South African Nabbed At Nigerian Airport With Over N74m Hidden In Oats Packs

 
 A 39-year-old South African woman was intercepted at the Murtala M ​uhammed International Airport, Lagos, with $373,725 (N74.4million) and €2,120 (N450,000) concealed inside packs of oats, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has said.

In a statement Thursday, the agency said the money was detected during an inward screening of passengers on a South African airline flight from Johannesburg.

Two Nigerians are also being investigated by the anti-narcotic agency in connection with the case.

Hamza Umar, the NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, identified the lady as Nosisi Nqgula.

“The mode of concealment presents reasonable grounds for money laundering,” Mr. Umar said. 

“Five packs of oats were found to contain $373,725 and €2,120. Two Nigerians, Damian Akamelus and Prophet Cyprian Chigere are also being interrogated in connection with the seized money.”

Victoria Egbase, NDLEA Director of Assets and Financial Investigation, said th​e​ refusal ​of the South African ​to declare the money and the manner of concealment were criminal and that the case was being investigated to establish possible link with drug trafficking.

The suspect, Ms. Nqgula, who works in a cosmetic shop, said the bag containing the money was given to her by a Nigerian in South Africa.

 

Culled my celebrity and i

Gov. Akpabio accused of buying Akwa Ibom election result for N2.5b

 
 for a whopping N2.5billion. In a petition to INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, signed simply as Concerned Staff of INEC, the petitioner called on Jega to postponed the governorship and assembly elections billed for Saturday April 11. 

“Full text of the petition:

6 April 2015

Prof. Attahiru JegaNational ChairmanIndependent National Electoral Commission, Abuja

Dear Sir,

PETITION AGAINST GOVERNOR GODSWILL OBOT AKPABIO, CON AND HIS COHORTS ON THE CONDUCT OF THE MARCH 28,2015 PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONSIN AKWA IBOM STATE

We wish to express our profound gratitude to you on the way you conducted the Presidential and National Assembly Elections held on 28th March, 2015. This goes to attest to the fact that you meant well for Nigeria and Nigerians when you promised to give the people the best in the 2015 elections.

1. However, despite your consistent warnings against fraudulent practices during the elections, Akwa Ibom State Governor, in connivance/collaboration with the State PDP Chairman, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State, and, indeed, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff notably, the Electoral Officers, SPOs and Ad-Hoc Staff who, probably may not have been those employed and trained by your INEC, but employed by the State Government (Cultists/Thugs armed to their teeth), perpetrated fraud in a magnitude that was unimaginable, hence this petition.

2. i) That the Resident Electoral Commissioner collected from the Governor of the State a whopping amount of N2.5 billion, a Prado Jeep and other items and specifically instructed the Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, CON to sit in the office and write the election results without sending any materials(sensitive materials) to the respective Units and Local Government Areas.

ii) Sensing that this plan would definitely arouse the curiosity of the major stakeholders in the State, both opted for the second option. It is a known fact that before 28th March, 2015 elections, the sensitive materials, notably, the Original Result Sheets meant for the State were handed over to the Governor by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for completion at the Governor’s House, to be announced by the Commissioner – a practice which is not in conformity with the laid down procedures of conducting,collating, compiling and announcing of results.

iii) That as a matter of policy by INEC to deploy all male indigenous Electoral Officers to other areas, leaving behind female indigenous Electoral Officers was a misguided policy and should be revisedimmediately for the sake of the 11th April elections in Akwa Ibom State in particular. It may interest you to know that the female indigenous Electoral Officers left in State are even worst than their male counterparts.

iv) That materials were not sent to so many areas in the State considered to be the strongholds of opposition parties like APC, Labour Party, Accord Party, etc. and where such materials were sent it was accompanied with photocopies of the Result Sheets,some areas, none at all thereby leading to beating up the Original Ad-hoc Staff employed by INEC resulting in inflicting serious wounds on them. It would also interest you to know that many Ad-hocstaff, including Corpers deployed to the Units died in the event as they were seriously manhandled by the electorates.

v) That the materials, instead of being sent to the Polling Units, were sent to the houses of some notable PDP Stalwarts by the Electoral Officers at the instance/instruction of the Resident ElectoralCommissioner, the Governor and the Commissioner of Police. These materials were duly escorted by the Police to the respective residences of the Party Stalwarts as indicated below:

(a) In Oron axis, all the materials were escorted to the residence of Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi (Hon. Minister of Lands and Housing) along Secretariat Road, Oron. Princess Felicia Bassey’s residence along Uyo-Oron Road (PDP House of Assembly Candidate).
(b) The materials meant for Uyo were escorted by the Police and diverted to Mr. Enobong Uwah’s residence (a serving Commissioner in the State)
(c) In Ibiono Ibom/Itu Local Government Areas, materials were diverted (escorted) to Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan’s residence (Uyo Senatorial District Candidate for PDP).
(d) Materials meant for Ikot Ekpene, Essien Udim, Obot Akara were escorted by the Police and diverted to Governor Godswill Akpabio’s residence in Ukana.
(e) Materials meant for Nsit Ubium Local Government Area were diverted to Senator Effiong Bob’s residence.
(f) Materials for Abak axis were escorted and diverted to Mr. Aniekan Umanah’s residence (a serving Commissioner in the State).
(g) Materials meant for Onna/Mkpat Enin Local Government Areas were diverted to Mr. Udom Emmanuel’s residence (PDP Governorship Candidate). Materials meant for most LocalGovernment Areas were diverted to the houses of PDP Stakeholders in those areas.

3. You may agree with me that the elections in the State were marred with high frequency fraud.
vi) That members of the Civil Defence that were meant to oversee the conduct of the election became accomplice and some who could not concede to their antics were driven out of the premises where these materials were taken to.

NEW PLANS TOWARDS 11TH APRIL ELECTIONS

(i) That as I am writing to you now, the Original Copies of the Results Sheets for the April 11th, 2015 elections have been handed over to the Governor to perfect yet another plan of rigging the elections.
(ii) Plan to kill so many that would want to raise a voice against their planned action is in top gear.
(iii) Plans to reduce the materials meant for areas known to be the strongholds of opposition parties like APC, Labour, Accord Parties, etc. have been concluded and perfected by the ResidentElectoral Commission (REC) and Electoral Officers as series of meetings have been held in this regard.
(iv) Areas considered to be volatile during the elections, MUST not be given materials at all.

OUR PRAYERS

(1) That the Governorship election and House of Assembly election should be postponed as indices on ground posits that there would be a serious clash between PDP and other opposition parties which may culminate into loss of many lives and bloodshed.
(2) That the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State should be deployed and a new one who is corrupt-free be deployed to Akwa Ibom for the sake of this election of 11th April.
(3) That all the Electoral Officers in the State should be deployed to other States and fresh/new Electoral Officers deployed to the State for the purpose of 11th April, 2015 elections.
(4) That the Akwa Ibom people are aware of the antics of the current Resident Electoral Commissioner and are poised to set ablaze INEC Office. His safety, as a matter of fact, is not guaranteed.

Please Sir, act now and fast too, for ‘a stitch in time saves nine.

Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

 Signed:

Concerned Staff of INEC, Akwa Ibom State

Related”

 Culled from my celebrity and i

APC condemns Oba of Lagos comments, says he does not speak for the party

PDP releases statement reacting to threat by Oba of Lagos, says anarchy looms

Statement from the PDP, reacting to the audio we all just heard. Read below...

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemns in the strongest possible terms the emerging height of political recklessness in Lagos and Ekiti states ahead of Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections and calls on all Nigerians to stand up against such anti-democratic tendencies.

The senseless and unpatriotic impeachment move against Governor Ayo Fayose by out-going APC state legislators and the barbaric death threats on non-indigenes in Lagos by the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu if they vote for the PDP candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje ascend to a height of unruliness that should not be accommodated.

The PDP totally and unequivocally rejects the flimsy and unsubstantiated allegations concocted by the APC legislators against Governor Fayose. We state in very clear terms that we will stand with him and bear our full weight in defense of the mandate freely given to him by the people of Ekiti state.
We invite all lovers of democracy and the international community to note the antics of APC and the deliberate plot to destabilize the polity even when it is yet to assume power.

In the same vein, it is indeed most unfortunate that a royal father of the status of the Oba of Lagos should attempt to drag the revered traditional institution into partisan politics to the level of threatening innocent Nigerians with the view to prevent them from freely exercising their constitutionally guaranteed right.

Our response to the Oba of Lagos is that he cannot play God and can never be God. God owns the universe and every part of it and can never share His glory with any human no matter how highly placed. We therefore call on all Nigerians in Lagos state; all Igbos, Hausas, Yorubas and people of other tribes; all northerners and southerners; all Christians and Muslims to turn against this unpatriotic stance, by coming out enmasse to vote for the PDP candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje on Saturday.

Undoubtedly, this anti-Nigeria position reminds of the 2013 inhuman and callous arrest, detention and eventual ‘deportation’ of non-indigenes by the APC-led government of Lagos state and confirms fears that the APC is indeed on a mission to destroy our national unity, balkanize the nation and obliterate the personal freedom Nigerians enjoy today.

Already, the APC has started terrorizing supporters of the PDP with vows to make life unbearable for them when it eventually assumes power. Our investigation reveals that many of our prominent supporters have been marked. The process has already started with threats to the life, family and business of the Chairman of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah for supporting PDP candidates and helping non-indigenes win some Lagos seats in the National Assembly on the platform of the our great party.

Indeed, if this threats on a duly elected state governor and innocent Nigerians constitute the picture or foretaste of the order of the day when the APC finally assumes power at the center, then the nation is in serious danger. However, the PDP states in very unambiguous terms that Nigerians would not accept such under any guise whatsoever.

This is more so because in the last 16 years, our citizens from all walks of lives have seen civility and decorum under the PDP-led administration and would not accept any attempt by anybody to institute a reign of terror in the country.

We therefore urge General Muhammadu Buhari as the leader of the APC to call his members and supporters, particularly in Lagos and Ekiti to order; especially bearing in mind that it was the peaceful atmosphere and the level playing ground nurtured by the PDP-led administration that created the room for his emergence at the presidential polls.

Our country cannot at this moment afford to slide into anarchy, reign of terror and deliberate schemes to divide the people for selfish political reasons.

The PDP will completely resist all anti democratic forces from any quarters. We therefore charge Nigerians, especially those in Lagos and Ekiti states respectively to stand up fearlessly and reject the unpatriotic stance of the Oba of Lagos and the undemocratic move to dismantle the mandate given to Governor Ayo Fayose by the people.

Signed:
Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary

Jonathan: I’m the luckiest Nigerian, today -By Chesa Chesa, Abuja

•Says 16 years in power enough for him

As he bows out of office in about seven weeks, President Goodluck Jonathan, on Sunday described himself as the luckiest Nigerian today, after holding government positions in the past 16 years, a feat he said is enough for him.
The President said he was leaving office a happy man, thanking Nigerians for their support during the period, just as he urged them to help him thank God for the unique privilege.

Speaking at the Presidential Villa, when Vice-President Namadi Sambo and the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Bala Mohammed, led a delegation of Abuja residents to pay him the customary Easter homage, Jonathan declared: “Today is a glorious day for me.”
Continuing, he thanked the delegation “for coming to encourage us. Though this Easter period coincides with when I am leaving, but I always say I’m one of the luckiest Nigerians.
“From 1999 I have been in the hands of government till date… 16 good years. I think it is enough and I am happy. Help me to thank God for that. I will continue to thank Nigerians for giving me that privilege.
“I became deputy governor because Bayelsans voted for me and my governor (Diepreye Alamieyeseigha) then; I became Vice-President because Nigerians voted for me and (Umar) Yar’Adua and Nigerians for me and (Namadi) Sambo.
“We have to thank all Nigerians. Wherever I will be, I have to thank all Nigerians… Today is a glorious day for me,” he stressed.
The President charged Nigerians to extend similar support to his successor and President-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, just as they should make sacrifices beyond loyalty to whoever is in power, while always exhibiting unalloyed patriotism for national development.
He said this is reflected in the message of Easter season, being a period to reflect on the essence of Christian belief that without the resurrection of Christ, there would not have been Christianity.
According to him, “whenever we talk about this period, the key lesson there is sacrifice. Somebody sacrificed for our own salvation. So as a people, as a government, what I always believe we should ask is what sacrifice you are making?
”It is not about supporting Jonathan or government. Now, Buhari is coming on board, it is not about supporting Buhari or government but what sacrifice, as an individual, are you willing to make for government and for the nation.
“If you are a businessman and you say you are supporting government but you don’t pay tax, how do you expect that government to survive? That government will not survive.
“While in Bayelsa State as a deputy governor, people use to come to me to say ‘I’m loyal’. Don’t tell me you are loyal, tell me ‘I’m patriotic’ to the country and that you believe in Bayelsa State.
“Whenever I travel to different countries and see things work, those things didn’t fall down as manna… people made sacrifice. Therefore in Nigeria people must also be ready to make the required sacrifice.
“Whoever becomes president is immaterial, so long as the citizens are happy, our children go to school… when we are sick we go to  good hospital and of course, the economy blossoms. But for that to take place, people must make the required sacrifice.
“In the ECOWAS sub-region for example, Nigeria has the lowest VAT (Value Added Tax) payment of five per cent. Other countries pay up to 12 per cent.
“If for instance, Buhari decides to increase VAT from five to 10 per cent, will Nigerians support him? That is sacrifice and we must make sacrifice.
“Nation building depends on the sacrifice of individuals and the patriotism of the citizens. These are two key elements; we must be ready to sacrifice for our nation,” he added.
The President added that while security agents were sacrificing their lives for the nation in the fight against terrorism, other Nigerians can avail themselves of other roles and opportunities to make sacrifices for the country.
Also in the delegation were: Secretary to Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; Minister of State for FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide; Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; the Chief Imam of National Mosque, Abuja; former Minister of Information, Labaran, Maku; and former Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu; among others.
The delegation presented a giant Easter greeting card to the President and his wife, Patience, who was however absent.
The Easter homage was preceded by an Easter Sunday church service at the Aso Villa chapel where the Chaplain, Venerable Obioma Onwuzurumba, reminded the congregation to always be sincere with God in order to get salvation.
In his sermon titled: “The Lord is Risen Indeed,” he noted that Jesus is resurrected from the dead and is neither on the cross nor in the grave, but would come again to take His people home to a better place.
Referring to when Jesus was in the world and even his disciples could not recognise him as the Messiah, Onwuzurumba noted that although Jonathan had been voted out of office on March 28, and he conceded victory, people would look for him to seek his advice in future.
His words: “Some will say Jonathan has lost election… Jonathan has lost nothing. He was to give and not to get. This Jonathan they despised today… they will look for him someday. He will be an adviser. He is not Jesus but he is like Jesus.”
The Church service was attended by the President; his Chief of Staff, Jones Arogbofa; Minister of Agriculture, Adesina Akinwunmi; and other presidential aides.

Culled from Daily Independent

HAPPY EASTER CELEBRATIONS.

 
 Images credited to Techoven.com

May the joy of the Blessings of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and forever.

Happy Easter celebrations.

Buhari: Under My Watch, There Shall be Justice in the Land-By Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

.

The President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari yesterday assured the nation that his administration would be fair to all irrespective of religious and political inclinations, and there would be justice in the land.

He also expressed his determination to look into cases of  injustice over the years.
Speaking when a delegation of party members from his home state of Katsina paid  him a congratulatory visit at the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) headquarters in Abuja, Buhari said his administration would not condone injustice of any kind.

"I will never be part of any injustice in the country. There shall be justice in the land. We would strive to rescue our people who are suffering from injustice over the years. We will ensure that there is peace and security in the country. We will fight corruption and eliminate ignorance, poverty and illiteracy in the land. These are the causes of tribalism and divisiveness among Nigerians," he said in Hausa to the delegation comprising clerics, traditional rulers, businessmen and politicians.
While lamenting the level of poverty and deprivation among Nigerians, the President-elect promised to do all within his power to fix the multifaceted problems bedeviling the country.

He  said it was unfortunate that there was practically nothing on ground to positively impact the wellbeing of Nigerians in spite of the huge revenues realised from oil proceeds in the past sixteen years.
Buhari said the oil revenues earned by Nigeria in the past sixteen years were more than what the country earned since northern and southern Nigeria were amalgamated in 1914.

He cited the level of disrepair in the railways, airways and the shipping lines to buttress his assertions.
The President-elect also recalled his efforts to challenge the outcome of the 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential polls in court, noting that his resolve was borne out of his commitment to ensure the entrenchment of the rule of law in the country.
Buhari said those efforts, as well as efforts of those who ensured the formation and triumph of the APC would be a reference point by future generations of Nigerians.

While commending  his kinsmen from Katsina State for their support, Buhari  said he would live up to their expectations in ensuring good governance in the country.

Chairman of Katsina chapter of APC, Dr Mustapha Inuwa, who was one of those that spoke on behalf of the delegation, expressed gratitude to God over the victory of Buhari in the presidential poll. Inuwa said all the people of Katsina identified with Buhari's aspiration to provide good governance, adding that the mere fact that the exchange rate of the naira to a dollar has fallen since his emergence  underlines the fact that an era of prosperity has just began for all Nigerians.

"For us from Katsina, we assure you that we will be good followers, we will pray for you to succeed, we will not allow your victory at the poll to get into our heads, we will continue to be law abiding. We pray that you get the team that will work with you to deliver the goods."
Among dignitaries on the entourage were the former governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Saidu Barda, former speaker of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Mamman Dan Musa.

Meanwhile, more details have emerged on the behind-the-scene activities  that led to a peaceful resolution of the penultimate week’s presidential election.

Sources revealed that President Goodluck Jonathan had told his compaign  team prior to the election that the stability of the country was paramount to him irrespective of where the pendulum of victory swings to. The message was further passed down to members of the team by the Campaign Director-General, retired Col. Ahmadu Ali.

President Jonathan had congratulated General Buhari who was leading the poll while votes were still being tallied by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  and  before the final results were announced.

''To tell you that the President was more interested in the unity of the country than the election, immediately the results being reeled out by Professor Attairu  Jega was not in favour of the PDP, a meeting, that same Tuesday afternoon, was summoned. Present were the  campaign  directorate headed by Dr. Ahmadu Ali, the party's National Working Committee, and the president, of course, where it was agreed that conceding defeat before it was finally announced would be better. And that was exactly what the president did.”

''What a lot of people do not know was that Ali’s close relationship with Jonathan also helped create a synergy between the Villa and the Campaign Directorate such that each had the other’s confidence, and so it was easy to have a seamless adherence down the line of the party.

''And to tell you that the country's unity was more paramount than anything else, throughout the campaigns, did you hear any hate speech from Ali or Chief Tony Anenih, all through the campaigns? His insistence eventually  ensured that hate speeches were checked,” the source said.

Culled from Thisday