What are the police in the Diobu area of Port Harcourt doing? Why do robbers still operate under their nose unhindered? How competent is the DPO? These are questions by residents of the area.
The Diobu area in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State has been under the siege of robbers for some time now with residents living under fears as hoodlums operate without checks, traumatizing people right before the nose of a police station – the Diobu Mile 1 Division.
Recounting their ordeals, residents disclosed that Banks, media houses, business premises and living homes are under serious threats.
Men of the underworld also invaded a plaza at Benin street in the same area carting away the sum of N15million belonging to one Alhaji Liman and killing an employee in the plaza. Both the residents and victims were pounded by the robbers. This plaza was attacked twice last year.
Eyewitnesses further told us that armed men at about 2:20pm in the afternoon of October 17, 2011 also attacked the Diamond Bank along Ikwerre road (just about 4 poles to the Mile 1 Diobu Police Division and close to the Vanguard Newspaper office). They killed a mobile policeman on escort duty and one Chamberlain Ubani a staff of the company and collected about N26million from the hilux vehicle.
A Journalist with the Vanguard Newspaper, Mr. George Onah later died from the shock. Those who spoke to us said policemen at the Mile 1 Division could not respond to the intensive gunshots by the robbers. The DPO was in the office but could not quickly mobilize against the rampaging bandits. “They went under cover when the robbery was going on, only for the police to surface 30 minutes later with an armored vehicle, posing and molesting hapless citizens who were doing their legitimate business”, a resident said, regretting that women are raped daily and travelers at the Abali park harassed daily.
At the Abonnema Wharf road, close to the Silver Bird Cinema, our checks revealed that many persons have been attacked by robbers, among several harrowing experiences and the Mile 1 Division has been unable to grabble with it.
The Diobu area, residents lament, has been a flash point of robbery attacks in recent times with the police at the division always caught napping.
Our investigation confirmed that the GTB Bank on Ikwerre road was similarly attacked and the dare-devils snatched N2million from a businessman – Mr. Abubakar Garba, regretting that till this moment no arrests have been made.
What is worrisome, this medium was briefed, is that most of the robbery incidents occur in broad day light. At No 17 Gambia street, a victim Mr. Shehu Ahmed lost the sum of N3million to robbery when his home was raided.
The Divisional Police Officer in Mile 1 Diobu Division, Mr. Anthony Adeji, feelers suggest, may have lost grip and the alertness to face this litany of robbery attacks.
It is alleged that this superintendent of police who hails from Benue State may have been off-guard which the miscreants cash on to operate.
Tongues are wagging about the social life of the DPO, with questions begging for answers if the police chief relishes in alcohol and mingles with many women hence distracted from his duties.
On Monday June 18, 2012, the Nsukka Street office of the Nation Newspaper- a close neighbour to the mile 1 police station, robbers had a field day.
They raided the Newspaper office carting away N500,000 and other valuables. The sales officer Daniel Olawumi, lost his laptop, a phone and a leather bag containing vital documents. Other staff of the Newspaper house also lost valuables.
The robbery, some victims told us occurred at about 11am, when distributors, who came for payment were held at gun point.
“We were made to lie on top of each other. They searched us and made away with the day’s sales. “All the distributors and visitors to the office were robbed. They locked us inside the office and made away with the keys”.
Informed sources lamented what they described as the unserious attitude exhibited by the police at the mile 1 Division, pointing out that the Division needs a thorough overhaul if the battle against these bandits must be won.
They called on the state police commissioner to investigate the attitude of the DPO towards security. Hints suggest that some DPOs hire out police personnel to companies who pay them handsomely at the end of the month, while their area stand at the mercy of hoodlums and wondered if he belongs to such.
A security analyst Barr Chudi Okpara told us that when an environment comes under severe invasion by robbers, the clear thing to do is a mass transfer of the police chiefs there and inject fresh blood.
This, he reasoned will check indolence and compromise since due to their long stay there may have been soiled. He gave instance of the infamous robbery kingpin Lawrence Anini saga in Benin.
He called on the police high command to keep the Diobu Mile 1 division under close surveillance.
When we called the DPO of Mile 1 Division, Mr Anthony Adeji on 08037189341, he denied all the allegations, stressing that his division is doing very well, and that robbers are on the run.
In Brazil - GOODLUCK WITH HIS WIFE WITH HADEZA, GBENGA AND UCHE
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan late Tuesday in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil urged Nigeria’s political class not to sacrifice the progress and well-being of the nation on the altar of personal political ambitions.
Addressing members of the Nigerian Community in Brazil soon after his arrival for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, President Jonathan said that Nigeria will definitely make faster progress towards fulfilling its immense potentials if all Nigerians united in support of the sincere efforts of his administration to positively transform the country.
“One of the problems we have is that some Nigerians play politics with everything, but we cannot destroy our country because of personal political ambitions,” the President said while denouncing the incessant and often unjustifiable criticism of his Administration, much of which, he said, was based on lies.
“We now have a constitutional democracy and no one can stay in office forever. It will therefore be best for our nation if we all support whoever is there for the development of the country instead of trying to pull him down by all means,” President Jonathan said while responding to comments and questions by Nigerians in Brazil on the current state of affairs in Nigeria.
The President assured the gathering that the Federal Government was working very hard to overcome Nigeria’s current security challenges.
“We have challenges, but they are not insurmountable. We remain fully focused and committed to national development in spite of sponsored lies against this administration. We are ready to work together with all of our people to move the country forward. We will work even harder to place concrete realities on the ground that will further prove our sincerity and commitment to all Nigerians”, he pledged.
Thanking members of the Nigerian Community for assembling from all parts of Brazil to receive him in Rio De Janeiro, President Jonathan said that his administration will continue to count on the support of Nigerians in the Diaspora for its efforts to build a better nation.
“It is generally known and acknowledged that Nigeria has a very robust Diaspora and we will continue to explore ways of harnessing your skills and talents for the development of our fatherland,” the President said.
He informed the Nigerian Community that he will meet with the President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil on the sidelines of the Rio + 20 Summit to discuss the enhancement of bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Brazil, including the strengthening of trade and economic relations, as well as a prisoner exchange programme that could benefit Nigerians unfortunately imprisoned in the South American country.
Mr. President Arriving Brazil Yesterday Amidst Anarchy In Nigeria
The mayhem unfolding in Kaduna State may have recorded its deadliest blow yesterday as Muslim youths took their rampage to the markets located at the Northern Kaduna where Muslims are the dominant group.
Information available to 247ureports.com indicates that the Kaduna Central Market was attacked owing to the premature relaxation of the 24hour curfew across the state to a 6pm to 6am curfew. As the traders of Kaduna Central Market arrived at the gated Marketplace to unlock their various shops to beginning the business of the day at across minutes to 7am, a group of irate Muslim youths pounced into the market premises and locked the gates – and commenced/launched an attack on the traders that had arrived to unlock their shops. Many of the traders who were caught unawares ran for safety while the unlucky one who could not escape the youths – were knifed to death. Four Igbo traders believed to be Anambra in origin were brutally killed – before the security agents arrived at the markets to secure the area. As the security agents staged in Kaduna [Operation Yaki] arrived to the Kaduna Central Market, the irate Muslim youths escaped the scene. The security operative have remained tight lipped on the identities of the 4 slaughtered traders.
Similar scenario played out at the Kaduna Polytechnic – as irate Muslim youths from the vicinity of Tudun Wada took advantage of the relaxed curfew and briefly gained unfettered entry into the polytechnic campus armed with exotic knives/daggers and other dangerous weapons at about 2pm yesterday Tuesday June 19, 2012. The students were caught unawares as they scampered for their lives while others managed to fight for their lives. Before the men of the Operation Yaki could arrive to the campus, two bodies believed to be students of the polytechnic were laying lifeless near the entrance of the campus. The identities of the two dead students were not available.
The attacks by the irate youths were reported to have been isolated to the northern part of Kaduna were the dominant popular are the Muslims while Southern Kaduna where the dominant popular are the Christians remained relatively calm. The communities in the northern part of Kaduna within the vicinity of Kaduna Central Market, Tudun Wada, Kawo and Rigasa experienced violent activities yesterday. Exclusive eyewitness reports indicate that three Churches were hazed yesterday during ruckus. An ECWA church located in Tudun Wada was attacked, another church [name not known] was attacked in Tudun Nufawa and another church [JAWOM Church] was attacked in Ungwan Nua’azu. Other attempts were made by the irate youths to attack other church. But the attempts were not successful due to the quick acting vigilante security setup by some within the Christian communities who refused to run.
Security operatives, on their part, remain apprehensive over celebrating the return of calm in Kaduna State. The majority of the security operatives, according to a source within the top ranks, share a mixed feeling over the ability of the violence in Kaduna to be permanently stopped by mere fight power. “There is real anger on both sides” said the source who went on to add that “these boys are serious” as he explained the determination to get revenge at all cost against the other side. “We will need more than just firepower and curfews against this problem”.
RIO, GOODLUCK BEING WELCOME BY BRAZILIAN PROTOCOL OFFICERS
Meanwhile, in a related development, the attention of the legislative arm of the Nigerian federal government has turned towards the incessant sectarian killings in selected part of the country – that appears to have continued unabated. Accordingly, the Nigeria’s House of Representatives has summoned President Goodluck Jonathan to appear before its chambers behind closed-doors to brief lawmakers of the efforts at stopping the continued killings.
The lawmakers also summoned the president to come along with some of his aides – including, the National security Adviser General Azazi; Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Petinrin; Director of State Security Service, (SSS) Mr Ekpeyong; and the Acting Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Abubakar.
The summon came through a motion moved on the floor of the House by Yakubu Barde [PDP Kaduna] and supported by Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila [ACN Lagos].
The United Nations and South Sudanese authorities said on Friday they were investigating reports police had abducted and raped women during a disarmament program in the east of the troubled African nation.
South Sudan declared independence from Sudan a year ago under a 2005 peace agreement that ended decades of civil war. But its government has been struggling to assert control over a country still torn by ethnic tensions and awash with arms.
The United Nations said residents of the country’s Jonglei region reported police attacked women earlier this month during a push to collect weapons from the area’s fighting Lou Nuer and Murle tribes.
The announcement came after a group of aid and rights groups, including U.S.-based PACT, issued a report accusing the army and state police of beatings, harassment, killings, torture and sexual assault of civilians during the disarmament campaign.
The United Nations mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said it had received unconfirmed reports three women were abducted from Likuangole and another three from Manyabol on June 11.
“We are following up reports from (residents) that policemen are being accused of having conducted rape and abduction,” said spokesman Liam McDowall.
“We’re following up reports of quite serious outbreaks of disorder and we are supporting the South Sudanese authorities in their enquiries,” McDowall said.
The mission said two children drowned in a river when residents fled police shooting in the village of Likuangole on June 8.
Joshua Konyi, the commissioner of Jonglei’s Pibor area, said some policemen stationed there during the disarmament program took several women to Likuangole by force, adding that details were still unclear.
“Two ladies, one of 16 years and one of 13 years, were raped that night by the armed forces. We don’t know whether they are police or soldiers,” he said.
“I don’t know the details of who raped those women but according to what we heard, information we got from Likuangole, the ladies themselves said (the men) had military uniforms. I’m not sure if they were police or SPLA (army) uniform.”
“They (also) took three women from Manyabol,” he said.
South Sudan, one of the least developed countries in the world, is attempting to transform its army and police from a jigsaw of former rebel militias into regular forces.
Overwhelmed with the task of building up a state from scratch, the government has had little success in kick-starting development.
In January, South Sudan lost 98 percent of state revenues when it shut down its oil production in a row over export fees with Sudan.
“Disturbances in society are never more fearful than when those who are stirring up the trouble can use the pretext of religion to mask their true designs.” – Denis Diderot
Judging from killings here and there, bombings all over the place, it is becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate between tribal, political and religious altercations.
Yes, anyone may come out and say that the ongoing bombings and daily wastage of lives are politically motivated. Others may disagree and call it a move aimed at secession, while others will argue that it is a religion-motivated fight. The real cause of the fight should however not be based on what the sponsors of the war/fight believe but on what the people carrying out the bombings and killings believe.
The problem of Nigeria is that people who have aims of achieving political goals approach people known to be extremists when it comes to religious matters and use them. They tell them they are fighting a holy war, a war aimed at making others believe in their religion, whereas the sponsors have different reasons.
Anyone can offer solutions, tips and ways to end the Boko haram menace in Nigeria, but the solution lies in the hands of everyone. If terrorism will end in Nigeria, there is the need for a collective attempt at stopping it.
The government is the first place we have to look into. The president himself has made it clear that there are Boko haram members in his government. This is the 21st century, it’s an age where everything you say is on record, so now isn’t the time to hide behind being misquoted or misinterpreted, neither is it a time for flimsy excuses on why it was said. Now is the time to come out clean. Enough of kneeling in churches for prayers, enough of organising prayers when the solution is staring us straight in the eye, enough of shedding crocodile tears when misfortune strikes, now is the time to stop protecting terrorists at the cost of innocent citizens’ lives.
Asides the government, there is the need for religious houses to stop criticizing other religions. It is a common thing for mosques to criticize churches and churches to criticize mosques. There are times where i hear christians and muslims arguing on who’s on the true path and who’s on the wrong path. In a country where the citizens have learnt to accomodate one another’s beliefs and coexist peacefully, these arguments may be healthy, but in a country like ours where everyone wants to assert the fact that their religion is the true one and are actually willing to kill for it, arguments like that shouldn’t be expressed openly. Religious houses should pay close attention to their youths and pay even closer attentions to those who have traits of extremism and curb it when they still can. Religious houses for children(sunday schools, ile keu) should be monitored and the teachings screened by experienced leaders before teaching it to the kids. All teachings that involve religious wars and killings should be screened out to avoid breeding kids with dangerous ideologies.
On the part of the citizens, there is a saying that no one succeeds in isolation. The people who carry out the bombings live with us. But so many people believe that the work of securing our nation lies only in the hands of security operatives, but that’s not true. In a nation where the people provide everything themselves, it’s high time we woke up and realise that this Boko haram issue isn’t a joke and it will continue to thrive until we come together to stop it. Let every street organize people to watch their street 24/7 for suspicious characters. And as for those who allow themselves to be used, let us remember that we are in the age of civilization. Nobody has to force his beliefs on other, everyone has a choice and it should be respected. How many of those sponsoring these bombings would actually allow their kids to die as sucide bombers? Don’t they want their children to have the 70 virgins they say are awaiting these bombers too? Don’t they want their children to die and go to heaven too? Then why use other people’s children?
If there is to be an end to killings and wastage of lives, everyone needs to re-evaluate his/her life, everyone needs to think and stop acting on other people’s instructions without thinking. Above all, we all need to love ourselves, let’s remember that we are one, we’ve fought some battles together, we’ve won together. We fought for independence together, why kill ourselves now? Let’s remember that we are family, and if you won’t take up against your brother or sister, and if you won’t blow up your father’s house, then you have no reason to kill and maim your fellow Nigerians based on Tribal, political or religious differences.
Cairo, Egypt (CNN) — Reports conflicted Wednesday over whether the 84-year-old former president of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, was clinically dead.
The state-run Middle East News Agency, citing medical sources, said he was declared clinically dead shortly after arriving late Tuesday at a military hospital in Cairo, where he had been taken after suffering a stroke and cardiac arrest earlier in the day.
But Gen. Mamdouh Shaheen, a member of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, told CNN, “He is not clinically dead as reported, but his health is deteriorating and he is in critical condition.”
Mubarak was taken by helicopter to the military hospital in the Maadi suburb of Cairo, Shaheen said. “He had a heart attack and his heart stopped and he was saved by electric shocks, then placed on respirator,” he said. “His pulse is 40. He then got a brain clot. He is NOT clinically dead as reported but his health is deteriorating and he is in critical condition.”
And Mubarak’s lawyer, Fareed El Deeb, told CNN, “He has been in a coma for hours now. He has had water on the lungs for 10 days now and his blood pressure is down today, which obstructed his breathing and forced doctors to put him on a respirator. He was given medicine intravenously to relieve the brain clot, and electric shocks were used to revive him but there was no substantial response. He is not dead as reported.”
El Deeb added that Mubarak’s wife, Suzanne, was at his side. He blamed SCAF for not having moved Mubarak last week from the prison to the hospital.
Adel Saeed, the official spokesman of the Egyptian prosecutor, had said earlier, “We were informed by prison authority that Mubarak’s heart has stopped and they used electric shocks and CPR to resurrect him. He is now on an artificial respirator and doctors from the armed forces and International Medical Center will inspect him.”
Nile TV reported that Mubarak had suffered a stroke.
He was taken from Tora prison hospital to Maadi military hospital, El Deeb told CNN. “He has suffered a stroke, but he is not dead.”
The prosecutor and the military council denied Mubarak had been moved.
His health had been reported in decline since he was ousted as president of Egypt in February 2011 and found guilty of charges related to the killings of hundreds of anti-government demonstrators during the revolution.
Last week, an Interior Ministry spokesman said he was comatose; the spokesman said he suffered from high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats and difficulty breathing.
“We should be skeptical,” said Fouad Ajami, a senior fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution.
“There’s a great Arab expression I like and it asks the following question: When you’re told that someone is dead, you say, ‘Is he dead and buried, or just dead?’ I think we are in the middle of this kind of situation.”
“Clinically dead is not a phrase that is commonly used, but when it is used, what it usually means is that someone is brain dead,” said CNN Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen. “In the United States, we would call this person dead because they have no brain activity.”
Meanwhile, crowds jammed Tahrir Square once again on Wednesday. But their focus this time was not on Mubarak. Instead, it was on the power grab by the Egyptian military, which last week issued a constitutional decree that stripped the position of president of much of its power after a top court dissolved the parliament. Those moves were followed by the nation’s first presidential election, which pitted Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Morsi against Mubarak’s former prime minister, Ahmed Safik. Final results have not been announced.
“It’s a media stunt to divert attention from the constitutional decree,” said Taha Shaker, a demonstrator in the square. “If he’s really dead, it won’t make a difference. We’ve started a sit-in and won’t leave unless the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces leaves unconditionally.”
“I’ve come from far away. I’m not leaving until Morsi swears the oath in front of the legitimately elected parliament,” said demonstrator Sayed Ahmed. “I don’t care about Mubarak. These are games played by the intelligence services.”
“If he’s really dead, its God’s will,” said Nasser Shaaban, another demonstrator. “I would hope he lives to see the new president.”
Outside Maadi Military Hospital, shortly before midnight Tuesday, there was no additional security. Instead, there were a few policemen outside the main gate and two military police inside the gate. Across the street perhaps a half-dozen journalists sat on the curb smoking cigarettes.
Son to the Secretary to the Delta StateGovernment, Mr. Markson Macaulay, 28 who was kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Mondayat his home town, Owhelogbo, Isoko North local government area of the state hasregained his freedom yesterday.
Confirming the story, the state police spokesman,DSP Charles Muka said the SSG’s son was rescued unhurt far away Oviri, Okpe localgovernment area of the state and confirmed the arrest of a female in connectionwith the crime.
Markson, who schools in abroad had traveled to his home town, Owhelogbo, tosee his grandmother and only to be kidnapped by unknown gunmen and zoomed offin a waiting Jetta car unknown destination.
In another development the police in the state have launched an intensiveinvestigation into the circumstances surrounding the sudden disappearance ofN14 million from a bank bullion van around Effurun axis of the state.
Meanwhile eight police officers have been quizzed bythe command over the incident while over 20 bank officials have been invitedfor interrogation.
The police image maker, DSP Charles Muka who madethis known said “We are suspecting insider connection in the whole situationhence the officers were quizzed so that they can be thoroughly investigated.”
According to the PPRO, the circumstancessurrounding the disappearance of the cash called for investigation as there wasno stoppage on the way nor was it attacked, saying that the suspicion of thepolice officers was uncalled for.
Muka while stressing that policemen attached tobanks have no business with loading of money into bullion vans, he noted thattheir duty was to escort and provide security cover.
A lot has been said about the move by National Assembly to stripe the Central Bank of their autonomy via the amendment of its act. Almost every commentator on the issue has spoken against the move by NASS. Facts discovered from Encarta Encyclopedia on Maastricht Treaty, Federal Reserve Banking in the United States of America [USA] and Bank of England, central bank of United Kingdom; show consistency with those calling on NASS not to temper with the autonomy of Central Bank of Nigeria.
It is a fact that on October 1, 1960 Nigeria became an independent and sovereign nation. Before Nigeria independence however, British authorities superintended her CBN. The British authorities established CBN as a vassal financial outpost in 1959. Till 1963, when Nigeria became a Republic, the face of Queen of England was on her currency. Since the establishment of CBN, the value of Nigeria currency has always been determined by the value of gold reserve in the Bank of England; and NASS attempt to remove the autonomy of CBN will fail and should fail because Britain had relinquished national control over her monetary policies via Maastricht Treaty in 1993.
Fact [1]. The Bank of England was incorporated on July 27, 1694, as a private joint-stock association, with a capital of 1.2 million pounds. In return for loan of its entire capital to the government, it received the right to issue notes and monopoly on corporate banking in England.
Fact [2]. On March 1, 1946, the bank, privately owned for 252 years, was placed under government ownership, the treasury holding the capital stock. The nationalized bank, operating under the charters of 1694 and 1946, manages the British national debt, issues notes, and administers exchange control regulations. The bank is administered by a governor, a deputy governor, and 16 directors; all are appointed by the Crown.
Fact[3]. In 1997 Britain’s Labour government gave the Bank of England operational independence in monetary policy. This means it has responsibility for setting base interest rates in the United Kingdom, independent of the government in power.
Fact[4]. Generally, the relationship between the Federal Reserve and Congress is more complex. On the one hand, because it was created by Congress, the central bank is unmistakably a creature of Congress, being responsible to it for its mandate and its continued existence. On the other hand, the self-financing feature of the Federal Reserve prevents Congress from exercising influence through its budgetary authority. Thus, the Federal Reserve is relatively free from the partisan political pressures that operate in the Congress, although the Fed must report frequently to Congress on the conduct of monetary policy.
Fact[5]. The Federal Reserve is sometimes considered a fourth branch of the U.S. government because it is made up of a powerful group of national policymakers freed from the usual restrictions of governmental checks and balances. Indeed, the Board of Governors is formally independent of the executive branch and protected by tenure well beyond that allotted to the U.S. president. In practice, the president will typically listen carefully to the Fed’s policy suggestions. The Fed and the president frequently share the same economic agenda, but sometimes they have different agendas.
Fact[6]. In the critical area of regulating the nation’s money supply and influencing interest rates in accordance with national economic goals, however, the Federal Reserve is independent within the government. This independence is partially ensured by the fact that the income and expenditures of the Federal Reserve banks and of the Board of Governors are not subject to the congressional appropriation process; the Federal Reserve is self-financing. Its income comes mainly from interest on Reserve bank holdings of income-earning securities, primarily those of the U.S. government. Outlays and other charges are mostly for operational expenses in providing services to the government and for expenditures connected with regulation and monetary policy.
Fact[7]. Because central banks control the money supply, there is always the danger that central banks will simply create more money and then lend it to the government to finance its expenditures. This often leads to excessive money creation and inflation (a continuous increase in the prices of goods), which can be caused by having too much money available to purchase goods. Inflation occurred in the United States when the government printed Continental dollars to pay for the Revolutionary War. So many were printed that they became worthless, and a popular slogan of the day was “It’s not worth a Continental.” The danger of inflation is particularly acute in countries where the government owns the central bank. Government ownership of the central bank is illegal in the United States, except in national emergencies. European countries agreed in the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 not to allow central banks to lend money to their governments.
Fact[8]. The financial panic of 1907 resulted in the Federal Reserve Act of 1913. This act went further than any earlier legislation in recognizing the importance of stable money and credit conditions to the health of the national economy. Under the Federal Reserve Act, a central bank was reestablished for the United States, the first since the “Second” Bank of the United States. The new bank was charged with maintaining sound credit conditions. To achieve this goal, the Federal Reserve System was given control over the minimum amount of reserves that member banks must hold for each dollar of deposits. It also obtained the power to lend money to member banks and regulate the types of assets they can hold. Members of the Federal Reserve System include national banks, whose membership is required, and state banks, whose membership is optional. Membership requires a bank to buy stock in the Federal Reserve System. Most large banks under state charter have joined the system.
Fact[9]. Maastricht Treaty or Treaty on European Union is a treaty that created the European Union (EU). The treaty was approved at Maastricht in The Netherlands by the heads of government of the 12 members of the European Community (EC) in December 1991 and was signed on February 7, 1992. The 12 nations were Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain. The treaty reflected the intention of the EC nations to broaden the scale of monetary and economic union and begin serious consideration of joint policies in regard to defense, citizenship, and the protection of the environment. Under the Maastricht Treaty, European citizenship was granted to citizens of each member state. Customs and immigration agreements were enhanced to allow European citizens greater freedom to live, work, or study in any of the member states, and border controls were relaxed. The treaty created joint foreign and monetary policies. It called for the eventual creation of a single currency, the European Currency Unit (ECU), and a central bank, which would coordinate the monetary policies of the central banks of the respective nations.
Fact [10]. The treaty mandated that the voters of each member state had to approve the European Union, and approval was hotly debated in some states. While the people of the EC generally agreed on greater European unity regarding citizenship issues and foreign relations, there was considerable disagreement regarding the provisions requiring greater economic cooperation between members. Some countries were extremely reluctant to relinquish national control over their monetary policies, notably Denmark and the United Kingdom. On June 2, 1992, Danish voters narrowly rejected the Maastricht Treaty. However, the Danes voted their approval in May 1993. British voters ratified the treaty, but they did not generally support a common European currency. The European Union was established on November 1, 1993, after the treaty had been ratified by the 12 member states, which then became members of the EU. The EC’s Parliament, Council, Commission, and Court of Justice were retained by the EU.
Fact[11]. Central banks can be either privately owned or owned by the government. In Europe, central banks are owned and operated by the government. In the United States, commercial banks own the central bank, which is called the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve, established in 1913, consists of a seven-person Board of Governors located in Washington, D.C., and the presidents of 12 regional Federal Reserve Banks. Each member of the Board of Governors is appointed by the U.S. president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate for staggered 14-year terms. From among the seven governors, the president also designates and the Senate confirms a chairman of the board for a four-year term.
FACT NASS MUST KNOW ABOUT CBN, GOLD RESERVE AND VALUE OF NAIRA. Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is an international bank founded in 1930 by the Hague Agreements to promote cooperation between national central banks, to provide facilities for international financial operations, and to act as agent or trustee in international financial settlements. Total assets of BIS are about 168,000 million Special Drawing Rights (SDR). Its authorized capital is 1,500 million gold francs, divided into 600,000 shares of 2,500 gold francs each. Shares are held by 55 central banks or monetary authorities. Only two [2] African Countries, Algeria and South-Africa are direct subscribers to the shares. The shares can be subscribed for either directly by the participating central banks or by nominated subscribers in their own countries. To this effect, Nigeria is a nominated subscriber to the shares. The BIS has become a forum for the coordination of international monetary policy, through regular meetings of central bank governors.
From the foregoing facts obtained from Encarta Encyclopedia, NASS move to amend CBN act of 2007 will surely plunge the economy of Nigeria into serious crisis. The first impact of exposing CBN autonomy to politics is the “Continental War” scenario. It could be recalled that Inflation occurred in the United States when the government printed Continental dollars to pay for the Revolutionary War and it occurred when the Central Bank of US had no autonomy.
With the establishment of European Union in November 1, 1993, after the ratification of Maastricht Treaty by the 12 member states, their central banks effectively became private enterprise, just like Federal Reserve in the USA. The global best practices in Central Banking have effectively removed ownership of CBN from government of the day. If NASS is interested in making fundamental restructuring of the CBN act, it has to be through a REFERENDUM, not just a straight jacket amendment by the two chambers of NASS. CENTRAL BANK BELONGS TO THE NIGERIAN STATE. Besides, it is not just possible for NASS to subject CBN to political control because the value of the NAIRA is externally determined. Should NASS go ahead with the amendment, Nigeria will surely face global economic isolation, eventually, the country may go bankrupt.
>> Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria (CHAIN) is very concerned that Muhammadu Buhari, a resident of Kaduna city in Kaduna state has kept a loud silence in view of the series of bloody suicide attacks that greeted five churches in Kaduna this past weekend. Our concern is all the more heightened given the fact that Muhammadu Buhari was very vociferous in calling for bloodshed only a few weeks ago and when bloodshed arrived at his door steps he has chosen to keep quiet.
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>> It would be recalled that when Buhari made his call for bloodshed between “dogs” and “baboons”, Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria (CHAIN) warned that his comments were capable of inciting violence from sleeper cells who were waiting for his commands to strike.
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>> At that time we had warned in a widely publicized statement carried in most Nigerian papers that “Buhari should not turn the current war on terror to a North versus South affair. When Buhari says that “Since the leaders now don’t listen to anybody but do whatever they wish, there is nothing the north can do”
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>> We call on Nigerians to recall those words of Buhari and note how those words have incited the recent events in Kaduna. But perhaps more damning is Buhari’s loud silence when all around him in Kaduna extremists are fulfilling his prophecy. Does Buhari’s silence mean consent?
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>> We wish to state that we believe that there is a direct link between the inciting rhetoric of Buhari and the recent unpsurge of violence. Furthermore, we call on Nigerians to ask themselves the following questions;
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>> When was the last time that Buhari condemned Boko Haram or any of their attacks?
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>> Who are those calling for the Federal Government to dialogue with Boko Haram?
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>> When Nigerians have objectively answered the above questions,they will find that Buhari and his political party and close associates habitually keep a loud silence when it comes to condemning Boko Haram, but are most vociferous when it comes to calling for dialogue with Boko Haram. Need we say more? Nigerians should read between the lines.
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>> Nigerians may want to cast their minds back to only a week ago when Buhari who only a few days before was using the Dana Crash to score political points travelled to Kano to celebrate and felicitate with the CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, on his turbanning as Dan Majen Kano, just five days after the crash which threw the whole nation into mourning.
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>> Buhari’s comments on Shari’a just before the Shari’a riots in Kaduna in 2000 stoked the flames that ended up claiming over 2000 lives, his comments to Muslims to vote only Muslim candidates in 2003 polarized Nigeria and led to mutual distrust during the 2003 elections, his comments on lynching people stoked the post election violence that swept Northern Nigeria after the 2011 elections and finally his “dog” and “baboon….soaked in blood” rhetoric incited the recent violence in Kaduna just as the comments of Hutu politicians calling Tutsis “cockroaches” led to the ethnic cleansing that claimed 2 Million lives in Rwanda.
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>> A slave who sees his fellow slave being buried in a shallow grave should know that he will be so buried when his own time comes if he does not escape. If Nigerians think Buhari’s comments cannot lead to ethnic cleansing then they should be reminded of the recent statement by an Italian minister that what is happening in Northern Nigeria is ethnic and religious cleansing.
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>> Pastor Caleb Ma’aji
>> National Coodinator,
>> Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria (CHAIN)kaduna.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC regrets to announce the passing on of 52 years old Italian, Mr. Mauro Zanin, a suspected fraudster two days before he was scheduled to appear in court. He was found motionless in the bathroom of the Commission’s detention facility in Abuja at about 4.50 am on June 19, 2012. He had apparently committed suicide using his bedsheet. All effort by the duty officers and a team of EFCC medical personnel led by Dr. Gideon Osi of the Commission’s Medical Unit to revive him with cardiopulmonary resuscitation proved futile. He was subsequently certified dead at about 5.45 am.
Though all clues point to suicide, the incident has been reported to the Nigeria Police Station, Maitama for investigation.
The deceased was arrested by Officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service following a complaint by one Ahamefula Chibuzor Ewuzie that he fraudulently obtained the sum of $111,000 from Gladwaters Nigeria Limited, and transferred to the Commission on 30thMay, 2012 for further investigation.
The Commission had filed a five count charge against him in court and got a Wednesday, June 20, 2012 as hearing date. He was served the court papers to prepare his defence yesterday.
His arrest was officially communicated to the Italian Embassy on 31st May, 2012. The same day, the suspect was granted provisional bail, but he could not get a surety to take him on bail.
While in detention, Mr. Zanin was visited on May 30, 2012, by Mr. Nicola Bazzani, First Secretary and Deputy Head of Mission at the Italian Embassy; and everyday by his lawyer, Mr.Ugochukwu Onyejiuto. “ It is important to say that I took this matterpro bono, with the hope that he will pay my fees when he is free. I was spending my money feeding him… to my amazement; he refused to let his family know what was going on. He has a 30 year-old son who is a lawyer in Italy but he was always telling them all was well”, Onyejiuto said.
Zanin took his own life a day to his scheduled arraignment. He was supposed to be arraigned before the Federal High Court (5) in Abuja on Wednesday, June 20, 2012.
Dr. Mma Wokocha, the complainant expressed shock at the news of the death of the suspect, wondering how she would recover the huge sum of money obtained from her by the deceased. However, she absolved the Commission of any blame in the death of the suspect. ”Nobody should blame the EFCC. The Commission has done what it has to do, you cannot blame the EFCC…there was total human care for this guy,”she said.
Facts of the Case
The deceased, a confirmed fraudster, allegedly obtained the money from Wokocha under the guise of selling used Dredger Italgraghe SGT 200 to them, to execute some dredging contract in the Niger Delta. The suspect sent them a Bill of Laden but their long wait for the ship, MSC Trinidad to berth was futile. Unknown to the complainant the Bill of Laden was forged as the ship indicated had ceased to exist long before they ever met the deceased three years ago.
The remains of the suspect have been deposited at the mortuary awaiting an autopsy.
