April Poll - No Excuse for Failure -U.S

Abuja — Ahead of the April general elections, the United State of America (USA) has warned that the international community will not accept anything short of a free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria, even as it insisted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must live up to its responsibility of ensuring that nobody or group manipulates the process.

The position of the American government was made public when the US under secretary of state for civilian security, democracy and human rights, Maria Otero led an eight-man delegation on a courtesy visit to the management of INEC yesterday in Abuja.

Even as the talks were held behind closed doors, Daily Champion gathered from reliable sources that the US envoy was full of praises for INEC for the way it has handled its activities so far, and also challenged the commission to be more proactive.

Daily Champion gathered that the delegation reminded INEC that all eyes were on Nigeria as she prepares for the elections adding that due to the strategic position of Nigeria, the elections must not be allowed to be flawed.

Before the discussions went into closed doors, leader of the delegation, Maria Otero said they were visiting INEC again as an important organization and as part of efforts to work closely with the bi-national commission that Nigeria and the US worked out together as recognition of the important partnership between the two countries.

She commended the INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega for his commitment in delivering an election that will be able to stand the test of time.

She said: "I want to begin with commending you Mr. chairman the very important and very good work of INEC in preparing for this election and in carrying out very important responsibilities that are essential in order for Nigerians to be able to participate in a fair and free and transparent elections.

"This is a very good opportunity to acknowledge this important outcome of your work so far and to have an opportunity to also speak with you about what challenges you see that remain, what concerns you have as you move elements forward and also for us to be able to voice some of the questions that we have. Perhaps as a way of beginning one of the questions that I will ask you would be your assessment of how the voter registration process went".

Responding, Jega thanked the delegation for the interest shown in the electoral affairs of the nation adding that the presence of the team would afford the Commission and delegation an opportunity to go over some issues earlier discussed and to compare notes especially on the outcome of the voters registration exercise.

He reiterated the quest of his commission to deliver a credible election that will give Nigerians their true leader.

"Basically we wanted to do very good and credible voter registration exercise and to create a frame work for a continuous sustainable voter registration using the biometric capture and information technology to establish a good data base of register. It was very challenging but we were able to do it and we are satisfied with the results I must say that we will continue to remain grateful to all our development partners especially the US and the contributions that we have received through partnerships and collaborations with many institutions and agencies in whose contributions of expertise and consultancies and discussions and reports have really helped tremendously towards the success of the exercise".

He said it is the responsibility of Nigerians to insist that the right things were done to ensure that the dream of free, fair and credible election will be realized.

Meanwhile, Prince Adedeji Soyebi, INEC national commissioner in charge of Information, while answering questions from newsmen on the outcome of the meeting between INEC and the US delegation said the delegation was full of praise of the Commission on its performance so far.

He said: "The delegation brought goodwill message; they commented on the voter register and other electoral activities basically on how to achieve credible and successful elections, it was commendation and commendation, they were very happy with us".

He equally revealed that INEC was going through the figures recorded as number of registered voters during the registration exercise with a view to reconciling them with the final number released.

Soyebi said the commission will use the opportunity to look into some claims especially that of Niger state government who claimed that the number declared for the state was lower than the actually registered voters.

Nevertheless, the national commissioner insisted that on no account will INEC rely on the figures declared by the State government as purportedly recorded during the registration, but would instead reconcile the figures recorded during registration and the final figure declared to determine the true position of the number in the state.

Ten-year jail term for money launderers

The Senate yesterday passed the Anti-Money Laundering bill, with a recommendation of a maximum jail term of 10 years, but not less than five years, for offenders, in addition to fines that may be applicable.

Some financial crimes analysts, however, warned that the maximum punishments prescribed in the bill may not discourage offenders, especially compared to what is obtainable in other crimes.

However, the passage of the bill brings Nigeria to the verge of totally fulfilling the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), established by the G7 Summit in Paris in 1989.

The new anti-money laundering bill will replace the 2004 version of same bill, which is said to lack the relevant provisions that will make it fully compliant with FATF recommendation.

Full compliance will, however, depend on the speed with which the House of Representatives passes its own version of the bill, which is already awaiting final reading in the House.

Thereafter, major discrepancies between the House and Senate version of the bill will be harmonised in a clean copy that will be adopted by both chambers and forwarded to the president, who appears to be eagerly waiting to sign it into law.

Raised bars

The bill passed by the Senate is slightly different from the version forwarded to the legislators by the president. It raised the bars for cash transaction that can be made outside a financial institution from N500, 000 and N2 million to N5 million and N10 million for individuals and corporate bodies respectively.

The Senate also raised the amount of international transfers that ought to be reported to government agencies from $2,000 to $10, 000 for individuals. It places a duty on bankers and other financial institutions to report international transfers of funds exceeding $10,000 to the Central Bank of Nigeria, from where the records can be accessed by security operatives.

Transportation of cash or negotiable instruments in excess of $10,000 or its equivalent by individuals in or out of the country shall be declared to the Nigerian Custom Service, section 3 of the act prescribed.

Offenders of this section “shall be liable upon conviction to forfeit not less than 25% of the undeclared funds or negotiable instrument or to imprisonment of not less than two years or both.”

The bill also obligates casinos and jewellers, as well as bankers, to properly identify its customers, report transactions exceeding the stated amounts to the appropriate government agency, and subsequently hold their records for at least five years.

Section 9 of the Act requires all banks to designate compliance officers at management level, branches and local offices, who are expected to feed a centralised data base with information.

The Central Bank of Nigeria is empowered by the bill to impose a penalty of not less than N1 million or the suspension of any licence issued to the financial institution or designated non financial institution for failure to comply with this section.

Meanwhile, the Act raised the amount of individual and corporate transactions that all financial institution are mandated to report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from N1 million and N5 million to N5 million and N10 million respectively.

Any financial institution or designated non financial institution that contravenes this provision of this section is liable to a fine of not less than N250, 000 and not more than N1 million for each day the contravention continues.

The Act prohibits numbered or anonymous accounts and empowers EFCC, CBN, and other regulatory authorities to place surveillance on suspected bank accounts, access to computer systems, and other records. It, however, denies them the right to tap suspects’ phone lines.

The bill covers offences including converting or transferring resources or properties derived directly from illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotic substances, and participation in organised criminal group, racketeering, terrorism, terrorist financing, bribery and corruption, tax evasion, sexual exploitation, and others.

A PDP vote is a wasted vote, says Fashola

The Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, on Tuesday said the People’s Democratic Party has consistently proved that a vote for the party is a vote for suffering.

He urged Nigerians to use their votes to protest this failure of governance by voting for the Action Congress of Nigeria in the forthcoming general polls.

Mr. Fashola said this while flagging off the senatorial campaign rally of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) at the Agege Township Stadium.

He complained that each time President Goodluck Jonathan visits Lagos, traffic along many routes are unnecessarily blocked leading to serious gridlock. “Because they are coming to campaign in Lagos today, the PDP has blocked the entire roads leading to Lagos Island. There is a heavy traffic congestion in different parts of the state because Jonathan is coming to campaign. That is how they subject people to untold suffering. Lagosians are suffering in the traffic caused by the security operatives of President Jonathan. If you vote for PDP, you vote for suffering. We have a lot of resources, but have nothing to show for it,” he said. The senatorial rally was held concurrently in the three senatorial districts of the state.

He described the party’s presidential candidate, Nuhu Ribadu and his deputy, Fola Adeola, as “true agents of positive change, whom Nigerians should vote in the next election.”

“Considering their antecedents,” said Mr. Fashola, who was accompanied by his running mate, Adejoke Orelope-Adefilure, “we believe the time has come to change the destiny of our country, and this is what the candidature of Ribadu and Adeola really represents.”

“The entire people of Nigeria irrespective of ethnic, political and religious affiliations need to rise against governance failure, which the ruling party has represented in the last twelve years. Vote for the duo of Ribadu and Adeola, both of whom have been tested and performed creditably well in their chosen fields,” the governor said.

Call for accountability

Mr. Fashola also asked Nigerians to demand that President Goodluck explains how a huge sum of $500 billion, which accrued to the country from oil sale in the last five years, was spent.

He said oil revenue, though huge, has had no impact on the country’s decaying and moribund social amenities and infrastructure.

The federal government “has made $500 billion from the sale of crude oil. We should ask the ruling party how the revenue was spent. The roads are bad. Social amenities are decayed. Electricity is not stable. The ruling PDP has been in power for twelve years, and has not been able to make them function. The time of PDP is up. We must no longer allow the ruling party to continue lead us on the path of failure and darkness.”

Nigeria’s ambassador to US at EFCC

Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States (US) Prof. Ade Adefuye has appeared before Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigators over the sale of Nigeria’s mission houses in the US.

The diplomat visited the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Monday and yesterday when he appeared before the anti-graft investigators with documents relating to the sale of five houses belonging to the Nigerian Mission and the diversion of $1.35million allegedly paid as tax.

Nigerian US-based Attorney Emeka Ephraim Egwuonye has been in custody over the alleged fraudulent, bazaar-like sale of the houses.

It was learnt that from documents made available by Adefuye, the houses which were located in Maryland and Washington DC, were sold between 2005 and 2007.

It was also gathered that preliminary investigation has confirmed that the sale of the houses was “untidy and questionable.”

A source in the commission gave an insight into the brief by the Nigerian Embassy in the US.

The source said: “So far, it has been difficult to ascertain how much was the total sum realized from the sale and what was remitted to the Nigerian Embassy in the US or the Federal Government.

“And even what the suspect claimed he gave to the Embassy or the Federal Government was less tax of $1.350, 000.

“But the Embassy later found out that diplomatic missions do not pay tax. And when this fact was made available to the suspect, he said he would fight for the refund of the tax.

“When the suspect got the tax refund, he failed to remit it to the Embassy or the Federal Government. This is where the suspect’s problem lies.”

The source said Adefuye told the EFCC that he “inherited the case and reported it to the EFCC to avoid any legal web for the nation.”

The source added: “Adefuye has testified before the EFCC’s team and he has also made some useful documents available to us.

“He (Adefuye) gave in-depth details of how the business was transacted and the issues emanating from it.

“In order to enable us conclude investigations, we have secured a court order to extend the detention of the suspect by two weeks.

“With the Ambassador testifying, we hope to charge the suspect to court in the next one week or two.”

There were strong indications yesterday that the EFCC may invite a former Minister and some ex-Ambassadors to the United States over the issue.

“We have sufficient lead to invite this ex-Minister and the Ambassadors who knew about the transactions. We want them to explain the roles they played in it.

“It is a full-scale investigation that might provide further insight into what is going on in some of our Embassies and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC Mr. Femi Babafemi said: “We are still investigating the suspect but we are having more petitions against him. We still have to investigate further before we take him to court.”

It was learnt that one of the petitions against the suspect came from Mrs Sola Adeeyo over alleged diversion of $94,000 kept in a “Client Trust Account” in Egwuonye’s chamber.

Adeeyo’s petition reads in part: “The detainee has represented me in the US, obtained money from my bank on my behalf as my Attorney, money which was expressly designated to be kept in an ‘Attorney Client Trust Account’ until such time I may be available to collect it but which Mr. Emeka Egwuonye has apparently misappropriated and has refused to release to me since 2007.

“In the year 2007, I assigned Egwuonye to represent me in a case in which my bank had erroneously released my funds to an impostor. The bank agreed to refund my money and I was not able to travel to the US at the time.

“I consented that the refund cheque could be released to Mr. Egwuonye Law Firm’s Client Trust Account. I deposed to an indemnity and a release at the US Embassy in Lagos on June 14, 2007 that my money could be released via cheque payable to “ECULAW Group Trust Account” for the benefit of Sola Adeeyo.

“Funds were indeed released subsequently but Mr. Emeka Egwuonye has refuses or unable to pay me my money in his care.

“Egwuonye is aware of the consequences of his malfeasance on his professional career and has continued to plead with me to give him time to pay.”

Ban on tinted glasses: FCT task force begins operation – Daily Trust

The task force set up by the FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr Haruna John, to enforce the ban on tinted motor glasses has begun operations.

Mr Jimoh Moshood, a superintendent of police and the command’s spokesman, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday that it was headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of operations, Mr Umar Shehu.

Moshood said the Federal Road Safety Commission, the Directorate of Vehicle Inspection (VIO) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were also members of the task force.

He said members of the task force had already been deployed to strategic places in and around the city to enforce the ban since last week and advised motorists to remove their tint

Oshiomhole calls for removal of fraudulent RECs

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has called for the removal of fraudulent Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

He spoke at the 10th delegates’ conference of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Oshiomhole also said NLC is not vibrant.

He said: “To ask a brand new Prof. Attahiru Jega to head a house where the old cockroaches of rigging are present is not good enough. A lot of those fraudulent electoral commissioners who presided over fraudulent elections that were nullified by courts of law, upheld by the Court of Appeal must go. Everybody says one man, one vote, but they must watch their language.

“Anytime they say capture, that is a language of riggers.

“We are going to capture, that is not the language of one-man-one-vote. Capture

can only be done by rigging. Such RECs are wreckers, they cannot be allowed to continue to wreck the system. Jega will need more than two eyes and two ears to monitor these seasoned riggers, and most of them are members of the ruling

party. Jega must know this. He must watch them. Whatever comes out of this at the end of the day will be the result of your planning. I believe it is a mistake to leave those riggers, certified by court of law in the system. It is now the burden of the president and of course the responsibility of Comrade Jega to ensure their character. If they don’t conform with the norms, Cairo is not far from Abuja, Tripoli is not far from Abuja.

Speaking at the event Jega said an impartial electoral commission is the answer to credible polls.

He said: “We want to do our best to ensure that the current independent electoral commission is impartial, is non-partisan, and create a level playing field for everybody. We will also ensure that everybody does the right thing. We will obey the law. We will work within the legal framework and we will ensure that every participant and contestant do so, if we believe in the foundation of beginning to get things right in our country, and we are committed to that.

“We will never do anything, given our role and antecedent in the labour movement to make you feel ashamed of what we do, we will always do our best to make you proud of what we do for our country. And please continue to give us your best and your best to your country.

“I want to assure you that we, at the Independent National Electoral Commission, are doing our best, to use this opportunity to do the right things and to ensure that we create an upward framework to prepare credible elections.

“It is not easy. It has never been easy. It is a struggle. It is a continuous struggle. It is indeed a perpetual struggle. So the struggle continues, but we must struggle and we must keep on improving our democratic parties and our electoral processes,” Jega said.

(Jobs) National Consultant: Media Consultant – Abuja Nigeria

To assist the DGD in the planning and execution of the national workshop on Building Community Radio for Democracy and Development in Nigeria

• Assist the DGD in identifying relevant stakeholders for participation at the National Workshop on Building Community Radio Stations for Democracy in Nigeria;
• Assist the DGD in the contact and invitation of participants for the National Workshop on the Building of Community Radio Stations in Nigeria
• To maximize participants comprehension of key media issues in relation to January 2011 elections and coordinate active engagement of the group in discussing, raising issues, drawing conclusions, etc.
• To solicit feedback from meeting participants through informal and formal means to gauge reactions of participants and;.
• Prepare and present to the DGD a comprehensive report of the National Workshop on Building Community Radio for Democracy in Nigeria.

Deliverables

• The consultants are expected to deliver the following outputs:
• Smooth conduct of the National Workshop on Community Radio in Nigeria
• Submission of comprehensive report on the national workshop and;
• Submission of blueprint (roadmap) for the establishment and operations of six community radio stations in each of the geo political zones of the country.

Supervision

The Project Director of DGD will provide strategic guidance for the consultant in the discharge of the assignment while monitoring and supervision will be carried out by relevant progamme staff members.

Ducation:

• A minimum of a Master degree in the field of Communication, Media studies or other social science related subject.

Experience:

• At least 10 years progressive professional experience in work with Media in Nigeria
• Experience in Community Radio practice an advantage;
• Previous experience in facilitating media workshops and meetings required

Language Requirements:

• Strong skills in written communications in English;
• Excellent spoken English is also required.

Application closes on February 2nd, 2011.

Tp apply, visit the link below:

http://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?job_id=21209

Senate threatens to stop work on 2011 budget – Daily Trust

The Senate yesterday threatened to suspend consideration of the 2011 Appropriation Bill due to refusal of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration to forward budget estimates of some key government agencies to the National Assembly for approval. A letter by the Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriation Senator Iyiola Omisore to Senate President David Mark obtained by newsmen yesterday said Senate Committees may in line with Section 21 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act stop further consideration of the budget until the estimates of the affected agencies are forwarded to it.

Omisore said, “Despite our concerted efforts, with repeated phone calls, personal visits and interaction with the ministry of finance, the budget estimate of the agencies have not been submitted and non compliance has caused the delay in the passage of the budget as planned.

“We wish to reiterate that any further delay to submit the budget of these agencies may continue to affect the passage of the bill as we don’t want to go against the Act of the parliament.”

April polls: IBB’s supporters declare support for Buhari

Supporters of former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, have declared their intention to vote for the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, during the forthcoming April presidential election.

The supporters, under the aegis of Joint IBB Support Group,told newsmen in Kaduna through their leader, Kasim Idris Dodo, that since Babangida was no longer in the presidential race, they were now behind Buhari and would work for his success during the presidential election.

They said considering the fact that their trusted candidate, Babangida, was no longer in the race, they had resolved to support Buhari in the April presidential election.

“The decision of the group to support Buhari was taken after a wide range of consultations with Babangida and other stakeholders in the IBB campaign organisation.

“This decision came following series of dialogues and wider consultation both with IBB and his campaign organisation. It was unanimously resolved that we gather and publicly declare our support for General Buhari.”

The group believed that Buhari was the only credible, honest and patriotic candidate that can transform Nigeria by tackling the myriads of problems that have retarded the development of the country.

NNPC is not transparent, inefficient - Minister

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, has stated that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is inefficient and lacks transparency in its operations. Speaking at the weekend in Abuja, the minister, who was represented by the Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production, Mr Andrew Yakubu, solicited the support of all stakeholders to assist in entrenching transparency and discipline in their business dealings with NNPC officials.

She said, “it is our hope that all stakeholders and players in the industry will extend a hand of partnership in entrenching the transparent and efficient ways in which we now desire to do business by leveraging on the laws of the land. This will no doubt ensure accountability in the management of investments across the value chain.”

Former Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Remi Babalola, had recently reported that the NNPC was broke. The statement generated a lot of heat in the polity with the Finance Minister, Olusegun Aganga, denying the report.

The Minister for Petroleum said the ongoing reform in the oil and gas sector was to sanitise the corporation as well as the industry. “In order to entrench transparency and accountability in the sector, the government had embarked on critical reform in the sector,” she said.

Meanwhile, reports by independent auditors had earlier indicted NNPC of using its unique trading position to make profit in the country’s crude oil sale payments at the expense of the government between 2006 and 2008 which the audit covered.

The audit was conducted by British accountants, Hart Group and Nigerian firm, S.S Afemikhe & co and approved by the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

The report recommended that the NNPC should be autonomous. “Restructuring of the NNPC should ensure arm’s length dealing between the NNPC and the federation,” the report said. It also said the NNPC is taking advantage of its position as both buyer and agent of seller (the government) to make profit at the expense of the federation.

FCTA demolishes over 120 illegal structures in Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said it demolished over 120 illegal structures between December 7, 2010 and January 26, 2011in the bid to keep faith with the dictates of the Abuja Master Plan.

According to the administration, while another 176 illegal structures had been marked for demolition, 64 new demolition notices had been served on illegal structure developers.

Making the disclosure at the weekend while reviewing the activities of the FCT Development Control Department in his office, the Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, disclosed that 37 shanties were removed around the FCT city while 94 stop-work and 107 quit notices were served on erring developers within the same period under review.

According to the minister, some of the buildings demolished under the mass housing programme include structures in Wumba on Plots 118, 119, and 120 as well as the over10 shanties that were removed in Mbora Districts.

Senator Mohammed said that 20 illegal structures in Dutse District around Apo Village in addition to more than 10 shanties were also brought down.

Other structures affected, according to him, were shanties on Plots 470, 468 and 1059, in addition to the nine illegal structures pulled down in Garki II District.

The minister further disclosed that the FCT Development Control has removed all structures on Plot 1290 Garki District developed for informal sector market by the Abuja Market Management Limited without building plan approval.

He said, “The Development Control has also cleared illegal settlements within Mabushi Village as well as market encroaching on individual plots 1669, 1668, 1666, 1805 and 938. An illegal structure being constructed on plot 760 Central Business District was also removed for attempting to build after revocation of title.

Some illegal structures were removed in Kubwa and Lugbe as well as in Wuye District in the Phase II of the Federal Capital City. Development Control has marked and re-sealed Plot 1059, Cadastral Zone B11 in Kaura District of Phase II due to development contrary to approved land use and building plan; while the foreman on site was arrested by the Police due to no compliance to notices issued.

Govt evacuates Nigerians from Libya

The Federal Government has started evacuating Nigerians stranded in Tripoli. The first batch of evacuees, about 499 Nigerians, arrived in Abuja yesterday around 1.30 am.

Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Muhammad Sani-Sidi said the government has set up a camp to accommodate the returnees, until the necessary documentation and screening are completed.

Sani-Sidi said the screening is necessary to identify passengers without valid travelling documents and those with bad records.

Foreign Affairs Minister Odein Ajumogobia, who was represented by Timloh Nkom, said all Nigerians in Libya would be brought home safely.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the African Union (AU) to stop the ongoing abuse of human rights in Libya.

In an open letter to AU Chairman President Obiang Mbasogo, the group’s lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, urged the union to exercise its right under Article 4 of the Constitutive Act and intervene.

The group is seeking the following:

•That the AU intervenes in Libya to stop the violence against the protesters.

•That the AU refers the situation in Libya to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and supports the initiatives at the United Nation (UN) Security Council in this respect.

•That the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights visits Libya to investigate allegations of rights abuses and refer the cases to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The letter reads: "Playing politics or remaining silent when the citizens of Libya are being murdered by their government will undermine the authority of the AU and its many institutions.

"It has committed itself to promoting peace and security in the continent and has a fundamental duty to assist people in danger. The old-fashioned theory of state sovereignty, used to fend off criticism of massacres, cannot stand under the terms of the AU Constitutive Act.

"Article 4 says the AU will intervene in respect of grave circumstances, namely: war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.’ Unless the AU acts now and stops the killing in Libya, its ability to prevent the kind of abuses cited above will be severely undermined."

Cocaine trial: Court rejects bid to free 3 accused

JUSTICE Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, at the weekend rejected a no case submission made by the defence counsel in the ongoing cocaine trial, on behalf of the third, fourth and fifth accused in the suit.

Justice Okon, while discarding the application for lacking merit, ordered the defence to open its case today.

According to the judge, “I have thoroughly and painstakingly examined the issues.

“A no case submission lacks merit and is hereby overruled.”

Meanwhile, chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, has renewed its pledge for diligent prosecution of drug barons in the country.

The helmsman of the anti-drug agency made the declaration, while reacting to a ruling on the application by the defence counsel in the ongoing 450.400kg cocaine trial.

Impressed by the ruling, Giade said it had sent the right signal to drug trafficking syndicates that the due process of the law must be followed in the dispensation of justice, adding that “this is commendable. The message is that every accused must justify their plea.”

Also describing the ruling as satisfactory, NDLEA director of prosecution and legal services, Mr Femi Oloruntoba, who is the chief prosecuting counsel, said that the prosecution was adequately prepared as trial continued.

“The ruling is satisfactory. Our prayer was upheld and we are ready for trial as the defence opens its case,” Oloruntoba said.

The NDLEA had argued that the no case submission be rejected and accused be allowed to open their defence.

The prosecution in the trial closed its case in December 2010, after producing 15 witnesses that gave evidence in support of the charges brought against the five accused.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the NDLEA, on Friday, arraigned three men on a two-count charge, in connection with 110kg of cocaine intercepted also at the Tin Can Island port Lagos.

The accused, who were arraigned before Justice M.B. Idris, pleaded not guilty to the charge and were ordered by the judge to be remanded in prison custody.

Following the objection of their bail application, the case was adjourned till tomorrow.

Robbers kill policeman, night guard in Ibadan

Suspected armed robbers, on Saturday, night, killed two people, a policeman and a night security guard, at Jakan area of Agbowo in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The suspected robbers were said to have wounded two other people, including a night security guard, who are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed private hospital in the area.

The policeman attached to Kajorepo Police Station, Jakan area, the Nigerian Tribune learnt, was not on duty when the incident happened.

According to a police source, he had closed for the day around 11.30 p.m. when he decided to see a friend who resides in the area.

He was killed in front of the house of his friend before other residents were deprived of their valuables.

The deceased policeman, not knowing that they were robbers, it was gathered, had introduced himself as a policeman and that he was coming from a friend’s house.

It was after introducing himself that the suspected robbers killed him and went ahead to kill the night security in the area.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that they later matchetted another night security guard and another person.

The robbers were said to have deprived the people of Irepodun Street of their valuables.

But for the quick intervention of policemen at Kajorepo, the Nigerian Tribune gathered that more people would have been killed and several others were deprived of their valuables.

When contacted, the state Commissioner of Police, Baba Adisa Bolanta, confirmed the incident and said it was being investigated.

CNPP knocks Jonathan over Bode George

Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), on Sunday, said that it was against best ethical tradition for President Goodluck Jonathan to have delegated the Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, to represent him at the event celebrating the release of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Bode George,from prison.

The group in a statement signed by its national publicity secretary, Osita Okechukwu, maintained that it was at a loss where to locate President Jonathan’s much publicised zero tolerance for corruption and in fact, his anti-graft crusade by his decision to send a representative to the event which it described as an obscene celebration.

According to CNPP, President Jonathan, from all intents and purposes, by the act failed woefully to defend the constitution which the group observed frowns at corruption.

Justice Salami queried again

USTICE Ayo Salami has again been quried by the Chairman, National Judicial Council, (NJC), Justice Alloysius Katsina –Alu over a statement made by the Appeal Court President.

The query centred on the statement that he trusted just a few of the Justices in his court for governorship election appeal cases.

A source in the NJC has also disclosed that Salami may get yet another query this week over two petitions from Osun and Ekiti states submitted with his alleged phone call logs in which he was accused of having dealings with chieftains of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and some of their lawyers “before, during and after “ the cases were heard by his court.

The latest query was issued to Justice Salami by the CJN on 17th February, 2011 giving him two weeks to respond to a second petition sent in by former Osun state governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

“ I forward herewith a petition dated 7th February, 2011 against you by Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former governor, Osun state, on the above subject matter. The petition speaks for itself. I shall be glad to have your comments within two weeks of receipt of this letter, please,” the CJN said in the query with reference number NJC/F.2/CA.1/1/99.

The President of the Court of Appeal in an interview in Thisday newspaper of Tuesday January 25, 2011 disclosed that he had been using only those he trusted for governorship election appeal cases. He was quoted in the interview as saying : “then, he, (Senator Iyiola Omisore) raised the issue of using a few Justices to determine appeals. Well, when it comes to that, you must use people you trust, you can’t just empanel anybody.”

Osun and Ekiti chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party had repeatedly accused Salami of having “a special squad of nine Justices” who handled governorship election cases with Justices Clara Ogunbiyi appearing in Ekiti and Osun, C.C Nweze in Ekiti and Osun, Adamu Jauro in Ekiti, Osun and Ogun while M.L Garuba was in Osun and Ogun. Paul Galinge was also in Osun and Sokoto panels. There are over 60 Justices in the Court of Appeal.

Prince Oyinlola in the petition asserted that Justice Salami’s disclosure in the interview that he trusted only about nine of his over 50 colleagues confirmed his earlier petition that other considerations other than delivery of justice informed the actions of Justice Salami and the appeal panel in the handling of his case.

“My Lord, no doubt, the above statement could only mean one thing and, that is that, in constituting the Ogunbiyi panel that heard my case, other factors and considerations other than judicial fairness were at play in the mind of the President of the court. I urge, sir, that his open declaration that ” you must use people you trust.“deserve to be further examined with a view to knowing what he meant by trust and also, trust to do what? This is necessary because every member of the judiciary including the Appeal Court is deemed by virtue of his oath of office to be a person worthy of trust,” Oyinlola said.

Another area, among several others, Justice Salami will have to provide answers to is his comments on the osun judgement in which he claimed that not all the votes in the 10 local governments in contention were cancelled.

Police goes tough on tinted vehicle violation

Nigerian Police has promised to crackdown on motorists who violate the Federal Government order against the use of vehicles with tinted glasses as the enforcement on the ban takes effect from 28 February 2011.

The ban however exempts vehicles with factory fitted glasses and those authorized person(s) as Mr. President, his deputy, Senate President, Speaker of House of Representatives and state houses ofassembly, their deputies, House of Reps leader and governors who are allowed to use a tainted vehicles.

Minister of Police Affairs Barrister Humphrey Aba who stated this weekend in Benin during his visit to the state commissioner of police Mr. David Omojola, said the order followed government’s resolve to checkmate crime activities ahead of April elections.

He emphasized that the measures was aimed at bringing sanity to the society and to further scale down the level of kidnaping, shipment of arms, explosives and other forms of crime-related activities which may threaten 2011elctions in the country.

According to him, “no sane man will taint his/her vehicle so dark except he has a hidden motive.”

He stated that the enforcement was real and that government will not treat the order with kid gloves and charge all police commissioners to ensure they carry out the directives.

The police affairs minister expressed President Goodluck Jonathan’s grave concern and commitment to the issue of equipping the police in terms of man power despite acknowledged dearth in some areas.

He said government had procured equipment and uniforms to kit the police force which he said would be distributed to all the commands as soon as the Inspector- General of Police returned from his trip abroad.

The measure, he stated was to ensure that every policeman becomes more responsible in the discharge of his duties.

He urged the citizens to ensure that their vote count in line with the campaign of one man-one vote stressing that no man would be harassed or intimidated at the polling centers as polling boots would be made secure during the exercise.

He added that politicians will not be allowed to alter operational order by asking policemen to follow them and advised politicians to do more to campaign for votes and not employ other peoples children to perpetrate thuggery and violence during elections.

The minister stated that the police welfare structure of the force would be revamped to take care of all cadre of policemen and their family in the advent of deaths, injuries sustained during crime fighting and prevention as well as reward for gallantry.

He said the gesture was to further boost and encourage the rank and file in the force and that the present administration was sensitive and concerned about the welfare of police

Saraki, Dangote, Adenuga, others in Jonathan’s campaign team

Business mogul Aliko Dangote, telecoms magnate Mike Adenuga and Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki, among others, yesterday made the campaign team of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Former Director-General of the Jonathan/Sambo campaign organisation heads the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), which will be inaugurated by acting National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr Bello Haliru Mohammed in Abuja today.

Also on board are loyalists of former presidential aspirants Ibrahim Babangida and Abubakar Atiku. Atiku lost the party’s ticket to Jonathan at the January 13 convention after Babangida, Saraki and Aliyu Gusau stepped down for him following his emergence as North’s consensus candidate.

He was picked by the Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF) headed by Mallam Adamu Ciroma.

Babangida’s and Atiku’s loyalists may have been appointed in line with Jonathan’s promise to accommodate his opponents in his campaign.

Former Director-General of the Babangida Campaign organisation, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, is a member of the PCC Publicity Committee. He will also serve as one of the resource persons for the presidential campaign.

Saraki is the chairman of the Reconciliation Committee with pro-Atiku campaigner and former Senate President Ken Nnamani as member.

The wife of the leader of the NPLF and PDP’s National Woman Leader, Hajia Ina Ciroma, is also a member of the Reconciliation Committee. Former Governor of Ondo State Olusegun Agagu and former Minister of Information Prof. Jerry Gana are also members.

Others in the committee are Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Alabo Graham Douglas, Senator Ladan Shunni and Ambassador Aminu Wali.

The Publicity Committee also has some prominent publishers including Comfort Obi of the Source Magazine and Dennis Sami of Nigeria Pilot as members.

Names of some aides of the President feature on the list, but former Director of Media of the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign organisation, Sully Abu is missing on the list.

Dangote, Adenuga, Femi Otedola, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, Tony Elumelu, Alhaji Kashim Bukar; Chief Emeka Offor; Alhaji Sayyu Dantata; Jim Ovia; Dahiru Manga and Kola Salako are on the donor’s list.

Former Chairman of PDP’s Board of Trustees (BOT) Chief Tony Anenih will serve as the Campaign Adviser. Former PDP national secretary Chief Ojo Maduekwe is Secretary.

The six geo-political zones will be co-ordinated by governors that did the same job for Jonathan before the January 13 convention.

They are Governors Liyel Imoke of Cross River State (Southsouth), Martin Elechi, Ebonyi (Southeast), Gbenga Daniel, Ogun (Southwest), Gabriel Suswam, Benue (Northcentral), Isa Yuguda, Bauchi (Northeast) and Ibrahim Shema, Katsina (Northwest).

Senate President David Mark, Speaker Dimeji Bankole, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekwerenmadu and the Deputy Speaker Usman Nafada are all expected to co-ordinate the National Assembly for the PCC.

Former Inspector-General of Police Mike Okiro heads the security committee; leading industrialist Oba Otudeko chairs the Finance and Fund Raising Committee.

The Inter-Party Relations Committee to handle affairs concerning parties that adopted Jonathan as their standard-bearer is headed by Chief Ebenezer Babatope.

We’ll not negotiate with Boko Haram, IG vows

As the wave of violent attacks by Islamic fundamentalists, Boko Haram, in some states in the northern part of the country continues, the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Hafiz Ringim, declared in Kano yesterday that the Police would not negotiate with them.

"We would not negotiate with criminals," the police boss said.

Ringim disclosed this while reacting to questions from reporters at the Police Academy, Wudil, shortly after the passing out parade of 414 cadet officers, comprising 203 Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP) and 211 inspectors, who underwent an 18-month training course at the academy.

The fundamentalists had claimed responsibility for violent clashes in Jos, Plateau State and the spate of killings in Maiduguri, Borno State.

One of the most prominent of such cases was the assassination of the gubernatorial candidate of All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), AlhajiModu Fannami Gubio and six others.

The IG said the Police would not relent in its effort to rid the country of the remaining elements of the Islamic sect.

The Police chief further stated that efforts were being made to provide a level- playing ground for all contestants in the forthcoming general election.

He said: "The general election is the prerogative of the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Government, headed by President Goodluck Jonathan, has said that what it wants is to conduct a free and fair election. My mandate is to provide a level-playing ground for all contestants, and that is what I am trying to do to the best of my ability.

"On its side, the Federal Government has done everything possible to train, equip, support and fund the Nigeria Police Force. We are doing the best we can to educate the members of the public on their rights.

"God willing, we shall provide and will continue to provide general security and a free and fair atmosphere for all to display their wares and be voted by the electorate.

"The election shall not be an exercise in futility but an exercise where every eligible voter will be allowed to come out and vote freely for people and parties of their choice."

Ringim also disclosed that a committee, made up of eminent Nigerians, including retired police officers, had been set up to draw a programme for the repositioning of the Nigeria Police Force, pointing out that he, as the Inspector General of Police, was doing his best to implement the recommendations of the reform committee.

He said: "So far, we have gone a long way in the implementation of the approved white paper by the Federal Government, and that includes training, infrastructure, logistics and orientation, and so far, as you can see, we are doing just that.

"Basically, this is to develop the Nigeria Police and make it function in line with the aspiration of the Nigerian society, as well as the good practice of law enforcement as it obtains all over the world.

"The ceremony you saw today is part and parcel of the Nigeria police reform, which is to develop and produce functional, actionable manpower that would go in line with democratic practices globally."

No One ’ll Manipulate Votes In My Favour, Says Jonathan

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan says he will not allow the manipulation of votes during the forthcoming general elections.


The President, who made the declaration during his campaign rally in Makurdi recently said : “Nigerians’ votes must count.’’


According to him, the internal democracy witnessed at the Eagle’s Square in Abuja during the presidential primaries will reflect in the April polls.


“We must vote the people we want. We no longer want a situation where people are imposed on us.


“I promise Nigerians that even though I am contesting, nobody will manipulate any vote in my favour.


Jonathan said he was holding on to the promise he made to Nigerians and the world that their votes must count.


He said that was why he and his campaign team were working assiduously to convince the electorate to vote for him and other PDP candidates in the general elections.


“We have gone to the six geo-political zones and we are going from state to state.


“After that we will still go back to some of these states to tell the people what we stand for, to tell them that we stand for change, transformation, and that we are ready to create wealth in the country.


“We don’t believe that although we are the ruling party and we are in government, any governmental instrument be used in our favour,’’ he said.


The President also said that his government had a five-year plan to revolutionise agriculture and establish industries in the country.


“Benue is the home of food, so it is easier to create wealth here. We will complete the irrigation project we started in Oturkpo,’’ he promised.


“The governor (Suswam) also requested a bridge across the River Benue. We promise that the second Niger Bridge and the Benue Bridge are projects that we will work on in the next four years.’’


Jonathan further promised to operate an open administration devoid of discrimination irrespective of the people’s religion and ethnic persuasions.


“If a Nigerian wakes up, he should know that he can at least eat, we know that poverty does not speak any language, does not love anybody and does not belong to any ethnic nationality.


“You all know about my humble background, I came from a wretched home but look at where I am today. We have come to bring hope to the people,’’ he said.


Reports say that Vice-President Namadi Sambo, PDP Acting National Chairman, Haliru Mohammed, and Senate President David Mark, were among the leaders who gave goodwill messages at the rally.


Leaders of 10 political parties, including APGA, Mega Progressive People’s Party, Democratic People’s Party and Action Alliance, were at the rally to support the Jonathan/Sambo ticket.