27million lines MTN,GLO,AIRTEL,ETISALAT,STARCOMMS,VISAPHONE,MULTILINKS to be disconnected today

Naija Info Web have confirmed that out of 164 million phones connected, only 119m are active.So if you are reading this and you have not registered your phone line(s), it may just be almost late. In fact, you need not wonder why you may neither receive nor complete any calls from today if you don’t rush to the nearest sim registration center and do so.

This is because the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, says the collation, harmonisation and authentication of the subscriber’s identification modules, SIMs card registration it embarked upon in conjunction with all the telecom operators in Nigeria, since 2011, ends today, and those whose numbers were not captured will be disconnected.

For the past two years, the industry regulator (NCC) has embarked on a massive campaign, sensitizing telephone subscribers on the need to register their phones to enable a proper record of subscribers in the country, effective monitoring of telecommunications activities and cut down on phone-related crimes.

The regulator also made it clear that after a  six-month period which expires on September 2011, those who did not register their lines stood the risk of losing them by deactivation.

However, following the panic, tension and anxiety as the exercise came to an end, the Commission allowed a grace period by asking people who had not registered to go to their operators to do so while it was collating, harmonizing and authenticating the data already gathered.

The harmonization and authentication exercise have taken over one year and the NCC, a few months back, declared that on June 30, 2013, all unregistered lines would be deactivated.

Tension in the industry is at its height. This also reflects the growing nature of Nigerian telecom industry and the intrigues which heralded the exercise, March 2011 when it was flagged off.

As at Thursday, about 27 million SIMs out of the 164 million connected lines and 119 million active were said to be still unregistered.  MTN Nigeria, according to figures from the NCC has 52 million subscribers; Globacom, 24.3 million; Airtel, 24.1 million; and Etisalat, 15.1 million.

Ifeanyi Uba ready to govern Anambra state as he joins Labour Party

Dr Ifeanyi Ubah  , a governorship aspirant and philanthropist, finally pitched his political tent with the Labour Party for the 2014 governorship polls in Anambra state.
To ensure that due process was followed in his registration as a member of the party, Ubah went to his Obiokpuno, Otolo Nnewi ward where the chairman of the ward, Mr Amobi Nkerimonye registered him while the secretary of the ward, Mr Emeka Adirika issued him with the LP membership card.

Speaking at the state secretariat of the party after performing the same ceremony at Nnewi North Local Government chapter of the party, Ubah stated,” I thank you all my brothers. Today, I want to tell you that I have joined the Labour Party. I came into Labour Party so that we can join hands to reform Anambra state”.

Ubah said he decided to join LP after due consultations with the churches, family, elders and stakeholders in the state who endorsed his choice for the party.

“ I have made consultations before deciding to join Labour Party. After the consultations, I came to the conclusion that the only party that has human beings as their symbols was only LP while others were represented by inanimate objects”.

He said his campaign organization and the members of LP would hold 14 days prayer to  ask God for forgiveness that the people of Anambra had allowed a party with a cock symbol to govern the state.

Earlier, the state chairman of the party, Mr Samuel Orargbulam thanked Ubah for joining the party, saying that they had been praying for a credible, suitable, qualified and acceptable aspirant like him to join the party.

He said that with such aspirant like Ubah, the party would sweep the governorship polls come 2014 and make sure that the state was given its proper place in the country that would come from his development projects.

Over 30 Killed In Plateau, While Jang Struggles For NGF Power In Abuja

More than 30 people have been killed this week in the Langtang area in a new wave of attacks by Fulani gunmen While Governor Jonah Jang is in Abuja struggling for leadership of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF),the attacks have been on since Tuesday in Karkashi, Magama and Bolgan of Langtang South local government area with headquarters in Mabudi.  The area is said to be the resettlement ground for veterans of the Second World War.  It is also the home of Taroh, Ngas, Kwallah, Youm, Montol, Goemai, and Mwaghavul ethnic groups who are the targets of Fulani gunmen.

NGF Defers to the President, Shifts Meeting

The Rotimi Amaechi-led faction of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Wednesday shifted its meeting so that the group could attend the dinner hosted by President Jonathan.

Initial reports had said the Amaechi-led NGF faction had insisted on going ahead with their meeting believing that the timing of the president’s dinner was aimed at scuttling the NGF meeting.

Although about 15 of the governors loyal to the Amaechi  faction had arrived for the scheduled meeting, they, however,  resolved to attend the dinner and probably continue the meeting if they close early from the dinner.

The early arrivals for the meeting include  governors of Lagos, Ogun, kano, Rivers, deputy governor of Osun, Niger, Sokoto, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Ekiti, Zamfara, Edo, deputy governor of Borno, and Imo State governor.

The quorum for the NGF meeting, according to their constitution, is 13. The decision to attend the dinner, according to a source, was to prove that the NGF headed by the Rivers State governor has no personal issues with President Jonathan. The NGF meeting and the President’s dinner had been fixed for 8 p.m. last night.

Explaining the deferment, Governor Amaechi said: "there was no meeting, we decided to defer to the President. We agreed that as governors of different states, we must honour and respect the president and having invited us to a dinner, we decided to go for the dinner."
On when the meeting would be re-convened, the NGF chairman said, "the next meeting will be at the next National Economic Council, NEC meeting."

Another source said, “Since we are in the majority, if we go ahead with the NGF meeting, we will be ridiculing the Office of the President. We are not at war with Jonathan, we want to prove to him that the NGF battle is not personal, it is about the sanctity of the ballot and democracy.”

The source said the NGF  also want to show that neither Amaechi nor any of the 19 governors backing him is on a do-or-die battle.
However, almost five weeks after the NGF election, the ripples from the exercise are far from settling as the governors have continued to sustain the debate over the controversial election.

Earlier in the day, Governor Amaechi declared in Abuja that all the governors including the Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, voted at the election in which he emerged winner of the NGF.

He declared that those supporting Jang as the chairman of the NGF were undemocratic. Although he did not openly mention President Jonathan's name, the president had openly expressed support for Jang's faction.

Amaechi, who spoke at a symposium on Review of the 1999 Constitution and its impact on the much needed judicial reforms organised by the 'Rule of Law Foundation', said all the governors, who attended the meeting where he was elected as Chairman of NGF agreed to participate in the election.

In attendance at the symposium were two former Chief Justices of Nigeria (CJN), Mohammadu Uwais and Dahiru Musdapher, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Justice Sylvester Nguta of the Supreme Court and the Attorney General of Ekiti State, Mr. Wale Fapohunda.

Amaechi said even Jang voted in the election and wondered why he chose to vote if he had been endorsed as claimed by him.

"I want to say it and I want to be put on record, anyone who supports the Jang faction is undemocratic. We chose who should be the returning officer. We appointed our director general to be the returning officer for the election. And we voted. Everybody voted including Jang. In fact, Jang was among the first persons to vote. And when I won, they were there.

"We were to commence voting for the vice-chairmanship when my brother and colleague from Akwa Ibom got up and said there was a document I had where 19 governors had signed for us. What Jang is leading is another faction of PDP Governors’ Forum and not the NGF, because there are no two governors’ forum.

"Therefore, anyone, NBA or government that supports Jang's faction is undemocratic. "Let us put it on record that the way things are going, in 2015 we have to be careful so it does not end in this manner where people will win democratic election and those in power will not accept the result of a free and fair election. My Lords, be prepared because we shall soon be coming to your court."

Continuing, Amaechi stated that: "We have started again with tyranny and oppression. We must be prepared as a people to defend our rights. We must be prepared as a people to hold government accountable.

"We must be prepared to demand accountability we must resist a situation where public officers without statutory authority would call the Inspector General of Police to change commissioner of police, we must resist it."

Speaking in the same vein at a different occasion, the Niger State Governor, Dr Mua'zu Babangida Aliyu, has stated that no member of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) betrayed anyone stressing  that Amaechi was duly elected and remains the authentic NGF Chairman.

According to Aliyu, who spoke at the turbanning ceremony of his Deputy, Honourable Ahmed Ibeto, as Wali Raya Kasar Nupe by the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, in Bida yesterday, stated that 'nobody betrayed anybody'.

“We were united and elected a chairman, if other people recognised another person as the chairman of the forum, we will solve our problem, we must recognise Amaechi as NGF  chairman because he won the election,” he added.

Speaking for the first time after the NGF election, Aliyu, however, accepted that Jang emerged as a candidate from the north, after the NSGF discovered that there were issues between Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda and his Kastina State counterpart, Ibrahim Shema, as both refused to step down to arrive at a consensus candidate.

"We waded in and it was agreed that Jonah Jang should contest and let the two people drop their ambition. Even at that I told them that we must go and insist on consensus but where an election took place the wish of the people prevailed,” he said.

But the Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has lamented  the failure of the 36 governors to properly  settle their differences relating to the chairmanship of the NGF, describing the lingering leadership crisis rocking the forum as unfortunate.

Speaking in a live audience participatory radio and television in Warri, the governor said the crisis in the NGF might have grievously shaken the people's faith and their expectation that the governors would speak with one voice and without partisan consideration on certain national issues.

"I think we (governors) owe Nigerians apologies for the turn of events in the forum," Uduaghan lamented, saying: "We have no excuse for what has happened in the governors’ forum because the people expects so much from us."

Ekweremadu, who is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, said the constitution review would not be submitted to referendum.

He said: "With a morally upright and well-reformed judiciary that applies the letters of the law fairly and timely, the systems manipulation, overheating of our polity, reign of impunity in high and low places, the blatant disrespect for the law, and the rape of public treasury would abate considerably."

He said the proposal for judicial reform submitted by Musdapher was being considered, noting that the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution had presented a Bill and Report on proposed amendment to the Senate for consideration.

Nevertheless, he pointed out that not all the challenges facing the judiciary required constitutional amendment but rather a change in mentality and attitudes.
In a keynote address, Justice Musdapher said there was no denying the fact that the judiciary had problems and needed to be reformed.

He said the breakdown of law and order in north-eastern part of Nigeria might not be unconnected with the fact that people had lost faith in the nation's laws and the justice delivery system.

Both Musdapher and Ekweremadu commended the CJN, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, for her efforts at reforming the judiciary.
In his welcome address, the coordinator of the Rule of Law Development Foundation, Chief Joseph Daudu (SAN), said the level of impunity in the country was worrisome.

Subsidy Fraud Trial: EFCC Obtains Bench Warrant To Arrest Seun Ogunbambo On Sight

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained a bench warrant for the arrest of Seun Ogunbambo.

But the day began with yet another setback after Mr. Ogunbambo failed to show up in court when the case was called. Consequent upon his absence, the EFCC attorney, Barrister Francis Usani, immediately applied for a bench warrant for his arrest.
The motion was not immediately granted as the court gave the benefit of the doubt to the suspect and waited for him to appear.
Mr. Ogunbambo was spotted about an hour later in the premises of the court, and a source at the court speculated that he may have troubled himself to come to the trial after all when he learnt the EFCC was about to lay its hands on an order to have him arrested.
Still, the suspect did not set foot into the courtroom, electing to remain in his car when the matter was called the second time, whereupon Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo granted the bench warrant requested by the EFCC.
The court source said Ogunbambo’s refusal to step into the courtroom may have been due to the fear of being immediately arrested if he made eye contact with the judge.
He had cause to fear. Earlier this month, Ogunbambo wrote a petition to the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayo Salami, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mariam Aloma-Muktar against Justice Onigbanjo, unwisely alleging that the trial judge was determined to convict him regardless of the evidence.
 by either not attending court or arriving long after the matter has been called.
It is unclear why the EFCC did not snatch Ogunbambo off the court premises today as it was generally known he was in the area.
The trial was adjourned to September 16.

NGF crisis: Drama as lawyers ‘fight’ over Jang in court

 

Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, clashed in the open court over who was duly briefed by the factional chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, and governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, to represent him in the suit entered against him by Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State.
Immediately the case was called-up in court, the two SANs, Chief Tayo Oyetibo and Paul Erokoro, separately announced their appearances, with each of them, insisting that he had the mandate of Governor Jang to file processes in opposition to the suit.
Both lawyers maintained that having been duly briefed by Jang regarding the matter, they proceeded with filing separate preliminary objections before the court seeking the dismissal of Fashola’s suit.
Following an argument that ensued between the two senior counsel over who should he allowed to represent Jang in the matter, Justice Peter Affen, decided to adjourn the case till July 3, to enable the SANs sort themselves out. Before adjourning the case, however, Justice Affen, who was visibly irked by the uncanny drama that played out, said he would not tolerate anyone bringing to his court confusion capable of exposing the judiciary to public ridicule.
Meanwhile, Fashola’s counsel, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, SAN, who appeared alongside Lagos-based human rights activist, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, prayed the court to go ahead and dismiss Jang’s objection, despite who between the contending lawyers filed it.
Osibanjo vehemently opposed the idea of granting a stand-down in the matter to allow Governor Jang sort out the confusion. He said: “We do not need a stand down, as there are two counsel for a party, it is an abuse of court process. My Lord, this was the same confusion they brought to the Nigeria Governors Forum, now their plan is to bring the same confusion to this court.”
At that juncture, Justice Affen enjoined all the lawyers to act with caution, noting that the judiciary was in the spotlight again. He said that lawyers should not do anything that would erode the credibility, adding: “Let us not toe the line of the Nigeria Governors Forum. We are here to resolve their differences and not to add to it.”
Consequently, he held that in view of the conflict in representation, the best thing was to adjourn the case.
 

South Africa Keeps Vigil, Prays for Mandela

 

Former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, remained in a critical condition in hospital yesterday, leaving millions of his countrymen and admirers across the world keeping vigil and praying, even as they feared the worst.“Former President Mandela remains in a critical condition in hospital.

The doctors are doing everything possible to ensure his wellbeing and comfort,” President Jacob Zuma was quoted by the Agence France Presse (AFP) as saying  Monday.

Mandela, the hero of black South Africans’ battle for freedom who spent 27 years in jail during the apartheid regime, was rushed to hospital on June 8 with a recurrent lung infection.

Despite intensive treatment at Pretoria's Mediclinic Heart Hospital, the 94-year-old’s condition appeared to have suddenly deteriorated over the last 48 hours.

“All of us in the country should accept that Madiba is now old,” Zuma said, using Mandela’s clan name.
“I think what we need to do as a country is to pray for him to be well and that the doctors do their work.”

Zuma hailed the life of a man seen as the father of the nation and globally as a moral beacon that continues to shine long after he retired from public life.

“He is the father of democracy and this is the man who fought and sacrificed his life,” said Zuma, who spent 10 years in jail on Robben Island at the same time as Mandela.

Zuma visited Mandela on Sunday evening.
“Given the hour that we got to the hospital it was late, he was already asleep,” Zuma said. “(We) saw him and then we had a bit of discussion with the doctors and his wife, Graca Machel.”
Mandela, who became South Africa's first black president in 1994 to end almost 50 years of apartheid rule, is due to celebrate his 95th birthday on July 18.

He has been hospitalised four times since December, mostly for the pulmonary condition that has plagued him for years.

Amaechi calls NGF meeting for Wednesday

 

Mr. Rotimi Amaechi,Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, has called a meeting of  the NGF for  Wednesday in Abuja.

Amaechi, who is the Rivers State Governor, has also invited Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, who contested the NGF chairmanship with him on May 24.

The NGF chairman also invited the Chairman, Peoples Democratcic Party Governors’ Forum, Godswill Akpabio.

The meeting is the first to be called by Amaechi since the outcome of the election, which was rejected by 16 governors.

The meeting is scheduled for the Rivers State lodge, Abuja

The Director- General of the Forum, Mr. Asishana Okauru, confirmed the meeting.

“Yes, there will be a meeting,” he said.

Okauru was the Returning Officer during the chairmanship election, which Amaechi won with 19 votes against Jang’s 16 votes.

Jang supporters have, however, refused to accept Amaechi as their chairman.

Instead, they have opened a parallel office at Maitama District of Abuja.

They also appointed Mr. Osaro Onaiwu as the sole administrator of the office, where they have met twice.

Only 16 governors attended meetings called by Jang, which observers termed to be those who actually voted for him.

Though the Amaechi group have not met, the governor has led the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi to inspect the secretariat of the Forum, where the duo assured members of staff of job safety.

The workers were said to have been apprehensive of the happenings in the Forum, and wondered whether their jobs were secured.

Amaechi, was suspended by the PDP on May 27 as a result of his insistence to contest the election.

The PDP had through its Chairman of Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, visited some governors and campaigned against Amaechi before the NGF poll.

But the party gave another reason as to why the governor was suspended from the party.

It said through its National Working Committee that his suspension was as a result of his “refusal to obey the lawful directive of the Rivers Executive Committee (of PDP) to rescind his decision dissolving the elected Executive Council of Obiokpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.”

But the governor, who has gone to court to contest his suspension, claimed that he was not responsible for the sacking, adding that  it was the State House of Assembly that did it.

£3,000 UK VISA DEPOSIT: FG, Reps kick against new policy

The Federal Government, yesterday, vowed to defend the interests of Nigerians, following the introduction of a new visa policy by the British government. The policy requires Nigerians travelling to the United Kingdom to produce a cash bond of N730,000 (3,000 pounds, $4,600 or 3,500 euros) before they enter the UK.

I has been gathered  that visitors from Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Ghana whose nationals are deemed to pose a “high risk” of immigration abuse will be required to produce the bond which they will forfeit if they overstay in Britain after their visas have expired.
Reacting, yesterday, while rendering account of his stewardship at the Radio House in Abuja, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, said the Federal Government was yet to receive any official communication from the UK government.
“We have received no official communication from the UK government. When we receive communication from them, we will study whatever proposal they bring and know what to do.
“But I can assure all Nigerians that the Jonathan government will defend the interest of Nigerians by whatever means we can. So, when we get their proposal, we will study it and we will see how we can guide the ordinary Nigerians,” Ashiru said.
UK Visa bond unacceptable —House Committee
House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, has also condemned the new British visa policy, saying it is discriminatory and unacceptable.
Chairman of the committee,  Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, in a statement issued in Abuja, said such policy was not in the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.
“This is totally discriminatory and unacceptable. It is targeted at non-white Commonwealth”, she said.
Ukeje (PDP-Abia) said as a Committee on Foreign Affairs, the House of Representatives would take a critical look at the policy as it affects Nigerians and come up with a way forward.
According to her, “they should realise that it is not in the best interest of UK. We will, as a country, look at it vis-a- vis our citizens and come up with a decision. We agree totally with the UK Foreign Minister that the policy is totally unworkable and impractical.
It is contrary to the commitment made to our President by David Cameron during their last meeting. We believe it is for political reason ahead of general election. We seek that our long historical relationship should take precedence over political expediency,” Ukeje advised.

Nelson Mandela ‘critically ill’ in hospital

It has been confirmed by the South African presidency  that Nelson Mandela has become critically ill in hospital, In a statement, President Jacob Zuma said Mandela’s doctors were “doing everything possible to get his condition to improve”.

“He is in good hands,” said Mr. Zuma.

 South Africa’s first black president, who is 94, was taken to hospital earlier this month for the third time this year, with a recurrent lung infection.

 Zuma had visited Mandela in hospital in Pretoria on Sunday evening and was told the former president’s condition had worsened over the past 24 hours.

“The doctors are doing everything possible to get his condition to improve and are ensuring that Madiba is well-looked after and is comfortable. He is in good hands,” said President Zuma, using Mandela’s clan name by which he is widely known in South Africa.
Zuma appealed for prayers for Mandela and his medical team.

I’m not in Rivers to fight Gov Amaechi – Patience Jonathan

On Thurday,The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, said she was not in Rivers to fight Governor Rotimi Amaechi. She said this in Port Harcourt when 135 chiefs from Kalabari Kingdom called on her.
She said: “I am not here to fight the Governor of Rivers State because he is my brother. We should come together to develop the state.

“We shouldn’t play politics with our home. Our home remains our home. We shouldn’t play politics with our elders.”
The President’s wife said the presidency was an opportunity for the people of the South-South to rule the country not to be at war against one another.
She said: “The presidency is an opportunity that fell unto us on a platter of gold. We shouldn’t throw it away. We have had people that contested from this region but didn’t win.
“We didn’t fight, we didn’t pay. God willed it to us so we shouldn’t use politics to fight one another or destroy our kingdom. Kalabari has been peaceful and its people are peace-loving.”

OAU Student Caught Attempting to Flush New Born Baby in Toilet

 On Wednesday, a female student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile Ife, Osun State, (name withheld), attempted to flush her new born baby into the female toilet ,but was caught by the institution’s authorities.

It was learn that the incident took placeWednesday morning, at Moremi Hall of residence in the school campus.
The incident, which shocked students, lecturers and others in the community was said to have generated reactions in various quarters as some students were stunned as to what prompted the student to commit such heinous crime.

It was also learnt that the student. who is in her late 20s and a student of Agriculture Extension department of the institution was allegedly caught by one of the cleaners, who raised the alarm when she noticed congealed blood flowing from the gutter of the toilet linking the drainage for waste water and urine.

Another source confirmed that the student might not have deliberately wanted to flush the baby in the toilet, but felt like defecating when the baby suddenly gushed out from her body into the water closet.

As at the time of filing this report, the student and the rescued baby had been taken to the institution health centre, where they were currently receiving medical treatment, as the Dean of Students’ Affairs of the university, Dr. Lateefat Durosinmi, and the security department took over the matter.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the university, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju, confirmed the incident, adding that people  should not just jump into conclusion that the student intentionally wanted to flush the new born baby in the water closet. He stated that the security department was already investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

According to him, “the cleaner, who was said to have discovered the blood and subsequently caught the student, was being interrogated by the security department. We are on top of the situation and the new born baby and her mother are responding to treatment in our health facility. There is no cause for alarm.”

Police Beef up Security in Lagos over MEND Threat

 

The  Lagos State   Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko said that the police have beefed up security around strategic places in Lagos, especially fuel tanker terminals, tank farms and other establishments associated with the petroleum industry to forestall any terrorist attack.

He said  the police were prepared to ensure that  the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) did not have any chance to carry out its threat to attack petroleum trucks and tank farms in the state.

He reiterated the command's commitment to foil any   attempt by terrorists to infiltrate the state, saying adequate security had been put in place across the state to ward off any attack.

MEND had recently declared that henceforth, it would attack every  oil tanker distributing petroleum products, including propane gas to press home its demands, which include that the federal government should secure the release of its leader, Henry Okah, who is serving a jail term in South Africa for the 2010 independence day bomb blasts.

Although he said the police would not disclosed their strategy on how to tackle such security threats of this nature, Manko stressed that the command was on top of the situation and was capable of ensuring the safety of lives and property in the state.
He said: "Security has been beefed up by the command to ensure that all tanker terminals, tank farms and other establishments associated to petroleum industry are guarded by heavily armed men.

"Meanwhile, the command would continue to use a lot intelligence to overcome the situation. In other words, we would continue to work on intelligence report to avoid any unforeseen eventuality."

He called on truck drivers to be vigilant and alert security agencies of any strange behaviour exhibited by either their colleagues or strangers in their environment.

"I urge those who drive their trucks  to always be on the alert. They should also report to the nearest security agency any driver who is not a member of their association who comes into their tanker park with a car or truck to park in the terminal," he said.

"Besides, the tanker drivers are also advised to avoid parking in an unsecured place, especially when they were carrying petroleum products as they might give room for the sect to take advantage of the situation," Manko added.

Amaechi shuns Patience Jonathan’s Port Harcourt event

On Wednesday, Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and his wife, Judith,shunned the inauguration of the South-South Zonal Secretariat of the Women for Change and Development Initiative by the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience.

Apart from the governor and his wife, other top officials of the Rivers State government also boycotted the occasion which was held in Port Harcourt, the capital city.

It was learnt that the governor and his wife were invited for the opening  of the zonal secretariat of the W4CDI and the empowerment of over 1,000 women in the state. A letter of invitation for the occasion was specifically sent to the governor’s wife about seven days to the event, regretting that the state government deliberately shunned the event.

“We sent a letter of invitation for the governor and his wife across to the Government House in Port Harcourt one week to the event, but as you can see, no single government official was present at the occasion.

Boko Haram Revenge : more than 20 people have been killed in Maiduguri

More than 20 people including students and fishermen might have died in revenge attack on a school and residents in Maiduguri by Boko Haram insurgents.
Some gunmen believed to be Boko Haram members were said to have attacked fishermen, local tea seller and some residents at Alau River near Maiduguri, killing about 13 people. Sources said the gunmen claimed they were on a revenge mission against some group of youths, who had been handing them over to security agencies in the area.
Also, the insurgents were reported to have attacked a private school in Maiduguri, where students that were writing their National Examination Council (NECO). “Nine of the students were shot dead by the insurgents while many of them were injured,” a resident claimed.
The gunmen were said to have stormed Ansaruden Private Primary and Secondary School at Jajeri, a Maiduguri suburb and opened fire on the unsuspecting students shortly after the commencement of examination.
Some parents of the deceased expressed shock over the killings and appealed to the federal and state governments to address the security situation in the area. Sources at the State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri hinted that over 20 corpses with gunshots were brought to the hospital.
The Boko Haram had weekend warned of its readiness to revenge continued arrest of its members by the youths in the metropolis, famously called “civilian JTF.”
“A full blown war have been declare against Borno and Yobe youths,” Abu Zinnira, the Boko Haram spokesman, who authored the statement said they would launch manhunt of their hunters (youths).
“We have established that youths in Borno and Yobe states are now against our course. They have connived with security operatives and are actively supporting the government of Nigeria in its war against us. We have also resolved to fight back, “ he warned, a threat which the youths insisted would not deterred them from assisting the security agencies to bring peace to the area.

Governors Fail to Stop Suit to Abolish NGF

On Tuesday the 18th day of June 2013, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF)  lost in its bid to stall hearing of a suit challenging its legitimacy and seeking its de-registration.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, refused to entertain an application for a stay of proceedings filed by the NGF.

The judge, in a ruling, rejected the argument of NGF’s lawyer, Okunade Olorundare (SAN), that the court should either hear his preliminary objection first or entertain his application for a stay of proceedings pending appeal.

The court on April 29 had adjourned until yesterday for hearing of all pending applications, particularly the preliminary objection and
originating summons. Yesterday, parties were expected to argue both applications, but Olorundare and Nasiru Tijani representing the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) objected, insisting that the court must first hear their objections.

Olorundare, who said he held the brief of Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) later told the court that he had filed an application before the court seeking a stay of its proceedings pending the determination an appeal he filed.

The NGF lawyer said his appeal was against the court’s decision on April 29 to hear the substantive suit together with the defendants’ preliminary objection.

Gunmen kill 7 students, 2 teachers in Damaturu

On Sunday night,gunmen, suspected to be Boko Haram members, killed seven students and two teachers of Government Day Secondary School, Damaturu. The school authorities confirmed the attack and deaths of the nine persons.

The sect members were also reported to have attacked a military check point around the pilgrims area.
Joint Task Force spokesman, Lazarus Eli, who confirmed the attack, said two of the insurgents were killed while three military personnel were critically wounded.
He explained that three of the attackers were captured with various items, including one AK-47 rifle, one RPG, 48 rounds of 7.62 (special) ammunition, among others.
The insurgents, according to an eyewitness, attacked the school at 9.30pm in their hostel.

Boko haram

Mohammed Idi, who survived with gunshot injuries and is receiving treatment at the Accident and Emergency Ward of the Gen. Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital, said he was shot by one of the insurgents when he came out of the hostel after hearing gunshots.
He said: “We were sleeping in the hostel and suddenly heard gunshots outside, very close to the hostel. We got confused and many of us ran for our dear lives.
“Immediately, I came out, I saw one of the gunmen close to the hostel and he started shooting at us.
“I was shot in the leg and the bullet went through my bone. I tried to run but fell down because my leg was very stiff and I was in pains. Somebody came, grabbed my hand and started dragging me and we ran away together.
“Initially, I thought I was in the enemy’s hands until I realised that it was one of our students who was helping me to escape.”
All the students, except final year students of the institution who were writing NECO exams, have fled the school while one of the supervisors informed that three of the students killed were final year students.
One of the doctors at the General Abacha Specialist Hospital, one Dr. Salim Umar, disclosed that the hospital had received 11 dead bodies and seven others with various gunshot injuries.
One of the injured students said that the insurgents tied the hands of one of the students, who took him to the house of one of the teachers, where they killed four people, including the teacher.
Umar confirmed that one of the dead students had some injuries on his hands. He explained that all the students killed were either shot on the head or in the neck.
Yesterday’s attack brought an end to almost 10 months of relative peace in the state capital, Damaturu, and other parts of the state.
Curfew reviewed
The situation has compelled the state government to revert to the earlier curfew of 6pm to 6am instead of the 9pm to 7am that was reviewed last week.
Meanwhile, some parts of the state capital like Potiskum, Ali Malami Estate, and pilgrims area were locked down by men of the Joint Task Force, JTF, in search of the attackers even as increased search of goods, vehicles and humans have been intensified at the check points in the metropolis.
Drama in Maiduguri
Maiduguri residents witnessed a mild drama when an 11-year-old girl grabbed the collar of a local perfume (Turare) vendor, accusing him of being among those who slaughtered her father and mother in the dead of the night about nine months ago.
Some witnesses said the 11-year-old girl, who was hawking sachet water at the Gamboru area of Maiduguri metropolis, saw the man believed to be in his early 30s, and immediately recognised his face as the man who, in company of four others, attacked her family.
Traders said the man could not run away because of the large crowd that had gathered. He was, however, saved from being lynched as the police arrived and whisked him to a nearby police station.
Meanwhile, Defence Headquarters has assured that troops in the ongoing emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states have been adhering to the rules of engagement.
Defence Headquarters also expressed satisfaction with some individuals, particularly youths, who organised themselves into vigilante groups to join in efforts to fish out terrorists within their communities.
This is just as elders, leaders and stakeholders of Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, in Adamawa State described the declaration of state of emergency in the state as having political undertone.

Stop impersonating me, Amaechi warns Jang

The Governor of Rivers State Rotimi Amaechi on Sunday warned his Plateau State counterpart, Mr. Jonah Jang, against  impersonating him as the chairman of  the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

Amaechi was reacting to media reports on Saturday that Jang had invited the NGF members to a meeting scheduled for Monday (today) in Abuja.

Jang, who lost out to the Rivers State Governor during the May 24 governors election,   had in a statement said that the NGF forum meeting would hold at 6pm.

In the statement in which he addressed himself as the NGF chairman, Jang stated that after their meeting, the governors would meet with President Goodluck Jonathan at 9pm in the Presidential Villa.

He explained that the governors would meet “in view of the impasse arising from the Federal Allocation Accounts Committee meeting.”

Let our vote count,let the best candidate win - Ezenwenyi cries out

In what is seem to be a complete waving of the constitution, few persons including the Governor of Anambra state Mr Peter Obi have decided to zone the next Governor of the state to Anambra north, reacting to Newspaper headlines during the week Ezenwenyi Stanley Chidiebere calls on the Governor to allow the people decide who governs them, according to him " It is a total sidelining of the peoples choice, the good people of Anambra state must be allowed to decide we governs them." Ezenwenyi  further called on INEC to ensure that the votes determine the next Governor of Anambra state.

In the race for Governor are notable men and women. They include: Senator Ngige, Hon. Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, Dr. Obinna Uzoh, Senator Andy Uba , Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, Senator Annie Okonkwo, Prince John Okechukwu Emeka, Mr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, Mr. Tony Nwoye, Dr. Clement Mbadinuju, Chief Akachukwu Nwankpo, Chief Paul Odenigbo, Dr Alex Obiogbolu and Prof Chukwuma Soludo., Senator Emma Anosike, Prof Dora Akunyili, Surv. Pat Nwachi Obianwu, Mr. Dubem Obaze, Dr. Godwin Ezemmo, Dr. Chike Obidigbo, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, Barrister Chijoke Ndubisi, Chief Mike Udah, Dr. Emma Okafor, Hon Victor Afam Ogene, Prince Chinedu Idigo. Mr. Chima Anene, Chief Udoka Charles Udoagalanya, Comrade Godwin Ibekwe and Architect Adibe Uchenna Izu and Princess Stella Oduah, minister of Aviation.

The majority of the candidates coincidentally are from Anambra North, a zone the outgoing governor has  thrown his weight behind  to produce the next governor.  Anambra North zone  has not produced a governor since the creation of the state in 1991.

On the other hand, Anambra Central had produced two governors, namely: Ngige and the incumbent, Governor Obi, while Anambra South had produced three person, in the names of Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife and Dr. Andy Uba  who was in office  for only 17 days.