INTERESTING: Pastor Point Gun At Church Accountant?

The Benue State Police Command, yesterday, arrested the pastor of a new generation church in Katsina-Ala (names withheld) for illegal possession of fire arms and assault on the church’s accountant.

Vanguard gathered from sources that the pastor was apprehended with the firearm by men of the Benue State Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, in Katsina-Ala where he allegedly tried to kill the accountant of the church, Mr. Philip Toryila, during a serious disagreement over money.

According to our source,”the incident occurred on Tuesday evening when the pastor ordered the church accountant to handover church monies to him for execution of a project and he refused.

“The refusal of the accountant angered the pastor who engaged him in a fracas and in the process pulled out a gun on the accountant.

“In the process, the accountant shouted for help which attracted the attention of another church official who alerted the police and they quickly drafted some armed men of the squad to the place and arrested the pastor.”

The source added that “the accountant sustained a major facial injury and other parts of his body and was quickly rushed to a private hospital in Katsina-Ala where is now receiving treatment.”

Confirming the story, Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Deputy Suprintendent of Police Daniel Ezeala, said: “The arrested pastor was brought to the state command and he will soon be charged to court for illegal possession of firearms but we are still conducting investigations into the matter.”

Source: Vanguard

TERRIBLE: The Evil Children?

Two suspected children from hell have been arrested in Anambra State for allegedly kidnapping their father. The two brothers, Ifeanyi and Obinna, aged 44 and 33 respectively, were arrested by the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), led by Supol James Nwafor, after they were implicated in the alleged abduction of their father, Chief Mike Onwukamuche.

The two sons were said to have demanded for N5 million ransom from their father. According to investigation, the 74-year-old victim was abducted in Ojota and taken to Obosi and was allegedly held hostage for one week by the suspects. Both Ifeanyi, who was the victim’s heir and his younger brother, Obinna, according to investigation decided to kidnap their father because he did not give them money to support the upkeep of their families when they requested.

The two alleged evil brothers were unmasked by their younger brother, Dr Emeka, who suspected a foul play when their father suddenly disappeared. The younger brother suspected that his elder brothers must be connected with their father’s disappearance. He followed up his suspicion with lodging a formal complaints with the SARS whose operatives swung into action immediately and effected the arrest of Ifeanyi and Obinna and their friend, who owns the house where the victim was held hostage.

Ifeanyi explained his role to CrimeWatch: “ I am the first son of my father, Chief Mike Onwukamuche and I have to kidnap my father. I am a businessman, I travelled to Thailand and I was dealing on drugs before I was deported. In November 2012. I told my father that I was handicapped and that I needed some money to start a business. But despite the fact that my family was suffering he kept on promising and I have no means of livelihood. I organized with my younger brother, Obinna, who was in the same situation and we arranged with my friends to kidnap him.

“The four-man gang of kidnappers including Obinna participated and kidnapped my father from Ojoto and took him to Obosi, and kept him in my friend’s house for one week.” “We demanded N5million from my father. My father is a businessman and he sells baby wears at Onitsha and he has a lot of landed property in Onitsha. But he refused to assist us. It was my junior brother, Dr Emeka who reported to the police that our father had disappeared and reported the case to the police and we were arrested”. Another suspect, Obinna explained his role: “I followed the kidnappers to kidnap my father.

I asked my father to give me money to start another business because my business was not doing well. My father has enough landed property in Onitsha. “I asked him to give me N3m to start another business but he refused. We arranged with my elder brother, Ifeanyi and other kidnappers and kidnapped my father and kept him in one of the kidnappers’ house. My father spent one week with the kidnappers but my father didn’t know that I was part of those who kidnapped him.”

The Onwukamuches hail from Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State. Obinna said: “We haven’t collect the money (ransom) but we were about collecting it when men of the SARS arrested us.” Another suspect, Obi told CrimeWatch that they the victim. We carried out the kidnapping with Obinna, his son who was my friend and took him to my own house where he spent one week there. “We demanded N5million from him before the SARS came and rounded us up,” he said.

The Anambra state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ballah Nasarawa told CrimeWatch that it was one of the victim’ children, Dr Emeka Onwukamuche who came to report to SARS and his brothers, Ifeanyi and Obinna who confessed to have kidnapped their father before the father was released from where he was kept. CP Nasarawa explained that they demanded for N5million and Chief Mike Onwukamuche couldn’t believe that his sons were the architects of his abduction until when the two sons confessed to him that they were the one who masterminded his kidnapping

The victim expressed shock about the incident, “ I couldn’t believe it that my own first son could arranged with his younger brother to kidnap me because they wanted me to give them money to start business. They were requesting for N3m to start another business. I promised to give them but that they should be patient. I sent Ifeanyi abroad but when he got there he sold drugs and he was deported back home. Obinna was given money to do business but he squandered the money and requested for another N3m. I promised to give them the money but that they should give me more time.”

He said that it was his junior son; Dr Emeka who came to his rescue by reporting the case to SARS in Awka when he saw that I had disappeared from the house. He said that he has disowned the two sons and said they should not come back to him and that they should face the consequence of their action. CP Nasarawa said that the three suspects would soon be charge to court.

Source: Sun News

BOKO HARAM: Okada Banned In Kaduna?

A top security operative in Kaduna State has told SaharaReporters that the state’s body in charge of security matters has finally decided to ban commercial motorcycle riders in major urban areas as part of a new strategy to combat terrorist attacks.

“The decision by the Kaduna State Security Council to outlaw ‘Okada’ motorcycle riders was taken as another measure to contain the kinds of terrorism and insurgency getting a foothold in Kaduna and Zaria towns,” said the source.

The source, a member of the Security Council, told our correspondent that the council made the decision at yesterday’s session at Kaduna Government House. The meeting was chaired by Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna.

The source revealed that the council was concerned that bandits and suspected terrorists were infiltrating Kaduna from neighboring states that had banned motorcycles as a form of commercial transport. He cited a rise in the number of attacks carried out by people riding bikes in Kaduna and Zaria towns.

In addition to Kaduna and Zaria, the ban on “Okada” will also be implemented in Kafanchan, another hot sport in southern Kaduna area. Our source said the Security Council was preparing a bill to be sent to the Kaduna State House of Assembly in due course.

The Nigeria news sources have quoted the state’s Commissioner of Information, Saidu Abdullahi Adamu, as confirming the plan to ban “Okada.” “It is all about the issue of security,” said Mr. Adamu. “We are all aware; we don't even need to be told. The menace and the security threat these motor cycles are creating, not only in Kaduna but everywhere in Nigeria, cannot be overemphasized.

We are all aware of what is happening, how some elements are using these motorcycles to foment trouble, to commit murder. We know, of course, that there could be some hardship here and there, knowing fully that some of the nooks and crannies that a motor cycle can move in, a tricycle cannot, or a taxi or bus. But notwithstanding, we have to look at the issue of security and the way some of these motorcycles are been used to cause a lot of troubles, a lot of insecurity.”

Source: Sahara Reporters

AT LAST: 20 Internet Fraudsters Nabbed?

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested twenty suspected internet fraudsters. The arrest which was carried out  in a joint operation with officers of the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Benin, followed intelligence report on their activities. They were nabbed in a surprise raid on their Cyber office tucked in an old building located on Siluko Road, Benin City.

At the point of arrest, the fraudsters had in their possession forty five (45) laptops of different make, twenty eight (28) telephone sets, eight (8) internet mobile modems and one Nissan car with registration number USL 375 AG.

The suspected fraudsters who are mostly in their twenties includes: Idehen Obabueki, Adesa Lucky, Usuagu Uche, Eloghosa Olikiabor, Larry Edomwonyi, Amowie Maike, Francis Ezegbede, Itua Samuel and Endurance John Egbeifo. Others are Amego Ovenseri, Iyen Ighodaro, Philip Agbodori, Lucky Robinson, Nnadi Obinna, Osabuohien Osahon, Chinenu Eze, Peter Sunday, Solomon Ogu, Niyi Femi and Osagie Aghedo.

The suspects have made useful statements. Most of them confessed to be engaged in online dating of foreigners particularly widows. They also confessed to using different pseudo names and faces to deceive their prospective victims. They will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.

Source: Sahara Reporters

DISTURBING: Two 3 Year Olds Boys Kidnapped?

The kidnapping of two toddlers - Toheeb Adedokun and Falilu Tajudeen - has thrown Taike Street, Ketu Lagos into confusion.

The two boys have some things in common. They are three-years-old and live in the same compound at number 18.

Toheeb and Falilu, who are the youngest in the house were kidnapped on Friday, and since then, nothing had been heard of them.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the toddlers were playing in front of the compound when suddenly, no one saw them again.

The parents of the children told our correspondent that no headway had been made since they reported the mysterious disappearance of their children to the police five days ago.

Narrating what occurred on the fateful day, Toheeb’s father, Rasaq Adedokun, said, “I was at work and at about 9pm, my wife called me that she could not find Toheeb, who is the youngest of my three children. She also said people had been looking for him and Falilu since 6pm.

“I went back home and we began a renewed search for them all over the place. He (Toheeb) does not go out of our compound, so I don’t know what happened that day.

“We were told that a woman selling alcoholic drinks close to our street claimed that she saw the two kids. On getting to her, we met a man who promised to bring the kids to us by 1am and he spoke with so much confidence.

“When we called him at the said time, he told us to call again in an hour. When he was not forthcoming, we reported the matter to the police at Ketu division.”

Razaq, a commercial driver, said policemen at the Ketu Police Division, advised them to also make a report at Alapere Division and Mile 12 Police Post.

Falilu’s father, Moshood, said he had been living in the compound for over eight years, adding that no child had ever gone missing even though many families live in the house.

The carpenter lamented that no headway had been made in police investigation as a woman who was arrested had been released.

Meanwhile, PUNCH Metro gathered that there was an attempted kidnapping in the same Ketu area about two weeks ago.

It was learnt that about two weeks ago, a five-year-old boy, Dayo Olubajo, escaped being kidnapped on Ogunkoya Street. A suspect was caught.

Dayo’s mother, Olawunmi, said, “On January 15, 2012, Dayo, who had measles at the time, came to see me where I sell rice. On his way back, a man kidnapped him.

“The man was apprehended by a young man . The suspect was later taken to Ketu Police Division .
The spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, said Dayo’s kidnapper had been paraded.

She confirmed the kidnapping of the minors.
She said, “We are making efforts to ensure that the children are returned to their parents safe and sound.

“So far, two people have been arrested and they are at Ketu Police Station. However, they will soon be transferred to SARS for further investigation. One of the suspects had told the parents that he would get the children back and claimed to have information as to their whereabouts last Friday.”

Source: Punch

HORROR: Gunmen On Rampage, Banks, Police Station Bombed In Kaduna?

SaharaReporters has learnt that Governor Muktar Yero of Kaduna State has rushed this morning to Birnin Gwari town, the scene of yesterday’s brazen, five-hour operation by a group of armed bandits.

SaharaReporters broke the news of the dare-devil attacks in Birnin Gwari town in Kaduna State. Our correspondent has since discovered that   attackers killed three police officers, wounded several more, and made away with millions of naira from the vaults of two banks.

“The governor is still in town now,” a security source told SaharaReporters, adding that a huge contingent of the police were also present in every part of the town.

Another source disclosed that the additional police contingent was not able to enter the town until the early hours of today. “The armed bandits operated for four, even five hours without any serious police challenge,” said the source.

News of the attacks was first received from students living in the town of Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State's Birnin Gwari local government area. The informants told SaharaReporters that heavily armed bandits had overrun the police station in the area and burnt it down after engaging the police in gun battle. “The police were so overwhelmed that they took to their heels,” one source had told our correspondent.

The attackers completely razed the police station in the attack that started at midnight, according to the source.

ECO Bank, Unity Bank, and First Bank branches in the town as well as other public buildings were also attacked and bombed along with the police station, according to one elderly witness. The man told Saharareporters that the heavily armed men arrived in unmarked vehicles and set the police station on fire after a two-hour long gun battle. The source said the attackers appeared to use explosives in breaking into the banks.

One of our sources, who claimed to have witnessed the attacks, said the bandits planted Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) that exploded simultaneously amid gun shots.

The source said the bandits were part of a group of armed robbers believed to be hiding out in a nearby forest. He disclosed that, prior to yesterday’s attacks, the bandits had launched assaults in several villages and districts including Kuyelo and Randagi on Friday and Tuesday respectively.

The source also stated that the unidentified gunmen had sealed off the whole township last night before launching their attacks. A security source told SaharaReporters that the Divisional Police Office (DPO) was  out of the area at the time of the attacks last night. SaharaReporters also learnt that soldiers who are part of “Operation Zaki” refused to move into the area at night to combat the attackers. The commanders of the soldiers were reportedly afraid of being ambushed at night by the armed bandits.

“We are trapped, and we’re under fear,” one of our sources told SaharaReporters last night. He added, “We need military support too. If not, there is no certainty on our lives. As I speak, they are still firing.”

Last night’s attacks were not the first in the town’s recent history. In October, 2012, armed bandits invaded the town and killed some 20 worshippers leaving a mosque.

SaharaReporters tried last night to speak with official spokesmen of the army and police, without success. However, a district head said the Kaduna State police commissioner had promised to intervene as soon as possible.

Just last week, the Emir of Birnin Gwari, Mai Jubril Zubair, had visited the new governor of Kaduna State. The emir, who was accompanied by several politicians, top civil servants and district heads in the area, had asked the governor for increased security in the area. The traditional ruler complained that armed bandits in the area had stolen up to 10,000 cows and murdered several people. The governor had promised to set up a committee to find the stolen cows and to deal with the bandits.

A source told SaharaReporters he suspected last night’s attacks were a kind of reprisal for the emir's visit to the governor and a way to serve notice to the governor that he can do little to stop the bandits operating in the area. However, a security source told our correspondent this morning that he did not think the attacks were related at all to the emir’s visit to the governor or the governor’s threat to deal with the bandits.

Source: Sahara Reporters

AFCON 2013: Nigeria 2 Vs Ethiopia 0

Nigeria have qualified for the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations thanks to Chelsea attacker Victor Moses, who scored two penalties in their contest against Ethiopia this evening.

The best chance of the first half fell to Nigeria, but Uwa Elderson Echiejile's header from a Moses corner was saved by Ethiopia goalkeeper Sisay Bancha.

Nigeria continued to be the dominant force, but it wasn't until the 79th minute where they made it count. Moses was hauled down by Alula Girma inside the area and the former Wigan Athletic player tucked away the resultant penalty.

Moses's services from the spot were required again as the match entered the 90th minute. He was again the man that brought down, this time by keeper Bancha, who was handed a red card for the challenge.

Addis Hintsa took his place between the posts, but he was unable to prevent Moses from scoring his second penalty.

The result means that Nigeria go through as runners-up behind Burkina Faso.

Source: Sports Mole

AT LAST: Nkiruka Sylvanus Abductors Revealed?

Nkiruka Sylvanus

The actress was held captive for six days.

Two of the people that kidnapped Nollywood actress, Nkiruka Sylvanus, in Imo State, were former cattle traders from the Northern part of Nigeria, security officials have said.

The leader of the gang that carried out the kidnap is from Imo State and was a police officer with the mobile police unit.

The six suspects that carried out the kidnap were paraded at the State Security Service, SSS, Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday at a joint press briefing by the SSS and the police.

Ms. Sylvanus, actress and aide to the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, was kidnapped on December 15 at about 7:30 p.m. alongside two men- Uche Okoli and Kenneth Okoli- at Nworie Street, Akanchawa roundabout area of Imo State by three gunmen.

They were kept in a bush around Avu junction for six days and were released on December 21 after a ransom of N8 million was paid.

The paraded men are Ndidi Cletus, also known as Mattew Ofurum; Stanley Asouna; Aminu Musa; Muhammed Abubakar; Obinna Okolisa; and Samson Onwuka.

The culprits

The leader of the gang, Mr. Cletus, is a former mobile police constable who was dismissed in 2007. Mr. Cletus, 30, confessed to joining the police in 2004 with the name, Mattew Ofurum. He told security officials that he was dismissed for absenting himself from duty for 21 days due to ill health in 2007.

It was Mr. Cletus who lured other members into the gang.

Mr. Musa, 40, was a cattle trader and battery charger from Taraba State. He and Mr. Abubakar, 34, a cattle rearer from Nassarawa State, were responsible for taking care of their victims. The fifth accused, Mr. Okwolisa was a trader and Keke napep operator before he ventured into the kidnapping business.

The gang members admitted to carrying out several other kidnap operations getting ransom payments of 1.9 million, 3 million and 1.5 million and so on.

The men are to be charged to court soon.

Source: Premium Times

AT LAST: Nkiruka Sylvanus Abductors Revealed?

Nkiruka Sylvanus

The actress was held captive for six days.

Two of the people that kidnapped Nollywood actress, Nkiruka Sylvanus, in Imo State, were former cattle traders from the Northern part of Nigeria, security officials have said.

The leader of the gang that carried out the kidnap is from Imo State and was a police officer with the mobile police unit.

The six suspects that carried out the kidnap were paraded at the State Security Service, SSS, Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday at a joint press briefing by the SSS and the police.

Ms. Sylvanus, actress and aide to the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, was kidnapped on December 15 at about 7:30 p.m. alongside two men- Uche Okoli and Kenneth Okoli- at Nworie Street, Akanchawa roundabout area of Imo State by three gunmen.

They were kept in a bush around Avu junction for six days and were released on December 21 after a ransom of N8 million was paid.

The paraded men are Ndidi Cletus, also known as Mattew Ofurum; Stanley Asouna; Aminu Musa; Muhammed Abubakar; Obinna Okolisa; and Samson Onwuka.

The culprits

The leader of the gang, Mr. Cletus, is a former mobile police constable who was dismissed in 2007. Mr. Cletus, 30, confessed to joining the police in 2004 with the name, Mattew Ofurum. He told security officials that he was dismissed for absenting himself from duty for 21 days due to ill health in 2007.

It was Mr. Cletus who lured other members into the gang.

Mr. Musa, 40, was a cattle trader and battery charger from Taraba State. He and Mr. Abubakar, 34, a cattle rearer from Nassarawa State, were responsible for taking care of their victims. The fifth accused, Mr. Okwolisa was a trader and Keke napep operator before he ventured into the kidnapping business.

The gang members admitted to carrying out several other kidnap operations getting ransom payments of 1.9 million, 3 million and 1.5 million and so on.

The men are to be charged to court soon.

Source: Premium Times

AT LAST: Nkiruka Sylvanus Abductors Revealed?

Nkiruka Sylvanus

The actress was held captive for six days.

Two of the people that kidnapped Nollywood actress, Nkiruka Sylvanus, in Imo State, were former cattle traders from the Northern part of Nigeria, security officials have said.

The leader of the gang that carried out the kidnap is from Imo State and was a police officer with the mobile police unit.

The six suspects that carried out the kidnap were paraded at the State Security Service, SSS, Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday at a joint press briefing by the SSS and the police.

Ms. Sylvanus, actress and aide to the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, was kidnapped on December 15 at about 7:30 p.m. alongside two men- Uche Okoli and Kenneth Okoli- at Nworie Street, Akanchawa roundabout area of Imo State by three gunmen.

They were kept in a bush around Avu junction for six days and were released on December 21 after a ransom of N8 million was paid.

The paraded men are Ndidi Cletus, also known as Mattew Ofurum; Stanley Asouna; Aminu Musa; Muhammed Abubakar; Obinna Okolisa; and Samson Onwuka.

The culprits

The leader of the gang, Mr. Cletus, is a former mobile police constable who was dismissed in 2007. Mr. Cletus, 30, confessed to joining the police in 2004 with the name, Mattew Ofurum. He told security officials that he was dismissed for absenting himself from duty for 21 days due to ill health in 2007.

It was Mr. Cletus who lured other members into the gang.

Mr. Musa, 40, was a cattle trader and battery charger from Taraba State. He and Mr. Abubakar, 34, a cattle rearer from Nassarawa State, were responsible for taking care of their victims. The fifth accused, Mr. Okwolisa was a trader and Keke napep operator before he ventured into the kidnapping business.

The gang members admitted to carrying out several other kidnap operations getting ransom payments of 1.9 million, 3 million and 1.5 million and so on.

The men are to be charged to court soon.

Source: Premium Times

EXPENSIVE WAR: N7 Billion Gone Over Mali Crisis?

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that Nigeria has spent over $34 million (about N7 billion) on the ongoing deployment of troops and logistics support to calm the ongoing crisis in Mali.

Jonathan made this known Tuesday, affirming that he has also made additional $5million pledge to further support the crisis ridden country.

He added that Nigeria has already deployed 900 combat soldiers and 300 Air Force personnel to Mali as part of the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA).

According to him, the sum of US$5.5 million out of the N7 billion, had been used for the re-construction and renovation of a number of medical clinics in the military barracks of some of the Malian Defence and Security Forces, as part of the Security Sector Reform (SSR) intervention.

His Excellency who spoke at the Donors’ Conference held at the end of the 20th Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Tuesday, disclosed that about $2million of the said amount has been spent on humanitarian relief and supplies, while the additional $5million pledge, which was in response to the call for more donations, was an expression of Nigeria’s commitment to the international effort to restore peace in Mali.

The AU had set a target of $50 million, but the total pledges announced at the end of the conference was $455.53 million apart from other commitments made by the donors to contribute to the training of the Malian Defence Forces and other assistance

President Jonathan said, “Nigeria has commenced the deployment of 900 combat soldiers and 300 Air Force personnel to Mali as part of AFISMA. Nigeria has so far provided about $32 million for the immediate deployment and logistic support for the troops.

“Prior to this, Nigeria dispatched relief and humanitarian relief and supplies amounting to US$2 million and Nigeria has undertaken the re-construction and refurbishment of a number of clinics in the military barracks of some of the Malian Defence and Security Forces, as part of the Security Sector Reform (SSR) intervention to the tune of US$5.5 million.”

He added that Nigeria was part of the joint initiative being undertaken by the African Union (AU), Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS), the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) aimed at mobilizing adequate financial resources in support of the Malian Defense and Security Forces (MDSF) as well as African-led International Support Mission in Mali AFISMA.

The president added that though this initiative would be considered as rather belated, given the rapidly unfolding events in Mali, it was better to start now than to wait even a day longer.

“The collaboration between these four organizations on this initiative is a clear demonstration of international solidarity, sympathy and cooperation required for a definitive resolution of the Malian crisis which has serious international consequences”, he noted.

Source: Daily Post

N10 TRILLION LOOT: Oby, You Are A Shameless Liar - Presidency

The presidency has said the former minister of Education and former Vice President of the World Bank in charge of Africa, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili has goofed by consistently lying about the foreign exchange reserve.

The Presidency described as a “deliberate dissemination of falsehood, unsubstantiated and malicious claims” when the former Minister alleged that Late Former President Musa Yar’Adua and President Goodluck Jonathan squandered a total sum of $67 Billion from the Foreign Exchange Reserve.

Tendering a Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, document at a press briefing in Abuja, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe said, as at May 2007, a total of $43,130,301,995.21 was left behind in the Foreign Exchange Reserve account by former President Obasanjo.

According to Okupe, between June 2007 and December 2008, the FER stood at $53,000,355,063.51, in 2009, the account came down to $42,382,493,319.69, due to the global economic meltdown. In 2010 the account was $32,339,252,389.10 after the commitment of the Federal Government to the IPP project and the Niger Delta crisis which caused a drop in oil export.

In 2011, the figure was N32, 639,777,078.09 while in 2012 the FER rose to $43,830,418,364.91 as at December and then rose again to $45.3 Billion as at January 22, 2013.

Dr. Okupe stressed that, “I regret to say that Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili should show dignity and character by letting the Nigerian people, whom she sort out to fool, to know the source of her figures otherwise, she should be honourable enough to retract her statement and apologize to the government and people of Nigeria. Else, she should be regarded by all as a willfully perjured individual not worthy of any respect or recognition whatsoever”.

“We find it surprising that after an extensive explanation by the Hon. Minister of Information whereby facts were stated regarding the weighty and sweeping statements made by Mrs. Oby Ezekewsili, rather than cite the sources and establish the credibility of her figures has decided to divert attention from the issues she raised by calling for a National debate on issues that are not in contention.

“Ordinarily, the call by Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili for a National Debate with the Minister of Information ought to have been ignored and allowed to fall flat. However, we are compelled to respond in view of the penchant by some highly placed Nigerians who use government offices to build up reputations for themselves and then later turn on the same government to denigrate it, just to play to the gallery and incite members of the public through dissemination of false, unsubstantiated and malicious information.

“Rather than substantiate her claims, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili chooses conveniently to grandstand, claiming that she will remain silent until “a responsible response” is given to her demand on accountability. A more rational approach would have been for her, being the Accuser or Agent Provocateur to assume the responsibility of providing the facts to back her claims.

According to Dr Okupe, while Minister of Information has debunked the statement is manifestly untrue and not based on any fact.

He said the facts are as follows:
“The money spent on running the Government is what the CBN remits to the Federation which is then shared by the three tiers of government i.e. Federal, State and Local Government.

“The corresponding allocation to the Federal Government based on the approved benchmark is then dispensed by the Federal Government and the MDAs according to the items specified and approved by the National Assembly in the Budget of that year.

“The unspent balance plus income from other income from exports other than oil constitutes the Nation’s foreign reserve, a portion of which is kept as the excess crude oil reserve.

“The latter is shared periodically by the three tiers of government on need to spend basis.

According to Dr. Okupe, “it is factually incorrect to say that the reserves of the government were dipped into or misapplied. It is important to note that the Federal Government does not dip its hands into the external reserves. External reserves are available for use in settling both public and private sector foreign currency obligations of Nigeria. Whenever a ministry or agency of government needs to incur approved expenditures in foreign currency (e.g. payment of goods and services, settlement of external debt etc.) it must provide the naira equivalent to the Central Bank of Nigeria before the Bank sells the required foreign currency. The same applies to the private sector.

The management of external resources (also known as foreign reserves) is one of the statutory mandates of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Section 2 sub-section (c) of the CBN Act 2007 states that the Bank shall “maintain external reserves to safeguard the international value of the legal tender currency”. Therefore, foreign reserves are used to support a broad range of national objectives such as defending the naira. It also serves as a buffer especially during periods of crisis.

“It is obviously preposterous for Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili to be asking for a National debate on the outlandish and reckless disinformation she made to incite the Nigerian people against the government. This was a deliberately calculated, albeit unsuccessful effort to bring the Jonathan Administration into disrepute unjustifiably”, Dr. Okupe maintained.

Source: Pointblank News

The presidency has said the former minister of Education and former Vice President of the World Bank in charge of Africa, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili has goofed by consistently lying about the foreign exchange reserve.

The Presidency described as a “deliberate dissemination of falsehood, unsubstantiated and malicious claims” when the former Minister alleged that Late Former President Musa Yar’Adua and President Goodluck Jonathan squandered a total sum of $67 Billion from the Foreign Exchange Reserve.

Tendering a Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, document at a press briefing in Abuja, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe said, as at May 2007, a total of $43,130,301,995.21 was left behind in the Foreign Exchange Reserve account by former President Obasanjo.

According to Okupe, between June 2007 and December 2008, the FER stood at $53,000,355,063.51, in 2009, the account came down to $42,382,493,319.69, due to the global economic meltdown. In 2010 the account was $32,339,252,389.10 after the commitment of the Federal Government to the IPP project and the Niger Delta crisis which caused a drop in oil export.

In 2011, the figure was N32, 639,777,078.09 while in 2012 the FER rose to $43,830,418,364.91 as at December and then rose again to $45.3 Billion as at January 22, 2013.

Dr. Okupe stressed that, “I regret to say that Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili should show dignity and character by letting the Nigerian people, whom she sort out to fool, to know the source of her figures otherwise, she should be honourable enough to retract her statement and apologize to the government and people of Nigeria. Else, she should be regarded by all as a willfully perjured individual not worthy of any respect or recognition whatsoever”.

“We find it surprising that after an extensive explanation by the Hon. Minister of Information whereby facts were stated regarding the weighty and sweeping statements made by Mrs. Oby Ezekewsili, rather than cite the sources and establish the credibility of her figures has decided to divert attention from the issues she raised by calling for a National debate on issues that are not in contention.

“Ordinarily, the call by Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili for a National Debate with the Minister of Information ought to have been ignored and allowed to fall flat. However, we are compelled to respond in view of the penchant by some highly placed Nigerians who use government offices to build up reputations for themselves and then later turn on the same government to denigrate it, just to play to the gallery and incite members of the public through dissemination of false, unsubstantiated and malicious information.

“Rather than substantiate her claims, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili chooses conveniently to grandstand, claiming that she will remain silent until “a responsible response” is given to her demand on accountability. A more rational approach would have been for her, being the Accuser or Agent Provocateur to assume the responsibility of providing the facts to back her claims.

According to Dr Okupe, while Minister of Information has debunked the statement is manifestly untrue and not based on any fact.

He said the facts are as follows:
“The money spent on running the Government is what the CBN remits to the Federation which is then shared by the three tiers of government i.e. Federal, State and Local Government.

“The corresponding allocation to the Federal Government based on the approved benchmark is then dispensed by the Federal Government and the MDAs according to the items specified and approved by the National Assembly in the Budget of that year.

“The unspent balance plus income from other income from exports other than oil constitutes the Nation’s foreign reserve, a portion of which is kept as the excess crude oil reserve.

“The latter is shared periodically by the three tiers of government on need to spend basis.

According to Dr. Okupe, “it is factually incorrect to say that the reserves of the government were dipped into or misapplied. It is important to note that the Federal Government does not dip its hands into the external reserves. External reserves are available for use in settling both public and private sector foreign currency obligations of Nigeria. Whenever a ministry or agency of government needs to incur approved expenditures in foreign currency (e.g. payment of goods and services, settlement of external debt etc.) it must provide the naira equivalent to the Central Bank of Nigeria before the Bank sells the required foreign currency. The same applies to the private sector.

The management of external resources (also known as foreign reserves) is one of the statutory mandates of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Section 2 sub-section (c) of the CBN Act 2007 states that the Bank shall “maintain external reserves to safeguard the international value of the legal tender currency”. Therefore, foreign reserves are used to support a broad range of national objectives such as defending the naira. It also serves as a buffer especially during periods of crisis.

“It is obviously preposterous for Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili to be asking for a National debate on the outlandish and reckless disinformation she made to incite the Nigerian people against the government. This was a deliberately calculated, albeit unsuccessful effort to bring the Jonathan Administration into disrepute unjustifiably”, Dr. Okupe maintained.

Source: Pointblank News

PENSION SCAM: The Bad Judge

Abubakar Mahmud Talba

This picture is the face of Talba Abubakar Mahmud, the Abuja judge who gave yesterday’s shocking ruling that set free a police pension fund thief,  John Yakubu Yusufu,  is popularly known in the city’s legal circles as "Justice Taliban," SaharaReporters has learned.

According to an entry under his name on the webpage of the High court of the Federal capital Territory Abuja, Mr. Mahmud was born on January 2, 1960.

The judge who has become the object of anger and resentment from Nigerian citizens across the world with his bizarre ruling was born in Fagge in Kano state, but his father is from Adamawa State.

He is married with 11 kids, but it is unclear if he has more than one wife.

The entry shows that he was appointed to his current position in December 2003, and that he obtained a law degree in 1985.

Although Mr. Mahmud claimed to have obtained a diploma in law in 1981, a B.L degree in 1985 and a Masters Degree in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice in 2009, his biodata does not disclose the institutions from which he obtained the degrees.

In yesterday’s judgement in which Mr. Mahmud announced himself to the world, he gave a police pension thief, who pleaded guilty to stealing $203 million, a two year prison sentence and offered an option of $1,500 fine in lieu of the sentence.

The infamous sentence is attracting a massive backlash from Nigerian citizens and anti-corruption activists across the globe.

Source: Sahara Reporters

DISTURBING: FG Now Monitoring You Online?

A new regulation by the Nigerian government through its Communications Commission (NCC) that seeks to empower the National Security Adviser, State Security Service and other security agencies in the country to monitor phone, internet and other electronic communication within Nigeria and beyond has been released, according to local ICT newspaper, Technology Times.

Citing broad reasons of safeguarding national security to crime fighting among others, the newspaper reports that failure by mobile operators and Internet service providers to comply with the provisions the regulation would attract a fine of N5 million and in extreme cases, outright revocation of their operating licence.

According to the Nigerian government, the regulation provides an effective means of checkmating security threats, crimes and theft with the move to empower the national security agencies to wiretap citizen’s communications, through interception of telephone conversations, among others.

The country which continues to face security challenges is Africa’s biggest telecoms market with over 100 million mobile subscribers as at October 2012 and boasts the largest number of Internet users in Africa with about 50 million users.

Source: Techloy

BEWARE: Kola Nut Is Dangerous

Kola nuts

Dr Dades Obed, an Abuja-based Consultant General Surgeon, on Tuesday advised Nigerians against excessive intake of kola nut because of its health implications.

Obed told journalists in Abuja that kola nut should be taken occasionally, especially during ceremonies, to avoid health implications of excessive intake.

“Kola nut is a fruit of the kola tree, which is native to Africa; it has social, cultural and religious significance.

“It could be used religiously; it is also socially used for naming ceremonies and weddings, “ he said.

He said that in some parts of the country, people commonly used it to entertain guests.

“It contains a lot of caffeine; we know that caffeine is a stimulant, so kola nut can be said to be a stimulant.”

He said the nut was also known to have other components like theobromine, a molecule similar to caffeine and riboflavin, niacin, both types of B vitamin.

Obed explained that kola nut had its positive uses, including aiding digestion, because it increased acid secretion.

He said it was found to have caffeine, medically known as a bronchodilator, which opened up the air ways.

“So people with asthma and other diseases that lead to constitution of the air ways might benefit from intake of kola nut, to help in opening up the air ways.

“Kola nut is also an important flavouring agent for soft drinks such as coca cola but not used anymore, artificial flavours are being used now,“ he said.

He said that kola nut was also partly a performance enhancer because of its stimulating effect; as such, labourers used it as a source of energy to keep working.

“Kola nut is also known to suppress hunger and takes care of hunger pranks.

“It is not without its implications anyway, it enhances or increases acid secretion in the stomach, “ he said.

Obed said that patients with duodenal or peptic ulcer disease should avoid kola nut because of the acidic effect on the stomach, which could worsen the symptoms of ulcer.

Source: NAN