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August 25, 2007

Banks aided looting of state coffers ...Yar’adua says, innaugurates DMO Supervisory Board

PRESIDENT Umaru Musa Yar'adua yesterday blamed operators the banking sector in the country for assisting past bad leaders in the country to sink their states in the debt pool due to their orchestrated, abetted, and operationalized system.

From KABIRU YUSUF,Abuja

He therefore challenged the operators of the sector in Nigeria to recommit themselves to the pursuit of prudence, transparency, and sincerity in their dealings with the three tiers of government.
According to the President: “It is on record that most of the domestic debts that have virtually crippled some of the states were orchestrated, abetted, and operationalized by some of our banks through the abuse of the ISPO system.”
The President stated this at the inauguration of the Supervisory Board of the Debt Management Office in his office, adding that government is hoping that the new lease of life which the banking reforms have engendered in the sector will reflect in greater prudence in the rational interaction between the banks and the local, state, and the federal governments.
He pointed out that Nigeria has witnessed a regime of far-reaching economic, administrative and social reforms in the past eight years more than at any other time in its 47-year post-independence history.
These reform efforts, he said, have resulted in some major achievements, chief among which was the historic debt relief which the nation won from its major creditors. ‘’The ministry of finance and the Debt Management Office (DMO) can justifiably lay claim to being the architects of this momentous feat,’’ he noted.
In the midst of the country’s euphoria, he added, government has not lost sight of the fact that the post-debt relief period is a delicate one for a developing economy, pointing out that there is the risk of relapsing into debt unsustainability as a result of unguarded borrowing.
The President further stated that with the nation’s exit from both the London and Paris Club debts overhang, the DMO is faced with new challenges, principal amongst which is managing domestic debt at both the federal and state levels.
It is in recognition of the need to further strengthen the DMO in the light of these challenges, he added, that its Supervisory Board was being inaugurated this morning. “This is to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of policies, strategies and procedures aimed at achieving continuous debt sustainability and macroeconomic stability,’’ he said.
Yar’adua explained that the Supervisory Board, a statutory creation of the Act establishing DMO, is charged with responsibility for the approval of policies, strategies and procedures which are to be adopted by the DMO for the achievement of its objectives.
The Board is also among other responsibilities, he pointed out, expected to review the economic and political impact of both domestic and external debt management strategies.
He said: “Given the composition of the Board, I am confident that these are worthy Nigerians who have the requisite creative and productive capacity to effectively drive the DMO in the efficient discharge of its statutory obligations.”
The President who congratulated the entire membership of the Board, said, ‘’significantly, this is the pioneer Board as the DMO Supervisory Board is being inaugurated for the first time since the DMO's establishment in 2000. ‘’
He urged members of the board to take very seriously, their onerous responsibility of guiding the management of the DMO in developing appropriate mechanisms for prudent, effective, efficient and sustainable solutions to our domestic and sub-­national debt management.
As he formally inaugurated the Supervisory Board, the president said the board members can be assured of government unstinted support as they face up to this vital national assignment.

Posted by Publisher at 03:15 PM | Comments (0)

Buhari's petition: Obasanjo enters protest appearance

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has protested his appearance as a respondent in the petition of ANPP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, over the April Presidential polls.

Obasanjo was made the third respondent to the petition filed before the Presidential Election Tribunal in Abuja.
The protest was contained in a memorandum of conditional appearance filed before the Tribunal by Obasanjo's counsel, Malam Bello Adoke (SAN).
The memorandum, addressed to the Secretary to the Tribunal, was obtained yesterday by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Dated August 20, the document reads in part: ``Please, enter a conditional appearance for Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces) who is sued as third respondent in the above petition''.
NAN reports that the reasons for the protest had not been made available to the tribunal.
However, they are expected to be contained in a subsequent motion yet to be filed by Adoke.
It will be recalled that the tribunal, presided over by Justice James Ogebe, had ordered service of the petition on Obasanjo through a substituted means of publishing it in a National Daily.
The order of the court was sequel to a complaint by Buhari's counsel, Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN) that it was difficult to serve the petition on the former President.
In the petition, Obasanjo was specifically alleged to have used his position to deploy the Police, Army and other security agencies who masterminded the rigging of elections in favour of PDP.
Meanwhile, Ahamba has said that he needs to certify over 50,000 pages of document obtained from INEC to prove his case.
The lawyer alleged that INEC was curtailing prompt certification of the documents by posting only a staff to do the bulk job.
Ahamba appealed to the tribunal to intervene by directing INEC to deploy more staff to handle the job in good time.
The tribunal, however, declined granting the order against INEC but advised the body to assist the lawyer to that effect.
The petition has been adjourned till September 3 for further hearing.
In the petition, Buhari and his running mate, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, are asking the tribunal to nullify the election of President Umaru Musa Yar'adua.
The petitioners, among other reasons, contended that the election was marred with violence, rigging, malpractice and irregularities.

Posted by Publisher at 03:15 PM | Comments (0)

Contract scam: Senate dumps Etteh

Senate has opted out of the alleged N628m contract scam rocking the House of Representatives as it insisted at the weekend that embattled speaker, Mrs. Patricia Etteh and her deputy, Hon. Babangida Nguroje, are on their own.

COSMAS EKPUNOBI, Abuja

Though Senate and the anti-Etteh camp in the house were said to be under pressure to dump their offensive against the speaker, the arrow head in the attack, Hon. Halims Agoda insisted yesterday that there is no going back.

Hon. Agoda, in a telephone interview with Saturday Champion vowed that not even the Senate nor any other force can stop the offensive because it is a Nigerian project and not a personal thing.

According to him, tax payers’ money is involved and sweeping such scam under the carpet would be a contradiction to the fight against corruption, which is the hallmark of the present government.

He specifically told Saturday Champion that he would not succumb to any pressure from anywhere to dump the fight, even as he said he has nothing personal against the speaker.

Senate in what may have jolted Etteh’s camp in the house, insisted that its hands are tied.

Deputy senate leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba in a telephone interview with Saturday Champion" also ruled out senate’s intervention in the N628 million contract scam in the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

According to him, these are two different houses and such matter is better left for the house itself to handle.

Speaking further, the senator said "I am not aware that the Senate has a plan to wade into the matter, at least not to my knowledge."

Saturday Champion however gathered that the leadership of the senate had in a meeting, Tuesday, resolved to distance the upper chamber from the alleged contract scam.

Source said that Senate president, David Mark, had suspended his foreign trip on Monday following the crisis in the house.

Principal officers of the Senate who were at the Tuesday meeting, were also said to be divided over the matter. According to the source, most of the senators advised the senate president to stay away from the matter since the speaker who is in America had not invited the senate into the issue.

But just as the meeting could not resolve to save Etteh’s job, forces against her were said to have invaded the senate to enlist the support of some senators in the offensive.

Saturday Champion further gathered that some of the senators, mainly the Muslim faithfuls who believed that the election of Mrs. Etteh was against their belief, had offered to assist the opposition in the house.

Also, some northern lawmakers who believe that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has a hand in the election of Etteh as speaker have vowed to unseat her.

The fight to unseat Etteh notwithstanding the motive behind it, seems to be leaving the ambits of the legislators and may soon be decided by public opinion as the ever vocal Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has already called for the speaker’s probe.

For labour, renovating the official quarters of the affected officers with such amount of money is nothing but outrageous, especially since the same structures had just been vacated by their predecessors.

According to the NLC "In a society like ours with so much poverty, public officers must reflect this reality in all they do. This outrageous expenditure reflects the mindset and insensitivity of many public officers who think their positions should be used to further impoverish the public."

The NLC therefore threw its weight behind the anti-Etteh camp, urging the house to redeem its image in the eyes of Nigerians by investigating the matter with a view to ensuring a refund of public funds so mindlessly wasted.

Posted by Publisher at 03:14 PM | Comments (0)

National Assembly to amend NYSC law –Rep

A member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dele Obadina, on Friday said the National Assembly would amend the law that established the National Youth Service Corps.

By Niyi Odebode, Abeokuta
Published: Saturday, 25 Aug 2007

Obadina, in an interview with journalists in Abeokuta, said the law would be amended to make the NYSC scheme more responsive to current realities in the country. The lawmaker, who represents Ifo/Ewekoro Constituency in the House of Representatives, said, “The law is the same as it was 25 years ago. You cannot compare the number of graduates now to what we had 25 years ago. Definitely, the law must be amended.”

Obadina, a member of the House Committee on Science and Technology, identified poor implementation of budgets as a major problem in Nigeria. He said the Federal Government must improve its budget implementation record while the National Assembly must intensify its oversight functions on the executive.

The lawmaker expressed confidence in President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, saying, “Mr. President is an embodiment of a new Nigeria. He handles serious issues with less talk. There are a lot of things that are happening behind the scene. He has set his agenda.”

Posted by Publisher at 03:13 PM | Comments (0)

We should avoid sentiment –NESG DG

The Director-General, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Mansur Ahmed, said: “It may not be right to make comments based on sentiments or immediate reactions. That is why when issues like that come up, we prefer to study the proposal very carefully.

By Agncy Reporter
Published: Saturday, 25 Aug 2007

“On its own, the currency reform issue is not a major issue because it does not really change anything. But our concern is that the extent of its effect on the economic sector will depend on how people perceive it. If people perceive it wrongly, then of course, it will have a counter-productive result.

“In the market, and especially among the ordinary people, this movement may not be fully understood. And if it is not properly understood, it can generate unnecessary inflationary pressure.

“Secondly, we feel that right now, there are a lot more strategic issues that we need to concentrate on to stabilise the economy and to put it on a firm holding.

“The key issue affecting our economy is the low level of production, especially in the manufacturing sector. And I do not see that this particular policy will have any immediate impact on that. It may have some benefits to the banking industry because their costs will come down considerably.

“But if it does not really impact the productive sector positively and therefore not contribute to improved productivity in the economy, its immediate value has to be seen in the context of what costs did we incur in putting it in place in the first instance.”

What are the risks underlying the implementation of that policy?

“If people do not understand it and if they are not able to adjust their behaviour in response to the change, it may also have a negative impact on productivity.

“On the whole, we believe that even if the policy has some benefits, perhaps, it is not the most important thing we should be focusing on right now. We should be focusing of policies that have positive impact on productivity and on employment.”

Posted by Publisher at 03:12 PM | Comments (0)

No Funds Missing, Says NNPC; Explains refinery situation

The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has reacted to the allegations of missing funds raised by the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) insisting that no revenue due to the federation account is missing or unaccounted for.

From Ike Abonyi and Stanley Nkwazema in Abuja, 08.25.2007

The Acting Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr Abubakar Lawal Yar’Adua, during a meeting with the media in Abuja explained that what the Chairman of RMAFC is raising as missing revenue arose from lack of understanding of the workings of the corporation.
He said that the misunderstanding between his corporation and RMAFC is surprising to him, but blamed it on a disagreement on the issue of subsidies.
On NNPC’s opposition to the sale of refineries, Yar Adua who said he had spent all of his post graduate life as a refiner, said NNPC opposed the sale of the plants as scrap because that was not the correct situation.
He promised that once the issue of vandalised pipelines is rectified the refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna will come on stream, pointing out that before the pipeline rupture, Port Harcourt was operating at 90%, Warri - 85% and Kaduna - 75%%. The GMD insisted NNPC is not afraid of privatisation but is against selling off public institutions as scrap.
Referring to the lack of transparency in the corporation’s operations in the past, Yar’Adua said, “there will be no more hiding. Whatever we are doing must be transparent under my tenure there will be nothing to hide. Anybody found to be involved in fraud must face the music.”
Declaring further how determined he is to tackle corruption in the organisation, Yar Adua stated, ‘I am for zero tolerance for corruption. It is time something started happening. Our conditions of service is one of the best in the country, so there is no room for fraudulent activity.”
Also giving some insight into RMAFC’s allegations of missing funds, the Group Executive Director in charge of Finance and Administration, Mr. Stanley Lawson said that prior to November 2003, in order to take care of the subsidy on petroleum, domestic crude was sold to NNPC at a discount both in terms of price and the exchange rate and it helped NNPC build up strategic financial reserves.
Mr Lawson said following the commencement of payment for domestic crude oil at international market prices from 22nd October 2003, it affected the reserves built up over the prior years as it was exhausted on funding the subsidy element.
According to him, as a result by mid 2005, NNPC was no longer able to fully meet crude cost payments due to the subsidy and by the end of 2005, the total amount unpaid by NNPC summed up to N249 billion and N355 billion due to NNPC by way of subsidies.
“In December 2005, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Ministry of Finance and NNPC met to resolve the discrepancies and it was then agreed to sequester (set aside) all outstanding amounts due to government from NNPC and the amount due to NNPC from government until such a time that the Federal Government is in a position to pay the amount due to the NNPC,” he disclosed.
While stressing the transparency of NNPC’s accounts, Lawson explained that by mid-2006 the Ministry of Finance appointed auditors to check NNPC’s subsidy claims during the year and their report aligned with that of the corporation showing that the total amount outstanding to the FAAC as follows: 2005 - N249 billion by NNPC: 2006 - N232billion by FMF; and first quarter of 2007 - N64 billion by FMF, with the summation of it being the figure that RMAFC continues to quote as missing money.
On why it is difficult for NNPC and RMAFC being agencies of the same government to resolve the differences, the GMD said that the two bodies always meet but surprisingly after the meetings they continue to raise issues.
Also explaining the issue of contract discrepancies, the Secretary of the NNPC board, Mrs Sena Anthony said that the tendering, processing, award and execution of contracts being referred to were done by the international oil companies (IOCS) in their capacity as operators of each of the joint venture (JV) programmes.
She said that NNPC’s role as a non-operator in all the contract cases is merely to consent with the operators, recommendations pointing out however that where the NNPC Board feels there is lack of clarity in an operator’s process for contract awards, NNPC can withhold its consent.
She mentioned in particular the Olokola LNG case and noted that NNPC does not award contracts on behalf of the company as all contracts were awarded by the Board of Directors of the company comprising representatives of the shareholders from, Shell, Chevron, British Gas and NNPC.
The GMD gave assurances that NNPC has remained one of the best professionally run government agencies, noting that those established along with it have all gone underground.

Posted by Publisher at 03:11 PM | Comments (0)

JTF Storms Creeks, Kills 15 Militants

The Military Joint Task Force (JTF) operating in Rivers State yesterday morning raided cultists hide outs in the creeks of the state, killing 15 of them in the process.

08.25.2007

The flash point was Tombia, in Degema Local Government Area, said to be the haven of the cultists.
This is the first time the JTF will go into the creeks in pursuit of the cultists who fought against it in Port Harcourt for nearly two weeks. The Public Relations Officer of the JTF, Major Sagir Musa who confirmed the raid refused to comment on casualty figures.
The JTF which stormed Okrika in search of cultists last week, was said to have moved towards Iwofe jetty on Thursday evening before the eventual raid in Tombia in the early hours of yesterday.
The JTF on landing in Tombia, immediately went in search of cultists and ammunition in the town reputed for the high level circulation of arms and ammunition.
THISDAY gathered that the soldiers recovered a lot of
sophisticated weapons while they scoured the town for cult members most of whom were said to have taken to their heels on learning of the soldiers arrival.
Among the early victims of the raid were bunkerers who did not know that the raid party was on. Those of them caught with arms were immediately shot, while those without arms were arrested.
Asked to comment of the raid, Musa only replied, “It is part of the JTF operation which is ongoing in the state, I am yet to be briefed on arrests and casualties, so I cannot comment on that now.”
The raid in Tombia came on the day mothers in Port Harcourt came out to condemn the cultists. The Mothers, under the aegis of “Mothers of Niger Delta” disowned all the cultists, saying the cultists were not their children.
The group’s President, Mrs. Eunice Igwe said what the cultists did was out of tune with the expectations and value system of their own children, insisting that the people who carried out the attacks were “misguided, miscreants, cultists and criminals.”
The mothers who expressed support for the action of the JTF and the government of the state in tackling the cultists, also appealed to residents of the city to cooperate with government “because it is better to suffer the inconveniences people are complaining about than to live under the constant sound of gunfire.”
“These persons are not and cannot be our children. This is because what they did is completely out of character with the true and well bred children and people of the Niger Delta. Our children are not murderers and are respectful to constituted authority. We therefore disown them and dissociate ourselves and all the true children of Rivers State and Niger Delta from them and their children,” Igwe said.
The women charged Governor Celestine Omehia not to leave any stone unturned in ensuring that the bad elements who stole the peace of the town are not spared as he is doing well in containing them.
Igwe who was flanked by other members, castigated the Ijaw elders for calling for the imposition of a state of emergency in the state, saying, “these people do not speak the voice of the Ijaw people. They are on their own and are pursuing their private political agenda.”
In a related development, the Minister of Interior, Mr. Godwin Abe, has stressed that the return of peace to the Niger Delta region was a precursor to its development, pointing out that the Federal Government would separate genuine agitators from criminals.
The Minister who paid his first official visit outside Abuja to Port Harcourt said the Federal Govenrment would not compromise the peace of the region whose people, he admitted, had a right to agitate for better living standards within the confines of the constitution.
“People have a right to agitate but the approach has to be right. We have to separate agitation from criminality. We are committed to ensuring peace, not only in this region, but in all parts of the country as it is only under a peaceful atmosphere that development can take place,” he said.
According to Abe, the federal government will officially re-introduce road blocks that the former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero had banned. He, however, pointed out that the police would be re-orientated so as not to turn the road blocks into extortion points.
Abe promised to provide a reasonable welfare scheme for the police to be imbued with dignity, adding that all the problems of the police and other parastatals under him would be adequately addressed for efficiency.
“Time may come for us to establish road blocks that people are criticizing. In criticizing them, please be polite. Also, the police have to be polite to Nigerians. Make sure people are treated like human beings. Asking for gratifications at road blocks should stop. We will provide what will help you carry out your duties with dignity,” he charged.
He said that the ministry was working out a post retirement scheme that would stop people from being scared of retirement but look forward to it, as all they need would be provided in due time.

Posted by Publisher at 03:10 PM | Comments (0)

Yar’Adua pledges better security

President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on Friday assured the international community that his administration was working to improve the security situation across the country.

By Ihuoma Chiedozie
Saturday, 25 Aug 2007

The President made the pledge when he received the out-going Ambassador of the Republic of Finland, Ms. Anna-Liisa Korhonen, at the State House. Yar’Adua also expressed the conviction that his administration’s efforts to restore normalcy to the Niger Delta region will soon begin to yield the desired results.

He thanked Korhonen for bringing “a new lease of life to Nigerian-Finnish” relations through the strengthening of bilateral cooperation. He informed the outgoing ambassador that the current economic reforms and his administration’s insistence on the rule of law were geared toward providing a “solid foundation for the transformation of our economy and reaching the set-goal of making the country one of the 20 biggest economies in the world by 2020.”

Korhonen had earlier expressed delight at the prominent positions being occupied by women in the current administration and promised to invite more Finnish companies to Nigeria.

In a related development, Rivers State Governor, Chief Celestine Omehia on Friday restated that the security situation in Port Harcourt was under control. Omehia, who spoke at the State House, Abuja after a closed door meeting with the President, said there was no cause for an emergency rule in the state.

He said security agencies would hunt for the hoodlums who fled the city in the wake of the recent military operation by the armed forces. He said, “It is true that all of them have not been arrested; some of them are on the run. But the fact remains that they have escaped for their dear lives.”

Commenting on the continued call for emergency rule in Rivers State from an Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, Omehia noted that the the former Information minister was not even an indigene of Rivers State. He said, “But he is an elder statesman. I wouldn’t say that he was naïve or ignorant or senseless in what he is calling for, or that he is a political enemy. I would only say that he is not being properly informed.”

Also on Friday, Saturday Punch gathered that about 12 suspected cultists were killed on Thursday night by men of the Joint Task Force during an operation in Tombia, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Saturday Punch gathered from a source in the area that the JTF operatives had embarked on a patrol through the Iwofe axis of the city on Thursday evening. He said they went towards the Iwofe Jetty, which leads to Tombia and some other riverine communities of the state, in search of suspected cultists.

He said, “We saw two vehicles filled with the (JTF) men, one bearing a red flag and the other bearing a white flag. They went to board through the Iwofe Jetty. It was this morning that we started hearing that they actually went for suspected cultists and that they killed many of them in the process.”

The spokesman of the 2 Amphibious Brigade in Port Harcourt, Major Sagir Musa, confirmed there was an operation in the area and that it was part of the ongoing peace and security arrangement in the state. He, however, could not confirm the number of casualties or arrests.

Posted by Publisher at 02:44 PM | Comments (0)

Forces Behind Policy Reversal

ALTHOUGH the Federal Government yesterday cited procedural error for suspending the naira re-denomination proposal, there were speculations that the President was under intense pressure from the political class to halt it.

BY GODWIN IJEDIOGOR AND ENITAR UGWU

An official of the CBN, who sought anonymity, alluded to this when he claimed it was the handiwork of politicians.

The CBN official said: "If it is not all politics, why didn't they allow the governor (Soludo) to meet with the economic team to explain the merits of the policy?

"It seems some people somewhere are not comfortable with the policy, so this procedural exercise is just a smokescreen to kill off the policy," he said.

The first major sign that the new naira policy had run into troubled waters came last Tuesday in Abuja when the Accountant General of the Federation, Ibrahim Dankwambo, set aside one of the major planks of the policy: the distribution of dollar to states monthly from the Federation Account.

According to him, the Federation Account and Allocation Committee (FAAC), which he is the secretary, was not aware of such plan.

The FAAC had met on the said date to share N342.460 billion federally generated revenue for July this year to the three tiers of government.

While announcing the new naira policy, Soludo had intimated that as from September, states would be paid their monthly reveues in dollars.

However, Dankwambo put paid to all that, when he declared: "I am not sure if there is going to be any distribution of dollars by next month (September). But if there will be, before the sharing, a mechanism would have been worked out on the sharing."

Also, prior to the AG's pronouncement, last Wednesday, FEC had resolved to seek the advice of the Economic Management Team on the issue.

Soludo had gone to the presidential villa to brief the FEC on the new policy. The team, the council said, would "critically, look into the plan and advise the council accordingly."

Members of the council had wanted the Economic Management Team to clarify a few 'technical issues' relating to the policy.

Usman had told journalists that the consolidation of the economic team to look into the CBN proposal did not any way mean interference with the autonomy of the apex bank. He said: "The autonomy of the CBN is not in question; they acted within the law (establishing it). Whatever issue is coming from the council is only advisory to the CBN. Even the Economic Management Team is an advisory body. It is not in the constitution or the law of the land. Obviously, they (CBN) didn't come to the government to approve (the proposals). The CBN Act doesn't allow it to get such approval before they act. They (CBN) don't require government's approval for decisions. Under the new policy the naira would have reverted to its pre-1986 level of about N1.25 to one dollar."

The Action Congress (AC) in its opposition to the exercise accused Soludo of introducing vodoo economic measure to the country. The party, which is the major opposition party in the country, also called for the sack of Soludo and his economic team.

The government on Thursday dropped Soludo and others from the economic team to advise it on the policy. Some prominent northern leaders also rejected the proposal. They accused Soludo of introducing an unpopular economic policy to bring down the Yar'Adua administration.

For African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Prof. Pat Utomi, who never supported the policy in the first place, the sheer cost of its implementation was enough reason to dump it.

He told The Guardian yesterday that considering that the Nigeria only last year spent huge amount to redesign some of the old denominations and introduced the N1, 000 note makes it imperative to suspend the policy.

He queried the rationale behind the initiative. Utomi said Nigeria was not suffering from hyperinflation, as in some countries listed by the CBN, as having successfully undertaken a similar exercise, saying Nigeria's double digit inflation was still manageable. He sees it more as an ego thing, trying to compare the naira to the US dollar.

Utomi cited the Japanese Yen, which has remained around 180 to the dollar, without recourse to parity since a weaker currency, if well managed, could boost exports.

"Our main concern should be creating wealth and jobs, not making the naira at par with the dollar. If our economy gets stronger, it is possible that we can get to a point where our currency could be equivalent to the dollar."

The whole thing (policy), he stated, "was not necessary at this moment. I never supported it anyway, and may be reason has finally prevailed. A decision like this ought to have been debated and analysed before it is announced as a final policy. There is too much glamourising. We should learn from this experience," he counselled.

Posted by Publisher at 02:38 PM | Comments (0)

Nigeria freezes currency change

Nigerian Justice Minister Michael Aondoakaa said he is freezing a plan to re-denominate the Nigerian currency, the naira.

By Alex Last
BBC News, Lagos

The plan had been announced by the governor of the Central Bank, Chukwuma Soludo, last week.

Mr Aondoakaa said the plan was frozen because President Umaru Yar'Adua had not given his written permission.

The case has raised questions about the effectiveness of the leadership of the new president.

Ten days ago amid much fanfare, Mr Soludo told an audience of hundreds of dignitaries that the naira would be redenominated.

It was a big move, which was not universally popular, but straightforward enough, it would seem.

Now, bizarrely, Mr Aondoakaa has told reporters that for now all plans for the re-denomination are frozen.

"I, as the chief law officer of the (Nigerian) federation, hereby stop all actions on the re-denomination of the naira," said the minister.

A spokesman for the Central Bank said in response there had been consultations with the president about the plan before the announcement.

Political fallout

Either way, the fact is this is a major humiliation for Mr Soludo and there is growing speculation that politically he will not survive this debacle.

As head of the Central Bank for the past few years, he has overseen major banking reforms in Nigeria.

But just a few weeks ago the country's new President, Umaru Yar'Adua, chose Mr Soludo's deputy, not him, for the job of finance minister in the new cabinet, and the central banker has been dropped from the government's economic team.

This whole episode also raises questions about the leadership of the new president.

He is said to be quite hands-off in his style of government, especially in comparison with his predecessor.

After this, some will argue that state of affairs might have to change.

Posted by Publisher at 02:27 PM | Comments (0)

August 02, 2007

Niger Delta govs, U.S., UK meet over oil security

FOUR Niger Delta governors yesterday joined a Federal Government team at a meeting in The Hague, Netherlands, where restiveness among Nigerian oil-bearing communities and the need to secure the Gulf of Guinea topped the agenda.

From Yakubu Lawal, The Hague, Netherlands

The forum, tagged: "The Gulf of Guinea Energy Security Strategy (GGESS)," was also attended by representatives of the United States (U.S.) and the United Kingdom (UK).

The Federal Government team was headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe.

The Governors are Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Celestine Omehia (Rivers), Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) and Chief Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa).

In attendance were the British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Richard Gozney; Managing Director of Shell and Chairman, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Basil Omiyi; as well as his ExxonMobil and Total counterparts.

Also present were the Deputy Managing Director of Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Mr. Akin Aruwajoye, and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Timi Alaibe.

Kingibe, at the meeting, disclosed the heavy toll of restiveness in the region on the country and put Nigeria's revenue losses from incessant disruption of crude oil production at about N5 billion ($40 million) daily.

Kingibe said that the Umaru Musa Yar'Adua administration had held a series of direct dialogues with all the stakeholders in the region and would continue to reassure the people of his administration's willingness to address their problems.

"There is presently a shut-in of 500,000 barrels of oil per day which translates to a revenue loss in the region of $40 million per day," Kingibe said.

He noted other impacts to include major cost escalations ranging between 30 and 40 per cent across some key upstream projects, as contractors now factor in their contract bids, "a Niger Delta Premium", which covers community expectations, kidnaps, and higher insurance premium, among others.

He said that the government understands clearly the need to establish normalcy and bring development to the region and adopt sustainable initiative by engaging the militants in economic empowerment initiative through the GGESS.

Kingibe added that the government is also ensuring law and order in the region.

"Of all these factors, re-establishment of law and order remains the basis on which other strategies can be effectively pursued and achieved," he said.

Kingibe said that the new government had already begun a revitalization programme for the Joint Task Force to make it more efficient and effective.

"This revitalized Task Force will be charged with the responsibility of preventing sabotage to oil and gas pipelines, securing oil and gas facilities, installation of onshore and offshore facilities, curbing oil theft and (bunkering), preventing kidnappings and hostage-taking," he said.

He disclosed that prevention and interception of illegal cross-border oil cartel as well as locating and neutralizing local interest groups that support arms trafficking and other illicit activities in the oil business would also be the focus of the task force.

He said: "The Task Force shall also ensure that the principles of Extractive Industry Transparent Initiative (EITI) take a stronger foothold in business undertaking of the industry in Nigeria."

Presidential envoy on GGESS, Mr. Funso Kupolokun, spoke at the meeting, which was the seventh in the series. He stressed that the activities of GGESS were strategies to address the security and development needs in the Niger Delta region.

Kupolokun, who is also the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), said with all the stakeholders, development agencies and the international communities coming together under the umbrella of GGESS, issues on the Niger Delta will soon be a thing of the past. He added that President Yar'Adua has demonstrated his commitment to the ideals of the group.

Kupolokun noted that the group witnessed rapid growth last year following the inclusion of Canada, France, Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland as its members.

"This expansion is a reflection of the continued focus of the group on its primary objective of ensuring that the development of the Niger Delta region in an atmosphere of peace and stability remains paramount," he said.

Posted by Publisher at 09:11 AM | Comments (0)

Monarchs resolve Ekiti Assembly crisis; AC gets deputy Speaker's seat

FOLLOWING the intervention of traditional rulers, the crisis rocking the Ekiti State House of Assembly ended yesterday with the Action Congress (AC) legislators taking their seats and oath of office.

From Ifedayo Sayo, Ado-Ekiti

The peace brokered by the state Council of Obas involved sharing of offices between the two dominant political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and AC in the 26-member Assembly. Both parties have 13 members each in the House. Yesterday's sitting was the first to be attended by the AC lawmakers.

The assembly had been unable to function due to the refusal of the AC legislators to take their seats as a result of the amended standing order of the legislature which they claimed ran contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

Essentially, the AC lawmakers were challenging the standing order which, provides that the officers of the assembly shall be elected among the ranks of the ruling party members.

The AC lawmakers claimed that the constitution gives all members the free will to elect their leaders among their ranks as against the provision of the standing order which makes the election the prerogative of the ruling party.

Following the boycott of the assembly, the 13 PDP members went ahead to perform the inauguration of the assembly and elected Mr. Femi Bamisile as Speaker and Mr. Adebayo Morakinyo as his deputy.

The AC lawmakers claimed that the inauguration of the assembly in their absence fell short of the mandatory 24 members which the constitution prescribed must be present before any inauguration could take place, saying the 13 PDP lawmakers could not constitute the House for the purpose of inauguration.

Subsequently, the 13 AC lawmakers instituted a suit challenging the constitutionality of the standing order. They also prayed the court to declare all actions taken based on the standing order null and void.

But as the case was about to be heard, the state government, Bamisile and Morakinyo, the respondents opted for out-of-court settlement. Though, this was opposed by the AC lawmakers, the trial judge adjourned the suit for amicable settlement.

The ruling of the court provided the state monarchs the opportunity to intervene in the dispute. The monarchs invited the two parties to a meeting where they appealed to them to give peace a chance.

After three meetings, the monarchs were able to resolve the dispute by asking the AC to concede the post of Speakership to the PDP and fill the post of Deputy Speaker.

Though, the two parties agreed, the peace accord nearly suffered another set back yesterday shortly before the assembly commenced its session as the two parties, AC and PDP lawmakers gave different interpretations to the agreement.

The minor disagreement stalled the sitting of the assembly which the AC lawmakers were attending for the first time since the initial sitting ended in a fracas, for over three hours.

The royal fathers in attendance had to wait for more than three hours for the two parties to resolve their differences. When it became obvious that they may not agree, the monarchs led by the Oluyin of Iyin, Oba Ademola Ajakaye had to intervene and resolve the dispute.

The disagreement bothered on which party should nominate the Deputy Speaker. While the AC lawmakers wanted to nominate from among themselves who should become the new Deputy Speaker, the PDP legislators claimed that they would do it for them.

It was later agreed that the factional Deputy Speaker, Morakinyo who was to vacate his position as deputy Speaker be allowed to nominate his successor whom the AC had already picked at their caucus meeting. With the resolution of the minor disagreement, the lawmakers took their seats and the assembly went into session.

Bamisile who was presiding over a full House later administered the oath of office and oath of allegiance on the AC lawmakers to the admiration of their PDP colleagues who cheered them.

Immediately the AC lawmakers took their oath of office, Bamisile announced to the whole House that Morakinyo has tendered his resignation as the Deputy Speaker.

Morakinyo in his letter of resignation read on the floor of the House said he quit the position due to the prevailing political situation in the state and to express his support for the resolution of the crisis in the Assembly.

He pointed out that the state is bigger than any individual and that there is no sacrifice that can be too much to make for the peace and progress of the state, saying he believed that his action would move the state and the Assembly forward.

Morakinyo who later took the floor said the political leaning of members is not what matters but what they are able to do for the good of the state, adding that any differences that arise among members should be settled amicably without undue interference from outside.

Speaking in the same vein, the AC leader in the assembly, Mr. Funminiyi Afuye said the misunderstanding was for the good of democracy, adding that actions taken would help to strengthen the nation's democracy.

PDP Leader, Mr. Layi Oke hailed Morakinyo for the sacrifice he made saying the people of the state would remain grateful to him.

Morakinyo later nominated Mr. Saliu Adeoti as the deputy Speaker. He was seconded by Mr Samuel Adewale (AC, Emure constituency). His nomination was unanimously supported by other members of the assembly.

Bamisile announced to the House that the officers of the AC in the assembly have been nominated. They are Mr Funminiyi Afuye, (Leader); Mr Gbenga Odebunmi, (Deputy Leader); Mr. Churchill Adedipe (Whip); and Mr Rotimi Ajidara, (Deputy Whip).

The PDP already has its officers appointed among themselves during the period of the crisis in the assembly. They are Mr Layi Oke, leader of government business and Mr Adeolu Aluko whip.

Meanwhile, the AC has commended the state Council of Obas for resolving the crisis.

The party in a statement yesterday noted that the crisis was induced by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) through the unpopular amendment of the standing order of the Assembly, saying the AC as a party would never support any illegal act done by the PDP.

The statement reads: "We commend the efforts of our royal fathers in Ekiti who have timely waded into the PDP-induced crisis in Ekiti State, arising from the obnoxious standing order which the PDP imported into the House statutes.

" On our part, we have reiterated an unimpeachable resolve to stick to rule of law and encourage our Assembly members to operate within constitutional cover. The foundation of our party, Action Congress stands on justice, fair play and truth; hence our conduct is a reflection of these ideals. Despite the fact that the PDP is still in a forceful custody of the mandate freely given to us on April 14, 2007 by Ekiti people, we have not resorted to political rough tackles.

"We are only at a great loss why the PDP is amassing debris of illegalities to remain afloat, which led to the recent hoo-ha. Since we are for peace, we are equally ready to seek for this even at our inconvenience. We really appreciate the great concern of our Obas whom we know would not allow a descent into anarchy, their hard won treasured - Ekiti State.

"We want Ekiti to move forward and we daily work for this. We identify with the patriotic intervention of our royal fathers and we have taken in transparent measures all their pleas and advice.

"Our fervent prayer is that the PDP would not see this royal truce as a precursor to foment further constitutional and political heresies, relying on our royal fathers to once again come to their rescue. Democracy is surely a game but a peaceful co-existence is only a product of give and take. The PDP government in Ekiti State must use this to learn a useful lesson in humility and political decorum."

Posted by Publisher at 09:11 AM | Comments (0)

Gunmen abduct Nigerian oil worker in Rivers

BARELY 13 hours after the abduction of a Pakistani in Ogoni area of Rivers State, marauding gunmen have kidnapped a Nigerian oil Production Superintendent working for French multinational, Elf Petroleum Nigeria Limited in Port Harcourt.

From Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Governor, Celestine Omehia, said government would continue to engage youths involved in militancy in order to boost security and peace in the state.

The victim, identified by the Police as Mr. Peter Agwuma, was kidnapped at about 9.00pm on Tuesday night from the premises of the Church of God Mission, Iwofe-Rumuolumeni, close to Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Felix Ogbaudu, told The Guardian that the oil worker was kidnapped by an unspecified number of gunmen as he was about to leave the church for home.

He explained that shortly after the abduction of Mr. Agwuma who hails from the Egbema area of the state, some persons rushed to a nearby Police station to register the incident.

The Commissioner, who insisted that the recent spate of kidnappings in the state had nothing to do with militancy, said concerted efforts were on to ascertain the gang behind the incidepnt.

He said the whereabouts of the Pakistani construction manager, Mr. Tahri, who was abducted from Bodo community where his company, Gitto Costruzioni Generali Nigeria, is working on the multi-million naira Bodo/Bonny dualised road construction project, remained unknown.

Elf's Government and Media Relations Manager, Mr. Fred Ohwahwa, who also confirmed Agwuma's abduction, said the company was doing its best to find him. According to him, no group has called Elf to make any demand.

"Mr. Agwuma is a staff of Elf in Port Harcourt. He is a production superintendent. No one has called Elf to make any demand. We are in touch with his family and the Police. We are all trying our best to find him," he said.

Meanwhile, the state governor, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Paulinus Nsirim, said government would continue to engage willing youths involved in criminality under its efforts to boost security, peace-building and youth re-orientation in the state.

But addressing audience yesterday at the ongoing Gulf of Guinea Energy Security and Strategy Summit in The Hague, Netherlands, Omehia said his administration had awarded scholarships to two former militants who are to train as pilots in South Africa among other incentives to others who have renounced gangsterism.

Omehia said the absence of other maritime states in Nigeria might not guarantee water-tight control of illegal arms movement routes into the Niger Delta and called for a more concerted action.

Posted by Publisher at 09:10 AM | Comments (0)

Germany moves for stronger economic ties with Nigeria

THE Federal Republic of Germany wants to strengthen its economic relations with Nigeria, the visiting German Foreign Minister, Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said yesterday in Abuja after conferring with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bagudu Hirse.

From Oghogho Obayuwana, Abuja

The envoy is leading an 81-member delegation to Nigeria in response to the current administration's determination to make economic expansion its main thrust.

Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Abdul Bin Rimdap, is one of the nation's plenipotentiaries currently back home in Nigeria on the invitation of the Federal Government to work out the finer elements of a foreign policy thrust anchored on economic determinism.

Last year, bilateral trade between both countries reached an all time high with German imports of Nigerian goods grossing 1.4 billion euros. This represents a 95 per cent increase when compared to the 1995 figures. Conversely, however, German exports to Nigeria only rose by 27 per cent which amounted to �983 millions.

Steimeier, who has was starting his African tour with Nigeria, disclosed that apart from stabilising Nigeria's economy, the issue of the crisis in the Niger Delta also came up for discussion.

"Yes, the issue of electoral reform was mentioned. We are concerned about that. But primarily, the mission is to strengthen trade. We have met with your President just after the elections. Issues of global environmental protection and energy are high on discussions. But we must explore the full potential of our economic relations. We also want to see an increase in German companies coming to do business in Nigeria," he added.

Hirse said Nigeria would grab with both hands the new economic relations being offered by Germany as they relate to expansion of trade in the non-oil sector.

"We are looking at solid minerals and technical co-operation, while striving now to actualise the old agreements, especially the ones that have to do with the economy," he said.

Nigeria and Germany have had three major bilateral agreements since 1999. They include the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), the Cultural/Educational Promotion Agreement as well as the Investment

Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA) signed on April 28, 2000.

The German Minister, who leaves the country today for Ghana, will pay a courtesy call on President Umar Yar'Adua, the Senate President as well as the Speaker of the House of Representatives before his departure.

Posted by Publisher at 09:10 AM | Comments (0)

Kalu regains freedom, Nnamani knows fate today

AUTHORITIES of the Kuje Medium Prisons in Abuja yesterday released the detained former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu after fulfilling the conditions for his bail which were granted him about a week ago.

From Lemmy Ughegbe (Abuja) and Blessing Eghagha (Lagos)

Kalu's release came as Justice Peter Olayiwola of the Federal High Court, Lagos rules today on the bail application filed by former governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani who is standing trial for alleged financial misconduct while in office.

On July 27, a Federal High Court in Abuja admitted Kalu, who is standing trial for alleged money laundering, to bail on conditions which his lawyers described as stringent.

But he was only able to fulfil the bail conditions yesterday.

The court granted the former governor bail in the sum of N100 million with a bond deposit in a bank and two sureties in the like sum.

The sureties must have evidence of their tax payment certificate from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for three consecutive years as at when due.

Besides, the former Abia governor is to depose to a sworn affidavit stating the number of countries where he claims citizenship and to deposit all passports with the court.

He is also to provide two traditional rulers and to deposit three recent passport photographs with the court.

In addition, Kalu was directed to report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) once every week.

If he intends to travel out of jurisdiction, he must obtain leave of the court.

In her ruling on the bail application, Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako held that the offences are bailable and that there was the possibility of his standing trial.

According to her, "though the offence of corruption is a serious one especially now that the country is fighting corruption, I have read section 14 (1) of the Money Laundering Act as well as the submissions of counsel to both parties including the provisions of the Constitution in respect of bail and I came to the conclusion that bail be granted to the accused person. The accused person is hereby granted bail."

Former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Chief Dubem Onyia and Senator Uche Chukwumerije are his sureties.

Nnamani's lead counsel, Mr. Ricky Tarfa (SAN) said that the affidavit deposed to by one Mr. Yaya Achadu who investigated his client is in conflict with Sections 86, 87, 88 and 89 of the Evidence Act which state that the content of every affidavit must contain material facts which the deponent is trying to establish. He said the sources of the offences allegedly committed by Nnamani in the affidavit are vague. He contended further that for an affidavit to be taken seriously in criminal proceedings the facts stated in the affidavits must be cogent. According to him, they must not contain trivialties. In Nnamani's case, he said that all the allegations contained in the affidavit are vague.

Tarfa argued that when an affidavit does not comply with the provisions of the law, that affidavit cannot be relied upon in determining issues before a court. He further argued that under the provisions of Section 118 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act, the alleged offences are bailable ones.

Urging the court to grant Nnamani bail with liberal and favourable conditions, Tarfa told the trial judge that all the former governors that are facing similar charges in Abuja have been granted bail by judges whom he referred to as "juniors to you." He also urged the judge not to "grant bail with one hand and take it with the other" by imposing hard and near impossible conditions as Nnamani "is a distinguished medical practitioner who would not interfere with the witnesses as alleged by the EFCC.

"We should not vilify public officers, we should not tear them apart," he said, adding that Nnamani would not jump bail as he is a Senator in Nigeria.

But counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Kelvin Uzozie, told the court that the charges against Nnamani are such that the court can ordinarily grant bail. He said that for the court to grant Nnamani bail, the following conditions must be satisfied:

his availability to stand trial;

likelihood of committing another offence while on bail;

his capacity to interfere with the witnesses lined up against him;

the gravity of the offence; and

the likelihood of conviction.
Uzozie said that the charges are serious. He argued that "where money that is supposed to be used by citizens has been diverted to the benefit of one person, it is a matter of economic crime."

According to him, granting bail to Nnamani will send a wrong signal to the public and the international community that "anyone that holds public office can deep his hand in the treasury and get away with it."

Citing decided cases, the EFCC lawyer said he wondered why Nnamani who the EFCC accuses of diverting billions of naira to his personal business interest should be granted bail. He further contended that as a former governor and now a Senator, Nnamani is "a very powerful and influential person that can interfere with the prosecution witnesses," whom he said worked under him when he was governor of Enugu State.

Granting Nnamani bail and the two other accused persons standing trial with him "will do evil to the cause of justice," he submitted.

Nnamani, through his lawyers, yesterday argued that the court has power to exercise its discretion to grant him bail, while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said granting the former governor bail would provide an escape route for him.

Posted by Publisher at 09:09 AM | Comments (0)

Nnamani, others know fate today

JUSTICE Peter Olayiwola of the Federal High Court, Lagos, will today rule on bail applications filed by former Enugu State governor, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, and two of his aides.

Eric Ikhilae, Lagos - 02.08.2007

The court rules today, having heard submissions of parties in the case.

However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opposed their bail applications on the ground that the accused persons could run away from trial.

While opposing the bail applications, lead prosecution counsel, Mr. Kelvin Uzozie, urged the court not to grant them bail on the ground that they could influence the prosecution witnesses.

He added that but for the intervention of the American Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI), the ex-governor would not have returned to Nigeria to honour EFCC’s invitation.

“The first accused person travelled out of the country on April 23, 2007, when he was still enjoying immunity as a governor in order to avoid arrest and prosecution by the EFCC.

“He only returned to the country when he discovered that some former governors who reported to EFCC were not detained,” he said.

In their bail applications, the accused persons said they needed time to attend to their ill-health, following the inability of the EFCC to give them proper medical treatment.

They said that they would not jump bail and that they were not going to escape from justice, as they would not commit any offence, neither would they interfere with any further investigation or prosecution of the case if granted bail.

Leading other lawyers for the accused, Mr. Ricky Tarfa (SAN), while moving the bail application denied that Nnamani ever attempted to escape trial by travelling outside Nigeria, saying his trip abroad was on medical ground.

He added that his return was informed by his patriotic zeal and his desire to respond to EFCC allegations.

According to him his client was never arrested as he willfully decided to respond to EFCC’s invitation to him and others.

The three accused denied their alleged capacities to interfere with prosecution’s witnesses.

Dr. Nnamani, Mr. Sunday Anyaogu and Mrs. Sylvia Onwubuemeli are standing trial on a 105-count charge of fraud, conspiracy, concealment and money laundering, totalling about N5.6 billion.

Dr. Nnamani also denied allegation by the commission that he was forced to return to the country while he was on vacation at the United States of America (USA), because he was being trailed for possible arrest by the Federal Bureau of Intelligence and Interpol, who were working in collaboration with the EFCC.

Posted by Publisher at 09:01 AM | Comments (0)

Plane crash averted in Abuja - Kenny Martins, Gen. Alli, 280 others cheat death

TWO major aircrashes were averted in Abuja on Wednesday, when two planes belonging to Bellview and Chachangi airlines were unable to land for about three hours at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

By Our Reporter - 02.08.2007

The Bellview plane, according to passengers, stayed for quite some time in the air before it could land, while the Chanchangi plane had to go to Kaduna before eventually landing at Abuja.

Reports showed that at a point when the Bellview aircraft attempted to land, the navigational equipment on the ground misdirected the aircraft.

Nigerian Tribune was told that the pilot was directed to enter the airport from a wrong direction and had to wait for an immediate upward movement of the aircraft to avoid a plane crash.

Pilot of the plane was said to have told passengers that the fault was not his own, but that of the faulty grand navigational equipment.

Passengers also relayed story of how the Bellview plane entered turbulence weather, while staying in the sky, as a result of its inability to land.

Apart from the faulty equipment, the heavy rain and cloudy weather in Abuja was said to have contributed to the incident.

Passengers aboard the Bellview aircraft, including General Chris Alli, Kenny Martins and many other dignitaries went into prayer sessions immediately the plane landed.

When the Nigerian Tribune contacted the aviation officials at the airport, none of them was ready to comment on the incident.

Posted by Publisher at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

Kalu regains freedom - Dariye, Turaki yet to fulfil bail conditions

SIXTEEN days after a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja remanded him in Kuje Medium Prisons, Abuja, former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, on Wednesday finally breathed the air of freedom at about 2.33 p.m.

Lanre Adewole, Abuja - 02.08.2007

On hand to receive him were two of his sureties, former Minister of State (Foreign Affairs), Chief Dubem Onyia, and Senator Uche Chukwumerije, as well as his political associates, relatives and scores of supporters.

Security was very tight around the prison, with armed policemen and prison officials thoroughly scrutinising the few visitors that were allowed entry, while a majority of those who came for the accused were kept outside.

Journalists were the worst hit, as they were not only barred from entering, but were molested by both the security agents and supporters of the former governor, who accused the reporters of being biased in their reporting of Kalu’s trial.

Kalu is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged laundering of about N3.1 billion, belonging to Abia State when he was the governor.

He was remanded in prison custody by Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako, who later granted him a conditional bail last Friday.

Concerted efforts by his associates to meet the bail conditions finally yielded fruit, when the release warrant was signed by the trial judge yesterday afternoon.

Immediately the warrant was signed, his associates including traditional rulers who had been keeping vigil at the court, left for the prison in a long convoy of vehicles, and minutes after the convoy berthed at the prison, Kalu was on his way out of his abode since the last two weeks, after release formalities were concluded by the officials of the Nigeria Prisons Service.

The carnival that started from the prison ended as the train entered Abuja, with the whereabouts of Kalu becoming controversial.

Journalists who had been directed by Kalu’s associates to the Transcorp Hilton Hotel for a media briefing waited endless for hours, without sighting him.

Even one of his lawyers, Mr. Mike Ozekhome, who was also waiting at the hotel, had to ask the newsmen about the whereabouts of his client, with some people suggesting that he might have directed his convoy to the Abia State Government lodge, though nobody could confirm this, including some of the traditional rulers that stood as sureties for him.

As at press time, nobody outside his close aides could confirm his whereabouts.

Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako had granted him bail in the sum of N100 million and two sureties in the like sum.

Apart from the two sureties, Kalu was also asked to produce two traditional rulers.

Since last Monday, two traditional rulers had been seen among those seeking his release, and when they were sighted again yesterday morning in court, they were still donning the same attire they wore on Monday and Tuesday.

They refused to reveal their identities when journalists tried to talk to them on their mission.

Justice Murtala-Nyako equally ordered that the sureties must have evidence of their Tax Payment Certificate from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for three consecutive years, which must have been paid as it fell due.

Besides, the former governor is to depose to a sworn affidavit stating the number of countries which citizenship he obtained and to deposit all passports connected with those countries with the court, as well as depositing his three recent passport photographs with the court.

Aside from these conditions, Kalu was directed to be reporting to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on weekly basis and he is not to travel out of the FHC jurisdiction without the permission of the court.

In her ruling, the judge noted that, “though the offence of corruption is a serious one especially now that the country is fighting corruption, I have read section 14 (1) of the Money Laundering Act as well as the submissions of counsel to both parties including the provisions of the constitution, in respect of bail and I came to the conclusion that bail be granted to the accused person”.

The Nigerian Tribune also gathered that both former governors Joshua Dariye of Plateau State and Saminu Turaki of Jigawa State, who are also remanded in the prison custody, may be out before the end of this week.

Both are also being prosecuted by the EFCC for their alleged looting of their states’ treasuries while in office.

A very competent source within the prison revealed that they had moved very close to the fulfilment of their bail conditions as at yesterday.

Dariye is believed to have got stringent bail conditions from Justice Babs Kuewumi of the Federal High Court, while Justice Nyako is believed to have given Saminu conditions that might not be easily met.

However, it was gathered that former governor of Taraba, Reverend Jolly Nyame, may have lost all hope of early release from prison custody, despite having been granted bail by an Abuja High Court trying him for allegedly stealing about N1.6 billion belonging to the state, while in office.

Since he was alleged to have confessed to the alleged crime, activities geared toward perfecting his bail conditions are said to have been at the lowest ebb with his political associates said to be entertaining fear that associating with a man that had confessed to looting the state treasury could spell doom for their future ambitions, and tarnish their names.

The trial of the former governor will commence after the courts return from their annual vacation that starts on 6th August, 2007.

Posted by Publisher at 08:59 AM | Comments (0)

Nigerians may pay more taxes - As FIRS plans annual review of taxes

THERE are strong indications that taxes in the country may go up as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) disclosed on Wednesday that it wanted a review of taxes to be done annually and that such review should precede the passage of annual appropriation act by the National Assembly.

Bola Badmus, Abuja - 02.08.2007

Executive Chairman, FIRS, Ifueko Omoigui, gave this indication when she paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh, in her office.

According to the FIRS boss, the organisation was proposing that amendments to all the tax laws be passed annually in order to increase the country’s revenue.

She said this was because of the impact of tax on the revenue side of national budget, as a way of raising more money for the country to undertake development projects.

According to the FIRS boss, the organisation was working round the clock to eliminate what she called multiple taxation, shift from direct to indirect taxation and review the process of granting tax waivers and exemptions such as would support national development within a defined time limit.

Omoigui lauded the House of Representatives for passing eight bills that were critical to the reform agenda of the government, saying four of the bills had since been signed into law.

She listed them as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishement) Act 2007, The Companies Income Tax (Amendment) Act 2007 and the National Automotive Council (Amendment) Act 2007.

She called for the continued support of the House “to enable the country realise more money through taxes and achieve tax payment compliance among the citizenry”.

Posted by Publisher at 08:59 AM | Comments (0)

Senate Chief Whip opposes constitutional review

SENATE Chief Whip, Senator Kanti Bello, has kicked against the planned review of the 1999 Constitution by the Natonal Assembly.

Taiwo Adisa, Abuja - 02.08.2007

He said the exercise, like the previous ones, might end up taking Nigerians for a ride.

The Senator, who made the declaration in an interview with newsmen, said that though he was stating his personal views, the 1999 constitution was workable.

“You see, our Senate president, the President of this country, every body has been clamouring that there will be constitutional review and they have been giving the people the anxiety that it is early next year or something like that, we should start it. I Senator Mahmoud Kanti Bello am not in agreement with that view.

“The problem of our Constitution, we all know that there are some lapses. It is true but they are not lapses that we should rush and then start talking about let’s review the Constitution and then we take Nigerians for a ride.

“When you start talking about Constitutional Review the first thing that will come to mind first of all is that the people from the Niger Delta area and so forth will start thinking that 13 per cent derivation is not enough. May be we need 50 or 70 per cent.

He said that the idea may further heat up the polity and raise vain hopes.

“Then the polity will be heated up because in 2006 when we were doing the Constitution review, because of the nature of the Constitution itself, some people had been given the impression that you are likely to get a state just like that.

“That is the South East, so you are going to give them an appetite and then generate another political fever which is not supposed to be there. Again, with all due respect to Mr. President, he has been saying that in the Constitution review the Emirs will have a role to play. You see, it is a very critical remark.”

Posted by Publisher at 08:58 AM | Comments (0)

Nnamani had killer squad – EFCC; The allegation is speculative, says ex-gov’s lawyer

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday opposed the bail application brought before a Federal High Court, Lagos by Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, saying it would be dangerous to give the former governor bail as he had a "killer squad."

By ADESINA AIYEKOTI
Thursday, August 2, 2007

According to the EFCC, in a counter-affidavit, the alleged "killer squad" was headed by Nnamani’s former Political Adviser on Chieftancy and Local Government Matter, Mr Sam Ejiofor, who is standing trial before a Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged money laundering offences.

It said that the safety of prosecution witnesses in the case may not be guaranteed if the former governor was granted bail.
The EFCC also alleged that in the course of the investigation of the case, the investigating team was attacked by the "killer squad" and had to sleep in the bush for a night.

Relying on the counter-affidavits filed by the commission and insisting that the former governor and his co-accused, Sunday Anyaogu should be kept in custody, pending the determination of the case, EFCC’s lawyer, Kelvin Uzozie, disclosed that several persons who were helping the commission in the investigation were attacked.

The EFCC named those allegedly eliminated by the "killer squad" as Sunady Ugwu, Engr. Chris Nwankwo, Prof Chimere Ikoku and Samuel Otte.

According to the commission, those allegedly attacked include, Chief Christian Onoh, the former governor of old Anambra State; Rev Dr Oscar Egwuonwu, a former local government chairman of Udi Local Government, described as a witness for the prosecution, and his younger brother, Mr Chuka Egwuonwu. Others are Hon Nwabueze Ugwu, Hon Barrister Lucky Chukwu and Rev Father Mbaka.

Another reason adduced by the prosecution for opposing bail was that, "on July 23, 2007 when Nnamani was brought to Lagos, he was remanded at EFCC office at Okotie-Eboh Street with an instruction not to leave the place of his detention but immediately he noticed that the security men were no longer around him, he was found trying to sneak out of the compound but was stopped by the vigilant security men."

Countering the arguments and the averments raised by the EFCC, lead counsel to Nnamani, Mr Ricky Tarfa, (SAN) urged the court to grant his client bail on medical grounds and described the allegations canvassed by the prosecution as "speculative."

Pleading with the court to disregard all the counter-affidavits filed by the prosecution, he said Nnamani, apart from being a former governor, is a serving senator, who would not jump bail.
"He will not commit any offence, neither will he interfere with any further investigations or prosecution of this case if granted bail."

Praying the court to dismiss the objection raised by the prosecution, Tarfa added that the former governor, "is a law abiding citizen of Nigeria with no record of previous conviction by any court of law in this country or any part of the world."

Also in the affidavit filed by Nnamani, it was argued that "it will be in the interest of justice to grant bail pending the hearing of the charge to enable him attend to his deteriorating health condition and adequately brief his lawyers and provide them with all the facilities needed to defend himself in the charge."

The defence team further stated that due to the accused’s deplorable state of health, the Chief Consultant/Physician/Nephrologist of the National Hospital Abuja, Dr E.A. Anteyi, had issued and signed a medical report dated July 23, 2007 that condition of Nnamani’s "state of health is critical and needs close monitoring and treatment outside the country."

Nnamani, his Chief of Staff, Sylvia Onwubuemeli and Sunday Onyekazuru Anyaogu, Finance Director, Rainbownet Nig Ltd, and six companies are being tried on a 105-count charge bordering on money laundering.

They were alleged, among others, to have conspired to launder over N5.3 billion belonging to Enugu State government. They were also charged with transferring the sum of 1.5 million dollars to the United States of America, which they knew represented the proceeds of crime.

According to the prosecution, the offences were committed between August 2003 and May 2007.
Corporate organizations charged along with Nnamani for the same offence are Rainbownet Nig Ltd, Hillgate Nigeria Ltd, Cosmo FM, Capital City Automobile (Nig) Ltd, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.
The trial judge, Justice Peter Olayiwola, is expected to rule Thursday on the issue of bail.

Posted by Publisher at 08:57 AM | Comments (0)

Alamieyeseigha returns; As group calls for prosecution of other N’Delta ex-govs

The former Bayelsa State governor, Chief Diepreye Peter Alamieyeseigha, has returned to Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE) to continue his treatment following his recent release from detention.

By OLA AGBAJE
Thursday, August 2, 2007

Alamieyeseigha, according to Joseph Eva, the National Coordinator of Ijaw Monitoring Group (IMG), left the country yesterday evening. He was recently deported from Dubai where he had been taken by EFCC for proper medical treatment.

While speaking with Daily Sun on the ex-governor’s trip, the Ijaw group leader also called on the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to go after other ex-governors in the Niger Delta who he accused of using the derivation money meant for the development of the people to organise and sponsor cultists in the zone for the purpose of election.

He urged the EFCC to ensure that the money recovered from Alamieyeseigha is returned to the Bayelsa people for the purpose of educating the youths and the children.

Expressing disappointment that EFCC has remained silent on other former governors who he blamed for the woes of the people in the oil rich region, Eva said: “Ribadu must ensure that other former governors who looted their states and diverted derivation funds to sponsor cultism should not escape justice. The blood of those killed by the cultists put together by those former governors will be on Ribadu and his team if they fail to apprehend and prosecute them for siphoning the derivation money across the globe.
“They must not escape justice and whatever money recovered from them should be spent on the people.”

Posted by Publisher at 08:55 AM | Comments (0)

Obagol ready to sign new deal with Newcastle

Newcastle star, Obafemi Martins, has sensationally said he was ready to sign a new deal at St James' Park.
The Nigerian striker, who bagged 17 goals last season, has been strongly linked with a move to Arsenal.

By Sun News Publishing
Thursday, August 2, 2007

However, Newcastle have rubbished suggestions that they wanted to sell Martins to raise cash for other signings and have now opened talks over a new contract.

United are looking to tie down the 22-year-old to a new long-term deal, which would not include any release-clauses - like his current deal.

"We are talking, that is all I can say for now," said Martins.
"Like I told you before, all I knew about the Arsenal thing was what I saw in the media.

"I am a Newcastle player and my part is to score goals for Newcastle and I am happy to be doing that."

Martins insists he is ready to compete with Michael Owen and Mark Viduka for a place in Newcastle's starting line-up.
"It's always good to score goals and for me, it is important to improve every season," Martins said,.

"I scored 17 goals last season, so this season, maybe I should be looking at doing better than that. Twenty goals is possible and I hope I can do that.

"Both Viduka and Owen are great players and it shows that the manager is serious about achieving something this season. But I want to play all the time and as long as I am scoring goals, I think I can make it hard for him not to play me.
"Even when I am not scoring, I can make myself a problem for the other team and allow my team-mates to score."

Posted by Publisher at 08:53 AM | Comments (0)

Yar’adua okays subsidy for pilgrims... says this year’s final

PRESIDENT Umaru Musa Yar-adua yesterday reversed former President Obasanjo’s removal of pilgrimage subsidy, saying that pilgrims must enjoy it again this year as government already approved concessionary exchange rate of N120 per one dollar for this year’s pilgrims.

From KABIRU YUSUF, Abuja
The Minister of Information and Communication, Mr. John Odey who disclosed this yesterday after the first Federal Executive Council meeting, further said government’s decision was necessary so as to give all (Muslim and Christian) intending pilgrims the chance to prepare their minds for the 2008 when the subsidy will be finally removed.
He pointed out that the subsidy enjoyed by both Christian and Muslim pilgrims will end with the 2007 pilgrimage, adding that this is so, in order to ensure that only those who can afford to embark on pilgrimage do so as it was a purely religious matter.
Mr. Odey explained that, the decision by government to scrap the concessionary exchange rate was to ensure that pilgrimage remains a purely religious matter and only those who can afford it embark on the exercise.
He added that: “The decision of government in doing this is in line with the religious doctrine. For you to go on Hajj, it is if you can afford it. The decision is also for effective and efficient management of the scarce resources now.”
The minister while stating that though the subsidy will be completely removed by 2008, he also said government was taking other measures to ensure that pilgrims have a safe and easy passage to observing their religious obligation.
In his words “the government is funding the structure and other opportunities that will facilitate safe and easy arrangement for this pilgrimage, so the issue of subsidy is not the only area where government is obviously giving considerations.
“The issue of subsidy as it pertains to travel is becoming a great issue of concern because government is receiving requests for concessionary exchange rates in so many areas that government cannot afford. Relevant government agencies were also directed to ensure that the decision of government on the stoppage of concessionary exchange rate was given adequate publicity,” he stated.
Other issues discussed at yesterday’s meeting, he said include reversing of former President Obasanjo’s decision to remove the supervision of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to the Presidency.
Minister of Information and Communications Mr Odey who was flanked by the minister of state in the ministry, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande, said that to determine this a seven-man committee to look into the proper status of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms was set up and it is to report to government within one week.
The committee which is headed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, he said has as its members the ministers of information and communication, defence, science and technology, national planning, Federal Capital Territory while the Head of Civil Service of the Federation is to advise the council whether the BPSR should be autonomous or domiciled in the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
According to the minister, the Bureau of Public Service Reforms was the agency responsible for the right sizing and down sizing in the federal civil service that saw the retrenchment of thousands of civil servants.
Mr. Odey who assured that government is determined to pay all those sacked from the civil service their entitlements, added that majority of them have not been paid their entitlements, several years after their disengagement.

Posted by Publisher at 08:49 AM | Comments (0)

Hajj: KNSG releases N420m for accommodation

KANO State Executive Council has approved the release of N420 million to secure an accommodation for the state’s pilgrims for the 2007 Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

By ALIYU YUSUF

The state’s commissioner of information, Barrister Haruna Isah Dederi disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the executive council’s meeting.
Barrister Dederi said securing the accommodation is part of the government effort in easing the suffering of the pilgrims during the yearly Hajj operations, as convenient and reasonable accommodation near the Haram will be secured.
He added that in the government’s determined efforts to provide meaningful projects in the state, the sum of N79,561,000 was approved by the council for the construction of two feeder roads in Madobi and Bichi local government council areas.
The road in Madobi local government which is to consume the sum of N46,616,767,27k will start from Madobi-Kubarachi village while that in Bichi local government is to start from Kantakara-Yar’tsamiya at the cost of N32,384,793.73k respectively.
The commissioner further explained that the council has approved the purchase of government lodge at No 7 Kassimu Akemode Street, Victoria Island, Lagos at the cost of N79,500,000.
He then dismissed speculations that the state had earlier sold its house on Plot 122B Bishop Oluwole Street in Lagos, saying that the house was only leased through the state leasing committee at the cost of N48 million.
According to him, the N48 million realized from the lease of the house will be part of the money to be used for the purchase of the government lodge at Victoria Island.
Barrister Dederi also revealed that the council has approved the release of N44,477,870 for the payment of compensation in respect of the road construction of Dorayi-‘Yamadawa-Gwarzo Road in the state metropolis.
He added that the on-going road project was on a stand still as there was a delay in the payment of compensation to the affected populace, urging them to vacate and allow the work to progress as soon as they collected their compensation which will be released with immediate effect by the state ministry of finance.

Posted by Publisher at 08:48 AM | Comments (0)

... appoints committee on IPS

IN its desire to meet the yearnings and aspirations of Kano citizens with regard to the provision of Independent Power Supply the state governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has approved the appointment of a 10-man committee on energy.

This was contained in a press release issued yesterday and signed by Kabiru Salisu Koki, press secretary to Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
The committee which has Professor Abdu Salihi as chairman, has the managing director, water board, managing director, rural electricity board and a representative from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) as members.
Other members of the committee are Engr. Atiku A. Ahmad of the Kano University of Technology Wudil, Engr. Balarabe Abdullahi of the state ministry of works, Abdullahi Yunusa of the Kano state Polytechnic, while Barrister Sunusi Salisu Aliyu will serve as the secretary of the committee.
The committee will be inaugurated on a date to be announced later, the release concluded.

Posted by Publisher at 08:47 AM | Comments (0)

ICPC beams searchlight on public servants

The ICPC has turned its searchlight on public servants in an effort to stamp out corruption in the service.

The Commission’s Resident Consultant, Mr Folu Olamiti, made the remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja.
He said any public officer found to have been used by politicians to perpetrate corruption would be prosecuted.
Olamiti said that most of the governors indicted for corruption used public officers to loot the treasury of their states.
“The only way to stop the tendency is to ensure that the affected officers are punished.
“Serving governors with immunity use public officers to loot government treasury, in that case they must be held accountable for the governor’s action.
“The fight must involve both the small and the big,’’ he said.
Olamiti added that punishment of such officers would serve as deterrent to others.
He said the Commission had directed the various ministries and other agencies to set up anti-corruption units in a bid to fight the scourge.
According to him, the strategy is to enlighten those officials who claim ignorance of their corrupt act during trial.
“Ignorance is no excuse in law,’’ Olamiti added.

Posted by Publisher at 08:46 AM | Comments (0)

Nigeria, Germany to strengthen ties

Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Minister of Foreign Affairs, says Germany will strengthen bilateral relations with Nigeria, especially in trade and culture.

Steinmeier, who is on a two-day visit to Nigeria, made the announcement yesterday in Abuja when he visited the minister of state for foreign affairs.
He said Germany was examining how to increase its companies’ interests in Nigeria.
He said when President Umar Yar’adua visited Germany, both countries discussed a number of issues, including renewable energy and global environmental protection.
He explained that German’s interest in establishing an efficient and sustainable programme on renewable energies could be of interest to Nigeria.
On cultural ties, he said the German Cultural Institute had trained many Nigerians and added that there had been exchanges of artistes by the countries.
“Later today we will also be paying tributes to some Nigerian students who have done well in Germany,’’ he said.
Amb. Bagudu Hirse, the second Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said the visit would further strengthen bilateral ties in trade and disease control with Nigeria.
He said ties between Nigeria and Germany had been facilitated and maintained through high-level interactions.
Hirse noted that German government had continued to demonstrate support for Africa and efforts of African leaders toward the development of the continent.
The minister will leave Nigeria for Ghana on Thursday after meeting with President Yar’adua.

Posted by Publisher at 08:46 AM | Comments (0)

Orji Kalu freed from prison •Nnamani knows fate today

DETAINED former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, yesterday regained his freedom, even as he insisted that his "will is not broken."

MALACHY UZENDU, Abuja and KALU OKWARA, Lagos

He had been admitted to bail by a federal high court sitting in Abuja last week but had to wait for the bail condition to be met.

He was released from the Kuje medium prison, Abuja at about 2.30 pm yesterday.

The embattled ex-governor was arraigned along with his counterparts from Plateau and Jigawa states, Joshua Dariye and Saminu Turaki, respectively, before Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He was arraigned on a 107-count charge, bordering on alleged corrupt enrichment and money laundering to the tune of N3.4 billion.

Confirming his release from the prison yesterday, his media adviser, Iyke Ekeoma in a statement, said the former governor had fulfilled all the bail conditions.

According to Ekeoma, the ex-governor, despite his travails, reaffirmed his faith in God and the judicial process in Nigeria, stressing that he did not bear any grudge against anybody over what he was passing through.

"Former governor Kalu described his travails as a means of strengthening democracy in the country. He said democracy in Nigeria must be nurtured for the benefit of the people, stressing that one must pay a certain price for leaderhip," Ekeoma said.

He, added that the former governor expressed gratitude to Nigerians, who through prayers, repeated visits and goodwill, extended their solidarity to him while in prison custody.

Efforts by the former governor and two others to secure their temporary freedom since last weekend when bail was granted had not been successful due to the stringent conditions attached.

However, on Tuesday, former minister of state for foreign affairs, Dubem Onyia personally went to the federal high court to sign necessary documents that led to Kalu stepping into freedom.

Onyia as well as Sen. Uche Chukwumerije (PPA-Abia North) and two unidentified traditional rulers from his state, signed the necessary court documents and provided the needed funds and other particulars.

Onyia had gone to the court premises at about 10 a.m. Tuesday and told our reporter that he was in the court to submit all documents required of him to secure Kalu’s freedom.

But having satisfied these conditions, Kalu, sources said, could not step into freedom on Tuesday as officials who were to sign the relevant documents were said to have closed for the day as at late Tuesday evening when a close aide to Kalu confirmed the development.

However, the release order from the court was said to have been issued for the ex-governor early yesterday morning, leading to efforts to get the relevant interior ministry officials, particularly the Nigerian Prisons Service officials to perform their part of the official rituals to consummate his release.

On hand to receive Kalu were some of his political associates including Onyia, Chukwumerije and a host of men and women politicians who came in their numbers.

Security had been beefed up at the prison, with stern-looking policemen and prison officials thoroughly scrutinizing visitors and keeping majority of the people who came to the place at bay.

Justice Murtala-Nyako who granted the bail stipulated last week that the bail was in the sum of N100 million for himself and each of his sureties who in addition, are to provide bank bonds in the like sum.

She also ordered that the sureties must have evidence of their tax Payment Certificate from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for three consecutive years, which must have been paid as and when due.

Besides, the former governor is to depose to a sworn affidavit stating the number of all countries he obtained its citizenship and to deposit all passports connected with those countries with the court.

He is also to provide two traditional rulers and to deposit his (Kalu) three recent passport photographs with the court.

Aside form these conditions, Kalu was directed to be reporting to the EFCC weekly and he is not to travel out of the FHC jurisdiction without the permission of the court.

Posted by Publisher at 08:44 AM | Comments (0)

Fashola predicts supplementary budget next week

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state will next week present a supplementary budget proposal to the state House of Assembly (LAHA), for the smooth take-off of his administration.

MANSUR OLADUNJOYE

According to the commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, the budget proposal the amount of which was not disclosed, if approved, would be expended on infrastructural development in order to meet the yearnings of the teeming population of the state.

Bamidele who disclosed this to newsmen after the weekly Executive Council meeting said the ministry of budget and economic planning would work closely with the lawmakers for hitch-free deliberations and eventual passage of the proposal.

"The executive arm would next week send the budget proposal to the lawmakers for ratification after the ministry of budget and economic planning might have concluded tabulating the actual amount needed to run the state’s affairs for the next five months.

"The ministry of budget and planning is still working on it. We will in due course let you know the exact amount that we are sending to the assembly and we want to assure you that the new government in the state would do all its best to satisfy the citizenry. This is just an estimate approved by the Exco, the ministry of budget and planning will work with the state assembly and give a concrete figure", he said.

Bamidele added that as part of the developmental projects, the executive council also approved the rehabilitation of 2,500 classrooms as well as the construction of additional 5,000 classrooms to ease the congestion in Lagos schools at the cost of N27. 25billion.

He said that the Fashola’s regime would embark on a 25-year mortgage scheme for low income earners, saying, "The payment of the housing loans will be spread over 25 years, with the state civil servants accorded priority of being the first set of beneficiaries."

Posted by Publisher at 08:43 AM | Comments (0)

Iwuanyanwu: Nobody can take Obasanjo’s place

Member, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has faulted reports in the Daily Sun and Daily Trust newspapers which claimed he described former President Olusegun Obasanjo as "powerless" and "irrelevant" in the scheme of things.

He said the headlines of the reports were deliberately designed to cause disaffection and put a wedge between him and Chief Obasanjo.

Chief Iwuanyanwu said his relationship with the former President who he is still in contact with, was such that could not be destroyed by persons who have agenda they could barely conceal.

The PDP top brass said it would be illogical for him to dismiss the leadership of the very critical organ of the party of which he is a member as powerless and irrelevant, adding that it would amount to cutting his nose to spite his face.

A statement issued in Abuja yesterday by Chief Iwuanyanwu reads in part: "My attention has been drawn to publications in the Daily Sun newspapers and Daily Trust of August 1, 2007 which carried headlines that distorted my statement to the press at the State House, Abuja and my comments as follows:

"In a question from one of the press men, an insinuation was made that Obasanjo’s position as the chairman, Board of Trustees was scaring away estranged members who wanted to reconcile and return to the party and that some of those people have said that as long as Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is the chairman, Board of Trustees, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) they will not join the PDP. I refuted the allegation as completely false and unfounded.

"In a further comment from the press over the leadership of the PDP, I stated that the leader of the party is Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua - the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, while the chairman of the party is Senator Ahmadu Ali.

"The insinuation that I said Obasanjo is powerless or irrelevant is uncalled for and I never used such words. It is absolutely unfair on the part of these newspapers to have associated me with such a statement.

"To the contrary, I whole heartedly support Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s election as the chairman of Board of Trustees of our great party; a position which he deserves in view of the leadership he provided for Nigeria not only in the past eight years but also as a Military Head of State. A distinguished personality who has contributed immensely to the stability and growth of Nigeria and its democracy.

"I was present at all the meetings where the constitutional amendment that made Chief Olusegun Obasanjo the chairman, Board of Trustees was tabled. I attended the National Executive Council meeting where the draft amendment was approved. I attended the party’s National Convention where the amended constitution was ratified.

"As far as I am concerned, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s election as the chairman, Board of Trustees was proper and in accordance with the party’s constitution. I want to assure our great leader Obasanjo that we appreciate his services to the country and will never participate in casting any aspersions on his capability.

Posted by Publisher at 08:41 AM | Comments (0)

Jonathan: fuss over assets declaration

There is no doubt that the flurry of criticisms from certain quarters that trailed the inability of vice president Goodluck Jonathan to declare publicly his assets, the example having been set by his boss, compelled him to rush down to his state base with a view of dousing the tension.

Kalu Okwara

The visit might have been made more imperative, given that the criticism coming on the heels of widespread allegations that he did not only leave Bayelsa State’s treasury empty but also in debt.

As a consequence, he flew into his Izon Kingdom at the weekend in a bid to put the record straight. The vice president was reported to have expressed his willingness to resign if that would make the much eluded development get to Bayelsa State.

Although he accepted that he left some liabilities for his successor, Chief Timipre Sylva, Dr. Jonathan insisted that he did not leave such huge debt portfolio of either N42 billion or N62 billion as was reported in some section of the media.

"I was in government for only 16 months, and I do not want to mention the amount (left). Whether anybody agrees or not, the records are there. In Bayelsa State, it is late for me to mention what I left. It is even difficult to know whether the state is distressed because it would have been difficult to pay salaries but we did. The present governor is doing well, and with the way he is going, he will go better," he was quoted to have told newsmen at Yenogoa.

Remarkably, Governor Sylva has been hesitant at revealing the level of indebtedness that he inherited from his predecessor, insisting that governance is a continuum where projects embarked upon by one administration could be completed by another. He however acknowledged he inherited N20 billion in investment bonds.

Analysts however argue that the criticisms against the vice president may not be for nothing.

According them, his predecessor having laid the example of making his assets and liabilities public, other public officers that share his vision and style of leadership ought to follow suit and the vice president being his closest ally in steering the ship of the nation should be expected to bring his material worth to the public domain.

Although, Dr. Jonathan has argued that he has fulfilled the constitutional requirement of filling the necessary forms with the Code of Conduct Bureau, some analysts believe that the pace set by his boss has made Jonathan’s public declaration of his assets a moral burden.

But the vice president has clarified that he has on five occasions declared his assets as the constitution demands, first in 1999 as deputy governor; second in 2003 after leaving office, third in 2003 again after his reelection as deputy governor; fourth 2005 as governor, and lastly 2007 as vice president.

Those that feel that public declaration of assets would have been better hinge their arguments on the alleged massive corruption that has remained a permanent feature of government institutions in Nigerian.

They contend that since information is still difficult to get from government institutions, public declaration of assets would enable the public to become effective allies to the government’s agencies saddled with the responsibility of fighting corruption.

However, some analysts note that the mounting criticisms against the vice president are coming from his political foes who have been struggling to dislodge his grip from the political machinery of the state. They observe that due to the circumstances that thrust him up as governor, there have been some persistent efforts by some groups to incapacitate him politically.

They recall that it was ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo’s emergency declaration threat that thawed the resoluteness of Jonathan who initially refused to be talked into the removal of his boss, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, in 2005 so as to be sworn in as the governor.

When that was achieved, the question of who would become the governor in 2007 threw up another political intrigues, as those opposed Alamieyeseigha did not want Jonathan to return to the government house.

Eventually when he won the primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the schism became bigger with Chief Timi Alaibe leading the anti-Jonathan group. However, when Chief Obasanjo anointed him to be the vice president, the equation changed. While his deputy, Chief Peremobowei Ebebi who had played a leading role in the removal of Alamiey