Ojukwu’s blunders that ruined Biafra

Vol. 1 No. 18, Wednesday, March 20 - Sunday, March 24, 2013

Boy 8, marries woman 61, to Page 24 please ancestors

Page 2 Protests over Ekweremadu’s plot to succeed Chime

America's Files On Ojukwu Part 2 10, , 9 , s8 Page , & 12 11

Ezu River victims murdered – Autopsy Group wants Anambra CP, O/C SARS, others sanctioned

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God told Jonathan to pardon Over 60 killed in motor Alamieyeseigha Page 4 park blasts Page 2 – Arthur Eze

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Protests over Ekweremadu’s plot to succeed Chime He can’t be governor after Chime – Nsukka zone Angry youths tear posters

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acophony of voices has risen in protest over the purported move by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu representing Enugu West Senatorial District in the National Assembly to run for the gubernatorial seat in Enugu State come 2015.

The move, it was gathered, is causing ripples in many quarters as the emergence of Senator Ekweremadu in the race is said to spell down for the political ambition of some governorship hopefuls particularly from Enugu North Senatorial District.

Investigations by The ADVOCATE revealed that Ekweremadu's plot to succeed the incumbent governor Sullivan Chime also from the same Enugu Senatorial District has not gone down well with the aspirants and people from Nsukka (Enugu North Senatorial District) who believe it is their turn to produce the next governor at the expiration of Chime's second term in office in 2015.

Former governor of the state, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani who ruled from 1999 to 2007 is from Enugu East while his Chime who succeeded him is from Enugu West.

Governor Chime had while on his second term campaign in Nsukka assured that that power would rotate to Enugu North after his tenure.

But the recent flooding of Enugu state with Ekweremadu's posters is seen by observers as a handiwork of mischief makers who are bent on truncating the unity and political understanding that have existed in the state.

According to them, it is unthinkable for the hawks prodding Ekweremadu to run for the governorship race when all eyes are on Nsukka zone (Enugu North Senatorial District) to have their turn.

Our source pointed out that the growing opposition to the governorship ambition of the serving Deputy Senate President may not be unconnected with the removal and defacing of Ekweremadu.

The Ekweremadu-for-governor posters which is powered by a group simply identified as Enugu State Unity Project has such an inscription as “Ekweremadu Enugu Dream 2015.”

Apart from Enugu West and Enugu East Senatorial districts, the posters adorn strategic locations in Enugu North Senatorial District particularly Nsukka town along Nsukka main motor park,Total round-about,

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu Odenigbo round-about and Ogurugu road.

A trader at the Ogbete main market from Aninri Enugu West Local Government Area of the State who said he saw the posters told The ADVOCATE that there is nothing wrong if Ekweremadu should run for the governorship race in Enugu State.

According to him, “Ekweremadu is more liberal in helping people than governor Chime.”

He stated that the Deputy Senate President has transformed the entire Enugu West Senatorial

District in terms of provision of infrastructural amenities like roads, sinking of boreholes, his interest from the race in 2015 following pressure in some political quarters to allow of schools and construction of major roads.

He has also done much in the area of human empowerment , influenced the appointment of many people from Enugu State into public offices and these gestures are seen as the things that should go for him.

“When governor Chime dropped

many commissioners from his cabinet, Ekwermadu reabsorbed most of them into federal offices and most of these beneficiaries who cut across the three senatorial districts are believed to be working as Ekweremadu's footsoldiers ahead of the 2015 race.

Notwithstanding his high profile achievement as Deputy Senate President, some youths in Enugu State have vowed to stop the actualization of the Ekweremadu's governorship bid.

To made real their threat, the angry youths in their hundreds last yesterday marched the major streets of Enugu protesting the flooding of the parts of the state with Ekweremadu's posters, describing it as a breach of the existing zoning arrangement in the State A chieftain of the PDP from Nsukka who pleaded anonymous told The ADVOCATE that display of Ekweremadu's posters was the height of impunity and disregard to unanimous decision and agreement by the people of the State to sustain power shift, adding that 'the removal of the posters was a demonstration of the youth's anger.

“Personally, I see those posters as an insult on the collective psyche of Nsukka people, why should they start pasting the poster in Nsukka, a zone that is expected to produce Governor in 2015?

“As I speak to you, none of such poster has appeared anywhere in Enugu West Senatorial district, Ekweremadu's zone.

“So, I can understand how the youths feel; the earlier those

behind this game stopped it, the better. It will be a grave injustice for any other zone, apart from Nsukka, to think of producing Governor in 2015 after they have served two tenures each”.

It was not immediately known whether Ekweremadu gave his blessing to the printing and displaying of his posters.

One of his aides, Martin Oloto has denied that the Deputy Senate President has not authorized anybody to print and display his posters.

Despite the denial, political pundits opine that Ekweremadu has not shelved his ambition to governor Enugu State.Infact, the Deputy Senate President was made to withdraw in the last minute following pressures from certain quarters that he should allow Chime to carry the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag in order to use the incumbency factor and political machinery in the State crush former governor Nnamani who was staging a comeback through another party in 2011.

For now, observers are of the view that Ekweremadu may dump PDP for the newly-registered All Progressives Alliance (APC) should he denied the chance of carrying the party's governorship flag.

When contacted on his ambition and likely defection to APC if he is denied the PDP platform to actualize his gubernatorial ambition, our reporter could not reach the Deputy Senate President for comments as the time of going to the press.

KANO MASSACRE: Over 60 killed in motor park blasts

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ver 60 people were feared dead, Monday evening, in Kano when a suicide bomber attacked a luxury bus park located at Sabon Gari, a predominantly Christian quarters.

The blast reportedly destroyed several buses while soldiers and policemen cordoned off the area after the blast.

The Chairman, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Kano, Chief Tobias Idika said that, “the incident occurred around 5.00 pm when activities at the park were at their peak. So far we have counted 60 human bodies burnt to ashes from five luxury buses affected by the blast."

Eye witnesses gave conflicting accounts of how the explosion occured.

An account said “the blast occurred as five fully loaded buses were moving towards the exit gate at the park when an unidentified individual driving a Golf Volkswagen car in an opposite direction rammed into the buses resulting in an explosion. The suicide bomber died instantly.”

According to Chief Idika , “all the five buses have been reduced to ashes by the impact of the blast, and

scores of others with high degree burns have been taken to Government hospital. Casualty figures might rise if what I have seen so far is anything to go by.

“We saw it coming and we informed the relevant authority to provide security for us in Sabon Gari but it fell on deaf ears”, he lamented.

Idika who was in tears further said: “ I cannot comprehend that human lives can be wasted like this; it is a horrible scene to behold and the fire service are trying their best to put out the inferno within and around the park”.

Another eyewitness said that “an Improvised Explosive Device went off in one of the five buses going out of the park by 5.00pm”, adding that

”there are heightened fears that none of the passengers survived the blast.”

The Sabon Gari blast triggered pandemoni um in the s t a t e capital as shops were hurriedly shut down in fear of possible looting by hoodlums.

The Joint Military Taskforce confirmed the blast. Spokesman of the Military outfit, Captain Ikediche Iweha stated that “we have moved in to the scene of the blast and we are trying to restore confidence to forestall looting.”

Captain Iweha explained that “we have invited men from Fire Service Department to put out the fire triggered by the blast and dozens were down by the impact of the blast. Our priority now is to secure the area and we do not have the casualty figure because we have not started counting. Investigation has commenced on the incident and that

will reveal what happened, and how it happened”.

Jonathan condemns blast President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has condemned in strong terms, Monday evening's bomb blasts in Kano. The President said the barbaric incident will not deter the Federal Government from its strong-willed determination to overcome those who do not mean well for this nation. He said the Federal Government will not be stampeded, for any reason whatsoever, into abandoning its unrelenting war against terrorists in the country.

President Jonathan reassured Nigerians and foreigners in the country that the Nigerian Government will continue to do all that is required to ensure the safety of lives and property, including continued collaboration with local and international partners and stakeholders to check the menace of terrorism.

He commiserated with the victims of the Kano explosions, their families and friends, and assured the KanoState government of the Federal Government's continued support.

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REVEALED: Ezu River victims murdered –Autopsy

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he raging controversy surrounding the 25 corpses found floating in Ezu River in Amansea, a border town to th Ugwoba Enugu state on the 19 January 2013 is at the verge of coming to an end following the autopsy report that victims were truly murdered.

Although those who were behind the heinous crime have not been uncovered, snippets from the autopsy report on the 25 corpses found afloat on the River in Amansea, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, indicate that the deceased persons were extra-judicially murdered.

It was gathered from sources in Lagos that the pathologists, who carried out the autopsy, discovered some bullet wounds, bruises and other signs which explains that the suspects did not die of natural causes.

The sources said although the results of the autopsy were scanty, it would be correct to assume that those whose corpses were thrown into the river had been in detention or custody.

Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Lawrence Ikeakor, had said that government made “startling discoveries” from the corpses of three of the victims, whose bodies were initially exhumed, prompting it to order further investigations on the remaining bodies.

Already tongues are wagging that some of those killed were kidnap or armed robbery suspects in the custody of security agencies in the state. But the police authorities in Anambra State have continued to deny the allegation saying they knew nothing about the floating corpses on Ezu River even as they have been unable to give a clear account of some of the suspects alleged to be in their custody.

Recently a human rights group known as International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, after carrying an independent investigation into the Ezu river mystery corpses presented their findings to the media in Anambra state. The report “The Return of Killing Fields: A Criminological Evaluation of Ezu River of Death & Related Tragedies (Part-Two)” and signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi, Chairman of International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, reads: Onitsha-Nigeria, 4th day of March, 2013) - On 21st day of January 2013, the leadership of International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law, released a public statement-titled: The Nigeria Police Force: The Good Versus The Bad & The Uglyin which the major challenges facing the Force including nefarious conducts of some, if not many of its senior/field officers, such as killing outside the law, torture and excessive use of force, th were highlighted. On 19 day of February, 2013, we released another statistically grounded

public report-titled: The Return Of Anambra's Killing Fields (PartOne). Today, part-two of the Reportis continued and concluded.

For our teeming readers all over the world, the central idea of part one and two of the report is to expose locally and internationally the entrenched culture of extra-judicial killings and torture within the Nigeria Police Force and direct and indirect backing of the locally and internationally atrocious acts by relevant political authorities in Nigeria. The report is zeroed down

Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of BiafraMASSOB and some suspects accused by the formal security agencies in Anambra State of Nigeria of armed robbery and abduction(kidnapping); numbering between 25 and 50, who were violently taken into SARS detention since December 2012 or before then, were brought out from their detention cells, killed with lethal objects or substances, which may include killer-chemical substances, lethal middles, lethal

IGP MD Abubakar to Ezu River of Death with strong linkage to the Special Anti Robbery Squad of the Anambra State Police Command-the general overseer of extra judicial killings and torture in Anambra State of Nigeria.

It is recalled that we had in the referenced public statement of January 21, 2013, informed the world that dozens of corpses found floating on Ezu River of Death by local villagers on 18th day of January, 2013, might most likely emanate from the deadly Special Anti Robbery Squad of the Anambra State Police Command led by one Police Commissioner Bala Nasarrawa. In other words, they were victims of extra judicial killings and torture carried out by SARS. The deadly outfit is under one Chief Police Superintendent James Chima Nwafor. The indisputable position of ours was collaborated by Anambra State leadership of the Civil Liberties Organization vide its separate public statement same date. As expected, leaderships of the State Police Command and SARS weakly and remorselessly denied any involvement and labeled usenemies of the State. It was in the light of these that part-one and parttwo of the report under reference was, and is still predicated.

The grand summary of the Ezu River of Death Disaster perpetrated by the Police is that dozens of unprocessed(not fully investigated, prosecuted, properly tried, convicted and sentenced) suspects including some innocent members of the public, some members of the

for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law at its Onitsha administrative headquarters.

Mrs. Uchenna Ogbu, who is about six months pregnant, is the wife of Citizen Basil Ogbu, one of nine MASSOB members that went missing in the hands of SARS since 7th day of December, 2013. Citizen Basil Ogbu is strongly believed to have been extra judicially executed alongside eight others and dumped into Ezu River of Death by SARS on 18th day of January, 2013. Her Account: My name is Mrs.

Mr Ballah Nasarawa, Anambra Police Commissioner

clubbing, strangulation and lethal bullets (particular mode of killing is to be determined by independent credible autopsy)other than tasering or tear-gassing ; taken to Ezu River on patrol vans during the hours of the dead(1:00am and 3:00am) and dumped in turn, into the river under reference; with a malicious intent to close traces and heap blames on the host community(Amansea) and endanger their lives and those of their neighbours with false linkage to non-existent violent communal conflicts as the cause and source of the floating corpses. While credible independent sources including some media houses gave the number of the floating corpses as 25, 30 and 50, sources from the Police and the Government of Anambra State claimed that the number was 19. Nine members of MASSOB are believed to be among the dead. It is recalled that in October 2009, during the fatal road accident along Umunya portion of the Onitsha-Enugu Dual Carriage Way, involving multiple commercial buses (14 & 18-seater buses) loaded with passengers, and a fuel tanker lorry; eyewitnesses' accounts including journalists, passersby and survived passengers put the number of the dead at 7080, but the State Government and the Federal Road Safety Corps said it was 13.

Star Witness Account: On Monday, 25th day of February, 2013, Mrs. Uchenna Ogbu, who is in her early twenties, spoke to the leadership of International Society

Uchenna Ogbu from Ogbaru, Anambra State, married to my husband-Mr. Basil Ogbu, 25 years of age, from Nsukka in Enugu nd State. I dropped out of 2 year from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria about three years ago due to my mother's death and got married in 2012. My husband is a businessman, dealing in cosmetics along Sokoto Road, near Onitsha Main Market. He has about five apprentices trading and working for him. Some stay in his shop, while others work for him in a motor park, located on Bida Road, near Onitsha Main Market. We live at No.100, Bida Road, in a flat apartment. My husband is also one of the local leaders of MASSOB in Onitsha. We returned from Okigwe in Imo State (headquarters of MASSOB in Nigeria) in early December 2012 and my husband was getting ready for his new administrative posting to Nnewi at Ojukwu's house before his arrest and missing.

In the morning of December 7, 2012, my husband-Mr. Uchenna Ogbu told me he was going to their office, which is located at Ezeolisa Lane, off Sokoto Road, for a meeting on how to bury one of their members-Citizen Uchechukwu Ejiofor (from Imo State), killed by a combined team of security th agencies on 12 day of November, 2012. In the evening of December 7, 2012, my husband did not come back; later a call came informing me that he had problem with the police and the Onitsha Main

Market armed Vigilante Group.

One of their members called me again and told me that my husband was shot and bundled away alongside others by a combined team of soldiers, SSS, SARS and armed vigilantes-called JTF, which stormed their office on the said date. On 8th day of December, 2012, we organized a search party involving myself, my husband's elder brother and a lawyer and we visited the Onitsha Area Command and the CPS. He was located at the Onitsha Area Command alongside others. We saw him lying on the floor with one of his legs battered with gun bullets without any medical treatment, not even firstaid. His battered leg was covered with carton papers. He managed to speak to us. He said that some of their members were on peaceful procession along Sokoto Road, when the armed security team came and violently disrupted their procession and arrested some of them, after which they raided their office, shot and arrested him; and that about nine of them were violently arrested on the said date.

My husband later asked us to give him pure water(sachet water) and a police officer on duty advised us against it on the ground that he may die if given because of his gun-shot wounds. He suggested a pack of locozade boost and a bottle of malt, which were bought and given to him. The police officer who was touched by my condition and age (early twenties) advised us to hurriedly get a doctor to treat his gun-shot wounds before they are transferred to SARS or State CID. We went to the New Hope Hospital and the doctor on duty demanded police report and by the time we got back to the Onitsha Area Command, my husband and others have been taken away. We went to the State CID, at Awka and they told us that such suspects including my husband were not brought there. We went to the Awkuzu SARS headquarters and they chased us away. We returned to the Onitsha Area Command and pleaded profusely with the Area Commander-ACP B.S. Wordu before he brought out the transfer list showing that my husband and others were transferred to the Awkuzu SARS headquarters. It was when several efforts to see my husband at the Awuzu SARS failed that we went to the Awka Federal High Court to compel the O/C SARS to produce my husband in court, which till date, has failed to th yield any good results. Since 8 day of December, 2012, a period of two months, two weeks and three days, I have not set my eyes on my husband-Basil Ogbu. I am tempted to believe that SARS have murdered my innocent husband!

From the foregoing, therefore, it has been incontrovertibly established that Citizen Basil Ogbu and eight other MASSOB activists, who were arrested since 7thday of December, 2012, were moved from the Onitsha Area Command, which

Continues on page 18

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God told Jonathan to pardon Alamieyeseigha – Arthur Eze Donates N1bn to President’s village church

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ULTI-Billionaire businessman, Arthur Eze has dismissed the controversy trailing the presidential pardon granted former governor of Bayelsa state, Dipreye Alamieyeseigha and others saying it was God that directed president Jonathan to grant the pardon.

Speaking with state House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Chief Eze said criticisms against the pardon was misplaced.

“What Jonathan did is what a man who fears God will do. If I have an opportunity as president of Nigeria I will do the same. All of us are human beings. What he did was correct. We are not fighting war. Jonathan took

advice from God. God has told him to show mercy. The bible says blessed are those that are merciful for they shall see God” he said.

He said the American government has no right to dictate to Nigeria because N i g e r i a i s a n Prince Arthur Eze independent nation.

Speaking on his donation of pocket. We are thinking of over N1billion to a church thanking God for what he in the president's Village, has done for Otuoke. It was Chief Arthur Eze said those abandoned for many years. criticising him over the They had no water, no donation are criticising electricity until when God brought Jonathan to change God. “God gave me the money to that place. Let the people contribute to the church. have a place to worship The money is not meant for God. Those criticizing me Jonathan to put in his are confused people” he said.

PDP will not allow imposition of candidates in future elections – Tukur

By Ted Peters & Uba Ani

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Name: Jane Obi Age: 23 Profession: Actress/Model Likes: Music Dislike: Gossips E mail: ojane67@yahoo.com, Facebook page: obi.Jane/facebook

ational Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has pledged that the party under his watch would not engage in any form of imposition of candidates in the election of candidates to fly the party's flag in future elections in the country.

Speaking in Enugu during a town-hall meeting with stakeholders of the party in the south east including the governors of Enugu (Sullivan Chime), Ebonyi, (Martin Elechi) and Abia (Theodore Orji, represented by his deputy, Chief Ananaba), members of the national and state assemblies, ministers, among others, Saturday, the PDP National Chairman insisted that gone were the days where politicians hand-pick candidates for the party, stressing that time had come for the party to be properly rebuilt in order to ensure equity and justice.

While identifying what he described as “sharing formula” as the major challenge facing the party, Tukur urged the stakeholders to embrace peace and harmony as well as imbibe the spirit of

sacrifice as that was the only way the party could retain its status as a truly national party that respects the yearning and aspirations of the people.

“We have come here today to appeal to you to forget your differences. Let PDP win elections through reconciliation and understanding. We must ensure fairness, equity and justice in all our actions. We must be our brothers' keepers. We must allow people to choose who they want. Party will henceforth give tickets based on the wishes of the party owners who of course are the people. It is one man, one vote. By the time, you aggregate the votes, you see that our party will continue to win and win,” he noted.

While pledging his readiness to make the much needed sacrifice in the interest of the progress of the party, Tukur assured that party supremacy must be respected at all times as the PDP remained the only political platform that would unite the country and take it to eldorado.

He said Nigeria has been greatly blessed by God, with all the natural endowments, adding that what the nation needed most in order to sail through its myriads of challenges were the right attitudes,

education empowerment among others.

The stakeholders had earlier assured the PDP chairman of their readiness to work hard in order to ensure that the party retained the south east as one of its solid base, but expressed dismay that the absence of internal democracy, within the party was contributing in the seeming attempt by the opposition parties to “invade” the area.

Specifically Governor Elechi of Ebonyi state boasted that despite the formation of the APC by the opposition parties, the PDP would remain the party of choice in his state forever.

“Though they are busy insulting us, we are busy transforming Nigeria, adding that Ebonyi would remain PDP forever”.

On his part, a member of the Board of Trustees of the party, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu expressed worries over the plight of the Igbos in the party, noting that a situation where a particular zone had retained the position of the minister of the Federal Capital Territory was not in the interest of the nation's unity.

He said in view of the contributions of the people of the south east in the development of the FCT, time had come for an Igbo man to head the territory.

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Ansaru releases video of slain hostages

By Our Reporters

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video of the seven slain foreign hostages was released, Monday, by Islamist group, Ansaru, forcing the international community to mount pressure on Nigeria to accept the classification of Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation, FTO. Nigeria has shunned pleas by Western countries led by United States of America, to accept the classification of Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation, FTO. Interior Minister, Comrade Abba Moro, however, said there were hopes that the hostages reportedly killed, weekend, were still alive.

His Information counterpart, Mr. Labaran Maku, on his part, said he had not been fully briefed on the situation.

Meanwhile, the images of the slain hostages in a video released onYouTube showed some of the corpses of the seven hostages.

According to the Associated Press, ”the images matched the still images of hostages released by the group when they claimed the killings.”

Interior Minister, Abba Moro, told the BBC's Hausa language radio service that “those nations said it was 'likely' that their citizens had died in the attack. We hope they're alive.”

But some of the European countries affected, namely Greece, Italy, Britain have confirmed the death of their nationals just as diplomats said on Sunday that the hostages had been killed.

The hostages, one each from Italy, Britain and Greece and four from Lebanon, were working for a

Lebanese firm, Setraco.

In the video, a gunman stands on a sand, holding a rifle near what appears to be dead bodies. A later shot in the video showed three male corpses, one of whom appeared to have been killed by a gunshot wound to the head from a high-powered weapon.

The video had no sound. An accompanying caption for the video in Arabic calls it: ”The killing of seven Christian hostages in Nigeria.” A second caption in Arabic and English stated: “In the name of Allah Most Beneficent Most Merciful,” Reuters reported.

Ansaru fighters kidnapped the foreigners February 16, from a camp of the construction company, Setraco at Jama'are, a town 200 kilometres north of Bauchi, the capital of Bauchi State. In the attack, gunmen first assaulted a local prison and burned police trucks, authorities said. Then the attackers blew up a back fence at the construction company's compound and took over, killing a guard in the process, witnesses and police said.

Why hostages were killed Ansaru, in a statement last Saturday, claimed that it had killed the seven foreigners taken hostage from a Lebanese construction site in Bauchi in mid-February. The video also showed a series of close-ups of their faces lit up by a torch, according to a Reuters report.

“British and Nigerian security forces killed some Muslims in their attempt to rescue the Christian hostages, therefore we killed the Christians,” Ansaru said in the statement.

The United States has over the

years maintained that Boko Haram and its affiliates are terrorist organisations which must be marked down for special attention but the Federal Government has opposed such move on grounds that it will endanger the lives of other Nigerians who would be marked down for special treatment.

Diplomatic sources said, Monday, that the Federal Government's resistance to classification of Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation, FTO, is ridiculous because “the group's link with AlQaeda is not in doubt, its mode of operation is not different from that of other terrorist groups in Asia and the Middle East. Now the abduction and killing of foreigners have upped the ante. What will be your government's argument for arguing that Boko Haram should not be classified as FTO.” According to a source, “what is clear is that foreigners have become the target of this terror politics in Nigeria.

“What the terrorist groups are trying to do is to tell the world that if they are displaced in Mali, they can safely operate in Nigeria, knowing that the Federal Government is not united in the war against terrorism. There are enemies within the government, which is making it difficult for foreign countries to trust Nigeria with intelligence.”

Collapse of physical boundary between Nigeria and Mali Prof. John Amoda, an expert in international relations, said that what took place in Bauchi has collapsed the physical boundary between Nigeria and Mali. He said the terrorists are setting up Nigeria

for a possible clash with members of the UN Security Council.

Amoda said: “Strategically, the capture of French nationals in Cameroon and transporting them to Nigeria has turned Nigeria into another Northern Mali as the AlQaeda Jihalists that planned the action had put the country in a position as a safe haven for the Jihadists and could be attacked in the same way as it has done in Northern Mali. This is a situation that will compromise Nigeria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Western govts confirm death of hostages The western governments confirmed the death of the hostages, but denied carrying out any rescue operations. Sources said the aim of Ansaru is to incite foreign countries against Nigeria by embarking on economic jihad, which will see them attack economic infrastructure and business ventures that have foreign workers.

We've not been fully briefed Maku Meanwhile, days after governments of western countries confirmed the murder of their nationals by the terrorist group, Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, appears to be groping in the dark as he claimed ignorance on the true position of things.

The minister told State House correspondents, Monday, that he did not have information on the true position of the alleged murder of the hostages.

The Information Minister, who curtly told State House correspondents that “I don't have

Superstitious beliefs cause premature death – Fayemi's wife

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ife of Ekiti State Governor, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, has blamed superstitious beliefs and patronage of faith-based centres for medical conditions that require medical attention for many cases of premature deaths among Nigerian women.

The Ekiti Sate First Lady said this during the screening of breast and cervical cancer organised for the Forum of Women in Leadership and female members of the Forum of Spouses of Ekiti State Officials, in Ado Ekiti on Saturday.

The event was a collaborative effort of the Ekiti Development Foundation, founded by the governor's wife, and the Ministry of Women Affairs , as part of the 2013 International Women Day celebration.

Fayemi also lamented the dearth of screening equipment and nonchalant attitude to early warning signals for the rising cases of sudden death among women, especially in Nigeria.

She said, “Superstitious beliefs and patronage of quasi-medical practitioners and faith-based centres also ranked high among causes of sudden death among women.

“Over the years, women, including educated ones, don't go for screening and tests for diseases, such as hypertension, cervical and breast cancer, diabetes and other diseases rampant among women.

Mrs. Bisi Fayemi

Father, son electrocuted in Abeokuta

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ragedy struck, on Sunday, when a police officer, Sunday Joseph and his 17year-old adopted son, Moses were electrocuted at a construction site in front of the governor's house at Oke-Igbein, Abeokuta, the state capital.

An eyewitness account said that the boy who lived in the Police Barracks at Oke-Igbein, was an orphan who lost his father in a robbery attack .

It was gathered that Moses went to the construction site to scavenge for iron rods from the rubble and died on his way back home when the rods he gathered suddenly touched a high tension cable which shocked him to death.

In a bid to rescue him, it was

further learnt, Joseph, who was reported to have been taking care of him since the death of his father lost his life too.

He was reported to have been called by one of the witnesses at the scene of the incident.

According to the witness, he was shocked when he saw the boy's body on the ground and made for the lifeless body which was still in contact with the life wire.

According to the finding, Joseph reportedly rushed to rescue of the boy and got entrapped as he touched the boy's body which led to his death too.

The eyewitness stated that Joseph arrived the scene in a Volkswagen Golf with number plate Lagos FB 359 APP and had been earlier

prevented by his friends who had besieged the scene. He suddenly disengaged his hands and got trapped in the high tension cable.

Attempt to rush him to the hospital failed as his car which was the only available car at the scene couldn't start due to the security mechanism fixed in it leading to his death few minutes later.

The remains of the two victims were said to have been taken to the morgue at the State Hospital in Ijaye, Abeokuta.

The Secretary to Ogun State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa led some government officials to the house of the deceased where he reportedly promised government's assistance to the family.

the full brief to brief you,” and walked away, declined to comment on the listing of Nigeria as a terrorist state by France over the incident.

It portrays Nigeria as unsafe country Activists Outrage has also greeted the alleged killing of seven expatriate hostages as human rights activists argued that this is an evidence that the country lacks adequate security and a sign that little is being done by the government to safeguard lives and property of the citizenry.

In his reaction to the killing, Lagos lawyer and rights activist, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, said: “The killing is an evidence that the Federal Government and the security agencies are clueless and do not know how to respond to the issue of emergency. Life has suddenly become so cheap and there is a lot of incompetence on the part of the authorities. It is only God that can save us.

“So, Nigerians should mount pressure on government to perform and provide adequate security for the people. This is because if there is no security, democracy is meaningless.

Democracy flourishes where there is peace and security.

“Generally, people see Nigeria as an obscene place to do business.

Definitely, this will affect business and have effect on the economy of the country. Nigerians should make up their minds and see what can be done on the present situation.”

The country is not safe for foreigners Odumakin Mr. Yinka Odumakin said: “The killing has shown that the country is an unsafe place for a foreigner to come to. It shows that it is a jungle, where life is short and brutish. It is also an indictment on our security outfits that they cannot rescue those people, who were butchered by the merchants of death. I don't know the amount of propaganda and campaign that the government can do to convince the world that the country is safe.

“The killing is unfortunate and it is a big challenge to the government of this country. It is time for the government to gather its act together and improve on the security not to turn the country to a pariah state.”

In his reaction, Senator John Shagaya said if it is true that the seven foreigners were actually killed in the country, the nation's drive for direct foreign investment would be greatly affected.

Shagaya said that since the Federal Government had not made an official statement on the issue, it is difficult to believe. However, he noted that should it be true that the foreigners were actually killed “it will count against our investment drive and our economy.”

The former minister of Internal Affairs under Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, also explained that the incident if confirmed is “most unfortunate.”

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Is Pope Francis the last and end-time Pope?

By Uba Ani

A

s Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, the new Pope known as Francis 1 takes the helm of a Catholic Church that has been rocked in recent years by sex abuse by priests and claims of corruption and infighting among the church hierarchy, the Christendom and the world at large are set for another set of global discourse on the many prophecies that the world is eventually coming to an end.

In the prophecies of St. Malachy, the successor of Pope Benedict XVI is tipped to be the last man to sit on the throne of Peter regarded as the first pope by the catholic faithful before the end of the world, thereby signaling the end of the papacy. To some other observers, it seems the emergence of Pope Francis coincides with some of the interpretations of both ancient and modern prophecies concerning the end of times especially the prediction of Mary Divine Mercy? It must be noted that this same event has been prophesied in many other modern-day revelations such as those to St. Faustina and Fr. Gobbi; and apparitions like those of Our Lady in Kibeho (Rwanda) and Garabandal (Spain), among others.

But are these prophecies especially that of St. Malachy, the Irish Archbishop who visited Rome in 1139 accurate? And if so, what do they really portend for the future of mankind?

According to Marcellino D'Ambrosio, “St. Malachy's prophetic predictions are concise, Actually, they consist of no more than a brief Latin phrase or motto for each pope such as "aquila rapax" (the rapacious eagle). But when you put these prophecies side by side with the lives of each pontiff from 1143 to 1590, you find a perfect fit - the phrases can be seen to describe the birthplace, character, or career of each of the popes from the period. Take, for example, the pope described as "De rure albo" (from a white country).”

This corresponds remarkably to Pope Adrian IV (1154-59), an Englishman. The ancient name for England happens to be Albion; Nicholas was born near the British town of St. Albans, and later became Cardinal Archbishop of Albano. "Piscator minorita" ("The Minorite fisherman") could only have been Pope Sixtus IV (1471-84) who was a member of the Friars Minor, or Franciscans, and was the son of a fisherman.”

In his review of 'book of truth' a testament of 'Maria Divine Mercy' Arthur Policarpio stated that Jesus revealed to Maria that the Antichrist will be assisted by the “False Prophet” - a religious

figure who will rebel against the Pope and establish a “new” and “modern” Catholic Church. The Pope will be driven out of the Vatican, and the False Prophet will take his place and desecrate the seat of St. Peter. He will appear to be a loving and holy figure, and will be considered by many people as a living saint. But the reality is that he is allied with the Evil One. He will merge the Catholic Faith with all other faiths to form a false, one-world religion. Jesus warns priests, bishops and cardinals about the coming “False Prophet”: "My Holy Vicar Pope Benedict needs your prayers. Pray for him daily for he needs protection on every level to take him through the torment that lies ahead. It is important that My followers keep alert to any new Pope that may come forward for he will not be f r o m G o d . . . Yo u m u s t acknowledge that the False Prophet is about to seduce you.

Charm you. Convince you that he represents the truth. You must now show your allegiance to Me, and My Eternal Father.... “Is this scenario of former pontiff's resignation the true picture of the revelation given to Maria in 2011?

In recent times, some interpreters of various prophetic literatures which include the predictions of Nostradamus, have drawn attention to the prophecies due to their imminent conclusion; if the list of descriptions is matched on a one-to-one basis to the list of historic popes since the prophecies' publication, Benedict XVI (2005-2013) would correspond to the second to last of the papal descriptions, Gloria olivae (the glory of the olive). The longest and final prophecy predicts the Apocalypse In 2005, the predecessor to Pope Francis, Benedict XVI, was elected on the second day after four rounds of voting after the death of Pope John Paul II. In an unexpected move, Pope Benedict XVI who was born as Joseph Ratzinger announced that he was to resign; a situation which came as a surprise to the Catholic Church as his reign is the shortest in recent history. The reason cited for Pope Benedict XVI's resignation from office on February 28, was his “old age” and “incapacity” to fulfill his obligations, but it will be recalled that Pope John Paul II maintained his post all the way until old age, even until the time when he could not visibly fulfill his duties because of Parkinson's disease.

Pope Benedict, who will turn 86 in April, said he had come to the certainty "that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry."

His resignation is first in 600 years.

Though Vatican spokesman Rev.

New Pope Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio Federico Lombardi said Pope Benedict XVI had the right to resign, but stressed that the pope's decision was not because of any external pressure It was gathered that the resignation of the former pontiff was based on such controversies that are related to the abuse by priests of young males and corruption which tends to mar the Pope's legacy.

Consequently, at exactly 8.23pm, Wednesday 13th March 2013, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, emerged from the famed St Peter's balcony waving to the multitude of Catholics that had gathered at the headquarters of the church as the new Pope.

The new Pope known as Francis emerged after the fifth ballot in the second day of the conclave of Cardinals in the Vatican.

The 76-year-old Mario Bergoglio, runner up to Pope Benedict XVI eight years ago, is the son of Italian immigrant to Argentina.

He is the first South American to be Pope.

The Pope's appearance was preceded at 7. 06 pm by white smoke which appeared in the chimney above the Sistine chapel in the Vatican, signifying that the Roman Catholic Church had a new Pope. The smoke appeared after five rounds of voting.

Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio took name of Francis after accepting his election as 266th head of Roman Catholic Church,” “He is named after the legendary Catholic saint, Francis of Assisi.

He's also the first Pope from Jesuit order,” the cardinal said.

The announcement of the Argentine was a big surprise to the crowd waiting in St Peter's Square from the vast balcony that runs across the front of St Peter's basilica as he was not among the favourites with pundits tipping him at 25-1, Pope Francis' first words in his presentation were “It seems my brother cardinals 'went to the end of the world' to find a new pope.”

The new pope was greeted by cheers during his address: “I'd ask

you to pray to God so that he can bless me,” Pope Francis said, leading a silent prayer, followed by a loud cheer from the crowd.

The crowd grew silent as Bergoglio, 76, recited the Lord's Prayer and a Hail Mary. “Let us pray for the whole world,” he told the crowd.

“I ask you a favour: Before the bishop blesses the people, I want to ask you to ask the Lord to bless the bishop,” the new pope said, as translated in English. “Please, pray in silence for me.”

Bergoglio's papacy is one of firsts. He is the first Jesuit, first South American pope. He also is the first to take the Pope name of Francis, for the saint devoted to the poor.

He said the world should set off on a path of love and fraternity and asked the faithful to pray to God for him. Pope Francis prayed for Benedict and hoped the Father in Heaven will bless him. He thanked the crowd for the welcome, adding: “Good night and I wish you a peaceful rest.”

He left the balcony to rapturous cheers.

First South American Pope Bergoglio is the first ever from the

Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium. He chose the name Pope Francis.

Bergoglio has spent nearly his entire career at home in Argentina, overseeing churches and shoe-leather priests. The archbishop of Buenos Aires reportedly got the second-most votes after Joseph Ratzinger in the 2005 papal election, and he has long specialized in the kind of pastoral work that some say is an essential skill for the next pope.

In a lifetime of teaching and leading priests in Latin America, which has the largest share of the world's Catholics, Bergoglio has shown a keen political sensibility as well as the kind of self-effacing humility that fellow cardinals value highly. Bergoglio is known for modernizing an Argentine church that had been among the most conservative in Latin America.

Gay marriage opposition Bergoglio has clashed with Argentina government over his opposition to gay marriage and distribution of contraceptives. He says gay marriage is a satanic plot to “seriously damage the family” and that 'father of lies' (Devil) is at work. New Pope Bergoglio has taught importance of respecting gay people, but strongly opposed same-sex marriage in Argentina.

Pope Francis opposed marriage equality in Argentina and called same-sex marriage a “scheme to destroy God's plan. He is said not be a fan of the President of Argentina based on their ideological differences.

This is a tradition that has gone on for centuries but this time was a little different; among the millions watching was the former pope, Benedict XVI, the first pontiff in 598 years to watch his successor being appointed.

Will these prophesies come to pass?

Enugu govt OfferstoN15m to farmers participate effectively in the

By Emmanuel Nkenang

I

n a bid to increase high productivity and self sufficiency, the Enugu State government has made a N15 million grant to farmers in the state Professor Anukwem, commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources who disclosed this yesterday said the gesture was aimed at averting poor agricultural yields and to enhance income wages of farmers Speaking at a one-day sensitization workshop organized

by Global West Nigeria Ltd in conjunction with the state Ministry of Agriculture in Enugu yesterday, Professor Anukwem urged farmers to form cooperative society to access the fund.

He tasked the farmers on the need

agricultural transformation initiative aimed at shifting from subsistence farming system to commercial farming system designed to augment food output in the area.

According to him, government is determined to have a master plan to upgrade the poor standard of agriculture in the state.

He stated that mechanized farming education would be mapped out to educate farmers on the new methods of applying fertilizers and chemicals, noting that it would help them to get acquainted with the current farming techniques and increase output.

He reiterated that the government new policies in agriculture are aimed at diversifying agricultural practices to include animal husbandry, aquatic farming and

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IN THE

City

I

t's the rare couple that doesn't sooner or later run into a few bumps on the road. If you recognize ahead what those few bumps could be, you stand a better chance of weathering the storm. Ideally a couple should discuss certain basic issue such as money, sex and kids before they decide to live their lives together. Of course even when you discuss these issues before hand, it's nothing like you think it's going to be.

How many times have you turned own sex this month, you keep saying “some other time honey” or “not tonight baby” even the best marriages have sexual cold fronts and everyday problem like a crushing work dead line, a sick parent or an acting out teenager can put a chill on romance, but when sex invasion turns into

a daily, marriage can become an arctic zone. Let's try as much as we can to reduce the number of times when we have to turn down our partner with flimsy excuses like a bad headache, I am tired etc. if we all

continue this way, it lead to a serious problems. If you have not had sex for a month and your partner believes you are tired because you said you are, it's no problem but when you've not made much love to your partner in

the past six months, then it took your partner some courage to ask, if you say no you may be damaging your marriage.

The spouse with more desire feels dejected and rejected while the partner with less emotions feel coerced, we all should put ourselves in our partners shoes , this way we will be able to feel exactly what he feels when a wife turns down sex , what does she want him to do? Should he go and masturbate? Is watching pornography an option?

Apart from the fact that we bond even more when we make love, there are other benefits of having sex:

it's good for your health, sex and the cuddling that comes with it releases all kinds of chemicals women need including mood boosting hormones like dopamine, nor epinephrine and oxytocin. Couples who have sex regularly have higher disease fighting antibodies than those who don't. Two different people will never have exactly the same desire, driving and timing.

“Sometimes you have to make love for the benefit of the other person” even though you may not need it yourself at the moment, please don't shove your partner desire down his throat; it hurts.

How to enhance your beauty in 12 healthy ways C

lear up your skin. Pick products made for your skin type (oily, dry, combination, normal) in order to achieve the best results. Wash your face no more than two times a day; in the morning and before you go to bed. Be gentle.

If you scrub really hard you will only irritate your skin. Don't ever sleep with your make-up on. Your pores will get clogged and you'll start breaking out.

After washing your face, use a good moisturizer that is made for your skin type. If you have blackheads or whiteheads, try using Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips.

Keep yourself properly groomed. Wash your hair as often as needed. Don't let it get g r e a s y. U s e d e o d o r a n t .

Moisturize your skin daily. It's best to do this after you shower because your skin is still damp and the lotion will soak in easily.

Grooming your nails is also important. Keep them cut short and buff them once every couple of weeks to keep them smooth and nice. Push back your cuticles to prevent hangnails.

Don't ever cut them! If you like nail polish, try using a sheer pink color or clear coat them. If you use a sheer pink color, use one coat so the natural color variations of your nails show through. It really does look nice.

Fix up your hair. When getting

your hair cut, make sure you know exactly what you want. If you're not sure then ask your hairdresser for a cut that will go with your face shape. Don't dye your hair; keep it natural. If you must, find a color that's close to your natural color, only better.

Try not to use heat devices to style your hair. You can look up tutorials on curling or straightening your hair without heat on YouTube. Don't spend a ton of time styling your hair. The whole point is to bring out your natural beauty. Find a way to rock your natural style.

Compliment yourself with make-up. Find your favorite facial feature and capitalize it.

But don't overdo it because if you go one day without all the makeup everybody will notice and their thoughts won't be very good. If your teeth aren't as white as they could be, don't wear bright lipstick. This will draw attention to the contrast.

Wear a dark mascara. This will bring out the intensity/ beauty of your eyes.

Do one thing for yourself everyday! Make yourself do it.

It's the ultimate act of selfrespect. Soak in the bubble bath or read an inspiring book. These little pleasures allow you to feel special. You can fake it if you need to until you actually feel deserving of it. Whatever you choose, follow the action by

writing down what you did and how it made you feel. Make it your own "attitude file". Include stories, quotes from friends and photographs that have made you feel good about yourself.

Project your beauty. Feel good, feel pretty and that's what the world will see. If you feel ugly, that's what people will see.

Try to look as good as you can.

There are ways to live in beauty without being obsessive about it.

Find supportive friends. What people say, whether intentional or not, make us feel good or bad about ourselves. Look for people who make you feel good when you're down. This person will give you compliments. If you've done something different or if you're wearing something new, they will notice it. Keep these compliments and they will build your self esteem.

Listen to your inner voice.

Each of us has a voice inside our head that will give us advice.

This is like a therapist. It will guide us in the right direction. It will calm us down, cheer us up and even help us figure out why we're overeating or not bothering to iron our clothes.

The problem is that we often don't take the time we need to hear this important information.

Schedule some quiet time in a leisurely bath or walk, or even while putting on your make-up.

Treat this intuition as an inner cheering section.

Take a break! Relax. At least twice a day, set aside five minutes to recheck your makeup, hair, posture and clothing.

No matter how impeccably you started out your day, a touch is both necessary and warranted.

Take some deep breaths to renew and restore your appearance.

Smile. When you smile you look confident and pretty. Take advantage of this!

Learn easy beauty tips yourself using things you have at home. Some that I use are; an egg. Which is brilliant as a facial- crack the egg in half and separate the egg whites and yolk. Roughly whisk the egg white in a bowl and apply to your face (leave on for 5 minutes). Wash off with slightly warm water. Next apply the yolk (which is a great moisturizing ingredient) leave on for again 5 minutes then wash with lightly warm water. Another is a Tomato; wash your face with slightly warm water. Cut the tomato in half and rub gently around your full face, leave on for 10 minutes to soak up the goodness and then lightly rinse face with warm water, then freezing cold (to close your beautiful pores!). Finish off with your favorite skin appropriate moisturizer.

Tell yourself you're beautiful.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Remember, you can't please everyone nor should you try. No one else's opinion of you matters but your own. You are beautiful just the way you are, so tell yourself that every chance you get until you believe it.

Hope this helps, stay beautiful!

Love Note

One day you will meet a guy and ultimately he's going to find out how you chew, how you sip, how you dance, how you smell at every point in the day, how your face look underneath all your make up, how you love chocolate, how you can be hyper at times, how certain game s and shows really makes you happy. How cranky you can get when you are tired, how you think you look bad in all your pictures. He's going to know everything about you and you know what? He's still going to love you.One day you will meet a guy and ultimately he's going to find out how you chew, how you sip, how you dance, how you smell at every point in the day, how your face look underneath all your make up, how you love chocolate, how you can be hyper at times, how certain game s and shows really makes you happy. How cranky you can get when you are tired, how you think you look bad in all your pictures. He's going to know everything about you and you know what?

He's still going to love you.

8

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America's Secret Files On Ojukwu (Part 2) C

onfidential US dispatches on the Nigerian Civil War yield a wounding portrait of Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, who was painted by those who knew him as a man that experienced rejection as a child, a megalomaniac, demagogue and one who once threatened to shoot his own father In a broadcast to the German people on BayerischerRundfunkMuchen (Bavarian Broadcasting, Munich) on 11 September 1967, Klaus W. S t e p h a n , t h e We s t A f r i c a n correspondent of the service for many years, said Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu had harboured an ambition to “alter the political constellation of power in Nigeria by means of the army one day”.

Ojukwu, said Stephan, was a supporter of the 15 January 1966 coup, the first in the country's history. “He sympathised with the January 1966 plot makers, but was careful enough to avoid any overplayed attachment to them.

Ojukwu told me later that it had been him who had requested General (Aguiyi) Ironsi to crush the coup and that he had stopped the General from being arrested.”

On 8 April 1967 in Enugu, while meeting with Suzanne Cronje, author of The World and Nigeria: The Diplomatic History of the Biafran War, 1967-1970, Ojukwu said: “On January 15, I was the one who advised Ironsi to stand as the head of the army, call for support and then organise the various units that would immediately support, so that the rebels, who were bound to be few and already committed, would suddenly find that the whole thing was phasing away.”

For this support, Ironsi rewarded Ojukwu with an appointment as governor, reckoned Stephan.

“Obviously on the grounds of thankful feelings, the General (Ironsi) made him Military Governor of the Eastern provinces. I know Ojukwu as a man of more than average intelligence, extraordinary versatility, high eloquence and remarkable personal charm. But there are two characteristics in that man that are not realised by many people for a long time: his greed for power and his ability to charm and enchant the masses: a demagogue,” Stephan told the German people in the broadcast.

A similarly unflattering verdict on Ojukwu's personality was delivered

by Chief Richard Akinjide, the man who later became Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation.

A US document of 11 September 1969 quoted Akinjide as telling Mr. Strong, American consul in Ibadan, that “he (Ojukwu) suffers from Hitler-like megalomania”.

Akinjide explained to Strong that as a child, Ojukwu was rejected because his father strongly denied that he was solely responsible for the pregnancy that led to him, arguing that other mysterious force or forces may have been at work as well. His mother, claimed Akinjide, was a mistress his multimillionaire father, Sir Louis Ojukwu, acquired on one of his business trips to the North. Being a devout Catholic, Sir Louis refused to keep the boy in his

Ojukwu house in Lagos, preferring to send him back to the North, where he was born and where his mother made a living as a trader. Ojukwu, like Nnamdi Azikiwe, was born in Zungeru, in the present day Niger State.

As the boy grew up, friends of the business mogul prevailed on him to recognise him as a son. According to Akinjide, Sir Loius agreed to do so, but the boy became something of an embarrassment to him, the reason for which he sent him to school in England, where he made it into Oxford University.

Akinjide, a member of the Nigerian National Democratic Party, NNDP and federal minister in the First Republic, said: “When Ojukwu returned to Nigeria, he tried to get a job with the Nigerian Tobacco Company, NTC, but was turned down.” Akinjide speculated on how Nigerian history might have panned out if NTC had given Ojukwu a job.

“Instead, he drifted into the civil service and was given a post as Assistant District Officer at a bush post in the East. He was unhappy in this position,” claimed Akinjide, because he felt his talents undervalued.

Seeking a surer road to power and influence, he joined the army. And because of the top-tier education he had acquired in England, he was soon sent to the elite Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the UK. Akinjide believed Ojukwu's career and personality could be explained as an endless effort to gain the recognition he was denied early in life and to show his father and the society that rejected him how wrong they were. “Ojukwu was subconsciously seeking revenge for his early rejection. A man so driven is not subject to rational dissuasion from the course on which he has set himself,” he told Strong.

In another document dated 19 September1969 and titled Psyching Out Ojukwu, Strong narrated the story he and Colonel Adeyinka Adebayo, Military Governor of Western State, were told over lunch

by Nnamdi Azikiwe. Azikiwe said the reason he was hated by Ojukwu

was because “at one point, he (Azikiwe) had settled a dispute between Ojukwu and his father, which had already reached the proportion where Ojukwu had threatened to shoot his father.”

Azikiwe told the private gathering that Ojukwu's father was a very good friend of his and he prevailed on Ojukwu not to carry out his threat. Since then, Azikiwe said, Ojukwu had been very unfriendly towards him.

According to Chief N.U. Akpan, Ojukwu's secretary before and during the war, the first orders Ojukwu gave when he resumed as military governor on 19 January 1966 were to “remove Azikiwe as the Chancellor of University of Nsukka, cut off all incomes accruing to him from his properties in Nsukka and order African Continental Bank to recover forthwith all overdrafts or loans outstanding against Azikiwe or any companies and business establishments with which he might have been associated”. Azikiwe told the American consul: “Perhaps, I offended him by preventing him from shooting his father.”

C h i e f O b a f e m i Aw o l o w o ' s assessment of the Biafran leader was not very dissimilar to Akinjide's view of him as a man who sought to control everything around him.

Reviewing his own efforts, undertaken at considerable personal risk to find an accommodation with Ojukwu before he declared the secession in May 1967, Awolowo told US Ambassador Elbert Matthews on 24 August 1967 in Lagos that he was convinced it was impossible to negotiate with Ojukwu, who was seeking to bring the whole of southern Nigeria under his control. He described Ojukwu as being committed to conquest, not secession. According to the Periodic Intelligence Note complied on the Nigerian situation by Thomas L. Hughes, Director of Intelligence and Research, submitted to US Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, the “chief target” of Ojukwu's “seizure of Midwest” was the Yoruba.

“Should this large tribe, numbering

eight million or more, choose to join Ojukwu in a move to oust northerners from southern Nigeria, the rump Nigerian federation would come apart…The Yorubas, riven by past divisions and in no mood to pull Ojukwu's chestnuts out of the fire (rescue Ojukwu), are undecided.

They have tended to side with the Gowon government ever since their principal spokesman, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, agreed to join it last June. At the same time, the fear of northern domination remains strong…Awolowo rallied towards the Federation when Gowon, himself a northerner, showed he meant to break up the once monolithic North by decreeing several newstates there,” the US intelligence estimate stated.

On 12 September, Radio Biafra broadcast attacks on Awolowo and Anthony Enahoro for being in “the rebel government of Gowon”. The radio station referred to the recent arrest and detention of “Wole Soyinka, that patriotic Yoruba son” and the arrest and interrogation of Tai Solarin, the well-known Yoruba educator and writer. It thought it “significant” that these “Yoruba freedom fighters” should be threatened by a government of which “Chief Awolowo himself a Yoruba is a deputy head.” It reminded its listeners that “Awolowo and Enahoro have not only succumbed to northern pressure, but have also teamed up with Gowon to supress Solarin and Soyinka, whose ebullient enthusiasm for Yoruba freedom is threat to their security, but they have substituted private interest for commonwealth.” The radio station, confirming the findings of the US intelligence estimate, then recommended that “all Yorubas should waste no time in responding to call by one of their own sons, Brigadier Victor Banjo, commander of liberation forces. It is such young men as Brigadier B a n j o , Wo l e Soyinka and Tai Solarin that will p r o v i d e effective but selfless leadership t h a t Yorubas badly need at t h i s mom ent”.

O n Biaf ran

s

sounding more Yoruba than the Yoruba themselves, the American ambassador noted in a confidential document of 15 September 1967: “In fact, the Eastern effort to tell Yorubas who their leader should be as well as not to follow Awolowo could cause opposite reaction among majority of people in Yorubaland.” It did.

With troops blazing with Biafran agenda already at West's door at Ore, it became clearer to Awolowo that Ojukwu was not interested in secession, but actually in conquest.

Awolowo proceeded to rally the Yoruba, who had hitherto been lukewarm to Gowon's government with a powerful “I am absolutely and irrevocably committed to the side of Nigeria” press release on 12 August 1967. It was Aw olowo's first s t a t e m e n t defending the F e d e r a l Government since the Civil War began on 6 July. Unlike many of Awolowo's speeches and public statements, this one derived its forceful elocution from the use of adverbs and intensifiers. There were no “could,” “might” and other hedge-betting modal verbs.

It was all “must,” “will” and other commanding auxiliary verbs.

“It is imperative that the unity of Nigeria must be preserved and the best judge of what to do now is the Federal government, which Yorubas must continue to support. The Yorubas have never set out to dominate others, but have always resisted, with

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America's Secret Files On Ojukwu (Part 2) Continued from page 8

all the energy in them, any attempt, however slight or disguised, by others to dominate them.…Indeed it is for these reasons that they must now be ready to resist any attempt by the rebel forces from the East and the Mid-West to violate their territory and subjugate them.…To these ends, therefore, all Yoruba people, particularly those in the Western and Lagos states, which now face the threats of invasion, must not only be as vigilant as ever, but must also lose no time and spare no efforts in giving every conceivable support to the Federal troops in defence

of their homeland and of the fatherland,” Awolowo said.

He was not only rallying the Yoruba people, he was sending a powerful message to the Biafran High Command in Enugu. Victor Banjo, on 11 August, had sent a secret note to Governor Adebayo, the man who, according to the Biafran High Command, was slated for assassination by Banjo's gun. In the letter, amongst other things, Banjo asked for “clarification of the Western position.” Adebayo promptly passed the letter to Awolowo in Lagos. S.G. Ikoku, an Awolowo loyalist in the East and Secretary-General of his Action Group, who was in exile in Ghana, said Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna told him when he escaped to Ghana, their plan in the January 1966 coup was to free Awolowo from Calabar prison and install him as Prime Minister. Awolowo was serving time for treason.

In reality, there was no army unit heading to Calabar to spring Awolowo from jail. Receiving the secret note, Awolowo publicly pledged his allegiance to the federation and called upon special adverbs, forceful intensifiers and commanding modal verbs to elicit and consolidate the patriotism of his fellow Westerners. The statement split the Action Group and the West down the middle. They had not forgotten the monstrosity of northern hegemony; they had not forgotten how the North colluded with Igbos to forment trouble in the West. They had not forgotten how the North-East coalition had excluded Yoruba from key posts and grassroots recruitment policies.

On 7 August 1967, the American consul in Ibadan, Strong, wrote: “An old line of supporters, including more mature intellectuals like Professor Hezekiah Oluwasanmi (Ife University Vice Chancellor) and S.O. Ighodaro (lecturer at the University of Lagos) support the statement. They said Awolowo has always been a minorities man and the Eastern takeover of Midwest and c o n t i n u e d occupation of Eastern minority areas is an indication of continued Ibo desire to dominate southern Nigeria.”

On the other hand, Strong continued: “ A G (Action Group) activists and the man in the street a r e convinc e d Awolo w o made t h e state men

t under duress…They say Awolowo's true position was indicated in the Leaders of Thought resolution in May, which said if any region seceded or forced out, the West would automatically become independent. The activists feel that Awolowo missed the opportunity to bring the present conflict to close by coming to Ibadan and make a We s t e r n D e c l a r a t i o n o f Independence speech supported by Victor Banjo and his National Liberation Army.”

Mr Strong provided another dimension. “Since 'there are no secrets in Yorubaland,' it is very likely Awolowo was aware of coup talk here and issued the statement to forestall Western coup attempt and try and keep the tenuous peace in the West,” he wrote. On the night of 11 August, Mr Smallwood, British Deputy High Commissioner, came to inform his American counterpart that “decision has been taken by a group of AG activists to support efforts to stage a Midwest type coup here in the West. Timing uncertain but could happen anytime from 12th. Planners supposedly do not include top members of AG hierarchy, but certain young activists who hope present AG leaders with fait accompli consistent with their own sympathies.”

Strong was sceptical of the success of the coup not because of Awolowo's rallying call, but as he wrote: “In the West, several ingredients for successful coup are lacking. There is, for example, no real counterpart of Ibo officers here.” And that was the coup for which Victor Banjo, confident of its success, received Ojukwu's bullets with his head raised high and his chest pumped out at the firing squad in Enugu. Odumosu, Secretary to the Western government, was to later tell the consul in a secret document of 11 October 1967 that Bola Ige and Bisi Onabanjo, both commissioners, were suspected to be involved in the plot to make Banjo replace Adebayo once he invaded the West. Strong also noted that Alhaji Busari Obisesan, the former NNDP speaker of the Western House of Assembly, had been heavily involved in the plot to assassinate the pro-AG and proAwolowo Governor Adebayo since November of the previous year. The NNDP was a traditional ally of the North in its will to dominate. The consul noted: “Their plans in the past, traditionally, involve use of Northern troops for NNDP ends.”

That was the 4th Battalion. This North-based battalion was moved over to Ibadan in 1957, it was said, to quell the political restiveness engulfing the streets of Ibadan.

Soon it became a repressive machine made available by Ahmadu Bello to Akintola for use against his opponents and critics.

The self-loading rifle Akintola used on the night he was murdered by Captain Nwobosi and his men was given to him by the 4th Battalion c o m m a n d e r, L t - C o l A b o g o Largema.

He personally supervised Akintola's target practice in his barracks. It was some members of this notorious

battalion that Major TY Danjuma also used to capture and murder Ironsi and the Western Region Governor, Adekunle Fajuyi. As part of Gowon's effort to secure the support of the West, he pulled the notorious battalion back from Ibadan, stationing it in Jebba. As Captain Hamza, Ahmadu Bello's chief body guard said to an expatriate friend, who then informed the British Deputy High Commission who, in turn informed the American consulate, Busari Obisesan had gone to the North to ask Hassan Katsina for help on 10 August.

NNDP, he said, was “plotting their own measures to counter the AG threat of takeover” in the light of a pro-AG governor.

Meanwhile on the streets of Ibadan, there was massive anger. On the morning of 15 August 1967, Adebayo told the American consul that “the trouble in Ibadan in the last three days were caused by some Hausas, including some Hausa soldiers hunting out and beating up Ibos. They wanted to kill them. This started sporadically, but when the situation got worse yesterday. He decided firm action was necessary to bring it under control. He ordered soldiers back to barracks and later announced curfew.” The Western State Police Commissioner, Emmanuel Olufunwa addressed the Hausa community in Sabo and “warned them against engaging in any unruly acts.” The leader of the Hausa community replied and warned his fellow Hausas against doing anything (that would) damage their reputation.” It wasn't clear whether he was being ironic or sincere because at 8:15pm that same day, Lt Colonel Olusegun Obasanjo, head of Ibadan Garrison Command, and his deputy, Major Olu Bajowa, were there with around 60-bayonet wilelding slodiers to seal off the Hausa quarters.

Why Ojukwu Killed Banjo, Ifeajuna and Others In the most detailed revelation yet, Ojukwu said he killed Victor Banjo, Emmanuel Ifeajuna, Philip Alale, Sam I. Agbam because they wanted to remove him, remove Gowon and install Chief Obafemi Awolowo as the Prime Minister. In a secret document cabled to the Defence Intelligence Agency in Washington, the US military and defence attachés in the Nigeria reported that based on available information at the time (3 August 1967), “in the long run Njoku will unseat Ojukwu.”

Benjamin Adekunle. First head of the 3rd Marine Commando. He captured Bonny Island with “no damage to the oil installations” In a chat with the American consul, Bob Barnard, in Enugu three days after the executions, Ojukwu said: “The plotters intended to take Brigadier Hillary Njoku, the head of Biafran Army, into custody and bring him to the State House under heavy armed guard, ostensibly to demand of him that Njoku be relieved of the command on the grounds of incompetence.

Once inside the State House, Njoku's guards would be used against him. Ifeajuna would then

9

declare himself acting Governor and offer ceasefire on Gowon's terms. Banjo would go to the West and replace Brigadier Yinka Adebayo, the military governor of Western Region. Next, Gowon would be removed and Awolowo declared Prime Minister of Reunited Federation.”

Ojukwu continued: “Victor Banjo, Ifeajuna and others kept in touch with co-conspirators in Lagos via British Deputy High Commission's facilities in Benin.”

When the American consul asked Ojukwu for evidence, Ojukwu replied: “Banjo is a very meticulous man, who kept records and notes of everything he did. The mistake of the plotters was they talked too much, their moves too conspicuous and they made notes which came into my hands. As a result, the conspirators came under surveillance from the early stages of the plot's existence. Their plans then became known and confirmed by subsequent events.”

In another document, Major (Dr.) Okonkwo, whom Ojukwu appointed as military administrator of the Midwest, said he and Ojukwu participated in court-martialling Banjo in Enugu on 22 September 1967 and Banjo “freely admitted in his testimony that a group of Yorubas on both sides of the battle were plotting together to take over Lagos and Enugu governments and unite Nigeria under Chief Awolowo.

Gowon, Ojukwu and Okonkwo were to be eliminated. Gowon was to have been killed by Yoruba officers in the Federal Army.” He added that when arrested on the night of 19 September, Banjo offered no resistance because he said then it was too late to stop the affair and the plot was already in motion. His role, Banjo said, was already accomplished. “As far as is known, Banjo died without revealing the names of his collaborators in Lagos,” Okonkwo said.

In another confidential document cabled to Washington on 12 October, 1967 it was revealed that Ojukwu who had always been suspicious of Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, sent him to his death at Nsukka. According to Lieutenant Colonel Abba Kyari, military governor of North Central State, “there is no question that Major Nzeogwu, Ibo leader of 1966 coup in Kaduna, had been a nationalist, not a tribalist, who was acting for the good of all Nigeria.” He described Nzeogwu as “a victim of Ojukwu”, explaining that Nzeogwu, having been falsely informed that Nsukka was in Biafran hands, boldly entered Ubolo-Eke, near Nsukka at night and was killed. Nzeogwu's corpse was transferred to the North and given full military burial, but not before northern soldiers had plucked out his eyes so that he “would never see the North again”.

Ojukwu, who told the American diplomat that the coup against him “involved many who participated in the January 15, 1966 plot” and that aside the four he had executed three days before, he would not execute others yet because “ he did not wish to give the impression he was conducting blood purge.” Ojukwu

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THE

Wednesday, March 20 - Sunday, March 24, 2013

America's Secret Files On Ojukwu Continued from page 9 later made a radio broadcast that confirmed the existence of mutineers and blamed the loss of Midwest, Nsukka, Enugu, Onitsha on them. He said they called for the withdrawal of Biafran troops from these cities and that they were even shelling Onitsha with Biafran artillery to sow panic long before the arrival of federal forces.

Ojukwu did not execute Njoku. He only demoted him and replaced him with Colonel Alexander Madiebo.

The secret US document called Njoku “the best Enugu has (and one of the very best Nigeria has produced).

The UK defence advisor, who had known Madiebo as subordinate officer First Recce Squadron for several years, said he is “perfectly charming socially, but quite worthless professionally. He is weak, ineffective commander and consistently had worst unit recce squadron.” To affirm what he was saying, he showed the US defence attaché Madiebo's file at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.

Madiebo's records were abysmal.

The US attaché noted also that Madiebo graduated as an associate field artillery officer at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in 1964.

In another document, it was disclosed that the Head of State, Major-General Aguyi-Ironsi, was scheduled to have been assassinated on the northern leg of his national tour after the January 1966 coup.

Some northern officers were already plotting to kill the head of state on 19 July 1966, but “Colonel Hassan Katsina dampened their enthusiasm, asserting nothing should happen to Ironsi while in the North. Ironsi was scheduled to visit Kano, but Colonel Katsina persuaded him to cancel that portion of his trip because Lt. Colonel Muhammed Shuwa, Commander of the 5th Battalion, had made arrangements for Ironsi's assassination in Kano.”

Katsina told northern officers that if anything should happen to Major General Ironsi, it should happen in the South. Ironsi was killed in Ibadan 10 days later by northern officers led by T.Y. Danjuma.

The Priest, Publicist and Arms Dealer How lean finances unhinged Ojukwu and the Biafran dream The Irish missionary priest of the Holy Ghost Fathers, Father Kevin Doheny, according to the US documents, was Ojukwu's intelligence director. He was also said to be in charge of all radio communications in Biafra.

According to the secret documents, Doheny, a cousin of Senator Mansfield, had ties to Senator Goodell and Congressman Lowenstein, who visited Biafra, and through his older brother, Father Mike Doheny, had ties to Cardinal Cushing, the Archbishop of Boston and member of National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) and to US Speaker McCormack who passed the landmark 1964 American Civil Rights Legislation.

Professor Ade Ajayi, V.C University of Ibadan. He offered to repatriate his Igbo staff with three months'

Yakubu Gowon salary in advance Father Doheny was ordained a priest on 5 July, 1953, in Dublin and arrived in Owerri Diocese in November 1954. During the war, Doheny was successful in mobilising worldwide Catholic relief support for Biafran children and women. Doheny, who travelled from Dublin to Geneva to hold talks with Clarence Clyde Ferguson Jr., the US Special Coordinator on Relief to Victims of the Nigerian Civil War in June 1969, told the American head of mission there that the charge of genocide against the federal troops was “highly exaggerated”, but said it as “a major factor in keeping the Biafrans fighting”.

Robert Goldstein, Biafra's Public Relations guru, said it was necessary for the world to see the deaths and the starvation of tens of thousands refugees in Biafra. He helped organise regular international press trips to Biafra.

But unlike Doheny, revealed the documents, he was motivated purely by money.

In a 13 February 1968 conversation he had with Robert Smith, Country Officer for Nigeria at the US State Department in Washington, Goldstein said Mathew Mbu, Biafran Commissioner for External Affairs, arranged for him a Public Relations contract worth “one million pounds in negotiable bonds” with the Biafran government. He presented the two certificates for the diplomat to see. One was for £200,000, payable in 1968, and another for £800,000, payable in 1973. While both bore a stamped signature of a Nigerian Central Bank official, they seemed payable to the “Ministry of Finance of Eastern Nigeria,” Smith noted.

Goldstein said he was told he could borrow money against the certificates pending the time they matured. In other words, the Biafrans had convinced Goldstein he was holding gold in his hands.

Smith then told Goldstein that Biafra was in serious financial difficulties and he was not sure Biafra would be still be in existence by the time those certificates would

mature. The certificates, Smith added, were of doubtful value and authenticity, given the names and offices of those who signed and stamped them. Goldstein replied that they were not fake and that as a matter of fact, he was going to the World Bank later in the day to see how the bonds could be added to Biafra or Nigeria's external debt portfolio when he eventually had to cash them.

It was not only Goldstein who was paid for his services to Biafra in bonds. According to the US cable of 16 November 1967, written by Ambassador Elbert Matthews in Lagos, Ojukwu went on Radio Biafra to denounce the Federal Government for seeking through its High Commissioner in London “the services of four notorious mercenaries, who were connected with recent activities in Congo”. He listed them as “Mike Hoare, otherwise known as Mad Major; Commandant John Peterson, Major Capister Wicks and Major Bob Desnard.” In October, the document continued, Ojukwu had met these men at the Port Harcourt airport.

They had turned his offer down as too little. He then went on radio to reveal and denounce them so that they would be rendered unbuyable by the Federal Government. Then he thought up the bonds and called them up.

According to the secret cable sent from American embassy in Gabon on 12 November 1968, “Bob Denard, a French mercenary, arrived in Biafra in December 1967 with 100 mercenaries under contract with Biafra. They fought as a single unit during the defence of Onitsha. Rolf Steiner, Taffy Williams and an unnamed Italian then became military advisors to Ojukwu. At the end of April 1968, Steiner and the Italian were each given command of a battalion of Biafran commandos with 400 to 500 men per battalion. The Italian was killed during the defence of Port Harcourt. In April, Taffy Williams went to the UK to recruit two additional mercenaries: John Erasmus and Alex, who were veterans of the 6th Commando in

the Katanga war in Congo.

Williams, Erasmus and Alex arrived in Biafra at the end of June 1968.

There was another Irish mercenary during March to August, named Paddy, who was an engineer with 22 years experience in Africa. He was in charge of maintaining equipment.”

Another French mercenary and a Congo veteran named Armond as well as another Frenchman, Leroy, arrived at the end of August to fight for Biafra based on the bonds.

It was Leroy who proposed to Ojukwu to set up small guerrilla units to arrange air drops from Libreville, Gabon, since Uli Airstrip could not support the bigger transport plane proposed for more quantitative deliveries of arms and ammunition. Steiner, who was now in command of the 4th Commando Brigade, was put in charge of the defence of Aba. In early June, when the Federal Government announced “Operation Quick Kill” to finish off the war swiftly, Steiner's brigade consisted of about 8000 men. Of these, only 1,500 were armed. Why? The American, Hank A. Wharton, was the main arms dealer remaining for Biafra after Christian von Oppenheim, the Spain-based arms dealer of German origin, was shot down on 8 October 1968, when he flew to bomb Lagos. The first bomb, a 50-pound ordnance, dropped on the southwest side of State House in Marina did not explode. The second hit the Barclays Bank building (40 Marina, Lagos) and extensive damage was done to the Canadian Chancery in that same building. The third bomb was dropped in the vicinity of Niger House at the intersection between Broad Street and Marina. According to US defence attaché's report, the plane then flew to Apapa dropping a bottled gas bomb on Harbour Road, missing the large fuel tanks in the area which were its primary targets.

It was when the plane circled to return to Lagos Island that antiaircraft batteries from the Naval Dockyard, Apapa, were launched at it. Still hurtling in the air as it passed over Ikoyi, the plane was hit by artillery from Dodan Barracks.

Oppenheim and his three crew members hit the ground in southwest Ikoyi as a ball of fire.

That left Wharton as Biafra's sole arms dealer.

Wharton had been involved in arms supply to Biafra since October 1966, when Ojukwu told a select few he had decided on secession. In September 1968, Wharton said he was tired of the promise of the Biafran bonds and flew to see Ojukwu for his $1million dollars cash payment. Instead, Ojukwu accused Wharton of working for his enemies. He charged that from June to August 1968, when the Federal Government announced the much publicised “quick-kill” offensive to defeat the Biafra, Wharton's deliveries suddenly became irregular and so the mercenaries and their battalions could not have enough supplies of arms and ammunition.

Ojukwu also described as sabotage the incident during which Wharton's plane emptied its Biafra-bound cargo into the Atlantic Ocean. In his diary entry on that day Ojukwu wrote: “August 13 [1968]: The Hank Wharton Plot, hatched by

ADVOCATE British government and American CIA to sabotage Biafra and help Nigeria to carry through her 'final thrust' into Biafran heartland.

Cargoes of arms and ammunition bought by Biafra are dumped into the sea during airflight. Tons of new Biafran currency are dumped into the sea, to create artificial scarcity in the Republic.”

Wharton vigorously denied that was the case. He told Ojukwu that his plane developed engine problems and the pilot had to quickly eject its cargo into the sea to avoid crash. He argued further if he had wanted to double-cross Ojukwu, he would not have lifted the cargo at all from Sao Tome. Ojukwu was not convinced.

He had no money to pay Wharton.

The European mercenaries too started having a rethink; they were convinced that there was no money and that the bonds were a fraud.

Peter Lynch, the Australian correspondent working for United Press International in Biafra, told the American Ambassador in Lagos on his way back that Pierre Laures, the Chief French Procurement Officer, had disappeared. “All the French mercenaries of the Faulques Group had left Biafra as they found the going too tough and had not being paid.”

Goldstein, the PR guru, called up Robert Smith, American diplomat in Washington. He said because of the discussions they had about the validity of Biafran bonds, he too had started to scale down his commitment to Biafra.

On 13 August 1968, Goldstein addressed a press conference in Washington, where he announced that he was done with Biafra and Ojukwu. In his resignation letter, he accused Ojukwu of using Biafra's starving children to negotiate favourable concessions for himself because of the OAU summit coming up and that Ojukwu never cared about those starving children. Yet, Goldstein wrote: “Starvation was the most agonising death that can befall any living creature.” He seemed to have claimed the moral high ground.

However, The Milwaukee Journal of 14 August 1968 told a different story. The paper reported that Goldstein was given $35,000 down payment in cash for his resignation by the Federal Government in place of the worthless $1miilion Biafran bonds he was carrying about. Even his resignation letter was worded for him. According to a confidential State Department document cabled to the US Embassy in Lagos on 17 July, Goldstein met with Iyalla, Nigeria's Ambassador to US, on 16 July 1968 and offered to reverse all the PR successes he had done for Biafra. He suggested that he would help organise a world press conference at which Gowon would passionately plead with Ojukwu to allow his people to come out of the bush and be fed. This, Goldstein argued, would switch the perception of Gowon as the starver of children they had created in the eyes of the world back to Ojukwu and the Biafran government. Goldstein also suggested that Nigerian planes should drop food and leaflets pointing to relief centres on starving Biafran territories, but this should only be done when foreign reporters

Continues on page11

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ADVOCATE Continued from page 10 were there. The cable concluded: “The fact is that Goldstein has not received payment from the Biafrans is obviously the reason for the switch, but he didn't reveal (to us) the price he is quoting to the Federal Government. He continues to negotiate with Iyalla and awaiting decision from Lagos.”

A month later, the cable of 14 August 1968 opened with: “The (State) Department has noted with interest the Federal Government's leaflets drop in rebel-held areas.” A sum of $35,000 had changed hands.

Wharton, Biafra's sole arms dealer, also admitted in an interview with Alexander Mitchell of Sunday Times of 27 October 1968 that he too had been “approached by British agents and offered bribes to switch allegiances”. He emptied his cargo in the sea to convince his new paymasters he meant business. The British Foreign Office promptly denied it. Wharton, Peter Lynch observed, had a row with Goldstein in Port Harcourt back in February 1968 over Biafrans' failure to produce money owed him.

Goldstein persuaded him he would get paid one way or the other.

Wharton later said he received “an anonymous call” from Frankfurt in Germany, offering him $100, 000 to switch sides. As Alexander Mitchell of Sunday Times noted, Wharton secretly visited London twice in two weeks.

During their talk in Geneva, Father Doheny told Clarence Ferguson that Biafrans believe the key to a ceasefire was London. “Despite British support for the federal side, there is an innate respect in Biafra for Britain. He feels that a British fact-finding mission to Biafra would be well received,” Doheny said.

Ferguson carefully noted what the priest said and asked if Biafrans “have a price” other than “the stated price” it might be “useful if they sent the message in clear terms by known Biafran official.” Ferguson then suggested Pius Okigbo, the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Sir Louis Mbanefo, the Chief Justice.

Father Kevin Doheny stayed with the Biafrans till after the war when he was arrested. He was tried on 27 January 1970, found guilty of “giving military help to the rebel regime” and sentenced to six months imprisonment. He was expelled from Nigeria on 3 February, 1970.

Inside The Midwest In Lagos, the atmosphere of deep mistrust of Igbos left behind and those who recently made their way back from Biafra thickened. It had come to light that some of the Igbo minority of the Midwest were used to sweep away Ejoor and put an Okonkwo in power. It would happen in Lagos, they reckoned. Banjo's troops were reported to be in Ore heading for Lagos. The atmosphere was dense with suspicions. Rubbles of the damaged Inland Revenue office, the British Library, the telephone exchange and cinema house near Rowe Park inYaba from the explosions of bombs conveyed in a petrol tanker on 19 July 1967 were there. Four people died and 56 were injured.

Philip Asiodu, a midwest Igbo, joined in reconciling the Midwest

Wednesday, March 20 - Sunday, March 24, 2013

On the night of 9 August, another Biafran plane flew in from the East and dropped bombs on non-military area.'Warning bombs,' Ojukwu called them in a lengthy midnight address on Radio Biafra on 10 August 1967. The plane also dropped leaflets in Ikeja and Palmgrove areas “calling on people to overthrow Gowon's government and the Hausa imperialists.” The American ambassador noted that the leaflets were similar to the ones being distributed by Biafran soldiers to gain support in the Midwest. On 16 August 1967, another Biafran plane flew in and dropped two bombs on Apapa. The more the bombs exploded, the more Igbos resident in Lagos were put in trouble.

Ambassador Mathews cabled Washington: “We have a number of reports that Ibos are being taken from their homes and offices, in many cases not, repeat, not gently.

We have no info on what is being done with those detained.” In an earlier document, Mathews wrote: “Soldiers in lorries mounted houseto-house searches along Ikorodu Road in densely populated quarters of Lagos and took Ibos from their houses to the army barracks.”

Governor Mobolaji Johnson went on radio to address Lagosians in a way sharply different from the conciliatory tone he adopted the previous month when Biafran explosions began to rock Lagos.

“Ibos openly rejoiced at the events in the Midwest and that some openly boast Ojukwu will soon take over Lagos or bomb Lagos to ashes. All these acts of treachery, sabotage and uncharitable-ness are an abuse of kindness and hospitality of people of Lagos State,” Johnson said.

According to official police estimates, around 50,000 Igbo lived in Lagos; around 32,000 were believed to live in Ikeja, where the airport and army base are located. As of August 1967, only 17, 000 were left. In Ibadan, an estimated 6000 remained.

“Recent conversations with AlhajiAdegbenro (Awolowo's lieutenant), Dele Ige (Bola Ige's younger brother) and other prominent Yorubas have indicated great fear on their part that Ibos were planning to sabotage federal institutions located in Ibadan, in particular University of Ibadan and University College Hospital,” Mr Strong wrote in a confidential cable.

In his probe of the prevalent fear, Strong questioned E.M. Ajala, the local head of Nigerian Tobacco Company, whose employees had been implicated in the discovery of ten cases of gelignite near University of Ibadan. According to Ajala, “the leader of the group was an Ibo graduate of University of Nigeria and the purpose was to teach the Yorubas a lesson, having displaced their countrymen after the mass exodus of Ibo doctors and professors from both institutions since last October (1966).”

The American diplomat then noted that University of Ibadan and the University College Hospital were being watched and that “Premier Hotel now searches all entering guests”.

Though later rescinded by Awolowo when he heard of it overnight on 16 August 1967, the British Area Manager of Electricity Corporation

11

America's Secret Files On Ojukwu patrolling off the coast of Biafra,” Barnard wrote.”

Unknown to the Biafrans, NNS Penelope, the command ship of the Nigerian Navy had been summoned with all her sisters, including the five taking turns to enforce the blockade to the Naval Dockyard in Apapa. By 1800hrs on 18 July 1967, they were all there. Also assembled were three merchant vessels from the Nigerian National Shipping Line: King Jaja, Oranyan, Bode Thomas and later Oduduwa and Warigi from Farrell Lines. They were there to rehearse a joint Army and Navy amphibious operation, which was later variously described as a “masterpiece in the history of warfare in Africa, “the first of its kind by any 3rd world country,” “the African version of Omaha Beach landings that turned the tide of the Second World War”.

By the 25 July, the invasion to stamp Federal boots on the Niger Delta and close in on Biafra from the south was launched. The three Seaward Defence Boats, SDBs: NNS Ogoja, Soyinka: Biafra described him as a “patriotic Yoruba son” Benin and Enugu proceeded into Bonny River channel, while NNS of Nigeria (ECN) received an craft), left Lagos again with supplies Nigeria, a frigate, stood on the high executive order from Governor to reinforce the activities of seas guarding NNS Lokoja with its Adebayo that he had 48 hours to A d e k u n l e ' s 3 r d M a r i n e human cargo. Because of her longer round up 'his Igbos' and send them to Commandoes, 3MCDS. Two weeks range four-inch battery, Nigeria was the designated collection points. All before, she had taken two battalions still able to provide support for the Igbo in Ibadan were to be rounded the first instalment of the 35,000 operational objectives of the three up and sent to designated collection strong Division to Bonny. The SDBs ahead. NNS Ogoja, the largest points as a matter of state policy. The B i a f r a n N a v y c o m p r i s e d of the SDB spotted BNS Biafra collection point for ECN Igbo was, speedboats, tug boats and barges heading downstream. She quickly ironically, Liberty Stadium. commandeered from the oil steered away from the convoy to Olunloyo College of Education and companies as well as canoes and engage her. Once Biafra came Government College were the rafts of fishermen. NNS Ibadan, a within her range, Ogoja fired shots collection points for the estimated Second World War British Navy in rapid succession. Biafra replied 400 Igbos of UCH and 900 Igbos of Seaward Defence Boat with a feebly and its Bofors guns kept on UI. All 6,000 to be rounded up 40/60mm Bofors anti-aircraft jamming after three shots. Akin would then be transported by train to forehead that could hardly fire three Aduwo, who was commanding Apapa for onward movement back rounds without jamming was the Ogoja, and P.J.Odu, commander of to the East. According to the command ship of this Navy. She was Biafra, were colleagues and very American consul, Professor J.F proudly rechristened BNS Biafra. good friends for years. But the war Ade-Ajayi, acting Vice-Chancellor Commander Winifred Anuku, head had made them to reach a point of University of Ibadan after of the Biafran Navy, had mapped out where one must destroy the other for Professor Kenneth Dike fled, had a plan to arm an old dilapidated the greater glory of his country. gathered his remaining Igbo staff dredging ship with hidden artillery While the engineers were fixing this and offered to repatriate them with and several companies in its well jam, Biafra was trying to quickly three months' salaries paid in and deck fittings. Seeing it was old manoeuvre round in a tight circle so advance. and non-military, one of the NNS that it won't be in a broadsides range At two o' clock that sameday, enforcing the blockade would be with Ogoja, hence becoming a Governor Adebayo met with the confident to approach her and turkey shoot. But she got stuck in the Leaders of Thought at the interrogate her, they reckoned. Then shallow end of the river. Aduwo Parliament Buildings, Ibadan, to they would quickly open fire on the depressed his guns, fired low at the discuss Victor Banjo and the upper deck of the Nigerian ship, stern to jam the engines and developments in the Midwest. overpower her and take her to their propellers. That ensured Biafra was Adebayo told the gathering: “He naval dockyard in Port Harcourt as going nowhere again. His friend and stands firmly by oath to join with the new Biafran sea jewel. Three his crew quickly deserted the ship colleagues in the federal days on the sea, no NNS and escaped into the swamps. The government to do everything in our approached. Lt Cdr P.J. Odu, tow tug boat, Abdul Maliki, later power… to work for reconciliation commander of the planned piracy, came to tow BNS Biafra back to amongst various peoples of the reported back to Anuku: “No enemy Naval Dockyard in Lagos, where it federation.” Yet, on that same day, ship sighted 20 miles offshore.” was rechristened NNS Ibadan. he signed a secret executive order He then dismissed the naval Ogoja returned to join Benin and for Igbos to be rounded up and blockade as “propaganda to Enugu never realising that the fight deported from Ibadan. convince friendly countries from between friends, the desertion of At the Kano airport, soldiers seized sending shipments of arms.” When Biafra and its rechristening in Lagos an Igbo stewardess from a plane on James Parker, the UK Deputy High would be the metaphor for the 30which she flew in from London. She Commissioner in Enugu, and Bob month civil war. was never heard of again. Radio Barnard, his American counterpart, The heavy fire from Enugu, Benin Kaduna informed its listeners that all met Ojukwu and asked him about and Ogoja so thoroughly subdued branches of the African Continental the rumoured invasion from the sea, the Biafran defensive positions on Bank, ACB, had been closed and Ojukwu simply laughed. “He Bonny Island that resistance to NNS were being searched by mobile laughed at the thought that the Lokoja's troop landings were too police after “intelligence reports” Nigerian Navy could enforce a scattered to make an impact. As a revealed “all ACB branches” were blockade of Biafran ports or mount result, Federal SDBs did not have to harbouring explosives. ACB, the amphibious operation on Biafran recourse to indiscriminate shelling radio informed its listeners, was coasts with its winding creeks and to subdue the island, which may owned by “the former Eastern primordial mangrove swamp have affected the oil installations Nigerian Government and the running twenty miles inland. He said and refinery jetties. US Defence banned Ibo Union.” he doesn't know where the Nigerian At 9:25 p.m on 10 August 1967, naval vessels go when they depart Continues on page12 NNS Lokoja (Nigeria's only landing Lagos, but they are not, repeat, not

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Wednesday, March 20 - Sunday, March 24, 2013

FROM THE

Continued from page 11

Attaché's noted in his secret report of 27 July 1967 that Gowon, was “overjoyed” when Adekunle reported that Bonny had been taken with “no damage to the oil installations.” All the 16 storage tanks with their 3.9 million litres of crude oil were intact. Quickly, they consolidated their positions on both sides of the river channel and by mid-morning 5 August, Dawes Island, which controls river channels leading to Okrika were in Adekunle's hands.

On 10 August, Adekunle received a report from Supreme Headquarters that a whole Biafran Brigade had crossed the Niger Bridge and had split in Agbor. Some battalions were heading northwards towards Auchi and Aghenebode, some were heading to Benin and more pertinently to him, some were heading to Warri and Sapele. The 3MCDs made immediate plans to respond to this Biafran surprise.

First, Adekunle knew that the invasion may be a tactical objective to recapture Bonny. Biafran Navy Headquarters in Port Harcourt could not feel safe knowing that a Nigerian brigade was stationed 35km away at Bonny.

What Adekunle did was to quickly redeploy the 7th and 32ndbattalions to the Forcados and Escravos creeks, 166 nautical miles away, to contain any advance of Biafran troops to the creeks. The 8th battalion proceeded to hold a defensive alignment with Port Harcourt. Major Abubakar's 9th Battalion left to hold Bonny Island and perform rear operations. The NNS that were bringing in supplies, equipment and personnel were rerouted166 nautical miles back to Forcados and Escravos. The Nigerian national line cargo vessel, Oranyan which, on 8 August, had departed from Lagos and arrived in Bonny with supplies, equipment and some personnel, was ordered to unload at the village of SoboloObotobo which is northwest of Forcados. At 6:30a.m on the 11 August, NNS Enugu left Bonny River and was on recce in Escravos River in case there were militarised speedboats, tugs or barges lurking somewhere. There was none.At 9am, NNS Lokoja disgorged two additional rifle companies at Escravos and quickly established defensive positions there. On the 13 August, MV Bode Thomas added more supplies, equipment and personnel reinforcements. The build-up continued.

To the annoyance of Adekunle, who was arguably the most successful war commander in Nigeria's military history, a new Division was created and called 2nd Division. It was headed by Lt Colonel Murtala Muhammed. Adekunle's formation, despite the success of his mission so far, was not upgraded to divisional strength. With the addition of 31st and 33rd Battalion, he was upgraded to 3rd Marine Commando Division.

Muhammed's comprised three brigades 4th, 5th, 6th. They were commanded by Lt Colonels Godwin A l l y, F r a n c i s A i s i d a a n d AlaniAkinrinade. Their mission imperative was to rout the Biafran forces from the Midwest by invading from the West, Northwest and North.

Ally's 4th Brigade (which was to be

ADVOCATE

COURT America's Secret Files On Ojukwu

later commanded by Major Ibrahim Taiwo of the 10th Battalion because a sniper fire hit Ally in the chest in Asaba and almost killed him) was at the Ore, Ofosu, Okitipupa sector, holding a defensive alignment against Banjo's advance.

Akinrinade's 6th Brigade was tasked with Owo-Akure sector and Aisida's 5th was the command brigade in Okene with Auchi and Ubiaja being their strategic objectives. Benin, Agbor and Asaba were their operational objectives.

All the brigade commanders were waiting for a sign. In his report of 24 August 1967, Standish Brooks, US Defence Attaché wrote: “Murtala Muhammad does not want to fight a piecemeal campaign without a series of logical and successive objectives being assigned and without reasonable capabilities to achieve the objectives at hand.”

Bisalla, the Chief of Staff (Army), said of Murtala: “I know him. When he starts, he wants to go all the way to the River [Niger] before he even thinks of stopping.” But he needed the sign first and his brigade commanders were waiting too.

Besides the military communication units, the army headquarters in Lagos, at times, used the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation to transmit information to all the divisional headquarters and brigade commanders. It could be done during radio programmes, news bulletins or radio jingles. The public heard these secret codes, but thought they were part of the show. But on the 20 September 1967, at 8a.m, NBC broadcast the sign the field commanders had been waiting for.

“The frogs are swimming; the frogs are swimming.” The CIA's Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) monitored and recorded key signals, statements and speeches about the war from every radio station in Nigeria, Biafra and neighbouring countries. And they shared them with American Diplomatic/Consular units, CICSTRIKE (Commander In Chief STRIKE Swift Tactical Response In Every Known Environment), ACSI (Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence), CINCMEAFSA (Commander in Chief Middle East/South Asia and Africa South of the Sahara) and DIA (Defence Intelligence Agency).

Brooks, the attaché posted to Nigeria, analysed The frogs are swimming intelligence thus: “This informed the 2nd Division and the guerrilla bands operating in various areas of the Midwest that elements of Adekunle's 3rd Division are already ashore from the Escravos/Forcados creeks.” Hastily marshalled Midwestern militias had been dealing fires to the Biafran occupiers. It was reported that Urhobo, Ijaw and Itsekiri swimmers were diving underwater and organising surprise attacks on Biafran units and formations along the Ethiope River. In Benin too, they reminded themselves they were the city of Ovonramwen Nogbaisi and the Biafran forces were the latest version of the British expedition forces of the 19th century. Rapidly, young men were organising themselves into deadly underground resistance groups. Old people, who could not fight, were contributing money and their dane guns; young women, like Moremi, were reported

Nzeogwu: Ojukwu sent him to his death at Nsukka to be offering their bodies to get close to these Biafran forces and poison their food.

The frogs are swimming. Adekunle and his 3MCDOs left their Escravos base at 3a.m and were blazing towards their objectives on speedboats. The boats held a platoon of 26 troops and the ones that carried a Land Rover each could only take 12 soldiers. With NNS Enugu providing the operational support, seven hours later, they had secured the ports of Koko and Sapele. They forked into two columns. One headed towards Warri and by 22 September, it had captured the Warri Port and the ECN power station in Ughelli. The frogs are swimming. The other column headed northeast to Agbor on Sapele/Agbor Road. A northern column from the 6th Brigade of the 2nd Division was also heading south east to Agbor via Ehor-Agbor Road.

The next day, Agbor fell. To keep up the momentum, Lagos sent in 5,000 German G3 7.62 rifles to be issued to marine commandos.The riverine operation of the 3MCDs was billed to be defining in its ruthless efficiency because the federal government wanted to use it to send a message to the oil companies suspending royalty payments who their boss was between Nigeria and Biafra. The American secret cable of 3 July stated that Shell-BP was convinced that “Biafra was here to stay and that Ojukwu would be kind to the company.”

Within seven days, Ore, Benin, Agbor, Asaba, Kwale, Warri and Sapele fell. Ojukwu fled. The 3MCDs were asked to pull back from Agbor and Kwale and the Ethiope River was made into the inter-divisional boundary with the 2nd Division. On 29 September at 1550hrs, CIA's Foreign Broadcast Information Service recorded Adekunle on Benin Radio warning Midwesterners: “not to take advantage of the presence of federal troops to engage in looting, murder, and other criminalities.” Addressing the people of Warri, western Itshekiri and Agbor, he warned against using soldiers to achieve “personal vendettas.” Adekunle

reminded his listeners that “he has powers to impose martial law in coastal areas, but does not wish to do so.”

He then signed himself off as General Officer Commanding Nigerian Coastal Sector. It was not only Adekunle, made colonel after the successful Bonny Island landing, that promoted himself without the approval of Lagos. On 21 September, Murtala Mohammed went on the same Benin Radio, as monitored by the CIA, to “officially confirm the complete liberation of the Midwestern state except Agbor and Asaba” as the GOC of the 2nd Division when he was only a lieutenant colonel. He then announced: “On behalf of the head of the Federal Military Government,” the appointment of “Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Ogbemudia as the temporary administrator.”

Gowon and the Federal Executive Council were reported to have been “shocked” but they “regularised the appointment since Ogbemudia was the most appropriate for the job.”

Another document titled Military Campaign in the Midwest stated: “Ogbemudia's father is of mixed Benin-Ika extraction, as his home village near Agbor is inhabited by a tribally mixed people. Ogbemudia's mother is 'pure Ibo' from the East.”

Later in the evening, Ogbemudia addressed the people. The CIA was listening, too. He asked all workers to resume work in the morning of 22 September and nullified all the appointments and promotions made by the Biafran regime. He asked the people not to “pay back Ibos in their own coin” and announced the the lifting of the curfew imposed by the Biafran regime. However, he advised people to stay indoors after 10:00pm “to allow the federal troops to complete the operation of mopping few relining stragglers.”

But why after 10pm in the night?

On Wednesday 20 September 1967, federal troops opened fire on a Catholic Convent in Benin City.

There was only one nun there and she managed to escape with a few injuries. The soldiers subsequently said they were told by the local

people that some Igbos were hiding behind the convent, hence their decision to shoot at anything that moved. While Bishop Patrick Kelly was giving spiritual comfort to one Igbo civilian, who was badly wounded, some soldiers approached him, enquired whether he was yet dead. When the Bishop said he was still alive, they promptly killed him.

The bishop wrote a report to the Irish ambassador, who passed it to Gowon and the American ambassador.

The cold-blooded massacres in Midwest were not monopolised by t h e f e d e r a l t r o o p s o n l y. A confidential report of 15 October 1967 recorded that “as the Biafrans retreated from Benin to Agbor, they killed all the men, women and children they could find who were not Igbos. The town of Abudu, one of the larger places between Agbor and Benin lost virtually of its population with the exception of a small proportion that fled into the bush”. Anthony Charles Stephens, an expatriate teacher from Britain, was killed when he refused to surrender his car to the retreating Biafran forces. Father Coleman, an Irish priest, said before Biafran troops left Agbor “without a fight”, they killed off most of “non-Ibo men, women and children.”

In general, the American confidential report stated, non-Igbo Midwesterners were very antiBiafran throughout the occupation.

For weeks, many of them hid northerners in their homes from the Biafran troops who set out to kill them. The document continued: “Nearly all rejoiced when federal troops came in. The only town that was an exception was Ehor where, even after the federal troops arrived, the local populace was protecting the Igbo soldiers and tried to confuse the federal troops.” However in Benin, there was no intention to confuse. “The civilians were busy pointing out the Ibos,” the document stated. The federal troops set up “two big camps to serve as safe havens in a school for the Ibos. The women and children were taken there,” the report said. But the men?

Sam Idah, Director of the Benin Cemetery on Ifon Road, told the American diplomats on 21 September 1967 that 24 hours after the federal troops arrived, 1,258 bodies had been buried there.

“Trucks from the Ministry of Works and Transport and from Benin Development Council were used to haul the corpses to the open pits,” he said. Reverend Rooney, a Catholic Missionary with Benin Public Service, said: “A total of 989 civilians had been killed that day in the city.”

Ambassador Elbert Matthews noted that “with the capture of the Midwest and the fall of the Biafran capital within days, the Federal Government senses eventual military victories and was in no mood for outside criticisms”. The massacres went on unchecked. Their report in the international media encouraged some diplomatic recognition for Biafra and arms shipments, which prolonged the war for another 27 months.

- Culled from TheNews

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Wednesday, March 20 - Sunday, March 24, 2013

FROM THE

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COURT

Landlord arraigned for allegedly threatening to kill tenant

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landlord, Titus Omosuyi, who allegedly threatened to kill his tenant, was Tuesday docked before an Apapa Senior Magistrates' Court in Lagos.

Omosuyi, 57, of 14 Ora St., Olodi-Apapa, Lagos, is standing trial on a two-count charge bothering on breach of the peace and threat to life. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, Cpl. John

Iberedem, told the court that the landlord had between Febuary 6 and 10, 2013, allegedly threatened to kill his tenant, Mr Clement Anyanwu and his wife, Chioma.

“Omosuyi pointed his finger at the couple and threatened that they would soon die and that their son that was sick would also die and their corpses would be carried to their home town in no distant time,” Iberedem said.

He alleged that the accused committed the offences at 14 Orah St., Olodi-Apapa, Lagos.

Iberedem said the action of the accused contravened Sections 166 (D&I) and 170 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos, 2011.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr. P. A. Adekomaiya, granted the accused N50,000 bail, with two sureties in like sum.

Adekomaiya ordered that the sureties should show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State

Government in addition to the bail condition.

The case was adjourned till March 25 for further hearing.

A landlord, Titus Omosuyi, who allegedly threatened to kill his tenant, was yesterday docked before an Apapa Senior Magistrates' Court in Lagos.

Omosuyi, 57, of 14 Ora St., Olodi-Apapa, Lagos, is standing trial on a two-count charge bothering on breach of the peace and threat to life. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Man bags 9 months jail for stealing phones

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n Oshodi Magistrates' Court in Lagos, Tuesday, sentenced a 20-year-old unemployed man, Azeez Adams, to nine months imprisonment for stealing two Blackberry phones.

Also a landlord, Titus Omosuyi, who allegedly threatened to kill his tenant, was Tuesday docked before an Apapa Senior Magistrates' Court in Lagos.

The Magistrate, Mr Akeem Fashola, sentenced Adams after he pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and stealing.

Adams, of no fixed address, blamed his action on the devil and pleaded for leniency.

The magistrate gave him an option of paying a fine of N60,000.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde, had told the court that the accused and others at large committed the offence on

March 5, at 9.30p.m., at Oshodi.

He said that the accused and others conspired to steal a N64,000 Blackberry Touch phone belonging to one Miss Oloruntimilehin Olayinka, and a N25,000 Blackberry Bold phone, property of one Mr Emmanuel Adebiyi “Olayinka and Adebiyi were receiving calls at the bus stop when the accused snatched their phones and crossed to the other side of the road.

“The accused was pursued and when he discovered this, he quickly passed the two phones to his colleagues, who escaped with them, while he was arrested,” the prosecutor said.

According to him, all efforts to recover the phones have proved abortive.

Olatunde said that the offence contravened Sections 285 and 410 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The prosecutor, Cpl. John Iberedem, told the court that the landlord had between February 6 and 10, 2013, allegedly threatened to kill his tenant, Mr Clement Anyanwu and his wife, Chioma.

“Omosuyi pointed his finger at the couple and threatened that they would soon die and that their son that was sick would also die and their corpses would be carried to their home town in no distant time,” Iberedem said.

He alleged that the accused committed the offences at 14 Orah St., Olodi-Apapa, Lagos.

Iberedem said the action of the accused contravened Sections 166 (D&I) and 170 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos, 2011.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr. P. A. Adekomaiya, granted the accused N50,000 bail, with two sureties in like sum.

Adekomaiya ordered that the sureties should show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government in addition to the bail condition.

The case was adjourned till March 25 for further hearing.

Nigerian jailed for trafficking teenagers across Europe

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man has been jailed for 14 years for his role in the ”horrific” ordeal of two teenage girls being trafficked via London to work as prostitutes in mainland Europe.

A court heard Odosa Usiobaifo, 35, from Enfield, north London, was involved in a “significant” organised crime gang trafficking young women for the purposes of sexual exploitation.

Usiobaifo was arrested after two Nigerian girls missing from local authority care in London were given false passports and tickets and placed on a flight to Spain.

The 35-year-old, who had collected the girls from a prearranged meeting point before they were given the false documents and put on the flight, was found guilty of conspiring to

Odion Child Trafficker traffick for the purposes of sexual exploitation following a four-

week trial at Isleworth Crown Court. He had pleaded guilty to conspiring to facilitate illegal immigration earlier in the trial.

The court heard the girls, aged 14 and 15 at the time, had previously been stopped by Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport separately on September 17 and November 23, 2011.

Both were using false passports which indicated they were adults.

They had arrived on flights from Lagos, Nigeria, and were attempting to travel on to Paris, the trial heard.

During interviews with the S e r i o u s O rg a n i s e d C r i m e

Agency's Vulnerable Persons Team it became clear that the pair were being trafficked to mainland Europe, via London, for the purposes of sexual exploitation.

They were placed in local authority care but on April 6, 2012 were reported missing to Sussex Police by their respective foster carers.

Investigations revealed that contact had been made with the girls and Usiobaifo had collected them from a pre-arranged meeting point before they were given false passports and tickets and placed on a flight to Spain.

One of the girls was refused entry

Man asks court to dissolve 20-year marriage

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father of two, Niyi Ajayi, has prayed a customary court sitting in Akure to dissolve his 20-year marriage.

Ajayi said that the wife Funke has stopped cooking for him in the last 13 years of their marriage.

He told the customary court that he was tired of the marriage because of the attitude of the wife towards him. According to him the wife had abandoned him by packing out of the house leaving him with their first child who is sick.

But the wife in her response denied the allegation saying that she had been performing all her duties as a wife and mother.

Funke accused the husband for been a chain smoker adding that she was ready for the separation by

He stated that the loan was being EFCC arraigns 3 pastors over N7.9m fraud sourced by the association to

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hree pastors David Eshiet, Samson Ugbara and Adesanmi Aderoju, were Monday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged N7.9 million fraud .

The defendants who were arraigned before Justice Olabisi Akinlade of an Ikeja High Court, are facing a six-count charge b o r d e r i n g o n c o n s p i r a c y, obtaining money by false

to Spain and returned to the United Kingdom, where she remains in the care of the UK authorities. The other passed through Spanish border controls and is still missing.

Usiobaifo was arrested at his flat in Enfield on September 3, 2012 alongside his partner Katie Igha, 25.

Last Thursday a jury found Usiobaifo guilty of all charges but acquitted Igha of trafficking. They failed to reach a verdict on a charge of conspiring to facilitate against Igha.

pretences, forgery and uttering.

The defendants were charged by the anti-graft agency alongside their company, Prince and Zion International Service Ltd. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges proffered against them.

The trio were accused of defrauding their victims of the sum under the pretense of helping them to secure large sum of money as loan.

The EFCC counsel, Mr Ben Ubi alleged that the defendants had conspired among themselves to fraudulently obtain N4 million and 25,000 US dollars (N3.9 million) from one Angel Estate Residents Development Association in Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos.

Ubi alleged that the money was obtained on October 27, 2011 under the pretext of helping the complainants source for a 100 million US dollars loan facility.

finance some community projects, adding that the defendants had obtained the money as processing charges.

Ubi, however accused the defendants of forging various documents which were used in facilitating the fraud.

Adding that after collecting the money, they failed to secure the loan as promised which led the complainants to petition the EFCC.

the court.

However the court ruled that the couple should allow peace to reign in their marriage and advised the petitioner to be tolerant.

The matter was later adjourned till April 1 this year.

Ubi said their alleged offences contravened Sections 1, subsections 1,2,3 and 8 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

He said it also contravened Sections 363 and 364 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

However the judge ordered the defendants be remanded in Kirikiri Maximum Security Prisons pending the hearing of their bail applications fixed for March 27.

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Wednesday, March 20 - Sunday, March 24, 2013

Umeh–Obi–APGA saga

Why the center cannot hold

Chief Victor Umeh

By Prince Oliver Okpala

T

he Concourse of Events and Actions in the only Igbo dominated Political Party in the Nigerian Political Firmament is, to put it mildly unfortunate. It is a discredit to the late Leader of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA; Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, that less than a Year after his Death, the Political legacy he bequeathed to the Igbo race for the ventilation and articulation of their hopes, aspirations and grievances have been made to kiss the dust by the activities of a few political collaborators whose selfish activities have killed the very essence of APGA as a Political Party, and what APGA stands for in relation to the Igboman in the Nigerian Political Milieu.

It is a Great Disservice not only to the Memory of Chief Ojukwu, but to the Igbo Race at large that Governor Peter Obi and his aides are fingered as the very people planning and executing the dismemberment of APGA as a party and thus engineering the Political, Social and Economic emasculation of the Igbo people in the Nigerian Nation.

There is no gainsaying the fact that it does happen occasionally in history when few people because of personal aggrandizement take up arms against their people and against the general aim, objective and aspirations of their people.

Such individuals are occasionally made to return to the path of social/political rectitude in order to avert the wrath of their people.

It is a bitter story to tell that in the present Political dispensation, the said arrowhead of the grand plot to rip off the very soul of APGA is

Mr. Peter Obi who in all ramifications was supposed to protect the image and sanctity of APGA as a Political Organization where the Igbos have a mouthpiece.

In our recent Political and Legal History, Two Politicians stand out as the Beneficiaries of our Democracy and an Independent Judiciary in Nigeria. Governors Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi;. they are two men who fought against the strong powers-that-be and were discriminated Politically. But they came back to Political life, ascendancy and relevance courtesy of our strong Democratic Institutions which knew no Colour, Race, Party, Persons in Power and the wishes of some despots and tin-gods.

A political school of thought is of the view that the actions of Mr. Peter Obi amounts to Political Betrayal of his kith and kin. If the assertion by this school of thought is true, it therefore suggest that his actions will also trade off the Igbo people by destroying the only available platform for the Propagation of their interest.

Mr. Obi's present actions are seen not only against the Igbos but also against certain Persons who had helped to bring him from the political wilderness and oblivion to the marvelous Political Light that he enjoys today. One of such Personalities is Chief Victor Umeh, the National Chairman of APGA. Hitherto, Obi was a political nobody. He was a political baby who found himself in a political stream.

He was about to be drowned and was at the very point of political.

A helping hand, a savior, an avatar and Good Samaritan came to the rescue. That person is none other than Chief Victor Umeh. Chief Umeh provided the tabula in na

Mr. Peter Obi frangio for Obi's Political Safety in his dire moments. The details are there for all to see.

Suffice it to say here that the course taken and chosen by Obi at the twilight of his Governorship in Anambra State is the very meaning of Political Suicide or Havakisi. Those who trust in their political judgment and give deaf ear to words of wisdom often end up fatally in the Political Landscape. Their political fall is bound to be fatal and it will resonate and reverb rate across the length and breadth of the Country.

It will be recalled that it was APGA as a Political Party that provided the platform for Obi to contest Gubernatorial election in Anambra State. The same party also afforded him the opportunity of a second shot at Governorship in Anambra State. This was through the instrumentality of C h i e f Vi c t o r U m e h w h o supported and stood by him and made sure that his leadership gave him the ticket for a second term. If Umeh had acted otherwise, Obi would have been no more than the somnambulist of a vanished dream.

Umeh supported Obi. Umeh campaigned for him. Umeh fought for Obi. Although Obi was seen by some by some people in Anambra State as a Political Cross and Burden of sorts for APGA in Anambra State, Umeh successfully led Obi's campaign train and implored the Masses of Anambra State to give Obi a second chance. This way Obi sailed through against a strong opposition made up of Dr. Ngige, Prof Soludo and others who were massively better than him. Obi's actions and activities against Umeh mark him out as somebody else. In the beginning, Obi was

not known politically. He had no political background. He had no political training. He had no political base. He was like a fish out of water. He wanted to threat an unfamiliar terrain. He had practically nothing for his purpose no wherewithal, no experience, and no facility. Obi was a political virgin and he knew pretty little if not nothing, about politics. He was colourless, dour and unmarketable. Afterall, he was only a trader.

For Obi, help came through the erstwhile Health Minister, Prof.

ABC Nwosu, who gave Obi a note to Umeh. It is indisputable, and Prof. Nwosu is a living witness, that it was Prof. Nwosu who introduced Obi to Umeh and sought his support for Obi for Governorship of Anambra State.

Now, Mike Udah, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Obi in Anambra State posits that Umeh contributed nothing to the election of Obi the first and the second time. It is a pity. Udah will not know as he is not in a position to know unless somebody tells him. Udah is only protecting his job as his very life depends on it.

But let the Udah's of this world be informed and they are hereby informed that Obi is the creation of Umeh. It was Nwosu's introduction of Obi to Umeh that did the trick. Today, all, as they say, is history.

Umeh taught Obi politics for after the introduction as stated above, Umeh literally took Obi by the hands and navigated him through the murky political waters of the time.

Both of them eventually graduated in Philosophy from

ADVOCATE UNN in 1984 with Chief Umeh who read Estate Management is today a fellow of Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, a rare fit. Udah may know Obi's academic activities and background, but he is certainly not privy to the strangerthan-fiction tale of Obi's transformation from Political Wilderness to Political Limelight.

So Udah should quietly take his salaries and desist henceforth from passing judgment over issues he cannot comprehend or conjecture. Udah might have made Obi academically, but Umeh made Obi politically.

The truth is that Chief Ojukwu joined APGA 26/12/2002 while Obi declared at Onitsha for APGA on 8/10/2002. It was within this period that Umeh dotted all the I's and crossed all the T's to pave the way for Obi's ascendancy in APGA, even as a late comer. It is also to the credit of Umeh that he embarked on all the activities and other actions which finally secured Ojukwu's support for Obi in 2003. It is recent history and it is still clear in mind that Igwe (Justice) Eze Ozobu, then the President-General of Ohameze Ndigbo, facilitated Chief Ojukwu's entry into APGA to give the Igbos a Strong Bargaining Political Platform in the Nigerian Political Equation.

There are facts which are unknown to Udah. Udah's penchant for misjoining the facts portrays him as a man who does not know the issues at stake. As a Political Office Holder to Peter Obi, his aim is to impress his Paymaster and no more. To him, it is neither here nor there that those facts are incongruous with the Historical Facts on Ground. It suffices for him to deliver punches to his Paymaster's Perceived Enemies.

Umeh towers head and shoulder above Obi. You cannot compare a protégé with a mentor. Obi is no match for Umeh. Apart from the fact that Umeh practically launched Obi into politics, Umeh had been in politics whilst Obi was an ordinary trader chasing customers and profits with all the life in him. Umeh is a professional, a fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors, and Valuers who had consulted for many Blue-Chip Companies. Obi is not a professional. He has no profession. Udah is not a professional like his man Peter Obi, he has no profession. They both read Philosophy as a course not a profession.

BY: PRINCE OLIVER OKPALA POLITICAL ANALYST 08033109920

Continues on next edition

THE

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Wednesday, March 20 - Sunday, March 24, 2013

Husband throws wife down two-storey building O

nce they were a happy family. Everybody, cotenants, neighbours on the street, and even their landlord attested to the fact that they were a good couple.

And indeed after 11 solid years of matrimony, nobody will doubt that. But the bliss enjoyed by this seemingly vintage family was torn to shred in one moment of anger, when the husband was alleged to have thrown his wife from the balcony of the last floor of their two-storey building.

The woman suffered a fractured skull and died one week later in a hospital in Asaba, the Delta State capital. Now the man is being accused of murder and his family is disarray as he has been arrested by the police.

Neighbours of the Okohs are still wondering how a seemingly common argument suddenly turned tragic.

The suspect, Okoh Patrick, 47,

The Couple who is a school teacher, had an argument with his wife, Maria, over the use of available fuel siphoned from her car to fuel their generator to watch the NigeriaBurkina Faso final duel during the

just concluded Africa Cup of Nation in South Africa.

The argument became hot and heated and tempers flared. In the ensued tantrum, it was alleged that Patrick angrily pushed his

wife over the balcony.

The woman, who was on the fat side, fell on the railing and the already rusty rail gave in under her weight and she went crashing from the top floor to the ground.

Consequently, her skull was fractured by the deadly impact of hitting the hard ground.

When reporter visited the compound where the incident happened at 29, DLA Road, Asaba, neighbours expressed shocked at the death of the 42year-old receptionist. Speaking to SE, the landlord of the compound, Pa Arinze Cosmos, revealed that the couple was the best couple that has lived in his compound since he became a landlord.

“I was shocked when this happened. I was watching the match when I heard noise outside.

My son came in and told me that Patrick threw his wife from upstairs. I didn't agree. I have never seen them quarrel. I have never heard two of them exchanged words. This is purely the work of the devil,” he said.

Enugu State government to clampdown on illegal users of sirens ...To sanction ex-govt officials using govt number plates

By Patrick Okolie

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he government of Enugu State has warned against the illegal and arbitrary use of siren by both unauthorized government officials and private individuals warning the defaulters to desist from that practice or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.

Speaking with journalists in Enugu, the state Commissioner f o r Tr a n s p o r t , B a r r i s t e r Chukwuka Utazi expressed regrets that some unauthorized government officials are in the habit of using siren while moving around the state with their cars; a development that has increased noise pollution in the state.

He explained that Enugu State Government has an existing law that authorizes certain class of people to use sirens, warning those violating the law to desist from it because government would no longer tolerate such impunity.

Utazi also called on serving government functionaries to avoid transferring government plate numbers to their private vehicles, saying that such conduct remained an offence in the state.

He stated that the state Ministry of Transport was working in collaboration with law enforcement agencies to apprehend defaulters of this law in the state.

When asked why the state government stopped registration

of more tricycles popularly known as Keke Napep, he explained that the decision was not taken to witch-hunt anybody but to check the possible overflow that might create transportation bottlenecks in the system adding that the State's transport policy

went through major reviews before the implementation.

He stated that the government approved the number of tricycles that would be plying the capital territory to avoid a repeat of what obtained in some states where the control of their operations had

failed.

In his words, “ government will continue to review the number from time to time in order to accommodate new ones as some are bound to be out of the roads through wear and tear or as a result of migration, etc”.

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Despite strong claims by the children of the couple (who were the only witnesses to the incident) that it was not an intentional act, the police still went ahead to charge the accused to court for a possible case of manslaughter.

One of the couple's three children, Kingsley Okoh, a 14-year-old s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l l e a v e r, disclosed that the death was not intentional. The teenager who is still reeling from the shock of the sudden loss of his mother reconstructed that tragic moment.

“We were watching the match when PHCN interrupted the power supply. There was no fuel in our generator at home. So instead of going outside to watch the match, my dad sent me to siphon some fuel from my mum's car to power the generator.

At that time, my mum was not around, but just before half time, she came back and asked how we got the fuel we were using. I told her how we got it and she insisted that I should switch off the generator and siphon the fuel back to her car.

My dad refused. That was when she made an attempt to go and switch off the generator by herself. My father then tried to stop her. In the process, he pushed her and she tripped and fell from the balcony.”

The victim was later rushed to the hospital, but gave up the ghost after one week of receiving treatment for her fractured skull.

Attempts to get a statement from the police regarding the case ended in futility as the officer in charge of the case was not available on the two occasions reporters visited the station.

However, sources at the station confirmed that the case has been charged to court.

Kogi polls: PDP chairman, secretary brutalised

By Our Reporter, Lokoja

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REPARATION for the conduct of the local government elections in Kogi State slated for May 4, got underway last weekend with the councillorship primaries of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, held across the 21 local councils.

The primaries, however, turned violent in some councils between factions that could not agree on the modalities for the conduct of the elections.

It was a free-for-all in Yagba West Council as aggrieved members opted to settle scores with machetes and other dangerous weapons.

No fewer than 20 persons were injured, with the party chairman in the area, Mr Ayo Alabi allegedly hospitalized as a result

of head injury sustained from matchet cut.

No fewer than 22 persons are said to have been arrested in the aftermaths, including the immediate past principal officer for Yagba West Council (names withheld) His arrest alongside his elder brother was reportedly ordered by the Police Commissioner, Mr Frank Opara.

Tw e n t y - o n e o t h e r s w e r e reportedly picked from their homes as the search for culprits was said to have continued till yesterday.

Contentions over the PDP guidelines for the primaries and reactions to the outcome of the elections were said to be responsible for the violence.

A PDP chairmanship aspirant in Yagba East Council, Mr FG Ibrahim observed that although the election was generally

peaceful in the council, he protested the conduct in one of the wards.

The scenario was different in Yagba West where thugs were said to have unleashed violent attack on the PDP secretariat.

In an alleged attempt to disrupt the primaries having not gone in their favour, thugs said to be loyal to a faction, in their hundreds, invaded the PDP secretariat at Odo Ere, Ya g b a We s t C o u n c i l headquarters, overpowered the police detachment deployed in the party office.

They seized the local government party chairman, Mr Ayo Alabi and secretary, Idowu Afolabi who were given the beatings of their lives. It took efforts by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Odo Ere, who mobilized more men from neighbouring Egbe Police station to rescue the party officials from the

miscreants.

The blood soaked Alabi, the party chairman, narrating his ordeal to newsmen at the Odo Ere Divisional Police Headquarters attributed his “narrow escape from death” to divine intervention.

His secretary was said to have been placed in the intensive care unit of the cottage hospital, Odo Ere and could not be reached.

Nearby Odo Eri, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Olufemi Bolarin was said to have escaped unhurt, after he was ambushed by factional youths. It took several gun shots fired by his police orderly to gain passage.

While a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mrs Justina Abanida, also ambushed, had the screen of her Hilux van smashed.

An officer of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, CIB, office in Odo Ere told newsmen that the arrested persons have been transferred to Lokoja headquarters of the Police Command.

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24th EnuguEvents International Trade Fair in picture and Personalities

A

Full banking services at First Bank pavilion

Union Bank also doing business at the fair

free trade zone is to be developed at the popular 9th mile corner, a commercial settlement situated few kilometers from Enugu township but falls within Udi local government area of Enugu state.The 9th mile corner in view of the fact that it provides the major link road for many towns in the South East to the Northern part of the country is always busy with one form of commercial activity for almost 24 hours of the day.

To that extent, the current chairman of Udi local government area of Enugu state, Mr Chinedu Iloeje has declared the intention of his administration to develop the settlement into a free trade zone. Mr Iloeje dropped this hint while speaking at the special day of his local government, at the on going 24th Enugu International Trade fair.

H e s a i d t h e establishment of the free trade fair zone at 9th mile corner will enhance From Left: 2nd Deputy President, Enugu Chamber Of Commerce, Industry, Mines and economic base of Udi local area council, Agriculture (ECCIMA), Rev. Ugochukwu Chime; Representative Of Enugu State Government, Dr Jude Akubuilo and ECCIMA President, Dr Theo Okonkwo at the Enugu state and the rest of the country,since the opening ceremony of the 24th Enugu International Trade Fair on Friday 9th mile corner like a confluential town will be a meeting point for a lot of buyers and sellers.

He remarked that the 9th mile settlement, near Enugu has continued to be the major source of borehole water steadfastly supplied to residents of the Enugu capital city,due to the abundant natural under water system obtained in the area. A factor that will also facilitate the free trade zone to be established in the area.

He stated that his administration is also bent on developing the local market for palm wine,a liqour which is highly sourced from the local government so that the tappers will have good money for their products while the customers and consumers of Udi palm wine which cuts across Enugu and near by states will have good value for their money.

The state commissioner for commerce and industries,Dr Jude Akubuilo, who also is an indigene of Udi local government stressed that the state government and the various local governments in the state are working harmoniously to enhance development of abundant natural resources and local products within the rural areas of the state,as a means of providing economic empowerment to the rural dwellers.He commended the Udi local government chairman,Mr Iloeje for his visions.

Indomie Noddles excites customers at the fair

Tummy Tummy shines at the fair

Diamond Bank renders services at the fair

NPA stand at the fair

NNPC stand at the fair

Golden Penny Foods stand at the fair

The unique Innoson’s stand at the International Trade Fair

Innoson’s IVM commuter buses exhibited

Innoson’s Exotic SUVs on display at the fair

Performers at Cowbell’s stand

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Ezu River victims murdered – Autopsy Continued from page 3

also houses the Onitsha Central Police Station, to the Awkuzu SARS headquarters on 8th day of December, 2012, in the form of transfer and since then, they have not been seen by any member of the public or any member of their families. The inability of the police authorities to produce the detainees in courts or before their families' members expressly means that they have been killed by the police through jungle justice. The police through the Awkuzu SARS are also responsible for the extra judicial killing of dozens of other detainees and their dumping into Ezu River th of Death on or before 18 day of January, 2013. Therefore, the denial of any culpability by the Anambra State Police Command including its SARS in the unlawful killing and dumping is totally undeniable, hasty, baseless, senseless, watery, remorseless, beastly, immoral and criminal. The heinous killing is even outside the infamous and notorious Order 237 of the Nigeria Police Force, under which its field personnel kill Nigerians they accuse of resisting arrest or escaping from custody.

The unresolved questions to be answered by the Nigeria Police Force over the horrible development are: what are the whereabouts of the nine MASSOB activists transferred to SARS from the Onitsha Area Command since 8th day of December, 2012? Were they granted interim bail? If yes, who were their sureties and where are the records with which they were granted bail?

Were the detainees arraigned in either courts of inferior records or in courts of superior records? If yes, which divisions of the courts in Anambra State and at what dates? What was their fate after the courts' charges or arraignments? Were they granted bails or remanded in prisons' custodies? If yes who were their sureties or which prisons or police stations were they remanded and by which courts and dates? Are they still being detained by SARS without being charged to, or arraigned in courts? If yes, which of the SARS units are they being detained? Failure by the Anambra State Police authorities to provide concrete and empirical answers to the foregoing stainless questions expressly means that they have committed crimes against humanity including mass killings, murder and torture as defined by Section 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court of 1998,ratified by the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2001. It also has an inkling of genocide and ethnic cleansing because all the murdered were from one ethnic group (Igbo). During the recent visit to the Awkuzu SARS inmates by the Nigeria's Senate Committees on Police, National Security and Intelligence, most of the detainees revealed that they have been in detention for two months (since January 2013). None of them, from the media accounts

Emeka Umeagbalasi and analysis of what transpired, bore any name connected to the nine MASSOB missing members.

This clearly sustains the strong accusation that the Awkuzu SARS authorities have carried out the extra judicial execution of those or most of those detained in their cells before January 2013 including nine MASSOB activists, innocent detainees and other unprocessed suspects accused of involvement in capital offences such as abduction/kidnapping, armed robbery and murder, whose bodies were dumped and made to float on th Ezu River of Death on 18 day of January, 2013.

The remorselessness of the SARS operatives in the heinous crime under reference knows no bounds.

The deadly outfit still arrests and extorts innocent citizens across the State with utter alacrity particularly in the evening times. Each raiding deadly squad usually operates with a Hilux Security van, with which it tows private motorcycles belonging to innocent citizens retiring homes and a hired L300 commercial bus, with which it piles up the innocent citizens arrested.

The deadly SARS operatives attached to Okpoko Police Station in Ogbaru LGA, Anambra State, commanded by SUPOLs Anthony and Mike (2/Ic), engage in such illegal raids and arrests with reckless abandon. Once it is 7:30pm, any citizen found outside his or her residence is a potential guest to the deadly squad particularly in Fegge, Awada, Ugwuagba, Nkutaku, Iyiowa Odekpe and Okpoko areas of Onitsha and environs. The SARS unit attached to the Onitsha CPS also indulges in same unlawful conducts in Odoakpu, Inland Town, Nsugbe, Woliwo and Omagba Layouts, Nkpor and Ogidi areas under Onitsha zone. Those arrested are made to pay huge sums of money as summary bail fees and those who do not have money to pay run the dangerous risk of being labeled armed robbers or kidnappers and transfer to Awkuzu SARS Headquarters, where they are held incommunicado, grievously tortured and extra

Floating dead bodies in Ezu river

judicially executed. Such illegal raids are carried out in front of residential houses, along the streets, on the city roads, at restaurants and football cinema centers, between 7:30pm and 9:00pm on daily and weekend basis. st For instance, on 1 day of March, 2013, at about 8:45pm, Citizens Michael Okeke and Ifeanyi Okoye of No.22, Chukwudulue Street, in Ogbaru LGA, were arrested at PIETA Hospital by Nwaziki Avenue, Awada Layout alongside the wife of Citizen Okoye and another friend accompanying them to the Hospital. Mrs. Okoye who was being taken to hospital, was released on the spot, while others were bundled to the Okpoko Police Station with their two private nd motorcycles. On 2 day of March, 2013, they paid their captors N26, 000(N20, 000 for bail and N6, 000 for the bailing of the two private motorcycles). The third detainee was refused bail for fighting police.

He runs the risk of being held incommunicado, tortured and nd killed extra judicially. On 2 day of March, 2013, Citizen Emmanuel Onyemeke of No.7, Nwaegbeigwe Lane, Awada Layout, Obosi, Anambra State was arrested at about 8:30pm in front of his residence. He paid the Okpoko SARS N10, 000 to secure his release. On same date, Citizen Ikenna Ekwueme, a resident of Tony Obi Street, Ugwuagba Layout in Obosi, was arrested alongside his female friend, Onyinye, at about 8; 30pm with his private motorcycle. He paid his captor N6, 000 on the spot and was released instantly, while his female friend was taken away because he could not afford her bail fee.

Citizen Ikechukwu Odoh of No. 6, Tony Umeh Street, Awada Layout, nd was arrested and detained since 2 day of March, 2013 because he could afford his bail fee of N10, 000. He was arrested along Ezeiweka Road, Awada Layout at about 8:45pm and as at today-0403-2013, he is still being detained.

Citizens Anthony Ogbonna(choir master) and Uchenna Obodougo(

deputy choir master) of No.21B, Amanato Street, Ugwuagba Layout, Obosi, were arrested at about 8:50pm. They were going home from their choir practice at St. Peter's Catholic Church Parish, Ugwuagba Layout and got arrested in front of their residence. Their captors demanded N10, 000 each for their bail-out. They were released without a dime after the leadership of Inter society intervened on 3rd day of March, 2013. They told our leadership that an L300 bus with which they were bundled to the Okpoko Police Station was jam-packed with over 15 arrested citizens. They were detained alongside other arrested citizens in a batcher within the Station, where SARS detainees are held until they pay for their release or get labeled armed robbers /kidnappers and transferred to Awkuzu SARS with summary death tags.

Roles Of Nigerian Politicians In The Ezu River Of Death Disaster: We note with sadness the lukewarm attitudes of top political office holders in Nigeria, from the presidency to the State officials, towards the sanctity of human lives. In organized and progressive climes, the unlawful death of their citizens and non citizens is considered a national calamity, but in Nigeria, it is utterly relegated to the background and becomes an avenue for blood money making especially by the relevant standing committees of the Nigeria's National Assembly, in the form of legislative committee investigation, which never sees the light of the day at the end. The Ezu River of Death disaster is a clear case in point, because no positive outcomes will emerge at the end from the so called legislative committee investigations. The lukewarm attitude of the Government of President Goodluck Jonathan, which swore under oath to protect every Nigerian irrespective of tribe or race, from unlawful death and torture, is highly despicable and condemnable. It is a fact that the Federal Government of Nigeria,

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which face the world at the UN Rights Council's 2013 Universal Peer Review , 4th day of March, 2013, has not made any categorical statement in condemnation of the world's latest crimes against humanity, not to talk of ordering a full scale criminal investigation into the dastardly act. The leadership of the Nigeria Police Force under IGP, Mohammed Diko Abubakar, is also condemned forits quietness of the graveyard. Till date, not even administrative sanctions, which are the main disciplinary measures for violating the NPF's new Code of Conduct, have been visited upon those senior officers at the center of the grave accusations including CP Bala Nasarrawa, CSP James Chima Nwafor(O/C SARS), DCP and ACP OPS, AC-State CID, ACOnitsha Area Command and ACAwka Area Command. CP Bala Nasarrawa and CSP James Chima Nwafor are the principal culprits.

The field officers who carried out the heinous murder and dumping of dozens of Ezu River of Death corpses are still on the prowl with impunity. The recent clandestine investigations carried out by the NPF High Command into the dastardly act, is utter mostly suspect. We at Inter society see it as operation erasure, meant to exploit loopholes and defenses, if any, with a view to extricate the Force from unhidden moral and legal culpability.

The conversion of the horrified tragedy into politics of borehole by some Anambra politicians including Senator Chris Ngige and some aides working for Governor Peter Obi is a clear indication of disrespect for the sanctity of human lives. Instead of truly expressing shocks and disbelief over the resurgence of this Stone-Age cannibalism; observing mourning periods; and working tirelessly towards fishing out the culprits, establishing scientifically the circumstances of the killing of the murdered-criminal autopsy( whether they were shot, strangulated, clubbed, stoned, macheted or poisoned with lethal strings); and ensuring proper identification of their identities vide credible and efficient criminal investigations and public information; the politicians so called are bent on corrupting the substances of the earth-shaking tragedy with their politics of parochialism and naivety. It is correct to say that they leave substances and chase shadows.

Today, media loyalists belonging to these political camps and politicians have introduced several theories lacking in empiricism, to the tragic saga, all in an effort to extricate or rope in their paymasters, or divert the clue sources, or to achieve cheap political goals with respect to the forthcoming Anambra gubernatorial poll.

Some compromised media practitioners have attributed the tragic incident to campus cult killing, Ezu Shrine death revenge, victims of MASSOB kidnapping activities,

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UNICAL sacks 5, demotes 10 lecturers for academic fraud

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he Governing Council of University of Calabar has dismissed five academic staff and demoted 10 others for what it called “academic dishonesty”.

A statement issued by Dr Julia Omang, the Registrar and Secretary to Council, on Friday said the disciplinary measure was in furtherance of the institution's “bid to curb academic dishonesty''. The statement said four of the dismissed workers were allegedly involved in plagiarism while one was involved in alleged financial fraud.

The statement added that the 10 demoted lecturers chose to publish their works in fake or cloned journals and proceeded to submit same and obtained promotion in the process.

“The academic staff dismissed for

outright plagiarism include Dr Azubuike Iloeje and Dr Maurice Bisong of the Department of English and Literary Studies, Mr Oden Ubi (Department of Marketing) and Dr Paulinus Noah of the Department of Linguistics and Communication Studies.“Dr Damian Agom was dismissed for salary overpayment, enriching himself to the tune of N7,268,044.

95 over a period of 11 months.

“The 10 academic staff demoted for publishing in fake or cloned journals include Prof Udoayang, Dr Asuquo Akabom, Dr Sunday Effiong and Dr C. O. Udoka, all of Accounting Department, Professor Molinta Enendu, Department of Theatre and Media Studies and Dr E.S.Akpan of Banking and Finance “Others include Dr A.I. Afangideh and Dr Francis Okpiliya of the Department of

Geography and Environment Science and Dr K.B.C Ashipu of

the Department of English and Literary Studies. `Professors Udoayang and Enendu, Dr Okpiliya, Dr Afangideh and Dr Ashipu were

demoted to the rank of Senior Lecturer, others were stepped down to Lecturer I,'' the statement added.

43 illegal schools closed in Enugu

By Patrick Okolie, Enugu

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he Enugu State Government , Tuesday, ordered the closure of 43 private schools in Awgu local government area for allegedly operating below standard and without government's approval.

The State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Simon Ortuanya, who announced the closure of the schools during an inspection tour of private and public schools in the council, lamented that the affected schools were not conducive for learning.

He said that most of the schools were established within poor

environments and without seeking the approval of the ministry responsible for regulating the activities of the educational institutions.

Ortuanya directed proprietors of the shut schools to immediately stop their operations or face the wrath of the government, saying the government could not fold its arms and allow unscrupulous elements to sabotage ongoing efforts to raise the standard of education in the state.

The commissioner, however, frowned at the report that some authorities of public schools were subjecting pupils to unauthorized levies and directed the affected

schools heads to refund such illegal monies collected or be ready to face sanctions.

Also speaking during the tour, Mrs. Sylvia Onwubuemeli, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, said the routine inspection tour of schools was part of efforts to ensure that the schools were operating according to guidelines and standard set by the government.

She warned that government would not tolerate the establishment of illegal schools within the state as the operators, if not effectively checked, could jeopardize the ongoing effort to sanitize the education sector.

Razed hostel: Alumni alerts on plight of FGC Okigwe students House ( male hostel) was burnt affecting the second wing with down but was contained from the assistance of the Okigwe Fire Service. The entire roof, it's roof carcass, ceiling, mattresses, students lockers and all their properties were completely burnt to ashes.

The affected 112 students are now forced to squat with other students in different hostels.

The Principal informed the alumni that the students have started their mock exams and so were not allowed to go back home to replenish their lost provisions and properties.

Meanwhile the school authority had made interim arrangements of extra double bunks, mattresses, bed sheets and covers, basic provisions and toiletries while the Police is yet to unravel the cause of the fire out break.

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he National Executive Committee of the Federal Government College Okigwe Old Students Association (FEGOCOOKOSA) has alerted on the plight of the students of its alma-mata who were rendered homeless by the burning of a section of their male hostel in Okigwe, Imo State.

The Association following an on the spot assessment visit by the NEC of the Alumni on Friday, March 8, urged the Federal Ministry of Education or its relevant agencies to initiate remedial measures to minimize the hardship on the affected students in view of the impending rainy season.

A statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of FEGOCOOKOSA, Mazi Paul Ibe in Abuja weekend disclosed that over 100 students were affected in the inferno, which cause is yet-to-be determined.

According to the statement, Principal of FGC Okigwe, Mrs Rose Nwachukwu and her two Vice Principals, House Master and three other teachers were on hand to receive the FEGOCOOKOSA team that also included Chairman of Owerri branch, Chief Leo Njoku.

The school officials informed the visiting group that the fire out break occurred on March 1st, 2013, at about 9.30am while the students were attending classes in the morning.

According to the statement a complete half wing of Charity

Copyright commission arrests five, recovers N1m pirated books in Enugu

By Patrick Okolie

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he Enugu Zonal office of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, NCC yesterday arrested five persons including a female printer suspected to be involved in pirating a book used by secondary schools in the State.

Briefing newsmen in Enugu Wednesday, the Zonal Manager of NCC, Ngozi Okeke said the commission is working hard to protect intellectual property and

encourage creativity.

She disclosed Mr. Christian Nwachukwu, the author of 'Third Term Saga' a book approved by Enugu State Government for use in Secondary Schools reported that his book was being pirated by one Augustine Oko. "We informed our enforcement department and they went on surveillance.

The suspect lives in the outskirts of Enugu so we travelled to his village in Awgu where he was arrested and the pirated book worth about N1m

seized.

She explained that the suspect summarised other peoples work in a book he entitled 'Compact literature in English'; its a combination of other books.

Made up as works of other people.

Okeke reiterated the readiness of the commission under the leadership of Afam Ezekude, Director-General to fish out all pirates operating in the South East.

“This should serve as a warning because the commission cannot

tolerate any act of piracy; NCC is not sleeping; will get them wherever they.”

Four persons and the printer did the publishing. She prints pirated work it is not the first time; the last time she was printing an IMT lecturers book and we warned her.

Books are worth about N1m.

The highest was 6 and half years with an option of fine.

Also speaking Mr. Augustine Amodu incharge of Enforcement at the Abuja Headquarters noted that the rate of piracy in the South East was alarming until Mr. Afam Ezekude became the DG.

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Ezu River victims murdered – Autopsy Continued from page 18 victims of highway armed robbery, to mention a few.

Also, if I help you to be extricated, you will back me during my election or my party's election deal has reportedly been brokered between the culpable senior police officers and their field formations and some of those politicians.

Some of them, through their killersquads, have resorted to the issuance of death-threats to the leadership of MASSOB to back out of their factual insistence that Police SARS killed nine of their members extra judicially, so that it will be easier for them to exonerate the accused senior police officers and their formations. For instance, the leadership of MASSOB dishonored its recent invitation to Awka by the Senate Committees said to be investigating the tragedy because of reported mounting threat-calls. Lately, some elements within MASSOB are accused of soliciting for, or collection of millions of naira from the Federal Government and politicians, via some elements within the legislative investigators to kill the matter. As a result, new field elements have been appointed to follow the matter. From every indication, therefore, there are serious cover-ups and bribery attempts going on in the tragic saga. From hurried evacuation of the corpses to their hurried burial; from selective exhumation of few bodies for autopsy to secluded and guided subjection of same to criminal autopsy; from the independent figure of the corpses' number, ranging between 25 and 50, to the government/police skewed number of 19; and from the politicization of the tragedy to the politically motivated and criminal erasure oversight/clandestine criminal investigations. Justice will surely be murdered going by these contrived arrangements and conclave of hopelessness. There will be no light at the end of the tunnel unless the international community intervenes because the Nigeria's municipal authorities blatantly lack moral, political and criminal will to get to the root of these internationally heinous crimes against persons.

Problems With Police/SARS Criminal Investigation & Trial: C o n v e n t i o n a l l y, c r i m i n a l investigation is a serious criminal intelligence business, manned by professionally trained detectives in plain clothes, which involves a systematic collection of information about crime and assembling of physical and testimonial pieces of evidence within the framework of the law in order to identify the perpetrators of the crime and provide evidence for successful prosecution of the criminal suspects in courts of competent jurisdictions. The reason for high incidence of torture and extra judicial killings within the Nigeria Police Force is the

absence of conventional criminal investigation knowhow and tool kits, and sluggish and archaic criminal justice system as well as non-application of relevant safeguards to sanction the perpetrators of such heinous acts owing to corruption. In other words, police torture detainees in Nigeria because they lack conventional criminal investigation tools, experience and management. They kill their detainees because their criminal investigation outcomes are legally unreliable, scientifically unverifiable and prosecutorially weak. They also kill because the court system and criminal laws and procedures are weak, twisted, sluggish and outmoded. The art of torture and extra judicial killings, globally speaking, is an express art of trial/killing by ordeal, which is universally outlawed. It also contravenes and destroys the seven key elements of crime, including, most importantly, the rules of mens rea(criminal mindset).

The Anambra State CID and SARS totally lack modern tools for criminal investigation such as conventionally trained personnel, scientific data, interrogation tools, information data, scientific crime data/records, etc. A modern crime detective is a well trained officer who is able is construct hypothesis and draw conclusions in problems relating to crimes in addition to reasoning soundly and logically. A crack crime investigator is someone with professional training and solid experience, who, by carefully completing every appropriate step in a criminal investigation, leaves nothing to chance. Most operatives of the Anambra State CID and SARS are computer illiterates and internet enemies. Their reasoning/ intelligence quotients have been blocked and corrupted by excessive liquor consumption and immoral lifestyles oiled by extortion and bribery proceeds.

Because theirs are Ape-like reasoning/intelligence quotients hovering round 800 and 900 as against the universal basics of 1,300 and above, they act in a beastly manner such as deriving joy in inflicting grievous bodily harms on their detainees and indulging in rapacious killing of those under their custodies, outside conventional criminal procession.

In other words, they are like serial killers and torturers.

The Anambra State CID and SARS a l s o l a c k m o d e r n scientific/technical aids, which are fundamentally relevant in criminal investigation, including all the technical aids used in modern criminal investigation like modus operandi, lie detector, telephoto lens, detective dyes, x-ray kits, metal detector, etc. Conventional Crime Laboratories also elude the two important public anti crime formations. Crimes Laboratoriesalso called Forensic Labs are major crime labs where scientific tests are carried out to establish a triangular link between the suspect, the scene

of crime and the victim. A conventional or standard crime lab consists of Mobile Unit (comprises scene of crime officer), Photography, Ballistic/Tools marks, Documents, Chemists, Biologists, Fingerprints, Photograph Examination, Voice Identification, Information Technologists, Cyber Crimes Experts, Criminal Lawyers, Criminologists, Psychologists, etc. The Crime Labs are expected to assist an investigator to establish an element of the crime, link the crime scene to the victim or criminal, corroborate or disprove an alibi, induce an admission or confession, exonerate the innocent or confirm the guilt of the accused and provide expert testimony in court. There are no modern interrogation techniques in the Anambra State CID and SARS, mentally and toolkits wise, with which to skillfully and soundly question unwilling suspects and witnesses. There is lack of logic, craft and psychological insights in the criminal investigators attached to the two formations owing to blatant lack of training, information technology, practice and research.

This is why torture is on the increase among the Nigeria Police Force crime detectors and investigators particularly in the Anambra State CID and SARS. Conventional Data of Crime is near-absent in the two police formations. It includes modern data warehouse for collection of information about criminals and maintenance of records of criminal activities, collection and preparation of information from those records as well as interviewing suspects to collect evidence to present to court.

Where it exists, it will be easier to establish and link 90% of violent and property crimes to repeat offenders, who are usually the insignificant portion of the adult population.

Criminal investigation generally involves three stages of Scene of Crime Management, Information G a t h e r i n g a n d Arrest/Identification. The latter must be devoid of mistaken identity-considered fatal to the criminal investigation if it happens.

Among Nigeria's three capital crimes of murder, armed robbery and abduction/kidnapping, the crimes of armed robbery and kidnapping/abduction are less difficult to investigate or unravel because of their easy triangular link to the scene of crime, the suspect and the victims, unlike the crime of murder, which is more difficult to unravel. Referrals to the DPP and arraignment of suspects with capital crimes charges in the courts of inferior records are partly responsible for extra judicial killings and largely responsible for long pretrial detentions and awaiting trials (act of remanding suspects in prisons with long delays in their trials). By the combine provisions of Sections 77 of the Nigeria's Criminal Procedures Act, 56(1) and 57 of the Nigeria's

Federal High Court Rules and 23 of the Nigeria Police Act, legally qualified police officers(police lawyers) can prosecute any criminal offences including capital offences in any court in Nigeria, without referrals to the Federal or State DPPs, who are under the Federal or State Attorney General, except where the Federal or State AG has an interest in accordance with Sections 174 and 211 of the 1999 Constitution. In terms ofcaselaws or decided cases, this issue has also been settled in the case of FGN v George Oshahon & Ors (Court of Appeal).

Recommendations: 1. Federal Government of Nigeria should make a categorical public statement on the Ezu River of Death Disaster, which will include an unreserved apology to Nigerians and the world for maintaining silence of the graveyard over the issue.

2. The leadership of the Nigeria Police Force should formally condemn the atrocious acts of its officers and men in Anambra State and administratively sanction those officers involved including CP Bala Nasarrawa, CSP James Chima Nwafor as well as two DPOsTemitope Fasugba of the Onitsha Central Police Station, who (allegedly) shot twice at close range an innocent ASTA contracted driver, Citizen Chuka Nwankwo on th 18 day of December, 2012; and John Mark of the Fegge Police Station, who (allegedly) lacerated the body of Mrs. Chika Obikwelu th on 15 day of December, 2012.

Mrs. Obikwelu is a mother of five children (see our report: NPF: the Good versus the Bad & the Ugly: 21-01-2013). Strong efforts should be made by the Force High Command to ensure the total stoppage of these criminal conducts of its officers and men not only in Anambra State but also in its entire 6,551 field formations in Nigeria.

3. The Special Anti Robbery Squad in Anambra State should be disbanded and collapsed into the State CID and rebranded as specially and conventionally trained crime detectives and investigators or rebranded special anti violent crimes' squad. In the process of rebranding them through in-service examinations, re-orientations and training including ICT literacy courses, the Ape-like ones should be identified and transferred to the Nigeria Police Force Animal Division. The present State CID headquarters should be relocated with a befitting structure adorned with modern crime fighting, detection and investigation toolkits, knowhow and management as highlighted above. Alternatively, Anambra SARS should be surgically operated and made to be headquartered at the new expanded headquarters of the State CID under recommendation, with a view to enabling them share modern technical crimes aids and information together as it is the case in USA and other organized

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4. Federal Government of Nigeria should expeditiously set up a special independent and credible panel of enquiry to unravel the circumstances leading to the horrific tragedy. Part of its terms of reference will be to exhume all the bodies hurriedly evacuated and buried for credible autopsy to credibly establish the circumstances of their death.

Maximum security should be provided for victims and witnesses wishing to testify before the panel or observe and contribute during its proceedings.

5. Federal Government should undertake the sole responsibility of paying adequate compensations to the families of the nine MASSOB activists killed extra judicially by its Police Force as well as their funeral expenditures. In paying the compensations to their family members, each, especially their wives or mothers, should receive compensation equivalent to the five years salaries and allowances of the serving Nigeria's Inspector General of Police.

6. The Government of Anambra State should, immediately, undertake the responsibility of reforming its criminal law and justice system. Example of reformed criminal justice law and system in Nigeria is that of Lagos State. Among 20 serving High Court Judges in Anambra State manning various High Court divisions, Criminal High Courts can be designated to speed off criminal trials. Particular attention should also be paid to the legal qualifications of the State serving High Court Judges. Criminal trials should be presided over by Judges with requisite qualifications in criminal law and criminology.

Inviting Judges with degrees in marine, family and cannon laws, etc, to preside over criminal trials make the process professionally quackly. Arraigning suspects with capital crimes' charges in the courts of inferior records should be discontinued.

7. Nigeria's leading rights, labour and other social voice groups like National Human Rights Commission, NLC, NBA, etc, should not only speak out but also ensure that the horrific saga under reference is not swept under the carpet at the end.

8. Respected international voices should step up consistent pressures on the Nigeria's municipal authorities to ensure that those behind the dastardly act directly or remotely, are brought before the law.

9.In the event, the Nigeria's municipal political authorities failed to bring the culprits to book, then the international community including the International Criminal Court, the UN Human Rights Council, offices of the UN Reportuers on Extra Judicial Executions and Torture, among other international groups and governments, should take over the matter or influence its takeover by the internationally qualified groups and individuals, with a view to ensure the untainted justice is done.

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Wednesday, March 20 - Sunday, March 24, 2013

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How mistress allegedly drugged, robbed 80-yr-old pastor

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N 80-year-old man, Godwin Faworinshe, who claims to be a pastor with a church in Shomolu, Lagos was allegedly drugged and robbed by his 49-year-old mistress, Funmilola Adesanya.

A distraught Faworinshe, who hails from Ago-Iwoye in Ogun State told a magistrate court in Yaba that his Ikorodu, Lagos-born mistress added sleeping pills to his medication and bolted with his money after he fell into a deep sleep.

In his testimony in the court, Faworinshe, stated that he had promised to give Funmilola some money to enable her start a new business but she was not patient enough.

According to him, “on that fateful day, I went out in the morning; Funmilola probably thought that I had gone to the bank to collect some huge amount of money.

When I got back around 11am, I requested that she give me my medications. I have been on some prescribed medications due to

ailments attributed to old age.

“And one of the reasons I asked her to move in with me, was to help me with cooking and household chores; otherwise, I have a wife who is currently in my house at Ago-Iwoye, but she is old, so I had to engage Funmi to take care of me.

“She had always administered the medicines to me. Albeit, without my knowledge, she added some sleeping pills to my medicine that morning and immediately I took it, I slept off till she got the chance to take my bag and the money I had in the bag. The amount she took was N172,000. Thereafter,

she ran out of the house.”

The pastor further told the court that around 4pm, some of his tenants, who noticed that he had been sleeping for a longer period than he usually did during the day started banging on his door, calling “Baba! Baba!! Baba!!!”

When they discovered that the door was not locked, they opened it and found him in deep sleep; they had to pour water on him before he woke. Not able to explain what happened to him, he asked for Funmi, his mistress, and one of his tenants told him that he saw her going out in the morning hours.

He searched his room and discovered that the N172,000 he kept in his bag was missing; that

was when he suspected that he must have been drugged and robbed by his mistress.

The matter was reported to the Bariga police station and Funmi was arrested 13 days later in Ikorodu.

However, Funmilola has denied adding any sleeping pills to Faworinshe's medicine that morning or stealing his money.

She told the court that Godwin had given her the money to go to Ikorodu and take care of her ailing child.

She added that their relationship had been having some challenges, one of which was Faworinshe's non-chalant attitude towards the upkeep of her children. A responsibility he did not want to

Grandfather jailed for stealing cash, cloths

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N Owo Chief Magistrate court has jailed a 63-yearold grandfather, Benjamin Stephen three years after he allegedly stole N40, 000 cash and clothing materials worth N16, 000 in Owo area of the state.

The prosecuting witness, Inspector

Akomlafe Joseph said the accused person entered the restaurant of Mrs Funmilayo Adewole at Ikare junction where he committed the offence after eating.

Joseph said the accused person after eating stole the complainant's money and two different clothing materials of 54yards and fled since

2010.

The prosecutor said the accused was seen at the same scene where he committed the offence three years later and was recognised and the police was invited which led to his arrest.

When the court's charge was read, the accused person pleaded guilty

IMT students beat security man to death being killed or jailed owing to one vices or the other.

By Ted Peters He made this known Wednesday security staff of the when the National Association of Institute of Management Nigeria Students (NANS) Joint o f S c i e n c e a n d Campus committee members Te c h n o l o g y, I M T, E n u g u identified as Mr. Festus Ugwu has been allegedly beaten to death by some students who disagreed during a departmental election.

Ugwu and some security staff assigned to maintain law and order in the school during the student's hree robbery suspects, who election, were reportedly attacked for months, after snatching by some students while trying to cars from female drivers, intervene in the disagreement hid them in a catholic church, have among the students. been arrested by the Special Anti Sources said the security man, who Robbery Squad, Ikeja, Lagos was seriously beaten up, sustained State. injuries on the head prompting the Chinedu Ndubisi, 23, Haruna school authorities to rush him to Mohammed, 44 and Slyvanus the Memfy's Hospital Trans Ekulu Happyday, 35, were before their Enugu but was confirmed dead by arrest, members of a five-man doctors on duty before any help gang, who terrorized Epe, Ajah, could come his way.

Lekki Peninsula and Victoria Confirming the incident, the State Island areas.

Police Public Relations Officer, The gang leader, Ndubuisi, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, said the state narrated how they were able to use police command had commenced church premises for their nefarious a full scale investigations into the activities. unfortunate incident that occurred He said, “We have an operational at 2.08 pm Tuesday. car, a Toyota Corolla. Although we He said that the corpse of deceased all drive, Haruna drives us during security man had been deposited at operations because he is very the Ntasiobi Specialist Hospital good. mortuary for autopsy.

“Whenever we see a choice Meanwhile, the state police automobile being driven by a c o m m i s s i o n e r, M r. To n y e woman, I instruct Haruna quickly Ebitibituwa, has called against hit her from behind. Often any cultism and violent demonstration female driver will leave her car key by students of higher institutions in at the ignition whenever you hit the state, saying “it used to ache me her car. That is what we take whenever I see our students often advantage of. adjudged to be our future leaders “The moment the woman steps out

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carry.

In her words: “I had told Baba that one of my children was ill, but he did not want to do anything about it, he would always ask me, do you want to bring the responsibility of another man's children to me?'

This is one of the reasons I want to opt out. Godwin is only accusing me because he must have felt bad with the thought of me leaving him”.

Information provided by the police, however, showed that the accused had earlier in her statement after she was arrested, admitted committing the crime.

Her lawyer pleaded that the matter be resolved amicably out of court.

The case was adjourned, while the accused was granted bail in the sum of N30,000 with two sureties in like sum.

drawn from University of Nigeria Nsukka, Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu State College of Education Technical, Enugu State University of Science and Technology amongst other

institutions in the state paid him a courtesy visit.

Leader of the team, Comrade Nwafor Kenechi, had told the police commissioner that the group was in his office to formally

as charged.

The presiding Chief Magistrate; S O Olowookere, found him guilty and convicted him accordingly.

The accused was sentenced to six months imprisonment with an option of N50,000 fine.

He was asked to pay N56,000 to the complainant.

welcome him to Enugu state and to indicate their willingness to partner with the state command of the Nigeria police Force to ensure a crime free academic environment.

We hid stolen cars in church – Robbery suspects confess

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Three robbers to check the extent of damage to her car, John and Festus, who are still at large, would quickly get into the woman's car and drive off.”

Ndubuisi said that they had no need to operate with guns.

He said, “Once a woman's car is hit, she will walk towards the car of t h e p e r s o n w h o h i t h e r.

Immediately John and Festus will drive off the victim's car, we follow suit. Everything is done quickly so that the victim is taken by surprise.

“We drive to a Catholic church at

Sangotedo where we park the stolen car without the knowledge of the parish priest. I am a Catholic and I know the church members are allowed to park their cars there for at least three days. That is enough time for us to get a buyer and dispose off the car without attracting attention.”

A contract technician, Happyday, also confessed that he was a buyer of the stolen vehicles. He said, “I know the cars given to me for sale are stolen but I didn't mind. I am a technician by profession and often

get contracts with oil companies.

My last contract ended last year.

Since then, I have been idle. That is how I got myself into trouble.”

Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos Command, Ngozi Briade, a DSP, confirmed the incident.

She said, “The suspects were arrested when they tried to sell a Toyota Corolla LE with number plate AG 816 SGD stolen from a woman at Chevron New Road, Ajah.

“Ndubuisi had given the car to a soldier to sell at Abuja. The car was traced to the soldier who after his arrest led the SARS team to Ndubuisi. Ndubisi was tricked into believing that the car had been sold and that the money was at a bank in Mayfair, Ajah. He was tracked down to the bank through his victim's blackberry which was still in his possession.

“Women drivers should be security-conscious; they should make good use of their side mirrors to know whether the driver that hit them from behind is alone or with other men in his car. This will enable her to know whether to stop or keep moving. Distress numbers have been provided by the Commissioner of Police, the public should make use of them.”

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Wednesday, March 20 - Sunday, March 24, 2013

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Stop making mockery of the judiciary – Kogi lawyers tell Wada

By Our Reporter

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socio-political group, Kogi League of Democratic Lawyers has warned Governor Idris Wada of Kogi state to desist from making a mockery of the judiciary.

The group asked Wada to be conscious of the fact that most of the issues he is asking its members to withdraw were before courts of competent jurisdiction in the country and that he should allow the judiciary to do its job.

In a statement issued by Kogi League of Democratic Lawyers and signed by its President, Mr. James Ebune, the legal practitioners expressed dismay over the recent remarks made by Kogi State Governor, Captain Idris Wada and published by a section of the media relating to his pending appeal.

According to the publications, Wada reportedly advised all members of the PDP in the state “to overlook when cheated, be patient when denied and forgive when offended because in politics there is no victory or defeat that is permanent.”

The statement reads: “In particular, the Governor’s further directive that all those aggrieved should explore the party’s machinery at resolving issues by withdrawing all court cases as a way of ‘collective negotiation of the people’s aspiration and for the progress of the party’ is not only c o n s i d e r e d o ff e n s i v e a n d provocative but truly reveals on what side of the fence Captain Idris Wada stands on justice in a democratic setting.

“Our organisation therefore condemns these inflammatory remarks in the firm belief that any responsible leader must refrain from issuing directives that make a mockery of the Nigerian judicial system or deprive responsible citizens from using the judiciary as their last hope for justice.

“In as much as we uphold conciliation as a pre-court effort in settling disputes, we consider it unfair to look at reconciliation in such a way that will deprive citizens of their constitutional rights to seek justice in law courts.

Indeed, before asking people to withdraw their cases from the law courts which addresses legitimate grievances, we strongly believe that there must be necessary conditions that foster forgiveness and reconciliation.

“It is important to state herein that since Captain Idris Wada was sworn in as Governor, Kogi State has had long months of political intra party disagreements that have not only polarised the State PDP but undermined democracy.

The political situation on ground in Kogi State is contrary to the

image of strengthening democracy which Governor Idris Wada projects to the public. This is most evident particularly among those that support him on one side and on the other side, those that support his major political opponent, who interestingly is at the Supreme Court battling for his purported mandate.

“Consequently, we strongly believe that if the Kogi State Governor is serious about his statement ‘that court cases shut

doors to dialogue and accommodation’, then the right step for him to tow would be to seek genuine reconciliation and this certainly entails that an alleged offender elects to take responsibility for the offence in addition to the pain it caused and then commits to winning back the trust of the offended person(s).

Also, the injured person must choose to embark on a path to forgiveness. Indeed, without these two necessary conditions in place, anger and hurt will only

make any reconciliation effort in Kogi State mere rhetoric and the only realistic option would be for the law courts to resolve the political dispute.

“The political situation in Kogi state has no doubt entrenched fears and misunderstandings about the quality of the hitherto PDP national leadership but we strongly believe that only sincere acknowledgement of past wrongs and injustice will help the new BOT Chairman of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih fix actions to

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hose who take the life of others thinking that they will not be caught apparently because of the porous security network in the country should better think twice as the Nigeria Police Force has proved that it could unearth crimes no matter how secretly concealed.

This was demonstrated in the story below in which some murderers of "Papa Nsukka" in February this year were arrested and confessed to the crime.

The family of the slain Christopher Ejike Onah, (Popularly called Papa Nsukka) was further thrown into deeper mourning when one of the suspects to the murder, Okwudili Agu, gave a chilling but detailed account of how the human rights activist, Chief Onah was killed.

Also in police custody over the killing of Papa Nsukka are two other suspects who allegedly confessed to being part of the planning and execution of the murder. They are; Chikodili Onah and Oluchi Asadu a.k.a Colombo.

Police sources revealed that Okwudili was arrested at Nguru, Nsukka (popularly known as Port Harcourt) where he was alleged to be taking refuge in the home of his aunt. It was gathered that when he was arrested, the police took him to the family of Papa Nsukka where he gave further insight into the murder.

Papa Nsukka According to him, the slain Papa Nsukka was not the brain behind the destruction of Ndubisi Ugwu's house as earlier alleged adding that himself and other men including Ndubisi, deliberately and carefully removed the louvers of the window of the house and also removed some of the blocks used in building the house to make it look as the handiwork of an enemy.

Okwudili further stated that after they were done with the 'destruction' of Ndubisi's house, “we all gathered at Papa Ndubisi's house that night where we had a meeting on how to handle Papa Nsukka.

In the meeting, one of us whose name I have forgotten volunteered to draw the attention of Papa Nsukka by shouting thief, thief, while we waited for him at the gate. By the time we concluded the meeting, I was the

one who switched off the generator at Papa Ndubisi's house before we took off to Papa Nsukka's residence.

“Our plan worked because the moment the man shouted thief, thief, Papa Nsukka came out to the gate and there was confusion.

Ndubisi and all of us went into the compound and started abusing Papa Nsukka who did not know why we were there.

He was infuriated and slapped Ndubisi and we all started beating him. I did not use knife on him. I only used a piece of wood in my hand to hit him. One other person used car shock absorber to hit him at the back because he bagan to fight all of us. When the boy used the shock absorber to hit him, he fell down. It was Ndubisi and others who used knives to cut him and by the time they were doing this, I had gone some steps backward. But we did not know

We lost N12m to closure of Ladipo Market – Warehouse owners

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ome owners of warehouses at the Ladipo International Spare Parts Market in Lagos claim to have lost about N12 million during the closure of the market for two weeks.

Mr Abibu Oki, one of the market leaders, disclosed this in an interview with reporters in Lagos on Thursday.

According to him, there are 16 warehouses in the market and each one lost about N50, 000 daily which makes it N11.2 million for the two weeks.

He said that there were other daily charges regardless of the closure of the market.

He said that the losses had caused setback to the warehouse owners, the traders and the Lagos State Government.

Oki blamed the traders for the closure of the market, saying that many of the traders were dirty.

He said that efforts by the leaders to prevail on them to keep the environment clean failed.

Oki urged the state government to restore sanity to the market

through daily or frequent inspection instead of total closure.

Mr Nze Nduegwu, the Vice President of the traders, however, said that the traders were not responsible for the filthy environment.

Ladipo market, which just reopened, was closed by the Lagos State Government for unkempt environment.

This is the second time the state government has sealed the market for the same offence.

demonstrate a break with the past.

“This if done, would certainly provide a measure of comfort, dialogue and negotiation necessary for reconciliation.

Otherwise, Idris Wada will find it difficult to use his ‘unguarded remarks’ to win the confidence of the Kogi State PDP members and this would do little to aid sincere healing.

“The Kogi people know better than anyone that, such a directive

by Idris Wada to withdraw the legitimate pursuit of their mandate is gross distraction from seeking justice and adherence to the rule of law.”

that the injuries would kill him.”

Okwudili stressed that after the encounter, the whole boys dispersed, and that was how he moved to Port Harcourt in Nguru Nsukka.

He further stated that others ran to one piggery farm owned by one Rev. Father and hid themselves adding that it was possible that Ndubisi may have run to either St. Teresa's Cathedral or to the Parish house at St. John's Catholic Church, Ihe/Owerre where they could narrate their own side of the story to the Justice and Peace Commission of the Diocese adding that when they explained what happened to the priest, he directed Ndubisi to go to Aku road and brief a lawyer who he said he did not know.

He also alleged that he was in contact with others who were part of the attack on Papa Nsukka until the news came that police were on their trail. “When the police were closing in, many of us switched off our phones to avoid being tracked.”

On why the group had been threatening to kill other members of Papa Nsukka's family, he said they were saying those things to scare them from pursuing the matter further.

It was further gathered that one of those who attacked Papa Nsukka that night, Chikodili Onah, refused to run away but continued to lurk around the family and unknown to Papa Nsukka's f a m i l y, h e w a s a l w a y s communicating with all the members of the gang, telling them the next step the family was going to take.

But when Colombo and Okwudili were arrested and brought to the family house, they named Chikodili as the one giving them up-date on the plans of the family.

When Chikodili heard his name mentioned, he attempted to run away but the youths around gave him a hot chase and arrested him.

However, in their separate statements, they all referred to Ndubisi Ugwu as the ring leader of the gang but were lethargic in disclosing concrete reason why

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Wednesday, March 20 - Sunday, March 24, 2013

Woman with rare brain condition sees things upside down watch another.

'It may look incredible to other people but to me it's completely normal.

'I was born that way. It's just the way I see the world,' said Bojana, an economics expert.

Neurological experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Te c h n o l o g y a n d H a r v a r d University in the USA say she is suffering from a condition called 'spatial orientation phenomenon'.

'They say my eyes see the images the right way up but my brain changes them.

'But they don't really seem to know exactly how it happens, just that it does and where it happens in my brain,' said Bojana.

'They told me they've seen the case histories of some people who write

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woman's world has literally been turned upside down by a rare condition which causes her to see everything the wrong way up.

Council worker Bojana Danilovic, 28, sees everything upside down because of an extremely rare fault in the way her brain processes images.

That means she reads papers from the bottom up and even has special topsy-turvey official forms to fill in for her job at the Uzice town hall in Serbia.

Then when she gets home, she watches one TV balanced on its top while the rest of the family

the way I see, but never someone quite like me,' she added.

Tips for Preserving a Healthy Mind Make sure you're getting enough rest Forgive yourself for past mistakes.

Throw a mini-party for yourself Find a good support system.

Eat healthy.

Exercise.

Get some sun.

Leave some time for leisure.

Stay away from drugs and alcohol.

Commit to helping others.

Do things that require discipline.

Learn something new.

Spend time enjoying art.

2 health workers arrested over alleged baby swap

By Our Reporter

Ground area and she gave birth to a set of twins prematurely, both boys.

“One of the babies, died immediately and the other baby, because of his situation was referred to Intensive Care Unit of the hospital located at Agowande Street, Igbona, Osogbo for

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wo health workers attached to a private clinic in Osogbo, Osun State capital, are now in police net following the role they played in an ugly baby swap game.

The two suspects, (names withheld), now in the custody of the State Criminal Investigations Department, SCID, were arrested for allegedly exchanging a new born baby belonging to one Nurudeen Semia.

It was gathered that the said Semia gave birth to a set of twins prematurely in a private hospital located along old Ikirun road in the Osun State capital.

While one of the babies, who were confirmed by the doctors to be boys died, the other baby was referred to the Intensive Care Unit clinic where these two suspects were employees.

The father of the swapped babies while giving the account of the scenario said, “my wife was rushed to the hospital at Testing

medical.”

However, a new twist was introduced to the matter on Wednesday, March 6, 2013, consequent upon Gbadebo's discovery.

While narrating his ordeal to the police, the father of the babies confirmed that his baby boy has

allegedly been exchanged for a baby girl. Just as the two nurses attached to the Intensive Care Unit are now helping the police in getting to the root of the matter, medical activities in the hospital have been brought to a standstill as one of the doctors in the hospital, Dr. Agelebe is now on the run.

The Osun State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Folasade Odoro, who confirmed the incident, assured the people that the matter will be meticulously attended to just as he assured that the police must apprehend the doctor who is now on the run.

17 die of measles in Niger

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ollowing the recent outbreak of measles in Niger State, in January this year, 17 deaths have been recorded with a total of 619 cases as 38 cases of cerebra spinal meningitis was also recorded.

According to the state Commissioner for Health and Hospital Services, Dr Ibrahim Sule, who made the revelation at a press conference Tuesday in Minna, the outbreak of the

Continued from back page do nothing to avert the event”.

The design to remove Governor Okorocha and Speaker Uwajumogu from office is now stale news. The news reports, especially in the Sunday Punch of January 6, 2013, and the Daily Sun of Friday, March 8, 2013, have dutifully informed the public about the alleged plans by some forces in the Presidency and the PDP, including some fifth columnists in the Imo State Government, to realise the political destruction of Governor Okorocha and Uwajumogu.

The pertinent question remains: What is to be done to undermine the intended plot to remove Okorocha and Uwajumogu from office? Of course, there are some well-articulated thought processes and strategies (information gathering/analysis,

disease was recorded on contagious and should be to other areas of the state,” he January 1 in Edati Local treated fast to avoid spreading said.

Government Area of the state.

Sule stated that after the first case was recorded, the disease spread to 14 other local government areas of the state, adding that measles vaccines were deployed to the affected local government areas for active immunizations just as the state government has step up surveillance of the diseases in the state.

“The disease is highly

The war against Rochas Okorocha performance profile assessment, media projection/response and court cases, etc) which implementation have the capacity to stem the intended impeachment moves against Governor Okorocha and Hon. Uwajumogu, the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly.

The immediate critical endeavours to stem the purported impeachment moves against Okorocha and Uwajumogu must include the following action plans. The first is that Governor Okorocha must set up an Information Gathering and Analysis Centre, IGAC, whose personnel will deploy the services of cultivated contacts in the Presidency, the PDP, the anticorruption agencies, the Imo State Government offices and

parastatals, to discreetly collate information on the continuously evolving plans and strategies aimed at removing his good-self from office or down-playing his achievements as the governor of Imo State.

The second is the setting up of an Imo State Government Strategy Committee, a kind of think-tank, that will not only appraise issues and challenges of governance as they manifest in Imo State and suggest solutions, but will also be executing periodic assessment actions on the performance profile of commissioners, special advisers and heads of government parastatals to ensure that their activities do not undermine the realisation of government's developmental goals. Nobody from the executive arm of

government should be a member of this committee, because no useful purpose will be served by allowing commissioners, advisers, etc, to appraise their own performance.

Other issues to be urgently addressed border on judicial actions. The Governor should ensure that the Imo State Government institutes a court case challenging the powers of the EFCC to pry into its books and public accounts in the name of fighting the corruption war in Nigeria.

This is against the background that the activities of the EFCC in Imo State undermine the constitutional powers of the Auditor-General of the State and that of the Imo State House of Assembly, guaranteed in sections

125 (2), 128 and 129 (1) of the 1999 constitution (as amended).

As a matter of fact, the Imo State Government should sue the EFCC for damages for illegally and unconstitutionally presenting its chief executive (Gov. Rochas Okorocha) to the Nigerian public and the international community, as a corrupt public official when no report from the AuditorGeneral of Imo State or the Imo State House of Assembly has indicted him for corrupt practices or the mismanagement of public funds.

The court judgement restraining the EFCC from arresting and prosecuting Dr. Peter Odili over his alleged mismanagement of the public funds of Rivers State between 1999 and 2007 validates the points canvassed in this discourse.

By NKEMJIKA, Chairman of Mezie Ala-Igbo Foundation.

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Father nails his kids to plank, says they are witches

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forty-year-old man, John Friday Akpan, from Akwa Ibom State but resident in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, is now explaining to the police how he allegedly heeded the advice of a herbalist, one Dr Okokon, and tagged his two children, Elisha Udobong and Esther, as witches.

Akpan, who allegedly subjected the two children, aged 12 and 6 respectively, to harrowing treatment by nailing them to a plank and locking them up without food for days, was said to have told the police the children took his money to their “master in the witchcraft world and therefore deserved no mercy”.

The children, whose emaciated and dirty appearance replicated the images of starving children in famine ravaged Somalia and war torn Sudan following weeks of starvation, said they survived on water supplied by one of the man's kids by another woman. “Our sister, Peace, usually brought us water inside the hurt when our father and our mother had gone out”, Esther said.

The father, the kids said, used to reside in Akpabuyo with the family where he sent them to a private school, Regent Nursery and Primary School, Ikot Nkanda, but when their mother died and the man took another wife, Iquo, the story changed.

Elisha, in JSS1, said: “My mother (step-mother) said the woman who used to live near our house in Akpabuyo gave us food and she put something in the food and

when we ate it we changed to birds at night and took out father's money to our master in the witchcraft world”.

According to the boy, he was alleged to have taken 4,000 naira while Esther took 2,000 naira and that angered their father and step mother who started beating them and denying them food “because they said we took the money to our master”.

The maltreatment became worse when they relocated to Calabar and

took up residence at 23 Akpandem Street, off Edim Otop Street at the municipality.

“He (father) nailed us to one big plank and beat us that we should bring back the money but we had no money to give to him”, Esther said.

Unable to get back his money from the children, Akpan allegedly went for the final onslaught against the kids by locking them up in an abandoned hut where he lived so that they could die.

“When the situation became too bad, neighbours, worried that the

children may die and the police descend on them, raised the alarm and reported to the police at the Airport Division who swooped on the parents and got them arrested”, Mr. James Ibor, a child rights activist, said.

He said the DPO of the Airport Division called him “at about 11 am on Friday, March 8 that there was another case of children stigmatisation as witches and I went to the station and behold, what I saw made me weep”.

Ibori said the children were so hungry and weak that it was

apparent that they would have died if they had not, been rescued.

“They were so weak that we had to give them water first, then some fruits; even at that the system of the girl could not accommodate the fruits and she had to visit the toilet a few minute after she ate the banana I gave to them”.

DSP John Umoh, the spokesman of the Cross River State Police Command, said efforts were on to arrest Okokon the herbalist so that “he and the parents can appear in court to answer charges on felony”.

40-year old mother pregnant for son, ready to marry him

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pregnant and expecting her son's first child.

Mbereko, who was widowed 12 years ago, has been cohabiting with her first child, Farai Mbereko (23). She confirms that she is six months pregnant and that she has decided it is better to "marry" her son because she does not want to marry her late husband's young brothers, whom she says are coveting her.

Betty stunned a village court last week when she said the affair with her son had begun three years earlier. She said after spending a lot of money sending Farai to school following the death of her husband, she felt she had a right to his money and no other woman was entitled to it.

"Look, I strove alone to send my son to school and no one helped me. Now you see that my son is Mom pregnant for son working and you accuse me of 40 year old mother and unthinkable by falling in love with doing something wrong. "Let me her son may be considered each other. And now they want to enjoy the products of my sweat," t o h a v e d o n e t h e marry since the mom, is six months she told the village court.

Farai said he was more than prepared to marry his mother and would pay off the ilobola balance his father had left unpaid to his grandparents. "I know my father died before he finished paying the bride price and I am prepared to pay it off," he said.

"It is better to publicise what is happening because people should know that I am the one who made my mother pregnant. Otherwise they will accuse her of promiscuity."

But local headman Nathan Muputirwa says: "We cannot allow this to happen in our village, mashura chaiwo aya, (This is a bad omen indeed).

In the past they would have to be killed but today we cannot do it because we are afraid of the police." He warned them to break off their marriage or leave his village.

They chose the latter and have left the village to an unknown destination.

Boy 8, marries woman 61, to please ancestors 'Sanele is named after his grandfather, who was never had a white wedding before he died so asked Sanele to get married. He chose Helen because he loves her.

'By doing this we made the ancestors happy. If we hadn't done what my son had asked then something bad would have happened in the family.

'I didn't have a problem with it because I know it's what the ancestors wanted and it would make them happy.'

The widow, who works at a recycling centre, added: 'I would say that this is not wrong.

'Sanele was fine and he was happy about the ceremony and it was what he wanted. He was happy to get married and very Eight-Year Old Sanele Masilela walks down the aisle with his 61-year-old excited.' bride Helen Shabangu at their wedding ceremony in Tshwane, South Africa Sanele and his bride did not sign a marriage was just a ritual and not legally Patience Masilela said: 'This is certificate and do not have to live binding. the first time this has happened in together. Both have gone back to their normal lives.

Sanele's 46-year-old mum, the family.

Sanele Masilela got hitched to Helen Shabangu, who is already married The pair exchanged rings and kissed in front of 100 guests But his family insists it was just a ritual to appease ancestral spirits

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n eight-year-old schoolboy has married a 6 1 - y e a r- o l d w o m a n because the ghost of his dead ancestor told him to.

Sanele Masilela tied the knot with Helen Shabangu, who is already married and a mother-of-five.

The boy, from Tshwane, South Africa, said he had been told by his dead ancestors to wed and his family, fearing divine retribution, forked out for a wedding.

They paid £500 for the bride and a further £1,000 for the big day, which was organised in just two months.

Dressed in a bow tie and tiny silver suit, little Sanele, the youngest of five children, exchanged rings in front of 100 guests and even puckered up for a kiss.

It's already shocked the community but the family has defended the ceremony, saying it

Sanele today said he hoped he would have a proper wedding to a woman his own age when he was older.

He added: 'I told my mother that I wanted to get married because I really did want to.

'I'm happy that I married Helen but I will go to school and study hard.

'When I'm older I will marry a lady my own age.'

Despite being old enough to be his grandmother, bride Helen, whose children are aged between 37 and 27, was happy with the arrangement.

Helen, who also works at a recycling centre, said: 'I'm married and have five kids of my own, but I know that this is what the ancestors wanted - and now they are happy.

'It is a ritual. We are just playing now, but it is a sign that he will get married one day.'

Her husband of 30 years, Alfred, 65, said: 'My kids and I are happy.

'We don't have problems with it but some of the community members were shocked.’

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Wednesday, March 20 - Sunday, March 24, 2013

39,880 ex-Niger Delta militants' weapons handed over to Nigerian Army

By Ted Peters

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he 39,880 assorted firearms and ammunition recovered from former militants in the Niger Delta region by the inter-agency task force set up by the Federal Government were yesterday handed over to the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army.

A breakdown of the arms handed over on Saturday at the 82 Division's parade ground included the following: 482 automatic arms, 20,132 ammunition, 295 magazines and 18,971 locally made guns.

The military authorities said the weapons of mass destruction were recovered from ex-militants in Delta, Bayelsa and Lacto Marine men.

The General Officer Commanding the 82 Division N i g e r i a n A r m y, G e n e r a l Adebayor Olaniyi who received the large cache of arms from the task force, said it was part of the federal government's amnesty programme which started in 2009.

The GOC said President Goodluck Jonathan had "reasoned that without security there can be no development; he also reasoned that if the arms had gone out of these areas, it would have done grievous harm to the nation".

While commending the task force for a job well done, General Olaniyi said "these weapons of mass destruction will be destroyed openly just as they were openly collected from the arms militants".

Also speaking, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State lauded the federal government's initiative in setting up the task force.

Chime, represented by the state's Commissioner for Environment, Mr. John Egbo, urged the federal government and all security agents not to relent in ridding the Niger Delta of illegal arms.

In a speech before handing over the large cache of arms and

Weapons of mass destruction recovered from ex-Niger Delta Militants handed over to 82 Div Nigerian Army, Enugu ammunitions, the coordinator of the task force, Air Vice Marshal James Gbum said the recovery was in response to new claims and agitations by some groups who felt excluded from the amnesty programme.

Recalling that the programme was

done in June 2009 and October 2010, he said: "Immediately after these two phases, there were serious agitations by some exmilitants, who claimed that they also surrendered arms and ammunitions to JTF and other security agencies, but were

excluded from the amnesty programme.

"The task force was mandated to among other things, carry out a proper reconciliation of the disarmament records, and effect a thorough documentation of the persons that truly surrendered

arms to military formations".

Gbum noted that the task force was not engaging in fresh amnesty, as it had no such mandate, stressing that "the mandate was strictly to verify and reconcile the disarmament records and document qualified ex-militants, who truly submitted weapons to security agencies for inclusion in the Presidential Amnesty Programme".

He said the above mandate took the task force to the two states as well as the Lacto Marine men where claims of ex-militants were painfully scrutinized to ensure that their records showed beyond reasonable doubt that they truly disarmed to security agencies.

"Therefore, the task force engaged Lacto Marine and his men in order to bring them ashore for disarmament. This process took several days of discreet planning and confidence building before he and his men finally agreed to be disarmed at Ibenco Beach at Eket in Akwa Ibom State", Ghum said.

Meanwhile, the arms are to be destroyed by experts at the 82 Division who had dismantled and destroyed the large arms earlier recovered from the Niger Delta Militants under the Federal Government's amnesty programme.

400-member homosexual club found in Benue

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s Benue state continues to grapple with the rising figures of HIV/AIDS in the state, Executive Secretary of the Benue State Agency for the Control of Aids (BENSACA), Mrs. Grace Wende has revealed that the agency recently discovered a 400-member homosexuals club existing in Makurdi the Benue state capital.

She said the organisation otherwise known as Men Sleeping with Men, MSM, has a large membership of male

students from higher institutions in the state.

Wende who made this disclosure

Friday at a one day Training of Media Practioners on HIV/AIDS in Makurdi, said the existence of the gay club in the state was not helping the state government's efforts at curbing the spread of the HIV virus in the state.

According to her, “the club was discovered during an Epidermic appraisal carried out by our Canadian partners in colloboration with BENSACA following the state government's resolve to fight the increasing trend of HIV/AIDs in the state as shown in 2011 survey. ”In fact my office is already interacting with the group of

young men who are mostly undergraduates in various higher institution of learning located in the state.” She stressed that the idea of identifying with the MSM which usually holds their meetings in December in Makurdi was meant to reduce the spread of HIV virus commonly found among them.

Mrs Wende further urged all stakeholders to join the fight against the virus in the state, stressing, “there is a heightened need for scale-up of effective and efficient HIV prevention efforts in the state if we must all win this war against the virus.”

Be hard on bank fraudsters, NDIC urges judges T he Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has urged judges of the Federal High Court to be 'hard on bank fraudsters', so as to restore depositors' confidence.

Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, the Managing Director of the Corporation, made the call at a sensitisation seminar on “The Challenges to Deposit Insurance Law and Practice”, for judges.

Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim

Ibrahim said that the judges' understanding was needed to abate the fraud in the banking system. He said that deliberate efforts should be geared towards quick dispensation of all pending liquidation-related cases. Ibrahim said the corporation was faced with difficulties in the execution of court judgments.

He said the corporation had a vulnerable funding base, as well as difficulties in recovering debt owed to failed banks by debtors.

According to Ibrahim, most of the problems stem from poor

public awareness and inadequate legal framework. “The Nigerian judiciary, legal practitioners and other esteemed stakeholders have important roles to play in ensuring that the mandate of the Corporation is realised. As our partners and stakeholders, I urge you to use your good offices and privileged positions to ensure that the corporation is empowered to safeguard the Nigeria banking system.

In his opening address, Justice Ibrahim Auta, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, said the

seminar was necessary to keep judges abreast of the operations of the NDIC, and the sustenance of the country's economy.

“Acquiring such technical capacity will certainly enable us to make efficient, effective and informed decisions based on law for the interest of the nation's economy,” Auta said. The court, which has exclusive jurisdiction over NDIC cases, handles the prosecution of directors and officers of banks suspected of banking malpractices.

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Wednesday, March 20 - Sunday, March 24, 2013

The Advocate Pastor gets triplets Gospel This Week

VIOLENCE AND HUMILITY Text John 19:1-3 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.

The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!"

And they struck him in the face. (NIV) NARRATION It is impossible for followers of Jesus to read this passage and not have some sense of outrage. How dare they abuse God the Son, the King of kings and the Saviour of the world! It is a right reaction. The graphic descriptions are distressing: violent flogging with whips, long thorns rammed into Jesus' scalp, fists and wooden poles smashing into His face. The verbal abuse was full of derision, ridiculing His claim to be the King.

It was evil, naked evil. There was no pretence of justice, dignity or respect. It was as if Satan himself was pouring out his envious venom and enjoying the humiliation of God. He was. But Jesus did not fight, was not scared, said nothing and exposed Himself to the worst that sinful human beings could do. He had chosen the path to the cross and knew what was coming. However, the punishment was not for Him: He took it instead of us. As Isaiah 53:5&7 say: “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed … He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”

Although Christians are used to the sign of the cross in churches and as jewellery, the reality is much more shocking. The death of Jesus was preceded by dreadful suffering and vicious abuse which was calculated to bring any man to his knees. But God planned that Christ's painful experience should bring us to our knees. As the old hymn says, “We believe it was for us He hung and suffered there”. What is our response? It should be worship, thanksgiving and a humble desire to serve Him. But is it?

Have we forgotten how much punishment Jesus took, willingly, so that we might be forgiven? It is an important question to ponder today.

Prayer: Loving Lord. I am amazed at Your grace which allowed Jesus to suffer so much for me. I am so sorry when I forget all that Jesus endured with so much humility, or when I behave as though His death means nothing. Please help me to value His sacrifice more, to worship and thank You, and to offer myself in Your service. In Jesus' Name.

Amen.

I

after 25 years of childlessness

t was a joyful occasion for the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Sunday as Soji Oni, a Provincial Pastor,

An overwhelmed Oni told a cheering congregation that it takes a man with heart and foundation built on God to patiently wait twenty five years for the fruit of the

didn't pray to have triplets but He gave one. Many families break for not being able to bear children, but we should continue to trust in the Lord no matter the challenges. Our

A set of triplets dedicated a set of triplets after twenty five years of childlessness with his wife.

The triplets, named Miracle, Sign and Wonder, were dedicated to God at the King's Place Parish, Port Harcourt, headquarters of Rivers Province 2 of the RCCG.

womb.

He said: “Twenty five years is not twenty five days. It was a very big challenge not only as a family man but as a pastor who prays for others for the same problem and they receive. But today our prayers have been answered.

“God knows our problems. I

challenges are not bigger than God.” Also sharing the tough times the family endured in the long wait for a child, the wife called on women to love and pray together with their husbands during tribulations as God is the only one who “knows our problems.”

Revolution looming in the North, Christian Elders warn

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orthern Christian Elders Forum has cautioned leaders in the region to tread softly to avoid an imminent civil revolution.

In a release signed by the NOSCEF chairman, Evangelist Matthew Owojaiye and secretary, Engr. Iliya Yusuf, the Forum said the North is in a big mess with the danger of a pending revolution, urging the northern political and religious leaders that it is not too late to prevent a bloody revolution.

Titled: 'Northern Moslem Elders Are Afraid: Revolution Is Coming,' the Christian Forum warned their Muslim counterparts in the region to desist from blaming the Jonathan administration for the woes

of the region, arguing that since the northern Nigeria has produced nine heads of state, “how come the people are poor when their own people have been in power most of the time?”

The Forum argued that the youths of the region are beginning to realize that the biggest enemy they have were not the innocent Christians they have been fighting all the while, but their own local leaders who had continually used them to prosecute their own political objectives.

According to NOSCEF, the nation was stunned recently with the news that over 80 per cent of oil blocs are in the hands of 11 northerners, while only one is a Christian.

“The only Christian among them is distributing his

money all over the country including a recent donation to Ahmadu Bello University the sum of N2.3 billion”.

What to do to avoid impending holocaust in the mould of the Arab Springs, the Forum suggested is general repentance on the part of northern leaders while coming together to arrest the growing mass poverty in the region.

“This they can do by tasking the 10 oil bloc owners the sum of N10 billion each as well as political office holders who had over the years milked the northern youths dry to provide employment for the youths of the region rather go cap in hand to the Federal Government for an imaginary amnesty programme,”NOSCEF stated.

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Wednesday, March 20 - Sunday, March 24, 2013

Revisiting Prof. Nebo's milestones at UNN

By J.J. Nwachukwu

F

or close to three decades, the University of Nigeria which at inception in 1960 was noted as a centre of excellence was to decline in every aspect of development. The University was indeed in retreat with multiple signs of institutional failure. There was persistent deterioration in the quality of University governance.

Both staff and students developed distrust in the successive University administrations because the administrators were not delivering on their mandates.

The Nigeria-Biafra civil war which devastated the two campuses of the University had increased the internal strain in the institution. In fact, virtually every index of development had diminished in both campuses of the University. As a result of the prevalent general misrule, most of these administrations had recorded very little verifiable achievements. For the University, during this era, it was a sad history of disappointing performances by the successive regimes.

It is a fact of history that a lot of troubling events are associated with some of these vicechancellors, while some are reported to have a reputation for obnoxiousness.

Even as unpopular as some of these chief Executives were, it would be uncharitable to generalize this assessment. To this extent, it is only fair to submit that these University helmsmen had tried one way or the other to find a path around the intimidating challenges facing the University at various times in History. Over the years, there has been a couple of interventions in this University with a view to pulling it to safety.

Another observable point at this juncture is that some of these Chief Executives had run the affairs of the University at particularly difficult times. This does not suggest that I am trying to make excuses for their below average performances. After all, history is there to put each of them on the assessment scale.

On June 2004, the University of Nigeria Nsukka witnessed a fresh re-awakening with the emergence of Prof. Chinedu Ositadinma Nebo formerly of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, where he served meritoriously as a Deputy Vice Chancellor for eight years.

Prof. Nebo's Journey to UNN years The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, probably due to it's envied rating remains a competitive political landscape when it comes to the choice of a vice-chancellor through elections.

This is because such contests in the institution are usually not quiet affairs. The competitions are

Prof. Nebo often fierce. For good reason, anxiety, doubt and tension reigned supreme given the acrimony, bitterness and rancour that trailed the struggle for the election of the University's Chief Executive following the exit of Prof.

Ginigeme Mbanefo, early 2004.

In actual fact, there were a number of challengers who were up against Nebo in the contest, all questing for the exalted position, including some old academic war horses in the institution. However Prof. Nebo was to tower above them all following his 'A' grade performance in the series of interviews conducted for over 50 of them who participated in the contest. Though, Prof. Nebo had emerged victorious in the contest, there were some influential people with big shadows who felt that the outcome of the contest should have been in their candidates' favour. And to realize their dream, they had stirred up a serious controversy and made sure that it was pushed deeper.

These power brokers, most of who were close to the presidency twisted the facts without self control, as they got in touch with those who pull the strings and back it up with enough oiling to obtain results. The controversy got to a point where it was not clear the direction the political pendulum would swing. Not withstanding this air of uncertainty, Prof. Nebo was able to put behind him this survival challenge as he was later pronounced the institution's vicechancellor when the dust of the election battle had settled.

Naturally, Prof. Nebo was not the choice of a large section of the UNN stakeholders, because to them, he was an outsider, and also relatively unknown to most of them at the time.

Prof. Nebo as a bridge builder It would be recalled that Prof.

Nebo had inherited an institution that was sharply divided by the deep sectional differences among the University staff. On assumption of office, Nebo was able to forge a reconciliation between the entrenched camps and vested interests which had held down the institution for several years. For the purpose of completeness, Prof. Nebo had to invite a one time vice chancellor of the University, Prof. Frank Ndili who is reported to have been removed in hazy circumstances by the Buhari/Idiagbon military regime in the 1980's. Prof. Ndili was in his office on this fateful day discharging his official responsibilities, unknown to him that his removal as the vicechancellor had been announced by the military authorities. His dethronement was first communicated to him by his wife.

It was this internal crisis ravaging the University as noted already that resulted in Prof. Ndili's outster. About 9 professors of the University were reported to have played a lead role in the push for Prof. Ndili's sack. The erstwhile Vice-chancellor had to come all the way from the United States of America at the instance of the University administration. In the end, this trouble shooting effort paid off as the University administration succeeded in overcoming the mutual distrust and suspicion that characterized the relationship between the warring parties.

Frayed nerves were calmed, peace was restored, and tension on the campus became history. To the expectant assembly, made up of members of the University Community and their friends who witnessed this historic moment,

this was a new reckoning which was applauded loudly, even as Prof. Ndili gave his word that he had forgiven all those who conspired against him.

Prof. Nebo as an anticorruption Crusader Skewed financial and other practices were rife in the institution prior to Prof. Nebo's ascension in 2004. There were serious cases of financial irregularities and various forms of malpractices perpetrated by staff.

Absenteeism and truancy remained unabated. Lateness to the office at a time was not perceived as an offence. In this era, people behaved as they wished without proper supervision and sanctions when and where necessary. There was so much corruption, indiscipline, indolence and general irresponsibility within the University.

Indeed, not a few had devoted their hearts to greed. But Prof.

Nebo felt that the institution should no longer be run the terrible old ways. To this end, his administration began by establishing a sensible fiscal policy for transactions for or with the University. His administration had drawn a strict revenue management rules with minimal default rate. To achieve an attractive revenue profile, his administration veered away from the free spending culture of his predecessors and tightened the financial noose. As a consequence, he was able to harness much of the institution's fund for capital and human projects. Under his watch, there was record revenue inflows which led to high revenue profile for the University. Prof. Nebo was able to achieve this by looking inwards and evolving creative ways to meeting up the University's internal statutory obligations.

Through his anti-fraud checks, his regime was able to hold down the urge to plunder. Generally, his administration had demonstrated a zero tolerance for all violations of standards. These measures were to re-invigorate his regime for better service delivery and to improve the tempo of governance for the good of all citizens.

Prof. Nebo never failed to raise the red flag each time any staff acted in breach of the law. But let me observe that his was an unbiased war against corruption and indiscipline. Again, while he strove to re-orientate the people away from corruption, he also ensured that the incentives not to steal were provided. For instance, he encouraged prompt payment of salaries and allowances, introduced Christmas bonus, etc., etc. Note that this crusade was successful largely due to Prof.

Nebo's statemanly conducts as he had led by example. For example, it was a measure of his integrity that despite repeated petitions

27

usually instigated and at times undertaken by a section of the University community's elite, nothing fraudulent could be established against him. Prof.

Nebo who is not unmindful of the fact that motivation increases productivity made the staff and students' welfare a high priority of his administration. And he remained very consistent in effecting his administration's obligation to both staff and students in this direction. He broke away from the long tradition of undue delay in staff promotion and other life enhancing benefits. In fact, the policy of his administration was rooted in the welfare of the people. This state of affairs had attracted positive commentaries, just as it made for an industrial harmony in the institution while his tenure lasted.

Infrastructural Development He took a very bold approach in addressing the institution's huge infrastructural deficit which had accumulated over the years. Prof.

Nebo was able to turn around the abysmal state of infrastructure in the University. His worthwhile strides in this sector, just like his overall performance was greeted with widespread enthusiasm and satisfaction. For instance the magnificent Nnamdi Azikiwe library which has been adjudged as one of the best in Africa was completed by his administration and it remains a reference point till date. It will be recalled that this library project was initiated in the 80's and had to be abandoned just like numerous other projects which Prof. Nebo had inherited.

Similarly, Faculty Examination halls/lecture theaters which were lacking in the University then became history as the Nebo administration constructed about 15 of them at both Enugu and Nsukka campuses of the University. As a matter of fact, Prof Nebo who was hungry for performance had turned the university into a huge construction site as buildings kept springing up on a daily bases.

Roads were also rehabilitated in good measure by the Nebo administration. It is difficult to talk about Prof. Nebo's 5 year tenure at UNN, without infrastructural development receiving a favourable mention.

Introduction of the post UME Test Early in the life of his administration at UNN, Prof.

Nebo introduced what is today known as the post University Matriculation Examination(post-UME). The aim was to reduce manpower deficiency in our educational system. He has won praise for his reforms generally and this is not an exception as it was well received across Nigeria.

Miscellaneous In an effort to prepare the UNN graduates against the days of storm upon graduation, the Nebo

Continues on page28

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US foresees increased investment flow to Nigeria

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he United States has predicted huge inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into various sectors of the Nigerian economy in spite of the security challenges being experienced in the country.

The country identified the agricultural sector and microfinance subsector as two areas that currently offered a lot of opportunities for American and other potential investors.

The Executive Vice President of Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), Ms. Mimi Alemayehou, stated these in Abuja.

Alemayehou is also the Head, US Trade Infrastructure Mission which is currently in Nigeria and comprises of 17 American firms.

OPIC, a US Government development agency, sells investment services to assist American companies gain footholds in emerging markets, by providing investors with financing, guarantees, risk insurance, and support for private equity investment funds.

Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Trade and Investment Alemayehou put the current investment support to Americanowned business in Nigeria at $550 million. This, she said, was the largest in the continent.

"Currently we have almost $4

billion in our exposure in subSaharan Africa and Nigeria is a very important part of that. Our current exposure in Nigeria is over $550 million, which is the largest exposure we have in sub-

FG to borrow N251bn

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INISTERS will decide whether the Federal government should borrow N251.6 billion to finance Nigeria's infrastructure deficit.

The money will be sourced from the issuance of $1 billion Eurobond, $100 million diaspora bond and N80 billion FGN bonds through syndicated global depository notes.

The weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting will get the request for approval for these finances from

the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, in a memorandum which she will present to the council.

The minister said last week that the government planned “ to prioritise infrastructure investments and also to leverage additional external financing for infrastructure investments in the country”.

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala explained that the government planned “to augment our

domestic resources with a proposed $1 billion EuroBond as well as a Nigeria Diaspora Bond, which will harness savings from Nigerians abroad.”

These additional financial resources she said “will be invested in various infrastructure projects such as building the country's gas to power infrastructure”.

The government, she added, plans “to use Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) aggressively, working with the

Saharan Africa. We actually supported the recapitalisation of Union Bank with N250 million guarantee," she disclosed.

She noted that OPIC operates a fertiliser company and paper

Sovereign Wealth Fund which will attract co-investors from home and abroad, such as pension funds, institutional investors and so on” to finance infrastructure.

The government's confidence is buoyed by the fact that “Nigeria's domestic bonds have gained international prominence, and were recently included in the JP Morgan and Barclays Emerging Market indices”.

Budget 2013 has some important infrastructure projects in the transportation sector, such as the second Niger

Revisiting Prof. Nebo's milestones at UNN Continued from page27 administration established the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, Research and Development (CERD).

Also he put in place Information Communication Technology (ICT) base in the University which in the first instance, was aimed at making the University staff ICT compliant.

His administration is also credited with the setting up of the U N N Wa t e r R e s o u r c e s Management Laboratory LTD producers of Lion table water.

One can go on and on, but for want of space, permit me to abridge this piece at this juncture by drawing my conclusion.

Conclusion At inception, the expectations of the people of the newly appointed vice-chancellor, Prof.

C. O. Nebo was scanty because of his engagement in an environment where he was majorly perceived as a green horn. It was this green horn image that had placed him as an underdog before the election.

But sooner than later, he surprised all skeptics with his administrative skills. In the same vein, it did not take him time to establish the focus of his administration, and a few months into his 5 year tenure, his output had placed him ahead of the crowd. Besides, his headship of UNN soon began to command wide interest and respect among the people. As Thomas Fuller said, “if you command wisely, you will be obeyed cheerfully.”

There is no doubt that Prof. Nebo had enjoyed the willing support of the people. Hardly do you find

any vice-chancellor who left UNN with his shoulders high, but till date, the power minister still enjoys a high approval rating from a University community that remembers his 5-year tenure as an era of prosperity.

He did not only restore respectability to the institution after several years of despair. But he did revamp the University in large measure and would be remembered more for it.

It was in recognition of his talent and abilities which has a moral angle to it that he was hired and rehired in the recent past by President Good luck Jonathan's administration. No sooner than he left the University of Nigeria Nsukka, that President Good luck Jonathan's administration re-engaged him to steer the ship of one the newly established

federal Universities, Federal University Ekiti State with campuses at Oye and Ikole. Once again, he was able to put up an award winning performance.

This is an endorsement of his outstanding performance at UNN as a vice- chancellor and an expression of the government's desire for his good works to continue. Unlike some who would use media advocacy and propaganda to get to the limelight, this erudite Prof. of metallurgy and material sciences has been able to find relevance at the country's creamy level through an unblemished stewardship, and we expect to see great improvements on the good efforts of his immediate predecessor, Prof. Barth Nnaji.

For the power minister to take the sector to a worthwhile

recycling firm in Edo state, both of which have some US components.

Commenting on the perception that Nigeria's business climate is perceived to be volatile, Alemayehou said the perception was based on a sector-to-sector basis, adding that such perception affects Africa as a continent, not just Nigeria.

"The fact that 17 companies are interested in Nigeria says quite a bit. There has been tremendous interest in the last couple of years in general. There is much more private equity fund raising to invest in Africa for the first time ever," she said.

"We are seeing the potential for the Diaspora which Nigeria can really benefit from.

We are seeing a lot of interests from not just Nigerian Americans but Ghanaian Americans and other Diaspora who are starting to see the positive changes taking place in the continent. They are making very complex financial decisions and investments in their countries of origin," she continued.

Bridge, which may also be financed with these funds.

Ratification of the President's anticipatory approval for the selection of concessionaire/ developer for the reclamation and infrastructural development of FESTAC Phase II, Lagos (memorandum EC(2013)21 by minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development).

Other matters to be discussed at today's FEC meeting are the “ review of the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) scheme, which memorandum will be presented by the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga. destination, he should be able to identify the opposing influences, acting from within the system and weed them out. He should also re-enact his anti-fraud strategies if the sector must be entrenched on the path of efficiency and development. He should put his ears on the ground to avoid surprises even from his close aides.

Even those who may have cause to disagree with some of his policies cannot deny that his commitment to pursuing the right course is total.

No doubt, Nigerians expect a performance that will go beyond their ordinary expectations, it is also important to stress that we owe the Honourable minister our prayers, even as we are expected to accord him the greatest support and friendship. We can do this by pulling our resources together towards the sustenance of the ongoing transformation campaign in the power sector.

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Wednesday, March 20 - Sunday, March 24, 2013

Storms the music industry

By Patrick Okolie

W

hen you say Channel 6ix, they respond thus “...a reason to praise.” They are young, talented, passionate and godly. They soar like eagles in the industry. Want to know their secret? They were trained under the mentorship of Rev. Linus Okwueze in Grace of God Mission Emene. A new revelation in the music industry- Channel 6ix, a group from the Coal City is in a great speed to becoming favourites in the gospel music industry around the globe. The group of six talented singers was formed, 2011 in Enugu, Nigeria with a vision of going round the world singing God's praise. Channel 6ix is currently signed with Kings Studio and with producer Pastor Victor Keri.

They are becoming popular in churches around Enugu where

they lead the congregation of worshipers to the Throne of Grace. They have being performing in social activities and city wide crusades too, they featured recently in one organized by Arch Bishop Muodika in Enugu “Center of my Joy” The latest track released by Decency the lead vocalist had raised a lot of interest and popularity in the group among fans and music producers. Their first Album to be released by December t i t l e d : E X T R A O R D I N A RY PRAISE will feature tracks like “offering of praise, my God for real, I have loved you, Ihe oma, this fine God and others.”

In a chat with the group's lead vocalist Decency Alimba, he disclosed to THE ADVOCATE that the group members; Okechukwu a.k.a JK, Ifunanya, Mary, Godsman and himself started in the church as members of the choir where he later became the choir master. He said that it was the dream in his heart and few of his friends to take the gospel

music and entertainment beyond the four walls of his church that led to the formation of channel 6ix.” We believe that God created man to be channels of praises for Him and choosing Channel 6ix as the groups name means becoming what God has created us to be- channel of praise and we've got a reason to praise.”

Channel 6ix said that their heart and desire is to see the nations worship God as they praise Him. Okechukwu, a member of the group said that God is the source o f t h e i r inspiration.

“When you are connected to source, you b e c o m e a resource that produces a result” he said adding that their role models in the

industry are Ron Kenolly, Don Moen, Frank Edward and Sinarch. Channel 6ix revealed that they would like to work with Integrity Music, U.S.A. Hilsong Australia and Love World Records.

“When we count his multitude

of blessing on us we realize that unless we become a channel where people can tune in to know how to praise God that we have not started.

We have a reason to praise and when you join us to praise you too will have a reason to

Channel 6ix on stage

THE

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ADVOCATE

Wednesday, March 20 - Sunday, March 24, 2013

H

ope that embattled Super Eagles star, Sunday Mba's transfer saga may soon end to allow him return to football action in the local may be a mirage as Warri Wolves who are in a bitter tussle with Rangers of Enugu over ownership of the player are not eager to let go soon.

Nigeria's forward Sunday Mba during the 2013 African Cup of Nations quarter final between Ivory Coast and Nigeria Chairman of the Warri outfit, Amaju Pinnick in a telephone conversation with Saturday Vanguard sports said Rangers must first apologise to Warri Wo l v e s i n t w o n a t i o n a l newspapers and two television stations before they can start discussing the real issue of who owns the player.

“Warri Wolves have been so maligned by Rangers over this Mba issue and they must apologise

in two newspapers and television stations before we can start talking. We have argued our case and the secretary-general of the NFF should disclose the outcome of the meeting we held,”he stressed.

Efforts to reach the spokesman of Rangers FC, Foster Chime proved futile as his phone didn;t go through.

Meanwhile Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has threatened to drop Mba from the team preparing for the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Kenya in Calabar next if the Rangers and Warri Wolves fail to reach n early agreement on the player's case.

Keshi who spoke on a radio station in Lagos said he may be forced to take the decision as the crisis is capable of distracting the player from giving his best in the game after his superlative performance at the Nations Cup.

Super Eagles celebrate after winning the 2013 Afcon final

K

enya national team coach, Adel Amrouche has described the March 23 World Cup qualifier against African champions, the Super

Eagles as a test of intention in his bid to rebuild confidence in the under-achieving Kenyan squad.

The Algerian-born Belgian coach will be having his baptism of fire

NPL Week 1 results Rangers 1-1 Enyimba 3SC 2-0 Gombe United Nembe City 2-1 Heartland Lobi Stars 0-1 Bayelsa United

Wiki Tourist 0-1 Kano Pillars El-kanemi Warrior 0-0 Nasarawa United

ABS FC 0-0 Kwara United Sunshine 1-0 Kaduna United

Akwa United 1-0 Dolphin

Sharks 2-1 Warri Wolves

as head coach of Kenya in Calabar, Cross River State next Saturday.

He stated that his ambition was to post a positive result in the match, adding that he was not cowed by the intimidating credentials of the

Super Eagles who are topping the group F World Cup qualifiers with four points.

“We are working to be ready for Nigeria since it is a good game for our national team. It is good motivation for everybody and we take this positive step and we hope to give a good presentation and have a good result,” Amrouche said.

“I'm not worried about the physique of the Nigerians since in football, it's not about the size of the players but on the mentality and how they apply themselves in the game,” the Algerian born Belgian international added.

Kenya are bottom of the group with one point from their opening two matches and face a herculean task to qualify for the next stage but Amrouche is not looking at the last two games.

“We are bottom of the group but I believe the race is not over. If the players are in the right state of mind I am sure we can beat

Nigeria, home or away, and as we prepare for the game I am confident we will impress,”,he said.

He submitted that his ambition is to build a strong team for Kenya in a five-year period as he called on Kenyans to be patient as he embarks on working with young players to form the core of future teams that can effectively compete internationally as spelt out on his mandate when he took over from Frenchman Henri Michel who resigned last December.

“Of course, this is not to say that experienced players and those who play outside will not have the chance but my aim is to work with those I have with me now to ensure that we have a strong team.

“We need to look at maybe five years from now since like Burkina Faso or Burundi as an example; they came up with a plan and stuck by it. We cannot have a team now and expect to eat from it, we must be patient.”

Nigerian Football Clubs at the Africa's soccer championships – The score-card

By Okey Anyichie

F

our Nigeria football clubs last Saturday at both home and away traded tackles with their African counterparts last weekend.

In the Africa league soccer championship, Kano Pillars at the Sani Abacha stadium, Kano overwhelmed their visiting A.C Leopards of KinshasaDemocratic republic of Congo, 4-1. At far away republic of Burundi, Rangers FC of Enugu played a barren draw with their host, Vital'O of Bujumbura, Burundi.

In the second continental soccer competitions, Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) cup; Lobi Stars of Makurdi in Bauchi turned the table on the

visiting Liga Muculmana of Maputo, Mozambique by 3-1. Similarly, Heartland FC of Owerri had a slim victory over the visiting US Bitam FC of Gabon by 2-1. The second leg of this continental clubs soccer encounters will take place in a fort-night.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian under-20 team; the flying Eagles had begun their title defense as the Champions of AYC in 2011 on a shaky note. The Nigeria lads were beaten by a lone goal by their Malian counter-parts, the 'Young Eagles' of Mali in the opening game of the 2013 Youth Championship in Oran, Algeria.

The only goal of the opening encounter between the two countries came mid-way in the first half through a corner kick that Mali's Niane converted into a goal.

Nigeria will meet Gabon in the next encounter and needs a win to scale through to the semi-finals of the competition.

Algeria last Saturday's opening match held the Republic of Benin to a goalless draw. Four qualifiers at the end of the two groups' play-off will represent Africa in the world under-20 soccer championship in Turkey in June this year. Nigeria had never won the global youth soccer championship since it started in 1977 in Tunisia. Ghana in 2009 in Egypt beat Brazil 2-1 to become the first African country to win the global soccer championship. Brazil is currently the defending champion.

The South America country beat Portugal 3-2 to win the 2011 championship in Colombia.

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31

Nursing mothers storm Police Games

By Abraham Ajaero, Port Harcourt The 10th Biennial Police Games which held in Port Harcourt has posed more serious challenges to the rank and file of the Police force.

The week long event was concluded with raffle draws sponsored by the InspectorGeneral of Police Mohammed Abubakar. Five Picanto KIA vehicles were given out to Lucky Officers who were declared winners at the end of the draws supervised by Vice President Namadi Sambo who represented the President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Speaking at the handover ceremony held at the Police Officers Mess Port Harcourt, the IGP said that the raffle draw is a motivating factor for more efficient service delivery by officers and men of the Force. He charged members of the force to be more dedicated to their duties as this would open more channels of favours from God. Represented by Mrs. Abimbola Macauley, Commissioner of Police medical and chairman sports planning committee for the 10th Biennial Police games, the IGP revealed that the raffle draw

Mohammed Abubakar. incorporated as one of the events for the games, is the first of its kind and will continually be used as a tool to encourage members of the police community to show more interest in the Biennial games.

The lucky winners who were handed over their car keys at the ceremony included, Isaac Asazobor Edo State Command;

Women police officers currently nursing new born babies, have refused to be left out in the just concluded 10th Biennial Nigeria Police Games which held in Port Harcourt the Rivers State Capital.

Three of them stormed the Amasiemeka Sports Complex Port Harcourt, venue of the games with their new born babies and participated fully in their various chosen sports.

Two of the women participated in volley ball, while the other took part in the field and track events.

There were conflicting reasons adduced by some of the games officials why the women decided to abandon the comfort of their homes, traveling a long distance to Port Harcourt to be part of the games. One of the officials told The Advocate that the women do not want to be left out of the allowances given to Police Officers who participated in the games.

According to the official, all the accredited Police officers

involved in the games were entitled to an undisclosed amount of money as allowance at the end of the Games.

However, The Advocate also learnt that the motivation to participate in the games was not about monetary gains but the promotion that follows successful athletes. An official who pleaded anonymity insisted that most Police Officers gain their promotions through sports, and that might have motivated the three nursing Police women to storm the games venue in style.

The Advocate's efforts to get an official reaction on why the women were allowed to be part of the games proved abortive before going to press last week, but unconfirmed source hinted that the organizers were not happy with the women and had ordered them to go back home. Whether the women heeded to the order before the closing ceremony, could not be confirmed as at press time.

By Okey Anyichie

Ogbu who goes by the name of “Old Skool” Lagos promised that he would sponsor boxing competition every year in any of the five Eastern states capital city.

However, he stated that this is subject to his being elected a member from South-east into the Nigerian Boxing Federal. He was later commended by the participants at the seminar for encouraging and sponsoring the boxing coaches and referees' seminar.

Certificates were presented to over twenty participants at the seminar by the sponsor, Mr Osondu Ogbu. In his speech, the Director of sports, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Enugu State, Mr. John Eli thanked Mr Osondu Ogbu, for sponsoring the seminar and appealed to the states philanthropists to emulate, Mr Ogbu's gesture to bring back the past glories of the game of boxing which Enugu state was known for. He also thanked the participants from the five south-Eastern states who responded to invitation and participated in the first seminar on boxing coaches and referees in Enugu State.

woman corporal Ibitara Foluke Rivers State command); Rita Egbula (Ebonyi state Command); Ikechukwu Onwukaeze (Ebonyi State Command) and Inspector Felix Nwabuko (Ekiti State command). It would be recalled that the sell of tickets for the raffle draw was limited to only the rank of police Inspectors and below as instructed by the IGP.

...Ajunwa advises police athletes against use of banned drugs

T

he 1996 Olympic gold medalist SP Chioma Ajunwa has advised athletes who participated in the 10th Biennial Nigeria Police games to stay away from illicit and banned substances in the interest of their sporting career.

SP Ajunwa who spoke while declaring open a one day seminar organized by Chioma Ajunwa foundation for officers and men of the police force, disclosed that she has once been a victim of the use of banned substances which seriously affected her blossoming sports career as she was banned for three years by (IOC).

According to Chioma, her interest in the campaign against use of illicit drugs followed her bitter experience in the hands of international sports organizers.

She wished that her colleagues could stay away from the use of the banned substances so as to save their career. In a paper titled,

Chioma Ajunwa “use of illicit drugs could ruin your career, compete fair and clean”, the Rivers State coordinator of Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Mrs. Stella Maris, listed the various drugs that could enhance the performance of athletes which have been banned by the international Olympic committee

(IOC) and advised athletes to avoid them.

Chiona said, 'remember that once you fail a dope test, you are liable and you are on your own. I do not want you to fall victim like I did in my days.'

According to her, apart from the disgrace the use of such substances will attract the life span of the user is drastically reduced. “The drug you are taking to enhance performance destroys manhood. It destroys your gums, stool and vomiting of blood are all the effect of drugs.

Earlier in his address, the Deputy Inspector General of Police DIG Suleiman Fakai expressed appreciation for the interest shown by the athletes to be part of the seminar and encouraged them to shun all acts capable of destroying their sporting career including the use of banned substances during sporting competitions

A

three day seminar on boxing coaches and Referees has come to an end on Wednesday, 13th March 2013. The seminar organized by the Ministry of Youth and sports, Enugu state embraced participants from the south-Eastern states of Enugu, Imo, Abia, Anambra and Ebonyi.

The seminar which was declared open by the permanent secretary Mr J. Ome of Ministry of youth and sports, Enugu State welcome the participants from the South-eastern states. He called on them to make use of the knowledge they acquired during the seminar to improve on their efforts to put boxing forward.

Papers were presented by five resource persons that highlighted the standard and rules of the game of boxing in Nigeria, the Seminar which took place at the media center of Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium, Enugu was sponsored by Mr Osondu Ogbu, an Enugu born Lagos based business man. Speaking during the seminar Mr

Vol. 1 No. 18, Wednesday, March 20 - Sunday, March 24, 2013

Obafemi Martins

Back page comment

The war against Rochas Okorocha

Rochas Okorocha

T

HE impetus for this essay rests on the contents of the front-page news-story in the Daily Sun of Friday, March 8, 2013 entitled, “Imo: APGA unveils plot to sack Okorocha, Speaker”. According to this news report, the Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has alleged a plot by the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to sack the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha and to distort the activities of the Imo State House of Assembly.

The impeachment moves against Okorocha and the Speaker are allegedly geared towards derailing the on-going investigation by the state legislature over allegations of financial gratification leveled against the Deputy Governor, Jude Agbaso, by one of the major contractors handling the state government road projects.

The issue here is not about the efficacy of the news report on the on-going plans to remove Governor Okorocha and the Speaker of the state legislature, Ben Uwajumogu, from office. What is happening now as alleged by the Imo State chapter of APGA is just a new but little addition to a major and unfolding impeachment scheme that started in 2012.

The main scheme remains the reported design of using the services of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by some of the forces rooting for the realisation of the second term ambition of Mr. President to manipulate members of the Imo State House of assembly into removing both Governor Okorocha and Uwajumogu, the Speaker of the Imo State legislative house, from office. Of course, the thinking is rife that without the arrest, prosecution and possible imprisonment of Uwajumogu, on alleged charges of road contract scams, the removal of Governor Okorocha from office will be a pipe dream.

The general thinking in the political circles that matter at Abuja is that

President Jonathan Governor Okorocha remains a major stumbling block that must be removed if Mr. President is to realise his second term ambition in 2015. This thinking is predicated on two grounds.

The first is that Governor Okorocha's presumed presidential ambition or support for any of the opposition presidential candidates in 2015, will dim Jonathan's chances of realising his second term ambition, especially given the demonstrated strength of the Igbo bloc vote in such an election. The second is that even if Governor Okorocha decides not to contest the next presidential or gubernatorial election, his achievements (sacrifice of security vote, prompt payment of workers' salaries, free education at all levels, massive road development, etc) will rubbish the performance profile of the PDP at both the state and federal levels to the extent that Mr. President's so-called achievements will count for nothing in determining the outcome of the 2015 elections. So, head or tail, Okorocha has been marked for political destruction.

The first dimension of the plot to remove Governor Okorocha from office started many months ago with the use of the media to rubbish the hard-earned and upwardly mobile reputation of the Imo State Government, and also to project the Governor as a person whose style of governance, as well as entrepreneurship and philanthropy as a private citizen, is based on fraud and duplicitous behaviour.

The basic aim here has been the use of the media to attire the Governor in the garb of a confused, dictatorial and underperforming public official so as to gradually replace the genuine songs of praise and the goodwill of millions of people who have benefited from the graceful personality of Owelle Rochas Okorocha as a public or private citizen, with questions of, or doubts about, his sincerity, uprightness, visionary goals and capacity to develop Imo State. Some of the moles and fifth columnists in the

Imo State Government, including a few commissioners, special advisers and other personal aides, have continued to stall all efforts aimed at redressing the bad media image, for instance, of Governor Okorocha and his programmes.

THE second dimension of this plot started last year even before the Sunday Punch report of January 6, 2013 revealed Governor Okorocha as one of the eight governors being discreetly investigated by the EFCC over fraud-related activities. Since September 2012, the EFCC has reportedly been on a surreptitious investigation of Governor Okorocha's management of the public funds of Imo State, especially as it relates to the disbursement of Imo State Local Government funds, the N47 billion loan from the banks and the N13.3 billion Imo Bond fund.

The climax of this aspect of the plot was the arrest and detention of the Imo State Commissioner for Finance and the Accountant-General of the State by the EFCC. Of course, the unending trips to Abuja by these two officials, after they were granted administrative bail by the EFCC, are expected, in the long run, to lead to the exposure of Governor Okorocha's imagined financial misdeeds, as well as paint him in the colours of a corrupt public official that is ripe for impeachment.

The third dimension of the plot started some weeks ago when operatives of the EFCC stormed the Imo State House of Assembly but failed to arrest the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and some other members of the legislative house.

The EFCC raid, which was supposed to kick-start the plot to remove Governor Rochas from office, ended up with the arrest of the Clerk of the Imo State House of Assembly, Chris Duru.

The failed attempt to arrest members of the Imo State House of Assembly by the EFCC, on the ground that Governor Okorocha took loans without the approval of the same Imo State lawmakers, appears to be a ruse to get them into EFCC custody.

However, once inside the detention cells of the EFCC at Abuja, the arrested Imo State legislators are expected to be persuasively compromised or coercively intimidated into commencing impeachment proceedings against Governor Okorocha. The use of the EFCC, especially during the Nuhu Ribadu era, to illegally and unconstitutionally impeach some state governors to the sadistic pleasure of General Olusegun Obasanjo, may be in the offing for Okorocha as a veritable means of realising the second term ambition of President Jonathan.

As the Igbo will say, “it is only a tree that will hear of a plan to cut it down and will

Continues from page 23

B

orn 28 October 1984 is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a forward for Seattle Sounders FC and the Nigeria national team. He is known for his speed on the ball. After leaving Nigeria for Italy at age 16, he has since played for a number of top-division clubs around Europe. He began his senior career in 2002 at the Italian Serie A club Inter Milan, before moving to the English Premier League club Newcastle in 2006, and then the German Bundesliga club Wolfsburg in 2009. Having joined Russian Premier League side Rubin Kazan in July 2010, they loaned him to Birmingham City in January 2011.

Early career After a year with the club, Italian Serie C side A.C. Reggiana made a move for the player. After a twomonth trial, Martins and fellow Ebedei teammate Stephen Makinwa signed youth contracts with the club in 2000. His first season in Italy saw Martins break into the first team squad, and later in the year Serie A sides Perugia and Inter made offers for the forward.[7] Newcastle United With Martins handing in a transfer request in August 2006, English Premier League club Newcastle United completed a deal with Inter for the striker on 24 August 2006 for €15 million, with Martins signing a five-year deal.

However, on 17 September, Martins scored his first goal at the Gallowgate End for Newcastle. It was the second goal in a 20 victory over West Ham United at Upton Park, and from there his goalscoring form began to improve steadily.

On 14 January, in a 23 away win against Tottenham Hotspur, Martins' 20-yard shot rocketed into the net. This strike was clocked by Sky Sports at a speed of 84 mph (135 km/h), making it unofficially the ninth hardest shot ever recorded in football according to the Guardian website.] This was his tenth goal for Newcastle.

Martins ended his first season on Tyneside with 17 goals in 46 games.

Martins scored six goals in 12 league games during the first half of the 200809 season before a torn hamstring ruled him out for several games. It was confirmed on 7 January 2009, that Martins would undergo hernia surgery in Germany the next Monday.. His last game was on a preseason friendly against Leyton Orient, which Newcastle lost 61.

During his three-year spell on Tyneside, Martins amassed 35 goals in all competitions from 104 games.

On 13 September 2012, Martins moved to Levante on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract. He made his league debut on 23 September 2012, where he scored his first goal, and the winning goal, in a 21 home win against Real Sociedad. Martins scored a brace for Levante in their 31 home victory over Granada on 28 October, sending his side into fourth place in the La Liga standings.

International career Martins has scored seventeen goals in 32 appearances for Nigeria. He was a part of the Nigerian team that finished third in the 2006 African Cup of Nations. Martins scored two goals in the competition, both coming against Senegal in the first round.

E-mail: editoradvocate@ymail.com Website www.theadvocatengr.com