Consequently, Pastor
Eric Abakporo could spend a maximum term of about 30 years in prison when he is
finally sentenced on November 12, 2013.
According to Sahara Reporters, Abakporo was found
guilty of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and
bank fraud. The first and third charges each carry a maximum of 30 years in
jail, while wire fraud carries a maximum of 20 years.
Abakporo’s co-conspirator, Latanya Pierce, who was
also found guilty on all three counts, faces the same predicament. She will be
sentenced separately on December 9, 2013.
Last February, a grand jury of the United States
District Court Southern District of New York indicted Abakporo and Pierce on the
charges, and recommended that they forfeit to the government a wide variety of
properties related to their offences, as well as a sum of money representing the
approximate amount of proceeds obtained as a result of the offences.
The jury trial of the suspects took place on July
26 before Judge Shira A. Scheindlin, and the guilty verdict was rendered as
early as 1:00pm. Ms. Pierce is currently out on bail, but Abakporo was remanded
in custody.
It would be recalled that the superseding
indictment [Case 1:12-cr-00340-SAS filed on January 24, 2013] charged that
between 2003 and 2012, Abakporo and Pierce, who owned or controlled several real
estate-related businesses, worked together to defraud financial institutions and
mortgage lenders, property owners, property buyers and others of real property,
mortgage loan proceeds, and monies related to real property transactions.
As part of their fraudulent scheme, the indictment
said, Abakporo and Pierce used straw purchasers and borrowers to buy properties
using mortgage loans from financial institutions and mortgage lenders, and
caused false and fraudulent documents and information to be submitted to those
financial institutions and mortgage lenders.
The properties involved were said to include: 1. 99 – 21 215th Street, Queens, New York 2. 50 Carnegie Avenue, Elmont, New York 3. 143 Quincy Street, Brooklyn, New York 4. 1308 Caton Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 5. 1070 Saint Nicholas Avenue, Manhattan, New York 6. 215 – 11, 111th Road, Cambria Heights, New York,
and 7. 101 – 24 197th Street, Hollis, New York
11423
In a previous indictment, the story was also told
of how Abakporo defrauded a 78-year old American lady, swindling her out of her
property.
“Through lies and deception, these individuals
abused the trust of an elderly woman in order to perpetrate a multimillion
dollar fraud,” New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said, vowing
they would face justice.
In May 2012, the federal prosecutor’s office
announced the arrest of Abakporo and Pierce for swindling the elderly lady out
of her apartment building and stiffing a bank from whom they fraudulently
obtained a $1.8 million mortgage loan.
In addition: Abakporo’s case calls to mind the judgement on another
fraudulent Nigeria-born lawyer, Emeka Ugwuonye, who converted to personal use
the sum of $1.55 million he received from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on
behalf of the Embassy of Nigeria.
Giving judgement in that case on July 24, Judge
Barbara J. Rothstein of the United States District Court for the District of
Columbia ordered the rogue lawyer to pay to the Embassy about $2.2 million.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC)
meeting normally presided over by the President or Vice President could not hold
at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday.
No official reason was given for the
cancellation of the meeting.
The Secretary to the Government of the
Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, who heads the Council Secretariat, had late
Tuesday issued a circular to the various ministries on the cancellation of
the meeting.
President Goodluck Jonathan was in Lagos
on Wednesday to condole with Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, while
Vice President Namadi Sambo, who went to Saudi Arabia for Umra (lesser hajj),
was due back to Nigeria Tuesday night.
Chief Akande speaking…yesterday. Listening are (from
left) Deputy National Chairman South, Senator Annie Okonkwo, National Secretary
Tijani Tumsa and Masari
All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared
that it’s yet to choose its leaders, barely one week after its registration.
Also, the party said it would field a candidate for the Anambra governorship
election scheduled for November 16.
Speaking during a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, acting national chairman
of the party and former chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria
(ACN), Chief Bisi Akande, said leaders of the party would emerge between
November and December. The party also said that it would soon announce the date
for its congresses in Anambra to elect the state leadership of the party.
On the leadership of the party, Akande stated that since the party has just
been officially recognised by INEC it has not constituted its leadership.
He stated: “We are new, and therefore, the leadership of the party has not
been constituted. I would use this opportunity to let you know that anybody
claiming or parading as the leader of the party is not true or genuine. “
Our party has just been registered and we are yet to have our congress where
our leaders would be elected. But that would be between November and December
this year. In the interim, we have worked out plans to conduct the Anambra
congress to elect the leadership of the party in the state to make sure we
participate in the gubernatorial election.
“But right now, let nobody relate with the party for the media unless through
Alhaji Lai Mohammed. He is the one we have mandated in the mean time to
represent us. So anybody in the media that needs information on the APC should
contact Mohammed and no other person.”
Akande also gave assurance that although the APC is new, it is, in the real
sense, an old party that was awaiting legal endorsement.
“These parties in the alliance have been likeminds that worked together in
the past; so we are not strangers to each other or in conflict when it comes to
principles.
“We know each other and would also encourage other politicians and Nigerians
to join us in making the nation’s politics more robust.
“We are open to all Nigerians and after the leadership of the party is
constituted, we would commence membership drive to enlarge the house and make it
the real mega party we planned from time.”
OsunDefender
The
interim national chairman of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC), Chief Bisi
Akande said running a two party system will deepen the Nigeria’s democracy.
The elder statesman said while addressing a news conference in Abuja, after
the newly registered mega party chieftains converged at the party’s secretariat
for its inaugural meeting.
Chief Akande reaffirmed the ideological position of the party saying the
party exists for the sake of the people, while explaining the role of the
party.
He also announced the establishment of a committee to mobilize Nigerians to
embrace the new party ahead of its national convention.
Meanwhile, at a separate meeting in Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital,
Governor Tanko Al-Makura speaks on the merger of the three main opposition
parties into the all progressive congress.
The governor said the merger is aimed at providing credible leadership for
the country.
Passing as the first successful merger of political parties in Nigeria’s
history since 1914, the political strength of the APC will be felt, come
November at the Anambra governorship election. CHANNELSTV
•Chief Akande speaking...yesterday. Listening are
(from left) Deputy National Chairman South, Senator Annie Okonkwo, National
Secretary Tijani Tumsa and Masari
Progressives took a major step yesterday in strengthening their new baby.
They set up a committee, headed by former House of Representatives Speaker
Aminu Bello Masari, to build a structure for the All Progressives Congress
(APC).
The National Chairman of the party’s Interim National Executive Committee,
Chief Bisi Akande, broke the news.
But he disappointed those eager to know the party’s presidential and
governorship candidates for the 2015 polls.
He said the party was ready to draw members from all groups, including the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said if President Goodluck Jonathan was fed up with the crisis in PDP, he
is free to join the APC.
Akande, who spoke at a briefing after the maiden meeting of the APC Interim
NEC in Abuja, admitted that Nigeria was politically drifting towards a two-party
system.
He said: “We listened to some people talking about presidency, talking about
governors; we have not reached that stage at all. Our major preoccupation is to
set up the structure of our party – the All Progressives Congress.
“It is after that, maybe in November or December when we hold our national
convention where our national executives will be elected; there is no idea about
who becomes president or who becomes a governor.
“But the only exemption is Anambra State where the committee is already
working on that.
“We are going to register our members in Anambra State, we are going to
conduct congresses and we are going to elect a candidate that will contest on
the platform of the All Progressives Congress. I think these are the very few
things I have to tell you that we did at today’s meeting.”
Akande said several committees were set up to advise the party on how to go
about the elections in some states, such as Anambra and Delta as well as some
local government elections in Kwara, Anambra, Cross River, Enugu and other
places.
He did not state the timeline for the committees, but said they would soon
report back.
“If you know the INEC timetable you will appreciate that we are going to work
within that frame work and we are going to be ready. Before INEC closes their
door to nomination in Anambra State, we would almost have finished,” Akande
said.
He said the party has banned those arrogating to themselves some political
offices or positions when the APC structure is yet to be erected.
He added: “You know, political parties are in contest to win elections and
the APC has come to demonstrate that to the good people of Nigeria.
“And in doing so the only thing that we think is creating some
misunderstanding is that people are anxious to be part of APC.
“But because the party has not been given the directive, some people are just
talking on behalf of the party. We are putting a stop to that. Any statement
about the party should emanate from the Publicity Secretary of APC and that is
Alhaji Lai Mohammed. And whatever he tells you, you should know it is the mind
and decision of the All Progressives Congress.
“We are warning people that are arrogating to themselves chairmanship of APC
in the state or in the local government, they are all unauthorised. All those
who are printing papers, printing forms, calling rallies in the states in the
name of APC; they are not yet authorised.
“The authority will soon begin to flow down from the national level to the
state level, and to local government. And when it is going to be done, the
National Publicity Secretary will keep you informed.”
Masari is heading the committee to advise the party on its structure.
He said the mobilisation of members into the new party will begin from the
bottom to the top and the membership would be thrown open to all Nigerians,
including President Goodluck Jonathan.
He said: “We have just finished the first meeting after the INEC registration
of the merger of the five committees that came together. And we know our duty as
the Interim Leadership of the APC is to mobilise people into APC. Our duty is to
register members into the party.
“Our duty is to stage congresses, from ward level to local government level,
at state level and at the national level. It is to hold a convention to
establish a proper structure for the All Progressives Congress. And until that
is done, we are having the party in the interim. I hope you will understand
that.”
He said: “As for the second question, the ideological position. We have what
you call a manifesto, which we have just written. But that manifesto needs a lot
of fine-tuning. Not only that, it needs a lot of reduction into bullet
points.
“By the time we reduce our manifesto into bullet points, it won’t be
difficult for Nigerians to appreciate the ideology the APC represents. And that
is the ideology of existing for the sake of the people and not for selfish
aggrandisement of the resources of the nation to a few leadership. We are going
to make that clear shortly. By the attitude of our 11 governors in their various
states by what they are doing, you would have seen that there is a difference
between the APC and the PDP.”
Asked to be specific on the number of parties that merged to become APC,
Akande added: “The parties that held conventions to merge are the Action
Congress of Nigeria, the CPC and the ANPP. Those three parties went to a
convention to specify that they want to merge into APC. But a chunk of APGA has
indicated their membership, that they are going to join APC. And almost the
entire DPP have indicated that they are coming to join the APC.
“And we are not closing our doors to PDP. If Jonathan is tired of the crisis
in the PDP, he is welcome in the APC.”
Responding to a question, Akande admitted that the nation is politically
drifting towards a two-party system.
He said: “This is the first-ever merger in the history of Nigeria’s
democracy. There should be a two-party system so that the country will have a
choice between a bad government and a good one. It is going to deepen the
democracy best.
“There are more than 40 parties in the register of parties in England but you
have only two or three operating now. Ditto in America; you have only two (the
Democratic Party and The Republican).
“It doesn’t mean that there are no other parties that are not showing their
heads. But their democracy is very respectable because they have created a
choice between two alternatives.
“In our own, we didn’t even know which one was a better party before but from
now on it is not difficult for Nigerians to know which party has been inflicting
pains on them in the last 14 years and which party is poised to relieve them of
these pains.”
On what APC would do if the court reverses the decision of the Independent
National Electoral Commission to register it and favour a rival African Peoples
Congress, Akande said there is no cause for alarm.
He added: “The first question is hypothetical and I will not answer it. In
Nigeria today, I don’t know any other APC besides this All Progressives
Congress. And we don’t contemplate anything and nothing will happen to move this
APC out of place. We remain a party and we shall remain a party forever to rule
this country, Nigeria.
Regarding threats by APGA to sue APC, he said: “APGA never said it was going
to sue my party for any amount. APGA said it was going to sue Governor Fashola
of Lagos State, so I can’t answer for him.”
TheNation
Most parents of adolescent children will identify with the fact that it is a
time of change and challenge for all involved. Due to hormonal changes in their
body, an adolescent mood may swing from admirable behavior to a despicable show
of rudeness at home and in public. A great number of problems encountered with
parents and teens are attitude problems, underage drinking, drug abuse, drunk
driving, bullying, rebellious behavior, smoking, peer pressure, body issues and
lying.
These problems can be overwhelming for many parents. To nag, yell or threaten
are definitely not the best approaches to addressing a troubled teen. Because
modern day parents are extremely busy, other productive strategies have to be
used to deal with children. It helps to exercise an unbelievable amount of
patience and be able to think practically and strategically. It is
understandable though that parents become confused and frustrated and at a loss
at how to react to these problems. We as parents may become irrational and
emotional; the first instinct is to lash out negatively. This in turn results in
verbal or even physical abuse between parent and child; and if these scenes for
one reason or the other continue to escalate, then a parent would be forced to
admit that a losing battle is being fought without a victor.
In Nigeria, adolescents react to rapid changes to the environment. These
changes affect the society in major ways as 43% of the Nigerian population
comprise of adolescent children (Bamgbose, 2002). When adults are not properly
educated or morally sound, these characteristics are usually always passed down
to the children. Adolescent children can be said to be relating to a person who
is in transition to acquire biological features peculiar to the adult population
group. This period of life between childhood and adolescents refers to teenage
children between thirteen to eighteen years of age. This period is described by
specialists as a turbulent period of overwhelming stress. There are physical
traits associated with adolescents such as profuse perspiration and body odour
(if hygiene is not prioritized), enormous appetites, skin problems that can be
acne related, social awkwardness, curiosity about sexuality, self-consciousness,
feeling lazy or lethargic and disruptive and sometimes aggressive behavior.
With these barrage of problems, it is paramount and necessary for parents to
enlighten themselves on issues that maybe plaguing their children and interact
with them as much as possible; or as much as time will allow. Many parents
mistake for example doing homework or going to the church/ mosque as interacting
optimally with their children- this is not the solution. Interacting with your
children by participating in activities that they enjoy such as football,
swimming, movies etc. is so much more productive to both parties. Engaging your
child in a project they find interesting will bridge a strong foundational bond
that will serve as a lasting understanding even in times that you or them become
frustrated. Some parents feel utterly lost as to how to tackle adolescent
children; especially if the aggression or hostility being shown by them is not
related to physical abuse or an alcohol or substance abuse problem.
At this point its very important that parents distinguish between the
“normal” teenage mood swings and rebellion from signs of actual depression. Even
though depression may occur at any age, it can affect adolescents more than it
does younger children. These depressive symptoms can appear at the age of 13 but
more often 16 and 24. Unfortunately, depression is very difficult to detect in
adolescents; especially due to the fact that they don’t open up so easily due to
insecurities. Dr Michael Miller, editor in chief of the “Harvard Mental Health
Letter”, says experts have identified certain characteristics that distinguish
mood swings from depression in adolescents. They are:
Severity: The more pronounced the symptoms (changes in
mood, behaviours, feelings, thoughts), the more likely that the problem is
depression and not a passing mood.
Duration: Any deterioration in behavior or mood that lasts
two weeks or longer, without a break, may indicate depression.
Domains: Problems noticed in several areas of a teen’s
functioning- at home, in school, and in interactions with friends- may indicate
depression.
The first step to helping your child is to recognize and accept the fact that
they even have a problem. Encourage your child to to also identify what is
happening to them; so that you may assure them that they will not be alone in
tackling the issues at hand. Educate your child in ways to cope with problems;
model appropriate behavior for them to follow. Support them towards maintaining
a healthy lifestyle; for example enough sleep, exercise and eating proper
balanced meals. Adolescents should also be motivated towards taking preventative
steps through creativity and being involved in interactive activities. One of my
traditions has been to make children socially responsible by giving them
practical lessons. Teach your child to feel empathy towards the less privileged,
orphans and disabled. I embark upon community service with my daughter, nieces
and nephews from their foundational years; to ensure they develop a high level
of empathy for the less fortunate in the community. I often point out almajiris
that walk under the basking hot sun without even slippers on their tiny worn
feet or any proper clothing. Engage them in interactive problem solving, “If you
were President, what would you do to ensure that all children are safe and
properly cared for?” Or “How many different policies would you suggest to ensure
that child trafficking stops and all children have an equal opportunity to go to
school?” This question can be posed to the older children.
While teenage mood swings can be very difficult to deal with, it is important
that parents give support to their children. Do your best to understand what
that child is feeling; take a mental time travelling machine to remember how
strange many things may have seem to you at that age. Most teenagers find it
excruciatingly difficult to talk to their parents about their feelings. Focus on
the fact that your priority should be to help shape your child into a productive
and self-sufficient adult.
It may take the last drop of patience you have but resist the temptation to
address temperamental mood swings by lashing out in anger or annoyance. Do not
take any negative behavior personally by being a bully instead of a parent with
great inspiration and advice. Be observant of your child’s mood and ensure that
when they are upset or in pain you are there for a shoulder to lean or cry on.
When you child does well reward them with love and recognition instead of
material gifts for many parents are unwittingly guilty of showering their
children with too many gifts. You time and attention is far more valuable in the
long run than the latest ipod or PS3.
The fact that you are raising a young adult is challenging but should not
have to be a nightmare. Do the best that you can like many parents; and it is a
guarantee that the impact of your influence will shine like a bright light
through your child. One day the thought of growing pains will be a distant and
fond memory.
Saharareporters
Dear Okey Ndibe: Thank you for sounding the alarm in a way that should make
us reflect deeper. Mumu is not a condition I proudly proclaim. It was with a
heavy heart that I came to this shocking realization that we are indeed a
country of mumus. Harsh as it might sound, no other explanation would suffice.
It is apparent that the "leaders" know that they would always get away with
whatever incredible schemes they concoct because, amongst other reasons,
(a) the mumu people they "lead" are no different from their mumu "leaders" in
character
(b) the mumu people are gullible, superstitious and naive
(c) there are no consequences for criminal acts if you belong to the right
group
(d) these mumus never demand accountability from their "leaders"
(e) the mumus expect their rulers to loot or would otherwise consider them
foolish
Apologies for the seeming overgeneralization but the vast majority runs with
this mumu mindset.
There is a limit to how much one can squeeze into a song before sounding less
music than sermon. Please permit me to expatiate using your perimeter of "recent
events in the past week or two".
For simplicity I would use a numbered list to analyze and highlight a few
seemingly disparate but absurd mumurity examples and indicators.
1. 5 members trying to impeach a governor would make you think there are
probably only 6 or 7 members of the House of Assembly. According to the
assembly's website there are 31 members. For mumus, 5 out 31 constitutes a
majority.
2. In the land of mumus you can make your own mace and confer it with
automatic authority, elect a "new Speaker" and swear him in.
3. No single hospital in Nigeria to entrust the unfortunately injured member
with. He had to be flown to the UK.
4. Flown abroad ... likely on tax payers' account
5. Treated ... likely on tax payers' account
6. Visited by officials... likely on tax payers' account (business or first
class tickets?)
7. Nyesom Wike the Minister of State who led the visit was until recently the
Governor's (Amaechi's) Chief of Staff. He was allegedly nominated for the
Ministerial position by Governor Amaechi.
8. Shouldn't the mumus wonder how Nyesom Wike as Minister of State for
Education found the time for this all important trip while abandoning his post
in spite of the raging crisis in his ministry with the Academic staff union of
Nigerian universities currently on strike? Well the mumu staff and students can
rot in hell I guess.
9. Madam Patience would probably have "visited" too, if not for the noise
such would generate. So for now, the victim suffers alone.
10. The erstwhile pontificating police boss of the State could not find the
patient's prominent attacker for over a week.
11. Madam Patience having first denied any involvement in the crisis while
verbally attacking Soyinka, eventually owns up "pouring out her grievances".
12. She owns up to a group of visiting Bishops who came on a peace making
mission to find a lasting solution to the crisis in their region. Religion is
always an easy scapegoat and tool of deception in mumudom.
13. Why would you even think that the Bishops would go back empty handed? Any
"transport fare/thank-you-for-coming", if received, would have likely been
financed on tax payers' account.
14. And why are we ranting about "tax payers"? Why are the tax payers not
furious over the incessant misappropriation and misapplication of their hard
earned contributions? The answer lies in the question... Aside from PAYE, how
many are compliant in mumudom?
15. First a set of 5 Governors and 3 Deputy Governors (representing their
respective Governors), left their duty posts for a solidarity visit with the
embattled Governor of Rivers State... of course to the detriment of tax payers.
(a) They were not on leave, but left urgent work and duties behind for the
"emergency" solidarity visit. (b) Flight to and fro Port Harcourt of course
likely on tax payers' account.
16. They were closely followed by a second set of 4 commiserating sympathetic
Governors. Of course, again likely on tax payers' account.
17. Madam Patience's grievance, as she divulged to the visiting Bishops,
started when Governor Amaechi refused to be governed by her, as he would not
listen to her veiled orders on how to govern the State... which incidentally is
her primary territory being her State of origin. Mumus have no problem with
that, fully being in harmony with her as she sings as first lady in Abuja while
simultaneously dancing in absentia as Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa and
conducting the orchestra in home state, Rivers.
18. Madam ends her confession to the Bishops by saying that Amaechi is her
son as she is obviously the mother of everyone in mumudom. The question all
mumus should ask is, "Would a good mother promote the demise of her child?"
19. Where was her outraged sense of motherhood when Senators were busy voting
to turn mumudom into a Nation of pedophiliacs at the expense of her innocent
"daughters"?
20. Where was her outraged sense of "mother of the Nation" when the video of
5 gang rapists went viral. Has she used that "mother of the Nation" power to
find the culprits? Not a priority in mumudom.
21. Where was her outraged "motherhood of mumudom" when 46 school children
were murdered in Yobe? Indeed the whole Nation of mumus have just gone on with
their more important mumu lives like nothing happened.
22. Which brings us to the insane mumurity that gives the "leaders"
confidence to try pranks such as the attempt at crafting the under age marriage
law, knowing that with the mumus... "nothing go happen"
23. In the land of mumus, the rulers know they can always throw in the
religious card, so Senator Yerima leads the child slavery onslaught with the
religious chant.
24. While all this was going on, 79 year old OPC founder, Dr. Fasheun was, in
his own description, "delivering" Mustapha to Kano.
25. Soon after, Gumsu Sani Abacha had the courage to rant on social media
about her proud heritage... because with the mumus who his father savagely ruled
over... nothing go happen.
26. Gumsu even called Soyinka who was a victim of her beloved dad's misrule,
"Mad empty Professor" ... because in mumudom, "nothing go happen".
27. Final scores... Jang 13, Amaechi 19, but in the land of mumus Mathematics
has a different interpretation for 13 is greater than 19. Even the President of
the mumus ratifies that.
28. By the way, both Governors Jang and Amaechi are from the same imploding
political party.
29. Jang says he is old enough to be Amaechi's father... a common escape
route that is often quickly bought by the mumu populace. Old enough to be the
President's pawn and to upturn justice might be more like it. Only possible when
you know for sure that your people are mumus... Nothing go happen.
30. The Governor is supposed to be the chief security officer of his State,
but apparently in mumudom, his Police Commissioner is his boss.
31. The Governor's security staff could be so easily withdrawn because
nothing is institutionalized in a Nation of mumus. The loyalty of the security
personnel is not based on the constitution but on personal or maternal
affiliations. The mumus keep watching because "it does not concern me o"... "Big
men and women are fighting". Same way the injustice of the Nation's attorney
general's assassination does not concern them.
32. Most reports in the Nigerian media kept referring to the self appointed
Speaker as if he were truly the substantive Speaker. A mere use of
"self-acclaimed" would have been logical, but they were already calling him the
Speaker because... ignorance? inducement? resignation to the belief that the 5
vs 26 Assembly coup was already a done deal?
33. While all this drama unfolded, Nigeria, like the proverbial head-burying
ostrich felt it had the moral right to insist on democratic processes in
Egypt.
34. Sahara Reporters had screamed about the underhand conspiracy to proclaim
Mustapha "not guilty". Mumus simply went about their daily mumurity unperturbed
because "it doesn't concern them". And when it happened as predicted... no
problem. Mumus continue dem jolly as if nothing happened.
35. Meanwhile, Daniel and his political supporters carried their politics
into the house of God at Rueben Abati's mother's funeral service... simply
because there is no true reverence for God. Religion is a safe hiding cave. The
mumus in the congregation would never protest such sacrilege because... "it is
not strange" as the houses of God are now also political grounds. Obasanjo built
one in Abeokuta. Jonathan got one built in Otuoke.
36. Meanwhile, some other mumus were again busy putting the Nation to
international shame. In unprecedented match fixing fiascos, Police Machine beat
Bubayaro 67-0 while Plateau United Feeders beat Akurba FC 79-0. Just in case you
are confused, the game was soccer, not basketball.
37. The matches were to determine which one of the two tied teams would be
promoted into... wait for this... just the 3rd division of the Nigerian soccer
league. How many goals would they have to orchestrate when they want promotion
to the 1st division?
38. Interesting to note that one of the teams involved in these shows of
shame, the Police Machine, represents the Police Force. Now who would
investigate this scandal?
39. Mumus involved in the conspiracy had to include players... team
management... referees and other match officials... spectators??? That is quite
a large mumu cooperative.
40. Since four teams were involved, multiply the number of conspirators by 4
(except match officials and spectators which should be multiplied by "only" 2).
Hence, the scam was done in the open. It was a confident public show of shame.
No... two confident simultaneous scams. No problem as corruption is
everywhere.
41. Before the matches, Police Machine and Plateau United were level on
points, goal difference and goals scored, and each was playing its final match
which would determine which team would get elevated into the 3rd division
league. Plateau United scored 72 of its 79 goals in the second half, thereby
averaging more than one goal per minute. This would necessarily include the time
needed to celebrate each goal, retrieve the ball, bring it back to the center,
wait for the referee's whistle before kicking off again.... after each goal. 72
times. Or did they just write the preferred figures as we typically do on
election day?
42. Is it not curious that neither of the two losing teams could manage a
single consolation goal? What else are we if not mumus?
43. Then there was the innocent man who was freed by the high court in Owerri
after having been unjustly incarcerated for seven years, "awaiting trial". No
compensation... nobody held accountable for his ordeal. He insisted on being
taken back to the prison as that was his only guaranty of a roof over his head
and a daily meal. It was merely a "small thing" in the daily bizarre news as
mumus went about their daily mumurity with their typical mentality of "e no
concern me".
44. Remember that this is mostly a snippet of the past two weeks or so. But
there is more... 20 year old Chijioke Nwankor allegedly rapes a 9 year old pupil
to death in Calabar. Reportedly in his own words, he asked her to bend down in
the uncompleted building because it was too dirty to lie down as the place was
being used as a public toilet. That is mumudom parlance for faeces shamelessly
defecated all over the ground. Could the defecation be by aliens from outer
space?
45. Well... thankfully, there is always a little ray of sunlight sneaking
through the dark jungle. A Briton who was kidnapped by an armed gang shortly
after arrival in Lagos, has been released.
...All in just the past two weeks or so in mumudom.
Excuse me, I have to return to work. I need to earn £3000 for my British
visa. Wait a minute, did I tell you I am still a Commonwealth citizen?
Saharareporters
