The Nation September 21, 2011

Page 1

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

News Kwara tribunal rises as PDP fails to bring witnesses P7 Sport Siasia drops Enyeama recalls Osaze, Taiwo, Shittu P24 Business Dangote donates N100m to Lagos flood victims P8 http://www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 7, NO. 1890 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

Court orders Ibori to stay in custody till Feb

PDP, Adoke behind my trial, says Tinubu F

ORMER Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday accused Attorney-General of the Federa- national leader’s position was contained in a statement in Abuja by his Media Office. tion Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) and the The statement said: “There is now very Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for being verifiable information that the office of the desperate to put him on trial for alleged op- Attorney-General of the Federation and some eration of foreign accounts while in office. members in the leadership of the PDP, who He said the Office of the AGF is desperate may have found sympathetic ears in the to manufacture evidence against presidency are behind the ongoing him. attempt to destabilise and drag in SEE ALSO He also expressed regrets that the the mud the name of Nigeria’s PAGE 3 “plotters” have the sympathetic ears leading opposition voice, Bola of the Presidency. Tinubu. Tinubu spoke for the second time in 24 “Presently, desperate moves are afoot by hours over his trial, which begins today in the office of the AGF to find by all means Abuja at the Code of Conduct Tribunal and to manufacture enough evidence to (CCT). prove their case against Nigeria’s leading He declared on Monday in Lagos that he opposition voice, Asiwaju Tinubu, the Nacould not be intimidated. The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Continued on page 2

N150.00

A

LONDON court ruled yesterday that former Delta State Governor James Ibori should remain in prison till February 13, next year, when his trial in a money laundering case will begin. At the court yesterday, Ibori’s lawyers argued that they were not given enough time to prepare their defence. Ibori is facing a 14-count charge of fraud and money laundering. In legal hearings before the trial, defence team members told the court they will argue that Ibori cannot be tried in Britain because a Nigerian court has already decided there is no evidence that he committed any crime in Nigeria. Ibori appeared in court spotting a creased grey linen jacket and shirt without a tie. He waved at his supporters and flashed a smile at the police officers who have worked to amass evidence against him. Benjamin Aina (QC), a member of Ibori’s defence team, told Southwark Crown Court they could not begin the trial as planned in November because they need more time to go through the approximately 65,000 pages of evidence and travel to Nigeria to speak to witnesses.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

•Asiwaju Tinubu

Continued on page 2

Boko Haram: Bomb scare rocks National Assembly Official allays fears From Onyedi Ojiabor, Victor Oluwasegun, Sanni Onogu and Dele Anofi, Abuja

T

HERE was pandemonium yesterday at the National Assembly. Senators, Representatives and workers scampered for safety, following a rumour that a Boko Haram attack was imminent. Though there were conflicting reports of exactly what was amiss, the National Assembly complex was deserted within minutes of an alleged security alert. The news spread like bush fire that the sect was set to detonate bombs at the National Assembly complex around 4pm yesterday. There was panic. Many kept running – to nowhere. Lawmakers rushed out of their offices, fleeing the National Assembly complex. Thousands of workers streamed down the central exit of the main National Assembly complex in a desperate bid to escape the alleged imminent doom. In the House of Representatives wing of the complex, it was no less chaotic as lawmakers and workers abandoned their offices. It was particularly chaotic around the elevators where lawmakers and workers clustered to exit the complex. Some who were too panicky and could not wait for the elevator raced down the stairs to make good their escape. A particular member of the House leadership from Kano State raced down the stairs from the fourth floor of the new building in company of six other lawmakers, after waiting in vain for the elevator. At the Senate wing, there was a rush for the exit. Continued on page 2

•Lawmakers and officials rushing out of the complex in Abuja ... yesterday

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•MONEY P14 •SPORTS P24 •NEWS EXTRA P25 •LIFE P29 •FOREIGN P58


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
The Nation September 21, 2011 by The Nation - Issuu