Apparently basking in the euphoria of the superlative performance of the national U-20 team, the Flying Eagles at the just ended Super 6 invitational tournament in Abuja, assistant coach of the team, Nduka Ugbade has boasted that the team will not be going to the forthcoming African Youth Championship (AYC) in Senegal just to complete the number, but to fight for the trophy.
Tuesday, February 3
Whitney Houston’s daughter ‘fighting for life’
Bobbi Kristina Brown, the daughter of late singing legend Whitney Houston, was fighting for her life Monday after she was pulled unconscious from a bathtub over the weekend,
Certificate: Court grants ex-parte application to serve Buhari through newspapers
An Abuja Federal High Court on Monday granted an ex-parte application in an eligibility suit seeking to serve court processes on APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), through three newspapers. The presiding judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, also fixed Feb. 9 for mention and possible hearing in the suit challenging Buhari’s eligibility to contest the elections over his Secondary School Certificate.
The plaintiff, Mr Max Ozoaka, a lawyer, who filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/14/2015 through an originating summons filed by his counsel, Mr Ade Okeaya-Inneh (SAN), joined Buhari and INEC as co-defendants. The court also granted the plaintiff’s prayers for Buhari and INEC to abridge time within which to enter appearance in the suit and ordered that service be made on them before Feb. 9.
Ozoaka’s counsel, Okeaya-Inneh, in the originating summons, is seeking an order to disqualify Buhari from contesting and/or participating in the Feb. 14 presidential elections or any other date INEC may fix. He is also seeking an order restraining INEC from permitting Buhari to participate in the Feb. 14 presidential elections or any other date that it may fix for the said
elections.
The plaintiff is also seeking a declaration that by the combined provisions of Sections 31(1)(2) and (3) of the 2010 Electoral Act and INEC Form CF 001, Buhari is mandatorily obliged to strictly comply with their provisions.
This, he argued, had to do with Buhari’s filing and submission of INEC Form CF 001, without attaching evidence of educational qualifications as required, which was an offence under Section 31 of the Act. The plaintiff, therefore, prayed the court to declare that Buhari is not eligible to participate in the 2015 presidential election for failure to comply with the terms for submission of list of candidates.
Any attempt to postpone Feb 14 poll is an invitation to anarchy – Baraje
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ,Alh Abubakar Kawu Baraje has said that the party will support the Nigerian masses in
Protesters storm INEC office, demand election postponement
A group of Nigerian youths not favorably disposed to going ahead with this month’s general elections,due to the inability of many registered voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards,PVCs, protested to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday,to demand postponement.
Friday, January 23
Eight Days To Judgment.
With barely eight days to the January 30 date fixed for the judgment
in the N25billion money laundering charge against Michael Igbinedion,
brother of ex- Edo state governor, Lucky Igbinedion and Charles
Eboigbodin by Justice J. Liman of the Federal High Court, Benin, alarm
has been raised over surreptitious moves to compromise the case.
Lucky Igbinedion
One of the accused persons, is alleged for have confided in close
aides that he has been sending money to persons that could help him
ensure a soft landing in the matter, including overtures to the
prosecution and the judge. He boasted to have reached out with an offer
of N50million to one of the parties, after the adoption of final
addresses in the case last November.This is the second time issue of bribery is coming into the open in the case, a few months ago, a lawyer who was approached by the same accused person declined to take his brief after he was told in no uncertain terms that the judge had been “spoken to”..
These innuendos are worrisome, as they cast a pall of doubt on the integrity of the proposed judgment. “These claims put the judge into focus. His integrity is a stake, and it is important that he puts those who want to pervert the cause of justice to shame,” a knowledgeable source said
A few years ago, Lucky Igbinedion, former Edo Sate governor who is also an accused person, in this case, received a slap on the wrist in a controversial judgment by the Federal High Court, Enugu. Justice Abdullahi Kafarati offered him an option of N3.5million fine after finding him guilty on one count charge of corruption. Till today, the judge is still haunted by the ruling.
Charles Eboigbodin and Micheal Igbinedion, along with their companies; Gava Corporation Limited; Romrig Nigeria Limited; PML Securities Company Limited and PML Nigeria Limited are being prosecuted by the EFCC. for an N25Billion scam, bothering on; Money Laundering, Misappropriation of funds, conspiracy and Abuse of office.
At the last adjourned date, November 14, 2014, January 30 was reserved for judgement after the adoption of written addresses by both the prosecuting counsel Rotimi Jacob SAN, and the defense counsels: Mike Ozekhome SAN, Ricky Tafa SAN and Barr. Richard O. Ahonaruogo.
While addressing the court, Jacobs hinged his submission on the testimonies of both the prosecutions witnesses and those of the defence which according to him collaborated the charge, with emphasis on the several public funds deposited into private accounts, and how government funds were used to repay several loans collected by the former governor while he was in office.
Jacobs then prayed the court to "accept the prosecutions case as presented and convict the accused persons as charged".
It would be recalled that during trial, a prosecution witness Mr. Ajoyo Sowale, an Accounts Officer with the Guaranty Trust Bank, identified various account statements and account opening documents of the accused persons and confirmed to the court that several lodgements were made into the various accounts, and that he printed the various account statements and got them certified by the appropriate authority.
Another witness Mr. Eriyo Amadiayagbon David who was a Personal Assistant to Micheal Igbinedion also told the court how he was instructed on several occasions to make lodgements into his GTB account and those of Romrig Nigeria Limited and Gava Corporation. According to David, he usually received cash from the Accountant at the Government House and paid into the account of the second accused person, "and after paying the government entourage, the remaining cash was usually given to the ADC to the Governor". David further identified his name on the printed account statement of Michael Igbinedion, which is part of the exhibits before the court.
Abdullahi Hamza an EFCC operative who was also a witness in the trial, further gave a detailed account of how investigations were conducted and how it was discovered that state funds were diverted by the accused persons for other personal purposes, such as buying of various shares, and several payments made into the account of Ekpenyong and Sons, a company owned by the first accused person, Patrick Eboigbodin.
JONATHAN WANTS ELECTIONS POSTPONED BY 6 MONTHS
Plans by President Goodluck Jonathan and his team to scuttle the general elections scheduled for February have come to light, with National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki openly calling for postponement of the elections.
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz dies
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has died, royal officials have announced, weeks after he was admitted to hospital.
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz was the fifth of his brothers to take the throne.
Abdullah, who had ruled since 2005 and was said to be aged about 90, had been suffering from a lung infection.His 79-year-old half-brother, Salman, has been confirmed as the new king.
Within hours of his accession to the throne of the oil-rich kingdom, King Salman vowed to maintain the same policies as his predecessors.
"We will continue adhering to the correct policies which Saudi Arabia has followed since its establishment," he said in a speech broadcast on state television.
Abdullah had suffered frequent bouts of ill health in recent years, and King Salman had recently taken on the ailing monarch's responsibilities.
Prior to announcing Abdullah's death, Saudi television cut to Koranic verses, which often signifies the passing of a senior royal.
A statement said Abdullah had died at 01:00 (22:00 GMT Thursday).
BBC News, Jeddah Correspondent Sylvia Smith,
Here in Saudi Arabia's second city, the streets were quiet
this morning as many people flocked to mosques for Friday prayers. There
is a subdued sadness in the air as Saudis take in the loss of their
king. People throughout the kingdom are mourning a man whom many viewed as a good monarch. A Jedawi I spoke to said that although it was known that Abdullah was ailing, to wake up to news of the king's death was distressing. Another Jedawi referred to the loss as like a family member passing away.
It is only after the king is later laid to rest, that people here and in the kingdom at large can begin to adjust to his passing.
Abdullah, Salman and Muqrin are all sons of the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz, usually referred to as Ibn Saud, who died in 1953.
King Salman called on the royal family's Allegiance Council to recognize Muqrin as his heir. He swiftly appointed Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef as deputy crown prince, making him second in line to the throne, and named his own son, Mohammed bin Salman, as defense minister.
Other ministers, including foreign, oil and finance were kept in place, state TV reported.
- Born on 31 December 1935
- Son of Princess Hassa al-Sudairi
- Governor of Riyadh from 1955-1960 and 1963-2011
- Appointed defense minister upon death of his brother Crown Prince Sultan
- Owns important stake in one of the Arab world's largest media groups
In keeping with traditions of Wahhabism - the ultra-conservative form of Sunni Islam followed by the kingdom - King Abdullah will be buried in an unmarked grave immediately after Friday prayers.
The Saudi religious establishment views every aspect of life and death as a submission to God's supreme will, and protocol permits no official mourning period. Government offices stay open and flags remain at full mast.
Saudi Arabia is now sandwiched between an aggressive Islamic State (IS) to the north and al-Qaeda in Yemen to the south. Saudi warplanes have joined the US-led coalition in air strikes against IS, but this is deeply unpopular with many Saudis.
The government has yet to find a way to cope with mild calls for reforms, and is abusing anti-terror laws to silence reformers and punish its critics. Longer term, it faces a growing unemployment problem. About half the population is under 25 and there are nowhere near enough meaningful jobs for young Saudis.
But the country does at least have oil in its favor. With prices below $45 a barrel, Saudi Arabia is one of the very few exporting countries to still make big margins on production and exploration. That puts it in a powerful position on the world stage.
"As a leader, he was always candid and had the courage of his convictions. One of those convictions was his steadfast and passionate belief in the importance of the US-Saudi relationship as a force for stability and security in the Middle East and beyond," he said.
Vice-President Joe Biden tweeted that he would lead a delegation to Riyadh to pay respects.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron said Abdullah would be remembered for his "commitment to peace and for strengthening understanding between faiths".
Jordan's King Abdullah II cut short a visit to Davos, Switzerland, to travel to Saudi Arabia, as Jordan's royal court declared 40 days of mourning.
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin praised Abdullah's "grounded, considered and responsible leadership", while Iran offered Saudi Arabia its condolences and said its foreign minister would travel to Riyadh for an "official ceremony" on Saturday.
Frank Gardner says Saudi Arabia could face an increasing internal security problem following the death of King Abdullah
In 1962 he was appointed commander of the Saudi National Guard, where he earned the respect and loyalty of the desert tribes.
When he came to the throne in 2005 he succeeded another half-brother, Fahd. However, he had already been Saudi Arabia's de-facto leader for 10 years because his predecessor had been debilitated by a stroke.
Correspondents say Abdullah was seen as a reformer at home, albeit a slow and steady one.
He allowed mild criticism of his government in the press, and hinted that more women should be allowed to work.
King Salman spent 48 years as governor of Riyadh Province before becoming crown prince and defense minister.
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says it is thought unlikely that he will embark on any great changes.
In a recent meeting with the BBC in Jeddah, he appeared alert and well-briefed but walked with the aid of a stick, our correspondent adds.
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