Saturday, February 28, 2015
Iraq’s army has shot down two British planes as they were carrying weapons for the ISIL terrorists in Al-Anbar province.
Iraq’s army has shot down two British planes as they were carrying weapons for the ISIL terrorists in Al-Anbar province, a senior lawmaker disclosed on Monday.
There are no reports in the Western mainstream media pertaining to this issue, BBC and CNN will not tell you about this.
“The US and the so-called anti-ISIL coalition claim that they have launched a campaign against this terrorist and criminal group – while supplying them with weapons, food and medicine in Jalawla region (a town in Diyala Governorate, Iraq). This explicitly displays the falsity of the coalition’s and the US’ claims,” Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri said.
Iraq’s army has shot down two British planes as they were carrying weapons for the ISIL terrorists in Al-Anbar province, a senior lawmaker disclosed on Monday.
“The Iraqi Parliament’s National Security and Defense Committee has access to the photos of both planes that are British and have crashed while they were carrying weapons for the ISIL,” Head of the committee Hakem al-Zameli said, according to a Monday report of the Arabic-language information center of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq.
He said the Iraqi parliament has asked London for explanations in this regard.
The senior Iraqi legislator further unveiled that the government in Baghdad is receiving daily reports from people and security forces in al-Anbar province on numerous flights by the US-led coalition planes that airdrop weapons and supplies for ISIL in terrorist-held areas.
The Iraqi lawmaker further noted the cause of such western aids to the terrorist group, and explained that the US prefers a chaotic situation in Anbar Province which is near the cities of Karbala and Baghdad as it does not want the ISIL crisis to come to an end.
Earlier today, a senior Iraqi provincial official lashed out at the western countries and their regional allies for supporting Takfiri terrorists in Iraq, revealing that US and Israeli-made weapons have been discovered from the areas purged of ISIL terrorists
“We have discovered weapons made in the US, European countries and Israel from the areas liberated from ISIL’s control in Al-Baqdadi region,” the Al-Ahad news website quoted Head of Al-Anbar Provincial Council Khalaf Tarmouz as saying.
He noted that the weapons made by the European countries and Israel were discovered from the terrorists in the Eastern parts of the city of Ramadi.
Al-Zameli had also disclosed in January that the anti-ISIL coalition’s planes have dropped weapons and foodstuff for the ISIL in Salahuddin, Al-Anbar and Diyala provinces.
Al-Zameli underlined that the coalition is the main cause of ISIL’s survival in Iraq.
“There are proofs and evidence for the US-led coalition’s military aid to ISIL terrorists through air(dropped cargoes),” he told FNA in January.
He noted that the members of his committee have already proved that the US planes have dropped advanced weaponry, including anti-aircraft weapons, for the ISIL, and that it has set up an investigation committee to probe into the matter.
“The US drops weapons for the ISIL on the excuse of not knowing about the whereabouts of the ISIL positions and it is trying to distort the reality with its allegations.
He noted that the committee had collected the data and the evidence provided by eyewitnesses, including Iraqi army officers and the popular forces, and said, “These documents are given to the investigation committee … and the necessary measures will be taken to protect the Iraqi airspace.”
Also in January, another senior Iraqi legislator reiterated that the US-led coalition is the main cause of ISIL’s survival in Iraq.
“The international coalition is only an excuse for protecting the ISIL and helping the terrorist group with equipment and weapons,” Jome Divan, who is member of the al-Sadr bloc in the Iraqi parliament, said.
He said the coalition’s support for the ISIL is now evident to everyone, and continued, “The coalition has not targeted ISIL’s main positions in Iraq.”
In late December, Iraqi Parliamentary Security and Defense Commission MP disclosed that a US plane supplied the ISIL terrorist organization with arms and ammunition in Salahuddin province.
MP Majid al-Gharawi stated that the available information pointed out that US planes are supplying ISIL organization, not only in Salahuddin province, but also other provinces, Iraq TradeLink reported.
He added that the US and the international coalition are “not serious in fighting against the ISIL organization, because they have the technological power to determine the presence of ISIL gunmen and destroy them in one month”.
Gharawi added that “the US is trying to expand the time of the war against the ISIL to get guarantees from the Iraqi government to have its bases in Mosul and Anbar provinces.”
Salahuddin security commission also disclosed that “unknown planes threw arms and ammunition to the ISIL gunmen Southeast of Tikrit city”.
Also in Late December, a senior Iraqi lawmaker raised doubts about the seriousness of the anti-ISIL coalition led by the US, and said that the terrorist group still received aids dropped by unidentified aircraft.
“The international coalition is not serious about air strikes on ISIL terrorists and is even seeking to take out the popular (voluntary) forces from the battlefield against the Takfiris so that the problem with ISIL remains unsolved in the near future,” Nahlah al-Hababi told FNA.
“The ISIL terrorists are still receiving aids from unidentified fighter jets in Iraq and Syria,” she added.
Hababi said that the coalition’s precise airstrikes are launched only in those areas where the Kurdish Pishmarga forces are present, while military strikes in other regions are not so much precise.
In late December, the US-led coalition dropped aids to the Takfiri militants in an area North of Baghdad.
Field sources in Iraq told al-Manar that the international coalition airplanes dropped aids to the terrorist militants in Balad, an area which lies in Salahuddin province North of Baghdad.
In October, a high-ranking Iranian commander also slammed the US for providing aid supplies to ISIL, adding that the US claims that the weapons were mistakenly airdropped to ISIL were untrue.
There are no reports in the Western mainstream media pertaining to this issue, BBC and CNN will not tell you about this.
“The US and the so-called anti-ISIL coalition claim that they have launched a campaign against this terrorist and criminal group – while supplying them with weapons, food and medicine in Jalawla region (a town in Diyala Governorate, Iraq). This explicitly displays the falsity of the coalition’s and the US’ claims,” Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri said.
Iraq’s army has shot down two British planes as they were carrying weapons for the ISIL terrorists in Al-Anbar province, a senior lawmaker disclosed on Monday.
“The Iraqi Parliament’s National Security and Defense Committee has access to the photos of both planes that are British and have crashed while they were carrying weapons for the ISIL,” Head of the committee Hakem al-Zameli said, according to a Monday report of the Arabic-language information center of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq.
He said the Iraqi parliament has asked London for explanations in this regard.
The senior Iraqi legislator further unveiled that the government in Baghdad is receiving daily reports from people and security forces in al-Anbar province on numerous flights by the US-led coalition planes that airdrop weapons and supplies for ISIL in terrorist-held areas.
The Iraqi lawmaker further noted the cause of such western aids to the terrorist group, and explained that the US prefers a chaotic situation in Anbar Province which is near the cities of Karbala and Baghdad as it does not want the ISIL crisis to come to an end.
Earlier today, a senior Iraqi provincial official lashed out at the western countries and their regional allies for supporting Takfiri terrorists in Iraq, revealing that US and Israeli-made weapons have been discovered from the areas purged of ISIL terrorists
“We have discovered weapons made in the US, European countries and Israel from the areas liberated from ISIL’s control in Al-Baqdadi region,” the Al-Ahad news website quoted Head of Al-Anbar Provincial Council Khalaf Tarmouz as saying.
He noted that the weapons made by the European countries and Israel were discovered from the terrorists in the Eastern parts of the city of Ramadi.
Al-Zameli had also disclosed in January that the anti-ISIL coalition’s planes have dropped weapons and foodstuff for the ISIL in Salahuddin, Al-Anbar and Diyala provinces.
Al-Zameli underlined that the coalition is the main cause of ISIL’s survival in Iraq.
“There are proofs and evidence for the US-led coalition’s military aid to ISIL terrorists through air(dropped cargoes),” he told FNA in January.
He noted that the members of his committee have already proved that the US planes have dropped advanced weaponry, including anti-aircraft weapons, for the ISIL, and that it has set up an investigation committee to probe into the matter.
“The US drops weapons for the ISIL on the excuse of not knowing about the whereabouts of the ISIL positions and it is trying to distort the reality with its allegations.
He noted that the committee had collected the data and the evidence provided by eyewitnesses, including Iraqi army officers and the popular forces, and said, “These documents are given to the investigation committee … and the necessary measures will be taken to protect the Iraqi airspace.”
Also in January, another senior Iraqi legislator reiterated that the US-led coalition is the main cause of ISIL’s survival in Iraq.
“The international coalition is only an excuse for protecting the ISIL and helping the terrorist group with equipment and weapons,” Jome Divan, who is member of the al-Sadr bloc in the Iraqi parliament, said.
He said the coalition’s support for the ISIL is now evident to everyone, and continued, “The coalition has not targeted ISIL’s main positions in Iraq.”
In late December, Iraqi Parliamentary Security and Defense Commission MP disclosed that a US plane supplied the ISIL terrorist organization with arms and ammunition in Salahuddin province.
MP Majid al-Gharawi stated that the available information pointed out that US planes are supplying ISIL organization, not only in Salahuddin province, but also other provinces, Iraq TradeLink reported.
He added that the US and the international coalition are “not serious in fighting against the ISIL organization, because they have the technological power to determine the presence of ISIL gunmen and destroy them in one month”.
Gharawi added that “the US is trying to expand the time of the war against the ISIL to get guarantees from the Iraqi government to have its bases in Mosul and Anbar provinces.”
Salahuddin security commission also disclosed that “unknown planes threw arms and ammunition to the ISIL gunmen Southeast of Tikrit city”.
Also in Late December, a senior Iraqi lawmaker raised doubts about the seriousness of the anti-ISIL coalition led by the US, and said that the terrorist group still received aids dropped by unidentified aircraft.
“The international coalition is not serious about air strikes on ISIL terrorists and is even seeking to take out the popular (voluntary) forces from the battlefield against the Takfiris so that the problem with ISIL remains unsolved in the near future,” Nahlah al-Hababi told FNA.
“The ISIL terrorists are still receiving aids from unidentified fighter jets in Iraq and Syria,” she added.
Hababi said that the coalition’s precise airstrikes are launched only in those areas where the Kurdish Pishmarga forces are present, while military strikes in other regions are not so much precise.
In late December, the US-led coalition dropped aids to the Takfiri militants in an area North of Baghdad.
Field sources in Iraq told al-Manar that the international coalition airplanes dropped aids to the terrorist militants in Balad, an area which lies in Salahuddin province North of Baghdad.
In October, a high-ranking Iranian commander also slammed the US for providing aid supplies to ISIL, adding that the US claims that the weapons were mistakenly airdropped to ISIL were untrue.
Buhari is a man full of contradictions
He will fight corruption but Tinubu is his friend.- He will give us security but he was pushed out of office like a chicken by his subordinates.- He is honest but lies about his qualification.-He has no N 27 million to buy presidential nomination form but the wife has N 135 million worth of drugs to donate.-He is poor but all his children schools abroad.-
He will fight terrorism but sees others fight against terrorism as anti-north.- He will help the youth but is never known to have helped a single almajiri even in Daura.- He will fix the economy but has not even basic rudiment of economics.-
He will fix education but is unschooled himself.- He wants to benefit from democracy but overthrew a democratic government.- He obtained school certificate but cannot produce "the certificate".May God protect us from this hypocrite.
He will fight terrorism but sees others fight against terrorism as anti-north.- He will help the youth but is never known to have helped a single almajiri even in Daura.- He will fix the economy but has not even basic rudiment of economics.-
He will fix education but is unschooled himself.- He wants to benefit from democracy but overthrew a democratic government.- He obtained school certificate but cannot produce "the certificate".May God protect us from this hypocrite.
Friday, February 27, 2015
What contribution if any has Buhari made to Nigeria in the Last 30 Years?
APART FROM CONTESTING ELECTIONS, WHAT CONTRIBUTION IF ANY HAS GENERAL BUHARI MADE TO NIGERIA IN THE LAST 30 YEARS?
I don't know anything but please share this post until we can find someone who knows. - Sola Kuti, Lagos.
China defends its South China Sea activities as restrained.
BEIJING (AP) — China defended its activities in the South China Sea as restrained and responsible Friday after the U.S. intelligence chief called its expansion of outposts in the region an "aggressive" effort to assert sovereignty.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the country's activities on shoals and in surrounding waters it claims are "reasonable, legitimate and legal" and that its attitude has been one of "restraint and responsibility."
China says it has historical claims to a huge swath of the South Sea China that overlaps the claims of several neighbors including Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and the Philippines, and it objects to what it considers U.S. meddling. The U.S. says it has a national interest in the peaceful resolution of the disputes in the region.
U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper cited China's expansion of its outposts, including for the stationing of ships and potential airfields, at a U.S. Senate hearing in Washington on Thursday. His comments underscored U.S. concerns about land reclamation activities that could fuel tensions between China and its neighbors.Read more
Thursday, February 26, 2015
The Arab Billionaires: The Real Reason Jihadist Buhari of APC Islamic brotherhood party Went To London
The recent hoopla surrounding the sudden travel to London by the All Progressive Congress [APC] presidential candidate, General Mohammadu Buhari may have generated undue interest into the private travel pattern of the APC presidential candidate – and the unexplained deception with which the handlers of the APC candidate have employed to mask the London has added to the hoopla surrounding the trip. Information available from 247ureports.com obtained from a competent source indicates that the APC presidential candidate may have gone to London for more clandestine reasons. The source reveals Buhari’s London trip was to meet with Arab billionaires to raise badly needed money for the presidential campaign – and to attend to a prescheduled medical checkup with his doctor in London.
It is recalled General Mohammadu Buhari departed Nigeria on February 19, 2015 through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja but was reported by his presidential media team to have departed for London on a working visit – adding that Buhari will address the Chattam House on Thursday February 26, 2015 – and that he will also visit with the Nigerian communities in London. But the team held onto the real reasons the Buhari campaign team went to London. Our source reveals the Chattam House engagement was not the main reason for the trip, “it was a mere decoy” to help divert attention away from the main reasons for the said trip. According to the source, “why would Buhari visit London for Chattam House speech one week before?” The source acknowledged that the APC presidential candidate is afflicted with a “terminal illness that is not immediately terminal” – that his life is not immediately threatened.
Another source from the Amaechi camp revealed to 247ureports.com that the dwindled campaign financial resources of the APC presidential campaign was the principal reason for the sudden London trip. The source pointed to the unexpected shift in the election date by the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] as crippling to the financial standing of the team. “The team did not expect to have the election date shifted by six weeks – and so did not make budgetary provisions for that” said the source who proceeded to add that the money situation within the APC is dire. The normal contributors to the campaign who had contributed generously are not as eager to contribute as they had done previously. The governors within the APC are said to have turned their attentions away from the presidential trains to their respective campaigns within their states.
Governor Amaechi who was reportedly the highest contributor to the Buhari campaign to the tune of N17billion has turned away from the presidential campaign train to focus attention to the dogged campaign being waged by the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] gubernatorial candidate in the person of Nyesom Wike and his team which includes the 1st Lady of the country, Patience Jonathan. Governor Kwankwaso, the governor of Kano State has also turned away from the presidential train of the APC for personal reasons and for reasons concerning his senatorial race in Kano State. He is currently embroiled in a political battle against the heart of the APC in Kano which is still populated by sympathizers of Honorable Minister of Education and former governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau.
The governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha according to sources has expressed to the APC presidential campaign team that he “has done his part” – and is now focused on his reelection campaign – against a potent PDP candidate, Honorable Emeka Ihedioha. The former vice president of Nigerian and the APC presidential aspirant, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has also not show eagerness to add to the N900million purportedly donated by him to the APC presidential campaign train. A source in Atiku’s Sheraton towers office revealed to 247ureports.com that Atiku believes the elections will not hold in March 28, 2015 – and so no need to “continue wasting money”.Read more
Buhari threatens to back out of Abuja Accord
He also warned that no one should regard his patriotic commitment to maintaining national peace for weakness, stressing that neither president Jonathan nor his aides have the monopoly for the “flagrant breaches to the Abuja Peace Accord.”
The APC presidential flag bearer also warned the authorities against interfering with the constitutional duties and operations of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC or surreptitiously hound its chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega out of office before the expiration of his tenure.
Buhari’s outburst followed the recent actions of Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose whom he said wished him dead in a paid advertorial and the Director-General of the People’s Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organization, PDPPCO who was said to have repeated thrown tantrums over his academic qualifications.Read more
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
WE ARE SORRY NDIGBO:: Ijaw youth beg Ndigbo for forgiveness over role in civil war.
Years after the end of the Nigeria-Biafra civil war, the Ijaw youths in Rivers State have publicly denounced the role their parents played in the war.
They, however, pleaded for forgiveness, saying that if the level of awareness and information available today were in the country then, that the Ijaw would have supported the Biafran cause.
Speaking at an Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) submit held in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the president of Ijaw Youth Council, Comrade Udengs Eradiri, stated that the Ijaw erred by not supporting the Biafran cause, citing lack of awareness and misinformation.
“If we had the type of awareness and information technology we have today then, we would have stood firmly with Biafra to win the war, but we are working hard to resolve the issue,” he stated.
He expressed joy that notwithstanding their role in the civil war, “Ndigbo voted overwhelmingly for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in 2011 and since then the zone has been supporting his administration.”
According to him the Ijaw youth were pleased with the understanding and pledged that Niger Delta youths would support Ndigbo “when it is their turn to produce the next president of the country.”
He regretted, however, that the issue of injustice that led to the civil war “is still the same issue bedevilling the country today.”
Appealing to youth to work to return President Jonathan on March 28, he said the president has done well to uplift the lives of Nigerians, including the almajaris, who were neglected by leaders in the past.
Pointing at some of the things that the president had done in areas of local content, cabottage law, establishing of 12 new universities, rail system, fighting of Ebola virus, setting, among others, he said the nation had not had it so good in its history.
Speaking also at the summit, host president of Ohanaeze Youth Council, Mazi Okechukwu Isieguzo, said that the youths have resolved to vote for President Jonathan.
”We have decided to pitch our tenet with the re-election of President Jonathan. We are reaffirming that with our structures in the North, we will give the 25 per cent requirement to return the president to the seat, he said.
While calling on politicians who want to use the youth for their selfish ambition to desist from such act, he expressed disappointment in some ministers for not doing enough to support the President re-election bid and called on such ministers to resign. .........
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Collect Your WASC Certificate From Cambridge While In London, Activist Urges Buhari
A Lagos–based human rights activist and Executive Chairman,Centre for
Human Rights and Social Justice(CHRSJ), Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman has urged the former Head of State and Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC) to ensure he collects his West African School Certificate, WASC, results from the Cambridge University before returning to Nigeria.
Comrade Sulaiman also urged the leadership of Buhari’s party(APC) and former President,Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to prevail on General Buhari to collect his result from Cambridge before returning back to the country,insisting that General Buhari did not posses Secondary School Certificate as he claimed in form CF001 submitted to Independent
national Electoral Commission(INEC).
Speaking through a signed Statement which was made available online to Journalists yesterday,CHRSJ Chief maintained that if General Buhari failed to collect his controversial result from University of Cambridge this time around, Buhari should voluntarily withdrawn from the race,urging Buhari to use the opportunity to shame his critics
over controversial School Certificate by collecting it from University of Cambridge.
Sulaiman said,”We believe General Muhammadu Buhari does not possess School Certificate as he claimed but we want Nigerians to give him benefir of doubt by bringing the result from University of Cambrdge that claimed to conduct the said exemination during his London trip and the result must tally with the earlier Statement of Result released through online medium.
“This is high time for General Buhari to clear air and lay the controversy surrounding his School certificate to rest before it is
too late.Nigeria are graciously waiting to see the original result of Buhari of 1962 and we want to tell Nigerians that Buhari was enlisted into the Nigeria Army on the basis of Principal’s recommendation letter not basis of Secondary School Certificate.Also,failure of General Buhari to bring the result during this trip,it means, the Buhari acclaimed integrity is not complete and he should bury his face in shame as we know that integrity begins with personal matters before graduating into ultimately public matters. ”
Buhari lacks integrity to fight graft —Group
ABEOKUTA—A pro-Jonathan group, Goodluck and Gboyega Youth Movement in Ogun State, yesterday, said the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Gen. Muhammad Buhari lacks the integrity to fight corruption.
The group which serves as the promoter of President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid and the emergence of the People’s Democratic Party governorship candidate in the state, Prince Gboyega Isiaka, said Buhari was too weak to fight corruption in the country.
The state coordinator of the group, Fatai Adesegun in his statement accused the APC of promoting gerontocracy which he said would make the youths to be in perpetual servitude.
“At 39, Buhari was Head of State and 39 years after, he wants to return to the same position. Does it mean there are no younger people to pilot the affairs of the country? Must we go back in time when other nations are moving forward?
“We shall resist the attempt to institutionalize gerontocracy as being promoted by the APC,“ Adesegun said.
Poroshenko Gets His Guns in UAE: Unlike Europe, Arabs Aren't Afraid of WW3.
US State Department spokesperson said that the United States is opposed to Russia selling the Antey-2500 anti-ballistic missile system to Iran following reports that Russia is considering providing Tehran with the advanced system.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States is opposed to Russia selling the Antey-2500 anti-ballistic missile system to Iran following reports that Russia is considering providing Tehran with the advanced system, US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said on Monday.
“We’ve seen these reports and once we have more details… we will certainly raise this at the appropriate levels,” Psaki said at a press briefing.
Moscow reportedly previously cancelled a 2010 agreement to sell the S-300 surface-to-air weapons system to Teheran.Read more
US Opposes Sale of Russian Anti-Ballistic Missile System to Iran.
US State Department spokesperson said that the United States is opposed to Russia selling the Antey-2500 anti-ballistic missile system to Iran following reports that Russia is considering providing Tehran with the advanced system.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States is opposed to Russia selling the Antey-2500 anti-ballistic missile system to Iran following reports that Russia is considering providing Tehran with the advanced system, US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said on Monday.
“We’ve seen these reports and once we have more details… we will certainly raise this at the appropriate levels,” Psaki said at a press briefing.
Moscow reportedly previously cancelled a 2010 agreement to sell the S-300 surface-to-air weapons system to Teheran.Read more
Ayo Fayose once again reveals APC falsehood
Ayo Fayose once again reveals APC falsehood, takes journalists to 5 hotel room where Buhari was interviewed several months ago. The APC and their media associates circulated the picture as an interview session in London.
Saudi court gives death penalty to man who renounced his Muslim faith
RIYADH (Reuters) - An Islamic court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced a man to death for renouncing his Muslim faith, the English-language daily Saudi Gazette reported on Tuesday.
The man, in his 20s, posted an online video ripping up a copy of Islam's holy book, the Koran, and hitting it with a shoe, the newspaper reported.
Saudi Arabia, the United States' top Arab ally and birthplace of Islam, follows the strict Wahhabi Sunni Muslim school and gives the clergy control over its justice system.
Under the Wahhabi interpretation of Sharia Islamic law, apostasy demands the death penalty, as do some other religious offences like sorcery, while blasphemy and criticism of senior Muslim clerics have incurred jail terms and corporal punishment.
Executions in Saudi Arabia are usually carried out by public beheading.
International rights groups say the Saudi justice system suffers from a lack of transparency and due process, that defendants are often denied basic rights such as legal representation and that sentencing can be arbitrary.
The Saudi government has taken some steps to reform its judicial system but has also defended it as fair.
Last year a court in Jeddah sentenced Saudi liberal Raif Badawi to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in prison for publishing criticism of the kingdom's ruling religious and political elite and calling for reforms in Islam.
The first of 50 of those lashes were carried out in January, but subsequent rounds of flogging have not occurred. Officials have not publicly commented on the case, but insiders say the lashing appears to have been quietly dropped.
The man, in his 20s, posted an online video ripping up a copy of Islam's holy book, the Koran, and hitting it with a shoe, the newspaper reported.
Saudi Arabia, the United States' top Arab ally and birthplace of Islam, follows the strict Wahhabi Sunni Muslim school and gives the clergy control over its justice system.
Under the Wahhabi interpretation of Sharia Islamic law, apostasy demands the death penalty, as do some other religious offences like sorcery, while blasphemy and criticism of senior Muslim clerics have incurred jail terms and corporal punishment.
Executions in Saudi Arabia are usually carried out by public beheading.
International rights groups say the Saudi justice system suffers from a lack of transparency and due process, that defendants are often denied basic rights such as legal representation and that sentencing can be arbitrary.
The Saudi government has taken some steps to reform its judicial system but has also defended it as fair.
Last year a court in Jeddah sentenced Saudi liberal Raif Badawi to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in prison for publishing criticism of the kingdom's ruling religious and political elite and calling for reforms in Islam.
The first of 50 of those lashes were carried out in January, but subsequent rounds of flogging have not occurred. Officials have not publicly commented on the case, but insiders say the lashing appears to have been quietly dropped.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Rivers PDP officials begin the release of documents indicting outgoing Governor Amaechi of large scale corruption.
I-N-F-O-R-M-A-T-I-O-N!!! Buhari Must NOT Come Back To Nigeria Until...
Nigerians are appealing to Buhari to go to Cambridge University and bring a certified copy of his School certificate, that he claimed to have obtained in 1962.
Whatever reason he may give to Nigerians, we demand that he should not come back to Nigeria with collecting his certificate.
Nigerians are not asking too much from Pa Muhammadu Buhari (73) and his Party, the APC.
NO MORE EXCUSE!!!
Cristiano RonaldoReal Madrid star named in Kim Kardashian's sex list
The twitter war between Kanye West's ex, Amber Ross and Kim Kardashian may have just taken a very different turn with the mention of Cristiano Ronaldo's name.
The Real Madrid star was named amongst the multiple number of men who'd slept with the media personality and American socialite.
A photo posted to Instagram which has names of 19 or more men has Ronaldo on number 10. Read more
Twisted new ISIS video shows 'Kurdish Peshmerga' fighters paraded in cages through the streets and interviewed by their captors who hint heavily that death awaits .
In the latest propaganda video from Islamic State, hostages are paraded in cages through the packed streets of Iraq to cheers and jeers.
But in a cruel twist, the orange jumpsuit-clad prisoners are interviewed by their captors - ahead of their presumably grim fate.
The nine-minute video allegedly shows 21 Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, who are paraded through the crowded streets of the Iraqi province of Kirkuk, before being seemingly marched to their deaths.Read more
Saturday, February 21, 2015
The new Cold War: Putin issues chilling new threat as Nato chief says tensions with Russia could end in 'all out conflict.
Military chiefs have warned that Britain has entered a new Cold War with Russia, as Vladimir Putin threatened anyone who tried to pressure his country.
Amid growing tensions over Ukraine, Putin said ‘no one should have any illusions that it’s possible to achieve military superiority over Russia or apply any kind of pressure on it’.
Adding that his forces would always have an ‘adequate response’, he vowed to step up an ambitious military modernisation, with hundreds of new combat jets, missiles and other weapons.
His comments sparked renewed concern about the UK’s capability to cope in the event of a conflict with Russia.
Britain’s top military commander in Nato spoke of an ‘era of constant competition with Russia’, while a former RAF chief said the UK was in ‘a different sort of Cold War.’Read more
Friday, February 20, 2015
Putin says Russia's military strength unmatchable: Interfax
"No one should have the illusion that they can gain military superiority over Russia, put any kind of pressure on it. We will always have an adequate answer for any such adventures," he was quoted as saying in an address dedicated to the Defenders' of the Fatherland Day holiday next week.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
David Mark’s wife, Dangote, Adenuga, others named in #SwissLeaks as operators of secret foreign accounts
Some of Nigeria’s wealthiest industrialists, former government officials and their relatives, were amongst thousands of individuals around the world who operated highly secretive foreign accounts with the Swiss branch of banking giant, HSBC, concealing their identities for years and using codes perhaps to shake off tax authorities from accounts, some of which held illicit assets from criminals, traffickers, arms dealers and other outlaws, secret files published last week by a consortium of journalists around the world have shown.
The trove, released by the French Daily, Le Monde and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, in partnership with PREMIUM TIMES, and a host of other major media organisations around the world, showed how HSBC profited doing business with people who stole from their countries and some of the world’s most notorious con artists, including people who made a fortune fuelling wars in Africa.Read more
Afghan Taliban to meet US officials for talks in Qatar
Negotiators of the Afghan Taliban are set to hold a first round of peace talks with US officials in Qatar, according to media reports.
Previous efforts to negotiate an end to a war that began in late 2001 have proved fruitless, but the latest signals raised hopes of a much-needed boost for new Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
"The first session will take place today in Qatar and then there would be another session on Friday. Let us see what happens as talks before did not yield any results," a senior member of the Afghan Taliban told Reuters news agency by telephone from Qatar.
Sources of AFP news agency also confirmed the that the talks would start today.
Bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table would be a major breakthrough in Afghan efforts to find a diplomatic solution to more than a decade of war following the withdrawal of most US-led troops last year.
Earlier on Thursday, a senior Pakistani military official said Pakistan's army chief of staff, Raheel Sharif, told Ghani during a visit this week that the Taliban were willing to begin negotiations as early as March.
"They have expressed their willingness and there will be progress in March. But these things are not so quick and easy," the official, who is close to Pakistan's powerful army chief, told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
"But there are very clear signals ... and we have communicated it to the Afghans. Now many things are with the Afghans and they are serious," the official said.
The official said, however, there was no firm timetable for the talks. Other Taliban representatives had earlier denied they were willing to hold direct negotiations.
Three senior diplomats in the region confirmed the account of imminent talks based on briefings from people who were at the meeting between Ghani and Sharif on Tuesday.
"The venue is still to be decided. Preferably Islamabad, Kabul, Beijing or Dubai," said one diplomat in Kabul. He and other diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
Ghani's office did not directly refer to any talks in a statement it issued but promised transparency.
"I will not conduct any negotiation in secret from my people and they will be informed of any development," he was quoted as saying.
Attempts to get talks going in Qatar in 2013 came to nothing after the Afghan government objected to fanfare surrounding the opening of a Taliban office in the Gulf state, complete with a flag and official plaques.
Better ties
Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which has historically close links with the Taliban, have been marred by mistrust and suspicion but Ghani, who came to power last year, has reached out to Pakistan and sought to improve ties.
Pakistan, for its part, is pushing for the Taliban to agree to talk in exchange for an Afghan promise to capture and hand over the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, Mullah Fazlullah, who is believed to be hiding in Afghanistan.
The Pakistani Taliban are different from the Afghan Taliban although they share the same goal of toppling regional governments and establishing an Islamist theocracy.
The Kabul diplomat warned that any talks might hinge on the Taliban's reclusive leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, who has not been seen in public since 2001.
"The final decision is still upon Mullah Omar, according to (Pakistani army chief) Raheel. The Taliban leadership is consulting him," the diplomat said.
However, even if talks are opened, it is unclear whether the Taliban's leadership is united enough to end the fighting.
The fighters have split into different factions since their former regime's leadership went into hiding after the Taliban were toppled by US-backed Afghan forces in 2001, as part of a US effort to hunt down al-Qaeda leaders behind the September 11 attacks on the United States.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Lorry load of foreigners intercepted in Abia.
The Nigerian Immigration Service, Abia State Command, has intercepted a luxury bus conveying 112 passengers, including 42 foreigners at the Abia Tower Junction of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.
The suspects were traveling from Kano to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when they were intercepted.
Comptroller of Immigration in charge of the state, Mrs. Augustina Opara, said the arrest was effected after her agency received a tip-off that a bus with suspected aliens were in the state.
She said, “After thorough investigations and screening of the occupants of the 52-seater luxury bus, 42 out of the 112 passengers were discovered to be without valid travel documents.
“Further investigations revealed that the foreigners were all nationals of Niger Republic. Other passengers found to be Nigerians have been released to continue with their journey to Port Harcourt.”
The comptroller said arrangements were being perfected to repatriate the suspects within 48 hours, explaining that they had no legal rights to be in the country.
She restated the commitment of her officers and men to ensure that no foreigner without proper travel documents infiltrated the country, especially as the elections gathered momentum.
Opara further said that the agency had started mopping up all illegal immigrants in Abia State as part of efforts to rid the state of possible security threats ahead of the elections .
She warned transport operators to endeavour to ascertain the identity of their passengers and report those with suspicious identities to security agencies.
The comptroller also appealed to border communities to always report the presence of foreigners to the security agencies for necessary action.
Later in an interview with our correspondent, one of the suspects, who identified himself as Isa, said he was a cobbler and was travelling from Niger Republic to Port Harcourt where he hoped to make a better living.
Another suspect, Abiru, said he was a nail cutter and was coming to Nigeria for the first time; while Almustapher, another foreigner, also said he was a cobbler.
The suspects were traveling from Kano to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when they were intercepted.
Comptroller of Immigration in charge of the state, Mrs. Augustina Opara, said the arrest was effected after her agency received a tip-off that a bus with suspected aliens were in the state.
She said, “After thorough investigations and screening of the occupants of the 52-seater luxury bus, 42 out of the 112 passengers were discovered to be without valid travel documents.
“Further investigations revealed that the foreigners were all nationals of Niger Republic. Other passengers found to be Nigerians have been released to continue with their journey to Port Harcourt.”
The comptroller said arrangements were being perfected to repatriate the suspects within 48 hours, explaining that they had no legal rights to be in the country.
She restated the commitment of her officers and men to ensure that no foreigner without proper travel documents infiltrated the country, especially as the elections gathered momentum.
Opara further said that the agency had started mopping up all illegal immigrants in Abia State as part of efforts to rid the state of possible security threats ahead of the elections .
She warned transport operators to endeavour to ascertain the identity of their passengers and report those with suspicious identities to security agencies.
The comptroller also appealed to border communities to always report the presence of foreigners to the security agencies for necessary action.
Later in an interview with our correspondent, one of the suspects, who identified himself as Isa, said he was a cobbler and was travelling from Niger Republic to Port Harcourt where he hoped to make a better living.
Another suspect, Abiru, said he was a nail cutter and was coming to Nigeria for the first time; while Almustapher, another foreigner, also said he was a cobbler.
THE FEAR OF LOSING OIL BLOCKS IS THE BEGINING OF WISDOM TO THE NORTHERN CABALS AND THEIR ALLIES.
WHY OBASANJO ENDORSED BUHARI:
By Ngozi Okonjo Iweala
Why am taking a swift from supporting General Buhari . Just few hours ago, Obasanjo endorsed General Buhari as the man to deliver this nation. I was personally shocked, when I heard the news. This is because, I was expecting Baba to stay at the touch line, and leave Nigerians to study his body language. But the masquerade could not control his dance in the public market. Hence he mistakenly flogged his own mother who is also a trader in the market. Nigerians, I am left with no option than to tell us that, these ex-generals and their boys are up to something.
The issue at hand is not all about the presidential seat. But rather, the national cake (oil blocks). Less I forget, is it not the same Obasanjo who woke up and hand picked his puppet 2011, who eventually grew like Joseph the messiah of Egypt? Is it not the same Obj that told us 2011, that General Buhari is too old to rule this country? Is it not the same Obj that told us Buhari is a dictator? Somebody should have a rethink like me. We must understand the preacher's language before decoding his message.
If Obj can take a swift and prefer General Buhari to Jonathan, a puppet he dedicated his energy and resources to win 2011 election, then as an average Nigerian, we should have a rethink and ask our leaders what is so special in Aso Rock. If leadership is to serve the people, why is it that, the ex-generals finally gang up against their new recruit on account of change? If we're to outline the sins of Mr.President, are the ex- generals not guilty of such sins? One may ask why is SPEAKER taking a swift? Everybody wants change. But I am astonished the way and manner these ex- general joined the train of change. Is it that, this is the first time they heard the word change? If NO, why did they not change this country when they were given opportunity?
Why advocating for change now when the puppet body language shows he Will not renew their oil blocks licence? Why advocating for change now, when the puppet purchased equipment to monitor and reduce vandalism? Why advocating for change now, when the strong headed puppet wiped out their ghost names from the civil service pay roll? Why advocating for change now, when the puppet sacked your boys as corrupt ministers? Why advocating for change now, when the puppet refused to dump Sambo for another puppet? Why advocating for change when he refused to kill Nigerians indiscriminatel y. But rather he is exploiting all means of dialogue. Unlike your Odi brutal killings and destruction. Why advocating for change now, when the puppet refused to twist governors hands with EFCC to pave his way like you did? Why advocating for change now, when at 72 years, you still tell your children of 50years they are the leaders of tomorrow? Why advocating for change now, when the puppet refused to give you the fertilizer deal? Why advocating for change now, when the puppet refused to jail your enemies?
Why advocating for change now, when the puppet refused to rig election for your daughter? Why advocating for change now, when in your time railways were not working? Why advocating for change, when in your time, our judiciary could not delivered a fair judgement in favour of oppositions? Baba,Nigerians are fed up of you sitting in Otta, deciding their future. We want to decide our destiny with the help of God. We want to practice true democracy by using our votes to decide our future. Let the good works or antecedents of our leaders speak volume for them. Just after the presidential chat with Mr.President, we discovered that, you, your colleagues and errant boys, are spreading false informations to pave your way to aso rock.
Lastly, I challenge you Baba OBJ, #Tinubu, #Atiku and others to tell Nigerians you don't have oil blocks or you Generals are not fighting the last battle to protect your oil blocks. They won't come out and speak my brothers and sisters. They want us to believe they are fighting for us. When they have their own local refineries at their backyards.
R.I.P Fela:
Animals wan dash me my human right.-Fela Kuti
Monday, February 16, 2015
This is the picture of 21 christians that ISIL beheaded yesterday in Libya
This is the picture of 21 christians that ISIL beheaded yesterday in Libya vote Buhari and get yourselves to blame.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
20 Owners Of Richest Oil Blocks In Nigeria Are From North Nigeria No Niger Deltans Among Them.
20 Owners Of Richest Oil Blocks In Nigeria – Their Names Will Shock You..By Obinna Akukwe
It’s more news the North wants GEJ out of the way, so their licenses can be renewed cos most of them are expiring from 2016 upwards.
Monumental injustice is being perpetrated to the people of Niger Delta on whose soil the oil was found.
These people constitutes the main opposition to President Goodluck Jonathan today. Please Read on:
(1) This oil block business is so lucrative that Danjuma’s Sapetro divested of its investment in Akpo condensate for $1billion dollars. This business is second to none in Nigeria. That is why any attempt to investigate the activities in this sector will always be futile. The money is so much that they give bribes in millions of dollars.
A birthday gift or child naming gift from an oil block owner to a government official could be as paltry as $2million dollars, and if the official’s father died, the condolence gift could reach mere $3 million dollars. When they want to bribe legislators, it is in millions of dollars and any ongoing investigation ends within weeks. They are so confident that with excess money they can buy up Nigeria and they are succeeding
(2) OML 110 with high yield OBE oil fields was given Cavendish Petroleum owned by Alhaji Mai Daribe, the Borno Patriarch in 1996 by Sanni Abacha. OBE oil field has estimated over 500 million barrels of oil. In layman’s language and using average benchmark of $100 dollars per barrel, translates to $50 billion dollars worth of oil reserve. When you remove the taxes, royalties and sundry duties worth about 60% of the reserve payable over time you get about $20billion dollars worth of oil in the hands of a family.
(3) OPL 246 was awarded to SAPETRO, a company owned by General Theophilus Danjuma, by Sanni Abacha in 1998. Akpo condensate exports about 300,000 barrels of crude daily.
(4) NOML 112 and OML 117 were awarded to AMNI International Petroleum Development Company owned by Colonel Sanni Bello in 1999. Sanni Bello is an inlaw to Abdulsalami Abubakar, former Head of State of Nigeria.
(5) OML 115, OLDWOK Field and EBOK field was awarded to Alhaji Mohammed Indimi from Niger State. Indimi is an inlaw to former Military President Ibrahim Babangida.
(6) OML 215 is operated by Nor East Petroleum Limited owned by Alhaji Saleh Mohammed Gambo.
(7) OML 108 is operated by Express Petroleum Company Limited is owned by Alhaji Aminu Dantata.
(cool OML II3 allocated to Yinka Folawiyo Pet Ltd is owned by Alhaji W.I. folawiyo
(9)ASUOKPU/UMUTU marginal oil fields is operated by Seplat Petroleum. Seplat is owned by Prince Nasiru Ado Bayero, cousin to the Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi. This oil field has the capacity of 300,000 barrels of oil daily. This translates to $30million dollars daily at average benchmark of $100 dollars per barrel. Deducting all sundry taxes, royalties etc , this field can yield $12billion dollars daily for the owners .
(10)Intel owned by Atiku, Yarádua and Ado Bayero has substantial stakes in Nigeria’s oil exploration industry both in Nigeria and Principe and Sao Tome.
(11) AMNI owns two oil blocks OML 112 and OML 117 which it runs Afren plc and Vitol has substantial stakes in oil blocks. Afren plc is operating EBOK oil fields in OML 67. Vitol lifts 300,000 barrels of Nigerian oil daily. Rilwanu Lukman, former OPEC Chairman has stakes in all these named three companies.
(12) OPL 245 was awarded to Malabu Oil& Gas Company by Sanni Abacha. Dan Etete, Abacha’s oil minister owns Malabu Oil. In 2000, Vice President Atiku Abubakar convinced Obasanjo to revoke OPL 245 given to Malabu Oil. Etete had earlier rejected Atiku’s demand for substantial stakes in the high yield OPL 245 and it attracted the venom of Ota Majesty who revoked the licence. However, in 2006, Obasanjo had mercy on Dan Etete and gave him back his oil block worth over $20 billion dollars.
(13) OPL 289 and OPL 233 was awarded during Obasanjo era to Peter Odili fronts, Cleanwater Consortium, consisting of Clenwater Refinery and RivGas Petroleum and Gas Company. Odili’s brother in law, Okey Ezenwa manages the consortium as Vice Chairman.
(14) OPL 286 is managed by Focus Energy in partnership with BG Group, a British oil concern. Andy Uba has stakes in Focus Energy and his modus operandi is such that you can never see his name in any listings yet he controls OPL and OML through proxies
(15)OPL 291 was awarded to Starcrest Energy Nigeria Limited, owned by Emeka Offor by Obasanjo . Immediately after the award, Starcrest sold the oil block to Addax Petroleum Development Company Limited (ADDAX) Addax paid Sir Emeka Offor a farming fee of $35million dollars and still paid the signature bonus to the government. Emeka Offor still retains stake in ADDAX operations in Nigeria.
(16) Mike Adenuga’s Conoil is the oldest indigenous oil exploration industry in Nigeria. Conoil has six oil blocks and exports above 200,000 barrels of crude daily.
(17)The oil block national cake sharing fiesta could take twists according to the mood of the Commander-in –Chief at the particular time. In 2006, Obasanjo revoked OPL 246 which Abacha gave to Danjuma because he refused to support the tenure elongation bid of the Ota Majesty. In 2000, Obasanjo had earlier revoked OPL 241 given to Dan Etete under the advice Atiku. However, when the Obasanjo-Atiku faceoff started, the Ota Majesty made a u-turn and handed back the oil block to Etete.
(18)During the time of Late President Yarádua , a panel headed by Olusegun Ogunjana was set up to investigate the level of transparency in the award of oil blocks. The panel recommended that 25 oil blocks awarded by the Obasanjo be revoked because the manner they were obtained failed to meet the best practices in the industry. Sadiq Mahmood, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum endorsed the report to then president with all its recommendations. As a result of the report Yarádua revoked eleven oil blocks.
(19) In April 2011 Mike Adenuga attempted to buy Shell’s OML 30 for $1.2 billion dollars. The Minister for Petroleum and Nigeria’s most powerful woman refused the sale of the OML30 to Adenuga citing national interest. This block was later sold to Heritage Oil for $800 million dollars eleven months later.
(20) In the name of competitive bidding, which Obasanjo introduced in 2005, Officials bring companies overnight and through processes best described as secretive and voodooist they award blocks to party faithful, fronts and phoney companies. They collect gratifications running into hundreds of millions of dollars which is paid into offshore account and the nation loses billions of dollars of revenue to private pockets.
During the third term agenda, Obasanjo was deceived that the allocation of oil block to party faithfuls is to fund the third term agenda. With the failure of the third term, the beneficiaries went home with their fortunes and thanked God or Allah for buttering their bread.
Senator Andy Uba co ordinate the award of the last rounds of oil block by Obasanjo in 2005 and 2007. The then minister of petroleum, Edwin Daukoru was a mere errand boy who took instructions from the presidential aide
The process of sharing Nigeria’s oil block national cake is as fraudulent now as when Ibrahim Babangida started the process of discretionary allocation of oil blocks to indigenous firms. Discretionary allocation of oil blocks entails that a president can reward a mistress who performs wonderfully with an oil block with capacity for cumulative yield of over $20 billion dollars without recourse to any process outside of manhood attachments.
Babangida, Abacha, Abdulsalami and Obasanjo awarded discretionary oil blocks to friends, associates, family members, party chieftains, security chiefs and all categories of bootlickers, spokespersons and cult members without any laid down procedures.
The recipients of such oil blocks will get funds from ever willing offshore financiers and partners to graciously settle the benefactors, the awarders, facilitators and the Commander-in-Chief through fronts. These settlements mostly paid into foreign accounts runs into hundreds of millions of dollars according to the potential yield of the block.
Sometimes, the awarder (sharer of national cake and direct intermediaries) demand additional stakes in the bidding company. The awarder sends fronts as part of the directorship and management of the bidding firms without leaving a link to them. That is how the oil block national cake is distributed to a few Nigerians.
Signature bonuses which are paid when an investor successfully bids, wins and signs agreement with the petroleum ministry, running into tens of millions and sometimes hundreds of millions of naira ,is often waived off. There is actually no waiver; rather a diversion of what would have been paid to government t coffers is paid into private purse as appreciation gifts.
That is why those in the Petroleum Ministry dread retirement as though it signifies going to hell fire. No matter how little your influence, something substantial must enter your hands especially in hard currency. The nation loses billions of dollars in diverted revenue whenever any round of auction occurs.
The regime of President Goodluck is not showing any signs of changing the status quo. Controversies have trailed the activities of the Minister of Petroleum and many players in the Industry accuse her of demanding stakes from every oil deal. It is hoped that President Goodluck Jonathan will remember his transformational promise to Nigerians and endeavour to face the hawks in the oil industry.
The angst in the air is so much that if this monster of illegal allocation of oil block is not addressed, the much touted revolution could begin all of a sudden and all who condoned this illegality at the expense of hungry Nigerians may have nowhere to hide.
Culled from How Babangida, Abubakar, Abacha, Obasanjo Shared Nigeria’s Oil Blocks
It’s more news the North wants GEJ out of the way, so their licenses can be renewed cos most of them are expiring from 2016 upwards.
Monumental injustice is being perpetrated to the people of Niger Delta on whose soil the oil was found.
These people constitutes the main opposition to President Goodluck Jonathan today. Please Read on:
(1) This oil block business is so lucrative that Danjuma’s Sapetro divested of its investment in Akpo condensate for $1billion dollars. This business is second to none in Nigeria. That is why any attempt to investigate the activities in this sector will always be futile. The money is so much that they give bribes in millions of dollars.
A birthday gift or child naming gift from an oil block owner to a government official could be as paltry as $2million dollars, and if the official’s father died, the condolence gift could reach mere $3 million dollars. When they want to bribe legislators, it is in millions of dollars and any ongoing investigation ends within weeks. They are so confident that with excess money they can buy up Nigeria and they are succeeding
(2) OML 110 with high yield OBE oil fields was given Cavendish Petroleum owned by Alhaji Mai Daribe, the Borno Patriarch in 1996 by Sanni Abacha. OBE oil field has estimated over 500 million barrels of oil. In layman’s language and using average benchmark of $100 dollars per barrel, translates to $50 billion dollars worth of oil reserve. When you remove the taxes, royalties and sundry duties worth about 60% of the reserve payable over time you get about $20billion dollars worth of oil in the hands of a family.
(3) OPL 246 was awarded to SAPETRO, a company owned by General Theophilus Danjuma, by Sanni Abacha in 1998. Akpo condensate exports about 300,000 barrels of crude daily.
(4) NOML 112 and OML 117 were awarded to AMNI International Petroleum Development Company owned by Colonel Sanni Bello in 1999. Sanni Bello is an inlaw to Abdulsalami Abubakar, former Head of State of Nigeria.
(5) OML 115, OLDWOK Field and EBOK field was awarded to Alhaji Mohammed Indimi from Niger State. Indimi is an inlaw to former Military President Ibrahim Babangida.
(6) OML 215 is operated by Nor East Petroleum Limited owned by Alhaji Saleh Mohammed Gambo.
(7) OML 108 is operated by Express Petroleum Company Limited is owned by Alhaji Aminu Dantata.
(cool OML II3 allocated to Yinka Folawiyo Pet Ltd is owned by Alhaji W.I. folawiyo
(9)ASUOKPU/UMUTU marginal oil fields is operated by Seplat Petroleum. Seplat is owned by Prince Nasiru Ado Bayero, cousin to the Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi. This oil field has the capacity of 300,000 barrels of oil daily. This translates to $30million dollars daily at average benchmark of $100 dollars per barrel. Deducting all sundry taxes, royalties etc , this field can yield $12billion dollars daily for the owners .
(10)Intel owned by Atiku, Yarádua and Ado Bayero has substantial stakes in Nigeria’s oil exploration industry both in Nigeria and Principe and Sao Tome.
(11) AMNI owns two oil blocks OML 112 and OML 117 which it runs Afren plc and Vitol has substantial stakes in oil blocks. Afren plc is operating EBOK oil fields in OML 67. Vitol lifts 300,000 barrels of Nigerian oil daily. Rilwanu Lukman, former OPEC Chairman has stakes in all these named three companies.
(12) OPL 245 was awarded to Malabu Oil& Gas Company by Sanni Abacha. Dan Etete, Abacha’s oil minister owns Malabu Oil. In 2000, Vice President Atiku Abubakar convinced Obasanjo to revoke OPL 245 given to Malabu Oil. Etete had earlier rejected Atiku’s demand for substantial stakes in the high yield OPL 245 and it attracted the venom of Ota Majesty who revoked the licence. However, in 2006, Obasanjo had mercy on Dan Etete and gave him back his oil block worth over $20 billion dollars.
(13) OPL 289 and OPL 233 was awarded during Obasanjo era to Peter Odili fronts, Cleanwater Consortium, consisting of Clenwater Refinery and RivGas Petroleum and Gas Company. Odili’s brother in law, Okey Ezenwa manages the consortium as Vice Chairman.
(14) OPL 286 is managed by Focus Energy in partnership with BG Group, a British oil concern. Andy Uba has stakes in Focus Energy and his modus operandi is such that you can never see his name in any listings yet he controls OPL and OML through proxies
(15)OPL 291 was awarded to Starcrest Energy Nigeria Limited, owned by Emeka Offor by Obasanjo . Immediately after the award, Starcrest sold the oil block to Addax Petroleum Development Company Limited (ADDAX) Addax paid Sir Emeka Offor a farming fee of $35million dollars and still paid the signature bonus to the government. Emeka Offor still retains stake in ADDAX operations in Nigeria.
(16) Mike Adenuga’s Conoil is the oldest indigenous oil exploration industry in Nigeria. Conoil has six oil blocks and exports above 200,000 barrels of crude daily.
(17)The oil block national cake sharing fiesta could take twists according to the mood of the Commander-in –Chief at the particular time. In 2006, Obasanjo revoked OPL 246 which Abacha gave to Danjuma because he refused to support the tenure elongation bid of the Ota Majesty. In 2000, Obasanjo had earlier revoked OPL 241 given to Dan Etete under the advice Atiku. However, when the Obasanjo-Atiku faceoff started, the Ota Majesty made a u-turn and handed back the oil block to Etete.
(18)During the time of Late President Yarádua , a panel headed by Olusegun Ogunjana was set up to investigate the level of transparency in the award of oil blocks. The panel recommended that 25 oil blocks awarded by the Obasanjo be revoked because the manner they were obtained failed to meet the best practices in the industry. Sadiq Mahmood, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum endorsed the report to then president with all its recommendations. As a result of the report Yarádua revoked eleven oil blocks.
(19) In April 2011 Mike Adenuga attempted to buy Shell’s OML 30 for $1.2 billion dollars. The Minister for Petroleum and Nigeria’s most powerful woman refused the sale of the OML30 to Adenuga citing national interest. This block was later sold to Heritage Oil for $800 million dollars eleven months later.
(20) In the name of competitive bidding, which Obasanjo introduced in 2005, Officials bring companies overnight and through processes best described as secretive and voodooist they award blocks to party faithful, fronts and phoney companies. They collect gratifications running into hundreds of millions of dollars which is paid into offshore account and the nation loses billions of dollars of revenue to private pockets.
During the third term agenda, Obasanjo was deceived that the allocation of oil block to party faithfuls is to fund the third term agenda. With the failure of the third term, the beneficiaries went home with their fortunes and thanked God or Allah for buttering their bread.
Senator Andy Uba co ordinate the award of the last rounds of oil block by Obasanjo in 2005 and 2007. The then minister of petroleum, Edwin Daukoru was a mere errand boy who took instructions from the presidential aide
The process of sharing Nigeria’s oil block national cake is as fraudulent now as when Ibrahim Babangida started the process of discretionary allocation of oil blocks to indigenous firms. Discretionary allocation of oil blocks entails that a president can reward a mistress who performs wonderfully with an oil block with capacity for cumulative yield of over $20 billion dollars without recourse to any process outside of manhood attachments.
Babangida, Abacha, Abdulsalami and Obasanjo awarded discretionary oil blocks to friends, associates, family members, party chieftains, security chiefs and all categories of bootlickers, spokespersons and cult members without any laid down procedures.
The recipients of such oil blocks will get funds from ever willing offshore financiers and partners to graciously settle the benefactors, the awarders, facilitators and the Commander-in-Chief through fronts. These settlements mostly paid into foreign accounts runs into hundreds of millions of dollars according to the potential yield of the block.
Sometimes, the awarder (sharer of national cake and direct intermediaries) demand additional stakes in the bidding company. The awarder sends fronts as part of the directorship and management of the bidding firms without leaving a link to them. That is how the oil block national cake is distributed to a few Nigerians.
Signature bonuses which are paid when an investor successfully bids, wins and signs agreement with the petroleum ministry, running into tens of millions and sometimes hundreds of millions of naira ,is often waived off. There is actually no waiver; rather a diversion of what would have been paid to government t coffers is paid into private purse as appreciation gifts.
That is why those in the Petroleum Ministry dread retirement as though it signifies going to hell fire. No matter how little your influence, something substantial must enter your hands especially in hard currency. The nation loses billions of dollars in diverted revenue whenever any round of auction occurs.
The regime of President Goodluck is not showing any signs of changing the status quo. Controversies have trailed the activities of the Minister of Petroleum and many players in the Industry accuse her of demanding stakes from every oil deal. It is hoped that President Goodluck Jonathan will remember his transformational promise to Nigerians and endeavour to face the hawks in the oil industry.
The angst in the air is so much that if this monster of illegal allocation of oil block is not addressed, the much touted revolution could begin all of a sudden and all who condoned this illegality at the expense of hungry Nigerians may have nowhere to hide.
Culled from How Babangida, Abubakar, Abacha, Obasanjo Shared Nigeria’s Oil Blocks
Saturday, February 14, 2015
E-X-P-O-S-E-D!!! Wicked Old Liar, Muhammadu Buhari.
Buhari's lies is now annoying. Nigerians though that he will change with age, but we were wrong. The older he became the worse.
1] I used bank loan to build my House in Abuja.
2] I used Bank Loan to Build my 2 Houses in Kaduna
3] I used Bank Loan to Build my House in Katsina
4] I used Bank Loan to Build my house in Daura.
5] With All these houses, close to 2011 election, Buhari told Nigerians that he was kicked out of his Abuja rented House.
What a manner of a liars is Buhari.
6] In 2003, Buhari declared affidavit that he has 150 cows.
7] In 2007, Buhari declared again that he has 150 cows.
8] In 2011, Buhari declared that his cows are 150 in number.
9] In 2014, the religious Bigot said that he still have 150 cows.
10] Buhari claimed building our Refineries, another Hot lies.
The truth is that there is no Project in Nigeria that can be associated to Buhari being in power. He did not even build a Nursery school anywhere in Nigeria. As a school drop-out, Education is not his priority.
A man that have nothing, will give nothing. #BeWise.
Most liars are smart, but regrettably, we have a confused dumb head as the Presidential candidate of the Nigerian first Islamic party, the APC.
CHANGE SHOULD BE REAL NOT WITH DECEIT AND LIES.
Friday, February 13, 2015
MASSOB introduces vehicle, driver licences, passport.
Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has urged the international community to rezone the country to enable each zone go back and conduct their own elections in the interest of peace. Assistant National Information Director, Mr Sunny Okereafor, made this call while speaking to Daily Sun in Umuahia.
He said MASSOB has introduced vehicle plate number, bearing United States of Biafra, drivers and vehicle licences, tax receipt, international passport and currency at the World Bank, which are things that make a people a nation, there is the need for Biafrans to stay on their own. On polls shift, he said:
“We are calling on the international community to split Nigeria into six geo-political regions so that every region will go and conduct elections because we want peaceful co-existence. We are a non-violent organization and we are introducing non-violence in all the struggles for self-actualization in the whole of Africa”. He urged all Igbo to go acquire all the things he has mentioned, get them and start using them because Biafra has come to stay.
“If you remember when President Goodluck Jonathan was making his broadcast in January, he said that a new nation has been born, the nation he was referring to is Biafra. Biafra is around, this is our identity, I am urging all Igbo to go and look for it. It is available in the whole Biafra region”, Okereafor said. He extolled the virtues of their leader, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, whom he said introduced non-violence in the struggle for self-actualization, stating that non-violence is their fruit .
“That is why we are preaching non-violence where ever we go, we are a non-violent organization. We have everything to move as a nation. So, all the ethnic groups should go and conduct elections for themselves,” the Information boss said.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
But Buhari said he has only 1 million : Buhari’s wife donates drugs worth N135m to displaced persons in Yola
Aisha Buhari, wife of the All Progressive Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, has donated drugs worth over N135m to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in Adamawa State.
Presenting the drugs, Mrs. Buhari said “I am deeply touched by the plight of our people, we cannot pretend not to see the situation you people are into”.
She added: “We are not here for politics nor for religion but because we’re really touched by the condition you found yourselves”.
Mrs. Buhari urged the displaced persons to take advantage of the window of change in the country.
An official who works with Mrs. Buhari told PREMIUM TIMES the worth of the donations exceeded N135 million, and that more donations were expected.
Receiving the team, the chairman of the IDPs camps, Mohamud Goni, thanked the wife of the former Head of State for the gesture and promised that the drugs will be distributed to all affected persons.
Mrs. Buhari was accompanied to the camp by wives of serving APC governors, senators, and some chieftain in the state.
The Executive Secretary Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, ASEMA, Haruna Furo, said the authority was doing everything possible to ensure that displaced persons are well taken of.
He commended Mrs. Buhari and called on other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate her.
Nigeria Warns Diplomats Against Interference In Internal Affairs
Aminu-WaliThe Nigerian government has warned foreign missions against interference in the internal affairs of the nation.
The warning by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, is coming on the heels of comments by the US and EU on the postponement of Nigeria’s general elections.
Addressing over a hundred Heads of Mission in Abuja, Ambassador Wali said the shift in date should not be misconstrued in a negative manner and advised diplomats to operate strictly within their mandates.
Unacceptable interference
At the meeting, which was the first since the year began, the Minister referred to various comments made barely 24 hours after the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to shift the polls by six weeks, saying “political interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs is unacceptable”.
The Minister assured the international community that the elections would be conducted as re-scheduled
“There is no need for the unnecessary comments by the foreign missions,” he said.
In that session, some diplomats equally complained about the difficulty by foreign journalists in getting visas to enable them cover the elections in March.
The Minister further assured the envoys that over 300 visas has been issued to the foreign media as part of the nations commitment to upholding the tenets of democracy.
The INEC had on Saturday announced a shift in the general elections dates to March 28 and April 11.
The new schedule was announced by the Chairman of the commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, after meetings with political stakeholders.
Professor Jega said that the Presidential Election would hold on March 28 while the Governorship election would hold on April 11.
At a press briefing after the last meeting for the day between Professor Jega and other top officials of the INEC, Professor Jega said that the commission’s decision was not influenced by any group or individuals.
“We have done wide reaching consultations to enable us have as much input as necessary before taking an informed decision,” Professor Jega said.
After the postponement was announced, the United States said it was ‘deeply disappointed’ by the decision.
In a statement posted on the Department of State’s website, the Secretary of State, John Kerry noted that “political interference with the Independent National Electoral Commission” is unacceptable, calling on the government to “not use security concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic process”.
The statement led to the meeting between the Nigerian government and the foreign missions
Campaign shouldn’t be on Buhari’s secondary school certificate- Punch Yoruba Newspaper.
Nigerians have said the presidential campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress should not be centred on the secondary school certificate of the APC candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, but on Nigeria’s multifaceted problems.
This is the outcome of an opinion of PUNCH online between January 27 and February 11, 2015, where readers were asked to whether the campaign in the run-in to the election should be about Buhari’s certificate or how to address the nation’s challenges.
With the question ‘Do you think the ongoing presidential campaign between the PDP and the APC should be centred on the secondary school certificate of Muhammadu Buhari or the numerous challenges facing the country?’, participants in the poll were asked to choose between ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.
A total of 1, 702 readers participated in the poll with 1,307, representing 77 per cent of the total respondents, saying the campaign should not be about the former Head of State’s secondary school certificate.
Conversely, 395 respondents, which represent 23 per cent of the participants, believed that the certificate of the APC presidential candidate is more important than discussing how to solve the nation’s problems.
Major actors in the Nigerian political parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party, have called for Buhari’s disqualification from the presidential race on account that he failed to submit his secondary school certificate along his form to INEC.
Some lawyers have even gone to court seeking Buhari’s prosecution for alleged forgery and perjury.
The military, which many thought would have the presidential candidate’s certificates in its custody, denied having Buhari’s WASCE certificate, raising doubt about how he was admitted to the military school in the first place.
Buhari has since asked his school, the Provincial College (now Government College), Katsina, to release his result, which has since been made public.
The debate over the secondary school certificate of the former head of state has, however, not abated.Read more
Chan and Sukumaran told to prepare for execution
Indonesian authorities have ordered Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran to be moved out of prison to an island to be prepared for execution 'as soon as possible'.
This is despite several appeals for their lives from the Australian government.
Momock Bambang Samiarso, head of Bali Provincial Prosecutor's Office, said a meeting on Thursday afternoon confirmed the Australians would be executed outside of Bali, but he wouldn't say where.
"On the timing, there will be another meeting," he told reporters.
"But we ask it to be as soon as possible."
The pair were convicted of heroin trafficking in Indonesia in 2006 and put on death row.
Tanya Plibersek makes passionate plea for Bali Nine pair after her husband got a second chance
Last ditch bid to save Bali Nine pair
Bali Nine pair lodge handwritten appeals
Bali Nine pair vigil to be held in Sydney
Mother's terror: 'Please don't execute my boy'
Today Australia tried to step up the pressure on Indonesia to spare the lives of two drug smugglers facing the firing squad.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop warned their execution would be a grave injustice.
Chan and Sukumaran, the Australian ringleaders of the so-called "Bali Nine" heroin drug smuggling gang, were arrested in 2005 and sentenced to death the following year.
The pair recently lost their final appeals to Indonesian President Joko Widodo for clemency despite arguing that they had rehabilitated themselves in prison. They could face the firing squad this month.
In an emotional speech in parliament, Bishop pleaded for their lives.Read more
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
I can’t Islamise Nigeria, Buhari tells Christian leaders
According to a statement issued on Wednesday, Buhari said this during a meeting with Catholic bishops at the Pope John Paul Centre in Abuja.
Buhari said he would always put Nigeria first if elected into office, adding that when he ruled Nigeria between December 1983 and August 1985, he did not impose Islam on any individual.
He said having served in the military, he had been posted in several parts of the country and served alongside people of different religions and tribes.
He said the Peoples Democratic Party had succeeded in misrepresenting him to the Christian community because they could not sell their candidate
He said, “I would like to solemnly declare that in spite of what our detractors say, I am not a religious fanatic of any sort and I have never been. In all my life, I have never supported extremism of any kind. Indeed, it is very unfortunate and I feel extremely sad that I have to give this type of assurance.
“My background is in the army, and there is no doubt that the military is the most integrated pan-Nigerian institution. And even today, the military is one of the institutions that represents the pride of our nation’s possibilities in unity.
“Compatriots from every corner of this country come together, work and live together, entrust their lives to each other and integrate their families. It is a military where many of my dearest friends, from all faiths and parts of the country, lost their lives defending the unity of our nation. That was the military I served in, and in that military it was impossible to be a bigot.”
He said in governance, competence should always come before religion and that was why as head of state, he appointed 11 Christians as governors out of the 19 states.
He said religion comes from personal conviction and should never be used to gain political advantage.
He noted that his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, was not only a lawyer but a senior pastor.
Obama: 'We have to twist arms when countries don't do what we need them to.
President Barack Obama has said the reality of “American leadership” at times entails “twisting the arms” of states which “don’t do what we need them to do,” and that the US relied on its military strength and other leverage to achieve its goals.
In a broad-ranging interview with Vox, which Obama himself described as a venue "for the brainiac-nerd types," the US president both denied the efficacy of a purely “realist” foreign policy but also arguing that at times the US, which has a defense budget that exceeds the next 10 countries combined, needed to rely on its military muscle and other levers of power.
Lauding the rule-based system to emerge in the post-World War II era, Obama admitted it wasn’t perfect, but argued “the UN, the IMF, and a whole host of treaties and rules and norms that were established really helped to stabilize the world in ways that it wouldn't otherwise be.”
He argued, however, that the efficacy of this idealistic, Wilsonian, rule-based system was severely tested by the fact that “there are bad people out there who are trying to do us harm.”
In the president’s view, the reality of those threats has compelled the US to have “the strongest military in the world.” Obama further says that “we occasionally have to twist the arms of countries that wouldn't do what we need them to do if it weren't for the various economic or diplomatic or, in some cases, military leverage that we had — if we didn't have that dose of realism, we wouldn't get anything done, either.
'We occasionally have to twist the arms of countries that wouldn't do what we need them to do'
Obama argues that the US doesn’t have “military solutions” to all the challenges in the modern world, though he goes on to add that “we don’t have a peer” in terms of states that could attack or provoke the United States.
“The closest we have, obviously, is Russia, with its nuclear arsenal, but generally speaking they can't project the way we can around the world. China can't, either. We spend more on our military than the next 10 countries combined,” he said.
Within this context, Obama said that “disorder” stemming from “failed states” and “asymmetric threats from terrorist organizations” were the biggest challenges facing the international community today.
Obama also argued that tackling these and other problems entailed “leveraging other countries” and “other resources” whenever possible, while also recognizing that Washington is “the lead partner because we have capabilities that other folks don't have.”
'We spend more on our military than the next 10 countries combined'
This approach, he said, also led to “some burden-sharing and there's some ownership for outcomes.”
When asked about the limits of American power, Obama conceded that there were things that his administration simply cannot do in terms of power projection, but remained upbeat.
“Well, American leadership, in part, comes out of our can-do spirit. We're the largest, most powerful country on Earth. As I said previously in speeches: when problems happen, they don't call Beijing. They don't call Moscow. They call us. And we embrace that responsibility. The question, I think, is how that leadership is exercised. My administration is very aggressive and internationalist in wading in and taking on and trying to solve problems.”Read more
Top 10 Richest oil block owners in Nigeria
Monumental injustice is being perpetrated to the people of Niger Delta on whose soil the oil was found.
10 Richest oil block owners in Nigeria
Alhaji Mai Daribe
General Theophilus Danjuma
Colonel Sanni Bello
Alhaji Mohammed Indimi
Alhaji Saleh Mohammed Gambo.
Alhaji Aminu Dantata.
Alhaji W.I. folawiyo
Nasiru Ado Bayero
Atiku, Yarádua and Ado Bayero
Alhaji AMNI
1.(Alhaji Mai Daribe) OML 110 with high yield OBE oil fields was given Cavendish Petroleum owned by Alhaji Mai Daribe, the Borno Patriarch in 1996 by Sanni Abacha. OBE oil field has estimated over 500 million barrels of oil. In layman’s language and using average benchmark of $100 dollars per barrel, translates to $50 billion dollars worth of oil reserve.
2.(General Theophilus Danjuma) OPL 246 was awarded to SAPETRO, a company owned by General Theophilus Danjuma, by Sanni Abacha in 1998. Akpo condensate exports about 300,000 barrels of crude daily.
3.(Colonel Sanni Bello)NOML 112 and OML 117 were awarded to AMNI International Petroleum Development Company owned by Colonel Sanni Bello in 1999. Sanni Bello is an inlaw to Abdulsalami Abubakar, former Head of State of Nigeria.
4 (Alhaji Mohammed Indimi) OML 115, OLDWOK Field and EBOK field was awarded to Alhaji Mohammed Indimi from Niger State. Indimi is an inlaw to former Military President Ibrahim Babangida.
5 (Alhaji Saleh Mohammed Gambo) OML 215 is operated by Nor East Petroleum Limited owned by Alhaji Saleh Mohammed Gambo.
6 (Alhaji Aminu Dantata) OML 108 is operated by Express Petroleum Company Limited is owned by Alhaji Aminu Dantata
7 (Alhaji W.I. folawiyo) (cool OML II3 allocated to Yinka Folawiyo Pet Ltd is owned by Alhaji W.I. folawiyo
8 (Nasiru Ado Bayero) ASUOKPU/UMUTU marginal oil fields is operated by Seplat Petroleum. Seplat is owned by Prince Nasiru Ado Bayero, cousin to the Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi. This oil field has the capacity of 300,000 barrels of oil daily. This translates to $30million dollars daily at average benchmark of $100 dollars per barrel. Deducting all sundry taxes, royalties etc , this field can yield $12billion dollars daily for the owners .
9 Intel owned by Atiku, Yarádua and Ado Bayero, has substantial stakes in Nigeria’s oil exploration industry both in Nigeria and Principe and Sao Tome.
10 (AMNI) owns two oil blocks OML 112 and OML 117 which it runs Afren plc and Vitol has substantial stakes in oil blocks. Afren plc is operating EBOK oil fields in OML 67. Vitol lifts 300,000 barrels of Nigerian oil daily. Rilwanu Lukman, former OPEC Chairman has stakes in all these named three companies.
Daar Communications Receives Threat From Coalition Of Northern Nigeria Muslim Youths
Daar Communications Receives Threat From Coalition Of Northern Nigeria Muslim Youths
Daar communications plc. owner of AIT and RayPower Fm has received a threat letter from a group which calls itself Coalition Of Northern Nigeria Muslim Youths.
In the letter, the group threatens to attack Daar’s investments in the Northern Nigeria.
In its word, the group says Daar communications staff and investments will face violent and drastic extinction unless general Muhammadu Buhari emerges victorious in the postponed general elections.
The letter issued by one Abdulkadir Idris warned that daar communications has cross a deadly line in its operations.
Daar communications broadcast facilities which are AIT and RayPower operate in some states in the north.
Daar communications plc. owner of AIT and RayPower Fm has received a threat letter from a group which calls itself Coalition Of Northern Nigeria Muslim Youths.
In the letter, the group threatens to attack Daar’s investments in the Northern Nigeria.
In its word, the group says Daar communications staff and investments will face violent and drastic extinction unless general Muhammadu Buhari emerges victorious in the postponed general elections.
The letter issued by one Abdulkadir Idris warned that daar communications has cross a deadly line in its operations.
Daar communications broadcast facilities which are AIT and RayPower operate in some states in the north.
No terminal leave says Jega’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kayode Idowu
The growing apprehension in some quarters over the possibility of removing the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Atahiru Jega before the rescheduled election dates has been laid to rest, as his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kayode Idowu, today, debunked speculations that his principal would proceed on terminal leave before the conduct of the March 28 presidential election.
Idowu, who made this known on Tuesday when he featured in a TV programme monitored in Lagos, explained that Professor Jega’s appointment was not guided by civil service rules and as such, he would serve until his tenure expires on 30th June this year.
The CPS further disclosed that ballot papers to be used for Nigeria’s presidential election rescheduled to hold on 28 March have been delivered by the printers and are currently being kept in the vault of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
He also revealed that thousands of ad hoc personnel were being trained for the general elections initially billed to take place on 14 and 28 February but shifted to 28 March and 11 April.
While admitting that the postponement would allow INEC time to perfect its preparations for the polls, Idowu was quick to point out that there can never be 100 per cent preparations for an election since things continue to change until the very last day.
Following last weekend’s postponement of the elections, the rumour mills have been agog with speculations that President Goodluck Jonathan is scheming to relieve the INEC Chairman of his job and replace him with a pliant helmsman who would make the elections go his way.
Meanwhile, checks countered Idowu’s claim that Jega, in contravention of civil service rules, cannot be asked to proceed on terminal leave in March. DAILY POST recalls that President Jonathan, on April 28, 2010, when he was still acting as president sent former INEC Chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu, on terminal leave ahead of the expiration of his tenure on June 13, 2010.
Similarly, former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar’s tenure was due to end on July 30, 2014, yet he was sent on terminal leave on May 12, 2014. In the case of former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, he voluntarily proceeded on terminal leave three months before the constitutional end of his tenure
Idowu, who made this known on Tuesday when he featured in a TV programme monitored in Lagos, explained that Professor Jega’s appointment was not guided by civil service rules and as such, he would serve until his tenure expires on 30th June this year.
The CPS further disclosed that ballot papers to be used for Nigeria’s presidential election rescheduled to hold on 28 March have been delivered by the printers and are currently being kept in the vault of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
He also revealed that thousands of ad hoc personnel were being trained for the general elections initially billed to take place on 14 and 28 February but shifted to 28 March and 11 April.
While admitting that the postponement would allow INEC time to perfect its preparations for the polls, Idowu was quick to point out that there can never be 100 per cent preparations for an election since things continue to change until the very last day.
Following last weekend’s postponement of the elections, the rumour mills have been agog with speculations that President Goodluck Jonathan is scheming to relieve the INEC Chairman of his job and replace him with a pliant helmsman who would make the elections go his way.
Meanwhile, checks countered Idowu’s claim that Jega, in contravention of civil service rules, cannot be asked to proceed on terminal leave in March. DAILY POST recalls that President Jonathan, on April 28, 2010, when he was still acting as president sent former INEC Chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu, on terminal leave ahead of the expiration of his tenure on June 13, 2010.
Similarly, former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar’s tenure was due to end on July 30, 2014, yet he was sent on terminal leave on May 12, 2014. In the case of former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, he voluntarily proceeded on terminal leave three months before the constitutional end of his tenure
Pentagon deploys A-10 attack jets, 300 pilots to Germany amid Ukraine turmoil
The US Air Force dispatched a dozen A-10 Thunderbolt II attack jets and about 300 airmen to Germany as part of a military exercise, which is expected to involve NATO allies in Eastern Europe amid simmering tensions over Ukraine.
The Cold War-era aircraft, nicknamed the Warthog, on Monday departed Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona for Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
Lt. Col. Christopher Karns, a spokesman for the Air Force at the Pentagon, said the aircraft would “forward-deploy” to sites in Eastern European NATO states, where the units will participate in training with allied forces to “strengthen interoperability and…demonstrate US commitment to the security and stability of Europe," he told military.com.
The highly reliable A-10 carries a seven-barrel GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling gun that fires 30mm rounds designed to destroy tanks and other armored combat vehicles.
The deployment comes as the US House of Representatives introduced legislation authorizing $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine through 2017. If authorized, the package would allow the Pentagon to provide to the Ukraine military “training equipment, lethal weapons of a defensive nature, logistics support, supplies and services.”
The provisions of the bill, according to its authors, are designed to protect Ukraine’s “sovereign territory against foreign aggressors,” and defend Ukrainians from attacks by “Russian-backed separatists.”
Russia said Tuesday that Washington’s plans to supply Kiev with weapons would further destabilize the situation in Ukraine.
Western governments, without finding it necessary to substantiate their claims with physical evidence, continue to accuse Russia of supporting rebels in Eastern Ukraine blaming the crisis on Russia. Moscow has vehemently rejected the claims.
At the same time, Moscow is regularly on the receiving end of criticism from Washington even when it holds military exercises on its own territory.
In February of last year, as Ukraine was engulfed in chaos not far from Russia’s border, the White House expressed concern that the Russian military held drills. “[W]e are closely watching Russia’s military exercises along the Ukrainian border,” White House spokesman Jay Carney stated.
READ MORE: Obama calls Putin before Minsk talks to discuss E. Ukraine peace deal
Meanwhile, Washington and Europe remain at loggerheads over the question of arms shipments to Ukraine. German Chancellor Angela Merkel told the annual Munich Security Conference on Saturday that Germany remained convinced that it would be far more productive “to focus our efforts on seeking a diplomatic solution" to the Ukrainian crisis. Her position is widely supported in European capitals, as well as in Moscow.
“Russia is truly interested in solving the crisis. All other plans to increase sanctions, supply arms and so on, are aimed at destabilizing the situation in Ukraine,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.Read more
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
APC navigator, Obasanjo declares support for Buhari
Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s former president, has publicly expressed support for the electioneering campaign of Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler and presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking at the launch of My Watch in Nairobi, Kenya on Tuesday, Obasanjo, who served his two terms as president under the same Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) platform that Jonathan is now running on, condemned the postponement of the election.
“The circumstances [Buhari] will be working under if he wins the election are different from the one he worked under before, where he was both the executive and the legislature – he knows that,” he said. “It’s a question of leadership – political and military. “He’s smart enough. He’s educated enough.
He’s experienced enough. Why shouldn’t I support him?” It is the first time that the ex-president has publicly spoken of his support for Buhari. He recently said that he would only speak out on his leaning after the election has been conducted. On the postponement of the election he said: “The signs are not auspicious.
I don’t know whether a script is being played.” He criticised the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, accusing him of wasting the country’s resources. “You need to ask [Jonathan] how has he let [the army] go to this extent,” he said “Many things went wrong: recruitment went wrong; training went wrong; morale went down; motivation not there; corruption was deeply ingrained; welfare was bad.” When asked if he was still nursing further political ambition, he said: “I am an old man and I’m enjoying what I’m doing now… And then you forget I am a farmer; I have to manage it.
B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G News!!! Prof Jega To Be ARRESTED Before He Leaves On March 1st. - Nigerian Group Calls.
**his agreement with Northern elders on 20/08/2014 to create additional Polling Units to give the North a Ghost 15m extra Votes.
**applying loose voters registration rule that allowed the registration on at 8.2m Under aged voters in the core North.
**accepting 150 laptop computers donation from Northern elders for the indiscriminate registration of under-aged voters.
The the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA) has directed that compromised out-going INEC chairman should be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted over his alleged conspiracy to with Northern Elders to Manipulate the Presidential election.
Read the following excerpts:
“On behalf of the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA) we have invited you to brief you on the subversive, subterranean and dishonorable conspiracy which we discovered to exist between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), with the sole desire of enthroning a President of Northern extraction at all cost in the February 14, 2015 presidential election.
We authoritatively gathered with unassailable and incontrovertible evidence that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who was away in Lagos for an official engagement, through one of his National Commissioners that represented him, met with select leaders of the Northern Elders Forum led by Prof. Ango Abdullahi on the 20th August, 2014 where strategies and modalities for enthroning a President of Northern extraction through vote rigging were discussed and agreed upon………”
“As part of the grand design, Prof. Jega agreed in the meeting to create astronomical number of additional polling units in the North, over and above what is desirable to ensure the election of a Northern Presidential candidate, that would emerge from the party primaries, in the general election. We now know that this was responsible for Prof. Jega’s whimsical creation of additional 30,000 polling units with intent to give unearned massive votes to the northern presidential candidate.
These additional polling units were agreed to exist only on “sheet of papers” which would be used as votes mill to rig the election. This means therefore that the acclaimed suspension of the implementation of the additional 30,000 polling units by Prof. Jega is a grand deceit as same is reported to have continued in parts of the North under cover.
It is surprising that Prof. Jega, in consonance with the agreement with the leaders of Northern Elders Forum (NEF) had two sets of rules for the conduct of the continuous voters registration exercise. Whereas requirements for the registration of voters in the core north was agreed to be “loose “in order to encourage under-aged registration, the same was “stringently” enforced in the whole of Southern Nigeria so as to reduce the number of eligible voters where they believe President Jonathan has the strongest support base.
In furtherance of Professor Jega’s nepotistic bias and ethnocentrism, he reportedly advised the Northern Elders Forum leaders to compromise the State Resident Electoral Commissioners to assist him in perfecting the vote rigging to install a President of northern extraction. Whereas RECs who are willing to play ball are to be deliberately posted to core northern states, others who were considered recalcitrant were to be put under the surveillance of the National Commissioner in charge of Operations to achieve their desired results.
A close observation of some of the activities of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) show glaring collaboration between Prof. Jega’s INEC and the former.
For instance, despite Prof. Jega’s public admission that the Commission has all the funds it requires to conduct the 2015 elections, we are aware that the Northern Elders Forum obtained and distributed 150 pieces of laptop computers to INEC for each of the Northern States. The laptop computers were used by INEC’s adhoc staff in collaboration with Northern Youth activists for the indiscriminate registration of voters during the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise. This strategy, which abetted and made possible massive registration of voters without restriction on the age, was part of the earlier agreement between INEC and the Northern Elders Forum, without prejudice to the fact that age is a prerequisite qualification for every eligible voter. The following curious questions beg for answers:
1) Is the Northern Elders Forum a government institution/agency or an NGO promoting good electoral conduct and governance that it would donate 150 laptop computers to INEC for each northern state? If yes, why was the donation not made public?
2) Is it for want of funds that INEC accepted the donation and distribution of 150 laptop computers to only each of the northern states?
3) Giving the known age-long uncompromising hatred against President Jonathan and stance that a northerner must become President at all cost by Northern Elders Forum, could the acceptance of these “Greek gifts” place Prof. Jega’s INEC on a pedestal of impartiality to supervise the 2015 elections?
4) Could this be the reason why Prof. Jega arbitrarily allocated 21,850 additional polling units (which gave a voting population of about 15 million extra votes) to the north and 8,150 additional polling units, which approximates 5 million extra votes to the entire south?
5) What was the experience and skill of the northern activist youths who were recruited for the registration exercise when specialized training always preceded field operations carried out by adhoc staff in all electoral processes?
In addition to the above and in clear contravention of procedure, Prof. Jega reportedly directed the release of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in their catchment states to Emirs, District Heads and top politicians and not necessarily to the voters themselves, a situation that culminated in some voters being in possession of 2 to 3 PVCs.
This accounted for the nearly 100 percent PVC collection rate in especially the North West States as compared with the less than 50 percent collection rate in the Southern States.”
We demand for immediate arrest and prosecution of Jega, before his leaves for his terminal leave on March 1, 2015. No wonder Jega wanted to organise an election that he was only 65% ready, as he wanted to horridly hand the victory to a Northern candidate as he agreed with the Northern elders.
Nigerian election in 2003 was held in April, 2007 was held in April and the last 2011 Presidential election was also held in April, then one wonder why Prof Jega and APC wanted to rush Nigerians to an election that will disenfranchise over 43million voters?
INVESTIGATION: Files Open New Window on $182-Million Halliburton Bribery Scandal in Nigeria
“There is no day when I do not regret my weakness of character,” said a contrite British lawyer in a Houston courtroom. “I allowed myself to accept standards of behavior in a business culture which can never be justified. I accepted the system of corruption that existed in Nigeria. I turned a blind eye to what was happening, and I am guilty of the offenses charged.”
The lawyer, Jeffrey Tesler, was speaking at the end of his 2012 sentencing hearing after pleading guilty to U.S. corruption charges for his role in what became known as the Halliburton Bribery Scandal. A network of secretive banks and offshore tax havens was used to funnel $182 million in bribes to Nigerian officials in exchange for $6 billion in engineering and construction work for an international consortium of companies that included a then Halliburton subsidiary. In 2010 Nigeria indicted former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, who was CEO of Halliburton before he was elected, only to later clear him when Halliburton worked out a $35 million settlement.
Leaked records from HSBC, a huge global bank based in London, reveal new details about the bank’s role as a conduit for the bribes — and new details about how Tesler operated. The files, obtained by the French newspaper Le Monde and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, show ties between Tesler and high-ranking Nigerians not previously named publicly in connection with the scandal, raising the possibility of renewed questions about Nigeria’s handling of the affair.
The Halliburton Bribery Scandal dates to 1994 when the Nigerian government launched ambitious plans to build the Bonny Island Natural Liquefied Gas Project.
Tesler was then, in his own words, “a simple lawyer” from North London. He grew from advising U.K.-based Nigerians on property deals to relishing his relationships with successive Nigerian military and civilian governments.
Tesler began planning the bribe payments in 1994 and transferred small amounts of money through Switzerland in July 1996. But by 2003, his role had escalated.
In one brazen episode in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, Tesler directed the drop-off of a travel bag stuffed with $1 million in $100 bills in the foyer of a luxury hotel where the per-night cost of a suite can exceed the nation’s average annual income of $3,000. It was one of at least 20 money transfers that Tesler made or directed. The cash was destined for Nigeria’s ruling party via the state-owned oil and gas company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), according to an official Nigerian report.
Months later, in April 2003, the governing party scored an overwhelming victory in an election marred by vote rigging, fraud and violence that killed at least 100 people.
Switzerland’s famous bank secrecy laws encouraged Tesler to use the country as base for moving bribe money. And HSBC Private Bank (Suisse), with offices near luxury hotels in Geneva and Zurich, was his preferred bank. When U.S. authorities seized 12 of Tesler’s Swiss accounts in 2013, five were with HSBC — more than any other bank.
The files obtained by Le Monde and ICIJ show that nine people, including members of the Tesler family and Nigerian nationals, held a variety of roles with accounts at HSBC Private Bank (Suisse) between 1990 and 2003 — months before the completion of the gas plant. Nine of the 12 accounts instructed HSBC to keep all correspondence under lock and key in a bank safe.
Despite Tesler being under investigation since 2003, HSBC continued to offer advice, services and cash withdrawals to Tesler and his family, whose accounts with the bank totaled tens of millions of dollars at one point in 2006/2007. HSBC advised the family even though its individual files for Tesler and those close to him include references to “criminal cases” and “the Tesler affair.”
Tesler’s wife, Judy, is named in the files as a beneficial owner and a controlling client of two accounts, one of which was opened in 1999 and at one point in 2006 or 2007 held $35.3 million. The files do not specify her role in relation to a third account. As he did with his wife, Tesler also transferred bribe money into accounts in the names of his daughters, according to U.S. and French prosecutors. One daughter, Laura, then a twenty something psychology student, according to the leaked files, became a millionaire — at least on paper — through her beneficial ownership of an account under the name of a Panamanian company that held almost $4 million.
Judy Tesler and her daughters were not charged.
On Jan. 14, 2005 — 15 months after Tesler was first identified during a French corruption investigation — Judy Tesler’s agent instructed HSBC to buy and sell investments worth $380,000. This account was frozen due to ongoing criminal investigations, but HSBC staff waived the sale through. Months later, bank staff met with one of the beneficial owners in London, possibly Judy Tesler, to “review portfolios.”
In April 2005, HSBC Private Bank (Suisse) recorded a visit from “J.T.,” likely to have been Jeffrey Tesler, who collected mail and withdrew more than $10,000 in cash from yet another account.
“If a bank has reason to believe that funds are in any way related to criminal activity, then any transfers in and out of the account should be reported,” Jimmy Gurulé, a professor at Notre Dame University and a former assistant U.S. attorney, said in an interview with ICIJ.
“Banks should not permit their clients to benefit from dirty money,” Gurulé said, adding that the fact the account was later seized by authorities “raises some red flags over why the bank concluded the account wasn’t linked to criminal activity and authorized the sale.”
In response to ICIJ’s questions, an HSBC spokesman said the bank does not comment on specific clients.
“In terms of the personalities and the amount of money involved it is probably the biggest scandal in Nigeria’s history.”
The leaked files reveal that Tesler had financial ties to two former Nigerian officials: now-retired Major General Chris Garuba, chief of staff to former Nigerian president Abdulsalami Abubakar who himself allegedly received bribes as president; and Andrew Agom, a senior government official who was killed in an attack on a motorcade. Bank staff also responded to a request from Agom’s widow to unfreeze her husband’s account, whose post was sent to Tesler’s North London law firm and which was marked as subject to criminal investigations into Tesler. The files do not indicate whether or not the account was ultimately unfrozen.
Garuba, a former governor of Northeastern Bauchi state, is now chairman of Obekpa Petroleum, a Nigerian oil company. Before his death, Agom was a board member of the People’s Democratic Party, which controlled the government when this affair unfolded.
Agom was the beneficial owner of an HSBC account linked to a Gibraltar-based company, Hemisphere Services Limited, which held a maximum amount of $797,377 at one point in 2006 or 2007. Africa Confidential magazine previously named a company named Hemisphere Services (Nigeria) as a “recipient of largesse” from Tesler after viewing documents disclosed to the magazine during a French corruption investigation. Agom’s account was opened in 1991, on the same day that an account was opened in the name of former Nigerian Air Force Chief, Abdullahi Dominic Bello. A Nigerian government investigator has previously described Swiss accounts held by Bello as a conduit for “slush funds”. The investigator did not specifically mention HSBC.
A spokesman for Bello told ICIJ that the account, which was used for business purposes and opened by Tesler when he was Bello’s lawyer, had never been used for slush funds or bribes. “At no point has Mr. Bello been charged to any court over the bribery scandal,” said the spokesman, adding that, “it must be a coincidence that Mr. Agom and [Bello’s company] opened an account the same day.”
The HSBC files identify Chris Garuba and his wife Rita as HSBC clients; their names are listed along with Tesler’s in an account named Bridlington Enterprises Limited, for which Tesler acted as an attorney. The files show that the account was opened the year before Tesler sent his first bribe payment to Switzerland, although the files do not show that Tesler transferred money into the Bridlington account, which held as much as $367,547 in 2006 or 2007.
Chris and Rita Garuba did not respond to ICIJ’s requests for comment.
Tesler was sentenced to 21 months in prison and he forfeited $149 million from his Swiss accounts to the U.S. government for serving as the go-between for bribes paid to secure contracts for KBR, the former Halliburton subsidiary, and the other consortium members, the Japanese firm JGC Corporation, Paris-based Technip, as well as Italy’s ENI S.p.A. and its Dutch subsidiary Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. The forfeited money is still to be paid.
Between 2009 and 2011, the consortium members paid penalties totaling more than $1.5 billion for their role in the bribery scheme. Two KBR officials who had worked with Tesler, Wojciech Chodan and Albert (Jack) Stanley, KBR’s former chairman and CEO, were sentenced to one year of probation and 30 months in prison, respectively.
Cheney had been chairman and chief executive of Halliburton, the parent company of KBR, for five years — from 1995 to 2000 — before becoming U.S. vice-president in 2001.
Cheney’s lawyer has asserted repeatedly that his client was not involved. “The Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission investigated that joint venture extensively and found no suggestion of any impropriety by Dick Cheney in his role of CEO of Halliburton,” attorney Terrence O’Donnell wrote in a 2010 statement to the Associated Press.
Meanwhile, Tesler, now 66, has served his sentence and returned to England, where he told authorities he would “spend the last few years, which God may graciously grant me, to seek forgiveness.”
Jeffrey Tesler did not respond to ICIJ’s requests for comment.
In Nigeria, anti-corruption campaigners continue to call on authorities to identify and prosecuteNigerian citizens involved in the scandal. While never publicly released, a 2010 Nigerian government document reportedly included three Nigerian presidents, a vice-president, a minister, intelligence chiefs and corporate titans in a list of bribery beneficiaries. The report did not name Garuba or Agom.
“In terms of the personalities and the amount of money involved it is probably the biggest scandal in Nigeria’s history,” Dauda Garuba, Nigeria coordinator at the Natural Resource Governance Institute, said in an interview with ICIJ. (Dauda Garuba has no connection to the Garuba family in HSBC’s files.)
“But although we’ve seen the indictment and conviction of foreign companies and their top executives in Europe and America,” Garuba said, “Nigeria’s own government has not taken action in the very country in which the corruption took place.”Read more
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