abi na

The Secretary General of West African Power Pool (WAPP), Mr. Amadou Diallo said on Monday that the sub region needed $26 billion dollars (about N4, 16t) to fix its power challenges.

Diallo made the disclosure during an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the organisation began the 7th session of its General Assembly in the Federal Capita Territory (FCT) on Monday.

Diallo said: “The Sub Region is putting an inter-connectivity system in place to put all ECOWAS member states together through electrical network.

“.. Now we have Nigeria, Benin Togo, Ghana, Bourkina Faso, Cote de Voire, Niger, Mali, Senegal and Mauritania interconnected through the integration Region.

“Soon WAPP will start to implement interconnection between Cote de Voire , Liberia, Senegal, and Nigeria in 225 KV Transmission Lines with 12 Sub Stations.”

The Secretary General said that “with this plan, wherever there is excess power, any country that needs it can buy it and pass it through the transmission system.’’

Diallo explained that if the $26 billon dollars was injected into the power industry of West African countries, many of the power challenges in the region would be history.

 

The death toll of Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia has risen to 21 from 14, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

NAN quotes the National Hajj Commission’s weekly public health bulletin “No one’’ dated October 29, which showed that the male pilgrims had the highest mortality rate of 13.



The bulletin shows that Katsina State has the highest figure of four; Sokoto, three, Kano, Lagos, Zamfara and Ogun recorded two deaths each.

Oyo, Gombe, Yobe and the Nigerian armed forces recorded one death each.

It also stated that 53 patients had been referred to Saudi hospitals with 39 cases recorded in Medina, four in Jeddah and 10 in Mecca.

The bulletin states that 90 per cent of the patients had been discharged.

“So far, no single case of delivery has been reported, however, there are two cases of spontaneous abortion reported from Misfallah Clinic in Mecca by female pilgrims from Sokoto and Adamawa states, all mothers are in satisfactory conditions,’’ it added.

The bulletin shows that 7,496 Nigerian pilgrims have so far visited the six clinics being operated by the medical mission in Jeddah, Medina and Mecca, with common cold and hypertension topping the list of cases reported at the clinics.

It also highlighted the problems faced during the Arafat and Muna operations, blaming the Saudi authority’s poor response to distress calls and blocked road networks to evacuate sick pilgrims by security operatives.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday said he would have ceased to be the president of Nigeria during the protests that greeted the initial removal of fuel subsidy by his administration in January this year.

The President said but for some factors that was considered by aggrieved Nigerians, he would have been sacked him from office while the protest lasted.

He said the only thing that saved him from removal during the impasse was because he emerged President in a free and fair election through the genuine mandate of the voters.

Jonathan spoke in Freetown, Sierra Leone, when he met with the chairman of that country’s National Electoral Commission, Mrs. Christiana Thorpe, and chairmen as well as presidential candidates of political parties contesting the country’s general elections on November 17.

He therefore advised stakeholders in Sierra Leone to work towards ensuring a free and fair election devoid of manipulation. “In Nigeria, I remember the fuel subsidy crisis all over the country, I could have been removed but I was confident of my mandate.

“When some people started talking of regime change, majority of the people who voted for me insisted that they elected me and what they were asking for was change of policy, not regime change; and that calmed down the situation.

“Credible elections give you the mandate of the people and confidence too. It is difficult to calm people down when elections are manipulated.”

Four armed men on Monday robbed and killed a middle-aged car dealer, Chief Emeka Ekwerendu, at Modebe Avenue Junction in the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra.

The Divisional Police Officer at the Central Police Station, Onitsha, Mr. Tomitope Fahugbe, confirmed the incident to journalists, adding that he had yet to receive its details.

An eyewitness said the late Ekwerendu was shot by a four-man armed robbery gang at about 8:30 a.m. a few metres away from the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Odoakpu, Onitsha.

“The gang operating in a light green Toyota Siena without a vehicle number plate trailed their victim from a primary school close to the church, after he had dropped his children at school.

“As he was driving out in his black Land Cruiser jeep, he was shot dead and an undisclosed amount of money taken from the boot of his vehicle.

“The gang armed with four Ak-47 riffle shot sporadically into the air to scare the people away as they made their exit,’’ the eyewitness told the News Agency of Nigeria.

NCP gives preferred bidders 15-day ultimatum

Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing – a firm promoted by former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar – yesterday lost out as the core investor in the Eko and Ikeja electricity distribution companies.

The company was named the core investor for four of the 10 electricity distribution firms (DISCOs) put up for sale by the National Council for Privatisation (NCP).

The two are the most lucrative of the firms.

But yesterday, when the NCP renamed the preferred bidders for the privatised firms, it gave only the Ibadan and Yola distribution firms to Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing firm.

NCP Technical Committee chairman Mr. Atedo Peterside announced the preferred bidders in Abuja on behalf of the Federal Government.

Government also announced the preferred bidders of the electricity generation companies, bringing the privatisation of the power sector into a milestone.

There are stringent conditions for the preferred bidders.

New Electricity Distribution Company (NEDC/ICEPCO) is the preferred bidder for Ikeja Distribution Company. West Power and Gas is the preferred bidder for the Eko Distribution Company.

Vigeo Power Consortium, besides winning the Benin Disco, is the reserved bidder for Ikeja Disco. Its contender for Benin Disco – Southern Electricity Distribution Company – was disqualified for submission of multiple bids.

Oba Otudeko’s Honeywell Energy Resources International Limited is the reserve bidder for Eko Disco.

Sir Emeka Offor’s Interstate Electrics Limited beat Eastern Electric Nigeria Limited, owned by the five South eastern states, which was approved as the reserved bidder for the Enugu Disco.

The Afam Generation Company and Kaduna Distribution Company are yet to get preferred bidders.

The five generating companies also got preferred bidders.

The process, however, drew criticisms from some quarters.

At the sixth meeting of the council yesterday, successful bidders were given 15 days to make financial commitments through their banks.

The companies are expected to be handed over to the preferred bidders at the conclusion of the transaction within the next six months at which the companies are expected to have made full payment.

Besides, NCP disqualified Southern Electricity Distribution Company for submission of multiple bids for Benin Disco.

Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited with a bid of $132,000,000, is the preferred bidder for the core investor sale of 51% shares of Geregu Power Plc.

Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited, which offered an annual fee of $50,760,665.18 and a commencement fee of $257,000,000, is the preferred bidder for Kainji Hydro Power Plc.

For Shiroro Hydro Power Plc, NCP approved that North-South Power Ltd which offered an annual fee of $23,602,484.87 and a commencement fee of $111,654,534, is the preferred bidder.

The privatisation body also approved that Transcorp/Woodrock/Sumbion/Medea/PSL/ Thomassen with a bid of $300,000,000, is the preferred bidder for the Ughelli Power Plc.

Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited with a bid of $252,000,000 is the reserved bidder for the Ughelli Power Plc.

CMEC/EURAFRIC Energy JV Consortium is the preferred bidder for the Sapele Power Plc. It bidded $201,000,000.

JBN-NESTOIL Power Services Ltd, with a bid of $106,500,000 is the reserved bidder for the Sapele Power Plc.

Amperion is the preferred bidder for Geregu Power Plc. The Feniks Electricity Limited is the reserved bidder for Ughelli Power Plc, subject to their bid being revised to match the reserved price.

For the Distribution Companies (DISCOs) in which 60 % sales was approved, the preferred and reserved bidders are: Abuja Distribution Company: KANN Consortium Utility Company Ltd as preferred bidder; Benin Distribution Company: Vigeo Power Consortium as the preferred bidder;

Eko Distribution Company: West Power & Gas is the preferred bidder;

Honeywell was approved as the reserved bidder; Enugu Distribution Company: Interstate Electrics Ltd is the preferred bidder; Eastern Electric Nigeria Ltd was approved as the reserve bidder; Ibadan Distribution Company: Integrated Energy Distribution & Marketing Ltd is the preferred bidder;

NEDC/KEPCO was approved as the reserved bidder; Ikeja Distribution Company: New Electricity Distribution Company (NEDC)/KEPCO is the preferred bidder; Vigeo Power Consortium is the reserved bidder; Jos Distribution Company: Aura Energy Ltd as the preferred bidder

Kano Distribution Company: Sahelian Power SPV Ltd is the preferred bidder; Port Harcourt Distribution Company: 4Power Consortium is the preferred bidder; Yola Distribution Company: Integrated Energy Distribution & Marketing Ltd is the preferred bidder.

Peterside, with whom is Mrs. Bola Onagoruwa, Director General, Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), at the end of the council meeting which was presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo, said the council also approved the next steps for the conclusion of the privatisation of the generation and distribution companies.

He said: “After the approval of the results of the financial bids by Council, the highest ranked bidder for each Generation or Distribution Company will be required to post an additional bid security (“Preferred Bidder’s Bank Guarantee”) in the form of a Letter of Credit or Bank Guarantee for 15 per cent (15%) of the transaction value within fifteen (15) business days of notification from the Bureau of Public Enterprises.

The Preferred Bidder’s Bank Guarantee shall be from a Standard & Poor (S&P) or Moody & Fitch “A” rated foreign bank with a correspondent bank in Nigeria or a Nigerian bank rated “A” by a Rating Agency approved by SEC and be valid through 21, calendar days after the stipulated proposal validity period or any extended proposal validity period.

“The designated Preferred Bidder will be invited for negotiations with BPE. Within 15 business days after signing of the Sale and Purchase Agreement, the Shareholders’ Agreement or the Performance Agreement ‘whichever is earlier, or at a mutually agreed earlier time, the Bidder shall make a down payment of 25% of the share purchase price.

“Within six months after signing of the Sale and Purchase Agreement or the Shareholders’ Agreement, whichever is earlier or mutually agreed upon time, the Bidder will be required to pay the outstanding 75% of the share purchase price to complete the transaction. Upon receipt of payment, the Preferred Bidder’s Bank Guarantee will be returned to the bidder within a maximum of four weeks.

“After the completion of payment, the handover of the successor company to the Preferred Bidder will conclude the transaction.”

A Federal High Court judge Monday rejected a plea by the EFCC to summon and indict elder statesman and politician, Chief E.K. Clark for contempt following comments he made in the press concerning the $15 million dollars allegedly offered operatives of the anti-graft agency as bribe by a former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori.
 
Chief Rotimi Jacobs, SAN representing the EFCC in the $15 million dollars forfeiture suit informed Justice Gabriel Kolawole that Clark’s outbursts over the suit in several newspapers were prejudicial.
 
Jacobs urged the judge to summon him to answer to the charge.
 
Responding to the application by Jacobs, the Attorney General of Delta State, Mr. Wilson Ajuya, SAN, who is representing the state, urged the judge to ignore the application in order not to distract the court from the original matter.
 
In his ruling, Justice Kolawole noted that Clark was not a party in the suit pending before the court and that dwelling on comments made by non-parties in a suit amounted to “searching for the cure for ring worm in a case involving leprosy.”
 
The court however called on Nigerians, especially lawyers like Clark who ought to know, to desist from making comments on matters pending before courts in order not to prejudge the outcome of the case.
 
The court also advised the EFCC to file a separate application if it wanted to pursue the matter, to enable Clark respond in line with his constitutionally guaranteed right to fair hearing.
 
Recall that Clark had during a press briefing on the suit thrown his weight behind claims by Delta state government that the money belonged to the state and hence should be returned to it.
 
He further called for the sack of EFCC chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde over his role in what he described as a plot to have the sum forfeited to the Federal Government.
 
He alleged that Lamorde had his eyes on the percentage of the sum that the EFCC would receive if the money is forfeited to the federal government, and accused the anti graft agency boss of falsifying records to fulfill his ulterior motive.
 
He accused the EFCC under Lamorde of lies and contradictions over the source of the money pointing at statements contained in a counter affidavit deposed to by one Bello Yahaya, an operative of the EFCC, which the agency relied upon in opposing Delta’s claim to the funds.
 
Clark also stated that the affidavit deposed to by the operative last August contradicted an earlier one he deposed to in 2007 after the $15m was picked up from the home of former Presidential aide, Senator Andy Uba by Lamorde in the presence of the then EFCC boss, Ribadu.
 
He regretted that the anti graft agency is being portrayed as incompetent and uncommitted to the war against corruption.
 
Meanwhile, one Mr. Olalekan Bayode has also applied to be joined in the forfeiture suit on a public interest locus.
 
Bayode wants government to set up a Trust to manage the money instead of transferring it to the government of Delta State.
 
He hinged his argument on previously repatriated funds seized from corrupt politicians, which have not been accounted for.
 
The suit returns to court on 19 November.

President Goodluck Jonathan has vowed to identify and punish those who have stolen from the Petroleum industry, insisting that there would be no cover up in the implementation of the Petroleum Special Task Force’s report due to be submitted to him this Friday.
 
In a statement issued by Dr. Doyin Okupe, Senior Special Assistant, Public Affairs, he said the accusations by the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) that the Federal Government is trying to cover up the committee’s report is baseless and unfounded.
 
The Petroleum Special Task Force is chaired by Mr. Nuhu Ribadu.
 
“President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan should be commended for his personal resolve to fight institutionalized corruption in Nigeria. President Jonathan ordered the probe of the Oil Industry for the period of ten years (2002 - 2011), which also covers the tenure of his administration. No president in our history has gone this far and this explains why the rots in our system have persisted for so long,” a statement signed by Dr. Okupe said.
 
Okupe stated that while it is unfair for the members of the SNG and the ANPP to have accused the Federal Government wrongly, “the president has neither seen nor received any copy of the Ribadu Committee Report.
 
“Essentially, what appears to have been irregularly released prematurely to the media is a draft copy, which still requires full accent of all members of the Committee and clarifications and due process from the originating Ministry before the official handing over to the Presidency.”
 
He said it is the determination of the President to fight corruption objectively that led to the appointment of credible members of the society, including Ribadu, a well-known anti-corruption crusader and members of the opposition party.
 
“President Jonathan approved the appointment of a well – known Corruption Crusader, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who ran against him at the Presidential Poll on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. It is also noteworthy that the Secretary of the Committee, Mr. Supo Sasore was a former Attorney General of Lagos State under an ACN Government.
 
“The efforts of President Jonathan have also helped in exposing the fraud in the Petroleum Subsidy regime dug up by Aig Imokhuede’s Committee. The indicted persons are currently being tried in various courts.”
 
The Presidential Aide maintained that, “For the purpose of clarity, President Jonathan’s resolve to fight against corruption and dig out all the rots in the system should not be misconstrued or politicized by the opposition as if it is his administration that is guilty of corruption, rather, he should be commended for taken the bold step that will ultimately sanitize the policy and the system.”

For some time now, the marriage of popular music producer, Oyeniyi Solomon otherwise known as K-Solo has been an item for public consumption.

His estranged wife, Kikelomo, who he reportedly met in September 2011 and got married to in November 2011, accused him of battering her (with photo evidence). Soon after, both were on Channels TV where they were reported to have confessed that the whole controversies were just acting as they were only catching fun.

But the sad love story is now very different. Read on.....

Last Saturday, Kike, as Kikelomo is fondly called, gave birth to a baby boy but it appears the music producer and singer denied the paternity of the child.

In a latest interview K-Solo's manager, Funmi Mensah, spoke extensively on his (K-Solo) ordeal with Kike while both were still together as husband and wife. Funmi explained that due to a court case pending on the matter, K-Solo would not be permitted to speak on the issue.

She informed that Kike has again moved out of her matrimonial home about four weeks ago for reasons best known to her.

Funmi narrated the whole story about how K-Solo ran out of his house because of Kike, how Kike allegedly attempted to food poison K-Solo and other shocking revelations. Excerpt:

Who are you
My name is Funmi Mensah, I am also called FMG

How are you to K-Solo
I am his manager

There have been issues concerning his marriage with Kikelomo, what is your take on it
Let me come in this way, I have been watching how this saga started. I advise him as a mother and a wife on how to handle such situations, especially when it comes to speaking about it publicly. He listens to my advice. It started like this, In April 2012, we planned to organize an event for him like an album launch. He told me about issues in his marriage, I told him to take things easy with his wife, Kike and never go too far about taking any bad actions.

Few days later, he told me that he met the door locked when he got home. I asked him about his wife and he said she was not at home and that she might have gone to her parents’ house. I told him to always contact her on phone and pet her.

On May 1, 2012, I asked K-Solo when was the last time he spoke with Kike, he told me it has been a while. I told him that it wasn't fair enough even though he is angry with her. I told him to send an SMS to Kike, he then said he doesn’t know what to send to Kike. I told him I would do that for him because as a woman, I know the kind of words my man can send to me that would soften my mind. K-Solo later told me he has sent the text message to her. I was shocked when K-Solo showed me Kike’s reply to the SMS. I was amazed at how a woman would reply with such an SMS. I asked if he was sure Kike was his wife and the owner of the pregnancy.

What was the content of the SMS because this is a recorded interview
The content of the SMS asked if K-Solo was mad and he should not even think he is the owner of the pregnancy any child anywhere and that none of his family members would set their eyes on the child when she is delivered of the baby. She also swore in the text. I just told K-Solo that she might have sent that SMS out of annoyance. But later, in June, I called on K-Solo concerning the event we should started plans on in April on his album launch. City People was also involved in it.

One morning in June, when we were with Seye Kehinde, the publisher of City People, at his office, one of K-Solo’s boys called that Kike said she was coming to the studio. I told K-Solo to call his wife to inform her that we were at City People’s office. He then said it was not necessary because she would know that he is not in the studio when she gets there. When we were coming back, we met her at Acme, Ogba. Immediately she sighted us, she drove back and followed us to the studio.

Before that time, she has been harassing me on phone calling me names but I didn’t alter a word back at her. So, when she followed us back to the studio after our meeting at City People, K-Solo told his driver to take me away. I kicked against it because I felt doing that would make Kike feel we have something to hide from her because I was still within the official duty hours and also coming from an official meeting. She started calling me a prostitute and other names. I didn’t alter a word. I just left away from her. Later on, I heard her shouting that she did the wedding for him and all others she wrote in the magazine. I advised K-Solo to leave the environment in order to avoid her for that moment.

Surprisingly, after K-Solo left, we just saw a Toyota Camry dropped some people who later banged the door threatening us to open the door or break it and force their way inside. My brother, we are in Lagos where anybody can just gun anybody down without leaving traces and the security agencies not getting the killers. If they can do such to top government officials and they have still not found their killers, who are we?

Later, the PA told me to leave the studio. The PA then tried to escape me through the back door not knowing that some policemen were already stationed there because Kike knows routes to the studio. She put off the generator to make everywhere remain silent. So, when the PA opened the door, they hit him with their gun and headed straight to the studio. I quickly hid myself behind the door and seized my breath until I escaped.

Her intention was to arrest me and K-Solo and possibly snap us together. I was in a place watching what was happening. She burst into her mother-in-law’s room, packed everything there and arrested the boys working for K-Solo. They also arrested someone that came to record at the studio. The operation lasted for about 30mins. After they (the police) left, I went to Pen Cinema police station to file a report on the incident.

That was when again?
That was in early June. I drove down to my sister’s place at G.R.A, who knows the AIG Zone 2. He (AIG) then called them at SARS (Special Anti Robbery Squad), Ikeja, Lagos, where we later discovered they took the arrested boys to. When I got to SARS, I asked if they knew where they went to make arrests from? I also asked if the person that reported the case to them told them the truth of what actually happened before making the arrests? I told them that the woman that reported the case to them is a married woman and the man they wanted to arrest is her husband and the boys are his staffs.

I asked what has a civil case got to do with an anti robbery squad. They now brought pictures that the woman (Kike) told them that one Mr. Solomon Oyeniyi stole her jewelry worth N2.5million and threatened to kill her if she (Kike) doesn’t provide Range Rover Sport worth N7.5million for him (K-Solo), left with N400,000 when he was leaving the house.

I then asked them if they tried investigating K-Solo from people around before making their arrest? I then explained the matter to them and we were able to get the guys out that day from the station. They asked if they could see K-Solo, I told them I am his manager and would provide him in two days time because he was not in town.

When I later saw Kike, I asked that if she was not a desperate woman and with what she has written in the papers, how can she spend N2.5million to do a wedding for a man? How can she meet a man in September and do a wedding in November? Did she not know that someone was there (K-Solo’s life) before her? Did she not know that K-Solo was with a 7-year relationship? Don’t she know the person? I also asked if K-Solo was not a celebrity before she met him because she claimed to be feeding him and his boys. I know as a woman, before we marry a man, we want to be sure of his financial status and prospects. I informed her about how she first sent a request to him on Blackberry with the date and time. I then told her that if she claimed to have spent N10million or whatever for K-Solo, she did that when she was in love and was never forced to do that.

I was probably the only one who could face her about these things because she mentioned almost everybody’s name in her interview. I then asked her with the way she says something bad about this man (K-Solo), what should the lady he dated for seven years that left because of her (Kike) say? People even thought it was that lady (Bimbo) that got married to K-Solo and were calling her (Bimbo) Mrs. K-Solo. I asked her if she has ever thought of that humiliation Bimbo might have gone through with that? After the wedding, she (Kike) always go by Bimbo’s shop to pack her ‘Mrs. K-Solo’ customized car. Did she (Bimbo) do anything to her?

I told Kike that Bimbo was married the same way she (Kike) was married. K-Solo did an introduction with Bimbo. The only thing he didn’t do with her was the Court registry. Her (Bimbo's) bride price was paid and a wedding engagement rite was performed. Now, if a man can date a woman for seven years without battering, she owns a shop and lives large, how come you claim he is a gigolo and beats you? Kike then responded that I shouldn’t interfere in what I don’t know. I told her that Kike, as far as I know, I am older than you. I have started everything in this world before you started. I told her that her interview was full of lies.

I told her that my husband is hot tempered, but he would never pull out his belt to beat me in a public place let alone a celebrity that has a name to protect. In a world f Blackberry and social media, if K-Solo beats you in Shoprite, you (Kike) won’t be the one to tell the world that he beat you. Now, why has no one come out with the picture where he beat you at Shoprite? Did he collect people’s phone to delete the pictures?

The cheapest washing machine at Shoprite is expensive and heavy, how would K-Solo have carried a washing machine to throw at her? People should reason about this. I have worked with many people in the industry both single and married, I have never been accused of sleeping with them. I told K-Solo that I only respected him for the insults I have received from Kike.

It is a known fact that average Nigerian men commit adultery. It is not a new thing, it happens in almost every sector. Even if you catch your man sleeping around, that ring and marriage you did, 1000 women want it. K-Solo even told her that this Bimbo she is flaring up about is his ex. If he (K-Solo) was as bad as Kike is painting him, they wouldn’t still be talking by now. Bimbo is the sole problem Kike has. He even told Kike to make her (Kike’s) ex be their family friends if she can provide them. Till today, she has not brought anyone as her ex. That is the extent K-Solo was nice to her.

K-Solo invested in Bimbo’s life and it would not be good for him to abandon her because he married another woman. Bimbo was even at K-Solo’s album launch. She even told City People that if there is anyone that can tell everything about K-Solo, she (Bimbo) will tell 1miilion things about him. Bimbo’s parents have been very nice and kind to him. Her father is a respected Imam. If they can hold K-Solo as a son, and Kike then calls them babalawo (herbalists), then, she is out to cause problem between K-Solo and Bimbo’s parents. Bimbo’s father would become a king in Itokun land in Abeokuta very soon. I have not met them before but K-Solo has told me a lot about them.

There was a lady (Ify) she (Kike) mentioned in that interview that lives in the US, she is K-Solo’s manager in America. K-Solo is really blessed with good women who always want to help him. But this ‘lunatic’ of a woman, quote me, she is a lunatic, goes about to say things. Because, if you are big, you are big, you don’t need to blow your trumpet. if she claims to be a big girl, let her go and snap pictures of where her parents stay and put on the internet.

Where do her parents stay?
The old Festac, Satellite. Her parents still drive that 504 old model and she claims to be rich and make noise all over. All of K-Solo’s family members leave abroad. He can live without music and still be rich. During his album launch, all his sisters came from abroad to attend the launch and for this marriage saga.

Back to my police case narration, we got a letter from Abuja to transferring the case from SARS to Zone 2 Headquarters, Lagos. The IPO told K-Solo that he notice this woman (Kike) wants a reconciliation and that was the reason for her doing all what she has been doing as she may not know how to go about it. He then advised that the couple should settle the case amicably, which he did.

On my birthday, she drove down to the studio and asked after K-Solo, I told him he was in the studio. They spoke for about six hours. Since then, they were back together again. Though his family were not happy with K-Solo for not informing them of his intention to take Kike back after all what she said about him in the papers, but he told them that the woman was carrying his baby. My brother, K-Solo filled every loopholes that this woman was complaining about. I was even the person that went to pay her house rent, I still have the tellers with me which has my name on it.

He made sure Kike was comfortable to the extent of providing everything she needed in the house. I think K-Solo has pictures of her before their first marriage saga and after they reconciled. She was looking good. Is such man not responsible?

Even the baby things K-Solo bought for the baby, Kike threw them in the booth and left the house. Before then, she was telling people that K-Solo is sleeping with his manager. I told K-Solo that this is the right time to face this woman even though I don’t support divorce. If Kike doesn’t have a name to protect, me, I have names to protect. I have children and families that value me.

We just have to let the world know the truth. She knows what she does for a living but she would use her mouth to say it to the world when the time comes. I know this is a husband and wife affair, I know a lot of people would say this. They would also say what is my own in all these but I want to tell them that I know it is a family matter but I am part of the family because I work with K-Solo. He puts food on my table. After they fought, I begged him and made sure he went back to Kike.

I was about asking what did you do in settling their differences
I did all I could. Kike can confirm this. He sometimes takes the staffs’ money to take care of her. Let me tell you, he registered her at Blue Cross, Ogba. K-Solo took the first money we made after their reconciliation to pay her house rent, which I went to pay. The second money we got from another job was used in changing her hospital from Blue Cross to Isalu hospital.

Whenever he tells me he wants any money to do anything for his family, I don’t contest it. Despite that other staffs were denied some things since all these started, we don’t complain because we want her to live comfortable.

Now, on the controversial interview with Channels TV, why did K-Solo put up that defense that they were acting
Thank you, they (Channels TV) called me that they wanted to grant K-Solo an interview, which I relayed to him. That day, K-Solo told me that Kike said she would want to go with him for the interview because she was bored at home, I told him to allow her go with him. Could you believe that Kike was sitting at the reception when the interview was on. The presenter said 'I think your madam is here too', K-Solo answered yes. They now asked her to join them. She was the one that opened her mouth to say those things. She was the one that said it was a publicity stunt. She even said that she wanted to use the opportunity to apologise to her mother-in-law and others she has offended during the saga.

Was it a live programme
Yes, it was a live program but was also recorded.

Because I wanted to ask why didn’t K-Solo not say the truth about Kike’s claim that it was a publicity stunt. What was his reaction
His reaction was funny and shocking

What was the interview intended for
It was intended to be about his career as K-Solo. They (Channels TV) were already talking to Kike but K-Solo told them to do an interview with him and not Kike but she insisted that she wanted to do an interview with them. He was already prepared to tell Channels that it was family and that he was there for his career related issue if they ask him about his marriage issues.

He knew they would bring the issue up, but Kike barged in to speak about it. It would be bad for him to go other way on air when Kike had already started speaking about the issue. He just had to say they were just having fun. Channels reported that it was a publicity stunt and everybody took it like that.

So, why didn’t you or K-Solo come out to debunk it when it became an issue
Doing that would have created more avenue for people to blow everything out of proportion. So, it was good we just let it go that way because the most important thing was that they were back together. She brought her shame out for the world to see. He had to keep quiet about it because he has a name to protect. You can’t say someone beat you to the extent of losing the first and second pregnancy and you still remained with such man, what are you doing with the person.

But what if true love is invloved here
Which kain love be that (what kind of love is that)? God punish that love. Women are like phones, they can flush memory cards. Men are like memory card to them. If you sleep with a woman now, and she goes out to see a man that promises her marriage, she would make the man see her like a woman that has never be wooed in her entire life. You know what that means, it means the man that just slept with her has been flushed away.

K-Solo left his house for Kike, that was how bad it was. Do you what that means; frustration. These happened before she arranged those lies against K-Solo.

Today, the only person that talks to K-Solo in his family is his mum, all because of Kike. He called Kike’s brother after Kike confessed to her brother that K-Solo has been taking good care of her since their comeback. Now, K-Solo does not want Kike to be tagged with his name because of the damage she has done to it already and she is not ready to change. I can confirm to you that K-Solo owes Kike a birthday gift which would be presented to her.

When is that
The birthday gift is soon but she has a wedding gift on her wedding anniversary.

But do you know why he contracted the marriage with Kike in the first place
To tell you the truth, as K-Solo once told me, he wanted to cancel the wedding a day before the wedding day but his mum reminded him of the name his father has built before he died. She (his mum) told him of his father’s words that if he cannot build on his name, he should at least not spoil it, which was why he went ahead with the wedding as the only boy in the family.

Some have said that K-Solo is one of the few celebs that doesn’t have a love child from a babymama, but this is because of the legacy his father left for him to follow. He married Kike because he didn’t want people to feel like he impregnated a woman and didn’t end up marrying her. For 15 years now, K-Solo has stayed without a scandal after producing top artistes in Nigeria not until Kike came.

She has wrong people around her like Toni Payne. Let her (Toni Payne) go back and fix her own. She started to manage artiste, where are they today? They are down. Where is W4, Adol, Olamide and others? She has started her TV programme, let me tell you the truth, it would go down as well. Let her go back to her man (9ice). Kike claims to love K-Solo and she does all these harms. If she says that she left because K-Solo beat her up the first time, why did she leave again this time?

You should know that she has a problem. Her mother is a prophetess and she can’t fix the spiritual problem her daughter has. They always say a prophet does not see vision of themselves. But her mother should not feel too proud to consult other prophets to help her daughter out.

Thank God Kike didn’t know K-Solo before his father died, she would have said she bought the casket used for K-Solo's dad's burial. If K-Solo had made his money through rituals, Kike would have told the world about it. No man would like to marry the likes of Kike because she would expose them if they ever involve in shady deals. Can she prove that K-Solo has slept with me? Let her go and bring her school certificate out to show the world.

Secondary school or university certificates
Both. She should also bring her international passport to show us how many countries she has traveled to. She has only traveled to South Africa once. And she claims to have traveled to many countries. What company has she worked with?

The car she is driving is the one she duped someone of. There was a day she mistakenly called K-Solo’s sister thinking she was speaking with her mother saying she has put what her mother (Kike's mum) told her (Kike) to put in the food. K-Solo’s sister (name withheld) was surprised about this revelation. When she realized that she just spoke with her sister-in-law, she changed the talk to say she (Kike) only wanted to inform her (K-Solo’s sister) that they had settled their quarrels. Kike is fetish, but people would not understand that K-Solo has been going through hell in his marriage.

This is an advice to men who want to marry, they should not marry any woman that lives alone in her apartment but a woman that lives with her parents. What this means is that woman that lives with her parents would be a virtuous woman and would be where you leave her.

I just want to warn her to stop all her threats. Now that she has put to bed, I want her to fulfill her threat of striping me naked to get pictures of me to put on the internet. K-Solo is back with Bimbo and things are coming back to normal. Everybody she has chased away are now back.

Do you mean they are engaged?
Yes, Bimbo and K-Solo are engaged.

So, when is the wedding bell ringing?
We would definitely inform you.

I want to tell her to stop tarnishing my image. K-Solo has been severally stabbed by Kike. How do you expect K-Solo to accept the child whose pregnancy Kike has was told K-Solo not to believe to be responsible for as she wrote in her text message? He doesn’t even know the hospital the baby was born

Lastly, if you are a single man and you want to choose a woman to marry as wife, pray to God to give a wife like Kike for your entire life. And if you are a mother, and has a son that wishes to marry a woman, pray to have somebody like Kike as a daughter-in-law. Anybody that is ready should say an amen to that prayer and it would be so

hmmm, ajanni, na real waaaaa....donzemoo, u can't be more accurate bruv, tthumbs up

The administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has not awarded any discretional oil blocks since it assumed office, THEWILL can exclusively report.
 
Several media reports quoting extensively from a Reuters’ publication have erroneously suggested that the current administration awarded three (3) discretional oil blocks without a bidding process.
 
Reuters, had itself quoted extensively from a leaked report of the Petroleum Special Task Force led by Mr. Nuhu Ribadu saying that 3 discretional oil licences were awarded by the current Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke. Reuters was however not specific or clear about the kind of oil licences in question, and in doing so left a vacuum for speculations, confusion and misrepresentation of facts.
 
The report revealed loses in revenue and royalties to the federal government, as well as other lapses in the sector including exposing billions of dollars in unpaid debts owed Nigeria by some foreign oil companies. 
 

 
The report also concluded that oil majors Shell, Total and Eni made bumper profits from cut-price gas, adding that Nigerian oil ministers handed out oil licences at their own discretion.
 
THEWILL can however authoritatively report today that the President Umaru Yar’Adua and President Goodluck Ebebe Jonathan administrations have issued only three (3) discretional licences for MARGINAL FIELDS and not oil blocks. The licences were issued between 2007 and 2010.
 
Marginal Fields are different from oil blocks.
 
Checks at the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) revealed that in May 2007 during the administration of late President Yar’Adua, Okwok and Ebok fields were awarded to Oriental Energy “as compensation for loses suffered as a result of boundary adjustment.”
 
In 2010, the President Jonathan administration awarded the Ubima and Otakipko Marginal Fields to All Grace Nigeria Limited and Green Energy Limited respectively, “as encouragement for commitment to small-scale gas projects.”
 
The three (3) awardees paid flat signature bonuses of $150,000 per field as stipulated in the pre-existing guidelines for the award of Marginal Fields, according to DPR records.
 
Discretional award of licences, though legal, does not follow the best practices of conducting open and transparent bids in the oil sector.
 
“It is a standard practice in the Nigerian oil and gas sector dating back to when the first reserves were discovered,” THEWILL was told.
 
A source at the DPR who asked not to be named in this report told THEWILL that the leaked Special Task Force report has caused a lot of confusion, as there is insufficient knowledge and understanding of the difference between an exploration block licence (OPL) and Marginal Field licence.
 
THEWILL further gathered that the Ribadu committee asked the various parastatals operating under the Ministry of Petroleum to submit information under oath during its work, which was complied with.
 
Marginal Field refers to an oil field that may not produce enough net income to make it worth developing by multinationals for several reasons. They usually contain high gas (hydrocarbon) with low oil reserves.
 
The guidelines for the farm out and operation of a marginal field, issued by the Office of the Petroleum Adviser on Petroleum & Energy to the President of Nigeria in July 2001, defines Marginal Fields as follows:
 
a. Fields not considered by license holders for development due to assumed economics under prevailing fiscal terms.
 
b. Fields that have an exploratory well drilled on their structure and which have been reported as oil and gas discoveries for more than 10 years.
 
c. Fields with crude oil characteristics different from current streams (such as with high viscosity and low API gravity), which cannot be produced with conventional methods or current technology.
 
d. Fields with high gas and low oil reserves
 
e. Fields that have been abandoned by the leaseholders for up to three years because of economic reasons, and
 
f. Fields that the present leaseholders may consider for farm out due to rationalization.
 
Nigeria is Africa's largest crude oil exporter, with an average daily output of about 2.5 million barrels per day (bpd), boosted by the current peace in the Niger Delta, following a peace deal between the federal government and agitated militants.
 
Nigeria’s gas reserves is also enormous making it the ninth biggest worldwide.
 
Sadly, decades of corruption in the sector has left many citizens impoverished without basic needs and all important infrastructure like stable electricity, good schools, and roads amongst others.
 
President Jonathan Monday ordered that the report of the Petroleum Special Task Force be submitted to him this Friday.

EXPRESSIVE...

TARABA STATE GOVERNOR'S CRASH: AN OMEN

Beyond human and natural empathy in which case I wish the Taraba State governor, Dambaba Suntai, a swift recovery, the incident has once again brought †ơ͡ the fore, the inanity of man's perpetual pursuit of life's mudane coupled with the avarice of most of Nigerian leaders at the helms of affairs. This was a man who years back was inconsequential and represented a no-history-figure but today has a state's (plagued with neglect and under-development) treasury under his ascendancy.

A couple of months ago, I was in the state capital, Jalingo and the only structures you saw there were the little efforts of the former governor, a compatriot of the incumbent in kleptomania, embattled Senator Reverend Jolly Nyame. To say the road that links the state capital with Maiduguri, Borno state capital via Biu is a death trap is †ơ͡ state the obvious.   Theirs was a state crying for a messiah at a time Rev. Jolly Nyame whom they had earlier seen as a renovator turned out a covetous buffoon.

Like a social critic wrote "I Googled the state of Taraba and even the state website is non-existent and the wiki profile was at best a crap-fest..." The state capital (as I saw it) apart from the main road that linked †ơ͡ adjorning states is best described Abuja's Gwagwa/Karimu satellite town. There we ђα√e a sitting governor who's more preoccupied with throwing up jamborees at will and inviting Nigeria's entertainment celebrities with tax-payers money with utmost impunity.

The governor overseeing the affairs of a poverty ridden-state purchased a personal helicopter just few months ago in addition †ơ͡ his two light aircrafts including CESSNA 208 aircraft. He enjoys flying himself †ơ͡ private parties and events. Here's somebody who attended a crash programe at the Aviation College, Zaria and then went †ơ͡ the United States for a 6-week Flying Programme, in addition †ơ͡ a 2-week course in France. Jumped on a Chopper, flew same and ended up in a fatal crash.

A pharmacist-turned pilot who became a governor under the ruling PDP and whose flamboyant life could be juxtapositionally compared with a fellow compatriot of the Poverty Developing Party's ex-governor of Oyo state, Adebayo Alao-Akala . Little wonder why he's a frontliner in advocating more oil derivation for non-oil producing states. Each time they come out, the ordinary Nigerians feel their agitation is borne out of "Altruism" but clearly sinisterly undertoned-Self aggradizement.

As if getting an aircraft now was becoming an idiosyncrasy among Nigerian governors, yours truly learnt Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State recently purchased a private Bombardier Jet worth $50Million. The Bombardier Global 5000 N565RS which should ђα√e left Montreal-Trudeau Airport, Canada was acquired even as his flood-ravaged state indigent citizens now live like scavengers. "This is an ungodly act...why should gov Amaechi's priority be †ơ͡ acquire jet at a time the state is experiencing the worst flooding in its history..." A Port-Harcourt based human right activist had said

I watch this country called Nigeria with so much amusement, the myriads of grotesque undoings of these our so-called kleptocrats in the name of politicians. You tell me †ơ͡ stop stealing, you tell me †ơ͡ stop armed robbery, you tell me †ơ͡ stop Advance Fee fraud (419), you tell me †ơ͡ stop "Yahoo-ing", you tell me †ơ͡ stop militancy, you tell me †ơ͡ stop all the bad bad things, yet YOU ARE A KINGPIN in all of these egregious doings, making me perpetually subservient †ơ͡ you. Na God go punish you

...Czar Omogbolahan Kokumo McBabs Olori Ebi-CFR

Legendary Pastor Patrick Obassey popularly called Patty Obasi died in the early hours of Friday October 27, 2012 after a long battle with kidney failure.

According to doctors, before his death, the singer suffered failure on his two kidneys.

This condition which required an urgent transplant surgery in India costs N10 million but the singer could not afford it

Patty Obasi died in the early hours of Friday at his home in Enugu after he slipped into coma.

The ailment that struck him after the launch of his popular album Nwa Mammy Water eventually led to his death.

So sad.

May his soul rest in perfect peace

President Goodluck  Jonathan has condemned Sunday’s suicide bomb attack on a Catholic Church in Kaduna.

In a statement  by Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, President Jonathan said he  was extremely saddened by the explosion, describing it as “barbaric, cruel and uncalled for.”

He noted that the apparent objective of the criminal and unpatriotic elements and forces behind the attack is to set back the progress the Administration has made in the fight against terrorism in the country. “It is obvious that these people do not mean well for Nigeria and its unity and development,” he said.

The President however, expressed confidence that the war against terrorism would become more unrelenting as the nation would never give in to the forces of terror and retardation. He added that the persistence of messengers of evil will not prevail over the will of the government and the people to secure peace and safety.

“Our efforts to deal with all acts of terror and violence would only be redoubled even as the security agencies continue to receive all the support they need from government to reverse this unfortunate and unacceptable trend that threatens the peace and stability of our nation,” President Jonathan said.

The President commiserated with the Catholic Church, family and friends of the victims of the bombing, assuring them that government’s resolve to deal with the threat of terrorism remains strong.

More than 300 persons displaced by flood in coastal communities such as Oko, near Asaba, in Delta, have resisted Delta Government’s attempts to relocate them to flood victims’ camps in Asaba.

The people, who are taking refuge at some unaffected areas at the Asaba end of the River Niger Bridge, claimed that they could not abandon some of the belongings, which they had salvaged from the flood.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the people are living in makeshift homes built with materials such as cement bags, mats, wood, and discarded roofing sheets on both sides of the bridge.

From their new abode, the people still go fishing on the fringes of River Niger with nets and canoes.

NAN also reports that the Delta State Government had made four attempts to relocate the people, through persuasion and threats of forced evacuation, all to no avail.

The displaced persons insisted that the only condition that would make them to move to the camps was if they were allowed to move with their belongings, which included beds, chairs and electronic items.

However, at the people’s meeting with the state Commissioner for Bureau for Special Duties, Dr. Tony Nwaka, who coordinates all the camps set up for flood victims, it was resolved that the “Bridgehead camp’’ should remain for the time being.

However, the government gave the people a December 15 deadline, after which they would either join other flood victims in designated camps or return to their communities.

“After listening to them this time and seeing the situation, we have decided that the best thing is to allow them to remain there for some time.

“Truly, they have some of their properties which they cannot take to the camps or leave behind. The collective decision is that we will, from Sunday, be taking food and other materials to them at the Bridgehead.

“But we have also agreed that they have up till December 15 to remain there, after which they will be moved to the camps if the situation has not normalised by then or else they will be compelled to return to their communities,” Nwaka told NAN.

The people of Ijebuland in Ogun State, in their thousands marked the annual Ojude – Oba cultural festival in colour and glamour with the paramount ruler, Oba Sikiru Adetona, calling on the Senate President, David Mark, to ensure that Ijebu State is created by the present National Assembly.

Oba Adetona, who lauded Mark for honouring him and the Ijebu people with his presence on the occasion of the 2012 edition of Ojude – Oba festival, said, “it is embarrassing and a glaring act of injustice that Ijebu which formed one of the 24 provinces of Nigeria has not morphed into a state of its own whereas each of the other provinces have been broken into two or more states.”

The Awujale of Ijebuland, who spoke while delivering his welcome speech for the festival said the Ijebu people have been clamouring for a state of their own since 1975 and have remained consistent with the agitation, adding the way to assuage the pains of the “marginalisation of the Ijebus in the Federal Republic of Nigeria” is for Ijebu State to be created on or before the next Ojude – Oba festival.

The monarch also proposed Ijebu – Ode, the Royal home, to serve as the capital of Ijebu State if eventually carved out from the present Ogun State.

In attendance at the festival in Ijebu – Ode are – Senator Mark, who was the Special guest of honour, the host Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, his wife Olufunso Amosun, Senator Mamora Olorunimbe, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Senator Gbenga Obadara(Ogun Central), Senator Lekan Mustapha, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Mr. Tunji Ayanlaja(SAN) and the Ogun State Police Commissioner, Mr. Ikemefuna Okoye.

Others are – Senator Gbenga Kaka (Ogun East), Prof. Adebayo Adedeji, Amb. Gbenga Ashiru, Dr. Subomi Balogun, the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, Ogun State Commerce and Industry Commissioner, Mr. Bola Ashiru, Olori Kemi Adetona and the Ogun State Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Adesegun, among others.

wo inmates of the Federal Prisons in Ahoada, headquarters of Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, have been shot dead by the operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and policemen. They were attempting to escape through the ceiling after a jail break.

Despite the quick intervention of the security agencies, four of the prisoners escaped. Nine of the inmates who were wounded are undergoing treatment.

The Ahoada prison, meant for 200 inmates, is holding 502 prisoners, leading to overcrowding. This angered the inmates, who launched the massive protest.

Prisoners forced open the cells of the Awaiting Trial inmates were forced open. Many of them escaped through the broken wall. This was after some of them returned from fetching water outside the prison.

The prison serves both Rivers and neighbouring Bayelsa States, where a prison is still under construction.

It was learnt that the inmates also expressed displeasure that the Chief Judges of Rivers and Bayelsa states had not been visiting Ahoada Prisons for the regular jail delivery activity, which was recently carried out at the Federal Prisons in Port Harcourt.

The Deputy Comptroller of Prisons in Ahoada, Mr. Aderibigbe Lawal failed to respond to text messages. He also did not pick his calls.

Minister of Interior Abba Moro yesterday condemned the jail break.

In a statement in Abuja by his Special Assistant, Mr. George Udoh, Moro noted that six prisoners who were critically injured while being prevented by the security officers in the process of escaping from the prison were taken to the hospital and they are now back in the prison but: “only four prisoners escaped during the attack”.

The prisoners broke the office of the chief warder and carted away vital documents. They also burnt other documents.

They vandalised the prison’s clinic and pulled down its walls.

The Minister said measures had been taken to strengthen the security in and around the prison and to arrest the four fleeing prisoners.

“The Nigerian Prison Service (NPS) is seriously on top of the situation as the agency is working hard to restore peace to the area.

“We want to appeal to the general public to cooperate with the government in its bid to transform our prison service. The public should also not hesitate to make available vital information to the security agencies to get rid of crime in our society,” he said.

A source, who was at the prison yesterday, but would not want his name mentioned, said the inmates were angry with the Federal Government over the overcrowding of the facility.

The source said: “The inmates of Ahoada Prisons are always sent outside the prisons to fetch water and look for firewood for cooking in the prisons, as well as engaging in other menial works outside the prisons.

“On Saturday evening, some of the inmates were sent outside the prisons to fetch water. When they returned with the water, the warders wanted to return them to their cells, but they refused. One of the inmates picked a cooking pot and used it to hit one of the warders.

“The protesting inmates then proceeded to the locked ATM cells and forced the locks open with iron rods, with the inmates joining others in the violent protest. At that point, the operatives of the JTF and policemen arrived at the prisons, but some of the inmates had already escaped through the broken wall, which is just being fixed.

“I can confirm to you that four of the inmates escaped and nine of them are wounded, but being treated. Before the protest, the inmates had complained of overcrowding at the facility meant for 200 persons, but now having 502 inmates.”

Rivers police spokesman Ben Ugwuegbulam confirmed the jailbreak and killing of the two inmates.

Ugwuegbulam said: “Around 1700hrs (5 pm) on Saturday, inmates of the Federal Prisons, Ahoada attempted breaking out unlawfully from custody. Ahoada police area command swiftly mobilised to the scene and together with other security agencies, cordoned off the entire perimeter of the prisons.

“Consequently, the escaping inmates retreated to the confines of the prisons. Two of the inmates that tried escaping through the ceiling were shot at, to prevent their escape and were fatally-wounded (killed) in the process. The situation has been brought under control.”

The Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government, Chief Cassidy Ikegbidi, who condemned the jailbreak, lauded the security agencies for their quick intervention.

Ikegbidi, who spoke through his Press Secretary, Mr. Blessed Oyagiri, said: “It is wrong for the inmates to take the law into their own hands. The people of the local government area should go about their lawful businesses without fear of molestation, as security of lives and property is guaranteed.

“I commend the security agencies in the area for their quick intervention. I wish to condemn the act exhibited by the inmates.”

It will be recalled that the devastating floods affected Ahoada East local government area, where eight of the victims died, according to the Chairman of the Rivers State Flood Relief Committee, Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru.

Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State, who was involved in a plane crash on Thursday, was moved to the National Hospital in Abuja for further medical attention on Friday.

Suntai arrived in an ambulance belonging to the State House Medical Centre with registration number SH 576 at about 2pm amid tight security.

He was bandaged up and placed on a life support machine, complete with an oxygen mask and other gadgets, on arrival at the hospital located in the central area, Abuja.

President Goodluck Jonathan was among early callers who paid the injured governor a solidarity visit in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital on Friday.

Jonathan arrived in the hospital at about 3.15 pm and was received by the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Bello Shehu. In a meeting with journalists after the visit, the President said Suntai’s condition was stable.

He said, “First, I have to thank God for what happened. A plane crash is not something that you can just wave off. We are quite happy that the governor is stable, I have seen him and I think the doctors are working very hard on him. I believe that God willing, he will be well soon.”

The governor and other survivors of the crash had earlier been admitted at a hospital in Yola, Adamawa State, where the crash occurred.

Justice Okechukwu Okeke of the Federal High Court, Lagos has fixed November 6, 7 and 8, 2012 for continuation of trial in the case instituted against the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji and his personal assistant, Oyebode Alade Atoyebi by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
 
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, 24 October, 2012, the EFCC presented its first witness, Adebayo Adeniyi, an operative of the Commission.
 
Adeniyi told the court that in the course of investigation, he demanded for documents from the Clerk of the House of Assembly and took statements from several members of the State House of Assembly and civil servants.
 
Among the members whose statements were taken and tendered are Bolaji Yusuf Ayinla, Kolawole Taiwo Musibau, Abiru Rotimi, Akande Lola and Abdurrazak Balogun. The civil servants whose statements were taken and admitted include Adewale Taiwo Olatunji, Olusegun Abiru, Latona Folashade, Tijani Maruf and a few others.  In all, 19 documents were tendered and admitted by Justice Okeke as exhibits.
 
Ikuforiji and his personal assistant were on March 1, 2012 arraigned on a 20 count charge of allegedly conspiring to commit an illegal act of accepting cash payments amounting to N273, 303, 780 (Two hundred and seventy three million, three hundred and three thousand, seven hundred and eighty naira) from the Lagos State House of Assembly without going through a financial institution, thereby committing an offence contrary to sections 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 and punishable under sections 16(2) (b) of the same act.
 
Upon being granted bail by the court, Ikuforiji and his aide later approached the court seeking to quash the charge against them on the grounds that the purported transactions in which the said cash payments were made were official transactions. He contended that as Speaker, he was part of the Lagos State government and that action which informed the charge was carried out on behalf of the Lagos State government.
 
Prosecution counsel, Godwin Obla, asked the court to dismiss the application of the accused persons. He told the court that there were monetary guidelines regarding cash transactions which were breached in totality. He said such cash transactions were species of money laundering. He urged the court not to be tempted to dismiss the charge citing a recent case where a former governor was discharged and acquitted of money laundering by a Federal High Court only for the same person to be convicted by a court in the United Kingdom. He also said objection to the charge should have been done before the accused persons took their plea.
 
Justice Okeke in his ruling dismissed the application filed by the defendants on the grounds that the reason advanced in support of their application was untenable.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has been described as a ‘centre’ of corruption in the country. This is according to the All Nigeria Peoples Party.

According to the Nuhu Ribadu-led task force, mandated to verify all petroleum upstream and downstream revenues (taxes, royalties, etc) payable to the Federal Government, NNPC gets an allocation of 445,000bpd of crude oil to refine locally but it has been selling the product at cut-down prices.

The practice, the task force said, resulted in the country losing $5bn between 2002 and 2011.

The party said this while reacting to the Ribadu-led Petroleum Revenues Task Force Committee’s report, which revealed that Nigeria lost about N4.64tn over the last decade from cut-price deals between multinational oil companies and government officials.

The ANPP in a statement on Sunday in Abuja said the Presidency had tried to reduce the gravity of revelations by saying that because the Ribadu Committee had not formally submitted its report to the appropriate authority, the report in the public domain was suspicious.

However, we wish to ask whether the report of a forged Export Clearance Permit of more than one and a half billion dollar is also suspicious.

“Or the letter written by the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, to President Goodluck Jonathan, promising to investigate the source of the discovered fake document in his ministry and brief the president accordingly (is also fake).

“On the other hand, we believe that the people have a lot to fear from the government if 24 million barrels of crude oil can afford to leave the shores of this nation under suspicious circumstances" the ANPP stressed.

The party has therefore called on the National Assembly to look at the report in order to ascertain the true situation of things, and to ensure that the “so-called committee set up to look into the Ribadu Committee’s report does not cover up vital facts which will help to exorcise the demon of corruption sucking the blood of this great nation with NNPC as the siphon.”