The Nation September 16, 2011

Page 1

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

News PDP’s Akande-Adeola is House Majority Leader Business Tony Elumelu emerges Transcorp Plc chairman News Kogi Patriots petition EFCC over PDP primaries

P11 P59 P6

http://www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 7, NO. 1885 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

T

HE plan to arraign former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on September 21 may have been politically induced, The Nation learnt yesterday. Tinubu is charged with maintaining foreign accounts while in office. A source close to the Code of Conduct Bureau

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

‘Why Tinubu is to face Conduct Tribunal’ By Bolade Omonijo, Group Political Editor

(CCB) that filed the charges said recent changes in the leadership of the Bureau and the Tribunal were undertaken with a view to ensuring “smooth prosecution” of some politicians believed to be posing challenges to the Federal Government.

The Bureau, led by Mr. Sam Saba, was inaugurated in May, last year by President Goodluck Jonathan. The Tribunal, which comprises Justice Danladi Umar as chairman, Justice I. E. Odu (rtd) and Mr. Atedze Aguadza, was inaugurated about five weeks after the President assumed office in May.

The source, who has worked at the Bureau for more than 10 years, said: “We began to notice that things may change when the new team came on board. This was complicated with the retirement of Justice Constance Momoh as chairman of the CCT. No one can say yet how things would go, but the sig-

nals are not good.” Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER) Convener Mr Ayo Opadokun is worried that institutions funded from the public treasury are being used to witchhunt people who have become symbols of the struggle for good governance. In a telephone interview

N150.00 yesterday, Opadokun said it was evident that “public institutions set up, perhaps for good causes, are not allowed to function efficiently, except by the dictates of the politicians holding power in trust for the people.” Opadokun, who participated actively in the camContinued on page 4

•A A TEARFUL MEMORIAL: From left: Daughter of one of the victims, the late

Iliya David (Benedicta) crying during the memorial service for those who died in the UN House, Abuja PHOTOS: ABAYOMI FAYESE August 26 bombing ... yesterday; a relative of a victim, Mrs Lina David Musa and an expectant woman who lost her husband. Story on page 2.

Obasanjo leads peace talks with Boko Haram

Ex-President meets Islamic, Christian leaders in Jos

T

HE Federal Government yesterday opened talks with members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is leading the peace moves, visited the family of the slain leader of Boko Haram,

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

Mohammed Yusuf, in Maiduguri for a closed-door session. Obasanjo, who arrived in Maiduguri at about 11.40am, was received by Borno State Deputy Governor Zanna Umar Mustapha.

Although the former President claimed that he was on a private visit, it was learnt that the visit was to initiate the talks, which the government plans to have with the Boko Haram (Western education is sin) members. A source, who pleaded not to be named because of the

“sensitivity” of the matter, said: “Obasanjo met Mohammed Yusuf’s family at Railway Quarters, the demolished headquarters of Boko Haram. “The ex-President stayed with them for about one and a half hours before departing for the airport.”

Obasanjo was said to have flown into Maiduguri from Jos where he had a joint peace meeting with the Jamatul Nasril Islam (JNI), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Plateau leaders. The source said Obasanjo pleaded with Yusuf’s family to prevail on Boko Haram

members to sheathe their sword and stop the spate of bombings nationwide. The source quoted Obasanjo as saying: “This is a personal initiative. I urge you to forgive and forget the past. Continued on page 4

•SPORTS P24 •NEWSEXTRA P25 •SOCIETY P31•FOREIGN P60


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