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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...

Nigeria’s top nine banks that featured in the Banker’s top global 1000 banks 2012 have a combined tier one capital of $11.699 billion as against the $11.332 billion they had in last year’s top 1000 banks. This showed a slight improvement in the tier one capital of the Nigerian banks. However, the combined tier one capital of the nine banks is this time around slightly above the $9.842 billion of Standard Group of South Africa, the biggest bank in Africa and the 112th in the world. Standard Group’s tier one capital dropped from last year’s figure of $12.6 billion to this year’s $9.8 billion. This fact is contained in the 2012 edition of The Banker magazine top 1000 global banks, a publication of Financial Times of London. Bank of America which occupies the first position in the global ranking has a capital base of $163.626 billion. It is followed closely by JPMorgan Chase with a capital of $142.450 billion. The third position is occupied by HSBC, a British bank with...

At least 50 corpses have been discovered in the house of a pastor in Plateau State. The pastor is reported to belong to the Church of Christ in Nigeria. The corpses were suspected to be those who ran for safety in the pastor's house as they were being pursued by Fulanis. The discovery was made in Matse in Riyom area of the state. The state has been in crisis in the last few days with Fulani men attacking. As reported on Saturday, not less than 20 persons were killed in nine villages in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state.

An Umuahia Chief Magistrate Court, presided over by Chief Magistrate, John Ukpai has sentenced a pregnant woman, Ijeoma Amarachi, 25 to 17 years imprisonment for conspiring to attack a man with acid in addition to stealing. In the first offence of acid bath, Ijeoma and another accused, Johnson Ndubuisi,  said to be her accomplice were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. In the second charge, Ijeoma and Kelechi Okorie were sentenced to seven years imprisonment each for stealing the sum of N14 million, property of their employers. On the whole, the pregnant woman would spend 17 years behind bars for acid bath and stealing, having been found guilty of the two offences preferred against her. The court found her guilty of conspiring with another to pour acid on one Anyalewechi Onwuchekwa, their fellow worker at Bawas Filling Station in an attempt to murder him, While in the second charge, she was found guilty with another for stealing the sum of N14 million. ...

ABEOKUTA – The absence  of the lead counsel of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC ,  Rotimi Jacobs  in court on Monday stalled the resumption of the trial of the former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel. Daniel  is currently standing trial on a 38-count charge of alleged stealing, false declaration of assets and fraudulent conversion of lands. At the resumed hearing of the trial at Ogun state High Court, sitting in Isabo,Abeokuta, Monday, one of the counsels of the EFCC, Tayo Olukotun informed the court that Jacobs was “unavoidably absent”. It was  however gathered that Jacobs who was one of the lawyers selected to be elevated to the position of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria was absent  in court because he had gone for an interview scheduled for all those qualified for the exalted position. At the last adjourned date penultimate Friday, a principal prosecution witness in the ongoing trial,  Babatunde A...

Former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dino Melaye, is one whose voice or person cannot be hidden on any major issue. So, given his frontal role in affairs of the House of Representatives in the last assembly where he played diametrically opposite roles with Rep. Farouk Lawan, he became a subject of interest in the review of the unfolding $3 million bribe scandal in the House. Melaye also spoke on the spectre of corruption in the country among other issues. Excerpts: This House seems to have resisted the lure to crisis more than  when you were were there. Can you say why? Dino Melaye The crisis was sponsored by the Integrity group headed by Farouk Lawan solely to humble Madam Patricia Etteh from office. But do not forget that it was the same Lawan who made it possible for Madam Etteh to become Speaker and when the same Lawan did not get what he demanded, that is becoming the Chairman of Appropriation Committee, he plotted to remove her from office. Rememb...

The crisis in Jos, Plateau State, worsened on Sunday as suspected Fulani herdsmen murdered a serving Senator, a member of the state assembly and others at the mass burial of 63 victims of Saturday’s attack. The Senate confirmed the death of Senator Gyang Dantong and the Majority Leader of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Gyang Fulani. “I can confirm that the Senator (Dantong) was a casualty of the attack. He was attending a burial of those who were killed on Saturday. We are also told that the Majority Leader of the House of Assembly of Plateau State was also killed,” spokesman for the Senate, Eyinnaya Abaribe, said on Sunday. Abaribe said the Senate would properly react to the incident later. Expectedly, President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday told security agencies to ensure that the killers of Dantong and the others were brought to book. The President, who spoke through his spokesman, Reuben Abati, described the killings as “cruel and regrettable.” “We shall con...

LAGOS — The House of Representatives Committee on Ethics investigating the $3 million cash for clearance scam involving Rep. Farouk Lawan and business mogul, Mr Femi Otedola, has been directed to reverse the decision to hold its hearings in secret. The directive from the House leadership came as it emerged that the Ethics Committee is to invite the Director General of the State Security Service, SSS, to shed light on the scam. The decision of the ethics committee to hold its sittings in camera came as a major reversal to the transparency and accountability profile that the Speaker Aminu Tambuwal-led leadership had itself sought to portray in its actions. The ethics committee which is investigating the alleged bribe offered by Otedola to Lawan to clear his name from the list of indicted beneficiaries of the administration’s subsidy regime got enmeshed in controversy last Tuesday after Otedola insisted that he must be heard in public and not in secret as the committee wanted. ...

A   Lagos-based female suspected robber  identified as Ikechukwu Abigael yesterday caused a stir at Ogun state governor’s office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta when she  attempted to steal a  car parked within the vicinity. Luck however ran against the middle-aged woman when men of the  Nigerian Security and Civil Deference Corp (NSCDC), Ogun state command burst the alleged robbery operation. Ikechukwu,32, was reported to have  attempted  to steal money from the  car which was parked at the governor’s office before she was apprehended. The robbery suspect  was said to have used a master key to open the door of the Mazda 626 car with registration number; (Lagos) CV 243 MUS belonging to Alhaji Imran Oke. According to an eye witness who pleaded anonymity,  the robbery  suspect  had stolen  a  sum of N98, 000 from the car parked at the portion of the governor’s office which housed the NSCDC and the State Universal Bas...

Maintenance work on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos will begin today, following a flag-off of the job yesterday by the Minister of State for Works, Bashir Yuguda. The 11.8 kilometres Third Mainland Bridge is the longest in Africa and the repair work that begins today would cost the government N1,055,477,608.16. The contractor, Borini Prono would mobilise to site today and the maintenance work is expected to be completed in November, this year, said Yuguda, who chaired a stakeholders' meeting before the flag-off. The minister said "security and traffic management issues had been addressed in the series of stakeholders' meetings held in anticipation of the repair work." He said alternative routes available for use during the period are; Ikorodu Road-Yaba-Oyingbo-Iddo-Lagos Island; Ikorodu Road-Western Avenue-Lagos Island; Agege Motor Road-Oshodi-Apapa-Lagos Island/Victoria Island and Apapa-Oshodi Expressway-Mile 2-Orile-Lagos Island/Victoria Island. Pres...

SSS has arrested some members of a gang who specialize in the making of fake currencies in Lokoja, Kogi State. The state Director, Mike Fubara who paraded one of them said the suspects were arrested after it was observed that fake currencies have been in circulation in the state. According to him, one of the gang members, Ugbeda Samuel Aba was the first to be arrested after depositing N40, 000 fake notes into an account in one of the new generation banks. Fubara further explained that the arrest of Ugbeda was used to lure other members of the gang which led to the arrest of another and one of their conveyors, Dada Gbenga, a graduate of Geology from the University of Ado Ekiti,(UNAD). Speaking with journalists, Dada who said that he was only used to convey money to their members across the country said one Iya Ibeji" was the one who asked him to give the fake N400, 000 of N1000 notes and $200 fake dollars to Abdul for onward transfer to Maiduguri. Unknown to Dada, the ...

An Umuahia Magistrate Court presided over by Mr. John Ukpai has sentenced a pregnant woman, Ijeoma Amarachi and Johnson Ndubuisi  to 10 years imprisonment for attacking Mr. Anyalewechi Onwuchekwa with acid. The court found them guilty of attempt to murder their fellow worker  by pouring acid on him.   Both Ijeoma Amarachi, Johnson Ndubuisi and Anyalewechi were staff of BAWAS Petroleum Ltd,Umuahia. Ijeoma Amarachi, 25 (F), and Ndubuisi Johnson 27 (M) were charged on two count charge of conspiracy and attempted murder of one Anyalewechi Onwuchekwe, all staff of Bawas Filling Station at Umuabali, Umuokpara in Umuahia North Local Government Area, Abia state. The prosecution claimed they committed the offence at Bawas Filling Station on September 13, 2008. Delivering the judgment, Chief Magistrate John Ukpai, said his court after reviewing the submissions by the prosecution and defence counsel was convinced that the accused persons committed the offence as charged. ...

Imo State government says it has, in collaboration with four foreign based universities, concluded plans to establish four new universities in the state this year. Disclosing this cheering news to newsmen in Owerri before he left for Lagos, Governor Rochas Okorocha said the arrangement was in line with the free education programme of his administration for Imo children. "The measure would help accommodate the overwhelming number of Imo indigenes seeking admission into institutions of higher learning in the country", Okorocha explained. Answering a question, the Governor said government has released the sum of N400 million in addition to what he termed "other logistics", to ensure immediate take off of the projects. Continuing, the Governor said his administration would in September this year; commence the distribution of free uniforms, sandals, desks and books to all primary and secondary school students, adding that this is part of the plan to encourag...

The Command of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in Kaduna/Katsina State, has paraded three persons, who allegedly smuggled drugs worth more than N50 million into the country. Alhaji Yusuf Umar, the Acting Comptroller in charge of the command, while parading the suspects in Katsina on Friday said that they were arrested at Danzabuwa village on Katsina-Kano Road. According to him, the NCS operatives trailed the suspects from Madarumfa town in Niger Republic to Danzabuwa village on Katsina-Kano Road, where they were apprehended. He said suspects concealed the drugs in sacks and cottons loaded in articulated truck with registration number, XS 925 SMK. “The seized drugs comprise Maxagrip cold caplet, Tramadol 100, Diarea Cure, Da Caps pain reliever capsules, Ivercin 5% for Animals and Gold Seal Cigarettes,’’ he said. He alleged that the suspects offered N5 million bribe to the customs officers, adding: “they brought to us N2 million cash and wrote an undertaking to balance t...