happy new year nairalanders. may you receive more blessing this year, and favour from God.

Constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to make public his assets.
Sagay, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said this when our correspondent asked him to respond to the controversies surrounding the President’s net worth.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, had threatened to sue a foreign website,R ichestLifestyle.com, which adjudged Jonathan as the sixth richest African President if it did not retract the news. Abati further stated that the report insinuated that Jonathan had corruptly enriched himself.
In a media chat with journalists on NTA in 2012, Jonathan, when asked why he had not declared his assets, said, “I don’t give a damn. That is a matter of principle and I am not going to declare. It is not the President declaring his asset that will end Boko Haram.”
However, Sagay told our correspondent on Thursday that Jonathan erred by not declaring his asset when he became President.
He said, “I think the precedence that late President Umaru Yar’adua established which was followed by Jonathan was very good and I think it was a mistake on the part of President Jonathan when he assumed power in his own right, to refuse to declare his assets. He must lead by example.
“Nigeria is a country that is ridden with corruption. So if the President of the country says ‘these are my assets and when I leave office, I will declare again and you will see that I have lived a straightforward life,’ that would have been very encouraging.
“It will be very good for him to declare, it will set a standard that the leadership of the country will follow and will create a high level of transparency. I hope he does so.”
http://www.punchng.com/politics/declare-your-assets-sagay-advises-jonathan/

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has listed challenges facing the commission ahead of the 2015 general elections.
Jega, who listed the challenges in an interactive forum with the media in Abuja on Wednesday, also said that the recent governorship election in Ekiti State was not militarised.
Listing the challenges ahead of 2015 elections, he said that they included, “Insecurity, funding, attitudes of political class, apathetic and inactive citizenry, delay in amendment to the legal framework, completion of the review of electoral constituencies and polling units and prosecution of election offenders.”
He, however, said that the commission had carried out some reforms, which had led to the success of the Ekiti governorship election.
“These challenges are not insurmountable and we will spare no effort to ensure that aspirations of Nigerians for free, fair, credible and peaceful elections are actualised in 2015,” Jega said.
He stated that INEC carried out the reforms after it reviewed the 2011 elections.
According to him, the review of 2011 elections shows that credible polls require adequate preparations, openness and partnership of all stakeholders.
Jega said some of the reforms carried out by the commission were implemented during the Ekiti State governorship election.
He said that part of the reforms was biometric voter registration, which had enhanced the integrity of voter register.
The chairman stated, “We have rolled out in three phases, a programme of continuous voter registration nationwide. The CVR offers fresh opportunity to get more citizens into the electronic register ahead of the 2015 general elections.
“Unlike the November 2013 Anambra State governorship election, our experience in the more recent Ekiti State election showed that we are making progress in enhancing the integrity of the register of voters.”
He disclosed that the commission had started issuing permanent voter cards to all duly registered voters.
Jega said that the PVCs, which were used during the Ekiti State governorship election, would be “swiped with card readers in 2015 elections to ensure 100 per cent verification and authentication of voters.”
The chairman added that the commission had ensured training and retraining of its staff as part of preparations for 2015 elections.
Another reform, Jega said, was the improved feature of sensitive electoral materials,
These, he said, included serial numbering and colour-coding of ballot papers and result sheets as well as security coding of ballot boxes.
The chairman added that electoral procedures, including pasting of result at polling units and collation centre, were more open during the Ekiti poll.
Defending the deployment of security agents during the poll, he said, “There is no way the Ekiti State governorship election can be defined as being militarised.”
When asked if he would want a similar situation in Osun State, he said, “I want security agencies to do everything possible to secure the electoral process. I want them in particular to protect our personnel and materials.”
He added that security agencies should ensure that there was peace so that people would come out and vote.
Jega also faulted a report that INEC would not conduct 2015 elections in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states because of the state of emergency the Federal Government had declared in the states.
http://www.punchng.com/news/insecurity-funding-threaten-2015-elections-says-jega/

Unity Bank Plc on Wednesday announced the disengagement of over 170 workers, stating that the move was part of efforts aimed at repositioning it for effective service delivery.
The bank, in a statement issued in Abuja, also stated that it had recruited over 300 new members of staff, mostly at the entry level.
The exercise, it explained, was in a bid to “right size” its workforce and position it for sustainable quality banking services across the entire branch network.
The statement read in part, “Unity Bank Plc has announced the disengagement of over 170 members of staff and has also recruited over 300 new ones, mostly at entry level and experienced hires. The exercise is in a bid to right size its workforce and position the bank for sustainable quality banking services across its entire branch network.
“The development of the bank’s human resource is one of the key areas identified as part of the objectives that the bank’s just concluded capital raising exercise would address.”
The statement also quoted the Executive Director, Secretariat and Services, Unity Bank, Mrs. Aisha Abraham, to have said, “Our people are our greatest assets; we consistently strive for training and rejuvenation of our workforce, constantly introducing a steady mix of promising young talents and experienced professionals.
“Our goal is to be able to offer quality services to our customers through a team of dedicated and resourceful members of staff at all times.”
The quest to achieve this, she stated, led the bank to carry out structural and personnel realignments with decision making and service delivery processes running along the strategic business units.
This, Abraham stated, would lead to specialisation, better understanding of the market and responsibility accounting.
http://www.punchng.com/business/business-economy/unity-bank-sacks-170-workers/

A former Minister of Education and a champion of the #BringBackOurGirls Campaign, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has narrated her ordeals in the hands of security operatives at the Abuja International Airport on Monday.
Ezekwesili was delayed for over 40 minutes by men of the Department of State Security, who harassed her based on “orders from above.”
Narrating her ordeals to members of the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans, to whom she is a trustee on Tuesday, Ezekwesili gave a blow by blow account of her ordeals in the hands of DSS.
This was contained in a statement by the CANAN Executive Director, Pastor Laolu Akande, after the former minister visited the group in London.
Akande quoted Ezekwesili as saying that, “I arrived at the airport yesterday (on Monday) to travel to London on British Airline. First, after the luggage screening section, I moved to the Customs people, sitting right next to it and do a more thorough bag search. Rather than they handling my luggage as is the practice, there were three SSS men, who rudely took over before they could do so, and ordered me to open my bag.
“I was travelling light, with just my hand luggage leather roll on and my computer bag. I placed the bag for them (to see) and one was already furiously frisking through it when the Customs advised that a woman be allowed to do it. She was allowed and she did it.
“She finished, zipped up the luggage and they said I could proceed. But I asked that the computer bag be also searched, and they did.
“I went on to do my checking and got my boarding pass, and was swiftly done. I arrived the Departure Immigration Desk at about 7.15am and presented my passport and forms. The Immigration staff did his processing and handed to the SSS official. Usually, their entire process lasts no more than five to 10 minutes on a passport. As a frequent traveller through our Lagos and Abuja airports, I speak based on experience and evidence. Even on the same day, the process for other travellers that I witnessed did not last more than five minutes. But on Monday, it became five, 10, 15 and 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 minutes for the Departure Desk processing for me, with no explanation given except “We act under instruction.”
Ezekwesili said after 10 minutes of waiting, she asked the officer why her passport was not handed over to her.
“He responded, “I am not doing this personally madam. I am simply acting based on instruction, and you of all persons should understand that.”
“When it was 20 minutes into the process, and with BA announcing the final boarding call for the 8am flight, the officer walked out of the cubicle, heading off. I followed him, asking where he was going without giving back my passport nor an explanation on why it was being withheld. His nonchalant response was “just wait. I am trying to help you”.
“It became evident that they withheld the passport to detain me at their departure desk in order to miss the flight. That was when I tweeted @ 7.37am “@obyezeks: Is this a democracy? I am being detained by the SSS @ Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. The SSS has refused to give my passport to me.” At 7.41am “@obyezeks: On my way to London this morning for my @BBCHARDtalk appearance billed for tomorrow and the SSS has detained me by withholding my passport.”
“At that point, I brought out my phone to record him even as I asked for the passport. He got angry and charged at me that he would seize my phone. Then his colleague screamed at him a third time to handover the passport. He did,” she said.
http://www.punchng.com/news/airport-harassment-my-story-ezekwesili/

AWKA—FOUR persons from Aguleri, Anambra East local government area were killed on Monday, while seven others were seriously injured in a renewed clash between the people of Aguleri and Echeno/Odeke in Ibaji local government area of Kogi State.
The two border communities have been laying claims to the oil deposits on the Omambala River basin.
The clashes became more pronounced shortly after the commissioning of Orient Petroleum Refinery at Aguleri Otu in Anambra State by President Goodluck Jonathan last year.
Casualty figures on the Kogi side could not be ascertained at press time, although it was gathered that the people of Aguleri were taken unawares by the Kogi fighters.
Vanguard gathered that the latest clash, which occurred at about 3.00pm on Monday, involved the use of sophisticated weapons, even in the presence of security operatives guarding the buffer zone created by the National Boundary Commission in the area to forestall clashes between the warring communities.
It was also gathered that one of the mobile policemen guarding the buffer zone had allegedly informed Kogi people that Aguleri people were at the disputed area, adding that shortly after, Kogi people came in large numbers, armed with dangerous weapons, including automatic rifles usually handled by security operatives.
Monday’s attack came on the heels of a peace committee meeting held between the communities last week at Idah in Kogi State, where the people of Aguleri expressed surprise yesterday that some people at Odeke were not prepared to see peace return to the area.
Anambra Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, confirmed the incident, but declined to give the casualty figures.
According to him, the matter is being investigated at the highest level of security and will be premature for him to make statement on the clash.
Following the frequent clashes in the area, the National Boundary Commission had met with the deputy governors of the two states on many occasions for the purpose of finding a lasting solution to the border problem.
At the last meeting chaired by the Director General of the National Boundary Commission, Dr. M.B. Ahmad, with the deputy governors of the two states and a representative of the surveyor general of the federation in attendance, it was noted that the Anambra/Kogi interstate boundary was the boundary of the former Northern and Eastern regions described in the legal notice No 126 of 1954.
However, the people of Kogi were said to be insisting that despite the demarcated boundary between the old Kabba and old Onitsha provinces, the oil deposits in Omambala River belong to them.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/4-killed-7-injured-renewed-clash-oil-anambrakogi-border/

The House of Representatives said on Wednesday that it would not place a ban on smoking of tobacco in the country by law, but was seeking to regulate its production, packaging and mode of promotion.
The clarification came from the Joint House Committee on Health/Justice as it opened a public hearing on 11 health-related bills, including the tobacco smoking bill in Abuja.
The Lead Chairman of the committee and Peoples Democratic Party lawmaker from Delta State, Mr. Ndudi Elumelu, told stakeholders at the session that the clarification became necessary because of speculation making the rounds that the House was about to place a total ban on tobacco smoking.
Elumelu explained, “The major aim of this bill is to provide a legal framework for the control of the production, manufacture, sale, labeling, advertising, promotion, sponsorship, use of tobacco products and exposure to tobacco smoke in order to promote the health of the individual.”
The title of the bill is, “Bill for an Act to Enact the Tobacco Smoking (Control) Bill to among other things Provide for the Regulation of the Production, Importation, Advertising, Promotion, Sponsorship, Distribution, Sale and Designation of Areas where Tobacco Products may and may not be smoked and for Matters Connected therewith, 2013.”
http://www.punchng.com/news/we-wont-ban-tobacco-smoking-say-reps/

LAGOS—Academic Staff Union of University, ASUU, Lagos State University, LASU, branch, has suspended its six-week-old strike that crippled academic activities in the institution for months.
ASUU in a letter by its chairman, Dr. Kunle Idris said the decision was reached after deliberation on the Governing Council’s letter to the lecturers (ASUU members), the congress agreed to suspend the strike in the interest of all.
According to the letter, “The Congress of ASUU LASU met today Monday, July 14, 2014 and reviewed the strike action it embarked upon on May 20, 2014. After exhaustive deliberation on the Governing Council’s letter ref: LASU/PRO-CHAN/ASUU/31 of July 11, 2014, the Congress took some decisions.
”The Congress suspended the strike action but resolved that discussions on the outstanding issues identified by members should be continued by the executive members. “Congress believes that the letters and spirit of the Resolutions reached with the University Administration and the University Appointments and Promotions (Academic) Committee; and of the Governing Council shall hold.
”This letter, therefore, serves to notify the Governing Council and the University Administration that the Academic Staff of LASU has effective from 1500 hours, Monday, July 14, 2014 resumed the teaching aspect of their duties.”
Before the suspension of the strike, ASUU had met with the management of the school on July 2nd, 2014, in which certain resolutions were reached between both parties.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/lasu-teachers-call-six-week-old-strike/

There are strong indications that the seven-man panel set up to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against the Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako and his deputy, Mr. Bala Ngilari, has indicted the governor but absolved the deputy.
It was learnt in Abuja on Sunday, that the panel set up by the immediate past acting Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Justice Ambrose Mammadi, to investigate allegations levelled against the duo arrived at the decision after reviewing exhibits tendered by members of the State House of Assembly who are the complainants.
The governor and his deputy neither attended the three hearings nor did they send a representative.
Perhaps in an attempt to preempt the outcome of the committee’s report, the governor had approached the court to file an appeal.
A source privy to this confided in our correspondent that “His Excellency knew from the word go that the committee working in tandem with the House, have a predetermined outcome which is to indict the governor to pave the way for his impeachment.
“He has gone to court to challenge the constitution of the panel itself. If you recall, the outgone Acting Chief Judge gave a ruling on a Wednesday stopping the House from going ahead with their plot.
“On Thursday of the same week, the House met and passed a resolution, by Friday, the same judge constituted the panel, this is definitely more than meets the eye.
“We are petitioning the National Judicial Council over the conduct of the judge while we pursue the matter against the panel and the House in court, we cannot allow this impunity to continue.”
It was not clear whether the scheduled meeting between Nyako and some of the legislators held but an informed source said the governor was being cautiously optimistic that a meeting could save the day.
Repeated calls to the mobile telephone number of the Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor, Ahmad Sajoh, indicated that the phone was switched off.
It may be recalled that the former Acting Chief Judge of the State, Justice Ambrose Mammadi, constituted the seven member panel on July 8, 2014 to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against Nyako and his deputy, Bala Ngilari
http://www.punchng.com/news/impeachment-panel-indicts-nyako-absolves-deputy/

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria has awarded N76.6m to a banker, Mr Patrick Modilim, for alleged wrongful termination of his employment.
Justice Benedict Kanyip held in his judgment that the defendant “constructively and wrongly” terminated the claimant’s employment.
He ruled, “It is hereby ordered that the defendant shall pay to the claimant the sum of N75,535,128.00 only being the total sum the claimant ought to have been paid as his emolument for 20 months had the defendant reviewed his level to General Manager on confirmation.
“It is hereby ordered that the defendant shall pay to the claimant the sum of N1,120,221.60 only as damages for the wrongful termination of the claimant’s contract of employment in terms of his constructive dismissal by the defendant.”
The judge also held that the money must be paid within 30 days of the judgment, otherwise it would attract interest at the rate of 10 per cent per annum until liquidated.
Modilim, a Deputy General Manager at Zenith Bank Plc, when United Bank for Africa, offered him employment on December 3, 2007, said it was agreed he would be made a General Manager after six months, subject to his meeting of set targets.
According to him, he met the set conditions following which UBA confirmed his employment on August 5, 2008.
He however added that the bank continued to pay him the salary of a Deputy General Manager for the 20 months he worked for them, and did not provide him with two official cars which he was entitled to as a General Manager.
Following this, Modilim said he was forced to resign on March 31, 2010, while UBA accepted his resignation via a letter dated March 30, 2010, a day before he resigned.
The plaintiff said UBA’s acceptance letter shows that his employment was constructively terminated.
But the bank had said it never promised to confirm the claimant’s employment as a General Manager.
It said it confirmed Modilim’s appointment as Deputy General Manager after the probationary period in line with his terms of employment.
The bank also denied that Modilim was entitled to two vehicles with cash value of N16.4m as he was never a General Manager in UBA.
UBA added that the claimant resigned his appointment on his own, never worked as a General Manager, and therefore, cannot be paid the salary of a General Manager.
But Justice Kanyip declared that the defendant’s failure to review the claimant’s level to General Manager on confirmation was a breach of his contract of employment contained in the offer letter and letter of commitment, both dated November 23, 2007.
In one of the letters, UBA stated: “Subject to achieving your set targets, the bank is willing to review your level to General Manager on confirmation.”
UBA had argued that the claimant did not prove that he met the targets, and that its expression of willingness to review his office was futuristic and “does not constitute a contract of employment.”
But Justice Kanyip disagreed, saying, “This commitment remains a binding terms of the contract of employment between the claimant and the defendant.”
http://www.punchng.com/feature/the-law-you/court-awards-n76m-to-banker-for-wrongful-sacking/

The human rights abuse record and uncooperative attitude of the Federal Government and its military authorities have been identified as factors hindering United States of America offering Nigeria effective security assistance.
Speaking on Thursday before the US House Foreign Affairs Sub-committee on Africa’s hearing entitled, ‘Human Rights Vetting: Nigeria and Beyond’, the Specialist at African Affairs Congressional Research Service, Lauren Blanchard, said the Nigerian government and its military had not been yielding to America’s suggestions.
The Congress heard that the main impediment to America’s efforts to support Nigeria’s broader response to Boko Haram is “gross violations committed by the Nigerian forces, the Nigerian government’s resistance to adopting a more comprehensive approach to Boko Haram, and the continued lack of political will” within the government to investigate allegations of human rights abuses and hold perpetrators accountable.
Blanchard told the Congress, “The Nigerian government also has appeared reticent in some cases to allow its security forces to participate in US training programmes. The State Department indicates that there are currently 187 Nigerian military units and 173 police units that have been vetted and cleared to receive U.S. assistance and training.
“It is unclear whether the Nigerian government has given approval for such training to occur. A 2013 State Department audit report noted that, in addition to human rights concerns, Nigeria’s late submission of names of candidates for assistance was a ‘recurring problem’ for the US embassy.
“Multiple systemic factors further constrain the effectiveness of the Nigerian security force’s response to Boko Haram, notably security sector corruption and mismanagement, and some of these factors impede US support even for units that have been cleared for assistance”.
Among the cleared units, she revealed, were Nigeria’s Speed Boat Service commando and the 101st Infantry Battalion, which the ACRS specialist said were best positioned to conduct hostage rescue operations, but “both reportedly require significant additional training”.
She added that the security relationship between Nigeria and the US was hampered by the lack of cooperation and systemic failure in Nigeria.
“The security relationship also has been hampered at times by a lack of cooperation from Nigerian officials and by systemic problems in the Nigerian military. Political and human rights concerns have been a prominent factor in shaping US-Nigeria relations for decades.
“State Department human rights reports have continued to highlight serious human rights violations by the Nigerian security forces every year. These violations include politically motivated and extrajudicial killings, excessive use of force, and torture,” Blanchard said at the hearing.
Despite about N1trn ($5.8b) security budget, the ACRS specialist said the “Nigerian troops are not adequately resourced or equipped” to counter Boko Haram insurgency. During the hearing, the American disclosed that the troops were “slow to adapt with new strategies, new doctrines and new tactics,” and described Nigeria as “an extremely challenging partner to work with.”
http://www.punchng.com/news/nigerian-military-uncooperative-slow-to-learn-us-hearing/

“During the four-day trial, the government presented evidence that between on or about November 8, 2011, through on or about January 11, 2012, Okafor sold various quantities of marijuana and heroin multiple times to a confidential informant at the defendant’s convenience store, the Flying Eagle, in Benson, North Carolina. Okafor possessed a gun in his pocket during each of these transactions. Additionally, the defendant used the Flying Eagle to cut and package the drugs to sell. The store was within 1000 feet of Benson Middle School. Okafor faces a minimum of 265 years and a maximum of 560 years imprisonment at sentencing.
“This case was part of the Project Safe Neighbourhoods (PSN) initiative which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.
“Investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Ethan A. Ontjes prosecuted the case.”
Nine months after he was convicted, Okafor was sentenced to 263 years of prison on April 10.
“U.S. District Judge Malcolm J. Howard handed down 53-year-old Felix A. Okafor’s 3,157-month sentence in a Greenville federal courtroom. A jury convicted Okafor of selling drugs during a four-day trial last July.
Jurors found Okafor guilty of selling heroin and marijuana to a confidential informant at his Benson convenience store, the Flying Eagle, which is within 1,000 feet of Benson Middle School. Prosecutors said Okafor used his store to cut and package the drugs.
Okafor was convicted of 25 drug and gun charges, including 11 counts of possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, six counts of distribution of heroin and four counts of distribution of marijuana.
Prosecutors said Okafor had a gun in his pocket each time he sold drugs to the informant.”
He was immediately moved to the United States Penitentiary in West Virginia. He came to the United States as a 20-year-old determined young man in search of best life’s fulfilment for his family. Thirty three years later, at 53 years, he was sentenced to 263 years in prison.
http://www.punchng.com/feature/jebose-boulevard/felix-okafor-nigerian-jailed-263-years-in-the-us-for-drugs/

The United States Penitentiary in Hazelton, West Virginia is a “high security Penitentiary with a secure female facility and an adjacent minimum security satellite camp, a division of the United States Department of Justice.”
This sprawling prison yard was built in 2004. It is located in Bruceton Mills. It has notorious and famous inmates such as Ali Abdi Mohammed, the Somalian pirate that hijacked civilian yacht Quest and hostages in 2010. He is serving a life sentence.
Inside this prison with a population of 2,283 inmates, is inmate number 56118056. He is Nigerian, Felix Okafor. He was sentenced on April 10, to 263 years in federal prison for drugs and weapons distribution, sales and money laundering.
Felix, 53, migrated to the United States in 1981. He was part of the mass exodus of young Nigerians to foreign nations in the early 80s. Those were the days of uneasy living which drove young Nigerians to seek survival in faraway lands such as United States, Europe, the then USSR, the Scandinavian and Asia, specifically, India. Okafor was one of the young Nigerians privileged to go West in search of exciting challenges. In 1981, he relocated to Raleigh North Carolina and settled into a slow paced southern life style. Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina; a midsised metropolitan city that struggles with diversity. It is home to the Research Triangle Park, a sub research layout that was developed in the mid sixties for world’s biggest research companies in computer science, technology and medicine: RTP, as it is fondly called, is home to the headquarters of Glaxo SmithKline, IBM, CISCO Systems, Ericson, BASF, etc.
This metropolis is also surrounded by America’s best colleges and institutions. One of the colleges it is privileged to host is Shaw University, the first Black College in Southern United States, founded in 1865. Okafor got admitted into this university in the early eighties, majoring in business administration.
After his college education, Okafor created small businesses through his single life passages: the small businesses included Laundromat, vending machines for snacks and sodas. By mid 90s, Okafor married and moved from the city of Raleigh to country town of Zebulon. He also opened a used car sales shop, shuttling between his businesses and family.
Mid millennium, Okafor diversified his business: he purchased a convenience store in another small town, Benson, located along one of the busiest major network road links of United States: route I-95 South. From his new location, Okafor provided neighbours with convenience of daily groceries shopping in his grocery store, Flying Eagles Groceries.
An anonymous resident of the neighbourhood described the store and its owner as ‘always selling us expired groceries and food stuff. He had expired candy bars on the candy racks and that place seemed unorganised and dirty. The aisles were always empty, just few items to pick from. There were candy bars that had expired since 2007. That man was fronting with his store. We suspected he was cooking something else and selling it. He got caught at last.”
The daily human traffic activities of the store attracted neighbourhood curiosity. Strange people came with expensive cars parked outside. These activities inside a store filled with expired candy bars and lousy inventories, attracted strangers to the community at odd hours. Residents became concerned about the safety of their properties, lives and families with the influx of strange people to a small store. Soon, the spectacle attracted federal, state and local authorities who began undercover operations and purchases of drugs from Okafor’s store. He was under surveillance for 10 months and federal undercover operations did drug and weapons transactions directly with Okafor. On Wednesday, January 11, 2011, drug enforcement agents raided his store and arrested him. Narcotic officers conducted 10 ‘undercover drug buys’ of heroin and prescription pills 10 months before the raid. He faced a maximum of 560 years.
He was tried for four days before a jury convicted him on July 12, 2013 of all 53 count charges.
The department of justice wrote thus on the conviction, “United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that on July 12, 2013, FELIX A. OKAFOR, 52, of Wendell, North Carolina, was convicted by a federal jury of 25 drug and firearms offences including conspiracy to distribute 100 grams of heroin and 100 kilograms of marijuana, four counts of distribution of marijuana, six counts of distribution of heroin, distribution of drugs within 1000 feet of a school, and 11 counts of possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

TheSenate, yesterday, cleared the air on the alleged missing $49 billion oil revenue as it said there was no missing fund as alleged, but un-remitted funds which should be remitted to the Federation Account.
The Senate
The Senate, while adopting the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Finance Committee report on the alleged missing money as claimed by the former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who is now the Emir of Kano, also rejected the Federal Government’s plan to remove the subsidy on the petroleum products, saying government should embark on sensitisation of the public because of the effects it would have on the common man.
The Senate further mandated its committee on finance to follow up and receive the forensic audit reports from the Auditor General of the Federation and the PriceWaterhouseCoopers, PWC, and also study and report back to the Senate as soon as possible.
On SURE-P funds
In a 21-point recommendation, the Senate accepted the subsidy deducted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, from January 2012 July 2013 of US$5.254 billion (N813,803 billion) since it was certified by Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, and appropriated by the National Assembly.
It asked NPDC, a subsidiary of the NNPC, “to remit to the Federation Account $447.8 million being balance of royalty and petroleum profit tax.”
According to the recommendation, “NNPC should refund and remit to the Federation Account $262 million being expenses it could not satisfactorily defend in respect of Holding Strategic Stock Reserve; Pipeline Maintenance and Management Cost and Capital Expenditure.”
Other recommendations include: “The President should prepare and present to the National Assembly supplementary budget to cover the expenditure in the sum of N90.693 billion ($585 million) for PMS subsidy for 2012 and N685.910 billion ($4.430 billion) for kerosene subsidy expended without appropriation by the National Assembly in 2012 and 2013.
“The Senate should, however, note that the proportionate expenditure (January 2012 to July 2013) was N813.8 billion ($5.254 billion) for PMS, while DPK was N486.57 billion ($3.512 billion).
“It is for the National Assembly to approve or not approve such request or take any other measures it deems necessary.”
The committee said NNPC should not pay operational expenditures direct from the Federation funds without appropriation by the National Assembly.
Blasts NNPC
The panel further observed that “there was poor record keeping and nonchalant work attitude by the NNPC by not rendering returns on subsidy claims on monthly basis from January 2012 to date which contributed largely to creation of the problem in hand.”
Senate further stated, “Gross Liftings of NNPC on behalf of NPDC from January 2012 to July 2013 was US$6.815 billion. Government share of revenue to the Federation Account was US$2, 175,635,436.
“Accountant General of the Federation confirmed the payment to the Federation Account by NPDC as US$1,727,817,552. Therefore, NPDC should remit to the Federation Account the sum of US$447,817,884 being balance of Royalty and Petroleum Profit Tax, PPT, with interest.
“Gross lifting under the Third Party Financing was US$2,430,750,973 out of which share for Federation Account was US$1,588,242,004. The AGF confirmed and gave documentary evidence showing the sum of US$1,370,172,650.36 was remitted to the Federation Account. Therefore, NNPC should remit the balance of US$218,069,354.32 to the Federation Account.
“NNPC to refund and remit to the Federation Account the sum of US$262 million being expenses it could not satisfactorily defend in respect of Holding Strategic Stock Reserve; Pipeline Maintenance and Management Cost and Capital Expenditure.
“We have noticed that no proposal is made in 2014 Appropriation Bill for subsidy on Kerosene, DPK, and that for PMS also looks inadequate. Therefore, only what is appropriated should be spent by the executive.”
Mark commends c’ttee
The Senate President, Senator David Mark, who presided over the session commended the committee for presenting a courageous report based on the facts that were presented to it, stressing that the committee was forthright by paying attention to details in the course of their assignment.
Mark said: “At the inception of the 7th Senate, I did say emphatically that there is no issue in this country that we cannot discuss as respected and distinguished senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“If we have the courage to set up a committee, nothing will stop us from taking the report of that committee and nothing will be swept under the carpet.”
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/49bn-oil-fund-missing-senate/

The FIFA Emergency Committee decided to suspend the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) with immediate effect, on account of government interference.
Article 13, par. 1 and article 17, par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes oblige member associations to manage their affairs independently and with no influence from third parties.
The suspension of Nigeria from international football by FIFA would have a lot of implications on the development of the game in the country.
. No Nigerian team can compete in any international (CAF and FIFA organised) competitions
.As a result of this decision, no team from Nigeria of any sort (including clubs) can have any international sporting contact (art. 14 par. 3 of the FIFA Statutes).
. During the period of suspension, the NFF may not be represented in any regional, continental or international competitions, including at club level, or in friendly matches.
.The most immediate effect is that Nigeria will not be entitled to participate in the upcoming FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup (5-24 August 2014) should the suspension not be lifted by 15 July 2014.
. In addition, neither the NFF nor any of its members or officials may benefit from any FIFA or CAF development programmes, courses or training during the suspension period.
The decision to suspend the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) follows a letter sent by FIFA to the NFF on 4 July 2014, in which it expressed its great concern after the NFF was served with court proceedings and consequently an order preventing the president of the NFF, the NFF Executive Committee members and the NFF Congress from running the affairs of Nigerian football was granted by a High Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The said court order compelled the Nigerian Minister of Sports to appoint a senior member of the civil service to manage the NFF until the matter was heard in court, without giving any date for such a hearing. The authorities then appointed a person who decided to convene an extraordinary general assembly on 5 July 2014. This extraordinary general assembly was convened in violation of the NFF statutes.
Originally, an elective congress had been planned by the NFF to take place on 26 August 2014.
The suspension will be lifted once the court actions have been withdrawn and the properly elected NFF Executive Committee, the NFF general assembly and the NFF administration are able to work without any interference in their affairs.
BRAZIL, Costa do Sauipe : Fifa president Joseph Blatter gestures during a press conference in Costa do Sauipe, state of Bahia, Brazil on December 3, 2013. The 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil final draw will take place December 6. AFP PHOTO
As a result of this decision, no team from Nigeria of any sort (including clubs) can have any international sporting contact (art. 14 par. 3 of the FIFA Statutes). During the period of suspension, the NFF may not be represented in any regional, continental or international competitions, including at club level, or in friendly matches.
The most immediate effect is that Nigeria will not be entitled to participate in the upcoming FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup (5-24 August 2014) should the suspension not be lifted by 15 July 2014.
In addition, neither the NFF nor any of its members or officials may benefit from any FIFA or CAF development programmes, courses or training during the suspension period.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/implications-fifa-ban-nigeria/

The embattled Adamawa State Governor, Alhaji Murtala Nyako, on Wednesday, vowed not to appear before the seven-member investigative panel set up by the immediate-past Acting Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Justice Ambrose Mammadi.
Nyako spoke through his Director of Press and Public Relations, Ahmad Sajoh, via the telephone with one of our correspondents.
The governor spoke just as the panel set up to investigate allegations against him and his deputy, Mr. James Ngilari, secured a new venue for its sitting.
The panel was thrown out of its former venue, the J&J Holiday Villa by the owners who cited security concerns.
The hotel management was said to have rejected the panel on the grounds that a large presence of soldiers at the venue would scare away customers from the hotel.
The committee was also turned back at others hotels in Yola, which it contacted, after it was ejected from J & J Holiday Villa.
The panel was rebuffed at the Nigeria Labour Congress Club and Nigeria Union of Journalists Press Centre.
Members of the panel spent the better part of Tuesday, searching for alternative venues but failed to secure one after they were turned down by other organisations.
Reprieve came the way of the panel on Wednesday, after the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria agreed to allow the panel use its conference hall for its deliberations.
The decision of the union to allow the panel use its facility is also a subject of controversy as the state chairman of the union, Mr. Jeremiah Nkyekwar, told reporters he was not aware of any agreement to allow the panel the use of the facility.
The panel has, in continuation of its activities, announced Friday, July 11, 2014 as the date for its next sitting.
A notice to this effect was pasted on the gate of Government House Yola, at about 3: 45pm.
But armed riot policemen prevented journalists from approaching the gate to read the contents of the notice as of the time of filing this report.
Nyako, however, said he had no intention of honouring any invitation by the panel because “it is an illegal body which has no basis in law.”
Speaking through Sajoh, Nyako said, “They are not supposed to paste the notice. They are supposed to serve it. Besides, the panel was illegally constituted because those behind it ignored a subsisting court order.
“The composition of the committee itself is faulty indicted persons as well as card carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party are among the panelists.”
Seemingly unperturbed by happenings at home, Nyako who was in Abuja to attend the inauguration of the Steering Committee of the Safe School Initiative at the Presidential Villa, told State House correspondent’s that the situation was under control.
He told reporters that the matter had not reached a point where he would call on President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene.
When asked to confirm if he had been trying to reach out to the President for his intervention, the embattled governor simply said, “Not yet. It has not reached that crisis point.”
The governor, however, said he would not hesitate to seek Jonathan’s assistance whenever he felt the need to do so.
“We have supported him (the President) all this time; he has supported us and in situations like these, when Mr. President’s support is required, we will seek it,” he said.
When confronted with media reports that two former leaders had approached the President on his behalf, Nyako simply said, “That will be excellent!”
He expressed the belief that the lawmakers would follow due process in their activities since issues bordering on the impeachment move were already in court.
Nyako said “Well, it is in the court and the court said it was not well done. We are hoping that if they want to do it, they will do it following the normal process in whatever they want to do.”
http://www.punchng.com/news/impeachmenti-wont-appear-before-panel-nyako/

7 Júlio César (Brazil)
Researchers and sports scientists spend lots of time and money trying to figure out how best to prepare for tournaments but none of them has ever submitted a thesis recommending a year on the Loftus Road bench followed by a sojourn in the boondocks of Toronto FC. But that was César’s prelude to this World Cup and the 34-year-old has so far justified the manager’s decision to keep faith with him.
He made sharp saves from Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic to prevent Brazil from suffering a shock defeat in the opening game and made an outstanding save in normal time against Chile to keep out a shot from Charles Aránguiz. Before the shootout he told his team-mates to “hit them with confidence and I’ll stop three” and then turned away efforts from Mauricio Pinilla and Alexis Sánchez before Gonzalo Jara tried too hard to put the ball out of the goalkeeper’s reach and hit a post.

8 Thibaut Courtois (Belgium)

Playing in front of Courtois must give defenders the same sense of security that a slight time delay gives live broadcasters, who thus know they may escape punishment for any goof. Belgium did not sparkle in this tournament but nor did they ever really look in danger – except in the dying stages of the game against the USA, and in their moment of greatest need Courtois was on hand to bail them out, making a top block to thwart Clint Dempsey after a smart free-kick. And while Belgium left the tournament with a whimper, Courtois at least showed that his own defiance remained intact as he made a splendid late save to foil Lionel Messi.

9 David Ospina (Colombia)

Colombia entertained with their attacking play but on the rare occasion that their defence was infiltrated, Ospina proved a reliable guardian. His display in the second-half against Uruguay was especially impressive as he made four crucial stops to preserve his team’s lead, including one excellent intervention to deny Maxi Pereira. In the end it took a scrambled goal from Thiago Silva and an odd swirling free-kick to confound the Colombia No1.

10 Tim Krul (Holland)

Was he really a penalty-saving specialist before Louis van Gaal introduced him from the bench just seconds before the quarter-final shootout against Costa Rica? His record did not suggest so, but the unusual substitution planted the idea in the opposition’s mind and Krul’s two subsequent saves mean that now he really can be considered a specialist. A bluff that became a truth: masterful.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/brazil-2014-enyeama-among-top-10-goalkeepers/

Nigeria may have long been kicked out of the World Cup by France, but the exploits of goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama are still reigning supreme and being re-echoed at the on-going World Cup. Little wonder therefore he has been named in the Top 10 goalkeepers in the World Cup. He is rated the fourth best Goalkeeper in Brazil.

1 Manuel Neuer (Germany)
Cristiano Ronaldo got an early clue that this was not going to be his tournament when Neuer produced a superb save from a stoppage-time free-kick to prevent Portugal from salvaging even a sliver of consolation from their crushing defeat by Germany. But it is not his shot-stopping that has distinguished Neuer, it is the way he has practically redefined the role of a goalkeeper, taking the sweeper-keeper function to an extreme never before showcased with such success.
His charges out of his box prevented Algeria, in particular, from revelling in the space behind Germany’s high defensive line, compensating for Per Mertesacker’s lack of pace. In addition to the obvious effectiveness, the sight of the hulking keeper hurtling towards confrontation must have a potent mind-game value – Asamoah Gyan, for instance, fled ridiculously wide when presented with the chance to take on Neuer one-on-one. What is more, Neuer’s superb distribution makes him the first line of attack.

2 Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico)
Way to ace a job interview. Ochoa, a free agent after three outstanding seasons at Ajaccio, was unlikely to be short of offers before the tournament but his displays for Mexico may have endeared him to a new calibre of recruiter. The 28-year-old’s agility, reflexes and robust wrists enabled him to make an array of improbable saves. Brazil players wondered whether there had been divine intervention when he helped Mexico to draw against them, while it took some devilry from Arjen Robben to beat Ochoa in the end.

3 Keylor Navas (Costa Rica)
The 27-year-old came into the tournament after a wonderful season in which he set a new clean-sheet record for Levante but it has still been a major surprise to see Costa Rica advance to the quarter-finals while conceding only two goals in five matches – Uruguay, Italy, England, Greece and Holland. Behind a solid unit, Navas was a secure presence. As the pressure increased, his performances rose accordingly, with his exhibitions of shot-stopping against Greece and Holland among the highlights of the tournament.

4 Vincent Enyeama (Nigeria)
Another goalkeeper who arrived after a record-breaking season at club level. Enyeama carried on the form that made him nigh-on unbeatable for Lille last term, pulling off a series of extraordinary saves, starting in the first match against Iran, when Nigeria dominated but would have lost if the goalkeeper had not kept enough concentration to tip away a header from Reza Ghoochannejhad.
BRAZIL, Pôrto Alegre : Argentina’s forward Lionel Messi (R) and Nigeria’s goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama smile during a Group F football match between Nigeria and Argentina at the Beira-Rio Stadium in Porto Alegre during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 25, 2014. AFP PHOTO
He then kept Bosnia-Herzegovina at bay before thwarting Lionel Messi and Argentina for long periods despite conceding three. When a goalkeeper falls below imperfection, however, he can be punished severely and Enyeama’s mishandling of a cross against France enabled Paul Pogba to plunder the winning goal and ruined another otherwise immaculate performance.

5 Tim Howard (USA)
Even though he made a tournament-record number of saves against Belgium, the American’s shot-stopping was not the most admirable aspect of his performances in Brazil – and not only because most of the Belgian efforts were straight at the goalkeeper, their forwards’ odd lack of composure seemingly making them unable to spot Howard’s tendency to go low prematurely, a habit that Nani had exploited earlier. That quibble aside, Howard’s influence seemed immense as his leadership helped coax valiant resistance from defenders who might otherwise have been torn apart. He inspired his team-mates with words and deeds.

6 Raïs M’Bohli (Algeria)
The Algeria No1 did not arrive in Brazil with a big reputation. In fact the Hearts manager, Robbie Nielsen, admitted this month that he had no recollection of M’Bohli being at the Scottish club and they are one of nine sides where he had a stint before joining his current employer, CSKA Sofia, where he is not a regular starter. Like many of his team-mates, he earned new respect. His display against Germany was the crowning glory, as he repelled a fusillade with some spectacular blocks such as the reflex stop from a close-range Thomas Müller or, best of all, a diving, fingertip save to push a Philipp Lahm drive just round a post. Unforgettable.

ENUGU-Tragedy struck at Ugwuoba in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State at the weekend when an Indian hemp smoker axed his father to death for advising him to desist from taking hard drugs.
The deceased, Mr. Christopher Onu was attacked by his son, Ikenna Onu at his home in Aguabosi village in Ugwuoba community in a gruesome manner throwing the entire village into morning.
According to the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, the deceased who was a farmer, had shortly after returning from farm on July 4, 2014 called his son, Ikenna, to his room where he advised him to desist from smoking weeds believed to be indian hemp in order to avoid ruining his life.
Angered by his father’s wise counsel, Ikenna who was suspected to be under the influence of the hard drug, allegedly picked up an axe and cut his father’s head open.
The old man was said to have slumped immediately and bled to death.
The police spokesman said that the suspect was arrested and now being detained at the Criminal Investigations Department of the State Police Command in Enugu.
He said that investigations had commenced into the gruesome murder of the farmer whose corpse had been deposited at General Hospital mortuary Oji River for autopsy.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/son-axes-father-death-enugu/

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has resigned his appointment after leading the team to the second round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking after the Eagles were eliminated by France in the round of 16 match in Brasilia, Monday, the Delta State-born tactician said it was time to move on after leading his country’s national team to the Africa Nations Cup trophy last year and the ongoing World Cup in Brazil.
Nigeria’s coach Stephen Keshi gives a press conference at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba on June 15, 2014, on the eve of their Group F 2014 FIFA World Cup football match against Iran. AFP PHOTO
“I have to go back to my family and face fresh challenges,” Keshi said.
Similarly, Super Eagles Captain, Yobo Joseph said he has had enough and can go no further as national team player. “I think I should give the younger ones the opportunity to forge ahead. I have nothing new to offer.”
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/06/breaking-news-keshi-yobo-quit-super-eagles/

This will be only the second international meeting between France and Nigeria. The Super Eagles won the previous meeting 1-0 in Saint-Etienne back in June 2009.
Karim Benzema (1st R) of France celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal with his teammates during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Switzerland and France at Arena Fonte Nova on June 20, 2014 in Salvador, Brazil. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski – FIFA/FIFA
Les Blues have lost two of their last three World Cup matches against African nations (2002 v Senegal and 2010 v South Africa). They beat Togo between these two defeats, in 2006.
Nigeria have scored a goal in all but one of their previous 10 World Cup finals matches against European sides.
The Super Eagles are aiming to become just the fourth African side to make the quarter finals of a World Cup tournament (after Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010).
Nigeria have only won one of their last 11 World Cup matches.
Nigeria have lost both of their previous World Cup second round ties – 1-2 v Italy in 1994 and 1-4 v Denmark in 1998.
All of France’s goals during this World Cup have come from inside the box.
France have won all three of their previous second round ties at the World Cup (2-0 v Italy in 1986, 1-0 v Paraguay in 1998 and 3-1 v Spain in 2006).
Les Blues attempted more shots at goal (50; excl. blocked) than any other side during the 2014 World Cup group stages.
Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama kept more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper during the 2013-14 French Ligue 1 season for Lille.
On the last five occasions that France have progressed past round 1 in the World Cup, they have reached the semi-final stage (1958, 1982, 1986, 1998 and 2006).
Karim Benzema has scored nine goals in his last nine appearances for France, including three goals in his three appearances at this World Cup.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/06/france-vs-nigeria-the-facts/

An Abuja Federal High Court on Friday granted an ex-parte application filed by the People’s Democratic Party for substituted service against its five governors who defected to the All Progressives Congress.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that PDP had sued the governors, praying the court to declare their seats vacant on account of their defection on November 26, 2013.
The affected governors are Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa).
Delivering ruling, Justice Gabriel Kolawole held that the PDP had disclosed good reasons to warrant the granting of the application and granted the application accordingly.
The judge said, “I am satisfied that the plaintiff/applicant has disclosed good reasons to warrant the granting of the application.
“The plaintiff’s application is hereby granted as prayed and the applicant shall within seven days publish one insertion of the suit in THISDAY or GUARDIAN newspapers.
“The defendants would be entitled to thirty days within which to respond.”
Earlier, PDP’s counsel, Dr Alex Izinyon, who moved the application, said the application filed on June 26 was brought pursuant to Order 6 Rule 5(c) of the Federal High Court Procedure.
The one-prayer application is supported by a 12-paragraph affidavit deposed to by one Friday Izinyon from Izinyon’s chambers.
NAN also recalls that Kolawole had on June 24 adjourned the case sine die (indefinitely) for want of diligent service by the PDP.
He held that PDP failed to properly serve the governors with the court processes at the address earlier ordered by him and consequently directed the party to comply with the law in serving the governors.
The judge adjourned the case to September 22 for mention.
http://www.punchng.com/news/pdp-to-serve-defecting-govs-notice-in-newspaper/

The Kano Police command said it had discovered 13 high-calibre Improvised Explosive Devices at Sauna-Fafunga in Dakata area of Kano metropolis.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Aderenle Shinaba, displayed the devices to newsmen in Kano on Friday.
He said the explosives were discovered at about 1.30p.m. in a rickety car parked near a Friday Mosque.
“When we got the information, we quickly moved in to the place and in the course of screening the vehicle, our anti-bomb squad discovered the explosives.
“The explosives were primed to explode when the Juma’at prayer is going on and they can destroy a whole neighbourhood because they are of high calibre,” he said.
Shinaba said the police had to defuse one of them but the Anti-bomb Squad advised that they should be removed from the area.
“The cylinders discovered are of high calibre as they can ruin and destroy a whole village,” the commissioner said.
Shinaba commended the people of Kano for the timely information they gave to the police which saved the situation.
He also urged the people to continue to give security agencies useful information to enable them to carry out their duty effectively.
http://www.punchng.com/news/police-uncover-high-calibre-bombs-near-kano-mosque/

Keneking: Election don dey near... PDP Boko Haram don dey strategise.

Jonathan is seriously preparing for 2015 election, Lets just be watching...

President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the immediate release of a fresh batch of over 165 persons apprehended by security agencies in connection with the onslaught on Boko Haram terrorism in the North East States of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States.
A statement signed by Major General Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence Information said, “Over 165 persons apprehended in the course of military operations on terror in three states in the North-East are to be released from custody in compliance with Presidential directive”.
“The suspects are those earlier recommended for release by the Joint Investigation Team, (JIT) set up by the Defence Headquarters last year”.
“Of the number, 157 are from facilities in Borno, 9 from Yobe and one suspect from Adamawa”.
Olukolade recalled that other detainees, particularly women and children have benefited from similar gestures which started in May last year.
“More suspects in this category are also to benefit in the present exercise” he said.
“The suspects will be released to their respective state governments”.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/01/jonathan-orders-165-boko-haram-suspects/

Nigeria and the United Kingdom signed an agreement on Thursday on the exchange of prisoners between them.
Under the agreement, high-profile prisoners like former Governor James Ibori of Delta State, and other Nigerians in the UK prisons will be transferred to Nigeria to complete their jail terms.
The UK Minister of Justice, Mr. Jeremy Wright, signed on behalf of his country while the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, SAN, signed for Nigeria in Abuja.
Wright, who visited the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, and the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, added that the British government would give the Federal Government £1m [about N280m} for a comprehensive reform of Nigerian Prisons.
During the visit to Onwuliri, Wright told journalists that under the agreement, the consent of a prisoner was not required before his repatriation could take place.
He said, “In relation to individual prisoners, there has to be a good deal of discussion between our two countries about individual prisoners and the agreement of both countries to be secured before individual transfers.
“The compulsory nature of this prisoner transfer agreement is that the prisoners’ themselves do not have to choose where they go or not but the respective countries do still have an opportunity to discuss whether a transfer should be made.’’
In April 2012, a British court sentenced Ibori to jail for 13 years for money laundering and associated crimes.
Ibori’s wife, Nkoyo, his sister, mistress and London solicitor were also convicted of related crime.
Onwuliri, who described the pact as “historic,’’ said experts from both countries would work out modalities for its implementation.
“We have been on the prisoners agreement for a long time and we are happy that we are beginning the year on a happy note by signing this agreement,’’ theNews Agencyof Nigeria quoted her as saying.
The minister expressed delight that the agreement would improve the condition of Nigeria prisons based on earlier pacts reached before the signing.
She pledged that Nigeria would continue to improve the condition of its prisons.
Also, the Director of Consular and Immigration Services in the ministry, Mr. Abdulazeez Dankano, noted that both countries were signatories to the Scheme for the Transfer of Convicted Offenders within the Commonwealth.
Dankano stated that the scheme allowed for transfer of prisoners between Nigeria and the UK where the consent of both states and the prisoner was obtained.
He said that under the Commonwealth Scheme, only one Nigerian had been repatriated from the UK since inception.
After the agreement was signed, Wright stressed the importance of respecting the agreement by the two countries, adding that there was a need for the prisons in Nigeria to be improved considerably.
The UK minister, who led a five-man delegation to Moro said, although the prisoners were paying for the crimes they committed, conditions in their detention centres should be made humane and accommodating enough for them.
He thanked the Federal Government and Moro for making it possible for the two countries to finalise the agreement.
“We believe that the agreement today is a positive step in furthering our mutual relationship and partnership with Nigeria for prisoner exchange. Under the agreement Nigerians in UK prisons will be repatriated to Nigeria to complete their terms,”Wright said.
On his part, Moro promised to do everything within his powers to ensure that the agreement became operative before the end of the year.
He said, “I think that it is in the mutual interest of the two countries that the agreement reached should be implemented to the letter especially with the kind of traditional historical relationship that Nigeria shares with the UK; we have no reason to say one thing and do another.
“This government, anchored on transformation, is desirous of ensuring that we do things very differently from the way we were doing them in the past which have not given us results.”
He assured the visiting minister that even though Nigeria was grappling with prison congestion, it would not hamper the new agreement.
Moro commended the British government for assisting in the reform and transformation of Nigeria’s prison system, especially in the provision of necessary facilities that would make the prisoner transfer viable.
There are 521 Nigerians currently serving jail terms in the UK and only one British national in Nigerian prison .
According to officials, about 60 per cent of Nigerians in UK jails qualify for the compulsory prison transfer agreement.
http://www.punchng.com/news/ibori-others-to-complete-jail-terms-in-nigeria/

The President Goodluck Jonathan has said that he will be sending a list of new ministerial to the National Assembly upon resumption.
The President said this on Thursday while receiving a delegation of the Peoples Democratic Party from the North West Zone who paid him a solidarity visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“We have also agreed to tackle the issue of desert encroachment robustly. I’m yet to get the last briefing; I believe it is because there is no substantive Minister of Environment yet, but immediately the National Assembly resumes, they will get the list of ministers so that we will get a law that will establish a body.
“We are no longer going to play with this. We have assigned N10bn as a take off fund, this is from the ecological fund not from line budgeting.”
He also said contrary to the belief of many, he did not become the President of Nigeria merely by luck.
Jonathan who served as deputy governor of Bayelsa State, became the state governor after the state lawmakers removed his former boss, Diepreye Alamieyesegha.
He also became the President following the death for the late President Umar Yar’Adua, who he served as Vice-President. Many ascribe his unique ascension to power to luck as epitomised by his first name.
But he said, “I believe that the very first thing you use to emancipate people is education.
“I often use myself as a good example, I grew up in a peasant home. If I did not go to school, there is no way I would have been here today. What has made me to be here today is education.
“They said I am lucky, if I didn’t go to school, will luck bring me to be President of Nigeria?”
He said the only qualification politicians who claim to be progressives could flaunt was their ability to criticise him and his government. The President said they also failed to fix the nation while they were in positions to do so.
He sought for collective efforts at tackling the security challenges in the northern part of the country and developing the region’s economy.
He reiterated his position that he would not interfere in the process of the planned national dialogue.
http://www.punchng.com/news/jonathan-to-send-ministerial-list-to-nassembly/

Mr. Gaya Mark, the Aide de Camp to the Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Mr. Peter Kisra, is dead.
Mark, 40, who was a police inspector, was suspected to have died of cardiac arrest on Wednesday.
A source, said Mark had an issue with unidentified commercial motorcyclist, popularly called Okada, who allegedly was about breaking into the deputy governor’s convoy.
The source said the deceased had altercations with the okada rider and in the process, slumped and later died.
The incident was said to have occurred near a bank at Illofa Road, Ilorin.
Another source, who craved anonymity as he was not authorised to talk on the issue, claimed that the deceased was only ensuring orderliness of the convoy when the sickness became aggravated and he slumped and later died.
He said, “Contrary to speculations, there was no exchange of either hand or words between the deceased and the Okada man.
“Mark was survived by a wife and three children and his remains have since been deposited at the mortuary wing of the University of Ilorin, UITH.”
http://www.punchng.com/news/kwara-dep-govs-adc-slumps-dies/

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday in Abuja assured Nigerians that the mistakes that characterised the Anambra State governorship election in November 16, 2013, would not be repeated in the governorship polls in Ekiti and Osun states scheduled for this year.
The chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, expressed the optimism during a courtesy call on him by the Ambassador of Netherlands to Nigeria, Mr. John C.M Groffen.
Speaking specifically on the forthcoming governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti states later this year, Jega said the commission was determined not to allow a repeat of the November 16 Anambra governorship election mistakes.
Meanwhile, Groffen had cautioned against political instability of the country ahead of 2015 describing the crisis in Peoples Democratic Party as interesting.
Jega, who acknowledged the various concerns raised about 2015, said INEC had learnt some lessons from previous elections and was therefore poised not to repeat those mistakes.
He said, “What happened in Anambra State was unfortunate and it will not in any way represent what will happen in 2015. We learnt additional lessons from it and we are factoring it in our preparations for 2015. We will have two governorship elections this year and we are doing all possible to ensure they are conducted smoothly, freely and fairly. We have mapped out detailed plans from previous elections.
“We are aware that stable nation will lead to improved economic growth. Our job is to use electoral process to ensure that elections are conducted with credibility and add to political and economic stability of the country. We have also learnt the hard way that sometimes in spite of our best efforts, things happen which raise questions about our preparations.”
“I am pleased to inform you that prospects of the coming year are good because we have done extensive research and preparations since 2011 and we have made remarkable improvements into the process. As we move to 2015, we are confident that it will be much better than 2011.”
http://www.punchng.com/news/inec-wont-repeat-anambra-mistakes-in-ekiti-osun-jega/

Many people at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, Lagos State, were shocked on Tuesday as an 18-year-old man narrated how he strangled a 12-year-old girl for money ritual.
The suspect, Ikechukwu Friday, said he had gone to beg a pastor for money when the pastor instructed him to kill a young girl and obtain her faeces.
He said the pastor promised him N100, 000 if he was able to accomplish the task.
He said, “I attend a popular church around Ketu Street, Aguda, but I live with my parents in Badagry. I just finished secondary school and I have been very broke. So, I approached the pastor for money, but he told me that I should strangulate a little girl.
“He explained that while strangulating the girl, she would pass out faeces in the throes of death. The pastor said I should obtain the faeces and bring it to him. He said if I could do this, he would give me N100,000.
“On December 30, 2013, I approached a young girl, Bose Ogoja. Her mother sells food in Badagry and I usually patronise them; so she trusted me. I told the girl that I wanted to show her something and she should follow me. I took her to an abandoned NITEL building and locked the door.
“I squeezed her neck and truly, she passed out faeces. I was, however, not able to get the faeces because I was caught before I could escape.”
The suspect, an indigene of Onitsha, Anambra State, pleaded for mercy adding that this was his first crime.
Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said the suspect was arrested by neighbours in the area and handed over to the Badagry Police Division.
Braide said the pastor, who allegedly gave the suspect the instruction had been arrested and was already cooperating with the police.
While displaying the gruesome picture of the slain girl, Braide said, “He was arrested in an uncompleted building. The security guard manning the building told the police that he saw the Friday entering the building with a 12-year-old girl.
“He said a few minutes later, he heard the girl screaming and later saw the boy leaving. The security guard raised the alarm and the neighbours were alerted and they arrested the suspect. On entering the building, they discovered that the girl was dead.
“The picture of the girl’s corpse shows that the girl is naked and her faeces is on the floor.”
Meanwhile, the police also arrested one 39-year-old Michael Udom for allegedly stealing a vehicle belonging to the company he worked for.
According to the police, the suspect attempted to sell the vehicle for N250,000 in the Ijora Badia area of the state, but was arrested before he could do so.
The suspect, however, denied the allegation, saying he took permission from his boss before taking the bus home with him.
He said, “I work with a courier company. After the close of work on December 25, 2013, I told my manager that I wanted to use the vehicle to pack things from my house and he agreed. Shortly after parking the vehicle, someone called me, saying he wanted to buy the vehicle.
“I told them that I could not sell the vehicle without the company’s consent. I did not know a policeman was there. He also posed as a buyer and arrested me.”
http://www.punchng.com/metro/teenager-kills-12-year-old-girl-for-money-ritual/

A taxi driver, Peter Okwuokei, has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for delivering a gallon of palm oil containing 9.2kilogrammes methampheamine for export to South Africa.
The discovery was made during the screening of cargoes on a South African Airline flight at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos.
NDLEA Lagos Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, while confirming the arrest, said Okwuokei was arrested for attempting to export 9.2kg of methamphetamine to South Africa. He said the drug was packed in 41 parcels and hidden inside a gallon containing palm oil.
Okwuokei however claimed ignorance of the drug. The father of four said he was contracted to take the gallon of palm oil to the airport.
He said, “I was simply delivering the oil as requested by a regular passenger; he asked me to send the gallon of oil to him. I thought I was doing him a favour, but little did I know that it would land me in big trouble. He called me and asked me to collect a gallon of palm oil from somebody.
“When I got to the estate junction as directed by the passenger, a young man walked up to me and asked if I was Peter. When I answered yes, he gave me the gallon of sealed palm oil. I was confused and speechless when at the airport, the oil was found to contain drugs during search.”
Section 11, sub section b of the NDLEA Act states that anybody who without lawful authority export, transports or otherwise traffics in the drugs popularly known as cocaine, LSD heroine or any other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for life.
NDLEA Chairman, Mr. Ahmadu Giade, urged members of the public to shun drug trafficking.
“Ignorance is not an excuse under the Act. If you are not sure that a consignment is drug-free, then do not take it for export; otherwise you are liable. People must be cautious,” he said.
http://www.punchng.com/news/suspect-hides-9-2kg-drug-in-palm-oil-for-export/