What’s happening in Sudan and Congo

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A Nuba young woman takes a break in Bram village in the Nuba Mountains, South Kordofan, Sudan, on her way to South Sudan’s Yida refugee camp, April 28, 2012. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

 

Sudan: Just past the August 2 deadline for final negotiations, Sudan and South Sudan reached agreements on two key issues this week: oil transit fees and humanitarian aid to South Kordofan and Blue Nile. On the oil agreement, South Sudan made minor concessions in nailing down a 3.5 year agreement to move their oil through Sudanese pipelines.

Inactive and abandoned oil installations are seen north of Bentiu, Unity State, South Sudan, May 11, 2012. (AP)

Khartoum also agreed this weekend to accept an agreement signed between the SPLM-N and the “tripartite group” – the UN, AU and League of Arab States – on humanitarian access to the two areas. The agreement allows for the tripartite group, in consultation with the SPLM-N, to select third-party, independent humanitarian aid organizations to deliver aid.

Refugees arrive at the Gendrassa camp in Maban, Upper Nile State, South Sudan, on the border with Sudan, August 1. According to the International Medical Corps, an estimated 120,000 refugees have fled violence and hunger in Sudan into camps in South Sudan.
(Margaret Aguirre/Reuters)

The implementation of the agreement – including final permission to access most-affected areas – relies on Khartoum, however; as such, reports from civilians in the area are pessimistic. Meanwhile, the WFP has announced plans to air drop assistance to refugees in South Sudan. Conditions in the four refugee camps to which civilians from South Kordofan and Blue Nile have fled have reached emergency levels, with Medecins sans Frontieres warning an average of 5 children are now dying each day.

Women return to shelters after receiving food assistance provided by WFP at Yusuf Batil refugee Camp. Photo: WFP/George Fominyen

Guess what? Your calls last week to Secretary Clinton about Sudan filled her voice mailbox not once, but twice – and she definitely heard our message! Thank you!

Additional Resources:

Congo: Members of Congress sounded their support for the State Department’s cut in military aid to Rwanda this week, sending a Dear Colleague Letter to Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Congressman Howard Berman and Congresswoman Karen Bass in Southern California signed the letter. With the M23 rebellion continuing in full force, and other armed groups forming or reasserting themselves as Congolese Armed Forces are diverted, more than 280,000 civilians have been displaced.

Internally displaced people find refuge in an empty building in an impromptu refugee camp in Kibati, north of Goma, eastern Congo, Monday Aug. 6, 2012. Doctors Without Borders (MSF)’s Christian Masudi said the lack of hygiene and the overpopulation of the area created by the influx of internally displaced people were key factors in the potential explosion of diseases such as Cholera. Many fled the 3-month-old rebellion of the M23 Movement in eastern Congo that has killed an unknown number of people, wounded more than 500 and forced some 280,000 people from their homes, including tens of thousands across borders into Rwanda and Uganda.

Thousands of Congolese took to the streets this week to protest the upsurge in violence. Regional leaders meet this week in Kampala, Uganda to discuss the three security options on the table: changing the mandate of the existing UN peacekeeping mission in Congo; incorporating a neutral force from African countries into the UN peacekeeping force; or establishing a new force pooled from regional armies. This last option, favored by Rwanda and Uganda, would be hard pressed to appear neutral, as all of Congo’s neighbors have a bad record of intervention within Congo’s borders.

EFCC Arraigns Keystone Bank Officials Over N855m Scam [Photos]

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MR. OSHODI(LEFT) AND MR.ISRAN LEAVING THE COURTROOM
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, August 8th, 2012, arraigned three officials of Keystone Bank (formerly Bank PHB): Anayo Nwosu, Olajide Oshodi and Sunny Obaze alongside the managing director of Nulec Industries Limited, Ashok Isran before Justice Habeeb Abiru of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja over an Eight Hundred and Fifty Five Million Naira (N855, 000,000.00) scam.

Specifically, the suspects were arraigned on a two count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain the said sum from one Sir Daniel Chukwudozie of Dozzy Oil & Gas Limited under the false pretence of paying for preference shares of Nulec Industries Limited in an upcoming Initial Public Offer. Nulec Industries Limited and Keystone Bank were also separately charged with the suspects.

Prosecution Counsel, Rotimi Jacobs informed the court that the matter was for arraignment. He urged the court to accept the information contained in the two count charge. Consequently, the defendants were invited to the dock.  The charges were read to them and they pleaded not guilty.

Thereafter, Jacobs informed the court that he had received copies of bail application filed by the defence counsel. He said the prosecution will not oppose bail but urged the court to grant bail on stringent condition.

He told the court that the second defendant, Ashok Isran might not be available for trial if the bail condition was not stringent. Jacobs recalled that the accused had, in the course of the investigation, travelled out of the country and was away for three years. “We want a condition that will ensure they will be in court for trial. I asked the Investigative Officer if they were admitted to administrative bail after their statements were taken, he said yes. So my Lord, it is just the condition we are interested in,” Jacobs declared.
Uche Obi, who appeared for the 1st, 3rd and 4th defendants (Anayo Nwosu, Olajide Oshodi and Sunny Obazee), expressed satisfaction with the decision of the prosecution not to oppose bail and aligned himself with the position of the prosecuting counsel that the bail condition should be stringent. He said that the defendants are interested in clearing their names to continue with their careers; assuring that they will be available for trial. A.A. Badejo SAN, counsel to Ashok Isran also appreciated the prosecuting counsel for not opposing bail, but pleaded with the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms. Badejo claimed it was not correct that his client travelled out in the course of the investigation, explaining that he made the trip before he was invited by the EFCC. “When he got information about the investigations, he made himself available and has been honouring invitations at various times by the EFCC”, Badejo said.
After listening to arguments from counsel, Justice Abiru granted the defendants bail on the following terms: The 1st, 3rd and 4th defendants are to produce a letter of undertaking signed by Keystone Bank’s Chairman and Managing Director. And, whenever any of the defendants fail to appear for trial, the bank will pay a fine of one hundred million naira (N100, 000,000.00) for each of the defendant on each day they fail to appear.
For the 2nd defendant, he was granted bail in the sum of fifty million naira (N50million) and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be resident in Lagos, and have landed properties in Lagos state. The documents of the landed properties, to be verified with the Lagos state Land Registry, should be deposited with the court Registrar. The sureties, who must be gainfully employed, are to show evidence of tax payment in the last two years.

The defendant’s International Passport should also be deposited with the court Registrar.
The judge also ruled that all the accused persons remain in the EFCC custody until the bail conditions are met.

The case was adjourned to October 22nd and 23rd, 2012 for commencement of trial.

Obama, Romney Are Reckless on Iran

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You will strain your eyes looking for a significant difference between President Obama’s and Mitt Romney’s positions on Iran and the prospects of an Israeli attack on the Islamic republic. Both say “all options are on the table.” All. That includes a full-scale military attack with even nuclear weapons. This isn’t alarmism. Iran’s facilities are undoubtedly well protected. No light force would be capable of taking them out.

The Romney campaign created a stir recently when a key foreign-policy adviser, Dan Senor, seemed to up the ante by saying, “If Israel has to take action on its own, in order to stop Iran from developing that [nuclear weapons] capability, the governor would respect that decision.” The remark apparently went too far, because Romney had to clarify his position. “I respect the right of Israel to defend itself,” he told CBS. But “because I’m on foreign soil, I don’t want to be creating new foreign policy for my country or in any way to distance myself from the foreign policy of our nation.”

This indicates that Senor said nothing that Romney wishes to disavow. Senor just said it in the wrong place — on foreign soil. Americans have this foolish rule that “politics stops at the water’s edge.” But as the classical-liberal critic of foreign intervention Felix Morley once said, politics stops at the water’s edge only when policy stops at the water’s edge — which, for the American empire, it does not.

Romney might differ from Obama over where to paint the red line that Iran may not cross. Obama says Iran must not be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon. Romney and his old friend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu say Iran must not be allowed to possess a nuclear capability. That would include possession of uranium and the relevant knowledge. Iran has crossed that line already. Hence the Romney-Netanyahu position sounds marginally more hawkish, though the real difference may not be terribly large.

Also, Obama has pleaded with Israel to give economic sanctions against Iran time to work, but Netanyahu said recently he sees no hope in their working. He appears to be itching for war. On the other hand, he doesn’t have full support from his military and security establishment. Prominent Israeli officials, active and retired, have said that Iran has not decided to build a weapon and that war with Iran would be “stupid.” Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Iran would not attack Israel even if it acquired a nuke. It may well be that the war talk is for domestic consumption or is part of a good-cop/bad-cop strategy with the American government.

In some ways it doesn’t matter. In the past, games of diplomatic chicken have ended in wars no one wanted, and it could happen again. Obama, Romney, and Netanyahu should realize how reckless their course is, though of course they bear no personal risk.

Iran justifiably feels besieged. Economic sanctions against the country, which were recently intensified by Obama and Congress, constitute warfare under international law. Moreover, the U.S. and Israeli governments are conducting covert operations against Iran. In other words, the United States and Israel are already at war with the Iranian people. Great hardship is imposed on them, because their ability to trade for consumer goods has been disrupted and the value of their currency undermined. It’s bizarre that every time the Iranian government says it is prepared to defend itself from attack, it is accused of threatening others. Who’s threatening whom?

This is where the policy imposed by the humane Obama and supported by Romney has brought the world.

And why? They will tell you that Iran must not have a nuclear weapon. But there is no evidence that Iran is developing one. Its religious leader has forsworn such weapons, and the country’s uranium is under the close watch of the International Atomic Energy Agency; that is more than one can say about Israel, which has hundreds of nukes and refuses to join Iran in signing the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

War with Iran would be a disaster for everyone except the war profiteers. Preventing it must be a priority.

Sheldon Richman is senior fellow at The Future of Freedom Foundation in Fairfax, Va., author of Tethered Citizens: Time to Repeal the Welfare State,and editor of The Freeman magazine. Visit his blog “Free Association” atwww.sheldonrichman.com. Send him email.

PhotoNews: Four dead as two storey building collapses in Abuja

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A two story building under construction early this morning in Abuja

collapsed killing four people and injured ten others. The building

which collapsed at about 3.00am was located at Dutse Power Line, near

Living Faith Church. Rescue operation was in progress as at time of

this story as many people were trapped in the building . Officials of

NEMA, Fire Fighters and Civil Defense Corps and FRSC arrived the scene

of the incident around 7.00am which made the victims suffocated death

as help could not reach them .Over ten people believed to be workers

and Okada Riders who used the building as  shelter were rescued alive

from the rubbles of the building .

It took timely intervention of a Dantata and Sawoe ,a construction

company who mobilized their excavators and bulldozers to the scene of

the incident to rescue the victims . According to an eye witness who

craved anonymity said that all of the victims would have been rescued

alive if the rescued team arrived on time.

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Gov Orji Threatens “to put Journalist out of circulation” Over Reports On Council Strike

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In a bid to intimidate and/or silent opposing voices against the Theodore Orji administration, the Abia State governor, Chief Theodore Orji has allegedly threatened to tackle journalists who writes balanced stories that may depict the his administration in a negative light.

The governor was said to have dished out the threat while meeting with the Abia State correspondent of the Statesman newspaper, Henrietta Ashikodi who had written a report which the governor believed was not flattery.  Henrietta Ashikodi had reported on the delay in the payment of salaries to council workers and the associate strike action.

According to a source close to the activities at the government house in Abia State, the governor threatened to deal with Ashikodi over the report.  “The governor invited the lady over the report and harassed the lady to submission as she was visibly shaken with fear, crying and pleading with the governor that she was not the person who did the report, but could not tell how her name was used on the story. The governor warned her to go and sin no more” stated the source who continued to add that the Governor of Abia State added further “Do you know I can put you out of circulation?”

Cursory inquiry by 247ureports.com found that the governor has had a history of not tolerating unfriendly reports against his government. Governor Orji once gave the Vanguard correspondent, Anayo Okoli the same treatment when his reports became unbearable to his government. As a source stated, “He called Okoli into his office and warned him to change, since then; Okoli who was known as an activist journalist has since toned down his reports”.

The case of Sam Odita who formerly served as the Aba correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) can be recalled – when Governor Orji allegedly invited him to his office over a report he wrote against his government. Reports have it that he was warned to retrace his step or be dealt with.

“Any attempt not honor the invitation by the governor will worsen the matter. The best thing any journalist does in such situation is to appeal to those close to the governor to plead with him before honoring the invitation which is meant to cow them,” stated a source who reports for a national daily from Umuahia.

FHA MD Erects Housing Estate For 1st Lady Patience Jonathan [Pictures]

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The Estate Erected for the 1st Lady, Patience Jonathan in Gwarimpa, Abuja

247ureports.com had previously reported that the Federal Housing Agency Managing Director, Tever Gemade had illegally erected an estate for the 1st Lady, Patience Jonathan in exchange for political favors from the 1st Lady.

Following our report, the FHA MD was reported to have begun cover up campaign to avoid further inquiries by other quarters. In this effort, the MD made a dash to instruct his staff to erect a signpost showing the FHA logo – indicating ownership of the building. See below.

The other half of the building/estate showing the new signpost.

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Click for the Previous Report – ABUJA LAND GRAB: FHA MD ERECTS HOUSING ESTATE FOR IST LADY PATIENCE JONATHAN

 

Why The Impeachment Threat Against President Jonathan?

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By: Charles Ikedikwa Soeze, fhnr, fcida, fcai, cpae, son, emba, ksq.
The recent impeachment threat against President Jonathan by the law makers in the lower house is not appropriate at this time in order not to destroy our nascent democracy. A careful look at the situation will reveal at a glance that members of the lower house want to divert the attention of Mr. President and other Nigerians. In other words not to have time and pursue relevant issues that have affected the nation’s economy, especially the fuel subsidy scam among many others. We should all realize if these anomalies are effectively handled by relevant bodies, it will be to the benefit of the talakawas, that is the poor masses. This is because many Nigerians are suffering and look dejected and abandoned due to the irresponsibility and ineffectiveness of some of our leaders. To this end therefore, we should look into all these with the media in attendance to inform the world of our leaders activities and not any sitting in camera. The latest house sittings on many issues was an eye-opener and the lapses should be judiciously and religiously addressed and not to cover the can of worms. Diversionary motives should therefore be put in oblivion.
In order to take our current democratic structure seriously that is progressing gradually, I wish to quote Abraham Lincoln’s statement in Gethysbury on the 19th of November 1863 for our information and guidance “That this country under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people by the people for the people shall not perish from the earth”. In other words, may Nigeria’s democratic structure not perish. The impeachment threat against President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will definitely make Nigeria to travel in reverse gear. Consequently, let our law makers drop the idea so that we can move forward in the right direction. Any difference between the lower house and Mr. President should be amicably resolved. This is so because many Nigerians have seen the threat as uncalled for and with political undertone which at the end of the day will do no Nigerian good.
It seems to me that the real danger that lurks behind democratization process in Nigeria remains the sustained use of language as instrument of exclusion as well as tribalism, favouritism, nepotism, marginalization, Godfatherism, Godmotherism, open abuse of government policies, which leads to injustice, victimization and the use of ‘special boys’ whom at the end we can no longer control and things will continue to fall apart and the center can no longer hold. Let us not see the successful inauguration of democratic governance which Nigerians celebrated with pomp and pageantry be evaporated with the hot air of the regimented sneezes so that the democratic structures would not be trundled to the ground.
Despite the bombings, killings, maimings, kidnappings, massive political corruption at some of the leadership levels which we all need to tackle at our various levels, it is appropriate to say that Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR has inspired much admiration and affection from Nigerians and will be able to do more. He is really the noblest and most lovable of all previous Heads of State of Nigeria. As a result, deserves to be supported from the bottom of our hearts.
It is clear that he rose from humble beginnings to become a leading figure of the modern Nigeria. One can proudly recall his activities in the last few months as President and commander-in-chief, which has also shown how he identified with the vision and aspiration of Nigerians. Mr. President is an embodiment of humility and amiability. In fact, a designer with a relentless appetite for excellence which are not common with some previous heads of state in Nigeria.
Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was identified to be a great child right from his tender age because of his attributes and rare disposition. I think that was why his paternal grandmother “nicknamed” him “Azikiwe” as a strong smile to the great Rt. Hon. Dr. Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe to connote another great Nigerian to come in the nearest future. This, has really come to pass. What he needs is our massive support through genuine and appropriate advice and where necessary, constructive criticism.
My special advice as a mass communications scholar and public relations guru based on my commitment to this country through my informative, incisive, analytical including projecting and protecting image write-ups, I will like to use this opportunity to say that presidency must not neglect public relations (P.R.). God Himself even used PR at the beginning of creation when He said“Come let us make man in our own image and likeness”. Based on this therefore, I don’t think there is any individual, organization or nation that would survive without PR because it goes beyond media relations. Furthermore, let us see Dr. Jonathan’s administration as sitting on a new pathway that will bring democratic stability and political serenity.
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Charles Ikedikwa Soeze, fhnr, fcida, fcai, cpae, son, emba, ksq,
is a mass communications scholar from first degree to doctoral level, public affairs analyst and currently, Head, Academic and Physical Planning (A&PP) at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State. (08036724193)
charlessoeze@yahoo.ca 

Building Collapsed in Abuja; 2 dead

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A building this morning just collapse in Abuja, according to eyewitness, the said building that was collapsed is situated in Dutse Alhaji, a suburb of Abuja. As gathered by 247ureports, 2 people were killed while nine others were injured.

According to the National Emergency Management Agency rescuers are now at the scene battling to get more trapped victims from the rubble.

However, according to the NEMA spokesman, Yushau Shuaibu the nine injured person have been taken to the hospital.

More details soon.

Lawan Stopped At Airport By SSS From Traveling Abroad

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The suspended Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on the Monitoring of the Fuel Subsidy regime, Hon. Farouk Lawan, was Tuesday night barred from traveling out of the country at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Lawan, who is currently under investigation for collecting $500,000 from the Chairman, Zenon Petroleum & Gas Ltd, Mr. Femi Otedola, to doctor the report of the House ad hoc committee, was scheduled to board an Emirates Airline flight en route to Saudi Arabia to perform the lesser Hajj when he was stopped by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) at the airport and prevented from leaving the country.

Lawan, THISDAY gathered, was very embarrassed when he was informed by the SSS that he would not be allowed to travel and was seen frantically making phone calls to what was believed to be “highly placed people in government” to help him out of his predicament.

Reliable sources in the SSS confirmed that the decision to bar Lawan from travelling stemmed from the fact that he is considered a flight risk and might seize the opportunity to flee the country in order to avoid arrest and arraignment. As at press time, it wasn’t certain if Lawan eventually got his way and was allowed to travel or not.

THISDAY had exclusively reported that the police had concluded their investigation into the cash-for-clearance scandal involving Lawan and the clerk to the ad hoc committee, Mr. Boniface Emanalo, and had forwarded their report to the Legal Department for advice.

It was learnt that the police investigative team, headed by Ali Amodu, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Special Task Force, was able to gather incriminating evidence which would be used to prosecute Lawan and Emenalo in court.

A source told THISDAY that in its response, the Police Legal Department recommended the trial of the duo.

Having finished their investigation, the police have sent the case file to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke for his consideration, preparatory to Lawan’s arraignment.

Adoke, it was gathered, is studying the case file and would take a decision this week on whether the police, which investigated the allegation, have enough evidence to sustain a trial in court.

Source(Thisday)

 

 

More troubles for Jimoh Ibrahim as Newswatch is suspended

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Troubles have continued for embattled businessman and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Newswatch magazine, Jimoh Ibrahim, as his staff members accuse him of insincerity after he suspended publication of the weekly magazine.

Mr. Ibrahim, whose company, Global Media Mirror Limited, owns 51 per cent stake in the weekly news magazine, said in a statement that his decision to rest the magazine is to enable him reposition it.

“The decision is taken to reposition the magazine and make it relevant to modern developments, and as such the magazine is due for corporate surgery,” he said.

Newswatch, established 28 years ago, was bought by Mr. Ibrahim’s company in May last year. The company was a household name in Nigeria during the military era particularly in the 80’s and 90’s.

The businessman who also has interests in oil and gas, airline, insurance and other industries explained that “the remains of the magazine will now operate from 159-161 Broad Street, Marina, Lagos to enable us overhaul and reconstruct the old office.”

He said the new office would not house “incompetent staff” of the magazine.

Sources in the magazine however say Mr. Ibrahim’s decision has more to do with his financial troubles than any incompetent staff.

Unpaid wages

Not quite unlike the situation in many media organisations in the country, staff of Newswatch have not been paid salaries and allowances for three months, a member of staff stated.

The source explained that contrary to the promise Mr. Ibrahim made before he was allowed to buy the controlling interest in the magazine, the businessman has refused to pay the salaries of his staff.

“People are angry. He said he has enough money to finance the magazine, that is why it was sold to him,” a staff of Newswatch told Premium Times.

“Now he can’t even pay salaries, how does he want us to survive?”

The source, who did not want his name mentioned for fear of victimization, explained that the crisis took a new dimension when staff were told they had to move from the magazine’s own building on the mainland to Mr. Ibrahim’s company’s headquarters on Lagos Island.

“People who have not been paid for months, you want them to move to a place that will cost more in terms of transportation, how will they cope,” our source asked.

Mr. Ibrahim however claims that he is ready to pay outstanding salaries, to those not in agreement with him.

“Any staff that is not in agreement with the latest development is directed to collect any outstanding salaries from the Accounts department immediately,” he said.

Many of the staff however believe that that is a ploy by the businessman to lay them off.

The problem at Newswatch appears small compared to others Mr. Ibrahim is currently facing with his other companies

A barrage of problems

Mr. Ibrahim, a major financier of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, is currently facing charges of tax evasion and forgery. He, alongside his airline, Air Nigeria, is already being prosecuted for evading tax, to the tune of N4.86 billion, by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The FIRS also says Mr. Ibrahim and Air Nigeria forged a tax clearance certificate in order for the airline to get the necessary expatriate quota of pilots.

The operation of Air Nigeria has since been grounded. The company’s lessors have also demanded a return of the aircrafts they loaned to the airline.

Premium Times learnt that the problems at Air Nigeria are also reflecting on Newswatch as the airline owes the magazine millions of naira for unpaid adverts and subscriptions.

Mr. Ibrahim, a former PDP gubernatorial aspirant in Ondo state, is also being investigated by the police over the role his companies, Nicon Insurance Plc, and Nigerian Reinsurance Corporation played in the N32 billion police pension administration fraud.

Source(Premium times)

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