Fighting Corruption the Nigerian Way

One of the most-oft talked about issues in Nigeria is corruption. Everybody talks about it. Everybody condemns it. Yet everybody , almost, is guilty of it. No doubt, Nigerians are damn intelligent people. The down side of that virtue is that more often, the intelligence is deployed to undoing the system. Many of the  5-star practitioners of the act f corruption have so mastered the game so much that they ply the trade with a breezy ease. They know how not to be caught. They know who to settle, who to see, how to move and when to move.  Some corruption activists have elevated the ignoble act to the level of a career. They serve as undertakers. All you need do is hire their services and your deal is as good as done.

When you are awarded a contract in a federal or state ministry, even when you did not participate in the bid process, all you need to is know somebody who knows the Permanent Secretary, one who can speak not only his language, but also speak the idiolect of corruption. They will tell you how to circumvent the system. How to get certificate of job completion without ever knowing where the site of the project was supposed to be. They will tell you how to process your papers for payment, even with a VIP speed. It is all about knowing who is who. And then next year, that undone-but-paid-for- project gets back to the budget. And the circle begins all over again. At the end of the day, you wonder how such humongous sum (our federal budgets are now in Trillions, Yes, Trillions!!!) fail to transform our cities, towns and villages, year-in-year-out.

You hardly know that the big man, big woman around the corner, have cornered the collective fortune of the people.
Yet, the irony is that young men in the universities see these odious “Big men”, as the symbol of successful entrepreneurs  who must come deliver the key note address at their campus seminars, at their church cell groups, at their NGO Annual General Meetings, and even at the Civil Society events. And then the crooks mount the rostrums to make proclamations on probity, equity, sanity and all such neo-liberal ethos. And the innocent hapless people will clap for them, without knowing that many of them are the very cankerworms eating away their commonwealth.

They act and speak with oracular certitude, knowing that the system knows them as much as they know the system. But if for any reason of game variation, they get caught by the same familiar system, they do not fret. They know the required steps and procedures that will free them from the noose.  They know what lawyers in town handle “jipiti” cases. They know what Court judges grant horrible injunctions . They know the price tag of   such judges skilled on how to kill a case, by making it run in the court till Jesus Christ returns.
And if all that does not work, the “experts” know how to cook up stories, dramatise scenarios that will generally make them slip off the noose. 

We remember Cecelia Ibru, who after raping the treasury of defunct Oceanic Bank, was jailed, but suddenly took ill, and rushed to an executive hospital ensconced in the prized Victoria Island neighbourhood, so much that we do not know when the jail term started and ended. More recently too, a certain Big man, Dr Wale Babalakin, the Chairman of Bi-Courteny who was accused of money laundering crime, suddenly took ill and got ensconced in Lagos University Teaching Hospital  for weeks. Nobody knows  what he was suffering from. But from his so-called sick bed, he was pulling all the legal strings, all to evade arrest and prosecution. That is the Nigerian skill.

And when eventually, he got nabbed, he soon got “administrative bail”—a new euphemism for sending a case into coma. We may never know the hereafter of the case from this point. That is the way it goes in Nigeria.   How many suspects granted the so-called “administrative bail”, have been prosecuted and punished for their crimes? Where are all the governors in the Class of 1999?

Didn’t many of them become senators, kingmakers, and Chairmen of federal parastatals even as they remained under the administrative bail? Is that not why many people blame former Delta State governor, James Onanefe Ibori for moving out of the country? The argument is that if had stayed back in Nigeria, the two-week media-feasting on his crime, if arrested, would have soon given way to an “administrative bail” that would have  forever opened the gateway to his political kingship in the country. Apart from Lucky Igbinedion, former governor of Edo State, which other governor has been prosecuted and jailed for robbing his state treasury blind?

Have we forgotten our friend, Hon Farouk Lawan, who since June last year, has been on administrative Bail? Even after he admitted “receiving money not bribe” of $620,000, from Forte Oil Boss, Femi Otedola, our Police are still scratching their heads, on how to arraign a man who had confessed to a crime. Only in Nigeria do such legal faux pas take place. And nobody shudders. Since then till now, Lawan has been enjoying administrative bail. And it may be eternally so.

Yet, we make loud claims of fighting corruption. The man called Ibrahim Lamorde, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been at the helms for over one year now. I cannot quite remember any case he has diligently prosecuted and got the suspect jailed. And this is someone who has been in the commission. As the head of the organization,  Lamorde has not shown zeal or spark in dealing with the many financial crooks in town. If the EFCC has weak prosecutorial team, it should change them.

There are fiery lawyers all around town.  It is either he is incompetent or he is an accomplice to the rougish raid of the nation’s treasury. It takes either of the options for an anti-corruption czar to be this complacent with the status quo.  I shall focus on his acts in the near future.
I believe that the Transparency International is pretty charitable to place us where we are in the scale of global corruption. For a people who act as if fraud is an integral part of their DNA, it will take much more than mouthing a campaign to chase the monster away from us. It is our collective responsibility; even the petrol attendant at the filling station has got a role to play.

Welcome to Year 2013
Laast week, I did not write this column. I had meant to review the Year 2012 odyssey.  But it has come and gone now. Here is Year 2013! A fresh year, sparkling with hope and inspiration. At least, we did not start this year protesting one injustice or the other. This time last year, the “Freedom Park” at Ojota, Lagos knew all was not well with Nigeria. Even Aso Rocks know there was a problem.
This is the same 2013, they treated like Year 2000—the year every government mouthed will be a year of magical transformation--- You heard them say then: Water for all by Year 2000, Education for all by Year 2000, Health for all by Year 2000 etc etc. This is thirteen years after. Water, health, education, employments etc “for all” is anything but for all. They have remained a mirage.

But President Goodluck Jonathan had assured that in this year, we would love him. That all his critics will repent and begin to clap for him. That our complaints would end. That all the foundations for the radical transformation he has been planning for us will begin to manifest this year.

The Information minister has said power generation will peak at 7,000 megawatts this year.  We are looking forward to this with bated breath.
Our infrastructure, they say, will be revamped this year. We cannot wait. The 2012 budget performed poorly last year. We only hope this year will be radically different.

But all said, budget, good life, smooth roads etc. are only for the living. And that is why I must also congratulate you for making it to this year. As you witnessed January, so shall you also witness December 2013. Together, we shall celebrate another New Year. So let me wish you a productive and peaceful Happy New Year.

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The Unending Politics Of Second Niger Bridge

In its apparent resolve to build the second Niger Bridge at Onitsha, the Federal Government, last week, named Julius Berger AIMS Consortium as the preferred bidder for the construction of the bridge that links Anambra and Delta states.
Disclosing this in Abuja after hours of meeting with delegates from the preferred consortium and concerned government agencies, the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, said that out of the five companies that took part in the bidding process that lasted for 13 months, Julius Berger AIMS won.
He also said that the concessionaires had expressed interest in the bidding for the project under the Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Transfer (DFBOT) model.
According to the minister, the meeting with representatives of the concessionaire heralds the second phase of this particular transaction that will necessarily lead to the preliminary site work of the bridge that will link Onitsha and Asaba in Anambra and Delta states.
He explained that part of the work that would be carried out soon would include detailed hydrological and topographical surveys as well as a geological survey.
Government, the minister stated, would carry out a detailed environmental/social impact assessment of the process and an in-depth traffic survey among others. Already, government’s transaction adviser had virtually completed a detailed traffic survey of the project.
The minister assured all Nigerians that the second Niger Bridge was fast becoming a reality. Onolememen, who could not comment on the duration of the project, said categorically: “This is not a contract. It is a PPP transaction. The PPP transaction will cover a period of 25 years for them (Julius Berger AIMS Consortium). By the conclusion of the discussions on the second phase, at least, the construction period will emerge. It is not like a normal contract that the government is funding.”
He stressed that the consortium would raise the fund for the project while government would only take very marginal percentage of it to show commitment. Whether the PPP transaction, which incorporates the DFBOT model, is the best way government intends to build a second Niger Bridge, which has been on the drawing board since the inception of this democratic dispensation in 1999, or not what is important is to ensure that the project actually takes off and be completed on schedule.
However, the only worry here is that the PPP model has not been used to construct a major road project like the bridge in question in the country. Having the bridge built under the DFBOT model automatically means that its users will pay toll to use it. Ordinarily, it would have been expected that government takes full responsibility for such gigantic project. Regardless of the merits and demerits of the model under discussion, the most important thing is to make the second Niger Bridge a reality.
This is not a season for promises upon promises. This is time for action. The government should not abdicate from this project this time around. This is one bridge that three Nigerian presidents had promised at various times to build.
Since 1999 or thereabout, the second Niger Bridge has become a campaign issue. Whoever wanted to get the Igbo votes in any election had used the bridge as a bargain. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo used it to a great advantage.
He even laid the foundation stone of the project, estimated then to cost N58.6 billion before leaving office in 2007. Yet nothing like a contract for the second Niger Bridge ever existed in government records or archives.
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The late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua also promised to construct the bridge in view of the deteriorating condition of the old one built in the early 60s. Unfortunately, death could not allow Yar’Adua to fulfill his promise.
Since President Goodluck Jonathan emerged as the head of state, he, too, has used the Second Niger Bridge as a campaign item and it worked favourably for him, yet the bridge has remained just a promise. During his working visit to Anambra State last year to commission some projects like the River Port at Onitsha and the Orient Petroleum Refinery at Otu-Aguleri, Jonathan reiterated his promise and vowed to build the second Niger Bridge before leaving office. He should be a gentleman and keep his promise.
Now that 2015 is around the corner, let it not be that the Jonathan administration is again trying to use the issue of a second Niger Bridge to woo Igbo votes again. If that is the game plan, there is no hope that it will work again.
Let government demonstrate strong political and economic will to build this necessary bridge that serves as a gateway between the Western and Eastern parts of the country. It also serves as a veritable link to the Northern states through Benue State. The unending politics of the second Niger Bridge is unnecessary and unhealthy for the safety and economic well-being of Nigerians that pass through the old Niger Bridge that can collapse any time without a warning.
It will be recalled that some weeks ago, the Senate tasked the Federal Ministry of Works to immediately commence repairs and rehabilitation of the Niger Bridge to avoid the dire consequences of its possible collapse. It also enjoined the ministry to commence the construction of the Second Niger Bridge. Let the ministry just do what the lawmakers have said. Government should stop playing politics with people’s lives. A collapsed Niger Bridge will mean so many deaths. It will be a monumental national tragedy.
Government, this time around, should demonstrate beyond doubts that it really wants to construct a second Niger Bridge in Onitsha. The name, Julius Berger, actually rings a bell in the nation’s construction industry. It is hoped that with Julius Berger AIMS Consortium being the winner of the bidding process, the work will take off in earnest as the minister has promised.
Let this not be like the one promised by Obasanjo. Let the consortium expedite action on the bridge and see that the project sees the light of the day. Government should stop dilly-dallying on the project.

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Corruption is Nigeria’s biggest problem Akinyemi

A FORMER External Affairs Minister, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, yesterday, fingered corruption as Nigeria’s  biggest  problem.

According to him, “No one can be a billionaire in this present Nigeria without being corrupt.

”To be a millionaire is still alright but if you are a billionaire, you are corrupt and that means you are cutting corners”.

Akinyemi spoke in Akure at a lecture, to herald the inauguration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko for second term entitled, Leadership, Democracy and Development; A paradigm relationship of Governor Olusegun Mimiko second term in office.

He lamented that in Nigeria of today there are no more values to hold on to unlike in the 60s.

”Parents not only encourage their children to cheat to beat the system, they aid and abet the children in the nefarious activities,” the former minister said.

”Akinyemi continued: No one believes anymore in the concept of society. In my youth, to be accused of theft or any other criminal offence was tantamount to being banished from society. To be convicted was tantamount to suicide. But now no one asks for the source of the wealth.

”People in jail,accused of murder, run for and win elections. More than a score of members of the Nigerian Senate have EFCC court cases against them. Only in Nigeria do you steal billions and escape with less than a million naira fine.

”To move forward, the political elite must make a conscious effort to arrive at a consensus that will be the outcome of negotiation, give and take,compromises.

” The system to be put in place should not reflect temporary advantages secured through a temporary monopoly of power.

He asked Mimiko to maintain the tempo of developmental projects put up by his administration in the last four years.

The lecturer, who insisted that the governor  must score Grade A during his second term, congratulated him for his encouraging achievements in his first term in  office and charged him not to relent on his oars.

”At the same time, I commiserate and feel sorry for him because having set such high standards of achievements, he is going to be under considerable pressure to maintain that high level of achievements for second term.,”Akinyemi stated.

”Now that Governor Mimiko has scored a distinction in the first term, I am also expecting another Grade A performance during this term.

”I know what Ondo State looked like in the 50s at least as seen through the eyes of a young adult. I have seen what it looked like in the 1990s and what it looks like now. I am impressed by what I see.”

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Why corruption thrives in Nigeria, by Mitee

FAILURE of leadership, institutions and lack of synergy between anti-corruption agencies are factors responsible for unbridled corruption in the country, the Chairman of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Ledum Mitee, has said.
Mitee spoke as the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ekpo Nta, called on Nigerians to develop a new mindset in the anti-corruption war.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) is planning to spend 54.5 million Euros on activities targeted at curbing corrupt tendencies in the country.
Speaking on Monday in Abuja at the International Anti-Corruption Day, Mitee argued that Nigeria has laws strong enough to combat the menace but there is no strong leadership to bring culprits to book, and a lack of capacity by the implementing agencies.
“Why has corruption remained a hydra-headed problem in Nigeria? The answer to this is certainly not just on the bookshelves nor can a silver bullet solve it,” he said.
“Some very possible reasons the problems have remained stagnant are: the institutions are weak in terms of capacity, funding and coordination, and leadership at all levels is yet to genuinely talk the talk and walk the walk, as well as the need for a concerted effort in ensuring synergy in the operations of anti-corruption agencies.”
While declaring that Nigeria’s performance in tackling corruption has been poor, Mitee expressed optimism that the establishment of Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT) has brought about the necessary synergy between all the anti-corruption agencies.
He called for adoption of a holistic national strategy to combat corruption in Nigeria if the country is desirous of improving on its corruption perception index. He also revealed that efforts were on to conduct pilot Corruption Risk Assessments (CRAs) in some key ministries, departments and agencies at the federal and state levels.
Additionally, 100 trainees drawn from anti-corruption agencies, the prioritized MDGs-related ministries such as Education, Health and Water Resources, strategic state level establishments and selected civil society organisations are undergoing training on CRAs.
And to rev up anti-corruption fight and bridge the funding gap in the efforts, the UNDOC Country Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Mariam Sissoko, has revealed that the UNODC has begun the implementation of a 34.5 million Euros project funded by the European Union to assist anti-corruption agencies, the police, the judiciary and civil society organisations to enhance policy, coordination, institutional and operational capacity in combating corruption.
He advised Nigerians to see their country’s recent rating as one of the most corrupt nations in the world by Transparency International as a wake-up call rather than dampening “our enthusiasm”, but to spur on the citizens in the anti-corruption war.
ICPC boss, Nta, made his call in Kaduna at the weekend at the inauguration of ICPC’s National Anti-Corruption Volunteer Corp (NAVC), Kaduna chapter, at Saar Hotel Kaduna.
Speaking through a member of ICPC, Alhaji Abdullai Ado Bayero, Nta said Nigerians should cheer up as the body had embarked on a number of preventive strategies and initiatives, among which was the establishment of NAVC.
He said the ICPC established NAVC nationwide four years ago to domicile the fight against corruption with the people, adding that Nigerians should be enlightened to see corruption as anathema.ICPC urges new mindset

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Southern Kaduna Killings: Governor Yero Shuns Victims’ Families, Dashes Off To Abuja

Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna last night ignored families of those who died in yesterday’s killings in Zangon Kataf local government area. Fulani herdsmen killed at least five members of the community in another episode of communal violence.
Our correspondent learnt that the bereaved families waited in vain for hours to see the governor, but he never turned up to personally assess their condition or to offer his condolences. Instead, Mr. Yero took off to Abuja, the country’s capital.
Several of the bereaved told a correspondent  that neither the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) nor the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency had provided them with a single relief material.
A security source said the governor’s trip to Abuja was “for an emergency state function,” but failed to disclose the specific nature of the emergency. Other sources in Kaduna disclosed that Mr. Yero was advised on security grounds to stay away from the besieged community considering the heightened tension. One of those sources said the governor could visit the area on Monday or as soon as the security situation improves.
But numerous people in the community said they were dissatisfied with the governor’s absence, accusing him of betraying the duty of a leader. In a telephone interview, one of the critics, Bege Chechet, told SaharaReporters that the governor’s decision not to pay a reassuring visit to the area was an act of insensitivity and showed the usual “lack of pity in the hearts of leaders.” He added: “I came in from Jos this morning, and we were told that the governor would come; he never showed up. It was the police commissioner who came as well as other people.” He lamented that there had been “no emergency relief materials for our people. Just nothing.”
Mr. Chechet remarked that if Mr. Yero “values us as his people and citizenry, he would have been here and not to find cover and leave for Abuja, as we were told.” He added: “Even if [the governor] comes here tomorrow, there is no sense. When [a similar thing] happened in Birnin Gwari, he was there immediately. So, this is discrimination.”

SOURCE

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FRSC: Mobile courts to try traffic offenders - Katsina State

The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, in Katsina State on Friday inaugurated mobile courts to try traffic offenders as part of its efforts to enforce traffic regulations.

The FRSC Sector Commander, Habu Dauda, said in Katsina that reckless driving, using mobile phones while driving, and driving on wrong lanes prompted the measure.

Mr. Dauda said the corps had deployed road marshals to strategic places in Katsina metropolis to arrest and prosecute traffic offenders instantly.

He added that the FRSC would continue to enlighten the public on the dangers of violating traffic rules and regulations through the media and public lectures.

“The setting up of the courts is not intended to witch-hunt motorists, but to protect their lives and that of other road users in the state.”

He solicited for the support of stakeholders toward reducing road accidents in the state.

SOURCE 

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NEW MUSIC: Tim Godfrey - Gbemisoke [AFRIKTAINMENT MEDIA]

Tim Godfrey nicely blends off-the-hook beats produced by Masterkraft with his highly inspiring lyrics, leaving you grooving all the way.

Enjoy!

Play Tim Godfrey – Gbemisoke

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President Jonathan says the University of Lagos will not be renamed anymore -VANGUARD Newspaper

The Vanguard reports:

The other governing councils inaugurated by the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’I, were for the University of Benin, ObafemiAwolowoUniversity, Ile-Ife and Michael Opara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

Their Chairmen are Sen. Bob Dickson, Prof. Rowland Ndoma-Egba and Prof. Anya O. Anya respectively. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Sen. Uche Chukwumerijie said the lawmakers’ job had been made easier by the appointments.

Chukwumerijie said the committee’s oversight visits to the institutions had identified lack of leadership by the absence of governing councils and the quality of members of the boards as challenges facing the institutions.

He said the Federal Government had by the appointments taken care of the issues. “There are councils for those that did not have and the members who have been appointed are men and women of proven integrity and experience in academics.’’ The lawmaker described the appointees as round pegs in round holes and the right captains in the ship.

Chukwumerijie charged the councils to immediately tackle falling standards of education, corruption, cultism and many ills that had continued to affect the development of education. The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie, said no university could function effectively without a governing council.

Okojie urged government to consider training and retreat for members to enable them to keep abreast of global best practices in university administration. He also advocated financial autonomy for universities in the country.

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Jonathan Will Run For President in 2015, Says PDP

Any lingering cobwebs as to whether President Goodluck Jonathan will seek to keep his job in 2015 were dispelled today when the National Women’s Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Kema Chikwe, asserted the President will return to office.
Chikwe, a former Minister, is a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, which has 12 members.
She was speaking in Abuja at the presentation of the “PDP Women-In-Power 2013 Calendar” in the presence of the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, who was seen nodding in agreement with Chikwe's statement.
“We need to start moving fast to prepare women for future elections,” Chikwe said.  “Until we elect 35 per cent or more of women in the legislature, the impact of our progress will not be complete.
She said that the next “dispensation,” will possibly attract PDP female governors and more deputy governors, but was far more eloquent on the nation’s top political position.
“We are even more confident that when President Goodluck Jonathan returns in 2015, women would be talking about 50 per cent and not 35 per cent,” she said.  “As we give him unequivocal, undiluted, unresolved and unlimited support and as we march with him to 2015, PDP women will reach the promised land.”
In a speech dripping with sycophancy, she asked Mrs. Jonathan and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Anyim Pius Anyim, who represented the President at the occasion, “to convey our deep gratitude to the Father of the Day,” President Jonathan.
"Tell him that PDP women are chanting to Nigeria: 'All we are saying, give us Goodluck.'”
Mrs. Jonathan took the opportunity to appeal to the Senate to pass the controversial N4bn budget proposal of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Sen. Bala Mohammed, for the building of the controversial Africa First Ladies Mission building in Abuja.  Protesting Nigerians have argued that the funds will be looted, rather than used for such a project, and that they would in any event prefer that such funds were deployed into education, health or infrastructure.
Mrs. Chikwe’s declaration concerning Jonathan’s 2015 political ambitions is in direct contradiction to what Mr. Jonathan himself said just 24 hours ago.
Speaking through a Special Senior Assistant, Mr. Doyin Okupe, the president said, “From time immemorial, for every major event or contest in the world, there is always a time and a season apportioned.
“We wish to state categorically that this is neither the time nor the season to begin electioneering campaign or related discourse for the 2015 presidential elections and so President Goodluck Jonathan will not jump the gun.”
He added that Mr. Jonathan would therefore “stoutly resist any disguised or open attempt to drag him into any debates, arguments or political discussions relating to a presidential election in 2015.”
A political observer who heard Chikwe’s statement today told SaharaReporters that the PDP reality is a case of the-more-you-look-the-less-you-see.
“Unless the PDP rigs the 2015 election, there is no way that Jonathan—on the basis of his performance so far--can win the presidential election,” he said.
“So anyone singing ‘Give Us Goodluck,’ if indeed anyone has thought of such a song, is someone that is really campaigning for the opposition, who should be applauding Mrs. Chikwe and the PDP chaos at this point.”

SOURCE

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IBB Would Be Assassins Arrested

The Department of State Security, DSS, yesterday narrated how its operatives saved former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida and the deposed Sultan of Sokoto, Ibrahim Dasuki, from being assassinated by Iranian-trained Nigerian terrorists.

Deputy Director, Public Relations of the DSS, Marilyn Ogar who paraded the Iranian-trained Nigerian terrorists yesterday in Abuja said: “General Babangida and Alhaji Dasuki were among prominent Nigerians targeted by the group for elimination because they were said to be showing support for Israel and the United States of America”.

The 50-year-old local leader of the Shiite Sect in Ilorin, Kwara State, Abdullahi Mustapha Berende, who was arrested last December before he could execute his deadly act, was paraded by the DSS in Abuja, yesterday. He was said to have been trained and funded by elements with strong connections in international terrorist activities.

Berende, the DSS said, was commissioned by his sponsors to identify Nigerians and institutions sympathetic to Israeli and American interests in Nigeria for possible attack, was paraded with two of his accomplices – Sulaiman Olayinka Saka and Saheed Aderemi Adewumi while the third suspect, Bunyamin Yusuf, is still at large.

Mastermind trained in the production of IEDs

According to Marilyn Ogar, “investigation shows that Berende gained admission in 2006 to study a six-month course in Modern Shia Islamic Teaching (Da’awa) at Imam Khomeni University Iran and was thereafter recruited by some Iranian elements when he returned for further studies in 2011 and trained in the use of AK-47 assault rifle, pistols, production of Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs.

“Upon his return to Nigeria, Berende was invited by his sponsors for further briefing in 2012 and asked to establish a terrorist cell in the South-West part of Nigeria with specific emphasis on Lagos.

“In a bid to set up the terrorist centre, Berende recruited Sulaiman Saka, Saheed Adewumi and Bunyamin Yusuf to assist him in accomplishing the tasks.

“Part of the deadly group’s brief included identifying and gathering intelligence on public places and prominent places frequented by Americans and Israelis to facilitate their attack by Iranian terrorists and providing specific details on US agencies such as USAID, Max, Zim International Shipping Company, A.A. Consulting, Peace Corps and the Jewish Cultural Centre in Lagos.

“The suspected terrorist was given $24,000 and E3,500 as well as coded names such as “Uncle” for Israel and “Aunt” for the United States of America by his Iranian handlers so as to facilitate their dastardly mission in Nigeria.

“Berende confessed that Lagos was chosen for attack because the Iranians believe that Israel has an intelligence facility in the area for spying on Iran and that he personally took pictures of the Israeli Cultural Centre in Ikoyi and forwarded them to his sponsors in Iran.

“The suspect added that in a bid to cover up his malevolent activity in Lagos, his handlers offered him financial support to establish a small business as a decoy”.

Berende regretted that they could not carry out their wicked act before they were apprehended and asked for forgiveness, adding that he would assist the security agencies to work for a safe, peaceful and united Nigeria.

Ogar, however, said the suspects will soon be arraigned in court, and charged with engaging in heinous crimes against Nigeria and the people.

“From the foregoing, there is conclusive evidence that Berende in collaboration with his Iranian handlers were involved in grievous crimes against the national security of this country. Accordingly, Berende and his accomplices will be charged to court soon,” Ogar said.

SOURCE 

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NAWA OO: How Then Governor Goodluck Jonathan Gave Obaigbena $1 Million From Bayelsa’s Poverty Alleviation Funds For Beyonce And Jay Z's Visit To Nigeria

A document indicating that a million dollars of Bayelsa State’s poverty alleviation fund was spent by then Governor Goodluck Jonathan on bringing American entertainers Beyonce and Jay Z to Nigeria in 2006 was uncovered.
In a letter stamped and signed by Bayelsa officials, N150 million (approximately a million dollars in 2006) was released from the state’s poverty alleviation fund for the first ThisDay Music Festival in Lagos.

The document came to light after a controversy was ignited over how much money American “reality TV” star Kim Kardashian was paid for a brief visit to Nigeria.
Ms. Kardashian, star of a US TV show about her idle rich family and who shot to international fame after a sex tape featuring her and her rapper boyfriend went viral, was reportedly paid half a million dollars for the 24-hour-visit last week.
The sources who provided the 2006 document for Beyonce and Jay Z’s visit told Saharareporters that there was a shady financial link between the producers of some high profile entertainment events and the governors and other officials who control budgets at the state and federal levels. Mr. Obaigbena’s newspaper, ThisDay, is a major sponsor of entertainment events that brings US music stars as well as top public figures for flying visits to Nigeria in exchange for gargantuan paychecks.
“Mr. Obaigbena often lines up financial bonanzas from numerous governors, ministers and other top government officials to finance his jamborees,” said one of the sources who is based in the UK and is knowledgeable about such deals.
SaharaReporters obtained a letter from Mr. Obaigbena to the Bayelsa State government soliciting funds from the oil-producing state ahead of Nigeria’s 46th independence celebrations in 2006. The publisher wrote, “We invite you to partner with us as co-hosts of the festival.” The letter added: “With a total budget of $10 million, the co-host is expected to contribute a minimum of $2.5 million (two million five hundred thousand USD).”
At the bottom of the letter, minuted by hand and signed by then Governor Jonathan’s aides as well as the Bayelsa State accountant general are the words, “Release N150,000,000.00 (One hundred and fifty million naira) only to be drawn from the poverty alleviation subhead.”
One source told SaharaReporters that Mr. Obaigbena sent similar letters to other south-south states.
SaharaReporters could not ascertain how much of the released funds was paid directly to performers at the festival. There is no indication that Beyonce, one of the few entertainment stars internationally famous enough to only need one name, was aware that her performance was being subsidized by the poor people of Bayelsa.
But during Beyonce’s celebrated rendition of the Nigerian national anthem, pictures of Bayelsa State were projected onto the wall of the Lagos concert venue.
According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, 47% of Bayelsans live in poverty. The World Bank says that per capita gross domestic product in the Niger Delta is significantly below the country’s average. According to the state’s own 2005 development strategy, 80% of rural communities have no access to safe drinking water, a key indicator in judging poverty. In Yenagoa, the state capital and Bayelsa’s largest urban area, an estimated two out of every five residents do not have access to safe drinking water.
In 2005, as part of its UN-approved strategy to combat poverty, the state promised to make a fund of N100 million available as soft loans and micro-credit to Bayelsans. The allocated fund was N50 million less than Mr. Jonathan approved for Mr. Obaigbena’s music festival. That promise was made in the Bayelsa State Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy, published by the United Nations Development Program and signed by then Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. A civil rights activist in Yenogoa told SaharaReporters that the state “has been a woeful failure in its poverty reduction program.”
The letter from Mr. Obaigbena to then-governor Goodluck Jonathan said the concert was necessary to show that the news from Nigeria was “not just…HIV/AIDS, conflicts, poverty, kidnapping, strife and riots.”
The publisher added: “This is the longest ever period of democracy in Nigeria, over seven years and counting! And a stable democracy means more investment and economic prosperity for all.”
The publisher went on to give reasons why the state government should contribute to the concert.
The stars’ performances would “tell the world, through music, that Nigeria’s time has come,” Mr. Obaigbena wrote. The letter added, “And once the good news catches on with the young and upwardly mobile, music loving new generation it will catch on with the world of investments and bountiful opportunities.”
In 2006, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan had just become governor of Bayelsa after his boss, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, was impeached and convicted on corruption charges.  Mr. Jonathan was then elevated to Vice President to then President Umaru Yar’Adua. Mr. Yar’Adua's death in 2010 enabled Mr. Jonathan, a zoologist whose PhD focused on tropical fish, to assume the presidency.
Since 2006, Mr. Obaigbena’s parent company, Leaders & Company, has produced a number of high-profile events that have seen such American stars as Rihanna, R Kelly, and Usher perform for Nigerians. The ticket prices for these concerts are usually out of reach of the “average” Nigerian. The events feature tickets that cost many tens of thousands of naira, usually reserved for “VIP access.” ThisDay has also hosted political luminaries like former US President Bill Clinton and former economic adviser to the Obama presidency, Lawrence Summers. At an Africa Rising concert in London, former US Secretary of State Colin Powell came on stage and danced to the popular Naija jam “Yahooze” by Olu Maintain. Tweet

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Lagos Speaker Corruption Trial: CSNAC Condemns Lagos State House of Assembly For Dereliction of Constitutional Duty

The Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) has condemned the practice of members of the Lagos State House of Assembly of abandoning legislative duties to each time its Speaker, who is on trial for money laundering charges, is in court.  Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has a court date.
Mr. Ikuforiji and an aide, Oyebode Atoyebi, face serious counts of corruption and embezzlement of public funds.  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), filed 20 counts of money laundering and conspiracy against both men, alleging they accepted cash payments of up to N500 million from the House without going through a financial institution.
In a petition to the House, signed by CSNAC chairman Olanrewaju Suraju, the group slammed the behavior of the legislators.  "We consider this action of honourable members on the referred matter as unbecoming, unacceptable and a gross misplacement of priorities".
The group drew attention to a recent experience in the House when the Speaker adjourned sitting apparently to allow members to attend the next trials scheduled for 18-21 February, 2013 at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi.
The statement held that touts and hoodlums were mobilised under the guise of "Stand Up for Lagos Group," a group previously unknown to the Nigerian public until yesterday, to not only attack members of CSNAC, but to also circulate fallacious.
“We are unperturbed by this display of recklessness, associated with accidental leaders of questionable character and background,” CSNAC said.
It reminded members of the House that they are paid their salaries, allowances and other perks from tax payers money and purportedly having earned a freely given mandate from Lagosians, they should at all times “prioritise the interest of the electorates by attending to parliamentary responsibilities and duties at the statutory periods rather than the unbecoming show of solidarity in a manner akin to the activities of rented crowds and political cheering of leaders under trial".
Said the group, "Members of the House of Assembly are expected to comport themselves in a manner that protects public interest and enhances public confidence and trust in the government as well as maintain high moral conduct in public office".
CSNAC is a coalition of over 150 anti-corruption organizations whose primary aim is to vigorously combat corruption, constructively and effectively monitor and support Anti-Corruption Agencies in their fight against corruption in order to rid Nigeria of the grievous consequences of corruption and evolve a culture of transparency, accountability as well as financial and moral probity.

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France Accuses Boko Haram Of Kidnapping Citizens In Cameroon!

French President, Francois Hollande has accused the Boko Haram Sect of kidnapping the seven French tourists that were abducted on Tuesday morning in northern Cameroon.

7 French nationals, three adults and four children, all members of the same family were kidnapped close to the Cameroonian border with Nigeria. Hollande who spoke to reporters in Greece where he is currently on an official visit said “they have been taken by a terrorist group that we know and that is in Nigeria.”

Speaking further, the French President said “I see the hands of Boko Haram in that part of Cameroon. France is in Mali and it will continue until its mission is completed”.

The tourists were kidnapped about 10 kilometres from the border with Nigeria, near the Waza National Park and the Lake Chad in the far north of Cameroon. The resort is a choice location for Europeans on holidays. Reports said the French tourists were abducted by armed men who came on motorbikes. They reportedly rode towards Nigeria after the raid.

Two days ago, seven foreign members of staff of Setraco, a Lebanese company were abducted in Bauchi, with the group Al Ansaru claiming responsibility.

Bpoko Haram is affiliated to Al Quaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and has criticized the military operation of France and other countries in Mali.

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N50 Million Fraud: Delta Tourism Board GM In EFCC Net, Commissioner, RMD Reportedly On The Run

Philo Nkem Ajufo, the acting General Manager of Delta State Tourism Board, has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja over her role in a financial scheme. Ms. Ajufo is reportedly being quizzed for conniving with her boss, Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD), to embezzle N50 million from the state Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Mr. Mofe Damijo, a well known Nollywood star, is the commissioner in charge of the ministry. Our EFCC said the commissioner was also being sought by the anti-corruption agency, but he has been elusive.

An EFCC source confirmed Ms. Ajufo’s arrest. “As we talk, the Delta State Tourism GM, one Mrs. Nkem Ajufo, is been held in our headquarters here in Abuja over her involvement in the N50 million fraud. Her boss, Mr. Richard Mofe Damijo, is not left out but as we speak he is still avoiding us,” said the source.

Two sources at the ministry told our reporter that the EFCC last week delivered a letter inviting Ms. Ajufo to appear at their headquarters. She was reportedly asked to bring along relevant documents concerning the N50 million that was meant for the purported 2007 Delta Expo event which never held.

The sources disclosed that Mr. Mofe Damijo went underground on learning about the current development.

One source told our reporter that the commissioner, who is reported to be building himself a massive underground edifice in Lagos, was trying to use political contacts in Delta and Abuja to scuttle the EFCC’s investigation and washed his hands off the scam.

SaharaReporters learnt that Mr. Mofe Damijo denied knowledge of the money during the budget defense exercise.

Several calls and sms texts sent to Mr. Damijo and Ms. Ajufo’s mobile lines were not answered. After a while, the commissioner switched off his mobile phone.
Late last year, Saharareporters had broken the news of the N50 million allegedly embezzled by the commissioner and the acting GM of the state’s tourism board.

Several sources in the commissioner’s office had confided that a former commissioner in the Ministry had applied for the N50 million to organize the “Delta State Expo 2007,” disclosing that the state could not release the funds then due to some financial challenges. However, when the funds were released into the Tourism account in May, 2012, Mr. Mofe Damijo allegedly said that the ministry could no longer carry out the event since it had elapsed by six years and Deltans would have forgotten about the event.

But our reporter obtained “Forms of Advance Warrant” on release of funds from the Ministry of Finance indicating that the N50 million was supposed to be spent on the original event for which it was approved. The warrant order, numbered 00000117, 00000114 and 00000115, was signed by one Ms. P.O. Evuojapha for the Commissioner of Finance.

SaharaReporters learnt that N35 million of the N50 million was supposed to have gone to the tourism board.

A reporter for SaharaReporters learned that Mr. Mofe Damijo issued a check to the tourism board in the name of its acting GM, Ms. Ajufo. She in turn reportedly deposited the sum into her First Bank private account with account number (3006131619) operated under her name, Nkem Philo Ajufo. Our sources said she and Mr. Mofe Damijo subsequently shared the money.

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EFCC On How Ikuforiji, Lagos Speaker, Transferred Millions Of State Funds Into Personal Accounts -PREMIUM TIMES

The trial of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, began on Tuesday with the commission detailing how the accused funnelled over N36 million legislature’s money into his personal accounts.

Mr. Ikuforiji and his aide, Oyebode Atoyebi, are facing a 20-count charge of money laundering, and conspiring and accepting cash payments to the tune of N500 million from the House without going through a financial institution.

An EFCC investigator, Adeniyi Adebayo, being led in evidence by the anti graft agency’s counsel, Godwin Obla, narrated how various sums of money was paid into Mr. Ikuforiji’s bank account in one year.

Between July 2010 and August 2011, N36.52 million from the House of Assembly’s Cash Office were deposited into the Lagos Speaker’s private bank accounts, according to Mr. Adebayo.

The sum of N6 million was deposited on July 2, 2010; N5 million on August 1, 2010; N5 million on July 9, 2011; N4 million on July 27, 2011; N10.52 million on August 31, 2011; and N6 million on October 8, 2011; the EFCC said.

“Part of the cash received from the cash office of the Accounts Department of the Lagos House of Assembly by the second accused (Mr. Atoyebi) was used to run errand for the first accused (Mr. Ikuforiji),” Mr. Adebayo told the court.

“I cannot remember what specifically the errands were,” he added.
 

‘Jamboree payments’

Both accused sat in the dock of the overcrowded court room, Mr. Ikuforiji, in dark sun glasses, focusing his attention on the trial judge.

The EFCC counsel tendered an exhibit before the court, a statement purportedly made by Mr. Atoyebi in October 12, 2012, in which he admitted to have collected the various cash payments from the Assembly’ s Cash Office and how he deposited the N36.52 million into Mr. Ikuforiji’s bank accounts.
In addition to allegedly converting state funds to private use, Mr. Ikuforiji was further accused by the EFCC of signing off various sums of money under shady circumstances.

The commission said that they possess statements by other members of the House of Assembly and civil servants in the state legislature detailing such jamboree payments.

For instance, Bolaji Ayinla, a member representing Mushin Constituency 11, stated how, with the speaker’s approval, he collected N22 million in cash for members of the House of Assembly and the staff of the legislature for the 2011 Ramadan celebration.

Lambo Abosede, a civil servant, stated how she paid N7 million to Tell magazine in April 7, 2011.

Another civil servant, Toyin Atekoja, who works at the House’s Accounts Section stated that “various cash payments were made to various persons.”

According to the EFCC, Ms. Atekoja said that 14 members of the House each received N1,128,859, in cash, for the second conference and annual general meeting of Commonwealth Parliament Association held in Kigali, Rwanda.

Mr. Atoyebi allegedly collected, in cash, N3,313,721.90 on behalf of the speaker for the same purpose.

Okechukwu Okeke, the trial judge, fixed March 19, 20 and 21 for continuation of trial.
 

A lengthy trial

Mr. Ikuforiji and his aide were arraigned in March last year but the trial had witnessed several frustrating delays leading to opposition parties questioning the seriousness of the EFCC to prosecute the Lagos Speaker.

The prosecution failed to attend court proceedings twice in November, last year, forcing the court to adjourn.

The speaker, who had declared an interest to run for governor in the state, in 2015, was initially arraigned before Justice John Tsoho in December 2011.
Mr. Tsoho chose to opt out of the case for undisclosed reasons.

Although Mr. Okechukwu, the current judge is due for retirement in May; he turned down the EFCC’s application to stay the trial proceedings and re-assign the case to another judge.

The EFCC had stated that Mr. Adebayo is the first of the “numerous” witnesses it would produce to testify before the court.
If the trial does not end before Mr. Okechukwu’s retirement, it would be transferred to another judge who would begin afresh.

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460 Nigerians Deported… Evil atrocities of Mugabe Exposed

NIGERIANS in Zimbabwe are presently passing through hell and torture in the hands of Robert Mugabe’s security operatives who are bent of dealing with every Nigerians carrying ‘green passports’ legally resident in Harare due to the government’s hatred for Nigeria.

Over 460 Nigerians deported in 10 months
The documents in our hands from NIZ showed that over 460 Nigerians have been deported in the last 10 months. Lots of Nigerians have been remanded in prison in the last 12 months on Mugabe’s order.

Nigerians with legal permit cancelled
To show that there is more to this xenophobic as a result of envy and jealousy of Nigerians entrepreneurial spirit, Naija Standard gathered that Nigerians with legal permit to Harare have their permit cancelled on entry and deported most times with no genuine reason. Worst still, Nigerian owned businesses are forcefully taken over by government agents.

$250,000 spent on lawyers and tickets to deport Nigerians

Zimbabwe security agencies often force NIZ to cough out so far the sum of

$250,000 in a period of few years now to hire lawyers and buy air tickets for Nigerians whoa re eventually deported. In the exact words of Benson, President, NIZ in a statement sent to us entitled ‘How Nigerians are being treated in Zimbabwe’, he said: ‘When Nigerians are arrested, they are taken to remand prisons and are not allowed to visit or collect food from fellow Nigerians. This rule is for Nigerians alone from Zimbabwe immigration to the prison authority.”

Nigerian Woman, 32, Son, 8 months locked in Harare Remand Prison…for over 30 days

To the satanic security operatives, age is not a barrier to them to inflict the highest degree of suffering, inhumanity and frustration on Nigerians irrespective of the age. In a document made available to us by Nigerians in Zimbabwe (NIZ), a Nigerian woman of Igbo extraction, 32 years from Mbaise, Imo State was locked up in a remand prison in company of her

8 months old son for turning down ‘sexual advances’, whom Zimbabwe security agencies alleged to have defaulted in immigration processes. They spent a period of 45 days in underground cell.

Robert Mugabe is evil- Tendian Munya, a Zimbabwean

In Southern Africa, Mugabe is highly loathed for his wickedness, even among his own people. Tendian Munya, a Zimbabwean woman married to a Nigerian opened the Pandora box I an exclusive interview with us. Her

words: “Zimbabwean men use their women like condoms, impregnates them and abandon them with no respect. Only Nigerian men care. By the time Zimbabwe Immigration know you are married to a Nigerian man, they show their hatred to the Nigerian immediately. President Robert Mugabe is an evil having a man’s look. Our women live in fear daily. And they come under threat if a Nigerian man is involved. Our president and men use us (women) as they wish. They know how to divert our minds away. They only target our in-laws who are Nigerians married to us. Once Nigerians are mentioned, our security operatives rise like a wounded lion.

“My sister, Sibo, also married to a Nigerian man is suffering now; not only written on her face, but all over her body. We are only managing with the little money my in-laws’ relation in Nigeria send to us to survive. My sister’s first born is 13 years old girl, while her last born is 8 years old. Since 2000 that my sister got married to a Nigerian in Harare, the government has refused to issue a marriage certificate to her husband Mr.

Monday Munkwacha, after allowing him to spend fortune. Zimbabwean security and government have no feelings because they have a heart of stone.”

Messy deals of Nigerian Embassy in Zimbabwe…How he sells Nigerian out (Documents attached)

Nigerians greatest dilemma is Mamman Nuhu, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe who daily goes to Mugabe to pay obeisance and turn in ‘cooked-up indicting documents’ to incriminate his fellow Nigerians to earn accolades in Harare. Benson said “Nigeria Embassy support the Zimbabwe immigrations against Nigerians by supplying them with fictitious evidence to prosecute Nigerians in court. A test case is where a Zimbabwe Immigration Officer, Mr. Kondo went to the Nigerian Embassy to verify a certain Nigerian dual citizenship. The Embassy without any investigation gave the Zimbabwe immigration man a verification letter alleging that the said Nigerian have dual identity and that he is the same person.”

The Ambassador letter reads: “The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Zimbabwe and has the honour to refer to the latter’s Note Verbal No CX/A/190 of 19th January, 2012 and to hereby verify as follows:

‘That according to our records, the Nigerian citizen Anayochukwu Olisa alias Innocent Nwaolisa is the same person as reflected on the attached documents. Olisa is the shorter or abridged form of Nwaolisa which is in consonance with Nigerian tradition where names like Babatunde are shortened to Tunde among the Yoruba’s and Abdulrahman simply as Rahman among the Hausa ethnic group’. The embattled Nigerian went to court with a team of foreign lawyers and he won the case in Zimbabwe High Court. This was how Nigerian Ambassador to Zimbabwe was ridiculed in Harare.

Position of NIZ to Federal Government Delegate from Abuja

Benson said: “We told the delegate that the Zimbabwe immigration after their arrest of Nigerians will not bother to inform Nigerian Embassy and would hold on to the Nigerian passport for as long as possible, mostly to a period of eight months or more. Also, we told the delegate that Nigeria Embassy does not send representatives to court whenever Nigerians are taken to court nor do they follow court proceeding on any matter relating to Nigerians. We explained to the delegate that Ambassador Mamman Nuhu threatened to deport Nigerians who dare Nigerians that dare come to the embassy to demonstrate, since he has connections in Zimbabwe and Nigeria.

He claimed he is ready to deal with any one of us. After our maiden meeting with the delegate from Nigeria and staffers of the Nigeria Embassy, we requested to have another meeting with the delegate through the embassy which he turned down.

“We were told by Sani Bala, head of Federal Government delegate that the Nigeria Embassy cannot help us. In my opinion, the delegates are protecting Ambassador Nuhu and his officers. It is over 5 weeks the delegate came to Zimbabwe, till now they have not presented their reports.

On Maltreatment of Nigerians
The position of NIZ exposed the torture of Nigerians in Harare. Benson described it as this: “Nigerians are continually being maltreated by Zimbabwe Immigration. Most times, many Nigerians are arrested unlawfully and detained, after been severely beaten. Nigerians are being pressured to pay huge sums of money for legal representation. Zimbabwe Immigration refuses to honor court order in favor of Nigerians. Their immigration have wrongfully deported lawful Nigerians with legal permit by forcing Nigerians to pay a refundable deposit of $1000-$4000, which they never refund whenever they deport the Nigerian. Many Nigerians married to Zimbabwe ladies have been separated, families destroyed, children denied love and care of their fathers.”

Zimbabwe Media used as ‘hatchet job’ against Nigerians

‘Herald’, a state owned newspaper in Zimbabwe and few other privately owned publications are being used daily to ‘cook up bad stories’ against Nigerians in crime committed by nationalities of other African countries.

Their aim is to incite hatred and create possible xenophobia attack against Nigerians.

Names of Zimbabwe security officers who hate Nigerians

According to the documents with us, “Zimbabwe Immigration officers like Mr. Charamba, Mr. Mabika, Mrs. Lesley Chakauya, Mr. Evans Siziba, Mr.

Kondo and Mr. Prosper Kambarami are enemies of Nigeria. Siziba has just been transferred from their head office to Harare airport. For all these reasons, their security operatives give no respect for Nigerian diplomat.

Demand of NIZ to President Goodluck Jonathan

Benson’s letter reads: “Based on the attitude/behaviour of Zimbabwe Immigration and government to Nigerians, we are using this medium to call on President Goodluck Jonathan to order for reciprocation and break in bilateral relations with Zimbabwe. Ambassador Nuhu has not met with the generality of Nigerians, even after many calls and several invitations by leader of Nigerian community to hear their plight. 15,000 Zimbabweans in Nigeria make money mostly illegally and many of them are living in Abuja, Delta and Port-Harcourt illegally; yet they move freely. Nigerians here are subjected to inhuman treatment. The latest torture in Harare is their head of police telling Zimbabweans security to harass Nigerians. Almost any Nigerian caught without valid papers are forced to pay the sum of

$1000 as bribe. Lastly, we appeal that Nigeria’s minister of foreign affairs should invite the leaders of Nigerian community to hear more of this revelation from us.”

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How Fake Pastors Con Gullible Nigerians!

It has become an agreed fact that the only other business bigger than running a church in Nigeria is politics. No thanks to the intoxicating effects religion has on Nigerians which have gone a long way to prove that Karl Marx was not mistaken when he defined religion as “the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world and the soul of the soulless conditions. It is the opium of the masses.”

Unfortunately for the country, despite the increase in the number of religious centres, there has been a directly proportional increase in the rate of crimes and vices being perpetrated in the country; religious centres inclusive.

In some parts of Nigeria, five minutes walk from anywhere will lead one to a church. Investigations have however shown that not all the churches are genuine; some are no more than business centres and money-making ventures. To many Nigerians now, the surest ways of making big money lie in politics and religion.

Gone are the days when churches signposts had just a cross, the name of the church and the time and order of services. Signposts of churches have assumed more colourful dimensions and the trend nowadays is for the signpost to bear conspicuous pictures of the pastor in charge of the church and sometimes that of his wife beside him.

Street Journal has found out that most of the fake Pastors have become demi-gods to their congregations. While the Pastor is highly revered and referred to as “Papa”, regardless of his age, the wife is the “Mama” of the church. It won’t be wrong to state that some Christians no longer look up to Jesus Christ but to their pastors. Meanwhile, the days that Pastors were accessible to everyone are fast fading away. Some men of God no longer trust God with their security as they go about with stern looking bodyguards, they move around in convoys of vehicles, including escort and pilot vehicles. Some even fly in private jets, the presence of needy members in the congregation notwithstanding. It is even so bad in some cases that some Pastors no longer wipe sweat off their brows by themselves; there are people on ground whose job it is to do it for them.

Being a Pastor has become synonymous with looking good and Pastors have expensive designer wears stocked in their wardrobes, apart from wearing the best clothes, they ride in the best vehicles and live in the best apartments. The same cannot however be said of the members of the congregation. Findings have shown that many fake Pastors have founded churches mainly for commercial purposes and this is made possible by the fact that there are barely any regulations for setting up a church. Almost every Pastor has a similar story to tell, ask any Pastor what brought him into ministry and he will tell you “I heard a call”.

Street Journal’s investigations have revealed that there is hardly a clear cut distinction between the assets of the church and those of the Pastor. Though on paper, many things may seem to belong to the ministry, when checked however, it was discovered that lots of churches that sprang up lately have their founders as the heads of the Trustees of the church while their wives and other family members take the remaining trustee slots.

Though Jesus had warned about them in Matthew 7:15 when he said “beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves”, many Nigerians have unknowingly played into the hands of fake “Men of God” through their insatiable quest for miracles. Assurances from such Pastors have caused many to pray and wait for God to perform magic.  Many people have turned churches into miracle centres and they just pray without working towards the actualization of such prayers. The economic situation of the country has also not helped matters as people now seek spiritual solutions to all issues, even those that would be solved by hard work. Imagine people spending the time they should be at work on Prayer Mountains, praying to overcome hard times.

Incidentally, not only the poor seek spiritual solution. Pastors have celebrity clients for who they serve as “spiritual consultants.” While some of them attend churches boldly, others go in secret, under the cover of darkness. Street Journal has found out that the latter category comprises mainly of political office holders and aspirants. It has also been found out that some people who are known to be loyal members in their churches often visit other spiritual homes for solution to their problems.

Pastors get gifts of houses, cars and other rewards from “customers”.

It has been found out that the crop of fake Pastors in Nigeria capitalize on the needs of people to exploit them, using God’s name as a tool. In most of their churches, financial matters are not joked with. The scripture that says “give and it shall be given unto you” has become a major weapon for fake pastors to work on their unsuspecting congregation. Members are made to pay different kinds of offerings and sow all forms of “seed”. In some churches, those looking for spouses give “love offering”, while some other churches specify offerings for breakthroughs, favour and other things.

A lot of Pastors have since substituted God’s message for what the people want to hear. Prosperity has overridden salvation in the messages of “men of God”. Where they preach such messages, auditoriums are always filled to capacity. Even for lunch hour programmes, people leave their offices to attend “prosperity prayers”. The wave of prosperity is also spreading as it is winning more and more people by the day. Churches now have more branches than any company in the country.

Ignorance is fast taking its toll on Christians as some pray and just wait for the breakthrough to come and meet them just because they have given offerings. Some have even taken it to another dimension that the easiest way to get rich is to give to the church. “Jesus was not poor, my God is not a poor God”, Pastors now tell their congregation. Some even say “it is a sin to be poor” thus pointing out to the poor in the church that something is wrong with them.

The issue of sin is no longer addressed as “businessmen Pastors” know that the moment the issue is mentioned, most of those who make up the church will go away.  Members are thus at liberty to commit sins both in public and in private.

Another scripture that has become a major weapon in the arsenal of fake Pastors is Malachi 3:10. “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse that there might be meat in my house” they announce every Sunday. Meanwhile, not all members can say exactly what becomes of their tithes and offerings after the service.

Women who are “looking up to God for the fruit of the womb” seem to be the most vulnerable. Street Journal’s investigations revealed that most of them give their full cooperation and they do all that is requested of them. Many of them have ended up in the arms and beds of “men of God” in the name of looking for children.  For the want of children, many men do not object to their wives being bathed in their absence by Pastors in the name of anointing them.

Incidentally, it is increasingly becoming difficult to tell the real ones from the fakes. Everything that goes on in the real spirit-filled churches has been successfully copied by imposters and used to advantage. One of the main differences however is that in many of the fake churches, the Pastors hardly direct the hearts of their members towards heaven. They are simply focused on material benefits.

Fake pastors too conduct deliverance sessions, though the source of their powers cannot be readily ascertained. Some even go as far as presenting “doctored miracles”. For instance, a miracle was shown on television years ago, before media houses were barred from broadcasting such in Nigeria, a child who had been “blind” from birth was supposedly healed on the crusade ground. To confirm that a healing had indeed taken place, the Pastor asked the little boy the colour of his tie. “Blue”, the boy replied. The deafening shouts of “halleluyah” that followed were a clear indication that nobody in the congregation bothered to know how a boy who had been blind from birth was able to identify and name a colour.

Just last year, a journalist ran a documentary on Nigerian churches and expressed surprise that a man who he saw walking into the church unaided presented himself as a cripple during the miracle session. As expected, he was healed! The Pastor of the  churchinvolved proved a celebrity stunt recently when a purported video of where he healed an ailing Nollywood actor was posted on Youtube. In the video, he pulled the actor from the congregation to the front of the auditorium and prayed for him.

Surprisingly, unlike other miracles which had instant effects, the Pastor said the healed actor would be back on his feet in a matter days. Days have rolled into weeks and the actor is still bedridden in a hospital in Abuja.

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