I fed Okonjo-Iweala’s mum with bread, groundnuts – Suspect

BY EMMA AMAIZE & AUSTIN OGWUDA ASABA —  A member of the 10-man kidnap gang who earlier this month abducted the 82-year-old Prof, Kamene Okonjo, mother of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, yesterday, confessed his involvement in the abduction and narrated how he fed the retired professor of sociology with groundnut, water and bread in the kidnappers’ den.
The suspected kidnapper, Andrew Dime, aka Olokpa, 32, who hails from Enikorogha in Edo State, however, told Vanguard that he was only hired by the second-in-command of the gang to supply food to Prof. Okonjo on two occasions at a fee of N100,000.
Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, on the other hand, told Vanguard that Prof. Okonjo was kept in the custody of the suspect, who was in-charge of her feeding.
The second-in-command of the gang allegedly swindled him when he bolted with his N1 million share of the ransom collected for the release of Prof. Okonjo.
Apparently, to settle scores, the police said the suspect formed a new kidnap gang, which abducted an octogenarian at Aboh in Ndokwa area of the state.  But having obtained a database on the group after its leader, Nwaeze Nwosa, aka Bolaji was shot dead in Asaba, the police were able to track down the suspect.
Aduba told Vanguard that the police set a trap for him when it got information that he was in dire need of money for the yuletide by convincing him to sell one of the guns used for the abduction of Prof. Okonjo, which was in his custody. He fell for the trap and negotiated a price of N300,000 for a pump-action gun with a police officer, who posed as a buyer. He was, thereafter, arrested at Koka junction, Asaba, when he came to collect the cash.
Dark-complexioned Andrew, who spoke to Vanguard in an interview, debunked the claim that he formed a new kidnap gang and that he was the one that negotiated the sale of pump-action gun, which was used to ensnare him.
A police source said he was being economical with the truth, adding: “Most of these people (referring to criminals) will never tell you the truth when you arrest them until you get other members of the gang to confront them.”

Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala and her mother, Prof. Kamene Okonjo

Below are the excerpts of the interview with the suspect
What is your name?
Andrew Idime.
How old are you?
32.
Where are you from?
I am from Enikorogha, Ovia South-West Local Government Area of  Edo State.
Where do you live?
I live at Army Barracks, Onitsha.
Do you know why you are here in police cell?
For now, I know why I am arrested. Some friends of mine, they indulged themselves in kidnapping act. One of them is Chiboy and another is Biggy.  The person I know very well is Chiboy. It was through this Chiboy that I met Biggy. I was trading on used shoes and my business was not moving well. So Chiboy called me that there is something that I was going to do. I asked him what it was, he said there was somebody I was going to drop food for and that I was going to drop food twice and that they would settle me. Therefore, I went there truly, he brought an Okada man (motorcyclist), the Okada man took me there, and I dropped the food twice.
He said that if I dropped the food there that he was going to call them. That if I dropped the food, I should call to let him know that I have dropped the food beside that bridge on that Kwale road. That when I dropped the food, they would come and take the food. I went there twice and dropped the food at that particular spot. They said they were going to give me N100,000. But the N100,000 I did not see it.
Were you not told who was kidnapped?
I do not know the exact person they kidnapped. They did not tell me. I am a neutral person. My job there was to go and drop the food.
Did you not know you were doing wrong thing as the person was in the hospital?
No, he said that his boys need food so I should go and drop groundnut, bread and water for them.
Why did he send you, why did he not drop the food himself?
He is a leader. He said he wants me to, at least have some token in the business.
Which business are you talking?
He said he had involved himself in kidnapping business
Which means you were told what they actually did?
They told me.
Are you saying you do not know when you were dropping the food that you will be counted as one of them if caught?
Yes, I knew.
So, why did you take part?
It is because of my condition
What is your condition?
I am not living well; my business is not moving well. I needed little money to assist my business.
What we heard was that Prof. Okonjo was kept in your custody?
No, no, no, I swear to God. I do not live in Delta State.
You have a house in Asaba?
Of course, I have a house but I have checked out for a long time based on the rent. The house was too costly for me
You said you were neutral, then, tell us what Chiboy and others told you about how they kidnapped Prof. Okonjo?
Until they rounded up their business, even up to date, I have not seen Chiboy. I was holding one of his numbers, but right now, the number is not going through.
There is no way you would be asked to go and drop food for somebody that was kidnapped without you asking or finding out the story of how the person was kidnapped. What  exactly were you told?
They only told me they have kidnapped somebody and that the person is at Kwale. That what I am going to do is to take the food to a particular bridge, that if I get to that bridge, I should flash him and he was going to call his boys. That if I dropped the food, I should not delay there. That I should drop the food, enter the bike immediately and move.
Were you taking bike from Onitsha to that place?
No, he was the person that brought the bike, not from Asaba. I entered bus to Ibusa and from Ibusa, he would now bring the bike. The bike person, it seems, is his private bike man, so the bike person would now take me to there.
From the story that you have told so far, it seemed you were party to the kidnapping?
I have involved myself already because of my going there to give them food, which has already made me a party. However, I do not know the exact person that they kidnapped but I have involved myself in this act.
You were arrested when you came to sell a gun?
No, the boy that wanted to sell the gun ran away.
Tell us how sharing of money brought misunderstanding among the kidnappers?
In bringing of food, he (Chiboy, the leader) told me to bring the food twice.
Did you buy food with your money?
He bought it; he was the one that brought the money. He does not reside in one place. He promised that he was going to give me N50,000 each. So, I accepted to go and drop and collect N50,000 because it was an easy one. Therefore, I went there twice. However, when they brought the money I did not see him. The N100,000 they promised as my share I did not see. Who am I to go and challenge him?
How were you arrested?
The police arrested me yesterday (last Thursday) because there was one of my friends, Chuks. He said that based on this Christmas period, that he does not have money and that he wanted to sell one of his pump actions. So he negotiated with one boy, so when the boy came, they were three in the car. He told me to go and inform them to drop and come out so that they would negotiate. I was to tell them to off the motor engine and that Chuks was waiting down there. Therefore, when they grabbed me, he ran away. In the process when I was asking what’s all about, I was arrested.
We learnt you also involved yourself in another kidnapping, what is your role in the new kidnap gang?
My role was to be with the man in the bush. I was supposed to stay in that bush with the victim
Vanguard

Revolution is imminent–Bishop Udogu

From Goddy Osuji Abakaliki
The Anglican Bishop of Afikpo Diocese Rt. Rev. Paul Udogu, has warned Nigerian leaders not to allow what happened in the Arab world to take place in Nigeria, just as he blamed them for all the socio-economic problems the country is currently passing through.
Bishop Udogu expressed this position in his presidential address during the Diocese’s synod at Christ Anglican Church, Okposi, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, adding that the greatest problem, facing Nigeria was not poverty, unemployment, and epileptic power supply but corruption where Nigeria is ranked 143 out of 182 countries by Transparency International in the 2011 corruption perception index.
He thanked God for the continuous existence of the country despite many challenges that threatened the unity of the country, saying: “Nigeria is a great country with great potentials. We are blessed with abundant natural endowment and human resources. We have all that is needed to make Nigeria stand tall in the midst of other nations and Nigerians walk proudly as Nigerians anywhere in the world.”
According to him: “Causes of corruption in Nigeria include greed; the desire to gather all for oneself and lack of contentment. Ostentatious lifestyle; a society in love of ostentatious lifestyle may delve into corrupt practices to feed the lifestyle and embrace a style of public sleaze and lack of decorum. Ethnicity, otherwise known as tribalism; people want their kinsmen in government to bring government house if possible to their village and favour their kinsmen. This is why some key Northern politicians and leaders insisted on Northern President otherwise they would make Nigeria ungovernable”.
He said that corruption has been prevalent throughout Nigerian history. Observing that it was kept at manageable level during the first Republic where cases of corruption then were sometimes occasioned by political infighting.
His words, “Under Shehu Shagari administration, a few federal building mysteriously went on fire after investigations started on the finances of the officials working in the building.”
“Gen. Buhari seized power in 1983 and accused the National Party of Nigeria NPN led government of corruption. Many political gladiators were convicted of corruption. However, the administration itself was involved in a few instances of lapsed ethical judgment.
The regime of Gen. Babangida was characterized by corruption. It is believed that under Babangida’s regime corruption was institutionalized in Nigeria. The administration failed to give account of the Gulf war windfall estimated to be $12.4 billion. He also annulled the democratic election of June 12 1993.
Abacha followed the path of his master. After his death in 1998 Swiss banks revealed in 2000 of about $600 million deposit by Abacha and his family members. In the same year, a total of more than $1 billion were found in various accounts of the General throughout Europe.
All subsequent regimes, military and civilian have been pervaded by corruption. It results in a combination of scandalous wealth among the ruling class, with growing poverty, misery and degradation among the masses of Nigerians. Political life has become dominated by winner takes all syndrome, political cynicism and violence, while the economy and social institutions have been driven into decay.”
He reasoned, “Corruption seems to have become an acceptable way of doing business for those in public offices. The government is powerless in its fight against corruption because those appointed to either investigate or prosecute are corrupt or loyal to their corrupt god-fathers. Recently we heard that about five Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC staff were jailed for taking bribe, because there is no will power and sincerity of purpose. It is disheartening that Nigeria as a nation is set on a visionless journey by selfish individuals that have controlled the resources of this country since its independence. They have metamorphosed from military to armed politicians, controlling the resources of this great nation, brutalizing its ability to grow, and shattering the hopes of millions of innocent citizens. Therefore, we are in a vicious circle and any attempt to step out of this circle can be seen as a betrayal of their masters.”
Judiciary           
“It is unfortunate today that the judiciary is not helping matters in the war against corruption. There are high profile cases of corruption instituted by EFCC which had been struck out in recent past by High court judges either for lack of diligent prosecution on the part of EFCC’s lawyers or for lack of substance.  Such cases include that of the former Speaker of House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, the former Governor of Delta state Chief James Ibori. It is too appalling that the same James Ibori whose charges were struck out by the Nigerian court is jailed for 13 years by a UK court for the same offence”.
Arguing, “If corruption should be reduced in Nigeria, the EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies such as the ICPC, the police and the judiciary must sit up. Corruption is seen in almost all the sectors of our national life, be it in banking, oil and gas, economy, education, politics and agriculture. The list is endless. In the recent times from the $16 million spent on power under Obasanjo administration, to the banking sector scandal that saw the closure of many banks to the oil subsidy removal revelation of shame to the Hon. Faruk Lawal and Otetola bribery saga”.
Revolution
“While we do not advocate for revolution at this time, however, we believe our leaders should learn from the Arab uprising and the reactions of Nigerians when the oil subsidy was removed. This is because a man cannot be held forever on a ground one day he may take his destiny into his hands and will fight for his liberation.”

TheSun

2013 and the opposition’s mega party plans

 by: Dare Odufowokan

One of the major political events observers of the power game in Nigeria are looking forward to in 2013 is the result of the ongoing merger talks among opposition political parties in the country.

It is believed that if it succeeds, the proposed mega party will give the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) serious run for its money and size.

The merger of the parties is one of the strategies being canvassed by some  politicians to defeat the ruling PDP which has dominated power since the advent of the present democracy in 1999.

While more opposition parties are said to be interested in joining the move to form a mega party, the three leading opposition political parties in the country namely, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) may have decided to drop their identities by April 2013, when talks on their proposed merger are expected to be completed.

Few days back, the Chairman of the ANPP National Rebuilding and Interparty Contact Committee, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, told journalists in Abuja that the merger talks between ACN, CPC  and ANPP had reached the last stage.

Shekarau, a former governor of Kano State, allayed fears that the talk may collapse again when he announced that the chieftains of the three parties had decided to forget their individual ambitions to make the fusion a success.

“Certainly, we are going to submit our party certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission after our merger. That is what a merger means. The Electoral Law is so clear on the procedure for a merger.

“If we decide to merge, the next thing is that we go back to our parties, call National Executive Committee meeting, and discuss with the members, in the presence of INEC officials. Then, you can call congress and that is all.

“The difference now is to pass a resolution and all this will be simultaneously done (by the three parties) and we will inform INEC about it. When that is done, INEC has no choice than to register your new identity.”

The National Publicity Secretaries of CPC and ACN, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin and Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in separate interviews recently confirmed Shekarau’s claim that a merger of the three leading opposition parties is in the offing.

“Yes, we are ready to lose our identity for the sake of the bigger party that is capable of sacking the PDP. My National Chairman, Prince Tony Momoh, has said it several times that he is ready to lose his position as well.

“I’m also ready for that, if that will enable us form a party that will be big enough to confront and remove the PDP from the central government,” Fashakin said.

“ACN is committed to getting a single platform of all opposition political parties that will drive the PDP out of power.

“All I can tell you is that the modalities are being worked out. And we are committed to it,” Mohammed said.

Few weeks back, another leading opposition party, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) also announced its readiness to be part of the merger move. The party said though it is poised to displace the PDP in 2015, it will not mind working with other oppositin parties to achieve that.

The party’s national chairman, Victor Umeh, made the announcement when asked if his party is part of the merger talk currently going on. He said the APGA is not opposed to the move and will surely be part of it.

There are also talks that the paties may have already put forward some names including but not limited to Action Congress for Progressive Change, (ACPC) and Action Congress Alliance, (ACA) as possible names that would be used to consummate the alliance.

The parties are also said to be expediting plans to hold their national conventions where the alliance will be endorsed by their members. Sources said all things being equal, the conventions will hold very early in the new year. If this happens, then a new political party will surely be born in 2013.

TheNation

Buhari Asked to Opt Out of Opposition Parties Merger

Muhammadu Buhari

By Ibrahim Shuaibu

A chieftain of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Alhaji Abdulmajid Danbilki Kwamanda,  yesterday advised the presidential candidate of the party in the last election, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), to opt out of the merger plans between the CPC, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), alleging that the antiques behind the moves was aimed at burying his political movement sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Kwamanda, who fielded questions from journalists in Kano, explained that there was no way ANPP and CPC could merge, when ANPP as Buhari’s former party contributed to his political misery by dumping him for the Government of National Unity (GNU), even when the party (ANPP) was still contesting the outcome of the election in court.

He alleged that: “The calibre of people involved in the merger plan were PDP agents, who were sent to ensure that Buhari does not succeed in his political activities. It is very clear that there is a missing link from the whole moves because those that are insisting on it have been Buhari’s albatross, who are there to prostrate his moves to clinch to power as they did in 2003,2007 and now 20011.
“Many incidences have been explicitly been shown to serve as a deterrent to the General Buhari to desist from the plan merger because there is nothing good that will come out of it.”
Continuing, he said: “But if he (Buhari) refuse to listen, I know that all his followers will suffer the brunt of what will happen because at that time they would be the ultimate losers.”

According to him, “we are truly loyal to Buhari and we want him clearly to reject the planned merger and any other thing to do.”
Similarly, the he warned Buhari to be wary of some of those that have surrounded him whom they described as Technocrat but have nothing rely to offer rather than consistently making Buhari to fail as its show in the previous elections.”

Danbilki added that even those that joined the CPC should be watched closely because their mission was still unclear.

ThisDay

Court asked to compel Jonathan to end subsidy

 by Simon Utebor and Ade Adesomoju

President Goodluck Jonathan

The ground appears to have been prepared for another New Year confrontation between President Goodluck Jonathan and civil rights activists with a stiff opposition by the latter to a suit asking Jonathan to remove totally the subsidy on fuel.

 A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party  in Anambra State, Chief Stanley Okeke, has  filed a suit in which he is asking a Federal High Court to compel the President to remove fuel subsidy.

 Okeke is also asking the court to compel Jonathan to return to the Federation Account “such money earlier appropriated and or approved for the payment of fuel subsidy.”

 The suit was filed on December 21.

 But the Save Nigeria Group said the suit was a grand plot to deceive Nigerians, while human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana, vowed that civil society organisations would oppose Okeke and what the suit represents “vehemently”.

An elder statesman, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, also described the suit as a “dubious diversion.” 

Okeke, in the suit in which he listed the defendants as Jonathan; the Minister of Petroleum, Diezeni Allison-Madueke; and the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said the subsidy fund was unjustifiable in the face of corruption in the system, perennial fuel shortage and long queues in the country.

 The only way to stop abuse of the fuel subsidy scheme is the removal of the policy by the Federal Government, according to the plaintiff in a 27-paragraph affidavit deposed in support of the suit.

 He is also asking the court for an order directing Okonjo-Iweala to stop further payment of fuel subsidy, submitting that the payments had been corrupt, illegal and unlawful.

 The PDP chief asked the court to determine the following questions:

 *Whether in view of the official corruption and abuse of office inherent in the fuel subsidy regime as evidenced by the in-going trial of certain individuals in the Federal High Court Lagos, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is validly competent to order the removal and or abolish the fuel subsidy scheme;

 *Whether consequent upon the perennial fuel shortages and the attendant long queues on our roads, it would be proper and lawful for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to completely remove and abolish the fuel subsidy regime;

 *Whether having regards to the near infrastructural collapse in our country, it would be proper to re-channel funds meant fuel subsidy scheme into the building of infrastructural facilities, and;

 *Whether the 2nd and 3rd defendants being appointees of the President by not ensuring a corrupt free subsidy regime has not failed in their principal duty to Nigerians.

 No date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.

 Spokesman for the SNG, Yinka Odumakin, told The PUNCH on Sunday night that the suit was a gameplan to increase the prices of petroleum products in the New Year.

Odumakin said, “This is a nation of organised grand deception. President Goodluck Jonathan said there would not be fuel subsidy removal. What is happening is an orchestrated plan to increase fuel price.

“The action is like a case of the witch crying yesterday and the following day, the child is dead. Who will not know it is the witch that killed the baby?”

He said the SNG’s last protest was not about subsidy removal but the corruption in the system.

“The President should know that Nigerians are not idiots. We are waiting for them,” he said.

Falana told one of our correspondents on the telephone that, “We are going to oppose the suit vehemently and totally. We and other civil society organisations will join the suit to oppose the plaintiff and the interests being represented.

“The President has already declared in his Presidential chat that he was not going to remove subsidy on fuel. It is very clear that Nigerians are opposed to any further removal of subsidy on fuel.

“Nigerians cannot be punished for the fraud and the criminality of smugglers that have characterised the fuel subsidy regime.

“The cases being referred to by the plaintiff are still in court, nobody has been convicted so far.”

Braithwaite said, “The fuel subsidy itself is a swindle on the national treasury, by which trillions of naira and billions of dollars are stolen by those in government and their accomplices who are easily identifiable by the hapless masses.

“However, a lawsuit in the present corrupt environment of Nigeria is yet another dubious diversion to buy time for the cruel and oppressive governments in Nigeria.”

Braithwaite said Nigerians had a responsibility to hold ‘King Corruption’ accountable in the people’s own court and to recover the loot.

 Another human rights activist, Jiti Ogunye, said the suit could be an “arrangee case” that would not be opposed by the President and other agents of the Federal Government.

He said, “Is an order of mandamus, as a prerogative writ in administrative or constitutional law, or an order like that lies to compel the performance of a public duty? The answer is no. It is a policy issue that is not justiciable in court of law.

 “We hope that this is not an ‘arrangee case’ since the defendants – the President and other agents of the Federal Government – might not be willing to oppose the suit.

 “We also hope that the Nigerian Labour Congress and other civil society groups, who fought bitterly in January to oppose the removal of subsidy on fuel, are watching. We encourage them to join the suit as interested parties so that it will not be a cut-and-dry case between the plaintiff and the Federal Government.”

 Punch

Gombe Lawmaker Kidnapped

 | YAU WAZIRI

A Gombe State House of Assembly member representing Gombe North, Hon Ahmed Jalo Ganga was, yesterday, abducted on his way to the mosque for his morning prayers at about 5am.
Reports indicated that two people on motorcycle attacked and forced him to enter a waiting car at Gandu Quarters, within Gombe metropolis in which they made good their escape.
An eyewitness account revealed that the Lawmaker was asked by his abductors to come near to one parked car, but he resisted and told them to allow him to come back from the Mosque.
When he tried to go, they shot in the air to scare the people around and forced him to enter the waiting car, abandoned the motorcycle and fled to unknown destination.
Hon. Jalo Ganga is the Chairman House committee on Finance elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Commissioner of Police, Gombe state command, Alhaji Muhammed Sule, said that the motorcycle used by the kidnappers was abandoned and has no plate number, and added that the command has commenced investigation to locate the whereabouts of the Lawmaker and fish out the perpetrators. 
 Leadership

Binis lack political leadership – Edebiri

By SIMON EBEGBULEM BENIN—FORMER governorship candidate in Edo Sate, Mr. Solomon Edebiri, weekend, identified what he described as lack of political leadership, as a major problem militating against the Bini nation.
Edebiri, who declared this at the 7th edition of Benin National Merit Award, organized by Benin National Congress, BNC, a socio-cultural organization in Edo State, lamented that “our so-called political leaders have turned themselves to political prostitutes who will always settle for the highest bidder in political trading.”
Recipients of the 2012 Benin Merit Award include former Edo State representative on the Board of NDDC, Mathew Iduoriyekemwen.
Vanguard