EFCC raids NERC boss, six commissioners‘ homes - Punch


Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday raided the homes of the Chairman of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Ransome Owan and six of his commissioners located in Abuja.

Sources close to the commission said that the operatives of the EFCC raided the homes of the officials who were arrested and detained on Wednesday and discovered vital documents.

According to the sources, some of the documents retrieved in their homes include share certificates and documents on banks deposits.

Apart from these, our correspondent reliably gathered that, part of the troubles of the suspects was that they were alleged to have shared over N100m each, of money suspected to belong to the commission.

The source alleged that part of the documents retrieved at the home of the chairman included possible details of a N500m bank lodgment into a private account.

Also retrieved by the EFCC agents at the home of the only woman among them were share certificates in blue chip companies across the country.

When contacted, the Head, Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said that he did not have the details at the moment, but confirmed the raids on the suspects‘ homes.

He also confirmed that the suspects were still being detained by the commission as more information was being extracted from them to know the level of their involvement in the alleged fraud.

The spokesperson of NERC, Mr. Patrick Ayendi when contacted on phone, confirmed that his bosses were still in the EFCC custody but denied knowing whether their homes were searched.

He said since their arrests on Wednesday, they had been held incommunicado.

”Since their arrest yesterday (two days ago), we have not been able to talk to them,” he said

EFCC arrests electricity commission boss, directors - Punch

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday arrested the Chairman of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Ransome Owan, and six commissioners in the agency over an alleged N5bn fraud.

Their arrests occured hours after a Federal High Court in Benin, Edo State, restrained 15 banks not to honour cheques issued by the Ondo State Government for some contracts.

[img]http://www.punchng.com./images/December/Friday/pix200712287143343.jpg[/img]

Sources close to the EFCC said that Owan and the commissioners would remain at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, until investigation was concluded.

When contacted on the telephone, the EFCC Spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi, sent a terse text message in which he wrote “confirmed.”

The Head, Media and Publicity of the agency, Mr. Michael Faloseyi, could not be reached as at 9pm on Wednesday for comment but a source in the NERC said, “All I can say is that they (Owan and the commissioners) were arrested by EFCC operatives at the close of work today(Wednesday).

The NERC is an electricity licensing and regulatory agency of the Federal Government that does not award contracts.

It was set up in 2006 following the enactment of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, which envisaged the privatisation of the power sector.

Part of the agency’s mandate is to regulate the Power Holding Company of Nigeria units when they are privatised. It also regulates the Independent Power Projects.

The hatred that Igbos have for Yoruba people. Not a day goes by on Nairaland that Igobs don't show the
hatred they have for yorubas. Recently when some yoruba university graduates were killed in the Jos crisis, an
igbo put up a thread asking what is the big deal about it ?

I learnt from Nairaland that any igbo man that smiles to a yoruba is just playing eye service.

EFCC launches fresh manhunt for Mu’azu - Over alleged N6bn loot

Nigerian Tribune


THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun a fresh manhunt for the former governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Ahmed Muazu, over allegations that he mismanaged about N6 billion while in office.

The former governor had jetted out of the country about two months ago, when he informed the commission that he was travelling to the United Kingdom to attend the graduation ceremony of one of his children.

But the former governor has refused to show up at the commission’s headquarters since October, when he formally wrote to the commission to intimate it of his desire to attend the graduation ceremony in the United Kingdom.

Sources at the EFCC claimed that the former governor was on the run and said that the commission had begun a manhunt for him, as he is wanted in connection with a series of petitions alleging that he mismanaged over N6 billion while he served as governor.

A source said that the travails of the former governor would have started long ago but that he had hooked up to the train of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ensured that the commission took things easy with him during the former president’s administration.

It was gathered that heaps of petitions against the former Bauchi governor were not completely treated until the last days of the Obasanjo administration.

A source, however, said that a report by the former Chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on some alleged deals of the former governor was said to have dissuaded Obasanjo from giving him (Muazu) a favourable consideration in the 2007 presidential race.

A source in Abuja confirmed on Wednesday that the EFCC had actually been on the trail of the governor in the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.

“We have actually been looking for him, but he has been evading arrest. Whenever the EFCC operatives trailed him to the UK, they would be told that he had moved to Saudi Arabia and when they got to Saudi Arabia, they were told he had moved to the UK, it has been a hectic time trailing the man, but we are sure the operatives won’t just give up,” a source said.

It was learnt that Mu’azu might have utilised the opportunity granted him by the EFCC to travel to the United Kingdom to perfect the chance to evade further questioning from the commission, as he has since then been unavailable to answer questions.

“It is strange that no word has been heard from the former governor since he communicated the commission to ask for permission to travel for the graduation ceremony, and we find it difficult to believe that the graduation is still on more than two months after,” another source told the Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday.

@ bashali,

Stop taking credit for another man's work !!

Most of the appointments you have listed where made by Yar'Adua's predecessor.


AN IGBO IS CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR - Appointed by OBJ

CHIEF OF THE MILITARY - He was Chief of air staff under OBJ

CHIEF OF POLICE - He was deputy IG under OBJ

PDP CHAIRMAN - PDP Chairmanship was zoned to the South East
because of their loss in the National Assembly
leadership (not the idea of Yar'Adua or the North)

CHIEF OF NAFDAC - Appointed by OBJ

EDUCATION -
HEALTH - Hassan Muhammad Lawal is currently in charge of the health ministry. He is not an igbo man

All of the igbos you are mentioning were retained from the previous administration.
Is that what you are taking credit for ?

bashali:

BILYMUSE, WHICH NIGER DELTA ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT. WE NORTHERNER CREATED THE NIGER DELTA DURING ABACHA GOVT. WHAT RELATIONSHIP OR HISTORICAL EVENT OR CULTURAL DOES A ISOKO MAN HAVE WITH A CALABAR MAN. NONE MY FRIEND.

AND WE REGRET CREATING THE NIGER DELTA, AND WE DO NOT WANT IT ANY MORE. IT IS A REGION BY NAME AND IT IS FAKE LIKE YOUR NAME.

UCHE NO. I AM NOT. WE LOVE THE IGBOS. THE IGBO ARE OUR FRIEND, LOOK WE ARE WOULD EVEN SHARE POWER WITH THE IGBO. CANT YOU SEE PRESIDENT YAR ADUA IS ALREADY DOING, WHEN IN NIGERIA HISTORY ARE IGBOS WELL PLACED.

AN IGBO IS CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR
CHIEF OF THE MILITARY
CHIEF OF POLICE
PDP CHAIRMAN
CHIEF OF NAFDAC
EDUCATION
HEALTH

WE GAVE ALL THE MAJOR POSITION FOR THE SOUTH TO YOUR PEOPLE. DO YOU SEE ANY YORUBAMAN WELL PLACE IN OUR GOVT. NO. WE HAVE IGBO IN OUR MIND. WE LOVE IGBOS. LOOK AFTER WE REMOVE THE YORUBAS FROM NIGERIA, WE WOULD CREATE 2 MORE STATE IN IGBOLAND TO BALANCE STATE.

Nigeria1,,:

http://

We care, one of the cardinal point president yar said he believe in before becoming president is unity, Look I am just consider of what is going to happen. If you think the south would fold their hand and have it continue, you are wrong, It would destroy the unity of Nigeria. Let me list the sensitive position in any Nigeria govt at this is considered the important position.

Compare President obasanjo to President Yar Adua. Even if you want to know it can be use as a ground for impeachment of the president, because nigeria constitution clearly made it clear of issue of federal character. What we are saying is that the president should change this position and include people from the south. This is not asking for too much, If you notice obasanjo govt. from the list below. 11 of his aid are from North and 10 are south. But president Yar adua 17 from north and 4 from south.


Look what you people are doing is setting up yourself for a civil war. You would all wake up one day and discovery they have divided nigeria into two nation. Northern Niger Benue and Southern niger benue. may God save your souls. Wisdom is better than foolishness.

See the list



[b]Yar'Adua
1. Abdullahi Muktar - National Security Adviser Northerner
2. Kingibe - Secretary to FG Northerner
3. Gen Abdullahi - Chief of Staff Northerner
4. Ama Pepple (River) - Head of Civil Service ( SOUTH)
5. Hamman Hamed - Comptroller-General, Customs Northerner
6. Usman Megawata - Director General, NTA Northerner
7. Abba Aji - Presidential Liaison Officer (NASS) Northerner
8. Lawal Yar’Adua - MD/CEO, NNPC Northerner
9. Afas Gadzana - Director-General, SSS Northerner
10. Tanimu Kurfi - National Economic Adviser Northerner
11. Ghali Umar - State House Chief of Protocol Northerner
12. Idi Farouk - Director General, National Orientation Agency Northerner
13. Taminu Yakubu - Chief Economic Adviser to the President Northerner
14. Sanusi Daggash - National Planning Commission Minister/Deputy Chairman Northerner
15. Aliyu Modibbo - Minister, FCT Northerner
16. Shamsudeen Usman - Minister, Finance Northerner
17. Yayale Ahmed - Minister, Defence Northerner
18. Godwin Abbe (Edo)- Minister, Internal Affairs (South)
19. Mike Okiro (River) - IGP (SOUTH)
20. Andoakaa - AGF Northerner
21. Farida Waziri - Chairman, EFCC Northerner

New (Non statutory/, )
Muuhammed Uwais - Chairman, Electoral Reform Committee Northerner
M.D Yusufu - Chairman, Police Reform Committee Northerner
Rilwan Lukman - Chairman, Energy Council/Petroleum Northerner
Fatima Ibrahim - Chairman, Transitional Board of Director, PHCN Northerner

[/b]
Obasanjo
1. Aliyu Gusau - National Security Adviser
2. Ufot Ekaette (?Cross River)- Secretary to FG
3. Gen Abdullahi - Chief of Staff
4. Yayale Ahmed - Head of Civil Service
5. Baba Gyang - Comptroller-General, Customs
6. Tonnie Iredia (Edo) - Director General, NTA
7. Ita Giwa (?Cross River)- Presidential Liaison Officer (NASS)
8. Funsho Kunpolokun(SW)- MD/CEO, NNPC
9. Kayode Are (SW) - Director-General, SSS
10. Osita Ogbu (SE) - National Economic Adviser
11. Ghali Umar - State House Chief of Protocol
12. Idi Farouk - Director General, National Orientation Agency
13. Philip Asiodu(SE) - Chief Economic Adviser to the President
14. Abdalah Wali - National Planning Commission Minister/Deputy Chairman
15. El-Rufai - Minister, FCT
16. Iyorchia Ayu - Minister, Internal Affairs
17. Rabiu Kwakwanso - Minister, Defence
18. Okonjo-Iweala (Abia)- Minister, Finance
19. Sunday Ehindero (SW)- IGP
20. Bayo Ojo (?SW) - AGF
21. Nuhu Ribadu - Chairman, EFCC

It really is an abomination the way Yar'Adua has "Northernized" his cabinet


Seriously, if we had Yar'Adua as president between 1999 and 2003:

Would it be remotely possible to have had Soludo as CBN governor
and Okonjo-Iweala as Finance Minister as competent as they are ?

From Sistawoman:

Depending on the man and what his motive is most men can't keep up steady pretending for more that 3-6 months. Watch him and you will know.

I wish all women could take a cue from this "bolded" statement of yours because it is so true.

Outstrip:

There is not one good thing about it.
My husbands mother supported her husband taking a third wife after the second wife left cause she did not want people to blame her for the other woman leaving (Don't ask me how that makes sense)

My Mother's older sister found a third wife for her father because the 2nd wife was getting too cocky but the third wife turned out to be a doormat so it really did not help their situation

The whole polygamy thing is a joke and usually ends up with a lot of dysfunctional issues. Not that monogamy is always rosy but why add extra wahala to it

Thanks for your post outstrip.

But could you please answer the thread by addressing each of the questions posed.

We appreciate you sharing your knowledge.

maxell:

Why is she a lesbian or something

I don't really know, but she spends a good chunk of her time on Nairaland bashing men. It's as if she has never
had a positive male figure in her entire life. I wish her well sha.

[size=14pt]Abia - A State in the Grip of Kidnappers[/size]


http://allafrica.com/stories/200809060071.html


Abia - A State in the Grip of Kidnappers

Vanguard (Lagos)

NEWS
6 September 2008
Posted to the web 6 September 2008

By Uduma Kalu

"Have you heard the latest kidnap cases in Abia? a friend called last June 27. "A gang of kidnappers was smashed at Usaka in Ikwuano LGA," he said. Somebody had reported about the criminal gang. And the state government had mobilised its security apparatuses, including the police and rounded up the group in their coven in Ikwuano area of the state.

The government had paid N1m to the informant. In that camp, as they call the kidnappers' hideouts in the state, "Many folks kidnapped from many parts of the country were seen and rescued, such as a girl of three, kidnapped in Lagos, Ogochukwu etc. It is terrible that twice Ikwuano has been indicted. Mrs Nwakudu's case and now this," the caller went on.

The voice was lamenting the orgy of kidnappers that has seized Abia state. Less than one month after the call, another caller on July 22, reported that "Our governor was today attacked along Port Harcourt Road. His security, mobile police, ran into the bush and removed their clothes." As at the time of writing this report, chairman of Abia's Obingwa LGA was reportedly kidnapped, last week.

That all is not well with Abia is palpable in the state. Those calls were unnerving calls as kidnapping had never been heard of in that part of the world. The South East of Nigeria is generally a quiet region. The cases of violence that usually erupt from there are mainly armed robbers, and sometimes, political unrest of such group as Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign Republic of Biafra (MASSOB).

The new Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Sam Hart, had also expressed worry at the development, saying "kidnapping is a novel thing in the state."

But the reporter's decision to travel there was viewed with trepidation by his colleagues in Abia. Some of them told him that they "try to avoid that story."

"Why?" he asked them. "It is sensitive," another supplied. When he insisted on coming for the job, one of them asked him, "Will fear allow them (victims) to talk? Will they tell exactly or the amount spent? Are the ladies sexually molested?" another put in. "Try, but you must be covering your tracks," he said.

"They are sapping people here. Making easy money. Times are really hard. It may be hard to get the victims," another reporter pointed out.

Sadly, though, some of the kidnap victims do not talk about their experience which the state says frustrates its effort to stamp out the scourge. Some of them such as Mrs Nwakudu have even relocated from the town and state.

Such is the level of insecurity in Abia. When he arrived there, about 11 pm, the railway station, called Gate, was like a ghost town. At the station, the reporter wanted a cab to take him to the area known as World Bank. The woman selling drinks there warned him that it is a dangerous area. And that nobody would go there. But a man sitting beside her told her it was a lie. That taxis still went there at that time.

Umuahia is not really a night crawling town. Here, people fear to venture out in the night for fear of being grabbed by the police or attacked by armed robbers. In this state, one can still be arrested for trumped up offences such as wandering.

A man is still in prison arrested for this offence and since he could not 'bail' himself out for N2000, he was quickly taken to court. So far, he has spent two years there. So, people are careful to avoid this law of the jungle. Even the hotel management will warn you not to go out about 11 pm, not for fear of armed robbers, but of the police. That was a sad introduction to the reporter because for him, a city can be said to be safe only at night.

But next door, Owerri, a city also recently in the news for kidnapping, people milled around, shouting and playing music. For Umuahia, though, with the news of kidnapping in the state, it appears the town has descended more into a state of fear. Some of the kidnap cases that readily come to mind include the Executive Chairman, Abia State Universal Basic Education Board ASUBEB, Chief John Iruke. He was kidnapped one morning from his house as he set out for work in the first week of last month.

During the kidnap of Iruke, one of his personal aides was shot, and he sustained serious injuries. The aide was admitted in an undisclosed hospital for treatment. Iruke was reported to have paid some millions of naira as ransom. A Mrs Rich Onyeaso, wife of Engineer Onyeaso, a well known figure in the state was another victim, Another was a Dr Amanamba's wife, public figure there, and also one magistrate, Mrs Grant Osu.

A member of the Abia State House of Assembly, Monday Ejegbu was also kidnapped in Umuahia as he went to collect his clothes from a laundry on Herbert Macaulay Street.

Another case involved one Rev Udo Igwe. A woman who lives beside a Justice Aguwamba was said to have also been abducted at her home at Ikwuano. She was made to stay in the car for hours. But after many hours, she was asked to step out. That was in Port Harcourt. Alas, all that driving was made in Ikwuano. The good news though is that the police were said to have arrested the folks when they drove out with her vehicle to call their boss.

In fact, on Tuesday August 5, Abia State Police Command smashed three different gangs of deadly kidnappers. Parading the suspects, the Abia state Commissioner of Police, Mr Edgar Tam Nanakumo, said the state police command had created an Anti-Kidnapping Squad that is a force to be reckoned with.

A total of 17 suspects had been arrested so far in the state. Three suspects were, however, arrested for armed robbery while the rest were arrested for kidnapping with a number of deadly weapons recovered from them.

The state police had acted on a tip-off that one Pastor Chike Umeejesi had been kidnapped at gun point with his Toyota Jeep and taken to Umumba in Osisioma. The kidnappers had demanded for the sum of N20m as ransom.

But the police had swooped in on them and one Stanley, described by the Police boss as "the ring leader" was arrested. He was traced to Port Harcourt and caught. He operated with Chibouk Esenyenwu.

According to the Commissioner, "the victim was held hostage for five days in an obscure village known as Umumba village, Osisioma, where he was rescued by police detectives who acted on a tip-off."

The police had on August 2, raided a hide-out in Aba and rescued one Dr Ezuma of the University Teaching Hospital Aba and arrested an all male suspects, Onyekachi Ojusiogu, Ifeanyi Allison and Chinonso Owenah.

The owner of the clothe line, BYC Pants who, as a source said, "also had a taste of this when he came to Umuahia from Aba for the ordination of Elder Prof Igbokwe. It did not start this year," is one of them.

On July 2, one Mrs. Christy Egwu was kidnapped at Wethdral Road, Owerri, and taken to Amaka Village in Isialangwa North LGA of Abia state. She was further duped to the tune of over N400, 000 by the kidnappers. She was however rescued on July 30, by the state police Anti-Kidnap Squad which stormed the hideout.

Suspects arrested were Eze Egbu, 27, from Oba, Idemili LGA, Anambra, Goodluck Dimiri, 46, from Ohanze in Obingwa LGA, Abia State, Ndubisi Bethel, 26, from Ameba of Ameba Isialangwa and James Ogbonna, 35, from Ututu, Arochukwu LGA. One Toyota Carina, two motorcycles and one compact disc were recovered from them.

Last July 20th, one Nathan Onyenso was kidnapped at the premises of Deeper Life Bible Church, in Mkpuka village, Isialangwa South Local Government Area, together with his Honda Civic car. The police had also acted on a tip-off. It had arrested eight suspects at a hide-out and recovered a Nissan Pathfinder Jeep, a Sienna Space Jeep, damaged locally made guns and instruments used in repairing guns and one locally made double barrel pistol with a live cartridge.

The police also said it got information about one Chinanu Jack and Friday, aka Frayo, who had been on the wanted list of the police, suspected to be involved in the attack on the governor's convoy and a bullion van. Detectives in a joint operation with special anti-robbery squad, Zone 9 and vigilante pointer, stormed their hide-out in Isialangwa North Local Government Area and arrested a suspect who is helping the police in their investigations.

Another person in the state reported how the state police smashed a camp in the state. "The police suspected the car the kidnappers used. Of course, based on information. They caught the suspects and interrogated them. But they refused to talk. They were even threatened with death. One was shot on the leg and he started screaming that he would not die alone. He then took them to where they housed the woman.

They shot at the house and the people who were there ran away. They released the woman. While there, a woman who belonged to the group came with food for the kidnappers. On sensing that something was amiss, she ran away, leaving her transporter, a commercial bike, known as okada behind. She was arrested.

"The following day, after the shattering of the louvers and walls, the police went back to the hideout of the gang and met it being renovated. So, they burnt the upstairs building down," he narrated.

Another person pointed out that "Some persons like Dr Mrs Rose Ekeleme was phoned to keep money for them, but she told them nobody will come to her aid if they should abduct her. More so where the only person who would have been moved to source for money is dead. Her husband."

Another information said one Jane Kalu Igwe, from Ohafia, an assistant manager in the state transport corporation, Abia Line was killed early this year." It could be people she was blocking at the office. An aggrieved woman who felt she was taking her man?", another pondered.

Chief Agwu Anyansi, Chairman of Enyimba Football Club, was abducted just few kilometres off outside the Government House. His abductors asked for N20m for his release. Anyansi was said to have made a call to a close friend in Jos, intimating him of his plight but since that phone call, his number was not available.

Abia kidnappers do not appear to have any political backing. Rather, since it started in 2007 in the state, it had appeared like criminals pouncing on people they think can cough out millions of naira as ransom. Anyansi was said to have paid N10m, but this is still disputed.

However, frauds have also joined in reaping off the innocent Abians. Some of the fraud victims are said to include one Dr. K. U. Njoku (Heavy Rain). These people, it is said, " have lost huge sums due to phone manipulations about one deal or another.

"The same group almost got my friend. He was already jubilating about a contract worth millions," he said.

The frauds, he went on, would call somebody, inform him of a supply business. "You pay at the bank or in Heavy Rain's case, at a company at Enugu," he went on.

The irony is that the criminals work on their victims, noting their places of origin and saying their close friends and family members are part of the deal. They even speak the dialects of the victims.

"The result is that everyone suspects the other. Friends, family, neighbours, professional 419, etc might be just responsible," he said.

Wow

I can't believe Deepzone would refer to a man as her boo, especially a yoruba man.

I must be dreaming or something

[size=14pt]Abduction for ransom becomes big business in Imo[/size]

http://www.thephctelegraph.com/stories/May,%202008/1405news_07.html



Even as Mike Okiro led Nigerian police force tighten up security and surveillance in anticipation of an attack by a bunch of lunatics called alqueda, the current scenario in Imo state, the eastern heartland, is reminiscence of happening in the street of Baghdad as abduction for ransom is at an all time high.


Today in Imo state, the fear of abduction is the beginning of wisdom. "What is all these? Within three weeks, three high profile abductions have gone unchallenged and our leaders are here trading blames while tax-payers are left at the mercy of hoodlums.

Need I say that our security is in a whirl wind?" That was the outburst of a top politician in Imo state, who for security reasons begged for anonymity. He was reacting to the recent abduction of the Honorable member representing Obowo state constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon Celestine Ngobiwu who was abducted on the evening of Wednesday, the 7th of May, 2008.

Huhuonline.com gathered that Imo state has been invaded by criminal syndicates specializing in abduction, kidnapping and bank robbery. It has been one tale of woe after another every week for the past couple of months. Since the 27th of March, 2008, brazen daylight bank robbery at Wethral road, Owerri that left 4 policemen dead and over 25 others injured, Imo has been in a whirlwind of commando style crime. Since then, over six other cases of bank robbery have been recorded in the state culminating in the robbery of three banks in Okigwe on Tuesday, the 6th of May 2008.

Though incidences of car snatching have also been recorded, what is bothering the Imo public presently in the spate of abduction and kidnapping in the state. When last February, a millionaire businessman in Orlu, Imo State, J.O. Ngumoha, was abducted to unknown destination by some faceless hoodlums, a fat ransom said to be about N20 million was paid to the criminal to secure his release. This came soon after a woman driving her child to school was abducted with her child. And it cost her husband, a Port Harcourt based oil magnate, about N10 million to secure their release, this also happened in Orlu town, a city, 45 minutes drive from the state capital. None of these incidents made headlines as they were apparently played down.


Presently, the syndicate moved their operation to the state capital around the third week of March, 2008 when they kidnapped the child of the Honorable member representing Isiala Mbano in the Imo State House of Assembly. Hon. Simeon Iwunze (Whiteman). It took another ransom to free the poor girl. In April, the wife of the ABC Transport company Chief Executive, Mr. Frank Nneji, tasted the hospitality of these hoodlums. Ngozi Nneji was abducted around Assumpta Cathedral area on her way back from evening mass and was held by her abductors for about a week before a comfortable compromise was reached between her family and the criminals. She is widely believed to have been released after her family paid a N10 million ransom. While Imo was about to celebrate the release of Ngozi Nneji, the aged father of Chief Tony Chukwu, a multi Millionaire business man and a political heavy weight in Imo state was abducted. The release of the aged Chukwu was effected with an N5million ransom.


While Pa chukwu is still recuperating in a hospital, Hon. Celestine Ngobiwu, member of the Imo state House of Assembly representing Obowo LGA was last Wednesday abducted. Imo state is clearly at a loss as to what to do under the prevailing circumstances as the security of the state is decidedly compromised. Huhuonline.com investigation reveal that Owerri, the state capital, hitherto known for its boisterous weekends is beginning to witness a recession as the crowd of celebrity weekenders are beginning to thin down. The showmanship of politicians in public function is gradually disappearing as they hardly make unnecessary public appearances. In spite of the fact that by two weeks ago, almost all the 27 House members of the Imo state House of Assembly had their personal security beefed up, Celestine Ngobiwu was still abducted.


This has sent a shockwave down the line of Imo crème de la crème. To make a bad situation worse, the Imo state Police command is presently not in a good state to effectively combat crime as the command is presently engrossed with redeployment formalities of the former state Police commissioner, Mr. Donald Iroham who has been redeployed to Lagos state and replaced with Mr. Innocent Ilozuoke who was formally heading the Abia state Police command. Public analysts who spoke to huhuonline.com are not entirely comfortable with the recent approach of the state government to the security situation in the state.


After a security stakeholders' meeting summoned by Governor Ikedi Hakim last week, he directed all the traditional rulers in Imo state to forward 25 names of suspected criminals in their communities to the government. Huhuonline.com learnt that beside the name-calling of political rivals and the unsubstantiated allegations of sabotage by government against perceived political enemies of government, observers strongly believe that the mandate to traditional rulers could only open a new vista to the already bad security situation in the state. While some opined that some of the royal fathers may use the Governor's directive to settle some personal scores, others maintained that such approach would ultimately polarize communities in the state.


Apparently nobody is safe in Imo today and there is panic in the air. As the security apparatuses continue to show helplessness in the face of the increasing rate of abduction which has become the "crime de la crime" in a state that was once known as the most peaceful state in Nigeria, The nagging question remains, who is the next victim?

IMO KIDNAPPERS REDUCE RANSOM FROM 500 MILLION NAIRA TO 250 MILLION NAIRA

Kidnappers cut down ransom on ABC owner’s wife

http://news.dailytrust.com/content/view/4927/27/

Written by John Kennedy, Owerri


The kidnappers of Mrs. Ngozi Nneji, wife of the ABC transport owner, who had earlier demanded a N500 million ransom before her release, have now cut down the ransom to N250 million.

Mrs. Nneji was recently abducted in a broad daylight by unknown persons in Owerri, Imo State.

Weekly Trust gathered that the family of Chief Frank Nneji, the husband of the kidnapped woman, was said to have offered N50 million for her release which the kidnappers have rejected.

There are indications that the woman may spend more days with kidnappers if nothing is done urgently to save her.

It was however gathered that well meaning citizens from the state including the Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Bishop Anthony Obinna who on radio yesterday over the matter, appealed to the kidnappers to release the woman.

Meanwhile, the state police command has denied knowledge of the kidnap.

The PPRO, Linus Nwaiwu, told newsmen that the command has not yet received any formal report about the incident.

It would be recalled that the woman who is the manager of May Fair Suit, Owerri, was kidnapped at the premises of the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese Headquarters after an evening mass.

Kidnapping will kill Imo economy if not checked

By Fidelis Soriwei, Owerri,
Published: Thursday, 22 May 2008

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200805223283593

A former National Publicity Secretary of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, Chief Nnamdi Olebara, has raised the alarm over the increasing spate of kidnapping in Imo State.

Olebara said that the kidnap-for-ransom trend in the state could have serious detrimental effect on the state if not checked promptly.

Olebara said that already, several potential investors and dignitaries were scared of visiting the state because of recorded incidents of successfully executed kidnaps currently put at eight.

In all the kidnap cases, the families of the victims had yielded to the warnings of the kidnappers and had often shunned security agencies to pay the negotiated ransom for the release of their kidnapped relatives.

Speaking in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Wednesday, Olebara said that it would be inconceivable for anybody to talk about investments and development without giving due recognition to the centrality of the security of lives and property in the society.

He wondered why people were not being co-opted to complement the efforts of the security operatives in the bid to checkmate the disturbing development, stressing that the perpetrators of the heinous crime were individuals dwelling in the society.

He also queried where and how the criminals who reportedly operated in fake Army and Police uniforms got their uniforms and why the various police roadblocks all over the state had not been able to apprehend any of them.

He stated that the increasing incidents of violent crimes like robberies, kidnappings and others did not represent the face of Imo adding that the security situation in the state was abhorrent and sickening to people of repute with good intentions for the state.

He advised Governor Ikedi Ohakim to re-strategise and not to believe that the acts of banditry being perpetrated in the state were political activities.

He called on the Commissioner of Police in Imo, Mr. Innocent Ilozuoke, to ensure a proper management of the police in the state with a view to fishing out bad elements and assigning responsibilities to competent people.

He also decried the abuse of the siren and rampant use of tinted glasses for cars in the state and urged the security agencies to enforce the laws against such errant people who went about with bogus titles in the society.

Olebara also condemned the recent approval of police escorts for the members of the Imo state house of Assembly by the police authorities.

Igbos have been known to kidnap each other even in their homeland, so kidnapping is not confined
to any particular tribe



Imo Assembly Speaker's Sons Kidnapped

This Day (Lagos)

NEWS
5 June 2008
Posted to the web 5 June 2008

By Amby Uneze
Owerri


http://allafrica.com/stories/200806050773.html

Commissioner of Police in Imo, Mr Emma Ezeazu, yesterday confirmed the kidnap of two sons of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Chief Goodluck Opiah.

Ezeazu said in Owerri that following the report of the incident, the police had begun investigation into the matter. He said the police acting on a tip-off, also arrested three suspected kidnappers in a hotel in Aba in Abia State. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the Speaker's sons were staying with their mother in Aba in Abia at the time of the incident. A NAN correspondent's effort to speak to Opiah on phone proved abortive as his mobile phone rang without reply.

However, Chief Press Secretary to Opiah, Mr Kelechi Mejuobi, told NAN that he heard about the incident from people, as he was out of the state capital for official engagements. NAN also reports that a special media luncheon and interactive session with the Speaker was postponed indefinitely.



Kidnap cases have been on the increase in Imo State in the last two months. The victims include Mrs Ngozi Nneji, the wife of ABC Transport Managing Director, a politician, Chief Tony Chukwu's father and Chief Celestine Ngaobiwu, a serving member of Imo House of Assembly.

The North has ruled Nigeria the most since independence, yet, this is what they have to show
for it:


Top poverty ridden states in Nigeria

JIGAWA - 95% high incidence of poverty
KEBBI - 89.7%
KOGI - 88.6%
BAUCHI - 86.3%
KWARA - 85.2%
YOBE - 83.3%,
ZAMFARA - 80.9 %
GOMBE - 77%
SOKOTO - 76.8%
ADAMAWA - 71.7%,


While the least poverty ridden are mostly igbos who have ruled Nigeria the least:

Bayelsa 20 per cent incidence of poverty
Anambra, 20.1 percent,
Abia, 22.3 per cent ;
Oyo, 24.1 per cent;
Imo, 27.4 per cent;
Rivers, 29.1 per cent ;
Enugu, 31.1 per cent ;
Ogun, 31.7per cent ; ,
Osun, 32 per cent
Edo, 33.1 percent

Axis:

As far as i am concerned, you are another hypocrite from the south with no iota of sense. Why are you now disassociating yourself from yoruba's? traitor. You are probably an igbo cannibal. 419, WURU WURU , fake drugs dealer. Yiu guys are even worse than the yoruba's. Bloody incivilised babarians.

I am sure your father never told you that the Igbos were very similar to the baboons in the Jungle. It was the white man that first caged, civilised and gave them clothes to wear. Now they are even having the guts to call some one uneducated. You guys just started wearing clothes about 5o years ago. Go and ask your father if you have any and he would confirm to you. You never even had culture or leaders until recent when some 419 chiefs just sprung from no where. The igbos still eat human beings, bloody carnibals.

Now you are descending on the igbos !! The guy is not even an igbo. How pitiful you are

madamkoko:

I am of the strong opinion that Nigeria will move forward and progress, if we can BAN religion.

Because then people will begin to see COMMONALITIES/SIMILARITIES rather than differences.

Nigeria will seize to exist in its present form if religion is banned. No doubt about this.

chiogo:



@somebody, I think it's a Nigerian thing, don't know about the black race thingy.

There is no black country in the world where idol worshiping doesn't take place.

Even some blacks in the U.S. are into this (esp in the south) not to mention the blacks
in cuba, brazil, australia etc.

It is indeed the black race as I said earlier.

madamkoko:

Maybe Nigerians will move forward when they stop all these idol worshipping.

Madamkoko, It is not just Nigerians but the black race as a whole. I believe the reason black countries
worldwide have not been able to progress compared to their white/latin/asian counterparts

is due to this idol worshipping you have eloquently highlighted. Black people must do away
with this for us to move forward and progress as a people.

Axis:


You are just like one of those your professors with fake certificates and nothing upstairs.

You this Axis guy, you are just jealous of the yoruba people. Wole Soyinka is the only Nigerian to
win a nobel prize, not a goro eater like you.

Axis:


In terms of Tinubu, Obanikoro, it was all in the press, they all have fake certificates like most of you bunch of educated illiterates being ruled by cattle rearers from the north.

Like I said, you are just a jealous fool. Tinubu graduated from Chicago State University (not University of
Chicago, they are two different schools). The bout between Obanikoro and Tinubu was just over politics,
Tinubu's diploma is very much authentic

Axis:

I have told you, you guys make up almost all the black population in the prisons abroad. I that part of the international award?

You are just yarning nonsense. There are more southerners than Northerners abroad, so the no of
southern prisoners are going to be more than those from the north.

Plus, you have no proof whatsoever that yorubas make up the bulk of these prisoners.

You are just jealous of the yorubas. Your people have ruled Nigeria the most since independence,
yet, Northerners are the poorest, begging for money all over the streets of Nigeria.

Tell your almajiris to stop begging for money and get jobs and be productive like their
fellow counterparts from the south.

DeepZone:


Actually if we break up, their food price will definitely go up because of taxes. I don't believe the food map above because majority of our staple food in Nigeria comes from up north. Yam, groundnut, sugar, beef, rice,goat, ram,tomato,beans etc. So, i don't know how that map marginalized the agrarian north all of a sudden. Tribalism apart, let the truth be told. I think the south produces only cassava(which they consume by themselves), plantain, palm oil and fish.

The map did not even include Ebonyi state that is the largest producer of rice.

The places you are referring to as the north are basically benue, kogi and kwara. They are the ones
producing the food stuff you mentioned and they are the middle belt, not the north.

You cannot grow rice and tomato in the desert ridden arid north. Many southerners often mistake
the middle belt as part of the north, but it is not.

Food Production in Nigeria - How everyone fares




As can be seen from the diagram, Southern nigeria is not only rich in oil and resources, but they produce
the most food for the country.

Southerners also have more relatives abroad that send money to their
loved ones back in Nigeria. They also transfer their knowledge and skills
home from abroad e.g. Okonjo-Iweala from the World Bank.

So, who will fare better if the country breaks up ?

Note: - Kwara, Kogi and Benue are middle belt states and are not considered the North.

gadogado:

[s]@deepzone, better for you to say something that makes sense, something that has substance, something that counters my argument than advising me to get help, do you have anything to say i doubt it. It is true that the hausa/fulani conquered yorubaland, it is true that the British left the country in the hands of the hausa/fulani when they were leaving in the late 50's, it is true that the north has produced the bulk of nigeria's leaders and it is true that the northerners comprises the bulk of the elite in nigeria, it is also true that the wealthiest black man in the world is a northern nigerian (hausa man from kano) it is also true that 70% of nigerias wealthy are northerners, so when someone starts saying things like oh it is the yoruba that are the most educated and this or that and by implication,yorubas have some kind of hold on nigeria, it is proper for me to counter that line of thought,[/s]

gadogado:


i actually believe that yorubas are very educated and industrious like igbos and hausas,

gadogado,

Please don't compare the yorubas with hausas when it comes to being educated and industrious. That is a
down right insult.

Your phrase should have been i actually believe that yorubas are very educated and industrious like igbos

Hausas have no place in this equation especially in terms of education.

Many thanks.

sherry lo:

Who was that Idiot that called Yoruba's parasites? anyway break up or no break up I know Yoruba's are ready!.One Nigeria? fine.Odua republic?fine.Oil out? fine.Yoruba's are not lazy people.Anyway northen Governors no vex,no break up hun?.

Don't mind the clown abeg. Yorubas are ready like you rightly said. Besides not being lazy people, yorubaland
is rich in resources.

They still have rich deposits of bitumen untapped in Ondo state. Ondo state also currently produces about 6% of Nigeria's oil, so that's over $100 million dollars per month.

All of the duties from Apapa and Tin Can Island ports would come to Yorubaland.

All of the businesses in Lagos - the banks, the telecoms etc would all pay taxes to Yorubaland. As we speak,
most of the non-oil taxes generated by the Federal Inland Revenue Service are from Lagos State.
- I would say close to 70%.

Yorubaland also produces the most cocoa in Nigeria and they export that. They produce cassava, yams,
kola nuts, rubber, palm produce etc.

Yorubaland also has the numbers - 40 million strong.

So, yorubas have a lot going for them.

Gamine:

Seriously.

There are too many yoruba guys i know.

infact i have eyes only for yoruba guys

and i never see one wey get tribal marks sha. . .

lol, I don't see any either.

Arnold1:


In spite of these accomplishments, the osu’s right to equal treatment remained unfulfilled because neither the Christian missionaries nor the sketchy colonial administration in place at the time could muster what it would take to dictate a needed change of attitude at the grassroots level.[/b][/color]

This is the part that is most saddening I swear.