Peace Mass Transit again? When are we going to have Peace Mass Transit from such bad news.

RIP to the Dead.

I have repeatedly come across this info on my FB wall. How true is this?

WARNING TO FACEBOOK ADMINISTRATORS
Relying on Channel 13's News about the change in Facebook privacy policy, I do not give Facebook or entities associated with Facebook permission to use my pictures, information, messages or posts, both past and future. By this statement, I give notice to Facebook it is strictly forbidden to disclose, copy, distribute, or take any other action against me based on this profile and/or its contents. The content of this profile is private and confidential information. The violation of privacy can be punished by law (UCC 1-308- 1 1 308-103 and the Rome Statute). NOTE: Facebook is now a public entity. All members must post a note like this. If you prefer, you can copy and paste this version. If you do not publish a statement at least once it will be tactically allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in the profile status updates. DO NOT SHARE. You MUST copy and paste.

Eleyi gidi gan!

Gambian Police on Thursday issued a stern warning against music and dance during the month of Ramadan, which began on June 6, a statement from the Office of the Inspector- General of Police said.

“In honor of the Holy Month of Ramadan, all ceremonies, festivities and programmes that involve drumming, music and dance during the day or at night are prohibited.

“All those engaged in the practice are therefore warned to desist from such acts, otherwise they will be eventually apprehended and face the full force of the law without compromise,” the statement saidThe Public Relation Officer of the Police, Lamin Njie, said the police also advised the public to report any such persons or groups to the police, as stern actions would be taken against any offenders.

Islam is the predominant religion in the nation and in December 2015, President Yahya Jammeh declared the Gambia as an Islamic republic.
http://www.punchng.com/gambian-police-issue-stern-warning-music-dance-ramadan/

KANO – The Department of Security Service (DSS) has busted ISIS training Cells in Kano and arrested five persons on their way to Libya and other Africa States.

The State Director of DSS, Abdullahi Bello Chiranchi, said that the arrest was a significant break through at frustrating move by terrorist blocking from making Kano an ISI training ground.
Chiranci revealed that those arrested were indigenes of Kogi State moving to Libya, Morocco and other places that might have traces of ISIS fighters.

Though DSS failed to offer details of those suspected ISIS on transit to Libya but however insisted that their arrest is a significant one.

Similarly, Mr. Chiranci paraded gangs of international rustlers, armed robbers, kidnappers and car Snatchers.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/dss-bursts-isis-cell-kano/

Ikemefula Charles "Ike" Ibeabuchi after winning 16 straight fights from the start of his career, made a big jump in competition and fought undefeated prospect David Tua for the WBC International Heavyweight title on June 7, 1997. Tua was 27-0 and considered by many analysts to be 'the next Mike Tyson'.

Both boxers threw bombs and neither took a backward step all night. Ibeabuchi and Tua set a CompuStat heavyweight division record with 1,730 punches thrown. Ike also set the individual CompuStat record by throwing 975 punches and averaging 81 per round. The heavyweight average is around 50. Ibeabuchi won a unanimous 12 round decision over Tua with scores of 117-111, 116-113, and 115-114. The fight established Ibeabuchi as the top contender for the world heavyweight title.
In July 1999, Ibeabuchi was staying at The Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas when he phoned a local escort service and had a woman sent to his room. The 21-year-old woman said later she was there to strip and nothing else. She claimed Ibeabuchi attacked her in the walk-in closet after she demanded to be paid up front. Ibeabuchi barricaded himself in the bathroom and police discharged pepper spray under the door until he surrendered.
In November 2015, Ibeabuchi was finally released as a free man. Ibeabuchi immediately enlisted the help of Mike Koncz, the adviser of Manny Pacquiao to guide his plan for a boxing comeback at age 43.

Yinusa Dahiru, the 18-year-old boy alleged to have abducted, raped and impregnated 14-year-old Ese Oruru, has named the baby girl delivered Fatima.

Ese was delivered of a baby girl on Thursday morning at the Government House Clinic after she went into labour at her Police Officers Mess temporary residence.

Yinusa who was granted bail since April but unable to meet the bail conditions and is remanded at the Okaka Medium Security Prisons was said to have broken into smiles when he was told that Ese had given birth to a baby girl.

According to sources, when the story appeared on social media, one of the members of the legal team called to confirm and upon confirmation, the story was broken to the Dahiru family and Yinusa was also informed.

Sources at Okaka Prison said Yinusa was very elated over the news and he immediately said he was going to name her Fatima, a name borne by the daughter of Prophet Muahammed.

Yinusa was said to have expressed eagerness to see his daughter when he was told that the girl took after his complexion.

“ Yinusa has been told about the birth of a baby girl by Ese Oruru. He was called from Kano and told that he has a daughter after the Internet pictures were confirmed to be true. He was very elated over the news and he

immediately gave her the name Fatima after the daughter of Prophet Mohammed and because of the circumstances surrounding the birth of the girl, which he believes is divine. The name Fatima is the personification of high virtues

and purity. As I talk to you, I can tell you that he is eagerly waiting to see the daughter”.

However in an interview, the father of Ese, Mr. Charles Oruru said he is yet to give a name to his granddaughter.

According to him the family has no money and it is not planning any naming ceremony in line with the tradition. Mr. Oruru who declared that he is not interested if Yinusa has been told about the birth of the baby said, the

family is willing to forgive Yinusa if he shows remorse and apologises for his mistakes in abducting Ese to Kano.

“I don’t want to know if he has been told about the birth of the girl and has given her a name. All I know is that I am yet to give her a name. We don’t have money, so we are not thinking of a naming ceremony. As I said before, we are grateful to God that she delivered safely. As for Yinusa he has not realized his mistakes for him to show

remorse. He has to apologise for the whole world to hear before we would now talk of forgiveness because the case is beyond us now, the whole world is aware”

http://sunnewsonline.com/ese-oruru-yinusa-names-baby-fatima-from-prison/

Some chilling details have emerged on the April 25 massacre of residents of Nimbo community in Enugu State by Fulani herdmen following the arrest of a 24-year-old suspect, Mohammadu Zurai, by the Inspector-General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team.

Zurai, who was arrested alongside four other suspects – Ciroma Musa (3), Sale Adamu (33), Suleiman Laute (43) and Haruna Laute (24) – told the police that at least 100 Fulani herdsmen from seven states took part in the massacre.
According to the suspect, Fulani leaders rearing cows in Taraba, Kogi, Benue, Nasarawa, Katsina, Niger and Kaduna States contributed representatives to take part in the attack.

Zurai, a Fulani herdsman living in Kogi State, said he was born in Enugu State even though his family are from Garba Shehu town in Taraba State.

His statement revealed that prior to the attack, kolanuts were shared among Fulani leaders in the seven states earlier identified, urging them to support the attack.

According to Zurai, the attack came because of the killing of six Fulani herdsmen in the community in the past without repercussion.
Saturday PUNCH learnt that the leader later sent representatives who took part in the attack.

Two days before the attack (April 23), a meeting where the plans were perfected was held in Ameke town, Kogi State.

The police had revealed that a video recording of the killing was recovered from Zurai.

Zurai said, “After we attacked the town through the bush, I saw a man who had just been slaughtered on the ground. I brought out my phone and recorded the scene.

“I asked the dead man, ‘Your people had confidence to kill Fulani people but now you are dead. Don’t you know that Fulani owns Nigeria?’ I recorded the video to show my relatives in Kogi where I live how successful the operation was. As we moved around Nimbo, I saw an Igbo man who used to give me food anytime I was in the state. I warned him to quickly leave town to avoid being killed.”

Zurai said he was invited to take part in the killing by one Buba. He identified leaders who participated in the killing as Alhaji Suddi, Alhaji Kuriya, Alhaji Dula and Ardo Dula (living in Enugu State).

Others he identified are Mallam Adamu , Alhaji Chiroma, Adamu Sarka, Alhaji Botdo, Alhaji Iro Kogi and Alhaji Fanya (from Kogi State).

http://www.punchng.com/nimbo-massacre-recorded-killing-show-people-success-suspect/

The Council of Islamic Ideology has proposed allowing a man to 'lightly beat' his wife if she does not 'dress as he desires', refuses to have sex, or fails to take a bath after her period.

The 20-member council is a constitutional body of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, but can only advise the government rather than make laws.

Its latest proposals come as part of its own women protection bill, after it rejected Punjab province's controversial Protection of Women against Violence Act, branding it un-islamic.
It suggests that women can be beaten if they refuse to have sex without a religious excuse or fail to bathe after intercourse and periods.

Women should also be beaten for not wearing hijabs, or for speaking so loudly that strangers can hear them, it recommends.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3612356/Islamic-council-proposes-allowing-men-lightly-beat-wives-not-dress-desires-refuse-sex-fail-bath-period.html

Saudi authorities have arrested a man for shooting a male doctor who had helped his wife’s delivery, after arguing that a female doctor should have overseen the birth.
The doctor, Muhannad Al Zabn, delivered the baby in April at the King Fahad Medical City in Riyadh, Gulf News reported.
The man offered his thanks to the doctor and asked to meet him at the hospital to show him his appreciation in person for the delivery.
The pair proceeded to meet in the hospital garden to talk about the delivery when the father unveiled a firearm and shot at the doctor, seriously wounding him.
The man ran from the scene but Saudi police later arrested him.
Health workers transferred Al Zabn to the hospital’s intensive care unit but he is now in a stable condition.
Bassam Al Buraikan, spokesperson for the King Fahad Medical City hospital, confirmed the incident to Gulf News and said authorities were conducting an investigation using evidence from the scene of the shooting.

http://thenationonlineng.net/saudi-man-shoots-doctor-assisting-wifes-labour/

ABUJA – MEMBERS of the House of Representatives on Monday started its special plenary on fuel price hike and removal of fuel subsidy on a rowdy note.

At about 12.15pm the speaker Yakubu Dogara immediately after prayers read the proceedings of the previous sitting and moved for the admittance of Minister of State, Petroleum Resources,Dr Ibe Kachikwu, into the chamber but No! No!! No!!! rented the air.

But after the speaker finished his comment, allowing the leader to move the motion, there was a resounding ‘nay’ from the opposition lawmakers mostly PDP in rejection of the motion.

The speaker, Yakubu Dogara however ignored the strength of the ‘Nay’ prayers by ruling in favour of the ‘Ayes’ as the majority leader quickly moved for the admittance of Dr Kachikwu.

Some members waving the national flag started shouting ‘all we are saying save Nigeria’ while others started chanting ‘change, another set of lawmakers predominantly PDP Reps started shouting ‘shame’ ‘shame’.

At this stage, the Minority Leader, Rep Leo Ogor at about 12.19pm approached the speaker and after a brief chat with him, he joined his fellow lawmakers.

Also the Majority Leader Rep Femi Gbajabiamila and some of the lawmakers approached the speaker but the noise continued as all attempts by the Majority Whip, Rep Ado Doguwa fell on deaf ears.

Suddenly, frayed tempers disappeared and the speaker gave the minority leader the floor and he immediately moved for a closed door meeting.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/05/reps-rowdy-session-fuel-price-hike/

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Wednesday faulted the federal government on the hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol describing it “as an act of insensitivity and impunity”
The NLC in a statement by Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, General Secretary, said; “The unilateral increase in prices of petroleum products today by government represents the height of insensitivity and impunity and shall be resisted by the Nigeria Labour Congress and its civil society allies.
“With the imposition on the citizenry of criminal and unjustifiable electricity tariff and resultant darkness and other economic challenges brought on by the devaluation of the Naira and spiraling inflation, the least one had expected at this point in time was another policy measure that would further make life more miserable for the ordinary Nigerian.
“The latest increase is the most audacious and cruel in the history of product price increase as It represents not only about 80 per cent increase but it is tied to the black market exchange rate.
“Furthermore, the process through which government arrived at this is both illogical and illegal as the board of the PPPRA is not duly constituted. In our previous statements and communiques, we had stressed the need for reconstituting the boards of NNPC and PPPRA and wean both away from the overbearing influence of the Minister of State for Petroleum
“Resources who has assumed the role of a Sole Administrator. The allusion to the fact that the this increase was arrived at after due consultation with stake holders is not only ridiculous and fallacious, it goes to show that the brief meeting held today during which government was advised to shelve the idea until at least it meets with the appropriate organs of the Congress was in bad faith.
“Accordingly, we urge the government to revert the prices to what they were. We would want to put everybody on notice that we shall resist this criminal increase with every means legitimate.
“Already an emergency NEC meeting has been scheduled for Friday, May 13, 2016 to decide on the next line of action. Meanwhile, our affiliates, state councils and civil society allies are requested to commence mobilization immediately.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/fuel-price-hike-shall-resist-increase-nlc/

If you got 2 wives or more, you need no such question.

This boko haramites sabi like "tohtoh" ehn!

During one of his pitches, Donald Trump, who is running as the Republican Presidential Candidate of the United States, referred to Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria as an ‘insensible president’.


Donald Trump like we all know, is very outspoken. He is one politician who loves to air his opinion with little or no concern about how his subject receives the comment.

Some people would say Trump talks before thinking, others may say he is just being a blab, while a lot others simply love his undiplomatic approach to presenting speeches.
No sensible president continuously travels round the globe while his country Nigeria is in terrible hardship and economic mess.
It can only happen in Nigeria where all that matters to the President is the full introduction of Islam, annihilation of his political opponents and absolute extermination of the people of the old Eastern Nigeria.
Buhari, prior to his questionable victory at the polls as the President of Nigeria made lots of promises which he has obviously failed to keep and in most cases denied.”
Trump is not far from the truth, as Buhari has made tons of trips since he became the Nigerian President. The likes of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State do not buy the idea of Buhari’s frequent trips as he says it is detrimental to the finances of the nation. No doubt President Buhari’s trips are becoming “too often,” Nigerians now wait to hear the next announcement of yet another trip.

The country is in a pitiable state and needs her President to always be on top of his game. The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is capable of handling some trips abroad while the president stays home to take care of his people. In the past 10 months, President Buhari has made over fifteen (15) trips.

He has been to the United States of America, Benin Republic, Ghana, France, India, Chad, Germany, Iran, South Africa, United Arab Emirate, Kenya, Ethiopia, to mention but a few. Meanwhile, he has not visited up to fifteen states in the country as a President.

This is certainly what Mr. President and his All Progressives Congress (APC) meant when they said Nigeria would experience change when power gets into their hands.

Recall that just last week, Donald Trump also referred to African leaders as ‘thieves’, using the president of Nigeria and Kenya as typical examples. He also said these African countries lack civilization and leadership skills and should be colonized a second time. Considering the appalling happenings in Nigeria, the US would-be-President may not be totally wrong after all but it would even be more interesting to see what happens if he becomes the next US president.

http://www.breakingnewsngr.com/2016/03/trump-blasts-nigeria-again-calls-buhari.html?m=1

Chai! The little girl has passed through hell. I just imagine this Yunusa ramming into her with an elongated PENILE SHAFT, enhanced with Boorantashi.

Hmnnn! I smell propaganda by the Yarbawas from this narrative. Let the Hausawas narrate their own side of the story so that our judgement will be objective.

Chanji dole!

Elhabeeb1:
From the dimension the picture was taken, the person that snapped the picture was trying to super impose the estate with brown roof as part of the asset seized. From my observation, only the building with green roof was sealed by the EFCC.
Stop unnecessary deception.

Are you trying to get more details? Why not simply ask? The whole structure your eyes can see within the picture is/was Ihejirika's. Infact the presence of the security guys didn't help matters, 1/10 of the estate couldn't be captured. Or are you related?

sanmibukunmi:
Please ppl I want to ask, what eventually happens to this estates after the owners have been convicted.? will they be sold or destroyed or just returned back to the owner?

I will definitely give updates on NL concerning this .

More pics after the cut!


I received 2 hot slaps from one of the security agents for daring to take these pics. My phone was seized and searched but the pics were not found (Narrow escape).

An Estate along Jabi Airport road junction in Abuja, belonging to the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS).Azubuike Ihejirika, CFR was today 27/1/2016 sealed by the officials of the EFCC in company of heavily armed security officials.

PMB gives preference to technocrats, while APC likes mediocres and the continuation of amala politics which discredited Jonathan's government. PMB cannot buy into the "chop I chop" politics some of this end time politicians are expecting.

This is the height of rascality and insanity. Is it that he has no wife presently or he lacks 100 bucks which can fetch him an over used olosho? Some people are better dead.

A fresh crisis is currently brewing in the All Progressives Congress over the refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the political appointees of his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan.

Some leaders of the ruling party, who faulted Buhari’s retention of the PDP members, called for their sacking and the appointment of APC members in their stead.

Besides, some members of the APC also lamented that Buhari was not helping the party with funds.

A chieftain of the APC in Lagos, who did not want his name in print, told our correspondent that they had not benefitted anything from Buhari since he took over power eight months ago.

He said it was as if the President was rewarding members of the Peoples Democratic Party and punishing APC members.

He said, “President Buhari took over on May 29, 2015 and has not rewarded APC members. Most of the heads of departments and agencies are members of the PDP who worked for Jonathan. For example, Onyeka Onwenu is still the Director-General of the National Women Centre while Mike Omeri is still the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency.

“A former Special Adviser to Jonathan on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro, is still the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria while Mr. Sola Omole is still the Director-General of the Nigeria Television Authority.

“There are almost 100 ambassadorial positions that are supposed to have been filled but these people are still occupying the offices. We are not asking for security or sensitive positions but all these appointments I mentioned are not statutory but merely political.

“Our people who worked so hard and spent money on Buhari’s campaign are languishing. There are many competent people in the APC.”

Another APC chieftain, who also craved anonymity, said if Buhari continued this way, the APC might not be able to retain power beyond 2019.

He said most of the people that were being appointed by the President were either northerners or members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change.

The party leader added that about 15 of the 36 people appointed as ministers did not work for the party in the last elections and were not popular in their states.

He recalled that many of the ministers were rejected by their state governors and state party chapters because they had no roots or allegiance to them.

He said, “In Bayelsa State, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Heineken Lokpobiri, was a member of the PDP during the elections and he campaigned for Jonathan. He defected to the APC in August and was appointed a minister the following month. And yet, the core APC members were abandoned.

“The Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, from Gombe State, is not an APC member. The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, is not an APC member. The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma, was a PDP member during the election and there are many more examples.”

http://www.punchng.com/apc-leaders-want-buhari-to-remove-jonathans-appointees/

lilreese:
The girl in green thou

Looks like Ann Kasime.

Thou what?

These soldiers deserve to be dismissed for life. They want to serve in Aso villa abi? Are they better than the troops at the war front now? Burantai oya ngwanu.
You should expect anything from the day you enlist into the NA, and the only way out is to leave the service.
These things are not new in the NA. Your resilience is being tested here.

(CNN)When it comes to health and prosperity, there's no topping Norway.

For the 12th year in a row, the land of lefse and lutefisk has earned the number one spot on the United Nations' 2015 Human Development Index (HDI), released as part of its annual Human Development Report.

The HDI measures countries in three basic areas -- life expectancy, education and income/standard of living.

Norway earned high marks in all areas to get an overall score of 0.944. Its life expectancy at birth is 81.6 years, while its gross national income (GNI) per capita is $64,992.

Rounding out the top five are: Australia (0.935), Switzerland (0.930), Denmark (0.923) and the Netherlands (0.922).

Libya, Syria: Steepest drops
The HDI covers 188 countries and territories. This year's index has one new addition -- South Sudan.

According to the UN, the HDI -- launched in 1990 -- is intended to emphasize that expanding human choices should be the ultimate criteria for assessing development results.

"Economic growth is a mean to that process, but is not an end by itself," said the report.

"The HDI can also be used to question national policy choices, asking how two countries with the same level of [Gross National Income] per capita can end up with different human development outcomes."

The countries with the steepest drops on the 2015 HDI are Libya, which slipped 27 places and Syria, which fell 15 places.

The bottom five countries are Niger (0.348), Central African Republic (0.350), Eritrea (0.391), Chad (0.392) and Burundi (0.400).

"This new global Human Development Report is an urgent call to tackle one of the world's great development challenges -- providing enough decent work and livelihoods for all," said Helen Clark, United Nations Development Program Administrator, during the launch of this year's report.

"The world of work is changing more rapidly than ever before. The question is: what are the best policy responses to ensure that human development benefits from that change?"

Human Development Index top 20
1. Norway

2. Australia

3. Switzerland

4. Denmark

5. Netherlands

6. Germany

6. Ireland

8. United States

9. Canada

9. New Zealand

11. Singapore

12. Hong Kong, China (SAR)

13. Liechtenstein

14. Sweden

14. United Kingdom

16. Iceland

17. South Korea

18. Israel

19. Luxembourg

20. Japan

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/16/travel/undp-most-liveable-country/index.html?iid=ob_homepage_showcase_pool&iref=obnetwork

The Federal Government has declared December 24, 25 and 28 as public holidays to mark Maulud Nabiy, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, respectively.

The Minister of the Interior, Retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, made the declaration on Thursday in Abuja in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Bassey Akpanyung.

“The Federal Government has declared Thursday, 24th December, 2015 as public holiday to mark Eid-El-Maulud celebration.

“Friday, 25th and Monday 28th December, 2015 have also been declared as public holidays to mark Christmas and Boxing Day celebration,” the statement said.

The minister enjoined Muslim and Christian faithful to use the unique occasion to‎ pray for the peace and unity of Nigeria.



He also advised Nigerians to cooperate and join hands with President Muhammadu Buhari in his efforts to build a peaceful, united and virile nation.

Dambazau wished Nigerians, home and abroad, happy celebrations.

Eid-Maulud is the celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammed in Islam, while Christmas is celebrated by Christians to mark the birth of Jesus Christ.



thenationonlineng.net/yuletide-fg-declares-dec-24-25-28-public-holidays

Suspects opt to refund cash for freedom North’s leaders may intervene President Muhammadu Buhari and his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, may soon meet over the mind- boggling revelations from the arms cash probe. Former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki, who is standing trial for alleged misapplication and fraudulent disbursement of over N31b meant for purchase of arms, has alleged in his statement to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that all his disbursements were approved by the ex- President. Sources said some associates of Dr. Jonathan were arranging a private meeting between the leaders to enable Jonathan “straighten out” some things with the President. The ex-President is believed to be desirous of addressing some of the allegations in confidence because he is not keen on speaking publicly “so as not to heat up the polity”. It was also gathered that the ex-President’s camp noted that some of the N31billion cash was sourced from “security votes and budget for Special Services”. “Jonathan will prefer a private audience with the President rather than taking up issues with the suspects in public. Some of the expenditures have grave security implications as they involve some neighbouring countries,” a source said, adding: “As a statesman, Jonathan cannot just open up at all. For example, there is a unit where the overhead of past Presidents and Heads of State was taken care of. Some of the funds disbursed by the office had to do with these funds. If Jonathan speaks, will he not rubbish these past leaders? “Some Presidents from some countries sought financial assistance from ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. Do you expect the former leader to issue a statement on such a sensitive request?” The source spoke of how Nigeria bought vehicles and some equipment for some countries from the funds, adding that diplomatic etiquette does not allow such a disclosure. “At a point, there was negotiation to end Boko Haram insurgency. This type of deal cannot be put in the public domain”, he said, pleading not to be named because he is not permitted to talk to the media. Also yesterday, it was learnt that some of the suspects facing trial may opt to return looted funds and forfeit some assets in exchange for freedom or light sentences. It was also learnt that some leaders of the North may prevail on President Buhari for soft- landing for some of the suspects. About N31billion has been traced to more than nine suspects facing trial in Abuja courts. Some of the suspects, according to sources close to the investigations, are already overwhelmed by the evidence against them and would prefer the plea bargain option. The suspects are said to have volunteered to return the funds traced to them and their cronies through phoney companies. They are also said to be considering the plea bargain option to save time and get lighter jail terms where conviction becomes necessary. The names of the suspects seeking plea bargain were kept under wraps last night, but only a former Minister of State for Finance, Alhaji Bashir Yuguda, has indicated his willingness to recover N600million out of the over N1billion traced to him. A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Despite the fact that most of the suspects pleaded not guilty, some of them have been considering plea bargain to get off the hook. “Those affected have told the EFCC in confidence that they want to return looted funds and assets for outright state pardon or lighter jail terms. “These few ones seeking plea bargain said they ought to regain freedom to retrieve funds where they are stashed. “In fact, one of the suspects said having admitted that he had slush funds, there was nothing to prove in court again.” Last night, counsel to one of the key suspects said: “I think there is a plea bargain offer by some suspects. Some lawyers appearing in the cases have been meeting to enable the nation to get some of these funds back. “These suspects would, however, prefer to return funds and assets to the EFCC for outright pardon. “As I am talking to you, we have not reached any conclusion on the terms of plea bargain to be presented to the EFCC, which is prosecuting all the suspects.” Some elders, led by a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation are said to be pushing for soft landing for some of those on trial. The elders are said to be worried that most of the suspects are from the North. It was learnt that the elders had been under pressure to save these key Northern figures on trial. But some of the elders, who are unsure of President Buhari’s reaction, were said to have met with presidential confidants. There were plans last night for the elders to have an audience with the President. Another source said: “These elders want a plea bargain alternative, which will lead to the surrendering of all looted funds by the suspects. “Thereafter, an amicable political solution will be reached to allow the suspects to go home and sin no more. Alternatively, those with bad cases can serve lighter jail terms.”
http://thenationonlineng.net/n31b-loot-jonathans-camp-to-seek-talks-with-buhari/