James Ibori


Agha Ibiamin London with agency reports
The former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, Thursday lost an appeal before a London court for a reduction in his jail term following his conviction for money laundering-related offences.
Justice Anthony Pitts of the Southwark Crown Court had sentenced Ibori last year to a 13-year jail term, after he had pleaded guilty to charges that he embezzled £50 million during his eight-year tenure as governor of the oil-rich state.

Ibori’s legal team had based its argument for a reduction in his 13-year jail term sentence on some purported promise by Justice Pitts that he could sentence Ibori to a jail term of not more than 10 years if he pleaded guilty to the charges filed against him.

However, the Court of Appeal dismissed the argument, saying the promise was not emphatic enough to support the plea.

There was a mild drama in the case as a team of the Court of Appeal justices previously empanelled to hear the appeal was changed at the last minute.

The justices, led by Lord Justice Brian Henry Leveson, who were previously scheduled to hear the appeal were replaced on Wednesday by a new panel of justices, which presided over the case yesterday.

Lord Justice Antony Edward-Stuart, who led Lord Justice Treacy and Peter Collier QC in the ruling, held that Justice Pitts’ promise of a lower sentence for Ibori could not be relied on for a successful appeal as it was not “emphatic enough”, according to agency reports of the court proceedings.

He said even though Ibori’s counsel had “legitimate expectations” based on Justice Pitts’ insinuations of a 10-year sentence, the Southwark Crown judge did not emphasise or commit to a 10-year jail term for Ibori if he entered a guilty plea.

 He ruled that there would be no need for a long trial of the appeal as the justices had already familiarized themselves with the grounds of the appeal and had read the submissions of both sides.

After the counsel had addressed the court briefly, the judges retired into the chamber and came back some 15 minutes later to deliver their judgment.
Justice Edwards-Stuart, in rejecting the argument, said a money laundering offence should attract close to the maximum 14-year sentence.

Ibori in February 2012 had pleaded guilty to 10 charges of fraud and money-laundering offences.
His case was heard in London after prosecutors argued that although much of the fraud was perpetrated in Nigeria, some money passed through Britain and British banks.

During his trial, the London court was told how the proceeds of the fraud were used to buy six foreign properties and a fleet of cars, although the judge said the total amount stolen might in fact be “in excess of 200 million pounds”.

The biggest single fraud involved misappropriating $37 million in fees when under Ibori, Delta State’s stake in V-Mobile, the precursor to one of Nigeria’s telecoms companies, Airtel Nigeria Limited, was sold and the funds diverted.

Eligible for parole halfway through his jail term, Ibori is likely to be released from prison in three-and-a-half years, having served one year since his conviction, a year beforehand while awaiting trial in London, and a year in Dubai from where he was extradited to Britain.

Despite the court’s rejection of Ibori’s appeal, the former governor is still expected to appear in person at the Southwark Crown court for a three-week confiscation of assets hearing starting on September 16, 2013.

Battle Of First Ladies Rd 2: Turai Yar’Adua Defeats Patience Jonathan

Nigeria’s former First Lady, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua on Thursday floored incumbent First Lady Patience Goodluck Jonathan as Justice Peter Affren of the Abuja High Court set aside the purported revocation by the FCT administration of a land measuring about 1.84 hectares allocated to Turai’s non governmental organization, Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation, WAYEF.

The court held that the claims by the FCT Minister that the land was revoked on an overriding public interest was not supported by any shred of evidence before the court. It further held that the initial letter of offer issued Turai’s organization by the Minister remains valid and subsisting.

“The defendants failed woefully to adduce any shred of evidence before this court to support their claims that the allocation of the land was revoked on overriding public interest. There is no overriding public interest in this issue. The allocation made to the plaintiff who is a vocational training centre was in public interest and in line with section 28 (1) of Land Use Act”

The court faulted the FCT Minister’s exercise of his powers in revoking the plot of land allocated to Turai’s organization, noting that the exercise of that power to revoke allocation of land must come within the confines of the law.

Delivery of the court’s judgment was adjourned by the court several times to enable Mrs. Jonathan and Hajia Turai Yar’Adua reach a negotiated settlement but all to no avail.

The disputed land, plot no. 1347 Cadastral Zone AOO, Central Business District, Abuja, FCT, was initially allocated to Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation, WAYEF, while Mrs. Yar’adua was First Lady, but the FCT Minister, Mr. Bala Mohammed, revoked the allocation for what he described as “overriding public interest” and re-allocated it to Mrs. Jonathan for the building of African First Lady Peace Mission Headquarters on 2nd of November, 2011.

Mrs. Yar’Adua complained that the land allocated to WAYEF on 19 February 2010 was being trespassed upon by Mrs. Jonathan and got a court order dated in 2012 restraining the First Lady from affecting WAYEF title and interest over the land.

Those joined as co-defendants in the suit are the FCT Minister, the Abuja Geographic Information System, AGIS and the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF.

Turai, on behalf of her organisation, WAYEF, is asking for N1.5 billion as general damages, N100 Million as exemplary damages, N100 Million as aggravated damages in addition to N261 Million already paid for Certificate of Occupancy as well as N454 Million paid for building designs.

WAYEF’s lawyer, Mr. Adamu Ahmed Ibrahim, observed that while it appears that the Ministry of Justice may be interested and committed to a settlement, their terms and what they offer says otherwise.
According to the lawyer, the land being offered by the FCTA was a much smaller parcel of land than the one purportedly acquired from WAYEF for Mrs. Jonathan.

As part of the moves to get a negotiated settlement, the Federal Capital Territory Administration had offered WAYEF Plot. 1838 Cadastral Zone AOO Abuja measuring 6119.29 square meters as replacement plot. While another plot 1839 was also proposed to be in favour of the African First Lady Mission, measuring 6100.51 square meters The said Plot nos 1838 and 1839 are subdivided from plot 700 CBD Cadastral Zone AOO, Abuja.
The court however did not grant Turai’s demand for monetary damages.

Head of the legal unit of the FCT Administration, Mrs. Ima Akpongete, while reacting to the decision of the court indicated that the FCT will appeal the decision and argued that the minister exercised the power of his office accordingly in revoking the allocation and reallocating it to First Lady’s Peace Mission.
PM News

FG Illegally Withdrew N1.04 Trillion From Special Funds Account In 10yrs- Senate

Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Ahmed Lawan (ANPP, Yobe State) submitted the committee’s finding in a report on the status inquiry into the SFA, which was presented at the floor of the Senate.

Thea report detailed the various withdrawals made by the federal government from SFA.

The report said N1.5 trillion was accrued to the Special Funds Account as at June 30th 2012 out of which the sum of N580 billion were released as loans which have not been paid several years later.

The report also showed that several beneficiaries of the funds utilized the funds for other purposes other than what the funds were created for.

The Special Funds Accounts were initially established to mitigate peculiar areas of needs in the country in 2002.

The funds were intended to tackle erosion and other ecological problems, provide funds to develop alternative mineral resources and provide for unforeseen contingencies and economic downturn.

The Accounts, managed by the Federal Government, comprises the three per cent Development of Natural Resources Account, 1.46 per cent Derivation and Ecology Account, and 0.72 per cent Stabilisation Account.

According to the report, N1.51 trillion accrued to the SFA as at June 30, 2012, from figures obtained from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF). Out of the amount, N1.23 trillion was recorded as total payments to beneficiaries from the account, the report said.

The report also shows how N750 million was released for frivolities such as the development of Abuja Downtown Mall and N10 million released for building an abattoir in Bida, Niger state.

Other loans granted from the funds are: N3.4 billion to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to purchase a chancery in Tokyo, N12 billion loans granted to Ghana and Sao Tome and Principe in 2004 and 2007 as well as N309 million granted to the inspector general of police for purchase of vehicles for UN peace keeping operations in Haiti in 2006, N16.2 billion loan granted to the Directorate of Pilgrim Affairs.

In other infractions, the report noted that N5.7 billion loan was granted to the Ministry of Power and Steel in 2005 for the payment of severance package to disengaged steel workers.

Similarly, in October 2007, the Ministry of Finance also withdrew N10 billion for the payment of arrears of monetisation benefits owed Federal Government parastatals.

The senate consequently directed its committee on Public Accounts to investigate further the utilization of the funds in the special funds account and report to the senate within four weeks.

GREAT DAMAGE; Baga, Odi, Zaki Biam, and the Nigerian Armed Forces,

In every military operation the ability of a National Army to enforce the rules of engagement as stipulated not just by the military COC but the Geneva convention would mark that military as honourable and worthy of protecting the civilian population. We do not seems to have learnt from the misadventure in Odi Bayelsa State and Zaki Biam

in Katsina-Ala local government, Benue State. Baga is another dark side in the history of our armed forces, until commanding officers are made to answer to crimes committed in operations, court marshalled openly and made to pay for crimes, we will continue to witness unlawful use of methods that is only fit for rag tag rebel armies in failed states.

It is also wrong to suggest that the Commander in Chief Goodluck Jonathan would order the men and women in our armed forces to start burning and destroying homes. True the counter terrorism mechanism employed so far is not bringing in the desired result and Nigerians have a right to be angry and disillusioned, but it is in our interest for both the ruling party and the opposition to stop making political capital of the misfortune of the past few weeks, those who gain are the terrorists who deserve to be brought to justice by every lawful means.

My comment will not go down well with some of my friends but Esprit de corps does not include keeping quiet in the face of a dysfunctional military, rank and file would only commit atrocities if commanding officers look the other way and approve of same.

I still strongly believe that the only way out is to smoke Boko Haram out, but smoking out in military terms even in Urban warfare should first come with winning the confidence of the civilian population, burning homes (Even if they are made out of bamboo) is not a way to win people over, combat conducted in urban areas such as towns, hamlets and villages must involve the best of commanding officers, backed with a CLEAR STRATEGY and with officers who have the skills and the intelligence not to fall into being drawn into battles that would lead to a high number of civilian causalities, on the operational and tactical level, we have failed the very people we are meant to protect both in Odi, Zaki Biam, Baga and many more places. the presence of civilians and the complexity of the urban terrain should be factored in.

I have always suggested and writing to the high command for the need to embed interested war correspondents and human rights observers in non dangerous combat sectors, including providing them with access to areas where outcries are raised about extra judicial use of power. Denying them access would mean we have SO MUCH TO HIDE. My 56 page memo of 2010 is still languishing probably in the dust bin of DHQ.

Boko Haram kills more Nigerians than the men and women of the armed forces, but even one innocent Nigerian mistakingly/knowingly killed by a military maintained by the Nigerian people is a betrayal of TRUST.

Nigerian Armed forces uniform should radiate HOPE when civilian population see us in battle, we have done it in other parts of the world. Nigeria should not be any different.

We should also not forget that the actions of a minority is not a reflection of the Nigerian Armed Forces. Government should not take it lightly, may the soul of all victims REST IN PEACE.

PROMOTING THE RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE BENUE PEOPLE

Benue State possdances. Traditional dances from Benue State have won acclaim at national and international cultural festivals. These dances include Ingyough, Ange, Anchanakupa and Swange among the Tiv, and Anuwowowo and Odabaru among the Idoma. The Tiv kwagh-hir theatre provides memorable entertainment in its dramatization of Tiv folklore and social commentary.

The socio-religious festivals of the state are equally famous. The Alekwu ancestral festival of the Idoma for instance, is an occasion when, it is popularly believed the ancestors emerge from the spirit world to reestablish contact with the living in forms of masquerades.

Marriage, funerals and other rites of passage provide occasion for rich displays of the people's cultural heritage.

Fishing festivals and communal hunting expeditions are colourful and memorable social events among various communities. The Igede Agba (a new yam festival) and the Ujo festival are the most important social occasions among the Igede and Igumale/Agila people respectively.

Kwagh-Hir
The first organized state-wide kwagh-hir competition festival dates back as far as December 1981 and was initiated by the then Chairman of the Benue State Council for Arts and Culture, Dr. Iyorwuese Hagher, a university professor.

Among the Tiv speaking people of Benue State of Nigeria the word "kwagh-hir" literally means the folktale or simply something magical. It is a unique form of theatre in the generic concept of folktales told in traditional societies all over the world. Folktales are told in virtually all societies all over the world with trickster characters like the rabbit, or the tortoise or the cat dominating their plots and playing unassailable roles. The objectives of these folktales and stories are not only to entertain young children at bedtime but to also teach some morals on contemporary issues. The kwagh-hir theatre is therefore an enactment of the Tiv folktales. Since the Tiv people are good hunters, their stories and imaginations are full of bush animals (Nyam). Some of the episodes of the kwagh-hir feature highly imaginative forms of wild beasts that dance to the melodious tunes of the humans. Tiv folktales are not only told about animals, but spirits (Azov) and puppets (Eev) as well.

Spirits in the world-view of African societies are a reality. Africans believe in the existence of the spiritual world of various people made by the Almighty God, lesser gods, good spirits, evil spirits and ancestors. In fact, human beings who live virtuous lives and die at a ripe old age transform into the state of ancestors who must be appeased anytime a social occasion is to start. In the imagination of the Tiv kwagh-hir theatre, spirits manifest in many fantastic forms performing various activities as are carried among human beings.

What perhaps distinguishes the kwagh-hir theatre from any other theatre in theous human activities with a view to making comment or teaching morals in the Tiv society.

In essence, the kwagh-hir theatre is a unique fusion of the human world, the spiritual world, the animal world and the world of fantasy. All these characters share common music and instrumentation, common beliefs, common world view and common virtues. Although the kwagh-hir performance may not have a single plot as in formal drama, each enactment has its own characters, action and message existing independently.

THE TYPICAL HISTORICAL BACK GROUND OF THE TIV AND BENUE PEOPLE AT LARGE

Benue State as it exists today is a surviving legacy of an administrative entity which was carved out of the protectorate of northern Nigeria at the beginning of the twentieth century. The territory was initially known as Munshi Province until 1918 when the name of its dominant geographical feature, the ‘River Benue’ was adopted.

As an administrative unit, Benue State was first created on February 3, 1976. It was one of the seven states created by the military administration headed by the late General Murtala Mohammed, which increased the number of states in the country from 13 to 19. In 1991 its boundaries were adjusted with the creation of Kogi State. The new Benue State of today has twenty (23) local government areas, which are administered by local government councils.

Location

Benue State lies within the lower river Benue trough in the middle belt region of Nigeria. Its geographic coordinates are longitude 7° 47’ and 10° 0’ East. Latitude 6° 25’ and 8° 8’ North; and shares boundaries with five other states namely: Nassarawa to the north, Taraba to the east, Cross-River to the south, Enugu to the south-west and Kogi to the west. The state also shares a common boundary with the Republic of Cameroun on the south-east. Benue has a population of 4,780,389 (2006 census) and occupies a landmass of 32,518 square kilometers.

State Capital

Makurdi, the state capital was established in the early twenties and gained prominence in 1927 when it became the headquarters of the then Benue Province. Being a river port, it attracted the establishment of trading depots by companies such as UAC and John Holt Limited. Its commercial status was further enhanced when the Railway Bridge was completed and opened in 1932. In 1976, the town became the capital of Benue State and presently serves also as the headquarters of Makurdi Local Government Area.

Climate

Based on Koppen’s Scheme of Classification, Benue State lies within the AW Climate and experiences two distinct seasons, the wet/rainy season and the dry/summer season. The rainy season lasts from April to October with annual rainfall in the range of 100-200mm. The dry season begins in November and ends in March. Temperatures fluctuate between 23 - 37 degrees Celsius in the year. The south-eastern part of the state adjoining the Obudu-Cameroun mountain range, however, has a cooler climate similar to that of the Jos Plateau.

People

The state comprised of several ethnic groups: Tiv, Idoma, Igede, Etulo, Abakpa, Jukun, Hausa, Akweya and Nyifon. The Tiv are the dominant ethnic group, occupying 14 local government areas, while the Idoma and Igede occupy the remaining nine local government areas.

Most of the people are farmers while the inhabitants of the riverine areas engage in fishing as their primary or important secondary occupation. The people of the state are famous for their cheerful and hospitable disposition as well as rich cultural heritage.

Traditional Rulers

The Benue State Government accords high respect to traditional rulers in recognition of their role as custodians of culture and as agents of development. Also, their roles in enhancing peace and order at the grassroots level are also recognized. In order to enhance their contribution to the affairs of the state, government has established a three-tier traditional council system made up of Local Government Area Traditional Councils, Area Traditional Councils and the State Council of Chiefs with the Tor Tiv as Chairman. more>>

Mineral Resources

Benue State is blessed with abundant mineral resources. These resources are distributed in the Local Government Areas of the state. Of these mineral resources, only limestone at Tse-Kucha near Gboko and Kaolin at Otukpo are being commercially exploited. more>>

Natural Resources

Benue State is the nations acclaimed food basket because of its rich agricultural produce which include yams, rice, beans, cassava, potatoes, maize, soya beans, sorghum, millet and cocoyam. The state also accounts for over 70% of Nigeria's soya bean production.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, engaging over 75% of the state farming population. The State also boasts of one of the longest stretches of river systems in the country with great potential for a viable fishing industry, dry season farming through irrigation and for an inland water highway.

The vegetation of the southern parts of the state is characterized by forests, which yield trees for timber and provide a suitable habitat for rare animals. The state thus possesses potential for the development of viable forest and wildlife reserves.

Culture

Benue State possesses a rich and diverse cultural heritage which finds expression in colourful cloths, exotic masquerades, supplicated music and dances. Traditional dances from Benue State have won acclaim at national and international cultural festivals. The most popular of these dances include Ingyough, Ange, Anchanakupa, Swange and Ogirinya among others.

STANBIC IBTC LAY OFF 250 STAFFS and VISAPHONE SACKS 60

Yesterday, lay off 60 of their staff nationwide and Stanbic IBTC also fired 250 of their staff. The sack take effect from today, May 1st, 2013, which happens to be workers day.


The sack by Stanbic IBTC cut across all levels, from management staff to lower staff. From source, the bank will still sack more staff before the end of this year.

The people affected in Stanbic IBTC are full staff employees as the bank intends to make its major workforce 20% permanent and 80% contract staff.

 Why are Nigeria Companies Laying off their workers even when they know there is no job in Nigeria. We ave so many graduates out there looking for jobs and yet those that have are losing theirs.