An overloaded passenger train traveling between Cameroon’s two largest cities derailed and overturned on Friday, killing at least 70 people and injuring nearly 600 others.
Rail officials said the train had been carrying 1,300 passengers, instead of the usual 600. The collapse of a bridge along the main highway between the capital and Douala had prompted more people to undertake the journey by rail.
A passenger, Joel Bineli told Reuters news agency that he saw three dismembered bodies on the tracks at the accident site.
“There was a loud noise. I looked back and the wagons behind us left the rails and started rolling over and over. There was a lot of smoke.”
He said that prior to the train’s departure from Yaounde, a railway employee said that eight additional wagons had been added to the normally nine-wagon train in order to accommodate extra passengers.
The route is one of the busiest in the country with trains to Chad and the Central African Republic also using the axis, which has a poor safety record.
The President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya, who is travelling abroad, has already sent a condolence message to the victims.
He wrote in his official Facebook page: “My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the Camrail train derailment in Eseka. Over 70 passengers died and 600 wounded in the accident.”
Also, Transport Minister, Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo’o said that the Friday’s accident took place near the central town of Eseka – 120km west of the capital Yaounde – as the train travelled to the economic hub of Douala.
“The cause of the accident is not yet clear,” said the minister, via state broadcaster CRTV, adding that several of the injured were in a very serious condition.
“Intervention and security teams have been mobilised,” the rail company Camrail said.
In 2014, Cameroon began building its first highway between the two towns, but the work is not due to be completed until 2018. [myad]
My conversation with Kenny made me realize he didn’t value me as his wife and so I made a decision to give him space. I called my mum and told her I was coming home for a week. I was able to convince her Kenny supported my decision and I packed my bags. I was going to go home for a week. The next morning I told Kenny about my trip, ”I listened to everything you said and I have decided we probably need to give each other some space. I am taking a break and travelling to my parent’s house”. I said Kenny shook his head, ”you should be ashamed of yourself Lola. In fact when they call women to stand up, you should hide your face in shame. So you cannot take care of your home, you can’t satisfy your husband and now rather than deal with your problems you are running? ”Kenny, I refuse to be insulted. I sat quietly while you heaped insults on me yesterday but that doesn’t mean I will continue to take it. You said my presence is causing you sorrow and now I am giving you space. I will take the time apart to pray for us” ”I don’t freaking need your prayers madam. In fact, God will not answer that prayer because he has told you everything you need to do in the Bible. Stop praying for me and start satisfying me”. ”Ehen, so the other day, when I bought sexy lingerie and waited for you at home, did you not leave me hanging? You are confused and don’t know what you want”. ”You want to go? Fine! Get the hell out but you just might not meet this marriage when you come back”. ”Like I said, I will take the time apart to pray, God will sustain our home” I told him emphatically. He just shook his head and closed his eyes on the bed, effectively ending the conversation. I packed my bags and headed straight to the airport. Late in the night that day, while I sat in my parent’s sitting room, my mum was trying to get stories out of me. ”So why didn’t Kenny take a break with you madam?” ”Mum, he is busy with work, that’s the same thing I told dad before”. ”That doesn’t mean he should not spend a weekend with us. We have not seen him since the wedding.” ”Isn’t that why I am here? At least once you see one of us you have seen two of us. After all the two have become one.” I said laughing. ”Okay , no problem. I tried to call him earlier that we have seen his wife but he was not picking his call”. ”I am sure he will probably call you back tomorrow. He is probably resting early now that I am not home”. ”Okay, but Omolola how is marriage life? I hope you are being submissive and taking care of your husband well enough”. ”Mummy, did he complain to you? I am trying my best”. ”Why are you getting defensive? Is everything okay? I hope this delay in pregnancy isn’t putting you under pressure?” ”No, it’s not mum, we are fine with it. Everything is okay.” ”There is no cause for alarm yet. It’s not even up to a year yet. I waited 3 years before I was able to get pregnant with your elder brother and then you so everything will be fine.” ”I know mum…” The hard knock on the door startled us. ”Mum are you expecting anyone so late? Its 11pm already and dad has gone to bed”. ”No I am not but it could be that our neighbours need something, go and open the door”. As I got close to the door to open it, I was suddenly knocked off my feet by the force of it being jacked open. My eyes went wide open as I saw them, three in number with their weapons held up high. I closed my eyes shut and began to pray. ”Okay so pray very well beautiful girl, you just might need it” the voice said. My eyes were still squeezed shut so I could not identify which of them spoke. As soon as I felt a hand pull me by my hair, my eyes flipped open and I was dragged into the living room to meet my mum who was already in tears and shaking. Five days later, I woke up once again with screams as has been the practice since that horrible night. My dad was immediately by my side soothing me as the tears rolled down my face. ”It’s okay Omolola. You’re fine and safe. Daddy is here.” ”Daddy, I am afraid. Kenny has not come”. ”I know he hasn’t. I will still call him again. Just try and get stronger first okay?” ”He hasn’t picked my calls dad. Since you told him, he has not picked my calls once”. As my dad eventually left me alone in the bedroom with my thoughts, I recalled that evil night as clear as the day. I remember my dad being dragged from the bedroom and asked to give them money. I remember the exhaustive search for money which proved abortive as my dad and mum only had a total of about N50,000 at home. I remember adding the N20,000 I had in my bag and the man telling me I was insulting him with change. As soon as I apologized, he looked at me and really looked at me and I knew what he was going to do before he even did it. I could see it vividly in his eyes. I begged, ”Please, I am married. I beg you” ”So what are you doing in daddy’s house fine girl, your husband is not servicing you well abi? I will help his matter. He needs help”. I begged, my dad and mum begged and his only response was because of their begging, he won’t make them watch. I fought as hard as I could and for every struggle there was a slap and a punch. He finally had to get the other man to hold me down. I fought every step of the way. I was numb. The physical pain was welcome, I could deal with that. I couldn’t deal with the heaviness that crushed my heart. All through as he kept thrusting faster than I could ever imagine, I thought of Kenny and how much pain this was going to cause him. I remember him warning me not to make this trip. He kept going on and on for about thirty minutes before he finally let go. Funny how he had the decency to use a condom. I had no strength left. I was broken. For the first time in my christian walk, I questioned God. I asked him questions. His silence was deafening. It has been five days since my nightmare, five days since my dad informed Kenny, three days since I got back home from the hospital and he still hasn’t showed up. I have no more will left to even call him anymore. After a whole month of daily calls to Kenny with no response, I finally gave up. I knew my marriage was over. I had gone through the full cycle from tears to pain in my heart to anger to being just blank. I have finally resigned myself to fate. Even the strength to pray had left me. I have tried interpreting Kenny’s silence in different ways but my conclusion was that he just didn’t love me enough to fight for us. I sent him different text messages and not once did he humour me and respond. I just could not understand why a man will be silent after hearing his wife was raped. As always my mum walked into my bedroom that Friday afternoon once again to ask what happened between my husband and I. She had soon figured out something was wrong but I always refused to tell her. ”Lola, you know what? Your father and I have tried. You have stayed in our house for over a month and we have been caring. You can’t keep saying there is nothing wrong when I have been married for thirty five years and I know more than you” ”Mum, please I don’t have the strength to argue”. ”Okay then, your father and I have decided you can’t live here anymore. We will not harbour a married woman in our home. Since you and your husband don’t respect us enough to seek for advice. Please go back to him or wherever you want but you cannot stay under my roof”. Still shocked at what she was saying, ”Mum?” ”Daughter!!! Yes?” I finally relented. I didn’t even have a plan B.” Mum, Kenny and I have serious problems. Our marriage is not even up to a year and we don’t even know how to move forward”. ”Okay tell me everything”. So I sat for over an hour and told my mum every single detail from my wedding night to the day I left Kenny’s house. Surprisingly, my mum did not interrupt or blow up at me. I expected her to start screaming but her calmness amazed me. ”Heeeeeeee Omolola, O ti ba ye je ( you have spoilt the world)” She said in Yoruba language when I was finally done. ”Mummy haba, what did I do wrong? How can Kenny just abandon me here? His love is fleeting mum, it can’t even stand the test of time”. I said with deep anger and disappointment. ”hmmmmm, first of all, you are changing your church. The kind of pastor’s wife that will give you such advise is not who you should be listening to. Why didn’t you call me? Why did you go to an outsider?” ”Mum, you are the one that said I should keep our matters private”. ”Not when it is crumbling my dear, we all need help once in a while”. ”Okay mum, what do we do now? Do you think there is any chance for Kenny and I”. ”Of course, your father and I have had greater battles that we have overcome. Marriage is filled with battles; we fight, win, conquer and fight another day. We never give up. It only ends the day you stop fighting for it. Lola, you keep fighting till you conquer. There is no end. You made some terrible decisions and took some wrong steps”. ”Mum, what about Kenny? He took a lot of wrong steps too”. ”Yes, I will face Kenny but I need to talk to you first. I told you not to kill yourself over not having a child yet. It will come. You shouldn’t have fasted and deprived your husband without his full consent. Moreso, you should have given him his marital rights between 6pm when you break your fast and midnight when the next day starts. You shouldn’t have run from your home without his consent and come hide here. To tell you the truth, it will take God for Kenny to be able to sleep with you again. Both of you, your actions have spoilt a lot of things. This matter should not have generated to this level. First thing tomorrow morning, I am going back to Abuja with you, we are going to see your husband” True to her word, by 11 am on Saturday, which was the next day, we had arrived my house. As soon as I saw Kenny’s car parked in the compound, my heart started beating fast. I wished he was not home even though mum had called earlier and told him she was coming to see him. He opened the door as soon as we were approaching and I assumed he had seen us through the window and prostrated, greeting my mum in yoruba language. Kenny totally ignored me and my mum just smiled at us. I left them in the sitting room and went into the room. Everything was just as I left it and my investigation as to whether somebody else had been living with him came up empty. I heard my mum call me from the living room and I quickly dropped my bag and went back to join them. ”Mummy, Lola does not want to be married. In less than a year of marriage she has shown blatant disregard and disrespect both for me and this home and I am sick of it. Does she think if it was another man, he won’t have started womanizing by now? I stayed faithful even when she refused to be faithful to our marriage vows”. Kenny said with so much anger. ”Please don’t threaten us with tales of unfaithfulness. So you want an award because you didn’t cheat? I said. ”Keep your mouth shut Lola, just shut up” my mum shouted while Kenny just shook his head. I instantly felt remorseful. I listened as my mum and Kenny started talking. I truly listened to his hurts and pains as he opened up to my mum and for the first time I understood the gravity of where we were. By the time they started talking about the rape incident, Kenny shed tears. He just kept quiet while tears fell from his eyes and I was broken for both of us. ”Mummy, I warned Lola, I warned her not to go. I haven’t been able to get that image out of my head ever since Daddy told me. Where do we start from? She refused to sleep with me all in the name of prayers and freely gave it to a thief?” ”Kenny, don’t say she freely gave it. We all still feel the pains of that night most especially your wife. The pain she is still in as a result of that incident is great. She needs a lot of time to heal”. My mum said. ”I warned her, I warned her mummy” Kenny insisted. My mum began to talk to Kenny about us communicating better, about understanding each other and being quick to forgive. She spoke and fear gripped my heart as I looked at Kenny’s face. After so much advise from mum, Kenny began to calm down. ”Both of you need to pray, be patient and communicate” mum said again. ”Mummy, truth be told, I am not sure if this marriage still exists. I don’t even know where to start with Lola” Kenny said. ”You both start with forgiving each other and then take it one step at a time. You start with conversations, heart to heart ones, share your pains and fears and with time the intimacy will come and with time you will heal”. ”Okay mummy, thank you ma.” Kenny said. About an hour later, mum left our home in a cab, headed to the airport for her flight back home. She refused to stay the night despite all our pleas. As soon as she left, I turned to Kenny to apologize. ”Baby, I am sorry”.I said to Kenny as he went back to sit on the sofa and I sat beside him. He turned to me and said ”I pray to God to give me the enabling spirit to take that bad rape incident off my mind, Omololami, I am sorry too, I am sorry I wasn’t with you during this painful period. Truth is, I don’t even know if we can fix this, but first and foremost, we are both going to change our place of worship. We shall pray fervently for God to lead us through this hard time”. ”We will babe,” I said with renewed confidence, ”we will, one day at a time”. To God be the glory.
A mother of two-month-old baby, Comfort Effiong has confessed that she sold the baby to a 51 year old Rose Edward for N450,000 because there was no one to take care of her and the baby. “I sold the baby because of help. I don’t have anybody to help me. My father is late and my mother is sick and I don’t have anybody to help me.” Comfort made the confession to the police today, Saturday, in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, where she was paraded, along with the buyer, before news men.
This was even as the buyer, Rose, also confessed that she bought the baby because she needed a baby of her own.
The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Murtala Mani, speaking through the state police Command’s spokesperson, ASP Cordelia Nwanwe, assured the people of the state that the command would not relent in its effort to curb crime. He asked members of the public who wish to adopt children to follow due process. [myad]
From left to right: Nikhil Rathi, Chief Executive Officer, London Stock Exchange (LSE); Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, Director General, National Pension Commission (PENCOM); Greg Hands, UK Minister for International Trade; Kemi Adeosun, Honourable Minister of Finance, Federal Republic of Nigeria; Oscar N. Onyema, OON, Chief Executive Officer, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Executive Director, Capital Markets Division, NSE at the Opening Bell Ceremony of the London Stock Exchange to kick off the 3rd London and Lagos Capital Markets in Partnership Conference organized by the Nigerian Stock Exchange and London Stock Exchange in London…today, Friday. [myad]
Let us not pretend, as we have been doing all along, about the religious and therefore, spiritual implication of what Aisha, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, has lately allowed herself to be led into. Her unfortunate open protest, either on her own or on behalf of others, against her husband, who has been struggling to correct all the economic, administrative, social and systemic dislocation caused to the polity by the previous governments, has thrown the family she has built over the years into disarray. So much has the family been helped to be divided on the basis of things of this world, by those who have after all been waiting for such opportunity, that one is not sure who is where now. Even though, President Buhari has acknowledged that irrespective of what happens, he still loves his wife (Aisha), but the reality is that, based on the way Aisha has been going about the whole thing, the relationship, or put appropriately, the love that is supposed to flow so as for the President to have some form of comfort, appears to have been diminished. This is where the issue of religion comes in. While, to the best of my knowledge, Christianity preaches the importance of submissiveness of women to their husbands, Islam speaks elaborately on the duties of women to their husbands. Islam, into which Aisha was born and grew, and the religion she married into and is practicing, places emphasis on wife safeguarding the interests of her husband. The Holy Qur’an specifically asks woman to protect the property of her husband and keep his secrets at all times and in all circumstances.
The Holy Qur’an says: “…So the righteous women are obedient to Allah and submissive to their husbands, and guard, in the husband’s absence, what Allah would have them guard i.e., their chastity and the prestige and property of the husband…”
Every woman must obey the legitimate commands of her husband. Appeasement of husband is a great virtue while the displeasure of the husband carries heavy prosecution. The Holy Prophet of Islam has said: “If I were to command humans to prostrate before anyone other than Allah, I would have commanded the women to bow down before their husbands.” He added: “If a woman dies in a state that her husband is happy with her, she would enter the Paradise”
The same Prophet also said: “When the husband calls his wife for some work, she should immediately attend his call even if she may be sitting by the side of her hearth.” This means that the wife should give top priority to attend to her husband.
Another Hadith says: “If a husband says to his wife to transform a yellow mountain into a black one or turn a black mountain into a white one, she should obey his orders.” This Hadith means that the woman should try to perform the hardest of the hard job assigned by her husband.
The Prophet went further to say again: “Allah’s Angels curse the woman throughout the night whose husband calls her to bed but she refuses and the husband goes to sleep in anger.”
Those women, who are unaware of this feature of their role, may find difficulty in fulfilling the task. It is a job for the woman who is aware that the job requires a degree of sagacity, style, and ingenuity. For a woman to be a successful wife, she should win over her husband’s heart and be a source of comfort to him.
Imam Rida stated: ‘The greatest gain for a man is a faithful woman who, when she sees him, becomes happy and protects his property and her own honor in his absence.”
Indeed, in Islam, taking care of one’s husband has an important position. It has been equated to the role of Jihad (holy war in the path of Allah).
Imam Ali stated: ‘The Jihad of a woman is to take care of her husband well.”
Considering that Jihad is the struggle and holy war in the path of Allah, including the struggle for advancement and honor of Islam, defending the Islamic territories and execution of social justice, it is one of the highest acts of worship. The value of fulfilling the duties of a proper spouse is also reflected upon when considering Jihad.
The Prophet of Islam stated: “Any woman who dies while her husband is pleased with her, enters Paradise. If a woman does not perform her duty as a spouse, she has not done her duty to Allah.”
All these boil down to the purpose for which God created us, for He said, “I did not create human being and jinn except for them to worship Me.” And therefore, for an Muslim woman, observing and practicing those that are prescribed in the Holy Qur’an and Hadith is part of such worship.
The Islam, in another section, describes women as ‘all naked” by the nature of their creation, even as it enjoins them to lower their gaze in the midst of men that are not their husbands; to keep their chastity and expose their beauty only for the sight of their husbands. Islam, therefore, looks at women who are doing something to the contrary as hypocrites, rebels and pretenders. From the very first time Aisha Buhari appeared on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and spoke against her husband, exposing his supposed weak points, which of course, she should have covered to gain Allah’s pleasure, she had completely veered off the course.
One was at pains to explain why she would go to Belgium and had the temerity to defy God by shaking hands with a man who was not her husband. She has forgotten the Islamic view on special contact either by sight, touch, or by feeling of a Muslim woman with a man that is not her husband. In one word, such contact is considered as ‘adultery.’ That is to say that there is adultery of sight, of touch and of feeling, which is what even some people jokingly refer to as ‘touchery’, ‘lookry’ and so on.
It is becoming clearer that Aisha is being brainwashed by the enemies of Islam to derail her technically from the path of Allah, just so that she would be seen as being modern or ‘independent or not belonging to the kitchen, the living room and the other room.’ And where would such sense of freedom or equality or haughtiness take her?
As a matter of fact, a Muslim woman, like Aisha, ought to be strong enough and with untainted pride, to display her religious culture anywhere, because, what she possesses, even if she is President of the country, leads ultimately to how she relate with God and carry out His command without question.
Or is Aisha ashamed that her husband said that she belongs to his kitchen, the living room and the other room? Is she being carried away by the condemnations of her husband for saying what he said by those who know nothing about her religion or those who know but are playing politics with it? Or those who just want to ridicule her husband through her?
And by going haywire in Belgium, what lesson would she want her children, especially, daughters to learn?
The voice of those of us that are calling on Aisha Buhari to retrace her steps and stop dancing to the music of condemnation of her husband by the ‘majority’ across the ‘civilized’ but polluted world may be tiny and unimpressive, but that is the voice of wisdom.
Even if she spends 1,200 years on this earth and possesses all the wealth and power and in this world, one day, just one day, she will return to Allah and answer for how she serves Him; which is the purpose she was created in the first place.
The former Nigeria Aviation minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has returned again to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He was re-arrested today, Friday, when he emerged from trial before a Federal High Court in Lagos. Fani-Kayode, who is also former Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organization, is standing trial at the Federal High Court in Lagos alongside a former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman, and Danjuma Yusuf. Also charged with them is a company, Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited. They were arraigned on a 17-count charge bordering on unlawful retention, unlawful use and unlawful payment of money to the tune of about N4.9 billion. They each pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail. Today, after the Prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, opened the case and had wrapped up the witness’ evidence for the day. The court then adjourned the case to November 14 and 15 for continuation of trial. However, shortly after the accused left the courtroom, two officers of the EFCC, dressed in white Kaftans, flanked his sides and requested that he followed them to the commission. Immediately, the court’s gate was barricaded by a Toyota Hiace bus and Fani-Kayode was arrested and taken away by the EFCC. Fani-Kayode had in a statement on Thursday said the EFCC was going to arrest him on Friday. He said inside sources in the EFCC told him that the idea is to keep him away for a fairly long time. Meanwhile, when the case was mentioned today, Oyedepo had opened the case for the prosecution and called his first witness, a Media Consultant, Idowu Olusegun. Leading him in evidence, the witness, a media Consultant for Paste Posters Company Limited, told the court that N30 million was paid in cash to him. Olusegun said that the money was paid by the office of the Director of Media and Publicity, PDPPCO. According to him, he had reached an agreement with the organisation, whose office is situate at 14B, Samora Micheal Avenue, Asokoro, FCT, for the sum of N24 million for media consultancy services. He said that a further negotiation was reached in which N50 would be paid for each size of A2 posters, while N20 would be paid for each size of A4 flyers. Olusegun told the court that after the printing job for the posters and flyers was done, he was invited to the office of the organisation and given N30 million in cash. He told the court that he had demanded to know why payments was made in cash and was informed by one Mr. Oke that cash was the approved means of payment. He said that Oke had been the person communicating with him throughout the pendency of his engagement to do the media jobs. The witness also told the court that apart from the N30 million paid to him, there is also an outstanding payment of N24 million, which was not paid to his company. After his testimony, and based on agreements of counsels, the court fixed November 14 and 15 for continuation of trial. Meanwhile, a mild drama unfolded in the court during trial when the trial judge, Justice Sule Hassan, ordered the seizure of the mobile phone of Fani-Kayode. The accused had held his phones and suddenly it rang out loud and the judge asked: “Who is doing that?” Hassan ordered the court’s registrar to seize the phone. Similarly, the trial judge also issued a warning to the counsel representing the accused when he sighted him sipping bottle water during proceedings. The judge warned the counsel to seek the permission of the court whenever his client was pressed to drink water. According to Hassan, the court is not a market place and as such there must be order and sanity. In the charge, the accused were alleged to have committed the offences between January and March 2015. In counts one to seven, they were alleged to have unlawfully retained over N3.8 billion, which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act of stealing and corruption. In counts eight to 14, the accused were alleged to have unlawfully used over N970 million, which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of an unlawful act of corruption. Meanwhile in counts 15 to 17, Fani-Kayode and Olubode Oke, who is said to be at large, were alleged to have made cash payments of about N30 million in excess of the amount allowed by law without going through a financial institution. Besides, Fani-Kayode was alleged to have made payments to Paste Poster Co of 125, Lewis Street, Lagos in excess of amounts allowed by law. All offences were said to have contravened the provisions of sections 15 (3) (4), 16 (2) (b) and 16 (5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act. 2012. [myad]
Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has accused a Supreme Court Justice who was one of those arrested recently by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for allegedly receiving bribe, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of joining those who are out to destroy him. We are aware of a well timed, heavily funded plot to “take out” Amaechi politically, and it appears that Justice Ngwuta and Justice Inyang Okoro (of the Supreme Court, who had also made similar made-up allegations against Amaechi), have wittingly or unwittingly been conscripted into this devious politics of “destroy Amaechi by all means.” In a statement by his media office, the Transport minister said that Justice Ngwuta’s allegation as it concerns him is nothing but pure fiction, a dubious diversionary tale concocted to muddle the very serious issues of his arrest and investigation by the Department of State Services (DSS). Amaechi said that did not and has never tried to lobby, induce or make the Justice Ngwuta to influence the outcome of any matter before the Supreme Court or any other court. “The Hon. Justice Ngwuta’s narrative as it concerns Amaechi is simply not true, an unadulterated fallacy design to deceive and distract from the real issues of DSS investigation of acts of corruption against him. “It’s indeed very sad and most unfortunate that the Hon. Justice Ngwuta had decided to drag the name of the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), into his fabricated allegations. Again, We make bold to state that Amaechi did not and has never lobbied, approached or attempted to make the CJN or any other Justice of the apex court to influence the Supreme Court judgment on the Rivers State and Ekiti State Governorship Elections petition appeals or any other matter before the apex court or any other court. “Within a space of 48 hours, we have observed a carefully planned and coordinated political attempt to drag Amaechi into the DSS arrest and investigation of judges in Nigeria. “The aim of the plot is two-fold: to smear and politically destroy the image and reputation of Amaechi, and deceitfully portray him as the person behind the arrest of judges. This is indeed most ridiculous and callous. Amaechi stressed that he is not and cannot be behind the arrest and investigation of the Justice Ngwuta, pleading that the embattled judge should leave alone and face the issues he has with the DSS. The minister said that he is already talking with his lawyers and will explore lawful channels to seek redress for this gross defamation against his character and person. [myad]
The Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) has revealed how the immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan looked the other way while just fifty-five people were busy looting the national treasury. “His (Jonathan’s) tolerance of corruption was reflected in the sunset of activities of anti-corruption agencies under his watch and exponential increase of other vices no doubt fuel by corruption.” According to the Committee in its report on the activities of the government from August 2015 to July 2016, which was presented to civil society organizations (CSOs) by its Executive Secretary, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, in Abuja, the former President tolerated corruption to the extent that in seven years under his watch, only 55 people stole a whopping N1.3 trillion from the national treasury. The committee insisted that corruption brought Nigeria to its knees in the last administration as the former President closed his eyes to graft while his administration fared worse than his predecessors in tackling official sleaze. “His (Jonathan’s) tolerance of corruption was reflected in the sunset of activities of anti-corruption agencies under his watch and exponential increase of other vices no doubt fuel by corruption,” the report declared. It added: “for example, it is widely believed that insecurity escalated because of the massive embezzlement of $2billion through the Office of the National Security Adviser under the leadership of Col. Sambo Dasuki, who allegedly diverted the money appropriated to fight insurgency. “The problems in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry reached zenith with multi-billion dollars subsidy scams while President Jonathan looked the other way. “At the same time, other vices spread like cancer – kidnapping, import duty waivers, financial recklessness, a profligate legislature, corrupt judiciary, etc. There was no single high profile conviction under his watch yet there were allegations of high profile corruption within his cabinet. “Jonathan’s legendary comment that stealing is not corruption underscored his perspective on corruption and remains a watershed in the history of anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria. “Under his watch, corruption brought Nigeria to its knees. “Using World Bank rates, one-third of the N1.3 trillion allegedly stolen by only 55 people in seven years could have provided 635.18 kilometers of roads, built 36 ultra-modern hospitals in each state, built and furnished 183 schools, educated 3,974 people from primary to tertiary level (at N25.2million per child) and built 20,062 units of two-bedroom houses. “While former President Olusegun Obasanjo established key anti-corruption agencies which led to high-profile convictions even though his actions were not above board, the crusade against corruption went comatose from 2007 largely due to leadership deficit. “Corruption is Nigeria’s greatest challenge and is directly associated with the current economic decline, poverty rates, reduced life expectancy, mortality and deteriorated living standards. “Due to corruption, a few Nigerians were richer than their states, while plea bargaining was abused as people who stole the country dry were given slaps on the wrist and asked to go home.” [myad]
The Federal Government has accused the National JudicialCouncil (NJC) of constituting itself into above-the- law-cabal even as it approved the prosecution of the seven suspected corrupt judges with immediate effect. Reacting to the latest stand of the Nigeria Bar Association, directing the indicted judges to step aside while the court processes are in progress, the Attorney General of the Federation and minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami was quoted as saying that no country tolerate w situation where a few people to constitute themselves into a cabal that is ‘above the law.’ The Attorney General insisted that the judges accused of corruption must face immediate prosecution so as not to give the erroneous impression that government is promoting corruption. The AGF had expected the National Judiciary Council (NJC) to suspend the suspected corrupt judicial officers from duty, pending the trial and disposal of the criminal allegations levelled against them but failed. Rather than comply with the AGF, the NJC slammed the DSS for daring to search the homes of the judges in the night and making away with huge cash in local and foreign currencies claiming to have omnibus powers over both criminal and administrative matters relating to judges in Nigeria. It was learnt that the refusal of the NJC to suspend the suspected judges was interpreted to be a ‘slap’ on the Federal Government. Information emanating from the office of the Attorney General indicated that the trial of the seven judges would be carried out in phases and handled by the National Prosecution Council, which was recently inaugurated. The seven judges are among the 15 identified by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for involvement in corrupt practices. [myad]
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has inaugurated a 15-man committee to review the Commission’s 2012-2016 Strategic Plan and to set targets and road maps for the next four years, from 2017 to 2021. A statement from the Commission said that the Strategic Plan Review Committee (SPRC), headed by Dr. Mohammed Lecky (National Commissioner), has started work in earnest. The statement said that the Mohammed Lecky Committee’s terms of reference are: (a) To undertake a comprehensive audit of the 2012-2016 Strategic Plan and Plan of Action with budgetary alignment; (b) To evaluate strategic issues emanating from the implementation of the 2015 election activities; (c) To assess the impact of the 2012-2016 Strategic Plan of Action on the processes, actions and outcomes of the 2015 General Elections based on pre-election day and post-election reviews and reports; (d) To identify threats, weaknesses, gaps, unfinished businesses, opportunities and innovations within the context of current electoral realities and assess their effect on the performance of the Commission; (e) To produce draft copies of the finding of the review report on the 2012-2016 Strategic Plan with key recommendations; (f) To support planning, design, development of the follow-on Strategic Plan (2017-2021) including its validation process; (g) To serve as resource persons at the Commission’s retreat; and (h) To conclude the exercise within a period of 30 days. It gave the names of the members of the SPRC committee to include: 1. Hon. Abdullahi A. Kaugama – Member 2. Hon. Olusegun Agbaje – Member 3. Prof. Bolade Eyinla – Member 4. Prof. Mohammed J. Kuna – Member 5. Chima Duruaku – Member 6. Paschal Ukaenwe – Member 7. Omolaja T. Soyeolu – Member 8. EIDS Dr. Otive Igbuzot – Consultant 9. IDD Dr. Peter Mba – Consultant 10. David Asemo – Member 11. Chidi Nwafor – Member 12. Mrs. Blessing Obidiegwu – Member 13. Kola Oyelami – Member 14. Okechukwu Ndeche – Secretary. [myad]
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A mother of two-month-old baby, Comfort Effiong has confessed that she sold the baby to a 51 year old Rose Edward for N450,000 because there was no one to take care of her and the baby.
Let us not pretend, as we have been doing all along, about the religious and therefore, spiritual implication of what Aisha, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, has lately allowed herself to be led into.
Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has accused a Supreme Court Justice who was one of those arrested recently by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for allegedly receiving bribe, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of joining those who are out to destroy him.
The Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) has revealed how the immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan looked the other way while just fifty-five people were busy looting the national treasury.
The Federal Government has accused the National JudicialCouncil (NJC) of constituting itself into above-the- law-cabal even as it approved the prosecution of the seven suspected corrupt judges with immediate effect.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has inaugurated a 15-man committee to review the Commission’s 2012-2016 Strategic Plan and to set targets and road maps for the next four years, from 2017 to 2021.
