We’ll return fire for fire, Ekiti PDP warns ACN

PEOPLE S Democratic Party, PDP, in Ekiti State, yesterday vowed  to return  fire-for-fire with the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, if attacked.

Chairman of the party, Mr Makanjuola Ogundipe, in an apparent response to the killing of Ayodeji Jeje at Erinjinyan Ekiti and the alleged removal of posters of the PDP gubernatorial aspirants in the state by agents of government, said the ruling ACN had no monopoly of violence.

Ogundipe, who spoke during a public declaration and submission of letter of intent to vie for the 2014 gubernatorial election in Ado Ekiti, by the former publicity secretary of Afenifere , Prince Adedayo Adeyeye, said the alleged killing and attacks of members in different parts of the country would not go  unchallenged.

He said: “Why are they are pulling down posters of gubernatorial aspirants at the same time when a burial programme of the former Deputy Governor was taking place? We have been given the marching order  from Abuja  to reply  ACN fire-for-fire. They don’t have monopoly of violence, we are only being conscious of the fact that we didn’t want to destabilise Ekiti. But henceforth, we will no longer tolerate this act of brigandage.”

He however, urged members of the party to go to their various constituencies and mobilize for the party.

How I organised my petrol station’s robbery – Manager

Operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, FSARS, Adeniji Adele, Lagos, have arrested the manager of a petrol station located in Ojokoro area of Lagos, for allegedly masterminding the robbery operation in his company where N4. 6 million was carted away, last week.

Preliminary investigation by the operatives showed that the suspect, Ade Ilesanmi, allegedly connived with three members of a robbery gang to dispossess the company’s supervisor of the amount, while on her way to the bank.

The robbers, as gathered, stormed the petrol station on two motorcycles, shooting indiscriminately before snatching the money from the station’s supervisor, identified simply as Mary.

But in his confessional statement to the police, the suspect who is a graduate of English Language admitted to the crime, disclosing, however, that the robbers did not give him a dime from the loot.

According to him, “ I gave information about the money which was to be deposited in a bank to Kolabo, Fasaban and another member of the gang.  The station’s supervisor and I usually go to the bank to deposit the money. As we were about leaving, I called them. They intercepted our vehicle, shooting into the air. In the process, they injured the supervisor but they did not touch me. I never told them to injure her. I only instructed  them to take the money.

“My share of the amount was supposed to be N1.5 million. But since the operation, they never  contacted me. Now I am made to suffer all alone,” said the 33 year-old man.

Funsho Williams: Epileptic power supply destroys evidence

A prosecution witness (pathologist) in the ongoing trial of six suspected killers of Engineer Funsho Williams, People’s Democratic Party, PDP, 2007 governorship candidate for Lagos State, told a Lagos High Court in Igbosere, yesterday, that the postmortem conducted on the deceased in 2006 got damaged due to epileptic power supply.

The witness, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of forensic at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, Ovie Oyokomino, while testifying before the court, claimed that the perishable evidence such as blood samples and vitreous humour of the eye went bad due to interrupted power supply in the course of refrigeration.

Oyokomino informed the trial judge, Justice Ebenezer Adebajo, that he visited the scene of the crime at about 12:30p.m. with his men, following a distress call from the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, Zone II.

According to the DCP, the mattress and cushion containing shoe prints were retrieved from the deceased’s house at Corporation Drive, Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi and a blood-stained pink-coloured shirt was found in a Samsonite suitcase in the third bedroom.

Oyokomino said a green rope that was planted at various places within the premises was used by the alleged killers to secure access into the deceased duplex.

The Police Commissioner also told the judge that DNA materials were collected from the suspects and tested in a forensic lab in Britain, and that the suspects were released after the DNA report exonerated them.

Objection

Addressing the court, the prosecutor, Mrs O. A. Akin-Adesomojo, noted that as a result of the bad state of what she termed perishable exhibits, it was necessary to obtain further samples so that those who may not be involved in the crime would be freed.

However, counsel to the defendants, Agbara Okezie, while objecting, noted that the prosecution had since July 27, 2006, when the deceased was murdered, to state their case, adding “it will be unfair to come through the back door to make another request.”

Justice Adebajo adjourned the matter till June 3 for continuation of trial.

NCC orders MTN to collapse rates

TELECOMMUNICATIONS regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission, has ordered MTN Nigeria to collapse the rates for its on-net and off-net voice services, which it said has a 300 per cent differential with effect from tomorrow, May 1.

The NCC, in a report titled, ‘Determination of dominance in selected communications markets in Nigeria,” signed by Mr. Eugene Juwah, Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, said it plans to make a determination of pricing principle to address the rates charged for on-net and off-net voice calls for all other operators, to manage dominance in the market.

The NCC also disclosed that competition in the Nigerian mobile voice market is not highly competitive, and using what it called the HHI, said MTN with 44 percent of the market share has emerged the dominant operator in the mobile voice segment.

According to Juwah, an industry review showed phone calls between MTN customers cost three times lower than calls to other networks, indicative of the likely establishment of a calling club for MTN subscribers.

Juwah said, “As a result of the determination outlined above, the Commission has resolved to immediately enforce and implement accounting separation on the dominant operator; ensure that the differential between the on-net and off-net retail tariffs will immediately collapsed, while the tariff for on-net and off-net will be the same and subject to periodic review.

“The Commission may require the dominant operator to submit details on specific aspects of its operations from time as the need arises.”

Continuing, in the wholesale Leased Lines and Transmission Capacity market, which are in the upstream segment of the telecoms market, the NCC said the dominant operators, MTN and Glo jointly control 62 per cent of the market, and they shall be required to adhere to the following obligations as the Commission will come up with a price cap for wholesale services and price floor for retail services, and subject to periodic review.

“The Commission will immediately enforce and implement account separation on the joint dominant operators.

“The commission may require any of the joint dominant operators to submit details on specific aspects of its operations from time to time as the need arises.

“The determination shall take effect from 1st May 2013 and remain valid and binding on Licenses for the services specified in relevant market segments of the section, until further reviewed by the Commission.”

NCC said there are about 113 million mobile phone subscribers at the end of 2012, with MTN Nigeria leading with 47 million lines.

Globacom followed with 24 million users, Bharti Airtel had 23 million customers while Etisalat, had 14 million.

Ex-Fiancée Keturah claims she acted out a script on “Jim Iyke Unscripted” show

The credibility of “Jim Iyke Unscripted” reality TV show may soon fade into oblivion if the news making the rounds gets any bigger than this as a Jenny Garcia who claims to be Keturah Hamilton (Jim Iyke’s supposed Fiancée) publicist has come out to claim that her client’s involvement in the show had been a fake all along.

Jim Iyke’s Unscripted reality show had opened in the first week of it’s airing with a bang as viewing ratings jumped immediately following the smoking hot episode which saw Keturah really mad at Jim Iyke whom she accused of consistently flirting with girls to her own embarrassment.

Critics of the show had quickly switched sides immediately after seeing the episode; calling it a bust of fresh air coming straight from Nollywood.

Jim & Keturah

However, Jenny via a statement circulating like wild fire says Keturah only acted out a well written script like a good Nollywood actress.

The statement reads…

Keturah Hamilton, Model, Actress, and Ex-Fiancée of Jim Iyke is ready to tell the real story after the Jim Iyke Unscripted show that was aired on April 17, 2013.

In a world where reality shows are an “In-thing” and bad behavior becomes the A.M. topic to cover, leave it to Jim Iyke Unscripted or better said the “_Scripted_” show to deliver real life drama. The episode that aired on April 17, 2013, did not disappoint the viewers who were glued to their TV’s watching Keturah Hamilton’s role that was none the less excellent! She was really able to bring her character to the next level of entertainment.

A still shot of the fight episode

Keturah Hamilton had acted out an edgy script of jealousy and rage towards Jim Iyke, that was delivered as well as any actress in Hollywood. Keturah was so good that even her fans were astonished to see how well she acted and was able to challenge Jim on his bad behavior. Boldly, Jim gave Keturah the opportunity to exit the reality show based on the controversial episode. Even though a pre-recorded version of “Kiss and Make-up” was on stand-by to be aired, Keturah already had made her decision.

For the time being, Jim Iyke and Keturah Hamilton are no longer together because in reality, Jim’s bad boy behavior was just too overwhelming for the reality star. Keturah has decided to move on to the bigger and better things that her heart has long been looking to do. She quotes, “I wish Jim well on his show and hope that he matures into the man I always wanted him to be!”

Keturah is currently in a new, reality-based show called “Diamonds in the Rough”. We will see more of Keturah Hamilton on the big screen and on other future projects on the works because as they say, “It’s not over until the fat lady sings!”

Jenny Garcia

Jim Iyke’s publicist last week claimed via a statement that the actor was not in a relationship with Ghanaian actress Nadia Buari because he was still in a relationship with his Jamaican fiancee.

The real reality show has only just begun…

Phone dealers decry China phones’ low durability

Dealers in GSM phones and accessories in Abuja on Monday said that Chinese phones sell more due to its dual SIM.

Some of the dealers and repairers at the GSM village on Tuesday said that Chinese  phones were also affordable but noted that their accessories were expensive and hard to find.

Mr John Chukuma, a dealer said that Chinese phones were cheap to get but had low durability and battery problems.

He said the phones helped to reduce the number of phones a person with multiple SIM cards could carry at a time.

He said that chain phone accessories were difficult to get depending on the make of the phones unlike Nokia and others.

Chukuma also said that Korean phones were better than chinese phones in terms of battery durability and accessories, but were not yet popular in the market.

According to him, Nokia phones are still the best due to the fact that they are affordable and have high durability of battery.

“Chinese phones sell more but their accessories are expensive and difficult to find but Nokia and other phones also sell  because their accessories are easy to get and are less expensive.

“People purchase Chines phones due to the fact that they always have double SIM or more SIM carriers.

“We usually sell Chinese phones with low gain, other phones have market value you can always resell or exchange them for different types.’’

Mr Yusuf Zakari, a dealer said that Chinese phones maybe cheaper with multiple carriers but have no second hand value.

“If you purchase a Chinese phone for N10,000 and you want to resell, you cannot sell it for more than N1,500 or even less.

“But when you buy a blackberry phone for N60,000, you can resell for even N40,000 and likewise Nokia phones,’’Zakari said.

Mr Benedict Ogbonna, a repairer said that Chinese phones could not be repaired when they had faults or were not properly handled..

Ogbonna advised Chinese phone users to always avoid water on the surface and buttons because they could damage the screen of the phones.

“One cannot download software on some Chinese phones but can on Nokia phones and others.

“When repairing a Chinese phone ,one cannot detect its fault on the laptop as you can on other phones like Nokia and others.’’

Mr Shola Owolabi , also a repairer, said that Chinese phones may have low durability of battery but if handled properly, can last longer, even though it may not last as long as Nokia.

Owolabi said that some chinese phones last longer than other makes of china phones, saying that such phones cannot be flashed or upgraded.

“I have seen a Chinese phone that lasted for about two years due to maintenance; one can enjoy the use of Chinese  phones if one avoid them from always falling down,”  Owolabi said.

LASG to develop more wildlife parks

Mr Ashamu Fadipe, the Permanent Secretary,  Lagos State Ministry of Tourism and Intergovernmental Relations, says the state government will soon develop more wildlife parks.

Fadipe told reporters on Tuesday in Lagos that the location of the parks was being looked into.

“To develop parks of high magnitude, particularly on the island, we need a lot of research work, particularly on the eco-system.

“You cannot bring an animal into a place that is not conducive, so researchers are working on it presently and as soon as that is done the projects will take off,’’ he said.

Fadipe added that state government had also resolved to complete the Tenkunle Island Wildlife Park in Lekki.

“The government needs to finish the Tenkunle Island Wildlife Park in no distance time,’’ he said.

He said that the park would consist of gorillas, tigers, monkeys, elephants and other animals.

He added that the ministry was discussing with some South African experts on how the animals would be transported to Lagos.

Dino Melaye Sues Ex-Kogi Governor Ibrahim Idris, Alleges N57b Loot of State Fund

One of the hotels owned by former Gov. Idris

Former Nigerian lawmaker, Dino Melaye, has sued ex-Governor Ibrahim Idris of Kogi State over alleged corruption, looting and massive misappropriation of state funds. The former lawmaker accuses Mr. Idris of squandering N57 billion of the state’s fund during an eight-month period that the Supreme Court decided that the governor overstayed in office.

Mr. Melaye, who heads an anti-corruption network, wants Mr. Ibrahim Idris declared guilty of looting the funds spent by his administration within a period that the Supreme Court declared the administration illegal. The court ruling was handed down last year.

Mr. Melaye’s lawsuit commenced yesterday in a Lokoja High Court, with I. Akubo appearing as the former governor’s defense lawyer.

Mr. Idris was removed from office alongside four other governors last year after a ruling by the Supreme Court held that they were enjoying an illegally extended tenure. The other governors affected by the ruling were Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto and Liyel Imoke of Cross River State. All five governors removed by the Supreme Court judgment belonged to the the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Mr. Melaye’s suit was adjourned to May 15, 2013.

Meanwhile, several sources in Kogi State told Saharareporters that Mr. Melaye, a former member of the House of Representatives, is planning to run for the governorship of the state. An associate of former Governor Idris told our correspondent that Mr. Melaye’s lawsuit was an effort by the ex-lawmaker to prop up his political credentials. “He’s just trying to use this lawsuit to announce that he has arrived,” said the critic.

EFCC Arrests Ifeanyi Ubah Over Fuel Subsidy Scam

Ifeanyi Ubah

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the managing director of Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited, Mr Ifeanyi Ubah.

Sources at the agency told Saharareporters that Mr. Ubah was arrested by a team of operatives at his Maitama home in Abuja.

A detective at the agency revealed that Mr. Ubah had ignored earlier invitations to the EFCC to voluntarily submit to interrogations regarding his role in the  multi-billion dollar oil subsidy scam.  Ubah is currently undergoing interrogation at the Abuja offices of the EFCC.

So far the EFCC has arraigned some 40 persons in connection with the scam.

Accused bombed Thisday office with 12 gas cylinders – Witness

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, Monday, heard how an alleged member of the Boko Haram sect, Mustapher Umar, bombed office of the ThisDay Newspaper in Kaduna State with 12 camp gas cylinders.

The revelation came to light on a day trial Justice Ademola Adeniyi issued an order barring members of the public from witnessing the trial, maintaining that henceforth, only lawyers in the matter and journalists would be allowed to attend the proceedings.

The order was made sequel to an application that was filed before the court by the Federal Government which is prosecuting the accused person.

Meantime, the government yesterday brought four masked witnesses that testified against Umar who was said to have on April 26, 2012, driven a white Honda Academy car with number plate AL 306 MKA laden with improvised explosives into the premises of SOJ Plaza occupied by three newspaper houses.

Aside ThisDay office, two other media houses affected by that explosion which reportedly led to the death of about 10 persons were The Moment and Sun Newspapers.

In his testimony, the star prosecution witness who was simply identified as “Mr XYZ” due to the sensitive nature of the case, told the court that he personally saw the accused person when he threw the first explosive device that looked like a fire extinguisher, adding that three persons died instantly.

He told the court that initially when the accused person rammed his car into the building, people who gathered to help him out of the vehicle thinking it was an accident, were shocked when he started shouting “I have brought bombs to this place, it will explode any moment, you people should run oo!

“At that time people started beating him, asking him to go and remove the bomb and he said if he tried to remove it the bomb will explode. It was then that I tried to call the police through a security phone number that was given to people in Kaduna for such emergencies. When I couldn’t get the police on phone, I quickly ran to a police station at Sabon-gari which is close to Kotangora road where the incident took place.

“At the station I saw that some other persons were already there, so some plain clothed detectives followed us and I paid for their Okada. As we got to the gate of the building, the accused threw something that looked like fire extinguisher and we heard a loud bang! Instantly, three persons died.  In the pandemonium that ensued, he tried to escape through the fence but was caught by angry youths.

“By that time he had sustained injuries and was handed over to security operatives. However, the youths who were angry that the police prevented them from killing him at the spot, set his car ablaze, it was then that two other explosions went off.

“Shortly after, fire fighters arrived at the scene and were able to quench the fire, when the car was searched it was discovered that there were 12 camp gas cylinders inside it, three in front, three in the middle and six in the booth, and all of them were wired to the steering of the car,” he added.

His testimony was corroborated by the other masked witnesses among who were two police officers and the medical doctor that treated the accused person at the Police clinic where he was rushed to owing to the beating he got from the irate mob.

Meanwhile, the court yesterday adjourned till today to continue hearing on the case.

Umar is answering to a one-count criminal charge bothering on commission of an act of terrorism contrary to section 1(2) (c) (r) of Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011, punishable under section 33 (1) (a) of the same Act.

Gunmen kill 3 policemen, 2 others in Jigawa

It was a mild drama when the Jigawa state deputy governor and acting governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mahmoud; government officials and journalists were barred from the former Inspector General of Police, IGP, Hafiz Ringim’s country home in Ringim town that was attacked yesterday by unknown gunmen.

Meantime, the state government, weekend, said the unknown gunmen who attacked and killed five people in Ringim town were  robbers and not members of Ahlissunah Lidda Await Wal Jihad  known as  Boko Haram, as being speculated.

The bombed bank

The incident where the deputy governor was stopped from assessing the former IG’s home occurred when he led the delegation for an assessment tour on the level of damage done during the Sunday attack.

The delegation went round the affected places to see things for itself but was halted by one of the ex-IG’s  house boys.

The unnamed house boy told the acting governor that he was instructed by his boss not to allow any government official  gain access to his home because it wasn’t a government building and that no journalist would be allowed to take any photograph. The team then turned back disappointed and headed towards the emir‘s palace.

Vanguard, however, observed that an Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, stationed outside the former IG’s residence was burnt while part of the building was set ablaze by the gunmen.

The state’s acting governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mahmoud, said the gunmen were not Boko Haram sect members as people speculated, but robbers because their main target was the bank not the police station.

According to him, they intended to divert the attention of police first which was why they attacked the station. He called on the people of the town in particular and the state in general to continue to pray for peace and unity in the country.

Emir of Ringim, Dr. Sayyadi Abubakar Mahmud, commended the effort of the police in stopping the uproar from escalating and assured the residents that prayers would continue to be offered for peace and stability.

Two civilians,  3   policemen killed – Police

Meanwhile, the Jigawa State  Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP Abdul Jinjiri, has confirmed that only five persons were killed made up of two civilians and three police officers, during the uproar.

Interestingly, the gunmen were said to have dismissed a group of kids who were reciting the Holy Quran in front of the police station before attacking it.

Don’t manipulate judiciary —Soyinka

 Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, Monday, appealed to both the Federal and state governments not to manipulate the judiciary to avoid a complete breakdown of law and order in the country.

Professor Soyinka who spoke with newsmen at Government House, Port Harcourt noted that steps should be taken to overcome what he described as dark areas.

“I think that the judiciary right now while it is trying to reform itself, recognizes the fact that there are still some dark areas and I think it is the effect of the dark areas that seems to be creating a crisis in Rivers State right now. I am just alarmed, I am alarmed that it appears to me that the judiciary is being manipulated. That is the impression which I had and that is an alarm which should be sounded in every corner of the nation”.

Continuing, Prof Soyinka who warned against act of pettiness on the part of government over the grounded aircraft belonging to the Rivers State government said he was in Port Harcourt ahead of preparations for the 2014 Port Harcourt World Book festival.

“Witch-hunting is a very heavy word. Let me just say this generally that I hate evidence of pettiness in governance. I think pettiness at any level is unbecoming of any democratic situation. “That is all I want to say about that. I see that I cannot escape all what is going on. I have also asked some questions myself. I am a citizen of this nation, so I am affected personally by what is happening at the opposite end of the nation.

*Prof Soyinka

“Those who feel that any kind of transgression of the collective rights of groups will not have a kind of ripple effect which will affect other parts of the nation must be living in a cloud and so I am concerned, and I will be quite frank with you.

“I am very much concerned about the imbroglio in which the state  (Rivers State) appears to be involved at the moment and my main comment is, for heaven’s sake, whatever happens internally between parties and so on, please don’t debase and don’t manipulate the judiciary. That is my appeal to governance at all levels.

“Please do not manipulate the judiciary because when you do, you have chaos, you have total anarchy, you reduce the nation to a space of complete breakdown of law and order which is what this nation had better avoid.

“I am glad that we are in a position to assist the Rivers State government using the instrumentality of literacy, education, knowledge to counter the negativists, violent negativists as represented in movements like Boko Haram”.

On Boko Haram, Soyinka said the word should be replaced with Book Hara, meaning positive response towards education.

Soyinka who said he was elated with Port Harcourt as the 2014 world book capital called for greater interest in reading.

Nigeria in ‘trying moment’ -President Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan Monday declared that Nigeria is currently going through a trying moment in terms of security. “This is a trying moment in this country in terms of security challenges”, the president said while commissioning seven helicopters, 500 patrol vans, and armoured personnel vehicles at the grand parade of the Police week, 2013 in Abuja.

Police helicopters and some patrol vehicles at the inauguration of police helicopters and patrol vehicles in Abuja, Monday. 

He said “a lot of policemen have lost their lives to terrorism attacks. Let me use this opportunity to condole families of those who lost their lives. I want to assure you (families) that government will continue to care for the loved ones left behind”.

Stressing that the helicopters and patrol vans are necessary tools for the police to perform creditably, Jonathan said, “I expect these equipment will help improve the response time to distress calls to the police. I also want to advise the police to improve on the maintenance capability of the force. I have observed that the armed forces, now have very good and formidable teams that maintain their equipment and facilities. The police should do same”.

According to him, the imperatives of the deadly security challenges confronting the nation in the area of terrorism, kidnapping and other heinous crimes has made it expedient that the 36 states of the country acquire helicopters for the 36 Police Commands.

He noted that the Nigeria Police has a duty to protect the citizens from the land, air and sea and

urged the police authorities to continue to ensure training of the officers and men on modern policing methods that will take into account, the democratic environment of the nation. He added that what Nigerians want is a people friendly police force that is timely in response time to distress.

In his address, Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar warned the criminal community in the country to brace up for a renewed crackdown by the Nigerian Police, following the wind of change that is now blowing through the force.

According to the IG, “A cultural re-orientation that is premised on adoption of international best policing practices is emerging, and the new police force will display team spirit, loyalty, zeal, courage, civility and renewed commitment towards confronting criminal elements”.

Declaring that the long term intention and strategic justification for the police week celebration which is coming up after 37 years absence is to commence the process of restoring the lost glory of the force, the IG said, “the essence is to remind police officers that their efficiency rest solely on the extent of bonding with the public whom they are paid to protect.

“Inversely, the people have to accept the fact that no matter the level of private security contraption sewn around themselves, they still need a body of men and women, they can trust and rely on to protect the public space”, he said.

He paid tribute to “Officers who resist temptations, reject inducements and stand against threats and intimidation to firmly uphold justice

The Boko Haram Islamist insurgency is estimated to have cost more than 3,000 lives since 2009, including deaths caused by the security forces.

Last Thursday, pirates stormed a cargo ship off Nigeria’s oil-producing southern coast, kidnapping five foreign sailors and stealing cash, a watchdog and a security source said Monday.

The International Maritime Bureau said “14 heavily armed pirates” boarded the vessel 45 nautical miles off the Nigerian town of Brass.

The Gulf of Guinea, which includes the waters off Benin, Nigeria and Togo, is as emerging piracy hub, where the number of attacks has risen for three consecutive years.

Kidnapped foreigners are often released following a ransom payment.

The pirates have also stolen crude oil from ships servicing Nigeria’s oil industry, the world’s eighth largest.

17 Persons Killed, At Least 200 Houses Burnt In Bama in another Boko Haram-JTF Gun Battle-PREMIUM TIMES

Houses burnt down in Baga

About five police officers were killed in an attack in Bama Town of Borno State.

Barely a week after a massacre in Baga community of Borno State, a gun battle similar to the Baga massacre occurred on Thursday in Bama Town of the state, claiming 17 lives including soldiers and police officers, security officials said.

The commanding military officer in charge of Bama Barracks, A.G Laka told the visiting Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, that trouble started in the commercial town of Bama when armed Boko Haram gunmen attacked a police patrol vehicle of a Divisional Police Officer killing two cops.

Five police officers were also killed during the gun battle with the insurgents; while ten of the insurgents were also killed, the military officer said.

The soldier said another ambush on soldiers in the town on the same day claimed the life of a soldier and injured four others.

In response, the Joint team of soldiers and police returned fire on the raging attackers which led to a colossal destruction of buildings mostly shopping malls and shops.

Angry residents called on the federal government to withdraw the soldiers from the streets of the town; even as they vowed to lay down their lives should they suffer further attacks.

A PREMIUM TIMES reporter saw hundreds of houses and commercial buildings burnt.

A local ward head, who declined mentioning his name for security reasons, said over 200 small time traders lost their wares in the fire.

Mr. Laka said that Boko Haram insurgents were using civilians, mostly women and children in the thatch houses as shield.

He said the special bullets fired by soldiers are called tracers, saying “once they hit target they catch fire.”

The Borno State Governor expressed sadness with the development and called for a general caution on the part of operatives and residents.

He ordered that seven trucks of food items be distributed to the displaced residents, while a committee is expected to advise government on compensation for victims who suffered losses.

Patience Jonathan, Ailing Again, Dropped From State Visit Delegation To Namibia And South Africa

Nigerian first lady, Patience Jonathan

 The health of Nigeria's First Lady Patience Faka Jonathan has deteriorated again. She has become so critical that she has been dropped from President Jonathan’s upcoming official visit to Namibia and South Africa.

Sources in Aso Rock said Mr. Jonathan will fly out for the four-day junket to the two Southern African countries on May 5th and return to Abuja on the 10th.

Sources informed of the medical situation stated that Mrs. Jonathan remained unwell after returning from Germany about three weeks ago.  She had stated that her trip, which started on March 17 in Paris took her through Italy to Germany where she claimed she tendered to her foster mother, "Mama Sisi."

Since returning from that trip, the First Lady has remained under medical observation at the presidential villa.

 Her latest trip to Germany is the third medical trip since her prolonged trip last year where she spent several months in a Wiesbaden hospital.  

Although she denied those details upon her return, in a thanksgiving service in February 2013, she confessed her travails, including nine surgeries within one month, and declaring she had died but was saved by God.

The presidency has refused to disclose the exact nature of her ailment, but medical sources say she is suffering from a deadly ailment that may be manageable.

PDP Suspends Rivers Speaker, 26 Assembly Members, Orders Gov. Amaechi To Explain Jet Ownership-PM News, Lagos

Gov. Rotimi Amaechi

The political conflict within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in Nigeria’s oil rich Rivers state took a new turn today with the suspension of the speaker of the state assembly and 26 other members.

The disputed chairman of the party, Mr Felix Obuah accused the 27 members of the House elected on the party platform for insubordination.

Obuah announced the suspension to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Monday, saying the members did not comply with the party’s directive on dissolution of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council. On April 22, the assembly suspended the Obio/Akpor Council chairman, his deputy and the 17 councillors for alleged reckless spending of public funds.
President Goodluck Jonathan and Gov Amaechi

The assembly said that the allegations were made by the Obio/Akpor stakeholders from the 17 wards of the local government area.

It explained that the petition was weighty and required a thorough investigation which would require the suspension of the accused for proper investigation to take place. The assembly said that the suspension was pending the outcome of the investigation.

The party chairman said that the party issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the assembly to rescind the order on dissolution of the Obio/Akpor council but “it was flagrantly disobeyed.’’

Obuah said: “the party hereby suspended all the 27 members of the House of Assembly that carried out such action while their matter is referred to Disciplinary Committee for further action.’’

On the grounding of the Rivers Government aircraft, the chairman said that the party “views with grave concern the unfolding facts surrounding the ownership of the purported aircraft“.

Obuah said that the party would not fold its arms and allow “monumental“ fraud to be perpetrated in the state.

He alleged that from the records available and statements credited to the Acting Director General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the aircraft was not bought by the government.

Obuah said the records showed that the Aircraft Bombardier BD 700, Global Express aircraft with registration No. 5N5N65 RS, was owned by Utah Limited States of America.

He said that the aircraft registration showed that it was owned by Bank of Utah Trustee of Salt Lake City, Utah Limited States of America.

The chairman said that the aircraft was operated illegally as its clearance approval expired on April 2 and had since been operating in violation of the rules of civil aviation authorities.

“It is unacceptable and embarrassing to our great party that public funds are hopelessly mismanaged; as a result these questions must be answered by the Rivers State Government.

“Where is the aircraft, purportedly bought with the Rivers State funds and tax payers’ money?

“Where have the billions of naira taken from the coffers of the Rivers State Government gone to and for what purpose was it appropriated and where is it diverted?“ Obuah asked.

He said the state government should give a copious explanation concerning the funds spent on the aircraft or face disciplinary action from the party.

Obuah said that the PDP government led by President Goodluck Jonathan had zero tolerance for corruption and that the state PDP would also not condone such .

He, however, directed all party members in the state to be totally loyal to the new state executive council and warned that the party would not hesitate to deal with deviants.

Obuah warned members of the party to refrain from making unsavory and unguarded utterances that were inimical to peace and development in the party.

President Jonathan's Chief Protocol Officer And Over 100 Directors At The Foreign Ministry Refuse To Retire

Nigeria's minister of foreign affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru

Directors at Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs are refusing to retire after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60 years, sources have said.

Several Ministry workers confirmed that the directors, with the approval of the Minister, Ambassador Gbenga Ashiru, have been campaigning against retirement, claiming that if about 100 of them retired by January 2014, the Ministry will collapse.

The sources, speaking anonymously, told our reporter that the decision of the aging directors to remain in office is hurting staff morale as junior directors are made to feel they are incompetent and stand no chance of moving up the ladder.

The reality of the situation hit them on Sunday when Olutola John Onijala, State Chief of Protocol (SCOP) to President Goodluck Jonathan, turned 60 but showed up in office to continue work today.

As a civil servant, he should have been retired from the service according to the statute, but for reasons beyond anybody's comprehension, President Jonathan is alleged to have been misled into allowing Mr. Onijala to stay on.   

The Ministry, from which SCOPs are picked, was supposed to have nominated three directors to the President since February 2013 from which to choose a suitable replacement, but because of the active connivance of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ashiru and Jonathan's Chief of Staff, Mike Oghiadomhe, this was not done.

Instead, Minster of foreign affairs waited until late April to direct his Permanent Secretary to send a letter to the President’s Chief of Staff, recommending that Ambassador Onijala remain in office indefinitely.  The COS, in-turn, reportedly “coloured” the recommendation before forwarding it to the President for his endorsement.

A source told Saharareporters that as highly-regarded as Ambassador Onijala may be, it is against the law for any retired officer to occupy a position reserved for serving officers, especially as there are over 100 capable hands readily available to choose from.  

Political observers cite this indiscretion as one of the manipulative excesses of President Jonathan.  They recall cite the removal of Governor Sylva from office, and his ongoing prosecution.  Furthermore, he retained Ms. Oruma Oteh in office, contrary to the directives of the National Assembly; refused to restore Justice Ayo Salami to his rightful position even against court orders, and granted pardon to convicted "thief" DSP Alameiseigha even though there exists an international arrest warrant.

SaharaReporters reached out to Ambassador Onijala today to ask why he returned to office after turning 60 years.  He requested that we call back in one hour, but did not answer subsequent calls or return text messages sent to his phone.

Man Jailed 45 years For Stealing Nigerian Governor Aregbesola’s Phone-PUNCH Newspaper

For stealing a N50,000 Sony Ericsson phone belonging to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, a 31-year-old Kelvin Ighodalo has been sentenced to 45-year imprisonment by an Osogbo High Court.

Ighodalo stole the phone from the pocket of Aregbesola on November 27, 2010, when the governor was being inaugurated at Government Technical College, Osogbo.

Justice Oyejide Falola, who heard the case, found Ighodalo guilty on six counts, which included conspiracy, stealing and fraud.

He was sentenced to 10-year imprisonment for the first three counts and five years for each of the last three which included impersonation, obtaining property by falsehood and collusion.

Falola, who ruled that Ighodalo deserved the jail term, held that the convict used the phone to obtain N500, 000 from the Owa of Ilesa, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, while he obtained N200, 000 from Mr Shengen Rahman, an associate of the governor.

The jail term, which Falola pronounced will run concurrently, means that Ighodalo will spend the next 10 years behind bars.

Assistant principal state counsel, Mr Biodun Badiora, told the court that the convict had served six-year imprisonment in Ikoyi prison custody in connection with a murder case in 2005.

Counsel to Ighodalo, Mr. Ameachi Ngwu, prayed the court to commit him to community service, stressing that the convict should not be incarcerated but rather be placed where people could see him as a convict.

Jonathan’s Hypocrisy: Punishing MASSOB while rewarding MEND, OPC, Boko Haram

Just as the guns and bombs of Boko Haram, the main northern wing of our ethnic militia, continue to boom, and as if they actually sat down at a meeting to plan the final dismantling of the Nigerian state, Boko Haram’s counterparts in the creek –MEND and others replied with the wartime information (despite its amnesty deal oiled by oily security contracts with the Nigerian state under President Jonathan) that they will commence hostilities from the end of May, 2013.

Operating from the western flank of the ethnic militia ground movement, the OPC, whose tongues are currently tied and muffled   by a potential juicy security contract, informed on their own oily application to the Nigerian government through one of its spokespersons Dr. Frederick Fasehun. Shortly after Mr. Fasehun’s public disclosure, another spokesperson for OPC, Mr. Ganiyu Adams, whose current mellowed voice has been oiled of recent by the potential greasy oil pipeline security contract to their OPC militia- suddenly came out booming to advocate-not as usual about how his “Yoruba kinsmen” are being “marginalized’- but   for a share of the oily security contract with Mr. Fasehun.

Meanwhile, MASSOB, the chief player of the eastern wing of Nigeria’s ethnic militia ground movement has laid low-no oily deal yet. The eastern war songs had mellowed somehow for some time with a dubious treason charge hanging over the head of its leaders. This is the strange, dubious and paradoxical relationship, which the Nigerian state maintains with the ethnic militia movement.

Confident of oily amnesty deals from President Jonathan’s government who lacks that much needed sense of intense urgency in governance in the 21^st century, Nigerian ethnic militias have always justified their “legitimacy” on sundry reasons. The most recurring justification are their claims of   marginalization, persecution and oppression of members of their ethnic groups. While OPC would argue that it emerged during the era of military dictatorship especially IBB/Abacha as a response to the “persecution” of the “Yorubas”, the MASSOB would rest its legitimacy on same premise-the “persecution” of the “Igbos”.

Furthermore, while MEND and the creek militias point to the  “persecution” of “peoples of South South” and the criminal neglect (this is true) of the oil producing South South by successive governments, Boko Haram and its affiliates in the Northern part rest their legitimacy on “Islamizing” Nigeria.

Defenders of these militias continue to spin and spew new arguments to justify the existence of these militias.  However, the relevant question is: Can and Will Nigeria survive with these militias? My answer is No.  Nigeria will implode if these ethnic and religious militias are allowed to continue. It thus follows that any individual, collective and selective defense of any of these militias or formal or informal legitimacy –both government or private – given to these militias is a direct, expressed and explicit threat to the corporate existence of Nigeria.

On different occasions, depending on which wing of the Nigerian ruling elite has been selected to be in government, Nigerian state often worsens the problem by being selective in its dealings with these militias.

For example it is funny or perhaps not funny that a dubious treason charge hangs over the head of Mr. Ralph Uwazurike and other leaders of MASSOB while President Jonathan’s government is considering the oily application of Oodua Peoples Congress for oil pipeline security contract. It is not funny-and therefore dubious because there is no difference between OPC and MASSOB. Yet MASSOB is facing treason while OPC is being considered for an oily contract.

Furthermore, we have had clarion calls for amnesty for Boko Haram; I have not heard same for MASSOB from those who call for amnesty for Boko Haram. This paradox becomes more odd and immoral as President Jonathan commences its amnesty program for Boko Haram while a treason charge hangs over Mr. Uwazurike of MASSOB.

These immoral paradoxes show the manipulation of the Nigerian people by the different wings of the Nigerian ruling elites. Rather than ask MEND to mend their terrorist ways, President Jonathan has awarded juicy contracts to ethnic militias in the South South and is considering doing same for OPC. Given this moral duplicity, I believe that President Jonathan must drop the treason charge over the head of Mr. Uwazurike and other MASSOB leaders, and award the contract to guard Eastern oil pipelines to MASSOB.

It must also award contract for Northern oil pipelines to Boko Haram as part of its amnesty. If we Nigerians do not see why these ethnic militias must cease to exist, then they all must be treated with equity by the Nigerian state.  However, in the 21^stcentury, the existence of ethnic militias such as OPC, MEND, MASSOB, and Boko Haram in African countries is a major set back, and an absurdity.

For example, the statement of the presidential aide and chairman of President Jonathan’s amnesty program, Mr. Kingsley Kuku,  to MEND and other creek ethnic militia and terrorists that insecurity will return to the Niger Delta if President Jonathan is not returned to government in 2015 justifies the view that all the ethnic militias are illegitimate and that they are tools in the hands of the ruling elites.

Furthermore, the allegation that Boko Haram collected 500 million naira (strangely Boko Haram has not used their usual YouTube to deny this) to free the French hostages further confirmed the view that Nigerian ethnic militias are foot soldiers and messengers of hate and death, which our ruling elites use to negotiate and garner power for themselves. Therefore, the allocation of oily oil pipelines security contracts to them by President Jonathan is a down payment for terrorism-in-waiting. If this act continues, President Jonathan would have used Nigerian money to   pay for the dismantling of the Nigerian state.

This is not acceptable.  Some people had consistently worked for the sustenance of the corporate existence and integrity of our country. This is why the Nigerian state under President Jonathan must first stop the persecution and prosecution of MASSOB, stop the oily contracts to these militias, stop contracting our security to erstwhile and current terrorist militia groups (OPC and MEND/creek terrorist groups), directly take responsibility of our nation’s security and go ahead to  openly use the force of law to dismantle and delegitimize all the ethnic and religious militias (OPC/MEND and others in the creeks/MASSOB/Boko Haram) today.

 They have to go.  They do not have a place in a 21^st century Nigeria.  The characters in these ethnic militias must not be allowed to lead our youths and children astray. We should not allow these ethnic militias and the Presidential support given them by President Jonathan to return us to the Stone Age.