Lagos Assembly tackles
agency's CEO over budget
Nigerians can't trust Jonathan
again – CPC
Reps shift PIB hearing to
2013, blame budget
Tough time awaits reinstated
Bayelsa LG chairmen
Chime attended 17 events in
five years – Investigation
Facebook friends slam
Jonathan over Christmas
message
Why recruitment was not
advertised – Immigration
We've forgiven Boko Haram –
Catholic
Tight security at FCT, Jos
church services
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
News Headlines from the Vanguard
Gunmen shoot LG Chairman in
Kano
Emir of Dukku dies at 91
Police on top of crime
situation in Zamfara – CP
2012 bad year for Nigeria –
Gov Elechi
Christmas: Not of Christ, but
Baal worship!
A mansion to match 'the
Personality' of our homeless
Vice President
Give thanks
Why Nigerians think I'm slow –
President Jonathan
XMAS: 94 die in road crashes
in 5 days – FRSC
Osu counsels Christians on
Christmas festivity
Kano
Emir of Dukku dies at 91
Police on top of crime
situation in Zamfara – CP
2012 bad year for Nigeria –
Gov Elechi
Christmas: Not of Christ, but
Baal worship!
A mansion to match 'the
Personality' of our homeless
Vice President
Give thanks
Why Nigerians think I'm slow –
President Jonathan
XMAS: 94 die in road crashes
in 5 days – FRSC
Osu counsels Christians on
Christmas festivity
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
BOXING DAY!
Historians say the holiday
developed because servants
were required to work on
Christmas Day, but took the
following day off. As servants
prepared to leave to visit their
families, their employers would
present them with gift boxes.
Despite its name, Boxing Day,
which is celebrated on December
26 in Great Britain, has nothing
to do with pugilistic competition.
Nor is it a day for people to
return unwanted Christmas
presents. While the exact origins
of the holiday are obscure, it is
likely that Boxing Day began in
England during the Middle Ages.
Some historians say the holiday
developed because servants
were required to work on
Christmas Day, but took the
following day off. As servants
prepared to leave to visit their
families, their employers would
present them with gift boxes.
Church Alms Boxes
Another theory is that the boxes
placed in churches where
parishioners deposited coins for
the poor were opened and the
contents distributed on
December 26, which is also the
Feast of St. Stephen.
As time went by, Boxing Day gift
giving expanded to include those
who had rendered a service
during the previous year. This
tradition survives today as
people give presents to
tradesmen, mail carriers,
doormen, porters, and others
who have helped them.
The Day after Christmas
Boxing Day is December 26, the
day after Christmas, and is
celebrated in Great Britain and in
most areas settled by the English
(the U.S. is the major exception),
including Canada, Australia, and
New Zealand.
Bank Holidays
Boxing Day is just one of the
British bank holidays recognized
since 1871 that are observed by
banks, government offices, and
the post office. The others
include Christmas, Good Friday,
Easter, Whitmonday (the day
after Pentecost), and the banking
holiday on the last Monday in
August.
St. Stephen's Martyrdom
The Feast of St. Stephen also
takes place on December 26. St.
Stephen was one of the seven
original deacons of the Christian
Church who were ordained by
the Apostles to care for widows
and the poor. For the success of
his preaching and his devotion
to Christ, St. Stephen was stoned
to death by a mob. As he died, he
begged God not to punish his
killers.
developed because servants
were required to work on
Christmas Day, but took the
following day off. As servants
prepared to leave to visit their
families, their employers would
present them with gift boxes.
Despite its name, Boxing Day,
which is celebrated on December
26 in Great Britain, has nothing
to do with pugilistic competition.
Nor is it a day for people to
return unwanted Christmas
presents. While the exact origins
of the holiday are obscure, it is
likely that Boxing Day began in
England during the Middle Ages.
Some historians say the holiday
developed because servants
were required to work on
Christmas Day, but took the
following day off. As servants
prepared to leave to visit their
families, their employers would
present them with gift boxes.
Church Alms Boxes
Another theory is that the boxes
placed in churches where
parishioners deposited coins for
the poor were opened and the
contents distributed on
December 26, which is also the
Feast of St. Stephen.
As time went by, Boxing Day gift
giving expanded to include those
who had rendered a service
during the previous year. This
tradition survives today as
people give presents to
tradesmen, mail carriers,
doormen, porters, and others
who have helped them.
The Day after Christmas
Boxing Day is December 26, the
day after Christmas, and is
celebrated in Great Britain and in
most areas settled by the English
(the U.S. is the major exception),
including Canada, Australia, and
New Zealand.
Bank Holidays
Boxing Day is just one of the
British bank holidays recognized
since 1871 that are observed by
banks, government offices, and
the post office. The others
include Christmas, Good Friday,
Easter, Whitmonday (the day
after Pentecost), and the banking
holiday on the last Monday in
August.
St. Stephen's Martyrdom
The Feast of St. Stephen also
takes place on December 26. St.
Stephen was one of the seven
original deacons of the Christian
Church who were ordained by
the Apostles to care for widows
and the poor. For the success of
his preaching and his devotion
to Christ, St. Stephen was stoned
to death by a mob. As he died, he
begged God not to punish his
killers.
Gunmen kill six at Christmaschurch service in Yobe
KANO(AFP) – Gunmen
attacked a church in
northern Nigeria during a
midnight mass on Christmas
Eve, killing six people
including the pastor, before
setting the building ablaze,
residents and police said
Tuesday.
"A group of gunmen came
into the village at midnight
and went straight to the
church," said Usman Mansir,
a resident of Peri village near
Potiskum, the economic
capital of Yobe state.
"They opened fire on them,
killing the pastor and five
worshippers. They then set
fire to the church," he added,
specifying that a branch of
the Evangelical Church of
West Africa (ECWA) was
targetted.
A senior police official in
Yobe confirmed the details to
AFP, but declined to be
named.
Yobe police chief Sanusi
Rufa'i said "this is a security
issue" and refused to
comment further.
Boko Haram Islamists have
carried out several attacks in
Yobe, which borders the
state of Maiduguri, where
the insurgent group is
based.
The Islamists are blamed for
killing hundreds of people in
northern Nigeria since 2009.
It was not clear who was
behind the latest violence.
While Yobe's population is
overwhelmingly Muslim, the
commercial hub of Potiskum
has a significant Christian
minority. Peri is just two
kilometres outside the city.
attacked a church in
northern Nigeria during a
midnight mass on Christmas
Eve, killing six people
including the pastor, before
setting the building ablaze,
residents and police said
Tuesday.
"A group of gunmen came
into the village at midnight
and went straight to the
church," said Usman Mansir,
a resident of Peri village near
Potiskum, the economic
capital of Yobe state.
"They opened fire on them,
killing the pastor and five
worshippers. They then set
fire to the church," he added,
specifying that a branch of
the Evangelical Church of
West Africa (ECWA) was
targetted.
A senior police official in
Yobe confirmed the details to
AFP, but declined to be
named.
Yobe police chief Sanusi
Rufa'i said "this is a security
issue" and refused to
comment further.
Boko Haram Islamists have
carried out several attacks in
Yobe, which borders the
state of Maiduguri, where
the insurgent group is
based.
The Islamists are blamed for
killing hundreds of people in
northern Nigeria since 2009.
It was not clear who was
behind the latest violence.
While Yobe's population is
overwhelmingly Muslim, the
commercial hub of Potiskum
has a significant Christian
minority. Peri is just two
kilometres outside the city.
Egypt constitution passedwith 63.8% support: official
CAIRO (AFP) – Egypt's
constitution was passed
with 63.8 percent voter
support in the two-stage
referendum that ended last
weekend, the national
electoral commission said on
Tuesday.
Turnout was 32.9 percent of
Egypt's total 52 million
voters, the president of the
commission, Samir Abul
Maati, told a news
conference in Cairo.
The figures confirmed those
given by President Mohamed
Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood,
which had backed the new
charter.
Abul Maati rejected
opposition claims that fake
judges supervised some of
the polling — one of several
allegations of polling fraud
the opposition National
Salvation Front made after
each leg of the referendum
held December 15 and 22.
The charter, and Morsi's
determination to hold the
referendum without building
consensus, provoked weeks
of protests, some of which
turned violent.
The Front has said it will not
cease its struggle, raising the
prospect of prolonged
instability in the Arab world's
most populous nation.
constitution was passed
with 63.8 percent voter
support in the two-stage
referendum that ended last
weekend, the national
electoral commission said on
Tuesday.
Turnout was 32.9 percent of
Egypt's total 52 million
voters, the president of the
commission, Samir Abul
Maati, told a news
conference in Cairo.
The figures confirmed those
given by President Mohamed
Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood,
which had backed the new
charter.
Abul Maati rejected
opposition claims that fake
judges supervised some of
the polling — one of several
allegations of polling fraud
the opposition National
Salvation Front made after
each leg of the referendum
held December 15 and 22.
The charter, and Morsi's
determination to hold the
referendum without building
consensus, provoked weeks
of protests, some of which
turned violent.
The Front has said it will not
cease its struggle, raising the
prospect of prolonged
instability in the Arab world's
most populous nation.
Man commits suicide inprotest
SIDI BOUZID, Tunisia (AFP) – A
young unemployed teenager
has killed himself in Sidi
Bouzid, the marginalised
town in central Tunisia
where the country's
revolution erupted two years
ago, witnesses said on
Tuesday.
Wissem Hani, 17, died on
Sunday from a massive
electric shock after clinging
to an electric pylon in protest
at his bleak circumstances,
the witnesses told an AFP
journalist.
The number of people
committing suicide or
attempting to take their own
lives has multiplied since a
young Tunisian street vendor
set himself on fire on
December 17, 2010, in a
drastic act of protest against
police harassment.
Mohamed Bouazizi's death
ignited a mass uprising that
toppled ex-dictator Zine El
Abidine Ben Ali the following
month and touched off the
Arab Spring.
Limited economic prospects,
especially in the neglected
interior, were key factors
behind Tunisia's revolution.
Two years on, nearly a
quarter of the population
lives in poverty, with
unemployment at around 18
percent.
Last week in Sidi Bouzid,
protesters angry at the
government's failure to
improve living standards
hurled rocks at President
Moncef Marzouki after a
speech he gave to mark the
anniversary of the uprising.
young unemployed teenager
has killed himself in Sidi
Bouzid, the marginalised
town in central Tunisia
where the country's
revolution erupted two years
ago, witnesses said on
Tuesday.
Wissem Hani, 17, died on
Sunday from a massive
electric shock after clinging
to an electric pylon in protest
at his bleak circumstances,
the witnesses told an AFP
journalist.
The number of people
committing suicide or
attempting to take their own
lives has multiplied since a
young Tunisian street vendor
set himself on fire on
December 17, 2010, in a
drastic act of protest against
police harassment.
Mohamed Bouazizi's death
ignited a mass uprising that
toppled ex-dictator Zine El
Abidine Ben Ali the following
month and touched off the
Arab Spring.
Limited economic prospects,
especially in the neglected
interior, were key factors
behind Tunisia's revolution.
Two years on, nearly a
quarter of the population
lives in poverty, with
unemployment at around 18
percent.
Last week in Sidi Bouzid,
protesters angry at the
government's failure to
improve living standards
hurled rocks at President
Moncef Marzouki after a
speech he gave to mark the
anniversary of the uprising.
Queen Elizabeth II givesfirst 3D Christmas broadcast
LONDON (AFP) – Queen
Elizabeth II gave thanks on
Tuesday for Britain's year of
Olympic and diamond jubilee
festivities, in her first
Christmas message to the
Commonwealth broadcast in
3D.
The 86-year-old monarch
said it had been "humbling"
to see the vast crowds
joining celebrations marking
her 60th year on the throne
and paid tribute to the
volunteers, as well as the
athletes, who took part in
the London Olympics.
"The success of these great
festivals depended to an
enormous degree upon the
dedication and effort of an
army of volunteers," she said.
"All those who saw the
achievement and courage at
the Olympic and Paralympic
Games were further inspired
by the skill, dedication,
training and teamwork of
our athletes."
Everyone was able to share
in the "excitement and
drama" of the Games, she
added.
The monarch formally
opened the Games in
dramatic fashion herself,
after taking part in a James
Bond scene which ended
with the pair seemingly
parachuting down to the
Olympic Stadium from a
helicopter.
Her pre-recorded Christmas
message was broadcast
across Britain and all 15
Commonwealth realms
where she is head of state —
although just a small
minority have access to the
3D-television facility.
The 3D broadcast comes
exactly 80 years after the
queen's father, king George
V, gave the first royal
Christmas broadcast to the
Commonwealth by radio.
Behind-the-scenes
photographs showed the
queen beaming as she
previewed the footage,
wearing customised 3D
glasses marked with a "Q" in
diamante studs.
Earlier Tuesday, the monarch
joined other British royals for
a Christmas church service
on her Sandringham estate
in Norfolk, eastern England
— but Prince William and his
pregnant wife Catherine
were absent.
William and the former Kate
Middleton, who is recovering
from severe morning
sickness that saw her
hospitalised for four days
earlier this month, broke
with tradition to spend
Christmas Day with her family
rather than the royals.
The queen had missed
church on Sunday due to a
cold but appeared in good
spirits as she arrived for the
morning service at St Mary
Magdalene Church wearing a
turquoise coat dress and
matching hat.
Her 91-year-old husband
Prince Philip, who spent last
Christmas in hospital
following a heart scare, was
also at church along with
heir to the throne Prince
Charles and his wife Camilla.
The royals traditionally spend
Christmas at Sandringham,
but William's younger
brother Prince Harry will also
be absent from this year's
festivities as he serves in
Afghanistan as an Apache
helicopter pilot.
William and Kate's office at St
James's Palace said the
couple, whose first child will
be third-in-line to the British
throne, would visit
Sandringham later in the
holidays.
The queen and Prince Philip
are understood to have
approved their grandson's
decision to spend Christmas
Day with his parents-in-law,
Michael and Carole Middleton,
who run a party supplies
business.
Kate's sister Pippa and
brother James were also
expected to spend the day at
the Middleton family home in
Bucklebury, a village west of
London.
(vanguardng)
Elizabeth II gave thanks on
Tuesday for Britain's year of
Olympic and diamond jubilee
festivities, in her first
Christmas message to the
Commonwealth broadcast in
3D.
The 86-year-old monarch
said it had been "humbling"
to see the vast crowds
joining celebrations marking
her 60th year on the throne
and paid tribute to the
volunteers, as well as the
athletes, who took part in
the London Olympics.
"The success of these great
festivals depended to an
enormous degree upon the
dedication and effort of an
army of volunteers," she said.
"All those who saw the
achievement and courage at
the Olympic and Paralympic
Games were further inspired
by the skill, dedication,
training and teamwork of
our athletes."
Everyone was able to share
in the "excitement and
drama" of the Games, she
added.
The monarch formally
opened the Games in
dramatic fashion herself,
after taking part in a James
Bond scene which ended
with the pair seemingly
parachuting down to the
Olympic Stadium from a
helicopter.
Her pre-recorded Christmas
message was broadcast
across Britain and all 15
Commonwealth realms
where she is head of state —
although just a small
minority have access to the
3D-television facility.
The 3D broadcast comes
exactly 80 years after the
queen's father, king George
V, gave the first royal
Christmas broadcast to the
Commonwealth by radio.
Behind-the-scenes
photographs showed the
queen beaming as she
previewed the footage,
wearing customised 3D
glasses marked with a "Q" in
diamante studs.
Earlier Tuesday, the monarch
joined other British royals for
a Christmas church service
on her Sandringham estate
in Norfolk, eastern England
— but Prince William and his
pregnant wife Catherine
were absent.
William and the former Kate
Middleton, who is recovering
from severe morning
sickness that saw her
hospitalised for four days
earlier this month, broke
with tradition to spend
Christmas Day with her family
rather than the royals.
The queen had missed
church on Sunday due to a
cold but appeared in good
spirits as she arrived for the
morning service at St Mary
Magdalene Church wearing a
turquoise coat dress and
matching hat.
Her 91-year-old husband
Prince Philip, who spent last
Christmas in hospital
following a heart scare, was
also at church along with
heir to the throne Prince
Charles and his wife Camilla.
The royals traditionally spend
Christmas at Sandringham,
but William's younger
brother Prince Harry will also
be absent from this year's
festivities as he serves in
Afghanistan as an Apache
helicopter pilot.
William and Kate's office at St
James's Palace said the
couple, whose first child will
be third-in-line to the British
throne, would visit
Sandringham later in the
holidays.
The queen and Prince Philip
are understood to have
approved their grandson's
decision to spend Christmas
Day with his parents-in-law,
Michael and Carole Middleton,
who run a party supplies
business.
Kate's sister Pippa and
brother James were also
expected to spend the day at
the Middleton family home in
Bucklebury, a village west of
London.
(vanguardng)
In the spirit of Christmas
Are you in the Spirit of the Season?
Today is the 25th day of December, a day like no other in each year.
It is a day of we commemorate the birth of the Saviour of the world,
Jesus Christ.
As we mark this beautiful day, it is worthy to note that it is not
only a day to eat and drink but also to throw a reflection on our
lives. We are celebrating someone's birth!
How have the life of this celebrant affected you? Have you done your
best to be like him? These and many other questions should be pondered
upon as we mark this day.
It is noteworthy to remember that Christ's live on earth was not
characterised with eating, drinking, partying and all what not, He
lived an examplaly life which should be emulated.
As you mark today, I urge you to remember the Reason for the Season,
Christ who is the Author and Finisher of our Faith.
Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year in advance!
Today is the 25th day of December, a day like no other in each year.
It is a day of we commemorate the birth of the Saviour of the world,
Jesus Christ.
As we mark this beautiful day, it is worthy to note that it is not
only a day to eat and drink but also to throw a reflection on our
lives. We are celebrating someone's birth!
How have the life of this celebrant affected you? Have you done your
best to be like him? These and many other questions should be pondered
upon as we mark this day.
It is noteworthy to remember that Christ's live on earth was not
characterised with eating, drinking, partying and all what not, He
lived an examplaly life which should be emulated.
As you mark today, I urge you to remember the Reason for the Season,
Christ who is the Author and Finisher of our Faith.
Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year in advance!
Monday, December 24, 2012
Notorious B.I.G. autopsy released, 15 years after his death
The Los Angeles County
Coroner's Office released
the autopsy report on
Christopher Wallace, aka
The Notorious B.I.G. or
Biggie Smalls, on Friday,
more than 15 years after
the rapper was shot to
death.
The 23-page report offers
fresh details about his death,
which remains one of the
city's best-known unsolved
homicides.
Wallace, 24, was shot and
killed early on March 9, 1997,
as he was leaving a music
industry party. He was riding
in the front passenger seat
of a Chevrolet Suburban
when another vehicle pulled
up beside his and someone
opened fire.
Wallace was shot four times,
according to the autopsy
report.
The fatal bullet entered his
right hip and ripped through
several organs, including his
liver, heart and lung. The
other bullets struck Wallace
in his left forearm, his back
and his left thigh.
He was taken to Cedars-Sinai
Medical Center, where he
arrived in full cardiac arrest
and was pronounced dead
shortly after 1 a.m.
At the time of his death, he
had no drugs or alcohol in
his system. Wallace was 6
feet, 2 inches tall, weighed
395 pounds and had a
tattoo on his right forearm
that read: "The Lord is My
Light and my Salvation …"
His slaying has long stumped
investigators.
Los Angeles police and the
FBI both looked into the case
but made no arrests.
Wallace was killed just six
months after his former
friend and rap rival Tupac
Shakur was gunned down in
Las Vegas, leading some to
believe both shootings were
tied to a so-called rap war
between East Coast and West
Coast hip-hop artists and
their record companies.
Shakur recorded for Marion
"Suge" Knight's Los Angeles-
based Death Row Records,
while Wallace was signed
with New York-based Bad
Boy Entertainment.
Shakur's killing is also
unsolved.
Coroner's Office released
the autopsy report on
Christopher Wallace, aka
The Notorious B.I.G. or
Biggie Smalls, on Friday,
more than 15 years after
the rapper was shot to
death.
The 23-page report offers
fresh details about his death,
which remains one of the
city's best-known unsolved
homicides.
Wallace, 24, was shot and
killed early on March 9, 1997,
as he was leaving a music
industry party. He was riding
in the front passenger seat
of a Chevrolet Suburban
when another vehicle pulled
up beside his and someone
opened fire.
Wallace was shot four times,
according to the autopsy
report.
The fatal bullet entered his
right hip and ripped through
several organs, including his
liver, heart and lung. The
other bullets struck Wallace
in his left forearm, his back
and his left thigh.
He was taken to Cedars-Sinai
Medical Center, where he
arrived in full cardiac arrest
and was pronounced dead
shortly after 1 a.m.
At the time of his death, he
had no drugs or alcohol in
his system. Wallace was 6
feet, 2 inches tall, weighed
395 pounds and had a
tattoo on his right forearm
that read: "The Lord is My
Light and my Salvation …"
His slaying has long stumped
investigators.
Los Angeles police and the
FBI both looked into the case
but made no arrests.
Wallace was killed just six
months after his former
friend and rap rival Tupac
Shakur was gunned down in
Las Vegas, leading some to
believe both shootings were
tied to a so-called rap war
between East Coast and West
Coast hip-hop artists and
their record companies.
Shakur recorded for Marion
"Suge" Knight's Los Angeles-
based Death Row Records,
while Wallace was signed
with New York-based Bad
Boy Entertainment.
Shakur's killing is also
unsolved.
Dead Passenger Sitting Upright Found Riding In Underground Train
A 65-year-old man who
boarded an underground
train in Germany died on his
seat. The man thought to be
sleeping while sitting
upright on a Berlin
underground train as it
cross-crossed the German
capital was actually dead,
police said on Sunday.
"It's tragic," a Berlin police
spokeswoman said. "We
don't know how long he
was sitting dead on the train
nor do we know the exact
cause of death yet. There are
no indications of foul play.
He seems to have died of
natural causes."
The man was found in the
U-8 underground train line
that runs all night at the
Weinmeisterstrasse station
at 5:45 a.m. when a rail
worker tried to wake the
man up by gently shaking
him. Medics were called in
but could only pronounce
the man dead.
A preliminary investigation
showed no indications of
the man being murdered. A
more detailed autopsy is
planned for Monday.
[Reuters]
boarded an underground
train in Germany died on his
seat. The man thought to be
sleeping while sitting
upright on a Berlin
underground train as it
cross-crossed the German
capital was actually dead,
police said on Sunday.
"It's tragic," a Berlin police
spokeswoman said. "We
don't know how long he
was sitting dead on the train
nor do we know the exact
cause of death yet. There are
no indications of foul play.
He seems to have died of
natural causes."
The man was found in the
U-8 underground train line
that runs all night at the
Weinmeisterstrasse station
at 5:45 a.m. when a rail
worker tried to wake the
man up by gently shaking
him. Medics were called in
but could only pronounce
the man dead.
A preliminary investigation
showed no indications of
the man being murdered. A
more detailed autopsy is
planned for Monday.
[Reuters]
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Yuletide: IG orders AIGS, CPsto beef up nationwidesecurity
Abuja - Inspector General of
Police Mohammed Abubakar,
on Sunday ordered a water-
tight 24-hour security for all
government installations and
strategic facilities nationwide
throughout the Christmas
and New Year celebrations.
Abubakar, who gave the
order in his Christmas
message, directed Assistant
Inspectors General of Police
(AIGs) and Commissioners of
Police in charge of the 12
Zonal, 36 state Commands
and the FCT to personally
take charge of the security.
He said that they should
ensure that other vulnerable
points including financial
houses, shopping malls,
motor parks, places of
worship and recreation
centres were adequately
protected before, during and
after the celebrations.
According to him, the
measure is to ensure a
crime-free Christmas and
enable holiday makers,
worshippers and the general
public carry out their
activities.
"In addition, Commanders of
Police Highway Patrol Teams
have been directed to ensure
that motorised patrols on
our highways targeted at
crime and accident
prevention are intensified to
ensure a safe, secure and
peaceful celebration.
"Police men deployed on our
highways have also been
directed to render necessary
assistance to travellers and
road users, especially
accident victims and those
who may suffer vehicular
break down,'' he said.
He warned highway patrol
officers to comport
themselves and act within
the confines of the law and
be firm.
Abubakar, however, enjoined
them to be polite, civil and
professional, and respect the
fundamental rights of the
citizens at all times.
Police Mohammed Abubakar,
on Sunday ordered a water-
tight 24-hour security for all
government installations and
strategic facilities nationwide
throughout the Christmas
and New Year celebrations.
Abubakar, who gave the
order in his Christmas
message, directed Assistant
Inspectors General of Police
(AIGs) and Commissioners of
Police in charge of the 12
Zonal, 36 state Commands
and the FCT to personally
take charge of the security.
He said that they should
ensure that other vulnerable
points including financial
houses, shopping malls,
motor parks, places of
worship and recreation
centres were adequately
protected before, during and
after the celebrations.
According to him, the
measure is to ensure a
crime-free Christmas and
enable holiday makers,
worshippers and the general
public carry out their
activities.
"In addition, Commanders of
Police Highway Patrol Teams
have been directed to ensure
that motorised patrols on
our highways targeted at
crime and accident
prevention are intensified to
ensure a safe, secure and
peaceful celebration.
"Police men deployed on our
highways have also been
directed to render necessary
assistance to travellers and
road users, especially
accident victims and those
who may suffer vehicular
break down,'' he said.
He warned highway patrol
officers to comport
themselves and act within
the confines of the law and
be firm.
Abubakar, however, enjoined
them to be polite, civil and
professional, and respect the
fundamental rights of the
citizens at all times.
I won’t miss Osaze, Martins,others, says Keshi
Abuja – Super Eagles Head
Coach, Stephen Keshi, says he
will not miss any player who
did not make the team's
provisional list for the 2013
Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)
.
Keshi disclosed this in an
interview on Sunday in
Abuja, in reaction to the
barrage of criticisms which
have trailed his list of 32
invited players.
The list was for the final
phase of camping in Faro,
Portugal for the competition,
scheduled to kick off on Jan.
19 in South Africa.
According to Keshi, the
omission of the likes of
Osaze Odemwingie and Taye
Taiwo was not intentional,
but for the good of the
country.
"We don't need Osaze right
now; that is all.
"He is not a bad player and
there is nothing personal
about it. It is just that at this
point in time, there are some
players that were not called
and we don't have anything
against them.
"We also did not invite
Obafemi Martins, why are
Nigerians not talking about
him?
"These players are not the
only Nigerians playing; this is
what we want for now.
"All we want for now from
Nigerians is to support the
players that are there in
prayers," Keshi said.
The former Togo and Mali
coach added that Martins
was not in the list because
he did not live up to
expectation when he was
given the opportunity to
prove his worth in the new
Eagles squad.
Keshi pointed out that he
was more comfortable
dealing with the players he
was familiar with.
Coach, Stephen Keshi, says he
will not miss any player who
did not make the team's
provisional list for the 2013
Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)
.
Keshi disclosed this in an
interview on Sunday in
Abuja, in reaction to the
barrage of criticisms which
have trailed his list of 32
invited players.
The list was for the final
phase of camping in Faro,
Portugal for the competition,
scheduled to kick off on Jan.
19 in South Africa.
According to Keshi, the
omission of the likes of
Osaze Odemwingie and Taye
Taiwo was not intentional,
but for the good of the
country.
"We don't need Osaze right
now; that is all.
"He is not a bad player and
there is nothing personal
about it. It is just that at this
point in time, there are some
players that were not called
and we don't have anything
against them.
"We also did not invite
Obafemi Martins, why are
Nigerians not talking about
him?
"These players are not the
only Nigerians playing; this is
what we want for now.
"All we want for now from
Nigerians is to support the
players that are there in
prayers," Keshi said.
The former Togo and Mali
coach added that Martins
was not in the list because
he did not live up to
expectation when he was
given the opportunity to
prove his worth in the new
Eagles squad.
Keshi pointed out that he
was more comfortable
dealing with the players he
was familiar with.
Terrorism: Police renewcalls on Borno residents togive vital information
Maiduguri – Police on Sunday
renewed calls on residents of
Borno to supply vital
information on suspected
criminals and terrorists
hideouts in the state.
Mr Ibrahim Leha the Deputy
Inspector General of Police
(DIG) in charge of
Operations, made the appeal
shortly after interacting with
the officers and men of the
police command in
Maiduguri.
Leha told newsmen that the
residents must cooperate
with the police if they
wished to overcome the
current security challenges
facing the state.
"We want the residents to
know that the police are
here to help fight criminals
and terrorists in the society.
But the police cannot
succeed in doing this
without the support and
cooperation of the people,"
he said.
Leha explained that the
police could not operate
successfully without the
people's help.
"People should know that
the police are their friends.
We must work together to
fight the criminals and
terrorists hiding among the
people," he said.
Leha, however,
acknowledged that the
police had recorded some
level of success in the state in
the fight against crime.
"I came here to see things
for myself in both Borno and
Yobe states. I must confess
that from what I saw, there
are lots of improvements in
the police fight against crime
in the states,'' he said.
Leha lamented that the
security challenges in the
state had almost crippled
social and economic life and
urged the people to team up
with the police and other
security agencies in their
quest to address the
problem.
He thanked other security
agents for their supports
and cooperation with the
police. (NAN)
renewed calls on residents of
Borno to supply vital
information on suspected
criminals and terrorists
hideouts in the state.
Mr Ibrahim Leha the Deputy
Inspector General of Police
(DIG) in charge of
Operations, made the appeal
shortly after interacting with
the officers and men of the
police command in
Maiduguri.
Leha told newsmen that the
residents must cooperate
with the police if they
wished to overcome the
current security challenges
facing the state.
"We want the residents to
know that the police are
here to help fight criminals
and terrorists in the society.
But the police cannot
succeed in doing this
without the support and
cooperation of the people,"
he said.
Leha explained that the
police could not operate
successfully without the
people's help.
"People should know that
the police are their friends.
We must work together to
fight the criminals and
terrorists hiding among the
people," he said.
Leha, however,
acknowledged that the
police had recorded some
level of success in the state in
the fight against crime.
"I came here to see things
for myself in both Borno and
Yobe states. I must confess
that from what I saw, there
are lots of improvements in
the police fight against crime
in the states,'' he said.
Leha lamented that the
security challenges in the
state had almost crippled
social and economic life and
urged the people to team up
with the police and other
security agencies in their
quest to address the
problem.
He thanked other security
agents for their supports
and cooperation with the
police. (NAN)
Journalist killed as Indiansprotest over student’sgang-rape
NEW DELHI, (AFP) – Police
shot dead a journalist
Sunday during a protest over
a sex assault on an actress in
northeast India as security
forces in New Delhi fired tear
gas at new demonstrations
over a student's gang-rape.
After the victim of last
Sunday's gang-rape in Delhi
began recounting her ordeal
to police, a wave of revulsion
over sex crimes spread to
the remote state of Manipur
where a protest was held
over the attempted rape of
the actress.
A police spokesman told AFP
that the 36-year-old
cameraman, who was
working for the national
Doordarshan network, was
"killed in police firing" while
covering a protest that
turned violent in the town of
Imphal.
Police have yet to arrest
anyone over the December
18 assault on the 22-year-old
actress and model known as
Momoko, who has waived
her right to anonymity and
who has appeared on
television to demand justice.
Momoko has said that a local
militant dragged her away
during a concert last week
and then tried to rape her
before she managed to fight
him off and flee.
"We want a strong message
to be sent that perpetrators
of such crimes have no place
in our society," said Bala
Bedi, a woman rights
activists in Imphal who took
part in Sunday's protest.
India has seen a string of
protests across the country
in the wake of the Delhi
gang-rape which has shone
the spotlight on the
frightening incidence of
violence against women in
India.
National crime records show
that 228,650 of the total
256,329 violent crimes
recorded last year were
against women. Delhi has
been dubbed the rape capital
of India with government
figures showing the number
of rapes in the city rising 17
percent to 661 this year.
The 23-year-old
physiotherapy student, who
has been battling for her life
since the late-night assault
on a bus, gave her first
statement to police late
Saturday in the hospital
where she is being treated.
"All six men took turns to
sexually assault me," the
Hindustan Times newspaper
quoted the victim as saying
to police.
"They threw us on the side
of the road where I then
fainted," she added.
Her answers appeared to
confirm most of the details
that officers had already
managed to piece together
from a statement by her 28-
year-old male companion
who was also assaulted and
thrown off the vehicle.
All six of the alleged attackers
have now been arrested and
remanded in custody.
Police say the six were drunk
and were joy-riding in an
off-duty bus with tinted
windows when they picked
up the unsuspecting pair
who were returning from a
night out at the cinema.
The men then took turns in
raping the student at the
back of the bus, according to
police and prosecutors.
During her assault, the victim
suffered serious intestinal
injuries from being beaten
with an iron rod.
The government, stung by
the mass protests and
criticism that victims of sex
assaults are often let down
by India's notoriously slow
justice system, has said it is
considering bringing in the
death penalty for the most
extreme rape cases.
Fearing more violent
protests, police declared
areas close to the president's
residence and the parliament
off-limits on Sunday and
detained those who defied
the prohibitory orders.
All the routes leading to
landmark government
buildings were cordoned off
and metro stations in the
vicinity were closed to the
public.
However, several hundred
protesters managed to
breach the cordon around
India Gate and braved tear
gas and water cannons for
the second day in a row.
One of Delhi's most senior
police officers pleaded for an
end to the unrest, saying the
protests were being
"hijacked by hooligans" and
insisting that the case
against the six was being
fast-tracked.
"We have met all the
demands of the protesters,"
Special Commissioner
Dharmendra Kumar told the
CNN-IBN news channel.
Sushma Swaraj, a leader of
the main opposition Bhartiya
Janata Party, called for an all-
party meeting to end the
violence between protesters
and the police.
"Please do not resort to
violence. That is not the
solution," she wrote on
Twitter.
On Saturday, several
thousand college students
rallied at the India Gate
monument in the heart of
the capital where they were
baton-charged, water-
cannoned and tear-gassed
by police.
One group of protesters
camped overnight outside
the residence of Sonia
Gandhi, the leader of the
main ruling Congress party.
"I am with you… and justice
will be delivered," Gandhi
told the protesters in an
impromptu address after
midnight.
shot dead a journalist
Sunday during a protest over
a sex assault on an actress in
northeast India as security
forces in New Delhi fired tear
gas at new demonstrations
over a student's gang-rape.
After the victim of last
Sunday's gang-rape in Delhi
began recounting her ordeal
to police, a wave of revulsion
over sex crimes spread to
the remote state of Manipur
where a protest was held
over the attempted rape of
the actress.
A police spokesman told AFP
that the 36-year-old
cameraman, who was
working for the national
Doordarshan network, was
"killed in police firing" while
covering a protest that
turned violent in the town of
Imphal.
Police have yet to arrest
anyone over the December
18 assault on the 22-year-old
actress and model known as
Momoko, who has waived
her right to anonymity and
who has appeared on
television to demand justice.
Momoko has said that a local
militant dragged her away
during a concert last week
and then tried to rape her
before she managed to fight
him off and flee.
"We want a strong message
to be sent that perpetrators
of such crimes have no place
in our society," said Bala
Bedi, a woman rights
activists in Imphal who took
part in Sunday's protest.
India has seen a string of
protests across the country
in the wake of the Delhi
gang-rape which has shone
the spotlight on the
frightening incidence of
violence against women in
India.
National crime records show
that 228,650 of the total
256,329 violent crimes
recorded last year were
against women. Delhi has
been dubbed the rape capital
of India with government
figures showing the number
of rapes in the city rising 17
percent to 661 this year.
The 23-year-old
physiotherapy student, who
has been battling for her life
since the late-night assault
on a bus, gave her first
statement to police late
Saturday in the hospital
where she is being treated.
"All six men took turns to
sexually assault me," the
Hindustan Times newspaper
quoted the victim as saying
to police.
"They threw us on the side
of the road where I then
fainted," she added.
Her answers appeared to
confirm most of the details
that officers had already
managed to piece together
from a statement by her 28-
year-old male companion
who was also assaulted and
thrown off the vehicle.
All six of the alleged attackers
have now been arrested and
remanded in custody.
Police say the six were drunk
and were joy-riding in an
off-duty bus with tinted
windows when they picked
up the unsuspecting pair
who were returning from a
night out at the cinema.
The men then took turns in
raping the student at the
back of the bus, according to
police and prosecutors.
During her assault, the victim
suffered serious intestinal
injuries from being beaten
with an iron rod.
The government, stung by
the mass protests and
criticism that victims of sex
assaults are often let down
by India's notoriously slow
justice system, has said it is
considering bringing in the
death penalty for the most
extreme rape cases.
Fearing more violent
protests, police declared
areas close to the president's
residence and the parliament
off-limits on Sunday and
detained those who defied
the prohibitory orders.
All the routes leading to
landmark government
buildings were cordoned off
and metro stations in the
vicinity were closed to the
public.
However, several hundred
protesters managed to
breach the cordon around
India Gate and braved tear
gas and water cannons for
the second day in a row.
One of Delhi's most senior
police officers pleaded for an
end to the unrest, saying the
protests were being
"hijacked by hooligans" and
insisting that the case
against the six was being
fast-tracked.
"We have met all the
demands of the protesters,"
Special Commissioner
Dharmendra Kumar told the
CNN-IBN news channel.
Sushma Swaraj, a leader of
the main opposition Bhartiya
Janata Party, called for an all-
party meeting to end the
violence between protesters
and the police.
"Please do not resort to
violence. That is not the
solution," she wrote on
Twitter.
On Saturday, several
thousand college students
rallied at the India Gate
monument in the heart of
the capital where they were
baton-charged, water-
cannoned and tear-gassed
by police.
One group of protesters
camped overnight outside
the residence of Sonia
Gandhi, the leader of the
main ruling Congress party.
"I am with you… and justice
will be delivered," Gandhi
told the protesters in an
impromptu address after
midnight.
Hodgson talks up England’sWorld Cup prospects
LONDON (AFP) – Roy Hodgson
says England have enough
quality players to give the
world's top sides a run for
their money and claims it is
not "impossible" for his team
to win the 2014 World Cup.
The England boss told BBC
Radio Five on Sunday: "I
hope that I will never be
tripped into saying, 'well, we
don't have enough players or
there's not enough players
good enough to play for
England' because that would
be a very sad indictment.
"I know there are a lot of
foreigners in the league, but
there's plenty of English
ones. There were seven
Englishmen playing for
Manchester United the other
day and they're top of the
Premier League.
"I hope I'm not going to be
tricked into saying that some
time to disguise my
disappointment in a defeat
or to try and shift the blame
to somebody else."
England are placed second in
World Cup qualifying Group
H, two points behind
Montenegro after four
games and Hodgson said:
"We are aiming to finish on
top of the group and not
have to go through a play-off
situation where you can
quite easily lose as well.
"If we can't win the group
let's hope to God we can
come second and give
ourselves a chance at least in
the play-offs because the
goal is to reach Brazil in
2014.
"In an ideal world we would
do it by winning the group
and sailing through and be
ready when it comes around,
but there's no guarantee of
course that winning the
group and sailing through
your group stages helps you
when you get to the final
competition. We've seen that
with England."
On England's prospects if
they make the Brazil finals he
added: "You could say we
are far from being favourites
(for the World Cup) so
therefore it's (winning it) not
a likelihood. But you've got to
shy away from 'impossible' in
football.
"There are plenty of events
that we could point to in
footballing terms that you
could have said were
impossible, but people have
done it.
"It wasn't likely that Chelsea
would become champions of
Europe, especially having to
change their manager in
mid-stream but they did.
"That was by beating
Barcelona and Bayern
Munich, two of the best
teams in Europe along the
way, so I'd like to keep that
dream alive."
England went out of Euro
2012 following yet another
penalty shootout defeat and
Hodgson admitted he would
be in favour of taking spot-
kicks after friendlies next
year to prepare players for
the real thing in front of a
packed crowd.
"It would be a good idea,"
he added. "You might be
able to agree with one of our
opponents that, 'if the game
ends in a draw let's have a
penalty shoot-out'."
says England have enough
quality players to give the
world's top sides a run for
their money and claims it is
not "impossible" for his team
to win the 2014 World Cup.
The England boss told BBC
Radio Five on Sunday: "I
hope that I will never be
tripped into saying, 'well, we
don't have enough players or
there's not enough players
good enough to play for
England' because that would
be a very sad indictment.
"I know there are a lot of
foreigners in the league, but
there's plenty of English
ones. There were seven
Englishmen playing for
Manchester United the other
day and they're top of the
Premier League.
"I hope I'm not going to be
tricked into saying that some
time to disguise my
disappointment in a defeat
or to try and shift the blame
to somebody else."
England are placed second in
World Cup qualifying Group
H, two points behind
Montenegro after four
games and Hodgson said:
"We are aiming to finish on
top of the group and not
have to go through a play-off
situation where you can
quite easily lose as well.
"If we can't win the group
let's hope to God we can
come second and give
ourselves a chance at least in
the play-offs because the
goal is to reach Brazil in
2014.
"In an ideal world we would
do it by winning the group
and sailing through and be
ready when it comes around,
but there's no guarantee of
course that winning the
group and sailing through
your group stages helps you
when you get to the final
competition. We've seen that
with England."
On England's prospects if
they make the Brazil finals he
added: "You could say we
are far from being favourites
(for the World Cup) so
therefore it's (winning it) not
a likelihood. But you've got to
shy away from 'impossible' in
football.
"There are plenty of events
that we could point to in
footballing terms that you
could have said were
impossible, but people have
done it.
"It wasn't likely that Chelsea
would become champions of
Europe, especially having to
change their manager in
mid-stream but they did.
"That was by beating
Barcelona and Bayern
Munich, two of the best
teams in Europe along the
way, so I'd like to keep that
dream alive."
England went out of Euro
2012 following yet another
penalty shootout defeat and
Hodgson admitted he would
be in favour of taking spot-
kicks after friendlies next
year to prepare players for
the real thing in front of a
packed crowd.
"It would be a good idea,"
he added. "You might be
able to agree with one of our
opponents that, 'if the game
ends in a draw let's have a
penalty shoot-out'."
Egypt opposition cries‘fraud’ in new constitutionreferendum
CAIRO – Egypt's opposition
said on Sunday it will appeal
a referendum that voted in a
new constitution backed by
ruling Islamists, vowing to
keep up a struggle that has
spawned weeks of protests
and damaging instability.
Polling "fraud and violations"
skewed the results of two-
stage referendum, the final
leg of which was held on
Saturday, the National
Salvation Front said.
"We are asking the (electoral)
commission to investigate
the irregularities before
announcing official results,"
scheduled for Monday, a
Front member, Amr
Hamzawy, told a Cairo news
conference.
"The referendum is not the
end of the road. It is only one
battle," said another
member, Abdel Ghaffer
Shokr. "We will continue the
fight for the Egyptian
people."
Germany immediately backed
the call for a transparent
investigation into the results.
Foreign Minister Guido
Westerwelle said: "The new
constitution can only meet
with acceptance if the
process of its adoption is
beyond reproach."
But Westerwelle said it was
"not the power of the street
but rather the spirit of
compromise and tolerance
that should determine the
way forward for Egypt."
State media and President
Mohamed Morsi's supporters
in the Muslim Brotherhood
said the constitution was
passed with the support of
nearly two-thirds of voters,
based on unofficial tallies.
Opposition to the charter
fuelled demonstrations for
the past month, some of
them violent, such as clashes
that wounded 62 people in
the second city of Alexandria
on Friday, the day before the
final round of voting.
The army has deployed
troops to reinforce police
since December 5 clashes
outside the presidential
palace in Cairo killed eight
people and injured more
than 600.
Morsi and Islamists backing
the charter say it is necessary
to restore stability after the
early 2011 revolution that
toppled Hosni Mubarak.
But the opposition sees the
new constitution as a wedge
to usher in creeping Islamic
law through a weakening of
human rights, particularly
women's rights, and
undermine the
independence of the
judiciary.
It accuses Morsi of
steamrolling through the
referendum without
consensus on the charter,
and argues that a low voter
turnout of around 32
percent undermined the
plebiscite's legitimacy.
Approval of the constitution
would trigger parliamentary
elections in two months'
time to replace an Islamist-
dominated assembly that
was dissolved by Egypt's
constitutional court before
Morsi's election in June.
In the meantime, all
legislative business is being
handled by the senate, also
under the sway of Islamists.
In a gesture towards
"national dialogue," Morsi on
Saturday appointed 90
additional senators,
including eight women and
12 Christians.
The US government, which
sees Egypt as a pillar of its
Middle East policy and
provides Cairo with $1.3
billion annually in military aid,
has deliberately avoided
public comment on the crisis.
But the Republican
chairwoman of the Foreign
Affairs Committee in the US
House of Representatives,
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, on
Saturday called the vote "a
defeat for the Egyptian
people" at the hands of "an
Islamic dictatorship."
She said: "We must use our
aid as leverage to promote
democratic reforms, support
freedom of religion, and
enshrine the protection of
minority communities."
said on Sunday it will appeal
a referendum that voted in a
new constitution backed by
ruling Islamists, vowing to
keep up a struggle that has
spawned weeks of protests
and damaging instability.
Polling "fraud and violations"
skewed the results of two-
stage referendum, the final
leg of which was held on
Saturday, the National
Salvation Front said.
"We are asking the (electoral)
commission to investigate
the irregularities before
announcing official results,"
scheduled for Monday, a
Front member, Amr
Hamzawy, told a Cairo news
conference.
"The referendum is not the
end of the road. It is only one
battle," said another
member, Abdel Ghaffer
Shokr. "We will continue the
fight for the Egyptian
people."
Germany immediately backed
the call for a transparent
investigation into the results.
Foreign Minister Guido
Westerwelle said: "The new
constitution can only meet
with acceptance if the
process of its adoption is
beyond reproach."
But Westerwelle said it was
"not the power of the street
but rather the spirit of
compromise and tolerance
that should determine the
way forward for Egypt."
State media and President
Mohamed Morsi's supporters
in the Muslim Brotherhood
said the constitution was
passed with the support of
nearly two-thirds of voters,
based on unofficial tallies.
Opposition to the charter
fuelled demonstrations for
the past month, some of
them violent, such as clashes
that wounded 62 people in
the second city of Alexandria
on Friday, the day before the
final round of voting.
The army has deployed
troops to reinforce police
since December 5 clashes
outside the presidential
palace in Cairo killed eight
people and injured more
than 600.
Morsi and Islamists backing
the charter say it is necessary
to restore stability after the
early 2011 revolution that
toppled Hosni Mubarak.
But the opposition sees the
new constitution as a wedge
to usher in creeping Islamic
law through a weakening of
human rights, particularly
women's rights, and
undermine the
independence of the
judiciary.
It accuses Morsi of
steamrolling through the
referendum without
consensus on the charter,
and argues that a low voter
turnout of around 32
percent undermined the
plebiscite's legitimacy.
Approval of the constitution
would trigger parliamentary
elections in two months'
time to replace an Islamist-
dominated assembly that
was dissolved by Egypt's
constitutional court before
Morsi's election in June.
In the meantime, all
legislative business is being
handled by the senate, also
under the sway of Islamists.
In a gesture towards
"national dialogue," Morsi on
Saturday appointed 90
additional senators,
including eight women and
12 Christians.
The US government, which
sees Egypt as a pillar of its
Middle East policy and
provides Cairo with $1.3
billion annually in military aid,
has deliberately avoided
public comment on the crisis.
But the Republican
chairwoman of the Foreign
Affairs Committee in the US
House of Representatives,
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, on
Saturday called the vote "a
defeat for the Egyptian
people" at the hands of "an
Islamic dictatorship."
She said: "We must use our
aid as leverage to promote
democratic reforms, support
freedom of religion, and
enshrine the protection of
minority communities."
Police arrest 3 armedrobbery, murder suspects
Owerri – The police in Imo
had arrested three men
suspected to be part of the
robbery gang which killed
two policemen and one
soldier in 2010.
This is contained in a
statement issued by the
Police Public Relations Officer
(PPRO) in Imo, Mr Vitalis
Onugu, in Owerri on
Saturday.
It stated that the suspects
were arrested following a tip
off by an anonymous source
who named the informant of
the gang.
"We were informed of the
suspicious movement of one
Chukwuma Nwanjoku and
he was arrested.
"When we questioned him,
he disclosed that he was an
informant of an armed
robbery gang and has been
providing information to the
robbers preparatory for an
attack.
"From the information he
gave us, we were able to
arrest the rest of them and
the man who supplied them
with arms.
"The suspects have admitted
that they're part of the gang
responsible for killing two
policemen and one soldier in
Amaraku Junction in 2010,"
the statement stated. (NAN)
had arrested three men
suspected to be part of the
robbery gang which killed
two policemen and one
soldier in 2010.
This is contained in a
statement issued by the
Police Public Relations Officer
(PPRO) in Imo, Mr Vitalis
Onugu, in Owerri on
Saturday.
It stated that the suspects
were arrested following a tip
off by an anonymous source
who named the informant of
the gang.
"We were informed of the
suspicious movement of one
Chukwuma Nwanjoku and
he was arrested.
"When we questioned him,
he disclosed that he was an
informant of an armed
robbery gang and has been
providing information to the
robbers preparatory for an
attack.
"From the information he
gave us, we were able to
arrest the rest of them and
the man who supplied them
with arms.
"The suspects have admitted
that they're part of the gang
responsible for killing two
policemen and one soldier in
Amaraku Junction in 2010,"
the statement stated. (NAN)
EXCLUSIVE: The kidnapsyndicate in Delta
By Emma Amaize, Regional
Editor, South-South
KIDNAPPING (read man-
stealing) has
metamorphosed into such a
very big industry in Delta
State that it currently has a
loose association,
comprising graduates and
undergraduates with an
organized set-up and
leadership.
Our investigations showed
that it is no longer a case of
the money-making
kidnappers abducting and
looking for where to hide
their captives from security
agents. There are four major
departments in the industry.
The first is the abduction
squad, which kidnaps
victims. The second is the
transportation/receiver unit,
which is in-charge of
shepherding the victims to
secret locations and keeping
them in hideouts.
The third group is the
negotiation department,
which negotiates ransom
with relations of victims and
others; the fourth is the
security department. The
duty of the fourth group is
to provide round-the-clock
security in the dens and
other hideaways where
victims are kept until
ransom is paid for their
release. All these groups are
armed.
An insider confided in
Sunday Vanguard that the
kingpin of the kidnapping
syndicate at the moment in
Delta State is one Kelvin from
Kokori, Ethiope-East Local
Government Area.
Delta State Commissioner of
Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba,
confirmed the restricted
information in an interview
in Asaba on Tuesday, saying,
"Kelvin is the most
dangerous kidnapper in
Delta State and we are
looking for him".
Aduba said Kelvin was
training kidnappers and was
recruiting graduates and
undergraduates, as well as
Okada (motorcycle) riders
into his underworld team.
The commissioner asserted
that the kingpin has so
many kidnap gangs and the
police have been finding it
difficult to track him, while
practically all Okada men in
that axis are his informants.
Kidnap-syndicate
It was alleged that Kelvin's
parents know about the
involvement of their son in
kidnapping , as they reside in
the same neighbourhood,
but, because of the modus
operandi and influence of
the syndicate, it has been
very difficult for the police to
make a breakthrough, as
information always leaked
information on imminent
crackdown to him.
Kidnapping nerve center
Our findings corroborated by
a dependable source
showed that the operational
headquarters of the
kidnapping industry in the
state now is Kokori. Victims
abducted from several parts
of the state are whisked
there for the next stage of
the business.
Other alleged hot dens of
kidnappers are Ekampreme,
Agbarho and Ovwian, all in
the Delta Central Senatorial
District. The presence of the
former chair of the defunct
Delta Waterways Security
Committee, DWSC, Warri, Chief
Ayiri Emami, at Ubeji area is
scaring kidnappers from
using Jeddo as an
operational base.
How it started
Kidnapping as an industry is
a new development in the
state. As a weapon in the
Niger-Delta struggle, it was
introduced by militants, who
kidnapped foreign nationals
to draw attention to the
plight of the people of the
region. It was supported
because the purpose was
not self-centered.
Unfortunately, some
criminals in the struggle
veered into commercial
kidnapping, that is
kidnapping for money.
They kidnapped both
expatriates and blacks,
including politicians and the
affluent. People did not raise
eyebrows, as they even said
it was good for the victims.
Now, kidnappers not only
seize footballers, judges,
teachers, lawyers, journalists,
they abduct children for
ransom.
MD Abubakar, Police IG
MD Abubakar, Police IG
One of the governors, who
saw the dangerous trend
early in the day was Dr.
Emmanuel Uduaghan. He
quickly set up the defunct
DWSC on assumption of
office to tackle the menace,
which was principally
committed on the
waterways. However, the
kidnappers shifted base
from the creek to land, which
is outside the mandate of the
committee. The DWSC was
quietly dissolved and a joint
force of soldiers, police, navy
and other security services,
put in place to battle
kidnappers on land.
The battle has not been easy,
as the kidnappers
developped sophisticated
ways of carrying out their
operations whenever
security operatives inched
closer. This, probably,
explains why the police have
not been able to catch Kelvin,
the alleged most dangerous
kidnapper in the state, even
when they know his base to
be Kokori.
Top officials
Some top officials, within
and outside government, are
said to be involved in the
kidnapping industry because
they make money from it.
These persons have their
gangs and act as
intermediaries between
government and kidnappers
when the demand for
ransom is placed. Politicians
even use kidnappers against
themselves. The officials
involved will not want the
industry to fold up because it
is their major source of
income. What goes for them
is that because of their
status in the society, people
do not easily suspect that it
is their line of business and
they get patronage from
government unsuspectingly.
They join in the search for
kidnappers whenever they
are invited, but they know
what they are benefitting.
Smaller gangs
Besides Kelvin, there are
smaller gangs of kidnappers
scattered in Delta, but they
are not structured.
Sometimes, one or two bad
boys agree to kidnap one or
two persons and make
money and they put their
plan into action.
There is also a kidnap gang
in the state suspected to be
led by the younger brother
of an ex-militant leader shot
dead by the Joint Task Force
in Bayelsa State, in the first
quarter of this year. The
gang is still operates on the
waterways of the state and
was alleged to have
kidnapped the two Lebanese
workers of Setraco
Construction Company,
recently, at Gbaregolor in
Ughelli South Local
Government Area.
Up till date, the gang that
kidnapped the Commissioner
for Higher Education,
Professor Hope Eghagha, and
kept him for up to three
weeks in their custody after
killing his police orderly and
injuring his driver, has not
been identified, but it is
believed to be led by one
Bukumo and David.
Kidnap leaders in detention
However, the police have
arrested some of those who
initiated profit-making
kidnapping on land in Delta.
A number of them are
currently on remand in the
prisons for different
offences. What is happening,
nevertheless, is that that
while they are incarcerated,
their boys are carrying on,
and under a new structure
with Kelvin as godfather.
One of those detained,
according to sources, is
Rufus, alias Infinity. He is in
detention in the Federal
Prisons, Okere, near Warri,
and was alleged to be the
leader of the kidnap gang
that struck in Kaduna, Abuja,
Kogi and other states. The
gang whisked their victims
to Delta State and hid them
in a privately owned hotel,
from where they called their
families, demanded and
obtained ransoms in naira
and dollars.
That time, they kidnapped
outside the state and
brought their victims to the
state for ransom. Infinity's
boys are believed to be still
intact and carrying on with
the business even though
he is in detention.
Editor, South-South
KIDNAPPING (read man-
stealing) has
metamorphosed into such a
very big industry in Delta
State that it currently has a
loose association,
comprising graduates and
undergraduates with an
organized set-up and
leadership.
Our investigations showed
that it is no longer a case of
the money-making
kidnappers abducting and
looking for where to hide
their captives from security
agents. There are four major
departments in the industry.
The first is the abduction
squad, which kidnaps
victims. The second is the
transportation/receiver unit,
which is in-charge of
shepherding the victims to
secret locations and keeping
them in hideouts.
The third group is the
negotiation department,
which negotiates ransom
with relations of victims and
others; the fourth is the
security department. The
duty of the fourth group is
to provide round-the-clock
security in the dens and
other hideaways where
victims are kept until
ransom is paid for their
release. All these groups are
armed.
An insider confided in
Sunday Vanguard that the
kingpin of the kidnapping
syndicate at the moment in
Delta State is one Kelvin from
Kokori, Ethiope-East Local
Government Area.
Delta State Commissioner of
Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba,
confirmed the restricted
information in an interview
in Asaba on Tuesday, saying,
"Kelvin is the most
dangerous kidnapper in
Delta State and we are
looking for him".
Aduba said Kelvin was
training kidnappers and was
recruiting graduates and
undergraduates, as well as
Okada (motorcycle) riders
into his underworld team.
The commissioner asserted
that the kingpin has so
many kidnap gangs and the
police have been finding it
difficult to track him, while
practically all Okada men in
that axis are his informants.
Kidnap-syndicate
It was alleged that Kelvin's
parents know about the
involvement of their son in
kidnapping , as they reside in
the same neighbourhood,
but, because of the modus
operandi and influence of
the syndicate, it has been
very difficult for the police to
make a breakthrough, as
information always leaked
information on imminent
crackdown to him.
Kidnapping nerve center
Our findings corroborated by
a dependable source
showed that the operational
headquarters of the
kidnapping industry in the
state now is Kokori. Victims
abducted from several parts
of the state are whisked
there for the next stage of
the business.
Other alleged hot dens of
kidnappers are Ekampreme,
Agbarho and Ovwian, all in
the Delta Central Senatorial
District. The presence of the
former chair of the defunct
Delta Waterways Security
Committee, DWSC, Warri, Chief
Ayiri Emami, at Ubeji area is
scaring kidnappers from
using Jeddo as an
operational base.
How it started
Kidnapping as an industry is
a new development in the
state. As a weapon in the
Niger-Delta struggle, it was
introduced by militants, who
kidnapped foreign nationals
to draw attention to the
plight of the people of the
region. It was supported
because the purpose was
not self-centered.
Unfortunately, some
criminals in the struggle
veered into commercial
kidnapping, that is
kidnapping for money.
They kidnapped both
expatriates and blacks,
including politicians and the
affluent. People did not raise
eyebrows, as they even said
it was good for the victims.
Now, kidnappers not only
seize footballers, judges,
teachers, lawyers, journalists,
they abduct children for
ransom.
MD Abubakar, Police IG
MD Abubakar, Police IG
One of the governors, who
saw the dangerous trend
early in the day was Dr.
Emmanuel Uduaghan. He
quickly set up the defunct
DWSC on assumption of
office to tackle the menace,
which was principally
committed on the
waterways. However, the
kidnappers shifted base
from the creek to land, which
is outside the mandate of the
committee. The DWSC was
quietly dissolved and a joint
force of soldiers, police, navy
and other security services,
put in place to battle
kidnappers on land.
The battle has not been easy,
as the kidnappers
developped sophisticated
ways of carrying out their
operations whenever
security operatives inched
closer. This, probably,
explains why the police have
not been able to catch Kelvin,
the alleged most dangerous
kidnapper in the state, even
when they know his base to
be Kokori.
Top officials
Some top officials, within
and outside government, are
said to be involved in the
kidnapping industry because
they make money from it.
These persons have their
gangs and act as
intermediaries between
government and kidnappers
when the demand for
ransom is placed. Politicians
even use kidnappers against
themselves. The officials
involved will not want the
industry to fold up because it
is their major source of
income. What goes for them
is that because of their
status in the society, people
do not easily suspect that it
is their line of business and
they get patronage from
government unsuspectingly.
They join in the search for
kidnappers whenever they
are invited, but they know
what they are benefitting.
Smaller gangs
Besides Kelvin, there are
smaller gangs of kidnappers
scattered in Delta, but they
are not structured.
Sometimes, one or two bad
boys agree to kidnap one or
two persons and make
money and they put their
plan into action.
There is also a kidnap gang
in the state suspected to be
led by the younger brother
of an ex-militant leader shot
dead by the Joint Task Force
in Bayelsa State, in the first
quarter of this year. The
gang is still operates on the
waterways of the state and
was alleged to have
kidnapped the two Lebanese
workers of Setraco
Construction Company,
recently, at Gbaregolor in
Ughelli South Local
Government Area.
Up till date, the gang that
kidnapped the Commissioner
for Higher Education,
Professor Hope Eghagha, and
kept him for up to three
weeks in their custody after
killing his police orderly and
injuring his driver, has not
been identified, but it is
believed to be led by one
Bukumo and David.
Kidnap leaders in detention
However, the police have
arrested some of those who
initiated profit-making
kidnapping on land in Delta.
A number of them are
currently on remand in the
prisons for different
offences. What is happening,
nevertheless, is that that
while they are incarcerated,
their boys are carrying on,
and under a new structure
with Kelvin as godfather.
One of those detained,
according to sources, is
Rufus, alias Infinity. He is in
detention in the Federal
Prisons, Okere, near Warri,
and was alleged to be the
leader of the kidnap gang
that struck in Kaduna, Abuja,
Kogi and other states. The
gang whisked their victims
to Delta State and hid them
in a privately owned hotel,
from where they called their
families, demanded and
obtained ransoms in naira
and dollars.
That time, they kidnapped
outside the state and
brought their victims to the
state for ransom. Infinity's
boys are believed to be still
intact and carrying on with
the business even though
he is in detention.
Nobody can stop us fromquestioning Jonathan –Mohammed, Repsspokesman
By Emman Ovuakporie
Zakari Mohammed is the
Chairman, House of
Representatives Committee
on Media and Public Affairs.
In this chat, Mohammed
speaks on the activities of
the 7th Assembly. He also
gives an insight into the
frosty relationship between
Mr President and the Green
Chamber. Excerpts:
How do you assess the 7th
Assembly in the last 12
months of Hon Aminu Waziri
Tambuwal leadership?
The 7th Assembly came to
restore the hopes and
aspirations of all Nigerians
and we proved this point in
January when we convened
a plenary on a Sunday to
quickly address the almost
state of anarchy during the
protest against the sudden
withdrawal of fuel subsidy
by the Federal Government.
This development gave rise
to the constitution of an
adhoc committee on fuel
subsidy monitoring regime
that exposed the shoddy
deals in that sector of our
economy. Also, one glaring
fact Nigerians must have
realized by now is that this
Assembly did not come with
a barren mind. We came with
a strong resolute via the 7th
Assembly Legislative Agenda
to make laws that would
promote Nigerians.
Input into constitution
We did not stop our
campaign of ensuring
Nigerians are freed from the
shackles of poverty. That is
why when the Central Bank
of Nigeria wanted to
introduce the N5000 note,
we halted it immediately it
was made public. The CBN
had told us that a cashless
economy was in vogue, but
the sudden introduction of
the N5000 note ran contrary
to that policy and we
stopped it because we knew
it was not sustainable. The
House took all these issues
with all seriousness because
we are equally accountable
to those who sent us to
represent them here and
anything that runs foul of the
rule of law had to be
checkmated.
Zakari Mohammed
Hon. Zakari Mohammed
Also, for the first time in the
history of this democracy, we
took the issue of constitution
review to the grassroots
where all stakeholders made
input into our constitution.
This marked a watershed in
the annals of constitution
amendment in Nigeria.
The 360 constituencies in
the country had a feel of it
and issues like state police,
insecurity,abrogation of state
INEC, autonomy of state
assemblies, autonomy of
local government areas, state
creation, our educational
system, empowerment of
women and other various
national issues were
exhaustively discussed. We
equally made it clear that the
issue of referendum for now
cannot be discussed because
we have the National
Assembly that is
constitutionally empowered
to carry out legislative
functions. As you know there
is no document in this world
that is perfect, all we can do
is to periodically review it.
Business unusual
There is also the issue of the
2012 budget that was
abysmally implemented, we
stepped in to ensure that
100 percent implementation
is attainable to serve as basis
for the 2013 budget. The
House also strengthened its
oversight function as all
Ministries, Departments and
Agencies of the Federal
Government were made to
stand on their feet. We made
sure it was not business-as-
usual. Rather, we focused on
business unusual to achieve
results from the MDAs.
The Committee on Public
Accounts this year alone
treated the Auditor General's
annual reports in the last
four years. The House did all
of these despite the
limitations that faced us
particularly when we had to
slash our earnings by over
63percent. We went on a
self-cleansing mission to
send a message to all and
sundry that we are here to
work. This has given rise to
different insinuations from
several quarters that the
House is broke. But we are
not complaining, rather we
have made laws for the
betterment of Nigerians.
Remember that we swore to
on oath to protect the
interest of all Nigerians. This
oath of allegiance is the
bond we have with our
constituents.
The House would do
anything to ensure that we
do not derail in carrying out
our primary function of
making popular laws. This
year, we embarked on a
nationwide oversight tour of
all Federal Government
projects. This tour of opened
our eyes to so many things
that are not being properly
done. As you aware also, it
was the first of its kind to
the extent that journalists
were incorporated into it for
proper reportage.
Do you think the Tambuwal
Legislative Agenda is still very
much on course?
It has not derailed, rather, it
is waxing stronger on a daily
basis. It is the social contract
we signed with the people of
Nigeria. Tambuwal has done
everything possible to live
above board. He has
exhibited exemplary
leadership. Our legislative
agenda is like the Bible and
the Koran, we religiously
follow it.
The House adhoc committee
report on fuel subsidy did
not portray the 7 th
Assembly in good light. What
really happened?
You do not have to be told,
the House committee report
exposed the illegalities in
that sector perpetuated by a
selected few to the
admiration of all Nigerians.
You also know that we went
a step further by ensuring
that the erring officer at a
time was suspended
pending when investigations
into the allegations are
cleared by the House
committee in charge of such
matters. And you also know
that there were a lot of
under table dealings that the
report exposed.
But like I said earlier , there
are people out there that do
not want this report to see
the light at day. The House
made all the necessary
background that led to the
whole noise. Look at what is
happening to the Ribadu-led
committee report; is it not
generating the same
reactions today? Both
reports are pointers to the
fact that all is not well with
the sector and we cannot be
cowed by cheap blackmail
from those who have
plundered our country.
At a time, the House invited
President Goodluck Jonathan
to come and brief legislators
on how he is handling
security in Nigeria, but, till
date, the president has
ignored the invitation. How
does the House take it?
The president of the United
States every now and then
briefs the Congress on key
issues, ours should not be an
exception. We are equally
accountable to our
constituents and we can
never allow Project Nigeria to
fail, there is need for us to
synergise to allow Project
Nigeria to survive. We have a
right to ask Mr President
questions on behalf of our
constituents. Mind you we
did not summon him, we
simply invited him to come
and rub minds with us and
give account of what has
been happening to security
in the country.
The whole essence of his
invitation is to see how we
can collaborate with him to
ensure that the lives of
Nigerians and our properties
are secure. For instance,
when he (president)
requested for soldiers to
help during the Edo State
election, we supported him
despite the fact that some of
our members kicked against
the deployment of soldiers to
the state. We had no option
but to throw our weight
behind him because lives
and properties are involved.
There is this general
assumption that the House is
at war with the Executive
arm of government.
We will definitely ask Mr
President questions on
behalf of our constituents or
what do we tell them when
we go back home to them? It
is our constitutional right to
ask questions that affect
Nigerians. To put the records
straight, we are not at war
with Mr. President, rather, we
are protecting everybody's
interest including his own
interest.
How will you rate the House
in the last one year?
We have been keeping our
heads above water and,
honestly, we have not done
badly, we are the hope of
Nigerians, we will not be
cowed by anybody. Nigerians
should continue to pray for
us. We cannot afford to
disappoint Nigerians who
elected us into the House.
Zakari Mohammed is the
Chairman, House of
Representatives Committee
on Media and Public Affairs.
In this chat, Mohammed
speaks on the activities of
the 7th Assembly. He also
gives an insight into the
frosty relationship between
Mr President and the Green
Chamber. Excerpts:
How do you assess the 7th
Assembly in the last 12
months of Hon Aminu Waziri
Tambuwal leadership?
The 7th Assembly came to
restore the hopes and
aspirations of all Nigerians
and we proved this point in
January when we convened
a plenary on a Sunday to
quickly address the almost
state of anarchy during the
protest against the sudden
withdrawal of fuel subsidy
by the Federal Government.
This development gave rise
to the constitution of an
adhoc committee on fuel
subsidy monitoring regime
that exposed the shoddy
deals in that sector of our
economy. Also, one glaring
fact Nigerians must have
realized by now is that this
Assembly did not come with
a barren mind. We came with
a strong resolute via the 7th
Assembly Legislative Agenda
to make laws that would
promote Nigerians.
Input into constitution
We did not stop our
campaign of ensuring
Nigerians are freed from the
shackles of poverty. That is
why when the Central Bank
of Nigeria wanted to
introduce the N5000 note,
we halted it immediately it
was made public. The CBN
had told us that a cashless
economy was in vogue, but
the sudden introduction of
the N5000 note ran contrary
to that policy and we
stopped it because we knew
it was not sustainable. The
House took all these issues
with all seriousness because
we are equally accountable
to those who sent us to
represent them here and
anything that runs foul of the
rule of law had to be
checkmated.
Zakari Mohammed
Hon. Zakari Mohammed
Also, for the first time in the
history of this democracy, we
took the issue of constitution
review to the grassroots
where all stakeholders made
input into our constitution.
This marked a watershed in
the annals of constitution
amendment in Nigeria.
The 360 constituencies in
the country had a feel of it
and issues like state police,
insecurity,abrogation of state
INEC, autonomy of state
assemblies, autonomy of
local government areas, state
creation, our educational
system, empowerment of
women and other various
national issues were
exhaustively discussed. We
equally made it clear that the
issue of referendum for now
cannot be discussed because
we have the National
Assembly that is
constitutionally empowered
to carry out legislative
functions. As you know there
is no document in this world
that is perfect, all we can do
is to periodically review it.
Business unusual
There is also the issue of the
2012 budget that was
abysmally implemented, we
stepped in to ensure that
100 percent implementation
is attainable to serve as basis
for the 2013 budget. The
House also strengthened its
oversight function as all
Ministries, Departments and
Agencies of the Federal
Government were made to
stand on their feet. We made
sure it was not business-as-
usual. Rather, we focused on
business unusual to achieve
results from the MDAs.
The Committee on Public
Accounts this year alone
treated the Auditor General's
annual reports in the last
four years. The House did all
of these despite the
limitations that faced us
particularly when we had to
slash our earnings by over
63percent. We went on a
self-cleansing mission to
send a message to all and
sundry that we are here to
work. This has given rise to
different insinuations from
several quarters that the
House is broke. But we are
not complaining, rather we
have made laws for the
betterment of Nigerians.
Remember that we swore to
on oath to protect the
interest of all Nigerians. This
oath of allegiance is the
bond we have with our
constituents.
The House would do
anything to ensure that we
do not derail in carrying out
our primary function of
making popular laws. This
year, we embarked on a
nationwide oversight tour of
all Federal Government
projects. This tour of opened
our eyes to so many things
that are not being properly
done. As you aware also, it
was the first of its kind to
the extent that journalists
were incorporated into it for
proper reportage.
Do you think the Tambuwal
Legislative Agenda is still very
much on course?
It has not derailed, rather, it
is waxing stronger on a daily
basis. It is the social contract
we signed with the people of
Nigeria. Tambuwal has done
everything possible to live
above board. He has
exhibited exemplary
leadership. Our legislative
agenda is like the Bible and
the Koran, we religiously
follow it.
The House adhoc committee
report on fuel subsidy did
not portray the 7 th
Assembly in good light. What
really happened?
You do not have to be told,
the House committee report
exposed the illegalities in
that sector perpetuated by a
selected few to the
admiration of all Nigerians.
You also know that we went
a step further by ensuring
that the erring officer at a
time was suspended
pending when investigations
into the allegations are
cleared by the House
committee in charge of such
matters. And you also know
that there were a lot of
under table dealings that the
report exposed.
But like I said earlier , there
are people out there that do
not want this report to see
the light at day. The House
made all the necessary
background that led to the
whole noise. Look at what is
happening to the Ribadu-led
committee report; is it not
generating the same
reactions today? Both
reports are pointers to the
fact that all is not well with
the sector and we cannot be
cowed by cheap blackmail
from those who have
plundered our country.
At a time, the House invited
President Goodluck Jonathan
to come and brief legislators
on how he is handling
security in Nigeria, but, till
date, the president has
ignored the invitation. How
does the House take it?
The president of the United
States every now and then
briefs the Congress on key
issues, ours should not be an
exception. We are equally
accountable to our
constituents and we can
never allow Project Nigeria to
fail, there is need for us to
synergise to allow Project
Nigeria to survive. We have a
right to ask Mr President
questions on behalf of our
constituents. Mind you we
did not summon him, we
simply invited him to come
and rub minds with us and
give account of what has
been happening to security
in the country.
The whole essence of his
invitation is to see how we
can collaborate with him to
ensure that the lives of
Nigerians and our properties
are secure. For instance,
when he (president)
requested for soldiers to
help during the Edo State
election, we supported him
despite the fact that some of
our members kicked against
the deployment of soldiers to
the state. We had no option
but to throw our weight
behind him because lives
and properties are involved.
There is this general
assumption that the House is
at war with the Executive
arm of government.
We will definitely ask Mr
President questions on
behalf of our constituents or
what do we tell them when
we go back home to them? It
is our constitutional right to
ask questions that affect
Nigerians. To put the records
straight, we are not at war
with Mr. President, rather, we
are protecting everybody's
interest including his own
interest.
How will you rate the House
in the last one year?
We have been keeping our
heads above water and,
honestly, we have not done
badly, we are the hope of
Nigerians, we will not be
cowed by anybody. Nigerians
should continue to pray for
us. We cannot afford to
disappoint Nigerians who
elected us into the House.
Spend that money and goto jail, ICPC warns ministers,DGs
By Lekan Bilesanmi
The Independent Corrupt
Practices and Other Related
Offences Commission, ICPC,
has ordered Ministries,
Departments And Agencies
(MDAs) to return all unspent
balances on personnel votes
to the Sub-Treasury of the
Federation not later than
Monday, December 31, 2012,
or face the law.
A release by the
Commission's chairman, Mr.
Ekpo Nta, also ordered the
MDAs to submit the receipt
and expenditure profiles of
their personnel cost to the
commission not later than
January 31, 2013, using a
template approved by the
commission.
icpc
To underscore the
seriousness his commission
attaches to the directives, the
ICPC chairman stated that
"letters have been sent to the
various Ministries,
Departments and Agencies
for strict compliance and to
note that any infraction will
be prosecuted." He also
announced that the
"Commission will commence
verification for the returns
made to the Sub-Treasury by
February, 2013." The full text
of Mr. Ekpo Nta's statement
entitled,
TREATMENT OF UNSPENT
BALANCES OF 2012
PERSONNEL VOTES:
"The Commission has carried
out a pilot System Study and
Review on the utilization of
the 2011 Personnel Vote of
some Ministries, Departments
and Agencies (MDAs).
Observable lapses were
highlighted and discussed
with the various MDAs.
"The Commission will be
carrying out another System
Study and Review of the
2012 Personnel Vote to
ensure total compliance with
Section 16 of the Finance
(Control and Management)
Act, LFN, 1990 and the
Financial Regulations
regarding unspent balances
in line with the Accountant-
General of Nigeria's Circular
No. TRY/A5 & B5/2011 of
20th November, 2012.
"All MDAs are requested to
submit the Receipt and
Expenditure profiles of their
Personnel Cost to reach the
Commission not later than
January 31, 2013 using the
approved template. For
avoidance of doubt,
Personnel Vote is for the
payment of salaries and
allowances for Government
employees only. "All unspent
balances should be returned
to the Sub-Treasury of the
Federation by 31st
December, 2012.
"The Commission will
commence verification of the
returns made to the Sub-
Treasury by February, 2013.
Letters have been sent to the
various Ministries,
Departments and Agencies
for strict compliance and to
note that any infraction will
be prosecuted".
The Independent Corrupt
Practices and Other Related
Offences Commission, ICPC,
has ordered Ministries,
Departments And Agencies
(MDAs) to return all unspent
balances on personnel votes
to the Sub-Treasury of the
Federation not later than
Monday, December 31, 2012,
or face the law.
A release by the
Commission's chairman, Mr.
Ekpo Nta, also ordered the
MDAs to submit the receipt
and expenditure profiles of
their personnel cost to the
commission not later than
January 31, 2013, using a
template approved by the
commission.
icpc
To underscore the
seriousness his commission
attaches to the directives, the
ICPC chairman stated that
"letters have been sent to the
various Ministries,
Departments and Agencies
for strict compliance and to
note that any infraction will
be prosecuted." He also
announced that the
"Commission will commence
verification for the returns
made to the Sub-Treasury by
February, 2013." The full text
of Mr. Ekpo Nta's statement
entitled,
TREATMENT OF UNSPENT
BALANCES OF 2012
PERSONNEL VOTES:
"The Commission has carried
out a pilot System Study and
Review on the utilization of
the 2011 Personnel Vote of
some Ministries, Departments
and Agencies (MDAs).
Observable lapses were
highlighted and discussed
with the various MDAs.
"The Commission will be
carrying out another System
Study and Review of the
2012 Personnel Vote to
ensure total compliance with
Section 16 of the Finance
(Control and Management)
Act, LFN, 1990 and the
Financial Regulations
regarding unspent balances
in line with the Accountant-
General of Nigeria's Circular
No. TRY/A5 & B5/2011 of
20th November, 2012.
"All MDAs are requested to
submit the Receipt and
Expenditure profiles of their
Personnel Cost to reach the
Commission not later than
January 31, 2013 using the
approved template. For
avoidance of doubt,
Personnel Vote is for the
payment of salaries and
allowances for Government
employees only. "All unspent
balances should be returned
to the Sub-Treasury of the
Federation by 31st
December, 2012.
"The Commission will
commence verification of the
returns made to the Sub-
Treasury by February, 2013.
Letters have been sent to the
various Ministries,
Departments and Agencies
for strict compliance and to
note that any infraction will
be prosecuted".
On death row: Who’s next?
BY Jide Ajani
When will you die? That is a
question no man, or even
woman, can or want to
answer. Compound the
issue: Where and how?
Through who or what?
These are questions that
never agitate the mind of any
man, or woman because
they evoke fear. Death
renders every effort to make
it in life seemingly needless
and futile. Yet, men and
women persist in the daily
rat race of life.
Death is the ultimate leveler
of men and women.
Christians believe in Jesus
Christ who predicted his
death and resurrection. He
was nailed to the cross. Still,
every man and woman must
answer the call. No one can
avoid it. Then if so, why
should premium be placed
on one life above the other?
Can one life be recreated
while another cannot?
That is a question the Nigeria
Governors' Forum, NGF, may
have to answer.
In the wake of the air
disaster that claimed the lives
of six people including the
late Governor of Kaduna
State, Patrick Yakowa, and
former National Security
Adviser, NSA, Andrew Owoye
Azazi, the NGF came out to
call for a private investigator.
Meanwhile, earlier in the year
when over a hundred lives
were lost in another plane
crash, the NGF did not call for
a private investigator.
On Saturday, September 26,
1992, about 166 people
boarded a Hercules C-130
aircraft (over 100 of them
military officers) at the
military wing of the local
airport in Lagos. A few
minutes later, the plane
crashed into the swamp of
Ejigbo, a Lagos suburb.
20years after, nobody knows
what happened that led to
the crash of that plane; nor
has the Federal Government
of Nigeria, on whose duty
tour the victims were, done
anything meaningful for
their families.
Death-cartoon
So, the question should be
asked again: Is one life
worth more than another?
That may not be the
intendment of the NGF
members. But it may also
very well be – "one of our
own is gone"; "there may be
a cover up since it involves a
Naval helicopter"; "it could
be sabotage". Conjectures all!
In all this, the operational
phenomenon is death and it
defines the ephemeral
nature of life. A state
governor! A former NSA!!
Hmmm! Sad; so sad; so very
sad. No matter, death
remains something
intriguing. First, if it was
possible, nobody would
want to die.
Yet, if you do not die, Heaven,
that lovely place full of Grace,
may not be attained – except,
of course, you belong to the
gang of men on the fringe
who see suicide as the
surest way to Heaven
without remembering that if
everyone were to make
recourse to suicide, there
would be no more life. For
normal people, even with
that promise of heavenly
bliss - nobody wants to die.
Okay, now, let us animate
death. Just visualize this: A
middle-aged man, with no
hair on his head, dressed in
a black short sleeve shirt,
with a black Bow-Tie, black
suspenders and a three-
piece suit, with a baton in
hand, looking for whose
head to break. If such a
visage is that of death, every
one who sees him would run
for cover.
This is not about might or
raw power. It is about a
phenomenon that is
indecipher- able. It
surmounts comprehension.
It can not be understood.
Yakowa who was consoling
the family of the Douglases
just some minutes earlier
was himself to go the way of
Pa Douglas. He was buried in
Kafanchan last Thursday.
Azazi who had gone to
attend the funeral of the old
Douglas would also be laid to
rest soon.
So, who knows who's next?
Nobody!
Just a little over an hour
before the Dana Crash of last
June, a passenger had been
allegedly cheated by two
Asians who shunted him
aside to procure their
boarding passes. The
intending passenger raised a
lot of hell at the Abuja airport
but was calmed by
passengers of other airlines.
Just about 50minutes into
the Dana Flight to Lagos, it
crashed, killing all on board.
The disgruntled passenger
was still waiting to board
another flight that fateful
Sunday afternoon when the
sad news was flashed on the
TV screens of the airport. He
received confetti of well
wishers; he was buffeted by
other passengers who
congratulated him for
cheating death.
Could there have been
anyone that day who could
have prevented Yakowa and
Azazi from boarding that
Navy helicopter? The answer
is no. But if truth be told,
who could have cheated a
state governor or a former
NSA out of boarding the
helicopter? That is the
forceful pull of death. Some
would have looked at the
helicopter as it took off that
day and wished they could
afford the luxury of or be in
the powerful position of
governor or former NSA and
be on board with them.
Such is the powerful pull of
death.
Indeed, death is very
powerful. Interestingly, it is
part of living because it
concludes the cycle of life.
You are born and you die.
For, once you are born, you
join the teeming billions of
souls on death row. Fear
not! It is inevitable. It will
come. John Paul II died. He
was the Catholic Pontiff – the
Pope.
Just on the eve of Sani
Abacha's death, two very
prominent monarchs in
Nigeria were to be
dethroned the following
day. But he died. MKO
Abiola's insistence on
claiming his mandate
suffered a disclaimer in the
hands of death even before
he could be granted
freedom.
Idi Amin of Uganda, self-
styled modern day Emperor
Jean Bedel Bokassa of Central
African Republic, Zia Ul-Haq
of Pakistan, Felix Huppert
Boughey of Ivory Coast,
Mobutu Sesekuku Mbendu
Wazabanga alias Mobutu
Seseseko of Zaire, Nicolai
Ceucescu of Romania,
Hastings Kamuzu Banda of
Malawi, in spite of all the
powers they wielded as
president, they all died.
Jesus Christ, the son of God
as I believe him to be (but
some don't) had to die for
the sins of men before
resurrecting.
As the nation mourns those
who died penultimate
Saturday, the lessons to learn
are legion. How would you
want to be remembered
after dying?
Those who are pursuing
2015 or any political
ambition or any thing for
that matter should cast their
minds back to those who
wanted to be part of 2011
elections but who died
before the hour. Umar Musa
Yar'Adua died just about
three years after being
elected to become Nigeria's
President and Commander-
in-Chief.
At least, in this same country,
a presidential candidate died
just a few weeks before the
presidential election.
The election continued
despite him. He was Pa Ade
Adefarati.
So, what to do, live a life
worthy to be remembered
for good because, at some
point, that inescapable
leveler of men would come
calling – because we are all
on death row.
When will you die? That is a
question no man, or even
woman, can or want to
answer. Compound the
issue: Where and how?
Through who or what?
These are questions that
never agitate the mind of any
man, or woman because
they evoke fear. Death
renders every effort to make
it in life seemingly needless
and futile. Yet, men and
women persist in the daily
rat race of life.
Death is the ultimate leveler
of men and women.
Christians believe in Jesus
Christ who predicted his
death and resurrection. He
was nailed to the cross. Still,
every man and woman must
answer the call. No one can
avoid it. Then if so, why
should premium be placed
on one life above the other?
Can one life be recreated
while another cannot?
That is a question the Nigeria
Governors' Forum, NGF, may
have to answer.
In the wake of the air
disaster that claimed the lives
of six people including the
late Governor of Kaduna
State, Patrick Yakowa, and
former National Security
Adviser, NSA, Andrew Owoye
Azazi, the NGF came out to
call for a private investigator.
Meanwhile, earlier in the year
when over a hundred lives
were lost in another plane
crash, the NGF did not call for
a private investigator.
On Saturday, September 26,
1992, about 166 people
boarded a Hercules C-130
aircraft (over 100 of them
military officers) at the
military wing of the local
airport in Lagos. A few
minutes later, the plane
crashed into the swamp of
Ejigbo, a Lagos suburb.
20years after, nobody knows
what happened that led to
the crash of that plane; nor
has the Federal Government
of Nigeria, on whose duty
tour the victims were, done
anything meaningful for
their families.
Death-cartoon
So, the question should be
asked again: Is one life
worth more than another?
That may not be the
intendment of the NGF
members. But it may also
very well be – "one of our
own is gone"; "there may be
a cover up since it involves a
Naval helicopter"; "it could
be sabotage". Conjectures all!
In all this, the operational
phenomenon is death and it
defines the ephemeral
nature of life. A state
governor! A former NSA!!
Hmmm! Sad; so sad; so very
sad. No matter, death
remains something
intriguing. First, if it was
possible, nobody would
want to die.
Yet, if you do not die, Heaven,
that lovely place full of Grace,
may not be attained – except,
of course, you belong to the
gang of men on the fringe
who see suicide as the
surest way to Heaven
without remembering that if
everyone were to make
recourse to suicide, there
would be no more life. For
normal people, even with
that promise of heavenly
bliss - nobody wants to die.
Okay, now, let us animate
death. Just visualize this: A
middle-aged man, with no
hair on his head, dressed in
a black short sleeve shirt,
with a black Bow-Tie, black
suspenders and a three-
piece suit, with a baton in
hand, looking for whose
head to break. If such a
visage is that of death, every
one who sees him would run
for cover.
This is not about might or
raw power. It is about a
phenomenon that is
indecipher- able. It
surmounts comprehension.
It can not be understood.
Yakowa who was consoling
the family of the Douglases
just some minutes earlier
was himself to go the way of
Pa Douglas. He was buried in
Kafanchan last Thursday.
Azazi who had gone to
attend the funeral of the old
Douglas would also be laid to
rest soon.
So, who knows who's next?
Nobody!
Just a little over an hour
before the Dana Crash of last
June, a passenger had been
allegedly cheated by two
Asians who shunted him
aside to procure their
boarding passes. The
intending passenger raised a
lot of hell at the Abuja airport
but was calmed by
passengers of other airlines.
Just about 50minutes into
the Dana Flight to Lagos, it
crashed, killing all on board.
The disgruntled passenger
was still waiting to board
another flight that fateful
Sunday afternoon when the
sad news was flashed on the
TV screens of the airport. He
received confetti of well
wishers; he was buffeted by
other passengers who
congratulated him for
cheating death.
Could there have been
anyone that day who could
have prevented Yakowa and
Azazi from boarding that
Navy helicopter? The answer
is no. But if truth be told,
who could have cheated a
state governor or a former
NSA out of boarding the
helicopter? That is the
forceful pull of death. Some
would have looked at the
helicopter as it took off that
day and wished they could
afford the luxury of or be in
the powerful position of
governor or former NSA and
be on board with them.
Such is the powerful pull of
death.
Indeed, death is very
powerful. Interestingly, it is
part of living because it
concludes the cycle of life.
You are born and you die.
For, once you are born, you
join the teeming billions of
souls on death row. Fear
not! It is inevitable. It will
come. John Paul II died. He
was the Catholic Pontiff – the
Pope.
Just on the eve of Sani
Abacha's death, two very
prominent monarchs in
Nigeria were to be
dethroned the following
day. But he died. MKO
Abiola's insistence on
claiming his mandate
suffered a disclaimer in the
hands of death even before
he could be granted
freedom.
Idi Amin of Uganda, self-
styled modern day Emperor
Jean Bedel Bokassa of Central
African Republic, Zia Ul-Haq
of Pakistan, Felix Huppert
Boughey of Ivory Coast,
Mobutu Sesekuku Mbendu
Wazabanga alias Mobutu
Seseseko of Zaire, Nicolai
Ceucescu of Romania,
Hastings Kamuzu Banda of
Malawi, in spite of all the
powers they wielded as
president, they all died.
Jesus Christ, the son of God
as I believe him to be (but
some don't) had to die for
the sins of men before
resurrecting.
As the nation mourns those
who died penultimate
Saturday, the lessons to learn
are legion. How would you
want to be remembered
after dying?
Those who are pursuing
2015 or any political
ambition or any thing for
that matter should cast their
minds back to those who
wanted to be part of 2011
elections but who died
before the hour. Umar Musa
Yar'Adua died just about
three years after being
elected to become Nigeria's
President and Commander-
in-Chief.
At least, in this same country,
a presidential candidate died
just a few weeks before the
presidential election.
The election continued
despite him. He was Pa Ade
Adefarati.
So, what to do, live a life
worthy to be remembered
for good because, at some
point, that inescapable
leveler of men would come
calling – because we are all
on death row.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
10 killed, eight injured inBauchi auto crash
No fewer than 10 people
were killed while eight
others sustained serious
injuries in an auto crash
along Bauchi— Gombe
federal highway yesterday.
Some of the victims were
from a condolence visit in
Jigawa State. The crash was
said to have involved 18
people near Alkaleri Local
Government Area of Bauchi
State, when two cars
including a Volkswagen Golf
and a Honda had a head-on
collision.
Briefing newsmen over the
incident in Bauchi, the Acting
Sector Commandant of the
Federal Road Safety Corps,
Mahmud Kachalla said the
accident occured in the
afternoon between
Tsohuwar Gwaram village
and Alkaleri town in Bauchi
state and it involved 18
people in both the
Volkswagon Golf car, a
Honda and a motorcycle.
Kachalla said, among the 10
people that lost their lives
were five female adults, three
male adults, a boy and a girl.
He also said that out of the
eight that sustained injuries,
''five were male adults and
one a female adult and two
boys." He attributed the
cause of the accident to both
over speeding and over
loading, adding that the Golf
car had eight people who
were coming from a
condolence visit in Jigawa
State and on their way to
Alkaleri.
Kachalla said that FRSC
personnel stationed in
Alkaleri rescued the the
injured victims and rushed
them to the Alkaleri General
Hospital for medical
treatment. He then advised
motorist to always obey
traffic regulations to reduce
the rate of accident along the
highways especially during
this festivity period when
there is mass movement of
people.
were killed while eight
others sustained serious
injuries in an auto crash
along Bauchi— Gombe
federal highway yesterday.
Some of the victims were
from a condolence visit in
Jigawa State. The crash was
said to have involved 18
people near Alkaleri Local
Government Area of Bauchi
State, when two cars
including a Volkswagen Golf
and a Honda had a head-on
collision.
Briefing newsmen over the
incident in Bauchi, the Acting
Sector Commandant of the
Federal Road Safety Corps,
Mahmud Kachalla said the
accident occured in the
afternoon between
Tsohuwar Gwaram village
and Alkaleri town in Bauchi
state and it involved 18
people in both the
Volkswagon Golf car, a
Honda and a motorcycle.
Kachalla said, among the 10
people that lost their lives
were five female adults, three
male adults, a boy and a girl.
He also said that out of the
eight that sustained injuries,
''five were male adults and
one a female adult and two
boys." He attributed the
cause of the accident to both
over speeding and over
loading, adding that the Golf
car had eight people who
were coming from a
condolence visit in Jigawa
State and on their way to
Alkaleri.
Kachalla said that FRSC
personnel stationed in
Alkaleri rescued the the
injured victims and rushed
them to the Alkaleri General
Hospital for medical
treatment. He then advised
motorist to always obey
traffic regulations to reduce
the rate of accident along the
highways especially during
this festivity period when
there is mass movement of
people.
I must fight for a shirt,Akpeyi vows
Super Eagles' goalkeeper,
Daniel Akpeyi has said he is
prepared to fight his way to
the 2013 Afcon in South
Africa.
Akpeyi is among the four
goalkeepers named by
manager, Stephen Keshi on
Friday in the 32-man
provisional list for final
camping in Faro, Portugal.
Others are Vincent Enyeama,
Austin Ejide and Chigozie
Agbim. It is believed that one
goalkeeper will drop from
the final list of 23 players for
the Africa Cup of Nations.
Akpeyi said he is dead
serious to prove bookmakers
wrong by nipping a shirt in
the 2013 Afcon squad.
"I'm fully ready for the task
ahead and I'm determined to
give 110% to ensure I grab a
shirt in the Afcon squad."
"People are already thinking
I'm the next goalkeeper to
leave the camp. I'm not
discouraged or disturbed
but challenged to fight the
good fight while leaving
judgement to the coaches.
Daniel Akpeyi has said he is
prepared to fight his way to
the 2013 Afcon in South
Africa.
Akpeyi is among the four
goalkeepers named by
manager, Stephen Keshi on
Friday in the 32-man
provisional list for final
camping in Faro, Portugal.
Others are Vincent Enyeama,
Austin Ejide and Chigozie
Agbim. It is believed that one
goalkeeper will drop from
the final list of 23 players for
the Africa Cup of Nations.
Akpeyi said he is dead
serious to prove bookmakers
wrong by nipping a shirt in
the 2013 Afcon squad.
"I'm fully ready for the task
ahead and I'm determined to
give 110% to ensure I grab a
shirt in the Afcon squad."
"People are already thinking
I'm the next goalkeeper to
leave the camp. I'm not
discouraged or disturbed
but challenged to fight the
good fight while leaving
judgement to the coaches.
Eagles list: Adepoju,Howard rate Keshi’sselection high
By Ben Efe
…As Onigbinde dismisses
critics
Stephen Keshi's 32 man
tentative list for the Nations
Cup 2013 is generating
discussions after top strikers
Obafemi Martins and Osaze
Peter Odemwingie were
overlooked.
But two former ex-
international Franklin
Howard and Mutiu Adepoju
have given pass marks to
coach Keshi even as they
expressed surprise at the
dropping of Obafemi and
Osaze, two players who are
currently in top form for
their various clubs.
"I don't know why he
dropped those two. But he
must have his reasons.
However, I believe that he
has enough fire power to
carry the team to the final of
the Nations Cup. As for Taye
Taiwo, I don't think he will
be missed, there are capable
replacements. I have faith in
Keshi that after the camping
in Faro, Portugal he will give
us a very good team from
the home based and foreign
based players," said Howard,
a former teammate of Keshi
during their Flying Eagles
days.
Also speaking was former
Eagles attacking midfielder
Mutiu Adepoju. He submitted
that Keshi has his reasons
for dropping the top players.
Super Eagles
Super Eagles
"There will always be issues
whenever a coach releases
his team list. Keshi cannot be
faulted, we can only wait and
see what he will come out
with after the camping in
Portugal," said Adepoju, who
also played with Keshi in the
Super Eagles.
Keshi had revealed that
Osaze was not willing to play
for Nigeria, but the West
Brom goal hero denied. He
stated that he was ready to
lace the boots for the Eagles.
It was gathered that his poor
relationships with previous
coaches of the national team
might have been responsible
for his omission. Obafemi,
despite a good run of form
for Levante, failed to impress
the coach in their friendly
against Venezuela.
On some criticisms that
greeted the provisional list,
Chief Adegboye Onigbinde
argued that anyone who is
not in Keshi's mind cannot
justifiably criticise him on the
players he invited or ignored.
"Anyone who does not have
possession of the tactics,
pattern and strategy of Keshi
does not have the
justification to criticise him
over this list," Onigbinde told
supersport.com
He equally dismissed
insinuations that the Illah-
born gaffer may have been
pressurised to invite some
players, adding that, "Even at
club level, coaches face this
kind of pressure so you can
imagine the kind of pressure
they will face at international
level.
"When I was coach of
Shooting Stars, I had a list of
'political players' but when
they proved themselves, I
drafted them into the main
side. If they didn't, they never
played. Yes, there are
pressures as a coach but it is
left to the coach to decide
how best to deal with such
pressures."
…As Onigbinde dismisses
critics
Stephen Keshi's 32 man
tentative list for the Nations
Cup 2013 is generating
discussions after top strikers
Obafemi Martins and Osaze
Peter Odemwingie were
overlooked.
But two former ex-
international Franklin
Howard and Mutiu Adepoju
have given pass marks to
coach Keshi even as they
expressed surprise at the
dropping of Obafemi and
Osaze, two players who are
currently in top form for
their various clubs.
"I don't know why he
dropped those two. But he
must have his reasons.
However, I believe that he
has enough fire power to
carry the team to the final of
the Nations Cup. As for Taye
Taiwo, I don't think he will
be missed, there are capable
replacements. I have faith in
Keshi that after the camping
in Faro, Portugal he will give
us a very good team from
the home based and foreign
based players," said Howard,
a former teammate of Keshi
during their Flying Eagles
days.
Also speaking was former
Eagles attacking midfielder
Mutiu Adepoju. He submitted
that Keshi has his reasons
for dropping the top players.
Super Eagles
Super Eagles
"There will always be issues
whenever a coach releases
his team list. Keshi cannot be
faulted, we can only wait and
see what he will come out
with after the camping in
Portugal," said Adepoju, who
also played with Keshi in the
Super Eagles.
Keshi had revealed that
Osaze was not willing to play
for Nigeria, but the West
Brom goal hero denied. He
stated that he was ready to
lace the boots for the Eagles.
It was gathered that his poor
relationships with previous
coaches of the national team
might have been responsible
for his omission. Obafemi,
despite a good run of form
for Levante, failed to impress
the coach in their friendly
against Venezuela.
On some criticisms that
greeted the provisional list,
Chief Adegboye Onigbinde
argued that anyone who is
not in Keshi's mind cannot
justifiably criticise him on the
players he invited or ignored.
"Anyone who does not have
possession of the tactics,
pattern and strategy of Keshi
does not have the
justification to criticise him
over this list," Onigbinde told
supersport.com
He equally dismissed
insinuations that the Illah-
born gaffer may have been
pressurised to invite some
players, adding that, "Even at
club level, coaches face this
kind of pressure so you can
imagine the kind of pressure
they will face at international
level.
"When I was coach of
Shooting Stars, I had a list of
'political players' but when
they proved themselves, I
drafted them into the main
side. If they didn't, they never
played. Yes, there are
pressures as a coach but it is
left to the coach to decide
how best to deal with such
pressures."
NAFDAC Warehouse firerages
By Sola Ogundipe and
Chioma Obinna
The fire that broke out Friday
night at the Oshodi Central
stores, Lagos, office of the
National Agency for Food
and Drug Administration and
Control, NAFDAC, is still raging
more than 12 hours after.
When Vanguard arrived the
scene of the incident at
about 10.00 am Saturday
morning, tongues of flames
and huge plumes of smoke
continued to emanate from
the burning building.
Four fire engines marked FG
421 B20, FG 247 B20, LA129
A40, AS 620 GGE and FFS 43
were spotted around the
building.
Investigations revealed that a
loud explosion had rocked
the structure, a warehouse
in which several
consignments of fake,
counterfeit and
unwholesome regulated
products seized by the
Agency were stored, before
it went up in flames at about
7.45pm Friday night.
Several exploded and burnt
aerosol cans of the
confiscated products marked
"Beyond Oil Sheen Hair Spray
and hair Conditioner" as well
as some seized products
housed within the burning
building were seen littering
the immediate vicinity of the
incident.
At the time of this report,
about 25 men comprising a
combined team of fire
fighters from the Federal Fire
Service and the Lagos State
Fire Services, were still
battling to put out the fire.
Eyewitnesses said the
incident caught those within
the premises entirely by
surprise and even initial
attempts to put out he fire
were futile until the arrival of
the fire fighters.
NAFDAC warehouse,
Saturday. Photo: Sola
Ogundipe
NAFDAC warehouse,
Saturday. Photo: Sola
Ogundipe
In a chat, Assistant Controller,
Operations FFS, Lagos
command, Mr Ganiyu
Olayiwola told Vanguard, "I
was alerted at about 7.50pm
last light and immediately
mobilised my station. Three
fire trucks were sent from
Onikan, Ebutte Metta and
Surulere stations. Our men
arrived here promptly as
soon as they got the alert but
we encountered some
challenges gaining entrance
into the building.
"The gate was securely
locked and no one had the
key. It took a little while
before we could break a hole
in the wall behind the
building and partially gain
entry to douse the flames. It
was when somebody came
with the keys to the gate at
about 10.00pm that we
gained full entry."
Further, Olayiwola who
blamed the difficulty of totally
extinguishing the fire on the
nature of the materials
housed within the building,
said an excavator is needed
to remove the burnt
materials before access could
be gained to the source of
the fire below.
"The combustible nature of
the materials is not helping
matters. They are stacked
together in heaps, and we
cannot easily gain access to
the root of the fire
underneath.
"The solution is to look for
an excavator to removed the
top debris before the fire can
be effectively tackled from
underneath. We had a similar
situation during the Dana Air
crash and that was the
strategy we utilised to
extinguish the fire.
"All we are doing now is
damping down, but from my
experience, the permanent
solution is what I have
described. So it is when we
remove the top debris within
the warehouse that we can
then fight the fire better."
The fire office who said the
actual cause of the fire was
yet to be unravelled,
however, said it could not be
ruled out that it could be as a
result of spontaneous
ignition. He also said that
over 30 water trucks have
been expended so far, just as
Vanguard reporter at the
scene witnessed the arrival
of 5 additional water trucks.
According to Olayiwola, "this
is the dry season and
spontaneous ignition could
occur without a spark or
naked flame causing it."
Chioma Obinna
The fire that broke out Friday
night at the Oshodi Central
stores, Lagos, office of the
National Agency for Food
and Drug Administration and
Control, NAFDAC, is still raging
more than 12 hours after.
When Vanguard arrived the
scene of the incident at
about 10.00 am Saturday
morning, tongues of flames
and huge plumes of smoke
continued to emanate from
the burning building.
Four fire engines marked FG
421 B20, FG 247 B20, LA129
A40, AS 620 GGE and FFS 43
were spotted around the
building.
Investigations revealed that a
loud explosion had rocked
the structure, a warehouse
in which several
consignments of fake,
counterfeit and
unwholesome regulated
products seized by the
Agency were stored, before
it went up in flames at about
7.45pm Friday night.
Several exploded and burnt
aerosol cans of the
confiscated products marked
"Beyond Oil Sheen Hair Spray
and hair Conditioner" as well
as some seized products
housed within the burning
building were seen littering
the immediate vicinity of the
incident.
At the time of this report,
about 25 men comprising a
combined team of fire
fighters from the Federal Fire
Service and the Lagos State
Fire Services, were still
battling to put out the fire.
Eyewitnesses said the
incident caught those within
the premises entirely by
surprise and even initial
attempts to put out he fire
were futile until the arrival of
the fire fighters.
NAFDAC warehouse,
Saturday. Photo: Sola
Ogundipe
NAFDAC warehouse,
Saturday. Photo: Sola
Ogundipe
In a chat, Assistant Controller,
Operations FFS, Lagos
command, Mr Ganiyu
Olayiwola told Vanguard, "I
was alerted at about 7.50pm
last light and immediately
mobilised my station. Three
fire trucks were sent from
Onikan, Ebutte Metta and
Surulere stations. Our men
arrived here promptly as
soon as they got the alert but
we encountered some
challenges gaining entrance
into the building.
"The gate was securely
locked and no one had the
key. It took a little while
before we could break a hole
in the wall behind the
building and partially gain
entry to douse the flames. It
was when somebody came
with the keys to the gate at
about 10.00pm that we
gained full entry."
Further, Olayiwola who
blamed the difficulty of totally
extinguishing the fire on the
nature of the materials
housed within the building,
said an excavator is needed
to remove the burnt
materials before access could
be gained to the source of
the fire below.
"The combustible nature of
the materials is not helping
matters. They are stacked
together in heaps, and we
cannot easily gain access to
the root of the fire
underneath.
"The solution is to look for
an excavator to removed the
top debris before the fire can
be effectively tackled from
underneath. We had a similar
situation during the Dana Air
crash and that was the
strategy we utilised to
extinguish the fire.
"All we are doing now is
damping down, but from my
experience, the permanent
solution is what I have
described. So it is when we
remove the top debris within
the warehouse that we can
then fight the fire better."
The fire office who said the
actual cause of the fire was
yet to be unravelled,
however, said it could not be
ruled out that it could be as a
result of spontaneous
ignition. He also said that
over 30 water trucks have
been expended so far, just as
Vanguard reporter at the
scene witnessed the arrival
of 5 additional water trucks.
According to Olayiwola, "this
is the dry season and
spontaneous ignition could
occur without a spark or
naked flame causing it."
Kalu -Theodore OrjiControversy: We knowthose misleading Abia gov –Ikoh
Chief Ikoh is the head of
Mezie Obodo, a socio-
political group in the South-
East. In this interview, he
describes the moves being
made to reconcile former
Abia State Governor Orji
Kalu and the incumbent,
Chief Theodore Orji, as a
development that would
uplift the state. He also
calls on the National
Assembly to create an
additional state in the
South-East. Excerpts:
By Charles Kumolu
The frosty relationship
between the former Abia
governor, Orji Kalu, and the
incumbent, Theodore Orji, is
believed not to be in the
best interest of the state.
What is your position on it?
I have been a very strong
advocate of reconciliation
between the two foremost
citizens of the state. One of
the traits of a good leader is
the capacity to reconcile with
those that offended you in
the time past. We should
borrow a leaf from God,
whose attributes include
forgiveness and
reconciliation. The former
governor led the people of
Abia and the present is
leading the people of the
state. This means the former
governor was at a time
leading the present and the
present is now leading the
former. Reconciliation is the
key word. There is a game
being played at the state at
the moment by government
functionaries. The
government functionaries
make merchandise of every
speech or move the former
governor makes, they begin
to run errand for Gov. Orji for
their personal pockets to
show their loyalty. They
believe the more they attack
Kalu, the closer they get to
Gov. Orji, that is chidish. The
governor should be wary of
people making money from
him from these issues. The
spirit of reconciliation should
pervade Abia. For the sake of
unity and progress, the two
foremost citizens of the state
should reconcile if there is
anything between them.
Publicly, they have not told
us there is any issue
between them but from the
body language and
insinuation of their aides,
you will know there is no
love lost between them. They
should sheath their swords
and forget what might have
happened in time past. We
should have a think-tank
comprising past governors
of the state, past council
chairmen, former ministries
etc to chart the way forward
for Abia. We should not be
politicking; this is the time to
build.
What is your assessment of
the incumbent Abia
governor?
I have stopped assessing
Governor T.A. Orji as well as
comparing him with other
governors based on people's
opinions because there is
confusion when you hear
the complaints of Abia
people against the governor
bordering on non-
performance and the
response of the governor.
In the same vein, the
governor has, at different
fora in Lagos, debunked
those allegations. He has told
us his limitations and the
reasons for his poor
performance, including his
resolve not to borrow money
to execute projects.
However, from my
perspective, I look at
governance as complete
business; if you want to
borrow; borrow and justify
it in terms of provision of
quality governance. It
doesn't make sence if you
don't want to borrow to
impact on the lives of people.
If you have to borrow to
make the people see the
dividends of democracy then
borrow reasonably to
improve the people's lot and
when the time comes the
people will pay the debt. You
are not borrowing for
yourself; you are borrowing
for the entire state. It
becomes an offence when
you borrow to put into your
pocket. I have refrained from
joining issues with the
governor on his
performance for the time
being. I give him another
year to see what he could do
before I would start
pointing out issues again.
Even as you have refrained
from commenting on the
activities of the governor,
civil servants in the state
are complaining of salary
arrears?
I have relations in Abia civil
service who are owed three,
four month salary arrears. It
boils down to the focus and
style of governance of the
governor. I don't see reasons
after subjecting workers to
clocking system, at the end
of the month you don't pay
them. It is inhuman and,
biblically, it is wrong as a
labourer is worthy of his
wages at the end of the
month, If you don't pay
workers it demoralizes them,
leading to reduction in
productivity and loss of
confidence in their employer.
Mezie Obodo is the largest
socio-political group in Abia
and, to an extent, in
South-East. What do we
expect from it in 2015?
I don't know how long I will
continue to deny the
assumption that Mezie
Obodo is not a political
group. It is not my personal
brain child. I only played a
role in its formation. It is a
social interest group that is
trying to help and
complement government
efforts in the environment
we are operating. It is made
of people from different
classes and political
affiliations. People who are
gainfully employed constitute
members of Mezie Obodo.
We do social activities not
political. However, if they
want me to push the frontier
forward, I will say, in 2015,
the group will play a role that
no political organisation or
structure has ever played.
Our interest is that the next
governor of Abia State and
some other states in South
East will come from the
Mezie Obodo structure. By
then, from a social interest
group, we could assume a
political position and, from
any political party, we could
push a candidate that will
bring the dream and
aspirations of Abia and other
states in the South-East
people to bear.
theodore-orji1
Somebody who will position
Abia and make it a model for
other states to copy will
come on board. That is our
vision and aspiration. Mezie
Obodo will bring sunshine
back to Abia and the people
will see light and appreciate
the essence of governance.
In this vein, we will play a
major role in 2015 in Abia
and in the South-East, but, at
the moment, we are not into
politics, we don't want to
engage in any political
activity. We have people from
PDP, APGA, PPA, ACN and CPC
and other political parties in
Mezie Obodo. It is a rainbow
organisation comprising
people who share aspiration
of what a community should
be; how people should be
helped and assisted. It is the
largest social group in Abia
State and, in fact, east of the
Niger.
The Igbo say 2015 is their
turn to produce the
president. Do you share
this aspiration?
Igbo's turn to rule the
country has been since
yesterday, not even today,
not even 2015. That is, it is
long over due. We have
people to occupy the
position. We have the talent
and we are enterprising
enough to steer the ship of
the nation. In 2015 when
Igbo man will be in Aso
Rock, that is when Nigeria
will experience growth,
innovation, direction and
purposeful governance. It
must be somebody who has
the qualities and attributes
of the Igbo man. It is high
time we came up with
platform to steer the ship of
this nation to its destiny.
The National Assembly is
amending the Nigeria
Constitution. What are your
expectations?
I expect a true constitution
that will operate in its letter
and spirit, devoid of
ambiguity. I expect a
constitution that will address
the imbalance among the
regions especially the
creation of additional states
for all the regions to have
equal number of states. The
South East obviously should
have additional state(s) no
matter how it is done. Do the
right thing now matter how
it is arrived at. We should at
the end have a constitution
that has the imprint from the
people and not made by a
certain class of the society.
The constitution should give
full autonomy to the local
government; a local
government system whose
finances should not be
controlled by state
government. A council
system that would operate
from the center to bring
down governmental impact
to the lowest rung of the
society is the type of
constitution that should be
in place. Presently, the
governors are running the
councils as their private
estates. To me, local
government does not exist.
No opposition party wins a
council election just because
a governor conducts the
election and puts the people
he wants in order to control
the councils' funds.
Former Governor Orji Kalu
has come up with NjikoIgbo
towards Igbo 2015 project.
Do you buy into it against
your own group?
It is a welcome development.
The group is the coming
together of the Igbo. One
thing about Kalu is that he is
very intelligent, hard working
and visionary, and he will
stop at nothing to make
sure he gets what he wants.
He is somebody who shares
the pains and joy of people.
We in Mezie Obodo will not
waste time to align with
such organisation that is
intended to improve the lives
of the people. We will join
forces with him to make sure
the aspiration of the people
is achieved in the Nigeria
Project.
* Orji Kalu
* Orji Kalu
Kalu has been very upbeat in
political activities and that is
a good signal especially in
Abia State that will show
those who roughshod the
people in the last election
that it is not going to be easy
for them in 2015. The
electoral fraud or heist of
2011 will never happen
again .In 2015, people will
vote and their vote counted.
What happened in Imo State
in 2011 will replicate in Abia
in 2015.
Mezie Obodo, a socio-
political group in the South-
East. In this interview, he
describes the moves being
made to reconcile former
Abia State Governor Orji
Kalu and the incumbent,
Chief Theodore Orji, as a
development that would
uplift the state. He also
calls on the National
Assembly to create an
additional state in the
South-East. Excerpts:
By Charles Kumolu
The frosty relationship
between the former Abia
governor, Orji Kalu, and the
incumbent, Theodore Orji, is
believed not to be in the
best interest of the state.
What is your position on it?
I have been a very strong
advocate of reconciliation
between the two foremost
citizens of the state. One of
the traits of a good leader is
the capacity to reconcile with
those that offended you in
the time past. We should
borrow a leaf from God,
whose attributes include
forgiveness and
reconciliation. The former
governor led the people of
Abia and the present is
leading the people of the
state. This means the former
governor was at a time
leading the present and the
present is now leading the
former. Reconciliation is the
key word. There is a game
being played at the state at
the moment by government
functionaries. The
government functionaries
make merchandise of every
speech or move the former
governor makes, they begin
to run errand for Gov. Orji for
their personal pockets to
show their loyalty. They
believe the more they attack
Kalu, the closer they get to
Gov. Orji, that is chidish. The
governor should be wary of
people making money from
him from these issues. The
spirit of reconciliation should
pervade Abia. For the sake of
unity and progress, the two
foremost citizens of the state
should reconcile if there is
anything between them.
Publicly, they have not told
us there is any issue
between them but from the
body language and
insinuation of their aides,
you will know there is no
love lost between them. They
should sheath their swords
and forget what might have
happened in time past. We
should have a think-tank
comprising past governors
of the state, past council
chairmen, former ministries
etc to chart the way forward
for Abia. We should not be
politicking; this is the time to
build.
What is your assessment of
the incumbent Abia
governor?
I have stopped assessing
Governor T.A. Orji as well as
comparing him with other
governors based on people's
opinions because there is
confusion when you hear
the complaints of Abia
people against the governor
bordering on non-
performance and the
response of the governor.
In the same vein, the
governor has, at different
fora in Lagos, debunked
those allegations. He has told
us his limitations and the
reasons for his poor
performance, including his
resolve not to borrow money
to execute projects.
However, from my
perspective, I look at
governance as complete
business; if you want to
borrow; borrow and justify
it in terms of provision of
quality governance. It
doesn't make sence if you
don't want to borrow to
impact on the lives of people.
If you have to borrow to
make the people see the
dividends of democracy then
borrow reasonably to
improve the people's lot and
when the time comes the
people will pay the debt. You
are not borrowing for
yourself; you are borrowing
for the entire state. It
becomes an offence when
you borrow to put into your
pocket. I have refrained from
joining issues with the
governor on his
performance for the time
being. I give him another
year to see what he could do
before I would start
pointing out issues again.
Even as you have refrained
from commenting on the
activities of the governor,
civil servants in the state
are complaining of salary
arrears?
I have relations in Abia civil
service who are owed three,
four month salary arrears. It
boils down to the focus and
style of governance of the
governor. I don't see reasons
after subjecting workers to
clocking system, at the end
of the month you don't pay
them. It is inhuman and,
biblically, it is wrong as a
labourer is worthy of his
wages at the end of the
month, If you don't pay
workers it demoralizes them,
leading to reduction in
productivity and loss of
confidence in their employer.
Mezie Obodo is the largest
socio-political group in Abia
and, to an extent, in
South-East. What do we
expect from it in 2015?
I don't know how long I will
continue to deny the
assumption that Mezie
Obodo is not a political
group. It is not my personal
brain child. I only played a
role in its formation. It is a
social interest group that is
trying to help and
complement government
efforts in the environment
we are operating. It is made
of people from different
classes and political
affiliations. People who are
gainfully employed constitute
members of Mezie Obodo.
We do social activities not
political. However, if they
want me to push the frontier
forward, I will say, in 2015,
the group will play a role that
no political organisation or
structure has ever played.
Our interest is that the next
governor of Abia State and
some other states in South
East will come from the
Mezie Obodo structure. By
then, from a social interest
group, we could assume a
political position and, from
any political party, we could
push a candidate that will
bring the dream and
aspirations of Abia and other
states in the South-East
people to bear.
theodore-orji1
Somebody who will position
Abia and make it a model for
other states to copy will
come on board. That is our
vision and aspiration. Mezie
Obodo will bring sunshine
back to Abia and the people
will see light and appreciate
the essence of governance.
In this vein, we will play a
major role in 2015 in Abia
and in the South-East, but, at
the moment, we are not into
politics, we don't want to
engage in any political
activity. We have people from
PDP, APGA, PPA, ACN and CPC
and other political parties in
Mezie Obodo. It is a rainbow
organisation comprising
people who share aspiration
of what a community should
be; how people should be
helped and assisted. It is the
largest social group in Abia
State and, in fact, east of the
Niger.
The Igbo say 2015 is their
turn to produce the
president. Do you share
this aspiration?
Igbo's turn to rule the
country has been since
yesterday, not even today,
not even 2015. That is, it is
long over due. We have
people to occupy the
position. We have the talent
and we are enterprising
enough to steer the ship of
the nation. In 2015 when
Igbo man will be in Aso
Rock, that is when Nigeria
will experience growth,
innovation, direction and
purposeful governance. It
must be somebody who has
the qualities and attributes
of the Igbo man. It is high
time we came up with
platform to steer the ship of
this nation to its destiny.
The National Assembly is
amending the Nigeria
Constitution. What are your
expectations?
I expect a true constitution
that will operate in its letter
and spirit, devoid of
ambiguity. I expect a
constitution that will address
the imbalance among the
regions especially the
creation of additional states
for all the regions to have
equal number of states. The
South East obviously should
have additional state(s) no
matter how it is done. Do the
right thing now matter how
it is arrived at. We should at
the end have a constitution
that has the imprint from the
people and not made by a
certain class of the society.
The constitution should give
full autonomy to the local
government; a local
government system whose
finances should not be
controlled by state
government. A council
system that would operate
from the center to bring
down governmental impact
to the lowest rung of the
society is the type of
constitution that should be
in place. Presently, the
governors are running the
councils as their private
estates. To me, local
government does not exist.
No opposition party wins a
council election just because
a governor conducts the
election and puts the people
he wants in order to control
the councils' funds.
Former Governor Orji Kalu
has come up with NjikoIgbo
towards Igbo 2015 project.
Do you buy into it against
your own group?
It is a welcome development.
The group is the coming
together of the Igbo. One
thing about Kalu is that he is
very intelligent, hard working
and visionary, and he will
stop at nothing to make
sure he gets what he wants.
He is somebody who shares
the pains and joy of people.
We in Mezie Obodo will not
waste time to align with
such organisation that is
intended to improve the lives
of the people. We will join
forces with him to make sure
the aspiration of the people
is achieved in the Nigeria
Project.
* Orji Kalu
* Orji Kalu
Kalu has been very upbeat in
political activities and that is
a good signal especially in
Abia State that will show
those who roughshod the
people in the last election
that it is not going to be easy
for them in 2015. The
electoral fraud or heist of
2011 will never happen
again .In 2015, people will
vote and their vote counted.
What happened in Imo State
in 2011 will replicate in Abia
in 2015.
Bayelsa Crash: CAN calls forprobe
THE President of Christian
Association of Nigeria, CAN,
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has
urged the Federal
Government to ensure that
the investigation into last
Saturday's helicopter crash
in Bayelsa was thorough,
reports JOSEPH ERUNKE.
The CAN president said he
was worried at the
frequency of air mishaps in
Nigeria, the latest of which
was last Saturday's crash.
Pastor Oritsejafor who
issued a statement
Wednesday, in Abuja,
through his Special Assistant
on Media and Public Affairs,
Mr. Kenny Ashaka,
commiserating with the
families of those who lost
their loved ones, regretted
that Nigeria has lost many
lives in recent times through
air mishaps.
The CAN president said he
backed the Federal
Government, the Nigerian
Navy and the Senate's plan to
investigate the mishap just
as he expressed satisfaction
with the decision of the
Governors' Forum to engage
a consultant to serve as an
observer in the investigation.
File photo: Scene of the
crash, near Okoroba in
Nembe Local Government
Area of Bayelsa state.
Photo: Samuel
Oyandongha.
File photo: Scene of the
crash, near Okoroba in
Nembe Local Government
Area of Bayelsa state. Photo:
Samuel Oyandongha.
"All hands must be on deck
because Nigeria cannot
afford to lose highly placed
government officials, other
categories of the Nigerians,"
the statement said, adding
"the investigations must
involve aircraft investigation
specialists in order to ensure
that such panels come up
with recommendations that
would forestall future
occurrences and avert
rumour being peddled.
"This time, the outcome of
such investigations must be
made public and their
recommendations
implemented after due
process must have been
followed", the statement
added.
Association of Nigeria, CAN,
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has
urged the Federal
Government to ensure that
the investigation into last
Saturday's helicopter crash
in Bayelsa was thorough,
reports JOSEPH ERUNKE.
The CAN president said he
was worried at the
frequency of air mishaps in
Nigeria, the latest of which
was last Saturday's crash.
Pastor Oritsejafor who
issued a statement
Wednesday, in Abuja,
through his Special Assistant
on Media and Public Affairs,
Mr. Kenny Ashaka,
commiserating with the
families of those who lost
their loved ones, regretted
that Nigeria has lost many
lives in recent times through
air mishaps.
The CAN president said he
backed the Federal
Government, the Nigerian
Navy and the Senate's plan to
investigate the mishap just
as he expressed satisfaction
with the decision of the
Governors' Forum to engage
a consultant to serve as an
observer in the investigation.
File photo: Scene of the
crash, near Okoroba in
Nembe Local Government
Area of Bayelsa state.
Photo: Samuel
Oyandongha.
File photo: Scene of the
crash, near Okoroba in
Nembe Local Government
Area of Bayelsa state. Photo:
Samuel Oyandongha.
"All hands must be on deck
because Nigeria cannot
afford to lose highly placed
government officials, other
categories of the Nigerians,"
the statement said, adding
"the investigations must
involve aircraft investigation
specialists in order to ensure
that such panels come up
with recommendations that
would forestall future
occurrences and avert
rumour being peddled.
"This time, the outcome of
such investigations must be
made public and their
recommendations
implemented after due
process must have been
followed", the statement
added.
Economy in 2012: The gainsand challenges
*800 firms close shop due to
harsh climate
BY UDEME CLEMENT
2012 witnessed remarked
changes in various sectors of
the economy, especially the
banking industry. While
government tried to map out
new strategies to reposition
the economy for greater
growth, experts are of the
opinion that government
needs a pragmatic approach
to actualise the
transformation of the
economy.Sunday Business
takes a look at the activities
in the various sectors during
the outgoing year.
The energy sector
The electricity generating
capacity stands at between
4,200 and 5,000 mega watts
(MW), even as government
stressed that with the effort
of the Nigeria Independent
Power Projects (NIPP),
commissioned in phases
across the country, power
generation will hit7,000 MW
by the first quarter of 2013.
Government emphasised that
with gas production in
excess of 500 standards
cubic feet, more modules
from the NIPP plants will be
able to provide electricity to
the national grid, such that
many communities can enjoy
uninterrupted power supply
of 16 hours per day and
more.
Economic experts are of the
opinion that Nigeria needs
electricity generation
capacity of about 35,000 MW
by the year 2020 for
domestic and industrial
consumption. A lecturer in
Economics Department,
Lagos State University (LASU),
who spoke with Sunday
Business under anonymity,
explained, " Nigeria has a
population of over
N160million people. So we
need about 35,000MW of
electricity generation to
achieve Vision 20:2020. For
instance, South Africa has
about 40,000MW electricity
generation with a population
of only 50 million and Brazil
has 100,000MW with a
population of just 192
million. It means we have a
long way to go in tackling
the power crisis. There must
be significant investment in
rural electrification
programmes to fast track
expansion of transmission
and distribution lines to rural
areas in the country."
Also, Sunday Business learnt
that government has
concluded plans to disburse
N170 billion to workers of
the Power Holding Company
of Nigeria (PHCN) to cover
their gratuities as well as
pension as agreed by
government and
representatives of labour
unions in the PHCN, for the
transfer of ownership of the
parastatal to successor
companies.
economy
The downstream sector/
Petroleum Industry Bill
The oil and gas sector of the
economy has been in the
news throughout 2012. For
instance, the year began
with a sudden increase in
the pump price of fuel from
N65 per litre to N150 and
subsequently N97 after a
nationwide strike and
protests by Nigeria Labour
Congress (NLC), which
compelled government to
reconsider its position. The
new fuel price regime paved
the way for a probe into the
activities of oil marketers in
the country, which yielded
subsidy scam, which is still
lingering.
Also, the Petroleum Industrial
Bill (PIB) designed to
streamline operations in the
sector to ensure a level
playing ground for
International Oil Companies
as well as local firms has
been in the National
Assembly since 2008 without
any positive outcome. The bill
has not been passed into law
notwithstanding the fact that
the petroleum minister, Mrs.
Diezani Allison-Madueke,
said that the revised version
of the bill was sent the
National Assembly for
consideration.
The banking industry
The banking sector
experienced some reforms
ranging from merger of
some banks to the removal
of N100 charge on the use of
Automated Teller Machines
(ATM). Some of the reforms
in the sector include,
cashless policy, which limits
the level of withdrawal by
individuals to N500.000 and
corporate body to N3million,
attempt by the Central Bank
of Nigeria to introduce
N5000 bank note, and
currency restructuring. For
instance, in first quarter of
2012, Access Bank Plc and
Intercontinental fused into
one entity, Ecobank acquired
Oceanic Bank,
Spring Bank became
Enterprise Bank Limited, First
City Monument Bank
acquired FinBank, Bank PHB
became Keystone Bank
Limited, Afribank became
Mainstreet Bank Limited,
Sterling Bank acquired
Equitorial Trust Bank while
Union Bank of Nigeria is now
owned by African Capital
Alliance Consortium.
Manufacturing sector
Economic experts say the
manufacturing sector
contributes only 5 per cent
to the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP). The Nigerian
Association of Chambers of
Commerce, Industry Mines
and Agriculture (NACCIMA)
recently said no fewer than
800 companies in Nigeria
closed shop between 2009
and 2011 mainly due to
harsh operating business
environment.
According to the president of
NACCIMA, Dr. Herbert Ajayi.
"More than half of the
surviving firms had been
classified as ailing, which
poses a serious threat to the
survival of the manufacturing
industry in the country.
Capacity utilisation in
industries hovered around
30 per cent and 45 per cent
on the average, with 100 per
cent overhead costs. Political
and economic factors
contribute greatly to the
decline in the manufacturing
sectors. For instance, poor
infrastructure and epileptic
power supply are also key
impediments to the industry.
The industry as a whole
operates on more than 70
per cent of energy it
generates, using generators
and operating these
generators greatly increases
the cost of manufacturing
goods in Nigeria . Other
factors include increase in
the prices of petroleum
products used by industries,
multiple taxation, unabated
smuggling and inadequate
access to finance, both local
and abroad".
Data obtained from the office
of the Director General, West
African Institute of Financial
and Economic Management,
stated, "In developed
countries where the real
sectors are thriving,
manufacturing contribute as
much as between 35 and 40
per cent to the GDP. For
instance, in Malaysia, the
manufacturing sector
contributess about 45 per
cent to the GDP. Our
manufacturing sector must
function optimally to
generate more jobs if we are
to realise the Vision 2020
target.
"At present, about 30million
youths are unemployed in
Nigeria . The economy is
growing at almost 8 per
cent, but we still have rising
level of poverty of about 70
per cent. The rate of
unemployment stands at
about 24 per cent, which is
about 35 percent among the
youths. Though increasing
unemployment rate is a
global phenomenon, we
must tackle it in Nigeria . The
inflation rate is 12.8 per cent.
So what we are experiencing
as economic growth rate is
only marginal increase. Every
year, government prepares
the entire budget depending
on income from crude oil. So,
the economy is still heavily
dependent on oil, while the
manufacturing sector, which
has the potentials to create
jobs and generate more
revenue, is not given the
required attention. The rate
of unemployment is growing
faster than the growth of the
economy. Increase in rural
unemployment is also
disturbing".
Aviation sector
The sector under the
supervision of Nigerian Civil
Aviation Authority (NCAA)
witnessed tremendous
improvements until the Dana
plane crash of June, which
claimed over 153 lives. Some
experts said the sector is
suffering from policies
inconsistency and lack of
proper plan to enhance rapid
development.
However, the sector may
soon experience greater
efficiency, as one of the
leading airlines in the world,
British Airways, has indicated
interest to assist Nigeria in
developing the industry. The
company will partner with
the Nigerian government to
reposition the sector .
Agriculture/ Small and
Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
The agric sector witnessed
some improvement during
the year. For instance, the
sector, according to the
National Bureau of Statistics
(NBS), contributed N2.9
billion to GDP in the second
quarter of 2012. The revenue
accounted for about 41
percent of the oil-rich
nation's total GDP for the
quarter. Aside from that,
under the Agricultural
Transformation Agenda
(ATA), government is
implementing a new fertilizer
programme whereby
government will withdraw
from fertilizer distribution to
the development of the
private sector to take on
these functions to enhance
development.
In the same vein, Small and
Medium Scale Enterprises,
according to experts,
contribute nearly half of the
GDP and accounts for over
25 percent of employment in
the country. Also, the recent
release from the Enterprise
Baseline Survey 2012 stated
that there are 17 million
Small and Medium Scale
Enterprises in Nigeria ,
employing 32.41 million
persons and making a
contribution of about 46.54
per cent to the GDP.
Also, the CBN has been in the
forefront of building a
synergy between the
financial and real sector of
the economy in order to
enhance accessibility to
capital for operators of SMEs
in the country. The initiative
is to ensure that the
operators of SMEs have
access to low cost funds to
boost their operations and
for start-ups to enhance
expansion of smaller units of
businesses across the
country. This will bring about
long-term benefit of
boosting domestic
production capacity for local
manufacturers, such that
they are able to carry out
operations with reduced
cost. In April 2009, the CBN
created N200 billion
Commercial Agriculture Credit
Scheme to stimulate growth
in the SMEs sub-sector, with
subsequent approval of
N500 billion intervention
fund in 2010 for the
manufacturing industry.
harsh climate
BY UDEME CLEMENT
2012 witnessed remarked
changes in various sectors of
the economy, especially the
banking industry. While
government tried to map out
new strategies to reposition
the economy for greater
growth, experts are of the
opinion that government
needs a pragmatic approach
to actualise the
transformation of the
economy.Sunday Business
takes a look at the activities
in the various sectors during
the outgoing year.
The energy sector
The electricity generating
capacity stands at between
4,200 and 5,000 mega watts
(MW), even as government
stressed that with the effort
of the Nigeria Independent
Power Projects (NIPP),
commissioned in phases
across the country, power
generation will hit7,000 MW
by the first quarter of 2013.
Government emphasised that
with gas production in
excess of 500 standards
cubic feet, more modules
from the NIPP plants will be
able to provide electricity to
the national grid, such that
many communities can enjoy
uninterrupted power supply
of 16 hours per day and
more.
Economic experts are of the
opinion that Nigeria needs
electricity generation
capacity of about 35,000 MW
by the year 2020 for
domestic and industrial
consumption. A lecturer in
Economics Department,
Lagos State University (LASU),
who spoke with Sunday
Business under anonymity,
explained, " Nigeria has a
population of over
N160million people. So we
need about 35,000MW of
electricity generation to
achieve Vision 20:2020. For
instance, South Africa has
about 40,000MW electricity
generation with a population
of only 50 million and Brazil
has 100,000MW with a
population of just 192
million. It means we have a
long way to go in tackling
the power crisis. There must
be significant investment in
rural electrification
programmes to fast track
expansion of transmission
and distribution lines to rural
areas in the country."
Also, Sunday Business learnt
that government has
concluded plans to disburse
N170 billion to workers of
the Power Holding Company
of Nigeria (PHCN) to cover
their gratuities as well as
pension as agreed by
government and
representatives of labour
unions in the PHCN, for the
transfer of ownership of the
parastatal to successor
companies.
economy
The downstream sector/
Petroleum Industry Bill
The oil and gas sector of the
economy has been in the
news throughout 2012. For
instance, the year began
with a sudden increase in
the pump price of fuel from
N65 per litre to N150 and
subsequently N97 after a
nationwide strike and
protests by Nigeria Labour
Congress (NLC), which
compelled government to
reconsider its position. The
new fuel price regime paved
the way for a probe into the
activities of oil marketers in
the country, which yielded
subsidy scam, which is still
lingering.
Also, the Petroleum Industrial
Bill (PIB) designed to
streamline operations in the
sector to ensure a level
playing ground for
International Oil Companies
as well as local firms has
been in the National
Assembly since 2008 without
any positive outcome. The bill
has not been passed into law
notwithstanding the fact that
the petroleum minister, Mrs.
Diezani Allison-Madueke,
said that the revised version
of the bill was sent the
National Assembly for
consideration.
The banking industry
The banking sector
experienced some reforms
ranging from merger of
some banks to the removal
of N100 charge on the use of
Automated Teller Machines
(ATM). Some of the reforms
in the sector include,
cashless policy, which limits
the level of withdrawal by
individuals to N500.000 and
corporate body to N3million,
attempt by the Central Bank
of Nigeria to introduce
N5000 bank note, and
currency restructuring. For
instance, in first quarter of
2012, Access Bank Plc and
Intercontinental fused into
one entity, Ecobank acquired
Oceanic Bank,
Spring Bank became
Enterprise Bank Limited, First
City Monument Bank
acquired FinBank, Bank PHB
became Keystone Bank
Limited, Afribank became
Mainstreet Bank Limited,
Sterling Bank acquired
Equitorial Trust Bank while
Union Bank of Nigeria is now
owned by African Capital
Alliance Consortium.
Manufacturing sector
Economic experts say the
manufacturing sector
contributes only 5 per cent
to the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP). The Nigerian
Association of Chambers of
Commerce, Industry Mines
and Agriculture (NACCIMA)
recently said no fewer than
800 companies in Nigeria
closed shop between 2009
and 2011 mainly due to
harsh operating business
environment.
According to the president of
NACCIMA, Dr. Herbert Ajayi.
"More than half of the
surviving firms had been
classified as ailing, which
poses a serious threat to the
survival of the manufacturing
industry in the country.
Capacity utilisation in
industries hovered around
30 per cent and 45 per cent
on the average, with 100 per
cent overhead costs. Political
and economic factors
contribute greatly to the
decline in the manufacturing
sectors. For instance, poor
infrastructure and epileptic
power supply are also key
impediments to the industry.
The industry as a whole
operates on more than 70
per cent of energy it
generates, using generators
and operating these
generators greatly increases
the cost of manufacturing
goods in Nigeria . Other
factors include increase in
the prices of petroleum
products used by industries,
multiple taxation, unabated
smuggling and inadequate
access to finance, both local
and abroad".
Data obtained from the office
of the Director General, West
African Institute of Financial
and Economic Management,
stated, "In developed
countries where the real
sectors are thriving,
manufacturing contribute as
much as between 35 and 40
per cent to the GDP. For
instance, in Malaysia, the
manufacturing sector
contributess about 45 per
cent to the GDP. Our
manufacturing sector must
function optimally to
generate more jobs if we are
to realise the Vision 2020
target.
"At present, about 30million
youths are unemployed in
Nigeria . The economy is
growing at almost 8 per
cent, but we still have rising
level of poverty of about 70
per cent. The rate of
unemployment stands at
about 24 per cent, which is
about 35 percent among the
youths. Though increasing
unemployment rate is a
global phenomenon, we
must tackle it in Nigeria . The
inflation rate is 12.8 per cent.
So what we are experiencing
as economic growth rate is
only marginal increase. Every
year, government prepares
the entire budget depending
on income from crude oil. So,
the economy is still heavily
dependent on oil, while the
manufacturing sector, which
has the potentials to create
jobs and generate more
revenue, is not given the
required attention. The rate
of unemployment is growing
faster than the growth of the
economy. Increase in rural
unemployment is also
disturbing".
Aviation sector
The sector under the
supervision of Nigerian Civil
Aviation Authority (NCAA)
witnessed tremendous
improvements until the Dana
plane crash of June, which
claimed over 153 lives. Some
experts said the sector is
suffering from policies
inconsistency and lack of
proper plan to enhance rapid
development.
However, the sector may
soon experience greater
efficiency, as one of the
leading airlines in the world,
British Airways, has indicated
interest to assist Nigeria in
developing the industry. The
company will partner with
the Nigerian government to
reposition the sector .
Agriculture/ Small and
Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
The agric sector witnessed
some improvement during
the year. For instance, the
sector, according to the
National Bureau of Statistics
(NBS), contributed N2.9
billion to GDP in the second
quarter of 2012. The revenue
accounted for about 41
percent of the oil-rich
nation's total GDP for the
quarter. Aside from that,
under the Agricultural
Transformation Agenda
(ATA), government is
implementing a new fertilizer
programme whereby
government will withdraw
from fertilizer distribution to
the development of the
private sector to take on
these functions to enhance
development.
In the same vein, Small and
Medium Scale Enterprises,
according to experts,
contribute nearly half of the
GDP and accounts for over
25 percent of employment in
the country. Also, the recent
release from the Enterprise
Baseline Survey 2012 stated
that there are 17 million
Small and Medium Scale
Enterprises in Nigeria ,
employing 32.41 million
persons and making a
contribution of about 46.54
per cent to the GDP.
Also, the CBN has been in the
forefront of building a
synergy between the
financial and real sector of
the economy in order to
enhance accessibility to
capital for operators of SMEs
in the country. The initiative
is to ensure that the
operators of SMEs have
access to low cost funds to
boost their operations and
for start-ups to enhance
expansion of smaller units of
businesses across the
country. This will bring about
long-term benefit of
boosting domestic
production capacity for local
manufacturers, such that
they are able to carry out
operations with reduced
cost. In April 2009, the CBN
created N200 billion
Commercial Agriculture Credit
Scheme to stimulate growth
in the SMEs sub-sector, with
subsequent approval of
N500 billion intervention
fund in 2010 for the
manufacturing industry.
Army officer, oil unionofficials fingered in kidnap/tanker hijacks
By Emma Amaize, Regional
Editor, South-South
…Police, military disagree on
culpability of corporal
A syndicate specializing in
hijacking loaded petroleum
products in Delta State,
kidnapping owners/drivers
of affected trucks and
holding them hostage until
the products are
illegitimately sold have been
exposed by the police.
The gang, which allegedly
parades a serving soldier
and five officials of the
National Union of Petroleum
and Natural Gas Workers,
NUPENG, as the operators
have been in the money-
spinning business for more
than one year, until recently
when men of the Special
Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS,
burst it.
Information revealed that
the syndicate owned a
master key with which they
steal vehicles and the
members were hibernating
in Ughelli, Agbarho, Effurun
and Orerokpe, all in Delta
State.
The notorious gang had
made life agonizing on the
Ughelli/Warri and Warri-
Abraka-Agbor highways
uncomfortable for tanker
drivers.
They used signposts to flag
down tanker drivers because
they were aware of the rules
guiding NUPENG, which
makes it mandatory for the
drivers to stop for checks,
while the involvement of the
army officer in the syndicate
makes buyers in Benin City to
think that the business was
legal.
Luck, however, ran out of
them when the SARS
received information about
their escapades and arrested
one of them, identified as
Kelly, who, on interrogation,
spilled the beans. Police
detectives trailed and later
seized other members of the
gang, including Shedrack,
Austin, Uruemu, Odafe and
the army officer.
Delta State Commissioner of
Police, Mr. Ikechukwu
Aduba, confirmed the
bursting of the kidnapping/
tanker hijack gang, "The
gang members under
interrogation confessed and
named a serving army
corporal and one Mamus,
now at large, supplying
arms to the gang", Aduba
said.
"Items recovered from them
include one red Volkswagon
Vento car and another blue
Volkswagon Vento car,
which the gang used for
operation," he added.
Illegal-refinery-Army
Resume of gang members
Kelly: Investigations showed
that Kelly, from Agbarho in
Ughelli North local
government area, is,
according to security
sources, a truck driver. He
was attached to the
monitoring team of NUPENG
and assigned the
responsibility of checking
products diversion and
hoarding in filling stations,
but stopped working with
the team in January when he
found the kidnapping/
hijacking business to be
more profitable. He was
residing in Orerorokpe when
the business started.
Shedrack : Sources say he
hails from Agbarho and is a
driver by profession. Austin:
He is said to be an indigene
of Effurun in Ughelli South
local government and was
said to be a house painter.
Uruemu: The suspect is
allegedly from Eku in Ughelli
South local government and
is a dealer in petroleum
products. Kelly, sources said,
used to be his driver.
Odafe : He is allegedly from
Ekwere in Agbarho and
holds an Ordinary National
Diploma in civil engineering.
John: He is identified as an
army corporal attached to
the 3 Battalion, Effurun. This
army officer was alleged to
be supplying arms to the
gang and initiated people
into the gang.
Escapades
A source familiar with the
exploits of the syndicate said
that, sometime, last year,
Kelly, Shedrack, John, Odafe
and one Ojo ambushed a
tanker loaded with kerosene
at Oha old Bridge. The army
officer, who, reportedly,
wore his army uniform,
ordered the vehicle to stop
and, when it did, the driver
and conducted were
abducted and he (the army
officer) drove the vehicle to
Benin City in company of
Kelly.
The "hostage" was allegedly
ordered into Ojo's car on
that day while Sunday
Vanguard was informed that
the syndicate sold the
product in Benin City. They
drove the tanker back to and
parked it along Eku/Sapele
Road.
After that, they brought out
the driver and his conductor
and dropped them very close
to the tanker on the said
road.
Investigations carried out by
the police showed the
product was sold to one Gabi
and Godspower and trans-
loaded into another tanker in
a compound in Benin City.
Odafe admitted to the police
that he got N75,000 from
this operation.
Master key
Sunday Vanguard was told
that, on a certain day, four
members of the gang were
returning from Lagos for an
operation with the army
corporal when they ran out
of fuel and the corporal left
and came back later with
one of the members in a
Camry car. When asked how
they got the vehicle, he said
somebody gave him a master
key with with they opened
the vehicle. Kelly also
admitted to police detectives
that he once stole a Camry
car at Orerokpe and sold, to
a car dealer in Benin City.
More exploits
We also gathered that
sometime, this year, Kelly,
Austin and Timothy hijacked
a truck and sold the product
in Benin City at N65 per liter.
One of them got N35,000 as
his share from the operation.
In addition, the gang
hijacked another tanker at
Koko junction and took the
driver to a bush before
Shedrack, Timothy and Kelly
drove the vehicle to Benin
City to sell the product. The
operation yielded N30,000
each to the syndicate.
Hullabaloo
The army corporal was said
to have admitted
membership of the gang to
the police, but a top army
officer told Sunday Vanguard
that the police was telling a
cock and bull story. He said,
"For the avoidance of doubt,
the 3 Battalion, Effurun, had
since arrested the army
personnel that was
mentioned, he is languishing
in cell since the allegation
was made against him".
"However, when the police
came with other suspects
that were arrested, he was
paraded and they could not
identify him. They were
saying that person that was
their accomplice had a tribal
mark, but the soldier in
question does not have a
tribal mark. You see, there is
doubt as to his culpability
and we do not want to
punish an innocent person
wrongly."
The officer explained that the
army authorities would not
cover any personnel involved
in shady practices, hence the
soldier that accusing finger
was pointed at was arrested,
but the allegation has not
been proved. A senior police
officer, who spoke to Sunday
Vanguard on the
development, said, "Whoever
spoke to you on the army
side is standing the truth on
the head. The army corporal
was identified by members
of the syndicate as their
member, he is the one that
was bringing guns and he
facilitated their operation
with his army uniform.
"It is because he is in
uniform that the syndicate
found it very easy to carry
out their nefarious activities
until they were caught. The
army said they were carrying
out orderly room trial and
the suspects in our custody
identified the soldier. We
have asked them to hand
him over to us for
prosecution, but they are still
holding on to him.
"How can they say that there
is doubt when he (suspect)
admitted to the police that
he went to Orerokpe to meet
Kelly for the Orerokpe truck
hijack. He was the one that
took the truck loaded with
diesel to Benin City, after
which he was given
N120,000.
"He also admitted going to
Benin City with the other
suspects, but denied stealing
any of the two Camry cars
from Orerokpe and Benin
City and disposing them in
Benin City".
NUPENG validates existence
of gang
Investigations also showed
that the police visited
NUPENG office in Ekpan, near
Warri, where officials
confirmed that several
tankers were hijacked and
drivers taken hostage and
robbed by an unknown
gang.
Following the revelations, the
police were able to obtain
some case files concerning a
number of hijack incidents
from the Divisional Police
Officers in Isiokolo and
Abraka, which revealed the
owners of two of the trucks
stolen to be Messrs.
Emmanuel Nwafor and
Ndukwe A.U. Ndukwe. The
cost of the stolen kerosene
was put at N2.8 million, but
the owners of the diesel
products could not be
located.
A police source told Sunday
Vanguard, "The owners of
the cars stolen at Orerokpe
were identified, but when
detectives visited Benin City
to arrest receivers, it was a
fruitless efforts, as they had
become aware of the
manhunt for them and
disappeared into thin air."
Editor, South-South
…Police, military disagree on
culpability of corporal
A syndicate specializing in
hijacking loaded petroleum
products in Delta State,
kidnapping owners/drivers
of affected trucks and
holding them hostage until
the products are
illegitimately sold have been
exposed by the police.
The gang, which allegedly
parades a serving soldier
and five officials of the
National Union of Petroleum
and Natural Gas Workers,
NUPENG, as the operators
have been in the money-
spinning business for more
than one year, until recently
when men of the Special
Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS,
burst it.
Information revealed that
the syndicate owned a
master key with which they
steal vehicles and the
members were hibernating
in Ughelli, Agbarho, Effurun
and Orerokpe, all in Delta
State.
The notorious gang had
made life agonizing on the
Ughelli/Warri and Warri-
Abraka-Agbor highways
uncomfortable for tanker
drivers.
They used signposts to flag
down tanker drivers because
they were aware of the rules
guiding NUPENG, which
makes it mandatory for the
drivers to stop for checks,
while the involvement of the
army officer in the syndicate
makes buyers in Benin City to
think that the business was
legal.
Luck, however, ran out of
them when the SARS
received information about
their escapades and arrested
one of them, identified as
Kelly, who, on interrogation,
spilled the beans. Police
detectives trailed and later
seized other members of the
gang, including Shedrack,
Austin, Uruemu, Odafe and
the army officer.
Delta State Commissioner of
Police, Mr. Ikechukwu
Aduba, confirmed the
bursting of the kidnapping/
tanker hijack gang, "The
gang members under
interrogation confessed and
named a serving army
corporal and one Mamus,
now at large, supplying
arms to the gang", Aduba
said.
"Items recovered from them
include one red Volkswagon
Vento car and another blue
Volkswagon Vento car,
which the gang used for
operation," he added.
Illegal-refinery-Army
Resume of gang members
Kelly: Investigations showed
that Kelly, from Agbarho in
Ughelli North local
government area, is,
according to security
sources, a truck driver. He
was attached to the
monitoring team of NUPENG
and assigned the
responsibility of checking
products diversion and
hoarding in filling stations,
but stopped working with
the team in January when he
found the kidnapping/
hijacking business to be
more profitable. He was
residing in Orerorokpe when
the business started.
Shedrack : Sources say he
hails from Agbarho and is a
driver by profession. Austin:
He is said to be an indigene
of Effurun in Ughelli South
local government and was
said to be a house painter.
Uruemu: The suspect is
allegedly from Eku in Ughelli
South local government and
is a dealer in petroleum
products. Kelly, sources said,
used to be his driver.
Odafe : He is allegedly from
Ekwere in Agbarho and
holds an Ordinary National
Diploma in civil engineering.
John: He is identified as an
army corporal attached to
the 3 Battalion, Effurun. This
army officer was alleged to
be supplying arms to the
gang and initiated people
into the gang.
Escapades
A source familiar with the
exploits of the syndicate said
that, sometime, last year,
Kelly, Shedrack, John, Odafe
and one Ojo ambushed a
tanker loaded with kerosene
at Oha old Bridge. The army
officer, who, reportedly,
wore his army uniform,
ordered the vehicle to stop
and, when it did, the driver
and conducted were
abducted and he (the army
officer) drove the vehicle to
Benin City in company of
Kelly.
The "hostage" was allegedly
ordered into Ojo's car on
that day while Sunday
Vanguard was informed that
the syndicate sold the
product in Benin City. They
drove the tanker back to and
parked it along Eku/Sapele
Road.
After that, they brought out
the driver and his conductor
and dropped them very close
to the tanker on the said
road.
Investigations carried out by
the police showed the
product was sold to one Gabi
and Godspower and trans-
loaded into another tanker in
a compound in Benin City.
Odafe admitted to the police
that he got N75,000 from
this operation.
Master key
Sunday Vanguard was told
that, on a certain day, four
members of the gang were
returning from Lagos for an
operation with the army
corporal when they ran out
of fuel and the corporal left
and came back later with
one of the members in a
Camry car. When asked how
they got the vehicle, he said
somebody gave him a master
key with with they opened
the vehicle. Kelly also
admitted to police detectives
that he once stole a Camry
car at Orerokpe and sold, to
a car dealer in Benin City.
More exploits
We also gathered that
sometime, this year, Kelly,
Austin and Timothy hijacked
a truck and sold the product
in Benin City at N65 per liter.
One of them got N35,000 as
his share from the operation.
In addition, the gang
hijacked another tanker at
Koko junction and took the
driver to a bush before
Shedrack, Timothy and Kelly
drove the vehicle to Benin
City to sell the product. The
operation yielded N30,000
each to the syndicate.
Hullabaloo
The army corporal was said
to have admitted
membership of the gang to
the police, but a top army
officer told Sunday Vanguard
that the police was telling a
cock and bull story. He said,
"For the avoidance of doubt,
the 3 Battalion, Effurun, had
since arrested the army
personnel that was
mentioned, he is languishing
in cell since the allegation
was made against him".
"However, when the police
came with other suspects
that were arrested, he was
paraded and they could not
identify him. They were
saying that person that was
their accomplice had a tribal
mark, but the soldier in
question does not have a
tribal mark. You see, there is
doubt as to his culpability
and we do not want to
punish an innocent person
wrongly."
The officer explained that the
army authorities would not
cover any personnel involved
in shady practices, hence the
soldier that accusing finger
was pointed at was arrested,
but the allegation has not
been proved. A senior police
officer, who spoke to Sunday
Vanguard on the
development, said, "Whoever
spoke to you on the army
side is standing the truth on
the head. The army corporal
was identified by members
of the syndicate as their
member, he is the one that
was bringing guns and he
facilitated their operation
with his army uniform.
"It is because he is in
uniform that the syndicate
found it very easy to carry
out their nefarious activities
until they were caught. The
army said they were carrying
out orderly room trial and
the suspects in our custody
identified the soldier. We
have asked them to hand
him over to us for
prosecution, but they are still
holding on to him.
"How can they say that there
is doubt when he (suspect)
admitted to the police that
he went to Orerokpe to meet
Kelly for the Orerokpe truck
hijack. He was the one that
took the truck loaded with
diesel to Benin City, after
which he was given
N120,000.
"He also admitted going to
Benin City with the other
suspects, but denied stealing
any of the two Camry cars
from Orerokpe and Benin
City and disposing them in
Benin City".
NUPENG validates existence
of gang
Investigations also showed
that the police visited
NUPENG office in Ekpan, near
Warri, where officials
confirmed that several
tankers were hijacked and
drivers taken hostage and
robbed by an unknown
gang.
Following the revelations, the
police were able to obtain
some case files concerning a
number of hijack incidents
from the Divisional Police
Officers in Isiokolo and
Abraka, which revealed the
owners of two of the trucks
stolen to be Messrs.
Emmanuel Nwafor and
Ndukwe A.U. Ndukwe. The
cost of the stolen kerosene
was put at N2.8 million, but
the owners of the diesel
products could not be
located.
A police source told Sunday
Vanguard, "The owners of
the cars stolen at Orerokpe
were identified, but when
detectives visited Benin City
to arrest receivers, it was a
fruitless efforts, as they had
become aware of the
manhunt for them and
disappeared into thin air."
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