By Everest Amaefule and Fidelis Soriwei, Published: Tuesday, 8 Dec 2009
The controversy surrounding President Umaru Yar’Adua’s health deepened on Monday with his mother, Hajia Dada, denying reports that she asked him to resign.
She said in a statement by her daughter, Hajia Mairo Yar’Adua, that it was untrue that she was at loggerheads with her daughter-in-law, Turai.
Hajia Dada was reacting to media reports (not in THE PUNCH) that she was unhappy with the President’s continued stay in office in spite of his ill-health and that she was not in the best of terms with Turai.
The statement by Mairo coincided with fresh revelation that Yar’Adua’s health had not recorded significant improvement. It also came just as a former President of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani, called for the President to prove his reported recovery by addressing Nigerians through a video conference from Saudi Arabia where he is receiving treatment.
In the statement, Hajia Dada warned those playing politics with the President’s health to desist and join her family and other well-meaning Nigerians in praying for the President’s quick recovery.
The statement reads in part, “The attention of President Yar’Adua’s family has been drawn to the false, malicious and obviously sponsored media reports that suggested that the President’s mother, Hajia Dada, asked Mr. President to resign from office on account of his ill health.
“The reports also insinuated that Hajia Dada was at loggerheads with the President’s wife, Turai, whom the newspapers claimed was urging the President to sit tight. Since this reportage, the President’s mother has been very sad because there was never a time that such statements were made by her.
“To put the records straight, the President’s mother has never spoken to the media. She enjoys a cordial relationship with her daughter-in-law, Turai. The President’s mother, contrary to media reports, is supportive of Mr. President’s foray into politics and has always encouraged him to render selfless service to the good people of Nigeria.
“All the President’s mother has been doing since her son travelled abroad for medical treatment is offering fervent prayers for his speedy recovery. She believes it is normal for human beings to fall sick and recover. She has therefore never contemplated asking the President to resign.
“It is therefore highly irresponsible for anybody to drag the President’s mother into the politics of the President’s health. What she expects from Nigerians is to pray for the quick recovery of her son.”
The statement also urged those that had dragged the name of the President’s late brother, Maj.-Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, to leave him to rest in peace.
“It is distressing that some media houses even involved the late brother of Mr. President, Gen. Shehu Musa, in this unhealthy rumour and gossips. Hajia Dada is asking these journalists and political opponents of Mr. President to leave her alone, and allow her late son to rest in peace.”
The President’s mother also threatened legal action against those she claimed had been peddling rumour with her name if they failed to apologise to the family.
She advised the media to always “strive to be more responsible in their reports and desist from being used as tools of blackmail by disgruntled politicians.
“The media should cross-check their facts before going to press. At this critical stage of the nation’s development, the media should concentrate on issues that unite us and not heat up the polity.”
Meanwhile, our correspondents learnt on Monday that there was a huge pressure on the King Faisal hospital where the President is receiving treatment in Jeddah, to transfer him to Abuja.
Our sources claimed that those behind the pressure believed that specialists could be brought into the country to continue his treatment.
“Their thinking is that if the President is in Nigeria, he will be able to carry out his functions and thereby reduce the controversy over who is in charge of government,” one of the sources claimed.
The source, however, added that going by the Saudi hospital’s calculations, it would take at least two weeks to put everything in place to move the President to Nigeria.
Some of the things that will be needed, according to the source, are an intensive care unit in the presidential jet; first-class medical facilities in the Presidential Villa; at least four specialists in oncology, nephrology, cardiology and cardiovascular surgery; as well as nurses.
The source added that a specialist on churg strauss syndrome from the United States was already in Saudi Arabia to assist in getting the specialists that would be willing to accompany the President to Nigeria.
The source said, “An alternative to the presidential jet could be the use of an air ambulance to bring him to Abuja.
“It is believed that with an air ambulance, the specialists can be arranged within one week. This means one week would be cut off from the two weeks envisaged by the hospital authorities,” the source said.
The source claimed that if the Saudi hospital yielded to the pressure, Yar’Adua would be brought into the country late at night to avoid media scrutiny.
“He will then run the country by proxy. The plan is to have him address the nation on the television or by video conference for us to know he is the one talking.”
But as the controversy on the President’s health rages, Nnamani, a former President of the Senate, has challenged the Federal Executive Council to organise a video conference in which Yar’Ádua could address Nigerians.
Nnamani, who is also the Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Good Governance Group, urged the FEC, the National Assembly and the Peoples Democratic Party to address the issues raised by the President’s sickness in compliance with the stipulations of Section 144, 145 and 146 of the 1999 Constitution.
Nnamani, who wished Yar’Adua quick recovery, said that the announcement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media, Mr. Segun Adeniyi, on November 26, 2009 that the President had acute pericarditis had triggered speculations in the media.
He noted that the management of information on Yar’Adua’s health and the functioning of the Executive arm of government had become sources of disunity in the country.
Nnamani said that it was the position of the GGG that the controversy generated by the President’s health was partly due to Yar’Adua’s failure to write to the National Assembly in accordance with Section 145 and 146 of the constitution.
He added, “The increasing politicisation of Mr. President’s health arising from the inherent gap due to his current absence from the country without complying with the enshrined constitutional process of authorising the Vice-President to serve as the Acting President of the country as provided by section 145 of the constitution further sharpens divisions and encourages all manner of political permutations, including some contemplated unconstitutional, undemocratic and clearly desperate manipulative arrangements.
“The absence of any form of direct contact between Nigerians and President Yar’Adua is a major source of legitimacy for all the speculations and the contemplated unconstitutional permutations.
“Interestingly, the response of the FEC as stated by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, the Secretary of the Government of the Federation as reported by THE PUNCH on December 3, 2009 is to the effect that ‘issues that would require Mr. President’s express approval, contacts are being made and such approvals do come’ is further disturbing. This confirms the absence of legitimate Presidential authority in Nigeria.”
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
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click here for image
http://www.tribune.com.ng/08122009/images/fp.jpg
One of the two Bill 412 EP helicopters acquired by the Lagos State government for aerial security monitoring in the state commissioned at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Monday. Inset is Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (middle), cutting the tape to officially commission the helicopters.
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Headlines / 0 Comments / Dec 8, 2009
12345
The Federal Government is in a fixed on how to generate more non-oil income for next year.
The direct implication is that the noose will be tightened around tax evaders while some concessions are to be withdrawn.
Anti-Yar’Adua forces corrupt, says family
Headlines / 89 Comments / Dec 6, 2009
12345
A member of the extended family of President Umaru Yar’Adua, Hajia Binta Kuraje, yesterday rose in strong defence of her brother, for the first time, describing those calling for the resignation of the ailing President as corrupt.
Speaking on behalf of the family, in Kaduna, she lashed at the anti-Yar’Adua forces, explaining that they were opposed to the Federal Government’s anti-graft war.
Ondo bye election: Police quiz Senator, 3 Reps
Headlines / 38 Comments / Dec 5, 2009
12345
Akure – THE Police in Ondo State, yesterday, quizzed the senator representing Ondo Central, Chief Gbenga Ogunniya and three members of the House of Representatives for allegedly being in possession of two boxes containing already thumb printed ballot papers during the bye-election into the Akoko South-West / South East constituency of the state.
Eagles to battle Argentine in South Africa 2010
Headlines / 83 Comments / Dec 4, 2009
12345
The 2010 World Cup draws took place in Cape Town, South Africa, Friday, before a world live and television audience of close to 200 million people with Nigeria, for the third time in 15 years, facing Argentina in Group B.
Yar’Adua can stay in Saudi for one year – Senate
Headlines / 164 Comments / Dec 4, 2009
12345
President Umaru Yar‘Adua could well spend one year or more abroad recovering his health as there is no constitutional limitation on his absence from the country, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, declared yesterday.
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Inside Today's Paper
Cover Stories
Fashola launches surveillance helicopters
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, launched two Bell 412 EP Helicopters with...
27 Comments
Uduaghan gets Chevron’s commitment on gas flaring
A few days to the global climate summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan...
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Abba-Aji denies Yar’Adua’s vacation letter
The President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, yesterday denied involvement in any plan to...
15 Comments
National News
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Edo PDP accuses Oshiomhole of withholding N535.6m funds
Urhobo youths won’t be ignored in post-amnesty deal – Uduaghan
Yar’Adua: 150m Nigerians’ interest superior to individual’s, says Odigie-Oyegun
CSR: Julius Berger spends N7.2m on N-Delta youths
Chevron-sponsored Itsekiri devt agency completes 45 projects
Pray for Yar’Adua’s recovery, says Ademowo
Investigate Yar’Adua’s adviser on NASS, says Igbini
N127bn NASS budget wasteful, say Maitama, Ikimi
Fuel scarcity looms
More National News
Akingbola’s wife’s companies institute N200bn suit against EFCC, others
sunnnewsonline
Local: 02:00am GMT:01:00am
A Lagos High Court has fixed December 16, 2009 for ruling on a N200 billion suit brought against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by four companies allegedly linked to wife of former chief .” | Read more
2011 hits high gear, parties hold conventions
From Alifa Daniel, John-Abba Ogbodo (Abuja), Iyabo Lawal (Ibadan) and Chris Irekamba (Lagos)
ACTIVITIES have heightened in the political parties as they prepare feverishly for their conventions ahead of the 2011 general elections.
The country's two main political groupings, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Action Congress (AC), are set to hold their conventions at which plans and candidates for the polls are expected to be high on the agenda.
In fact, a crucial meeting of the PDP's National Executive Committee (NEC) has been fixed for next Thursday to address some critical issues, including the convention and President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's health.
Also, the AC is to hold its convention at Onikan Stadium in Lagos at 10.00 a.m. next Saturday, December 12, 2009.
Those eligible to attend, according to an AC statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, are the National Chairman and other officials of the party as well as governors and other government functionaries at different levels.
The Guardian learnt that the PDP's National Working Committee (NWC) led by the party's chairman, Vincent Eze Ogbulafor, took the initiative by requesting for a NEC meeting in the face of the opposition's stance on the President's health. He reassured the nation that there is no need to panic as the President was responding to treatment and would soon return to the country.
It was also gathered that at the NEC meeting, the party faithful are likely going to pass a vote of confidence on Yar'Adua to send a signal to the opposition that their wish would be fruitless.
The NEC meeting, according to sources, will discuss the modalities for the mid-term convention of the party where the NWC is supposed to render account of stewardship since assuming power in 2008.
As part of preparation for the activities, Ogbulafor led some members of the NWC to Aso Rock Villa yesterday morning to discuss with Vice President Goodluck Jonathan. The meeting, The Guardian gathered, endorsed the work plan of the NWC and went into a long discussion on the ruling of the Appeal Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, nullifying the candidature of the candidate of PDP for the February 6, 2010 governorship election in Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
Consequently, the National Legal Adviser of the party, Olusola Oke, was asked to go to the Supreme Court to challenge the ruling.
Oke said the party had filed an appeal at the apex court and that the PDP's position remains that Soludo is its candidate unless the Supreme Court decides otherwise.
The PDP's National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, confirmed that the party was taking some steps to strengthen its structure.
Oke also disclosed yesterday that the party would take legal steps to correct what it considered an illegality in the bye-election that took place in Ondo State at the weekend.
During the election, Senator Gbenga Ogunniya and some other federal lawmakers were allegedly arrested by the police. But Oke said the senator was mandated by the party to lead its delegation but they were allegedly attacked by the agents of Labour Party (LP). He dismissed allegation by the LP that PDP attempted to rig as false. He remarked: "I stand before you with every authority and honour I can muster to declare that it is absolutely untrue and totally unacceptable that the gentlemen could descend to that level as they did not in any manner whatsoever, hijack any ballot box in any part of that constituency."
The party called on the Inspector General of Police to set up a panel to probe the incident and asked the security agents at the election to produce their reports.
"We will take legal action to redeem the image of the Senator," he vowed.
A bye-election to fill the vacant seat of Akoko South-East and Akoko South-West Federal Constituency in Ondo State was held at the weekend and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the LP winner.
And after a rash of speculations linking him with a plot to use Yar'Adua's present indisposition to achieve an alleged presidential ambition, Senate President, David Mark, yesterday alluded to a campaign of blackmail to set him on a collision cause with the recuperating Nigerian leader.
He expressed dismay that the President's ill-health was being exploited by some people, whose names he refused to mention, to introduce disaffection among government functionaries.
His words yesterday at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abuja Branch Law Week: "I feel very strongly about what is happening. Sycophants and praise singers have cashed (in) on the situation; we must condemn these acts. It is inhuman and unjust. They deliberately sell dummies to newspapers. The following morning, they collect the newspapers and fly to Saudi Arabia to tell lies. It is totally mischievous and in bad faith. I do not have such ambition. If others nurse so, certainly not David Mark.
Meanwhile, more groups have continued to react to calls for the resignation of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua as a result of his ill-health.
A group, "The Association of Former Councillors and Ward Leaders in Nigeria (AFCOWN), yesterday condemned calls by some Nigerians for Yar'Adua's resignation from office on health grounds, unpatriotic and undemocratic.
The association also urged Nigerians to embark on a three-day fasting and prayers for the president to recover on time.
At a press conference addressed by its national co-ordinator, Elder Mike Omohimua, in Abuja yesterday, the group pointed out that nobody was immuned to one form of ailment or the other.
He said: "Those alleged to have signed or endorsed the resignation of the president on account of health probably do not understand the implications of their positions. They call themselves patriotic Nigerians speaking for the country but I ask them: Where were they when fuel prices were increased? Why did they not protest? I am aware they want to organize protests for a president who is ill to resign and they call themselves patriotic Nigerians."
"Lagos yesterday, the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos and Bishop of Lagos Diocese, Most Revd. Adebola Ademowo, said: "We are praying for the President for quick recovery. It is our responsibility to pray for him so that he can recover fully and be at his desk."
He said that for Nigeria to be an enviable country, Christians and Christian leaders must live like the first century Christians. According to him, this is the only way for non-Christian neighbours to respect the Christian faith when they see Christ-like-behaviour being put into practise.
He said: "A lot of people that preach now, preach churchianity, they preach denominationalism whereas they are supposed to preach the gospel. The gospel is the message that does not change, but changes lives and it is very important for the church leaders to partner with the government to make meaningful impact in the society."
He noted that church leaders had been playing a very noble role in the area of prayer and had condemned actions of the governments where necessary and commended it when they do well.
As the controversy over Yar'Adua's health rages, Nigerian students yesterday called on the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to set up a committee in line with Section 144 of the Constitution to determine whether the President has the capacity to continue leading the country or not.
Under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), they said it would be premature to call for the resignation of the President without following due process which informed the call to set up a committee.
Although the students at a press conference by the Chairman, Joint Campus Committee (JCC) of NANS, Adeyemo Tunde, expressed sympathy with the President over his failing health, they maintained that Yar'Adua's absence has created a vacuum which must be filled without delay.
The students urged FEC to put sentiment aside and work for national interest.
The students also frowned at the state of the nation's healthcare system, saying the inability of the President to seek medical attention in Nigeria despite the large number of teaching hospitals in the country had exposed Nigerian leaders as hypocrites who had been paying lip-service to the country's affairs.
Adeyemo also opposed the planned deregulation of the oil sector saying the move was an attempt to further impoverish Nigerians and restated their resolve to resist it.
Yar'Adua's Special Adviser on National Assembly matters, Senator Mohammed Abba Aji, yesterday met with Vice President Jonathan, but was silent when he emerged from the parley.
However, he vehemently denied that there was a time he refused to submit a letter of leave from the President to Mark and the House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole.
Asked what he discussed with Jonathan, he said: "I will not be sharing with you what I discussed with the Vice President; that is not a fair question."
On the leave letter which, according to a newspaper (not The Guardian) he allegedly advised the President against sending to the National Assembly, Aji retorted: "The paper had said there is a letter written that I refused to submit, that is not true. There is no such letter, at all. So the story is baseless and it's false."
In another statement yesterday regarding the newspaper publication, Aji wrote: "More worrisome to me was the fact that the writer of that report failed to contact me to confirm the authenticity of such report before going to press.
"It is surprising that a national newspaper could go to town with a report of that gravity without bothering to seek confirmation from me..."
Last February when Yar'Adua went on leave without writing to the National Assembly, Aji had said in an interview that the President did not need to inform the lawmakers before proceeding on a yearly vacation.
His words: "The President is not required by the Constitution to write the Senate. There is no constitutional requirement for him to do so."
Quoting copiously from the Section 145 of the Constitution, he said: "This section does not say he has to write such a letter. The President is elected for a four-year term that includes every second of every minute of that period.
"Whether he is asleep, on vacation, on leave or on a trip to the moon, the Vice President is also the same under all these conditions.
"Today, the Vice President has presided over the exco-meeting. They (the President and the Vice President) have a fantastic relationship. I have never seen a President and a Vice President working so harmoniously.
"These are elected not appointed political office holders. So, the issue of the President handing over does not arise.
"In the course of Obasanjo's eight years in office, he never wrote any such letter. There is therefore no need for such a letter.
"I was in the Senate for four of those years. He (Olusegun Obasanjo) never handed over to any body. The Vice President is assisting the President."
Nigerian hospital 'overwhelmed by corpses from police' By Caroline Duffield BBC News, Lagos
Dr Anthony Mbah is planning another mass burial soon
The Chief Medical Director at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu says his staff are being forced to carry out mass burials.
The BBC has established that at least seven people were last seen alive in police custody, accused of kidnapping.
Enugu State Police Commissioner Mohamed Zarewa told the BBC he was too busy to talk about their case.
This boy was not an armed robber. He was never a thief, much less an armed robber
Chief Dennis Onovo
Police issuing corpses and denials
Nigeria's police have faced strong criticism from human rights groups for carrying out extrajudicial and arbitrary killings.
Amnesty international is presenting the results of a three-year investigation on Wednesday, in which they will describe the level of police killings as shocking.
The BBC has visited the morgue and taken photographs. The images are disturbing.
They show piles of young men, lying on top of one another and strewn about on tables and floors.
In places the corpses are stacked four or five deep.
Officers killed
Records show 75 corpses were delivered to the morgue by police between June and 26 November this year.
Some of the bodies were piled on top of each other
The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Anthony Mbah, says his staff were forced to carry out a mass burial of between 70 and 80 bodies some weeks ago.
He says that another mass burial is planned to take place soon.
Seven of those in the morgue were arrested, accused of kidnapping, and paraded alive in front of the media in early September.
But their names appear in the morgue register - on 15 and 16 of September.
Police Commissioner Zarewa told the BBC he was unaware of the number of young men lying dead in the morgue.
He says his officers are forced to engage armed robbers in gunfights and that many police officers are also killed.
He insists that his police force operate within the law.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46876000/jpg/_46876821_nigeria226.jpg
The Chief Medical Director at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu says his staff are being forced to carry out mass burials.
The BBC has established that at least seven people were last seen alive in police custody, accused of kidnapping.
Enugu State Police Commissioner Mohamed Zarewa told the BBC he was too busy to talk about their case.
This boy was not an armed robber. He was never a thief, much less an armed robber
Chief Dennis Onovo
Police issuing corpses and denials
Nigeria's police have faced strong criticism from human rights groups for carrying out extrajudicial and arbitrary killings.
Amnesty international is presenting the results of a three-year investigation on Wednesday, in which they will describe the level of police killings as shocking.
The BBC has visited the morgue and taken photographs. The images are disturbing.
They show piles of young men, lying on top of one another and strewn about on tables and floors.
In places the corpses are stacked four or five deep.
Officers killed
Records show 75 corpses were delivered to the morgue by police between June and 26 November this year.
Some of the bodies were piled on top of each other
The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Anthony Mbah, says his staff were forced to carry out a mass burial of between 70 and 80 bodies some weeks ago.
He says that another mass burial is planned to take place soon.
Seven of those in the morgue were arrested, accused of kidnapping, and paraded alive in front of the media in early September.
But their names appear in the morgue register - on 15 and 16 of September.
Police Commissioner Zarewa told the BBC he was unaware of the number of young men lying dead in the morgue.
He says his officers are forced to engage armed robbers in gunfights and that many police officers are also killed.
He insists that his police force operate within the law.
30 Nigerian pilgrims died in S’Arabia
: Tuesday, 8 Dec 2009
The Head of Media and Publicity of the National Hajj Commission, Alhaji Uba Maina, has said that no fewer than 30 Nigerians died in Saudi Arabia during the 2009 hajj.
Maina made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Mecca.
He said that Kebbi lost five pilgrims, Niger and Sokoto lost four each while Kano and Plateau lost three each.
According to him, Nasarawa, Bauchi and Zamfara also lost two pilgrims each.
He said that Lagos, Yobe and Borno states lost one pilgrim each.
Maina said that the three pilgrims from Kano State who died in the holy land were international pilgrims.
The Hajj Commission Spokesman said that three out of the 30 dead pilgrims were knocked down by vehicles, two died as a result of kidney failure, while the rest died of hypertension and heart-related diseases.
On the transportation of pilgrims back to Nigeria, Maina said that more than 15,000 pilgrims had been transported home.
He assured that the transportation of the pilgrims would be completed by Dec. 26.
Meanwhile, 164 Nigerians were deported from Libya.
The deportees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, on Monday.
A source at the Nigerian Immigration Service told the News Agency of Nigeria at the airport that the deportees aboard a chartered aircraft belonging to Air Memphis.
The source said 160 of the deportees were women and others minors.
He said they were returned to Nigeria over immigration-related offences.
The Head of Media and Publicity of the National Hajj Commission, Alhaji Uba Maina, has said that no fewer than 30 Nigerians died in Saudi Arabia during the 2009 hajj.
Maina made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Mecca.
He said that Kebbi lost five pilgrims, Niger and Sokoto lost four each while Kano and Plateau lost three each.
According to him, Nasarawa, Bauchi and Zamfara also lost two pilgrims each.
He said that Lagos, Yobe and Borno states lost one pilgrim each.
Maina said that the three pilgrims from Kano State who died in the holy land were international pilgrims.
The Hajj Commission Spokesman said that three out of the 30 dead pilgrims were knocked down by vehicles, two died as a result of kidney failure, while the rest died of hypertension and heart-related diseases.
On the transportation of pilgrims back to Nigeria, Maina said that more than 15,000 pilgrims had been transported home.
He assured that the transportation of the pilgrims would be completed by Dec. 26.
Meanwhile, 164 Nigerians were deported from Libya.
The deportees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, on Monday.
A source at the Nigerian Immigration Service told the News Agency of Nigeria at the airport that the deportees aboard a chartered aircraft belonging to Air Memphis.
The source said 160 of the deportees were women and others minors.
He said they were returned to Nigeria over immigration-related offences.
Bank Chief Nabbed Over Possession Of $3.1 Million At Lagos Airport « on: December 06, 2009, 09:05 AM »
By Wole Shadare
A combined team of Lagos Airport Police Command, the State Security Service (SSS) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Aviation Security officials has apprehended a senior bank official at the General Aviation Terminal of the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos after she was found in possession of $3.1 million, suspected to be a laundered fund.
Due to the seriousness of the offence, and to unravel the motive behind the alleged transfer of such huge fund without authorized fund transfer documents from the bank, the case has been transferred to Abuja for investigation.
The suspect, who is a Deputy General Manager in one of the rescued banks, was arrested on November 11, 2009 at 9 am in an attempt to board Arik Air's Abuja-bound flight.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Airport Police Command, Mr. Ayuba Pam, confirmed the arrest of Etuk, when The Guardian visited the Command on Thursday. He however said that the matter had been transferred to Force headquarters in Abuja for proper investigation.
A top official of one of the aviation agencies who pleaded anonymity disclosed that Etuk was detained for two weeks with the SSS in Lagos before he was moved to Abuja on November 27, 2009 .
The source, however, lauded the security personnel for the arrest, stressing that huge movement of funds through the General Aviation Terminal in chartered aircraft and private jets and commercial aircraft has been a source of worry to them, adding that the movement without proper police protection and under questionable circumstances was giving the airport authority real concern.
Investigation by The Guardian showed that the money found on Etuk had been traced to a governor from one of the oil-rich states in the Niger Delta.
Police sources confided in The Guardian that the sum was being transferred on behalf of the governor, but security operatives who questioned Mrs. Etuk said that she maintained that she was handling the cash on behalf of the bank even though without any authorisation document.
The husband of the bank chief is a Special Assistant to the governor on Utilities and has helped to secure the government's account to the bank.
The Guardian had penultimate week, reported the lax in security at the Lagos airport, which has led to the rise in drug trafficking, money laundering and other nefarious activities by powerful Nigerians.
Of particular concern are operators or owners of private jets, whose agents allegedly aid them to flout security check on their aircraft before take-off.
Disturbed by the development, the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren recently summoned all the agents of private airlines in the country, security operatives at the airport which comprise the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Immigration Service, Air Force, security operatives from the Federal FAAN, officials of the SSS and the Nigeria Customs Service among others to a meeting in his office.
Two separate meetings were held that day with the aim of ensuring compliance with screening.
Demuren, at the meeting instructed that all aircraft, particularly private jets be screened by SSS personnel the way it is done in other countries.
There are also indications that prior to the tough stance of government on screening the aircraft of these very few rich men, most of the owners in connivance with their agents were alleged to have been using their jets to smuggle arms, money and drugs out of the country, owing to the lax in security at the airports.
Speaking to The Guardian recently, spokesman for NCAA, Sam Adurogboye said that the Director General of the Authority had threatened to withdraw the agents' licenses if they were found to constitute a security risk to the country and to flight safety.
Adurogboye stated that the private jets owners are given clearance by the NCAA to operate into Nigeria after they must have satisfied all safety related matters to be jointly supervised by the NCAA inspector and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of the country where the aircraft is registered.
He explained that foreign registered aircraft and the ones registered in Nigeria under the 5N call sign are given the same level of certification before they can be allowed to operate, adding that the regulatory body has raised the bar in its oversight functions.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news/article02//indexn3_html?pdate=061209&ptitle=Bank%20Chief%20Nabbed%20Over%20Possession%20Of%20$3.1%20million%20At%20Lagos%20Airport&cpdate=061209
A combined team of Lagos Airport Police Command, the State Security Service (SSS) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Aviation Security officials has apprehended a senior bank official at the General Aviation Terminal of the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos after she was found in possession of $3.1 million, suspected to be a laundered fund.
Due to the seriousness of the offence, and to unravel the motive behind the alleged transfer of such huge fund without authorized fund transfer documents from the bank, the case has been transferred to Abuja for investigation.
The suspect, who is a Deputy General Manager in one of the rescued banks, was arrested on November 11, 2009 at 9 am in an attempt to board Arik Air's Abuja-bound flight.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Airport Police Command, Mr. Ayuba Pam, confirmed the arrest of Etuk, when The Guardian visited the Command on Thursday. He however said that the matter had been transferred to Force headquarters in Abuja for proper investigation.
A top official of one of the aviation agencies who pleaded anonymity disclosed that Etuk was detained for two weeks with the SSS in Lagos before he was moved to Abuja on November 27, 2009 .
The source, however, lauded the security personnel for the arrest, stressing that huge movement of funds through the General Aviation Terminal in chartered aircraft and private jets and commercial aircraft has been a source of worry to them, adding that the movement without proper police protection and under questionable circumstances was giving the airport authority real concern.
Investigation by The Guardian showed that the money found on Etuk had been traced to a governor from one of the oil-rich states in the Niger Delta.
Police sources confided in The Guardian that the sum was being transferred on behalf of the governor, but security operatives who questioned Mrs. Etuk said that she maintained that she was handling the cash on behalf of the bank even though without any authorisation document.
The husband of the bank chief is a Special Assistant to the governor on Utilities and has helped to secure the government's account to the bank.
The Guardian had penultimate week, reported the lax in security at the Lagos airport, which has led to the rise in drug trafficking, money laundering and other nefarious activities by powerful Nigerians.
Of particular concern are operators or owners of private jets, whose agents allegedly aid them to flout security check on their aircraft before take-off.
Disturbed by the development, the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren recently summoned all the agents of private airlines in the country, security operatives at the airport which comprise the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Immigration Service, Air Force, security operatives from the Federal FAAN, officials of the SSS and the Nigeria Customs Service among others to a meeting in his office.
Two separate meetings were held that day with the aim of ensuring compliance with screening.
Demuren, at the meeting instructed that all aircraft, particularly private jets be screened by SSS personnel the way it is done in other countries.
There are also indications that prior to the tough stance of government on screening the aircraft of these very few rich men, most of the owners in connivance with their agents were alleged to have been using their jets to smuggle arms, money and drugs out of the country, owing to the lax in security at the airports.
Speaking to The Guardian recently, spokesman for NCAA, Sam Adurogboye said that the Director General of the Authority had threatened to withdraw the agents' licenses if they were found to constitute a security risk to the country and to flight safety.
Adurogboye stated that the private jets owners are given clearance by the NCAA to operate into Nigeria after they must have satisfied all safety related matters to be jointly supervised by the NCAA inspector and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of the country where the aircraft is registered.
He explained that foreign registered aircraft and the ones registered in Nigeria under the 5N call sign are given the same level of certification before they can be allowed to operate, adding that the regulatory body has raised the bar in its oversight functions.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news/article02//indexn3_html?pdate=061209&ptitle=Bank%20Chief%20Nabbed%20Over%20Possession%20Of%20$3.1%20million%20At%20Lagos%20Airport&cpdate=061209
Friday, December 4, 2009
Welcom to this blog here u get news concercing what is happening in nigeria be it academics,economics,entertainments etc
Today being the first day, marks the opening of this blog and we promise to bring u latest news concerning anything that is happening in your surroundings
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