JTF captures Boko Haram leader Bama in gun battle

US puts Shekau, two others on ‘terrorist’ list

After a three-month search, the Joint Task Force (JTF) has arrested a Boko Haram leader, Habib Bama, who is believed to be the  architect of some key bombings.                          

Bama, a dismissed Army Private,  allegedly coordinated bombings in Mogadishu Barracks, the Police Headquarters, the UN Building, St Theresa’s Catholic Church at Madalla and many in Jos.                    

The JTF, comprising the State Security Service (SSS), the military and the police, stormed Bama’s operational base in Damaturu, it was learnt. There was a shoot-out in which he was fatally wounded. Bama was being interrogated, as at press time, in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.                           

He may be moved to Abuja, if his condition improves, source said.                               

Bama’s arrest came on a day the United States put the group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau and two others on the “terrorist” list.                                                         

A top JTF source said: “One of the cell-leaders of Boko Haram in the Federal Capital Territory, Suleja-Jos axis, was shot this afternoon in Damaturu by the Joint Task Force (JTF).

 “He was critically wounded. We are still extracting words from him.

“He was declared wanted by security agents after the Madalla church bomb blast.” 

The manhunt for Bama started on February 15 when the SSS declared him wanted. 

A statement by the SSS Deputy Director, Ms Marilyn Ogar, said the suspect committed crimes against the state. 

The statement said: “Habibu Bama is hereby declared wanted by the Federal Government in connection with crimes against the State. 

“Bama is an ex-soldier, Kanuri by tribe and hails from Bama, Borno State . He is also known by the following names;( i )Habib Bama; (ii) Shuaibu Bama; and (iii) Habib Mamman. 

“Members of the public with any information that could lead to his arrest are hereby implored to immediately contact the nearest Police Station, Military formation or any other security agency, please.” 

There was no official reaction from Boko Haram as at press time on the arrest of Bama.

Bama was captured at the market, dependable military sources said.

The source said Bama, apparently affected by the curfew, was at the market and bought food items like  Irish Potatoes and yam when he was captured along with two of his boys, by soldiers on patrol.

The source said the arrest of Bama was accidental because a soldier who was Bama’s neighbor during his military days saw him at the market while on patrol.

Bama was reported to have attempted to collect the gun from one of the soldiers but four soldiers overpowered him after shooting him in the leg.

It was gathered that his boys, who were guarding his car took to their heels and escaped.

Other sources said he was arrested after a fierce gun battle with operatives of the Joint Task Force when he was trying to sneak out of Damaturu town.

Top military sources said he was badly hit by bullets.

Damaturu residents who were coming out of their houses after the relaxation of the 24 hours curfew, were forced to return home as security operatives discovered an un-detonated bomb near First Bank Plc branch office along Gashua road.

The police anti-bomb squad immediately cordoned the area and got the lethal device de-wired.

By Yusuf Alli, Abuja and Duku Joel                       Courtesy Of: The Nation

Culture icon Segun Olusola dies at 77

Culture icon Chief Segun Olusola passed on last night in a Lagos hospital. He was 77.

The late Olusola was Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Ethiopia.

 Renowned artist Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya described Olusola’s death as a huge loss to the culture sector and the nation at large. He said his exit would create a big vacuum in the creative industry. 

“We are going to miss him very much. In fact, the artists’ community has been rocked by his death,” he said. 

Literary scholar and poet-activist Odia Ofeimun said Olusola was one of the few voices that were knowledgeable about the Nigerian arts and artists. He described the late ambassador as a man who stood up for the arts at all time. “It is sad and we are going to miss him,” Ofeimun added.  

Executive director of   CBAAC, Professor Tunde Babawale, said Olusola’s death would create a big vacuum in the sector because he was a cultural icon and an institution. “Olusola lived art, believed in it, and gave all to its development. We will miss him as a reservoir of wisdom, fountain of cultural knowledge, and as a reference personality. But our solace is that Baba left a legacy that will outlive him. His contributions to the sector will remain indelible in the annals of history.” 

Prince Yemisi Shyllon described Olusola’s death as a monumental loss. He said until his death he was a friend of everyone in the sector and attended almost every art event. He said Olusola believed in the nation’s culture and did a lot to propagate it. “A leader in his own right and very artuiculate in his position,” Shyllon said. 

 Chief Segun Olusola will be remembered from four fronts. First is the Arts and Culture (he was an actor, playwright and a founding member of The Players of the Dawn, an amateur theatre outfit that held sway until 1959, prior to the emergence of the 1960 Masks, a more professional theatre outfit established by Prof. Wole Soyinka. He was an art connoisseur whose family gallery, Ajibulu-Moniya Gallery transformed into a full-blown commercial gallery open to public till date. In Broadcasting, he became the first African television on the Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) debuted in Africa with its first transmission. In Diplomacy, he was the longest-serving Ambassador of Nigeria to Ethiopia (1987 - 1993). He was reputed as a Culture Ambassador who employed the instrumentalities and functionalities of  arts and culture to drive Diplomacy. In Humanitarian circle, he was moved by his experiences as a diplomat when he dealt with many critical refugee issues, to eventually found the African Refugees Foundation in 1993.

Ambassador Olusola hailed Iperu-Remo in Ogun State. He attended St. John’s Catholic School and Wesley School, Iperu-Remo from 1941 to 1947. He did his secondary school education at Remo Secondary School , Sagamu between 1941 to 1947. He proceeded to the United States and attended Pittsburgh Universities.

He is survived by his wife, Chief Mrs. Beatrice Fehintola Olusola; his children: Ms. Aderonke Ajibulu-Moniya, Mr, Jimi Olusola III, Mrs.Toyin Laditi, Mr. Sabitu Olusola, Mrs. Toyin Adejumo and Mr. Samuel Olusola; his immediate younger sister, Chief Mrs. Biodun Kehinde and others. 

By Ozolua Uhakheme                               Courtesy Of: The Nation

Who is who in Boko Haram

Abubakar Shekau 

He is the leader of  Boko Haram.

He is said to be a fearless loner, a complex, paradoxical man - part intellectual, part gangster.

Fondly called imam or leader by his followers, Abubakar Muhammad Shekau was born in Shekau village in Yobe State.

Some say he is 34 or 35, others that he may be 43 - the uncertainty adds to the myths surrounding Nigeria’s most wanted man.

Shekau was once thought to have been killed by security forces in 2009 - only for him to reappear in videos posted on the internet less than a year later as Boko Haram’s new leader. He has not been seen in public since. Instead, still images and video clips of him are released from time to time, mostly online, by the group’s faceless “public enlightenment department”.

He is said to have met his predecessor in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State through a mutual friend, Mamman Nur, who is said to have masterminded the August 2011 bombing of the UN office complex in Abuja.

Under  Shekau, Boko Haram has become more radical and carried out more killings. He is fluent in his native Kanuri, Hausa and Arabic languages - he does not speak English.

He is said to have married one of Mohammed Yusuf’s  four wives and adopted their children. 

Shekau does not communicate directly with the group’s foot soldiers - he is said to wield his power through a few select cell leaders, but even then, contact is minimal.

He is nicknamed “Darul Tawheed”, which translates as a specialist in Tawheed. This is an orthodox doctrine of the uniqueness and oneness of Allah, which is the very cornerstone of Islam.

Kabiru Sokoto was arrested in February by the State Security Service (SSS). He was earlier arrested by the police, and ‘allowed’ to escape. His escape led to the dismissal of Deputy Commissioner of Police Zakari Biu. He was declared wanted, with a N5million ransom on his head before the SSS re-arrested him at Mutum in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba  State. He has been with the SSS. He is believed to be giving vital information which has been helping understand how the Boko Haram sect works.

His real name is Kabiru Abubakar Dikko. The 29-year-old was born to the family of Umaru Jabbi of Gagi village in Sokoto South Local Government Area on May 9, 1983.

 After the death of his father, his uncle, Abubakar Dikko, adopted him and gave him his name. He completed his secondary education in 2003 and was admitted to the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Sokoto, where he was said to have been  a truant with extremist tendencies.

 Abu Qaqa

The SSS is also holding a man it said was the spokesman of the sect, Abu Qaqa. But Boko Haram has insisted that the man in the SSS custody is Abu Darda, its head of public enlightenment. He was arrested in February and has been with the agency since then. 

The sect said: “The person that was arrested was Abu Darda and not Abu-Qaqa. I am Abul Qaqa, the spokesman for the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnati Lidda’awati Wal Jihad.  Abu Darda is the head of the Lagina (Dept) of public enlightenment and not the spokesman.

“The arrest of Abu Darda is an outright deception and betrayal by the Nigerian government and security agents. They proclaimed dialogue and are doing the opposite. His arrest has proved to us that they were waiting for us to avail ourselves so that they can arrest us.

“We purposely sent Abu Darda to Kaduna to discuss with some key government functionaries on the issue of dialogue. Indeed, he had started talking to them but unknown to him, they (had) directed some security agents to trail him and arrest him.

 “This is exactly what happened. He volunteered to present himself for the dialogue but was betrayed. Everybody knows our capability and tactics of operation. It is evidently clear that none of our members could be caught on a platter of gold and without confrontation.”

In May, his father was reported killed by the sect in Maiduguri because of his alleged revelations on the group to the SSS. 

 Suleiman Mohammed

 He was arrested in May along with his wife and five children in the Farawa, Kano.

 His arrest came hours after blasts and gunfire rocked Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

 Mohammed has been described as Boko Haram’s head of operations in Kano under the group’s suspected leader, Abubakar Shekau.

 Three pistols, a rifle, 1,000 rounds of ammunition and 10 Improvised Explosive Devices (IDEs) were recovered from his house.

 Ayuba Usman

He was arrested in May at his shop in a market in Kano following information from suspected Boko Haram members arrested in raids.

 High profile suspects allegedly said Usman was providing combustible chemicals used in the manufacture of IEDs (improvised explosive devices) for attacks on innocent people in the city.

Thirty-five  drums of chemicals of 240 litres each and a dozen bags of combustible items were recovered during the raid on his shop in one of the markets in Dala Local Government Area of the state.

 Ibrahim Mohammed Ali 

A prime suspect in the coordinated attacks on Christian worshippers at the old campus of Bayero University, Kano in which 20 persons, including 2 professor, were killed. He was arrested in May.

 Ali, a diploma holder from Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri, Borno State, was nabbed by security operatives who had been on his trail.

 The JTF arrested him after surrounding a house located at Bubugaje, Sharada Phase III Industrial Layout in Kumbotso Local Government Area, where he was hiding.

 There was a three-hour shoot-out between the JTF and suspected members of the sect before he was arrested.  

Courtesy Of: The Nation

Adegbite urges US not to tag Boko Haram as terrorist group

The Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) chief Lateef Adegbite yesterday urged the United States not to be in a haste in tagging Boko Haram as a terrorist group.

He also urged governors in the North to work with the security agencies and the Federal Government in resolving the security challenges.  

Adegbite spoke yesterday during a visit to  the State House where he met with Vice President Namadi Sambo alongside other members of the leadership of Jama’atul Nasrul  Islam (JNI).

Adegbite, who was reacting to the US listing Boko Haram leader Ibrahim Shekau and two others as terrorists, told State House correspondents that such a  declaration would have wider implication on the people.

He said since Nigerians are doing all things necessary to address the matter through dialogue, the US should hasten slowly.  

“How do they know who are Boko Haram and those who are not? The implication will be very serious. They may see someone like me with my long beards and think I am Boko Haram; so the implication will be very serious.

“ We are appealing to them to give Nigeria more time to dialogue with our people and we hope we will reintegrate them into our fold.

“They should hasten slowly. We must see all these that are happening as  a total challenge and war against all Nigerians - Muslims, Christians and none believers.”

In Adegbite’s view, the security situation “is beyond religion and against the people of this country  and the people  of this country must ensure that it does not degenerate into  the situation like that of Afghanistan, Somalia and Mali now.”

“ We are too sophisticated for that and, therefore, we must stop the drift and arrest it . The government is doing its best because these are faceless people. They engage in a kind of mutiny  against the people. So, they are not easy to identify.”

Adegbite urged Nigerian to cooperate with the security agencies by identifying Boko Haram’s operatives and backers who live among the people. 

“The people know them. They are neighbours of the people. The people must be security conscious and point out these evil doers among us to security agencies,” he said. He urged the government to urgently address poverty and unemployment.

“We should give those who are unemployed annual grant and encourage them to work. When they have better work, nobody wants to be a beggar. So social security system is a must,” Adegbite said.

By Vincent Ikuomola                               Courtesy Of: The Nation

US puts Boko Haram leader Shekau, 2 others on ‘terrorist’ list

The United States yesterday named three alleged leaders of the Islamist group Boko Haram as “foreign terrorists”.

The State Department identified the three as Abubakar Shekau, who it called the “most visible” leader of the group, Abubakar Adam Kambar and Khalid al-Barnawi, who it said were tied both to Boko Haram and to al Qaeda’s north African wing.

“Under Shekau’s leadership, Boko Haram (western education is a sin) has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks in the North, its primary area of operation. In the last 18 months, Boko Haram or associated militants have killed more than 1,000 people,” the State Department said in an announcement.

“These designations demonstrate the United States’ resolve in diminishing the capacity of Boko Haram to execute violent attacks,” it said.

The action by the State and Treasury departments, first reported by Reuters on Wednesday, follows growing pressure on the Obama Administration to take stronger action against Boko Haram, which has stepped up attacks on Christian places of worship this year in its drive to establish an Islamic caliphate in northern Nigeria.

U.S. officials say the decision to list individual Boko Haram members, rather than apply the more sweeping “Foreign Terrorist Organisation” label to the group as a whole as some U.S. lawmakers have demanded, reflected a desire not to elevate the group’s profile.

The action freezes any assets the three men have in the United States, and bars U.S. persons from any transactions with them.

The United States has signalled growing concern over Islamist extremist groups operating in Africa, particularly al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), which has expanded its influence in the lawless Sahel region and funds operations by collecting kidnap ransoms or siphoning off the drug trade.

The United States has also sought to curb the influence of al Shabaab, the militant group which has seized control of large areas of south and central Somalia and has been blamed for attacks elsewhere in East Africa.

Both AQIM and al Shabaab are already on the official U.S. list of foreign terrorist organizations, which makes them key targets in the U.S. anti-terrorism campaign.

The State Department has been under pressure to act against Boko Haram for months.

In January, Lisa Monaco, the Justice Department’s top national security official, sent a letter to the State Department arguing that the Nigerian group met the criteria for a “foreign terrorist” listing because it either engages in terrorism that threatens the United States or has a capability or intent to do so.

Boko Haram increasingly is seen as a potent threat to Nigeria, Africa’s most populous state and major oil producer, and as part of growing arc of Islamist extremist groups stretching across northern Africa.

Republican senators led by Scott Brown of Massachusetts have introduced legislation requiring the State Department to determine whether Boko Haram should be designated as a terrorist group.

Republican Representative Patrick Meehan, who chairs a Homeland Security subcommittee in the House, also introduced an amendment that would force the administration to add Boko Haram to the terrorism list or explain why it was not doing so.

But a group of academic experts on Africa sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last month, urging her not to designate Boko Haram as a terrorist group, saying such a move could backfire by enhancing the group’s reputation among potential recruits and other militants.

Courtesy Of: The Nation

‘Akingbola not responsible for transactions EFCC accuses him of’

A Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja, yesterday heard that the former Managing Director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank (now Access Bank), Dr. Erastus Akingbola, did not carry out the transactions for which he is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

A defence witness, Mrs Ayoola Akande, spoke during cross-examination by counsel to the prosecution, Mr Emmanuel Ukala (SAN).

Dr. Erastus Akingbola and his associate, Mr. Bayo Dada, are facing charges of allegedly stealing N4.7 billion belonging to the defunct Intercontinental Bank.

Mrs Akande said Dr Akingbola did not benefit from the money transfer.

She told the court that contrary to the EFCC allegation, the $8.54 million and the 3.1million pounds were not made from the Domiciliary Account of the bank or that of its former chief executive officer.

Mrs Akande said: “It was Regal Investment that provided funds for the US dollars we purchased. The US dollars were not purchased for the use of Regal Investment. 

“It was not my original statement that the US dollars were purchased by Regal Investment and not by the bank or by the first defendant, Akingbola). 

“I also said that cash was lodged into the account for the transfer. There were no cash lodged into the account of the first defendant for the transfer.”

Justice Habeeb Abiru fixed further hearing in the matter till July 25.

By Our Reporter                          Courtesy Of: The Nation

Falana asks minister to name ‘VIP’ in airline’s delayed landing

Lagos lawyer Mr. Femi Falana has given the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, seven days to provide the name of a “very important personality” (VIP) who caused the delayed landing of an Arik aircraft at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for over 25 minutes on June 19.

He said the request, made under the Freedom of Information(FOI) Act, 2011, is to enable him sue the supposed VIP for endangering the lives of over 150 passengers on board the plane. 

Falana said: “Take notice that if you fail or refuse to accede to my request within seven days of the receipt of this letter, I shall not hesitate to apply for an order of mandamus at the Federal High Court with a view to compelling you to disclose the identity of the said Very Important Personality forthwith.” 

The popular lawyer made the request in a letter to the minister, entitled: Illegal Prevention of Arik Plane from Landing At the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport Due To VIP Movement. 

He noted that the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, imposes a duty on all public officers to make requested information available to the public. 

Falana said he and other passengers were subjected to unwarranted mental and psychological torture while the Arik plane was hovering in the air.

He said: “I boarded Arik Flight Number W3 271 from Lagos to Abuja at 10.20am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012. The flight, which was scheduled to land at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja, at 11.15am, was illegally prevented from landing by the airport authorities until 11.46am due to the alleged movement of a ‘very important personality’.

“Having regard to the June 3, 2012 Dana plane crash in Lagos, which killed all the 153 passengers and crew on board as well as 10 other persons in their homes, I was subjected to unwarranted mental and psychological torture. Most other passengers on board were equally traumatised as the Arik plane was forced to hover in the air for 25 minutes. 

By Adebisi Onanuga                         Courtesy Of: The Nation

N7.8tr Fed Govt projects abandoned

Vice-President Namadi Sambo yesterday decried the high number of abandoned Federal Government projects.

He said over 12,000 federal projects, valued at over N7.8trillion, litter the country.

The projects were at various stages of completion when they were abandoned, he said. 

To rectify the situation, the Vice-President yesterday inaugurated a Presidential Committee on Guidelines for the Management and Implementation of Federal Infrastructure Projects.

Sambo said henceforth federal projects would no longer be done in haphazard manner.

He said: “This government will ensure the implementation of the projects in line with reference standards with all necessary checks and balances to ensure relevance, quality, economy and efficiency and on principles of sustainability.

“It is for this purpose this committee of top professionals has been put together, based on the individual track records of its members.”

The Vice-President said the objective of the committee is to prepare a comprehensive standard guideline for federal infrastructural projects which Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and workers would follow.

He said this is to ensure a successful delivery of such projects. 

According to him, the guideline will involve a review of policies, legal as well as the regulatory documents, examination of institutional structures, process and procedures and discussions. 

The committee is to: 

• examine extant policies and policy environment; 

•determine their adequacy or otherwise and proffer recommendations for improvement; and 

•examine extant legal and regulatory arrangements to determine their adequacy or otherwise. 

It will also make recommendations for improvement.

Members of the committee include the Vice President, who is the Chairman and  Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Ayim Pius Ayim.

Others are: Ministers of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Finance, Justice, Mines and Steel, National Planning, Power, Works; as well as the Special Adviser to the President on Technical Matters.

By Vincent Ikuomola                   Courtesy Of: The Nation

Corruption in Civil Service worries ex-Head of Service Yayale

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed is worried over the level of corruption in the civil service. 

He said it was capable of truncating the successful implementation of the Federal Government’s transformation agenda.

The way out, according to Yayale, who served in the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo was a total review of salary and remunerations of civil servants as a strategy for retaining high flyers and talented staff.

He spoke yesterday in Abuja in a paper titled: “Effective Service Delivery and Transformation” which he presented at a workshop organised by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation to mark this year’s Civil Service Week.

Yayale said: “Sir, at this point in time, the Head of Service should know and accept it that the level of corruption in the public service is such that it will not and I repeat it, it will not ensure service delivery.

“Yes, there are challenges, they say that we are not paid commensurate level of benefits, so, we must cut corners. It could be right, but I think what is there is complete disregard to basic tenets of the civil service. 

  “They have been saying that we have reformed. But anytime we do rationalisation we end up having more corrupt people in the service. Anytime we replace, we end up having less efficient people.

“We have developed a culture of replacement instead of improvement.”

Yayale called for a review of salary and remunerations of civil servants as a strategy for retaining high flyers and talented members of staff in the service.

According to him, attitudinal change can at best be achieved when workers are motivated, saying that it was necessary that welfare of civil servants should be addressed to strengthen the fight against corruption.

By Vincent Ikuomola                                     Courtesy Of: The Nation

Renaming UNILAG: Why National Assembly should reject proposed amendment

Ahead of the debate by the National Assembly on the proposed amendment sent to it by the President on the renaming of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Moshood Abiola University, Lagos, eminent lawyer Chief Afe Babalola (san) writes on why the lawmakers should reject the proposal.

On the 29th of May 2012, His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Jonathan announced the decision of the Federal Government of Nigeria to rename the University of Lagos after the acclaimed winner of the June 12 1993 Presidential Election, Bashorun M.K.O Abiola. The University according to the President is now to be known as “Moshood Abiola University, Lagos”.

Public reaction to the announcement

No sooner had the address of the President ended than the decision began to attract criticism from within and outside the country. As a former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the University of Lagos, I felt so concerned about the development that I was compelled to issue a Press Statement describing the decision to honour Abiola as noble but the procedure adopted was unconstitutional. My view was hinged on the fact that prior to the announcement by the Federal Government, no attempt was made to amend the University of Lagos Act from which the University derived its name. In addition, the University of Lagos Act does not empower the President as the Visitor to change the statutory name of the University. The action of the President therefore amounted to a usurpation of the powers of the National Assembly which by the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 is the only body empowered to pass a law to amend the University of Lagos Act.

Government appreciates the unconstitutionality of the decision

It does appear that the President has found merit in the argument concerning the unconstitutionality of his action for on the 7th of June 2012 he sent a bill to the National Assembly seeking to amend the University of Lagos Act to reflect the change in the name of the Institution. 

In submitting the Bill to the National Assembly, the government failed to consider and comply with the requisite legal and other conditions precedent to the submission of a bill to the National Assembly which include the following:

•The need to first reverse the decision pronounced on the 29th of May, 2012 renaming University of Lagos after Abiola

•The need to consult with the Council of University of Lagos, the Alumni and other Stakeholders

•Respect for the court and the need to wait for the outcome of the two suits pending in the Federal High Court, Lagos and

•The adequacy suitability or otherwise of naming University of Lagos to honour a national leader of the status of Abiola

•Need to reverse the earlier  decision

Consequent upon the announcement by the President, the National Universities Commission and the Governing Council of the University acted on it and indicated their preparedness to comply with the decision on name change. Students who were not prepared to welcome the decision were sent packing. This is because the decision of the President was not a mere proposal. It was a proclamation of government policy which became effective and operational immediately. What the government should have done was to first rescind the decision announced on the 29th of May, 2012 before preparing any bill. By sending the Bill without first rescinding the decision, the government is asking the National Assembly to rubber stamp and give retrospective approval to an illegal decision. However it appears that in this part of the world Governmental fallibility is a notion which some in government are not prepared to acknowledge or accept. 

•No consulation before the bill was forewarded to the national assembly

One major point of disagreement with the decision by Nigerians was the failure or refusal of Government to consult stakeholders before the decision was taken.  In a policy matter like this, it is the duty of the government to consult the Governing Council of University of Lagos and Alumni Association and other stakeholders before the decision was taken. This was also the advice of the former military Head of State, General Dr. Yakubu Gowon. Such consultations would have brought to the knowledge of the President, the argument that the name “University of Lagos” had itself become “a top brand” such that any other name, regardless of whatever strengths or qualities it could claim to possess would neither compensate nor be representative of the concept of qualitative academics with which the University had become associated with, within and outside the country.  

•National assembly: duty to respect the court and await outcome of court decision

The President sent the Bill to the National Assembly on the 7th of June, 2012. On the 4th of June, the Alumi Association and the Student Union of the University of Lagos filed two separate suits before the Ikeja Division of the Federal High Court. By the said actions which were commenced by means of an Originating Summons, the Attorney General of the Federation is the 4th Respondent in the said suits. 

It is a settled principle of law that when a matter or dispute has been submitted to a court of law for adjudication, the parties are not permitted or indeed expected to take any step capable of prejudicing or impairing the fair adjudication or determination of the matter. 

The issues raised in the suits transcend the constitutionality of the President announcement to change the names of the University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University before an amendment by the National Assembly. Indeed the court is being asked to determine whether or not the change of name would affect not only the university but also thousands of graduates who currently hold certificates bearing the name of University of Lagos, or whether consultation was made before the decision to change the name of Unilag to Abiola University and whether attaching Abiola’s name to University of Lagos was an adequate, fit and proper honour for a nationalist of Abiola’s stature. These and other issues cannot be addressed by the proposed amendment to the law of the University.  Since these issues have been turned over to the Court, the National Assembly cannot in law consider and deliberate on the President’s Bill.

•The significance of june 12:  appropriate national honour

The decision to rename the University of Lagos, and not any other University outside of the South West after Bashorun Abiola is really an attempt to brand “June 12 1993” and all that it represents as being only of regional significance.  

By sending Bills for the renaming of two other Universities at the same time he sent that of the University of Lagos, Mr President has not done anything to allay but on the contrary has heightened the fears of some who argue that he regards June 12 1993 and the contributions and sacrifice of Bashorun Moshood Abiola as being only of regional significance. Thus in debating the Bills, the National Assembly will have before it, the decision of the Federal Government to rename three Universities, one from each of the major regions of the Country after a national hero. What is more, the intended honorees all hail from the region in which the University sought to be named after them are located. Therefore in the real sense, the Federal Government has debased or degraded what should be a national celebration to a regional achievement. 

By sending Bills for the renaming of the three Institutions at the same time suggests an attempt to appeal to the “regional” senses or loyalties of the Lawmakers. By ensuring that each region is represented in the proposed name changes by a University and also with a beneficiary in the region, there is a clear intention that each legislator will be swayed to view, debate and ultimately pass the Bills only from the standpoint of regional considerations. Therefore, a lawmaker from a region other than the southwest who otherwise would have questioned the appropriateness of the decision regarding the University of Lagos may decide not to “rock the boat” as a University and personality from his own region of the country is also affected by the proposed amendments.

Rule of law and democracy

Democracy is rooted in the belief in rule of law and unqualified obedience to and practice of the principles that make up rule of law. With the cases pending before the court, the non consultation with the council, the alumni and other stakeholders of the university, the failure to rescind the proclamation of 29th of May, 2012 on which the university and NUC have acted and the need to honour Abiola with a befitting national and not regional honour all make it imperative for National Assembly to reject the bill.

I therefore call on all members of the National Assembly to approach the discussions of the Bill for the amendment of the University of Lagos Act devoid of party loyalty or affiliations. They should take into consideration all issues raised by stakeholders with regards to the name change. They must not appear too eager to rubber stamp decisions taken by the Executive arm of Government. They should not repeat the same errors which characterized the decision of the Government in the very first place. It is by adherence to proper procedure that the National Assembly will be seen as makers of law and believers in the rule of law. As I said in my initial Press Release, a befitting national honour is perhaps the greatest honour that could be done to the late Bashorun M.K.O Abiola. These could be the National Stadium, Aso Rock, National Assembly and the likes.

 By Kazeem Ibarhym, Uyo                    Courtesy Of: The Nation

Senate panel uncovers idle N273.9b pension cash

The Senate Committee on Investigation of Pension Administration has uncovered about N273.9b idle cash in seven major pension offices.

It has recommended arrest and prosecution of the Chairman of the Pension Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina and two others. It also wants other members of the team found culpable in the mismanagement of pension funds tried.

The two officials of the Task Team  recommended for trial along with Maina are John Yusuf and B.G. Kaigama.

The committee has asked the government to compel the Pension Task Team to submit its finical records and transactions from inception to date for auditing by the Auditor-General of the Federation.

These recommendations are contained in the 108-page report of the committee, which is expected to be submitted today to the Senate.

In the report, which was exclusively obtained by our correspondents last night, the committee said the Auditor-General of the Federation should be allowed unhindered access to all the pension financial records and account books for proper auditing.

The uncovering of the N273, 941, 568, 915.55b in pension offices appears a major breakthrough.

The affected pension offices and the idle funds are as follows:  Military(N23,532, 339,033.98), DSS/ NIA (N36,121,396,662.73), Police(N43,213,213,062,.63); Civilians (N58,715,239,159.66); CIPPO (N27,797,021,906.44); Parastatals(N75,783,682,992.99); Universities(N8,778,676,097.12).

The report reads in part: “That the total unspent pension funds balances in all the pension offices of the Federal  Government amount to N273, 941, 568, 915.55b.

“That there are indicators of massive fraud and embezzlement of pension funds in the years 2000 to 2007 which require comprehensive audit and forensic investigation. This is because there were no credible actions for the sensitisation and validation of pension payroll during these years.

“The number of pensioners on the payroll of the Pension Department in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation alone was above 200,000 during these years. This was reduced to about 141,000 names at the first credible effort at pensioners biometric  verification by the Pension Department in 2009.

“That the outstanding pension fund balances of N273, 941, 568, 915.55b in all pension offices of the Federal Government be moopped up by the Accountant-General of the Federation and be used to settle all outstanding pension entitlements.

“The activities and operations of the PFAs should be closely monitored by the National Pension Commission to ensure the attainment of the noble objectives of the Contributory Pension Scheme.

“The practice of different Ad Hoc Teams co-opting officers of law enforcement agencies and using them for inappropriate duties should be stopped forthwith. Law enforcement officials should only be invited to perform their statutory functions when necessary.

“All officers from the EFCC, ICPC and the SSS, who were co-opted by the Pension Task Team and found to have colluded, aided, and abetted corruption, diversion and siphoning of pension funds and have been used for inappropriate duties should be withdrawn, investigated, arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

“That the constitutional provision of Section 173(3) which states that pension should be reviewed every five years or whenever there is review of the remuneration of public servants should be strictly adhered to. Harmonization of pension should be done to ensure uniformity of pension amount irrespective of years of retirement.”

The report said: “That the Chairman of the Pension Task Team, Mr. Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina, John Yusuf, B.G. Kaigama and all the members of the Pension Task Team involved should be arrested and prosecuted by the Nigeria Police Force for the crimes of fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation, misapplication, illegal virement, contract splitting, award of contracts to non-existing companies, award of contracts without appropriations and outright stealing of pension funds. And the stolen funds should be recovered from them.

“That Mr. Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina was noted to have taken over all the Federal Pension Offices, except the Military Pensions Board, FCT, and Pension Boards of Federal Parastatals.

“That the public funds expended for verification exercises were ten times more than the amount of funds saved from the verification exercises. The amount spent on the verification exercise is sufficient for payment of more than half of one year’s pension.

“That the frequent verification exercises, which are often done without convenient arrangement, have put the pensioners  into untold sufferings and death.”

The report also faulted the EFCC for adopting a  selective method for the arrest and trial of those who allegedly looted pension money.

The committee said: “That the EFCC has been   selective in the prosecution of officials who looted, misapplied, siphoned, embezzled, and misappropriated pension funds, even when numerous petitions with incontrovertible evidences are submitted to the agency.

“EFCC was also observed to have discontinued pension fraud investigations it commenced when weighty evidences thereto linked the Chairman and members of the Task Team.”

The report indicted commercial banks for collaborating in the looting of pension funds.

It added: “That the banks were handy collaborators in the unauthorized and illegal opening of government accounts, change of signatories, transfer of funds, deposit of government funds and many other unethical financial transactions.”

By Yusuf Alli and Onyedi Ojiabor, Abuja                        Courtesy Of: The Nation

Security chiefs meet with governor

Chief of Defence Staff Air Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin and Acting Inspector General of Police Mohammed Dikko Abubakar were in Kaduna yesterday.

They came to see the devastation of last Sunday’s attacks, comfort the bereaved and assure all that security agents will continue to ensure that those hiding under religion to foment trouble are brought to book.

With the security chiefs were senior military and police personnel.

Kaduna has been engulfed by crisis since last Sunday’s suicide bombings in Zaria and Kaduna.

The security chiefs, who met with Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, praised the state government for the way it has handled the crisis so far. After the meeting, the security chiefs went round the metropolis to see things for themselves.

Calm is gradually returning to the city after three days of tension. Streets are deserted by residents who have been forced to remain indoors because of the 24 hours curfew imposed on the state by the government.

Investigations revealed that despite the gradual return of calm, there is palpable tension in some parts of the metropolis as residents complain about “fake soldiers” unleashing terror on people.

Although this could not be confirmed as at press time yesterday, the alleged fake soldiers were said to have shot some people in Malali.

However, residents who were caught unaware by the crisis are grappling with hunger as the markets and the banks have remained closed due to the curfew. ATM machines have run out of cash.

Two men who managed to get to one of the ATM machines located in the Kaduna south branch of Access Bank was seen throwing his hands into the air in frustration after being unable to collect money from the machine.

The one of them who refused to identify himself said “I have been to all the banks around here to use my ATM card to collect money, but I cannot. Look at the hardship this nonsense is putting us through. We just came out of the weekend into this mess. Even when I wanted to collect money yesterday, I could not because of long queues and the subsequent confusion in the town.

“I don’t even know what we are going to eat today because we don’t even have food at home. If these mad people don’t kill us, then hunger will definitely kill us. I want to appeal to those responsible for this to please give peace a chance.”

The popular Station Market where fruits are sold was deserted as traders hurriedly abandoned their goods when the crisis broke out.

Majority of vehicles seen on the road yesterday when The Nation went round the city were security vehicles with heavily armed security personnel.

Some security operatives were seen using commercially painted buses, while some operatives were stationed at strategic positions around the city, with a bit more heavy security presence seen around the Sabon Tasha market which was vandalised.

There were no indications last night that the government would relax the curfew to enable residents buy food.

Besides hunger, people are grappling with the lack of pipe borne water. There has been no supply from the Water Board since the crisis began.

 By Tony Akowe, Kaduna          Courtesy Of: The Nation

Federal Govt defends Jonathan’s trip to Brazil

The President was yesterday fighting back on barrage of attacks for his Brazil trip which has been described as “unnecessary”, considering the violence in some parts of the North.

To Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, his critics are unfair.  He has not abdicated his responsibility by travelling  to attend the United Nations  Conference on Climate Change in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, he said.

As the President spoke in Brazil, his spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati defended his boss and Information Minister Labaran Maku, in Abuja, chided Jonathan’s critics.

The minister said the President could govern from any part of the world, adding that he “is on a working visit to Brazil and not on holidays”.

Dr. Jonathan, who spoke on Tuesday night  while addressing members of the Nigerian community in Brazil, said the country would make progress faster  towards fulfilling its immense potentials, if all Nigerians  support his administration’s transformation plan.

“One of the problems we have is that some Nigerians play politics with everything, but we cannot destroy our country because of personal political ambitions,” the President said.

 “We now have a constitutional democracy and no one can stay in office forever. It will, therefore, be best for our nation if we all support whoever is there for the development of the country, instead of trying to pull him down by all means,” President Jonathan said in response to comments and questions by his hosts on the state of affairs in Nigeria.

The President who also spoke about the country’s security challenge, assured the gathering that the Federal Government was working very hard to overcome the  challenges.

“We have challenges, but they are not insurmountable. We remain fully focused and committed to national development, in spite of sponsored lies against this administration. We are ready to work together with all of our people to move the country forward.  We will work even harder to place concrete realities on the ground that will further prove our sincerity and commitment to all Nigerians,” he pledged.

The President, who thanked  members of the Nigerian community for assembling from all parts of Brazil to receive him in Rio De Janeiro, said: “It is generally known and acknowledged that Nigeria has a very robust Diaspora and we will continue to explore ways of harnessing your skills and talents for the development of our fatherland.” 

Dr. Jonathan will meet with Brazillian President Dilma Rousseff on the sidelines of the Rio + 20 Summit to discuss the enhancement of bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Brazil, including the strengthening of trade and economic relations as well as a prisoner exchange programme that could benefit Nigerians imprisoned in the South American country. 

In a statement, Abati said the President needed to attend the conference because of its importance to Nigeria and because commitments had already been made on his attendance. 

He said his presence at the summit was in the best interest of the country. 

He said: “The conference, Rio+20, is very important and nobody can doubt that. The issues that will be discussed at this conference are also issues that are relevant to Nigeria’s interest. It is also an opportunity for Nigeria to promote its interest in terms of its place in global community.

“The crisis in Kaduna and Yobe occurred almost on the eve of the President’s departure for this event and commitments have been made. 

“In any event, it is not as if government has abandoned the situation at home. Security agencies are there, they are on top of the situation. 

Maku, who spoke to reporters in Abuja said: “Before the President left, he met with security chiefs. The business of leadership cannot just stop because there is a crisis there.

“I think what we can do is to appeal to the opposition not to always play politics with everything; that is the major challenge we face, people always want to play politics with everything. 

“If the President had refused to come to Rio, the same persons will turn around and say that there is an important conference attended by world leaders and the Nigerian President stayed away from it. 

“It is as if there is nothing you can do to please our people. It is not that Nigeria is going to lose anything by Mr. President’s presence here; rather, the country is going to gain a lot from his presence here. 

“He is here serving the interest of Nigerians it is not as if he has abandoned his responsibilities.”

“There is no vacuum, the most important thing is that the president and the vice president work harmoniously and are in constant touch.

“If the President panics, what will the people do. We must stop making politics out of the unfortunate incidents going on in Northern Nigeria.

“There are people who think that because the President is out of the country he cannot make decision for the country. It is not true. Today, with advanced information technology, every President in this world, anywhere he is, even from the skies, can give directive to any Defence chief to act on any matter in the country.

“We are leaving in a new world and I think people should understand this. We should not play politics with this, “ he said.

By Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja                  Courtesy Of: The Nation

More suicide bombings coming, task force warns

Maiduguri residents were told yesterday to prepare for more suicide bombings.

The Joint Task Force (JTF) - Operation Restore Order (ORO) - in a statement by its spokesman Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, warned of plans by terrorists to carry Impoverished Explosive Devices (IEDs) in stolen vehicles. It warned the public to report to the appropriate bodies immediately a vehicle is stolen.

The statement reads:  “Information recently available to the JTF ORO in Maiduguri indicated that there have been desperate moves by Boko Haram terrorists to steal/snatch vehicles to be used for terrorists’ activities by implanting Improvised Explosive Devices in vehicles and or through suicide bombing.

“The Task Force wishes to alert members of the public, particularly those whose vehicles have been stolen, to immediately report such incident to the nearest police station or to the JTF as such vehicles if used for terrorism acts would lead to owners of such vehicles being treated as collaborators and accomplices.”

The JTF spokesman said the task force’s  troops and Department of State Services personnel have arrested six suspected Boko Haram members involved in the attack on EYN Church in Biu, Borno State, on June 17. Some worshippers were killed.  

Those arrested are in JTF custody and are being interrogated.

Also yesterday, Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde warned that “if something serious, strategic and meaningful is not done, we may just be working our way towards another avoidable civil war.

” Speaking in Lagos against the backdrop of the recent coordinated bombings in Kaduna and Zaria, the Prelate said: 

“For how long are we going to remain silent? Here we are begging the issue while innocent people are dying and their loved ones are yet to get justice. Is it a crime to be a Christian in any part of Nigeria? Every time we raise the alarm and call for action, they will say it has no religious colouration which saddens my heart the more whenever I hear that. 

“Before Sunday’s bombings, no fewer than 200 people have been killed in 12 separate attacks on churches or places of Christian worship in the North so far this year and al-Qaeda-linked Islamist terror group Boko Haram has explicitly claimed that it carried out at least 10 of them. Yet we are scratching the matter on the surface rather than intensify efforts and expose those behind these attacks. No fewer than 40 persons were feared killed on Sunday in Kaduna and Zaria as suicide bombers attacked three churches. 

“And in all of these bombings and attacks on Christians and Churches, no person has been arrested or brought to book. Where are we going? Where is justice? This is what is encouraging this culture of impunity, which makes it difficult for one to ascertain if the Government has the political will needed in tackling this menace headlong. 

“Considering all of these, one then begins to worry, if we ever learnt anything from the first civil war which, for me, was avoidable if the principles of justice and fairness were upheld. 

“I appeal to all Christians all over the North and other parts of Nigeria to refrain from reprisal attacks as the battle belongs to GOD. God will definitely fight for us as he did during the introduction of the political Sharia in Nigeria.”

Rev. Makinde added: “ reports monitored today (Wednesday) confirms that this group, widely known as Boko Haram, has plans to launch further devastating attacks on Churches and Government buildings in the coming days and weeks. The sect said it planned to make this month the bloodiest month yet in its violent and bloody campaigns against those it tagged infidels. 

“The report says they are planning a focused and bloody attack for which 300 suicide bombers have been recruited, sent to Mauritania and Somalia for training in handling weapons, bomb making and suicide bombing  and they promise to start with Southern Kaduna and Plateau, two States populated with Christians, in a bid to avenge the death of Muslims who died in the reprisal attacks. 

“I call on the Federal Government, to protect the lives of innocent Nigerians, especially Christians who have been so patient and have refrained from any form of violence. The constitution to which they swore expects them to do so and they have a compelling duty to uphold the Constitution to the letter. Furthermore, nobody is above the law. Without bringing perpetrators and sponsors of these acts of terrorism to book, justice cannot be seen to have been done, which is a big threat to our collective interest as Nigerians in our quest for a united nation.”

By Emmanuel Oladesu and Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri              Courtesy Of: The Nation