By Reuben Abati

"SO the President is back in the country?"

"When did he return? You better don't join rumour-mongers to continue to deceive Nigerians."

"Stop being mischievous, you know the man has returned. He came in the early hours of Wednesday under the cover of darkness. The presidency has since issued a statement to say that the president is back, but Dr Goodluck Jonathan can carry on with state affairs."

"What does that mean? Is the president aware that he is no longer in a position to give directives to Jonathan directly. He has to go through the National Assembly, inform that august body that he is back to his job. But he sneaks in Nicodemously in the middle of the night and he starts giving instructions. "

"Once he returns, he takes over automatically. Did he ever write a letter to the National Assembly asking for a vacation? So why should he write the National Assembly to say that he has returned. It was the National Assembly that wrote a letter for him, claiming that his BBC interview amounted to a letter whereas the Constitution is very clear about a proper letter being written. This is what you get when you play Ludo with the law, and the country. Why doesn't the same National Assembly now accept the statement by the presidency as the letter confirming his return. Why are they saying they are not aware that the man has returned? "

"But have you seen the President with your two eyes? Do you know anybody who has seen him?"

"Nobody. Except may be his wife and his security guards"

"That is why I say I don't believe that the man is back in the country. He has to show his face. He has to talk to Nigerians. If you ask me, the manner of his return shows great contempt for Nigerians. It has increased the uncertainty in the land. I dare say it is disruptive."

"Oh come on Brother Thomas. Too many Nigerians are sounding as if the man has no right to return to the country. If a man is ill, and he goes abroad to seek medical help, definitely he would return one day?"

"President Yar'Adua is not just another citizen. This is the president of Nigeria and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. That comes with some responsibility. The key responsibility is that the President must show that he is a patriot and that the country's interest is uppermost in his mind. When I see him on television, I'll believe that he is back."

"You may have to wait for a long time oh. What I hear is that the man came back in an air ambulance on a stretcher. Nobody was allowed to see him. Soldiers took over everywhere between the airport and the Presidential Villa"

"Where was the Acting President?"

"I don't think Jonathan knew anything about the President's return? He must have been asleep in his bedroom when they woke him up to tell him his oga was back."

"At the time the President returned, Jonathan as Acting President was effectively the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. Who ordered the troops that went to the airport?"

"The Chief of Army Staff could have done that"

"Without briefing the Commander-in- Chief? That is not good for national security".

"You like to moralise. What happened on Wednesday was definitely a coup against Jonathan's Acting Presidency. You can see the effect it has had. The meeting of the Executive Council of the Federation could not hold on Wednesday because there was allegedly a directive postponing the meeting."

"Someone said soldiers were deployed to the meeting room to protect the President's chair. If Jonathan thought after sitting on that chair for two meetings, he could do so again, someone had made proper arrangements to put him in his place."

"Ha."

"Poor Jonathan. He was beginning to enjoy the position of Acting President. Now, he needs all the luck that he can get. I hear they have even changed all the security guards at the Presidential Villa."

"A special squad, mostly soldiers from Katsina."

"Talk about the Yar'Adua group taking physical possession of power."

"It is called high-wire power politics. High stakes."

"They have played their last card."

"Last card?"

"Yes, their last card."

"Don't be too sure. I understand the Acting president will now take instructions from Mrs Turai Yar'Adua"

"How?"

"To do anything now, Dr Jonathan will have to ask Mrs Yar'Adua what the President wants."

"Jesus Christ of Nazareth! They want to run Nigeria on the basis of he said, she said. Why can't Jonathan assert himself?"

"How? Did you not notice that in the first statement issued by President Yar'Adua, there was absolutely no reference to Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President? The President returns to the country and he pretends not to know that there is an Acting President in place."

"But technically, Jonathan's Presidency ended the moment the President returned to the country; it will be ludicrous to have a President and an Acting President at the same time."

"You see why I was insisting that the President is not yet back? As far as I am concerned, what we have is an acting Presidency led by Goodluck Jonathan. If the president says he is back in the country, let him follow what the Constitution says. He should write a letter to the National Assembly reporting for duty. Why is there so much desperation? And it is not enough for him to say that he is back in Nigeria. Is he well enough to do the job? That is the question the Americans were posing in their statement on Yar'Adua's return".

"The Americans should not tell us what to do. After all they too had Woodrow Wilson and Edith Wilson"

"You are comparing President Yar'Adua and Woodrow Wilson? What about the 25th Amendment to the American Constitution which was meant to correct the Woodrow Wilson effect."

"I am saying a president can be ill and the country will still function."

"But Nigeria is not functioning. "

"I thought you said Jonathan is in charge."

"He is not. How can he be in charge if he has to take instructions from a boss that he cannot see, he is not even sure he is in the country, and he, the Vice president will be reduced to the First Lady's errand boy."

"But you people caused the problem."

"What do you mean you people?"

"All of you going about hailing Goodluck Jonathan. The man was supposed to be an acting President but you people started setting an agenda for him. People started talking about the Jonathan Presidency. Former leaders were beginning to troop to Aso Villa to see him. If that had continued, it won't take another month before everyone would forget Yar'Adua. The Yar'Adua group needed to put an end to that. So, they have brought their man in, they have kept him under protective custody, and you all have no option but to talk about Yar'Adua's Presidency. Don't you know that it that six-man team that went to Saudi Arabia had been allowed to return with Yar'Adua still in Saudi Arabia,, and without their seeing him, by now the only subject of discussion will be impeachment of Yar'Adua. And it will make sense."

"You know what I think?"

"What? Checkmate?"

"They have just played their last card."

"You have said that before. Why are you repeating yourself?"

"Because what may well happen is that you will soon have people back on the streets protesting that they want to see Yar'Adua by all means"

"There is nothing in the Constitution that says the President should go about shaking people's hands and showing himself off like a clown."

"But there is something in the Constitution that says the President must be fit. The way the President stole into the country, confirms our worst fears that he is not well. If he had fully recovered, he would have gone straight to the Chambers for the Wednesday meeting. If he had showed up for just one hour, and taken photographs, that would have been the end of all of this."

"Nigerians won't give up. They will insist he must do triple jump on national television to convince them."

"I wonder what Obasanjo and those other leaders who went to Aso Villa to support Jonathan would do now? "

"You wait. They will all soon start trooping to the same Aso Villa to welcome the President."

"They won't see the President. Even people who travelled to Saudi Arabia could not see him. He is the unseen President. You remember unseen poetry? This is also just as tough."

"The First Lady is there, and she will tell her husband that some people came. For your information, some people have started going there already. I read in one report that the PDP Chairman and the Chairman of the Governors Forum went to Aso Villa, they were turned back."

"Nigerians. They will go again although I don't have a problem with that. In fact, the National Assembly should put together a high-powered delegation with a mandate to go to Aso Villa and see the president. This must be treated as a matter of urgent national important. They will be doing so on behalf of all Nigerians."

"Wonders shall never end. Who will ever think President Yar'Adua will return to this country Nicodemously? "

"What kind of English word is that? Nicodemously? "

"Go and read your Bible, you Pharisee. Nicodemus asked: How can these things be? How are these things possible? Those are questions I will also like to put to President Yar'Adua."

"Madam Turai will give you the answers you deserve. If you are careful with that your mouth, they will lock you up"

"Nobody can do anything. Why? All I am saying is that I love my country I no go lie... There is another meeting of the Executive Council of the Federation next Wednesday. Do you think the president will attend that? "

"He doesn't have to. In fact the meeting can be adjourned indefinitely. "

"We won't agree to that"

"Who are you? You think those people pay attention to noise makers? Go and sit down. Even the Vice President wouldn't dare raise his head in front of the Katsina enforcers that have hijacked the presidency. Do you know that the office of the Acting President was ransacked by State Security? And yet Jonathan says the ship of state is on course?"

"I suspect the statement was written for him. Nobody cares about the people, It is all about them and the power they wield. It is not fair. "

"The Saudi authorities must be relieved. Nigeria was going to drag them into a crisis that is not of their own making. They had to advise Yar'Adua to return home."

"But what do you think will happen if someone suddenly discovers that Yar'Adua is actually not in the country and all of this is just being stage-managed? "

"What will happen? Nothing. This is Nigeria where everything is possible."

"We are in a worse shape than we were three weeks ago."

"Don't worry. You'd get used to it."

Members of the Governors’ Forum and the House of Representatives, the Principal Secretary to the President and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party were not the only people barred from seeing hospitalised President Umaru Yar‘Adua in Saudi Arabia, Saturday Punch investigations have revealed.

Some members of the Yar‘Adua family were also prevented from seeing their ailing brother at the King Faisal Specialist and Research Hospital, Jeddah by the First Lady, Hajia Turai Yar‘Adua, recently.

Sources close to the family disclosed this to our correspondent on Friday even as the newspaper learnt that the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation had procured Saudi visas for all the ministers selected to visit Yar’Adua in Jeddah.

President Yar’Adua has been on admission for acute pericarditis at the Arabian hospital since November 23, 2009.

Saturday Punch investigations revealed that Turai allegedly prevented some key members of Yar‘Adua‘s extended family from visiting the ailing President at the hospital recently.

It was learnt that the President’s sisters had bought tickets and were billed to travel to Saudi Arabia to see things for themselves when they were asked to stay back by Turai for reasons she did not disclose.

One of the sisters said to be resident at the Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja, and others who are said to be worried about the health of their sibling were said to have been stunned by the decision of the First Lady, an impeccable source told our correspondent.

According to the source, the only person from the Yar’Adua family who could not be prevented from seeing the number one citizen is a younger brother of the President, a Lt. Colonel in the Army. The source added that the colonel was the only close extended family member that had been to Jeddah to see the President since his illness worsened.

The source added that one of the wives of the late elder brother of the President, Gen. Musa Yar‘Adua, an Ethiopian lady, who had four children for the elder Yar’Adua, was also dissuaded from travelling to see the president.

It was learnt that only three people has access to the President in the Saudi hospital; the Chief security Officer to the President, his Aide de Camp and Turai. It is only these three that have information about President Yar’Adua’s state of health.

Since the illness became protracted, several highly placed Nigerians have made futile efforts to see the President.

For in stance, a delegation of the Governors‘ Forum led by its chairman, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and comprising Gabriel Suswan of Benue State; Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State; Isa Yuguda of Bauchi; and the President‘s Economic Adviser, Dr. Tanimu Yakubu, travelled to Jeddah on November 29 last year, but was not allowed to see the President.

On December 26, 2009, the president‘s Principal Secretary, Mr. David Edevbie, also travelled to Saudi Arabia but was not allowed to see his ailing boss. A delegation of the House of Representatives led by Shehu Agaie (Niger State) and comprising Ali Ndume (Borno), Patrick Ikhariale (Edo State), Moruf Fatai (Lagos State) and Jibril Adamu (Kaduna State) also went to the hospital on February 9 but after waiting for five days without seeing Yar‘Adua, it returned to Nigeria.

And just last week, a delegation of the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party led by the party‘s National Chairman, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, also travelled to Jeddahbut was reportedly barred by Turai from seeing the President.

Meanwhile, the six-man delegation raised by the Federal Executive Council on Wednesday to visit the president may depart for Jeddah on Sunday, even though that departure remained uncertain as at Friday.

Reliable sources in Abuja told Saturday Punch that the SGF collected the ministers passports on Thursday, took it to the Saudi Arabia embassy in Abuja and returned it with visas on Friday. He also added that a decision had been taken that the delegation should depart for Saudi Arabia on Sunday. The delegation is expected back on Monday to brief the FEC about its findings next Wednesday. Sunday is a working day in Saudi Arabia, the flight is expected to take about five hours and the delegation may not spend more than an hour at the hospital if things work according to plan.

However, a source was also quick to add that there was uncertainty about the departure date, saying, “Although the ministers now have their visas, the Sunday departure date has not been confirmed or cancelled. So, no one knows if the trip will take place on that day.”

The delegation comprising the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed; the Ministers of Justice, Adetokunbo Kayode; Agriculture, Abba Ruma; Foreign Affairs, Ojo Maduekwe; Health, Babatunde Osotimehin; and Petroleum, Rilwan Lukman, will also pay a courtesy call on the King of Saudi Arabia.

But the inability of the previous delegations to see Yar’Adua has given rise to concerns that the FEC team may not be allowed to see him at the King Faisal Hospital.

This Day

During the late activist’s storied career, he was incarcerated in both police cells and prisons on numerous occasions as he stood up to the injustice of the draconian rule of many of the country’s military rulers. As far back as 1969, Fawehinmi was locked up at the Police Headquarters, Kaduna, the Jos Police Station, the Ilorin Police Station and the Police Headquarters, Lagos, where he was also detained twice in 1972. All these were under the regime of of General Yakubu Gowon.

Gani, Conscience of Nigeria, is Dead

Later in 1978, under the regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo, he was detained at the C. I. D. Alagbon, Lagos, the Inter-Centre Detention Outpost, Lagos and the Ikoyi Police Station. In 1987, when General Ibrahim Babangida was Head of State, Fawehinmi was held at Panti Police Station, Lagos. He was later a guest thrice the following year when he was also detained at the Police Station Ikeja and twice again in 1989.

After that, the Ikoyi Police Station hosted him in 1989, the year he was also held at the State Security Services (SSS) Cell in Maiduguri. The State Security Services (SSS) Cell Awolowo Road, Ikoyi was also a destination in 1991, the C. I. D. Police Station Ikoyi in 1992 and the Police Station Wuse Abuja later in ’92.

He was at the Inter-Centre Cell, Lagos, the State Security Services (SSS) Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, the C. I. D. Police Station Ikoyi, the Police Station Wuse Abuja and the Police Headquarters, Abuja, all in 1993. The next year under the rule of Nigeria’s infamous goggled general, he was taken to the Panti Police Station, Lagos and the F. I. I. B. Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The next year, he twice returned to the Panti Police Station, Lagos, which had now become a familiar destination before exploring the novelty of the State Security Services Shangisha Cell Lagos, a place he later went to the next year.

According to his personal website, in all these arrests and detentions, he was treated sometimes cruelly, sometimes crudely and sometimes with some civility.

But apart from detentions in police stations, he was occasional remanded in prisons across the country. These include;
 
Kaduna Prison, 1969
Gombe Prison, 1969 - 1970
Ikoyi Prison, 1978  
Gashua Prison, 1989
Nigerian Prison Ikoyi, 1990
Nigerian Prison Kuje, 1992
Nigerian Prison Kuje, 1993 and
Nigerian Prison, Bauchi 1996.

The above statistics highlight the heavy price the lawyer cum activist paid in his desire to rid the Nigerian system of lawlessness which has pervaded the country over time.  Paying the price ensures his name would be immortalised in the hearts of Nigerians for generations to come.

By Innocent Anaba & Abayomi Adeshida (Vanguard)

LAGOS—Former Managing Directors of Oceanic Bank, Mrs Cecilia Ibru; FinBank Nigeria Plc, Mr Okey Nwosu; Mr Sebastian Adigwe of Afribank Plc and Mr. Bartholomew Ebong of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, who were sacked three weeks ago by the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,  were arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on five separate charges of 131 counts, bordering on fraud, concealment and grant of loans without adequate collateral, running into about N625.95billion.

Also, seven non-executives and members of Board of Directors of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Dr. Raymond Obieri, Engr. Hynacinth Enuha, Christopher Alabi, Chief Samuel Adegbite, Alhaji Isyaku Umar, Mr. Bayo Dada and Elder Sanni and three bank debtors, Peter Ololo, Henry Onyemem and Niyi Opeodu were charged.

Raymond Obieri, former Chairman, Intercontinental Bank; Mr Okey Nwosu MD, Finbank and Barthlomew Ebong, former Managing Director of Union Bank Bank, at the Federal High Court, Lagos

For the charge against Cecilia Ibru, N160.7billion is involved while the case against Okey Nwosu attracted N95.15billion. That of Sebastian Adigwe is about N154.5billion; for Intercontinental Bank non-executive members, N131.93billion is involved and for Ebong, N83.67billion is at stake..

There was a mild drama in court when the charges against Ibru were read to her. Mrs Ibru who looked stressed, suddenly collapsed in the dock after hearing Count 18 of the charges. The development delayed proceedings for about 10 minutes, during which her physician, Major-General Gabriel Ovadje (Rtd) attended to her and certified her fit to continue with the trial.

Meanwhile, after their arraignment, Cecilia and Intercontinental Bank non-executive members,  Dr. Raymond Obieri, Engr. Hynacinth Enuha, Christopher Alabi, Chief Samuel Adegbite, Alhaji Isyaku Umar, Mr. Bayo Dada and Elder Sanni Adams and Bartholomew Bassey Ebong, Henry Onyemem and Niyi Opeodu were ordered remanded in EFCC custody while Okey Nwosu,  Sebastian Adigwe and Peter Ololo were ordered remanded at Ikoyi Prison, Lagos till Friday, when their bail applications would be argued.

The accused persons were brought to the Federal High Court, Lagos premises at about 1.45pm in two Toyota Hiace buses, with number plates BK 561 RBC, which conveyed eight of the accused persons and BK562 RBC, which brought Cecilia Ibru, Adigwe and Ebong.

Ibru sat on the second to the last row of the bus, wearing a blue dress, with her usual Oceanic Bank scarf, around her neck.

The first to be docked was Okey Nwosu, who was ushered into the court at about 2 p.m. He pleaded not guilty to the 11-count charge read to him. His counsel attempted to argue his bail application, but EFCC counsel objected, contending that the counsel to the accused person should file a written bail application.

Trial judge in the matter, Justice Dan Abutu, in a short ruling, agreed with EFCC, and ordered counsel to the accused person to file a written bail application and adjourned further hearing till  Friday.

The charges against him include failure to take reasonable steps to ensure the correctness of the November 2008 Finbank Nigeria Plc Monthly Bank Returns to the CBN, contrary to provisions of Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, Cap B3 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and other Offences, which contravened the same Law.

The next to be docked were Sebastian Adigwe, former MD of Afribank Plc,  Mr Peter Ololo, the highest debtor on the list released by the CBN, who is said to be owing N80billion and his company, Falcon Securities Ltd. They all pleaded not guilty to the 36-count charge of granting of loan facilities to Falcon Securities Ltd. without adequate collateral, contrary to provisions of Failed Bank (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Bank Act, Cap F2 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and other Offences, punishable under the same law.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges and while hearing on their bail application was adjourned till Friday, they were ordered remanded at EFCC custody.

The nine non-executive directors and members of Board of Directors of Intercontinental Bank Plc, were the third set to be arraigned on an 18-count charge of colluding with the MD of Intercontinental Bank, now at large to grant various facilities running into billions of naira to companies, which the bank directors are also directors, an offence contrary to the the provisions of the Failed Bank (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Bank Act, Cap F2 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under the same law.

Charges against Ibru

Cecilia Ibru, was charged alone on a 25-count charge of reckless granting of loan facilities without adequate collateral, contrary to provisions of Failed Bank (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Bank Act, Cap F2 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and an offence punishable under the same law. She pleaded not guilty to the charges, while hearing on her bail application was also adjourned till Friday. She was ordered remanded in EFCC custody.

The last to be arraigned were Bartholomew Bassey Ebong, former MD of Union Bank, Henry Onyemem and Niyi Opeodu, who were charged on a 28-count charge of reckless granting loan facilities without adequate collateral, contrary to provisions of Failed Bank (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Bank Act, Cap F2 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and an offence punishable under the same law.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge and ordered remanded at Ikoyi Prison, Lagos, while hearing in their bail application was adjourned till Friday also.

The charges preferred against Cecilia Ibru read; “that you Dr. (Mrs.) Cecilia Ibru (the former MD of Oceanic Bank International Plc) and others now at large sometime in March, 2008 within the jurisdiction of this court recklessly granted a credit facility in the sum of N16billion to Cloudy Heights Limited without adequate security contrary to the accepted practice and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (1) (a) of the Failed Banks (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Banks Act, Cap F2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 16 (1) (a) of the same Act.

* That you Cecilia Ibru  and others now at large sometime in April 2009 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court recklessly granted a credit facility in the sum of N5b to Petosan Oil and Gas Company Ltd without adequate security contrary to the accepted practice and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (1) (a) of the Failed Banks (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Banks Act, Cap F2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 16(1) (a) of the same Act.

* That you  Cecilia Ibru and others now at large sometime in April 2009 within the jurisdiction of this court recklessly granted a credit facility in the sum of N6.5b to Petosan Property and Development Company Ltd without adequate security contrary to the accepted practice and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (1)   (a)   of  the   Failed   Banks   (Recovery  of  Debts)   and   Financial Malpractices in Banks Act, Cap F2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 16 (1) (a) of the same Act.

* That you Cecilia Ibru  and others now at large sometime in April 2009 within the jurisdiction of this court recklessly granted a credit facility in the sum of N2b to Petosan Farms Limited without adequate security contrary to the accepted practice and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (1) (a) of the Failed Banks (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Banks Act, Cap F2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 16 (1) (a) of the same Act.

* That you Cecilia Ibru and others now at large sometime in March 2008 within the jurisdiction of this court recklessly granted a credit facility in the sum of N15b to Bliss-Bloss Integrated Ltd without adequate security contrary to the accepted practice and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (1) (a) of the Failed Banks (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Banks Act, Cap F2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 16 (1) (a) of the same Act.

More political office holders to face trial soon – EFCC

Meanwhile, EFCC yesterday assured Nigerians that  the current prosecution of some  bank executives and  arrest of their bad debtors has not beclouded its investigation of petitions against former and current political office holders because  nobody, however highly placed, would be allowed to commit economic crimes and escape prosecution.

Spokesman of the agency, Mr. Femi Babafemi who spoke with Vanguard in a telephone interview insisted that the immunity clause for certain political office holders could only affect the prosecution and not the investigation of any petition genuinely presented to the agency.

Speaking on the reason for sudden suspension of the prosecution of political office holders by the EFCC, Babafemi said, “there is nothing that has happened now that could cause the EFCC to stop prosecuting economic criminals irrespective of the political office they might be holding or might have held in the past.

“What you might have noticed is that we are not prosecuting fresh cases against serving and former political office holders and the reason is because we have cases against this category of people, which we will take before the courts as soon as we complete their investigation,” Babafemi declared.

Vanguard

Residents of Owerri were Wednesday morning treated to a morbid spectacle as the police command paraded four suspects and the decomposing head of an 18-year old Chinwe Doris Perpetua Obieri, who was murdered for ritual purposes.

Culprits with decomposing head {Vanguard}

The bizarre scene, which was a replica of the infamous Otokoto saga of September 1996, had the prime suspect, 24-year old Emeka Uwakwe, from Ndiakunwata, Arondizuogu, Ideato North local government area of the state, clutching the decapitated head of his girl friend, Chinwe.

Speaking to newsmen, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aloy Okorie, gave the names of the other suspects as Chigamezu Anyaoha from Orodo, Mbaitoli local council area, Anthony Obioha from Lude, Ahiazu Mbaise local government area, and the medicine man, Damian Joseph from Obot Akara, Akwa Ibom State.

Related: Ritual beheading in Nigeria- Warning! Graphic images

Mr. Okorie gave a graphic account of how the sordid crime was committed and the efforts made by the state police command to apprehend the suspects in far away Lagos State. Excerpts:

“You can see we have a case of murder for ritual murder. What happened was that on Sunday, July 26, 2009, the young lady whose head you are seeing (pointing at the decapitated head of Chinwe) left her Akokwa home, Ideato North local government area of Imo State. You can see the head without the body.

Late Chinwe before her death

“The young man, Emeka Uwakwe, is the boy friend of this girl and he came all the way from Lagos and lured her to his house in the village. He murdered the girl, cut off her head for ritual purpose and dumped the headless body in a bush. Apparently, the girl had told her parents that she was going to visit her maternal uncle in another village.

“As at 7.04pm on that same Sunday, she called her parents and informed them she was already in her maternal uncle’s compound and they believed her. Later, her parents made a call to her and the call was not pulling through up till the next morning and by Monday when it was obvious that she was not coming back, they made a report to the police that their daughter was missing.

“The names of the parents are Mr. Nicholas and Mrs. Theresa Obieri from Umuezeala, Umueziama Kindred in Akokwa. It was after they made the report to the police that some vigilante people on the same date, came around and said they saw a headless body in the bush. The police invited the girl’s parents and they identified the headless body to be that of their daughter.

See: Nigerian lawmakers describe taking naked blood oaths to office

“It was at that point that the police swung into action and started making investigations. From information, we got to know that she had a boy friend who is resident in Lagos and who was seen around home within that period. So, we went to Lagos and we were able to arrest Emeka Uwakwe. You can see him now with the head of the slain girl (pointing at Emeka).

“When we now got him, he made a confession that Mr. Damian Joseph of Obot Akara in Akwa Ibom State, though he is based in Lagos also, was the one who made the charm with which, if he got the head of this girl, mix it with the charm and bury it, money will start flowing, he will start plucking money as if he was plucking fruits from the tree. That was exactly what the man did. He (Emeka) got the concoction, mixed it with the head and buried it in his room.

“We also went for the Native Doctor and got him. Meanwhile, Emeka made a confession too that it was his friends, Chigaemezu Anyaoha and Anthony Obioha, that introduced him to the Native Doctor and that he was capable of making medicine for money. They also confirmed that they had done such a medicine before with human scrotum. We do not know whether it their own scrotum or other people’s scrotum. We will surely find out in due.

“You can see the pretty 18-year old girl (displaying her photograph). I am sure if you had seen this girl when she was alive, you will weep. You will certainly weep because I have never seen a thing like that in my life. I just imagine my own daughter of that age being slaughtered for ritual purposes.

“Well, in an era where we talking about people going to live in the moon, that is the age we are in, 21st century, and people are still being fooled that they can use human head to make money. It is very unfortunate.

“Emeka Uwakwe was arrested on Wednesday last week (August 12, 2009) and when he gave us the information on how he got about the whole show, our men left for Lagos on Sunday and we were able to arrest both the Native Doctor and the other two boys. The next line of action is that they will pay the price prescribed by the laws of the land. We all know the price for somebody who has committed murder. He will pay with his own life. There is no duplicate for life. If he had the courage to kill somebody, he should also be prepared to face the consequence. He should be in a position to say if he killed her with a knife or first strangulated her before he cut off the neck.

“It is very clear that the girl deceived her parents. My advice is simple. I have a daughter of that age. I know how we monitor her. Most times, especially in this era, if she has to go out, we must let go with somebody because you never can tell. That age is a critical period in the training of children. Parents should monitor their daughters closely. It is easy to make contacts in this GSM era. I am sure that if the parents had raised alarm that very night they did not see her, may be things would have come out differently.

Vanguard

Ilorin – Tragedy struck weekend in Ilorin when a 37 years old Carpenter, Kamaldeen Salawu and his 19 years old apprentice, Jamiu Rahman suffocated to death in a soak-away.

The incident which occurred at Ile Jamada Compound in Adabata area of lwara state capital elicited weeping and wailing in the area when the lifeless bodies of the duo were brought out from the soak-away.

Eye witness account told Vanguard that  they both fell into the pit and  died while trying to remove planks from a newly constructed soak-away.

One  Baba Salawu who spoke with newsmen said that the late carpenter Kamaldeen Salawu was contracted by one man in Ile Jamada to help him prepare planks for the construction of a new soak-away in his house.

He said that on Friday, the carpenter and his apprentice told him that they were going for their daily job, but they did disclose their destination until later in the day when their family members were looking for them to come and break their fast.

“After all efforts were made to locate them, the man who contracted them to work for him later discovered on Saturday their lifeless bodies in a soak-away” he said.

Meanwhile the spoke person of kwara state Police Command, Mr. Dabo Ezekiel confirmed the incident saying that the police have swung into action to unravel the tragedy.

It takes much more than passion to sanitise a society, although it helps to be passionate. You need institutions. Institutions are built through policies, laws and regulations. Without policies, laws and regulations, all efforts at cleansing a society end up as isolated and even personal wars 

There is a new sheriff in town. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, opened a can of worms a couple of weeks ago. The wriggling worms of mago-mago in the banking system did not make a pretty sight. But they tell us all we need to know about our financial institution and the wuru-wuru character of our celebrated billionaires.

It is hardly a surprise that our banking system is, well, on the other side of beautiful. We knew. There is just no way that our banks would be a sparkling island of probity in the murky sea of corruption, lies and deceit. To which we are effectively inured. To expect something better in that system is to expect too much. And in this country, you do learn not to expect too much.

Sensational news media reports about the men and women being hunted by EFCC give us some odd pleasure. When big men kiss the dust, small men gleefully drink to it. So, why is yours sincerely not part of the celebration of the imminent fall of the billionaires and the whizz-kid bankers who have won every prize worth winning at home and abroad?

Let me tell you. This is a bubble. And it too shall pass away. The celebrated arrests, the stuff of press sensationalism, amount to a noisy nonsense. Mark my words. I am not wallowing in cynicism. I base my view on where we are after years of our fitful struggle to make Nigeria a great nation and the Nigerians good people.

Rewind the clock back to January 15, 1966, the military intervention and the promise that it was a watershed in our struggle for a corruption free nation. The ten percenters would be replaced by no per centers. In nearly 30 years of corrective military rule, nothing was corrected. The ten percenters became 110 percenters. And their pikins multiplied – even in the barracks. Hence, this.

Take the late General Murtala Muhammed and the sensationalism that attended the punishment he dished to former military governors who soiled their uniform with filthy lucre. In good time, their ranks were restored to them along with the return of property seized from them. It was a bubble.

General Muhammadu Buhari locked up Shagari and his ministers and sent several of them to jail. In time, they walked out of jail and soon became the shakers and movers of our national politics. It was a bubble.

The late General Sani Abacha locked up managing directors and chairmen of failed banks. In time, they regained their freedom and whatever was taken away from them was given back to them. I dare say some of them are the current whizz-kids in our banks and other financial institutions. It was a bubble.

Nuhu Ribadu served notice that most of the governors had dipped their hands in the public till. He waited for them to finish their terms in office. At least five of them were taken to court to tell the world something about their stupendous wealth. We have waited in vain to know those who used their exalted positions to take food from the mouths of the hungry poor. It was a bubble.

In 2003, Commonwealth heads of state and government were entertained to the much-publicised dismissal of two ministers by Obasanjo on allegations of corruption. They were taken to court. We thought the war on corruption had entered a serious mode. It was a bubble.

In 2005, a minister and a senate president lost their job on allegations of bribery and corruption. They were charged in court. What happened next? It was a bubble.

President Umaru Yar’Adua dismissed two ministers in January 2008 for helping themselves to a Christmas bonus they did not earn. They were charged in court along with some directors of the ministry. What happened next? It was a bubble.

I am sure Sanusi is passionate about cleaning up the banking system. He needs all the support he can get. I am not bothered about the primitive motives imputed to what he is doing. Nigerians do not believe that Nigerians can do anything without some ulterior motives. Still, two things bother me about the current war that might end up pauperising some of our celebrated wealthy men.

Passion alone cannot win this war. It takes much more than passion to sanitise a society, although it helps to be passionate. You need institutions. Institutions are built through policies, laws and regulations. Without policies, laws and regulations, all efforts at cleansing a society end up as isolated and even personal wars. This is why past efforts raised public hopes but ended as bubbles. A few days of publicity and a few minutes of exposure and we settle back into the routine of watching the rich get richer and poor, poorer. We do not have the kind of institution we need now. So Sanusi stands the risk of being, if you would excuse a hackneyed expression, a flash in the pan. My worry number one.

A bank loan is a private matter between the lender and the borrower. All such loans are supposedly given on conditions stipulated by the lender and fulfilled by the borrower. The problem, of course, is that the big lenders and big borrowers ignore any conditions attached to their loans. Collaterals are either not given at all or they are far below the value of the loans. In the end, the loans do not perform and the money is not repaid. And because the lenders almost always compromise themselves, their loans are written off as bad loans. Bad loans are now known as toxic loans. Gallows humour?

The problems of the banks centre on toxic loans. I can understand why Sanusi is angry. He should be. These big borrowers brought down banks in the past. They are doing so even now. I wonder if he is not butting his head against a rock. The courts are not passionate institutions. Will they admit EFCC as the right and proper institution for recovering bank loans and, therefore, competent to give deadlines for full repayment? Not likely.

My worry number two.

Vanguard

By Innocent Anaba, Emeka Mamah,  Abdulwahab Abdulah & Emma Ovuakporie
ABUJA—The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has declared the Chairman, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Dele Oye and Mrs. Nananshettu Bedell, claimed by the commission as associates of the former Managing Director of Oceanic Bank, Mrs Cecilia Ibru, wanted in connection with the on-going investigation in the banking sector.

Meanwhile, if EFCC were to honour its words, all the bank executives in its custody will today be arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos to face various charges.

Ibru associates

In a statement issued and signed by Head,  Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Babafemi of the anti graft agency said: “Both suspects who are close associates of the former MD/ CEO of Oceanic Bank, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru are wanted for offences bordering on conspiracy, aiding and abetting, and money laundering  running into billions of naira.”

The anti-graft agency said the suspects were declared wanted after all efforts to get them to honour its invitation failed.
“The Commission enjoins anyone with useful information that could lead to their arrest to contact any of its offices in Abuja , Lagos , Kano, Gombe, Port Harcourt and Enugu,” it added.

EFCC to arraign bank chiefs

Vanguard gathered that the commission had already drafted the charges.
In a telephone chat yesterday, EFCC spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi said that the commission will approach the court to formally file the charges against the bank chiefs . He, however, noted that if the process was completed on time, the anti-graft body will bring them to court today.

While confirming that none of the detained bank officials has been released, said “all of them are still with us, though we made no arrest or none of those on wanted list appeared.”

Babafemi, who confirmed that the stage is set for the officials to be arraigned said “ as I am talking to you, the stage is set for their arraignment. The papers (charges) will be filed tomorrow (Monday) in court. They will be arraigned immediately after the charges are filed at the Registry if the court would be ready and willing to take them, if there is time. If not, that means they will be arraigned on Tuesday.”

Asked about the number of those to appear in court, the EFCC spokesman said all of them will be charged to court. He was however, silent on the fate of those that have been granted bail by the high court.

Intercontinental Bank non-executive directors petition EFCC over non-release

Meanwhile, the non-executive directors and members of Board of Directors of Intercontinental Bank Plc who were ordered released by a Lagos High Court, have petitioned the EFCC over their continued detention, despite a clear order of the court that they should be released on bail.

Justice Bukola Adebiyi of a Lagos High Court, had last week, ordered the EFCC to release forthwith on bail and on reasonable terms Dr. Raymond Obieri (Chairman), Chief Samuel Adegbite, Mr. Chris Alabi, Mrs Toyin Philips, Mr. Bayo Dada, Elder Sanni Adams, Engr. Hynacinth Enuha, Alhaji Isyaku Umar and Mrs Sienye Lulu-Briggs.

Prof  Gabriel Olawoyin (SAN), counsel to the nine non-executives, in the petition said “following your commission’s refusal to release the applicants on bail on August 24, 2009, we were constrained to seek the leave of the High Court of Lagos, to enforce their fundamental rights to personal liberty on August 26.

“The court ordered your commission to admit the applicants to bail and release them forthwith from detention upon provision of each of two sureties, amongst other conditions. On August 27, several attempts were made by plaintiff of court to serve the said order, but to no avail. On the first occasion, the responsible officer requested for a copy of the application filed in court and when the bailiff returned, the officer refused to accept service.

“We therefore request that our client be admitted to bail on terms as stipulated by a duly constituted court of law with jurisdiction to grant the orders. For the avoidance of any doubt on this point, we draw your attention to section 46(1) of the constitution and Order 1, Rule 1 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules.”

ASSBIFI, NUBIFIE against sale of 5‘troubled banks’

The Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), and the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE),     all unions in the country’s banking and insurance sector, yesterday spoke against the CBN’s plan to sell the five “troubled banks” to foreign investors.

They spoke against the backdrop of a hint in London on Friday by the CBN’s Governor, Mr Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, that a time table for the planned sale would soon be released.

Mr Olusoji Salako, ASSBIFI’s Acting President, told newsmen in Lagos that any takeover of the banks by foreign investors whose backgrounds were unknown would endanger the nation’s economy.

“We are not discouraging investors from coming into the country, but we cannot allow foreigners that we do not know anything about to take over our banking institutions,” he said.

“We do not know their pedigree. There is global meltdown; so how can these investors leave their countries to manage ours?” Salako queried.

He said ASSBIFI could only accept the idea if the terms of the agreement and the process were transparent.
According to him, the investors’ experience and competence in financial matters should also be proven.

Salako further said that workers’ welfare should be adequately addressed before the investors were allowed to take over any of the banks, adding that the relevant international agencies, including the International Labour Organisation, ILO, should be involved in the negotiation for the workers’ welfare.

Daily Trust

Ilorin — The Kwara State Ministry of Lands and Housing has concluded arrangement to venture with private investors and developers to build housing estates around the three campuses of the newly established Kwara State University (KWASU).

The ministry's supervising officer, Dr. Abubakar Adebayo Ishola, who disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the first Kwara State Lands and Housing summit held at the state's Banquets hall, Ilorin said that the partnering will cover the Malete, Osi, and Ilesha- Baruba campuses.

The commissioner also disclosed that the state government has built, allocated and sold 600 units of houses made up of I-bedroom, 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom bungalows in the Mandate I, Mandate II and Mandate III housing scheme. He said that these are in addition to the Harmony Estate, Royal Valley Estate and other on-going housing projects in the State. "Outside the State Capital, we are also proud to say that 35 units of 3bedroom bungalows have been built at Offa, Omun-Aran, Kaiama and Tsonga with common facilities like road, water, and electricity to make life more meaningful."

He said that the development of other housing estates through the laudable Public Private Partnership initiative is apace with the involvement of private investors like International Business Bureau (IBBL), Delrot Nigeria Limited, and Grenaco Nigeria Limited.