When Sam Egwu, Labour minister escaped death

As a student, I am probably one of the most annoyed persons at Sam Egwu's attitude to resolving the strike. However, i wouldn't think of kidnapping/killing him.
What were those guys thinking?

Andy Uba Acquires a N49bn Jet... Yet no bank account

Though Andy Uba has no bank account in his name, huhuonline.com can disclose that the former special assistant (domestic affair) to President Obasanjo just took delivery of a N49 billion private jet. To conceal the entire transaction from law enforcement and media huhuonline.com learnt that Andy Uba instructed that the jet be delivered to his bossom friend Sayoe Dantata.

Andy Uba for eight years was the go to guy, he reigned supreme in Aso villa as the un elected defacto vice-president under President Olusegun Obasanjo, he determined who, where and when people could see the former president. His influence was monumental, thus revered. Many cabinet ministers had to submit their official memo for him to peruse prior to submitting to President Obasanjo for approval.

Andy Uba

Andy Uba, hired as personal assistance domestic, with job description such as ensure that tuition fees of Obasanjo many children are paid as at when due, also doubled as President Obasanjo`s official pimp, as he was noted for driving his government assigned pimpmobile to the homes and offices of female minister to chauffeur them .

Recall that Farida Waziri led Economic and Financial Crime Commission commenced what has been viewed largely as a clampdown on politicians believed to have close ties with ex-president Obasanjo. This huhuonline .com learnt is Andy Uba `s worst nightmare. Sources close to him told our correspondent that trepidation has become his stock in trade, alleged to be one of the richest men in Nigeria; Andy Uba has no bank account to his name in Nigeria.

Andy Uba huhuonline.com learnt is now Persona non grata (PNG) with President Yar`dua, our impeccable sources within the villa told that since the election tribunal bribery saga, which was widely reported in the media, President Umaru Yar`dua has refused to have an audience with the embattled governor in waiting.

Huhuonline.com gathered that bribe money which was leaked to the media, was a major source of embarrassment for President Yar`dua, and it appears he is taking it personal, which is a complete departure from his mantra ?I don?t see what people do to me but what they do for me? . Andy Uba sources within the presidency disclosed provided the funds. But conception theorist has it that the funds actually came from Forbes list billionaire Aliko Dangote, who is not a favorite of the Yar`dua administration.

Aliko Dangote a monopolist by nature, abhor competition, under President Obasanjo, his fortune ascended, notable was Dan sugar. But since the advent of the Yar`dua administration, Dangote group has lost its monopoly, particularly in cement and sugar. Thus provision of funds for bribery and subsequent leak to the media was a calculated attempt to mortify Umaru Yar`dua led government, however, his friend Andy Uba took the fall for fear of the after effect of reprisal. Recall Andy Uba does business by proxies.

Andy Uba Emergence in the power game
But for Atiku`s greed, Andy Uba probably would have remained just a pimp for Obasanjo.

Source: www.huhuonline.com

Andy Uba Acquires a N49bn Jet... Yet no bank account

Though Andy Uba has no bank account in his name, huhuonline.com can disclose that the former special assistant (domestic affair) to President Obasanjo just took delivery of a N49 billion private jet. To conceal the entire transaction from law enforcement and media huhuonline.com learnt that Andy Uba instructed that the jet be delivered to his bossom friend Sayoe Dantata.

Andy Uba for eight years was the go to guy, he reigned supreme in Aso villa as the un elected defacto vice-president under President Olusegun Obasanjo, he determined who, where and when people could see the former president. His influence was monumental, thus revered. Many cabinet ministers had to submit their official memo for him to peruse prior to submitting to President Obasanjo for approval.

Andy Uba

Andy Uba, hired as personal assistance domestic, with job description such as ensure that tuition fees of Obasanjo many children are paid as at when due, also doubled as President Obasanjo`s official pimp, as he was noted for driving his government assigned pimpmobile to the homes and offices of female minister to chauffeur them .

Recall that Farida Waziri led Economic and Financial Crime Commission commenced what has been viewed largely as a clampdown on politicians believed to have close ties with ex-president Obasanjo. This huhuonline .com learnt is Andy Uba `s worst nightmare. Sources close to him told our correspondent that trepidation has become his stock in trade, alleged to be one of the richest men in Nigeria; Andy Uba has no bank account to his name in Nigeria.

Andy Uba huhuonline.com learnt is now Persona non grata (PNG) with President Yar`dua, our impeccable sources within the villa told that since the election tribunal bribery saga, which was widely reported in the media, President Umaru Yar`dua has refused to have an audience with the embattled governor in waiting.

Huhuonline.com gathered that bribe money which was leaked to the media, was a major source of embarrassment for President Yar`dua, and it appears he is taking it personal, which is a complete departure from his mantra ?I don?t see what people do to me but what they do for me? . Andy Uba sources within the presidency disclosed provided the funds. But conception theorist has it that the funds actually came from Forbes list billionaire Aliko Dangote, who is not a favorite of the Yar`dua administration.

Aliko Dangote a monopolist by nature, abhor competition, under President Obasanjo, his fortune ascended, notable was Dan sugar. But since the advent of the Yar`dua administration, Dangote group has lost its monopoly, particularly in cement and sugar. Thus provision of funds for bribery and subsequent leak to the media was a calculated attempt to mortify Umaru Yar`dua led government, however, his friend Andy Uba took the fall for fear of the after effect of reprisal. Recall Andy Uba does business by proxies.

Andy Uba Emergence in the power game
But for Atiku`s greed, Andy Uba probably would have remained just a pimp for Obasanjo.

Source: www.huhuonline.com

Ladi Lawal, Group Managing Director of DAAR Communications passes away

It is really sad. Ladi Lawal, Group Managing Director of DAAR Communications, Owners of AIT and Raypower plus DAARSAT, passed away on Saturday, 23rd of May, 2009.

He was buried immediately.

He was an avid Grassroots supporter...

May his soul rest in peace.

Live a Good life, we may not have that long

Ad Hoc Committee clears OBJ, Imoke, and Agagu…as Yar’ Adua says he can’t implement budget.

The Ad Hoc committee that was set up by the House of Representatives to review the power probe report of the Hon. Ndidi Elumelu led committee on Power has cleared the former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, Cross River State Governor and former minister of power and steel Mr. Liyel Imoke, and former Ondo state governor, Olusegun Agagu of allegations of corruptions levelled against them by the Hon. Ndidi Elumelu led committee on Power, saying that the report was marred with irregularities.

This is coming even as the House of Representatives have resolved to throw the report into the drain and stay back from any form of support to the embattled Rep.

The EFCC has also detained Hon. Elumelu, Sen. Ugbane, and 8 others in its custody, stating also that Hon. Elumelu’s committee awarded over 165 contracts in the power sector in a month!

In other news, our ‘calculating’ President has realised that the 2009 budget is unrealistic and that some projects will have to be dropped. He is also planning to address the National Assembly as regards this budget review.

One wonders if it is not too early for such a review, Mr “Calculated” President.

Meltdown: We are hardest hit –Bankers

By Yemi Kolapo

Bankers in Nigeria have said that the on-going global financial meltdown has affected them more than workers in other sectors of the economy.

The bankers, who spoke in separate interviews with our correspondent in Ikeja and Lagos on Friday, said they had been forced to cut down on spending and adopt modest lifestyles.

According to them, the high level of non-performing loans; tight liquidity; shrinking foreign credit lines, as well as the need for banks to cut costs to share up their bottom lines were factors that had made bank workers scapegoats of the ongoing financial crisis.

The bankers, who spoke in confidence, said the glamour that was associated with bank jobs in the past was mainly tied to the stress-free loans and welfare packages that came with the jobs, but that these were fast disappearing.

A staff of one of the conservative but strong banks, who corroborated his argument by showing our correspondent one of the series of monthly letters from management, said his financial and calendar year targets had been reviewed upward twice.

He said he had been mandated to rake in N70m at the end of June and an additional N80m by the end of the year, with varying sanctions for different levels of performance.

A less than 40 per cent performance, according to him, attracts a warning letter, while poorer performance may lead to dismissal.

“Where will I get that from at this time when there is no money anywhere? I’ve resigned myself to fate. The world will not come crashing on only me,” he said.

A top executive in one of the big banks that made the Forbe’s list of top 2000 world biggest companies, also said it had become difficult for many of his colleagues to cope with the changing times, adding that loans, which many of them relied on to ‘live big’ were no longer readily available.

He said, “Before, now a banker did not have to worry about getting or furnishing a house after his wedding. The house, the cars and every furniture required, including kitchen equipment are most times, obtained through easy loan arrangements, which bankers are used to anyway.

“But that no longer comes easy even in the biggest banks; so, we now have to cut our cloth according to our size, which is very difficult. The most difficult aspect of it is having to cope with fees of children already in highbrow schools. If other things can be adjusted, fees are not that flexible. It is a harrowing experience for bankers, our spouses and children.”

He noted almost all loans were currenty tied to performance, saying that his bank, for instance, would require the beneficiary to have met 70 per cent of his key deliverables before being considered.

“And is this realistic? No. So, it means when the public is crying that banks are not giving loans, we are also feeling the pinch and it is not the fault of the banks but due to the financial meltdown,” he added.

A female staff, who claimed she had worked with five banks in 15 years, linked the dwindling fringe benefits of bank jobs to the recent clampdown on Saturday banking by most banks.

She said the banking industry once had the highest job mobility “because if you are good, your old employer has nothing to fear in terms of loans outstanding because the bank beneficiary will cater for that.

“There were agitations for a more flexible working arrangement so that we can be closer to our families since the motivations for sacrificing important aspects of our lives are really not there again. Most banks have either reduced their working hours or cancelled odd day jobs,” she observed.

Another banker, who works with one of the less-flamboyant banks, rumoured to be liquidity-stressed, said staff of the bank had forgotten about up-front payments, which usually helped them to execute important projects.

“There is no job security anywhere again, so, we are being paid our worth at the end of every month. The bank can no longer risk any advance salary payments,” he said.

The Chief Executive Officer, Money Market Association of Nigeria, Mr. Wale Abe, had said that since the ability of banks to lend depended on liquidity, the tight liquidity position meant there would be less money to lend.

Abe said through telephone interview with our correspondent that the increase in non-performing loans in the balance sheets of banks had hampered further lending.

(Source:Punch)

SEC to grant extension of Eterna Plc N5.303 bn Rights

by Peter Obiora of proshare.com

Apex Capital Market Regulatory Institution, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may grant extension for the Eterna Oil & Gas Plc (Eterna) year 2009 N5.303 billion Rights Issue.

Lanre Oloyi, Head, Media of SEC confirmed this to Proshare NI today from Abuja Nigeria in a telephone chat.

This is coming on the heels of shareholders of the company requesting for an extension of the Rights of the Petroleum Marketing Company following its official closure Thursday April 30 2009.

Boniface Okezie, National Chairman, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN) confirmed to Proshare NI today in Lagos Nigeria at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) that shareholders have written the Commission requesting an extension of the Rights Issue to enable them take up same.

“Some of us could not get our Circulars when the Rights closed, therefore, we have written to SEC to extend the offer to enable us take up our Rights in the company” he said.

The Rights opened Wednesday April 22 2009 and closing Thursday April 30 2009, over two weeks now shareholders of the company are still clamouring to take up the Rights from the company.

Oloyi, Head, Media of the Commission; confirmed to Proshare NI that one of the Shareholders Associations has written to SEC for extension of the Eterna Plc Rights Issue.

Oloyi affirmed that the Petroleum Marketing Company applied to do the Rights for a period of eight (8) days. “Some investors have notified us and are complaining that they couldn’t receive their circular when the Rights closed” he said.

“It is what Eterna Plc asked for that we gave to them; and I can confirm that they applied for only 8 days” Oloyi said.

He further affirmed that following this development, the Commission would inline with its Rules and Regulations consider the issue in the interest of the investing Nigerian Public.

As earlier reported, Eterna Plc to raise N5.303 billion, opened a Rights Issue by offering to its existing shareholders 533,000,000 Ordinary Shares of 50 Kobo each at N9.95 Kobo per share.

This the company gave on the basis of forty-one (41) new Ordinary Shares for every sixty (60) Ordinary Shares held as at the close of business on March 16 2009.

Eterna in the document affirmed that the Rights being offered were tradable on the Floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for the duration of the issue.

The Petroleum Marketing Company had affirmed in the document that Ordinary Shares not taken up by Thursday 30 April 2009 will be allotted on a basis to be determined by the Directors and cleared by SEC to existing shareholders who would have applied for additional shares over and above provisional allotment under the terms of the Issue.

Lead Issuing House to the Rights is Radix Capital Partners and Issuing House is Meristem Securities Limited.

CALL FOR MARKETING EXECUTIVE TRAINEES

CALL FOR MARKETING EXECUTIVE TRAINEES

CALLREDUX, a strategic business unit of Websoft Nigeria Limited, licensed by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to provide telecommunication services in conjunction with the major GSM Networks is recruiting for the position of Marketing Executive Trainees in all the 36 states in Nigeria including the FCT.

CALLREDUX is embarking on a massive nationwide marketing campaign to increase the penetration of its products in the marketplace. During application, applicants must specify the state where they will like to work because the Marketing Executive Trainee will be responsible for coordinating CALLREDUX marketing activities in this state.

This means that the applicant must show a thorough understanding of markets of the state they applied for.

Marketing Executives' Duties

• Primarily responsible for the sales of the CALLREDUX plan to end users
• Analyzing the state market, including competitors and consumers
• Develop and execute innovative below the line marketing strategies for a particular state
• Provide weekly feedback reports from markets
• Continuous improvement of state marketing strategies
• Coordinating with and reporting to managers to carry out campaigns

Qualifications

• Minimum of OND in any field
• Understanding of Marketing and Sales
• Ability to think outside the box and creatively
• Above average in the use of the internet and the computer
• Ability to plan and formulate strategies
• Effective organizational skills
• Excellent Networking and Communication Skills
• Ability to meet targets
• Ability to identify market segments, niches, and potential markets

How to apply

All applicants are to apply by filling the application form at www.callredux.com/careers/.
Applicants should not send their CVs.

Fuel Scarcity to end - 234Next.com

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation says that the current fuel scarcity across the country will improve remarkably before the weekend runs out.

"All stakeholders met yesterday. The major marketers, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, independent marketers, everyone. So you will see a remarkably difference between the next 24 to 48 hours," Levi Ajuonuma, spokesperson of the corporation said.

Last week, the corporation released a statement on the fuel scarcity situation saying it was caused by the refusal of major marketers to import the product.

"The scarcity is as a result of the stoppage of products importation by major marketers due to suspension of petroleum subsidy payments which necessitated the utilization of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation supplies to meet the needs of all marketers. We are happy to note that the recent resolution of concerns over the products importation template has now enabled the major marketers to resume importation.

"Petroleum Tanker Drivers strike from April 13 to 21 shut down loading at Apapa and around Lagos following a dispute between Petroleum Tanker Drivers and Lagos State Transport Management Authority. The intervention of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation management led to the resolution of the problem which affected up to 60 percent of petroleum supplies in the country," the statement said.

On April 23, 2009, vandals attacked PPMC's major pipeline system (System 2B) which moves products from Atlas cove to Mosimi, Ejigbo, Ibadan, Ilorin, and Ore. This effectively shut down PPMC's capacity to move products by about 30 percent (about 380 trucks per day). The damaged pipeline was repaired on Thursday and product pumping has resumed.

Ralph Ugwu of PPMC also assured consumers of an improved situation. He said: "The long queues will abate very soon. We had a meeting with other stakeholders yesterday (Thursday). The major marketers, independent marketers, PPPRA, and our minister. We were all in a meeting yesterday where decisions where reached on how to improve the supply situation. Far-reaching decisions were reached on the way forward on the fuel issue. So very soon the fuel queues will abate. It will be a thing of the past."

Ekiti REC in Abuja ...with Prof Iwu in closed door meeting

The Resident Electoral Commissioner of Ekiti State, Ayoka Olusola Adebayo, who quit her job Tuesday at 11.00am in Abuja, said shady deals in the rerun election process of the state gave her no choice but to resign from her post.

more here

Latest news reaching us indicate that the Ekiti state REC who was reported to have resigned and flown out of the country is about now meeting with the INEC Chairman, Professor Maurice Iwu.
We also saw a copy of her resignation letter.
Earlier, we heard some women went naked in Ekiti state to protest the stalemate and delay in releasing the election results.

Ekiti Election Inconclusive...as Iwu postpones elections in Oye LGA indefinitely.

Latest reports reaching me state that the INEC chairman, Maurice Iwu, has said the elections in Ekiti State, Nigeria had no clear winner yet and suspended elections in Oye LGA indefinitely probably due to the violence that occured there.
Meanwhile both the AC and PDP are claiming victories.
The REC of Ekiti is also nowhere to be found yet, though reports indicate he is undergoing treatment.
A lot of people have been molested and intimidated using even state machinery such as the police.
It will be interesting to find out who wins after all the drama.
For up-to-date news on Ekiti elections, follow http://www.twitter.com/ekitrr on twitter.
You can also follow me on twitter http://www.twitter.com/segebee

Mission Accomplished! Otedola looses ½ his Assets.. As SEC Slams NOVA, clear Dangote.

From www.huhuonline.com

The duel of the Oligarchs reached a denouement Thursday, April 16, 2009 when the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), absolved Alhaji Aliko Dangote of any wrong-doing over the recent shares scam that pitted him against his erstwhile friend and business mogul, Mr. Femi Otedola; with the latter accusing the former of colluding with Lagos stock broking firm, Nova Finance and Securities Ltd and its Managing Director, Mr. Eugene Anenih, to perpetrate the fraud.

Following a meeting with the stakeholders - AP Plc, Nova, Dangote, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Central Securities Clearing System Ltd (CSCS) and Afribank Registrars Ltd, the SEC said in a statement Thursday that: “Nova Finance and its managing director employed manipulative and deceptive devices and contrivances in its transactions on AP Plc shares between February 11 and March 20, 2009 contrary to rule 110(1) (d) of the Rules and Regulations of the Commission,” adding that: “Nova Finance and its managing director manipulated the market by engaging in transactions, which had the effects of lowering the price of AP shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, contrary to Section 106 of the ISA 2007.”

Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola: when the going was good…

The statement signed by its Media Head, Mr. Lanre Oloyi suspended Nova from all capital market activities for one year, with effect from April 16, 2009. Besides, Nova and its Managing Director, Eugene Anenih were fined N190,000, - N5,000 per day for 38 days - for violating Rule 177 and the code of conduct for market operators. Anenih has also been disqualified from being employed in any arm of the securities industry for five years, until April 16, 2014. In addition, he has been referred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Although the SEC report acknowledged that “the managing director of Nova Finance had, within the period of eight weeks, consistently consummated cross-deals involving 50,000 units of AP shares per transaction between its company and Dangote’s accounts,” it concluded that it "did not find any evidence" to show that Dangote, a client of Nova, instructed the stock broking firm and its Managing Director, Anenih "to carry out any of the transactions in AP Plc, purportedly done on his behalf."

However, anomalies fortify the doubt that greeted the SEC final report. Close sources to Otedola told Huhuonline.com that Dangote played hardball and muzzled Anenih to retract earlier statements he had made to the SEC. Anenih, according to the SEC report claimed that he got oral mandate through telephone calls from Dangote to effect the transactions. But Dangote's representative, told the SEC neither Dangote nor any one acting on his behalf have any recollection of such conversations, arguing that Dangote, did not, at anytime, give any mandate to Nova to carry out the transactions.

Following this rebuttal, Anenih retracted his earlier statement that he received Alhaji Dangote's mandate to carry out the transactions. “The managing director of Nova Finance agreed that he did not have any mandate from Alhaji Aliko Dangote to carry out those transactions, contrary to Sections 98 and 99 of the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2007 and Rules 100(4) and 177 of the Commission’s Rules and Regulations, which required all capital market operators to maintain proper and adequate records of transactions,” the SEC report said. The unexplained volte face by Eugene Anenih has prompted speculation of foul play by Dangote. Sources close to Anenih who elected anonymity told Huhuonline.com that Anenih has just been made to pay the price as a scapegoat.

Little wonder, Otedola’s supporters dismissed Eugene Anenih’s roundabout turn and mea culpas as tele-guided by Dangote, saying the SEC should have subpoena Anenih’s phone records as part of the investigation of Dangote’s involvement in the share scam. They dismissed the SEC verdict absolving Dangote of wrong doing as a slap on the wrist, and wondered why the SEC found nothing wrong with the apparent conflict of interest involving Nova and Dangote (who also doubles as the NSE vice-president), besides, advising the NSE to “review its rules and procedures for appointing or electing its council members in order to ensure good corporate governance and avoid conflict of interest situations”.

If anyone had thought the bitter rivalry between the two tycoons will be over, then think again. The AP Plc shares scam cost Otedola an estimated $700 million. Otedola; hitherto Nigeria's only other billionaire in the Forbes list, has seen his net worth dropped from $1.2 billion to $500. Aliko Dangote is now the only Nigerian in this prestigious billionaires club. Huhuonline.com has learnt that Otedola has vowed to exact his revenge, blaming Dangote for the breaking a gentleman's agreement that claimed AP shareholders as victims, including Otedola himself. This potential clash of egos; what Forbes magazine qualified as a "settlement of personal scores" between the former friends has set the stage for the next chapter in the unfolding saga.

Buying Death With Money: The Prostitute As Assassin - By Reuben Abati

from: http://www.huhuonline.com

"When any of my customers wants to have sex with me without using condoms, I usually protest. Then we will strike a bargain and we will do it. He won't know that he is buying his death with his own money. However, there are many who will never have sex without using condoms. But I have a way of dealing with them. When I am having sex with such men, I usually shake my buttocks vigorously so as to burst the condom, and if the condom bursts and the man is carried away, he won't bother about fixing another condom".

These lines are taken from a pathetic story in The Sun newspaper of Saturday, April 18. They belong to a young Nigerian lady called Sandra, who has been served the wrong end of the stick by a crazy society where the future is uncertain even for young girls, and who has chosen to become an assassin in protest. There are probably many others like her whose stories move us to tears and frustration and for whom we feel neither disgust nor pity but sympathy. Sandra's story holds in one explosive capsule, many of the disturbing issues in the Nigerian society: the insecurity of lives and property, the lack of trauma care for victims of circumstances, the abortion of hopes, rape, prostitution, abortion, poverty, the failure of governance, and the likely effect of psychological and social violence on the society at large. Increasingly, everyday, Nigerians are disappointed by society, and in all ways, they turn upon and against each other; such spectacle of man's inhumanity to man, such display of social violence. And yet it is common to hear them proclaim "the grace of God" in their lives.

Sandra's story is shocking says Henry Umahi, the reporter of her story. Indeed it is. Four years ago, the future lay at her feet. She was 17, a virgin, and she had just been offered admission into the Delta State University, Abraka, to study Banking and Finance. Many young Nigerians love to study Banking and Finance. It is certainly not one of those courses of study that former President Olusegun Obasanjo considered useless. She must have dreamt of getting a job in a bank, with a good salary to go with it, nicely cut skirts and the self-confidence that comes with having made something out of one's life. But Nigerian roads are full of dangers.

She had travelled to Asaba to visit her elder brother, her only sibling, who obviously was willing to pay her school fees. Two days after, her brother died in a motor accident. Motor accident is an easy cause of death in Nigeria. The roads are bad. The drivers are reckless. The vehicles are mostly second hand, used vehicles from Europe and North America running on used and worn tyres that are not made for the tropics. Earlier this year, the FRSC reported that over 1.2 million persons died from motor accident-related injuries in 2008 alone! The hospitals are ill-equipped, there is no emergency rescue facility, and concerned passers-by who usually stop to help, have no clues about how to deal with emergencies and save lives. Nigerians survive on the roads, by "the grace of God". "In fact for me", says Sandra, "life had come to an abrupt end." But the worst was yet to come. "Another tragedy befell me on my way home to tell my poor mother. Our bus was hijacked by five armed men. They took the vehicle into the bush, robbed us and raped the women. I was one of those the bastards raped. At that time I was still a virgin. I had not known a man. It was a very ugly experience and it made me wonder what a cruel world we live in. It was so horrible, I passed out during the gruesome rape. I had pleaded with them, but they wouldn't let go. Before the attacks, I was already in sorrow and tears. It was the worst thing that could happen to anyone and it made me form an opinion about men."

Sandra couldn't tell anyone what had happened to her. Rape is one of the biggest problems in Nigeria, and the unfortunate thing is that the extant law and the fear of social stigma make it extremely difficult for women who have been so abused to get justice. Robbery on the highways is also rampant. Vehicles are waylaid by armed robbers and after looting cash and property, the hoodlums always end up raping the women. Rarely do the victims go to the police. Women are raped in police stations too by police officers and other uniformed men.

When soldiers raided Odi a few years ago, after sacking the community, they asked the women to line up and they raped them one after the other. The Punch newspaper published the photographs but there is no record of any soldier being punished for rape. These days, the newspapers are full of reports of rape: old men abuse young girls, campus cultists rape female students and female lecturers, fathers rape their daughters. The ones who get caught blame the Devil. The country is full of the devil's agents. Unless rape is properly criminalized by protecting the interest of the victim, the problem is bound to persist. The highways also need to become more secure.

Sandra couldn't "bring herself to tell anyone what happened, not even her mother", because she didn't want to be stigmatised. She couldn't seek help, because there are no counseling centres provided by the state. Then all of a sudden, she discovered that she was pregnant. She finally had to confide in her mother. She also chose to abort the pregnancy: those who insist that abortion is anti-God should read her story. She had no choice. Then, after the abortion, she discovered that she had been infected with the dreaded HIV. With her brother dead, there was no way she could take up the offer of admission into university. With the HIV-infection, she felt her world had come to an end. From being a virgin and a prospective university student, circumstances had conspired to turn her into a failure, all within six months.

When one of her friends later suggested that she could go to Lagos and become a commercial sex worker, she readily agreed. Her goal: "to make money and to infect men with HIV". And so she says: "for three years now, I have been distributing the stuff and it makes me really happy. Men are evil; they deserve no mercy. To hell with the men of this world". By the reporter's calculations, Sandra would have infected about 4, 640 men with HIV in the last three years, at the rate of four men per day. These are men who do not want to use condom, or those who fall victim of Sandra's buttocks-wriggling tactics.

Is Sandra the devil-incarnate? Is she suffering as they say around here, "from home trouble?". What is known is that she thinks all the men of this world are evil. If she was sure that the armed robbers who raped her were later arrested and made to pay for their crime, perhaps she would have been satisfied that justice had been done. She believes that the world is cruel and she is willing to promote that cruelty further. Should we blame her? A few years ago, the story was told of a self-respecting lady who was raped by armed robbers. She couldn't stand the shame. She reportedly committed suicide. Sandra is not willing to die, rather she has become an assassin: punishing menfolk for the crime that five of their kind committed. Imagine the number of other women and men that would have fallen victim through Sandra.

Even in her unhappy state, she had cause to smile recently when two soldiers decided to rape her at Tarkwa Bay. She said she not only enjoyed the moment, she "was shedding tears of joy". "The only thing that I regret is that they stole my money and handsets". What a story. Human lives no longer mean anything to her. For her, money and a handset are more important. And "any man that comes her way is an enemy".

And she tells her story with utmost glee. Her story speaks to the failure of government. It is the responsibility of government to inspire confidence in the justice system, so that aggrieved persons may seek justice formally rather than resort to jungle justice and self-help. Sandra's protest is not only directed at men, but also at the Nigerian state which has been unable to protect men, women and human rights and provide equal opportunities for all.

This is also a story that should be circulated among all men who keep multiple partners, including those who do not patronise prostitutes, but who like to play around all the same, buying death with their money. Those who argue that abstinence and fidelity to a single partner is the best way to minimize the risk of HIV infection through sex should be excited by this story. "AIDS no dey show for face," says one advert on television. Sandra's picture is published in The Sun newspaper, with her face blocked out to protect her identity, but the visible outline of her body, gait and gap-tooth suggests that she must be quite attractive. Who would ever suspect that she is an assassin on the prowl? And how many ladies are like her and even men too, looking for ways of spreading HIV?

The Sun newspaper should not stop at telling her story, efforts should be made to bring help her way. Civil society groups working on HIV/AIDS issues should seek her out, and help to wean her from her chosen "mission to kill". She also obviously needs psychiatric help. But more importantly, a lot still needs to be done to enlighten Nigerians about the reality of HIV/AIDS. Until Fela, the Afro-beat maestro died of HIV-related complications and his family chose to disclose the cause of death, many Nigerians regarded HIV/AIDS as Western propaganda. After a few years of so-called general awareness, Nigerians have now gone back to their old state of denial. There are Nigerian men who continue to insist that they will never use condom or that it is unnatural to stay with one partner.

"How can a man be eating the same thing everyday?", they query. "Do you know anybody who is living with HIV/AIDS.? Everywhere you turn: AIDS AIDS, AIDS but I don't know anybody who has died of AIDS. Look more people are dying from malaria and heart attack", one fellow once argued. I have heard people declare cynically that "man must die of something." When you point to national statistics and the HIV sero-prevalence, they readily tell you that those figures have been manufactured by NGOs and government agencies in order to attract foreign funding. And these are supposed to be educated Nigerians.

And so they fall into the hands of the likes of Sandra, with a fine face, murderous condom-negotiating skills and the heart to kill. And the tragedy spreads. What does the law say? Is she insane? Or she should be recommended for arrest, but she would probably end up sleeping with an entire police station, spread more HIV, and walk free.

Governor caught on tape promising violent rigging of Ekiti poll

Culled from 234Next.com

The governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has been caught on tape telling local ruling party politicians that he will supply them with army uniforms, arms and ammunition so they can rig this week's hotly contested runoff elections in Ekiti State.

This is to ensure victory for the governorship candidate of the People's Democratic Party, Segun Oni.

Mr. Oyinlola, a retired army general, apparently made the brazen promise to help rig the election by intimidation, during a meeting in Ado Ekiti, the state capital on April 2, with the 16 PDP chairmen of local governments.

The tape is now in the possession of President Umaru Yar'Adua, though it was not clear as we went to press whether the president or the law enforcement authorities planned to do anything about it.

"We called up this meeting purposely to speak with you local chiefs and all this meeting is centred upon me to tell you people that I, the governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, is ready (sic) to supply all the 16 local government chairmen, where the rerun election will be conducted with army uniforms, alongside arms and ammunition," Mr. Oyinlola is heard saying on the tape, which was made available to us.

The Osun governor was not at all shy, according to the tape, in instructing his audience on how best to use the deadly implements he was promising to make available to them.

"You people will give these to your supporters who will camouflage like an army...at the respective voting centres so that it will aid them in the rigging of the elections by intimidating the voters, and it will allow the voters not to come out to vote," he says.

"The only people that will come out will be PDP, so that the victory of Segun Oni will be able to be ascertained. I hope you people are with me," he concludes.

Mr. Oyinlola has denied, through a spokesman, that his was the voice on the tape, though he refused to personally make a categorical denial. "It cannot be Oyinlola's voice," says Lasisi Olagunju, the governor's spokesman, interviewed last week in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

Mr. Olagunju said his boss was not interested in listening to the copy of the tape brought along by our reporter, so that he could clear his good name. "We are not responding to that again," he said.

The opposition Action Congress, whose candidate for governor, Kayode Fayemi, is locked in a tight race with the PDP candidate, also has sent a copy of the tape to the president's office, and is calling for a criminal investigation.

"It is part of their plan to capture Ekiti, but they will never capture Ekiti," says Funminiyi Afuye, the Action Congress leader in the Ekiti State House of Assembly on Oyinlola's charge to PDP members in the state.

The gathering uproar over Mr. Oyinlola's apparent determination to resort to violence and intimidation to secure victory for his party is an indication of rising anxiety within the PDP that the ruling party is being steadily rolled back from the southwestern states.

The courts have nullified the elections of PDP governors in Edo and Ondo states and ordered a re-run in some wards of Ekiti state.

Though, two aides of the president have confirmed that military personnel will not be drafted to maintain security in Ekiti during the elections "except there is a breakdown of law and order which the police cannot handle, the president doesn't order deployment of troops and I'm not aware of any breakdown of law and order in Ekiti," says Olusegun Adeniyi, Mr. Yar'Adua's spokesman.

The same sentiment was echoed by Polycarp Nwite, senior special assistant to the president on Political Matters. Both, however, declined to comment on Mr. Oyinlola's statement." I don't respond to idle speculations, is Oyinlola a staff of the president?" queries Mr. Adeniyi.

Frightening scenario

"The whole thing is frightening," says Itse Sagay, a professor of Law and Senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He says the scenario is that the PDP prefers to plunge Nigeria into a crisis of which the outcome cannot be predicted "rather than accept the will of the people."

Mr. Sagay condemns the silence of President Umaru Yar'Adua. A civil society activist, however, wonders whether Mr. Oyinlola could have uttered the statement. "If he did say that, although his handlers have come out to deny it, I think it is very unfortunate and it portends danger for the forthcoming election," says Innocent Chukwuma, executive director, Centre for Law Enforcement Education (CLEEN).

The denial has corroboration in Ayo Arise, the PDP senator representing Ekiti North senatorial district who has been accused by the AC of aiding the militarization of the elections scheduled for Saturday, 25 April. "I don't know of any meeting," says Mr. Arise in Abuja last week. "I don't run Oyinlola's private life. But why would Oyinlola hold meetings with people? Why would he sew military uniforms when the president is there? What does he have to do with the military when the president of the country is there?''

One of the local government chairmen that was at the meeting declined to speak on the issue. "I am not in the position to talk to you about this, maybe you should talk to the party," declared Tosin Aluko, Ado Ekiti local government chairman. Others could not be reached during the week as they were busy campaigning for the fast approaching elections.

The problem of rigging aside, there are other issues in the election. For instance, questions are being raised on the deployment of government paraphernalia in prosecuting a private visit to campaign for the ruling party. "It is illegal," declares Itse Sagay, a senior advocate.

"You cannot use public property for illegal purposes. It is purely illegal. Really, all it shows is the very low standard which Nigeria is practising in political morality," Mr Sagay added.

Senator Arise, however, thinks otherwise. "Can you tell me of any country where the incumbent president does not do that?" he asks rhetorically.

"Oh, so you want him to board molue? I think these people criticising the president are just displaying the holier-than-thou attitude. I don't see anything wrong there. So because you are the president, you will not campaign for your party?"

This argument does not hold water with Bamidele Aturu, another lawyer. "Did the president fly with the presidential jet or helicopter?" he asks. "Did he use tax payers' money to go to Ekiti to campaign for a partisan candidate? All those people that followed him, who funded their trip?''he queries.

Mr. Aturu questions the fact that most government officials have abandoned their jobs to work for the impending election. "It shows the lack of seriousness we are talking about," he adds. "You must not use our money to campaign for a particular party. In other countries, if he does, he will be impeached. If he uses tax payers' money to do that, it is unconstitutional because he has no business campaigning for partisan politics with our money."

Mr. Chukwuma shares this view too. "It is indeed a huge issue," he adds. "If you look at other jurisdictions, when top government functionaries go on these kinds of missions, which are clearly intended to serve personal interest, they tend to refrain from using state facilities as much as possible."

The problem has national implications in the opinion of Mr. Sagay. He says such illegality has been practised in Nigeria relentlessly for a very long time. "You go to the governors themselves, it is the same thing. They are not supposed to be using state property to advance their private political interest, but it is illegal.Former president Obasanjo did it using Nigerian aircraft and helicopter to campaign and no doubt all the resources, all the money spent in campaign, his expenses were borne by the state."

Police orderlies: FG reverses order on judges, lawmakers

The Federal Government seemed to have bowed to pressure from the public as it announced on Saturday that judicial officers and those in the legislative and executive arms of government should continue to use their police orderlies.

The government’s new position negates the decision announced at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting last Wednesday, which was made known by the Minister of Police Affairs, Dr. Ibrahim Lame said that these categories of officers should continue to use their orderlies since they were approved by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro.

It will be recalled that the Federal Executive Council, after its meeting last Wednesday announced the withdrawal of police orderlies from certain categories of public officers, including judges, commissioners, members of the National Assembly, local government chairmen and others.

This has, however, drawn the ere of the public, who had described the directive a misconceived and capable of endangering the lives of these category of workers.

But government said the directive had been misinterpreted and this was why it was making the clarification.

In a press statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the minister, Mr. James Odaudu, government explained that the need to sanitise the Police profession necessitated the early order, adding that it had observed that rather than do their normal security job, many policemen were in the habit of engaging in an unprofessional job for their masters.

This, it said, undermined discipline and provided cover to criminals to shield their nefarious activities and to commit unpardonable crimes against the society

It called on Policemen who were not officially attached to government officials and individuals to return to their respective commands with immediate effect.

The FG, in the statement, called on individuals and corporate bodies that need the services of policemen to apply to the IG, who it said is in the position to approve such request.

The statement read, ”In response to the misinterpretation of the position of government regarding the use of Police men and women as Guards, Orderlies and Escorts which recently attracted some major headlines in the print-media, the Minister of Police Affairs, Dr Ibrahim Lame has deemed it necessary to make the following clarifications:

”The position of Government is that it frowns seriously at indiscriminate and unauthorized use of Police officers and men being attached to private individuals in the society.

”It is quite disgraceful to see Police officers and men performing demeaning and unethical jobs for their principals. This is identified as one of the major factors that debase the professional values and ethics of the Nigeria Police Force.

”It also undermines discipline and provides cover to criminals to shield their nefarious activities and even to commit unpardonable/unforgiving crimes against the society.

In light of the above, a directive was issued to the Nigeria Police Force for the immediate withdrawal of all police officers and men attached to private individuals and organisations without due authorization.

It should be noted that only those approved by the Inspector-General of Police should be given Police escorts or orderlies, while stern disciplinary measures will be taken against erring officers and men on such unapproved duties.

”Meanwhile, any person or organization needing such services should seek appropriate authorization from the Inspector General of Police. This will provide accountability and ultimately reduce the pressure on the force to provide such services.

”The Federal Executive Council has deliberated on this issue, noted the pressure on the Force and instructed that all unauthorised orderlies and escorts be withdrawn.

”It is important to note that this directive does not involve persons in positions in the Judiciary, Legislative or Executive arms of government. These categories of officials should continue to retain their orderlies if such orderlies were duly and officially attached.

”All police officers not officially attached to persons with whom they are currently performing such duties have been directed in their own interest to return to their respective commands immediately.”

Globacom boss, Adenuga, loses sister

Madam Esther Olusola Osunsade, eldest sister of the Chairman of Globacom, Dr Mike Adenuga Jr, has passed on.

According to a release in Lagos on Saturday, Osunsade died at the age of 70 in the early hours of Friday, March 27, 2009 in Lagos.

The deceased was born to the family of Late Chief Mrs Oyindamola Adenuga and Late Pa Michael Agbolade Adenuga on December 29, 1938.

“She attended St Anne‘s School, Ibadan among other schools and became an educationist. She taught in a couple of schools before retiring into business. Her business acumen was profound and she grew her business to an enviable standard before her demise.

“Mama Osunsade, as she was fondly called, loved and served God till she breathed her last. She was an active member of The Redeemed Christian Church of God and also the Full Gospel Businessmen‘s Fellowship,” the statement explained.

ASUU set for indefinite strike

Taken from punchng.com
-----------------------------------

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, has concluded plans to embark on a nationwide indefinite strike if the Federal Government fails to sign and implement the joint agreement of December 2008 renegotiations reached by the two parties.

The ASUU Chairman, University of Calabar chapter, Dr Chike Ekeopara, said this on Saturday, while briefing journalists on the preparedness of the union.

He said one of the clause in the FG/ASUU agreement of June 30, 2001 was the renewal of the agreement after a period of three years which the Federal Government failed to oblige in July 2004.

He added that failure of the FG to renegotiate with ASUU until March 14, 2007 (three years after it was due), led to the three- month old strike action by ASUU which was called off on July 2,2007, after pleas from well meaning Nigerians and a letter from the Federal Ministry of Education dated June 26, 2007 that urged ASUU to call off the strike.

Part of the FG/ASUU renegotiation as contained in a letter from the Federal Ministry of Education to ASUU reads, “The negotiating team shall be empowered to negotiate with ASUU within the principles of collective bargaining with a view to addressing the problems of the rot and brain drain in the university system and to establish internationally competitive standards.”

The Don said since the renegotiation ended in December 2008, the Federal Government had demonstrated high level of insincerity through her non challant attitude toward the union‘s demand, brain drain and the proper funding of the Nigerian university system .

The Chairman who accused the FG of ‘footdragging‘ said ASUU had exhausted its patience which may likely spell doom for the Nigerian education system.

He condemned Federal Government‘s gesture of increasing the wages and other welfare packages for the military personnel and other para-military agencies with no consideration for the university system.

We mourn with President Yar Adua on the death of his sister

We at Nigerian News mourn with the president of Federal Government of Nigeria
on the death of his sister Hajia Hadiza who died in Cairo during the week.

May God give him and the entire family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Nigeria: University student jailed for fraud

Culled from Africa News

Wole Arisekola, AfricaNews reporter in Lagos, Nigeria

1. A final year student of the Department of Survey and Geo-Informatics Engineering, University of Lagos, Nigeria, Lawal Adekunle Nurudeen, has been sentenced to 19 years imprisonment for obtaining $27,900.91 from an Australian woman, Pee Loo Rosalind Summer by false pretense.

   
   

   The convict was arraigned before Justice M.O Obadina of Ikeja High Court on 19-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretense and forgery. 
   
   He was found guilty on all the counts and consequently sentenced to 12 months imprisonment on each count. The convict was also ordered to pay the sums of $5,900, (N526, 117.15) and any interest standing to his credit in his savings account with the Ikorodu branch of a new generation bank, to the victim.
   
   In addition, the convict is to pay $250 monthly to the victim until the total sum fraudulently obtained by him is liquidated. His two plots of land lying and situated at Mowo Kekere Ikorodu bought from the proceeds of the crime is to be sold and the money realised remitted to the victim.
   
   The Honda prelude car recovered by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from the convict is also to be sold and its proceeds remitted to the victim.
   
   A statement signed by EFCC's Head of Media and Publicity, Femi Babafemi, said sometime in 2007, the convict who was an undergraduate of UNILAG met the victim on the internet and introduced himself as Engineer Benson Lawson, a Briton working with a multi-national company in Nigeria.
   
   According to the statement, "Along the line the victim, a 56- year old woman from Australia told the convict that she wanted a husband and all the men she had met always disappointed her. The convict, who is married with three children instantly applied and told the victim that she had met her ‘Mr. Right.’
   
   "To convince his prey, he told the woman that he was a 57 -year old widower and that few years back, his wife and their only child died in a ghastly motor accident in Lagos. He sent the picture of a white man to the victim to foreclose any suspicions. The victim accepted his proposal and that gave room for the next stage of the 419 heist."
   
   Few weeks later, he called the woman to introduce himself as Dr. Saheed Bakare and informed her that her ‘fiancé,’ Benson Lawson had an accident and needed money for his treatment. The love-struck woman sent some money. 
   
   "Two weeks after the convict called the victim and thanked her profusely for her kindness. He now told her that he would like to visit her in Australia so that they could consummate their relationship. He demanded for money for air ticket, police and customs clearances and all sorts. "At the end of the day he duped the woman to the tuned of $47,000 before his arrest and arraignment by EFCC."
   

Toni Payne returns with 9ice’s baby

This is sourced straight from ePunch

-------------------------------------------

The young Los Angeles-based entrepreneur who delivered her first baby for the singer on Thursday December 4, returned to Nigeria on Sunday March 15.

She left the country last year, shortly after she exchanged vows with 9ice, 28, on Thursday July 17, 2008.

She was already a few months pregnant when she said ‘I do‘ to 9ice at the Surulere Registry in Lagos.

Sources close to the couple told e-Punch Mrs Akande returned with her baby, Zion, around 5pm last Sunday aboard a Virgin Atlantic flight.

“Since she had the baby, she hasn‘t come home. And her parents and 9ice parents had been longing to see their grandchild,” a source close to her told us.

There are also indications she may be considering setting up her business in Nigeria. Before getting married to 9ice, Toni had established herself as a promising entrepreneur, running an online entertainment magazine, as well as a cosmetics and apparel company under the trade name, Toni Payne. Her real names are Anthonia Oluwaseun.

“Yes my family is back,” 9ice told e-Punch on phone during the week.

Champions League Quarter Final Draws Out!!!

Quarter-finals

Villarreal v Arsenal

Manchester United v Porto

Liverpool v Chelsea

Barcelona v Bayern Munich

* First legs to be played April 7 and 8

Second legs to be played April 14 and 15

Semi-finals

Manchester United or Porto v Villarreal or Arsenal

Barcelona or Bayern Munich v Liverpool or Chelsea

* First legs to be played on April 28 and 29

* Second legs to be played May 5 and 6

Ogun Lawmakers Fight; for the people?

It was a sorry sight at the Ogun state house of assembly on the 3rd of March, 2009 as they

engaged each other in a free for all brawl.

The brawl was sparked by a debate on whether Hon Titi Oseni and another lawmaker should be sacked.

Oseni was the former speaker and is very loyal to Governor Gbenga Daniel.

The debate on whether to suspend the honourables became hot and as expected, it turned into a free for all.

After, when everthing had settled down and the mace returned to its original position as it had been

displaced during the scuffles; the decision was taken to suspend the two lawmakers indefinitely.

However, a group of 11 Lawmakers disagreed and said the decision would not stand.

There is of course more to come; as there are speculations that this is one of the steps to remove Governor

Gbenga Daniel from office, as it is his loyalists that are been suspended.

What do you think? Are these lawmakers fighting for their people?

Naijapulse VS Twitter

First, it was Hi5, next youtube, then myspace, then DIGG et al, now the rainingweb app is Twitter. Yes, Twitter. Twitter has an amazing following and it is so easyto use. No login problems like any other app. No friend requests, you just follow and pple canfollow you easily.You can even follow Big organizations like the CNN, celebrities like 50 cent.Most sites have links to follow them on twitter and those following canget updates easily.Twitter is a beauty... and then Naijapulse.
Naijapulse is a microblogging web app, and as the name sounds, it is Proudly Nigerian.I see it however as a chatroom board, plus networking tools.
To me Naijapulse is more interesting but you can network more on twitter cos it has higher traffic.What's ur take? www.twitter.com www.naijapulse.com

Olusegun Wins! Olusegun Mimiko that is!

Court Sacks Ekiti Governor ...as supporters celebrate falsely.

It was an embarassing moment for the PDP in Ekiti state as the court of appeal sitting in kwara state nullified the election of the ekiti state governor, Mr. Segun Oni, and ordered reelection into 10 LGAs, and ordering the state chief justice to swear in the speaker as the acting governor. 

However, a source informed the governor and his aides that he had won at the courts which made all the governor's supporters and aides and even the governor to jubilate (I even saw a policeman with champagne), the governor attributing the victory to "God". Now, imagine how pale faced they were when they realised that they had actually lost the government seat. I couldn't help laughing.

This brings up so many questions;

Did the governor not have a representative at the courts?

Did he not at least have a lawyer, or didn't he wait for the lawyer's report?

Why didn't the appeal court remove the governor outrightly, as videos of rigging was even shown?

What happens if PDP wins, does the opposition go to court again?

Its a bad judicial system we run, removing a governor after two years, what of his salary and security votes!

Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who won at the court, was not allowed into Ado-Ekiti for security reasons, and asked whether it was the Nigerian police or PDP police.

However, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who won at the court has said that he would win the election as it is only holding in 10 LGAs, the others he had already won.

I can't wait for Fayemi to be sworn in... and AC gets another state.

What do you guys think?

Thief turned to Robber

I just have to have my say on this thief that turned to a goat or is it a sheep.
How are they going to take its statement?
How will it testify in court?
It is entitled to fair hearing abi?
Why didn't they just kill it on the spot?
If u ask me, i believe it can happen.

Can the Economic team deliver?

I am suprised at the names of some people on the President's Economic Team.
For example, what is Dangote and Otedola expected to do on an economic team, probably they'd send their economists as I can bet neither understands such advanced economics.
However, Im sure the president has his reasons... If they're right, time will tell.