The Nation September 30, 2014

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Ex-Mint chief for trial in UK •Alleged N750m bribe

NEWS

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Newspaper of the Year

News El-Rufai floors SSS in court P7 Sports Eagles not ready, says Keshi P41 Business IGI to preserve Olowude’s legacies P3

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 9, NO. 2987 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2014

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

•INSIDE: SYNAGOGUE TRAGEDY : LAGOS TO APPLY LAWS, SAYS FASHOLA P10

•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (CON) flanked by Dr. Olatunde Ayeni (CON), Chairman, •From left: Head of Presidential Stewards Onuh Isaac Michael (MON), taxi driver Mr. Imeh Ubru Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and Prince Dapo Abiodun (MFR) (right) at the (MFR) and traffic warden Cpl. Solomon Dauda (MON) at the awards... yesterday. PHOTOS: AKIN OLADOKUN awards...yesterday.

Flag designer gets salary for life

Oritsejafor, Falana clash over smuggled $9.3m

•Abuja houses for presidential steward, taxi driver

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By Adebisi Onanuga, Staff Correspondent

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AGOS lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) said yesterday that Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor cannot divorce himself from the smuggling of $9.3m from Nigeria to South Africa ostensibly to buy arms. But Pastor Oritsejafor defended his integrity, saying he knew nothing about the cash, which was taken into South Africa on September 2 in a private jet owned by Pastor Oritsejafor but leased to a company, has been seized by Continued on page 8

•Pastor Oritsejafor

ATIONAL flag designer Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, 78, is to be placed on salary of special assistant to the president for the rest of his life, President Goodluck Jonathan announced yesterday. Akinkunmi, who has gone blind, was led to the President by his child to collect the national award of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

(OFR) at a colourful ceremony in Abuja. The President also directed the Minister of FCT, Bala Mohammed, to give one flat each in the FCT to the taxi driver who returned N18 million forgotten in his car to the owner, Imeh Usuah, Head of Presidential Stewards, Onuh Isaac

Michael and a traffic warden, Solomon Dauda. The three of them also got national honours. Usuah got Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR). Onuh and Dauda got Member of the Order of the Niger (MON). The President said: “Let me specially appreciate these Continued on page 8

Attack on judges: Fayose, CJ take battle to Abuja

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WHEN WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15 BE FREED?

NJC summons meeting Governor-elect rushes to Jonathan

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HE National Judicial Council (NJC) yesterday summoned an emergency meeting of its members for Thursday over attacks on judges in Ekiti State. But the crisis moved hundred miles away from Ekiti where a judge was beaten up and his dress shredded to Abuja, the capital city. The Chief Judge of the state, Justice A.S. Daramola and Governor-elect Mr. Ayodele Fayose have taken their cases to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Mariam Alooma Mukhtar.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

The Chief Judge is in Abuja to meet “relevant stakeholders” in the Judiciary. Fayose met with President Goodluck Jonathan to clarify his alleged role in the attacks on judges. Fayose, who told the President that he had nothing to do with the assault on judges, also submitted a petition to the CJN. The counsel to the Governor-elect, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi, who was also a former Attorney-General of Ekiti State, submitted a petition on behalf of Fayose.

According to a source, who spoke in confidence, the NJC has decided to meet on Thursday to prevent a total breakdown of law and order in Ekiti State. A member of the NJC, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have been invited to an emergency session of the council on the judicial challenges in Ekiti on Thursday. “We will look at the issues critically and dispassionately in the interest of all the stakeholders. Our ultimate goal is to protect the sanctity of the Judiciary and allow unfettered access

to justice by all.” Justice Daramola, who has been meeting with stakeholders, has chosen to remain in Abuja till he appears before the NJC. Fayose is also in Abuja to explain his own “sides” to President Goodluck Jonathan and top officials in the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Another source added: “The Chief Judge is staying put in Abuja till the issues surrounding the attacks on judges are sorted out by the NJC. “The Ekiti CJ has also briefed stakeContinued on page 8

•AMCON VS BI-COURTNEY: COURT NULLIFIES AGBAKOBA’S APPOINTMENT P7


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