News Desk Sunday, December 2, 2007

No to fuel price hike — FG * vow to stick to pact with Labour

“Government had an understanding with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) that until June 2008 there will be no upward adjustment of prices of petroleum products. Government is committed to honouring the agreement with NLC. Government has no intention to increase prices. I was just contributing to a very sensitive debate, and that is all”, he declared. MORE>>>

Theophilus Danjuma @ 70
.Mistakes I made during Biafra war

Warming up for his 70th birthday bash, former Minister of Defence, General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, has sensationally revealed the most prized secret of his military adventures, even as he prepares to hand over the baton of entrepreneurship to his kids. MORE>>>

How N1b inducement split INEC

Unknown to the electorate in Nigeria, some contestants in the last April general elections, including a presidential aspirant and two governorship aspirants planned to scuttle the elections by creating crisis within the Independent National Electoral Commission with an offer of a N1 billion inducement to top officials. MORE>>>

Reps set to reconcile OBJ, Atiku, IBB, Buhari, others

The initiative as conceived would involve bringing the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, his former Deputy, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, General Muhammadu Buhari, General Aliyu Gusau and others to a round table to iron out their areas of differences. MORE>>>

Niger Gov Blasts IBB, Abdulsalami

Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has said he is disappointed over the non-challant attitude of elder statesmen from the state including former military presidents, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) and General Abdulsalami Abubakar(rtd), to the feud between him and his predecessor, Alhaji Abdulkadir Kure. MORE>>>

Yar’Adua warns Army on indiscipline, missing arms

President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has warned that the Federal Government would not tolerate any acts of indiscipline by members of the armed forces. He gave the warning at the closing session of this year’s Army Training Exercise at the Nigerian Army Training Centre in Kontagora, Niger State. MORE>>>

News Desk Friday, November 30, 2007

Bakassi stays in Cameroon, says FG

IRRESPECTIVE of the objection by the Senate to the manner the Obasanjo Administration ceded the Bakasi Peninsula to the Cameroon, Nigeria will not renege on the hand-over agreement with Yaounde, Chairman of the Nigeria-Cameroun Mixed Commission, Prince Bola Ajibola, declared yesterday. MORE>>>

How Abacha Strike Force killed Kudi Abiola—Witness

THE driver of Alhaji Mohammed Abacha, Mohammed Abdul (a.k.a. Katako), yesterday at an Ikeja High Court, Lagos gave a graphic account of how he and other members of the late General Sani Abacha’s Strike Force killed Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, wife of the late Chief MKO Abiola, in 1996 in Lagos. MORE>>>

10 Militants Paraded For Threatening To Blow Up Oil Installations

The State Security Services (SSS) on Thursday in Abuja paraded 10 suspected members of the Niger Delta Youth Coalition for allegedly threatening to blow up oil installations in the Niger Delta. The suspects were said to have made the threat through a letter to President Umaru Yar'Adua. MORE>>>

Bakassi Handover Stands, Says Ajibola

The Federal Government has ruled out the possibility of revisiting the Bakassi issue, maintaining that the decision of the International Court of Justice to cede the oil-rich Peninsula to Cameroon was binding on Nigeria with or without the ratification of the National Assembly. MORE>>>

Nigeria Experiences Crime Boom

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Men carrying AK-47s leap from late-model Mercedes Benz sedans and burst into a Tex-Mex restaurant, training their weapons on tables crowded with foreign workers, greasy fajita pans, Corona beer bottles and ashtrays. MORE>>>

PDP - Ali Must Go Next Year

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that its National Chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, has no intention of extending his tenure till 2009, adding that he is willing and ready to go after the party's national convention. MORE>>>

IN GLOBAL NEWS:

56 Killed in Plane Crash in Turkey (WASHINGTON POST)

Cameroon gorillas returning home (BBC NEWS)

More work needed to hit UN world school goal - report (REUTERS)

Ugandan justice failing war's rape victims-Amnesty (ALERT NET)

Immigrants' children grow fluent in English, study says (LOS ANGELES TIMES)

Iraq Lacks Plan on the Return of Refugees, Military Says (THE NEW YORK TIMES)

Videos Show U.S. Hostages In Colombia (CBS NEWS)

News Desk Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Tribunal Nullifies Election Of Plateau Speaker

The Plateau State Elections Petition Tribunal yesterday delivered a landmark judgment by nullifying the election of the speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Emmanuel Goar. The tribunal held that Mr. Goar was not duly elected and thereby ordered INEC to conduct fresh elections within 90 days into Pankshin-North Constituency of the House of Assembly. MORE>>>

How Kudirat’s Murder was Hatched, By Witness

The trial of former Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Ishaya Bamaiyi (rtd), continued yesterday at an Ikeja High Court, Lagos, with the former driver to Alhaji Mohammed Abacha, son of late General Sani Abacha, giving graphic details of how he and other members of late Abacha's Strike Force killed late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, wife of late Chief M.K.O. Abiola in 1996 in Lagos. MORE>>>

Yar’Adua, lawmakers head for showdown

PRESIDENT Umaru Yar’Adua and the National Assembly appear to be on a collision course over the benchmark of oil price for the 2008 budget. The President had proposed a benchmark of $53.83 per barrel while the National Assembly had raised this to between $60 and $70 per barrel based on the current price of oil in the international market. MORE>>>

Shake-up Imminent In Police

A reshuffle is expected in the police next week which may affect three Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) and ten Commissioners (CPs). Likely to be affected are DIGs Yakubu Mohammed (from Katsina State), Abdulrahman Yusuf (Kogi), and Bukar Dikwa (Borno). They are expected to proceed on retirement leave in January 2008. MORE>>>

Tribunal Sacks Male Lawmaker After Presenting Certificate From A Girls’ School

A member of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Obo Mkpanam Bassey, has been sacked by the Governorship and House of Assembly Elections Tribunal in Calabar for certificate forgery. The Action Congress (AC) candidate, Mr. Eyo Egbai, had dragged Hon. Mkpanam who is serving a second term in the House to the Tribunal on allegation that the legislator’s secondary school certificate was forged. MORE>>>

Bakassi Revisited

THE Senate's rejection of the ceding of Bakassi Peninsula, Cross Rivers State, to Cameroun by former President Olusegun Obasanjo has returned this ever contentious issue to international attention again. The ceding was an aftermath of an International Court of Justice, ICJ, judgment of 10 October 2002. MORE>>>

Glimpsing Nigeria's digital lifeline

But in March this year, the scruffy primary became part of a remarkable experiment. It was the first in Africa to get its hands on the so-called $100 laptop, a rugged device aimed at helping children in the developing world get the most from their education. MORE>>>

Siemens apologises to Nigeria over 10m-euro bribery scandal

Lagos, Nigeria - German company Siemens has written to Nigeria's Presiden t Umaru Yar'Adua to apologise for the bribery scandal, in which the company repo r tedly funnelled 10 million euros to several Nigerian officials to facilitate con t ract deals. MORE>>>

IN GLOBAL NEWS:

Musharraf steps down as military chief (LOS ANGELES TIMES)

Somali journalists banned from covering insurgents (ALERT NET)

Senegal's Wade to mediate with Mugabe on EU summit (REUTERS)

Mideast Talks Yield Promises To Press On
Israelis, Palestinians Will Restart Peace Negotiations (WASHINGTON POST)

After Annapolis (BOSTON GLOBE EDITORIAL)

News Desk Monday, November 26, 2007

Obasanjo ran Area Boy govt, says Tinubu....Calls for urgent review of revenue allocation formula

Former Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu has called for urgent review of the revenue allocation formula and establishment of financial processes that would prevent corruption in the country. Tinubu, who was in Ibadan at a dinner hosted by the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) at the weekend, also likened the presidency under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to social miscreants popularly called Area boys due to its disregard for the Rule of Law. MORE>>>

ICPC begins Etteh’s, deputy’s probe - Over N628m house renovation scandal

AS investigation continues into the house renovation contracts awarded by the former leadership of the House of Representatives, the former Speaker, Olubunmi Etteh, and her erstwhile deputy, Babangida Nguroje, are to appear before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) this week. MORE>>>

In Nigeria, the new face of global Mormonism

LAGOS, Nigeria — Outside Zion Osandu Ndukwe's one-room apartment, a naked toddler ran up and down a filthy hallway lit by a single candle. The power in the overcrowded slum was off yet again. The stench of urine from the communal bathroom overpowered the fragrance of spices in the bubbling soup a neighbor was stirring. MORE>>>

News Desk Friday, November 23, 2007

Senate right to void Bakassi handover, says Akinjide * Utomi urges caution; CPP lauds upper chamber

Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, said yesterday in Ibadan that the Senate was right in repudiating the transfer of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun. Akinjide said it was wrong for former President Olusegun Obasanjo to have ceded the Bakassi and other areas to Cameroun without legislative approval as required by the Constitution. MORE>>>

I’m back in PDP because AC has nothing more to offer — RIMI

Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, Second Republic governor of old Kano State, chieftain of PDP and later AC has his head being asked for in a ‘platter’ during his recent re-decampment to PDP. Unsavoury remarks have been made about him on the front pages of newspapers but in this recent encounter, the former chairman of Nigeria Printing & Minting said he has no regrets about leaving AC for PDP and went further to explain why he did it. Many interpretations have been given to why you went back to the ruling PDP after leaving it for AC and campaigning with its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubabar. MORE>>>

Sahara Oil Invests $250m

The recent oil discovery is expected to accelerate economic growth in Ghana as Sahara Group of Companies, one of the largest energy sector players in Africa, says it will in the next five years open filling or fuel stations in all the 166 districts of the country. The company therefore says it is ready to commit about $260 million in investments not only in construction of filling stations but also in oil production in the country. MORE>>>

News Desk Thursday, November 22, 2007

How Bamaiyi, Mustapha plotted to kill Osoba, Ibru, others —Sgt Rogers

SERGEANT Barnabas Jabila, otherwise known as “Sgt Rogers,” yesterday wept profusely as he returned into the witness box, six years after his first public appearance, to give testimony on some of the gory operations of the deadly “Strike Force” established by the administration of the late Gen Sani Abacha. MORE>>>

Why UK can't try Ibori, say AGF

THE Attor ney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), ruled out yesterday, the possibility of granting the request of the United Kingdom (UK) to try the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, in London for alleged money laundering. MORE>>>

Election Results Forged in 12 States, Says INEC

A few days after it accused the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) presidential candidate in the last April 21 election, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, of tendering forged documents to prove his petition at the tribunal, the Independent National Electoral Commi-ssion (INEC) went a step further yesterday, saying its result sheets and other documents in 12 states had been tampered with. MORE>>>

EFCC Begins Probe Of Obasanjo

Investigation may have begun on the eight-year reign of former President Olusegun Obasanjo as news emerged on Wednesday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has opened a file on him. This is probably connected with the rolling allegations of personal enrichment, and gross abuse of office made against the octogenarian by critics, among them Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, and human rights lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi. MORE>>>

Nigeria deploys troops to Camerounian border

THE Nigerian Navy has begun to send more of its men to the sea border with Cameroun following the killing of 21 Camerounian soldiers and the retaliatory killing of 10 Nigerians by the soldiers. MORE>>>

€10m scandal: ICPC seeks more facts from Siemens

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on Wednesday said it had sought more information from the German telecommunications giant, Siemens AG, towards building its case against the indicted Nigerians. The commission has also confirmed that some of the 13 indicted Nigerians in the scandal have made useful statements to facilitate a thorough investigation into the matter. MORE>>>

IN GLOBAL NEWS:

Court upholds Musharraf election (BBC NEWS)

U.N. nuclear watchdog agency chief keeps pressure on Iran (LOS ANGELES TIMES)

Putin Links Rivals to West (WASHINGTON POST)

Pakistan to be kicked out of Commonwealth (GUARDIAN UNLIMITED)

China Changes Its Mind About U.S. Warship (NEW YORK TIMES)

Arms seizure threat sparks panic in Darfur camp (ALERT NET)

170 countries for Sunday's World Cup draw (REUTERS AFRICA)

Congo Creates Great Ape Preserve

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Congo is setting aside more than 11,000 square miles of rain forest to help protect the endangered bonobo, a great ape that is the most closely related to humans and is found only in this Central African country.

U.S. agencies, conservation groups and the Congolese government have come together to set aside 11,803 square miles of tropical rain forest, the U.S.-based Bonobo Conservation Initiative said in a statement issued this week.

The area amounts to just over 1 percent of vast Congo — but that means a park larger than the state of Massachusetts.

Environment Minister Didace Pembe said the area was denoted as a protected reserve last week as part of the administration’s goal of setting aside 15 percent of its forest as protected area. The Sankuru announcement increased the amount of protected land in Congo to 10 percent from 8 percent, he said.

The Sankuru Nature Reserve aims to protect a section of Africa’s largest rain forest from the commercial bushmeat trade and from deforestation by industrial logging operations in the central part of the country known as the Congo Basin.

Sally Jewell Coxe, president of the Washington-based Bonobo Conservation Initiation, said the group has been working to establish the reserve since 2005, when it started meeting with leaders in villagers that ring the area to persuade them to stop hunting the ape.

Though local lore holds that washing a baby with the ashy remains of a bonobo will make the child strong, Coxe said many area villages have committed to ending the practice.

“We have agreements with many of the local villages that are on the edges of the park, and they will be the managers and be very involved in it,” she said.

Bonobos — often lauded as the “peaceful ape” — are known for their matriarchal society in which female leaders work to avoid conflict, and their sex-loving lifestyle.

The bonobo population is believed to have declined sharply in the last 30 years, though surveys have been hard to carry out in war-ravaged central Congo. Estimates range from 60,000 to fewer than 5,000 living, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

The Sankuru reserve also contains okapi, closely related to the giraffe, that is also native to Congo, elephants and at least 10 other primate species.

Startup funding has been provided through a grant of $50,000 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and about $100,000 from private donors, Coxe said.

“We’re really thrilled; now comes the hard work of funding it for long term,” Coxe said.

News Desk Tuesday, November 20, 2007

EFCC made me poor – Alamieyeseigha

Former Bayelsa State governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, has accused the Federal Government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of impoverishing him with the confiscation of his assets and about 1.7 million pounds sterling reportedly found on him by British police in London. MORE>>>

€10m bribe: ICPC summons ex-ministers, others

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on Monday said it had invited the former ministers and other public officials allegedly involved in the 10m euro bribe scandal by a German multi-national engineering firm, Siemens AG. MORE>>>

Council of State confirms Okiro as IG

The first Council of State meeting under President Umaru Yar’Adua took place on Monday and took far-reaching decisions that bordered on the security of the country, economic stability and the welfare of the police. It also approved the promotion of Mr. Mike Okiro to the post of substantive Inspector- General of Police. Okiro had functioned in an acting capacity for about six months. The position was effective from June 1, 2007. MORE>>>

Nigeria rejects US presence in Africa

THE Federal Government announced on Monday that it would not host the United States military's new Africa-wide military command, taking Africa’s most populous nation and a top source of American oil imports out of contention. MORE>>>

IN GLOBAL NEWS

Walkout fuels French strike woes (BBC NEWS)

New York Tightens Shelter Policies (WASHINGTON POST)

Pakistani authorities release thousands of opposition supporters (LOS ANGELES TIMES)

Baghdad Starts to Exhale as Security Improves (NEW YORK TIMES)

News Desk Sunday, November 18, 2007

Aso Rock budgets N2.3million daily for refreshment....N1.5m for eye glasses

THE National Assembly has been allocated N65 billion out of the N2.5 trillion spending plan for 2008 proposed by President Umaru Yar‘Adua. N2.2 billion of the proposal has been earmarked for food, details of the proposal obtained by Sunday Vanguard have revealed. The Presidency including the State House has been allocated N26.9 billion in the 2008 spending plan with N1.301 billion going for feeding and refreshment in the State House. MORE>>>

Trial for loitering: American ‘wrongly deported’ to Nigeria knows fate, Wednesday

A Lagos Magistrate Court, Ebute-Metta, Lagos has fixed Wednesday for ruling in the case brought against a black American Mr. Grayson Ernest Eugene who was serving a jail term in the United States before his alleged deportation to Nigeria in error by the American government on December 12, 2006. Eugene, 44, is standing trial before Magistrate R.O. Davis on a one-count charge of “an act not warranted by law” which “causes inconvenience or damage to the public by loitering around American Embassy premises.” MORE>>>

Siemens Bribery Scandal: Suspects’ll be Prosecuted in Nigeria, Says EFCC

Siemens Bribery Scandal: SuspeThe Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it was investigating all suspects in the Siemens bribery scandal and assured that those found to be culpable would be prosecuted in Nigeria. Spokesman of the agency, Mr. Osita Nwajah, told THISDAY last night that: “We are already involved in the matter. Investigation is still on-going. All those found to be culpable will be brought to justice in Nigeria,” he added. MORE>>>

Nigerians Abroad to Remit $16b

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole yesterday told the House Committee on Foreign Affairs that it must ensure that all policies of the Federal Government are geared towards maximising the benefits of the nation’s foreign relationships in the best interest of the average Nigerian, just as he confirmed that Nigerians living abroad will remit over $16 bilion back home before the end of this year. MORE>>>

Real reasons INEC aborted PDP convention - The Iwu, OBJ connection

Indications have emerged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may have stopped the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to fulfill the requirement of due process, but to assist some forces with enough time to re-strategise, with the aim of regaining the control of the party. MORE>>>

Imo AC Guber Candidate Teargassed At Tribunal

The gubernatorial candidate of the Action Congress, AC in Imo State at the April election was allegedly assaulted and tear-gassed by the police at the venue of the ongoing Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Owerri the state capital. The candidate, Hon. Uche Onyeagucha told our correspondent in an exclusive interview at his Abuja Apo Legislative Quarters, that he had gone to the Tribunal on Monday, November 13, 2007, but his car was blocked by some police officers and Special Assistants to Governor Ohakim, demanding to know his identity. MORE>>>

Why Soludo Sacked Me - Wahir Mshelia (former deputy governor, CBN)

Until she resigned her appointment on May 3, 2005, Mrs. Wahir Mshelia, 57, was the deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). After her resignation, she went into retirement, ending her voyage of 27 years in the public service. Recently, however, she opened up, alleging that she was actually hounded out of office by her boss and that he did so with the active connivance of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. In an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP Sunday, Mshelia said her former boss and incumbent governor of the nation's apex bank, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, persecuted and sacked her because he could not abide by her principled stand on issues, especially her penchant for insisting on due process. She stated that Soludo was equally angered by her stout rejection of the bank's consolidation policy, which she believed was not in the overall interest of the North. MORE>>>

Six die in electoral violence in northern Nigeria

KAN0, Nigeria, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Six people were killed and over 250 arrested in the northern Nigerian state of Kano in weekend violence linked to local government elections, the state's chief of police said on Sunday. MORE>>>

News Desk Friday, November 16, 2007

London appeal court freezes Ibori’s assets

Former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, on Thursday suffered another setback in the bid to free himself from prosecution over corruption. A London Court of Appeal, Criminal Division, in an unanimous decision, ruled that the Southwark Crown Court, which had discharged a restraint order on Ibori’s assets, erred by lifting the order. MORE>>>

Militants bomb Shell's oil pipeline in Delta

PORT-HARCOURTMILITANTS in the early hours of yesterday blew up with explosives a crude oil delivery pipeline, belonging to the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Delta State amidst fears that the execution of the multi billion dollars Escravos Gas -to –Liquid project of the American oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited, may be truncated following a fresh threat by the people of oil – rich Ugborodo community, Warri South West local government area. MORE>>>

Two police officers, two armed robbers killed in gun battle at Apapa

Police sources said a gang of about eight armed robbers were spotted somewhere around Trebbor junction, Apapa at about 11pm on Tuesday. It was gathered that men of anti-robbery squad who were scattered around Apapa and environs were put on the alert. However, sources said the gang quickly made a U-turn and headed towards Tin Can Island where another team led by the late Inspector were on a pin down point at a black spot. MORE>>>

Bakassi Killings: Nigerian Soldiers Not Involved, Azazi Insists

Chief of Defence Staff, General Andrew Azazi, insisted yesterday that Nigerian military did not attack Cameroonian soldiers in Bakassi. Also yesterday, leader of Nigerian delegation to the United Nations, Prince Bola Ajibola, reiterated that Nigerian government had no hand in the November 12, 2007 killings of the 20 Cameroonian soldiers. MORE>>>

Illegal Bunkering: Navy Arrests 260 Ships – Adekeye

Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye, yesterday said 260 ships involved in illegal bunkering have been arrested by the Nigerian Navy. Adekeye disclosed this while fielding questions from newsmen during the maiden tour of the Minister of State for Defence, Mrs Fidelia Akuabata Njeze, to Naval headquarters, to enable her interact with principal staff officers. MORE>>>

Nigeria's Niger Delta Militants Issue New Threat

In Nigeria, the militant group Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said it intends to spread its agitation from the oil-rich region to other parts of Nigeria. In an email sent to journalists late Thursday, the group said it will attack major bridges and other non-oil sector-related infrastructure throughout Nigeria. MORE>>>

Militant Group Says Nigeria Military Behind Attacks of Cameroon Soldiers

One of the most potent militant groups operating in Nigeria's oil-rich delta region, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, or MEND, says the Nigerian military were behind a cross-border raid that left 21 Cameroonian soldiers dead on Monday. Nigerian authorities deny the accusation. The attack took place in the Bakassi Peninsula, an oil-rich strip of territory recently ceded to Cameroon after international courts overturned neighboring Nigeria's claim to the land. Sarah Simpson has more from Lagos. MORE>>>

IN GLOBAL NEWS

U.S. deserters lose bid for Canada refugee status (BOSTON GLOBE)

China spying 'biggest US threat' (BBC NEWS)

U.S. to urge compromise in Pakistan (LOS ANGELES TIMES)

Home Run King Bonds Charged With Perjury (WASHINGTON POST)

Report Raises New Doubts on Iran Nuclear Program (NEW YORK TIMES)

Election Tribunal Sacks Adamawa State Governor

The drama in the April elections continues apace. The Adamawa State Election Petition Tribunal in its ruling moments ago has nullified the election of Governor Murtala Nyako on the ground that Ibrahim Bapetel, Action Congress' gubernatorial candidate's name was unlawfully removed in the April 14 election eve by EFCC on trumped-up indictment for fraud. The ruling states fresh election must be held "within 90 days."

However, Nyako is expected to appeal the ruling.