At least 15 people were killed, and up to 45 injured when a knife-wielding man went on a rampage early Tuesday at a facility for the disabled in the Japanese city of Sagmihara, broadcaster NHK reported.
ADVERTISEMENT
US Government confirms Aisha Buhari's involvement in the Atiku- Jefferson scandal
The United States Justice Department, revealed that the All Progressive Congress, APC, Presidential Candidate, Muhammadu Buhari’s wife, Aisha Buhari (posing as Buhari’s daughter), was used as conduit and engaged in fraudulent wire transfers, from her Nigerian account in favour of Congressman Jefferson, via the ANJ Group LLC.
The US District Court Memo, states that Congressman William J. Jefferson, between August 2000 and August 2005, sought hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of himself and family members.
In return, the defendant used his congressional office to promote the business interests of bribe-paying companies, whose very success was dependent upon the approvals of certain United States and West African government agencies and officials.
Congressman Jefferson, further compounded his criminal culpability by conspiring with others to pay a bribe to the then-sitting Vice President of Nigeria.
The WhistleNG, in an exclusive report, stated that in hushed and sometimes cryptic taped recorded conversations, Congressman Jefferson, explained in details how the success of the Nigerian telecommunications venture depended on bribing the Vice President of Nigeria, who the defendant described as “really corrupt.”
The US District Court during their investigation, also revealed that Williams Jefferson, in one of his numerous bribe schemes, wired $170,000 to a Nigerian account in the name of Aisha Buhari.
“During the investigation of his numerous bribe schemes, law enforcement agents learned of several wire transfers from offshore territories into U.S. financial accounts, that were either controlled by the defendant or whose proceeds were made available for his benefit.
See Donald C. Semesky, Jr., Tr. at 104 – 116; see also Government Exhibits 36-87 (6/26/02 $170,000 wire transfer from account in Nigeria in the name of Aisha Buhari, to an account in the name of The ANJ Group, LLC, identifying “William Jefferson” as Beneficiary), Government Exhibits 36-90 and 36-91 (11/28/03 $50,000 wire transfer from account in British Virgin Islands in the name of Dawson Creek Traders to an account in the name of Jefferson Interests, Inc.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in their report dated June 22, 2006 also stated that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, was summoned by the US government for Investigation into the iGate/NDTV business deals involving Congressman Jefferson, which also contained Haija Aisha M. Buhari’s bank records and transfer history.
Reports from New York Times Story (April 29, 2007) revealed Aisha Buhari on the dubious $1.2m campaigning contract, to help the former Akwa Ibom State Gov., Obong Attah, boost his image and attract investment to Akwa Ibom in his bid to become President of Nigeria, as well as a contract where Aisha Buhari, served as a consultant to orchestrate enormous name golfers to go to the opening of the Uyo Golf Resort, commissioned by former Governor, Obong Attah.
As indicated by the New York Times story, “she (Aisha Buhari) told him that her father was the former military ruler of Nigeria, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and that her American friends included politicians like Mr. Jefferson of Louisiana.”
The former Governor, also verified the claim by the New York Times when he said, he knows Ms. Buhari’s daughter, who is still a powerful Nigerian politician, by reputation. He also met her, he said, in 2001 when she accompanied a group of American politicians that included Mr. Jefferson to Akwa Ibom, to see oil-related pollution problems there.
“All I needed to do was ask Aisha if she knew him,” Mr. Attah recalls.
General Buhari, has since denied that Aisha Buhari is his daughter, in spite of the contrary proofs, pretty much as he denied his adopted son, Mr. Mohammed Buhari, who was likewise captured in May 2014, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for swindling a woman Mrs. Nwokwocha Florence, of N20m to put resources into an oil and gas business with a guarantee to make mouthwatering returns to the woman.
Gov Fayose raises alarm as EFCC freezes his personal account
The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose has raised an alarm about the freezing of his personal account at Zenith Bank by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Fayose took to his twitter to tell all who cared to listen that the APC-led government has frozen his personal accounts.
Speaking with newsmen at the premises of Zenith Bank, Ado-Ekiti, where he had his personal account, the governor claimed that he had gotten winds of plans by the Presidency to freeze his account some days earlier.
According to Vanguard, a source at the Bank told the visibly surprised Governor Fayose that his account was allegedly frozen on the order of the EFCC.
The Governor said, he had earlier issued a counter-cheque to make withdrawal and was rejected by the bank located at Onigari , GRA in Ado Ekiti, describing the action as criminal and illegal.
Citing Section 308 of the 1999 constitution, Fayose said he enjoys immunity as a sitting governor , urging the federal government to fight corruption within the ambit of the law.The account of the Governor and that of his associates were still frozen as at press time.
Buhari's military mentality affecting performance -Balarabe
Toluwani Eniola
A former Governor of the old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, says Buhari’s military background in addressing ethnic agitations in the country was affecting his performance.
Balarabe said the Buhari-led Federal Government had not shown seriousness in using dialogue to resolve agitations from different geopolitical zones of the country.
Speaking in an interview with our correspondent on Thursday, Balarabe said Buhari should show that he is now a converted democrat by using dialogue to settle crises rocking the country.
The former governor, who described Buhari’s first year in office as a waste, said he doubted whether the President would make the most of the remaining three years of his tenure.
Balarabe said, “Buhari has not demonstrated that he is serious about using dialogue to resolve the various ethnic tension. This government does not care about dialogue. The President’s military background and approach are affecting his performance. Former President Musa Yar’Adua understood the importance of dialogue which enabled him to put a halt to militancy in the Niger Delta. But what do we have now? Tension and agitation in different parts of the country.
“Dialogue is the only way to resolve the Biafra agitation in the South-East, the Niger Delta Avengers and the Boko Haram violence. The APC does not deserve a second term. The PDP is not also a better option. We need another credible alternative.”
Balarabe, however, said if the President adopted a revolutionary approach, he could reverse the mistakes he made in his first year in power.
He added, “ Buhari created enemies for his government when he excluded the South-East from his kitchen cabinet. The kitchen cabinet is the closest to the President. The cabinet is even more superior to the main cabinet which comprises the ministers. The exclusion of the South-East from his cabinet gave rise to the agitation for Biafra.
“The solution is the return to a state-economy rather than a privatised economy which is not helping the country. There is unemployment, poor power supply, tension across the geopolitical zones and poverty. The country needs a better alternative that would restore peace, ensure the rule of law and revive the economy. The APC and the PDP lack the capacity to achieve this.”
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: editor@punchng.com
Amodu complained of chest pain,died of frustration-Cousin
Alexander Okere, Benin
A relative of the late Director of the Nigeria Football Federation, Shaibu Amodu, has said that the former Super Eagles coach died after complaining of pain in the left side of his chest.
Akuri Afegbua, who is a cousin to the late Shaibu, also said that the late coach died of frustration from the alleged non-payment of his financial entitlements by the NFF and the Edo State Government.
Amodu died on Saturday morning in his sleep at his residence in Benin, Edo State.
The 58-year-old father of eight from Okpella in Etsako East Local Government Area of the state, was also said to be the Executive Director of the state youth football development agency before he resigned last year.
But Afegbua said that he had complained of not being paid by the football federation and the state government and how his financial status had made it difficult for him to take care of himself and his immediate family.
According to him, Amodu had travelled to Benin to demand the payment of his outstanding entitlements before he died.
He said tearfully, “I think he died of frustration, his financial status. He was not paid. He was complaining of not being paid and had no money to maintain himself and his immediate family.
“I think the purpose of him being in Benin was to put in a bill for his payment, both NFF and the state government.”
Afegbua explained that the late coach had a history of high blood pressure.
“We were together yesterday. In the afternoon, he called to say that he was feeling some pain in the left side of his chest and he called in a doctor.
“The doctor test him; he had 140 over 100 as his blood pressure. The doctor said that it was not bad, he could continue with his fasting,” he explained.
He also added that the ex-Eagles coach was full of life on Friday when he assisted one of his uncles to secure a bail at a police station.
He was also said to have led in the prayer to break the fast on Friday, before he was suddenly found dead at about 4am on Saturday.
“Apart from that he complained of pain in his chest, he was perfectly okay. We came back this morning to wake up to do the normal fasting but met him dead.
Afegbua said Amodu’s death had left a great vacuum that could never be filled.
9 Most Powerful People In Buhari’s Government, Osinbajo’s Position Will Shock You
Yemi-Osinbajo
Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in as the country’s 4th democratic president on May 29, 2015 after beating Goodluck Jonathan in an intense and heated presidential election.
Behind the facade of his tough man some politicians who the president respects. These persons influence the policy direction of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Naij.com takes a look at 9 of those eminent personalities and why the president will listen to them:
1. Bola Ahmed Tinubu
The former senator and governor popularly called Jagaban is the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC). His power goes across all political governors, senators, House of Reps who got elected through his party. His influence extends across all states and in Nigeria.
Tinubu is sure and well close to the president and one of the major people behind the president’s victory in the 2015 presidential elections. It is alleged that Tinubu requests for whatever he wants from all APC governors,senators and more which indirectly puts him in a powerful position in Nigeria. He evens appears to be untouchable.
It must be said that Tinubu played a great role in the enthronement of the new administration of Muhammadu Buhari, first by securing a merger between their parties ACN and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and a couple of others and then kicking the former ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) out of power. It is not news that Tinubu also handpicked the Vice President who is his close friend.
2. Yemi Osinbajo
Osinbajo is the vice president of Nigeria, in office since May 29, 2015. He is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and a Professor of Law until his inauguration as vice president.
The vice president is the next in post to the president which makes him a pretty high profile and powerful personality too. Also when the president is away from country he substitutes him.
3. Abba Kyari
Kyari the chief of staff has the ears of the president, no doubt. He plans Buhari’s schedule who to see and who he should not see.
Apart from his traditional roles as the chief of staff, Buhari made it mandatory that ministers must go through Kyari if they desired any contact with him. Buhari known for his bluntness, handed down the instruction on November 5, 2015 while declaring open a retreat organised by the Presidency for the then ministers-designate.
“In addition, all communications and appointments from you (ministers) to the Presidency should be routed through the Office of the Chief of Staff as is normal in this Presidential System,” he said.
4. Theophilus Danjuma
Danjuma who is from Taraba state is a power broker is seen who always sought after by successive governments. He is one of Nigeria’s most influential and respected senior military officers ever.
Reports state that he was one of the major sponsors of Buhari’s presidency. He was also one of the most influential people during Buhari’s stewardship as head of state between 1984 and 1985.
Buhari served under Gen Danjuma in the Army and they have known each other during war and peace times. With interest in oil blocs, Danjuma is believed to played a major role in the emergence of Dr. Ibe Kachikwu as the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and minister of state for petroleum resources.
Danjuma only recently urged the new administration to probe the outgoing administration of Dr Goodluck Jonathan.
5. Rotimi Amaechi
Amaechi’s influence in this administration was directly felt during the ministerial screening exercise. Despite being indicted for corruption in a probe of his administration by his state government, he still scaled through to become a minister in a government whose mantra is “War Against Corruption”.
It was also alleged that former River state governor, who is now the minister of transport, bankrupted Rivers state while he was governor so as to finance Buhari’s election.
6. Ismailia Funtua
Ismaila Isa Funtua is the Chairman of the popular Bulet International Construction Company. He is said to be a personal friend of the President, hence he has Buhari’s ears on national issues, including appointments.
Although Funtua, does not hold political office, he has much influence on the President even more than those who are holding offices. He has been part of Buhari’s delegation on some of his foreign trips, including his official visit to the United States in July 2015.’
7. Ibikunle Amosun
The Ogun state governor has remained a long time ally of the president since their days in the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
They are said to be very close to the extent that Buhari passes the nights in Amosun’s houses in Lagos and Abeokuta. It was alleged that Kemi Adeosun’s appointment as minister of finance which was influenced by Amosun was said to have further widened the political gap between the Ogun state governor and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who was said to prefer Mr. Wale Edun to hold the position.
Amosun is also frequent at the Presidential Villa, holding talks with Buhari on a regular basis. When Buhari was expected in Lagos for a two-day official visit, Amosun was in the Villa holding talks with the president who had dispatched Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo to represent him.
8. Mamman Daura
Daura is a nephew to Buhari, he is very close to the president. Hence, he has inputs in many of Buhari’s major decisions including appointments.
He is often seen with the president and travels with him. He is believed to have considerable inputs in the choice of those who emerged as ministers, especially those from the North.
Daura’s influence in government did not start today. He and Buhari belonged to a group called “Kaduna Mafia” which was a group of young Northern Nigerian intellectuals, civil servants, business tycoons and military officers residing or conducting business in the former Northern capital city of Kaduna during the end of the First Republic.
After the 1983 coup, he was one of the few personalities who played key advisory roles. In the late 1980s, he succeeded Ibrahim Dasuki as head of the African International Bank and also served as chairman of the board of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
9. Nasir el-Rufai
The Kaduna state governor though not directly in the president’s cabinet, has the president’s ears in all important political matters.
It is even rumoured that he was the one that vetted the ministerial list before it was sent to the senate. By extension el-Rufau has considerable influence on Buhari which is not in doubt.
He is one of the most regular state governors at the Presidential Villa. Sources within the Villa say that the governor doesn’t book his visits in advance. Protocols are simply waived for him.
Owing to his closeness to the President, El-Rufai has been very influential in some of the major appointments so far made by the present administration.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)