The troubles trailing the former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva following his recent clash with the president of the federal republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebelemi Jonathan appears on a simmer. Information available to 247ureports.com through sources close to the Federal High Court in Abuja reveal that the former governor may be treated fairly and lawfully – against the fear of possible influence by the presidency to subvert the bail hearing process.
The information indicates that the Court has received the bail application submitted by the former governor at his Court appearance of June 5, 2012 – and has adjudicated to grant the former governor bail request at a bail bond not up to N100 million and not below N50 million.
Yesterday, the former governor plead not guilty yesterday to six count charge levied against his person by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC]. The counsel to EFCC, Festus Keyamo who presented the six count charges rejected the appeal for bail by the former governor. He termed the former governor a flight risk.
However, a source close to the activities at the judiciary revealed to our correspondent that the Courts in Abuja have become aware of the undue influence from the presidency – and may have begun to detest the perceived attempt by the presidency to subvert the judiciary system against his political rival, Timipre Sylva.
One Gustave Flaubert said this – Here is true immorality: ignorance and stupidity; the devil is nothing but this. His name is Legion.
Ex-governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu makes a good read anytime he appears on the newspapers and is very insightful, though a lot could be said about him by traducers in negativity. What matters most is the ability to adapt and be patient with nature, which will unravel the lies that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has leveled against him through the aid of the media since on July 27, 2007 that the EFCC arraigned him on a fabricated 107 count charge of what it called “money laundering, official corruption and criminal diversion of public funds totaling N3 billion” just to attract people’s sympathy. Like it is often said, time is the healer of every problem.
But while the time progresses, the fans of Kalu and EFCC should as well progress with each other. No basis to be bias. It is not about the EFCC submitting a copy of the judgement of the Court of Appeal, and the appeal by Kalu dismissed by the Federal High Court Abuja; it is about submitting facts that Kalu in earnest misused the bloated money EFCC has been haranguing about.
What many informed people of this case knew was the Security Vote which was the money every governor of a state was a custodian of. In all estimation, N2.8Billion Security Vote that was under Kalu, he had accounted for it as then governor of Abia State. But the teleguided EFCC went about playing the script of its masters against Kalu that he stole (not alleged) N3b while in office when he was arraigned in 2007. Today, EFCC is saying that he stole N5b? And who knows the next figure EFCC was going to come out by tomorrow against an innocent Kalu as to appease its guardians?
While Kalu had told the EFCC thus, “Let the EFCC prove that I am guilty based on facts and figures and not just mentioning ridiculous figures it claimed I stole to draw public sympathy…” the agency is just using this make-believe case against Kalu to be trapping him down for the glorification of its paymasters who categorically do not want Kalu to be relevant again in the political arena, but the Almighty always has a way to liberate the oppressed.
The EFCC knows that it is contending in vain against Kalu. Power is giving the EFCC infinite practice of stupidity. This case the EFCC says that Kalu has is just the same as stupidity. No transparency and equity causes the fundamental ills of society, which have been found in the EFCC.
If EFCC is looking for the source of Nigeria’s troubles, it should go to equity with clean hands. The EFCC is even the most corrupt institution Nigeria has ever had. It is just testing Kalu’s patience, but the matured Kalu will ever wait patiently because who carries nothing breaks nothing. The EFCC is just testing Kalu for its stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power.
It is time this EFCC stopped this exhibition of extraordinary mediocrity and colossal stupidity.
Any form of creativity it is applying to nail Kalu is the sudden evocation of stupidity. The EFCC is proud of this stupidity, but Nigerians have lost patient with the stupidity. “Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of stupidity,” says Frank Leahy.
Rubby Obinna, resides in Ohaji, Owerri. Email: nigerdeltademocrats@yahoo.com
Just days after the ill-fated flight of Dana Air, the controversies surrounding its crashing is still on, this as speculations within the Nigerian context that the actually called for May day as it was troubled for some period before that crash that killed thousands of Nigerians. It is being alleged that the plane could not make an emergency landing because the airspace was shut for 2 hours for the Presidential Jet carrying Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan.
Moreover, aside that of the alleged closure of the airspace for the 2 hours for the Presidential Jet carrying Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan, there was also another allegation of the airspace closure for up to 2hours each time the Presidential Jet needs to go into the air, 2 hours for a 15minute take off or landing! And this jet is used by President, VP, President’s wife and David Mark.
“It’s almost a daily occurrence I’ve been told by airline staff when it caught me out on a trip”.
247ureports.com gathered;”the truth remains that the President’s wife was actually in Lagos to attend the christening of their personal assistant’s child at the Oriental hotel, Lekki. Anyone living on the Lekki axis saw first hand the horrendous traffic caused by the president’s wife’s visit, and confirmed reports from airport staff who volunteered information, collaborated this fact, that the Lagos airport was actually shut for 2 hours, about the same time the ill fated Dana Plane crashed. This also strongly explains the reason why Aero contractor airplane could not depart Abuja for Lagos at 3:40pm because of the closure of the Lagos airport. ”
247ureports also got from private jet owners who had to hover in the air same time and this was apparently the reason local news didn’t report the crash for so long till CNN and foreign news stations started reporting it.Local news was ‘blacked out’ trying to kill the story of the airspace being closed while a distressed plane couldn’t land. It would be shocking if so. Though there was engine failure there was still time for the plane to have landed apparently.
Additional informational indicates that the crash site reveals that the DANA airplane may have ran out of fuel. As an expert flown in from the USA revealed, the crash site was supposed to have a larger burn than the DANA plane emitted-indicating that the airplane crash landed without fuel. It was gathered that the airplane hovered above the airport in-wait for clearance to land -until the pilot made a “May Day”call to the airport – stating that he could nolonger hold the aircraft up in the air. Reacting, the air traffic authority opened “180 Right” runway normally used to receive international flights – instead of the “180 left” runway used for local flights. Informed observers point to the switch in runway – and the non-exitense of fire explosion at the crash site-as indicative of foulplay.
Meanwhile, the Indian managers of DANA have fled the country.
Gov. Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Imo state has commiserated with the families of the victims involved in the ill-fated Abuja-Lagos bound Dana Air Passenger plane that crashed in Lagos last Sunday.
The governor in a brief address in Government House, Owerri, said: “We have heard that about four persons from Imo state were on-board the ill-fated place that crashed in Lagos. This is a moment of sorrow for all Imolites and our hearts are heavy over the sad news. We feel very sorrowful about the situation and wish to use this opportunity to commiserate with the families of those involved in the plane crash, especially those of them that are from Imo state. May I specifically condole with the Onwuliris, Ajuonumas and Ibes for the loss of their loved ones in the crash. My prayer is that Almighty God will grant them the heart to bear the irreparable loss. ”
Gov. Okorocha who described the incident as shocking and a great loss to Imo and Nigeria as a nation, adding that Nigeria as a nation is presently passing through a very difficult period and challenges that need divine intervention to overcome.
“Our nation is going through a difficult period and some challenges. Some of them are man-made crisis while others are natural disasters and hazards. We must at this critical moment of our lives resolve to seek the face of God because it appears the situation on ground needs divine intervention.
Having lost so many lives this year in crisis and natural disasters, it is now proper to resort to prayers as well as close ranks as a nation to preach the gospel of peace, unity and understanding.”
Also mourning, the Chief of Staff to Imo State Governor, Prince Eze Madumere joined other well meaning Nigerians in condoling the Nation, Imo State and the families directly affected by the huge loss of their loved ones and the some of the brightest of the country in the 3 June Dana plane crash.
In his words, “It is a loss to painful to bear at this challenging period of our Nation. It is an irreparable loss. I grieve with the family of immediate past Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, the Onwuliri’s, Chief Ike Ibe and family, Ajuonumas and numerous others. It is a challenging time,” he stated.
Praying for the repose of the souls of the departed, Hon. Lisa Asugha the Special Assistant to the Imo State governor on Public Affairs called for a total change in attitude of the business environment in Nigeria, adding that it is the bane of Nigeria’s backwardness.
“I call for a thorough investigation into the root cause of this tragic end of our loved ones. The only thing is to wade into the matter dispassionately so as to prevent such news in our Nation again,” she noted.
by Olajide Ayodeji Fashikun Managing Editor, National Trail newspaper –
Recently, yes, not too long ago, the sum of $238,000 developed wings and flew away from the coffers of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). People were arrested, police did what Fela Anikulapo Kuti calls ‘shakara oloje’ and some few were taken to court. The court did not find them guilty. The money became what the Hausas call “asara”.
This year, yes, this year, monies severally developed wings in millions and flew away from the coffers of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL). We were promised that the matter will go the way of the $238,000. From the initial Police ‘gra gra’ the monies (N92m) have gone the NFF way.
Again. Yes, again. $80,000 grew wings again and has disappeared from the NFF. When? There are two theories. Theory one is that the money developed wings right there in Abuja. Theory two is that the money disappeared in Kinshasha.
The U-20 Women’s national team, known as the Falconets, went to Kinshasha, Congo Democratic Republic for FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying match. The match was the second leg, final round of the African qualifying series. Nigeria won the first leg 4-0. The $80,000 was the match bonus of the team.
There was a report that the money was missing. Report was lodged with Abuja. Another cache was hurried to Kinshasha. There was a decision that the missing money was to be handled quietly in-house. Media coordinator of the team, Andrew Abbah was said to have been made to swear to an oath of secrecy and was rewarded for the pledge.
All administrative staffers on the trip were said to have been stripped naked and their luggage searched but nothing was found on them. Yet, no report was made to the local police if it was true that the money was missing in Kinshasha. Afterall, the suspects were searched thoroughly by Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme. This makes the theory that the money was missing in Abuja strong. Otherwise, how did they raise another $80,000 in a jiffy?
Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Sports, Honourable Ayo Omidiran, led the delegation that included Director, Technical of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme and NFF technical committee member, Mr Paul Bassey.
Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says he will confront President Robert Mugabe over continued threats by senior security officers that they will not respect any election outcome that does not retain the 88-year-old leader’s Zanu PF party in power.
Civic group representatives who met Tsvangirai on Tuesday to discuss electoral reforms, the state of the unity government and the constitution-making process, also expressed serious concern at remarks by Zimbabwe National Army Major General Trust Mugoba that the military establishment backs Zanu PF.
Speaking at the funeral parade of Lieutenant-Colonel Thabani Khumalo at Imbizo Barracks in Bulawayo Tuesday, Major Mugoba said the army will fight with their blood any leader whose policies are different from Mugabe’s party.
At the just-ended Southern Africa Development Community summit in Luanda, Angola, Mr. Tsvangirai also told regional leaders that he is disturbed by the “unconstitutional and treasonous” statements being made by service chiefs that they will not respect the constitution and any election outcome that does not favor his rival, Mugabe.
Organizing Secretary Nelson Chamisa of Mr. Tsvangirai’s MDC formation told VOA that the meeting with civic groups discussed many issues concerning the country.
Zanu PF and the Movement for Democratic Change Formation formation of Trade Minister Welshman Ncube snubbed Tsvangirai’s meeting.
National Constitution Assembly information officer Blessing Vava said civic groups are concerned by the constitution-making process which he says is ignoring the people’s views.
Political analyst Pedzisayi Ruhanya, a PHD candidate at Westminster University in London, commented that regional leaders must rein in Zimbabwe’s securocrats to ensure continued stability in the southern African region.
In its determination to attract more people oriented projects and developments to oil rich Isoko nation of Delta state, South-South Nigeria, ‘UMEH NEED ROAD’ a face book social network forum has constituted a five man project assessment committee.
The committee charged with among other obligations is to assess all ongoing state and federal government projects as well as abandoned ones in the land in a bid to making sure that all the projects are well executed according to standard and specifications.
In a press release signed by the secretary general of the forum, Mr. Zino Ugboma and made available to newsmen in Asaba stated that “Sequel to the motion moved by the founder and administrator of the forum, Barrister Duncan Afahokor and supported by all members a project assessment committee was set up.”
The statement gave the names of the inaugurated committee to include Mr Dennis Kola Obrogo who shall serve as the Chairman, Mr. Japhet Zino Uzih, Secretary, Mr. Mike Akpodhoma, Mr. Azilo Ogunye and Mr. Vigour Udanya are to serve as members.
“The committee is to assess the level of work of all ongoing projects within the two Isoko local government areas and this is based on the Delta state Governor’s commitment in the Forum” adding that the committee shall pay special attention to the following projects in the land which include the ongoing construction of Umeh Road, Isoko Modern school, Iyede-Olomoro Road, ongoing renovation of six schools, the Emore Road Oleh, Faculty of Engineering Complex, Oleh campus, Aviara-Uzere Road, NDC Road Ozoro and the Emede Craft Centre among others.
According to the release, the findings of the committee shall serve as a basis of a report to be compiled and forwarded to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan on behalf of the Forum.
The statement, while wishing members of the committee success in their task, the Forum also used the opportunity to thank Barrister Paul Emerhana, Barrister Afor Irogbo, Barrister Solomon Afahokor, Barrister Duncan Afahokor and Mr Endurance Edafewotu for their financial commitments towards the actualisation of committee.
The release urged the chairman of the committee to liaise with the donors to access the funds and swing into action on the expiration of the period of national mourning.
UMEH NEED ROAD which has Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan as a member and over a thousand members is a forum specifically designed to promote infrastructural development in the neighbourhood.
It is a medium to enshrine peace in the society. It also promotes brotherly love, social interactions and togetherness. UMEH NEED ROAD which is fondly known as ‘UNR’ is not a political arena for verbal war, blackmail of constituted authority and to mislead the unintelligent populace.
What UNR stands to achieve is to allow for the expression of collective misfortune in a most constructive manner with a view to allowing (not coercing) the relevant authorities for assistance. Thus, the frustration of the neglected Umeh road, since ages, was thrown open to the world via UNR forum, and today, the progress of work speaks volume for itself.
As a result of last Sunday crash, the Federal Government on Tuesday afternoon withdrew the operating license of Dana Airlines as Senate directed grounding of all planes belonging to DANA Airline until investigations are completed into Sunday’s deadly crash which killed over 160 persons in Lagos. The Senate also ordered the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Harold Demuren, to step aside until the conclusion of investigation into the accident. The lawmakers made this assertion following a motion which was moved by Hope Uzondinma the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation.
“We are interested in the nature of the aircraft, the age of the aircraft. Is it supposed to fly in our airspace? We will be very strict on this as the blackbox does not lie. It will tell everything that happened,” a lawmaker said. Meanwhile about 150 bodies have been recovered from the rubbles of the crash.
President Barack Obama ordered the Stuxnet attack on Iran as part of a wave of cyber sabotage and espionage against the would-be nuclear power, according to a new book citing senior Washington sources
The computer virus, aimed at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, was designed to damage centrifuges by making covert adjustments to the machines controlling them.
It formed part of a “wave” of digital attacks on Iran codenamed “Olympic Games” and was created with the assistance of a secret Israeli intelligence unit, The New York Times said in a report based on a book chronicling secret wars under the Obama administration
The report confirms the suspicions of computer security experts who detected and forensically examined Stuxnet in 2010. They reasoned that the technical expertise and human intelligence sources needed to create and deliver what was described as the “world’s first cyberweapon” pointed to a joint operation by American and Israeli agencies.
Such third parties reportedly discovered Stuxnet as the result of a “programming error” that meant it spread beyond the computer network at Natanz. According to the account, President Obama asked his national security advisers whether the attack should be halted at a White House Situation Room meeting convened days after the virus “escaped”, but decided to intensify it instead.
It’s estimated that Stuxnet crippled around 1,000 of 5,000 Natanz centrifuges by spinning them at damagingly high speeds.
“This is the first attack of a major nature in which a cyberattack was used to effect physical destruction,” said Michael Hayden a former director of the CIA and NSA, who did not reveal his own knowledge of “Olympic Games”.
Commentators suggested that confirmation of American involvement in Stuxnet had been released by others to neutralise any Republican election claims that President Obama has been soft on Iran.
“Obama wanted to get credit for Stuxnet, as that makes him look tough against Iran,” said Mikko Hypponen, chief research officer at F-Secure, one of the security firms that have investigated Stuxnet.
The first stage of the attack, a “beacon” designed to report back details of systems at Natanz to the National Security Agency, America’s electronic intelligence agency, was however mounted speculatively under the Bush administration, according to unnamed officials.
Confirmation of American involvement in Stuxnet comes as computer security experts begin to unpick an even more complicated virus, Flame, which was detected last month and also appears to target Iran. It is written for espionage rather than sabotage, but like Stuxnet is passed from computer to computer by USB thumb drives, a design feature apparently meant to limit its spread and so reduce its risk of detection.
Getting Stuxnet into Natanz therefore required a worker at the plant to carry it in on a USB thumb drive.
“That was our holy grail,” one of the architects of the plan told David E Sanger, the author of the new book, Confront and Conceal: Obama’s Secret Wars and Surprising Use of American Power.
“It turns out there is always an idiot around who doesn’t think much about the thumb drive in their hand.”
The same officials declined to say whether the United States was involved in the Flame attack, which appears to have begun five years ago, although they did say it was not part of the “Olympic Games” programme.
Just yesterday when 247ureports.com reported about the former Executive Director Finance of Air Nigeria who issued a public petition on how decay the Air Nigeria is, another issue has come up with flight activities at Air Nigeria been shut down indefinitely following a face-off between the airline management and its pilots and engineers over lingering welfare crisis. As a result, all the airline’s domestic flights have been grounded since Monday.
The decision was taken by the two strong professional bodies under the aegis of National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Air Nigeria branch, to commence an indefinite as a result of the inability of the management to meet the demands raised by the workers.
According to a notice issued by NAAPE, which was duly signed by its chairman, R.M Ahmed and Secretary-General J.U Iyieugbuniwe, dated May 31, 2012 and forwarded to the airline Chief Executive Officer.
The notice titled ‘Notice of Down Tool’, stated that following the failure of the Air Nigeria management to comply with the agreement reached at a meeting held by the two parties on March 31, 2012, in the presence of the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), who represented the Minister of Aviation, they had no alternative but to down tool.
The notice stated that : “The Minister of Aviation was duly represented by the D.G, NCAA, and matters bordering on the welfare of NAAPE members were discussed and impending down tool was suspended pending the resolution of grievances. NAAPE is saddened to inform all parties that as of today May 31, 2012, the issues are yet to be resolved.
“Issues raised on March 31 are listed as follows: delayed salaries of both local and foreign staff; pension deduction not remitted for over seven (7) months; tax refund and tax clearance issues; co-operative deductions not yet remitted; staff travel unresolved and engineering tier system still pending.”
