[Wikileaks] How US Amb. Sanders kicked EFCC Chairwoman, Farida Waziri out of Minister’s House

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Frustrated by the “cold shoulder” treatment given to the Chairwoman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC], Madam Farida Waziri by the government of the United States of America [USA] owing to what the USA believed was the result of her being corrupt and lack of progress in the fight against corruption in Nigeria – the Chairwoman of the EFCC sought avenues to reaching the USA government through the American Ambassador in Abuja, Robin R. Sanders.

In mid 2008, the USA government had given instructions to the Ambassador in Abuja “not to have any contact with Mrs. Waziri until such time as the USA government saw progress on issues on corruption” which were earlier stated to the EFCC Chairwoman. The USA government was not happy with the manner the EFCC Chairman was piloting the affairs of the EFCC – particularly the cases of ex-Delta State Governor Ibori, Waziri’s lack of political independence, the redeployment of previously USA trained EFCC agents.

To this effect, the USA Ambassador blacklisted the EFCC Chairwoman. And, in reaction, the EFCC Chairwoman mounted a struggle to meet with the Ambassador through numerous invitations to public and private events – of which the Ambassador turned down repeatedly.

As a last desparate move to reach the Ambassador, the EFCC Chairwoman sought the assistance of the then foreign minister [FonMin], Maduekwe. Waziri pleaded with the FonMin to intercede on her behalf since Maduekwe is believed to be in good terms with the USA Ambassador. Maduekwe agreed. The two [Waziri + Maduekwe] then planned to ambush the American Ambassador.

On the Saturday evening of March 14, 2009, Maduekwe placed a call to the Ambassador inviting her for lunch at his home on March 15 being the next day to discuss on matters concerning President Yar’Adua and his coming visit to the USA.  Ambassador arrived, was greeted in the normal fashion, and walked in the parlor to find another person sitting in the corner in the room.  The Fonmin then announced that he had someone with whom he wanted the Ambassador to talk, and thought [at the last minute, he claimed] he would take advantage of the March 15 lunch to arrange that discussion.  Once the dark glasses were off, the visitor was revealed to be Farida Waziri, Chairwoman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC].

The Ambassador immediately lost her cool and blasted but the FonMin and Waziri – stressing that she was under instructions not to have any contact with Mrs. Waziri until such time as the USA government saw progress on issues which had discussed with the Government of Nigeria on several occasions, and that if the Minister had arranged the lunch for her to talk with Mrs. Waziri, the Ambassador could not stay.

The Ambassador turned to Mrs. Waziri, saying she hoped the USG position was clear to her, but reiterated:  that there would be no meetings with her; that she would not be received by USG officials if she visited the U.S., though she certainly was not barred from traveling to the U.S. for personal reasons (she does hold a valid U.S. visa); and, that constantly seeking a meeting with, or inviting the Ambassador to her events, only put the Ambassador in the position of being rude in not being able to respond.

An embarrassed EFCC Chairwoman apologized to the Ambassador stating that she was sorry the U.S. considered her not competent to do her job, and thought she was involved in file tampering, something she insisted she would not do. 

Maduekwe then asked his wife to escort Mrs. Waziri out.

READ the WIRE cable below. It was classified as Confidential by Ambassador Robin R. Sanders on March 16,2009 – and due to declassification on March 16, 2019.

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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000458 

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2019

SUBJECT: NIGERIA: FOREIGN MINISTER SETS UP SURPRISE ENCOUNTER WITH EFCC CHAIRWOMAN

 Classified By: Ambassador Robin R. Sanders for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

1. (C) Foreign Minister Maduekwe called the Ambassador late

Saturday March 14 [of 2009] to ask her to lunch on March 15 to discuss

AMISOM following his most recent talks with President

Yar’Adua on the issue, as well as to discuss his upcoming

trip to Washington to meet with SecState and attend other

private meetings.  Ambassador arrived, was greeted in the

normal fashion, and walked in the parlor to find another

person sitting in the corner in the room.  The Fonmin then

announced that he had someone with whom he wanted the

Ambassador to talk, and thought (at the last minute, he

claimed) he would take advantage of the March 15 lunch to

arrange that discussion.  Once the dark glasses were off, the

visitor was revealed to be Farida Waziri, Chairwoman of the

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

2. (C) The Ambassador immediately said she was under

instructions not to have any contact with Mrs. Waziri until

such time as the USG saw progress on issue

Senator Sidi Ali Vs Hon. Etsu Zhin: Between Failed Senatorial Representation and Distraction?

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Does Senator Sidi Ali think he is deceiving the people of FCT with his so called petition to EFCC against Honourable Danladi Zhin or what? For four years he represented FCT in the Senate, he did not attract a single project to any area council in FCT. If he had attracted Roads and Housing projects in any of those councils that make up FCT; he would have known their costs, through which comparison can be made with those projects executed by Hon. Zhin. Nobody in FCT knows the constituency office of Senator Sidi Ali, yet, millions of Naira was given for its management by NASS. This is a case of pot calling kettle black- A frustrated former supporter of Senator Sidi Ali.       

Political pundits and observers have reasoned that Senator Sidi Ali, the erstwhile senatorial representative of the Federal Capital Territory [FCT], is certainly not the best person to accuse any area council Chairman in FCT of financial impropriety, not to talk of his prime benefactor, Honourable Danladi Etsu Zhin, who he is accusing of corruption for obvious reason that his tenure as the representative of Abuja in his capacity as a Senator was at best, a waste to the people. Although, it is the function of the National Assembly to expose corruption in the area councils, in the case of FCT, as part of their oversight function, but when one realizes that NASS is made up of both the Senate and House of Representatives, with the House having more legitimacy to oversight function due to the fact that they are the direct representatives of the people, one begins to wonder why commensurate noise is not coming from them on alleged corruption in Kuje area council and FCT in  general. 

There is no doubt that politics is the root cause of the friction between Honourabe Zhin and Senator Sidi Ali. For almost four [4] years as Senator in FCT, Sidi Ali did not forward petition of alleged corruption of Zhin to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC], it was when he failed in his bid to get re-election in his party [PDP] that he remembered that there was corruption in Kuje area council. In-fact, were it possible that EFCC is empowered by law to conduct integrity test on each and every petitioner, there was no way Senator Sidi Ali would not have been detained to account for his stewardship at the Senate that was abysmal.  It could be recalled that Senator Sidi Ali entered into the political lexicon of FCT in 2007, when he contested the senatorial election and lost to Senator Jubrin Wowo, the former Chairman of Kuje area council. Luck however, smiled on Sidi Ali when the election of Wowo was canceled on account of exclusion. The resultant re-run election presented another opportunity for Sidi Ali to try his luck once again. Senator Ali knew that he had outside chance of defeating Senator Wowo, who was the incumbent with solid structure on ground then.  

Ordinarily, it was impossible for Sidi Ali to win the re-run election because of the obvious reason that he had no political structure in FCT. But when Zhin provided his huge structure and goodwill, it was not surprising that he eventually won the re-run. Information has it that Zhin mobilized support for Senator Sidi Ali from his core zones- which include Kuje, Gwagwalada, Kwali and Abaji. Zhin’s huge support base in these areas is of course, a function of his long stay as the Secretary of the ruling People’s Democratic Party [PDP] in FCT. As the lynchpin of PDP in FCT, Zhin naturally was in good position to influence voting pattern in an election in FCT and that was exactly what he did in that re- run election. So it was not unexpected that Sidi defeated Senator Jubrin Wowo in the re-run election.

No sooner had Sidi Ali became the senator representing FCT, than he turned his back on the people. He did not make any impact in FCT for almost four years that he stayed at the National Assembly. He completely detached himself from the electorates in Abuja. As of today, Senator Sidi Ali cannot pinpoint to projects in FCT in his name that have impacted positively on the people. Watchers of FCT politics have repeatedly asked whether Senator Sidi Ali gave accurate account of the constituency allowance he collected at the national assembly. If Sidi Ali had constituency office, only he and his family knew.  What effort did Sidi Ali invest in fighting the marginalization of his people?

The poor representation Senator Ali gave at the National Assembly provided the platform that led to his total rejection at the primary election of PDP in 2010. Senator Ali was dumped for a more progressive Philip Aduda, who incidentally was the immediate House of Representatives member representing AMAC/ Bwari area councils. His rejection was total that he managed a distant third position behind Irete Kingibe in the primary election. Since that election, Senator Sidi Ali has not hidden his anger against Honourable Danladi Etsu Zhin, for withdrawal of support for him.

Watchers of political events in FCT have likened Ali’s petition to EFCC against Zhin to the proverbial stone thrower who lives in a glass house. Senator Sidi Ali has clearly forgotten that his voyage to NASS was an incomparable failure. He did not attract projects in FCT, whereas Zhin embarked on many developmental projects in Kuje area council. Even the petition he wrote was in respect of some projects the Honourable Chairman completed in the council. One would have been happy if during his tenure as the Senator representing FCT, Sidi Ali had attracted some projects for the benefit of the people in the same Kuje area council. To start with, what gave Sidi Ali the impression that some projects were inflated in Kuje area council? Is he, Sidi Ali professionally competent to evaluate the projects which he believes were inflated? The only motive for Sidi Ali’s petition against Hon. Zhin, is crave to get even, arising from Zhin’s withdrawal of support at the primary election of PDP that eventually culminated in his exit from the Senate. Surely, the petition is a base one and a huge distraction as well. Senator Sidi Ali can’t be taken seriously in this curious crusade.

Emeka Oraetoka

Information Management Consultant & Researcher

Wrote in from Garki-Abuja

P.O Box 18928

e-mail: oramekllis@lycos.com

 

New York Police Officer Sentenced 87months for Armed Robbery

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NEWARK, NJ—A former New York City police officer was sentenced today to 87 months in federal prison for conspiring to commit the armed robbery of a Carlstadt, N.J., perfume warehouse, in which he, other active New York Police officers, and others stole approximately $500,000 of perfume while holding 11 employees hostage, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Richard LeBlanca, 27, of New York, previously pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge before U.S. District Judge William H. Walls. Judge Walls also imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

LeBlanca admitted that from December 2009 to February 2010 he conspired with NYPD officers Kelvin L. Jones, 30, of Yonkers, N.Y., and Brian Checo, 26, of New York; former NYPD officer Orlando Garcia, 27, also of New York; and others to rob the In Style USA warehouse. LeBlanca stated that on Feb. 9, 2010, he and others entered the warehouse while carrying firearms, displaying NYPD-issued badges, and announcing themselves as NYPD officers. LeBlanca also admitted that during the course of the robbery, 11 employees were held hostage while the conspirators loaded hundreds of boxes of perfume onto trucks that were used to transport the stolen perfume. After leaving the warehouse, LeBlanca met Jones, Checo, Garcia, and others in New York, where they developed a plan to conceal the crime after some of the conspirators had been arrested at the robbery site by Carlstadt authorities.

LeBlanca admitted that, in an effort to conceal his involvement, he falsely reported to his bank that his ATM debit card had been stolen—the same card he had used earlier that day to pay for rental of one of the two trucks used in the heist.

Checo and Garcia previously pleaded guilty before Judge Walls to conspiring to commit armed robbery. Jones was convicted by a jury last December on all four counts charged in the indictment—conspiring to commit armed robbery, armed robbery, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and interstate transportation of stolen merchandise—and was sentenced on Sept. 7, 2011, to 195 months in prison. Checo was sentenced the same day to 75 months in prison. Garcia was sentenced yesterday, Sept. 12, 2011, to 51 months in prison.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Walls sentenced LeBlanca to three years of supervised release. A universal restitution hearing before Judge Walls will be held for all defendants Nov. 9, 2011.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward in Newark, for conducting the investigation. He also thanked the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of John L. Molinelli, as well as the Carlstadt Police Department and the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau, for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric T. Kanefsky of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.

How Nigeria can prevent Ethno-Religious Conflicts – Giade

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NDLEA/PUBAF/074/ VOL. V /99                                September 14, 2011
 
PRESS RELEASE
 
The Chairman/Chief Executive officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade has enumerated solutions on how to prevent conflicts in the country leading to loss of lives and properties. The Agency’s boss in an interactive section with participants of Senior Executive Course 33 at the Nigeria Institute for Policy and strategic studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Plateau State on Wednesday September 14, 2011 noted that the nation’s ethnic and religious diversity is a blessing and not a curse as the various conflicts being witnessed across the country suggest.
The way out of conflicts is for leaders and elites to galvanise ethno-religious pluralism for the rapid growth and development of the country through equal opportunity, provision of employment, eradication of poverty, illiteracy, deprivation and corruption. Drug control is also crucial because drug abuse is at the root of conflicts just as illegal arms need to be taken out of the society he opined.
Giade’s paper titled Perspective on the Management of Ethno-Religious Pluralism was presented by Mr. Victor Cole-Showers, Head Pension Department of the anti-drug Agency. The NDLEA boss thanked the management of the Institute for selecting a topic that is relevant to the current security situation in the country and urged that suggestions on the way forward should not be left unimplemented.
He contended that pluralism is a harmless global phenomenon as countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Malaysia and South Africa among others are ethno-religious plural States. In his words, “the factors responsible for ethnic chauvinism and religious conflicts are manmade. It has nothing to do with a country, its religions and ethnic groups. The existence of diverse and competing interests underscores the basis for democratic coexistence where power is spread among many different groups within the society. This way, individuals and groups feel a genuine sense of belonging and are encouraged to actualise their goals” Giade stated.
He added that while some ethno-religious nations are maximising their diverse strengths and comparative advantages, others are locked in mutual suspicion, bitter and retrogressive hegemonic rivalries. The inability to accommodate ethnic and religious differences remains a threat on cohesiveness, peace and development that requires urgent intervention.
The NDLEA boss however expressed optimism that the unity of the country in sports music and related fields makes it possible to permanently make ethno-religious conflict a thing of the past. According to Giade, “it is worthy to note that in sports, music, education, science and related fields where Nigeria is involved internationally, the beauty and strength of our diversity is enviable. This underscore the fact that our diversity is indeed a blessing and not a curse as some may want to believe. The excitement of our nationals performing creditably in international competitions flies our national flag with pride”.
The way forward according to Giade must begin with re-orientation on nationalism, political education on the rich culture and unity, political enlightenment on critical political issues that will enhance participation of all groups, wealth creation through empowerment and creation of an enabling environment such as provision of roads, electricity, water, friendly legislation and other incentives will help neutralise ethno-religious acrimony among the various ethno-religious groups.
Other suggestions are aggressive public enlightenment, non-partisan and impartial anti-corruption campaign, promotion of merit at all levels. Management is about prudent use of resources to satisfy needs. This he posited can be met easily when the best hands are engaged.
 
Ofoyeju Mitchell
Head, Public Affairs

Anambra ACN condemns extention of LG caretaker tenure

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Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Anambra Chapter condemns the elastic transition to elected local government chairmen and councillors under the present state government as represented by the manipulation of the State House of Assembly to rubberstamp fresh three-month tenure for the illegal care-taker government in place in the local governments.

We again call on ANSIEC to release of a firm electoral timetable leading to the smooth conduct of local government elections this year.

The unnecessary tenure renewal, when Anambra is waiting to vote in their elected officials and  the controversial removal of the Chairman of Anambra State Electoral Commission Prof Vitus Eze, without due process combine to confirm that the interim government of Anambra State under Mr Peter Peter Obi is paying lip service to the issue of local Government elections.

The sad oddity of the unfolding scenario is that Anambra State is under torture from a government whose intention they cannot judge and on who they cannot place their trust. Speak of the proverbial king that lies to his subjects. In fact APGA aspirants have privately shown more disappointment in the current state of affairs.

To an extent, this is not surprising considering that the sitting government does not enjoy the mandate of majority of the Anambra Citizenry. It is however shocking the government would be so brazen in playing on the intelligence of Ndi Anambra.

ACN will not leave any stone unturned in the renewed quest to return the state to true democracy and will explore or legal and legitimate means to wake up the APGA- inspired government of Anambra State to their responsibility to the people of the state particularly on the practice of democracy which has taken root in many states of Nigeria that Anambra ought to be ahead of.

We  invite the Governor Peter Obi to respect the wish of the people of Anambra State, disband the so-called caretaker governments at local government levels and emplace the conditions for the smooth conduct of elections, as Ndi Anambra have fallen out of patience on the ‘come today -come tomorrow’ approach to the elections.

 

Okelo Madukaife

Publicity Secretary,

ACN, Anambra State

Suleja Blasts: SSS Arraigns Suspects

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Eight suspects believed to have planted the bombs that killed 16 people at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Suleja, Niger State, on April 8, have been arraigned by the State Security Service (SSS) before an Abuja Chief Magistrate.
 
The accused persons namely Shuaib Abubarkar, Muhammed Dalhatu, Salisu Ahmed, Ahmed Hasaan, Umar Baba Gana, Muhhamed Alli, Musa Adamu and Umar Ibrahim were brought before the court yesterday at about 1:40pm by heavily armed SSS operatives. They were said to have conspired to do an illegal act to wit, planting and detonating explosives at different places, causing grievous bodily harm to tens of people and killing about 22 others at different places. Apart from the 16 people killed at INEC office in Suleja, the suspects were also said to have been responsible for the killing of three people at All Christian Fellowship Church in Suleja and another bomb that killed three people in Bawri.

All the suspects but one pleaded not guilty to the charges. The 4th accused person, Ahmed Hassan, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transact illegal arms and also confirmed allegiance to the Boko-Haram sect with the 3rd accused person Salisu Ahmed since 2008. He narrated how one Barsha, said to be at large, enjoined them to avenge the death of late Boko-Haram leader, Muhammed Yussuf, and asked them to procure cortex cable from a mining site in Nassarawa state. (The other seven suspects said they did not know anything about the charges read to them.)

He also told the court that Barsha taught them how to use AK47. According to SSS sources, Hassan’s mother is from the southeast while his father is from Niger Republic. All the suspects are very young and are aged 20 to 35. The charges were first read out in English and latter translated to Hausa by the court’s registrar. No lawyer represented the accused persons.

When Chief Magistrate Oyebola Oyewunmi informed them of their right to be represented by lawyers, they all said that they had no lawyers.
Apparently not ready for the trial, the prosecutor, Mr. C.I. Osagie asked that the case be adjourned till October 4, 2011. He said that though investigations had been concluded, new arrests had been, thus necessitating the adjournment.

The Rivers International Education Consultants

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Written by Odimegwu Onwumere

According to Ellen Glasgow, “All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward.” Probably, Glasgow had Rivers State under Governor Chibuike Amaechi at heart by making that statement.

To some people, it is a wonderful idea that Governor Amaechi has contracted Educomp Solutions, an Indian conglomerate to manage the 24 model secondary schools that he is building in Rivers State. According to media reports credited to Amaechi, each of the schools that would accommodate about 1,000 students, cost the state government about N4.5bn.

We have also heard that he had taken Educomp’s team round some of the schools and his administration is garnering its gameness to handover the schools to the ‘foreigners’ before the end of this year.

As we know, Amaechi is a vibrant governor, but it is not ever good that one takes tapeworm prescription for cancer.  The question has been, why the international education consultants in Rivers State?

However, we are not surprised with Amaechi’s stance because Arnold Bennett had already warned: “Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts.”

In the civilized climes, education consultants are created to help students in foreign countries gain admission of studying in the countries where the consultants are created. The opposite of hiring foreign education consultants is biased if based on coming to manage the students of a sovereign country or state in such country.

Education consultants advise students outside the school atmosphere, and not to take the sole responsibility of taking over the affairs of the managerial work as we would soon be experiencing in the Rivers State schools when the Indian education consultants finally berths.  

For those who care to listen, education consultants only offer students process that enables them a quick admission, but in the case of foreign students, they offer horizontal immigration process, and not to MANAGE them.

Education experts extend their expertise by guiding students through every step of their admission process, not by wholesomely managing the students.  And this is mainly found among university or college students, and not to mere pupils who are just stopping to wear their diapers in Rivers State.

With the above narrations of the work of the education consultants, we do not think that this employ of foreign education contractors would give the Rivers State education sector a boost, but a burst.

Amaechi’s quest to handover our schools to the Indians means that he does not trust the skill of our people. And this may likely damage the pace of development in the state’s education. We are surprise that Amaechi is not bringing investors. Is this the meaning of the Public Private Partnership? (PPP).  But did Amaechi ever advertise for consultants to manage these schools before telling us how far he has gone with the Indians?

Entrusting the state’s education management, for the next four years, in the hands of the expatriates, would rather mean doom than boom the governor might have been thoughtful would happen.

If the governor thought that bringing in the expatriates would help the education sector under his government, does the leadership of the government also needs expatriates before things could be got right in Rivers State? Why the expatriates whereas the state is not in dearth of qualified education professionals?

With this contraction of education in the hands of the Indians, it means that Amaechi wants to tell the people that education can be equated with the construction of roads, building of infrastructure, health centres and lots more ongoing projects which the Blackman have always reposed one hundred percent trust on the Whiteman, whereas there are many professional Black men and women loafing the streets jobless.

Now, what is going to be the work of the imported Indians? Are they going to do better than the education system here entails? Are they going to operate the Indian system of education? And how much is this project going to cost the state government? For how long are the Indians going to stay? We think the people need a holistic enlightenment on this Trojan project before our children begin to speak Indian Languages as a second mother tongue. Is this a self-imposed neo-colonization? Maybe, we also need environmental and urban development projects in the state to be managed by the Indians or Ghanaians or so on.

It is not a transformational administration in Rivers State, if the governor in his standing feels that except ‘outsiders’ are brought in, our children cannot have a qualitative education. This brings to bear why the long-queue of training Rivers teachers by foreign NGOs if they are not going to be the leaders of the ultra-modern schools that have been amplified all over the world more than Rivers State of since 40yrs plus is known to most Nigerians?

Those people and organizations talking and telling the world of the developmental strides in Rivers State anytime they visited, we are beginning to suspect if they are rented praise singers, because they cannot be praising an administration the governor is always pleading with his people to exercise patience with him over his government incapability on good governance; these praises should rather be shut up, because if there should be anything to praise, then those living in the state should  be the ones to do so, because they are the people who know where the show soupcons them.

In earnest, Governor Amaechi is grousing with the transformation of the state and has not done so much to transform Rivers State and the lives of Rivers masses as few ‘power-brokers’ want people to believe.

Amaechi should henceforth focus intensively and extensively on human and infrastructural development. The ‘next four years’ he said would be used to consolidate on the projects, should not be wasted on futilities, like the importation of the Indians.

The Model Primary schools should be in use by our people. Most importantly, Amaechi should realize that nations do not grow when its sensitive area like the education sector is managed by foreign firms. What we expected Amaechi to do was to make education in the state more friendly by mandating teachers to teach in our mother tongues as most European schools do.

It is time our leaders started to think and act responsibly if we still believe that “readers are leaders of tomorrow”.  People have asked Amaechi where India is in educational ranking of the world, for them to be allowed to manage the Rivers State educational system.

Why do we have a Ministry of Education in Rivers State? Does Amaechi mean that the Ministry cannot be trusted to manage the schools? If Amaechi wants Rivers State and its people to grow, he should allow our people to take up the responsibilities ourselves.

Odimegwu Onwumere is the Coordinator, Concerned Non-Indigenes In Rivers State (CONIRIV). Mobile: +2348032552855. Email: nirivpol@gmail.com

Delta Police charges ex-lawmaker aide, mother, sons, others for illegal possession of firearm, conspiracy

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The Delta state Commissioner of Police has charged one Mr. Fredrick Alawo (Alias Barrister), 42, an aide to the former house of Assembly member representing Isoko South constituency1, Mr. Benjamin Efekodho to Oleh magistrate court, headquarters of Isoko South local government area of the state for illegal possession of firearm. Also arraigned at the court for illegal possession of firearm, conspiracy and mis-information are Monica Efijemueh, 50 and two of her sons, Sabastine Sunday, 34, Sabastine Karo, 32, as well as Dennis Ukoliko, 38 and Eke Usiagbada, 32.

In a charge No MCO/38/C/2011, Mr. Alawo and Sunday charged with one count charge alleging to have been in illegal possession of firearm on the 6th of August, 2011 at the Oleh police station in the Oleh magistrate district conspiring with one inspector Sunday Ojieh to commit felony with unlawful possession of firearm punishable under section 516a (1) of the criminal code cap C21 vol.1, laws of Delta state of Nigeria 2006.

While Monica, Sunday, Karo and Dennis were charged on two count charge of conspiring among themselves on the 4th, August, 2011 at the Delta state police command in Oleh magistrate district to charge one Eke and others with the offence of threat to life knowing that they were innocent of the alleged offence as well as giving false information to the Commissioner of police of threat to life with intention of causing injury or annoyance of Eke and others and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 125 and 125A (1) of the criminal code cap C21, vol, 1 laws of Delta state of Nigeria 2006.

That Eke on 6th, August, 2011 at Ivori community in Oleh magistrate district unlawfully wounded one Inspector Sunday Ojieh serving at the police headquarters, Asaba with a matchet while on lawful duty at Ivori community and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 338 of the criminal code cap 21 vol.1 laws of Delta state of Nigeria 2006. However the matter is billed for hearing this week as all accused persons are in police custody at Oleh police station.

It would be recalled that the supporters of the former lawmaker, Mr. Efekodho who is in the election tribunal challenging the victory of the DPP candidate in the state house of Assembly had under the instructions of their boss petitioned the commissioner of police over threat to life accusing the DPP member representing the Isoko South constituency 1 in the state House of Assembly, Mr. Benjamin Okiemute Essien of masterminding the threat, prompting the invitation of the CP’s team to effect the arrest of one Mr. Eke, supporter of the DPP lawmaker where an English made pistol was alleged to have been recovered from him but all were later turned to be lies and it was discovered that the pistol allegedly belonging to the former lawmaker was allegedly given by his aide on his instruction to the police who went for the arrest to be planted in Eke’s house so as to frame him up.

When contacted, the former lawmaker denied any knowledge of the pistol.

Meanwhile as at the time of this report the said policemen in the saga are said to be cooling off their feet at the Zone 5, Benin City pending when they will be court marshalled and dismissed if found guilty.

Ekiti Groups warns investors over Fayemi’s N25billion bond

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Coalition of Non Governmental Organisations in Ekiti State under the


aegis of Movement for Peace and Good Governance in Ekiti (MOPEGO) has warned investors to steer clear of the N25 billion bond being sought from the capital market by the Dr. Kayode Fayemi-led government in the State, saying; “investors that allow themselves to be used as facilitators of Governor Fayemi’s agenda of enslaving Ekiti people will be doing so at their own risk.”


The groups, which described the N25 billion bond as a “bond of bondage” that was only conceived for motives other than the development of Ekiti State said it was insulting, hypocritical and criminal for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) government, which only last month, got N9.7 billion as allocation from the Federation Account to still be talking about taking another N25 billion bond.


MOPEGO, a coalition of NGOs, comprising of the Ekiti Justice Group (EJG), Ekiti Justice and Equity Movement (EJEM), The Ekiti Patriots (TEP), Ekiti Youths Vanguard (EYV) and others said in a statement jointly signed by the Coalition’s Chairman, Comrade Kunle Ologunodo, Secretary, Comrade Ebenezer Olaleye and Director of Communications and Strategy, Gbenga Babawibe that Ekiti does not need any bond to develop.


The group, which wondered what happened to the N4 billion bond obtained by the Otunba Niyi Adebayo-led Alliance for Democracy (AD) government, said apart from the Adebayo government, successive governments in the State did not borrow a dime and still performed creditably well in terms of developing the State. While demanding explanations from the Fayemi-led government on what it has done with the over N50 billion it has received as allocation from the federation account, MOPEGO said it was obvious that nothing meaningful has been done in the State since October 15, 2010 that Fayemi became governor.


The statement read; “We wish to sound a note of warning to those investors that are being deceived into investing in the N25 billion bond of bondage being sought by the Ekiti State government. “This bond, which is unnecessary, is ostensibly being sought to pay the over N10 billion indebtedness to Fayemi’s Lagos masters. “This is because from information available to us, the estimated cash flow of the State from October 2010 that Fayemi became governor to December 2011 will be about N70 billion.


“Even in a single month, the government got N9.7 billion and according to the federal Ministry of Finance, Ekiti State got over N40 billion between January and June, this year. “So having gotten over N15 billion between July and August alone, what does Fayemi need the additional N25 billion bond of bondage for if not to satisfy some hidden and extraneous interests?” While threatening to use all resources available to it to prevent the State from being thrown into debt, MOPEGO said; “We won’t fold our arms and allow our State to be mortgaged by anyone and investors who put their hard earned resources in this bond should know that they are doing so at their own risk.”



                

            


        

            

            

                

                    
                        Nnaji assures on improved power supply to Osha, Nnewi                    
                


                

                    

                    

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 The Minister of Power, Prof Barth Nnaji has reiterated the need to boost power situation in Anambrs state to rediscover its industrial, manufacturing potentials and ingenuity.


He assured that some far-reaching programme has already been initiated by the Federal Government through his ministry already. These he disclosed included the building of additional lines to Onitsha from Benin , Delta, and Alaoji.


The Minister, who was in Onitsha to inspect facilities of the Power Holding Coy (PHCN), said that the issue of Power in Onitsha was one of his major concerns in line with the policy of Government to strengthen power in critical industrial areas in the country. He said the matter was even more critical now to accommodate the many industries that have been having serious energy supply challenges in the area.


Anambra Governor, Peter Obi, told the Minister that power supply had remained one of the greatest problems hindering the rapid development of Nnewi and Onitsha industrial axis. He said many companies had collapsed and many having rough times because of power problems.

                

            


        

    
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