Saturday, May 23, 2009             

Bankole Denies Alleged Role In Power Contract Scandal
By Laolu Adeyemi

Speaker, House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, has denied a report alleging that he benefited in the N5.2 billion contract scam in the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

The Speaker said the publication was a deliberate blackmail, adding that it was a typical "pull him down syndrome" spurned to tarnish his image.

In a statement made available to The Guardian yesterday, Bankole disclosed that he had already taken the matter before a court of law to clear his name.

The statement added: "The wicked publication did not only fail to establish any linkage between members of the family of Rt. Hon. Bankole and all the companies published and charged to be involved in the rural electrification contracts.

"Indeed, the publication specifically stated that it cannot identify which of the companies is linked to the family of Bankole, which in itself negates the fundamental journalism rule of "when in doubt, leave out.

"For the avoidance of doubt, family members of Rt. Hon. Bankole have every right within the law to own companies and carry out contracts in Nigeria."

The Speaker declared that none of the companies owned by his family members had ever solicited, applied or been linked to contracts under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The statement added: "In Nigeria, it is a simple thing to search for the identity of owners of various companies through the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) but the blackmailers after Rt. Hon. Bankole would rather rush to questionable foreign media outlets as a prelude to moving to local media scene.

"The EFCC said its investigation into the case was spurred by movement of cash into companies' accounts and we challenge anyone to identify any companies owned by the Bankoles where REA made payment for contracts.

"We view this as yet another attempt aimed at discrediting the Speaker with political intent at best. The pull-him-down agenda, it would be recalled, started barely two days after the Speaker was elected when some disgruntled elements came down hard on his person, alleging that he did not serve the nation under the mandatory NYSC scheme.

"When this was shown to be a lie, these elements followed with an attack on the integrity of the Bankole-led House through the malicious allegation of fraud using forged documents on the purchase of Peugeot 407 cars for the House Committees. Again, when the orchestration failed, these enemies have now shifted their attack on the family of Bankole.

"Despite these wicked machinations, the Speaker would not be distracted from pursuing an activist legislative agenda that had led to unprecedented achievements for good governance in the country.

"As it is, family members of Bankole reserve the right to seek legal redress against any person or organisation defaming their characters or the reputation of their companies through malicious publications."

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news/article12//indexn3_html?pdate=230509&ptitle=Bankole%20Denies%20Alleged%20Role%20In%20Power%20Contract%20Scandal&cpdate=230509


Anyways sahara reporters mention on Thursday that his family was involved, i guess he is only replying. Anyways sahara never named the so called companies, though.

What does Rt. in front of his name mean? Is it something that members of house of rep. have in front of their name?

There are reasons to believe that Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, group managing director and chief executive officer of First Bank of Nigeria Plc may succeed Chukwuma Soludo as the new governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Information reaching THISDAY last night revealed that President Umaru Yar’Adua may have narrowed in on Sanusi, seasoned banker, economist and Islamic scholar, as Soludo’s replacement and has already offered him the job.

The decision by the president not to retain Soludo coincides with CBN’s intention to lift the ban it imposed in February this year on inter-bank foreign exchange trading, three months from now.

If the president does not change his mind or bow to pressure in the next few days, Sanusi’s name will be forwarded to the Senate for confirmation and will put paid to speculations over who should occupy the topmost job in the financial services sector. Soludo’s tenure expires next Friday.

Sanusi it was learnt has accepted the offer and intimated the board of First Bank.

Yar’Adua is expected to make public Sanusi’s appointment next Friday, May 29 to coincide with Democracy Day celebrations.
Sanusi, who effectively took over as managing director of First Bank from Jacob Moyo Ajekigbe on January 1, 2009, was the bank’s executive director in charge of Risk and Management Control.

In his short stint as MD, the incoming governor championed remarkable improvements in First Bank’s enterprise, risk and management control systems.

Before joining FBN, he was previously general manager at United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), where he anchored the transformation of the bank’s Credit Risk Management Division into an Enterprise-Risk Management sector and spearheaded UBA’s Basel 2 focus by establishing the framework, policies, processes and systems necessary for compliance with the guidelines of the new capital accord.

Sanusi is the son of the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi who ruled from 1954 to 1963, and holds a degree in economics from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and an M.Sc in economics from the same university.
He also has another degree in Sharia and Islamic Studies from the University of Khartoum, Sudan.

Analysts who spoke with THISDAY yesterday however said Sanusi’s major challenge would be to match or surpass Soludo’s accomplishments in the last five years.

Soludo is arguably the best governor ever to run the Central Bank. He championed far reaching sectoral reforms in the banking industry and has been credited with ushering a new phase for the Nigerian financial system.

Industry watchers believe that had Soludo not implemented the consolidation programme in 2005/2006, several banks would have failed under the current economic climate.

But his real forte as a Central Banker lie in his management of the economy where he brought his wealth of experience as a pre-eminent economist to achieve macro-economic stability for much of his tenure at the Bank.

Meanwhile, following an impromptu meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank, the Bank has agreed to remove restrictions on inter-bank foreign exchange trading in the next three months.

Soludo also said the CBN has granted Approvals in Principle (AIP) to 50 (Class A) Bureau De Changes (BDCs), which are expected to “sell at a retail rate of not more than 2 per cent above the CBN selling rate.” The list of the BDCs will be published today.

Soludo, who made these known to newsmen in Abuja, hinged these developments on the outlook for Nigeria’s foreign exchange market, which he said was stable.

“Trading in the inter-bank foreign exchange market will gradually resume during the next three months,” he said. “Banks will no longer be required to sell dollars to the Central Bank, and the CBN will participate in the inter-bank market, Soludo said.
Specifically, the Bank has decided to return to the liberalized foreign exchange market that obtained prior to the ban in the next three months.

Trading in the inter-bank foreign-exchange market was halted on February 10 following the decision by the Central Bank to tighten restrictions on currency transactions between commercial banks.

The move effectively shut down the inter-bank market and has been roundly criticised by currency dealers and international investors.

They were concerned that the CBN in its bid to support the naira, which lost about 20 percent of it value since November, had reversed all the gains made under the liberalised foreign exchange regime that had been in place for some years.
Crude, which accounts for 90 per cent of Nigeria’s export earnings, was selling at $61 a barrel yesterday from a record $147 a barrel in July 2008.

But Soludo said the CBN has achieved the purpose for which the ban was imposed and therefore is reviewing the series of controls it instituted in the last few months.

Soludo pointed out the committee noted that the exchange rate had remained stable at both the official and parallel rates for some months, though he admitted a wide premium still existed between the two rates.

“We have achieved stability in both the official and parallel markets. If you watch, over the last three months we have had stability, the problem has been the premium between official and parallel market rates.

As a first measure, Soludo said, the CBN has decided to increase the net foreign exchange open position (NOP) for banks from 1 to 2.5 per cent with immediate effect.

The NOP, he added, may be increased further at the end of June, this year.

He also said effective June 1, the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) will be conducted twice weekly, adding that henceforth, banks are not “mandatory required” to sell to the CBN after five days, funds sourced from non-RDAS and non-oil export proceeds, and may use such funds for inter-bank transactions.

Soludo said government agencies and oil companies will have the discretion to sell foreign exchange at the inter-bank market or to the CBN, effective Monday, May 25, 2009.

He said the CBN has also decided to remove the requirement that banks transact foreign exchange at 1 per cent around the CBN rate, noting that, “the CBN will now participate in the inter-bank foreign exchange market at the prevailing rate.”
To keep the market constantly liquid, the CBN, will, from next week, sell about $60 million to BDCs weekly and they shall be expected to sell at retail of not more than 2 per cent above CBN’s selling rate.

In addition, in order to mop up excess liquidity from the economy, Soludo said the CBN will issue short-term instruments to be synchronised with the Debt Management Office’s (DMO’s) issuance of FGN bonds.

Soludo put the current figures for the nation’s external reserves at about $45 billion. He said that the rate of depletion as a result of the global crisis has slowed down.

“The foreign reserve is no longer depleting as before. It has remained fairly stable.

“We started the month at $45 billion and we are still at about $45 billion. That tells us that inflows and outflows are becoming a lit bit more stable,” he said.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=144063

I don't know much about this guy, What do you guys think.

ibkaye:

Hey dear, try jamglue

You must become a member to download.

http://www.jamglue.com/search?category=All+of+Jamglue&query=keyshia+cole+trust&commit=Go

Thanksssssssss!!!!!!!!!!

must_a_far:

how else does one get admission into the university in nigeria? if the students gained admission into a 'university' without going through jamb then i guess they really dont have a case either against, JAMB, NUC and whoever else. and they sure dont have to listen to their cry.

I do not know either.

do private Universities such as babcock, etc use JAMB admission? or do they have there own individual exam?

Can someone pls point out were in the article did it say the school were listed on jamb form.

pls. i have been checking eSnipes but none has download option.

ABUJA — THE five-man inter-agency panel headed by Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, probing the $190 million Halliburton bribery scam, yesterday in Abuja interrogated former Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Dikko Yusufu over the allegation that he played a role in the $190 million disbursement.

The former IG, who was with the panel for about 45 minutes, was however allowed to go home after the panel concluded the interrogation.

His appearance before the Okiro panel is however coming on the heels of an appeal by former head of the National Security Organisation (NSO), Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, to the panel that he be given a few days before his appearance, to enable him sort out some of his engagements.

Meanwhile, Vanguard can report authoritatively that key players in the nation’s oil industry, listed to appear before the panel, are allegedly making spirited attempts to evade collection of their invitation letters from the panel.

Vanguard gathered that when invitation letters were taken to the headquarters of the NNPC and Ministry of Petroleum for delivery to those concerned, both government agencies tactfully refused the letters.

Already, Vanguard gathered that immediate past Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Funso Kupolokun received his letter of invitation by the panel yesterday.

Panel didn't invite me —Etiebet

However, former Petroleum Minister, Chief Don Obot Etiebet denied strongly yesterday that he had anything to do with the scam, and insisted that he had not been invited, either in letter or on telephone by the special investigation panel.

His words: I was never involved in the sharing of the Halliburton bribe money. Two or three years ago the House of Representatives committee invited me, then chairman of LNG, oil companies to a public hearing in which I made my presentation. I was never involved in the scam. Up till now, the Okiro panel has not invited me.

“I am very incensed, embarrassed, and red mad hot by this publication including my name because as of this moment I have neither got a phone call nor received a letter from the Okiro panel on the Halliburton case inviting me.

“In fact, on seeing this headline this morning, I telephoned my Special Assistant in Abuja, Mr Obi Obewe to rush to the Police Headquarters to enquire with the panel, with a copy of Vanguard in hand, whether they had invited me. He met a member of the panel who told him that I had not been invited.”

I know nothing of contract — Daukoru

Also yesterday, former Minister of State for Petroleum and the Amanyanabo of Grand Nembe Kingdom in Bayelsa State, Dr. Edmund Daukoru, has denied knowledge of the $190 million Halliburton bribery.

He said in Abuja, yesterday, through an aide that the contract had been awarded long before he was appointed into the cabinet of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and therefore knew nothing about the contract.

The Amanyanabo also denied reports that he was invited and questioned by the Okiro panel set up by President Umaru Yar’Adua to investigate the scam in which many top former government officials have been named as beneficiaries.

According to him, he was in Jos on Wednesday and was not anywhere near the Police headquarters for questioning.
The former minister said he was a man of high integrity who served the nation meritoriously while in office and therefore could not have been involved in fraudulent deals whatsoever.

He expressed sadness at what he described as the burden of serving the nation, as according to him, there was a negative attitude towards all who had served in government and that it was painful for a person like him who put in their best to grow the oil and gas sector of the economy.

Meanwhile sources said the questioning of top former government functionaries continued in Abuja yesterday.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/1/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36399&Itemid=42

How many weeks left till the 8 weeks the Halliburton panel said they will name names.

ikeyman00:

yorubas stop milkin us dry plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

how come every one of them get exess baggage !! i don tired

we need more fashola

How are u sure Fashola is not stealing?

UMUAHIA — GOVERNOR Theodore Orji of Abia State has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, over the cloning and use of his telephone line by unknown persons to dupe unsuspecting Nigerians.

According to the governor, the development was a source embarrassment to him as the fraudsters claim to be the governor while extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public.

In the letter dated May 20, 2009, entitled “Blocking and Fraudulent Use of My MTN line”, and personally signed by the governor, he urged the Police chief to investigate the matter with the aim of bringing the culprits to book.
The letter reads:

“I write to draw your attention to a case of fraudulent blocking and usurpation of my MTN GSM phone number and its subsequent deployment for criminal use.

“For about a week now, starting from May 11, 2009, I noticed that my MTN number 07037723390 was blocked, as I was unable to make or receive calls on it. Thinking it was a network problem, I ignored it and used my other phones for my communication.

“To my utter shock and consternation, I have realized that an unknown individual is using that same line to extort money from government officials, contractors, friends, politicians and my associates whose phone numbers were stored on my SIM card.

“As I write this, unknown fictitious people are making and receiving calls on my line, giving the impression that it is I who is using the said line. The usurpers of my line have gone ahead to send text messages to people, posing as me, coercing them to pay in huge sums of money into bank accounts for diverse reasons. Some people have already fallen prey to those antics.

“I make this report to compel a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the blocking and cloning of my line and to put it on record that even though the number belongs to me, I have not been in control of the use it has been put to in the last two weeks.

“It is my desire that this matter be brought to an expeditious conclusion to avoid embarrassments to me and financial losses to my friends and associates”, the governor said in the letter.

Vanguard gathered that many highly-placed individuals have fallen victim of the trend in the recent past, as fraudsters, using the contacts of ministers, governors, ex-governors, industry captains and other society bigwigs, have swindled people of their money.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/1/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36398&Itemid=42

Kobojunkie:

What exactly is happening?

What does the U.S need to do about Sri Lanka? Why should there be sanctions or anything against Sri Lanka? Should the Sri Lankan government not go after the Tigers? Should the Pakistani government, in much the same way not go after the Taliban and terrorists on its soil?

In the eye of the international community? What about people right there in Nigeria crying for the government to deal with the MEND issue? What about the fact that Nigerians do not agree that MEND is not another terrorist group? What exactly shows that MEND is not just a terrorist group down the in the Delta?

Aaarrggh!!! MEND has been HIJACKED? Lol

What exactly is happening? well read the "claims" of the Amnesty international. http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=18217

i think you are missing my point. The person who started the thread said he wants the international community to be aware of what is happening. And i was pretty much saying the international community will not do anything.

I never said sri Lanka should not have gone after the tigers, the point i was trying to make was unfortunately innocent people were killed and the international community did nothing (sanctions, etc).

Batubo:

I am not trying to start a war
We have to make the International community become aware of the atrocities commited by the Federal Government
Sri Lankans abroad did this, why cant Niger deltans also do the same

How many foreign countries (U.S, U.k, France) have spoken out against what is happening now.

What did the U.S do about Sir Lanka ? No sanction or anything, they just watched form a distance and watched the govt. go after the tigers

Something has to be done to develop the Niger Delta, but the problem is in the eyes of the international coummunity (countries) MEND is a bigger problem to the development of the Nige Delta. Unfortunatley MEND has been hijacked by some people with selfish interest and turned them into something else, and no longer fighting for the people of Niger Delta.

The house of rep. memeber is very stupid for his comment and needs to resign.

bump. I am still hoping. Thanks

Pls can anyone help me out with a free download of this song I have been searching.


Thanks.

Becomrich:

I have nothing against pastors paying tax. I think most of them already do.

So can i ask a question. I do not understand, I am not against anyone religion. Who pays Imam salary? from what I know in Nigeria, Imam do not get paid salary. So what are you people upto So what is the motive?

Some Imam's and Pastor's do get paid salary.

Becomrich:

Fashola can not tax the church because the church is a charity? if fashola have issue with anyone, if pastor adeboye like someone said. he could approach him.

I think fashola and his people need to find out about charity.

Pls read the article again. Where did it say they are taxing churches. They plan on taxing SALARY that pastors and Iman receive. Pls be aware that it is totally different form money from Tithe and Zakat.

This has nothing to do with personal issues fashola has with anyone. In foreign countries Pastors pay tax on their salary (not tithe).

Even workers of charity organizations pay taxes on their salary but, the government does not tax the orgnaization itself.

babasoty:

is it now the duty of mend to go after looters of the state treasury, whats the government doing about it the money ibori stole was used to bring yar'adua to power thats why ibori is untouchable, i'm not saying we should condone what the state governors are doing but the federal government has the power through efcc to prosecute looters of state treasuries not the mend guys, its the plight of the common people in the villages that we should all face, come to my village in rivers state there is no portable water even if we have an oil well. so please lets get this things clear if government had started addressing this issues of the people right from when saro wiwa was crying out loud about the plight of his people our country wouldn't have been in this quagmire today

You still need to hold your state government responsible. You cannot keep blaming the federal govt and EFCC, i am not saying the govt. should not go after this Governors but why are the people always saying its the federal govt. only. The federal govt. is giving the states money but the governors have nothing to show for it.

The oil companies are paying extra money to the states even after paying federal govt. But this governors are not recording this money in the state govt. account, rather it is showing up at their own accounts and then they turn around to blame the govt and oil companies alone.

Its not only the state governors, it also the so called chiefs who say they are fighting for the "people".

MEND is only directing their problem to the Federal Government and Oil worker. How about their Governors in the past who have looted state money (even though this states receive the largest share). These Governors have not shown any development with the money they have been given.

The likes of Ibori and co. are know to have looted state government money, those are the people (including thier family) that MEND should be kidnapping and asking for a refund of the looted money.

His children were called thieves


Leave My Family out of Politics, Says Lamido

Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, yesterday urged politicians to leave his family out of political attacks and innuendo, saying he was ready to resign from office, to protect his family.

He said as a governor and politician, he understood that he was open to merciless political attacks and innuendoes, but such should by no means be extended to his children and other members of his family who are not politicians.

Lamido, who spoke to reporters at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, said a recent publication in a national daily maligned his family by insinuating that his children were thieves.

Flanked by two of his sons who were refered to as thieves in the article, Lamido said he had discussed the case with the affected children and had concluded to sue the writer and the medium, in a Sharia Court in Kano.

He explained that if the newspaper is able to prove the allegations, “the children would have their wrists amputated for stealing according to Sharia injunctions.

“I have a family of 11 that is contented, happy and well brought up. In politics, it is fair game to attack political opponents, but it must not deteriorate to eroding family life. Apart from being a governor and public officer, I am also an ordinary Nigerian with rights. I have a family which I must protect and take care of. I would, therefore, not stand by and allow my family’s honour and reputation to be brought to disrepute,” he said, adding that “the allegations have caused my children a lot of pain and trauma.

Lamido said, “if we don’t take any action against the publication, their lives would be reduced to lives of harassment and blackmail, because their father happens to be a governor. And as a father, I must do everything to protect them, even if it requires resigning as governor.”

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=143918

Lagos State Government is not relenting in its tax campaign and compliance as it announced its intention to compel Pastors and Imams to pay taxes.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Taxation, Mr. Ade Ipaye, said on Wednesday, that it had become compulsory for paid pastors and imams to pay part of their earnings as taxes to the state government purse.

According to Ipaye, the state government has observed that most pastors and imams received salary, but failed to pay their taxes, adding, “this is the time for them to pay because it is now a law that every individual that derives income must pay tax.”

He explained that the compliance might not affect pastors and imams who depended on tithes and zakat, but those who employed by churches and mosques for religious purpose.


He said, “they will pay under personal income tax because they are on salary like me and you.”

Speaking about penalties for defaulters, Ipaye said that the power to punish them had been conferred on the Board of Lagos Internal Revenue Service through the Personal Income Tax Act.

He said, “We, as a government, are always very reluctant to disrupt business activities, we only use this power to compel defaulting companies as a measure of last resort.”

http://www.tribune.com.ng/21052009/news/news9.html

This might be the wrong section. Sorry!!!!

If they are receiving salary they need to pay tax.

Do Oba's pay tax?.

ABUJA — THE five-man inter-agency panel investigating the Halliburton scam yesterday, in Abuja, quizzed the Minister of State for Petroleum during the second term of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Edmund Daukoru, for about two hours over allegations that he played a key role in the sharing of the $190 million bribe money.

Dr Daukoru, also a former Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was invited to Abuja by the panel and subsequently grilled for almost two hours after which he was allowed to go.

In addition, sources close to the panel disclosed that two former Group Managing Directors of NNPC, Dr. Jackson Gaius-Obaseki and Mr. Funso Kupolokun have been summoned to appear before the panel, as well as two former petroleum ministers, Obot Don Etiebet and Chief Dan Etete.

Vanguard gathered that Chief Daukoru who was accompanied by a personal assistant, having flown into Abuja from Port Harcourt, arrived the Police Force Headquarters at about 11.45am and was there till about 1.30 pm before he was allowed to go. The panel members told him he may be recalled if need be. Dr Daukoru is presently a traditional ruler, the Amanyannabo of Grand Nembe Kingdom in Bayelsa State.

Our sources added that the former NNPC GMDs are alleged to have topped the distribution list aside some former Heads of State, while the former Ministers of Petroleum are being invited because they were considered as key technocrats whose input could definitely swing the contract for the third phase of the $1.9 billion LNG contract in favour of Halliburton.

Further, Vanguard gathered that one of the former GMDs, Jackson Gaius-Obaseki whose letter of invitation has been with the panel, is currently abroad and that efforts are being made to reach him to appear before the panel.

It will be recalled that investigations into the multi-million dollar Halliburton bribe scandal by the Mike Okiro-led panel took a new twist on Tuesday as two former Heads of State and a former number two man were implicated of to have partaken and supervised the sharing of the bribe money, with new findings showing that the total bribe money shared was $190 million and not $180 million as earlier thought.

According to sources close to the panel, a former national security chief, brother of a former head of state, were also implicated of having played critical roles in the sharing of the Halliburton bribe money.

In addition, a former Inspector-General of Police, the heir to the throne of a prominent emirate in the North, and a former Managing Director of a second generation bank have been invited based on evidence before the Okiro panel, to defend themselves over allegation that they benefited from the sharing of the loot.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36290&Itemid=41

bawomolo:

Atiku was a Vice president and not an head of state though.

Abdulsalami?

This is a direct quote from the article.


In addition, a former second-in-command at the federal level was also alleged to have benefited as the booty was shared.

ikeyman00:

obj and atiku

Those are the two i am thinking too, especially Atiku.

President Umaru Yar‘Adua’s proposal to reform the nation’s electoral system ran into a storm yesterday at the commencement of Senate deliberations on the first of the six legislative proposals. The bill seeking to establish a Political Parties Registration Commission was battered by a cross-section of senators but was kept afloat by the persistence of the Senate President, Senator David Mark, who played a cat and mouse game with the majority of senators against the bill.

Repeated attempts by senators to kill the bill or suspend it pending the receipt of the report of the Justice Mohammed Uwais Electoral Reform Committee report were overlooked by the Senate President.

Following the lead debate by the Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, senators across board immediately assailed the bill with three senators -Chris Anyanwu, Joy Emodi and Nkechi Nwaogu, particularly dismissive of the bill.

Senator Emodi said the bill was only fit for the trash can as she lampooned the legal advisers in the Presidency for the poor crafting of the bill.

However, Senator Anyanwu raised a storm among her colleagues in her description of the qualifications prescribed for members of the proposed commission.

Her assertion on the scarcity of men of integrity in the executive and legislative arms forced some senators to rise against her.

The senators nevertheless made it clear that they were not opposed to a total reform of the electoral system as they insisted that they were against the establishment of another bureaucracy to carry out the functions already being done by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Those that spoke include Senators Ayogu Eze (PDP) Enugu North; Joy Emodi (PDP) Anambra East; Ewa Henshaw (PDP) Cross River; Lee Maeba (PDP) Rivers South-East; Thompson Sekibo (PDP) Rivers; Victor Ndoma-Egba (PDP) Cross River Central; Nkechi Nwogu (PDP) Abia and Ikechukwu Obiora (PDP) Anambra, among others.

Presenting the bill yesterday, Folarin said the bill was a bold attempt at reforming the nation’s electoral system, adding that it was a fall-out from the Uwais committee.

Following his assertion, Maeba immediately rose to oppose the bill, arguing that it was in conflict with the 1999 Constitution which already vested the duties of the proposed commission on INEC.

But, his request that the bill be stood down was immediately waved away by the Senate President.

Senator Ndoma-Egba described the bill as an attempt to overburden the Nigerian people and the government which, he said, was already overstretched with too many commissions.

“I am in support of any measure that will reform our electoral system. We need reform so that Nigeria and the rest of the world can have respect for our elections.

"Nigerians are already groaning under the weight of the high cost of democracy. They are complaining that our democracy has become too expensive and over-bearing. We have the responsibility as the representatives of the people to ensure the cost is bearable,’’ he added.

“The trend all over the world is for government to shrink. That type of government determines the level of efficiency as bigger government means bigger corruption.

Senator Ayogu Eze in his argument against the bill said the constitution must first be amended before the Senate could contemplate work on the bill.

“It will be illegal for us to create a commission without first of all amending the constitution. The role of INEC is clearly stated in the constitution and anything we do not in accordance with the constitution is illegal,” he argued.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36299&Itemid=43

I actually agree with the Senators on this one, the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) is totally unnecessary. The govt should focus on reforming INEC and make sure the president does not pick the chairman.

I wonder why Mark did not kill the bill.

KANO — Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State  has threatened to resign his mandate if that will save the future of his children that have come under severe criticism in the media recently.

Gov. Lamido who addressed newsmen at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport on his returnfrom Abuja, explained that people were free to cast aspersion on his administration but would certainly not tolerate any attack on his family.

“My worry this morning is not about my political status, but when they spill over into my private life and where my children became the object of ridicule, that I will not accept. I care for their life and their future, I won’t mess them up, I will rather step down to protect their reputation,” Lamido said.

He was reacting to an article in local media published in Kano which he said did not only cast aspersions on his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha, but went ahead to risk their future.

The visibly angered Lamido flanked by Aminu and Mustapha described the publication as painful, pointing out that it has subjected his family to tremendous agony and embarrassment.

The former Foreign Affairs minister stressed that his family deserves to be shielded from insinuations and other inferences because of their private right to lead a normal and decent life anywhere.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36313&Itemid=47

So will he resign? 

I will like to know what was said about his sons.

ABUJA — INVESTIGATIONS into the multi-million dollar Halliburton bribe scandal by the investigation panel led by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro took a new twist yesterday as two former Heads of State were alleged to have partaken and indeed, supervised the sharing of the bribe money. In addition, a former second-in-command at the federal level was also alleged to have benefited as the booty was shared.

Further, fresh facts available to the investigators indicate that the total bribe money shared was $190 million as against $180 million thought to have been shared earlier.

That is not all. Sources close to the panel told Vanguard that a former security chief as well as brother of a former Head of State were alleged to have played critical roles in the sharing of the Halliburton bribe money.

Vanguard gathered that investigators were able to get onto the trail of one former Head of State as his account was credited severally with various sums of money. He was also said to have withdrawn $2.9 million in one fell swoop, a transaction that was easily traced to him.

Based on disclosures from the interrogation of some persons earlier arrested and bailed, it was gathered that another ex-Head of State used several companies of his friends into which accounts several millions of dollars were paid.

Consequently, the source said the panel would invite these prominent Nigerians to answer all they know about the payment and disbursement of the $190 million Halliburton bribe money provided Mr. President gave the Okiro panel permission to do so, considering their standing in the society.

Bribe money rises to $190m

On how the bribe money initially put at $180 million became $190million, the source said that since the company was desperate to get the contract for the construction of the $1.9 billion Liquefied Natural Gas project, it went about ‘settling’ those it thought could stand in its way. Based on a list collated and supplied by Jeffery Tessler, the British Lawyer, who, it has been discovered, had dealings with most of these persons, the money was jacked up to $190million.

It will be recalled that a former Inspector-General of Police, the heir to the throne of a prominent Northern emirate and a former Managing Director of a bank have been invited based on evidence before the Okiro panel, to defend themselves over allegation that they benefited from the loot.

Asked to comment on how the panel was coping with the pressure from prominent persons in government, politicians and traditional leaders across the country, the source said it has not been easy but added that President Umaru Yar’Adua who set up the panel has boosted the panel’s job by displaying an attitude of non-interference and encouraging the panel to go for whoever was implicated.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36225&Itemid=41

AjaraEwuro:

Apart from the issue of getting a job, please have you seen a realy realy poor homeless man before? what else is in the government project plan and actions that is meant to help a poor man get a roof over his head? I am sure it is not part of government plan thah the way he wants to help the poor man is for him to get a job on one single estate project, what is in the governments policy and plan to help the poor hungry common man. Jakande tried, many people benefit from his housing plan till now, what is the Lagos State government's plan in this regard, apart from getting a job from building an estate.

This is just not an estate, its a city it will provide daily jobs that goes beyond construction. The people that will be living in this Eko Atlantic, left an area of Lagos to move here, so there will be more homes for the masses to rent.
The greater the supply of homes then the prices of homes will fall.

The current administration is also building homes and estates for the masses. But it cannot spend all the money it has doing that, especially when on a daily basis more and more people are moving to Lagos. No matter how many homes the govt build it will never be enough. That is why its better they invest in infastruture to get investors to build both low income and normal housing.

The hosuing issue is not something a state can solve alone, Fashola said it himself, there is nothing like low-income housing when one of the most important material (Cement) is a monopoly in Nigeria.

AjaraEwuro:

question is, how does this benefit the poor man who doesnt have a roof over his head and who lives in slums all over the place, dont they deserve housing as well? Please i need an answer.

The poor man can get a job in this place to feed himself, and rent a place. The govt can use  tax money form this area to provide housing for the poor man. The problem with poverty is that there is not enough job opportunities, this type of project provides jobs.

You might say how about the N14b the state is making now, The truth is that for a population of over 15 billion it is not enough especially when more tha 50% is going to payment of civil servants salary. And this same civil servats are already asking for an increase in salary.

Sky Blue:

Read the article and I am yet to see what the problem is. How is interfering with advanced payments intefering with setting price? Price interferance is fixing prices of rent, which was not at all metnioned in the article. What was however mentioned was stopping the act of landlords asking for years in payment of rent upfront, it is basically regulating on such a henious act that gave landlord so much power to prey on the innocent. So how does supply and demand factor into such an act which is nothing short of bullying? Supply and demand affects prices or rents, if landlords want to put up their rent nothing is stopping them. Good move and about time too. It would put some power in the hands of ordinary citizens.

Thank You

ElRazur:

Agreed. Fashola's attempt is crude at the very best. He is literally telling house owners what they can charge and what they cant. I mean, that is just wrong. I mean, where does it stop?

I had to read the article again, and I did not see where it says he plans to regulate the price. I think the goal of the bill to protect consumer and make sure the consumers have the choice to choose between paying on a monthly basis or on a yearly basis.

This is not like Dubai, were the govt has a percentage cap on how much landlords can charge.

tosh_acer:

Double Talk - when the Federal Government embarks on Lagos/Kano railine, you all said it was a waste, when they were to build from PH to Maiduguri, you all said we need food, you all said, no, it wasnt necessary, when government wants to build ten lane Airport to Abuja road, you all cried wolf, how come this is now a project that benefits the poor? How does it benefit the poor man? The poor man can buy into this estate?

Since the govt is not paying for it (Eko Atlantic) , I dont see a problem with the project.

The poor will actually benefit form this project, because they will get jobs (construction, etc) to feed themselves.

And, not everyone had a problem with the LAgos/Kano Rail. I think the main issue was that due process was not followed and  some even complained  about yar'dua halting the project

Once again EKO Atlantic City is a private initiative, no kobo is coming from the state government.

As i said earlier, it is just like the V & A Waterfront in South Africa (100% privately owned).

This will actually help the poor without costing the govt. because the people that will build the houses, offices are the masses, opportunity for them to get jobs.

This is not the first man-made island in Lagos. Banana Island (hijacked by the OBJ adminstration) and Takwa Bay Island are man made island.

President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has directed that the Auditor-General of the Federation, Mr. Robert O. Ejenavi, who attained the mandatory retirement age of 60 years on Monday, should proceed on retirement immediately, according to a statement today, by Olusegun Adeniyi, the president’s spokesman and special adviser on press and publicity.

President Yar’Adua further directed that the next most senior officer in the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation should act as Auditor-General until the process of appointing a substantive Auditor-General is completed.

The process, which ends with the confirmation of the nominee by the Senate, has already been initiated by the Federal Civil Service Commission with the advertisement of the position in national newspapers on 12 May, 2009. It is expected to be completed within three months.



http://thepmnews.com/2009/05/20/yar%e2%80%99adua-retires-auditor-general