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The US has warned that the Boko Haram insurgent group is planning to carry out attacks during Nigeria’s forthcoming general election.

A security alert was issued to this effect by the US embassy in Nigeria.

According to the alert posted on its website on Friday, the insurgent group plans to attack security and infrastructure, as well as markets, hotels, and malls.

“There is an increase in ISIS propaganda videos specifically directed to Nigeria and the ongoing civil unrest in Borno state and the Northeast,” the alert read.

“ISIS West Africa (ISWA) and Boko Haram have both stated they plan to disrupt the upcoming 2019 presidential elections by conducting attacks on Nigerian Security and infrastructure, as well as places of gathering such as markets, hotels, and malls.

“While we have no specific threat information to the U.S. Embassy or within Nigeria during the election season, U.S. citizens in Nigeria should remember to follow personal security precautions on a regular basis.”

The embassy urged its citizens to “carry proper identification, including a US passport with a current Nigerian visa, if needed” and to
“exercise caution when walking or driving at night”.

It also advised US citizens avoid crowds and demonstrations, keep a low profile and to “stay alert in public places, including schools, hospitals, government facilities, places of worship, tourist locations, and transportation hubs”.

The presidential and national assembly elections will take place February 16 while the governorship and state assemblies polls will be held March 2.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday urged Nigerians to appreciate President Muhammad Buhari for the little he has done in the last three years and eight months and allow him to go home peacefully.

Obasanjo added that Nigerians should also summon the courage to tell themselves the country deserves better at this critical time than what Buhari is capable of offering.

The elder statesman who made this known while addressing the press at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, also declared that the nation “needs a man with better physical and mental soundness, with an active mind and intellect” to pilot its affairs.

In a text titled “Points For Concern & Action,” the former Head of States warned that “another Abacha era is here” in Nigeria, citing the misuse of security institutions to fight all critics and opponents of the President, ostensibly to derail the fledging democracy as reason for his submission.

He noted that he too is being threatened, stressing that Buhari has succeeded in deceiving Nigerians.

Obasanjo said: “Today, another Abacha Era is here. The security institutions are being misused to fight all critics and opponents of Buhari and to derail our fledgling democracy. EFCC, Police and Code of Conduct Tribunal are also being equally misused to deal with those Buhari sees as enemies for criticising him or as those who may not do his bidding in manipulating election results.

“Criticism, choice and being different are inherent trade mark of democracy. If democracy is derailed or aborted, anarchy and authoritarianism will automatically follow.

“Today, as in the day of Abacha, Nigerians must rise up and do what they did in the time of Abacha. Churches and Mosques prayed. International community stood by us Nigerians. I was a beneficiary and my life was saved. Well-meaning Nigerians took appropriate actions and made sacrifices, some supreme, some less than supreme but God had the final say and He took the ultimate action.”

Obasanjo was jailed for life by Abacha on 1995 over an alleged coup plot, but he was released in 1998 after the death of the military ruler.

He was then twice elected president of Nigeria, from 1999 to 2007, having been a military head of state himself from 1976 to 1979.

The former president also expressed “serious concern” over the integrity, impartiality and competence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a credible election.

He said going by the Osun state gubernatorial election, the forthcoming polls may have “incidences of deliberately contrived, broken or non-working voting machines or card readers, confusion of voters as to their voting stations, inadequate supply of voting materials to designated places, long line to discourage voters and turning blind eyes to favour the blue-eye political party of INEC because the Commission’s hands will be tied to enable hatchet men and women to perform their unwholesome assignment”.

He said the transmission and collation of results are subject to interference, manipulation and meddling while noting that Amina Zakari has become too controversial to take part in the elections.

Obasanjo urged Zakari to “stay out” and “not be seen as a source of contamination of the elections”.

He also accused the All Progressives Congress of “recruiting collation officers who are already awarding results based on their projects to actualise the perpetuation agenda in which the people will not matter and the votes will not count”.

Obasanjo said the alleged recruitment is the “sole reason” the president refused to sign the revised Electoral Reform Bill into law.

The former president also criticised Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo over the “suspect timing” of the implementation of the Trader Moni scheme.

He said: “What an act by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria lawyer, number 2 man in the Executive hierarchy; and what is more, a pastor of one of the Christian movements led by a revered, respected and upright church leader, Pastor E. A. Adeboye. Osinbajo must have gone for, “if you can’t beat them, join them”.

“A great pity indeed and which makes people ask the questions, “Any hope?” Yes, for me, there is hope.

“Osinbajo has shown the human weakness and proved the saying that the corruption of the best is the worst form of corruption. His explanation that it was their government programme can only be construed to be very shallow and lopsided, if not an outrightly idiotic programme.

“Those who criticise the action are called evil but they are not evil as they know what they are doing and saying, and they love Nigeria and Nigerians not less than the likes of Osinbajo. They are not devils incarnate; they are patriots.

“What is the connection between taking the number of PVC (Permanent Voters Card) of the recipient of the N10,000 doled out to ‘traders’ and the forthcoming election? There is something sinister about it, and Professor Osinbajo, of all people, should know that.”

Obasanjo urged Nigerians that are “being intimidated or threatened” to persevere, saying “tough times do not last forever”.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to pick the date and time that would be convenient for him to debate with him and other presidential candidates.

In a statement shared on his verified Twitter handle, shortly after he walked out of the presidential debate venue, Atiku said, he would be unable to participate in the debate due to the absence of the President, who is the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

He tweeted, With respect to my fellow candidates, Fela Durotoye, Oby Ezekwesili, Kingsley Moghalu & to moderator Mark Sugar & with apologies to Nigerians here & at home expecting an interesting debate, I regret I will not be able to go on with this debate due to President Buhari’s absence.

“I, however, challenge President Buhari to choose a date and time for a debate where he will be present and I will be there, hopefully with the other candidates as well.”

The presidential debate is organised by the Nigeria Elections Debate Group and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria.

The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who is also the APC Presidential Candidate in the forthcoming Presidential Election, President Muhammadu Buhari, could not attend the Presidential Debate organised by the Nigeria Election Debate Group and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria which held today, Saturday, January 19, 2019 for the following reasons:

Firstly, out of several opportunities afforded our candidate to interact with the Nigerian people directly by different organisations, our presidential candidate has taken full advantage of another town-hall meeting organized by another group which held on Wednesday, January 16, 2019. He was also joined at that town-hall meeting by our Vice-Presidential candidate who is also the Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. Nigerians from all walks of life who were physically present and through on-line platforms asked uncensored questions which were adequately answered. It was also transmitted live by various broadcast networks in Nigeria.

In addition, the busy and hectic official and campaign schedules of Mr. President clashed with this programme. Today, Mr. President commissioned the Baro Inland Water Port in Niger State and campaigned in Niger and Plateau States where his time was over-stretched by the tumultuous and mammoth crowds in both States, (as seen by Nigerians on live television) and only returned to Abuja late this evening.

Whilst we thank the organisers for the invitation, we want to assure Nigerians that we shall continue to hold these debate groups and Nigerians in high esteem which our candidate has demonstrated during past election debates when he honoured similar invitations. Nigerians will also recall that a few weeks ago, our Vice-Presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, also attended the debate organized by the same organisations.

Lastly, we note the statement of the candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who actually came for the event and left the venue when he did not see Mr. President, who is our candidate. According to him, he would not want to “attack” Mr. President in his absence.

It should now be obvious to Nigerians that for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the PDP, this election is all about attacking the person and programmes of Mr. President and not about proffering their own solutions to the problems they created during their sixteen years of misrule, maladministration and looting of the nation’s resources. When they cannot see President Buhari to attack, the content of their campaign becomes hollow, empty and “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”. Now that Atiku Abubakar had a unique opportunity to explain to Nigerians his own vision and mission without a President Buhari in the picture, he ran away. Afterall, he has his own eight years of crass and grand corruption as Vice President to defend before the Nigerian people.

On February 16, 2019 we urge Nigerians to demonstrate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the PDP, through their votes, how empty indeed their campaign has always been and to vote massively for President Muhammadu Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN who have started the rebuilding process of our great nation.

Thank you.

FESTUS KEYAMO,SAN, FCIArb (UK)

Director, Strategic Communications,

APC Presidential Campaign Council.

Mrs Theresa Jimoh, the mother of business mogul, Jimoh Ibrahim, has been killed in an early morning fire incident in Lagos.

The victim, who was about 76 years old, was in her house at Victoria Garden City, in Lagos, when a fire broke out at about 2 am on Saturday.

She was allegedly burnt to death before the inferno was put out by firefighters from the Lagos State Fire Service.

The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, confirmed the incident.

He noted that the remains of the deceased have been deposited in a morgue, adding that investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.

The late Mrs Jimoh had moved to VGC, closer to her billionaire son after she was freed by kidnappers who abducted her in 2011.

She was kidnapped in Igbotako, in Ondo State and released in Sapele, Delta State after her family had reportedly paid a huge ransom.

Her son, Jimoh, now lives mostly in Dubai.

Late Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, former chief of defence staff (CDS), will be buried on January 23 at the national military cemetery in Abuja.

According to a statement by John Agim, acting director of defence information, the remains of late CDS will be committed to mother earth at 12:30pm after a Church Service.

Agim said the service will take place at the Nigerian air force base, Protestant Church, Bill Clinton drive airport road at 10 am.

He added that there would also be a service of song on Sunday by 5pm at the air force Base, Protestant Church, Bill Clinton drive.

Badeh, who served as CDS under ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, was shot dead on December 18, 2018, by unknown gunmen, on Keffi-Abuja highway, while returning from his farm.

President Muhammad Buhari says houses, companies and other property seized from “corrupt” politicians would be sold and the money kept in the treasury.

The president said this in Kaduna during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally on Friday.

He said fighting corruption in a democracy is not easy.

He recalled that upon becoming a military of head in 1984, he arrested all corrupt politicians and detained them and after investigations, their property stolen were seized.

He however regretted that the seized property were returned to them after he was overthrown.

Buhari who spoke in Hausa language said: “Fighting corruption in a democracy is difficult, you know what I did before (as a military head of state). I arrested the big men and detained them and I ordered for investigation,” he said.

“Those who were found to have stolen, we seized their stolen things from them. Only two people were not not corrupt, the two of them have died – Bilyaminu Usman, education minister and Mallam Adamu Ciroma, former Central Bank (CBN) governor and minister. They were not found guilty.

“After my government was overthrown, the seized property were returned to thieves. I was arrested and detained and the stolen property was returned to the thieves.

“As God we have it, I am back again. This has strengthened my faith and by the grace of God, all those who looted this country, we will follow them one by one and arrest them.

“All the property that have been seized from them; houses and companies would be sold and the money will be ploughed back into the treasury. When I was arrested, they returned the property to them, this time around we will sell the stolen property.”

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) says Nigeria will join other countries of the world to experience a total lunar eclipse on Monday.

Felix Alle, head, media and public communications of the agency, said this in a statement on Friday.

A lunar eclipse is a celestial incident where the moon appears darkened as it passes into the earth’s shadow. It occurs only when the sun, and the moon are exactly aligned with the earth between the two.

“There will be a lunar eclipse over Nigeria on Monday, Jan. 21, 2019,” the statement read.

“The eclipse, expected to be total, will begin in the evening of Sunday and end on Monday. The eclipse will start across Nigeria in the early hours of Monday at approximately 3:36 am to reach its maximum
at 6:12am and end at about 6:43am.

“The total duration of the occurrence over Nigeria will be three hours and 15 minutes.”

Alle said the lunar eclipse would, by 4.33am, become a partial eclipse, where the moon would start getting red.

He added that “at exactly 5.41am, a maximum eclipse of the moon which may be visible to human sight will be
witnessed, while the moon eclipse is expected to end at 6.43am”.

He said this year’s eclipse would be the last to be experienced until 2021.

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says with or without a trip to the US, he will dislodge President Muhammadu Buhari, his main rival, in next month’s election.

Atiku said this in a statement issued which Phrank Shaibu, his special assistant on public communication, issued on his behalf on Thursday.

He asked the federal government to bury its head in shame having failed to stop him from travelling to the US.

He said it was shameful that the governing APC took it upon itself to call on the authorities of another country not to grant a private citizen entry visa, which ordinarily should not be its business.

Last year, Lai Mohammed, minister of information, had asked the US not to grant Atiku visa.

But Atiku who arrived in the US on Thursday said the APC was jittery knowing that its government has failed.

He said Buhari’s days as president were numbered, “which explains why members of the ruling party have been running from pillar to post”.

The former vice-president described as cock and bull story, the allegation that he has a case to answer over the collapse of BankPHB, a merger of Platinum and Habib Banks.

He challenged the federal government to either prove his alleged corrupt activities, or forever remain quiet.

“It is disgusting to continue to spin allegations of corruption against me by people who have failed to come forward with a single shred of evidence of my misconduct while in office,” he said.

“Isn’t it a shame that the ruling party whose National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole only yesterday gave official confirmation to the general belief that , even if Lawrence Anini becomes an APC member today, Buhari will forgive and consecrate him can turn around to accuse me of corruption today?

“They just suddenly woke up to the reality that, their lies about Atiku being corrupt can no longer hold? I challenge the federal government to come up with evidence that I benefitted from N156 million slush funds through Claremont Management Services Account on 13th January, 2009 as well as the collapse of BankPHB as they have alleged.

“It is instructive to note that, the same BankPHB is now Keystone bank Which was said to have been acquired Buhari’s cronies through AMCON last year.”

He said Nigerians had already made up their minds to send  Buhari packing on February 16, 2019 and there is nothing the ruling party can do about it.

“Tell them that their days of deceit are numbered. Nigerians are tired of them and they can no longer lie or take the people for a ride anymore,” the statement said.

Atiku said it was a mark of the idleness of the folks in charge of the APC that they resorted to lobby the US to deny him visa, when they should be busy strategising on how to save their party from an imminent defeat.

“There is no need to worry, as we shall unveil on Sunday, January 20, 2019 “Buhari’s Hall Of Shame”. It’s a scorecard of failure, incompetence, nepotism and a President’s proclivity to harbouring indicted and other famed thieves of our patrimony. Date and venue shall be made public in due course.

”Never in the history of Nigeria have the people being subjected to the kind of unemployment level that the country is now witnessing under the All Progressives Congress (APC). It is indeed a double tragedy that a government that cannot even provide for the people is also unable to ensure their security. Having failed woefully, it is time for the Buhari led administration and APC governments at all levels to be kicked out through the forthcoming general elections.”

Senator Dino Melaye has been granted bail by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja, on health ground.

Mr Melaye has been held in a police health facility since he was moved out of the Police Clinic in Garki, Abuja, by masked policemen on January 11.

In a ruling on Friday on an application by Melaye, argued by his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, Justice Yusuf Halilu granted bail to Melaye on health ground.

Mr Halilu was of the view the senator must be healthy to stand trial.

He said since the Senator cannot be arraigned on the stretcher or ‎on his hospital bed, he should be allowed on bail to attend to his health.

The judge asked him to produce three sureties, one of whom must be the Clerk of the National Assembly, who must be ready to produce him when he is to be arraigned in respect of a charge already filed against him.

The judge said the other two sureties must be owners of properties within the Abuja metropolis.

The Coalition of United Political Parties has alleged a plot to arrest embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria,  Walter Onnoghen based on fresh position engineered by ose associates of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Friday, CUPP spokeman, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere said the plan was to force the CJN out of office and replace him with Justice Tanko Mohammed as Acting CJN.

The said Justice Mohammed who is current deputy Chair of the National Judicial Council is a known pro-Buhari judge.

The CUPP claimed that Minister of Transport, RotiminAmaexhi, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai and Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Feferation, had held a meeting g to carry out the alleged plans.

It said that the Acting Inspector General of Police and Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal were under pressure to implement the plot on January when the CJN is due to appear before the CCT to answer charges of false declaration of assets.

Below is tthe full text of the press statement:

Protocols
Gentlemen of the Press, it is with a heavy heart that we have summoned you today to notify the world that democracy is in clear and present danger in Nigeria. The cabal of the Presidency have just concluded a meeting last night where they have now set the stage to burn down the institution of democracy and constitutional governance for the purpose of achieving a narrow aim of annexing the judiciary.

Just few hours after our release of the secret letter directing the freezing of the account of the CJN illegally without a Court order, these men have at the end of their meeting last night directed the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Mr. Danladi Umar to disregard the Order of the Federal High Court, Abuja which has directed the Tribunal to maintain status quo and go ahead to issue a bench warrant on the next adjourned date being Tuesday the 22nd January, 2019 in the event the CJN does not appear in Court.

The meeting of the Presidency cabal also resolved and directed the new Ag. Inspector General of Police that the immediate arrest of the CJN on the same Tuesday as effort will be made to ensure he is served with the order same day, following the issuance of the arrest warrant would be his litmus test for his speedy confirmation as the substantive Inspector General. They further resolved that another petition would now be forwarded to the National Judicial Council and that petition has already been drafted in the Chambers of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. This petition will precede the other frivolous and trumped up allegations which will be submitted against Justice Mary Peter-Odili, Justice Cletus Nweze and Justice Rhodes Vivour just to scare them away and tarnish their good names. Those in the meeting were Rotimi Amechi, Nasir El-Rufai, Abubakar Malami, Boss Mustapha, and the Senior Advocate of Nigeria working with Rotimi Amechi who drafted the petition. The President is aware of this plot as the meeting rose with the resolution that Rotimi Amechi and El-Rufai would go to brief the President immediately.

The President has weaponized his failed fight against corruption. The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal was once again reminded of his pending criminal charges and conscripted that as long as he issued the arrest warrant nobody will move against him. Nigerians, the said charges against the Chairman of the Tribunal has already been filed and is being handled by the Spokesman of the Buhari Campaign Organization, Mr. Festus Keyamo. This is a copy of the charge already filed.

The plan on Tuesday to get Danladi Umar to issue a bench warrant against the CJN; the plan on Tuesday to get the Ag, IGP to arrest the CJN and the plan on Tuesday to forcibly arraign the CJN are solely aimed at forcing the CJN out of office hence paving the way for a well-known pro-Buhari Judge, Justice Tanko Mohammed who is the Deputy Chaiman of the NJC to take over and do all their bidding. Let it be known that unless and until the CJN is found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction, he will not resign!

Know ye all men and let the lips of the opposition be read clearly; and let the ears of President Muhammadu Buhari open and hear this: Amechi, Malami, El-Rufai, Boss Mustapha and other members of the cabal that are sponsoring this inglorious offensive against the judiciary in a bid to turn it into an appendage of the APC will fail. We will resist this attempt. This is the bridge and it must not fall, we cannot retreat beyond this point and Justice Walter Onnoghen will not be illegally removed from office. God forbid! God forbid!! God forbid they succeed.

They want to force him out at all cost and put an acting CJN who’s bidding will include setting up appeal panels to resolve the Rivers and Zamfara APC crisis in favour of the APC and the other States where they fear they will lose elections including Akwa Ibom State, Delta State, Lagos state, Benue State, Imo State, Kwara State, Plateau state, Kaduna State, Abia State and Sokoto State and also constitute a pro Buhari post presidential election Tribunal.

The CJN may not speak out because of the demands of his office but we will not as the opposition, the bearers of the conscience and consciousness of the Nigerian people keep quiet and allow these felons to desecrate the Nigerian judiciary. The only way the CJN can leave office is by Section 292 of the Constitution or by a proper conviction and not by stepping aside from the NJC. We are shouting it from the roof tops; let them put the CJN in handcuffs, let Danladi Umar in dancing to the tune of his APC blackmailers and issue arrest warrant, let the IG dance to the tune of the litmus test of arresting the CJN, let the APC funded petition be brought to the NJC, Justice Onnoghen will not be forced out of office.

President Buhari! President Buhari! President Buhari! It is time to apply your brakes! Do not allow your political children who learnt their politics from the manual of Mobutu Seseseko, Idi Amin and Nkurunzizia lead you to burn down and destroy the institution of the judiciary and burn down Nigeria. It is on that note that we call on Justice Tanko Mohammed to stay away from these people and refuse that poisoned chalice that will destroy permanently the institution of the judiciary.

Furthermore, there is also an ongoing pressure on the members of the NJC and moves to conscript them to force the CJN out of office. Nigerians must rise now before this final bridge of the semblance of constitutional governance falls. Once again we shout; if you are sleeping- wake up; if you are eating- stop; if you are playing- stop; the enemies have gotten to the last bridge and it is either we stop them or we lose our country. We must all stand up now. The court is the last hope of the common man, if they take over we shall be made slaves in our fatherland and the fundamental rights of citizens will become luxury.

We call on the Nigeria Bar Association to take up this matter and speak on behalf of the Bench. Progressive and conscious lawyers should all march to the Tribunal on Tuesday and stand shoulder to shoulder with the opposition to salvage the conquest of the judiciary from anti-democratic forces.
We weep, Nigerian people weep, not because of what they are doing but because of the silence of men of goodwill who have now been made to live in fear in their own country and because of the long term implication on our country’s democracy.

How we have used our hands to put our country into trouble. Where did we go wrong? Why? Who did Nigeria offend? It was Saraki yesterday! It was Dino! It was Deji Adeyanju! Justice Ademola! It was peaceful citizens protesting! Now they are not afraid of anything or anybody, they are now after the CJN and the sacred institution of the judiciary and they want to destroy everything. Buhari why? Amechi why? El-Rufai why? Why? Nigerians have we like the President’s wife said allowed two or three people to hijack the Presidency and we are busy licking their shoes? Wherever Azikiwe, Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa are now, they will be writhing in pain as this is not what the planned for Nigeria.

Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere
1st National Spokesperson

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar has challenged the Federal Government to show evidence that he benefitted from the N156m slush fund that allegedly led to the collapse of the defunct Platinum Habib Bank.

Atiku made this challenge in a statement issued by Mr. Phrank Shaibu, his Special Assistant on Public Communication, on Friday.

He said, “It is disgusting to continue to spin allegations of corruption against me by people who have failed to come forward with a single shred of evidence of my misconduct while in office.

“They just suddenly woke up to the reality that, their lies about Atiku being corrupt can no longer hold? I challenge the federal government to come up with evidence that I benefitted from N156 million slush funds through Claremont Management Services Account on 13th January, 2009 as well as the collapse of Bank PHB as they have alleged.

“It is instructive to note that the same Bank PHB is now Keystone Bank, which was said to have been acquired by Buhari’s cronies through AMCON last year,”Atiku said in the statement.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed on Friday said the PDP candidate has a case to answer over the collapse of Platinum Habib Bank.

He revealed that the case would be started as soon as Atiku returns from the US, his first trip in more than a decade.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has said that the candidate of the opposition PDP in the 2019 election, Atiku Abubakar, has questions to answer when he returns from his current trip to the United States.

The government said it is investigating Mr Abubakar’s alleged role in the collapse of former Bank PHB.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said this while briefing State House correspondents on Friday.

Mr Mohammed said the decision to question Mr Abubakar is “following fresh evidence that he benefitted from slush funds that led to the collapse of Bank PHB.”

The government spokesperson said the government has in its position “paper trail which shows that he benefitted from N156 million.”

“It started from an internal memo dated 13 January 2009 asking that a draft in favour of Atiku Abubakar of 156 million should be raised,” he said.

Mr Mohammed also said another memo on the same date was raised to confirm that the amount was raised from a “claimant management account.”

He said the government has proof of the account mandate, cheque and account statement showing Mr Abubakar as the signatory to the account that received the money.

“We want him to stay in the US for as long as he wants but he has to explain to Nigerians when he returns,” he said.

Speaking further on the visit of the former vice president to the U.S., the minister said the government had earlier issued a statement advising the U.S. not to issue him a visa.

He, however, said it remains the prerogative of the U.S. government to issue visa to anyone

“We are not perturbed one bit. He can go ahead and get a U.S. green card. That will not save him from imminent defeat in the forthcoming election,” Mr Mohammed said.

He also said the “election will be held here not in the U.S.”

The minister, however, said his claim does not imply that the former vice president will be arrested on his return.

A zoo keeper was killed in the alligator enclosure of the Naples Zoo, while attempting to sexually assault a reptile.

The incident happened on Monday, Jan. 14.

WorldNewsDaily quoted Captain Henri White, spokesman of the Naples Police Department as saying the 24-year-old Jimmy Olsen was engaged in full sexual intercourse with one of the younger reptiles, when he was surprised by one of the larger animals which attacked from behind.

The young man was caught by the throat by the alligator which dragged him underwater and drowned him.

“Jimmy Olsen’s death took place around 6:00 AM this morning (Jan. 14) but his disappearance was noticed only an hour later by other employees.

“They finally discovered his dismembered body floating in the pool of the alligator enclosure around 8:30.

“The images captured by the security cameras show that Mr. Olsen had clearly placed himself in a very vulnerable position,” Captain White told reporters.

“He had his pants around his knees and was lying down on top of one of the animals, with his back to the others. The poor guy didn’t stand a chance! We can see him being dragged into the water, then he disappears from sight. He was probably dead within thirty seconds of the attack,” White said.

WorldNewsDaily reports that this is not the first time for a zoo worker to die while having sex with an animal.

In 2002, three employees of the Columbus zoo were condemned after it was revealed that the zookeepers allowed people into the zoo after business hours for the purpose of fornicating with the animals in exchange for money.

… raises alarm over name dropping, extortion

The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, has raised the alarm over the illegal action of some people using his name to defraud innocent Nigerians on the guise of securing favours from him.

He insisted that he has never instructed any relation or officers and men of the commission to engage in any business transaction or wield influence in cases or investigations before the commission.

In a statement issued on Friday and signed by his spokesman, Tony Amokeodo, Magu also urged the general public to beware of certain dubious people who are dropping his name for non-exiting jobs or favour, saying that he has no girl friend anywhere.

Magu said, “ My attention has just been drawn to latest despicable activities of certain disgruntled elements in our society who have decided to drop my name in order to defraud unsuspecting members of the public over non-existing jobs and unusual favours.

“ I wish to say with high sense of responsibility that I have never authorize any officer and men of the commission, including my relations to engage in any business transaction or promise jobs for gratification.

“I also wish to inform the general public that I have no girlfriend anywhere.
“I wish to further inform the general public that recruitment of officers and men into the commission is strictly on due process.

“I therefore advise the general public to beware of impersonators that are peddling unfounded information about my humble self and the commission.
“I urge the general public to quickly alert the commission whenever anybody claims to be acting on my behalf or the EFCC for favours.”