Court strikes out criminal suit against Aregbesola - Nigerian Tribune

AN Abuja high court, on Monday struck out a criminal charge filed against Mr Rauf Aregbesola, who was last week declared winner of the 2007 governorship election in Osun State and his lawyer, Olayinka Okedara.
Justice Abubakar Talba gave the ruling after listening to an application by Aregbesola’s counsel, Mr Kunle Adegoke.

In his argument, Adegoke said, “there is a new development requiring the termination of this matter. The first accused person (Rauf Aregbesola) was declared governor of Osun State last Friday by the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan. Being one incident of judicial notice, I’m resting on the provision of Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution; I invoke the jurisdiction of this court to strike out the matter. Based on the fact that the provision in issue is the one clothing this matter within the ambit of immunity, hence I apply that the matter be struck out.”

The prosecuting counsel, Mr Bashir Olatunde, while agreeing that Aregbesola could no longer be prosecuted, said the same could not be said of the second accused (Okedara).

Asked by the trial judge if the accused persons could be prosecuted separately since they were charged together, Olatunde replied that he was ready to amend the charge so that the second accused could continue to face trial.

Justice Talba said, “court can’t even take the application because it involves the first accused (Aregbesola),” who is already clothed by immunity, adding that “it will be an exercise in futility. The moment the first accused is not in this matter, that is the end of the charge.” Justice Talba said since the accused “were charged jointly, it is not in doubt that by the declaration of the first accused as governor of Osun State, the charge has become defective.”

“It is not only the charge that is affected, the leave obtained to prefer the charge is also voided. The charge brought against the two accused is hereby struck out.”

FG charges Iranian, three others for arms importation

The federal government yesterday arraigned one Iranian and three Nigerians before a Magistrate Court in Abuja, for allegedly conspiring to import and importing containers loaded with assorted calibers of prohibited fire arms into Nigeria.

The accused persons are Azim Aghajani, an Iranian; Ali Usman Abbas Jega; Aliyu Oroji Wamako; and Muhammed Tukur Umar.

Campaign team slams Atiku on economy

The Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Organisation has condemned the claim by the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar that the economy under President Goodluck Jonathan is declining.

Mr Abubakar had, during a press conference last Tuesday,alleged that the president was mismanaging the economy. He also criticised the depletion of the excess crude account and the poor performance of the budget.

But the director of research and strategy of the organization, Mike Omeri said yesterday that Mr Abubakar merely displayed stark ignorance on the performance of the economy.

Mr Omeri, who described the former vice president as a mischief maker, said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF)has since acknowledged the upward movement of our economy and has rated it buoyant. “We maintained that Nigeria’s external debt at the point of exit in 2005 was $3.5 billion dollars and only rose to $4.5 billion dollars in 2010,” he said. “Only this month, the IMF confirmed that the economy of sub-Saharan African will be among the best performing in the world this year and next, lagging only behind those in emerging Asia. IMF also raised its growth forecast for Nigeria’s economy to 7.4 percent in both 2010 and 2011 from 7 percent and 7.3 percent respectively.” He added that at the moment, the nation’s public debt to Gross Domestic Products(GDP) is 11.8 percent, while that of the United Kingdom(UK) is 68.20 percent, United States of America (USA) 53.50 percent and Brazil59.50 percent.

Mr Omeri said the Jonathan administration’s economic policies are sound, citing international global rating as basis for faulting the position of the former vice president.

“In fact, we are the third fastest growing economy in the world today by IMF and World Bank. Anybody can go the internet and download this information. Our economy rating since Obasanjo administration till date has remained B.B rating,” he said.

“We have not been downgraded. With all the respect, Atiku displayed emptiness and ignorance on our economy, and such a man should not dream or contemplate managing an economy he knows next to nothing about.”

Focus on issues

He also alleged that Mr Atiku mortgaged the Nigerian economy when he held sway as vice president between 1999 to 2007.

“We are all witnesses to the kind of economy Atiku ran as Vice President when he mortgaged our common heritage to himself and his cronies. Atiku is the least person to talk about an economy he ran aground. He lacked the moral standing and should be schooled on basic economics.

Mr Omeri asked Mr Atiku to focus his campaign on issues instead of engaging in mudslinging.

Police arrest 50-year-old over lover’s death

A 50 year old man Wahab Oyesina, has been arrested by the police over the death of one Bilikisu Muideen, At an undisclosed hotel in Ibadan.

The suspect was said to have checked into the hotel with the lady and had fled the hotel room, leaving the victim behind, when he noticed some complications in her condition. With nobody to assist her, the deceased was said to have struggled from the room to the reception while foaming in the mouth and died shortly after. The woman’s death made eye witnesses to run after the fleeing man and eventually arrest him.

The matter was immediately reported to the Yemetu Divisional Police office in Ibadan. The police quickly stormed the area and took the corpse to the Adeoyo State Hospital Mortuary.

Olatunji Ajimuda, state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), said the information available suggested that the suspect, who was still being kept at the Yemetu Police station yesterday, had not made love to the victim before she developed health complications.

He said the woman, according to the information from the IPO, slumped after leaving the room they had both booked “If it is malicious act, the man will be charged accordingly; but all will depend on the on-going police investigation,” he said, while explaining that the autopsy on the corpse will reveal the truth about the incident.

EFCC raids Halliburton office in Lagos

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission this afternoon conducted a raid on the Victoria Island, Lagos office of Halliburton.

During the raid, backed by a contingent of armed policemen and soldiers, officials of the company said EFCC officials ransacked their offices and pushed the staff around. They later left with documents and some officials of the company.

Speaking to Next about the raid, Femi Babafemi the commissions' spokesperson, said the raid was as a result of new discoveries and latest development on its investigation of American oil services firm's alleged corrupt practices.

"I don't have the details yet, but I know that three MD's of Technip and Halliburton, three of them were arrested," Mr Babafemi said.

Halliburton is implicated in a multi-billion dollar scandal involving the Nigerian Liquified Gas industry. As NEXT reported in past editions, at least three former presidents, Sani Abacha, Abdusalami Abubakar and Olusegun Obasanjo received millions of dollars in bribes from American and European contractors retained to build Africa's first liquefied natural gas plant in Bonny, Rivers State, according to US law enforcement officials.

Today's raid, which started at about 12pm, according to Mr. Babafemi, is related to the ongoing case.

"It is the same Halliburton case. We just go back into the case based on fresh information that we have," he said.

Neglect of Liberia peacekeepers shocks visiting lawmakers

Shocked by the state of the equipment used by the Nigerian soldiers on peacekeeping operations in Liberia, the House of Representatives committee on defence, yesterday, stated its determination to continue with its investigation into how N23 billion was spent by the ministry of defence on equipment for the operation.

The renewed plan to launch the investigation is coming after a tour of the committee to Liberia. The committee was accompanied on the tour by the Speaker, Dimeji Bankole.

Consequently, the defence minister, Adetokunbo Kayode, is billed to appear before the committee to explain how the money was expended.

A source in the committee said that during the visit, the lawmakers discovered to their chagrin that in spite of the huge sum expended on peacekeeping operations in Liberia since the minister assumed duties, the Nigerian contingent is the least equipped among the nations that contribute to the United Nations peacekeeping operations in that West African country.

It reportedly discovered that the paucity of the equipment was the main reason the reimbursement from the UN to Nigeria has greatly reduced. The committee also found out that Nigeria has so far lost about 1000 soldiers, and spent over $40 billion on peacekeeping operation in Liberia since 1990.

The legislators were also said to have demanded the total overhauling of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and the United Nations on her involvement in peacekeeping operations.

Next stop, Sudan

The committee chairman, Wole Oke, confirmed the visit of the committee to Liberia during a telephone interview yesterday. He also said Mr. Kayode will appear before the committee to discuss the issue with its members, adding that they will visit Dafur, Sudan, soon to check on Nigerian troops there.

Meanwhile, Mr. Oke has urged the Liberian House of Representatives to legislate to ensure permanent peace and unity in the country, even as he promised to convey the country’s request for further assistance on its 2011 poll to President Goodluck Jonathan.

He stated this when he paid a visit in company of defence committee members to the Speaker of the Liberian parliament.

207 Runners Set For Obudu Mountain Race

An array of international runners from nine countries will take part in the sixth edition of the Obudu International Mountain Race next Saturday.

Reports say that organisers of the annual race in the Cross River State holiday resort say 207 runners comprising 131 Nigerians and 76 foreigners will take part in the race.

William Archibong, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), said in a statement that runners from Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Colombia, Austria, Israel, Egypt and Cameroon would vie for honours in the 11-km race.

Archibong said all arrangements for a hitch-free race had been completed, adding that Gov. Liyel Imoke was satisfied with the logistics for the race.

He said the experience gained by the organisers since the inaugural race six years ago had been of immense benefit in preparing for Saturday’s race, which would be run uphill to an altitude of 1,575 metres above sea level.

He commended the state government for the opportunity accorded the committee to ensure the success of the annual race.

“Without doubts, the tremendous backing we have received from the governor has galvanised us into organising what the President of World Mountain Running Association, Bruno Gozzelino has called a perfect race so far.

“This is a confirmation that the organisation of the race has been of international standard,” Archibong said.

“We can only get better and want to assure Nigerians that we shall continue to project Nigeria in positive light to the rest of the world through a perfect organisation of the annual Obudu International Mountain Race.

“This is a perfect image laundering tool for Nigeria,” he added.

The LOC chief described the Obudu Mountain Race as the highest paying race in the world with $50,000 on offer each for the men and women winners.

In another development, the Media Officer of the race, Patrick Ugbe, disclosed that the governor had approved the increase of the total prize money from $245,500 to $278,000 for the men’s, women’s and children races.

Ugbe attributed the increase to the number of events, which had been increased.
He said that the women would participate in the championship for the first time in this year edition

Anxiety over new wage as govt mulls options today – The Guardian

Ahead of today’s meeting on the new National Minimum Wage Bill by the National Council of State (NCS), there was apprehension among stakeholders amid speculations that the advisory body to the Federal Government may endorse the proposed law.
The bill, which President Goodluck Jonathan has pledged to promptly transmit to the National Assembly for passage, stipulates N18,000 monthly for the least paid Nigerian worker in both the public and private sectors. There is however a specified number of workers a private outfit must engage before it can be made to pay the new wage.
The alleged favourable disposition of the Council to the new pay is, however, being opposed by some state governors, who claimed that they lack the resources to implement the new salary structure.
And for about three hours yesterday, workers of the National Assembly under the platform of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) staged a peaceful protest and barricaded the main entrance to the complex over alleged poor conditions of service in the federal legislature.
The protest, which began at 9.30 a.m. lasted till noon and stalled activities at the National Assembly including a public hearing by the House of Representatives Committee on Capital Market. A meeting scheduled by the Ahmed Aliyu Wadada-led House Committee on Information in the morning was also put off.

Ibori’s wife, Nkoyo, jailed for five years in London

THERESA Nkoyo Ibori, wife of the former Delta State governor, Chief James Ibori, was yesterday convicted by the Southwark Crown Court, London.
Ibori is being detained in Dubai by the United Arab Emirate (UAE) authority, awaiting the outcome of his appeal against a court ruling, which okayed his extradition to the UK.
If Ibori loses his appeal, he will be extradited to the UK to face a set of three trials relating to money laundering and sundry misapplication of state funds between 1999 and 2007.
She was found guilty of the money laundering charges preferred against her.
Nkoyo may spend the next two to five years in prison, it was learnt yesterday.
The London jury gave its verdict after she was found guilty on two counts of money laundering.
Her husband’s United Kingdom (UK) lawyer, Mr. Bhadresh Gohil, who was also on trial with Nkoyo, has been found guilty on all counts of money laundering.
He has been remanded in police custody.
Gohil will be sentenced after the conclusion of another trial involving the laundering of proceeds of V-Mobile shares by James Ibori, Henry Imashekka, David Edevbie and former Akwa Ibom governor, Victor Attah.
The trial will start next Monday.
In a previous trial, the court had also sent to prison Ibori’s sister, Christine Ibori-Ibie; and his mistress, Udoamaka Okoronkwo-Onuigbo.

FBI training for EFCC, SSS, police officers

BARRING any last minute changes, another batch of officials from the United States (U.S.) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are due in Nigeria this weekend.

Their mission is to commence a five-day training programme on strategies to combat hostage taking and negotiation for officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and officers of other law enforcement agencies such as the police and State Security Service (SSS).

Assault: Plateau police command arrests 4 peace corps members

Four members of the Peace Corps of Nigeria have been arrested by the Plateau State Police Command for assaulting a police detective during a recruitment exercise by the organisation, even as the command said activities of the organisation are illegal.

The Police Public Relation officer, Mohammed Lerama who said the recruitment into the organisation was illegal because of its earlier banned, added that the police decided to investigate it when it got wind of recruitment into the organisation last week.

According to him, on getting to the field where the recruitment was being carried out, some staff of the organisation descended on the police officers who was investigating the recruitment exercise and manhandled him.

In the raid that followed, the police arrested four staff and three applicants and items recovered include two sacks of T-shirts, 18 rolls of face cap, two LG coloured television, one desk-top monitor, one UPS, one printer, a bundle of peace corps pamphlets, one banner and one signboard.

In a related development, one Alhaji Idris Isah had been arrested for impersonating the Taraba State Commissioner of Education, while attempting to collect N13,000 to give the “press a contract”

The command also disclosed that an internet fraud star who threatened one Mr Etukudoh Sunday with death if he fails to deposit a N1.9 million into a bank account in 30 minutes or loss his life and a descript “investigation, one suspects, Stephen Jonah was arrested in Kogi state” and is deeply involve in the case, he said.

Delta acting gov sacks commissioners

The acting governor of Delta State, Prince Sam Obi, on Monday dissolved the state executive council.

Last week, a list of six commissioner - nominees was sent to the state House of Assembly by the acting governor for confirmation. The nominees are expected to be screened by the House today.

Announcing the sack of the commissioners in a statement, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Beatrice Omeni, directed them to hand over the management of their various ministries and government properties in their possession to the permanent secretaries or the most senior director, where there was no permanent secretary.

Dr Omeni conveyed the acting governor’s appreciation to the commissioners for their contributions towards the growth of the state, even as a new executive council would soon be put in place.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the dissolution was aimed at getting rid of technocrats, while most of the affected ones are likely to return.

Meanwhile, the state government has constituted a nine-member council of Delta State School of Marine Technology, Burutu, headed by Professor Ben Okaba.

The Acting Provost of the school is Mr Ditimi Johnson Adjekota, while Mr Izonwe Oteheri Solomon is to serve as Acting Registrar.




In another development, the acting governor, Prince Obi on Monday admonished religious organisations to continue in prayers, as this was needed to make the state and country better.

Reactions to Atiku’s nomination

Ibrahim Babangida-

“The IBB Presidential Campaign Organisation commits itself to all the elements of the Consensus Agreement and understanding. On behalf of His Excellency,General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, GCFR, we wish to congratulate His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON as the Consensus Candidate,” Raymond Dokpesi, the director general of the Ibrahim Babangida Campaign Organisation,who signed the statement, said in the statement.

The organization said that the outcome of the two-months exercise should be applauded because of the rogours the committee went through in search of a consensus candidate.“The outcome of the consensus exercise which the Adamu Ciroma Committee selflessly imposed upon itself in the past two months must be loudly applauded for the rigour of their search, conduct, and foresight.

It said,“The Committee inaugurated a process to tackle a challenge the result of which will outlive the politically induced crisis which called the Committee into existence.The outcome of the Consensus Exercise has truly humbled all the Presidential Aspirants.

“We once again, thank everyone of the membership of this committee. We all know the gravity of what the Aspirants have done. We know that in doing what they have done,this great nation and all Nigerians shall manifestly be served.“They did not submit themselves to this exercise so as to fail, far from it. The machinery of success which they inaugurated previously has become further strengthened and deeply rooted. It shall be well with the Consensus Outcome, and it shall manifestly be well for all Nigerians.

” Goodluck Jonathan-

Fellow Nigerians, as you notice an upswing in political activities I want to assure you that not only will I focus on my sworn commitment of providing leadership for ALL Nigerians, I will also run and encourage others to run a national campaign devoid of sectionalism because leaders ought to unite not divide.Again, the only difference we should look for in Nigeria is between good and bad not North and South.

Bukola Saraki:

ABS 2011 campaign organization, in the spirit of peace, national unity and sustenance of democracy in our great country, has accepted the decision of consensus committee set up by Northern Political Leaders forum,

(NPLF) under the chairmanship of Mall Adamu Ciroma. The committee has chosen former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to be the consensus candidate of the PDP aspirant from the North.ASB 2011 campaign organization thereby congratulates Atiku Abubakar and pledges to abide by the cooperative arrangement of the process that produced him. Our candidate Dr. Abubakr Bukola Saraki also salutes and profoundly thank his campaign team and supporters across the Country for their prayers and loyalty.

Aliyu Gusau:

The Aliyu Gusau Campaign Organization has congratulated His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar for emerging as the consensus candidate, picked by the Adamu Ciroma- led committee. In a statement issued by the organization, it reiterated the initial pledge and commitment of its principal. Rtd Lt- General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau to respect the verdict of the committee and give unqualified support to whoever emerges as the committee’s candidate. “Without the slightest equivocation”, the statement reads “the principal and the entire campaign organization stand by this pledge. The statement recalled the oft- repeated statement of General Gusau that electoral contest should not be a do or die affair, stressing that he was in the race fundamentally to serve.

The statement paid tributes to the members of the committee for the pains and sacrifice they undertook before arriving at this significant event. It equally noted that the committee members have, by their extensive consultations and unique contributions helped to moderate the stress and intense partisanship which could have governed the political campaign process. While extending its hand of fellowship to the preferred candidate, Atiku Abubakar and its campaign organization, the statement urged the vast followers of General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau to remain calm and undeterred by this outcome, urging them to await further directives.

Nuhu Ribadu:

“Our campaign organization received the news with interest. While we understand the matter as purely a PDP affair,

we nevertheless wish them luck in their coming primaries, hoping in the process that the PDP will ultimately give consideration to a national imperative as a guide to their party processes”.

Aghanya Denni:

Congress for Progressive Change- The emergence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the consensus presidential candidate of the Northerners in the PDP is an expression of a people’s wish and no two ways about it. The struggle is premised on the fact that promises are meant to be kept.

If there was an agreement of zoning at a point, it should be kept. If his choice is a popular choice of the Northern PDP members, so be it.

2nd Alteration Bill: Houses of Assembly submit resolutions - Nigerian Observer

Another milestone in the history of Nigeria’s constitutional development was yesterday achieved, when the Conference of Nigeria Speakers submitted their state Assemblies resolutions on 2nd Alteration Bill 2010 of the Nigerian Constitution to the National Assembly.

Making the symbolic handover to Senate President David Mark, Chairman of the Speakers Conference, Barr. Haruna Gbana, commended NASS for their decision to appeal the recent judgment concerning the 1st Alteration Bill.

“It is my humble opinion that because of the anxiety generated by this judgment and the likelihood of this matter heating up the polity as we get nearer to the May 29th handover date, the Judiciary should in the national interest accelerate the process of taking a final decision on this matter”, he said.

This is even as Senate President Mark submitted that the inclusion of a clause that makes members of the NASS automatic members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of their parties is not self-serving as the Act would outlive them in office.

“How can it be self serving; does it mean that after the tenure of this National Assembly, the Act would be thrown away? No, when passed into law, it would be a law that will outlive all of us.

There is no need for people to castigate members of the National Assembly; we will always abide by Superior argument; I advise all Nigerians to come to Public Hearing ahead of the Electoral Bill; whatever the majority views are would be binding on us; there is nothing secret”, Sen. Mark continued.

He stressed that the National Assembly welcomes constructive criticism and that “it helps us perform better, but must be based on sound reasoning”, asserting that the NASS now understands the due process of Constitution amendment and praised
the 36 State Houses of Assembly for living up to the expectations of Nigerians.

By so doing, Senator Mark added that members of the State Houses of Assembly have exhibited uncommon patriotism and commitment to nationhood.

Earlier, the chairman of conference of Speakers, Istifanus Gbana had also told the NASS that the State Assemblies had to fast track the process of the alteration including shelving their holidays in order to meet the time frame for the 2011 polls.

With this alteration, Gbana said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has no reason to delay the process of conducting free, fair and credible elections.

“The state legislatures for sure cannot be blamed for whatever may stand in the way of achieving the much talked about free, fair and credible election come 2011”, he added.

Nigerian militants deny army raid in oil delta

Nigeria's main militant group said on Monday that one of its commanders arrested over the weekend had surrendered in return for the promise of a financial reward and denied that the army had raided his camp.

The emailed statement from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is the latest salvo in a propaganda war with the military which risks tarnishing President Goodluck Jonathan in the run-up to elections next April.

Nigeria's army paraded a militant commander known as Obese and 60 of his followers before the media on Saturday, saying they had been arrested and five AK-47 rifles, 12 machine guns, ammunition and bullet-proof vests seized.

"There was no exchange of gunfire and these individuals handed themselves over to the military in expectance of a reward, as promised by Jonathan," MEND said in the statement, describing the president as a "spineless stooge".

"Weapons surrendered by these persons were less than 30 in number. Items displayed by the Nigerian military did not come from that camp. This was staged."

Obese, 25, whose real name is Tamunotonye Kuna, was believed to be responsible for the kidnapping of 19 oil and construction workers freed last week, including two Americans, two Frenchmen, two Indonesians, one Canadian and 12 Nigerians.

The authorities have described the freeing of the hostages and the arrest of Obese as a key victory in the Niger Delta.

Analysts said the weapons seizure did appear small for what was said to have been a major camp.

Resurgent unrest in the Niger Delta risks undermining the credibility of Jonathan, who is the first head of state from the oil region and who brokered an amnesty last year which led thousands of gunmen to lay down their weapons.

Labour Party sues lawmakers over bill

The national chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Dan Nwanyanwu said on Sunday that the party will head for court to challenge the proposed bill making members of the National Assembly members of the national executive committee (NEC), once it is passed into law.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Mr Nwanyanwu said the party has already contacted its lawyers to seek redress in court and that the court processes are being drafted."We will challenge in court , we can't afford to fold our hands and see this bill passed into law,these lawmakers are just arrogant , they only want to allocate more powers to themselves." he said.

The LP boss wondered why the federal lawmakers are desperate in processing legislation that is self-serving and that will not stand the test of time.Mr Nwanyanwu said, "You will recall we told them and drew their attention to the fact that for any act of the National Assembly to become law must have presidential assent, including alterations and amendments to the Nigerian Constitution, they said no, but they now know better, the court nullify their position. Though they have appealed but they won't go far. "This present NASS is the worst ever, what baffles us most is that the NASS is headed by a highly experienced and successful military general who has served this country in different capacities, as a military man, even as a minister. For all these illegalities to happen under his nose is most unfortunate. Probably it is so because of the way and manner they all got elected.

"We can forgive Bankole as the Speaker, who is a young man who just came back from abroad without any work experience in Nigeria, but suddenly found himself in a position of the speaker. The man that should have guided him and give him direction is also involved in all these."

Beyond comparison

He said the present crop of federal legislators cannot be compared to those of the Second Republic. According to him, Abraham Adesanya,Wali, Nathaniel Anah, Basil Okwu, David Dafinone, Olusola Saraki, John Wash Pam and others were great senators who had the interest of the country at heart unlike the current ones.

Mr Nwayanwu, however, said it is not too late for the lawmakers to withdraw the bill, saying, "It is not too late for the present NASS leadership to retrace their steps and do the right thing, which is the most honourable thing for them because this path they are towing will put them on the wrong side of history."

Police arrest 13 suspected Boko Haram members

The Borno State police command said yesterday that it had arrested 13 suspects in connection with last week's killings in Maiduguri.

The suspected Boko Haram militants reportedly killed at least four people in separate attacks on Wednesday and Friday in Maiduguri.

Confirming the arrest, the command's Police Public Relations Officer Lawal Abdullahi said in Maiduguri that 11 suspects were arrested in connection with the Wednesday's killing, ``I want to inform you that we have already made a number of arrests in connection with the killings.

``We have arrested 11 suspects in relation to the Wednesday's killing, we have also arrested two suspects in connection to the Friday's killings,'' Mr Abdullahi said.

He pointed out that the arrests were based on information gathered by the police on the incidences, claiming that ``we have been able to record a breakthrough that will eventually lead to uncovering the root of the numerous killings in the town in recent times." The brother of the ward head of Ngarnam, in the state, simply called Baba Gana was killed on Wednesday by some suspected Boko Haram militants who took him for the ward head, while on Friday, three persons including a six year old boy, Musa Amin were killed near a Friday Mosque at Layin Makaranta in Gumari ward behind the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).

The victims are 35-year-old Yunus Abba, and his friend simply called Ibrahim both part II Arabic students of the University of Maiduguri and an unnamed police officer who was shot in Umarari late on Friday near his house in the metropolis. About 30 persons have so far been killed by the suspected militants since July when they began sporadic attacks on individuals believed to have played active part in quelling last year's Yusufiya insurgence in Maiduguri.

Although security checks had been put in place to checkmate their activities, the militants appeared so far to have beaten the security agents, especially with their guerrilla tactics.

Overcrowding causes chaos at Jeddah airport

WRONG flight schedules at the King Abdul Aziz International Airport (KAIA), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, have been blamed for the chaos being faced by stranded hajj pilgrims.
Over 4.5 million pilgrims from all over the world took part in the yearly hajj exercise and the population explosion this year overstretched the facilities put in place by the Saudi Arabia government for the exercise.
Between Friday and Saturday, the airport was overcrowded due to the influx of pilgrims from Mecca, and a high ranking Saudi Arabian Airlines official has blamed the development on Hajj service providers who have poorly thought out plans to bring departing passengers from Mecca to the airport.

Abdullah Al-Ajhar, who is the Assistant Director General of Saudi Arabian Airlines, said: “The crowding and build-up of pilgrims returning to Gulf countries and domestic destinations at KAIA on Saturday and Friday was caused by errors in the schedules set up to bring departing pilgrims to the airport. Because of the errors of Hajj service providers, Saudi Arabian Airlines has had to reschedule its general flights and prepare an alternate plan to ferry pilgrims.”
Al-Ajhar, who was quoted by a local Saudi newspaper, Arab News, dismissed postings on some websites that Kuwait had sent an aircraft to transport Kuwaiti pilgrims as baseless, adding: “The Kuwaiti and other pilgrims returned in alternate flights operated by Saudi. I do not know of any flights from any Gulf country arriving here to take out pilgrims who have been waiting at KAIA for 20 hours,” he said, adding that he had no comment over false reports.
He further said: “I will affirm that we are dealing with more than half a million pilgrims flying on both domestic and regional flights. I do not rule out occurrence of mistakes, but we are trying our best to correct errors that have occurred and to normalise matters at the earliest.”
Several websites have been carrying reports that Kuwait and the UAE transported pilgrims returning to their respective countries on their own planes after pilgrims were left waiting at Jeddah airport for over 15 hours.
A UAE newspaper recently criticised the quality of services at KAIA and said that many pilgrims had to seek medical assistance from their respective Hajj missions.
However, sources at the airport said medical centres in the airport - staffed by 600 doctors, nurses and support workers - have been providing all types of medical help to returning pilgrims. Meanwhile, outbound pilgrims are taking their own precautions not to miss flights.
An Egyptian Hajj group had come to KAIA’s South Terminal, well over six hours, prior to check-in and camped at the airport.
“But our efforts were of no use as the scheduled flight was delayed,” said the team leader, who did not wish to be named.
He added: “Though there are large crowds milling around, we are not complaining.”

Varsities: Ex-AGF writes Jonathan, makes case for Kogi

FORMER Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN) has passionately appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to approve the siting of one of the proposed federal universities in Kogi State.
The presidential committee on the matter had already started inspection of areas where the new universities will be sited. The six geo-political zones in the country are to have one new federal university each, with special consideration for states without any existing federal university.
Kogi is one of the states in the North-Central zone without a federal university.
Ojo, in the letter dated November 11, 2010, appealed to the president that Kogi should be considered in the interest of fair play, adding that of all the old provinces in the North, only the state had no federal university.
It reads: “I wish to commend your excellency for the practical demonstration of the commitment of your administration to human capital development of our nation, as evident in the gracious approval of the Executive Council of the Federation to create six additional universities.

Lagos doctors suspend strike - NEXT

Lagos State medical doctors, on Sunday suspended, their 14-week-old strike and gave the state government a 72-hour ultimatum to pay their withheld salaries.

The decision was taken at an emergency congress of the Medical Guild, an umbrella association for medical doctors on the payroll of the Lagos State government, presided by the chairman, Aboyade Williams. Mr Williams, while briefing journalists about the congress's decision, said that the association may have to call another congress on Friday, November 26, or in February 2011, depending on whether the government reciprocates their "goodwill." "If within 72 hours, the withheld salaries are not paid, the congress may have to reconvene on Friday," he said.

Mutually agreeable wage review

Mr Williams told journalists that there is a "very good understanding" between the state government and the medical association, and the strike was suspended on the basis of that understanding, hoping that by January 2011, the government will make good its promise to implement a new salary package. He read out a letter, addressed to the association on November 19, by the state's Head of Service, Adesegun Ogunlewe, which contained several promises for all the demands of the association.

The letter stated, in part, that: "With effect from January 2011, a mutually agreeable wage review, which will not put Lagos doctors on a disadvantage compared to their colleagues in other states, will be implemented." Other promises included the "positive review" of the case of Ibrahim Olaifa, the association's past chairman, who was sacked for addressing journalists as against government's order, which forbid any civil servant from speaking to journalists; a "positive review" of withheld September and October salaries and other arrears; the remittance of the association's dues; and the promise that "no officer will be victimised on account of participation or role played during the strike." Whatever the "mutually agreeable wage review" means in terms of figure, though not disclosed, was acceptable to the doctors. It will not be known until January's salary is paid whether the review will be acceptable to the doctors; hence the promise by Mr Williams that the congress may be convened sometime in February to review government's implementation of its promises.

Banking on government's goodwill

The strike succeeded in dragging the government to the negotiation table, though it still did not produce the legal commitment the doctors demanded. The government had earlier promised to implement the new pay package in January 2011, thorough a letter written by Mr Ogunlewe to the association, but the doctors demanded for a circular, choosing not to "trust" the promise on the basis of several previous failed promises. According to one of the doctors, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the doctors shifted stance because the strike has already gone farther than they expected. "You know when you struggle against an entity with limitless resources, you must have limitless resources also and we don't have that limitless resource," he said.