American healthcare companies ‘bribe’ women to obtain mammograms

9:00 PM Health No Comments

IN what has been described as an innovation, hospitals and cancer centers in the United States of America are advertising “gifts” to women who go for mammograms.

The development began just before the Christmas period, and is fast gaining momentum as thousand of women take up the offers.

In Minneapolis, for instance, women aged 50-69, are to receive a $25 gift card if they get a mammogram. All they need do is fill out, sign and mail in a voucher from their healthcare provider.

The CentraState Healthcare System in New Jersey offers a similar programme to members who agree to get a mammogram. Women who agree to undergo the mammogram receive a $30 gift certificate towards a one-hour health spa session,and a one-week pass to the CentraState wellness center.

In Michigan, the Henry Ford Health System rewards women, with $20 gift certificates in exchange for getting mammograms. The approach is aimed at to convincing more women to get mammograms as part of an affirmative action-type programme to “eliminate the racial gap in mammogram screening.”

Health groups in Illinois, Wisconsin and many other places are offering rewards for compliance with the mammogram agenda.

In some hospitals, staff are encouraging local women to hold so-called “mammogram parties” for the purpose of persuading women get irradiated.

A mammogram is a special type of x-ray of the breasts. Mammograms can show tumours long before they are big enough to be felt. The process takes only a few seconds and it can help save lives from breast cancer.

However, scientific studies say mammograms are highly dangerous and a direct cause of breast cancer.The Lancet once published a study that showed mammograms offer absolutely no health benefits at all.

The development began just before the Christmas period, and is fast gaining momentum as thousand of women take up the offers.

In Minneapolis, for instance, women aged 50-69, are to receive a $25 gift card if they get a mammogram. All they need do is fill out, sign and mail in a voucher from their healthcare provider.

The CentraState Healthcare System in New Jersey offers a similar programme to members who agree to get a mammogram. Women who agree to undergo the mammogram receive a $30 gift certificate towards a one-hour health spa session,and a one-week pass to the CentraState wellness center.

In Michigan, the Henry Ford Health System rewards women, with $20 gift certificates in exchange for getting mammograms. The approach is aimed at to convincing more women to get mammograms as part of an affirmative action-type programme to “eliminate the racial gap in mammogram screening.”

Health groups in Illinois, Wisconsin and many other places are offering rewards for compliance with the mammogram agenda.

In some hospitals, staff are encouraging local women to hold so-called “mammogram parties” for the purpose of persuading women get irradiated.

A mammogram is a special type of x-ray of the breasts. Mammograms can show tumours long before they are big enough to be felt. The process takes only a few seconds and it can help save lives from breast cancer.

However, scientific studies say mammograms are highly dangerous and a direct cause of breast cancer.The Lancet once published a study that showed mammograms offer absolutely no health benefits at all.







Source - Vanguard news

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2015: There ‘ll be grave consequences for Nigeria if Jonathan runs

8:00 PM Politics No Comments

Apostle Johnson Suleman is the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministry, one of the leading new generation churches in the country today. The church located along the Auchi-Abuja road in Auchi, Edo state is another Mecca in Nigeria as people from all over the world throng the giant edifice to see him. As a result, it was not easy for Saturday Vanguard to track down the man of God for this interview due to his very busy schedule.

However, with sincere apologies, Apostle Suleman finally spoke to Saturday Vanguard at the Benin Airport, and as expected, he gave his 2013 predictions, saying that it will be disastrous for the nation if President Goodluck Jonathan decides to run for the 2015 Presidential election. Pastor Suleman who had in the past predicted the death of President Yar’Adua, disclosed that only eight governors will finish their tenure unless urgent prayers are made to save the situation. He spoke on his life and his views on the seeming trend by top Pastors in the country purchasing private jets. Excerpts:

How I received Christ 1992, December 24, I slept and I woke up December 26. I did not see the Christmas Day, I slept all through the Christmas Day. And when I woke up, I was actually wishing people happy Christmas but they were looking at me, telling me it was actually a Boxing Day. I was taken aback because I felt I saw the Christmas Eve and how come I did not see the Christmas Day.

I started remembering dreams I had of heaven and hell and of God calling me to become a preacher. Prior to that time, two years before that encounter, I was already a Christian in 1990 but I was scared to be a Pastor because of the so much stigma associated with Pastoring at that time. So for the call , I did not see December 25 1992 and that was the encounter that I had of God giving me a warning that I had no other choice than to do his work. That was the major encounter I had that made me become what I am today.

Life as a cultist in school
It was a normal one though I was doing some secret evil that my parents did not know. My father was surprised when he heard that I started smoking when I was in primary school. My parents were strict. My mum is a retired police officer while my Dad is a retired politician. They were very strict. But I found out that sometimes when you are too strict on children, they device means to break laws. That was what happened in my case. It was just the normal juvenile delinquency of the Nigeria youth.

I was not living a good life before I became born again. I was a cultist in the higher institution. I was actually leading a sect in school then. The only thing I never did was to kill or rob. I am saying this publicly so that people who are cultists will know that there is nothing there. I did every other thing that a young man will do but I never partied. I was always a shy person, and that is why I am even surprise that I am a Pastor today because I am always shy in the crowd.

I have never gone to any party in my life. I love doing my things quietly and forget it. I started my higher education at the Auchi Polytechnic and did my PHD in UNIBEN. I actually studied Mass Communication in Auchi. When I was in school, I was academically sound despite my bad boy attitude. I had a lot of women around me because they know I was very intelligent in school. I was SUG President, then class Rep.I have always excelled in my academics because that was one thing my parents were able to imbibe in me.

Finding a wife


My wife was my enemy. She was some body I never liked, she was too quiet but I felt she was a pretender. To make matters worst, she was my neighbour in our street. She was so quiet and reserved and I did not like that. I felt she couldn’t be that pretty and say she didn’t have relationships with men. I never liked her honestly. But some how, one thing led to another and today we are married with four kids.

Secret behind the success of my Ministry I measure success with how many lives I have affected. I will say I am successful when I have affected the last person on earth. Presently, we have been able to move on and carry on just by the grace of God. God gave me the right team. I have loyal pastors who are educated.All my senior Pastors are graduates and it has helped us to bring their secular knowledge to play.

It has been wonderful and we thank God. Why all my predictions have come true Well, I know I always wait upon the Lord, like every year I go on 40 days fast three times. I spend at least five hours every day studying and praying. But all of that is not what really brings the anointing. The gift of God is embedded in you by the anointing. When the anointing of God comes upon you, the gift of God is embedded in you and it is this gift of God that propels you to see things and say them. Like I said, all my predictions have come to pass. I predicted the death of President Yar’Adua.

When I predicted that, some top Pastors in the Ministry said I was lying. I learnt some of them went there to pray for him and when God gave me the date of his death, my life was threatened, people came after me. But finally it came to pass. You see, when revelations of God come, what people should do is to find out how to redeem themselves when it is negative and when it is positive, you thank God for that. We live in a generation people just get political when prophecies come. Some people get upset and start chasing the man of God. This is God speaking through a man and we should understand that there is nothing personal about that.

But people have this perception that some of you top Pastors belong to one cult or the other where you get your powers. What is your take on that?

That is the African belief but if you go to America and God uses you, they appreciate God. Africans are used to their traditional institutions, they are used to occultism, they are used to the Dark Age. It is their way of life, so if they see any thing that is spectacular, they ascribe it to the devil. Now don’t totally write it off because some Pastors have gone occultic. Some Pastors have gone satanic, some have gone materialistic.

There are Pastors today who are busy amassing wealth. I don’t know what a Pastor is doing with an Aircraft. I don’t know what a Pastor is doing with fifty cars. I read the success of any Minister by how successful those around him are; his ability to disburse what comes his way. God is going to bless you, once God is using you, he must bless you. But you must be able disburse that wealth. Genuine success through prosperity is to give back to the society. When you give back to the society, that is when you are truly successful.

Talking about being materialistic, we have observed Pastors buying private jets and building schools; they are really wealthy in the society but their members are dying in poverty?

The truth is that some of these Pastors in fairness have really done a lot for the less privileged. We can never do enough but you can do a lot because there is still one less privileged person out there that needs to be reached. It is not possible for the soap factory to make sure that every body gets neat every day, but what they can do is to affect the ones they can affect and enlighten the ones they can enlighten. Most Pastors also have really taken it up as a challenge to touch the lives of the less privileged.

But some of them have not. When a Pastor has spent many years in the Ministry and now owns an air craft, I have no problem with all of that. What I have a problem with is this pursuit to prove to the world that you have arrived. You are going to pay the pilot, the crew members, maintain the aircraft, it cost a lot of money. That is my worry with people in that category.

Advice for President Jonathan One major thing that I will say now is that people should be careful not to be crazy about power. One good thing that I will advise President Jonathan is that he should not contest for the 2015 presidential election. And if prayers are not made, if we don’t pray, I see only eight governors completing their tenure. We should pray because with prayers, a lot of things can be averted but if we don’t pray, we will see eight governors only completing their tenure. What God wants to focus on this year is to reward politicians with their sins.

The Agricultural sector is going to receive a great boost this year. We have natural disasters coming up. I have a revelation last November that there will be attempt on the life of President Obama. I saw an African President being laid to rest and I saw Nigerian flag flying half mast. We need to pray for President Jonathan, if he goes ahead to contest there will be trouble. Abacha’s wife left the villa without Abacha, Yar’Adua’s wife left the villa without the husband, if Jonathan goes to contest, some thing very grave may happen.

Those who are pushing him now, they want to destroy him. I am not saying this out of any personal animosity. I am saying this now because it can be averted.

He should seek counsel. I love him but destiny has to be taken very sacrosanct. So I believe that if he asks for counsel, people can help him not to run for the Presidency in 2015.







Source - Vanguard news

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Strengthen tourism sector, FG urged

5:27 PM Business, News No Comments

Lagos – Some tourism experts have urged the Federal Government to strengthen the sector to increase its contribution to the economy.

In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday, the experts applauded some of the milestones recorded by the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Mr Olugbenga Adebayo, the Managing Director, Gadeshire Travel and Tours Ltd., Abuja, noted that the Federal Ministry Culture and Tourism had been playing its role effectively. “The sector is blessed enough to take over the economy of the country from other sectors,” Adebayo said.

Similarly, Mrs Wanda Ibru, the Managing Director, Pathways Tourism Development Initiative, Port Harcourt, also noted that the sector was blessed with resources and the potential to sustain the economy. “The ministry should put in place structures that will position the sector to take over from other sectors because we have the resources, the land and the potential for the country to rely on.

“With all these potential and resources, there should be nothing stopping the government from developing the tourism sector,” she said. Mr Segun Adeshina, the Director, Lagos School of Travels and Tourism, said that it was possible for tourism to be the nation’s revenue base. “Before this could be achieved, a lot still needs to be done to reposition the sector.

“The government should assist to create a good atmosphere for tour operators, hoteliers, airlines and travel agencies to survive,’’ Adesina said. He expressed optimism that the sector would had the capacity to increase the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (NAN)

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Edo guber poll: Oshiomhole floors Airhiavbere at S-Court

5:00 PM News, Politics No Comments

…As court declines to okay probe of his certificates

There was wild jubilation in different parts of Edo State Friday, as youths, market women throng the streets of Benin City and Auchi, celebrating the judgment of the Supreme Court, which upheld the ruling of the Edo State Election Petition Tribunal, striking out the issue of the educational qualification of Governor Adams Oshiomhole as a pre-election matter, thus making the matter technically dead.

Youths including Okada riders (commercial motorcyclists) chanted victory songs round the streets of Benin in convoy, appealing to Oshiomhole to go for presidency after his tenure as Governor of Edo state, as according to them, the impact his administration in the state would never be forgotten.

The state Deputy Governor, Dr Pius Odubu, described the judgment as victory for democracy just as the Esogban of Benin Kingdom and chairman of the Benin Forum, Chief David Edebiri, declared that “the oracle has spoken again, no body can doubt the Oracle, not even Airhiavbere.”

PDP Stakeholders in the state in a statement signed by Chief Aisulimhen Ighodaro, called for the expulsion of Airhiavbere for “disobeying the decision of the party not to contest the result of the election in the court” even as the VANGUARD for a Better Edo, VFBE, has also hailed the Supreme Court for setting aside the ruling of the Appeal Court which ordered the fresh hearing of General Charles Airhiavbere’s petition arising from the July 14 governorship in Edo State by the Election Petition Tribunal.

The Executive Director of the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, Rev.David Ugolor, also said that “through this judgment, the judiciary has once again shown to the people that they are not just the defender of the ordinary man, but also the protector of the ordinary man”.

The Supreme Court yesterday declined to order the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Benin City, Edo State to probe the authenticity of the governor’s educational qualifications.

A seven-man panel of justices of the apex court in their unanimous judgment, upheld two separate appeals that were filed before them by Governor Oshiomohole, challenging the verdict of an Appeal Court sitting in Benin which ordered retrial of the petition querying his primary and modern school qualifications.

*Oshiomhole and Airhiavbere

The gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the July 14, 2012, governorship election in Edo State, General Charles Airhiavbere, rtd, had said that Oshiomhole was not qualified ab-initio to contest both the 2007 and 2012 elections on grounds of his academic qualification as provided for in the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.

According to him, the certificates he (Oshiomohole) used to secure clearance from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, were bogus.

Specifically, the PDP flag-bearer claimed that Oshiomhole only tendered a Modern School Leaving Certificate without a primary School certificate, which he said going by the constitution, did not qualify him to contest the election.

He told the court that the modern school certificate the Edo state Governor presented on oath to INEC was discovered to be fake.

Meanwhile, though the Tribunal led by Justice Suleiman Ambrusa, had in a judgment it delivered on September 27, dismissed the contention of the petitioner as baseless, however, the appellate court, on November 15, 2012, maintained that the PDP candidate’s application had merit and should be heard afresh (de-novo).

Besides, the Tribunal which comprised Jusices Ambrusia, Esor Teetito and Danlami Senchi, was eventually dissolved in October, 2012, based on a petition by lawyers representing Airhiavbere, even as a new penal was constituted to hear the matter afresh.

Meanwhile, querying the legal propriety of the Appeal Court verdict, Oshiomohole, through his team of lawyers led by Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, told the Supreme Court that Airhiavbere did not specifically plead the issue of his qualification in the substantive petition pending before the Tribunal.

Oshiomhole argued that the appellate court erred in law by deciding on an issue not pleaded by the petitioner, adding that having struck out the two principal reliefs that were sought before the tribunal, case of the PDP candidate ought to have terminated.

He further urged the apex court to take cognizance of the fact that the petitioner merely challenged results in five out of 18 local governments in Edo state, noting that PDP which sponsored Airhiavbere, honourably withdrew from the petition considering that it was “hopeless” and “lifeless.”

In his response however, Counsel to Airhiavbere, Chief Efe Akpofure, SAN, urged the apex court to dismiss the appeal and affirm the judgment of the lower court.

While refuting claims that his client only challenged results in five local government areas, Akpofure, said the tribunal never held that there was no ground to sustain the allegation that Oshiomhole was not qualified to contest the elections.

He argued that the fact that non qualification was not made a separate ground on the petition was not a sufficient basis to hold that there was no ground in the pleadings to sustain the allegation that Oshiomhole was not qualified.

More so, he said the tribunal had found that the allegation of Oshiomhole’s non qualification was raised in the pleading but held that it was a pre-election matter.

In its judgment yesterday, the apex court upheld Oshiomohole’s arguments, adding that having gone through the entire processes filed in the matter, it was satisfied that the only issue for the determination of the Tribunal bothered on allegation that the election was conducted in substantial non-compliance to the Electoral Act and constitution.

In the lead judgment by Justice Bode Rhodes -Vivour, the Supreme Court maintained that the PDP candidate, in his appeal, failed to formulate any ground in relation to alleged non-qualification, adding that the only issue for the Tribunal to decide was encapsulated in paragraph 30(1) of the petition.

While remitting the case back to the Tribunal, the apex court held that the “appellate court lacked the constitutional powers to make a case for the petitioner.”

Meanwhile, National Assembly members from the state in the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, including Senator Ehigie Uzamere, Samson Osagie,Rasaq Bello Osagie and Pally Iriase, have hailed the judgment, saying that Edo people never doubted the educational qualification of Oshiomhole.

However, addressing a large crowd of people who were celebrating the victory, the Deputy Governor, Odubu said, “We want to thank God Almighty for making it possible. If you recall, our very first outing at the Tribunal, I told the whole world that the petition is dead on arrival. What has happened today is just a confirmation of what we already knew that the petition was just wishy-washy.

“First the oracle spoke, they did not believe. Now God has spoken through the Supreme Court loudly and clearly. The Supreme Court ruling today said the issue of qualification is not the ground of the petitioners petition. What that means is that the petitioner is left with the issue of electoral malpractice at the lower Tribunal. But if you were at the tribunal yesterday you will discover that the petitioner has abandoned the issue of malpractices.

“So what remains for the Tribunal now is to give the petition befitting burial. The case is dead and buried. We were confident from the beginning and we know justice will be done. Airhiavbere lost his unit, lost his ward, lost his Local Government and how do you expect such a person to win governorship.We thank God.”

On his part, Chief Edebiri, stated that “The judgment is what every good minded Nigerian expected because the Appeal Court ruling came as a surprise to many people. We thank God that the Supreme Court in its usual style has given hope to many people who have lost hope in our system. We now wait patiently for the Tribunal’s ruling which will come like that of the Supreme Court because what they have there now is a carcass. The Oracle has spoken again”.

In its reaction, the PDP stakeholders said “Arhiavbere’s unilateral decision which was at variance with that of the party at the national and the state levels is not only curious, but also shows that Airhiavbere is not a good party man, he holds the PDP in contempt.”







Source - Vanguard news

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Nollywood bids farewell to Enebeli Enebuwa

4:54 PM Entertainment No Comments

Eyes popped on the streets of Lagos as Segun Arinze coordinated the traffic. Onlookers waved at Charles Okafor. Cars stopped, not for traffic lights but to gaze at Joseph Benjamin. Celebrities walked the streets, because Enebeli Elebuwa now walks in the land of the dead. A bitter-sweet-celebration formed the candle light procession organised in honour of the departed veteran actor by the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN). The procession commenced from Masha bus stop, in Surulere and terminated at the National Stadium complex amid grief.

The parade included the high and mighty in the movie industry. They included the incumbent president of AGN, Miss Ibinabo Fiberesima, Segun Arinze, Joseph Benjamin, Monalisa Chinda, Rita Dominic, Uche Jombo, Okey Bakassi and Charles Inojie. Others were Yul Edochie, Halima Abubakar, Yaw, Richard Mofe-Damijo who represented Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Zack Orji, Stephanie Okereke, Julius Agwu among other celebrities.

*Procession for late Enebeli

The event was anchored by Okey Bakassi. Despite the mood of the gathering, there seemed to be an underlying excitement in the air, as onlookers watched with keen interest. At the stadium, the celebrities took turns to pay their last respect to their senior colleague.

AGN President, Ibinabo, sang songs of praises to God, just as the deceased’s family made a brief remark about the departed actor.

What many would consider as the highpoint of the evening was Stephanie Okereke’s farewell address to Enebeli.

Invited by the compere, emotion-laden Steph, representing the big girls in Nollywood knelt down with tears rolling down her cheeks, as she cried out, “Lord, we would not bury anyone again this year, we declare every sick person healed today in Jesus name. ”

Soon, it was the turn of ace-comedian, Julius Agwu, who sang soul-rendering songs that moved everyone in the gathering as he reeled out the names of all the departed Nollywood actors, including Enebeli.

In her speech, AGN president advised Nollywood practitioners to be more conscious of their health, explaining the need for them to embrace the health programme of the guild by simply registering with the sum of N1,000. It was a night of celebration of the life and times of Enebeli Elebuwa who died last December, in India.







Source - Vanguard news

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Oshiomhole’s allegations on Oyerinde unfounded –IG

4:46 PM News No Comments

Inspector- General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar

Inspector- General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar has dismissed as unfounded the allegation by Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State that the police was shielding the killers of his private secretary, Olaitan Oyerinde.

The IG said on Friday that he would respond to the governor’s allegation at the appropriate time and in “due course.”

During the launching of a new code of conduct for the Nigeria Police on Thursday, Oshiomhole had accused the Deputy Inspector-General, Force CID, Peter Gana and other investigating officers of bungling the investigation into Oyerinde’s murder, adding that the police had a hand in the gruesome murder of his former principal secretary.

Although Oshiomhole said he was aggrieved over the shoddy handling of the case by the police, he praised the State Security Service for arresting the actual suspects that had committed the crime.

“IG, you know that I am aggrieved; I am aggrieved over the murder of my Private Secretary and the way in which it was trivialised. The DIG Force CID has a case to answer. It is either he is guilty of conspiracy to murder or is guilty of conspiracy to shield murderers or both. Whatever be the case, he cannot continue to wear his police uniform. He must be dismissed,” the governor had said.

But, when asked to respond to Oshiomhole’s allegation and demand on Friday, Abubakar dismissed the accusations as baseless and unfounded, adding that the police would respond to the issues at the appropriate time.

“In the first place, this case is in court and it may be subjudice if I comment on it. But we are going to respond to that comment at the appropriate time because he (Oshiomhole) made allegations that are unfounded,” the IG said.

After a meeting with senior police officers on the new Police Code of Conduct, the IG said the meeting was called to have a detailed assessment of the code, which he said would form the basis of police operations and conduct while on duty.

He directed the senior officers to organise seminars for their subordinates from the divisional level to the zonal level on the code, stressing that every officer must abide by the code.










Source - Punch news

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Two Katsina senators, eight Reps may lose seats

4:39 PM News, Politics No Comments

National Assembly building, Abuja
| credits: File copy

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday said the Independent National Electoral Commission lacked the power to withdraw the certificate of return issued to any candidate declared the winner of an election by its returning officer.

Justice Gladys Olotu gave the judgment in a suit filed by some candidates of the Congress for Progressive Change in Katsina State in the April 2011 elections, who are challenging the withdrawal of their certificates of return by INEC.

Justice Olotu held that by Section 68(1) and 75(1) of the Electoral Act 2010, the electoral body cannot revise its action when a certificate of return is issued to a winner of an election, without an order of a tribunal or a competent court of jurisdiction.

The judge held that INEC acted ultra vires by withdrawing the certificates of return issued to two CPC senators and eight members of the House of Representatives.

It also faulted the subsequent issuance of fresh certificates of return to the fifth to 14th defendants in the suit.

INEC, the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Clerk of the National Assembly, CPC and the concerned 10 members of the National Assembly, who benefited from the withdrawal of the initial certificates of return issued to the plaintiffs, were listed as defendants.

The plaintiffs had asked the court to nullify the certificates of return INEC issued to Senator Abubakar Sadiq Yar’adua, Senator Abubakar Sirika and eight other members of the House of Representatives, and also order the lawmakers to vacate their seats in the National Assembly.

Although the court agreed with the plaintiffs that INEC’s action was illegal, it did not give any consequential order concerning the fate of the plaintiffs and the defendants, who replaced them in the National Assembly as a result of INEC’s action.

Justice Olotu said, “The plaintiffs are the candidates that contested and won the April 9, 2011 general elections into the National Assembly to represent their various federal constituencies and senatorial districts of Katsina State and certificates of return were issued to them within seven days of the declaration of the election results as provided by the Electoral Act and not the fifth to 14th defendants.”

The plaintiffs had in their suit asked the court for a declaration that the sealed certificates of return issued to them upon their winning election into the National Assembly are still valid and that they are entitled to immediately repossess their seats in the National Assembly to represent their respective constituencies and senatorial districts without hindrance from the defendants or any other person.

In an affidavit in support of the originating summons, they averred that INEC purportedly withdrew their certificates of returns and a fresh ones were issued to the defendants without any order of any court of competent jurisdiction.

They further averred that, pursuant upon fresh certificates of return, the defendants were sworn in to take their various seats in the National Assembly without any court order to that effect.










Source - Punch news

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Sack Oni, Mustapha now, Kashamu urges Tukur

4:36 PM News No Comments

PDP National Chairman, Dr Bamanga Tukur
| credits:

Businessman and financier of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Prince Buruji Kashamu, has urged the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, to immediately implement the various court judgments nullifying the election of two national officers from the South West.

Kashamu also said Friday’s judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja which sacked the party’s National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, had further established the validity of earlier decisions of the various courts which declared the Chief Adebayo Dayo-led state executive as the only authentic and legally recognised executive of the PDP in Ogun State.

The factional PDP leader, who was reacting to the judgment, told our correspondent that Tukur should use the opportunity to sack Oyinlola; the National Auditor, Bode Mustapha; and the Vice Chairman, South West, Mr. Segun Oni, from the offices they currently occupy.

Kashamu said, “This (judgment) is very good. Oyinlola was removed as governor of Osun State because of such illegalities. It was this same attitude he exhibited as the party’s national secretary.

“He has been working against the rule of law concerning Ogun PDP by opposing the legally recognised Adebayo Dayo-led state exco.

“Tukur (PDP national chairman) should seize this opportunity to throw him (Oyinlola), Bode Mustapha and Segun Oni out of office because the courts have nullified their positions. The rule of law has prevailed in the case of these sacked national officers of the party.”







Source - Punch news

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Nigeria sends air force team, commander to Mali

4:35 PM News No Comments

The federal Government has sent an air force technical team and the commander of a planned African-led force to Mali to assist the country’s military as it battles Islamists, a presidency spokesman said Saturday.

The confirmation of Nigerian military personnel on the ground comes after French air power helped Mali mount an offensive against the Islamists who control the country’s north and who have been seeking to push further south.

However, it was not yet clear when a planned 3,000-strong African-led force could be sent despite 15-nation west African bloc ECOWAS giving its go-ahead on Friday for the immediate deployment of troops.

The Islamists’ advance in Mali has raised fears that the country could provide a safe haven for Al Qaeda-linked extremists, posing a threat to the region as well as Europe and beyond.

Nigeria has the largest military in the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States, but it is also battling an insurgency by Islamist extremist group Boko Haram at home in its northern and central regions.

“The technical staff from the Nigerian air force are already on the ground in Mali,” Nigerian presidency spokesman Reuben Abati told AFP. “They are not fighters; they are technical staff.”

He added the commander of the planned African-led force, a Nigerian, was also in Mali.

A Nigerian defence spokesman had earlier said the country had not sent any troops to Mali. Abati maintained the statement was “factually correct to the extent that the Nigerian troops are not yet on the ground. The foot soldiers are not yet there.”

The Nigerian air force team was there to “assess infrastructure, to provide back-end support and to help maintain the Malian air force,” Abati said.

He did not have further details on their activities, including when they were deployed, how many air force staff were there and how long they would remain.

Nigerian troops would later be deployed as part of the planned African-led force that has been approved by the UN Security Council, he said. Abati could not provide numbers, but Nigeria has previously spoken of sending 600 troops.

Battle ready soldiers to be deployed to Mali…

The UN Security Council has approved the 3,000-strong force, but it is not expected to be ready to deploy before September.

Mali’s army said Nigerian and Senegalese forces were involved in Friday’s offensive against the Islamists which was backed by French air power. Dakar has denied having any troops there.

Friday’s offensive saw Mali and French air power unleash a counter-attack against Islamist fighters, recapturing the central town of Kona after it had been lost to the rebels as they advanced south from their northern strongholds.

French President Francois Hollande confirmed that French forces were supporting the Malian offensive aimed at repelling the Al-Qaeda-linked radicals.

While he gave no indication of the scale of French involvement he said it would last for as long as necessary.

US officials meanwhile suggested they might support the French action there with surveillance drones and aerial refuelling tankers.

Mali’s army is considered too weak to tackle the Islamist groups who seized the north last year, taking advantage of the power vacuum created by a coup in Bamako.







Source - Vanguard news

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N750m polynotes contract scam: Soludo granted bail, travel documents seized

4:27 PM News No Comments

After many hours of interrogation by its operatives, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, admitted the former Central Bank Governor, Prof Charles Soludo, to administrative bail Thursday night.

But the former Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Anambra State was asked to report back to the anti-graft agency on yesterday morning for further questioning. It was not clear if the renowned economist honoured the invitation after being asked to go home.

Also, the Imo State Finance Commissioner, Deacon Okafor John and Accountant General, Haeche-George, who were arrested over alleged N45 billion loan from Zenith Bank and diversion of local government funds were granted bail.

A source in EFCC confirmed the granting of administrative bail to the former CBN boss on certain conditions, which he did not elaborate.

One of the conditions for granting him temporary freedom was that he should surrender his diplomatic and international passports to the EFCC and to produce two sureties who should not be below the rank of permanent secretaries or directors in the Federal public service.

The source said, “Yes, it is true Soludo was released on bail around 9pm on Thursday but was asked to report back on Friday morning.

“We will continue to invite him for interrogation as the need arises since it is an ongoing investigation,” the official said.

Asked to explain the whereabouts of the other officials of the CBN and NMPCN, who were arrested along with Soludo, the source said that the other suspects were arrested and interrogated at different times, adding that they had made useful statements to the commission.

The source said he could not say what were taken away from the former CBN executive but that certain conditions were attached to his administrative bail.

*Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, former CBN governor

Soludo was picked up from his Abuja residence on Thursday by operatives of the EFCC over his alleged involvement in the printing of polymer banknotes contract scam amounting to N750 million.

But Saturday Vanguard gathered authoritatively that Soludo’s arrest followed a strong petition by a group known as Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) in May 2012, calling on the Commission to investigate the controversial contract awarded by the former CBN boss for the printing of polymer banknotes.

HEDA had alleged wrongdoing by Soludo and other Nigerian officials in the purported banknote printing and alerted the security agencies to arrest and prosecute all those involved in the multi-million Naira scam.

The petition had drawn the attention of the anti-corruption agencies to the fact that the firm that reportedly got the job from Soludo admitted paying some N750 million in bribes to some officials of the CBN between 2006 and 2008 in order to secure the contract to make polymer notes for Nigeria, channeling the bribes through two British businessmen.

Soludo, a former President and some finance ministry officials were mentioned by the group as the beneficiaries of the graft.

I was not arrested by EFCC— Soludo

Former Governor of the Central Bank (CBN) Professor Chukwuma Soludo has disclosed that he was not arrested by the Economic and

Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as was published in some national dailies yesterday.

Soludo said he was invited by the EFCC to make clarifications on some issues on a matter under investigation.

According to a statement from Soludo’s media office dated 11th January 2013, the former CBN Governor voluntarily went to the EFCC office to honour the Commission’s invitation.

The statement which was signed by Bonaventure Melah said Soludo was neither arrested nor escorted to EFCC office by operatives of the Commission as was reported.

“We want to put it on records clearly that the media reports that Professor Chukwuma Soludo was arrested by the operatives of the EFCC in Abuja is totally false or to say the lease written in error.

“The fact of the matter is that the EFCC wrote a letter to Prof. Soludo inviting him to their Abuja office on the 10th of January 2013. EFCC’s invitation letter to Prof. Soludo was dated 20th December 2012.

“Prof. Soludo was abroad attending to several international engagements when the letter was sent to his aides. As a law abiding citizen of the country, Prof. Soludo returned to Nigeria in the New Year and honoured EFCC invitation on January 10th as requested. He voluntarily went from his home to EFCC office on Thursday. He was neither arrested nor escorted by any operative of the Commission.

The EFCC letter of invitation to Soludo states that “This Commission is investigating a case in which the need to obtain certain clarifications from you has become imperative.”

“It was a two- paragraph letter with also indicated date and time for the meeting between Prof. Soludo and officials of the Commission,’ the statement added.







Source - Vanguard news

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Court sacks Oyinlola as PDP National Secretary

4:23 PM News, Politics No Comments

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the removal of the National Secretary of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, from office forthwith.

The court sacked Oyinlola yesterday and asked that he be put in prison for criminal disobedience of court order, following a suit against him by the party chieftains in Osun State.

The state chapter of the PDP led by its Chairman and Secretary, Chief Adebayo Dayo and Semiu Sodipo, had in their suit, alleged that Oyinola emerged as the national scribe of the party through a kangaroo process they said was perfected by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former National Vice Chairman, PDP South West, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo.

They argued that in view of two separate judgments of a Federal High Court in Lagos that nullified the South West Zonal congress which produced Oyinlola as candidate, his continued stay in office was illegal, null and void since his candidacy had earlier been voided.

According to the plaintiffs, “something cannot be built on nothing.”

*Oyinlola

Counsel to the plaintiffs, Dr. Amaechi Nwaiwu, SAN, had formulated three questions for determination by the court among which was: “whether the candidacy of Oyinlola as a nominee of the South West Zonal Chapter of the PDP and his consequent election to the office of National Secretary at the National Convention in March 2012 were not invalid, null and void by reason of the order and judgments of the Federal High Court made respectively on April 27, 2012 in suit no FHC/L/CS/282/2012 and May 2, 2012 in suit no FHC/L/CS/347/2012 nullifying the South West zonal congress of March 2012 from which Oyinlola emerged or ought to have emerged?”

Besides asking the court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to delete Oyinlola’s name from its records and replace same with another candidate that will emerge from a fresh zonal congress to be ordered by the court, the plaintiffs, further sought “a declaration that the candidacy of Oyinlola as a nominee of the South West Zonal chapter of the PDP and his consequent election to the office of National Secretary in March 2012 were invalid, null and void by reason of the order of the said Federal High Court on April 27, 2012.

In an affidavit deposed to by one Miss Abimbola Okuwoga, an assistant in the chambers of Nwaiwu, the plaintiffs told the court that Oyinlola was foisted on the party by ex-President Obasanjo, consequent upon which he (Oyinlola) was unanimously elected on the understanding that he was the nominee of the South West.

They said: “however, the South West Congress conducted on March 21, 2012 was nullified by the order and judgment of the Federal High Court on April 27 and another on May 2, 2012 on the ground that it violated a Federal High Court order of February 16, 2012.

“That the failure to properly nominate Oyinlola at the said congress was fatal to his candidacy.”

They further maintained that the PDP however, refused to comply with the various prohibitory and mandatory orders of courts of competent jurisdiction by allowing Oyinlola to remain in office, an action they said was capable of ridiculing the judiciary.

Oyinlola and the PDP had in separate preliminary objections, urged the court to dismiss the suit on the ground that it bothered on internal affairs of a political party which they said was non-justiceable, even as they challenged the locus-standi of the plaintiffs to institute the action.

Arguing that the suit did not disclose any reasonable cause of action, Oyinlola, further challenged the jurisdiction of the high court to entertain the matter.

In his judgment yesterday, Justice Kafarati, held that Oyinlola was not fit to continue in office as the National Secretary of the PDP, saying, his action amounted to a criminal conduct capable of attracting prison sentence for flagrant disobedience to subsisting court orders.

Kafarati then ordered Oyinlola to vacate the office, adding that, there was merit in the suit.

According to Justice Kafarati, Oyinlola, the third defendant in the case could not have emerged as the nominee of the PDP in view of the two subsisting court orders restraining the South West zone of the party from conducting the congress where he purportedly emerged.

The judge who relied on the provision of section 251(R) of the 1999 constitution insisted that he had jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter, noting that an order of a court must be obeyed whether valid or not, adding that any action taken by Oyinlola as the National Secretary of the PDP amounted to nullity.

Dismissing the contention of the defendants that the subject matter of the suit bothered on internal affairs of a political party, Justice Kafarati, said the suit did not arise from an activity of the PDP but aimed at enforcing a valid court order.

He said: “It is my opinion that the plaintiffs have the locus-standi to institute this action and I hold that the suit disclosed a reasonable cause of action. Therefore, the two preliminary objections filed by the second and third defendants are hereby dismissed. The election of the third defendant (Oyinlola) was a breach of valid court orders. All the three questions raised by the plaintiffs are hereby answered in the affirmative and reliefs four and five are granted as prayed.”







Source - Vanguard news

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Toxic waste: Containers re-loaded, as ship awaits clearance to sail

4:20 PM News No Comments

In compliance with the directive by the Federal Government that the ship, M.V. Marevia loaded with two containers of e-waste be shipped back to its country of origin, the vessel was Friday re-loaded with its deadly cargo and waiting for clearance to sail back to the United Kingdom.

The vessel however completed the discharge of other containers which did not contain toxic materials before it was re-loaded to commence its departure from the country.

The Minister of Transport. Senator Idris Umar who visited Berth Four, Tin-Can Island Container Terminal, TICT, located at the Tin-Can Island Port to get first hand information of the situation on the matter from officials of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, made this known in Lagos yesterday.

Some of the ship’s content being examined.

Umar was informed that the NESREA was awaiting clearance from its head office in Abuja before it could clear the vessel to leave the Nigerian shores.

Umar had assured that he would connect NESREA Director General, Dr. Ngeri Benebo to get current details to enable the ship embark on its return journey.

However, a source close to the Tin-can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, told Saturday Vanguard that the officials of NESREA who conducted the examination yesterday morning had visited the Customs Area Controller, Tunji Aremu; earlier yesterday to brief him on the outcome of their examination.

Public Relations Officer of the Command, Chris Osunkwo, confirmed to Saturday Vanguard that officials of NESREA actually visited his boss but could not say the reason for the visit.

The Director General of NESREA, Dr. Benebo told Saturday Vanguard at about 3pm that she was in a meeting and promised to call back later.

The Director General was called again at 4pm, 5pm and 5.30pm respectively but she declined comments, saying she was in front of the Minister’s office to brief the minister on the issue and requested Saturday Vanguard to call back again, no matter how late.

But, reacting to the situation, the immediate past President of Nigeria Institute of Shipping, NIS, Sir Caleb Okoye, said it would be difficult to stop the importation of such toxic materials because there were several dubious business men who would always try to cut corners to make huge profit and advised security agencies to be vigilant to prevent such goods from coming into the country.

Okoye explained that the shipping companies can not be blamed over the importation of toxic waste because they they only rely on what the owner of the goods declare.

He further pointed out that the international convention to which Nigeria was a signatory does not allow for the detention of vessel unnecessarily and therefore asked government not to detain the ship more than necessary.







Source - Vanguard news

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INEC has no power to withdraw Certificate of Return, says Court

4:15 PM News No Comments

A Federal High Court in Abuja, Friday, held that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, lacks the constitutional powers to withdraw Certificate of Return issued to any person affirmed as the winner of an electoral contest by its returning officer.

Justice Gladys Olotu who made the declaration while delivering judgment in a suit that was filed before the high court by a faction of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, in Katsina state challenging the withdrawal of their Certificates of Return by INEC, maintained that going by Section 68(1) and 75(1) of the Electoral Act 2010, the electoral body cannot reverse its action when a Certificate of Return is issued to a winner of an election, without an order of a tribunal or a competent court of jurisdiction.

The judge held that INEC acted ultra-vires its powers by withdrawing the certificates of return issued two CPC Senators and eight members of the House of Representatives in Katsina State and subsequently re-issued fresh ones to other candidates.

Specifically, the plaintiffs had prayed the court to nullify the Certificates of Return that INEC issued to Senator Abubakar Sadiq Yar’adua, Senator Abubakar Hadi Sirika and eight other members of the House of Representatives, as well as, order that the lawmakers vacate their seats in the National Assembly forthwith.

CPC Leader, Buhari and INEC Boss, Jega

Listed as defendants in the suit were INEC, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Clerk of the National Assembly, CPC and ten members of the National Assembly.

Besides, Justice Olotu yesterday declared that INEC lacks the power to cancel, nullify, review, withdraw, void, invalidate either directly or indirectly, the Certificates of Return validly issued to the Plaintiffs consequent upon their winning elections to represent their respective Federal Constituencies and Senatorial Districts in Katsina State, without an order of the court first sought and obtained.

According to the judge, “the Plaintiffs are the candidate that contested and won the April 9, 2011 general elections into the National Assembly to represent their various Federal Constituencies and Senatorial Districts of Katsina state and Certificates of Return were issued to them within seven days of the declaration of the election results as provided by the Electoral Act and not the 5th to 14th Defendants.”

The Plaintiffs had asked the court for a declaration that the sealed Certificates of Return issued to them upon their winning election into the National Assembly are still valid and that they are entitled to immediately repossess their seats in the National assembly to represent their respective Federal Constituencies and Senatorial District without hindrance from the 2nd (Senate President), 3rd (Speaker) or 4th (Clerk of the National Assembly) Defendants or any other person.”

In an affidavit in support of the originating summon, they averred that INEC purportedly withdrew their Certificates of Returns and fresh ones were issued to the 5th to 14th Defendants without any order of any court of competent jurisdiction.

They further told the court that pursuant upon fresh certificates of return, the Defendants were sworn-in to take their various seats in the National Assembly without any court order to that effect, pointing further that the Defendants to whom fresh certificates of return were issued did not participate in the April 9 2011 elections.

However, on a Preliminary Objection, the Defendants argued that the matter was a post election issue which they said ought to be handled by the election petition tribunal and not the federal high court.

The defendants also challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear and determine the suit, contending that section 68(1) of the Electoral Act automatically terminated the seats which the Plaintiffs allegedly occupied in the National Assembly.

Nevertheless, Justice Olotu held that the court has jurisdiction to hear and determine the suit, maintaining that the action was not hypothetical, academic and constituting an abuse of court process as claimed by the Defendants in their preliminary objections.







Source - Vanguard news

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2013 Africa Cup of Nations Team Profile: Nigeria

12:00 PM Sports No Comments

Africa Cup of Nations profile of the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

AFCON HISTORY

Best Performance	Winners - 1980 & 1994
Champions	1980 & 1994
Runners-Up	1984, 1988, 1990 & 2000
Third Place	1976, 1978, 1992, 2002, 2004, 2006 & 2010
Fourth Place	None

HOW THEY QUALIFIED

Nigeria qualified for this tournament by defeating Liberia 8-3 on aggregate in October. The Super Eagles missed out on qualifying for the 2012 tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea for the first time in 26 years. They returned to the continental competition with an emphatic victory over the Lone Stars after a shaky two-legged encounter against Rwanda. Former captain and present coach Stephen Keshi is hoping to rebuild a side that would emulate his 1994 championship-winning team.

THE COACH | STEPHEN KESHI

                         
Stephen Keshi took over the reins as coach of the Super Eagles in November 2011 after the team failed to qualify for the 2012 Afcon, the first time in 26 years. He took over the job at a time when the side was low in confidence and started by getting players from the local league to play a greater part in the national team.

A year on, Keshi has been able to merge the technical skills of the Europe-based players with the enthusiasm of the local players. They have combined well to form a new Super Eagles that the country is beginning to place its hopes in again. Leading his third team to the Afcon - following stints with Togo and Mali - Keshi will be hoping to finally win his first Afcon game. His experience garnered as a player where he led the Eagles to victory in 1994 will be needed to inspire this Nigerian side to great things in South Africa.

THE CAPTAIN | JOSEPH YOBO

                       
Defender Joseph Yobo took over the skipper's armband from Nwankwo Kanu after the shambolic 2010 World Cup where Nigeria bowed out in the group stage. Yobo has brought a calmness to the backline, even though he has been dogged by persistent injuries in recent times.

The Fenerbahce defender, who became the most capped player in his country's history, has already won three bronze medals at the Afcon. In South Africa, Yobo will be hoping to finally win the coveted trophy in order to justify the length of time spent in the country's service.

THE STAR PLAYER | JOHN OBI MIKEL

                          
Mikel has had a chequered history in the service of his nation but the midfielder returned to the national team with a goal in their last qualifier against Liberia. If there's any player that Nigeria will be looking to for inspiration at the Afcon, Mikel will surely be on the top of the list.

The Chelsea man has won almost every title in club football. Mikel can be the catalyst to a new era of domination for the Nigerians if he gives to the men in Green and White as much as he gives to the Blues in English Premier League action.

THE EMERGING TALENT | VICTOR MOSES

                          
Victor Moses could have been lost to the Three Lions and many of his country men are happy that he finally came back home after representing England's youth teams. The 22 year-old played a key role in the Super Eagles' qualification series and chipped in a brace in the final 6-1 demolition of Liberia in Calabar.

His move to Chelsea in the summer of 2012 has made him more visible on the international scene and he will be looking to confirm his billing at the 2013 Afcon. His pace and dribbling skills are his assets. Joined by compatriot Ahmed Musa on the wings, the starlet will hope to emerge as one of the stars in South Africa.

PROBABLE LINEUP

(4-3-3)
EnyeamaOboabona, Yobo, Ambrose, Echiejile
Igiebor, Mikel, Nwankwo
Musa, Emenike, Moses

Source: goal.com

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