N170m fraud: Ogbulafor goes into hiding

The embattled Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, stayed away from the party’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday as an Abuja High Court ordered him to appear before it on May 3.

A source in the party who defended Ogbulafor’s absence from office, said he chose the option for fear that he might be arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

The commission had dragged the PDP chairman to the Abuja High Court for allegedly defrauding the Federal Government of N170m in 2001.

Our correspondents report that the PDP chairman may also have gone into hiding to frustrate the attempt of the ICPC to serve him the writ of summons personally.

The anti-graft agency, in a ex-parte application sought the leave of the court to prefer charges against Ogbulafor and for him to be served with a writ of summons personally.

Our source in the PDP said that it was unusual for Ogbulafor to stay away from his office especially at a time he was expected to be busy preparing for the party’s National Executive Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday (today).


He said, “We were surprised that we did not see the chairman in office. It was very unusual of him to stay off in a day like today (Monday) when all members of the NWC were here to put finishing touches to tomorrow’s NEC meeting.

“The reason might be because he feared that he could be arrested or could be harassed because of his corruption trial by the IC P .”

Our correspondents learnt that some governors’ sympathetic to Ogbulafor, advised him to ensure that he was not detained ahead of the NEC meeting.

The plan, it was further gathered, was for Ogbulafor to come to the NEC meeting when almost all the PDP governors had arrived or even come with one of them.

Efforts made by one of our correspondents to reach Ogbulafor were unsuccessful as calls made to his mobile telephone indicated it was switched off.

However, his spokesperson, Mr. Chijoke Adindu, said he was not hiding.

Adindu said Ogbulafor was in his house and that there was no basis for him to go underground since he was yet to be served with court processes by the ICPC.

He said, “How can he hide? He is at home. Remember that nobody has even charged him to court? He has not been served any paper. So, there is no basis for him to hide.”

When asked why his principal was not part of the officials of the party to co-ordinate preparations for the NEC meeting, he declined to respond.

An Abuja High Court had early on Monday ordered Ogbulafor to appear before it on May 3 to take his plea for allegedly defrauding the Federal Government of N170m while in office as the Minister of Special Duties in 2001.

Justice Isaq Bello gave the order while ruling on an ex-parte application brought by the ICPC through its counsel, Mr. Paul Bassey.

In his ruling, the judge ordered that Ogbulafor and others charged along with him should appear before him for their arraignment. He directed that the charges be served on them personally.

The co-accused are Mr. Emeka Ebilah, Secretary/Member of the National Economic Intelligence Committee; and Mr. Emmanuel Bosah, Director, Budget Implementation, Federal Ministry of Finance .

Bello said, “The accused persons are hereby ordered to appear before the court on May 3. The prosecution is at liberty to apply for an order of arrest and detention where they are in doubt that the accused persons will not be available for trial.”

The ICPC had last week filed a criminal charge at the court against Ogbulafor.

However, the judge turned down a request by counsel to Ogbulafor, Mr. Joe Kyari-Gadzama (SAN), to get the court to stay proceedings on the matter.

Bello overruled him on the grounds that the matter before the court was for the ex-parte application brought by the anti-graft agency for leave to prefer charges against the accused persons.

A copy of the charge obtained by our correspondent showed that Ogbulafor and his co-accused committed the offences sometimes in March 2001.

Count one of the charges indicated ”That Ogbulafor , Ebilah and Bosah in the month of March 2001, fraudulently received through a proxy, Henry Ikoh, the sum of N82,631,03.41 from the Federal Government of Nigeria in the name of a company Henchriko Nigeria Limited as payment for a fictitious contract purportedly executed for the Federal Government.”

The action, according to the ICPC is contrary to Section 19 of the ICPC Act 2000.

Ogbulafor, Ebilah and Bosah were also accused of conspiracy to use NEIC contract verification panel to verify a fictitious contract purportedly executed on behalf of the Federal Government by Henchriko from which they received N82m.

The PDP chairman was also accused of using his position as Minister of Special Duties to confer corrupt advantage upon himself by fraudulently receiving from the Federal Government N11.5m as payment for a fictitious contract.

The said money was allegedly received through a proxy, Chris Abuajah, in the name of a company DHL Consultants.

In count five, the three accused persons were charged with using their positions to confer corrupt advantage on themselves by fraudulently receiving from the Federal Government through a proxy, Sunday Nmesirianye, the sum of N13. 7m in the name of Emeprol Co. Limited.

Similarly, Ogbulafor and the two accused persons were charged with receiving fraudulently the sum of N6.2m from the Federal Government through a proxy, Chekwas Obinna, using the name of a company Chekwas Industries Limited as payment for fictitious contract executed on behalf of the Federal Government.

Out of the 16 count- charges filed against the suspects, Ogbulafor would answer to 12.

Niger Delta - Orubebe Optimistic On Sustainable Devt

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Hon. Godsday Orubebe, has expressed optimism that sustainable peace and development would be achieved in the region, and urged the people to stand by the government in the execution of its policies and programmes.

He noted that the Acting President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, had clearly set the tone for the country's accelerated development through comprehensive machinery for Nigeria's economic recovery while signing the 2010 Appropriation Bill into law last week.

The commitment of the Federal Government to the sincere implementation of the Niger-Delta post-amnesty development blueprint was not indoubt, Orubebe stressed, saying he was happy at the prevailing atmosphere of peace in the region


The minister made the remarks in a chat with newsmen at the weekend during the official dedication of the ultra-modern building of theVoice of Faith Christian Church, Effurun, near Warri.Orubebe was the special guest-of-honour at the ceremony presidedover by the President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), PastorAyo Oritsejafor and supported by the host minister, Rev (Dr) Sylvanus Kenerekedi.

"The Acting President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, while signing the Appropriation Bill into law a few days ago, said it all, " the minister said "that the budget implementation and the various fiscalintervention measures will be closely monitored."I must say the government is happy and greatly encouraged by theprevailing atmosphere of peace in the Niger-Delta today", he further said; adding, "we all know that a peaceful environment enhances anymeaningful development."

Yar'Adua Returns Home Next Week, Says Saudi Doctor

President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua is billed to return to Nigeria next week, one of the medical doctors attending to the President at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Jeddah, said yesterday.

The doctor told Deutsche Presse-Agentur, a German news agency under anonymity yesterday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that Yar'Adua was no longer in the intensive care wing of the hospital and was undergoing routine medical tests.


This development corroborates the claims of the Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Abdullahi Garba Aminchi, that the president was fit enough to return to Nigeria anytime next week.

Aminchi told newsmen in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, that the call on the president to resign from office as a result of his ill-health was out of place.

"President Umaru Yar'Adua has been attended to by his doctor. He was given a week to recuperate after which he will be examined again. From the one week, he has just spent two days (Thursday). So, he still has five days to recuperate

"After one week rest, if he is certified fit and capable to return home and resume his work, God willing, he will be back in Nigeria by next week," Aminchi said. He dismissed insinuations making round among Nigerian pilgrims in Makkah that the president was brought to the Mount Arafat by Saudi medical officials to pray and take part in the Hajj rites.

The ambassador frowned at the spate of criticisms going on in Nigeria and the call on the president to resign from office, describing the euphoria generated by the president's trip for medical check-up as uncalled for. According to him, Yar'Adua could not become president of Nigeria if it has not pleased God or if God did not approve it, advising critics of the president to wait for their own time.

Aminchi thanked all Nigerians who had been praying for the president, especially Nigerian pilgrims currently in Saudi Arabia and government officials. When contacted on the development, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, yesterday said he had no information to give.

Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Goje and his Edo State counterpart, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday took a swipe at politicians and other Nigerians calling for the resignation of the president from office. Speaking at Okada, Edo State, yesterday, during the 7th graduation ceremony of Igbinedion University, the governors said those making the call were seeking easy way to power.

Goje said: "If democracy is to be sustained, we should not be sentimental. We should pray to God to speedily give better health to Yar'Adua."

He said anything that would bring instability to the country was unpatriotic and admonished Nigerians to pray for the President because, "God who gives life and everything will save His people."

On his part, Oshiomhole said: "All of us have the duty to pray for our president. Yar'Adua has made contributions to ensuring the peace and stability of this country at very difficult times. I do not belong to the same umbrella with him but we belong to the same country.

"Yar'Adua is an asset to this country. He is a statesman. We are in a democracy and we have people who look at issues in terms of immediate political calculation. Unknown to many Nigerians, Yar'Adua has demonstrated certain qualities of leadership that are uncommon. I am speaking with authority because I have been privileged to interact with many leaders. That is critical to the growth and development of this country," he said.

Yar'Adua, 58, had suffered severe chest pain a fortnight ago and medical examination revealed that the President is suffering from acute pericarditis, (an inflammatory condition of the coverings of the heart).

Can an African Team Win the 2010 World Cup?

Close your eyes and try to imagine the scenes of jubilation across Africa if a team from the continent were to win the 2010 World Cup.

A celebration like no other, one billion people revelling in one of the greatest sporting and cultural achievements.

For the first time in its 80-year history, football's blue riband competition is coming to the world's poorest and most underdeveloped land.

How better to mark the occasion than with a first African champion?

"Winning the World Cup would be one of the proudest moments in the history of that country and our continent as a whole," former South Africa striker Shaun Bartlett told BBC Sport.

"Every African nation has its internal problems but football can do wonders for people and nations, which is a huge incentive."

Nobody is saying it is going to happen but the groundswell of opinion suggests South Africa 2010 is the best opportunity yet.

Unperturbed by his 1977 prediction that an African side would triumph by the end of the 20th century, Brazil legend Pele genuinely believes it can occur next year.

His namesake Abedi Pele, a former Ghana international, and Liberian George Weah, two of the greatest players to emerge from Africa and still highly influential figures within the game, are equally convinced.

Not only are the six African representatives competing on home soil but they will benefit from an advantage that the likes of Brazil, Argentina, Italy, France, Spain, Germany and England will never have - the support of an entire continent.

"The idea that one of our sides could win the World Cup is not going too far," said former Nigeria captain Sunday Oliseh. "African players perform a lot on emotions and that will be a powerful force.

"When Nigeria played at the Olympics in 1996 we were not playing as Nigerians but as Africans because we had every African country behind us.

"We had this psychological edge and if an African nation gets to the semi-finals on home soil in 2010, I would not want to be in the team who plays against them."

All but five of the 18 previous World Cups have been won by teams from the host continent, while Brazil's victories at Mexico 1970 and USA 1994 and Argentina's triumph at Mexico 1986 were still in the Americas. There is little doubt that home advantage helped South Korea reach the 2002 semi-finals.

Former Charlton forward Bartlett suggested the "spirit inside every African" and the various expatriate communities in South Africa will ensure huge support for each home nation, with fans of one African side rallying behind another once their team has been knocked out.

Yet optimism stems more from the knowledge that, in terms of numbers, quality and experience, this is the strongest set of African nations to contest a World Cup.

Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Algeria and Ghana constitute a fearsome quintet, while South Africa will be desperate to avoid embarrassment on home soil.

Ivory Coast are viewed as having the most talented squad but much will also be expected of Ghana following their impressive World Cup debut in 2006 and Cameroon, revitalised under ex-Rangers coach Paul Le Guen and making an African record sixth appearance in the finals.

Nigeria, Algeria and South Africa - the only African team who will be seeded - might be less fancied but all three are capable of reaching the knockout phase.

"African teams have matured a lot, they no longer want to go to competitions to make numbers; they want to make an impression," stated Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure.

"The difference between the teams from African and European countries is no longer vast. In the past, African teams were taken for granted in big tournaments but this time it's going to be different."

Since Zaire became the first African nation to qualify for a World Cup in 1974, the continent can lay claim to only two quarter-finalists - Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002.

So what makes them better equipped in 2010? Increased experience, maturity and tactical awareness are sure to play a part but, above all else, Oliseh points to the number of Africans now mixing it with the best on a weekly basis.

"Nothing boosts a player more than playing at the top level each week and winning titles," added the ex-Borussia Dortmund midfielder, who rose to fame with a stunning goal for Nigeria against Spain at France 1998. "A lot of African players have won titles in the last four years.

"Samuel Eto'o and Yaya Toure won the Champions League with Barcelona and Didier Drogba and Michael Essien reached the previous final with Chelsea.

"They know what it takes to win at the very highest level of club football. If they can bring that mentality to their national sides they will be hard to beat."

All six of the African teams have their weaknesses - Bartlett mentions "poor goalkeepers", "occasionally catastrophic defending" and "a tendency to concede late goals because they can't concentrate for 90 minutes" - and a lot will depend on their ability to stay injury-free, especially with January's Africa Cup of Nations looming in Angola.

Yet that tournament will provide five of them (South Africa failed to qualify) with competitive game time to work on their plans - something that no other nation will benefit from between now and 11 June.

Which is just as well because South Africa 2010 promises to be one of the most fiercely contested World Cups to date, with every past champion in attendance and no genuine contenders missing.

The fact that no African team has gone beyond the quarter-finals does not bode well and they will be praying that Friday's draw treats them kindly.

At Germany 2006, the Ivory Coast were pooled with Argentina and the Netherlands and Ghana reached the round of 16 only to be pitted against five-time champions Brazil.

Good fortune also evaded Senegal in 2002 as they were eliminated on the golden goals rule and Cameroon in 1990 after they succumbed to England after two controversially awarded penalties. Serious question marks also surrounded Germany's 1-0 victory over Austria that knocked out Algeria in 1982.

"If the Ivory Coast, Ghana and Cameroon have good draw and a bit of good fortune, I can see them going as far as the semi-finals," commented Bartlett on the eve of the draw. "After that, the team who plays better on the day will go through so anything could happen."

If you look at the way they play, the quality of their squad and the teams their stars play for, it's clear the Ivory Cost could do the unthinkable by winning the World Cup

Although the altitude at Johannesburg's Soccer City could favour the Africans, this will be the first winter World Cup since 1978 so cold temperatures should make for neutral footballing conditions.

That will contrast sharply with the weather in Angola during the Cup of Nations, increasing the need for thorough and well-organised preparation - a lack of which has seriously damaged the African challenge in years gone by.

"There have always been problems off the pitch which prevent our teams from having that extra edge to go further," divulged Oliseh.

"In 2002 it took Cameroon two days to get to their base; they were the last team to arrive in South Korea. There were so many administrative problems, with things like travelling, flights and player bonuses, that the players weren't focused enough to win."

Bartlett added that "one or two African teams will still be fighting over money when the tournament starts, organisation is a huge issue".

If they manage to avoid such problems, we could be in for an absolute treat.

African nations have been punching above their weight for some time, their progress severely hampered by poverty and a lack of resources.

After battling against the odds for so long, who would begrudge one of their captains holding aloft the Jules Rimet trophy at Soccer City on 11 July 2010?

African Media Urged to Embrace Digital Revolution

Lagos — African media leaders ended their meeting in Lagos yesterday with a call on owners and operators of media organisations to embrace the digital revolution for seamless information dissemination on the continent.

The media practitioners under the umbrella of the African Media Leaders Forum (AMLF), whose founding Chairman, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman/Editor-in-Chief of THISDAY, met in Lagos to discuss developments in Africa amid a range of cutting-edge issues affecting the continent's media industry.

This is coming as the continent is contending with the impact of the global financial crisis, receding economic growth and the advent of new, social media technologies that are fundamentally altering existing media business models all across the globe.


Speaking in a keynote address with the theme, "Challenges and Opportunities in a Digital World: Envisioning New Media Business Models," Prof. John Lavine, Dean of Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University, United States, tasked media owners to invest in journalism.

He said in the emerging digital world, understading the audience is very important and that the new future in the digital world is the cell phone.

Lavine noted that depending on the engagement of a story, the people would give their time and money to access it adding: "Our stories should impact deeply on the people's insights and their experiences."

He said the most valuable content is generated from traditional and unique sources and "it demonstrates how events impact audiences and relate to trends."

Lavine said illiteracy is not an obstacle to digitization because of the influence of radio that can transmit messages in various languages that can easily be understood even by those who can not read and write.

Lavine advised media owners to invest more in investigative journalism and smart use of data in stories.

He also canvassed for a system whereby the media can exchange information that could be relevant to the different communities of Africa.

Obaigbena declared that in this age of digitization, the licensing regimes in most African countries before entrepreneurs can set up broadcast stations have become obsolete.

He therefore called on AMLF to prevail on African governments to discount such licensing laws, which obviously inhibit free speech.

Also speaking on the issue, Chris Kabwato, director, Highway Africa, said the cell phone which is a veritable instrument of digitization is currently being used in Uganda for four purposes - voice calls, radio, SMS and getting internet generated information.

He said the majority of Africans are already accessing the internet for the first time on their mobile phones and not on computers.

Kabwato added that another opportunity would be the one offered the Diaspora African community to get in touch through services that the media is offering.

In her remarks on the subject, Ms Robin Sanders, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria stated that internet provides a broad range of opportunities for the media on the continent, which they can latch on to for the development of their countries.

Mr. Amadou Mahtar Ba, executive director, African Media Initiative noted: "By convening the forum in Nigeria, Africa's most populous democracy, we are sending a message that the strengthening of mass media systems is an urgent imperative for societal advancement, and needs the support of governments, business leaders and civil society."

An overarching objective of the forum was to explore ways in which the voices of the vast majority of Africans can be better mobilised to create a new narrative that is centred on wealth creation, away from the stereotypical view that emphasises problems and deficiencies at the expense of opportunity.

"Now, more than ever before, is the time to create a new wealth narrative that can help improve the everyday lives of millions of Africans who yearn for economic opportunity, knowledge and cultural expression," noted Eric Chinje, manager, Africa Region External Affairs at the World Bank.

In his closing remarks, Obaigbena thanked delegates who came to Nigeria to share enterprising ideas to shape the media in Africa.

He said next year's venue would be decided by the secretariat of AMLF and communicated to participants.