Fire In The Mountain, Run, Run, Run

The above picture was captured by Los Angeles Times Irfan Khan showing the air tanker dropping fire retardant in the San Bernardino Mountains as threat to homes drops and giving the San Diego area residents a sigh of relief in the fifth day of "Witch Fire" in the Southland. Meanwhile, authorities in Orange County are asking for help and leads that may lead to the arrest of the alleged arsonist who "ignited the 25,000-acre Santiago fire" in Orange County with an offer of $150,000 reward.

News Desk Friday, October 26, 2007

Amaechi takes over as Rivers gov: Supreme Court sacks Omehia - Amaechi returns from London today - Yar’Adua orders his immediate swearing-in - Yobe gov knows fate Nov 20

THE Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the Rivers State governor, Sir Celestine Omehia, to quit office with immediate effect. A seven-man panel of the apex court unanimously ordered the immediate swearing-in of the former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Honourable Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, as the new governor. MORE>>>

FG gets tough with airlines - Over drug trafficking by staff

The Federal Government said in Abuja on Thursday that it would close down any airline whose staff members or aircraft is used to carry hard drugs in and out of Nigeria. This came after several drug traffickers that were caught recently turned out to be airline staff members or were aided by them. MORE>>>

Soludo - FG Owes States $1.7bn

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, yesterday stated that the Federal Government was owing states almost $1.7 billion from excess crude oil account. Soludo disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after a marathon meeting of the National Economic Council, where almost all the states were represented. MORE>>>

Six kidnapped from Italian oil facility off Nigeria

LAGOS (Reuters) - Gunmen kidnapped six workers from an Italian oil production facility off the coast of Nigeria on Friday, forcing Italy's ENI to halt production of 50,000 barrels per day, authorities said. It was the second kidnapping from an offshore oilfield in Nigeria in one week, undermining a five-month ceasefire by armed groups which had raised hopes for peace talks with the government. MORE>>>

Le Roy Tips Eagles, Lions for Glory

Black Stars coach Claude Le Roy has picked Nigeria as one of the favourites to lift the Nations Cup, which holds in Ghana early next year. MORE>>>

Petitions to Lift the Ban on Filipino OFWs Bound for Nigeria

Late last year, the Philippine government declared a total ban of workers going to Nigeria on the account of the successive kidnapping incidents in Nigeria’s oil areas which involve OFWs. The action may have been justifiable at that point. The ban affected not only New Hires but vacationing OFWs as well, even those OFWs who are working in Lagos and non-oil areas. MORE>>>

The Southern California Fires

The above picture was captured by Los Angeles Times Wally Skalij in what has been a nightmare to San Diego area residents, forcing more than half a million residents out of their homes with damage in the billion dollar range.

News Desk Thursday, October 25, 2007

Etteh bows, to Step Aside Tuesday

ABUJA — embattled Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Patricia Etteh, appears set to step aside when the House resumes Tuesday for the consideration of the Idoko Panel report as her supporters hinted yesterday in Abuja that she had agreed in principle to vacate her seat to pave theway for the election of a Speaker pro tempore. MORE>>>

Ige: Court frees suspects

FOUR suspects who have been standing trial at an Ibadan Magistrate Court in connection with the murder of the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, were yesterday discharged and acquitted. The suspects — Moshood Enifeni, Oluwatoyin Onafeko, Suraju Fatuga and Saidi Akande — had been charged with the December 23, 2001 murder of Chief Ige. MORE>>>

Naira sells for 5-year high N118 to dollar

The Naira appreciated to N118.50 to the dollar on the interbank market on Wednesday, its strongest level in five years and compared with N119.45 per dollar on Tuesday, traders said. The last time the Nigerian currency traded this strongly was in July, 2002 when the dollar exchanged for N117.00, dealers said. MORE>>>

US, European police arrest 20 Nigerians - For smuggling underage girls for prostitution

Police across Europe and in New York, United States, arrested 20 people suspected of smuggling young girls out of Nigeria and forcing them to work as prostitutes after intimidating them in voodoo rituals, Dutch prosecutors said on Wednesday. Thirteen of the suspects were arrested in a series of coordinated raids in cities across the Netherlands, the country’s prosecutor's office said in a statement. MORE>>>

Nyame looted Taraba money from Abuja -EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told an Abuja High Court that it has taken steps to make the ex-governor of Taraba State, Revered Jolly Nyame, to cough out the public funds he allegedly stole from the coffers of the state while in office. MORE>>>

Nigeria Wants Bigger Slice
Of Revenue From Its Oil

Nigeria, Africa's largest oil producer, is looking to renegotiate several contracts with foreign oil companies, a senior Nigerian official said, in a move to increase the government's share of oil revenue. MORE>>>

Vogts' Tax - NFA Refutes Receiving Letter From German Govt

The Nigeria Football Association yesterday denied receiving any letter from any government agency in the Federal Republic of Germany concerning the contract of Super Eagles' chief coach, Berti Vogts. MORE>>>

BOOKSHELF: The Bond

Last week at Esowon Books in the heart of Leimert Park's "Black Township," Drs. George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt and Sampson Davis signed copies of their new book The Bond: Three Young Men Learn to Forgive and Reconnect with Their Fathers which is a follow-up to the bestselling book The Pact sharing their relationship from growing up without a father figure in their respective lives.

In this brilliant book, The Three Doctors as they are now known tells the story of how life could have been different had they been nurtured by a father while growing up. When interviewed by Amy Cox Williams of The African-American Connection, Dr George Jenkins had this to say:

"one thing I'd add to what both guys said is that our friendship was essential to our overcoming the conditions and disadvantages. We taught each other lots of things that allowed us to grow and fill the voids left by our fathers. We made each other better students and better men through our frienship."

On the other hand, Dr Sampson Davis who spoke eloquently at the book signing ceremony on the parking lot across the street from Esowon Books and in his interview with Cox Williams said:

"Fatherlessness is the nucleus for many social ills in our society. When looking at the studies and statistics, a case has been made that crime, high school drop out rates, drug use, and involvement in gangs can be often directly attributed to a young person growing up fatherless. Very often, mothers do a great job raising today's youth, but based on our own experiences, we know how important a father's contribution is for children."

Dr. Rameck Hunt who was more emotional for not having that bond with his father while growing up noted the following in that interview with Cox Williams:

"The interesting thing about all this is just that--none of us are fathers. Before any of us decide to make that decision we want to make sure we are ready. We refuse to repeat that cycle of fatherlessness... A big part of the message in The Bond is to break that cycle."

To sum it all up, The Bond is just one powerful book and straightforward.

News Desk Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Etteh: Reps on 1-wk forced adjournment

THE crisis rocking the House of Representatives over the consideration of the Idoko Panel report took another dangerous turn yesterday as the Speaker, Mrs. Patricia Etteh, extended the adjournment of the House till next Tuesday even as the opposition protested and threatened to sit and consider the report.
A peace meeting brockered by the People's Democratic Party (PDP) on the matter ended in a deadlock yesterday even as the party at the meeting insisted that a judge could not preside over his own case. MORE>>>

6 more ex-govs for trial - Ribadu

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has concluded plans to arraign no fewer than six former governors in court for allegedly corruptly enriching themselves while in office. MORE>>>

Court gives Asuni tough bail condition

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the United States of America embassy in Nigeria not to give suspected American woman spy, Judith Asuni, traveling documents, just as it admitted her to bail with stringent conditions. MORE>>>

Grand knights
• The Sun man, 80 others initiated into the Order of Knights of St. Mulumba

The Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Catholic Archdiocesan Secretariat, Onitsha, Anambra State was on September 29 filled with divine powers and goodness of God as the Deputy Group Business Editor of The Sun newspapers, Sir Christian Ochiama (KSM) and 80 others were initiated into the Order of the Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM). MORE>>>

Alamieyeseigha, Dariye Loot: Britain to Return £16m

The British Government is to return to Nigeria £16,598,000 remaining part of the looted funds of the former governors of Bayelesa and Plateau states, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and Joshua Dariye, when the funds are freed by the Britsh court. MORE>>>

Nigeria kidnappers target children

Two children aged five and six have become the latest kidnap victims of oil company ransom gangs in Nigeria. French oil giant Total said on Tuesday that the children of one of its Nigerian employees were abducted on Monday on their way to school in Port Harcourt. MORE>>>

Nigeria line up Australia friendly

The Super Eagles will play the Socceroos on 17 November at Craven Cottage, home of Premier League side Fulham. Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley said the game would be Australia's final warm-up before its World Cup qualifiers begin in February. MORE>>>

News Desk Tuesday, October 23, 2007

I won’t intervene in House of Reps crisis – Yar’Adua
•NBA asks Etteh to quit


The President’s position on the internal bickering in the lower legislative chamber, the aftermath of a N628 million contract scam, is coming at a time the opposition in the House is demanding the Speaker, Mrs Patricia Olubunmi Etteh’s outright resignation. Its leader, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP’s) Mohammed Ali Ndume, says the issue has gone beyond Etteh’s stepping aside to allow objective and unfettered deliberation on the report of the David Idoko panel which probed the allegations against her and a coterie of House officers implicated in the contract scam. MORE>>>

Socceroos to play Nigeria in London friendly

FFA chief executive Ben Buckley says the November 17 match at Craven Cottage, home of premiership side Fulham, will be Australia's final warm-up before its World Cup qualifiers begin in February. MORE>>>

NBA Challenges Govt on Corruption

President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has challenged President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to make very bold statement in the fight against corruption, saying there is nothing on ground to show that the fight will succeed. Agbakoba also challenged Yar’Adua to publicly declare if he received money for his presidential election campaign from some of the governors that are currently being prosecuted or investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He said Nigerians can see that the President has the capacity to fight corruption, but he is being hampered by blackmail. MORE>>>

Mozambique's ex-President, Chissano, wins African leadership prize

FOR boosting the economy of his country bringing peace to a war-ravaged nation, serving his people truthfully and turning down the chance for a third term in office, even when it was legal for him to seek it, among others, former President of Mozambique, Joaquim Chissano, has emerged the first winner of the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. He also won an individual award prize seen as the largest in the world. MORE>>>

3 Nigerians listed in Nobel prize-winning work

Three Nigerian professors have been identified as contributors to the work of the United Nations Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize alongside former US Vice President Al Gore, Empowered Newswire has reported. MORE>>>

Court joins NEIMETH in FG’s suit against Pfizer

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday joined Neimeth Pharmaceutical Company as one of the parties that have cases to answer in the $700 billion suit instituted against Pfizer International Incorporation over the 1996 controversial Trovan test in Kano. MORE>>>

NLC Storms House Tomorrow

Leaders of the central labour unions Nigeria Labour Congress [NLC] and the Trades Union Congress [TUC] are expected to march to the House of Representatives in Abuja tomorrow to demand the resignation of the Speaker Mrs Patricia Olubunmi Etteh over the N628 million contract scandal that has been rocking the house, Daily Trust learnt in Abuja yesterday. MORE>>>

Okonjo-Iweala laments undue interference with EFCC

MANAGING Director of the World Bank, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has decried what she calls undue interference with and disruption of the activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by government at different levels, and therefore wants it to be left alone to perform its duties of ridding the country of corruption. MORE>>>

Iberia Airlines dragged to U.S court over death of Nigerian on-board

LAGOS—Spanish Carrier, Iberia Airlines has been dragged before the U.S District Court in Michigan , for its role in the cold murder of the 23 year-old Nigerian, Mr. Osamuyia Aikpitanhi who died aboard its aircraft on June 9, 2007. In a statement signed by the family’s attorneys, Mr. Femi Falana and U.S based international human rights lawyer, Mr. Kayode Oladele, they said: “we have filed a torture and wrongful death complaint against the Iberia Airlines of Spain on behalf of the parents of Mr. Osamuyia Aikpitanhi who was murdered aboard the Iberia Airlines Plane on June 9, 2007. MORE>>>

Police Intensify Search For Lucky Dube's Killers

Nigerian Tribune

Police Intensify Search For Lucky Dube’s Killers

20.10.2007

South African police said on Friday it was intensifying the search for gunmen that killed South African reggae star, Lucky Dube, on Thursday.


Dube, 43, was killed in Johannesburg’s Rossettenville suburb in front of his son and daughter.


Police spokesman, Eugene Opperman, who described the murder as “one of the high-profile murders in the country,” said they tried to take his vehicle.


“They allegedly tried to take his vehicle, but then shots were fired and he was fatally wounded,” Opperman said.


The murder of South Africa’s biggest selling reggae singer cast a pall over the national mood a day before the country’s rugby union team faces England in the World Cup final.


Police earlier said Dube was dropping his son off when the attack took place.


Some callers to radio stations said the South African team should play wearing black armbands as a sign of mourning for Dube.


South Africa has one of the world’s worst murder rates and the number of rapes, carjackings, assaults and violent crime is on the rise while violent crimes rose sharply last year despite the effort of the police.


Dube recorded more than 20 albums in his career and won over 20 awards locally and internationally. He had just completed a month-long tour of the United States.


His first album, released in 1984 with the title, Rastas Never Die, was banned by the country’s apartheid government.


During his career, he performed across the world and shared the stage with music stars such as Sinead O’Connor, Peter Gabriel and Sting among others.


Paul Boateng, Britain’s Ambassador to South Africa, said he was shocked by Dube’s death.


Boateng said, “My wife and I are big fans. It is a great loss to music internationally.”

Report Of Alleged Fraud By Mark Rocks Senate

 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2007


From Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Abuja


ABUJA (THE GUARDIAN)--Tempers rose yesterday on the floor of the Senate as members of the Upper House openly expressed dismay over a report alleging that its President, David Mark, was involved in a N3 billion budget fraud.

Shortly after the start of the session, senators frowned over a report credited to an aide of George Akume, to the effect that Mark smuggled the sum of N2.5 billion into the 2007 Supplementary Act for the purpose of furnishing the new Senate building.

The lawmakers were equally unhappy with another report of an allegation that the Senate leadership had paid out N500 million to some television stations that carried out live broadcast of the screening of the last set of ministerial nominees.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Iyiola Omisore had cited Order 15 of Senate Standing Rule and argued that his privilege had been violated by the publication.

According to Omisore, it was wrong for a senator to have insinuated that N2.5 billion was smuggled into the supplementary budget when in actual fact, his committee had been thorough in the processing of the budget before being passed by the entire Senate.

He added: "Mr. Senate President, I read in the Daily Trust of Wednesday, October 17, 2007, a story credited to Adoka Adaji who presented himself as a Special Assistant to Senator George Akume, that the Senate President smuggled N2.5 billion into the supplementary budget recently passed by the Senate."

He continued: "By this story, the entire constitutional appropriation process meticulously carried out by the Senate is being discredited, and my privilege as Chairman of the Committee on Appropriation and Senator Iyiola Omisore has been breached. I have been portrayed as incompetent and untrustworthy.

"It may well be that Akume knows something that this Senate does not know. I therefore move that in terms of Order 15, this matter be referred to our Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions", Omisore added.

Seconding the motion, the Deputy Majority Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) declared that his privilege had also been trampled upon by the publication.

He said: "My own privileges have also been breached. I was the one detailed to provide the cost of live broadcast for ministerial screening...But that publication alleged that over N500 million was spent on the broadcast. For any Senator to go out and disclose what was discussed in a closed session is irresponsible. He should have confirmed from the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and others whether any money has been paid. Nothing has been paid so far."

Speaking on the matter, Abubakar Danso Sodangi said: "This is no longer an attempt to destroy the image of our Senate President. But the integrity of the entire Senate is at stake here. All our privileges have been breached here."

The Deputy Minority leader, Olorunnimbe Mamora, added another dimension to the debate when he argued that all the publications were aimed at smearing the image of the Senate.

He said: "There is also the allegation that Mark has started furnishing the new wing of the Senate Complex when there has been no budgetary provision for it. I believe this is a smear campaign. We can't continue like this."

Smart Adeyemi in his own argument said: "The content and the authority of the source of the story is not in doubt. Every minute counts for the Senate. We must ensure that this will be the last story published to tarnish the image of the Senate. It is unbecoming for Akume and his group to engage in this. This story is unfair, unbiblical, unislamic and unconstitutional."

But when Dahiru Kuta rose to blame journalists for going to press with the story without confirming from the Senate, Adeyemi interrupted him and queried on top of his voice: "Why are you blaming journalists? Talk about your friend."

And Joy Emodi was more aggressive in her reactions to the reports.

"This is a rumour against all of us and I don't think we should allow this to continue because the National Assembly is the symbol of democracy in this country."

Following a motion sponsored by Omisore, the Upper House ordered fresh investigation into the newspaper report.

After many senators had condemned the report, the Upper House adopted the only prayer of the motion directing its Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions to investigate the report and submit its findings as well as its recommendations to it on Tuesday next week for further action.

Also, last Tuesday, the same Ethics Committee was asked to investigate and identify the source of another media report in which Mark was alleged to have spent some N400 million to renovate his official residence.

The Omar Hambagda-led Ethics Committee however complained of insufficient time to do the investigation and submit its report on Tuesday, but the Senate directed it to proceed first and ask for more time if it had not concluded its work then.

Lucky Dube Remembered Forever

LUCKY DUBE’S RECORD LABEL, GALLO, MOURNS HIS TRAGIC LOSS
The staff of Gallo Record Company are devastated by the news of the tragic passing of reggae legend Lucky Dube. Lucky was slain in an attempted hijacking in Rosettenville in Johannesburg last night, at approximately 8pm, whilst dropping off his children at a family members house.

Although Lucky attempted to escape the scene, he had been fatally wounded from the hijacker’s attempt to steal his motor vehicle, and he died almost instantly.
Senseless and random, the death of Lucky Dube leaves a great void in the music industry, as 25 years of music suddenly ends in tragedy.

South African born but globally revered, Lucky Dube was one of the country’s most toured and beloved artists ever. His music touched millions around the world, primarily through his 22 recorded albums - in Zulu, English and even Afrikaans - many of which have been record breakers with phenomenal sales from around the globe.

As a frontline artist in the reggae genre, Lucky's creativity and inventiveness kept growing.
Compelling in his musicianship and intriguing in his lyrical content, Lucky's sonic daring to take his genre to new heights never failed to amaze even the most ardent fans, whilst reigning in new devotees to his magic every day.


His energetic band toured with him from continent to continent as South African musical ambassadors, and his live performances have earned him fans and accolades the world over.

Lucky joined Teal Records (later to become Gallo) as a fresh-faced young Mbaqanga singer in 1982. Five albums later he found a genre that spoke to his soul and changed the way he viewed the world. This genre was Reggae.

With his long-time sound engineer and best friend Dave Segal, he created some of the most legendary pieces of reggae music ever recorded, including the tracks Prisoner, Taxman, Slave, Victims, Together As One and Respect – all social anthems that garnered him the adoration of the people of his country - and across the globe.
Lucky was an artist that continued to break international barriers and recently just signed a deal with Warner Music International, securing him album releases across Europe of his latest album Respect.

Ivor J. Haarburger, CEO of Gallo Music Group is deeply saddened by the loss. “Lucky was not just an extraordinary artist, he was a personal friend. We go back over twenty years and had both a business and personal relationship. It’s so sad to lose such a great friend and so tragically, why?”

There are very few words that capture the magnitude of this devastating loss. As a musician, father and colleague, Lucky was one of the most charming, respected, selfless and dedicated people to have lived. He will be sorely missed.

Lucky Dube was survived by his new wife Zanele and his 7 children Bongi, Nonkululeko, Thokozani, Laura, Siyanda, Philani and his brand new three-month old baby Melokuhle.

Tribute to Herbie Hancock @ Kodak Theatre

On Sunday, October 28, 2007, the Kodak Theatre located at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue will be packed to capacity when an all-star cast will be paying tribute to Herbie Hancock and Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition.

Witout a doubt, the tribute will be one of Hollywood's treasured musical events this year when the 67-year-old keyboardist gets props from one of his early colleagues, Quincy Jones, who will be appearing as a special guest.

I was not even a jazz "freak" when I first dabbled into what would be my favorite of Hancock's recordings. The year was 1981 when a two record set was being played on a turntable, back in the day. The album was V.S.O.P: The Quntet, released in 1977,  recorded from two live performances; one at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles and the other at U.C. Berkeley. It was a landmark performance with Hancock on keyboards, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Tony Williams on drums and the magnificent Wayne Shorter of Weather Report on tenor and soprano saxophones.

The track listing of this great album, my best of Hancock recordings and I still have the vinyl LP is a masterpiece whatever moment its being played:

1. "One of a Kind"

2. "Jessica"

3. "Lawra"

4. "Dolores"

5. "Third Plane"

6. "Byrdlike"

7. "Darts"

8. "Little Waltz"

The tribute sponsored by Cadillac and GMAC Financial Services will be featuring Joni Mitchell, Chris Botti, Sting, Jamie Foxx, George Benson, Al Jarreau, Nancy Wilson, Wayne Shorter, Terrence Blanchard, George Duke and many, many others. It's going to be a hell of a show and I will be there live.

Also, the event will be benefitting Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz in Los Angeles.