50 Cent: Get Skinny Or Die Tryin

 PDT by Billy Johnson, Jr. in Hip-Hop Media Training

Die-hard 50 Cent fans won't recognize the rap superstar in a new photo that has surfaced in US Weekly. The normally buff and chiseled G-Unit head lost 54 pounds for a role in Things Fall Apart, a movie he wrote and stars in, about a promising college football player who gets cancer.
"I was starving," the 6-foot artist, who reduced his weight from 214 pounds to 160, told the magazine. To lose the weight, 50 walked three hours a day on a treadmill for nine weeks and lived on a liquid diet.When the shocking photo hit the web, some speculated that he was sick, but a longtime spokesperson said that was not the case.
"I can confirm that he is indeed okay," the spokesperson told Y.
Source: Yahoo news

Jonathan, PDP leaders meet on new chairman

Labour, Oshiomhole oppose politician as INEC boss


THE appointment of the next chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday received the attention of leaders of the ruling party and organised Labour in Nigeria.

While leaders of the PDP, including President Goodluck Jonathan, held secret talks in Aso Villa, which sources said was on the appointment of Chief Vincent Ogbulafor’s successor, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) threatened to resist any partisan Nigerian from being made the next INEC boss.

The PDP Deputy National Chairman, Haliru Mohammed Bello, led some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) to the meeting with Jonathan yesterday in the Presidential Villa.

The Guardian learnt that the meeting of the party’s leaders was to discuss the issue of the next national chairman of the PDP zoned to the South East geo-political zone.

Later yesterday, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Senate President David Mark were seen at the Villa. Although the mission could not be established, it was the first time, Obasanjo came to the state house since Jonathan assumed office. Obasanjo is also the PDP Board of Trustees chairman.

Following the resignation of Ogbulafor, the party had turned its searchlight on the South-East for his successor but it has been difficult picking a consensus candidate for the office.

However, worried by the delay in the emergence of a consensus candidate, the PDP leadership met yesterday with Jonathan on the way forward.

PDP sources told The Guardian that the party wants the process concluded before the meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) expected to hold on either June 9 or 10, 2010. It was also learnt that the meeting discussed the allegation of bribery against Bello, for which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited him.

It was not clear yesterday whether the meeting took a decision on the fate of Bello as there were speculations that he might be asked to resign for the allegations against him to be investigated since Ogbulafor toe the line.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, could not be reached for details of the meeting but a senior officer of the party confirmed the meeting with Jonathan. He said: “I don’t exactly know what the issues to be discussed will be but they have gone to the Presidential Villa for a crucial meeting.’’

It was also learnt yesterday that the party had tentatively fixed the meetings of National Caucus, Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Executive Committee (NEC) for June.

According to party sources, the National Caucus meeting has been fixed for June 7, 2010 while that of BoT will come up on June 8, 2010 and after which the NEC meeting is expected to hold either on June 9 or 10, 2010.

Among those alleged to have shown interest in the PDP topmost office are its former National Secretary, Okwesilieze Nwodo, incumbent Vice Chairman (South-East), Olisa Metuh, erstwhile National Vice Chairman, Fidelis Ozichukwu, Mao Ohabunwa, Polycarp Nwite, former Senate President, Pius Anyim Pius, among others.

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Abdulwaheed Omar, who gave the warning yesterday in Abuja, also called for the sack of all top officials of INEC that served under the tenure of Prof. Maurice Iwu.

Amid the controversy trailing the alleged zoning of the Presidency by the PDP, Labour said it should not be used to exclude competent Nigerians from the office or infringed on their rights.

Omar appealed to Jonathan to ensure that the processes of the 2011 elections are free and fair. He said the President should give the choice to the people and not manipulate anything even if he wants to contest.

The NLC chief said the Congress would mobilise its members “to resist anybody that is card-carrying member of any political party, including the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, to head the Independent National Electoral Commission.”

Omar spoke yesterday in Abuja at an event organised by the Alliance for Credible Election to mark the removal of Iwu. He held that if the processes that would lead to the 2011 are credible enough, the President can work his way into the hearts of Nigerians but should also be prepared to handover to the opposition if his party loses the election.

To ensure good governance in the country, the governor prescribed the evolvement of a truly democratic system through electoral reforms. In achieving this, the governor sides with the Muhammadu Uwais report on electoral reform, insisting that the President should not solely appoint INEC chairman.

Also, Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has opposed the appointment of INEC chief solely by the President.

He told the audience at a forum by Island Club in Lagos yesterday that in situation where the President insists on appointing INEC chairman, the appointee should be a card-carrying member of any party. He further charged the President to use the short time he had to institute a credible foundation for Nigeria’s democracy so that history will be kind to him.

Oshiomhole urged Jonathan to look at the human rights and civil society community for the appointment of the next INEC boss because they risked their lives fighting for the return to democratic rule.

The governor would also wants to see attitude changes in the electoral reforms beyond the legal frame-work whereby the President instructs the INEC chairman to work for Nigeria’s democracy by ensuring that the right things are done and even if it meant the President’s party losing at polls based on the choice of the electorate.

The NLC boss argued that it would be tantamount to trampling on Jonathan’s fundamental human right to exclude him from contesting the election simply because of the zoning arrangement by the PDP, which he lamented had helped thrown up politically incompetent people to rule the country.

Omar submitted that what the Nigerian people are desirous of is somebody that would guarantee them good live and not necessarily where he or she comes from.

He argued that if organising credible elections, which will have Jonathan as a participant, would not be achievable under him, he should take the path of honour and allow posterity judge him.

His words: “Though Congress may not wish to also dictate to Mr. President the direction he should take in terms of his personal political ambition, we would state unequivocally that it would be in his greater personal interest and integrity to prioritise the conduct of a free, fair, just and credible election. History and indeed, generations yet unborn will remember him more if he chooses the path of honour to engage his energy and focus attention towards instituting an electoral system that is trustworthy and which will attract the confidence and respect of all civilised and democratic nations.”

Labour also called for the removal of Mr. Solomon Soyebi, saying the interim chairman of INEC is nothing but “a member of five leprous hands of Iwu-led commission that organised the worst elections Nigeria ever had.

The Secretary-General of Alliance for Credible Election, Mr. Emmanuel Ezeazu asked the National Assembly to jettison on-going debates on two-party system and focus on electoral and constitutional reforms.

Ezeazu also declared that Jonathan’s entering into the 2011 election might jeopardise the rotational principle, which he said, had helped to stabilise the country, especially after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election that was presumably won by the late Moshood Abiola.

He said: “Those who are supporting Jonathan to run further argue that he can still run and conduct credible elections. Our experience in Nigeria compels us to disagree with them. Those of us who are telling him not to run are not urging him to do what has not been done before. He needs to make this sacrifice for the good of the nation. We urge him not to contest and also not to impose somebody on Nigeria.”

Ezeazu finds an ally in former Oyo State Governor Lam Adesina, who yesterday urged the President to ignore the call to contest and concentrate on how to better the lot of Nigerians.

Adesina, in an interview said since there is a zoning arrangement, it will not be in the best interest of the President to scuttle it.

Rather than listen to the advice of praise singers, Adesina urged Jonathan to focus on how to tackle the epileptic power supply, the vexed issue of electoral reform, corruption and insecurity.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Chairman, Jigawa State Chapter, Garun Gabas, has said there is no alternative to the multi-party arrangement in Nigeria.

The NBA boss, who is also a member of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), said the multi-party system creates room for new ideas and gives people the opportunity to express themselves without fear or favour.

He pointed out that the multi-party arrangement helps to open up the democratic space and that all that is needed is for electoral reforms, the report of the Uwais panel should be implemented.

Gabas, who spoke against the zoning policy of the PDP that it is the turn of the North to field a candidate for the 2011 presidency other than Jonathan, said the alleged clause is a violation of the Nigerian constitution.

“Any political party that has no respect for the constitution of the country should beware of the doomsday. The constitution does not bar Jonathan from contesting any election merely because of zoning policy of the PDP even though PDP has done that for convenience.”

Also, another legal practitioner based in the state, Abubakar Yusuf Gumel, has challenged Jonathan to leave an enduring legacy through positive changes rather than devote his energy to the call by sycophants to contest the 2011 election.

Considering the circumstances of Jonathan’s ascendancy to the Presidency, he said it is proper for him to be focused and to deliver on his promises within the one year, adding that if he can impact positively on Nigerians in the area of power supply, education and health, Nigerians will support him for another term.
 
Source: The Guardian

Police authority reverses self on Ribadu

    Former anti-corruption czar, Nuhu Ribadu has been reabsorbed into the police force in his full ranks of Assistant Inspector General.

By Idris Akinbajo
About two years after it stripped former anti-corruption czar, Nuhu Ribadu, of his police rank and dismissed him from service, the Police Service Commission, PSC, the agency with authority for employment, discipline, and posting of senior officers reversed itself yesterday.
In a letter dated 24 May 2010 and addressed to the Inspector General of Police, the PSC said Mr. Ribadu has been reabsorbed into the police in his full ranks of Assistant Inspector General, AIG, with effect from December 2008, adding however that he would immediately proceed on retirement from the police.
Rank Stripping
In a July 2008 move, the PSC stripped 140 officers including Mr. Ribadu of their ranks claiming they earned undue promotion under the Obasanjo administration. Mr. Ribadu headed to court to challenge the move prompting the police authorities to fire him for insubordination in December of that year.

The police claimed he breached official process by going to court without official clearance as stipulated by the Police Act.
In a preliminary ruling on the case last year, Justice Adamu Bello slammed the police and said the provisions of the Police Act that require the aggrieved officer to take permission from the police authority before seeking legal redress were inconsistent with the provisions of the constitution.

Mr. Bello held that, by coming to court without the express permission from the police authority, Mr. Ribadu only exercised his discretionary right, as the provision does not make it mandatory for him to get the approval of his employers before seeking redress in a court of law.

Police Act undermines individual liberty

"It would have been fool-hardy for. Mr. Ribadu to seek and await the approval from the authority as such approval may never come," Mr. Bello said. "To say that Mr. Ribadu must seek the approval of the police authority before instituting the action in court is inconsistent with the provisions of the constitution. Regulations 347 of the Police Act is inconsistent with the provisions of the constitution and is therefore void on the strength of this inconsistency."

The PSC letter reabsorbing Mr. Ribadu letter, signed by the permanent secretary of the agency, did not give reasons for the volte face but NEXT sources in the police reasoned that it was a result of an

awareness in police circles that the December 2008 punitive measures lacked merit, amounted to a persecution, and was anyway going to fail in the current legal battle.

Conspiracy Against Ribadu

Sources at the Force headquarters told NEXT in Abuja that the news came with shock and anxiety for many in the velvet rank of the police who were thought to have orchestrated Mr. Ribadu's exit in what was generally thought to be a malicious power play.

PSC Chairman, Parry Osayande, announced the demotion of Mr. Ribadu while the current Inspector General of Police, Ogbona Onovo, headed a disciplinary committee set up to try Mr. Ribadu. He never appeared before the committee because he had challenged the police in court.

This was later used against him in the PSC's definition of insubordination.

With the restoration of Ribadu as an AIG, the former anti-corruption Czar is now entitled to pension and would receive all his entitlements and outstanding allowances due him as the period he was out of office.

Asset Declaration Case
Early this month, the federal government discontinued the trial of Mr. Ribadu at the Code of Conduct Tribunal where he was facing charges for not declaring his assets while he was the chairman of the
anti-corruption agency.

Following Mr. Ribadu's controversial removal from office, and subsequent dramatic dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force, the former attorney general, Michael Aondoakaa, filed charges against Mr.

Ribadu, accusing him of failing to declare his assets while he was the EFCC chairman. Mr. Ribadu, who has always denied the allegations, told journalists that his asset declaration forms were, "submitted on assumption of office in March 2003, and my exit from office in December 2008.

"I assert that there is no substance to this case; that my assets were declared. How could I have been confirmed for my position in 2003 if I did not submit an asset declaration form to the Senate, as all

officers needing Senate confirmation are obligated to do?" he asked. He said the charges were trumped up basically to smear his name and persecute him because he had crossed some influential people while in office.

Cleared from Watch-List

Last week the Nigeria's office of the International Police (INTERPOL), formally notified security and immigration agencies that Mr Ribadu has been removed from its security watch list, following the withdrawal of the charges against him by the Nigerian government.
"I refer to the watch-listing of the above named person watch-listed for some specific acts. The charges against him have been withdrawn. The watch-listing has accordingly been cancelled," Mr. Nwodibo Ekechukwu, the Interpol anchor man, said in the notice.

Doctorate Degree
Meanwhile, the Babcock University in Ogun State has chosen Mr Ribadu as a recipient of its honorary doctorate degree in law [Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa]. The formal ceremony for the award is scheduled for the University's convocation ceremony to be held in Ilishan, Ogun on

June 6, 2010.

In a letter sent to Mr. Ribadu by the President and Vice Chancellor of the University, Kayode Makinde, the university said the award was in recognition of Mr Ribadu's "loyal breeding", "lofty aim" and "resolute courage" as well as what it called his, "fierce stance against corruption in the face of sponsored disgrace and certain death that has resulted into positive changes and global acclaim hitherto considered impossible"

Mr. Ribadu, was removed from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which he headed from 2003 to 2007, under controversial circumstances, escaped from the country and was declared wanted by the Nigeria police on November 20, 2009, after being accused of not declaring his assets as the chairman of the ant-graft agency.
Returning Soon

Presidency sources said at the weekend that Mr. Ribadu is expected to resume "in a matter of weeks" in Abuja. As part of his remit, Mr. Ribadu will be the presidential anchorman supervising the broad anti-corruption platform of the country which includes his former agency, the EFCC; the ICPC; the Code of Conduct Bureau and other related agencies.

Mr. Ribadu is, at the moment, winding up a plum fellowship at the Centre for Global Development (CGD), a think tank in Washington D.C. dedicated to international issues of development.

SOURCE: NEXT

Nigeria protests killing in Poland

    Minister of Foreign Affairs, Odein Ajumogobia.

By Ifedayo Adebayo and Ayodele Okulaja

The permanent secretary of the ministry of foreign Affairs, Martin Uhomoibhi, yesterday met with the charge d'affaires of the Polish Embassy to formally protest the shooting to death of a Nigerian citizen in Warsaw, Poland on Sunday, May 23, 2010, by the Polish Police.
Mr Uhomoibhi expressed Nigeria's displeasure over the incident and the arrest of other 30 Nigerian citizens resident in Poland, which he said is a harassment aftermath of the killing.
According to him, instructions have been given to the Nigerian Ambassador in Poland to make a formal demarche to the Polish foreign ministry in protest of the killing. He equally called on the polish authorities to set up an inquiry into the incident, to ensure that all those found guilty are held accountable.
A tragedy
The charge d'affaires conveyed the condolences of the Polish government over the tragic incident which she described as unfortunate. She also disclosed that the Polish authorities were already investigating the matter and assured that the details and outcomes of the investigation will be communicated to the Nigerian government as soon it is resolved.
She also observed that the incident was not pre-planned, but a one-off incident that did not reflect the Polish government's policy or attitude towards Nigerian living in Poland. Nigerian-Poland relations have been cordial and built over years of cooperation in various fields of endeavour, she said, urging that this incident should not be allowed to soil the otherwise excellent relations between the two countries.

Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed that the unnamed citizen died after being shot on Sunday during a police raid on an open-air market in Warsaw.
"The ministry strongly believes that there can be no justification for this wanton killing of a Nigerian citizen," the ministry said in a statement.

"The killing without established culpability demonstrates the high-handedness on the part of the Polish police."
Unprovoked attack
Polish National Police spokesperson, Mariusz Sokolowski, said officers at the market chased after a Nigerian who ran away from them while they were on patrol. One of the officers threw the man to the ground and tried to handcuff him, but a group of foreigners attacked him, Mr Sokolowski said, claiming that the officer's handgun fired during the struggle, with the round striking the Nigerian.
"This man could have been saved and police officers started to resuscitate him, but they were repeatedly attacked with stones by a group of foreigners and were forced to defend themselves, and had to stop the resuscitation," Mr Sokolowski added.

He said six police officers were injured in the fighting and 32 foreigners were arrested.

Source: NEXT

Uduaghan raises the alarm over plot to “hijack” Jonathan

Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has alleged that some people are planning to “hijack” President Goodluck Jonathan.

Uduaghan, at a meeting with the Delta State Elders Council in Warri, on Saturday, claimed that such people were shielding Jonathan from relevant stakeholders, especially, those from the Niger Delta.

Although he did not give the names of these people, he said they freely peddled rumours about the disposition of Jonathan to some Niger Delta leaders, including himself, for selfish political gains.
Uduaghan, who was apparently reacting to the reports that Jonathan was not favourably disposed to some South-South governors because of their roles during the succession crisis in the Presidency, said the action of the group was not in the best interest of Jonathan.
“Let me state that no person or group of persons should try to build a wall around the Presidency and from that wall, start dispatching stories that are not true as well as blackmailing people. If you push everybody away, it may not be to our benefit because the Presidency cannot succeed in isolation,” the governor said in an email statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sunny Ogefere.
“I have refused to be pushed away. Mr. President needs the Governor of Delta State and the Governor of Delta State needs Mr. President. I have easy access to Mr. President because Mr. President recognises that I am the Governor of a critical state in Nigeria,” the statement added.
Governors of the core Niger Delta states were alleged to have funded various plots to scuttle Jonathan’s ascendancy to the Presidency before former President Umaru Yar’Adua died.
Our correspondent learnt that the governors, who had initiated moves for a truce with Jonathan, were said to be jittery that they could be dealt with by the Presidency.

However, Uduaghan, according to the statement by Ogefere, said he was not disturbed by the actions of those behind these moves.
Contrary to the belief in certain quarters especially among his political opponents in the state, Uduaghan said he enjoined cordial relationship with Jonathan.

The governor explained his roles during the controversy generated by the worsening health of Yar’Adua.

“Contrary to the impressions being created by some persons, the state (Delta State) through the active participation of myself and members of the National Assembly from the state, were involved in the emergence of the then vice- president as Acting President and President. I remain unruffled by the actions of those painting negative pictures about how the President emerged,” he stated.

Uduaghan warned that nobody should make unilateral claim as regards the elevation of Jonathan, adding that the credit belonged to all Nigerians, including himself.
He said all Nigerians, particularly those of Niger Delta extraction must join hands to ensure the success of Jonathan’s presidency. He advised his detractors to shun all activities aimed at smearing the image of the state.

Uduaghan added, “Those who truly love Mr. President should collectively work for the success of Mr. President as well as the betterment of the Niger Delta region because the success or failure of Jonathan’s Presidency will not be attributed to the President alone.

“It is our collective responsibility, not one person’s responsibility, but our collective responsibility as a people of the Niger Delta to give him (President) the maximum support.

“The success of Jonathan’s Presidency is a collective responsibility particularly for us, the people of the Niger Delta.”

The governor welcomed those planning to unseat him during the 2011 election, adding that they reserved the right to aspire to any political office.
But he warned them to eschew bitterness and operate within the ambit of the law, adding that any of them found to be involved in violence and breach of the peace would be dealt with according to the law.
The Delta Elders’ Council is chaired by Chief Gabriel Sefia and has a former Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Simeon Ebonka; Senator Fred Brume, former Minister of Information, Prof. Sam Oyonvbaire; former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Dr. Pius Sinebe ; Senator Francis Nwajei ; Prof B.I.C. Ijeoma; Prof. Abednego Ekoko and Senator Stella Omu as some of its members.
 
Source: Punch

New Music from the KokoMaster: D’Banj is Mr. Endowed

After making making the ladies swoon via the “Fall in Love” video a few weeks ago. D’Banj has answered the call of the fans by releasing new music.


His new single “Mr Endowed” premiered when he performed it at the Chris Aire “Hollywood Jewels” event in April. At that time, only a select few got to experience “Mr Endowed”, now the song has been released for all to listen.

D’Banj has always had a way with wordplay and this is no exception.

Over a strumming Don Jazzy beat, D’Banj tells us how is “Mr Endowed”.

Have a listen and let us know what you think.

Facebook CEO: privacy controls "missed the mark"

Mark Zuckerberg

Report by Alexei Oreskovic 


(Reuters) - Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said the Internet social network will roll out new privacy settings for its more than 400 million users, amid growing concerns that the company is pushing users to make more of their personal data public.

"Many of you thought our controls were too complex," said Zuckerberg in an opinion piece published on Monday in The Washington Post.

"Our intention was to give you lots of granular controls; but that may not have been what many of you wanted. We just missed the mark," said the 26-year-old Zuckerberg, who co-founded Facebook in his Harvard dorm room in 2004.

In the coming weeks, Zuckerberg promised, Facebook will add privacy controls that he said would be much simpler to use.

Facebook will also give users an easy way to turn off all third-party services, Zuckerberg said.

It was not clear whether the third-party services referred to applications designed to be used within Facebook, such as games from companies like Zynga and Electronic Arts Inc's Playfish, or to separate websites which have recently begun to incorporate Facebook data.

The comments come a few weeks after Facebook, the world's largest Internet social network, unveiled several changes to its service that have prompted sharp criticism from privacy advocates and spurred a few high-profile Facebook users, such as tech commentator Jason Calacanis, to delete their accounts in protest.

A feature called "instant personalization" automatically imports Facebook users' personal profile information to the music site Pandora and the user-review site Yelp.

Another recent change forced Facebook users to make some of their profile information, such as education, hobbies and hometown, tied to public pages devoted to those topics.

And many users decry the service's byzantine privacy settings, which one blogger has called the modern-day equivalent of the notoriously complex task of programing a VCR.

Palo Alto, California-based Facebook is a private company and does not disclose financial data, though analyst estimates for its 2009 revenue range from $500 million to $650 million, primarily from selling online ads targeted at users based on their activity and profile information on Facebook.

The service is expected to reach half a billion users in the next several weeks, up sharply from 150 million users in January 2009.

Zuckerberg also noted in his opinion piece in The Washington Post, whose chairman, Donald Graham, is a member of Facebook's board of directors, that Facebook will always be kept as a free service for everyone.

Source: Reuters

Mikel worry for Super Eagles.

Eagles play down Mikel fears
Mikel: Fitness worry


Nigeria have played down fears over the fitness of John Obi Mikel, who is recovering from a knee injury - less than three weeks before the start of the World Cup in South Africa.

The 23-year-old picked up the knock during Chelsea's 2-1 defeat to Tottenham back in April missing the Blues' title run-in.

The midfielder recently underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus, but reports have suggested that he may be struggling to be fit for the tournament, which begins on 11th June.

Nigeria Football Federation media officer Idah Peterside does not believe there is cause for concern.

He told www.kickoffnigeria.com: "We are confident here that he will be okay. Monday is the last day of his rehabilitation and physiotherapy sessions, and the staff here are being sent there to speak with the Chelsea people to see that both sides can work together on a harmonised programme that will be in the interest of the player."

The West Africans are in Group B for the finals alongside Argentina, Greece and South Korea.

Source: Sky Sport

Stan Kroenke and Alisher Usmanov refuse to be drawn into Arsenal bidding war

Stan Kroenke and Alisher Usmanov are refusing to be drawn into a bidding war for a controlling stake in Arsenal.


The sale of Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith’s shares, which is expected to go through within the next month, is threatening to upset the delicate balance of power between the club’s largest shareholders, with Kroenke, the owner of several sports franchises in the United States, and Usmanov, the Uzbek-born mining billionaire, vying for outright control.

Bracewell-Smith, a former board member and the fourth-largest shareholder at the club, appointed the London office of Blackstone, the American finance house, to sell her 15.9 per cent stake last month. Bankers from Blackstone are in talks with a number of potential buyers, including investors from China, Singapore and India, however, Aliko Dangote, the Nigerian tycoon, today denied he is among them. “I am a longstanding supporter of Arsenal Football Club and have been involved in conversations around investment in the past,” Dangote said in a statement.

“However, I can say categorically at this time that I have no intention of investing in the club and will not be acquiring a stake. I wish Arsenal Football Club the best for the future and will continue to follow the team as a fan.” Arsenal’s shares are changing hands on the open market for up to £9,250, but it is thought Bracewell-Smith was initially trying to hold out for slightly more because of the strategic importance of her stake. Kroenke, who is also trying to gain control of the St Louis Rams, the American football club, holds the upper hand at at present because he has the support of Danny Fiszman, a director who owns 16 per cent. By buying that stake and those of small shareholders, Kroenke could call on more than 50 per cent of a vote. A combination of Fiszman and Bracewell-Smith’s holdings would give Kroenke or Usmanov control.

Source Time Online

Why I recorded my phone conversation with 9ice –Ruggedman

By ‘Nonye Ben-Nwankwo
The 9ice/Ruggedman controversy is still raging. Ruggedman had been fingered as the reason behind the break up of 9ice‘s one-year old marriage to Toni Payne, and a lot of people have insinuated that 9ice was referring to Ruggedman in his controversial song, Once Bitten Twice Shy, where he talked about his woman having oral sex with his friend. Many people are still condemning Ruggedman for recording his phone conversation on the issue with 9ice and going as far as posting it on the Internet.

However, in an e-mail sent to Life and Beat earlier in the week, Ruggedman, who said he was in London shooting some videos, explained the reasons for his actions.

According to him, it was never his intention to go that far, “but I decided to do so as a backup since I still can‘t get the reason why he (9ice), as a friend, hadn‘t come out to publicly clear up the sick rumour started by his song.


”I guess the decision to let people hear the conversation and hear 9ice himself saying he was not talking about me or Toni Payne in the song, was reached when he admitted it to me but bluntly and arrogantly refused to go public with clearing up the name of his friend and the mother of his child, especially since he admitted nothing of the sort ever happened.”

Rugged said he didn‘t care who 9ice was referring to in the controversial song.

”I guess it‘s a personal experience he had. That is not my concern. My concern was that people and even some soft sell magazines were pointing fingers at me as the person he was talking about in the song. That is not the type of person I am, and I don‘t want families, friends, fans and business partners seeing me as that. Unfortunately, for reason(s) best known to him, he admitted to me that it wasn‘t me or Toni Payne. But he has still refused to clear my name. I was left with no choice but to let people hear him say it himself. That was why I put out the conversation on the Internet. People have now heard him admit it was not me or Toni Payne he sang about, and that‘s all that matters to me. I still got mad love for him and his music, but his behaviour was bad,” Rugged said in the mail.

When contacted, 9ice, through his publicist, Black House Media, said they weren‘t ready to make any comment on the controversy.

However, it looks as if 9ice is making all the gains with the brouhaha. Life and Beat gathered that his latest album, Tradition, which contains the controversial song, has sold more than a million copies, as many people are curious to know what the artiste actually said in the song.

Source: Punch

There is no zoning arrangement in the PDP –Dejo Raimi

Chief Dejo Raimi, an elder statesman, is the Secretary-General of Southern Forum, a group formed in 2005 to advocate for the emergence of a president of the South-South extraction. In this

President Goodluck Jonathan contesting the 2011 presidential election and also spoke extensively on the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in his home state – Oyo State. Excerpts:
You are the secretary of the Southern Forum, a group which in 2005 advocated for a South-South president. What has been happening in the group in view of recent happenings in the polity?
When you look at all the geopolitical zones in Nigeria, virtually all of them have produced the president or the Head of State at one point or another except the South-South. Not a single person from that region has ruled this country for a day. We decided that there must be equity, justice, and fairness. So at a meeting in Enugu, three main officers were chosen. They were Ambassador M.T. Mbu as the chairman, Professor S.T. Igwe was chosen as the vice-chairman and I was chosen as the secretary-general. We put up a strong case and went round the whole country pleading that the South-South should be allowed to rule the country, even for one day. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo seemed to agree with this position in the run up to the 2007 election, until we were told that things had changed. That was how late President Umaru Yar’Ádua emerged as president in 2007. But, with what has happened - the divine intervention of God – President Goodluck Jonathan is going to contest the presidency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2011.

Will this be irrespective of the zoning arrangement of the PDP?

Which zoning? I don’t know of any zoning you are talking about.
Was it not the zoning arrangement that ensured the emergence of Obasanjo in 1999 and 2003?
There is no zoning. They have always been saying it. Nobody has been able to show us. Within the PDP, the Federal Character has been manipulated to say that power must rotate. Have you ever seen any zoning formula? What the Southern Forum is saying is that now, the work which we started in 2005 and 2006 has come to fruition through the handiwork of God and that President Goodluck Jonathan should contest the presidential election in 2011.

Has the Southern Forum met recently?

Yes, off course. We had a meeting this month in Lagos and we issued a communique which we gave to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) for distribution.
For quite sometime now, there has been disquiet within the PDP in Oyo State. As an elder of the party in the state, do you know what caused the crisis?

The PDP is such a large family nationwide and you cannot have such a big organisation without some misunderstandings here and there. It is not only in Oyo State that we are having these minor squabbles. We are having in Anambra where we do not have a governor. We are having in Rivers, Sokoto, Zamfara, Bayelsa States.We also have problems in Adamawa State where Atiku (Abubakar) just returned to the party. There is hardly any place where there is a total peace or tranquility. It is usually more pronounced when it is time for the party’s convention. In some states, the problem has always been between two giant sections. In such states, you could have two separate state offices. But such a thing is not happening in Oyo State. What we are presently witnessing in Oyo State is a child’s play when compared to some other states.

But what is the genesis of the crisis in Oyo State?
In the 2006 convention, there was a court injunction obtained by Chief Richard Akinjide and others that the state congress should not hold. Despite that injunction, late Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu went ahead and organised the convention. But then, the question is: those who are now fighting, the state executive that had been inaugurated, accepted and attended National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the PDP, what were they doing between 2006 and 2009? Now, they suddenly woke up and discovered that the convention was illegal. Be that as it may, there are two groups and no member of the two groups has not passed through me. The coming together of (Senator) Lekan Balogun, former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, Elder Wole Oyelese and Chief Yekini Adeojo, challenging the legality of the executive of the PDP, only came in 2009. Luckily, they were able, in law, to back their challenge because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that was served the court injunction not to allow the congress to take place in 2006, did not attend the election. When this came up, the NEC of the party decided to look into the ensuing crisis along with all other cases. Of course, I have a copy of the INEC report, which says there was no congress in Oyo State. But after it was confirmed, why did the other group that held the congress and that has the executive wait till 2009 to seek for the lifting of an injunction that was pronounced in 2006?
It was in 2009 that the state executive went to court and got the injunction lifted. It was after this that the NEC decided to look into it. They first mandated the zonal body to look into it. That was when we had the Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun committee. The committee mandated the two factions to withdraw all litigations from the court. The committee also agreed that the local government chairmen and councilors, whose tenure were terminated by either the government of Ladoja or Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, should be compensated. We also agreed that there should be an end to the press war between the groups. We also agreed that there should be two committees: the Elders’ Committee and the Stakeholders/Leaders’ Committee.

These committees were put in place to carry out these assignments. So, an implementation committee was put in place. In this committee, five people were taken from the Governor Alao-Akala’s group, one each from Lekan Balogun, Oyelese and my humble self, Dejo Raimi. It was that committee we called the implementation committee. Unfortunately, that committee did not function. After this, the Senator Ike Nwachukwu committee was set up to look into the Ogun and Oyo States problems within the PDP. Immediately Nwachukwu got the report that INEC was not present at the congress that produced the state executive, he upheld that, even when there are controversies over the emergence of the PDP executive in Oyo State. You cannot correct an illegality with another illegality. Instead of the Ike Nwachukwu committee recommending a caretaker committee to come and takeover, it decided that the members of the implementation committee should transmute to a sort of an electoral college.
But even that decision by the Ike Nwachukwu committee also generated disagreement between the two sides. Is that not so?

Yes. And the reason is this: even if the Nwachukwu committee wanted to turn the implementation committee to an electoral college, what it should have done was to recommend a caretaker committee. Turning of the implementation committee to an electoral college where members will elect officers of the party from among themselves was illegal.
Why?

The implementation committee was turned into an electoral committee to vote for itself, which is clearly outside the mandate of the committee. The decision was not accepted by the governor. He wrote a letter signed by Akinjide, Chief Kolapo Ishola, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo and some other people complaining about the decision. The NEC looked into the complaints and Ike Nwachukwu came to Ibadan to inaugurate the elders and implementation committees.
What was supposed to be the purpose of the Elders’ Committee?

The Elders’ Committee is like the board of trustees at the state level, to ensure that things go on smoothly in the party. When Ike Nwachukwu came to Ibadan, he was supposed to inaugurate the Elders’ Committee and the state executive. He only inaugurated the Elders’ Committee and he did not talk about the other committee. The Alao-Akala’s group was also quick enough to point out that you cannot treat illegality with illegality. All these happened late last year to February this year.

What is the prevailing situation now

We had a meeting of the Elders’ Committee on March 29 this year. The meeting was called by Governor Alao-Akala and we had a good deliberation about how to move the party forward and how to prepare for the next election. Another date, April 8, was fixed for a stakeholders and leaders’ forum, where all the local government chairmen were invited. It was there that an overzealous person read out a communique that Governor Alao-Akala had been adopted for a second term. Right there, Alao-Akala stood up and said there would be primaries and a level playing ground for anyone that wants to contest.

But his adoption was celebrated all over the state and in the media. Are you not aware?

You don’t know how we play our politics. If you say you want to contest for any election, immediately you signify your interest, we will start calling you by the name of the position such as governor, senator etc.

What is the status of the implementation committee now?
The committee is out of existence. They have not been doing anything. Nobody is mentioning them again. They are dead. The day the decision was taken that the chairmanship of the party had been given to the Ladoja group, they went about saying that Ladoja has taken over the party, whereas they have taken nothing.

What is your assessment of the Alao-Akala’s administration?
I am a patriotic Ibadan man. But I have always prayed that if an Ibadan man will not be useful to the majority of the people, may God not allow him to become the governor of the state. When we constituted a coronation committee for the Olubadan of Ibadan, we held meetings and we calculated how much we would need for the coronation and we arrived at a figure of N39.5 million. Out of this amount, we were able to contribute N5.6 million. So, four of us, Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola, Ambassador A. Sanu, Bode Amoo and myself, went to Governor Alao-Akala to seek for financial assistance. When we showed him the bill, he looked at it and sent us a cheque of N40 million. We were perplexed and shocked at his financial response. Alao-Akala is the only governor that ever thought of renovating Mapo Hall, which is a symbol for every Ibadan man. The Adeoyo Hospital had been in a very bad state for over 30 years. But we have a new teaching hospital there now. The dualisation and construction of roads such as the Molete-Queen Cinema Road, Iwo Road-Olodo and others are other achievements of Governor Alao-Akala. Governor Alao-Akala has done more for Ibadan than any other Ibadan man. I am also told that he is doing the same in Oke-Ogun and other areas of Oyo State. The present PDP government has performed creditably well in Oyo State and I pray that it is returned to government in 2011.

Source:  Nigerian Compass

3 Fulani Herdsmen Killed in Jos Crisis

From Seriki Adinoyi
Three days after the curfew imposed on Jos city, since the beginning of the crisis, was lifted following the return of relative peace in the city, three Fulani herdsmen were yesterday murdered, roasted and buried in a shallow grave in Tusung Village near Kassa, in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, by people suspected to be Berom youths.


Briefing newsmen at the Nigerian Air Force Hospital mortuary, Jos, where the bodies were deposited, the Director of Operations of the Military Special Task Force (STF), Colonel Kayode Ogundele, said though no arrest has been made, but his men who discovered the bodies are on the trail of the assailants. He assured that they would be tracked down.

Meanwhile, the state police command has commenced a process for the re-trial of suspects of the Jos crises in the state capital as required by the Constitution of the Federal Republic on Nigeria.

This was made known yesterday in a press statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Muhammed Lerama, on behalf of the state Police Commissioner, Ikechukwu Aduba.

Lerama said in the statement that, “The Plateau State Police Command wishes to state that the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) and the Federal Directorate of Public Prosecution (FDPP) Abuja held a pre-trial meeting at the Police Headquarters Jos on May 20 with the officers and personnel of the state CID Jos as well as the private legal practitioners employed by the Federal Ministry of Justice to prosecute the offenders involved in the Jos crises.



“The reason for this meeting is for the stakeholders to harmonise all aspects of investigations conducted in the cases for a successful prosecution”

Source: Thisday Newspaper

Inter beats Bayern 2-0 to win Champions League

His pupil bettered the Dutch master when Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan strolled to a comfortable 2-0 victory in the Champions League final over a weak Bayern Munich team coached by his one-time boss Louis van Gaal.


Argentina's Diego Milito scored twice yesterday as Inter Milan squeezed the life out of a hesitant Bayern team to end a 45-year wait for its third title.

The victory might also signal Mourinho's exit from Inter. After the game, he said it was "more probable that I'll go than stay." He is tipped to take over at Real Madrid, where yesterday's final was played.

The Argentina striker Milito scored in the 35th and 70th minutes at the Bernabeu Stadium to add the title to Inter's triumphs back in 1964 and '65.

The merited victory - Inter dominated the game - meant that Inter coach Jose Mourinho completed the triple triumphs of the Champions League and domestic league and cup successes and became only the third coach to win the title with two different clubs.
Mourinho, who won it with FC Porto in 2004, out-thought Bayern coach Louis van Gaal, the man he worked for while they were at Barcelona. This time the pupil was the master as Mourinho relied on his solid defense to snuff out the threat of Bayern's Arjen Robben and expertly won the game on the counter-attack.

Milito's two goals were taken with style and he had great support from attacking midfielder Wesley Sneijder and defensive midfielders Esteban Cambiasso and Javier Zanetti, the Inter captain who collected the trophy in his 700th appearance for the club.

The loss meant that Bayern missed out on the treble, having also won the domestic league and cups.

"We were not good enough to impose our game," Van Gaal said. "Inter only reacted but they still won deservedly. The timing of the goals was decisive. The players learned today that it comes down to small details.

"I still have the feeling that we could have won. There was no great difference. We attacked, Inter defended. But you have to be in great shape to beat Inter and we were not today. I still think Inter merited the win."

Franz Beckenbauer, honorary president of Bayern, said Inter deserved its victory."Bayern did not have its day. We had a few moments at the start of the second half but that was not enough," he said. "They made fewer mistakes."

After the final whistle, Mourinho walked onto the field and was congratulated by his players in a low-key celebration by his standards. In the past he has been known to race across the pitch to celebrate some of his most famous victories, infuriating opposing supporters.

Source: Washinton Post

Nigeria: P-Square, MI Make BET Awards '10 List

In what may appear as a significant break through for the Nigerian music industry, P-Square and MI were rated in the list of nominees for the 2010 BET Award which was released during the week.


Both artistes are up for the Best International Act award.

In what many analysts have described as an unusually strong contingent from the African continent, Nigerian born veteran soul singer, Sade, was included in the list of nominees as well.

Other Nigerian born acts nominated for awards include soul singer Laura Izibor and rapper Wale. Jay-Z leads the nominations list in general with a total of 5 nominations.

To be hosted by Queen Latifah, the 2010 BET Awards is scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 27, 2010 at the Shrine Auditorium, L.A.

According to a release by the organisers, BET AWARDS '10 will recognize the achievements of artists, entertainers and athletes in 19 categories. Front runner Jay-Z gets five individual nominations across multiple categories: Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Best Collaboration, Video of the Year (for which he holds two nominations) and Viewer's Choice.

Closely behind are Beyonce (Best Female R&B Artist, Best Collaboration, Video of the Year, Viewer's Choice), Alicia Keys (Best Female R&B Artist, Best Collaboration, Video of the Year, Viewer's Choice), Trey Songz (Best Male R&B Artist, Best Collaboration), Viewer's Choice) and Melanie Fiona (Best Female R&B Artist, Best New Artist, Video of the Year, Centric Award) with four each.

Source: Vanguard

Inter won and Samuel Eto'o another Goodluck jonathan

From grace To Glory ..Samuel Eto'o of Cameroom  has won another champion league..... he was made to be embarrassed when he was exchanged for Abramovish with 40million money .......you can now judge by yourself whether Eto'o Victory today made him another Goodluck Jonathan
kenneth O.

World Cup 2010: Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan wants trophy success

Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan has demanded the 'Super Eagles' return from the World Cup in South Africa this July with the biggest prize in international football.

Jonathan, who will attend the opening ceremony on June 11 when South Africa face Mexico, will also watch Nigeria's tournament opener against Argentina on June 12 at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg.

Nigeria are drawn in Group B along with Argentina, South Korea and Greece and the country's president expects the Super Eagles to soar into the next round and on to the final.

'No easy draw for Nigeria' Speaking at a special dinner to send the Super Eagles off to the World Cup on Friday, Jonathan said: "This is a call to national duty and I expect the Eagles to prepare well and win this trophy.

"That will be a birthday gift for our country and set the stage for a golden jubilee celebration of our independence as a nation," added Jonathan, who shook hands with the entire Nigeria squad led by coach Lars Lagerback.
"Play, win and we will make you smile."

On Tuesday, they tackle Saudi Arabia in a warm-up game in Austria.
Nigeria's biggest achievement at the World Cup so far was reaching the second round in both 1994 and 1998.

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

The following is the complete final 30-player team list for Nigeria's World Cup team.

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda, Israel), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Petah Tikva, Israel), Bassey Akpan (Bayelsa United, Nigeria)

Defenders: Taye Taiwo (Olympique Marseille, France), Elderson Echiejile (Rennes, France), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Onyekachi Apam (OG Nice, France), Joseph Yobo (Everton, England), Daniel Shittu (Bolton Wanderers, England), Ayodele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam, Netherlands), Rabiu Afolabi (SV Salzburg, Austria), Terna Suswan (Lobi Stars, Nigeria)

Midfielders: Chinedu Obasi (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany), John Utaka (Portsmouth, England), Brown Ideye (FC Sochaux, France), Peter Utaka (Odense Boldklub, Denmark), , Kalu Uche (Almeria, Spain), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham, England), Mikel Obi (Chelsea, England), Sani Kaita (Alaniya, Russia), Haruna Lukman (AS Monaco, France), Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kiev, Ukraine), Osaze Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia)



Strikers: Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Victor Anichebe (Everton, England), Nwankwo Kanu, Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg, Germany), Ikechukwu Uche (Real Zaragoza, Spain), Obinna Nsofor (Malaga, Spain).

Reps reject two-party system

THE House of Representatives yesterday rejected the two-party system which has been the subject matter of serious discuss in the country in the last few weeks.
Of the 221 lawmakers present, 172 voted in favour of retaining the present multi-party system, 48 voted for the two-party system, one person abstained from voting while 139 were absent.
All those who voted against the two-party system were members of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).
But the circumstances in which the two-party system was rejected was loaded with series of dramatic scenes and uproar.
Speaker Dimeji Bankole had upon the resumption of the consideration of the report on the Electoral Bill announced that it was time for the House to decide on whether or not the option of two-party system was right for the country or not.
This was followed by some 15 minutes of consultation by members of the House during which they tried to persuade one another for or against the two-party system.
And when the session became calm, Bankole declared that following consultations with many members of the House, he had decided to simplify matters by putting the issue to voice votes.
The declaration was opposed by the pro-two-party system lawmakers led by the House Minority Leader, Aliu Ndume. They wanted the House Electronic Voting Machine to be activated and used.
At this point, the pro-multi-party lawmakers had taken to their feet urging the Speaker to insist on voice vote. They had their way as Bankole put the question to voice vote.
But following another round of protest that greeted the voice vote, the Speaker announced that he would divide the House to allow for a clearer picture on how the two groups stood.
Bankole said: “Honourable members, May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We tried voice vote. Members are complaining.  They are not satisfied, no problem. It is my duty and responsibility to ensure that votes count in this House. But some members do not have their cards here. So the best way of ensuring that votes count is to divide the House.”
And immediately, he directed that those in support of the two-party system should move to one side of the chamber while those opposed to the two-party system should move to the opposite direction.
Tempers rose higher as the pro-two-party lawmakers rejected the voice vote option and insisted that electronic voting be used to decided the matter.
They marched close to the Mace table, chanting the song “no to multi-party! No to manipulation!”
This prompted the tightening of security around the Mace table to prevent the seizing of the mace by any member.
Meanwhile, the House Clerk, Alhaji M. A. Sani Omonori, had already concluded the counting of each of the groups and handed it over to the Speaker for announcement.
When the result was announced in favour of the multi-party system, the pro-two-party system simply walked out without uttering a word.
Ndume had two weeks ago, suggested that the House should take advantage of the current constitution amendment exercise to limit the number of political parties in the country to only two.
His suggestion was taken from an earlier suggestion by the Former Governors’ Forum (FGF), which had visited the National Assembly and canvassed the two-party system.
Led by the erstwhile governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, the forum which was represented in that visit by 10 former state helmsmen were of the opinion that "the present multiparty system is too unwieldy to be able to promote a self-sustaining democratic polity."
The forum added: "A two-party system offers a superior form of electoral democracy . The PDP has become the only dominant national party because of the inability of other parties to grow beyond their regions or states. The present system where most parties in the country do not exist beyond their registration certificates does not create an effective opposition, which is the bedrock of democracy."  
Meanwhile, Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has commended the House of Representatives for rejecting the two-party system and for retaining multiparty democracy for Nigeria.
A statement last night by Yinka Odumakin, the ARG’s National Publicity Secretary, said: “As we all know, the right to multiparty system in Nigeria has a constitutional basis. Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides for freedom of association ‘with other persons’ and ‘any political party, trade union or any association.’ This also finds support in African Charter of Peoples and Human Rights and the Protocols of ECOWAS. And lest we forget, it was the legal battle and, subsequently, the victory that Gani Fawehinmi fought and won for Nigerians in the Supreme Court.
“Without doubt, Nigeria is not the only country with multiparty democracy. As we speak, there are 367 registered political parties in Great Britain and 46 in Northern Ireland. United States of America, interestingly, a country we are quick to mention when issues of this nature arise, also practises multiparty democracy. 
“Apart from its two major and three minor political parties, there are also others appropriately classified as active, inactive and regional. Ghana has 20 and there is every proof to show that South Africa and Benin Republic practise multiparty democracy.
“From the foregoing, one cannot but doubt the motive of the wonderboys of our own system, those who never struggled for, but are mere benefiaciaries of the people’s struggle.
“Admitted! Some of these parties are formed for the sole purpose of collecting grants and related funds from the government. However, the idea that having so many parties is unwieldy does not hold water.”
The ARG added: “Again, Nigerians should not forget in a hurry that Ibrahim Babangida’s two-party contraption on Nigerians was by military fiat. Needless to repeat here also that the annulment of June 12, 1993 elections, adjuged both locally and internationally, as the freest and fairest in the country, was also by military fiat. Why then do we have to trek a despicable path that has not in any way led the people to the Promised Land?
“Yes! As things stand, there are more than 50 registered political parties in Nigeria. Nevertheless, all over the world, where dominant parties have emerged, it has been through the electorate, not by any fiat.
“It is our considered view that the problem of Nigeria has nothing to do with political parties. Rather, it has got to do with having a credible system and credible umpires; where people will vote and their votes will count.
“So, what we need is Electoral Reforms which the National Assembly has so far treated with contempt. And let nobody close the democratic space because we fought for it!”

Source: Guardian Nigeria

Okigbo Report: FG Considers Action against Babangida

•Govt statement unambiguous, says IBB
By Chiemelie Ezeobi

The Federal Government may take legal action against former military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida if there is evidence to prove the allegation of mismanagement of $12.4 billion during his tenure.

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mohammed Adoke (SAN) disclosed that a committee would be set up to review the allegations to see if a criminal charge could be sustained.
But the former president has described Adoke’s statement as “unambiguous”.

Adoke was responding to a petition by a coalition of civil society groups, asking the government to implement recommendations of the Dr. Pius Okigbo report by prosecuting Babangida.

Allegations of corruption and mismanagement of $12.4 billion in a Dedicated and Special Accounts while he was in office should be probed, the groups stated.

A letter by Adoke dated 12th May 2010 with reference number HAGF/PG/2010/Vol1 said: “I acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 5th May 2010.

 I appreciate your effort in making available a signed copy of the Dr. Pius Okigbo Panel Report, and as appropriate, I shall set up a Committee that will confirm the authenticity of the said report and also review the allegations and recommendations contained therein with a view to ascertaining whether these allegations can sustain a criminal charge.

 While we shall keep you informed of our effort in this regard, I would like to thank you for your concerted effort in sustaining the fight against corruption in our society.”

Executive Director, Socio-Economic Rights and Accoun-tability Project (SERAP), Adetokunbo Mumuni, reacted to the AGF’s statement thus: “While we prepare a detailed response to the letter by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, we would like to welcome the clear commitment of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to prosecute the former military president on the basis of the strong and compelling evidence contained in the Okigbo report.”

Mumuni urged the government to accelerate the process of investigating and prosecuting the case. He argued that if the case was pursued to a logical conclusion, it would show that the government could do things differently.
“This would also provide effective remedy for the countless victims of high level official corruption in the country,” he added.

Mumuni continued: “We urge the Honourable Attorney General to involve the civil society and the United Nations in the work of the committee to ensure that justice is not only done but seen to be done. We stand ready to offer full support and assistance to the authorities in the prosecution of suspected perpetrators of the $12.4bn scam.”

The groups that send the petition are: SERAP; Women Advocates and Documentation Centre (WARDC); Access to Justice, AJ; Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR); Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC); Partnership for Justice (PFJ); Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA); Nigeria Liberty Forum (NLF); Nigeria Voters Assembly (VOTAS); and Centre for the Rule of Law (CFR).

The petition by the groups was signed by Adetokunbo Mumuni; Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Executive Director, WARDC; Joseph Otteh, Executive Director, AJ; Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director, CISLAC; Kayode Ogundamisi, Convener, NLF; Olanrewaju Suraju, Head, HEDA; Olasupo Ojo, President, CDHR; Itoro Eze-Anaba, Managing Partner, PFJ; Moshood Erubami, President, VOTAS; and Tejumade Oke, Programme Director, CFR.

Adoke had requested a signed copy of the Okigbo Report when the groups sent the petition. He promised to act on it when he receives it

In a letter dated 5th May 2010, they sent the 352-page original report. They also quoted parts of the report which described the management of resources at the time.

“The Dedication and Special Accounts had become a parallel budget for the Presidency. The decision as to what expenditure items to be financed out of these dedicated accounts was made by the President alone. For example, the accounts had been utilized to defray aim assortment of expenses that could not in any way be described as priority such as: $2.92 million to make Documentary Film on Nigeria: $18.30 million to purchase TV/Video for the Presidency; $23.98 million for Staff Welfare in the Presidency; $.99 million for travels of the First Lady abroad; and $59.72 million for security,” the Okigbo report stated.

“The approved budget for the Federation did not reflect the receipts into the Dedication and other Special Accounts; that the balances kept in these accounts were not included in the Federation Account, a practice which violated the fundamental precepts of the federal fiscal relations in Nigeria, and that in a number of cases, there were significant variations between the amounts approved for payment and the actual disbursements made, without any further explanation from the documents supplied,” the report added.

The Dr. Pius Okigbo Panel set up under former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, had raised questions on how the oil windfall during Babangida’s tenure was managed.
IBB promptly responded to the Federal Government through his Spokesman Kassim Afegbua.

“What the Attorney General said in his response to the petition is unambiguous; that the government will try to ascertain whether that is the true copy of the Okigbo report. The whole concept of civil society organisations bringing signed copy[ies] of a Federal Government Report to government raises a lot of curiosity and mischief on the part of the civil societies. I have not seen a situation where a government will set up a panel, only for report to be given to it [government] by unknown bodies.

“Despite all the clear cut attempts to rubbish the good name of General Babangida by this gang of sinuous fawns who want to play the 'angelic' role as civil societies, I am yet to find anywhere in the whole wide world where these organisations have rendered account of their own grants from foreign countries in the years of their existence. This is our challenge to all of them,” Afegbua said.

 Source: Thisday Newpaper

P Square Video ...best ever

Capricia Penavic Marshall, Chief Of Protocol, SLIPS On White House Steps At State Dinner (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

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Oh no! Chief of Protocol of the United States Capricia Penavic Marshall slipped on the steps of the North Portico of the White House before the arrival of Mexican President Felipe Calderon and his wife Margarita Zavala to the State Dinner. President Obama cautioned photographers "Don't take that picture" and Michelle Obama added "Don't print that picture!"

Sorry, Mr. President
Source: The Huffington Post