Alleged Money laundering: The arrest rumour is a “wicked lie”- Oyo state government

The Oyo state government has denied the alleged arrest of the wife of the state governor over money laundering charges in the United Kingdom.
“That’s not true, there is no iota of truth in that” the commissioner for Information, Mr Bosun Oladele told Channels Television in a telephone interview.
The commissioner also confirmed that the first lady traveled to London on Sunday with her 14 year old daughter but confirmed that she has returned from the said trip said the Oladele.
To debunk the claim of the arrest, Mr Oladele said “We have a correspondence from the Metropolitan Police claiming that nothing like that is on the record”.
He said a correspondence was received from an official of the Directorate of Media and Communication of the London Metropolitan Police.
The commissioner said “He confirmed that nothing of such is on record and that the wife of the governor was never arrested”.
He described the allegation as a “wicked lie” claiming that the government has excelled in many areas of  development and traducers are trying to use the “Pull me down syndrome” to rubbish their achievements.

Mr Oladele also denied another allegation that the first lady has traveled 52 times over the period of 12 months.
“That is not true, the truth is that the first lady travels even prior to 2007 more than she does now” he said.
He further said that “now that she and her husband are in office she has to do that less. So it is untrue, if you look at 52 times and you put that on weekly basis, it means she has traveled every week since her husband became governor”.
He said the first lady returned to the country to clear the rumour making rounds that she has been arrested.
Oladele said the state government has sued the publishers of PM News and Newsleak (an online news agency) for making libelous reports on Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, seeking N1 billion in damages.
The news agencies had reported that wife of the Oyo state governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi  was arrested by the London Metropolitan Police with the sum of 400,000 pounds sterling on arrival at the United Kingdom.

Niger Delta Ministry: Orubebe denies Melaye’s allegations of inflating contract cost

The Minister of Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe on Tuesday dismissed allegations by the anti-corruption network led by a former member of the House of Representatives, Dino Melaye that the ministry awards and pays for non-existent and over inflated contracts.

The Minister of Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe

Reacting to the allegations, Mr Orubebe said all projects initiated by the ministry are verifiable and exist in communities traceable by anyone who is serious on getting facts.
He said all projects are mandated to go through the due process office and the ministry only deals with existing files of projects approved by the due process office and not with contractors as the allegations suggest.
“What they have said is total fallacy,” the Minister said.
In a telephone interview with Channels Television, Mr Orubebe, who travelled out of Nigeria, promised to furnish the media with the “facts and figures” of the contracts.
Mr Melaye, who is the Secretary of the anti-corruption network, had alleged spurious award of contracts in the Niger Delta by the ministry threating to file legal action against the Minister of finance and her Mr Orubebe.
Also reacting to the allegations by the former lawmaker, the chairman of the House of Representatives’ committee on the Niger Delta, Warman Ogoriba said he is not aware of any petition to his committee on projects in the region and advised Mr Melaye to desist from misleading the public with his unverified records.
Some of the allegedly phantom projects which the group said have been exhaustively investigated and found fraudulent are the contract for the channelization of the Odoubou-Bololou creek project in Ogbaba-Gbene, Brutu Local government area, costing N1.2 billion; contract for the land reclamation and shoreline protection at Ogboba-Gbene and channelization of Foupolo-Bunu ndoro creek both above N2 billion each.
Both Misters Orubebe and Ogoriba however said the former lawmaker and his group are only being mischievous and crying woof over nothing.

Abia state shuts down over 100 illegal schools

Over 100 illegal schools have been shut down by the Abia state government across the state. The schools include primary, secondary and nursery schools.
The state government has sealed the premises of the affected schools while it has set up a tribunal to try the operators of the school.
Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Monica Philips, who disclosed this to newsmen at a briefing in Umuahia yesterday, said the illegal schools were used to perpetrate examination malpractices in the state.
She said “despite previous warnings to illegal private schools and advice that their operators upgrade them; they refused hence the decision to close them”.
Philips did not, however, disclose the exact number of schools affected by the closure, but noted that they “were hundreds”.
She said “officials of the ministry were still going round the state to identify other illegal schools”.
The commissioner also said only teachers or examination administrators who undergo training on examination ethics will be allowed to participate in the conduct of examinations in the state.
Philips said only those who participated and passed the examination administration Integrity and technical certificate workshop held recently in the state by the ministry, in conjunction with Exam Ethics Marshal International, would be involved in the conduct of school examinations in the state.
According to her, the measures are part of government’s effort to ensure that the standard of education in Abia remains high.
She said Governor Theodore Orji was in support of the ministry’s effort to ensure that examinations conducted in the state were credible and reliable, adding that the governor wanted the policy of zero tolerance for examination malpractices maintained in the state.

IBB used and dumped me – Omoruyi

Former Director General of the Centre for Democratic Studies (CDS), Omo Omoruyi, was on Monday flown abroad following his deteriorating health.

Former Director General of the Centre for Democratic Studies (CDS), Omo Omoruyi

But in a parting shot, the political scientist lamented that former military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida, who appointed him as Director General of the CDS, and some of his friends had abandoned him to his fate.
Mr Omoruyi was first diagnosed with cancer in 2007, but his condition improved after receiving treatment in the United States.
Speaking in Benin City, the Edo State capital before travelling to the US, the professor appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan and other Nigerians to come to his aid.
He said, “I have been used and dumped, especially by Babangida. Some politicians who don’t like me were also preventing the President from giving me assistance, after I sent a message about my health predicament to him.
“My cancer is back and I don’t know how it will end. Governor Adams Oshiomhole has graciously come to my aid again. He is the one making it possible for me to commence my second journey.
“In my book, My journey Back To Life, that is journey number one. It will appear I am starting a second journey, and how this second journey will end, I don’t know. I am going to hospital in the United States to commence a new treatment plan and that treatment plan, how it will end, I do not know.
“In the book, I said in the life of a cancer survivor, there are two fears. Fear number one is the fear of a recurrence, that the cancer could come back. Fear number two is that one could die.
“IBB abandoned me. I let him know about the first journey. He did not help me, not even one kobo so I cannot go to him for this second journey. In the first journey I did not hear from him. I sent him a text message that I am going back to the hospital. I have also alerted some of my good people.
“I am going back to the hospital. President Goodluck Jonathan should help me. I cried to him through Chief Edwin Clark. There is vindictiveness in the land. I have paid my dues in this country and the country is unfair to me. What did I not do?”

EFCC arraigns 5 over illegal storage of diesel

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arraigned five suspects before a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on four counts including conspiracy to store one hundred and eighty five( 185) Metric Tons of automotive gas oil, (also called diesel) without appropriate license.
The suspects: Captain Odeghe Andrew, Engineer Ebinum Alex, Jelili Lateef (still at large), Sunday Buluku (still at large) and Monday Osasuwa (still at large) were arraigned before Justice James Tsoho.
One of the charge reads: “That you Captain Odeghe Andrew, Engineer Ebinum Alex, Jelili Lateef, Sunday Bukulu, Monday Osasuwa, on or about 31st May, 2012 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, being the Master-in-Command and crew of the vessel MT. Floris conspired to store aboard the said vessel One Hundred and Eighty Five (185) Metric Tons of automotive gas oil without appropriate license under section 1 of the Petroleum Act, Cap. P9 Laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004 and thereby committed an offences punishable under section 6 of the Petroleum Act, Cap. P9, Laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004”.
When the charges were read to them, the suspects pleaded not guilty.
Prosecution counsel, Ben Ubi, informed the court that the EFCC was ready to proceed to trial. However, the defence counsel, Victor Opare, informed the court that he had filed an application for bail and prayed the court to hear the application. The judge obliged.
He argued that the offence for which his clients were docked is bail able and urged the court to consider the plight of one of the accused persons, Captain Andrew who has some health issues, in granting them bail. This claim of ill health was contested by Mr Ubi who demanded proofs from the defence.
Justice Tsoho, after listening to their arguments, admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of N200 million and one surety in like sum.
The surety must be a resident of Lagos and have a property in the metropolis. He must also be ready to provide original documents of the property and the title verified by the EFCC. In addition, the surety must provide evidence of three years tax payments.
Justice Tsoho adjourned the case to January 22, 2013 and ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Ikoyi prison.

Ripples of Hurricane Sandy may hit Lagos – Commissioner

The Lagos state government has raised concerns over the imminent ripple effect of the Hurricane Sandy that hit the United States of America and the Caribbean.

At a press conference in Lagos on Tuesdau, the Commissioner for Waterfront and Infrastructure Development, Segun Oniru said experience has shown that whenever hurricane, cyclone or other natural disasters occurred on the American shore, the ripple effects were always felt in Lagos within seven and 14 days period.
“Let Lagosians know what is going on, and what to expect, it is not to create panic; they should be careful around the Ocean and Lagoon. In the last five to six days, around the Caribbean, from Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba Hurricane Sandy has hit those places and has also hit the East Coast of America.
“Normally, when such happens, and when those kinds of magnitude hit that part of the world, we always have a ripple effect in Lagos and around the West Coast of Africa. Our main concern is Lagos; it is a warning, but not to create panic,” he said.
The Commissioner further said that “Lagos lies parallel to the South America part of the world on the map, but super storm Sandy has hit New York City and Atlantic and the West Part.
“That part of the world is northern to us, but we need to note that within the next seven to 14 days, we may get a ripple effect.
“When the wind starts, the wind turns to a hurricane and then high water level begins to rise because of the wind; imagine throwing water on a glass, it will splash back, so we may have high wave, high water level.
“I advise those who live around the coastline and shoreline to be vigilant and remain calm and if they start seeing storms like the one that occurred on 17 of August this year, they should stay off the Atlantic. It’s a warning to those on the Coastline.”

Sambo says youth unemployment is unacceptable to Jonathan

Vice President Namadi Sambo on Tuesday said that the current global phenomenon of youth unemployment is unacceptable to the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

The vice president said this at the inauguration of and technical workshop for states implementation committees of the community services, women and youth employment of the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) in the presidential villa, Abuja.
He said youth unemployment rate which is at 50 percent in several nations was the reason the federal government has evolved innovative methods of tackling the challenges of unemployment and that for decades, the country has been faced with high unemployment rates among the youths and strategies and institutional mechanisms put in place to create wealth have not yielded much result.
According to him, the community service programme inaugurated was to fast-track the design to employ 320,000 of the unskilled youth, women and citizens with physical challenges annually, noting that the programme and graduate internship scheme designed to train 50,000 graduates in private companies are part of the benefits of the partial subsidy removal under SURE-P.
While urging each sector of the economy to play its role in contributing to job creation, Mr Sambo said “the present effort under the SURE-P therefore builds partnership between the tiers of government on the one hand and across sectors on the other.”
He said in order to hasten the achievement of the programme; State Implementation Committees (SIC) have been established in each state and the federal capital territory, not only to guide the implementation at the state level, but to also serve as a platform for strengthening partnerships with states and local governments on employment creation.
Mr Sambo urged members of the committee to live up to expectations of government and justify the confidence reposed in them by their nomination for the assignment. He also warned them that “government would not tolerate any act of wrongdoing or corruption in the programme” as their inauguration was an act of matching words with action by the federation government.
In his remark, the chairman of SURE-P, Christopher Kolade, acknowledged the support which President Jonathan and Vice President Sambo have given to the programme. He said contractors in the programme and midwives have not been owed as they are paid promptly.
The Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Ministers of Women Affairs, Labour, Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory and representatives of the Minister of Water Resources and others attended the event.

Pope appoints Kukah to Vatican’s Pontifical Council

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed the Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah, as a member of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, Vatican City.

Matthew Hassan Kukah with the Pope Benedict XVI

The 13-member Council is the highest decision and policy-making body for the Council for the Holy Father.
Kukah’s appointment is coming after the appointment of the Archbishop of Abuja, John Onaiyekan as a Cardinal.
The Bishop has recently had sundry of appointments and awards.
In May, the President of the Conference of Bishops of English and French speaking West Africa appointed Kukah as the Chairman of the Commission on Culture, Inter-religious Dialogue and Ecumenism.
In February, he was elected Chairman of the Commission on Inter-religious Dialogue for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.
He had earlier served the Council in five-year tenure when Francis Cardinal Arinze served as the President of the Council.
He was a delegate at the just-concluded Synod of Bishops for the New Evangelisation in the Vatican.

Uduaghan recruits Aki and Paw Paw to motivate flood victims

The Delta State governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan on Monday explained the rationale behind inviting Nollywood actors, Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme, popularly known as Aki and Paw Paw, to visit flood victims in the state as motivational speakers.

Aki and Paw Paw were reportedly present during the inauguration of the 12-man committee on the management of Federal Government fund released to the state over the flood disaster and the Post-Flooding Rehabilitation of Victims, headed by a retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice Francis Tabai, at Government House, Asaba, by Mr Uduaghan.
The governor said he invited the duo after he visited the Institute of Continuing Education, where some flood victims’ were camped on a certain day and discovered that the displaced person, who were watching a Nollywood movie, were so engrossed that they barely gave him attention when he walked in.
“As I walked in, half of the population were watching television; you know we provided a giant television for them,” he said.
“I tried to attract their attention. Some looked at me and greeted me, but they turned to continue watching the television. When I looked at the television, I saw it was Aki, Paw Paw and Ibu that they were watching.
“You see, because they were watching Aki, Paw Paw and Ibu, they forgot their pains. For them, these Nollywood actors were helping them to ease their pains. That was why I invited them to go to the different camps as motivational speakers because the victims require a lot of motivation, while they are preparing to go back home,” the governor added.
He said the victims needed psychological support, adding that he was optimistic that Aki and Paw Paw would provide it for them.
“That is why they are here as motivational speakers. I believe that the few minutes they will spend will ease the pains of our IDPs. Those who have ability to ease those in pains, please help, it is not about food alone for the victims – that will not ease their pains.”

Fuel subsidy scam: Court adjourns Ali’s trial to accommodate more suspects

A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, has adjourned the trial of the son of former PDP National Chairman, Ahmadu Ali – Mamman Nasir Ali, alongside others till the 12th of November, 2012.
The others expected to face trial before presiding Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo alongside the former PDP National Chairman’s son, includes Nasaman Oil Services and Christian Taylor.
They were all charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence, forgery and the use of false documents.
At the resumed hearing of the matter today, counsel to the EFCC, Francis Usani, informed the court that the matter had earlier been adjourned till today (Tuesday) for trial, but explained that the commission would not be able to continue with the trial because of what he termed “some pressing issues which would assist the court in the true dispensation of justice”.
According to Usani, “The prosecution intends to join one Seun Ogunbambo as defendant in the matter.
“This is because as at the time the charge was filed, information relating to Ogunbambo had not reached the EFCC.”
In response, defence counsel, Toyin Pinheiro (SAN) who did not object to the submission of the EFCC said, “We would wait for the amendment of the charge to be effected.
“Though I know the defendants have no case to answer.”
In the meantime, Mamman Nasir Ali as well as the other defendants will continue to enjoy the bail already granted them by the court after their arraignment.

Fashola plans to ban us completely, he hates us – Okada union leader

The Chairman of the All Auto bike Commercial Owners and Workers Association of Nigeria (ANACOWA), Aliyu Wamba, on Tuesday said the restriction of commercial motorcycles, popularly called Okada from some routes in Lagos is a ploy by the State government to out rightly ban that means of transportation.

Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s morning programme, Sunrise, Mr Wamba said one of the state government requirements for any okada plying designated route is that the motorcycle engine capacity must not be below 200cc.
“If they use the word ‘ban’, it would sound very ugly to the hearing of the masses, the truth is that they have ban okada in Lagos” Mr Wamba said.
When corrected by a host of the programme that the state government only prohibited okada riders from plying 475 routes, the union leader requested permission to elaborate a salient point in the new traffic law.
He said: “there is another clause that says if your motorcycle is below 200cc, you are prohibited from the other routes in Lagos. So which other routes can okadas ply?”
Mr Wamba said all the engine capacity of all the motorcycles in Lagos is below 200cc.
The union leader said the government is taking the steps to ban commercial motorcycles in Lagos because “they hate okada riders”.
The government however insisted that the new law is to bring sanity on the road.
The law prohibits okada riders from carrying pregnant women, school-children or women with children. It also prohibits the riders from carrying more than one passenger and from riding against traffic or riding on the kerb, median or road set- backs.
Furthermore the commercial motorcyclists are prohibited from plying major roads in Lagos including Herbert Macaulay Way, Nurudeen Olowopopo Road, Agidingbi Road, Adeola Odeku, Ajose Adeogun, Allen Avenue, Opebi, Isaac John, Mobolaji Johnson Way, Oduduwa Way, among others.

FG opens Third Mainland Bridge

The Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen on Tuesday officially declared open all sections of the Third Mainland Bridge ready for use.

Mr Onolememen said repair works on eight expansion joints have been completed.
According to the Minister, the repairs were completed 10 days ahead of the scheduled date of November 5.
He said there was no variation in the contract sum of N1, 055,477,608.16.
Motorist and Commuters, who have had to manage diversions and traffic congestions since the repairs started on July 6, will be relieved as more lanes will now be available to them.
The contractor that handled the repairs, Messrs Borini Prono Coy Ltd also confirmed that the work is 100 per cent completed.

Nigerian jailed 20years in UK for child trafficking using ‘juju’

A 42 year old Nigerian man, Osezua Osolase, who carried out witchcraft on teenage girls he trafficked from Nigeria to Europe for prostitution has been jailed for 20 years.
It was recommended by the jury that Mr Osolase be deported once he has served his sentence.

Mr Osezua Osolase

Mr Osolase from Gravesend, Kent is reported to preyed on poverty-stricken orphans with the promise of a better life, Canterbury Crown Court heard.
Judge Adele Williams told him he was devoid of conscience and compassion.
Mr Osolase was found guilty of five counts of trafficking, one of rape and one of sexual activity with a child.
The jury was told in a six-week trial which ended on Friday that West African “juju rituals” were used to instil terror into Osolase’s three vulnerable victims, one aged just 14.
‘Exploitation and degradation’
The judge said the recycling worker, who has HIV, put his victims “in fear” to force their obedience and secure their silence.
“You were dealing in exploitation and manipulation and degradation,” she told Mr Osolase.
“You are undoubtedly a very, very dishonest man. You are arrogant and manipulative; you are devoid of conscience, devoid of any compassion to your victims.”
The judge said Mr Osolase treated the girls as objects to be sold as sex slaves. The fact that he raped one girl knowing he had HIV was a “seriously aggravating” feature.
Mr Osolase is alleged to take the girls to his home in Gravesend before sending them to work as prostitutes in mainland Europe.
The court had heard girls were trafficked into the UK and taken to Mr Osolase’s home in Gravesend before being sent to work as prostitutes in mainland Europe.
One of the girls described the Juju ceremony performed on her in Nigeria. During the ritual, samples of blood were extracted from the girl and her head hair and pubic hair were also cut.
She was then told to swear an oath of silence.
Mr Osolase was stopped at Stansted airport in April 2011 attempting to board a plane.
Anthony Orchard QC, defending, said Mr Osolase disclosed that he had HIV voluntarily to police.
“Mr Osolase acknowledges and regrets the consequences of his actions in relation to taking the girls out of the UK, and he has to bear the consequences of those actions,” Mr Orchard told the court.
Culled from The BBC

World Bank donates equipment to forestall road accidents and deaths

The World Bank has donated 16 patrol vehicles with communications gadgets to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in order to forestall road accidents and deaths on the nation’s highway.
The equipment are targeted at ensuring safety and enforcement on specific road corridors where the bank is currently carrying out rehabilitation projects.
While handing over the vehicles to the Corps Marshall of the commission, Osita Chidoka, the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen said expected target under the Road Sector Development Safety Corridor Project is fewer accidents and zero deaths.
Among the expected equipment from the World Bank under the second phase of the Road Sector Development Programme are 24 patrol motorcycles, 3 heavy tow vehicles, 1 low tow vehicle, 6 double stretcher ambulances and 1 single stretcher ambulance.
These road safety and communication equipment from the World Bank is to ensure that Nigeria meets its decade of action target on road safety over the next few years.

African Commission asks Edo to stop execution of inmates

The African Commission on Monday asked the Federal government to prevail on the Edo State government to stop the execution of prisoners on death row in Benin prison.
The commission, in a press statement said it “is concerned about reports of imminent execution of two prisoners on death row in Benin prison in Edo State of Nigeria: Daniel Nsofor and Osayinwinde Agbomien, despite the currently appeal in connection with the application of the death penalty in their situation.”
Calling on the Federal government to intervene in the matter, the organisation asked the government to be reminded of “the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights at its 44th Ordinary Session in Abuja, Nigeria, in November 2008 adopted a resolution calling on African States, including Nigeria, that still retain the death penalty to “observe a moratorium on the execution of death sentences with a view to abolishing the death penalty.”
“The said resolution also forbids the application of “the death penalty in conditions not respectful of the right to a fair trial guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other relevant international norms”.
“The African Commission therefore urges the Federal Republic of Nigerian to prevail on the Edo state government to exercise restraint, and not to execute the prisoners while their appeal is still pending in court.”
The intervention of the commission may not be unconnected to the appeal it received from the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) last Tuesday.
In a request for provisional measures dated 23 October 2012, and signed by SERAP Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organization asked the African Commission to “urgently invoke Article 111 (Rule of Procedure) authority to request that Edo state of the Federation of Nigeria adopt provisional measures in order to stop the irreparable damage that would be caused to the two complainants and their African Charter rights.”
The request for provisional measures was submitted in conjunction with SERAP’s communication to the African Commission.
According to the organization, “there are serious, persistent and irreparable violations of the Complainants’ rights to life; and to appeal to an independent and impartial tribunal, and fair trial guarantees during appeals require the Commission’s immediate and urgent attention.”
“Despite its obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other international treaties to which Nigeria is a state party, the Edo State authorities of the Federation of Nigeria continue to violate the fair trial and other rights of the two Complainants and put them at risk of imminent execution,” the organization stated.
“SERAP and Amnesty International have received reports that the gallows at Benin prison were inspected and tested on 22 October 2012. SERAP fears the inmates may be executed any moment. Two prisoners on death row in Benin Prison are in imminent danger of being hanged after the governor of Nigeria’s Edo State signed their death warrants last week,” the organization also stated.
The organization said that, “The decision to sign a death warrant despite pending appeal by the two prisoners against their death sentences constitutes a fundamental breach of the prisoners’ right to fair trial, including the right to an appeal to an independent and impartial tribunal.
According to the organization, “The resumption of executions by Edo State follows an announcement by state governors in June 2011 that they would review all cases of death row inmates and sign off executions as a means of decongesting the country’s prisons.”
“Many death row inmates in Nigeria were sentenced to death following blatantly unfair trials or after spending more than a decade in prison awaiting trial. The 2004 National Study Group on Death Penalty and the 2007 Presidential Commission on the Administration of Justice both stressed that the Nigerian criminal justice system cannot guarantee a fair trial and called for a moratorium on the death penalty,” the organization further stated.
The organization argued that, “the planned execution of two prisoners on death row on the sole ground that they are ‘becoming unmanageable’ while the prisoners still have their appeal pending does not offer a fair and effective solution to the perceived problem.”
“Justice is based on respect for the rights of every individual. As the Universal Declaration of Human Rights puts it, ”recognition of the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world”. The Declaration also provides that “everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing… of any criminal charge” an “everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law in a public trial,” the organization also argued.
The organization further stated that, “The right to a fair trial is a fundamental safeguard to assure that individuals are not unjustly punished. It is indispensable for the protection of other human rights such as the right to freedom from torture and cruel or inhuman treatment, and the right to life. However, when people are subjected to unfair trials, justice cannot be served.”
The organization is asking the commission to:
1. Consider the present Communication under Articles 55, 56 and 58 of the African Charter. SERAP further urges the African Commission to undertake an in-depth study, based on the “series of serious” and “massive” violations alleged in this Communication
2. By virtue of its consistent denial of fair trial and other rights to prisoners on death row in Benin prison under dehumanizing and harsh conditions, find that Edo State of the Federation of Nigeria has violated Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the Charter;
3. By virtue of its decision to execute the two prisoners on death row in Benin prison, find that Edo State of the Federation of Nigeria has violated the Complainants’ right to life under Article 4 of the African Charter, and the resolutions on moratorium on executions adopted by both the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the UN General Assembly.
4. Find that Edo State of the Federation of Nigeria has deliberately and wilfully disregarded the request by the African Commission to the effect that African countries, including Nigeria and its constituting units that still retain the death penalty should fully comply with their obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and guarantee to every person accused of crimes for which capital punishment is applicable, fair trial standards.
5. Ask Edo State of the Federation of Nigeria to pay appropriate compensation to the Complainants for the multiple violations of their Charter rights and freedoms.
6. Ask Edo State of the Federation of Nigeria to faithfully and fully implement resolutions on moratorium on executions adopted by both the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly.

AWC 2012: Super Falcons devour indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon

Nigeria’s Super Falcons made good their promise of beating the Lionesses of Cameroon to take their pound of flesh after beating the Cameroonians 2-1.
Perpetual Nkwocha made sure that promise was met when she scored the sealing goal very late into the second half to see the French speaking country that ensured the Falcons miss the  London Olympics as Falcons lost 4-3 on penalties after aggregate scores stood at 3-3.
Substitute Ngozi Okobi brought life to Nigeria attack and her pull-out found the durable Perpetua Nkwocha at far post to connect home with a diving header in the 90th minute to seal a hard-earned victory for the African champions.
It was the Super Falcons all the way from the blow of the start whistle with impressive moves as they dominated and took the lead at the tail end of the first half thanks to an Onyinyechi Ohagugha canon from 20 yards.
Though, it wasn’t all smooth sail going into the clash which held today in Equitorial Guinea as the water-logged pitch adversely affected the standard of play culminating into so many chances wasted by both sides, also denying the players the chance to show their full potentials on pitch.
On resumption of the second half as if some dressing room talk down was handed to the Cameroonians, Indomitable Lioness of Cameroon fought back  and that paid off as they drew level in the 53rd minute with a penalty converted by skipper Patience Mani after a Nigerian defender committed an infringement inside the box.
Before then the Super Falcons had a chance to double their lead through Stella Mbachu’s 19-yard shot which hit the crossbar in the 49th minute.
After their equalizer, the game sort of changed in favour of the Cameroonians as they dominated the better part of second half and would have taken the lead through a rebound which Louni fired wide unfortunately in front of an open net.
Meanwhile, hosts Equatorial Guinea beat South Africa 1-0 on Sunday.

Kaduna Bombing: Expose these terrorists, Makinde tells FG

The Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, Sunday Ola Makinde on Monday called on the Federal Government and all relevant security agencies in the country to expose those perpetrating the acts of terror being witnessed in different parts of the country especially in the North.

Part of a car used for detonating a bomb is seen at the scene of a blast in Kaduna

The clergy, who issued a statement signed by the Media and Public Relations Officer of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Oladapo Daramola, was reacting to the bombing of the Saint Rita’s Catholic Church at Ungwa Yero in Malali, Kaduna North LGA.
The Church was hit by suicide bomber on Sunday which left at least 10 people dead and nearly 150 others injured.
In the statement, the Prelate said “until those behind these series of acts of terror are exposed, there is that possibility that these blood thirsty people will not stop.
“It is surprising that since these acts of terror began, nobody has been arrested and brought to justice. This is more like an endorsement for them to carry on in these evil acts. It is a license to kill. Until those behind these terror plots are brought to justice, we may see more repeats of these kinds of acts.
“The big question however is, how many more innocent people have to die before we declare a full blown and effective war on terror. At least, by now we should know those who we are contending with and what their clear motives are. Is it a declaration of war against Christendom or an attempt to frustrate and make life unbearable for the Government of the day?
“We don’t want to leave room for assumptions which is why the intelligence community and the Government must respond adequately and decisively to this National emergency.”
The Prelate expressed condolences to the Governor of Kaduna, Patrick Yakowa and the people of the State, The Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna Diocese, Matthew Man-Ndagoso and the families of those that died in the unfortunate incident.
He however cautioned against reprisals saying it is not the solution.
“While it is true that nobody has the monopoly of violence, I do not subscribe to or support the call for reprisal attacks. Let us remember that an eye-for- an-eye lives an entire country blind. There is however need for justice. Governments at all levels need to protect Nigerians, especially Christians who are being killed and slaughtered on a daily basis.
“We are in a constitutional democracy and it is only right for elected officials to uphold the constitution to which they swore which demands of them to protect every citizen of this country in whatever part of the country they choose to live in with the freedom to exercise their faith in the light of the provisions of the same constitution.
“It is pathetic however, that we live in a highly intolerant country, especially the Northern part of our country where religious freedom is a mirage. To some of us, tolerance connotes indulgence or indifference. It is important to note that tolerance is the foundation of democracy and human rights. Intolerance in multi-ethnic, multi-religious or multicultural societies leads to violations of human rights, violence, or armed conflict as we are currently witnessing.”

Samsung to construct second engineering firm in Nigeria

Samsung Electronics West Africa, has commenced the construction of its second Engineering Academy in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, in line with its commitment to the development of Nigeria’s information technology sector.
Inaugurated in South Africa in March 2011, the initiative premiered in Nigeria with the opening of the first Samsung Electronics Engineering Academy at Government Technical College, Ikeja in Lagos State. The capacity-building programme is an integral part of Samsung’s vision to fast-track the entry of African youths into the electronics job market, with a view to developing 10,000 electronic engineers across the continent by 2015.
The Samsung Electronics Engineering Academy provides youths participating in the scheme with free hands-on, vocational training. Students undergo a one-year programme comprising basic, intermediate and advanced engineering skills and are introduced to industry appropriate practices, tools and equipment.
In addition to ensuring that Africa develops an adequate pool of engineering skills, the academy also provides learners with well-paying job opportunities, a commitment that supports the Nigerian government’s drive to address the issue of youth unemployment.
Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Bravo Kim, reiterated the firm’s interest and commitment to facilitating a better future for Nigeria by training a skilled workforce of technicians who will become service experts empowered to create wealth.
“At Samsung, we understand the importance of investment in quality education and its role in youth empowerment. Today’s ceremony is yet another significant milestone for Samsung in Africa, as it represents our vision to ensure that empowerment opportunities that exist on the continent is shared by all, even as we continue to expand the programme here in Nigeria and across the continent,” he stated.
The academy is one of several community development projects undertaken by Samsung over the past few years, in furtherance of its corporate social investment initiatives.
Other projects include Samsung’s “One Computer per Child” initiative, which is designed to put a laptop computer on the desk of every student in Ekiti State public secondary schools by 2014; its “Solar-powered Schools” initiative, designed to take solar-powered ICT laboratories to schools in underserved areas and its installation of e-learning centres in locations across the continent.
Ekiti state governor, Governor Kayode Fayemi, was present at the event.

JTF sets stolen petroleum products ablaze in Calabar

The Joint (military) Task Force in Cross River state has traced and busted a hideout belonging to oil bunkers in the state.
The operation led by the Commanding officer, NNS Victory, Navy Commodore Kingdom Itoko and Operation Pulo Shield alongside different security agencies.
They stormed an uncompleted building at Bayside area and Jebs in Calabar South Local Government Area of the state where diesel was stored in over 500 gallons and buried in the river.
Briefing journalists at the bunkery spots, Commodore Kingdom disclosed that, he was acting under the command of the federal government that all illegal activities of such if detected is set ablaze.
The state security adviser, Rekpene Bassey, in his remarks stated that the state government has in strong terms condemned the act, and security agencies are on top of their game to ensure that this illegality does not thrive in Cross River State being a tourist destination.
The operation team also made an arrest of four boys and two ladies who are also illegal occupants at one of the sites where the illegal business is been carried out.
The stolen products were burnt by the JTF.

Edo, Delta, Ekiti lose out as NCP announces bidders for electricity companies

The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) under the chairmanship of the Vice President, Namadi Sambo on Monday approved the bids for more electricity distribution companies (Discos) and generation companies (Gencos) of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
 
The Council however disqualified the Southern Electricity distribution company for multiple bids for the Benin Disco.
Southern Electricity Company is jointly owned by the governments of Edo, Ekiti and Delta states.
The governors of these states had previously rejected the announcement of Vigeo Power Distribution as the successful bidder for the Benin Distribution Company by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) insisting that the bidding process was not free and fair to them.
However, announcing successful bidders on Monday, the Council said the approved bids for the generation companies include Amperion power Distribution Company limited which has a bid of US$132,000,000 and therefore is the preferred bidder for the core investor sale of 51% shares of Geregu power Plc; Mainstream energy solutions limited which offered an annual fee of US$50,760,665.18 and a commencement fee of US$257,000,000 is the preferred bidder for the concession of Kainji Hydro power Plc; North-south power ltd which offered an annual fee of US$23,602,484.87 and a commencement fee of US$111,654,534 is the preferred bidder for the concession of Shiroro hydro power Plc.
The privatization body also approved that Transcorp/Woodrock/Sumbion/Medea/PSL/Thomassen with a bid of US$300,000,000 is the preferred bidder for the core investor sale of 100% shares of Ughelli power plc while Amperion power distribution company limited with a bid of US$252,000,000 is the reserve bidder for the core investor sale of 100% shares of Ughelli power Plc.
The NCP also said CMEC/Eurafric energy; JV consortium with a bid of US$201,000,000 is the preferred bidder for the core investor sale of 100% shares of Sapele power Plc;
The NCP also approved that JBN-Nestoil power services Ltd with a bid of US$106,500,000 is the reserve bidder for the core investor sale of 100% shares of Sapele power Plc; and
Given that Amperion is the preferred bidder for Geregu power Plc, the NCP also approved that Feniks electricity limited would be the reserve bidder for Ughelli power Plc subject to their bid being revised to match the reserve price.
The NCP also approved preferred and reserve bidders for the following discos:
1) Abuja Distribution Company: Kann consortium utility company ltd as preferred bidder;
2) Benin Distribution Company: Vigeo power consortium as the preferred bidder;
3) Eko Distribution Company: West power & gas as the preferred bidder; Honeywell was approved as the reserve bidder;
4) Enugu Distribution Company: interstate electrics ltd as the preferred bidder; Eastern electric Nigeria ltd was approved as the reserve bidder;
5) Ibadan Distribution Company: integrated energy distribution & marketing ltd as the preferred bidder; NEDC/Kepco was approved as the reserve bidder;
6) Ikeja Distribution Company: new electricity distribution company NEDC/Kepco as the preferred bidder; Vigeo power consortium was approved as the reserve bidder;
7) Jos Distribution Company: Aura energy Ltd as the preferred bidder
Kano Distribution Company: Sahelian power SPV Ltd as the preferred bidder;
9) Port Harcourt Distribution Company: 4power consortium as the preferred bidder;
10) Yola Distribution Company: Integrated energy distribution & marketing ltd as the preferred bidder.
The NCP also approved the next steps for the conclusion of the privatization of the PHCN generation and distribution companies which according to the Chairman of the Technical Committee of the NCP will be a down payment of 15 percent of the purchase price.

Ondo election: ACN says it is prepared to concede defeat if …

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) on Monday said it is yet to decide on whether to challenge the victory of Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party in the October 20, 2012 governorship poll in Ondo State.

The party in a statement by its National Chairman, Bisi Akande, said it was conducting “an accurate but swift assessment of the entire election” and would decide at the appropriate time whether to head to the tribunal or not.
Mr Akande, who issued the statement at the end of the party’s national leadership meeting in Lagos, said it was under pressure from some quarters to challenge the election results while some interests were urging it to accept the outcome in good faith.
He however said the party was more concern with the provision of efficient leadership rather engaging in activities that will slow the pace of democracy.
Below is the full statement issued by the ACN National Chairman on the Ondo election:
“1. Last week I issued a temporary statement on the reaction of my party, the Action Congress of Nigeria, to the outcome of the Ondo State election. Then I promised that the party will come back with a more detailed position after a careful interim review of the conduct and outcome of the October 20, election in Ondo State by the party leadership.
2. The Governorship election in Ondo State is over and the ballots received by INEC have been tallied. Some people have urged us to reject the INEC results outright because they do not favor my party. This we shall not do. We refuse to cynically treat our democracy as a thing to be discarded when its processes do not favor us. We believe in the long-run, the genuine processes of a genuine democracy shall favor all of us, even the loser of an election.
“We are prepared to lose elections if the contest is free and the process is fair and transparent. We know that in this manner our democracy is strengthened.
“No one race or political contest is worth damaging our democracy. We would rather lose the race and gain democracy than win the race and lose democracy in the process.
3. On the opposite side of the spectrum, other people are trying to pressure us to concede defeat as if all was perfect with the election. They do so not because they love democracy but because they are the political opponents of our progressive party. Their interests are not in justice but in appearing to be concerned about justice.
“They have never exercised any degree of political conciliation or bipartisanship in their exercise of public affairs. It stands as exceedingly hypocritical that they seek from us a gift they would never give. Thus, we see no reason to entertain their counterfeit expressions and the motives behind them.
4. This is our position. We believe in the right of the people of Ondo State to determine who leads them. For us in the Action Congress of Nigeria, the Ondo State election is a battle in a larger war; the war of deepening democracy and ensuring accountability in our country.
“We are therefore resolved to put the elections behind us whilst pursuing the task of providing leadership to our people effectively.
5. However, we have started an accurate but swift assessment of the entire election, from the vote count to the many and several irregularities and instances of thuggery and violence that occurred.
“Should we find ultimately that the misconduct and lapses were not sufficiently material to alter the outcome, we shall do the honorable thing and respect what has been announced. Should we find ultimately that the irregularities and wrongful actions materially altered the result, we shall contest the transgression as is our right and duty in a democracy.
“As leaders of a party and of people who trust the democratic process, we have a solemn obligation not to be swayed by emotion on one side or by intimidation on the other. We owe a duty to ourselves, to the people of Ondo State, and to this nation to vigorously protect the integrity of the process both during and immediately after an election.
6. We wish to state categorically that we would protect and defend members of our party from the unconscionable harassment and intimidation currently going on in Ondo State against our party members and communities that voted against the Labour party.
We take this opportunity to thank our candidate, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and the entire party for a valiant, dedicated and inspiring effort. We have nothing but accolades for what they did in Ondo State. They fought a good fight. As a party, we shall remain true to our pledge to resist any attempt to thwart the democratic process in Ondo State or any other part of Nigeria.”

Messi in line for fourth successive Player of Year award

Argentina and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is in line to become the first man to win the World Player of the Year award for the fourth time in a row after the shortlist for FIFA’s Ballon d’Or was published on Monday.
The 25-year-old, who took his career tally for club and country to 301 goals on Saturday, was among the 23 players named in the list which includes Real Madrid and Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo, runner-up to Messi in last year’s vote.
Andres Iniesta of Barcelona, named the Player of the Tournament after Spain retained their title at Euro 2012 is also included as is Radamel Falcao, who has been in brilliant scoring form all year for Colombia and Atletico Madrid, helping his club win the Europa League last season.
Barca coach Tito Vilanova showered praise on Messi at a news conference on Monday.
“I don’t think we’ll see a player like him again. Not only for the goals he scores but for the ability he has to read the game,” he said before hailing Iniesta.
“He is the clear example of a player trained at the Masia (Barcelona youth academy) who reaches the top. He is another one of those players of a quality that Barca will find it tough to produce again.”
Ten men are also named on the shortlist for Coach of the Year Award including Vicente del Bosque, who led Spain to the Euro 2012 title in Ukraine and Poland in July.
Roberto Di Matteo, who took over at Chelsea two months before they won the Champions League in May, is also on the list but there is no place for Frenchman Herve Renard who led Zambia to an unlikely victory in the African Nations Cup in February.
The shortlists will be whittled down to a final selection of three at the end of November with the winners announced at a globally televised gala ceremony in Zurich on January7 next year.
Players (in alphabetical order):
Sergio Aguero (Argentina), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Mario Balotelli (Italy), Karim Benzema (France), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Sergio Busquets (Spain), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Radamel Falcao (Colombia), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Manuel Neuer (Germany), Neymar (Brazil), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Gerard Pique (Spain), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Sergio Ramos (Spain), Wayne Rooney (England), Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast), Robin van Persie (Netherlands), Xavi (Spain).
Coaches (in alphabetical order):
Vicente del Bosque (Spain/Spain national team), Roberto Di Matteo (Italy/Chelsea), Alex Ferguson (Scotland/Manchester United), Pep Guardiola (Spain/Barcelona former coach), Jupp Heynckes (Germany/Bayern Munich), Jurgen Klopp (Germany/Borussia Dortmund), Joachim Low (Germany/Germany national team), Roberto Mancini (Italy/Manchester City), Jose Mourinho (Portugal/Real Madrid), Cesare Prandelli (Italy/Italy national team)

FA launches probe into Chelsea referee complaint

The English Football Association has launched an investigation into an official complaint from Chelsea after the club accused referee Mark Clattenburg of verbally abusing two of their players in Sunday’s defeat by Manchester United.
“The FA has begun an investigation relating to allegations made following Sunday’s fixture at Stamford Bridge between Chelsea and Manchester United,” it said on its website (www.thefa.com) on Monday.
The affair is likely to plunge English soccer, which is only just recovering from one damaging crisis surrounding Chelsea, straight back into a new one involving the European champions.
Chelsea host United again in Wednesday’s League Cup fourth-round match and although teams often rest leading players in the competition, the clash may take on extra significance given the controversy surrounding Sunday’s Premier League encounter.
Chelsea said Clattenburg, who sent off two home players – Branislav Ivanovic and Fernando Torres – in the highly-charged 3-2 Stamford Bridge defeat, used “inappropriate language” towards two players.
The club would not name the players in question or of what nature the remarks were, but a spokesman refused to deny that Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel had visited the referee’s room after the game.
Mikel was booked for dissent during the second half.
Chelsea’s decision to lodge a complaint against the FIFA-listed referee is largely unprecedented.
The club spokesman told reporters: “We have lodged a complaint to the Premier League match delegate with regards to inappropriate language used by the referee and directed at two of our players in two separate incidents.
“The match delegate will pass the complaint to the Football Association. We will make no further comment at this time.”
Clattenburg not only sent off two players but the officials rubbed salt into Chelsea’s wounds by allowing Javier Hernandez’s 75th minute goal that swung the outcome United’s way to stand, even though he was marginally offside before scoring.
UTMOST SERIOUSNESS
The referee has yet to comment but the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMO), which manages top English referees, said in a statement that Chelsea’s allegations were “being treated with the utmost seriousness”.
Clattenburg will co-operate fully and “welcomes the opportunity for the facts to be established,” it added.
A number of Monday’s British newspapers simply had the headline “Accused” on their back pages as featured in The Independent, Daily Mirror and Daily Express.
The Guardian had a banner headline “Ref in Chelsea race row” while the Daily Mail proclaimed “Ref Race Row” although those allegations have not been substantiated.
Chelsea are currently without skipper John Terry, who has served two games of a four-match domestic ban for racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand last year.
That case has blighted English soccer for a year after the former England player was also ordered to appear in court accused of a racially aggravated public order offence, of which he was acquitted.
The FA, however, using different standards of proof to guide its charge, found him guilty and fined him 220,000 pounds as well as banning him. Terry waivered his right of appeal earlier this month.
Clattenburg, no stranger to controversy, was criticised by Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo for “ruining” the match.
While Ivanovic could have few complaints after accidentally impeding Ashley Young when the winger was through on goal, the decision to show Torres a second yellow for diving sparked outrage on and off the pitch as he appeared to be clipped.
“We must be disappointed that key decisions were wrong,” Di Matteo told reporters.
“At 2-2, we looked like the team that was going to win the game. It was a good game between good teams and the official ruined it. Key decisions have to be right and you don’t want the referees to have such a big influence.
“I think it’s obvious in the eyes of everybody that the second yellow for Fernando was wrong. It was a foul for us and probably he should have booked their player.
“Their winning goal was an offside goal. It’s a shame a game like that had to be decided by officials in that manner. Surely when he sees it, he will realise that he made big mistakes.”
Torres’ Spanish compatriot Juan Mata, who brought Chelsea back into the game at 2-1 with a stunning free kick, said Torres’s dismissal was “incomprehensible”.
“But I prefer to focus on the positives from the game – we competed against a great opponent and responded well to falling behind,” he added.
Despite trailing 2-0 and clawing their way back to 2-2, Sunday’s defeat was Chelsea’s first in the Premier League this season but they remained top of the table on 22 points from their opening nine games – one point clear of Manchester United and champions Manchester City.

Racial slur will mark Clattenburg’s end in officiating if found guilty – Winter

Jeff Winter; former Premier League referee on one of the thrilling events that encapsulated Sunday’s EPL clash between Chelsea and Manchester United in Stamford bridge which is the allegation of racial abuse brought against  the officiating referee Mark Clattenburg by Mikel Obi and Juan Mata during the game.
An official complaint was lodged by the West London club over the alleged use of ‘inappropriate language’ by referee Clattenburg that was directed at two of their players, Mikel Obi and Juan Mata.
It was reported by a major British newspaper that Clattenburg has been accused of making a racial slur towards Mikel and called Mata a ‘Spanish t**t’.
If the allegations are true then Clattenburg is never going to get a game to officiate ever again and rightly so, but if it is true, where does it leave the game?
Officiating referee of the English Premier League?
It was reported that Mikel went to the referee’s dressing room to demand an apology following the match, with chief executive Ron Gourlay and manager Roberto Di Matteo.
According to the former EPL referee, Clattenburg’s position will be untenable if he’s found guilty of the offence, that “If a match official has used racial insults or language to a player then he’s for the high jump. He won’t be getting a four-match or an eight-match ban, it’ll probably be the end of his career, but that is if indeed he did say anything.”
“I feel it very unlikely that Mark Clattenburg would be allowed to referee until it’s dealt with so we certainly don’t want this going on for weeks and months.”
Talking racial abuse that has been lingering for a long while in the British football community for a while now with the recent case  between John Terry and Anton Ferdinand which has generated so much uproar, this again will run and run with so much discord. he said
To go into investigations, television pictures will be scrutinised and reports suggest that a number of players heard the alleged comments, whilst the other officials Michael McDonough, Simon Long and Michael Jones could be crucial as they were all wearing microphones during the game.

Manchester United touted favourites to win league

Manchester United has now been confirmed to be leading the outright market after their controversial victory against league leaders Chelsea at home in Stamford Bridge as Southampton got the worst rating of the season being main relegation candidates.
A most dramatic weekend so to say since the new season began, with wins for Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, the prices in the outright market changed significantly. Meanwhile, with Queens Park Rangers, Reading, Southampton, Aston Villa and Norwich all failing to win, Wigan Athletic is the only team to see their relegation odds lengthened.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s men were pitched as new favourites ahead of Chelsea to win the EPL title for the season after an eventful 3-2 win over nine-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Javier Hernandez’s late winner cut the Blues’ lead at the top of the table to just one point and as a result, bwin now make Sir Alex Ferguson’s men 8/5 (from 2/1) to win the league. The defeat leaves Chelsea as a 5/2 chance, out from 9/4.
Manchester City are also just one point behind Chelsea after a Carlos Tevez strike gave them a 1-0 win over Swansea City at the Etihad Stadium and Roberto Mancini’s men are now 7/4 to retain their crown.
A late win for Arsenal doesn’t seem to have impressed punters or odds compilers alike, with the Gunners longer for the title than they were before the weekend began. A 1-0 win over ten-man Queens Park Rangers at the Emirates saw Arsene Wenger’s side move into the top six, but they are now 20/1, out from 18/1, to win the Premier League.
Tottenham have been cut to 50/1 (from 66/1) after winning 2-1 against Southampton at St. Mary’s. Spurs now occupy the fourth Champions League place ahead of this weekend’s clash with Wigan at White Hart Lane.
At the other end, that defeat for QPR leaves Mark Hughes’ side at the foot of the table and the Hoops are now 2/1 to be relegated, cut slightly from 11/5.
However, Southampton is the favourite for the drop at 13/20 after that loss at home to Spurs. Saints were 17/20 before the weekend’s action and have now overtaken Reading, who is 3/4 (from 7/10) for the drop after a pulsating 3-3 draw with Fulham at the Madejski Stadium.
Aston Villa and Norwich City played out a 1-1 draw at Villa Park as Paul Lambert’s old club faced his new one, a result which leaves the Canaries 9/10 (from 3/4) for relegation, while the Villans have gone from 12/5 to 2/1.
The only team in the bottom six who won were Wigan, who beat West Ham United 2-1 at the DW Stadium. It means that Wigan’s odds to be playing Championship football next season have gone out from 8/5 to 7/4.

Eaglets qualify for African Junior Championship

Nigeria U-17 team the Golden Eaglets earlier today defeated Guinea 4-nil in Conakry to qualify for the next round of the African Junior Championship on a 7-nil aggregate.
The Eaglets won the first leg qualifier 3-nil in Calabar a fortnight ago. The Eaglets led 2-nil in the first half with goals from Alhassan Ibrahim and Isaac Success.
Success scored again in the second half to complete his brace with goal scorer Ibrahim and Ifeanyi Matthew outstanding for the visiting Nigerians.
They so far scored 17 goals and conceded only a goal in their qualifying race. The African junior championship will be staged in Morocco in April.

Chelsea make racial complaint against referee

Chelsea have made a formal complaint against referee Mark Clattenburg after accusing him of using “inappropriate language” to two of their players in the defeat by Manchester United.
Part of the allegation is that Clattenburg used racial language, BBC Sport has learned.
It is also understood midfielder John Mikel Obi is involved in the complaint.
“We have lodged a complaint to the Premier League match delegate,” said a Chelsea spokesman.
“The match delegate will pass the complaint to the Football Association.
Referees’ organisation Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) later issued a statement which said: “PGMO is aware of the allegations and they are being treated with the utmost seriousness.
“Mark will co-operate fully and welcomes the opportunity for the facts to be established.”
All four officials – the referee, his two assistants and the fourth official – wear microphones and ear pieces that allow them to hear what each other is saying throughout the match, although what is said between them is not recorded.
The news that Chelsea had made the complaint rounded off a dramatic day which saw the Blues lose their unbeaten top-flight record after Javier Hernandez struck 15 minutes from time.
Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic and Fernando Torres were both given red cards in the space of five minutes in United’s 3-2 win, with the Spaniard’s dismissal for diving disputed by Chelsea.
“It is a shame a game like this had to be decided in that manner by officials,” said Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo.
“Surely when the referee watches it he will realise he has made big mistakes.”
In addition, Chelsea are to investigate reports that a steward was injured by objects thrown from the crowd at Stamford Bridge.
Hernandez appeared to be pelted as he celebrated scoring United’s winner in front of Chelsea fans in the Matthew Harding Stand.
After that, a steward required 10 minutes of treatment before being taken to hospital.

Edo Assembly dissolves LG councils

The Edo State House of Assembly on Monday dissolved the transition committees of the 18 local government councils in the state ordering the Chairmen to hand over to the Head of Personnel Management (HPM).
The dissolution is sequel to a matter of public urgent importance moved by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) member representing Egor constituency, Paul Ohonbamu and seconded the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member representing Esan North East Constituency II, Emma Okoduwa.
The Speaker of the House, Uyi Igbe ordered the transitional committee executives to return all properties within their possession to the Head of Services at the various councils before the end of work on Monday saying the dissolution was timely as transition committee chairmen have been in office for over two years now.
The democratically elected council administration in the state was dissolved in 25 October 2010 by Governor Adams Oshiomhole and was replaced by an adhoc “Transition committee”.

International Anticorruption Conference: SERAP calls for withdrawal of Nigeria’s invitation

A civil society group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on “the International Anticorruption Conference (IACC) holding its 15th session next week in Brazil to withdraw any invitation for the participation of Nigerian government officials if the government does not move swiftly to ensure full accountability and justice for the complicity of government officials and multinational oil companies over the loss of tens of billions of dollars in oil and gas revenues over the last decade, documented by the Mallam Nuhu Ribadu led Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force.”
In a public statement dated 28 October 2012 and signed by SERAP Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organization stated that, “Nigerian government officials should not be allowed to participate in an important event like the IACC meeting while senior government officials and multinational oil companies act with almost absolute impunity and continue to divert oil and gas revenues into private pockets rather than for the common good. It is not only immoral but also unlawful and amounts to an outright stealing of the commonwealth of our people and a serious violation of human rights.”
“The Ribadu report has aptly illustrated the systemic nature of corruption and impunity of perpetrators. Setting up countless panels has not and will not produce any tangible result. Unless international pressure is brought to bear, it is unlikely that any serious action will follow this embarrassing indictment. Citizens’ efforts to stand up for human rights, good governance, transparency, accountability, and the rule of law will only be successful if complemented by international action and solidarity,” the organization also stated.
The organization said it “has been invited to make presentation at the IACC event in Brazil, and we will make the full accountability and recovery of the missing oil and gas revenues documented by the Nuhu Ribadu report a cardinal point of our presentation at the meeting.”
The organization also said that, “The Conference should call on the Nigerian government to officially release the report; and bring to justice suspected perpetrators whatever the political, social or economic status. The Conference should also urge the government to put in place mechanisms and codes of conduct to ensure that all of the country’s oil and gas licences and assets are granted and sold by public tender. Such a move would help prevent corruption and ensure the state gets the highest possible price for its natural resources.”
“SERAP is also calling for all Nigeria’s natural resource revenues to be declared, including details on signature bonuses and licences. International codes of conduct for the operation and accountability of multinational oil companies operating in Nigeria should be urgently developed and implemented to address the continuing complicity of these bodies in corruption and resulting poverty in the country,” the organization added.
The UN conference also called the International Anticorruption Conference is the world premier forum that brings together heads of state, civil society, the private sector and more to tackle the increasingly sophisticated challenges posed by corruption. The IACC takes place every two years in a different region of the world, and attracts up to 1500 participants from over 135 countries. The conference serves as the premier global forum for the networking and cross-fertilisation that are indispensable for effective advocacy and action, on a global and national level.
The IACC draws attention to corruption by raising awareness and stimulating debate. It fosters the global exchange of experience and methodologies in controlling corruption. The conferences promote international cooperation among agencies and citizens from all parts of the world, helping to develop personal relationships by providing the opportunity for face-to-face dialogue and direct liaison between representatives from the agencies and organisations taking part.
The meeting next week is hosted by the Office of the Comptroller General (OCG) based in the Brasilia, Brazil and two civil society hosts based in São Paulo. These are the TI National Contact point- AMARRIBO, which stands for Amigos Associados de Ribeirão Bonito and is a network of organisations and Instituto Ethos, a non-profit organisation focusing on Business and Social Responsibility.
The 146-page document produced by the 17-member task force, set up by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, in January covers the year 2002 to the present. According to the Reuters news agency, the report provides new details on Nigeria’s long history of corruption in the oil sector, which has enriched its elite and provided the oil majors with hefty profits while two thirds of the people live in poverty.
Alison-Madueke confirmed receipt of the report but said it was a draft and the government was still supposed to give its input. But the report submitted by the Ribadu committee was marked “final”. The report concluded that oil majors – Shell, Total and Eni – made bumper profits from cut-price gas, while Nigerian oil ministers handed out licences at their own discretion.
The report alleges that international oil traders sometimes buy crude without any formal contracts, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had short-changed the federation of billions of dollars over the last 10 years by selling crude oil and gas to itself below market rates.
The Ribadu committee was among several set up by Alison-Madueke following a week of nationwide strikes against a rise in fuel prices in January, which morphed into a campaign against oil corruption. Among others, tt had as its terms of reference: to work with consultants and experts to determine and verify all petroleum upstream and downstream revenues (taxes, royalties, etc.) due and payable to the Federal Government of Nigeria; to take all necessary steps to collect all debts due and owing; to obtain agreements and enforce payment terms by all oil industry operators; to design a cross debt matrix between all Agencies and Parastatals of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources; and to develop an automated platform to enable effective tracking, monitoring, and online validation of income and debt drivers of all parastatals and agencies in the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The report also said foreign oil firms had outstanding debts. Addax, now a unit of China’s state-owned Sinopec, owes Nigeria $1.5 billion in unpaid royalties, part of a $3 billion black hole of unpaid bonuses and royalties owed by oil firms. Shell owes Nigeria’s government N137.57 billion ($874 million) for gas sold from its Bonga deep offshore field, the report said, while oil majors owed $58 million between them for gas flaring penalties. They were also not adhering to newer higher fines.
The report also revealed that Nigeria was the only nation to sell all its crude through international oil traders rather than directly to refineries, adding that such trades were often opaque. It said some international oil traders who were not “on the approved master list of customers” had been sold crude oil “without a formal contract” so little could be obtained about the details of these deals, which can be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
According to the report, NNPC gets an allocation of 445,000 bpd of crude oil to refine locally but has been selling its allocation at cut-down prices, a practice which cost Nigeria $5 billion in potential revenue between 2002 and 2011. Also, oil ministers between 2008 and 2011 handed out seven discretionary licences but there is $183 million in signature bonuses missing from the deals.

Tambuwal condemns St. Rita’s Catholic Church blast

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has strongly condemned the outrageous and senseless attack on St. Rita’s Catholic Church, Kaduna which took place today; Sunday during the morning mass.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mallam Imam Imam, Tambuwal added that the attack on said innocent worshippers and other bystanders is both callous and senseless.
He urged Nigerians to remain resolute and not to despair, saying it is gladdening that security agents made commendable strides in handling the menace of terrorism in the country in recent months.
He however urged them to do more to destroy the ability of the terrorists to unleash mayhem on innocent, peaceful and law-abiding Nigerians.
While condoling with the families of the victims of the attack, the Speaker said the House of Representatives will continue to support all efforts aimed at securing lives and properties of Nigerians in all parts of the country.

Breadfruit inferno: Fashola orders building to be cordoned off

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), today visited the scene of Saturday’s fire disaster, Euroasia Plaza, on 10/12 Breadfruit Street and afterwards ordered that the street be cordoned off until firemen completely put off the fire and have engineers determine the structural strength of the building even as he sympathized with traders over the incident.
The Euroasia Plaza which is a five-storey building housing wholesale and retail shops as well as a branch of a major commercial bank, was engulfed by fire in the afternoon of Saturday with the two top floors collapsing on each other just as men of the Lagos State Fire Service, arrived in good time to battle inferno on the fourth and fifth floors of the building atop a Bronto Skylift, an aerial ladder firefighting equipment, a battle that the firemen are still fighting.
Speaking to newsmen after inspecting the damage, Governor Fashola said it was expedient to cordon off the street on which the building stands for the safety of all which will ensure that further incident will not be recorded after the incident as no one could yet determine the structural strength of the damaged building.
“At this stage, we are still battling with the fire. We are yet to know the strength of the damaged building; but meanwhile, the paramount thing is to minimize the loss. I have asked the Divisional Police Officer here to cordon off the street. Our Engineers will come to determine the structural strength of the damaged building”, the Governor said.

After visiting the scene of the incident, Governor Fashola addressed traders and other stakeholders in the area appealing to them to cooperate with the police and the firemen by being patient until both the firemen and the structural engineers finish their work on the building explaining that it was necessary to prevent people from trading or going near the building in order to avoid loss of life.
He told the agitated traders, “I apologize to you and others who are doing business here, but we are taking precaution to avoid any loss of life. Every other thing that is lost in the fire is replaceable but we cannot replace life. So let us eliminate the fire and save life”.
He advised them and others living or doing business around the building to keep a safe distance from the building until engineers assess its strength to determine how safe it is adding, “You can see, the fire is not fully out. Until we finish our work, we will not allow you to go close or into the building to avoid any loss of life”.
Responding to a question by one of the affected traders on what Government would do to assist them, Governor Fashola said the major priority for now was to ensure the safety of all, the complete stoppage of the fire and determination of the structural integrity of the building adding that when work on the building was finished, the possibility or otherwise of traders retrieving their goods will be determined following which government could assess and assist on the losses.
The Governor, however, advised the traders not to crowd around fire disaster scenes in future in order not to obstruct firemen from seeing to their core duty, that is to put off the fire adding that such obstructions would not only lead to further spread of the fire but could increase the possibility of loss of life.
“We appreciate your efforts to put out the fire. We understand your sense of being your brothers’ keepers. But it must stop. We have built the capacity to fight fire disasters so your efforts can only aggravate the damage and increase the danger of loss of life. Henceforth, you should keep off the scene and allow professional firemen to do their job”, the Governor said.
He said the difficulty experienced by firemen while trying to gain access to the scene was caused by the traders who chose to trade on the streets instead of the modern markets built by the Government in different parts of the State adding, however, that Government would continue to engage with the traders on the issue.
Governor Fashola also advised the traders to take out insurance policies on their businesses against loss and damages such as they experienced as a result of the fire pointing out that in cases like the present fire disaster, insurance companies with which they insured their goods would come to their aid.
Addressing another group of traders and residents of the area at the Martin Street roundabout, the Governor again reiterated the necessity of Government’s action in cordoning off the Breadfruit Street adding, however, that anybody who goes in there would be arrested by the Police.
As at the time of the late morning visit, firemen were still battling with the fire as they continuously fired jets of water towards the smoking ruins of the top floors. No less than 10 modern fire trucks, including aerial ladders, were deployed on the street to fight the fire and prevent it from spreading to adjourning buildings.
The Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed, the Special Adviser on the Central Business District, Mrs. Derin Disu were part of the entourage of the Lagos State Governor on the Breadfruit fire visit plus other top government officials.

Jonathan condemns Kaduna church suicide bomb attack

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has condemned Sunday’s suicide bomb attack on St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Kaduna.
The president, who was extremely saddened by the explosion, described it as “barbaric, cruel and uncalled for.”
President Jonathan noted that the apparent objective of the criminal and unpatriotic elements and forces behind the attack is to set back the progress the Administration has made in the fight against terrorism in the country. “It is obvious that these people do not mean well for Nigeria in the growth of its unity and development,” he said.
The President however, expressed confidence that the war against terrorism would be unrelenting as the nation would never give in to the forces of terror and retardation.  He added that the persistence of messengers of evil will not prevail over the will of the government and the people to secure peace and safety.
“Our efforts to deal with all acts of terror and violence would only be redoubled even as the security agencies continue to receive all the support they need from government to reverse this unfortunate and unacceptable trend that threatens the peace and stability of our nation,” President Jonathan said.
The President commiserated with the Catholic Church, families and friends of the victims of the bombing, assuring them that government’s resolve to deal with the threat of terrorism remains strong.

Ibori $15 million bribe: EFCC wants contempt charge for Edwin Clark

An oral application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking the leave of the court to summon a former Minister of Information, Edwin Clark for contempt of court has been refused by Justice Gabriel Kolawole.
At a resumed hearing to determine the owner of the $15 million alleged bribe offered by former Delta State governor, James Ibori to the former EFCC chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, the counsel to the commission, Rotimi Jacobs complained of statements credited to Mr Clark suggesting that the proceedings filed by the EFCC was based on falsehood as such the agency’s boss Ibrahim Lamorde should be sacked.
Mr Jacobs argued that the statements credited to Mr Clark in some newspapers which arose from a media briefing convened by the Ijaw leader are prejudicial. He urged the court to summon Mr Clark to appear before it to answer questions as to why he made prejudicial comments that touches on live issues in a pending case.
The former minister had, during a press briefing on the issue of an application for forfeiture of the alleged Ibori bribe which the EFCC had brought before the court, thrown his weight behind claims by the Delta state government that the money belonged to the state and should be returned to it. He called for the sack of Mr Lamorde over his roles in the plot to have the sum forfeited to the Federal Government.
He claimed that Mr Lamorde has his eyes on the percentage of the sum that will come to his office if the money is forfeited to the federal government and accused the anti-graft agency boss of falsifying the records for his ulterior motives.
In his response to the application by the EFCC for Mr Clark to be summoned by the court, the Attorney General of Delta state, Wilson Ajuya, called on the court to be cautious and not to waste precious time pursuing an issue that is outside the matter before it.
He further noted that summoning the elder statesman at this time will be premature since the court is yet to read and acquaint itself with the newspaper reports upon which the EFCC is basing their application.
In his ruling to the application, Justice Kolawole said Mr Clark is not a party in the suit pending before his court and that dwelling on comments made by non-parties in a suit amounts to searching for the cure for ring worm in a case involving leprosy.
The court however called on Nigerians, especially lawyers like Mr Clark who ought to know, to desist from making comments on matters pending before the court as that will prejudge the outcome of the case.
The court also advised the EFCC to file a formal application to enable Mr Clark respond accordingly in line with his constitutionally guaranteed right to fair hearing.
Meanwhile, another person, Olalekan Bayode, had also applied to be joined in the Ibori bribe money matter on a public interest locus.
Mr. Bayode wants the government not to release the $15 million to Delta state government but rather to set up a Trust to manage the money on behalf of Nigerians. He hinged his argument on the repatriated funds retrieved from corrupt politicians in the past which could not be accounted for.
The judge adjourned further proceedings to 19 November at 11 am.