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Wednesday 31 December 2014

Canada: Senseless Slain of 8 In Domestic Violence

Canadian authorities are investigating what they described as “an extreme case of domestic violence” that left six adults and two young children dead at two locations in Edmonton, Alberta, and a related suicide in nearby Fort Saskatchewan, police confirmed Tuesday.

The “senseless murders” seemed to be “planned, deliberate and targeted,” Edmonton Police Chief Rod Knecht told reporters Tuesday night, adding that the killings were not gang-related and that there was no risk to the general public.

The weapon used in the killings was a 9-millimeter handgun that was legally registered in British Columbia in 1997 and reported stolen there in 2006, he said.

In my 39 years of policing, I've never seen anything like it.
- Rod Knecht, Edmonton police chief
Knecht said that on Monday, police were called to investigate a weapons complaint in southwest Edmonton about 6:50 p.m. and discovered the body of Cyndi Duong, 37. An autopsy found that she died from a gunshot wound, he said.

"It is alleged a male entered a private residence, discharged a firearm and fled the scene," he said Tuesday afternoon.

Shortly before 8:30 p.m. Monday, he said, Edmonton police responded to a call to check on the welfare of a man in the north end of the city.

Family members reported that the man seemed depressed and very emotional and that they feared he could be suicidal, Knecht said. But when police arrived at the scene, there was no sign of the man and no response from inside the residence. Nothing suspicious was noted, he added.

Police returned to the residence shortly after midnight after receiving additional information. This time, they entered and discovered seven bodies: three women and two men, ages 25 to 50; and a boy and a girl, both younger than 10; Knecht said. He did not provide their identities. He believed the victims were related to one another, but that has not been confirmed, he said.  

Knecht did not specify what information prompted police to return to the home, but he said it enabled them to enter without permission from an occupant.

Police had paid visits to that home before, he said: In late 2012, a man there -- who police believe to be the suspect in this week's killings -- was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence, sexual assault and uttering threats. The man was “well known to police” and had a criminal record dating back to 1987 that includes drug- and violence-related issues, Knecht said.

About two hours after finding the seven bodies, police located a black SUV in Fort Saskatchewan, about 25 miles northeast of Edmonton, that matched the description of a vehicle seen at the site of the first killing. Investigators established that the suicidal man who was being sought in connection with the killings in north Edmonton had a business interest in a Fort Saskatchewan restaurant, the police chief said.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police found the man’s body at the restaurant about 8:45 a.m., Knecht said. He is believed to have committed suicide.

“Our homicide investigators have established associations and linkages between these homicides,” Knecht said. “We are not looking at any additional suspects at this time.”

Autopsies of the seven found at the home and the man found at the restaurant are scheduled Thursday, he said. 

“In my 39 years of policing, I’ve never seen anything like it,” Knecht said of the killings.

Neighbors told reporters that a family of five lived in the two-story home in north Edmonton where police found the seven bodies. They said they thought the family was Vietnamese and the adults did not speak English well, but would wave and say hello.

Moe Assiff said that he had noticed police outside the house around midnight, according to the Edmonton Journal.  A man and a woman -- “white as a ghost” -- were sitting inside a white Toyota Scion parked outside the home, he said. Assiff asked whether everything was all right. The man looked at the house, then told him, “No, it’s personal.”

About 1:30 a.m., Assiff saw the woman talking to a police officer. “She started screaming her head off,” he said. “She let out the biggest scream I’ve ever heard in my life.”

She and the man then got into a police cruiser.

Another neighbor told the Los Angeles Times that she would hear arguing coming from the house.

"We’d be sitting in our kitchen and I’d say to my husband, 'What is that noise?'" said the woman, who gave only her first name, Holly.

She said a woman would run outside, drive around the block and go back inside.

"We used to watch from the distance and make sure no one was getting physically harmed," she said. "There was one day all of us neighbors came out because it was getting heated. We were discussing, should we do something? You just don’t know what to do."

As dusk fell, body bags were carried out of the home on stretchers and loaded into a van.

Police blocked off downtown Fort Saskatchewan while they investigated Tuesday morning. The area has since reopened, but police tape remained around a Vietnamese restaurant, VN Express, news reports said. The front windows and doors appeared to have been smashed.

An employee at Auntie Sue’s Restaurant, across from VN Express, told reporters that she had heard a commotion outside about 6:30 a.m.

A police officer yelled through a megaphone to someone inside VN Express to “come out with your hands up,” said the employee, who was identified only as Laurie in news reports.  Police then rammed a vehicle through the front of the restaurant, she said.

Dillman reported from Edmonton and Zavis and Raab from Los Angeles.

Tuesday 30 December 2014

Watch Out: Ebola Case In UK!

Watch Out: #Ebola Case In UK.
A nurse working for Save The Children organisation in Sierra Leone is currently receiving specialist treatments at Royal Free Hospital London for deadly Ebola virus after taking BA 1478 flight from Heathrow to Glasgow on Sunday evening. Contact tracing already begun. Passengers on the flight and anyone who have concerns are on alert to call 08000 858531 asap.

AirAsia Mishap: Several Bodies Floating in Java Sea

Indonesian officials on Tuesday spotted six bodies from the AirAsia flight that disappeared two days earlier, and recovered three of them, in a painful end to the aviation mystery off the coast of Borneo island.

The bodies were found in Java Sea waters about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Flight 8501's last communications with air-traffic control. The plane with 162 people on board disappeared Sunday on its way from Surabaya, Indonesia to Singapore after encountering storm clouds.

The three recovered bodies, swollen but intact, were brought to an Indonesian navy ship, National Search and Rescue Director SB Supriyadi told reporters in the nearest town, Pangkalan Bun. The corpses did not have life jackets on.

Images on Indonesian television showed a half-naked bloated body bobbing in the sea. Search and rescue teams were lowered on ropes from a hovering helicopter to retrieve corpses.

As family members of the plane's passengers sat together in a waiting room at the Surabaya airport, they watched the graphic details on television. Many screamed and wailed uncontrollably, breaking down into tears while they squeezed each other. One middle-aged man collapsed and was rushed from the room on a stretcher.

The discovery came after several pieces of red, white and black debris were spotted in the Java Sea near Borneo island.

AirAsia group CEO Tony Fernandes tweeted, "My heart is filled with sadness for all the families involved in QZ 8501. On behalf of AirAsia my condolences to all. Words cannot express how sorry I am."

Monday 29 December 2014

Nissan Cars Built In Nigeria Create More Jobs – Financial Times of London

Nissan is proud to become the first global carmaker to build cars in Nigeria since west Africa’s largest economy rolled out a policy to tempt investors into its nascent automotive industry.

The Japanese carmaker, which has aggressively targeted growth in emerging markets as the centrepiece of its global strategy, has built over 45,000 cars within a year in the country, with SUV among other Nissan series commissioned by Nigerian government mid-year 2014.

Nissan, announced further that it would be the first international carmaker to build vehicles in Myanmar, targets a doubling of sales in Africa to 220,000 by 2016.

Nigeria, which imports millions of dollars worth of new and used cars into the country every year, has embarked on a drive to attract manufacturing and industrial investments into the country since former Goldman Sachs banker Olusegun Aganga was made minister of trade and investment.

While it is sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest recipient of foreign investment with roughly $7bn in 2012, or about 14 per cent of the region’s total, investors complain that Nigeria remains a challenging destination for industrial ventures because of a lack of power supply, poor transport infrastructure and an unskilled labour force.

African countries, long overlooked by global carmakers, are being seen as one of the last remaining untapped sources of growth for the industry, after heavy investments in recent decades in India, China and southeast Asia.

“Nissan is preparing to make Nigeria a significant manufacturing hub in Africa,” said chief executive Carlos Ghosn, the global car industry’s most prominent believer in emerging market potential. “As the first-mover in Nigeria, we are positioned for the long-term growth of this market and across the broader continent.”

The UN Conference on Trade and Development puts Nigeria as the fourth-best destination for foreign direct investment when measured by returns, only behind Angola, Bahrain and Kyrgyzstan. Unctad estimates that FDI projects returned on average 36 per cent in Nigeria in 2011, compared with an average for emerging markets of 8.4 per cent.

Volkswagen and Peugeot previously built cars in Nigeria but have since closed factories.

The global alliance between Nissan and French partner Renault had facilitated the signing of Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian company Stallion Group, to begin vehicle assembly in Lagos same year 2014.

Renault is mulling the possibility of joining Nissan in building cars in the country, a spokesman for the alliance said.

The entry is the first since Nigeria’s government unveiled a new automotive industrial policy designed to encourage carmaking. The Japanese company will build cars, light duty trucks, pickups and vans in the country, it said.
It also has a factory in Morocco and in South Africa, where it will begin production of its relaunched low-cost Datsun cars by the end of next year.

 Financial Times

Yamaha begins manufacturing in Nigeria

Yamaha Motor Co has announced that it will begin manufacturing in Nigeria, Africa as part of a joint agreement with CFAO S.A. According to reports, the factory will officially open its doors in mid-2015.

This come on the heels of successful investment trend published by Financial Times of London over additional job creation recorded by the Japanese Nissan that began assemblage of their series of cars in Nigeria early this year.

The new company to be known as CFAO Yamaha Motor Nigeria Ltd. (CYMNG), and Yamaha Motor and CFAO (a French company, specialized in distribution of major international brands in Africa in the Toyota Tsusho Group) are to make equal investment contributions toward a start-up capital of $1 million.

The new CYMNG factory will cover an area of 2,790 square meters will be built in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city. Scheduled to commence operation in summer 2015, the factory has a production target of 70,000 motorcycles by 2018.

In 1980, Yamaha Motor established a motorcycle factory in Nigeria that carried out manufacture and sale of motorcycles, however in 2005 the company pulled out of production due to a decline in the market – ever since Yamaha has been selling motorcycles imported from Japan or India through local dealerships. This joint venture represents Yamaha Motor’s second foray into the Nigerian market.

The population of Nigeria is currently 170 million, and explosive growth in the population and economy has contributed to heightened demand for motorcycles in the region. Demand is expected to skyrocket even further, due to the fact that motorcycles are fast taking over taxis as the number one form of transportation.

Credit:  Abigail Phillips – Leadership  

Sunday 28 December 2014

My certificates consumed by fire, Sambo tells INEC

Ahead of the 2015 general elections, Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo has told the Independent National Electoral Commission that his Bachelors and Masters degrees certificates in Architecture from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, have been consumed by fire.

Sambo, who is the Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, made the declaration in the documents he filed with INEC and displayed on the commission’s office in Abuja although the details of the fire that consumed the certificates were not given.

Sambo’s papers were received and stamped in INEC headquarters between December 10 and 18, 2014.

The VP’s declaration was validated by two letters from the ABU, a copy of which was obtained by The PUNCH on Sunday.

The first letter, signed by one Alhassan Garba for the institution’s registrar under the title, “To Whom it may Concern: Mohammed Namani Sambo,” read, “I certify that the above-named person having completed an approved course of study and passed the prescribed examinations was awarded the Bachelor of Science (Architecture) with Second Class Honours (Lower Division) in 1976 by the Senate of this University. His original certificate got burnt. Please treat his case in view of this certification. Thank you.”

The second letter, also signed by Garba for the ABU registrar, read, “I certify that the above-named person having completed an approved course of study and passed the prescribed examinations was awarded the Master of Science (Architecture) on May 25, 1978 by the Senate of this University. His original certificate got burnt. Please treat his case in view of this certification. Thank you.”

Meanwhile, indications have emerged that only 13 political parties would field presidential candidates in the 2015 elections.

The parties and their candidates are the People Democratic Party, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan; the All Progressives Congress, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.); Action Alliance, Tunde Anifowose-Kelani; Kowa Party, Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya; United Progressives Party; Chief Chekwas Okorie; and National Conscience Party, Chief Martin Onovo.

Others are African Democratic Congress, Dr. Ibrahim Nani; United Democratic Party, Godson Okoye; Alliance for Democracy, Rafiu Salau; Peoples Party of Nigeria, Kelvin Alagoa; Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, Alhaji Ganiyu Oseni; African Peoples Alliance, Alhaji Adebayo Ayeni; and Hope Democratic Party, Ambrose Owuru.

Written by: FRIDAY OLOKOR

Search For Missing AirAsia Flight QZ8501 Continues

SURABAYA, Indonesia (AP) — search for an AirAsia plane that went missing en route to Singapore resumed on Monday after the bulk of the search and rescue operations had been suspended Sunday evening due to darkness.

The search for a missing AirAsia jet carrying 162 people that disappeared more than 24 hours ago on a flight from Indonesia to Singapore expanded Monday with planes and ships from several countries taking part.

First Admiral Sigit Setiayana, the Naval Aviation Center commander at the Surabaya air force base, said that 12 navy ships, five planes, three helicopters and a number of warships were talking part, along with ships and planes from Singapore and Malaysia. The Australian Air Force also sent a search plane.

Setiayana said visibility was good. "God willing, we can find it soon," he told The Associated Press.

AirAsia Flight 8501 vanished Sunday in airspace thick with storm clouds on its way from Surabaya, Indonesia, to Singapore, and a rescue official said Monday that given the route of the plane he believed the most likely scenario was that it crashed.

"Based on the coordinates that we know, the evaluation would be that any estimated crash position is in the sea, and that the hypothesis is the plane is at the bottom of the sea," National Search and Rescue chief Henry Bambang Soelistyo told a news conference.

Flight QZ8501 dropped off the radar Sunday morning local time after taking off from Indonesia's second-largest city of Surabaya. Satellite images show heavy thunderstorms in the vicinity of the site where the plane lost contact, the Guardian noted. AirAsia said in a statement that the plane had requested "deviation due to enroute weather" before communication broke off.

The Airbus 320-200 carried 155 passengers and seven crew on board. Most of the passengers were Indonesian. Three South Koreans, one Singaporean, one Malaysian, one French citizen and one Briton were also aboard.

The captain and co-captain were identified as Iriyanto, who like many Indonesians uses only one name, and Frenchman Remi Emmanuel Plesel. According to AirAsia, both are experienced pilots.

A reported passenger manifest shows a total of 26 passengers, including three infants, who were scheduled to be aboard but are listed as no-shows. A crisis center and hotline have been set up for relatives of those who are aboard the flight, and the airline said it is working to identify the next of kin.

AirAsia Indonesia CEO Sunu Widyatmoko said in a Facebook post that the airline was "deeply shocked and saddened" by the disappearance. "We are cooperating with the relevant authorities to the fullest extent to determine the cause of this incident. In the meantime, our main priority is keeping the families of our passengers and colleagues informed on the latest developments.”

The company changed its logo from red to gray on social media.

More than 100 relatives of missing passengers gathered at the Juanda International Airport, the flight's point of departure, Reuters reports. Even AirAsia Malaysia chief Tony Fernandes joined the group. The airline has offered free hotel rooms and food to those waiting to hear from loved ones.

Family members also massed at Changi Airport in Singapore, where the flight had been scheduled to land around 8:30 a.m. local time. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, one woman waiting at the airport's crisis center said that she had seven family members on the flight, including her mother and brother.

One woman told CNN that her fiancée and his family were on the flight.

The hunt for Flight QZ8501 is being headed up by Indonesian search and rescue teams, with additional assistance from Malaysia, Australia and a Singaporean surveillance plane. Indonesia's head of search and rescue, Bambang Soelistyo, told the Associated Press that more than a dozen ships and eight aircraft would be deployed to look for the missing plane.

The United States has also offered support for the search. Spokespersons for the National Transportation Safety Board and the State Department said that the agencies are monitoring the situation and "ready to assist" the rescue team if needed.

The plane's disappearance has provoked an outpouring of support from the public, politicians and business leaders.

U.S. President Barack Obama was briefed on the missing flight and White House officials are monitoring the situation. Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong wrote on Twitter that he was "saddened" to hear about the missing plane. "My thoughts are with the passengers and their families," he said.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Mohammad Najib Razak said his country "stands ready to help."

"Our hearts and hopes are with the passengers and families of AirAsia QZ8501," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry tweeted.

By Nick Robins-Early
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Eline Gordts , Alana Horowitz TRISNADI MARJAN & MARGIE MASON, also contributed to this report.
Originally published by Huffingpost.

On Missing AirAsia Flight QZ8501



Latest:100 Boko Haram militants killed, 200 arrested by Cameroonian Army

Boko Haram Suffers Heavy Casualities In Cameroun.

The Cameroonian army has killed over 100 Boko Haram militants during an operation on Friday night, Xinhua reports.

The army also arrested 200 members of the terrorist group in the operation that was carried out in the Far-North Region of Cameroon, an army source told the Chinese news agency via telephone on Saturday.

The operation took place in Doble, a place in Far-North Region bordering Nigeria, and was carried out by Cameroon Air Force and Rapid Intervention Battalion, an elite army unit stationed in the north.

Three Cameroonian air force pilots were seriously injured during the operation, the source added.

That same night, 23 Cameroonian civilians were killed and a village was burnt by the militants in Mozogo, in that same region.

Boko Haram are said to be active in the north of Cameroon, where they regularly attack villages in the area, steal properties of the villagers and sometimes take foreign and local people as hostages in exchange for ransom.

The Cameroonian government has responded to the threats of the terrorists by strengthening its military might this year by sending more troops in the north to fight the rag-tag army.

In a related development,  the Borno state government has revealed that Boko Haram controls 20 out of the 27 local government area in the state over the last five years.

Saturday 27 December 2014

Missing Plane: Airbus A320 the AirAsia Lost Control!

Just In: Missing Plane

Airbus A320 the AirAsia flight QZ 8501 with about 160 passengers onboard from Subraya lost contact with the traffic control centre around 23:17 GMT just over the Java Sea on its approach to Singapore, NUJEurope News gathered.
Details later..

Tuesday 23 December 2014

EX-OYO COMMISSIONER, DAPO LAM-ADESINA RESIGNS, DECLARES ASSETS

The former Commissioner of Youth and Sports in Oyo State, and the immediate past Commissioner for Industry, Applied Science and Technology, who is also the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the House of Representatives for the Ibadan South East/North East Federal Constituency in the next general elections, Mr Dapo Lam Adesina has resigned from the Oyo State Executive Council.
According to his campaign organization, he resigned “in order for him to focus on his electioneering campaign, and in line and conformity with the electoral act which stipulates such for intending aspirants”.
In his resignation letter addressed to the Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, while thanking him for the opportunity given to serve under him, he assured the Governor of his loyalty, prayers and continued support at all times, and also thanked him for all the support given to him while he was in charge of the two (2) ministries.
He thereafter declared his assets as follows:
(1) A 3 bedroom Bungalow built on a land transferred to him by his late father,Alhaji Lam Adesina.
(2) A 2007 Honda Accord car owned by him since 2011.
(3) A 1999 Mercedes Benz(E Class) owned by his late father.
(4) A Campaign bus owned by his late father.
(5) One Thousand (1000) units of GTB shares.
(6) Thirty Four (34) units of Union Bank shares.
(7) Six Hundred and Thirty Eight (638) units of First Bank shares.
(8) A current account with First Bank,Orita Challenge, Ibadan with a balance of #280,000 (Two hundred and eighty thousand naira only).
(9) A savings account with First Bank,Orita Challenge, Ibadan with a balance of #3,000 (Three thousand naira only).
(10) A current account with GTB, Ring Road, Ibadan with a balance of #16,000 (Sixteen thousand naira only).
(11) A Campaign account with First Bank, Orita Challenge, Ibadan with a balance of #25,000 (Twenty five thousand naira only).
The Dapo Lam Adesina Campaign organization averred that the “declaration is open to public scrutiny and anyone who has contrary opinion or information about any assets not declared should come to the public court on the subject matter.”
Credits: TheAnchorOnline.com.ng

Unveiling New Nigerian Under-23 and Under 20 Squads!

Following series of intense match tests at Kaduna camp with the Jamba Football Academy players among other top football clubs and academies Coach Siasia has finally presented the Under-23 Squad For Nigeria.

They are:
Goalkeepers: Abiodun Akande (3SC), Yusuf Mohammed (Pillars), Emmansin Daniel (Akwa Starlets), Emmanuel Daniel (Rangers)
Defenders: Stanley Okoronmu (36 Lions), Sincere Seth (Supreme FC), Chima Akas (Sharks), Chris Madaki (Giwa FC), Waziri Christopher, Wikki, Dede Mughalo (36 Lions), Tope Jaiyeola (Obe Sports Academy), Azubuike Okechukkwu, (Bayelsa Utd), Peter Obochi, Segun Oduduwa (Nath Boys), Olawale (Amakson Academy), Solomon Olaleke, Faisal Sanni (Abuja Football College), Erhun Obanor (Bendel Insurance)

Midfielders: TIongoli Tonbara (Bayelsa Utd), Etim Emmanuel (Abuja Football College), Freedom Omofonma (Warri Wolves), Godwin Odibo (Nath Boys), Samuel Adegbenro (Kwara Utd), Niyi Adeniyi, Godwin Saviour (Plateau Utd), Usman Mohammed (Taraba Utd), Samuel Chukwudi (Bayelsa Utd), Achibi Ewenike (Warri Wolves), Newman Doubra,Ekene

Attackers: Etebor Oghenekaro (Warri Wolves), Ajayi Junior (3SC), Sunday Adetunji (El- Kanemi), Peter Onyekachi, (Abia Warriors), Jonathan Osondu (Adamawa Utd)

Meet the U-20 Players.

Goalkeepers: Joshua Enaholo, Dele Alampasu, Olorunleke Ojo and Adamu Abubakar, while the Defenders:  Kingsley Madu, Musa Muhammed, Mustapha Abdullahi, Wilfred Ndidi, Zaharadeen Bello, Prince Izu Omego.

Midfielders: Ifeanyi Matthew, Akinjide Idowu, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Obinna Nwobodo, Kingsley Sokari, Abdullahi Alfa, Chidiebere Nwakali.
Forwards: Taiwo Awoniyi, Isaac Success, Kelechi Iheanacho, Usman Hassan, Alhassan Ibrahim, Sulaiman Abdullahi, Abubakar Lawal, Bernard Bulbwa, Chidera Eze, Billy Auta, Musa Yahaya, Moses Simon, Wasiu Jimoh.

Monday 22 December 2014

How Boko Haram's Violent Uprising Is Spilling Over Nigeria's Borders

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) — Thousands of members of Nigeria's home-grown Islamic extremist Boko Haram group strike across the border in Cameroon, with coordinated attacks on border towns, a troop convoy and a major barracks.
Farther north, Boko Haram employs recruits from Chad to enforce its control in northeastern Nigerian towns and cities.
In Niger, the government has declared a "humanitarian crisis" and appealed for international aid to help tens of thousands of Nigerian refugees driven from their homes by the insurgency.
These recent events show how neighboring countries are increasingly being drawn into Nigeria's Islamic uprising. Thousands of people have been killed in Nigeria's 5-year insurgency and some 1.6 million people driven from their homes.
"We are concerned about the increasing regionalization of Boko Haram," said Comfort Ero, Africa director for the International Crisis Group.
On Sunday, Cameroon's army announced it had broken up a Boko Haram training camp in the Mayo-Danay district in the country's Far North region. The army was looking for other hideouts in the area, said Jean-Pierre Mbida, a soldier with the Rapid Intervention Battalion tasked with fighting the insurgents.
"We will continue monitoring the area in the hope of uncovering any other Boko Haram hideouts and training grounds," he added.
Ero cautioned that cooperation between the neighboring countries is weak. "None of the sides is willing to share information with the other," Ero said. "There's always been a lack of confidence in terms of shared regional security."
She said there is also distrust of the capabilities of Nigeria's once-proud military, which has been battered by Boko Haram. A court-martial this week sentenced 54 soldiers to death by firing squad for refusing to fight the extremists.

Local hunters known as Vigilantes armed with locally made guns are seen on a pick up truck in Yola city of Adamawa State in Nigeria before they move to border region between Nigeria and Cameroon to support Nigerian army fighting with Boko Haram militants on December 06, 2014. (Mohammed Elshamy/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) | Anadolu Agency via Getty Images.

Chad responded this week by opening a regional "counter-terrorism cell" against Boko Haram in N'Djamena, Chad's capital 40 miles (60 kilometers) from the Nigerian border, said an adviser to French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.
Boko Haram's threat to neighboring countries was highlighted on Wednesday, when some 5,000 insurgents launched simultaneous attacks on border towns in Cameroon, using a roadside improvised explosive device and attacked the main border barracks, Cameroon's Ministry of Defense said.
Cameroonian troops repelled the attacks and killed 116 militants, while losing a sergeant and a lieutenant, it said, adding that Boko Haram must have suffered additional casualties on the Nigerian side caused by Cameroonian artillery fire.
Fighters from Chad, Niger and Cameroon long have been identified among Boko Haram fighters in Nigeria. But residents fleeing Boko Haram now report that Chadian recruits are enforcing Boko Haram's rule in northeast Nigerian border towns in Borno state. People who escaped from Gajigana village, which was attacked a week ago, said fighters they called "Chadian mercenaries" have taken charge of most communities, even sitting in courts to adjudicate local disputes.
"They monitor every movement, all the things we do, the kind of people you meet with," said Kalli Abdullahi, who escaped to Maiduguri this week. If residents break the strict Shariah law "they will get you and kill you so as to instill fear in people," he said.
Nigerian government officials confirm that Boko Haram controls 12 of 27 local government areas in Borno state, as well as some in Adamawa and Yobe states. And they long have had camps in Chad, Cameroon and Niger, say experts.
The area where the four countries' borders meet is generally poor and long has been ignored by governments. Desertification has intensified tensions. High unemployment means there are groups of disgruntled youths who are an easy target for Boko Haram recruitment. Across borders, people often belong to the same tribe and speak the same local languages. Boko Haram offers signing bonuses and monthly pay to those who join, say residents.
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau long has expressed his international ambitions, saying his group is fighting to make "the entire world" an Islamic state.
Analyst Ely Karmon wrote in a paper for the Terrorism Research Initiative that Boko Haram is "an immediate and infectious regional threat."
___
Associated Press writers Jamey Keaten in Paris and Divine Ntaryike in Douala, Cameroon, contributed to this report. Faul reported from Cambridge, England.

Nigeria’s Recent Economic Performance in Real GDP


Nigeria’s recent growth performance has mostly been shaped by improvement in global trends rather than sound economic policy management, which has actually taken a turn for the worse when compared to the first few years of civilian rule. Recent global developments, such as increase in oil prices (until the recent dip in prices); the shift in foreign investor’s interest to developing economies as growth in advanced economies reached saturation points, have helped Nigeria to attract foreign investments, especially in the non-oil sector. As a result, and notwithstanding poor policy choices, unprecedented corruption and theft of public resources, infrastructure deficiency and security challenge, economic growth during the first six years of this administration has been relatively good. However, the performance, as impressive as it may look, is poor when compared to growth during the first six years of civilian rule. In addition, real economic growth does not match the achievement of other oil producing countries with similar endowments as Nigeria. 


The facts speak for themselves
During 2009-2013, the first five years of President Jonathan’s administration, real GDP growth averaged 6-7 per cent, a fact often touted by the government. But this record is much lower than that of the first five years of civilian rule (1999 – 2005), when growth averaged 11.1 percent. (Figure 1) This is despite the fact that oil prices were much lower at that time than now, and foreign investors’ appetite for Nigeria was not as strong as now. The difference, it seems, is in the leadership and policy choices of the different periods. Therefore, President Jonathan’s achievement can hardly be said to be “unprecedented”. It’s actually poorer than his predecessor’s achievements in less benign circumstances.



FIGURE 1: Real GDP Growth Rate 2000-2013
FIGURE 1: Real GDP Growth Rate 2000-2013
Lying with data? Some glaring inconsistencies
Many Nigerians have wondered how the high growth rates being reported are possible given the “facts on the ground” – to use a well-worn Nigerian phrase. As explained above, decent rates of growth is possible in a chaotic domestic environment so long as external conditions are largely favourable. Notwithstanding, from a strictly conceptual point of view, there are serious reasons to question recent growth data and the integrity of data more generally, as would be clear in the following exposition.
Inconsistencies in regional contributions to growth
To accept current measures of economic performance and the high growth rates, one would have to agree that the disturbances in the North East region, which has brought the regional economy to a halt in the past two years with spillovers to neighboring regions, has not made a dent on growth. Furthermore, one would have to accept that the oil theft in the Niger Delta, which the London think tank, Chatham House, described as “industrial scale” and estimated at $3bn-$8bn a year, did not impact on GDP growth. By any calculation, oil theft at the upper end of this range is enough to lower the growth rate directly by 1-2 percentage points, and much more indirectly through the impact on other sectors of the economy.
Inconsistencies in key macroeconomic indicators
Nigeria’s main macroeconomic indicators have weakened considerably recently, raising questions about why the weakness has not impacted on growth. A few examples will suffice:
  • Fiscal balances: Nigeria’s fiscal balances are much weaker than at any time since the beginning of civilian regime. In the first five years of President Jonathan, the fiscal account was in deficit, on average by 4 per cent of GDP. During the first five years of civilian rule in contrast, the fiscal balance was in surplus, on average, by close to 2 percent of GDP. (Figure 2) Again, this is despite much lower oil revenue earnings during the earlier period. Even though the Jonathan fiscal deficit remains small by international standards, it is still higher than that of many oil exporting countries which are all accumulating surpluses rather than deficit and using the opportunity of high oil prices to invest in long term infrastructure. What is becoming clear to critical observers is that the budget deficit is more or less contrived through an unrealistic oil benchmark price. With lower revenue and higher expenditure projections, the result is a deficit balance. DMO is then required to “borrow” at excessive cost “to finance the deficit”. But with the usual less than 70 percent implementation rate of the budget, nobody has bothered to find out why there is still a deficit if the budgeted amount was not spent and why the need to accumulate new debt!
  • Public debt: Public debt stock is much higher than at any time since the Paris Club debt exit of 2006. In 2007, total public debt fell to N2.678 trillion ($3.56billion external debt from $36b, and N2.2trillion domestic debt). But as of end 2013, public debt has increased by more than 300 percent to N8.423trillion ($8.2b external, and N7.1 trillion domestic). (Figure 3).
    If AMCON debt and other agencies are included, the total debt burden is now over N10 trillion. By end of 2014, Nigeria’s total debt should easily approach over $100b, most of which were accumulated in the past 6 years. Given the well-established negative correlation of debt and economic growth, how has growth been so strong?
  • Debt service: According to 2013 federal budget data, close to 20 percent of recurrent expenditure is devoted to servicing debt alone, a contrast to 2007, when only around 10 percent of recurrent expenditure was spent on debt service. The major conundrum is the lack of clarity on why debt accumulation should be so high in the presence of historically high oil prices, and what exactly the debt is financing. Furthermore, government’s policy of accumulating debt at average interest rates of 13-15 percent when the same government is receiving less than 3 per cent on its savings (foreign reserves) beats economic logic. Why not use some of the savings to finance the needs and save 10 percent? It will also be interesting to find out why debt accumulation is bad in 1999-2007, but is now a good thing.
  • Foreign reserves: Nigeria’s foreign reserves have followed a pattern similar to the other indicators since the beginning of civilian rule. In the Obasanjo and Yar’Adua periods, reserves high enough to finance, on average over 7 and 10 months of imports respectively. However, in the six years of President Jonathan, it has declined to about 6.3 months of imports. (Figure 4). When compared with other oil exporting African countries, in the first two periods, Nigeria’s foreign reserve accumulation was stronger than those of other countries. However, in the recent period, Nigeria is just about catching up with others. Although stabilization funds exist, the federal government has struggled to replenish them, despite high oil prices.



FIGURE 2: Fiscal Balances 2000-2013
FIGURE 2: Fiscal Balances 2000-2013
The quality of growth
Apart from the growth rates that do not match economic realities, there are serious questions about the quality of Nigeria’s growth. Sustained growth over the years has not made a dent on poverty, or led to broad-based improvements in living standards. While some indicators improved in the early post military era, many have now nose-dived, as no conscious effort has been made to skew policies in favour of socio economic wellbeing. Some examples:
  •  Life expectancy is just 54 years, eight years lower than in Ghana and 20 years lower than in Brazil.
  • The rate of childhood malnutrition is 24 percent, more than eight times the rate in Mexico.
  • Basic literacy among 15- to 24-year-olds is just 66 per cent, compared with 99 per cent in South Africa.
  • Official estimates of poverty rate vary from 41 per cent to 56 per cent, depending on whether the poverty line is drawn at 2,500 calories per day or at US$1.25 per day. However, according to a recent study, 74 per cent of the population lives below the economic empowerment line. This is a more stringent definition than “poverty line”. As a result, there are still 32 per cent of the population that are above the official calorie-based poverty line but are not “economically empowered”.
  • Infrastructure continues to be a major challenge: electric power, transportation infrastructure, telecommunications infrastructure and Internet and broadband access is limited. Water and wastewater systems are nonexistent outside a few cities.
  • Reputation for widespread corruption remains high, ranking at 139th out of the 176 countries on Transparency International’s 2014 Corruption Perception Index.
  • World Bank governance and business environment indicators are much weaker than for oil exporting or African peers. Nigeria ranks 158th out of 189 economies for trading across borders. Global Competitiveness Report of the World Economic Forum for 2013-2014, ranked Nigeria 120th out of 148 countries in the Global Competitiveness Index
  • Nigeria’s budgetary process is now adjudged one of the weakest in the world. In the annual “Open Budget” Survey, Nigeria’s ranking has declined progressively since 2006, and in the latest ranking for 2012, Nigeria scored 16 per cent. This does not compare favorably with the performance of South Africa (90%), Uganda (65%), Ghana (50%) and Angola (28%).



FIGURE 3: Government Debt 2000-2013
FIGURE 3: Government Debt 2000-2013
The size of the economy
Many Nigerians are somewhat puzzled about the new size of the Nigerian economy relative to their quality of life. Yes indeed, the Nigerian economy is now the largest in Africa, but size does not correlate with quality of life. Apart from a higher per capita income due to the larger size of the economy, many of the other indicators merely confirm that the economy has been underperforming all along, as several indexes now put Nigeria at a much lower ranking than other African countries. Sadly, the government is focusing on trumpeting the good ratios, rather than focusing policies on how to improve some of the poor ratios below:
  • Though Nigeria’s per capita income rises in line with nominal GDP but it remains well below peer group medians as well as those of oil-producing Angola and Gabon.
  • FDI now falls to less than 1% of GDP, which shows that Nigeria has one of the lowest levels of FDI inflow in the Africa region.
  • With non-oil fiscal revenue now falling to around 4% of GDP, the overdependence of the economy on oil is even more stark than in the past, and compared to other countries, Nigeria now has one of the weakest revenue mobilization ratios of Sub-Saharan Africa peers.
  • Financial market development which is usually measured by money supply in percent of GDP is now just around 19% of GDP. Compared to Mauritius (99 %), South Africa (74 %), Kenya (42 %), and Angola (37 %). These show that Nigeria has one of the least developed financial markets in Africa.



FIGURE 4: Foreign Reserve Accumulation in Months of Imports - Nigeria and Other African Oil Exporters
FIGURE 4: Foreign Reserve Accumulation in Months of Imports – Nigeria and Other African Oil Exporters
All things considered, the 6-7% of GDP growth rate is neither unprecedented, nor a superior achievement, relative to past governments. The performance is not the result of policy choices, but favourable external environment. While the revision to GDP is a credible exercise that confirms the size of Nigeria’s economy, it also shows how poor performance has been all along. It’s time to focus on better economic outcomes.


**NUJEUROPE relied on Federal Government of Nigeria publications, International Monetary Funds and World Bank web sites for this report.

Wednesday 17 December 2014

Who Is Professor 'Yemi Osinbajo, Buhari's Running Mate For 2015 Presidency ?

Prof. 'Yemi Osinbajo, the running mate to the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, (APC) was former Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, prior to the annoucement today as the running mate to General (rt) Muhammad Buhari. He is believed to be a core loyalist of the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

 Apart from being a well-versed lawyer, Osinbajo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria is a pastor at Olive Tree House of Prayer for All Nations in Banana Island, Lagos which is a Redeemed Christian Church of God Parish.

Professor Osinbajo is also the Ethics Adviser to the Advisory Board of the African Development Bank while he also serves as a director of Citibank (non-executive).

He is Senior Partner at Simmons-Cooper Partners law firm.

As a Professor of Law, he was the Head Of Department, Public Law at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) [1997-1999]

He obtained LLB degree at the University of Lagos and his LLM at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

He served as the Special Adviser to the Attorney General of Nigeria between 1988 and 1992.

In 1999, Professor Oshibajo became the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos state. And was re-appointed for a second term in the same office in 2003. During this period, he began the Lagos State justice reform project, which featured the establishment of the Directorate for Citizen’s Rights (DCR) which gave free legal services and legal representations to Lagos state’s less-privileged.



Sunday 7 December 2014

HOW TO TAP FROM BILLIONAIRE TONY ELUMELU WHO COMMITS $100 MILLION TO AFRICAN STARTUPS

Tony Elumelu

Tips On How NIGERIAN BILLIONAIRE COMMITS $100 MILLION TO AFRICAN STARTUPS !


Nigerian billionaire investor and philanthropist Tony Elumelu has committed $100 million to create 10,000 entrepreneurs across Africa over the next ten years, Forbes reports. Tony Elumelu Foundation has opened announment portal on social media to attract interested entrepreneurs to get ready for submitting their applications for financing their business ideas.
'' #AfricanEntrepreneurs start the new year with the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme and realise your entrepreneurial dreams! 25 days to go! #TEEP '' posted on facebook today 07/12/2014.

 “It is our opportunity to empower a generation,” said Elumelu.




Tony Elumelu, Rob Hersov of InvestAfrica and Anne Welsh at OOF Anniversary, pix by Lashley Oladigbolu London




CNNreported that''Tony Elumelu may have worked with world leaders,but now Nigerian billionaire investor Tony Elumelu is focusing on those yet to turn their business dream into reality.The chairman of pan-African investment company Heirs Holdings Limited has pledged $100 million to find and support 10,000 entrepreneurs throughout Africa.''
The Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur Programme was unveiled with a core mission  that seeks among others, inclusive economic philosophy of Africapitalism, based on the belief that a vibrant African-led private sector is the key to unlocking Africa’s economic and social potential; commitment to drive African economic growth through the empowering of African entrepreneurship; and a mission to ‘institutionalise luck’ by creating an environment where African entrepreneurs can get critical elements of support in the early stages of their business life.
 Tony Elumelu has derived an estimated $1 billion fortune from banking, energy, investments and real estate. 
  Earlier on 8 May 2014, at the World Economic Forun on Africa Mr Elumelu indicated how African entrepreneurs should be supported financially.
“The opportunity and challenge in Africa is scale – in our people, our resources and our horizons. In my business and philanthropic journeys, I have always sought ways to help inspire a generation across our continent. This programme brings together my own entrepreneurial experience and my fundamental belief that entrepreneurs – women and men across Africa – will lead Africa’s development and transform our futures.” - Tony Elumelu

http://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/pressreleases/tony-elumelu-foundation-entrepreneurship-programme-launch/The  Tony Elumelu Entrepreneural Program    (TEEP) will be backed by a $100 million grant from the Tony Elumelu Foundation, an African-based, African-funded philanthropic organization that supports entrepreneurship in Africa by enhancing the competitiveness of the African private sector. Interested entrepreneurs will be able to submit their applications to join the programme as from January 2015 through the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s website.  

 The foundation press release stated that "online application portal for the 2015 round of entries will open on 1 January 2015 and close on 1 March 2015. Entries are open to applicants from all 54 African countries and will be accepted in English, French and Portuguese. Website: 

www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/TEEP " . 



     London

Russia disowns Chad-bound arms-laden plane arrested in Nigeria

Grounded Chad-bound plane.... Photo Credit: Madquest ‏@Mansur295 via twitter
  The Russian government has denied that the aircraft, filled with military hardware, arrested in Nigeria Saturday has any link with Russia.
The Eastern European country said through its embassy in Nigeria that the plane wasn’t Russian and had no link with Russia.
“According to the information of the Embassy, the detained in Kano plane, allegedly carrying military hardware on board, is not Russian,” the Russia Embassy in Nigeria, tweeted via its handle @RusEmbNigeria  late Saturday.
Media reports had suggested Saturday that the aircraft, now being detained at the Aminu Kano Airport in Kano, originated from Russia.
The plane, loaded with arms, bullet proof vests and a chopper, is believed to be on its way to neighbouring Chad, when it was intercepted by Nigerian authorities.
Although it confirmed the aircraft was being held and investigated, the military did not say where it originated from and where it was headed.
“An Antonov Cargo aircraft carrying some military hardware was arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in the early hours of Saturday 6th Dec. 2014,” the military tweeted via its handle [@DefenceInfoNG].
“Investigation is ongoing to determine the content and origin of the aircraft. Further details will be made as soon as the investigation is completed.”
Security operatives at the Kano Airport had seized the plane when it landed at the facility at about 2a.m. Saturday as a result of technical problems.
Crew members of the airplane were immediately detained while investigations continued, officials said.
“Security has since been beefed up at the airport in order to ensure proper investigation,” the officials added.
The General Manager, Communications, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Yakubu Datti, confirmed the seizure of the plane.
He said the pilot sought permission to land at the airport after the plane developed problems.
“The plane had a technical problem and the pilot sought (for) permission to land at the airport’’, he said.
Mr. Datti said security agencies had since commenced investigation into the matter.
Security sources told PREMIUM TIMES the plane was travelling to N’djamena, the capital of Chad.
PR Nigeria, an agency known for distributing press statements on behalf of the Nigerian military, later circulated a statement saying the aircraft contained “a chopper tucked in it”.
“… Intense investigation is ongoing including using diplomatic means to unravel the mission of the aircraft, its origin and destination,” the statement said.
This is the third time since 2009 that planes loaded with arms would be arrested in Kano, our correspondent says.
The detained planes were later released after investigations.
The destination of the latest aircraft has however raised concerns amid increasing worries in Nigeria over Chad’s alleged role in the Boko Haram insurgency plaguing Nigeria’s northeast.
 


Friday 5 December 2014

ICC DROPS CASE AGAINST KENYAN PRESIDENT

Prosecutor Alleges Uncooperative Approach

The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensounda has accused the Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta of putting up an uncooperative approach which has necessitated the dropping of the case against him. Below is the full text of the statement issued by the prosecutor on Friday, as obtained by The Anchor Online:
“Statement of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, on the status of the Government of Kenya’s cooperation with the Prosecution’s investigations in the Kenyatta case
On the 3rd of December 2014, the Judges of Trial Chamber V (B) of the International Criminal Court (ICC) found that the Government of Kenya had failed to adequately cooperate with my investigations in the case against Mr. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta. The Chamber stated, “[it] finds that, cumulatively, the approach of the Kenyan Government […] falls short of the standard of good faith cooperation” and “that this failure has reached the threshold of non-compliance” required under the Rome Statute.
In its ruling, the Chamber, therefore, found, “[…] that the Kenyan Government’s non-compliance has not only compromised the Prosecution’s ability to thoroughly investigate the charges, but has ultimately impinged upon the Chamber’s ability to fulfill its mandate under Article 64, and in particular, its truth-seeking function in accordance with Article 69 (3) of the Statute.” This is a significant finding.
The Judges have thus determined the status of the Kenyan Government’s cooperation in the case against Mr. Kenyatta. Contrary to the Government of Kenya’s public pronouncements that it has fully complied with its legal obligations in this case, the ruling has confirmed that in fact it has breached its treaty obligations under the Rome Statute by failing to cooperate with my investigation.
I have persistently sought to secure the cooperation that my Office required from the Government of Kenya in this case in order to execute my mandate. Crucial documentary evidence regarding the 2007-2008 post-election violence, including concerning the conduct of the accused, can only be found in Kenya and is only accessible to the Prosecution through the assistance of the Government of Kenya. This crucial assistance was ultimately not provided, as confirmed by the recent decision of the Trial Chamber.
In addition to this failure on the part of the Government of Kenya, my Office has faced other severe challenges, which have hampered my ability to thoroughly investigate the 2007-2008 post-election violence, and ultimately, frustrated the investigations in this case. These include:

A steady and relentless stream of false media reports about the Kenya cases;
An unprecedented campaign on social media to expose the identity of protected witnesses in the Kenya cases;
Concerted and wide-ranging efforts to harass, intimidate and threaten individuals who would wish to be witnesses.
To be sure, the Government of Kenya’s failure to provide my Office important records has had a severe adverse impact on this case. It has deprived the victims of their right to know the full account of what transpired in 2007-2008. It has further undermined my ability to carry out a full investigation. And finally, it has prevented the Judges from carrying out their critical functions of assessing the evidence and determining the truth.
Ultimately, the hurdles we have encountered in attempting to secure the cooperation required for this investigation have in large part, collectively and cumulatively, delayed and frustrated the course of justice for the victims in this case”.

Source: Office of the Prosecutor
Culled from The Anchor

Thursday 4 December 2014

BOKO HARAM HIT GOMBE, ASHAKA CEMENT EXPLOSIVES CARTED AWAY!

Residents of Bajoga, in Gombe State were on Thursday roused from sleep by booming sounds from automatic rifles as the Boko Haram terrorist group hit the town for the secondt time in about one month.

The attack, which started in the early hours of Thursday has received attention from military forces who have moved in to curb the insurgents.

In the last attack on the town which hosts the Ashaka Cement company, the terrorists occupied the cement company for hours and left with a number of pick up vans loaded with explosives.

Members of the group have intensified their activities in parts of the country in the last one week. Kano, Damaturu and Maiduguri have come under attack within the last few days.

Terrorism: Military Gets New Order From Jonathan, Gowon.

President Goodluck Jonathan and former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, have ordered the Nigerian Armed Forces, especially the military, to crush Boko Haram members and maintain security in the country.

The new order was given on Tuesday at the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference 2014 in Ibom Le Meridien Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, ThisDay reports.

Nigerian Army personnel in Chibok, Borno State

The President, who was represented by the Minister of Defence, Lt-Gen. Aliyu Gusau (rtd) ordered the Nigerian Armed Forces to take immediate and necessary action to redeem its floundering image by wiping out the sect, adding that Nigerians depend on the armed forces for the security, peace and stability of the country.

“At this juncture, let me reiterate that the nation continues to look up to the military particularly the Nigerian Army, at this challenging moment in our history,” he said.

Jonathan, however, applauded the gallantry of the military in the ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations in the North-east and assured Nigerians that the state of insecurity would soon become a thing of the past.

“As you deliberate on contemporary security challenges facing our nation and re–strategise to meet them, I am convinced that you will apply the traditional vigour and dedication, for which the Army is noted, to bear on achieving the objectives of this conference. Therefore, I am confident that the nation will sooner than later overcome the current challenges and usher in a new era of peace, unity, progress and development. As we pray for the repose of the departed souls, we must remain resolute to address those issues that will make every part of our dear country a safe and secure place to honour their memories and enhance our national development,” Jonathan said.

Speaking also at the occasion, Gowon ordered the military to urgently retrieve every inch of the Nigerian territory occupied by the Boko Haram sect members.

The former military head of state that was also represented by the former Military Governor of Lagos State, Brig-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), condemned the situation where soldiers reportedly abandon their weapons to the terrorists and flee the battlefield to neighbouring countries for safety.

“To be honest with you, I have heard of stories about our soldiers running away in the face of fire and abandoning their weapons, soldiers throwing away their uniforms and equipment running away to neighbouring countries and even handing over their weapon to these countries. Could this be true? I have known our soldiers to be braver, gallant and more professional than that,” Gowon said.

Gowon hinted that during the critical period in the civil war, he had limited ammunition of only 500,000 rounds to fight the war but was later helped by private citizens to acquire 15 million rounds of ammunition within a short period of asking, and tasked the military to make best use of the $1 billion loan to procure the equipment required to fight the war.

He further disclosed that most Nigerians in both ‘high and low places’ were not happy with the fact the military that is supposed to protect the territorial integrity as well as the people from internal and external threat seems to be losing ground to the terrorists.

Gowon said the pictures of Boko Haram he had seen, apart from being mounted on Toyota vehicles, show that they look rag tag and are certainly not a threat to a well trained and better soldiers like the Nigerian Army.

The ex-military President told COAS, Lt-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, and commanders in the Nigerian Army to quickly correct the negative perception about the soldiers who have in the past had records of professionalism and competence.

“Are we short of equipment? We can buy directly from friendly and obliging governments as I did during the civil war. Yes, we can also buy from other sources (which is called or referred to as black market), but, do it properly. I have not lost confidence in our armed forces. I want you to retrieve your honour by reversing some of these lapses into successes, losses into victories; negative opinions into positive opinions. I charge you to go all out to flush those insurgents (Boko Haram) out of our territories all the way right back to where they came from. That is the task that the Armed Forces, especially the army must do, must accomplish without delay. I trust you will win,” he said.

Responding, Minimah assured the country of the Army’s cardinal duty to defend Nigeria from external aggression, maintain its territorial integrity, suppress insurrection and provide aid to civil authorities.

The COAS explained that the conference offers them opportunity to deliberate and re–strategise for better outcomes in future operations.

“The upsurge of terrorism and violent extremism in the North-east of our country has remained the most significant threat facing our dear country today,” Minimah said.

Meanwhile, this new order is coming against the backdrop of the reports that soldiers and youth vigilante killed scores of Boko Haram insurgents in Konduga, Borno State, when the militants attempted to advance to Maiduguri.

Tuesday 2 December 2014

Read: The 14-Count IMPEACHMENT NOTICE To Nigerian President!

-Senators level 14 impeachment allegations against Jonathan.

As Nigeria is drawing closer to the general elections some members of the Senate have levelled 14 impeachable allegations against President Goodluck Jonathan.

Top on the list of the allegations is Jonathan’s alleged refusal to sign 120 bills into law.

The Senators calling for the President’s impeachment are also said to be fine-tuning the impeachment allegations before submitting the request before Senate President David Mark.

Among the allegations are Jonathan’s inability to end Boko Haram and rescue the abducted Chibok girls, undue politicisation of the security situation; failure to act as de facto President; $10.8billion missing from the Federation Account; squandering of N10billion private jets; and sloppiness/ failure in governance.

Others include: “alleged violation of the constitution/ Oath of Office; failure to implement recommendations of panels/ committees; setting up of ill-conceived, “nebulous” groups like TAN for re-election campaign outside the Electoral Act; failure to establish and inaugurate the Nigeria Police Council; illegal deployment of Armed Forces and sowing seed of hatred and turning one part of the country against the other.”

Although it has been reported that 63 senators are currently backing the impeachment moves, a copy of the allegations sighted in Abuja, showed that only 16 senators had signed.

However, a Senator who didn’t want to be named explained why only 16 signatures were on the document.

“We are embarking on signatures drive as I am talking to you. Senators are vetting the allegations before appending signatures.

“We have secured the consent of more than 63 senators who are expected to sign up in the next few days. And the senators are from both the PDP and the APC,” the Senator said.

The allegations read: “The President as the Head of government has worked to undermine the effective performance of other arms of government, especially the legislature, by constantly frustrating peaceful and harmonious co-existence among other arms of government. In performing their constitutional responsibility of lawmaking, the legislature passes bills to be assented to by the President before they become laws of the federation.

“The President has consistently and consciously failed to sign bills and motions passed on to him by the parliament, thereby making the position of the legislative arm of government untenable. At the last count, the President has refused to assent to about 120 bills passed by the current National Assembly. He has not sent any communication as to their rejection as stipulated in Section 58 (1) (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Motions and other legislative instruments have suffered similar, if not worse, fate.

The senators also said they are holding Jonathan liable for allegedly not doing enough to address the Boko Haram insurgency and communal conflicts in various states.

The Notice of Impeachment states: “The President, as Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces and Chief Security Officer of the nation, has failed to ensure the protection of lives and properties. Mindless carnage by the Boko Haram insurgents, especially in the Northeast, recurrent violence in states like Taraba, Adamawa, Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa etc are manifest examples of how the President has failed to exert the enormous powers inherent in his office.

“This total failure of leadership has not only served to threaten the corporate existence of the country, it has taken an untoward toll on the development and progress of the nation.

“The President has in an unprecedented manner reduced the Office of the President to an object of ridicule both locally and in the eyes of the international community, thereby reducing both the country and our hitherto respected Armed Forces into laughing stock.

“As we speak, over 200 of our female children have been abducted for over five months while some parts of our territorial space had been overtaken by the unrelenting insurgents. Yet, the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces has displayed acute sense of cluelessness on how to tackle the security challenges.

“The general impression out there is that the President is thoroughly overwhelmed and, therefore, incapable of inspiring our gallant men and women of the Armed Forces who are daily killed and maimed owing largely to the incompetence of their Commander-In-Chief.

“Just recently, a large number of our troops ran to safety in neighbouring Cameroon in the face of massive onslaught from the insurgents. The fact that our renowned military had to find succour with our little brother next door is the greatest indictment yet on the capability of the Commander-In-Chief to rally his men and boost their morale.

“For unduly politicising the security situation, the President has shown beyond all measure of doubt that he has neither the courage nor the sense of judgement to tackle the issue headlong. Evidence abounds to show that the President and his handlers by living in denial as to the abduction of Chibok girls, gave the insurgents more than three weeks head start.

“The President, in his capacity as Head of State has woefully abdicated state responsibilities and severely undermined the capacity of our security agencies by passing a “vote of no confidence” on the Nigeria Police and Armed Forces to protect our strategic and vital infrastructures, like the pipelines.

“A case of this failure was the award of non-appropriated Oil Facility Protection Contract worth N3.6b to a private firm (Oil Facilities Surveillance Limited) controlled by ex militants,” the document alleged.

On corruption, they said Jonathan hasn’t failed to address the situation.

The senators added: “The President as the Head of State is under obligation to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power as envisaged by Section 15 (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Since his assumption of office, corruption in Nigeria has assumed frightening proportion. For the first time in our history, corruption is almost elevated to a state craft where known corrupt Nigerians are either friends or employees of the government headed by the President.

“From Stella Oduah (Minister of Aviation) to AbdulRasheed Maina of the pension scam, to how the Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has refused to account for $10.8billion missing from the Federation Account or how she allegedly squandered N10billion to fly private jets in two years or even how the NNPC under her watch managed to pay subsidy monies to kerosene marketers for three years without appropriation, thereby contravening Section 80 (1)-(4) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), it has been a season of unbridled corruption.

“All of the names mentioned above are close friends and supporters of the government and have been seen hobnobbing with the President in public even when facing charges of abuse of office and corruption.”

According to them, Jonathan has allegedly sowed the seed of hatred and has turned one part of the country against the other.

The document said: “As the de facto President, instead of working to unite the country by advocating true nationalism and patriotism, the President has sought to take advantage of our religious and ethnic differences through divisive and sectarian policies and politics. By continually, through his innuendos and body language, suggesting that a particular section or group of people of a particular faith or ethnicity is an enemy of the country, the President has consciously sowed the seed of hatred and turned one part of the country against the other.

“For threatening the fragile peace and unity of the nation by his unprecedented clannishness and cronyism, the President has acted in ways unbecoming of a President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Failing to foster a sense of belonging and involvement among the various people of the federation, to the end that loyalty to the nation shall override sectional loyalties, the President has violated Sections 15 (2), (3) (a) and (b) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

“For failing to establish and inaugurate the Nigeria Police Council as envisaged by the Constitution, the President swore on oath to uphold and defend, he has breached/violated the extant provisions of Section 153 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Section 217 (2) (c) of the Constitution said, ‘the Federation shall, subject to an Act of the National Assembly made in that behalf, equip and maintain the armed forces as may be considered adequate and effective for the purpose of – suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the President, but subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.

Therefore the powers vested on the President by virtue of the combined effects of Sections 217 (2) (c) and 218 (1) to determine the operational use of the Armed Forces of the Federation, are not absolute and in fact subject to the supervising authority of the National Assembly as expressly stipulated by the Constitution. Section 218 (4) clearly states that, ‘the National Assembly shall have power to make laws for the regulations of – (a) the powers exercisable by the President as Commander –in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation; and (b) the appointment, promotion and disciplinary control of members of the armed forces of the Federation.’

However, a Senator, who is in support of Jonathan described the impeachment threat as false and accused the Senators promoting it as “just playing to the gallery.”

“There is nothing like the impeachment process against President Goodluck Jonathan. Some senators are just playing to the gallery.

“Even if they attempt to serve a notice of impeachment, they cannot get the required one-third of members of the National Assembly to push it through. Those of us in PDP will never allow the tyranny of the minority to take place in the National Assembly,” the Senator said.

Follow us on Twitter  @nujenews

Military Nabs Abductor of Chibok Girls.

Almost three months after Boko Haram terrorists abducted more than 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, the military announced, yesterday, that it has arrested one of the sect’s leaders, who was one of the abductors.

This came on a day the sect members bombed a Divisional Police Headquarters in Shani Local Government Area of Borno State and also attacked an emir’s palace. The alleged abductor of the Chibok girls, whose name was given as Babuji Ya’ari, was also said to have led the attack in which the Emir of Gwoza, Alh. Idriss Timta, was killed a few weeks ago.

The Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja, yesterday, that Ya’ari doubled as member of the Youth Vigilante Group, popularly known as Civilian JTF. According to the Defence spokesman, the Boko Haram kingpin used his membership of the civilian JTF only as a cover, as he has been coordinating deadly attacks in Borno State since 2011. He added that the arrest of Ya’ari led to the arrest of several other Boko Haram intelligence cell members. Olukolade said that those arrested had confessed their involvement with the deadly sect and named several others who were being trailed.

The full text reads: “A terrorists’ intelligence cell headed by a businessman, who participated actively in the abduction of School Girls in Chibok has been busted by troops. The man, Babuji Ya’ari, who is also a member of the Youth Vigilante Group popularly known as Civilian JTF which he uses as cover while remaining an active terrorist, also spearheaded the murder of the Emir of Gwoza. His main role in the group is to spy and gather information for the terrorist group.

“Babuji has been coordinating several deadly attacks in Maiduguri since 2011, including the daring attacks on Customs and military locations as well as the planting of IEDs in several locations in the town."

INVESTIGATION: The deadly world of Nigeria’s quack doctors

You would be shocked to face this reality!

INVESTIGATION: Inside the dirty, deadly world of Nigeria’s quack doctors

A quack doctor and his 'clinic' in Delta StateAnas Aremeyaw Anas (Ghana) and Rosemary Nwaebuni (Nigeria)

A powerful pack of professional fraudsters parading as medical practitioners are on the prowl in various parts of Nigeria and Ghana, practicing and promoting quackery at exorbitant prices and great risk to people’s health.

They prey on poor people, pervert the healthcare system and plunge their powerless patients into endless pain and, sometimes, permanent paralysis and deformity.

Vulnerable and pregnant people are particularly exploited by these quacks who pose as qualified medical doctors.

Every person needs medical attention at a point in his or her life and the desperate need for healthcare have sometimes driven especially the poor and vulnerable to the hands of persons NOT qualified to treat them: Quack medics!

The end result of this desperation is irreparable physical and internal deformity, complication of existing ailment, and in some cases, death.

Reporter Anas Areyemaw Anas makes the journey to Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria to collaborate with a colleague, Rosemary Nwaebuni, to undertake an undercover operation to lift the lid off fraudulently operating ‘doctors,’ whose activities are on the rise across the country.

Quackery appears to be widespread in both Ghana and Nigeria. The two countries do not appear to be doing enough to solve the problem.

A majority of these ‘doctors’ in Ghana and Nigeria use the conduct of abortions as the bedrock of their practice. The reason for this is that abortion is considered to be a crime and society general frowns at it-thus pregnant women, desperate to conceal their actions, usually find themselves patronising quacks.

The ‘doctors’ employ crude means to conduct illegal abortions for young women. Some of these young women who survive find themselves living with the harrowing reality of infertility thereafter. Some others end up being deformed while the families of several others are only able to tell the stories of how their loved ones suffered complications till death.

THE DRAMA OF UPROOTING THE DECADENCE
The incidence of quack doctors is a major headache for health authorities across Nigeria. The authorities have almost always looked on helplessly when confronted with the issue. Their excuse being that it is difficult to prove the activities of such criminals.

The need to provide evidence so badly sought by authorities informed the decision to go undercover to expose the criminals masquerading as doctors.

This reporter and a Nigerian colleague, Rosemary, set out to meet one Johnson Chukwudi, a pharmacist who specializes in illegal abortions. He carries out the operation at the back of his pharmacy.

Playing the role of Rosemary’s boyfriend who had accompanied her to undertake the procedure, the reporter insisted that he stayed by her side during the pregnancy test. ‘Dr.’ Chukwudi agreed.

He did not conduct any test on Rosemary, neither did the pharmacist-turned-‘doctor’ ask for any symptoms of the pregnancy. It turned out that his main interest was the money he would receive from us for the abortion.

His test was weird; it took ‘Dr.’ Chukwudi less than five minutes to conclude that Rosemary was pregnant. He merely poked her in the belly a few times, and declared, “It is there”, meaning a foetus was present and the abortion could be done.

Our team managed to convince him that we would be back for the abortion to be carried out at a later date. Our plan was to come back with the police to arrest Mr. Chukwudi.

On the planned day of his arrest, it turned out that information of our intended raid of his ‘clinic’ with the police had leaked to him and he absconded by the time we reached his premises.

THE AUSTIN ROYAL CLINIC WIZARDRY

The team’s next stop was the Austin Royal Clinic at Oleh in the Niger Delta District. The quack doctor here was one ‘Deacon’ Austin Awhotu. Curiously,is clinic had an organized ambience. The place was well demarcated, well furnished and kept in an orderly manner.

An earlier meeting with the doctor took place in a pharmacy belonging him. The plan was for Rosemary to feign signs of severe heart attack, loss of appetite, insomnia, general body weakness and swelling in a part of her body where she had allegedly had an earlier surgery.

‘Dr.’ Awhotu claimed the wound from the earlier surgery had not died completely and that he would only prescribe some drugs for Rosemary- drugs that could be bought from his pharmacy. Again, we asked to return at a later date for further tests and to buy the drugs.

When we returned to the clinic, we observed that the entire medical diagnosis at the clinic was usually done with an unlicensed and controversial device called the Quantum Resonance Analyzer (QRA).

This time round, the team came in with three friends to test how true it was that the clinic was notorious for diagnosing people for illnesses the people did not have and prescribing drugs to that effect.

THE QRA PROCESS

The patient is asked to sit in a chair and handed a silvery object, the size of a ball pen, whiles another gadget is strapped to their muscles. After a few minutes of tweaking and working the other end of the gadget in the hand; the results pop unto a computer screen and one of two nurses in charge prints out a report for the patient.

After the first result, a second test is ordered. This other test entails poking parts of the palm, particularly the artery lines with a gadget that has a cord linked to a ‘medical’ box of sorts.

The nurse then produced a report that reads like this: “BP 124/64, MMHG 63 b/m, prostrate P/H, Small and big intestine P/H, lungs inflammation P/H, Headache P/H, Cold and Cough mildly seen, Sugar level P/H, Right brain affected!”

And with that, the persons this reporter went with, who had been passed healthy by a qualified medical officer, were diagnosed by the QRA as having typhoid, malaria or both and other serious ailments. This leg of the investigation gave a fair idea of how these quacks diagnose non-existent ailments.

FACE TO FACE WITH QUACKERY

Our team’s investigation led us to three medics reputed for their ‘illegal’ work. They were each invited at different times to a rented house in Sapele in Southern Nigeria to conduct an examination on Rosemary who posed as a sick wife.

In order to lay hands on the evidence badly needed by the Nigerian health authorities for prosecution, we first rigged the house with hidden cameras. The main one was fixed to the ceiling of the room where ‘sick’ Rosemary laid.

The first doctor to be invited in was Chris Emesakoro. Unknown to him, Rosemary had rehearsed symptoms of serious heart attack over the last few days. He went ahead to side step all symptoms of heart attack as best as Rosemary exhibited them and diagnosed her as having malaria and typhoid.

During the examination, this reporter asked if he was a medical doctor – the capacity in which he was invited, he responded in the negative, revealing instead that he only run a pharmacy shop.

Anas: Doctor, which place are you a doctor?
Emesakoro: No, I run a pharmacy shop. I’m not a hospital doctor.

The second to come in was one Nurse Charity. She went straight to prescribe drugs for the patient without any examination whatsoever. Like Chris, she also failed to identify the heart attack symptoms. This was a clear sign that she lacked the relevant training to do the job that she had taken upon herself.

One ‘Dr.’ Sapele was the last to come in, he diagnosed Rosemary as suffering malaria after pouncing his hand on her abdomen in a rather weird manner. He diagnosed the swollen leg symptom as having to do with her sleeping posture.

BEER BAR ABORTION DOCTOR

Mr. and Mrs. Aigbe Ogboru operate a beer parlour in Sapele Local Government Area in Delta State, it turned out that they use the place as a cover up for a thriving abortion business.

Their facility is located in a densely populated area in Sapele, after a market popularly known as Ghana market. It operates in a building housing a few line shops.

A stone throw from this very building is a restaurant in a canopy at the front of an uncompleted building, operated by the sham doctor’s wife, in another line of shops.

We were tipped off by locals about the activities of the couple who were ably assisted by their sales girl in the restaurant/beer parlour.

The wife plays the role of a “counsellor”. She sweet-talks a patient and is always on hand to give assurances of an incident-free operation.

On the team’s first visit, our story was simple; we needed to carry out an initial diagnosis of pregnancy and then promised to come back on a later date for the abortion to be conducted.

On the said date, the ‘’counsellor’’ told us to pay 500 naira consultation fee first and then she took us to her husband at the bar. They both took us to the inner room which had a bed for examination and abortion.

The wife examined Rosemary and said, “your pregnancy is advanced o and you have taken drugs. Why did you take drugs? Taking drugs is not good. It is going to make your bills high now”. She made that diagnosis just by examining Rosemary with her fingers. She charged us 10,000 naira for the abortion.

Her husband came and did his own examination, repeating what his wife said but adding that because Rosemary had taken drugs and was in pains, the abortion would cost 15,000 naira.

He said he would inject her before commencing the abortion. After much negotiation, he insisted on 11,000 naira for the abortion. So we promised to go raise the funds and then return for the abortion.

As we were stepping out of the bar, a lady was being ushered in for abortion.

On the day fixed for the abortion, ‘pregnant’ Rosemary and I returned to the place with the plan to signal a police team we had arranged to swoop on the ‘clinic’. But not before I had made payment to Mrs. Ogboru. I had marked all the naira notes I used in payment.

Those five minutes when ‘Dr.’ Ogboru was preparing the operating room were very tense moments for the team- what if the police failed to come in on time. Could anything go wrong? we wondered.

But everything went well. As soon as he was about asking for his next victim to come in for the operation to commence, the police came in and arrested him.

His wife – the “counsellor’’ denied receiving payment for the abortion until a Senior Medical Officer of the Nigerian Health Service, Dr. Alfred Efiakoba, who accompanied our team on the raid, revealed that the bills this reporters gave to her were all marked.

The couple were escorted to the police station and detained.

‘DR.’ CHARLES IGUDALA’S ‘IDES OF MARCH’

Royal Dictac is one of the health facilities in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria, believed to be involved in unethical medical practices. It was this reason that informed its raid by health ministry officials. They discovered that the ‘doctor’ here, one Charles Igudala, gave every patient – old and young, man or woman – the same drug and injection, irrespective of their complaints and medical history.

He was our next target. We claimed this reporter needed medical diagnosis. During his time at Royal Dictact, the reporter found that Mr. Igudala was not only a quack, but also that his quackery knew no bounds. He used the same syringe multiple times for different patients!

Charles Igudala’s Royal Dictac operates from an auburn-colour painted bungalow housing five small offices created using plywood. The offices, in close proximity, serve as Waiting Room, Consulting Room, Drugs Room, Children’ Waiting Ward, among others.

It is situated in a dirty environment next to a setback and canal, but that is not the only offensive sight around Royal Dictac. At the facility, you find a dirty, wet and obviously disused red-colour rug on the ground some distance away from the entrance.

In fact, its interior seems to have learnt so much from its dirty surroundings that the first thought that easily comes to mind upon entry is that dirt lives inside Royal Dictac. Inside, absurdity defined by dirt, awkward behaviour and conspiracy of the heartless, walks on all fours.

From the unkempt lounge, where sand from foot wears and creeping ants comfortably forms part of the absurd convenience in a hospital that is supposed to treat patients and teach them healthy living, a young man, ostensibly, the facility’s ‘Pharmacist,’ administers drugs from behind a dirty-looking counter, often picking up tablets that fall to the floor!

Like the sick desperate for medical attention, Royal Dictac itself is sick and needs thorough cleaning. From the floor to the plywood partitions; from ceiling fans to the doors; and from the tiled sit-out before its entrance up to its ageing roofing sheets, you find bold signatures of dirt.

A total sham and caricature of what a hospital should be, Royal Dictac qualifies for an immediate danger alert.

The plan was for the police team positioned around the clinic to come in and accost Mr. Igudala just when he was about to administer an injection on me as was his usual practice.

After necessary preliminary ‘tests’, this reporter waited in angst as the ‘Dr.’ left to fetch one of the used syringes that he had been using for multiple patients. The police however quickly came in and arrested our “doctor”.

A visibly worried Mr. Igudala furiously challenged the authorities and claimed to be a certified medical practitioner in Bulgaria. A transcript of our interaction with him is produced below:

Rosemary:Do you have your certificates with you?
Igudala: They are there. I left them behind.

Alfred & Rosemary: Where?
Igudala: In Bulgaria.
Alfred: Even if you studied in Bulgaria if you come to Nigeria, you must register with the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council.

Anas: Is that how things should be done?
Alfred: Old syringes. He’s using old syringes and needles. Look here, behind here.

Anas: What about this side? What is this behind here? What are those?
Anas: What about those lined up there?
Alfred: These are supposed to be drip lines, after you’ve finished you’re supposed to discard them.
Rosemary: These are medicine prescriptions, stuff like that.

These series of investigations has successfully established the proliferation of quack doctors in Nigeria, obtained hard core evidence of their activities and also led to the arrest of two notorious quacks who have been handed over to law enforcement agencies.

The two undercover reporters
PROF ALEX DODOO’S VIEW: LACK OF LEGAL ENFORCEMENT

Speaking on the matter, the director of the World Health Organizations’ Pharmacovigilance centre in Ghana, Prof Alex Dodoo; who monitors drug and patient safety and, has dealt with quacks for years, blames the scourge on a lack of proper legislation.

“These people are able to evade detection or reopen quickly for only one reason -lack of enforcement of existing legislation. Our ability to regulate is so weak that even when we know we should go and check every day, we don’t have the personnel to go and check.”

He goes further to liken the patronizing of services of quacks to agreeing to fly in an aircraft without a qualified pilot.

“If the one is not licensed by the state, anything that one does is illegal. Going to see them is dangerous. Period! Would you sit in an aeroplane where the pilot says “OK hello, I’m the pilot, but I’ve not been licensed?” No way! You put your health at risk and you can die,” he said.

GHANA’S DIRTY STORY

These stories of charlatans parading as doctors, is similar to a New Crusading GUIDE publication in September 2013. The story titled: ‘Abortion Sex Lord’, exposed the activities of one ‘Dr. Drah,’ who was illegally operating an abortion clinic here in Madina, a suburb of Accra.

The Universal Mission Clinic, which he runs, has all the features of a clinic and any sick person would visit the facility hoping to get quality health care.

It turned out that under all the niceness that the exterior of the clinic presented, Mr. Drah’s main job was conducting abortion for young ladies who visited his facility. He was an expert in aborting foetuses irrespective of the stage of the pregnancy.

Abortion is illegal in Ghana, and since Mr. Drah was engaging in it, he was committing offence. The bigger crime had to do with convincing most of these young ladies in the middle of an abortion that having sex with them would make the process much easier and painless.

We captured him on hidden camera undressing in the middle of several abortions to have unprotected sex with his victims before continuing with the procedure which largely entailed putting his hands into the lower crevices of his clients. The bloody contents were always deposited in a small bucket and, as we learnt, flushed down his septic tank.

The case was reported to the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service leading to his arrest and subsequent prosecution. He admitted that he had never attended medical school and was not a doctor. He also admitted to the act of having sex with his patients in the theatre room. This reporter has personally testified in the case in court.

Mr. Drah is currently on bail and our checks very recently points to the fact that he is back in the business of conducting these abortions in the very same clinic! This can only mean that no steps were taken by the regulatory agencies to shut the clinic down and to ensure that the general public knew that Drah was nothing but a quack.

Mr. Anas (Ghana) and Ms. Nwaebuni (Nigeria) conducted this investigation for Al Jazeera’s Africa Investigates Project. It was sent to us for publication by one of the authors.

 

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