maryam babangida is dead.

the ex- first lady died of cancer in a us hospital. its likely that her remains arrive on monday or tuesday.

CALL FOR YAR’ADUA’S RESIGNATION

CALL FOR YAR’ADUA’S RESIGNATION: Turai, PDP can’t dictate to us - NBA - You’re mischievous - Mark - Yar’Adua family not divided - Sibling - President has violated constitution - Nnamani

From Lanre Adewole, Taiwo Adisa, Leon Usigbe and Dare Adekambi - 08.12.2009

THE place was Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja and the gladiators were two presidents: Senate President, David Mark and President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN. And the bone of contention was the ailing and hospitalised President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Akeredolu and Mark went for each other’s jugular on Monday over whether or not the president should throw in the towel at the ceremony marking the Law Week of the Abuja branch of the NBA, with the former saying that the First Lady, Turai, and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could not dictate to Nigerians on whether the president was fit to hang on or not.

Akeredolu added that despite the marital bond between Turai and her husband, only the doctors could determine if the president could continue in office, while telling the ruling party not to politicise the president’s health, but should advise him properly.

He noted that the lawyers’ body was not only asking Yar’Adua to step down but also to pay attention to his health, because he could not love the country more than his health.

According to him, “the prayer of the association is that the President should recover fast, return to his office and resign. No matter how you love your country, it should not be at the detriment of your health. It is not your party or your wife that will decide whether you are capable of handling state matters; it is only your doctors that can decide that.

“The bar is not asking the president not to come back and take his seat, but the right thing must be done.” Though Mark had spoken before Akeredolu, he had to beg the organisers for another chance at the podium to reply Akeredolu, and when the opportunity was availed him, he straightaway labelled Akeredolu and his ilk mischievous characters who should be ignored.

“Those calling on the president to resign are mischief makers. Nigeria is passing through a difficult time in her lifetime. The call for the president to resign is not necessary. People just want to cause confusion in the country,” Mark said.

Senator Mark said: “I feel very strongly about what is happening. Sycophants and praise singers have cashed in on the situation; we must condemn these acts. It is inhuman and unjust.

“They (mischief makers) deliberately sell dummies to newspapers. The following morning, they collect the newspapers and fly to Saudi Arabia to tell lies.” Mark said that the insinuations were totally mischievous and in bad fate, adding that he certainly did not hold such an ambition.

According to Mark, “This is the handiwork of fifth columnists who are bent on causing disaffection among individuals in government as well as the functionaries of government. It is wicked, mischievous, and unpatriotic and smacks of a grand plan to cause division in the system by those who have found a platform on the status of the health of President Yar’Adua.

“I am not aware of lawmakers holding nocturnal meetings anywhere to fashion out any solution in the face of eventuality. Neither is there any group canvassing a position for the President of the Senate, Senator Mark.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the President of the Senate, Senator Mark, has remained on the same page with President Yar’Adua; his family and our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and we shall not be distracted by rabblerousers.

“As a nation, we are passing through difficult times, no doubt about it. But it does not give room for mischief makers to cause more problems. Whichever faith one professes, all we need at the moment is continuous prayer for the nation and for our president.”

He stated that times like this called for genuine patriotism and commitment to nationhood and not mischief makers or sycophants who wanted to score cheap political points.

To him: “I sincerely advise those behind these ugly trends to desist. They should not mislead the nation. We need to see reasons and pray for Mr. President; we are all humans. I do not see the urgency for Mr. President to resign. I am sure he will return soon to continue his good work.”

The Senate president, who spoke on the theme “Good Governance and Democracy,” said that the 1999 Constitution would be amended to correct the grey areas inherent in it before the expiration of the present National Assembly.

In another development, Akeredolu had earlier at another function in Abuja condemned the idea of limiting the Freedom of Information concept to the media, saying that the bill should be for all Nigerians.

He was speaking at the first annual conference of the NBA Human Rights Institute in Abuja. According to him, “if the government is sincere about the rule of law in its dealings, it should have no problem passing the bill. A government that is committed to the rule of law, openness and anti-corruption must not oppose the Freedom of Information Bill.”

“It is a bill that will ensure that I and every other person will have access to information. It is for all of us here.” The NBA’s First Vice-President, Ikeazor Akaraiwe, who is the chairman of the institute, disclosed that the body had just received the new rules on instituting actions that border on Fundamental Human Rights, adding that the new effort of the Bar was to institutionalise human rights work within the NBA.

Former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Muhammad Lawal Uwais, chaired the conference with the theme Human and Socio-Economic Rights in Nigeria: A case for Justiciability.”

Akeredolu, in his address, demanded for the release of the report of extra-judicial killings of Boko Haram leaders in Borno State as well as officials actions on the report of Justice Olasunmbo Goodluck on the Apo Six killing.

He added that the police in Nigeria lacked requisite knowledge to investigate crimes without torturing suspects, saying that “Investigations are not thorough in this country, what police do is to torture people to admit to crimes. On the fate of those on death row in Nigeria, Akeredolu accused the government of inconsistent policy by continually pleading with authorities in Saudi Arabia, Singapore and other countries for the release of Nigerians on death row while doing nothing over those that had been sentenced to death in Nigeria, asking rhetorically, “should they wait for eternity for their death penalty?”

Meanwhile, former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, has blamed the current controversy surrounding the state of health of President Yar’Adua on his violation of the provision of section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, which requires the president to inform, in writing, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives that he was going on vacation.

He also called on the president to address Nigerians through a video conference call in order to put to rest all speculations surrounding his condition.

According to the former Senate President, in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by his Good Governance Group (3G), which was personally signed by him, the Nigerian press was fully charged with “unsubstantiated and very worrisome information,” which, he observed, was fuelled by communication gap.

“In the circumstance, the management of both the information and the circumstances surrounding the health of the president, and, by extension, efficient functioning of the executive arm of government, is becoming a source of disagreement, and, to that extent, a source of division in the country,” the statement read.

It added that “as an organisation that is committed to national development, founded on the establishment of truly democratic institutions and culture, it was its belief that the rising wave of speculation surrounding the state of health of President Yar’Adua is caused by his inability to transmit to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, a written declaration that he is proceeding on vacation, as provided for by Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution.

“The increasing politici-sation of the president’s health condition, arising from the inherent gap due to his current absence from the country without complying with the enshrined constitutional process of authorising the vice-president to serve as the acting president of the country, as provided for by Section 145 of the constitution further sharpens divisions and encourages all manner of political permutations, including some contemplated unconstitutional, undemocratic and clearly desperate manipulative arrangements.

“The absence of any form of direct contact between Nigerians and President Yar’Adua is a major source of legitimacy for all the speculations and the contemplated unconstitutional permutations.”

Furthermore, Senator Nnamani observed that the response of Federal Executive Council (FEC), as stated by the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Yayale, that “for issues that require president’s express approval, contacts are being made and such approvals do come” is disturbing. This, he said, confirmed the absence of legitimate presidential authority in the country.

The statement, therefore, noted that while it wished President Yar’Adua speedy recovery to enable him to resume work, “we call on the FEC to, as a matter of national importance, organise a video conference to enable the president to address Nigerians and rest all the speculations that have dominated public discussions in the country of recent.”

Meanwhile, the reported disagreement between Yar’Adua’s mother, Hajia Habib and his wife, Turai, over his ill health, has been denied by his sister, Hajia Mairo Yar’Adua, who described the report as “false and malicious.”

She denied the report in a statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune. Mairo said her mother did not call for Yar’Adua’s resignation, adding that the spirit of the president’s mother had been dampened since the report came out in the media.

“To put the records straight, the president’s mother has never spoken to the media. She enjoys a cordial relationship with her daughter-in-law, Turai. The president’s mother, contrary to media reports, is supportive of Yar’Adua’s foray into politics and has always encouraged him to render selfless service to the people of Nigeria,” she said.

She added that “it is, therefore, irresponsible for anybody to drag the president’s mother into the politics of the president’s health. What she expects from Nigerians is to pray for the quick recovery of her son.”

Robbers on the rampage in Kogi, Oyo - Kill 12 people, including 5 policemen

FOR two days (Tuesday and Wednesday) in Kogi and Oyo states, armed robbers went on the rampage killing 12 people, including five policemen. In Ibadan, the robbers were said to have robbed on Ososami Road before linking Anfani Road.

It was while trying to find a route of escape that they sighted a policeman in uniform riding on an okada and pursued him. The policeman, Corporal Augustine Otebolaje with force number 358706, on seeing the robbers in pursuit, attempted an escape by running into a building opposite Apostolic Faith Church at Lodge Street, Oke-Ado area.

He was, however, overwhelmed by the robbers who pumped hot lead into his neck and left hip. He died instantly. The armed men also invaded the popular Kollington Shopping Plaza area of Oke Ado, where a security man working with a fish depot behind the plaza was shot dead.

They were said to have attempted gaining access into the fish depot. The security guard, known as Dimeji, made efforts to prevent their entry by trying to lock the gate against them.

The robbers, in apparent anger, shot at the gate, which was pierced by the bullet, hitting Dimeji in the lower part of the abdomen. Dimeji was said to have walked a short distance within the depot, clutching his stomach from which blood was gushing out, before he collapsed and died.

However, they did not succeed in collecting any money, because they could not gain access through the door leading to where money was kept. The armed young men, who carried out their acts may have divided themselves into groups, as another set robbed the beer depot beside the fish depot.

The group that invaded the beer depot pretended to be customers intending to purchase a particular brand of beer, according to an eyewitness. One of the two gang members that entered the depot, it was gathered, opened his nap sack, as if to bring out money, but drew out a gun from it, assembled it and introduced himself as an armed robber.

The day’s proceeds were collected from the sales girl while the laptop belonging to the manager and his bag containing some documents and books were taken away.

The armed robbers were said to have driven in Toyota Camry cars, one red colour and the other ash colour. They escaped through the bridge at Popoyemoja area, where some boys who gave them a chase eventually lost sight of them.

A credible police source told Nigerian Tribune that the robbers abandoned the cars in Felele area and that one suspect has been arrested. Earlier, on Tuesday evening, a gang of five armed robbers had attacked a supermarket disposessing the supermarket owner of the entire day’s sale, jewellery and other valuables, after first outwitting men of the Nigeria Police, who were only 10 metres away from the scene of robbery.

The incident, which according to eyewitnesses lasted about 10 minutes, occurred at a supermarket directly opposite the popular Floreb Hotel, on Aromolaran Street, off Old Ife Road. The police, it was said, had been keeping a 24-houur illegal checkpoint, in front of the hotel, in the past four weeks.

Eyewitnesses told the Nigerian Tribune that the gang, which came on commercial motorcycles, had two of their members noisily arguing with the policemen over ‘settlement’ issues, a ploy which successfully kept the policemen distracted, while the other members of the gang robbed and completed their task and at whose signal, the “okada riders” finally ‘settled’ the officers and repositioned, for their gang members to hop on the bikes and rode off.

The supermarket owner, a middle aged woman who was still in shock, said she could not believe the attack could happen, not only because it was well before 8.00 p.m., but also because she felt the presence of the policemen should have deterred the gang.

Eyewitnesses who confirmed their helplessness said there was nothing they too could do, with the officers being so engrossed with okada riders, more so, as the gang was armed.

At the Agugu police station, though the DCO, Mr. A. Olayinka who confirmed the event, said he was yet to get the details, the station officer, who further confirmed the robbery incident, stated that the gang made away with jewellery and a yet to be determined sum of money and emphasised that the development had buttressed the need to continue to mount their checkpoint in the area.

Residents who, however, spoke on condition of anonymity said the presence of the policemen, which initially gave them a sense of security, had now turned into another thing, as all the officers did was to waylay okada riders and force them to pay ‘settlement’.

They said it was also a common practice for junior officers of the station, to routinely visit neighbourhood and arrest youths in the area, claiming they were picking ‘roguers’.

Also, in Kogi State, no fewer than 10 people, including four policemen, were killed in separate armed robbery incidents that occurred within the last two days.

The robberies occurred between Tuesday and Wednesday, with the worst hit being some banks (names withheld) at Ankpa area of the state, as robbers numbering about 20 stormed the banks in the town, killing four policemen while a man said to be a well known thug, one Shaibu a.k.a. Rambo, who had mobilised his men to confront the robbers, was killed along with two of his boys.

Two armed robbers were also reported killed during the operation which lasted several hours. Also, robbers who had laid siege to the Ankpa- Lokoja highway on Monday, robbed a vehicle carrying a corpse. The robbers were said to have dropped the corpse and forced the bereaved to lie face down at Adogo village and stole their belongings, which included money and handsets.

The corpse, according to the state acting Commissioner of Police, Mallam Abdullahi Magaji, was being conveyed from Abuja to Ankpa with the passengers on board before they ran into the roadblocks mounted by four robbers suspected to be Fulanis.

Magaji, who paraded the dead body of one of the Fulani robbers who was killed when security operatives patrolling the highway ran into the robbery, said that the three others fled the scene when one of them was killed.

Magaji who confirmed the bank robberies at Ankpa, on Wednesday, said that the policemen and the leader of the thugs were killed during the robbery incidents

More trouble for Bode George - Reps probe him - Lawyers file for appeal, bai

JAILED former deputy national chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, may be in for another trouble, as the House of Represent-atives commences a probe into his tenure at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on the processes leading to the sale of NPA’s property.The House declared that “preliminary inquest” showed that several properties were sold and huge sums of money collected by certain people in the NPA, pointing out that there was the need to ascertain whether due process was followed or whether the process was fair, among others.

In particular, the Committee on Marine, headed by Honourable Ifeanyi Ogwuayin, on Wednesday, set up a seven-man ad hoc committee to probe the total properties portfolio of the Federal Government Agency pre-and post-January 31, 2009 and ascertain the total value of the listed properties.

Addressing newsmen, the committee boss, in the company of his members, said the latest move to probe the NPA and its operators in the recent past, was borne out of numerous complaints, petitions and even allegations his committee received.

According to him, the petitions and complaints came from members of staff, retirees, staff unions, stakeholders and the general public, saying such complaints had kept on coming since 2006, alleging sharp practices in the sale of NPA properties.

“Since the inauguration of this committee, we have been inundated with complaints, petitions and even allegations on the sale of NPA properties, started sometime in 2006. These have come from the NPA staff, retirees, their staff unions, stakeholders and the general public. The media has indeed celebrated the matter of sale of NPA properties,” he said.

He disclosed that from preliminary information his committee gathered from the ministry and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), there was the need to expand the scope of “our evaluation to give it more credibility, as well as give everybody a level playing field to state their case.”

The ad hoc committee, which has Honourable Adamu Gora Kalba as chairman, is to work on a seven- term of reference, including itemising the NPA properties sold post-January 31, 2006 to date, their value and the approving authorities; Determine if the sales were properly authorised, if they followed laid down procedure (including the Federal Government sale of properties guidelines), and if there were any wastages.

“Ascertain how much was realised from the sale, its domicile status and if such sum has been properly remitted. “Recommendations to the committee for requisite legislative action and

“Identify other measures that will ensure that future processes are in line with law and guidelines”. The ad hoc has been given six weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report.

Meanwhile, Chief George and others convicted alongside him on Wednesday filed their notice of appeal against the judgment passed on them by Justice Olubunmi Oyewole and a motion of temporary bail pending the determination of appeal at the registry of the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja.

However, immediately after the processes were completed by counsel representing them, they bluntly refused to give journalists copies, hinging their refusal on journalists’ alleged sensationalisation of the reports of their client’s conviction.

Specifically the lawyers who arrived at the court premises and concluded their fillings at about 4.00p.m., pointed out that the media unduly reported that the convicts were sentenced to 28 years imprisonment, the report which they claimed were done in bad taste.

Not minding their presence at the registry and the appeals from journalists requesting for the photocopies of the process, they insisted journalists should have reported two and a half years, which the trial court pronounced on each count.

One of the lawyers who was at the registry even queried the journalists as to where they got their reports. They argued that they had to serve the respondents copies before making the processes available to journalists.

Meanwhile, lawyers from the various chambers representing the applicants effected services on one another and at the same time immediately sent copies to the counsel representing the respondents.

When they were leaving the court, they agreed to a meeting at the chambers of the lead counsel for the defendant, Chief Tunji Ayanlaja (SAN), for subsequent actions on the matter, jettisoning the plea from journalists, despite the document already of a public matter.

Youth Corps Members Allege Attack In Taraba

Youth Corps Members Allege Attack In Taraba

* Akinjide Calls For Scrapping Of Scheme

From Charles Akpeji, Jalingo

AT a time many Nigerians are calling on the government to either scrap or review the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme to allow corps members the option of choosing whether and where to serve the nation, following the recent rape and killing of Miss Grace Ushang in Borno State, some corps members serving in Sunkani, headquarters of Ardo-Kola Council of Taraba State on Thursday allegedly escaped being lynched in a night attack by villagers.

According to sources, the attack on the Corpers Lodge residence of the corps members followed an argument between one of them and a secondary school pupil in the community.

Although no casualty was recorded in the attack, the 30 corps members residing at the lodge have since fled to the state NYSC secretariat. They vowed not to return to the community.

One of them said: "Going back there should not be the issue now, because our security is not guaranteed at all. If not for God, I think some of us would have been killed in the process. But we are glad none of us was injured, even though we were mercilessly beaten.

"Our security has to be assured before we can think of going back there, because the people are too hostile. Why, for God's sake, would one take up arms against a corps member for rebuking a student who does not want to learn?"

The corps members lamented that policemen serving in the area did not come to their rescue during the attack, saying: "We did not even see any of them (policemen). Rather than allow ourselves to be slaughtered, we decided to run for our lives. So, the thought of going to the police station did not occur to us.

"We ran for several kilometres before we finally got a Good Samaritan riding in a pick-up van, who conveyed us to this place (NYSC secretariat)."

The new state NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Isaac Fasanu said his office was yet to be briefed on the incident, but promised to take action as soon as that was done.

A serving corps member in Sokoto State told The Guardian that apart from certain environmental inconveniences, "another problem we are facing is the aggressiveness of the people, coupled with language barrier, especially as many of them do not understand or speak English. So, relating with them is a problem, because they easily misunderstand us, thinking we are in a way abusing them.

"Teaching them in the class is also not an easy task, because they might just beat you up. The students are very violent and always come to class with knives in their pockets. There are cases where they manhandle the female teacher (corps members) for chastising them over poor performance.

"They can just round you up in a place and start doing all sorts of evil to you, including beating your buttock, pressing your breast and all sorts of nonsense. So, teachers are always very careful with them so that we don't get humiliated. All we do is just teach them and go our own way. We can hardly correct them."

She cited an instance where a female corps member was assaulted by her students for exercising authority over the students.

Second Republic Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), doubts that the scheme serves any useful purpose in present-day Nigeria any longer.

According to him: "The care for those corps members is virtually non-existence. We now open them to avoidable dangers and risks, and some of them even die in the process. Is that what we want for our youths?'

He, therefore called for the abolition of the scheme, saying: "By exposing our youths to danger and lack of care, we are just increasing the population of our people exposed to risk."

He added: "In a country where the security of corps members has not only become an issue, but also rare, the NYSC programme becomes useless. We can no longer afford to have our children killed by some miscreants in the name of national service and some people will say it is the will of God."

But Evangelist Israel Chari, whose two sons are corps members serving in Lagos and Kaduna, said it is a great disservice for anyone to suggest that the scheme be discontinued.

According to him, the NYSC scheme is a unifying force in the country, saying the incident in Jos some time ago and others in parts of the north that led to the death of some corps members were not enough to disband such a laudable programme, as being suggested in some quarters.

Ushang, a corps member from Cross River State, serving in Borno State was killed by some miscreants in the state for inexplicable reasons, fuelling calls for the scheme to be re-assessed.

Youth Corps Members Allege Attack In Taraba

Youth Corps Members Allege Attack In Taraba

* Akinjide Calls For Scrapping Of Scheme

From Charles Akpeji, Jalingo

AT a time many Nigerians are calling on the government to either scrap or review the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme to allow corps members the option of choosing whether and where to serve the nation, following the recent rape and killing of Miss Grace Ushang in Borno State, some corps members serving in Sunkani, headquarters of Ardo-Kola Council of Taraba State on Thursday allegedly escaped being lynched in a night attack by villagers.

According to sources, the attack on the Corpers Lodge residence of the corps members followed an argument between one of them and a secondary school pupil in the community.

Although no casualty was recorded in the attack, the 30 corps members residing at the lodge have since fled to the state NYSC secretariat. They vowed not to return to the community.

One of them said: "Going back there should not be the issue now, because our security is not guaranteed at all. If not for God, I think some of us would have been killed in the process. But we are glad none of us was injured, even though we were mercilessly beaten.

"Our security has to be assured before we can think of going back there, because the people are too hostile. Why, for God's sake, would one take up arms against a corps member for rebuking a student who does not want to learn?"

The corps members lamented that policemen serving in the area did not come to their rescue during the attack, saying: "We did not even see any of them (policemen). Rather than allow ourselves to be slaughtered, we decided to run for our lives. So, the thought of going to the police station did not occur to us.

"We ran for several kilometres before we finally got a Good Samaritan riding in a pick-up van, who conveyed us to this place (NYSC secretariat)."

The new state NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Isaac Fasanu said his office was yet to be briefed on the incident, but promised to take action as soon as that was done.

A serving corps member in Sokoto State told The Guardian that apart from certain environmental inconveniences, "another problem we are facing is the aggressiveness of the people, coupled with language barrier, especially as many of them do not understand or speak English. So, relating with them is a problem, because they easily misunderstand us, thinking we are in a way abusing them.

"Teaching them in the class is also not an easy task, because they might just beat you up. The students are very violent and always come to class with knives in their pockets. There are cases where they manhandle the female teacher (corps members) for chastising them over poor performance.

"They can just round you up in a place and start doing all sorts of evil to you, including beating your buttock, pressing your breast and all sorts of nonsense. So, teachers are always very careful with them so that we don't get humiliated. All we do is just teach them and go our own way. We can hardly correct them."

She cited an instance where a female corps member was assaulted by her students for exercising authority over the students.

Second Republic Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), doubts that the scheme serves any useful purpose in present-day Nigeria any longer.

According to him: "The care for those corps members is virtually non-existence. We now open them to avoidable dangers and risks, and some of them even die in the process. Is that what we want for our youths?'

He, therefore called for the abolition of the scheme, saying: "By exposing our youths to danger and lack of care, we are just increasing the population of our people exposed to risk."

He added: "In a country where the security of corps members has not only become an issue, but also rare, the NYSC programme becomes useless. We can no longer afford to have our children killed by some miscreants in the name of national service and some people will say it is the will of God."

But Evangelist Israel Chari, whose two sons are corps members serving in Lagos and Kaduna, said it is a great disservice for anyone to suggest that the scheme be discontinued.

According to him, the NYSC scheme is a unifying force in the country, saying the incident in Jos some time ago and others in parts of the north that led to the death of some corps members were not enough to disband such a laudable programme, as being suggested in some quarters.

Ushang, a corps member from Cross River State, serving in Borno State was killed by some miscreants in the state for inexplicable reasons, fuelling calls for the scheme to be re-assessed.

Banks' Biggest Debtor Latest: EFCC Arrests Ololo, Atuche - Raids Their Homes

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Friday, arrested and detained the sacked Group Managing Director of Bank PHB, Mr. Francis Atuche and the highest individual debtor of non-performing loans in the country, sacked Managing Director of Falcon Securities, Mr. Peter Ololo.

Falcon Securities is a subsidiary of FinBank that handles its shares business. Ololo owes three troubled banks – Bank PHB, Afribank and Intercontinental Bank – a total of non-performing debts of N108.55 billion.

Commission’s spokesperson, Mr. Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrest. According to him, “They are in our custody; they are with us.” They are being detained in Lagos office of the commission as of press time.

It was also gathered that the homes of the duo in Lagos were searched by the commission’s operatives. The search, which was said to be on at the time of filing this report (5.50pm), was reportedly aimed at getting exhibits that could be used in the prosecution of the sacked bank chiefs.

The operatives were said to be on the trial along other sacked bank chiefs that were indicted for alleged insider abuse in the last stress exercise conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The chairman of the commission, on Thursday, stormed Lagos with 80 operatives for the arrest of the sacked management teams of three of the five banks that failed the recent CBN stress test and the recovery of over N1 trillion non-performing loans owed 10 troubled banks by top Nigerian businessmen, oil companies and stockbrokers.

The first five banks that failed the apex bank’s stress test included Oceanic Bank, Intercontinental Bank, FinBank, Afribank and Union Bank, while the last five are Bank PHB, Spring Bank, Unity Bank, Equitorial Trust Bank and Wema Bank.

Only Wema and Unity Banks’ management teams were spared. Waziri held a secret meeting with the operatives on Thursday before unleashing them on the debtors and the sacked bank chiefs.

The list of non-performing loans’ debtors released by CBN contained names like Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Gen. Buba Marwa; scion of the late M.K.O Abiola’s dynasty, Kola; the deported Vaswani brothers, billionaire businessmen, Femi Otedola and Aliko Dangote, Professor Pat Utomi, Otunba Oyewole Fasawe, Chief Cletus Ibeto of Ibeto Cement, among others.

All the debtors to the five banks are said to owe a non-performing loans of N451.6 billion. Debtors to the five banks earlier bailed out by the apex bank reportedly owed N737.6 billion. The total non-performing loans owed the 10 troubled banks stood at N1.189.2 trillion.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said it had recovered N135 billion, leaving an outstanding of over N1 trillion. Fourteen sacked bank chiefs that are being prosecuted by the anti-corruption commission were members of the sacked management teams of the first five audited banks.

Other sacked bank bosses yet to be arrested are Mr. Charles Ojo of Spring Bank and Mr. Ike Oraekwuotu of Equitorial Trust Bank. The commission had earlier launched an investigation into the allegations contained against them in the audit report, with sources within the commission revealing that they had a case to answer.

The commission had delayed the commencement of the operation for the list of the debtors to be released by the apex bank. The list was eventually released last Wednesday by the apex bank. All the sacked bank chiefs had been put on security surveillance by the commission to forestall the possibility of escape.

Banker, in-law docked over N2.5bn fraud

It was pay back time on Tuesday for a suspected fraudster and his banker in-law as they were arraigned for N860 million fraud at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja. Ebi Odeigah and his banker manager brother-in-law, Alex Nkenchor, were slammed with a 10-count charge of conspiracy, attempted fraud and stealing by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Odeigah’s company, GMT Securities and Assets Nigeria Limited, which the prosecution alleged was used as conduit pipe to perpetrate the alleged crime, was also charged along with its owner and the brother-in-law.

Specifically, Odeigah was charged with a 10-count charge along with his company over alleged stealing through banker’s draft issued to defraud Union Bank to the tune of N860 million last year. The crime was allegedly perpetrated in connivance with his brother-in-law who was the manager, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Golden Plaza branch, Falomo, Lagos State.

The former bank manager got a four-count charge for alleged collaboration in the crime.
The prosecution alleged that three instalments of banker’s draft were issued in the sum of N200 million, N210 million and N450 million respectively to fleece Union Bank in July last year by the accused persons with alleged collaboration of his brother-in-law who was in charge of the branch.

Beside the alleged defrauding of Union Bank to the tune of N860 million, the prosecution also accused Odeigah of issuing dud cheques to the tune of N1.7 billion with an intent to defraud the bank.
According to the charge preferred against Odeigah by the EFCC, the accused allegedly issued six instalments of dud cheque with intent top defraud Union Bank.

The alleged offence, according to the prosecution, is punishable under Sections (1) (a) of the Dishonoured Cheques (offences) Act, Cap. D11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria; Section 516 of the Criminal Code Law Cap C17 Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003; and Section 390 (8) (b) of the Criminal Code Law Cap C17 Volume II Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The EFCC prosecutor, Ben Ubi, prayed the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody while a trial date is fixed by the court.
Consequently, the trial judge, Justice Morenike Obadina, ordered the accused persons to be remanded in Ikoyi Prisons and fixed October 20, 2009 to hear their bail applications. She also fixed November 12 and 13, 2009, for the trial of the accused persons.

At the end of the proceedings, there was a mild drama in the court premises as Odeigah attempted to attack photo journalists who were trying to take his picture while one of his suspected aides slapped a reporter. The unidentified aide was promptly arrested by security operatives in the court who detained him.

Obama's Nobel Prize

Obama's Nobel Prize

IT was not only Americans who were surprised at the announcement of US President Barack Obama's name as winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize for Peace. Nigerians were also just as dumb-founded: what has he done in less than a year of his Presidency to deserve a Nobel Prize for of all things peace? America is still at war in Iraq, despite Obama's campaign promise that he will bring that war to a quick end. Although President Obama has opened a window of opportunity for dialogue with Iran, the relationship between both countries remains uneasy. In the Horn of Africa, the Philippines and in Afghanistan, the United States is still involved, under Obama, in various shapes of war. President Obama had promised to intervene in the Middle East crisis, but not much progress has been made, with the parties to the conflict appearing ever so unwilling to engage in dialogue.

The effect of President Obama becoming Nobel Laureate Barack Obama was further dampened with his own expression of shock. Nominations for the Peace Prize closed within two weeks after President Obama's assumption of office in 2008. So, there seems to be no empirical assessment of work already done. Ever so humble and a master of special moments, Obama was quick to go on record in the following words: "To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who have been honoured by this prize." But he does not intend to reject the prize: "I will accept this award as a call to action," he said. "This award must be shared with everyone who strives for justice and dignity."

Obama is the third American President in office to receive the Nobel Peace prize after Theodore Roosevelt (1906) and Woodrow Wilson (1919). Former US President Jimmy Carter won the prize in 2002, for his humanitarian work. Should the Nobel Committee have given the prize to Obama? In his will, Alfred Nobel the founder of the prize had directed that there should be emphasis on "achievement". And indeed in all the other categories, chemistry, physics, economics, literature, medicine, the reason for the award is hardly ever in doubt even if the Nobel Committee over the years has overlooked some of the most accomplished men and women in history (James Joyce, Mahatma Ghandhi, Leo Tolstoy, Thomas Edison etc). Obama was given the award for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation among peoples." Thus, the Committee has given the award to encourage Obama to endorse his vision. And I guess, to tie his hands. The award of the Peace Prize is subjective after all.

But one message that the choice of Obama sends out this year is that the Nobel Prize Committee plays politics with its choices and that it is not just excellence that impresses it. While this may hurt less in the Nobel Peace Prize category, it could do much damage to the integrity of the prize if this were to be the case in the other subjects. But let's just say, this year, the Nobel Prize Committee has been caught by the bug of "Obama-mania." Why the haste? Obama still has plenty of time left as US President. If he were to be awarded the prize in two years and the same reason is given, there would have been millions of people across the world endorsing the choice and Obama himself will not feel embarrassed. But this year, nobody is celebrating. The prize looks like a non-prize: the controversy that it is generating is taking the shine off the other prizes where distinguished intellectuals are being celebrated.

Some commentators have pointed out that the Nobel Peace Prize has always been awarded for political reasons, or that it is the only category where achievement does not always count. I beg to differ. In assigning a part of his estate to the promotion of peace, Alfred Nobel did not talk about "efforts" or "politics" but actual work in that regard and so he wrote on the peace prize, about giving "one part to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity among nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses." Has Obama in the last nine months done the best work that Alfred Nobel asks for? This is the question that the five-man committee in Sweden must seek to answer convincingly.

The truth is that in most of the previous cases in this same category, the reason for the award has not always been this doubtful. Let us consider a few examples: The Red Cross (1944); Martin Luther King (1964); Amnesty International (1977); Anwar al Sadat and Menachem Begin (1978); Mother Teresa (1979); Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (1981); Lech Walesa (1983); Desmond Tutu (1984); International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (1985); United Nations Peacekeeping Forces (1988); Nelson Mandela and F. W. de Klerk (1993); Medecin Sans Frontieres (1999); United Nations, Kofi Annan (2001); Mohammed Yunus, Grameen Bank (2006). In each of these instances, at the time of the award, concrete achievements in the direction of peace and its promotion or the extension of its frontiers could be properly identified. Martin Luther King preached non-violence; Amnesty International has been a consistent defender of human freedom, Sadat and Begin signed the famous Camp David Accord (1977), the first major breakthrough in Egypt-Israeli relations; Obama's 2009 award is based on "hope." To be fair however, there are perhaps a few other recipients who like Obama were given the Nobel Peace prize to encourage them. Two veritable examples in this regard are: the award in 1991 of the prize to the Burmese opposition leader, Aung Suu Kyi; and in 1994 to the trio of Yasser Arafat, Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres, "for their efforts to create peace in the Middle East."

One more point to consider is this: Could it be that Obama has been given the prize because he is the first black man to be President of the United States, and since it would be politically incorrect to say so, it is better to hide under the euphemisms of international diplomacy and cooperation? For if the truth be told, Obama's emergence and the colour of his skin ( a black man in the White House?) has done a lot more for international co-operation than we can imagine. The singular event of his Presidency has given hope to all marginalized groups in the world. It has reduced the scope of human alienation and reaffirmed hope in the oneness of humanity. It ranks among one of the most phenomenal events of the last century. Add to this the fact that Obama is the most international American President in more than 100 years.

He is loved across the world; and with his charisma, he inspires not just marginalized groups but also the younger generation. The power, symbolism and proven magnetism of his message: "Yes, we can" project one of the most effective battle cries of the age. And that, in addition to the colour barrier that Obama's ascendancy effectively destroys, is good for world peace, for humanity too. So why doesn't the Nobel Prize Committee say so? In playing politics, I guess the wise ones in Sweden needed to be seen to be correct. But did they need to be political? Obama won't be the first black man to win the Nobel Prize for Peace; emphasizing the historicity of his election and presidency can do no harm. He will be joining in this prize category, Albert Luthuli (1960), Martin Luther King (1964); Desmond Tutu (1984), Kofi Annan (2001) and Wangari Maathai (2004), but his prize would have been in a special class of its own if properly defined.

Now, on the details of the five-man committee's own declaration, what are the issues? There is no doubt that President Obama has given some of the most impressive speeches and taken a few symbolic steps on world peace. In the past nine months, he has been very vocal on the issues of nuclear arms proliferation and disarmament. He has led the campaign on the floor of the United Nations on climate change. He has spoken passionately about bringing the Israelis and the Palestinians to the path of reason. He wants to take America out of Iraq and put an end to the mistake that the Bush men made. He wants to stabilize Afghanistan . Wants... Hopes... Promises. The only thing we can hold on to so far is Obama's charisma and eloquence. From Europe to Egypt to Ghana , he has wowed audiences, firing up the popular imagination with hope that the world can be a better place. Under George Bush, America was one of the most hated countries in certain parts of the world, but now Obama's active engagement with the rest of the world is making America popular again and the American Presidency more approachable. Many of those who didn't like George Bush are in love with Barack Obama.

But whereas it is the truth that America 's engagement with the world has always oscillated between isolationism and openness, no one should be in any doubt that America 's interest in the world is first and foremost all about America. Not even Obama can change that. His mandate is to promote human freedom, democracy, American business and American exceptionalism: everything is about America not necessarily the world. So the American President may collect the $1 million Nobel Prize money and make a great speech in Oslo in December but that is not likely to change much in terms of the real planks of American diplomacy. For example, will Obama's America submit to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC)? Will America agree to a reform of WTO rules to favour developing countries more? Will Obama's America reduce its own nuclear weaponry to promote global peace? What Obama does about hunger, and poverty in the world is as important as what his presidency does to reduce the spread of war.

What is possibly certain is that the Nobel Prize for Peace will tie Obama's hands, put him under pressure and compel him to live up to the expectations of the prize. It is a subtle kind of blackmail. And so, we should ask: Does Obama need that? Giving a man a prize because he has the potential to win it is rather patronizing. Chairman of the award committee, Thorbjoern Jagland says: "I hope it will help him...Obama is the right man at the right time, and that's why we want to enhance his efforts." See? They want to help him!

Too many men and women of talent have been derailed by too much early praise and help. It is a pitfall that Nobel Laureate Obama must watch out for. Now that his right-wing critics have been offered fresh ammunition for stalking him, when and if he falters on the question of peace later in his Presidency, they will be out with daggers. Good enough that he has the good sense not to celebrate. But that may not be enough. He should reject the prize, this Greek gift, from Sweden. And he will not be the first person to do so. In 1973, Le Duc Tho and Henry Kissinger were both awarded the Peace Prize for brokering the Paris Peace Accord on Vietnam. Tho turned down the award saying there was no peace in Vietnam. Earlier, in 1964, Jean Paul-Sartre also rejected the Prize in Literature on the ground that it would make no difference whatsoever to the quality of his art, and that he would rather not be turned into an institution in any form. In the end, President Obama will be judged on the basis of actual performance, not his fine speeches, not what a five-man Nobel Prize Committee thinks he should do.

We Must Not Forget Jude Igwemezie

IT is important that you know a compatriot of ours called Jude Igwemezie. He is the Nigerian engineer who has won a contract to build a monorail network in Iraq worth $500 million under the auspices of a company called TransGlobin International. The proposed rail network will link the city of Najaf with three Islamic holy sites in Shale, Kufa and Imam Ali. Before going to the Iraqis with his proposal, Igwemezie had first approached the Nigerian authorities. Out of patriotism! He wanted to build a standard gauge rail from Calabar to Lagos. But the Nigerians in power only tossed him up and down. "As a diaspora person, I kept coming back, knocking to help Nigeria. On the other hand, I can't keep knocking forever, " he lamented.

In the end, our man took his skills to Iraq where the authorities seeing the value of his effort and track record signed a Memorandum of Understanding with him in two months! By the time Igwemezie's project in Iraq is completed, with Iraqis benefiting from the ingenuity of a Nigeria-led team, Nigeria will still be busy trying to figure out a solution to its transportation crisis. This is the Nigerian story all over again. It is one of the reasons we are a failed state. Nigeria has many outstanding achievers in different fields of human endeavour in the world. But we are unable to make use of their talents.

When they come home, seeking to help, the mediocres within the system shut them out. If they are truly determined and refuse to go away, they could be confronted with funny stories about religion, or ethnicity and if that doesn't work, they could be poisoned or bumped off. Nigeria runs a system that resists talent and excellence. It is a country where mediocrity thrives. Sadly, we keep giving to other countries what we lack at home. Nigeria 's railway system for example is dead. In the last eight years, so many billions have been invested in it, and there is nothing to show for all that. And yet, Nigerians continue to die and groan on terrible roads. Can anyone blame Jude Igwemezie if some day, he decides to change his nationality? We must rebrand our country first by making it accept the best and the brightest

Apathy As Eagles Take on Black Mambas

Apathy As Eagles Take on Black Mambas

The Super Eagles of Nigeria go into today's World and Nations Cup qualifier against Mozambique needing a win to keep up the pressure on Group B leaders, Carthage Eagles of Tunisia, who are also at home to the Harambee Stars of Kenya. However, a win for Tunisia and a loss or draw for Nigeria will see the North Africans qualify for their fifth World Cup.

Nigeria missed the chance of going tops in the group when it played a 2-2 draw against Tunisia in the last game played at the Abuja Stadium. That result put the Nigerian team in its present precarious position needing Tunisia to slip and hope for favourable results in today's game and the last one against Kenya to have a chance of playing at the World Cup in South Africa.

Nigeria's preparation for today's encounter has been hampered by injury to Mikel Obi and vice captain, Joseph Yobo, who are both important members of the Nigerian team and it is not clear whether they would be ready for Mozambique. Both players got injured playing for their clubs, but still showed up at the Super Eagles training camp.

Super Eagles coach, Shuaibu Amodu, while expressing doubts over the fitness of both players on Friday said that they were still some way from fitness. "Yobo is not up to 75 per cent fit, and Mikel is also not fully fit. For the moment, they are here to support their team mates and I don't think they will be ready on time to play against Mozambique," the Nigerian coach said.

The return of Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Wolfsburg's Obafemi Martins should add bite to the Eagles attack, while the absence of Ikechukwu Uche who has been impressive for the Super Eagles throughout the qualifiers, would be felt after he was ruled out for eight weeks following the injury he sustained playing for his team, Real Zaragoza in Spain. Martins had a bad day in his last game for Eagles in Maputo, failing to convert two beautiful chances that came his way.

Fulham's Dickson Etuhu, who was recalled, would also be absent due to injury while Kalu Uche who plays for Almeria in Spain was one of the casualties of Eagles' failure against Tunisia. In the absence of Etuhu, Seyi Olofinjana should provide the needed cover for the defence that might be without Yobo while Taiye Taiwo, Dele Adeleye and others would do well to keep the Mozambicans at bay.

Doubts over fans turn out have heightened but the duo of Kanu and Martins have pleaded with Nigerians to come out en masse to support the Super Eagles in their remaining games.

Kanu, who said the Eagles were not interested in mind games with Mozambique, whose captain, Tico Tico Bucuane, has been goading Nigeria, stated that despite the disadvantage the Super Eagles faced in the qualifying series, Nigerians should support the team in its remaining games. Bucuane said that they (Mozambicans) were coming to Nigeria with poison and intended to pick their ticket to the African Cup of Nations in Angola early next year.

But Kanu said the challenge was to focus on the game and earn the three points, and not to engage in idle talk. "We have a job to do and we are here to do it. We don't want to be talking too much. Our determination is to get the points and hope for the best in the remaining games, so we can qualify for the World Cup finals," he said.

"Everybody is here to do their best, whether they are playing or not. There is still hope that we can go to the World Cup, and everybody wants to make sure they contribute because it is not over until it is over," Kanu added.

To Martins, who said he was delighted to be back in the national team, the challenge was in winning the two games remaining and wait for what happens in the other games. "It's not all about talking. We can talk all week but we have to give our best and win on Sunday (today). It's very important and people will see what will happen at the end of the game. I am here to give my best and I hope the rest of the players will do well also."

For Amodu, genuine fans will come out to cheer and continue to support the team despite their present situation, saying that those who do not come out are not wanted.

The team came under heavy criticism following last month's 2-2 draw against Tunisia, which seriously compromised Nigeria's chances of appearing at next year's World Cup.

Since then, however, apathy has crept in, with many fans expressing indifference at the team, and a large number prepared to stage a sit at home protest. Amodu said he was not surprise by the reaction and hit back at the fair weather fans.

He told Kickoff: "I expected that. A good number of Nigerians pretend to know the game and support the game, but they don't know it. As it is, those who will come to the stadium today will be our genuine supporters. They are the ones who know and love football, and those are the people we want."

He went further accusing the populace of taking out their frustrations in the country's other failing sectors on the national football team. "Nobody should extend the disappointment in the fortunes of this country on us in football. Our teams have been playing games all over the world. That football has been played here and there means that we have been the ones carrying the banner of Nigeria all over the world.

"We don't want to face it, but I am saying it. The only thing that is representing Nigeria all over the world is football. The only thing we are selling to the world right now is football. And anybody who does not care about the fact that we are doing our utmost best to represent this country does not appreciate it.

"They should ask questions about other organs what they are doing. Why is it only football? Nobody should take the problems of Nigeria and put it on football. In football, like other sports, you cannot get all your results overnight. Along the line you will have disappointing results, and you will also have good ones.

He continued: "That is the nature of sport. You will win some, you will lose some and you will draw some. This attitude of win at all cost is what we have carried into our political life. That is why when a politician loses an election, he claims it was rigged and goes to the tribunal. But if he wins, the election is good. Then we keep on fighting ourselves everyday rather than move a step forward."

To ensure that it is adequately prepared for today's World Cup qualifier against the Super Eagles, the Black Mambas of Mozambique trained in Ghana to acclimatise to the weather before moving to Abuja. The team arrived in Accra last Sunday and began serious preparation for the game, which Mozambique hopes to win to enhance its chances of qualifying for the Mundial.

The Southern African country is currently third in Group B with four points, and it hopes that a victory today and against Tunisia in its last match will take it to 10 points, which could be enough for a ticket to South Africa.

Mozambique's most capped star, Manuel Bucuane alias 'Tico Tico', told goal.com before the team left South Africa for Accra that the clash against the Super Eagles would be a difficult game. "It will be tough, but we hope to make a plan with the coach to get a result in Nigeria," he said.

'Tico Tico' grabbed the match winner when Mozambique hosted the Harambee Stars of Kenya last month in continuation of the qualifying series. Nigeria held the Black Mambas to a goalless draw when they first clashed in Maputo in March.

A-M-N-E-S-T-Y S-H-O-C-K-E-R:

A-M-N-E-S-T-Y S-H-O-C-K-E-R: Some surrendered arms belong to FG - They were either stolen from the armoury or seized from soldiers - FG sets up arms verification committee - 200 ex-militants protest in Benin - Tompolo causes stir in Delta



THERE are indications that some of the arms and ammunition surrendered by the ex-militants originally belonged to the Federal Government. Those arms, it was alleged, were either stolen, bought from the services or seized by the militants during clashes with men of the armed forces, the Nigerian Tribune has gathered.

According to the Nigerian Tribune source in the Joint Task Force (JTF), though some of the arms were bought by the militants at the market, most of them were “either stolen or bought from the police, military or the SSS.”

It will be recalled that some officers of the Nigerian army were jailed some months ago for selling arms to militants in the Niger Delta region. These revelations were coming five days after the expiration of the Federal Government’s amnesty to militants in the restive Niger Delta region.

It is, however, a case of discordant tunes as regards what the Federal Government intends to do with the arms recovered from the ex-militants, just as the Federal Government has reportedly set up a high-powered verification committee to examine the arms collected from the militants with a view to identifying their possible sources.

A source in the amnesty committee had said that: “In any disarmament process, arms recovered are usually destroyed; this case won’t be different. After the necessary documentation in Enugu, all arms collected will be destroyed.”

But to the JTF source, not all the arms will be destroyed. “It is not possible to just destroy all arms; remember that some of the arms recovered belong to the services, including the police, are you saying that if any arm is confirmed as belonging to the army, navy or police, such will also be destroyed? It is not possible. That is the reason why the president has just set up a competent committee to examine all arms collected and verify the source of each of the arms and ammunition,” the source said

However, Defence Minister, General Godwin Abbe, who doubles as the chairman of the Amnesty Implementation Committee (AIC), said the collection of weapons from the militants was still in progress, and that the nation would be properly briefed on what government intended to do with the arms.

The AIC may brief the press to give the nation details of arms recovered from the ex-militants, their classifications, as well as the total number of disarmed militants. It was, however, not known if the committee would tell the nation what government intended to do with the recovered arms.

“The process is still on. Until we finish with it, it will be difficult to tell you what government intends to do with the arms, or do you want us to give the arms to journalists (laughs)?” Abbe said.

Meanwhile, President Umaru Yar’Adua has directed governors of the oil-producing states to effectively key into the post-amnesty preparations, Nigerian Tribune has learnt.

The president’s directive to the governors, according to a highly placed source in the presidency, would be given to them at a meeting between the president and the governors in the next few days to work out modalities on the way forward.

“In the next few days, governors of the region will meet with the president to chart the way forward; I can assure you that one of the cardinal issues to be discussed is that of the commission to perform specialised roles, like they have in Ondo and Delta states.

“The truth is that the president has directed that the governors properly key into the post-amnesty process in order to enhance a smooth operation during the period; just wait for details after that meeting,” the source said.

As part of the measures to ensure a peaceful Niger Delta during the post-amnesty period, the Federal Government was said to be considering the immediate but phased implementation of the report of the Ledum Mittee-led Niger Delta Technical Committee.

Leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpomupolo (Tompolo), who fully accepted the presidential amnesty and formally disarmed on Sunday, had given the implementation of the committee’s report as a roadmap to peace in the region

A-M-N-E-S-T-Y S-H-O-C-K-E-R:

A-M-N-E-S-T-Y S-H-O-C-K-E-R: Some surrendered arms belong to FG - They were either stolen from the armoury or seized from soldiers - FG sets up arms verification committee - 200 ex-militants protest in Benin - Tompolo causes stir in Delta



THERE are indications that some of the arms and ammunition surrendered by the ex-militants originally belonged to the Federal Government. Those arms, it was alleged, were either stolen, bought from the services or seized by the militants during clashes with men of the armed forces, the Nigerian Tribune has gathered.

According to the Nigerian Tribune source in the Joint Task Force (JTF), though some of the arms were bought by the militants at the market, most of them were “either stolen or bought from the police, military or the SSS.”

It will be recalled that some officers of the Nigerian army were jailed some months ago for selling arms to militants in the Niger Delta region. These revelations were coming five days after the expiration of the Federal Government’s amnesty to militants in the restive Niger Delta region.

It is, however, a case of discordant tunes as regards what the Federal Government intends to do with the arms recovered from the ex-militants, just as the Federal Government has reportedly set up a high-powered verification committee to examine the arms collected from the militants with a view to identifying their possible sources.

A source in the amnesty committee had said that: “In any disarmament process, arms recovered are usually destroyed; this case won’t be different. After the necessary documentation in Enugu, all arms collected will be destroyed.”

But to the JTF source, not all the arms will be destroyed. “It is not possible to just destroy all arms; remember that some of the arms recovered belong to the services, including the police, are you saying that if any arm is confirmed as belonging to the army, navy or police, such will also be destroyed? It is not possible. That is the reason why the president has just set up a competent committee to examine all arms collected and verify the source of each of the arms and ammunition,” the source said

However, Defence Minister, General Godwin Abbe, who doubles as the chairman of the Amnesty Implementation Committee (AIC), said the collection of weapons from the militants was still in progress, and that the nation would be properly briefed on what government intended to do with the arms.

The AIC may brief the press to give the nation details of arms recovered from the ex-militants, their classifications, as well as the total number of disarmed militants. It was, however, not known if the committee would tell the nation what government intended to do with the recovered arms.

“The process is still on. Until we finish with it, it will be difficult to tell you what government intends to do with the arms, or do you want us to give the arms to journalists (laughs)?” Abbe said.

Meanwhile, President Umaru Yar’Adua has directed governors of the oil-producing states to effectively key into the post-amnesty preparations, Nigerian Tribune has learnt.

The president’s directive to the governors, according to a highly placed source in the presidency, would be given to them at a meeting between the president and the governors in the next few days to work out modalities on the way forward.

“In the next few days, governors of the region will meet with the president to chart the way forward; I can assure you that one of the cardinal issues to be discussed is that of the commission to perform specialised roles, like they have in Ondo and Delta states.

“The truth is that the president has directed that the governors properly key into the post-amnesty process in order to enhance a smooth operation during the period; just wait for details after that meeting,” the source said.

As part of the measures to ensure a peaceful Niger Delta during the post-amnesty period, the Federal Government was said to be considering the immediate but phased implementation of the report of the Ledum Mittee-led Niger Delta Technical Committee.

Leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpomupolo (Tompolo), who fully accepted the presidential amnesty and formally disarmed on Sunday, had given the implementation of the committee’s report as a roadmap to peace in the region

पीडीपी बरनत इदिओसी इनेक OFFICE.

Oladosu

Barely five months after the conduct of the April 25 governorship rerun election in Ekiti State,the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital heard how suspected members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) allegedly burnt down the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) Collation Centre in Ido/Osi Local Government Area.

Action Congress (AC) governorship candidate Dr. Kayode Fayemi is challenging the declaration of PDP’s Governor Segun Oni as winner of the election

A PDP member, Mr. Peter Oladosu, popularly known as Erinmoje, who was subpoenaed to give evidence before the tribunal, alleged that agents of the party who were working for the first respondent, Oni, used 10 litres of petrol to set the INEC building ablaze.

Oladosu, in Paragraph 12 of his witness statement on oath, adopted before the Justice Hamma Barka-led five-man jury, said immediately the police went away with the electoral materials intended to be smuggled into INEC office, one of the agents of the governor gave suspected PDP thugs 10 litres of petrol with which the office was burnt down.

The arson, which he claimed was done in his presence, was done to ensure victory for Oni, following reports that AC had won in various polling units and wards in Ido/Osi Local Government Area.

In his statement on oath, which was admitted by the tribunal at its proceedings yesterday, Oladosu, who described himself in his deposition as Oni’s "unofficial Personal Assistant and a member of the governor’s convoy/entourage", said the Ido/Osi election figures were manipulated, concocted and rigged in Oni’s favour.

Oladosu, who also described himself as a "card-carrying member of the PDP in Orin/Ora Ward of Ido/Osi Local Government Area", said he participated in the massive thumb-printing of ballot papers and disenfranchisement of opposition parties’ supporters through violence visited on them on the election day.

He said wherever he went, the PDP henchmen following him carried out his orders to ensure that their party wins at all costs in the rerun poll in Ido/Osi where Oni hails from.

Oladosu, who is Petitioner’s Witness 43 (PW 43), said he was recruited and commissioned by the governor alongside others to ensure that the election, particularly in his native Ido/Osi was rigged in PDP’s favour.

He listed other members of his gang to include Mr. Femi Olanrewaju (a.k.a. Ijakoko); Personal Assistant to the Governor, Mr. Bunmi Ojo; Special Assistant to the Governor on Diaspora, Ms. Bolanle Bruce.

The witness said he has many text messages on his mobile phone to buttress his claims.

Oladosu said the alleged order was carried out to the letter in wards like Usi, Orin/Ora, Ifaki 1 and 2 in Ido/Osi Local Government Area as recorded in the video clips already admitted by the tribunal.

The witness, who was led in adopting his oath statement by petitioners’ counsel, Chief Anthony Adeniyi, pointed out that he was pricked by his conscience after ruminating over his role in the alleged electoral malpractices.

He said has been "put on trial by his conscience which had not been at peace."

Proceedings at the tribunal were not without drama as the respondents’ lawyers objected to the adoption of Oladosu’s statement on oath.

They said it violated the provisions of the relevant sections of the Evidence Act and the Tribunal Practice Direction.

Oni’s counsel, Chief Kunle Kalejaiye (SAN); PDP’s counsel, Mr. Obafemi Adewale; INEC counsel, Mr. Roland Otaru (SAN); counsel to Ido/Osi Returning Officer, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) and counsel to the Police and the Inspector-General (IG), Mr. Sebastian Ozoana, opposed the move.

After listening to the arguments of the lawyers to the petitioners and the respondents, the judges retired to their chambers for two hours after which they emerged and ruled against the objections of all the respondents’ counsel.

The short ruling, read by Justice Barka, upheld the submissions of Adeniyi and held that the witness should go ahead and adopt his statement on oath.

Shortly after his oath witness was admitted by the court, Oladosu also sought to tender his PDP membership card, membership card of the Segun Oni Campaign Organisation (SOCO), identity card as a protocol officer to Oni and a walkie-talkie in his possession which was configured with the base station in the Government House, Ado-Ekiti.

Respondents’ lawyers also raised objections to the admissibility of the four items, citing many authorities to substantiate their arguments after which the tribunal reserved ruling till today on the admissibility of the items.

Oladosu averred in his witness statement on oath that after the election was concluded, he and other PDP agents stormed the INEC Collation Centre in Ido-Ekiti at about 6.00 p.m., following reports from various polling units and wards that the AC had won on the field.

He said the PDP agents allegedly agreed to attack the Ido/Osi INEC Collation Centre and accused the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Saliu Adeoti, of doing so to cover up their track.

Oladosu said: "On April 25 during the governorship rerun election, I worked for Segun Oni in Orin, my hometown, Ifaki, Ora and Aaye. We were at Ido INEC (office) by 6.30 a.m. and we got back with voting materials to Orin around 8.00 a.m.

"Voting started immediately without the agents of other parties. When members of opposition parties learnt of this, trouble started but they feared me as multiple thumb-printing of ballot papers and stuffing of ballot boxes was about to be completed for PDP before they resisted us.

"There were serious disturbances in Orin Farm Settlement polling unit and it extended to other areas in Orin town. Only the election of this unit was cancelled as our party, the PDP, prevailed on INEC officials not to cancel the election in other units where massive/thumb-printing and stuffing of ballot papers took place.

Psychiatric test for public office holders

Psychiatric test for public office holders

"THE extent of aggrandisement and gluttonous accumulation of wealth that I have observed in the course of my work suggests to me that some people are mentally and psychologically unsuitable for public office ..." said the head of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mrs. Farida Waziri recently. Her suggestion, not new though, (even Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, before he became president, said so) but coming from someone in such vantage position to appreciate what is really going on in this country should be well noted by both the governors and the governed in Nigeria. Indeed, too many persons in public office - as well as in private institutions - are behaving in such manners as defy logic and/or common sense that we feel constrained to conclude in line with the EFCC boss.

Mental health is a state of psychological well-being characterised by a number of elements. One of these is the maintenance of positive relations with others. It may be argued therefore that one who, entrusted with public resource - money, power, etc. - to serve the common good appropriates it for personal interest has chosen the harmful path, to self and to the deprived victims, to foster negative relations with the rest of his fellow men and women. That person cannot be said to be mentally healthy. Starkly put, to steal one's country blind is indicative of madness.

Similarly, one cannot be of sound mind who regards material wealth as the ultimate purpose of life, and accumulates it as an end in itself, rather than spread it, manure-like, as a means to nurture growth and development. Alas, to the eternal deprivation of the majority, our country is populated in unfair numbers by just such persons, and in high places to boot. This then is the reason that Farida's useful suggestion may not receive from that end, the attention it deserves. The idea is good but Mrs. Waziri must go further to suggest the way and manner of its fool-proof enforcement. Fool-proof because, we live in a place and a time that a psychiatric test may either turn into a weapon of political victimisation, or corruption including situations whereby certificates of mental fitness are fraudulently obtained.

It may be argued that the mindless accumulation of wealth is a coping mechanism that is, to manage the psychological pressure occasioned by life's problems, including, a childhood of severe deprivation. Going by this explanation, 'wealth-focused coping' mechanism serves for those who practise it, the same purpose that 'emotion-focused' 'and 'problem-focused coping' mechanisms do for other persons. This justification would make sense if it did not involve the misappropriation of the common wealth and the consequent multi-faceted damage to the state and the citizens.

Now, even as we agree with Mrs. Farida Waziri, the point needs be make that, notwithstanding her freedom to express opinion, she must not allow herself to be carried away by ideas that do not directly touch upon her mandate, authority and power. The EFCC boss is hired to identify, investigate and arraign persons accused of financial crimes. She is not charged to speculate on extra-legal issues such as the medical origin of corruption. Her duty is to ensure that those who enrich themselves corruptly and sabotage the nation's economic interests, have their day in court. We suggest that Mrs. Waziri faces her job squarely, does it effectively and bring all persons accused of corruption to face the condign legal test. This much is

CBN सच्क्स मोरे बैंक CHIEFS

The audit result of the remaining 14 banks has been released with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sacking the managing directors/chief executive officers and all executive and non-executive directors of three banks. Also to improve the liquidity position of the affected banks, the apex bank injected N200 billion bailout into them.

The CBN, in a press statement released on Friday in Abuja, announced the sacking of the managing directors of Platinum Habib Bank (BankPHB), Equitorial Trust Bank and Spring Bank, stating that these banks were in danger. The sacked managing directors are Francis Atuche (BankPHB), Ike Oraekwuotu (Equitorial Trust Bank) and Charles Ojo (Spring Bank).

To arrest the situation in these banks, the apex bank took a number of measures which included the removal of the managing directors and the appointment of new ones for the banks and the order to the board of Wema Bank Plc to recapitalise by June 30, 2010. Mr. Cyril Chukwumah was appointed the new Managing Director for Bank PHB Plc, Mr. G.O. Folayan (Equitorial Trust Bank Plc) and Mrs. Sola Ayodele (Spring Bank Plc). Dr. Mike Adenuga, jnr., was removed as a non-executive director of Equitorial Trust Bank Plc.

According to the CBN, it was noted that Wema Bank Plc, which came under new ownership and management in June 2009, is in a grave situation and added that the new owners should not be held responsible for the present condition of the bank. It said it would work with the bank to ensure a successful completion of the recapitalisation.

The provision of N200 billion as liquidity support and long term loans for the four banks adjudged to be in a grave situation, the apex bank said, was to enable them continue normal business while pursuing recapitalisation options. The CBN also ordered the board of Unity Bank Plc to recapitalise by June 30, 2010.

It noted that Unity Bank Plc was adjudged to have insufficient capital for its current level of operations, but was adjudged to have a healthy liquidity position and with no indication of poor corporate governance practices.

“The CBN has, therefore, exercised its powers under Section 13.3 of BOFIA to order the board of Unity Bank Plc to recapitalise by the said date and the CBN will continue to monitor this situation,” the statement said.

It added that “the CBN will assist the five banks with insufficient capital in their loan recovery efforts, just as it did with the previous five. The CBN is happy to report that as at 25 September 2009, the five banks had recovered more than N110 billion of previously non-performing loans.

“The CBN reiterates its commitment to stand by all Nigerian banks and work with their respective boards, management and other stakeholders to restore the stability of the financial system and, thus, ensure that our banks are able to effectively play their role in economic growth and development.”

It is not a totally bad situation for nine banks, however, as the CBN found them to have adequate capital and liquidity to support the level of their current operations and future growth.

They are Access Bank Plc, Citibank Nigeria Limited, Ecobank Nigeria Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Standard Chartered Bank Limited and Zenith Bank Plc.

However, the CBN said the 10th bank — Unity Bank — was adjudged to have insufficient capital but not in grave situation because it had a healthy liquidity position.

As a long term measure, the CBN said in furtherance of the commitment of the Federal Government to the growth and stability of the financial system, President Umaru Yar’Adua had directed the Minister of Finance and the Central Bank governor to liaise with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the National Assembly and other relevant stakeholders with a view to fast-tracking the process of establishing an asset management company.

The formation of this company should facilitate an improvement in banking sector liquidity, protection of the earnings of banks from further erosion and a reduction of the debt overhang on the capital market and its participants.

‘’With the conclusion of the bank audit exercise, we have come to the end of the first phase of the process of restoring financial sector stability. Ongoing action will focus on building capacity within the regulatory regime; fast-tracking the implementation of risk-based, consolidated and cross border supervision frameworks; easing the flow of credit, particularly to the real sector of the economy; improving governance structures and practices in the financial services sector; and improving confidence in the economy in general,” the apex bank said.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly placed the management teams of the banks indicted for insider abuse in the fresh audit by the CBN under surveillance.

A source within the commission disclosed that the commission had started working on the areas that concerned it since the final audit report got into the possession of the commission’s leadership. The surveillance mounted on the indicted bank chiefs, according to the source, was to prevent those who were recommended for trial in the audit report from fleeing the country.

The former Group Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Erastus Akingbola, who was sacked alongside the five bank bosses earlier indicted for insider abuse, fled the country in the wake of the arrest of others and had been declared wanted by the commission.

Fourteen indicted bank chiefs are being prosecuted by the commission. It was further gathered that the commission’s operatives, who worked on the initial five troubled banks, had been drafted to the fresh case.

Apart from the indicted bank chiefs, debtors of non-performing loans are also said to be on the radar of the commission. The commission had assisted the initial five troubled banks to recover about N108 billion out of about N747 billion non-performing loans said to have been owed them.

Both the bank chiefs fingered in the first round of the audit and some high-profile loan defaulters were arrested by the commission. It was further gathered that the commission’s operatives might move in next week for the arrest of the defaulters and the indicted bank chiefs mentioned in the last audit.
Meanwhile, some of the former bank chiefs who are being prosecuted by the commission made an appearance at its headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

They were there in fulfillment of one of their bail conditions, which compelled their appearance at the commission’s office every first Friday of the month till the end of their trial.

Those that appeared yesterday included former Chairman of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Chief Raymond Obieri; former Group Managing Director of Afribank Plc, Sebastian Adigwe; former Group Managing Director of Union Bank, Barth Ebong; four former directors of Intercontinental Bank, among others.

In another development, to avoid his removal from office, on Friday, before the CBN announced his sack along with two others, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Platinum Habib Bank (BankPHB), Mr. Francis Atuche, resigned from his position.

Sources within the bank said Atuche threw in the towel in the morning after it was established that his bank was one of the three that had been found culpable in the audit report.

The sources said that Atuche, after his resignation as the bank’s helmsman, sent an email to most of the staff of the bank thanking them for their support while he was in the office and also bidding them goodbye.

“The news just reached us this morning that he has resigned and he also sent email to some us thanking us for our support and bidding us goodbye,” one of the sources said.

Confirming the development, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Professor (Mrs.) Ndi Okereke-Onyuike, said that two of the three companies involved in the crisis were quoted on the Exchange.

She said that any action taken on the two affected companies would be decided on Monday, adding that all the actions would be made known on the same day

Ateke Tom surrenders, meets Yar'Adua

Ateke Tom surrenders, meets Yar'Adua

PRESIDENT Umaru Musa Yar'Adua yesterday met with the leader of the Rivers State-based Niger Delta Vigilante and Patriotic Force (NDVPF), Ateke Tom, with a pledge by the militant leader to surrender his weapons immediately he gets back to his base.

President Yar'Adua described the acceptance of amnesty by Ateke Tom as "my 49th Independence anniversary gift. And it is one gift which I cherish because I want peace and development for the Niger Delta."

The President pledged to tackle the issue of development and other solutions to the problems in the Niger Delta, noting that in about five years from now, the region will be so massively developed that "you (Tom) will thank God that you decided to embrace amnesty today."

Tom had been flown from his base by helicopter to Abuja through the Owerri Airport early yesterday for the meeting.

President Yar'Adua had on September 13, 2009 authorised the Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Committee, Maj.-Gen. Godwin Abbe (rtd), chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih and the Honorary Presidential Adviser on the Niger Delta, Mr. Timi Alaibe, to visit the camps of militants in the Niger Delta as confidence-building measure to allay their fears and assure them of the genuineness of the Federal Government amnesty.

The presidential delegation, among others, met with Tom at his Camp 4 in Rivers State. At the meeting, Tom, among other requests, asked for audience with President Yar'Adua.

Among the delegation of Tom were his lawyer and former member of the House of Representatives, Chief Uche Onyeagocha; executive director of Grassroots Initiative for Peace and Democracy and cousin of Tom, Akinada Richard; Tom's militant commanders - Friday Ituekoha, Opia Joshua, Felix Itwida, Rowland and Gilbert Amos.

According to Yar'Adua at the event, which was held at the First Lady Conference Room of the Presidential Villa, Abuja: "I want to say that the amnesty is not an end in itself but a means to an end. It is a means to peacefully and lovingly - with brotherly understanding - bringing to an end all insurrection and misunderstanding between brothers. It is a means to bringing stable peace and security to the Niger Delta region. It is a means of making the two of us work together to ensure that our youth do not take up arms again. It has always pained me to see our brothers and sisters - Nigerians - taking up arms against fellow Nigerians and to live in the creeks under very difficult situations and conditions because of such issues that agitated their minds. But by the grace of God and the kind heart and the goodwill you have brought to this amnesty programme, this is coming to an end.

"You may not know what you are doing for your people and the nation now. It will become evident in the future as we continue with the peace and security in the Niger Delta region. In a few years, five years or so, you will see the kind of development that would have taken place, then you will thank God that you decided to take advantage of this amnesty so that together we join hands to work diligently for the welfare and well-being of our people. This administration understands the challenges of the Niger Delta region and the challenges people are facing. And that is why from the beginning I made Niger Delta a top priority in our seven-point agenda.

"We will work together to ensure that youths in the Niger Delta have meaningful lives through the kind of programmes we will evoke. We will train them, help them to establish businesses. Those who want to further their education to whatever level, we will help them to do that to ensure that each and everyone of them has a career and a life to be proud of, and that he would stand to be proud of himself, his family and his country. And he would be proud that he is a Nigerian."

President Yar'Adua called on "other militant leaders who have not yet taken advantage of this amnesty programme to do so. This is because I want us to work together into the post amnesty period. I am hoping that in the remaining three days, October 4, the remaining militant leaders will please consider and follow the example of Ateke Tom so that if they do that, after October 4, we'll sit down with them and discuss as brothers the issues and the kind of programmes that will help in rehabilitation and reintegration of their followers and other militants that are under them so that together we plan a future for them, a future they will be proud of. That is one of the things we will do.

"The other thing is to look at the problems that caused the agitation in the Niger Delta in the first place. These are problems that are well known for a very long time. We will not just say you have to drop your arms and so you go. No. We will sit to find solutions to what problems that have made you to take arms against your state. Then, you will say these are the problems. We will work out the solutions together with you, then we go ahead to implement them and you also participate in implementing the solutions to these problems. That is the essence of this amnesty, to stop the violence. It is also to unite together with you into the future, to solve other problems so that the issues of militancy and grievances will be put behind us as issues."

On Tom's request for a private audience, Yar'Adua, who immediately after the meeting left for his home state of Katsina, promised to grant private audience to the militant leaders on Saturday, telling him "you have demonstrated abiding faith in this nation. And that is because you believe this administration will do justice to your demands and well-being."

Ateke Tom, who spoke in pidgin English told the President: "Immediately you announce the amnesty, I be the first person wey embrace the amnesty because I like the amnesty. The things wey we talk wey dey worry us, make una try do am for us because we dey suffer for Niger Delta. And we believe you. Me particularly, I believe you well well. I know say the things dem wey you promise you go fit do am for us. But the people wey no fit endure am, na him no fit endure am. So, I thank you very well for this amnesty. Make you try help us we the Ijaw people. Try commot us from this problem wey we dey get. Our arms, we go drop am. Like me, I don promise I go drop my arms. Na im make I say make I come see you. Take all our problems and try solve am for us. That is why I dey here today."

At the event were Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, Gen. Abbe, Chief of Defence Staff; Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike; Alaibe, Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Sarki Muktar (rtd) and the Director General of the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), Dr. Magnus Kpakol.

Meanwhile, three days to the expiration of the amnesty deadline, the umbrella youth body in the region, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), yesterday called for an extension by at least 90 more days to enable militants take full advantage of the programme.

Speaking to journalists in Benin yesterday, the president of the council, Chris Ekiyor, said militants in the area had been sceptical of the programme but were now beginning to have confidence in it hence, their request for extension of time.

He, however, alleged lack of commitment on the part of the Federal Government to bringing development to the area alongside the amnesty. "Use of guns has outlived its time-frame, what we need now is non-violent direct action ... unfortunately the government is more concerned about mopping up the arms than responding to the amnesty they are doing."

Ekiyor also called on the Federal Government to extend the dis-armament programme to other parts of the country where there have also been violent dimension to their agitation.

He said so far, the people of the area still doubt the sincerity of government to bring genuine development to the area but he warned that failure of government to sincerely follow the dis-armament programme could lead to a more violent struggle that the government may not be able to curtail.

He said rather than the process the Federal Government had adopted, the IYC had long ago recommended a process that would lead to total dis-armament side by side massive development of the Niger Delta region through a strategy he called DRRD (Disengagement, Re-orientation, Reintegration, Disarmament.)

But the amnesty programme may be threatened if the accusation by a group, the Niger Delta Professionals for Development (NIDPRODEV), is anything to go by.

In statement yesterday by Mr. Joel Bisina, the Founder/Executive Director of NIDPRODEV, he alleged that men of the Military Task Force were into brazen extortion of money and dehumanising treatment of persons plying the waterways of the Niger Delta.

Bisina disclosed that hapless people are daily being forced to part with their hard-earned money before being allowed passage on the Delta