HELLO

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Drugs/Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Mr. Adams Jagaba, said on Monday that he was prepared to tell the police all he knew about the $620,000 bribery allegation involving Mr. Farouk Lawan and businessman, Mr. Femi Otedola. “I see myself and the police as co-partners in the fight against corruption,” the lawmaker told The PUNCH in Abuja. According to Jagaba, as the chairman of the committee, which oversees the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, he will not be doing the nation any good if he withholds information from an investigation agency. Jagaba confirmed that he was aware of a letter sent to the Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, requesting him to assist the police with information. He, however, deplored the “weeks of unfounded speculations” over a purported ultimatum given to him by the police to appear before them or he would be arrested. Jagaba said, “First, they said that I had been invited and given a...

The House of Representatives Committee on Ethics came under further scrutiny, yesterday, after oil magnate, Mr Femi Otedola, accused one of its members of lying in his account of Otedola’s controversial appearance before the committee last Tuesday. Responding to published comments where Rep. Ibrahim Bello, a member of the committee was quoted as saying that Otedola told the committee that he did not have the video recording of his transaction with Rep. Farouk Lawan, Otedola affirmed that he never told the committee anything as such.   Otedola had in the past insisted that he is in possession of audio and video recording of Lawan negotiating and collecting the bribe money. The misrepresentation, he said, was another reason why the Ethics Committee must be prevailed upon to hold its investigations into the scam in public.   Responding to the comments by Bello, Otedola speaking through his lawyer, Babajide Koku, SAN said: “For the avoidance of doubt...

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to wake up from slumber and end the perennial killings going on in Plateau State. “If the government wants peace to reign in this country, then it must go beyond the usual condemnation and rhetoric by exposing the sponsors of these so called Fulani Herds men that have continued to cause havoc to Christians in Plateau, Benue, Taraba and the Southern part of Kaduna state,” it said in a statement signed by Pastor Sunday Oibe, the spokesperson of the Northern Chapter of CAN. “We want to state categorically that we are not accepting the usual condemnation by government which has become a mere slogan,” the statement said, stressing its belief that there are some powerful elements who are behind the activities of the so-called herds men. “The Government must not just condemn it; it must fish out the perpetrators and sponsors of this wickedness and bring them to justice for the sake of peace and...

Veteran Nigerian satirical poet and novelist, Professor Niyi Osundare today lampooned the Nigerian political class, describing them as people who owe Nigeria no responsibility but who are only holding the country hostage. The professor made this statement in a public lecture on the state of the nation organized by the Save Nigeria Group [SNG] in Lagos today. Professor Osundare in his assessment of the Nigerian political system critiqued the performances of the Nigerian politicians, portraying their psyches as one entrenched with corruption. Speaking on the topic "Why we no longer blush: Corruption as the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria," the Professor described Nigerians as strong people but whose zeal have only been damaged by the sordid activities of the corrupt ruling class.  The professor, who also blamed the retardation of the people and the denial of prosperity and development of the Nation on the tainted practices of the civil ru...

The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave 76 oil wells in contention between Cross River and Akwa Ibom states to the latter by a unanimous decision. It also dismissed an application filed by Cross River State last Friday to stop the judgment. Cross River had gone to the Supreme Court claiming ownership of the wells. It also joined the Federal Government as a defendant in the suit. The state asked the court to compel the Federal Government and Akwa Ibom State to pay N15.5 billion to it as 13 per cent derivation from November 2009 to March 10, 2010. The plaintiff had filed an application at the apex court on Friday, asking it to stay action on the judgment because Akwa Ibom presented a doctored map of the Nigeria-Cameroon boundary as part of the documents it submitted to the court. It had urged the apex court to expunge the map. More details later.

LAGOS – Motorists and commuters who do not have imperative reasons to move between the Island and Mainland have been advised to stay off the roads for the next few months as repair on the 3rd Mainland Bridge entered its second day. The advice became necessary as residents, motorists and commuters in Lagos, yesterday, had hectic time getting to their destinations as they were locked up in gridlock primarily caused by the ongoing repair on the bridge. Despite the efforts of hundreds of traffic managers, comprising the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, members of the Nigeria Police, stationed at strategic points to ensure free flow of traffic, motorists, commuters and residents of the state lamented the traffic situation, urging government to work out modalities that could reduce the traffic logjam, apart from the diversion routes provided. The partial closure practically slowed down business activities on the Island ...

As earlier reported by SaharaReporters, the Jama’atu Ahlissunnah Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad sect, popularly known as "Boko Haram" which claims responsibility for the mass killings last weekend in Barkin Ladi local government area in Plateau state, has officially stated that there is no going back in its jihad in Nigeria. In a statement obtained by SaharaReporters the sect also stated in Hausa language that the newly appointed National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki lied in his claims that he was in contact with their leadership and plans to facilitate a ceasefire during the upcoming Ramadan season. The statement which was signed by the sect's spokesperson Abul Qaqa also noted that they will continue trailing and killing security operatives and government officials the same way security agencies kill their members. Boko Haram also warned residents in northern cities, towns and villages collaborating with security agencies in revealing their locati...