NAIJAFEED

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Video - Britain to banish children of James Ibori and other corrupt leaders

Following last month’s conviction of a former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, by a Southwark Crown Court for stealing millions of pounds from the treasury of his state, the British Government has decided to banish children of corrupt Nigerian politicians from its private schools.

In an interview with Cable News Network, the Unit head of the Proceeds of Corruption Unit of London’s Metropolitan Police, Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Benton, disclosed that some measures would be applied against corrupt Nigerian politicians in the wake of the Ibori conviction.

According to him, “We hope that, by tackling the likes of James Ibori, we’re saying to those stealing from the state purse, you can’t have your children at private school in London. You can’t have a multimillion pound house in one of the most affluent areas of London. You can’t drive around in top of the range vehicles. We won’t let you move money around to buy multimillion pound jets.”

Mr Benton disclosed that his unit which comprises twelve detectives, traces the flow of foreign politicians’ money through London.

While examining the role played by British banks in aiding Ibori to loot his state’s treasury, it was found that Nigerian politicians find London an attractive location for laundered funds.

According to Robert Palmer of anti-corruption NGO, Global Witness, “London holds a double attraction for corrupt politicians. We are a major financial and legal centre so there’s a lot of expertise, and there’s also a lot of assets that go through the British financial institution, so it’s easier to disguise your assets….but there’s a prestige about being able to bring your assets and your wealth into the UK.”

CHANNELS TV

Former Nigerian governor to Delta state James Ibori sentenced to 13 years in UK

Former Delta state governor James Ibori pleads guilty to money laundering

Once mighty Super Eagles continue to free fall in FIFA rankings

For the third time in three consecutive months, Nigeria yesterday slumped in the official world football ranking, the worst by the country in the monthly FIFA ranking, as the country dropped three places to occupy number 63 in the world and 12 in Africa.

The country was ranked 60 in last month's edition of the monthly ranking exercise by world football ruling body.

Rwanda, Nigeria's opponents in the June 17 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier maintain number 26 Africa and 105 in the world; while Namibia, Nigeria's World Cup qualifier opponents on June 3 are a distant 35 in Africa and 120 in the world.

Cote d'Ivoire remains Africa's top team, occupying number 15 in the world, with Ghana in the second spot, while Algeria and Mali occupy number 3 and four in the continent.

The most improved African country on the ranking released yesterday is South Africa, who climbed four places to occupy number 67 in the world and 14 in Africa.

The other African countries in the top ten are Zambia, Gabon, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco in that order.

Daily Trust

Super Eagles drop rank in FIFA rankings

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Five Nigerians and 22 Ghanaians arrested for oil theft

Nigerian troops have arrested 22 Ghanaians and five Nigerians whom they caught stealing from an oil pipeline in the Niger Delta, impounding two boats, one of which was carrying 25,000 metric tonnes of suspected crude oil, the army said on Monday.

Nigeria is the world's eighth biggest exporter of crude oil but thieves take a sizeable proportion of its output by drilling into pipelines in operations called 'bunkering'.

Oil majors say bunkering is a major headache in the oil rich Niger Delta, a labyrinth of creeks and swamps that has for decades been plagued by militant activity and poor environmental management, leading to devastating oil spills.

"Our troops arrested the suspects on Sunday while they were doing illegal bunkering around Awoba flow station in ... Rivers state. They vandalised the pipeline and stole the crude," said Brigadier General Tukur Buratai, the state's top commander.

"We arrested 22 Ghanaians, five Nigerians and two of their vessels. One of the vessels was loaded with 25,000 metric tonnes of substance suspected to be crude oil."

An amnesty in 2009 sharply reduced militancy in the onshore swamps and waterways of the Niger Delta but criminal gangs tapping oil pipelines is still a major problem.

Royal Dutch Shell estimates that bunkering siphons 150,000 barrels of oil per day from Nigeria's production, and has become a major deterrent to exploring for new fields.

The company said on Friday it had declared force majeure on Nigerian Bonny Light crude oil liftings due to oil theft and that 60,000 bpd of oil had been shut down.

Reuters

Shell shuts in 25,000 bpd of oil due to sabotage and theft

Nigeria fuel subsidy report shows $6.8bn lost due to fraud

FIFA send their condolences for Rashidi Yekini's passing

World football governing body, FIFA, yesterday condoled with Nigeria and the nation's football family over the death last Friday of the country's football legend Rashidi Yekini.

In a condolence message to the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari, FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter described Yekini as a legend, who was a great figure at the US 94 World Cup.

Blatter, who expressed sadness over the death, said the world's football family would no doubt miss the former Super Eagles striker.

"It is with great sadness that I write to you today having learned of the passing away of the former Nigerian striker, Rasheed Yekini at the age of 48.

"I remember Rasheed Yekini well. He scored nearly 40 goals as a Nigerian international, and represented the nation in five major tournaments, including two FIFA World Cups. He was also named the African Footballer of the Year in 1993.

"Rasheed Yekini is one of the great figures at the FIFA World Cup 1994 in the United States. He scored his first ever for his country against Bulgaria. This goal secures his place as a legend in the annals of Nigerian football history. Rasheed Yekini will be sorely missed.

"On behalf of FIFA and the whole worldwide family of football, I wish to extend our deepest condolences to you, to everyone at the Nigerian football Federation and, most importantly, to the family of Rasheed Yekini, his friends and loved ones", Blatter stated.

Daily Trust

Nigerian football Legend Rashidi Yekini - Dead at 48

Three bombs diffused at Bayero University, Kano

The police in Kano yesterday detonated three explosive devices planted at various places on the Old Campus of Bayero University, Kano (BUK). Daily Trust gathered that the devices were discovered at the institution's Faculty of Law and at two other areas early morning.

Three explosives were discovered separately at the school's Faculty of Law building, sports complex and another area on the Old Campus, following which police bomb disposal unit moved in and detonated the devices.

Another bomb, which was said to be capable of causing massive damage to structures in the university, was also discovered at BUK's Sociology department building on the New Campus, just a day after an attack by gunmen at Sunday service left 19 people, including professors and students dead.

Confirming the bomb discovery, Kano Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Musa Magaji Majiya, said a police anti-bomb squad was deployed to the scene, adding that people were evacuated from the vicinity before the explosives were detonated.

Meanwhile, management of the university has urged members of the university community to be more vigilant in view of the recurrent bomb discoveries at the institution.

A statement by its public relations officer, Mustapha Zaharaddeen, said the school appealed to members of the university community to be more vigilant, patient and understanding "at these trying periods."

Daily Trust

Boko Haram claim responsibility for This Day offices bombing

Boko Haram claims responsibility for UN bombing