Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, Sacked

Minister Of Aviation, Stella Oduah

Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, has been fired by President Goodluck Jonathan. Ms. Oduah has been caught in a web of certificate scandals and a scandalous purchase of two BMW armored cars for $1.6 million. Both scandals were exposed by New York city based online whistleblower

Our source reported that Ms. Oduah and three other ministers within the Jonathan govt were relieved of their positions on the orders of Mr. Jonathan. However, their sack was passed off as  voluntary resignation from the cabinet.
 The other ministers sacked includes, the minister of the Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe, minister of police affairs, Chris Olukolade and the minister of state for Finance, Yerima  Ngama
Late last year, we reported that Ms. Oduah had compelled the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to pay Coscharis Motors, an auto dealer, approximately $1.6 million for two BMW bullet-proof cars. Investigations by us showed that the highest cost for each such car in both the US and UK was $267,000 per car. NCAA and other sources further disclosed that the two cars were never delivered, compounding a scam by Ms. Oduah who reportedly split the $1.6 million funds with Cosmas Maduka, the chief executive of Coscharis.
More recently, SaharaReporters discovered that the former Aviation Minister did not earn a Masters degree she claimed to have received from a US college.

Ex-NAICOM Chief Bags 15-Years Jail Term For Fraud

An Abuja High Court on Wednesday sentenced Okechukwu Chukwulozie, a former Commissioner of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to 15 years in prison over N10.4 million fraud.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in 2007 charged Chukwulozie, his wife, Angela; and a former Deputy Commissioner in charge of Finance and Administration, Adedolapo Ogungbe on 15 counts of N10.4 million fraud.

Delivering judgment, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi, said the court sentenced Chukwulozie to three years on each of the five counts he is convicted for and it will run concurrently.
Oniyangi, who did not give the convict an option of fine, held that the ICPC had proved all the ingredients of Section 19 of the ICPC Act against him.

“The ICPC has proved beyond reasonable doubt that a commissioner of NICON, Chukwulozie, demanded fifty per cent of fees paid to liquidators of Gateway Insurance Plc.

“Beyond reasonable doubt is the standard of evidence required to validate a criminal conviction. Generally the prosecution bears the burden of proof and is required to prove their case.

“The prosecution has presented to court evidence to support its charges against the convict.

“In this case, they have done so. The court hereby sentences you to three years each on each of the five counts level against you, which will run concurrently”, the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the judge as saying on Wednesday.

However, Mudashiru, held that the ICPC had failed to prove its case against the second (Angela) and third accused (Ogungbe) persons.

“The court discharges the second and third accused persons charged with aiding and abetting the crime.

“You are hereby discharged and acquitted”, he said.

Governor Akpabio warns Mu'azu to beware of Obong Attah.

   

National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Adamu Mu’Azu
Governors elected on the Peoples Democratic Party have cautioned the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, against  romancing their political enemies.

The governors, at a   closed-door meeting with   Mu’azu at the Wadata Plaza  national headquarters of the party in Abuja on Wednesday, were said to have reminded him of  the agreements that brought him to office.


The agreements  that paved the way  for the former Bauchi State governor to the Wadata Plaza  include non -interference in  the party structure in the state  and that he (Mu’azu) should   not romance some of   former governors who were serving when he  was  in charge  in Bauchi State.

The governors   that  met with Mu’azu  were  those of  Delta, Akwa Ibom,  Niger,  Cross River, Kogi, Abia, Katsina, Kebbi, Bayelsa,   Gombe, Plateau and Kaduna states. Taraba  State was represented by its acting governor while Sokoto  and Jigawa states were represented by  their deputy governors.

  Those of Bauchi, Enugu, Enonyi and  Benue states were however absent.

Barely 24 hours ago, one of them, the Akwa Ibom State Governor and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Godswill Akpabio,  warned Mu’azu to beware of Obong Attah and other former governors who are not in good terms with their predecessors.

“Those who have access to the (Presidential) Villa  and Wadata Plaza are not those that will get the votes that will put the PDP in power in 2015,”Akpabio had told the PDP national chairman.

One of the governors,  who was at the meeting  confirmed to   our correspondent on condition of anonymity,  that they    reminded  Mu’azu  of  “our deal that brought him to power.”

He  said, “We know that as a former governor he is still relating  with those who were his colleagues between 1999 and 2007. Some of them are our political enemies.

“But in doing that, we asked him not to do that to our detriment because we know those former governors would also want to get across to him.

“We know he would still be in discussion with some of these men. That’s why we asked him to be careful and tread softly.”

He said that Mu’azu promised not to betray them in whatever form and that he urged them (the governors), not to listen to rumours.

It  is a known fact  that some of the serving governors are not in good terms with their predecessors.

The governors include  Akpabio  and his   predecessor,   Obong Victor Attah;  Babangida Aliyu(Niger) and   Abdulkadir Kure;  Theodore Orji(Abia) and Orji Kalu;  Ibrahim Dankwambo(Gombe) and   Danjuma Goje; Sullivan Chime(Enugu) and  Chimaroke Nnamani.

Mu’azu later spoke at the National Working Committee room of the party  in  Wadata Plaza.  He  again appealed to the  PDP  governors  to  beg their colleagues  who  defected to the All Progressives Congress  to return.

Mu’azu said that he would be happy to see the five governors, who had vowed to remain in their new party,  back in the PDP.

The five governors are  Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers);  Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Rabiu Kwakwanso(Kano), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa).

Mu’azu said he was happy with the visit of the governors, which came a day after  Akpabio  led a delegation of the PDP stateholders in  Akwa Ibom  State to the Wadata Plaza.

He said, “As you know, our governors are our garrison commanders  in our various states. We are very happy with them and we are very proud of them.

“But we want to appeal  to  them to particularly be patient at this moment of our history. You will see and hear what you do not like. Rumour mongers  are around  working but God will always guide us.

“Secondly, I want to appeal to you all to continue to appeal to your colleagues that had decided to leave home  for  an unknown destination to please come back home. Our  doors are still wide open and our house is big enough for all of them to come in.

“In a family like ours, there is bound to be conflict but the ability to resolve it, is what will stand us out. I, therefore, want to appeal to you, to please speak to your colleagues to come back home.”

Earlier, Akpabio  had  expressed the  hope that the  five defected governors would return to the PDP.

He said, “We are here as PDP governors’  forum to pay a congratulatory visit. We are about 18 and we hope to have more by bringing back some of our members who crossed over to the other side.

“The opposition is even happy with your emergence as  the national chairman of our great party. We hope that the party will be stronger. We, as field commanders, assure you of our support. We shall win the election in 2015 by the grace of God.”

Breaking News: Jonathan Forwards Ministerial List To Senate… Gusau, Boni Haruna, Obanikoro Make List

As previously reported by Information Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan has submitted the list of ministerial nominees to the Senate for confirmation on Tuesday before jetting out to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting.

Jonathan in a letter read by Senate President David Mark at plenary in Abuja said the nominations were in accordance with Section 147 (2) of the Constitution.

Those who made the list include Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos), Ambassador Aminu Wali (Kano), Mrs. Jamila Salik (Kano), Mrs. Laaurentia Laraba Mallam (Kaduna).

Others are Eyakenyi Akon (Akwa Ibom), Mohammed Wakil (Borno), Abdul Jelili Oyewale Adesiyan (Osun)

Also nominated are Mrs. Asabe Ahmed (Niger), General Aliyu Gusau (Zamfara), Mr. Boni Haruna (Adamawa), Dr. Khaliru Alhassan (Sokoto), Dr. T. W. Danagogo (Rivers).

Also on Tuesday, the president forwarded the names of the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs to the Senate for confirmation.

They are the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh, Chief of Army Staff, Major General Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin and Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Adesola Amosu.

Jonathan said: “I write to forward, in compliance with the provisions of Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap. A.20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, the names of the under listed for the kind confirmation of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for appointment as Chief of Defence Staff, and Service Chiefs of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

Federal Government Of Nigeria Senate bans same sex marriage in Nigeria

The Nigerian Senate have officially banned same sex marriage in Nigeria. Man + Man = Not allowed. Woman + Woman = Go to prison. :-). Only a union between a man and a woman in a recognized worship center is allowed.

The new bill states;

1. A marriage contract or civil union entered into between persons of same sex by virtue a certificate issued by a foreign country shall be void in Nigeria.
2. Marriage or civil union entered into between persons of same sex shall not be solemnized in any place of worship either Church or Mosque or any other place whatsoever called in Nigeria.
3. Only marriage contracted between a man and a woman either under Islamic Law, Customary Law or the Marriage Act is recognized as valid in Nigeria.
4. Persons that entered into a same sex marriage or civil union contract commit an offense and are jointly liable on conviction to a term of 14 years imprisonment each.
5. Any persons or group of persons that administers, witnesses, screens, abet and aids the solemnization of a same sex marriage contract or civil union or supports the registration, operation of gay clubs, societies and organizations, processions or meetings in Nigeria commits an offense and liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment.

The bill awaits the approval of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Abuja court sentences Lebanese to life imprisonment for terrorism

A Federal High Court in Abuja today sentenced Talal Ahmad Roda (pictured above), one of the three Lebanese men arrested in May 2013 in connection with illegal possessions of weapon, to life imprisonment. Mr Roda was arrested after a large cache of arms was found in a bunker during a raid on his residence. He was found guilty of all 5 counts of illegal possession of weapons and conspiracy.

Two other men, Mustapha Fawaz, the owner Amigo Supermarket in Abuja and Abdallah Tahini, who were also charged with possession of illegal weapons, were set free by the court.

 

 

Photos courtesy Sahara Reporters