Delisting of Political Parties: CNPP Slams ‘Dictatorial’ INEC

Attahiru Jega

By SaharaReporters, New York

The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has slammed last night’s delisting of 28 political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing it as vindication of the Uwais Electoral Reform Committee Report that the recruitment of Electoral Commissioners should be made open, as opposed to the President nominating his cronies.
“It is unfortunate that [INEC Chairman] Professor Jega against his previous high pedigree has allowed himself to be recruited by the PDP; a party which failed to deliver the dividends of democracy and whose game-plan is to use subterfuge and brinksmanship to hang on to power,” CNPP said in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu.
“Otherwise, why did Professor Jega blatantly consign to the dust-bin of history or implement with passion other breaches and infractions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act 2010, which more than the partisan ones he is now committed to are better placed to deepen our fledgling democracy? To mention a few, the failure to prosecute the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State who was caught with election materials and the serial bribe scandal of INEC officials which were reported to Professor Jega.”
CNPP expressed alarm that the INEC chairman and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are unfolding their road-map to dictatorship through rigging the 2015 elections and consolidating the inordinate ambition of PDP to enthrone a one party state in Nigeria and rule for 60 uninterrupted years.
It recalled that recently, INEC was asking the National Assembly for powers, among others, to ban candidates, a request followed now by the de-registration of 28 parties.
CNPP warned that INEC lacks the moral and legal capacity to de-register political parties, as the Supreme Court judgment on the registration of political parties is still subsisting.
“At any rate the strength of political parties cannot today be determined because of the sham and less than transparent elections INEC conducts,” it said, questioning how anyone can de-register the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), given its massive Aminu Kano followership in the North.
“In sum, only the electorate under free, fair and transparent elections can truly determine the strength of political parties and not legislation invoked to enthrone one party state dictatorship; for Peoples Democratic Party, which failed serially, inspite of an unprecedented oil windfall, to provide security, electricity, build refinery, modern railways, construct good roads and provide quality health and education.”

Nigeria: Profiles in corruption

BY GBENGA OKE
The ambiguity in the anti-corruption war in the country could not have been better reflected than the recently reported move by the immediate past governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu to organise an anti-corruption summit for African leaders early next year.
During an advocacy visit on the proposed summit to President Sirleaf Ellen Johnson of Liberia scheduled to hold in South Africa, Kalu bemoaned the manner of African leaders who he claimed would amass wealth at the expense of their citizens. The irony of it is that Kalu as at the time of the declaration was under bail from the court on allegations of corruption. Kalu remains innocent until proven guilty.
But the irony is further stretched by the case of Senator Ahmed Yerima, the former governor of Zamfara State who was accused by erstwhile boss of the EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu of pratically stealing Zamfara funds stepping into the Senate and becoming Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption in 2007. Many other high profile politically exposed persons have emerged from one office to another with the baggage of corruption going with them and living on public funds.
Orji Uzor Kalu - Former Governor of Abia State
On 27 July 2007, Kalu was arraigned before an Abuja High court on a 107-count charge of money laundering, official corruption and criminal diversion of public funds in excess of N5 billion. EFCC accused Kalu of transferring billions of Naira belonging to the Abia State government to his Slok Airlines.
He was accused of transferring the funds over a period of time from the defunct Manny Bank (now part of Fidelity Bank) to Slok's account at Inland Bank. He was also alleged to have, between 1999 and 2007, moved various sums of government money into Slok Investment, Slok Nigeria Limited, Slok Incorporated and other companies owned by him.
Joshua Chibi Dariye - Former Governor of Plateau State
In July 2007, Dariye was arraigned before an Abuja High Court on a 23-count charge involving the sum of N700 million. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges and was subsequently granted bail. Despite the allegations brought against him, he won a senatorial seat in the 2011 polls. He is now a senator representing Plateau Central.
Saminu Turaki - Former Governor Jigawa State
Turaki was docked on a 32-count charge on allegations that he stole about N36 billion from the treasury over an eight-year period. He was charged along with three companies he was accused of using to siphon the funds. The three companies are INC Natural Resources Limited, Arkel Construction Nigeria Limited, Wildcat Construction Limited and Ahmed Mohammed, an accomplice said to be at large. After a brief detention, Turaki was granted bail in the sum N100 million on 27 July 2007 by Justice Binta Murtala Nyako.
Chimaroke Nnamani - Former Governor Enugu state
Former Enugu State governor, Chimaroke Nnamani spent four years in the Senate after leaving office in 2007. He was arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on a 105-count charge for allegedly stealing the sum of N5.3 billion. He pleaded not guilty and was subsequently granted bail.
Jolly Nyame - Taraba State
Nyame was docked on a 41-count charge in July 2007. He was alleged to have embezzled the sum of N1.3 billion. At his trial, a graphic illustration was given by Mr. Dennis Orkuma Nev, a Permanent Secretary at the Taraba State Government House on how Nyame defrauded the state. The witness told the court how Nyame directed him to raise the sum of N100 million being an amount proposed for preparations for the visit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to the state in 2006.
He also told the court that he used his discretion and raised three different memos to the former governor in which he requested for N 32.3 million, N27 million and N42 million respectively. Part of the allegations against Nyame was that he collected N180 million from USAB International Nigeria Limited. The money was a kick-back from a N250 million contract awarded to the company for the supply of stationery to the state government between January and February 2005.
Lucky Igbinedion - Former Governor Edo state
In 2008, Igbinedion was arraigned by EFCC before the Federal High Court, Enugu on a 191- count charge of corruption, money laundering and embezzlement of N2.9b. In a plea bargain arrangement, the EFCC through its counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacob, reduced the 191- count charge to one-count charge. Part of the terms of the plea bargain were that Lucky Igbinedion would refund N500m, three properties and plead guilty to the one-count charge. He agreed to the terms, paid up and was subsequently released.
However, last February, the EFCC appealed the judgment, asking for stiffer sanctions. Igbinedion will now face a N25 billion fraud trial at the Federal High Court in Benin, a development some observers have described as politically motivated.
Boni Haruna - Former Governor of Adamawa state
Boni Haruna was also arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on a 28-count charge of embezzling the sum of N161 million. He pleaded not guilty to the alleged crimes and secured bail from the court and after applied for the release of his travel documents to enable him honour a medical appointment in the US. The court granted his request and he made the trip. Upon his return, he gave back his travel document to the court and has been attending his trial. The case is still going on.
Abubakar Audu - Former Kogi state governor
Abubakar Audu was originally arraigned on 30 November 2006 on an 80-count charge of fraud and embezzlement of over N4 billion. The charge has suffered several setbacks, as he had thrice approached the Supreme Court and returned to the Kogi State High Court, where his trial is going on before Justice Saidu Tanko Husseini.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel - Former Governor of Ogun state
In April, EFCC docked former Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State at the Ogun State High Court, Abeokuta, on a 38-count charge of fraudulent conversion of land, failure to declare assets, stealing and corruptly obtaining properties.
His counsel, Professor Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, filed a reply to the counter-affidavit filed by the EFCC opposing the application. However, Daniel lost the N20 million case he instituted against EFCC at an Abeokuta High Court for unlawful arrest and detention. His case is still on.
Dimeji Bankole - Former Speaker of the House of Representatives
Dimeji Bankole on June 8, 2011was docked by EFCC over a 16-count charge relating to contract inflation. On 13th June 2011, EFCC dragged him and Usman Bayero Nafada, his deputy, to court over a 17-count charge of alleged misappropriation of N10 billion loan borrowed while they were in office. But the case was thrown out on 31 January 2012. However, the N9 billion contract scam hanging on his neck is still ongoing at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Ndudi Elumelu
The member of the House of Representatives from Delta State and former chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Power, Elumelu, was docked at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over N5.2 billion fraud charges brought against him by EFCC. But the presiding judge, Justice Garba Umar, ruled that he had "no case to answer". However, the same case is still pending at the FCT High Court, before Justice Adebukola Banjoko.
Abdullahi Adamu - Former Governor of Nasarawa
He was arraigned in court on 3rd March 2010 alongside 18 others on a 149-count charge of fraud involving over N15 billion. The case began to suffer delay right from the beginning with the transfer of the presiding judge to the Asaba Division of Federal High Court. Justice Marcel Awokulehin, who earned notoriety over his handling of the case involving James Ibori, the former governor of Delta State, was asked to take over the trial of the case. However, Adamu's trial also suffered another setback, as Awokulehin, on 27 April 2010, voluntarily withdrew from from the case, citing personal reasons and "in conformity with his conscience".
Danjuma Goje - Former Governor of Gombe state
He was arraigned on 20 October 2011 on allegations of milking his state to the tune of N52 billion. EFCC has already asked the lawyer to return Adamu's file due to what the agency perceived as conflict of interest. 
Vanguard

Gowon urges N’Assembly to reject state creation

 by David Attah

Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon

Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, has called on the National Assembly not to accede to requests of various interests in the country to create more states.

Creating new states, he said, would only increase the burden of governance in the country.

He also called for the introduction of electoral college in the 2015 presidential election.

Gowon,  who was represented by the Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed, spoke on Wednesday at a conference organised by Arewa House Centre for Historical Documentation and Research of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

According to Gowon, new states will not resolve the several problems bedevilling the country.

Gowon said,  “We are faced with challenges in the country, no doubt. Now that the constitution review is in place, the National Assembly must end the agitation for the creation of new states by some ethnic nationalities. More states  will only increase cost of governance.

“New states will not resolve the catalogue of problems  in the country.”

The former military leader, who said he met with northern senate caucus in Abuja last week, explained that he asked them to consider the introduction of electoral college in electing the country’s president.

He also told the gathering, which had prominent northern leaders, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, that the region must come together in order to develop politically.

Gowon said, “Unless we come together, we would continue to have problems.

“The North must come together to forge a common front for  the North to enjoy progress and development.”

Declaring the conference open, Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa called for peace in the region, saying a peaceful North remained a catalyst for the  nation’s stability and development.

The governor noted that for peace to reign in the region, its leader must discourage  ethnic and religious intolerance among the people.

Yakowa said, “The North has been a catalyst for the unity, stability and development of the country. The country has been relying on the North for direction. This is contrary to what some people out there would want the world to believe about the North.

“History has shown that the unity and strength of the North, with a collective sense of purpose and focus, has been the basis for the unity and strength of Nigeria. We must do everything to sustain this responsibility bestowed on us by providence.”

ThePunch

Edo youths, students, traders, landlords, and tenants plan mega rally in Edo

 


Edo youths, students, traders, landlords and tenants under the auspices of Edo Political Forum and Edo Youth Congress have concluded arrangement to host a historic protest in Benin City from Monday December 10, 2012 till further notice. The rally is tagged OCCUPY EDHA RALLY 2012 scheduled to hold at the premises of Edo State House of Assembly from Monday 10th of December, 2012 between 8.00am to 4.00pm every working day till whenever their four-point demands are met.
According to a notice available from Edo Political Forum website, and signed by the Director of Research and Strategy, Saintmoses Eromosele, the four-point demands are as follows:
1. The resignation of the Speaker
2. The resignation of the House Leader
3. A resolution of the House recalling and annulling the allegedly passed bil.
4. Apology by the house to the Edo people
The protest is expected to also visit the Oba Palace, Government House and other stake holders in the policy of Edo State. The groups are also working out legal channels to defeat the bill should the governor assent to it. According to the release, the protest shall be non-violent, peaceful and effectively coordinated. Information from Edo Political Forum is that application for police permit is being sent as well as notifications to all concerned. According to the leader of the protest, Barrister Jefferson Woghiren, he said that ‘’there is no going back on the protest’’
This protest is being sponsored by the members of Edo Political Forum as many of them have volunteered their cars, water, talents and other materials to ensure that this noble intention is not hijacked by politicians.
The group has called for a Press Conference on Monday 10, December 2012 at 7am in Benin City where the details of their demands shall be made available to the press. We shall keep you posted on development as they unfold.''
NigeriaPolitico

Identical Twins Reunited 24 Years After Being Separated at Birth

By Melissa Knowles

A woman continually mistaken for someone else has finally met her doppelganger – and discovered she is her separated at birth twin sister. For three years Bao Lulin, 24, found herself continually mistaken for someone else. Since 2009 Lulin has been approached by a number of people who spoke to her as if they knew her. “Have you come back from working in Fujian Province?” “You’re the daughter-in-law of Tian Laosan.” “Yanfei, you don’t know me?” However, Lulin didn’t know any of them. It was only recently that Lulin tracked down the mysterious Yanfei she was always mistaken for. And to their shock they discovered they are almost identical physically and share a number other similarities, including identical scars on their fingers.

Yahoo! It happens to all of us. You’re out somewhere, and someone says you look just like someone else. Most of us just smile politely and continue on with our day. But what if it happens so often that you really begin to wonder. Would your curiosity get the best of you, and would you just have to find out who that person is?
Bao Lulin works as a waitress in Jiuyang, China. Over a period of three years, she found she was constantly being told that she looked just like a woman named Yang Yanfei. Lulin’s first encounter with being mistaken for this mystery woman was in 2009, when she was asked by a stranger, “You have come back from Fujian Province? Why didn’t you inform us?” When people continued to call her “Yanfei,” Lulin finally decided to search for her doppelganger.
In October, after Lulin was once again mistaken for the other woman, she asked the person to give her Yanfei’s address so that she could meet her. She never imagined that this encounter would change her life.
When Lulin showed up at Yanfei’s house, she was shocked. The resemblance wasn’t slight; the two women actually looked exactly alike. They stood face to face, examining each other’s features and similarities. Yanfei said, “I felt I was looking into the mirror.” Now reunited, the sisters say they feel as if they’d known each other for years and years.
Lulin and Yanfei discovered they had been separated at birth. The two were put up for adoption as infants because of China’s one-child policy. The girls share a number of things in common: They were both married in 2007, their husbands have the same name (Bin), they share some of the same hobbies and favorite foods, and their sons could pass for twins. Here’s something that’s really uncanny — they each have a scar on their fingers resulting from similar accidents that happened when they were 6 years old.

LibertyReport

50 Nigerian Girls Used as S*x Slaves Rescued from Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire

In a rather disturbing development, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) has rescued 50 Nigerian girls, mostly underaged, working as sex slaves in neighboring Ghana and Cote d’ Ivoire.
The girls, apparently victims of human trafficking, are between the ages of 16 and 25. Executive Secretary of NAPTIP, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba, who made this known at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, said three suspects, acting as their slave masters, were also arrested. She said the suspects, who admitted to the crime, would be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others engaged in the activities.
Jedy-Agba, who was represented by NAPTIP’s Director of Counselling and Rehabilitation in the agency, Mrs Lily Oguejiofor, said the rescue operation was the second of its kind this year, having rescued 10 girls in July, 2012 from Ivory Coast, bringing the total number of girls rescued this year from West African countries to 60.
She said the operation was necessitated by disturbing reports from a variety of sources, including the Nigerian mission in those countries, the media, Nigerians in diaspora, and civil society organisations in the countries. She then noted that the reports were all authenticated by an intelligence report from the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA) and corroborated by a civil society organisation working on anti-trafficking issues in Ghana known as “Operation Mobilisation in Kumasi.”
InformationNigeria.org

JTF Kills Four Boko Haram Sub-commanders, Recovers ‘Black Xmas’ Weaponry

Weapons recovered from Boko Haram sub-commanders

By SaharaReporters, New York

The Joint Task Force (JTF) has announced the killing of four more Boko Haram sub commanders in Maiduguri.
In a statement today, spokesman Lt. Col Sagir Musa, JTF said two of the dead men were experts in the manufacturing of Improvised Explosive Devices.
The men were killed in a shoot-out at Sabon Gere, Sabon Layin Gwange, Dala Sajeri, Biafra and Suleimanti areas of the metropolis between the 3rd – 5th of December.
This week’s battle followed another killing, on 2nd of December, of Abdulkareem Ibrahim, identified as a high profile Boko Haram commander, on Damboa- Biu Road.
During the battle, Lt. Col. Musa said two soldiers were wounded.   JTF also recovered a variety of items.
Thanking members of the public for their assistance, JTF said, “All the recovered items [were] planned to be used by the terrorists for operation “Black Christmas” – aimed to disrupt peaceful conduct of the impending Christmas celebration in Borno State.”
The items are:
a. 5 AK 47 Rifles
b. 1 Pistol
c. 11 AK 47 Rifles’ empty magazines
d. 1 G3 Rifle
e. 176 rounds of assorted ammunition
f.  24 assorted primed IED Gas Cylinders
g. 12 pieces of IED remote control switches
h. 6 assorted IEDs and incendiary materials / chemicals.
i. 15 small primed IED Cans