Buhari owes Igbos no apology Over Appointments: -Nnabuchi, Buhari’s associate

Nnabuchi

Chief Nkwo Nnabuchi, former House of Representatives member and ex-Commissioner for Works and, later, Environment in Anambra State under Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju is an associate of President Muhammadu  Buhari, whom he met in the defunct  All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP)  12 years ago. In this Interview with ALPHONSUS EZE,  Nnabuchi speaks about the President’s anti-graft campaign, alleged lopsided appointments against the South East, and delayed appointment of cabinets among other issues. Excerpts: As a political associate of President Muhammadu Buhari, what kind of person is he?To start with, I came in contact with President Buhari in 2003, about 12 years now. And since then he has shown that he has character and that at no point in time did he participate in corruption as the former head of state , with all that goes with the office. We came together when I was in PDP, left the Government of Anambra State in 2000. I was not satisfied with the direction of PDP then. As ealy as 2000, I saw the direction of PDP and I left the PDP government. I finally left the party in 2001. And I needed something that is different from PDP. That was what took me to ANPP and that is where I met Buhari.
There has been strong criticism of President Buhari that his over 30 appointments were lopsided against   South East in particular and the entire Southern Nigeria. What is your take on that?He who must go to equity must go with clean hands. If you didn’t participate in baking the bread, why do you want to eat the bread or the product of the baker? The people of the South East put all their eggs in one basket and they all collapsed, so, they should not hold anybody responsible for their woes. Buhari owes nothing as far as that is concerned.
You are saying Buhari owes Igbos nothing?As far as that issue is concerned.
But people are saying that he should reflect the Federal Character principle in the constitution?First of all, what is Federal Character? What do you mean by Federal Character? Federal Character means ministerial appointments. Has he gotten to that stage? Federal Character means Federal Executive Council, has he gotten to that stage? When we got to the stage of Federal Executive Council, you can now talk of federal character. It is at the stage of Federal Executive Council, that we can talk of federal Character. We‘ve not gotten to that stage. And I know when we get to that stage, Igbos will get their own share.
But should it be winner take all. People thought he should pamper the zone with a view to establishing the party firmly in the zone.You are talking of what you don’t know. First, he made an Igbo man his running mate. Did Igbos support him? The second, running mate, an Igbo man. Did Igbos support him? What is making an in- road? When he made you a running mate, it is for you to embrace him. Did they embrace him? They didn’t embrace him. So, the issue of South East having a governor, yes.
We have an APC governor in Imo state. How many votes did he give to Mr President? Is there any place in Igbo land where the president got 24, 25 percent. It is where you have 25 percent, you can say this is my home, 25 percent is my home. Which place in Igbo land? No place, then why do you say, he is doing something extra-ordinary? That he is forgetting you, when you didn’t work? Why do you want to benefit from those that worked?
In other words the criticisms of Mr. President for not appointing Igbos are unwarranted?In the first place, those who are criticising Mr. President are naive. You must go to the table with something for you to bargain. When you don’t have something to bargain with, then what do you do?
What is the way forward for the South East?First of all, it is for them to realise their naivety in politics. For them to realise that they are pushing themselves from the corridors of power in Nigeria, instead of integrating themselves. And as long as they don’t know how to appreciate …… you see, they have not convinced me on why they should stampede Buhari. You have to convince me first on   why you should stampede Buhari. All these shuttling to Abuja, why did they not shuttle to Abuja, when the work was on? They are shuttling to Abuja when it is time to eat. They would have shuttled to him when the work was on for them to participate in working.
Alright, for some of you who worked; Dr. Chris Ngige. Ogbonnaya Onu, is it that President Buhari did not appreciate your contribution for his becoming the president of Nigeria?How many of them? How many Igbo leaders were frank to Igbos, putting their head for Buhari? How many? Then convince me people who wanted to put their heads for Buhari? None. They were seating on the fence and the game crashed. There is nothing anybody can do about it. I am not saying that Igbos should be neglected, but you must know what you should do before you can ask let me have my right. If you sell your right, you can’t have it back. You all went to Jona and Jona has crumbled, so crumble with Jona, why crying?
Let’s talk about Buhari’s anti- grant fight. From your knowledge of this President, do you think he can successfully execute this battle against corruption in Nigeria?
Well, he did it in 1984, 85. Why won’t he do it now? So far, so good. You see, when a leader is not corrupt, then he can force his followers not to be corrupt. But when you are swimming in corruption, you cannot force anybody not to be corrupt. That was the problem of Jonathan. That was the problem of Obasanjo. They themselves were part of the system.
And you cannot tell somebody, see when I give you a pen, you can go behind me and get two pens and get away with what you want to do. Do you understand what I am saying? When I give you a kobo, you can get behind me and get two or 20 kobo. Do you understand what I am trying to say? So, whatever, it is not your own cup of tea. So far, he has shown what he wants.
But his critics said that he has not been following due process and that he is bringing his military mentality to clamp people into detention?
Hold on, has he detained anybody?
They made reference to the immediate National Security Adviser (NSA), Jonathan’s CSO and others?Has he detained anybody? NSA is a different ball game. It borders on the security of the state .All these corrupt leaders, has he detained any of them? The NSA borders on the security of the country and we cannot talk on that my friend. Can you talk on that? Why are you telling me about critics?
 Why people are saying that he cannot fight corruption is that he is surrounded by the corrupt people who funded his election including governors of APC who allegedly used their state’s money to fund his campaign and could not pay their civil servants?Don’t talk what you don’t know. Did Buhari tell you that governors sponsored his election? Did he tell you that? Why are you making that reference? You see, don’t mind what these governors are saying about this and about that. Did governors sponsor his election? You should say what Mr. President said and not what you said Mr. President did.
Two, those people who are corrupt, how many have managed to get their way into Mr. President’s cabinet. If none has done so, why do you think he cannot fight corruption? Okay, do you understand what I am saying? Those who are saying we surrounded Buhari, how many of them are   in his kitchen cabinet? How many of them have come close to him on that issue? Then, why are you complaining?
Do you think that in spite of his military background and promises, he can successfully bring insurgency to an end in the North East?The issue I know of insurgents began in 2003, when the PDP wanted the then Governor of Borno State to checkmate the right to power of Muhammed Buhari because what happened was between Obasanjo and Sheriff in 2003. Obasanjo used Sheriff against Buhari in 2003 elections and subsequent elections. If 2003 to 2015 is about 20 years, what do you expect Buhari to do within two months? Ordinarily, three months should be in planning stage, six months is still planning stage.
It is after one year, that you can say, you can asses Buhari, how far have we gone? It is too early to say, but then, so far so good. You have now seen that most of the things that happened during Jonathan, that the military participated in Boko Haram insurgency. Do you understand what I am trying to say? So, it is now that you have to move military from Boko Haram and what you are or who you are fighting against or what you are fighting for. That is the first step he has to take and that is the step he is taking now, to separate the military from Boko Haram and then know how to fight the warrior and to clean up the system. It is too early to say he is not winning. But so far, we are seeing signs.
Would you say arms bought during Jonathan administration is part of separation of the military from insurgency?If you give the nation the impression that you are buying arms to fight the insurgents and the arms are not bought or when the arms were bought they ended up in the hands of insurgents. What do you want Buhari to do? You go back to the military. You go back to the military. The solution is the military.
Buhari is said not to be strong in the economic management. By now, he should have economic team. What is your take?You must do first thing first. At the time he took over, the government had collapsed. And you cannot talk about economy when you don’t have something to stand on. You must have something to stand on. He has not in place his cabinet because of the same criteria. He is trying to shore up his government so that he can put up his cabinet. And when he has a cabinet in place, he can have economic team. You cannot have economic team without having a cabinet.
Why is it taking Buhari four months to set up his cabinet?Well, as I told you, I must be grateful to him. He has done so well. The system collapsed by May 29. And you cannot put a cabinet in place based on nothing. There must be money to pay ministers. There must be money to sustain the cabinet. And he is looking for that money for his government to take-off. And that is what he is doing now; he is trying to gather some money into the treasury that will enable him put in place a cabinet.
You know a cabinet is a bit expensive to run. And there must be money for ministers to take off. And if that money is not there, then it is difficult. Two, he has a very serious problem in picking his cabinet. The names of those people from the party, the names of those people from so many areas, when they were subjected to credibility test, more than 80 percent failed. So, you have to go through the process two or three times to have enough team to work. Two: the uncertainty in the National Assembly has not helped the issue.
If we can talk about fraud at the highest level of the legislative body of the country, then there is cause to worry for those concerned. I think you understand what I am trying to say? So, anybody blaming him for not putting the cabinet in place before now, maybe the person does not understand the problems, the handicaps, the impediments. So, as far as I am concerned, I am 100 percent in support of his programme. Let’s give him some time to put things in order before he takes off.
 

Nigerian Army accuses top Northern politicians and elders of sabotaging efforts On Boko Haram in the country.

The Nigerian Army has accused top Northern politicians and elders of sabotaging efforts of its men to end activities of insurgents, Boko Haram in the country.


In a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, the army informed the public of the activities of the Borno elders to scuttle the ongoing fight against terrorism in the country.“The Nigerian Army wishes to inform the public and send a very strong and serious final warning to some prominent individuals and political groups who hail from Borno State in particular and North East generally, that there is information of plans by some highly placed individuals and political groups to undermine and scuttle the fight against terrorism and insurgency in this country," the statement began.


'The unscrupulous individuals and their cohorts are determined to reverse the gains made and scuttle our efforts of achieving the Presidential directive to defeat Boko Haram terrorists within 3 months.'They are enlisting the services of some Non-Governmental Organizations in this grand design. “It has come to our knowledge that they are employing all means to see that our operation does not succeed in order for them to continue to enjoy certain benefits.


'It has been revealed that they are employing the services of marabouts and other unethical means in order to frustrate our efforts and the operations in addition to campaigns of calumny. “We are aware of their clandestine meetings and other diabolical efforts to achieve their nefarious aims and this will not be tolerated.'Therefore, such individuals and groups should be warned in unmistakable terms that anyone found will be dealt with accordingly. People should place the interest of the nation above any personal gain or ambition,' the statement read in full.

Putin Set To Strike ISIS - Islamic State Without U.S.

© Pavel Golovkin Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, right, walk together to take part in the re-opening ceremony of the newly restored Moscow…

(Bloomberg) -- President Vladimir Putin, determined to strengthen Russia’s only military outpost in the Middle East, is preparing to launch unilateral airstrikes against Islamic State from inside Syria if the U.S. rejects his proposal to join forces, two people familiar with the matter said.

Putin’s preferred course of action, though, is for America and its allies to agree to coordinate their campaign against the terrorist group with Russia, Iran and the Syrian army, which the Obama administration has so far resisted, according to a person close to the Kremlin and an adviser to the Defense Ministry in Moscow.

Russian diplomacy has shifted into overdrive as Putin seeks to avoid the collapse of the embattled regime of Bashar al- Assad, a longtime ally who’s fighting both a 4 1/2 year civil war and Sunni extremists under the banner of Islamic State. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Moscow for talks with Putin on Monday, followed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday.

Sidelining Assad

Putin’s proposal, which Russia has communicated to the U.S., calls for a “parallel track” of joint military action accompanied by a political transition away from Assad, a key U.S. demand, according to a third person. The initiative will be the centerpiece of Putin’s one-day trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 28, which may include talks with President Barack Obama.

“Russia is hoping common sense will prevail and Obama takes Putin’s outstretched hand,” said Elena Suponina, a senior Middle East analyst at the Institute of Strategic Studies, which advises the Kremlin. “But Putin will act anyway if this doesn’t happen.”

Putin’s military buildup in Syria in recent weeks has alarmed U.S. officials who are still outraged by his annexation of Crimea and support for the insurgency in Ukraine, which prompted the American and European sanctions that have helped push Russia’s economy into recession.

The U.S. is willing to discuss coordinating strikes to avoid hostile incidents with Russian planes, but America and its allies haven’t received a “concrete” proposal from Moscow and won’t include Assad’s forces in the effort, an official in Washington said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, didn’t respond immediately to a text message seeking comment.

Fighter Jets

Russia has sent two dozen fighter jets to a new airfield near Assad’s ancestral home of Latakia and deployed hundreds of servicemen to the airbase and a nearby port, according to satellite images and media reports in Moscow. The Kremlin said last week that Russia may enter combat operations if the government in Damascus requests help.

Any armed intervention by Russia will be coordinated with Iran, Syria’s main ally, and Assad’s government, the Defense Ministry adviser said.

The Kremlin has already drafted a request for the upper house of parliament to approve the deployment of 2,000 air personnel to Syria, but has yet to formally submit it, two people familiar with the matter said. Putin is frustrated with U.S. reticence to respond to his overtures and is ready to act alone in Syria if necessary, one of them said.

Putin, who came to power fighting Islamist separatists in the Caucasus in 1999, has reason to fear the rise of jihadists in Syria. Their numbers include about 2,000 Russian-speakers, according to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow, raising the threat of attacks inside Russia.

U.S. ‘Receptive’

U.S.-led coalition airstrikes are estimated to have stripped Islamic State of about 30 percent of the territory it once held. Still, the group retains control of about half of Syria and key provinces in neighboring Iraq. Fighting in Syria has traumatized the Middle East, killing at least 250,000 people and provoking hundreds of thousands of people to seek refuge in Europe.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday the U.S. has become more “receptive” to Moscow’s position. The U.S. has tempered two planks of its Syrian policy -- that Assad must step down immediately and that it won’t negotiate with his government, according to comments made by Secretary of State John Kerry on Sept. 17.

The next day, the U.S. and Russian defense chiefs held direct talks for the first time since the conflict in Ukraine started. They agreed to continue dialog to prevent clashes between their forces in Syria.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, which is arming Syrian rebels, is ready to accept the Russian proposal that Assad stay on as president during a transitional period if he is stripped of his powers, according to Anwar Eshki, a retired Saudi general who heads the Middle East Center for Strategic and Legal Studies in Jeddah.

Russia’s involvement in Syria will help bring stability to the region and bolster the chances of defeating Islamic State, Eshki said by phone. The Syrian opposition should “put its hand in Russia’s hand,” he said.

--With assistance from Nicole Gaouette in Washington.

To contact the reporters on this story: Henry Meyer in Moscow at hmeyer4@bloomberg.net; Donna Abu-Nasr in Beirut at dabunasr@bloomberg.net; Ilya Arkhipov in Moscow, Russia, at iarkhipov@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Balazs Penz at bpenz@bloomberg.net; James Hertling at jhertling@bloomberg.net Brad Cook

El-Rufai Linked to Some Properties/ Saraki’s Arraignment:

Senate President, Bukola Saraki

•   25 Senators, Ekweremadu, Ben Bruce, Wamaka show solidarity

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja
The Senate President, Olubukola Saraki, after an unsuccessful attempt to challenge the jurisdiction of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to put him under criminal trial, began his defence against the 13-count false asset declaration charge.
Prosecution counsel led by Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) briefed the tribunal how the accused person, while in office as the executive governor of Kwara State, filled four different assets declaration forms with the first one in 2003, the second in 2007, third also in 2007 while the fourth was filled in 2011 when he left office as a governor.
Jacobs also alleged that the Senate President made anticipatory assets declaration including two houses allegedly sold to him by the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

THISDAY gathered that El-Rufai had allegedly provided the receipts and documents, which indicated that Saraki purchased those buildings from him anticipatorily. Rotimi further said that the Senate President in some cases failed to declare others acquired while he was the governor.At the resumed hearing on Ti\uesday, Saraki faulted the tribunal on the alleged falsification of asset criminal charges brought against him by the Federal and as well denied the 13-count charges against him.
The Senate President who came in the company of other Senators including the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu,  used his arraignment to open up, to express shock with the issues being raised against him because he was seeing them for the first time in his life.He told the CCT that he was being brought for trial because of his new status as Senate President. He said he has come to honour the invitation on his own volition as a law abiding citizens who believe in the rule of law, adding that he has nothing to hide.He said: “I am one of the strongest believers in the rule of law. I am a law abiding citizen and my faith in the judiciary remains unshaken but when trial is being instigated outside the purview of normal procedure then the tribunal must watch it and must be on the side of justice."The Chairman, I am happy that the Senate ruled in Section 3(d) that if there is a breach of the conduct the accused will be called to verify if such properties belongs to the accused before he will be brought for trial.""We are all here and the whole world is watching when we said we are in new Nigeria. I want to state here that I am not guilty."Shortly after the first of the 13-count charges was read to him, Saraki denied them in their entirety when his plea was taken and was allowed home on bail without any condition.However, the accused informed the tribunal that those putting him on trial, specifically the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) even violated its own law with its deliberate refusal to first invite him (Saraki) for clarifications in the discrepancies in his assets declaration forms as provided for under section 6 of the CCB Act 2004.
He asked the tribunal to act in the best interest of Justice and not in favour of external forces that were out to fight him on vendetta.

Chief Cletus Ojukwu, Kidnapped, suspects demand N50m ransom for his freedom.

Kidnappers of a popular Minna, Niger State-based hotelier and Director of Phoenix Hotel Limited, Chief Cletus Ojukwu, who whisked him away from his hotel located in the heart of Minna, the Niger State capital, have placed a N50 million ransom for his release.

The armed men, six in number, stormed the house of their victim, located directly behind the hotel in Tunga area, at about 8:30pm on Monday and held everyone in the house hostage before he was taken away to an unknown destination.

A family source, Donatus Ojukwu, who witnessed how their bread winner was taken away, told our correspondent that the kidnappers wanted to go away with the man and his wife but the vehicle did not contain them.
It could be recalled that an uncle to the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in the state, Hon. Umaru Nasko, was kidnapped from his residence in Nasko, Magama Local Government Area of the state, but was later rescued in Kebbi State.
This brings to two the number of kidnap cases so far recorded in the state in the last three months.
Meanwhile the kidnappers of Ojukwu have placed a N50 million ransom for his release.
They are in touch with the family.
When contacted the Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Police Command, ASP Bala Elkana, confirmed the kidnap of the Anambra State born businessman.
Elkana said the police is on top of the situation.
He disclosed that the police is doing everything possible to ensure that he is rescued alive, saying that the family of the victim is in touch with the kidnappers.

Chief of Army Staff Lt General Tukur Buratai,describes Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, as a mere noise maker

 

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, on Monday, described the alleged leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, as a mere noise maker trying to sound relevant.Answering questions from newsmen in Abuja after declaring open the Chief of Army Staff third quarter conference in Abuja, he declared that as far as the army was concerned, Shekau is not relevant even if at all there is anybody like him.The army chief, who was reacting to the latest audio message, debunking the reported negotiation with his group, said that if Shekau was relevant, why are the terrorists escaping from their camps and surrendering themselves to the military.“They are just making noise to be relevant and a number of issues are being worked out for the escaping terrorists to be received,” he said.Speaking on the Chibok girls, General Buratai disclosed that they are making all effort to ensure that they clear the terrorists and thereafter free the girls.According to him, “we are suspecting that the Chibok girls are somewhere and we are yet to confirm and once that is done, we will attempt to see what we can do to bring them back in peace.”On the over 3,000 soldiers that were convicted for cowardice by the military court martials set up by the former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General KTJ Minimah, General Buratai disclosed that they had all been deployed to the north east and joined in the combat operations.Also whether the soldiers will get paid for the period they were dismissed, the army boss said they would not be paid, but will start earning their salary from the day they started re-training.

Buhari orders Inspector-General of Police, security agencies to produce Falae

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Inspector-General of Police, solomon Arase, and the security agencies to take necessary actions to ensure the safe and speedy rescue of Chief Olu Falae.
This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.
Falae was abducted at his farm on Monday by gunmen, who demanded N100 million as ransom.
The abductors later reduced the ransom to N90 million but Falae’s family said they could only raise N2 million.
Buhari condemned “the callous and reprehensible kidnapping of the former secretary to the government of the federation and elder statesman.
He assured Falae’s family, friends and other concerned Nigerians that the Federal Government would do its utmost to ensure Falae’s release.
The president, who was earlier briefed on the latest development on the abduction saga by relevant security agencies, requested constant updates from the police and security agencies on efforts to find and rescue Falae.
He also denounced the recurring incidents of abductions in the country.
The president assured that ongoing efforts to ensure security of lives and property in the country would continue.

Sylva’s Purported Emergence As APC Guber Candidate A Joke, Oshiomhole Says

Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has described the purported emergence of former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, as the All Progressive Congress gubernatorial candidate in the state as a “huge joke”.

The Edo governor was the Chairman of a 7-member electoral committee set up by the national leadership of APC to conduct the governorship primaries in Bayelsa State.According to Oshiomhole, Sylva was not declared winner of the primaries, hence no Certificate of Return was issued to him.Speaking to reporters in Benin City, the Edo State capital, Gov. Oshiomhole said the purported emergence of Sylva would not alter the rules of the party.He noted that other aspirants agreed to follow the guidelines released by the national leadership of the party, but Sylva insisted that the primaries should be conducted in flagrant disobedience to those guidelines.He said Sylva insisted that it was wrong for the national secretariat of the APC to conduct the primaries and that it was the function of the party leadership in the state.“By the way Sylva conducted himself, it shows that he does not have faith in this democratic process. Sylva insisted that he founded APC in Bayelsa State and therefore he cannot understand why people who didn’t fund the party have this right to contest on the platform of the party”, Oshiomhole said.He continued: “The reported election of Sylva is a joke because I am the returning officer in that primaries and which is why I function as the Chairman of the Election Committee. The next person is the Secretary. Neither the Secretary nor myself announced any result. It is customary that when election is conducted, the winner of the election is issued a Certificate of Return. As far as I know no such certificate was issued.”“If a member of the committee purport they are now selling results; that is their funeral. That does not in any way alter the rules of the party. Sylva can declare himself but none of this can substitute for due process which the party is committed to. Anybody who wanted to do a shoddy job will not ask people like me to be part of that exercise because I cannot be used for fraud.“The committee was virtually held hostage including my humble self. These thugs were supervised by one of the aspirants, Mr. Timipre Sylva. Sylvia said to my face that we cannot leave the venue of the exercise unless we carry out the exercise without accreditation as prescribed by the National Secretariat.“Sylva told me that the committee will not leave unless we were ready to conduct the primaries without recourse to accreditation. I was not in a position to amend the guidelines nor was I ready to submit to intimidation.“When it was clear that they had mobilized the thugs and the thugs in collaboration with the police took over the stadium, the police left the stadium open and it made the thugs gained access into the venue.“I have to call on Abuja to prevail on the JTF to provide me with security to leave the venue of the primaries. The thugs have effectively blocked the gate under the instructions of Sylva”.

Senator Godswill Akpabio returns from a medical trip to the United Kingdom

source: The Nation

Senator Godswill Akpabio has returned from a medical trip to the United Kingdom. The former Governor of Akwa Ibom State traveled abroad for treatment following a car crash which he was involved in last month.

Akpabio, who is currently the Minority Leader of the Senate, was involved in a car accident on his way to the airport to catch an international flight on August 31. His car ran into a convoy of some United State’s embassy officials while trying to beat the traffic light.

Although the occupants of the vehicles in the convoy of the US embassy and Akpabio’s driver did not sustain any injury but the senator suffered some injuries in the chest region.

The accident reportedly happened near the Bolingo Hotel, along Abuja Airport Road, in the Central Business District of the FCT, from where he was rushed to the National Hospital, Abuja for an intensive care.

NDLEA MOVES IN ON ARIK OVER CREW MEMBER'S ARREST IN LONDON

 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Wednesday stormed and occupied the Lagos house of Chika Egwu Udensi, a crew member of the Arik Air flight W3101, who was arrested with 20 kilogrammes of cocaine at the London Heathrow Airport.The NDLEA moved to the house after they had interrogated pilots and flight attendants of the flight that left the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos for London on Monday night. The interrogation lasted for several hours at the NDLEA head office in Lagos.It was gathered that soon after the interrogation, the NDLEA moved to the suspect’s house in the Ejigbo area of Lagos State.A source, who did not say if there were occupants in the house, said that the NDLEA men were “currently occupying the house, and we will not leave here until we get all the evidence that we want.”It was gathered that although the operatives had seized the suspect’s Range Rover, the NDLEA was still of the opinion that Udensi had other property.The source said, ‘We are investigating if he has other property in Lagos or elsewhere. Some of them (suspected drug courier) live simple lives, but have other valuables stashed everywhere. We are searching for incriminating documents.”On the interrogation, the NDLEA in a statement said the entire crew members including some support staff that worked on the flight before it departed Lagos appeared before narcotic investigators at the Ikoyi headquarters of the agency.They include two pilots and members of the cabin crew comprising an Australian and a South African.The statement by the NDLEA spokesperson, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, read in part, “The invitation which was made by the agency was swiftly complied with by the management of Arik Air.“The crew members were conveyed to the NDLEA office in an official bus belonging to Arik Air. This is part of ongoing investigation to determine their level of involvement in the smuggling of 20 kg of cocaine found with Chika Egwu Udensi, a member of the cabin crew in London.“The latest Range Rover car belonging to the prime suspect parked on the airline’s premises had also been moved to the NDLEA office as exhibit.”Ofoyeju also confirmed that the operatives went to the attendant’s house, adding, “Wait till tomorrow (Thursday). We will make a comprehensive statement on it.”Meanwhile, the Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, NDLEA, Mr. Ahmadu Giade, was said to have promised to carry out an elaborate investigation into the ongoing case, stressing that all persons involved would be exposed and prosecuted.“The agency has made remarkable progress in it counter-narcotic efforts and will resist any act capable of reversing the gains so far recorded,” he said.However, findings revealed that the NDLEA and other aviation security officials were seriously grilling an Arik staff member working in the catering department who is believed to have assisted the suspect.Security officials, it was learnt, believed that the suspect was assisted by some staff members of Arik catering department to move the 20 kilogrammes of cocaine into the aircraft.One of the top security officials, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said, “Security officials believe strongly that the 20kgs of cocaine might have been moved into the aircraft through the Arik’s catering department. There is a prime suspect in that department that is being interrogated specially.“Normally, staff members of the catering department carrying foods from the airline office to the aircraft are not usually screened. Officials believe the bags containing the 20kgs of cocaine may have been taken through this route.”“The reason for this is that there is a machine that searches the cabin crew members at the airline’s office before they go to the airport terminal to board the plane. So if the suspect carried it himself, he may have been caught. A major suspect in the catering department is going through series of interrogation.”

As Corruption allegations Mounts : Amaechi fights back

Immediate past governor of Rivers State Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has dragged before an Abuja High court, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party chairman in Rivers State, Felix Obuah and two others over false allegations of foreign accounts ownership and funds embezzlement against him.
It would be recalled that in a press statement from the PDP, Rivers State chapter on August 6 and August 21, 2015, the party had alleged that Amaechi stole the sum of $757million or N80 billion of Rivers State public funds and stashed them away in an account in his name in Bancorp Bank in Minnesota, United States of America

The PDP also alleged that Amaechi had embezzled millions of dollars of Rivers State money and stashed the money in other foreign accounts in his name, including in a bank in Switzerland.
The PDP claimed that the various Amaechi foreign accounts were revealed and blown open by Christiane Amanpour of America’s Cable News Network (CNN). The PDP went further to claim that Bancorp Bank, Minnesota had written to President Muhammadu Buhari that part of the funds was to purchase a residence for Amaechi in America and that they (Bancorp Bank) intend to return the stolen funds to Nigeria.
However, in this fresh suit filed before an Abuja High court, (FCT), Amaechi stated that each of the said malicious publications by the defendants (PDP, Felix Obuah and two others) “are untrue, false, motivated by ill-will and without any foundations in truth whatsoever and further avers that the defendants made the said libellous publications after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) failed the Presidential election and with a view to rubbishing him in the eyes of right thinking members of the society and the persons to whom the said libellous publications have been made.”
In his statement of claims in the suit, Amaechi averred that he did not steal the sum of $757million or N80 billion of Rivers State public funds and did not stash them away in Bancorp Bank in Minnesota in United States of America or stashed any State public funds in Switzerland.
And that the Bancorp Bank in Minnesota in United States of America did not at any time reveal that the plaintiff (Amaechi) embezzled or misappropriated or connived in the embezzlement and misappropriation of monies meant for Rivers State people in the sum of $757million or N80 billion and stashed them away in his name with Bancorp Bank in Minnesota in United States of America.
Amaechi averred that: “the Bancorp Bank, Minnesota, United States did not write and did not communicate President Muhammadu Buhari over any said sum of $757 million dollars allegedly looted by the plaintiff (Amaechi) that is kept with it and in Switzerland since no such money was ever looted by the plaintiff (Amaechi).
“There exists no letter which the befendants (PDP, Felix Obuah and two others) had seen written to President Muhammadu Buhari, by Bancorp Bank, Minnesota, United States confirming the existence, lodgement or transfer with the said Bancorp Bank and in Switzerland of the said sum in the name of the plaintiff (Amaechi) since no such monies were ever looted by the plaintiff.
“The plaintiff (Amaechi) did not steal monies belonging to Rivers State and did not lodge them in any private foreign accounts. The plaintiff did not admit that he lodged and domiciled in his name in an account in Bancorp Bank, Minnesota, United States any monies as alleged by the defendants. The plaintiff did not lodge any sum of $757 million or N80billion in the said bank account belonging to him and none was revealed or blown open by Christiane Amanpour of CNN.”
Amaechi further stated that ever since the said invidious, insidious and vitriolic malicious libellous publications by the PDP and Felix Obuah to the general public, he has been inundated, bombarded and confronted by several persons who expressed lack of respect, loss of faith in him and who no longer regard him as trustworthy and now view him as a common criminal. That he has been confronted by persons who offer him disrespect arising from the false accusations, even though he denied committing the several heinous offences which the PDP and Felix Obuah falsely and maliciously accuse him of committing.
“By the several said publications the plaintiff (Amaechi) has been seriously injured in his credit, character and reputation and has been brought into public scandal, odium, contempt and his person, character and integrity lowered in the estimation of right thinking members of the society; the said publications are false and most disparaging of the person of the Plaintiff.
“The defendants (PDP, Felix Obuah and two others) have widely further circulated the said malicious publications to the general public in the internet; these wide and general circulations of the said malicious publications have exposed the person of the plaintiff (Amaechi) to very heavy and irredeemable ridicule, public odium, contempt and disparagement in the eyes of right thinking and reasonable members of the society including the persons already pleaded and other persons yet unknown and who will also be called upon to testify in this proceedings.
“The defendants (PDP, Felix Obuah and two others) have continued with the republication, recirculation and widespread republishing and distribution of the said libellous publications to the general public through the internet leading to deluge of inquiries from the general public and well wishers who have severally confronted the plaintiff (Amaechi) with the very wild allegations of the defendants and to which plaintiff denied any looting or ownership of any looted funds or looting of public funds of Rivers State.”
Amaechi stated that he served Rivers State with distinction, initiated and completed numerous public projects and undertook other public infrastructure projects; and has never been convicted by any court with either stealing or embezzlement of public funds anywhere in Rivers State or Nigeria or anywhere in the world.
Against PDP, Felix Obuah and two others, Amaechi is seeking the sum of N300, 000, 000, 000.00 for general damages done to him and defamation of his character, reputation and person.

Senate President Saraki Appears before CCT, granted bail, barred from using Presidential Villa gate!

The embattled Nigerian Senate President, Bukola Saraki appeared before the Code of Conduct Tribunal,on Tuesday, where he pleaded not guilty to a 13-count charge against him. He was granted bail as both the prosecution and defence agreed on October 21, 22 and 23 adjournments for the main trial.

Justice Danladi Umar, Chairman of the Tribunal, then adjourned sitting to allow Saraki receive proper brief of the 13-count charge against him.

In charge number ABT/01/15, dated September 11 and filed before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Saraki is accused of offences which include anticipatory declaration of assets, false declaration of assets in forms he filed before the Code of Conduct Bureau while he was governor of Kwara state.Other charges are that the Senate President failed to declare some assets he acquired while in office as governor.Among other offences, including allegedly acquiring assets beyond his legitimate earnings, Saraki is also accused of operating foreign accounts while being a public officer – governor and senator.The offences, the charge said, violated sections of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.Saraki is also said to have breached Section 2 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and punishable under paragraph 9 of the said Fifth Schedule of the Constitution.The charges were prepared by M.S. Hassan, a deputy director in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.In another development, there was a mild drama on Tuesday morning between the convoy of Senate President, Bukola Saraki and stern-looking security operatives who were drafted to guard the Presidential villa gate as early as 6 am.The operatives pointedly told the Senate President’s convoy to turn back and enter through the main gate from Federal Secretariat, stressing that their stance was on the basis of “an order from above”.

Revenge porn site operator who charged his victims $350 to remove nude pictures has his sentence reduced from 18 years to eight

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Kevin Bollaert, 29, has had his 18-year sentence for operating a 'revenge porn' website reduced to eight years in prison followed by 10 years of mandatory supervision

A judge has reduced the sentenced of a San Diego man who was convicted of operating a ‘revenge porn’ website and then charging victims to remove their nude pictures and personal information.

Kevin Bollaert, 29, was convicted of 21 counts of identity theft and six counts of extortion in San Diego Superior Court in February.

He was later sentenced to 18 years in prison in county jail under California’s public safety realignment law.

But on Monday, Superior Court judge adjusted Bollaert’s sentence to eight years in prison, to be served in a local jail, followed by 10 years of mandatory supervision.

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The decision, which the judge described as a difficult one, will reduce the time Bollaert spends behind bars but will keep him on probation for a decade after his release.

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Three victims, Emily (left), Natlie Coco (center) and Megan Borash (right) spoke out on how having their pictures and information posted on the website affected them

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Bollaert ran a website called ugotposted.com where jilted lovers and hackers could anonymously post nude pictures of men and women without their consent - along with their names and other information, such as where they live and work.

More than 10,000 images – mainly of women – were posted on the site between December 2012 and September 2013.

Victims of 'Revenge Porn' exploitation speak out

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Bollaert broke down in tears at his sentencing hearing in San Diego earlier this year. He was given 18 years at the time, with the judge saying the sentence accurately reflected the amount of victims he hurt

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Some of the victims appeared in court, anonymously, to read victim impact statements with of them saying their lives had been irrevocably ruined by Bollaert and his site

And when victims contacted ugotposted.com, they were directed to Bollaert’s other site – changemyreputation.com – where they were told they would have to pay hundreds of dollars to have their pictures removed.

In some cases, the compromising images of victims, which included wives and teachers, cost them their jobs, damaged relationships and led to one attempted suicide.

Investigators found that Bollaert received thousands of distressed emails from his victims, one who said she was 'scared for my life'. 

The criminal complaint named more than two dozen people as victims, one of whom claimed she was thrown out of her home after her family found out nude photos had been posted of her.

'It ruined my life and I'm still going through it,' she testified. 'I lost my family. They think that I brought shame on them. My reputation is ruined.' 

Bollaert earned about $900 in ad revenue from the websites and collected about $30,000 from victims, who were each charged between $250 and 4350 to take down the explicit content.  

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Victim Megan Borash said that after the guilty verdict came in she realized that what she did was not wrong and that she was 'not ashamed of what' she did+

His case was the first time a person had been tried for running a revenge porn ring in the United States.

On Monday, his laywer argued local jail is not suitable for Bollaert as programs that could help his rehabilitation are not available there and asked the judge to reconsider the new sentence.

Deputy Public Defender Emily Rose-Weber told the judge that all her client can do at the George Bailey Detention Facility is read, watch television, attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings or enrol in a general education program.

She said Bollaert, who already has a high school diploma, has been told correspondence courses to complete his college degree are not available in local jails.

Both Rose-Weber and the judge had initially believed Bollaert would be sent to a jail where he could participate in education or vocational programs, the Union-Tribune reported.

However, he is not eligible for the programs due to the length of his sentence.

But prosecutors argued against sentencing defendants based on how jails are run.

Deputy Attorney General Tawnya Boulan Austin added Bollaert’s victims would be serving a sentence ‘for the rest of their lives’.