March 19, 2013 by Ade Adesomoju

Chairman, Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Monday Ubani, and other activists, on Monday blamed the Kano park suicide bombing on the Federal Government.

They said the government had demonstrated it was incompetent to tackle the nation’s insecurity problem.

While Mr. Bamidele Aturu, urged the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government to own up to its incompetence, Mr. Fred Agbaje, said the attackers were emboldened by the recent pardon granted former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. Continue reading “NBA, CACOL, activists blast FG over attacks”

Chief Dipreye Alamieyeisegha

United States richest man and philanthropist, Bill Gates, has cancelled his planned official visit to Nigeria scheduled for March  27.

Gates’ action, it was believed was part of an unfolding diplomatic row between the US and Nigeria following the controversial pardon granted by President Goodluck Jonathan to ex-convicts Diepreye Alamieyeseigha  and Shettima Bulama.

He was scheduled to   meet President Goodluck Jonathan, state governors and officials of the Federal Ministry of Health on the  polio eradication campaign  of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Continue reading “Alamieyeseigha: Bill Gates cancels visit to Nigeria”

March 18, 2013 by Simon Utebor

An Anti-corruption group, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, has asked the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Umaru Manko, to expose and prosecute policemen behind the death of an okada operator last Wednesday.

The group alleged that the okada rider, identified only as Rahman, was allegedly chased to death by some policemen on patrol at Akowonjo Roundabout in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos. Continue reading “Group wants okada rider’s killers exposed, prosecuted”

The Presidential Pardon granted by President Jonathan few days ago to Alamieyeseigha and others didn’t come as a surprise to us, and we wonder why it is for many both here at home and abroad. From the outset, we knew the character of the man the majority of Nigerians chose or elected to become their president in 2011 due chiefly to sentiments, and we didn’t mince our words in sounding the warning but as is often the case, no one listened; today we are reaping the fruit of our choice, the Presidency has been reduced to an ethnic affair. Why is it so difficult to understand that this Administration is corruption personified? Issue after issue has evidently shown that this Administration will never combat corruption; it will rather swim in it and shield corrupt officials. Even the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) indicted this Administration when last year, it clearly stated in the Annual General Meeting of the Coalition against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) that the reason why the Commission has become so ineffective and sloppy is due to lack of political will and support from the Administration. Continue reading “PRESIDENTIAL PARDON FOR ALAMIEYESEIGHA AND OTHERS-A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT”

15 March 2013 14:16

• Debo Adeniran, CACOL Executive chairman

By Israel Ekene Ohia

A Nigerian civil society group, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), has petitioned southwest Nigeria’s Lagos State Commissioner of Police, over the death in the hands of law enforcement officers, of a commercial motor cyclist trying to evade arrest while being chased. Continue reading “Civil Society Group Petitions Lagos State Police Chief Over Death of Motorcyclist”

There was anger at the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abuja on Wednesday over the decision of the National Council of State to pardon some very important persons convicted of corruption and other offences.

Some officials of the party, who spoke on condition of anonymity, wondered the kind of message the Federal Government, controlled by the party, is sending to Nigerians with the action.

The party officials were particularly angry that a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Dipreye Alamieyeseigha was among the beneficiaries.

They  queried the rationale used by the President Goodluck Jonathan, who is the party’s national leader, in presenting the list of the people to the Council for pardon. Continue reading “PDP, groups, others condemn Alamieyeseigha’s pardon”

Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha

There was anger at the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abuja on Wednesday over the decision of the National Council of State to pardon some very important persons convicted of corruption and other offences.

Some officials of the party, who spoke on condition of anonymity, wondered the kind of message the Federal Government, controlled by the party, is sending to Nigerians with the action.

The party officials were particularly angry that a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Dipreye Alamieyeseigha was among the beneficiaries.

They queried the rationale used by the President Goodluck Jonathan, who is the party’s national leader, in presenting the list of the people to the Council for pardon. Continue reading “PDP, groups, others condemn Alamieyeseigha’s pardon”

When judges become the judged

• Written by  Joseph Ajayi
• Monday, 11 March 2013 13:17

Joseph Ajayi in this piece examines the travails of the sacked Judges, the ironical intrigues this throws up and what it portends for the Judiciary and the nation at large.

IN the literary world, which is seen as a reflection of life, certain events are qualified by what is called literary terms. Thus when in a play or narrative, there is a sudden reversal of fortune in which, for instance, a change from stability and happiness to destruction or downfall occurs the fictional language for qualification is peripeteia.  The protagonist in this kind of creative effort is often the victim, perhaps due largely to his tragic flaw which eventually makes him a tragic hero at the end of such work. Continue reading “When judges become the judged”