NAIJAFEED

Monday, February 1, 2010

Malaysia nabs two Nigerian accomplices

Ten terror suspects including two Nigerians said to be accomplices of Christmas Day United States jetliner failed bomber, Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab, have been arrested in Malaysia, the country has announced.

They include four men from Syria, two from Nigeria and one each from Yemen and Jordan, said Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, head of a rights group that assists people held under Malaysia's Internal Security Act, which allows indefinite detention without trial.

The country has not released the name of the suspected terrorists.

They were among 50 people arrested by police while attending a religious talk by a Syrian university lecturer on January 21 at a home near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's largest city, Syed Ibrahim said. The others were later released.

The Malaysian government-owned New Straits Times newspaper said foreign anti-terrorism agencies told authorities that the suspects were in Malaysia and were linked to a young Nigerian man accused of trying to detonate a bomb hidden in his underwear during a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day.

The newspaper did not say how it obtained the information or how they were linked.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein refused to give other details yesterday, saying it might jeopardize investigations. He said the detainees posed a "serious threat" to security and their arrests were based on co-operation with foreign intelligence agencies.

"This is a very good wake-up call for us because the playground for terrorists is no longer just one nation. The whole world is their playground," he said.

The suspects include students at a Malaysian university, said Syed Ibrahim, the rights activist. He urged the government to either charge them to court or release them.

Activists identified one detainee as Aiman Al Dakkak, a Syrian university lecturer who has been living in Malaysia since 2003. He gave regular religious classes but did not advocate terrorism to his students, said Muhamad Yunus Zainal Abidin, a Malaysian who was arrested at the class and released several hours later.

Interrogators did not ask those freed about any ties to AbdulMutallab, Muhamad Yunus told a news conference.

Over the past decade, Malaysian authorities have held more than 100 militant suspects, mainly alleged members of the al-Qaida-linked Southeast Asian network Jemaah Islamiyah, which has been blamed for attacks including the 2002 bombing on the Indonesian island of Bali that killed 202 people.

Most were released after being held for years in a northern prison centre. Authorities say they were rehabilitated and no longer posed a threat. None was ever charged in court.

This Day

Video report on Nigerian terrorist attempt to blow up U.S. airliner

Nigerian tries to blow up U.S. airliner

Stephanie Okereke brings NYFA to Niger Delta

As a way of finding a lasting solution to the incessant cases of youth restiveness and militancy in the constantly troubled Niger Delta region, Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, in collaboration with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has announced the offer of sponsorships to youths from the state to the prestigious New York Film Academy (NYFA) coming to Nigeria in February.

Also, as part of his organisation's empowerment and economic rejuvenation agenda for young people of the Niger Delta region, the Managing Director of the NDDC, Chibuzor Ugwoha, has endorsed and supported award of scholarship to 370 youths from the region.

The 370 lucky candidates drawn from all the South South states are to be trained by the world's leading film school, the prestigious NYFA, who interestingly, will be making a landmark visit to Nigeria in February 2010, for an intensive training programme, holding in the cities of Abuja and Lagos.

The academy's historic training visit to Nigeria will be its first to Africa, organised and powered by Del-York International, a Nigerian-based advocacy and capacity-building company, the coming visit promises to be memorable and all encompassing.

Elaborating on the visit as well as the training for the lucky candidates, Linus Idahosa, the MD/CEO, Del-York International, explained that the Rivers State/NDDC sponsored initiative was a special privilege for youths of Niger Delta to immediately join the growing number of registered candidates sponsored by other institutions and states across the country. He said that it would also help them acquire practical and competitive skills on various aspects of filmmaking and digital communications from world-class masters.

"The course will include hands-on training with cutting edge filmmaking equipment that will be flown in from the U.S. For the Amaechi-led administration, the training forms part of its commitment to curbing the menace of unemployment by empowering young people with functional skills that will make them economically self-reliant and able to contribute to the developmental aspirations of the region," Idahosa said.

"This is a result-oriented programme that will identify raw talents as well as hone the skills of professionals in the industry. Following the training, an international standard movie will be produced involving candidates from the programme."

Meanwhile, top actress Stephanie Okereke, who is also an executive director with Del-York International, has urged all those interested in applying for the programme to visit any Zenith Bank branch and pick-up their registration forms.

"Completed forms should be submitted to the same branch not later than February 18. This is a once in a life-time opportunity with limited spaces, thus early registration is recommended," she said.

Daily Independent

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Sunday, January 31, 2010

Unrest in Nigeria

CNN's Christian Purefoy talks to Nigerians about the rising unrest around the country.

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Saturday, January 30, 2010

Court remands man for impersonating EFCC

Justice Abimbola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Gudu, Abuja, on Thursday ordered that Victor Osita Uwajeh, arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for forgery and impersonation, to be remanded in prison.

The court also fixed of February 9 for the adoption of written submissions and hearing of the bail application in the case brought against him by the anti-graft agency.

Uwajeh was arraigned on a four-count charge of forgery and for parading himself as a staff of the EFCC with the intent to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

A statement by EFCC spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said Uwajeh's offence contravenes section 363 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990, adding that it is punishable under section 364 of the same Act.

The statement explained that when the matter came up in court, Uwajeh pleaded not guilty to the charges, adding that soon after he took his plea, counsel to EFCC, Mike Bul, asked the court to fix a date for hearing of the case as the commission has enough evidence to prosecute the matter.

Attempts by defence counsel, Chris Onwugeonu, to move for bail was unsuccessful as the presiding judge turned down the request.

According to Banjoko, bail application was not ripe as the prosecuting counsel is statutorily entitled to 48 hours to respond, having just been served the application in court.

It will be recalled that Uwajeh was arrested at his Wuse II, Abuja, residence on January 13 following an intelligence report indicating that he was parading himself as an official of EFCC.

His arrest led to the recovery of incriminating items.

Daily Independent

Video report on the EFCC crackdown on corruption in Nigeria

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Nigeria militants end truce in Niger Delta oil region

The main rebel group in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta says it is ending the ceasefire it declared last October.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) said it did not believe the government would restore control of resources to local people.

Mend has demanded that residents be given a greater share in profits from oil resources and land.

It warned oil companies to prepare for what it called an all-out onslaught against installations and personnel.

In a statement announcing the end of the ceasefire, Mend said that the decision had been taken "after careful consideration and extensive consultation".

"All companies related to the oil industry in the Niger Delta should prepare for an all-out onslaught," it went on.

"Nothing will be spared," it added.

Militants have carried out a series of attacks which have cost Nigeria millions in lost revenue over the years.

The attacks have meant that facilities in the area have been unable to work beyond two-thirds capacity, costing $1bn a month in lost revenue.

Despite the ceasefire, one Mend faction attacked a pipeline in December, saying it was a "warning strike" over what it called government delays in progressing with peace talks.

Talks have been held up by the long absence of President Umaru Yar'Adua in Saudi Arabia, where he has been undergoing medical treatment.

BBC