MONEY MATTER: DOYIN ABIOLA IN COURT FOR FRAUD

Wife of billionaire businessman Basorun MKO Abiola, who was former Managing Director of the defunct Concord Newspapers, Dr. Doyin Abiola has been arraigned before the Federal High Court, Lagos, for fraud.

Dr. Abiola, along with three other directors Directors of Integrated Microfinance Bank (IMFB) located at 6A Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja, namely: Akinteye Simon Ademola, Dr. Jerry Orimovuohoma and Oladapo Bello, were arrested and charged by the SFU

According to statement signed by Police Public Relations Officer DSP Ngozi Isintume-Agu said that the Financial Malpractices Investigation Unit (FMIU) of Special Fraud Unit (SFU) said that between 2006 and 2008   the four officials of IMFB unauthorized credit facilities to the tune of N327,566,000 to themselves and other related companies without collateral and that the loans are still outstanding.  In the forensic investigation conducted by FMIU of SFU, the Directors were found wanting in the discharge of their duties while on the Board of Integrated Microfinance Bank (IMFB).

The break-down of the fraud is as follows:

Dr. Abiola granted to herself without collateral and approval from the Management, the sum of N26,611,246.48.

· Ademola of Plot 7, block 90, Mobolaji Ogunde Crescent, Magodo GRA Phase 2, Lagos converted the sum of N131.176 million to his personal use without approval.

· Orimovuohoma of 129B Oba Ladejobi Street, GRA, Ikeja granted unauthorized credit facility to the tune of N29,200,000.00 to himself without collateral.

· Bello of 23/25 Ijora Causeway, Ijora, Lagos recklessly granted the sum of N3,200,000.00 to himself without collateral.

It was gathered that “The bank liquidity was greatly affected with the sum the directors took,” the statement said.    The case comes up at the Federal High Court on December 10.

Source: sahara reporters   

RELIGION: ANGOLA GOVERNMENT BANNED ISLAMIC RELIGION

The Angolan Minister of Culture, Rosa Cruz e Silva was quoted by news agencies and Angola newspapers as saying,
"The process of legalisation of Islam has not been approved by the Ministry of Justice and Human rights, their mosques would be closed until further notice."

According to the official, such a decision became the latest in a series of attempts to ban "illegal" sects in the country. The minister says that the move became necessary in order to fight the emergence of congregations whose worshiping is contradictory to the customs of Angola culture.
This statement by Silva was made during her appearance last week at the 6th Commission of the National Assembly.

It was gathered that the measure concerns not only Islam but many other not legalized faiths will face closure of their houses of worship.

The list of the banned sects published by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights in the Angolan newspaper 'Jornal de Angola' contains all the sects, which are not allowed to conduct worship.
"In addition, we also have a long list of more than a thousand legalization applications," the official stated.

Commenting on the issue, Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos said,
"This is the final end of Islamic influence in our country."

Angola with population of 16 million is predominantly Christian nation, with only 80,000-90,000 Muslims, the majority of whom are migrants from West Africa and families of Lebanese origin, however, according to source, the crackdown on Islam comes as Christians in the Middle East are being forced from Muslim countries.

PHOTO NEWS: TIWA SAVAGE'S TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE

REAVELED AT LAST: IBB KILLED DELE GIWA

Major Debo Basorun (retd.), 70, former Chief Press Secretary to ex-military President Ibrahim Babangida, in an interview published in National Mirror, confirmed that the brutal murder by a parcel bomb of the journalist Dele Giwa , 27 years ago was ordered by the then head of state General I B Babangida.

 Basorun was asked: “Are you saying categorically that it was Babangida who ordered the killing of Dele Giwa?” His answer: “Yes, yes and yes.”

Major Debo Basorun revealed this during the launch in Lagos of his book, 'Honour for Sale: An Inside Account of the Murder of Dele Giwa'.

Please read on:
Question: What informed your decision to write a book about some salient events in the nation’s history?
Immediately I left this country for exile in United States of America in 1989, I gathered all the materials for the book. I started making jottings on long hand. By 1994 the book was ready and the transcript was given to Prof. Wole Soyinka during the NADECO struggles. But for one reason or the other, I could not put it through
Why did you go on exile?
I had to run when my life was in danger. I was then the Chief Press Secretary to General Ibrahim Babangida, the former Head of State. Since I know some facts surrounding the death of Dele Giwa, the government was uncomfortable with me, therefore they were looking for how to eliminate me.
Babangida’s government was involved in the planning and assassination of Dele Giwa. And because I was privy to that information, the government was unhappy, unsettled; it was jittery and wanted to get rid of me. It suspected that I could say the truth.
When I saw the handwriting on the wall and between life and death, I ran for my life. I had to escape from the country after I took them to court. I was the only principal officer serving that will take the government to court.
Despite several injunctions, at the Lagos High Court, the military government then just refused to come to the court to present their side of the story. The court said they should leave me alone, but they were hunting for me everywhere and since my life was no longer safe, I had to leave.
What are the salient facts that you have in your custody that made you think the government was looking for you?
These facts are hidden in the book and if you get a copy, you will see the intrigue that was woven round the killing of Dele Giwa. You will see the role certain characters played in the murder. I was even induced with money, but I refused, that was the time I had to run away. Now I believe it is better to state the fact the way it was no matter whose ox is gored. It is better to run away than to collect money from the devil.
Are you saying categorically that it was Babangida who ordered the killing of Dele Giwa?
Yes, yes and yes.
What about the involvement of Cols. Haliru Akilu and A. K. Togun?
Yes, these guys were in the military intelligence. They were all involved. If there is any dirty job to be done, the military intelligence would do it. I am a dramatic personae in that unit, therefore there is nothing they are doing that I would not know. The bitter truth is that Dele Giwa was killed by the Babangida regime. The whole thing was surrounded by mystery of our government. It is unfortunate that nobody has been brought to book.
Are you not afraid of your life now that all those you implicated in your book are still alive?
That was then that I used to fear, I am old enough to die now. That is the reason why I wrote this book, ‘Honour for Sale’. If eventually it leads to my death, I have no regrets.
Why did they tag you a rebel while in the army, especially on the issue of a strong memo you wrote to your superior officer. What happened then?
That was when I was in the army. The issue that forced me out into exile was that Babangida was the President. There were two different scenarios here. One of the things that endeared Babangida to so many troops was his sense of fairness and sense of accommodating, no matter where you come from. After I became his spokesperson in the army, I realised that most of our gadgets in the army had inscriptions written on them in Arabic.
Despite the fact that I was a Muslim, I found it offensive that English was our lingua franca and that those things ought to have been written in English. I raised a memo and sent to him. He did not want to act on it, when Akilu, who was the Director of Military Intelligence got wind of it, he was bitter with me. He called me all sorts of names and came to accuse me for initiating such a memo.
Was there any sinister move from Akilu over what you did?
He was just harassing me, but Babangida shielded me, and told me that I should lie low. There was a time he told me that I should not mind him. I was doing a good job and the image of the army, which had been battered, was being restored gradually.
Don’t you think that the society will blame you for concealing such information you are divulging now for many years?
No; they will not, against the backdrop of what went wrong then. I knew why I went to court and refused to be posted to where they can kill me. There was a precedent, they have killed people in that unit before and nothing happened, therefore I didn’t want to be killed. If I did not have my facts, I will not go to court. That was why they muzzled everybody including the court. They were very powerful and there was nothing they could not do.
Was that the reason why all the cases of glaring assassinations the country have been witnessing after the killing of Dele Giwa cannot be traced?
It is only now that the police investigate cases of assassination and other organised crimes. Those days, the police cannot investigate anything. In fact, during the time of Babangida, the police was just a toothless bull dog. They were just there at the beck and call of the powers that be, then and there was nothing the rank and file could do.
Is it true that the IBB you know can do anything to bribe his way out of any situation?
I can tell you authoritatively that Babangida was a corrupt man. He was very corrupt. Several times, I had collected bribe for him. I am not claiming to be a saint, because I was a part of that government.
It is ‘obey the last order’ in the military. I know bribery is not good, but it was a military assignment that you must carry out; it is a duty that you must do. If the society wants to blame me for that, I will take up the blame. IBB introduced a new dimension to corruption in Nigeria on a large scale.
Recently the same IBB came out to condemn corruption in the country, how do you react to that?
It is very unfortunate that he, who took corruption to the highest level, could do so. Every Head of State in this country, apart from Muritala Mohammed and Muhammadu Buhari, were all corrupt.
The idea behind the book is just to call on Nigerians that they should not allow impunity to continue, enough is enough. After Dele Giwa, a lot of people, including journalists have been killed by the powers that be, yet nobody has unravelled the killings. What that is telling us is that the media is not doing enough to come out with such investigative stories, one day nobody knows who could come next as their target.
That is the challenge I pose to them now; let them come and kill me. I no longer fear for my life. I am old enough to die now if that is the sacrifice to pay for telling the truth and exposing all the hidden facts in our past brutal political history. I don’t want to go to my grave with this heavy load on my chest, today I have children and grandchildren, so if death comes now, I have left a legacy for the next generation to ponder on. They offered me money to keep quiet, but I refused, knowing full well that a day like this will come.
In 2010, Babangida wanted to use the Chief of Army Staff as they came up with spurious charge that cannot withstand the test of time against me that I stole money in the army. I took them to court, but they could not defend it.
After that all other Chiefs of Army Staff who had sat on that chair realised that the issue was a political one and decided not to dabble into it. They did not want to dabble into it for the fear that a day like this may come where all the hidden facts will be in the open. They did all that could be done to rubbish my image and harass me publicly but it all failed.
Was there any specific attempt on your life in the course of this crisis?
When I was in exile, Babangida wanted to eliminate me, but all his attempts failed. He used the Nigerian Embassy in America to prosecute all these atrocities, he even got in touch with some corrupt US agencies to do the shady deal for him, but all failed. I was forced to go to court there before I was vindicated. Babangida was afraid of this day, when all his misdeeds of the past would be laid bare in the open to the public through my book.
As an insider, do you believe that there were few cabals that were controlling the destiny of this country?
Yes, Babangida is one of them. Let me tell you the bitter truth: all those who have been controlling the political power of this country are few cliques who are re-cycling themselves, either military or civilian. Most of them are in government by proxy; all their agents are in government.
Let me give you an example, there are some people, who were with me in Dodan Barracks and who are still in the present government. For us to move forward, let all the old brigade hands off, including myself. Let the young people take over the reins of power and run it. With all these dead woods around, former this and former that, we are not going to get anywhere.
Would you say we need revolution to make things right?
Revolution is the last resort. Yes things are not going as it ought to go, but Nigerians can endure a lot, however there is limit to human endurance. When Nigerians are pressed to the wall, revolution will come naturally. The handwriting is clearly on the wall.

POLICE: DISGRACEFUL CONDUCT OF NGOZI BRAIDE...BY SANDRA DURU

Our dear gallant, patriotic, detribalized and ever-dynamic IGP, we sincerely hope that all is well with you and your new wife, Zarha Bunu? We 're sorry that we had to make this letter an open matter; apologies; it was borne out of the bureaucratic inconvenience of your office.

Dear lovely IGP, we wish to bring to your notice of the bizarre idiosyncrasy of Ms Ngozi Braide, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Lagos State command and the unethical conduct of your officers in Lagos State command.

Ngozi, a young woman saddled with the responsibility of laundering the image of the Police institution in Lagos State is currently destroying the institution she's being heavily paid to defend with her youthful exuberance, arrogance, incompetence, etc.

Sir, without much ado, the ordeals of one of our friends in the hands of Ngozi Braide and some of her happy-trigger officers in Lagos State, goes as thus:
The beginning of the illegality, the exhibition of unprofessionalism and recklessness by the Lagos Police Command under the supervision of Ngozi Braids, Lagos State PPRO:

Sir, our friend, Mr. Abragahou Aminu, a Lagos based french teacher, while trekking along Ketu-Ojota road on Tuesday 19th November, 2013, saw an ugly incident between two Police officers (a policeman and a policewoman both in uniform) and a commercial driver. Aminu, being a man with a high level alertness, brought out his mobile handset and started recording/snapping the public show of shame.

However, a police officer saw Aminu when he was recording the incident and pounced on him. Aminu was mercilessly beaten by the policeman for recording public unrest. He was initially detained at the Ketu Police station. When we contacted Ngozi Braide, Lagos PPRO to intervene, she insulted us, saying that she had been looking for a scape goat amongst Nigerians that do record the illegal activities of the Nigerian Police. Ngozi banged the call and the next we heard was that Aminu has been transferred from Ketu police station to the Lagos PPRO, then to Ikeja police Area "F" command. All these happened simply because Aminu used his mobile phone to record an incident between a commercial driver and a-team of police officers.

Aminu's phone was seized on the order of Ngozi, the Lagos PPRO while the policeman fighting with the commercial driver was released unconditionally while the innocent teacher, Mr Abrangahou Aminu was detained up till saturday 23rd November before he was arraigned at a Magistrate Court in Yaba, Lagos. More also, we wish to inform you that the commercial driver that a policeman was having a public show of shame with, was not detained for a second.

The cruel incarceration of Aminu and the exhibition of lawlessness by Ngozi Braide, Lagos PPRO:

Dear IGP, as stated above, Aminu was arrested on Tuesday 19th November, 2013 and kept in four different police detention cells before his kangaroo Arraignment on Saturday 23rd November, 2013. All moves made by us to secure the release of Aminu on bail were rejected by your men in Lagos command acting to the instruction of Ngozi Braids, Lagos PPRO. Aminu was first arbitrarily detained at Ketu Police Station, from Ketu, he was transferred to the PPRO's office where he was harassed for hours. From PPRO's office, the innocent Aminu was transferred to Area F detention cell, and from Area F to X-squad cell. All these acts of injustice and unprofessionalism were perpetrated by your men simply because a man was caught recording an incident with his mobile phone!

Sir, may we bring to your notice that the police possesses no power to keep an accused in custody for more than 48 hours at most. May we also remind you that the PPRO's office is not meant for the tourtoring of an accused. May we also inform you that the X-squad detention cell that Aminu was detained for about 96 hours wasn't meant for civilians but for that of undisciplined/errand officers.

Sir, it might interest you to note that while at Ngozi Braide's mini-detention room, Aminu was compelled to re-write his statement under duress to suit Ngozi Braids. He was made to write an apology letter, which he did after he has been irresponsibly threatened/tortured. Aminu was also given a letter of apology to sign which he did under duress. His phone was seized, cloth was torn and most of the vital information related to this case which he stored on his phone memory were deleted except one photo, all in order to cover up the unprofessional acts of your men.

Sir, may we also inform you that Ngozi Braids said she consider it as disservice to the Police force for civilians to be recording their activities while Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah could not be sanctioned for buying armoured cars. Ngozi also averred that the police had been looking for a scape goat amongst Nigerians that do record their acts of unprofessionalism. Ngozi claimed that uploading the corrupt and immoral activities of the Police on the social, print and electronic media is disservice to the nation! Dear IGP, to us, we consider Ngozi's affirmations as reckless and irresponsible!

The hues and cries about Aminu's nationality:

Dear IGP, may we inform you that your officers in Lagos under the supervision of PPRO Ngozi Braide arrogantly claimed that Aminu possesses no constitutional right to record the incident leading to his unlawful incarceration and unlawful detention simply because he is a Togolese. Sir, your officers, out of ignorant, have forgotten that Togo is a West Africa country, hence, he possesses diplomatic immunity, freedom of movement and trade as entrenched by the law of the economic community of west African states (ECOWAS). In addition to that, Aminu's ECOWAS passport is valid and yet to expire. His residential and working permits are valid.

The questionable arraignment of Aminu at Magistrate court:

Dear IGP, after all the pleas and moves made by us and about 20 human rights journalists, lawyers and concerned Nigerians to have Aminu released on bail were curiously, unlawfully  rejected by Ngozi Braide with the aide of the Lagos Police Commissioner, Alhaji Umaru Tanko, Aminu was sadly arranged in court on Saturday 23rd November, 2013.
Alas, our team of lawyers secured the bail of Aminu but no one was on ground to sign his bail paper.

It is an incontrovertible fact that Saturday is not a working day in Nigeria. Sir, we make bold to avow that Aminu was arraigned on Saturday in order for your men to have ample of opportunities to suffer him the more in their detention cell thereby causing him more mental, psychological and emotional traumas.

Furthermore, may we inform you that when we met with the Police Commissioner (CP) over Aminu's ordeal, we discovered that Ngozi Braids had satanically lied against him. The C.P said Aminu would not be released because we had alerted well-meaning Nigerians about his ordeal via social media. Sir, may we ask that when has it become an offence to run/alert/cry/report to the public via the social media? When has it become a crime for one to exercise his/her rights to speech and expression?

Our charter of demands:
Dear IGP, having patriotically and moderately perused and exposed the unethical and unprofessional display of your officers in Lagos, we hereby give your esteemed institution 7 days, starting from today to meet the following demands or risk a never-seen-before mass and court actions (lawfully):

(1). immediate removal of Ngozi Braids as the Police public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Lagos State. We also demand for her immediate demotion as she has proven to be Immatured. Ngozi Braids has also proved that she deserves not the exalted position she currently holds.

(2). Immediate withdraw of the suit against Mr. Aminu Abragahou as he did nothing wrong to warrant being prosecuted and persecuted. Attempting to expose illegality, absurdity, immorality and unprofessionalism doesn't warrant being caged.

(3). Immediate arrest and prosecution of the police officers who arrested Aminu in Ketu. The police officers who were involved in the show of shame with a commercial driver that Aminu was recording in Ketu should also be arrested and prosecuted.

(4). Having suffered enormous psychological, emotional and mental humiliations in the hands of the men of Nigeria Police Force, we demand that the Nigeria Police should adequately compensate Mr. Aminu Abragahou as he has lost his teaching job during his ongoing ordeal. It will amount to a crime against humanity should Aminu's heavily pregnant wife be allowed to suffer.

Lastly sir, may we conclude this letter by reminding you of the words of Martin Luther King which says that "In the end, we 'll remember not only the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." Sir, May we also remind you of the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson which goes as thus: "all lives are interrelated, we are being caught up in an inescapable network of mutuality and tied up in a single garment of one destiny; whatever affects one directly affect all indirectly"

Dear IGP, consequent upon the above words of marble from Ralph Waldo Emerson and Martin Luther King, we wish to remind you that injustice anywhere, is Injustice everywhere!

Dear IGP sir, as the outstanding Man of the year 2013 (an award you recently bagged in Abuja), we put it to you that we 're anxiously awaiting your quick response to this letter. Sir, may we remind you that both the words and silence of our friends shall be remembered when divine judgement is being delivered.

Thanks and God bless.

Yours truly,
High Chief Sandra Duru,
Executive Director, Pre-Adult Affairs Organisation (www.pre-adultaffairs.org)
Zest Entertainment & Media Limited(www.bareitoutwithsandraduru.tv)
Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
234-8026741128

CC: President FRN
CC: Senate Committee on Police Affairs
CC: Fed Min of Police Affairs
CC: Police Service commission
CC: African Diplomatic Mission
CC: ECOWAS
CC: Relevant Human Rights lawyers/NGOs/ Journalists
CC: NANS

LAW-MAKER'S DEATH: A CASE OF ADULTERY AND MYSTERIES

Raphael Oloye Nomiye, 50, was until his death a member of the House of Representatives representing Ondo, Ilaje, Ese Odo in Ondo State under the platform of the Labour Party.

According to source, the lawmaker was said to have died shortly after an affair with the banker (names withheld). It was gathered that said the banker, who managed his accounts, was said to have rushed down for the one-storey building to inform the policemen on guard at the house that “oga just fell down and is vomiting blood.”

Mr. Nomiye, whom the policemen that entered into the room where the incident occurred said, ‘they found him lying on the floor with a towel tied round his waist, while he bled from the mouth. He was then quickly taken to a private clinic but the doctors at clinic declined to attend to him, saying it was a “serious” matter, following which he was then rushed to the National Hospital, Abuja, where he was later pronounced dead.’

Hyelhira Altine, the spokesperson of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command, confirmed the incidents and disclosed that the banker, is now in police custody at the Gwarinpa Police Division.

 Meanwhile, the banker who earlier denied having sexual affair with the lawmaker before his death was said to have changed her statement after doctors at the National Hospital conducted an examination on corpse, which confirmed that the deceased had slept with a woman shortly before his demise.

‘’The banker admitted to interrogators that she had actually slept with the deceased and had helped him to clean up, following which he went into the bathroom, where he suddenly fell and began to vomit blood’’ police said.

 It was also revealed that although the late lawmaker was married, his wife and children were not living with him in Abuja, but two of her professional friends, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the banker and Raphael had been friends.

PROSTITUTION: 200 NIGERIAN GIRLS ARE TRAFFICKED EVERY MONTH TO RUSSIA !

Prostitution is the business or practice of engaging in sexual relations, especially in a promiscuous way, in exchange for payment in money or other things of value. A person who works in this field is called a prostitute and is a kind of sex-worker.

Prostitution is one of the branches of the sex industry and Nigeria has become a major exporter of women for prostitution. 60% of prostitutes in Italy and Belgium are Nigerian. It was gathered that Nigeria also has highest victims of forced labour and prostitution.

It will be recalled that Ike Ekweremadu, deputy president proposed a bill to legalize prostitution in Nigeria some time ago! This  is a  very embarrassing  bill coming  from  an elected Senator that suppose to legislate for a good and live changing laws for its citizens,  instead he was proposing Prostitution Bill !

The Nigeria ambassador to Russia, Asam Ekanem Asam, spoke against the backdrop of consular challenges faced by the embassy, disclosed that no fewer than 200 Nigerian girls are trafficked every month to Russia for prostitution from Nigeria. He disclosed this in an interview with a European Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria in Berlin.

 “The major consular challenge we face in Moscow is the influx of trafficked persons from Nigeria, as not less than 200 girls are trafficked every month, and we have so many of them exposed to danger. Some are even thrown out of the window and treated harshly. There must be a way of stopping these racketeering; these girls are not tourists, students or government officials yet they are given visas from the Russian embassy in Abuja. So far we have deported over 240 girls since 2012. You will be shocked at the extent of resistance from the girls; when we tell them Russia is not a destination for prostitutes, yet they still come,” Mr. Asam said.

Mr. Ambassador explained that in order to curb the menace, the mission is now arranging deportation exercise for those caught, but the challenges are enormous. However, Mr. Asama said that: “the strategy is to stop them from Nigeria, and fish out those involved in the trade. For instance a well known Russian human trafficker who has been in the trade for about 20 years was caught in Nigeria. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons( NAPTIP) was on the verge of releasing her before I filed in a protest from Moscow to the Comptroller General of Immigration,”

“I spoke to the mother of one of the girls and she said her daughter should remain in Moscow and try to survive the ordeal. This is indeed very sad, coming from one’s parent, “He said.

 Mr. Asam, however tasked the media on sensitizing the public on the dangers of trafficking in Russia, saying “this Eastern European nation has become a new destination for them, and believe me it is a very big crime here.

However, due to the high level corruption, greed, egoism, nepotism, and I don’t care attitude of Nigeria political leaders, our daughters have become survival sex workers in countries abroad.

The simple reason for ‘Survival sex’ is when the prostitute is driven to prostitution by a need for basic necessities such as food or shelter.