Police Shoot Sales Girl Dead, Injure 3 Others

A 20-year old sales girl identified simply as Lucy, was on Friday shot dead by policemen in the Apo area of Abuja.

The girl was hit in the chest by bullets fired into a photography shop where she worked as a sales girl.

Three other people sustained gunshot injuries when policemen from the FCT Police Command fired bullets indiscriminately in an attempt to enforce the demolition order of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council.

The policemen had stormed the area around 7 am with officials of Development Control Department, who had come to demolish illegal structures.

But residents and indigenes, who felt that the government had no right to demolish their houses when they were yet to be resettled, resisted the operation.

They claimed that the case was still in court and that their leaders had advised them to continue to live in the area pending the determination of the suit.

Greenwich News gathered that as the policemen shot indiscriminately to control the residents, bullets penetrated into one of the shops and Lucy was hit in the chest. She was rushed to Garki Hospital, but she was confirmed dead on arrival. Her body has been deposited in the mortuary.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu, met the House of Representatives representing AMAC/Bwari constituency of the FCT, Zephaniah Jisalo, at the hospital when he visited.

Inalegwu, who was in tears, assured the lawmaker that the case would be investigated.

“We are not sure what took our men there or what led to the shooting, it’s still a matter for investigation,” he said.

Emeka Ani, owner of the photo shop, where the deceased worked, said that his sales boy also sustained gunshot injuries during the incident.

He said, “From morning, the police surrounded our area. They said they came for demolition. All of a sudden, they started shooting sporadically. They shot into my shop and killed my sales girl. My boy also sustained injuries. Lucy has been with me for about one month. Her sister brought her for me from Cross River.”

The National Coordinator, Greater Gbyagi Initiative, Mr. Gimba Baiza, described the incident as wicked.

Messi Gears Argentina in a 3-0 defeat of Uruguay

Lionel Messi guided Argentina past a tough Uruguay side in the final half hour with two brilliant goals for a 3-0 win on Friday that keeps them top of South America's World Cup qualifiers.

Argentina lead the nine-nation South American group with 17 points from eight matches at the halfway stage. Colombia and Ecuador are one point behind, Uruguay and Chile five behind, reports Supersport.com.

Messi created and finished his first goal in the 66th minute, playing the ball to Angel Di Maria and racing through to tap the rebound past Fernando Muslera.

Argentina went two up nine minutes later with another move on the left, Messi again feeding Di Maria who returned the ball with his first touch where Sergio Aguero touched it into the net.

The third goal in the 80th minute came from a cheeky free kick by Messi, who deceived the Uruguay wall by sliding the ball underneath them and inside the base of the near post when they jumped expecting a shot to one of the upper corners.

It was sweet revenge for Messi, who has now scored 12 goals in his last seven internationals, and Argentina after they were eliminated by Uruguay on penalties in the 2011 Copa America and which the 2010 World Cup semi-finalists went on to win.

"Great match by the players," Argentina's coach Alejandro Sabella told reporters pitchside. "Against an experienced team who for good reason finished fourth at the (2010) World Cup."

Argentina enjoyed far more possession and territory than Uruguay in the first half but could not find a way through a well organised defence and when they did, they were caught offside.

Uruguay were a latent threat on the counter-attack with forwards of the calibre of Edinson Cavani, Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan.

Messi created a good chance for himself with a dribbling run past several defenders towards the end of the first half in Mendoza but his final, left-footed shot went over the top and hit the far stanchion.

He was also close with a free kick from the left which would have gone in if Muslera had not punched the ball over.

There was fighting among players from both sides early in the second half when Uruguay captain Diego Lugano chased a loose ball with Sergio Romero and stamped on the Argentina goalkeeper's hand as he went for it, earning a booking.

Messi's first goal came during a spell of total Argentine dominance but soon after there was a scare for Argentina with defender Pablo Zabaleta clearing off the line.

It was an expensive outing for the Uruguayans with Lugano, who came off injured, and fellow central defender Diego Godin suspended for Tuesday's visit to Bolivia after both were booked.
This victory over Uraguay may be even more significant as his archrival in the World Best Football awards, Cristino Ronald failed to score in the Russian win against his counrty Portugal yesterday.

Cleric, One Other Arrested For Alleged N9m Fraud And Forgery in C-River

TWO members of the United Nigeria Chaplaincy, and an official of a non governmental organization have been arrested and handed over to the Cross River State Police Command for alleged certificate forgery, falsification of documents and embezzlement of over N9 million.
A statement by the State Security Adviser, Mr. Rekpene Bassey gave the names of the two persons as Chaplain Sunday Enimuel and Rev. Mercy Felix Effiom who allegedly were factional state commandants of the United Nigeria Chaplaincy in the state.
The two who were allegedly disclaimed by the main body of UNC in the state for grossed misconduct which was also published in a national newspaper allegedly collected huge sums of money from about 300 unsuspected innocent people in the state.
According to the statement, “The two commandants were handed over to the police by the State Security Adviser, Mr. Rekpene Bassey. This follows series of petitions from members of the public who claimed that they paid over N30, 000 each to both suspects in order to gain job recruitment into the organization.”
It further stated that their being handed over to the police was as a result of serious offences they had allegedly committed which included embezzlement and sundry criminal activities and that the government had proscribed UNC in the state.
Reacting to the development, the Regional Commandant of UNC, Bishop Richard Eyamba said that the two arrested persons had long been expelled and that there was a disclaimer of the duo published in a national daily as a result of their suspected criminal activities.
He disclosed that the two arrested  persons had been partners in the crime and latter engaged in power tuzzle after their expulsion and had even went ahead to float a parallel group that was not recognized with its office at IBB way, while the main recognized UNC in the state has its office at No. 1 Marry Slessor Avenue, Calabar.
He said that the duo were kicked out of the organization when they allegedly started extorting money from the people and were reported to the police where two of them were arrested and afterwards released on bail.
“After their release, they started formenting  trouble in UNC and even threatened to urge the government to close UNC unless they were returned to office. After that, the two broke away and started operating at IBB Way, by Mounting of Fire Church and started recruiting people.
“They printed their own fake forms and were circulating them, we reported them to the Department of Security Service who carried out investigation and saw it was true.

AfricaMagic To Unveil Money Drop

AfricaMagic is poised to kick off the Nigerian version of the popular international game show, The Money Drop.

The managing director of M-net, Mrs. Biola Alabi, said the format of the series was simple but captivating. In each episode, two contestants will start off with a $100, 000 cash. Just eight questions stand between them and their money. But one wrong move and all that cash could disappear through a trapdoor.

Alabi looks forward to the upcoming series.  She says, “Anytime you put together the elements of risk, reward, cash and emotion, the outcome is going to be exciting and dramatic television. So, get set for great entertainment with The Money Drop. It’s a unique game show because this time round you start with the money and then play to keep it!

“We are very proud to be screening an all-Nigerian version of this series and believe that it will go a long way to keep our audiences engaged with our glamorous AfricaMagic Entertainment channel, which is already the home to Tinsel, Jacob’s Cross, 53 Extra, StarGist, Isidingo, Generations and so much more.”

PHOTO: FCT Authorities Demolish Over 300 Houses

Lawyer is Shocked As Judge Hands Dallas Woman a 99 Year Sentence for Gluing Her 2-Year-Old Daughter's Hands To a Wall, Beating her

Elizabeth Escalona, the Dallas mother who glued her two-year-old daughter’s hands to a wall, has been sentenced to 99 years in prison.
The 23-year-old faced anywhere from probation to life in prison for the abuse. Family members openly wept in the courtroom after the verdict was read but Escalona sat motionless, offering no visible reaction.

During closing arguments Friday, Escalona’s defense again pleaded for a light sentence. Attorney Angie N’Duka argued the mother snapped under pressure and isn’t a monster, the phrase the prosecution literally hung over her head in court Thursday.
N’Duka described her client’s difficult upbringing, saying Escalona was alone and her life was “not normal.”

After the verdict, N'Duka said she was "shocked by the judge's decision" and promised to appeal. Escalona was offered a 45-year plea deal but turned it down.
After the verdict was read, N'Duka said the mother of five asked about what would happen to her children.

Prosecutor Eren Price began her final argument with a photo of the injured two-year-old Jocelyn Cedillo, bruised and swollen at her own mother’s hands. Price told the court that Escalona was given a gift and said the picture is what she did with it.

Price, who pushed for at least 45 years in prison, said Escalona “lies to cover evil” and has not contributed one positive thing to the community.
State District Judge Larry Mitchell then recessed the court and came back with the verdict 15 minutes later. Escalona will be eligible for parole after serving 30 years.
"We are pleased with the judge's decision," Price told reporters.

Wayne Rooney may be due for another £30,000 hair surgery

He's due to captain England against San Marino tonight. And maybe the skipper would be well advised to avoid making any headers.
Wayne Rooney appeared at a post-training press conference yesterday, displaying a thatch that seemed to be showing the same vulnerability as his famed metatarsal. Inset in top photo shown here is Wayne's hair before the surgery and his improved hair in earlier in 2012.
It’s a year and a half since Rooney paid £30,000 for a hair transplant.
He had the 'follicular transfer' treatment – in which hair follicles are extracted from lush patches and reinserted where hair is thinning – at a London clinic.
He said at the time he was delighted with the result, and, in the months immediately after the operation, he boasted a relatively thick crop.
But on yesterday’s evidence there’s been some unwelcome thinning taking place.
Perhaps the Manchester United star, whose wife Coleen announced this week that she is expecting their second child, is considering a return to the clinic.
In an extract from his autobiography published last month, the 26-year-old football star explained that going bald undermined his confidence which is why he opted for the transplant.
He said, 'You don't want to lose all your hair, certainly not in your 20s anyway. So I thought about what I was going to do and started thinking, why not get a hair transplant'.
Meanwhile Mrs Rooney showed no signs of slowing down yesterday as she strolled to work on a photo shoot for the Littlewoods spring/summer 2013 collection.
The Rooneys will have little time for vanity as the coming months will be all about preparing for the new arrival.
The couple, who live in a £4 million mansion in Cheshire, already have a three-year old son called Kai, born in Liverpool in 2009.
And Mrs Rooney, who was raised a Catholic, has said she would like to follow in the footsteps of fellow footballer's wife Victoria Beckham by having a big family.
In an interview last year she said: 'I'd like to have maybe three or four children. I'd be happy to be a full-time mum'.
Earlier this week Mrs Rooney who is due to give birth next May took to the social networking site Twitter to announce the happy news.
She wrote: 'A few people guessed so news is out. Me, Wayne and Kai are thrilled that we are expecting a new addition to our family around May time'.
Mr and Mrs Rooney married in Italy in 2008 after a five year engagement. They started dating when they were sixteen years old, when Coleen was still at school.

Govt. To Close Third Mainland Bridge Sunday

The Lagos State Government has announced that Third Mainland Bridge will be closed totally to traffic on Sunday, to allow for thorough repair works on the bridge.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, while addressing stakeholders, said the move is to allow the contractor, Borini Prono, to do the concrete casting of the expansion joints currently undergoing repair works on Oworonshoki-bound section.

Opeifa explained that the concrete casting and drying process requires zero vibration, hence the diversion of vehicular traffic away from the bridge from Adeniji Adele to Oworonshoki end on Sunday.

He therefore advised motorists, especially those inward Lagos Island and Ikeja, to make use of alternative routes on Sunday, as the bridge would undergo complete diversion of traffic from 6.00 am to 12 midnight.

Opeifa, while commending the perseverance of Lagosians since the start of the repair works on the 11.8 km bridge which started on July 8, appealed to road users to bear with the government as the repair works and diversions would soon be completed.

The commissioner urged motorists coming in from the Island to follow the diversion at Adeniji Adele Interchange to connect Carter Bridge, link Iddo interchange where they could easily connect Ikeja, Ojota, Ketu, Ikorodu, Agege, Lagos Ibadan expressway, Alimosho, Oshodi, Abule Egba, among others through Eko Bridge, Herbert Macaulay Road and Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.

He added that those going to Lagos Island would be diverted at Oworonshoki to connect Ikorodu Road (via Anthony interchange) to link either Jibowu to Muritala Mohammed Way to Iddo or continue to Eko Bridge through Funsho Williams Avenue or Agege Motor Road (via Oshodi Interchange) to link Moshalasi to either Jibowu to Muritala Mohammed Way to Iddo or continue to Eko Bridge through Funsho Williams Avenue or in the alternative use Apapa-Oshodi Expressway through Mile 2 to connect Ijora then Lagos Island.

We will beat Liberia Silly, Mikel boasts

Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has said the Super Eagles  are fired up to reach South Africa 2013 and as such will thrash Liberia on Saturday at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

“The (team) spirit is high and with our form and determination we will beat Liberia silly,” Mikel was quoted as saying on MTNFootball.com

“I am not looking down on them (Liberia), but it’s a game to determine our participation in the Nations Cup and we are ready to grab it with both hands.

“I am here for the game and I am ready to do battle against Liberia. I am in good shape and form now; I will do my best to see that we beat Liberia. It is a battle we have to win; we know what is at stake and we are not taking it easy with them.”

Mikel did not feature in the first leg between both sides that ended 2-2 in Monrovia but now has the opportunity to beat the Liberians.

Greenwich News check on Thursday confirmed that the Liberians had settled into Calabar and had their first training session yesterday. All the players Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, invited are reportedly fired up and ready for the game except team captain Joseph Yobo who cropped up a knee with last weekend’s club engagement. Eagles need a simple win to qualify.

Meanwhile, Liberia coach, Kaetu Smith, believes his team can eliminate Nigeria from the race to the 2013 Africa Nations Cup just as Guinea did with the 2012 edition.

Smith, who spoke in Calabar after the Lone Star landed in the city, said the Super Eagles were still basking in old glory.

Nigeria play hosts to Liberia on Saturday in Calabar in the 2013 Nations Cup qualifying match and Smith holds no fear for their opponents who have won the African trophy twice in the past.

The former LPRC Oilers coach is unperturbed whether Nigeria will parade an all-overseas team or home-grown side at the UJ Esuene Stadium, as he and his players are determined to upset the Eagles.

“Personally, I am not afraid of the Nigerian team whether it is home-based or (overseas) professionals,” he told SuperSport.

“Nigeria aren’t like before, because they are living in the past. If Togo can qualify for the World Cup (in 2006) and Guinea could qualify at their expense last year, Liberia can do same too.”

I Can Still Work With Don Jazzy - D'banj

In a major interview post ‘Mo Hits, DB/Good Music/Mercury/IDJ artiste, Dapo Oyebanjo popularly called D’banj, sought to lay to rest various allegations and rumours being peddled about him, in an exclusive interview he granted a Lagos State based radio station, Cool FM.

The artiste, who lists Why Me as his break out song, also spoke on chances of reconciling with former partner and friend Don Jazzy. Asked if there were chances that both parties may reconcile, he said “We can always work together and Don Jazzy still produced some songs on my forthcoming album. Yes we can work together in future. Maybe a big company can pay a lot of money for us to perform and yes it has to be a lot of money for me.”

Although the separation remains fresh in the minds of the public since the break-up made public in March this year, the singer appeared to be still be nursing the wounds. He appeared overwhelmed with emotions when the interviewer referred to Don Jazzy as his friend. To this he went metaphorical saying, “What do you guys call friends, I mean I had friends for nine years and you guys saw what happened after the divorce. I lost custody of my children (signees) apart from the one I had out of wedlock.”

D’banj also said he was boss of defunct Mo Hits Record by claiming that it was his record label D’Banj (DB) Records that went into partnership with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D and not Mo’Hit.

Ever since the singer was officially signed on to West’s G.O.O.D Music label in July, he was rumoured to have joined the dreaded Iluminati Cult, which is alleged to be home to a number of American celebrities, including West. In defence, D’banj said, “I don’t know anything about the Illuminati. When I wanted to travel out of Nigeria for the first time I collected my international passport from Bishop David Oyedepo. That shows that I owe my success to God. If my success is too fast for people or they cannot understand it please don’t attribute it to illuminati. I feel very offended when that is being said because it simply translates to giving God’s glory to another person which He does not share with anyone. God will strike anyone who attributes my success to someone else.”

To the allegations of an existing relationship with Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji, he said, “I am very single, and Genevieve is my friend. I have been saying this for over a year since we shot the Fall in Love video. Can’t you people just see fine boy and fine girl in a video kissing each other and not think anyhow?”

Although the singer who released his debut album, No Long Thing in 2005, was recently featured on West’s Cruel Summer CD inlay and a couple of other singles, he has been criticised for ‘leaving his kingship in Nigeria to become a prince in America.’

Amidst laughter, Dbanj replied, “Did I change the crown? I only carried my crown to the US. People are just confused but the truth is I am still a king wherever I am. Being in a different country and culture I had to study the environment which is what I am still doing. I actually thought I would release my album in America but my label thought UK would be better because I have a bigger fan base there. I weighed my options remember everything did not come from me so I had to do what I did to move on.”

The singer, who revealed that his mother allowed him to travel to the UK in 2002 with a condition that he would spend just two months there, describes social media network as platform for idle talk.

“I am too busy for social media, please. If you people want to talk to me go to TV or radio I don’t go to social media except I have something to say. I never give out recharge cards on Twitter (laughs) even when I was with Globacom I never did that. If you want to do that why not help a charity instead.”

Gunning For The White House: Vice President Joe Biden And Republican VP Candidate, Paul Ryan Slug It Out In The Only Vice Presidential Debate

At odds early and often, Joe Biden and Republican Paul Ryan squabbled over the economy, taxes, Medicare and more Thursday night in a contentious, interruption-filled debate. "That is a bunch of malarkey," the vice president retorted after a particularly tough Ryan attack on the administration's foreign policy.
"I know you're under a lot of duress to make up for lost ground, but I think people would be better served if we don't interrupt each other," Ryan later scolded his rival, referring to Democratic pressure on Biden to make up for President Barack Obama's listless performance in last week's debate with Mitt Romney.

There was nothing listless this time as the 69-year-old Biden sat next to the 42-year old Wisconsin congressman on a stage at Centre College in Kentucky.

Nearly 90 minutes after the initial disagreement over foreign policy, the two men were still at it, clashing sharply over rival approaches to reducing federal deficits.

"The president likes to say he has a plan," said Ryan, a seven-term congressman. But in fact "he gave a speech" and never backed it up with details.

Biden conceded Republicans indeed had a plan. But he said that if enacted it would have "eviscerated all the things the middle class care about," including cutting health care programs and education.

As Biden and Ryan well knew, last week's presidential debate has fueled a Republican comeback in opinion polls.

Hail Caesar! Archaeologists Have Found The Spot Where Brutus Dealt The Deadly Blow

The death of Julius Caesar was one of the most significant moments in history, with its story often told in books, theatre and film.
But it appears the murder scene of the famous Roman emperor is now anything but glamorous - next to a well-used tourist bus and tram stop in the centre of Rome.
A team of Spanish researchers believes it has pinpointed the exact spot Caesar fell after matching the finds on a massive dig in Rome to well documented historical evidence.

Historic: A team of Spanish researchers believes it has pinpointed the exact spot Caesar fell after matching the finds on a massive dig in Rome to well documented historical evidence. This picture shows a general view of the area in downtown Rome

They say it is next to the bus and tram stop in an area of Rome known as Torre Argentina, visited by millions because of a vast archaeological dig taking place there.
At the time of Caesar's death, however, the assassination took place at the bottom of a series of steps, in a small square area just three metres wide in a building known as The Curia of Pompeii.
Caesar's death, stabbed by a rebellious group of advisors, took place on the Ides of March (the 15th) in 44BC and is one of the most famous ever scenes in history.

Mother, 16-yr-old Daughter,, Others Drown as Flood Submerges Farms in Anambra

It was black Tuesday for the people of Umudara village in Ihite community of Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State, when a 16 years old girl, Edith Afugwuobi and her mother, Mrs Afugwuobi were drowned in their submerged farm.
The deceased were said to have gone in a boat along side three others to their flood- submerged farm to recover some cassava when the boat capsized and the duo were drowned while three persons survived. Their bodies of mother and child were recovered on Wednesday by youths in the community.
Edith was said to be a student of the First Foundation Secondary School, Umudara, Ihiala while her mother in her mid fifties was a farmer.
Speaking at separate inteviews with Greenwich news, Mr Nduka Onyemuze, proprietor of the school and Hon. Basil Akaolisa said that over 10 people died during the flood, adding that only the two corpses had been recovered so far.
They said that five villages in Ihite including, Umudara, Umuezeawala, Umuduru Oru, Amaduru and Umuadika had been completely submerged by flood and appealed to both the state and federal governments to come to their rescue.
”We are appealing to government to come to our aid. Since the flood disaster in Anambra State, started, focus had been on Ogbaru, Anambra West and Anambra East Local Governments, while we have been suffering the same plight. We have no food;  no water because our water had been polluted just as we have no roads because they have been submerged”.
The people said the farmers in the area were helpless because they had lost all their crops in the submerged farmlands.
Meanwhile, one of the farmers who lost all his belongings including farms was yesterday stopped from committing suicide following the devastation.

Obasanjo In Venezuela Monitoring Elections So No One Cheats

Now is the time to ask many questions as to why Nigeria cannot have a free and fair election totally, and one of Nigeria’s strongest Ex-President is fixed in Venezuela to ensure such thing is made possible. Are we the ones having problems or Venezuela?

IRS Plane and Truck Collide at Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos

An IRS Plane yesterday morning collided with an abandoned truck parked beside the taxiway at Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos. The wing of the aircraft collided with the truck which forced the Kano-bound plane to cancel the flight. Passengers were later put in another flight.

A statement from IRS Airline below…

“This morning our flight LVB 3306 taxied out on a Lagos to Kano flight with a transit stop at Abuja. The aircraft taxied out at 7:48am with 91 passengers. While taxing on the taxi way the Captain observed a FAAN truck in a ditch. There were no marshals around it neither was there any marking to indicate that it encroached into the taxi way. There was no Notice To Air Men (NOTAM) issued to that effect as well. The captain continued on his taxi and the wing tip hit a protrusion from the truck towards the rear of the truck. This made the captain request a return to ramp from the tower and also notify the tower of the incident and the danger posed by the truck. The passengers were disembarked and accommodated in another aircraft which departed Lagos at 10:15am. The incident has been reported to Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and we await the clearance of the NCAA to effect repairs and return the aircraft to service.

No passenger or crew sustained injuries as a result of the incident.

Suicide: Mother of twins jumps into river

A few days after she was delivered of a set of twins, a Nigerian woman, Shekinat Abdurazaq, 27, committed suicide when she jumped into the Osun River in Ede, Western Nigeria.
The suicide was committed in full glare at about 3.30 p.m. on the Osun River Bridge on the Oke Gada Road.
The News Agency of Nigeria said the woman, who hailed from Ede in Osun, delivered the twins 11 days ago.
Witnesses said before Shekinat jumped into the river, she reportedly prayed and gave alms to beggars around the bridge head.
One of the witnesses, who identified himself as Selia Mojeed, said people did not know that Abdurazaq wanted to commit suicide, else they would have prevented her from doing so.
Although efforts to speak with her husband failed, it was said that the woman had no outstanding problems with her spouse, family or neighbours before the incident.
Efforts by sympathisers and passersby to rescue the woman failed as she was said to have drowned immediately.
Shortly after the incident, her husband also attempted to jump into the river. He was prevented from doing so by bystanders.
The police later whisked away the deceased’s husband and placed him under safe custody at the Police “A” Division in Ede.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Folasade Odoro, confirmed the incident.

Pastor Docked For Visa Fraud

Pastor Nwusulor Emmanuel of House of Liberation Assembly located at Canal Estate, Isolo, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, is now cooling his heels at Kirikiri prison after he was arraigned before Isolo Magistrate’s Court, Lagos for his alleged involvement in visa fraud.
The 30-year old pastor was alleged to have defrauded Joseph Ojini of the sum of N322,000 under the false pretence of procuring visa en route to Dubai to pursue his football career broad.
The Ebonyi State-born pastor allegedly promised Ojini to secure a visa to enable him pursue his football career abroad through his missionary contact abroad.
He asked the victim to pay the money in question which will cover the visa and introduction of an agent in Dubai who will eventually facilitate his getting a club.
Ojini gladly paid the money and was grateful to Pastor Emmanuel, unknown to him that he had paid for trouble.
Instead of Ojini achieving his dream, he ended up in jail in Dubai because of the fake visa he used to travel.
Greenwich news gathered that when he travelled to Dubai, the immigration authority discovered that his visa was fake and was photocopy of another person’s visa.
He was arrested and detained for illegal entering the country.
Consequently he was deported back to Nigeria.
When Ojini went to Emmanuel and narrated his experience and demanded all his money, the pastor started dodging him and did not refund the money.
When Ojini went to Isolo Police Station and reported the matter, Pastor Emmanuel was arrested and charged to court.
He was charged for obtaining under false pretence and stealing under sections 312 and 279 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.
He pleaded not guilty.
The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. A.K. Kumbeje granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
He was however remanded in prison custody in Kirikiri pending when he will meet the bail condition.
The matter was adlourned till 30 October, 2012 for mention.

Another Protest in Calabar Over Bakassi

The Cross River State governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, has stated that all hope is not lost in the fight for reclaiming the Bakassi Peninsula, saying that the state government will explore other means of addressing the injustice done to the returnees.
Imoke was speaking when some aggrieved indigenes of Bakassi Local Government Area marched on a peaceful protest to his office, carrying placards to register their grievance on the failure of the federal government to contest the International Court of Justice's, ruling which ceded the oil rich peninsular to Cameroon, despite a 10-year period of grace to contest the ruling.
Asking the crowd who earlier gathered at the Millennium Park in Calabar, the Cross River state capital, to pray and reflect on the last ten years, Imoke said that their peaceful protest was a right step in the right direction.
He maintained that, dialogue should remain the last resort to addressing this new development, urging the protesters to remain law abiding citizens and have hope in themselves.
Some of the aggrieved persons also expressed some optimism that the international community will stand by them and fight for their justice.

Woman, 48, Jailed For Dumping Day-Old Baby

A 48-year old woman has been sentenced to a six-month imprisonment for abandoning her day-old baby in the bush.
According to Police First Information Report, FIR, a complaint was received from Sarki Abubakar of Kara market, Ajasse-Ipo, that Salamatu Baba of Jimba Oja from Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State on 30 September delivered a baby boy in the bush close to the market and abandoned the baby there.
The woman was arrested a few days after and arraigned before an Ilorin magistrate’s court.
The convict, who said she has 10 children for her divorced husband and also claimed she was out of her mind to have committed the crime, pleaded guilty to the offence
Consequently, the prosecutor handling the case, Inspector Kareem Jimoh, urged the court to proceed on summary trial of the case.
The woman was sentenced, on the first count of the charge  to a six-month imprisonment, with an option of fine.
Magistrate A.A.Yahaya, who pronounced the sentence, said the convict would be arraigned on the second count of cruelty to child.
The magistrate, aside sentencing her with an option of fine, ordered the convict to take custody of the baby, breastfeed him and be reporting with the child to court at the end of every month.
The magistrate also ordered the first child of the convict, Mr. Babangida, to write an undertaking that the baby would be taken care of and would not be killed by the convict.

Standard Chartered to Invest $100m in Nigeria, Others

The Standard Chartered Bank said yesterday that it plans to invest over $100 million on 110 new branches in Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria alongside five other core markets over the next three years.

Speaking at its inaugural Africa Investor Day on the group’s aspirations for the region, Diana Layfield, Standard Chartered’s Chief Executive Officer for Africa, said the bank has set out its vision for the African franchise over the next five years against a backdrop of how far the business has travelled to date.

She said: “At $1.34billion in 2011, Africa currently accounts for 8 percent of the group’s income. Our performance has been sustained by a large number of different growth engines with a very healthy balance sheet across our major geographies.

Jonathan proposes N4.92 trillion budget for 2013

President Goodluck Jonathan presented a federal spending plan of N4.92 trillion for 2013 to a joint session of the Nation Assembly, Wednesday, announcing a relative raise of five per cent over the 2012 budget.
Under the outlay, recurrent expenditure will cost N2.41 trillion while N1.54 trillion will be spent on developmental or capital projects.

The presentation, made on Wednesday morning, was the earliest ever for National budgets since 1999. The president said the new time-line underlines his administration’s commitment to a “new Nigeria.”
When approved, the implementation of the budget will commence from January 1, 2013 against past practices where implementations spilled into successive years, the president said. Such extensions affected the execution of the 2012 budget.

The president credited his administration with a robust economic performance, with growth at the end of second quarter reaching 6.28 per cent against forecast of 5.4 per cent. Past budgets have been dogged by implementation controversies and whether the National Assembly has the powers to make new additions during appropriation.

Senate president, David Mark, said it remained clear the lawmakers reserved such powers and warned that the National Assembly will deploy more its oversight powers for the 2013 budget “never like before.”
“We do not think the constitution intended to turn the National Assembly into a mere mechanical rubber stamp that rolls robotically past budget estimates,” Mr. Mark said.

We didn't Kill Students in Mubi - Boko Haram

The insurgent group, Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnah lil Da’awati wal Jihad, also known as Boko Haram, has denied carrying out the attack that claimed the lives of dozens of people most of them students in Mubi, Adamawa State, last week.

A man who claimed to be a senior member of the group, who spoke with newsmen yesterday, said his group had nothing to do with the killing of students in Mubi.

“We have no business with students or student politics. If students are our target we would have killed them randomly on sight and in their school and not sneak on them in the creeping darkness in an area occupied by both students and residents,” he said.

He said the mode of attack is not characteristic of the sect’s numerous attacks. “Several press releases by our spokesman and Imam in the past have made it clear who our enemies are, I don’t have to repeat it here. I don’t think anybody amongst us has the time to draw up a list or read it out before executing the students,” he said.

The group’s denial throws another controversy into the likely perpetrators of the attack in which students of the Federal Polytechnic Mubi were killed on October 1.

Budget 2013: House insist on $80 oil benchmark

The House of Representatives has put aside the recommendation of the executive for a crude oil price benchmark of 75 dollars per barrel, insisting on a $80 benchmark.

The house unanimously approved the recommendation of its joint committee set up to look into the 2013-2015 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper.

The chairman of the committee on finance said the executive had painted a gloomy picture as its justification for its conservative position without giving a balanced view of the issues.

The lawmakers also approved the recommendations that the deficit of the proposed budget and internal borrowing be reduced, while retaining the N160 per dollar exchange rate.

PHOTO: Aluu Community Villagers Flee As Protests Rages Over Killing of 4 Uniport Students

The Villagers on the run

Reports say Uniport is shut down following protests

Angry students protest

Protesting Undergraduates Pelt Aregbesola, Deputy Over Bursary

OSUN State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola and his deputy; Mrs. Grace Titi-Laoye Tomori were yesterday prevented from going to their offices by the angry students in the tertiary institutions who were protesting  alleged non-payment of their bursary allowances.
The students who were in their thousands thronged the state government Secretariat, on Ibadan Expressway in Osogbo, as early as 10a.m. and barricaded all entrances leading to the Secretariat and held Aregbesola and his deputy hostage for over an hour while chanting war songs to drive home their demands.
The government, however, described the action of the students as unfortunate, saying that the present administ- ration has done enough to alleviate the suffering of the students more than any administration before it.
The Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon said the government will not be daunted by the action of the few disgruntled students who are bent in frustrating the good intention of governor Aregbesola.
Trouble started for Aregbesola at about noon while on his way to the office when the protesting students demanded that he should alight from his car and address them but their request fell on the deaf ears of the governor who pleaded with the protesters to dialogue with him in his office.
Aregbesola’s pleas for him to be allowed to enter the Secretariat did not go down well with the students who started booing the governor and his deputy and made uncomplimentary remarks about them.
However, the state Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Kalafite Adeyemi appealed to the angry students to allow Aregbesola address them in his office, but the protesters stood their ground.
Amidst the unending uproar, the students barricaded the deputy governor’s convoy and forced her to alight from her car.
She, however, trekked down backward for about five minutes for fear of being harassed by the angry protesters and joined Aregbesola, who was at a stone-throw behind her in his car.
Apparently confused by the ugly development, Aregbesola’s convoy zoomed off while the protesters continued chasing and stoning the governor.
There was panic, however, when the security men attached to Aregbesola started firing their gun-shots  spora- dically into thin air apparently to scare away the students.
The chairman, Joint Campus Committee, JCC, Olaore Naheem who spoke on behalf of the protesting students said: “We, the students of Osun State in all the tertiary institutions have not collected our bursary of N10,000 as earlier announced by Aregbesola.
“Our schools are in a state of decay but unfortunately, Aregbesola is gallivanting around with the state resources. About two years that Aregbesola regained his mandate as the governor of the state, he has remained incommunicado with the yearnings of the people of the state especially in the area of education”.
… As Senate committee hails his education policy
Members of the Senate yesterday challenged other governors of the federation to learn from the educational policies put in Osun State if indeed, they are set to put their states on the path of educational glory.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Educ- ation, Chief Uche Chukwumerijie, leading other members of the Committee on an oversight visit to the state, advised other states to drop their party affiliations and sentiments for the advancement of education in their various states.
Osun State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola had held that Nigeria will not make an appreciable progress if her focus is only on the executive arm of government.
Senator Chukwumerijie said the visit was a mark of respect and solidarity to show appreciation for the wonders and feat that the young administration of Aregbesola has achieved
In his words: “The states and the country owed Governor Aregb- esola a lot of gratitude for promptly laying a formidable foundation for education in the state. I will like to use this opportunity to advise other states irrespective of your political affiliation.
“You must drop your ego and learn from the people oriented projects and programmes of Governor Aregbesola.”
According to the lawmaker: “The gover- nor of Osun is a God-send to his people. Aregbesola, as a fresh governor, has shown that he is a serious-minded person. For the first time, the education policy of Ogbeni Aregbesola remains the best in the country, even ahead that of Lagos State.”
Responding, Governor Aregbesola urged the committee not to be afraid to tell the president that there is a problem in the educational sector, and the decadence must be arrested for sound education to prevail.

Fuel Subsidy Scam: Capital Oil boss, Ifeanyi Uba Arrested, Interrogaedt

The Special Fraud Unit, Milverton Ikoyi, has arrested  the Managing Director of Capital Oil & Gas Industries Ltd , Mr Ifeanyi Uba, over   alleged involvement of his companies in the fuel subsidy scam.
At press time, the  oil magnate who arrived the Unit  in the company of his lawyers  was still being interrogated.
His company was indicted by Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede-led 15-man presidential panel constituted by President Goodluck Jonathan to re-investigate the findings of the report of an earlier investigation panel set up by the Ministry of Finance on fuel subsidy payments valued at over N2 trillion.
But  the management of Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited  denied  that its managing director was arrested, stating that Uba voluntarily visited the Unit on a routine verification exercise on subsidy claim and returned to the office.
However, when Greenwich newsmen spoke with SFU’s Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Insitelu, at about 6.30p.m, she simply stated that Uba was still being interrogated over the oil subsidy scam. She could, however, not give detail on why it was taking the Unit long to release him.
At about 7.25pm, Greenwich news reliably gathered that the oil magnate was still being quizzed by a seven-man detective team. It was also gathered that three management staff of his company were  undergoing interrogation in another room in the anti-fraud unit.
Clad in a blue caftan with a pair of black shoes, Uba, who was in the company of his lawyer, reportedly responded to some of the questions posed to him.
It could, however, not be ascertained whether he would be allowed to go home, as sources at  the Unit said the interrogation might take long.
According to sources at the unit, “we are not done with the interrogation.  He may or may not go home today.”

PHOTO: SUICIDE: A guy jumped off 8th floor of the Federal Secretariat, Portharcourt this morning to his death.

He left no suicide note

National ID card: Registration to begin April 2013

Identity registration of Nigerian citizens will begin nationwide in April 2013, the Director-General, National Identity Management Commission, Mr. Chris Onyemenam, has said.

Onyemenam said this when the Senate Committee on Identity and National Population Commission visited the headquarters of the agency in Abuja on Monday, according to statement made available to our correspondent by the agency’s Director of Corporate Communications, Mr. Anthony Okwudiafor.

Similarly, Vice-President Namadi Sambo on Monday inaugurated a committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to midwife the streamlining of a centralised demographic database for the country.

Sambo, who is the chairman of the committee, identified its terms of reference to include the determination of the agency that had the constitutional responsibility to host the centralised database; as well as streamline efforts already being made by various agencies on the matter.

The new identity registration became necessary following the failure of an earlier exercise that was marred in a bribery scandal.

The Department of National Civic Registration that handled the exercise was subsequently proscribed and replaced with the NIMC.

Onyemenam said funds that had been released for the execution of the new national identity system in the current year had been judiciously utilised.

He emphasised that massive deployment and installation had been done at the back-end of the project at the NIMC headquarters, and at the back up site located in one of the North Central states.

Onyemenam listed some of the critical areas of the project to include maintenance/professional support, completion of ongoing renovations at all NIMC offices nationwide, awareness/enlightenment campaign, logistics supports and disengagement cost.

Others are upgrading and updating of the NIMS project, development and job completion, and the procurement and issuance of the general multi-purpose identity card.

The NIMC boss told members of the committee that part of the card personalisation devices had been deployed at the NIMC headquarters, while enrolment centres had already opened in Abuja and Lagos, and some specially designated centres such as the Central Bank of Nigeria, the National Assembly, and the Federal Secretariat, Abuja.

He said other centres used during the pilot and Prove of Concept would soon be opened permanently once they were certified, adding that NIMC was on course to meet up with the roll-out plan of April 2013.

The Chairman of the committee, Senator Maina Lawan, called on the agency to quickly and urgently deliver on the identity management system.

Maina said the committee was in NIMC on a fact finding mission and to be abreast of the activities of the commission and the implementation of the NIMS project.

He said due to the importance of the NIMS project to the development of the country, the Senate gave 100 per cent approval to the project in the 2012 budget appropriation.

Maina said with the fact finding mission, the committee would have first-hand information to guide it on appropriation to NIMC in the 2013 budget appropriation.

Jonathan to present 2013 budget to the National Assembly on Wednesday

President Goodluck Jonathan will on Oct. 10, present the 2013 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly.

The President in a letter addressed to Senate President, David Mark, on Tuesday in Abuja, which was read out to the senators, urged the National Assembly to allow him to present the budget by 10:00 am.
The letter read in part; ‘’as a follow up to my letter of Sept. 21, 2012,  I write to crave your kind indulgence to grant me the slot of 10:am on Wednesday Oct. 10, 2012.
“This is to enable me formerly address a joint session of the National Assembly on the 2013 budget.’’
Jonathan thanked the senators for their constant support and assured them of his highest esteem.
It would be recalled that the president had earlier sought the approval of the National Assembly to present the budget on Oct. 4, but the date had to be shifted.
The Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, moved a motion, which was unanimously adopted, that the senators move to the House of Representatives Chamber on Wednesday to receive the document.
The senators, however, resolved to hold plenary session by 9:am on Wednesday to enable them quickly deliberate on some issues before the budget presentation.

2 Nigerian Arrested In Saudi Arabia For Drugs, May Face The Death Penalty

Two Nigerian pilgrims have been arrested in Saudi Arabia for allegedly being in possession of banned drugs.
The pilgrims were among the thousands currently undergoing the hajj operation in Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia and comprise a male and female.
The two pilgrims could face death penalty for carrying banned drugs. In Saudi Arabia, the punishment for carrying banned drugs is death when convicted by the laws of the land.
Greenwich News gathered from a source currently undergoing the hajj operation in Saudi Arabia that the two pilgrims were from Lagos State, but the Lagos State Government said the pilgrims were from Kwara and Ekiti states. The banned drugs were said to be hidden in garri. This has made the Saudi authorities to ban carrying of foodstuff to the holy land by Nigerian pilgrims.
The Nigerian female was said to have been nabbed by vigilant Saudi security operatives at the King Abdullaziz International Airport on Thursday for being in possession of banned drugs. The other culprit was reported to have been arrested on Sunday after being found with substance suspected to be cocaine.
The names of the pilgrims could not be ascertained by our source as at press time. It was gathered that the pilgrims, if found guilty according to Saudi law,  would be executed.
Chairman, Lagos Hajj Ad-hoc Committee, Alhaji Abdullateef Abdulhakeem, confirmed that two pilgrims were arrested by the Saudi Authorities but denied that the arrested pilgrims were from Lagos, saying they were from Kwara and Ekiti States.
As a result of the development, the Lagos State Government has  barred the remaining pilgrims going  to Saudi Arabia from carrying foodstuffs.
Over 3, 000 Lagos pilgrims have so far been airlifted to Saudi Arabia out of the 3,885 pilgrims from the state, while airlifting of the pilgrims may be concluded this week.
The Lagos State Government has vowed to deal with any pilgrim who misbehaved in Saudi Arabia during next month’s hajj.  To ensure hitch-free hajj, the Lagos State Government said it had set up a special taskforce made up of officials of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, Chief Security Officer, CSO of the state and Governor’s Monitoring Team officials, among others to monitor Lagos pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and deal with erring ones.
Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Alhaji Oyinlomo Danmole said government would not tolerate any form of indiscipline from any Lagos pilgrim.
“Any pilgrim who misbehaves will be dealt with. We also have a tribunal in place to try erring pilgrims in Saudi Arabia,” he said, adding that during the last hajj, a    pilgrim who misbehaved was prosecuted after the hajj in Lagos.”
Chairman, Hajj Ad-hoc Committee, Abdulhakeem said government had adequately prepared to ensure hitch-free hajj as it had organised seminar to enlighten the intending pilgrims on the basic rules of hajj. “We have engaged the services of a separate airline to convey our pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. We will not be using the same airline with other pilgrims in the Southwest. We have also decided not to keep our pilgrims longer in Saudi Arabia after the hajj.

Bolton Wanderers Sack Coach

Wanderers have sacked manager Owen Coyle after the club suffered a poor start to their Championship (second division) campaign following their relegation from the Premier League at the end of last season.

The 46-year-old left Burnley to join Bolton in January 2010 and the Scot was dismissed on Tuesday after the Trotters won just three of their opening 10 matches to languish down in 18th place in the 24-team league.

His final game in charge ended in a 2-1 defeat at Millwall on Saturday which left the club, who were expected to immediately challenge for promotion back to the top flight, just three points above the relegation zone.

Chairman Phil Gartside said in a statement on the club’s website (www.bwfc.co.uk): “Owen poured his heart and soul into the job, both on and off the pitch, and he led our club with great dignity during some very challenging times.

“It is the right time for a change. We set a target at the beginning of the season and want to get back on track.”

Coyle, who also played for the club in the 1980s, said: “I have always been driven to act in the best interests of the club and care passionately about it.

“I had fantastic times here as a player and it has been a privilege to have held the post of manager.”

Academy manager Jimmy Phillips and head of academy coaching and development Sammy Lee would take temporary charge of the first team squad, the club said.

77 poly students dismissed over exam malpractice

The Sokoto State polytechnic has dismissed 77 students over examination malpractice. Rector of the polytechnic, Professor Bashir Garba, who confirmed this yesterday said the Academic Board of the institution approved the penalties based on the gravity of the offence. He added that 202 students had their semester cancelled while 44 others had their papers cancelled.
The rector said some of the offences committed by the students include exchange of examination booklets, entering examinational hall with notes and coping answers from fellow students. Others include rudeness to invigilators and members of the examination monitoring committee as well as non appearance before the examination malpractice committee.  He said 23 other students were discharged and acquitted.  The rector warned students of the institution to shun examination malpractice as the polytechnic would not condone such acts.

Nigeria Considers Buying Back Bakassi Instead as Deadline to Appeal Expires

AGF, Mohammed Adoke

As the deadline for Nigeria’s legal appeal over Bakassi Peninsula’s cession to Cameroon expires, Nigeria’s justice minister and attorney general, Mohammed Adoke said Nigeria might consider buying back the territory.
Residents of the disputed area along the Gulf of Guinea had been pushing for Nigeria’s government to take action as the 10-year deadline to seek a review of the October 10, 2002 ruling approached.

Adoke categorically said Nigeria will not appeal the 2002 International Court of Justice ruling ceding the potentially oil-rich Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon, bringing the long dispute to an apparent end, a statement said Tuesday.
He said an appeal would have been a waste of time and resources as no new facts had emerged in Nigeria’s favour.
“Government has therefore decided that it will not be in the national interest to apply for revision of the 2002 ICJ judgment in respect of the land and maritime boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria,”he said.
He however said Nigeria was concerned about the plight of its nationals living in Bakassi and would address allegations of rights abuses being perpetrated against them.
The government faced heavy pressure from local politicians and residents in the region of the country’s southeast, where Bakassi is located. Militants in Bakassi have also raised concerns over potential unrest.

In an interview with local television Channels early Tuesday, the traditional ruler of Bakassi, Etim Okon Edet, rejected the government’s decision not to seek a review of the ruling.
“The ICJ judgment is fraudulent. The review of the ICJ judgement was still possible. I do not see any crime in doing so. Nigeria has abandoned the people,” he said.
Cameroon took Nigeria before the ICJ in 1994 over the border dispute involving the 1,000-square-kilometre (386-square-mile) patch of Atlantic coastal swamp between the two neighbours.

The peninsula is seen as potentially oil and gas rich, and it is considered to offer a rich fishing ground.
After a drawn-out legal battle, the ICJ ruled in October 2002 that the peninsula should be given to Cameroon. It based its decision largely on a 1913 treaty between former colonial powers Britain and Germany.
Nigeria formally handed over the land to Cameroon on August 14, 2008, ending an almost 15-year-old feud between the two countries that had occasionally seen bloody clashes.

Full Texts of This Morning's Presidential Broadcast

Fellow Nigerians,

Over the past few weeks, unprecedented floods have ravaged many parts of our country, rendering tens of thousands of fellow Nigerians homeless, and causing massive destruction of property, farmlands, and infrastructure across the country.

I wish to express our deep commiseration with all those who have lost loved ones; those who have lost their property; as well as all the affected communities and institutions.

It is sad that this global phenomenon of devastating floods has come to Nigeria at this time.

I want to reassure all Nigerians that the Federal Government is prepared to do everything possible to mitigate the impact of this natural disaster.

I had earlier set up a Presidential Technical Committee to visit all affected areas with a view to properly assessing the impact of the floods.  The Committee has since submitted an interim Report.

The Report, which contained a number of recommendations, was presented to key stakeholders including the leadership of the National Assembly and Governors of the affected States.

The Technical Committee will continue to go round the country while the Vice President and I will also visit some of the affected communities. When we receive the Committee’s final Report, the Federal Government will further initiate medium and long-term measures to check future flood disasters.

In the meantime, relevant government agencies have intervened to provide relief to the affected persons in collaboration with the State governments.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has so far spent N1.314 billion to provide immediate relief materials.  The Ministry of Works has spent N556 million on the repair of collapsed bridges and the construction of bye-passes; while the Ministry of Environment has spent N95 million on sundry relief measures.

In addition to this, the Federal Government has decided on a number of measures to further ameliorate the situation.  These include the immediate provision of a total of N17.6 billion in direct financial assistance to the affected States and some Federal Government Agencies responsible for disaster management.   The States will receive a total of N13.3 billion while the Federal Agencies will receive N4.3 billion.

Based on the present assessment, the States have been categorized into four groups: A to D. All Category A States will receive N500 million each; Category B States, N400 million each; Category C States, N300 million each; and Category D States, N250 million each.

Category A States: Oyo, Kogi, Benue, Plateau, Adamawa, Delta, Bayelsa and Anambra.

Category B: Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi, Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Taraba, Cross-River, Edo, Lagos and Imo.

Category C: Kwara, Katsina, Gombe, Ogun, Ondo, Ebonyi, Abia and Rivers.

Category D: Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Yobe, Enugu, Ekiti, Osun, Akwa-Ibom, Borno and FCT.  

To further intensify their intervention activities, the following agencies of the Federal Government have also been allocated funds as follows:

Ministry of Works – N2.6 billion

National Emergency Management Agency - N1.1 billion

Ministry of Environment - N350 million

National Commission for Refugees – N150m

Technical Committee on Floods Impact Assessment - N100 million

I have also set up a National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation to assist the Federal Government to raise funds to mitigate the pains and ensure the effective post-impact rehabilitation of victims.  This Committee will be co-chaired by Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, while Dr. Mike Adenuga, Jr. will serve as the Chief Funds Mobiliser.

The full membership of the Committee will be announced immediately after this broadcast.

Fellow Nigerians, let me use this opportunity to thank State Governments, members of the National Assembly, private individuals, agencies of government, private sector institutions, NGOs, faith-based organizations, and philanthropic groups who individually and collectively have risen to the aid of persons and communities affected by the floods.

This humanitarian and compassionate spirit that has been on display in the past few weeks reassures us that, at critical moments, Nigerians are able to come together in pursuit of a common purpose.lk

My Fellow Compatriots, let me once again reassure you that this Administration remains fully committed to the welfare and well being of all Nigerians at all times.

May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

I thank you all.

Jonathan Pledges N17.6 billion to Flood Victims

President Goodluck Jonathan has pledged $110 million to mitigate the damage caused by “unprecedented” floods, in a special message to the country broadcast early Tuesday.

The flooding caused by heavy seasonal rainfall has impacted states across the country, with the Red Cross saying last week that at least 148 people have been killed and 64,000 displaced.

“Unprecedented floods have ravaged many parts of our country rendering tens of thousands of Nigerians homeless and causing massive destruction of property farmland and infrastructure,” Jonathan said in the broadcast.

He then promised 17.6 billion naira ($110 million, 85 million euros) to address the situation, with most of the funds going to the affected state governments.

He said he planned to personally visit some of the flooded areas.

The Red Cross last week issued an emergency funding appeal to procure urgently needed relief materials, including temporary shelter, also warning of the heightened risk that water-borne diseases like cholera could spread.

The rainy season in Nigeri runs roughly from March to September.

Jonathan’s office issued a statement late Monday instructing all news channels to carry the 7:00 am (0600 GMT) address.

Finally, Nigeria Concedes Bakassi to Cameroon

Ahead of President Goodluck Jonathan’s nationwide broadcast to the nation on Tuesday morning, the Federal Government on Monday night said it it had decided to comply with the judgment of the International Court of Justice awarding the disputed Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon, ending weeks of speculations that the administration might seek a review of the ruling.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, said in a statement in Abuja that the committee constituted by government and a firm of international lawyers retained by government came to the conclusion that “an application for a review is virtually bound to fail“ and that “a failed application will be diplomatically damaging to Nigeria”.
“In view of the foregoing, the Federal Government is of the informed view that with less than two days to the period when the revision will be statute barred (9th October, 2012), it would be impossible for Nigeria to satisfy the requirements of Articles 61(1) -(5) of the ICJ Statute,” Mr. Adoke said in the statement.
“Government has therefore decided that it will not be in the national interest to apply for revision of the 2002 ICJ Judgment in respect of the Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria.”
He said the government “is however concerned about the plight of Nigerians living in the Bakassi Peninsula and the allegations of human rights abuses being perpetrated against Nigerians in the Peninsula and is determined to engage Cameroon within the framework of the existing implementation mechanisms agreed to by Nigeria and Cameroon in order to protect the rights and livelihoods of Nigerians living in the Peninsula.
Nigeria, he said,  “will also not relent in seeking appropriate remedies provided by international law such as the invocation of the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ; petitioning the United Nations Human Rights Council and good offices of the United Nations Secretary General which has played pivotal role in ensuring the peaceful demarcation and delimitation of the boundary between the two countries and other confidence building measures and calls on the United Nations to continue to provide assistance to the affected populations”.
Mr. Adoke’s statement, released less than 24 hours to the deadline Nigeria had to apply for a review of the ICJ ruling, confirms earlier
  Greenwich news gathered that contrary to the hues and cry of many Nigerians including the Bakassi indigenes, the Federal Government had no intention of appealing the ICJ ruling.

The government says an application for a review of the ICJ judgment on Bakassi is bound to fail

Read full statement below.
STATEMENT BY THE HONOURABLE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, MR MOHAMMED BELLO ADOKE, SAN, CFR ON THE POSTION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA IN RESPONSE TO THE AGITATIONS    FOR THE REVIEW OF THE 2002 ICJ JUDGMENT IN RESPECT OF THE LAND AND MARITIME BOUNDARY BETWEEN CAMEROON-AND NIGERIA.
1.      It will be recalled that on 10th October 2002, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered judgment in Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria,which covers about 2000 kilometres extending from Lake Chad to the Sea. It will alsobe recalled that before the judgment was delivered, President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR of Nigeria and President Paul Biya of the Republic of Cameroon gave their respective undertaking to the international community to abide by the judgment of the Court.
2.      The commitment and undertakings given by both Heads of Government were confirmed by
the establishment of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission (CNMC) pursuant to the Joint Communiqué adopted at a Summit Meeting on 15 November 2002 in Geneva.
The CNMC is composed of the representatives of Cameroon, Nigeria and the United Nations and is chaired by the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for West Africa.
3.      The CNMC has held 29 Sessions since its inception and has peacefully, amicably and successfully:
(a)           brought Cameroon and Nigeria back to negotiation table;
(b)           supervised the handing  over of 33 ceded villages to Cameroon and 1 to Nigeria in December, 2003 and received 3 settlements and territory in Adamawa and Borno States Sectors from Cameroon in 2004;
(c)           initiated the Enugu-Abakiliki-Mamfe-Mutengene Road project as part of the confidence building measures between the two countries;
(d)           supervised peaceful withdrawal of Civil Administration, Military and Police Forces and transfer of authority in the Bakassi Peninsula by Nigeria to Cameroon in 2008 in line with the modalities contained in the Greentree Agreement signed by Cameroon and Nigeria in 2006 which the United Nations, Germany, USA, France, UK and Northern Ireland witnessed; and
(e)           commenced the emplacement of boundary beacons/pillars along the land boundary and initiated final mapping of the whole stretch of the boundary. It is instructive to note that about 1800 kilometres of the boundary have so far been assessed for Pillar Emplacement leaving only about 220 km to complete the assessment of the entire boundary.
4.      The Greentree Agreement was also signed by H. E. Paul Biya, and President President Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR, on 12 June, 2006, in Long Island, Greentree, New York, USA; reaffirming their willingness to peacefully implement the judgment of the ICJ. The Agreement contains the modalities for withdrawal and transfer of authority in the Bakassi Peninsula by Nigeria to Cameroon in pursuance of the ICJ Judgment.The Follow-Up Committee comprising representatives of Nigeria and Cameroon was established to monitor the implementation of the Agreement and settle any dispute regarding the interpretation and implementation of the Agreement. Nigeria handed over the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon in 2008.
5.      The Statute of the International Court of Justice provides that the Judgment of the Court is final and without appeal. However, following the Resolutions of both Houses of the National Assembly calling on the Executive to take steps to apply for a review of the judgment, His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR called a Stakeholders meeting comprising the leadership of the National Assembly, the Governors of Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, the Members of the National Assembly from both States, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director General, National Boundary Commission to review the situation.
6.      The Stakeholders Meeting after due deliberations constituted a Committee comprising of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Director General, National Boundary Commission and Members of the National Assembly namely: Senator Victor Ndoma Egba, SAN, CON, Hon. Dr. Ali Ahmed and Hon Nnena Ukaje to examine all the issues in contention and available options for Nigeria including, but not limited to the application for review of the ICJ Judgment, appropriate political and diplomatic solutions.
7.      Although the judgment of the ICJ is final and not subject to appeal, the ICJ Statute provides for circumstances under which its judgment can be reviewed. The relevant provisions are:
(a)           Article 61 (1) which provides that the Court can review its judgment upon the discovery of some fact 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 due not to negligence;
(b)           Article 61 (4) which stipulates that application for revision must be made at least within six months of the discovery of the new fact, and
(c)           Article 61(5), which provide that no application for revision may be made after the lapse of ten years from the date of the judgment.
8.      The implication of the above provisions of the ICJ Statute is that a case for revision of the judgment of the court can only be successful if:
(a)    the application for revision is based on the discovery of     a new fact;
(b)    the fact must have existed prior to the delivery of the        judgment;
(c)    the newly discovered fact must be of a decisive nature;   and
(d)    the party seeking revision (Nigeria) and the Court, must    not have known of the fact at the time of the delivery         of the judgment.
9.      The Committee proceeded to examine the case for revision against the requirements of Article 61 of the ICJ Statute and was constrained to observe from the oral presentations made to it by the proponents of the revision that the strict requirements of Article 61 could not be satisfied. This is because their presentation was unable to show that Nigeria has discovered a decisive fact that was unknown to her before the ICJ judgment, which is capable of swaying the Court to decide in its favour.This is more so as most of the issues canvassed in support of the case for a revision of the ICJ judgment had been canvassed and pronounced upon by the ICJ in its 2002 judgment.
10.    The Federal Government also retained a firm of international Legal Practitioners to advise on the merits and demerits of the case for revision.  The firm after considering all the materials that were placed at its disposal against the requirements of Article 61 of the ICJ Statute came to the reasoned conclusion that “an application for a review is virtually bound to fail“ and that “a failed application will be diplomatically damaging to Nigeria”.
11.    In view of the foregoing, the Federal Government is of the informed view that with less than two days to the period when the revision will be statute barred (9th October, 2012), it would be impossible for Nigeria to satisfy the requirements of Articles 61(1) -(5) of the ICJ Statute.Government has therefore decided that it will not be in the national interest to apply for revision of the 2002 ICJ Judgment in respect of the Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria.
12.    Government is however concerned about the plight of Nigerians living in the Bakassi Peninsula and the allegations of human rights abuses being perpetrated against Nigerians in the Peninsula and is determined to engage Cameroon within the framework of the existing implementation mechanisms agreed to by Nigeria and Cameroon in order to protect the rights and livelihoods of Nigerians living in the Peninsula. Nigeria will also not relent in seeking appropriate remedies provided by international law such as the invocation of the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ; Petitioning the United Nations Human Rights Council and good offices of the United Nations Secretary General which has played pivotal role in ensuring the peaceful demarcation and delimitation of the boundary between the two countries and other confidence building measures and calls on the United Nations to continue to provide assistance to the affected populations.
13.    Finally the Federal Government wishes to assure all Nigerians especially the people living in the Bakassi Peninsula of its determination to explore all avenues necessary to protect their interests including but not limited to negotiations aimed at buying back the territory, if feasible, the convening of bilateral meeting of the Heads of State and Government to ensure protection and development of the affected population.In the meantime, we call on all well meaning Nigerians in the Bakassi peninsula to be law abiding and to allow the various initiatives being undertaken by the Federal Government to bear fruitful results.