statement on Sunday, CPC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Dennis Aghanya, said no amount of blackmail or propaganda could stall or derail the ongoing alliance discussions.

The party said, “The insinuation or assumption, that our talks with the ACN have collapsed, is not only false but was done in bad faith.

“For now, our discussions are centered on the nature of our alliance and not who becomes what. You must get to the bridge before you cross it. You cannot start sharing positions when you have not agreed on the terms of the relationship.

The CPC stated that it was not surprised that opponents of the alliance were resorting to propaganda because they were afraid that its success would break their stranglehold on the citizens.

Because it appreciated the importance of the 2011 elections, it said it was determined to establish a wider platform with other progressives, adding that Senator Bola Tinubu, who is the arrowhead of ACN, remained a major political force that should be carried along.

“We are also happy to have him as a political friend. The more the oppositions can come together, the better our chances to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] government in 2011,” the CPC stated.

Nigeria interrogates Iranian over Lagos arms shipment

Investigators are holding an Iranian in custody in connection with the shipment of arms discovered last Month at the Apapa Port in Lagos. Security sources told NEXT at the weekend that the man, who had taken refuge at the Iranian embassy, has been with officials of the State Security Service for about three days now and is already providing useful information.

“He is expected to throw more light on the involvement of the Nigerian consignee, who is also involved in the shipment of the arms,” the source said.

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Odein Ajumogobia had, last Friday after talks with the Iranian Foreign Affairs minister, Manouchehr Mottak, told journalists in Abuja that security agencies had been granted access to the Iranian embassy to interrogate the Iranian in their probe of the incident.

Mr Ajumogobia, who travelled to New York at the weekend, is also expected to brief the United Nations on the incident. The Nigerian official is in the United States for a Security Council discussion on Sudan where participants will be briefed on the preparations for the January 2011 referendum in south Sudan, the situation in Darfur and progress of the Doha peace talks.

UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon is expected to do the briefing along with the Head of the AU High-Level Implementation Monitoring Panel, Thabo Mbeki; the Head of UN Mission in Sudan, Haile Menkerios and the Head of UN/AU Mission in Darfur, Ibrahim Gambari.

UN arms sanction

But Mr Ajumogobia is also expected to raise the issue of the arms export, especially as Iran is under a UN conventional arms ban. The resolution affirming the ban also empowers states to seize and dispose the prohibited items when they are found.

On Oct. 26, Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS) discovered 13 containers of illegal weapons at the port. A French-based shipping company, CNA CGM, said the shipment originated from the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas and was delivered to Lagos in July. The shipping company said labels on the crates indicated they contained stone and glass wool.

The shipment was subsequently taken to a depot where it was left untouched. The cargo was later opened and found to contain artillery rockets and shells, mortars and hand grenades, among others.