Nigeria Content Online

Nigeria’s problems
after 50 years of nationhood rest on failure of the leadership, the
Itsekure of Benin Kingdom, Nosakhare Itsekure, has said.

The chief, who
spoke in Benin City, said apart from the late Murtala Mohammed, who was
murdered in 1976, Nigerian leaders have failed in taking the country to
the pinnacle of its dreams.

He said the only
thing to celebrate as the country marks 50 years of independence is the
fact the country has remained one indivisible entity despite its myriad
of maladministration, leadership recklessness and political corruption.

Mr. Itsekure,
renowned for his outspokenness and struggles during the days of the
military juntas, said both military and political leaders have looted
the country dry.

He noted that the
country as it is today was not the dream of its founding fathers,
regretting that democracy has been hijacked by selfish politicians who
see politics and governance as a means of acquiring wealth

He lambasted the
political class and the parties for lacking ideology on how to move the
country forward as practiced in developed countries.

The only way
forward, he said, is for the youth of the country to take their own
destiny into their hands by insisting on accountability and
transparency in government.

Governors’ messages

Meanwhile, the
governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, has congratulated the people
of the state and other Nigerians on the occasion of the nation’s
anniversary, saying the people should focus on the positives rather
than lament the failures of the past.

“On the occasion of
the 50th anniversary of the attainment of Independence by Nigeria, I
join the good people of Edo State and other Nigerians to celebrate this
milestone in the annals of the nation,” he said.

“Despite the
seeming challenges facing the nation, there is a lot to celebrate as
the country remains one indivisible entity despite having passed
through many trials, including a civil war. While there is no doubt
that the nation could have developed far better that it is now, I urge
the good people of Nigeria to focus on the positives as the challenges
facing the nation are surmountable.”

Ogun State
governor, Gbenga Daniel, asked Nigerians to count their blessings,
recommit themselves to national development, set new goals and work to
actualize the immense potentials of the nation.

In a press
statement made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, Mr Daniel said despite
the failures of the past and the challenges of the present, Nigeria
remains one indivisible nation with promising prospects, stressing
further that the fact that democracy has endured for 11 unbroken years
was another sign of progress and a reason to celebrate fifty years of
nationhood and thank God for his mercies.

Following the
recent appointment of new General Officers Commanding the various
Divisions of the Army, the new General Officer Commanding 81 Division,
Nigerian Army, Kenneth Minimah has assumed command.

Mr Minimah, a
Brigadier General, was born on July 27, 1959, at Minimah in Opobo
Kingdom in Rivers State, and joined the cadet training in 1979 as a
member of 25 Regular Course. He was commissioned on December 18, 1981,
into the great Infantry corps.

Mr Minimah has
attended 13 courses, including the 81mm Mortar, Jungle Warfare and
Combat Survival, Young Officers Course Infantry, Basic Airborne Course,
Advanced Airborne Course, Junior and Senior Division Staff Courses, the
National War College. He has held several appointments, including
Commanding Officer, 149 Infantry Battalion, Directing Staff, Armed
Forces Command and Staff College and Colonel Administration, 82
Division Nigerian Army. Outside Nigeria, Mr Minimah was the Commanding
Officer, Nigeria Battalion 2, United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone,
Commandant Depot Nigerian Army. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History
and International Studies and Masters in Strategic Studies and is a
recipient of the Forces Service Star, Meritorious Service Star,
Distinguished Service Star, the passed staff college dagger and fellow
of the war college.

Notable amongst his
achievements with the Nigerian army is the first Nigerian Armed Forces
officer of the rank of Brigadier General to jump from the aircraft as a
highly respected Jump Master. He has commanded the Infantry Battalion
in peace, for peacekeeping and in war.

He is happily married to Mrs Felly Minimah and has two sons and a daughter.

Julius Berger Ltd
was handed a reprieve yesterday after the Federal Government withdrew
all charges against the construction giant in the ongoing Halliburton
bribery scandal.

The Attorney
General and Minister of Justice, Bello Adoke who confirmed this
yesterday said a secret agreement had been reached with the
construction firm.

This adds another
twist to the ongoing saga and comes less than a month after a Federal
High Court judge, David Okorowo, disqualified himself from hearing the
$180 million Halliburton scam.

Mr. Adoke told
journalists yesterday in Abuja that following media reports, the
federal government has had to effect amendments to the charges brought
against certain persons in connection with the matter.

“After a further
review of the investigation reports as well as the totality of evidence
available, I have approved the request of the prosecution team that the
charges against the Julius Berger parties be withdrawn,” he said.

“Consequently, the Julius Berger parties have entered into an agreement with the FGN.”

Secret deal

Mr. Adoke said
whilst the agreement is subject to confidentiality, “the Julius Berger
parties entered into the agreement on the basis of no admission of
liability, culpability or guilt.” He added that Julius Berger Nigeria
Ltd will institute a scheme of corporate compliance monitoring to
improve and strengthen its internal controls and mechanisms for a
period of two years.

Furthermore, the
minister said the company will publicly affirm and restate its
commitment to the dictates of good corporate citizenship through
advertorial messages in electronic and print media outlets with
national coverage. “Julius Berger Nig Ltd will make an ex-gratia
payment to the Federal Government.” He also said he was confident that
the terms of settlement and release agreement are prudent and practical
taking into account the available evidence and the potential hurdle of
the evidentiary burden of proof.

“As a corollary,
let me add that the FGN intends to file a civil action against
Halliburton Corporation in the United States to seek compensation and
restitution within the next 14 days.” However, Mr. Adoke refused to
take further questions from journalists and dashed to his office
immediately after the briefing.

At the last hearing
of the case, the government’s counsel, Olu Fatunde, informed the court
that he had yet to serve the suspects with court processes.

Mr. Okorowo said
the matter could not be mentioned if the suspects were not in court and
had not been served yet, and sent the case file to the chief judge for
re-assignment to another judge and adjourned the suit, pending when it
is assigned.

“I have no jurisdiction to entertain this matter,” declared Mr. Okorowo.

History

Several foreign
companies, most notably the U.S. oil and gas giant, Halliburton, are
accused of paying bribes worth millions of dollars to high-ranking
government officials during the process to award the contract for
Africa’s first liquefied natural gas plant in 2002 and 2003.

The suspects
include some of the nation’s most powerful people, but Mr. Adoke
assured Nigerians that the trial would be conducted without bias, as it
would boost President Goodluck Jonathan’s anti-corruption credentials
as the 2011 elections approached.

Suspects expected
to be arraigned are George Mark, the former personal assistant to
ex-president, Olusegun Obasanjo ; Ibrahim Aliyu, a former federal
permanent secretary; Hans George Christ; Heinrich J. Stockhausen;
Julius Berger Nigeria Plc; Bilfinger Berger GMBH; AVM Abdullahi Dominic
Bello; Mohammed Gidado Bakare; Urban Shelter Limited; Intercellular
Nigeria Limited; Sheerwood Petroleum Limited; Tri-Star Investment
Limited; Maizube Holdings Limited; TSKJ Nigeria Limited – (a) Technip
S.A.; (b)Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V.; (c) Kellog Brown and Root Inc.;
(d) Japan Gasoline Corporation of Japan.

One of the
daughters of the Emir of Lafia has been found less than 48 hours after
she was abducted from the grounds of her father’s palace. Hadiza
Mustapha Isa Agwai was found in the early hours of Thursday,
disorientated but unharmed.

According to a
source, the 22-year-old was abducted on Tuesday after being coerced by
a group of men masquerading as commercial motorcyclists. The details of
the kidnapping are still unclear but it is believed that Miss Agwai was
just returning from work when she was taken.

The Secretary to
the Lafia Emirate, Hudu Aliyu Mailafiya, revealed in a telephone
interview with NEXT that the Emir’s daughter was found at exactly 5am
on Thursday in a confused and bewildered state. He added that although
that she was not speaking lucidly, she managed to reveal that her
assailants took her to a bush somewhere near Nasarawa Eggon, about 30
minutes away from Lafia.

Her account also revealed that her abductors had other people in their custody, one of whom was killed in her presence.

Miss Agwai was
unavailable for further comment, as investigations showed that she had
been immediately taken to the State Security Service head office in
Lafia for a debrief. Mr Mailafiya explained that she was taken in for
questioning to enable the security agents get some more leads on her
captors.

When NEXT visited the office of the SSS in Lafia, we were denied access to the Emir’s daughter who was still in their custody.

Mr Mailafiya however assured that as soon as she was released from
questioning, he would make sure that a press briefing is arranged so
that Miss Agwai can give full details of the abduction.

Pope Benedict XVI
has congratulated Goodluck Jonathan, the federal government and all
Nigerians on the occasion of our country’s 50th Independence
Anniversary celebrations.

A personal
congratulatory message from the Pope was delivered to Mr Jonathan on
Thursday at the Presidential Villa, by the Pope’s special envoy and
personal representative, Cardinal Peter Turson. In the message to the
president, Pope Benedict conveyed his “prayerful wishes for the
continued well-being, growth and prosperity of Nigeria and its
citizens”.

Responding, Mr
Jonathan asked the Cardinal to convey the appreciation of the
government and people of Nigeria to the Pope. He said that Nigerians
appreciated the Holy Father’s prayers and will continue to have good
relations with the Vatican.

Also today at the
Presidential Villa, Mr Jonathan received the Chinese Minister of
Industry and Information, Li Yizhong, who is representing his country’s
President, Hu Jintao at the celebrations.