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WEDDING BELLS : Ese Walter weds CoolFM OAP, Benny Ark In Abuja ... SEE LOVELY WEDDING PICS HERE ... WISH THE COUPLE A HAPPY MARRIED LIFE
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COUNTING THE COSTS OF A NEW RAVE : Valentine’s Day tragedy: 26 persons crushed to death in Enugu ... DailyPost
The Valentine’s Day celebration turned sour in Enugu on Thursday as no fewer than 26 persons were crushed to death at Oji-River junction in Enugu State.
The victims, who were alongside others enjoying the mood of the day met their untimely death when a lorry-tipper lost brake and ran into them.
DailyPost gathered that other casualties are currently receiving treatment in a hospital within the area.
“The accident occurred when a lorry conveying gravel failed brake and lost control, thereby killing people within the popular wonderful market”.
Amaraizu added that “investigations have commenced with a view to finding out the real death toll as well as numbers of the injured and the likely cause of the incident”.
The victims, who were alongside others enjoying the mood of the day met their untimely death when a lorry-tipper lost brake and ran into them.
DailyPost gathered that other casualties are currently receiving treatment in a hospital within the area.
Confirming the incident, the spokesman of the police in Enugu State, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu stated that “the accident occurred at the popular Wonderful Junction of Oji-River, along old Oji-River Onitsha Road, Enugu.
“The accident occurred when a lorry conveying gravel failed brake and lost control, thereby killing people within the popular wonderful market”.
Amaraizu added that “investigations have commenced with a view to finding out the real death toll as well as numbers of the injured and the likely cause of the incident”.
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WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH MEN TODAY? : Pastor Caught In The Act Brutally Raping 10-yr-old Virgin Church Member’s Daughter In Edo ... HotNaija News
Alfred Idonogie, a 62-year old randy pastor, was on Friday sentenced to two years in prison by an Egor Magistrate Court in Benin, Edo State, southern Nigeria, for defiling a 10-year old girl.
The convict was, however, granted an option of fine of N200,000 after he would have served six months out of the two years term.The court presided over by Chief Magistrate Taye Omoruyi, found Idonogie guilty after the prosecutor called five witnesses.
![caught in the act]()
Omoruyi held that the prosecution witnesses, including the girl, her grandmother, the investigating police officer and a medical doctor established that there was penetration into the little girl’s private part.
The court also held that the accused committed the offence on 25 June, 2012 at Onaghino Street, Medical Stores Road, Benin City.Not satisfied with the judgment, Counsel to the accused, U. Osa-Uwagie, indicated his interest to appeal against the judgment.
Coordinator, Edo State Child Protection Network, Ms. Jennifer Ero, who took up the matter, described the judgment as a victory for the child.She urged other stakeholders to be committed to the fight against child abuse.
The convict was, however, granted an option of fine of N200,000 after he would have served six months out of the two years term.The court presided over by Chief Magistrate Taye Omoruyi, found Idonogie guilty after the prosecutor called five witnesses.
Omoruyi held that the prosecution witnesses, including the girl, her grandmother, the investigating police officer and a medical doctor established that there was penetration into the little girl’s private part.
The court also held that the accused committed the offence on 25 June, 2012 at Onaghino Street, Medical Stores Road, Benin City.Not satisfied with the judgment, Counsel to the accused, U. Osa-Uwagie, indicated his interest to appeal against the judgment.
Coordinator, Edo State Child Protection Network, Ms. Jennifer Ero, who took up the matter, described the judgment as a victory for the child.She urged other stakeholders to be committed to the fight against child abuse.
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WHEN LOVE TURNS SOUR : BBA Winner Dillish Mathew's Boyfriend DUMPS Her Because She's Lesbian, Plus Naija Artiste Flavour...? ... ngozikanwiro.blogspot
Dillish Boyfriend has finally confirmed his break up with Dillish, as he opened up to Namibian Sun newspaper in a recent heartbreaking interview….read the excerpt below:
“It wasn’t about money. It’s just that we both agreed that we are better apart. Dillish isn’t just physically beautiful, she is also amazing and I respect her,”While Dillish was on the show, there was a Nigerian woman who was helping to campaign for people in her country to vote for her. I was in contact with her because I helped with the campaigning.” Gaeseb paused again, before continuing.
....We flirted via text messages and so on. I mean all guys flirt, it doesn’t mean you intend on acting on it. She then sent a snapshot of our conversations to a friend of Dillish, who eventually sent it to Dillish.” “We had an argument about that, which led to an argument about other things and we both said some things that we wish we didn’t. After that we decided to break-up and haven’t been together since December.”
.....The pregnancies and the cheating rumours are all ridiculous. I wish people will give us our privacy and let it go now. We both need our privacy and we love each and probably always will so we need our privacy”
He said contrary to rumours, he had not impregnated another woman.
“I was shocked when I heard that I impregnated another girl and that I have many other kids. I have a ten-year-old boy. This alleged pregnancy is just untrue,”
Asked about rumours that Dillish is dating Nigerian singer Flavour N’abania, Gaeseb said ..
“I doubt Dillish is seeing Flavour, but if she is, then it won’t be to spite me. Dillish isn’t a spiteful woman. It’s not her kind of thing."
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WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH MEN TODAY? : How my pastor snatched my wife of 12 years – Husband opens up (PICTURED) ... YNaij
A member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Imo has come out with an allegation to the effect that the leader of the church snatched his wife.
Charles Alozie blames Ephraim Uzodinma Okpulor, who is the President of the Anambra and Imo Conference of the church, for the breakup of his 12-year marriage after he claimed that the latter stole his wife, Chinwe.
Mrs. Alozie, a staff at the church headquarters, is said to have started the adulterous affair with Pastor Okpulor in 2011.
The Sun reports:
The distraught Alozie said the affair between his wife and the pastor has not only ruined his life but had also left him without his children as his estranged wife had absconded with his three children since July 12, 2013. This was after instigating the police to arrest him on trumped up charges.
He also accused the President of the Eastern Nigeria Union Mission, Pastor B.E.O Udoh of allegedly shielding Pastor Okpulor from being investigated for alleged adultery with his wife even when the matter had been officially communicated to him over a year ago.
Alozie who is a tricycle (Keke) operator in Owerri, and a native of Mgboko in Obingwa Council Area of Abia State, told Sunday Sun that he married Chinwe who hails from Umunama community in Ezinihitte Mbaise Council Area of Imo State on December 22, 2002. Incidentally, the president of the Imo and Anambra Conference of the church who is currently in the eye of the storm is also from Ezinihitte Mbaise, but from Akpodim community.
The embittered man said he was elated when his wife was employed in the church because he had thought that she would be safe in the house of God but regretted that now he felt betrayed by the man who is not only the chief shepherd of the churches in Imo and Anambra states but also a family friend who eats and drinks with him in his house.
He was angry that the pastor had allegedly been having an affair with his wife behind his back until God decided to expose them. He claimed that since his discovery of the alleged amorous relationship, his life had been in danger.
When I confronted my wife about her adulterous relationship with the pastor, she had begged me to forgive her and not to expose them and I agreed on the condition that she must tell Pastor Okpulor to come with his wife so that the matter would be settled since it is a family affair.
When contacted, Pastor Okpulor said that he could not comment on the matter because Deacon Alozie had not only reported the matter to the highest authority of the church in the region, but had also engaged the services of a lawyer. He said he needed the clearance of his superiors to make further comments on the issue.
However, the legal adviser of the church, Elder K. Anyanwu stated that Alozie is not a member of the church and that he is simply blackmailing the pastor because he could not handle his marital problems. Anyanwu told Sunday Sun that he had asked Mr Alozie to see him over his marital problems but that he had been dodging him and had not attended any of the meetings scheduled to settle the quarrels between him and his wife who had complained to the church that her husband had thrown her out of their matrimonial home.
“Charles Alozie is not a member of the church but has simply been blackmailing Pastor Okpulor over his inability to handle his marital problems and when his wife who works in the church reported that her husband has sent her packing from their matrimonial home, I invited him for a meeting in order to resolve the problem between him and his wife but he has been dodging me ever since and has not attended any of the meetings and as the legal adviser of the church, when a case is reported, I am instructed to handle it, but in this particular case, Alozie is not speaking the truth,” Anyanwu said.
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COUNTING THE COSTS OF THIS NEW RAVE : Valentine party turns bloody, APC leader killed ... PremiumTimes
A stray bullet killed a Kwara politician.
Tragedy struck on Friday night in Oro, Kwara State, as a stray police bullet killed a 35-year-old politician during a party to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day.
The party held at the Topmost Hotel, Oro, in Irepodun Local Government Area.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the All Progressives Congress, APC, stalwart, Femi Oladipo, died instantly from the bullet wound.
Mr. Oladipo was a former chairmanship aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the November 2013 local government election in the state before defecting to APC.
The death of Mr. Oladipo has triggered a protest in the town with some anti-riot policemen and soldiers drafted to the scene on Saturday.
A witness said, on condition of anonymity, that a stray bullet from one of two policemen providing security at the hotel hit Mr. Oladipo’s chest at 11:45 p.m.
He said that Mr. Oladipo was mediating in a minor disagreement among some youth when the incident occurred.
The source said the police officer hit the butt of his gun against a wall when it discharged a bullet and hit Mr. Oladipo.
“Oladipo was calming down the youth who were engaged in a minor disagreement when the policeman hit the gun,” the source said.
Two policemen were detailed to the hotel to provide security for some members of a church holding a crusade.
The members had earlier obtained a police permit.
It was in the same hotel that some youth, including the deceased, were having a Valentine party.
The deceased recently returned from the U.S.
The spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command, Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the incident, saying that the affected police officer was already undergoing an interrogation at the command’s headquarters in Ilorin.
“It was true a police officer’s gun was accidentally discharged and killed a man at the hotel where he was to provide security.
“The officer affected has been arrested and currently undergoing police orderly interrogation at the Kwara State Police headquarters, Ilorin,” Mr. Okasanmi said.
The chairman of the local government council, Luqman Owolewa, described the incident as ‘very unfortunate.’
He said that the council was doing everything possible to calm the aggrieved youth.
The body of the deceased has since been deposited at the mortuary.
(NAN)
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PLACING THE EVIDENCE ON THE TABLE : Present evidence of 1.6 million jobs created, Nigeria’s unemployed youth tell Okonjo-Iweala ... PremiumTimes
Unemployed youth say what is evidential is a spate of unemployment.
A body of unemployed graduates & other youth in Nigeria has requested for information on the alleged 1.6 million jobs created in 2013.
The Adebisi Thomas Adewole Foundation, ATA Foundation, an avenue through which unemployed graduates and other unemployed youth of Nigeria demand for their rights, aired their grievances and desires in a letter to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy.
Citing the Freedom of Information , FOI, law, they requested for evidence on the existence of these created jobs.
“In 2013 as reported by the Nigerian Tribune on 17th of September, 2013, the World Bank put the unemployment rate in Nigeria at 22 per cent and the youth unemployment rate at 38 per cent. The Team Leader and representative of World Bank Country representative, Professor Foluso Okunmadewa, made this disclosure at the Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO) organised by Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P), in Abuja,” the foundation said, in the letter signed by Adebisi Adewole, the Chairman of the foundation.
Citing update on the state of unemployment in the country as drawn from the National Planning Commission presentation and the divergence in the ‘official’ reports on jobs created, the foundation said that unemployment rate in Nigeria worsened under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
“This conclusion was drawn after the National Planning Commission presented the 2011 Performance Monitoring Report on Government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Abuja on 3rd of October, 2013. The report indicated that the unemployment rate in Nigeria in 2010 was 21.1 per cent, a figure that increased to 23.9 per cent in 2011,” the group said.
ATA Foundation said that the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, quoted the report as stating that, “In 2011, Nigeria’s unemployment rose to 23.9 per cent compared with 21.1 per cent in 2010,” and that the report referenced its facts from the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS.
“ThisDay on AllAfica.com and the Nigerian Vanguard Newspaper both related on December 18, 2013 that the National Bureau of Statistics said that 54 per cent of Nigerian Youths were unemployed in 2012. This was contained in a report issued in Abuja by NBS in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Youths Development in December of 2013″, it added.
Many other reports by national, regional, and global bodies have also corroborated the rising unemployment rate in the country despite the initiation of SURE-P, YOUWIN, and other such programmes to create employment for millions of Nigerians particularly the youth by the Federal Government.
“During an interactive session with Private sector in December, 2013, The Punch Newspapers related on December 30, 2013 that during your presentation, you disclosed that a total of 1.6 million jobs were created in 2013. ThisDay on AllAfrica.com on January 20, 2014 also gave an account of your reiterating same at the South-East and South-South Professional Forum in January, 2014. At the forum you also said 2 million of such jobs will be created in 2014,” the foundation told Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala.
The ATA Foundation said in accordance with Section 2, 3, 4, of the FOI Act, it wants to know “The number of jobs created in each sector of the economy in 2013, the amount appropriated and expended to create such jobs and the sustainability plan of the jobs after the federal Government has withdrawn its support as the case may be” the foundation said, while also demanding supporting documents.
“We look forward to receiving the required information promptly and, in any event, within 7 days of the receipt of this application as provided for in the Freedom of Information Act, 2011,” the foundation said in its letter.
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AN EMERGING TREND FOR GAY RELATIONSHIPS IN NIGERIA 2 ... JUNGLE JUSTICE : Abuja Residents Mob Alleged Gays ... CKN
An Abuja mob, wielding wooden clubs and iron bars and screaming to “cleanse” their neighbourhood of gay people, on Thursday dragged 14 young men from their beds and assaulted them, human rights activists claimed yesterday.
Four of the victims were marched to a police station, where they allegedly were kicked and punched by police officers who yelled pejoratives at them, said Ifeanyi Orazulike of the International Centre on Advocacy for the Right to Health.
The Police operatives threatened that the men would be incarcerated for 14 years, which he said, the maximum prison sentence under the new Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, dubbed the “Jail the Gays” law.
“Since the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act was signed, we have expressed concern as a friend of Nigeria that it might be used by some to justify violence against Nigerians based on their sexual orientation,” the U.S. Embassy said in a statement at the weekend. “Recent attacks in Abuja deepen our concern on this front.”
The police spokeswoman for the Federal Capital Territory, Deputy Superintendent Altine Daniel, said she was unaware of the attack but would try to get details.
Orazulike said he got a panicked email from a colleague who said he was hiding from a mob of 40 people who struck around 1 a.m. Thursday, going from house to house saying their mission was “to cleanse” the area of gays. He said they used pieces of wood and iron to beat up 14 young men. Orazulike said he drove from his home at 4 a.m. to save the man in Gishiri, a shantytown with mud roads near central Abuja.
Those attacked are in hiding and too scared to speak to reporters, he said, recounting their story.
“They were told ‘If you come back, we will kill you.’”
The walls of houses where the men lived have been painted with graffiti declaring “Homosexuals, pack and leave,” he said.
Orazulike said he went to the police station later on Thursday and met with a senior officer who ordered the four men released because there was no evidence that they were gay and they had not been caught having sex.
Four of them were severely injured and others suffered bruises, he said. They were treated at his organisation’s clinic because they were afraid to go to the hospital.
“They said the police slapped and kicked them and swore at them,” he said.
Dorothy Aken’Ova, executive director of Nigeria’s International Centre for Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights, said she stayed up all night Wednesday trying to get police and Civil Defence to send officers to the scene after she got a phone call from a man who was being attacked.
“Instead of helping them, apparently some of them were arrested,” she told AP. “None of the (law enforcement) agents responded to our distress calls.”
Dozens of allegedly gay people have been arrested since President Goodluck Jonathan signed the bill into law in January. It not only forbids gay marriage, which carries a 14-year jail sentence, it makes it a crime for anyone, straight or homosexual, to hold a meeting of gays or to advocate human rights for gays. Convicted offenders can be jailed for up to 10 years.
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ABSOLUTE POWER INTOXICATES ABSOLUTELY : Abia Gov Son Kill Boy In Umuahia ... CKN
Son to Governor T.A Orji of Abia State, Chinedu Orji aka “IKUKU” yesterday displayed another level of his usual unruly and criminal behavior at the Okpara square, Umauhia, venue of the official declaration of his father’s senatorial ambition ahead of the 2015 general elections.
“IKUKU”, the self acclaimed Governor of the state, who was angered by the utterance of his late PA over a minor issue, directed his police orderly to shoot the late aide. All efforts to save the victim did not yield any result as he lost blood profusely. The ugly development did not allow the event hold as planned as people took to their heels leaving the place deserted.
An eye witness at the venue who spoke under anonymity stated that he was shocked when the Governor’s son, Chinedu directed his orderly to shoot the late aide over a minor misunderstanding. He decried the humiliation Abians have been subjected to, by the actions of the Governor’s son, since his father took over the mantle of leadership. He called on the Inspector General of Police to investigate the unlawful and unprofessional behaviour of the Governor’s son and his orderly respectively
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CASTING SPELLS FOR 2015 : Why A Northern Christian Candidate For President Won’t Work By Sheik Ahmad Gumi ... SaharaReporters
Outspoken Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi has said that a Northern Christian candidate for President under the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) would not work in Nigeria’s 2015 elections. He made the comment while analyzing the political developments in Nigeria in an interview with SaharaTV on Saturday.
Northern Christians he said needed to rebuild confidence with other Northerners before they would be taken seriously. Instead of a northern Christian candidate he suggested that a South West Muslim presidential candidate and an amiable Northern Muslim candidate as a combination that would rather guarantee a landslide.
“Because the Northern Christians, unfortunately for them, during the 2011 election … all went to Jonathan, they need to build the confidence back for the northerners to show that they believe in being northerners before they will be taken seriously,” he said to SaharaTV’s Rudolf Okonkwo.
The sheik also said he would not accept the offer to be president of Nigeria if asked by any party but would rather support someone acceptable to the majority of Nigerians to assume office.
“I cannot be a president of Nigeria,” he said. “Why? Because of the diversity of Nigeria. Let everybody maintain his diversity. I don’t want to impose myself on people who are ready to reject me. So we should find natural people who are acceptable to everybody so that we can have peace.”
He described President Jonathan’s firing of former Aviation Minister Stella Oduah as too little too late.
“Already the nation has characterized the regime as tolerant to corruption,” he said. “The image has not yet been corrected. It would have been a better image if the president had sacked that woman.”
On the controversy over the $20 billion the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is alleged to have failed to remit to the federal account, Sheik Gumi called for a combined team of auditors from Russia, China and Germany to come and audit the corporation's account. Handing the audit over to a Western auditing firm he said would not work because the money in question is in western banks and there would be conflict of interest. He recommended that the Senate and the House of Representatives should select the auditors and not the Minister of Finance.
Sheik Gumi also observed that Muslims were the first victims of the fight against terror. He said that the way the president fights terror had the whole of the northern region subjugated to draconic laws; a situation which he reckons has brought resentment against President Jonathan. “The imagine of Jonathan now in the North has gone bad,” he said.
Gumi rejected the president's pronouncement last week that his government had left Nigeria better and stronger than he met it pointing at corruption and insecurity across the land as an example. “He (Jonathan) didn’t make Nigeria better,” he said. “He made it worse.”
He also commended Saharareporters for breaking stories around Stella Oduah’s corruption and sustaining the story, leading to her eventual dismissal. “If the press in Nigeria is as good as Saharareporters, Nigeria will be better” he said.
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SO THIS MONEY IS INDEED MISSING? ... A VIEW THAT WILL DISTRESS ANY REASONABLE PERSON : Peregrino Brimah: The ‘missing’ $20bn abomination ... DailyPost
Nigeria’s Central Bank governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has declared $20 billion missing in what can be described as one of the largest heists in the history of this planet. Off the coast of Dubai, in a project conceived by the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Nakheel properties raised an archipelago of 300 Islands from the sea bed. These wonderful private Islands built of 321 million cubic meters of sand and 386 million tons of rock, were formatted according to the continents of the World. The project cost $14 billion and is a world wonder. $20 billion dollars is a tall sum. Though Nigeria’s annual earnings from oil stands at about $80 billion, the nation’s budget is $29 billion. $20 billion we are looking for is 2/3rds our annual budget. It is a great abomination for the people’s $20 billion to have been subverted or stolen. The possibility that such a sum may be missing as is being analyzed is already a serious abomination.
There are several points being discussed and necessary to review in the case of the missing dough.
Did CBN governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (SLS) mess-up?
Firstly we must recognize that a mess-up of SLS is a mess-up of the Goodluck Jonathan administration. SLS was appointed by the current administration as the CBN governor; he was not elected by me and you; he is a part of the administration. On 1 June 2009, late president Yar’adua with Vice president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan nominated SLS to be the CBN governor. The administration has kept him in office since. Failure of SLS is failure of the current administration.
To the question on whether SLS may have raised the issue of the missing billions as a political move; a revisiting of the process by which this issue came about is pertinent. On September 25, 2013, Nigeria’s CBN governor Sanusi sent a private memo to President Goodluck Jonathan and the minister of the economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, detailing that the NNPC had possibly diverted $49.8 billion worth of crude oil sales proceeds between January 2012 and July 2013 and not remitted this funds to the Federation account. This was a private memo, requesting the president’s attention to the matter. If this was a politically motivated move, Sanusi would have come to the press with these findings. He did not. He followed due process. Sanusi at this time did not claim $49.8 billion was missing; his memo was simply an urgent ‘invitation to investigate.’ This was an action conducted professionally. This is what we demand of our serving executives and appointees in any matter where they suspect fraud.
According to the public narration, President Goodluck Jonathan recklessly dismissed the critical memo and did nothing about it. 3 months later, the letter was leaked to the press. We can accuse SLS of facilitating this leak, but should we be upset with this? If indeed the president of Nigeria simply dismissed such an important matter, we Nigerians need supernatural intervention, which may include leakage of the memo to get the president to address such matter and investigate either the NNPC or SLS to see which of his appointees had made the grave blunders. It is important to clarify and discount several unprofessional newspaper headlines that suggested that Sanusi made a u-turn, claiming he had never said $49.8 billion was missing; what he had said, that many spinal editors had misconstrued was, he never said $49.8 billion was confirmed missing, he had only raised as his letter dated 25th September details, that $49.8 billion may be missing. There is a big difference between ‘may be missing, we need to investigate,’ as he wrote and ‘is missing’ as headlines had initially phrased it.
Sanusi told Senator Ahmed Makarfi: “I repeat, Mr Chairman, that we did not see the letter as a conclusion of our investigation but an invitation to investigate…”
After a brief reconciliation meeting, in an attempt to investigate the unremitted billions Sanusi had raised, the conclusion was that a whopping $10.8 billion was nowhere to be found. This treacherous finding was confirmed by the Minister of finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who said: “I just wanted to add that we found about $10.8 billion (un-reconciled).”
$10.8 billion missing is a matter of national emergency. By this point Nigerians should have been up in arms.
Now, after the reconciliation meeting during which it is understood that the NNPC provided documents and explanations to account for $39 billion, Sanusi as is appropriate and expected of the nation’s CBN governor, went to his office to review the information and defense presented by the NNPC. He found on cross-examination, possibly after noticing fake documents and duplicated entries, that even with the yet un verified-by-experts evidence provided by the NNPC, $20 billion was yet unaccounted for.
Was SLS changing his words? The answer is No! Any matter of such complexity, be it at an ordinary corporation level or at the government level, requires an initial alert, an investigation and a careful tracked cross-examination of the presentations at the investigation. Sanusi had just concluded his review of the defense and evidences presented at the reconciliation investigation and still found $20 billion possibly missing. His duty we Nigerians need him to do in a time of national disarray and suffering, with enshrined and protected government corruption, was to continue with his investigation and return all findings as he found them.
A recap: The alert was that up to $49.8 billion may be missing. The reconciliation investigation attempted to prove that ‘only’ $10.8 billion was missing, and the cross-examination revealed that despite the reconciliation, $20 billion was still ‘missing.’ This is not inconsistency; it is the way of these matters.
On the timing of his release; well, better late than never, in Nigeria where no tool against evil works, early or late. I must state that I am a critic of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and my penned harsh criticism of his legacy is a published item.
Further abominations from Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Diezani Alison-Madukwe, head of NNPC:
As the matter spiraled, the Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from the World Bank, surprisingly and shockingly expressed that to address this issue, forensic auditors will be needed. This was a new abomination in the case of the missing elephant in the room. $20 billion is simply not the type of sum of money that it is hard to find. What is the job of her office if not to be able to present as and at when demanded an accurate to the last $1 million, account of the nation’s income and expenditure? This is not current funds; this is an account of missing funds between January 2012 and July 2013. The admission that forensic editors were needed was scary to the nation and a revelation that the ministry of finance was grossly inept and requires a total overhaul. At the resolution of this matter, at the very least, the minister of finance should be retired for dangerous incompetency.
Further insulting Nigerians and demonstrating disgusting rabid insolence, the nation’s NNPC boss under investigation, Diezani Alison-Madukwe was reported to have said that any investigation of said missing funds must date back to 2004, when the predecessor and GEJ godfather Obasanjo regime was in office. This was a clear attempt to blackmail and it followed a failed attempt to sack the nation’s CBN governor, SLS, by President Jonathan.
Though an investigation of Nigeria’s 4th republic so-far, starting from the day ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo assumed office, till date is very much a paramount need of the nation; her making such careless threat in this economic terror crises matter of national security, importance and concern was abominable and showed maniacal carelessness.
The Kerosene Subsidy Scam:
NNPC in defense of the missing billions of dollars had claimed that the money was used to subsidize kerosene. This claim and explanation is actually an admission of fraud and active engagement in robbing from Nigeria’s poor.
The Yar’adua government stood-out separate from the Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan administration as relates to this monstrous scam. Yar’adua was disgusted by this humongous theft of the people’s money and he gave an executive directive as documents reveal, to stop the nonexistent subsidy. Kerosene was not subsidized. Kerosene is sold in Nigeria for up to N150 – N300 per litter. This is an exorbitant cost to purchase the product. Where is the subsidy when marketers are selling the product for N150+/liter? The late president directed the relevant authorities to eliminate subsidies on kerosene as this did not reach the intended beneficiaries. The directive by late president Umaru Yar’adua was conveyed in four separate memos by his Principal Secretary, Mr. David Edevbie.
Quoting a paragraph from Olusegun Adeniyi, the spokesperson of late President Yar’dua in an article in Thisday on the 13th of February, 2013:
In the “Volume One” of their report submitted in June 2012, this is what the federal government committee wrote about kerosene subsidy: “…in spite of a directive issued by President Yar’Adua on June 15, 2009 that NNPC should cease subsidy claims on kerosene, PPPRA resumed the processing of kerosene subsidy claims in June 2011 and NNPC resumed the deduction of kerosene subsidy claims to the tune of N331,547,318,068.06 in 2011. In addition, the distribution of DPK which was being imported solely by NNPC was skewed in favour of depot owners who have no retail outlets…Two-thirds of the kerosene sold by NNPC between 2009 and 2011 was sold to depot owners and ‘middle men’ who in turn sold the product to owners of retail outlets at inflated prices of between N115 and N125 per litre (compared to the ex-depot price of N40.90), leaving consumers to pay higher prices than the N50 per litre directed by Government. For several years now, the country has been incurring huge subsidy bills for kerosene and its citizens are not receiving the benefit – instead the country has been financing ‘rent’ for the middlemen.”
The NNPC in this elaborate scam, transfers $8 million to the cabal in the so-called subsidy everyday! According to this 419 scam, the NNPC under Diezani Madukwe claims they are subsidizing our kerosene, and making it available at N40.9/liter to marketers for it to be sold at the pump for N50/liter. The NNPC claims to import 10 million liters product per day at an import cost of N156/liter. The NNPC has its handful of Cabal portfolio marketers who are given the ‘subsidized’ rate kerosene at N40.9/liter. But as we all know, they resell it at a non subsidized rate to retailers thus pocketing N100+ on the liter and billions for themselves and their government friends.
The simple test for any Nigerian who wishes to confirm if the NNPC and Goodluck Jonathan administration are stealing from them or not, is—what is the price you buy kerosene? If it is N50 per liter, then the subsidy is real and the $8 million daily ‘subsidy’ is going to ease the cost of living for 170 million Nigerians. If you buy it any more than N50/liter, whatever extra you pay on top, multiplied by the millions of gallons sold nationwide is the volume of fraud and broad day light robbery that greedy and wicked people at the top are using to exploit you and amass insane wealth which always ends up directly or indirectly sponsoring terror and creating suffering and insecurity in Nigeria.
Till and unless this matter is transparently, clearly resolved, we must be loudly perturbed. And this state of awareness and reactiveness in relation and response to all government corruption should be sacrosanct.
The Bible says in Proverbs 25:26: “A righteous person giving way to the wicked is like a contaminated spring or a polluted fountain.” In lieu of the precarious state of the nation’s finances and the wicked looting by a handful of rapacious civilians, who rob us without even using guns as we were forced to be silent under during the Babangida-Abacha regimes, shall we continue to tolerate and succumb to the wicked and remain muddied and polluted as the Bible describes? The wicked may have ‘chanced’ our parents’ generation, but will we let them chance us? It is time Nigerians said, no! No more! We will recover our money and authority thieves will be impeached, dismissed and/or go to jail as applies.
#NoToChancing
Dr. Peregrino Brimah
http://ENDS.ng [Every Nigerian Do Something]
Email: drbrimah@ends.ng Twitter: @EveryNigerian
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WHEN CHARITY BEGINS ABROAD : Boko Haram: US Expresses Concern Over Abducted Girls In Borno ... TheTrentNews
The United States Government has said it is deeply concerned for the welfare of the female students abducted recently from their schools in Borno State by suspected members of the Boko Haram sect.
This is as the people of Borno State have lamented the continued closure of schools in some local government areas for close to two years while casualty figure of the Konduga attack, which the US condemned, has risen to 62.
In a statement issued by its Embassy in Abuja, the US reiterated its call to the Nigerian government to bring the perpetrators of these acts to justice.
The statement reads in part: “The United States offers its sincere sympathy to the families of scores of murdered civilians and students abducted from the Government Girls Senior Science Secondary School and Ashigar School of Business and Administrative Studies.
“We are deeply concerned for the welfare of the young women currently being held against their will; we urge the government of Nigeria to investigate this attack, ensure all abductees are safely returned to their families, and bring the perpetrators to justice as soon as possible.
“The United States remains committed to supporting the people of northern Nigeria in their struggle to stop the abhorrent actions of Boko Haram and associated terrorist groups.”
Meanwhile, search for more corpses of victims of Tuesday’s Boko Haram attack on Konduga has continued. The death toll on Tuesday which stood at 53 rose to 57 on Thursday with four persons reportedly dead from injuries at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). The figure further rose to 62 yesterday as five corpses were retrieved from the surrounding bushes.
It was gathered that the residents of the troubled town continued to flee in their hundreds to Maiduguri, the state capital seeking refuge.
Masu Yale, the District Head of Konduga said some members of the Konduga Volunteer Group retrieved five more bodies from the bush on Thursday; and buried them at the cemetery according to Islamic rites in the evening.
“After a two-hour search for more bodies in the bush yesterday, members of the volunteer group retrieved five bodies; and were buried at the cemetery. This represents a total of 62 people killed, including the four injured people that died at the UMTH yesterday in Maiduguri,” he said.
He said that the hoodlums came back to attack a village in the outskirts of town on Thursday but found out that people had already deserted.
“Most of my people had already fled when the attackers came calling even though a few of us, the agile men hid in nearby farmlands. The attackers surrounded Malari village and started shooting in the air but changed their mind when they realised that nobody was in the village. Luckily enough, they did not burn any property.
“When we heard of the attack, we informed relevant authorities and security measures were taken. Most of the people have returned to their homes in Malari village, located 10 kilometres west of destroyed Konduga town,” he said.
The Chairman of Dikwa local government area of Borno State, Alhaji Modu Ali Gana has lamented that their children have not been to school in the last two years for fear of Boko Haram attack.
“Our sons and daughters have continued to stay at home and stay away from schools in the past two years for fear of being attacked by Boko Haram. Education is wealth, but it is unfortunate that for the past two years, no school is functioning in Dikwa, students have remained at home because of Boko Haram, this time around we will not only renovate the schools, but also see to it that our students return back to classrooms with their teachers motivated with the scarce resources at our disposal”, he said.
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WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH MEN TODAY? : Horrible: Teenage girl gang raped by security guards inside a church in Anambra ... YNaij
Three men have been arrested by the police over the alleged gang raping of a 14-year old girl, Ujunwa Nwolisa in Nkpor, Idemmili North local government area, Anambra state on Saturday.
According to reports, Nwolisa had gone to fetch firewood in company of two other under aged boys at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in the town before she was accosted by the three men who were security guards of the church and reportedly raped at machete point.
The gang rape incident was confirmed by the Anambra Police Command saying a a suspect has already being arrested while efforts are on to arrest other gang members of the security men who raped the girl.
The Nation reports:
Police spokesman, PPRO Emeka Chukwuemeka , a CSP said investigations are ongoing and once investigations are concluded the suspects would be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.The Divisional Police Officer, DPO in charge of Ogidi Division, Mr Abubakar Isa also confirmed the incident and that one of the suspects was arrested by the local vigilance group in charge of Isingwu road, where Nwolisa family resides and handed over to the Ogidi police station.The girl amidst sobs narrated her ordeal to newsmen saying they were gathering firewood and picking cashew fruits that fell on the ground inside the church compound when three security operatives of the church emerged from nowhere and accused them of plucking the fruits. They denied the allegation insisting that that they only took the ones that fell from the tree.
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SO THIS MONEY IS INDEED MISSING? ... DOES NIGERIA GIVE A DAMN? : $20bn Oil Revenue: US Ready To Assist Nigeria – Envoy ... LeadershipNews
The United States’ ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador James Entwistle, has said that the US will be glad to carry out a neutral investigation into the Nigeria’s $20 billion missing oil revenue.
CBN governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi had claimed in a Senate hearing that $20 million oil revenue was still unaccounted for by the NNPC, a claim the corporation stoutly denies.
But in an exclusive interview with our reporter during his visit to Kano State, James Entwistle stated that this development was part of US government’s response to the request put forward by Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan in his meeting with President Obama last September.
According to the US Envoy, President Jonathan said to Obama: “Look, why don’t you help in investigating oil bunkering and theft in my country”. Obama replied, “I will see what I can do.”
Entwistle added that in line with US government’s commitment towards recovering $20 billion missing oil revenue, if Nigeria’s financial institutions witness any unusual financial transactions, the government should not hesitate to notify US representative in the country for investigation.
In what appears as if US envoy doubted Nigeria’s government readiness in combating oil bunkering, he told LEADERSHIP: “I was surprised when I took a helicopter above Niger Delta; it revealed to me that oil bunkering is not hidden from the federal government, or anybody. My conclusion is very simple: some people must know what is going on.”
He noted that though corruption is the big issue in America and the world over, it requires Nigeria’s and any other countries’ concerted effort through provision of relevant laws.
Speaking on insurgency, US ambassador said that it takes an effective counter-insurgency policy to fight somebody who had entangled himself with the civilian population Boko Haram, saying that America has provided not only a military assistance but support to Nigeria’s economy in ensuring job creation via youth empowerment.
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NO HIDING PLACE FOR SAME SEX RELATIONSHIPS : Perverted Valentine's Day: Ogun Police Arrest Three Gay Men in Honda CRV Jeep ... TON
An Ogun State Chief Magistrate’s Court, sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, remanded three men for alleged homosexuality on February 14, 2014, Friday.
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Those remanded were identified as 64-year-old Oluwasegun Adesina-Rasheeda, 20-year-old Samad Ojo and 18-year-old Ope Abeeb over the same offence.
Chief Magistrate Anthony Araba ordered on February 17, 2014, Monday that the three accused persons to be remanded at the Ibara Prison, Abeokuta.
Inspector Banji Sangotokun, on behalf of the prosecution told the court that the accused persons committed the offence on February 14 at about 11.30 p.m. at the Iwe-Iroyin area, Oke-Ilewo in Abeokuta.
He also added that the three accused persons conspired to commit homosexuality. The three men were reportedly caught in the indecent act inside the Honda CRV Jeep, belonging to one of the accused, Adesina-Rasheed.
The police prosecutor said the offence committed by the accused persons contravened Sections 516, 214 (3) and 217 of the 2006 Criminal Law of Ogun State.
The trio first pleaded not guilty to the two counts of conspiracy and homosexuality.
The application for bail by the counsel for the accused was rejected by the court.
The case has been adjourned to February 24 for mention.
Those remanded were identified as 64-year-old Oluwasegun Adesina-Rasheeda, 20-year-old Samad Ojo and 18-year-old Ope Abeeb over the same offence.
Chief Magistrate Anthony Araba ordered on February 17, 2014, Monday that the three accused persons to be remanded at the Ibara Prison, Abeokuta.
Inspector Banji Sangotokun, on behalf of the prosecution told the court that the accused persons committed the offence on February 14 at about 11.30 p.m. at the Iwe-Iroyin area, Oke-Ilewo in Abeokuta.
He also added that the three accused persons conspired to commit homosexuality. The three men were reportedly caught in the indecent act inside the Honda CRV Jeep, belonging to one of the accused, Adesina-Rasheed.
The police prosecutor said the offence committed by the accused persons contravened Sections 516, 214 (3) and 217 of the 2006 Criminal Law of Ogun State.
The trio first pleaded not guilty to the two counts of conspiracy and homosexuality.
The application for bail by the counsel for the accused was rejected by the court.
The case has been adjourned to February 24 for mention.
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A SUSPENSION OR REMOVAL MIRED IN CONTROVERSY : “You Cannot Suspend The Truth” – Sanusi Tells Jonathan [Read Text of 1st Interview After Suspension]
![“You Cannot Suspend The Truth” – Sanusi Tells Jonathan [Read Text of 1st Interview After Suspension]](http://omojuwa.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/CBN-Governor-Metropole-Magazine-623x330.jpg "“You Cannot Suspend The Truth” – Sanusi Tells Jonathan [Read Text of 1st Interview After Suspension]")
For the sake of those with slow Internet and date bundle issues, I have transcribed the major parts of suspended Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s first interview after his suspension. He spoke to CNBC Africa. You can read the text below.
On whether he was on notice with respect to his suspension: Well, I have been told by my office that a letter was received. As you know, I flew in this morning to Niamey along with other Governors of West African Central Banks to meet with the President of Niger and President of Ghana…Fortunately, I came in with my VP Sarah Alade whom I have been asked to hand over to. I have left the meeting to hand over to her. I have just met the Nigerian Ambassador to Niger who confirmed to me that the President asked him to inform me of the decision.
On accusations of “various acts of financial misconduct and recklessness” he said: I don’t know what they are talking about. When I come back, I will see what those allegations are…I don’t think there is any issue raised that has not been raised before. We all know what this is about. This is about consequences for decisions I have taken… This is something that is long overdue. I am surprised it took them so long.
On concerns for the market: Basically, my concern is for the safety of the market…I have had a wonderful time in service to my country. I would not want to see all of my work unraveled. No individual is worth it.
On whether his suspension is politically motivated: It is not for me to comment. I am not sure that erm… I think the answer to that is obvious…there is a legal question of whether the president has the authority to suspend the Governor and whether suspension is not removal. It will be helpful to establish the principles by court.
Even if I challenge it, I will not go back to the job. Even if I challenge it successfully, I will not go back to it. I think it will be in the interest of the institution for the courts to establish once and for all if the president has the powers to do this… If it is not challenged, the next Central Bank Governor cannot be independent with fear of being suspended by a politician. I do plan to have the courts confirm if indeed that authority exists and I will challenge it.
On his legacy: He pointed out Low inflation. Stable exchange rate. Reformed and well governed banking system, robust reserve, independent central bank, financial inclusion, systems reform…history will record this, nothing is going to change that. You can suspend an individual, you can’t suspend the truth. And this is all about these concerns around oil revenues, around decadence in the oil sector and if this is going to bring about the $20 billion then that’s fine.
Sanusi Lamido also emphasized the fact that he trusted the competence of his successor Sarah Alade and the other deputy governors to continue his good work. His grouse seemed to be on the legality of his suspension and the future independence of the CBN Governor. He insisted he’d go to the courts to contest the arbitrariness of his suspension, citing the fact that the President himself did not sign his suspension letter as it was signed by the Secretary to the Federal Government. He finished by saying he had no regrets or ill feelings towards anyone on the matter. Watch the video below.
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THIS MAN IS TALKING SENSE O! : Exclusive Interview With Ousted Nigerian CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
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SIGNS OF THE TIMES : Boko Haram leader vows to kill elder statesmen, others in new video ... VanguardNews
THE leader of the extremist Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, has, in a video released to journalists, threatened more attacks against Nigeria, saying his members would target Nigeria’s sources of revenue, and her refineries.
Shekau, who is wanted for terrorism by both Nigeria and the U.S., also vowed to kill major Islamic clerics and people that support democracy, western education, and Christianity.
He said the state of emergency currently in place in Adamawa. Borno, and Yobe, could not deter his group, and called on his members in other states, particularly Kano, to attack civilians and government institutions.
The Boko Haram sect is responsible for killing thousands of people, largely civilians, since their insurrection began in Northern Nigeria in 2009. Over 200 Borno villagers have been killed in the last two weeks by the outlawed sect. The group is, however, yet to carry out any attack in the 17 Southern States.The Nigerian military had said Mr. Shekau could have been killed in a military raid last year.
He has released at least two videos since then.
The full text of his 28-minute video, delivered in Hausa, reads;
“My brethren…you should hold on to your weapons and continue fighting. Let them understand that our work is not confined to Yobe, Borno and Adamawa (states).
Make them understand that we are not restricted by emergency rule. They should understand we are under the canopy of Allah.
“This is the beginning. Yes, this is the beginning. “We Jama’atu Ahlissunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad are fighting Christians wherever we meet them and those who believe in democracy, those who pursue Western education wherever we meet them.
By Allah, we will kill whoever practices Democracy. “And you the infidels of Rivers State, Niger (Delta), the town of Jonathan, Shekau is talking to you (sounds of gunshots). Shekau is talking to you, that small boy that has become the nightmare of infidels is talking to you.
“Oh you the leader of the Niger Delta, you will soon see your refinery destroyed. You will in the incoming days see your refinery you are boasting about bombed. Our refinery is Allah.
“Niger-Delta you are in trouble. Jonathan you are in trouble…Ban ki-Moon you are in trouble, Bejamin Netanyahu you are in trouble, Queen Elizabeth, you are in trouble, Babangida, Kwankwaso, Shekarau, Kashim, Buhari, you are in trouble. “Yahaya Jingir…the cleric of Jos, the advocate of ‘Boko Halal’, right? We are Boko Haram, you are Boko Halal. You will see, bastard.
“We killed Albani of Zaria. We killed Albani of Zaria. Shekau killed Albani of Zaria.Tomorrow he will kill Jingir, the day after tomorrow he will kill Dapchia, the next day he will kill Wapchama, next he will kill Shehu of Borno, Ado Bayero. We rebel against you, between us and you is enmity and rancour until you believe only in Allah.
“The reason why I will kill you is you are infidels, you follow Democracy…Whoever follows Democracy is an infidel. This is Shekau, this is why I’m in enmity with you.
“Buhari is an infidel, Babangida is an infidel, Atiku is an infidel, late Yar’Adua was an infidel, Shehu of Borno is an infidel. You are all infidels. What makes you infidels is Democracy and constitution and western education…I therefore call on brethren in Kano to rise up and replicate the Baga attack.
“All these infidels we are the ones killing them. We enjoy shedding their blood. “The Koran must be supreme, we must establish Islam in this country; Not only in Borno, we will henceforth destroy any schools wherever we see them.”
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MEDICINE AFTER DEATH ... SO THIS MONEY IS INDEED MISSING? : Jonathan meets NNPC chiefs over missing funds ... PunchNews
President Goodluck Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday met top officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in a meeting behind closed-door inside the Presidential Villa.
A source said the meeting, which was also attended by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Ahmed Makarfi; and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, was over the alleged missing $20bn crude oil sales proceeds.
Makarfi’s committee is currently investigating the issue.
The senator, however, left the venue of the meeting before others and refused to speak with journalists.
The NNPC delegation was led by its Group Managing Director, Mr. Andrew Yakubu.
Meanwhile, the President has approved the appointment of Mr. Farouk Ahmed as the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency.
The appointment, which takes immediate effect, was announced in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati.
Ahmed takes over from the incumbent, Mr. Reginald Stanley, who is retiring after 35 years in service.
The incoming executive secretary, who is from Sokoto State, is currently the Managing Director, Nidas Marine Limited, a subsidiary of the NNPC.
He comes to his new job at the PPPRA with over 28 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry and a sound commercial and trading background, having held senior positions in the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry, including Manager, Crude Oil Programming, Nominations, Shipping and Terminals.
Ahmed had also served as Executive Director (Commercial), Pipelines and Products Marketing Company Limited.
Jonathan thanked Stanley for what he described as his meritorious service to the nation and wished him well in his future endeavours.
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OF CORRUPTION AND PRESIDENTIAL BODY LANGUAGE ... WE DON'T GIVE A DAMN DESPITE THESE WEIGHTY MATTERS : Ribadu commitee exposes how presidency, NNPC spend oil revenues as slush funds .... PremiumTimes
The Nuhu Ribadu-led Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force has detailed how the Nigerian government and national oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, treat huge oil revenues accruing to the federation as a reserve of money that could be used for illicit purposes without accountability.
In its 178-page report, obtained by PREMIUM TIMES last night, the committee revealed how oil money in the custody of the NNPC were spent on extra-budgetary purposes such as the acquisition of a N2.23billion chopper for the president and a purported sponsorship of the World Cup.
In what appears a brazen misuse of public funds, the NNPC also gave out N700.5million in loan to Sao Tome & Principe based on instruction from the presidency. It also made a curious payment of N2.421billion to a foreign company, Royal Swaziland Sugar Company. The reason for the payment is unclear.
The Corporation also claimed to have underwritten a N521million expenses incurred by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources. This is in addition to the N250million the agency told the committee it spent on court cases involving the ministry.
The ministry has its own budgetary allocation and it is unclear why the NNPC is paying for its expenses. The nature of some of the expenses are also unclear.
The committee also found that the NNPC was being used as illegal lender to presidential committees, ministries and parastatals. For instance the corporation claimed it incurred about N20billion on the Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Safety and Security, based on instruction from the presidency.
The Ribadu committee also determined that about $1billion in signature bonuses, discrepancies in payment by the NNPC, and debts from oil companies were unaccounted for by the NNPC and the Department of Petroleum Resources.
Find table of missing money as documented by the Ribadu committee below.
Download full report of the committee below.
www.premiumtimesng.com/docs_download/Report_of_the_Ribadu_led_Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force 2012.pdf
![]( "Screen shot 2012-10-31 at 3.46.46 AM")
![]( "Screen shot 2012-10-31 at 3.47.11 AM")
![]( "Screen shot 2012-10-31 at 3.48.16 AM")
![]( "Screen shot 2012-10-31 at 3.48.38 AM")
![]( "Screen shot 2012-10-31 at 3.49.19 AM")
![]( "Screen shot 2012-10-31 at 3.49.46 AM")
![]( "Screen shot 2012-10-31 at 3.50.05 AM")
![]( "Screen shot 2012-10-31 at 3.50.36 AM")
![]( "Screen shot 2012-10-31 at 3.50.53 AM")
Excerpts of the report
“…Theft of crude oil and refined petroleum products may be reaching emergency levels in Nigeria. The Task Force has received reports suggesting that volumes stolen have risen dramatically in the past 12-18 months. The Royal Dutch Shell Company, Shell in its presentation to the Task Force stated that an estimated 150,000 barrels of crude oil are stolen per day (about 6% of Nigeria’s total annual production) causing a revenue loss of $13.5 million per day (at $100 per barrel) which amounts to $5billion per year of lost revenue.
On the other hand, high ranking Officials and Executives in the Federal Government tasked with the management of the nation’s strategic Oil and Gas assets have several times stated the existence of large-scale on-going theft of Nigeria’s crude oil. This represents government acknowledgment of the magnitude of the loss. Mr. Leke Oyewole, a Senior Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Maritime Affairs, disclosed to the media in March, 2012 that Nigeria loses about 40 million metric tonnes of petroleum products amounting to about $20 billion (N3 trillion) to crude oil theft and illegal bunkering; while NNPC has publicly stated that it spent $1.2billion in the last ten years on pipeline repairs.
Further to the above, the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources had also stated at a media briefing in May, 2012 that the country was losing about $7billion annually to crude oil theft in Nigeria, at the rate of 180,000 barrels per day. Indeed, President Goodluck Jonathan has acknowledged the scale and seriousness of crude oil theft in Nigeria as being incomparable to anywhere else in the world, describing the occurrence as being cancerous to the nation’s economy.
The Ministry of Finance has taken a middle ground, stating theft claimed 17 percent of daily production nationwide in April. Overall, estimates of crude oil stolen or spilled reviewed by the Task Force ranged from 6 to 30 percent of production, with 35 percent claimed for one especially troubled area. Based on these estimates, the Task Force believes Nigeria could be losing over N1tn per year to crude oil theft.
The Task Force does not endorse any of the numbers it received as solely authoritative. The bases for many were unclear, and the decentralized, secretive nature of oil theft makes it difficult for any one party to know the full extent of losses. There is a lack of consensus on the actual loss, naturally public records are not satisfactory in this regard but it could actually be as high as 250,000 barrels per day closer to 10% of daily productions.
However, submissions to the Task Force on oil theft suggest that the problem needs immediate attention.
NNPC and oil company data shows dramatic recent rises in theft and sabotage. For example, Shell claims it found at least 50 tap points on its 90km Nembe trunk line in January 2011 alone. Shell submissions to the Task Force showed average total losses in its operational areas climbing from 10,000bpd in late 2009 to over 50,000bpd in March 2012. Chevron reports 29 tap points for the year so far, and claims volumes lost from its operations in Q1 2012 exceeded losses for all of 2011. The NNPC put its total losses from 2009 to Q1 2012 at over 20mn barrels.
It appears small-scale theft and illegal refining are also becoming more decentralized and wide spread, though losses from such practices remain relatively small compared with the more sophisticated large-scale theft rings. In one striking example of rising costs, NNPC data shows the value of stolen crude along the 60km Forcados-Warri refinery supply pipeline was 600 percent higher in 2011 than in 2010. Total losses were N60 billion from this pipeline alone’ or N1bn of oil stolen per km of pipeline.
These incidences of crude theft also delay realization of revenues by deferring production. Shell has declared force majeure on onshore liftings five times since early 2011, all reportedly linked to illegal bunkering. One December 2011 stoppage, allegedly caused by two failed pipeline taps, took a month to fix and deferred over 4 million barrels. Damage to infrastructure also causes long-term production deferments. Government data shows dozens of fields sabotaged before the amnesty still sit idle. Shell’s onshore output’ currently around 600,000bpd’ is barely half of 2005 levels. In Delta State, Chevron still produces one third less oil than it did in 2008…”
In its 178-page report, obtained by PREMIUM TIMES last night, the committee revealed how oil money in the custody of the NNPC were spent on extra-budgetary purposes such as the acquisition of a N2.23billion chopper for the president and a purported sponsorship of the World Cup.
In what appears a brazen misuse of public funds, the NNPC also gave out N700.5million in loan to Sao Tome & Principe based on instruction from the presidency. It also made a curious payment of N2.421billion to a foreign company, Royal Swaziland Sugar Company. The reason for the payment is unclear.
The Corporation also claimed to have underwritten a N521million expenses incurred by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources. This is in addition to the N250million the agency told the committee it spent on court cases involving the ministry.
The ministry has its own budgetary allocation and it is unclear why the NNPC is paying for its expenses. The nature of some of the expenses are also unclear.
The committee also found that the NNPC was being used as illegal lender to presidential committees, ministries and parastatals. For instance the corporation claimed it incurred about N20billion on the Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Safety and Security, based on instruction from the presidency.
The Ribadu committee also determined that about $1billion in signature bonuses, discrepancies in payment by the NNPC, and debts from oil companies were unaccounted for by the NNPC and the Department of Petroleum Resources.
Find table of missing money as documented by the Ribadu committee below.
Download full report of the committee below.
www.premiumtimesng.com/docs_download/Report_of_the_Ribadu_led_Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force 2012.pdf
Excerpts of the report
“…Theft of crude oil and refined petroleum products may be reaching emergency levels in Nigeria. The Task Force has received reports suggesting that volumes stolen have risen dramatically in the past 12-18 months. The Royal Dutch Shell Company, Shell in its presentation to the Task Force stated that an estimated 150,000 barrels of crude oil are stolen per day (about 6% of Nigeria’s total annual production) causing a revenue loss of $13.5 million per day (at $100 per barrel) which amounts to $5billion per year of lost revenue.
On the other hand, high ranking Officials and Executives in the Federal Government tasked with the management of the nation’s strategic Oil and Gas assets have several times stated the existence of large-scale on-going theft of Nigeria’s crude oil. This represents government acknowledgment of the magnitude of the loss. Mr. Leke Oyewole, a Senior Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Maritime Affairs, disclosed to the media in March, 2012 that Nigeria loses about 40 million metric tonnes of petroleum products amounting to about $20 billion (N3 trillion) to crude oil theft and illegal bunkering; while NNPC has publicly stated that it spent $1.2billion in the last ten years on pipeline repairs.
Further to the above, the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources had also stated at a media briefing in May, 2012 that the country was losing about $7billion annually to crude oil theft in Nigeria, at the rate of 180,000 barrels per day. Indeed, President Goodluck Jonathan has acknowledged the scale and seriousness of crude oil theft in Nigeria as being incomparable to anywhere else in the world, describing the occurrence as being cancerous to the nation’s economy.
The Ministry of Finance has taken a middle ground, stating theft claimed 17 percent of daily production nationwide in April. Overall, estimates of crude oil stolen or spilled reviewed by the Task Force ranged from 6 to 30 percent of production, with 35 percent claimed for one especially troubled area. Based on these estimates, the Task Force believes Nigeria could be losing over N1tn per year to crude oil theft.
The Task Force does not endorse any of the numbers it received as solely authoritative. The bases for many were unclear, and the decentralized, secretive nature of oil theft makes it difficult for any one party to know the full extent of losses. There is a lack of consensus on the actual loss, naturally public records are not satisfactory in this regard but it could actually be as high as 250,000 barrels per day closer to 10% of daily productions.
However, submissions to the Task Force on oil theft suggest that the problem needs immediate attention.
NNPC and oil company data shows dramatic recent rises in theft and sabotage. For example, Shell claims it found at least 50 tap points on its 90km Nembe trunk line in January 2011 alone. Shell submissions to the Task Force showed average total losses in its operational areas climbing from 10,000bpd in late 2009 to over 50,000bpd in March 2012. Chevron reports 29 tap points for the year so far, and claims volumes lost from its operations in Q1 2012 exceeded losses for all of 2011. The NNPC put its total losses from 2009 to Q1 2012 at over 20mn barrels.
It appears small-scale theft and illegal refining are also becoming more decentralized and wide spread, though losses from such practices remain relatively small compared with the more sophisticated large-scale theft rings. In one striking example of rising costs, NNPC data shows the value of stolen crude along the 60km Forcados-Warri refinery supply pipeline was 600 percent higher in 2011 than in 2010. Total losses were N60 billion from this pipeline alone’ or N1bn of oil stolen per km of pipeline.
These incidences of crude theft also delay realization of revenues by deferring production. Shell has declared force majeure on onshore liftings five times since early 2011, all reportedly linked to illegal bunkering. One December 2011 stoppage, allegedly caused by two failed pipeline taps, took a month to fix and deferred over 4 million barrels. Damage to infrastructure also causes long-term production deferments. Government data shows dozens of fields sabotaged before the amnesty still sit idle. Shell’s onshore output’ currently around 600,000bpd’ is barely half of 2005 levels. In Delta State, Chevron still produces one third less oil than it did in 2008…”
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