Updated: Jonathan signs 2013 Appropriation Bill into law

Following consultations and an agreement between the Executive and the Legislature on the 2013 Appropriation Bill, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on Tuesday signed the bill into law, a statement by presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, has said.
Abati added in the statement: “President Jonathan wishes to reassure all Nigerians that the consultations have been in the best interest of the country, and in pursuit of understanding and mutual cooperation between both arms of government.
:As part of the understanding reached with its leadership, the observations of the executive arm of government about the Appropriation Bill as passed by the National Assembly will be further considered by the National Assembly through legislative action, to ensure effective and smooth implementation of the 2013 Appropriation Act in all aspects.
“The administration remains fully committed to the positive transformation of the country, and effective and efficient service delivery for the benefit of all citizens.
“All Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government have therefore been directed to work very hard to ensure that all the services, projects and programmes contained in the budget are successfully delivered on schedule in spite of the slight delay in its enactment.”

Our earlier story
Nigeria’s President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has signed the 2013 Appropriation Bill into law.
The signing ceremony was performed on Tuesday evening at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Among those at the ceremony were the Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo; the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal.

N47.6b theft: EFCC re-arraigns Erastus Akingbola

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday re-arraigned a former Managing Director and Chief Executive of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Erastus Akingbola, and one of his associates, Bayo Dada, before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja.
When the case came up on Tuesday, the duo that were initially docked on Tuesday May 31, 2011, pleaded not guilty to the 22-count charge bordering on stealing N47.6 billion.
After their pleas were taken, EFCC counsel, Godwin Obla, reacting to an application for bail filed before the court by counsel to the first defendant, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, said that the defendants could continue to enjoy bail on the conditions granted them by Justice Habeeb Abiru.
Obla, however, urged the court to accelerate the trial as the case has been on going for a long time, more so when judgement was about to be delivered before it was re-assigned to Justice Onigbanjo.
The new judge urged counsel involved in the case to review the evidences and written statements previously provided so they can continue from where Justice Abiru stopped.
Olanipekun, who was represented in court by M. I. Igbokwe, SAN, said that owing to the change of defence counsel, the court should give new trial dates to allow the judge make a fair decision.
In his ruling, Justice Onigbanjo granted the two defendants bail on their previous bail conditions and adjourned the case till July 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, 2013.

10 arraigned over theft of N1.6b pension fund

At last, after a very long wait and apprehension within the state and outside, alleged thieves who defrauded the Oyo State Local Government Pension Board of N1,590,783,671.47k were on Monday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Court 4, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
Arraigned before Mrs. Tijani Durosaro, 10 of the alleged pension fraudsters were charged on a nine-count charge of conspiracy to steal, abuse of office and stealing of local government staff pension fund.
The alleged fraudsters were Hakeem Muili, Alhaja Iyabo Giwa, Adeduntan Johnson, Oguntayo Banji, Adesina Jimoh, Johnson Bosede, Adebiyi Olasumbo, Kareem Rasheed, Muili Adedamola and Salewa Adedeji.
They were all arraigned under Charge No. Mi/238C/2013 in Commissioner of Police Versus the 10 accused.
After hearing their pleas, all the alleged pension scammers were ordered by Justice Durosaro to be remanded in Agodi Prison due to their inability to perfect their bail conditions.
All the accused persons pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution team was led by the Attorney-General of Oyo State, Ojo Adebayo.
Others in the prosecution team were Ademola Ojekunle and Miss Olumide Ojo, both Senior Legal Officers in the Ministry of Justice, Oyo State.
Yinka Okunade appeared for all the accused persons, except the second accused, who was represented by O. Makinde.
On the application of the defence counsel, each of the accused persons was admitted to bail in the sum of N2 million, with two sureties in like sum.
According to the judge, each surety is to have a certificate of local government origin, or a Certificate of Occupancy in respect of a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court, or an account with any of the reputable banks in Oyo State, or Certificate of Business Registration.
The matter was thereafter adjourned to March 19, 2013 for trial.
In August last year, the Oyo State Government discovered a pension fraud in its Local Government Service Pensions Board totaling, at the initial stage, N2,608,398,709.29 but which later skyrocketed to N6.4 billion.
Making this disclosure was Chief Lasisi Ayankojo, the Chairman of the board and the Local Government Service Commission.
According to Ayankojo, the interim investigative report of the commission into the account of the board between September 2010 and March, 2011, which unearthed the colossal fraud, had indicted 10 civil servants, who were allegedly involved in the scam.
Ayankojo said eight of the alleged perpetrators of the fraud were then being detained by the police while two of them had absconded.
He said that upon the receipt of the report of the committee, the board met the state Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, who ordered that the board should get to the root of the scam immediately.
Delving into the mode of the perpetration of the fraud, Ayankojo disclosed that the board discovered the fraud after complaints by local government workers and teacher retirees that their pensions had not been paid to them by the government.
He said that upon the receipt of the complaints, the board set up a committee to look into the details of the retirees’ grouses, stating that the committee, in the process of its work, found out that monies were indeed collected by civil servant intermediaries working in the commission and never remitted to the pensioners.
Revealing how these anomalies came into being, Ayankojo said that the total amount of the money involved in the scam was collected via issuance of cheques to the affected civil servants in their own personal names, rather than through e-payment into the accounts of pensioners, a situation he said made the fraud to sail through easily.
Giving a detailed account of how the suspects allegedly stole the state money earmarked for pensioners, Ayankojo said the then Executive Secretary and Director, Finance and Administration of the board, between September, 2010 and November 2010, withdrew by cash the sum of N680,430,646.69 from the Local Government Staff Account meant for pensioners, while these same two individuals withdrew N1,353,868,062.60 from the Teachers Account of the board.
The chairman said that the two officers of the board had at present absconded and all efforts made by the police to apprehend them had failed.
Ayankojo also said that the two officers of the board, alongside seven other top civil servants of the board equally collected N173,800,000 from the pensioners’ accounts between September 2010 and March 2011.
He alleged that another staff of the account department of the board (names withheld), at various times within the period, personally withdrew N401,300,000 of the board’s money earmarked for pensioners.
According to Ayankojo, while they were being interrogated by the police, the suspects claimed that they collected the cheques of the amount stolen from the Executive Secretary, who is currently at large and after cashing the cheque, returned the money to the Secretary.
Ayankojo said that the state government had no option but to invite the police to get into the root of the matter so as to conform with the administration’s abidance with due process and accountability.
Ayankojo said: “We enjoin pensioners in the state to be patient with us.
“What we are doing now is to protect their interests.
“That is why we are telling the whole world what has happened that is causing delay in the payment of their pension money.”
Asked whether politicians of the immediate past government were the ultimate receivers of these allegedly stolen pensioners’ money, Ayankojo said he could not say with certainty since the matter was before the state police, which is investigating it.
Ayankojo explained that the alleged fraud had been responsible for the slow payment of teachers and local government pensioners’ money in the state, stating that records had shown that these were where the money had gone.

N18m land scam: EFCC docks ex-Governor Audu’s son

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday arraigned the son of former Governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, Mustapha Audu; his wife, Zahrah M. Audu; and their company, Constructor Guild Limited, before Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja for obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of N18 million.
One of the charges against the accused persons reads: “That you Mustapha Audu, Zahra M. Audu in your capacity as Directors of Constructors Guild Limited and you Constructors Guild Limited on or about the 7th day of January 2010 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court obtained the sum of three Million naira from one Nike kolawole under the pretence of helping her to get a four bedroom townhouse at Ruskin Terrace situate at katampe Extension Abuja which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3)of the same act.”
The accused persons, who pleaded not guilty to the three count charge, were alleged to have falsely obtained the money in their capacity as directors in the said company from one Nike Kolawole under the pretence that they will get her a four-bedroom house at Katampe Extension, Abuja and another property at Caemly Estate, Idu Sabo, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Following their plea, their counsel, Kingsley Akpokona, moved a motion for bail on behalf of his clients, but was opposed by the prosecution counsel, Samuel Ugwuegbulam, who prayed the court for time to respond to the application.
While consenting to the prosecution’s request for time to respond to the application for bail, Justice Umar remanded the first accused, Mustapha Audu, in Kuje Prison but allowed the second accused person, Zahrah M. Audu, to continue to enjoy the administrative bail earlier granted her.
The case has been adjourned to February 28, 2013 for the hearing of the bail application.

Poverty, major cause of Boko Haram – Clinton

A former President of the United States of America, Bill Clinton, has identified poverty as one of the major causes of insurgency in Nigeria.
Clinton, who spoke on Tuesday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, at the 18th Annual ThisDay Awards, said it has become a must therefore the Nigerian Government to tackle the issue of poverty for it to resolve the Boko Haram uprising.
He said Nigeria has the capacity of becoming a great nation but needed to work hard at it.
He accused Nigerian leaders of failing to properly manage the country’s oil wealth and natural resources, which has resulted in the wide poverty gap among its citizens.
He said the failure of Nigerian leaders to address economic inequalities and check the brain drain syndrome had drastically stifled the nation’s development.
He advocated the urgent redistribution of wealth between the rich and the poor in the country, adding that government should endeavour to empower people through education.
Clinton said: “Nigeria is a country of potential. I would say you (Nigeria) have about three big challenges.
“First of all, like 90 per cent of the countries who have one big resource, you haven’t done well with your oil money. You should have reinvested it in different ways.
“You don’t do a better job of managing natural resources.
“Secondly, you have to somehow bring economic opportunity to the people who don’t have.
“This is not a problem specific for Nigeria.
“Almost every place in the world, prosperity is heavily concentrated in and around urban areas.
“You have all these political problems, violence, religious differences, and all the rhetoric of Boko Haram, but the truth is the poverty rate in the North (Northern Nigeria) is three times greater than what it is in the Lagos area and to deal with that, you have to have both powerful stake in the local governments and a national policy that work together.
“You have to figure out a way to have a strategy that will help in sharing prosperity.
“The third thing is there has to be a way to take the staggering intellectual and organizational ability that Nigerians exhibit in every country in the world in which they are immigrant and bring it to bear here so that the country as a whole can rise.
“So, I think solving the economic divide that is in your country will help the political divide; making better use of your resources.
“Nigeria is trying to set up an investment fund where the Federal Government will set it up and the governors are being consulted so that they can concentrate the capital.”
The event featured the presentation of awards to 15 teachers drawn from primary, secondary and tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
The beneficiaries, who received N2 million each, included Victoria Jolayemi, Dorothy Ugwu, Christie Ade-Ajayi, Rev. Father Angus Fraser, Chief D.B.E. Ossai, Yakubu S. Dimka, Chief Reuben Majekodunmi and Chief Dotun Oyewole.
Others were John O.B. Adeaga, Bawa Mohammed Faskari, Hadiza Thani Mohammed, Professor Iya Abubakar, Professor Frank Ugiomoh, Prof. Michael Obadan and Prof. Eunice Nkiruka Uzodike.
While giving insight into this year’s annual award, the Publisher of Thisday Newspaper, Nduka Obaigbena, said it was organized to celebrate distinguished Nigerian teachers.
Obaigbena said over 750 nominees were considered.

EFCC rearrests Akingbola

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has re-arrested former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank, now Access Bank, Erastus Akingbola.
A statement by the EFCC on Monday said Akingbola was being held at its Lagos office in Ikoyi, Lagos State.
He is to be arraigned on Tuesday (today) before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of the Lagos High Court on “fresh charges of stealing.”

U.S. Air Force Releases Terrifying Video Of Tiny Flybots That Can Hover, Stalk And Even Kill Targets

The U.S. Air Force is developing tiny unmanned drones that will fly in swarms, hover like bees, crawl like spiders and even sneak up on unsuspecting targets and execute them with lethal precision.

The Air Vehicles Directorate, a research arm of the Air Force, has released a computer-animated video outlining the the future capabilities of Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs). The project promises to revolutionize war by down-sizing the combatants.

'MAVs will become a vital element in the ever-changing war-fighting environment and will help ensure success on the battlefield of the future,' the narrator intones.

Hovering: Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) are the future of the unmanned drones program, according to a new video from the Air Force. The Air Force has already developed a drone capable of hovering like a moth

The project, which is based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, was revealed in the March issue of the National Geographic magazine.

Air Force officials said they have already produced tiny remote-control prototypes - but they consume so much power that can only operate for a few minutes.

Researchers estimate that it will take several years of advances in battery technology to make the designs feasible.

Still, the Air Force has a clear concept of what it hopes to accomplish with the program.

The promotional video begins with a swarm of tiny drones be dropped on a city from a passing plane.

The drones will work in concert to patch together a wide, detailed view of the battlefield - singling out individual targets without losing sight of the broader scene.

'Data will be communicated among the MAVs to enable real time, reliable decision-making and to provide an advanced overall picture for other platforms or operators,' the Air Force says.

As the drones fall, they begin to fly - not like planes, but like insects. High frequency flapping wings allow the drones to hover and maneuver in tight spaces.

The military has already produced a drone patterned after a hawk moth that can flap its wings 30 times a second. However, the activity exhausts the drone's tiny battery in just a few minutes, according to National Geographic.

Another drone type soars like a pigeon and perches unobtrusively on a power line to observe a surveillance target with a camera.

The Air Force is working on technology that will allow the drones to steal electricity from power cables and other sources - so they can continue to operate for days or weeks on end.

The Air Force training video shows a winged MAV following a target as he drives through the streets of a dense city.

Advanced sensors will enable 'optic flow,' which will allow remote pilots to fly by 'sight' - rather than flying by GPS, which can be disrupted by buildings or deliberately jammed by enemy forces.

The video depicts three drones following the target into a house, where they maneuver hallways and rooms undetected.

'Small size and agile flight will allow MAVs to covertly enter locations inaccessible by traditional means of aerial surveillance,' the narrator says.

The video follows the drones as they fly through an open door and sneak up behind a man who is aiming a sniper rifle.

IMT student dies in hotel swimming pool

A student of the Institute of Management Technology, Enugu, simply identified as Chidera, died mysteriously in a pool on February 7, 2013.
One Prince Nwokorie, 24, an engineering student of IMT, organised a birthday party at the Prefab area of Owerri, Imo State where Chidera was said to have been present.
But he later died in the swimming pool of the hotel.
It was gathered that an unnamed friend of Nwokorie invited Chidera to the party.
The guests, in high mood, moved to the pool side of the hotel from the hall where the event was holding.
Whielt eh celebration was on, with alcohol served, others did not notice that Chidera had already entered the pool.
The guest noticed that a person was struggling in the water and quickly called the attention of others, but unfortunately the hotel had no pool attendant.
It was gathered that two of the guests jumped into the pool and pulled Childera out.
They performed the first aid on him and then rushed him to the Aladinma Hospital at Aladinma, Owerri.
Strangely, the guests said the security man at Aladinma Hospital did not allow them to enter the hospital as he claimed that the doctors and nurses were not around.
The guests made further frantic effort as they drove Chidera to the next hospital where the nurse there also refused to accept the victim, ordering them to go to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri.
It was at the Federal Medical Centre that a doctor performed tests and confirmed that Chidera was dead.
The corpse was moved back to the hotel where the police from the Fire Service Station were invited.
The police arrested six of the guests.
The hotel manager and receptionists fled when they learnt that the police were investigating the case.
It was gathered that the police are investigating to find out if someone pushed Chidera into the pool.

Three undergraduates killed, eight injured as students, soldiers clash

Three students were killed while eight others sustained injury during an early morning protest in Nassarawa State University, Nasarawa State.
The students who took to the streets in Keffi Local Government Area on Tuesday to stage a peaceful protest over water scarcity in the school, were said to have been shot at by soldiers.
It was gathered that immediately the student took to the street, the state Governor, Alhaji Al Makura, called on soldiers in the state to help restore sanity on the campus.
Sources stated that immediately the soldiers got to the spot of the protest, they opened fire on the students.
The school has been shut down till further notice.

Corruption: Jonathan okays Justice Archibong's sack

President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the immediate retirement of Justice Charles Archibong, a judge of the Federal High Court.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, told State House correspondents on Monday that the approval was sequel to the recommendation by the National Judicial Council.
Adoke said: “This is to inform you that President Goodluck Jonathan is in receipt of a recommendation from the National Judicial Council recommending the compulsory retirement of Justice Charles Archibong and Mr. President has approved that it should take immediate effect.
“It is Mr. President’s belief that once we are able to cleanse the judiciary of corruption, then our fight against corruption in its entirety will take a firm root and will be on its way to success.”
It will be recalled that the NJC had at its emergency meeting held on February 20, 2013 recommended the compulsory retirement of Justice Archibong of the Federal High Court, Lagos and Justice T. D. Naron of High Court of Justice, Plateau State, pursuant to the ‘Findings’ by the Council on complaints levelled against them.
Justice Archibong was recommended for compulsory retirement to sequel to the following complaints levelled against him:-
• That the Judge dismissed the grievous charges against an accused without taking his plea;
• That he refused to release the Certified True Copy of his Ruling to the lawyers;
• That the Judge issued a bench warrant on some officials of Peoples Democratic Party for contempt even when the counsel who was directed by the Court to serve them filed an affidavit that he had not been able to serve the contempt application;
• That he made unfounded and caustic remarks on professional competence of some Senior Advocates of Nigeria;
• That there were glaring procedural irregularities which showed that Hon. Justice Archibong did not have a full grasp of the Law and procedure of the Court; and
• That he granted the leave sought for in the originating summons that had no written address of the parties and without hearing both parties in the originating summons after he had earlier on overruled the preliminary objection.

Splinter group emerges in Nigerian Governors' Forum

A splinter group has emerged in the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
This was as the governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party formed the PDP Governors’ Forum.
The Akwa Ibom State Government, Barrister Godswill Akpabio, emerged as the chairman of the newly-formed group.
The formation of the group was announced after the meeting of the governors elected on the platform of the PDP with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Sunday.
The meeting lasted late into the night.
The Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Rivers State, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, who has been accused of wanting to perpetuate himself in office as the head of the governors’ body, stormed out of the meeting in Aso Rock after the decision to form the PDPGF.
The meeting was presided over by President Jonathan and attended by the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Bamanga Tukur.

Eight die in Lagos-Ibadan Expressway crash

No fewer than eight persons have been confirmed dead in an accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The accident occurred on Sunday at 4pm, the Federal Road Safety Corps said.
In all, 13 persons were involved in the crash at the Catholic Turning on the ever-busy expressway.
One person was injured.
The vehicles involved were a DAF trailer with registration number XB503FKA, and a Mitsubishi wagon, with registration number GGE540XC.
The victims, according to the FRSC, were taken to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State.

France Warns of Kidnappings, Attack Risk in Benin

France said on Saturday its nationals were at risk of kidnappings or attacks in the West African state of Benin, warning of a specific danger close to neighbouring Niger.

The advisory came after a French family of seven, including four children, were abducted by suspected Islamist militants in Cameroon on Tuesday, the first case of foreigners being seized in the mostly Muslim north of the country.

It highlighted the threat to French interests in West Africa since Paris deployed thousands of troops to Mali to oust al Qaeda-linked Islamists who controlled the country's north, reports Reuters.

"Despite the Benin authorities committing to increase security in particular areas, the risk of kidnappings and attacks exists in Benin," the foreign ministry said in an updated travel advisory on its website.

It warned its 3,700 citizens in Benin to avoid going out at night and against all travel on the main road leading from Tchaourou, about 350 kilometres north of the capital Porto-Novo, to Malanville and the W National Park on the border with Niger.

The United States and African governments are backing the six-week-old campaign against militants in Mali, where Benin has also sent troops to join an African force being deployed.

Islamists have threatened to strike back at anyone who supports the mission.

The kidnapping in Cameroon brought to 15 the number of French citizens being held in West Africa.

Security forces are searching for the family who were taken into Nigeria, local police said on Friday.

French President Francois Hollande said on Saturday there was no new information on the whereabouts of the hostages.

Meanwhile, Chadian troops attacked an Islamist base in northern Mali on Saturday in heavy fighting which France called part of the final campaign to drive al Qaeda from its mountain hideouts.

Thirteen Chadian soldiers and 65 al Qaeda-linked rebels were killed on Friday in the Adrar des Ifoghas mountains near the Algerian border, where French special forces are also hunting Islamist bases, Chadian military sources said.

A senior Chadian military source said on Saturday his country's heaviest losses during the international offensive in Mali centred around a rebel base that appeared to be of "significant importance" as the militants were not fleeing.

The violence underscores the risk French and African forces become entangled in guerrilla war as they help Mali's weak army.

Facebook 'targeted by hackers'

Facebook has one billion active users worldwide.

Facebook has revealed it was the target of a "sophisticated attack" by hackers last month, but found no evidence any user data had been compromised.

The US-based social network said that the attack occurred when employees visited a mobile developer website "that was compromised".

Facebook said in a blog post that it was not the only company to have been attacked in this way.

More than one billion people use Facebook worldwide.

"Last month, Facebook security discovered that our systems had been targeted in a sophisticated attack," the California-based company said.

"The attack occurred when a handful of employees visited a mobile developer website that was compromised."

Malware was downloaded on to its employees' laptops, the firm said, adding: "As soon as we discovered the presence of the malware, we remediated all infected machines, informed law enforcement, and began a significant investigation that continues to this day."

"We have no evidence that Facebook user data was compromised in this attack," Facebook said in its blog post.

The firm went on to say that it was "not alone in this attack".

"It is clear that others were attacked and infiltrated recently as well. As one of the first companies to discover this malware, we immediately took steps to start sharing details about the infiltration with the other companies and entities that were affected," Facebook said.

This is the latest attack by apparently sophisticated hackers targeting high-profile sites.

Twitter said earlier this month that the theft of 250,000 users' passwords, as well as usernames, emails and other data, was "not the work of amateurs".

The New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal have all accused China of "persistently" hacking into their security systems - accusations China denies.

FREE TO LIVE

Paul said that walking according to the Spirit is not license: an excessive or undisciplined freedom constituting an abuse of privilege. As a Christian you may see the phrase "You are not under the Law" in Galatians 5:18 and exclaim, "Wow, I'm free! Walking in the Spirit means I can do anything I want!" Not at all. In the previous verse Paul wrote, "You may not do the things that you please." Being led by the Spirit doesn't mean you are free to do anything you want to do. It means you are finally free to live a responsible, moral life--something you were incapable of doing when you were the prisoner of your flesh.

Once I was invited to speak to a religion class at a Catholic high school on the topic of Protestant Christianity. At the end of my talk, an athletic-looking, street-wise student raised his hand and asked, "Do you have a lot of don'ts in your church?"

Sensing that he had a deeper motive, I answered, "What you really want to ask me is if we have any freedom, right?" He nodded.

"Sure, I'm free to do whatever I want to do," I answered. "I'm free to rob a bank. But I'm mature enough to realize that I would be in bondage to that act for the rest of my life. I'd have to cover up my crime, go into hiding, or eventually pay for what I did. I'm also free to tell a lie. But if I do, I have to keep telling it, and I have to remember who I told it to and how I told it or I will get caught. I'm free to do drugs, abuse alcohol, and live a sexually immoral lifestyle. All of those 'freedoms' lead to bondage. I'm free to make those choices, but considering the consequences, would I really be free?"

What appears to be freedom to some people isn't really freedom, but a return to bondage (Galatians 5:1). God's laws, from which we seek to be free, are not restrictive, but protective. Your real freedom is your ability to choose to live responsibly within the context of the protective guidelines God has established for our lives.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the privilege I have to choose to live in freedom. Help me not to abuse that privilege today and find myself in bondage.

Oyedepo’s daughter marries father’s PA

Bishop Oyedepo, the General Overseer of Winners Chapel Church, Otta, Ogun State, has consented to giving out his first daughter, Love Oyedepo, in marriage to his Personal Assistant, Stephen Ogah.
The high profile wedding, which is being planned on high pedestal, will hold at the main church auditorium on March 23, 2013.
Ogah, who never planned getting married to his boss’s daughter, was said to have been informed of the good news before his graduation.
Ogah and Oyedepo are said to be so much in love now and as they are happily looking forward to their wedding day.

Saraki, Kalu, Fani-Kayode, Ajumogobia, Fati Abubakar, 200 others form new political group

An array of over 200 political gladiators in Nigeria have teamed up to form a new political group.
Though yet without a name, the group has been meeting as a non-partisan political organization with the aim of instituting good governance in the country.
Chaired by a former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, the group has met at least five times in the last few months, in the house of a senator in Maitama, Abuja, with the attendance getting better with every meeting, it was learnt.
At the last meeting on Wednesday, over 200 prominent politicians were in attendance.
Among them were Senator Gbemisola Saraki, who is the vice chairman of the group, Akin Osuntokun, the secretary; a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu; Odein Ajumogobia, SAN; a former Deputy National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olabode George; Ambassador Fati Abubakar; Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to Ghana, Ambassador Musiliu Obanikoro; a former Minister of Aviation in the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Femi Fani-Kayode; and Chris Uche, SAN.
It was learnt that the major aim of the group is the unity of the country.
A source in the group said the group is mainly concerned about how to stop the drift in the country.
It was learnt that the last five meetings have been used to discuss the state of the nation, especially the issue of insecurity.
A source within the group said: “We are concerned about total leadership.
“We are concerned about the wellbeing of Nigerians and how the leadership treats the followers.”
To achieve this, several committees have been formed by the group, which started with just 37 members.
It was initially known as the G-37.
Some of the committees include Mobilisation, which is chaired by Fani-Kayode, with Senator Grace Bent as deputy; the Finance Committee is chaired by Fafa Dan Princewill; Media is chaired Senator Emmanuel Onwe, with Prof. Mahmud Jega as vice chairman; and Nuhu Ribaud heads the Committee on Strategy and Research.
At the last meeting of the group, prominent businessman, Dr. Wale Babalakin; and George were some of those in attendance.
Other members of the group include Lawal Shuaibu; human rights activist, Uba Sani; Senator Umar Argungu; Olusegun Awolowo; Hon. Uche Ekwunife; and Hon. Yemi Arokodare.

Nigeria, Brazil sign MoU on strategic dialogue

As the volume of trade between Nigeria and Brazil hits $9 billion in 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan and his Brazilian counterpart, Madam Dilma Rousseff, have reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening trade and economic ties between the two countries.
Both leaders met at a closed doors session on Saturday at the State House, Abuja during the Brazilian president’s one-day State visit to Nigeria on her way from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea where she attended the just concluded Africa-South America Summit.
The talks, which focused on critical areas of cooperation such as agriculture, trade, oil and gas, aviation, education, as well as peace and security, climaxed with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the mechanism for strategic dialogue between Nigeria and Brazil.
Consequently, both Presidents Jonathan and Rousseff directed their Ministers of Foreign Affairs and External Relations respectively to commence the immediate implementation of the MoU.
The communique issued at the end of the bilateral talks reads: “Both sides expressed their readiness and strong commitment to expand cooperation in various fields and promote the growth of the partnership between the two countries in line with the principles of mutual benefit, mutual respect and mutual interest.
“The two leaders instructed that the joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between Nigeria and Brazil should convene the 7th meeting scheduled to hold in Abuja as soon as possible to follow up the outcomes of President Rousseff’s visit to Nigeria.
“Both Presidents welcomed the positive trends in the development of their bilateral trade and pledged to work together towards attaining a more balanced, diverse and mutually beneficial trade relationship.
“The two presidents noted the importance of implementing bilateral air services agreement (BASA) and agreed that the facility of direct air links between the two countries will encourage better people to people exchanges and enhance trade between Brazil and Nigeria. They therefore underscored the need to take appropriate measures to promote the reestablishment of direct air links between the two countries.
“The two leaders noted the significant roles played by the two countries in the maintenance of peace and security in their respective regions and expressed readiness to work together to promote international peace and security, democracy as well as development.
“Both countries welcomed the ongoing efforts aimed at reforming the UN in order to equip it better to meet the current challenges in the maintenance of international peace and security. In this regard, they called for the urgent reform of the UN Security Council to make it more democratic and reflective of the changes in the international architecture since 1946.”
In the area of Political and Security Cooperation, the Presidents, agreed to “encourage exchange of visits by officials in the Defence and Security sectors with a view to boosting cooperation in these areas; to promote training cooperation involving military officers of both countries by encouraging participation of Brazilian and Nigerian military officers in training programmes at the staff colleges of both countries.”
They also discussed the crisis in Guinea-Bissau and Mali and “supported the global approach to the solution of the Malian crisis, as set out by the ECOWAS, African Union and the United Nations Security Council.
“They commended the efforts of the international community, the ECOWAS and the neighbouring countries aimed at supporting the Malian people in restoring its national unity and territorial integrity, building democratic institutions and fighting the twin scourges of terrorism and organised crime.
“The Presidents expressed their serious concern regarding the present political and institutional crisis in Guinea Bissau and the deterioration of the socio-economic and humanitarian situation of its people.”
They also discussed the importance of cultural and educational exchange programmes in solidifying closer ties and friendship between Nigeria and Brazil.
They therefore instructed the Ministers of Education of both countries to work through the existing MoU or establish a relevant one on cultural and education exchange cooperation.
The communique added: “The two presidents exchanged information about Nigeria’s candidature for election as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the period of 2014 – 2015. They also exchanged information about ambassador Roberto Azevedo’s candidacy for the post of director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
“Both Presidents reiterated the importance of the multi lateral trading system of trade. They agreed in principle to consider favourably the above candidatures, as well as other candidatures from both countries in the light of their excellent bilateral relationship.”
Present at the bilateral talks were the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Gbenga Ashiru; Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonji-Iweala; Petroleum Resources, Dezani Madueke; Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah; Education, Prof. Ruqayat Ru’fai; Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga; Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina; Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke; andrelevant ministers from the Brazilian side.

Updated: Many feared dead as violence breaks out in Taraba

Many persons are feared dead as violence broke out on Saturday in Wukari, Taraba State.
The violence was said to have erupted after an argument over a mosque turned bloody.
Some men were said to have engaged in an argument over a mosque though the details were unknown.
Sources at the scene said one of the men was holding a gun.
In an attempt to forcefully take the loaded gun from the man, an accidental discharge occurred, killing one of the men at the scene instantly.
This then resulted in a free-for-all, with several persons already confirmed dead.
The violence is still raging as at press time.

Meanwhile, the Taraba State Government has slammed a 24-hour curfew on Wukari.

No fewer than 10 corpses have been deposited in hospitals mortuaries in the town as at the time of updating this report.

Governors move against Amaechi over tenure elongation bid

The bid by the Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, to elongate his stay as head of the NGF is the reason behind the move of his colleagues against him.
This revelation is contrary to the position of Amaechi that his colleagues were against him because of his support for the President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
Sources within the NGF told The Eagle Online on Saturday that Amaechi’s tenure had elapsed but he has been unwilling to call for another election to elect his successor.
The source said though the election of the leader of the NGF had always been by consensus, there was the need for the incumbent to call for a meeting where the decision would be taken.
Amaechi has, however, failed to do this despite pressure from his colleagues.
One of the sources said Amaechi has overstayed his stay in office.
The source said: “No one is at war with Amaechi because he is Jonathan’s man.
“That position is untrue.
“What we all frown at, which has necessitated the moves against him, is the fact that he does not want to create a level-playing ground by stepping aside after the expiration of his tenure.
“We are all equals.
“So that position cannot be an exclusive preserve of a single governor and that is why we are moving against him.
“Amaechi should not make the attempt to mislead Nigerians.
“None of us has a personal animosity against him but he should act like a democrat by leaving office gloriously instead of trying to be a sit-tight NGF chairman.”

Why housing, urban development are crucial, by Goodluck Jonathan

• I am highly delighted to be here today on my maiden visit to the construction site of Eko Atlantic City. This landmark event is continuing the good news narrative that Nigeria must embrace permanently.
• It took us nineteen years for us to win the nation’s cup again; the trains that now run from Lagos to Kano took us another nineteen years to get them back on track.
• And in this same year preceding our centenary, we are gathered here to witness the ground breaking of a modern city that will rise from the Atlantic bed in the commercial nerve centre of our beloved Lagos. This is good news indeed.
• I want to congratulate South Energyx Nigeria Ltd, the Government and good people of Lagos State, Messrs Dredging International Ltd and all the financial institutions, especially First Bank of Nigeria Plc, First City Monument Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, BNP Paribas Fortis and KBC Bank, for this most outstanding initiative.
• The correlation between well-planned development and good quality of life as a bedrock for higher standards of productivity and sustainability cannot be over emphasized even as we note that housing is an important sector that provides jobs for our young men and women.
• It is in this regard that the Housing and Urban development sector has been accorded priority attention by my Administration in recognition of its huge potential as an engine of growth and sustainable development. To this end, the enabling policy frameworks for kick-starting the revitalization of this sector are now being put in place.
• As part of the overall Transformation Agenda, this administration is committed to harnessing the potential of the housing and construction sectors as an important growth area for the Nigerian economy.
• All over the world, housing and construction constitute an important component of GDP. The sector has extensive backward and forward linkages, and thus can drive job creation for the building materials industry, for artisans such as plumbers, carpenters, and masons, and also for those who specialize in the interior and exterior decoration of buildings.
• Admittedly, there are challenges in the housing and construction sector that cut across a number of areas, including property titling and high costs of building materials among others. To resolve these challenges I convened a presidential retreat with a view to consulting widely and extensively with various stakeholders so as enable Government take the right decision in the interest of our people.
• I am therefore pleased to announce, as one of the outcome of the retreat, that we have commenced work on establishing a Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Corporation (NMRC) to help in providing finance for the housing and construction sector.
• The NMRC, which will be private-sector led, will be established as a PPP arrangement. The partners will include the Federal Government, Nigeria’s local banks and savings & loans institutions, and the multilateral institutions, especially the World Bank which is providing concessional credits of three hundred million dollars. Subsequently, the NMRC would be able to access the capital markets to raise long-term funds via bond issues.
• We anticipate that the NMRC will provide more liquidity to the housing and construction sectors, and with its operations, would hopefully lead to reduced mortgage and construction finance interest rates.
• The e-collection platform created by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) for a more efficient collection and management of the National Housing Fund (NHF) and the broadening of its products to include provision of credit for informal sector workers are other complementary efforts to increase accessibility and affordability to mortgage finance.
• With the on-going efforts to deal with the low capital base of mortgage institutions through new policy measures, we are optimistic that more Nigerians will be provided the opportunity of having access to home ownership.
• The current policy measure of Government to encourage private sector participation in housing delivery through the Public-Private Scheme is also yielding good results with the implementation of a number of pilot schemes by the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development under the contractor-finance initiative.
• The lessons from this initial effort are to be factored into a larger plan to gradually upscale the scope of implementation in the coming years to deliver more housing units using a variety of alternative technologies to promote accessibility and affordability in housing delivery.
• The Federal Government of Nigeria is working with the State Governments to reduce the transaction time and the cost of the acquisition of land titles so that we can meet our objective of reducing the national housing deficit through substantial addition to the current stock.
• I have received briefing to the effect that the construction of Atlantic City is benefiting from cutting-edge technology with special attention paid on climatic conditions including the perennial threats of ocean surges that has posed serious challenge to human and property on the coast of Victoria Island.
• When completed, the Atlantic City will not only benefit the promoters of this project, but it will be an important addition to our nation’s strive to promote tourism and good living. The Project is a great example of partnership, for it brings private individuals and companies who have the knowledge and requisite expertise to transform land lost to erosion into a delightful Ocean City.
• Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, new cities are good, new cities are smart, new cities help to improve our thinking and our lives. We will encourage urban renewal, and where necessary new cities to be built to complement the old. It is in this regard that the Federal Government has given its full support to the construction of the Eko Atlantic City. I want to encourage every state government and other entrepreneurs to emulate this noble initiative.
• Once again, I thank the initiators for this outstanding legacy project that will not only benefit the present generation, but generations yet unborn as well.
• I thank you.
Being the remarks by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at the launch of the Eko Atlantic City project on Victoria Island, Lagos State on Friday.

Ifeanyi Dike returns a year after successful surgery in India

Prince ifeanyi Dike, the chairman, Board of Trustees of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, is back into the country.
Dike arrived a couple of weeks back after a successful kidney transplant in India.
Speaking recently with the The Eagle Online, Dike said he has since been confirmed to be fully okay by doctors but just decided to stay behind a bit for some reasons better known to him.
He added: “I’m happy to return home because there is no place like home.”
The popular actor, who was rescued by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola’s contribution towards the success of the surgery, said he would soon embark on his nurtured political ambition in the 2015 elections on the platform of Great Nigeria Democratic Party.

My father 's death is a celebration of life - Dr. Sid

Popular pop star and son of legendary late actor, Justus Esiri, Onoriode Esiri, otherwise known as Dr. Sid, few days back in an interview, said he was not shattered by his father’s death, but rather see it as a celebration of life.
The handsome singer was in a good mood, beaming with smiles while encouraging the rest of family members at their Surulere, Lagos State home.
Speaking on his father’s Death, Sid said: “His life is being studied in universities in the United Kingdom.
“He was over 70 years old and you know,anything above 70 is a gift.
“So, there is really nothing to be sad about.
“He lived a fulfilled life.
“I will like to be like him when I grow up.”
Marvin Records artistes and other notable Nigerians were early callers at the Surulere, Lagos State home of the late Delta State born actor.

Denrele Edun draged to police by Harvey's family

The family of the late Big Brother Africa star, Oluwabimpe Susan Harvey, otherwise known as Goldie, have resolved to drag their late daughter’s business partner and close friend, Denrele Edun, to the police for questioning over what actually happened to their daughter.
A close family source revealed that after several family meetings, held shortly after what was considered to be the untimely death of their daughter, Harvey’s family deeded to unravel the circumstances surrounding her death.
They want to do this before the burial, which is likely to hold next week.
Another insider, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Harvey’s family wants Edun, the MNET top presenter, to tell the world what led to her death since he claimed that their hale hearty daughter died in his arms at Reddington Hospital, Victoria Island, Lagos State.

Violence breaks out in Taraba many feared dead

Many persons are feared dead as violence broke out on Saturday in Wukari, Taraba State.
The violence was said to have erupted after an argument over a mosque turned bloody.
Some men were said to have engaged in an argument over a mosque though the details were unknown.
Sources at the scene said one of the men was holding a gun.
In an attempt to forcefully take the loaded gun from the man, an accidental discharge occurred, killing one of the men at the scene instantly.
This then resulted in a free-for-all, with several persons already confirmed dead.

Ten Mistakes Men make with Women

1.) Giving A Woman Too Much Power.
Guys usually get into trouble when they allow a woman to have too much (if not all) control in a relationship. She decides when you go out, when you have sex, and which friends you can keep. She may even decide (not suggest) what color of clothes you wear to a party.
Relinquishing a majority of control is a classic example of a man believing he doesn’t deserve to be with a certain type of woman, or a man who feels too weak that he cannot make decisions on his own. If you’re a good man and deserve a good woman, you deserve a good relationship. Swinging the power meter closer to a 50-50 deal would be more beneficial for you. An even platform feels a whole lot better than a 80-20 deal, and you can’t afford to be on the 20 end of the spectrum.
IMPORTANT: Women are not called the weaker sex because their bones are not strong. It is because they have a lot of difficulty resisting evil. When you give a woman too much power, you will be disrespected mercilessly.

2.) Trying to Invoke Too Much Control Of Your Own.
Even though you shouldn’t relinquish complete control of the relationship to the lady in your life, you also shouldn’t hoard it all for yourself. Power struggles can create a competitive environment, and there is no place for competition in a relationship. Truth be told, most people like some level of control in their lives and this includes their relationships with significant others.
Men should attempt to work with their mates to maintain respectable levels of control. Whether it’s your heavy-handed decision-making or a demanding attitude, women don’t like control freaks, and an over-bearing guy reeks of insecurity.

3.) Believing that today’s good deeds will still be good tomorrow.
Women have short memories. Flowers and candy mean you love her today, but tomorrow is a new day and a new chance to prove your love all over again. A man often lingers on his good motives and may not understand how his sweetie can throw a hissy-fit while wearing the new dress he bought just three days ago.
Being a good boy scout doesn’t mean you are no longer obligated to do your chores. Keep doing the things you know are necessary for relationship success. Women appreciate a good deed, but they appreciate continuous good deeds even more.

4.) Being domineering or overly possessive.
If your lady tells you that she likes possessive, egotistical, iron-fisted dictators–you might be in for the perfect relationship. That is, if your name is Joseph Stalin. However, most women don’t tolerate the overly jealous types and no woman wants a domineering man.
Biblical principles tell us that a man should lead. However, this worthy duty calls for an enormous amount of responsibility and maturity. A man should never believe that his mate is beneath him spiritually, or emotionally, and a relationship should not view women as possessions.

5.) Allowing family members or friends to dictate what happens in the relationship.
This is an absolute NO-NO. If you are married and allow your in-laws to have any measure of control in your relationship, you are undoubtedly treading on paper-thin ice.
Your wife should not be subjected to this either. Even if she allows you to use a bossy tone with her, she most certainly doesn’t appreciate it coming from your mama, your aunt, or anyone else. Women don’t like being told what to do (see Mistake #4), and it irks them even more when it’s being dished out by another woman.
You should not allow your wife’s family to make decisions that directly affect your relationship. Everybody has an opinion, but it’s the couple’s opinions that matter most. Outside opinions or ideas shouldn’t be used to influence your relationship bond.

6.) Always kissing up.
She’s your beautiful queen. A sugar-dumplin’, honey-spiced, chocolate bunny pie. But she’s also a human being. Which means if she commands respect, she also has the ability to return it.
Some people deserve respect simply because they exist:
a) Your mother – because she’s a woman and ushered your nappy-head into the world.
b) Women in general – because they’re women and the Good Bible tells us that we’re supposed to be respectful.
Outside of that, all other respect is earned. Don’t be so apologetic (unless you’ve really screwed up); don’t assume that she’s always right; and don’t take the blame for something that isn’t your fault. More importantly, don’t place your lady on such a high pedestal that she forgets where the ground is. A truly level-headed sister wouldn’t want to be that high, and may eventually resent being in a relationship with a big pushover.

7.) Complacency.
If you are not exactly where you want to be in your life (financially, academically, or spiritually) it’s okay. That’s life. And while women tend to focus more on the future, you shouldn’t worry about having the world in your palm when you first meet.
Over time, most women will expect to see progress and eventually, results. Don’t sit idle and allow life to pass you by. Even if you’re not the biggest fish in the pond, being tenacious and goal-oriented is all any woman could ask for. If she’s asking for more, you might want to reconsider the type of woman you’re with.

8.) Choosing a woman based on appearance alone.
This is really dangerous, but all men know that it is extremely difficult to look past the sexiness. Physical attraction is important for both men and women, but we sometimes forget to investigate other critical attributes we need in a woman.
Since we are from the ‘Planet of Imagery’, male judgment is often clouded in the beginning of a relationship. A man’s interest in physical compatibility may keep him from thinking about other crucial attributes until it’s too late. Don’t forget the essential qualities like compassion, compatibility, and whether or not she makes any sense when she speaks.

9.) Placing someone (anyone) or something before your mate.
This includes friends, relatives, co-workers, animals, your car, your hobbies, etc.
Granted, there will be times when you want to hang with the boys, or occasions when you have to spend extra time working on that important project. But those things should never hold more meaning than your relationship. When a woman feels that someone or something is more important than her, you will surely have problems getting her to respond to anything you have to say.

10.) Yielding to temptation from other women.
For some odd reason, women are frequently more attracted to men who are attached, or already married. This isn’t a good thing if you’re in a strong relationship and have a weakness for lust. Your wife or girlfriend isn’t stupid–she knows that you can’t help but look at other women from time to time. But that’s as far as it goes.
If the tempter is cognizant of the situation and isn’t a woman of good moral character — (and she likely isn’t since she’s obviously seeking to tempt), she may not care about disrupting your relationship — especially if she knows you’re interested in stepping out of line. Be vigilant when this happens. It takes a lot of patience and integrity to go against the grain. Being tempted is natural. Yielding to it is not very wise.

Gunmen kill five ahead of council poll in Gombe

Tension has engulfed Gombe metropolis in Gombe State following an attack by unknown gunmen on a motorbike.
The gunmen, who besieged Bagadaza area of the town, killed five persons on the spot while over seven others were seriously wounded by the bullets of the assailants.
This happened less than 24 hours to the local government poll holding in the state on Saturday (today).
The victims were said to be playing card game when suddenly bullets rained on them from different directions.
An eyewitness and resident of the area, Bulus Chiroma, said the gunmen attacked the area around 4pm and killed the card players while a policeman attached to Government House, Gombe was injured.
Chiroma added that the gunmen escaped immediately on their motorbike after the attack.
Chiroma said his daughter, who runs a shop close to the scene of the incident, took to her heels on hearing the sporadic gunshot only to see dead bodies lying on the street later.
Another eyewitness, a policeman, who craved anonymity, said: “They opened fire on the people and killed five people and in the process injured seven other people, including one policeman, who is attached to Government House, Gombe.”
The policeman also said that the resident of the area refused the police from taking away the bodies of the deceased and insisted that the governor must come himself before the bodies will be released.
“We pleaded with them to allow us carry the dead bodies but the people insisted that the governor or the police commissioner must come to the scene before they will allow the bodies of the dead to be taken away,” he added.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Gombe State Police Command, ASP Fwaje Atajiri, maintained sealed lips on the matter but however confirmed the incident.
Atajiri said investigation had begun in full swing.

Nigeria receives approval for additional CIF's $50m to bolster energy

The Climate Investment Funds has announced an agreement to provide Nigeria with $50 million to support an African Development Bank-supported programme of financial intermediation for renewable energy and energy efficiency through local banks, as part of the country’s national Investment Plan endorsed by the CIF in 2010.
The money, being provided under the CIF’s Clean Technology Fund, is designated to stimulate alternative and efficient ways to generate electricity and to reduce dependence on energy sources, which contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
The funding will be used to stimulate investment in downstream opportunities that would lead to greater energy efficiency through a range of technologies, including industrial energy efficiency investments, renewable energy, renewable-based hybrid systems, and cleaner fuels and combustion processes.
The CTF money will complement support provided through the AfDB private sector window, to help the country address energy efficiency in critical sectors such as power, agribusiness, transport, telecommunications, and education, by targeting local financial institutions to invest and support the shifts to clean, efficient and affordable energy in the sectors.
The work to improve energy efficiency and increase the use of renewables is in line with the country’s national policy framework designed to lead the country to an ambitious set of energy goals, including rural energy scale-up and actions to ensure energy efficiency through a combination of regulations and incentives at the national scale.

2015: Group drums support for Jonathan/Sambo second term

A group under the aegis of Jonathan/Sambo Solidarity Forum Home and Abroad has called on Nigerians to disregard claims of a one term pact between President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, as alluded to by the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Babangida Aliyu.
They are rather seeking support for President Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo to seek for a second term in 2015.
JSSFAH said it is the constitutional right of both individuals to seek another term in office if they deem it necessary.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, and jointly signed by the National President and Secretary of the group, Hon. Franklin Ekong, and Mr. Idoko Hilary Nduka, JSSFAH urged President Jonathan to go for a second term.
The group explained that Jonathan’s presidency in 2011 was divine providence and not by manipulations of some cabals.
It stressed that if the President decides to run in 2015, he will get overwhelming support of Nigerians as he did in 2011, adding that his transformational projects, which are already impacting the lives of the people, will be an added advantage.
The statement reads in part: “We want to call on Nigerians to join hand with this God-given leader to transform Nigeria rather than trying to engage Mr. President in uninteresting, wasteful arguments that are uncalled for.
“It is our desire as a group to advise good people of Nigeria to disregard any argument that is of personal or group interest that President Jonathan agreed to do one term.”

Catholic Bishops carpet government over corruption

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria has carpeted the government over increasing corruption.
The Bishops, after their meeting in Abuja, said the rising cases of corruption has led to human rights abuses.
In a communique after their meeting in Abuja, the Bishops faulted the failure of the rulers to deploy the country’s resources for the good of all.
The communiqué, signed by Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, the President of the C, BCN, and Archbishop Alfred Martins, Secretary of the CBCN, reads in part: “To respect the dignity of a person is to concede his rights to him as fully human.
“We cannot fail to point out that the pervasive lack of accountability and transparency in governance in Nigeria has become a serious abuse of human rights.
“A government that is negligent in this regard, assaults the intelligence of the citizen; this, too, is a gross violation of human dignity.
“We call on leaders in every sphere of our society to be more accountable and more transparent in the conduct of public affairs.
“The lack of accountability, especially in the oil industry in Nigeria continues to give our country a bad name, impoverishes the citizenry, and threatens national security.
“It is a gross violation of human dignity that Nigerians, citizens of a richly endowed land, live in dehumanising poverty.
“That is why the government and the governed must renew sincere efforts to fight corruption and the theft and wastage of public funds in Nigeria.”

NJC recommends sack of three controversial judges

The National Judicial Council has recommended the immediate compulsory retirement of three controversial judges.
The judges are Abubakar Talba, Thomas Naron, and Charles Archibong.
The NJC, under the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mariam Aloma-Mukhtar, met late on Wednesday to consider various petitions on the judges and some lawyers, including Kunle Kalejaiye, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Talba, Naron and Archibong were fired on ethical grounds.
Talba handled the case of controversial pension thief, Yakubu Yusufu.
Yusufu was accused of stealing over N32 billion pension fund when he was in the Police Pension Office in Abuja.
He owned up to the charges but was curiously sentenced sentenced to two years imprisonment, with a fine option of N250,000.
A lot of Nigerians were enraged by that decision.
In the case of Naron, his handling of the petition against the former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, was found not satisfactory.
Naron pronounced Oyinlola the winner of the 2007 governorship election in Osun State.
The Court of Appeal, the highest court for hearing of governorship election petition was to later sack Oyinlola and replace hhim with the incumbent, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
Naron’s interaction with Kalejaiye, Oyinlola’s lawyer, during the trial, also earned the SAN a recommendation to the Nigeria Bar Association for punishment.
Archibong has presided over several controversial cases.
He has had several petitions sent to the NJC against him by the Peoples Democratic Party in the South West over the handling of the case involving the crisis in the Ogun State chapter of the party.
He sentenced a former local government chairman in Ogun State, Tunde Oladunjoye, to six months imprisonment in very controversial circumstances.
Archibong is also overseeing the case involving a a former Managing Director of defunct Intercontinental Bank, Erastus Akingbola.
The NJC will pass the recommendation to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for ratification.

Update:

In a statement signed by Soji Oye, Esq, Ag. Director of Information of the NJC, Archibong was recommended for compulsory retirement to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR pursuant to the ‘Findings” by the Council on the following Complaints levelled against him:-
· That the Judge dismissed the grievous charges against an accused without taking his plea;
· That he refused to release the Certified True Copy of his Ruling to the Lawyers;
· That the Judge issued a bench warrant on some officials of Peoples Democratic Party for contempt even when the counsel who was directed by the court to serve them filed an affidavit that he had not been able to serve the contempt application;
· That he made unfounded and caustic remarks on professional competence of some Senior Advocates of Nigeria;
· That there were glaring procedural irregularities which showed that Hon. Justice Archibong did not have a full grasp of the law and procedure of the court; and
· That he granted the leave sought for in the originating summons that had no written address of the parties and without hearing both parties in the originating summons after he had earlier on overruled the preliminary objection.
Hon. Justice T. D. Naron of High Court of Justice, Plateau State was recommended for compulsory retirement to Governor David Jonah Jang sequel to the ‘findings’ by the Council that there were constant and regular voice calls and exchange of mms and sms (text) messages between Hon. Justice Naron and one of the lead counsel for one of the parties to the suit in the Osun State Gubernatorial Election Tribunal contrary to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria vide Section 292(1((b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
Meanwhile, the National Judicial Council has in the exercise of its disciplinary powers under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, suspended the two Judges from office with immediate effect.
The Council also set up a ‘Fact Finding’ Committee to investigate the allegations leveled against Hon. Justice Abubakar Talba of FCT High Court in the Police Pension case of EFCC vs Mr. John Yusuf & Ors.

Kaduna vet arraigned over N7.2m scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday arraigned Madlion Shedrack before Justice Tukur Muazu Aliyu of the Kaduna State High Court on two count charge of misappropriation of funds.
Madlion, who is the Managing Director of Admiral Environmental Care, allegedly obtained N7.2m in two instalments from Umar Mustafa for the purchase of bulls from Brazil but failed to deliver.
The charges read: “That you Madlion Shedrack between May and August 2008 at Kaduna within the Jurisdiction of the High Court of Kaduna State, dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N3,500,000 (Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira Only) given to you by Dr. Umar Musa Mustafa for the purchase of Bulls and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 309 of the Penal Code.
“That you Madlion Shedrack between May and August 2008 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Kaduna State, dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N3,700,000 (Three Million Seven Hundred Thousand Naira Only) given to you by Dr Umar Musa Mustafa for the purchase of Bulls and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 309 of the Penal Code.”
The accused pleaded not guilty.
The presiding judge adjourned the case to February 26, 2013 for hearing of bail application and ordered that the accused be remanded in EFCC’s custody.

Insecurity: Delta deploys multi-prong security strategy

The Delta State Government has deployed a multi-pronged security strategy aimed at addressing cases of insecurity and other violent crimes.
The state Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, disclosed this while declaring open a meeting of Federal and States’ Security Administrators in Asaba, the state capital, on Thursday.
Uduaghan, whose address was read by his Deputy, Prof. Amos Utuama, explained that the three-point agenda of peace and security, human capital and infrastructural development being implemented by his administration were “informed by the realization that sustainable development…is impossible in an atmosphere of insecurity and chaos.
“We are developing infrastructure and evolving programmes that will engage our youths to make crime unattractive to young people.
“The objective is to reduce crime and youth restiveness to create a conducive environment for development.
“Youths in the state receive empowerment packages through the Micro-Credit Scheme, Skills Acquisition Programme and Youth Empowerment Through Agriculture Programme of the State Government among others.
“Other concrete steps taken by my administration to ensure security of lives and property in the state include the installation of hybrid communication equipment at the State Police Headquarters, which enables the various security agencies to link up with each other during emergencies, donation of sixty Hilux pick-up vans and communication equipment to the Police.”
Uduaghan added that the state government has also donated other sets of operational vehicles to security agencies and paramilitary bodies, noting: “This is part of measures designed to fight the scourge of crimes like kidnapping and armed robbery.
“Traditional and religious leaders, chiefs, youth leaders, market women and security agencies are being engaged in conflict resolution and promotion of peace.
“As a state government, we have continued to confront headlong, the issue of insecurity in order to ensure enduring peace in the state.
“The State Security Council meets weekly to deal with matters of security concern.
“This body is replicated at the senatorial districts and local government levels….”

RCCG interpreter nabbed for raping 12-year-old

The Odua People’s Congress in Ogun State has in their custody one Akin Adewale, who allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl.
Adewale is said to be an interpreter with the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The girl is Adewale’s ward.
He was said threatened to kill her if she reported the incident to anybody.
The unidentified girl however ignored Adewale’s threat and reported the incident to her mother who in turn reported the alleged rape to the OPC at Oke-Sokori area of Abeokuta.
Following the report, it was gathered that the OPC members from the Ogbe Unit stormed Adewale’s house at 6, Shamusideen Street, Oke-Sokori and “arrested” him.
The OPC members whipped Adewale who confessed to the crime.
Adewale, in a written statement, said: “My name is Akin Adewale.
“I am also a photographer and I interpret sermon in RCCG.
“The girl lives with me and my wife and our children.
“She is the daughter of a member of the church.
“They brought her to me to take care of but the devil entered my body and one day when nobody was around, I called her into my room I forced myself on her after I had tied her mouth with clothe.
“I raped her and later gave her panadol (analgesic).
“I also threatened to kill her if she told anyone.
“I blame devil for my action.”
The OPC members were not moved by Adewale’s confession as they made sure he got more strokes of the cane.
Narrating the ugly experience, the victim’s mother said: “My daughter came home crying and telling me she was no more interested in staying with daddy Favour (Adewale).
“She told me Daddy Favour tied her mouth with cloth and had sex with her.
“I was shocked.
“I took her to hospital where the doctor confirmed that her hymen was broken.
“I started weeping and ran to report to OPC.
“I want justice.
“This man must suffer for inflicting pains on my daughter.”

Marginalisation: South West must bargain better in 2015 - HID Awolowo

As political realignment hot up ahead of the 2015 presidential race, the Yeye Oodua and matriarch of the Awolowo Dynasty, Chief H. I. D. Awolowo, on Thursday urged politicians and leaders of thought in the South West to negotiate better for the collective interest of the Yoruba people in the 2015 poll.
Awolowo spoke just as the Yoruba Unity Forum rose from a meeting in Ikenne, Ogun State, calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to take urgent steps towards reversing the alleged marginalisation of Yoruba people in political appointments by the Federal Government.
The YUF lamented the continued exclusion of Yoruba indigenes in placements at ministries, departments and agencies of Jonathan’s government, describing the trend as an injustice.
In her opening remarks at the meeting held at the Efunyela Hall, Ikenne home of the Awolowos, Awolowo said South West leaders must guide against making poor political choices in the 2015 general election.
She observed that the support rendered by the zone for the actualisation of Jonathan’s presidential ambition in 2011 appeared to have been taken for granted with the alleged marginalisation of Yoruba in his administration.
She, therefore, enjoined Yorubas to be wary of all forms of deceit in their political negotiation and bargaining ahead of 2015.
She said the zone must get its acts right during the round of elections in the country.
Awolowo stated that rather than negotiating for selfish purposes, Yoruba leaders must pursue and settle for decisions that would be beneficial to the entire Yoruba race.
She said: “Yorubas must think well and take proper decision.
“We must have a focus because if we don’t know where we are coming from, we should at least know where we are going.
“In 2015, Yoruba politicians must not walk astray.
“The journey of 2011, which we all embarked upon, has clearly taught us lessons.
“We played a leading role in the last presidential election but when it was time to share positions, we were marginalised.
“We should all learn.”
Mama Awolowo also appealed to politicians from the South West to shun activities capable of causing disunity among people of the zone.
Meanwhile, a communique issued at the end of the meeting in Ikenne, Ogun State of YUF, lamented the exclusion of Yoruba indigenes in placements in ministries, departments and agencies of Jonathan’s government.
The communique, which was signed by Awolowo and Rt. Rev. Bolanle Gbonigi, chairman and deputy chairman of YUF, also stressed the importance of reconciliation of Yoruba leaders.
The YUF said: “The Yoruba people are progressively being sidelined both in political appointments and placements in the ministries, government departments and other agencies of government.
“The YUF is particularly disturbed by the recent appointment made by the Presidency, which has further aggravated the marginalisation, as no Yoruba person was considered worthy of any of the appointments.”
The group affirmed support for the formation of Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly.
It also expressed its preparedness to host the next SNPA conference in May in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The YUF further called for inter-zonal visits and interactions amongst the leadership of various ethnic groups in Nigeria to promote understanding and strengthen unity in the country.
Among those who attended were former Minister of Finance, Chief Olu Falae; former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Sarafa Isola; Senator Femi Okurounmu; Senator Anthony Adefuye; Chief Bode Olajumoke; Dr. Kunle Olajide; Chief Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele; Hon. Tomi Soboyejo; and Funke Sangodoyin.