CORRUPTION: NIGERIA SUMMONS ZIMBABWEAN ENVOY OVER MUGABE’S COMMENTS

The Federal Government on Thursday
summoned the Zimbabwean Head of
Chancery over remarks credited to President
Robert Mugabe, which depicted Nigerians as
very corrupt people.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned
the Zimbabwean Head of Chancery, Stanley
Kunjeku, in Abuja to formally lodge a protest.

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr
Martin Uhomoibhi, described Mugabe’s
comment as “vitriolic and denigrating on
Nigeria and Nigerians’’.

“We were very concerned when we read that
on the occasion of the 90th birthday of
President Mugabe, he took off considerable
time to vituperate about Nigeria.

He said Mugabe’s comments reflected “what
we consider to be a strong aversion of our
country, remarks which we consider
denigrating and un-statesmanly on Nigeria
and Nigerians in general”.

“He was reported to have said Nigerians are
corrupt people when he hosted service
chiefs on his 90th birthday.

“We want to present the strongest protest in
that statement; not only does it not reflect the
reality in our country, but to come from a
sitting president of a brotherly country is
most unkind and very dishonourable, ’’ he
said.

Uhomoibhi said the Zimbabwean president’s
comment was unfortunate, given the role
played by Nigeria in the liberation struggle in
southern Africa.

He said Nigeria had always stood with
Zimbabwe “shoulder to shoulder’’ since
independence and was one of the first
countries to congratulate Mugabe on his re-
election.

“At the point sanctions were imposed on your
country, Nigeria empathised with Zimbabwe,’’
he said.

Later, the permanent secretary told
newsmen that Nigeria’s reaction to
the comment was not belated, given that it
had been in the public domain since March
15.

“In our diplomatic parlance, we do not react
the way people would want us to react; we
have to verify and articulate our position,’’ he
said.

In his response, Kunjeku said Nigeria’s
protest would be forwarded to Harare.

Meanwhile, Uhomoibhi has condemned the
reported attacks on Nigerians in South Africa
last week.

“We condemn in strong terms, any acts of
racism, xenophobia and discrimination
perpetrated by whomsoever, including in that
particular country.

“We are appalled that these incidents occur
from a country that we hold in highest
esteem and which is a brotherly country to
Nigeria.

“We hope that due processes would be taken
so that this does not happen (again).”

The permanent secretary also called on the
South African Government to take
appropriate actions against those
responsible for the attacks.

He urged South Africa to abide by its
commitment to international standards of
behaviour and cordial relations between both
countries.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls
that on April 2 and 3, some Nigerians
were hospitalised in Pretoria after attacks by
organised gangs in South Africa.

Also, no fewer than 25 shops owned by
Nigerians in Johannesburg and Pretoria were
looted by the South African gangs. (NAN)

Source: Leadership Newspaper

6 die in stampede at immigration employment tests venues across Nigeria

The Nigerian Immigration Service decided to
conduct a test for 3,000 vacant positions and the
number of Nigerian Youths that went to the various
test locations was overwhelming! Above is a
collage of the crowd at the respective venues of
the Immigration Service Test carried out in
stadiums across the country this morning.

The Abuja stadium which is to sit not more than
60,000 people had well over 80,000 youths and
only one entrance to the stadium was opened for
the applicants. It’s being reported that at least six
people died during a stampede at some of the
venues of the poorly coordinated test. The dead
are mostly from the Abuja venue. I hear a
pregnant woman was among the deceased.

The dead applicants have been taken to the
National Hospital Abuja morgue. May their souls
rest in peace…Amen.

It’s important to note that these applicants paid
N1,000 registration fee and there were over 2
million applicants…you do the calculation, that’s
about N2billion. We need the Minister of Interior
and Comptroller General of Immigration to address
what happened today. Continue to see more pics…

Source: Lindaikeji.blogspot.com

Confab: N4m Monthly Allowance For Delegates Too Much – CACOL

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL)
has reacted to reports that the Federal
Government plans to pay each of the 492
delegates to the national conference slated to
begin on Monday, a princely sum of N4 million
monthly, throughout the three-month duration
of the exercise.

The amount, according to CACOL Director, Mr.
Debo Adeniran, was too much, adding tha each
group should sponsor its delegates to the
conference.

Adeniran said CACOL was opposed to
government spending N7bn on the conference.

He said, “The hosting of the conference itself
is too expensive than it is supposed to be.
They have budgeted about N7bn, and if each
delegate will be paid up to N4m per month, that
accentuates the profligacy going on in the
National Assembly, where members who are
doing part-time jobs are taking more than full-
time salary.

“Every section of the society that sends a
delegate should have been asked to fund their
delegates. It is not supposed to be a money-
making venture to the extent that bribery and
corruption will now pervade the atmosphere”.

Adeniran argued that monetizing the
conference would make the delegates
compromise the stand of their people for the
stand of the authority paying them.

However, the Executive Director of the Civil
Liberties Organisation, Mr. Ibuchukwu Ezike,
who is also a delegate to the confab, called for
restraint because the purported amount to be
paid to delegates was still within the realm of
speculation.

President Jonathan kneels before late Pres. Yar’Adua’s mum

President Jonathan who is currently in Katsina
State on a 2-day working visit, went to pay a
courtesy visit on Hajia Aya Dada, the mother of his
late boss, President Umaru Yar’Adua. He showed
her great respect by kneeling before her to greet
her.

Source: lindaikeji

Respond to charges against you and stop misinforming the public – Presidency tells Sanusi

Presidency attacks Sanusi again,press release below…

We have noted with disappointment, the
unrelenting attempt by the Governor of the
Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido
Sanusi to falsely portray his recent
suspension from office as an attempt by the
Presidency to bury his allegation that huge
sums of money due to the Federation
Account are unaccounted for by the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The Presidency wishes to reaffirm that
Mallam Sanusi’s suspension has absolutely
nothing to do with his unproven and
inconsistent claim that $49.8 Billion, $12
Billion or $20 Billion is missing from the
national treasury. Continue…

As was clearly stated in the letter suspending him
from office and confirmed by President Goodluck
Jonathan in his last Presidential Media Chat,
Mallam Sanusi’s suspension was wholly based on
the need for him to step aside while the weighty
charges of financial recklessness, gross
misconduct and persistent disregard for laid down
rules and regulations in the management of the
Central Bank made against him by the Financial
Reporting Council of Nigeria and others are
properly investigated.

It is most unfortunate that instead of trying to
provide some reasonable response to the clear
and unambiguous query of his official conduct as
Governor of the Central Bank, Mallam Sanusi has
cynically chosen to whip up public sympathy for
himself and anger against the Federal Government
by deliberately misleading unwary Nigerians and
the international community into believing the
falsehood that he is being punished for exposing
corruption.

In recent days, the suspended CBN Governor has,
following in the footsteps of others who have an
axe to grind with the government, taken to
spreading his false claims and allegations through
gullible foreign media correspondents, telling them
among other things that his threat to force
commercial banks to open up their books to
unravel the whereabouts of the “missing” funds
whether $49.8 Billion, $12 Billion or $20 Billion,
ultimately led to his suspension.

He also continues to make the mischievous claim
that the government is somehow involved in a
scam to divert huge sums of money from the
Federation Account through the misappropriation
of kerosene subsidy funds.

Mallam Sanusi’s allegations are patently untrue.
But Government is making no effort to bury them
as he falsely claims. Relevant committees of the
National Assembly are still investigating the claims
and the suspended CBN Governor remains free to
give evidence before them in support of his
allegations.

Furthermore, in keeping with its avowed
commitment to full transparency, openness and
accountability in governmental affairs, the Federal
Government has authorized the engagement of
reputable international firms for the recommended
forensic audit of NNPC accounts.

The Presidency condemns Mallam Sanusi’s resort
to playing politics with serious national issues.  His
suggestion that the phantom missing funds may
have been diverted to fund campaigns for next
year’s general elections is mischievous,
irresponsible and designed to incite other political
parties and members of the public against the
Federal Government.

The claim which amounts to cheap blackmail
against the government and was clearly made in
furtherance of a selfish personal agenda is most
unbecoming of someone who still holds the High
Office of Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The Presidency would not ordinarily have wished
to join issues with Mallam Sanusi who as CBN
Governor remains an appointee of the President,
but the very unacceptable manner in which Sanusi
has been misinforming the public made it
imperative that this statement be issued.

Reuben Abati

Special Adviser to the President

(Media and Publicity)

March 12, 2014

Military shut down telecommunication service in Borno State

The Nigerian military yesterday shut down all
telecommunication services in Borno state as it
takes on Boko Haram activities. Residents in the
state woke up yesterday to a “No Service” signal
on their phones.
Confirming the shutdown, spokesman of the 7-
Division of the Nigeria Army, Muhammed Dole said
its a military move necessary under the present
circumstance.

“We all know the inconveniences that this
might have brought, but it is a necessary
and temporary measure that will not take
long time” Dobe said.

He said its a sacrifice everyone including the
residents have to make in the fight against Boko
Haram

Minister Of Defense Alhaji Gusau Resigns After Seven Days As Minister

Nigeria’s new Minister of Defense Aliyu Gusau has
resigned due to pressure from the leaders of the
Nigerian military. It all started yesterday when the
Nigerian military refused to have a joint meeting
with the Minister of Defense and his deputy
Musikilu Obanikoro. Mr. Gusau’s sudden decision
to quit President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet
arose from what the former minister considered an
act of insubordination and indiscipline from
Nigeria’s top military brass.

Several sources at the Defense Ministry told
SaharaReporters that Nigeria’s top military officers
yesterday refused to have a joint meeting with Mr.
Gusau and his deputy, Musikilu Obanikoro, a
former senator.

Sources at the ministry told SaharaReporters that
Nigeria’s top military henchmen kept Mr. Gusau
waiting for two days after he summoned them to a
meeting, with different military service chiefs
making excuses for their inability to meet with him
and his deputy immediately. Finally, the situation
turned testy yesterday when, after keeping Mr.
Gusau and Mr. Obanikoro waiting for several
hours, the Chief of Defense Staff, Air Marshal Alex
Badeh, showed up alone for a meeting.

“When Air Marshal Badeh showed up, the Minister
of Defense told him he was expecting all the chiefs
of staff within the military, but Badeh reportedly
told him there was no need,” said one source at
the ministry. Our sources added that Badeh also
told Mr. Gusau that he alone would be meeting with
the minister as the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS),
stating that this arrangement was the collective
decision of military officers in the country.

One source said an attempt by the junior minister
of defense, Mr. Obanikoro, to intervene was rudely
brushed aside as Badeh asked him to “shut up.”
“Air Marshal Badeh is said to have called Senator
Obanikoro a ‘small boy’ and warned him that the
military was not going to be taking orders anymore
from bloody civilians like him,” one source stated.
Soon after the altercation, General Gusau (rtd)
reportedly ended the meeting and asked the
Permanent Secretary in the ministry to transmit his
letter of resignation to President Goodluck
Jonathan.

SaharaReporters learnt that Mr. Jonathan, who
was rattled by the development, immediately
charged Senate President David Mark with the task
of prevailing on Mr. Gusau to rescind his
resignation. The president reportedly promised to
see that the issue was resolved expeditiously.

However, a source stated that Mr. Gusau remained
infuriated and refused to back away from his
decision to leave the cabinet. Late last night,
President Jonathan paid a visit to Mr. Gusau’s
home in Abuja in a last-ditch effort to persuade
him to stay at his ministerial job, but Mr. Gusau
refused to see the president.

Mr. Gusau kept away from today’s session of the
Federal Executive Council, a weekly meeting of all
ministers with the president. He reportedly told
aides that he could not serve in a situation where
military officers would show open disdain for their
civilian leaders and him an experienced retired
military man.

SaharaReporters contacted Mr. Obanikoro who
admitted obliquely that there was what he termed a
“slight disagreement,” but added that there was
nothing serious. An aide to Senator David Mark told
SaharaReporters that Mr. Gusau had sent his letter
of resignation to the Senate, which confirmed him
after his nomination. The source added, however,
that Mr. Mark had refused to have the resignation
letter read because the senator was still hopeful of
convincing Mr. Gusau to remain at his post.

Source: Saharareporters

50 gunmen attack Enugu government house

According to reports, 50 gunmen who arrived in 7
buses attempted to attack Enugu State
Government House in the early hours of yesterday
Saturday March 8th but didn’t succeed as security
personnel attached to the Government House
engaged them in a shoot out, preventing them
from gaining entry.

One gunman was killed and three others arrested
in the shootout that lasted till 4:30am but no
security personnel was killed or injured, this is
according to the Chief Press Secretary to
Governor Sullivan Chime, Mr. Chukwudi Achife,
who confirmed the incident.

“They carried flags with different inscriptions
and insignia belonging to some secret cults.
They told the security men to open the gate
claiming that they were at the government
house on a protest. Sensing that there was
danger, the security operatives rushed out
only to see many of them with machetes,
giving orders to their members to move into
the government house.”

The arrested gunmen have been handed over to
the Enugu State Police Command

President Jonathan’s N9bn jet develops technical problem in Minna

President Jonathan and some top government
officials yesterday Saturday March 8th escaped an
air mishap at the Minna Airport, Niger State, when
a presidential jet developed a technical fault, while
they were aboard, Punch reports. Find full report
below…

The presidential jet, Nigerian Air Force 001
(5N-FGT), had earlier conveyed Jonathan to
Minna for the -Peoples Democratic Party’s
North-Central rally which held at the Trade
Fair Centre, Minna.

At the end of the rally, the President returned
to the airport in company with top
government officials, PDP state governors
and party chiefs for a trip to Sokoto, from
where he was scheduled to return to Abuja.

However, several minutes after Jonathan
had bade farewell to those who accompanied
him to the airport, and the door of the aircraft
was shut, the aircraft failed to move.

After many attempts, crew members and
engineers disembarked from the aircraft and
made spirited efforts to fix the fault as armed
security men took strategic positions around it.

While this was going on, Vice-President Namadi
Sambo; President of the Senate, David Mark; all
PDP governors, members of the National
Assembly and members of the Federal Executive
Council were watching under the scorching sun.

When it became obvious that the fault could not be
easily fixed, the commander of the Presidential Air
Fleet, Air Vice Marshal Uko Ebong, ordered that a
smaller presidential jet, 5N-FGW, which conveyed
the Vice-President to the state be brought to fly
Jonathan.

Jonathan disembarked from the faulty jet at about
3.30pm and quickly moved to the smaller aircraft.
He later left the airport in the smaller aircraft at
about 3:35pm, leaving behind some of his co-
occupants in the bigger jet.

Sambo also had to join Mark in another smaller
presidential jet, 5N-FGV, which had earlier
conveyed the Senate President to the state.
Senator Barnabas Gemade and a few other
dignitaries also joined them.

Those who were with the President in the faulty
aircraft before they disembarked included the
National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Muazu;
Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Tony
Anenih; former chairman of the party,  Ahmadu Ali;
former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa,
and some presidential aides.

At the time of filing this report, engineers were still
battling with the faulty jet on the tarmac in the
deserted airport while officials of the Federal
Airport Authority of Nigeria were seen taking
notes.
Some security men were left behind to keep watch
on the aircraft.

When asked for what was wrong with the
aeroplane, an official of FAAN simply said, “The
return engine refused to pick.”

Another source who pleaded anonymity, said the
hot temperature in the city led to the fault.
“What the commander said was that the high
temperature affected the engine of the aircraft,” he
said.
When asked why the hot weather did not affect the
two other presidential jets, the source explained
that the Air Force 001 is “more digitalised than
others.”

The incident occurred despite the fact that in the
past four years, at least N48bn has been allocated
to the Presidential Air Fleet, a range of 11 luxurious
aircraft which are at the disposal of the President.
According to the 2014 Appropriation Bill presented
to the National Assembly by President Goodluck
Jonathan through the Minister of Finance, Dr.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, in December 2013, a total of
N4.91bn was earmarked for the Presidential Air
Fleet.

For the maintenance of the 10 aircraft currently in
the Presidential Air Fleet, N1.52bn was allocated.
This was apart from the N747m earmarked for the
purchase of aviation fuel for the aircraft already in
the fleet.

The government earmarked the sum of N2.66bn
for other expenses on the PAF, including
international trainings for the fleet’s personnel,
rehabilitation/renovation/repairs of the PAF
Barracks, completion of a hangar project, tyre bay
tools and equipment, insurance premium, cleaning
and fumigation services, 797 units of LG 2HP air
conditioners for the PAF Barracks and
refreshment and meals.

For the year 2013, a total of N7.5bn was allocated
the Presidential Air Fleet, while in 2012, N15.6m
was allocated for personnel costs; N969m for
overheads, which included spare parts, checks,
aviation fuel; and N16.8bn was allocated for a
brand new plane for the presidency.
In 2011, an N18bn allocation to the PAF was
tucked under a N105bn budgetary allocation to the
“Intelligence Community.”

Also, in the 2010 proposal, the Presidency had
proposed the acquisition of four new aircraft for
the presidential fleet and had made a budget
provision of N23.4bn in that budget for them.

Experts have put the combined estimated value of
the 10 planes in the presidential fleet at about
$390.5m (N60.53bn).

Presidency defends Abacha’s Centenary Award honour

President Jonathan’s spokesman Reuben Abati
has explained why late military dictator Gen. Sani
Abacha was given the controversial Centenary
Award, saying that the government was in no way
supporting corrupt practices…

“This (award) does not in any means
translate to supporting sharp practices or
corrupt practices. It is important to make the
clear distinction in this regard.

I think it is important to make the necessary
distinction here. The centenary award, like
every award, has its own criteria. That
centenary award was in relation to the
amalgamation, the national unity, the history
of Nigeria and the roles played by certain
individuals.

The centenary award was not a test of
sainthood. In giving the award to the former
Head of State, Gen. Abacha, the committee
in charge made it very clear that the award
in the category in which the former Head of
State appeared was awarded with regard to
the contributions of those individuals in
keeping Nigeria together.” Continue…

You will find out that under that category,
there were largely former Heads of State,
persons who have at one time or the other
presided over Nigeria and under whose
watch, in spite of whatever challenges they
might have faced, helped to sustain the unity
of the country and helped to defend the
integrity and sovereignty of the country. That
was a specific criterion in this particular
category. Of course, every award at all, be it
for beauty or any other thing has its own
criteria.” Reuben Abati tells Punch