Why Fg partners Us to repartirate Abacha Loot- AGF

ABUJA—The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, said yesterday that Nigeria would do all within its powers to support moves by the United States Department of Justice to ensure that funds looted by former military head of state, General Sani Abacha, were repatriated to the country.

Late Sani Abacha

In a statement he issued in Abuja yesterday, the AGF, maintained that the overall objective of the effort was to guarantee that “Nigeria as the Victim State, is able to have the forfeited assets (money) repatriated to Nigeria to fund development projects for the benefit of the people in accordance with the dictates of Chapter IV of the United Nations Convention against corruption, UNCAC.
According to him: “The Federal Government of Nigeria welcomes the forfeiture proceedings initiated by the United States Department of Justice against the property related to the corrupt conduct of late General Sani Abacha, the former head of state of Nigeria, and his associates and the subsequent laundering of corruption proceeds.
“The proceedings will make it possible for the defendants to forfeit over $550million and £95,910 in 10 accounts and six investment portfolios linked to the Abachas in France, United Kingdom, British Virgin Islands and the United States.
“We applaud the efforts of the United States to recover the proceeds of corruption for the benefit of the people of Nigeria.
“As the Central Authority for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, my office has received requests for Mutual Legal Assistance for the Central Authority of the United States and we are cooperating with the United States in line with the obligations we assumed under the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.
“The overall objective of these efforts is to ensure that Nigeria as the Victim State is able to have the forfeited assets (money) repatriated to Nigeria to fund development projects for the benefit of the people in accordance with the dictates of Chapter IV of the United Nations Convention against corruption (UNCAC). Let me assure you that Nigeria as State Party to UNCAC will do all that is required to realize this objective”, the AGF stated.

Us, and others jiontly kicks Russia out of G8

President Barack Obama and other world leaders have decided to end Russia’s role in the group of leading industrialized nations, the White House said Monday.
The move to suspend Russia’s membership in the G8 is the latest direct response from major countries allied against Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
“International law prohibits the acquisition of part or all of another state’s territory through coercion or force,” the statement said. “To do so violates the principles upon which the international system is built. We condemn the illegal referendum held in Crimea in violation of Ukraine’s constitution.
“We also strongly condemn Russia’s illegal attempt to annex Crimea in contravention of international law and specific international obligations.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier in the day that being kicked out of G8 would be no big deal.
“G8 is an informal organization that does not give out any membership cards and, by its definition, cannot remove anyone,” he said during a news conference. ” All the economic and financial questions are decided in G20, and G8 has the purpose of existence as the forum of dialogue between the leading Western countries and Russia.”
Lavrov added that Russia was “not attached to this format and we don’t see a great misfortune if it will not gather. Maybe, for a year or two, it will be an experiment for us to see how we live without it.”
Ukraine orders Crimea troop withdrawal
In a nod to political and economic reforms, the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and Italy added Russia to their group in 1998 — transforming it from the G7 to the G8.
An aide to British Prime Minister David Cameron confirmed to CNN that a group summit initially planned for June in Sochi, Russia, where the Winter Olympics were just held, is now off.
The United States and its allies in Europe are “united in imposing a cost on Russia for its actions so far,” Obama said earlier in the Netherlands where he attended a nuclear security summit with other world leaders.
Western powers have imposed sanctions and other penalties against specific people in Russia close to President Vladimir Putin.
A senior Obama administration official, not speaking for full attribution, said Obama and other leaders agreed that further steps to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin could include sanctions on energy, banking and defense sectors — all areas where Europe is deeply engaged economically with Russia.
Those additional sanctions could be prompted if Russia further escalates its incursion into Ukraine, which the official defined as sending troops beyond Crimea into the southern or eastern parts of the country. Violence in the contested peninsula could also trigger further sanctions.
While the official said further penetration of Ukraine by Russian troops remains the most immediate source of concern for the United States, other potential land grabs also worry the United States and its allies.
NATO has expressed concern Russia could attempt to reclaim a region of Moldova with Russian sympathies.
Can Obama’s European trip re-assert U.S. global leadership?
Obama has said a military incursion in Ukraine is off the table, and his advisers are hesitant to even frame the crisis in Ukraine as a bad ’80s flashback — Obama in one corner, Putin in the other. It’s not “Rocky IV,” as Secretary of State John Kerry said.
White House officials don’t care to publicly muse about Putin’s intentions.
National Security Adviser Susan Rice said the Russian President’s actions speak for themselves.

How to honour the dead immigration appliicants- Okonjo Iweala

Abuja—The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister iof Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has said that the best way to remember Nigerian youths who lost their lives at the recent recruitment exercise into the Nigeria Immigration Service was to create more jobs for the unemployed.

NIGERIA, Abuja : Job-seekers applying for work at the Nigerian immigration department scramble as their exam papers fly in the air, on the pitch of Abuja National Stadium, on March 15, 2014. AFP PHOTO

She spoke at the Housing Stakeholders Summit in Abuja, yesterday, where she reiterated the determination of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to create more jobs for youths in several sectors, including the housing, agriculture and ICT sectors, among others.
Her words, “the best way to honour the memory of the youths who died during the immigration exercise is for us to work harder to create more jobs.
“We created 1.6m jobs as confirmed by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, but these are not enough. Every year 1.8m new entrants come into the job market. This is in addition to 5.3million  that have accumulated over time. So we need to work harder and faster to create more jobs for our youths.
“We are focusing on housing because this sector can significantly increase the number of jobs in addition to growing the economy. This sector will create jobs for builders, carpenters, plumbers, managers, interior decorators and so many jobs.
“This event is not for long grammar. It is about action; it is about numbers, it is about meeting targets and deadlines so that the jobs will be created and the houses built.”
In her address, the Minister Lands, housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi, said the Federal Government would reverse the current situation of foreigner artisans’ domination of the housing sector in the country.
She noted that foreigners constituted the critical mass of skilled artisans and craftsmen in the country’s housing industry, adding that the Federal Government would soon commence the training of artisans to take over the industry.
To this end, she revealed that the government would flag off a train-the-trainers programme involving over 1000 artisans and craftsmen in partnership with the National Home Builders Association and Home Builders Institute of the United States of America. USA.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, and the Comptroller General of Immigration, CGI, David Parradang, will appear before the Senate on Thursday and Friday to explain the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of about 19 Nigerian youths during the recent recruitment by the Nigeria Immigration Services.
The Senate had last Tuesday, roundly condemned the immigration job recruitment tragedy, which resulted in the death of about 19 applicants, including four pregnant women, as a result of stampede and exhaustion in different centres across the country.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Interior, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, had while relying on Order 42 and 52 of the Senate Standing Order in a motion on matter of urgent public importance, drew the attention of  the senate to the catastrophe that hit the nation during the exercise.
Senator Bagudu had noted with grief the nationwide tragedy in the recruitment where it was reported that some of the applicants that attended the exercise lost their lives in different parts of the country.
Consequently, the Senate in its resolution, mandated its Committee on Interior to conduct a public hearing on the tragedy and submit a report within a week.
In compliance with the directives, the committee has summoned Moro, Parradang, and relevant stakeholders to appear before  it for public hearing.
Vanguard recalled that, at the emotion-laden debate on the motion by Senator Bagudu, many senators had called for the immediate sack of the minister who, it was alleged, had hijacked the functions of the Comptroller General of Immigration.

Our Boko Haram Hell- Rep Terab

How has the Boko Haram insurgency affected your
constitutency?
The experience is agonizing and one that is very
sad. It was never envisaged before now. These
things that our people used to see on the TV
happening in some parts of the world are all of a
sudden around us.
But beyond that our current situation is one where
schools no longer exist. Students cannot identify
themselves as students. Teachers cannot identify
themselves as teachers and cannot dare go to
where school locations are.
The existing structures have all been completely
burnt down. And our economic activities have been
brought down not just because there is sense of
insecurity but because specifically, market and
economic hubs have been targeted, burnt down,
peoples’ assets have been specifically targeted and
burnt down.
So, clearly, it makes people that have invested a lot
over a long period of time to be helpless. Now, food,
all of a sudden is becoming luxury because in the
last two years, farming activities have dropped
down drastically to less than 20 percent, and
knowing full well that the major preoccupation of the
entire people of that area is farming.
Over 90% of people last year could not even farm.
Those who were able to get to the farms to cultivate
were not allowed to harvest at the end of the day.
So, we are in the most critical stage of the crises.
The issues of hospitals and other services are
luxury. In any case, I think now issues of crime are
no longer reported because you can’t find a
standing police station that’s ready to listen to
complaints and take them up.
Every murder is considered a Bolo Haram case.
None is being investigated and none is receiving
attention. So, just imagine how dire our situation is.
It has come to its knees and that’s the reason why
we are crying out that anything beyond this is
anarchy on its own.
People are losing, have lost and may never have
confidence in government again. Of course, there is
growing migration out of our areas to other areas,
the neighboring ones and even far places.
How many casualties would you say that your
constituency has recorded?
Within my constituency alone, we are already rolling
into thousands, only within my constituency of 3
local governments, but of course, if we are talking
about the neigbouring local governments and the
whole of the state, between the beginning of the
crisis and now, I think we are running into hundreds
of thousands.
That’s the fact of the matter. Of course, we know
that everything that is being reported even in the
media is not the actual figure and we do not have
such proper measures that will take the proper
account of casualties and those who die in the
hospitals afterwards due to the same crisis.
The fact of the matter is that millions of lives are
being threatened now, first by hunger, second
economy and third by the act of terror itself. You
can see that the situation is in dire need of a drastic
action.
To what extent has the state of emergency
declared by the Federal Government helped?
Let me be frank with you. We can not laugh about
corruption, joke or celebrate it. This affects the
pronouncement of the declaration of the state of
emergency. What did we do afterwards? We just
stopped at the declaration.
We declared and we think that by magic, declaration
will solve the problem. Declaration requires some
basic ingredients, commitment. As a matter of fact,
declaration of emergency in any situation means
suspension of everything other thing and then
tackling that particular thing.
If you declare emergency in education, it means
you are suspending every other thing to put all of
your resources, manpower, energy and time on that
issue so that it is tackled before you now reverse
back to other things.
We have to appreciate the meaning and context of
declaration of state of emergency. We have
declared state of emergency in security but we are
still busy flying about, celebrating, looking at other
things. So, it does not actually capture the essence
of the declaration. We have not as a nation
appreciated the extent of this crisis.
Are you saying that the

Missing $20bn: Senate forensic report ready next week

....as NNPC deny missing money
ABUJA—THE Senate Committee on Finance
investigating the alleged failure of the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation to remit $20 billion
into the Federation Account said yesterday that the
forensic report of consultants the committee hired
to look into the account of the NNPC on the missing
fund would be ready next week.
He however clarified that the forensic audit was
carried out on the $2.1 billion which was the third
party financing as the senate does not have the
required financial resources to hire a forensic
expert that would conduct audit of the entire account
of the corporation.
Speaking at the investigative hearing on the alleged
unremitted fund, Chairman of the Senate Committee
Finance, Senator Ahmed Makarfi has also given the
Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency,
PPPRA, two weeks to submit details on certification
of subsidy for Kerosene and fuel from July 2013 to
December 2013.
Makarfi said, “We found out that they (Ministry of
Finance) don’t have the legal basis to hire forensic
experts. As a committee we cannot appoint auditors
to go into the executive arm but we can go
anywhere and ask anything.
“But if we go do we have the financial capacity to do
that. No! but there must be forensic audit. and since
we are all interested in this forensic audit, the
president can direct that forensic audit be carried
out”
He added that the Auditor General even though the
constitution says he cannot appoint the auditor he
can recommend auditors from corporations and he
can do this special investigation which technically
is the same thing as auditing.
He said, “We have to find a legal and constitutional
way of doing something so that someone would not
challenge it on the basis of law because you don’t
know what you are going to find out that’s why we
demanded that the report of the auditor general on
the forensic audit should be made directly to the
National Assembly.”
Makarfi therefore said that the outcome of the probe
being carried out by the Auditor – General would
form the basis for whatever action that the National
Assembly may wish to take because it can rely on
the auditor general’s report.
The Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led committee has also
given the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory
Agency, PPPRA, two weeks to submit details on
certification of subsidy for Kerosene and fuel from
July 2013 to December 2013.
The authorities of PPPRA had requested that the
senate committee should give them three weeks to
get all the necessary information on the certification
of subsidy for kerosene and fuel for six months, but
the committee gave the agency two weeks to that
affect.
Speaking at the investigative hearing on the alleged
unremitted fund, Chairman of the Senate Committee
Finance, Senator Ahmed Makarfi said the committee
was waiting for the report of the independent
consultants appointed by the committee to carry out
forensic examination and audit of expenses incurred
by NNPC which would be ready next week.
Senator Makarfi who said that the committee had
decided to stand down any other assignment so as
to conclude investigations on the alleged missing
funds further said that the Auditor-General of the
Federation had written formally to the committee
confirming he was conducting forensic checks on
the said unremitted funds.
No money is missing, NNPC insists
But the Group Managing Director, Mr. Andrew
Yakubu insisted that there were no missing funds,
adding that each business is governed by different
business arrangement.
He said, “We have given a detailed account, no
money is missing, each business is governed by a
different business arrangement, if you do not trace
it to the business arrangement and the governance
structure, you will not understand.
“Now you heard here, we had under lifting and
reconciliation are held quarterly, when you say to
reconcile, you will be able to balance your books
and come up with the true position of things.

My bone of contention with Obasanjo is my N500m - Orji Uzor Kalu

Nsukka: – Former President Olusegun Obasanjo
has been described as the worst leader ever
produced in the country since the advent of
democracy in 1999.
The former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzo Kalu
made this known at a lecture on youths
empowerment and good governance at the
University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, Tuesday, adding
that there was no transparency in government
through out the eight years of Obasanjo’s regime.
Kalu noted that his problem with Obasanjo started in
1999 when he single handedly financed the People
Democratic Party, PDP, lending the party N500
million which he borrowed from the defunct
Hallmark bank, but which the former president
asked the then PDP National Chairman, Chief
Barnabas Gamade not repay.
Orji Uzor Kalu
”As if that was not enough, the former president
closed Slok Airlines (owned by me) as it landed at
the Akanu Ibiam International (then Enugu) Airport
without explanation; shut down Hallmark bank. It
was then that I know the problem had begun,” he
said.
He further said that re-payment of the N500 million
loan formed the major reason for his disagreement
with Obasanjo till date, pointing out that he was
arrested by Economic and Financial Crime
Commission, EFCC, immediately he stepped out of
office and charged with money laundering before
both the United kingdom and America came to his
rescue.
Kalu pointed out that despite all the setbacks faced
by the Slok Group of Companies, it had no fewer
than 13,000 in it’s pay roll and planned to employ up
to 25,000 Nigerians within the next two years.
According to Kalu, youths unemployment was the
biggest social problem in Nigeria today as only
about 50 percent of the people were gainfully
employed.
He noted that it was only in Nigeria that thousands
of graduates remain unemployed years after
graduation, saying that institutions get licensed
without commensurate provision for employment of
youths. Earlier in his opening remarks, the Vice
Chancellor of the UNN, Prof. Bartho Okolo said that
the country had 23.9 per cent unemployment rate,
implying that every 30 people out of 100 were
unemployed.
Okolo was represented on the occasion by the
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof Polycarp
Chigbu
Okolo, said that the situation was worse for the
youths because unemployment which stood at 50
percent in 2013 indicated bleak future for the ever
increasing graduates of tertiary institutions in
Nigeria.

Paul Okoye, Anita Isama sets wedding date, March 22

The traditional wedding of Paul Okoye and his
fiancée Anita Isama will hold in Port Harcourt on
Saturday, March 22, 2014 at the Aztech Arcum
centre at 12 noon.
The invitation card also reveals that the traditional
wedding will be a Teal and Coral affair.
Both families have already started distributing
elegantly designed invitation cards to guests.
The couple got engaged in September 2013 after
welcoming their first child Andre four months
earlier.

I was fed with garri mixed with palm oil says freed Jonathan's cousin

YENAGOA — The kidnapped Chief Inengite Nitabai,
cousin to President Goodluck Jonathan, has been
rescued from his abductors. He said that his
captors fed him garri mixed with palm oil and made
him to sleep on wet bare floor during his 21-day
incarceration.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan’s
maternal cousin, Miss Patience Agbani, survived a
kidnapp attempt yesterday at Akepelai, in Ogbia
Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Nitabai was rescued at 12 midnight, yesterday,
following a dusk operation launched by men of the
Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Bayelsa State Police
Command.
Six suspects, including a chief believed to be the
father of the alleged leader of the kidnap gang, were
arrested in connection with the abduction.
According to the state Police Commissioner, Mr.
Hilary Opara, no ransom was paid to secure the
release of the septuagenarian. Nitabai was a
lecturer at Rivers State University of Science and
Technology.
Reliving his experience, the septuagenarian said he
was blindfolded all through his incarceration and
made to sleep on the wet, bare floor.
He said: “I was blindfolded. I did not see anything
they were doing and didn’t know where I was. I
thank God for keeping me stronger because I was
sleeping on the bare ground. When rain comes it
touches me everywhere.
“I am a retired lecturer from the university and I
mind my own business. So I don’t know what
actually made them to carry out this action on me. I
was really tortured. They used their gun butts to hit
my body.”
Inengite Nitabai
Speaking on the rescue operation, the elated
Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hilary Opara, said
utmost professionalism was applied by men of the
state anti-kidnapping squad.
He specifically commended the family of the victim
for believing in the police and other sister agencies
all through their travail.
Nitabai was abducted at his Otuoke residence in
Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on
February 23 by 10 gunmen.
Another cousin escapes
The Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, codenamed
Operation Pulo Shield, yesterday, foiled an attempt
by some unidentified gunmen to abduct the maternal
cousin to the President, Miss Patience Agbani.
Agbani, aged 35, was rescued from her abductors at
her business outlet at Akepelai in Ogbia Local
Government Area of the state by soldiers attached
to the Setraco Construction Company.
According to a community source, the lady was in
her shop when she noticed strange movements and
quickly alerted the JTF operatives at the
construction firm who rushed to her rescue.
Security, it was learnt, had been beefed up in Ogbia
axis.
Confirming the development, the Media Coordinator
of the JTF, Colonel Oyenma Nwachukwu, said a
distress call was received from Miss Agbani by the
soldiers at the Akepelai site of road construction
work and rescue operation activated by the
soldiers.

Apc vs Pdp idea tussle: is God involved in it

The two major political parties in the country are at
the threshold of dragging God into their contest of
ideas By Emmanue Aziken, THE National Publicity
Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC,
Alhaji Lai Mohammed was unusually reticent when
confronted with allegations that his party was tilted
towards Islam during a recent interaction with
newsmen in Lagos.
We know the impact of religion on our people and
we do not want to use it as an issue despite the
provocations by the PDP,” he told Vanguard.
Officials of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, had
in recent times sought to portray the leading
opposition party as a party that was bent towards
Muslims.
The PDP had in particular taken shots at the
constitution of the APC national executive which the
PDP said was dominated by Muslims.
The APC in line with its own pledge not to trigger the
religion issue for most of the time kept away from
responding except when some officials explained
that the national executive was made up of almost
an equal proportion of Muslims and Christians.
PDP officials, however, pressed that the principal
offices were kept for Muslims while Christians were
put up as deputies. The APC, irrespective of the
pokes waived away the issue as it kept focus on its
plans for the constitution of new executives at all
levels following the largely successful membership
registration exercise that ended a fortnight ago.
However, the issue of religion took another
dimension at the weekend after the APC unveiled its
manifesto at a well attended ceremony in the
federal capital. Prints of the manifesto Even before
the fine prints of the manifesto could reach the
general public and even the media, the newly
reinvented PDP publicity machine had dissected it
and slammed it as lacking in character and content
and the product of a janjaweed.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has
described the manifesto which the All Progressives
Congress (APC) released as a product of a
Janjaweed ideology and the roadmap to anarchy.
The manifesto lacks character, depth and
completely addressed no issue,” Chief Olisa Metuh,
the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary said in a
press statement last Thursday. The PDP noted that
the manifesto put security low in the priority of the
APC was a confirmation of what it described as the
inclination of the party’s leaders to riotous
behaviour.
“When last year in its first official outing, the
leaders of the APC said terrorism in Nigeria would
disappear within 100 days of APC leadership,
Nigerians did ask if they knew the characters in
crime and their sponsors. APC gave silence as an
answer while Nigerians kept wondering. Today, the
Party has released its manifesto with loud silence
on the matter so that Nigerians would not raise
further questions on the face behind the terrorism
mask.”
The PDP reaction to the APC manifesto was a
deconstruction of the roadmap convyed in a way to
show the emptiness of the opposition party’s
programmes. What was particularly new in the
attack from the PDP was the claim that the
roadmap was framed from Janjaweed ideology. The
ideology obviously referred to the scorch earth
policy of the Janjaweed militia in Sudan which had
terrorised the population of Western Sudan.
It was an allegation that finally brought out the APC
to battle the PDP on the matter of religion. The party
last Sunday described the allegation as an act of
religious blackmail and in furtherance of what it
claimed as the ongoing campaign to portray the APC
as an Islamic party.
APC’s spokesman, Mohammed in his reaction to the
Janjaweed assertion by the PDP, said the PDP’s
assertion was a deliberate attempt to put Nigerian
Muslims in bad light describing the PDP as taking
the road of religious escapism. 
The only reason that the PDP used the
word eJanjaweedf is because the militia that goes
by that name comprises mostly, if not exclusively,
of people of Arab/Muslim stock in Sudan. 
This has further confirmed our fears that there is a
clear attempt by the PDP, led by President Goodluck
Jonathan, to divide Nigerians along religious lines as
never

Mr President to perform the ground breaking ceremony of the second Niger bridge

Today, as I perform the Ground Breaking Ceremony
of the Second Niger Bridge, I am fulfilling a promise I
made to all Nigerians and more specifically to the
people of the Southeast that the Federal Government
will ensure that another bridge linking the Southeast
to other geo-political regions is built. The impact of
this bridge is beyond economics and commerce.
This bridge, when completed, will strengthen the
Handshake Across the Niger and promote
integration amongst the people of Nigeria. Building
bridges, and not just physical ones, is something
every Nigerian should be engaged in and this
administration has taken extra ordinary measures,
including the convocation of a National Conference
amongst our people, to ensure that just as the
physical bridges are being constructed, Nigerians
from all geo-political zones can construct new
bridges of friendship even as we strengthen old
ones. GEJ

Delta musicians bury the hatchet

Mr Quincy Tebite is one of the gospel leading

musicians in the Niger Delta. He has many musical

albums to his credit.

In this interview, he speaks on the dissolved

Comrade Emma Grey-led Performing Musicians

Association of Nigeria,PMAN, executive in Delta

State and his ambition to take over as the next

PMAN leader in the state.

Excerpts:

There has been delay in the transition of Delta State

chapter PMAN? What would you say is responsible

for this?

There is no delay in the transition process. It was

just a technical hitch and it has been corrected.

We learnt the executive council went for a meeting

in Warri on Wednesday, February 19. What are the

fallouts?

Yes, it was a meeting indeed and we succeeded in

dissolving the state exco and fixed a date for the

state election.

Are you interested in any position?

Of course yes. In 2011, I contested for the state

PMAN governorship.

Are you sure your fellow comrades are for you?

Yes. You know that the truth always remain

apparent no matter how long it takes. PMAN Delta

State is made up of enlightened people; they need

someone who can penetrate the government and

present their plight; hence this much yearning for a

change.

There is so much insinuation in the state that you

faulted the effort of this past PMAN government.

How? Comr. Emma Grey is my brother and to

debunk that insinuation, when the state exco was to

be sworn-in in Asaba when Deltans celebrated

Delta at 20 an August 27, 2011, Governor Emmanuel

Uduaghan noticed that there was rancor in the

state PMAN and he intended to investigate what the

problems were. On that note, I and Zubi Enebeli

clarified some issues with his excellency which

would have jeopardized or truncated the

inauguration exercise.

In other words, our rapport with his excellency via

the Honourable Commissioner for Culture and

Tourism, Barr.Mofe Damijo[RMD], brought the

success of the 2011 inauguration. Even when the

PMAN Delta State exco was taken to court by one

Comr. Clement Ogbeta, a comrade from my zone

[Ughelli] who is now the Chairman elect in Ughelli

Zone, I made sure the case was settled out of

court. Comrade Emma Grey can attest to all these.

And, severally, I have suggested so many good

ideas to Emma Grey and we have lived

harmoniously. So, where are the insinuations

coming from?

What will you do differently if elected?

Foremost, if elected, I will ensure our state

secretariat is in place in Asaba and liaison offices

in all the zones in the state and see to it that they

are well equipped. I will also ensure that the welfare

and interest of Delta artistes are well protected. The

unification of all Delta artistes across all the nine

zones in the state both old and young is paramount.

Then all other things will strategically be in place.

What is the relationship between PMAN

administration and the Delta State Government?

Just as the seed is imbedded in the fruit, so PMAN

government in Delta State is imbedded in Delta

State government. Delta State government is an

umbrella that covers every other social

associations within her territory whereby PMAN

Delta State gallantly stands amongst other social

association, in the state.

Again, if elected as PMAN governor, will you work

harmoniously with Delta State government?

Certainly yes. To my knowledge, Delta state is a

PDP State which is neither contestable nor

negotiable and, of course, PMAN Delta State will

ensure that its drive is in consonance or in tandem

with the state PDP. This is my candid opinion and

objective.

Desmond Elliott,Funke Akindele others shine at 2014 AMVCA

The second edition of the African Magic Viewers
Choice Awards (AMVCA) held on Saturday, March 8,
2014, at the convention centre of Eko Hotel and
Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos with Osita Iheme (Paw
Paw) winning the Best Actor in a Comedy, Desmond
Elliot (Best Supporting Actor in a Drama) and Funke
Akindele as Best Actress in a Comedy.
See the list of winners below…
BEST MAKE-UP ARTIST
Elayne Okaya – Nairobi Half Life (WINNER)
Olabimpe Cole – Lekki Wives
Alex Gakumo – Sumu La Penzi Episode 1 Season 1
Michael Wawuyo – The Felistas Fable
Rehema Samo – Siri Ya Mtungi
Israel Moses – A Wish
Rosemary Obika – Redemption
BEST COSTUME DESIGNER
Adeola Ramonu – Adebola  Omo Oba
Doreen Estazia Noni – Siri Ya Mtungi
Catherine Kibugi – Sumu La Penzi Episode 5
Ruth Ndulu Maingi – Lies That Bind Episode 2
Season 2
Chiemela Nwagboso – The Kingdom (WINNER)
BEST LIGHTING DESIGNER
Don Izuchukwu Anozie – Brother’s Keeper
Godwin Daniel – Living Funeral
Ifeoluwa Balogun – The Benjamins
Mohamed Zain – Nairobi Half Life (WINNER)
Eric  Aghimien – A Mile from Home
BEST VIDEO EDITOR
Ben Nugent & Obi Emelonye – Last Flight to Abuja
Austin Faani Ikechukwu – Battle For Wealth
Shirley Frimpong-Manso – Contract (WINNER)
Chucks Madu Success – Oga On Top
Jack Esterhuizen – Love Games Episode 25
BEST SOUND EDITOR
Sola Awoponle – Ilari
Obi Emelonye – Last Flight to Abuja (WINNER)
Jordan Riber – Siri Ya Mtungi
Carl Raccah – Journey to Self
Maurice Kings – Murder at Prime Suites
Paul Apel – Blue Flames
BEST ART DIRECTOR
Barbara Minishi – Nairobi Half Life (WINNER)
Ken Attoh & Shirley Frimpong-Manso – Contract
Shirley Frimpong-Manso – Adams Apples
Miniseries Part 1 & 2
Kyle Quint – Siri Ya Mtungi
Frank Rajah Arase – The Price
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER
James Michael Costello – Last Flight to Abuja
Christian Almesberger – Nairobi Half Life (WINNER)
Idhebor Kagho – Living Funeral
Imoh Umoren – Have A Nice Day
Themba Masondo – Taxi Ride
BEST WRITER (COMEDY)
Jigi Bello – Flower Girl (WINNER)
Jahmal Holland – Still Standing
Ohis Udofia – Kuti’s Career Palace
Patrick Onyeka – The Place
Seun Arowojolu – Squatterz
BEST WRITER (DRAMA)
Shirley Frimpong-Manso & Hertey Owusu –
Contract (WINNER)
Patrick Yaadar & Andy Boyo     – Off The Hook
Akpor Kagho – Living Funeral
Fatima Jabbe – Battered
Pascal Amanfo – Single and Married
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE (HAUSA)
Yasin Auwal/Umar K/Mazugal – Wana Gari 1 & 2
Hafizu Bello – Bakin Kishi
Abba Muko Yakassai – Habib (WINNER)
Nasir Sa’ad Gwangwazo – Ruwan Jakara
Mikail I. Bin Hassan – Kurman Gari
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE (YORUBA)
Afeez Eniola – Arinnakore
Mercy Aigbe – Komfo (WINNER)
Abdulrasaq Abdullahi – Edidi
Olatunji Akeem Balogun – Aye Kooto
Olatunji Akeem Balogun – Mufu Olosa Oloko
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE (SWAHILI)
Edwin Maina Kariuki – Nairobi Half Life
Jordan Riber – Siri Ya Mtungi
Ann Hamberger – Nina
Njoki Muhoho – Mama Duka (WINNER)
Musa Venerable Mziba – Vagabond
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Dr Gilbert Chigbo – The Deadwood (WINNER)
Sonia Maingi – Tumanka Goes To School
Peter Murimi – Matatu: My Life, My Art
Peter Murimi – Guardians of the Wild
David Campbell – Shamba Shape Up
BEST SHORT FILM
Vincent Moloi – Berea
Amarachukwu Onoh – Mother Tongue
Amil Shivji – Shoeshine
Walter ‘Waltbanger’ Taylaur – The Wages (WINNER)
Enuma Chigbo – The Deadwood
BEST TELEVISION SERIES COMEDY / DRAMA
Grace Kahaki Munthali – Prem Episode 2
Catherine Phiri – Love Games Episode 6 (WINNER)
John Riber – Siri Ya Mtungi
Paul Igwe – The Benjamins
Benson Akindeju – Nowhere To Be Found
BEST MOVIE DIRECTOR
Obi Emelonye – Last Flight to Abuja
Tosh Gitonga – Nairobi Half Life
Shirley Frimpong-Manso – Contract (WINNER)
Udoka Oyeka – Living Funeral
Frank Rajah Arase – Price
Amil Shivji – Shoeshine
BEST MOVIE 2013
Obi Emelonye – Last Flight to Abuja
Udoka Oyeka & Orode Ryan – Living Funeral
Shirley Frimpong-Manso, Yvonne Okoro & Ken
Attoh – Contract (WINNER)
Michelle Bello – Flower Girl
James Omokwe – Awakening
BEST NEW MEDIA – ONLINE VIDEO
Stacey Mc Dermott & Neville Ossai – Jungle Jewel:
The Short Film
Mark Kaiyare – Deceit
Stanlee Ohikhuare – Kpians Premonition
Dorothy

BOKO HARAM:PDP Govs Tells FG To Change Its Tactics

MINNA — EIGHTEEN governors under the aegis of
Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum,
yesterday, took a critical appraisal of the security
situation in the country with the Boko Haram killing
and maiming of innocent people almost on a daily
basis in the North Eastern part of the country
unchallenged.
They urged the Federal Government to change its
tactics of fighting the insurgents.
PDP governors made the appeal on a day President
Goodluck Jonathan and Senate President, David
Mark called for prayers to overcome the nation’s
security challenges.
The Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, on its part,
announced that it had set up a new unit, the Border
Patrol Corps, to patrol the nation’s land borders,
especially in the North-East, to stem attacks by
insurgents.
This was even as a Senator representing Borno
Central Senatorial District claimed that over 100,000
residents of the district had been killed by Boko
Haram.
The PDP Governors Forum, after its meeting in
Minna, Niger State, yesterday, particularly
condemned the recent killings of innocent students
in Yobe State. The forum, therefore, urged the
security agencies to change their tactics towards
containing the insurgency.
People gather on March 2, 2014 near the wreckage
at the scene where two explosions rocked a
crowded neigbourhood in Maiduguri’s Gomaris
district on the evening of March 1. At least 35
people were killed following two explosions in a
crowded neighbourhood of Nigeria’s restless
northeastern city of Maiduguri, a stronghold of Boko
Haram Islamists, police said March 2. “We are still
counting. So far we have counted 35 bodies. Our
men are still working with rescue workers at the
scene,” Borno state police commissioner Lawal
Tanko said. AFP PHOTO /
Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and
Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio,
said though the forum appreciated efforts of the
security agencies in containing the crisis so far, it
held that there was the need for them to look more
inward by changing their tactics in confronting the
crisis.
He said: “The forum appreciates and commends
efforts of the security agencies in fighting the
insurgency but we urge them as a matter of
urgency to change their tactics to get rid of these
insurgents.”
The governors then symphatized with parents and
families of the innocent children who were murdered
in cold blood.
On national confab
Governor Akpabio, who read the communique
shortly after the meeting, said the forum also
commended the President on the bold step taken on
the national conference coming up soon and urged
delegates to the conference to put national interest
above their personal desires.
The communique said: “This forum strongly
identifies with our President on the forthcoming
national conference and notes with satisfaction the
zeal and enthusiasm shown by Nigerians in
participating in the conference.
“We urge all delegates to the confab to put national
interest above all other considerations during the
deliberations.”
Governors of Jigawa, Katsina, Benue, Cross River,
Abia, Bayelsa, Kogi, Bauchi, Kaduna, Gombe, Ebonyi
and that of Niger, the host, were present while
Sokoto, Taraba, Adamawa, Delta and Nasarawa
were represented by their deputies.
Jonathan, Mark call for prayers
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan, weekend,
expressed the Federal Government’s readiness to
stop the acts of terrorism perpetrated by the Boko
Haram sect in the North-Eastern part of the
country.
The President, who stated this at the 2014 maiden
edition of the Catholic Bishops Conference of
Nigeria, CBCN, annual summit with the theme
‘Church and State Partnership in Providing Quality
Education for the Nigerian People’ decried the
deterioration of values and morals owing to poor
educational policies.
Jonathan assured on government’s efforts to
confront the challenge of insurgency in the country,
while urging the gathering to pray for Nigeria to
overcome her current problems.
He said: “I urge you to pray for our dear country to
speedily overcome the current challenges we face,
especially insurgency, terrorism and the heinous
killings

Femi Falana Gives Auditor General 7 days To Publish Findings On NNPC's Account

Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, yesterday,
urged the  Auditor General of the Federation, AGF,
to publish the periodic checks of the accounts of the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC,
carried out by his staff to shed more light on the
alleged missing money.
In a response to the letter written to him from the
office of the AGF on his earlier request, Falana gave
him seven days to provide the information, else he
would initiate legal proceedings to compel him to
carry out his constitutional duties.
In his new letter, Falana challenged the AGF to
provide the information in view of the binding duty
on the Federal Government to promote
transparency and accountability, promising that  he
was ready to apply for the certified true copy of the
report if AGF’s office was not inclined to make the
report public.
The lawyer, had on February 7, 2014, in the wake of
the allegation by suspended Governor of the Cental
Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s
allegation that about $49.6 billion oil money was
missing from the federation account, requested for
information on the missing money under the
freedom of Information Act and audit of the
federation account by the AGF.
The Office of the Auditor General of the Federation,
OAuGF, in its response to Falana’s request, said
that some ethics and professional threats are
working against its capability to carry out the audit
of NNPC’s accounts.

FG Should Reveal The Cost Of Centenary Celebration-SERAP

Lagos—Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability
Project, SERAP, has requested the Federal
Government to make public what it expended on the
centenary celebration.
In a statement issued in Lagos, yesterday, by its
executive director, Mr. Tokunbo Mumuni, the non
governmental organisation condemned what it
called a celebration of corruption by the government
for given out “public awards to indicted corrupt
public officials, sending a wrong message that
amounts to a triumph of corruption over public
probity and integrity.”
Besides, SERAP in its statement, supported the
Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka on his
rejection of the centenary award, and said that any
public award for corrupt people was not portraying
the government as ready to battle corruption in
Nigeria.
The organisation said: “The award to the late
military dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha, considered one
of the most corrupt leaders the country ever had,
cannot be justified on any ground whatsoever, and
in fact send the message that corruption pays.”

Reason Why Asuu May Go Back To Strike.

Barely few months after they called off a six month
industrial action, the Academic Staff Union of
Universities, ASUU, and the Federal Government
may clash again that could result into university
lecturers embarking on another strike.
* ASUU President, Nasir Faggie
There is palpable tension in Nigerian universities,
with ASUU boycotting the ongoing Integrated
Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS,
seminar in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The university lecturers are threatening to down
tools again if the government insists on getting
them to join the new payment platform.
Recntly, the Federal Government directed all its
Ministries, Departments and Parastatals, MDS, to
join the computerised payment platform to reduce
corruption and human error in the payment of
salaries.
As part of measures to bring universities into the
programme, the government distributed IPPIS
forms to lecturers all over the country through the
National Universities Commission, NUC.
However, ASUU members in Port Harcourt, Rivers
State did not turn up for the seminar which kicked
off on Monday in Port Harcourt
Also, a similar programme that was held in other
geo-political zones of the country is also said to
have been boycotted by members of the union.
A source from the University of Uyo told newsmen
that ASUU had barred its members from attending
the Port Harcourt seminar.
"The vice chancellor had intimated us about the
seminar but based on the directive from our union,
we cannot honour the invitation for the programme.
"ASUU is not against the computerised salary
system but we are saying that the policy does not
favour the peculiar nuances of the academia.
"For instance, the IPPIS does not recognise the
peculiarity of the academic environment and cannot
meet our payment needs. Our members go on
sabbatical, act as adjuncts and we engage in
regular recruitment of staff which are not
addressed on the IPPIS platform."
Having experienced the failure in the payment of
monetisation, the source hinted that the union
would not allow its members to be part of the new
payment system.
It would be recalled that the University of Ibadan
chapter of the union had early in January barred its
members from filling the IPPIS form.
Attempts to speak with the National President of
ASUU, Nasir Faggie, on the issue failed as he would
not take calls or respond to a text message sent to
his telephone.

President Jonathan Releases Final List Of Delegates To The National Confrence.

The Nigerian government today released a full list of
persons expected to participate at its National
Conference billed to commence tomorrow. The full
list of persons and the constituency /ies they
represent are listed below:
Femi Falana, Tunji Braithwaite, DSP Alamieyeseigha
DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE
ELDER STATESMEN
S/N DELEGATES
1. Dr. Tunji Braithwaite
2. Chief Ayo Adebanjo
3. Chief Richard Akinjide
4. Chief Olu Falae
5. Erelu Olusola Obada
6. Chief Afe Babalola, SAN
7. General Ike Nwachukwu
8. Iyom Josephine Anenih
9. Senator Jim Nwobodo
10. Chief Mike Ahamba, SAN
11. Senator Azu Agboti
12. Chief Peter Odili
13. King Alfred Diete Spiff
14. Edwin K. Clark
15. Daisy Danjuma
16. Prof. Evara Ejemot Esu, OFR
17. Chief Nduese Esiene
18. Prof. Ambrose Okwoli
19. Alhaji Abdulahi Ohoimah
20. Prof. Ibrahim Gambari
21. Mr. Dogara Mark Ogbole
22. Prof. Jerry Gana
23. Gen. Jonathan Temlong
24. Prof. Jubril Aminu
25. Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Muazu
26. Arc. Ibrahim Bunu
27. Amb. Yerima Abdullahi
28. Mr. John Mamman
29. Alhaji Adamu Waziri
30. Alhaji Umaru Musa Zandan
31. Prof. Mohammed Jumari
32. Mallam Tanko Yakassai
33. Senator Ibrahim Idah
34. Hon. Justice Usman Mohammed Argungu
35. Prof. Sambo Jinadu
36. Ishia Aliyu Gusau
37. General A. B. Mamman
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT
OF THE FEDERATION
DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE
RETIRED MILITARY AND SECURITY PERSONNEL
(i) RETIRED ARMY, NAVY & AIR FORCE
OFFICERS (RANAO) ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA
(ARPON)
S/N DELEGATES
1. Gen. Zamani Lekwot
2. Maj. Gen. Alex Mshelbwala
3. Rear Adm CS Ehanmo
4. Brig. Gen. (Barr.) DO Idada-Ikponmwen
5. Group Capt Ohadomere
6. Gen. Raji Rasaki
(ii) ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED POLICE
OFFICERS OF NIGERIA (ARPON)
S/N DELEGATES
1. R. O. Osanaiye, AIG (rtd)
2. Alh. (Barr.) Mamman Misau, AIG (rtd)
3. Alhaji Bashiru Albasu, AIG (rtd.)
4. Chief (Barr.) Nicholas Duru Nkemdeme, CP (rtd)
5. Barr. J. I. Ebinum, DCP (rtd)
6. Barr. Samuel Adetuyi, CP (rtd
(iii)              RETIRED STATE SECURITY AND NIA
OFFICERS
S/N DELEGATES
1. Chief Jeremiah Okwuonu
2. A. K. Horsfall
3. Mr. Iliya Danga
4. Chief Babatunde Ala
5. Amb. B. M. Sani
6. Amb. J. K. Shinkaiye
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT
OF THE FEDERATION
DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE
TRADITIONAL RULERS
S/
N DELEGATES
1. His Royal Highness, Alh. Dr. Zayyanu Abdullahi,
Emir of Yauri
2. His Royal Highness, Alh. (Dr.) Nuhu Mohammed
Sanusi, Emir of Dutse
3. His Royal Highness, Dr. Muhammadu Barkindo
Mustapha, CFR, Lamido of Adamawa
4. His Royal Highness, Alh. Abdullahi Ibn Muhammad
Askirama III, Emir of Askira
5. His Royal Highness, Alh. Sulu Gambari, CFR, Emir of
Ilorin
6. His Royal Highness, Elder Jacob Gyang Buba,
Gbong Gwom Jos
7. His Royal Majesty, Oba Michael Gbadebo Adedeji,
JP, CON, Ariyowonye Lim Owaoye of Okemesi
8. His Royal Majesty, Oba Arc. Aderemi A. Adedapo,
Alayemore of Ido Osun, Coordinator
9. His Royal Highness, Eze (Dr) Cletus I. Illomuanya,
Obi of Obinugwu
10. His Royal Highness, Eze Elder Agom Eze, OON
11. His Royal Highness, Dr. Edmund Daukuro, FNSE,
Amanyanabo of Nembe Kingdom
12. His Royal Highness, Chief Nosakhare Isekhure,
Chief Priest of Benin Kingdom
13. HRM Ismail Danlami Mohammed, Sarki of Karshi
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT
OF THE FEDERATION
DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE
RETIRED CIVIL SERVANTS
S/N DELEGATES
1. Engr. Ebele O. Okeke
2. Dr. Edet A. Ekerendu
3. Mr. Akin Arikawe
4. Chief Robert Audu
5. Ammuna Lawan Ali
6. Dr. H. U. Sanusi
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT
OF THE FEDERATION
DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE
LABOUR REPRESENTATIVE S
NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS
S/N DELEGATES
1. Abdulwahed Ibrahim Omar
2. Chris Uyot
3. Kiri Mohammed Shaibu
4. Joe Ajaero
5. Promise Adewusi
6. Issa Aremu
7. Lucy Offiong
8. Ayuba Wabba
9. Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson
10. Emma Ugboaja
11. Ibrahim Khaleel
12. Michael Olukoya
TRADE UNION CONGRESS OF NIGERIA
S/N DELEGATES
1. Bobboi Bala Kaigama
2. Barrister Musa Lawal
3. Mrs. Dinatu Asibi Assani
4. Olasanye Oyinkan
5. Sunday Olusoji Salako
6. Olakunle Olanrewaju Olaitan
7. Peter Esele
8. Augustine Etafo
9. Maryam

FIFA VP Tips Eagles To Fly High In Brazil

President of the Confederation of Central
American and Caribbeans Football
Associations (CONCACAF), Mr Jeffrey Webb,
on Wednesday expressed belief that the
Super Eagles of Nigeria will dazzle the world
at the 20th FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil this
summer.
Captivated and truly bowled over by the
confidence, audacious skills and firmness of
the Eagles in the friendly against Mexico at
the Georgian Dome, Atlanta, USA, Webb, a
FIFA Vice President, left his suite and
searched out the FA President of the African
champions in the Nigerian suite.
“I am very much impressed by the skills and
confidence of your players. They will
definitely do well at the World Cup.
“I was in Johannesburg when you won the
Africa Cup of Nations last year and I can see
that the team has even improved
tremendously, going by the way they are
standing up to a top team like Mexico,” Webb
said.
Webb, from Cayman Islands, who was last
year tipped by incumbent FIFA President
Sepp Blatter to succeed him as world
football’s supremo.

Man with 86 wives sues ex-hubby

The super polygamists with 86 wives based
in Bida Alhaji Mohammadu Bello Masaba
has dragged  a Magistrate and one of his
former wife, Hajiya Azatu Adamu before a
Bida High Court.
The octogenarian and seven others are
asking the High Court to quash the decision
of Magistrate Rahamat Adamu Gado for
referring a case of criminal force and assault
filed by Azatu against the applicants to the
Attorney General for prosecution.
In a motion ex parte , Masaba applied for a
writ of Certiorari quashing the proceedings in
the case no BD/MC/DCR/43/2013 filed by
Azatu. He is also is seeking an order for a
stay of proceedings and actions relating to
the case and praying that the court to
discharge all the applicants.
Counsel to Masaba, Oluwole Oluranti in a
statement in support of his application, based
his prayers on the grounds of error of law in
the face of record and breach of rules of
natural justice or duty to act fairly.
Azatu an ex wife of Masaba  had on August
15, 2013 caused the applicants to appeared
before a Bida Magistrate (1st Respondent)
for offences of criminal force and assault,
causing grievous hurt contrary to Section
265 and 246 of Penal Code Law upon her
direct complaint.
The court then referred the case to the Police
for investigations upon the plea of not guilt by
Masaba and others. On completion of
investigation, the Office of the Area
Commander, Nigeria Police, Bida submitted
its report which indicated that no evidence
could be established or found against
Masaba and others on any of the allegations
against them.
In response to the reference of the case to
the Attorney General’s Chambers, the
applicants said they were surprised that on
February 27, 2014 Magistrate Gado ordered
that the case file be referred to the office of
the Attorney General and Commissioner for
Justice for possible prosecution or action.

How Obasanjo's govt spent $500m Abacha's loot- Okonjo Iweala

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,
has explained how the Olusegun Obasanjo
administration spent the loot recovered from the
late maxiumn dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha.
She said that contrary to reports that the sum of
$2bn was recovered from Abacha’s loot, only
$500m was recovered under her watch when she
was first made finance minister.
The minister made the clarification amidst
conflicting figures about the actual amount
recovered.
For instance, speaking in London in November
2006, the pioneer Chairman of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu
Ribadu, had said that “Abacha took over $6bn from
Nigeria,” and that $2bn of the loot had been
recovered.
Ribadu repeated the same figure in the same
month during the 12th International Anti-Corruption
Conference in Guatemela.
Three months ago, Ribadu repeated the same
claim in Dakar at the 2nd Annual High Level
Dialogue on Governance and Democracy in Africa.
As Minister of Finance in the Olusegun Obasanjo
administration, Okonjo-Iweala, in 2005 – a year
before Ribadu made his claim – at a news
conference in Switzerland reportedly said that
Nigeria had recovered about $2bn total of asset
from Abacha.
But reacting to the conflicting claims on the stolen
money, the minister who spoke through her Special
Adviser Communication, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, said
that the recovered $500m under her watch was
verified and used in a structured manner for
developmental projects.Nwabuikwu said, “The
minister did not say only $500m was recovered as
the entire loot of Abacha. What she actually said
was that under her watch when she was in
government as a minister, it was that amount that
was recovered. And that money was used in a
structured way to carry out some programmes of
government.
“You will recall that at a point, she left government
to return after some years and she cannot be held
accountable for whatever happens when she was
not in office.
“So the bottom line is that only $500m was the
amount recovered when she was in government.”
On how the funds were utilised, the minister
through her special adviser said part of the
recovered loot was used to fund projects in the
power, health, works, health, education and water
sectors.
The minister supported her claims with a report
jointly prepared by the World Bank and Ministry of
Finance – a copy of which was made available to
our correspondent,
According to the document, the sum of N21.70bn
was spent on power (rural electrification and
power generation); N18.6bn on works (priority
economic roads); and N10.83bn on health (primary
health care and vaccination programme).
Also, N7.74bn was utilised on basic and secondary
school education (primary schools, junior
secondary schools and federal government
colleges) and N6.20bn on water (potable water and
rural irrigation).

FG flags of dry season farming in Niger

Minna- In its effort to boost food production in the
country, the federal government has formerly
flagged of this year’s (2014) dry season farming in
Niger state. The flag off took place at the Tungan
Kawo dam and Irrigation project farm land.
Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe
said the dry season farming more than ever before
will be taken more seriously in an effort to
guarantee all year farming to further boost food
production in the country.
She noted that Agriculture in the country had been
over dependent on rainfall adding that henceforth,
government has taken a new step to revive dry
season farming as a way of encouraging an all year
farming and subsequently providing jobs for the
jobless and also boosting food production in the
country.
Mrs. Ochekpe noted that the role of her ministry in
the revitalization of the Agriculture sector cannot be
overemphasized saying, “ my ministry and that of
Agriculture are partners in progress because
without water, there cannot be Agriculture and food
production and that is why my ministry has decided
to transform the
Agrarian community into Agro base Economy.”
The Managing Director, Upper Niger River Basin
Development Authority, Professor Paul Marley in
his speech said the dry season farming is part of
the federal government Agricultural Transformation
Agenda in the area of food security and that all
steps will be taken to accomplish the task.
He described the Tungan Kawo Dam and Irrigation
project as multi-purpose to farmers and inhabitants
of the surrounding villages pointing out that the
reservoir alone provides enough water for the
irrigation of a gross area of 900 hectares with the
advantage of double cropping with not less than
1,800 hectares put to rice cultivation annually by
about 900 farmers which is expected to yield 5,400
tones of paddy rice.

Afrocandy to fans; Beware of fraudsters on Facebook

US-based Nigerian porn-star, Judith Opara
Mazagwu, popularly known as Afrocandy is
currently battling to save her fans from being duped
by fraudsters who opened an account in her name
on facebook.
The fraudsters,according to her, are  using the
facebook page to dupe unsuspecting fans, under the
guise of selling  forms for the forthcoming audition
of Afrocandy’s movie at the cost of N10,000.
The actress raised the alarm during the week on
her facebook page. She accused the fraudsters of
blocking her from having access to the account.
Warning her fans to beware of fraudsters, the porn-
star said, “I don’t have any manager in Nigeria, not
even in the USA or UK.
The fraudsters use my names, brand and images.
Beware of 419, they are scammers. I have not
started registration and I am not giving out forms
now.”

Alakio killing: Commision submits report

The long awaited report of the judicial commission
of inquiry into the killings of the Nigerian security
forces at Alakio village of Lafia local government
area and other matters connected therewith have
been submitted to Governor Tanko Umaru Almakura
by the commission at Government House in Lafia
yesterday.
Presenting the six volume report to the governor,
justice Joseph Fola Gbadeyan(rtd) said the seven-
man commission which he served as the chairman
was inaugurated on the 26th of June 2013 with an
8-point term of reference and in pursuant of their
assignment invited and received 22 diverse
memoranda from individuals, groups and
communities as well as security agents based on
the term of reference. Gbadeyan however revealed
that out of the 22 memoranda received, read and
defended by the persons concerned, seven out of
the 22 were read by the secretary of the
commission on behalf of some affected Eggon
communities who voluntarily withdrew from the
commission on the  30th and 31st of July.
According to Gbadeyan, “over 534 persons including
members of the Nigerian police and the Department
of  State Security Service were killed in the crises
with 40 persons sustaining various injuries in the
crises, with properties worth 3.5million naira
destroyed”.
The chairman of the commission further revealed
that 65 exhibits were tendered by individuals and
groups and were admitted by the commission as
the commission could not undertake visit to some
critical areas of assignment for security reasons.
Responding, governor Almakura thanked the
commission for the huge assignments and assured
that his government will ensure that all the relevant
recommendations as contained in the report shall
be judiciously implemented so as to enhance the
peaceful and harmonious co-existence of the over
30 ethnic communities in the state.
Almakura further hinted that the white paper on the
commission of inquiry on Agyaragu killings in 2012
would be implemented concurrently with the Alakio
report. “No stone shall be left unturned in the
implementation of the two reports”. Almakura
declared.
Similarly, the state high court seating in Lafia on
Friday struck out the motion filed by the Ombatse
legal adviser, Barr. Zamani Zachary Alumaga, who
challenged the illegality of the commission of inquiry
on Alakio Killings. According to Justice Suleiman
Diko the presiding chief judge ruled that case was
stroked out on the ground of timing in bringing the
action before the court.

Civil War: Ohaneze Ndigbo demands N2.4trn reparation, state apology for Ndigbo

ENUGU — The pan-Igbo socio-cultural
organisation, yesterday, demanded from the Federal
Government N2.4 trillion as reparation and
compensation to Ndigbo in the five South East
states and Anioma in Delta State, who lost their
loved ones and property during the civil war as well
as those still suffering dislocation and seizure of
property in the country.
It also asked the Federal Government to tender a
“State Apology for the wrongs the government and
people of Nigeria visited on Ndigbo and Igboland” in
the past.
These demands were contained in a statement
entitled, ‘The Atrocities and Injustice Against Ndigbo
and Ohanaeze Ndigbo: Demand for Reparation,’
issued by the Chairman, Ohanaeze Reparation
Committee, Chief Mbazulike Amechi in Enugu.
He recalled that the apex Igbo organistion had on
May 25, 2013 at its Imeobi meeting, which is the
supreme executive organ of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,
resolved that ‘enough was enough’ and that Ndigbo
should now demand reparation and compensation
and a final stop to the persecution of Ndigbo in their
own country.
He said the committee, which he chaired, had taken
the pains to document some of the atrocities,
injustice and deprivation visited on Ndigbo and
resolved to demand that the Federal Government
should in addition to tendering a state apology, pay
a token of N400 billion to each of the five states of
Igboland as compensation for the incalculable
damage done to the Igbo race.
According to him: “It is incalculable to put a price on
the death of millions of Igbo who were killed in the
civil war and on other occasions.
“However the Federal Government should pay a
token of N400 billion to each of the five states of
Igboland as compensation to those who lost their
loved ones, lost property and those still suffering
dislocation and seizure of property.
“The same amount should be paid to the
government of Delta State for the benefit of Anioma
area of the state,” Amechi said.
The elder-statesman, who was flanked by members
of his committee, including Chief Ralph Obioha,
Professor Uche Azikiwe, Dr. Chukwujama, Col. Ben
Gbulie (rtd); Chief Maria Okwor, Prof. Paul Modum
and other leaders of Ohanaeze, at the briefing,
listed some of the chilling atrocities against Ndigbo
as follows:
“On March 31, 1953, Tony Enahoro moved a motion
in the House of Representatives asking for
independence for Nigeria.
“Northern members of the House under the
leadership of Sir Ahmadu Bello (Sardauna of Sokoto)
vehemently opposed the motion and threatened to
break away from the federation.
“Shortly after that, S.L. Akintola went to Kano and in
trying to explain the case for independence, said
something which Northerners did not like. Their
youths took up weapons and massively killed Igbos
in such big towns as Kano, Kaduna, Zaria, etc; and
destroyed and looted their property.
“It was known that over 300 Igbo were killed, but
official figures released by the government only
admitted that “36 people killed and 227 wounded.”
“In January 1966 some officers in the Nigerian
Army organised a coup d’etat and overthrew the
government of nationalists and founding fathers of
the federation.
“A carefully planned pogrom and genocide was
unleashed on the Igbo mainly in the North. On May
29, 1966 they commenced what they termed
“ARABA” test riots. With the help of the police,
Northern youths embarked on a supervised bloody
‘riot’ which lasted for seven agonising days in which
hundreds of Igbo were killed all over the North and
their property destroyed or looted.
“On July 29, 1966, in what was termed “Counter
Revolution and Ethnic Cleansing” which began with
the killing of Major Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi and over 300
military officers and men of Igbo origin escalated
into the massacre of unsuspecting Igbo civilians,
men, women and children in many Northern towns
on a scale unprecedented in any part of the world
even more gruesome than the killings of the Jews
in Hitler’s Ger

Super Eagles get code of conduct booklet in Atlanta

The Nigeria Football Federation is taken nothing to
chance as it seeks a decent performance at this
year’s World Cup in Brazil and better conduct by
players and officials of all national team in the
future.
Towards this end the federation during the week in
faraway, Atlanta Georgia, United States handed out
the much-hyped hand book on code of conduct
while in the national team to players and officials of
the Super Eagles. The 18-page document clearly
outlines what is expected of players, officials and
even the federation during camping and major
tournaments.
NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, in the company
of Chairman, Technical Committee Barr Chris Green
and NFF Director, Technical, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme
came with the documents and handed them over to
the team through Team Adminstrator, Dayo Enebi
Achor, who has since distributed them to the
players and officials of the team.
AGAINST ALL ODDS…….Super Eagles midfeilder
John Mikel Obi (centre) battles for the ball with
Mexico’s Hector Herrera (L0 and Javier Aquino
during the friendly match at Georgia Dome on March
5. Photo: AFP
“The document is done in good faith and to ensure
that players and officials know their obligations and
how to properly conduct themselves, while the NFF
will ensure that it also fulfills its own part of the
bargain during major tournaments”, Maigari said.
The Nigerian delegation to the United States is
expected back in Nigeria on today evening after
playing a goalless draw against the El Tri of Mexico
in an international friendly preparatory to Mundial
2014 in Brazil. The team will arrive through the
Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos.

Trending Video: Kcee rocks 'Hakuna Matata

Pop artist KCEE is not losing steam; not even for a
minute. His fun-filled single ‘Hakuna Matata’
currently lays siege on Youtube as one of the most
sought after trending videos.
The weekend isn’t so far away so maybe it’s time
to lossen up a bit and try KCEE’s magic words
‘Hakuna Matata’
Watch the video here…

Jonathan fires Abdullahi and Swears in 11 ministers

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday
relieved the Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji
Abdullahi, of his appointment.
Indication that Jonathan might have sacked
Abdullahi first emerged when the President was
assigning portfolios to the 11 new ministers who
took their oath of office at the Council Chambers of
the Presidential Villa shortly before the
commencement of the weekly Federal Executive
Council meeting.
Jonathan shocked those in attendance who
thought the new ministers would be assigned to
only ministries without ministers when he
announced that the new Rivers State nominee in
the cabinet, Dr. Tamuno Danagogo, would take
over from Abdullahi.
While reeling out the names of the remaining new
ministers with their portfolios amidst anxiety
among cabinet members, the President kept mum
on Abdullahi’s fate.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and
Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, later confirmed
Abdullahi’s sacking to State House
correspondents.
Abati did not however give reason for the sacking.
Jonathan also said he would by next week name a
new set of ministers who would occupy the current
vacant positions in the cabinet.
The new ministers and their portfolios, according
to the President, are – Senator  Musiliu Obanikoro,
Minister of State Defence; Mohammed Wakil,
Minister of State Power; Alhaji Abduljelili Adesiyan,
Minister of Police Affairs; and Ambassador Aminu
Wali, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Others are, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, Minister of
Housing, Land and Urban Development; Lawrencia
Laraba Mallam, Minister of Environment; Hajia
Asabe Asmau Ahmed, Minister of State
Agriculture; Gen. Aliyu Gusau, Minister of Defence;
Boni Haruna, Minister of Youth Development; and
Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, Minister of State, Health.
Jonathan told the new ministers to see
themselves as the servants of the people and
therefore be willing to serve and listen to them at
all times.
Describing public office as a public trust, the
President urged the ministers to add value to
whatever they have been asked to do.
He said any public official should be able to look
back and point to an achievement after leaving
office.
He said, “I believe that if you have been given a
responsibility as a president, governor, minister,
for you to serve for a period of time, if by the time
you’re leaving you cannot look back and say that
this is an innovation that I brought to bear based on
my own creativity, I have been able to do things
differently from what others have done and now
things are being done better in my ministry or
whatever office you’re holding; if you cannot say
that, then you have failed.
“But if you can say that definitely yes I’ve brought
some innovations based on my own creativity and
things are being done differently, I have been able
to solve these problems within this period, then of
course you have succeeded.
“The challenge is for you now to adjust. So, your
duty is to make sure you bring changes, positive
changes not negative changes. And I believe you
will also work closely with others.
“For ministries that you have to work with another
minister, either as a minister of state or the
minister; two of you will relate, you will relate with
the permanent secretaries, heads of parastatals
working with you too.
“There are some people when they get a place,
they bring unity and make sure that everybody
works together for the success of their
administration. But some when they get to a place
they create divisions and all kinds of interests and
instead of making sure that the top government
functionary, either heads of parastatals, heads of
departments work together, you see problems
and  everyday you talk about solving problems.
“In fact because of the issues of conflicts between
ministers and ministers of states, we will also
review schedule of duties in some of the ministries
to make sure that we reduce these conflicts to the
barest minimum.”
The President had earlier sacked the Minister of
Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah; Minister of Niger Delta
Affairs, Mr. Godsday Orubebe; Minister of Police
Affairs, Navy-Capt. Caleb Olubolade (retd); and the Minister of State, Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama.

Jonathan's cousin Abduction: Kidnappers rejects N30m offer

The kidnappers of Chief Inengite Nitabai, cousin to
President Goodluck Jonathan have reportedly
rejected the N30m offered by his family for his
release.
Chief Nitabai, a former lecturer at the Rivers State
University of Science and Technology, Port
Harcourt was abducted penultimate Sunday at his
Otuoke country home in Ogbia local government
area of Bayelsa State by ten armed men.
The kidnapped chief is the traditional head of the
compound from which the President hails from.
He was also said to have played a major role in the
training of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan during his school
days as an undergraduate and post graduate
student.
Nitabai, it was also learnt has been acting like a
father to the President since Jonathan’s real
biological father died, it was further learnt.
The alleged rejection of the family offer is coming
on heels of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide
warning to the embattled Nitabai family that no
ransom should be paid to the kidnappers.
The abductors, it would be recalled, had contacted
the victim’s family four days after he was whisked
away demanding a whooping sum of N500m as
ransom to set him free.
A source source close to the Nitabai family told
Vanguard that the troubled family instead offered to
pay his abductors N30m which they rejected.
“They (kidnappers) rejected the N30m offer which
they described as laughable coming from a family
linked to the President,” the source said.
Also a security source who pleaded anonymity
confirmed the development saying, “we are aware
that the family is negotiating with the kidnappers
and that they are demanding N500m which the
family described as outrageous. They  instead
offered to part with N30 which the kidnappers were
said to have rejected.”
Contacted, the state police public relations officer,
Mr. Alex Akhigbe, DSP said he was not aware of the
demand.
He however said its operatives deployed in the
creeks are making progress in their search for the
kidnapped chief.
Meanwhile, the Ijaw Youth Council IYC has warned
the family of Chief Nitabai not to pay any ransom to
the kidnappers.
The IYC described the action of the kidnappers as
crime which the council would not condone.
It said the three man committee it set up to work
with security agencies to fish out the kidnappers of
Chief Inengite Nitabai are making tremendous
progress to secure his release.
Spokesman of the IYC, Eric Omare who disclosed
this to newsmen shortly after the inaugural meeting
of the council at the Ijaw House in Yenagoa said the
identity of the three man committee working with
the security agents would not be disclosed for
security reasons as serious progress has been
made to free the septuagenarian.
Omare added that the committee has established
contacts with his captors assuring that in no
distance time he would be released.
“In consonance with the position of the IYC we have
advised the relevant persons not to offer any
ransom in order to effect the release of Mr
President uncle because if we offer ransom we are
encouraging more kidnapping.
“IYC position is that criminality must be erased from
Ijawland, so we have told them not to offer any
ransom, though he has not been released but we
are very sure in the next few days or hours we
would effect his release,” he said.

Mikel,Emenike,Echiejale in Atlanta for Mexico.

Mikel | credits: File copy The Super Eagles have kept to their schedule for the friendly match against Mexico with virtually all the players arriving in Atlanta, Georgia by Monday afternoon. The game is billed for Wednesday in the American city. The Nigeria Football Federation officials confirmed that Mikel Obi of Chelsea was the first player to settle into the hotel just asThe PUNCHhad stated on Monday. The midfielder, who made the journey from London with Victor Moses, was soon joined by Monaco of France defender, Elderson Echejile, and Emmanuel Emenike of Fenerbahce. All players were being expected in the hotel early enough with the team’s first workout at 8pm local time (2am Nigerian time). On Tuesday (today), the Eagles will train at the Atlanta Dome, where the game will be played on Wednesday. The Atlanta weather was eight degrees Celsius on Monday, which was rather chilling to the officials and players that are based in Nigeria. Four players from the African Nations Championship are on the trip to the USA. The competition’s Most Valuable Player, Ejike Uzoenyi, leading defenders Azubuike Egwuekwe and Ebenezer Odunlami; and midfielder Shehu Abdulahi are based in Nigeria. At the hotel, the Nigerian Ambassador/Consul General, Geoffrey Teneilabe, received the team with the assurance that the Nigerian community would be mobilised to back the team on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Sports has criticised the colour of the recently-unveiled Nigerian national team jersey and threatened to carry out a probe to ascertain why the traditional colours were not selected by the manufacturers. Chairman of the committee, Godfrey Gaiya, while expressing his dissatisfaction with the new jersey, faulted the shade of green used, stating that it was contrary to the traditional national colours. “For me, the green is not our national colour, I would have preferred the green that we know, I would have preferred the colour that is in our flag, but again, those that designed it have their reason that they have explained,” Gaiya told Kickoff.com. Gaiya’s ire with the new jersey is borne out of the suspicion that the colours may have been influenced by telecommunications company, Globacom, who are one of the major corporate sponsors of the national teams. “I would not know whether Globacom influenced the choice of the colour of the new Super Eagles jersey, but we will look into it and whatever we find out, we will let the world know,” he said.

Pastor arrested for conducting virginity test on member with finger

ABEOKUTA — The Ogun State Police Command said yesterday, that it had arrested a pastor identified as Adekunle Kayode, 34, for conducting virginity test on a 20-year-old female member of his church in Abeokuta, the state capital, using his finger. Kayode, a pastor in charge of Jesus Is The Way Evangelistic Ministry, Olorunsogo, Abeokuta, was reportedly arrested by detectives attached to Kemta Division in his house, 3, Okeyidi Street, Abeokuta. The Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement said the pastor’s arrest was carried out when the victim narrated her ordeal to her father who then informed the police of the incident. The pastor was reported to have been engaging in the act in the church weekly in a bid to confirm the girl’s virginity status. According to the PPRO, “there was also a drama when the victim received ‘holy spirit’ which propelled her to reveal the misdeeds of the pastor who has indulged in this ungodly act for years. “Another suspect arrested for similar offence is one Onatade Oluwasegun, 23, of 4, Sheriff Onatade Street, Obantoko for conspiring with the said pastor to use the victim for a ritual purpose. “The father of the victim alleged that the duo were fond of dipping their fingers in the victim’s private part even when she was menstruating for reasons best known to them. “She also claimed that the pastor recently confirmed her virginity status when she was to take part in a church programme. “The victim has also claimed that Oluwasegun used a charm while attempting to rape her as directed by the pastor possibly for a ritual but she miraculously escaped. “Meantime, the police have recovered the charm from the pastor within the church premises. “The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State, Ikemefuna Okoye, has directed that the matter be transferred to the SCID, Eleweran for further investigation.” Man beats daughter to death Also, a man, Bisi Onigbogbo of J6 Camp, Ogbere, in Ijebu-East Local Government Area of Ogun State allegedly beat his 12-year-old daughter, Yemi Onigbogbo, to death while trying to correct her for some misbehaviour, on Monday According to the Police spokesman, shortly after the incident, the suspect ran away immediately he noticed that the young girl was dead. He said: “Efforts are being intensified by the police with the help of the community members to get him apprehended.”

Gunmen kill 16 and burns down 200 houses in Plateau.

The orgy of bloodletting in Plateau State continued on Tuesday with the killing of another 16 persons by some gunmen in four communities of Riyom Local Government Area of the state. The charred remains of the victims were picked up by their relatives few hours after the attack. In addition, more than 200 houses were burnt in the communities whose names were given as Torok, Gwon, Gwarama, and Gwarim all in Rim district of Riyom LG. Our correspondent gathered that the gunmen, in military camouflage, had stormed the villages in the early hours of Tuesday in a commando style, gunning any object on their way. The panic-stricken residents were said to have been woken up by the staccato burst of gunfire, which tore through the quiet morning. The Majority Leader in the Plateau State House of Assembly, who is also the member representing Riyom described the incident as sad. He said 10 of the victims, who were mostly women and children, were burned to death by their attackers in Rim Dem said the attackers did not spare anything or anybody on their way. The majority leader wondered why men of the Special Task Force deployed in the area could not stop the attackers. He said, ”In most of the villages attacked, there are presence of men of the STF. Why are they not going after the attackers? The villages, our correspondent gathered, had been completely deserted as residents have fled to neighbouring villages, while some are taking refuge in schools and churches. Police Public Relations Officer in the state command, Felicia Anselm, confirmed the attack. She however said she had yet to be briefed on the number of casualties.

Futo will soon access the FG N2.6bn for capital project.

US freezes $458mn stolen by Nigerian dictator Abacha.

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The United States said Wednesday it had ordered a freeze on $458 million in assets stolen by former Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha and his accomplices and hidden in European accounts. The Justice Department said the corruption proceeds — stashed away in bank accounts in Britain, France and Jersey — were frozen at Washington’s request with the help of local authorities. Abacha died in office in 1998, but his surviving relatives still include some of the richest and most influential figures in Africa’s most populous nation. Late Sani Abacha According to a civil forfeiture complaint unsealed in the US District Court in Washington, the department wants the recover more than $550 million in connection with the action. “This is the largest civil forfeiture action to recover the proceeds of foreign official corruption ever brought by the department,” said Mythili Raman, acting assistant attorney general. “General Abacha was one of the most notorious kleptocrats in memory, who embezzled billions from the people of Nigeria while millions lived in poverty,” she said. The Justice Department said the assets frozen — along with additional assets named in the complaint — represent the “proceeds of corruption” during and after the military regime of Abacha, who became president of Nigeria through a military coup on November 17, 1993 and held that office until his death on June 8, 1998. The complaint alleges that Abacha, his son Mohammed Sani Abacha, their associate Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and others “embezzled, misappropriated and extorted billions from the government of Nigeria and others, then laundered their criminal proceeds through the purchase of bonds backed by the United States using US financial institutions.” Raman said that the action sends a “clear message” that the United States is “determined and equipped to confiscate the ill-gotten riches of corrupt leaders who drain the resources of their countries.” - Return funds ‘where appropriate’ - The US government’s Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative “where appropriate” provides for the return of stolen proceeds “to benefit the people harmed by these acts of corruption and abuse of office.” It did not specify what action would be taken with regard to the Abacha case. The funds frozen include approximately $313 million in two bank accounts in the Bailiwick of Jersey and $145 million in two bank accounts in France, the department said. Four investment portfolios and three bank accounts in Britain were frozed, with an estimated value of at least $100 million but the exact amounts in the accounts have not yet been determined, it said. The Justice Department said that on February 25 and 26, authorities in Jersey, France and Britain complied with the US action to freeze the assets. The complaint also seeks to freeze five corporate entities registered in the British Virgin Islands. According to the complaint, Abacha and others systematically embezzled billions of dollars in public funds from Nigeria’s central bank on the false pretense that the funds were necessary for national security. They withdrew the funds in cash and then moved the money overseas through US financial institutions. Abacha and his finance minister, Anthony Ani, also allegedly caused the Nigerian government to buy Nigerian government bonds at vastly inflated prices from a company controlled by Bagudu and Mohammed Abacha. That operation created an an illegal windfall of more than $282 million. In addition, Abacha and his co-conspirators allegedly extorted more than $11 million from a French civil engineering company, Dumez, and its Nigerian affiliate in connection with payments on government contracts. Funds involved in each of these schemes were laundered through the United States in nine financial institutions, the complaint alleged. The financial institutions involved include Citibank, Chase Manhattan Bank and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company, now JPMorgan Chase, and New York-based units of Britain’s Barclays Bank and Germany’s Commerzbank.