EFCC: No one is above the law
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mrs. Farida Waziri has said no offender would escape the long arm of the commission, as nobody is above the laws of the land.
Fielding questions from State House correspondents in Abuja, Waziri vowed that her commission would “get these people” who think they can escape from prosecution.
The EFCC boss, who was at the Presidential Villa, Abuja for the inauguration of the new board of the Code of Conduct Bureau expressed her frustration over the way Nigerians condone corruption by shielding corrupt people and preventing their arrest by law enforcement agencies.
In an apparent reference to the way former Delta State governor James Ibori refused to honor the commission’s invitation to answer questions over an alleged money laundering offence, Waziri said all hands must be on deck in the fight against corruption.
She said: “You find a situation where we needed somebody to come and answer a few questions, former governor of Delta, he fled and then the police went in and his villagers or people came out to support him.
“These are some of the things. But my belief is that nobody is above the laws of the land and the law is no respecter of persons, we are going to get these people and it is a situation where all hands must be on deck including you the media, you have to inform the people truthfully, sincerely, taking the commitment of your father land into consideration and then the job will be done.”
DONALD DUKE RESIGNS FROM PDP
With the 2011 general elections looming, the former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke has resigned from the ruling People’s Democratic Party, preparatory for the launch of his much rumored presidential campaign on the platform of another party.
Citing among other reasons for the decision, Duke said the PDP had become “dysfunctional, unable to articulate a road map and lead Nigerians on a clear and concise path to national renewal.”
In his resignation letter dated April 29 and addressed to the Cross River State chairman of the party, Duke said: “When in 1998, we came together and forged a vehicle destined (as we thought at the time) to carry forward our beloved country’s hopes and dreams, there was a sense of being on the cusp of something that would endure. That has not proved to be the case.”
He regretted that PDP rather than building a robust and people-oriented party, “what has endured has been a lack of commitment to the purpose and focus of the founding fathers of the party and our country, which has emasculated the PDP.”
Duke continued: “Faithfulness and favor have been dissipated by a seamless stream of internecine factional warfare.”
He acknowledged that with his departure from the party, he would be leaving behind friends, “many with whom I shared sincerity of purpose but, regrettably, no longer share commonality of purpose.
President Obama receives Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan at the Blair House
UPDATE: President Obama met with Act. President Goodluck Jonathan today at the blair house, the official guest house of the USA President. The courtesy visit was witnessed by The Nigerian Ambassador to the USA, Adefuye as well as the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Sanders. Jonathan adorned a grey outfit with a fedora-like hat to match.
President Obama welcomed Nigeria’s Acting President Goodluck Jonathan to Washington today. The President expressed his appreciation for Nigeria’s participation in the Nuclear Security Summit and the opportunity to meet with Acting President Jonathan to discuss issues of mutual importance. Both President Obama and Acting President Jonathan agreed to continue to work together on matters of advancing global security, particularly nuclear security and international compliance to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The leaders also discussed important security issues, including efforts to combat terrorism.
Recognizing the regional importance of Nigeria, including its role as a regional leader and its substantial contributions to peacekeeping missions, as well as the longstanding friendship between the peoples of Nigeria and the United States, the President reiterated that the United States places great importance on the U.S. relationship with Nigeria and the Nigerian people. The President added that a strong, democratic, prosperous Nigeria is in the U.S. national interest.
Acting President Jonathan agreed on the importance placed on the U.S.-Nigerian relationship and recognized that the recent signing of a bilateral framework between the two countries provides an important way forward in addressing mutual strategic goals. Both leaders agreed that such goals include: respecting constitutional law and processes, achieving free and fair elections, building the capacity and commitment to fight corruption, respecting human rights, promoting economic development, and resolving internal conflict. The President urged Acting President Jonathan to use his tenure to make historic and tangible progress in strengthening the Nigerian government’s commitment to follow through on countering corruption. The President also said that the U.S. would support Acting President Jonathan in realizing his public promise for electoral reform.
Nigerian Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has arrived the USA ahead of a three day official visit. He is to meet with President Obama at the white house today Sunday the 11th of April and then address the Council for Foreign Relations during his visit. Other assignments include a meeting at the world band and a meet and greet with Nigerian’s at the Nigerian Chancery in Washington DC.
Also expected to join the Acting President at the meeting with Obama are Adefuye, former Ambassador Hassan Adamu and Nigeria Ambassador to the United Nations, Professor Joy Ogwu.
Tomorrow, the Acting President would hold a breakfast meeting with the Council on Foreign Relations and then have lunch with US Vice President, Joe Biden. Jonathan will also meet with the World Bank President, Robert Zoellick, at 3p.m from where he would depart for the opening ceremony of the Nuclear Security Summit at 4:30p.m.
The Acting President would spend the whole of Tuesday at the Nuclear Security Summit. On Wednesday, according to the itinerary,Jonathan would have a breakfast meeting at the Center for Global Development and hold lunch with Corporate Council on Africa.
A meeting had also been scheduled to hold between him and the President of ExxonMobil at 3p.m the same day. The Acting President is expected to depart US 6p.m on Wednesday for Nigeria after meeting with the Nigerian community at 4p.m.
The US trip also marked Jonathan’s first official trip outside the country since he became Acting President.
The presidential jet, a Boeing 737-700, was converted to BBJ- a business jet. It has the capacity to travel 10 hours without stopping to refuel. The fuel capacity can therefore not enable the plane to make a direct flight to the US. What this means is that the jet would stop-over either in Darka, Senegal or London, United Kingdom where it is expected to refuel before it continues with the trip.
On Jonathan’s entourage are Minister of Foreign Affairs, Odein Ajuimogobia (SAN); minister of state for Foreign Affairs, Aliyu Idi Hong, Minister of finance, Olusegun Aganga, Wakili Adamawa, Amb. Hassan ÆAdamu, Dr Emmanuel Egbogah, Special Adviser to the President on Petroleum; Dr Martins Uhomoibhi, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs and oil magnate, Mr Femi Otedola. Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke who on official duties is in Los Angeles, United States will also join the acting president’s team in Washington.
Five state governors are also in the entourage, amongst whom is Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State, who had earlier gone to the US.
His advance team had left for the US since Friday. Members of the advance team included senior special assistant on strategy, Mr. Oronto Douglas and his colleague in charge of media, Mr. Ima Niboro.
Until November 2009, he was serving out his time as a low-key deputy to a low-key president. But then, President Umaru Yar’Adua was taken to hospital in Saudi Arabia and has not been seen in public since. Step forward, Mr Jonathan. After months of political wrangling, Nigeria’s elite finally accepted him as acting leader.
source – the Nigerian Chancery, thisdayonline
Agency reports by Trendy Africa USA @ 2010
OFFICIAL LIST OF FGN MINISTERS
Senior: Prof. Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah
Junior: Awodele Najeem Adewale
2.Justice
Mohammed Bello Adoke
3. Aviation
Mrs. Fidelia Njeze
4.Commerce & Industry
Senior: Jibril Martins Kuye
Junior: Ms. Josephine Tapgun
5.Culture & Tourism
Abubakar Sadiq A. Mohammed
6.Education
Prof. (Mrs) Ruqayyatu A. Rufa’i
7.FCT
Bala Muhammed
8.Environment
Mr. John Ogar Odey
9.Finance
Senior:Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga
Junior: Aderemi W. Babalola
10.Foreign Affairs
Senior: Henry Odein Ajumogobia
Junior: Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong
11.Health
Senior: Suleiman Bello
Junior: Idi Hong
12. Information & Communication
Senior: Prof. Dora Akunyili
Junior: Mr. Labaran Maku
13.Interior
Senior: Emmanuel Iheanacho
Junior: Mr. Humphrey Enemakwu Abah
14.Labour & Productivity
Mr. Chukwuemeka Ngozichineke Wogu
15.Mines & Steel Development
Musa Mohammed Sada
16.Niger Delta Affairs
Senior: Peter Godsday Orubebe
Junior: Samuel Ode
17.Petroleum Resources
Deziani Alison-Madueke
18.Defence
Senior: Adetokunbo Kayode
Junior: Murtala Shehu Yar’Adua
19.Power
Arc. Nuhu Somo Wya
20.Police Affair
Alh. Adamu Waziri
21.Science and Technology
Muhammed K. Abubakar
22.Special Duties
Ernest Olubolade
23.Transport
Yusuf Sulaiman
24.Youth Development
Akinlabi Olasunkanmi
25.Women Affairs
Josephine Anenih
26.National Planning Commission
Shamsudeen Usman
27.National Sports Commission
Ibrahim Isa Bio
28.Works
Senior: Sen. Sanusi M. Dagash
Junior: Chris Ogiemwinyi
29.Lands, Housing & Urban Development
Nduese Essien
RIMI DIES AFTER ROBBERY ATTACK
He was reportedly unhurt in the encounter with the robbers around 11pm last night. The robbers were said to have recognised him and decided not to rob him. Instead, they seized his phones so that he would not report to the police.On getting to Kano, he was said to have been in shock. His personal doctor, it was gathered, checked his blood pressure and decided to take him to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. He never recovered and was pronounced dead shortly after.His body has been moved to his residence in Kano and will be buried according to Islamic rites this morning.
Initial reports said he was shot in the head in the attack which took place at a village called Darki in Wudil Local Government Area, Kano State, while he was returning from Bauchi State where he had gone for his eldest daughter’s wedding.
But it was later revealed that he suffered no gunshot wounds. However, given that his blood pressure had shot up during the attack, he might have suffered a massive stroke, leading to his death.
The radical politician, who was instrumental to the victory of Chief MKO Abiola in the June 12, 1993 presidential election in Kano State, was travelling in a Landcruiser SUV in company with three other persons who are believed to be his relations.
Rimi had become politically reclusive in recent times and led a faction of the PDP in Kano called Garkuwa (Shield). He also staunchly supported President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
He was born in 1940 in Rimi Village, Sumaila Local Government Area, Kano State. According to wikipedia.com, Rimi attended an instructor’s course at the Institute of Administration, Zaria. He obtained a General Certificate of Education (GCE) from the University of London.
In 1972, he did a diploma in International Affairs at the London institute of World Affairs, and later obtained a Master’s Degree in International Relations.In January 2006, his wife was killed at his home. His son was among those charged for the murder, but was later released. It was treated as an armed robbery case.
Rimi was co-founder with the late Mallam Aminu Kano and other progressives the People’s Redemption Party (PRP).
In December 1978, he was elected PRP’s Deputy National secretary at the party’s first national convention in Lagos. He was the PRP candidate in the 1979 general election and was elected the governor of the old Kano State.
After a disagreement with the party’s leader, Alhaji Aminu Kano, he defected to the Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) in 1983 and resigned as governor “on principle”. He lost the governorship election that year to Alhaji Sabo Bakin Zuwo, who ran as the PRP candidate.
In 1993, Rimi was appointed Minister of Communications, and later Chairman of NACB and NSPMC.
He was one of the foundation members of the PDP in 1998. He was the Chairman of the Finance Committee of the party.
He was briefly touted as former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s running mate in the 1999 presidential election, but Obasanjo eventually settled for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Rimi began to openly oppose Obasanjo and ran against him for PDP’s presidential ticket in 2003, although the PDP had insisted that the position was zoned to the South.
He later moved to the Action Congress (AC) in 2006, but returned to the PDP in 2007. In December 2008, he called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Professor Maurice Iwu, to resign from office, citing irregularities in the presidential election that brought Yar’Adua to power.
RIBADU’S CASE STRUCK OUT: In what is seen as a prelude to his appointment as Special Adviser to the Acting President on Anti-Corruption, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation has applied to the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for the withdrawal of the case of non-declaration of assets instituted against the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
It is not yet clear if the current EFCC Chair, Mrs Farida Waziri, will report to him if he is eventually appointed by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.
At the CCT sitting in Abuja yesterday, the AGF, represented by the Special Assistant on Litigation, Dr. J. O. Olatoke, stated that his application for withdrawal of the case had nothing to do with a new application the defence counsel intended to submit for CCT to strike out the case.
The defence counsel, Mr. Femi Falana, represented by Mr. Samuel Ogalla, had earlier made known to the Acting Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Murtala A. Sani (SAN), his intention to submit an application to the CCT to strike out the case against his client.
Ogalla’s application was rejected by Justice Sani based on the fact that the tribunal had no substantive chairman and therefore could not take a new motion but could only attend to non-controversial matters.
Justice Sani then advised the prosecuting counsel to formalise his application for withdrawal of the case for proper documentation at its next sitting on Thursday, April 8, 2010.
Speaking after the sitting on what prompted the withdrawal of the case, the prosecuting counsel said before the dissolution of the cabinet, “the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), reviewed the cases on ground and directed that this case should be withdrawn”.
Olatoke said the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria vested in the AGF the power of nolle prosequi to discontinue any criminal prosecution at any stage of the case and that it is within the prerogative of AGF under the constitution to decide the cases he wants to prosecute.
Ribadu had praised the elevation of Jonathan to the position of acting president in February, adding that the resolution of the National Assembly indicated that things were changing for the better in the country.
The former EFCC chairman also said he was ready to return to the country to be part of the process of reconstruction desperately needed in the society.
THISDAY had reported in February that the Federal Government was wooing Ribadu and was ready to drop the “trumped-up” charges against him, in addition to restoring Ribadu’s rank, who was demoted by two ranks from Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) before he was finally dismissed for going AWOL (away without official leave) after failing to report for duty in Edo State.
The police disciplinary committee that recommended his dismissal was headed by Ogbonna Onovo, who is now the Inspector General of Police (IG).
When Ribadu was denied his certificate by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) for failing to wear his police uniform – which would have meant donning his demoted rank and subsequently challenged the demotion in court at the time – it was Jonathan who ordered NIPSS to release his certificate.
source – thisdayonline
WASHINGTON, DC – President Barack Obama has signed into law a landmark health care reform bill that had been seen as impossible just two months ago.
The president said the law “will set into motion what generations of Americans have fought for.”
He said he was confident the Senate would make fixes to the legislation “swiftly.”
Agency Report by Trendy Africa USA @ 2010
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