Okonjo Iweala says indicted oil marketers responsible for the kidnap of her mother

Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala yesterday blamed indicted oil marketers for the recent kidnap of her 82-year-old mother, Prof Kamene Okonjo.

Okonjo, who was held hostage for five days, was on Friday rescued from kidnappers' den in Delta State.

Okonjo-Iweala who spoke yesterday while briefing journalists on her mother's release said, "My mother suffered a great deal during this ordeal. It was only the Almighty God that rescued her from a situation that could easily have ended tragically.

"She said she was left without food and water for the five days in captivity and the kidnappers spent much of the time harassing her.

"They told her that I must get on the radio and television and announce my resignation.

"When she asked why, they told her it was because I did not pay oil subsidy money. They also said I had blocked payment of money to certain components of the SURE-P programme."

The minister, however, denied stopping payment of oil subsidy to those that deserve it.

She said, "These statements are, of course, not true. In the case of subsidy payments, we have been paying all marketers whose claims have been verified by the Aig-Imoukhuede Committee after going through the necessary processes.

"For marketers whose transactions are proven to be fraudulent, the position of the Jonathan government is also clear: we cannot and we will not pay. We will not back down on this. We will continue to stand firm.

"In the case of SURE-P, there is a totally different process that I have no control over. This is the right thing to do. And this, I believe is what the Nigerian people want."

The minister said she would have been jumping in jubilation for the release of her mother but that the death of Kaduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa and former National Security Adviser General Andrew Azazi in a helicopter crash on Saturday tampered with her mood.

When contacted to confirm the minster's claim, police spokesman Frank Mba said he was not aware of the minister's claim and would not talk on it. "I will not comment on that," he said.

Daily Trust

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Two police officers arrested for the kidnapping of Okonjo-Iweala's mother

Nollywood star Nkiru Sylvanus Kidnapped

Nollywood actress, Nkiru Sylvanus has reportedly been kidnapped.

According to online sources, Sylvanus, who is also a Senior Special Assistant to Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha on Public Affairs was kidnapped in Owerri, the Imo State capital yesterday.

The fair skinned actress according to sources was last seen on the set of a movie Saturday night in Owerri.

While details of the kidnap were still sketchy at press time, it was reported that the kidnappers have contacted the Imo State government and are demanding a ransom of N100million.

Sylvanus joined the movie industry in 2000. Her first movie was Felix Okoro's "Out of Cage". Later she featured in "Evil Forest".

She is famous for her cry baby roles which shot her to limelight with her third movie, "A Cry for Help" which was also her most challenging role as she had to cry from the beginning of the movie to the end.

She has featured in over 30 movies.

Meanwhile, the Imo State police pubic relations officer, Vitalis Onugu said he also heard the report but that he could not confirm it officially.

Leadership

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 Minister of Finance, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala's mother kidnapped

Two police officers arrested for the kidnapping of Okonjo-Iweala's mother

Finance Minister Okonjo Iweala's mother rescued from kidnappers

Professor Kamene Okonjo, the mother of Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who was abducted last Sunday from her home, has been freed.

According to sources, the 82-year old queen is now with security operatives, just as report says Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan is on his way to Ogwashi-Ukwu to receive her.

Vanguard gathered that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been informed of her release.

The Nigeria army yesterday said soldiers had arrested 63 people in raids conducted during the search for Prof. Okonjo.

Earlier, it had been reported that more than 60 people, including police officers, had been arrested in connection with the kidnapping, for which a ransom of about U.S.1-million had been demanded.

Vanguard

Related stories: Minister of Finance, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala's mother kidnapped

Two police officers arrested for the kidnapping of Okonjo-Iweala's mother

Governor's son arrested with $50,000 at airport

A son of Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido was arrested with undeclared N6.3 million equivalent in U.S dollars at the Kano airport on Tuesday night, the EFCC said yesterday.

Aminu Sule Lamido, 34, was nabbed with $40,000 cash which he did not declare in the Customs currency declaration form.

He had declared only $10,000 to the Customs who let him pass but he was intercepted along the way to the boarding area by a task force of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission who found the additional money on him, sources told Daily Trust.

Aminu, a 2010 graduate of Mass Communication from the Bayero University Kano, was picked up by the EFCC operatives at about 11.15pm on Tuesday, on his way to board an Egypt Air flight to Cairo.

"I can confirm to you that he is arrested. Aminu Sule Lamido, 34, was arrested for underdeclaring money he had with him," spokesman for EFCC Wilson Uwujaren said.

"He was arrested at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport with money. He was on his way to Egypt. He declared $10,000 to the Customs, but when he was searched by EFCC officials, additional $40,000 was found on him," Uwujaren added.

The Jigawa State Government did not give an official reaction on the arrest of Aminu, who is Governor Sule Lamido's eldest son. But an aide to the governor told Daily Trust they were aware of the incident and were monitoring developments.

A senior official in the Kano/Jigawa command of the Nigerian Customs Service gave a Daily Trust an insight into how Aminu was arrested.

The official said as Aminu completed the processes of boarding his flight, he filled in a Customs currency declaration form with a claim that he was carrying only $10,000.

The official said the Customs personnel did not probe him further because the declaration process was voluntary for passengers.

He said it was after Aminu passed the Customs desk that personnel of EFCC's task force at the airport subjected him to further checks including physical search, and that was when the undeclared amount of money was found on him.

Daily Trust learnt that he was taken into custody at the EFCC Kano zonal office near the state hajj camp for interrogation.


When asked if the suspect will be charged to court, Uwujaren said: "Whatever is going to happen, we will let you know."

No comment from Dutse

The Jigawa State Government did not issue an official reaction over the arrest of the governor's son.

When contacted, Lamido's chief of staff Aminu Ringim told Daily Trust they were aware of Aminu's arrest and were monitoring the situation.

But the governor's director of press Umar Kyari could not be reached by telephone and he did not reply to a text message sent to him.

Also, information commissioner Ibrahim Babandi Gumel did not answer calls made to him by our correspondent and also did not reply to a text message seeking for comment on the arrest.

A Daily Trust reporter who went round the state capital noticed that people were discussing the incident in a hush-hush manner.

One "free reader" at a popular newsstand who does not want his name mentioned said Governor Lamido is trying in Jigawa State but his sons could ruin his political career.

An ally to Lamido who spoke on condition of anonymity told Daily Trust that Aminu was travelling to Cairo for medical treatment and that the arrest over the possession of undeclared $40,000 was a ploy to tarnish the image of the governor.

This was not the first time EFCC is having a brush with the Lamido family. Sometime last year, the commission investigated another son of the governor over certain monies found in his account.

Daily Trust

Official Lagos Monopoly board game launched

The City of Lagos Edition of Monopoly, the brain child of Bestman Games and the first of its kind in Africa, was yesterday launched at the City Hall in Lagos to avid monopoly players and lovers.

The City of Lagos Edition of Monopoly game which portrays the strength of the mega city, also enhances the profile of the state in particular and Nigeria in general.

Partnered by the Lagos State Government, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank, THISDAY Newspaper and others, the game was created with localised popular landmarks of the city.

Some of the landmarks are the popular Oshodi, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Kirikiri Prison, City Hall, Makoko and Banana Island instead of the coveted area; Mayfair seen in the UK version of the board game.

While launching the board game, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who was accompanied by his wife, Abimbola, said it would sharpen the skills as well as instill early financial discipline and responsibility on the younger generation.

He said: "While we were growing up, the monopoly game kept us indoors. It helped instill in us values on how to manage our finances at an early age and I hope those useful lessons would impact more on the next generation.

"The monopoly game is also a useful tool for bringing parents and children together. Parenthood is a greater challenge than building roads and bridges. For me, it is the challenge of building infrastructure of the mind of the next generation that is of paramount importance."

For the Chairman, Bestman Games, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, the choice of Lagos as the first ever African monopoly version is not misplaced as the state has been an icon of good governance.

He said: "This Lagos version of the monopoly presents the iconic landmark of the megacity and it would go a long way in financial literacy as well as create bonding time for families."

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Bestman Games, Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe, the uniqueness of the board games was that it captured familiar streets and landmarks in the state.

She also noted that it would serve as powerful tool for financial literacy for children to relate to as well as instill great sense of ethical values for the players.

She said, "I hope the game would go a long way to enhance the profile of this mega city as well as promote financial literacy, strong ethical values and integrity by rewarding and penalising positive and negative actions respectively."

Dignitaries that graced the launch were the Minster for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Gbenga Ashiru; the Head of Marketing and Communication, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Remi Odulani and Bayelsa State former governorship candidate, Mr. Murray Bruce.

Other dignitaries are: Managing Director, Winning Moves, Thomas Hiddel; Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Doyle and Development Director, Winning Moves, Peter Griffin, amongst others.

This Day