‘Obasanjo would have stopped Boko Haram’

by Simon Utebor 

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Founder, Ifeoluwa Mission, Rev. Tela Tella, said on Tuesday that Boko Haram assumed the monster it had become because President Goodluck Jonathan failed to apply the ruthlessness of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

At a news conference, Tella, said the level the dreaded sect had got to could no longer be tackled by force but by persuasion and dialogue.

He said, “The mistake President Goodluck Jonathan made about Boko Haram was that he did not borrow from Obasanjo’s ruthlessness. Now, he has missed it; he cannot use force anymore.

“Applying force now is too late. There is already total confusion in his administration. Boko Haram is beyond him because he did not take action quickly.”

However, he said Jonathan was the Lord’s chosen and nothing anybody could do about it.

“It is true that Jonathan is not one of the most powerful persons that is supposed to lead the country. But who are you to oppose the Lord’s chosen? Majority of Nigerians voted for him, so that means God wants him there,” he said.

Why $620,000 bribery scandal probe is stalled — Police

by Niyi Odebode, Abuja 

The police on Monday said they would ensure a thorough investigation of the $620,000 bribery scandal involving the former chairman of the House of Representatives on Fuel Subsidy, Mr. Farouk Lawan.

The Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Mr. Frank Mba, in a telephone interview with in our correspondent in Abuja, explained why the police had not concluded the investigation a month after it began.

“We do not want to conduct hurried investigation that will not help the course of justice. We will ensure a thorough investigation,” he said.

He stated that the investigation would be conducted in a way that would ensure justice.

Mba dismissed a claim that the police would hand over the case to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission.

He said, “I don’t know where people got that information from. It is not fundamental to our investigation.”

The DFPPRO said the Chairman of the House Committee on Drugs/Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Mr. Adams Jagaba, who was interrogated by the Police Special Task Force on Tuesday, gave information that would assist in the investigation.

Jagaba had denied collecting the $620,000 bribe money from Lawan.

Also at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, he threatened to sue Lawan over his statement that he (Lawan) gave him the money.

Mba declined to comment on whether other members of the fuel subsidy committee would be invited but said the STF would soon round off its investigation.

He said, “It is difficult to put a time frame on it (when the investigation will be concluded). What I can assure you is that we will always balance what we give the media with what can assist the course of justice.”

Our correspondents learnt that members of the Lawan-led committee would be invited by the STF this week.

It was learnt that after the interrogation of the committee members, Lawan and the Chairman of Zenon Oil and Gas, Mr. Femi Otedola, might be invited again.

Investigations showed that the State Security Service would this week, hand over the original copy of video containing what transpired between Otedola and Lawan to the police.

Ministry intervenes in NUT, NTI N1.4bn fraud face-off

by Niyi Odebode, Abuja 

Federal Ministry of Education has intervened to end the frosty relationship between the Nigeria Union of Teachers and the National Teachers Institute, promising to pay N1.4bn allowances for teachers who participated in the 2011 Millennium Development Goals progamme.

The Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, stated this in Abuja, while receving report of the committee set up to investigate allegations that the NTI defrauded the teachers.

The committee, however, absolved the NTI of the allegation levelled by the NUT.

Wike said the appropriate authorities would ensure the payment of the affected teachers.

The minister had set up a joint committee headed by the Director of Basic and Secondary Education in the Federal Ministry of Education to investigate the allegations by the NUT that the money budgeted for the teachers’ allowances was diverted by some NTI officials.

But the Director- General of NTI, Dr. Ladan Sharehu, explained that institute paid the teachers N2,500 instead of N14,000 because of the non-release of fund for the project.

Wike, at an intervention meeting on Monday, confirmed that the institute could not pay the N1.437bn to the teachers that participated in the exercise because funds were not released as anticipated.

He said the money was not released due to the general cut in the last quarter disbursement of the 2011 budget by government.

Sharehu said the NTI was committed to the welfare of teachers, adding that it would not underrate them.

He said, “As the body charged with the responsibility of training and retraining of teachers, there is no reason the institute will ever underrate the worth and integrity of teachers, much less of causing them pains.

“We even wrote to the leadership of the NUT intimating them with the situation; this can be confirmed from them. Also, when their officers and my team met with the Minister of State for Education, in Abuja, at the instance of the minister, I still explained the matter clearly to them.”

EFCC Charges Clerics over N10m Fraud

EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde

By Tobi Soniyi 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Sunday  said it had arraigned three clerics before Justice M. S. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court in Yola, Adamawa State on  a six-count charge of  money laundering and obtaining N10million by false pretences.

Alhaji Inuwa Usman and Alhaji Chindo M.D. Bose, both leaders of the Taraba State chapter of the Muslim Council allegedly conspired with Reverend John Simon Jatutu, who was the Special Adviser to the State Government on Religious Matters to divert part of the funds approved to the council by the state government towards the celebration of the country’s Golden Jubilee.

The Taraba State government had in September 2010 approved N42million for the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Muslim Council for purposes of the 50th Independence celebration.

Both faiths shared the money equally with each getting N21million but the three accused persons cornered N10m from the Muslim Council share of the grant and declared only N11million to the council.

However, members of the council later got wind of the actual amount approved for them, which prompted a petition to the EFCC.

When the charges were reWhen the charges were read to the accused persons, they pleaded not guilty, prompting the prosecution counsel, Al Qasim Jaafar to request the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial.

Oil falls below $87 as China cautions on economy

BANGKOK (AP) — Oil fell slightly in Asia on Monday as the Chinese premier's downbeat comments on the economy underlined the possibility of weak demand from the world's second biggest crude consumer.
Benchmark oil for August delivery was down 41 cents at $86.69 a barrel at midafternoon Bangkok time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $1.02 to finish at $87.10 per barrel in New York on Friday. Brent crude was up 6 cents at $101.48 on the ICE futures exchange.
The weekend comments from Premier Web Jiabao came after China reported that economic growth fell to a three-year low of 7.6 percent in the second quarter. Wen said China's economy has not yet entered a recovery and "economic difficulties may continue for some time."
But the fall in oil was limited by signs that crude supplies are facing some constraints, which could act to push prices higher.
A series of reports last week showed that oil supplies from Iran, the North Sea and the U.S. have declined. Continued decreases would likely squeeze global supplies, while demand is expected to rise to a record of about 90 million barrels per day this year.
Oil has fallen from $106 about two months ago amid expectations Europe's debt crisis and weak economy would reduce demand for crude.
In other futures trading, heating oil was down 0.1 cent at $2.787 a gallon and natural gas was off 0.2 cent to $2.872 per 1,000 cubic feet. Gasoline fell 0.6 cents to $2.68 a gallon.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

$620,000 bribe: Lawan, Emenalo to face trial

By Yusuf Alli

Farouk Lawan

Farouk Lawan, the lawmaker in the centre of the cash-for-clearance scandal, is to face trial.
The former Chairman of the House of Representatives committee on Petrol Subsidy management allegedly collected a $620,000 bribe.
Sources said police investigation into the scandal has been concluded and the report of the Special Task Force (STF) will be sent to Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar and Attorney General of the Federation Mohammed Adoke this week.
The lawmaker admitted collecting the cash from businessman Femi Otedola to, according to him, prove that the oil magnate mounted pressure on him to take the money and remove his company from the list of those indicted in the subsidy fund probe.
But Otedola said it was all a sting operation he undertook with security operatives following pressure on him by Lawan.
Lawan might be arraigned alongside the former Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Boniface Emenalo.
But the whereabouts of the cash remain unknwon. It may be resolved when Lawan is taken to court.
It was gathered that the STF, headed by CP Ali Amodu, concluded its investigation after last week’s grilling of the Chairman of the House Committee on Narcotics, Drugs and Financial Crimes, Mr. Adam Jagaba.
It was learnt that after Jagaba’s statement on oath and the consideration of other bends of the investigation, the STF established a prima facie case against Lawan and Emenalo.
The audio and video tapes of the alleged bribe offered by Otedola and the proceedings of the House of Representatives have also made the trial of the two suspects a fait accompli, it was learnt.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have concluded our investigation, we are compiling our report. The key thing in this assignment is that we have established a case against Lawan and Emenalo, we have recommended them for trial.
“Therefore, they will face trial any time from now. The report will be presented to Inspector-General of Police Abubakar and Attorney-General of the Federation, Adoke (SAN) this week.
“We took time to conduct this investigation to avoid any strain in the relationship between the House and the police. We succeeded in our operation, without any cold war.”
On the whereabouts of the bribe, the source said: “Lawan did not make it available but the court will resolve the matter when the trial begins.
“None of the respondents has given clues on where the bribe is. This does not substantially affect our investigation, going by the tapes at our disposal.
“I think the weight of the evidence available to the police is enough for the prosecution of the suspects.
“We have done a tidy job; we are aware of the expectations of Nigerians and we want to prove a point that we have cracked this case.”
Lawan appeared before the STF on June 14, following Otedola’s complaint.
Jagaba denied being in possession of the bribe.  

Worshippers escape death in Kogi bomb blast

No fewer that 1,000  members of the Living Faith Church, aka Winners Chapel, located along  Obehira Road and the Deeper Life Church  all in Okene,  Kogi State, reportedly escaped death on Sunday when a car laden with  explosives exploded along Okene-Obehira Road.

It was learnt that there had been rumours of impending attack on the residents from unknown persons in the last  one week.
An eyewitness, who pleaded not to be named,  said worshippers at the two churches located within the vicinity  scampered for safety after the explosion.
The eyewitness, a  middle aged man, told journalists in Okene that the explosives in the vehicle went off  beside the Living Faith Church. He, however, said nobody was sure of the destination of the vehicle.
But another eyewitness who also preferred anonymity, said the occupants of the  vehicle were on their way to the Living Faith Church. He added that the explosion recurred while the church  service was already going on.
He said the attackers could be aiming to bomb the churches  before they were stopped by one of the managers of the NNPC filling station where the vehicle was initially parked.
The source added  that it was in the process of moving the vehicle from the station that it exploded.
According to him, there was no casualty.
The incident caused  gridlock along the ever-busy Okene-Obehira Road which is one of the link roads between the North and the western states.
Meanwhile, a man was arrested by security agents in connection with the explosion.
The Kogi State Police Command spokesman, Mr. Ile Simon, who confirmed the arrest in Lokoja on Sunday, said  the suspect was driving in a car and heading towards the church when he was accosted by security men.
Ile said  it was while the suspect was being screened that a “big” explosion occurred.
He stated that the security men deployed in the church arrested the suspect before he could escape.
The police spokesman said no report of death was received but some people were being treated for shock and injuries from the stampede that followed the explosion.
Simon  said the command had placed its men on 24-hour alert to prevent a reoccurence.
by Success Nwogu, Ilorin