Ibori Sues EFCC For N10BN

The former governor of Delta State, James Ibori has filed a law suit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the Federal High Court, Asaba, Delta State, asking for N10 billion in damages, for alleged “libel, unlawful harassment and twisted falsehood” by the anti-graft agency.

Ibori, in his suit, is also seeking an order restraining the EFCC from further publishing or causing to be published, any libellous publication against him.

This is just as the EFCC yesterday debunked reports that Justice I.N. Buba of the Asaba High Court had issued an order restraining the anti-graft agency from arresting Ibori.

Also yesterday, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Martin Okonta, along with his principal officials condemned EFCC for declaring Ibori wanted.
The EFCC had on Tuesday declared Ibori wanted for failing to honour its invitation over allegations of fraud being investigated by the agency.

In response, Ibori said he was not on the run and that the Asaba High Court had restrained the commission and its officers from arresting him pending the determination of the substantive motion on notice.

However, the EFCC in its statement yesterday said the alleged court injunction restraining it from arresting Ibori was a fraud.
The EFCC said it had made enquiries from the judge and the court to know whether such order was given and that the response it got was that “no such order was issued by either the judge or the court.”

The statement signed by Femi Babafemi, the commission’s spokesman stated further: “The court only directed the applicants to put the commission on notice while it refused to grant any interim injunction as sought.
“Besides, up till now, no one has served the EFCC any court order; if it is true that one was granted.”

The anti-graft agency urged members of the public to disregard reports on the said restraining order, “as it does not exist.”
Based on this, the EFCC asked Ibori to “come out of hiding and honour the commission’s invitation.”
But the Delta State House of Assembly speaker said EFCC’s action against Ibori “is unacceptable, against the principles of fair hearing and a gross violation of the doctrine of the rule of law.”

Okonta, at a press briefing in Asaba said: “I must confess that an institution like EFCC must comply with the rule of law. This is an obvious violation of the rule of law.
“You are all aware that Ibori was invited to appear on April 17. Today is April 16 and he has already been declared wanted. Is that fair?

“We are condemning the action of EFCC for not following due process and the rule of law.
“We are not saying EFCC should not do its job. What we are saying is for them to comply with due process.
“If you invite an individual to appear before you for an interview, you must allow the time to expire before declaring him wanted.

This obvious violation of laid dawn rules is unacceptable to us.”
Okonta also lambasted Chief Edwin Clark, an Ijaw leader, for allegedly “creating acrimony within the state.”
He added: “The action of E.K. Clark is not only unbearable but unfortunate. That at his age, he is still busy destroying a house (state) he should be helping to build.”

Meanwhile, in his statement of claim in the N10 billion suit filed on April 15 against the EFCC, Ibori averred that the EFCC on April 13, 2010, distributed offensive publications to various electronic and print media houses with wide readership and viewing audience covering Nigeria and overseas.

He also averred that the EFCC posted the offensive publication on the Internet and distributed to websites, thereby libelling him.
He claimed that on the same morning of the 13th of April, various television stations, including but not limited to Channels Television, immediately commenced repeated broadcast of the defamatory words contained in the press release issued and distributed by the defendant declaring the plaintiff a wanted person.

He argued that the broadcast was viewed by members of the public including numerous prominent citizens of Delta State, members of the plaintiff’s family and community, his political associates and by persons within and outside Nigeria.
Ibori in the statement of claim stated that he was immediately inundated with telephone calls and visits from persons who viewed the broadcast of the press release and visited to find out why the plaintiff was on the run from the defendant’s officers who were allegedly looking for him.

He averred that he was not on the run and it was false that the alleged ‘letters of invitation’ referred to in the defendant’s offensive publication were sent to the plaintiff before he was declared a wanted person.

Ibori held that he had previously been investigated and arraigned for a 170-count charge, which was quashed via the ruling delivered by the Federal High Court, Asaba on 17th December 2009.
Continuing the former governor claimed that at 16.20 hours in the evening of the 13th of April, and about 8 hours after the defendant declared the plaintiff a wanted person, one Mike Anibogu, an official of the defendant delivered a letter dated 22nd March, 2010 at the plaintiff’s residence in Lagos requesting the plaintiff to come to its office in Abuja for an interview on 17th April, 2010, which is four clear days from the date on which the defendant declared that the plaintiff was a wanted person it was looking for.

He stated that the next day being the 14th of April, the offensive words published and distributed to the media by the defendant was carried as headline news by several newspapers including but not limited to Vanguard, The Punch, THISDAY and The Guardian.

“The false, malicious and reckless words published by the defendant referred directly to the plaintiff and the words in their ordinary meaning are very clear and understood to mean that the plaintiff is a fugitive from the law.

“The defendant’s publication lowered the plaintiff in the public estimation,” claimed Ibori
Ibori claimed the EFCC exposed him to public odium, ridicule, disdain, hatred and lowered his integrity in the estimation of right-thinking members of the society.

He claimed his family and social life, business and political career have been adversely affected by EFCC’s publication.
He therefore asked the court for a declaration that the EFCC publication dated 13th April, 2010 headlined: “Why We Are Looking For Ibori – EFCC” was predicated on twisted falsehood, is libelous, and defamatory of the plaintiff.
He is also asking for N10 billion as damages for the libel published by the EFCC.
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Chelsea Desperate To Avoid Arsenal Mistake

Tottenham has already ended the title challenge of one of their London rivals this week, on Saturday it looks to put a dent in the hopes of another as Chelsea visits White Hart Lane.

Carlo Ancelotti‘s side may be four points clear of Manchester United in second place, but the players know they are going to have to be on top of their game to take anything from a Spurs side who outplayed North London neighbours Arsenal on Wednesday.

Tottenham, set on its way by a wonder goal from teenager Danny Rose, won the game 2-1 to record its first Premier League victory over the Gunners since November 1999. The damaging defeat left Arsene Wenger‘s side six points off the pace and contemplating a fifth successive season without a trophy.

While it is true that the title is now Chelsea‘s to lose, this match and the other remaining away game at Liverpool will offer the toughest of tests.

Ancelotti, though, refuses to look beyond the task of taking points from Tottenham. The Chelsea manager told the club‘s official website: ”We don‘t want to look to the other teams, now the Premier League is in our hands and we have to stay calm, play game by game and we are not interested in the other teams.”
 

US: Abdulmutallab Changed Our Approach to Aviation Security

The United States has said  the botched Christmas Day bombing of a Detroit-bound American aircraft by a Nigerian, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, has changed its approach to aviation security.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano, who made the remarks yesterday at the National Press Club, Washington DC, said since then organisations like the  National Counterterrorism Center and the FBI have been pushing a lot of information overseas so that individuals at foreign airports could have the opportunity to have the benefit of intelligence reports on terrorists and their modes of operation.

While noting that US had been making plans for the purchase and deployment of advanced imaging technology  (body scanners) before the attack,  she added:  “A lot of what we are doing right now, quite frankly, is because of what happened on Christmas Day.

“But I think (the events of that) Christmas Day put a very stark reminder in people's minds about the fact that aviation continues to be the target of threats, and that the new kinds of threats don't necessarily involve large-scale conspiracies that take months, if not years, to prepare - but displaying individuals who are carrying, not things that are metal that can be picked up in a magnetometer, but powders or liquids or gels that could be detonated in an airplane.

“Putting those materials in harder-to-find locations, making greater use of individuals who don't fit what we think of as a terrorist profile, they may have no derogatory information about them in any intelligence file.

“For example, we are seeing the use of women and the recruitment of women for these kinds of missions, which is also a change. So it's an ever-evolving world that we deal with, and an ever-evolving threat situation.”
Napolitano revealed that because Abdulumutallab was able to scale through checks  in Nigeria and Amsterdam, before trying to detonate a bomb on the Detroit bound plane,  President Barack Obama ordered an immediate review of  what went wrong that enabled Abdulmutallab get on the plane and possibly kill not just himself but individuals from 17 other countries.

According to the secretary, what went wrong was twofold: “One was he wasn't on the right watch lists. There was information, but because of some practices in the watch listing community, he didn't make it onto what's called the selectee list or the no-fly list - the two lists that are actually pushed abroad before someone boards a plane.

 “…And then, of course, the second thing that happened is that because he was not on a watch list, he wasn't given a secondary inspection. And of course, because he wasn't carrying something that was metallic, it didn't get picked up with standard screening equipment.”

Napolitano said US has been pushing more lists overseas, and domestically, in airports under its jurisdiction, it has displayed more types of different  equipment and mechanisms designed to give, in an unpredictable way, more layers of security, so that if the potential attacker gets through one, he  might not get through other layers.”

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Atiku, Oyedepo, Others Eulogise Oguntade At Book Launch

Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith World Outreach a.k.a Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, were among dignitaries that praised the forthrightness of the retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice George Oguntade, at a book launch in Lagos on Friday.

At the presentation of the book titled ‘The Force of Justice‘, a review of leading and dissenting judgments of Justice Oguntade during his career on the Bench, Atiku described the retired Supreme Court Justice as ”a courageous jurist and a pacesetter, who never compromised honesty and integrity.”

The former vice president said, ”It is difficult to highlight honesty and integrity in an epoch when cowards are kings; it is difficult to promote courage when charlatans bestride the land in their borrowed robes.

”It is difficult to see the value of borrowed pride in a period when lying has become pastime of some people in power; it is very hard to understand why honesty can be the best policy. In an era when many people believe that justice can be bought and sold, it is perplexing that people would gather in Lagos, of all places, to celebrate a man who could not be bought.”

In his remarks, Bishop Oyedepo said the judiciary had a great role to play in moving the nation forward, adding that the future of the nation was largely dependent on the quality of the judiciary.

He expressed the hope that the coming elections will succeed and make the votes of the people count, warning however, that until that was done, there would be no hope for democracy.

Also among the dignitaries was the former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, who stirred the hornets‘ nest when he said during his remark that Atiku ”initiated most cases at the Supreme Court.”

On this, Atiku said he went to the courts because Babangida disqualified him ”not once, not twice and eventually banned me from contesting election during his transition to democracy.”

While thanking everybody for attending the book launch, Justice Oguntade stressed the need to entrench rule of law in the country, saying without it, there would be no progress.

He observed that presently some influential people were getting away with so many things because of their status in the society, warning that there would be no progress until there was equality before the law.

Other dignitaries at the occasion included the former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu; Ewi of Ado, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi III; President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN; Solicitor-General of Lagos State, Mr Lawal Pedro, SAN, who represented Governor Babatunde Fashola; former NBA President, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN; Editor-in-Chief of the book, Mr. Dele Adesina, SAN, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo.
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Thai Protest Leaders To Surrender To Police

Lawyers for the protesters sent letters to the Thai government saying that 24 members of the group would turn themselves in, leader Weng Tojirakarn said.

Those turning themselves in have been named on arrest warrants and were wanted by Thai police.

Three of the people surrendering to police embarrassed the Thai government earlier this week during a botched raid. The three were able to elude security forces who had them surrounded in a Bangkok hotel.

The three men were lowered from a third-floor window on a rope and fled in a waiting truck as a large group of protesters cheered.

The escape was captured by television cameras and prompted Thailand's prime minister to hand over security operations to the military.
Video: Thailand cracks down on protesters
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"The important problem now is the terrorism," Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said, referring to what authorities say is a terrorist group mixing among protesters. He spoke in a televised broadcast after three days of silence amid the tumult in his country.

At least 23 people were killed in deadly police-protester clashes last weekend, the Bangkok Emergency Medical Service said. More than 850 others were wounded in the clashes, the service said.

Are you there? Share your story, images

The protesters, known as red shirts for the clothes they wear, have been demanding for weeks that the prime minister dissolve the parliamentary body and call new elections.

In addition, the group wants the prime minister to leave the country.

If the 64-year-old party is dissolved, its senior leaders -- including Abhisit -- will be banned from politics for five years. The process can take up to six months.

The anti-government group comprises supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a bloodless military coup in 2006.

CNN's Kocha Olarn contributed to this report.
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N10bn Amnesty Fund In Jeopardy

The Presidency may have ordered an audit of the finances of the Amnesty Implementation Programme, following a revelation by some members of the committee that the initial N10bn released by the Federal Government for their activities may have been frittered away.

Already, members of the various sub-committees have been trading words over how about N600m of the budget was spent.

Saturday Punch learnt authoritatively in Abuja on Thursday that there were strong fears that funds meant for effective implementation of the programme for repentant militants in the Niger Delta had been diverted.

Some members of the various sub-committees of the programme and leaders of the Niger Delta region have called for an audit of the finances.

A source said that about N600m was believed to be unaccounted for from the funds provided for effective prosecution of the post-amnesty programme. The source added that members of the committees were angry that their chairmen claimed that the huge amount was spent on some militant leaders (names withheld).

The source further added that an alarming sum of N175m was said to have been spent on lunch alone by the former managers of the amnesty programme.

Also, there were allegations that the immediate past Minister of Defence, Major. Gen. Godwin Abbe (rtd), did not carry the various sub-committee members along in the disbursement of funds for their activities.

Efforts made by our correspondent to get the total amount of money spent on the amnesty programme since President Umaru Yar‘Adua declared it for the then Niger Delta militants in July last year were unsuccessful.

The voluntary surrender of arms and ammunition by the militants to embrace the amnesty ended on October 4 last year. Although the Presidency announced an initial take off grant of N50bn for the amnesty, on July 30, 2009, the Senate approved only a budget of N10bn for the Presidential Committee on the Amnesty Programme chaired by Abbe.

The source said since the initial release of N450m for the commencement of the amnesty activities by the former National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Sarki Muktar (rtd), members were kept in the dark about further release of funds.

It was learnt that funds for their activities, which included disarmament, re-integration and rehabilitation of the militants, were released from the Central Bank to Unity Bank Plc to Skye Bank before its final destination in the United Bank for Africa Plc.

The Inter Agency Coordinating Committee, headed by Air Vice Marshal Lucky Aralile (rtd), was said to have with the UBA its account for the monthly payment of stipends to the militants in their various rehabilitation camps.

It was further gathered that members of the various committees were always worried whenever the ex-militants broke loose from their camps protesting the delay in the payment of their stipends.

The source alleged that the payment delays occurred because the funds budgeted to pay the about 10,000 repentant militants were diverted, resulting in threats and in some cases, rampage by the repentant militants.

”Well, what I know is that N50bn was approved and N10bn was released. But I don‘t know how the money was spent. The funds meant for amnesty was spent in total exclusion of our people.

”A lot of money was approved and released by the government, but the leaders of the groups and some of the military personnel were eating the money. I can tell you that the boys were not getting what was meant for them.

”That informed the decision to bring in the banks to handle the payment of the allowances for the militants,” the source said.

The source further alleged that before the resort to bank payments for the militants undergoing rehabilitation, their leaders would just present their lists to the Presidential Committee and collect the monies without necessarily giving a breakdown of what was due to the boys.

It was learnt that it was this state of confusion and lack of accountability that compelled the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, to create five different committees on December 16 last year out of the Presidential Committee chaired by Abbe.

The committees included the one on Modalities for the Involvement of the Host Communities in the ownership of Petroleum Assets, Disarmament, Rehabilitation and Reintegration, Oil and Gas Asset Protection and Environmental Clean-up Remediation Committee.

By the new arrangement, the five committees were to receive their funds from the supervising committee headed by Abbe.

Contacted on Thursday on how much the Federal Government released to his committee and how much was spent, Abbe said angrily on the telephone, ”Go to the Ministry of Finance. I am no longer in government. You people have been writing without seeking my reaction. Why do you want me to speak now? Go to the Ministry of Finance.”

Efforts made to get the reaction of the Chief Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, AVM Aralile, were fruitless as his telephone rang several times without an answer.
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FG Revokes Land Allocations n Abuja

All plots improperl allocated in the Abuja Federal Capital Territory from 2007 to date have been revoked by the Federal Government, the minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed said.

The revocation, according to the minister, followed the discovery of fraudulent activities in the Abuja geography Information System and Land Department.

Mohammed said all forms of transactions, payments and transfers in respect of plots allocated within the time frame, including Development Control approvals, were suspended until further notice.

The minister said the action was taken due to the need to address the problems and abuses associated with land allocations in the FCT.

According to him, “This will enable the administration take stock of committed and uncommitted plots with a view to ensuring due process and equity as well as correct the systemic lapses.”

He blamed officials of AGIS, whom, he said, have succeeded in exploiting certain loopholes, through the Bank Draft Payment Scam, in the building system to defraud government.

Mohammed said that various file scams enabled land speculators break through the electronic system with connivance of AGIS staff to duplicate genuine allocations and obtain Certificates of Occupancy ahead of genuine applicants.

Critics have, however, suggested that the move might be a way to compensate certain cabals in government, especially as the minister refused to mention names of persons involved in various land scams.

But Mohammed said the action was not an act of vendetta against anybody.

He said, “We are doing it out of the need to provide Nigerians with the required political environment for development.

“At this stage, we can’t mention the names of AGIS staff involved. We can’t say how much of money was defrauded until we get to a certain level in the investigation.

“The land given to me as senator, if it is wrongly allocated, I will revoke it. Nobody should take this regime for granted. We are not here for cheap publicity or personal aggrandisement.”
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Goalkeepers Who Wear Red Save Twice As Many Penalties -Study

A new research reveals that strikers are
A new research reveals that strikers are A new research reveals that strikers are twice as likely to miss the net if the goalkeeper is in red.

The colour‘s primeval links with danger and dominance appear to put the striker at a disadvantage, causing him to perform worse, according to Daily Mail, quoting sports psychologists.

Dr Iain Greenlees, a reader in sports psychology, and researcher Michael Eynon at the University of Chichester looked at the performance and the expectation of success in a unique experiment.

They asked 40 university footballers to take penalties against the same goalkeepers wearing blue, green, yellow, and red strips.

Each striker took a total of 10 penalties against a goalkeeper wearing either a blue, yellow, green or red shirt.

Footballers were asked to estimate how many penalties out of 10 they would score and give a confidence rating for their estimate.

The researchers found that, although there was no difference in how many goals a striker thought he would score, the fewest number of goals were scored against a goalie in red where there was a 54 per cent success rate.

This was followed by a 69 per cent success rate against a goalie in a yellow shirt, with no difference between blue and green where success rates were 72 per cent and 75 per cent.

Altogether seven and a half penalties, on average, succeeded when the goalie was wearing a blue, yellow or green shirt. But only five went in the back of the net when the goalkeeper was in red.

This suggests the striker was only half as likely to get past a red-shirted goalie.

The findings were presented Friday at the British Psychological Society‘s annual conference in Stratford on Avon.

The psychologists believe the colour red may have an unconscious influence on the perception of failure by strikers, causing them to feel more anxious.

Greenlees said ‘We have evolved to associate red with danger dominance or anger - there is a biological basis fror this explanation.

‘Red is also a cultural signal for danger, it‘s used in traffic signals and other areas to alert to a threat.

‘At times of great stress we will pay more attention to threats in our environment, and red is more distracting which can affect the performance of the striker.‘

Greenlees said there was another possible reason - wearing a red shirt might boost the performance of the goalie because ‘he feels more dominant‘ and even change his levels of testosterone.

He said ‘These findings lend support to the idea that red clothing could give a sportsperson or team a small but meaningful advantage in a competitive encounter.

‘It also has implications for sports in which a competitor is assigned a coloured corner randomly, like boxing and martial arts in the Olympics.‘

Greenless hoped the findings might help England in some small way this summer.

‘If you are looking to leave no stone unturned then there is potential in putting red somewhere in the kit colour, in gloves or even shoes‘ he added.

Surrender To EFCC, Delta Elders Urge James Ibori

Delta State Leaders, Elders and Stakeholders Forum, on Thursday challenged a former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, to come out of hiding and surrender himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for interrogation.

Chief James Ibori

The forum, which is behind the petition that led to Ibori’s current ordeal, said the former governor had no reason to go underground since the allegation against him was bailable.

The anti-graft agency had, after a cat and mouse game with Ibori, declared him wanted for alleged money laundering.

But Ibori accused the commission of “political persecution,” and, thereafter, obtained an ex-parte order restraining the EFCC from arresting him.

The order by Justice Ibrahim Buba, however, became a subject of controversy on Thursday following media reports (not The PUNCH) that it was given at a High Court in Asaba, Delta State.

Findings by our correspondents on Thursday revealed that Justice Buba is a Federal High Court judge.

It was also learnt that he had just been transferred from the Nasarawa State Division of the FHC to Asaba Division in the recent redeployment of judges by the Chief Judge of the FHC, Justice Dan Abutu.

Most of the transferred judges are yet to settle down in their new postings since full court activities are expected to resume at the FHC divisions nationwide on Monday, April 19.

Findings also revealed that Buba had given a perpetual injunction when he was serving in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. His order shielded a former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, from arrest and prosecution.

But reacting to Ibori’s claim of “political persecution” and the Buba order, the Delta elders and leaders said that the former governor had deployed his political clout to sabotage his prosecution for alleged corrupt practices.

They said through their Chairman, Chief Edwin Clark , that Ibori made the claim in order to deceive unsuspecting Nigerians.

Clark said, “I have listened to many misguided and uninformed comments by some Nigerians, who believe that 170 charges which were dismissed by a Federal High Court in Asaba gave him (Ibori) immunity from all other offences. If you are cleared of a previous murder charge, does it mean that you can not be prosecuted for a fresh murder charge?

“The latest crime was not included in the earlier charges against Ibori. The latest case, for the benefit of those who might not be informed, is that 520 million shares belonging to the Delta State Government were used by Ibori to pay for loans he acquired as a private citizen. This is a new offence outside the 170 charges

“So, nobody is prosecuting Ibori for political motives. In fact, it is Ibori that is using his political position and contacts with those in authority to frustrate his being prosecuted for corruption.

“What the DSLESF stated in its petition was that Ibori bought 800 million shares from Oceanic International Bank Plc. on behalf of the Delta State Government and that he later used the shares to obtain a loan of N44bn from Intercontinental Bank for the acquisition of a private company. This is obviously an abuse of office.

“When he (Ibori) could not pay the loan, he sold 520 million units of the shares to pay part of it, thereby using the money belonging to the Delta State Government. He needs to provide answers to some questions.

“Nigerians want to know if it is true that Ascot, which became the new owner of Willbros after its acquisition by Ibori with the state government’s resources, is actually a subsidiary company of the state government, as claimed by him.

“Ibori is lying. Nobody is using politics to prosecute him. If he (Ibori) has nothing to hide and he is not afraid, he should submit himself and make himself available to the EFCC. After all, he would later be granted bail by the court just like any other former governor being prosecuted for corruption.”

The Delta elders and leaders also called on the National Judicial Council to investigate Buba for granting the interim order. They argued that the order was not only illegal and a disservice to the nation but negated the Federal Government’s war against corruption.

They, however, advised the EFCC to take the case to the Court of Appeal because “there is no law in Nigeria which says that suspects should not be arrested for prosecution.”

They added that they were “asking the NJC to look into the activities of Justice Buba because he has acted against the warning of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, that judges should not grant frivolous injunctions.

“Buba should be sanctioned by the NJC for this reckless judicial discretion because his action was not in the interest of Nigeria and fight against corruption,” Clark said.

There were more twists on Thursday to the decision of the EFCC to declare Ibori wanted as some of his loyalists faulted the procedure adopted by the commission.

The loyalists, under the aegis of Delta State Caucus of the House of Representatives claimed that the anti-graft agency’s action amounted to “political victimisation.”

The caucus, which is headed by Mr. Nicholas Mutu, made the claim just as the EFCC said the allegation that it was seeking to re-arrest Ibori for ”political reasons” was untrue.

The EFCC, through its Head, Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi, explained that it had been on Ibori’s trail for four weeks before it declared him wanted.

But, the caucus, at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, faulted the EFCC’s explanation, insisting that the agency’s action was politically-motivated.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Air Force, Mr. Halims Agoda, who read a statement by the caucus, argued that the EFCC’s letter of invitation to Ibori was delivered on April 13, the same day the commission declared him wanted.

Only four out of the 10 members of the caucus —Agoda, Mutu, Mr. Overah Joyce, and Mr. Tam Brisibe — attended the news conference.

Those who did not attend were Mr. Ndudi Elumelu; Mr. Leo Ogor; Mr. Charles Onyekweli; Mr. Sololon Awhinahwin; Ms. Doris Uboh; and Mr. Daniel Reyenieju.

Agoda said, “There is no due process in this matter; in any case, the EFCC asked him to report to its office on April 17; the date is not due yet, so why declare him wanted?

“The commission should have waited till April 17 and if Ibori fails to honour the invitation, it can now have grounds to declare him wanted.”

Agoda claimed that the EFCC delivered a letter on April 13 to create the impression that “for weeks, they were looking for Ibori and could not find him, while that is not the true position.”
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FG Detains Toxic Waste Ship In Lagos

Security agencies have detained a ship, MV Nassville, alleged to be carrying toxic waste at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.
 
The Head of Public Relations, Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr. Musa Ilya, said the ship, operated by American President Lines, a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines, arrived the country on Wednesday evening

Ilya spoke with journalists just as the Director-General of the National Environmental Standards Regulatory and Enforcement Agency, Dr. Ngeri Benebo, disclosed that the National Security Adviser, Lt.-Gen. Aliyu Gusau; the Minister of Environment, Mr. John Odey; and the Minister of Finance, Dr. Segun Aganga, were aware that the ship had arrived in Nigeria.

The NPA spokesman said, ”The ship has not discharged; it is currently under detention. Relevant agencies are collaborating to determine the actual content of the container and they will take necessary measures.”

The agencies involved in the detention of the ship are the NPA, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agencies, the National Intelligence Agency, State Security Service and the Nigeria Customs Service.

Authorities in Netherlands where the vessel had sailed from, had said that it was carrying among other things, 70 storage (lead) batteries classified as Basel-code A1180 and broken televisions.

Products classified as code A1180 under the Basel Convention on the Control of Trans boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal include electrical waste and electronic assemblies or scrap containing components such as accumulators and other batteries, mercury-switches, glass from cathode-ray tubes and other activated glass and PCB-capacitors, contaminated with constituents such as cadmium, mercury, lead, polychlorinated biphenyl.

These hazardous wastes are said to be responsible for a wide range of abnormal health conditions, including congenital heart diseases, cancer, and leukemia.

Nigeria is a signatory to the Basel Convention.

But a source claimed that the manifest found in the vessel showed that it was carrying a vehicle, microwave ovens, pressing irons, vehicle parts, television sets, children‘s clothes, tomatoes cans, dishes and a cargo lift.

The Head of Public Relations of the NCS, Mr. Wale Adeniyi, however, said on Thursday evening that the content of the vessel would be examined today.

Speaking with our correspondent also on Thursday, Benebo confirmed that the ship’s manifest had been seen.

She added that she personally informed Odey of the vessel’s presence in Nigeria.

Benebo said, ” I can confirm that the ship was sighted in our territorial waters last night but it berthed this morning at the Tin Can Island Port.

“But before the arrival of the ship, I had informed the Minister of Environment, who also informed the NSA and the Minister of Finance who is in charge of the Customs. Our officers are on the ground. We have seen the ship and the manifest. I am Lagos to take a decisive decision on the issue”

According to media report, an alert on the vessel was conveyed by Mr. Paul de Boer, Co-operator of the National Incident Room of The Netherlands.

The report says a container in the ship marked UESU463595-0 would have been confiscated in Rotterdam, but that it slipped through in spite of the checks.

Boer urged Nigerian authorities to track the said container so that an arrangement could be made for its return to Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

He informed authorities that the sender of the consignments is one Vivian Syn of Jahnstrasse 37, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria while the receiver had been identified as a Lagos-based company.

Family Hiding Yar’Adua From Us – Jonathan

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday said that President Umaru Yar’Adua’s family was hiding him from “key actors in government” Jonathan, who added that he had not had “sustained discussions” with the ailing President in the past five months, however, disclosed that he had spoken thrice with Yar’Adua’s wife, Turai.

He spoke in two separate interviews with the British Broadcasting Corporation Network Africa Programme and Cable News Network on Tuesday and Wednesday.

In the interview with the BBC, the Acting President also said he had also spoken with some of the President’s aides. But he pointed out that Yar’Adua’s physician who could have provided him (Jonathan) with information on the President’s health had not contacted him.

Yar’Adua travelled to Saudi Arabia on November 23, 2009 for the treatment of acute pericarditis at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Jeddah. He returned to the country in February and has since not been seen in public.

Jonathan said, “In terms of the last time we (Yar‘Adua and I) really had sustained discussions, that was November 26, 2009 - I think so.”

He, however, explained that he had, “on about three occasions, discussions with his (Yar’Adua) wife.”

But he did not say if the discussions with Turai were during the three months that Yar’Adua was in Saudi Arabia or after he had returned to the country.

Jonathan, who also did not disclose what Turai told him about the state of health of the President, said he had not seen the President’s doctor.

He said, “I‘ve not seen the doctor; but I have had discussions with some of the other aides (of the President).

“He (the doctor) has not come to me. I don‘t want to compel him.”

Jonathan also touched on clashes in Jos, where clashes between Muslims and Christians since the beginning of this year have left many dead.

He promised to prosecute those behind the text messages that incite violence, which he said was ethnic, rather than religious.

The Acting President explained that most of the indigenous population in Jos were Christians, while “some of the settlers - not all” are Muslims.

He said, “So if anything touches a settler who is a Muslim, it will be interpreted as if they are attacking the Muslims.

“And if the settlers that are Muslims now touch the indigenous population that are Christian, it will be interpreted as the Christians are being attacked.

“Anybody that is remotely or directly linked up with the crisis in Jos should be prosecuted.”

The Acting President had in an interview with the CNN on Tuesday said he did not want to insist on a meeting with Yar’Adua.

In the interview which was aired on Wednesday evening, Jonathan said that the Yar’Adua family had decided to “isolate” the President from key government functionaries.

Excerpts of a part of the interview:

Have you seen him (Yar’Adua) since his return from his medical absence in Saudi Arabia?

No, I have not seen him.

Why not?

The thinking of the family is that they should isolate him from most of the key actors in government. I have not seen him. The Senate President has not seen him... and at every single government function, I have not seen him.

Doesn’t that cause anxiety amongst the people?

Yes, it does. It does. Obviously, it does, but we cannot influence his family’s thinking.

Would you prefer that the family allowed you to visit him?

Yes, of course. But I will not want to force it.

What is his actual state of health? This also is a mystery.

I can’t say exactly. Only the medical doctors can.

Have they told you?

No, they haven’t.

Have they made any public statement?

Not quite. Not now. At the beginning, yes, but (someone’s name - unclear) left for Saudi Arabia, I think in the second week or so, within the first week, we were told that he had acute pericarditis. After that, no other statement has been issued.

So if he can receive religious leaders, why can he not receive at least the Acting President who’s acting in his name?

Well, religious leaders are there for (inaudible) blessings. Probably that is why they asked the religious leaders to go and pray for him. We are a very, very religious society.

Do you believe that those around him are trying to undermine you or your new cabinet?

I wouldn’t say they are trying to undermine me, because the laws of the land are very clear. And, of course, that is why in the first place the constitution is designed for two people to be in charge of government at every point in time, one superior and one inferior.

Do you think he will ever come back to government?

I can’t say that. It’s difficult for any of us as mortals to say so.
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EFCC Declares JamesIbori Wanted Again

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday declared the immediate former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, wanted.

Ibori, according to the anti-graft agency, is wanted for alleged official corruption and money laundering.

It said in a statement by its Head, Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi, that a court warrant had been obtained for his arrest.

The statement, however, did not name the court, the judge and when the arrest warrant was issued.

When contacted on the missing links, Babafemi said the name of the judge and his court were being kept under wraps to avoid undue pressure on the agency by Ibori and his sympathisers.

But Babafemi explained in the statement that letters inviting the former governor for interrogation had earlier been sent to his addresses in Lagos and Abuja, before the decision to declare him wanted.

He said, “Following persistent public enquiries over the status of the case involving the former governor, we will like the public to know that Chief Ibori is wanted by the commission for interrogation.

“In this regard, letters of invitation have been sent to his known addresses in Lagos and Abuja while a court warrant has equally been obtained for his arrest.”

Our correspondent gathered that the letters specified that he should surrender to the commission on March 23.

The letters, it was further learnt, asked Ibori to avail the anti-graft agency the necessary documents that could help it in the course of its investigations.

The commission, it was learnt, would have promised a reward to anyone that could provide information on the whereabouts of the former governor but wanted to accord him ”some respect and see if he would reciprocate by surrendering himself.”

However, Ibori, in a swift reaction to the statement denied receiving any invitation from the anti-graft agency.

He vowed in a statement by his Media Assistant, Mr. Tony Eluemunor, to “challenge EFCC’s political persecution.”

Ibori said that his being declared wanted was a “political harassment that demands for vigourous legal challenge so that Nigeria is not ruled like a fiefdom.”

He added that EFCC’s claim that “letters of invitation have been sent to his known addresses in Lagos and Abuja while a court warrant has equally been obtained for his arrest is a wicked lie”

The former governor advised his supporters not to panic because up till today (Tuesday), no letter inviting him for questioning from either the EFCC or any other security agency, had been received in any of his houses in Abuja and Lagos.

But the anti-graft agency debunked Ibori’s claim that he had not been invited.

The commission confirmed that an invitation letter to him was dated March 22, 2010 and that he was expected to have faced EFCC interrogators on March 23.

An EFCC source claimed that Ibori’s associates had been in contact with some operatives through the telephone since the invitation was sent to Ibori.

“These associates have been pleading with the EFCC to allow the operatives to visit Ibori in Warri, Deta State, to take his statement rather than him visiting the EFCC headquarters in line with the invitation letter but we turned it down,” he said.

Ibori, who until President Umaru Yar’Adua’s sickness was a prominent visitor at the Presidential Villa, had not been visible at public places since the emergence of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President.

A source close to the former governor, said his decision to “lie low” was taken about three weeks ago when his political associates met in Asaba and reviewed the political situation in the country.

SATURDAY PUNCH had exclusively reported on March 27 that Ibori might be quizzed by the commission following a fresh petition written against him by the Delta State Elders Leaders and Stakeholders Forum.

The petition was signed by a former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark; Chief Patrick Ideh; Dr. Richard Tosanwumi; Col. G.A.Eboma(rtd.); Chief Hope Erute; Chief Williams Ekpebitere; Chief Eddy Akangbou; Dr. B.K Adasen; Chief A. Abugbo; and Chief Benson Lelekumo.

Copies of the petition dated March 8,2010, were sent to the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; the Attorney-General of the then Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode(SAN); and the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Lamido Sanusi.

The forum had demanded the commission to find out whether it was right to use the state government’s shares to obtain a N44b private loan from a bank.

They said there was evidence that shares worth N528m in Oceanic Bank belonging to Delta State Government was used to guarantee the N44b loan to Ascot Offshore Nigeria Limited by Intercontinental Bank Plc.

An EFCC source had then informed our correspondent that the petition against the governor by Forum was too weighty for the commission to ignore.

Ibori was first arrested by EFCC operatives when Mallam Nuhu Ribadu was the commission’s chairman. He was charged to a Federal High Court in Kaduna.

The case however suffered a setback when the Court of Appeal, Kaduna ruled that the high court did not have jurisdiction over the matter and that Ibori should be charged in his state.

He was subsequently arraigned in Asaba before Justice Mercy Awokulehin, who discharged him of all the 170- count charge against him.

The commission have since appealed against the ruling.

Opposition Mounts Against IBB’s Presidential Ambition

There is a groundswell of opposition in the making against the presidential ambition of former head of state, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

Apart from indications that some elements within the Peoples Democratic Party on the platform of which the former military dictator plans to actualise his dream, are gearing up to oppose his bid, members of the civil society have been strategising to halt the plan.

Speculations had been rife that Babangida, who ruled the country from August 27 1985 to August 26, 1993, was making a spirited comeback bid as a full civilian president.

The former military president had ended the speculations when he told journalists last Friday in Benin that he was indeed planning for the 2011 presidential election.

Sources told our correspondent on Monday that some civil society organisations are already upbeat in their plans to oppose Babangida through rallies and other forms of protests.

Social networking media such as the facebook is now awash with calls for the rejection of Babangida as a presidential aspirant.

A United Kingdom-based Nigerian who is the Executive Director of the Africans Unite Against Child Abuse, Mrs. Debbie Ariyo, has created the “Nigerians say no to Ibrahim Babangida as president” on the facebook.

Speaking with our correspondent from London on Monday, Ariyo said she could not imagine that Babangida, who she accused of plunging Nigeria into the crisis that led her to leave the country would still be in power again almost 20 years after.

“I founded AFRUCA here in the UK. And we are planning to establish AFRUCA in Nigeria. I cannot imagine a situation where the same man who was the head of state of my country almost 20 years ago will still be in the saddle. This is even aside the corruption which he promoted,” Ariyo said.

She said plans were underway to organise protests against Babangida as a way of calling the attention of the international community to his presidential ambition.

Respondents across the globe have listed various reasons on the online group why the former military president should not be allowed to contest.

Prominent among the reasons why Babangida should be stopped include the annulment of the June 12 presidential election won by late Chief MKO Abiola; alleged institutionalisation of corruption during his eight year reign and repression of opposition leaders.

The Afenifere Renewal Group, through its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said Babangida’s ambition amounted to a sacrilege.

The group stated, “It is the worst sacrilege since the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914. He must have taken us to be less than human beings to ever nurse the idea of running for the presidency of Nigeria after ruining it for eight years. The criminal annulment of June 12 by him threw the country into a monumental crisis it has not recovered from economically, politically and socially.

“His eight years witnessed institutionalisation of corruption and many high profile assassinations like that of Dele Giwa. All our institutions and values became corroded under his evil grip. If he gets on the ballot for the next elections, it would be the final statement that Nigeria is finished.”

A former senator, Chief Femi Okunrounmu, said Babangida must have taken Nigerians as fools to ever contemplate coming back to power.

He said, “It is the greatest insult to Nigerians! What does he take us for, fools? Could we have forgotten so soon his annulment of June 12 1993 election victory of Abiola, the subsequent terror inflicted on the country by his comrade in treachery, Abacha?

“Could we forget so soon his popularisation of shameless, unbridled and unsanctioned corruption, the impact of which triggered the complete collapse of values in, and the ruination of our country? Can we so soon forget Dele Giwa? I think the press should join the people to stop him in his tracks.”
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Fight Corruption, Rigging, Obama Tells Jonathan

THE United States President Barack Obama on Monday advised Acting President Goodluck Jonathan to make “tangible progress” during his tenure by fighting corruption and rigging during elections in Nigeria.

Obama, who again acknowledged Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa, also challenged Jonathan’s administration to “respect human rights; constitutional law and processes; promote economic development and resolve internal conflicts.”

The US President spoke when he met for 15 minutes with Jonathan at Blair House, Washington DC. The Acting President is in Washington for a two-day Nuclear Security Summit

“ The President (Obama) urged Acting President Jonathan to use his tenure to make historic and tangible progress in strengthening the Nigerian government’s commitment to follow through on countering corruption,” a statement on Monday by the White House said.

The statement, which was issued after the meeting, added that Obama assured Jonathan of Washington’s support “ in realising his public promise for electoral reform.”

He acknowledged Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa, saying the country is critical to the survival of the continent.

“Nigeria is critical to the rest of the continent and if Nigeria does not get it right, Africa will really not make more progress,” Obama added.

He also stated that “a strong, democratic, prosperous Nigeria is in the US’ national interest.

Obama, according to the statement, said that Washington “would like to work with Nigeria to ensure a politically stable environment which will make Nigeria a good example to other African countries.’’

“The President reiterated that the US places great importance on the US relationship with Nigeria and the Nigerian people.”

The statement said the two leaders also discussed the importance of combating terrorism.

It did not specify whether they talked about an attempt to blow up a US jet bound for Detroit on Christmas Day by a Nigerian, Umar Abdulmutallab.

The failed attack resulted in Washington placing Nigeria on its aviation security blacklist.

Jonathan last week had met the father of the accused, Alhaji Umar Mutallab.

The Acting President had earlier given the assurance that the Federal Government would intensify its reform programmes to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and public well-being.

He reiterated his government’s commitments to making significant changes in the electoral process and social reforms.

According to him, the reform as well as transparent elections, are critical to building a solid democracy in Nigeria.

He said, “Only credible electoral reform and a credible election can guarantee durable democracy. Without credible reforms, we cannot phase out bad leadership and without that process, we cannot have a strong nation.’’

Jonathan also pledged Nigeria’s commitment to a successful implementation of the recently signed Bi-National Agreement between Nigeria and the US.

He expressed optimism that the working group established by the commission would contribute towards actualising the objectives of Nigeria’s Vision 2020.

The Acting President thanked the US for the support it had given for the implementation of the amnesty programme, stating that Nigeria was committed to restoring peace in the Niger Delta.

While stating Nigeria’s commitment to the fight against corruption, he pledged support for a nuclear-free world, emphasising Nigeria’s opposition to nuclear proliferation.

The Acting President congratulated Obama for the success of the healthcare bill in the US.

Nigerian Ambassador to the US, Prof. Adebowale Adefuye, who also spoke after the meeting, observed that the Obama-Jonathan interaction ”reflected the growing amity between Nigeria and the US.”

Washington had soon after Adefuye presented his letters of credence to Obama removed Nigeria from the list of countries whose citizens had to be specially screened at US airports. The enhanced screening was due to Abdulmutallab’s action.

The following week, Washington proceeded to sign the binational commission deal with Nigeria, the first of its kind under the Obama administration.

Apart from Adefuye, the other Nigerian officials at the meeting were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia (SAN); and the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Martins Uhomoidhi.

From the US were the Secretary of State, Mrs. Hilary Clinton; Senior Adviser to the President on Africa, Michelle Gavin, and the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Robin Sanders.

Meanwhile, Jonathan has promised that there would be “lots of changes” in the Independent National Electoral Commission “between now and the 2011 general elections.”

The Acting President who spoke with a panel of experts at the Council on Foreign Relations think-tank in Washington, said there would be a “review of individual member of INEC with a view to injecting “new blood” into the commission where necessary.

”The ones (INEC officials) who we feel are not good enough to be reappointed, we will not reappoint, and we‘ll inject fresh blood,” the Agence France Presse quoted him as saying.

But he then seemed to dash the hopes of those clamouring for the removal of the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Maurice Iwu, when he told the panel that he was “convinced that INEC and its chairman can conduct elections in Nigeria (that are) free and fair.”

Jonathan, however, warned that his government would tolerate no ”wrongdoing” in elections next year.

He said he had ” given clear directives to the INEC that we will not accommodate any wrongdoing” during the general elections.
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Jonathan: Expect Changes In INEC

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday told Nigerians and the international community to expect changes in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that would be a reflection of public opinion before 2011 general election.

Jonathan was responding to questions from the audience during a parley with the Council of Foreign Relations in Washington DC, US, which was attended by high profile diplomats and government officials from Nigeria and the US.
"I promised myself that the elections I will supervise in 2011 will be credible," the Acting President said.
Jonathan said he is committed to ensuring that the remaining period of the administration is not a “transitional period” but a “transformational time”.

On the appointment or re-appointment of INEC chairman and commissioners, he said, while noting that some of them had completed their tenure while others would complete theirs a couple of months from now: "We are going to review them individually and the ones we feel that are not good enough to return back, we will not re-appoint them and we are going to inject fresh blood, people, if you mention their names, the civil society will be happy that they will conduct clean election".
The Acting President said: "A lot of people talk about the chairman, but not just the chairman. The chairman himself, his tenure expires on 13th of June. But not just him. Quite a number of the commissioners by the end of June, more than two-third of them, their tenure will expire. So we are going to examine them and of course listen to public opinion.
"Nigeria must show the lead in Africa. We cannot begin to talk to other leaders that you must conduct clean election, you must not have a third term agenda, when you yourself you have issues that people will raise. So for us, we have to lead by example. If we have to lead, we must show clear example."

THISDAY had last Tuesday hinted of impending changes at INEC, reporting that INEC Chairman Maurice Iwu’s tenure would soon expire and that his appointment may not be renewed.
The newspaper also drew attention to the dearth of national commissioners at INEC with just three of them left at an electoral body that is supposed to have a full compliment of 12 national commissioners at all time.
Jonathan also disclosed that any future election which result is not declared at the polling booth would be cancelled.
On the state of the nation, the Acting President said the circumstances that led to his ascendancy was "quite disturbing to us as a nation," noting, however, thattoday, he is confronted with the greatest challenge of his political career.”
He said while the nation is preparing for the recovery of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, he is prepared to work with all Nigerians "to increase the pace of development and to do so facing the right direction."
The Acting President said quite a number of key global players especially from America and other parts of the West helped to stabilise the nation.

He said: "Because I am addressing the Council of Foreign Affairs, which is a very powerful body, let me use it as an opportunity to appreciate what you have done individually and collectively. Today, as a nation we are stable and we are moving forward.
"We have chosen for ourselves what I will say the foundational responsibilities, which if well shouldered will form the basis for the development of Nigeria from this point onward. In this responsibility of consolidating and deepening our democracy, we are committed to ensuring that the remaining period of our administration is not a transitional period but one which we hope would one day be viewed as a watershed in our transformational time in our young democracy.
"For us in Nigeria, this is our time. Either we continue with more of the same or we change the game. There is no doubt that we have been faced by some challenges in our country but we have stabilised the polity and we are determined to consolidate on the gains so recorded."

Speaking further, the Acting President said for now, "our domestic focus must be on electoral reforms, delivering peace dividends to the Niger Delta and the rest of the country and standing strong on our resolve against corruption".
While reiterating Nigeria's commitment to the war against global terrorism, Jonathan said, "Internationally, we are determined to restore Nigeria's image and traditional role as a key leader of the international community in an increasingly uncertain world. Nigeria is a key partner in our collective effort to maintain peace and security in Africa and beyond."
On what he intended to achieve between now and 2011 when the present government's four-year tenure would come to an end, Jonathan said: "when you have a short period, you cannot promise much.

"One thing I promised Nigerians and the rest of the society that have interest in Nigeria is that we will set up clear goals. There are certain things we can achieve in the next six months, certain things that are quite disturbing to the country. Specific issues of conducting elections that are always questionable. These are human issues that don't need more than a year to solve. So I have promised Nigerians and the rest of the world that 2011 election will be credible.
"I said so because I considered myself as a victim of elections that have been questioned. I worked very hard as Governor of Bayelsa State then for us to have won the presidential election 2007 but the impression was that all things were not done properly. It gives me worry and I promised myself that the elections I will supervise for that 2011 will be credible.
"We are looking at reforming the electoral processes, but I mentioned to people that even without reforming the electoral laws, the present laws can allow you conduct elections that will be more than 70 per cent acceptable. We have experimented that and we raised this issue with President Barack Obama yesterday, we conducted a state constituency election in one of the Southern states and the governor is here. We also conducted election in Anambra."

According to him, all these show that Nigeria can conduct credible polls, adding that he does not believe that he needs more than one year to achieve that and that if he does not achieve it within that period, even if he was given ten years, he would not be able to achieve it.
"For the constituency election conducted in Edo State, the governorship election conducted in Anambra State and the local government election conducted in Federal Capital Territory, it showed that we can conduct credible election. It gives me hope and I promise Nigerians and of course the American audience that 2011 elections in Nigeria will be credible. Of course we don't need more than one year to achieve that. If I don't, if you give me ten years, then I can't achieve it," he said.

Jonathan also recalled what transpired before the recent election in Edo State, which had been adjudged free and fair.
"I remember when that election was to be conducted, the governor was very apprehensive. He is a member of the civil society, he is a labour leader. He is here and he was worried and he used to call me whether INEC would conduct free and fair election. And I said to him that I have given clear directives and anybody that deviates from it, I will fire that person. I have given clear directive to police to provide adequate security for that election, I have given clear directive to INEC that I will not accommodate any wrongdoing and that as a government we have changed our thinking now," he said.

While noting that INEC's problem is psychological, he said the issue of perception is, however, very critical as many have the feeling that INEC cannot conduct credible election in Nigeria.
He said government is facing its greatest challenge in the area of power supply, adding, "That is why we don't have a minister of power, we set up a committee and I am presently coordinating it. We want to change the focus, when we do this properly, then we can have a minister to drive the focus," he said.
He, however, did not give any timeline for revamping the power sector.

"In summary, there are certain challenges that we have that within the next six months, we will surely succeed up to 50 per cent especially the areas that have to do with human factor, basic infrastructure areas. I cannot promise that we will achieve so much because the time is short. We set a clear road map that you will know we are moving forward. If we are not moving you will know, if you are moving you will know," he said.
On the issue of corruption, Jonathan said the government would set up machinery to continue to reduce it, explaining that the war against corruption would be sustained.

Commenting on the amnesty programme, he said it is on course, but added that "these are issues you cannot say you are going to control in a year. These are young men who have taken arms and some of them; their capacity is quite low and its takes a lot of time to train them for some of them to be in a position to make a living. It is not something you can even say you will complete within a four year administration. But I can assure you that we will set up a solid base and have clear programmes and timelines that you will see that we are progressing".
The Acting President also responded to questions on the Jos crisis, saying it boiled down to the issue of impunity, “when somebody commits an offence and no punishment is meted out”.
He said he had given directive to the police to arrest anybody that is directly or indirectly connected with the crisis even if it is just a text message that links such person.

Commenting on his meeting with President Obama on Monday, he described it as "quite fruitful".
Meanwhile, President Barack Obama has urged the Acting President to use his tenure to make historic and tangible progress in strengthening the Federal Government’s commitment to follow through on countering corruption.
President Obama also said US would support the Acting President in realising his public promise for electoral reform.
Jonathan and Obama had met on Sunday night on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit holding in Washington DC.
According to a White House statement last night, President Obama expressed his appreciation for Nigeria’s participation in the summit and the opportunity to meet with the Acting President to discuss issues of mutual importance.
President Obama and Jonathan agreed to continue to work together on matters of advancing global security, particularly nuclear security and international compliance to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Following the statement, the two leaders also discussed important security issues including efforts to combat terrorism.
Recognizing the regional importance of Nigeria, including its role as a regional leader and its substantial contribution to peacekeeping missions, as well as the longstanding friendship between the peoples of Nigeria and US, President Obama reiterated that US places great importance on its relationship with Nigeria and the Nigerian people.
President Obama said a strong, democratic, prosperous Nigeria is in the US national interest.
The Acting President agreed on the importance placed on the US-Nigerian relationship and recognized that the recent signing of a bilateral framework between the two countries provides an important way forward in addressing mutual strategic goals.
The goals, according to Jonathan, included respecting constitutional law and processes, achieving free and fair elections, building the capacity and commitment to fight corruption, respecting human rights, promoting economic development and resolving internal conflict.
http://www.thisdayonline.com/

Fresh Crisis Erupts Near Jos

Plateau State is once again in the news following an attack on a village near Jos by suspected Fulani herdsmen in the early hours of Sunday. 

The attackers targeted the homes of some officials in Kura Jenta, a Berom village some 30 kilometers south of Jos. 
The officials were said to be former government workers and a brother to a local government chairman of Jos South Local Government Area (LGA). 

No life was lost because of the timely intervention of a police patrol.  But three houses and six vehicles were torched.
The military authorities said no arrest had been made. It was also gathered that efforts are being made to track down those behind the incident.

One group of attackers was said to have fired indiscriminately from one section while  the other group set fire on the two affected compounds. They were, however, overpowered  by the Special Task Force (STF) troops. 

The fire in the three houses was later put off through the combined efforts of the STF troops and the fire service. The houses affected include that of a former commissioner, Mr. Markus Pwajok. 
Kuru Jenta was the scene of a deadly massacre where about 150 Fulani were allegedly killed and dumped in wells on January 19, 2010.

A police source said that an anonymous caller had contacted the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 4, Mr. Donald Iroham, on phone at about 1.30 am on Sunday to inform him that a house had been set on fire.
Iroham, who visited the scene of the attack yesterday, promised that “the police would do everything within their powers to track down perpetrators of these heinous crimes”.  

He said people should step up security “towers” to watch their “enemies” and that he was not “going to give up” the fight against criminality in the society, describing the situation “as sad and must be stopped”.
“In spite of sporadic gun shots and breaking of a fence which lasted for about one hour, nothing was done by the military personnel to salvage the situation. It was the timely arrival of the police patrol team to the place that halted what would have been a disaster to the family,” a resident said.

Iroham, who confirmed the development, said that it was a woman that alerted him. When asked about the allegation that the soldiers at the scene did nothing, the AIG said, “the allegation is more than meets the eye, but we are investigating.”
He urged the residents of the state not to panic as the police are on top of the situation. But the Operations Commander of the JTF, Col Kayode Ogundele, disputed the police claims. He said it was as a result of the resistance put up by the soldiers that the attack was repelled.

The attack on Kuru Jenta is coming barely a week after a peace-building measure initiated by the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, was held to broker a truce between the Berom and Fulani.
Jos has been the center of ethnic and religious crisis for some years now. During the tenure of former Governor Joshua Dariye, a state of emergency was declared by then President Olusegun Obasanjo.

There were clashes last year between Muslims and Christians leading to the death of hundreds of people. More recently in January, another crisis flared up resulting in the destruction of properties and lives.
Another set of killings occurred in March in the village of Dogo Nahawa early in the morning. Without any warning, harmless women and children were hacked to death by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The State Governor Jonah Jang and the General Officer Commanding Third Armoured Division Jos, Major Gen. Saleh Maina, traded words over whether the latter was forewarned of the attacks or not. While Jang claimed he called and received no answer, Maina said he did not receive any call from Plateau State government officials. 

Instead, he claimed he received several text messages from individuals but did not act. 
That particular incident caused so much outrage that some women organised a protest march in front of the National Assembly in Abuja. Another march was held at the Plateau State House of Assembly by families of the deceased.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/

Jonathan, Obama Meet on N’Delta, Oil Reform

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met with US President Barack Obama at the White House, Washington DC, to discuss issues relating to the Niger Delta, oil industry reform, electoral reform and Nigeria's role in global peace, among others.

THISDAY had, last week, exclusively reported the planned meeting between the two leaders ahead of the Nuclear Security Summit currently holding in the US, which Jonathan is attending on the invitation of the American president.
Jonathan also met with the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, yesterday a few hours before his meeting with Obama.

It is being speculated that Jonathan will offer an advisory role to the former. anti-graft Czar in an effort to boost the war against corruption in the country, but the details of yesterday's meeting were not made public.

The Acting President arrived the White House at 10.30pm (Nigerian time) for the historic meeting with Obama. Very rarely has an American president met with a non-substantive president of a country.
Details of the meeting were still sketchy at press time, but THISDAY learnt that the two leaders used the opportunity to discuss outstanding issues between the two countries most of which would have been discussed all along but for the ill-health of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.

The newspaper gathered that Jonathan used the opportunity to discuss the peace efforts in Nigeria's oil-producing region in the light of the amnesty programme put in place by President Yar'Adua which has led to a considerable reduction in militant activities and boosted oil production.

The US is Nigeria's biggest customer in the international crude oil market and much of its energy security is directly affected by militant activities in the Niger Delta.

Another issue of interest to the two countries, sources told THISDAY, is Nigeria's proposed reform which seeks to radically restructure the oil industry.
Multinational oil companies have expressed worries over the revised fiscal regimes which they claim are unfavourable to their operations.

THISDAY learnt that Jonathan thanked the US for standing by Nigeria "in these difficult times" and asked for continued support as the country seeks to reform its electoral system in the interest of electoral justice, democracy and good governance.
He also reinterated Federal Government's commitment to the anti-graft war and sought the co-operation and support of the American government in this regard.

The Acting President, THISDAY gathered, pledged Nigeria's support to the US in the move against nuclear proliferation but asked Obama to take note of Nigeria's "variegated" multi-ethnic and multi-religious make-up.

The US is currently seeking UN sanctions against Iran over its nuclear development programme and Jonathan's statement is understood to mean Nigeria may abstain from voting when the matter comes up.

Jonathan had arrived the US yesterday via the Andrew Airforce Base in Washington DC at about 9:30am (2.30pm Nigerian time) to the waiting hands of members of Nigerian mission in the US, led by Ambassador Adebowale Adefuye.
The Acting President was accompanied on the trip by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Odein Ajumogobia, and Nigeria’s former Ambassador to the US, Alhaji Hassan Adamu. The other ministers and governors who were billed to accompany him had arrived the US earlier.

Also on hand to receive the Acting President, who arrived 30 minutes later than the scheduled, were the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Robin Rene Sanders, and Deputy Head of Nigerian Mission in Washington DC, Ambassador Baba Gana Wakil.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries with members of the Nigerian mission and other dignitaries, Jonathan headed for Westin Grand Hotel on M Street, Washington DC, where he was received by Governors Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State and Aliyu Shinkafi of Zamfara State.

THISDAY reliably gathered that the governors stayed back at the hotel to receive the Acting President because of the restriction of dignitaries at the Airforce base as a result of tight security. Journalists were also denied access to the place.
At about 3:15pm (local time), Ribadu, wearing a white caftan, walked into the lobby of the hotel and, after exchanging greetings with some Nigerians at the lobby, went up for scheduled appointment with the Acting President.

Ribadu left the country in controversial circumstances two years ago following his removal as EFCC chairman by President Yar'Adua and a chain of events which saw Ribadu demoted and dismissed from the police force.
Federal Government recently withdrew criminal charges against Ribadu for allegedly failing to declare his assets while in office.

The charges were reportedly dropped because of lack of evidence to press the case to a logical conclusion.
Ribadu insists the charges were politically motivated, maintaining that he had declared his assets in accordance with the laws governing the code of conduct of public officers.

Critics of the decision to enter a no-case submission by the Federal Government are of the view that the government should have allowed the judiciary to deal with the charges and free Ribadu if indeed there was no evidence to prove the allegations against him.
Ribadu is expected to be named Special Adviser on Anti-Graft to the Acting President.
He was recently quoted as saying he was ready to work with Jonathan.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/

US President Barack Obama Demands Mine Blast Action

President Obama said steps should be taken to prevent similar accidents

US President Barack Obama has called for an investigation into a mining disaster in West Virginia that killed 29 people.Mr Obama said the cause of the blast at the Upper Big Branch mine should be determined, to prevent similar accidents from occurring.
The bodies of four missing workers were found on Saturday, ending hopes that any missing miners had survived.
The disaster was the deadliest US coal mining accident in 40 years.
The cause of the blast has not yet been confirmed but officials believe it could be related to high levels of methane in the mine.
Mr Obama called for federal mine safety investigators to look into the cause of the accident.
"We cannot bring back the men we lost," he said in a statement.
"What we can do, in their memory, is thoroughly investigate this tragedy and demand accountability."
Rescue workers are recovering the last bodies from the mine and funerals of the victims have begun to take place.
It is the worst coal mine disaster in the US since 38 people were killed in a Kentucky mine in 1970.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/