Nigeria Content Online

The People’s
Democratic Party (PDP) may have finally signed the code of conduct
prepared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for
the 63 registered political parties in the country. The PDP and 13
other parties had last week refused to sign the document because the
political parties said they were not allowed to make input into its
final draft before it was presented to them to sign. They also
protested some provisions of the code of conduct.

The national
secretary of the ruling party, Abubakar Kawu Baraje, had also explained
in a statement that its decision not to sign was based on INEC’s
refusal to carry the parties along while preparing the document.

But it was learnt
yesterday that the national leadership had finally drafted its input
into the document and sent it to the electoral body last week. A source
in the office of the national secretary told NEXT that Mr. Baraje
signed the document last Friday. The nature of the party’s input could
not be known immediately.

“Yes, we have made our input and sent same to the commission,” the source said yesterday.

The party’s spokesman, Ahmed Alkali, could not be reached for
comments, as he was said to be away with the party’s presidential
campaign team. When contacted, Emeka Nwakpa, the media aide to the
acting national chairman, Haliru Mohammed, merely confirmed that the
party has been in touch with INEC. He could not confirm if Mr Baraje
has finally endorsed the document. Kayode Idowu, the spokesperson of
the INEC chairman, said he would confirm with the commission’s acting
director of political party monitoring, Regina Omo-Agege, before
speaking with us on the matter. He promised to respond as soon as
possible, but did not as at press time.

President Goodluck
Jonathan yesterday announced the immediate lifting of the temporary ban
on mining of solid minerals in Zamfara State.

Speaking at a PDP
campaign rally in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, the President said
following consultations with the state governor, Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi,
the ban which was imposed following the lead poisoning in the state,
was no longer necessary.

Mr Jonathan who
indicated the interest of the government in investing more in solid
minerals development, noted that in the next four years, more jobs will
be created for youth in that sector.

“We will do more
to stabilise power here and encourage farming,” he said, noting that
Zamfara State has the potential of producing rice not only for local
consumption but also for export.

President’s plans for Zamfara

The President, who
promised that the state would have a federal university next year, also
assured of his administration’s commitment to fighting desert
encroachment and complete eradication of wild polio.

Mr Shinkafi while
thanking the President for the support in the provision of
socio-economic and physical infrastructure especially roads, assured
him of the total support of the 1.8 million registered voters in the
state during the presidential election on April 9.

During a courtesy
call on the Emir of Gusau, Mr Jonathan restated his commitment to the
peace and unity of the country. The President who holds two traditional
titles from Zamfara State, reiterated his plan to make a difference in
the next four years if given the opportunity by “building on the good
foundation laid by our founding fathers and to commemorate 100 years of
the amalgamation of Nigeria by 2014.” The Emir of Gusau, Muhammad Kabir
Danada, thanked President Jonathan for the promise of a federal
university for the state, he also prayed for his success at the
presidential election.

Judgment on the
tenure of the governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, was not
delivered yesterday, as the presiding judge of the Federal High Court
in Asaba, Justice Ibrahim Buba said he was not comfortable in the
courtroom.

The judge, who was
sweating profusely, said: “I cannot deliver judgment in this situation.
The court is not conducive; it is too hot.”

For three days now,
the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has failed to supply power
to Asaba metropolis. The lack of electricity led to unbearable
temperature in the courtroom. As at press time, it could not be
ascertained whether the court had no generating set or there was no
fuel to power it.

Justice Buba had,
last week, fixed his judgment for yesterday, having listened to the
arguments of the counsel to both parties in the matter.

Mr. Uduaghan is in court to seek explanation on the constitutional tenure of his administration.

His counsel, Alex
Iziyon had told the court that his client has a four-year tenure from
the day he was sworn in as the winner of the Court of Appeal ordered
re-run election.

He averred that the
court of appeal in Benin had ordered a fresh election and not a re-run,
when the court voided the election that produced Mr. Uduaghan in 2007.

He prayed the court to grant all the reliefs sought by Mr. Uduaghan.

However, Robert
Emukperuo, counsel to Mr. Great Ogboru whose petition ousted Mr
Uduaghan on November 9, last year, urged the court to discountenance
the reliefs, arguing that, “the plaintiff cannot from the 2007 election
have two tenures.” He further argued that “when a rerun is ordered, it
means the same election which cannot have two tenures”.

He also pointed out
that “the amended 1999 constitution commenced operation only on July
16, 2010, before the rerun was conducted under the amended constitution
and 2010 Electoral Act.”

On his part, Mr.
P.O. Wanogho, counsel to Mr. Omo-Agege’s who aligned with Mr. Ogboru’s
counsel, prayed the court to dismiss “without further delay,” Mr.
Uduaghan’s reliefs, including his originating summons.

He insisted before the court that the Electoral Act 2010 was signed into law the day Mr. Uduaghan was sworn in after the rerun.

Counsel to INEC,
Onyechi Ikpeazu, urged the court to quash Mr. Uduaghan’s originating
summon, arguing that “the Supreme Court had already made pronouncement
on a similar matter, involving Bielonwu and INEC.”

Mr Ikpeazu said the governor was sworn in under the new constitution and Electoral Act.

A boat travelling
from Creek Town in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State
to Calabar, the state capital capsized midway in its journey killing
all passengers on board. The 11 passengers were mostly women who were
conveying processed cassava (fufu) for sale.

Whereas 10 of the
corpses were picked up on the fateful day by local water divers, the
11th corpse of a lady is yet to be seen five days after the incident.
At the popular Volvo Market in Marina Beach, Calabar, the destination
of the unfortunate passengers, all the traders at the market were in
mourning mood when the news broke that the large size boat had capsized
and the goods they were expecting lost. The women almost on daily basis
transport foodstuff and other agricultural produce across the Calabar
River for sale in the Cross River State capital. It takes just 15
minutes to cross from either side and one and half hours on land using
an automobile.

Waiting in vain

A lady at the
market who gave her name as Atim told NEXT that they were awaiting the
arrival of their suppliers from Creek Town when suddenly a speed boat
showed up conveying the bad news which disorganised and sent all the
traders into mourning. “My brother, this is bad news for us. Each of us
here has a supplier of fufu and other food items from Creek Town. You
know Creek Town is a rural area.

They have various
foodstuff there which they ferry here for sale. This accident has
devastated all of us. These suppliers over the years have become like
our sisters and brothers. “We are feeling for them and the loved ones
they left behind. Let government investigate the cause of this accident
because this is one accident too many.”

The traders expressed shock at the frequent boat mishaps around that
area. “It’s like quarterly a boat on Calabar-Creek Town route must
capsize and kill all the passengers. Last year this time, the same
thing happened. We are confused”, she said. Some policemen at the
Marina police station confirmed the incident saying investigation into
its cause was on.

The American Transportation Security
Administration (ATSA), a transportation department of the United States
government, has commenced another phase of audit for two major
international airports in Nigeria.

The audit, which started at the Murtala
Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at the weekend, will run for one
week and will scrutinise the level of security and safety, as well as
check the fencing and fire tenders at the selected airports.

Sam Adurogboye, head of media for the
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), on Monday disclosed to NEXT
that auditors from the United States who audited the Lagos
international airport, will from today (Tuesday) commence a “thorough
auditing” of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja. “The three airlines
that fly from here (Nigeria) to the United States of America, which are
Arik Air, United Airlines, and Delta Airlines will be audited as well,”
he added.

“They (ATSA auditors) will also visit
agencies like the NCAA and FAAN (Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria)
for some information and for auditing.” Mr Adurogboye disclosed that in
May the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) will commence
a comprehensive auditing of the whole industry. For the records, the
ICAO and other transport institutions from the United States of America
(USA), like the United States Federal Aviation Administration (USFAA)
have intensified the auditing of international airports and airlines in
Nigeria since the country attained the much coveted Category One Status
which gives Nigerian registered airlines the wherewithal to fly
directly from this country to the United States.

“The audit by the ICAO comes up in May
this year and that one is very comprehensive for it will include
airlines, NAMA (Nigerian Airspace Management Agency), NCAA, FAAN, NCAT
(Nigerian College of Aviation Technology), NIMET (Nigerian
Meteorological Agency), and AIB (Accident Investigation Bureau),” he
said.

For now the audit by ATSA will focus more on the Lagos and Abuja international airports.

The feud between
Kano State governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, and his deputy, Abdullahi Tijani
Gwarzo took a different twist at the weekend with the deputy governor
declaring that the ruling All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the state
will be chased out at the April polls.

Mr Gwarzo who was
until four months ago an ANPP member, was allegedly denied the party’s
governorship ticket at the primaries by his boss which led to his exit
from the party to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Mr Gwarzo, who is
the ACN governorship candidate in Kano State, said his party is ready
to win the election. He told NEXT that despite the “incumbency factor”,
the ANPP will be defeated during the forthcoming polls because the ACN
has become very popular in the state. “ACN is very popular in Kano
State and the state has been revolutionised to ACN. We are going to use
the broom to sweep every place in Kano and we are going to emerge
victorious at the polls.” He declared. His defection came as a surprise
to many believe he will not part ways with Mr Shekarau and the ANPP.

Kano politics is volatile

But Mr Gwarzo gave
further credence to the assumption that Kano politics is volatile in
nature, by proving political analysts wrong. Within few weeks of his
defection, he injected a new lease of life into the ACN, which is now
fast gaining ground in the political landscape of the northern Nigerian
state.

The deputy
governor explained that his relationship with Mr Shekarau is still very
cordial despite both of them being in different political parties.
According to him, “government is different from politicking and we are
of different parties, but we are very much together.”

He emphasised that
improving education, agriculture, healthcare delivery and energy
generation will top his agenda if elected governor.

The Federal High
Court in Abuja has ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz
Ringim to pay a businessman, Muhammed Abubakar, N100,000 as damages for
unlawful detention and violation of his fundamental rights.

The court gave the
order on Monday in Abuja while ruling in a motion filed by the
applicant. Mr. Abubakar had filed a motion claiming that he was
detained by the police over allegations that he defrauded a Lebanese
woman of N9.5m in a contractual agreement on November 2, 2010.

The applicant’s
counsel, Okechuwku Okereke, filed the motion claiming that the
detention of Mr. Abubakar since November 3, 2010 till date was a gross
violation of the fundamental human rights of the applicant as provided
for in the 1999 Constitution.

The applicant
alleged that during his detention, the police tortured him into signing
a document stating that he had defrauded the Lebanese woman of the said
amount. He also alleged that the police forced him to sign an
undertaking that he was going to pay the money.

In his ruling,
Justice Abubakar Umar said the applicant’s arrest and detention to date
was unlawful and unconstitutional and ordered Mr. Ringim to release
without delay the applicant’s N1.5m, the amount in his possession when
he was arrested in 2010.

Mr. Umar said the police was wrong to have arrested and detained the applicant without arraigning him after 24 hours.

The Plateau State
Police Command has confirmed that five persons were killed in Kai
Village in Kura Falls in Barkin Ladi local government area when armed
militias invaded the village at about 9pm Sunday.

The police in a
statement, said the victims were of one family, adding “the deceased
include Iliya Bitrus, Marth Iliya, and Philip Bitrus.” According to the
bulletin, the other two are Kasia Iliya and Amazie Iliya.”

It added that
“nothing was stolen” and that “efforts are in top gear to apprehend the
fleeing suspects, as investigations into the case have commenced.”
Signed by the police public relations officer, Apev Jacob, the
statement also confirmed that on the same Sunday night, “Gohog village
in Vom district, Jos South local government area, was also invaded.” In
this case, the report claims one person, Douglas Jang, was killed while
37 cattle were rustled. “Efforts to trace and arrest the culprits are
on,” the report states further.

The state police
command has accordingly appealed that members of the public should feel
free to alert them of any suspicious movements.

“The command once
more reiterates its earlier appeal that members of the public should
always endeavour to volunteer information to security agencies on time
in respect of any movement of suspected persons in their domain for
appropriate action, as security business is a collective
responsibility.”

Reports, however,
revealed that the attackers were armed with guns and machetes. “At
about 2100 (2000 GMT), armed persons invaded Kai village, near Kura
Falls, and killed five people…similarly at the same time Gohog
village was also invaded, leaving one dead and 37 cattle rustled,” an
assistant superintendent, Apev Jacob, told reporters.

There have been
frequent clashes in villages around Jos since a series of bombs were
detonated during Christmas Eve celebrations in December, killing scores
of people.

Tensions are rooted in decades of resentment between indigenous
groups, who are vying for control of fertile farmlands and for economic
and political power, with migrants and settlers from the country’s
northern part.