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River State Police Denies Shooting Senator Abe

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River State Police Denies Shooting Senator Abe

The Rivers Police on Sunday denied allegations that its personnel shot and wounded a senator, Magnus Abe.

Its spokesman, Ahmad Muhammad, a deputy superintendent of police, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Port Harcourt that the police did not dispense any bullet while dispersing a rally by Save Rivers Movement on Sunday.

He said the people at the state College of Arts and Science for the rally were dispersed because they did not obtain a police permit.

“I can confirm to you that Sen. Magnus Abe was not shot. The police did not expend any single bullet while dispersing the crowd. It is not true. The police did not shoot the senator, we only used minimum force to disperse the crowd at the venue of the rally,” he said.

But the Rivers State government had alleged that Abe was shot by the police at the venue of the rally.

The Commissioner for information and Communications, Ibim Semenitari, who made the accusation in a statement on Sunday, also reiterated calls for the re-deployment of the state commissioner of police, Joseph Mbu, “before he turns the state into a graveyard”.

“Today’s attack on members of the Save Rivers Movement, a non governmental association, at the College of Arts and Science, Rumuola, Port Harcourt, Rivers State and especially the unprovoked shooting of Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, the senator representing Rivers South East senatorial district, is cause for worry and an indication of the length that the PDP is willing to go to silence opposing views,” she said.

The Press secretary to the senator, Honour Sirawoo, said a rubber bullet hit Abe on the chest when he went to supervise preparations for the rally at about 9.00 am on Sunday.

Over 100 Nigerians Jailed In Morocco

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Over 100 Nigerians Jailed In Morocco

Nigeria’s ambassador to Morocco, Abdallah Wali, said on Sunday that there are at least 100 Nigerians currently languishing in Moroccan prisons.

Wali who disclosed this to newsmen in Sokoto said that most of them were being held for offences relating to drugs, petty crimes and illegal migration, adding that there were only about 100 Nigerians legally resident in the North African country.

He said that the mission was partnering with the foreign affairs ministry to stem the tide of illegal migration of Nigerians to Morocco and that it had conducted series of workshops to sensitise Nigerians on the risk involved in illegal travelling.

“The whole idea of visiting Morocco illegally is because of its proximity to Europe. It takes only 15 kilometres to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Spain,” he said.

The envoy also commended the federal government for taking measures to shore up funding of the nation’s missions abroad

Edo PDP Rules Out Automatic Tickets For Aspirants

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Edo PDP Rules Out Automatic Tickets For Aspirants

From Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, Dan Orbih, has stressed that no person aspiring for any elective political position under the platform of the party would be given automatic ticket in the 2015 general elections.

Orbih stated this while addressing a meeting of PDP leaders and stakeholders in Edo Central senatorial district at Uromi.

He assured that the party would conduct a free and fair primary election and urged all aspirants vying for positions to freely express their intentions and follow the process of the party’s primaries, which is the first stage of the election.

“Anybody willing to contest is free to come. No endorsement, no anointed and preferred candidate. Those who have interest should go to the field and in their free will express their choice. Elected party chairmen, ward chairmen at both the state and national levels should not be seen or heard canvassing for support for any party aspirant,” the chairman said.

He dismissed rumours making the rounds in the state that the leadership of the party had hand-picked some people as its candidates to represent the party for various positions in the general elections.

“Edo state PDP will conduct a free and fair primaries to pick candidate that will represent us. It is true that our opponent is aware that in Edo Central Senatorial District that if we do elections a 100 times. We will win the hundred times. But the nomination is generating problem and I want to say that Chief Tony Anenih has no favoured candidate and he has not endorsed any candidate,” he stated.

He urged all members of the party to put aside all issues that bring division and unite so as to secure the party’s victory in the forthcoming election, adding that the it was preparing to hold a national executive council meeting on January 16 to discuss and resolve the crisis plaguing it at the national level.

Those present at the meeting include Joe Edionwe (PDP South-South zonal secretary), Friday Itulah, Senator Odion Ugbesia, Patrick Ikhariale, Clifford Odia, members of the party in the state House of Assembly and other party faithful.

After 8 Years In Coma, Ariel Sharon Dies At 85

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After 8 Years In Coma, Ariel Sharon Dies At 85

Former Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, who suffered a stroke in 2006, has died Saturday after spending the last eight years of his life in coma at the Tel Hashomer hospital, outside Tel Aviv.

His death at the age of 85 was first reported by Israeli Army radio.

Sharon was born February 26, 1928 in the then British Mandate of Palestine to a family of Lithuanian Jews. By the age of 10, he had entered the Zionist youth movement, Hassadeh, and later the Haganah, the military precursor to the Israel Defense Forces.

His military career flourished as he became a commander in the Israeli army and celebrated as a military strategist.

He was an instrumental figure in the 1956 Suez War, the Six Day War of 1967, the Yom Kippur War of 1973 and as minister of defense directed the 1982 Lebanon War, before venturing into politics and being elected prime minister in 2001.

He, however, suffered a stroke in January 2006 at the height of his political power and remained comatose since then. Earlier, he suffered a mild stroke in December 2005 and was released from the hospital after two days, but a little more than two weeks later he suffered a massive intra cerebral hemorrhage from which he never recovered.

In the months leading up to his stroke, Sharon had shocked his political base by expelling Jewish settlers from 21 Gaza settlements and from four on the West Bank

He also resigned as head of the Likud party and formed a new centrist party called Kadima (“Forward”).

Sharon’s longtime rival and current prime minister, Netanyahu, was elected his replacement as head of Likud.

Widowed twice, he is survived by his sons Gilad and Omri.

Jonathan Orders Release Of 165 Terror Suspects

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Jonathan Orders Release Of 165 Terror Suspects

President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the release of 167 terror suspects who were arrested in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, which have been under emergency rule since May, as recommended by a Joint Investigation Team constituted by the Defence Headquarters in 2013.

The director of defence information, Chris Olukolade, a major general, said in a statement on Friday that 157 of the detainees would be released from military facilities in Borno State, nine from Yobe State and one from Adamawa State.

“Over 165 persons apprehended in the course of military operations on terror in three states in the North-East are to be released from custody in compliance with Presidential directive. The suspects are those earlier recommended for release by the Joint Investigation Team set up by the Defence Headquarters last year,” the statement said.

It added that the suspects will be released to their respective state governments.

The Defence Headquarters had released all women and children arrested in the three states in connection with terrorism on a similar directive from the President in May 2013.

Olukolade had said then that the move was in response to requests by the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Reconciliation.”

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CAR’s Interim President Resigns

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CAR’s Interim President Resigns

There was street dancing and singing Friday in Bangui, capital of Central African Republic, CAR, when the resignation of interim President, Michel Djotodia, was announced after his failing to halt inter-religious violence that has continued to claim thousands of lives.

The Prime Minister, Nicolas Tiangaye, with whom he had a fractious relationship, also stepped down, according to a statement issued by Central African regional body CEEAC.

Djotodia, who became president in March after a coup led by the Seleka rebel group, had faced pressure to step down from leaders in the region because of his failure to stop inter-religious violence in the country.

He was the country’s first Muslim leader.

Over the past year, the country has descended into turmoil amid violence between Christian and Muslim militias that has forced over 1 million people from their homes.

Earlier this week, the United Nations warned that the country was heading toward a humanitarian disaster and France, which had sent hundreds of troops to its former colony, repeatedly expressed its frustration with Djotodia’s government.

An equally fed-up Djotodia responded by saying no one could solve CAR’s myriad of problems in just eight months.

“I am not God, I hope. I am a man like you. And this country is vast — 623,000 square kilometers (387,000 square miles),” he told reporters.

“You could bring an angel from the sky to govern this country and there would still be problems.”

The Parliament leader, Alexandre Ferdinand Nguendet, who was named to serve as interim president, said in an interview: “Our country has never lived through anything like this.”

He noted that civil servants had not been paid in at least three months and that the country was ready to “explode.”

Nguendet will serve for two weeks until a new “transitional president” is chosen by the temporary parliament.

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Real Estate Is Haven for Money Laundering In Abuja – EFCC

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Real Estate Is Haven for Money Laundering In Abuja – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has raised concerns over the new mode of money laundering through investments in real estates the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

Chairman of the commission, Ibrahim Lamorde, made this known during a courtesy visit to the minister of the FCT, Bala Mohammed in Abuja.

He said that the EFCC had uncovered several money laundering schemes in the city in which the perpetrators disguise the proceeds of crime by investing in properties without using the banks, prefering to pay for their acquisition with cash.

The EFCC boss further revealed that the laundered funds are frequently converted into foreign currencies through the bureau de change before the purchases are made and that in most cases, no change of ownership is done after such acquisitions, making it difficult to verify the identities of the new owners or the sources of fund.

He said over 270 cases of land scams were reported to the commission in the last 3 years, adding that evidence of the trend is the number of palatial but unoccupied houses that litter the capital city.

Lamorde said the commission suspected incl enemy of some FCT administration officials in some of the cases investigated and called on the minister to be prepared to initiate disciplinary action against erring officers.

In his response, Bala pledged to continue to give support to the commission in its efforts to stamp out corruption from the FCT, noting that the most brazen of the vices was land fraud and that the EFCC had assisted in the arrest and prosecution of some of those involved.

“It is sad that the capital territory as a jurisdiction is used as a citadel of corruption and also for perpetuating acts of corruption, people from the states and local government illegally acquire money and come to get it hidden in the FCT through acquisition of properties that are not registered and that is a big concern because it is depriving the FCT of the revenue needed and increasing corruption in the Capital Territory,” the minister noted.

In addition, he disclosed that the FCTA was working with the Abuja Geographical Information System, AGIS, to upgrade its system in such a manner that it would be difficult for anybody to impersonate, manipulate or forge land documents.

Ibori May Complete Jail Term In Nigeria

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Ibori May Complete Jail Term In Nigeria

Former governor of Delta State, James Ibori may return home to complete his 13 years jail term for money laundering and associated crimes according to an agreement signed between Nigeria and the UK.

The Prisoners Transfer Agreement, PTA, which was signed on Wednesday by the minister of justice and attorney-general of the federation, Mohammed Adoke, and the UK justice secretary, Jermey Wright, on behalf of both countries will allow some of the 521 Nigerians serving jail terms in the UK to be repatriated.

Responding to questions from journalists, Wright said Nigerians serving less than twelve months in the UK would not be eligible for the transfer.

“There are a number of Nigerian prisoners already in British prisons. Not all of them will be eligible for transfer under this agreement, for example, because, it will only be those sentenced to twelve months or longer who will be eligible under this agreement,” he said.

According to the agreement, a prisoners’ consent will not be required before repatriation, but Nigeria and the UK will have to agree on those who should benefit from this arrangement.

Adoke said the signing of the agreement was good for both countries and is an indication of the friendly and cordial relationship between Nigeria and the UK.

“This is a good agreement for both Nigeria and the United Kingdom and I think it gives us the opportunity to strengthen our partnership and our friendship. It is also an opportunity to ensure that those prisoners who come from either country will serve their own sentences in their own countries and that is better for their rehabilitation,” he said.

According to him, the UK has pledged to commit one million pounds to help improve the condition of prisons in Nigeria.

In April 2012, a British court sentenced Ibori to jail for 13 years for money laundering and associated crimes.

His wife, sister, mistress and London solicitor were earlier convicted by a British court for money laundering.

Army Foils Fresh Attack In Borno, Kills 38 Insurgents

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Army Foils Fresh Attack In Borno, Kills 38 Insurgents

Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

The Nigerian Army Thursday said it dealt a heavy blow on the outlawed Boko Haram sect, killing 38 of its members while foiling an attack on Damboa, a town in Borno State.

Spokesman of 7 Division in Maiduguri, Muhammad Dole, a colonel, said many of the insurgents who had planned to attack various military formations and private residences in Damboa fled with various degrees of injuries from the troops of 195 Battalion in Damboa who successfully repelled them.

According to the army, one soldier was, however, killed in the operation while two others who sustained injuries are receiving treatment.

The statement read: “In the early hours (0100 hours) of Thursday 9 January 2014, the insurgents attempted to launch attack on Damboa to cause havoc and mayhem. But due to timely information and gallantry displayed by the troops, the attack was repelled and inflicted heavy casualty on the terrorists.”

The statement further stated that three vehicles – one Sienna(AE 844 DKW) laden with cylinders and explosive devices, one 911 truck (SA 575 BBU) loaded with 200 bags of food stuff and one Mitsubishi canter truck (XD 441 GG) were recovered from the insurgents.

Also, it said a large cache of assorted arms of high calibre weapons and ammunition comprising of General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), Light Machine Guns (LMG) and two AK 47 rifles were seized.

The army added that combined ground troops and Nigerian Air Force aircraft are in hot pursuit for the fleeing terrorists in the general area of Damboa and surrounding village.

Suicide Bomber Kills 23 In Iraq

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Suicide Bomber Kills 23 In Iraq

A suicide bomber has killed 23 Iraqi army recruits and wounded 36 in Baghdad on Thursday, officials said.

Spokesman for the Baghdad Security Operations Centre which coordinates military, police and other security organisations, Saad Maan, a brigadier- general, said the bomber blew himself up among the recruits at the small Muthanna Airfield used by the army in the Iraqi capital.

Maan put the death toll at 22, but health ministry officials said the morgue records showed 23 had been killed.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred a day after Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said he would eradicate the “evil” of al Qaeda and its allies.

Fighters from the al Qaeda-affiliated Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, ISIL, which is also at the forefront of Syria’s civil war, last week seized control of Falluja and parts of Ramadi, capital of Iraq’s western Anbar province.

The Shi’ite-led government had asked for volunteers to join the military effort against al Qaeda, which has regained strength in Sunni-dominated areas such as Anbar partly by exploiting widespread Sunni resentment over Maliki’s policies.

Bloodshed in Iraq had returned to its highest level in the last few years, with the UNited Nations, UN, reporting that 8,868 people were killed in 2013, a surge of violence partly fuelled by the war in Syria.
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Also on Thursday, police said a car bomb exploded near a local health department building in the city of Tikrit, north of Baghdad, the hometown of deposed Sunni leader Saddam Hussein.

An ambulance driver was killed and five other people wounded.

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