The Debate: Wole Soyinka, Odein Ajumogobia, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, others for St. John’s Forum debate in Lagos

St. John’s Forum, a group of public spirited Nigerians with deep interest in promoting the common good, good governance, national development, peace and stability, announces the inaugural edition of its Public Service Debates.

This maiden debate will hold on March, 26^th 2014 at 11.00am at Agip Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, with the motion: “Will Nigeria be better served by a parliamentary system of government?” 

The debate is part of a Public Service Debate series designed to bring to the fore, critical issues that affects our society.  The Forum’s aim is to promote and enhance public awareness, dialogue, and encourage participatory thought on matters of social and national importance.

The speaking panel at this maiden edition comprises some of Nigeria’s noblest minds, including Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka; former External Affairs Minister, Mr Odein Ajumogobia (SAN); Senate Deputy President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; renowned Oxford University scholar, Dr. Abdu Raufu Mustapha. The former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku will moderate the debate.

The St. John’s Forum is apolitical. It is a platform committed to advancing dialogues that promote the common good in all aspects of our national life. Its activities will be of interest to all segments of the community – industry, commerce, the intelligentsia, the press, politicians, decision makers, and indeed ordinary Nigerians. The Forum believes that the coming together of such a diverse body of people with widely differing backgrounds and aspirations to debate a singular issue, must ultimately promote good.

The debate is open to the general public, and all are welcome to engage the key speakers.

The first edition of the Public Service Debate Series will hold on Wednesday, 26^th March 2014 by 11:00am at Agip Hall, Muson Center, Onikan, Lagos, Nigeria

Source: ynaija.com

PHOTO STORY:DORA AKUNYILI MAKES FIRST APPEARANCE AFTER BATTLING ILLNESS

The former DG of NAFDAC made her first appearance yesterday at the National conference after battling an undisclosed illness for months(Dora's new look at the right). According to media reports, she had health issues since last year and was admitted in the United States.It sure doesn't look like her but she is the one. When interviewed yesterday,she said;
"I just need to put on some weight. There is a saying in Igboland that goes this way: “Let the sickness take the flesh but leave the bones because with time the bones would grow new flesh. I just came out of a major sickness, for which I thank Almighty God for delivering me. I know that God did that for a purpose, this National Conference being part of that purpose. I am well now but only need time to put on more weight” she said.

PROPHESY & VISIONS: MINISTERS PROPHESY MISHAP ABOUT CELEBRITIES AND ASO ROCK

 The ministry of prophesying about events is not uncommon in Nigeria especially about politicians but lately this ministry seem to have swerved towards celebrities. The ace musician turned prophet and Primate Ayodele had visions about wizkid , Davido, Dbanj, Okonjo-Iweala and Aso rock. Read, what they said;

Primate Ayodele, the head of Inri Evangelical Spiritual Church, (pictured right) whose predictions are said to always come to past, recently shared his prophecies for 2014 and mentioned Davido and D'banj.About Davido, he said the singer needs to be a bit more careful and increase security around himself and his crew as a kidnap attempt is in the offing. Once again, we forbid this.

About D'banj, the prophet said he needs to be very careful or he would be defrauded over a foreign business deal.

About the Finance Minister & coordinating Minister for the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Primate Ayodele said she might bow out of office before the end of this administration.

PHOTONEWS: NIGERIANS IN DIASPORA PROTEST AGAINST THE BOKO HARAM MENACE AND CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA

Nigerians in West-Virginia USA protest the incessant killings by the unknown Boko haram and the corruption in Nigeria. Read the placards to see their concern...more pictures below







SOURCE: Naij.com

No FG Directive To Return Applicants’ Money: Immigration - PUNCH

By PUNCH

The Federal Government may not refund the N1,000 application fee that was paid by each of the 693,000 applicants that participated in the Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment on March 15.

The FG had on Wednesday cancelled the recruitment exercise, which claimed 18 applicants’ lives.

The Public Relations Officer of the NIS, Mr. Emeka Obua, told SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday that the service had not received any directive on the refund of the money.

He said such a directive would come from the Federal Government to the Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro.

Also, the Ministry of Interior said no directive had been given to it from any quarters to refund the money to applicants.

The Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, Mr. George Ubong, in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, said no such directive had been received in the ministry.

“We have not received any directive to refund any money,” he stated.

Ubong also said the contracting firm, which handled the exercise, had been registered with the Ministry of Interior as a contractor long before the appointment of Moro as minister.

He stated, “The man has been a contractor with the ministry of interior before the advent of the minister. The minister doesn’t know him.”

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress and prominent lawyers have called on the Federal Government to refund the N1000 paid by each of the applicants.

The General-Secretary, NLC, Mr. Chris Uyot, in an interview with one of our correspondents on Saturday, described the conduct of the exercise as “criminal.”

He said, “We support that (refund of the application fees). Given the fact that the government has cancelled the exercise, the money should be refunded to the applicants.

“It is apparent that government needs to take unemployment seriously. It looked like all they were interested in was the applicants’ money without providing adequate facilities. The issue of employment must be seen as an emergency.”

In a separate interview with SUNDAY PUNCH, the President, TUC, Mr. Bobboi Kaigama, also asked for the refund of the money.

He said, “Since government has cancelled the exercise, it should refund the money to the applicants.”

Also, two prominent lawyers, Mr. Rotimi Jacob (SAN) and Mr. Festus Keyamo, insisted the refund.

The two Economic and Financial Crimes Commission lawyers questioned the propriety of collecting money from job seekers.

Jacobs said, “It would be unfair to retain their money and cancel the recruitment exercise. Is it not abnormal to ask young graduates to pay money before they can apply for jobs? They should not be collecting money from them in the first place.

“It is like the strong in the society victimising the weak – the rich are collecting money from the poor. That is very unfair. They should refund the money.”

Kayamo described the collection of the application fees as ‘advance fee fraud.’

He said, “It was tantamount to stealing from job seekers. They must return the money to them. What happened amounted to stealing, it is nothing but advance fee fraud.”

But Prof. Itse Sagay noted that it was not necessary to refund the fees.

In a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, he said, “I don’t think that (refund of application fees) is an important aspect.

“If I were the President, I would recover the money from the immigration service and plough it back into youth employment and things that could better the lives of the youth, so that at the end of the day, the youth will not lose out.”

Similarly, the All Progressives Congress on Saturday said Moro and the consultants should account for the money collected from job seekers.

The Interim National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Lai Mohammed, said this in a telephone interview with SUNDAY PUNCH.

He explained that it was possible that neither the NIS nor its Comptroller-General, David Paradang, could account for the N1,000 collected from the job seekers because they did not collect the money.

Mohammed said “That is probably because the money is not with them. Only the minister and the consultant, we are informed, were responsible, and they both should be held responsible for the refund unless the money was paid into Immigration account.”

Also, the Executive Secretary, Anti-Corruption Network and former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dino Melaye, described the exercise as a complete fraud.

A legal practitioner, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, equally said the money should be returned with interest and “additional hazard allowance of N50,000.”

For the Executive Director of Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, Dr. Abiola Akiode-Afolabi, “The cancellation without refund amounts to defrauding innocent citizens, it is condemnable.”

Another legal practitioner, Mr. Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa, said, “It is sad that helpless and innocent Nigerians have to die, for the sake of seeking employment.”

FEMALE LAWMAKERS IN KENYA STORMS OUT AS POLYGAMY LAW IS PASSED

It was a sitting filled with drama today in Kenya's parliament as female members of the assembly staged a walkout during proceedings in the parliament. Their grievance was as a result of a new law their male counterparts all favored which they see as derogatory to the rights of Kenyan women.

Prior to today when the Kenyan Marriage Amended Bill was passed into law, it was customary in Kenya for men to seek the permission of their first wife before bringing in another woman as second wife or even marry as many as they want. The men obviously woke up from their slumber and decided to remove that clause in their constitution and this infuriated the women big time. Continue..


Mohammed Junet, an MP representing a constituency from the western Nyanza province,

"When you marry an African woman, she must know the second one is on the way and a third wife… this is Africa," Kenya's Capital News website quotes him as saying.

MPs Aden Duale, Jakoyo Midiwo and Junet Mohammed said it was against tradition to seek consent to marry a second wife and claimed their female colleagues had an ulterior motive in trying to push for the clause.

"I want my Christian brothers to read the Old Testament, King David and King Solomon never consulted anybody to marry a second wife," said Duale.

The women would have none of those talk as they believe it is a sign of respect for a man to discuss with his wife his intention to marry a second wife. MP Soipan Tuya says"It behoves you to be man enough to agree that your wife and family should know".


Despite their walkout, the bill was still passed into law as the men outnumbered the women in the parliament when voting was required.

The law on a brighter side enables Kenyan women to have 30%of any property the couple acquires during marriage and she can go with it even after divorce. The bill amongst other things also bans marriages of anyone below 18, and does not recognize live-in-lovers known as "come-make-we-stay" in Kenya.

BOKO HARAM WRITES LETTER; THREATENS TO ATTACK MAIDUGURI BARRACKS

The members of the Boko Haram Sect have written to the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army threatening to attack Maimalari Barracks on Friday (today), Punch reports. Read full report below...
Investigations revealed that security had been beefed up in the Maimalari Barracks which has the Headquarters of the 7th Infantry Division of the Artillery Corps, the Ordinance, the Signal and other crucial units of the Army in Maiduguri.
It was gathered that while security agents saw the letter as a ploy to instill fear into security operatives, all efforts were being made to ward off any attack on the foremost military formation in the North-East.
A source said that the insurgents might have compelled one of the drivers to get the letter to the military of their plan to attack the barracks.
The source said that the letter was written in Hausa Language.


“Yesterday, the Boko Haram sect wrote that they would attack the Maimalari Barracks. They wrote the letter in Hausa Language to give the notification of their coming.
“However, security operatives are praying for them to come to the barracks. The barracks is the biggest; it is the cantonment in Maiduguri.
“The barracks accommodates, the 7th Infantry Division, the Artillery, Ordinance, Engineering, Signal and other corps.
“People are even surprised how they got the letter to the barracks; one cannot rule out intimidation of one of the drivers to get the letter to the barracks.
“Soldiers are on the red alert. There are many soldiers there who are waiting for the attack. Soldiers are battle ready,” the source said.


The current threat is coming barely after the Boko Haram sect launched an attack on Giwa Barracks, the Headquarters of the 21 Artillery Brigade on March 15, 2014.
Authoritative military sources said that over 350 insurgents were killed in that attack while some soldiers were injured. A soldier was also said to have lost four children to the attack.
Our correspondent also gathered that the Special Forces had taken over the Gwoza Hills believed to be one of the strongest hideouts of the sect in the North-East.


Investigations revealed that the Special Forces stormed the Gwoza Hills and killed several insurgents in a combined operation with the men of the Nigerian Air Force on Wednesday.
The source said that a soldier was killed in the attack while some others were injured.
“There was an encounter in Gwoza Hills. Troops have taken over the place; it was another fierce encounter.


“A soldier was killed and some others were wounded. On the part of the insurgents, I can’t give you the exact casualty figure because the Air Force was involved and bombs were used.
“Gwoza Hills is one of their strong points. The Boko Haram took over the entire place before the battle but soldiers have taken over the place and have captured some of their arms and ammunition.
“That place is one of their main operational bases; corpses are smelling there. It is a joint operation involving the Air Force and others.
“The insurgents hide under the hills to launch attacks. It takes over three hours to climb to the top of the hills in some cases. The hills are massive,” the source said.


Source: Punch

House Of Reps Orders Probe Of Alison-Madueke For Allegedly Spending N10 Billion On Private Jet - PREMIUM TIMES

By PREMIUM TIMES

The House of Representatives has ordered an investigation into an alleged squandering of billions of naira of government funds by petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, on the maintenance of a private jet.

The public accounts committee of the House is to examine whether Mrs. Alison-Madueke, one of the most controversial members of President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet, has spent N10 billion of state funds in the last two years to charter, operate and maintain a jet for her personal use.

The lawmaker who tabled the motion for approval, Samuel Adejare, representing Lagos State, said the allegation was based on “reliable evidence” indicating that Mrs. Alison-Madueke has committed about 500,000 Euros (N130 million naira) monthly to maintain the aircraft, solely for her personal needs and those of her immediate family.

Mr. Adejare said preliminary investigations prove that the financing for the Challenger 850 aircraft was drawn from government funds.

He said the expenditure would be only “a tip of the iceberg” as several other billions of naira may have been frittered on flying the jet all over the world “obviously for the leisure” of the minister and her immediate family.

“This colossal waste is currently estimated at N10 billion which include the payment of allowances to the crew for the trips, hanger parking and rent based on the lease agreement,” Mr. Adejare said.

“If government could be bankrolling this waste in the face of ever dwindling public resources,…it amounts to a misplacement of priority, impudence and breach of public trust, an action that offends the Fiscal Responsibility Act and all other Laws on fiscal discipline in Nigeria.”

If confirmed by the House, the spending will only fall amongst some of the government’s most outlandish expenditure, for a nation with an overwhelming unemployment rate, and dwindling revenues.

It would however be hardly surprising for a minister indicted of maladministration by several reports. Mrs. Alison-Madueke is currently at the centre of an allegation of a missing $20 billion oil proceeds raised by suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi.

Mr. Jonathan has brushed aside several calls for Mrs. Alison-Madueke’s removal.

The motion in the House of Representatives Thursday, was approved with an overwhelming voice vote.

The sole opposition to the resolution, Friday Itulah, who represents Edo State, was disallowed by the speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, who explained that the House does not permit debates on such motions until after an investigation has been carried out.

The committee on public finance is to investigate the allegation and present its findings to the house within two weeks.

FULL STORY: HOW NIGERIAN UNDERGRADUATE WAS KILLED IN GHANA OVER MONEY

On February 19th, the body of a Nigerian student studying in Ghana was found. (Read here). Godwin Awogbo (pictured above), a 300level student of Social Sciences at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana was killed by unknown person/s and his body dumped by the roadside. Now the full story is out. According to a report by Tribune, Godwin was killed over money. Read the full story below

February 20 was no doubt one of the saddest days for the family of Mr Fred Awogbo. Their son, 18-year-old Godwin Awogbo, was brutally killed. His body had been found with some his internal organs gorged out, with his hands and legs tied.

Godwin Awogbo’s lifeless body was reportedly found on the school campus. For days, everyone seemed to be clueless about what could have prompted such a brutal death. While the thoughts of Godwin being a cultist came to the minds of many, his friends, however, were quick to assert that Godwin was a cool-headed person with no such connection.

It would be recalled that Godwin Awogbo’s death made it the fourth Nigerian student to lose their life in the space of four months in Ghana. This has not only posed the question of how safe Nigerian students are in the Gold Coast, but it has also raised the question of how much university managements take an interest in the well-being of their foreign students, most of whom are teenagers. 
The first death case was reported in October 2013 of a 15-year-old Nigerian, by the name of Master Austine Chukwuebuka Ogukwe, an SS3 student of Ideal College, Community 5, in Tema, who was reported dead under the watch of his house master amidst mysterious circumstance.

The second incident happened in November 2013, barely 26 days after the first death occurred. Two Nigerian students, Eddy and Charles of KNUSford University in Accra went for an excursion to the Volta region, under the guidance of school representative(s), but died when their canoe capsized.
 Meeting with the father of the victim, Mr Fred Awogbo and some of his relatives at the Nigerian High Commission, emotions flowed freely.

Mr Awogbo’s eyes were swollen, obviously due to prolonged crying.  He expressed many regrets as regards why he had not listened to his late son’s proprietor who had suggested that he should send his son to Canada to further his studies or better still, allow his son to weather the storm of strike actions often associated with Nigerian universities than losing him in Ghana to the cold hands of death, where he thought he was safe and he would not lose him to strange culture.

Sharing how he got to know of his son’s death: “It was my wife that actually called. She received a call from the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana that our attention was needed. When I called the embassy, I was first told an incident happened in his school and my son was missing. I asked if there was a riot, they said ‘No’ and promised to get back to me.

“So that prompted my curiosity to find out through my contact in Ghana on what actually happened. I called the driver that I had handed over my boy to and I asked him if there was any problem in the school. He said he was not aware of any but promised to find out after sharing what I heard from the Nigerian High Commission’s staff. A few minutes after, he called back to confirm that there was a problem, but he refused to say what exactly happened. Rather, he asked me to come over to Ghana.
“I was still ruminating over what could have happened to my son when a doctor friend of mine from the northern part of Nigeria called and informed me that his wife told him of the news of my son’s death. That was how I got to know about it. So on Monday, I left for Accra. We arrived at the Nigerian High Commission and with some of the staff of the High Commission, we went to meet the Vice Chancellor. The meeting was also witnessed by the Police and all Nigerian community leaders in Ghana.”

The Confession
“At the meeting, the management asked some of his friends and roommate to say what they knew about his death. Meanwhile, while I was in Nigeria, I spoke with his roommate, a Ghanaian, who told me that my son had withdrawn some thousands of dollars meant for his school fees, but had lent the money to some students. When he requested them to pay back, they started threatening his life. It was after the threats that he heard about his death.

“Unfortunately, after everyone of them had spoken, not even the roommate mentioned the issue of those my son lent some money and how they threatened him. So, I told the school authority and the police right there to ask him to tell them how my son was threatened. It was when he started talking that we realised he (the room mate) was the one who borrowed about $4,500 from my son, thereby denying my son the opportunity of paying his school fees on time. When my late son started worrying him, he set him up. So, after the police took my statement, they promised to arrest him.”
Speaking on what kind of child his son was, he said, “My son was brought up in the church. When he was still in secondary school, he was being addressed as ‘Dr Pastor’ because he was active in church”. Appreciating the efforts of the Nigerian High Commission, Mr Awogbo said “The Nigeria High Commission in Ghana really surprised us with the amount of effort they have put into this case. They have promised to make sure the killer is brought to book.”

Mr Awogbo stressed his regret of sending his son to study in Ghana “Honestly, I regret sending my child to study in Ghana, because if he had gained admission into higher institution in Nigeria, this would not have happened. The reason I sent him to Ghana was to avoid the issue of strike action in Nigerian higher institutions. Even his mother and proprietor wanted him to go to Canada to further his studies. They really persuaded me but I said ‘No’, because I didn’t want to lose my boy.
“I have been traveling to Europe for more than 20 years and I know what happens in such developed countries. At a tender age, I thought if I sent him there, I might lose him; he might not even want to come back home. 
“So I decided that after he’s through with his degree, he would go and do his Masters in Canada, but here we are.”

Advising parents who are yearning to send their children to Ghana to study, he said. “As for now, I cannot advise any Nigerian parent to send their children to study in Ghana; a lot of them studying here are teenagers and the stress is too much for them. Coming here myself has made me know that, in addition is the fact that the money we are paying is too much, compared to what private universities are charging in Nigeria.”

SOURCE: TRIBUNE

T.B JOSHUA CONTRADICTS PASTOR CHRIS: ABORTION IF RAPED IS A SIN

The above response of T.B Joshua contradicts Pastor Chris Oyakhilome who said a child that is a product of rape can be aborted. Probably we should get more episcopal view on this matter. what do you think?

NIS TRAGEDY: JONATHAN OFFERS VICTIMS FAMILIES AUTOMATIC EMPLOYMENT

President Jonathan this morning ordered three employment slots be left open for the families of those who died during the Saturday recruitment exercise conducted by the Nigerian Immigration Service.
The president also directed that immediate employment be offered to injured victims who are still receiving treatment in various hospitals across the nation.

Disclosing this after the Federal Executive Council meeting that held this morning, Minister of Information Labaran Maku said President Jonathan directed that one of the three beneficiaries must be female. Today's FEC meeting was devoted to the poorly conducted NIS recruitment exercise. Continue...
The President also ordered that the last ill-fated exercise be cancelled and set up a new panel which would conduct a fresh screening test for applicants. The Panel is to be headed by the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Deaconess Joan Ayo and would have as members, a rep from the Inspector General of Police as well as the Heads of Immigration, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp, Nigerian Prison Service, State Security Service and the Federal Road Safety Commission.The House of Reps has also summoned the Interior Minister and the DG of NIS to appear before it to explain the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident at recruitment exercise on Saturday.

BREAKING NEWS: FIRE OUTBREAK AT MOBILE FILLING STATION

Another ghastly fire outbreak in Lagos: Mobil Petrol Station along Oba Akran in Ikeja caught fire this Wednesday morning. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.



According to Eye witnesses, the Mobile Petrol station was already selling petrol to waiting motorists at the station as at 6 am this morning. Another Eye witness, said it took the intervention of the Guinness company close to the petrol Station to quench the fire as Guinness was a little bit affected by the fire. More details coming your way:

NIGERIANS ARE CORRUPT SAYS PRESIDENT MUGABE OF ZIMBABWE

Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe

Yes indeed, President Mugabe took a swipe at Nigerians. Read what he had to say:

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, has taken a swipe on Nigeria, labeling the country and her citizens as corrupt. He made the remark during his 90th birthday luncheon hosted by the service chiefs and the public commission.
Mugabe said Zimbabweans are now almost behaving like Nigerians who have to be corruptly paid for every service.
“Are we now like Nigeria where you have to reach your pocket to get anything done,” he said. “You see we used to go to Nigeria and every time we went there we had to carry extra cash in our pockets to corruptly pay for everything. You get into a plane in Nigeria and you sit there and the crew keeps dilly dulling without taking off as they wait for you to pay them to fly the plane,” said the president followed by a huge laugh from the delegates attending his birthday bash. The current corruption rankings in the world rank Zimbabwe’s corruption a lot worse than Nigeria. Nigeria is ranked 163 worst corrupt country in the world while Zimbabwe is an embarrassing 170 third from the bottom.
The report was carried by Bulawayo24 News, based in Zimbabwe.



Source: VANGUARD




What do you think?

RESPOND TO CHARGES AGAINST YOU AND STOP MISINFORMING THE PUBLIC- PRESIDENCY TO SANUSI

Government Press Release:

The presidency has criticized what it called the unrelenting attempt by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to falsely portray his recent suspension from office as the government’s attempt to bury his allegation that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has not accounted for huge sums of money due to the Federation Account.

In a statement signed by spokesman Reuben Abati, the Presidency declared that Sanusi’s suspension has “absolutely nothing” to do with his claims of funds missing from the national treasury.

“Mallam Sanusi’s allegations are patently untrue,” the statement said. “But Government is making no effort to bury them as he falsely claims. Relevant committees of the National Assembly are still investigating the claims and the suspended CBN Governor remains free to give evidence before them in support of his allegations.”

In last Monday’s interview with the New York Times which seems to have rattled the Jonathan government, Sanusi spoke of his efforts to unravel the whereabouts of the missing $20bn oil money, including a February 11 semi-monthly meeting with bank chiefs on at which he “threatened to open the books of the bankers, to trace the money.”

According to the suspended CBN boss, who said he suspected some of them were laundering stolen oil money, “Some of them were not giving information about their accounts. I told them I would order a special examination.”

One of the bankers at the meeting told the New York Times that Sanusi made it plain to them that the CBN would need to unravel what was going on, and called for their cooperation.

In panic, Sanusi told the newspaper, several of the bankers went straight to the government, which labours under a sordid reputation for corruption.
Full text of the statement:
STATE HOUSE PRESS STATEMENT
RESPOND TO CHARGES AGAINST YOU AND STOP MISINFORMING THE PUBLIC – PRESIDENCY TELLS SANUSI
We have noted with disappointment, the unrelenting attempt by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to falsely portray his recent suspension from office as an attempt by the Presidency to bury his allegation that huge sums of money due to the Federation Account are unaccounted for by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The Presidency wishes to reaffirm that Mallam Sanusi’s suspension has absolutely nothing to do with his unproven and inconsistent claim that $49.8 Billion, $12 Billion or $20 Billion is missing from the national treasury.

As was clearly stated in the letter suspending him from office and confirmed by President Goodluck Jonathan in his last Presidential Media Chat, Mallam Sanusi’s suspension was wholly based on the need for him to step aside while the weighty charges of financial recklessness, gross misconduct and persistent disregard for laid down rules and regulations in the management of the Central Bank made against him by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria and others are properly investigated.

It is most unfortunate that instead of trying to provide some reasonable response to the clear and unambiguous query of his official conduct as Governor of the Central Bank, Mallam Sanusi has cynically chosen to whip up public sympathy for himself and anger against the Federal Government by deliberately misleading unwary Nigerians and the international community into believing the falsehood that he is being punished for exposing corruption.

In recent days, the suspended CBN Governor has, following in the footsteps of others who have an axe to grind with the government, taken to spreading his false claims and allegations through gullible foreign media correspondents, telling them among other things that his threat to force commercial banks to open up their books to unravel the whereabouts of the “missing” funds whether $49.8 Billion, $12 Billion or $20 Billion, ultimately led to his suspension.

He also continues to make the mischievous claim that the government is somehow involved in a scam to divert huge sums of money from the Federation Account through the misappropriation of kerosene subsidy funds.

Mallam Sanusi’s allegations are patently untrue. But Government is making no effort to bury them as he falsely claims. Relevant committees of the National Assembly are still investigating the claims and the suspended CBN Governor remains free to give evidence before them in support of his allegations.

Furthermore, in keeping with its avowed commitment to full transparency, openness and accountability in governmental affairs, the Federal Government has authorized the engagement of reputable international firms for the recommended forensic audit of NNPC accounts.

The Presidency condemns Mallam Sanusi’s resort to playing politics with serious national issues. His suggestion that the phantom missing funds may have been diverted to fund campaigns for next year’s general elections is mischievous, irresponsible and designed to incite other political parties and members of the public against the Federal Government.

The claim which amounts to cheap blackmail against the government and was clearly made in furtherance of a selfish personal agenda is most unbecoming of someone who still holds the High Office of Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The Presidency would not ordinarily have wished to join issues with Mallam Sanusi who as CBN Governor remains an appointee of the President, but the very unacceptable manner in which Sanusi has been misinforming the public made it imperative that this statement be issued.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)

March 12, 2014

TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES SHUT DOWN BY THE MILITARY IN BORNO

The Nigerian military yesterday shut down all telecommunication services in Borno state as it takes on Boko Haram activities. Residents in the state woke up yesterday to a "No Service" signal on their phones.

Confirming the shutdown, spokesman of the 7-Division of the Nigeria Army, Muhammed Dole said its a military move necessary under the present circumstance.
"We all know the inconveniences that this might have brought, but it is a necessary and temporary measure that will not take long time” Dobe said.

He said its a sacrifice everyone including the residents have to make in the fight against Boko Haram.

WE DID NOT ATTACK ENUGU RATHER WE HOISTED THE BIAFRAN FLAG THERE SAYS BIAFRAN ZIONIST MOVEMENT

 

The Biafrian Zionist Movement(BZM) has taken responsibility of the attack on Enugu government house last Saturday. Ben Onwuka the movement leader says it was not an attack rather they went to hoist the flag in the capital city of Biafra which is Enugu. 

According to Sahara Reporters: Barrister Onwuka who addressed a news conference at the NUJ, Press Centre, Enugu said contrary to media reports, the invasion of the Enugu seat of power was ostensibly to hoist the flag of the Republic of Biafra at the Government House which he said is the headquarters of the old headquarters of the defunct Biafran Republic and not to either attack or abduct Governor Sullivan Chime.

He noted that his group succeeded in their mission as they not only hoisted the flag and some banners as the symbol of the rebirth of Biafra but took control of the Government House for four hours before they were dislodged by some security operatives.

He Further said it is a sign to show Biafrians that there is still hope,“The reason we did it was to show the Biafra people that the hope for Biafra is still alive and that nothing shall quench the aspiration of the Biafra people to be independent. That independence has been resurrected. So the Biafran flag was raised at the Government House on the 8th of March, 2014 and I, Benjamin Igwe Onwuka led the operation.

“Let me make it clear. The states that will make up Biafra now are Benue, Kogi, Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Anambra, Enugu, Imo and Abia and Southern Ondo.

Breaking News: Explosion in New York city.

There has been a massive explosion in new york, two buildings are said to have collapsed but we do not know whether it was a bomb or pipeline explosion.
According to (CNN) -- New York police and fire officials were responding to reports of a massive explosion in Manhattan's East Harlem, authorities said Wednesday.

There were at least 11 minor injuries as clouds of dark smoke rose over the residential neighborhood of red-brick tenements, fire officials said.

Metro North commuter rail service, which runs along the site of the blast on Park Avenue, was suspended, officials said.

"Two buildings have collapsed. I hope there is no one in there. It's just rubble," a worker at a nearby flea market said.

Clouds of dark smoke could be seen for a three-block radius as hundreds of rescue officials descended on the scene.

UPDATE: Eye witnesses have confirmed it was a gas explosion.  
A witness told the New York Daily News she had smelled gas "for weeks" before the explosion.
"We saw people flying out of the window... those are my neighbours," Ashley Rivera said.
Another witness told the newspaper he heard two loud explosions that shook the barber shop where he works. More pictures below-

Source: CNN

UPDATE: THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE DENIES ALIYU GUSAU (Rtd) RESIGNATION

UPDATE: The Ministry of Defense is denying the resignation of Aliyu Gusau- read below

Sahara reporters says The Ministry of Defence has issued a terse press statement claiming that the Minister of Defence, Rtd. Lt Gen Aliyu Gusau, has not resigned. The two-paragraph, two-sentence statement, signed by Shehu Maikai, Director Press at the Ministry, said it wished to "state, categorically, that the minister has not resign his appointment," and thanked all those who called to "verify the rumour." 
SaharaReporters had reported earlier today that the Minister had tendered his resignation following his discovery he did not have the respect of Nigeria's military chiefs. Deputy Minister Obanikoro subsequently confirmed to our correspondent that there had been a disagreement between Gusau and the military chiefs, but did not elaborate. 
Since tendering his letter of resignation, Gusau has been under considerable pressure by President Goodluck Jonathan to rescind the decision. 






Previous Story:
The newly appointed Minister of defense is said to have resigned following a disagreement between him and some top military service chiefs which he referred to as insubordination and indiscipline.

According to Sahara Reporters,   Mr. Gusau’s sudden decision to quit President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet arose from what the former minister considered an act of insubordination and indiscipline from Nigeria’s top military brass.
Several sources at the Defense Ministry told SaharaReporters that Nigeria’s top military officers yesterday refused to have a joint meeting with Mr. Gusau and his deputy, Musikilu Obanikoro, a former senator.

Sources at the ministry told SaharaReporters that Nigeria’s top military henchmen kept Mr. Gusau waiting for two days after he summoned them to a meeting, with different military service chiefs making excuses for their inability to meet with him and his deputy immediately. Finally, the situation turned testy yesterday when, after keeping Mr. Gusau and Mr. Obanikoro waiting for several hours, the Chief of Defense Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, showed up alone for a meeting.

“When Air Marshal Badeh showed up, the Minister of Defense told him he was expecting all the chiefs of staff within the military, but Badeh reportedly told him there was no need,” said one source at the ministry. Our sources added that Badeh also told Mr. Gusau that he alone would be meeting with the minister as the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), stating that this arrangement was the collective decision of military officers in the country.

One source said an attempt by the junior minister of defense, Mr. Obanikoro, to intervene was rudely brushed aside as Badeh asked him to “shut up.” “Air Marshal Badeh is said to have called Senator Obanikoro a ‘small boy’ and warned him that the military was not going to be taking orders anymore from bloody civilians like him,” one source stated.

Soon after the altercation, General Gusau (rtd) reportedly ended the meeting and asked the Permanent Secretary in the ministry to transmit his letter of resignation to President Goodluck Jonathan.

SaharaReporters learnt that Mr. Jonathan, who was rattled by the development, immediately charged Senate President David Mark with the task of prevailing on Mr. Gusau to rescind his resignation. The president reportedly promised to see that the issue was resolved expeditiously.

However, a source stated that Mr. Gusau remained infuriated and refused to back away from his decision to leave the cabinet. Late last night, President Jonathan paid a visit to Mr. Gusau’s home in Abuja in a last-ditch effort to persuade him to stay at his ministerial job, but Mr. Gusau refused to see the president.

Mr. Gusau kept away from today’s session of the Federal Executive Council, a weekly meeting of all ministers with the president. He reportedly told aides that he could not serve in a situation where military officers would show open disdain for their civilian leaders and him an experienced retired military man.

SaharaReporters contacted Mr. Obanikoro who admitted obliquely that there was what he termed a “slight disagreement,” but added that there was nothing serious.

An aide to Senator David Mark told SaharaReporters that Mr. Gusau had sent his letter of resignation to the Senate, which confirmed him after his nomination. The source added, however, that Mr. Mark had refused to have the resignation letter read because the senator was still hopeful of convincing Mr. Gusau to remain at his post.

Source: Sahara reporters.http://saharareporters.com/news-page/why-nigerian-new-defense-minister-aliyu-gusau-resigned

UPDATE: MALAYSIAN MISSING AIRCRAFT MYSTERY DEEPENS AS MOBILE PHONES OF MISSING PASSENGERS RING

As the search for Flight 370 continues there have revealing information alongside contradictions as to what might have happened to the Malaysian flight before it disappeared off the radar.

According to CNN, "We have scaled down the searches for today and are still waiting for the response from Malaysian authorities," Phan Quy Tieu, Vietnam's vice minister of transportation, told reporters.

He described as "insufficient" the information provided so far on Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which vanished early Saturday over Southeast Asia.
The apparent cause of the veiled irritation on the Vietnamese side concerns the deepening mystery over the path the plane may have taken after it lost contact with air traffic control on its scheduled flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
A senior Malaysian air force official on Tuesday told CNN that after the plane lost all communications around 1:30 a.m. Saturday, it still showed up on radar for more than an hour longer. Before it vanished altogether, the plane apparently turned away from its intended destination and traveled hundreds of miles off course, the official said.

It was last detected, according to the official, near Pulau Perak, a very small island in the Straits of Malacca, the body of water between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Those assertions, reported by CNN and other new organizations, have fueled surprise among aviation analysts and a fresh burst of theories about what might have happened to the plane. They also appear to have created tensions between some of the different countries involved in the search efforts.

Also families of the missing passengers are demanding answers from the government. Amid the frustration and the wait, relatives have also revealed that the phones of their loved ones had been ringing and have also been spotted on a Chinese social network QQ.


According to Washington post, One of the most eerie rumors came after a few relatives said they were able to call the cellphones of their loved ones or find them on a Chinese instant messenger service called QQ that indicated that their phones were still somehow online.

A migrant worker in the room said that several other workers from his company were on the plane, including his brother-in-law. Among them, the QQ accounts of three still showed that they were online, he said Sunday afternoon.

Adding to the mystery, other relatives in the room said that when they dialed some passengers’ numbers, they seemed to get ringing tones on the other side even though the calls were not picked up.
The phantom calls triggered a new level of desperation and anger for some. They tried repeatedly Sunday and Monday to ask airline and police officials about the ringing calls and QQ accounts. However unlikely it was, many thought the phones might still be on, and that if authorities just tracked them down, their relatives might be found. But they were largely ignored.

According to Singapore’s Strait Times, a Malaysia Airlines official, Hugh Dunleavy, told families that the company had tried calling mobile phones of crew members as well and that they had also rang. The company turned over those phone numbers to Chinese authorities.For the small group holding out hope over the online QQ accounts of their loved ones, evening brought yet another crushing blow.

One man said he had convinced two policemen to come to his home Sunday night to witness the active QQ account on his desktop computer. But sometime Monday afternoon, when he wasn’t paying attention, it had suddenly switched off.

Source: CNN, WPhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/world/vanished-malaysia-airlines-flight-leaves-relatives-with-anger-and-phantom-phone-calls

DNA PROOF: MICHEAL JACKSON HAS A 31 YEAR OLD SON

 Brandon Howard (middle) son of  R&B singer Miki Howard(right) claims he has proof that Michael Jackson is his father.
According to TMZ

Michael Jackson has a 31-year-old son - at least that's what the man claims - and we're told he plans to go public on Thursday with what he believes is ironclad DNA evidence.

His name is Brandon Howard - the son of singer Miki Howard, whom Joe Jackson represented back in the 1980s. Sources close to Brandon tell us, Miki and MJ met in 1982 and Brandon was born soon after.

As for why B Howard is so sure he's MJ's son ... our sources say he somehow acquired DNA from an old orthodontic device worn by Michael ... it's unclear how he got hold of it, but we're told the test results show a match. Below is a picture of the DNA result which has 99.99999% probability

The DNA test results that allegedly prove 31-year-old Brandon Howard is Michael Jackson's son are BOGUS ... in fact, so bogus ... the logo from the so-called DNA testing lab was ripped from "Terminator Salvation."

As we reported, FilmOn.com's Alki David put on a spectacle Thursday -- claiming he had DNA results proving singer B Howard was the biological son of the King of Pop. He then produced the results showing a "99.99999%" probability that MJ was Brandon's dad.

TMZ obtained a photo of the DNA doc -- allegedly from a testing facility in Ireland called "DNA Lab." We searched high and low but could find no such generic DNA lab in Ireland


Source: TMZ

Read more: http://www.tmz.com#ixzz2vHhsrNeO