The Nation February 23, 2012

Page 1

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Robbers bomb bank in Ogun

Anxiety as dawn explosions rock Kano

NEWS

Page 3

NEWS

Page 8

•Millions of naira carted off

•Police arrest four suspects after gunfire

www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

VOL. 7, NO. 2044 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

EFCC grills businessman over Ibori’s N1.6b ‘aircraft’

Econet seeks N3.1b damages

S

OUTH Africa-based Econet Wireless is seeking at least $3.1 billion in damages from Bharti Airtel in a dispute over ownership of Airtel Nigeria, according to a suit Econet said it had filed yesterday. Bharti acquired the African operations of Kuwaiti company Zain in 2010, including 65 per cent ...

By Our Reporter

E

CONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detectives are probing how former Delta Governor James Ibori allegedly laundered N1.6billion. The cash, he reportedly claimed, was meant for the purchase of a bombardier aircraft. Instead of buying the aircraft, he is suspected to have laundered the cash abroad through six companies. Of the controversial funds, about N1.2b has been traced to the accounts of the companies, The Nation learnt yesterday. A top businessman, who is a major investor in the aviation industry, was on Saturday quizzed in Lagos over the matter. The businessman was on Sunday released on bail, pending the conclusion of the investigation. A source, who pleaded not to be named, said: “About N1.6billion was laundered from the accounts of the Delta State Government under the pretext that it was meant for a bombardier aircraft.” It was learnt that the ex-governor asked the businessman to use his aviation company to facilitate the alleged phony aircraft purchase. Continued on page 4

N150.00

Business Page 11

Agbonlahor ready for Wigan

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•British Prime Minister, David Cameron welcoming President Goodluck Jonathan to his No 10 Downing Street, London office ... yesterday. Story on page 3. PHOTO: AFP

LEX McLeish has revealed Gabby Agbonlahor is fit again and in fine form ahead of the Wigan encounter. Agbonlahor missed the QPR, Newscastle and Manchester City games with a troublesome back/hamstring injury. But McLeish told AVTV that the speedy forward is now back in full training and looking sharp in readiness for Saturday’s encounter ...

Boko Haram: Police T sack Zakari Biu

Sports Page 41

Five new private varsities okayed

Lamorde now DCP

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•Biu

SEE ALSO PAGES 2&3

OMMISSIONER of Police Zakari Biu has been dismissed for complicity in the escape of Christmas Day bombing suspect Kabiru Umar (alias Kabiru Sokoto). Sokoto, the prime suspect in the bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, near Abuja, escaped from police custody following his arrest on January 14. He was rearrested on February 10. The Police management will determine the fate of five other policemen on trial along with Biu and revert back to the Police Service Commission on the disciplinary action taken against them. The commission also appointed seven new Deputy Inspectors-General of Police. Only two of the surviv-

13 CPs become AIGs

DEPUTY INSPECTORS-GENERAL OF POLICE (DIGs) •Suleiman Dauda Fakai •Atiku Yusufu Kafur •Emmanuel Kachi Udeoji •Haruna John •Peter Yisa Gana •Marvel Akpoyibo •Abdurahaman O. Akano ASSISTANT INSPECTORS GENERAL OF POLICE (AIGs) •Solomon E. Olusegun •Michael E. Zuokumor •Orubebe Gandhi Ebikeme •Philemon I. Leha •Jonathan Johnson •Dan’azumi Job Doma •Joseph Ibi •Muktari Ibrahim •Suleiman A. Abba •Mamman Ibrahim Tsafe •Saliu Argungu Hashimu •Solomon E. Arase •David O. Omojola From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

ing AIGs (Suleiman D. Fakai and Atiku Yusuf) made it to the DIG cadre. The remaining appointees were

promoted straight from Commissioners of Police rank. The new DIGs are Marvel Continued on page 4

HE Federal Government has approved five new private universities. This brings the number of universities in the country to 122. Two of the new universities, Macpherson University, Seriki Sotayo, with University of Ibadan as mentor and Southwestern ... News Page 5

US, French journalists killed

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MERICAN correspondent Marie Colvin and French photographer Remi Ochlik were killed in the besieged Syrian city Homs yesterday when rockets fired bygovernment forces hit the house they were staying in, oppositon activists and witnesses said.

Foreign Page 60

•POLITICS P17 •SPORTS P23 •EDUCATION P25 •NATURAL HEALTH P43


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The Nation February 23, 2012 by The Nation - Issuu