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WORLD BANK PRESIDENCY Nigeria, US split Brazil, Russia, China, others !

AS leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) meet in New Delhi, India, today, intensive lobbying is ongoing as United States’ diplomats and BRICS officials slug it out over plan by the leaders to adopt a common candidate for the World Bank presidency.

The BRICS is an international political organisation of leading emerging economies.

Reports from the Indian capital indicated that the US is using the host nation, India, to frustrate plan to adopt a common candidate, while Russia, China and South Africa are pushing for such adoption to stop American’s nominee for the top job.

In a move seen as pre-empting other BRICS leaders, India announced on Wednesday that the issue of common candidate for the World Bank job was not on the agenda, insisting that the grouping simply wanted an “open and merit-based” process.

The Chinese and the Russian governments are, however, said to be well disposed to the common candidate issue with the South African team reported to have launched a diplomatic offensive to ensure that the African choice for the job, Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, is adopted by the leaders.

China’s foreign ministry said on Monday that “the voice of developing countries” should be taken into account when selecting a new leader for the World Bank while the Brazilian team is reported to be in support of single candidacy but undecided between Okonjo-Iweala and Colombian, Jose Antonio Ocampo.

The South African delegation, led by President Jacob Zuma, arrived on Wednesday with a statement from the country‘s  presidency declaring that  South Africa would  use the summit to help advance the African agenda in seeking support from BRICS partners for infrastructure development and industrialisation initiatives and World Bank presidency.

Nigerian Tribune can also report that the Nigerian team arrived in the Indian capital on Tuesday to present the Nigerian and the African case for the World Bank job in coordination with the South African team which arrived ahead of the South African president.

An official, who craved anonymity, confirmed to Nigerian Tribune that the team is in Delhi, adding “we are getting favourable response ahead of the meeting of leaders. We are making our case.”

Findings revealed that South Africa is expending all its diplomatic capital in support of Nigeria‘s Okonjo-Iweala, an action reportedly targeting Nigeria’s rethinking of its opposition to South Africa’s candidacy for the presidency of the African Union Commission.

It will be recalled that on two occasions now, the South African candidate has failed to win the seat due to lack of support from Nigeria and other Anglophone countries. The next date for rescheduled election for the AU office is June.

Meanwhile, the board of World Bank has fixed dates for interviews for the three shortlisted candidates — namely Ocampio, Okonjo-Iweala and American nominee, Jim Yong Kim.

According to leaked board’s decision, Ocampio will be interviewed on April 4;  Okonjo-Iweala on April 9 and Kim on April 11.

It was learnt that the board will announce its decision on April 11 immediately after concluding the interview with the last candidate.

It will be recalled that the BRICS leaders’ meeting on the sidelines of a G20 meeting in Mexico in February had said that the appointment of president of the multilateral agency should be based on merit and “not on nationality.”

“Candidates should be based on merit and not on nationality,” Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega told reporters in Mexico.

“It is time we broke the traditions of the US and Europe sharing the two seats and amongst all of us. We must try harder this time to find some consensus,” South Africa’s Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan had said.

It is left to be seen whether the BRICS leaders would withstand the US pressure as they meet today in New Delhi.

 

EXPOSED: Senators, Reps, still the World’s highest paid Lawmakers !

The picture being painted by lawmakers in the National Assembly that they are cutting down their jumbo allowances to reduce over head cost may not be true, if what is being earmarked as a allowances for them in this year’s budget  is anything to go by. We gathered that despite claims they were reducing their huge pay last year, each Senator and House of Reps member currently draws scandalous sum of  over than N180 million allowances annually, still making them the world’s highest paid lawmakers. The amount, covering the four quarters of the year at N45 million for each senator, is the controversial “constituency allowance”, an outsized, self-apportioned remuneration enjoyed by the legislators. It excludes their basic benefits like salary – a far lesser figure -and essential allowances approved by the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission. The amount also does not include allowances and estacodes the senators draw while on committee work within and outside the country. A member of the House of Representatives also receives N36 million for the same benefit, while the principal officers of  the two chambers are paid far higher amounts after every three months. There are claims that the jumbo amounts may have been recently reduced to N27 million, but lawmakers have not backed up the claims. A purported 63 per cent pay review agreed to by a new session of the National Assembly in 2011 to stem public uproar stirred by corruption charges involving former speaker, Dimeji Bankole and deputy, Usman Nafada, has hardly made a significant difference. An analysis of the lawmakers’ pay structure shows that were such reductions made, the margins were small, with the members retaining much of the privileges that guaranteed them a leading The lawmakers illicit allowances is enough to build a 450MW power plant for the nation Federal lawmakers’ self-assigned hefty annual allowance, which totals more than N70 billion this year, would be sufficient to inject at least a 450 Megawatt of power into the national power grid, a cost analysis by Premium Times has shown. Put differently, that sum will complete the dualization of one of the nation’s deadliest highways – the Abuja-Lokoja road – which, relative to other highways across the country, is well funded, but in reality, remains one of the most fund-starved projects. In the 2012 budget, after years of being abandoned, the four lots of that road that leads from the federal capital territory only received N2 billion apiece, a figure lower than the presidency’s 2012 feeding cost and the senate’s bill for new cars. Both subheads cost N2.3 billion. Beyond the cars, the lawmakers in the senate and the House of Representatives will this year receive a total of about N71 billion in self-allocated allowances, widely considered illegal, and famously branded, jumbo. At an average $1 million(N155million) per megawatt of electricity,- a ratio considered comparatively standard by experts – that can provide extra power to the tune of at least 450MW to a nation shuddering under extreme power shortage. The illegal allowances for the year is almost the amount the federal government needs to fund the Calabar power station, under the National Independent Power Project(NIPP). Combined with the less than 200MW Ibom power plant in neighbouring Akwa Ibom state, the production value is expected to adequately feed both states, minimizing the operational cost of the nation’s small scale businesses from running a barbing saloon on road sides to powering the multibillion naira Tinapa project. Had that review been appropriately done as claimed, a senator would have earned N22.2 million as quarterly allowance, while House members would get N15.5 million each. But the current “illicit” allowance stand at N45 million for each senator, and N36 million for each House member, indicating a 25 per cent and 14.3 per cent cuts respectively.  In separate interviews the Lawmakers loathe acknowledging the package as part of their earnings, and roundly reject the public’s portrayal of it as an extra illicit allowance, not approved by the revenue commission. They claim the “allowances” constitute the “running costs” of their offices. “When we said we were cutting costs, we did not say we were cutting our allowances, we said we were cutting the running cost,” said Victor Ogene, the Deputy Chairman of the House of Reps committee on media. “Our earnings are quite clear, you go to the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission,” he added, questioning “how can the cost of say buying paper, or entertaining a visitor be part of my earnings?” When pressed further, the lawmakers readily point to their basic salary pay slip which, for the House of Reps, averages only about N445, 000 monthly. Mr. Ogene denied that House members collect as much as N36 million although he would not dispute provisions were made for such quarterly earnings. Whatever provisions were made, he said, operated as a cash pool not paid to members, but from where claims can be made on expenses incurred. The lawmaker said the 63 per cent cut reflected on members’ “running cost” in 2011, while that of 2012 was yet unclear since the budget was yet to be unapproved. The senate spokesperson, Enyinnaya Abaribe, did not respond to several calls to his telephone. For the 109 senators, the earnings they have maintained amounts to N19.6 billion a year, while N51.8 billion is spent for the house for the same period, with a total cost of N71.4 billion.It adds to a string of cost the national assembly keeps annually, including hefty multi-billion payouts.

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EFCC to arraign Perm Sec, five others over N14.5bn pension scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will on Thursday (today) arraign six persons arrested in connection with the N14.5bn police pension fraud at an Abuja High Court.

The suspects – Esai Dangabar; a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Niger Delta, Atiku Abubakar Kigo; Ahmed Inuwa Wada; John Yakubu Yusufu; Veronica Uloma Onyegbula; and Sani Habila Zira – were arrested for conspiracy and breach of trust.

The spokesperson for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, who confirmed the development to our correspondent, said, “They are to be arraigned before an FCT High Court, Gudu, Abuja tomorrow (today) on 16 counts of conspiracy and criminal breach of trust in respect of the N14.5bn.”

A statement made available to THE PUNCH by the EFCC spokesman reads, “Esai Dangabar, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, John Yakubu Yusufu, Mrs. Veronica Uloma Onyegbula and Sani Habila Zira are to be arraigned before an FCT High Court in Gudu, Abuja tomorrow (Thursday) on 16 counts of conspiracy and criminal breach of trust in respect of the sum of N14,518,567,724.36.”

Reports had stated that the agency interrogated three Federal Government officials connected with police pensions two weeks ago.

The three unnamed civil servants had allegedly confessed to looting various sums from the pensions fund.

Kigo, a Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service who had served in the Police Pensions Office, had been quizzed by the EFCC over a fresh N2bn fraud.

THE PUNCH learnt that incriminating documents were found during a search of the Permanent Secretary’s office.

He was arrested alongside seven other directors.

The Senate Joint Committee on the Investigation into the administration of the pensions scheme had during its one week of public hearing, received evidence on how civil servants falsified documents to siphon pensioners’ money.

The PRTT said a whopping N151.6bn and £6m were recovered after the conduct of biometric data capture exercise on pensioners since 2010.

Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, had told the committee that whereas N5bn was paid to the Office of the Head of Service monthly for the payment of pensions, only N1.9bn was actually required.

Also, it was discovered that out of the 141, 790 pensioners listed on the government’s payroll, only 70,657 bonafide pensioners existed.

Maina had also told the committee that the Police Pensions Office collected N5bn monthly as claims for its pensioners, while it actually needed N500m.

He said, “We discovered illegal withdrawals by staff of the Police Pensions Office using multiple cheques in fictitious names in excess of 30 cheques per day to withdraw cash from their bankers.

”Such illegal withdrawals amounted to N14bn. The PRTT, assisted by the law enforcement agencies, has made substantial recovery of the said stolen monies.

“An employee of the Police Pensions Office (name withheld) turned in N1bn cash. Another surrendered three luxury estates with about 27 blocks of deluxe flats he built in Abuja .”

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had also confirmed the fraud uncovered by the Maina-led task force on pensions.

However, Maina and his team were also accused of sharp practices by the Assistant Chief Accountant in the Police Pensions Office, Mr. Toyin Ishola.

But Maina had denied the allegations, saying Ishola presented forged documents to the Senate panel upon which he based his assumptions.

N2 Billion for Tinubu’s Birthday: PDP Blast ACN !

The Peoples Democratic party, PDP, has slammed the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, over an alleged planned expenditure of N2 Billion for the birthday celebration of former Governor Ahmed Bola Tinubu who turns 60.

The PDP, through its South-West zone described the N2 Billion birthday bash as “fraudulent, shameless and the height of political irresponsibility.” National Vice-Chairman (Southwest) of the PDP, Chief Segun Oni said; "the PDP as a party won't close its eyes to the reckless spending of funds that should be used for the development of Yorubaland on false birthday of a single individual."


In a statement issued today by his Media Aide, Mr Lere Olayinka, the PDP Zonal Chairman said the party (PDP) was aware that each of the five states under the controlled of the ACN was made to contribute N100 million, while each Local Council in the States coughed out N10 million.


"Going by the above, Osun States's contribution will be N400 million, Ekiti; N260 million, Oyo; N430 million, Lagos; N670 million and Ogun; N310 million," Oni said.


While querying the rationale behind lavishing public funds on the birthday of an individual, Oni said; "We will not hesitate to drag them to the EFCC to explain why peoples money should be used for the inanities and vanity of an individual.


"Or isn't it disheartening that these same people who present themselves as followers of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo are the ones lavishing billions of public fund on a birthday that will go down in history as the most expensive birthday celebration in Nigeria's history?

"Was it part of Awolowo's teachings that public funds should be spent to celebrate false birthdays?" While congratulating Tinubu on his 70th (not 60th that he claimed or 69th
as claimed by Sahara Reporters) birthday, he said; "It is our expectation that he will use the occasion to come out and straighten all the hidden facts of his life and seek God's forgiveness.

"To us, this is the period he should publicly make a reunion with his kith. and kins in Osun State instead of forcefully making himself a member of a Lagos family that has shut its doors at him by documenting in book form all its members, living and dead.

"The birthday, real or false should be an opportunity offered by God for. Tinubu to come clean of his past strewn with shadowy and confusing background, shady and, inconsistent record of educational attainments and birth and other activities that has made him (Tinubu) a negative influence on politics in the Southwest region .

"In spite of our disagreement on matters of principle and on issues of establishing a credible platform of assuming governance through democratic means as against crooked and underhand methods, we as fellow Yoruba offer our hearty congratulations to the Asiwaju of Lagos on the occasion of his birthday, praying that Almighty Allah will open his inner mind to reflect
on his past, for a new beginning that will be a rewarding legacy for the future.

"It is also our prayer that Bola Ahmed Tinubu will use this occasion to make peace with his origin, which he has consistently denied just to protect the fake identity that he built for himself in the past."

Row over Fed Govt’s withdrawal of N114b

THE House of Representatives yesterday ordered an investigation into allegations that the Stabilisation Fund was being subjected to abuses following alleged indiscriminate withdrawals from the account to the tune of N114 billion.

Adopting without debate a motion sponsored by Haruna Musa Fatah, the House directed its committees in charge of Appropriation and Finance “to investigate the issue and determine the amount of monies so far withdrawn and the legality or otherwise of the expenditure made and report back to the House within four weeks.”

But Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal was quick in cautioning lawmakers from passing judgment in addressing the issue.

Accordingly, he refused to give room for a debate on the matter by simply putting it to question and the lawmakers unanimously agreed that an immediate investigation of the issue be launched.

Introducing the matter to the House, Fatah urged his colleagues to note the following:

• that the revenue sharing laws provide for the remittance of 0.5 per cent of funds accruing to the Federation Account being kept in the Stabilisation Fund;

• that the Stabilisation Account is meant to be used in funding deficits in the budget when the oil price is below the benchmark price;

• that this account being a buffer against oil price shock, spending from it should be guided by caution and great circumspection in order to maintain sound fiscal policy;

• that within a period of eight months, about N114 billion was withdrawn from this account by the Federal Government for some expenditure most of which should ordinarily be budgeted for; and

• that most of the indiscriminate withdrawals are gradually converting the account into a mere slush fund instead of its original mandate.

Meanwhile, disturbed by current developments in the aviation industry, the Senate yesterday accused some Nigerians of colluding with foreigners to rip off travellers going abroad.

Consequently, the Senate mandated its Committee on Aviation to launch an inquest into the matter, with a view to fishing out those behind the “unwholesome act.”

Moving a motion on the matter, Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Hope Uzodinma, alleged that the conduct of British Airways (BA) and Virgin Atlantic (VA) both of the United Kingdom (UK) caused a huge loss of revenue to the Federal Government accruable from the Ticket Sales Charge (TSC).

Uzodinma put the loss at $235 million (about N3.7 billion), besides the heavy financial losses to travel agencies and Nigerian travellers.

He expressed concern over what he described as “arbitrary fees” charged by the foreign airlines, which he further alleged “are above the rates charged on routes of equal distance outside Nigeria.”

According to him, a London-New York return economy ticket is $624; London-Dallas  $787; London-Florida  $730; and London-Atlanta $772, while the cheapest Economy return ticket on the Abuja-London route is $1,200.

Uzodinma also stated that the First Class Lagos-London return fare is $10,816, while Abuja-London return flight is $10,144, stressing that the same booking for a passenger on the Accra-London route is $4,798.

He added that while Business Class Lagos-London return fare is $7,370, Accra-London route is $4,098.

The senator, therefore, called for an investigation into the operations of all foreign airlines, with a view to determining their level of compliance or otherwise with extant aviation laws in the country.

A visibly angry Senate President David Mark said the situation “has been on for a very long time and the Committee on Aviation should find out why.”

Mark continued: “The fares charged Nigerian travellers are completely out of reach. It is unreasonable; it is exploitative. Nobody should come here to exploit Nigerians; our regulatory agencies are colluding with them to exploit Nigerians.”

But some stakeholders in the aviation sector have faulted Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah-Ogiewonyi, over her recent directive to the foreign airlines to reduce their “discriminatory and restrictive fares” on the Lagos-London and Abuja-London routes.

However, Oduah-Ogiewonyi will today hold an interactive session with airline operators, with a view to proffering solutions to lingering problems in the nation’s aviation sector.

The minister has also constituted a committee to examine the adequacy or otherwise of existing requirements for registration of airlines and extant financial guidelines to ensure that airlines are financially healthy to continue in business.

The committee will also look into minimum regulatory threshold of serviceable aircraft that any licensed airline should meet before it is allowed to remain in active operations among several other issues.

The ministerial session comes up at the Accident Investigation Bureau office in Lagos.

Rising from a meeting that lasted several hours yesterday, the aviation stakeholders stated that airfares were not fixed by fiat but arrived at based on the dictates of market forces.

At the meeting were President, Aviation Round Table (ART), Capt. Dele Ore; Chairman, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Dr. Steve Mahonwu and his Scribe, Mohammed Joji; President/Chief Executive Officer, Sabre Network, West Africa, a United States-based airline Global Distribution System, Mr. Gbenga Olowo and travel expert, Olumide Ohunayo.

According to them, demand and mark up factors as well as anti-trust competition rules, among others, are reasons fares are different on certain routes.

The stakeholders stated: “Any profit-driven organisation like British Airways, Air France, KLM, will attempt to maximise its gains in any market for that matter where its market share remains significant and this is slightly evident in the dollar per mile figure for First and Business classes en route Lagos-London but not so in regular economy”.

Stressing that “government cannot control what it does not have,” they described the minister’s directive as “an exercise in futility,” stressing that rather than reading the riot act to the foreign airlines, disturbing the operators, she should channel her energy to strengthening Nigerian airlines to give foreign airlines tough competition.

The stakeholders also took a swipe at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for its alleged penchant for reneging on concession agreements.

The recent termination of a concession agreement with a firm, Maevis, and the way other concession agreement had been allegedly threatened by FAAN, they said, had sent “a dangerous signal to both foreign and local investors in the country.”

The aviation stakeholders urged the Federal Government to privatize FAAN, stressing that the agency as currently run “cannot provide the services needed by the nation’s aviation sector.”

Contributing to the debate at the Senate, Aittai Aidoko (Kogi East) said:  “Foreign travels constitute a large chunk of our national budget and if the situation is redressed, our spending on recurrent expenditure would be drastically reduced.”

Chief Barnabas Gemade and Olubunmi Adekunle accused the country’s regulatory authorities for the crises in the aviation industry and asked the Federal Government to bar Nigerians from patronising all affected foreign airlines.

During a recent disagreement between British Airways and Arik Air over the denial of landing slots to the Nigerian carrier in London, the Ministry of Aviation took some steps to address the disparity in the fares.

In a related development, the Federal Ministry of Aviation has asked the National Assembly to enact a new law on passengers’ bill of rights to address the problem.

The bill seeks compensation for passengers in the event of flight delay or cancellation.

Shell: Nigeria Loses $5bn Annually to Crude Oil Thefts !

Revenue due to the government from Nigeria’s oil resources will dwindle further in the wake of increased crude theft in the Niger Delta region, Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC), Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, said Wednesday.

Sunmonu, who disclosed that Nigeria was losing so much revenue to crude theft, stated that an average of $5 billion was been lost by the country
annually to oil theft.

He warned that if left unchecked, the government would receive less of revenue from oil business in the country.

He said during a meeting with the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, in Abuja that: “Nigeria is losing at least $5 billion every year as a result of criminals stealing crude oil in the delta. If we don’t stop this, I can guarantee you that the revenue from oil business to the government in particular will continue to dwindle.”

Sunmonu, however, debunked claims that Nigeria lacked adequate record of her daily crude production, saying the country had measures in place to ensure adequate accounting of crude exported from its terminals.

According to him, extreme emphasis placed on the country’s daily crude production is irrelevant when compared to the amount of revenue she loses on crude theft.

“Rather than concentrate on the quantity of crude produced, more focus should be on stopping oil theft that is costing the country $5 billion yearly. Many people are under the impression that the oil-producing companies are playing games with the amount of crude that they produce and export. I want to state here categorically that the oil business is an international business.

“The practice in terms of how you account for what you produce, how you account for what you sell is universal. The companies in this business are very big companies. The code of conduct that governs their activity is so strict that they cannot afford to play games,” Sunmonu said.

In his explanation of the existing regulatory framework of Nigeria’s oil industry operation, Sunmonu said: “Nigeria as a country has put its own regulatory framework around how you account for what you produce and how you account for what you load. At the port of loading, security agents are positioned there, the customs people are also there and apart from that, there are meters which measure what goes from your tank to the tankers.

“And reconciliations are done on both sides. It is a very well controlled operation but a lot of people think there must be games going on. But let me tell you as a Nigerian that what all of us need to worry about is the amount of the crude that is been stolen by people in the delta; people who cut pipelines to steal crude. People who steal crude to illegal refinery, which is what we should be worrying about.”

Stressing that Nigerians were unduly worried about the activities of International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the country, Sunmonu stated: “Nigerian should not be worrying about what Shell, Chevron and Exxon are doing. I can tell you these companies are too big to play games. What they have at stake outside of Nigeria is too big that they cannot afford to play games in any country. The international laws will go after them.

“I really want us to know that we have reputable companies handling the oil and gas operations in this country. Our greatest challenge is about criminal activities where people steal crude every day and that should be our focus because I think that the oil companies are very strong in their ethics in terms of accounting for the oil that they produce.”

Ahmed in her remarks expressed hope that Sunmonu’s visit would smoothen the relationship between NEITI and Shell especially in the conduct of the petroleum industry audit.

“Over these years, there have been missing gaps in NEITI’s engagement with the companies in Nigeria resulting in fear, distrust, information gap, mutual suspicion and resistance to comply with NEITI audit requirements in some circumstances. I hope with your visit today, a new chapter has been opened in the relationship between NEITI and companies in general and Shell in particular.

“For Shell, NEITI expects your cooperation and your influence in bringing all international oil and gas companies fully into the NEITI process especially during our on-going and future industry audit,” Ahmed stated.

FRSC, Police disagree over registration 

The traditional rivalry between the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) replayed itself yesterday when the two organisations charged at each other at the Senate’s public hearing on the on-going controversy over the desirability or otherwise of the new number plates and new driver’s licence.

The ensuing drama and hot exchange of words was however curtailed before degenerating further by the quick intervention of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-governmental Affairs, Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta.
It all started when the two bodies made claims and counter-claims over which of them has the right to embark on vehicle registration.

While the police said the Motor Licencing Authority (MLA), which is under the control of the police has the exclusive right to carry out the exercise, the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Mr. Osita Chidoka, told the committee that the function was part of his commission’s statutory duty.

In his presentation at the public hearing organised by Senator Awaisu Kuta–led Committee on Federal Character and Inter-governmental Affairs, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Mr. Olajide Akao, representing the police, described the new number plates registration and driver's licence upgrading as illegal and a violation of the Act setting up the FRSC.

In its place, the police chief said the police have already concluded arrangement to introduce an electronic data system, the Enhanced Central Motor Registration (ECMR) that will capture vehicle registrations in the country electronically to further assist in addressing the security problem because most of the security challenges were carried out using vehicles.

The ECMR, according to him, will cost only N3,500 for plain glass vehicle and N5,000 for tinted glass vehicle.

Reacting, Chidoka said the ECMR programme of the police had been faulted and certified illegal by the Joint Task force that met separately in Kano and Nasarawa States. Osita, who read the communiqué of the JTF to the senators, said the Act of the FRSC was very clear on the issue of the production of number plates and the compilation of data for it by the commission.
“At the 104th meeting of the Joint Tax Board (JTB) between August 6 to August 7, 2003 in Nasarawa State and the communiqué noted that road taxes are the responsibility of the states. The communiqué also highlighted that the ECMR are un-receipted by the Police.
“The meeting agreed that the function of keeping motor vehicle records is kept statutorily by the FRSC…The CMR, as currently put, is illegal. The JTB said that,” he said.

But at this point, the committee chairman intervened and called for a ceasefire. A member of the committee, Senator Kabiru Marafa (PDP, Zamfara) faulted the comment of the police DIG that the FRSC did not have the right to produce the number plates, pointing his attention to a clause in the FRSC Act.

The committee was particularly irked by a fresh plan by the police to embark on another registration which they said will be at another expense to Nigerians. They said what the senators were looking for was a way to streamline all the registration into one to save the cost to Nigerians.

On his part, Senator Domingo Obende (ACN, Edo) said it was obvious from the response of the police DIG that there was no synergy between the police and the FRSC on the registration exercise.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the committee, Kuta yesterday cautioned the minister of information on his comment over the resolution from the National Assembly.
Kuta said: “I must at this point, however, advise the Minister of Information, the spokesman and the image-maker of this government, to desist from unguarded statements on the resolutions of this matter. (His comment) was ill-timed, pre-emptive, unfortunate, insensitive, inciting and uncalled for. In advanced democracies, resolutions of the Legislature are taken seriously and serve as a guide to the Executive.

“After all, we are not at war with the Executive. We do not intend to be at war with any arm of government. The well-being and welfare of the people is the main concern of this administration. Therefore, all our actions must be in the best interest of the masses.”

How Nyame Withdrew N282m Public Fund !

Mr. Abdulrahman Mohammed, an accountant with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Jalingo, Taraba State, who is a key witness in the prosecution of the former governor of state, Mr. Jolly Nyame, Wednesday narrated before an Abuja High Court how 20 Zenith Bank Plc cheques valued over N282 million were issued and the money withdrawn and given to the ex-governor in Abuja.

The ex-governor who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is facing a 41-count charge of money laundering, criminal breach of trust and gratification, totalling N1, 360,000,000.

At the resumed hearing of the case, Mohammed, while testifying in the case, said between 2003 and 2007, he was the accountant, Taraba state liaison office, Abuja, where he was in charge of the account department of the liaison office.

Led in examination by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacob, Mohammed said any time the ex-governor was in Abuja, the permanent Secretary, Govern-ment House, Jalingo would call the permanent Secretary, Liaison Office, Abuja, Mr. Japheth Wubon and instruct him to go to the bank and withdraw money for the governor.

Mohammed said Wubon would in turn call on him to prepare a Zenith Bank cheque, which he would later cash and take the money to the former governor at the lodge at T Y Danjuma Street, Abuja.

He said he was always accompanied to the bank by at least two police escorts and a driver.
He further told the court that the money which was either received by the governor or a steward was always never receipted and that no voucher signed by the governor each time he received money from him.

Mohammed identified exhibit “M” and “S” which were the Zenith Bank financial statements and copies of the cheques he signed with which money was paid.

According to him, the money he withdrew for the ex-governor in 2006 were: March 13, N15.5 million; May 4, N25 million; June 16, N5 million; June 29, N25 million, N20,000; July 21, N3 million, October 10, N5 million, N10,000; October 31, N10 million; November 7, N20 million; November 13, N25 million, N10,000.

The 2007 withdrawals Mohammed made for the ex-governor, according to his testimony before Justice  Adebunkola Banjoko are: January 8, N25 million; January 18, N15 million; January 30, N25 million; February 19, N20 million; March 7, N2 million and N10,000; March 21, N4 million; March 24, N6 million; March 30, N20 million and May 7, N20 million.

But the defence counsel, led by Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), objected to the cheques being tendered in evidence as he maintained that the cheques, having being drawn and received by Zenith Bank, upon which payments were made, could not be tendered by the witness.
He said:  “The witness is a staff of Taraba state government and not an employee of Zenith Bank. The document to be tendered is ordinarily in possession of Zenith Bank, how did the witness come in possession of these cheques? To me, it is a mystery. This is a criminal matter and the process by which the guilt of the accused is arrived at must be seen to be pure and clean. I urge your Lordship to reject these documents.”

But Jacobs, citing Sections 147 and 148 of the Evidence Act said in his reply that so long as “the witness wrote and signed the cheques during the period under scrutiny, he has link to the exhibit."

He therefore urged the court to discountenance the objection. The judge adjourned the case till April 30, May 24 and 25, 2012 for continuation.

FG loses N3.7bn to BA, Virgin Atlantic yearly – Senate

The Senate held on Wednesday that the Federal Government was losing N3.7bn in revenues annually to arbitrary high airfares by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airline on the Lagos-London route.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodinma, brought a motion to plenary alleging that the high cost of airfares on the Lagos-London route had led to Nigerian passengers moving to Accra to fly the same airlines at a far cheaper rate.

In the motion titled, “Violation of aviation laws and practices by foreign airlines in Nigeria,” Uzodinma condemned the huge disparity in charges paid by Nigerians compared to that being paid by citizens of other African countries.

He noted that the conduct of the British Airways and Virgin Atlantic had translated to a colossal loss of revenue to the Federal Government in form of the statutory five per cent ticket sales charge to the tune of $235m (N3.7bn), excluding heavy financial losses to travel agencies and Nigerian travellers.

According to him, a first class Lagos-London return ticket costs $10,816 and Abuja-London return ticket goes for $10,144; whereas the passenger on the Accra-London route pays only $4,798.

“In the same vein, while business class Lagos-London return fare is $7,370; on the Accra-London route, it is $4,098,” he said.

Uzodinma further argued that a return economy ticket from London-New York was $625; London-Dallas, $787; London-Florida, $730; and London-Atlanta, $772.

“These routes are nine-hour flights minimum, while the cheapest return economy ticket from Abuja-London, which is six hours, amounts to $1,200,” he said.

The senator noted that most Nigerian passengers now travelled to London through Accra, Ghana, thereby denying Nigeria the chance of becoming the regional hub, as well as causing colossal economic losses to the country.

The President of the Senate, David Mark, said the fares given were completely out of range and unreasonable, describing them as exploitative.

Mark said, “Nobody should tell us to sit down here and not do anything about it because Nigerians are willing to pay. Our regulatory agencies have done absolutely nothing; in fact, they are part of the problem because they have been colluding with them; otherwise, they would have been the ones to raise the issue.

“They have watched helplessly. They have refused to act; otherwise they would be the ones to force British Airways to look at what they are doing.”

He also said that the Civil Aviation Act, 2006, required an amendment as it had not provided for reprimand against persons who flouted aviation laws in the country.

Senators were in agreement that airfares by the foreign airlines were exorbitant and called on the Federal Government to mandate public office holders, who accounted for 80 per cent patronage of the foreign airlines, to patronise Nigerian airlines.

They did not agree with the position that the airfares were as a result of the high cost of doing business in Nigeria.

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe called for the adoption of economic nationalism in the approach to dealing with the problem, noting that the high fares were adding to the already bad economic situation.

Atuche Bought Shares For 18 Of His Companies With Bank PHB’s Money - EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused a former Managing Director of Bank PHB, Francis Atuche, of fraudulently purchasing the bank’s shares for 18 of his companies.

Mr. David Nkpe, a field investigator with EFCC who made the allegation, also claimed that the shares, worth billions of naira, were purchased using funds belonging to Bank PHB.

Reports say that Nkpe was testifying before an Ikeja High Court presided over by Justice Lateefat Okunnu at the resumed trial of Atuche.

The EFCC had charged Atuche, his wife, Elizabeth and a former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu, to court for alleged stealing.

The commission alleged that they stole more than N25.7 billion belonging to Bank PHB (now KeyStone Bank) between November 2007 and April 2008, while Atuche was the Chief Executive Officer.

Nkpe, who was being led-in-evidence by EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, claimed that the companies purchased the shares during a public offer by Bank PHB in May 2007.

The witness alleged that Anyanwu had admitted in a statement to the EFCC that Atuche instructed him to purchase the shares on behalf of the companies.

The companies include Claremount Investment Ltd., Montrax Investico, Stanford Global Ltd., Arabian Probity, Consolidated Business Support Ltd., Commercial Trading Ltd and Filemon Enterprise.

It also included Oakwood Asset Ltd., Ventures Resources, Caledonia Enterprise, Financial Company Ltd., Claremount Asset Management Ltd. and Clairville Business Support.

Others are Gazali Yakubu Ltd., Afco Associate Ltd., Septron Trading Ltd., Guess-Trade Services Ltd and Nolly Investment Ltd.

He said a thorough investigation and confirmation from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) revealed that these companies were mainly owned by the Atuches.

Nkpe said: “During our investigation, we discovered that the shares certificates were collected by Bank PHB company secretary, who during interrogation, admitted to us that he collected and transferred them to the owner (Atuche).

“The funds transferred by Bank PHB were then used to pay for the shares which were taken by these companies owned by Atuche and his wife.”

According to him, these companies never repaid the money to Bank PHB, despite the fact that the transactions placed them on the top 1,000 list of the bank’s shareholders.

Reports say that the matter was adjourned to today for the continuation of the trial.

Why I dropped ICT for Iru business, says computer engineering graduate

While her mates are still roaming the streets looking for elusive paid employments, she has looked inward and got herself employed in one of the least fashioned small scale businesses which has today become a money spinning venture for her.

A graduate of Computer Engineering from Rufus Giwa polytechnic Owo, Ondo State, who many thought would be employed in the banking or ICT sector, Miss Omotola Abiodun, told Nigerian Compass  that she does not have to border herself  with screw drivers and other tools needed by professionals in the career, not to think of the  frusturations associated with  seekimg  a  job in another person’s business any lomger..

Miss Abiodun has employed the  use of some of the cheapest local products to produce an internationally recognised spice, known as Iru, Dawadawa and Ogiri  in Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo languages in Nigeria respectively.

She told Nigerian Compass that she decided to veer into the production of the local spice after the realisation that even with  no formal education, those people producing  the local spice in the past were successful . She therefore saw  her formal education as a computer engineer and the little entrepreneurial education she acquired in school and during her youth Service corps days, as weapons that help her win the struggle for success in the business within a very short time.

She noted that since her product is in high demand  in the market while fellow producers are retiring because of old age and unwillingness of the younger generation to acquire the trade, she would breakthrough in the trade.

Capital requirement:
The pioneer of  the new generation of producers of Iru  said with as little as N2,000 one can start the production of spice. She said her initial capital layout were partly from what she had while in school and the little she saved during her youth service days.

‘Iru is very easy to produce and it is not capital intensive. With just N2,000 and some local inputs you are a producer.  What I used for my production is very simple. They were the utensils I had when I was in the Polytechnic and the few ones I later acquired during service year. These are my cooking pots, buckets, spoons, stove and other household utensils which most of my mates threw away after our graduation from school and passing out after the service,’she recalled.

 As for the raw materials, Abiodun  said though  it changes in price with  season but it is very cheap and easy to come by. She said the raw material is very common in the country. But noted that it is in abundant supplies in Kaduna  and Kogi states.

“The major raw material for my product are Iyere also known  as locust beans or seeds . The raw material is very cheap. A bowl goes for as low as N200 during the harvest season but could go for as much as N1,000 during the off season. The price goes up very hiigh every four year.The seeds could be obtained from many parts of the country but it is in abundance in Kaduna  and Kogi states. When you have fresh seeds,the price is very low but during off season it is very costly. But because I had taken my time to study the seasons and the price movements, I am always in business throughout the year. Also I have adjusted my production to these variables so that my profit margin does not decline too much.

On how she acquired the skill of iru production, Abiodun who confessed that locust beans seasoning  is not produced in commercial quantity either in her family or in her home town,  Ifon, Ose Local government area of Ondo  State,  however, said she grew  up to know that the product is consumed in large quantity  in the community and anyone producing it may not be able to meet local demands. She also said that she had heard many stories concerning the nutritional values which iru possesses especially with the respect to Vitamin A which is good for maintaining healthy eyes .
“Nobody produces iru in my family nor do I know of anyone who produces the product in commercial quantity in my town, Ifon, Ose local government area of Ondo state. But I grew up to know that iru is highly consumed in the town and it is available only on market days and anyone who misses the opportunity of buying it on that market day has to wait till the next market when the sellers would bring it from other communities,’ She said.

“But in a matter of coincidence, I got to know how Iru is processed from the mother of my fiancé who lives in Akoko, also in Ondo State; during some of my visits to her. During the visits, I joined her in the household shores and  got to know she processed and produced the spice. This caught my attention and asked her some questions on the cost, procedures and the gains of producing such a money spinner which many of our youths todayare not paying attention to. She took her time to explain everything to me and I was attentive enough to grasp all she explained. So on the  that very visit, after I had joined her in the production process. And after about five attempts I had mastered the production perfectly.

“There and then I decided to be a producer myself  but I was thinking on what innovation I should introduce in the production process to make my product unique. I then thought of the packaging and neatness. Normally most local producers use fresh leaves to wrap their product for sale but since I had realised that I would not be selling in the local markets,  but in markets  and to corporate consumers, I then decided to introduce plastic packaging.

Hence, you see my products in transparent plastic containers with price tags. I am a very neat person so I brought that into my production process. I make sure that I pick my seeds very well befire and after cooking and that no trace of foreign body like grains of stone is found in my product. Other unique qualities of my Iru are that it does not have offensive odour. Whenever  people perceived any offensive odour in Iru that means the iru was nor well prepared or processed.

What you have in Iru is a great aroma. This is only obtainable when the product is nicely prepared. Nicely prepared does not smell badly and must be free from any form of dirts. My price goes for between N200 and N400 depending on the size of the plastic containers. My customers knew this. What they do is just pick one or two packs and pay.”
On sales and profitability of the venture, The Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo trained Computer engineer who said she has just marked her one year in the business as self empolyed, claimed it was tough for her initially to get acceptance in the market; but with persistence and determination she broke through the barriers. She said she rakes in a much as N8,000 on any good day.

“We thank God. I am just one year old in the business, as self employed; initially it was tough getting acceptance in the market but I was determined and dogged in my determination to succeed.  There were occasions I returned home without any sales. But that was at the initial stage of the business. But today, on a good day when the sales are okay I could make a profit between N6,000 and N8, 000. I also believe this happens in big businesses too.

Challenges:
Like most entrepreneurs, there are bound to be challenges at every level of growth and development when embarking on any business venture. Omolola noted that the major challenges she face in the business is the ability to meet the demand from her customers. She said the challenges lies with her inability to raise money to employ more hands that would help her in marketing the product. She therefore appealed to the Dr. Olusegun Mimiko led administration in Ondo State to consider her for a very soft loan under the Small Scale Entrepreneurial development programme of the state. She said with that she would be able to buy a processing machine and also employ some youths in the state.

“Every venture has its challenges. But if you allow these challenges to overwhelm you,  then you would remain a failure. There are challenges at different phases or levels of growth and development in businesses. There were some I have overcome. There are some that are yet to surface. But as at now, the ones I am facing are not too difficult. They are the constraints  associated with  meeting the demand for my product. I can breakdown the challenges as: That ne money to employ more hands which would help in the sales. I also need money to buy more raw materials and also a machine with which I can process the seeds. I therefore call on the Government of Ondo State under the leadership of Dr. Olusegun  Mimiko to please assist people like us in securing very soft loans from the Micro Credit Scheme programme of the state government for Small Scale Entrepreneurs (SMEs).”

US judge set to decide on Strauss-Kahn sex case

The fate of a New York maid’s lawsuit alleging sexual assault by Dominique Strauss-Kahn rested in the hands of a US judge Wednesday after the French politician’s lawyers claimed he had diplomatic immunity.

Judge Douglas McKeon said he would rule quickly following a 90-minute hearing in a Bronx courthouse where a Strauss-Kahn attorney argued that the disgraced former head of the IMF had “the same kind of diplomatic immunity that other high-ranking officials and diplomats enjoy.”

The civil suit, seeking unspecified damages, “must be dismissed,” attorney Amit Mehta said in New York state court.

A lawyer for Nafissatou Diallo, the Manhattan hotel maid whose accusation of sexual assault triggered the spectacular downfall of a man tapped to be the next French president, ridiculed the notion of dismissal.

Douglas Wigdor said Strauss-Kahn “brutally sexually assaulted Ms Diallo” on May 14 last year and now wished to use the immunity argument to “deny Ms Diallo’s right to a trial in this case and delay these proceedings.”

Strauss-Kahn, who was managing director of the International Monetary Fund at the time, admits consensual sex took place with Diallo in his luxury Sofitel suite, but denies assault. New York prosecutors initially charged him, but then dismissed the case because of concerns over the maid’s credibility.

Strauss-Kahn had some level of immunity. However, a key sticking point appears to be whether that only extended to him in his official duties.

McKeon, who spent most of the hearing in a rigorous probe of Mehta’s arguments, at one point referred to the hotel incident and asked drily: “You’re not contending that he was in the furtherance of the (IMF) business?”

The judge did not rule in court, but promised “to expeditiously issue a decision.”

Neither Strauss-Kahn, who is simultaneously facing charges in France over an international prostitution network, nor Diallo, were present in the wood-paneled courtroom. Several dozen journalists, many of them from France, attended.

Unless Strauss-Kahn decides to pay Diallo an out-of-court financial settlement, Wednesday’s arguments could prove to be only the first salvo of a drawn-out and bitter legal battle.

Allegations in the civil suit are much the same as the criminal charges initially lodged against Strauss-Kahn: that Diallo went to clean his luxury hotel suite and found herself being chased, then assaulted by its naked occupant.

If Diallo won her civil trial, Strauss-Kahn could then be ordered to pay her financial compensation.

Any trial is likely still some way off, since even if the judge rules that Strauss-Kahn had no immunity, his lawyers can appeal.

William Taylor, an attorney for Strauss-Kahn, told reporters outside the courthouse that he was “fully confident in the court process.” However, he added: “Appeal is always one course of action if you happen to come in second.”

As from the beginning of the scandal last year, Taylor insisted that Diallo’s only motivation in accusing the wealthy Frenchman is financial.

“We have a lot of arguments, including the fact that Ms Diallo would like to have more money than she has today and we are sure she will not get that from Mr Strauss-Kahn.”

But Kenneth Thompson, another lawyer for Diallo, called the immunity plea “desperate.”

“Dominique Strauss-Kahn thinks he’s above the law. His claim of immunity is completely baseless,” he told reporters after the hearing. “Dominique Strauss-Kahn will have to come into this courthouse and be held accountable.”

According to Thompson, Diallo suffers “enormous pain and she’s still suffering emotional distress” as a result of the alleged assault nearly a year ago.

“We’re not going to talk about trying to settle this case. What we want to do is go to trial in this case.”

Police investigate murder of pastor, seven-year-old

The  Ogun State Police command have started investigations into the dastardly murder of a seven-year-old school boy and a 50-year-old clergyman.

 Both victims were alleged to have died during the invasion of Oke Odo Village by land speculators and thugs armed.

Oke Odo Village is between Olokopupo and Ajibawo communities along Idiroko Road in Ogun State.

The clergyman was said to have been waylaid by the hoodlums and killed in a circumstance that had become a subject of investigations to the police, while the unidentified schoolboy was killed by a stray bullet from the guns of the rampaging hoodlums.

 The boy was in a car with his mum, who had gone to pick him from Faith Academy in Canaan Land area of the state.

A policeman, Inspector Salami Muhamed and Mayowa Ete , a caterpillar assistant, escaped with gunshots wounds from the activities of the hoodlums, who reportedly in the past unleashed mayhem on residents of Lemomu Village along the same axis, sending the villagers away

Nigerian Compass gathered that four person, including a resident of the village , identified as Baba Ojo and the armourer of the gang had been arrested by the police.

The state CID are also on the trail of some of the suspects.

The village has been thrown into serious fear, while many of the villagers had run away from the village, for the fear of more attacks.

 The villagers in a letter sent to the Inspector Generals of Police Muhammed Abubakar said they would not return to the village unless the perpetrators of the evil act were brought to book.

Mayowa who escaped the attack , narrated to the Nigerian Compass on how the invaders came into the community

He said: “I was working on a building in the village with my boss , when the incident happened. Over 100 thugs invaded Oke Odo Village and started shooting sporadically into different direction , without anybody confronting them”.

“Our caterpillar was working and everything was going on well until around 3pm, when many vehicles ‘ came and almost 100 thugs , many of them with guns, came out and started shooting sporadically .

“Immediately I saw them, I started to run but I felt  pellets on my head and the upper party of my hand. I struggled and entered the bush but the gun shots continued and I heard people wailing and shouting. It was like a war! I managed to call the people that gave us the job and that was all I remembered.

Mayowa can be said to be very lucky as he was rescued, when his unconscious body was discovered in the bush, where he had crawled to hide.

 He had since been receiving treatment at a private hospital in Sango Ota area of Ogun State

The families of Pastor David Ogolu was however not as lucky as the caterpillar boy.

The clergyman, a father of five children, was killed in the attack. The family also had to go through serious pains in recovering the body of their breadwinner as his body was taken away from the scene of the killing and thrown  into the bush.

A combined team of policemen and sympathizers found the bloated remains of the concrete block making merchant, two days after his disappearance

The widow of the late clergyman , Mrs. Felicia Ogolu , while speaking with the Nigerian Compass at the family’s uncompleted building in Oke Odo Village was visibly downcast.

 Mrs Ogolu, while reliving the moment, before the death of her husband to the , stated that some hoodlums had earlier in the afternoon of March 13 2012, invaded the entrance of the village, where they shot for hours.

“After the shooting had gone down for a few hours, my husband was seen near the main road. He told us that he was going to his oga ‘s place and even told one of our children to bring money for him from the house “ the woman recounted bitterly

“ After the people that shot in the afternoon had vanished from the scene , my husband went out with the hope that everything was over , unknown to him that some people were hiding and still waiting to kill him . We called him later and told him not to return.”

The pastor, who was in charge of Christ Bible Gospel Church had reportedly assured his family that all was well , unknown to him that the end had come.  The wife continued: “He told us that he was going out to see his boss . The information we got was that, when he was returning home , the people that killed him stopped the bike , which he was on and started beating him.

“My husband was at the back of the Okada , Segun one of his workers was riding it . The people that killed him were holding and beating a resident of the village, when they sighted the Okada . One of them was said to have said that ‘that is him coming ‘, resulting in their releasing their victims at that time and pouncing on my husband.”

“After these people attacked him , those who were living around the area told us that my husband was shouting “Baba Ojo ti pa mi (Baba Ojo has killed me) till nobody heard his voice again.”

While giving insight into the whole incident, stated that the community had been in a battle for the ownership of a vast expanse of land in the village.

She added that the said Baba Ojo had in the past accused her husband of being a traitor.

 “Baba Ojo even told the people of Ajibawo that my husband was an opponent.”

Inspector Salami , a member of Special Anti Robbery Squad also got injured in the fracas.

The policeman and his colleagues were responding to the gunshots from the hoodlums and had raced to the scene, when the gunmen opened fire on them and injured Salami.

A senior police officer at Obasanjo Police Station, who spoke with the Nigerian Compass, under the condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident and added that the case had been transferred to the State CID Eleweran.

The police source also added that about four people had been arrested in connection with the incident.

He also stated that men of the state CID were on the trial of the hoodlums and others

The spokesman of Ogun State police command, Muyiwa Adeboji, who spokes to the Nigerian Compass on Phone, said the perpetrators of the act would soon be arrested.

Jankara market, where the living buys the dead !

IN the state of Lagos, the economic capital of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, various activities (notorious ones for that matter) have been going on among the living against the dead.

The living have been disturbing the dead, grave crimes are being perpetuated against the dead as wicked and hardened Nigerians go to any length at making money.

Even, the living is also victims of these notorious and wicked people who derive pleasure in hurting and putting people through pain and sorrowful death before taking their human parts for various purposes ranging from rituals and money making.

According to our source who prefers to remain unidentified, these people are very young Nigerians. “ All these small, small boys get plenty money and dem they carry gun de waka about, when they come in the night for human parts they no de price am, dem go just pay us the money”.

He said their activities start in the mid-night of every day. The source went further to say that depending on the type and size, either fresh ones or the decayed, determines the price for the human parts. When asked how they who work in the cemetery meet up with the demands for human parts, he said that they get human parts from various sources.

The Ikoyi cemetery is divided into two parts. The first part is the one they call the part for permanent burial which is located at both left and right of the road and very close to the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).  While the second part is the temporary site located at the back of the FRCN at the extreme end of Ikoyi, close to the former Federal Secretariat and SSS building, Alagbon in Ikoyi.

The bulk of the human parts sold at Ikoyi cemetery is from this temporary site because those buried at this part of the cemetery are unknown people and bodies that are not claimed at the mortuary which are brought for mass burial.

After their bodies are buried, and usually they are buried by these same labourers, the grave site is identified. When night comes and their customers arrived, they exhume the bodies and after placing orders for specific parts, they slice off the parts and have the body reburied.

The preference of the cemetery for purchase of human parts by these people is because according to National Daily findings, parts from the cemetery are fresh ones which are just buried that same day or a day later. For these reason they are very expensive.

The parts that are mostly on demand are the female breast, public hair, the male organ and the tongue. The most expensive and most difficult human part to obtain is the heart, it is difficult because it depends on what they want to use it for and the process of extracting the heart from the body is rather difficult because if not properly done it may be damaged and becomes useless.

“Putting into consideration the type of vehicles that these people bring when they come for the purchase and the calibre of some prominent people who at times come to the cemetery with their herbalist to perform some rituals, it is going to be very difficult before the perpetrators of this act can be brought to book” the source said.

These prominent Nigerians according to our source who made me swore to an oath before he continued talking use these human parts for longetivity, to extend their life span on earth and to cure some ailment that defile medical solutions. They also use the heart of women to look more beautiful and younger. The Yoruba's call this “Ogun Ajidewe”

The other categories of buyers are those who want to make use of the human parts for money making and for self defence so that they would be saved from attacks of their enemies and opponents.

The parts mostly used for money making are the female breast and the public hair, using the human eye is out of fashion because at times it fails to perform as expected.

When the National Daily reporter pressed further with questions on why there is increase in ritual murders in the state of Lagos, our source said cases of ritual murders have reduced greatly because people who seek fresh human parts have found out it is much more difficult to abduct people and kill them but that it is easy to come to the cemetery and purchase with “ease”. “After all the dead is dead no matter what if they do not cut it off it will just decay”, the source said.

This human parts business has even gone beyond the cemetery in Lagos. Now a days, human parts are not only sold in cemeteries but also at market places where intending customers wishing to purchase human parts ranging from tongue to fingers, human breasts to male genital organs or private parts including human skulls.

This market where human parts are sold is located in the very heart of Lagos and it is a very popular market where various goods ranging from house hold items to industrial goods are sold, they are easily available in this market and when you move deeper inside the market there is a section where herds are sold, for different kinds of sicknesses such as malaria fever, black soap, "Osedudu" and other natural remedies used for traditional practices.

The name of this market is the famous and popular Jankara market in Lagos Island. It stretches from the beginning of Adeniji Adele Bridge up to the very end of Idumota. It is a very big and wide market and if you are not very conversant with the market you might lose your way.

Traders in human parts at the Jankara market get their stocks from three main sources and these are the cemetery, from dead bodies lying on the road side and from the mortuary where bodies that are not claimed and meant for mass burial are sold to these traders who after taking their own parts dump the body anywhere.

This is one of the reasons while lifeless bodies are found on the street of Lagos with some of the parts sliced off.  “Not all these bodies are victims of ritual murders”; some are bodies of unclaimed corpses sold out to merchants who deal in human parts”.

If you are not in the business of purchasing human parts or conversant in the way and manner business is done at the market, you might get yourself into trouble in the market.

They operate with signs mostly done with the eyes. They know themselves and they know the stalls to go for their purchase.  “These means that you cannot just go into Jankara market and say you want to buy human parts, you will get yourself into trouble”.

National Daily investigation further shows that human parts have a different name in Jankara, at Jankara, human part is called “Melumo” meaning keep your mouth shut. It also comes in two categories which are called TUTU or GBIGBE meaning fresh or dried parts.

So immediately you are able to identify your merchant through signs and the use of slogans, he will immediately understand that you are a human parts buyer.

Despite the renovation and construction due to the modernization of the city by the state government, Jankara keeps striving because the merchants in Jankara have a way of perfecting their business within the environment, the human parts are not displayed nor neither is any part of the market designated as a section for the selling of human parts.

But the business of human parts selling is so perfected that when a buyers is around communication are made swiftly through eye signs and slogans that only those involve in the business can understand it.

Secondly Jankara human parts market is still striving because the merchants are so good in preserving the human parts from decaying and keeping it in good condition for the specific purpose it is needed for.

In the course of our investigation, National Daily spoke to some residents of Lagos Island and they confirm the validity of the sale of human parts at Jankara market but most of them prefer not to talk extensively on it but said the tradition in human parts sale in Jankara has been going on for so many years.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

MTN gets universal licence in Benin, launches 3G in Cote d’Ivoire

MTN has been awarded Universal Licence in Benin Republic and Third Generation (3G Licence) in Cote d’Ivoire, promising that subscribers in both countries will begin to enjoy world-class connectivity.

“This is exciting news for our customers, as they will now enjoy the benefits of world-class connectivity. We are grateful to the governments of Cote d’Ivoire and Benin for enabling MTN to further enhance the experience of mobile telephony for our customers,” says MTN Group Chief Commercial Officer, Christian de Faria.
The Ivorian Minister of Post and Information Communication Technologies (PTIC), Bruno Koné, made known the news of the award of the 3G licence to MTN Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan, at a press conference held to display the SIM and subscriber registration process in MTN service centres and the equipment related to the West African Cable System (WACS).

Chief Executive Officer of MTN Cote d’Ivoire, Wim Vanhelleputte, announced that WACS, a submarine cable stretching 14 000 kilometres between Portugal and South Africa, would upgrade connectivity for Ivoirians to international standards.

“This is a dream come true for many Ivoirians whose internet access has been held back for a very long time. The cable will allow more Ivoirians to enjoy fast access to the internet. We have already identified about 30 per cent of subscribers who will be the first to experience and enjoy the 3G service,” said Vanhelleputte.

In Benin, MTN was granted a universal licence which allows the company to provide mobile telecommunications services using any technology within the defined agreed frequency range without additional fees. It includes 3G, 4G, Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) outdoor as well as the use of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

“MTN is the first and only operator in Benin with a licence which allows the use of new generation technologies, such as 3G, 4G, LTE and Wimax.

This presents a great opportunity to improve business communication solutions and other services to our customers, both in the consumer and corporate sectors. Customers are already eagerly waiting for the launch of new services using the new technology, and MTN Benin is working hard to ensure that our customers are not disappointed,” says Eric Tronel, Chief Executive Officer for MTN Benin.

New electricity tariff to come into effect in June

The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is to introduce new electricity tariff on June 1, its Chairman, Dr Sam Amadi, has said.

Amadi, who disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday at a meeting with electricity generation companies in Nigeria, said the new tariff, tagged Multi-Year-Tariff-Order, would not affect low income earners.

According to him, the tariff would attract more investors, as power generation would increase in the country.

He said that the commission had already offered licences to more than 50 independent power producers, as part of efforts to improve power generation and distribution.

Amadi believed that engaging more power producers in the sector would ensure competition, boost quality transmission and efficiency in services to Nigerians.

One of the participants, Mr Adeyemi Adenuga, the Chairman of Geregu Power Station, said the electricity companies were ready to meet the conditions set by NERC before the new tariff regime.

He assured that the power stations would provide quality services, in line with the aspirations of Nigerians.

POLITICS

Why I didn’t renew my tenure, by Ex-PDP chairman Baraje

The immediate past National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, said   he did not seek renewal of his tenure because of his respect for the zoning policy of the party. 

He however asked the new National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur to be firm in enforcing party discipline to succeed in office. 

Baraje, who made the submission while fielding questions from some select journalists in Abuja , said he decided to lead by example instead of being a sit-tight leader. 

He said: “Another tradition that has endured is that of adherence to the party’s constitution on term limit. A few pundits were thinking when the time comes, I was not going to leave or would be asked to carry on but I said that I’m not in that class. 

“The constitution must be followed and Section 7.2 of our constitution emphasizes zoning and since I’m not from the zone which the chairman is to be selected, so why should I struggle for that? 

“And I think that it’s a very good example for other members of PDP to follow. What we are trying to do is to ensure that we lead by example.” 

The ex-PDP National Chairman said he did his best to keep the party together and resolve all cases in court. 

He said: “When we came, we inherited about 109 court orders in 2008. By the time I was finishing my tenure as National Secretary, with the collaboration of our legal adviser and other members of NWC, we had drastically reduced these court orders to about 50. As at today, I think we have only 7 court orders that are genuine ones. 

“So in the light of these, my experience as the National Chairman with the collaboration and support of members of PDP has been very fulfilling and I can describe my tenure as very peaceful. 

“One of the major things I took from my predecessor, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, who is the present Minister of Defence, was that we had set out some vision to keep the party together. One was to ensure free, fair and credible elections and we had this together in the primary elections that brought President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan into power and with that, it led to the free and fair election of April 2011. 

“So when I came in, I also insisted and carried on with the tradition and one major thing I did was to ensure transparency and a level playing field for all elections. I ensured that elections were not done under any “hush-hush” arrangement but under the visible eyes of the camera.”

 Baraje urged his successor, Bamanga Tukur, to enforce party discipline. 

He said: “I am going to charge the incoming executives to consolidate on all the achievements we have been able to attain so far in deepening internal democracy at all levels of the party. 

Ondo LP leaders, youths, others join ACN

Over 3,000 leaders, youths and supporters of the ruling Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State yesterday defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). 

They comprised over 2,000 LP chiefs from Idanre and adjoining villages as well as more than 1,000 youths from Akure North Local Government Area. The youths are mainly members of the Ondo Youths for Good Governance.

The Idanre defectors were from the four major wards of Lemikan, Ijomu Isunrun, Irowo and Jigbokin.

Idanre is the home town of Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s Chief of Staff, Dr. Kola Ademujimi; Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade; Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Taye Akinyele; and the Senator representing Ondo Central Senatorial District, Ayo Akinyelure. They are LP chieftains.

The defectors were led by the ruling party’s leaders, including Mrs. M.O Ademujimi, Aladetuyi Benson, Oyediran Kayode, Bintilaye Kehinde, Adewale Adebayo and Adesakin Christianah.

Others were Kayode Oyediran, Taiwo Hassan, Muritala Olakunle, Adebayo Oladiran, Akinwande Adebisi, Olaniyan, Veronica and Elder Oni Lanre.

The defectors denounced LP, saying: “We are leaving the ruling party mainly in solidarity with the former Special Adviser to the Governor on Planning and Strategy, Saka Lawal.”

They described Lawal as the LP machinery and a God-fearing personality who was frustrated out of the ruling party by Mimiko and some of his allies in the government.

The defectors noted that despite having scores of Idanre indigenes in Mimiko’s government, the area has not had any developmental project. 

They said: “The present government could best be described as a compact administration where Mimiko and his few cabals, including Soji Bello, an indigene of Ekiti State, are becoming ‘tin gods’ in the state.

“We will work tirelessly to ensure the emergence of ACN government that has laudable programmes for the masses.”

The youths said their defection was in solidarity with the former Commissioner for Transport, Otunba Omoniyi Omodara, who is now an ACN chieftain.

The group’s president, Oromidayo Balogun said: “We are irrevocably committed to the welfare of our people and we believe wholeheartedly that ACN is the only viable and credible political party.

“It is through this party we can achieve our aspiration as the only alternative to the present visionless political configuration in the state.”

The defectors include: Babatunde Ayorinde, Olumide Awosika, Oni Daramola, Anjorin Olamide, Fasemore Ayomide, Asamo Niyi and Sunday Joseph.

Others are: Pelumi Oni, Famewo Seun, Ayoade Olulateun and Busayo Bello.

CRIME FILE

Professor’s hubby commits suicide in Ilorin over cash

Amid the euphoria that greeted the successful take off of 13th West Africa University Games, WAUG, at the University of Ilorin, UNILORIN, Monday, the sudden death of the husband of a serving professor in the institution through suicide has thrown university community into mourning.

Sources in the university told Vanguard that the deceased, Olubunmi Olademo, who was married to a professor in the Religion Department of  the university, reportedly committed suicide Tuesday evening.

Vanguard reliably gathered that Olademo reportedly hung himself  at a bush in the Tanke area of Ilorin, the state capital, following the alleged failure of his wife to give him money for the completion of their family house.

Sources said the man reportedly left their rented apartment in Tanke after allegedly dropping a suicide note for his family, complaining about his wife’s alleged refusal to give him the said money he had earlier requested from her.

Before hanging himself, the deceased was said to have followed up on his suicide note by calling his wife on the telephone to inform her about his intention.

It was alleged that the wife, who was said to have been disturbed by her husband’s threats to commit suicide, however, reported the incident to the  police in Tanke.

It was said that when  Olademo did not come home same Tuesday night, a search party was organised to look for him without success, until one of his daughters remembered that she heard her father saying that he was going to the site of their uncompleted residential building at Oke-Odo area of Tanke.

The sources said it was at this juncture that the search party combed the area and discovered  his  lifeless body dangling from a tree where he hung himself.

The police were said have initially arrested the deceased’s wife  but released her on bail yesterday.

Olademo’s corpse was  deposited at the mortuary of one of the hospitals in the town for autopsy.

The state police command Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Dabo Ezekiel  confirmed the incident, adding that investigations had already commenced.

Also reacting, Deputy Director, Information and Protocol of in the university, Dr. Mafouz Adedimeji confirmed the suicide story, but noted that the deceased died outside the university environment.

Meanwhile, about 3,000 athletes from various universities across West Africa are competing for trophies in the games that kicked-off Monday.

Fake soldier arrested for impersonation, drug deal

A middle aged man, Abba Ibrahim, has been arrested by the army for alleged impersonation and illegal drug deals.

The Army Public Relations Officer, 2 Brigade Headquarters, Port Harcourt, Lt. Col. Aminu Ilyasu, said the suspect was arrested while parading himself as an army officer.

Ilyasu told newsmen in Port Harcourt that Ibrahim, who hailed from Gombe state, was among the 31 regular recruit intake into the army in 1991, but was dismissed in 2003, after he was found guilty of shooting and killing a civilian.

According to the army spokesman, the suspect, who wore the rank of either a Lieutenant or Major in the army to perpetrate his crimes, had been linked by several security records of involvement in illegal cross border duties and drug business.

He said the suspect was arrested on March 13 with several items, including Indian hemp, military uniforms, anklet, a pair of captain’s rank, a Major’s rank, car documents bearing his name as an army captain and a Toyota Highlander Jeep registered Rivers AH 866 BRR.

He said Ibrahim would be charged to court as soon as investigations were completed.

I Steal To Buy Cocaine, Suspect Confesses

One of the suspected burglary thieves who was arrested recently has confessed that he got addicted to taking hard drugs especially cocaine to the extent that he often stole money to buy it.

The suspect, Samson Ajala, 42, a native of Owo, Ondo State was arrested alongside one of his accomplices, Mojeed Akinola, 23, from Oje area, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Crime Watch ivestigation revealed that at 12 noon last Friday, both suspects went to house number 10, Ejeuwa Obi Street, Tejumola Estate, Egbeda. As they attempted to break into a flat, one of the residents, Segun Adekunle confronted them. They ran. Mojeed reportedly jumped into another compound, where he was apprehended.

In his confessional statement to the police at Area ‘M’ Command, Idimu, Lagos, Samson Ajala said “you can see yourself that my life is ruined because of cocaine. I cannot take care of my six-year old boy and I cannot afford to rent a room for myself. ”I am addicted to hard drugs. Any time I have the feelings of taking cocaine, I must take it even if I have to rob people in order to get the money.

“Sometimes in June, last year, one of the residents “obami’ gave me information on how people went out and came back from their places of work. We broke into the flat of this complainant, Segun Adekunle which led to our arrest. We went there to steal HP Computer laptop, shoes and wristwatches which I sold to buy cocaine and I gave my informant his share.”

Mojeed Akinola, said, “I reside at 17, Ogunyemi Street, Abule-Egba. I sell fairly-used clothes at Katangowa. The man who put me in trouble was my customer. I told him I was going through financial mess, he promised to help me. I was arrested the first day I followed him to steal. We have since been in police detention.”

Meanwhile, residents of Area ‘M’ Command have commended the Area Commander, ACP Ibrahim Karoje for his efforts at reducing crime rate in the area. Residents who spoke with Crime Watch said Kaoje has proved to be a thorn in the flesh of criminals.

SPORTS

UEFA League: Milan frustrate Barca !

Barcelona will need to beat AC Milan at the Nou Camp to ensure their place in the Champions League semi-finals after being held to a goalless draw in Italy.

The defending champions' claims for a penalty were turned down when Alexis Sanchez fell under Christian Abbiati's challenge in a dominant first half.

But Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic had clear openings at the other end as AC Milan threatened on the break.

Cristian Tello was denied by a last-ditch block as Barca ran out of ideas.

The sides played out two pulsating games in Group H earlier in the tournament and AC Milan once again provided a fascinating counter to Barcelona's staccato passing style.

With the winners set to play the winners of Chelsea and Benfica's quarter-final, the Serie A leaders maintained their record of never having lost a home quarter-final tie in the competition.

The visitors created a raft of excellent chances in the opening half as they weaved passing patterns around Milan's defensive veterans Alessandro Nesta and Massimo Ambrosini.

But their finishing could not match the precision of their build-up play.

Xavi's toe-poke was clawed away by Christian Abbiati after a sharp one-two with Lionel Messi, before Sanchez could not quite burn off the pursuing Luca Antonini, allowing the left-back to get in a last-ditch block.

The Catalan side also had a strong claim for a penalty turned down by the officials after Sanchez was up-ended after he had peeled off the end of the Milan wall as part of a clever free-kick routine.

But in an absorbing contest, Milan also headed to the dressing rooms ruing what might have been.

Their pressing game frequently unsettled Barcelona and twice they carved through the remnants of the defending champions' rearguard after winning possession high up the pitch.

Robinho's awkward side-foot volley cleared the bar from six yards early on before Zlatan Ibrahimovic, playing against his former club, scuffed a shot into the grateful arms of Victor Valdes after holding Carles Puyol at bay.

The hosts continued to disrupt Barcelona's usually reliable supply lines after the break and Pep Guardiola's side could not muster the same sustained level of threat.

The more attack-minded Tello was introduced in place of Andres Iniesta and the 20-year-old wriggled away from Daniele Bonera before rippling the wrong side of the side-netting.

But it was rare opening as the ageing legs in the AC Milan side chased gamely and Barcelona's stream of attacking invention dried up.

Ambrosini, 34, slid in to block Messi's shot as the Argentine shaped to pull the trigger just inside the box, before Antonini stretched every sinew to get to a loose ball first with Abbiati out of position.

Their efforts were rewarded as Milan became the first side to keep a Champions League clean sheet against Barcelona for more than two years.

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri: "We played better football after the restart, but in the first half we created several clear chances and despite not exploiting them, we gained in self confidence after such a performance. I think that the final result is fair, now we know we can get the qualification in Barcelona."

Barcelona defender Carles Puyol: "No matter who you play against you are always motivated and that's what Zlatan Ibrahimović showed out there. We tried to stop him and the rest of his team-mates and it worked out well for us."

Ribery hails 'perfect result' against Marseille

The Germans have one foot in the semi-finals after Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben gave Bayern a comfortable advantage from their trip to the Stade Velodrome.

"This is a very good situation for us," Ribery told Sky Sport Germany. "The result is perfect, it is better than a goalless draw or a 1-0 victory.

"We played with a lot of discipline and we deserved to win."

Ribery then expressed sympathy for Marseille goalkeeper Elinton Andrade, who was unable to stop Gomez's shot as the ball squirmed under his body and into the net.

"I think it was a hard blow for him and Marseille," he added. "He had not played this season."

The France international also reiterated that he is happy with life at Bayern and admitted he does not feel comfortable playing in his homeland.

"It is always difficult for me to play in France," the 28-year-old said. "But now I play for Bayern, who are a great family "I have been here for five years. I feel just fine, everything is perfect for me."

The return leg at the Allianz Arena will be played on Tuesday, April 3.

Drogba hails Chelsea away goal

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has pointed to his side’s away goal against Benfica as the key to progressing through to the Champions League semi-finals.

The Stamford Bridge outfit was a 1-0 winner on Tuesday night courtesy of Salomon Kalou’s late effort, meaning that the club heads into the second leg with a considerable advantage.

Drogba had been criticised in the build up to the tie after a video on Chelsea TV emerged of him appearing to mock the Portuguese side when he and teammates were filmed watching the Champions League quarterfinal draw, a suggestion which was later denied by David Luiz.

Although the Ivorian was an unused substitute during the first leg at the Estadio da Luz with Roberto Di Matteo preferring Fernando Torres up front, the veteran still realises the importance of both the result and the away goal to the Blues’ chances of booking a place in the semifinals.

APOEL made things hard for us, Benzema confesses .

REAL Madrid’s attacker, Karim Benzema, has expressed satisfaction with his side’s win over APOEL in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-finals tie, but admitted that it was not an easy victory.

Jose Mourinho’s men were unable to breach the APOEL defence in the opening 45 minutes, but eventually broke the deadlock in the 74th minute when Ricardo Kaka set up Benzema for the opener, before the pair added two more in the closing stages of the match to record a 3-0 away win.

“It was a very difficult game, especially in the first half,” Madrid’s official website quoted Benzema as saying. “The game improved after half-time and we earned a very important victory. We will keep it up in the return leg.

“APOEL are a very tough opponent and made things hard for us. This is an important victory, but isn’t over yet. We want to give a good performance before our fans in the return leg.

“I had a very good chance to score before I netted my first, but I tallied two in the end and that’s what matters. We did very well and took a major step towards winning the tie.”

The second leg takes place at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 4.

Muamba May Not Play Again  

A leading heart specialist has cast doubts on whether Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba will ever play professional football again.

Peter Weissberg, the Medical Director of the British Heart Foundation, believes Muamba’s sudden collapse means he can never truly be cleared to compete in the future – even if he makes a full recovery.

Former England Under-21 international, Fabrice Muamba, was rushed to hospital after collapsing during the FA Cup quarter-final against Tottenham at White Hart Lane earlier in the month.

With 41 minutes of the game gone, with no-one near him, 23-year-old Muamba suddenly collapsed to the floor and lay with his face down on the turf.

It was later confirmed he had suffered a heart attack.

Weissberg now believes it would be difficult for the former Arsenal youngster to make a comeback.

He told Press Association Sport: “It is not possible to say, but I think it is likely he would be advised not to play again because most conditions like this are a combination of physical activity and an underlying tendency to have a cardiac arrest.”

Bolton’s team doctor Jonathan Tobin confirmed Muamba’s heart stopped for almost 80 minutes and Weissberg praised the fast-acting medics present at the time.

“I’m impressed (with the response) but you would expect that at a Premier League football ground,” he said.

“(It was) a fantastic example of a well-trained team recognising first of all what was wrong and then moving into action and doing something very, very quickly about it.”

Since the incident there have been calls from many quarters of the game to enhance player screenings in an attempt to eradicate such issues arising, something Weissberg believes is almost impossible.

He said: “It will happen from time to time and the reason for that is, as doctors, we cannot yet predict with total accuracy those players who might have an underlying heart problem.

“I’m afraid the technology is not good enough yet to identify the really, really subtle heart conditions which just aren’t apparent until someone keels over.”

Weissberg did suggest solutions which could be in place to help Muamba if he were to suffer a similar attack in the future, but that it does not mean he should be making a return to the pitch.