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The Nigerian Bar
Association yesterday said that it was a shame that, one year after a
panel was constituted to investigate the $180m Halliburton bribe
scandal, no report had been submitted nor any prosecutions made. They
added that the investigation into the case has been ignored by the
relevant authorities.

The President of
the NBA, Rotimi Akeredolu, said this at the 5th Business Law conference
organised by the Section on Business Law of the NBA, in Abuja.

“Last year about
the time of this conference, the Halliburton scandal broke open and at
that time the NBA remarked that it was one scandal too many and it
should not be swept under the carpet,” he said. “All other countries
that are in one way or another connected with the scandal having put
machinery in place to bring the culprits to justice but in Nigeria as
the case often a few attempts at playing to the gallery were made and
thereafter the matter has effectively been swept under the carpet. This
attitude has come to characterise our insincerity to deal with the
issue of corruption which stands firmly between us and development.”
Specifically, he said the manner in which the Halliburton scandal was
handled showed that the country was not sincere in the fight against
corruption.

Show of shame

He further said
that there was nothing wrong with the constitution but that those who
operated it had refused to be decent, adding that the association would
not shy away from speaking the truth to those in power.

He noted that the
disgrace which Nigeria was subjected to before Goodluck Jonathan became
the acting president would have been avoided if only President Umaru
Musa Yar’Adua had followed a path of honour by writing to the
leadership of the National Assembly.

“If honour attended every action following our President’s illness,
we would have been spared the show of shame and object of ridicule that
we have become.”

On the occasion of
the International Month on Endometriosis, gynaecologists have raised
concern on the need to frequently diagnose the illness so as to reduce
infertility rates (whose prevalence in Nigeria is 20-25 per cent among
married couples).

Endometriosis, an
extremely painful condition common in women of childbearing age,
affects over a million women in the U.S yearly.

It is responsible
for 10-15 per cent cases of unexplained infertility, although experts
say women with it can still be pregnant. However, in Nigeria, there are
no statistics as the disorder is often misdiagnosed.

“It is a condition
that is highly misdiagnosed and what gives it (Endometriosis) away is
that the woman feels the pain during her menstrual period, so it is
often mistaken as painful menstruation or sometimes tuberculosis,” said
Abayomi Ajayi, the Medical Director of Nordica Fertility Center.

“It takes a doctor
who is much aware of endometriosis to suspect it and thus diagnose it;
most doctors don’t even think about it, and that is why we are having
this talk – so that more people will be aware of it,” he added.

The chief
Embryologist at the Centre, Remi Ogundepo, added; “the condition is
difficult to diagnose, taking up to eight years from onset of
symptoms.”

Challenges in Nigeria

According to Dr.
Ajayi, one of the reasons for wrong diagnosis of this condition is
because it can only be diagnosed by Laparascopy, and not so many
hospitals have this equipment, nor the skilled manpower to diagnose it
in the country.

“A Laparascopy
machine costs N5 million. How many hospitals can afford that; secondly,
most of the doctors who have these skills don’t practice here, they are
in the U.K, or U.S. This is a challenge, yet women who suffer from this
condition go through so much pain and suffering.

“Secondly, there is low level of awareness stemming from the belief that the disorder doesn’t affect Africans.

“For a long time,
medical experts have believed that it is not a common disease with
Africans, but from the number of women we have treated (up to 200), we
know that endometriosis is real to those who have it, and wrong
diagnosis has even led to the death of many women.”

Prevention

According to the
U.S. National Institutes of Health, it occurs when tissues similar to
the uterine lining (endometrium) migrates outside the womb and implants
in other areas of the body such as abdominal cavity, ovaries, in the
lungs, brain, liver, umbilical area, and even the breasts.

Though it can be
treated with drugs or surgery, the cause of endometriosis is said to be
unknown, making prevention difficult. Nevertheless, certain
predisposing factors can be avoided.

“Avoiding dioxins, avoid postponing pregnancy till older age; but sometimes endometriosis is genetic.”

Patients undergoing
treatment at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) are in
for a tough time as doctors have stopped working, until the Chief
Medical Director, who was kidnapped on Tuesday, is released. The
abduction of the Director, Michael Ibadin, came on the heels of a
directive by the Oba of Benin to palace diviners to collaborate with
the state government in the fight against kidnapping for ransom in the
state.

NEXT gathered that
Dr. Ibadin was kidnapped in the early hours of yesterday in front of
his residence at the Isiohor axis of Benin City, as he was about to
leave for work. According to reports, his abductors, who came in a
Volkswagen Audi 80 saloon car, intercepted the official vehicle of the
CMD, and ordered his police orderly to open the door.The police
orderly’s hesitation allegedly prompted the abductors to use the butt
of their guns to break the side glass of the official car and
forcefully open the doors. They then dragged out the CMD before taking
him and his driver away. At the time of going to press, the abductors
were yet to make any contact, either with their victims’ families or
with the officials of the teaching hospital.

Great embarrassment

Following the
kidnap, a staff of the hospital who spoke on condition of anonymity,
said the authorities of the health institution have decided that all
activities should stop until the unconditional release of their CMD is
effected. “I will advise relatives of patients in the hospital for
their interest to come and discharge them as the hospital would close
its door to any would-be patients,” he announced, just as he declared
patients that are already in the hospital would not be attended to.

A report said one
of the doctors at the hospital allegedly assaulted the husband of a
pregnant woman waiting to be delivered of her baby, after the man
pleaded with the doctor to attend to his wife. In their attempt to
report the fracas that ensued over the assault, several journalists
were manhandled by both doctors and administrative workers in the ward.

The public relations office of the state police command could not be
reached for comment, but a police source said the authorities were
doing their best to see how they can track the kidnappers, as the
incident was a great embarrassment to them.

The presidential candidate of the
Democratic People’s Party (DPP) in the 2007 general elections, Attahiru
Bafarawa, on Tuesday described the death of former governor of Kano
State Abubakar Rimi as “a political tragedy to Nigeria.”

This is even as new leader of the Mega
Party, Pat Utomi, and the Nigerian Labour Congress blamed the state of
insecurity in the country for the late flamboyant politician’s death.

“Rimi’s death remains a political
tragedy to our dear nation. We will miss him for his genuine views and
comments toward sustaining our nation’s democracy and the rule of law,”
Mr. Bafarawa said.

He said the late Abubakar died an
accomplished political genius and statesman who fought for unity and
equity in the nation’s democracy.

State of security

Mr. Utomi said the death “is a pointer
to the worsening situation of the state of security on one hand, and
the state of our health institutions on the other.”

“Because of the prominence of Rimi as a
former governor and foremost politician, we got to hear about this
incident,” he said. “But hundreds, maybe thousands, of this morbid
drama play themselves out daily in the lives of Nigerians all over this
nation.”

He said it is time for policy-makers to face up to the challenge of
our social infrastructure, saying “the dismal state of which
constitutes one of the major impediments to foreign investment in
Nigeria.” The Nigeria Labour Congress says the death “symbolised the
tragic state of our nation, marked by profound insecurity of lives and
property. The instances of serial sad incidents like this create the
notion, rightly or wrongly, that our leadership attaches little or no
value to the lives of the citizenry.”

Founder of the Living Faith Church
(Winners Chapel), David Oyedepo, yesterday confirmed his visit to the
ailing Nigerian President, Umar Yar’Adua, along with other Christian
leaders. He declared that he owes no public explanation on the visit,
which he described as ‘private.’ The cleric spoke in an interview with
NEXT in Abeokuta, shortly after attending the 54th birthday
thanksgiving service in honour of the Ogun State governor, Mr. Gbenga
Daniel, held at Valley View of the government house.

“It is true that I visited him,” he said. “It is a private visit, and I don’t owe the public any obligation.

It is a private visit and I don’t want
to comment further on it.” When asked if there was any prayer session
held for the sick President, Mr. Oyedepo replied: “We prayed for him.
Please excuse me, I have to go. I have told you it was a private
visit.”

Lack of integrity

Mr. Oyedepo, in his sermon at the
ceremony, posited that men of integrity are lacking in the country and
that “Nigeria is largely integrity sick at all levels – family, church
and government levels.” He made comparison between this generation and
past generations, stating that, “our forefathers are no ruffians. They
were men of integrity with a rich culture.

“If you come from a house of thieves,
you are not likely to find a wife because they would trace your
character. Unqualified men and women are occupying positions of
leadership in all facets of Nigeria life. We must not put a novice in
office. We must ensure appropriate placement of our people, so that the
nation can move forward. Many people have no knowledge whatsoever of
what they are doing, yet they are doing it.”

Mr. Oyedepo said it is strange that
some people in government cannot define budget, yet he has to
appropriate a budget. “The church should help to infuse a sense of
character and honour ins the people,” he said.

The Editor of Daily Independent,
Ikechukwu Amaechi, has replaced the executive director, publications of
The Punch Newspapers, Azubuike Ishiekwene, on the Panel of Judges for
the 2010 CNN MultiChoice African Journalists Awards.

NEXT could not confirm reports that Mr.
Ishiekwene, who was the chairperson of the panel of judges of the 2009
edition of the awards, might have been removed due to the allegation of
fraud levelled against him by the former editor of The Punch, Steve
Ayorinde.

The Punch’s Management is currently investigating the allegations.

A tough one

In a telephone interview, Gbenga
Adefaye, chairman of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, commended Mr.
Ameachi’s appointment, describing him and other Nigerians who had been
members of the panel as “worthy members of the guild.” He also said
that Mr. Amaechi’s appointment is “a judgement on the quality of
journalism coming out of Nigeria”.

However, when asked to react to the
replacement of Mr. Ishiekwene, Mr. Adefaye called it a “tough one.”
According to him, “The panel of judges of the CNN award is an
independent body with its own rules for appointment and engagement of
members of board and these rules and procedures I’m not familiar with.”

He explained since the Nigerian Guild
of Editors is not privy to these rules and procedures, it will be
difficult for it to say for sure why Mr. Ishiekwene was removed.

Though he allowed that the removal
“might be remotely connected to the on-going allegation against Azu,”
he also said it might mean nothing, recalling that Doyin Abiola, former
managing director of the defunct Concord Newspapers, used to be a
member of the panel of judges of the awards but Mr. Ishiekwene was
invited to serve on the panel after she vacated her position on the
panel.

Attempts to speak with Messrs
Ishiekwene and Amaechi did not succeed. Mr. Ishiekwene answered our
call, but did not say a word after our reporter introduced himself and
the reason for his call. Mr. Amaechi could not be reached on the phone,
although one of his associates at the Daily Independent said he
travelled to the east.

New panelists

Mr. Amaechi, who holds a masters degree
in International Journalism from the University of Cardiff, United
Kingdom started his journalism career with The Guardian and has worked
for publications such as The News, Tempo and PMNews.

On arrival from the United Kingdom in 2007, he was appointed the Editor of the Daily Independent.

According to the list of the judges
published on the CNN website for the prestigious awards, other members
of the panel are José Luís Mendonça, Press Counsellor to the Angolan
Permanent Delegation to UNESCO; Zipporah Musau, managing editor for
Magazines, The Standard Group Ltd Kenya, Joel Kibazo, journalist and
media consultant; Jean-Paul Gérouard, deputy editor-in-chief, France 3
TV; Arlindo Lopes, secretary general, Southern African Broadcasting
Association; FerialHaffajee, editor-in-chief, City Press, South Africa
and Kim Norgaard, CNN Bureau Chief, South Africa.

The Awards are in their fifteenth year and this year’s edition will take place in Kampala, Uganda in May.

The House of Representatives will today commence investigations into the controversial contract for Abuja airport’s second runway. The project, planned for a whopping N64 billion, can build two new airports, lawmakers say.
The House Aviation Committee has confirmed that key officials of the nation’s aviation industry are expected at the hearings. They will be required to explain their roles in the contract award, estimated as one of the highest in the world.
The former Minister of Aviation, Babatunde Omotoba, the Senior Special Assistant on Aviation to the ailing president, Shehu Iyal, and the Managing Director of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, Richard Asuebeogun, are some of the officials expected to appear before the committee today.
The House committee chairman, Bethel Amadi, explained over the weekend that the investigative hearings are not intended as an indictment, but to offer opportunities to the officials to explain their side of the story.
Contract inflation
Julius Berger Plc. was awarded the contract for the construction of a second runway for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on January 8, 2010, after initial bidding, at the sum of N63.4 billion, according to procurement documents obtained by the committee.
Ministry officials had argued that the job was necessary to compliment the aging first runway, which has endured heavy traffic for over three decades.
At the awarded amount, the project is considered possibly the most expensive globally, reflecting the nation’s poor procurement ethics that give room for contract inflation.
“Based on the information available to us,” Mr. Amadi had told his colleagues during debate on the issue in early March, 2010, “the amount is far too high, way too expensive and outrageous when compared to similar constructions around the globe.” When the cost of the contract became public knowledge, the House of Representatives ordered an investigation. They suspended further construction, arguing that based on indices available to it, the amount could turn over two new airports.
A member of the committee, Mayor Eze, who represents Imo State, told NEXT the investigations will go beyond an “ordinary hearing where noise will prevail,” as the lawmakers probe the unclear contracting procedures that saw the airport project sum allegedly inflated to the massive figure.
“We understand that appropriate work has to be done and at the end of the day, we will let Nigerians judge and appreciate the committee’s work,” he said.
Most expensive
Lawmakers heard details of airport and runway constructions in other countries and within Nigeria, where the cost hovered a little more than N40 billion. Mr. Amadi also explained how the ministry officials repeatedly turned down the committee’s invitation to give details of the award throughout 2009.
In details finally submitted in February 2010, the contract cost had soared to more than N80 billion from an initial proposed N4billion, and finally settled at the present award cost of N63.5 billion.
The committee was mandated to conduct investigative hearings and report in three weeks, while the construction remained suspended.
The former Aviation Minister, Mr. Omotoba, under whose tenure the contract was awarded, will be expected to explain how the ministry and Julius Berger Plc., arrived at the amount for a 4.5 km runway.

Seven Nigerians
arrested after a seaborne attack on Guinea’s presidential palace in
February last year have been sentenced to 12 years in prison, a Malabo
court said Monday.

The Nigerians were
found guilty of terrorism and also fined 149 million CFA francs
(230,000 euros, 310,000 dollars), court president Antonio Pascual Ojo
Ebobo said, reading the sentence.

The court also
announced the release of 11 Equatorial Guineans – all members of the
opposition People’s Union Party – who had been suspects in the February
17, 2009 attack. Seven of them had already been freed last month.

The accused
Nigerians told interrogators they were on their way by sea to Cameroon
when they were driven off course by a storm and stopped by the
Equatorial Guinea navy.

The army repelled
the attack which, officials said at the time, involved fighters from
the Nigerian rebel Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta
(MEND), which later denied involvement.

South Africa’s
antitrust watchdog said it raided the offices of South African Airways
SAA)and another airline, as part of an ongoing probe into price fixing
related to the soccer World Cup.

The competition
commission said in a statement on Tuesday that it had searched the
offices of South African Airways, budget airline Mango and an industry
group last week, seizing documents and electronic data.

The investigation
comes as demand for flights and accommodation during the FIFA 2010
World Cup has so far failed to meet expectations.

The probe – which
is also targeting airlines British Airways, Comair (COMJ.J) and 1Time
(1TMJ.J) – was first announced in January. At that time, the commission
said SAA had promised to cooperate with the investigation, provided it
was excluded from prosecution.

The searches last week were prompted by suspicion that SAA and Mango
may have withheld information from the investigation, the commission
said.

The National Poverty Alleviation
Programme (NAPEP) in Katsina State, in collaboration with an NGO,
Service to Humanity Foundation, has donated 100 goats to 50 women in
Bindawa Local Government Area of the state.

The goats were donated under the second
phase of NAPEP’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme, which
covers seven local government areas in the state.

Speaking while launching the programme
on Tuesday in Bindawa, the wife of the state governor, Fatima Shema,
said the animals were given out to women, including widows, in addition
to cash given to them under the NAPEP CCT programme.

She noted that the cash being given to
the beneficiaries monthly is meant to assist them in educating their
children, especially the orphans.

She disclosed that, apart from the cash
and animals been given freely to the beneficiaries, economic trees
would also be given to them as part of efforts to improve their
socio-economic well being.

In his address, the Bindawa Local
Government Chairman, Abdu Umaru, commended NAPEP and the NGO for the
gesture, saying that the council had also given 2,000 exercise books to
pupils and 500 text books to teachers in the area to enhance learning
in schools.

Each of the 50 women in Bindawa got two goats and a cash donation of between N3,000 to N5,000.