The suspect, Ngozi Monye-Cole, 48, was apprehended at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The anti-narcotic agents have also arrested Nnadebe Henry Abuchi, 27, who allegedly swallowed 1.433 kg of cocaine while returning from Brazil.

NDLEA Airport Commander, Hamza Umar, who confirmed the seizure of 3.483 kg of cocaine, said the drug was discovered during routine check at the airport's baggage desk.

Monye-Cole was nabbed on January 30, 2010, for concealing 2.050 kg of substance that tested positive to cocaine inside CDs while Abuchi, who ingested 50 wraps of substance found to be cocaine weighing 1.433kg, was detected by the scanning machine.

Meanwhile, Osun State Command of the NDLEA has destroyed over 155 hectres of Indian hemp farms worth N5 billion at different locations in the state.

Also in a separate operation, the agency patrol, in collaboration with other security agents, have discovered a fresh cannabis farm where 600kgs of Indian hemp worth about N150m were recovered from one Steven Enenwe.

In a statement yesterday in Osogbo, the state Commander of the NDLEA, Mrs. Wosilat Audu, said 208 suspects were arrested last year in connection with cultivation and possession of cannabis, comprising 190 men and 18 women. Twenty of the suspects were youths.

Of the 208 suspects, 45 had been prosecuted and convicted while 33 cases are pending in court.

Also, the Kwara State Command of the NDLEA at the weekend disclosed that it arrested 84 suspected drug traffickers between January and December last year.

Besides, it seized 556.887 kilogrammes of hard drugs and destroyed 1.8 acre of Indian Hemp farm in Kawo Village, Edu Local Council, in the year under review.

The state Commander of the NDLEA, Mr. Nse Jack Inam, disclosed these at the weekend in Ilorin, the state capital.

Monye-Cole, a mother of four, who is a caterer, was arrested during screening of passengers on British Airways flight to London Heathrow Airport.

She was alleged to have cleverly arranged the discs in four sets, drilled a hole in the centre and inserted a pipe in each set which she filled up with cocaine using two undrilled discs at both ends as a cover to avoid detection.

Notwithstanding her creativity in packing the drugs, the NDLEA operatives found her out during routine search at the baggage check-in desk.

In her statement, Monye-Cole said that her sponsors gave her the discs containing the cocaine to deliver in London.

Her words: "It was my childhood friend that lured me into this mess. I met her at Asaba my hometown and she invited me to an eatery. She asked me to eat anything I like. In fact, I was carried away by her hospitality, particularly when she is a fellow woman.

"My friend told me that she does her business in Abuja where she is based. I demanded that she introduce me to her business but she said it was capital-intensive. That was how I told her of my husband's death and how I am struggling to take care of my four children.

"She convinced me to traffic drugs to raise capital for her kind of business with the promise of paying me 3,000 pounds. Unfortunately, I was caught at the airport by NDLEA. I was astonished when the officer detected the drugs weighing 2.050 kg because they told me it was only 500 grammes".

Abuchi, a trader was arrested during the inward screening of passengers on South Africa Airways flight from Brazil.

He was detected to have drugs with the aid of the scanner and was placed under observation to excrete the drugs, weighing 1.433 kg.

Abuchi, a Nigerian, is married to a South African woman and has dual citizenship of both countries.

He lives in South Africa with his wife and child but visits Nigeria regularly.

His words: "I swallowed 50 wraps of cocaine for a fee of $3,000. I agreed to do it because I needed money. It has happened and I believe I have learnt my lesson".

 The Guardian

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Nigeria's ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua will write a letter handing power over to his vice-president, his adviser has told the BBC.

The letter, formally informing the Senate that Mr Yar'Adua is on "medical vacation", automatically means his deputy becomes acting president.

The president's allies have previously resisted calls for him to step aside.

He has been in a hospital in Saudi Arabia since November, prompting fears of a power vacuum and street protests.

The president is suffering from an inflammation of the lining around the heart and has long suffered from kidney problems.

Nigeria's powerful state governors have said they believe Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan should be acting president.

Cabinet split

The BBC's Caroline Duffield in Lagos says Nigeria's political struggle over the president's fitness to rule may be nearing an endgame.

The president's special adviser on legislative affairs, Abba Aji, did not say when Mr Yar'Adua would write the letter but he said there would be no "undue delay".

For weeks, Nigeria has been beset with rumours and hoaxes over whether the president is alive or dead, our correspondent says.

His failure to transfer powers to his deputy before he left created a power vacuum - in which fear and false reports flourished, she says.

Newspapers said the president was brain dead - or struck dumb.

There were apparently official statements claiming the president was discharged from hospital. They later turned out not to be true.

Political tensions have been high - government business has stalled and legislation been frozen and cracks have appeared in the uneasy peace in the oil-producing Niger Delta.

Earlier this week, the first signs of a split emerged in Nigeria's cabinet, when Information Minister Dora Akunyili urged her colleagues to admit that the president was no longer fit to govern.

But she was shouted down in the cabinet meeting, government sources told the BBC.

The federal high court has ruled that there is no constitutional requirement for the president to hand over power when he is abroad receiving medical treatment.

But he now appears to have given in to all the pressure.

Nigeria's split between the mainly Muslim north and the mainly Christian south has complicated the issue, analysts say.

Northern power-brokers may be reluctant to see Mr Yar'Adua, a northerner, hand over power to Vice-President Jonathan, from the south, before the next scheduled presidential elections in 2011.

Since the return to civilian rule, power has usually rotated between the regions.

BBC

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The Minister of Power, Dr. Rilwan Babalola, who made the disclosure yesterday at a power sector update and ministerial press briefing in Abuja, further revealed that more than N79 billion was spent towards the failed actualization of 6000Mw of electricity by December 2009.

Blames inadequate gas supply

Babalola was, however, quick to blame inadequate gas supply to the various thermal plants for the drastic short-fall experienced in power generation in the country.

He said there was need to improve on supply by diversifying power generation beyond gas, which is presently the dominant generation technology, and increase security and reliability of electricity services in the country.

According to him, "Providing access to affordable and reliable electricity to all citizens of Nigeria is a critical national goal of the Federal Government.

"This is in view of the fact that without adequate and reliable electricity supply, our socio-economic goals of alleviating poverty, creating jobs and wealth as envisaged in the -Point Agenda and Vision 2020 cannot be achieved."

He explained that the Federal Government set a target of 6000Mw to be achieved by December 2009 to meet demand projection for 2010, which is estimated at about 5100Mw. This target of generation capacity was assessed as being sufficient to meet the unsuppressed peak demand with some reserve margins.

The Managing Director of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, Mr. Hussein Labo, who confirmed the situation, explained that it was as a result of a steady decline in gas supply from the Nigeria Gas Company, NGC to the various power stations in the country.

The power company said sequel to the non-availability of adequate gas to power the plants, power generation at the Egbin Power station has reduced from 800Mw to only 100Mw and a daily shortfall of 150Mw at the Geregu Power Station. Egbin has the capacity to generate 1,320Mw of electricity, while Geregu's generation capacity is 414Mw.

The inadequate gas supply to fire the available turbines has led to a loss of over 800Mw. This great loss has impacted negatively on power supply giving rise to load shedding nationwide.

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There was confusion at the Federal Executive Meeting (FEC) yesterday, when the Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, submitted a memo calling on the FEC to face up to the reality of President Umaru Yar'Adua's continued absence.

Akunyili in the 'step down memo' to the meeting urged her colleagues to advise the President to transmit a letter to the National Assembly to facilitate a smooth transition.

Daily Champion gathered that Akunyili in the memo which created a fiasco in the meeting had warned that FEC had taken Nigerians for granted for too long and should do the right thing by urging the President to step down. Predictably, the memo was shot down as it was not allowed to form part of the agenda.

A reliable source told Daily Champion that though most of his colleagues supported the memo, some powerful persons ensured that it was thrown into the dustbin. She was however congratulated by many of them for her courage and bravery in confronting the FEC.

Responding to inquiries from Daily Champion, Prof. Akunyili accepted writing the memo.

Meanwhile the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday foreclosed any handing over to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, when the party told him to wait for God's directives on the clamour for Acting President being canvassed by opposition parties and human rights groups.

The message was handed out to Jonathan when the National Chairman of PDP, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor visited him in the Presidential Villa on behalf of the party hierarchy.

Ogbulafor, while speaking to Jonathan quoted Psalm 62: 11 of the Holy Bible which says: "God has spoken once; twice I have heard this that power belongs to God."

The visit to the Vice-President was the first since the controversy to hand over power to Jonathan as Acting President started.

Arriving at the Villa on what was described as solidarity visit aimed at encouraging him on his resilience in discharging his duty in the absence of the President, Ogbulafor said: "Throughout this period, you have demonstrated patriotism and measure of loyalty and statesmanship. You have through exemplary selflessness held the government and the country together in spite of the mischief of a few.

"We are particularly delighted with the prompt manner you handled the crisis in Jos, Plateau State. We also wish to appreciate your prompt response on behalf of the government of Nigeria to the tragedy in Haiti.

"We wish to place on record our deepest satisfaction with the manner you have steadied the ship of state in the absence of his Excellency, the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Umaru Yar'Adua.

"You have discharged your duties in the absence of Mr. President with distinction. We are proud that you have refused to be distracted by needless debates and controversies originating from some of our opponents.

"We maintain our earlier assertion that with you effectively on the saddle, there is no vacuum in the Presidency.

"Your Excellency, like all Nigerians from different spheres of life, we have been keenly following developments in the country since the departure of Mr. President for medical attention.

"We wish to once again commend you for doing everything possible to ensure the smooth functioning of the affairs of government.

"On behalf of the PDP, I pledge our unalloyed support to you as you continue to steer the ship of our nation. You can count on our support in this regard at all times. Furthermore, the word of the Holy Scripture in Psalm 62:11 is apt for this moment, that God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God."

Daily Champion

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This is even as the Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes, Dagmar Thomas, estimates that the nation had lost millions of dollars to the fraudulent act.

She was speaking on the need for the West African Cybercrime Summit billed for September 7 to 10, 2010.

Dagmar, who spoke following the pre-summit workshop and launch of an anti-corruption song, explained that the summit is being hosted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in partnership with UNODC and Industry in Abuja.

While harping on the need to get both government and non-governmental organisations to back the fight and eradicate the problem, Dagmar listed the objectives of the summit as raising political awareness and commitment to combat cybercrime, building capacity for scalable and sustainable solutions and developing multi-lateral cooperation.

Also speaking on the occasion, Mr. Bala Sanda, the Principal Staff Officer to Chairman of the EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri, said the fight against cybercrimes has yielded result as over $500 million had been saved due to preventive measures taken.

He said by working with Microsoft and other technical companies, several emails being used for fraudulent dealings have been shut down.

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But soccer lovers and indeed, followers of the round leather game would have learnt of the incredible exploits performed on the soccer field by members of the then UK Tourists. Those were the days the likes of Teslim 'Thunder' Balogun, Dan Anyiam, Skipper Ewa Henshaw and other members of the team mesmerized with the ball before and shortly after the nation's independence in 1960.

Pa Ibiam was among the 18 Nigerian footballers who embarked on a tour of England in August 1949.

As expected, virtually all of the 'boys' of yesteryears have since passed on, and the only one remaining is now in the twilight of his days. Pa Ibiam is the last surviving member of that clan of sporting heroes.

At 85, you'd expect this great-grandfather of Nigerian goaltenders to be living a comfortable life, nestled comfortably in a cosy house, reaping the fruits of his hard labour. You would have expected that the government he so faithfully served in his youthful years would come to his aid now that he is too old to work. But if you harbour such thoughts, you would be living in dreamland.

The bitter truth is that Pa Ibiam and many others who did the nation proud in their younger years have been cruelly abandoned to their fate by Nigeria at a time they can scarcely fend for themselves.

Some are luckier though. While Thunder Balogun and Dan Anyiam have stadia named after them in their respective states of Lagos and Imo, Sam Ibiam has no structure bearing his name either in his native state or anywhere in Nigeria.

Pa Ibiam, known in his playing days as The Cat or The Black Magnet, now lives in a modest bungalow in his hometown, Unwana in Afikpo, Ebonyi State. It is in the house that the reporter, alongside Chief Jasper Okoro, the amiable editor-in-chief of National Standard, the Ebonyi State government owned newspaper, spends about ten minutes with the retired keeper this hot Thursday afternoon.

Locating Pa Ibiam's home in Unwana will pose little problem for even the first time visitor. All you need do is mention his name and several people will offer to take you to the nondescript bungalow where the octogenarian ex-goaltender dwells.

Spotting a white sports jersey and shorts, the retired footballer is in his elements. After welcoming his impromptu guests, Pa Ibiam invites you to his living room, a sparsely furnished apartment with several posters, calendars and glazed photographs adorning the wall.

Among the photographs are some black and whites where a much younger Sam Ibiam poses with his fellow team mates in the national team.The government might not have looked his way, but papa is a hero among his people.

"The recognition is encouraging, at least by the people," the old man says in a voice packed full with verve and vitality. "If you say by the people, you are right. But as for the government, there is no recognition. None at all."

In the mid and late 40s, Pa Ibiam was a consummate soccer player. He played professional football across the country and in Accra before he was invited to the Nigeria's national team after participating in what was known then as the Governor's Cup.

"In our days, we played with pride and patriotism," he recalls with some nostalgia. "In those days, everyone played for pride, not for money. We were happy playing for our country unlike what is happening now."

But Pa Ibiam will not blame football players who demand for their due before they lace their boots for the country. "They are learning from us because they know what we suffered for the country," he says. "We did all these things for the country with open minds. Unfortunately, the government didn't care about us. So the boys who demand for money before they play for the country are only being smart.

They know it is whatever they get now that they will ever get from the government. As soon as they can't play again, the government will abandon them. So, I don't blame them."

In their heydays, there was a myth about one of Pa Ibiam's compatriots, Teslim 'Thunder' Balogun. Balogun was said to have once kicked a shot that tore through a goalkeeper's tummy, with the ball forcefully escaping through the dead keeper's open back. Pa Ibiam's laugh is infectious as he dismisses the fallacy. "Don't mind them. Nothing like that ever happened," he informs.Does he still watch football? Not often, he confesses.

"I lost interest because of the treatment given us. Since we stopped playing, no government has deemed it fit to recognise what we did for Nigeria. All that has more or less killed one's interest in the game. That is why I hardly watch soccer these days."

"In 1986, the Rivers State government invited us because I played for Port Harcourt before. So the then Rivers State Commissioner for Sports invited their old players to Port Harcourt. That was when they were commissioning their new stadium in the city. That was all. A year later, the Sports Commission gave us honour in Lagos. All those sports men who had taken part in sports both in Nigeria and overseas were honoured. The late Chief MKO Abiola, state governors and many other important people were there. They promised us cars because they said that would enable us go to the stadium to watch matches. But even that promise was not fulfilled. And if you go to them to ask them to fulfill their promise, you would never see them and their aides would be making fun of you. That is why I lost interest."

At 85, many of Pa Ibiam's compatriots would be frail and bent with age. But Pa Ibiam presents a refreshing difference. Not only is he strong and agile, the ex-footballer is also very alert mentally. What's the secret of his healthy looks?

"It's God," he says. "I give God the glory for keeping me alive and blessing me with good health. And don't forget this is Unwana. We eat a lot of fresh fish here."

But don't ask the retired footballer to offer a word of advice for the Nigerian government on how to take care of the nation's past heroes. "Why should I advise them," he counters. "Even you talking, I'm sure you know what the problem is and how to solve it. Everyone knows the right thing to do. I have no suggestions for them."

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They said the two ladies lived together with two other ladies in the same one-room apartment in the Ajegunle area of Apapa local government area of the state, and that they had been living together without problems until last Saturday, when a minor argument ensued between them.

It was also gathered that the parents of the Fulani man's wife had instituted a divorce suit before the area court in Yashikira over constant beating of their daughter by the husband who they described as a 'rascal'.

The judge after hearing and deliberation on the case, reportedly granted the parents' prayers to dissolve the marriage. The herdsman then resolved to personally deal with the judge, it was also gathered. At the close of work on that day, when the court clerk and assistant took the late judge's books to his home, they met him dead. The head was severed from the body.

The command's Public Relations Officer ASP Dabo Ezekiel said the corpse had already been released for burial.

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SHELL announced on Monday that it has shut in some oil production in Niger Delta after a key supply pipeline was sabotaged.

"We have shut in some output as a result of the vandalisation of the Trans Ramos pipeline in our western operations at the weekend," Shell Spokesperson, Precious Okolobo, told AFP.

He said a leak was observed on Saturday, the leak was stopped and an investigation has confirmed the leak was due to a sabotage.

"Three flow stations were shut down to allow for the investigation. Repairs will commence as soon as possible."

Okolobo did not disclose the volume of production loss suffered.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) issued a statement on Monday to say that it did not attack the pipeline, even though it had threatened at the weekend to call off its truce agreed with Abuja on October 25 last year.

The MEND clarified, nonetheless, that it fully supports the attack by those it called freelance freedom fighters.

Joint Task Force Spokesman, Timothy Antigha, said the situation is being studied.

The MEND has threatened to resume "all-out" violent attacks on oil facilities, claiming it has received no effective peace dividend from the amnesty deal.

It explained that it had ordered the ceasefire in the hope of securing talks with the government, "true dialogue founded on a sincere desire to bring justice to the people of the Niger Delta, and true peace to Nigeria."

But three months on, the MEND said, "It is sufficiently clear that the Nigerian Government has no intentions of considering" its demands.

Oil prices on Monday rose above $73 per barrel (pb), driven by news of attacks on an oil pipeline in Nigeria.

The attacks are a "noticeable setback" for Nigeria's oil industry, said JBC Energy in Vienna.

"If these attacks continue, the recent upswing in the country's crude production from 1.7 million barrels per day (bpd) last July to two million (bpd) in January might turn out to have only been a short period of relief for the country's plagued upstream industry," JBC Energy alerted.

Armed groups seeking a fairer share of oil revenue for Niger Deltans have since 2006 staged attacks on oil installations in the region, playing havoc with crude output and international oil prices.

At the peak of the attacks the violence slashed Nigeria's crude production by about one million bpd, which saw Angola overtake it as Africa's top oil producer.

Shell, one of the top oil operators in Nigeria, has seen much of its almost one million bpd output slashed because of the unrest.

Last weekend, it announced the transfer of its interest in three production licences and related equipment in the Niger Delta to a consortium of two Nigerian companies.

Shell Managing Director, Mutiu Sunmonu, said the sale supports Nigeria's goal of expanding opportunities for local energy companies.

"We have been in Nigeria for more than 50 years and remain committed to doing business here. This transaction should be seen in the context of Shell's active portfolio management of its assets and interests across the world," he explained.

"The agreement covers Shell's 30 per cent interest in oil mining leases 4, 38 and 41 covering approximately 2,650 square kilometres in the north western Niger Delta.

"The buyer is Seplat Petroleum Company Limited, a Nigerian company jointly held by two Nigerian firms, Platform Petroleum Limited and Shebah Petroleum Development Company Limited, along with Maurel & Prom of France.

"The agreement is subject to the approval of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the national oil company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)."

Shell is the operator of the joint venture among the NNPC (55 per cent), Shell (30 per cent), Total E&P (10 per cent ), and Agip Oil (five per cent).

Sumonu said Total and Agip will also transfer their interests in the three oil mining leases.

"The area includes about 30 wells with a production capacity of approximately 50,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. The wells also produce natural gas for domestic and industrial use.

"Crude production is currently shut down awaiting completion of repairs to an export pipeline damaged in late 2008."

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"Nigeria is going through a period of uncertainty because of the prolonged illness of President Musa Umaru Yar'Adua," said a joint statement by the United States, European Union, Britain and France.

The powers said they welcomed constitutional efforts in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation and one of the world's top oil producers, to "resolve the question of governing authority in the president's prolonged absence".

The 58-year-old president has been receiving treatment for a serious heart condition in Saudi Arabia since November 23.

"Nigeria's stability and democracy carry great significance beyond its immediate borders," given its importance as a global oil producer and stabilising force in west Africa, said the statement.

It was signed by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and European Union High Representative Catherine Ashton.

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