EMBATTLED CP JOSEPH MBU HAS BEEN MOVED TO ABUJA

The Rivers Commissioner of Police, Mr.Joseph Mbu ,has been redeployed  to Abuja, from Rivers State with immediate effect.

This was contained in a communiqué issued by the Police Service Commission on Thursday. The press release read thus: POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION

PRESS RELEASE

REDEPLOYMENT OF COMMISSIONERS OF POLICE

The Police Service Commission has approved the recommendations of the Inspector General of Police for the redeployment of thirteen (13) Commissioners of Police to various Commands nationwide:

s/n	Rank	Name	Present Posting	Posted To
1.	CP	AMBROSE AISABO, mni	PAP LAS	CP KWS
2.	CP	FELIX O. UYANYA, mni	COMDT PCO	CP EKS
3.	CP	JOHNSON OGUNSAKI	CP SFU	CP RVS
4.	CP	ABDULMAJID ALI	CP EOD	CP IMS
5.	CP	BENJAMIN U. ONWUKA	D/COMDT STAFFPOL JOS	CP KBS
6.	CP	IBRAHIM MAISHANU	FHQ	CP OSS
7.	CP	ADAMU IBRAHIM	DFS	CP ABS
8.	CP	ADERENLE SHINABA	FHQ	CP KNS
9.	CP	MBU JOSEPH MBU	CP RVS	CP FCT
10.	CP	UMARU U. SHEHU	CP NAS	CP KDS
11.	CP	A.J. ABAKASANGA, mni	CP INFO-TECH	CP ADS
12.	CP	KALAFITE H. ADEYEMI	FHQ ABJ	CP TRS
13.	CP	IBRAHIM IDRIS	FHQ ABJ	CP NAS

The Chairman of the Commission, Sir Mike Mbama Okiro, equally admonished the newly redeployed officers to put in their best in their various Commands’ operations, so as to provide a secure environment for business and life to thrive.

Ferdinand U. Ekpe

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For: Hon. Chairman

Meanwhile, Johnson Tunde Ogunsakin, who was formerly in charge of the Special Fraud Investigations Unit in Lagos has been appointed to take his place in the crisis-ridden state..

ASARI DOKUBO INVITED FOR QUESTIONING BY SSS

The State Security Service , finally invited Asari Dokubu , for questioning on Thursday for his ‘mouth diarrheal ‘ It will be recalled that in September 2013, Asari Dokubo  told Channels Television, while speaking on Politics Today, that “2015 is already a settled matter; Goodluck Jonathan will be president in 2015. Whether they contest or they don’t contest, Goodluck Jonathan will be president and that he would be ready for violence if needed. if Jonathan loses 2015 election.

"In less than one hour, the way we would strike, the world will be shocked. If anybody does anything against Jonathan, we will retaliate. What we will do will shock the whole world. We will cripple the economy of the country not only in the creeks, but also on the nation’s territorial waters, no vessel will be allowed to enter Nigeria’s territorial waters."He added.

FORMER DEPUTY-GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE SINATU OJIKUTU ARRESTED ON FRAUD CHARGE

The 67-year-old, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu.

who was declared wanted by the SFU on June 19, 2013, for allegedly obtaining N130m from one Cajethan Okekearu, under the guise of selling a plot of land at Admiralty Way, Lekki, Lagos, was arrested on Tuesday ,at her Lagos Island residence by the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police.

According to the statement by the SFU Commissioner of Police, Mr.Tunde Ogunsakin, Ojikutu was said to have allegedly connived with her son, Samson Ojikutu Jnr, currently in the United States, to commit the fraud.

 The statement reads in part, “The suspect and her son were parties to the sale of the land and both signed the agreement given to Okekerau and obtained the sum of N130m from him.

“She admitted the crime, but claimed that it was a genuine mistake of plot identification. After refunding N50m to Okekearu, she promised to refund the balance as soon as she disposed her two properties she put up for sale.

 “She equally made an undertaking and payment plan which was drawn from September, 2012 and was to terminate by November 2012, but she defaulted.”

However, It was learnt that Okekearu became aware of the fraud after he commenced development on the land. He was said to be on the verge of completing the building when the bonafide owner of the land surfaced.

It was later discovered that the land which the ex-deputy governor sold did not belong to her.  She actually sold Plot 23 Block 4, said to belong to one Mr. Afolabi, while her plot, 24 Block 4, already had a property on it.

It was also discovered that the plot belonged to late Samson Ojikutu Snr, the suspect’s husband who died in 2008. The plot was sold by him in 1995, while the suspect appended her signature to the sale of the land.

The statement added, “It will be recalled that the suspect sued the Inspector-General of Police, the Commissioner of Police, SFU and the complainants in the State High Court at Igbosere, Lagos, with Suit No. M/581/2013, praying the court to restrain the police from further investigation into the matter and violation of fundamental human right.

“The ruling by Justice Obadina on December 17, 2013, dismissed the suit for lack of merit, saying the Nigeria Police has the power to prosecute the applicants, Sinatu and her son, Samson, since the police investigation revealed that there is prima-facie case of obtaining by false pretences against them and added that the court would not interfere or restrain the police from carrying out their statutory function.”

Culled.

AMBRROSE MONYE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON IN SOUTH AFRICA

Chanelle Henning's killers Andre Gouws and Ambrose Monye have been sentenced to life in prison by the North Gauteng High Court.

Judge Johan Kruger said the murder of Henning was characterised by the cold-blooded disregard for the life a young woman and her child.

He said Henning did no harm to Monye and Gouws as she was leading her life and minding her own business while they were planning to kill her.

Kruger ruled that the confession made by the killers after being convicted could only be seen as an attempt at self-preservation.

He said the envisaged prosecution of Chanelle’s husband, Nico, and the role of the accused in that matter is irrelevant in this case.

Kruger said the prescribed sentence in this case did not create unease in him as he believed it was proportionate to the crime.

The 25-year old mother was shot dead shortly after dropping her child at school in Faerie Glen in November 2011.

Gouws and Monye told the North Gauteng High Court that they regretted planning Henning’s murder and have since apologised.

But these submissions only came after their conviction and could be seen, as prosecutor Gerrie Nel describes it, as too little too late. 

The prosecutor told the court that the information provided by Gouws led to the arrested of Henning’s husband Nico, who is believed to be the mastermind behind the hit.

 culled

IS IT BECAUSE OF MATERIAL THINGS?

OMOTOLA JALADE-EKEINDE: AMBASSADOR EXTRA-ORDINARY

Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, (born February 7, 1978) is an actress, singer, wife, mother and philanthropist. She is making waves with her latest single titled ’Barren Land‘  released recently which has had international endorsement.

Omosexy,as she is fondly called by her fans is one of the best act in Nollywood, she is not afraid to experiment with whatever medium of self-expression, that is why she has sharpened her voice for a new career in music with the  new single .The song, which has reportedly been adopted by Amnesty International as its campaign theme song.

Omotola, who was enlisted as one of the 100 Most Influential Persons in the world by Times Magazine, while speaking to Vladimir Duthiers on CNN African Voices, said:  “I wanted to speak out, I wanted to say more. There is so much you can do with words” ,.

The “Africa’s most renowned leading lady”, is a fierce Human Right campaigner for the UN WFP (World Food Programme). She has spoken volubly about the Niger Delta oil spillage and its ravaging aftermaths on children and women. Omotola, has equally lent her voice to the Rewrite the Future Campaign of Save the Children in the UK, She was also the first Nigerian celebrity to challenge the government during the crippling 5 months Nigerian tertiary institutions were shutdown

While commenting on  GenVoices (Generational Voices), a UN endorsed movement whose project-driven platform is channelled towards national development, Omosexy, charged the youths to voice out their convictions and not cowers away. “We must speak out.  We must all be heard. Do not only rely on the known faces to speak for you. One person cannot fight the battle to heal Nigeria” she said on the programme that saw the likes of Aliko Dangote, Christopher Kolade, Mo Abudu, Omawunmi, Kola Oyeniye (convener) deliver speeches.

Culled from: tribune.ng      

NIGERIAN SAMESEX LAW IS DISCRIMINATORY AND RUN FOUL OF FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS

‘Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their actual or perceived membership in a certain group or category, "in a way that is worse than the way people are usually treated." It involves the group's initial reaction or interaction, influencing the individual's actual behaviour towards the group or the group leader, restricting members of one group from opportunities or privileges that are available to another group, leading to the exclusion of the individual or entities based on logical or irrational decision making.’

It will be recalled that on January 7th, 2014, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan signed the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill 2013 into law. The law bans same sex marriage, and through its wording, also seeks to criminalise people, organisations and agencies that support homosexuality and those who do not immediately report any known homosexuals, or homosexual activities. 

By signing this law, Nigeria government according to EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton, described Nigeria’s ban on same-sex unions as discriminatory and in contravention of fundamental human rights. She went further by saying that: “I am concerned about the signing into law in Nigeria of the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act,” Ashton said in a statement. “The European Union is opposed to discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.

“It is firmly committed to fundamental human rights and the rule of law in respect of those rights, including freedom of association, conscience and speech and the equality of persons.”

“I am therefore particularly concerned that some provisions of the Act appear to be in contradiction with those fundamental rights, which are themselves guaranteed by Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, and to be inconsistent with the legal obligations enshrined in a number of international agreements to which Nigeria is a party.”She added.

I love Nigerian political leaders so much, they know how to play on Nigerian intelligent, with their diversionary system, and it is easy for them to divert the people’s attention from the burning issues at hand to non-issues.

Of recent, Nigerian were eager to know the outcome of  the House of Representatives Committee, investigating the controversial purchase of two bulletproof BMW cars by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority allegedly for Oduah, at a whopping N255m, had established some infractions against the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, also the Non-Repatriation to the Federation Account by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of $49.8 Billion representing 76% of the value of crude oil liftings in 2012 and 2013 and the failure of NNPC to pay N22billion Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) Levy. But the government, just played down these issues with anti-gay law!!!

Retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu lend his voice to gay issues when he said: “Anywhere where the humanity of people is undermined, anywhere where people are left in the dust, there we will find our cause. Sometimes you wish you could keep quiet. It’s the kind of thing you heard the prophet Jeremiah complain of where he says, “You know God, I didn’t want to be a prophet and you made me speak words of condemnation against a people I love deeply. Your word is like a fire burning in my breast. It isn’t that it’s questionable when you speak up for the right of people with different sexual orientation. People took some part of us and used it to discriminate against us. In our case, it was our ethnicity; it’s precisely the same thing for sexual orientation. People are killed because they’re gay. I don’t think, “What do I want to do today? I want to speak up on gay rights.” No. It’s God catching me by my neck.”

The Founder and Project Director of House of Rainbow Fellowship, Reverend Jide Macaulay, in his open letter to Nigerian President complained about the discrimination against gay people since the inception of the law that,  ‘’in the East of Nigeria, many are fleeing their homes. One gay man, labelled “a leader of the homosexual” is on the run. His parents and brother were threatened with arrest if they don’t provide information about his whereabouts. In the same region, more than six people were arrested. In the West of the country, we can confirm that nearly ten people have been arrested and bailed. Also the police have extorted funds from each victim at an average of between $120 to $300. Most of the people arrested were tortured and asked to provide additional details of other gays or lesbians. In the North of Nigeria, in Bauchi and Kano, there are two separate cases of arrests and harassment of gay people. Both areas are firmly under sharia law, which carries the death penalty’’.

Moreover, the Nigerian Constitution under Chapter IV enumerates the following as fundamental rights.

*          Right to life.
*          Right to dignity of human persons.
*          Right to personal liberty.
*          Right to fair hearing.
*          Right to compensation for property compulsorily acquired.
*          Right to private and family life.
*          Right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
*          Right to freedom of expression.
*          Right to peaceful assembly and association.
*          Right to freedom of movement.
*        Right to freedom from discrimination on the grounds of ethnic group, place of origin, circumstance of birth, sex, religion or political opinion.

In conclusion, I will like to say that ‘If anybody can find someone to love them and to help them through this difficult thing that we call life, I support that in any shape or form’.

THE GREAT ZIK OF AFRICA

The Rt. Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Owelle-Osowa-anya of Onitsha, and Zik of Africa was born on November 16, 1904 in Zungeru, Niger State into the family of Obededom Chukwuemeka Azikiwe and Racheal Chinwe Azikiwe. His father was a Government worker, a clerk, and his mother was a trader. He attended various schools in Nigeria, including CMS Central School, Onitsha (1911); Methodist Boys High School, Lagos (1915-18); Hope Waddell Institute, Calabar (1920-21). He was also a pupil teacher at St. Jude’s CMS Central School, Orafite, and CMS Central School, Onitsha (1919). He was a third class clerk with the Treasury Department, Lagos (1921). Residing all over Nigeria enabled him know how to speak the three main languages in Nigeria, Igbo, his mother tongue,Hausa, and Yoruba. After an unsuccessful attempt to stow away to America in 1924, his father saved some money, and gave him for his journey to America.

He left for the United States in the late 20s, as he put it, "in search of a Golden Fleece." While in the US, he worked as a dishwasher, coal miner, potato peeler, car wash attendant, elevator boy, kitchen hand, and waiter, to pay his way through college. He attended Storer College in West Virginia for two years (1925-1927). Due to financial difficulties, he left for Howard University, DC, where he was for two years (1927-1929). In 1929, he entered Lincoln University, PA. In 1930, he received his BA degree in Political Science. His classmates included Thurgood Marshal, the late Supreme Court Justices who left a mark in Americas Judicial system, and Langston Hughes, the late African American Poet. In summer 1930, he was admitted to Columbia University to read journalism, with a scholarship from the Phelp Stokes Fund. He obtained an MA degree in Religion and Philosophy at Lincoln University (1932). While still at Lincoln University, he was employed as a Graduate Assistant in summer 1930. In 1933, he concluded two Master’s degree programs, in Anthropology and Political Science at University of Pennsylvania, PA. He was appointed a full-time lecturer in Political Science in 1933. He taught ancient, medieval, modern and English history, as well as African history. While still pursuing his Master’s at Columbia University, he registered for the Doctor of Philosophy degree at the school. In 1934, his Ph.D. Thesis, “Liberian Diplomacy, 1847-1932” was published as “Liberia in World Politics.” Since his attendance at these schools, he has received many honorary degrees from them, including two from Lincoln University. After accomplishing his academic dreams, he knew it was time to go back to his homeland, to join in the fight to free Nigerians from the evil grasp of Britain, who was then our colonial masters.

He returned to Nigeria in the mid-30s and got involved in politics forming the NCNC party. He was a journalist, which translates, to his running a couple of newspapers of which The West African Pilot was the most prominent of them all. He was actively involved in Nigeria's fight for independence. His dream was finally realized on October 1, 1960 when Nigeria became an independent nation and he was sworn in as her first indigenous Governor-General and Commander-in Chief of the Federation. In 1963, Nigeria became a republic, and he was then made the First President. He was forced out of office in 1966 by a deadly coup that I believed destroyed everything that our founding fathers fought and stood for. He helped put an end to the slaughtering of innocent Igbo men and women, during Biafra. He was perceived as a coward and sell out, but anyone that knows him, knew that he never believed in violence, rather he believed that dialogue could solve any problem. He saw that Biafrans did not have a chance against the firepower of the Nigerian army, so he intervened. If he did not intervene, I wonder what would have become of the Biafrans. The Nigerian Army might have used the Biafran War as an excuse to wipe the Igbos off the surface of the Earth. We thank him for that, and I think that Igbos owe their existence to him.

He returned to politics in 1978, by founding the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP). In 1979 and 1983 his bids for the presidency were unsuccessful, amidst suspicions of riggings. He retired from active politics and withdrew to his country home in Nsukka where he lived until May 11, 1996 when he passed away at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital. He was buried on November 16, 1996, at his country home in Onitsha. There were a lot of controversies surrounding his burial, but in the end he was buried with the respect and dignity he deserved. His burial period was the most peaceful time that I have ever experienced in Nigeria. Nigerians from all nooks and corners came to pay their last respect to the man who was known to all as The Great Zik of Africa. He may be gone, but his legacy lives on.

---

He was inducted into the prestigious Agbalanze society as Nnayelugo in 1946. Then, in 1962, he became a second-rank red cap chief (Ndichie Okwa), as Oziziani Obi. In 1970, he was installed as Owelle-Osowa-Anya, making him a first-rank red cap chief (Ndichie Ume). In 1960, Queen Elizabeth II awarded him the title of Privy Councilor to the Queen of England. He was conferred with the highest national honor of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) by the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in 1980. He has received fourteen honorary degrees from Nigerian, American and Liberian Universities. They schools include Lincoln University, Storer College, Howard University, Michigan State University, University of Nigeria Nsukka, University of Lagos, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Ibadan, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, and University of Liberia.

SPORTS – He was actively involved in sports at every stage of his life, and he was successful in a lot of events that he participated in. They include Welterweight Boxing Champion Storer College (1925-27); High Jump champion, Howard University Inter-Scholastic Games (1926); Gold Medallist in Cross Country, Storer College (1927); Back-stroke Swimming Champion and No.3 swimmer in Freestyle Relay team, Howard University (1928); Captain, Lincoln University Soccer Team (1930); Winner Two Miles Run, Central Inter-Collegiate Athletic Association Championships at Hampton Institute Virginia (1931); Bronze Medallist, Richmond Cross Country Marathon (1931); Gold Medallist in the 1,000 yards run, One Mile Run and Three Miles Run, Catedonian Games in Brooklyn, NY (1932); Silver Trophy winner in the Half Mile race, and Silver Cup winner in the One Mile Race, Democratic Field Day Championships, New Haven, Connecticut (1933); Runner-up(with G.K. Dorgu) at the Lagos Tennis Men’s Double Championships (Division B 1938); anchor man for the ZAC team which won the 50 yards Freestyle Relay at the Lagos Swimming Championships (1939); Won letters in athletics (Lincoln University) and cross country (Storer College and Lincoln University), swimming (Howard University), and soccer (Lincoln University); entered to compete in the Half-Mile Race and One-Mile run at the British Empire Games to represent Nigeria, but was rejected by the A.A.A of Great Britain on technical grounds (he dropped his English Christian name, “Benjamin”); and Founder (with M.R.B. Ottun) of the Zik’s Athletic Club to promote athletics, boxing, cricket, soccer, swimming and tennis in Nigeria.

POLITICS – During his lifetime, he held some political posts all over the world, especially our great country, Nigeria. They include Executive Committee Member of Mambili Party, Accra (1935-37); General Secretary of National Council of Nigerian and the Cameroons (1944-45); President of the NCNC (1946-60); Vice-President of the Nigerian National Democratic Party (1947-60); Member for Lagos in the Legislative Council of Nigeria (1947-51); Member for Lagos and Leader of the Opposition in the Western House of Assembly (1952-53) Member for Onitsha in the Eastern House of Assembly (1954-60); Minister of Internal Affairs (Jan.-Sept. 1954); Minister of Internal Affairs, Eastern Region (1954); Member of His Excellency Privy Council, Eastern Nigeria (1954-59); Primer of Eastern Nigeria (1954-59); President of the Senate of the Federation (Jan.-Nov. 1960); Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria (1960-63); President of the Republic of the Republic of Nigeria (1963-1966); and Chairman and Presidential candidate of the Nigeria People’s Party (1978-83). Professional World – He also made a name for himself in the professional world. He was a Third-class Clerk, Treasury Department, Lagos (1921-1924); Recruit, Gold Coast Police Force (Jul.-Sept. 1924); Solicitor Clerk to the late Mr. Justice Graham Paul at Calabar (Jan.-Aug.1925); Instructor in Political Science, Lincoln University (1931-34); University Correspondent for the Baltimore Afro-American (1928-34); General and Sports Correspondent for the Philadelphia Tribune (1928-34); Editor-in Chief of the West African Pilot (1937-45); Correspondent for the Associated Negro Press (1944-47); Correspondent for Reuters (1944-46); Managing Director of Zik’s Press Limited (printers and publishers of the West African Pilot (Lagos), Eastern Guardian (Port Harcourt), Nigerian Spokesman (Onitsha), Southern Nigeria Defender (Ibadan), Daily Comet (Kano), and Eastern Sentinel (Enugu); Managing Director of Comet Press Limited (1945-53); Chairman of West African Pilot Limited and the Associated Newspapers of Nigeria Limited and six other limited liability companies (1952-53); Chairman, Nigerian Real Estate Corporation Limited (1952-53); etc.

SOCIETIES AND ORGANIZATIONS - He was a member of many organizations or societies, including Anti-Slavery Society for the protection of Human Rights; Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity (Alpha Chapter and Mu Chapter); West African Students Union; Onitsha Improvement Union; Zik’s Athletic Club; Ekine Sekiapu Society of Buguma, Kalabari; St. John’s Lodge of England; Royal Economic Society; Royal Anthropological Institute; British Association for the Advancement of Science; American Society of International Law; American Anthropological Association; American Political Science Society; American Ethnological Society; Iwarefa, Reformed Ogboni Fraternity; Amateur Athletic Association of Nigeria; Nigerian Swimming Association, Nigerian Boxing Board of Control; Nigerian Cricket Association; Ibo State Union; and Nigerian Table Tennis Association; Nigeria Olympic Committee and British Empire and Commonwealth Games Association.

LITERARY WORKS - In his lifetime, he wrote a lot of books, poetry, and articles. His celebrated publications include Liberia in World Politics: Renascent Africa (1934); Political Blueprint for Nigeria (1943); Economic Reconstruction of Nigeria (1943); Zik: A Selection of the Speeches of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (1961); Assassination Story: True or False? (1946); “Essentials for Nigeria’s Survival.” (1965); “Before Us Lies The Open Grave” (1947); “The Future of Pan-Africanism” (1961); “The Realities of African Unity” (1965); “Origins of the Nigerian Civil War” (1969); I Believe in a One Nigeria (1969); Peace Proposals for Ending the Nigerian Civil War (1969); My Odyssey: An Autobiography (1970); Dialogue on a New Capital for Nigeria (1974); “Creation of More States in Nigeria, A Political Analysis” (1974); Democracy with Military Vigilance (1974); “Reorientation of Nigerian Ideologies: lecture on 9th December 1976, on eve of the launching of the UNN Endowment Fund” (1976); Our Struggle for Freedom; Onitsha Market Crisis (1976); Let Us Forgive Our Children, An appeal to the leaders and people of Onitsha during the market crisis (1976); A Collection of Poems (1977); Civil War Soliloquies: More Collection of Poems (1977); “Themes in African Social and Political Thought” (1978); Restoration of Nigerian Democracy (1978); Matchless Past Performance: My Reply to Chief Awolowo’s Challenge (1979); A Matter of Conscience (1979); Ideology for Nigeria: Capitalism, Socialism or Welfarism? (1980); “Breach of Trust by the NPN” (1983); and History Will Vindicate The Just (1983).

Culled from Reformed Ogboni  Franternity