President Goodluck Jonathan will not spare culprits of subsidy fraud

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday threw his weight behind the report of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee which probed the management of subsidy funds, assuring that any proven culprit would not be spared.

Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is endorsing the petroleum subsidy probe being undertaken by the House of Representatives, adding that all guilty persons must face the music.

The House of Representatives, meanwhile, yesterday concluded the consideration and adoption of the 62-clause report of the ad-hoc committee with the recommendation that former ministers of finance Dr. Mansur Muktar and Dr. Olusegun Aganga be prosecuted for their involvement in the extra-budgetary expenditure under the Petroleum Support Fund, PSF, Scheme between 2009 and 2011.

The president, who also assured that there were no moves to scuttle the report of the ad-hoc committee, stated that both the executive and the legislative arms of government were on the same page on the issue and would collaborate towards ensuring that any rot in the oil sector was fully addressed.

Jonathan, who spoke through his special adviser on National Assembly matters, Senator Joy Emordi, told a press conference in Abuja that it was a wrong claim "in some quarters of uneasiness in the administration over the recommendations of the House ad-hoc committee on the utilisation of petroleum subsidies."

She said: "The issues that led to the investigation predated President Jonathan's administration. The president is poised to sanitise the oil sector and give it a new breath of life through enhanced probity, transparent governance and zero corruption.

"But for the fact that Mr. President ab initio initiated the move to rid the petroleum industry of the rot because the bane of this society today, the bane of maladministration in the petroleum sector is nothing but corruption.

"The fact that he appointed a person like Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to head another panel looking into the rot is a clear manifestation that Mr. President is determined to rid the sector. He is not going to spare anybody, otherwise, why would he appoint Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the ex-EFCC chairman and his very rival in the last presidential election? I am sure of that; he is not going to spare anybody found wanting and there are no moves... I am the special adviser to Mr President on National Assembly matters.

There is no slightest moves against the report here, of course. If there is any, I would be the channel. I am sure no move is being made and Mr. President has zero tolerance for corruption."

The House of Representatives, while recommending that former ministers of Finance Dr. Mansur Muktar and Dr. Olusegun Aganga be prosecuted for their involvement in the extra-budgetary expenditure under the PSF Scheme between 2009 and 2011, also demanded the prosecution of the recently sacked accounting and auditing firms of Akintola Williams, Deloitte and Olusola Adekanola & Partners for professional negligence on the particular assignment of recommending firms for payment for products supplied.

The House also moved that the firms be blacklisted from being engaged by any federal ministry, department or agency, for a three-year period and an independent auditor appointed to take over the job.

The lawmakers however exonerated the present Governor of Gombe State Ibrahim Dankwambo, who was the accountant-general of the federation, from involvement in the 'unusual' payment of N999 million for 128 times within 24 hours on January 12 and 13, 2009, recommending instead that the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) should be investigated by relevant anti-corruption agencies for authorising the payment.

The recommendations were amended from the original recommendations of the committee during the consideration and adoption of the report in the Committee of the Whole presided over by the deputy speaker, Hon Emeka Ihedioha.

Explaining why Governor Dankwambo should be excused from the recommendations, chairman of the ad-hoc committee Hon. Farouk Lawan informed his colleagues that the Central Bank of Nigeria, the PPPRA and the governor had written separately to the speaker of the House of Representatives, each stating that the payment for which he was being indicted was authorised by the PPPRA and the payments cleared duly by the CBN in their various clearing houses before payments were made via 128 cheques.

Armed with this information, the legislators substituted the accountant-general's name with that of the PPPRA and adopted it.

Also among the recommendations adopted by the House was that the National Assembly should commence the process of making specific laws that would criminalise extra-budgetary expenditure as the specific provision does not specify the exact penalty to be applied.

This section created a stir among some lawmakers who argued that there was no need to compel the lawmakers to do what they already know is their responsibility and advised that it should be deleted, but, after some arguments, the recommendation was adopted.

Just like it did in the previous day's consideration, the House went soft on marketers who it had earlier asked to return funds to the federal treasury for making discharges that suffered one or more infractions which were adjudged as not sustainable and therefore not good enough to attract subsidy.

Chairman of the Business and Rules Committee Hon. Albert Sam-Tsokwa noted that some of the names reflecting on the list of the disqualified claims companies which is in the tune of N230,184 billion also appeared on the list of companies which filed to appear to defend their involvement in the PSF scheme and therefore falls under the category of those re-invited to defend their involvement.

He therefore prayed the House to include the 71 firms in the two-week grace to give them an avenue for fair hearing before action is taken on whether they should refund the monies and be prosecuted by the relevant anti-corruption agencies or not.

Earlier, some notable PDP big-wigs like former chairman Ahmadu Ali and petroleum minister Diezani Allison- Maduekwe have been recommended for prosecution by the House.

Leadership

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

Nigeria’s parliament has discussed a report said to reveal that $6bn (£4bn) has been defrauded from the fuel subsidy fund in the past two years.

The debate, which was televised live, made official findings that have been widely leaked in recent days.

The fuel sector probe was set up in the wake of angry nationwide protests in January after the government tried to remove a fuel subsidy.

Nigeria is a major oil producer but has to import most of its fuel.

“We are fighting against entrenched interests whose infectious greed has decimated our people,” House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said as he opened the two-day debate.

“Therefore, be mindful they will fight back and they normally do fight dirty.”

The 205-page parliamentary report uncovers a long list of alleged wrongdoings involving oil retailers, Nigeria’s Oil Management Company and the state Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation.

According to the leaks, a total of 15 fuel importers collected more than $300m two years ago without importing any fuel, while more than 100 oil marketers collected the same amount of money on several occasions.

The leaked report also says that officials in the government of President Goodluck Jonathan were among those who benefited from the subsidy fund.

Many of the people named in the document have denied any involvement in fraud, with some taking out full-page adverts proclaiming their innocence in local newspapers.

The BBC’s Bashir Sa’ad Abdullahi in Abuja says at least some of the findings are likely to be adopted by Nigeria’s lawmakers because of the huge public anger over the attempt to withdraw the subsidy.

Many Nigerians were livid when they were told by their government that the fuel subsidy was economically unsustainable – only to now find out the scale of fraud in the operation of the fund, our correspondent says.

Despite being a major oil producer, Nigeria has not invested in the infrastructure needed to produce refined fuel, so has to import much of its petrol.

The annual $8bn subsidy means prices are lower than in neighbouring countries – and correspondents say many Nigerians see cheap fuel as the only benefit they get from their country’s oil wealth, much of which is pocketed by corrupt officials.

After a week of street protests and a general strike, the government agreed to restore some of the subsidy – and reduce the pump price of petrol to 97 naira (about $0.60) per litre after it had doubled to 140 naira when the subsidy was removed without warning on 1 January.

But President Jonathan defended the subsidy cut, saying Nigeria must either “deregulate and survive economically, or we continue with a subsidy regime that will continue to undermine our economy.”

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Winners of the 2012 African Movie Academy Awards

Ghanaian play boy actor, Majid Michel and Nigerian actress Rita Dominic last Sunday night won the top prizes as they walked away with the 'Best Actor' and 'Best Actress' awards at this year's edition of the prestigious African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).

Majid picked up the coveted award for his lead role in the 2011 movie 'Somewhere In Africa' while Nigerian Dominic won the 'Best Actress' award for her lead role in the Kenyan film 'Shattered' beating the likes of Nse Ikpe-Etim, Uche Jombo and Yvonne Okoro to clinch the prize.

South African actress Terry Pheto was also named Best Supporting Actress for her role in Charlie Vundla's debut film noir thriller, "How To Steal 2 Million" which also won Best Achievement in Editing (Garreth Fradgely), Best Director, Best Film and Supporting Actor(Rapuldna Seiphemo). With five awards, "How 2 Steal 2 Million' was the most awarded film at this year's AMAA.

Lancelot Oduwa Imaseun's 'Adesuwa' followed closely, winning three awards which includes 'Best Nigerian Film'. Kunle Afolayan's 'Phone Swap' wasn't left out as it won the 'Achievement in Production Design' award while Akin Omotoso won the 'Special Jury' award for 'Man on the Ground'.

Nigeria won a total of 12 awards out of 25 awards given out at this year's AMAA, which held at the Expo Hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos and attended by a host of Nollywood actors, film makers, musicians, comedians and other stakeholders iincluding outgoing president of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN)Segun Arinze, former AGN boss Ejike Asiegbu, Tee-Mac, Fidelis Duker, Florence Ita-Giwa, Airtel Chairman Oba Otudeko and many others.

Other winners were Sara Bletcher's "Otelo Burning" which picked two awards; Cinematography and Best Child Actor (Tsepang Mohlomi) awards. The film had led with 13 nominations.

There were a number of other double award-winners. State Of Violence by South African Khalo Matabane won for Best Film in an African Language and Best Sound. Just as Danny Glover's "Toussaint Louverture" was named Best Diaspora Film. Kenyan's "Shattered" film also won the Best Make-Up. "Alero's Symphony" won for Soundtrack and Young/Promising Actor (Ivie Okujaye).

According to the jury, headed by Dr. Asantewa Olantunji, Director of programming of The Pan African Film Festival, AMAA received 328 entries from across Africa in 2012, up from 220 in 2011.

On this year's awards, the jury observed thus; "this year may prove to be the beginning of a new era for AMAA. Not only did AMAA witness an unprecedented number of film submissions from more countries throughout the African continent and its Diaspora, it also witnessed a remarkable increase in the quality of the films submitted. From their technical qualities to the acting and directing, the 2012 film slate is most impressive. Indeed, for the jury, the task of selecting the "Best" in each category has been challenging."

Some of the biggest names from black Hollywood who graced the awards night were Emmy Winner and Golden Globe nominee Lynn Whitfield (The JosephineBaker Story and Without a Trace); Morris Chestnut (American Horror Story, Boyz in the Hood); Rockmond Dunbar (Prison Break, Sons of Anarchy) and Maya Gilbert (General Hospital, Days of Our Lives).

Hollywood actor Jimmy Jean-Louis and Ambo awards winner O.C Ukeje hosted the prestigious awards, which included performances from Asa, 2Face Idibia, yinka Davies, Edge and Senegal's Viviane Ndour.

Here is a complete list of the winners:

AMAA 2012 BEST SHORT FILM

JAMAA – Uganda
Look Again – Kenya
Maffe Tiga – Guinea
Winner: Braids On Bald Head – Nigeria
Hidden Life – South Africa
Mwansa The Great – Zimbabwe
Chumo – Tanzania
The Young Smoker – Nigeria

AMAA 2012 BEST DOCUMENTARY

Winner: African Election – Nigeria / Germany
Beyond The Deadly Pit – Rwanda
Awa Ogbe An African Adventure – Algeria
Dear Mandella – South Africa
White & Black, Crime And Colour – Tanzania
The Niger Delta Struggle – Ghana
There Is Nothing Wrong With My Uncle – Nigeria
How Much Is Too Much – Kenya

AMAA 2012 BEST DIASPORA FEATURE

Winner: Toussanat Louverture – France
Ghetta Life – Jamaica
High Chicago – Canada
Elza – Guadelupe
Better Must Come – Jamaica
Kinyanrwanda – USA

AMAA 2012 BEST DIASPORA DOCUMENTARY

Winner: The Education Of Auma Obama – Germany
White Wash – USA
Almendron Mi Corazon – Guadeloupe
All Me The Life And Times Of Winfred Hubert – USA

AMAA 2012 BEST DIASPORA (SHORT FILM)

John Doe – USA
Winner: White Sugar In A Black Pot – USA
The Lost One – USA

AMAA 2012 BEST ANIMATION
Winner: The Legend Of Ngog Hills – Kenya
Oba – Nigeria
Climate Change Is Real – Kenya
Egu – South Africa
Chomoka – Kenya

AMAA 2012 BEST FILM BY AN AFRICAN LIVING ABROAD

Winner: Mystery Of Birds – USA / Nigeria
Housemates – United Kingdom / Nigeria
Ben Kross – Italy / Nigeria
Paparezzi Eye In The Dark – USA / Nigeria / Ghana

AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION DESIGN

Somewhere In Africa – Ghana
Winner: Phone Swap – Nigeria
Otelo Burning – South Africa
Adesuwa – Nigeria
How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa

AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN

The Captain Of Nakara
Winner: Adesuwa – Nigeria
Rugged Priest – Kenya
Somewhere In Africa – Ghana
Queens Desire

AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP

Rugged Priest – Kenya
State Research Bureau – Uganda
Adesuwa – Nigeria
Somewhere in Africa – Ghana
Winner: Shattered – Kenya

AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUNDTRACK

Otelo Burning – South Africa
Winner: Alero’s Symphony – Nigeria
Adesuwa – Nigeria
How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa
Somewhere In Africa – Ghana

AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS

Behind The Mask
Somewhere In Africa – Ghana
Winner: Adesuwa – Nigeria
State Research Bureau – Uganda
Otelo Burning – South Africa

AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND

Winner: State Of Violence – South Africa
Otelo Burning – South Africa
How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa
Man On Ground – South Africa
Algiers Murder – South Africa

AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY

How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa
Winner: Otelo Burning – South Africa
Rugged Priest – Kenya
Masquerades – Ghana
Man On Ground – South Africa / Nigeria

AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING

Algiers Murder – South Africa
Man On Ground – South Africa / Nigeria
Unwanted Guest – Nigeria
Winner: How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa
Otelo Burning – South Africa
Alero’s Symphony – Nigeria

AMAA 2012 ACHIEVEMENT IN SCREENPLAY

Winner: Ties That Bind – Ghana
Mr & Mrs – Nigeria
How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa
Otelo Burning – South Africa
Unwanted Guest – Nigeria
Two Brides And A Baby – Nigeria

AMAA 2012 BEST NIGERIAN FILM

Unwanted Guest
Family On Fire
Alero’s Symphony
Winner: Adesuwa
Phone Swap

AMAA 2012 BEST FILM IN AN AFRICAN LANGUAGE
Chumo – Tanzania
Winner: State Of Violence – South Africa
Family On Fire – Nigeria
Otelo Burning – South Africa
Asoni – Cameroun

AMAA 2012 BEST CHILD ACTOR

Rahman Junior Bande (Greg) – Behind The Mask
Winner: Tsepang Mohlomi (Ntwe) – Otelo Burning
Reginna Danies (Jenny) – Bank Job
Benjamin Abemigisha and Racheal Nduhukire (Derick and Margaret) – JAMAA
Ayinla O Abdulaheem – ZR-7

AMAA 2012 BEST YOUNG / PROMISING ACTOR

Neo Ntatleno (OJ) – State Of Violence
Winner: Ivie Okujaye (Alero) – Alero’s Symphony
Iyobosa Olaye (Adesuwa) – Adesuwa
Martha Ankomah – Somewhere In Africa
Thomas Gumede and Sihle Xaba – Otelo Burning

AMAA 2012 BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Rapuldna Seiphemo (Twala) – How To Steal 2 Million
Winner: Fano Mokoena – Man On Ground
Hafiz Oyetoro – Phone Swap
Okechukwu Uzoesi – Two Brides And A Baby
Godfrey Theobejane – 48
Lwanda Jawar – Rugged Priest

AMAA 2012 BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Winner: Terry Phetto – How To Steal 2 Million
Ebbe Bassey – Ties That Bind
Empress Njamah – Bank Job
Ngozi Ezeonu – Adesuwa
Thelma Okoduwa – Mr & Mrs
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde – Ties That Bind

AMAA 2012 BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Menzi Ngubane – How To Steal 2 Million
Winner: Majid Micheal – Somewhere In Africa
Chet Anekwe – Unwanted Guest
Jafta Mamabolo – Otelo Burning
Karabo Lance – 48
Wale Ojo – Phone Swap
Hakeem Kae-Kazim – Man On Ground

AMAA 2012 BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Nse Ikpe Etim – Mr & Mrs
Yvonne Okoro – Single Six
Ama K. Abebrese – Ties That Bind
Winner: Rita Dominic – Shattered
Uche Jombo – Damage
Millicent Makheido – 48
Kudzai Sevenzo-Nyarai – Playing Warriors

AMAA 2012 BEST DIRECTOR

Adesuwa – Lancelot Oduwa Imaseun
Ties That Bind – Leila Djansi
Rugged Priest – Bob Nyanja
Winner: How To Steal 2 Million – Charlie Vundla
State Of Violence – Khalo Matabane
Man On Ground – Akin Omotoso
Otelo Burning – Sara Bletcher

AMAA 2011 PRIZE FOR BEST FILM

State Of Violence – South Africa
Adesuwa – Nigeria
Otelo Burning – South Africa
Rugged Priest – Kenya
Winner: How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa
Ties That Bind – Ghana
Man On Ground – South Africa / Nigeria

AMAA Special Jury Award-Akin Omotosho

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Central Bank governor Lamido Sanusi accused of plagiarism

A Nigerian professor based in the United States, Victor Dike, Monday, dragged the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to a Federal High Court in Abuja accusing him of plagiarism.

Dike, an Adjunct Professor at the School of Engineering and Technology, National University, Sacramento, US, in a statement of claims filed by his lawyer, Mr. E.U. Chinedum, said that Sanusi breached his copyrights on two different occasions on November 26, 2010 and December 10, 2010 when he presented lectures.

The first occasion was at a lecture he delivered at the 8th convocation ceremony of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, on November 26, 2010, where Sanusi presented a paper titled “Growth Prospects for the Nigerian Economy.”

The second occasion was on December 10, 2010 at the Convocation Square, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, where Sanusi again, presented a paper titled “Global Financial Meltdown and the Reforms in the Nigerian Banking Sector.”

The plaintiff, who is also the Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Centre for Social Justice and Human Development in California, USA, said the CBN governor copied verbatim from his works in the two articles he presented without referring to him as the original author.

He gave the name of the articles from which Sanusi copied from as “Review of the Challenges Facing the Nigerian Economy: Is National Development Possible without Technological Capability?”, “Global Economic Crisis and Power of Productivity” and the “Governance and Nigeria’s Weak Institutions: Is the 2020 Project Achievable?”

The plaintiff averred that Sanusi copied from pages 98, 99 and 100 of his work titled, “Review of the Challenges Facing the Nigerian Economy: Is National Development Possible without Technological Capability?”

He stated the copied lines as follows: “The challenges facing the economy is in-effective institutions and dilapidated infrastructure (bad roads, erratic power supply, limited access to potable water and basic healthcare, and in-effective regulatory agencies, etc). The plethora of reforms and policies are in-effective due to institutional failure (Hoff, 2003).”

The above is just an example of sentences from one of the publications in which Sanusi is alleged to have plagiarised.

The plaintiff alleged that Sanusi also copied verbatim articles originally written and published by him without acknowledging him as the author of the works from where he (Sanusi) sourced the materials that made up his lectures.

He said that the articles wherein Sanusi used his works were still at the CBN website, www.cbn.com.

He alleged that the CBN governor was in breach of the Copyright Act when he copied his materials without acknowledging him as the original author of the works.
In the “Governance and Nigeria’s Weak Institutions: Is the 2020 Project Achievable?” the plaintiff said that Sanusi copied about four pages and presented them as his own in the lecture he delivered at the Igbinedion University’s eighth convocation ceremony.

It is the further averment of the plaintiff that from his work titled, “Nigeria: Reform Efforts and the Unresolved Socio-Economic Problems”, Sanusi also copied works that formed pages 22-28 of the lecture he delivered at the Igbenedion University.

He asked the CBN governor to produce the two lectures he delivered for the use of the court.

He said that he wrote to the CBN governor informing him of the infractions and that Sanusi replied that he acknowledged one “Victor E.D.” in one of the lectures.

But the plaintiff said he told him that more than four of his works were recklessly copied by him (Sanusi) and asked him to stop further copying of his works and requested him to tender an unreserved apology but that Sanusi did not offer any such apology.

The plaintiff said he caused another letter to be written to Sanusi and that four months later, the Legal Department of the CBN wrote to him denying the alleged plagiarism by Sanusi but however apologised to him for wrongly citing one of his article as E.D. Victor instead of Victor E. Dike.

The plaintiff said that his articles and publications were no longer valued by his readers and colleagues after the discovery by his readers that some opinion he expressed were also contained verbatim in another person’s work who claims the authorship.

The plaintiff said that he had lost a great deal of royalties since the incidence of this plagiarism came to the fore, as the journal that looked forward to his articles had become sceptical about accepting articles from him.

He said that unless Sanusi was made to retract those lines copied from his works and adequately compensate him for the  breach of his copyrights, his readers and indeed the whole world would no longer take his opinions serious as same would be seen as not original.

Recently, the Hungarian President Pal Schmitt resigned after losing his doctorate in a plagiarism scandal.

Schmitt, who was elected to his largely ceremonial office in 2010 for a five-year term, said in a speech at the start of parliament's plenary session that he was stepping down because his "personal issue" was dividing Hungary.

His 1992 doctorate was revoked last week after an investigation at Budapest's Semmelweis University found that most of his thesis about the modern Olympic Games had been copied from the works of two other authors.
According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, to "plagiarise" means: “to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own to use (another's production) without crediting the source to commit literary theft; to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.

Plagiarism is therefore an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else's work.

The plaintiff subsequently asked for N15 million as compensation, the cost of filing the suit and the cost of travelling to Nigeria.

He also asked the court to declare that Sanusi plagiarised his works and breached his copyright.

He further asked the court to issue a perpetual injunction restraining Sanusi from citing his papers as his (Sanusi's).
He asked the court to direct Sanusi to retract the papers from the public by removing them from the CBN website.

The plaintiff asked the court to make a publication in a national daily denouncing the authorship of the articles.

Yesterday, the court ordered the bailiff to paste the court's processes at the CBN after the bailiff deposed to an affidavit that the security at the office did not accept service.
The case has been adjourned by Justice Adamu Bello to May 31 for mention.

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D'Banj signs with Mercury Records UK

African pop giant and former Mo'hits boss Dapo 'D'banj' Oyebanjo has signed with Mercury Records, an imprint in the UK under the Mercury Records Group of Universal Music UK.

Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the The Island Def Jam Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group.

Mercury Records lists D'banj on their official website as one of their acts alongside the likes of UK rock singer-songwriter Elton John, Soft Rock singer Taylor Swift Irish rock group U2, former The Beatles musician Paul McCartney and others.

Although his publicist and management are yet to respond to our E-mails concerning the signing, D'banj seems to have confirmed the news himself as he has updated the bio section profile on his Twitter page.

D'banj has also launched his personal website www.dbanjofficial.com where the Mecury Records logo boldly appears in the bottom right corner.

The new bio reads 'DB/Good Music/ Mercury/IDJ' (IDJ meaning Island Def Jam). When asked by a fan on Twitter what 'IDJ' means, he responded 'island Def Jam bro'.

D'banj is however not listed on the G.O.O.D Music/Def Jam official roaster on the label's website.

D'banj who recently parted ways with his former Mo'Hits label partner Don Jazzy has relocated to the US where he will continue to push his brand and music in the foreign music market.

The entertainer is set to officially release his smash single 'Oliver' (which recently made Scott Mills' Radio 1 'Record Of The Week') in the UK on May 14.

D'banj as announced earlier will also perform at the 2012 Barclaycard Wireless Festival which holds at the Hyde Park, London, on Saturday, July, 7 2012 and at the BBC Hackney Weekend 2012 in London come June 23 and 24.

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Video - How ex-governor of Delta state James Ibori started as petty thief in London

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World Bank grants Nigeria $900 million to boost agriculture

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Thursday said the World Bank had granted a $900 million facility to Nigeria as part of its assistance towards food security in the country.

Adesina, who made this disclosure in Abuja while briefing the media on the outcome of the just-concluded Nigeria Forum in the United States of America, also said Agco, one of the largest tractor companies in the US, had agreed to establish a tractor assembly plants in Rivers and Kaduna States.

The minister said both the $900 million facility and the engineers from Agco would make their presence known in the country within two weeks.

He expressed the optimism that with the number of participants at the show, which he said included Nigerians in Diaspora, the country would not only be food self sufficient, but that the teeming unemployed youths would get employed within the shortest period of time.

He added that Cardol, a US-based food processing company, is set to invest in cassava production in the country within the shortest period of time.

He, however, regretted that despite the fact that Nigeria needed over 300,000 tractors for mechanised farming, only about 20,000 were currently available.

In his words: “The present day farmers are ageing and the onus is on us here in the ministry to encourage our teeming unemployed youths to be interested in agriculture. But the major problem is that none of them would want to farm with cutlass and hoe. That is why we are getting modern day equipment readily available for them to farm.”

While enjoining the unemployed youths to grab this opportunity by getting involved in mechanised farming, the minister called on both state and local governments to assist them to get land and other necessary incentives for them

He said: “Agriculture accounts for about 44 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and responsible for over 70 per cent employment. The time has come -- and I know it is now - for every Nigerian to contribute his own quota in ensuring that the sector booms. Nobody drinks oil, but we all eat at one point or the other. We should join hands in ensuring that agriculture moves from peasant farming to mechanised one. The state and local governments should ensure that there is abundance of incentives for the business to thrive in their jurisdiction.

“One of the good news is that Nigerians in the Diaspora are interested in the sector, as well as foreigners. We at home should do everything possible to ensure that the business thrives. Our message on agriculture is ringing louder in the international community.”

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Video - Documentary on the women of the Niger Delta who use threat of stripping naked to protest unaccountability of oil companies

Fueled by the determination for a better future, grassroots women in Nigeria's Niger Delta use the threat of stripping naked in public, a serious cultural taboo, in their deadly struggle to hold the oil companies accountable to the communities in which they operate.  The women, at the risk of being raped, beaten or killed, are trained and armed, but not with anything you can see.  Through the leadership of the courageous, charismatic, and inexhaustible Emem J. Okon, these women are taking over where men have failed, peacefully transforming their ‘naked power’ into 21st century political action and mobilization.  THE NAKED OPTION: A LAST RESORT celebrates the perseverance and power of an organized group of women!

“Our weapon is our nakedness.”  Through the personal stories of Mama Bata, Aret Obobo and Lucky Ogodo, residents of Ugborodo and Amukpe, communities where oil giants Chevron and Shell operate, THE NAKED OPTION reveals the strength, the power, and the drive of the women to fight environmental ruin, loss of livelihoods, brutality, and corruption perpetrated by these corporate giants. Living in the only militarized zone in Nigeria and cemented firmly on the bottom rung of an already impoverished social and economic ladder, these women constantly struggle to maintain healthy, equitable, and self-sustaining livelihoods. We witness the hurdles that drive them to risk their lives taking over major oil-producing flow stations.

“We are the women who decided to take over the Chevron yard,” states 70-year-old Mama Bata, of  Ugborodo.   “We’ll go naked.  We’ll do our naked.  Shell wants us to suffer and we’re not taking it. Fear will come”, threatens Lucky Ogodo of Amukpe.  Fed up with the oil giants dismissing their demands to clean up the environmental destruction and to provide jobs for their husbands, the women were pushed to the wall. With nothing to lose they decided to risk everything and fight back using the lessons taught by their female ancestors. Stripping naked in public, a sacred weapon of last resort, has given them unprecedented power over both government and oil through landmark moments in Nigerian history. Their anger erupted July 8, 2002 when for ten days, 600 rural peasant women, ages 20 – 90, took over Chevron, the largest oil producing facility in Nigeria, which is the third largest oil supplier to the United States. Unarmed, they held 700 male workers hostage.  The women blocked the flow of a half million barrels of oil a day by threatening to strip naked in public. Actual footage of events combines with first-hand accounts from Mama Bata, Lucky, and Aret who, in the summer of 2002, joined the wave of women’s uprisings that swept the Niger Delta.  We discover how Emem Okon plays a crucial role in the women’s ability to negotiate with Chevron.
“Education doesn’t reduce the risks but it provides women with the skills and knowledge to confront that risk.  It makes them bolder. In my organization, we don’t promote that option (of stripping naked) but if it gets to the point where stripping naked is the only way they can get government attention, we will not stop them.” Emem, founder of Kebetkache Women’s Development and Resource Centre is championing a new vision for women and a safer way for their voices to be heard. Reaching across ethnic divides, she fights injustice with education, mobilization, and perseverance. Set against this backdrop, where government sends paramilitary soldiers to protect multinational oil companies from protesters, THE NAKED OPTION shows Emem as she travels to rural communities where women are prepared to use their weapon of last resort. Encouraging women to step up to decision making positions in government, she spearheads democracy and peace building trainings, teaches negotiating skills, and continually challenges the nexus of power created by the collusion of ‘Big Oil’ and a brutal Nigerian government through non-violence.

"Now, today a woman can be president.  Before these workshops we had no thoughts. The only thing we knew was every morning carry your cassava, every morning go to your farm…but today with ‘the awareness’ in us most families are training their children,” says Stella Fyneface, Emem’s protégé. Dedicated leadership, a passion for women’s rights, and new opportunities merge in THE NAKED OPTION as Emem passes the baton to hundreds of rural women, inspiring and mobilizing them to take charge of their futures, to stand up against injustice, and to become leaders.

Snag Films

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President Goodluck Jonathan makes it into TIME 2012 list of most influential people in the world

Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan exemplifies the African political renaissance at a time when the people of the continent are starting to reap the fruit of their resources and their hard work. President Jonathan, 54, possesses the qualities needed at this moment of great challenges, having come to power at a crucial moment in the history of Nigeria. The country has grown out of its past of corruption, mismanagement and brutality, but the foundation of good governance is still fragile.

In two short years, President Jonathan has shown the same dexterity he demonstrated as governor of Bayelsa, the same ability to find the remedies to the many complexities of running a nascent democracy. He has spearheaded the fight against corruption and turned Nigeria into an example of good governance. He has also made a significant impact on consolidating peace and security in West Africa. From the onset of our own crisis, Liberia has benefitted from the support of Nigeria. President Jonathan not only upheld the trend but added to it. With leaders like President Jonathan, Africa is sure to move toward prosperity, freedom and dignity for all of its people.

TIME

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US warns of Boko Haram attacks coming to Abuja

The US embassy in Nigeria warned on Wednesday that Islamist group Boko Haram may be planning attacks in the capital Abuja, including against hotels frequented by Westerners.

“The US embassy has received information that Boko Haram may be planning attacks in Abuja, Nigeria, including against hotels frequently visited by Westerners,” an emergency message to US citizens on its website said.

“The US government has no additional information regarding the timing of these possible attacks. The Nigerian government is aware of the threat and is actively implementing security measures.”

It gave no further information on the threats.

A police spokesman told AFP “we are not aware of any special threat of attacks by Boko Haram or any individual or group.”

“However, police are ever ready and prepared to deal with any situation and security threat to Nigerians and foreigners living in Abuja or any other parts of the country,” said Olusola Amore.

The US issued a similar message in November that drew harsh criticism in Nigeria. No attacks occurred in Abuja in the wake of the November warning.

A US diplomat at the time however said the warning was based on specific and credible information, adding that the embassy had no choice but to warn American citizens.

Boko Haram has carried out scores of attacks, mainly in Nigeria’s predominately Muslim north, that have killed more than 1,000 people since mid-2009.

It claimed responsibility for the August suicide bombing of UN headquarters in Abuja which claimed at least 25 lives.

The group’s deadliest attack yet occurred in the northern city of Kano in January, when coordinated bombings and shootings left at least 185 people dead.

Despite heavy-handed raids and a number of high-profile arrests, Nigerian authorities have appeared unable to stop the attacks.

An attempt to hold indirect talks between Boko Haram and the government in March collapsed after a mediator quit over leaks to the media and the Islamists said they could not trust government officials.

Authorities blamed the deaths of a British and an Italian hostage in northwestern Nigeria in March on a faction of Boko Haram. A spokesman for what is believed to be the main branch of the group however denied any involvement.

US Ambassador to Nigeria Terence McCulley recently urged Nigeria to focus on development in its impoverished north as well as security to bring an end to an onslaught of deadly attacks blamed on Boko Haram.

Analysts say poverty and frustration in the north have pushed young people toward extremism.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and largest oil producer with some 160 million people, is roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominately Christian south.

The oil-producing south is wealthier and more educated, stoking resentment in the north.

Vanguard

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British Airways admits to evading tax in Nigeria

 

Major foreign airlines in Nigeria, especially the British Airways (BA), and Air France-KLM Nigeria, Tuesday admitted that they had failed to remit the five per cent Passenger Fuel Surcharge (PFS) on their tickets to Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) as required by global aviation practices.

Country Manager of BA, Mr. Kola Olayinka, told the Senate Committee on Aviation that organised an investigative public hearing on the violation of aviation laws by foreign airlines that, "no airline, as we speak, is remitting the five per cent charged on air fares to the NCAA. It is not only BA."

But the General Manager of Air France-KLM Nigeria, Mr. Christian Herpi, said if an extant Nigerian law required the airline to pay five per cent from the PFS, it was ready to comply, noting that it had been a practice by airlines worldwide and was not peculiar to airlines flying from Nigeria.

Olayinka also argued in the same line, assuring the committee that it was ready to comply with the directive, provided the legal requirement was clearly spelt out.

However, the Senate Committee on Aviation has threatened to recommend for prosecution BA for tax evasion.

The committee chairman, Senator Hope Uzodinma (PDP, Imo), said tax evasion is a criminal act and must be prosecuted accordingly.

The committee found that foreign airlines, including the BA, were not remitting the five per cent of PFS charged on air tickets to the NCAA as provided by law.

Uzodinma said: "Refusal to remit taxes is not a civil matter, it is a criminal offence which should be investigated by the appropriate department and we may have to do so."

The committee chairman however faulted the argument of BA's country manager, saying "That others are not paying doesn't make it right. The problem is that the NCAA continues to treat this matter as civil. Refusal to pay revenue to government is a criminal matter and we must treat it as such. We will invite relevant department to investigate the matter for possible prosecution."

Uzodinma frowned on the refusal of BA to pay the five per cent tax even when the company enjoys tax relief due to the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Britain.

Although the airlines had argued that the PFS was charged by the airlines to cover the cost of aviation occasioned by global increases in crude oil, the committee noted that the airlines never reflected in the value of the PFS any fall in the price of crude at the international market.

According to the committee, it has been established that the PFS is the revenue accruing to the airlines, since it usually appeared in their account books as a major revenue source to the airline, which is taxable.

Uzodinma, however, tasked the NCAA to immediately commence the recovery of the taxes from the airlines as soon as possible.

Some members of the committee suggested that the refusal to pay the money amounted to tax evasion and should be treated as a financial crime.

Meanwhile, the foreign airlines have advised the country to establish a national airline as a step towards boosting the aviation industry.

They suggested that although some smaller African countries own national airlines with difficulty in management, Nigeria should be able to run a national carrier.

Herpi said he had travelled around Africa for many years and would advise strongly for Nigeria to own its national airline.

Olayinka said a national carrier would be an ideal project to be pursued by the present administration.

He said: "We need more airlines and a national carrier. If not we need to ensure that existing local airlines were supported to be able to fly the nation's flag."

Olayinka had argued that the law of demand and supply was responsible for the increase in the air fares as it affects First and Business Classes, recommending that more frequencies be allocated to airlines flying the routes concerned.

But the consultant for NCAA, Mr. Babatunde Irukera, said more frequencies would not address the problem which was created by the fact that most of the airlines do not have directed flight from Lagos to London.

He said 90 per cent of the travellers from Lagos to London go by BA and Virgin Atlantic, adding that passengers flying Air France and KLM to London are those who could not fly BA because of the cost.

Nigerians flying to London had little or no choice to make, given that only BA and Virgin Atlantic operate direct flights to and from London.

Irukera argued that although the BA and Virgin argue on the basis of economics, the issue transcended economics as it was a matter of law and legality.

The committee however noted that since the foreign airlines admitted to not paying the statutory 5 per cent from the PFS, the NCAA should endeavour to commence the collection of the levies from the airlines.

This Day

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

Former Delta state governor, Chief James Ibori was Tuesday jailed by a British court for 13 years on  for his part in a $250 million fraud of state funds.

James Ibori, 49, who was governor o foil-rich Delta State between 1999 and 2007, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court in London.

Scotland Yard says that during his two terms as governor, Ibori “systematically stole funds from the public purse, secreting them in bank accounts across the world”, in a fraud worth $250 million.

In February, Ibori pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder money, five of money laundering and one of obtaining a property transfer by deception.

He also admitted conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to make false instruments, and one count of money laundering linked to a $37-million share fraud surrounding the sale of shares in Nigerian company V Mobile.

Ibori “deliberately and systematically defrauded the people whose interests he had been elected to represent”, said Sue Patten, head of Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service central fraud group.

Britain’s International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell said corruption was a “cancer” in the developing world and the sentence sent a strong message to people eying Britain “as a refuge for their crimes”.

“We are committed to rooting out corruption wherever it is undermining development, and will help bring its perpetrators like Ibori to justice and return stolen funds to help the world’s poorest,” he said in a statement.

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Trial of ex-governor James Ibori gets rowdy - Police called in

Police were called to a London court yesterday, where  former Delta  State Governor, James Ibori, was due to be sentenced over a fraud involving $250 million of state funds.

He will learn of how many years he will remain behind bars today.

Three police vans, five cars and a helicopter were deployed to Southwark Crown Court on the first day of a two-day sentencing hearing, after reports of a disturbance inside, an AFP correspondent said.

Witnesses said supporters of Ibori, who was governor between 1999 and 2007, became loud and aggressive when they were excluded from the packed courtroom.

“We were there to provide assistance because it was oversubscribed that there were just too many people to get in,” a police spokeswoman told AFP, adding that order had been quickly restored.

A court spokesman confirmed there had been overcrowding and that the hearing had been delayed.

Ibori had faced corruption charges in Nigeria and in Britain, where he was pursued by a police unit which investigates the activities of foreign officials who seek to launder stolen assets in Britain.

Scotland Yard said during his two terms as governor, Ibori “systematically stole funds from the public purse, secreting them in bank accounts across the world”, in a fraud worth $250 million.

Despite earning less than $25,000 a year, his portfolio included a £2.2 million house in the upmarket London district of Hampstead and a £3.2 million mansion in Johannesburg’s wealthy Sandton district in South Africa.

He owned a $20 million jet and a fleet of armoured Range Rovers and spent money on fees for exclusive British boarding schools and expensive hotels.

In February, Ibori pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder money, five of money laundering and one of obtaining a property transfer by deception.

He also admitted conspiracy to defraud,  make false instruments, and one count of money laundering linked to a $37 million share fraud surrounding the sale of shares in Nigerian company V Mobile.

This Day

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Nigerian government decides against 100 percent subsidy removal

The President Goodluck Jonathan administration has quietly bowed to pressure from the Nigerian public and withdrawn its decision to implement a total fuel subsidy removal policy, at least for now.

In the 2012 budget signed by President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday, a provision of N888 billion was made for fuel subsidy which he admitted was due to pressure from the public.

His words: "The initial 2012 Budget proposal assumed full deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector. However, after listening to the voice of Nigerians, we opted for partial subsidy removal.

This meant that we had to review the budget's revenue and expenditure projections to make some provisions amounting to N888 billion in the budget."

Many Nigerians had engaged in panic buying of petrol at the beginning of this month in anticipation of an announcement of the full subsidy removal by the Federal Government, going by its earlier agreement with organised labour.

Although the president did not categorically say that the policy of 100 per cent subsidy removal has been abandoned, sources at the corridors of power said "there are no serious discussion in that regard anymore" and that the trouble that the administration passed through in January over fuel subsidy was not one that should be desired so soon.

Going by the N888 billion provision for fuel subsidy in the 2012, the president and his National Economic Management Team are likely to face another huddle over the issue in no distant future.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, claimed that over N1.3 trillion was spent on fuel subsidy in 2011, precipitating a public outcry and a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives.

State Commissioners of Finance have already rejected the deductions made in that respect for the months of January and February and have advised their governors to protest it before President Jonathan as they argued that the figures don't add up.

They pointed that if about N1.3 trillion was spent in 2011 when a litre of Premium Motor Spirit, petrol, was sold at N 65, why would the subsidy paid by government increase, rather than decrease in 2012 when a litre of petrol sells at N97.

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Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Jim Yong Kim winning the bid for World Bank president

I would like to congratulate Dr Jim Yong Kim on his emergence as President of the World Bank Group. I look forward to working with him, staff and stakeholders of the World Bank Group for the benefit of poor people around the world. Their plight is at the heart of the mandate of the institution and we must never lose sight of that.

With regard to the selection process, it is clear to me that we need to make it more open, transparent and merit-based. We need to make sure that we do not contribute to a democratic deficit in global governance.

Nevertheless, by our participation we have won important victories. We have shown what is possible. Our credible and merit-based challenge to a long-standing and unfair tradition will ensure that the process of choosing a World Bank president will never be the same again. The struggle for greater equity and fairness has reached a critical point and the hands of the clock cannot be turned back.

I congratulate Dr Jose Antonio Ocampo for being a worthy participant and for his decision to withdraw his candidacy in my favour.

I am proud of Africa for displaying great unity in supporting my candidacy. I am proud of my country Nigeria for standing by me. I want to thank all the African leaders, but particularly President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for his resolute support, along with other leaders - President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic, President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d'Ivoire, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa and Chair of the African Union, Mr Jean Ping. Africa has stood for the right principles throughout these processes. I am proud to be African.

I want to thank other developing countries who supported my candidacy. I also thank the Nigerian public, the National Assembly and the Nigerian and international media for their analyses and support. I am deeply grateful to the numerous groups and individuals in different parts of the world that worked so hard and so passionately in my support.

It was a worthwhile battle. Now it is time to move on and contribute to the search for solutions to the many developmental challenges that confront the world.

Daily Trust

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Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala concedes to Jim Yong Kim for World Bank top job

The World Bank has named a US doctor, Jim Yong Kim, as its next president, despite criticism of the selection process by his only rival for the job.

While the US nominee faced a challenge for the first time ever, the World Bank's most powerful shareholders, the US, Europe and Japan, came out in support on Monday for the Korean-American who now holds the powerful job of doling out money to developing countries.

Before the meeting of World Bank directors, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria's finance minister, herself a veteran of the institution, criticised the way the US has held a lock on the position since the organisation was launched.

"You know this thing is not really being decided on merit," she said in Abuja. "It is voting with political weight and shares and therefore the United States will get it."

A third candidate, Jose Antonio Ocampo, the Colombian former finance minister, dropped out on Friday also complaining that the selection process was purely political and not merit-based.

There had been some hopes from critics of the bank that the powerful emerging BRICS economies - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - might coalesce around Okonjo-Iweala. But those were scotched when Moscow on Friday publicly endorsed Kim.

'Democratic tenets'

By a tacit agreement dating to the sister institutions' founding, the US has always chosen the World Bank head while Europe supplies the leader of the International Monetary Fund.

But like the leadership succession last year at the IMF, the race to head the Bank has sparked muscle-flexing by newly empowered emerging economies and poorer countries which have called for a more open process based on merit.

"We have come some way because it's no longer in the smoke-filled rooms of  Europe and the US that the spoils are shared between the IMF and World Bank positions, between those two centres of power," Pravin Gordhan, South African finance minister, said on Monday.

"This time the invitation was open to anybody to nominate a candidate. [But] "the question is whether the process subsequent to that ... has followed through on basic democratic tenets."

South Africa endorsed Okonjo-Iweala's quest to succeed president Robert Zoellick, the former US diplomat who will leave at the end of his five-year term in June.

Health experience



The executive board met on Monday to select Kim, whom the Bank said was chosen by "consensus".

The position is crucial for much of the developing world. The president oversees a staff of 9,000 economists, development experts and other policy specialists, and a loan portfolio that hit $258bn in 2011, including $43bn in new loans and grants.

Despite the grumbling from outside the US-Europe axis, the appointmemnt of Kim, a medical doctor with deep experience fighting HIV/AIDS in developing countries and head of prestigious Dartmouth College, marks a significant change from the American bankers and diplomats who have been tapped to lead the bank in the past.

But critics worry Kim's experience is not broad enough to handle all of the fields the World Bank deals with, from infrastructure development to environmental protection.

Kim has travelled to around a dozen countries to introduce himself, however, apparently convincingly enough to earn solid respect.

Aljazeera

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New World Bank president to be known today

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New World Bank president to be known today

A successor to the out-going President of the World Bank, Mr. Robert Zoellick, will emerge Monday between 5pm and 7pm (12 noon and 2pm Washington DC time), when the results will be announced.

This will be preceded by the gathering of the 25-member executive board of the bank from 3pm (10am Washington DC time) to pick Zoellick's successor.

The race for the presidency of the Bretton Woods institution had been narrowed down to two candidates - Nigeria's Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and Dr. Jim Yong Kim, a Korean-American Physician and United States' nominee - after the former Colombian finance minister, Jose Antonio Ocampo, withdrew his candidacy at the weekend.

In fact, Ocampo had thrown his weight behind the Nigerian finance minister, describing her as an "excellent candidate". Zoellick's tenure expires on June 30.

The US, which is the bank's largest shareholder, traditionally picks the bank's president. The country, Europe and Japan have 54 per cent of the votes.

Under an informal arrangement, in return, Europe appoints a European as head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a sister Bretton Woods' institution. It is currently run by Frenchwoman, Christine Lagarde.

According to the World Bank's Articles, the president is the chief operating officer of the bank and conducts, under the direction of the executive directors, the ordinary business of the bank. The bank's president is also responsible for the organisation, appointment and dismissal of the officers and staff, subject to the general control of the executive directors.

US' choice of Kim has been greeted with mixed feelings. Some commentators argued that he lacks experience in boosting economic growth, a key part of the bank's mission.

Observers had been curious that Kim had not even appeared on any major American interview. It had been suggested that his handlers were worried that he might make a slip, which would bring the issue of merit to the fore once again.

"That is why they have resulted to issuing press releases about his visits to different parts of the world," one of them noted.

However, Okonjo-Iweala, who had also served as managing director of the multilateral institution, has the support of other emerging economies.

The Bretton Woods institution, founded in 1944 has 187-member countries. US, France, Germany, Japan and United Kingdom - who are the five largest shareholders - appoint five executive directors, while China, Russian Federation and Saudi Arabia each elects its own executive director, with other executive directors elected by the other member countries.

This is the first presidential election with 25 voting members as one more member was added on November 1, 2010. Similarly, this is the first time that a candidate from a developing nation is challenging a US nominee for the plum job.

Okonjo-Iweala when interviewed by the World Bank board last week promised to tackle global poverty and address issues of job creation if elected.

She also advised the US to end the long tradition of an American always heading the Bretton Woods institution, saying that the decision on who leads the global development institution should go to the candidate with the best skills for the job.

The finance minister had also dismissed the argument by some US politicians that the American country would stop financing the World Bank if a non-American took the reins of the institution. She said she would use her "persuasive powers" to convince Congress to keep funds flowing to the World Bank.

On his part, Kim, had during the interview session with the board of directors of the bank, said that he would not hesitate to question the status quo and do his best to help the world's poorest countries.

Kim had said: "I would bring rigour; objectivity and a focus on data that help all of us define and achieve our shared vision of securing strong economic growth and delivering greater opportunity for the world's poor."

It has been a widespread belief that the strategy the US adopted for the World Bank presidency had played down merit, contrary to the standards and principles which the multilateral institution champions.

Analysts however expressed the belief that the major thing that Nigeria had achieved in the whole process was that- with the issue of merit in the fore, candidates from the developing economies for subsequent elections, will be strengthened the more, to come forward and push for merit.

More importantly, they added, the campaign had sensitised the world and it would be difficult for the US to retain the position, based on power politics.

This Day

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Britain to spend ₤50 million improving Nigerian security

The British government is to spend 50 million pounds (equivalent N12.6 billion) to improve security in Nigeria, said the National Programme Manager of Justice for All Initiative, Bob Arnot.

Speaking at the Justice for All (J4A) and Nigeria Police Force (NPF) technical working group induction workshop weekend in Abuja, Arnot said the UK government is planning to increase the initial 30 million pounds budget to 50 million pounds within the five years earmarked for the programme.

He said the programme was intended to facilitate changes in law enforcement and the judiciary. "Since 2010, we have been working on this new programme, we are trying to facilitate change in institutions like the NPF, which people within those institutions already know is necessary, " he said.

He said the programme would also assist the NPF to strategize changes and developments in four component areas; community policing by creating model police stations, planning with all the departments at police head quarters to achieve desired objectives, helping the NPF to be more accountable to the public, and working with vigilante groups to ensure they work within the ambit of the law.

Speaking at the forum, Professor Olu Ogunsakin, a lead consultant on policing service said: "The programme is to assist the police in developing internal processes and building new sets of relationships with the community.

"The objective of the British council initiative is to assist the NPF to become a world class police organization," he said.

Deputy Police Commissioner in charge of community policing Austin Ewar said the programme was structured to key into current security challenges; developing new policing strategies and management system to enable the police meet its mandate.

The Justice for All programme is sponsored by UK aid from the Department of International Development (DFID).

Daily Trust

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Nigerian government to ban foreign medical trips by civil servants

The federal government is to ban public officers from traveling abroad for medical treatment, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, told journalists, in Abuja, yesterday.

He said that the manner Nigerians travel abroad for medical treatment is not acceptable and that he is preparing a memo for the Federal Executive council, FEC, which will stop public officers from wasting public funds on foreign medical trips.

The only exception, according to him, will be a situation where the capacity to handle such a medical problem does not exist in Nigeria.

In the event that a public officer insists on foreign medical trip, public funds will not be used and the person has to bear the cost, as a private individual, Prof. Chukwu explained.

His words, "I am preparing a memo which will soon be presented to the council to stop public officers from foreign medical treatment. If a public officer says no, I don't want treatment in Nigeria, I want to travel abroad for treatment, no problem, you are free but you will not use public funds for that so long as it can be done in Nigeria".

The minister regretted that fraudulent slant has even been introduced into the issue of foreign medical trips whereby criminally minded doctors connive with foreign hospitals to rip-off Nigerian patients by referring such patients to those foreign hospitals and agree with such Nigerian doctors to be paid between 10-15 per cent of the medical bills as kickback.

"The other reason why people go abroad is the one that is the most disturbing to me as Hon. Minister of Health. What is it? Some unscrupulous doctors and other health practitioners because of money being made conspire with foreign practitioners.For instance, if Prof. Chukwu as a doctor, refers you to some of these countries, 10 -15 per cent of whatever money you pay there comes back to me. So is now a commercial motivation. So once you tell them that you have a chest problem, they will say aah, you have a heart disease and then they will refer you. It is as bad as that", he said.

Doctor Chukwu also noted that many doctors, health professionals and patients themselves are ignorant of medical facilities and expertise available in the country and that some of the cases for which many people travel abroad can be effectively treated in Nigeria.

"As Honourable Minister of Health, none of my relatives has been referred abroad."

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Egypt narrowly escape defeat from Nigeria

Egypt defeated Nigeria 3-2 in a friendly game that was held Thursday 12/4/2012 in Dubai.

The game came within the Pharaohs' preparations for the qualifiers of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2014 World Cup.

The Nigerian team broke the deadlock in the eighth minute of the game, thanks to a strike by Sunday Mba.

Egypt's Midfielder Ahmed Temsah equalized for the Egyptian side in the 25th minute. Eight minutes later, Mohamed Abou-Treika added the second goal by converting a penalty, giving Egypt a first-time lead.

Kalu Uche equalized for the Nigerian team only two minutes before the break.

At the injury-time, Ahmed Hassan Mekki added the third goal, giving Egypt a 3-2 win over Nigeria.

SIS

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Video - Boko Haram threatens President Goodluck Jonathan on youtube

The message as conveyed by its principal Sheik Abubakar Imam Shekau was mainly in Arabic and  Hausa language.

Shekau said, “You Jonathan cannot stop us like you boasted, instead we will devour you in the three months like you are boasting. If death is your worldly gain, for us, it is eternal victory to die working for Allah. Our joy is to die in Jihad for Allah against infidels like you…"

“We are also aware of some Muslims using our name to make money, we will say nothing but let them continue, and they will meet Allah in the last day.

“We are not doing physical human service, but Allah’s work and it is clear your aim is killing us. Let me tell you with Allah we will triumph over you and your men in hundreds. We are not boasting rather keeping quiet and working for Allah.

“Allah that finishes Pharaoh and others wicked rulers that you are not even up to them, will finish you and end your government. We are not afraid because we are not doing man work but Allah’s work. And we will see who will carry the day.”

Sahara Reporters

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Nigerian extradited to Singapore for online dating scam

A 32-year-old Nigerian - who is believed to be involved in a series of Internet love scams - was extradited to Singapore from Malaysia on Wednesday.

This after the Royal Malaysia Police, acting on information provided by Singapore's Airport Police Division, arrested the suspect in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

Police said on Thursday that the suspect was nabbed through close collaboration between the police from both sides of the Causeway.

BACKGROUND STORY

The police also reminded the public to remain vigilant against such scams and if they do come across such cases to:

a) Inform the police immediately if anyone attempts to extort money from you.

b) Be wary of messages from unknown people who want to befriend you.

c) Exercise caution when dealing with unknown persons 'befriended' through the Internet.

d) Do no remit or transfer money to people whom you do not know well enough. The criminal may spend months building rapport with you online before asking for money.

e) Do not accede to any request that may put you in vulnerable positions, such as performing compromising acts in front of the webcam, or give personal details about yourself when interacting with other internet users.

f) If you receive any message or call from anyone claiming he or she is in some kind of trouble overseas and need you to urgently send money over, you should report the matter to police and not transfer the money.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sam Tee, who is commander of the Airport Police Division, expressed his gratitude to his counterparts from Malaysia for the excellent cooperation and assistance rendered to the Singapore Police Force in effecting the arrest. He also commended his officers for their painstaking investigations into the cases.

Straits Times

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Nigerian government willing to re-start talks with Boko Haram

The Federal Government is willing to restart talks with the Boko Haram sect, the Interior minister said yesterday, hinting at fresh efforts to use mediated dialogue to end the sect's campaign of violence that claimed hundreds over the past two years.

Dr. Ibrahim Datti Ahmad who served as go-between between the government and the sect pulled out of the talks last month, citing government's insincerity after media leakages.

But Interior Minister Abba Moro told the BBC Hausa radio yesterday that the Federal Government would prefer for the talks to resume.

"I think first of foremost, accepting to go back at all to continue with the dialogue is a sign of sincerity. That is enough. And it is important that the sect should agree that the government is sincere and ready to talk through the intermediary," Moro said.

"But if you want dialogue you need to do it without conditions," he added.

Moro was speaking in response to remarks on Tuesday by American official Jonnie Carson that there was need for Nigeria to re-enter dialogue with the sect.

The minister said it was because of government's willingness for dialogue that President Jonathan spoke in support of mediated talks months ago.

Few days after Datti's withdrawal, Boko Haram said the collapse of the talks were a vindication of its long-held belief that the Federal Government was never willing to dialogue. It then said it would never resume negotiations with the government.

When asked yesterday when the government would re-engage the sect, Moro said, "As soon as the sect comes back. The Federal Government is ready to continue with the dialogue."

SSS: Poverty, unemployment must be tackled

The State Security Service yesterday said it has given advice to the Federal Government on addressing unemployment and poverty as parts of efforts to contain the Boko Haram insurgency.

It has been variously suggested that there is a connection between poverty and rise of Boko Haram, and a United States government official on Tuesday called on Nigeria to target poverty reduction as part of efforts to contain the sect.

At a briefing by the Joint Security Information Managers Committee in Abuja, spokesman for the SSS Marilyn Ogar said: "We are strong advocates against poor governance, unemployment and poverty. We identified these problems and advised the government. In Borno, the government is importing seedlings to distribute to unemployed youth to go into farming."

Ogar has said the security agencies were winning the fight against Boko Haram. "We are not overwhelmed by the sect because there is huge success in the fight against the sect. There is relative peace now," she said.

Spokesman for the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, said at the briefing that security forces are steps ahead of the sect by foiling their plans and arrest of top followers.

"We are ahead of the terrorists," he said.

"So there is no doubt that the security agencies are doing their best as there are many of such incidents which we have not been reported," he said.

"But they have been foiled because of the active and proactive intervention of the security agencies. That is why they have not been able to carry out their terrorist activities in different parts of the country."

On blocking of major roads in Abuja, Anas said the development was a direct reaction to information at the disposal of security agencies on the activities of terrorist groups.

The director said security agencies were aware of the inconveniences caused by the blocking and would take the necessary measures to improve the traffic situation as the situation improves.

"From time to time, security is beefed up in the FCT because credible threats are received by the agencies," he said.

"We are not unmindful of the traffic situation and the fact that it could cause some inconveniences. You know that security threats have hard and soft targets. As soon as the security situation improves, you will see improvement in these areas."

Anas said the JTF had recovered an unregistered Isuzu pick up van, a pump action gun, an AK 47 riffle, a double-barrel gun, a box loaded with assorted ammunition, 19 empty magazine of AK 47 riffles and a bullet proof jacket.

Other items recovered are a helmet and a DVD player from three Boko Haram suspects who were killed on April 9 in Borno.

Daily Trust

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