On the 14th of September 2011, the Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu will clock 100 days in office as the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly. No doubt, it is too short a time to access or evaluate the legislative activities of the Imo State House of Assembly. But because it has become a tradition in Nigeria since 1999 to use the first 100 days in office of any arm of government to access such leadership, I deem it necessary to open the minds of Imo citizens in particular and Nigerians in general on the achievements of the present Imo State House of Assembly under the able and visionary leadership of Rt. Hon. Benjamin Chukwuemeka Uwajumogu. Following the inauguration on the 7th of June 2011 of the fifth house, third assembly, first session of the present Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Benjamin Chukwuemeka Uwajumogu emerged as the speaker while Hon. Donatus Ozoemena became the deputy speaker. The post of majority leader went to Hon. Mrs. Adaku Ihuoma while Hon. Dr. Acho Ihim clinched the post of deputy majority leader. Other officers of the house as elected were the minority leader, Hon (mrs) Ngozi Pat Ekeji, deputy minority leader went to Hon. Robertson Ekwebelem. The chief whip is Hon Ugonma Ozurigbo while his deputy is Hon Sir Emeka Nwafor as the post of minority whip went to Hon. Barr. Obinna Okwara. With the leadership of the House fully inaugurated, the Imo state House of Assembly kicked off its legislature responsibilities to the people of the state. In his inaugural speech, Rt. Hon. Uwajumogu identified three areas yearning for immediate attention such as, (1). Service to the people (2) the executive arm. (3) The legislature. Hear the vibrant Speaker.............................." It is with humility and profound sense of honour that I accept the position of the speaker of Imo State House of Assembly. I will devote my time, energy and everything within my legislative powers to make Imo State House of Assembly the best legislature in the country. I will work tirelessly towards the upliftment of Imo State House of Assembly. I promise to give you all, with a true sense of quality leadership, equal representation and effective disposition to work."………..UNQUOTE. 100 days after this famous quote from the ebullient speaker, he has lived up to expectations because he has not only devoted his energy and time towards the upliftment of the Assembly, but he has also led his equally vibrant Honorable colleagues to enact people oriented laws, bills and motions through effective and efficient legislative responsibilities which has put back confidence, trust and smiles on the faces of Imo citizens in the bid to bring to the grassroots the impact of the "Rescue Mission" of the government of His Excellency Owelle Rochas Anayo Ethelberth Okorocha (OON). During the period under review, the Imo State House of Assembly considered a total of seven (7) bills which were presented at the floor of the house. It is important to mention here that out of these seven bills, five are at committee stages awaiting reading, while two are at second reading stages. Also the house recorded thirty four (34) Motions during the same period. From this figure, 20 motions were passed and forwarded to the executive Governor for necessary action. Similarly, out of the total number of motions, 9 are still pending, one (1) withdrawn, two (2) negatived and two (2) others adjourned sine die. It is worthy to note that presently, eight bills were on notice and would soon begin the legislature journey for passage into law. At this point, it is expedient to mention that the Imo State House of Assembly led by the ebullient speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu is working harmoniously with the executive arm of government in one spirit through synergistic understanding to ensure the provision of dividends of democracy. This has been possible because there is an enabling environment where law makers ventilate their minds through robust legislative dialogue, debate and discussion which has really integrated, incorporated, inculcated and aggregated the interest of their respective constituencies. This is the relevance of politics. Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu and his colleagues have not only sacrificed some of their rights and privileges to ensure the smooth take-of the present administration, they have also personally financed the furnishing of their offices due to the lean resources of the state government. This should be applauded. Equally, it is instructive to note that currently the Imo State House of Assembly complex is undergoing renovation and face lift. Constructions of more administrative and political offices are going on. Leaking roofs are also being put in order. Previous leadership of the house abandoned the complex to so dilapidate that the structure became an eyesore. But NOW the Assembly building complex is beginning to wear a new look. Also, to ensure a virile, responsible and responsive government machinery that will drive development at the state and local levels, the Imo State House of Assembly screened and confirmed the appointment of Commissioners, Special Advisers and local government transition committee chairmen. In order to ensure integrated development in the spirit of rescue mission agenda, the Imo State House of Assembly granted approval for His Excellency the state Governor, to declare emergency on road rehabilitation, education, health, housing, security and other critical areas seeking urgent attention. Accordingly, the House approved N5 billion naira for the urgent execution of the aforementioned projects and programmes. It is also worthy to mention that the Speaker has piloted the affairs of IMHA because he has effective and efficient standing house committee being chaired by his able colleagues. These various houses committee of the legislature carried out oversight functions within the legislative 100 days by ensuring monitoring of the aforementioned projects and the implementation of both the state and the 27 local government 2011 annual budget. Some of these committee’s are as follows; 1. Finance committee 2. Humanitarian services, Human Rights and NGO's committee. 3. Committee on Commence and Industry. 4. Information, due process and inter-parliamentary affairs committee. 5. Budget and Appropriation committee. 6. Works, Housing and Transport committee. 7. Anti-corruption, Petition, Ethics and Privileges committee. 8. Project Monitoring and Evaluation committee. 9. House Services Committee. 10. Health and sanitation committee. 11. Public Utilities and Rural Development committee. 12. Women Affairs, Social Development, Youth and Sports committee. 13. Lands, survey and urban committee. 14. Judiciary committee. 15. Education committee. 16. Millennium Development Goals committee. 17. Environment committee. 18. Delta Affairs committee. 19. Petroleum and ISOPADEC committee. 20. Agricultural and National Resources committee. 21. Public Accounts committee. 22. Local Government, Chieftaincy and Autonomous Communities committee. 23. Religious Affairs committee. 24. Culture and tourism committee. 25. Civil Service Matters committee. 26. Business and rules committee, amongst others. Conversely, the Honorable members led by the Speaker have performed their oversight functions most creditably to the admiration of majority of Imo Citizens in particular and Nigerians in general. It is therefore not surprising that after 100 days the Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu assumed the leadership of the legislature, the activities of the House have impacted positively on the lives of the people of IMO STATE, hence the various accolades received by the speaker in particular and members of the legislature generally. For instance, during the just concluded four day children’s art festival, held in Owerri to mark the International Children’s Day, the National Commission for Museums and Monument, in Association with Alliance Francaise, and some Non – Governmental Organizations, NGO, presented the Speaker an award for Excellence and Philanthropy. Also during the recent visit to the House by the leadership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, its National President, Prof. Francis Ojaide, said the association came to thank the Assembly members for the able ways they have piloted the legislative arm of the government in the state. According to the 47th President of ICAN, the Imo State Government had through the activities of the Assembly led by Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu proved that it was determined to wipe out tears from the faces of the people of Imo State. The House has also received praises from the traditional institution for making a remarkable difference in the area of law – making in the short-space-of-time it has been in existence. For instance, on August 21, 2011, when Speaker Uwajumogu attended the popular Iri-ji Nkwerre, alongside other House leaders, the Eshi of Nkwerre, His Royal Highness, Eze Dr. Chijioke Okwara commended the ebullient Speaker for the able ways the Imo State House of Assembly, was being run. Commendations from other Professional bodies ,Nationally and Internationally for Speaker Uwajumogu are too numerous to mention here. Nonetheless, let me state it categorically that the activities of Imo State House of Assembly can be accessed on the Internet, Face books, Blogs, National Newspapers, Regional Newspapers, Local Newspapers, Radio and Television. From the above analysis, it is evident that the Imo State House of Assembly under the proactive and visionary leadership of Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu is desirous to take Imo state legislatively to the next level. This is the Verdict. Signed, Citizen Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha, Special Adviser on Media To the Rt. Hon. Speaker, IMHA.
1st 100 days of Imo State Assembly
[Wikileaks] “Yar’Adua mistrusted Jonathan, believed Jonathan was waiting for him to die” – Dora Akunyili
Prof Dorothy Nkem Akunyili, the former Federal Minister for Information and Communication for Nigeria under the presidency of the then President Umaru Yar’Adua [May His Soul Rest in Peace] who recently contested for a senatorial seat for the central district of Anambra State under the political party of the All Progressive Grand Alliance [APGA] and failed – is reported in a recent release by Wikileaks to have espoused the private views of the then President towards his Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan – in a private midnight telephone chat with the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Robin Renee Sanders.
Prof Akunyili had sought the audience of the American Ambassador to vent concerning the “real mess” Nigeria finds herself as a result of the uncertainty over the ill health of the then President Umaru Yar’Adua who was at the time admitted to a hospital in Saudi Arabia. Prof Akunyili related to the American Ambassador that the then President never had a good relationship with Goodluck Jonathan -that Yar’Adua mistrusted Jonathan – that he believed Jonathan was waiting for him to die – so he could take over.
Prof Dora Akunyili who told the American Ambassador that she made sure she was not using her “government phone” expressed that Goodluck Jonathan was confused on what do. She stated that Goodluck Jonathan did not want to send the wrong signal to the north.
For more details read the WIRE REPORT below filed by the American Ambassador – under CLASSIFIED information.
——
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN INFORMATION MINISTER: YAR’ADUA COMATOSE;
VICE PRESIDENT JONATHAN CONCERNED
Classified By: Ambassador Robin Renee Sanders
——-
SUMMARY
¶1. (S) As a follow-up to an earlier conversation (ref b)
Information Minister Dora Akunyili called Ambassador at 11:45
p.m. at her residence December 1 to discuss the state of
President Yar’Adua’s health, and as another Southerner, the
worries of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan if the President
dies. Akunyili said she called the Ambassador on a
non-government registered phone and waited until she arrived
home to conduct her conversation; hence, the late call.
Akunyili began by stating that “the country is in a real mess
as Yar’Adua has been in and out of a comatose state since his
arrival in Saudi, only coming out briefly afternoon of
November 30, and since then he has been in a coma.” She
added that the Vice President is symbolically in charge, but
is afraid to show any leadership in this environment given
that it might be “misunderstood.” Earlier December 1, (see
other channels) several associates met with Mission Officer
to inform him that the VP was sending emissaries to obtain an
assessment of the current environment and to find out how the
international community would feel about him acceding to the
Presidency if Yar’Adua died. Mission Officer stated our
policy of the primacy of following the rule of law and the
Constitution. News on the ground has not changed much in the
last 24 hours; succession noises are still being made, and we
continue to have feelers out all over town (particularly in
the military, see ref C on Chief of the Army’s comment on
military posture), in Saudi and through our very helpful
sister Embassy and Consulate General in Saudi Arabia. END
SUMMARY.
——————————————–
DRUM BEAT ON YAR’ADUA’S FINAL DAYS CONTINUES
——————————————–
¶2. (S) In a late night conversation on December 1 with
Information Minister Dora Akunyili, who is known as a
straight shooter from her days as Director of the National
Food and Drug Agency, told the Ambassador that “Nigeria was
in a real mess” at the moment with President Yar’Adua being
“in and out of a coma since his arrival in Saudi, but mostly
in the last 2 days.” She said she doubted that the President
could survive this current crisis as he had in the past,
noting that he was only conscious enough to talk to a few
people on the afternoon of November 30. (NOTE: This account
bears out, given that Kwara Governor Saraki told us that he
had a very brief chat with the President afternoon of
November 30 — ref A. END NOTE.). Akunyili added that there
is no clear leadership right now, because Vice President
Goodluck Jonathan is worried, unsure of what to do, and
concerned about sending signals that “could be misunderstood
at this sensitive stage among northerners.” (Please see
reporting in other channels for additional Information.) In
addition, no one from the Villa (State House) is keeping the
VP informed, she said.
Q3. (S) Ambassador asked who was really running the day-to-day
tasks of the country as in the past it had unofficially been
National Security Advisor Muktar and the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation (SGF). The Information Minister
admitted that this remained the case, but noted that Jonathan
wanted to step into the light more, but was afraid to do so.
Akunyili added that Yar’Adua and Jonathan never had a good
relationship, that the President mistrusted him, and that
there was always a sense from Yar’Adua that the VP was “just
waiting for him to die.” She confirmed that Jonathan was
sending feelers out to key Northerners on how they were
feeling and hoping to get a signal that it was all right to
do more leadership at this time. Ambassador asked whether
there was anything she thought friends of Nigeria could do at
this time. Akunyili suggested that the Ambassador send a
text message to wish the President well through to his Aide
de Camp. (Please see report in other channels.)
————————-
JONATHAN OUTREACH EFFORTS
————————-
¶4. (S) Earlier on the evening of December 1, a request came
to Mission Officer outlining a scenario of having the
Ambassador deliver a letter expressing well wishes for the
President, but privately signaling the need to follow the
Constitution, de facto making the Vice President comfortable
that the USG or other international partners would not oppose
his ascendancy if it came to this. We have told our
interlocutors that it was not possible to act in this manner
at this time, given that the President was still alive and
still the Head of State of Nigeria. (NOTE: Ref A notes that
Jonathan went to see Senate President Mark seeking the same
assurances about succession and seeking support that the
constitutional process would be followed. Mark said that it
would be. END NOTE).
——-
COMMENT
——-
¶5. (S) Clearly, reports of the President in a coma and on a
respirator do not bode well for any recovery. In addition,
Jonathan’s dispatching emissaries around town to take a
temperature check on the atmosphere surrounding what may be
his, sooner rather than later, ascendancy to the Presidency
further leads to the news that the President of Nigeria is in
his final days. We are preparing a report (septel) on the
baggage that Jonathan will carry with him into State House as
there have been past reports of corruption, political
thuggery, and payments to “militant factions” from his days
as Governor of Bayelsa State as well as questions about his
competency in general. Regarding those who might be viewed
as the strong Northerners who would become Vice President,
there seems to be a changing “short list” that could include
the Governors of Bauchi (Yuguda, also a son-in-law of
Yar’Adua), Kwara (Saraki), and Sokoto (Wamako) States at the
top. Other strong Northern and ruling People’s Democratic
Party (PDP) personalities who will have a voice in what
happens in Nigeria range from former National Security
Advisor Aliyu, whom we also understand still desires the
Presidency, as well as Senate President David Mark. Former
President Ibrahim Babangida, also a strong northern voice, is
out of the picture for the moment as he is in California with
his wife, whom we understand may be dying of cancer. In
addition, we can never discount the influence and voice of
former President Obasanjo within the PDP on what to do next
as a result of Yar’Adua’s passing. We will continue to
provide spot reporting from all sources as this situation
continues, particularly on the military.
SANDERS
[Wikileaks] “Atiku Manipulated $40m NITEL Contract to Ericsson” – El Rufai
During the 2001 period when Nasiru El Rufai served as the Director of Bureau of Public Enterprise [BPE] under the 1st term presidency of the then President Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo, he shared a contact with the the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Howard F. Jeter where he shared his views on the corrupt tendencies of the then vice president of Nigeria, Abubakar Atiku.
In the recently released SECRET diplomatic documents by Wikileaks, Nasiru El Rufai opened up on how the then vice president manipulated a NITEL GSM Equipment Contract valued at $40million to suit him and his partners. He also detailed the sharp practices engaged by Atiku and his boys in office. He pointed to the then President as being aware of the dirty practices by Atiku.
Nasiru El Rufai, frustrated by Atiku’s antics, offered to resign. But the then President refused to accept his resignation.
READ BELOW
S E C R E T SECTION
SUBJECT: (C) NIGERIA: PRIVATIZATION DIRECTOR TO QUIT JOB OVER GSM EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
REF: (A) ABUJA 1679 (B) LAGOS 1933
Classified by Ambassador Howard F. Jeter for Reasons 1.5 (B)
and (D).
¶1. (S) Summary. Ambassador Jeter hosted Nasir El-Rufai,
Director-General of the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE),
for lunch on August 1 to discuss the current status of the
NITEL GSM Equipment contract. EconOff attended as notetaker.
El-Rufai was very candid about his relationship with the
Vice President, the Vice President,s stake in awarding the
GSM contract to Ericsson, and his own intention to leave his
position as head of the GON privatization agency. El-Rufai
claimed that the Vice President had manipulated the contract
award in favor of Ericsson and that this case is just one
example of what is commonly practiced in the Executive
branch, e.g., cushioning or manipulating contracts for
personal and political gain. He stated that because the
President believes him capable of manipulating the tendering
process, as alleged by Ericsson, he has no other choice but
to resign his position at the BPE. End Summary.
——
¶2. (C) On August 1, Ambassador hosted a private lunch for
Nasir El-Rufai to candidly discuss the NITEL GSM Equipment
contract, valued at approximately USD 40 million. (See
reftels for background on this issue.) In the intimate
setting of the Ambassador,s residence, El-Rufai stated that
NITEL/Ministry of Communications was continuing to negotiate
the contract terms with Ericsson. According to El-Rufai, the
GON asked Ericsson to deliver the products and services at
Motorola’s bid price, which was USD 10 million less than
Ericsson’s bid of USD 49 million. El-Rufai did not believe
Ericsson could fulfill the contract provisions at that price,
commenting that conclusion would only be reached if the two
sides agreed to cut 25 percent of the contract, through, for
example, reducing the number of proposed base stations. But,
El-Rufai said, “that 25 percent would have to be paid for by
someone.”
¶3. (C) When asked whether the President and Vice President
might reconsider the contract award, El-Rufai replied no,
despite the difficulties over negotiations, the Vice
President would “lose face” if Ericsson did not receive the
contract. However, El-Rufai did feel that a compromise could
be found that would allow the Vice President to save face and
allow Motorola to participate. He suggested that Ericsson
and Motorola split the contract: Ericsson could provide the
switching network and Motorola could provide the base
stations. He noted that this would allow each company to
provide the service in which it specializes. Because the
base stations represent a greater portion of the contract, he
recommended offering Ericsson some of the sub-contracting
work, such as the air conditioning towers and power
generation units, where neither company has specific
expertise. (Comment. El-Rufai’s suggestions may not carry
much weight, as he is not currently participating in the
negotiations with Ericsson. End Comment.)
¶4. (C) El-Rufai expressed his deep displeasure with events
immediately preceding the contract award to Ericsson. In a
recent meeting with President Obasanjo, the two discussed
Ericsson’s allegations that El-Rufai had manipulated the
tendering process to ensure Motorola’s success. (Note.
El-Rufai had written a lengthy letter to President Obasanjo
on July 8 defending his role in the tendering process and
pointing to the questionable activities of the Vice
President’s Aide-de-Camp, who acted on behalf of Ericsson.
At the time of El-Rufai’s meeting with Obasanjo, however, the
President had not read this letter. End Note.)
¶5. (C) El-Rufai commented that he would have preferred to
wait until the President had read his letter before
discussing it with him. During the meeting, President
Obasanjo told El-Rufai that he had total confidence in the
BPE Director-General, but that he believed El-Rufai was
clever enough to have manipulated the tendering process from
the outset to ensure Motorola’s success. The President then
said that El-Rufai had three problems: first, that there was
a popular perception that El-Rufai is “too clever”; second,
in fact, he is “too clever”; and third, his attitude towards
Ministers and the Vice President is not sufficiently
respectful or deferential.
¶6. (C) El-Rufai asked the President for permission to sue
Ericsson for defamation. Obasanjo reportedly refused this
request because of the negative political repercussions on
the Presidency. The President then asked El-Rufai what else
he could do for him. El-Rufai requested permission to leave
his position as Director-General of the BPE. El-Rufai argued
with the President that he could not oversee the country’s
privatization program if Obasanjo believed that El-Rufai was
capable of manipulating the tendering process. However,
El-Rufai said, the President refused to allow him to quit.
¶7. (C) El-Rufai confided to the Ambassador that despite the
President’s refusal, he still intended to leave the BPE after
a 2-3 month period. He said that he would not leave too soon
after the GSM Equipment tendering in order to avoid
speculation over the causes for his departure. El-Rufai
added that over the next few months he would expose his
deputy, Tijjani Abdullahi, and the Legal Department Head, to
his contacts at the Presidency in hopes that the President
would choose one of them as his successor. However, he
admitted that neither of them had political connections or a
close relationship with the Presidency. El-Rufai asked for
the support of the donor community in advocating for the new
BPE Director-General to come from within the agency’s ranks.
¶8. (C) Ambassador Jeter expressed sincere regret that
El-Rufai had decided to leave public service. The Ambassador
believed that the privatization program would severely suffer
and so would Nigeria. While El-Rufai seemed to appreciate
these sentiments, he did not soften his position on leaving
the job.
¶9. (C) El-Rufai also showed a great deal of resentment toward
Ericsson and promised to “get them” at a later time. He said
that “time is on my side” and that he was sure that sometime
in the future Ericsson would need his help and he would be
able to refuse them.
¶10. (S) The Ambassador asked about the quality of El-Rufai’s
personal relationship with the Vice President, noting that in
public their relationship had always appeared close.
El-Rufai replied that, yes, he had believed their
relationship was good. He commented that the Vice President
had never asked him to do anything unsavory or to “bring him
deals.” He said, however that a friend heard from former
Senate President Chuba Okadigabo, who is close with the Vice
President and helps him to “raise money” for the campaign war
chest, that the Vice President was unhappy with El-Rufai’s
performance because El-Rufai had never brought him a single
“deal” (read kickbacks).
¶11. (S) El-Rufai explained that the Vice President worked
through the Ministers, particularly the Minister of Works and
Housing, to manipulate public contracts for both building the
campaign war chest for the 2003 Presidential elections and,
he assumed, for personal gain. El-Rufai said that the
President was not a wealthy man and would not likely receive
campaign support from his supporters during the last
election. (Comment. The PDP party itself is barely solvent
and would not be able to offer the President much financial
support. End Comment.) Therefore, El-Rufai said, the
President was tacitly complicit in the Vice President’s “fund
raising” activities, but never involved himself directly so
as to “stay clean.” El-Rufai commented that the Vice
President came from a “dirty” background in the Customs
Service and had continued these practices in the Villa.
El-Rufai implied that the NITEL GSM Equipment contract was an
example of such activities.
¶12. (S) Comment. Many in the international community respect
Nasir El-Rufai for his integrity and forthrightness.
El-Rufai’s departure from public service would be a
devastating blow to the GON’s image of transparency and good
economic governance. Embassy officers have heard many times
from many sources that the Vice President is directly
involved in corrupt activities. El-Rufai’s testimony
provides more anecdotal evidence supporting these sources.
With El-Rufai gone, the Vice President will be more able to
manipulate the country’s privatization process for personal
and political gain. End Comment.
Jeter
Ex Kogi Gov’s Marrital woes: U.S Judge dismisses Audu’s documents
by Citizen Reporter
Says documents filled with irregularities and inconsistencies
Rules that marriage with wife is valid in Nigeria
A marriage breakdown rarely brings out the best in people. The temptation to pursue vendettas for past grievances can become overwhelming. Politicians are not left out of this sad event, the politicians most angrily seeking revenge on the pages of newspapers are those who felt most hard done by the damage and to their careers.
Prince Abubakar Audu former governor of Kogi state’s divorce case in faraway America is probably the most public marriage meltdown we have seen in some time.
A typical divorce usually doesn’t generate media attention. But a contentious one involving a former governor facing multiple corruption and criminal charges both at home and abroad merits a look.
It is a do or die affair for Prince Audu Abubakar a two time governor of Kogi state and a gubernatorial aspirant in the fort coming elections in Kogi State
The Audu’s case, by simply looking at the motions and counter motions filed with the Montgomery County District Court record, has not been pretty.
In the course of the Divorce case Prince Abubakar Audu at one time claimed he was never married to Mrs. Aisha Audu his wife for 10 years and his first lady while he was governor of Kogi State between1999-2003, according to court documents he denied marriage and sought for marriage validity in the State of Maryland where his wife and children now resides.
In a deposition obtained from him under oath on Wednesday after being shown the magnitude of evidence presented by his wife to proof marriage he wisely changed his earlier statements and accepted that Mrs. Aisha Audu was indeed his wife. Also during the deposition conducted in the presence of a Montgomery County Court Officer, Prince Abubakar Audu under oath accepted that he was the sole owner of Goldwindow LLC a firm he earlier claimed was not his, and the firm he claimed owned his property at Potomac, Maryland. It would be recalled that it was the same firm he used to evict his family from the Potomac residence last year after he claimed the property was not his own.
In a trial also yesterday to decide “Validity of Marriage” at the county court of Montgomery county Prince Abubakar Audu again tendered another document purportedly issued by the Kogi state court to correct a statutory declaration of marriage he presented as exhibit to the court that was alleged to have been falsified.
According to the DCR/Litigation for the Chief Registrar of Kogi State the dates and receipts in the document submitted by Prince Audu Abubakar was not in their records and no file existed in their record file and furthermore the character of the form used in the document was not in use in Kogi State, when asked by David Korteling lawyer to Mrs. Aisha Audu about the document and its obvious falsifications Prince Audu answered, “ The documents was done on my behalf by my personal assistant, all I do is just sign.” When asked by the District Judge for originals of the documents he answered he only has copies and his assistant might have the originals. Responding to the documents marked Exhibit 5, 6, 8, and 9 submitted by Prince Audu, Judge Michael Mason dismissed the documents and said they were unacceptable by the court as they were filled with enormous irregularities, inconsistencies and no proof of originals
Contrary to what he presents to the public and his comical attempt to make believe that his wife was after his properties, Prince Audu contradicted himself when he informed the court yesterday that his wife was a successful business woman that owns a factory in Abuja has companies with interest in Power, energy, oil and gas.
Lawyer to Mrs. Aisha Audu asked serious questions about the credibility of Prince Abubakar Audu, during his cross examination major inconsistencies were uncovered, when asked if he was ever indicted for corruption he denied and also denied ever being arrested nor detained by the EFCC.
In his ruling Judge Michael Mason declared that preponderance on the evidence before him it is declared that Prince Abubakar Audu and Mrs. Aisha Audu were married and thus have a valid Marriage, and also using evidence submitted by Prince Audu it also showed that he had a marriage with one Habiba Audu (Deceased) at that time also. In view of these findings they were said to be involved in polygamy which is not an acceptable form of marriage in the State of Maryland due to that practice the court cannot “Dissolve” the marriage and cannot continue the divorce case. The court also explained that Mrs. Aisha Audu’s brief residency in the State of Maryland was also another factor that was considered in the decision. Prince Audu’s request to have the judge null and void the marriage was also denied.
Furthermore, according to the judge the marriage is valid in Nigeria, and they both remain married until a divorce is obtained through acceptable means in Nigerian law. And for court purposes in the U.S the Maryland court does not recognize polygamy marriage.
Finally, the judge asserts that the Circuit Court in Montgomery County has jurisdiction to determine custody and child support for the children and that part of the case continues.
Meanwhile, an order of the court adjudicating, Prince Abubakar Audu in contempt of court for failure to pay child support order entered against him in a “Pendete lite order on May 17th, 2011 has been requested by his attorney’s to his wife, meanwhile a motion to reconsider yesterday’s judgment is being prepared as at press time by the wife’s counsel.
Chime orders purchase of 300 buses for sec. schools
-to set up Road Traffic Authority
In keeping with its vowed commitment to continue to give priority
attention to education, the Enugu State Government has placed order
for the purchase of three hundred new buses for distribution to all
the public secondary schools in the state.
The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chuks Ugwoke who announced
this while briefing the press at the end of the State Executive
Council Meeting in Enugu chaired by the Governor, Mr. Sullivan I.
Chime, said that the sum of more than One point five N1.551 billion
has been set aside for the purchase of the buses.
The Commissioner who was accompanied by his Culture and Tourism
counterpart, Mr. Joe Mmamelu, that of Education, Dr. Simon Ortuanya
and Mrs. Patricia Alum of Science and Technology said that government
embarked on the project to ease the problems of transportation facing
secondary schools in the state, especially during exams and schools
outings.
Mr. Ugwoke also said that the council approved a loan guarantee of
N200 million for the refurbishment of Nike Lake Resort Hotels to
improve on its first class hospitality to customers.
The Commissioner explained that money which will be paid back to the
bank that provided the facility by the operators of the hotel will be
spent on the total refurbishment of 88 standard rooms and 12 suites
now, while refurbishment in other sections will be carried out in
phases.
The council according to the Commissioner also approved that a draft
bill for the establishment of the State Road Traffic Management
Authority be sent to the State House of Assembly for its consideration
and possible passage into law.
He said that the bill if approved and passed into law would help
regulate control and manage road traffic within the state.
Mr. Ugwoke stated that the council approved the payment of the state
counterpart fund for the participation of three local governments in
the state in the Conditional Grant Scheme to the Local Government
Millennium Development Goals.
The six hundred million naira package will be shared in the ratio of
three hundred million naira representing fifty percent by the federal
government, one hundred and eighty million naira representing thirty
percent by the state government while the three benefiting council
areas of Aninri, Igbo-Etiti and Isi-Uzo will contribute N120 million
representing twenty percent of the entire fund.
Approval of the council was also given for the constitution of a
special committee to review all the agric related World Bank Assisted
projects/programmes in the state.
The committee to be headed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on
Health, Dr. Mrs. Edith Okolo, would help ensure that the impacts of
the programmes/projects are in line with the counterpart contributions
made or paid by government to finance them.
Maitama Sule, Fomer Nigerian Ambassador, a USA spy?
Below is a report released recently by Wikileaks concerning United States of America [USA]’s data gathering operations in Nigeria through its local spies planted/stationed around the Nigerian presidency.
The report exposes, the former Nigerian Ambassador to the United Nations, Maitama Sule as a USA spy.
Read the secret wire report to the USA – of Maitama Sule’s supplied information.
——
NIGERIA: NORTHERN SUPPORT FOR YAR’ADUA WANING, THOUGH TEMPERED BY FEAR
SUMMARY:
Maitama Sule (strictly protect), former Nigerian ambassador to the United Nations (1979-1983) and confidant of President Umaru Yar’Adua, averred that the northern political elite is increasingly apprehensive about Yar’Adua’s health and his capacity to continue to govern, and
is fearful the North may lose the presidency to the South if Yar’Adua dies, although we note that there are other factors at play on this issue besides Yar’Adua’s health, particularly if the Supreme Court calls for a new election.
While Sule believes that President’s performance during his first year in office has suffered due to his ailing health, he assessed Yar’Adua has succeeded in disentangling and distancing himself from former President Obasanjo. Sule informed that Yar’Adua wants to further reduce Obasanjo’s influence both within the Villa and the National Assembly. Consequently, Sule remarked, Yar’Adua intends to replace current Chief of Staff, and Obasanjo-loyalist, Abdullahi Mohammed. (Nigerian press reported May 30 that Mohammed has resigned, and will officially vacate office June 2.)
Sule confided that some influential northerners are currently pressuring former National Security Adviser, Aliyu Muhammad Gusau, to consider taking over as Chief of Staff.
Also, Sule alleged that Obasanjo is working to bribe the Supreme Court to overturn President Yar’Adua’s April 2007 election. While claiming
that First Lady Turai Yar’Adua is heavily involved in corrupt activities, Sule insisted that President Yar’Adua is committed to remaining personally untainted by corruption.
To that end, Sule asserted, President Yar’Adua recently turned down $60 million, which had been offered to him as the President’s personal “share” of Nigeria’s monthly oil earnings. Although Yar’Adua, according to Sule, allegedly ordered his “share” to be deposited into the nation’s treasury, Sule also said First Lady Turai pocketed $60 million while Senate President David Mark and House Speaker Dimeji Bankole each pocketed $30 million. We still contend however, that it is impossible for Yar’Adua not to know about his wife’s illicit activity even if he is not personally accepting bribes or engaging in such activity. END SUMMARY.
¶2. (S//NF) Maitama Sule (strictly protect), former Nigerian ambassador to the United Nations (1979-1983) and well-known confidant of President Umaru Yar’Adua spoke with PolOff at his Kano residence May 15 (see Ref A for Sule biographical information). Sule lamented the northern political elite remains increasingly apprehensive about Yar’Adua’s health.
Whereas earlier health-related predictions of Yar’Adua’s prognosis had been relatively positive, current estimates, Sule observed, paint a somber picture of the President’s strength, and consequently, his capacity to continue to govern. With the prospect of Yar’Adua’s death while still in
office figuring prominently in the minds of many in the North, Sule remarked that the North fears it may inadvertently forfeit its turn to hold the presidency. Such an eventuality, Sule bemoaned, would impair the North’s ability to retain influence and help chart a more positive course for northerners, especially after eight years of what northerners deem Obasanjo’s injurious influence on the North.
¶3. (S//NF) Sule believes that Yar’Adua has succeeded in distancing himself from Obasanjo, and appears more committed to attenuating Obasanjo’s influence within the Villa. To that end, Sule said, Yar’Adua plans to reshuffle the cabinet to replace Obasanjo-loyalists within the Villa. In particular, Sule noted that the northern political elite is working to convince former National Security Adviser Aliyu Muhammad Gusau to rebuff entreaties by Ibrahim Babangida to aid him in a return to power, and instead, accede to the position of Yar’Adua’s Chief of Staff, which is currently held by Obasanjo-loyalist Abdullahi Mohammed. (Nigerian press reported May 30 that Mohammed resigned with effect from June 2. Gbolade Osinowo, Senior Special Assistant to President Yar’Adua will act as Chief of Staff until a replacement is announced.)
Sule said that Gusau has been reluctant to accept anything less than the presidency, given that he too wanted to be the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the April 2007 presidential elections (Ref B).
Sule admitted that Obasanjo’s influence within the PDP has not been as circumscribed as Yar’Adua had hoped. However, by limiting Chief of Staff Mohammed’s (and potentially, other Obasanjo-loyalists’) access to the President, Sule argued, Obasanjo would be left in the dark since he would neither be able to influence Yar’Adua nor be privy to the ins and outs of the Villa. Sule reasoned, as well, that a powerful Chief of Staff loyal to Yar’Adua would ensure not only that Obasanjo’s power within the Villa would be diminished, but also that the influence of the ambitious (though certainly not tied to Obasanjo) Secretary to the Government Babagana Kingibe would be reduced.
¶4. (S//NF) Sule also intimated that Obasanjo, in concert with Senate President David Mark, is working to bribe the Supreme Court to overturn President Yar’Adua’s April 2007 election (see Ref C). (In the event that the Supreme Court annuls the President’s election, the Constitution stipulates that the Senate President administers an interim government for a period of up to 90 days pending fresh elections. However,
Mark has his own political troubles as his election too had been overturned in late February 2008.)
Moreover, Sule stated that in his judgment, the President’s lackluster performance over this past year should be viewed in light of his ailing health. Despite his shortcomings, Sule said, some of the northern elite continue to politically support Yar’Adua not least because he is viewed as committed to preserving northern interests.
¶5. (S//NF) While claiming that First Lady Turai Yar’Adua is heavily involved in corrupt practices, and especially real estate fraud, Sule insisted that President Yar’Adua is committed to remaining personally untainted by corruption.
To that end, Sule asserted, President Yar’Adua recently turned down approximately $60 million, which had been offered to him by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as the President’s personal “share” of Nigeria’s monthly oil earnings (Nigeria has produced around 2 million bpd, though production has dropped recently to 1.8 million bpd).
Allegedly, Sule said, the NNPC (beginning under former President Obasanjo’s administration) allocated USD 1.00 per barrel of Nigerian oil sold as a type of personal payment or “kickback” to the President. While Yar’Adua reportedly ordered his “share” to be deposited into the nation’s treasury, Sule claimed that the First Lady pocketed her husband’s reported share, while Senate President David Mark and House Speaker Dimeji Bankole pocketed USD 0.50/barrel (e.g., $30 million).
In light of the possibility that Obasanjo could have stolen billions of dollars under this arrangement, Sule told PolOff that Yar’Adua told him that he
may use this information, perhaps one day in the near future,
to indict Obasanjo for corruption. The problem however,
according to Sule, rested in the fact that Yar’Adua
recognized that if he were to pursue Obasanjo, he may
unwittingly subject his wife and close advisers to greater
scrutiny, and risk his own political survival.
¶6. (S//NF) Sule said that Yar’Adua had effectively quashed
efforts by Obasanjo to direct Senate President David Mark, et
al. to inflate allocation requests for the 2008 budget in
order to funnel a substantial portion of those extra funds to
Obasanjo (Ref E). Sule told PolOff that the various chairs
of the budget committees in both the House of Representatives
and Senate were Obasanjo-loyalists. The disagreements
between the National Assembly (NASS) and President Yar’Adua
over the passage of the budget resulted from Yar’Adua’s
desire to limit Obasanjo’s influence over the NASS, and to
assert his own authority, Sule opined. Furthermore, Sule
said the Senate and House had unsuccessfully attempted to
extort money from the Presidency in order to pass the budget.
¶7. (C//NF) Retired Major General, and current chair of the
northern interest group the Arewa Consultative Forum, Ibrahim
Haruna (strictly protect) told PolOff May 29 that although
President Yar’Adua is a fellow northerner, he has been a
“disaster” for Nigeria since his inauguration May 2007.
ABUJA 00001018 003 OF 003
Haruna opined that Yar’Adua, in one year, has not delivered
on any of the promises he had made to the North. To the
contrary, Haruna asserted, Yar’Adua has been “reaping the
rewards” of the presidency without having to “lift a finger.”
Haruna alleged that Yar’Adua has demonstrated during his
first year in office that he is more interested in “owning
oil wells” in the Delta than in conducting Nigeria’s
political affairs.
———–
AN ANALYSIS
———–
¶8. (S//NF) We believe Sule’s assessment that Yar’Adua is
successfully (albeit slowly) disengaging himself from
Obasanjo is valid, and his information on the First Lady’s
alleged illicit enrichment activities tracks with other
reporting. However, Sule may be exaggerating the political
support Yar’Adua has in the North. Or, at the least, Sule
may be conflating the North’s support for Yar’Adua with the
North’s desire to hold onto its turn for the presidency.
Over the course of Yar’Adua’s first year in office and slow
pace of reform, northern elite opinions of the President seem
to have gradually shifted (see also Ref D), as they worry not
only about his health but also forfeiting the presidency to
the South. While some have argued that Yar’Adua is committed
to safeguarding northern interests, others have maintained
that the President has proven to be both incapable and
unwilling to do anything positive for the North (and the rest
of Nigeria). Certainly, several northern contacts with whom
we have spoken have said, time and again, that the North
fears it may lose the helm of political affairs should
President Yar’Adua die in office or fail to return as the
PDP’s candidate in any re-run of last year’s presidential
race (in the event the Supreme Court overturns his April 2007
election). After one year in office, many northerners
consider Yar’Adua equally as complicit as Obasanjo in the
North’s underdevelopment, and accuse the President of turning
a blind eye to his own region. After all, one of the
principal grievances of the North during Obasanjo’s past
administration was not simply that Obasanjo was from the
South and ignored Northern interests, but that Obasanjo
successfully thwarted efforts by the North to exert its
relevance in his administration.
¶9. (S//NF) Additionally, many prominent northerners have
spoken out against not only Obasanjo’s mismanagement of the
Nigerian government’s vast resources, but also President
Yar’Adua’s unimpressive record of performance over this past
year. It appears that the northern political elite’s desire
to retain the presidency is separate, to a degree, from its
support for this particular northern president, or even for
concerns that Yar’Adua may be ineffectual or corrupt. In the
short term, desire for a Northern president may temper
criticism for Yar’Adua in certain circles. However, with
time, it is difficult to surmise how the desire for the North
to retain the presidency can sustain support for Yar’Adua
unless he begins to pick up the pace. END COMMENT.
SANDERS
REF: A. 07 ABUJA 2616
¶B. 07 ABUJA 47
¶C. ABUJA 799
¶D. 07 ABUJA 1671
¶E. ABUJA 643
Classified By: A/Pol/C Heather Merritt, reasons 1.4 (b, c & d).
How Godswill Akpabio Ruined the Vigil Night of Christy Essien Ibokwe
It was Tuesday night in Lagos. The organizers referred to the event in honor of Christiana Essien-Ibokwe as the “Red Carpet Tribute Night.” In plain English, it could be translated to mean a wake-keeping by the rich and powerful in honor of Christiana Essien Ibokwe. Attendants were only by invitation. Invitation messages were sent to several but highly selected dignitaries. Those invited included the who’s who in the world of music, entertainment, business, academia, and politics. Godswill Akpabio was also invited, an invitation which turned out to have been a big mistake.
After all the usual protocol of jaw-jaw, he-he, and ha-ha, invitees were given the opportunity to heap whatever opprobrium they could muster on the late lady of music. Then it was Akpabio’s turn. Rather than console Christiana Ibokwe, something else, which was never expected, filled the air, which ended up ruining the event for the family of the late Christy, to the consternation of everyone.
What the family of Christy did not know was that one of the planners of the vigil night had accepted money from Akpabio to promote his propaganda messages. After the speech presented by a well-known University don (name withheld), Akpabio was supposed to be the next in line to speak. When Akpabio stood up to speak, he was still standing when all of a sudden all the light-bulbs in the room were dimmed. At the time, everyone thought maybe the family was going to show a documentary film on the life and career of Christy. But, no; it was nothing even close to the what everyone thought.
Appearing on the wide canvass screen was a documentary film showing roads in Akwa Ibom State. The documentary also showed the prison in Ikot Ekpene, the Police Station in Ukana, the Airport, the Governor’s Mansion, and, of course, Akpabio himself. The narrator extolled the accomplishments of Akpabio and all his virtues for Akwa Ibom State as if the night will never end. What it did not show was the blood-soaked body of Edidem Robert Obot as he slumped on the floor when Akpabio ordered him murdered on a mere suspicion that he was going to defect to the side of those Akpabio in his warped mind perceives as opposition.
What the documentary on Akwa Ibom State did not show was the naked body of Mama Udonwa, which was dumped by the road side after she was murdered simply because Akpabio couldn’t kill her son (Iniekong Udonwa), who was contemplating on challenging Akpabio for the governorship of the State.
The film did not also show the bullet-ridden and blood-soaked body of Chief Paul Inyang when he was gunned down on the orders of Godswill Akpabio over a mere suspicion that the late Chief was planning to dine and wine with those Akpabio refers to as opposition.
No, the film did not show any of that. It did not show all the kidnappings sponsored by Akpabio in the State. It did not show incidents of armed robbery, which has now become an institution in Akwa Ibom State. It did not show the young girls that ply the streets of Akwa Ibom and roam the brothels just because Akpabio has refused to create for them the opportunity for gainful employment.
While the film was extolling the lies of Godswill Akpabio, it covered up the hunger among the people and all the hardships that now seem to be part and parcel of the culture of Akwa Ibom people. It did not even mention that workers have not been paid since the beginning of 2011. It did not mention the sufferings of the people as a result of banning the only means of available transportation for the people. Rather, all the documentary showed was Akpabio this and Akpabio that.
As would be expected, the attendees were fumed with anger when it finally dawned on them that Akpabio was exploiting the burial event of a prominent and an outstanding lady to promote his ill-gotten wealth, a lady who, until her very last days on earth, used to write petitions upon petitions complaining about how Akpabio was engaging in a secret plan to kill her and other members of her family. While the documentary about Akpabio rolled, nobody laughed. Nobody clapped. And nobody raised any voice of objection. Instead, people, one-by-one, began to walk out of the room (including yours truly, who was also among those invited). By the time the husband of Christy ordered the so-called documentary stopped, no one was left in the room, except, of course, Akpabio and his team of entourage.
What a way to promote and revamped a bruised self-image! I think Godswill Akpabio’s mental illness has reached the level of uncontrollable proportion. Maybe Doctor Essien (his personal physician) needs to reduce the dose of his medication. If Akpabio’s behavior is not bordered on pure psychotic, how else can anyone justifiably explain broadcasting of a propaganda film at the funeral remembrance of a loved one? Especially if the person remembered, while alive, used to complain that the man disseminating the propaganda was her enemy? It is very clear that Godswill Akpabio is increasingly becoming the embarrassment of Akwa Ibom State. How Akpabio’s foolishness and stupidity is rubbing on every Akwa Ibom person can only be summed up in the words of a none Akwa Ibom person who said this to an Akwa Ibom man that offended him; “You Calabar people de craze like una governor.”
Essien writes from Portland, Oregon,
Gov Sullivan Chime in sex scandal
by Citizen Reporter
Over the weekend, it was gathered that a big sex scandal was on the offing in Enugu.At the centre of the sex scandal is the state governor, Sullivan Chime and his sister-in-law, Ebere Igwe. Ebere is the younger sister of Clara Chime, the governor’s wife and first lady of Enugu state. It was reliably gathered from sources in Enugu that the extra-marital affairs between Chime and his sister-in-law recently produced a baby boy.
A source in Enugu Government House disclosed that the romance between Governor Chime and Ebere, started shortly after he married Clara in October 2008. The lavish traditional marriage at Isuochi home town of the Igwe’s costed the state government over 500 million naira, not minding the fact that Chime was marrying Clara as a second wife having divorced his first wife from Ogakwu family in Udi town where he hails from. Immediately after the ceremony, Clara moved into the Governor’s lodge with Ebere her younger sister who just graduated from Abia State University. Unknown the first lady, this was the beginning of an affair between her husband and Ebere.
Few months after, the first lady noticed that the Governor was smiling at Ebere all the time and became suspicious of them. Not wanting to lose her husband to her younger sister, the first lady suggested that her sister should go abroad for her masters. However, by the time Ebere left the country for her masters’ programme abroad, she was already into a deep relationship with the Governor. She benefited a brand new Toyota car and frequent overseas trips from the relationship which continued even while she was studying abroad.
The affair however blew open sometime last year when Ebere returned to the country after her studies abroad and told the first lady that she was pregnant for the governor. Clara was so shocked to the point that she suffered a mental disorder. The first lady was taken to Rv.Fr. Njoku’s Upper Room Ministries at Emene Enugu for healing and when her mental state could not improve, her mother took her to a native doctor who succeeded in stabilizing her mind, even as the governor turned a blind eye to her situation. During the period of the first lady’s mental ordeal, her only son suffered malaria to the point it entered his brain. There are fears that the boy may not be normal again.
The first lady thereafter told her younger sister to abort the pregnancy, but she refused. The first lady sent thugs after her younger sister, and when the governor got wind of the plan, he made special security arrangements for her. To make sure that the pregnancy was not tampered with, the governor sent Ebere to the United States where she eventually delivered a baby boy recently. However, the first lady swore not to allow her younger sister to come into government house again. Ebere’s whereabouts remain unknown , although an unconfirmed source said that she is nursing the baby at the governor’s Udi countryhome. The scandal has forced the first lady to maintain low profile to the point that she sends either the wife of the Secretary to State Government or Speaker of the House of assembly to represent her in public functions. She no longer attends her weekly prayer programme.
The latest scandal marked the climax of Governor Chime’s sex escapades. A few days before the last election, he was battered by a jealous husband at Permanent Secretaries quarters behind Enugu Government House. He had sneaked in for a show with a female permanent secretary who he monetized a home for, not knowing that the husband was on red alert. The man manhandled the governor. On several occasions the first lady suffered public embarrassment trying to recover Porsche cars her husband acquired for young girls using state funds. On one occasion, the first lady trailed Chime to an Abuja hotel based on a tip off and the first citizens of the state clashed before one of his female associates.
It also common knowledge in Enugu that Chime keeps permanent suits in hotels in Enugu like Golden Tulip and Neo-Court where she meets girls, atimes in groups to satiate his libido, comparable only to that of former President, Olusegun Obasanjo. Besides, he is known as a regular customer to night clubs and often soaks himself with alcohol.
His sexual escapades made most people in Enugu who were before now praising his urban road rehabilitation, to become very critical of his administration.
“We are tired of this his so called urban road rehabilitation. Since 2007, he has been rehabilitating road and we are in 2011. Our public hospitals are in a despicable state. Our primary and secondary schools are dead. We don’t have water in Enugu. The situation is worse in the communities and yet somebody is taking vain glory for patching roads and repairing street lights put by Jim Nwobodo in the 80’s. We have only about nineteen thousand workers in the state and he cannot pay minimum wage, yet he spends millions on luxury cars for girls” a concerned Enugu resident explained.
[247ureports.com is not responsible for the accuracy of the contents of the above report]
Ngor/Okpala: A Council Area in Need of Development
Written by Nwaorgu Faustinus
There is no questioning the fact that Ngor/Okpala one of the oldest Local Government Areas in Imo State has not been given its pride of place in the scheme of things, politically or in terms of development. From 1999 to date one can hardly pinpoint one envious, jealousy-oriented or generating political position given to its daughters or sons at the international, national or state levels. Where this exists they prematurely fizzle out, perhaps a case of use and dump politics that has characterized politicking in this part of the world.
A few, mainly our sons, brothers, uncles, cousins etc whom most people believed managed to rig themselves back to elective positions after making mouth-watering promises during electioneering, turn their backs on their constituency while allegedly lining their bottomless vaults with the common wealth and patrimony. When constituency-fund-driven projects are initiated, they are not only purportedly inflated, but also sparingly and selfishly executed with the ultimate purpose to attract the praises of sycophants or praise singers who have sold their conscience to the dogs and for porridge of yam. All appears we have accustomed ourselves to this grave injustice and marginalization. Complacency with the present state of affairs has become the in thing.
Again, one finds it difficult to identify and appreciate state or third tier embarked-development projects that have direct impacts on its inhabitants. The bottom line is: Ngor/Okpala has been marginalized. Take a tour of the over twenty two communities that make up the council area, what is on ground in terms of infrastructure will surely sadden a dispassionate assessor. Is it in the area of roads, health centers, public schools, erosion control, poverty eradication, youth employment or job creation – it is saddening?
I remembered vividly the comment made by the current governor of Imo state, Owelle Rochas Okoroha about the poor nature of Ngor/Okpala LGA roads when he was campaigning prior to the April 2011 gubernatorial election. The manner he spoke on the nature of roads in the area left no one in doubt that he will swing into action with a view to renovating and building new key roads which this writer had identified in his article titled “Barr. Enyinna Onuegbu and the challenge of Ngor/Okpala Council Area” which was published in some internet based media sites.
Hundred days have elapsed since the Governor assumed the reins of power, socio-political commentators, guest writers, analysts of Ngor/Okpala extraction among others have continued to watch the state government and hope patiently that in no distant time, impact-directed-development projects will be bestowed on this disadvantaged council area that ultimately played noteworthy role in ushering Owelle Rochas into the Douglas House five months ago. Having performed somewhat averagely within the past one hundred days, by commencing road construction in some areas (not in Ngor/Okpala), payment of pensioners’ backlog of arrears and free transport to their LGAs, introduction of free education in state public schools, slight reduction in tuition fee, distribution of kerosene across the 27 LGAs etc have shown that he has the interest of Imolites at heart. These friendly initiatives for many a commentator is complete departure from the administration of his predecessor, Governor Ohakim who some believed acted like the biblical Rehoboam. Notwithstanding the above commendable positive gestures, for some commentators who hail from the council area, the appointment of one of their sons as attorney general of the state government is not good enough as he is there to serve the interest of himself, the state governments, his appointer’s, political associates’ and cronies’ – not the general interest Ngor/Okpala people.
Apart from the ever yearning need of appreciable infrastructural development in the council area namely, road construction, equipping and renovating public schools and hospitals, rural electrification, locating industries, both public/private tertiary institutions and at least one commercial bank to create job opportunity for the teeming number of unemployed youths, it is also behooves the person representing Ngor/Okpala in the State House of Assembly to use his position to tackle the menace of golly erosion that has become a threat to those living close to Umuneke River. Those who use the votes of Ngor/Okpala electorates to ascend to elective pinnacle should not ignore the council area by bequeathing on it lasting and commendable development projects not just to be remembered but also to be reelected in subsequent elections based on what they were able to achieve developmentally during their first tenure or risk the melancholic fate that befall the Ex-Governor, Ikedi Ohakim who campaigned vigorously Ngor/Okpala to seek for votes and spent so much money but was shown the way out just for a change. The people from the council area are wiser ever than before as shown by what they did to Owelle Rochas’ predecessor during the supplementary elections and would not accept anything short of enduring developmental projects. The time to act is now. God bless Ngor/Okpala.
Nwao(r)gu, Faustinus wrote from Port Harcourt, Rivers State and be reached on 08035601312.
E-mail:ngor/okpalaresearcher@gmail.com or ngor/okpalaresearcher@yahoomail.com
2011 National Seminar On Economic Crime: A Communiqué
WHEREAS the National Seminar on Economic Crime held from the 5th – 7th September, 2011;
AND WHEREAS the Executive Committee of the National Seminar on Economic Crime held its 8th Seminar under the theme “National Development: the Challenges of Global Economic Crimes”;
GIVEN that we as participants recognize and envisage that the National Seminar amongst others, seeks to assess the impact of corruption, money laundering, cyber crime, terrorist financing and terrorism on national development, the use of international anti-corruption instruments in addressing bribery and corruption in the Nigerian business environment, as well as provide a platform for practitioners to network and share experience and best practices toward improved cooperation in the fight against economic and financial crimes;
RECOGNIZING further that we as participants in this National Seminar on Economic Crime having come from different spheres of human endeavor and having lived and endured the negative effects of corruption and other economic crime, have resolved to formulate a common response to arouse deep critical analysis, adopt global best practices and align with the transformation agenda of the Federal Government for the eradication of corruption, economic and financial crimes in Nigeria;
ACKNOWLEDGING that as participants from different facets of the Nigerian economic environment, being professionals and persons in business, we urge government, leaders of thought and the organized private sector to support the work and aspirations of the National Seminar on Economic Crime.
THEREFORE, we make the following observations:
- That the prolonged delay in the trial of corruption cases is creating doubt in the minds of the public as to the sincere commitment of the relevant stakeholders in the anti-corruption crusade.
- That the harmful effects of corruption and other economic and financial crimes on national development engenders poverty; unemployment; waste, inequitable distribution of income and the near collapse of our revered national ethics and cultural values,
- That corruption and money laundering distort the economy and result in capital flight which in turn fosters massive economic deprivation and insecurity currently being experienced in the country,
- That critical infrastructure must be developed and protected as a national asset to ensure that it does not fall prey to the vagaries of cyber crime syndicates across trans national borders,
- That Nigeria is yet to imbibe the current global trend in legislation as it relates to extra-territoriality of anti-corruption regimes which favors a more aggressive approach that targets the individuals within corporate entities, their accomplices wherever they are in the world as enunciated in the USA Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and the UK Anti-Bribery Act,
- That law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies in the country are not making adequate use of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit’s intelligence in investigating and prosecuting their cases,
- That there are disparate anti-corruption, anti-terrorism and economic crimes strategies being implemented amongst Law Enforcement Agencies which have resulted in disjointed administration of the anti-corruption as well as economic and financial crimes agenda in Nigeria,
- That the absence of a non conviction based asset forfeiture law in Nigeria is a major obstacle in the fight against economic crime,
- That the private sector is yet to adopt global best practices in corporate social responsibility,
- That the recent passage of the Freedom of Information Act is a watershed in the fight against corruption and other economic crime as it aims to advance transparency in government business,
- That the Comatose state of the Public Complaints Commission (Ombudsman) discourages the public from buying into the Anti Corruption Crusade.
RESOLUTIONS:
The 8th National Seminar resolves:
i. That the Attorney General of the Federation should as a matter of urgency:
- Re-present the Bill for a Non-Conviction Based Asset Forfeiture law as an important complimentary instrument in the Anti-Corruption fight,
- Initiate process for the establishment of special courts for the expeditious disposal of corruption cases,
- Take necessary steps to domesticate global Anti-corruption legislations which make corruption a high risk venture like the models implemented by the UK and USA regarding anti-bribery and foreign corrupt practices respectively, and
- Finalize work on the National Strategy on Anti Corruption which will drive the Anti Corruption Campaign.
ii. That the National Assembly should urgently consider reviewing the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011:
- By reducing the reporting threshold for financial transactions to facilitate effective monitoring of funds movement, and
- By increasing the penalties for money laundering offences to make them commensurate with the crimes in order to serve as deterrence to potential offenders,
iii. That the National Assembly should expedite consideration and enactment of the Whistleblower Protection Law to guarantee the safety of whistleblowers and encourage effective reportage of incidences of corruption and other economic crime.
iv. That the private sector must begin to see their responsibilities under the Corporate Social Responsibility principle as a compulsory and necessary duty and not as charity.
v. That the government must correspondingly perform its constitutional duty of utilizing public funds in a prudent and efficient manner to provide goods and services in order to make life more meaningful for the citizenry,
vi. That a comprehensive cyber crime and critical infrastructure law in Nigeria should be enacted to provide for effective monitoring and investigation of cyber crime,
- That Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA’s) in Nigeria should leverage the vast financial intelligence domiciled within the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) in the fight against economic and financial crimes and terrorism financing,
- That there is need for consolidation of strategies amongst LEA’s as it relates to anti-corruption, anti-terrorism and economic crimes with each agency having clear scope of implementation and measurable performance indicators,
ix. That all critical stakeholders in the Nigeria project should as a matter of urgency, publicize and collaborate to ensure the utilization of the Freedom of Information Act as a potent instrument for the advancement of the cause of the war against corruption and economic crime.
x. That there should be a centralized National Database of all GSM SIM card subscribers, fixed telephone lines, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) wireless lines and broad band modems domiciled with the National Identity Management Commission to facilitate efficient and effective law enforcement and reduce the incidents of advance fee fraud, kidnapping, terrorism and other threats to national security.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The participants applauded the Executive Committee of the National Seminar on Economic Crime, the EFCC and all the organizing institutions for organising the seminar.
Adopted this 7th Day of September 2011 Abuja, Nigeria
Signed: Executive Committee, National Seminar on Economic Crime
