Libya's former intelligence chief Abdullah Senussi, left, with his late brother-in-law Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Gaddafi‘s former intelligence chief, who is wanted by France, the international criminal court and Libya, has been charged by Mauritania‘s public prosecutor in a secret court hearing, his first public appearance since fleeing Libya’s crumbling regime to the desert country.
Abdullah Senussi, a confidante and brother-in-law to Gaddafi, will face trial for entering Mauritania illegally with a falsified Malian passport, a crime that carries a maximum three-year jail term, a judicial source said.
Senussi, who had been held in a villa in the Mauritanian capital of Nouakchott since March, is alleged to be behind a massacre in Tripoli’s notorious Abu Salim prison, which left around 1,200 inmates dead, and triggered Libya’s revolt when lawyers sought to reopen the case last year.
A Mauritanian security official said an entourage of elite presidential guards had whisked Senussi overnight into the multi-domed courthouse. “He looked well, and seemed in good spirits under the circumstances,” the official said.
“Normally he would now be held in the main prison, but our understanding is he is staying in a special location guarded by troops,” the official said.
A judicial source said a trial was unlikely to begin soon. “A [trial start] date doesn’t have to be set for up to three years, so that will buy the authorities time,” he said.
France wants to try Senussi in connection with the 1989 bombing of an airliner over Niger in which 170 died. An ICC warrant is seeking Senussi for crimes against humanity in Libya.
British officials have also indicated they could seek access to him in relation to the Lockerbie bombing, in which Senussi is suspected of playing of a role.
Diplomats said there had been no clear indication what Mauritanian authorities planned to do with the high-profile prisoner. “More than anything else, the Senussi issue has been about smoke and mirrors,” a diplomat said.
Secret agents in the presidency are presently conducting a clandestine investigation of the Executive Chairman of Nigeria’s anti-graft police, the EFCC over an allegation that he collected N80 million bribe from multi-billionaire businessman, Wale Babalakin who is being investigated for money laundering by the agency, ireports-ng.com can authoritatively report.
The probe leaked to ireports-ng.com today by a top source in the presidency is coming barely 24 hours after it was revealed in London that three Metropolitan police detectives were arrested in the UK for taking bribes from agents of the jailed former Delta state governor, James Ibori.
In Nigeria, lawyer turned businessman, Wale Babalakin has been arrested and detained twice by the anti-graft agency for interrogation for allegedly using his company’s bank accounts to launder over N1.6 billion for Ibori. He is the chairman of Bi-Courtney Group, which is into infrastructural development and aviation among others.
According to information made available to ireports-ng.com by sources in EFCC about two weeks ago, Mr Lamorde had complained that the National Security Adviser, NSA, Gen.Andrew Owoeye Azazi was meddling in the investigation of the case against Babalakin. As a result, he ordered that the re-arrest of Babalakin on Wednesday May 9 during which his travel documents were seized and his photograph was taken for forensic purposes. Based on the information then, ireports-ng.com had reported on May 16 the preparedness of EFCC to charge Babalakin to court for money laundering charges.
It was however gathered today that the report had since triggered a chain reaction, with agents loyal to the NSA within EFCC writing a secret report on Lamorde to the NSA over a scheme to extort money from Babalakin. According to a top presidency source today, a secret investigation of the report was launched. Findings made available to ireports-ng.com today showed that “one Alhaji Ajiboye who is a very close friend and reliable front for Mr Lamorde had collected N80 million from Mr Babalakin but delivered N60 million to the EFCC chairman.”
The secret report further revealed that “Alhaji Ajiboye has been acting in similar capacity for Mr Lamorde in some cases presently being investigated by the EFCC. Our findings also disclosed that after Mr Babalakin complained of the treatment meted out to him during his interrogation on May 9, 2012 in the EFCC head office in Abuja, Alhaji Ajiboye promptly set up a secret meeting between Mr Babalakin and Mr Lamorde the following day, May 10,2012 at a secret location agreed to by all parties in the evening of that Thursday May 10, 2012.”
It went further to report that”at the meeting, Mr Babalakin had complained to Mr Lamorde that he was being maltreated and humiliated by EFCC operatives after he had parted with a whooping N80 million with a promise to give him a clearance letter due to concerns expressed by his foreign business partners while the EFCC chairman also complained that Mr Babalakin was talking to and sending so many people to him on the case. He specifically complained that he was not too comfortable with the involvement of the NSA in the matter. At the end of the meeting, a consensus was reached to keep sealed lips on all that has transpired especially the funds passed through Alhaji Ajiboye.”
The report also stated that”it was after Mr Lamorde was reassured that the NSA and indeed, no other person knows about the issue of money exchanging hands that Mr Lamorde and of course the EFCC developed cold feet on the case.”
The source however would not disclose what will happen at the end of the investigation of the alleged bribery case against the EFCC boss but assured that “i have instruction to keep you abreast with further developments.”
An Iranian soldier stands guard on a military speed boat during exercises in the Strait of Hormuz
TEHRAN — Iran’s navy said Thursday it saved an American-flagged cargo ship that was being attacked by pirates in the Gulf of Oman.
An Iranian warship responded to a distress signal from the US-flagged Maersk Texas, a cargo ship of 150 metres (500 feet) and 14,000 tonnes, which was besieged by “several pirate boats,” the navy said in a statement reported by the official IRNA news agency.
The cargo vessel “was saved by the navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran” on Wednesday, IRNA added.
The pirates “fled the scene as soon as they spotted the presence” of the warship. Maersk Texas “thanked the Iranian navy and sailed towards its destination safely,” it added.
It was the first time the Iranian navy protected a US ship from pirates.
Maersk had sailed from the UAE port of Fujairah, south of the Strait Hormuz at the entrance of the Gulf, and was headed for the United States.
Iran’s navy keeps a presence in Gulf of Oman to protect cargo ships and transiting oil tankers and also defend the country against potential threats.
According to Iranian commanders, Iran’s navy have carried out hundreds of anti-piracy operations, engaging in hundreds of armed clashes with pirates in the past three years.
The US navy patrolling the area have on a number of occasions rescued Iranian ships. The latest incident was in January when a US warship secured the release of 13 Iranian fishermen near the entrance to the Gulf who had been held captive by pirates for 45 days
The National Assembly [NASS] has acted on the reported allegation of the former president of Nigeria, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, having labeled the national legislators rogues and theives. According to the information received by 247ureports.com the House of Representative Speaker, Hon. Tambuwal while presiding over a recent seating of the House refered the matter to the committee on ethics and privileges for investigation. It is recalled that on Tuesday May 22, 2012, Gen. Obasanjo questioned the kind of laws the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly make given that there are “rogues and armed robbers” in them.
As gathered, the ccommittee chairman on ethic and privileges, Gambo Dan Musa [CPC, Katsina] and his deputy Tobi Okechukwu were charghed with investigating and subsequently quizing the former head of state, Obasanjo by no coincidence. The members of thye NASS who spoke to our corespondent hinted that the chairman of the committee was “no friend of Obasanjo” while adding that the House Committee is anxious to invite the for president to the national assembly to answer to questions and to point out the rogues and theives among them.
While at a conference of the Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies in Lagos on Tuesday, Obasanjo stated specifically that “Integrity is necessary for systems and institutions to be strong. Today, rogues, armed robbers are in the state Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly. What sort of laws will they make?”
The Senators did not take Obasanjo’s statements lightly. They have asked asking to specifically name the rogues and robbers in the National Assembly. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP, Abia South), told journalists at the National Assembly in Abuja that it would be good for Obasanjo to mention names so that the National Assembly would “sanitise” the system.
“The National Assembly has a great respect for the person of the former president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and we can never engage him in any talk-back. We just feel that he would help the National Assembly and Nigeria, in the spirit of transparency and openness, by naming those he knows in the National Assembly as rogues and robbers. If he does that, it would help us in sanitising the polity. We appreciate his role in the country, but we would further appreciate him and others who are concerned about Nigeria if they can let us have whatever information they have to check ourselves,” stated the Senator – who is also the chairman of the Committee on media.
Three new ambassadors to Nigeria presented their letters of credence to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Thursday.
They are Mr. Tagelsir Mahgoub Ali of Sudan, Mr. Paul William Lumbi of Zambia and Mr. Antonio Da Graca Correia of Sao Tome.
President Jonathan welcomed them to Nigeria, and assured them that the Government would work closely with them to improve and strengthen the already warm relations with their countries.
The new ambassadors expressed appreciation for the reception, and pledged to pursue mutually beneficial cooperation with Nigeria during their different tenures.
—
Musa Aduwak
for: Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity)
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southwest has challenged the
Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to tell Nigerians whether or not the
suspended President Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Isa Ayo Salami is a
member of the party (ACN), saying; “the party and its allies’
continuous attack on President Goodluck Jonathan and other notable
individuals and institutions in the country over the suspension of
Justice Salami is a confirmation that the ACN has interests different
from the sanctity and uphold of the rule of law in the country.”
The PDP, which also alleged that ACN leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu was
already plotting to bring pro-Salami reinstatement motion to the floor
of the Senate added that; “a Senator from Katsina State is being
persuaded to lead the plot and move the motion, with some other
Senators, mostly from the north being wooed into the plot, which is
mainly to embarrass President Jonathan and put him under fresh
pressure.”
Speaking through its Zonal Publicity Secretary, Hon. Kayode Babade,
the PDP said it was funny that the same ACN that kept silent when one
of its governors, Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State refused to swear-in
two people recommended for appointment as judges by the National
Judicial Council (NJC) was the one attacking the president for
choosing to toe the line of rule of law on the issue of Justice
Salami.
“The questions Nigerians must now begin to ask these ACN people are
what their interest is in the Justice Salami issue? Why is it that
they are the ones defending the suspended judge, organising protests
and mobilising media support for him?
“Isn’t it now clear that Justice Salami actually sold Ekiti and Osun
States to the ACN and the party is now paying him back by standing by
him during his travail? More so that the travail was occasioned by the
ignoble role he played on the two controversial judgments?
“Perhaps, Justice Salami is actually the ACN Deputy National Chairman
(Judiciary) as now being said by members of the public, and the ACN
people should be bold enough to unveil his (Salami) membership status
in the party,” Babade said.
While also hailing President Jonathan for standing on the rule of law
on the Salami issue, the PDP said; “No responsible president would act
on a matter on which more than five cases are still pending, and
whoever that is pleased with the position of the president on the
matter should also approach the court.”
Police investigate the site of a car explosion at the city of Port Sudan
JUBA/KHARTOUM (Reuters) – South Sudan said Sudan attacked it with aerial bombing raids and ground artillery on Monday and Tuesday, accusing Khartoum of trying to sabotage international efforts for peace talks which the African Union hopes to restart next week.
Juba said its armed forces could retaliate if Sudan made further assaults, raising the prospect of a return to the fighting which the United Nations and the AU are seeking to prevent.
The two armies fought in border skirmishes last month after disputes over oil exports and border demarcation boiled over, following South Sudan’s birth as an independent nation in July.
The attacks on Monday and Tuesday targeted the area of Werguet, about 30km (19 miles) inside South Sudan’s territory in Northern Bahr Al Ghazal state, officials told a news conference.
Sudan’s army spokesman, al-Sawarmi Khalid, could not be reached on his mobile phone. There was no immediate independent confirmation of South Sudan’s allegations, and limited access to remote border areas makes such verification difficult.
South Sudanese Information Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said Sudan’s “acts of aggression” violated a May 2 resolution by the U.N. Security Council which ordered both sides to cease hostilities and settle their differences through negotiations or face sanctions.
Juba has accused Sudan of other attacks since May 2.
“This is a slap in the face of the United Nations and the African Union,” Benjamin said.
Former South African President Thabo Mbeki, who has been shuttling between Khartoum and Juba as AU mediator in the past few days, said he expected talks between the neighbors to resume next week.
“So the (AU) panel will be convening that meeting next week as agreed by the presidents of two countries,” Mbeki said after meeting Sudan’s President Omar Hassan al-Bashir in Khartoum. He had met South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir on Monday.
“Now we have an agreement between President Bashir and President Salva Kiir that the two panels of negotiation … they will meet next week and look at all elements of the decision taken by the AU and the U.N. Security Council,” he added.
Neither side immediately confirmed a meeting next week.
Barnaba said South Sudan’s delegation was ready to fly to Addis Ababa but the question was whether Sudan wanted to talk. “We are ready to talk anytime,” he told Reuters.
Ibrahim Ghandour, a senior official in Bashir’s National Congress Party (NCP), repeated the government position that Sudan wanted to make peace but security issues had to be treated as priority.
“President Bashir told President Mbeki that Sudan was committed to long lasting peace with South Sudan,” he told reporters after the meeting. He did not say when talks might resume.
Khartoum accuses Juba of supporting rebels in Sudan’s border states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile, charges denied by South Sudan.
(Reporting By Pascal Fletcher in Juba; additional reporting by Ulf Laessing in Khartoum; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
(Reuters) – Nigeria expects to renew onshore oil licenses with U.S. firm Chevron (CVX.N) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) by June, its oil minister said on Tuesday, following Exxon Mobil’s (XOM.N) renewal in February worth trillions of dollars.
Shell, the biggest operator in Nigeria, has onshore assets that can produce 1 million barrels of crude oil per day. It is partnered in these projects by Nigeria’s state-oil firm NNPC, Italy’s Eni (ENI.MI) and France’s Total (TOTF.PA).
“In order to show our commitment to a vibrant upstream sector … we have started the renewal of leases in good faith … renewals with Chevron and Shell are expected to be concluded by June at the latest,” Diezani Alison-Madueke said in the capital Abuja.
Several onshore drilling licenses that expired as far back as 2008 have been in negotiations between foreign oil majors, Nigeria’s state-oil firm and government for years.
Exxon signed 20-year oil license renewals on Nigerian assets producing around 550,000 barrels per day in February.
The Nigerian government has been reluctant to sign new deals or renew old ones until the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which is likely to increase royalties and taxes, becomes law.
But the bill has been stuck in the assembly for years and has been subject to numerous delays and amendments, with no sign it could be passed soon, leaving major regulatory uncertainties.
(Reporting by Camillus Eboh; Writing by Joe Brock; Editing by William Hardy)
My attention was drawn this morning to a predictable falsehood published in Saharareporters.com by its owner, Omoyele Sowore, which he titled “Nigerian Government Takes On Ugwuonye, Its Former Lawyer, In US Court”. The story is a predictable falsehood not only because it is false in all material respects, but also because it
calculatedly misleads the readers in directions that are self-serving to the malicious personal and fraudulent intents and purposes of the publisher, Omoyele Sowore.
Few years ago, I, Emeka Ugwuonye, began to systematically unravel cases after cases in which Sowore Omoyele blackmailed people and extorted money from them in order not to publish false stories about them. And when they refused to pay, Sowore blasted terrible stories and lies against them and their families on his Saharareporters.com. Many hapless and helpless victims fell for this and each time, Sowore smiled to the banks with money fraudulently obtained. At the same time, he claimed to be a new media man and preyed upon the unsuspecting Nigerian public. But some of the victims contacted me, seeking my views as a lawyer. The turning point was December of 2008, when Sowore targeted a Nigerian public figure for similar blackmail. Rather than pay and cry in silence, that man spoke with me. I confronted Sowore and it has been a war between good and evil since then.
At the present, I am suing Sowore in the Maryland Federal District Court for defamation. The lawsuit he deceptively referred to in his nasty publication as “Ugwuonye v. Rotimi” is actually “Ugwuonye v. Sowore/Saharareporters”, a case in which is answering questions as we speak. As he faces the prospects of owing millions of dollars in damages, Sowore and his Sahara Reporters can well be expected to pant and toss in agony and confusion. The reality is that things have changed for Sowore. It is no longer business as usual. It is no longer going to be easy blackmail money as he had gotten used to. Questions will now be asked each time he moves. In fact, I have the transcripts of the deposition, which I conducted on Omoyele Sowore this year. When you read them, you will fully understand what a fraud Sowore and his Sahara Reporters are. He cannot even admit to his readers today that he was speaking about a case that was filed against him.
About three months ago, Sowore rushed and registered Sahara Reporters as a company in New York, clearly in anticipation that he may have to pay damages in the case I filed against him. I take credit for forcing Sowore and Saharareporters into the sunlight. In 2009 when I first sued Sowore, it was impossible to even identify an address for him. He had no address. There was no way to even identify who owned the domain name, Saharareporters.com. There was no registration of any sort. His activities were secrecy wrapped in secrecy. There was no business office or location. But gradually and systematically, I was able to pull him out of his underworld life of shady criminality to the open. His victims now know where to find him and where to sue him. He has to move more cautiously now. He still retains his ways, but the cost of business has gone up for him. He can no longer blackmail with much ease.
My objective and understanding of the owner of Sahara-reporters method is simple: the more I force him into the light and under the rule of law, the more his weaknesses come out. Sowore is not a journalist. He is not even intelligent enough to succeed in a fair competitive environment. The only thing that distinguishes him from the average person is his depraved criminal mentality. He is callous and he has no conscience. He needs to blackmail and lie and extort in order to sustain himself. Without those, he will be out of business in a matter of weeks. His attack against me therefore is understandably a matter of survival for him. But I can assure you that he is on a cliff as we speak. Once people learned that I had sued him, information began to come from all corners of the society. Indeed, one couple that Sowore robbed on the highway in Lagos during his days as a cult-leader in Unilag contacted me with information about their ordeal in the hands of this dangerous man.
In the cases between me and the Nigerian Government or its entities both in the US and in Nigeria, the issues involved are a matter of public knowledge. They are actually pending in courts. Every average person would know that as far as court matters are concerned, every position taken by one party has a counter from the other party. In my case, I have commenced the process of showing how the current firm that represents the Embassy of Nigeria engaged in unethical practices and conspiracy that might have caused Nigeria to lose millions of dollars. That move is definitely sending a shockwave across several important places. A sitting Nigerian Ambassador to Washington is facing yet another ignominious day when his fate would be in the abattoir. Do not expect the Ambassador to go without a fight. Also, the world is just hearing of how the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington under Ambassador Adefuye has been turned into a conduit pipe for money laundry and corruption. As we speak, about 3.5 million dollars of funds in the Nigerian Embassy accounts have been seized and blocked in the United States. That is an unprecedented action – where the Embassy is now facing a criminal investigation in the US. The Embassy of Nigeria knows that if anyone is to hold them accountable, Emeka Ugwuonye is the one. A death wish from the Ambassador is therefore understandable. And the convenient use of a desperado like Sowore/Saharereporters.com is clearly within the realm of their shallow logic.
My belief is that the readers of Sahara Reporters are not really as uninformed or as stupid as Sowore believes them to be. Many have the capacity to think. And when they do, they see the packaged junk and the trash that is called Sahara Reporters, like the person who called me this morning after reading Sahara Reporters story on me. He was totally pissed by the brazen daftness behind the story. For those interested in reading more about what is truly going on in court against Sowore and his Saharareporters, I would assure you that you will have a field day soon.
