The Nation September 14, 2011

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Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

Ondo PDP chiefs exchange blows

Fed Govt sacks NDDC MD, board NEWS

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NEWS

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•Row over N69b projects ends

•Explosive peace meeting in Akure

http://www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 7, NO. 1883 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

Body parts of UN House bomber Barra recovered Fed Govt pays N40b in default

Probe confirms use of advanced explosives

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HE software solution company handling the Automated System for Custom Data (ASTCUDA) was paid N40billion from 2006 till date, despite not adhering to the terms of agreement it signed with the Federal Government, it was disclosed yesterday. But the Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala dissociated herself ...

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Abuja

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ORE than three weeks after the bombing of the UN House in Abuja, experts from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other countries are still battling to uncover the sponsors of the attack in which 23 people died. But some parts of the body of the suicide bomber, Abu Barra, have been retrieved for forensic analysis, The Nation learnt yesterday. Investigators have discovered that the suicide bomber detonated sophisticated explosives, according to security sources. This has made experts probing the incident to look beyond the Boko Haram sect in seeking answers to the incident, it was gathered. The UN is said to have taken over the probe of the incident with a mandate to the investigators to expose those behind it. Although the FBI, the UN and other foreign experts are co-ordinating their activities from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nigerian security agencies are performing only supportive roles, it was learnt. A top source, who pleaded SEE not to be named because he is not authorised to talk to the ALSO media, said: “FBI and other forPAGES eign investigators are still inter2&10 mittently mopping up at the UN House. That is why the wreckage of the building has not been evacuated and most of the vehicles left intact the way they were since the incident. “The investigators have succeeded in retrieving some parts of the body of the suicide bomber, Abu Barra, including blood clot, for forensic and DNA tests. “Preliminary findings have confirmed the use of sophisticated explosives but the true identity of the suicide bomber is still being unravelled through forensic and DNA tests. “Nobody knows whether he was a Nigerian or not. But the main target is the unmasking of the sponsors. That is the huge task given to the investigators.” The theory the investigators are working on is that three groups of people may have been behind the spate of bombings in the country. “Those being suspected are unnamed exmilitary officers, aggrieved politicians, and religious fundamentalists who might be agents of al-Qaeda. “I think the nature of the bombings appears Continued on page 2

Business Page 11

Enyeama battles Odiah for honours

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WO Nigerian players, goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and Chidi Odiah, will be in action in the second day of the UEFA Champions League a s Lille of France host CSKA Moscow at the Lille Metropole, Lille. Though, Enyeama is not sure of a starting shirt, he aims to maintain Lille’s unbeaten home record in the French Ligue 1. Odiah’s CSKA target the maximum points. Sports Page 41 •Suspected members of Boko Haram who allegedly undertook the bombings in Suleja, Niger State at the Magistrate’s Court, Abuja ... yesterday. PHOTOS: ABAYOMI FAYESE

Libya to embrace moderate Islam

I was asked for bomb material, T says Boko Haram suspect

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HE bombings in the land are meant to avenge the 2009 extra judicial killing of Boko Haram leader Mohammed Yusuf by state agents in Maiduguri, a suspect, Ahmed Hassan Ezimaku, said yesterday. Ezimaku told a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Abuja that he was working at a mining site at Awe, Nasarawa State, when another suspect, Salisu Ahmed contacted him on May 25 to help procure cortex wire

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistnat Editor, Abuja

(explosive device material) for the sect. Ezimaku, who claimed to have been with Boko Haram since 2008, said he declined the offer but Bashar Madala, another suspect, invited him to a meeting in Madala, Niger State where members were being trained to avenge Yusuf’s killing. Continued on page 2

HE head of the National Transitional Council has delivered his first speech in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, since the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi. Mustafa Abdul Jalil outlined his plans to create a modern democratic state based on “moderate Islam” to thousands of flag-waving supporters in the newly renamed Martyrs’ Square. Foreign Page 62

•MONEY P16 •NATION INVESTORS P17 •SPORTS P24 •POLITICS P23 •LIFE P29


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