Kogi Flood: Dangote Donates N200 million

Nigeria’s richest man, Aliko Dangote has donated N200 million to victims of flood in Nigeria’s Kogi state.

The donation is made of N50 million food items and N150 million cash, a total of $1,250,000. The donation is only a part of the assistance Dangote planned to offer the people of the state. In addition, he planned to empower 1,000 women in each of the 21 local councils in the state, for which he has set aside another N230 million. Each woman, will collect a grant of N10,000, about $65 to start petty business.

Dangote made the donation Saturday during a sympathy visit to the state government in the capital of Lokoja.

Dangote, who said he was personally touched by the plight of the victims, described the flood disaster as unprecedented.

He urged the victims to see the disaster as an act of God, saying that it had become imperative for corporate organisations and public-spirited individuals to lend a helping hand.

Dangote who was accompanied by his daughter, Hajia Halima, commended Governor Idris Wada for quickly putting in place measures to ameliorate the plight of the victims.

He praised the Federal Government for its quick intervention through the National Emergency Management Agency which he said dispatched a search and rescue team to Ibaji Local Government to rescue victims and donated drugs, clothes and other items to the victims.

Dangote said he planned to empower 21,000 women in Kogi by giving them N10, 000 each to enable them start petty businesses.

He said the beneficiaries should be selected on the basis of 1, 000 women per local government, saying he had set aside N230 million for the scheme expected to take off in the next one month.

Dangote, along with the governor, later inspected some of the flooded parts of Lokoja and also visited some of the victims at their temporary camp at St Luke Primary School, Adankolo.

Responding, Wada described the gesture as overwhelming, adding that it was the largest donation received so far by the state government on behalf of the victims.

He said that the flood problem was of historical significance to the people of the state as many of them took things for granted.

7 dead in the USA as meningitis outbreak grows

The death toll from an outbreak of meningitis linked to contaminated steroid injections has risen to seven, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Saturday.
The total number of cases has also grown to 64 people in nine states, the CDC said. That is 17 more cases and two more states than the day before.
Patients contracted the deadly meningitis after being injected in their spine with a preservative-free steroid called methylprednisolone acetate that was contaminated by a fungus. The steroid is used to treat pain and inflammation.

US Health officials say around 75 medical facilities in 23 states received the contaminated products, which were manufactured by New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Massachusetts.
NECC voluntarily recalled three lots of the injectible steroid last week. As a precaution, the Food and Drug Administration is asking doctors, clinics, and consumers to stop using any products made by NECC.
The FDA is investigating the scope and cause of the outbreak.
The CDC raised the death toll Saturday after two people died in Michigan. Other deaths have been reported in Maryland, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Tennessee is reporting the most number of overall cases -- 29 -- which includes three deaths, according to the CDC.

Confirmed cases have also been found in Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina and Ohio.
The other states that received the contaminated products from NECC are California, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia.
Nearly 10% of drugs administered in the United States come from compound pharmacies, according to a 2003 Government Accountability Office report.

Israeli Air Force Shoots Down Drone Aircraft

The Israeli air force shot down a drone after it crossed into southern Israel on Saturday, the military said, but it remained unclear where the aircraft had come from.

The drone was first spotted above the Mediterranean Sea in the area of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip to the west of Israel, said military spokeswoman Avital Leibovich. Once it crossed into Israeli air space, it was escorted by air force jets, reports Reuters.

At about 10 a.m. (0700 GMT), after it travelled east some 35 miles across Israel's southern Negev desert, the drone was shot down above a forest in an unpopulated area near the border with the occupied West Bank, she said.

"We are considering this interception successful," Leibovich said. Soldiers were searching the area where the drone was downed to locate and identify the drone, the military said.

Nigerian doctor commits suicide over exposure of his planned marriage to two different women

One of the women, Bamidele Ayeni, a Juju  artist

A Nigerian medical doctor in the United Kingdom who lived a double life with two women for seven years and promised to marry both of them one month apart has hanged himself when his secret was exposed, an inquest heard.
Dr Festus Ojagbemi, 49, known as ‘Wally’, who had a surgery in Strood, Kent, lived with long-term partner Jackie Hammond in the week and lover Bamidele Ayeni on weekends – for seven years.

He fathered a child with Miss Ayeni – a popular Nigerian singer known as Dele Achiever – and said he would wed them both, while racking up thousands of pounds worth of debt taking them on holidays.

But when the secret was discovered by Miss Hammond he stabbed himself twice in the chest at his surgery, St Mary’s Medical Centre, the inquest was told. But he survived that attempt on his life.

While recovering in hospital he told police and both women he was attacked by a stranger. But he eventually confessed the truth to officers – only to take his own life four days later on February 12.

Miss Hammond later found him at the detached house they shared in Hempstead, Kent. A note signed with his nickname was on the TV cabinet near where he was found in the conservatory.

The cost of leading the double life emerged after his death, the inquest in Maidstone, Kent, heard. Miss Hammond said a credit card firm phoned after he died, claiming he owed them £10,000.

She said: ‘I started phoning and everyone told me how much he owed them. By the time we got to the 10th or 11th, the bill was huge. We just couldn’t get our heads around it.

‘I work, I get paid, so we don’t talk about finances. If we go on holiday he would be the one that pays.’

The couple had planned their wedding for this May after almost 20 years together.

Miss Hammond said he killed himself because he felt guilty after the double life was uncovered, adding: ‘He just wanted me to notice he was hurting because of what he had done to me.’

Miss Ayeni did not appear at the inquest but the hearing was told of evidence she gave to police. She claimed Dr Ojagbemi proposed last October and that they were planning a wedding in April.

They had a child, he rented a flat for them, visited on weekends and they would talk six or seven times a day, she said.

Miss Ayeni, who sings Juju and pop music, said she knew about the other partner, but he told her he ‘did not love her any more’. She told officers: ‘I would call him “baby” because he was my baby. I would also call him my “husband”.

‘He’s intelligent, loving, caring, he buys me lots of things. Why would he do this to himself? Wally told me not to give anyone the news that we were getting married in April because everyone would go on about it.’

The court heard how the doctor, who also had two other children to two other women, had been off sick from work since December 2011, suffering from high blood pressure and vertigo.

The inquest was also told he had called Miss Ayeni on the day he died to tell her he loved her – and even discussed a wedding photographer with Miss Hammond on the morning he killed himself.

Recording a verdict of suicide, assistant deputy coroner Gail Elliman, said: ‘I am satisfied Dr Ojagbemi took his own life. I won’t go into any speculation about the reasons for doing so.’

CAF Footballer Of The Year: Victor Moses, 2 Other Nigerians Make Nomination List

The Norminations for 2012 CAF footballer on the year is out and 3 Nigerian Stars made it to the list. Below is a full list of the norminees.

1.Abdelaziz Barrada – Getafe (Spain) and Morocco
2.Adel Taarabt – Queens Park Rangers (England) and Morocco
3.Alain Sibiri Traore – Lorient (France) and Burkina Faso
4.Alexander Song – Barcelona (Spain) and Cameroon
5.Andre ‘Dede’ Ayew – Marseille (France) and Ghana
6.Arouna Kone – Wigan (England) and Ivory Coast
7.Aymen Abdennour – Toulouse (France) and Tunisia
8.Bakaye Traore – AC Milan (Italy) and Mali
9.Cheick Tiote – Newcastle United (England) and Ivory Coast
10.Christopher Katongo – Henan Construction (China) and Zambia
11.Demba Ba – Newcastle United (England) and Senegal
12.Didier Drogba – Shanghai Shenhua (China) and Ivory Coast
13.Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu – Udinese (Italy) and Ghana
14.Emmanuel Mayuka – Southampton (England) and Zambia
15.Foxi Kethevoama – FC Astana (Kazakhstan) and Central African Republic
16.Gervinho – Arsenal (England) and Ivory Coast
17.Hilaire Momi – Le Mans (France) and Central African Republic
18.John Obi Mikel – Chelsea (England) and Nigeria
19.John Utaka – Montpellier (France) and Nigeria
20.Kwadwo Asamoah – Juventus (Italy) and Ghana
21.Moussa Sow – Fenerbahce (Turkey) and Senegal
22.Nicolas N’koulou – Marseille (France) and Cameroon
23.Papiss Demba Cisse – Newcastle United (England) and Senegal
24.Pape Moussa Konate – FC Krasnodar (Russia) and Senegal
25.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – St Etienne (France) and Gabon
26.Rainford Kalaba – TP Mazembe (DR Congo) and Zambia
27.Seydou Doumbia – CSKA Moscow (Russia) and Ivory Coast
28.Seydou Keita – Dalian Aerbin (China) and Mali
29.Sofiane Feghouli – Valencia (Spain) and Algeria
30.Stoppila Sunzu – TP Mazembe (DR Congo) and Zambia
31.Victor Moses – Chelsea (England) and Nigeria
32.Yaya Toure – Manchester City (England) and Ivory Coast
33.Younes Belhanda – Montpellier (France) and Morocco
34.Youssef Msakni – Esperance (Tunisia) and Tunisia

Police Consolidates Charges Against Cynthia’s Killers

THE Police yesterday filed consolidated charges at the Yaba Magistrate Court against seven men implicated in the murder of Cynthia Osokogu, who was killed in Lagos on July 22, this year.
The suspects- Okwumo Echezona Nwabufo (33); Ejike Ilechukwu Olisaeloka (23); Orji Osita (32); and Maduakor Chukwunonso (25) were jointly arraigned.
Gideon Okechukwu (39) was also arraigned separately, while Ezike Nonso Ifechukwu (22) and Ezeaka Chinonso (27) were jointly charged for allegedly buying a white Blackberry Bold-5 mobile phone belonging to the late Cynthia.
In the consolidated charge, all the suspects, in the order of their names listed above, are facing eleven-count charge.
By this development, the suit number has now changed to TA/52A/2012. Count one to nine of the new suit was preferred against the first to nine defendants, while the 10th and 11th count charges are leveled against the sixth and seventh defendants.
After the consolidation, the new charges were read to them and they admitted understanding them. They did not, however, take any plea.
Thereafter, Counsels on both sides engaged themselves in barrage of arguments over procedural issues and the need to allow those on bail to continue to enjoy their freedom.
But the trial Magistrate, Mr. Olalekan Aka-Bashorun, ordered that all the defendants be remanded in prison and adjourned to November 5, this year pending the advice of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution in the matter.
He enjoined the police to ensure that by the adjourned date, the DPP would have commented on the need to commence trial on any of the suspects.
Apart from Ifechukwu and Chinonso, allegedly involved in buying the stolen handset and were charged for unlawful possession of stolen item, the rest were charged with conspiracy, murder, armed robbery, rap, “unlawful administration of obnoxious substance” and “forceful administration of obnoxious substance” with a view to causing bodily harm, punishable under Sections 221, 231, 237, 241, 258, 295 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Gov. Ahmed, Maigari to Cheer Flying Eagles

The Executive Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed and president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari will be at the Ilorin Township Stadium tomorrow to cheer the Flying Eagles to victory over the Amajitas of South Africa.

The match is the return leg of the second round qualifiers for the 2013 Africa U-20 Championship to be staged in Algeria.

The first leg between the two countries ended 1-1 in the South African city of Nelspruit two weeks ago.

Maigari, who is just returning from Azerbaijan, where he had gone to cheer the U-17 Women Team, Flamingos at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, is scheduled to fly into the Kwara State capital this morning for the important match.

Meanwhile, officials of the Kwara State Government have also confirmed that the Executive Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, will attend the match as Special Guest of Honour.

“I have confidence in the Flying Eagles and I have no doubt that they will prevail over the South Africans in order to qualify for Algeria 2013,” Maigari said

Midfield ace Abduljeleel Ajagun scored Nigeria’s equalizer in the first leg after the South Africans scored early in the game at the Mbombela World Cup Stadium.

Ajagun also scored the opener in the 2-1 defeat of Tanzania at the Ilorin Township Stadium in the earlier round and will lead the line against the Amajita.

Delta Flood: Power Plant Submerged As Traditional Ruler, 5 Others Die

At least five people, including two children and a traditional ruler, have died as a result of continued massive flooding that has ravaged parts of Delta State in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta. In addition, the floods have submerged a multi-billion naira Okpai Independent Power Plant (IPP). Large parts of Ndokwa East local government area are also under water.


The still rising flood has affected parts of Asaba, the state capital, as well as such communities as Ovrode, Ofagbe, Okpe- Isoko, Lagos Iyede, Igeh, Ikpide Irri, Ivrogno, Onogboko, Itebioge, Iyede-Ame, and Azagba. Other flooded areas include Otoka-Ekegbresi, Egbeme, Okrama-Oyede, WarriIrri, IwrieOgbokor, Ekpe, Asafo, Umeh, Aviara, Uzere, Asaba-Ase, Aboh,Kwale, and Ashaka. Isoko South and North and Ndokwa East local government areas are the most devastated.
Greenwich News learnt that the Okpai IPP was shut down, with the road leading to Okpai in impassable condition.

In Aboh community, the flooding led to the death of a local monarch and two children. Three other persons reportedly lost their lives at the relief camp in Ivrogbo, Isoko South council area. Survivors of the flood were then relocated to St. Michael’s College  in  Oleh, the headquarters of the local government area.

The flood wreaked havoc on farms, schools, courts, health centers, markets and electricity installations. People now use canoes as the only means of getting about in the flooded communities.

In an interview, Obi Emmanuel Obiechina, a leader of the Aika community in Ndokwa East local government area, said his residence was submerged by the flood. In addition, he stated that the lives of members of his community were shattered, with most of them refugees in various communities in Delta and Anambra States. Mr. Obiechina had taken refuge in a hotel in Asaba.

The traditional ruler said that he refused to send his people to camps for displaced people set up by the state government because those in the camps were being dehumanized. He blamed the excessive flooding on dereliction of duty by the government. “We have lived in that community for more than 500 years and we have not had this kind of disaster before. It’s the opening of the dams that have now brought this flooding on us. We are so devastated and everything that the Aika people have – land, crops, houses – have been washed away.”

He said the government had failed to address issues of dams and the dredging of the Niger and Benue rivers. He added that it was wrong to blame Cameroon for the crisis, adding that Nigerian officials had failed to do what was right all these years.

Mr. Obiechina accused the Federal Government of insensitivity to the plight of his people, adding that, whilst the entire Ndokwa East was under water, government officials were amassing wealth for themselves.

The ruler said some evacuees from his community were forced to live under harsh conditions. “Some of the little children find it difficult to cope because about 17 to 20 people have to squat in one small apartment,” he said, and then called on the government to take immediate measures to alleviate the suffering.

Speaking in the same vein, the National President of Ndokwa Youth Congress, Hessington Chimennma Okolo, said that the loss of human lives to the flooding was largely avoidable.

“It is unfortunate, really unfortunate that the entire local government is submerged under water and government at all levels are running helter skelter without any coherent plan on the ground to salvage the sad situation,” said Mr. Okolo, a lawyer.

He added: “To underscore the extent of this tragedy, the Agip-run IPP had to be closed down. This shows you what my people are going through.”

He disclosed that the traditional ruler of Adiai did not survive the flood.

“The most unfortunate of it all is that this is not a natural disaster per se but a man-made tragedy. There were warnings, yet the relevant authorities kept mute. This tragedy is mostly as a result of government negligence and irresponsibility. I hear there was a warning on radio and television but the question is – how many people in the villages along the River Niger really listen to radio and television? What the government should have done was to dispatch their emergency staff to the river areas to have a one-on-one with the communities. Instead they stayed in Abuja doing jingles on television and radio.”

Meanwhile, Ossai Ossai, the member representing Ndokwa/Ukuanni Federal Constituency in the House of Representative, has moved a motion in the House calling on the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to live up to its responsibility.

As at the time of filling this report most of these communities have not received any support from government authorities.

Meanwhile, a health official told Greenwich News that there was a real prospect of an outbreak of disease among displaced residents who depend on the flood water as their only source of drinking water. “There could be a major health crisis in the area,” said the source, who asked for anonymity.

Armed men machete man, son to death in Maiduguri

A man and one of his sons were hacked to death in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Thursday evening.
The man, whom residents identified as Daniel Lassa, was killed when suspected members of the insurgent group, Boko Haram, attacked him in his house located at Dikwa low-cost housing area of Maiduguri. Two of his sons were also attacked, with one of them killed in the process.
The second son is currently at the Intensive Care Unit of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital where he is being treated.
A nurse at the hospital told reporters that the survivor is in a dire condition, after surgery was carried out on him for several hours.
Residents of the area said that before he was killed, Mr. Lassa had been getting threat calls from his killers asking for money.

The Maiduguri fear

Though largely unreported by the mainstream media, Greenwich News learnt that several residents of Maiduguri have received calls and instructions from Boko Haram members, and directed to give money to the group.
“Many residents, out of fear pay this money,” a resident, who did not want his name in print for security reasons, said.
The Joint Task Force in Maiduguri had, in August, warned residents to stop giving money and materials, out of fear, to the Boko Haram.

An unyielding Mr. Lassa

Sources close to the deceased say he refused the demand by his Boko Haram callers for money.
“He reported the matter to the police and even stored their number on his phone as Boko Haram 1, Boko Haram 2, and Boko Haram 3,” a resident close to the deceased said.
Greenwich News learnt that the deceased, a Christian nurse at El-Kanemi football club of Maiduguri, complained to several friends about the threat calls. A source said the suspected killers then called Mr. Lassa when they heard that the football club had paid its staff arrears owed them.
“That may have been the reason they attacked him, because he refused to give them the money,” the source said.
The assailants attacked, to kill, the three people they met at home with machete and other weapons.  Mr. Lassa’s wife, a staff of the College of Fisheries, Baga, escaped as she was still at work when the attackers arrived, a neighbour said.
Efforts to get the reaction of security operatives on the story were unsuccessful. Both the JTF and the police spokespersons declined to pick their calls when contacted.  Text messages sent were also not responded to.
Maiduguri is a major base of operations for the dreaded Boko Haram.

3 UNIPORT students burnt alive for allegedly stealing phones and laptops

Three University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) students in their EARLY 20s, were today, burnt alive by Aluu Villagers in Rivers state, for allegedly stealing phones and laptops in an off-campus hostel of the University.

The Locals decided to take the law into their hands, as some said that it will be a waste of time calling the Police. On arresting the unarmed students, they brutalised them, before the traditional ritual of putting tire on their neck and setting them ablaze.

A crime is a Crime, but is these phones and Laptops enough for these young men’s lives to be wasted in this manner?

6 Intending Islamic Pilgrims Pregnant

Six intending female pilgrims from Gombe State who are found to be pregnant, may not perform this year’s hajj to Saudi Arabia. Dr. Yau Kashere, the Head, Medical Team of the 2012 Hajj Operation in the state, made the disclosure in an interview in Gombe on Thursday. He said that the team detected six pregnant women during the screening of intending female Muslim pilgrims. Kashere said that 656 of the 1,100 intending women pilgrims from the state had been screened so far.

Court upholds Abacha’s sentence

A Geneva court has confirmed the sentence handed down to the son of former Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha for belonging to a criminal organisation linked to looted assets charges.

Abba Abacha’s lawyers say their absent client will appeal.

On Thursday the Geneva Police Court rejected a medical excuse put forward by Abacha’s lawyers which they claim explained his absence from the long-awaited retrial.

“His absence is unjustified and he never asked to be represented by his lawyers,” the judge declared.

This absence meant opposition to his one-year suspended prison sentence for belonging to a criminal organisation handed down by the same court in summer 2010 was “deemed withdrawn”, the judge concluded.

During the hearing, Abacha’s lawyers presented a medical certificate from a Geneva doctor who had travelled to Nigeria to examine him, which stated that he was still unable to travel to Geneva. Abacha injured his back during a road accident in Nigeria several days before the retrial was due to open in July this year.

But based on separate independent medical conclusions, the judge declared Abacha had a minor injury and could have easily managed the air flight three months after his accident. Prosecutor Dario Zanni accused Abacha of “playing for time”.

Abacha did not appear before the court during the original 2010 hearing as he failed to get a visa in time.

The case was heard in his absence and he received a one-year suspended sentence. However, in March 2011 an appeal court quashed the verdict and ordered a retrial. It found that Abacha’s rights had been “seriously violated” because the case had been heard in his absence. The Swiss Federal Court backed the appeal court’s decision which led to Thursday’s retrial.

As part of the family structure set up by his father, 43-year-old Abacha was found guilty of helping to plunder the Nigerian treasury while Sani Abacha was in power in the 1990s.

The court ordered the confiscation of the sum – thought to be over $400 million (N100 billion) – which Abba Abacha stashed in the Bahamas and Luxembourg.

The Abacha clan is thought to have diverted a total of about $5 billion from the Nigerian treasury.

Romney Floors Obama in first Presidential Debate

Republican presidential hopeful, Mitt Romney, on Wednesday night trounced incumbent President Barack Obama of the Democratic Party in the first of the three presidential debates.

A CNN poll of 430 registered voters said 67 per cent of respondents believe Romney won the debate, compared to only 25 per cent who said Obama came out on top.

Also, a CBS poll of more than 500 undecided voters showed 46 per cent believe Romney won the debate, 22 per cent believe Obama won, and 32 per cent say they tied.

According to the Nielsen TV ratings service about 40 million people watched the televised debate.

The 90-minute debate at the University of Denver, Colorado, saw Romney keeping focus on jobs and the sorry state of the US economy and Obama forced to defend his record.

Romney took an aggressive stand from the start of the debate, questioning the president’s record on the economy, the deficit and health care, while articulating his own plans to revive the country out of the greatest economic downturn since the 1930s.

President Obama appeared subdued, occasionally asking moderator Jim Lehrer, of US public television network PBS, for time to finish his points, the BBC reports.

Romney appeared practiced and at ease while Obama’s answers appeared slow, cautious and shaky. On the economy, Obama described his rival’s approach as “top-down economics” and a retread of Bush-era policies.

“If you think by closing (tax) loopholes and deductions for the well-to-do, somehow you will not end up picking up the tab, then Governor Romney’s plan may work for you,” he said.

“But I think math, common sense, and our history shows us that’s not a recipe for job growth.”

Romney, however, derided Obama’s policies as “trickle-down government”.

He said, “The president has a view very similar to the one he had when he ran for office four years ago, that spending more, taxing more, regulating more – if you will, trickle-down government – would work. That’s not the right answer for America.”

On healthcare, Romney said that Obama’s “Obamacare” reform law of 2010 had increased health costs and kept small businesses from hiring.

Meanwhile, Obama, said his plan had kept insurance companies from denying coverage to sick people.

At the debate, Romney kept on reminding voters of their economic woes and blamed Obama’s policies for contribution to slow job growth, increasing poverty and home foreclosures and further questioned Obama’s economic competence.

Obama had his moments, like on Romney’s tax plans, but he lost the debate on style, and failed to even highlight issues thought to be Romney’s Achilles’ heel such as Romney’s business record at Bain Capital, the “47 per cent” video and his refusal to release more income tax returns.

While giving his closing remarks, Obama said he wants to expand the accomplishments of his first four years in the White House. He said he will work for change just as hard in a second term as he did in his first.

Romney, who had the last word in the nationally televised debate, said re-electing the president would mean more hardship for the American middle class.

Speaking in Denver after the debate, Obama accused Romney of being dishonest. He urged his rival to tell the “truth” about his own policies.

Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod said, “Romney came to give a performance and he gave a good performance and we will give him credit for that. The problem with it is that none of it was rooted in fact.”

Romney campaign spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg responded to the accusations of dishonesty by saying the Obama camp “offered no defence of the president’s first term record or vision for a second term, and instead, offered nothing but false attacks, petulant statements, and lies about Romney’s record.”

With the two more presidential debates and a vice-presidential debate scheduled in quick succession in the final weeks before the November 6 election, Obama could yet return to putting a negative twist on his attacks against Romney.

Mikel Obi floats record label

Chelsea and Nigerian midfielder, John Obi Mikel has made foray into music with the setting up of a label named Matured Money Minds.

The label has since kicked off operations with four acts including Jason ‘Kido’ Igho, brother of the winner of the 2011 edition of the reality TV show, Big Brother Africa, Karen Igho.

Karen wrote on Twitter on Thursday, ‘Mikel Obi signed my brother @callme_KIDO to his record label’.



With the help of his younger brother Patrick Obi, the 25-year-old football star has set up his Matured Money Minds (MMM) entertainment label.
Mikel who has a relationship with P-Square, is hoping to take music promotions in Nigeria to another level.

“Mikel had always showed his love for music. Setting up a label is just a confirmation of his desire to contribute to the growth of the industry in Nigeria,” said a source.

The artists on the label have reportedly cut their albums and full promotions are in the pipeline to promote and make then rub shoulders with the biggest artistes in the music industry in Nigeria.

Bakassi: FG set to Appeal ICJ Judgment

President Goodluck Jonathan has finally bowed to the preponderance of opinion to challenge the October 2002 judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that made Nigeria cede the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun.

The president’s rethink of Nigeria’s position on the issue, Greenwich News gathered Thursday, stemmed from the discovery of new evidence that was not made available to the ICJ during the litigation between the two countries on the ownership of the peninsula.

The president, after a five-hour meeting that began on Wednesday night with major stakeholders in the Bakassi saga, announced Thursday the setting up of a committee to review the judgment.

The setting up of the committee signalled the preparedness of Nigeria to challenge the ICJ judgment. Nigeria has till October 10 to appeal the ICJ judgment, failing which the case cannot be revisited.

Jonathan’s decision came about a week after the National Assembly called on him to appeal the ruling that Bakassi belonged to Cameroun.

Although members of the committee were not named, Greenwich News learnt that the membership comprises four members each from the executive and legislative arms of government.

Members of the committee, who have till the end of today to submit their report, are expected to look at the new evidence on Bakassi and make recommendations on how Nigeria could go about recovering the oil-rich peninsula.

Greenwich News learnt that at the Wednesday night’s meeting, attended by the leaderships of the two chambers of the National Assembly, Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), the participants were briefed on the new evidence which could assist Nigeria pursue its appeal in line with Article 61 of the ICJ Statute.

Others at the crucial meeting were the Director General of the National Boundary Commission, Dr. Muhammad Ahmad; Chairman of Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mr. Elias Mbam; all members of the National Assembly from Cross River State; some leaders and representatives of selected groups from the disputed area; and presidential aides.

Article 61, sub-sections 1, 4 and 5, which stipulate the conditions under which a review could be sought, reads: “An application for revision of a judgment may be made only when it is based upon the discovery of some facts of such a nature as to be a decisive factor, which fact was, when the judgment was given, unknown to the Court and also to the party claiming revision, always provided that such ignorance was not due to negligence.

“The application for revision must be made at latest within six months of the discovery of the new fact.

“No application for revision may be made after the lapse of ten years from the date of the judgment.”

Presidency sources revealed that the government was mindful of the short time it has to lodge the appeal at the ICJ and that was why the committee was given a short time to submit its report.

On whether the president was now more amenable to appealing the judgment, a presidency official close to the meeting said he was, adding “Given the preponderance of opinion on Bakassi, the president is disposed to making a case for a review of the judgment.”

Also acknowledging the decision to appeal the ICJ 2002 ruling, a member of the National Assembly, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the move by the government to review the judgment.

The legislator said that as a responsive and responsible parliament, the National Assembly had taken a decisive action in respect of the Bakassi Peninsula.

“The president has directed the Attorney General of the Federation to file an application for a review of the ICJ judgment on Bakassi Peninsula.

“Even with the ICJ judgment, we have refused to ratify the Green Tree Agreement in line with Section 12 of the constitution because we are not convinced that Bakassi should go,” he said.

Also, a presidency official said the first priority was for the Federal Government to submit a review before the five-day deadline and explore diplomatic channels on the issue.

“Let us put in the review first and then use diplomatic channels to pursue the recovery of Bakassi,” he said.

He added that there were concerns nonetheless: “Our concern, however, are the citizens, that is, Nigerians in the peninsula who have been badly treated by Cameroonian gendarmes. Of course, there are security implications also.
“Under Section 61 of the ICJ Statute, it allows for a request for review or interpretation if new facts are discovered on the case.”

Providing some insight into the fresh evidence on which Nigeria will be hinging its case as she seeks for a review of the ICJ judgment, the presidency source said these included the information provided by Justice Benjamin Njemanze on the maps and documents during the colonial era, which might have not been presented during the original case.

He added that the fact that the Anglo-German Treaty of 1913, a crucial document that helped swing the ICJ verdict in Cameroon’s favour, was never signed because of the deterioration in diplomatic ties between Britain and Germany. This arose from the First World War, which was looming then.

Pre-independence Nigeria was ruled by the British colonial administration, while most of Southern Cameroun was ruled by Germany.

However, the presidency source explained that because of the growing tensions between the countries in 1913, in the run up to World War I, the treaty ceding the peninsula to Cameroon was never signed.

Also, he said Nigeria would be putting before the ICJ a book authored by the German ambassador at the time who confirmed that the 1913 Anglo-German Treaty was never signed, thus lacking the force of a legal document.
Besides, Nigeria will also advance the argument of Cameroun’s non-compliance with the Green Tree Agreement (GTA), the official disclosed.

For instance, while the GTA provided for joint administration of the peninsula by Nigeria and Cameroon, after the transfer, Cameroon has single-handedly run the peninsula after it was ceded to it in 2008.

One of those who attended the Wednesday meeting, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN), who was on the ICJ panel of judges that decided on the Bakassi case, told State House reporters that the Federal Government had shown a genuine concern for the Bakassi people.

He also commended the moves to follow the rule of law, dialogue and diplomacy in ensuring that the people are not wrongly deprived of their homeland.

Imoke also said the president has shown great leadership qualities by convening the meeting and standing firm on some of the decisions taken.

The governor, who did not disclose the composition of the committee, said it would work within a specified time.

Also speaking, Senate President David Mark said the executive arm of government and the lawmakers were now on the same page on the Bakassi issue and would work together to achieve results.

However, Greenwich News gathered that there are officials in the executive who do not believe that the Federal Government has a good case to make the court return Bakassi to Nigeria.

Sources said it was better for Nigeria to continue to abide by the judgment of the ICJ rather than bow to pressure to seek a review that might not succeed.

A source said that the Federal Government had sought and obtained legal opinions from experts and that the consensus was that an application for a review would not succeed.

“Nigeria is a respected member of the comity of nations and as such should abide by the judgment of ICJ," the source added.

He also stated that there was no new evidence upon which an application for a review of the judgment could be based.

“Except people want government to seek a review just for review sake, there is no fresh facts to go with," he added.

When contacted on how serious the government was about revisiting the Bakassi issue, Adoke declined to comment.

Meanwhile, the Lagos League of Political Parties (LLPP) has described as a positive development the government’s decision to revisit the Bakassi issue.

The group in a statement urged the committee to expeditiously complete its assignment to enable Nigeria to meet the deadline for the submission of a review of the judgment.

10 Things Guys Wish Women Knew About Men

1. Men would rather feel unloved than inadequate and disrespected.

Husbands need to know that their wives respect them both privately and publicly. Men thrive when they know that their wives trust them, admire them and believe in them. Shaunti Feldhahn’s research indicated that men would rather sense the loss of loving feelings from their wives than to be disrespected by them.

2. A man’s anger is often a response to feeling disrespected by his wife.

When a husband becomes angry with his wife, he may not come out and say, “You’re disrespecting me!” But, there is a good likelihood that he is feeling stung by something his wife has done which he considers disrespectful and humiliating.

3. Men are insecure.

Men are afraid that they aren’t cutting it in life –  not just at work, but at home, in their role as a husband. They may never vocalize this, but inwardly, they are secretly vulnerable. The antidote? Affirmation. To men, affirmation from their wives is everything! If they don’t receive this affirmation from their wives, they’ll seek it elsewhere. When they receive regular and genuine affirmation from their wives (not flattery, by the way), they become much more secure and confident in all areas of their lives.

4. Men feel the burden of being the provider for their family.

Intellectually, it doesn’t matter how much or little a man makes, or whether or not his wife makes more or less money in her career. Men simply bear the emotional burden of providing for their family. It’s not a burden they’ve chosen to bear. Men are simply wired with this burden. As such, it is never far from their minds and can result in the feeling of being trapped. While wives cannot release their husbands from this burden, they can relieve it through a healthy dose of appreciation, encouragement and support.

5. Men want more sex.

Everyone’s natural response to this is probably, “Duh!” But, that response is probably for the wrong reason. We primarily assume that men want more sex with their wives due to their physical wiring (their “needs”). But, surprisingly, Shaunti Feldhahn’s research showed that the reason men want more sex is because of their strong need to be desired by their wives. Men simply need to be wanted. Regular, fulfilling sex is critical to a man’s sense of feeling loved and desired.

6. Sex means more than sex.

When men feel their wives desire them sexually, it has a profound effect on the rest of their lives. It gives them an increasing sense of confidence and well-being that carries over into every other area of his life. The flipside of this coin also carries a profoundly negative affect. When a husband feels rejected sexually, he not only feels his wife is rejecting him physically, but that she is somehow rejecting his life as a husband, provider and man. This is why making sex a priority in marriage is so incredibly important!

7. Men struggle with visual temptation.

This means the vast majority of men respond to visual images when it comes to women. And, this doesn’t just mean the guys with wandering eyes. Even the most godly husband cannot avoid noticing a woman who dresses in a way that draws attention to her body. Even if it is just a glance, these visual images are stored away in the male brain as a sort of “visual rolodex”; that will reappear without any warning. Men can choose whether to dwell on these images and memories or dismiss them, but they can’t control when these images appear.

8. Men enjoy romance, but doubt their skills to be romantic.

True, many men appear to be unromantic clods, but it doesn’t mean that they want to be that way! Men want to be romantic, but they just doubt their ability to pull it off. They are plagued by internal hesitations, perceiving the risk of humiliation and failure as too high. Wives can do a great deal to increase their husbands’ confidence in their romantic skills through encouragement and redefining what romance looks like. For example, a wife may balk when her husband asks her to go along to the hardware store, but it’s likely that he’s asking because he sees it as a time they can get away as a couple and hang out together. What’s not romantic about that?

9. Men care about their wife’s appearance.

This isn’t saying that all men want their wives to look like the latest supermodel. What men really want is to know that their wives are making an effort to take care of themselves (and not letting themselves go) because it matters to them (the husbands!). Husbands appreciate the efforts their wives make to maintain their attractiveness.

10. Men want their wives to know how much they love them.

This was the number one response of men. Men aren’t confident in their ability to express this, but they love their wives dearly. Men want to show how much they love their wives and long for them to understand this fact.

Police college finds robbery suspect among recruits

Nigeria Police College, Kaduna on Thursday said it found a robbery suspect among recruit constables undergoing training in the college.

The Commandant of the college, Alhaji Sanusi Rufai, told newsmen in Kaduna that the suspect was named by suspected members of his gang after they were arrested by the police in Abuja, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

The commandant said details of the suspect’s identity were forwarded to the college, which withdrew, arrested and transferred him  to the appropriate police unit for investigation.

Rufai said the suspect was among 25 recruits the college disqualified for various inadequacies identified during training.

The commandant said some of the students were found to have presented  forged school results and others had criminal records, “while some were withdrawn based on health grounds.”

He added, “Some of the recruits have sight or hearing challenges, while a few others did not attend the schools whose certificates they presented.”

Rufai said the college would continue to screen unfit persons out to ensure that only those with good knowledge and character were allowed to train as policemen and women.

More than 4,000 recruit constables are currently undergoing a 15-month basic training at the college.

France beat Flamingoes in Penalty Shoot Out

The first penalty shootout of Azerbaijann 2012 saw Marion Romanelli strike the winning spot-kick for France as they beat Nigeria Flamingoes  to reach the semi-finals after a 0-0 draw as the African side fell at the quarter-final stage for the second tournament running.

Ghoutia Karchouni almost punished the Flamingos early on when they fell asleep during a short corner, but Gift Andy saved her curling shot. Aminat Yakubu then reminded France that they must stay on their toes, bursting down the right to cross, but it was well cut out.

A touch of brilliance almost brought Cousin the opener, her neat touch nutmegging Victoria Adelomon, but she could only fire straight at Andy. Griedge Mbock Bathy then missed a free header at the back post from Lea Declercq’s corner with Andy stranded.

Nigeria looked dangerous on the break but France were controlling possession and the play. Kadidiatou Diani was next to test Andy, with the No9’s header from Declercq’s cross sending her sprawling to her right.

It was Nigeria in fact who had the ball in the net first, with their No9 Yakubu heading between Romane Bruneau’s legs, but Chinwendu Ihezuo had long been flagged offside.

Ihezuo was gifted a golden chance on the stroke of half-time though. The prolific forward latched onto Mbock Bathy’s weak back-pass but Bruneau stood tall and saved well.

The pendulum swung marginally in Nigeria’s favour after the break, withholding possession much better, though chances remained scarce.

Declercq eventually jarred what had become a stagnant game back into life, charging into the Nigerian area and crashing a fierce drive off the underside of the bar. It was then cleared, but her corner found the head Mbock Bathy who headed narrowly wide for a second time.

The night took a turn against Nigeria when captain Adielomon received only the second red card of the tournament for her second yellow of the night. Her stand-in Halimatu Ayinde almost snatched the game on 84 minutes though, but she slid her shot into the side-netting when baring down on Bruneau’s goal.

With time up, Sandie Toletti, Ugochi Emenayo and Declercq exchanged efforts before Sarah Nnodim put horribly wide. It fell to Romanelli to tuck home the winner.

Jonathan appoints new CDS, two service chiefs

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has appointed two new service chiefs and Chief of Defence Staff.
The appointments were announced on Thursday afternoon by presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati.
The new CDS is Vice Admiral O.S. Ibrahim from Kwara State.
The new Chief of Air Staff is Air Vice Marshall A.S. Badeh from Adamawa State while the Chief of Naval Staff is Rear Admiral D.J. Ezeoba from Delta State.
The incumbent Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. O.A. Ihejirika, from Abia State, retains his position.
Jonathan, according to the statement by Abati, thanked the outgoing service chiefs for their meritorious and commendable service to the nation and wished them well in their future endeavours.

BREAKING NEWS: Explosion rocks Jalingo

Reports reaching us say there has been an explosion in an area of Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, North-Eastern Nigeria.
The blast occurred in a part of the town called Gindin Doruwa, along Abubakar Barde road, an area known for trade in locally brewed beer, Burukutu.
Witnesses said at least two people died in the blast while several others sustained injuries.
The State’s House of Assembly had earlier in the day impeached the deputy governor of the state for improper conduct.

Police recover Maryam Abacha’s N20 million stolen jewellery

The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Wednesday said that the police have recovered stolen jewellery worth N20 million belonging to Maryam Abacha, wife to Nigeria’s former military Head of State.

Mr Idris said that one of the suspects who bought some of the jewellery was arrested and his arrest led to the discovery of the remaining items.

The case of the stolen jewellery is before a court in Kano and one of Mrs Abacha’s domestic staff is being accused of stealing the jewellery.

The police commissioner said that the jewellery were now in custody of the police as investigation into the matter continued.

Bill to ban public officer’s children from studying abroad passes second reading

A bill which seeks to prevent children of public office holders from schooling abroad has passed second reading in the Senate.

The bill, if passed, will restrict children of public office holders from schooling abroad except for specialized courses not offered in any of the country’s educational institutions.

The sponsor of the bill, Senator Mohammed Basheer (PDP Kano) said the country’s education sector is confronted with serious challenges and it has become important for the Senate to adopt drastic measures to rescue the ailing educational system.

The bill was among three bills which passed second reading in the Senate on Thursday without being debated.

Another bill which seeks to compel the executive arm of government to implement resolutions passed by the National Assembly, also passed second reading.

BREAKING: Motel Used as Brothel Bombed in Zaria

A lone bomber has hit a brothel-Cosmopolitan Hotel-on Uche Road, Sabo Garin area in Zaria, police sources told newsmen. The bomber escaped after attacking the motel.

Sources said that Nigerian troops have been deployed to the scene in search of the suspect.
Seven persons were reportedly injured in the attack.

Why we introduced Chinese language in public schools – Fashola

Governor Babatunde Fashola has justified the reason for the introduction of Chinese Language into Lagos State public schools’ syllabus, saying “it is an economic decision from the government.”

Fashola who spoke at the third edition of the youth stakeholders’ forum and the graduation of over 900 trainees under the Lagos Ignite Enterprise Employability Project III, held at the 10 Degrees Event Centre at Oregun, Ikeja, added that it would enhance the commercial skills of the pupils who will be the next generation of businessmen in the state.

He said that the decision was taken to prosper the country’s economy especially Lagos State, adding; “it was also based on the inroads that China is making in the global economy through industrialisation.

According to him, “It is an economic decision. And the debate is now in the public domain. The China Economy is ranked among the first five economies today. They have started doing business in Nigeria and many African countries.

“And there is need for us to understand that if we must engage countries with such economic potentials, we must learn their language urgently, if they (Chinese) can learn our local language with ease,” Fashola added.

He said in Lagos for example, Government often finds it difficult to get Nigerians who can act as interpreters even at contract vetting sessions which often leave the state with the choice of employing Chinese to act as interpreters of documents prepared by the Chinese.

The Governor, however, said that learning Mandarin as the Chinese language is called, is not compulsory but optional for the pupils.

Fashola noted that in the past, “our parents learnt Latin before it became a dying language in the country. And when they discovered that the French economy has great potentials and possibilities, they began to learn their language and abandoned Latin. This was made easier with the influx of French companies in the country.”

On whether it would affect pupils from speaking the local language, the governor explained; “The responsibility for teaching local language lies at home. Parents should speak their mother tongue to their children. Leave them, when they get to school they will learn how to speak English.

He lamented the attitude of parents in the state, saying “we have become too English that we do not speak our local languages at home anymore. This is the internal change and internal value.”

BAKASSI: Boundary law places Peninsula in Nigeria

Prof Walter Ofonagoro in this segment argues that the Law No.126 of 1954, placed Bakassi in Nigeria, and not in Cameroon, at independence. This shows that Rio del Rey has remained the Boundary since 1893.

THE BOUNDARY LAW No. 126 of 1954.  Let us return briefly to the Boundary law No. 126 of 1954. That law referred to the Southern Boundary of Eastern Nigeria as the “Sea”.
There is, therefore, no doubt that the Sea referred to in that boundary law was the Sea at the South shore of Bakassi Peninsula. The border is on the Western bank of the Rio Del Rey, and that entire Western bank is the Ports limit.

That law is still in force. What this means in effect, is that Britain never passed on any Bakassi inheritance to the Cameroons. Britain had simply returned Bakassi to its original owners before leaving Nigeria.

Consequently, Nigeria is the one with the title to Bakassi. Therefore, under the principle of the inviolability of inherited Colonial boundaries declared by the OAU Resolution AHG/Res. 16 (1) of the Organization of African Unity, in Cairo, Egypt, on July 21, 1964, the Uti Possidetis, Ubi Possidetis, so far as the Rio Del Rey boundary is concerned, belongs to Nigeria. Definition of the “Sea” as the Southern Border of Eastern Region of Nigeria, in the Constitution of the Federation of Nigeria, 1960; and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1963.

We have noted that the Boundaries Definition Law No.126 of 1954, defined the southern boundary of the Eastern Region of Nigeria as “the Sea”. Article 134 (6) of the Constitution of the Federation of Nigeria, 1960, states that “the continental shelf of the Region shall be deemed part of that Region.”

This same provision is repeated in Article 140 (6) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1963. At independence, Nigeria was a true federation, and Law No. 126 of 1954 defined the territories of the Federation of Nigeria, in terms of the territories of its component units.

The only territory belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria under the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions as defined by the Boundaries Definition Law No.126 of 1954, was the Federal Capital Territory of Lagos. Thus, the continental shelf of Eastern Nigeria, in 1960, included the land under the seas off-shore Bakassi Peninsula.

That was why the Eastern Region, and after 1967, its successor littoral states of south-eastern Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Bayelsa, have continued to enjoy off-shore oil derivation revenues from the Federal Government. This constitutional confirmation, makes Bakassi part of the territory of the Eastern Region, and part of the territory of Cross River State, because the east end boundary of Eastern Nigeria at the Rio del Rey is right on the Bakassi Peninsula.

Thus, clearly, the Law No.126 of 1954, placed Bakassi in Nigeria, and not in Cameroon, at independence. This shows that Rio del Rey has remained the Boundary since 1893.

In a recent advertisement in The Punch Newspaper of August 3, 2012, the Government of Cross River stated, in connection with the matter of the 76 oil wells dispute with Akwa Ibom State: “The dispute over the 76 oil wells is simple.

The territory and oil wells have always been in Cross River State as part of Bakassi, Akpabuyo and Calabar South Local Government Areas. Because Bakassi has been handed over to Cameroon, Akwa Ibom State now wants to take over this portion of Cross River State which did not go to Cameroon”.

The Nigerian Supreme Court, without waiting for parliamentary ratification of the Agreements, on the basis of which the ICJ made its controversial ruling, has already implemented it by ruling that Cross River State is no longer a Littoral State.

The significant point here is that the Federal Government signed into international law, the Ngo/Coker line of demarcation of sea frontiers between Nigeria and Cameroon, since June 1, 1975, and the Yaoundé I and II Declarations of August 14, 1970 and April 4, I971, ignoring the Nigerian International Border which we inherited at independence, which had been there since 1893, and allowed Cameroon to be drilling Nigerian oil, even at the cost of destroying the old Calabar River Navigable Channel since 1971.

Calabar river navigable channel

What this means is that Nigeria has been maintaining two international boundaries since 1970-75, the one, at Rio Del Rey is the legal one. It is inviolable, and therefore not nullifiable, by an established principle of international law. The other is, the Ngo/Coker line, drawn and signed by General Gowon himself, on the advice of his Director of Surveys, at the Yaoundé meeting, where he reached an agreement with his Cameroonian counterpart, Alhaji Ahmadu Ahidjo, who also signed.

Some scholars, both Cameroonian and Nigerian have stated that during their one-on-one meeting in April 1971, President Ahidjo asked his surveyor to produce a map, and stop arguing, and turned to his Nigerian guest, and asked him to indicate the spot on the map where the Thalweg of the Akwa Yafe River should start, to draw out the three mile line which should indicate where the maritime demarcation should begin. Surveyor Coker pointed to a spot and General Gowon drew the line.

It turned out not to be the center of the navigable channel of the Akwa Yafe River, which the Treaty of March 11, 1913 stated, must be wholly to the East of the Navigable Channels of the Cross River and Calabar River:

“The line that General Gowon drew, on the advice of Chief Coker, was not the Navigable Channel of the Akwa Yafe River, instead, it ran into a ridge, and cut across the Navigable Channels of the Cross and Calabar Rivers, which the British had intended, (with German agreement), to be completely on the Nigerian side, west of Akwa Yafe channel”.

Drawn out to its nautical limit of 18 miles, it gave away to Cameroon a huge area of the seas off-shore Cross River State, and brought Cameroonian oil drilling platforms right into the navigable channel of the Calabar River, since April 1971. What did Nigeria do?

She went right in there and sank her own drilling rigs. In 1972, the Nigerian Ports Authority was instructed by Commodore Wey, to dredge a new Navigable Channel for Calabar Port, this time, more to the West of the old one.

The only problem is that the new one is dangerously close to the Ibeno Springs, a whirlpool area, in the Sea, close to the Ibeno shore, which has been pronounced a hazard to shipping. Every Head of State, including General Gowon, has rejected and denounced that line, and that includes General Muritala Mohammed, General Obasanjo (1977), President Shagari, President Babangida, and General Abacha.

The Supreme Military Council refused to ratify it in 1971 and 1975, but because it had been signed, Nigeria was caught! It was on that line, trickishly extorted from General Gowon by Alhaji Ahidjo that the World Court decision has been based. It was not drawn as stipulated in Article 21 of the “dead” Agreement of March 11, 1913, “due wholly East of the Calabar and Cross River Navigable channels”.

Instead, it was drawn West across the two channels of Calabar and Cross River. It destroyed them both for the purposes of Marine Navigation. Can the Ngo/Coker line be therefore said to have been established as stipulated in Article 21 of the Treaty of March 11, 1913? Certainly not.

INEC Is Broke. We can't pay staff. - Jega

The leadership of the electoral commission disclosed this to members of the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters who visited the commission’s  headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

Acting Chairman of INEC, Dr Abdulkadir Sulaiman, who represented Prof. Jega said “if we don’t do anything about it on time, we may not be able to pay salary by next month’’.

Following this development, the chairman called on the legislators to quickly intervene and save the situation, else the commission’s aspiration of conducting the 2015 general election in line with international best practice will be a mirage.

He also told the legislators led by the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon Jerry Manwe that the lack of fund has drastically slowed the pace of work on all the capital projects being currently executed by the electoral umpire.

Dr Sulaiman, explained that out of the N35 billion earmarked for the commission in this year’s budget, only N10 billion was released to it in March this year which was meant for the first quarter.

Honourable Jerry Manwe, has immediately summoned that the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Minister of Finance to appear before the house to explain why the 2012 budgetary allocation of INEC is yet to be assessed by the commission at the last quarter of the year.

Will Kill Any Victim That Resists Kidnap - Suspects

Suspected nine-man armed bandits recently arrested in Lagos for alleged kidnapping within and outside the metropolis have confessed to have killed some of their victims, among them a United State based Nigerian business man, identified as Odidi Nweze. The victim was allegedly killed in front of Oxpharm Specialties Limited in Lagos.

The suspects were identified as Kelvin Emenike, gang leader, Uche Igbani aka Rasta, Chibuzo Osuagwu, Olixer Nwalozie, Emenike Ovasi, Onyebuichi Anaekw and Ngozi Onowu. They were paraded yesterday before news men at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja by the state’s police commissioner Umar Manko, Emenike, 33, stated that it was one of their rules to kill any of their victims who struggled with them during the kidnap. “I shot Odidi Nweze dead because he attempted to disarm us when we ran into him at Satellite town. After we killed him, we also collected the sum of N1.5m from his family members as ransom,” Emenike.

BAKASSI: FG to consider appeal as Jonathan summons emergency meeting today

LETTERS OF CREDENCE—President Goodluck Jonathan (right), receiving letters of credence from the Jamaican Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs Ann Scott, while the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, looks on in Abuja, yesterday

Indications emerged yesterday that Nigeria might call for a review of the International Court of Justice, ICJ,  ruling of October 10, 2002, which ceded the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula, to Cameroun.

The deadline for Nigeria to appeal the ruling expires on October 9, 2012, which is Tuesday next week.

Eminent Nigerians have spoken in favour of Nigeria’s appeal against the ruling, arguing that there was nothing wrong in doing so, at least, to put it on record that it took steps to quash the judgment, as stipulated in Article 61 of the ICJ law.

Greenwich News gathered that following mounting pressure from within and outside the country, President Goodluck Jonathan had decided to appeal the ruling, which he had earlier described as closed.

As a prelude to taking steps to review the ruling, President Jonathan is said to have summoned top government officials to what a source described as ‘a crucial meeting’ today to discuss the best way of going about it.
The source, who did not want to be named because he had not been authorised to speak on the matter, said the meeting, which would be presided over by President Jonathan, would review the new information said to have been put at the disposal of the government after the ICJ judgment.

Legal team

The meeting, it was learnt, would also consider a crack legal team to handle the appeal for Nigeria following the criticism that has attended the team that represented the country during the 2002 hearing.

Among those said to have been invited to the emergency meeting are; the Senate President, David Mark, House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke and  Chairmen of the National Assembly Committees on Special Duties, Judiciary and Foreign Affairs.

Others are the Director General of the National Boundary Commission, Chairman of Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission and all members of the National Assembly from Cross River State.

It was also gathered that the Presidency had mandated the Senate and House of Representatives leadership to invite relevant committees of the National Assembly to the meeting, which is slated for 9pm today.

Last week, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution mandating the President to appeal against the ICJ ruling ceding Bakassi to Cameroun because of the new facts that had emerged over the matter.

The motion that gave rise to the resolution was sponsored by Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, who argued that it would be wrong for Nigeria not to appeal the judgment, as there was still a window of opportunity for Nigeria to do so before October 9.

The resolution reads in part, “The Senate accordingly urges the Federal Government to invoke Article 61 of the ICJ status to appeal the said judgment in the interest of Nigerians in the affected areas, including Bakassi.”

Senate wants FG to appeal ruling

Senate President, who presided over the plenary said, “I think appeal is a line of action that should not be neglected because that is legal, since Nigeria subjected itself to the court. “If that is what is available through the court, we should also utilise it. I think that is the most appropriate thing to do at this point in time.

“We urge the Federal Government to go on appeal, we on our part will revisit the letters and see what we can do, may be to quickly come up with a debate on the letters and then resend it to buttress our points and resolution that was arrived at today.

“Part of what the President said at the UN and I think the man is right, and I think he infers that to mean that we have obeyed the International Court to this point but we still do not accept the judgment.”

Mark added that Nigeria was obeying the ruling does not mean it accepted it, because there is a lot of pressure at home.”

New facts

Ningi argued that emerging new facts had shown that the judgment was erroneously based on the agreement between the British authorities and the Calabar Chiefs in 1884, adding that there has never been a precedent in history where any case of this nature was executed without a referendum as enshrined by the United Nations.

He said: “The lack of faithful implementation of the Green Tree Agreement signed by both countries violates the basis for the implementation of the court judgment.”

Bakassi natives protest

Last week, natives of Bakassi Peninsula stormed Abuja with what they called ‘fresh and incontrovertible evidence’ to assist the Federal Government in reclaiming Bakassi but could not submit to any government officials.

The Coordinator of the ‘Save Bakassi Group’ in the FCT, Mr. Solomon Inameti, told newsmen in an interview that they were ready to assist the Federal Government with fresh evidence that was not available at the time of the judgment to be able to move forward with a review.

Inameti said, “We have 100 new information and we are ready to give to the Nigerian Government to use and approach the ICJ and conveniently pursue this case to a logical conclusion.

“To the best of our knowledge, the evidence is concrete enough to secure us victory at the ICJ and the Federal Government can take us for our words.

“We went out of our way to secure this vital information that was not there before to assist the Federal Government because we believe that it is in our own interest to continue to remain in Nigeria.

“Let us make it categorically clear that no matter what happens we will not accept Cameroun as our own country. Subjugating us to Cameroun would not only be humiliating but dehumanizing to us and our generations yet unborn.

“Anyone who thinks that we the people of Bakassi can come under Cameroun is wasting time because that will not work. We are ready to go to the United Nations and seek a referendum on where we want to be and how we should be administered.

“If the Federal Government does not want us we will approach the UN at the end of October 10, 2012 to seek the way forward for ourselves and our respective communities in Bakassi,” Inameti said.

A historian, who is very familiar with the Bakassi history, Mr. Emmanuel Doh, said the AGF had no reason to hesitate in approaching the ICJ for the immediate review of the 2002 judgment given the weight of evidence now at his disposal.

Doh pointed out that Cameroun even committed a serious blunder by the way and manner it adjusted the boundary between it and Southern Cameroon encompassing Bakassi, after the African Union had asked all countries to respect their boundaries with other nations.

Doh said Cameroun’s  fraudulent boundary  adjustment coupled with numerous actions, which the UN and the ICJ were not aware of at the time of the ruling in 2002, were enough to swing judgment in Nigeria’s favour, if a review was sought.

Mubi Massacre: Soldiers search house-to-house for suspects

Soldiers moved house to house on Wednesday in an urgent bid to hunt down attackers responsible for the massacre of 26 people who were shot or had their throats slit in a student housing area.

The attack in the early hours of Tuesday near a polytechnic university shook the town of Mubi, located in Nigeria’s volatile northeast.

“The military is going house to house searching,” said Abubakar Ahmed, head of the Red Cross in Adamawa state, where Mubi is located.

Motives for the gruesome attack remained unclear. In Mubi last week, the military carried out a high-profile raid against Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, which has been waging a deadly insurgency.

But some officials suggested the massacre may have been linked to a recent student election.

According to a police spokesman, the attackers knew their victims and called them out by name in a student housing area off-campus of Federal Polytechnic Mubi. Victims were shot or had their throats slit, he said.

The town had already been under a 3:00 pm to 6:00 am curfew in the wake of last week’s raid, and it remained in place on Wednesday.

The suggestion that the killings were linked to the student election raised questions over how and why the dispute would have turned so violent.

There were suggestions of ethnic tensions between the mainly Muslim Hausas and predominately Christian Igbos involved in the vote.

At the same time, Boko Haram has continually widened its targets and its attacks have become increasingly sophisticated.

Nigerian officials have been seeking to show success in the fight against Boko Haram with a number of raids and arrests. There had been a lull in major attacks in recent weeks.

The Islamist extremists have been blamed for more than 1,400 deaths since 2010 as part of their insurgency in northern and central Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and largest oil producer roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominately Christian south.

PHOTO: Flood Ravages Makurdi, Benue State

MUBI MASSACRE: Police Confirm 25 Killed, Residents Insist figure Is Higher

The Adamawa State Police Command has confirmed that 25 people were killed when gunmen attacked a residential area in Mubi, Adamawa State, on Monday night.
The police spokesman, Ibrahim Mohammed, said 19 of the 25 killed were students of the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi.
Despite the statement of the police spokesman, residents of the area insist that at least 46 bodied were recovered after the attack.
An official in the Information and Protocol Unit of the Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Mohammed Dalai, however stated that 26 students of the institution were among those killed in the attacks.
He said heavy gunshots were heard in the area between 10 and 11.00p.m.
A source at the polytechnic said six of the students killed were final year students waiting who were only waiting to defend their final projects before graduation.
Another Mubi resident, who didn’t want his name published, said over 40 male bodies were counted in the Wuro- Fatuji area, while scores of others who sustained various injuries were taken to the hospital.
“Sporadic fire, resulting from the attacks kept residents of Mubi awake all night, heightening the already pensive security situation in the area,” the resident said.
The gunmen attacked Wuro-fatuji, a residential area mainly occupied by students.
Many of the victims are believed to be male students of Federal Polytechnic, Mubi; Adamawa State University; and School of Health Technology.
Residents say they suspect that members of the dreaded insurgent group, Boko Haram, carried out the attack.
This attack comes barely a week after 156 suspected members of the Boko Haram sect were arrested in Mubi following a man-hunt on insurgents by the security operatives. The raid was carried out during a 24- hour curfew imposed on Mubi, for four days, by the Adamawa State Government.
The attack also comes a day after the Boko-Haram released a video threatening to carry more attacks.

Navy gets new camouflage uniform

The Nigerian Navy yesterday in Abuja introduced an operational camouflage uniform for its personnel for internal security duties.
Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahin, said during the launching held at the naval headquarters that the new camouflage was introduced due to the daily involvement of the navy in internal security operations.

He said the introduction of the camouflage became operationally expedient, adding that while the other uniform, blue rig, will continue to be used for formal sea cruse and certain fatigue duties ashore, “the camouflage uniform is for special operations and exercises both at the sea and ashore.”

Accoutrements for the new camouflage including rank insignia were designed by an indigenous company, El-Jahab limited.

Launching the uniform, the Minister of State for Defence, Mrs Olusola Obada, said the navy at inception in 1956 adopted the uniforms and accessories of the Royal Navy with some modification to suit "our peculiar climate and operational environment".

Gunmen Kill 3 Persons In Tafawa Balewa LGA In Bauchi State

Three persons were last shot to death in Zul, Tafawa Balewa local government area of Bauchi State, by unknown men.

The chairman of the local government, Dr. Iliyasu Aliyu, has confirmed the killings.
The incident created tension in the area, and armed soldiers and police immediately rushed in to avoid total breakdown of law and order in the area.

The three: one woman and two men, were allegedly killed by the unknown gunmen in a reprisal attack.  Following the violence, the local government and security agencies suspended about three weekly markets in the troubled local government area.

Dr. Aliyu said it had become imperative to suspend the weekly markets since it has become a lightning rod for violence in the area.

Update On The Mubi Shooting: Fed Poly, Mubi Closed Down Indefinitely

At least 20 students have been shot dead by unknown gunmen in Mubi, Adamawa state.

A witness who did not want his name published said that the attack happened on Monday night, between the hours of 10 and 11 at a student hostel away from the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi campus.

Although there has been no official comment, a lecturer who also did not want his name in print claimed that more than 40 students had been killed.

According to the lecturer, the students were rounded up, made to line up and then asked for their names. Some were killed, others were spared. It is not clear why some were spared, and some of those killed were Muslims.

According to him, most people are now staying indoors, while those leaving town are mostly students.

Only a few days ago, the Joint Task Force had conducted a major operation against insurgents in the town, killing a major Boko Haram figure, and arresting more than a hundred.

Update: Emergency workers said they have mobilised several agencies to the area to carry out search and rescue operations.

Update: The Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Adamawa State has been closed down indefinitely.

As of the moment, the school has not issued a formal statement to the press, a source said that examinations which were meant to have started today have also been suspended indefinitely.