Delegates converge on Abuja as national confab begins

Delegates drawn from across the 36 states of the federation on Sunday started arriving in Abuja, for the National Conference scheduled to commence today (Monday).

The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, was a beehive of activities as some delegates flew into the Federal Capital Territory amid tight security.

One of our correspondents, who was at the airport, saw eminent Nigerians at the arrival lounge just as others who had armed security escorts, made their way into waiting private vehicles.

The entire airport was heavily guarded as plain-clothes security personnel and a few uniformed men were sighted at strategic locations within and outside the airport.

As is to be expected, taxi drivers were also making brisk business as a result of the increased human and vehicular traffic, which was compounded by civil servants and businessmen who were returning to Abuja after the weekend.

Sanusi to Jonathan: Allegations against me baseless

The suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, has described the allegations of financial recklessness levelled against him by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria as a malicious and calculated attempt to mislead President Goodluck Jonathan into believing that the management of the bank is guilty of misconduct and recklessness.

In what can be described as his first official response to the allegations, Sanusi, in a letter to Jonathan, said that contrary to the claims by the Presidency that he was asked to respond to issues raised in the FRCN report, he only saw the “Briefing Note” of the council for the first time when it was attached to his suspension letter.

In the letter, sent to the President on March 10, a copy of which was made available to journalists on Sunday, the suspended governor said at no time were the allegations in the report sent to the CBN either by the President or the FRCN for comments or explanations.

He said, “On Wednesday March 10, 2014, I submitted a memorandum to His Excellency, Mr. President, with supporting documentation, effectively addressing all the allegations contained in the FRCN Briefing Note, the letter of suspension and the Akingbola petition.

Respond to charges against you and stop misinforming the public – Presidency tells Sanusi

Find the State House press release below…

We have noted with disappointment, the unrelenting attempt by the  Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to falsely portray his recent suspension from office as an attempt by the Presidency to bury his allegation that huge sums of money due to the Federation Account are unaccounted for by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The Presidency wishes to reaffirm that Mallam Sanusi’s suspension has absolutely nothing to do with his unproven and inconsistent claim that $49.8 Billion, $12 Billion or $20 Billion is missing from the national treasury.

Fake prophet arrested in Lagos (Photos)

A man named Chuks Samson Obasi, who for many months paraded himself as Dr. Chris Okafor, the General Overseer of Mountain of Liberation & Miracle Ministry, (Liberation City) has been arrested.

A man named Chuks Samson Obasi, who for many months paraded himself as Dr. Chris Okafor, the General Overseer of Mountain of Liberation & Miracle Ministry, (Liberation City) has been arrested.

Keshi To Name World Cup Squad Before May 13 Deadline

Super Eagles head coach Stephen Keshi is to release his provisional squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil before FIFA’s deadline date of May 13th, officials have disclosed.

“The provisional squad for the World Cup will be the squad for the May 28 friendly against Scotland in London and that would mean it will be made public before the May 13 deadline for the submission of provisional squads by World Cup finalists,” an official informed MTNFootball.com.

Nigeria will engage Scotland on May 28 at Craven Cottage- home of Fulham FC- before warm-up matches against Greece and USA on June 3 and 7 respectively.

Missing Malaysian Aircraft ‘Deep Inside The Sea’, Says T.B Joshua… Boko Haram Plot To Bomb SCOAN Fails

As the rest of the world struggles to grapple with the mystery surrounding the sudden disappearance mid-air of a Malaysian Airlines flight MH307, Senior Prophet of the Synagogue, Church of All Nations, SCOAN, T.B Joshua has revealed that the plane crash-landed into the sea and is buried deep underneath the waters.

Information Nigeria reports that the Boeing 777 aircraft vanished off the coast of Vietnam two hours after taking off at the Kuala Lumpur airport with 239 souls on board in the early hours of Saturday.

But on Sunday morning during a live service, the highly controversial Prophet said this concerning the missing Malaysian aircraft: “The plane concerned is deep inside the sea. Some of the particles will be seen on the surface of the sea any moment from now.

“May their souls rest in peace. We pray the Lord gives the family and loved ones the strength to bear the loss. Our prayer and love are always with them, the nation of Malaysia and other countries who had passengers on this flight”, he said.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that a plot by members of the Boko Haram sect to bomb the SCOAN headquarters in Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos State was unsuccessful as one of the potential bombers confessed purportedly to the act yesterday.

The suspect, who gave his name simply as Mustapha from Adamawa State, confessed that they were five in number but four of them “scattered” away following what he said was “confusion” in their midst.

“We were five in number,” he said. “We dropped at the junction opposite from (sic) the church. There was a man who used to sell something opposite the church here. He is selling sweets, soap and cigarettes. I met the man and asked him to help me keep the bag I was carrying. It contained some instruments – bombs, to destroy people”.

However, Mustapha said the local trader refused to collect the bag. “We decided to sit down and eat before going on our mission here. Our plan was to take souls, to destroy at this Synagogue Church”.

Mustapha recounted a strange incident that took place as they sat down to eat at a restaurant opposite the popular church. “They brought food for us and we were eating. At that place, they had television. We were watching the television and discussing. It was Emmanuel TV – I saw you (T.B. Joshua) preaching to people”.

US Government freezes $458million Sani Abacha cash

The United States government today March 5th said it had ordered a freeze on $458 million in assets hidden in European accounts by former Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha and his conspirators.

PM News reports that the Justice Department said the corruption proceeds, stashed away in bank accounts in Britain, France and Jersey, were frozen at Washington’s request with the help of local authorities.

Abacha died in office in 1998, but his surviving relatives still include some of the richest and most influential figures in Nigeria.
According to a civil forfeiture complaint unsealed in the US District Court in Washington, the department wants the recover more than $550 million in connection with the action.
“This is the largest civil forfeiture action to recover the proceeds of foreign official corruption ever brought by the department,” said Mythili Raman, acting assistant attorney general.
“General Abacha was one of the most notorious kleptocrats in memory, who embezzled billions from the people of Nigeria while millions lived in poverty,” she said.

The Justice Department said the assets frozen — along with additional assets named in the complaint — represent the “proceeds of corruption” during and after the military regime of Abacha, who became president of Nigeria through a military coup on November 17, 1993 and held that office until his death on June 8, 1998.

The complaint alleges that Abacha, his son Mohammed Sani Abacha, their associate Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and others “embezzled, misappropriated and extorted billions from the government of Nigeria and others, then laundered their criminal proceeds through the purchase of bonds backed by the United States using US financial institutions.”

Raman said that the action sends a “clear message” that the United States is “determined and equipped to confiscate the ill-gotten riches of corrupt leaders who drain the resources of their countries.”