Twenty-two persons deported from Spain arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) on Friday, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
They arrived the airport at about 3.30 p.m. in company of some law enforcement agents from Spain.
A source from the Nigeria Immigration Service, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed that there were six males while the remaining were females.
The deportees were sent packing by the Spanish authorities for immigration-related offences ranging from illegal entry, expired visas and fake travelling documents.
The deportees were received at the airport by immigration officials and other law -enforcement agents.
Some of the deportees, who had no criminal records, were allowed to go home while those found wanting were kept for further interrogation.
NAN learnt that another batch of deportees is expected from the Netherlands next week.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Bankole: Nigerians Hungry for Good Governance
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole has said the House is renewing its pact with the people to deepen democracy in Nigeria.
“Nigerians are hungry for good governance, that is, the one offered by democracy, and our pact with them is to ensure that democracy dividends are served in significant proportions,” the Speaker said in a statement to mark the 10th anniversary of democracy in Nigeria.
“We have demonstrated time and time over in words and action that we prefer to be leaders as against rulers, as this is the only way we can make the difference in the lives of our people who have been impoverished over the years and therefore yearning for the kind of government that will reverse the unsavoury and unsatisfactory situation. We shall continue in that trend.”
The statement read in part: “The House has done many things during the period under review, that have been variously interpreted in many quarters. Significantly, our investigations of the happenings of the past have triggered questions as to our true intention.
“The inquiry has in many quarters been described as an attempt at witch-hunt directed at the last administration and notable officials. Let me use this opportunity to say that we are no hater of anybody. Our endeavours in this regard are borne out of the genuine desire to clear the rot of the past and use our findings to move Nigeria forward.
“We are saying that the former status quo that de-emphasised service delivery to the people, who ordinarily should be the masters of those in government is no longer acceptable. Government will be re-positioned to serve the overall interest of Nigerians. I hasten to say also that no amount of blackmail by those dubbing the inquiry as a witch-hunt will stop the investigation of the past by the House.
“The House has put the nation on an irreversible course in terms of law making that has human face and making various organs of government accountable to the people by giving bite to our oversight of the MDAs.
“No longer will national budget be a mere formality as has been the case under successive administrations. All of us are living witnesses to the innovation that the House put into the making of this year’s budget that saw us asking questions from relevant agencies on how they utilised past votes before new allocations were approved. The tenacity that we as lawmakers employed in the processing of the budget ultimately paid off as huge sums of money were recovered as unspent funds under the past budgets and built into the on-going budget.
“Now that the budget is being implemented, let me warn that nothing less than full implementation will be acceptable to the House as those who fail to play their part to the letter will incur our wrath.”
“Money has been voted for projects many of which are crying for attention and the people already impatient that the poor infrastructure across the country be fixed. We will follow the money so voted to see that it is applied in the right manner. Reckless government officials will, as we are wont to do, be summoned, as and when necessary, before the House to account for the money entrusted in their care.
“Nigerians are hungry for good governance, that is, the one offered by democracy, and our pact with them is to ensure that democracy dividends are served in significant proportions,” the Speaker said in a statement to mark the 10th anniversary of democracy in Nigeria.
“We have demonstrated time and time over in words and action that we prefer to be leaders as against rulers, as this is the only way we can make the difference in the lives of our people who have been impoverished over the years and therefore yearning for the kind of government that will reverse the unsavoury and unsatisfactory situation. We shall continue in that trend.”
The statement read in part: “The House has done many things during the period under review, that have been variously interpreted in many quarters. Significantly, our investigations of the happenings of the past have triggered questions as to our true intention.
“The inquiry has in many quarters been described as an attempt at witch-hunt directed at the last administration and notable officials. Let me use this opportunity to say that we are no hater of anybody. Our endeavours in this regard are borne out of the genuine desire to clear the rot of the past and use our findings to move Nigeria forward.
“We are saying that the former status quo that de-emphasised service delivery to the people, who ordinarily should be the masters of those in government is no longer acceptable. Government will be re-positioned to serve the overall interest of Nigerians. I hasten to say also that no amount of blackmail by those dubbing the inquiry as a witch-hunt will stop the investigation of the past by the House.
“The House has put the nation on an irreversible course in terms of law making that has human face and making various organs of government accountable to the people by giving bite to our oversight of the MDAs.
“No longer will national budget be a mere formality as has been the case under successive administrations. All of us are living witnesses to the innovation that the House put into the making of this year’s budget that saw us asking questions from relevant agencies on how they utilised past votes before new allocations were approved. The tenacity that we as lawmakers employed in the processing of the budget ultimately paid off as huge sums of money were recovered as unspent funds under the past budgets and built into the on-going budget.
“Now that the budget is being implemented, let me warn that nothing less than full implementation will be acceptable to the House as those who fail to play their part to the letter will incur our wrath.”
“Money has been voted for projects many of which are crying for attention and the people already impatient that the poor infrastructure across the country be fixed. We will follow the money so voted to see that it is applied in the right manner. Reckless government officials will, as we are wont to do, be summoned, as and when necessary, before the House to account for the money entrusted in their care.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
FG not transparent over Halliburton scandal –NBA
The Nigerian Bar Association, on Wednesday, insisted that the Federal Government should release the names of Nigerians linked with the Halliburton bribe scandal.
The President, NBA, Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), who spoke at the opening of the NBA’s 4th Business Law Conference in Abuja, said that the Federal Government had not been transparent in the handling of the issue.
According to him, Nigerians are not satisfied with the way the office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice is handling the issue.
He said, “Rule of law is not limited to obeying court orders. Government has not been transparent. Nigerians deserve to have fuller information.
“The names of those involved should be released to the public and they should also be prosecuted. That is our position.
“The matter has already been tried in court in the United States of America, so there should really be no secrecy about the names of Nigerians who were involved in the scandal.”
Akeredolu noted that “the struggle for the economic emancipation of Africa must be fought from all fronts. There is no doubt that Africa’s development has been wasted by poor leadership as most our leaders pay lip service to the issue of the rule of law, while most of our leaders have benefited and are still benefitting from the proceeds of corruption.”
He also faulted the advice by President Umaru Yar’Adua to his ministers that they should be transparent in their operations, saying that all the President needed to do was to support the passing into law of the Freedom of Information Bill.
“There is also no commitment on the part of the National Assembly to pass the bill. Otherwise, if they pass it and the president refuses to assent, they should override him by two-thirds vote,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, immediate past president of the International Bar Association, Mr. Fernado Pombo, said that transparency was needed in fighting trans-border economic crimes such as corruption.
He said that effort should be made to trace money involved in such crimes and how it could be retrieved and brought back home.
He pointed out that lawyers played key roles in facilitating corrupt acts worldwide.
The former IBA President cautioned lawyers about engaging in acts capable of tarnishing the image of the profession, adding that “a lawyer’s obligation to his client to close a deal has its limitations.”
He said such limitation should not extend to committing a crime, as anything beyond a legal advice was no longer part of a lawyer’s duty to his client while lawyers were part of the fight against corruption and abuse of power.
The President, NBA, Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), who spoke at the opening of the NBA’s 4th Business Law Conference in Abuja, said that the Federal Government had not been transparent in the handling of the issue.
According to him, Nigerians are not satisfied with the way the office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice is handling the issue.
He said, “Rule of law is not limited to obeying court orders. Government has not been transparent. Nigerians deserve to have fuller information.
“The names of those involved should be released to the public and they should also be prosecuted. That is our position.
“The matter has already been tried in court in the United States of America, so there should really be no secrecy about the names of Nigerians who were involved in the scandal.”
Akeredolu noted that “the struggle for the economic emancipation of Africa must be fought from all fronts. There is no doubt that Africa’s development has been wasted by poor leadership as most our leaders pay lip service to the issue of the rule of law, while most of our leaders have benefited and are still benefitting from the proceeds of corruption.”
He also faulted the advice by President Umaru Yar’Adua to his ministers that they should be transparent in their operations, saying that all the President needed to do was to support the passing into law of the Freedom of Information Bill.
“There is also no commitment on the part of the National Assembly to pass the bill. Otherwise, if they pass it and the president refuses to assent, they should override him by two-thirds vote,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, immediate past president of the International Bar Association, Mr. Fernado Pombo, said that transparency was needed in fighting trans-border economic crimes such as corruption.
He said that effort should be made to trace money involved in such crimes and how it could be retrieved and brought back home.
He pointed out that lawyers played key roles in facilitating corrupt acts worldwide.
The former IBA President cautioned lawyers about engaging in acts capable of tarnishing the image of the profession, adding that “a lawyer’s obligation to his client to close a deal has its limitations.”
He said such limitation should not extend to committing a crime, as anything beyond a legal advice was no longer part of a lawyer’s duty to his client while lawyers were part of the fight against corruption and abuse of power.
Deportees raise the alarm over Nigerians
The 45 Nigerians deported on Tuesday by the Equatorial Guinea Government have expressed fears on the whereabouts of 11 others, saying they may have been killed in that country.
They also demanded the release of the 15 corpses of Nigerians killed for proper burial at home and $100m compensation to the owners of seized boats and the detainees.
Out of the 128 Nigerians detained by the government of that country, 11 of them were removed from their cell, to an unknown destination, while efforts to trace them have proved futile.
A statement entitled, Report of Assault on Nigerian businessmen and Sailors in Malabo by the Government of Equatorial Guinea, signed by the Secretary-General of Nigeria/Malabo Boat Owners Association, Mr. Wisdom Archibong and made available to our correspondent in Lagos on Wednesday, also alleged that 12 of them died through torture and shooting.
They were arrested on February 17 by a combined team of Equatorial Guinea Police, Navy and Army who took 98 sailors and 30 other Nigerians and detained at the Central Police Station in Malabo.
Three of the people shot dead, alleged Archibong, included one Mr. Sola Jide, adding that “three of the people in the boat were tortured to death, including a woman. The Equatorial Guinea Police, after killing them, placed guns on their bodies, took photographs and branded them militants.’’
He stated that despite complaints to the Nigerian government, the Consul-General remained mute over the matter.
But the spokesperson of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Mr. Ayo Olukanni, told The PUNCH on the phone that “both the Nigerian Mission in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea and the Federal Government have taken up the issue to ensure that the rights of our people are protected.’’
Reacting to the development, human rights advocate, Mr. Femi Falana, told our correspondent that he would reach out to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and draw the attention of the government to the plight of Nigerians in Equatorial Guinea.
They also demanded the release of the 15 corpses of Nigerians killed for proper burial at home and $100m compensation to the owners of seized boats and the detainees.
Out of the 128 Nigerians detained by the government of that country, 11 of them were removed from their cell, to an unknown destination, while efforts to trace them have proved futile.
A statement entitled, Report of Assault on Nigerian businessmen and Sailors in Malabo by the Government of Equatorial Guinea, signed by the Secretary-General of Nigeria/Malabo Boat Owners Association, Mr. Wisdom Archibong and made available to our correspondent in Lagos on Wednesday, also alleged that 12 of them died through torture and shooting.
They were arrested on February 17 by a combined team of Equatorial Guinea Police, Navy and Army who took 98 sailors and 30 other Nigerians and detained at the Central Police Station in Malabo.
Three of the people shot dead, alleged Archibong, included one Mr. Sola Jide, adding that “three of the people in the boat were tortured to death, including a woman. The Equatorial Guinea Police, after killing them, placed guns on their bodies, took photographs and branded them militants.’’
He stated that despite complaints to the Nigerian government, the Consul-General remained mute over the matter.
But the spokesperson of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Mr. Ayo Olukanni, told The PUNCH on the phone that “both the Nigerian Mission in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea and the Federal Government have taken up the issue to ensure that the rights of our people are protected.’’
Reacting to the development, human rights advocate, Mr. Femi Falana, told our correspondent that he would reach out to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and draw the attention of the government to the plight of Nigerians in Equatorial Guinea.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
JAMB set to release UME result
The joint admission and matriculation board JAMB, the body responsible for the entrance examination into higher institutions in Nigeria has disclosed the results of last Saturday university matriculation examination will be release next week.
The body made this known at a press briefing on Thursday.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Adesanya: Judge sentences Abacha’s aide, Shofolahan to 59 years
JUSTICE Olushola Williams of a Lagos High Court, on Wednesday, sentenced a member of a Strike Force of the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, Aminu Mohammed, to 28 years imprisonment for the attempted murder of the late Senator Abraham Adesanya.
In her judgment that lasted almost three and a half hours, Justice Williams also sentenced Lateef Shofolahan, a former aide to the late Mrs Kudirat Abiola to 31 years with hard labour for his involvement in the plot to kill the late leader of Afenifere.
The judge further berated Mohammed, an Army corporal, for engaging in condemnable act, saying that, “Though he was part and parcel of a team that was maintained at the expense of tax payers, the excuse that he was under instruction is not enough to endanger the lives of the people.
“The first defendant must take responsibility for his act.”
Justice Williams also castigated Shofolahan for being garrulous, adding that it was regrettable that his conduct as an informant led to the covert act of shooting the late Adesanya
She said, “He denies simple truth. He said he did not know the location of National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, but he claimed to live in Ojuelegba for years. Under cross-examination, he reversed himself to say he knew the place.
“His defence does not hold water. He allowed greed and avarice to erode his conscience. He is like Judas Iscariot and abused the trust placed in him.”
But the judge directed that the defendants’ prison terms should run concurrently and must commence from October 7, 1999.
The Lagos State Government had brought Mohammed and Shofolahan to court on a two -count charge of conspiracy and attempted murder of Adesanya at Sura Market, Lagos Island on January 14, 1997.
The judge further held that three issues were fundamental to the 10-year -old suit and resolved issues one and three in favour of the state while issue two was resolved in favour of both parties.
Regarding the issue of credibility of Barnabas Jabila (a.k.a Sgt Rogers) testimony, the court held that the fact that Justice Joseph Oyewole found his (Rogers) testimony not credible in the case of the State v Ishaya Bamaiyi did not mean that his testimony in the present case was not credible.
She said “I must say right away that because a witness is not found credible in one matter does not affect his credibility in another. The judgment of Justice Joseph Oyewole is not binding on this court.
“I watched PWI (Rogers) in the box and he appeared sober and his testimony in court remains unshaken. He does not appear to me as a habitual liar. If indeed he was a drunk as alleged by the defence, he appeared to have had a change of heart. The fact that PWI used to drink alcohol does not make him an incredible witness.”
The judge further upheld the argument of the lawyer to the Lagos State Government, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN) and held that the testimony of Rogers was credible.
She said, “I find his testimony to be true and credible. It can be useful for conviction.”
The judge further held that the evidence of Rogers was corroborated by the overt act of the team to eliminate the late Adesanya.
She said, “I hereby convict the first and second defendant accordingly.”
Lawyer to Mohammed, Mr James Ocholi (SAN) had during allocutus (plea for leniency) urged the court to temper justice with mercy.
Shofolahan’s lawyer, Mr. Lekan Ojo, also urged the court to be lenient with his client.
In his comment, Pedro urged the court to do justice in the matter.
In her sentence, the judge said, “I hereby sentence the first defendant to 10 years on the first count (conspiracy) and 18 years on the second count (attempted murder).
“I also sentence the second defendant to 14 years for the first count and 17 years on the second count with hard labour.
“The prison terms are to run concurrently and take effect from October 7, 1999.”
In her judgment that lasted almost three and a half hours, Justice Williams also sentenced Lateef Shofolahan, a former aide to the late Mrs Kudirat Abiola to 31 years with hard labour for his involvement in the plot to kill the late leader of Afenifere.
The judge further berated Mohammed, an Army corporal, for engaging in condemnable act, saying that, “Though he was part and parcel of a team that was maintained at the expense of tax payers, the excuse that he was under instruction is not enough to endanger the lives of the people.
“The first defendant must take responsibility for his act.”
Justice Williams also castigated Shofolahan for being garrulous, adding that it was regrettable that his conduct as an informant led to the covert act of shooting the late Adesanya
She said, “He denies simple truth. He said he did not know the location of National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, but he claimed to live in Ojuelegba for years. Under cross-examination, he reversed himself to say he knew the place.
“His defence does not hold water. He allowed greed and avarice to erode his conscience. He is like Judas Iscariot and abused the trust placed in him.”
But the judge directed that the defendants’ prison terms should run concurrently and must commence from October 7, 1999.
The Lagos State Government had brought Mohammed and Shofolahan to court on a two -count charge of conspiracy and attempted murder of Adesanya at Sura Market, Lagos Island on January 14, 1997.
The judge further held that three issues were fundamental to the 10-year -old suit and resolved issues one and three in favour of the state while issue two was resolved in favour of both parties.
Regarding the issue of credibility of Barnabas Jabila (a.k.a Sgt Rogers) testimony, the court held that the fact that Justice Joseph Oyewole found his (Rogers) testimony not credible in the case of the State v Ishaya Bamaiyi did not mean that his testimony in the present case was not credible.
She said “I must say right away that because a witness is not found credible in one matter does not affect his credibility in another. The judgment of Justice Joseph Oyewole is not binding on this court.
“I watched PWI (Rogers) in the box and he appeared sober and his testimony in court remains unshaken. He does not appear to me as a habitual liar. If indeed he was a drunk as alleged by the defence, he appeared to have had a change of heart. The fact that PWI used to drink alcohol does not make him an incredible witness.”
The judge further upheld the argument of the lawyer to the Lagos State Government, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN) and held that the testimony of Rogers was credible.
She said, “I find his testimony to be true and credible. It can be useful for conviction.”
The judge further held that the evidence of Rogers was corroborated by the overt act of the team to eliminate the late Adesanya.
She said, “I hereby convict the first and second defendant accordingly.”
Lawyer to Mohammed, Mr James Ocholi (SAN) had during allocutus (plea for leniency) urged the court to temper justice with mercy.
Shofolahan’s lawyer, Mr. Lekan Ojo, also urged the court to be lenient with his client.
In his comment, Pedro urged the court to do justice in the matter.
In her sentence, the judge said, “I hereby sentence the first defendant to 10 years on the first count (conspiracy) and 18 years on the second count (attempted murder).
“I also sentence the second defendant to 14 years for the first count and 17 years on the second count with hard labour.
“The prison terms are to run concurrently and take effect from October 7, 1999.”
Friday, April 3, 2009
Halliburton: Why US may not release information
It will take a judicial order by a United States District Court before the American government can release any information to Nigeria on its investigation into $180m Halliburton scandal.
According to the Empowered Newswire reports, the US authorities will have to be convinced that the Nigerian government has, indeed, opened a criminal investigation into the matter before taking steps to provide the needed information on the Nigerians involved and the evidence against them.
Officials at the US Department of Justice in Washington, DC on Wednesday could not confirm the receipt of the much-publicised request to the US Attorney-General Eric Holder. The request was reportedly made by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Michael Aondoakaa.
The officials also could not confirm the visit of Aondoakaa to the US Department offices in Washington, DC. But Nigerian Embassy officials said the minister was in the city on Sunday and left on Monday night.
One of the officials, Ian Mccaleb, however, said he would not rule out the receipt of such a request, adding that if it was received, the department would conduct a review of such request and take a decision.
Sources also explained that Nigeria and the US had signed a Mutual Legal Assistance, which could be used to facilitate the request of the Nigerian government for information on Nigerians involved in the Halliburton scandal.
According to the sources, the US Justice Department is not currently favourably disposed to sharing the information with Nigeria because of the perception that the Federal Government has slowed down considerably from the pursuit of its anti-corruption campaign.
In fact, in the investigation of the corruption involving Halliburton and its subsidiaries like KBR, the American investigators left out Nigeria in their international investigation while cooperating openly with their counterparts in the United Kingdom, France. Italy and Switzerland.
Of all the countries involved in the probe, only the Nigerian authorities are left out in the international efforts to unravel the scandal.
Observers say this is a reflection of the perception of the US Justice Department on the political will of the Nigerian government to show serious interest.
However, with what seems to be a renewed interest of the Nigerian government with the letter sent to the Justice Department, sources said the US government will review the request and take a decision.
As it was explained to Empowered Newswire, if the department determines to assist Nigeria to provide the identities of the Nigerians involved and other relevant information and evidence, it (department) will then proceed to a US Court to ask for a release for the government to share the information.
Such a request will be based on the MLA treaty between the Nigerian and the US governments. It was also explained that other legal basis exists, including the United Nations Convention on Corruption, to which Nigeria and the US have both signed.
However, the sources said if the US government was not convinced that the Nigerian government was serious and did not receive sufficient evidence that a criminal and public investigation of the matter had been opened in Nigeria, the Justice Department would not bother to ask a US Court to order the release of the evidence or sharing of information.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)