Bursar, Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Anambra Docked For N253m Scam

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has docked a College of Education bursar at an Anambra State High Court on a four count charge bordering on forgery and uttering. He was arraigned before Justice V.M Ume.

The suspect:  Mr. Michael Ekwunife, bursar of  Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, Anambra State was alleged to have deducted the sum of two hundred million naira (N200,000,000:00) from the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) account of the college; misappropriation of over fifty million naira (N50,000,000:00) unpaid salaries and allowances and unauthorized approval and misappropriation of over two million, nine hundred thousand naira (N2, 900,000:00); all totalling two hundred and fifty two million, nine hundred thousand naira only    (N252, 900,000.00k).
Ekwunife’s petitioner alleged that the suspect was involved in reckless expenditure of scarce funds, misappropriation of retired officers’ salaries and allowances since May 2000, forgery of educational and birth certificates of some members of staff, inflation of hotel bills of the interim provost,  and unilateral approval of funds by the Provost.
The suspect pleaded not guilty to the four count charge preferred against him and a bail application was filed accordingly.
Justice Ume after hearing the bail application granted the suspect bail in the sum of two hundred thousand naira only (N200, 000:00). 
He must also produce a surety resident in Anambra State with three years tax clearance and must surrender his international passport to the court.  The judge adjourned the case to May 3rd, 19th, 23rd, and 26thfor accelerated trial.
Wilson Uwujaren Ag. Head, Media & Publicity 21st February, 2012

BreakingNews: Mosque Sweeper Finds Two Bomb-Like Objects in North Kaduna; One Shot Fired

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Information reaching 247ureports.com from sources within the Kaduna metropolis of the Kaduna North Local Government indicate that two large bombs have been discovered under a pedesterian bridge [Abdulwahad folawoya pedestrian bridge].

The bomb was found by a mosque sweeper at 8am today’s morning following the completion of his morning sweeping at the mosque [Sultan Bello Mosque]. The bomb is reported to have been placed inside two black plaster bags and placed under a table used by retailers under the pedestrian bridge. The sweeper raised alarm over the two objects believed to be a bomb but was not taken seriously till hours later when the soldier stationed at a nearby check-point was alerted. The army was alert at minutes after 11:30am.

The army in reaction has acted to barricaded the entire area and has asked the entire residence to remain in-doors. All vehiclar traffic coming from Zaria and Kano have been diverted to follow the NAF club area – and traffic coming from Kaduna has been diverted to Ali Akilu road.

According to reports, the anti-bomb squard arrived the scene at 1:55pm – and have yet to approach the object.  The police suspect the object maybe detonated by remote.

A security operative who spoke to 247ureports.com indicated that the object has not been confirmed as a bomb. But precautionary measures are being taken.  The security agent also noted that the last Kaduna bomb incident occurred on a Tuesday. And this incident appears to fall on a Tuesday.

The anti-bomb squad are yet to diffuse the bomb. At 2:02pm, the anti-bomb squad ordered that all nearby phones be switched off.

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Meanwhile, one of the bombs has been fired upon. And it was discovered that it was not a bomb – that the two objects were sack of cloths.

Stay tuned.

Nigerians In The UK Protest Boko Haram Menace In London

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Mr Charles Khiran who represented CANUK addressing the protesters

By Sam Asoluka

Hundreds of Nigerians in the United Kingdom descended on central London defying the cold weather to attend a Peace Rally outside Downing Street in solidarity with families who lost their loved ones in terrorist attacks in Northern Nigeria and to send a clear message to the terrorist group Boko Haram that they will never win.

After delivering a letter to the Prime Minister’s Office, the protesters moved on to the Nigeria High Commission. At the High Commission, the protesters handed a letter to one Mr Udoye for the High Commissioner, Dr Dalhatu Tafida.

Addressing the protesters, Mr Charles Khiran who represented The Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (CANUK), the umbrella Nigeria Organizations in the United Kingdom condemned the killing of innocent Nigerians in cold blood by Boko Haram. In an unmistakable term he said ‘violence is not in the nature of Nigerians and not in our culture, violence is alien to us’.

The Protesters urge religious, political leaders and other well meaning Nigerians especially those in Northern Nigeria to help in bringing these despicable acts of terrorism to an immediate end and to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes and their sponsors to book, no matter their standing in society’.

The group want the Federal Government of Nigeria to be proactive and serious in addressing the current barbaric situation in Nigeria and to reassure Nigerians and Foreigners of their safety in any part of the country, and also pay meaningful compensation to all the victims of Boko Haram atrocities and the victims of any reprisal attack.

The Peace Rally was organized by Nigeria Associations and Communities, UK.

Fuel subsidy palliatives not possible again – Jonathan

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The Master, The Subject

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan on Monday said the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment programme promised by his administration was no longer realistic.

The President said SURE was hurriedly conceptualised in January on the heels of the nationwide protest against the removal of the fuel subsidy. Jonathan added that the implementation was no longer feasible since the zero-subsidy policy planned by his administration was not being implemented.

Jonathan spoke at the 58th National Executive Committee meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party where he ordered his party men to retrieve copies of a SURE publication that had been advertised.

The PDP members had distributed the publication to attendees at the meeting, but on sighting the document the President expressed surprise and ordered that it should be withdrawn.

The President said, “As I came in, I saw this SURE book being distributed, we are withdrawing it. This is the old one. We developed this with the expectation that we were going to completely deregulate the downstream sector of the oil industry, (after) the 100 per cent removal of subsidy.

“You know we could not achieve that though there was an increase in the pump price. I don’t want this thing to be distributed; it will give a wrong impression.

“We are working on a new document based on the reality, but we don’t want to promise what we will not achieve. Those who have it please withdraw it, we cannot realise the money that is stated therein, but we will still come up with a document based on what we get.”

Curiously, Jonathan had inaugurated a board for the implementation of the SURE programme barely a week ago, on February 13. The board is headed by a former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Christopher Kolade.

Critics of the government and opposition parties had earlier predicted that the government could not be trusted to implement SURE which some of the critics had described as a “fraud”.

In the SURE document, which was distributed on Monday, government has put the total subsidy reinvestible funds at N1.134tn based on an average of $90 per barrel of crude oil.

According to the document, out of the total, N478.49bn would accrue to the Federal Government, while state governments and local governments would get N411.03bn and N203.23bn respectively.

The document adds that N9.86bn would go to the Federal Capital Territory while N31.37bn would be transferred to the Derivation and Ecology, Development of Natural Resources and Stabilisation Fund.

Among the items the Federal Government promised to spend money on were the construction of the East–West Road; construction of some roads and bridges in the six geo-political zones of the country; and the completion of rail routes.

The government also listed some of the irrigation projects it planned to embark on, promising that the revitalisation of the irrigation projects would increase the local production of rice by over 400,000 tonnes per year.

The withdrawn document further adds that government will contribute to the power sector reforms by improving generation capacity through hydro and coal power plants.

“The current subsidy regime in which fixed price is maintained irrespective of market realities has resulted in huge unsustainable subsidy burden,” the document says.

The government had on January 1, 2012 announced a total removal of subsidy on petrol but the consequent jump in the pump price of the product from N65 per litre to N141 had attracted nationwide protests and a strike action championed by organised labour and civil society groups.

Following a week of paralysis in the socio-economic sector, the government on January 16 agreed to revert the price of petroleum to N97 per litre.

The Federal Government, however, on February 15 proposed additional N656.3bn to the 2012 budget to cater for its subsidy on petrol.

Jonathan’s coordinating minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had in a statement explained that the 2012 Fiscal Framework earlier submitted to the National Assembly assumed 100 per cent subsidy removal and that only N155bn was provided for the carry-over of 2011 subsidy payments.

Okonjo-Iweala explained that the estimated total figure for subsidy in 2012 was N888bn, made up of N656.30bn for 2012 and N155bn as carry-over from 2011.

Shedding light on the subsidy budget for 2012, the minister stated that the amount was arrived at after extensive consultations with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency.

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Source: Punch

BreakingNews: Ngige Wins, Akunyili Loses

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Information reaching 247ureports.com indicates that the tribunal seating in Awka has dismissed the petition brought by Prof Dorothy Akunyili [of the All Progressive Grand Alliance- APGA] against Senator Chris Ngige [of the Action Congress of Nigeria – ACN] over the Anambra Senatorial electoral race conducted in the central senatorial district last year.

The tribunal struck the case at 12noon citing lack of jurisdiction. The Supreme Court had earlier ruled that all tribunal cases must be concluded within the allotted time of 180days. The petition filed by the Akunyili legal team failed to meet the time allotment, according to the tribunal.

The ruling by the tribunal brought the battle between two titans to a close.

stay tuned.

Group Counsels Fayemi Over Appointment Of New CJ, Tenure OF Acting CJ

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A Political Group in Ekiti State, The Ekiti Patriots (TEP) has urged
the State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi to open the appointment of the
new Chief Judge of the State to competition, adding that; “that ably
qualified members of the Bench that are Ekiti sons and daughters
should be allowed to apply and be considered for the job.”
In a letter dated February 15, 2012 and delivered at the Governor’s
office on February 17, 2012, copy of which was made available to our
reporter, TEP also said it was illegal for the Acting Chief Judge of
Ekiti State, Justice Ayodeji Daramola to remain in office, having
exceeded the mandatory six months as Acting CJ. The letter signed by the Chief Convener, Comrade Ebenezer Olaleye and
copied to the National Judicial Council (NJC) read; “We write to draw
your attention to the illegality of the continuous stay in office as
the Acting Chief Judge of Ekiti State by Justice Ayodeji Daramola and
the need for the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge (CJ) of the
State.
“In line with Section 271 (4) of the 1999 Constitution, Justice
Ayodeji Simeon Daramola was first appointed as the Acting Chief Judge
of Ekiti State sometime in December, 2010.
“Judging from the above, and in accordance with Section (5) of the
1999 Constitution, Justice Daramola ought to have stopped acting as
the Chief Judge of Ekiti State by the end of February, 2011, or if
reappointed, he should cease from being the Acting Chief Judge of
Ekiti State since June, 2011. “Therefore, in accordance with the provision of Section 271 (1) of the
1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is our belief
that the process of appointing a substantive CJ should commence now.
“Consequent upon the above and in view of the judicial reform agenda
of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Dahiru Musdapher, we
wish to urge that the appointment of a substantive CJ of Ekiti State
is made competitive so as to allow for the emergence of the best
candidate.
“It is our position that the appointment should be thrown open so that
ably qualified Ekiti sons and daughters can apply and be considered
for the job.
“It is our demand that a panel of retired eminent jurists is set up to
handle the selection of candidates to be sent to the National Judicial
Council (NJC) for consideration.”

Security agencies uncover source of Boko Haram’s explos •How sect looted quarries in Bauchi, Borno, Gombe

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Written by Taiwo Adisa

INVESTIGATIONS into the nature of explosives used by Boko Haram operatives in recent bomb blasts detonated across the country have confirmed that the sect secured most of the explosives from its raid from construction companies in four states, Borno, Bauchi, Gombe and Sokoto. Sources told the Nigerian Tribune that investigations carried out by a combined team of security agencies, including the State Security Service (SSS) and the police, have confirmed that most of the explosives used by the Boko Haram sect in its recent operations were looted from warehouses of construction companies in the four states.

Some loyalists of the sect were said to have carried out the alleged theft of the deadly explosives called Type C4 last year when they raided stores of some quarries located in Sokoto, Borno, Bauchi and Gombe states.

It was gathered that the Type C4 explosives are usually deployed in blasting huge rocks and are said to be “very deadly.”

A source stated that following the discovery of the situation, security agencies in the country have now made it mandatory for quarries to receive prior permission before carrying out any activity.

Sources also disclosed that most of the quarries whose explosives were stolen by Boko Haram’s men failed to report the incidents but only sacked their security men.

Said a source in the know: “There has been a breakthrough on the source of explosives used by the sect members of Boko Haram in their deadly attacks in recent times. It has been discovered that last year, some of their men were responsible for the theft of explosives from many quarry companies in Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, and Sokoto.”

The source stated that rather than report the development to security agencies, the companies affected merely sacked their supervisors and security men as a way of covering up the development.

“The companies affected covered up the incidents by only sacking the supervisors and some security men on duty during the attacks, because of the fear of reprimand from government. Unfortunately, such raids have now left dangerous explosives called Type C4 in the hands of the sect members. The explosives, known as the conventional Type C4 and used to blast rocks, are regarded as very deadly,” another source said.

Sources further confirmed that the security agencies have now placed an embargo on quarry activities in all states of the country and that quarries and construction companies are now required to obtain strict permission before embarking on rock blasting.

They are also to ensure that security agents are present before they carry out any blasting.

“As a result of the developments, quarries are now mandated to secure permission and also ensure the presence of security agents before blasting. Anyone that fails to do so is liable to prosecution. Besides that, those companies that failed to report the theft of their explosives are already being investigated,” a source stated.

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Source: Tribune

“We Have President Jonathan Within Range” – Boko Haram Leader

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Following the recent move by the Federal Government of Nigeria [FGN] to open the channels of dialogue with the Islamic terrorist group, the Boko Haram, more revelations into the activities of the Boko Haram are gradually becoming public. This is as sources within the ranks of the Nigerian security agencies confirmed to 247ureports.com that the Boko Haram may have its tentacles into the Nigerian security systems deeper than the Nigerian security agencies were aware of.

As gathered, the security source admitted that the office of the National Security Adviser [NSA] to the President had been  in secret dialogue with the men of Boko Haram – and that recent revelations show that the men of boko haram have significantly infiltrated the Nigerian police force to the extent that they have presense in appreciable numbers in each of the 36 States of Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory. The source pointed to the police force as “completely” handicapped by the members of boko haram within the top ranks of the force. “The Nigeran police cannot hunt boko haram”

The source indicates that the boko haram members within the police force that are on duty in areas away from the northern part of the country – serve as intelligence officers – to gather intelligence for the Islamic group. This is particular for the south east and south south regions of the country.

Worsening matters, the security source lamented that the various Nigerian law enforcement agency lack simple coordination. According to the source, the NSA office and the police force do not communicate sufficient enough to understand what each other is doing regarding boko haram – neither is the military and other intelligence agencies.

“But we are making headway” stated the security source echoing information recently received from a high ranking Boko Haram source who stated that his meeting with the NSA to the President, Azazi was a pleasant meeting, and that he was pleased with the treatment meted to him and his partner.

However the Boko Haram source clarified that the group is ready to continue the fight should the Nigerian security agents decide to “misbehave”. “We have suicide bombers in 21 States eager to die“. The boko haram leader added that their spiritual leader in Sudan has already given his blessings for the next phase of attacks in Nigeria should the negotiations fail to yield desired results.

He continued, “Boko Haram does not kill innocent people“. The Nigerian police, he claims, does. In Kano attack, it was the “Nigerian police that shot at the innocent people“. The police, he claims, started the fight against boko haram when they judicially slaughtered “our men” – and the country remained silent to the killings of “our men”. Now, “we want to return fire to them“.

The boko haram leader promised that the next round of attacks will “shock” Nigeria to its”knees”. The source claims that the attack will be simultaneous in seven [7] different locations -and that it will concentrate its attacks on political leaders – of which the Vice President of Nigeria, Arc Namadi Sambo’s name was mentioned as one of the political figures the group will target. According to the source, the vice president was a letdown to the Islamic faith.

The boko haram source made known they have the President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebelemi Jonathan, within “firing range” but “he is not our target“. He explained, “we don’t have any problem with President Jonathan” while adding that if they go after the President it will snowball to an unnecessary uproar that will undoubtedly drown the activities of the boko haram — and may attract the unwanted attention of the international community. The President’s assassination “is not what we want”, it will defeat “our” purpose, said the leader.

France plays down Iranian move to halt oil exports

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Feb 20 –  Authorities on Monday played down Iran’s decision to halt oil exports to France, part of escalating tensions between the Islamic Republic and the West over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

The Foreign Ministry said the decision had little affect as French oil companies have already halted purchases of Iranian oil under European Union sanctions passed last month, which target Iran’s central bank assets and aim for a bloc-wide import embargo in July.

Ministry spokesman Vincent Floreani said the sanctions aim to persuade “Iran to resume negotiations on its nuclear program” _ and respond to international concerns.

White House: Netanyahu, Obama to meet in Washington on March 5

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Meeting in two weeks will likely center on range of actions geared at preventing Iran from achieving nuclear weapons capability, whether through sanctions, talks, or military strike.

 

U.S. President Barack Obama will host a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington on March 5, the White House said on Monday, a session that will likely center on the West’s efforts to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

A White House statement rounding up the recent Israel visit by Obama’s National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, which announced the date for the upcoming meeting, indicated that the top advisor discussed the “full range of security issues of mutual concern” during his meetings with Israeli leadership.

“The visit is part of the continuous and intensive dialogue between the United States and Israel and reflects our unshakeable commitment to Israel’s security,” the statement added.

Donilon’s visit, as well as the planned Netanyahu-Obama meeting, came at a time of intense speculation concerning the possibility that Israel may initiate a strike against Iran’s nuclear weapons over its fears the Islamic Republic is progressing toward nuclear weapons capability.

On Sunday, U.S. joint chiefs of staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey and British Foreign Minister William Hague warned against an Israeli attack on Iran, citing the grave consequences for the entire region.

In an interview broadcast on CNN, Dempsey said Israel has the capability to strike Iran and delay the Iranians “probably for a couple of years. But some of the targets are probably beyond their reach.”

He expressed concern that an Israeli attack could spark reprisals against U.S. targets in the Gulf or Afghanistan, where American forces are based. “That’s the question with which we all wrestle. And the reason that we think that it’s not prudent at this point to decide to attack Iran,” Dempsey said. Describing Iran as a “rational actor,” Dempsey said he believed that the international sanctions on Iran are beginning to have an effect. “For that reason, I think, that we think the current path we’re on is the most prudent path at this point.”

“I believe it is unclear (that Iran would assemble a bomb) and on that basis, I think it would be premature to exclusively decide that the time for a military option was upon us,” Dempsey said.

Hague delivered a similar message in Britain. Speaking to the BBC, he said Britain was focused on pressuring Iran through diplomatic means.

“I don’t think a wise thing at this moment is for Israel to launch a military attack on Iran,” he said. “I think Israel like everyone else in the world should be giving a real chance to the approach we have adopted on very serious economic sanctions and economic pressure and the readiness to negotiate with Iran.”

In a sign that the diplomatic pressure might be working, Iran’s foreign minister said Sunday that a new round of talks with six world powers on the nuclear program will be held in Istanbul, Turkey. Ali Akbar Salehi didn’t give any timing for the talks.

The last round of talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany were held in Istanbul in January 2011 but ended in failure.

Last week, The Daily Beast reported that a secret Washington visit by Mossad chief Tamir Pardo earlier this month was meant to gauge how the Obama administration of would react to an Israeli strike against Iran’s nuclear program.

Pardo’s visit was exposed last month by Haaretz after top U.S. officials mentioned his participation in a series of meetings in Washington at a public hearing in the Senate.

The report, citing U.S. officials, shed some light on the visit, saying the Mossad chief had visited the U.S. in order to determine how the U.S. would react if Israel attacked Iran’s nuclear program despite U.S. objections.

According to U.S. officials cited in the report, Pardo asked top American officials questions such as: “What is our posture on Iran? Are we ready to bomb? Would we [do so later]? What does it mean if [Israel] does it anyway?” The report added that Israel has ceased sharing a “significant” amount of intelligence concerning its military preparations with the U.S.

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