Newspaper of the Year
Buhari: Nigerians ’ll vote PDP out NEWS Page 6
•APC chief okays Fayemi’s project
News 94-year old prisoner pardoned P65 Sports Drop me: Emenike dares Keshi P24 Business Foreign reserves drop to $39b P11
•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper
VOL. 9, NO. 2989 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2014
•www.thenationonlineng.net
TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH
N150.00
•INSIDE: U.S. GETS EBOLA CASE P2 CJN WRITES GOVERNORS ON JUDICIARY AUTONOMY P10
Report: Nigerians got $533m bribe in ENI oil deal
I
ITALIAN prosecutors investigating statebacked firm ENI SpA over the purchase of a Nigerian oil field three years ago allege that at least half of the $1.1 billion paid was used to bribe local politicians, intermediaries and others, according to official documents and a person close to the investigation.
•Descalzi
The Milan prosecutors have placed the Italian oil company, its former chief executive Paolo Scaroni and CEO Claudio Descalzi under investigation for alleged international corruption surrounding the deal for the OPL 245 offshore oil field concession. ENI and both managers, neither of who has been
charged, have denied any wrongdoing. Calling on their United Kingdom (UK) counterpart to assist in freezing suspect assets, Italian prosecutors said in a letter to the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) seen by Reuters that at least $533 million was paid to Nigerian officials and intermediaries who helped se-
cure the sale. The case has been a setback for the government of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, because Italy’s 39-yearold leader hand-picked company veteran Descalzi to run Eni as part of a recent management overhaul at the country’s state-controlled companies. Renzi has publicly supported Descalzi and
said no conclusions should be drawn before the investigation is completed. ENI and Royal Dutch Shell, which is not under investigation, bought the rights to the OPL 245 offshore oil licence block from the Nigerian government in 2011. Continued on page 6
Jonathan: terrorists ’ll fail President urges Boko Haram to lay down arms From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja
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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan remained defiant yesterday, saying terrorists will fail. He vowed to check their onslaught. Besides, he urged them to lay down their arms and embrace peace. Dr. Jonathan, in a 20-minute Independence Day broadcast aired on television and radio networks, said Nigeria was in a sober mood due to the activities of terrorists. But he noted that his administration had recorded giant strides in various sectors of the economy. He urged politicians to put the love of the country first in all they do ahead of February’s general elections. The recommendations at the national conference, the President said, would be implemented as a committee had been constituted to facilitate it. He said: “On an occasion like this, it is important that we remember all the precious souls that have been lost in the unprecedented war of terror unleashed on some parts of our country by these individuals who want to compel us to live our lives their way. They will not succeed!” “In their mission, they have maimed and raped. They have killed men, women and children, rendering many children orphans and several women widows. They have made vioContinued on page 6
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WHEN WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15 BE FREED?
•ALL FOR NIGERIA: Soldiers march with flags during Nigeria’s 54th Independence celebrations in Abuja…yesterday.
PHOTO: AFP
Ekiti PDP alleges bias as lawyers seek relocation APC urges Court of Appeal to move tribunal’s sitting
STORY ON PAGE 4
•INSIDE : MENTAL ILLNESSES: A TICKING TIME-BOMB NIGERIA IGNORES (2) PAGES 59-61