Monaco complete signing of Falcao

Monaco have completed a reported £50m deal for Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao.

The Colombian, 27, who scored 32 goals this season, had also been linked with Chelsea and Manchester City.

Facts on Falcao

• Born: 10 February 1986
• Nationality: Colombian
• Position: Striker
• Clubs: River Plate (2005-2009); Porto (2009-2011) & Atletico Madrid (2011-2013)
• Atletico stats: 46 league games, 35 goals
• Did you know? Falcao became the first to score a hat-trick in the Uefa Super Cup when he did so against Chelsea last September

He has signed a five-year contract with a club that is being bankrolled by Russian billionaire Dmity Rybolovlev.

"We are proud to have secured one of the best players in the world and confident he will help Monaco regain its rightful status," said Rybolovlev.
"We are absolutely delighted that Radamel Falcao has accepted the challenge of coming to play for AS Monaco."
Monaco have embarked on an ambitious spending spree after winning the French second division under former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri.
They have already bought Porto midfielders Joao Moutinho, 26, and James Rodriguez, 21, in a £60m double deal and signed defender Ricardo Carvalho, 35, on a free transfer from Real Madrid.
However Vasilyev has dismissed reports his club are interested in Manchester City's Carlos Tevez, insisting: "Many newspapers talk about it but this issue has never been discussed."

Libya not ready to try Saif al-Islam Gaddafi - ICC

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was seen as the most likely successor to his father

The International Criminal Court's pre-trial chamber has rejected Libya's request to try the son of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Saif al-Islam.

Mr Gaddafi has been indicted by the ICC on war crimes charges relating to the 2011 uprising which toppled his father.
He remains in the custody of a local militia that captured him in late 2011, and is not in official state custody.
This and other challenges meant Libya was not ready to host the trial, the pre-trial chamber's judges said.
In a statement, the judges at The Hague recognised "Libya's significant efforts to rebuild institutions and to restore the rule of law".

However, Libya continued to "face substantial difficulties in exercising fully its judicial powers across the entire territory", they added.

Mr Gaddafi, who was seen as the most likely successor to his father, was captured by militias in the desert town of Ubari in November 2011 - allegedly trying to flee the country.
He is being held in the town of Zintan, where he is facing separate charges, accused of complicity in exchanging information, obtaining documents that threaten national security and insulting the national flag.
The charges are linked to a visit to Mr Gaddafi in June 2012 by ICC lawyer Melinda Taylor and three other ICC staff.
Ms Taylor was accused of clandestinely passing Mr Gaddafi a coded letter from a fugitive former aide.
The ICC staff were held for three weeks and then released to The Hague; they are not expected to return to Libya to face charges.
The ICC issued a warrant for Mr Gaddafi's arrest in June 2011 for two counts of crimes against humanity.

Eurozone unemployment rate hits record 12.2 percent

Around 26.6 million people were out of jobs in the entire European Union in April and 19.3 million in the eurozone."

Fresh data reveal the eurozone unemployment rate has hit a record high of 12.2 percent in April, with around 19.2 million receiving government financial assistance as recession continues to take its toll on European economies.

The Eurostat data agency said on Friday that a total of 1.6 million people have lost their jobs in the eurozone during the 12 months leading to April.

The jobless rate in the eurozone has soared for the 24th consecutive month.

Around 26.6 million people were out of jobs in the entire European Union in April and 19.3 million in the eurozone.

Greece and Spain remained the hardest hit countries in the April ratings.

Europe plunged into financial crisis in early 2008. Insolvency now threatens heavily debt-ridden countries such as Greece, Portugal, Italy, Ireland and Spain.

The worsening debt crisis has forced the European Union states to adopt harsh austerity measures and tough economic reforms, which have triggered massive demonstrations in many European countries.

Nigeria Reps endorse 14-yr jail term for same-sex marriage

Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal
| credits:

The House of Representatives on Thursday endorsed the report on a bill prohibiting same-marriage in the country.

Offenders risk a 14-year jail term, according to the bill unanimously endorsed by the lawmakers.

The ‘Bill for an Act to Prohibit Marriage or Civil Union entered into Between Persons of Same Sex, Solemnisation of Same and for Other Matters Related Therewith’ earlier passed first and second readings at the House.

It went to the committee stage for public hearings before the report returned to the House for consideration.

Section 5(1) of the bill states that “persons that entered into a same-gender marriage (man-man or woman-woman) or civil union contract commit an offence and are jointly liable on conviction to a term of 14 years imprisonment each.”

The bill disallows churches, mosques and “any other place in Nigeria” from solemnising such marriages.

It defines a recognised marriage as “only marriage contract between a man and a woman either under Islamic Law, Customary Law and Marriage as valid in Nigeria.”

The bill also prohibits the registration or participation in gay club activities in the country.

Similarly, societies and organisations that “directly or indirectly make a public show of same-sex amorous relationship commit an offence.”

The penalty for gay club activities is 10 years imprisonment.

According to the bill, persons who preside over such marriages are equally guilty.

Section 5 (3) of the bill provides, “Any person or group of persons that administers, witnesses, screens, shields, abets and aids the solemnisation of a same-sex marriage contract or civil union or supports the registration of gay clubs, societies and organisations, processions or meetings in Nigeria commits an offence and liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment.”

Members unanimously passed the report on Thursday during a clause-by-clause consideration at the session, which was presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha.

Russia accuse UN for playing 'political game' in Syria chemical probe

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (file photo)

Fri May 31, 2013 6:3PM GMT

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Russian foreign minister has accused the United Nations of playing “political games” in investigating the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria.

Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that political games by the UN have prevented Moscow from investigating the alleged use of toxic substances by militants in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo in March.

“We feel great disappointment with the political games of the UN General Secretariat that it failed to respond to this demand with the possible accuracy and speed,” said Lavrov, referring to a request by Damascus for an investigation into the use of chemical weapons by militants in Khan al-Assal area near Aleppo.

“They (UN) instead presented conditions (including demand for an expanded access to all the Syrian territories) that are, according to us, illogical and outside the rules of dealing,” Syrian official news agency SANA quoted Lavrov as saying.

The top Russian diplomat also said Moscow is waiting for Turkish officials to give more information about the confiscation of two kilograms of deadly nerve agent, sarin, in a string of raids on homes of militants affiliated with terrorist groups fighting against the Syrian government.

On March 19, at least 25 people were killed and many others were injured after militants fighting against the Syrian government fired missiles containing a chemical substance into Khan al-Assal. Syria’s call for a probe into the case hit a brick wall.

On May 6, head of the UN Commission of Inquiry Carla Del Ponte said that testimony from victims of the conflict in Syria suggests militants have used the nerve agent, sarin.

Sarin is a colorless and highly toxic nerve agent that can cause convulsions, paralysis and death within minutes if it is absorbed through inhalation, ingestion, or contact with skin or eyes.

Sarin is classed as a weapon of mass destruction and is banned under international law.

UK Foreign Office confirms Briton killed in Syria

UK Foreign Office confirms that a Briton fighting alongside foreign-backed militants was killed in Syria.

Fri May 31, 2013 4:22PM GMT

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The UK Foreign Office has confirmed that a Briton fighting alongside foreign-backed militants was killed in Idlib, Syria.

The 23-year-old man, named as Ali Almanasfi, was among three Westerners who were ambushed by Syrian government forces in their car while traveling through the northwestern province on Thursday.

Syrian state-run television reported that a 33-year-old American woman, identified as Nicole Lynn Mansfield, and the two others were members of al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front.

The TV footage showed a black car covert in bullet holes and three bodies laid out with multiple gunshot wounds. It also showed a cache of weapons, a computer, a hand-drawn map of a government installation, and a flag belonging to the terrorist group.

“We understand that a British National has been killed in Syria. Their family have been informed and we are providing consular assistance,” said a Foreign Office spokesperson.

Britain has played a major role in fanning the flames of unrest in the Arab country by arming and training militants fighting against the Syrian government.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of government forces, have been killed in the violence.

Damascus says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the militants are foreign nationals.

US consumer spending falls in April: Official data

A pedestrian checks her phone while carrying a shopping bag in New York. (file photo)

Fri May 31, 2013 4:31PM GMT

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New official data show the US consumer spending fell in April as Americans are more cynical about their financial prospects.

According to a statement released by Department of Commerce on Friday, the country’s consumer spending dropped 0.2 percent last month.

The drop comes as analysts were expecting a 0.1 rise similar to what happened in March. The fall indicates that growth may be slowing as incomes have failed to go up.

Experts believe that higher taxes and deep government spending cuts have weighed heavily on the consumers’ pockets.

Consumer spending accounts for seventy percent of economic activity in the US.

The US Department of Labor said on Thursday that applications for state unemployment benefits increased by 10,000 to 354,000 during the last week, showing the companies in the country continue to fire their workers.

An April survey conducted by the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan showed that the US consumer confidence dropped by 2.8 points from the previous month to 76.4.

The survey indicated that consumers are pessimistic about the economic outlook for the coming months.

Nearly six million Americans are currently receiving jobless benefits. However, the actual figure would have been much higher if state authorities had not stopped extending benefit programs.

The US economy shrank by 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012, casting doubt on the strength of economic recovery in the country.

Fayemi Floors Oni In Supreme Court

A five-man panel of the Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal instituted by former governor of Ekiti state, Mr Segun Oni of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which sought to upturn the Court of Appeal’s decision that sacked him from Ekiti state government house.
The former governor had hoped to cash in on the judicial crisis that rocked the nation’s judiciary when Justice Ayo Isa-Salami was forcefully suspended from office by appealing to the Supreme Court alleging likelihood of bias in his defeat at the Ekiti election appeal.
Mr Oni in his suit relied on Section 36 of the Constitution which guarantees right to fair hearing and had asked the Apex court to revisit the judgment of the Court of Appeal which removed him from office.
However counsel to Governor Kayode Fayemi relying on Section 246 (3) opposed the appeal and contended that as at the time the governorship election was conducted in 2007, that the Court of Appeal was the final court to determine governorship election matters.
In an unanimous decision, the Supreme Court agreed with Mr Fayemi and held that attempt by Oni to lure the apex court to exercise its authority by meddling into an appeal already determined by the Court of Appeal which is the final court over the governorship election matters, is an attempt to get back into Ekiti state government house.
In the decision read by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, the court declined Oni’s invitation to interfere in an appeal that had been adequately determined and settled by a competent court which had the final say on such elections as at the time the election was conducted.
The court subsequently dismissed Oni’s appeal and insisted that his appeal has nothing to do with Section 36 of the constitution, especially in view of the provision of Section 246(3) of the same constitution.
Frivolous Appeal

In his reaction to the judgment, Mr Fayemi said he is not surprised with the ruling of the court as it has continued to remain the saving grace of Nigeria’s democracy.

According to him the matter ought not to have gone to Supreme Court in the first place as it has no place in the country’s jurisprudence.

He however called for the establishment of Election Offences Commission noting that if the former governor had been prosecuted for committing electoral fraud in the state, he would not have had the opportunity to approach the apex court with what he called a frivolous appeal with the purpose of distracting the government of Ekiti state and a waste of the time of the court.

Army Arrests Seven Foreigners Suspected To Be Members Of Boko Haram

Five Nigeriens and two Chadians are among the fleeing insurgents apprehended by the Special Forces as troops continue their pursuit of terrorists dislodged from their bases.
The seven according to the Director Defence Information, Brigadier General Christopher Olukolade were among the nine arrested at Tumbu Gini, a border town with Chad as they tried to cross the borders into Chad.
He said the man suspected to be leading the group escaped with gunshot wounds.
He added that the Defence Headquarters has observed that attempts are being made by insurgents and their collaborators to push into public domain, questionable and manipulated messages meant to misinform the public.
The Abubakar Shekau, the Boko Haram leader in a video, which is the group’s first since the emergency declaration, said the group is winning the war against the soldiers.
Mr. Shekau displayed identity cards of soldiers he claimed his group had killed in their operations. He also displayed a destroyed armoured tank he claimed his men bombed.
The group in a rare solidarity cry also sought help from foreign Islamic militants.
Mr. Shekau sought help from militants “who are fighting for Islam in countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Yemen, Syria and those we can’t mention.”
“We are here fighting those who believe in the constitution and western education. You should all know that we are all in good health,” he said.
The army spokesman however said this message is “clearly a confirmation of the level of pressure which has been brought to bear on the insurgents.”
He urged Nigerians to continue to be calm as there is indeed no cause for alarm as the insurgents are actually in flight, necessitating their call for help from their foreign allies.
The operation to put an end to the activities of insurgents is continuing and in line with overall plans for the nation’s security.

Son born in jail works to raise bond for mother after 19 years

Son works to bail mother out of jail

(CNN) -- In a story that could step straight from the pages of a Charles Dickens novel, an Indian son has worked night and day in a garment factory to earn the bail money to get his mother out of jail.

This month, after ceaseless work stitching in the textile factory, Kanhaiya Kumari, 19, raised the 5,000 rupees (about $89) needed to pay his mother's surety.

His mother Vijaya Kumari, 48, was five months pregnant with Kanhaiya when she was arrested in 1993 in connection with the murder of a neighbor in India's Aligarh district, according to CNN affiliate IBN.

Sentenced to life in prison, she denied the charges and in 1994 she was granted bail pending her appeal, but her husband refused to post the Rs5,000 bail money.

"No one from my family or in-laws came to my help," she told CNN.

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Both mother and son remained in Nari Niketan prison in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, until Kanhaiya was sent to a juvenile remand home at the age of 6.

"I was very sad," Kanhaiya told CNN. "Without her, I had no one by me."

He was released last year after spending seven years separated from his mother and immediately set about getting a job that would pay for his mother's bail.

"He was out of work and couldn't make ends meet," said his employer AH Rehman. "He asked for a job that would provide him with some livelihood, so I got him a job in a ready-made garment shop."

Some 19 years after his mother was first jailed, Kanhaiya paid the bail money at Allahbad High Court and secured her release.

"I worked very, very hard to get the money for the release of my mother," he said. "I'm very happy now."

The case has prompted the High Court to take a closer look at the jails of Uttar Pradesh. The court has demanded a list of bailed inmates still languishing in jail.

India's courts are famously inefficient, with cases backed sometimes for decades. According to the Asian Human Rights Commission, confessions are the bedrock of India's criminal justice system making it notoriously difficult for courts to secure convictions.

The commission estimates the conviction rate for serious crimes is as low as 4 per cent of the cases that come before India's courts.

Indian acid attack victim fights for justice

Army Uncovers Illegal Armoury, Confirms Presence Of Hezbollah Terrorists In Nigeria

Armoury suspected to be that of Hezbollah organization have been uncovered by a team of joint security officers in Kano state, North West Nigeria.
Displaying the weapons to journalists, the joint Security Chiefs of the Department of State Security (DSS), Police and Nigerian Army, confirmed the arrests of four persons suspected to be the occupants of the house.
According to the security chiefs, on 28 May, a combine team of the Joint Task Force (JTF) involving operatives of the Nigeria Army, and the DSS in Kano conducted a search of the house located at No3 Gaya road off Bompai road allegedly belonging to one Abdul Hassan Taher Fadlalla-a Lebanese national who is now at large and declared wanted.
After searching the building, the security agents uncovered an underground bunker in the master’s bed room were these large quantity of assorted weapons of different type and calibre.
A raid on the residence of one of the Lebanese had uncovered eleven 60 mm anti-tank weapons, four anti-tank landmines, two rounds of ammunition for a 122 mm artillery gun, 21 rocket-propelled grenades, seventeen AK-47s with more than 11,000 bullets and dynamite.
The discoveries according to the officers confirm the existence of Hezbollah cell in Nigeria.
A statement by the military spokesperson in Kano, Captain Ikedichi Iweha on Wednesday announced that three suspects were arrested between May 16 and May 28 and they all admitted to being members of Hezbollah under questioning.
“The search team uncovered an underground bunker in the master bedroom where a large quantity of assorted weapons of different types and caliber were recovered,” Captain Iweha said. “All those arrested have confessed to have undergone Hezbollah terrorist training.”
The DSS on 16May, 2013 arrested one Mustapha Fawaz, suspected to be the co-owner of the popular Amigo supermarket as well as Wonderland Amusement Park, all in Abuja.
They also arrested one Abdullahi Tahini at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport while trying to leaves the country.
Meanwhile, the joint security chiefs confirmed that all those arrested have confessed to have undergone Hezbollah training and further implicated one Fauzi Fawad, also a co-owner of Amigo and Wonderland Amusement Park.
Hezbollah is a Shi’a Islamic militant group and political party based in Lebanon, is classified as a terrorist group by a number on western countries.

Men in police uniform abduct traditional ruler in Ogun

By WOLE BALOGUN
The Mapara Moboluwaduro community of Ifo Local Government Area, Ogun State has been thrown into confusion since Tuesday, May 28, following the abduction of the community’s traditional ruler, Chief Lateef Adewale Amodemaja at about 10p.m.
Daily Sun learnt that Amodemaja was whisked away in his ash coloured Pegeout car at about 10p.m on Tuesday by three men in police uniform. And since then, he had not returned home and his whereabouts  remained unknown.
The family said they had visited police posts and stations in the area and could not find him. They later reported the matter at the Eleweran police station.
The incident was said to have happened at the Baale’s office on Aboro Road, by Rafco Bus Stop. His car was later found at Ita Oshin in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
His family, chiefs in council and subjects have  been greatly worried about his sudden disappearance.
Asked if the Baale had an issue with anyone before the alleged abduction, one of his chiefs, who craved anonymity said: “We don’t know who is who and we can’t understand that anyone could do this, especially to somebody of his status. We can’t recall a recent problem he has with anyone. We are just worried and can’t understand why this happened.
Eyewitnesses said the men, who took him away wore police uniform but it is strange that they didn’t leave their contacts or address. They just took him off in his car at the odd hour of 10p.m on Tuesday and since then we have been searching for him.
The only thing we have achieved is to find his car in Ita Oshin, which is several miles from where he was taken. This is why we strongly believe that he must have been abducted.”

Ex-Minister Fani-Kayode dumps PDP, joins APC

 

 

Femi Fani-Kayode

A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has just announced his defection from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to the yet-to-be-registered All Progressives Congress.
In a post on his Facebook post, Mr. Fani-Kayode said he took the decision after he met with Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi earlier today.
“I had a meeting with Gov. Kayode Fayemi afterwards and I have just publicly and formally declared for the APC,” the former minister said. “For me this is a great and historic day. Goodbye forever PDP.”
He said he met Mr. Fayemi after he chaired the public presentation of  a book written by an old friend, Bunmi Aborishade, who now teaches journalism at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti.
Mr. Fani-Kayode announced his defection from the ruling party shortly after another party chief, ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, issued a statement saying the PDP is on the path of destruction and called on its founding fathers to rise up to save it from collapse.
But analysts say the former minister’s defection is not entirely surprising. Even while a member of the ruling party, Mr. Fani-Kayode, had become one of the staunchest critics of the present administration and has always been seen in the company of the leading lights of the opposition.
The former minister is a loyalist of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo but it is not clear whether he sought the former president’s counsel before defecting to the opposition.

103 illegal alliens arrested in Kaduna

Kaduna State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service said they arrested 103 illegal aliens from the Republic  of Niger at the Government Reserved Areas in the state capital.

Those arrested, the State Comptroller of Immigration, Hamman Yeri said would be deported by road to their country.
Yerima, while parading the aliens before newsmen on Monday  In Kaduna, said illegal immigrants were picked up in the Government  Reserve Area in the state, doing mennial jobs.

Car bomb explosions kill over 50 in Shia districts of Baghdad

More than 50 people have been killed and dozens of others injured in car bomb attacks that targeted Shia districts of the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad.

Why Obama Keeps Skipping Nigeria - By: Sam Nda-Isaiah

Last week, the White House announced that President Barack Obama would visit Africa between June 26 and July 3, 2013. He will be travelling with his lovely wife Michelle to Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania. According to the statement, Obama will meet government officials as well as leaders from the business, civil society and youth groups. The White House further said that the visit will focus on strengthening economic growth, democratic institutions and African leadership. In July 2009, during Obama’s first term as president, he visited Ghana from where he addressed the African continent, and, in the process, obliquely threw a few barbs at Nigeria’s leaders.

Is it not curious that the United States president shall be visiting Africa to discuss business and his itinerary does not include the continent’s second largest economy that is even expected to take over as the largest within a decade? And do we think the president of the world’s biggest economy, who is desperately seeking new markets for his country’s manufacturers, does not covet the continent’s largest market? The United States business community can do a lot with a country of 170 million people, a population that is more than half the size of the United States. I am sure that Nike Inc, the American shoe company, has better use for 170 million pairs of feet. And is it possible to discuss African leadership, as the White House has said Obama would be doing on this African trip, without including Nigeria in the conversation? That would be playing Hamlet without the prince. But I also think, for President Obama, there are more pressing issues. As the first African American president of the United States, he must have some sense of “noblesse oblige” towards the continent of his forebears. He must have been labouring over the thought of the best way that his presidency would be of the greatest benefit to the Africa continent – though as at this moment, warts and all, George W. Bush holds the record of the most friendly US president the African continent has had. And there is no way Africa can move forward without Nigeria leading the way.

Coming to Nigeria at this time would clearly be an endorsement of the Jonathan administration, and no serious world leader would want to tarnish his image by doing that. The matter of Nigeria’s bad government and the issue of bad governance have become a global subject of discussion. Everyone knows that the problems of Nigeria are inextricably tied to the quality of leadership that the country has received. Corruption under President Jonathan has become something of a fairy tale. And the Americans know, especially the kind of corruption that has now become the trademark of the oil industry. When, during a trip to the United States in April, Jonathan’s special adviser on the amnesty programme, Kingsley Kuku, declared that only Jonathan could guarantee peace in the Niger Delta, many in his audience in faraway Washington, DC, had a good laugh. It was ludicrous because, as Kuku was making that silly statement, oil production in the Niger Delta had plummeted under Jonathan from 2.6 million barrels daily to 1.7 million as a result of the activities of oil thieves (both official and unofficial) who have never had it so good. Is that the kind of peace Jonathan desires for Nigeria? Unlike in those days when oil thieves had to shoot their way to stealing the nation’s oil, under Jonathan they do not need to fire a single bullet. They don’t have to. One of them is now officially in charge of maritime security.

President Obama knows more than most Nigerians the kind of damage those at the helm are doing both to the nation’s economy and to the fabric of the society. And he surely will not want to encourage the nonsense that is happening by further endorsing them. In spite of all the damage Obasanjo did in his day – the serial election rigging, corruption, the enthronement of thuggery in governance as epitomized by the kidnap of a sitting governor by his associates, sundry political assassinations that could be traced to the highest echelon of government – President George W. Bush encouraged all these by simply paying a visit to Nigeria, and the Queen of England did same as head of the Commonwealth by leading all Commonwealth leaders to Obasanjo’s Aso Rock just after the terribly rigged general elections of 2003. These endorsements played a major role in the kind of impunity that later defined Obasanjo’s leadership.

Nigerians should be grateful to President Obama for sending a clear message to Jonathan and his band of co-travellers. It’s his widow’s mite in the quest for a better Nigeria. But, ultimately, the real hard work to change Nigeria and bring it back to the path of rectitude and respect can only be done by us, not by outsiders, even if they are our friends like the United States. We can start that by ensuring that Jonathan joins the very exclusive and prestigious club of former presidents in 2015. The world cannot wait!





Postscript

No, They Are Not Nigerians



Last week, two loonies appeared on the cable networks literally butchering a 25-year-old soldier near an army barracks in Woolwich, London, in an apparent terrorist attack. One of them, Mujaheed Michael Adebolaja, was seen on TV holding a knife and a cleaver as if he was a butcher in an abbatoir about to cut the thigh and other parts of a cow for his customers. The other chap was identified as Michael Adebowale. The media around the world, including the Nigerian and British media, have continued to refer to the lunatics as Nigerians or “of Nigerian origin”. No, they are not. They are British citizens who have probably never been to Nigeria and probably do not speak or understand the Yoruba language. Adebolaja spoke in unmistaken British accent.

When other Adebolajas and Adebowales were busy winning medals in the Olympics for Britain, nobody referred to them as Nigerians. They were British citizens then. So these ones cannot be Nigerians. Even our own Mujaheed here, Dokubo-Asari, would not do that, even though he has promised to kill all of us if we refused to vote Jonathan in 2015.

All the name, Mujaheed Michael Adebolaja and Michael Adebowale are British citizens and they shall remain so till the end of their miserable lives.



EARSHOT

Jonathan Should Mind Himself

President Goodluck Jonathan has made a successful career of dividing Nigerians since he was given the opportunity to lead the country three years ago. Last week, he successfully but needlessly broke up the Nigeria Governors’ Forum due to his meddlesomeness. On October 1, 2010, when MEND bombed Abuja, his first reaction was to turn himself into MEND’s mouthpiece. He said it was not MEND that did it. MEND people were his people, he said, and he knew them. That was a most insensitive statement at a time so many innocent lives were lost. That was also the first time many of us were knowing that our president was a member of MEND. He said so with his own mouth. After Henry Okah was arrested in South Africa in connection with the terrorist act, he started saying that he was under pressure by top members of the Jonathan government to implicate the north in the bombing. Another president would have sensed the danger in that statement, whether it was true or not, and immediately set up a machinery to probe the veracity of the statement. Jonathan did nothing of the sort and many were left with no option but to believe Okah. That further divided the nation.

Jonathan’s actions and many of his statements even in private have tended to divide the nation along ethnic, regional and religious lines. That is exactly the opposite of what the president of a country should be doing. He has said to people that even the little votes he received in the last elections in the north from Igbos living in the north and northern Christians. At other times, he has said that the south-east remains his strongest support base, therefore deserves more government patronage than others. There are simply some things a president should not utter even if they are true. The chief job of a president, especially the president of a very disparate and complicated country like Nigeria, is to inspire and bring people together, and turn the nation’s diversity into an enduring advantage that would lead the nation to greater heights. Jonathan is not doing that. If Jonathan would have no qualms breaking the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to serve a selfish interest, then, we should all be worried about the implications of this as we approach 2015. The president should mind the Nigeria he leaves behind.

Operation Deal With Him! PDP Suspend Amaechi

Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi

The committee is headed by a senior lawyer.
The Peoples Democratic Party has named an 11-man committee to investigate the allegations leveled against the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
The committee is headed by Joe Gadzama, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
The party had earlier suspended Mr. Amaechi after an emergency meeting of its National Working Committee.

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah clinically dead: Report says

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz is reported to be clinically dead as the monarch is not recently seen in the public.

A Saudi journalist working for London-Based Asharq Alawsat says the Saudi monarch has been clinically dead since Wednesday.

He also quoted medical sources in Saudi Arabia as saying that the king’s vital organs, including his heart, kidneys and lungs, have stopped functioning.

Doctors are said to have used a defibrillator on him several times. He is also reported to be alive with the help of a ventilator.

The Royal Court has yet to comment on the report of King's death.

The aging Saudi monarch has not recently appeared in the public and the country's crown prince is attending official meetings on his behalf.

It is the second time in the past months that Asharq Alawsat reports the death of King Abdullah.

In November 2012, the daily reported that Saudi king has slipped into coma and was clinically dead nearly a week after he underwent a 14-hour-long back surgery in a hospital in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

The report was later rejected by the Royal Court.

The 89-year-old king’s health has declined over the past few years, during which he has been hospitalized several times.

Failing health, old age as well as the death of the king’s half-brothers have raised concerns about the future of the oil-rich country in the face of anti-government demonstrations.

Boston bombing;Massachusetts teen remains in custody pending $1m bail payment

Cameron D’Ambrosio (file photo

An 18-year-old boy arrested for making ‘terror threats’ through his Facebook posts about the recent bombings in the US city of Boston remains in custody pending payment of USD 1 million bail.

The teen, identified as Cameron D’Ambrosio, faces up to 20 years in prison for making terror threats on the social networking website, Russia Today reported on Friday.

The boy, a senior at Methuen High School in Massachusetts, was arrested on May 2 after he posted a threat on Facebook, saying, “Ya'll want me to…kill somebody?... A Boston bombing wait till you see the [expletive] I do. …I beat every murder charge that comes across me.”

On April 15, two bomb explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon killed three people and injured more than 250 others.

Following Cameron’s arrest, Methuen Police Chief Joe Solomon issued a statement saying, “We took this very seriously… The threat was disturbing enough for us to act and I think our officers did the right thing.”

Solomon, however, added that Cameron did not make specific threat against any particular group or individuals including the school officials.

“I do want to make clear he did not make a specific threat against the school or any particular individuals but he did threaten to kill a bunch of people and specifically mentioned the Boston Marathon and the White House.”

The Center for Rights and Fight for the Future established a support page for the high school student earlier this week.

The supporters wrote on the page that “a kid is in prison. Away from his family. All for something he posted on Facebook.”

They noted that police found no explosives or weapons after they searched the house of the teen, demanding that he be released.

“A search of Cam's house found no explosives, weapons… He should be released to his family and that all evidence (including testimony from the police) suggested that he was not a threat to anyone,” his supporters wrote on the page.

Elite New York school apologizes for decades of sexual abuse

The Horace Mann School in New York City

Horace Mann, one the most prestigious schools in New York City, apologizes for more than 30 years of sexual abuse perpetrated by some of its former staff.

“We sincerely apologize for the harm that was caused by the teachers and administrators who abused anyone during their years at Horace Mann School,” Board Chairman Steven Friedman and Head of School Thomas Kelly said in a letter posted on the school’s website on Friday.

The three-page letter added that “These unconscionable betrayals of trust never should have happened. But they did, and now we, as a school, must fully accept this reality.”

The school also said that it would eliminate the board position of trustee emeritus in a move to set up an advisory board on student safety.

On April 26, the Bronx District Attorney's office said a pattern of sexual abuse of students by school employees was uncovered.

The Bronx District Attorney's office and the New York Police Department launched a probe into the allegations of abuse after New York Times Magazine published an article in 2012, accusing some former instructors of the school of sexually abusing students in 1970s.

Following the investigation, Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson issued a statement, saying, “The reported abuse ranges from what may be characterized as inappropriate behavior to child endangerment, actual instances of sexual contact, sexual intercourse and criminal sexual acts.”

He pointed out that the majority of the sexual abuses were reported to have occurred in the 1970s and some school authorities were aware of the abuse, but they did not inform the police.

Friday's letter apologized for the sexual abuse conducted between 1962 and 1996.

Obama, Bush, Blair must be put on trial at ICC: Chomsky

American academic Noam Chomsky (file photo)

Renowned American academic, Noam Chomsky, says US President Barack Obama, his predecessor George W. Bush, along with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair should face trial for the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the ensuing turmoil in the Arab state.

“Bush and Blair ought to be up there [at the International Criminal Court]. There is no recent crime worse than the invasion of Iraq. Obama’s got to be there for the terror war,” Chomsky told Russia Today on Thursday.

In 2003, the US and Britain invaded Iraq in a blatant violation of international law and under the pretext of finding weapons of mass destruction. But no such weapons were ever found in Iraq.

More than one million Iraqis were killed as the result of the US-led invasion and subsequent occupation of the country, according to the California-based investigative organization, Project Censored.

Chomsky, a prominent critic of the US foreign policy, said the invasion of Iraq is a “supreme international crime,” adding that the US and its allies were responsible for bomb attacks across the Arab country.

“The US and British invasion of Iraq was a textbook example of aggression, no questions about it. Which means that we were responsible for all the evil that follows like the bombings. Serious conflict arose, [and] it spread all over the region. In fact the region is being torn to shreds by this conflict. That is part of the evil that follows,” Chomsky stated.

He went on to slam Washington for its growing use of killer drones in a number of countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia, describing it as a “massive terror campaign.”

“A drone strike was a terror weapon; we do not talk about it that way. It is; just imagine you are walking down the street and you do not know whether in five minutes there is going to be an explosion across the street from some place up in the sky that you cannot see,” said Chomsky.

“Somebody will be killed, and whoever is around will be killed, maybe you will be injured if you are there. That is a terror weapon. It terrorizes villages, regions, huge areas. In fact it’s the most massive terror campaign going on by a long shot,” he added.

Washington uses killer drones in several countries, claiming that they target “terrorists.” According to witnesses, however, the attacks have mostly led to massive civilian casualties.

IMF chief assisting witness in fraud case

The chief of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde

Sat May 25, 2013 5:49AM GMT

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The Court of Justice of the Republic (CJR) assigned IMF chief Christine Lagarde the status of “assisting witness” over her role in a 400-million-euro ($520 million) pay-off to disgrace former Minister of City Affairs Bernard Tapie, who has served two years in prison for corruption.”

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A French court has named the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as “assisting witness” in an investigation into a payout made when she was France’s finance minister.

The Court of Justice of the Republic (CJR) assigned Christine Lagarde the status on Friday after two long days of questioning on her role in a 400-million-euro ($520 million) pay-off to disgrace former Minister of City Affairs Bernard Tapie, who has served two years in prison for corruption.

“My status as assisted witness is not a surprise to me, since I always acted in the interests of the state and in conformity with the law,” Lagarde said after the second day of questioning in the case.

Prosecutors suspect that Tapie received favorable treatment in return for giving support to Nicolas Sarkozy in the 2007 and 2012 presidential elections.

The prosecution suggests Lagarde was somewhat responsible for “numerous anomalies and irregularities,” which could lead to charges for complicity in fraud and misappropriation of public funds.

“My explanations came as a response to the doubts that had been brought up regarding the decisions I had taken at the time,” Lagarde added.

Lagarde said she would now return to Washington “to pursue my mission as managing director of the IMF.”

Although Lagarde avoided being placed under formal investigation, Friday's decision by the special court means that the IMF chief will be called upon to testify at a later stage.

The case stretches back to 1993 when Lagarde went ahead with arbitration between Tapie and to then state-owned bank Credit Lyonnais, over the botched sale of sports company Adidas.

Tapie claimed the bank had defrauded him after it resold his stake for a much higher sum and argued that the state should compensate him.

Critics said the state should not have paid the 400-million euro compensation to the convicted Tapie, who at that time was bankrupt, since he would not have been able financially to take the case through the courts.

With the payout, Tapie was able to repay his huge debts and relaunch his business career.

Judge opens probe into Spain princess corruption case

Spain's Princess Cristina, daughter of Spain's King Juan Carlos

A Spanish judge has opened an investigation into Spain’s Princess Cristina's corruption case involving her husband.

Examining Magistrate Jose Castro said on Friday that he had asked the tax agency for more information about Cristina, daughter of Spain's King Juan Carlos, over tax evasion or money laundering between 2007 and 2010.

Inaki Urdangarin who is married to Princess Cristina, the second of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia's three children, is charged with fraud, tax evasion, falsifying documents and embezzling 6 million euros in public funds as head of the charitable Noos Foundation.

Urdangarin, 45, has already been questioned twice by Castro since the probe began two years ago.

The magistrate said for the investigation to be completed and to show that justice treats all equally, the princess must be questioned.

Urdangarin was a professional handball player. He retired from professional sport in 2000, and went on to study business administration.

King Juan Carlos, has banned Urdangarin from family functions. The investigation into the alleged financial misdeeds has deeply embarrassed the monarchy in a country hard hit by a financial crisis and sky-high unemployment.

Sweden protest;Unrest spreads beyond Stockholm, the capital city

A burned-out van is prepared for removal after youths rioted in Husby, northern Stockholm on May 21,

Unrest has spread beyond Sweden’s capital Stockholm, with the protesters setting ablaze vehicles and buildings in two other Swedish towns.

Police said that the protesters set a school and several cars ablaze in the town of Oerebro, 160 kilometers west of the capital on Friday.

An empty building was also set on fire in the town of Sodertalje just outside Stockholm.

Meanwhile, cars have been torched in several immigrant-dominated suburbs on the sixth consecutive night of violence in the capital, forcing police to ask for reinforcements from Gothenburg and Malmoe.

The United States and Britain have warned their citizens in Sweden to stay away from the affected areas.

The protests in Sweden began on May 19, six days after police shot dead a 69-year-old man, who had locked himself in an apartment in Husby, a poor district in western Stockholm.

Rights activists and local residents say the incident sparked anger among youths in the district, who claim the government discriminates against them.

The riots in one of Europe’s richest capitals have shocked a country that prides itself on a reputation for social justice, fueling a debate about how Sweden is coping with both youth unemployment and an influx of immigrants.

US drones spy on Boko Haram

Boko Haram members
| credits: File copy

Nigerian troops fighting Boko Haram insurgents in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states may have been bolstered by United States drones stationed in Niamey, Niger Republic.

The Nigerian government had deployed thousands of troops to the three states after President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in their territories on May 14, 2013.

A top intelligence official, who declined to be named due to the sensitive nature of the issue, told Saturday PUNCH that US drones had been spying on Boko Haram bases in the forests and plains around Nigeria’s borders with Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

The source said this was part of assistance provided by the US Government, in its bid to destroy terror bases in West and North Africa.

The security official did not, however, give further details of the spying mission as well as other aspects of US military assistance to the campaign against Boko Haram.

“Yes, it is true. We have got assistance from the United States, including what you mentioned,” he stated.

US President Barack Obama had in February announced that 100 American troops were being sent to the drone base in the Nigerien capital.

The drones had been deployed in missions against Islamist extremists in Mali but may their area of coverage may have now been extended to cover Niger’s border with Nigeria.

Nigerien President Issoufou Mahamadou had told the Associated Press in January that his government invited Washington to send surveillance drones because he was worried that the country might not be able to defend its borders from Islamist fighters based in Mali, Libya or Nigeria.

“We welcome the drones,” Mahamadou said in an interview at the presidential palace in Niamey. Citing the “feeble capability” of many west African militaries, he said Niger and its neighbours desperately needed foreign help to track the movements of guerrillas across the Sahara and Sahel, an arid territorial belt that covers much of the region.

“Our countries are like the blind leading the blind,” he said. “We rely on countries like France and the United States. We need co-operation to ensure our security.”

The Predator drones in Niger are unarmed, US officials said, though they have not ruled out equipping the aircraft with Hellfire missiles in the future.

The US Embassy in Niamey, Niger Republic did not respond to an email on the matter.

When contacted, spokesman for Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade, denied any collaboration with the US in the campaign.

He said, “This is solely a Nigerian planned operation and we are doing it our own way. This operation is our own and we are doing it in line with best practices. It is Nigerian designed and executed.”

Meanwhile, Nigerian security agents may join the ongoing investigation of two British men, who hacked a soldier to death on Wednesday in Woolwich, United Kingdom.

The two British-born suspects of Nigerian origin, Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, are under guard in hospitals after being shot and arrested by police after the murder of 25-year-old Afghan war veteran Lee Rigby on Wednesday in Woolwich in broad daylight. They have not yet been charged.

UK detectives are trying to determine whether the suspects had links to militants in Britain or overseas.

Sources familiar with the investigation have said no sign has emerged so far of direct links between the attack and the Boko Haram insurgency.

British investigators are looking at information that at least one of the suspects may have had an interest in joining Somalia-based Islamist rebel group al Shabaab, which is allied to al Qaeda and Boko Haram, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

A senior State Security Service official told one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity on Thursday that although a request had yet to be received from UK authorities, security agents would be ready to aid the investigation of the alleged killer’s possible links to Boko Haram and other terror groups.

He said it was still early for such a request to be sent to Nigeria but noted that the agency was following developments on the matter closely.

Attempts to obtain comments from the SSS spokesperson, Ms. Marilyn Ogar, were unsuccessful as she did not respond to calls to her phone.

Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, asid, “We will not discuss that. Talk to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

Spokesman for the British High Commission, Robert Fitzpatrick, declined to comment on the matter. He said since British Prime Minister, David Cameron, had issued a statement, there was nothing more to add.

Also speaking, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Ogbole Ahmedu-Ode, said, “Those two are of British nationals but of Nigerian ancestry. I am not aware of any request from the British Government on their roots in Nigeria.”

Nigerian Troops Rescue Women and Children Kidnapped By Boko Haram

Rescued women and children

The Nigerian Army today said it has rescued several women, and children held hostage by Islamist militant sect, Boko Haram.
Brigadier Chris Olukolade stated that on May 22, 2013, during operations to rid the Bama area of terrorists, the Nigerian military raided Boko Haram camps where they rescued nine women and children being held hostage.
Following the Bama attack on May 7, 2013, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau released that showed women and children that they had captured.
Brigadier Olukolade confirmed that the children and women rescued were the same people displayed by Boko Haram in the video.

Amaechi Floors Jonathan Candidate In Governors' Forum Election

By SaharaReporters, New York

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has won re-election as the chairman of the Nigerian Governors' Forum defeating his opponent Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State by 3 votes.
Mr. Amaechi won 19 votes from the 35 governors present, while Mr. Jang, a late entrant to the competition garnered 16 votes. The governor of gombe state was absent.

Amidst emergency rule,Gunmen kill father, son & Almajiri in Borno

Despite the emergency rule and the deployment of over 3000 Joint Taks Force troops in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, some gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram sect yesterday shot dead provision store dealer, Mr. Bitrus Kwaji and his son (name witheld), while one child suspected to be Almajiri(destitute) was killed by a stray bullet in Chescon area of Federal low cost of the metropolis.
Our Correspondent gathered that the gunmen who ambushed the dealer at his residence around 6:30pm, successfully executed their mission and fled without being arrested.
A Neighbour and resident of the slain provision dealer who does not want his name mention in the print for security reasons told our Correspondent that “the gunmen upon arriving at the residence of Mr. Bitrus asked one Almajiri boy (destitute) to enter the house and told the provision dealer to come out as some people/customers were outside and wanted to buy things from the store, upon responding to the call, Mr. Bitrus, his son and the Almajiri boy were coming out to attend to their customers, not knowing that the people came for a different mission”
He said, as they approaches the store located at the frontage of the house, the gunmen opened fire and killed them including the boy they sent to call Mr. Bitrus.
Due to the total GSM network black out in Borno, the JTF Spokesman’s number, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa and the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Gideon Jubrin could not be reached for confirmation as at the time of going to press.

Force Against Amaechi,Presidency Entices Governors with Release of Statutory Funds

Governor Rotimi Amaechi

Northern govs, PDP govs, NGF meet   Amaechi cannot step down, says David-West

Chuks Okocha   and  Ernest Chinwo

Three separate meetings have been slated to take place today to determine who will become the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF). The meetings are that of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum and the NGF.

THISDAY also learnt from a source yesterday that the presidency is using the statutory ecological funds to entice the governors to vote for the anointed candidate.
It was gathered that some of the governors were considering the offer to release their statutory grants as offer ‘too difficult to resist’.

The northern governors are expected to meet at the Niger State governor’s lodge at 11.30 a.m. The meeting would be presided over by their chairman, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, who is also the governor of the state.

The second meeting is that of the PDP governors’ forum. It will take place at 2.30 p.m at the Akwa Ibom State Governor’s lodge while the NGF meeting will take place at 4 p.m at the Rivers State Governor’s lodge.

All the three meetings have one common agenda, which is the election of the chairman, deputy chairman and members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) for each of the six geo political zone of the federation.

Already, Abuja is busy with the presence of the governors who are all in town.
Meanwhile strong indications emerged last night that the NGF may not go ahead with its election as earlier scheduled for today if the pro-presidency governors insist on a no-election to produce the forum’s next chairman.

This, however, came up at a time the Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda, the man believed to be the president’s preferred candidate, picked up his nomination form, thus formerly declaring his interest in the race.

Sources close to the two camps hinted that the situation was tensed last night as both parties stuck to their guns. While the pro-Rotimi Amaechi governors said the constitution of the forum must be upheld to guide its activities, those sympathetic to the president insisted on consensus as a way to douse tension.

Given the situation, the election purported to hold today may have come under serious threat except something dramatic and defining happens in a way that would pave the way for reason.

One of the governors who, was obviously not pleased with the way both camps have handled the situation said: “The way out of this nonsense is election. Any other way will breed crisis and create undue gulf amongst the governors. Since the constitution stipulates an election, then it must be an election.

“I worry because I don’t know who is afraid of an election? And I am particularly worried that the president is now compelling and intimidating the feeble-minded among us to sign a resolution as against an election. Unfortunately, we are all not PDP governors and even some PDP governors are displeased with this drama of shame.”

THISDAY however, gathered that for inexplicable reasons, the northern governors billed to meet yesterday postponed their meeting to today.
It was gathered that the decision to meet today was to avoid pressures being mounted on them to compromise a position earlier taken.

With the insistence of the Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema, to contest the NGF chairmanship election, the chances of the pro-presidency governors to ensure a consensus in the person of Yuguda could have reduced.

Shema had on Wednesday submitted his letter of intent to contest. His submission of the letter to the NGF secretariat in Asokoro, Abuja, is an indication that the northern governors could not achieve a consensus between Shema and Yuguda.
This is one of the main agenda of the northern governors meeting to try to reduce the pro-presidency consensus candidate.

THISDAY gathered that Shema agreed to contest because of what could be allegedly described as ego.

One of Shema’s aides told THISDAY that the March meeting of the PDP governors resolved that the election should be between River State Governor, Chubuike Amaechi and Shema explaining that Yuguda’s entry was against the spirit of the resolution.

Also, Amaechi is still in the race. One of his aides confirmed to THISDAY that the governor was still in the race, adding, “Oga is still in the race and has chosen to ignore the advice of the Rivers State PDP elders. As he said, he would accept the outcome of the election as an outcome of a democratic process, whether he wins or loses.”

The various Governors’ Lodge in Asokoro has become a beehive of activities as the governors are busy criss-crossing and linking to one another as part of the campaign.
The pro presidency governors claimed that they had more than a simple majority to win the election, saying it is still difficult to verify as the election would be through the secret ballot process.
A governor from the north-west told THISDAY that unless some of the candidates step down, it would be difficult to state clearly who will carry the day.

It was gathered that the meeting of the PDP governors would try to ensure a consensus, but, as one of the governors said, “It will be difficult to enforce it, unless pressure is mounted on the governors who have indicated interest.”

It was further gathered that the opposition governors, save for those of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko and Anambra State, Peter Obi, may vote differently as they are said to be among the pro-presidency governors.

Meanwhile, a renowned Professor of Virology and social critic, Prof. Tam David-West, has faulted the state PDP Elders’ Forum for urging Amaechi to ditch his quest for a second tenure as chairman of the NGF.

In a telephone interview Thursday, David-West said the PDP elders were ignorant of the politics going on, stating that the call was misplaced.

The former Minister of Petroleum Resources, who described the elders as contractors, who do not really understand the issues at stake, added that this was the first time a chairman of the NGF was being forced to go through the rigour of an election for a second tenure.
He said Jonathan had done a lot to dissuade Amaechi from running for a second term, and that the governor had refused to be cowed.

Mother of nine commits suicide in Zamfara

GusauA –  45-year-old house wife, Malama Hadiza Sani of Gada Village in Bungudu Local Government area of Zamfara has allegedly committed suicide.
Hadiza, who until her death was a local comedian, was said to have killed herself with a sharp object in her husband’s compound.
Her husband Sani, a meat seller, told reporters on Friday in Gada that he left his wife alive for prayers in a nearby Mosque when the incident occurred.
Sani said that his son rushed to the Mosque about 20 minutes later and informed him about the incident.
He said that he rushed to the house and found Hadiza in a pool of her own blood, adding that a sharp knife was by her body.
The traditional head of the village, Alhaji Umar Keku, who confirmed the incident, described it as unfortunate and said that the village had never witnessed such a tragedy.
Malam Lawal Abdullah, Zamfara Police Command Spokesman, also confirmed the incident.
Lawal said that the police were investigating the circumstances that led to the death of Hadiza.
The deceased is survived by nine children, all for her husband Sani.

Pregnant woman, husband, sell unborn baby for N200,000

The suspects (inset: ‘Their children’)
| credits: File copy

A 23-year-old pregnant woman caused a stir at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters on Thursday after she confessed that she had sold her unborn baby for N200,000, in advance.

The suspect, Adaeze Mba, who was arrested for conniving with her husband to sell their neighbour’s four-year-old son for N400, 000, said it was poverty that pushed them to crime.

She confessed that she and her husband, Chibueze, had sold two other children for N700, 000.

She said, “In March 2013, my neighbour’s son, Stanley Ezeaka, was following me about in the compound at Jakande Estate and it was at that time that my husband received a phone call from his partner that she needed a child for sale. My husband then suggested that we took Stanley even though he was a bit old.

“We travelled to Imo State the following morning and sold him for N400, 000 after  which we relocated to Calabar.”

When asked why she took to crime and how she would feel if someone bought her own children, she said, “I am seven months pregnant and as I speak to you, my husband has already sold our unborn baby for N200, 000.

“I was against it but he convinced me to agree to it, saying he had already collected the money.”

When asked about the other children she and her husband had sold, she said, “The male child was sold at N400,000 while the female child, who was two months old but is now over a year old, was sold at N300,000.”

Chibueze on his part, said he went into the business last year. He said he had sold ‘only’ three children to his business partner, Benedicta Ogbonna, and maintained that the children were in turn sold to caring parents and not ritual killers.

He said, “One of the children was born by a mentally challenged woman; so I have committed no crime by selling the child to people who would take care of her.”

Ogbonna, who bought the three children from Chibueze and his wife at different times, said she sold children to bAREEN.

She said, “I am doing this business for humanitarian reasons and not for monetary gain. I am 35 years old and I have four children. I can never sell my own children and in fact my husband does not know I am into this kind of business.

“Chibueze brought Stanley to me and told me that his mother was a prostitute so he sold him to me at N400, 000. I then sold Stanley to Mrs. Patricia Anibogwu for N600,000. So far, I have sold only three children. I buy boys at N400, 000 and girls at N300,000.

“I use the money to take care of people and also invest it in my business. I sell shoes for a living at Anambra Wholesale Market.”

Anibogwu, who was the final buyer, said she thought Ogbonna was an employee of an orphanage. She said she bought Stanley because she was lonely having lost her husband.

She said amid tears that, “I was married for 28 years without a child. After my husband died, I decided to adopt the child because I was lonely. Someone introduced me to Ogbonna. Ogbonna told me she worked at an orphanage and would sell Stanley to me for N600, 000.

“I used my savings to pay for him and she brought Stanley to a roadside. I took Stanley home and started taking care of him like my own child. I changed his name to Uchenna. Ogbonna promised me that she would give me legal documents later but, unfortunately, I was arrested.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, urged parents to be vigilant and also advised childless women to go through the formal process of adoption rather than buying children.

She said, “In March 2013, one Caleb Ezeaka reported at Ilemba Hausa Police Division that his son, Stanley, had gone missing the previous day, adding that he was last seen with his neighbour, Adaeze Mba. All efforts to reach the neighbour proved abortive as she and her husband had disappeared and their phones were switched off.

“Through investigations, we traced them to Calabar and they confessed that they had sold him at N400,000 to one Benedicta Ogbonna. We traced Ogbonna to Anambra who then said she had sold him to Patricia Anibogwu for N600,000. So we arrested them all.

“Adaeze and her husband, Chibueze, confessed that they had sold three children to Ogbonna and they were also rescued. One of the children was sold when she was three months old and she is now a year and three months old.”

Dokubo is a coward who will flee in event of war – Northern elders

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North
…Say Jonathan ’ll account for ‘ourwomen and children someday’
Northern Elders Thursday spurned the benevolence of President Goodluck Jonathan in ordering the
release of terror suspects from prisons across the region, saying that he would one day made to account for the woman and children seized by security agents based on unverified terrorism charges.
The group also condemned the recent threat by ex-militant leader, Dokubo Asari to match
the opposition bullet by bullet if Jonathan was not re-elected in 2015.
The northern elders are miffed that the Federal Government under President Jonathan allowed innocent
women and children, who should be spared even in times of war, to be taken captive and incarcerated in dehumanising conditions for many months without trial.

The arrogance of Shekau and his group is unislamic. Which President if not Goodluck, will accept somebody to tell him to become a Muslim or resign?

The elders, who spoke to Vanguard through their spokesman, Prof Ango Abdullahi, noted with dismay that the administration had allowed innocent women and children to suffer untold hardship for offences they did not commit.
“Let me tell you that what the government did by ordering the release of suspected terrorists was
borne out of shame and guilt being suffered by it for clamping innocent women and children into detention camps or what you may call Nigeria’s ‘Guantanamo Bay’, which are scattered all over the place,” Adbullahi said.
“We note with delight that at last common sense has prevailed and the embattled families have
regained their freedom. But we hasten to add that this government must account for the women and children from the north, who they took into unwarranted detention. As far as we are concerned, the release of the so-called terror suspects should have been done long ago.”
The NEF took very serious exception to the latest threat by militant leader, Dokubo Asari to match
the opposition bullet by bullet if Jonathan was not re-elected in 2015, saying that it was a threat to national security.
“From the antecedents of Asari Dokubo, we believe that he is making these empty boasts apparently
because of the filthy lucre he is getting from pipeline contracts and the promise of more. But we can bet Nigerians that he would be the first person to flee to the creeks if the war he is threatening breaks out”, the group note

Boston bomb investigators kill Florida man

A Florida man was shot and killed while being questioned by Boston bombing investigators after he lunged at them with a knife, officials have said.

The shooting took place early on Wednesday in Orlando as officials questioned Ibragim Todashev, 27.
The FBI initially said their agent had killed Todashev, but an updated statement left it unclear who had fired the fatal shot.
Two Massachusetts State Police officers were also in the room, the FBI said.
The FBI said an agent was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries, and an agency team has been dispatched to review the shooting, standard procedure in such cases.
Police blocked off the apartment complex where the Chechen immigrant was shot.
'Martial arts fighter'

Ibragim Todashev was arrested this month after a row over a parking spot

US media reported that Todashev had known Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the ethnic Chechen Boston bombings suspect killed in a shootout with police days after last month's deadly marathon blasts.
Two anonymous law enforcement officials told the Associated Press Todashev was shot after attacking the FBI agent with a knife.
In a statement, the FBI said the agent and "two Massachusetts State Police troopers and other law enforcement personnel" had been interviewing Todashev when "a violent confrontation was initiated by the individual".
"During the confrontation, the individual was killed and the agent sustained non-life threatening injuries."
In an earlier statement, an FBI spokesman had said "the [FBI] Special Agent, acting on the imminent threat posed by the individual, responded with deadly force".
A roommate and friend, Khusen Tamarov, told the Associated Press that Todashev had been wary about being interrogated at a law enforcement office, asking that the questioning take place somewhere else.
"This is the last thing I thought they would do," Mr Tamarov said. "We had nothing to do with this. He had nothing to do with this."
He told Florida News 13 that the FBI had begun questioning and following Todashev soon after the Boston bombings.
'A regular guy' He was quoted as saying: "One day they started questioning us, next day after the bombing, not the bombing, after they found out the bombers were Chechnyans, and they started following us, watching us."

His friend told the news station that the FBI had pressured Todashev into cancelling a plane ticket to Chechnya that he bought before the Boston bombings.

Another roommate, Saeed Dunkaev, told the AP that Todashev had lived at various times with a group of other Chechens in Kissimmee, an Orlando suburb.
"He's a regular guy, nothing wrong," Mr Dunkaev said.
The Associated Press news agency meanwhile reports that Todashev was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of assault, after a dispute over a parking spot at an Orlando shopping centre.
Todashev put a man in hospital with facial injuries during the fracas, according to a report from the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Public records show that Todashev - who was reportedly a mixed-martial arts fighter - lived in Watertown, Massachusetts, just outside Boston, last year.
The Boston Marathon blasts killed three people and injured 264 others on 15 April.
Tsarnaev's brother, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, is being held in a prison hospital after being shot before capture. He faces the death penalty if convicted.