FG Frowns On Ex-US Envoy’s Stand On Nigeria

THE Federal Government has taken on a former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. John Campbell, for his ceaseless “prophecy of doom” even after the generally acclaimed free and fair elections.

The government said his outbursts arose from his inadequate understanding and appreciation of the complexity of the Nigerian nation and its peoples.

In an interaction with editors on Friday night in Lagos, Minister of Information and Communications, Mr. Labaran Maku, took exceptions to the sustained maligning of Nigeria by the former envoy, in spite of the steady democratic progress being made by the country.

Maku, who said he was in Lagos to thank members of the fourth estate of the realm for their role before and after the election, said Campbell’s “message of doom” was borne out of the ignorance among some sections of the international community about Nigeria.

N/Central CPC backs party on election tribunal

Members of the North Central zone of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), have backed the national body of the party on its action of taking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the Election Petition Tribunal over the result of the presidential election.

The zone also stated that it was in support of any member of the party who feels aggrieved over the results of the elections and felt strongly to challenge it in the Election Tribunal.

The chairmen of the party from, Kogi, Benue, Nasarawa, Kwara, Niger and Plateau States, including FCT briefed journalists in Abuja.

Also with them at the media briefing were the chairmen of CPC from Edo and Ondo States.

The chairmen that alleged massive rigging in the presidential election gave instances of Imo State where Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, polled more than one million votes and at the governorship election the party was not able to score 300, 000 votes.

According to them, the party was optimistic that the judiciary would show high level of sincerity to admit all evidences.

They condemned the ploy by of PDP to buy their members with money and where such attempt failed, they used pseudo persons as CPC members.

Also of concern to them was the arrest and trial of former Minister of Works, Hassan Lawan. According to them, he was being tried because he was a CPC key member who made the victory of CPC possible in Nasarawa State.

In the text read earlier by the Kogi State chairman of the party, Alhaji Mabo Kassim, they posited: “That the North Central geopolitical zone unequivocally supports the action of the party to institute a case and seek redress over the malpractices that characterized the recent Presidential election.

Commonwealth's final report says 2011 elections ‘credible and creditable'

The Commonwealth Secretariat has declared Nigeria’s 2011 general elections “credible and creditable” in its final report on the series of nationwide polls held last month.

In the group’s report delivered in London, the Commonwealth said, “In the event, notwithstanding the postponement of the April 2 National Assembly elections and persistent logistical and organisational deficiencies, and some serious security incidents during the campaign and on the eve of the elections, the 2011 elections in Nigeria, by and large, met the national, regional and international standards for democratic elections.”

The observation team was made up of 16 observers, led by respected former president of Botswana, Festus Mogae. The group’s preliminary reports released days after the elections, had also proclaimed the polls as credible.

Despite the early reports from the Commonwealth, the European Union and the National Democratic Institute, praising the elections, deadly riots protesting the outcome in the northern states, killed over 800, according to the Human Rights Watch.

The Commonwealth, the first to release its final report, said: “Indeed, they (elections) marked a genuine celebration of democracy in Nigeria, helped to redeem the image of Nigeria as a country that was known only for flawed elections and served to restore the faith of the Nigerian people in democracy. In the process, Africa’s most populous nation was able to make a new beginning.”

A copy of the Commonwealth report was handed to the chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, on Thursday when he visited Marlborough House, the secretariat headquarters of the Commonwealth in London.

Commonwealth deputy secretary-general, Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba, told the INEC boss that the Commonwealth was committed to continuing its work with INEC and to provide support where necessary.

She said the association and the Commonwealth membership look forward to benefitting from the sharing of experiences and distilling of good practices from INEC and Mr Jega himself through the newly established Commonwealth Network of Election Management Bodies.

Mr Jega welcomed the Commonwealth’s support for the commission and said he looked forward to continued engagement between them.

Fashola To Commission New 10mw Power Project

In continuation of the on-going transformation programme of his administration, Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), will on Wednesday, May 25, commission the 10 megawatts Island Power Project, (IPP) newly built as part of its proactive efforts to boost economic and social activities within and around the Lagos Island.

A press release on the commissioning of the IPP, signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, stated that the Island Power Project is another milestone by the Fashola administration and an expression of the administration’s unalloyed commitment towards addressing the energy needs of the people of the state.

The statement further explained that the new IPP, built to highest global thermal operating plant standards, will deliver 24 hours uninterrupted supply of electricity to some public institutions located in central Lagos, such as the Island maternity, Lagos General Hospital, and the Lagos High Court, in a bid to increase their efficiency and bring down their operational cost.

Four dead in Delta robbery attack

Four persons were killed when policemen engaged a 25-man robbery gang in a shootout in Delta State.

Eight others were injured in the attack, which took place in Kwale, Ndokwa–West Local Government on Wednesday.

Commissioner of Police Mamman Tsafe said two of the victims were members of the gang. The others were bystanders.

At a briefing in Asaba, yesterday, Tsafe said the bystanders died as a result of the robbers’ indiscriminate shooting.

He said the robbers besieged the Kwale branches of some banks simultaneously, carting away N84 million.

Tsafe said his men confronted them on the Amai-Nsukwaa road, where a robber was killed.

He said the fleeing robbers abandoned a Toyota Camry and a Sports Utility Van (SUV).

The commissioner said policemen confronted the robbers at Nsukwa community, where another robber was killed. The others fled with bullet wounds.

Items recovered include: AK 47 rifles; 20 live ammunition; 38 empty magazines; dynamite; N4.65million cash; two wrist watches; 2000 expended ammunition, expended explosives and dynamites

Other items are a Black Toyota Camry; Toyota 4Runner; Toyota Sienna Space Bus and a Delta Line Bus.

In a related development, the police rescued a kidnap victim after he was abducted at Okpara Waterside on Benin-Abraka road.

The victim, Lawrence Iriogbe, is a manager of a new generation bank in Abraka.

Tsafe said his men, acting on a tip-off, stormed an uncompleted building at Ugolo and rescued the banker.

He said his men foiled a robbery on Onitsha/Asaba Road.

According to him, Special Anti-Robbery (SARS) operatives responded to a distress call and accosted two hoodlums robbing Amibede Emeka.

He said one of the robbers, Emmanuel Obi, was arrested.

CNPP warns Jega against planned deregistration of parties

THE Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) in the Southeast has warned the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, against the planned deregistration of parties.

At its zonal meeting in Awka, Anambra State, yesterday,CNPP described the move as unconstitutional.

It congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan on his victory in the April 16 election.

The meeting was attended by its Chairmen from Anambra, Isaac Onuka; Enugu, Chris Asadu; Imo, Mrs. Ada Mere; and Abia, Henry Atulomah.

Others are Ukadike Chinedu and Prof. Chinedum Adiele,its Secretary.

CNPP said in a communique after the meeting that Jega’s plan would lead to the disenfranchisement of some Nigerians.

The communiqué reads in part: "We want to use this opportunity to appeal to our brothers and sisters to realise that the country belongs to all of us. Let us avoid anything capable of inciting violence and look for peace which is the only condition for prosperity and social development.

"Therefore, let us support our president to make our nation the pride of Africa."

CNPP assured Jonathan of its support and reminded him of the deplorable condition of Southeast roads.

NDLEA to destroy cannabis

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) will tomorrow destroy 79,700kg of cannabis in Benin, Edo State.

This followed a court order obtained by the agency from Justice Adamu Hobon of the Federal High Court, Benin City.

Justice Hobon noted that the forfeited drug exhibits, seized in the state since March 1999, must be publicly destroyed.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole has accepted to be the special guest at the occasion.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Ahmadu Giade, who will supervise the exercise, described the court order as timely.

He said the destruction is a positive step towards effective drug control in the country.

Edo is the fourth state where exhibits destruction was carried out by the agency this year.

The event will bring the total quantity of drugs destroyed since January to 134,412.598kg.

The agency had destroyed drugs in Lokoja, Kogi State (10,001.26kg); Akure, Ondo State (36,740.52kg) and Badagry, Lagos State (7,970.8182kg).

Kano PDP accuses ANPP of tampering with polls materials

Kano State Governor-elect Rabiu Kwankwaso has alleged that the incumbent All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) administration had tampered with ballot papers used in last month’s governorship election in the state before they are tendered at the governorship election petitions tribunal.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate was declared winner of the April 26 poll over the ANPP candidate.

A statement yesterday by the governor-elect’s spokesman, Mallam Jaafar Jaafar, alleged that ANPP had hired some American forensic experts to examine the ballot papers, after seeking a court order to have access to the election materials by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Kwankwaso said: "Both the court order and the forensic analysis were carried out secretly without the knowledge of the press, representatives of other political parties that contested the election and other stakeholders.

"If there is no any ulterior motive behind the analysis, these individuals should have been invited to monitor the examination."

He alleged that the foreign forensic experts may have programmed their machines to tamper with the thumb-prints of the votes cast in favour of the PDP so that they could tender the doctored results of the analysis before the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.

Kwankwaso said: "We are not apprehensive of forensic analysis because we are very much sure that the votes cast in our favour during the election were genuine. While we are confident that our votes are genuine, the clandestine nature of getting the court order and the analysis give us cause for alarm.

"Given the foregoing reasons, the Office of the Governor-elect hereby rejects the results of the analysis and urges INEC to devise ways of dousing the tension to restore confidence of all the parties involved."

But Governor Ibrahim Shekarau’s media aide, Sule Yau Sule, dismissed the allegation as diversionary.

He said if the PDP had not rigged the election, it would not have raised the alarm over any petition pending at the elections tribunal challenging the declaration of its candidate as winner.

The Administrative Secretary of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), Alhaji Moyi Kaura, denied the receipt of any court order, urging INEC to grant ANPP access to the election materials.

Again, rumpus in House over Petroleum Industry Bill

Reps bicker over alleged N200bn inserted into 2011 budget

There was rumpus in the House of Representatives yesterday as some members attempts to scuttle the consideration of the report of the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

The parliamentarians almost succeeded but for the intervention of Deputy Speaker Usman Nafada which saved the day.

Trouble started when Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Ita Enang, prayed the House to postpone consideration of the report because of "obvious inconsistencies."

Enang said the report did not conform to the standard, processes and procedures of a bill.

He noted that the report failed to indicate the objective principles of the PIB.

But Chairman, House Committee on Gas, Igo Aguma, saw Enang’s comments as a calculated attempt to abort the consideration of the report.

Aguma urged members to discountenance Enang’s argument since Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution empowers the House power to regulate itself.

Enang, he said, had the report long enough to raise any objection.

Nafada , who presided, ruled that considering the time left in the life of the House, consideration of the report should continue.

Members considered up to clause eight before reverting to plenary.

Also, lawmakers bickered over an alleged N200 billion illegally inserted into the 2011 budget.

A source said: "What we discovered was that the budget has been tampered with illegally. The President, we hear has returned the Bill but the leadership has not made it public.

"A member particularly asked Speaker Dimeji Bankole to respond to these issues but he was not forthcoming with categorical statement

Ondo PDP faction forms parallel exco

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State assumed another dimension yesterday, with a faction naming former Nigeria Ambassador to Greece Prof. Olu Agbi as Chairman.

The faction, which had earlier announced the suspension of former Governor Olusegun Agagu and the executive, also named Prince Mike Omogbemi as Publicity Secretary.

The Publicity Director, Mr. Ayodele Fadaka, condemned the interim management committee by the faction.

Fadaka said: "The action of the group is illegal. We are all members of the PDP and we know that the process of constituting an exco has not been satisfied in this instance. We urge them to sheathe their sword and come back to the party to work for its progress."

He said some of the actors behind the crisis were not active members of the PDP.

Fadaka said: "How can Senator Hosea Ehinlanwo, who contested the last senatorial election on the platform of another party, suddenly come back and claim to be a stakeholder in the PDP?

"We know something is wrong somewhere. We urge true members to dissociate themselves from those who are irrevocably committed to destroying the party."

Boko Haram hits Borno again

The Boko Haram men made good their promise on Wednesday night as they stormed an Area Command office of the police in Maiduguri in a bloody shoot-out that lasted about an hour. One person was reported dead while many others were injured.

The sect members who were said to have fore-warned of their planned attack, stormed the Ibrahim Taiwo Area Command/Police Division along Baga Road in the metropolis on Wednesday night at about 8pm in a convoy of three Golf cars. Sources said they engaged the police in a shoot-out for about an hour, adding that a water hawker who lived around the area was hit by a stray bullet during the exchange of fire between the sect and the police.

Residents around Baga Road said the Wednesday shooting was deadlier, noting that the Boko Haram men might have attacked the police with sophisticated arms. “The way they arrived that place was baffling despite heavy presence of police and soldiers everywhere in the city. The manner by which they fired too was suprising. I believe the sect possesses sophisticated weapons because of the way they engaged the police for about one hour and then drove out of the area in confidence. I suspect we are in for a big problem again,” Annas who resides around the area told Daily Sun.

Eyewitnesses said about seven people hit by stray bullets might have died in the attack while many were injured but the police said only one person died. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Zakari Adamu, confirmed that the sect stormed the police station in three Golf cars, adding that “they were overpowered by the superior fire-power of the police, which made them flee.” He disclosed that the police pursued the attackers and succeeded in arresting four suspects.

While residents were still recovering from the panic created by the Wednesday night shooting, a bomb exploded along the popular Lagos Street, few metres to the NUJ Press Centre. Two soldiers and three policemen were injured. A Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) of the Joint Task Force team with soldiers and policemen was said to be heading towards Lagos Street when the bomb exploded. Police said they had every reason to believe the bomb was planted on the road by the Boko Haram men knowing full well the patrol team would ply the road that morning to their duty post.

The city was again thrown into panic as residents living in the area were barred from coming out of their houses. The road was also sealed off to disallow motorists and motorcyclists from moving to the area. Motorists were subjected to thorough search by the police and soldiers on the highways in other parts of the city, causing traffic jams.

Jonathan drops Akala, Oni, Daniel, Agagu

THE President may have dropped most of the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors and outgoing ones jostling for ministerial jobs, The Nation learnt yesterday.

Some of those affected are Segun Oni, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Ikedi Ohakim, Adebayo Alao-Akala, Olusegun Agagu, Gbenga Daniel and Akwe Doma.

Senate President David Mark and some principal officers of the National Assembly are said to be pushing for Senator Ahmed Makarfi, the former Kaduna Governor who lost his bid to return to the Senate.

But a Deputy Governor seems lucky; she is already slated for a ministerial job because of what sources described as her "loyalty to the PDP" despite being dropped by her boss for a second term ticket.

Some of these ex-governors, who were nominated by some state chapters of the PDP, are banking on "sympathy ministerial concession" from President Goodluck Jonathan.

It was also gathered that the Presidency was displeased with the nomination of some of the former governors as the party structure was "virtually hijacked" to put their names on the list.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the President made up his mind on all the former governors because "security reports" on them were unfavourable.

A top government source, who pleaded not to be named because of what he described as the sensitivity of the matter, said: "The security checks are certainly ongoing, but one thing is clear: the President is not disposed to making these ex-governors ministers.

"The security reports against some of them are unfavourable and the President does not want to start on a controversial note.

"Some of the ex-governors nominated have been investigated by anti-graft agencies and they need to face trial. The President does not want to have ministers who will be distracted by corruption trial.

"Some of the ex-governors and outgoing ones have also attracted controversy, such that they need a well-deserved rest."

Six-lane Ikorodu Road expansion to cost N15b

The planned six-lane expansion of the Ikorodu Expressway will cost about N15 billion ($100 million), the Lagos State Government has said.

Commissioner for Finance Rotimi Oyekan disclosed this yesterday during a media briefing on the activities of his ministry in the last one year.

Oyekan said the fund for the project had been provided by the French Development Agency and work would begin shortly.

He said the project would be executed by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).

Oyekan said: "The expansion is to ease traffic from Ikorodu to Mile 12, as well as bring the BRT scheme closer to Ikorodu residents

He said the government has been paying salaries and pensions promptly, adding that the average monthly wage bill is N5.4 billion while pension is N251 million.

Oyekan said the government has mapped out strategies to sustain the implementation of the new minimum wage.

On the delay in the take-off of the Housing Mortgage Scheme, he said the government was putting finishing touches to a stress-free mode of payment, including a single digit interest rate.

Oyekan said: "The interest rate has now moved from single digit to double digits. It’s an inflation signal and government had to return to the drawing board to map out a mortgage plan that would sustain the scheme."

"The other objective is to create, in partnership with the private sector, a long term fund that will give employed citizens access to credit to own their homes."

ACN alleges tampering of election materials in Benue

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday alleged that materials used in last month’s elections in Benue State are being tampered with in the rural areas and asked the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).

In a statement in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said those who rigged the polls were carrying out an illegal accreditation and other activities to justify the results they concocted.

The statement said: "These election riggers are now working from the answer to the question, and it is necessary for the REC in Benue to move quickly to retrieve the electoral materials and ensure their safe-keeping. If this is not done, it will amount to double jeopardy for those who were robbed of their votes."

ACN said it was monitoring the situation, adding that it would not hesitate to seek legal redress if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to act with the urgency the issue deserved.

Lawmakers stand firm against ‘consensus speaker’

There appears to be hope for a neutral person to emerge as Speaker of the House of Representatives in the next session.

The House yesterday validated its new election guidelines to the office which defeated a sudden push to reverse Tuesday’s new rule which allows multiple entrants into the race and permits the election to be through the open secret ballot system and not electronic voting. This gives members a needed tool to tackle the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) decision to zone the position to the South West geopolitical zone. It also offers protection to members who may vote against the party’s consensus candidate, believed to be Ajibola Muraina from Oyo State. The lawmaker, one of the only three ranking members elected on the platform of the party from the zone, enjoys wide-ranging support across the party to emerge the next Speaker. Yet he draws scant support from his colleagues, who view him as a stooge of major party backers in the South West. The lawmakers have indicated their readiness to scuttle the party’s arrangement, asking for a liberalised contest that would allow for more candidates, amid agitations by the South East lawmakers who have intensified their campaign for the seat. In its clearest decision yet on the issue, the House on Tuesday overwhelmingly amended its Order 2, Rule 3, suspending electronic voting purportedly due to difficulties in procuring electronic cards for new members. The official explanation has been punctured by members who, speaking unofficially, hinted at a ploy against Mr Muraina’s candidacy.

Mr Bankole does not want any problem

As the House convened Wednesday, it faced fresh calls to undo the policy, a highlight of the unrelenting power play as it draws near to the speakership poll early June. While considering the previous Votes and Proceedings for approval yesterday, Ita Enang, the chairperson of the House committee on Business and Rules, argued that the new amendment breached laid down procedures and remained illegal, calling for its nullification.

According to Mr Enang, “The House failed to suspend the necessary rules in taking that motion and I urge that the decision be reversed,” launching the session into fresh debates on the issue. Ironically, it was Mr Enang who moved the motion suspending the contentious order the previous day — a point he denied when his colleagues later confronted him. The turnaround drew sharp criticism from other members, who insisted the resolution be approved as stated, a call that was complied with by the Speaker, Mr Bankole.

“At this juncture, I don’t want to have any problem with members and the Votes and Proceedings is hereby approved,” the outgoing Speaker said. With the approval, the amendment is now assumed to be law having received the equivalent of the presidential signature for a conventional bill passed by the lawmakers.

The new order, sponsored by Cyril Maduabum, says the traditional electronic voting used for the election of principal officers of the House be replaced with an open secret ballot method to be conducted by the clerk of the house.

Some lawmakers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed fears over the electronic voting, which they said retained the soft signature of the voter and is readable on a printout easily made available after the poll — something that could come back to haunt them should they act against the choice of the party, Mr Muraina. According to them, the manual open secret option, in which voters identity remains strictly protected, is intended to neutralise that concern.

Former finance minister appointed World Bank director

Former finance minister, Mansur Muhktar, has been appointed alternate executive director of the World Bank. He joins former finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and former minister of education, Obi Ezekwesili at the 67-year-old global financial institution.

Muhktar's appointment, which is a full-time position in Washington, follows the recent creation of an additional seat for Africa region on the board of the World Bank Group. This brings to three the number of seats for Africa on the board of the since November 2010.

Nigeria is in the same World Bank Group constituency with South Africa and Angola.

Announcing the latest appointment, current finance minister, Olusegun Aganga, said this is one of the direct fallouts and benefits of Nigeria occupying the chairmanship of the World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) Group since last year.

Aganga, who was the first African to chair the World Bank/IMF Group, said the creation of the third seat for Africa will enhance the voice and presence of the continent at the Bretton Woods institution as well as increase its vote.

Mahktar's duties on the board will include setting of strategic directions and approving of policies and programmes of the World Bank Group in the member states; approval of internal policies, including human resources; oversight matters in relation to the functioning of the Group's duties, among others.

Mahktar's appointment has now given Africa an additional voice at the highest level of management that would be involved in the formulation and implementation of the World Bank Group's programmes on the continent.

The Group plays a very significant role in the economies of virtually all African countries.

Foreign investors, donor and credit institutions often insist on the World Bank approval of national economic policies before dealing with developing nations, within which category virtually all African nations fall.

According to the minister, the federal government was delighted over Mr Muhktar's appointment, pointing out that given his wealth of experience at the African Development Bank, the World Bank and as a former finance minister, a better person could not have been recommended for the high position.

EFCC V. Akingbola & Ors: A chase gone wild

What is the EFCC searching for? A plea bargain or an effective punishment for an alledged crime?

In 2009 when the clamp down on bank executives in Nigeria began with the joint effort of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the objective seemed clear and certain to many Nigerians: that is, to ensure the stability of the banking industry, strengthen the

financial condition of the affected banks and see that depositors and creditors’ funds are well protected. It was good news and was well recieved by the investing public. And even though a handful of others entertained suspicions and doubts as to the real motives, the action was widely applauded globally.

Now almost two years after, the EFCC is still in court seeking justice in its “most available form”, and if the agency’s latest trend is anything to go by, this would be a PLEA BARGAIN. The anti-graft agency seems to be tilting towards this prosecutorial process as it makes its way from one court to another with new and fresh charges against the former chief executives of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Bank PHB, Afribank and Finbank, Erastus Akingbola, Francis Atuche, Sabastine Adigwe and Okey Nwosu respectively, amongst others.

Indeed, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the process of pleading guilty to a lesser charge or getting a lesser sentence in exchange for a guilty plea, however, what seems questionable are the actions of the EFCC that suggest desperation, anxiety and eargeness to “settle”. Is the commission afraid that it might not to establish the charges against these accused persons?

Notwithstanding the fact, that a plea bargain is globally accepted as an integral part of the criminal justice system, it must be noted that such an agreement is significantly based on public policy, and thus must be made only if the circumstances suggest that it is in the best interest of the public. Some readily identifyable drawbacks of the process is the existence of rewards, threats and coercion which in a number of recorded instances, involves the disregard of due process.

Presently, some of the actions of the EFCC are said to point in this direction. This includes, abuse of court processes, evading service, defying court orders , forcing the accused persons to capitulation, etc.

Whether the stories making the rounds about the EFCC becoming desperate for a plea bargain with the bank chiefs are true or not, the commission’s antecedents with the Cecilia Ibru case, and Dick Cheney-Halliburton case, has brought some very vital issues and questions to the fore, such as: What is the EFCC chasing? Is the anti-graft agency confused about its mission and objectives? Why is it multiplying its charges and moving in all directions, seemingly confused? Is it actually looking for another plea bargain? To what end? Is it for public interest? Why is Akingbola and the others not willing to plead guilty to lesser charges or for lighter sentences? And if the stories are unfounded, then on what basis did the former Oceanic bank boss get her plea bargain and its seemingly ridiculous terms.

Rape: Osun traditional ruler arraigned in court

The Alowa of Ilowa-Ijesha in Osun State, Oba Adebukola Alli, on Wednesday appeared before an Osogbo chief magistrates’ court on charge of rape of a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in his domain.

Oba Alli was said to have raped one Miss Helen Okpara, a corps member serving in his domain, on March 25, 2011, at about 6.00 p.m at Rasco Alli Estate, Osogbo.

The traditional ruler, who had earlier been charged at a senior magistrates’ court in March this year, was accompanied to court by one of his wives and was ordered by Senior Magistrate Olalekan Ijiyode to remove his cap, an order he promptly obeyed before the case was eventually transferred to the chief magistrates’ court.

Mr Ijiyode, before transferring the case, had said he had interest in the matter because of the challenges it posed to his position and profession, but stressed that “as a senior magistrate grade 1, I do not have the right to preside over such case.”

The case was eventually transfered to the chief magistrates’ court.

While appearing before Chief Magistrate Akinwumi Makanjuola, where his case was transferred, Oba Alli was accused of committing the offence on March 25, 2011; did unlawfully have canal knowledge of one Helen Okpara, without her consent by means of threat, an offence contrary to and punishable under section 357 and 358 of the Criminal Code Cap 34, Vol 11 laws of Osun State, 2003.

The traditional ruler pleaded not guilty to the alleged offence

NAPEN chairman cautions President Jonathan on govt of national unity

The Executive Chairman, National Association of Peaceful Election in Nigeria (NAPEN), Professor Suleiman Bogoro, has implored President Goodluck Jonathan not to succumb to the pressure on him to embrace the Government of National Unity as being proposed by a cross- section of Nigerians.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune in Jos, Plateau State, Professor Bogoro said those proposing the idea among the opposition parties had no plan for the country, but simply wanted to be part of the government to have a share in what they called the ‘national cake.’

“I am not comfortable, because in Nigeria, when you talk of the government of national unity, what you are likely to see is that some of the parties take advantage to nominate ill-prepared and incompetent persons,” he said.

Professor Bogoro, commended the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for opting out of the arrangement, adding that the party had positioned itself as an opposition party and was ready to play its part of check and balance, for the progress of the country and, as well as demonstrated that it had enlightened electorate.

He said; “I am happy that the ACN officially opted out of the arrangement but, mark it, the people of the South-West, now controlled by the ACN, voted for President Jonathan and then the message was that South-West have educated electorate, they said we don’t want to be part of the government of National Unity, though they voted for the president, the people are largely ACN by ideology, but saw something good in President Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and voted for him.”

NYSC won’t be scrapped -DG •As evacuated corpers from Lagos refuse to return to North

THE Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Maharazu Tsiga, has said that the NYSC scheme will not be scrapped but will remain to unite the people of the country together.

Speaking at the 2011 Annual Management Conference entitled “Reviving and Strengthening Discipline in the NYSC Scheme,” held in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Wednesday, the NYSC boss said some people who were calling for the scrapping of the scheme were the enemies of the country.

According to him, “Soldiers go soldiers come, NYSC remains,” adding that those who were calling for the scrapping of the scheme should rather call for the prosecution of those behind the killing of the corps members during the last general election.

He noted that just as all Nigerians were prepared to celebrate the successful conduct of the elections, they received the sad news of the outbreak of violence and unwarranted attacks on some corps members.

“We commiserate with the families, Federal Government and the entire people of Nigeria on the demise of these patriotic and gallant youths who have done the nation proud,” he said.

Brigadier- General Tsiga, who expressed his gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan for his show of concern and directive that befitting burial be given to the deceased corps members by their respective state governors said that the NYSC had paid the sum of N5 million naira each as directed by the president to the bereaved families and offer of automatic employment to direct siblings of the deceased corps members.

“We have paid the money to the families of those corps members that lost their lives as directed by Mr President and we have also called on their parents to forward the names of those that will be given automatic employment by the president,” he said.

He mentioned that the importance of the call for discipline and dedication to duty cannot be overemphasised as the scheme’s mandate includes raising disciplined youths for tomorrow’s leadership, saying there was the need for the managers of the scheme at all levels to brace up to meet up with these challenges “and rededicate ourselves to the service of our fatherland.”

He stressed that in the last one year, there had been an increase in the NYSC’s collaborative efforts with governmental and non-governmental organisations, saying the most recent being with INEC which culminated in the level of success recorded at the just concluded 2011 general election.

He added that the conference provides a platform for key managers to reflect and review activities and achievements in the last one year as he hopes that exhaustive deliberations, syndicate discussions and communiqué would pave way for the repositioning of the workforce of the scheme in the years ahead.

Meanwhile, over 200 youth corps members that were evacuated by the Lagos State government from the northern part of the country due to election violence have refused to return to their places of primary assignment.