NEWS UPDATE 4th APRIL 2012

 Obasanjo resigns PDP BOT Chair

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday resigned as Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He had been the chair since leaving the office of the President in 2007 after completing his two terms in office.

In a statement he personally signed, Obasanjo said he had sent his resignation letter to the newly-elected National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. “I have formally sent in my letter of resignation as the Chairman of BoT of PDP to the National Chairman of the party as prescribed in the party’s constitution,’’ he said.

The former president added: “‘I have formally requested the President to allow my bowing out and to issue a short statement to that effect.
‘‘By relieving myself of the responsibility for chairmanship of BoT of PDP, I will have a bit more time to devote to the international demand on me,’’ he wrote in the letter

The former President said that his resignation would give him time ‘‘to give some attention to mentoring across the board nationally and internationally in those areas that I have acquired some experience, expertise and in which I have something to share’’.
Obasanjo said his exit would afford him more time to develop ‘my Presidential Library and to mobilising and encouraging investment in Nigeria and Africa.’
He noted that before the last general elections, he believed that if PDP produced the President, it would be time for him to reduce his partisan political activities.

Obasanjo recalled that he was actively involved in bringing forth ‘my successor president from PDP in 2007.
‘‘In 2011, I was in the vanguard of working for PDP to produce a president for Nigeria. God answered our prayer.”
When Daily Sun sought reactions from notable PDP chieftains, especially from the South-West where Obasanjo hails from, they claimed ignorance of the development. Chief Ebenezer Babatope, former Minister of Transportation, said: “I have not heard about it and I am not aware of such a development, if and when it is made official, then I can make comments on that. So, give me some time to confirm because I do not want to make any comment on what I am not sure about.”
On his part, ex-Minister of Works, Adeseye Ogunlewe, responded: “I am not aware of such a development, maybe you should contact the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) secretariat and confirm from them. I am not in a position to make any comment on that.

Also Olatunji Shelle, PDP Chairman, Lagos State chapter, said: “This has come as a surprise and I am not aware of this development. Has it been made official? When I find out and I have accurate details of the development, then I can comment on it. For now, I cannot make any useful comment.”
Also, PDP chieftains yesterday were very
circumspect  in reacting to the resignation.
Secretary of the party’s Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jubrin, feigned ignorance of the development, as he said he was not aware.

Another chieftain of the party who vied for the office of national chairman at the just-concluded national convention, Dr Muhammed Abba Aji, expressed shock.
“Are  you sure he has resigned? The whole thing is amazing to me. What are the reasons he gave in his letter? Well, it is shocking.’’

Former national chairman of Grassroot Democratic Movement, who was also an aspirant for the office of national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Gambo Lawan, equally expressed shock, but  noted that the former president  deserves his rest.
‘’He must have his reasons, but more importantly, Baba Obasanjo has served this country, meritoriously, and he needs to rest. No one can take it away from him that  he played his role, as former military head of state and two-term civilian president and as chairman of Board of Trustees of our great party—- the office he has just relinquished, very efficiently.’’
At the residence of Alhaji Tukur, Daily Sun could not gain access to him to seek  his reaction, as one of his aides disclosed that he was in a meeting with top officials of the party.

Church gift: ACN wants Jonathan impeached !

Action Congress of Nigeria has asked the National Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan for admitting openly that he solicited “a bribe” from a foreign construction company, in violation of the Constitution that he swore to uphold.

In a statement on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said commencing the impeachment proceedings would enable the National Assembly to investigate the matter and also reach the appropriate conclusions, saying the President, by his own admission and without any prompting, had thumbed his nose at the constitution.

The statement read in part, “To know the gravity of the President’s self admission of soliciting the church ‘gift’ from the Managing Director of Gitto Construzioni Generali Nigeria Limited, one needs to understand Section 6 of the Code of Conduct for Public officers embodied in the First Schedule of the 1999 Constitution and the Code of Conduct and Tribunal Act (CAP C15) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“The Act states: ‘A public officer shall not ask for or accept any property or benefits of any kind for himself or any other person on account of anything done or omitted to be done by him in the discharge of his duties. For the purposes of subsection (1) of this subsection, the receipt by a public officer of any gifts or benefits from commercial firms, business enterprises or persons who have contracts with the Government shall be presumed to have been received in contravention…unless the contrary is proved’.”

ACN said by his improper and unfortunate action, the President had also undermined the country’s fight against corruption and put Nigeria’s democracy in jeopardy, and must not be allowed to get away with such an egregious act.

The party said, “Gitto has obtained contracts worth billions from the Nigerian government, amid reported allegations in the media that it has not executed such contracts well. How can the Federal Government hold the company to account, when it (firm) has obtained an ‘insurance cover’ by bribing the President? Is this not why the country’s anti-corruption efforts have not achieved anything? Can the EFCC and the ICPC honestly and boldly fight corruption when the President is knee-deep in the mud of corruption?”

ACN added, “By openly and gleefully saying, at the inauguration of the church at his Otuoke hometown, that ‘the managing director of Gitto made him a promise to build and donate the church to Otuoke community after he (the president) had complained of the aging structure of his church’, the President has demonstrated that he is either not conversant with the Constitution he swore to uphold or thinks very little of the laws of the land.

“Either way, he should be held accountable for his deeds.”

ACN said it would amount to wishful thinking to expect the country’s anti-corruption agencies to probe Jonathan’s admission to soliciting and receiving a bribe, hence the call on the National Assembly to handle the issue.

 

Why Jonathan has not signed 2012 budget –Okonjo-Iweala

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Tuesday said President Goodluck Jonathan had not signed into law the 2012 budget, which was recently passed by the National Assembly, because of the need for the Executive to scrutinise the document.

She said the scrutiny became necessary because it was not always the same Appropriation Bill sent by the President that the National Assembly passed.

Okonjo-Iweala spoke with State House correspondents shortly after the meeting of the Economic Management Team presided over by Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

She said, “What we are doing now is that the National Assembly just gave us the budget back about few days ago, and of course, when they pass the budget, we have to look at the details because it is not always the same as the budget Mr. President passed to them.

“So, we are doing that work, we are looking at the details. After looking at the details, we will have a meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly on Thursday to make sure that we reconcile and understand all the changes that may have been made, and after that, we will be ready to move on to the next step. That is where we are.”

Okonjo-Iweala identified the increase of the oil benchmark price from $70 to $72 per barrel as one of the major changes carried out by legislators on the budget.

She said the change was used to reduce deficit and create additional fund for spending, which the government is comfortable with.

The minister said, “We are still ending up with fiscal deficit that is reasonable and under three per cent as well as reduced debt, that is okay.

“But now, the details, most of the specific MDAs and how the budget may have changed, that is the step we are looking at now and that takes a little bit of time, but we must do it because we will make sure we have a budget that can be implemented. We are trying to speed up the work so that we will meet with the leadership of the National Assembly on Thursday.”

Meanwhile, the Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, Dr. Bright Okogu, told journalists that the implementation of the 2012 budget had begun though it had not been signed into law.

Okogu said the law allowed that implementation of a budget that had been submitted to the National Assembly could start in as much as it was not more than 50 per cent of the previous year’s budget.

He said, “The law allows you to start implementing the budget before it is passed so long as you do not exceed 50 per cent of the budget for the previous year. That is what the law says and we are doing that.

“So, salaries are being paid and some overheads have been released. We have also given provisional warrant for the capital to MDAs. The law also allows that and the issue of whether we can finish in December, I just want to remind you that last year, the budget took up to the last few days of the month of May before the process was finished.”

“This is the beginning of April, the budget has been passed and the analysis is being done, discussions are ongoing with the parties,” he added.

Apart from the grey areas highlighted by Okonjo-Iweala, Okogu also said the government had reservations on the issue of the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme.

He said the programme, which is to gulp up to N180bn, was to initially be integrated with the rest of the traditional budget.

Okogu said, “There is nothing wrong with that because it is in line with what we submitted for them to pass into law. We will like for them to separate it properly.”

Another N3bn Pension Fund Scam Uncovered !

The Joint Senate Commit-tee on Establishment and Public Service and States and Local Government Administration Tuesday said it had uncovered another bank account used by managers of police pension scheme to illegally enrich themselves.

This came on a day an Abuja High Court granted bail to the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar Kigo; a Director, Chief Esai Dangabar; and four other top Federal Government workers accused of diverting N32.8 billion police pension fund.

The latest discovery involved an account opened with the United Bank for Africa (UBA) where the pension fund estimated at N3 billion was deposited on the same day.

It was also said to have been opened without the authorisation of the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF).

The account in question was opened in the name of one Adamu Salihu and “DG” (an apparent abbreviation for Director General) but with different code numbers.

At the resumed public hearing of the joint committee yesterday, its chairman, Senator Aloysius Etok, expressed displeasure at the non-appearance of seven bank managers or their representatives to assist the committee to unravel what he called “the mystery behind the series of controversial accounts on the pension fund”.

He issued a summons to the managing directors of the seven banks and the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, to appear before the committee when it resumes from the Easter break on April 16.

The summoned banks are First Bank, Union Bank, Zenith Bank, Diamond Bank, Fidelity Bank, GTBank and Skye Bank.

However, UBA was represented at Tuesday’s sitting by one of its Executive Directors, Mr. Dan Okeke, who was grilled by the committee members on the existence of an account bearing two different names.

The committee confronted Okeke with documents confirming the allegations and findings of the committee in respect of the account.

When confronted with the documents showing the dual-ownership account, Okeke told the lawmakers that it was not possible for one account to bear two different names or for two different persons to operate same account.

He said if such a thing happens at all, it would be a major anomaly that the bank had to look into.

When the co-chairman of the committee, Senator Kabiru Gaya, probed further and showed Okeke the documents in his possession, the bank chief said there was an approval for the opening of the account but could not say if it was before or after it was opened.

He requested the permission of the senators to go back to his office and bring a copy of the letter of approval.

Okeke said: "It is highly unlikely for such to happen. If you let us have specifics of this case, we can go back and confirm but under normal circumstance one account is not supposed to bear two names.”

When Etok sought to know if any interest was paid on the account or not, Okeke told him that the bank would not pay interest on such account except it was a fixed deposit account.

The committee chairman then asked him to bring the details of all the accounts of Police Pension Office, Office of the Head of Service, Customs Service etc with the banks and all the instructions attached to it.

Meanwhile, after six days at Kuje Prison on remand, Kigo, Dangabar and four other top Federal Government workers accused of diverting N32.8 billion police pension fund were granted bail by an Abuja High Court Tuesday.

They were granted bail in the sum of N10 million each and two sureties each in like sum.

As at press time, the suspects were yet to meet the bail conditions and were sent back to the prison pending the time they will fulfil the conditions.

Justice Ababakar Talba, who granted them bail, ordered that one of the two sureties must be a civil servant not below level 14 and that the sureties must be resident in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Besides, the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means which must be verified by operatives of EFCC before they could be allowed to go home.

While ruling on the bail application argued by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), the judge agreed that the court had the discretion to admit the accused persons to bail.
Talba said that after weighing the balance of convenience, he came to the conclusion that the accused persons remained innocent until the contrary was proved by the prosecution.

He said that it was a settled law that the accused persons were entitled to be released on bail so that they could prepare themselves adequately for their trial.

The judge disagreed with EFCC's argument that investigation into the case had not been concluded.
Talba said the arraignment of the accused in court and with the filing of proof of evidence, it was presumed that investigation had been concluded and that fear of possible interference with investigation should be discountenanced.

Other suspects are Alhaji Ahmed Inuwa Wada, John Yakuku Yusufu, Mrs. Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula and Alhaji Habila Zira.

The only woman among the suspects, Onyegbula, was taken to Suleja Prison, while the rest were taken to Kuje Prison pending the time they would fulfil the bail conditions.

They were arraigned on a 16-count charge of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and diversion of public fund.
The alleged offences are contrary to sections 97 and 315 of the Penal Code Act Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria, 2007.

The breakdown of the charges showed that the accused persons, being public officers in the service of the government of the federation between January 2009 and June 2011 in Abuja diverted N14,518,567,724 being part of police pension from an account domiciled at First Bank Plc.

Between January and December 2009 in Abuja, the accused persons were also alleged to have breached the public trust with N8,920,371,822 police pension fund kept at First Bank Plc.

The charge sheet also indicated that between January 2010 and February 2011 also in Abuja, they diverted another N4,739,894,896 police fund, while between February and June 2011, N858,301,006 was diverted from the same source.

They were also accused of stealing N656,559,289 in January 2011, while in March 2009, N462,963,012 was allegedly diverted from the same source while working at the police  pension office among others.
They had all pleaded not guilty.

The substantive case was adjourned till April 28 for hearing.

Bayelsa multi-billion naira fraud: Sylva dismisses allegation, accuses committee of bias

Former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva has dismissed the report presented by Bayelsa Finance Management and Review Committee, which indicted his administration of allegedly mismanaging over N660 billion that accrued to the state as revenue between 2007 and February 2012 leaving a debt profile of N207 billion.

The committee headed by arch-political rival of Sylva, Mr. Ndutimi Alaibe had recommended to Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, the recovery of the funds, listing the beneficiaries.

But in a swift reaction in a statement entitled, “Obsession with Sylva’s Ghost” Sylva dismissed the allegations “as unfounded and a failed attempt to divert attention from the calamitous political parodies committed in Bayelsa State by these accusers.”
Sylva, in the statement signed by his media aide, Doifie Ola, said the outcome of the report was not a surprise considering the composition of the committee, which had a mandate to execute a pre-determined judgment.
While insisting that the committee had not proved that any known financial laws had been flouted, he said the biased report was a further demonstration of the desperation of those who derailed democratic process to continue to wage war against Sylva.

The statement reads in part: “To be sure, government is an administrative structure set up to govern human beings with needs. Any normal investigation of government expenditure would try to demonstrate how the financial laws were flouted. The Alaibe committee did not attempt to do this. It simply compiled the incomes that accrued to Bayelsa State within a carefully selected period targeted to smear Sylva and assumed that there were no needs met in the period.
“The Alaibe report did not demonstrate any flouting of the state’s financial laws and regulations. If anyone had proof of such contravention, they knew where to go. And where to go is not an illegal committee unknown to the laws of Bayelsa State and Nigeria.

“Besides, the allegations thrown up by the power usurpers in Bayelsa State are too weighty to be handled by people with vested political interests in the state and whose track record and history smell of corruption. The report by the Alaibe committee is at best biased, petty and heavily tainted. This is yet another manifestation of the constant distress in the camp of those who recently usurped power in Bayelsa State as they live in perpetual fear of Sylva and guilt of the harsh judgment of democratic humanity.  

“As we near a judicial resolution of the manifest political travesty in Bayelsa State, those who believe they should do nothing other than fight the ghost of Sylva should learn to mitigate their desperation, at least, for the decency of what remains of our democracy that they have tried so hard to compromise.”

Again: EFCC docks ex-Speaker Bankole

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday docked former House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole before a Federal High Court in Abuja over a 16-count charge of contract inflation and awards without due process. The contracts include 400 units of 40-inch Samsung TV sets supplied at N525,000 each instead of N295,000, 800 units of HP Compaq Desk-top Computers at N330, 000 each instead of N160,000, 100 units of Sharp Digital Copier 5316 at N270,000 each instead of N160,000 and 400 units of HP at N150,000 in-stead of N60,000.

Bankole watched yesterday while one of the EFCC’s star witnesses told the court that he was not a signatory to the suspicious accounts of Multigates Resources Limited used to clear some cheques for the controversial contracts.Ahmed, an Assistant Su-perintendent of Police (ASP) attached to the EFCC, made the revelation at the ongoing trial of Bankole.

He said efforts to trace the addresses of the contract companies obtained from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) failed.Under cross-examination by counsel to the accused, Wale Akoni (SAN), Ahmed said: “When I asked the sec-retary to the Tender Board how award letters were dispatched to the companies, he told me that he was acting on the instruction of the Chairman”.

He told the court that when he confronted the accused with this information, he refused to respond.

“He said, in as much as I cautioned him, I should only take his statements.”The prosecution counsel, Oghenevo Otemu, however asked for adjournment due to the absence of other six witnesses.

But Akoni urged the court to avoid trial by installment which he lamented is infringing on the liberty of the accused.

Justice Okorowo advised the prosecution to meet the complainant (EFCC) and present his challenges in line with the needs of the court for a smooth trial, adding that adjournment cannot be granted perpetually.

Stressing that the attitude negates the maxim which says, “Justice delayed is Justice denied,” Justice Okorowo said: “I shall not tolerate incessant adjournment in this trial”.

Labour threatens action over sack of PHCN top shots

Electricity workers may be heading for a showdown with the Federal Government over the sack of three top officials by the Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji.Sources in the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, said yesterday that the worker union would convene a meeting before the end of this week to take a formal position on the matter. Those sacked are the Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, Mr. Akinwumi Bada; the Market Operator, Mr. Uzoma Achinanya and PHCN Executive Direc-tor, Human Resources, Mr. Muyiwa. Olusoga The minister also announced replacements for the sacked executives. Shola Akinniranye now heads the TCN, while Evarestus Mogbo becomes the new Market Operator. Olusoga is yet to be replaced.

PHCN sources told National Mirror last night that the sacked executives were being made scapegoats for the drastic drop in power generation in recent weeks.

Our correspondent gathered that the former TCN boss had been earmarked to be posted to the minister’s office as a special assistant, a move meant to pave the way for a smooth takeover of the company by a prospective management contractor, which he had resisted.

Olusoga’s offence, according to the source, was that he did not post the headquarters’ staff of PHCN to various distribution companies, citing the failure of government to reach agreements on pay rise and terminal benefits, in line with civil service rules.

The minister was also said to have insisted that sabotage rather than short-ages of gas and low water levels were largely responsible for the persistent sys-tem collapse in the last two months that had reduced power generation to below 1,000 megawatts at some time.

He said efforts to resolve the gas to power problems are receiving speedy attention, saying that an inter-ministerial meeting, involving the petroleum minister has been scheduled to hold any moment from now.

Nnaji said the adjustment being made is aimed at achieving effective management of the transmission network and solve problems in power generation.

According to the minis-ter, power system suffered collapse recently because of negligence in the trans-mission network and low water levels in the three hydro power plants in the country.

He was optimistic that power would climb in July as water level rise considerably.

Murder at dusk !

FOR Mrs. Florence Akema Nwati, who met her untimely death in a bizarre manner in Katsina-Ala few days ago, life could not be more cruel considering the manner of her death and the fact that she also lost her husband of two decades just one year ago.

Before her death, she ran a mini supermarket in Katsina-Ala, a town about 200 kilometres from Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

Her death has continued to generate controversy in the town she lived; this is just as neighbours and friends alike find it rather unbelievable that a lady who had lived in peace with her immediate community could be murdered in cold blood by a young man who hitherto had  claimed to be her friend.

In fact, her death came just less than 20 minutes to her rounding off the day’s activities in her drinks and provisions store inside the popular Katsina- Ala Main Market. But the least thing that came to the mind of Mrs Florence Akema Nwati on Monday, March 19, was that death could be lurking around and that she would not reach her home alive.

An eyewitness to her heinous murder who is a little boy that assisted the deceased in her daily business, identified her assailant as one Kenneth Huli whom he said was a ‘familiar face’ and customer.

The little boy said the alleged assailant sauntered in as usual into Mrs. Nwati’s shop that evening and nobody, including the deceased, suspected any foul play. But when a quarrel ensued between the two almost immediately, resulting to the instant death of the woman, the entire scenario changed.

The man reportedly broke a bottle and stabbed the helpless woman and left her lying in a pool of her blood. She bled to death before being taken to a nearby hospital where she was confirmed dead.

Another eye witness who craved anonymity told Crime Alert that the assailant came in and requested for a sachet of ‘pure water.’ He said the woman who was already preparing to close shop refused on the excuse that it was not cold, and continued with the packing of her wares.

But the man was alleged to have insisted that she must give him the water and later forced his way to pick the water from the deep freezer. But just as the woman struggled to stop him, he picked a bottle, broke it and stabbed her on the chest and other parts of her body.

Efforts by other customers to rescue her were also said to have been thwarted by the blood lusty man who scared them with the bottle.

However, they were able to alert the Katsina Police on the barbaric act and Police men were said to have responded immediately and arrested Kenneth.

The witness further disclosed that last year, the cold hands of death had snatched the deceased’s husband and bread winner, leaving her alone to cater for herself and their only son, Jesse, a Computer Science student of Benue State University, Makurdi.

Before death did them part, it was gathered that both of them lived happily even as the couple hailed from Benue and Imo states respectively. She was actually said to be on the verge of completing the mourning rites of her husband when she met her untimely death. However, there is a twist in the case of culpable homicide preferred against Kenneth by the police.

Unconfirmed sources said that he is claiming that he shared an intimate relationship with the woman but went out of his way to kill her over a disagreement.

But in his testimony, the late woman’s only son, Jesse, debunked the claim. He said: “As her son, I’m supposed to know this deadly character but I didn’t know him prior to this horrible act.  She too never told me anything about Kenneth before he killed her. Even the little boy (aide) that stayed with her knew and simply described the killer as “a customer”.

Crime Alert gathered that after the preliminary investigations at Katsina Ala Police Station, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), transferred the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Makurdi for prosecution. Which has also been confirmed.

And with the damage already done, the family members, relations, friends and even sympathizers who are still wondering why any sane mind would terminate the life of another one in such a dastardly manner are now crying for justice.

Meanwhile, the deceased’s son Jesse, who is yet to believe that his mum had left him after his father died a year ago to face an uncertain future, is lamenting the fate that has befallen him.

He said as he wept: “My world has been turned upside down and I don’t know where to start from now. As the only son of my parents, I’ve been rendered an orphan untimely. My future has become unpredictable too. After my father’s death a year ago, the responsibility of catering for me and my school in the university fell on my mother and now she’s no more”.

Jese described the tragedy as the biggest blow in his life because, “I was trying to sort out other challenges before going back to school but as it is now, confusion is the word.  My academic pursuit in the university is heavily threatened too except there’s a divine intervention to see me through.”

At the SCID, Makurdi, where the suspect is being detained, the IPO in charge of the case who confirmed the story said that full investigations had been concluded on the matter and the suspect has already been charged to court.

However, when the case came up on Wednesday March 28, it was stalled because the presiding Judge was said to be unavoidably absent in court but the IPO assured that a new date will soon be fixed for the hearing of the matter.

LUXURY BUS ATTACK: Police arrest robbery, rape suspects, driver

The Ogun State Police Command, yesterday, said it had arrested four suspected members of the robbery gang that attacked Ekene Dili Chukwu luxury bus which was conveying 42 female secondary  school students to Lagos, last Saturday, at the Oke-Odo end of Sagamu-Benin Expressway in Ijebu-East Local Government Area of the state.

The arrest was made just as indication emerged, yesterday, that the attack and reported rape on the teenage students could have been averted had the driver of the  bus listened to warnings by motorists that robbers were operating ahead.

Consequently, the 52-year-old luxury bus driver, (names withheld) has been arrested and detained by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Elewe-Eran, Abeokuta.

Sources at the state CID told Vanguard that the driver would remain with them until he cleared the air on the matter.

Driver ignored warning

It was gathered that the gunmen barricaded the highway last Saturday night where they attacked motorists who slowed down on reaching the spot.

Some motorists reportedly suspected danger when they saw a road block ahead and stopped before the barricaded spot as  they wondered why there was a road block in spite of  its ban. Most of them reportedly remained on the spot, watching the turn out of event  when it was apparent that robbers were operating ahead.

Motorists flagged the driver down, informing him of an impending danger ahead. But the driver reportedly ignored them.

Police sources said: “The driver is not new to robbers’ modus operandi and should have stopped to find out what the problem was.”

Suspects nabbed

Confirming the arrest, spokesman for the Ogun State Police Command, Mr Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said: “The Ogun State Police Command has arrested the driver of the luxury bus that conveyed the Enugu students who were attacked by some hoodlums at Ogbere along the ever busy Ijebu/Benin expressway at 11. 40p.m. on Saturday, 31/3/2012 and four others who have been suspected to have carried out the operation.

“The other suspects arrested are Oni Olopari, Innocent Omule, Gbenga Adebayo and Samuel Luca. Driver of the bus has identified Samuel Luca as one of those who attacked them that night.

“In the same vein, the command was able to recover some items in the suspects’ houses at Ijebu Ife and Ijebu Imushin, including some plastic chairs contained in a broken down vehicle at the scene of the robbery, the recovery of these chairs assisted the police to focus more on the suspects who were raided in their hideout at Ijebu Imushin after a tip off. The command is still intensifying efforts to arrest the fleeing members of the gang.”

During investigation, one of the suspects, Lucas, was discovered to have been residing in a military barracks in Ilese area of the  the state before he was ejected for an undisclosed offence.

Transport firm blames parents

Meanwhile, the management of Ekene Dili Chukwu Transport Company Limited, in its official reaction three days after the incident said although the attack by armed robbers was regrettable, it, however, blamed the attack on some parents of the students.

The company’s General Manager, Mr. Charles Obiora, in an interview with Vanguard said the second bus sent to convey the stranded students travelled in the night because some parents insisted that their children must be brought to Lagos that night by all means. He stated that the company had a record of cordial relationship with the school and Parents Teachers Association, adding that the company has a standing policy not to travel at night following the spate of insecurity in the country.

…dismisses rape case

The company also dismissed as baseless and unfounded rumours that some students were gang-raped by the hoodlums who hijacked the bus, challenging any parents to show evidence of such from a government certified medical report.

According to Obiora, “the incident is highly regrettable, I must say but again, it will be suicidal for any transport company to send his driver on a long journey with a dysfunctional vehicle, especially that conveying students.

“On that day when we got the report that the bus conveying them to Lagos had developed fault, we promptly dispatched another one in good shape to fetch the stranded students but when we discovered that it was getting late into the night, we got through to the driver to drive them to a safe spot but some parents who were at our Fadeyi park insisted that they would not leave until they set their eyes on their wards.

“This was why the driver continued the journey to Lagos even against our policy. I want to say that the company maintains a 17-year robust relationship with the school and the PTA. Instead of engaging in a media war, parents should help the victims overcome the psychological trauma their wards have suffered from.

“It is true that the bus ran into a gang of armed robbers, but about 17 of the students had disembarked on the order of the hoodlums while they were being searched and robbed of their valuables but at the sight of a patrol van that was on routine patrol of the road, one of the robbers jumped into the bus and zoomed off into the bush not too far from the scene of incident.

“The vehicle and the remaining 25 students on board were later recovered where they were abandoned. I can tell you that nobody was raped and I challenge any parent who said his or her daughter was raped to come up with a medical report from a government hospital to that effect.”

Ig orders police motorized patrols on highways

Meantime, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed  Abubakar, has ordered motorised police patrol of the nation’s highways to check incidences of banditry.

He said his decision to dismantle road blocks, which gave rise to incidences of toll collection, harassment of citizens on highways and other gory tales earlier associated with Police road blocks, was part of measures to reposition the police force.

However, based on fears expressed by some sections of the populace, the IG said: “All commands shall, with immediate effect, commence robust motorized patrols of federal highways within their jurisdictions to ensure safety and easy passage of road users. Nigerians travelling on our highways must have confidence of their safety with visible Police patrols.”

He said the command’s efforts would be complemented by a sophisticated Rapid Response Structure, which would be set up soon, to ensure that all federal highways were kept safe from armed robbery attacks, both during the day and at night.

The IG observed that Boko Haram attacks on Police personnel and other security agencies had reduced following measures put in place by Command CPs in the North East to reduce the level of casualty among, not only security personnel, but also Nigerians.

Abubakar, who spoke while at a conference he summoned for DIGs and Command CPs, also noted that the police force was going scientific in its bid to address the daunting challenges posed by criminals and criminality, especially now that criminals in all sectors were resorting to the use of ICT and other technologies to beat detection and arrest.

His words: “In the past few weeks, we have taken steps to reposition the force and provide a new direction for Police administration and operations.

“We believe that the steps we have taken so far are germane and will lay a strong foundation for a cohesive reform initiative which we hope will transform the Nigeria Police Force.

“This is exemplified in the enforcement of the directives I issued upon my assumption of office for the dismantling of road blocks, fight against corruption, decongestion of cells and other initiatives we introduced.

“Today, stories of toll collection, harassment of citizens on highways and other gory tales earlier associated with the police road blocks, no longer confront us. The road blocks have disappeared and I intend the situation to remain so.

“Although, the Nigerian public is apprehensive about the general loneliness of our highways with fears expressed about the possibility of armed robbers taking them over, I believe we shall keep our highways safe from armed robbers without restoring the old police road blocks.”

As reported by Vanguard, yesterday, shortly before the meeting commenced, Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Administration, Mr Suleiman Fakai, asked one of the newly promoted Assistant Inspector General of Police, Philemon Leha, to step out as no AIG was expected to be present at the deliberation.

Lagos lawmakers advocate return of police check-point nationwide

In a related development, some members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, LAHA, yesterday called for the return of police check-points on major  highways nationwide.

The lawmakers said the move was necessary to prevent the heinous activities of armed robbers currently on the prowl on the highways.

Mr Segun Olulade, a lawmaker from Epe II, said that the dismantling of police check-points had led to the return of more criminals.

Olulade, Chairman, Committee on Information, Security and Strategy of the state assembly, said that the presence of policemen at check-points in the past had created a sort of sanity compared to the current situation after the removal.

The assemblyman said that the IG should have put an alternative measure in place before dismantling the check-points, especially in the face of current security challenges in Nigeria.

He suggested the installation of security equipment and gadgets like the CCTV nationwide for easy identification of perpetrators of crimes.

Also commenting on the alleged rape, another lawmaker, Mr Yusuf Ayinla, (ACN Mushin II), described it as pathetic and called on the police to track down the perpetrators.

Ayinla said that it was inhuman for anyone to rob and rape some children regarded as future leaders.

On calls for the return of police check-points, the lawmaker said he was in support of advocates of the return of the police to the highway. ‘’I am in total support that the security check-points should be back in place until the Federal Government were able to put in a proper security communications gadgets network like in overseas.”

Ayinla, however, said that the police should be returned to the highways with some modifications that would allow for the comfort of motorists.

In his contribution, Mr Ahmed Omisore, ACN Ifako-Ijaiye II, said the return of the police to the highways would curb incessant highway crime. Omisore said that the absence of security personnel on the road posed more threat to motorists.

“Motorists are no longer safe driving from one place to another; some are harassed by hoodlums while some are robbed and raped along the highway”, he said

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

NNPC revives 3 refineries to end fuel scarcity

THE Group Executive Director (GED), Refining and Petrochemical, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Philip Chukwu, in Kaduna, on Tuesday, said with the coming on stream of the three major refineries in Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna, fuel scarcity in Nigeria would soon be history.

The NNPC executive, while embarking on a facility tour of the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company (KRPC), said the full operation of the three refineries in the country was a miracle.

“We have seen the Kaduna refinery increase production from very low level to what we have now, about three million litres of petrol daily. Let me commend the managing directors of the three refineries on what they have done.

“As we speak today, all the three fluid catalytic cracking units (FCCUs) are working in the refineries. And this is the first time this has happened after about 14 years,” he said.

“Kaduna refinery is now working perfectly well, we have tested the equipment for over a month now and the condition is perfect,” he said.

Chukwu said the refinery was strategic for the supply of fuel to the North, especially the North-West and North-Central, adding that “as long as Kaduna is producing, it will reduce the cost of our business.”

Earlier, the Managing Director of KRPC, Mr Bolanle Ayodele, had said the catalytic reforming unit (CRU), which was shut down in November 2011 for re-tubing, was re-streamed on March 31, 2012.

Electricity: Canadian firm demands N3.72bn to manage transmission company

A Canadian firm, Manitoba Hydro International, has demanded the sum of $23.72m (about N3.72bn) from the Federal Government to run the Transmission Company of Nigeria for three years.

Manitoba, whose financial bid for the management of TCN, one of the successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, was opened on Tuesday, emerged the sole bidder since the second firm, Power Grid of India, failed to meet the technical requirement.

The National Council on Privatisation chaired by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, had on March 26, 2012, approved that Manitoba be invited for simultaneous opening of its financial proposal and commencement of contract negotiations as the management contractor for TCN.

Speaking at the financial bid opening, the Minister of Power, Prof. Bart Nnaji, asked the Canadian firm to review the management fee downwards.

Consequently, a six-man team was constituted to handle the negotiation with the prospective management contractors.

Nnaji said, “They are not going to get rid of TCN workers, but they will bring in a few people to work with the TCN people, and more importantly, they will bring their expertise.

“We anticipate that in the next one month, they will start. They will bring in speed, be able to anticipate issues and problems and address them proactively. This is what we don’t have in the public service.”

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Ms. Bolanle Onagoruwa, said the quality and cost-based selection method of the World Bank was used for the transaction.

She said, “The technical proposals were evaluated based on the transmission-loss-reduction network improvement and capacity transfer strategy.

“The intent is to have a transmission company that will be capable of containing the anticipated changes in the electricity supply industry and market.”

According to her, the management contract is designed to reduce electricity losses during transmission; provide for the achievement of certain predetermined targets that will improve grid security and general performance; and have reward and penalty clauses as incentives for success.

It will also provide efficient management of government investments; ensure adequate and equitable generation dispatch, according to a fair merit order based on sound regulatory principles; ensure fair market settlements between electricity traders; and provide for skills and expertise transfer to Nigerians, who will serve in deputy and other positions on the management staff of the management contractor.

Zenith Bank shareholders approve 95k dividend

Shareholders of Zenith Bank have commended the management of the bank for posting superlative results in the financial year ended December 31, 2011.

Cross section of shareholders, who spoke at the bank’s annual general meeting (AGM) held in Lagos, on Tuesday, said the performance in key financial indices, despite the harsh operating environment, was laudable, assuring the board and management of their support at all times.

According to the national president, Nigerian Shareholders Solidarity Association of Nigeria (NSSA), Mr Timothy Adesiyan, there was every reason to commend the management of the bank, stating that the shareholders were satisfied with the excellent performance of the bank in the past year.

He also commended the management for its strong adherence to the principle of sound corporate governance, which had won it global honours, adding that the dividend to shareholders was also commendable.

Speaking in the same light, the national coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Mr Sunny Nwosu, said the impressive financials and global award in corporate governance showed that the bank was on course.

While advising the board and management of the bank not to rest on their oars, he said he foresaw a brighter future for the shareholders of the bank.

“This management must be commended. This result showed that they are on course. The dividend payout has further put the bank clearly as one the best in the industry.

“I want to assure them that they have our support at all times,” he said.

Meanwhile, the shareholders also approved a dividend payout of N29.826 billion, representing 95 kobo per share.

The bank’s financial report for the year ended December 31, 2011 show-ed that its deposits grew by 22 per cent from N1.289 trillion in 2010 to N1.576 trillion in 2011.

Profit After Tax (PAT) also rose by 11 per cent from N33.34billion in 2010 to N37.14billion in 2011.

POLITICS

Prepare your handover note, PDP tells Aregbesola

The Peoples Democratic Party has told Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola to start preparing his handover note, claiming that the opposition party will sweep the polls in 2014.

Osun PDP Chairman, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, who stated this in Osogbo on Tuesday, said the days of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Osun were numbered.

Olaoluwa said, “It is becoming clearer by the day that the ACN has nothing to offer the people of Osun. Where is the heaven-on-earth the ACN promised?

“The transparency of the PDP congress held a few days ago is a signal to the fact that we are ready to take back Osun. We challenge the ACN to conduct local government election and see where the pendulum will swing.

“Osun people are tired of running governance on the pages of newspapers, radio and television. Osun people need action; enough of castigation of Olagunsoye Oyinlola administration.

“The Rauf Aregbesola administration should begin to work and shun pettiness. Oyinlola has been blamed for all the lapses in this government. The ACN should leave Oyinlola alone and face governance.”

But the Osun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Sunday Akere, said the PDP was daydreaming.

Akere said, “The latest outburst of the Osun PDP shows the party as conscienceless and shameless. Here’s a party, whose over seven-year tenure was disastrous and calamitous.

“All sectors of the economy were grounded: education, health, transport, commerce, agriculture, tourism and the judiciary were rubbished by the Oyinlola government and the PDP wants us to keep silent over this sin against Osun people.

“If the Osun PDP did well while in office, why did they lose all elections in the last general election? The prayer on everybody’s lips is may Osun never witness a PDP government again. The PDP is daydreaming.”

Mum to Ladoja: reject PDP

Former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja yesterday got an elderly counseling from his mother over the plan by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to woo him back. The elderly woman urged not to return to the party. 

The warning came on the heels of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s visit to Ladoja’s Bodija, Ibadan, home. The former President wanted Ladoja to woo him on Monday. 

Obasanjo, in company of some factional leaders of the party in Oyo State, had visited Ladoja to finalise a merger talk between his Accord Party (AA) and the PDP in Oyo State. But the former governot, sources said, was yet to bulge.

A source close to the Ladoa family told The Nation yesterday that over 70 per cent of Ladoja’s supporters opposed his plan to return to the PDP. The source added that some of his supporters told Ladoja’s mother about the plan, when they heard that Obasanjo wanted to visit Ladoja’s wife, Mutiyat.

Obasanjo had reportedly called Mutiyat at the weekend and intimated her with his plan to eat pounded yam at the family house on Monday. She reportedly promised to inform her husband.

It was learnt that many of Ladoja’s supporters opposed the visit. They were said to have recalled that it was pounded yam that Obasanjo ate at Chief Audu Ogbe’s and Senator Chuba Okadigbo’s homes that led to the revelation of the former President’s hostility to them. 

Ladoja, sources said, has a lot of respect for his octogenarian mother, which was why his supporters urged her to prevail on him. 

The elderly woman was said to have had a deep discussion with him on Obasanjo’s visit, reminding her son of how she spent three days in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, to beg Obasanjo not to remove him (Ladoja) from office in 2005. Obasanjo, she recalled, refused to dignify her with an audience, despite her age.

The Nation learnt that the former governor may not return to the PDP because of his political working relationship and agreement with his cousin, Governor Abiola Ajmobi. 

The source added that Laoja told Obasanjo that the plan to return him to the PDP had become impossible with the appointment of about 100 of his supporters into different offices in the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) government in Oyo State.

It quoted Ladoja as saying: “I told him (Obasanjo) that if I decide to join the PDP today, I will lose all these, people because they will not follow me. I will become a general without soldiers.”

THE Oyo State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has warned the Accord Party (AA) leader and former Governor Rashidi Ladoja to beware of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

It likened the former President to a viper, which though looks beautiful outwardly but could be a deadly baggage to carry.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Dauda Kolawole, the party urged Ladoja to be cautious of his association with the former President.

According to the party, Obasanjo’s visit to Ladoja was an ill-wind that could only lead to disaster for the former governor, if he abandons a party he helped to build and join a party whose runners were traditional vipers, scorpions and those who have run Nigeria aground for decades.

The ACN drew Ladoja’s attention to the fact that Obasanjo, who now appears as a worthy bride, supervised and choreographed his illegal impeachment as governor.

The former President also “supplanted him (Ladoja) with his deputy, whom the ACN said was “a total antithesis of and indeed destroyed all that Ladoja stands for in politics”.

ACN said: “The intention of Obasanjo in bringing Ladoja back to the PDP, we hope Ladoja knows, is not because he likes the former governor. Obasanjo knows that with his highly discredited name, he can never win a single election in the Southwest. He is aware that the regime he foisted on Oyo State after Ladoja can only be likened to that of armed robbers’ invasion. Even though he was a recipient of some of the heists, deep within him, he is aware of the quality of that government. He only needs Ladoja’s name and clout to gain legitimacy and, immediately this is achieved, he will bare his age-long fang.”.

While warning Ladoja to remember the Jamaican reggae star, Bob Marley’s admonition that it is better to live in a house of peace with you at the top than to live in a house full of confusion, the ACN admonished Ladoja to sleep and hear what his pillow tells him at night.

“It is only Ladoja’s pillows that can tell him the truth. He should go to sleep and listen to his pillows. Those who came to him are his enemies. Ladoja should reflect on that day when, as a sitting governor, Obasanjo barred him from entering Papa Emmanuel Alayande’s house. He should reflect on the long history of treachery and Machiavellian disposition of Obasanjo. Obasanjo is inherently evil and does not have a forgiving spirit. Ladoja should reflect on the path that the former President has trod, which is full of the skeletons of the people he used and stabbed at a time when they relied on him. He should reflect on an anthropologist’s submission on Obasanjo that the former President can only be likened to a typical African witch who, the more good you do to him, the more evil it breeds from him,” the party said.  

ACN urged the Accord Party leader to cooperate with the Oyo State Government in rebuilding the state.

It added that being a very deep thinker, Ladoja would know that any association or promise from Obasanjo can only be temporary and selfish because abandoning his supporters for the PDP was akin to committing political suicide. 

CRIME FILE

Civil Defence Arrests Man with Human Skulls

Men and officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kwara State Command Tuesday arrested a middle-aged  man, Ibrahim Abubakar  for allegedly  in possession of human skulls in Omu-Aran in Irepodun local government council of the state.

Also, items arrested with the man claimed to be herbalist were two locally made rifles and charms.

Parading the suspect in Ilorin, the state capital, the state commandant of the NSCDC, Mr. Al-Hassan  Akor, said the suspect, was arrested with human skulls and  some human parts, part of which allegedly belonged to a kidnapped commercial motorcycle  rider in the town, Mr. John Olalekan.

He stated that the arrest was based on intelligence and surveillance by the corps when they commenced  searching of the person that was allegedly behind the act that later resulted to  the arrest of Abubakar. Akor said Abubakar, who claimed to be a herbalist and cattle rearer, is a Fulani of Yoruba stock from Ilorin living in Omu Aran confessed the act during interrogation by the men of the corps.

The NSCDC commandant said further investigation led to the arrest of the herbalist in his house around 8.00a.m on Monday,  April 2, 2012, where human parts already cut into pieces and roasted were found in his custody.

Akor, who said the suspect initially tried to deny involvement in the crime, added that the suspect told the officers of the corps that the human parts were those of a monkey brought to him by one of the friends of his friend.

He however, said that an examination conducted on the items at Omu Aran General Hospital certified that they are human parts, and therefore, enjoined members of the public to always volunteer useful information to security agencies, adding that security situation in the country is a challenge to everyone. 

Gunmen kill bank manager in Rivers

A manager with Afribank Plc. in Port Harcourt, Mr. Honesty Uchendu has been shot dead by gunmen on the outskirts of the Rivers State capital. He was said to have been killed late Monday night while on his way home.

His killers took nothing from his car, thereby throwing up suspicion of assassination. Already, homicide detectives of the State Police Command have stepped up manhunt for his killers.

Checks by Daily Sun revealed that the bank official was driving home at about 10.30pm, when a vehicle, in an attempt to overtake him, forced his car into the gutter. Shortly after, the gunmen emerged from the other car and shot him several times before speeding off. It was gathered that the man died before he could be rushed to the hospital.

When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr. Benjamin Ugwuegbulam, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), confirmed the incident.
He told Daily Sun that the gunmen “used their vehicle to force his (victim) car into a gutter and shot him.” The police spokesman further revealed that the killers took nothing from their victim. “We have checked the car and they didn’t remove anything,” Mr. Ugwuegbulam said and assured that “the case is under investigation.”

SPORTS

UEFA League: Barca, Bayern Reach Semis

Lionel Messi was Barcelona's hero yet again as his brace of first-half penalties sealed a Champions League quarter-final win over AC Milan, while Bayern Munich also progressed courtesy of a routine victory over Marseille.

Messi, 24, moved into third on the list of all-time goalscorers in the competition as Barca set up a last-four place against Benfica or Chelsea, reports the BBC.

Milan were briefly level when midfielder Antonio Nocerino steered in Zlatan Ibrahimovic's pass.

But they had no answer after the break with Andres Iniesta adding a third.

And in Germany, Bayern Munich eased into the semi-finals of the Champions League as they brushed Marseille aside.

The German side quickly added to their 2-0 first leg lead when Franck Ribery crossed for Ivica Olic to slot in at the near post.

Toni Kroos powered a shot against the Marseille post before David Alaba crossed for Olic to again sidefoot in.

Bayern were hardly troubled in a routine win and will meet Real Madrid or Apoel Nicosia in the last four.

The facts, figures and form had suggested a Bayern victory and so it proved as the German side booked a second Champions League semi-final berth in three seasons and remained on course for the final, which is to be played at their home ground, the Allianz Arena, on 19 May.

Bayern, four-time winners of Europe's top prize, had won 12 of their last 13 games at home in the Champions League, while Marseille had lost eight of their last nine games going into the tie.

If the French side were to mount an unlikely comeback, it was imperative they took any chances that came their way as manager Didier Deschamps wanted controlled aggression from his side rather than a gung-ho approach.

But, after Loic Remy created an early opening for himself by making space for a shot which he powered straight into the arms of keeper Manuel Neuer, Marseille wasted a gilt-edged chance.

Jeremy Morel had a clear sight of goal from 10 yards only to have his poor sidefooted effort blocked by Neuer's legs.

The miss proved pivotal as Bayern immediately went up the other end and punished the French side as ex-Marseille winger Ribery surged into the visitors's box before sliding over a cross for Olic to ease in.

Marseille had been big underdogs to start with and their bark quickly lost its bite as it became a case of how many Bayern, who had left top scorer Mario Gomez and winger Arjen Robben on the bench, would score.

Keeper Steve Mandanda and the woodwork were the main barriers keeping Bayern at bay as the Marseille stopper fended away a venomous Anatoliy Tymoshchuk volley and Kroos thundered a shot against the post.

Ribery looked in the mood against his former club and he broke away to release Alaba, who crossed for Olic to slot in his second.

UEFA League: Di Matteo Wary of Benfica Threat

Chelsea manager, Roberto Di Matteo has warned his side against complacency when they face Benfica in a Champions League quarter-final second leg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Chelsea are 1-0 up following their victory in Portugal last week and will be strongly fancied to reach their sixth semi-final in nine years, reports AFP.

But Di Matteo has urged his team not to get ahead of themselves as they contemplate a possible semi-final with reigning champions Barcelona.

"It is a danger," said the Italian. "This is half-time and we're leading 1-0. But a 1-0 lead is basically nothing.

"Our players are aware of this, and we'll have to go into this game with the right attitude.

"Nothing has been done yet. We're aware of that. We need to go and qualify for the next round."

Di Matteo added: "This tie is far from over. They (Benfica) have scored in every away game of their Champions League season, so it's a difficult task tomorrow night."

Benfica boss Jorge Jesus insisted Chelsea were "lucky" to be ahead in the tie, saying: "Chelsea obviously have the upper hand, but we are going to approach this game in the same manner as we would have if we had won the first game.

"Chelsea had quite a lot of luck in the first match, considering we dominated the match.

"We have the quality to win this game, obviously, and I'm sure that—this time round—we can turn the tables on Chelsea and do the same as they did in Lisbon."

Jesus added: "They (Chelsea) came out to play for a 0-0 draw and ended up getting a win."

Chelsea are in the midst of a tough schedule of matches, and should they reach the semi-finals will end up playing 11 times in just 40 days.

They had been hoping to persuade the Football Association to bring forward the kick-off time of their FA Cup semi-final against London rivals Tottenham at Wembley on April 15 from 6pm local time (1700GMT) in a bid to give them more time to prepare for a possible Champions League semi-final.

But the FA are unlikely to change the kick-off time and Di Matteo, brought in as interim boss after Andre Villas-Boas was sacked, tried to put a positive slant on Chelsea's packed programme.

"I think there are a lot of clubs that would like to have so many games, to be involved in all these competitions.

"It's very demanding for the players, but we're in a good place. All the players are available, so that will help us."

He added: "It might become an issue at some point. I don't know.

"Fortunately, we have a fully fit squad, which will help us in the run-in, to be able to play every player we have and give everybody a chance."

Didier Drogba (foot), David Luiz (ankle), and Raul Meireles (knee) all trained Tuesday and are expected to be available for Wednesday's match.

APOEL needs miracle against Madrid

REAL Madrid should reach its second straight Champions League semifinals under Coach Jose Mourinho barring a catastrophic collapse against Cypriot team APOEL Nicosia today.

Madrid cruised to a 3-0 win away to open the quarterfinal and the Spanish powerhouse has won 26 of 27 series in which it has opened away with a triumph, including all three after taking the first match by such a score.

APOEL, meanwhile, has never overcome such a deficit in 10 previous ties.

The Spanish league leader’s potent attack has been on display in its last three straight wins, with Cristiano Ronaldo taking his season tally to 47. goals, including a league-leading 37 after a pair in Saturday’s 5-1 rout at Osasuna.

Karim Benzema is enjoying his best season since joining Madrid in 2009, the France striker scoring 27 in all competitions this season including seven in Europe. Madrid’s strikers have combined for 98 goals overall this season when factoring in Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain’s 24, putting the club on course to smashing its own 22-year-old record of most goals scored in a league.

The attack has also been boosted by the return of Argentina forward, Angel di Maria, who went on as a late substitute at Osasuna for only his second appearance of 2012.

Mourinho could juggle his lineup once again with an important match against Valencia looming on Saturday, as Esteban Granero, Raul Albiol, Raphael Varane and Nuri Sahin all showed they could fill in aptly in the past two games when regulars like Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira, Lassana Diarra and Pepe were missing. Kaka could also return after being rested against Osasuna.

“I try to find the best combinations for the team,” said Mourinho, who may not risk Di Maria against the Cypriot side, however. “In Cyprus, for example, Alonso didn’t play so I went with Sahin.  Against Osasuna, despite Nuri’s great game, I preferred Granero.”

APOEL is the first Cypriot team to go this far in the competition and is coming off a 2-1 win over AC Omonia in its domestic league.

“It was an important victory for us at a crucial juncture in the championship when it’s nearing the end,” APOEL coach Ivan Jovanovic said. “It was a difficult week and a difficult match that very much depended on our will, disposition and concentration.”

Jovanovic is without striker Ivan Trickovski and defender Marcelo Oliveira, while defender Savvas Poursaitides will travel to the Spanish capital.

The visitors plan to dig in to keep Madrid’s attack from running rampant.

“We’re not going to Madrid for a holiday. The players will try their best to achieve the best possible result,” APOEL President Phivos Erotokritou said. “No one believed it then (that APOEL would reach the quarterfinals). But we got this far justly, no one handed it to us. We earned it.”