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Archive for the tag “Abuja”

04 May 2012

#Nigeria Police detain journalists to prevent access to Saraki

May 4, 2012 by Eniola Akinkuotu
Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr. Umaru Manko

No fewer than six journalists were locked up in the office of the Police Public Relations Officer of the Special Fraud Unit in Lagos on Thursday when former Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki visited the unit to respond to allegations of a N9bn loan scam levelled against him.

Saraki, who  was  supposed to be at the command at 10am on Thursday, arrived an hour later.

He drove into the SFU premises in black Mercedes Benz Sports Utility Vehicle with Abuja number plate CH 165 RBC amid tight security.

His aides shielded him from journalists, who had stormed the premises before he alighted, to meet with the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin

The governor’s aides appealed to journalists not to take photographs of the member of the Senate but the pleas fell on deaf ears.

Journalists then gathered at the office of the PPRO, Mrs. Ngozi Isintume, but two hours later, as Saraki exited the building, the journalists were locked inside the office of the PPRO to prevent them from taking pictures of Saraki.

“I have been given orders that no journalist must come out. Stay in there until Saraki leaves,” a policeman said as journalists attempted to force the door open.

Sources said Saraki was given preferential treatment by the police as opposed to other persons who had been invited to the SFU over the same allegations.

The senator was supposed to have reported to the SFU on April 20 but pleaded for an extension by three days. But on April 24, he obtained an injunction at an Abuja High Court to restrain the police from arresting him.

On April 28, the SFU declared the lawmaker wanted but he responded by saying he would be at the SFU at 9am on Monday.

On Monday however, Saraki refused to go to the SFU, instead went to the Force Headquarters, Abuja, where he was quizzed by Ogunsakin after being ordered by the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar to come to Abuja.

Our correspondent learnt that Mohammed had served as CP of the Kwara State command when Saraki was governor.

The SFU had alleged that a group of companies — Joy Petroleum Limited, Skyview Properties Ltd, Dicetrade, and Limkers Nigeria Ltd — were given loans by the bank under the management of former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank, Mr. Erastus Akingbola.

The loans were allegedly promoted by Saraki between 2004 and 2009 when he was the Governor of Kwara State.

The SFU noted that the loans/facilities worth billions of naira were used to purchase shares in blue chip companies and choice landed properties in Lagos and Abuja, some of which were used to secure the loans.

However, Akingbola’s successor following the shake up by the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Mahmood Alabi, granted a waiver of N9,97bn, representing about 82 per cent of N11.97bn indebtedness.

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04 May 2012

#Nigeria PHCN workers on strike over ‘unpaid salaries’

May 4, 2012 by Stanley Opara
Minister of Power, Prof. Bart NnajiMinister of Power, Prof. Bart Nnaji
| credits: File copy

Workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria in Lagos State commenced another round of strike on Thursday due to the non-payment of four months’ salaries to those who were not cleared after the recent biometric verification exercise.

Our correspondent learnt from some of the workers that the result of the biometric exercise conducted by the Ministry of Power for PHCN members of staff categorised some of them as ‘ghost’ workers, a situation that led to the stoppage of their salaries since February.

Some of the workers, who spoke to our correspondent at the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, said the ministry had promised to pay them the outstanding salaries, but had consistently defaulted.

The General Secretary, National Union of Electricity Employees, Mr. Joe Ajaero, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone, said the aggrieved workers, whose names were omitted from the result of the biometric verification exercise, had not been paid since February.

He said Lagos had the highest number of those affected, hence the commencement of the strike in the state.

Ajaero said, “The chief executive officers of the PHCN firms once said they had been asked to pay the affected workers. But when asked recently, they said they were asked to stop the payment.

“We are currently meeting in Abuja. The issue was raised and we are working towards resolving it.”

The Chairman, NUEE, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company Zone, Mr. Lawal Adewale, also confirmed to our correspondent that affected members had not been paid salaries for four months.

“About 153 workers were affected at Ikeja and Oshodi distribution. The consultant that did the biometric exercise labelled them as ghost workers. I can authoritatively tell you that there is no ghost worker at the Ikeja distribution zone. The strike will definitely continue until we are answered,” he said.

When our correspondent contacted the ministry, a media aide to the minister, Mr. Cdon Adinuba, said some of the workers refused to partake in the biometric verification exercise.

“That was why we appealed to them on several occasions to submit themselves to the exercise. The minister even told them that he had to submit himself to the exercise to get his pay. Despite all these, some refused to do it,” he stated.

Posted in Technology (Power) and tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment
04 May 2012
2 Comments

#Nigeria EFCC can’t fight corruption with 3,000 workers – Lamorde

May 4, 2012 by John Alechenu, Abuja
Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim LamordeMr. Ibrahim Lamorde

Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
| credits: File copy

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde, has said it is near impossible for the agency to fight corruption with a staff strength of less than 3,000 in a nation of 160 million people.

Lamorde said this in an address during the distribution of a book, The Monster Called Corruption and the Monkey Leaders, jointly produced by the EFCC and the Universal Basic Education Commission, in Abuja, on Thursday.

He said the anti-corruption agency had been paying  emphasis on prevention through enlightenment and education of Nigerians.

Lamorde, who was represented by a senior official of the commission, Mr. David Tukura, said the anti-graft war could only be won when every Nigerian was brought on board.

He  said, “Corruption is indeed a scourge, we have to combat it. To this end, public enlightenment is critical to the success in the fight against corruption, hence the engagement of schools at all levels.”

Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Ahmed Modibo, said there was a need for greater transparency in the UBEC process aimed at improving access and quality of education.

Wike said enlightenment and education on anti-corruption for students would improve on their personal knowledge and encourage them to serve as whistle blowers on people involved in anti-social activities.

Source- The Punch

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04 May 2012

Lack of funding impedes housing delivery in Nigeria, says Okonjo-Iweala

Okonjo-Iweala Okonjo-Iweala

 

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said lack of a vibrant housing finance sector is among the bottlenecks militating against home ownership in Nigeria.

The minister, who decried the high cost of housing development in Nigeria, noted that the country lacks an effective housing finance sector to assist potential landlords.

Nigeria’s mortgage penetration rate in comparison with other sub-Sahara African nations is 10 per cent. Its interest rates are close to 20 per cent.

The cost of housing development in Nigeria is also said to be too high, compared to that of other countries.

This limits the number of Nigerians who can decent homes.

Okonjo-Iweala spoke in Abuja at The Mortgage Finance Roundtable of the Lands, Housing and Urban Development.

The minister noted that if majority of Nigerians owned their homes, it would considerably reduce the level of corruption.

She said: “The housing sector also holds huge potentials for job creation and employment, particularly for our youths. The National Bureaus of Statistics (NBS) reports that the real estate market contributed 1.64 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2011, while the Building and Construction sub-sector contributed 1.99 per cent to the GDP in the fourth of 2011. Many of the unskilled youths can find useful employment in this sector.

“The ability of people to obtain mortgages will also reduce the incidence of corruption because most people will have honest ways to actualize their dreams of owning their own homes.

“A strong Mortgage Finance System is very crucial to achieve sustainable growth in Nigeria’s housing sector towards ensuring secure and decent housing. However this must come with institutional checks to prevent abuse both by borrowers and exploitations by lenders.

“For the Banks, an adequate mortgage finance systems will require long term lending structures over a period of years to ensure that this system works and that people can access mortgage over a number of years,” she stressed.

Source- The Nation

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04 May 2012
2 Comments

#Nigeria N32.8b pension fund: Court grants EFCC leave to seize 108 assets

Chairman Mr Ibrahim Lamorde
Chairman Mr Ibrahim Lamorde

An Abuja High Court yesterday granted leave to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to seize 108 assets belonging to the six accused persons standing trial over alleged diversion of N32.8 billion Police Pension Fund.

The order followed an application by the EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, seeking leave to seize the assets allegedly belonging to the accused persons.

Acting under Section 28 of the EFCC Act 2004, the commission attached the list of the assets belonging to the accused persons.

The accused persons are a Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Atiku Abubakar Kigo; a director, Esai Dangabar, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, John Yakubu Yusufu, Mrs. Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula and Sani Habila Zira.

They are facing a 16-count charge of criminal breach of trust slammed against them by the EFCC.

The alleged offence is punishable under Sections 97, 115 (ii), 119, 309 and 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap. 532 Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria 2007.

Ruling on the motion, Justice Lawal Gummi granted the interim order for the seizure of the assets, alleged to be scattered all over Nigeria.

The case has been adjourned till May 28, for continuation of hearing.

The accused allegedly between January 2009 and June 2011 in Abuja diverted a sum of N14,518,567,724 being part of police pension cash from an account domiciled at First Bank Plc.

Between January and December 2009 in Abuja, they also allegedly breached the public trust with N8,920,371,822 police pension fund kept at First Bank Plc.

The charge sheet also indicated that between January 2010 and February 2011 also in Abuja, they diverted another sum of N4,739,894,896 police fund and another N858,301,006 between February and June 2011 diverted from the same source.

They were also accused of stealing N656,559,289 in January 2011 while in March 2009 another N462,963,012 was allegedly diverted from the same source while working at the police  pension office among others.

Posted in Security & Crime News and tagged , , , , , , ,
03 May 2012

But Where is Happyboy?

Olusegun-Adeniyi-Back-Page.jpg - Olusegun-Adeniyi-Back-Page.jpg

The Verdict according to Olusegun Adeniyi. Email, olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com.

 

The moment Yemi Akinsuyi saw me inside the premises of THISDAY Abuja office that looked more like a scene out of Iraq, she said, “oga, we cannot find Happyboy. He was inside the premises when the bomb exploded and now he is not picking his calls.”

Happyboy Ohije is one of those circulation boys you find in newspaper houses. They are called inserters since they help to collate the papers when it is being printed but they also run all manner of errands for people in the newsroom. With minimal education, Happyboy is very dutiful and everyone knew I was fond of him. He had come to me one day that he had a challenge concerning his education, a rather moving story but I liked the confidence with which he approached me and the manner in which he presented his problem. After offering him some little assistance, we became close, especially since he told everyone about my intervention.

Last Thursday, it was quite natural that I would be very worried about the fate of Happyboy. It turned out that he was sleeping when the bomb exploded and he eventually emerged from the rubble in a pool of his blood. But his was not the only miracle. Nurudeen, the security man seated at the exact spot where the suicide bomber exploded the vehicle is injured but alive. Incidentally, we did not know at the time and I recall one security man asking me: “Nurudeen’s wife has been calling me repeatedly and I cannot pick. What do I tell her?” His colleague by the gate, Christopher Sadiq was, however, not so lucky. Neither were some of the mechanics who had set shop behind THISDAY premises. They died along with a passer-by as the vehicle exploded.

The whole drama started for me at about 11.08 when I got a call from an hysterical Ms Avershima Ahenjir, an advert executive, saying, “they have just bombed our office.” According to what I was told when I reached the office, a vehicle came in to deliver tiles that was meant for some work at about 11am. While they were still trying to offload the tiles, the suicide bombers drove into the premises and the rest, as they say, is now history. But as everyone pointed out to me last Thursday, I would have been caught by the bombing but for the fact that I was preparing for my trip to Ibadan for the burial of my mother-in-law later that day.

I have watched on YouTube the video clip released by Boko Haram on how THISDAY was bombed, especially the moment when the vehicle entered our premises and exploded. Incidentally, the clip displayed my photograph along with my statement following the incident. I have also read their declaration of war on the media but I fail to understand why. The charge is that we have taken sides with the Nigerian state. But do we have any choice in this matter?

In an unusual backpage editorial last Sunday, the Trust newspaper put the issue in perspective: “A violent campaign to target and kill security agents, to overthrow the Constitution of the Federal Republic and ultimately to dismember Nigeria cannot be supported by the Nigerian news media, which derives a lot of its legitimacy, protection and privileges from the same Constitution. As for Nigeria itself, there cannot be a ‘Nigerian media’ if there is no Nigeria”.

That exactly is the position to which all journalists subscribe but many of us are becoming increasingly worried for our country. It is therefore incumbent on all men of goodwill who can intervene to end this cycle of violence to do so now in the interest of our corporate existence as a nation. As for THISDAY, in my 13 years here, we have seen some dark days and have come out stronger from all the tragedies. I remember our midnight plane crash right in the middle of Maiduguri desert in 2001 when the Board of Editors decided on a “Meet the Nation” tour; the fire incident that consumed our corporate headquarters in Apapa and the death of Mr. Godwin Agbroko. In each of these events, we were shattered and broken. But we never gave up the ideal for which we stand.

Where do we stand? When Bayero University Kano was attacked last Sunday, our thoughts and sympathy were with the victims of the attack and when Jalingo was attacked the next day, we took sides with the people. On the killing field that Maiduguri has become, we are one with the innocent people of that ancient city who are now besieged. We have made that very clear. But we have also been professional in our reportage while advocating dialogue with Boko Haram, believing that any and every aggrieved Nigerian deserves a hearing. What we oppose is violence and bloodletting of innocent people for no just cause. Even at this most difficult period, we remain persuaded that common sense will still prevail in the interest of our nation and its good people

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03 May 2012
3 Comments

Terrorism: IG orders CPs to secure media houses

Acting Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed
May 3, 2012 by Adelani Adepegba, Mustapha Salihu and Eniola Akinkuotu

Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, has directed all state commissioners of police to beefup security around media houses in the country.

This is just as the training of 100 policemen in the handling of Explosive Ordinance Disposal has begun.

The IG’s directive followed the threat by Boko Haram to attack PUNCH and some other South-based newspapers in the country.

The sect made the threat in a Youtube video on Tuesday, in which it justified last Friday’s suicide bomb attack on ThisDay Newspapers office in Jabi, Abuja.

Speaking at a dinner with crime correspondents in Abuja on Tuesday, Abubakar stated that the police would provide security for media outfits.

He also gave the assurance that efforts would be made to protect journalists from harm.

“I’m aware of the threat to media houses by the group of criminals causing trouble in parts of the country. I have directed all commissioners of police in charge of state commands to provide security for journalists and media houses. We won’t allow any harm to befall them,” the IG said.

He also vowed that security agencies would continue to combat terrorists in their areas of operation.

He urged Nigerians to support the security agencies in their efforts to deal with security threats across the country by providing useful information.

Also on Tuesday, the State Security Service said it was investigating the sect’s threat to attack media houses.

SSS Deputy Director, Media and Publicity, Marilyn Ogar, said the agency was working to thwart any plot against the media.

She dismissed the report of a bomb scare in Abuja on Tuesday, adding that the “stop and search” operation conducted on persons and vehicles by security agencies was a proactive measure led by the Brigade of Guards to assure the public of their combat readiness.

She said, “There was no bomb scare in Abuja as reported by some newspapers. The stop and search conducted on Tuesday was a show of force by the Brigade of Guards to show that they are alert to any security issue.”

Meanwhile, the training of the 100 policemen in EOD techniques began on Wednesday in Lagos, in a bid to address the rising level of insecurity in the country as well as incessant bombings.

The training is in response to the IG’s order that the EOD should intensify security in all states where it has units and should also endeavour to establish its presence in states where it has none.

The training was formally opened on Wednesday in Lagos by the Commissioner of Police in charge of the EOD, Mr. Folusho Adebanjo, who represented the IG.

The spokesperson for the EOD, Mr. Gbolahan Moronfolu, said it was meant to strengthen the capability of the police in the handling of explosives.

He said, “The 100 participants are conventional policemen from various police commands and formations who were successful in an aptitude test previously conducted by the EOD. The course is for one month and will centre on the basic training module.

“The actual aim is to strengthen the workforce of the EOD command throughout the federation in view of the incessant bombings. The training aims to increase personnel and use them to create more units in states where there is no EOD unit.

“Many embassies, media houses, police divisions as well as other possible targets will now have more EOD presence.”

On Wednesday, the Lagos State Police Command summoned all area commanders that have media houses under their jurisdiction to its headquarters.

The command’s spokesman, Mr. Joseph Jaiyeoba, who confirmed this to one of our correspondents on the telephone, explained it was in response to the Boko Haram threat.

He said, “The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, Mr. Tunde Sobulo, is presently having a meeting with area commanders who have media houses within their areas of operation.

“Since the April 26, 2012 attack on some media houses in Abuja and Kaduna, the Commissioner of Police for the Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Umar Manko, had ordered that security should be beefed up in the state. But with the recent threat, we have to restrategise.”

Jaiyeoba said he would inform our correspondent about the security measures being implemented by the command.

The SSS command in Kano State has arrested a middle aged chemical merchant, Ayuba Usman, suspected to be dealing in chemicals for the production of explosives to Boko Haram members.

Usman, who is a native of Dala Local Government Area in Kano metropolis, was paraded before newsmen by the Director of SSS in the state, Mr. Bassey Eteng, on Wednesday.

The alleged merchant was found in possession of 35 big drums of highly combustible chemicals and substances used for making bombs and other Improvised Explosive Devices.

Eteng said, “Chemicals are controlled items and they are supposed to be sold to people legitimately for economic use. But when we then find some individuals selling them to other individuals, then these individuals turn them to harmful use on innocent persons.”

He stated that the arrest of Usman, whose shop is located in one of the main markets in the state, was effected through information provided by a suspect in custody.

The director, however, refused to name the market where the suspect’s business place was located for security reasons. He stated that Usman’s arrest followed Tuesday’s successful raid by the Joint Task Force on a suspected Boko Haram factory/house located at Bubugaje in Sharada Phase 111 Industrial Estate in Kano metropolis.

“The suspect brought before you is a suspect whom we found from investigations to have links with some extremist elements.

“And what I believe, based on statements made by the high profile suspect the service is dealing with, we were able to know that the suspect, Ayuba Usman, has been providing very combustive chemicals to the extremist group.

“These are the chemicals being used in making Improvised Explosive Devices and other types of explosive devices. He was arrested yesterday (Tuesday) in Kano. He is the owner of all the (chemical) substances found in his shop. These substances are controlled items.

“Suspects in custody were able to identify their main link of where, from whom they are getting the above materials and who provides them the materials in Kano. This happened to be Ayuba Usman They (terrorist bombers) mix this thing with fertiliser and other inflammable substances.

“He was not just picked because he is selling these materials, but because information from those in custody, who identified him, who described him, where his shop is; led us to his arrest.

Posted in Security & Crime News and tagged , , , , , , ,
03 May 2012

#Nigeria CAN to Fed Govt: stop Boko Haram now

•Oritsejafor ... yesterday •Oritsejafor … yesterday

By Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

Under fire from Islamist group Boko Haram’s insurgency, Christians yesterday vowed to withdraw their co-operation with the government, if the activities of the deadly sect are not checked.

Intimidation, killings, bombings and wanton destruction by Boko Haram must stop, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) declared in what its President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, described as “final call” to the Federal Government.

The latest attack on churches was at the Bayero University old campus in Kano on Sunday.

Worshippers were bombed and shot at by men believed to be members of Boko Haram. One Professor – Andrew Leo Ogbonyomi – and 15 others died in the attacks. The sect also on Monday infiltrated the convoy of Taraba State Police Commissioner Mr Mamman Sule. Eleven people died in that attack.

On Tuesday, Boko Haram released a video on Youtube, threatening media houses with attacks.

Oritsejafor spoke in Abuja after a three-hour meeting of officials of the association to review the security situation in the country. He said: “The church leadership has hitherto put great restraint on the restive and aggrieved millions of Nigerians but can no longer guarantee such co-operation, if this trend is not halted immediately.”

Pastor Oritsejafor said it had become irrelevant whether the root cause of Boko Haram insurgency is political, religious, ethnic or ideological, adding: “The question we have always asked is this; of the 51 years of existence of Nigeria as a nation, who have governed this country most? Most of them are from a particular section of the North. What did they do with the opportunities they had? What did they do with the resources they had? We need to ask questions. The people themselves need to ask questions.

“The Almajiris, if they could read and write and understand what is happening, need to ask questions. The realities are these: we know that the bottom of all this is a radical religious ideology. We want that settled but as it is right now, it has gone beyond trying to address why this happened or where it is coming from. It has gone beyond whether it is political or about poverty. The truth is that this situation must stop.

“I will now make a final call, a final call; I repeat. I will now make a final call to the Nigerian government to use all resources available to it to clearly define and neutralise the problem as other nations have done.

“It is the ideas that people coin from the Koran and are being used to terrorise the world. Now we cannot deny that these are Muslims. That is not to say that there are no good Muslims; there are. But the truth must be told. When we keep running from the truth, we will never solve the problem.

“You will recall that at our last news conference on March 6, we told the nation that the bombings and killings of innocent Nigerians may be termed senseless, but that it is not without sense for those sponsoring the act. We also said the killings and bombings were being done according to their plans in order to instil fears with the subsequent aim of eradicating religious freedom, democratic liberties with the church and Christians as the primary target.

“We have persistently pleaded with government to take courage and act to stop the surge of terror,” Pastor Oritsejafor said.

Courtesy- The Nation

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02 May 2012

Boko Haram threatens to attack VOA, Guardian, Daily Trust others


01/05/2012 16:02:00 Premium Times
image
Boko Haram has become Nigeria’s biggest headache of the moment

Boko Haram has named popular newspapers and broadcast media as its new target

The extremist group, Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihadl, popularly called Boko Haram, today named more media houses and staff as targets of its attack (find full transcript of video below).

In an 18-minute video, the group threatened to attack more media houses, naming Voice of America (Hausa), Radio France (Hausa), Daily Trust, Guardian Newspapers, among others.

In part, the video contained footages of the THISDAY blast site apparently downloaded from the websites of CHANNELS TV and PREMIUM TIMES.

The group also gave reasons why it bombed Thisday office in Abuja and other media houses last Thursday.

“This is a message from jamaatu ahlis sunnah lil daawati wal jihad, and we wish to inform Nigerians our reasons for attacking some media houses,” the group said.

The video also shows that the radical group carried a live coverage of the bombing in Abuja and filmed the explosion at Thisday.

The group created the new Youtube video under the name Alhaji Mani.

Click here to watch video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDqv6srmoI4

 

Read full transcript of video below.

Boko Haram video transcription

Video has a background music in Hausa language, saying,” Nigerians, our name is not Boko Haram, we are Muslims, Ahlis sunnah”. The lyrics also said, “We attacked Thisday because we will never forget or forgive anyone who abused our prophet.”

First written message says the video is from ‘Public awareness department which presents; ‘Reasons for attacking Thisday Newspaper’

The Video also shows coverage of the suicide attack at Thisday office in Abuja.

It also shows a man wielding a rifle and reciting some prayer verses. Shots of the late leader of the sect Muhammad Yusuf, delivering a sermon, and in other clips, preaching, was shown.

Full transcription

“This is a message from the public awareness department of the Jamatu Ahlis sunnah lil daawati wal jihad, a group engaged in jihad in Nigeria.

“We wish to explain about the attack we carried out on Thisday Newspapers. Some of the reasons why we decided to attack some Media Houses, especially Thisday, is because the paper was used in dishonouring our prophet, Mohammad (SAW) during a beauty pageant in Kaduna in November 2002.

“At that time, some people who called themselves leaders of Muslims came out to say they have forgiven those who committed the offence.

“But based on our knowledge, we know that no one has the power to forgive anyone for an offence that God himself has given judgement, especially on an offence that has to do with dishonouring Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

“No one has the power to forgive this type of offence, and the judgement is for such persons to be killed.

“This lady that committed this crime, the judgement on her is to be killed at any opportunity; and the media house is also supposed to be driven out of existence whenever there is a chance to do so.

“We are just getting the opportunity to attack the media house, and we are hoping to continue these attacks until we drive them out of existence.

“It is our hope that Allah (SWT) will help his religion.

“We know that any genuine Muslim must have been deeply touched by the Thisday incident.
“Thisday newspaper is also leading in helping the government in fighting us, alongside other media houses that we will mention soon.

“Some of the offences of Thisday and other media outlets include: firstly, during the botched attempt to rescue some kidnapped foreign nationals in Sokoto; these media houses asked us if we have anything to do with the kidnap and we said we have nothing to do with it, yet these media houses reported that we were responsible for the incident, that was a lie against us.

“Secondly, when we sent a video of our leader, Abubakar Shekau, the media houses reported things that our leader did not say, such as that in response to the president’s threat to finish us in three months, we have also threatened to finish the government in three months. But the truth is, nowhere in the video did our leader said what they attributed to him.

“Thirdly, on the purported arrest of Abu Qaqa by the SSS, we have come out to tell them that the person arrested was not Abu Qaqa,yet the media continue to potray us as liars, and even said that our leader had ordered for Abu Qaqa II to be executed, and we are now searching for Abu Qaqa III.

“Recently too, they came out with another lie that one Mohammed Awwal Kontagora was the Abu Qaqa II that was executed, and that even his parents confirmed it, that was just a big lie to convince the world.

“The media also said that we have killed the father of Abu Darda, so as to pass a message to him, because he had leaked our secrets after his arrest by security agencies, and they  wanted him to know that he is one of our targets.

“These are all lies, and they are many.

“These media houses have committed a lot of offences that is detrimental to Islam, and we don’t have the power to forgive them. We will take revenge on them by God’s grace, some of these media houses have been categorized into three groups.

“The first group is the likes of Thisday whose offences are big.

“The second group we will also attack soon are Punch, Daily Sun, Vanguard, Guardian, Nation, Tribune, and National Accord, which are all newspaper houses.

“There is also VOA Hausa radio. All these media houses we will attack them including their staff and offices, by God’s grace.

“VOA Hausa for instance have recently started campaigning for people to support the government against us by exposing us,

“The next group that are on the verge of joining this list who if they are not careful we will attack very soon include, Leadership, Daily Trust, Peoples Daily and RFI(Radio France international)

“There is an online medium known as Saharareporters who have their office in New York, and who have made their site as a platform for attack against Islam. So we are warning them to stop making their site an avenue for attacking Islam, otherwise we will find a way of attacking them too.

“We resorted to using this medium to send our message instead of the normal tele-conference because of the fear by journalists; which made them refuse to conduct the conference.

“We are grateful to God for the success recorded on the attack on Thisday, and we hope to continue such attacks.

“Finally, the government has now resorted to arresting our wives and children and also demolishing our houses, like they did in Biu recently, that is why we have also resolved to start attacking government schools, especially, tertiary ones.

“We promise to demolish 500 buildings for any one of our houses that the government destroys.

“We have already started with Gombe and Kano.”

Source : Premium Times Nigeria

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01 May 2012

Police grill Saraki over N9.7bn loan

Saraki

• Supporters besiege SFU, as ex-governor gets bail

 

Former Governor of Kwara State Bukola Saraki was yesterday a guest of the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) at the Force Headquarters, Abuja where he was quizzed by investigators over a N9.7 billion loan.

The loan was said to have been obtained from the defunct Intercontinental Bank by Joy Petroleum Company, a firm which the former governor is said to have substantial interest.

The senator, who is assisting the police to clear certain grey areas in the said loan which was obtained by Joy Petroleum during his tenure as Governor of Kwara State, was released on bail last night.

The Special Fraud Unit had declared him wanted last week over his failure to honour an invitation  by the SFU in respect of the loan.

Access Bank, which has taken over Intercontinental Bank, is believed to have initiated the investigation as part of the bank’s loan recovery drive.

It was like a political rally at the Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU)Milliverton Road, Ikoyi Lagos as political associates, party leaders, and supporters of Saraki  from  Kwara  came to show solidarity to the former  governor.

Saraki was supposed to appear at the SFU yesterday morning in Lagos. He later appeared in Abuja.

It was alleged that the ex-governor used three of his companies to secure the loan, which was later allegedly fraudulently written off by the  management of Intercontinental bank under Mr.  Lai Alabi.

His supporters  were led by Mr. Ishola Fulani, the Kwara State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) . They urged the police to handle the investigation with care and ensure that justice is done.

According to them, Saraki is a transparent man and can never be involved in any fraud.

The supporters, who stormed Ikoyi in over 20 buses from Ilorin,  insisted that the police must treat their political leader fairly.

Mrs. Ebun Owolabi, a member of Kwara State House of Assembly who was part of the protesters warned that police should not allow anyone to use them.

Owolabi said: “I am speaking on behalf of women in Kwara State. Nothing must happen to this man who is a man of integrity and honour. We are not saying that police should not do their job, what we are saying is that he should be treated fairly and that nothing must happen to him.”

Commissioner of Police in charge of SFU, Mr. Tunde Ogunshakin  said  his command would bring all the culprits in the alleged loan scam to book.

Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ahmed, Alhaji AbdulWahab Oba, yesterday said Kwara government was not paralysed as a result of the solidarity protest held by the ex-governor’s supporters for him at SFU.

Oba said: “We want to place it on record that the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed was in Lagos on Sunday 29th of April 2012 with some top government functionaries to interact with Kwara professionals resident in Lagos.”

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