EDO STATE GOVT. SEALS OFF INDEPENDENT TELEVISION/RADIO

Edo State Government said it sealed off the premises of the Independent Television/Radio (ITV/Radio) in the state because of outstanding tax liabilities to the tune of over N12 million.

In a statement signed by Courage Eboigbe,Head Media, Edo State Board of Internal Revenue, the agency said: “based on a subsisting court order, the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue sealed off the business premises of Independent Television/Radio (ITV/Radio) this morning for failure to pay accumulated tax to Edo State Government from 2005 to 2010.
“The outstanding tax liabilities of ITV/Radio to Edo State Government amount to N12,882,596.43.

“Indeed, all well-meaning residents of Edo State appreciate the concerted efforts of the Adams Oshiomhole administration to rebuild the state. As a matter of policy, the administration has deployed enormous resources to build social infrastructure with a view to creating more enabling environment for businesses to thrive. It is only reasonable that corporate citizens assist the government by fulfilling their tax obligations to sustain the progress.
“To be sure, the Board wishes to reassure the public that it will continue to enforce the tax law without fear or favor.

“At some point in the past, the Board had had cause to seal off NTA, NDDC, PHCN, UBTH, NPDC, Union Bank, First Bank, Mainstreet Bank among others. These corporate citizens have since settled their liabilities to the state government and are operating freely in the state.”

via: EdoPoliticalForum(EPF)

Mikel Obi signs new 5-year contract with Chelsea

Super Eagles midfielder, John Mikel Obi, has penned a new deal with Chelsea, that will see him stay at Stamford Bridge till 2017.
An official club statement read: “Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce John Mikel Obi has signed a new five-year contract which will keep him at the club until 2017.
“The midfielder has been a first-team regular since arriving as a 19-year-old in the summer of 2006.
“Mikel made his debut that August, and has gone on to make 261 appearances, 213 as a starter. In that time he has scored twice.”
The 25-year-old expressed his delight, at extending his stay at the London club.
“Chelsea seems like my home now because I have been here for over six years and I enjoy my time here. I come into the training ground every day to work and I value my time there. I am happy and want to keep going and win trophies for this club.
“I have basically won everything with Chelsea and those years have been really special for me, winning trophies with big names like Didier Drogba, John Terry and Frank Lampard who have had very long Chelsea careers.
“Last season to win the Champions League was even more special, and I hope these next five years will bring even more success and I can win trophies with the new players we have here.
“Being 25 I think I am now hitting my peak but as a player you want to improve every day and there is still room for that. I want to learn from the players and the manager and I just want to keep going.”
Obi was voted the the club’s Young Player of the Year award in his first season. He has won four FA Cup medals, one Barclays Premier League, a Carling Cup and the Champions League trophy, during his six-year spell at the club.
DailyPost

Nigeria Is 35th Most Corrupt In The World, Says Transparency International 2012 Report

President Goodluck Jonathan

By Abdulrahman Abdulmalik

Transparency International says Nigeria, under President Goodluck Jonathan, remains highly corrupt.
Nigeria remained rooted to the bottom of the global corruption ranking Wednesday as global corruption watchdog, Transparency  International, rated it the 35th most corrupt country in the world.
In a report released at 6 a.m. Wednesday,  Nigeria scored 27 out of a maximum 100 marks to clinch the 139th position out of the 176 countries surveyed for the report. It shared that position with Azerbaijan, Kenya, Nepal and Pakistan. Countries such as Togo, Mali, Niger and Benin fared better than Nigeria.
Nigeria placed 143rd in the 2011 ranking, making it the 37th most corrupt country. It is difficult to say Nigeria has improved in the ranking this year because 182, six more than this year’s, were ranked in 2011.
This year’s index ranks 176 countries/territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, TI explained in the report.
The index draws on 13 surveys covering expert assessments and surveys of businesspeople.
The Corruption Perceptions Index is the leading indicator of public sector corruption, offering a yearly snapshot of the relative degree of the corruption problem by ranking countries from all over the globe.
Nigeria’s woeful performance in this year’s survey is not entirely surprising.
Since assuming office in 2010, President Jonathan has not shown vigour in the fight against corruption – including corruption involving past and current actors in his administration.
The tipping point in the president’s profile, regarding reluctance in promoting transparency, came when, in televised media chat in June, he scoffed at a question on why he had not publicly declared his asset. On live television, the president snapped “I don’t give a damn!”
The petroleum minister, Diezani Madueke, a close ally of the president, has heaps of established corruption allegations against her, but none has been investigated by Mr. Jonathan’s administration; while she still remains in office as one of the favorite ministers.
In August 2011, President Goodluck Jonathan secretly ordered the payment of $155 million to Malabu oil, a firm owned by an ex-convict and former petroleum minister, Dan Etete. Not only was the payment done without the knowledge of the Finance Minister, as revealed by PREMIUM TIMES, Malabu transferred the money into dubious accounts including that owned by a man with links to Mr. Jonathan. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have agreed to investigate the Malabu scandal.
Ranging from the monumental fuel subsidy scam to the massive corruption uncovered in pension administration to the scams at the Security and Exchange Commission and the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Nigeria stinks with graft. Government officials, including some of Mr. Jonathan’s favourite appointees have been named in the brazen theft of public funds.
Two members of the President’s cabinet, Godsday Orubebe and Stella Oduah, illegally registered an NGO, Neighbour to Neighbour, on whose board they sit, and which they then used in campaigning for the President’s election; in contravention of CAC registration guidelines and the CAMA Act. The presidency has kept mum on this.
There have been several cases of visitors to the Presidential Villa offered huge sums of money after their visits. The Save Nigeria Group was offered $30 thousand, and the Northern elders N20 million; both groups rejected the cash gifts given to them by the presidency.
There are also piles of corruption cases involving government officials, politicians and ‘friends of the government’ that have been lingering for years while perpetrators roam free.
Yet, in his Independence Day anniversary speech to Nigerians, President Jonathan claimed his administration had made substantial gains in the fight against corruption, saying TI had endorsed and praised his administration’s war against corruption.
Transparency International promptly replied, disowning Mr. Jonathan and saying it had no such report.
TI described this year’s report as an indication that “corruption is a major threat facing humanity. Corruption destroys lives and communities, and undermines countries and institutions. It generates popular anger that threatens to further destabilise societies and exacerbate violent conflicts.”
The organization added, “Corruption translates into human suffering, with poor families being extorted for bribes to see doctors or to get access to clean drinking water. It leads to failure in the delivery of basic services like education or healthcare. It derails the building of essential infrastructure, as corrupt leaders skim funds.
“Governments need to integrate anti-corruption actions into all aspects of decision-making. They must prioritise better rules on lobbying and political financing, make public spending and contracting more transparent, and make public bodies more accountable.”
Saharareporters

“Attack Obasanjo and lose your job” – Jonathan warns aides against insulting ex-president

Following the ongoing war of words between the camp of President Goodluck Jonathan and former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, the president has cautioned his aides against attacking the former head of states through the media.
Jonathan warned that anyone found guilty stands the chance of losing his job.
It was gathered that the order came following the intervention of some big wigs of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, urging Mr. President to call his aides to order.
A reliable source, who pleaded anonymity, said some members of the ruling party feel that the ongoing verbal war between the duo is not good for the image of the largest party in Africa.
The source said, “The party informed the President that the members of the opposition could capitalise on the disagreement to cause a major friction between the two leaders of the party.
“The President has directed his aides not to speak either directly or indirectly on anything that is injurious to the former President on any issue. This is because some leaders of the PDP have advised him not to take on the former President in a fight.
“Apart from the political implication of such, we also believe that it could heat up the polity and cause tension in both the party and the polity.
“Moreover, the party has seen that the opposition is already trying to make gains from the fight and that will not be a good thing either for the two leaders or our party.
“The President respects Obasanjo. He will not do anything that will widen the gap between them. I am sure that the disagreement will be settled.
“Besides, there are no plans by the President to witch-hunt Obasanjo with any probe.”
Also, a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of PDP told some selected newsmen recently that the party was worried over the rising bitterness between the two top members of the party.
Obasanjo served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP until April this year when he voluntarily resigned his appointment.
He recently said that Jonathan might be a weak leader because of his inability to bring the security challenges facing the nation under control.
Obasanjo said he directed the security agencies to bring out the militants who killed some security men in Odi, Rivers State, during his tenure as President.
In his reaction, Jonathan told Obasanjo that the invasion of Odi during Obasanjo’s tenure did not solve the problem.
The president added that rather innocent people were killed as the security operatives could not kill the militants suspected be behind the killing of the security men.
DailyPost

Instant Judgment: Car Snatcher Shot Dead by Car Owner

Talk about instant judgment. A middle-aged man suspected to be a car snatcher was in the early hours of Saturday shot dead at Kubwa by the vehicle owner, who happens to be a police officer.
According to another policeman at the scene, a gang numbering three persons, trailed the jeep owner from a distance and almost succeeded in snatching the vehicle but the owner pulled out a gun and shot one of them. He said the man died on the spot, while the other two escaped.
Some policemen were reported to have been later spotted at the Kubwa General Hospital with the corpse inside their van as they made effort to deposit the corpse at the hospital’s mortuary.
InformationNigeria.org

Nollywood actor, Enebeli Elebuwa dies in Indian hospital

Few days after popular actors, Akin Ogungbe and Pete Eneh died, another tragedy has struck in the Nigerian motion picture industry, globally known as Nollywood, as another actor Enebeli Elebuwa has been confirmed dead.
The veteran actor died in the early hours of Wednesday, at an Indian Hospital after a protracted battle with stroke.
Towards the twilight of his career, Enebeli, 65, was struck by a strange ailment and had been battling with it for over 12 months.
It was reported that he had shown some signs of recovery, but ironically, passed on in the early hours of Wednesday.
DailyPost

Jailed: London-based Nigerian fraudsters who ran £2.7million lotto scam which led to a murder-suicide

By Niamh O'doherty

Osas Odia arriving at Croydon Crown Court. The 33-year-old admitted conspiring to launder criminal property

Two Nigerian fraudsters, whose global £2.7m scam had deadly consequences for one family they mercilessly ripped off, were jailed today.
Police identified a total of thirteen victims all over the world, who each lost an average of £207,000, after the duo convinced them they were due an Australian lottery pay-out, inheritance, investment benefit or were sold non-existent heavy plant machinery.
Obinnam Nwokolo, 37, of 20 Chesworth Close, Erith, who amassed a valuable property portfolio in the UK and Nigeria, received six years and four months and Uchechhukwu Onuoha, 40, of Aspen Green, Erith, who entered this country on a student visa, received five years and two months.
Both pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to conspiracy to defraud between October 1, 2008 and September 15 last year.
One of their victims, Betty McClellan, 62, of Hyde Park, Los Angeles was shot dead by her husband Hersey McClellan, 63, who then shot himself on June 20, 2010 after she wired £264,000 — blowing the couple’s hard-earned pension.
She transferred the sums to accounts controlled by fellow Nigerians Sergius Ene, 44, of 111 Rushden Gardens, Ilford and Osas Odia, 33, of 15 Windrush Court, Chichester Wharf, Erith, who both admitted conspiring to launder criminal property.
Ene, who received sixteen months in March for a £27,000 Euromilions lottery scam on an 83 year-old Northampton pensioner, was jailed for two years and eight months. for laundering £342,400.
The accountant, a former Haringey Council housing benefit officer, drove a Mercedes with a personalised ‘ENE’ number plate. He is currently appealing deportation and it was revealed the mother of his three children entered into a sham marriage with a French citizen of African origin just to stay in the UK.

 

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Student Odia, who laundered £149,000, was deported in 2005 as an illegal overstayer after a forged passport conviction, but is now a permanent resident after marrying a UK national. He will be sentenced on February 11 so he can complete a management degree.
Victims were telephoned, emailed or written to by Nwokolo and Onuoha, who between them spent at least £22,500 on stationary supplies as they convinced the dupes to pay for admin fees, insurance, certificates and other charges to release funds due to them.

The criminals convinced Betty McClellan, 62, that she had won $2.8m on the Australian lottery. She sent them £264,000 to 'cover tax and admin costs'

Some victims paid money to a bogus charity claiming to assist West African refugees, and one even paid for a non-existent U.S. Army General to ship his trunk of belongings from Afghanistan to Australia.
'These monies were placed in a series of bank accounts and laundered,' said prosecutor Mr. Andrew Evans. 'The fraud was carried out on an international scale.'
Mrs McClellan was convinced she had won $2.8m on the Australian lottery and sent £264,000 to cover taxes and admin costs to release the win.
'When her husband discovered she had lost all of their pension savings he shot her dead and then turned the gun on himself and committed suicide,' added Mr. Evans. Their bodies were found by their son.
An Indiana farmer, believing he had a claim on a £14.9m inheritance, lost over £339,000 and a Venezuelan businessman lost £163,000 buying a mobile crane Nwokolo and father-of-two Onuoha advertised for sale on a Spanish website.
A Bristol woman lost £312,000 chasing a £1.8m Australian lottery win and found herself arrested after paying the counterfeit £158,000 cheque the defendants sent her into her account.
'She was buying a new home and intended to settle the balance from the winnings she was expecting.
'She is now living in sheltered accommodation and feels vulnerable and extremely embarrassed and her family have lost their inheritance.'

'You preyed on the naivety or generosity of people to extract large amounts of money from them with devastating effects on their personal lives'

Father-of-three Nwokolo even bought three 1,350 per-hour letter-folding machines to increase the volume of mail shots and his home contained lists with details of thousands of individuals and businesses.
Onuoha had a pile of 593 scam letters ready for postage when police raided the home he rented off Nwokolo and officers also found a prepared ‘script’ he used when duping victims over the phone.
'It is difficult to think of a larger advance free fraud than this,' announced Judge Jeremy Gold QC.
'It is on an enormous scale.
'Thousands of emails and letters were sent out across the world promising money from non-existent relatives from inheritances or non-existence lottery wins.
'You preyed on the naivety or generosity of people to extract large amounts of money from them with devastating effects on their personal lives.
'I regard this fraud as one that falls into the most serious category of advanced fee fraud, targeting vulnerable victims.'
Proceeds of Crime Act confiscation proceedings will follow.
MailOnline