You Can't Bully Me. Fashola says ‘No’ to Yar’Adua.

Lagos councils: Fashola says ‘No’ to Yar’Adua – The Guardian

July 27, 2009 by tim

As the head of a State Government that is committed to the highest standards of Constitutionalism and legality, I regret that I am unable to accede to your request to alter the current status quo by stopping the operation of the 37 Local Council Development Areas.

With these words, Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola has called the bluff of the Federal Government’s threat through President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s letter to bring the weight of the apparatus of the federal state on Lagos if the state government did not revert to the old order of 20 local councils.

Indeed, Fashola also expressed shock at Yar’Adua’s tone and timing given that the letter , dated 14th July but published by newspapers yesterday asking Lagos to revert to the old order came berely 24 hours after militants attacked the Atlas Cove oil jetty in Lagos, a development which, curiously, has not merited the president’s single word of sympathy. The language was civil but the message was unmistakable: Don’t bully me! Follow the rule of law!

EFCC says Nigerian officials stole N250 billion in five years

By Elizabeth Archibong

July 25, 2009 01:50PMT

Former governors and other senior government officials have stolen over N250 billion since the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2003, a list released last week by the commission has shown.

The list, which has the names of 50 Nigerians, also shows the status of the cases against them. Top on the list are Ayo Fayose, Bode George, James Ibori, Saminu Turaki and Orji Uzor Kalu.

The commission, according to its chairperson, Farida Waziri, is also reopening in courts cases against some governors that appeared to have met a dead end.

The case of a former governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion, whose case was closed with a fine of N3 million out of an estimated N4.4 billion he allegedly embezzled, is one such case.

Mr. Ibori’s case, which is also feared to have died, has also been reassigned. There has been a lot of controversy on Ibori’s case, as his name was always missing each time a list of people being prosecuted was released.

Some Nigeria newspapers published a list of those being prosecuted about two weeks ago, and Ibori’s name was missing on the list.

A list without the right names

The EFCC spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the published list was not the one released by the commission.

“This was the original list passed out and I was not aware his name was not on the list that was published,” he said. “But this is the list I passed out.” An EFCC agent said while the new list might put to rest allegations that Mrs Farida was protecting Mr. Ibori, it also raises questions as to how Mr. Ibori’s name was always missing when the list was published by the media.

The case of Gabriel Aduku, a former minister of health, has also been put under the spotlight as the court judgment has been put under review.

According to the list, while some of the suspects are still remanded in prison custody, some have since been granted bail by the court but are still undergoing trial.

Nicholas Ugbane, Ndudi Elumelu, Mohammed Jibo, Paulinus Igwe, Samuel Ibi, Aliyu Abdulahi, Simon Nanle, Lawrence Orekoya, Kayode Oyedeji, Lawrence Orekoya, Garki Jahun, Molkat Mufwang, Micheal Aule, Andrew Epkanobi, Alexander Cozman, Tom Iseogohi, Mohammed Buba, Mike Okoli, Albert Ikomi and Yuguda Manu Kaigama were all remanded in prison custody and nearly all of them have been granted bail.

The EFCC said apart from the cases of the former government officials, the commission has, in the last 11 months, recorded over 65 convictions in other cases such as bank fraud, advance fee fraud and cyber crime etc.

It said this figure represents just about one third of the number of convictions recorded by the commission in the last five years.

“In the last 11 months, we have recovered funds and assets of about N50 billion,” the commission said. “We do not create drama for the purpose of sensationalism. We have chosen to work and let our work speak for us.”

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5438590-147/EFCC_says_Nigerian_officials_stole_N250.csp

NDIC gives Okiro 48hrs to pay N166m bank debt.

By Kamarudeen Ogundele
Published on 23/07/2009

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has accused the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mike Okiro, of contributing to the liquidation of Lead Bank Ltd.

NDIC alleged that Okiro contributed to the bank’s insolvency by failing to repay credits of more than N166 million extended to him between 2000 and 2001.

The corporation alleged that Okiro secured the loan to finance a pipeline laying contract that he won from Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), adding that he used his family business enterprise, Hekiro Nigeria Ltd, to obtain the loans.
The police reacted swiftly to the allegation, which they described as "blackmail".

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has accused the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mike Okiro, of contributing to the liquidation of Lead Bank Ltd.

NDIC alleged that Okiro contributed to the bank’s insolvency by failing to repay credits of more than N166 million extended to him between 2000 and 2001.

The corporation alleged that Okiro secured the loan to finance a pipeline laying contract that he won from Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), adding that he used his family business enterprise, Hekiro Nigeria Ltd, to obtain the loans.

The police reacted swiftly to the allegation, which they described as "blackmail".

In a July 20 letter to Okiro, NDIC lawyer Mr Okunade Olorundare (SAN), demanded re-payment of the loan within 48 hours. The corporation also accused Okiro of abuse of office and a breach of the Code of Conduct for public officers for using his office to secure the contract.

"Our client informed us that as at January 16, 2006 when the banking licence of Lead Bank Ltd was revoked, Hekiro Nig. Ltd, which was being run as your family business enterprise was indebted to the bank to the tune of N166,597,365.97.

"NDIC as a liquidator of Lead Bank Ltd wrote you a demand letter on May 9, 2007, asking you for proposal on how you would want to liquidate the debt. "By various documents submitted to us by our client, you personally guaranteed the loan by mortgaging your landed property at Abeokuta covered by certificate of occupancy number 022226 in the name of Mike Mbama Okiro, which you obtained while in Ogun State Command of the Police.

"From some of the documents passed to us, you signed as chairman, while in some, you signed as director for Hekiro Nigeria Limited.

"However, despite the fact that you are a police officer and knowing the implication of forging a signature, you signed as Bessy Okiro and which signature is consistent with your true signature as Sir Mike Okiro on some of the documents available to us.

"Apart from signing as Bessy Okiro, we have discovered that you did not declare your interest in Hekiro Nigeria Ltd to the Code of Conduct Bureau as required by the 1999 Constitution," the letter said.

Hekiro Nigeria Ltd, NDIC said, maintained a corporate account number 32620009260 with the Port Harcourt, Rivers State branch of the bank where the facilities were drawn.

The corporation said Okiro’s international passport number AO696925 was used in opening the account.

NDIC contended that after series of efforts to recover the loan, Okiro’s wife, Hera, paid N5million vide a Fidelity Bank cheque number 00553907 on April 30.

"Our instruction, therefore, is to demand for the immediate payment of the outstanding sum of N161,597,365.97 which was the accrued debt as at January 16, 2006.

"You are to deposit the above sum in our chambers or pay directly to NDIC, the liquidator of Lead Bank Ltd, within 48 hours from today.

"In addition to the above, it is our client’s further instruction to drag you before the Code of Conduct Tribunal and equally to write to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and related agencies to prosecute you.

"You are to comply with the above demand immediately, else, we shall carry out our client’s instructions to the hilt," the letter said.

Contacted, the Police Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, said the letter was directed to Okiro personally, adding that the alleged transaction was private not official.

Ojukwu said he recalled that the police had charged the NDIC management to court for alleged conspiracy and fraudulent deals with the recovered fund of Fortune Bank (in liquidation).

He said the allegation against Okiro could be a "hit back" by the corporation.

The police filed charges at an Abuja High Court against NDIC Managing Director, Mr Ganiyu Ogunleye and its Executive Director of Operations, Prof. Peter Umoh.

Also charged are two members of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) -Interim Management Committee for Fortune Bank, Dr Joe Emerson, and Mr Innocent Ilozumba, a manager with Fidelity Bank, Adedapo Agboola and a former chief accountant of Fortune Bank, Pius Obeleke.

The police alleged that Ogunleye, Umoh, Emerson and Ilozumba unilaterally granted 60 per cent interest waiver on the indebtedness of Nasarawa State Government to Fortune Bank without the approval of the then Finance Minister, Dr Shamsuddeen Usman.

They were also accused of dishonesty in depositing the N1.058 billion recovered from Nasarawa State Government with Fidelity Bank, instead of a designated Fortune Bank Account number 023-01236-41-55-3 with CBN.

The corporation, however, submitted that the criminal charge was "frivolous and a crude attempt to intimidate its officials and divert their attention from recovering the outstanding debt of N161.9 million, owed by Okiro’s family to Lead Bank".

NDIC said on November 12, last year, Okiro’s wife met with its officials and sought an interest concession on the loan which was not granted.

http://thenationonlineng.net/web/articles/11409/1/NDICgivesOkiro48hrstopayN166mbankdebt/Page1.html/print

A Nation In Perpetual Darkness...

Blinded by greedy unpatriotic blood and money thirsty vampires. Enemies of their own people and humanity.

Nigerians are not allowed here..

Nigerians are not allowed here
By Allwell Okpi
July 18, 2009 01:59PM
The entrance to Eleganza Estate is a huge iron gate that stands about five metres tall under a concrete arch. A concrete fence surrounds the estate. While residents show their passes at the gate, visitors have to fill a form at the security post which is manned by both uniformed private security agents and armed soldiers.

With uninterrupted power and water supply, marble floors, central air-conditioning, sauna, lush gardens, billiard room, tennis court, swimming pools and lots more, Eleganza Estate is fully serviced luxury living.

For expats only

In a newspaper published on June 29, 2009, the estate, located about one kilometre from Chevron, was advertised for expatriates. The advert read, ‘Accommodation for expatriates only'.

When contacted, Sophia Okoya, director, RAO Investment Property Company Ltd, the firm that manages the estate, said they do not intend to discriminate against Nigerians.

"That advert that you saw is a mistake," she said. "We are not discriminating against Nigerians. The problem is that when Nigerians hear the price, they will say they would rather go and build their own houses with the money. And you know, when these expatriates come, they like to live in a place that is akin to the lifestyle they left behind in their country. They love to live in a nice and secured environment."

Mrs. Okoya listed the rent for the different range of apartments in the estate. A one-bedroom apartment goes for N1.8 million per annum with N800,000 service charge, a three-bedroom flat goes for N3.5 million per annum with a N2 million service charge, while the four-bedroom duplex goes for N4.5 million per annum with a N2 million service charge.

When asked if Nigerians who can afford it would be considered, Mrs. Okoya said there is another estate that has been provided for Nigerians.

"We have another estate opposite (the) VGC," she said. "We are renting that one to Nigerians, and it's also very nice. If you have anyone who is interested, a three-bedroom flat in that one is N2.5 million."

While leading an inspection of one of the three-bedroom flats, an employee confirmed that all the tenants of the estate are expatriates. She said the advert is meant to get tenants to fill some of the apartments, which became vacant after the previous occupants left.

Reactions

Segun Olutade, Executive Director, Shelter Watch, a non-governmental organisation working in the area of affordable shelter and real estate development, condemned the advert.

"It's an insult," he said. "Do they mean Nigerians cannot live there? How can they discriminate against us in our own country? The problem is that our government will not do anything about it; their government abroad will not allow it. If we don't stop this, it will become a trend; before you know it other landlords will start renting their houses to only expatriates. I don't think it is right. In fact, this is apartheid."

According to Adebowale Adegoke, a journalist, renting accommodation to expatriates only is not new.

"It's really a shame," he said. "With this kind of thing happening, what are we rebranding? Well I'm not surprised, the estate is owned by Rasaq Okoya. I know when they built that estate about eight years ago, they were renting it for about $50,000. It is not only this one, most of the houses on Banana Island are dollarized."

In spite of the condemnation of the advert, William Odudu, former president of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers and also former president of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria thinks preferential renting is not wrong.

"I don't see anything wrong in someone building for a particular set of people whether expatriates only or Nigerians only," he said. "I guess they will take Nigerians who can live up to the standard of the estate."

Legality

Rasaq Akande, a lawyer, said the advert was discriminatory.

"I object to the use of the word ‘expatriates'," he said. "It is discriminatory. It is sad that we can read this in a Nigerian newspaper. I think advertising standards will have something to say about this. If it was in Britain, for example, there would have been an uproar.

"Although, the land law is not clear on this, the constitution prohibits all forms of discrimination. It's not very likely that anybody will sue them for this, but if they refuse to rent the apartment to any Nigerian who can afford it, I think the person can go to court and enforce his right."

Join The Revolution:: Speak Up Against Corruption::Support Light Up Nigeria.

Perfect Storm::Nigeria ranked 15 out of 177 nations..

• Somalia worst state, Norway best
By Abimbola Akosile, 07.16.2009

Nigeria was yesterday ranked the 15th most failed nation in the world, out of a total of 177 countries that were surveyed. The country moved upwards three places from 18th position in 2008; and 17th in 2007.
The newly released Failed State Index 2009 was published by the United States think-tank and an independent research organisation, the Fund for Peace, and the magazine Foreign Policy. This is the 5th edition, since 2005.
According to the detailed Index, Somalia emerged the most failed state, for the second time running, while Norway emerged the best or most sustainable state.
The index's ranks are based on twelve indicators of state vulnerability - four social, two economic and six political. The indicators are not designed to forecast when states may experience violence or collapse. Instead, they are meant to measure a state's vulnerability to collapse or conflict.
Out of the 15 most failed nations surveyed, ten were African nations. These include Somalia (1st), Zimbabwe (2nd), Sudan (3rd), Chad (4th), Dem. Rep. of Congo (5th), Central African Republic (8th), Guinea (9th), Ivory Coast (11th), Kenya (14th), and Nigeria (15th).
The best five nations, which were described as having the most sustainable state include Norway (177), Finland (176), Sweden (175), Switzerland (174), and Ireland (173). Ghana emerged the best state in Africa, ranked 124 and classified as moderate state, while USA was 159th and UK 161 on the survey list.



http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=148865&printer_friendly=1

Reps may probe minister over N120m wedding party.

Reps may probe minister over N120m wedding party, - I didn’t spend such amount - Minister
Bola Badmus, Leon Usigbe and Clement Idoko, Abuja
Tuesday, July 14, 2009

AGAINST the mounting criticisms of the conduct of the Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu, in organising a lavish party to mark his 25th wedding anniversary, the House of Representatives is billed to debate a motion calling for the probe of the minister for allegedly expending the sum of N120 million on the said celebration.

Also, the motion is seeking to probe heads of tertiary institutions under the Federal Ministry of Education who participated in the celebration.

The motion, which has already been filed with the House Committee on Rules and Business, is sponsored by the Chairman of the House Committee on Air Force, Honourable Halims Agoda, and will be debated this week.

The House agreed to debate the motion, following its introduction last week by its sponsor, Honourable Agoda, under Matters of Urgent National Importance.

Following the adoption, Speaker ‘Dimeji Bankole had directed that the motion be routed through the normal channel for debate during the next legislative day.

The motion has three prayers, including “a mandate for the House Committee on Education, in exercise of its responsibility, to thoroughly inquire into the sources of the stupendous N120 million reportedly lavished by the minister on the celebration of the 25th anniversary of his marriage.

“The committee was to further look into the sources of fund used by various university administrators, provosts of colleges of education, rectors of polytechnics and heads of parastatal agencies of the Federal Ministry of Education, who attended the wedding anniversary, in terms of expenses on transportation, travelling basic allowances and other logistics, including media coverage and recommend appropriate action to the House of Representatives,” the motion stated.

Also, the motion demanded an immediate and unconditional public apology from the minister “to Nigerian university students and their parents and guardians for conducting himself in a manner suggestive of contemptuous disregard for the current plight of Nigerian students.”

It is also asking the lawmakers to call on President Umaru Yar’Adua to “re-engineer his cabinet in order to give purposeful leadership to the country by cautioning his appointees whose conduct, actions or inaction portend a frontal onslaught on the sensibilities of the Nigerian people.”

The motion noted the seeming unending strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and its crippling effects on academic activities and regretted that the often cited cause of the strike was the alleged refusal or failure of government to sign a mutually negotiated agreement reached with ASUU three years ago.

According to the motion, the minister of education ought to proffer immediate and workable solutions to any industrial action in the education sector that could result in the collapse of the academic calendar of the universities.

The motion, therefore, lamented that “without due regard for this basic fundamental of the responsibility of the Education Minister, Dr. Sam Egwu, in a brazen show of contempt, insensitivity and a breach of acceptable social values, rather than get himself concerned with and involved in getting our universities re-opened, felt that it would serve greater public interest to tell Nigerians that his marriage is 25 years old with lavish celebrations.”

While they contended that Dr. Egwu “is entitled to luxuriate and sing praises to God for his 25 years, in the current challenges of his public service to the nation as the education minister,” it noted that, at a time, the universities were in a crisis, he should have exercise caution in “social frolic and solve the Federal Government/ASUU debacle.”

It will be recalled that opposition parties and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have already called for the sack of the minister over what they noted as his insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians.

Reacting, the chief press secretary to the minister, Mr. Alphonsus Okoroafor, said he was not aware that a sum of N120 million was expended on the said party, declaring that the allegation was unfounded, as he noted that the celebration was completely a private affair.

He declared that no parastatal agency or body under the ministry was made to contribute towards the event, adding that there was a circular by the ministry barring such bodies from making donations or contributions in that regard.

All Star List. Thieves CrookS And Liars Network.

TELEGUARD TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL

teleguardtransparency@yahoo.ca

As a non-aligned organization, Teleguard Transparency International is concerned with good governance and the protection of democracies around the world. For many years we have been in the fore-front of monitoring Human right abuses, corruption, and abuse of power, by government and its agencies, particularly in Africa and other third world countries.

Our expositions in the past led to the attention that is now focussed on countries like Zimbabwe, South Africa, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote-de Voire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, etc for abuse of office and corruption.
Recent events in the African continent particularly in the West African sub-region has compelled us to once again alert the peoples of these countries on the serious behind the scene manipulations of their countries resources which could checkmate the ingredients of democracy and good governance.

Our attention in this last quarter of the year 2005 is focussed on Nigeria, where in the last two and half years our agents have been collecting varied information in the light of the anti-corruption crusade of the government. Our appraisal of the situation reveals a very engaging pattern of corruption at the Federal, states, government and public institutions. What we discovered is a systematic plundering of the resources of the country by those in positions of authority. The anti-corruption campaign of the government appears to be a ruse going by our findings. Whereas the anti-corruption agencies are tainted with so much bias, most government institutions are used as conduit pipes for siphoning huge amounts of money to foreign accounts. We discovered that there is abject poverty amongst the people, while unemployment has risen by more than 55% in the last two and half years. We hereby publish these "RATED" and unbiased findings in the belief that the Nigerian government and the people will be better informed of the state of their Nation.

HIGHEST CLASS OF MOST CORRUPT PUBLIC OFFICERS

President Olusegun Obasanjo
Vice President Atiku Abubakar & Wife Jennifer Atiku
Late Mrs Stella Obasanjo
ADC to the First Lady
Dr Peter Odili Governor Rivers State
Bola Ahmed Tinubu Governor Lagos State
Alhaji Ibrahim Saminu Turaki Governor Jigawa State
Lucky Igbinedion Governor Edo State
Chimaroke Nnamani Governor Enugu state
Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu Governor Nasarawa State
Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff Governor Borno State
Alhaji Ahmed Sani Yerima Governor Zamfara State
Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa Governor Sokoto State
Boni Haruna Governor Adamawa State
Alhaji Adamu Muazu Governor Bauchi State
James Ibori Governor Delta State
Diepreye Alamieyesigha Governor Bayelsa State
Obong Victor Attah Governor Akwa Ibom State
Otumba Gbenga Daniel Governor Ogun State
Joshua Dariye Governor Plateau State
Olagunsoye Oyinlola Governor Osun State
Chief Olusegun Agagu Governor Ondo State
Sam Egwu Governor Ebonyi State
Rev. Jolly Nyame Governor Taraba State
Donald Duke Governor Cross Rivers State
Chief Anthony Anineh BOT member PDP
Mr Andy Uba Special assistant to the President Domestic Affairs
Chief Chris Uba BOT member PDP
Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu Deputy Senate President
Senator Jonathan Zwingina
Senator Dalhatu Tafida
Prof. Abel Goubadia Former INEC Chairman
Tafa Balogun Former Inspector General of Police
Engr. Funsho Kupolokun Managing Director NNPC
Gauis Obaseki Former Managing Director NNPC

SECOND GRADE OF CORRUPT PUBLIC OFFICERS

Alhaji Ibrahim Idris Governor Kogi State
Chief Achike Udenwa Governor Imo State
Alhaji Adamu Aliero Governor Kebbi State
Chief George Akume Governor Benue State
Chief Ayo Fayose Governor Ekiti State
Alhaji Rasheed Ladoja Governor Oyo State
Dr. Chris Ngige Governor Anambra State
Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim Governor Yobe State
Alhaji Abdullahi Goje Governor Gombe State
Olusola Saraki governor Kwara State

LEAST GRADE OF CORRUPT PUBLIC OFFICERS

Orji uzor Kalu Governor Abia State
Alhaji Umar Yaradua Governor Katsina State
Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau Governor Kano State
Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi Governor Kaduna State

MOST CORRUPT HEADS OF STATE

General Ibrahim Babangida Rtd
General Abdulsalam Abubarkar Rtd
Genearal Olusegun Obasanjo Rtd
General Sanni Abacha Late




THE LEAST CORRUPT HEADS OF STATE

Alhaji Shehu Shagari
General Yakubu Gowon Rtd
General Mohammed Buhari
Chief Ernest Shonekan
CORRUPT CORPORATE ORGANISATIONS

Dangote Group
Zenon Oil
Globacom
Virgin Nigeria
Transcorporation
Vmobile
Oando Oil
AP
Conoil
First Intercity bank
Temperance Farms
Bell Group of Schools
Zenith Bank
Oceanic Bank
UBA
Nigerian Breweries
Ajaokuta Steel Company
Delta Steel Company

ORGANIZATIONS USED AS CONDUIT-PIPES

NNPC
Ministry of Mines and Power
Ministry of Water Resources
Ministry of Works
Ministry of health (Using the National Polio immunisation)
Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA)

This information is being released in the hope that the Nigerian government will intensify its effort in fighting corruption. Such anti-corruption organs as the EFCC, and ICPC should be used for what it is meant for.
This organisation will continue to beam its searchlight on corrupt institutions across the Globe especially in Africa where the malaise has taken a totally new dimension, bringing with it hunger, high crime wave, prostitution and the rest to the populace.
More information will be made available to the public soon.




Michael Longe
For Teleguard International

OBAMA TO NIGERIA: END CORRUPTION, TYRANNY

ACCRA, Ghana — An American president who has "the blood of Africa within me" praised and scolded the continent of his ancestors Saturday, asserting forces of tyranny and corruption must yield if Africa is to achieve its promise.

"Yes you can," Barack Obama declared, dusting off his campaign slogan and adapting it for his foreign audience. Speaking to the Ghanaian Parliament, he called upon African societies to seize opportunities for peace, democracy and prosperity.

"This is a new moment of great promise," he said. "To realize that promise, we must first recognize a fundamental truth that you have given life to in Ghana: Development depends upon good governance. That is the ingredient which has been missing in far too many places, for far too long. That is the change that can unlock Africa's potential."

The son of a white woman from Kansas and a black goat herder-turned-academic from Kenya, Obama delivered an unsentimental account of squandered opportunities in postcolonial Africa.

America's first black president spoke with a bluntness that perhaps could only come from a member of Africa's extended family.

"No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves, or if police can be bought off by drug traffickers," he said

"No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 percent off the top, or the head of the Port Authority is corrupt. No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery.

"That is not democracy, that is tyranny, even if occasionally you sprinkle an election in there," he said, "and now is the time for that style of governance to end."
Story continues below

He added: "Africa doesn't need strongmen, it needs strong institutions."

Obama was on a 21-hour visit to the West African nation to highlight that country's democratic tradition and engagement with the West. His visit, his first to sub-Saharan Africa as president, was greeted as a "spiritual reunion" Saturday by Ghanian legislators.

People lined the streets, many waving at every vehicle of Obama's motorcade as it headed toward a meeting at Osu Castle, the storied coastline presidential state house, before his speech to Parliament. "Ghana loves you," said a billboard.

He was also visiting a hospital and a one-time slave trading post, joined by his wife, Michelle, a great-great granddaughter of slaves.

The Obama administration sought a wide African audience for the president's speech, inviting people to watch it at embassies and cultural centers across the continent.

The 33-minute address was in part a splash of cold water for Africans who blame colonialism for their problems.

Obama spoke of the indignities visited upon Africans from the era of European rule. He said his grandfather, a cook for the British in Kenya, was called "boy" by his employers for much of his life despite his being a respected village elder. He said it was a time of artificial borders and unfair trade.

But he said the West is not to blame "for the destruction of the Zimbabwean economy over the last decade, or wars in which children are enlisted as combatants." Nor for the corruption that is a daily fact of life for many, he said.

"Africa is not the crude caricature of a continent at perpetual war," he said. Yet for "far too many Africans, conflict is a part of life, as constant as the sun. There are wars over land and wars over resources. And it is still far too easy for those without conscience to manipulate whole communities into fighting among faiths and tribes.

"These conflicts are a millstone around Africa's neck."

Obama started his day with typical calm. Wearing a gray T-shirt and gym pants, he walked through the lobby of his hotel almost unnoticed at 7:30 a.m. local time on his way to the downstairs gym for a workout.

A short time later, his motorcade left the hotel, passed under hovering military helicopters and arrived for a delayed welcome ceremony with Ghanaian President John Atta Mills.

"I can say without any fear of contradiction that all Ghanaians want to see you," Mills said. "I wish it were possible for me to send you to every home in Ghana."

Before the flight home, Obama planned to tour Cape Coast Castle, a seaside fortress converted to the slave trade by the British in the 17th century. In its dungeons, thousands of shackled Africans huddled in squalor before being herded onto ships bound for America.

The castle visit mirrored ones paid by Clinton and George W. Bush to the slave-trading post of Goree Island, Senegal _ with the added impact of Obama's mixed-race background and history-making election.

In Ghana, too, Obama followed in Clinton's footsteps. In 1998, a surging crowd cheered Clinton in Accra's Independence Square and toppled barricades after his speech. Clinton shouted, "Back up! Back up!", his Secret Service detail clearly frantic.

Bush's reception last year was less tumultuous, but equally warm. At a welcoming banquet, then-President John Kufuor noted huge increases in U.S. development aid and AIDS relief _ and named a highway after Bush.

Obama avoided scheduling large public events, wishing to keep emotions in check in a singular moment in African-American diplomacy.

The president pledged America's partnership in Africa's growth. Specifically, he said he would make sure U.S. aid gets to the people who need it most, such as farmers and entrepreneurs, not Western consultants and administrators.

That's why $3.5 billion in food assistance will focus on new methods and technologies for farmers, instead of simply sending U.S. goods to Africa, he said.

Obama flew to Ghana after the G-8 summit in L'Aquila, Italy, approved a new $20 billion food security plan. It aims to help poor nations in Africa and elsewhere to avert mass starvation during the global recession.

He also had a cordial first meeting with Pope Benedict XVI. In their half-hour private audience at the Vatican, the two reviewed Mideast peace and anti-poverty efforts, aides reported. They also discussed abortion and stem cell research at length, subjects of disagreement between them.

Looters Allstars Network::Bode George, Kalu, Ladoja, Dariye, 52 others looted N243bn -EFCC.

1. Bode George N100 billion
2. Saminu Turaki N36 billion
3. Patrick Fernandez N32 billion
4. Tom Isegholi, Mohammed Buba
and Mike Okoli (for The Transcorp Plc) N15 billion
5. Kenny Martins N7.7 billion
6. Rasheed Ladoja N6 billion
7. Roland Iyayi N5.6 billion
8. Babalola Borishade N5.6 billion
9. Eider George N5.6 billion
10. Chimaroke Nnamani N5.3 billion
11. Senator Nicholas Ugbane and nine other members of the House
of Representatives N5.2 billion
12. Orji Uzor Kalu N5 billion
13. Nyeson Wike N4.7 billion
14. 4 senior Zenith Bank Managers N3.6 billion
15. Michael Botmang N1.5 billion
16. Ransome Owan and 6 others N1.5 billion
17. Molkat Mutfwang and 3 others N636 million
18. Femi-Fani-Kayode N250 million
19. Jolly Nyame N180 million
20. Boni Haruna N93 million
21. Dr. Albert Ikomi N43 million
22. Dr. Yuguda Manu N17.5 million
23. Iyabo Obasanjo N10 million
24. Joshua Dariye (amount not stated)

Soji-Eze Fagbemi, Abuja - 10.07.2009

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released the names of 56 Nigerians it alleged collectively removed over N243 billion from the nation’s treasury.

The names, some of which the EFCC Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, referred to as politically revered people in the international community, were contained in a list handed over to the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), as the EFCC and NLC commenced their strategic partnership to intensify the fight against corruption in the country.

The list contained names of well-known politicians, former governors, ministers, permanent secretaries, civil servants, chairmen and members of parastatal agencies, local government chairmen, members of the House of Representatives and senators.

The EFCC boss had, on Tuesday, visited the Labour House, Abuja, where she briefed the NLC leadership led by its president, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, and revealed that a strategic meeting would soon be held with NLC to formally signal the beginning of their new partnership.

Lending credence to the statement by Mrs. Waziri, during the meeting, that some Nigerians were stealing in billions, the money stolen ranged from N10 million to N100 billion.

According to the list, only eight of the suspects allegedly stole in millions; 17 of them were alleged, by the EFCC, to have stolen in billions, while the amounts allegedly stolen by others were not specified.

Tagged “ongoing high profile cases” by the commission, all the listed cases are already in court in the different parts of the country. While 11 were instituted and handed over by the former EFCC chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the present chairman, Mrs. Wazri, commenced 22 of the cases.

The 56 alleged looters were taken to court under 33 high-profile cases and 33 of them have been granted bail by the court under various circumstances, while 19 were remanded in prison custody.

Two of them have been convicted; charges have been filed against one but the suspect has refused to put in appearance in court, while court judgment is currently under review in one of the cases.

Among the high-profile cases in which the suspects have been granted bail are: former governors of Jigawa State, Saminu Turaki, N36 billion; Joshua Dariye (Plateau) amount not stated; Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia), N5 billion; Rasheed Ladoja (Oyo), N6 billion; Jolly Nyame (Taraba), N180 million; Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu), N5.3 billion; Boni Haruna (Adamawa), N93 million and Michael Botmang, (acting governor, Plateau) N1. 5 billion.

The EFCC also listed the cases involving a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Bode George, N100 billion; an Indian businessman, Patrick Fernandez, N32 billion; former Managing Director of FAAN, Roland Iyayi, N5.6 billion; former Minister of Aviation, Professor Babalola Borishade, N5.6 billion; an Austrian businessman, Eider George, N5.6 billion; and Kenny Martins of Police Equipment Fund (PEF), N7.7 billion.

Also on the list are: Tom Isegholi, Mohammed Buba, and Mike Okoli for the Transcorp Plc., N15 billion; Senator Nicholas Ugbane and nine other members of the House of Representatives, N5.2 billion; Iyabo Obasanjo, N10 million; serving Chief of Staff to Rivers State Governor, Nyeson Wike, N4.7 billion; former Aviation Minister Femi-Fani-Kayode, N250 million; four senior Zenith Bank managers, N3.6 billion; Molkat Mutfwang and three others, N636 million; Dr. Ransome Owan and six others, N1.5 billion; a retired Permanent Secretary, Dr. Albert Ikomi, N43 million, and chairman, Taraba State Civil Service Commission, Dr. Yuguda Manu, N17.5 million.

Evils of Corruption. Courtesy-Imoonline.

As Expected, Obama Ignores Nigeria.

Looting At The Gate::A Feeding Frenzy....

A Feeding Frenzy Print
Written by Okey Ndibe
Saturday, 28 February 2009

A feeding frenzy

Okey Ndibe

There's a looting frenzy going on in Abuja, and Nigerians should be hopping mad about it.

Last week, NEXT's Musikilu Mojeed and Elor Nkereuwem gave an enlightening, if disturbing, account of the obscene sums of cash carted home by the looters who misbaptize themselves lawmakers. In reading their report, aptly titled "An Assembly for Looting," one realized the truth of what one always suspected:that Nigeria is a veritable demo-crazy.

What's a demo-crazy? It is quite simply a space run by criminals who mask themselves as devotees of democracy. Mojeed and Nkereuwem's report informed readers that Nigerian "politicians have turned themselves into instant millionaires just for being members of the National Assembly, paying themselves salaries and allowances that will make Bill Gates envious." My initial response was that the reporters were trading in hyperbole. But that's hardly the case.

Here are some of the miffing facts in their report. Four times this year, each of the 360 members of the House of Representatives will receive ₦35 million as "constituency allowance." In conservative terms, that's $300,000 per member per quarter. At the end of the year, then, each member of the House would have collected a cool $1.2 million.

If this figure has made you dizzy - or put you in a tizzy - hold on a minute until you hear this one. Each of the 109 senators collects ₦48 million per quarter. At the end of the year, each senator's haul will be in the neighborhood of $1.7 million. That's not a bad sum for doing - little to nothing.

In case you're wondering, these legislators gobble enough cash to give pocket money to President Barack Obama. Obama's salary is $400,000 per annum. That's less than what each Nigerian senator "eats" each quarter.

Mind; this gargantuan "constituency allowance" comes on top of salaries and other sundry allowances by the Abuja "lootocrats." As a former member of the National Assembly told me, there's no requirement that the legislators explain how they spend their so-called "constituency" funds.

"Throughout the four years I spent in the House," said this former representative, who asked for anonymity, "I don't know of one member who used the money to do anything serious in his or her constituency. The cash was pocketed." The two reporters took care to give readers some perspective. "If you are a civil servant, police officer or school teacher," they wrote, "and you earn ₦48, 000 a month, you will have to work for more than 83 years just to earn what your Senator is taking away." And that's just what the senator takes to his bank every three months.

This duo of enterprising reporters made the looting vivid. Considering that Nigeria's minimum wage stands at ₦5, 500 a month, each senator's quarterly allowance "will pay for 2,909 workers earning the minimum wage." The reporters offered other tantalizing projections. If Nigerians were to fire the entire membership of the National Assembly, the savings would be more than enough to "fund the N88.5billion" Mr. Umaru Yar'Adua budgeted this year for building power plants.

Alternatively, we could "fund hospitals and clinics" all over Nigeria, "fix the Benin-Ore Expressway, which has collapsed, or make a significant down payment on the Lagos-Kano railway line." Why wait? I personally can't find much sense in retaining legislators who guzzle such stupendous sums and render mediocre lawmaking. These legislators abdicate even the basic responsibility of screening candidates for cabinet positions. Where hard questions demand to be asked, our supine legislators invite many a candidate to "bow and go."

Nigeria's know that their legislature is dominated by riff raff who got smuggled into their seats by a ruling party that regards elections as do-or-die warfare. A good number of them hardly understand the rudiments of legislative business. Watch a televised legislative session and you conjecture that many of these "bow and go" impostors won't even make the effort to show up.

In close to ten years of a "nascent" freak show we call democracy, the National Assembly is yet to pass a law that even attempted to make a dent on the issues of deepening poverty or stubborn culture of corruption. They are not of the tribe of the poor, and most of them are fully embedded in the bog of corruption.

Yet, these men and women have the cheek - the shameless gut - to plaster themselves with inflated appellations like "Honorable" and "Distinguished Senator." If this is the cost of the strange beast called democracy, then Nigerians ought to refuse to pay it.

Ideally, legislators should be paid sitting allowances and hired on a part-time basis. It happens in several states in the U.S. If we remove the allure of easy cash, we're likely to see an improvement in the quality of lawmakers. The leeches who are in it for the cash will take their game elsewhere.

It's time to say to these parasites: "Take a bow and go - home!"

Article courtesy of author and NEXT

Reps summon DPR over missing $1.2bn signature bonus.

From JAMES OJO, Abuja
Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Photo: The Sun Publishing

Following claims and counter claims about the actual amount collected as signature bonus by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Office of the Auditor General of the Federation, as well as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the House of Representatives yesterday summoned the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to come and regularise the accounts.

The agencies have been rolling out different figures collected from 44 oil companies as signature bonus for government between 2005 to date and what was actually released to the PTDF as statutory as demanded by the House’s Public Accounts Committee.

In one breath, PTDF claimed that it was supposed to have drawn $1.2 billion from signature bonuses on oil blocs awarded in the 2005 bid round, while in another breath, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation claimed it was supposed to be $1.071 billion.

To add to the confusion, the Central Bank of Nigeria said a total of $450 million was released to the PTDF on the advice of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, while the latter claims that the amount that was released was $840 million.

Confused by the claims and counter claims, the Public Accounts Committee concluded that the only way out of the logjam was to invite the DPR and Friday, July 9, 2009 was fixed as the date for DPR to appear.
Executive Secretary of PTDF, Engineer Muttagha Rabe Darma, in his testimony admitted that the fund received stood at $533 million USD since 2005, which he said came in two installments, one in foreign denomination ($450 million USD) and N10 billion ($83 million) in local currency.

But the Deputy Director, (Revenue) in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Dikwa, disclosed that apart from the release of a hundred million dollars ($100 million USD) to PTDF and sundry bank charges, there has not been much transactions on the signature bonus account, particularly in the last one year.

Acting Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Labaran Dambatta, observed that the conflicting claims cannot be resolved, unless the Department of Petroleum Resources, which is the statutory organ for conducting oil bid rounds and allocation of oil blocs was invited to shed some light on the controversy.
“It appeared that some persons in positions of authority were not prepared to let the PTDF have access to its statutory funds, such persons might need to amend the law setting up the fund before such cut in its finances could be affected,” he stated.

The committee also asked the CBN to furnish it with the statement of account from JP Morgan who manages the dollar accounts of the DPR in New York, United States of America in order to ascertain the exact amount that has been received by the DPR.


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2009/july/07/national-07-07-2009-03.htm

Vet People Too Dey Steal?? MULTI MILLION NAIRA SCAM ROCKS VETERINARY COUNCIL

Written by Onye Nkegi
Friday, 19 June 2009

Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) is currently immersed in a ragging controversy over the list of personnel contained in the Council’s year 2007 Consolidated Payroll. Sources within the organization informed elendureports.com that the management of the council had embarked on a fraudulent misrepresentation to the Council’s supervising Ministry; the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, on the staff strength of the council and had adopted the misrepresented staff strength to fleece the Federal Government of over 104 million Naira since January 2007 till date.

Staff of the organization who spoke to this medium on condition of anonymity claim that the Council Registrar; Dr Maddo in collaboration with the Accountant; Dr. Hilary Ibe foisted the inflated staff list on the Ministry of Agriculture wherein they claimed that the Council has 75 personnel majority of whom are senior staff. A list of the presently employed staff of the organization shows that the Council has only 23 personnel on its employ. Out of this figure, less than 10 % are in the senior staff category with the rest as Senior Secondary School Certificate holders and Ordinary National Degree holders are predominantly junior staff.

Our source stated that the Council Management had been frustrating all attempts made to invite the supervising ministry to conduct a proper head count to expose the ongoing fraud and had also used the illegally acquired funds to fatten their investments in real estate in the Federal Capital City .

Accusing fingers were also pointed at Dr. Maddo and Dr. Ibe over the colossal amount which the council had spent in the ongoing construction of the Council’s Headquarters. It was alleged that both principal officers had cornered every contract in the Council using companies run on their behalves by their agents. They are said to have awarded all contracts relating to the building to their companies.

Specifically, the staffs of the council are irked about the insatiable love for money that the duo expressed in the hijacking of cleaning services in the establishment. They allegedly pay themselves millions monthly on cleaning services at the headquarters which ordinarily would take less than 10% of the amount to maintain.

Some of the employees also accused the management of high handedness in their efforts to acquire the quarters which were allocated to them. They alleged that they were prevented by the duo from acquiring the Council’s quarters in the recent sales of Federal Government Houses in the Federal Capital Territory . They also alleged that the blocks meant for the expansion of the Council’s quarters at Kubwa; a satellite town in the Federal Capital Territory were criminally converted to private properties by the Council’s Accountant with the tacit support of the Registrar.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was reported to have commenced investigation of the allegations.

http://elendureports.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=845&Itemid=33

Exit of foreign companies from Nigeria.

By Sun News Publishing
Monday, July 6, 2009

Editorial Index

A number of multinational companies have relocated their businesses from Nigeria to other African countries, citing concerns like infrastructural decay, poor tariff structure, corruption, growing insecurity, among others.

According to the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), blue chip companies like Paterson Zochonis (PZ) and Unilever have already moved or are in the process of moving their operations out of Nigeria to neighbouring Ghana, even as several others are on their way out. Earlier, two giant tyre manufacturers, Dunlop and Michelin, had closed shop in the country, due to unfavourable business conditions.

For a number of years, the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) had raised strident alarms on the stifling and oppressive atmosphere in which business is done in Nigeria, but successive governments typically turned deaf ears.

Now, the loss of Nigeria has turned to gains for countries like Ghana, Sierra-Leone, and The Gambia, which have offered safe haven for the retreating companies. Ironically, while multinational manufacturing operations are moving out to smaller countries with more reliable infrastructure, Nigeria with our huge consumer population still remains the target for the finished goods. The tragic difference is that we will become a net importer of these consumer goods hitherto manufactured here.

It is sad and depressing that Nigeria is fast assuming the unenviable reputation of being a cemetery for big businesses, particularly those in the real sector. Three recent international reports bring this out quite vividly. In its latest ranking, the Global Competitiveness Index, places Nigeria 148 out of 196 countries in terms of conducive environment for business.

Another report, Doing Business in Africa, ranks Nigeria as the eighth worst country for investment in the continent, while Ease of Doing Business Report, rates Nigeria as the second most difficult country to do business, globally. All these are unedifying, distressing and lamentable.
A cocktail of factors coalesce into what is now an unwholesome business environment. Perhaps the most critical is the power supply situation.

The latest statistics on power shows that Nigeria now has about 1,800 megawatts. For a country that needs a minimum well over 30,000 megawatts at any given time, this is parlous and quite desperate. The alternative for business outfits is to run on generators almost round the clock, and at the end of the year, they come up with negative profit.

We are not unmindful of efforts to fix the power situation, and the promise of the Yar’Adua administration to generate 6,000 megawatts by December this year, and 10,000 megawatts by December 2010. Efforts are good, but results are better. For eight years, the Olusegun Obasanjo expended billion of dollars on the power sector. Yet what Nigerians got was more darkness, leading to the current asphyxiating business climate. The situation must be reversed if we will ever regain the confidence of investors, both local and foreign.

Infrastructure is another scourge of business in Nigeria. And the greatest affliction comes in the forms of roads. Inter-city and intra-city roads are in such sorry states as to make investors rue their venture into these climes. Yet it gets worse by the day, particularly now that the rains are here. And the government through the Federal Ministry of Works appears helpless.

What of insecurity? A land where armed robbers, kidnappers, militants, and the like, have free rein, would not inspire the confidence of multinationals. And when they add to this the cumbersome process of getting things done here, in which you have to virtually bribe your way through the officialdom, then relocating to more halcyon lands is a better option.

Again, multiple taxation is a disincentive. Federal, state, and local tax authorities are ever at the heels of businesses, so much so that they do not know what their tax liabilities are at any given time. A bill on streamlining our tax policy has been gathering dust at the National Assembly. Exhuming and giving it accelerated treatment will send a signal to investors that we are now a serious nation.

An unrestrained exit of multinationals from Nigeria has grave socio-economic implications. Since we are the largest market in the sub-region, products which they manufacture from other countries will now be sent back here, and we will purchase same at higher cost. Foreign investment flows out, we again deplete our foreign reserves to import essential goods. Our economy will also lack international confidence, and we will forever be deemed a non-competitive nation. Our dependence on foreign countries will be deepened, and what is national sovereignty without economic sovereignty?

There is nothing on the ground to demonstrate beyond sterile precepts that the governments at various levels appreciate the gravity of this situation and are embattled enough to stem the dangerous drift to economic penury with attendant social and political risk. Rather, we are left with the uncomfortable sense of an Emperor Nero fiddling while the nation burns.
What of the concomitant revenue losses to government, job losses and the attendant social cost? When companies relocate, their Nigerian staffers are thrown into the already saturated labor market. Inevitably, many will turn to crime and other anti-social acts.

The antidote to all these is good governance. Unless we have quality leadership, committed to development in all its ramifications, quality of life and investment will inexorably go downhill.
Only government can fix power, fix infrastructure, engender the right political, social and economic environment for businesses to thrive. Nigeria hemorrhages now. All the symptoms of a failed economy are evident. Only good governance can reverse the trend. It is time to wake up.

And It Don't Stop:::House probes $1.2bn oil bloc proceeds

House Probes $1.2bn Oil Bloc Proceeds
From Onwuka Nzeshi in Abuja, 07.03.2009

House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts yesterday raised an alarm that about $1.2 billion which accrued to the Federal Government in respect of the 2005 oil bloc bid round had not been remitted to the appropriate accounts and could not be traced.
It has therefore summoned the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Lamido Sanusi and Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Alhaji Mutaqah Darma, to appear before the committee next week to throw more light on the issue.
Chairman of the House Committee, Honourable Usman Adamu, who blew the whistle at the commencement of an investigative hearing, said the fund accrued from signature bonuses of oil bloc bid round was supposed to have been paid into a Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) reserve account but it was not.
Adamu alleged that the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo directed that the money should not be paid into PTDF account but that the money should be kept in a special account at the CBN.
There are however conflicting reports about the actual amount in the special account. Authorities at the CBN claimed yesterday that the amount was actually $1.07 billion and not $1.2 billion. Mr. Mohammed Nda, an official of the apex bank, disclosed that the shortfall occurred because some refunds were made to some firms that benefited from the oil bid round but later lost out when the awards were canceled and re-allocated to other investors.
Accountant General of the Federation, Ibrahim Dankwambo, also adopted the figure position of the CBN. Dankwambo represented by Mr. O.I. Osibote said that the office of the AGF raised a letter of credit in favour of Ministry of Finance to cover $231 million being a refund to one of the investors, the Korean National oil Company (KNOC) whose oil bloc allocation was later revoked.
He explained that there was no fraudulent deal but that it was only fair that KNOC be refunded the amount it paid since its allocation was cancelled. “We don’t know whether the letter of credit has been utilized. We don’t know the status of the credit. But $231 million was a letter of credit in favor of Ministry of Finance. We asked both the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Ministry of Finance what the amount was originally and what the status is now. We want to find out whether it has been utilized,” Osibote said.
http://odili.net/news/source/2009/jul/3/209.html

Govs Abandon States For Abuja, Lagos, Abroad

Idowu Samuel, Abuja - 04.07.2009

The style of governance in Nigeria, especially at the state level, has taken a new dimension as indications are rife now that most of the state governors run governments from outside the state capitals.

A survey conducted by Saturday Tribune across the country has revealed that about two-thirds of the governors in Nigeria are not always on their seats, travelling out for supposedly urgent reasons.

According to investigations, most of the governors have found abode in either Abuja or Lagos, while some preferred to travel out at will to countries like the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and France.

However, the unexplained reasons behind the frequent dissapearance of state governors from their respective states as discovered by Saturday Tribune hangs on the economic meltdown, which survey revealed has been causing the shrinking of resources of most states, such that the governors must be frugal in spending.

Against this background, the governors are said to have deviced the means of sneaking out of the states to avoid pressures from their hangers-on, contractors, friends and associates known for their demands for money on all manners of excuses.

An aide to a South South governor told Saturday Tribune that his boss sat down one day and calculated the amount of money he had spent on public relations in a month and discovered he had committed nothing less than N1.2 billion to such.

He stressed that since he made such a discovery, he had learnt the trick of sneaking out of the state.

National Assembly members, officials of the anti-corruption agencies, top party members from either the states or Abuja, journalists, presidential aides, according to the survey, constitute a huge drain pipe for the governors, most of whom are said to be desperate in cutting down their expenses drastically.

Unlike the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly members who have the number of days that they must sit in the plenary for legislative businesses specified in their rules, there is no rule compelling state governors to remain glued to their seats, a reason the governors have never nursed the fear of possible consequences of their frequent travel out of their states, a source pointed out.

According to findings, a governor from the core North makes frequent visits to Jos, Plateau State.

Another in a South-West state was said to have been used to travelling to Abuja, Lagos and more often outside Nigeria, from where he has reportedly been running the affair of his state.

Investigations also revealed that a governor is currently out of Nigeria on a medical trip to London enroute Germany while he is being expected back in the state next week.

While one of the northern governors who spent eight years in the National Assembly as a member of the House of Representatives has been described as an Abuja man by his aides who spoke with Saturday Tribune, his counterpart in an oil-rich state is said to have been fully engaged with more federal matters, and, hence could not afford to be too sedentary in his state.

Another governor from the oil-rich state is rated as one of the most restless based on his interst to lure international investors to his state, a reason he is said to have been embarking on fequent international travellings.

Further investigations revealed that one of the northern state governors travels frequently to Niger and Chad where he is said to be building large estates and mansions where he was planning to relocate after leaving the office.
http://www.tribune.com.ng/04072009/news/news1.html

Ex-NDDC boss paid me N715m to restore his manhood.

Kolawole Daniel, Abuja
Thursday, July 2, 2009

THE suspended chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ambassador Sam Edem, paid about a billion naira to regain his virility, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja was told on Wednesday.

It will be recalled that the herbalist, Matthew Sonoma, allegedly consulted by the former NDDC boss, had said he assisted Edem to restore his sexual potency after he complained about having problems with his manhood in a statement to the police.

The former NDDC chairman, however, denied the statement by Sonoma, saying that he had never at anytime lost his virility. Under cross-examination by Sonoma’s counsel, Chief Albert Akpomudje SAN, the court heard how the herbalist was introduced to Edem by a youth leader of one of the organisations in the Niger Delta.

The matter is before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. When asked if it was true that he paid money to have his virility restored by Akpomudje, the suspended NDDC boss denied the allegation.

According to him: “My manhood has never gone down and I have never asked anybody to assist me in restoring it. My manhood never failed at anytime. It has always been functioning.

“My manhood has never stopped working, I repeat, it has never stopped working,” Edem said. He was also accused of approaching the herbalist for medicines to get favour from the governor of Akwa Ibom State. Akpomudje said, according to the statement made to the police, “the name of the medicine is Dog no dey bite the owner. It was done to get favour from the former governor.”

Edem also told the court that threats made by the accused in the suit made him part with the sum of N715 million. He said after he realised that the accused was a fraud, he kept his distance but the accused kept threatening him through text messages and phone calls demanding for more money.

“At first I gave him money as a token, but he later came back and asked for a loan. Whenever I refused to give him more, my security aide would advise that I cooperate to avoid unnecessary bloodshed and I did. At various times, he threatened me, attacked my convoy and even threatened to bomb my wife’s school in Uyo. I was concerned, because there are over 3,000 students in that school. I was forced to part with more money,” he said.

Sonoma, who is facing a 15-count charge for, allegedly, fraudulently obtaining N715 million from Edem, pleaded not guilty. It will be recalled that the Federal Government had suspended Edem for, allegedly, spending N270 million on rituals. He and two other suspects, Perekambowe Ogah and Kakas Amgbari, still at large, are principal suspects in the alleged scam.

His suspension was contained in a two-paragraph statement from the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Ambassador Babagana Kingibe.

http://odili.net/news/source/2009/jul/2/606.html

The Voodoo Governor..Greed, Lawlessness, Blood And Calabash.

The embittered lawmaker disclosed that Daniel introduced oath taking to politics in Ogun State, admitting that he was one of those forced to take the oath in a toilet in his Ijebu-Ode mansion in order to fly the PDP flag for the House of Assembly election.

He revealed that all the commissioners, local government chairmen and other political appointees in the state took traditional oath of allegiance to Daniel before they were appointed into his administration.

“The issue of oath taking is a traditional way of pledging allegiance between two people. The Otunba Gbenga Daniel-led administration introduced traditional oath taking to politics in Ogun State.

“They have an existing structure for all of these. They have their own shrine. Before you get any political appointment, or contest any election, you must have sworn to an oath organised by Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

“It happened in several locations, it happened in Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, behind his house, it happened in Ososa.

“As I am talking to you now, the current wave of oath taking is the one they are doing in Ijebu-Ode. The one they are doing now, they will give you Mazda 626 or Toyota Camry 2002 Model, they will write OGD Omo ilu on top of it, it’s there all over the place in Ogun state.

“Most party chairmen at the ward level as we are speaking now have taken that oath and have collected these cars.

It’s a pity that this is the way he wants to use it against us.”

Alasua described Daniel further as a blackmailer who superimposed his photograph on a bush in order to realize his devilish agenda, adding that there can never be peace in Ogun State, until Daniel is checked.

But reacting to the lawmaker’s allegations, the Ogun State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Samuel, described Alausa’s vituperations as a series of lies, outright falsehood and brazen inconsistencies.

“It is clear that given the level of outright falsehood and inconsistencies of Hon. Alausa and his co-travelers, the people of Ogun State and Nigerians at large can now decipher the truth and appreciate what our state has gone through in the last 12 months – lies of the vilest kind told by dishonorable people who are supposed to be honorable members of the House.”

http://thepmnews.com/2009/07/01/gov-daniel-has-shrine-in-his-sagamu-mansion-%E2%80%94alausa?version=print