Holy Spirit Removed Her Pants — Says Pastor Accused Of Having Sex With Student

The ‘deliverance’ was performed in the vestry of this church. Photo: Yemi Funso-Oke
COULD the Holy Spirit have removed the pants and skirt of a lady as claimed by a pastor while praying for her?


The pastor who was still being investigated by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the Oyo State Police Command, over allegation of violation, told his interrogators that he only watched the lady’s pants  and skirt being removed by the Holy Spirit while he prayed for her.

The minister, Pastor J. Odesola of the Christ Rock Apostolic Church, Agbala Imole, Olodo, Ibadan, allegedly had carnal knowledge of a 17-year-old Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidate on Thursday, 15 April, 2010, on the pretext that he was performing deliverance for her.

The lady (names withheld), told Sunday Tribune that on Monday, 12 April, 2010 at 2 p.m,  she had gone to see Pastor Odesola for prayer over a dream her mother had concerning the UTME she was to sit for on Saturday, 17 April, 2010.

She continued: “My mother advised me to see the pastor for prayers  so that I won’t have any problem with the exam.

“He told me it was the spirit that has been tormenting my parents that was also tormenting me. He called it the spirit of disappointment.

“The pastor told me to come for a programme on Wednesday, 14 April, 2010 tagged Atamatase and also for a special prayer the next day (Thursday 15 April, 2010) to cast away  the evil spirit from me.

“On that Thursday, as I arrived the church at 7.30 p.m, Pastor Odesola instructed me to stay in the church because some visitors were with him in the vestry.

“At 8 p.m, he asked me to come into the vestry. He asked if I was ready for the prayer and I said yes. He told me to stand up, placed one hand on  my head and the second hand on my chest.

“He murmured some words into my ear and blew air on my face, commanding the evil spirit to come out of me.

“May be I slept off at that moment, I can’t remember. I just found myself on  the floor when I woke up,  no strength was left in me. He pushed my blouse up and placed a Bible on my tommy.”

“He was now praying, quoting Bible verses. After that, he fondled my navel, blew air on my face again. He touched my forehead. I did not react. He touched my chest and placed his hand on my tommy; he tickled me at my lower abdomen, then waited to know my reaction.

“He got up, moved about the room, which was not properly illuminated, casting out demons. At this point, I slept off again. When I woke up, I noticed my pant and skirt had been removed. The pastor was not in the room.

“Few minutes after, Pastor Odesola came in, he climbed over me. I tried to push him away but I was too weak. He asked if I don’t want to be delivered.

“I slept off again, but when I woke up I noticed his finger was in my private part. He fondled my bosom. I struggled to remove it but he charged at me saying I should relax, that he was casting out the demons in me. He now said: “Jesu Oluwa wa, adura re tigba.”

“He held me to himself, forced me to sit down because I was still on the floor. He took a torch, showed me fluid on the ground under my legs. He said it was urine I passed out during the deliverance prayer. He then said: “pelu eleyi to jade nisisiyi, isegun tide.”( with this out of you, your prayer has been answered.)

“Pastor Odesola told me not to feel disturbed, assuring me that I will pass the UTME. He returned my She said further: “I had to call my aunty because I was so disturbed. I could not revise for the exam again. Whenever I opened my book, what I saw  was the picture of the man and the scene.

“That was how my parents knew what happened. My parents were enraged, my mummy collapsed two times over it because everybody blamed her for asking me to go and see the pastor.”

The matter was reported at the Area Command Office, Testing Ground and the pastor was picked by the police on Wednesday, 21 April, 2010.

During interrogation, he was asked if he had seen the lady’s nakedness and he said, “yes.”

But when the police demanded to know who removed the lady’s pants, Pastor Odesola said it was the Holy Spirit. They asked him to perform same miracle on a police woman interrogating him for her pants to  be removed by the Holy Spirit,  but he kept quiet.

The parents of the girl took her  for medical examination and the report indicated that the girl had bruises on her private part. The girl also claimed to have lost her virginity in the process.

However, the members of the pastor’s church, who came to see the pastor at the police station, defended their pastor who they called “Daddy.” They said their “Daddy” was not that kind of person. They even accused the lady of framing the story.

Pastor Odesola, who was on Friday, 23 April, 2010 moved to the SCID, Iyaganku, Ibadan said he neither fondled the girl’s bosoms  nor thrust his fingers in her private part.

Whereas he denied having sexing  with her, he admitted that he placed his hand on her private part and on  her bosom while praying for her.

Meanwhile, the Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA), Oyo State chapter has declared its interest in the case.

Speaking with Sunday Tribune, the state treasurer, Mrs. Dupe Awosemusi, said  FIDA was actually concerned about the girl’s life.“We don’t know what the pastor has taken from her since she was not conscious in the course of the session,”FIDA said.

“We are also bothered about the security of life of the girl. When you talk of Christendom, this man, being a pastor, is a slap on the body of Christ.

“Things like this should not be covered up. There are so many cases of violation and child abuse nowadays. It was either the suspects were looking for money or spiritual power,”she stated.

The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Olabisi Okuwobi, confirmed the story, saying the pastor would appear in court after investigation

Rochas Okorocha Declares Free Education For All In Imo State At Inauguration.

Education, job creation and security top priority list Governor Rochas Okororcha of Imo state announced yesterday to the cheering of enthusiastic crowd of Imo citizens shortly after being administered the oath of office with his deputy Chief Sir Jude Agbaso at Dan Anyiam stadium Owerri.

Immediate past Governor Ikedi Ohakim, his deputy Ada Okwuonu as well as Speaker of the State House of Assembly were however, conspicuously absent at the occasion graced by former governor Achike Udenwa, governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, Chief Victor Umeh, national chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate of the party for the 2007 election Chief Martin Agbaso and other distinguished personalities.

Okorocha who arrived at the venue with his wife and six children took his oath of office at exactly 12 noon after the deputy governor Chief Agbaso was administered the oath by the Chief Judge, Justice Benjamin Njemanze.

Okorocha who burst into songs of praise after his swearing in declared the day a day of freedom, a day of emancipation and a day of restoration for Imo people saying democracy has really started in the state and never again shall an Iroko decides who governs Imo people but the people themselves.

"The May 5 supplementary election remains a great day in history. I see before me a great thing to happen. I know you expect much from me. You believe in me and you trust me. I will perform and I will not disappoint you. Your peace is my peace; your pain is my pain. Where you are, there I will be.

"Just few days ago the outgoing governor Ikedi Ohakim issued staff of office to over 160 traditional rulers. Appointment letters for his 10,000 thousand jobs were released to the beneficiaries within a week. Just few days ago he signed N18, 000 minimum wage for workers. Imo allocation stands at N2.2billion. Imo is not worthy to borrow from any bank because of over borrowing. Even on that I will perform. I will not give any excuse. I will deliver", he said.

Reeling out his priority areas, Okorocha declared free education and warned that any parents or guardian who refused to send his child or ward to school will face the law. He said he was prompted to declare free education out of his belief that the best that can be given to a child is education as a child without education is a futureless child.

He said Imo has a lot of security challenges and noted that peace has returned to the state since his election because there is a new spirit among the people to move forward. In this regard, he promised to tackle security to the fullest.

"I don’t believe in crime fighting but crime prevention. The criminals are all in our communities and my administration will create a black book for them. No criminal shall go unpunished as far as this administration is concerned", he said.

On the issue of job he said his government will do a lot to keep everybody busy. He said that he would rescue the few remaining industries in comatose position in the state. He warned civil servants in the state to be serious with their jobs noting that the era of truancy and coming late to work is gone with the old order.

He said: "Our civil servants must stand up and face the challenge. For every single worker, there is a corresponding person waiting to take over your seat if you don’t perform".

He advised unemployed young men and women in the state looking for jobs to be close to their God henceforth because his government will go to churches to collect list of such job lookers and this will ensure that those to be employed are spiritually certified.

Governor Okorocha did not ignore the health sector as he said that his government will review the issue of health with serious concern. He said he is worried by the issue of justice and fairness and therefore will appoint a special assistant in charge of that to ensure that innocent persons are not kept in prison custody because they have no big man to bail them.

He said: "No innocent person will be kept in police or prison custody anymore. At the same time, no criminal will go unpunished no matte his connection. I therefore warn the big men who are fond of issuing orders to Divisional Police Officers to release detained criminals stop it henceforth or they will replace such criminals in prison."

Assuring that his government will be grassroots based, Okorocha said his government will create fourth tier of government, Community Government and the seat of power, Douglas House is now in the communities.

He said he was not interested in probing his predecessor, but in auditing the accounts of the state. "This government is not interested in witch hunting anybody. What we are interested in is auditing the account of Imo state. I have no business looking backward".

He said of the immediate past governor: "Ohakim said his name is Ikiri. But since I won the election he is my brother. I have separated my brother from Ikiri. Ikiri has gone to the bush and my brother has gone back to Isiala Mbano. From today, Ohakim is no longer Ikiri but former governor.

Ukraine: Muslim girl stoned to death for participating in beauty contest

The fact that this was an extrajudicial killing doesn't let Sharia off the hook. The fact that stoning is prescribed for adultery (as often as apologists might also try to deny it for non-Muslim consumption), where the murderers in this case apparently decided for themselves her actions were tantamount to adultery, doesn't let Sharia off the hook, either.
No, the simple fact that this punishment exists in Islamic law, and Muhammad himself participated in it, means Sharia's inherent defects where human rights are concerned have a direct bearing on this case. So does the broader sense that originates in Qur'an 4:34 that violence is an acceptable recourse against "disobedient" women.
The murderers' consciences were informed by these ideas, hence the lack of regret expressed below. "Muslim girl, 19, 'stoned to death after taking taking part in beauty contest'," by Will Stewart for the Daily Mail, May 30 (thanks to Ian):

A teenage Muslim girl was stoned to death under 'Sharia law' after taking part in a beauty contest in Ukraine.

Katya Koren, 19, was found dead in a village in the Crimea region near her home.

Friends said she liked wearing fashionable clothes and had come seventh in a beauty contest. Her battered body was buried in a forest and was found a week after she disappeared.

Police have opened a murder probe and are investigating claims that three Muslim youths killed her claiming her death was justified under Islam.

One of the three - named as 16-year-old Bihal Gaziev - is under arrest and told police she had 'violated the laws of Sharia'.

Gaziev said he had no regrets about her death because she had violated the laws of Islam.

Jonathan Appoints Anyim Pius Anyim as SGF

Former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim has been appointed the  new Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). Anyim’s appointment was announced, Monday, in Abuja. It will be recalled that The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohaneze Nd’Igbo, last week submitted the names of four persons to President Goodluck Jonathan for consideration as the next Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

 Those in list included former Senate President, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, season academics, Profs. Uzodinma Nwala and Ben Obumselu and the current Director of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Mr. Emeka Eze.

Anyim,was Senate President under Obasanjo from 2000 to 2003. He tried to become the national chairman of the PDP in 2007 but the governors rooted for and installed Prince Vin Ogbulafor instead.

Anyim was born on 19 February 1961 in Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

He attended Ishiagu High School (St. John Bosco), the Federal School of Arts and Science, Aba and later, Imo State University, Uturu (1983–1987).

He joined politics in 1998, as a member of then United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP).

During the Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar transition, he joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and became  a senator on its platform and was elected President of the Senate in August 2000.

All the 16 Nigerians who have been the SGF, starting from Mr. S.O.Wey (1961-66), through M.A. Ejueyitchie ((1966-70), A.A. Atta (1970-72), C.O. Lawson (1972-75), Alison Ayida (1975 -77), Ali Ciroma (1977-79), Shehu Musa (1979-1983), G.A. Longe (1984-86), Chief Olu Falae (1986-89),  Aliyu Mohammed (1990-93), Mustapha Umara (1993), Aminu Saleh (1993-95), Gidado Idris (1995-99), U.J. Ekaette (1999-2007), Babagana Kingibe(2007-08), to the current Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, had been core and competent career public servants. 

The responsibilities of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, OSGF, are as follows :

i) Coordinating policy design and formulation by Ministries, Departments and Agencies for approval by Government;

ii) Serving as Secretary to the Council of State, the Federal Executive Council and other

Constitutional Councils, which are chaired by the President;

iii) Coordinating the activities of Ministries and Government Agencies on the implementation of Government decisions, policies and programmes

iv) Dealing with constitutional, political and socio-economic matters as may be referred to the Presidency;

v) Administrative Tribunals, Commissions and Panels of Enquiry; vi) Coordinating national security and public safety matters;

vii) National Honours Award

viii) Prerogative of Mercy

ix) Protocol Matters

x) Channeling of papers and directives of the President;

xi) Processing and granting Government approval for Overseas Tours, Intergovernmental Meetings/Conferences, medical check-up/treatment by Public Officers;

xii) Processing requests for Overseas Duty Tours/Conferences including medical check-up/treatment abroad for members of the Judiciary, Chairmen and Members of Statutory Commissions/Bodies for approval by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;

xiii) Coordinating the appointments to Headship of Statutory Bodies, Commissions and Agencies by the President;

xiv) Dealing with matters relating to conditions of service of political office holders;

xv) Intergovernmental Affairs and relations with State and Local Governments;

xvi) Liaison with Secretaries to State Governments;

xvii) Allocation of office accommodation to Political Office Holders.

In discharging the aforementioned responsibilities, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is structured into the following Offices, each headed by a Permanent Secretary.  There are six of such offices:

*Cabinet Secretariat;

*General Services Office;

*Political Affairs Office;

*Economic Affairs Office;

*Special Services Office;

*Special Duties Office;

Then there is the supervisory roles that have also been lumped together in that office and the list is legion. The following Parastatals/Agencies are supervised by the Office of the SGF:

i) Ecological Fund

ii) National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP)

iii) National Economic Intelligence Committee

iv) Presidential Advisory Council

v) Code of Conduct Tribunal

vi) Code of Conduct Bureau

vii) Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency

viii) National Hospital

ix) Federal Road Safety Commission

x) National Commission for Refugees

xi) Nigerian National Volunteer Service (NNVS)

xii)Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)

xiii) South-South Health Care Programme

xiv) National Agency for Control of AIDS (NACA)

xv) National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC)

xvi) Ministry of Special Duties

xvii) Secretariat of the Presidential Council (PAC)

xviii) Secretariat of the Presidential Committee on National Identification Systems, Consumer Credit and Outsourcing initiative

xix) Galaxy backbone

xx) NIMC

xxi) Christian Pilgrims Commission

xxii) National Hajj Commission

Zimbabwean Police Sergeant, Jailed For Using President Robert Mugabe's Toilet

 In a rather unfortunate twist of fate, a Zimbabwean police sergeant's mad restroom dash is turning out to have disastrous -- and even criminal -- implications.
As the Guardian reports, Alois Mabhunu, a homicide detective in the western city of Bulawayo, was imprisoned on suspicion of invading the presidential privy after using a toilet reserved for President Robert Mugabe. The incident occurred at the annual Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).
The Guardian quotes local radio station VOP as reporting:
"Mabhunu, due to the call of nature, rushed to the toilets reserved for Mugabe and his guest Ekra, but was stopped by other officers guarding the toilets," VOP said.
"Under intense pressure from the call of nature, the officer forced his way in and managed to relieve himself. He was arrested on 7 May after a report was made to Mugabe's security men and to senior police officers in the city."
Mabhunu has been held in a police detention barracks in the two weeks since his arrest, and was due to appear at a May 27 disciplinary

Lagos Generates N3bn From Property Tax In 2010

The Lagos State Government generated N3.02 billion through property taxation  in 2010 under the Land Use Charge.

Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Rotimi Oyekan, who stated this while reviewing the activities of his ministry in the last one year, said that the amount was an improvement on N2 billion and N500 million generated in 2009 and 2008 respectively.

“The Land Use Charge came into being as a result of government desire to harmonise four different previously existing land charges into one charge_ The Land Use Charge. The old charges included tenement rate, developmental Charges, ground rent and neighborhood improvement charges,” he stated.

The commissioner said that the ministry had almost completed its assessment of all properties in the state. “The implication is that all properties in Lagos State will get their Land Use Charge notices by the end of the year and by the end of each year.”

He also disclosed that the state had been paying the monthly salaries of its employees promptly, adding that with the implementation of the new minimum wage, the wage bill of the state currently stands at N5.4 billion, while N251 million goes for pension bills. “Let me also add that the state government share and the workers’ contribution to the contributory pension scheme has been consistent and up to date with no arrears whatsoever,” he said.

Oyekan added that the state had also paid N1.3 billion to retirement savings account of 322 retirees of the state in order to ensure that the retirees accessed their terminal benefits in record time.

Imo Man Commits Suicide Over Failed Bet On Manutd

A man in South Eastern part of Nigeria has been reported to have commited suicide over Manchester United's inability to win the UEFA Champion's league final on Saturday after placing a bet on them to win ahead of FC Barcelona, reports said.



The 26 years-old Andrew Uba a native and residence of Okigwem Imo State was said to have placed a bet worth the sum of a hundred thousand naira ($650 approx.) against Barcelona FC with a co-worker.

He was found dead after hanging himself to an electrical fan hook at his residence. The incidence was alerted to the authorities when his younger brother came visiting after repeated calls to his phone was left unanswered

Manchester United ended up losing the game 3-1 with goals from David Villa, Lionel Messi for Barcelona and Wayne Rooney for Manchester United. His said co-worker was shocked to learn he commited suicide over the said bet.

"I dont want to talk about this, I feel so guilty and bad, he took it well and seemed unshaken by the loss and we joked about it until now i'm hearing this, it's a tragedy and i feel terrible being in the middle of all this"

It's not the first time that a fanatic supporter would die over a UEFA final loss. A Kenyan man commited suicide when his team (Arsenal FC) co-incidentally lost to FC Barcelona in the 2009 UEFA final.

It is however unclear if fanatism led to his suicide or it's as a result of the lost bet.

"He's not all that into football, he rarely ever watch football, this is shocking and unprecedented to me that he committed suicide over a sport i've always seen him mute over" a neighbour was quoted saying

The Police authorities declined to speak on the matter sighting on-going investigations due to the mysterious nature of the incident.

Share216 German Policewoman - Shot And Killed A (Benin) Nigerian Woman

 
According to the Bild News paper, (Mrs.Christy Schnudeck nee Omorodion, (39), was shot in her stomach at a close range by a German police woman at the job centre in Frankfurt. She collapsed and died afterward at the hospital. The bitter news spread like wild fire with shock and disbelief across African communities in the Diaspora.

According to the one sided report, the reason of the bloody drama was apparently a dispute over government support money (about 300 -600euros) between the late woman and the staff of the Job Centre. The woman wanted her support money in bar rather than the normal Bank transfer payment. The problem escalated when she was told that, it won`t be possible to pay her in bar.  The in-house security service alarmed the police at about 9am on the 19th of March 2011: "That a customer would not leave after a dispute with the staff at the Job Center and that she is rioting and disrupting the office operation. " A police spokesman said.
Upon the two police officers (woman and man) arrival at the scene, they asked the woman for her passport for the normal control which is obligatory in Germany. According to the unconfirmed report, instead of the ID card, she pulled up an eleven inch long knife blade from her pocket - and stabbed the police woman on her thigh. "Beware, she has a knife." The police alerted her partner.
Like in Nollywood films, the same officer grabbed her weapon (Pistol) and fire at her in the stomach. The 39 years old Nigerian – who relocated to Frankfurt since May 1st, 2011 from Aschaffenburg, collapsed and was confirmed dead an hour later from the injuries sustained from the gun short.
“The stabbed police woman`s condition is stable.” Said the police spoke person but no independent person has seen the police in question with bandage or otherwise.
Interestingly, the incident occurred in a designated Job Centre specifically met for groups of homeless people and those with addiction problems in the care of the Rhein-Main Area. In a nutshell, that means, the Police are expected to be extra-ordinarily careful due to the kind of persons such job centers are meant for. It simply means that, this couldn`t be the first time the Police are been alerted for such incident, but probably, the first time a black person is involved.
The general question in the lips of Africans in Germany is, why on earth will she carry a knife to job centre? The answer is simple considering the area it happened. It is well documented that she had a mental problem and by law, such people are treated with respect and absolute care. In a Country where one can escape judicial punishment when alcohol is found in Peoples blood system, one could imagine what happens to people with mental illness in Germany.
The state police in Wiesbaden have taken over the investigation. The question of necessity of firearms use "is being examined anyway.
Shock Amongst Nigerians In Germany.
If there is anything Germans are respected for, it`s certainly their respect for blood after the 2nd World War. Germany´s Highway roads for example, are well protected against wild animals. Killing of Birds or anything with blood even Trees are considered as crimes in German court of law. Sadly, the only blood that is not respected in Germany or protected by German Law in practical, is the blood of a black Person. It may sound funny but that is the bitter truth. German Police are well trained that defending themselves with Guns from fellow women with knives is totally unthinkable and a defeat to German grade “A” standard training Police enjoyed in this country.
Though this is not the first time a Nigerian or African will die in the hands of Police. All traced to racism within police against Africans in Germany. the obvious unanswered question is would the Police have reacted same way if the victim was a German or European or better still an American citizen with the possibility or consideration of mental imbalance as with the woman in question and the area the incident happened? Going back to memory lane, it might be right to conclude that German law protects especially, the police when a black person`s blood is shared.
Some of the known crimes committed against Africans in Germany;
In March 1996, M, a 29-year-old asylum-seeker from Uganda had gone to take a shower on the second floor of the asylum hostel where he lives when he was suddenly attacked by a number of masked men. M who was slammed against the wall several times by the masked men was struck in the face and on the body. He fell to the ground and was kicked on the ankle. M who offered no resistance during the assault witnessed several uniformed Police officers nearby. All refused to intervene.
John Anyanwu was killed in 1999 in Frankfurt by the police during control in an attempt to deport him and no Police was ever convicted.
N`deye Mareame Sarr
14. Juli 2000, N'deye Mareame Sarr – Senegalese, was shot dead by the Police while fighting for the right of her baby in her Ex-husband`s house in Aschaffenburg (Bayern State) and the police involved were never punished.
Friday, the 7th of January, 2005, the 22 year-old Oury Jalloh was tied down with his hands and feets to a fireproof mattress located on top of a concrete base in a jail cell tiled from floor to ceiling. The supervising Police at the time ignored the fire alarm for quite some time. Oury Jalloh burned to death. An expert's report confirms: If the police had reacted immediately they could have saved his life.
Laye Konde, 35 was killed by Police in Bremen after they brutally administered an emetic. German officers who suspected Laye of ingesting drugs attempted to induce vomiting in order to secure evidence for his prosecution. When Laye resisted, Police officers bound him and a hose was pushed into his nose. The officers forcibly administered the drug alongside several liters of water Laye was forced to swallow.
The consulting emergency Doctor wrote to the Public prosecutor’s office stating that "the patient had suffered substantial, probably fatal brain damage due to oxygen deficiency, which resulted from water penetrating into the lungs.... The colleague as well as the two police officers gave the impression that this was a completely usual standard procedure."
It was reported; “After each spasm of vomiting, the stomach hose was refilled with water and reinserted. After about 20 minutes, the young man had virtually stopped breathing. Artificial respiration succeeded only “after a relatively long time” since “enormous amounts of water” spilled from the mouth and bronchial tubes, filling the throat with the liquid. Kondé lay in a coma for several days before the Bremen Public prosecutor’s office announced his death.”
John Achidi, 19 (Nigeria/Cameroon) who was suspected of ingesting drugs was killed in Hamburg after German officers forcibly administered Ipecacuanha syrup and 800 ml of water against his will by inserting a stomach probe through his nostril.
John, who suffered from a heart condition, was laid on his back with his hands bound behind him and pinned to the floor by five officers who sought evidence to prosecute him. They held his legs, upper body and also pressed his head down onto his chest. John desperately sought to resist the brutal treatment, crying out, “I will die!”. Tragically the overpowering force of the officers was too great and John urinated before eventually laying motionless on the floor.
On 14 April 2006, Dominik Kuomadio, 23 (Congo) was shot to death in the streets of Dortmund by the police.
African women in an expulsion detention centre in Bremen were found to have been raped by officers. None were convicted of their crimes.
Amnetsy international also reports;
Aliu B, a 16-year-old youth from Sierra Leone, alleged that he was slapped by police officers and by a Police Doctor following his arrest outside Bremen railway station.
Two Togolese women, Ramanou Muyibatou and Alietou Zato became paralysed after jumping from a building at a great height out of fear of Police brutality in Hamburg.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Africans in the Diaspora are united over the death of Late Mrs. Christy O. Schnudeck and are eager to see Justice over her death. Plans are on the way for a peaceful protest in Frankfurt before and during the upcoming FIFA Female World Cup in Frankfurt when Nigeria will be playing Germany, close to the scene of the incident and a straight match to Frankfurt Stadium just to send unprecedented message to outside world.
We, the Edo Community of Nigeria, Germany e.V (National Body), The NIDO and the Nigeria community in Germany are waiting anxiously to see what step the Nigerian Embassy in Berlin/ABUJA will take to avert a recurrence of this bloody experience that has become a tradition in Germany?
We there be another cover up? Time shall tell… 


Late Mrs. Christy O

N7bn Presidential Jet Banned World Wide

Almost 70 days after the new N7.65bn presidential jet, Falcon 7X, touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, from the manufacturer’s factory in France, Dassault Aviation, France European authorities have banned the jet from flying in Europe and other parts of the world over safety issues.


The ban, an Emergency Airworthiness Directive, which was issued on Thursday by the European Aviation Safety Agency, the agency that regulates Dassault as well as the European aviation industry, took immediate effect, starting from May 27.


The EASA’s grounding of the worldwide fleet of Dassault’s Falcon 7X executive jets came hours after one of the aircraft encountered an in-flight anomaly that could have caused the pilots to lose control.


The EASA directive, which was published on Thursday, said that the jet “experienced an uncontrolled pitch trim runaway during descent. The crew succeeded in recovering a stable situation and performed an uneventful landing.”


An analysis of the plane’s Digital Flight Data Recorder and Fault History Database confirmed the event, EASA said, but the cause of the pitch trim runaway couldn’t be explained.


“This condition, if it occurs again, could lead to the loss of control of the aeroplane,” the EASA notice said.


However, the Cologne, Germany-based safety agency said in its Emergency Airworthiness Directive that the decision to halt all flight operations of Dassault’s flagship jet came at the request of the Paris-based company, according to a Dow Jones report on Friday.


The plane was en route between Europe and Malaysia, Asia, with no passengers on board, Dassault spokesman Stephane Fort told Dow Jones Newswires by telephone.


The pilots managed to regain control of the aircraft and landed it safely in Malaysia, he said. Fort couldn’t say who owns the aircraft or who was operating it.


Fort said the decision to ground the aircraft was a precautionary measure.


Dassault has sent a team of technicians to Malaysia to try to identify the cause of the problem, he said, adding, “Our priority is the safety of our passengers and our aircraft.


The Falcon 7X was introduced in 2007 and is designed to fly 5,950 nautical miles with at least eight passengers. There are 112 of the aircraft in service.


“This airworthiness directive is considered to be an interim measure pending the outcome of the investigation currently carried out by the manufacturer,” EASA said.


The Falcon 7X has a sticker price of about $50m, depending on cabin features.


President Goodluck Jonathan had in the third week of March 2011, taken delivery of a Falcon 7X plane, shortly after it landed on the shores of the country from France.


The aircraft, which was manufactured by Dassault Aviation of France, cost the government $51m (about N7.65bn.)


The Federal Executive Council had on August 12, 2010 approved $102m for the purchase of two Falcon 7X and $53.3m for one Gulfstream G550 aircraft to beef up the presidential fleet.


The second Falcon 7X, it was learnt then, was expected to arrive in the country during the second quarter of this year.


In what is probably its first mission, the jet was said to have conveyed the wife of the President, Patience, to Sokoto during the third of week of March.


The two Falcon 7X aircraft are to be supplied by Messrs Dassault Aviation of France, while the Gulfstream G550 will come from Messrs Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation of the United States.

Federal Govt Employs 12,000 Youth To Protect Oil And Gas Pipelines In N.delta

Nigerian youth employed to guard oil pipelines

Nigeria's government has employed 12,000 young people to protect oil and gas pipelines in the Niger Delta.

Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke said the youth would patrol some 5,000km (3,000 miles) of pipeline to stop it from being vandalised.

She said it was part of the government amnesty programme offered to the region's militias who were fighting for a greater share of oil revenues.

Locals and criminal gangs often try to pierce the pipes to siphon off oil.

Ms Alison-Madueke's announcement comes after at least two people died this week in Sapele, Delta state, in an explosion at a pipeline damaged by villagers trying to steal the oil.

Few residents of the Niger Delta, home to Nigeria's oil industry, have benefited from the area's oil wealth.

Nigeria is Africa's largest oil producers, but attacks by militants on oil installations led to a sharp fall in output during the last decade.

The thousands

Kenya Police Writes Nigerian Government Over Wife-Batterer Ambassador

caption: Mrs. Tess Wigwe

caption: The Wigwe when the going was good

caption: Tess Iyi Wigwe's torn face-Photo: Kenya Star

By Saharareporters, New York

The Nigerian ambassador to Kenya, Dr Chijioke Wilcox Wigwe, is on the verge of going on an unprecedented trial in that country for assault, battery and cannibalism.  On May 11, Wigwe allegedly attacked his wife, Tess Iyi.
According to diplomatic sources, Kenya Police Commissioner Mathew Itwere has formally written to the Nigerian government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asking the Nigerian government to waive the immunity of ambassador Wigwe to enable the prosecution to go ahead.
The Kenya media is awash with shocking images of deep cuts and bruises on Mrs. Wigwe’s face, neck, fingers and spine resulting from a quarrel with the ambassador.
A women rights group, FIDA Kenya, has also condemned Ambassador Wigwe as being unfit fit to be Nigeria’s High Commissioner in Kenya. 
Mrs. Wigwe, a lawyer who holds dual British and Nigerian citizenships, has also written to the Kenyan police asking that her husband be arrested for assaulting her, causing her serious bodily harm.

She explained that she decided to come out about her situation to show that domestic violence cuts across cultures, education and social standing. "I cannot keep quiet. I have kept quiet long enough," Mrs. Wigwe is quoted as saying.
She also told the Nairobi Star she was rescued by her 20-year-old son and 23-year-old daughter on May 11, and rushed her, bleeding profusely, to the hospital.  She was admitted to the Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi, where she was operated on and discharged on Sunday, May 15. She also said her doctors had advised her to be careful as the injuries to her lower back might lead to paralysis.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Wigwe, who doubles as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the Seychelles and represents the country at the United Nations Environmental Programme and the UN Habitat in Nairobi, was today expected to play host to a four-day Nollywood roadshow and fair.  It is said to have been organised by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, the Nigerian Guild of Actors and the Nigerian High Commission.  It will culminate in a gala dinner on Sunday night.
The Nairobi Star was told by a lawyer acting for Mrs. Wigwe that they are demanding that Wigwe's diplomatic immunity be lifted so that he can face the law.
The couple is reported to have five children — four boys and a girl aged between 32 and 20 years, and five grandchildren.

Senate Approves N1.5 Billion For Ojukwu, Ex-briafran Soldiers

Barely 24 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan returned the budget to them for reduction the National Assembly yesterday approved a harmonized estimate of N4.484 trillion for the 2011 fiscal year.

The lawmakers also okayed the proposed N1.5billion for ex-Biafran leader, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu and other Biafran soldiers who were pardoned by the federal government.

There was another N27 billion for rehabilitation of the ex-militants in the Niger Delta.



President Goodluck Jonathan had requested the National Assembly to cut down the budget from the N4.9 trillion passed by the parliament to N4.407 trillion.

With the passage of the N4.484 trillion budget, the Senate has added N77billion to the budget for the 2011 fiscal year.

But the Senate President David Mark in a remark yesterday however asked the executive arm of government to ensure full implementation of the 2011 budget. Mark had earlier warned that the National Assembly would not accept any excuses from the executive for non performance.

He said: "I will like to thank you for this expeditious amendment, and I will also urge the executive to ensure the budget passed by the National Assembly."

Of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation, the total sum of N4,484,736,648,992 trillion Out of this, N417,824,288,743, is for statutory transfers; N495,096, 682,115 only is for debt service; N2,425,065,124,967, is for recurrent (non debt) expenditure while the balance of N1,146,750,553,167 is for contribution to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure for the year ending on the 31st day of December 2011.

The lawmakers also increased the bench mark for the fiscal estimate from $64 per barrel of crude oil to $75 at a projected 2.3 million crude oil production per day by the federal government.

Exchange rate was fixed at N150 to $1 while the joint venture production was put at $5.4billion.

Out of the N2.425 trillion recurrent budget Defence has the highest allocation of N309, 783 billion followed by Education, N304, 670 billion. The Police got N296, 569 billion; Health, N202, 458 billion and Ministry of Interior received N135, 182 billion. A total of N154.746 billion is approved for pensions and gratuity.

My Name Is Almajiri

My name is Almajiri, I was born in one village far northern Nigeria. I am 15 years old now. I was brought to this city when I was just 7 years old by my father to learn and memorize the holy Qur'an. Since when I was brought here my father only came to visit me three times. And I have never seen my mother since when I left home. The last time my father came visit two years back, I told him I wanted to go back home to see my mother, but he said I could not do that until I memorize the whole Qur'an. I remember when we were leaving my village to come to this city, my father only told me that I was going to the town to stay with his uncle for a while. When my father was going back to the village he gave me some money to be spending and I cried like I was going to die when finally he was to leave. Immediately my teacher came back from seeing my father off, he asked me to bring that money my father gave to me. I have never seen kobo from that money again.

   When it was time for dinner that day, my teacher gave me a small bowl and asked me to join a small army of other students in the school to go beg for food that we were to eat as dinner that night. We roamed the streets entering  one house after another begging for food, and when I finally found something, some of the students we were together, who were a little older than I was and who were not entering houses to beg as we were doing, confiscated my food and ate it and threw the bowl at me and asked me to go get the one I would eat again. When we finally came back and after the evening class, when it was time to sleep, that is when I realized there was in fact no where for me to sleep. We are close to hundred in the school and everybody just scattered in search of a place to sleep, I managed to get a little place beside one gutter by our teacher's house and slept there, that has become my sleeping place ever since. And it does not matter if it is raining or its during harmattan period as there is no where to go and sleep apart from there.

   That was the routine everyday, until finally I was able to get one house where I begged the house wife to be coming and be helping her with the day to day chores and in turn she would be giving me food so that I wouldn't have to be begging for food everyday. This was far better for me than having had to go scavenging for food three times every single day. Lest I forget, perhaps I should tell you that it took me four good years to finally get new clothing! Yeah shocking, right? My few cloths that I was brought here with had become dirty and tattered. It was this hajiya that finally noticed the situation of my cloths, and how it took her that long, I don't know, and gave me some few sets used by one of her children to be wearing. You can imagine how happy I was I got "new" cloths finally. Unfortunately, they never lasted, partly because I could go the whole month without taking a bath or washing my cloths and partly as there were not much to be rotating. It is hajiya when she noticed this sometimes that would give me some soap and detergent to bath and wash my torn cloths.

   When I started growing up I realized my fellow almajiris used to have money on them for which they buy some things they like or need. I asked one of them where they were getting the money and he told me at the roads junctions. That was how I left hajiya's house and started going to junctions and roundabouts begging for money from the motorists. Some will give us, some will refuse, some will even harass us for touching their cars or leaning on them. I stopped going to school completely, I only go back to school when it was time for me to sleep and immediately it is morning, I will carry my bowl and head to a junction and I will be there till evening. Did I hear you say: 'what about prayers?' No, who has time to pray? If you go for prayer, you don't know what you will be missing for that time you go to pray. I pray all the prayers I missed in a day when I came back from the junction and if I am tired on that day, then I just ignore them. As for what I was brought here to do, that is to memorize the holy Qur'an, as I said earlier on, I already stopped going to school since when I started coming to junctions, and the little I memorized has already vanished as I don't quite read it.

   As for my future, I really don't know about that, not that I care anyway. I heard that they said there are more than 9 millions of us roaming the streets in this country. I believe there is no future for us in this country where they say there are equally over 12 million youth who had gone to school and graduated but can not get job to do. What more of an almajiri? Begging is what I know for now and it is my future as I don't know what else I should do. perhaps when I grow a little bit I will think of becoming a water vendor or become okada rider or better again, start selling fuel by the road side. As you can see plenty of options for me there. It seems like I have a future after all!

   Government? Well, I just hope its not me you are asking that question, as I don't know if we ever have government in this country. I heard its election time, so may be they are trying to get re-elected so that they continue steeling our country money, and for us - almajiri family - we will continue been pauperized, ragged, torn and hopeless!

   This is my story, thank you for your time and God bless you.

Long live my country Nigeria.

   Yours faithfully,

   

   Almajiri.

London retailer shop adopts Hausa language to woo customers

London – A London leading retailer shop, Debenhams, has adopted Hausa, a language spoken by nearly 45 million people in West Africa including Nigeria, to woo customers as race for summer sales starts.
The retailer had  placed  a  bold sign reading: “Na gode don sayayyarka a Debenhams’’ in Hausa meaning, “Thank you for shopping at Debenhams’’ at the entrance of  its Oxford street Branch in London.
Speaking to a group newsmen on the issue on Wednesday Mr Marcus Appleton, a Senior Store Manager said the decision was based on an assessment of its shoppers who come from outside Briatain.
He said it was discovered that 71 per cent of foreigners who visited the shop in 2010 are Nigerians followed by Chinese and the Arabs.

Nigerian Couple Jailed For Manufacturing Passports In London!

A couple from south east London have admitted running a factory that made fake passports and identity documents.

Abiola Olatunji-Orelope, 34, was arrested along with his wife Folashade, 28, after their home in Claxton Path, Lewisham, was raided by the UK Border Agency on 9 September 2010.

Officers uncovered 50 counterfeit passports in various stages of construction purporting to be Ghanaian, Nigerian, Irish, Czech and even British issue.

They also seized 20 counterfeit German, Dutch and French Identity cards, around 40 fake Home Office and other National Government rubber visa stamps and ink pads, cutting boards, razor blades, paint thinners, glue, laminates, forged visas and around 30 blank birth and marriage certificates.

Officers even found a book containing a list of orders from clients and passport sized photos ready to be used in the forgeries.

Abiola Olatunji-Orelope pleaded guilty to fraud, deception and possessing false identity documents.

On Monday 23 May at Croydon Crown Court he was sentenced to three years in prison. His wife admitted possessing false identity documents and was given a one year suspended sentence plus 140 hours community service.

Alex Ttaris, from the UK Border Agency's criminal and financial investigation team, said:
'This was a sophisticated criminal operation, and I have no doubt that these fake documents would have been used to flout immigration rules, gain employment, open bank accounts and obtain other goods and services by deception.'

Jigawa State Govt Bans Daily Trust Newspaper

Daily Trust newspapers’ correspondent in Jigawa State Malam Yusha’u Ibrahim has been posted out of the state and no replacement will be posted there until further notice, the Media Trust management announced in Abuja yesterday. It said the move was in response to “security concerns arising from hostile events emanating from the state government.”

Early yesterday, the Director of Press Affairs in the Dutse Government House Alhaji Umar Kyari called in Ibrahim and conveyed to him a decision to ban him from covering any event or activity at which Governor Sule Lamido is in attendance. Kyari said the decision was arrived at the State Executive Council meeting on Monday. He gave no reasons for the action.

According to Kyari, the Daily Trust reporter is however free to report on other activities anywhere in Jigawa State provided Governor Lamido is not present. He also suggested that Ibrahim “could rely on his colleagues” to obtain stories from events at which he is banned. Last night, Kyari confirmed to Daily Trust’s editor that the order was indeed handed down.

Media Trust’s Editor-in-Chief Malam Mannir Dan Ali said yesterday that the arrangement was unacceptable and that it poses security risks to the reporter and to Daily Trust’s robust reporting activities in Jigawa State. He said even though there are a lot of activities that the newspaper could cover apart from government activities, the hostile posture of the state government poses security risks. He said in the light of this unfortunate turn of events, the company would not post any reporter to Jigawa State.

There were no immediate indications as to why the Jigawa State government took this action, though Governor Sule Lamido had expressed unhappiness at some reports and opinion articles published by Daily Trust and its sister titles in recent months.

Nigerian Proposes Family-plan Of 3 Children Per Family

---

A Nigerian family planning expert has told the BBC it would be difficult to implement the suggestion that Nigerians should only have three children.
Isaac Ogo pointed to the tradition of polygamy and the belief that the children were seen as a "gift from God" in a male-dominated society. Recent UN figures suggest Nigeria's population could jump to 730 million by 2100 - behind only India and China.

On the streets of the northern city of Kaduna, some people told the BBC that God decided how many children they had and so it would be wrong to try to limit the number of births. "[The UN] should try to advise the government how to make the lives of Nigerians better, not telling Nigerians not to have children - that is not their business," one angry woman said.

But one woman agreed  that in a poor country such as Nigeria, it was better to have fewer children and look after them properly. Nigeria's population is currently 160m - by far the most populous in Africa but a long way behind those of China and India.

Gej Invites Buhari To His Inauguration!

President Goodluck Jonathan has invited his main challenger and presidential candidate of Congress for Progressive Congress (CPC), General Muhammadu Buhari as well as candidates of other political parties to his presidential inauguration billed for Sunday, May 29 at the Eagle Square, Abuja. The CPC is currently challenging the Jonathan’s election at the election tribunal.

The Chairman of the inauguration committee and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, said the event is also expected to gulp N830million.

Briefing newsmen yesterday on the preparation in his office, the SGF said “The actual cost is 830 million to be specific. Our initial budget was N1.3bn, it was reduced to N830 million. Now, it may reach the figure of N1bn plus or minus but no more. I will want you to follow it up after the event.”

Yayale said that by virtue of the position which Buhari held before in this country and his contributions to the growth of democracy, he will be accorded special reception at the event.

The SGF said all the political parties have also been invited. “All the presidential candidates are going to be invited for the inauguration and this has been the tradition,” he added.

He said that 40 heads of government have been sent invitations to attend the inauguration, adding that so far, the ministry of foreign affairs has confirmed that about 15 of them have confirmed that they will be around.

He stated that in order to forestall the unfortunate incidence that happened during the 50th independence anniversary of Nigeria, the committee is not taken anything for granted, saying: “everybody you know who is related with security in this country is part and parcel of this committee. The security sub-committee is headed by National Security Adviser.

The inauguration committee chairman said there will a presidential dinner with corporate Nigeria, exhibition and unveiling of President’s portrait at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua tomorrow and an inauguration lecture on Thursday. He added that on the same day, the First Lady will hold Banquet for women.

While special Jum’at prayer is expected to be offered on Friday for peace, unity and progress of Nigeria, Yayale said, there will be a special children day, including match past and children’s parliament for less privileged children to be held on the same day.

On May 28 there will be a football match between Kano Pillars and Enyimba Football Club at the National Stadium while a thanks-giving church service will hold on the same day at the National Christian Worship Centre in Abuja and with President Jonathan in attendance.

Yayale said that there will also be Presidential Inauguration Banquet at the Banquet Hall of the Aso Villa as well as Musical/cultural and fireworks display.

Bloodbath In Lagos: Soldiers Kill Police Dpo, Dco 8 Others

BLOOD flowed freely Tuesday  in Badagry, Lagos after a group of heavily armed soldiers from the 242 Recce Battalion, Iberepo  Badagry took over strategic locations in the ancient town maiming and killing any police man on sight in an apparent reprisal of the killing Monday, of one of their colleagues.

The Divisional Police Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Saliu Samson, his Divisional Crime Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DPS) Samuel who were out in the ensuing fracas to appeal for calm were shot dead.

Two police patrol vehicles belonging to the  Rapid Response Squad (RRS) were set ablaze while their occupants were chased and shot dead.  As at 2.30 pm yesterday, corpses of police officers littered the Iberepo roundabout  while the rampaging soldiers were spotted with every imaginable dangerous weapons scouting for police men.

Sources said some police men and their families who lived in the Iberepo barracks were chased out and seriously wounded.

According to sources, a soldier in mufti who was escorting goods from the Nigeria\Seme border was accosted by a police officer attached to RRS and Monday and demanded to search the vehicle.

It was learnt that the late unidentified soldier had challenged the policeman and threatened to disarmed him if he does not allow the vehicle free way;  prompting the trigger happy policeman to fire at him at close range.

The soldier reportedly slumped and died on the spot.   Vanguard was told that the news of the killing of the soldier soon filtered into the Iberepo barracks and some soldiers mobilized as early as 9,00am yesterday and started attacking any policeman on sight contrary to a non violence order given to them by the commander of the barracks,  Colonel Nabasa.

Contacted, the Force public relation officer, DCP Olusola Amore said he was yet to get details of the clash saying, “Let me talk to the CP Lagos then I will be in a better position to react to the matter.  But his counterpart in the army, Lieutenant Colonel Kayode Ogunsanya of the 81 Division said the situation had been brought under control stressing that it will be throughly investigated.  “The situation is under control and I can assure you that the cause of the clash will be thoroughly investigated,” he assured.

PDP Ministerial List By State

On May 24, 2011 · In News , 
Anambra
Barr Clems Ezika
Barr Ernest Nwoye
Chief Chuba Egolum
Sen Ebenezer Ikeyina
Chudi Offodile
Hon Anayo Nebe
Mrs Obiamaka
Okolo Sunday Aghadi
Engr Ben Akah
Sir Emmanuel Mbamalu

Bayelsa
Rev Obegha Julius Oworibo
His Highness Sir Timiebi Roupa Okara
Amb Josef Egbuson
Austin Ogunwo Febo
Dr Thomas Coomander Nwoyemditon
Torpedo Amananaghan
Dr Ambilly Etekpe
Mr Isaiah Gabriel
Chief Lionel Jonathan_Omo
Emmanuel Robert Okara

Delta
Echegile Godson Onyemaechi
Godwill Obielum
Marian Nneamaka Ali
Elder Godsday Orubebe
Faith Tuedor_Matthews
Chief Solomon Ogba
Young Igbrude
Williams Makinde
Barr Ovie Omo_Agege
Elizabeth titi Uvoh-Gardner

Edo
Chief Dan Orbih
Mike Onolememen
Matthew Urhogide
Julius ihonvbere
Giwa Abonmeirele
Lucky Imasuen
Clifford Odia
Felix Akhabue
Sarah Adetugbogtboh
Safawu ini Momoh

Ekiti
Bola Olu_Ojo
Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade
Sen Ayo Arise
Biodun Olujimi
Sakiru Lawal
Hope Ademiluyi
Femi Akinyemi
Dare Bajide
Princess Titilayo Owolabi
Prince Dayo Adeyeye

FCT, Abuja
Sen Usman Jibrin Wowo
Y.Y. Suleiman
Danladi Etsu Zhin
EmmanuelOlugbuo
Alhassan s. Gwagwa
Esther John Audu
Rakiya Yusuf
Fatima Suleiman
Fatima Suleiman
Hassan Sokodobo
Samson Baba Galuwi

Jigawa
Ahmad Hassan Alghazali
Bar Ali Saadu
Ruqayyat Ahmed Rufai
Ahmed Abdulhamid Madori
Ibrahim Ismail
Faruk Dalhatu
Nurudeen Muhammad
Hadiza Abdulwahab
Habibah Isa_Dutse
Abbas Anas Adamu
Abubakar Gumel

Kano
Farouk Iya Sambo
Ahmed Garba Bichi
Kabir Rabiu
Baraka Sani
Jamaila Salim
Abdullahi Mahmud
Yusuf Ado Kibiya
Nasiru Aliko
Idris Dambazau
Ismaila Halilu

Katsina
Musa Mohammed Sada
Sirajo Umar Damari
Ali Husseini Dutsima
Murtala Shehu Yar’Adua
Babajo Ibrahim Funtua
Sen umar Tsauri
Adamu Babangida Ibrahim
Talatu Nasir
Abubakar Mukhtar (Buba)
Bilikisu Kaikai

Kebbi
Prof. Moh’d Kaoje Abukabar
Hon Zaiklani
Asabe Abubakar
Isah Aliyu  Moh’d
Sen Sani Kamba
Bala Buwa Kaoje
Garba Dandiga
Usman Maitamabari
Kabiru Usman
Salamatu Suleiman

Nasarawa
Yunana Iliya
Labaran Maku
Usman Bagudu
Sen Walid Jibrin
Anthony Akika
Timothy Anjide
Tanimu Adabson
Adamu Egye
Halima Jabiru
Ayitogo Sdaatu

Niger
Baba Shehu Agaie
Umar Musa Maali
Sani Ndanusa
Abdulrahman Mahmuid Eragi
Aliyu Datti
Tanko Beji
Shem Zagbayi Nuhu
Jummal Moh’d Agwai
Col. Aminu Isa Kotangora (rtd)
Isah Ladan

Ogun
Adetinji Olurin
Bashorun Dayo Soremi
Tahib Odunowo
Yemi Adefule
Doyin Okupe
Sen. Felix Kola Bajomo
Babatunde Fadun
Olusegun Alawode
Kafilat Ogbara
Henrietta Luke Fuba

Osun
Sen Iyiola Omisore
Olagunsoye Oyinlola
Isiaka Adeleke
Yemi Farounbi
Olu Alabi
Fatai Aknibade
Patricia Etteh
Olusola Obada
Francis Fadahunsi
Shuaibu Oyedoku

Yobe
Jalo Zaram
Lawan Latenwa
Abdu Bulama
Adamu Talba
Umar Damagum
Zainab Boni Haruna
Sen Usma Albishir
Hasan Hussein
Jibrin Maigari
Mairop Amshi

Lagos
Ade Dosumu
Setom Koshoedo
Olatunji Sheile
Moshood Salvadore
Alade Abani Wonda
Atolagbe Animashaun
Bode Oyelede
Rafiq Ogungbambi
Kadirat Omotanwa
Sola Oladeinde

Ondo
Omotayo  Dairo
Olusola Oke
Bode Olajumoke
Olusegun Agagu
Omolade Oluwateru
Gbenga Elegbeleye
Folake Akinjoko
Kingsley Kuku
Febi Adeyemi
Jimoh Ibrahim

Oyo
Rasak Kareem
Taofeek Adedoja
Olajumoke Akinjide
Olorunsogo Olukemi
Ayodele Adigun
Akande Adebayo
Tairat Adeyemi
Adisa Nureni
Ayoka Lawani
Gbola Adetunji

Zamfara
Mahmud shinkafi
Muktar Anka
Bature Sambo
Bala Mande
Tijani Yahaya Kaura
Bashir yuguda
Ibrahim Galadima
Mamman Bawa Gusau
Mrs Aisha Aliyu Laraz
Abubakar Bunu

Cross River
John Ogar Odey
Peter Abang Ojie
Martina Odom
Julius Okputu
Edem Duke
Andem San
Catherinr Uyok okon
Amb Soni Abang
Prince Ebuta Ayuk
Mrs Margaret Ebokpo

Enugu
Engr Vita Abba
Mrs Fidelia Njeze
Chukwuemeka Ujam
Goddy Agbo
Jide Matthew Chime
Festus Uzor
Samuel Ngwu
Ikechukwu ugwuegede
Sally Adukwu_Bogunjoko

Gombe
Sen Adamu Ajuji Waziri
A. Abubakar
John Yoriyo
Jack Gumpy
Dahiru Buba Biri
Amina Al_Zubair
Sen Haruna Garba
Sulaiman Abubakar Kalshingi
Pharm. Moh’d Santana

Kogi
Musa Ahmadu
Joe Abrahams
Idris Wada
Lt. Gen. Salihu Ibrahim
Mohammed Kabir Usman
Aro Samuel Bamidele
Robert Audu
Salau Ogembe
Salime Dorcas Onuminya
Dr Hadiza Onotu

Kwara
Yekini Alabi
M. Segun
Bode Ojomu
Olaitan Kadri
Ismail Sadiq
Bisi Balogun
Shola Jimoh
Tunde Paku
L. Haruna
Taraba
Amb Emmanuel Njiwah
Simon Inusa Dogari
Musa Wakil Dakka
Armaya Dauda Abubakar
S.D. Gani
Sen Anthony Manzo
Mary Paninga
Mamma Ibrahim Hassan Lau
Victor Bala Kona
Jonah Agyo
Musa John Jin

Emir Tongue Lashes Vice President Over Lateness To Palace

KANO— EMIR of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, yesterday, tongue-lashed the Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo, for coming late to his palace during a courtesy visit, describing the action as “unfair.”


Sambo and his entourage had informed the palace of their intention to visit Alhaji Bayero but eventually got there about three hours late.

Apparently angered by the lateness of the Vice President and his entourage, Bayero expressed disappointment over the issue saying that as a stickler to time, he abhorred it.

He equally dismissed earlier assurances by the vice president that the Federal Government would complete the power projects initiated by the government in the state, noting: “We have the experience of unredeemed promises by successive administrations over the last 20 years.”

Bayero said: “You (Sambo) alerted us of your desire to pay a courtesy call on the palace by 10.00 am, and we have been ready for you since 9.30am only for you to turn up by 1.00pm. It is highly unfair.

Respect for time

“I belong to the old school of late Nigerian Prime Minister, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, and the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, where respect for time is total.”

The Emir further told the vice president that he would not attend the function which he had come to Kano to perform because, “officially I was not invited for your programme, and would, therefore, not grace it but want to advise on the need to keep to time.”

He also queried the outgoing Governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, who was in the entourage of the vice president on why he failed to educate the august visitor on the importance the palace attached to timeliness.

Vanguard learnt that the Emir’s outburst might not be unconnected with efforts being made by the Palace to identify with masses following the post election revolt that led to the killing of about 800 people as well as the destruction of property worth billions of Naira in some states in the north.

Bayero admonished the Federal Government to upgrade the facilities at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport to international standards instead of expending fund on the extension of the terminal alone.

The vice president who was visibly shaken after being allegedly humiliated by the Emir left the palace after chorusing an “apology.”
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media, Alhaji Umar Sani, said: “Well the Emir’s outburst is painful, but I do not think this is good for the consumption of the public.”

Namadi Sambo was in Kano to commission the domestic terminal building that took nine years to complete as well as commission the upgraded power project and lay the foundation for the new international terminal building at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.

Carlo Ancelotti Leaves Chelsea

Chelsea have parted company with manager Carlo Ancelotti, the club have confirmed.

Chelsea have sacked manager Carlo Ancelotti after he ended his second season at the club without a trophy.

He was dismissed following the 1-0 loss to Everton, as the west Londoners finished second in the Premier League.

The 51-year-old had one more year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge.

A club statement read: "This season's performances have fallen short of expectations and the club feels the time is right to make this change ahead of next season's preparations."

Speculation had been mounting that Ancelotti would be sacked following Chelsea's first season without a trophy in three years.

They missed out in the Premier League as Manchester United clinched their 19th top-flight title last week, further compounded by exits in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup during the season.

The Blues, who were Premier League and FA Cup holders at the start of the campaign, finished nine points behind United and only ahead of third-placed Manchester City on goal difference.

Former manager Avram Grant suffered similar treatment when Chelsea finished second in the domestic table and lost the Champions League final in 2008 on penalties.

And ambitious owner Roman Abramovich, who bankrolled an audacious £50m move for striker Fernando Torres during the January transfer window, will now start the search for a successor capable of recapturing the Premier League from Manchester United, while also guiding the club to the much-coveted Champions League trophy.

"Chelsea's long-term football objectives and ambitions remain unchanged and we will now be concentrating all our efforts on identifying a new manager," read the club statement.

Ancelotti had reiterated his ambition to remain at Chelsea, but insisted the decision was entirely down to the club's demanding hierarchy.

"I am now on holiday - but I am not sure how long my holiday will be," he said in his post-match media conference shortly before he was sacked.

"We haven't arranged any meeting but I think in the next week, now the season is finished, the club can address my job and they will take a decision.

"I have to wait and see what happens. I don't have to say anything to the club - they can judge me on my job for two years."

He signed a three-year contract in June 2009, taking over from interim boss Guus Hiddink, who had guided Chelsea to the FA Cup before returning to take charge of the Russia national team.

Ancelotti's first season in English football began in spectacular fashion, winning the Premier League and FA Cup - sealing the former with a thumping 8-0 victory against Wigan on the final day of the 2010 calendar.

But his second year in west London proved significantly more challenging as he was twice thwarted by Manchester United domestically and in the Champions League, where Chelsea suffered a quarter-final exit to Sir Alex Ferguson's team.

Ancelotti's progress was hindered when lassistant manager Ray Wilkins left the club in November after they decided not to renew his contract.

The Blues had been top of the table but the former England midfielder's departure coincided with a poor run of form, losing 3-0 to Sunderland before a 1-0 reverse against Birmingham during a six-match winless league run.

Defeats by Wolves and Liverpool followed at the start of the year before a late-season renaissance revived their title hopes.

However, a 2-1 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford on 8 May effectively sealed Sir Alex Ferguson's 12th Premier League title.

"Last year was really good, this year was not so good," added Ancelotti.

Chelsea's attentions will now turn to finding Ancelotti's successor, their seventh manager in the eight years since Abramovich took control of the club in 2003.

Porto's highly rated Andre Villas-Boas, Hiddink and former Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard are all in the frame.

Dutchman Hiddink, who has a close relationship with Abramovich, revealed he still has an advisory role at Stamford Bridge.

"Since I left two years ago I've been advising the club on things concerning the squad," he wrote in De Telegraaf on Saturday.

"Sometimes I become a sounding board. It costs me very little time and I can combine it well with my position with Turkey. There is no conflict at all."

France offers Nigeria Security Council membership support

 
French president, Nicholas Sarkozy has pledged his country’s commitment to rally for international support for Nigeria and spearhead the lobby for Africa’s membership of the United Nation’s Permanent Council as well as zonal representation in its Security Council.
Speaking during a brief meeting at the Yamoussoukro Presidential Villa, Cote d’Ivoire with President Goodluck Jonathan, before both leaders proceeded to the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Foundation for Peace Centre for the inauguration ceremony of President Alassane Ouattara, Mr Sarkozy stated that Nigeria as a ‘giant of Africa’, had enormous economical and political potentials to become great as a country.

He congratulated Mr Jonathan on his victory at the just concluded presidential polls and expressed optimism in his ability to succeed.

“If you do not succeed, I can’t imagine who else can,” Mr Sarkozy said.

While noting that Africa was under-represented in world governance, he maintained that Europe needed the collaboration and alliance with Africa to enable the continent grow.

Mr Sarkozy further said the linkages between both continents were such that they needed one another to explore and achieve its derivable benefits.

Grateful Nigeria

Mr Jonathan thanked the French leader for his country’s immense contribution in helping to stabilize Nigeria and enjoined him to continue to support the country and Africa in surmounting its challenges, especially in the area of good governance.

“We need your support and encouragement to succeed, we will always appreciate your show of love and interest for Nigeria,” Mr Jonathan stated.

The Nigerian president also said his determination to oppose the deposed Laurent Gbagbo government was to send a signal to African leaders that they must always do the right thing. He also said he insisted on free and fair elections in Nigeria to affirm his desire for the respect of the rule of law.

“I insisted on doing the right thing because I needed to have the moral right to challenge political wrong doing on the continent,” he said.

He expressed satisfaction with Sarkozy’s leadership of the G-8 and G-20 and also his country’s aid to Africa.

Era Of Waste: Jonathan's Inauguration to Gulp N5 billion, Church Service N63 Million

A scandalous squandering of scarce public funds for next Sunday’s inauguration of Goodluck Jonathan's presidency is in effect.  SaharaReporters investigations have revealed that the inauguration ceremonies will last one week at a budget of about N5 billion ($32 million).
In a memo obtained by SaharReporters, the church service alone, which will take place next Saturday, will swallow over N62 million( $403,000)
The memo is signed by the Minister of Aviation, Fidelia Njeze, in her role as the chairman of the Church Service sub-committee of the 2011 Presidential Inauguration Committee. 

Wearing that cap, Mrs. Njeze will oversee the church service on Saturday May 28, at the Christian center in Abuja for a couple of hours.

The Presidential Inauguration Committee is listed under the office of the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF).
 

Presidency sources told SaharaReporters that apart from the series of committees set up by the Office of the SGF, the president's office and that of the First Lady also have their different budgetary expenses for the event.
In the church committee activity, Mrs. Njeze proposes to provide a public address system for N35 million.  She will also refurbish the Christian Center's 24 air-conditioning system for N8 million; provide multimedia projectors and screens for another N8 million, and pay as well as pay officiating ministers N2.5 million.

N20 Billion Recovered From Tafa Balogun Still Missing

Federal lawmakers appear headed for a confrontation with the leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over fresh disclosures that about N50 billion of looted public funds recovered from past government officials by the EFCC can still not be located, several years after the monies were recovered.

A formal investigative report on the missing funds was launched by the House of Representatives nearly six months ago, and is expected to be released this week — just before the end of the current legislative session.

Key members of the house ad hoc committee on the investigation who spoke to NEXT have hinted that there has been no revelation from the anti-graft body that is significantly different from its past claim that the N20 billion recovered from the former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Tafa Balogun, and anotherN30 billion from other officials, could not be traced.

“We have sent them a query and they responded still denying that the funds are with them,” said a member of the committee, who refused to be named because the report has not yet been submitted.

The newest of the details though, according to another member, is that out of the total N20 billion recovered from the convicted police boss, the EFCC has, for the first time, argued that the sum was actually N2 billion and not N20 billion. The lawmaker said based on the information made available to the committee, the commission did not refute that N2 billion is in its coffers. “I believe the money is with them,” the source added.

The admission that the agency is in possession of the sum - although it is meagre given that N50 billion was the subject of the House investigation - appears to be a positive step when placed in the context of the many years during which the commission has summarily denied knowledge of the whereabouts of the missing funds.

Even after the latest disclosure last week to NEXT, EFCC spokesperson, Femi Babafemi insisted that issues of the commission keeping records of recovered loots have not arisen at all.

“The EFCC does not keep recovered money,” Mr Babafemi said.

In many ways, the wide ranging controversy - denials and counterclaims over the so-called missing money which is nearly the size of the budget of some states for a full year — remains a puzzling episode in the nation’s fight against financial crimes. On the one hand, the anti-corruption body recoups stolen public funds from offenders in a widely acclaimed feat, and on the other hand, the commission stands accused of not remitting the cash to its rightful destination, although it publicly claims that it did.

Police denies receiving funds

The former IGP’s case, which has now lingered for many years after he was said to have paid out N20 billion to the anti-corruption agency following a plea bargain, stands as a reference point.

Mr Balogun and two other unnamed officials were convicted in 2004 under the former chairman of the EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu. Upon conviction, Mr Balogun entered into a well-criticised plea- bargain that required that he part with N20 billion of the money traced to him, for a reduced sentence.

The commission further announced that it raised N30 billion from the sale of properties belonging to two other corrupt public office holders.

Several years after the payment, the whereabouts of the money, totalling N50 billion in all, according to the House committee on Police Affairs chairman, Abdul Ningi, remains unknown amid several allegations and denials.Despite several correspondence between the house police affairs committee, the EFCC and the police, the location of the funds remained unclear according to the testimony Mr Ningi gave when the matter came up in the house late last year.

While the commission, now under a new boss, Farida Waziri, maintained a sweeping innocence on the matter, some of its officials at times laid the blame, not surprisingly, at Mr Ribadu’s feet.

Mr Ribadu has, in past interviews, denied keeping the funds. And so has the police, which is now under its third boss after the removal of Mr Balogun.

In a reply to the House of Representatives inquiry into the missing money, former IGP, Mike Okiro, who succeeded Mr Balogun, said that only the EFCC was in the best position to state the actual amount recovered. He was emphatic that the amount was not remitted to the police purse.

On December 8, 2010, in a motion whose wordings clearly countered the repeated public claims of the anti-graft agency, Mr Ningi drew the attention of the house to the matter, arguing that the funds should be located and be made part of the 2011 appropriation.

The house said that while the police had stated “officially that they had not received the N20 billion,” the EFCC on the other hand “confirmed that the monies had neither been credited to the Nigeria Police nor into the federation account”.

In clear terms, the house noted that failure was a “violation of the provision of section 162 of the constitution,” and after six months of probing, a six-member panel headed by Ehiogie West-Idahosa, is expected to submit a report before the lawmakers wrap up their session next week.

What is the figure?

Despite the investigation, the EFCC spokesperson, Mr Babafemi, insisted on Friday that “recovered money is paid into designated government accounts”.

Mr Idahosa, a third-term lawmaker from Edo State, confirmed to NEXT that the report would be submitted this week. “We have just had to tidy up the few things,” he said, referring to the electioneering, the corruption uproar and speakership zoning crisis that the house has been dealing with since resumption.

“By next week we should have something to report back, to the house,” he said.

The unofficial disclosure, which many members confirmed, of claims by the EFCC that the amount recovered from the former IGP, Mr Balogun, was not N20 billion butN2 billion, now seems set to complicate further the already contentious matter.

The house is itself burdened by its own winternal corruption charges and might not be in a good stead to discuss this major national embarassment.

“It was public knowledge that they announced N20 billion,” said Halims Agoda, who helped push the call for investigation. “Claiming N2 billion now is something we would like to know when we resume next week.”