Judgement on Osun 2007 guber polls iminent

Judgement on Osun 2007 guber polls iminent

News Nov 18, 2010 By Ola Ajayi
Final judgement in 2007 governorship election petition in Osun State between Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, candidate, Engineer Rauf Aregbesola, and Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, may be delivered by the Court of Appeal sooner than expected.
The appellate court had resumed hearing of the matter last month and taken written addresses from counsel of both sides after which the lawyers addressed the court for about 20 minutes each.
In his submission, lead counsel to Rauf Aregbesola asked the court to declare Aregbesola the winner of the election after nullifying the results of the election in 10 local government area of the state.
He said: “There were massive irregularities in the conduct of the election,”  adding that Independent Natioal Electoral Commission, INEC, failed to reply to all allegation of irregularities and non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2006.”
According to him, their alleged failure to challenge any aspect of the evidence tendered by the petitioner was tantamount to abandonment of their case
He added that Exhibit 92 which relates to Boripe Local Government, the 14,497 votes declared by INEC were more than the 12,631 voters that were registered and yet the lower tribunal which delivered its judgement on May 28 did not consider it.
In his counter argument, lead counsel to Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Mr Yusuf Alli (SAN), said the appellant failed to plead the issue of over voting and that Aregbesola should not be allowed at this stage to change the rule of the game, adding that the evidence they adduced had not proved the case brought before the tribunal.
He said: “On the issue of Boripe, your lordship would see pages 62-71 of the petition that the issue of over voting was never pleaded. The appellant should not be allowed at this stage to change the rule when the game is almost over.”
Alli, however, faulted the cases of Kayode Fayemi and Segun Oni which Olujimi cited, saying the case was based on peculiar facts and circumstances.

Lagos pilgrim dies in S-Arabia, 3 hospitalised

Lagos pilgrim dies in S-Arabia, 3 hospitalised

News Nov 18, 2010 By Olasunkanmi Akoni   & Monsur Olowoopejo
A 60-year old female  pilgrim from Lagos State to this year’s hajj, Mrs. Oni, popularly called Dangote, has died in Mina, Saudi Arabia.
Three other Lagos State pilgrims were hospitalised after eating the loaf of bread distributed by the state pilgrims’ welfare board for breakfast.
Dangote, a politician from ward “A” in Mushin Local Government Area of the state died in her sleep at about 1a.m. after observing prayers.
A source on pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia told Vanguard that Oni went into prayers after her dinner, only to be found dead few hours later.
A fellow pilgrim from Mushin, who spoke under anonymity said: “If not that I tried to wake her up for bath this morning (yesterday), no one would have known that Dangote had passed on.”
Mixed reactions
While few pilgrims, including the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Religious Matters (Islam,) Abdulhakeem Kosoko, regarded her death as a blessing to her because, “she died in the holy month and in the holy land,” others blamed it on the foods intake which they claimed were not too hygienic for consumption.
One of the pilgrims said: “If only the state government had not relied solely on the poor food provided by the Federal Government, she might not have died.”
Meanwhile, the body of Dangote which was taken away in an ambulance to one of the Saudi Arabian hospitals was rejected and returned six hours later. However, a higher medical delegation took her back to another hospital where she was accepted for certification.
Trading blames
On the three pilgrims hospitalised, the state government, however, denied any involvement in the contaminated food which it explained was sponsored by President Goodluck Jonathan to aid his 2011 election campaign.
The Special Adviser to the state Governor on Political and Legislative Bureau, Abdulhakeem Abdulateef, pacified the angry pilgrims in the tent of Surulere Local Government. He said: “Nigerians on hajj have always been fending for themselves.”
Abdulateef grieved that the event was taken over by the Federal Government through its Hajj Commission (NAHCON) leaving no choice for any state welfare board.
The bread, produced by Al Oumara Bakery Company, Saudi Arabia, holder of the Golden Europe Award for Quality in 2001, was immediately christened Bread Jonathan.
Abdulateef said: “President Jonathan has launched his 2011 election campaign, starting with Nigeria pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. We have gathered some of the bad bread and sent them to the Saudi authority and the NAHCON.”
It was discovered that the egg freely distributed on Monday at mountain Arafat was already spoilt, while the bread had also gone bad, thus risking health of the pilgrims.

Mixed reactions trail renewed militant attacks on oil installations

Mixed reactions trail renewed militant attacks on oil installations

News Nov 18, 2010 By James Ezema
LAGOS — There have been mixed reactions to renewed attacks and threat to resume bombing of oil installations  in the Niger Delta region by militants.
While some believe it was a reflection of a failure of the amnesty project in the region, others said the post-amnesty programme is succeeding, just as others urged the Federal Government to be decisive in dealing with insecurity in the region, blaming it on the antics of politicians to create a sense of insecurity to score cheap political point.
MEND had claimed responsibility for attack on American oil giant, ExxonMobil facility in Akwa Ibom State, Sunday and threatened to resume full attack on oil installations in the Niger Delta, with Joint Military Task Force, JTF, beginning military operation in suspected militants hideout in creeks in the region.
Speaking on telephone with Vanguard yesterday, former NADECO chieftain and Coordinator of the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms,CODER, Chief Ayo Opadokun said: “The fact that the Nigerian state has criminally neglected  the Niger Delta area over the years, is a sufficient reason for inhabitants of that environment whose lifestyle had been eternally damaged beyond repairs to agitate for the correction of the anomalies in the place.
“One of the dividends of the amnesty is that those who were militants surrendered their weapons to government, so to say. Information has it that not up to 40 per cent of the war arsenals in their possession was eventually surrendered. So, the incidents you’re getting today are to confirm that they have not totally disarmed,” Opadokun said.
He maintained that “a major reason why the Niger Delta will remain as it is today is that these militants have been busy engaging in bunkering and bunkering provides them with hard currencies.
There is no amount that the Federal Government can give to them on monthly basis that will satisfy them. So, each time they are broke, they will like to do something to create a situation of confusion so that they will explore the situation for their own economic gains”.
On his part, former presidential candidate of African Renaissance Party, ARP, Alhaji Yahaya Ndu, insisted that the solution to the problems was a return to true federalism where governance emanates from a Nigerian people’s constitution.
He said: “At best, the amnesty programme can be palliative. Every right thinking patriot in Nigeria knows that the real solution to these thing will be the real Nigerian people’s government, emanating from a Nigerian people’s constitution, emanating from a Nigerian people’s conference. ”
Anything short of that will never give us a lasting solution.
On what must be done at the moment, Alhaji Ndu said: “Military operations can only make matters worse. Nobody will go to invest in a war zone; military operations will simply turn Niger Delta into a war zone which will be stupid for Nigeria to embark on now.
The solution is to plead with the people in the Niger delta and assure them that Nigeria will be turned into a true federation and beginning the process for it now. Anything apart from that is negative, unpatriotic and should be sanctioned”, he fumed.
However, the national chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN), the body  training repentant militants under the federal government post-amnesty programme in skills acquisition and counseling at Obubra, Cross River State, Mr Allen Onyema, blamed the renewed attack on oil installations in the region on politicians who were trying to score cheep political point by creating a sense of insecurity in the area.
He insisted that the post-amnesty programme was not only on course but has also become a model for the whole world following the success recorded through the federal government’s amnesty programme.

Oil workers threaten to shut down production over 8 kidnapped colleagues

Oil workers threaten to shut down production over 8 kidnapped colleagues

News Nov 18, 2010 By Victor Ahiuma-Young
LEADERS of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and their Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, counterpart have threatened to pull oil workers from Akwa Ibom State and shut down the over 640 Barrel Mobil Producing platform in Eket by tomorrow should the  government fail to locate 8 workers kidnapped on Sunday night at Oso platform, in Akwa Ibom State.
The umbrella bodies for both the junior and senior workers in the nation’s Petroleum industry lamented that as at yesterday security was yet to be beefed up in the volatile and oil installations in the state and insisted that eight workers were kidnapped as against the seven that the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND,  claimed to have.
President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Babatunde Ogun, who spoke to Vanguard on the plans of the oil workers’ unions following the abduction of the workers and the upsurge of insecurity in the Niger Delta region especially Akwa Ibom State, confirmed  meetings  with both the Akwa Ibom State governor and management of Mobil Producing over the matter.
According to him: “What happens is that as normal safety standard, any time we have people on the platform, we identify their number by head count. But after that incident of that day, we discovered that we had eight people missing. Nobody knows exactly what those that abducted them must have done with the eigthth person.
We are surprised that those that abducted them are claiming that they have just seven people.  We do not know what must have happened. Maybe one person  escaped from them or something terrible has happened. We do not know. But as far as we are concerned, we are looking for eight people on our platform.
Those people were there before the attack. We hope nothing terrible has happed to any one of them because after the attack, there were traces of blood and blood stains around the area.
The state of kidnappings  in Akwa Ibom is taking a very dangerous dimension and if care is not taken, the entire workers in the industry might be forced to pull out of the state.
However, we are engaging the government and today (last night). We are engaging the state governor, and others. But if by Friday, there is no clue to the location and safety of our members, we, both NUPENG and PENGASSAN,  would have no choice than that to pull out oil workers from the state and  shut down the over 640 Barrel of production from Mobil producing as a start. If the insecurity of our members continues, we will move to other locations.
You recall that in the past, we have engaged government on several occasions and till now, everything they promised are undone. When we looked at what it would cost Nigeria, that was why we did not embark on strike the last time we wanted to embark on strike.
But if speed boats can go as far as that in Oso off-shore location and kidnapped people without any resistant from government, that is security operatives, that tells us that our lives is in danger and that is why there is serious fear now engulfing the entire workers in that region. So, we have taken a decision that by Friday, if those workers are not located and safety ensured, we will have not other choice to pull oor members from the state.”
It could be recalled that militants on Sunday night attacked Exxonmobil Oso Gas and Condensate platform and kidnapped eight workers.
Vanguard gathered that the unspecified number of kidnappers stormed the platform in six speed boats and  attacked it shooting with various weapons of destruction for about ten minutes and shooting sporadically.
According to source, security at the platform initially responded for few minutes, but later stopped to prevent the whole complex being consumed by fire and did what is known as ESD, Emergency Shut Down as a precautionary measure.
At the time of this report, no communication had been established with either the kidnappers or the victims and there fears that the victims might have been take to Cameroon because the platform is close to a border town.
President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Babatunde Ogun, had explained that “the kidnappers that stormed the platform around 10pm last night with six speed boats armed with various weapons of destruction and shooting sporadically to the air and it only took the braveness and ingenuity of the staff to shut down the platform that has installed capacity of 80kb condensate and 60kb NGL ,as at this period we have not been able establish contact with the abductors.
At the time of this attack 74 people were on board while eight people kidnapped.”

FIFA suspend Amos Adamu for 3yrs

FIFA suspend Amos Adamu for 3yrs

Headlines Nov 18, 2010

AMOS ADMU

FIFA has suspended two executive members, Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii, accused of asking for money in exchange for World Cup votes – but cleared both of corruption.
Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii  were suspended from all football-related activity for three years and one year respectively.
Tahiti’s Reynald Temarii and Nigeria’s Amos Adamu will now be prevented from voting on the 2018 and 2022 hosts on December 2.
Both were found guilty of breaking Fifa’s ethics codes, by not reporting illegal approaches.
Adamu was fined 10,000 Swiss Francs and Temarii ordered to pay 5,000.
The pair were already under provisional suspensions after the claims emerged in an undercover Sunday Times investigation.
Four other former executive members who are still Fifa officials – Slim Aloulou, Amadu Diakite, Ahongalu Fusimalohi and Ismael Bhamjee – have also been suspended.
Adamu has already signalled his intention to fight the ruling, releasing a statement in response.
“I am profoundly disappointed with the ethics committee’s findings and had honestly believed I would be exonerated of any charges by now,” he said.
“I am innocent of all the charges levelled against me and I completely refute the decision they have made.
“As yet I have not been advised of the grounds of the decision but regardless, I will be lodging a full appeal against it with immediate effect.”
The decisions follow a three-day hearing of the world football governing body’s ethics committee.
Each member suspended will have 10 days to lodge an appeal.
The committee has also cleared joint 2018 World Cup bidders Spain/Portugal and 2022 bidders Qatar of claims they colluded to trade votes.
In terms of the corruption probe, Mr Adamu’s position was seen to be in greater danger because it is claimed he asked for money for projects to be paid via a family company.
Mr Temarii – who represents Oceania – insisted he was merely wanting to boost football facilities in New Zealand and was not seeking any personal gain.
Both men had denied any wrongdoing.

Administrative Assistant Vacancy at Resources and Trust Company Limited (RTC) – OND

Administrative Assistant Vacancy at Resources and Trust Company Limited (RTC) – OND

Posted on : Nov 16 2010
Posted under Administrative Jobs in Nigeria, Assistant Jobs in Nigeria, Business Administration Jobs in Nigeria, OND Jobs in Nigeria, Secretarial jobs in Nigeria

Administrative Assistant Vacancy at Resources and Trust Company Limited (RTC) - OND Resources and Trust Company Limited (RTC) is an Integrated Strategy and Business Environment Advisory Services Group that creates value for the business community through a holistic, innovative and resourceful approach. Resources and Trust Company Limited is recruiting ...

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S Alex out for six to eight weeks

CHELSEA NEWS

Alex out for six to eight weeks

By ESPNsoccernet staff

November 16, 2010

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Chelsea are facing a defensive crisis with the news centre-back Alex faces up to two months on the sidelines with a knee injury.

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Alex will be out of action for six to eight weeks

• Terry could be out for months
• Forum: Should Chelsea spend?
Chelsea used Branislav Ivanovic and Paulo Ferreira as an emergency pairing in central defence in the 3-0 defeat at home to Sunderland on Sunday as both Alex and Terry were unavailable.
Terry has since revealed he could miss a sizeable portion of the season due to a nerve problem in his leg and, with Ricardo Carvalho having departed for Real Madrid during the summer, the Blues are short of cover for the position.
The news that Alex is out means Chelsea could be forced to rely on Ivanovic, Ferreira and youngster Jeffrey Bruma for the remainder of 2010.
A statement on the club's official website read: "Alex has withdrawn from the Brazil squad to play Argentina this week and will undergo surgery on his knee.
"The defender missed Chelsea's games against Fulham and Sunderland due to his injury but joined up with his national side for Wednesday's game in Qatar.
"Further to the Chelsea medical team's diagnosis, the Brazilian national team doctors agree that further investigation via arthroscopic surgery is required on the player's right knee. That will take place over the coming days.
"He is expected to be out for approximately six to eight weeks."