Housewife, five children die in collapsed building in Kano

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD
KANO-Tragedy struck at Warure quarters, Kano yesterday when a 45-years-old housewife perished alongside her five children following the collapsed of a storey building that housed a family of 12.
The incident that occurred at about 1.45am also claimed the life of a three-year-old boy occupying the first floor of the 50-year-old mud structure.

Cholera hits Ibadan, kills 4,16 hospitalised

By OLA AJAYI
IBADAN—AN outbreak of cholera epidemic has led to the death of four persons while 16 others are lying critically ill in some parts of the Ibadan North West Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Victims who are still battling with the epidemic were said to have been taken to Ayeye Health Centre and another maternity centre at Oniyanrin.

Mikel Obi’s father rescued in Kano

I was brutalized • 5 Suspects in Police custodyThe father of Chelsea and Nigeria star John Mikel Obi was Monday found alive in Kano State. Michael Obi was last seen on 12 August in the city of Jos, where his car was found last Wednesday. Obi Senior told the BBC that he had been kidnapped in Jos before being transferred to Kano.
“I am very stressed,” he said.
His abductors are now in police custody in the northern Nigerian city.

Michael Obi, the kidnapped father of Chelsea footballer John Obi Mikel
sits at the office of of Kano state police commissioner in Kano after he
was freed on following a police raid in the northern Nigerian city of Kano.
"Obi was rescued and six suspects were arrested, five men and a woman,"
Kano state police commissioner Ibrahim Idris told journalists,. AFP PHOTO

The BBC’s Yusuf Ibrahim Yakasai says Michael Obi’s face shows signs of the beatings that he says he endured during his ordeal.

Gunmen kill five-year-old boy in Bajju community – police

KANO,  (AFP) – Two people were killed and three injured following an attack by unknown gunmen in a community in Kano town where 400 had been  killed in post-election violence in April, police said Monday.
“We received report of an attack by 10 gunmen on the home of the chief of Bajju community in which two were shot and killed, including a five-year-old boy, and three seriously injured,” Kaduna State police spokesman Aminu Lawal told AFP.
He said the incident happened on Sunday night in Christian-dominated Bajju village outside the town of Zonkwa in southern Kaduna State where post-election violence in April had  left at least 400 dead.
The police spokesman added that the attackers, dressed in black, fired sporadically in the compound, adding that some 30 bullet shells were recovered after the attack.
“We have arrested one suspect who is assisting us with our investigation and a team of policemen deployed to the village is still on the look-out for the attackers,” Lawal said, refusing to say whether the attack was linked to the April unrest.
The victory of President Goodluck Jonathan in the April vote sparked deadly ethnic and sectarian riots in Zonkwa in which some 400 people, mainly Muslim residents, were killed with thousands displaced, according to rights groups.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/08/gunmen-kill-five-year-old-boy-in-kanos-bajju-community-police/

I was working for Obasanjo when I was arrested – Shofolahan

Major Hamza al-Mustapha’s co-accused in the murder of Kudirat Abiola, Lateef Shofolahan, has denied ever working for the deceased in any capacity throughout her lifetime.

Led in evidence by his counsel, Olalekan Ojo, Shofolahan testified at a Lagos High Court on Wednesday when he also said he was arrested on October 10, 1999 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as an aide to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The defence closed its case with Shofolahan’s testimony, in the 12-year-old trial after which the trial judge, Justice Mojisola Dada, fixed November 10, 2011 for adoption of final written addresses by both parties.

Shofolahan, who described as “newspaper propaganda” that he was Kudirat’s aide, maintained that his relationship with the MKO Abiola family, did not go beyond serving as a protocol officer in Abiola’s Hope ‘93 Presidential Campaign Office, in Lagos.

How Dad beat my 11-year-old brother to death – Kid sister

  It is not certain that nine-year-old Kabirat Shitta will forget the death of her brother for a long time to come.

She was a witness to the August 10, 2011 murder of her 11-year-old brother, Toib, by their mechanic father, Tunde.

Kabirat recounted in graphic details how her father used a hose, a wooden stirrer and a stool to end Toib’s life.

Seizure of 130 houses sparks protest in Lagos

One hundred and thirty home owners in Ilamoshe community in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Lagos State, on Tuesday protested against what they said was the illegal seizure of 130 houses in the community at the office of the state Attorney-General in the state government Secretariat, Alausa.

The protesters, who arrived at the secretariat around 11am with placards, demanded the immediate intervention of the government.

Some of the placards read, ‘Ilamoshe under siege;’ ‘our house are under lock and key;’ ‘Save our soul;’ ‘Save us;’ and ‘I am 87 years old, I can’t sleep under the bridge;’ among others.

You can’t clarify contradictory statement again, court tells al-Mustapha

Major Hamza al-Mustapha lost the chance to clarify contradictions in his written statement he allegedly made before the Special Investigative Panel in 1999 and his oral testimonies in court at the Lagos High Court on Monday.


The trial judge, Justice Mojisola Dada, gave the order in a ruling to stop al-Mustapha’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo, from re-examining the former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, after the prosecution closed cross-examination.

The prosecution, led by Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), began cross-examining al-Mustapha on July 8 and brought it to a close at the Monday’s proceeding.

Sacked NLC secretary rejects N8.5m severance pay

  A former General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. John Odah, has rejected an N8.5m severance package from the NLC.

Odah, in an August 9 letter to the NLC President, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar, said the congress had not told him what the money paid into his Zenith Bank account was meant for.

Describing the congress’ action as strange, Odah said he only got to know of the payment when he requested for his statement of account from the bank.

He said the payment might be part of the move by the leadership of the NLC to effect “the termination my appointment as the General Secretary of the NLC, which you communicated to me in your letter dated May 24, 2011.”

SERAP wants Nigerians to pressure Jonathan on free education

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP,  a non governmental organisation has urged Nigerians to send messages to President Goodluck Jonathan asking him to implement judgement of the ECOWAS Court directing the government to provide free, quality, and compulsory basic education to every Nigerian child.
In  a statement by its executive director, Mr. Adetokunbo Mumuni, the group urged Nigerians  “to send Facebook and Twitter messages to President Goodluck Jonathan to  fully implement the ECOWAS Court judgement requiring the government to provide as of right, free, quality, and compulsory basic education to every Nigerian child.”

10 killed in fresh Jos attacks

JOS – (AFP) – Ten people were killed in two separate overnight attacks outside the volatile Nigerian city of Jos, a local official said, leading angry residents to block roads to the area on Monday.
Local council chairman Emmanuel Lomang alleged that four identity cards and a cap belonging to soldiers were found at the scene of the killings, fueling rumours that troops may have been involved.
“Seven people were killed at Heipang while three were killed at Foron,” near Jos, the restive capital of Plateau State, Lomang told AFP.

He said both incidents happened around 12:30 am when the attackers opened fire on their victims after storming the two villages.

Drought in Somalia, warning for Nigeria — Environmentalist

The Executive Director of Environmental Right Action, Mr. Nnimmo Bassey, has called on the Federal Government to tackle the environmental challenges facing the country in order to prevent possible environmental disasters like the drought ravaging Somalia.

Bassey, who is also the Chair of Friends of the Earth International, said Nigeria was already faced with extreme environmental conditions, such as the rapid desertification in the North, gully erosion in the South-East, coastal erosion in the coastal states, and land pollution in the Niger-Delta.

Bassey said it was such neglect that resulted in the level of environmental degradation that was revealed in the United Nations Environment Programme’s report on the pollution of Ogoniland and that the report was a clue to what had happened in other parts of the Niger-Delta.

He said, “I think the UNEP report is something that everybody should welcome. At least for the first time, we have an official document that shows the extent of damage that oil companies did on Ogoniland and the impact on the people. We can now use this and extrapolate it to know what is happening in the other parts of Niger-Delta.”

Bassey urged the FG to take action on the report immediately, adding that the Ogoni people are expectant of results.http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201108141392265

FG to establish free trade zone offices

The Federal Government is to establish Export Free Zones Desk offices to remove the bureaucracy that impedes easy access for foreign investors.

These strategic desks will be in the departments of Customs and Excise, Nigerian Immigration service, NAFDAC and the Standard Organization of Nigeria.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga

The Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, said this when he paid a visit to Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State.

Aganga, who described the visit as his first official one outside Abuja since assumption of office, said modalities would be put in place to ensure Nigeria’s pioneer free trade zone in Calabar and the free trade retail shop, Tinapa, are functional to achieve the purpose for which they were established.

On the issue of visas to investors, Aganga, said he and the Minister of Internal Affairs are working on a plan to give visas at entry points, stating that out of the 28 free trade zones established in the country, only 12 are functional and that efforts are being put in place to make sure they attain their potentials.

In his response, Imoke condemned the idea of free trade zones being indiscriminately scattered all over the country while the nation’s pioneer free trade zone in Calabar was not effectively utilised.

States declare war against polio

Many states on Saturday expressed their commitment to eradicating polio by sustaining the campaign against the deadly disease.

Some of the states — Lagos, Rivers, Oyo and Anambra — made this known in separate statements after the launch of the quarterly Polio Eradication Sensitisation Campaign organised by the Nigeria Governors Forum, which chose August 13 as the Polio Eradication Day.

The Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, said the anti polio crusade was an initiative geared towards eliminating the scourge from the country.

He said, “About a year ago, all the state governors in Nigeria signed an accord to create national awareness on the scourge and disability caused by poliomyelitis amongst our vulnerable children

“Nigeria is the only country in Africa still battling with this preventable polio virus. The three other countries where polio is still endemic are Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. It’s in a bid to focus attention towards this debilitating disease that the NGF announced a national crusade to be led by the governors against the disease.”

Famine: Jonathan pledges support for Somalia

 

President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed concern at the famine in Somalia, and pledged that Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States would make appropriate responses at the forthcoming pledging conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on August 25, 2011.

A statement from the State House on Friday quoted Jonathan as speaking when former Ghanaian President, Jerry John Rawlings, who is also the African Union High Representative for Somalia, came to brief him on the situation in Somalia, and seek a response to the conference.

While describing the famine in the Horn of Africa as worrisome, he said African leaders must take action to help the unfortunate situation.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110813484789

Shareholders left thirsty by Coca Cola’s delisting, but NSE, SEC are bruised

The Nigeria Bottling Company’s decision to leave the  Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) after 38 years on the mainboard raises  questions regarding the attraction it  holds for quoted companies, writes Anthony Osae-Brown
There will be no more Coca Cola on the floors of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for Stockbrokers and investors from September 7, 2011, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), bottlers of Coca Cola confirmed on Monday.

Shareholders have given up their right to continue to drink from future Coca Cola dividends on the floor of the Exchange  to Greek based Coke bottler Coca-Cola Hellenic (CCH) in a deal said to be worth N21 billion ($136 million).

Each Shareholder in Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) which holds the Coca-Cola franchise in Nigeria will receive N47.71 per share under the deal. This represents an 11 percent premium on NBC share price of N43 on Monday.

Coca Cola had to put some sugar on the deal when shareholders had protested that the initial price at which it is asking them to give up their birthright on future Coca Cola dividends was too small. When Coca Cola put the proposal on the table in December 2010, it had offered N43 per share.  Then Coca Cola’s price on the floors of the Exchange was N33 per share. So when Coca Cola called an Annual General Meeting (AGM) this month asking shareholders to ratify the deal, it was forced to sweeten the proposal further to get shareholders endorsement as some shareholders asked for N65 per share for them to deal.

I was ‘technically present’ where Abiola died – Al-Mustapha

By Ade Adesomoju
Wednesday, 10 Aug 2011

Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha told a Lagos High Court, Igbosere, on Tuesday that he was “technically present” where Abiola died.

Al-Mustapha, chief security officer to the late Head of State Gen. Sani Abacha, and Shofolahan, an aide to the late Kudirat, are both standing trial for the murder of the woman, wife of the late Chief MKO Abiola, Kudirat on June 4, 1996.

He had said Abiola was murdered by poisoned tea while having a meeting at the Aguda House in the presidential villa.

London riots: Nigerians safe – Tafida

Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida, says there have been no negative reports on any Nigerian following the on-going riots in some parts of London.

Violence and looting which entered its third day on Tuesday are taking place in Hackney, Peckham, Croydon and Birmingham.

The riots had started after police shot Mark Duggan, a 29-year-old man in Tottenham on Saturday.

Hundreds of youths were seen attacking shops and setting fire on cars on Monday night in the areas.

But Tafida told the News Agency of Nigeria that “the situation is still on-going, though we have not heard any adverse reports about Nigerians, especially in those two areas (Hackney and Peckham) where we have the largest concentration of our nationals in the UK.’’

He added that the High Commission was “in touch with the members of the community through their leaders to ensure that Nigerians, wherever they reside, are safe.”

According to the 2001 UK census, Peckham is home to the largest Nigerian community in the UK with seven per cent of the population having been born there.

Many of the local establishments are Yoruba-owned, including churches and mosques.

The Chairman of the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK, Mr Bimbo Folayan, also assured that Nigerians in Hackney and Peckham were safe.

He said, “I can assure you that no Nigerian is affected or involved at the moment in the incidents.We are in touch with the community leaders in these areas and as the event keeps unfolding we will get the public informed.”

Folayan however dispelled the notion that the incident had a racial undertone.

The Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, UK chapter, Mr Kayode Ogunsola, while expressing his sadness at the act of vandalism and destruction, called for investigation into the incident.

“The alleged shooting by the police, which led to the riot in Tottenham, needs to be investigated and necessary action taken to ensure that fatal incidents that led to loss of lives are avoided,’’ he said.

“The government has called for peace and the security agencies are already taking remedial action. So, we are hopeful that the situation will soon be brought under control,’’ he added.

Also, Mrs Janet Ojo, a trader in Dalston market, near Hackney, said traders had to close their shops for fear of being attacked by the hoodlums.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201108105412521

Fashola signs law against abandonment of pregnant women

By Olasunkanmi Akoni
LAGOS — Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, signed a bill into law, which allows for the prosecution and jailing of any man who impregnates and deserts any woman.
The bill presented to the governor by the state’s Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General, Mr. Ade Ipaye, at Government House, Ikeja, was among  three other bills presented for the governor’s assent.
Other bills include amendments to provisions of the Emergency Management Agency, EMA, Law and the Administration of Criminal Justice.
Fashola, while assenting to the bills, said the various amendments to the laws were needed  to  tackle the problem of crime and delay in administration of justice in the state.
He said the enactment of the laws represented the commitment of the state government to building strong institutions, that could tackle crime and corruption, which had crippled the country.
He added that the country needed strong legislation to fight corruption and moral laxity.
Fashola explained that the Criminal Code Law, used in the state before now was enacted in 1914 by the colonial masters, saying that such laws and their provisions had since become obsolete and could not  address challenges posed by present realities.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/08/fashola-signs-law-against-abandonment-of-pregnant-women/

NSE TO BROKERS: Withdraw accounts from 3 new banks

By Babajide Komolafe, Emma Ujah & Michael Eboh
LAGOS—The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday, directed stockbroking firms and dealing members to withdraw their settlement accounts from the three nationalised banks, even as the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) said that the three banks are still open to interested buyers.
Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) officials yesterday went round the nationalised banks to monitor their activities especially their response to customers and staff.
However the newly appointed management of the banks were yet to resume duties as at the close of business yesterday.

A visit to some of the branches of the banks in major commercial centres in Lagos revealed normal banking transactions with customers depositing and withdrawing money, except for a couple of customers who expressed concern about the safety of their money. There was no sign of mass action in any of the branches visited.

Ace actor, Sam Loco Efe, dies at 66

By Ogbonna Amadi,Chidi Nkwopara, Benjamin Njoku, Jimoh Babatunde, Japhet Alakam & Prisca Sam-Duru
LAGOS—Ace  multitalented actor Sam Loco Efe died yesterday in an hotel room in at Rapour Hotel, Amakaohai along Orlu road in Owerri, Imo state shortly after returning from location. He was in Owerri, to direct a film titled “Unknown Prophet”
Sam Loco was said to have asked the cast and crew of the new film to return to their hotel rooms, hoping to continue the shooting the following morning.


Over 4m girls out of school in Nigeria – Minister

ABUJA – Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina has declared that over 4 million girls of school age are not in school in Nigeria.

The minister made this declaration weekend during an advocacy visit to states in the North East as part of a nationwide campaign.

Hajia Maina said, “rapid progress in girl’s enrolment, retention and completion will have to double as it is now, if Nigeria is to meet the Millennium Development Goals of achieving gender parity in education by 2015 and improve their participation in the socio-economic and political development of the nation.

She said the need for improved quality education and equal opportunities for both women and men in terms of access is essential to ensure that women of all ages acquire knowledge, capacities, aptitudes, skills and ethical values needed to develop and participate in national development.

The Minister explained that the term “gender equality does not mean women behaving like men but rather women being given the same rights and privileges, to achieve their full potentials as women”.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/08/over-4m-girls-out-of-school-in-nigeria-minister/

TRAFFIC CRISIS: FCT Minister assures that solution is near

*Explores alternative routes to ease congestion
By Oscarline Onwuemenyi
The FCT Administration is working towards meeting the target of freeing all the entrance and exit roads into the Federal Capital City from traffic bottlenecks which has resulted in the loss of human lives and waste of valuable man hour during the working days.
The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed gave this assurance in Abuja after reviewing all the measures put on ground by the government to reverse the trend, thereby reducing the hardship often experienced by Nigerians and foreigners’ alike dwelling in the Federal Capital Territory.

The Minister emphasised that President Goodluck Jonathan and by extension, the FCT administration has a covenant with Nigerian people and assured that his administration will not rest on its oars until all these encumbered roads are extricated.



Exclusive breast feeding: Whither Nigeria in the campaign?

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE & CHIOMA OBINNA

The young lady, from the look of things, could be in her early 20s. She sat quietly in the bus, her baby fast asleep on her back.  Obviously, it was  probably her first child. The bus which was headed for Mile 2 from Oshodi, was full of passengers many of who were on their way home after a hard day’s work. Somewhere along the journey, the sleeping baby was suddenly jolted awake due to the dangerous potholes all over the Oshodi-Apapa expressway. Immediately, the baby  let out a loud cry.

After 21 years in court, family regains land

By Foluso Ajibulu
Lagos State judiciary, through its Sheriff, last Friday, executed a court order to take possession of a parcel of land at Ilamose village near Ejigbo, Lagos.
A copy of the warrant of possession indicated that the defendants were required to immediately give possession of the affected parcel of land. Counsel to the claimants, Mr. Cornelius O. Odunsi, said that the case, which has been on for over 21 years, is a land mark one, adding that it has been a long road for the plaintiffs/claimants to arrive at this point.
Odunsi said that the areas affected by the judgment are 13.13 hectares which is over 180 plots. Already, the affected areas have been marked by judicial officers and residents and owners of properties on the land have been asked to see the lawyer of the claimants.
According to the judgment,  the parcel of land in Ejigbo and delineated on Survey plan No. CD.728/77 dated November 1977 and prepared by C. Olu Dawodu, a registered surveyor, should be given to the plaintiffs.
Mr. Abiodun Ajao and Mrs. Jokotade Bakare filed the suit number ID/1752/1989, arguing that the defendants, Alhaji Imam Ayinde Akinyemi, Alhaji Bello (Bale) and Alhaji Raheem Adejumo, are not the owners of the land.
A Lagos High Court  on June 6, 2006 delivered judgement in favour of the claimants and awarded  N250,000 being cost of damages for the trespass committed.
The case was later taken to the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division where it was dismissed.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/08/after-21-years-in-court-family-regains-land/

Nigeria finishes well, wins Saudis 2-0

Nigeria needed only draw to take first place in the Group D, but not diverging from their typical attacking displays beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 to stamp authority on their fine group campaign and set up a Round of 16 encounter with England. The Saudis, on the other hand, will meet Brazil.
The Africans in standard form committed numbers forward, but it was Saudi Arabia who had the first chance. With just two minutes gone, Saudi defender Salam Aldawsari tested Nigerian goalkeeper Dami Paul, but the keeper was threatened little by the attempt.

Ogoniland Oil Spills: Shell Admits Nigeria Liability- BBC

Posted: August 3, 2011 - 18:41

 

 

Niger Delta Oil Spill, photo curtesy: All West Africa.com

By BBC

Oil giant Shell has accepted responsibility for two devastating oil spills in Nigeria's Ogoniland region.
The Bodo fishing community sued Shell in the UK, alleging that spills in 2008 and 2009 had destroyed the environment and ruined their livelihoods.
Their lawyer said they would seek hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for one of the world’s "most devastating oil spills".

UN Confirms Massive Oil Pollution In Niger Delta-Amnesty International

Posted: August 4, 2011 - 20:59

Posted by siteadmin

 

By Katy Pownall

The oil company Shell has had a disastrous impact on the human rights of the people living in the Niger Delta in Nigeria, said Amnesty International, responding to a UN report on the effects of oil pollution in Ogoniland in the Delta region.


Ogoni Spill-Amensty International photos



The report from the United Nations Environment Programme is the first of its kind in Nigeria and based on two years of in-depth scientific research. It found that oil contamination is widespread and severe, and that people in the Niger Delta have been exposed for decades.

“This report proves Shell has had a terrible impact in Nigeria, but has got away with denying it for decades, falsely claiming they work to best international standards,” said Amnesty International Global Issues Director, Audrey Gaughran, who has researched the human rights impacts of pollution in the Delta.

How OBJ MAN at the Central Bank Defrauded WEMA BANK

 Posted by siteadmin

Wema Bank Plc. the commercial bank jointly owned by the five Southwestern states through Odu’a investments is currently embroiled in a financial crisis that has prevented it from entertaining the idea of an Annual General Meeting in the last two years.

R-e-v-e-a-l-e-d: How Uduaghan Paid Obasanjo And Tribunal Judges Over N3 billion To Buy Election [Photocopies Of Cheques Available]

August 4, 2011 - 03:42

Posted by siteadmin

Cheque issued to Obasanjo Farms routed through Wema bank

 Back of OBJ's largesse

The N2.5 billion cheques used in bribing tribunal judges

    back of the tribunal largesse cheque




By SaharaReporters, New York

Two cheques, issued in June 2010 and June 2011, provide incontrovertible evidence about how the embattled governor of Delta state, Emmanuel Uduaghan, buys favours and pays off supporters with state funds.

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Bello Haliru
and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan at a PDP rally


The cheques, which were issued from the Oceanic Bank accounts operated by the Delta State government, show that the state government made illegal payments to the former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, whom it had retained to influence tribunal judgments during difficult political times.

Al Mustapha Video Showed In Court, Claims Ribadu Tried To Assasinate Him

Al Mustapha in Lagos court yesterday

By SaharaReporters, New York

Former chief security officer to then military dictator, Sanni Abacha, played a video in a Lagos court today showing some Yoruba leaders leaving the meeting with former military head of state, General Abdusalam Abubakar.
The video footage which he claimed was shot by his personal bodyguard revealed the face of late Chief Abraham Adesanya, Chief Bola Ige and the former secretary to the National Democratic Coalition, Ayo Opadokun at the Aso Rock Villa.
The video did not seem to contain the explosive material it promised journalists and lawyers who had waited anxiously for it today.
The video showed that late Abraham Adesanya and his entourage were confronted by journalists who asked them about  the details of the meeting with the  head of state.
Adesanya responded to one of the questions that, ''no agreement that has been reached with the Head of state, other than that he will consider the proposal before him."
Curiously, when asked about Abiola's death, Pa Adesanaya said ''I wouldn't know''
Also asked about the agitation for a  Government of National Unity (GNU) and the actualization of June 12 mandate, he replied that the GNU will still be there. "It is only that it won't be Abiola that will head the GNU.'' referring to the winner of the June 12 elections that was annulled by the military in 1993.
:
saharareporters.com/news-page/al-mustapha-video-showed-court-claims-ribadu-tried-assasinate-him

Mubarak trial bad for Africa's image, says Obasanjo

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday called for  dignified treatment of former Egyptian leader Hosni Mubak, saying as a president, he was entitled to personal dignity befitting his status.
Speaking in Mombasa, Kenya, where he is attending the African Leadership Conference, which is set to  wind up on Friday, Obasanjo said the treatment meted to the former Egyptian leader was bad for the image of Africa as a continent.
``Put him in a cage? It is not proper. He deserves a better treatment. This is not good for the image  of Africa,” Obasanjo told a gathering of African leaders, including former South African President  Thabo Mbeki, and other governance experts gathered for the conference.

Nun takes Catholic Bishop, 6 priests to court over alleged fornication

By Tony Edike
ENUGU — A Federal High Court sitting at Awka, Anambra State has restrained the Bishop of Nnewi Catholic Diocese, Rt. Rev. Paul Okeke and six other priests in the church from harassing, attacking or molesting a female member of the church, Sister Angela Ejidike who is seeking justice over the allegation of fornication leveled against her by the church.

Crisis in the roads sector

NIGERIA is said to have a total network of about 200,000 kilometres of roads out of which about 34,000 kilometres representing 17 per cent belong to the Federal Government. Similarly, an estimated 80 percent of all movement of goods, persons and services in this country is still being done by road.
The Federal Government has responsibility for the construction and maintenance of roads in the Trunk A and F categories. These categories of roads link the state capitals and major population centres as well as the borders, sea and major airports.


ABIOLA’S DEATH : S-West leaders dare Al-Mustapha

BY Leke Adeseri, Dayo Johnson, Ola Ajayi, Abdulwahab Abdulah, Dapo Akinrefon, Gbenga AriyibI, Gbenga Olarinoye & Charles Kumolu

LAGOS—Yoruba leaders yesterday reacted angrily to allegation by Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to late General Sani Abacha that South West leaders were given huge sums of money by the General Abdulsalami Abubakar’s administration to appease them following the death in government custody of the acclaimed winner of the June 12 1993 presidential election, Chief M.K.O. Abiola.

Adams, Late MKO Abiola, Adebanjo, Falae, Falomo, Babalola



Major Al-Mustapha who is on trial for the murder of late Abiola’s wife, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, told a Lagos High Court in his evidence-in-chief on Monday that he had audio and video evidence of how both General Abacha and Chief Abiola were killed and that “the sums of $200m, 75m pounds and N200m were withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria by General Abdulsalami Abubakar in order to douse tension and appease the South West leaders”.

Mustapha’s revelations however elicited outrage from Yoruba leaders who challenged him to be courageous enough to mention the names of those who collected money from the military government if he has evidence.

FRSC begins new number plates this month

By Rasheed Bisiriyu
Wednesday, 3 Aug 2011

 
The Federal Road Safety Corps is to commence the issuance of new vehicle number plates this month in its renewed determination to harmonise all existing modes of licensing of vehicles nationwide.

The FRSC, which said Nigeria was currently losing over N15bn annually to vendors of fake vehicle licences, also planned to introduce a new driving licence, with new security features, to make it difficult for fraudsters to continue to forge the document.

A statement by the corps on Monday said that the new plates would be attached to vehicle owners with an identification tag bearing the number affixed to the windscreen for ease of security checks.

It quoted the FRSC Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Mr. Osita Chidoka, as saying the new vehicle number plates formed part of corps’ strategies towards restoring order and sanity in the nation’s motor vehicle administration scheme.

Recapitalisation: More banks to get inter-bank guarantee extension

By Ademola Alawiye and Ifeanyi Onuba
Wednesday, 3 Aug 2011

Indications have emerged that more rescued banks may get extension of the inter-bank guarantee from the Central Bank of Nigeria as the apex bank on Tuesday extended that of Oceanic Bank International Plc to December 31, 2011.

A reliable source in the CBN told our correspondent that the apex bank would still grant more rescued banks inter-bank guarantee extension.

The source, who craved anonymity because he was not permitted to speak on it officially, added that more implementation agreements would be unveiled soon, adding that some core investors were still running due diligence on some of the banks.

At last, FG, Labour agree

Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar

By Olamilekan Lartey, Abuja

BARELY 24 hours after negotiators from both sides accused each other of being recalcitrant, the Federal Government and organised labour on Tuesday finally reached an agreement for the implementation of the new Minimum Wage Act.

Under the agreement, the government will now accommodate all categories of workers in the implementation of the Act. The new Act pegs the minimum wage of the lowest earning worker in the country at N18,000 per month.

50 crushed to death on Abuja-Okene highway

…Robbers order passengers to lie on the road as vehicles run over themFrom EMMANUEL ADEYEMI, Lokoja
Wednesday, August 03, 2011

It was a gory site yesterday at the Zariagi end of the Abuja/Okene highway when the residents woke up to behold crushed bodies of over 50 robbery victims. The victims were said to be passengers of an Abuja-bound luxury bus, marked XI 300 ABC, belonging to a popular transport company.
They were said to have been waylaid by robbers, who ordered them to lie face down on the highway before they were dispossessed of their belongings.
An unsuspecting truck was said to have run over the victims and later escaped the scene of the accident.
A similar incident occurred precisely two years ago when a trailer lorry crushed 40 armed robbery victims along Sagamu/Benin highway.
The incident, which occurred along Odogbolu-Ijebu axis of the Benin Expressway also left several other passengers severely injured.

Famous polygamist, Massaba, marries 91st wife, divorces 21

By Francis Falola


Pa Bello Abubakar Masaba

 Celebrated polygamist and Islamic cleric, Pa Abubakar Masaba, on Monday said he had divorced 21 out of his 86 wives over indiscipline.

The Punch, had three years ago broken the news of the then 84 years old man having 86 wives. But today Masaba, who is from Bida, headquarters of Bida Local Government Area of Niger State, at 87, married his 91st wife, Fatimah Abubakar, on Friday in the town.

Masaba said the marriages collapsed due to acts of indiscipline, denying the allegation that the women were divorced for embracing western medicine.

He said, “I am a law abiding citizen, so I have never prevented health officials from immunising my children or those with me against child-killer diseases.

“If I refuse to use western medicine, it is because of my spiritual belief and the way Allah has been working with me. I bear no hatred or animosity against anybody who takes it.”

Fatima corroborated Masaba’s claim on the wedding, insisting that it was divine.

Another bricks to rubble in Lagos

By David Ibemere and Ekene Ezeonyejiaku
Many feared dead following collapse of a four- storey building in Idumota, Lagos Island




 HE wept inconsolably, tears streaming down his face. “My wife and children are still inside.

“ Oh my God, what am I going to do?,”  he cried, as neighbours and friends tried to console him.

He managed to say he went out of the house to buy food only to come back and see that the house they lived in, had collapsed.

The weeping, distraught man was one of the lucky survivors in another incident of a building collapse, this time on Tuesday, at 4, Mogaji Lane, Idumota, Lagos Island, Lagos.

By yesterday evening, six people had been confirmed dead, 33 others injured but rescued while it was feared that many were still trapped under the rubble.
The corpses so far recovered had been taken to the Lagos Island Hospital mortuary while the rescued persons were taken to various hospitals for treatment.

Nigerians in U.S. fault single tenure bill

UNITED States (U.S.)-based Nigerians have condemned the proposed single tenure bill that President Goodluck Jonathan announced last week, as a New York based pro-democracy group, the Nigeria Democratic Liberty Forum (NDLF), expressed shock over the idea yesterday.
In a statement on the proposal, the NDLF, which hosts the Nigeria Peoples Parliament in the U.S. said it received the news “with consternation,” calling it “a tenure elongation gimmick of President Goodluck.”
Taking on the president on his justification for the proposal, the U.S.-based group said it was needless to state “that the temptation to elongate tenure has been a recurring decimal in the annals of misgovernance in Nigeria but strikingly the failure of those who embark(ed) on this treacherous route to learn from history is exasperating.”
According to NDLF,  “notwithstanding the claim that this elongation would not include current office holders, we are aware of the huge state resources that were deployed to ensure the emergence of President Jonathan as his party’s flag-bearer in the primaries despite his party’s zoning arrangement and at the general election.”
The statement signed by Mr. Bukola Oreofe, the executive director, added that without doubt, the dominance of members of the president’s political party in the National Assembly and as state governors “would guarantee an easy manipulation of the process in his favour.”
Continuing, the group stated that, “the implausible argument of a tenure elongation as a remedy to address the cost of elections and the attendant tension during election period is ludicrous.”
This is because, according to the U.S.-based Nigerians, the idea only exposes “a poor rationalisation in order to deceive the people.”
According to the pro-democracy forum, the need to seek re-election after four years as it is right now, allows the people to assess the performance of Nigerian public office holders and determine if they merit such positions or there is a need for a change.

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