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#63178 From: Fubara David-West <davidwest62@...>
Date: Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:32 pm
Subject: Obama's Dancing with the War Decision
davidwest62
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President Obama has spent too much time deliberating on a new Afghanistan strategy.  The White House might be thinking, that this shows that President Obama thinks through the elements of weighty decisions, before making a move.  However, the flip-side of the argument must also be considered.  The President might be too slow in making decisions, because he is unsure of himself, and of his ability to navigate the shark-invested seas of policy-making on national security.  
 
Whether the president acknowledges it or not, we might note that everything from his willingness to live with the insubordinate General McChrystal, to the long, drawn-out public drama of the decision on what to do in Afghanistan, have significantly narrowed any wiggle-room he has on the Afghanistan issue, and thus left the impression in the public that he is too unsure of himself. 
 
Any decision he now makes, short of a rejection of General McChrystal's recommendation, and a reaffirmation of the core strategic goal in Afghanistan: the destruction of the ability of Al Qaida and the Taliban, to use that country as a staging ground for attacks on the United States and its allies, will leave his presidency staggering dangerously towards the political precipice.
 
As things stand, the only people who will be cheering the president on, if he unwisely, and with implicit deference to the insubordinate General McChrystal, whom he should have fired weeks ago, will be Republicans.  Those Republicans will see his stance as a final vindication of President Bush, whose disastrous war policies, cemented by a lack of understanding of the dynamic relationship between tactics and strategy, took the country to a wasteful war in Iraq, and thus pushed Afghanistan into the background.   
 
When President Obama during his campaign, talked about rumping up the war effort in Afghanistan, most people assumed that the highly intelligent man, who ushered in a new era in grassroots political organization would understand a basic fact of life, even on issues of war and peace.  That is the fact that it is foolish to quarrel with the movement of time.   Thus, he should not attempt to redraw the strategy, as if this was 2003.  He should make a bold move, which demonstrates that he learns from experience.
 
In that sense, the decision on Afghanistan should have been quite simple, and he should have made it on the day that he decided to add to the troop levels in Afghanistan, soon after taking office.  There should be no additional troops, after that first deployment in the early days of his administration. 
 
The focus should now be on making sure that the Afghan government recruits enough Afghans into the military and security forces, to take over from American soldiers in two years, maximum.  Of course, that does not mean that the United States will not continue to have the option of going after Al Qaida and the Taliban, both in Afghanistan and in Pakistan, until it is satisfied that those organizations are either destroyed, or too emasculated to rise up again as major sources of terrorism, directed at the United States and its allies.   
 
I thank you.
 
Fubara David-West.
 
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, left, looks at Polish Prime AP – NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, left, looks at Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk prior …
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama called his war council together Monday as he moves toward a decision on whether to add more U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said he's not aware of any more such strategy sessions being scheduled, the latest signal that Obama is closing in on a revamped war strategy after several weeks of review. Gibbs said the soonest Obama would announce a decision would be next week.
Obama first called the high-powered national security team together in August as he began wrestling with a new plan for Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, where the al-Qaida leadership is believed hiding. Monday's session would be the 10th to be held in the secure White House situation room.
Obama's discussion with his war advisers was expected to center on how and when any additional troops could be pulled back out of Afghanistan. Earlier this month, Obama rejected all of his war options in their current form, pushing instead for revisions to clarify when U.S. troops would turn over responsibility to the Afghan government, and under what conditions.
Commanding Gen. Stanley McChrystal has said more U.S. forces were needed to head off a U.S. failure in the fight against Taliban militants in Afghanistan. He has recommended about 40,000 additional troops.
Obama has given himself flexibility on the timing of his decision, saying he would announce it by year's end.


#63177 From: Prince Dickson <pcdbooks@...>
Date: Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:13 pm
Subject: Yar'adua Jets Out To Saudi For Another Medical--Segun Adeniyi
pcdbooks@...
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Yar'adua Jets Out To Saudi For Another Medical--Segun Adeniyi

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President Umaru Yar’Adua for the umpteenth time flew out of the country to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for a medical check up.

Presidential spokesman, Olusegun Adeniyiy in a statement, said the president is on a follow up medical check up where he is scheduled to meet with his personal doctors.

As a result of this and because of the impasse between the both chambers of the National Assembly, the President Yar'Adua has forwarded copies of the 2010 National Appropriation Bill to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Adeniyi added in the statement that President YarÁdua wishes the Muslim Ummah and all Nigerians happy Eid-el-Kabir celebrations



Prince Charles Dickson
Editor, burningpot.com

Nigeria's 1st Online Newspaper
Yours In High Regards
234-08033311301, 08057152301

Visit http://burningpot.com


What Exactly Is The Problem With Nigeria?...Us...Lets Work At Solving It


#63176 From: Prince Dickson <pcdbooks@...>
Date: Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:22 am
Subject: Naija And The Comedy Of Budget Presentation? (BNP Photo)
pcdbooks@...
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Naija And The Comedy Of Budget Presentation?

Naija And The Comedy Of Budget Presentation?

This nation is very funny, just presenting a budget that will off course be white washed and passed has become a logjam. A budget that has been presented every year for the last 9 years has become a wahala. Poor man dey suffer rich man dey argue...In...


Prince Charles Dickson
Editor, burningpot.com

Nigeria's 1st Online Newspaper
Yours In High Regards
234-08033311301, 08057152301

Visit http://burningpot.com


What Exactly Is The Problem With Nigeria?...Us...Lets Work At Solving It


#63175 From: abujaNig@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sun Nov 22, 2009 11:54 pm
Subject: Exclusive Budget Accomodation in South Africa., 11/23/2009, 12:00 am
abujaNig@yahoogroups.com
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Reminder from:   abujaNig Yahoo! Group
 
Title:   Exclusive Budget Accomodation in South Africa.
 
Date:   Monday November 23, 2009
Time:   All Day
Repeats:   This event repeats every week.
Location:   The INN / Die Herberg
Street:   www.theinndieherberg.spaces.live.com/personalspace.aspx?_c02_owner=1
City State Zip:   Up Market Safe location in town. email: the_inn@...
Phone:   2782664 1590 , 2784208 0283
Notes:   RAtes from R320/day Breakfast Include and only 1o minutes from the Airport. Broad Band internet available. ANd free transport to and fro airport after stay.
 
Copyright © 2009  Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy

#63174 From: o_akkebala <o_akkebala2002@...>
Date: Sun Nov 22, 2009 6:40 pm
Subject: The Things We Do Not Know About Ourselves But Believe About Others Who Have Oppressed us.
o_akkebala2002
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By Chief Elder Osiris
 
 
Tell me beloved, what is it about Black so call Afrikan people who will not attempt to take a telling Divine Objective look to see ourselves?
 
Why do we rather believe all that is told to us about ourselves, rather than work our Mind to get to know ourselves?
 
Beloved, is it that we have been made to be such a believing people until we have been made to be an enemy to Knowing ourselves and we have no desire to learn again about ourselves, because we believe that all we should want in life is all that we believe about our lives?
 
 Such information that now come about us, come not from our Mind thoughts but from our believing faith, we have been made to have in those people who we have allowed to have great influence over our lives, to become our Lord and Master, a people with a record of abusing, Enslaving, Colonizing , and Enslaving  us people, they who are responsible for destroying our Divine  Method of Thinking, thus our Civilization, in the place now call Afrika, which has a telling effect upon us everywhere we are today, on Earth.
 
Tell me beloved, what is it about the people referred to as Black people, why is it that the Mental fire has gone from our Mind that energize us to be in the Know of ourselves, because it is only the Knowledge of ourselves that will be able to release us from the prison of the things we have been conditioned to believe about ourselves, and to the so call Black Afrikan, belief is an enemy to Knowing and to know is to be dissatisfied with our present status in the World today, a World control by the Lords of Evil, they who represent the Luciferian doctrine of Belief, Faith, and Hope, principles of Lies and Deceit.
 
Tell me beloved, why is it so difficult for Black so call Afrikans to accept ourselves to be entirely different from the way that we have been taught that we are to be?
 
Why do Black so call Afrikans believe that there is not ever, anything of a Greater Divine Good to have ever been associated to our Black selves, and why is it that some Black people believe, that with the absence of Evil attached to our lives, then Life of ours would not be as invigorating as Evil has it to be, which is to imply that Evil is a necessary component to the Lives of Black so call Afrikans and without Evil abusing our lives, our lives would not be so exciting to us today.
 
Tell me beloved, is such a belief about our lives, is what give us cause to defy the Divine Truth about our so call Black Afrikan Selves, is it because you believe by being Divine in your Spirituality, life of Black people would not be so exciting as it is under the Hardship of Evil, which our lives now experience today?
 
Why do Black people find it necessary to give value to our oppression, to the Evil that keep us dumbfound about ourselves?
 
Why beloved, we Black People are so afraid of learning the Divine Truth about the Divine Essence, about the Majesty of both Universe, one Infinite and one Finite?
 
 Tell me beloved, why is it that the so call Black Afrikan rather believe about ourselves relationship to those entities, rather than get to know of our Related connection to those entities?
 
 Tell me, is it that one profane frame of Mind require for you to only believe about those entities, including ourselves, and the other Divine frame of Mind require for us to Know with qualification about those entities, they being the Divine Essence (GOD), the Divine Infinite and Finite Universe, and about the Divinity Self of our Being?
 
Why is it so difficult for us to Think Divinely about ourselves, and why is it that we have allowed the One action of our Body Life to become under the control of somebody else other than ourselves, that Divine Action being the Mind of our Lives.
 
 Yet the Mind of Black people, it has become the object of everybody else interest, with the exception of our own, and we now serve to be the evidence of what happen to life when it is not in control of that life Mind, a Mind that the Black so call Afrikan life has no interest in allowing to guide it by its own Energy of Thought, and not belief.
 
Based upon the Mental condition and life status of the so call Black Afrikan People in this world today, we black people are not with a Mind that provoke us and drive us to get to know who we Divinely Truly are, and inform us from whence we came and what is it that happen to our Mind.
 
 Yes beloved, our Mind, because it is the Mind that Guide the Body Life, without control of it, then you are a slave to whomever do control it, because we are our Mind and our Mind is us, and who control your Mind, control you, Beloved.
 
Beloved, the Black so call Afrikan can not begin, can not get to know about ourselves, not until we are in control of our Method of Reasoning, Rationalizing, and Logically reaching conclusions about all those things that connect and affect our lives, and in order for us to become effective in mastering our Mind activity, we have to abandon the Box way of believing and learn again the Cycle method of exploring our Mind thoughts, a practice that was once common to the Mind of the so call Black Afrikans, you who are descendants from an Ancient Cosmic Divine First Way Ancestor that was in the Know of What the Divine Essence Is, Knew the meaning and purpose of both Universe, and did know of the connection of our lives to Such Divine Action.
 
So you can not See today, why it is that a call is now being made to you concerning your need for a Divine Spiritual Retreat, why, well it is because we black so call Afrikans are not any longer in control of our mind, which is what the Divine Spiritual Retreat will be designed to correct.
 
 Yet here you are, unable to See the need of your Black so call Afrikan Life, so we act a Fool when we ignore such a call that is designed to put us back in the Know of ourselves, a Divine Requirement, that is if Afrika is to be Afrika again and the so call Black Afrikan is to become a Divine Being back in control of our body Life mind.
 
Can You Understand That, Beloved?
 
Beloved, A Lost Mind will only snub off such shared Divine information about our so call Black Afrikan selves, here we are, all wrapped up in Lucifer Mind pattern of acquired belief, so what we do, well we allow our Vain Egomaniac Spirit  and our Vain Envious Spirit, and our Vain selfishly Jealous spirit be the revealed expression displayed toward all of that which is Divinely being shared with you, such an expression by you Black so call Afrikans, claiming to be so intelligent, serving to be the evidence of the Black So Call Afrikan Lost Of Control Of Our Mind, A Mind That Is Capable Of Causing You To Become All That you Once Were on this Planet call Earth.
 
All Black so Call Afrikans In Search Of Gaining Control Of Our Mind Again, Need To Read My  JUST RELEASED Book:
 
DIVINE SPIRITUALITY: GETTING TO KNOW THE REAL YOU
 
NOW YOU KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING i DO NOT USUALLY DO, THAT IS MAKE AN APPEAL TO YOU, I DO SO BECAUSE THIS APPEAL IS MORE IN THE INTEREST OF YOUR MIND AND IT IS THE BLACK MIND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT, BELOVED.
 
Go To This Link Beloved, If You Are Interested In Taking The First Step In Learning To Regain Control Of Our Black So Call Afrikan Mind.
 
http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000131666
 
Be Kind To Your Self, Beloved
 
Hoteph
Osiris
Chief Elder


#63173 From: Stevek <stevek941@...>
Date: Sun Nov 22, 2009 5:39 pm
Subject: Re: Fw: [NaijaElections] Fwd: JUST FOR LAUGH
stevek941@...
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PJ,
 
These jokes are not signs that the world is troubled. There are signs that the world is funny.
 
For signs that the world is troubled, I would read the Guardian or any Nigerian newspapers for news such as a head of state that presides over thieves and criminals, a head of state that heads to Saudi Arabia on personal business while his counterparts are gathering at the UN,  an ex-president that has sex with his own daughter, an ex-governor of CBN that became stupendously rich overnight, a thieveing and ex-convict state ex-governor that is invited to give a speech on founders day in a university while an innocent ex-EFCC chief is wanted for prosecution for ghost crimes, etc, etc. And all this while the populace is dormant as a doornail and being upset only by jokes!
 

 

Stevek
Washington, D.C., USA

A society of supine lambs breeds erect wolves. - Stevek

A wise man proportions his beliefs to the evidence - David Hume




From: pjadamz <pjadamz@...>
To: abujanig@yahoogroups.com
Cc: praying4nigeria@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sun, November 22, 2009 12:12:07 PM
Subject: [abujaNig] Fw: [NaijaElections] Fwd: JUST FOR LAUGH

 

I really hope this is just a joke.  Then it will be some excellent comedy, but if it is a reality.  The world is truly a more troubled place than we admit.
 
Happy Sunday.
Adamu 
 
 
 
 
-------Original Message----- --
 
Date: 11/21/09 23:32:02
Subject: [NaijaElections] Fwd: JUST FOR LAUGH
 
 

 
I know it's not true anyway, but it surely made me giggle.

Have a laugh!


Love always,
Helyn Woghiren
Serving with passion and integrity


----- Forwarded Message ----
From: "ockiya


Subject: just Laugh


Girl friends never mind our guys!!! we are the very best!!!
 
ENJOY
When a man steals your wife, there is no better revenge than to let him keep her.
Lee Majors


After marriage, husband and wife become two sides of a coin; they just can't face each other, but still they stay together.

Al Gore


By all means marry. If you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.

Socrates


Woman inspires us to great things, and prevents us from achieving them.

Mike Tyson


The great question... which I have not been able to answer... is, "What does a woman want?

George Clooney


I had some words with my wife, and she had some paragraphs with me.

Bill Clinton


"Some people ask the secret of our long marriage. We take time to go to a restaurant two times a week. A little candlelight, dinner, soft music and dancing. She goes Tuesdays, I go Fridays."

George W. Bush


"I don't worry about terrorism. I was married for two years."

Rudy Giuliani


"There's a way of transferring funds that is even faster than electronic banking. It's called marriage."

Michael Jordan


"I've had bad luck with all my wives. The first one left me and the second one didn’t.” The third gave me more children!

Donald Trump


Two secrets to keep your marriage brimming
1. Whenever you're wrong, admit it,
2. Whenever you're right, shut up.

Shaquille O’Neal


The most effective way to remember your wife's birthday is to forget it once...

Kobe Bryant


You know what I did before I married? Anything I wanted to.

David Hasselhoff


My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we met.

Alec Baldwin


A good wife always forgives her husband when she's wrong.

Barack Obama


Marriage is the only war where one sleeps with the enemy.

Tommy Lee


A man inserted an 'ad' in the classifieds: "Wife wanted".. Next day he received a hundred letters. They all said the same thing: "You can have mine."

Brad Pitt


First Guy (proudly): "My wife's an angel!"
Second Guy: "You're lucky, mine's still alive."

Jimmy Kimmel


“Honey, what happened to ‘ladies first’?” Husband replies, “That’s the reason why the world’s a mess today, because a lady went first!”

David Letterman


“First there’s the promise ring, then the engagement ring, then the wedding ring...soon after....comes Suffer...ing!

Jay Leno



SEND THIS TO ALL THE GUYS TO GIVE THEM A GOOD LAUGH......AND TO THOSE LADIES WITH A SENSE OF HUMOUR WHO CAN HANDLE IT!!!!!!!

 


 




 
FREE Animations for your email - by IncrediMail! Click Here!


#63172 From: "pjadamz" <pjadamz@...>
Date: Sun Nov 22, 2009 5:12 pm
Subject: Fw: [NaijaElections] Fwd: JUST FOR LAUGH
pjadamz
Offline Offline
Send Email Send Email
 
I really hope this is just a joke.  Then it will be some excellent comedy, but if it is a reality.  The world is truly a more troubled place than we admit.
 
Happy Sunday.
Adamu 
 
 
 
 
-------Original Message-------
 
Date: 11/21/09 23:32:02
Subject: [NaijaElections] Fwd: JUST FOR LAUGH
 
 

 
I know it's not true anyway, but it surely made me giggle.

Have a laugh!


Love always,
Helyn Woghiren
Serving with passion and integrity


----- Forwarded Message ----
From: "ockiya


Subject: just Laugh


Girl friends never mind our guys!!! we are the very best!!!
 
ENJOY
When a man steals your wife, there is no better revenge than to let him keep her.
Lee Majors


After marriage, husband and wife become two sides of a coin; they just can't face each other, but still they stay together.

Al Gore


By all means marry. If you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.

Socrates


Woman inspires us to great things, and prevents us from achieving them.

Mike Tyson


The great question... which I have not been able to answer... is, "What does a woman want?

George Clooney


I had some words with my wife, and she had some paragraphs with me.

Bill Clinton


"Some people ask the secret of our long marriage. We take time to go to a restaurant two times a week. A little candlelight, dinner, soft music and dancing. She goes Tuesdays, I go Fridays."

George W. Bush


"I don't worry about terrorism. I was married for two years."

Rudy Giuliani


"There's a way of transferring funds that is even faster than electronic banking. It's called marriage."

Michael Jordan


"I've had bad luck with all my wives. The first one left me and the second one didn’t.” The third gave me more children!

Donald Trump


Two secrets to keep your marriage brimming
1. Whenever you're wrong, admit it,
2. Whenever you're right, shut up.

Shaquille O’Neal


The most effective way to remember your wife's birthday is to forget it once...

Kobe Bryant


You know what I did before I married? Anything I wanted to.

David Hasselhoff


My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we met.

Alec Baldwin


A good wife always forgives her husband when she's wrong.

Barack Obama


Marriage is the only war where one sleeps with the enemy.

Tommy Lee


A man inserted an 'ad' in the classifieds: "Wife wanted".. Next day he received a hundred letters. They all said the same thing: "You can have mine."

Brad Pitt


First Guy (proudly): "My wife's an angel!"
Second Guy: "You're lucky, mine's still alive."

Jimmy Kimmel


“Honey, what happened to ‘ladies first’?” Husband replies, “That’s the reason why the world’s a mess today, because a lady went first!”

David Letterman


“First there’s the promise ring, then the engagement ring, then the wedding ring...soon after....comes Suffer...ing!

Jay Leno



SEND THIS TO ALL THE GUYS TO GIVE THEM A GOOD LAUGH......AND TO THOSE LADIES WITH A SENSE OF HUMOUR WHO CAN HANDLE IT!!!!!!!

 


 




 
FREE Animations for your email - by IncrediMail! Click Here!

#63171 From: OMOHWO@...
Date: Sun Nov 22, 2009 5:52 am
Subject: Fwd: Re:Delta State & Matters Arising
OMOHWO@...
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The Editor,
 
Please, could you kindly help to forward  this article on ways to improve things in our country to fellow Nigerians worldwide.
Thank you for your co-operation.
 
Francis Omohwo,
22/11/2009.
 
Dear Governor,
 
Compliments of the season and greetings to you and your family !
I wish to humbly make the following suggestions in the quest to providing basic amenities to our people in Delta State in particular and Nigeria in general:-
 
1) Health  -
The rehabilitation/upgrading of the central hospitals in Warri, Agbor, Sapele, Ughelli & Oghara and they should be equipped with computed tomographic, magnetic resonance imaging & ultrasound scanners, haemodialysis units, standard theatres with monitors, radiotherapy treatment units, standard central sterilising units, incinerating units, regular electricity/potable water supply, etc.
Also, regional blood transfusion/mobile units in the 3 senatorial areas of the State and well equipped & spacious ambulances in all the LGAs ( 5 per LGA yearly ) to be conveying patients & accident victims to hospitals throughout the state day/night at affordable rate of say N500. Nigeria has no national ambulance service whereas, war torn Somalia has one.
2) Transport -
Three reputable private transport companies like Agofure Motors, should be appointed to provide standard intra/intercity road & water transport services in the state and to other parts of the country and to pay tax to government in return.
3) Road Construction/Maintenance -
Roads should be constructed & maintained to international standards - with appropriate markings, sign posts, drainage systems, rest areas with shops, restaurants, toilets, security posts, clinics, etc.
4) State wide beautification project -
There should be general beautification of all towns & villages in the state in partnership with the LGAs.
5) Potable Water supply State wide -
Private & local reputable water firms should be appointed in all the LGAs to provide regular & affordable pipe borne water supply to all deltans and to pay tax to government in return.
6) Agriculture/Communal Farms in all LGAs -
Communal farms with co-operative societies should be established in all the LGAs - 3 per LGA and to be managed by the local communities. These will provide employment to several thousands of our unemployed youths and ready/affordable food supply to all deltans.
7) Education -
Holistic rehabilitation/maintenance of primary, secondary & tertiary schools and employment of qualified teachers with good incentives. Also, schools should be returned to church missions to provide complementary boarding & good qualitative services to our children. I attended St. Peter Claver's College, Aghalokpe,Sapele, in my formative years.
8) Environmental Services -
Private firms should be appointed in partnership with the LGAs to provide wheeling bins to all homes & in  public places for trash collection and to be collected on regular basis by them at affordable price and to pay tax to government in return.
Finally, it is in my honest opinion that if the above sugestions are implemented nation wide, the much elusive developmental strides in Nigeria will be overcomed.
Thank you & God bless.
 
Francis Omohwo, FRCS,
Surgeon/Urologist,
E-mail - omohwo@...,
10/10/2009.

#63170 From: Steveogbonmwan@...
Date: Sun Nov 22, 2009 2:52 am
Subject: 2011: YAR'ADUA MOVES AGAINST BUHARI
stv_og
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THE SUN NEWSPAPERS OF NIGERIA

2011:Yar’Adua moves against Buhari
By Olusola Balogun
Sunday, November 22, 2009

•Yar’Adua
Photo: Sun News Publishing

Hawks in President Umaru Yar’Adua’s government may have moved against former Head of State, Gen Muhammadu Buhari. Competent sources close to the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) presidential candidate informed Sunday Sun that the government has already withdrawn Buhari's utility vehicle and may soon stop his pension.

Buhari, it was revealed, may have talked himself into the bad books of some hawks in the present administration.
According to sources, they are particularly upset over Buhari's protracted presidential legal battle, his criticism of government’s policies as well as his active involvement in the ranks of opposition politicians who formed the National Democratic Movement (NDM) to challenge Yar’Adua presidential bid in 2011.

As a first step, it was learnt that Buhari’s monthly pension has been stopped. A source close to the former Head of State who spoke on condition of anonymity said: "General Buhari's monthly pension of N85,000 given to him after retiring as an Army General and Head of State has been stopped since December 2008 by the administration.”

The source who claimed that no notice was given before the action was taken added, "I think the government is just being vindictive, or out to punish the former Head of State on account of his pursuit of legal redress over the last general elections and his criticism of the Yar'Adua government for leading Nigeria into a failed state."

Besides, a Peugeot 505 utility saloon car given to Buhari by the late Gen. Sani Abacha as utility car has been withdrawn.
A letter emanating from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, dated October 10, with reference number AFHS/005/PER/T:2/106 and signed by one Halima Lawan (Mrs), a director in the General Services Department, requested for the return of the Peugeot given to Buhari by Abacha.

It was learnt that under the administration of the late Gen Abacha, a committee headed by the then SGF, Alhaji Aminu Saleh, was constituted and it came out with detailed benefits due former Nigerian leaders, including Buhari.
The recommendation was eventually gazetted and a directorate established in the SGF's office to take care of all former Nigerian leaders by giving them, among others, utility vehicles that would be replaced every four years.

Part of the recommendation was also a yearly medical trip abroad to any country of their choice for a former leader, his spouse, four children and two aides, as well as two vehicles for utility that would be renewable every four years. Others include the building or renting of a befitting office to be furnished at his state of residence.
It was on the strength of this gesture that the Abacha administration gave Buhari the vehicle, but after 12 years, the administration of president Yar’Adua administration has demanded for its return.

But Buhari obliged the government and returned the car with a covering letter dated October 28,2009 where he thanked the government for the kind gesture and its magnanimity as well as its desire to retrieve the car. One Mr. M.F. Abba signed the letter on behalf of the former Head of State.
Director General of The Buhari Organisation, Sule Hamman, who confirmed the development, added that the former leader was not bothered by the actions.

He dismissed the actions as inconsequential, saying,“He will never compromise when it comes to speaking the truth and there is no way they can break his resolve to liberate Nigeria.”
Effort to get officials in the SGF’s office to explain why the 12-year-old utility car was withdrawn proved abortive as all those contacted declined comments on grounds that only the SGF can do so.

 













If we are only for ourselves, what are our lives for? Make a difference, make the world a better place.
Dr. SEO OGBONMWAN.






#63169 From: o_akkebala <o_akkebala2002@...>
Date: Sat Nov 21, 2009 6:12 pm
Subject: The Lords Of This Earth Succes Of Remaking The Afrikans
o_akkebala2002
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The Lords Of This Earth Success Of Remaking The Afrikans
 
 
 
By Chief Elder Osiris
 
 
 
First allow me to share that the Spiritual Action of the universe in term of how it physical behave with each member action, is in order of a Divine Nature and the Universe need not the Measured calculus of man concept of Time in order to perform in the way that it does.
 
It is because of the Divine Spirit of the Universe that cause  the alignment at set intervals of Motion that cause the phenomena of related display of Unity within the Infinite Dark Universe by its Family of Stars and Planets, and such a display of unity and oneness does not indicate an action of Destruction that has to automatically take place.
 
There are Beings upon this planet that has caused a remake of a people upon this planet that was once Divine in their action and relationship with those other members of the Universe, Stars and Planets, and now today, certain Beings referring to themselves as Human Beings have taken it upon themselves to reconstitute the Universe to their level of comprehension and have taken it upon themselves to become Lords of this Earthly Planet World.
 
Of all the inhabitants upon this Planet referring to themselves as being high level intelligent Beings, there is one Ethnic Group being upon this planet, a planet that the Human Being Lords have so designated to be known as Earth, has taken upon themselves to remake.
 
 The Lords of this Earth has chosen to Target for remake by them, the Ethnic Group whose appearance is of a Different appearance than they are, so they proceeded to remake a people we now refer to as being Black Afrikans  and took them to become to the Lords of this planet, their Slaves, a Helluva reduction of that Ethnic Group from a Divine State Of being, to a low level of a three fifth value of a Human Being.
 
 Such  Beings being the Lord of the World of which they now occupy  and control , a world  upon this planet  named Earth by the Lords of this World, upon this Earth,  and in this world there was a center of attraction the Lords did gaze upon, they being of a Phenotype appearance that carried a pigment of a shade that was not of an alluminous color, later referred to, by the Lords of the World, to be Black Afrikan people, a people with a Divine countenance that glowed with a Divine Radiance.
 
Such a People label by the Lords of this World to be Black and Afrikans, became the target for a remake in order to fit the Mind action that the Lords of this Planet Earth World  had so desired such a people to be, a people we became, and with such a conformance until we have become habitual in our Self debasement, as we now willingly comply to conform to the ways and action of the Lords of this Evil Treated World, causing such a conformed Black Afrikan People to be as Evil in our mind action as those people who we have accepted to be our Lord and Master upon this Earth, in this World which we have become a part of, today.
 
 Beloved, the people you now witness to be and is label to be Black and Afrikan, such a people have been remade to be a people we are not, yet because of our mental conditioning to be willing conformists to the Spirit of the Lords of this world, you now have Black Afrikans who willingly serve the Lord their Master, believing that we do do the Divine Essence (GOD) a service by our total submission to evil forces of this world, Lord of our Life, to be the Son of God, a God so created by the Lords of this world, to whom we give all of our praise to, today.
 
Beloved, we Divine Beings who have been remade to be Human Beings, and now is loyal conformist to the ways of Lucifer, we in our Remade state of Mind, can not Think to be the Beings we once were and when such a Divine Truth come knocking upon your Mind, you in your remade state of believing, automatically reject that which is shared with you to be the Divine Truth, and we Black Afrikans do so because we are now willing conformist to a lower level of Mind performance, causing us to be the people who have been made to lose all knowledge of ourselves today.
 
Beloved, have you ever noticed how angry some Black folks become when they hear of Divine Things about ourselves, all because we have been locked into a Mental caste that have us to be the most devout conformist to the way of believing about the Lords of this World and to hate ourselves for the Blackness we carry.
 
 Lucifer, Lords of this world is with a History of Remaking the Divine Black Being, they using the tools of Lies, Deceit, Abuse, and Murderous Killing of us Black people, while Enslaving the Mind of a once Divine Being, you who once was able to align your Divine Mind with the happening of the precession of the Equinox and an aligining of the universe bodies which display a Universal Spirit of Divine Oneness.
 
Can you Understand that, Beloved?
 
Afrika as well as the so call Black Afrikan is in a motion of Dying, The Land of Afrika is now under siege by the Lord of this Earth and has been for a Long Time and the People originally upon that Afrika Land call Afrika, is at the last of their Dying Mind and has no desire to resurrect ourselves.
 
 Yet here is such a people with such a Divine Origin, and has a Mind today that cause us to be in a caste of our Mental conforming, so much so, until the Mind action of Shame no longer can trigger such a conforming people into action to give cause for them to know that it is now Time to reclaim our Divine mind and stop the revolve conforming to the Lords of this world, they who are responsible for the Remake of the Divine Being, into the present day Negro that we now are,  a state of Mind that act against the Divinity of the knowledge of our Black Divine Self.
 
Today, we are locked in a conforming spiral that is taking us into the final evil pit of our Ignorance, as we now give excuse for our Ignorant Intelligence, which we now display in our conformed mind action.
 
Please, The Pathway to The Rediscover of Ourselves, Is Through This Link, Follow It And You Will Not Regret it, Beloved. htp://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000131666
 
Be Kind To Your Self, Beloved.
 
Hoteph
Osiris
Chief Elder
copyright@2009


#63168 From: Steveogbonmwan@...
Date: Sat Nov 21, 2009 7:47 am
Subject: OBSERVATION & QUOTATION OF THE WEEK
stv_og
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'The House Committee on Niger Delta led by Rep. Olaka Nwogu (PDP/Delta),
took turns yesterday to castigate Ufot Ekaette and Elder Godsday Orubebe
for failing to implement a single project in the Niger Delta region
since the Ministry was created last year, but feeding consultants fat on
over N207billion, more than N48billion voted for the region in the 2009
budget.


"The figures that you have in your report cannot be defended in every
sense of responsibility. Therefore we are going to request that on
Tuesday next week you provide us with details on the profile of
consultants, the money paid them, and the projects executed", Nwogu
said.
The creation of the Niger Delta Ministry and what is done there is a
diplomatic deceit, and this document is nothing but an attempt to
deceive this Committee. According to this document, (the Minister's
report) nothing has been done except consultancy payments", Enang said.
 
Rep. Ita Enang (PDP/Itu-Akwa Ibom)











If we are only for ourselves, what are our lives for? Make a difference, make the world a better place.
Dr. SEO OGBONMWAN.






#63167 From: "Irinkerindo" <irinkerindo@...>
Date: Sat Nov 21, 2009 5:46 am
Subject: Africa: Opacity Blamed for Bad Oil Deals in Africa
africaservice
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See, hear, read. Easily these people point to the rot among some of our
leaders while neglecting their own lack of transparency. Are we saying the
number of barrel of petroleum pumped by Shell is equal to the number
declared to the government? - Dele

Africa: Opacity Blamed for Bad Oil Deals in Africa
Steve Manteaw

19 November 2009


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Montreal - Campaigners from fifty countries from around the world meeting in
Montreal, Canada to strategise on pushing further the frontiers of
transparency in oil, gas, and mining industries, have blamed opacity in oil
and mineral licensing for the bad deals natural resource-dependent countries
are often saddled with.

Addressing the meeting, Diarmid O' Sullivan of Global Witness, said opacity
in licensing provides cover for rent-seeking practices of public officials,
which in turn, serves as incentive to negotiate bad deals for their
countries.

Diarmid O' Sullivan recalled instances where the names of three interest
holders in companies bidding for oil blocks in Angola bore the same names as
high-ranking officials in that country, and argued that, such are the
reasons why countries that have signed on to the Extractive Industries
Transparency Initiative (EITI) must ensure openness in the concession
allocation processes in their natural resource sector.

Other participants cited instances from Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea to
show the need for open licensing and contract disclosure. A media report of
shady oil deals in Equatorial Guinea involving the son of the president of
that country was brought to attention. According to the New York Times of
Tuesday, November 17, Teodoro Nguema Obiang, the son of the president of
Equatorial Guinea, who is also the Agriculture and Forestry Minister in his
father's government has siphoned millions of dollars from the country and
bought himself a $35 million villa, fleet of luxury cars, speed boats and a
luxury jet in Malibu, California, at a time when majority of the country's
population live in abject poverty.

The story cites a U.S. Justice Department memorandum dated September 4 2007
which affirmed that from April 2005 to April 2006, Mr. Obiang transferred at
least $73 million into the United States, using shell corporations and
offshore bank accounts to launder the money and ultimately buy his Malibu
estate and luxury jet.

The campaigners, organized under the banner of Publish What You Pay, have
been clamouring for transparency in the payment, receipt and management of
extractive industries revenues since 2000. The group believes that, by
ensuring public disclosure of revenue payments and receipts from natural
resource extraction, citizens will be empowered to demand accountability
from their governments as to how these revenues are used.

Commenting on recent claims of political harassment by friends and
associates of some Ghanaian investors in Ghana's oil sector, a participant,
argued: "If the licensing process in Ghana had been transparent, perhaps the
need to investigate the backgrounds and how these individuals came to
acquire these shares in question wouldn't have arisen". The suggestion that
such inquiry will scare off future investors, was dismissed as far fetched.
Rather, it was argued that investor confidence is usually bolstered by a
regime of openness and due process; a regime where the incentives for
rent-seeking and extortion are diminished.

A report of a study on contract secrecy released at the meeting, argues
that, when contracts are publicly available, government officials have an
incentive to stop negotiating bad deals with extractive industry companies.
The result, the authors maintain, is better contracts, greater public trust,
and more stable investment climate. The report was commissioned by Revenue
Watch Institute and authored by Peter Rosenblum and Susan Maples of the
Columbia Law School.

Ghana's oil licensing remains an open-door, negotiated deal type in spite of
the recent discoveries, described as world class, and among the most
significant in recent years.

The issue of contract transparency as a good governance principle in the
natural resource sector appears to be gaining currency in global discourses
on the role of the extractive sector in national economies, and it is
expected to be one of the focal themes of a communique to be issued at the
close of the conference.

Though, the National Democratic Congress government has expressed a
commitment to openness in the process as well as the content of the
contracts being entered into with international oil and gas companies, there
have been no significant steps taken to demonstrate this commitment.

Ghanaians largely remain in the dark about the negotiations and maneuverings
that have characterized Ghana?s oil sector since December, 2009.

Copyright  2009 Public Agenda. All rights reserved. Distributed by
AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).

AllAfrica - All the Time

#63166 From: "Igietseme, Joseph (CDC/CCID/NCPDCID)" <jbi8@...>
Date: Fri Nov 20, 2009 11:20 pm
Subject: RE: Swiss Court Convicts Abacha's Son----Why Nigeria has no basic infrastructures!!!
juigietseme
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Ethnicism or tribalism (not ethnicity or tribe) protects and shield corrupt people from being prosecuted fully. If ethnicism/tribalism is minimized in Nigeria, the following benefits will become obvious:
1. Meritocracy will reign supreme;
2. Capable leadership will emerge from the society and inept leadership will submerge; visionaries like Awolowo, Aminu Kano and Nnamdi Azikiwe would have been automatic Presidents, not the Shagaris, Shonekan, Abachas etc who have ruined the country for lack of vision.
3. There will be no ethnic hiding refuge for corrupt leaders. Just watch out, people will start clamoring now whether "Na only Bode George steal money?"
 
These are the benefits that the setbacks of tribalism are depriving Nigeria and Nigerians. JUI


From: Dr. Valentine Ojo [mailto:valojo@...]
Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 5:58 PM
To: NigerianWorldForum
Cc: Igietseme, Joseph (CDC/CCID/NCPDCID)
Subject: RE: Swiss Court Convicts Abacha's Son----Why Nigeria has no basic infrastructures!!!

Oh! I thought you have always insisted that ETHNICITY was the problem.

Once everyone renounces their respective ethnicities and become One Nigerian, all of Nigeria's ills would disappear just like that!

Maybe you are now beginning to see where the real problem l- right now as things stand, ethncity however you may define it ranks among the least of Nigeria's problems - IMO!

"GREED! GREED!! GREED!!!" - "Igietseme, Joseph (CDC/CCID/NCPDCID)" <jbi8@...>

Which spells: UNMITIGATED CORRUPTION!!!

And it knows no ETHNICITY - ALL of NIGERIA's ETHNICITIES are guilty of it! And that's about the only area where we truly have a ONE NIGERIA!

 

Dr.Valentine Ojo

Tall Timbers, MD




On Fri 11/20/09 4:36 PM , "Igietseme, Joseph (CDC/CCID/NCPDCID)" jbi8@... sent:

 

GREED! GREED!! GREED!!!
 
Allahu Akbr!
 
One of the major reasons Nigeria cannot boast of any reliable basic infrastructure (regular electricity, pipe-borne water, roads, mass transit system, sewer/waste management systems etc) in any City in the nation.
JUI (shaking his head and imagining how this is possible in a modern nation, not a jungle!)


From: NIDOA@yahoogroups.com [mailto:NIDOA@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of elombah daniel
Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 3:04 PM
To: nidoa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [NIDOA] Swiss Court Convicts Abacha’s Son

 

The Son of Nigeria's former dictator, Sani Abacha was convicted in Switzerland today.  Abba Abacha was convicted of being a member of a criminal organisation and given a suspended custodial sentence.

A Swiss court ordered the seizure of $350m (212m) in assets from the son of Nigeria's former military ruler, General Sani Abacha.

The son of former the Nigerian military ruler Sani Abacha was charged with money laundering and fraud after being extradited to Switzerland.

Switzerland began investigating the Abacha family in 1999 and has so far handed back about $700m toNigeria.  

Investigating judge Daniel Dumartheray said that Abba Sani Abacha was wanted in connection with the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars.

He was extradited from Germany, where he was arrested in 2004.Mr Dumartheray told the BBC News website that the Swiss authorities had been seeking Abba Abacha since 1999.

The Swiss authorities pursued Abba Abacha for six years before extraditing him from Germany in 2005 and geld in Geneva prison. He was charged with aggravated money laundering, participation in a criminal organisation and embezzlement.Nigerian state lawyers believe Sani Abacha, who ruled from 1993 until his death in 1998, may have stolen $2.2bn. 

"The examining magistrate sentenced him to a suspended jail term, and ordered the confiscation of his assets of $350m," Geneva canton's justice office said in a statement."

The money is held by his criminal organisation and seized through international assistance in Luxembourgand the Bahamas."

BBC Correspondents say Abba Abacha can appeal against the judgement. In February 2005, Switzerland announced that it was returning to Nigeria $458m invested in its banks by Abacha.

The Abacha family failed in a last-ditch court appeal to prevent the money being handed back to Nigeria.Switzerland agreed last August to hand over the money - which has been in frozen accounts since Abacha's death - and said an inquiry proved it had criminal origins.

As well as Switzerland, Nigeria is looking for money in the UK, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and the US.


http://elombah.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2246:swiss-court-convicts-abachas-son&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=67



#63165 From: o_akkebala <o_akkebala2002@...>
Date: Fri Nov 20, 2009 11:29 pm
Subject: JUST RELEASED, DIVINE SPIRITUALITY, GETTING TO KNOW THE REAL YOU
o_akkebala2002
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JUST RELEASED, DIVINE SPIRITUALITY, GETTING TO KNOW THE REAL YOU
 
 
Hoteph Beloved:
 
Beloved, please go to this link, http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000131666, there you will be able to view my just released book by iuniverse publishing, a book that every person claiming to be in search of their Divine spirituality NEED TO HAVE IN YOUR POSSESSION..
 
Divine Spirituality, Getting To Know The Real You, is written to the world about getting to know thyself and it spare none when revealing what has caused the Divine Spirituality of Beings to lose our Spiritual Virginity.
 
Divine Spirituality, Getting To Know The Real You, is Direct and precise, it is very provocative in revealing and verifying that which is Divinely Spiritual, True and Real, to the Life of Beings on a Level of Intelligence that make us to be accountable to our Life deciding Action.
 
This Book should be in the possession of all those claiming to be Intelligent Beings Upon This Planet Earth.
 
Absent of vain ego, this book, Divine Spirituality, Getting To Know The Real You, will allow your Mind to go on a Spiritual Journey of such a Divine Quality, until the Knowledge of Self will become very revealing of its Divine Spirituality and how it became absent to such a Divine mind.
 
Be Kind To Your Self, Beloved and purchase this book, Divine Spirituality, Getting To Know The Real You, when you do, you will not be sorry that you did, beloved.
 
Thank you
 
Hoteph
Osiris
Chief Elder
copyright@2009 


#63164 From: Ijay I <ijay1@...>
Date: Fri Nov 20, 2009 10:43 pm
Subject: Name that Virus...........
ijay1@...
Send Email Send Email
 

You wake up one morning and just don't feel like yourself; you're tired, achy, feverish...

Is it swine flu?

Is it seasonal flu?

Is it just a cold?   How can you tell?

Hopefully, this handy chart will help you understand the differences between a few common illnesses.



Symptom

Cold

Seasonal Flu

H1N1

Fever

Rare

Up to 102° common

101° or higher very common

Chest Congestion

Mild to moderate

Moderate

Severe

Cough

Productive cough common

Dry cough common

Dry cough common

Nasal Congestion

Common

Common

Common

Sneezing

Common

Common

Rare

Sore Throat

Common

Common

Rare

Chills

Rare

Common

Common

Fatigue

Mild

Moderate

Moderate

Body Aches

Mild

Moderate

Severe

Nausea/Diarrhea/Vomiting

Rare

Common

Common

Headache

Uncommon

Common

 

Common

 

 

Onset

Slow - symptoms develop over a few days

Slow - symptoms develop over a few days

Rapid - Symptoms develop within a few hours

 


Ijay...

“A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge.”  



#63163 From: "adamua" <adamua@...>
Date: Fri Nov 20, 2009 9:18 pm
Subject: Oil and Gas - Senegal, Ghana silently taking the lead, where else
pjadamz
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Limit fuel imports from Senegal

A VISITING Senegalese delegation headed by Energy Minister Samuel Saar recently revealed that the once comatose Senegalese petroleum refinery was currently operating at optimal capacity with its output exceeding Senegal's requirements. The delegation therefore offered any surplus products to the Nigerian market that still relies heavily on imported refined petroleum products. Additionally the delegation broached a plan to further expand Senegalese refining capacity that would be contingent upon a formal assurance of a catchment Nigerian market for the anticipated increased output. Mindful that the refinery in Senegal owed its fully operational state to President Musa Yar'Adua's approval for the refinery to lift crude oil directly from NNPC, the delegation brought a request for an extension of the arrangement.

Minister of State for Petroleum, Odein Ajumogobia responded that the Federal Government had mulled over the possibility of processing some Nigeria crude oil offshore for direct repatriation. He not only expressed delight that Nigeria would benefit from any excess refining capacity as Senegal consistently received crude oil allocation but also indicated Nigeria's interest in the planned expansion of the existing Senegalese refining capacity.

Since refined petroleum products sourced from Senegal would, other things being equal, enjoy a competitive edge owing to the proximity of that country coupled with the presidential facilitation of direct lifting of crude oil, which more distant refiners lack, any decision to purchase excess Senegalese output from its existing refining capacity to augment Nigeria's domestic needs will be welcome as a short-term measure. But we hope the inherent price advantage will not be erased through sharp practices.

However, because the time required to expand Senegalese refining capacity would be adequate for Nigeria to take necessary steps to refine additional crude oil more cheaply than the Senegal-based refinery, Senegal should not be encouraged to target the Nigerian market in any bid to expand its refining capacity. Furthermore, the suggestion by Ajumogobia that Nigeria would be importing 40 per cent of her requirements even if the four refineries were operating optimally is exaggerated.

Given appropriate government policies and action, there could be major positive changes in a short time that would reduce the consumption of imported fuel. For example, if peace is sustained in the Niger Delta, it would be possible to gather and supply natural gas to power a number of industries and to fire several thermal electricity plants including newly constructed ones, which would greatly improve public electricity supply. That development would eliminate the need for a substantial amount of fuel used currently for domestic and industrial generators.

Two, Nigeria has four comatose refineries which, as long experience has shown, cannot produce optimally under public sector control. They should be immediately privatised or given out for free to tested refiners. They will become fully operational and produce at optimal capacity shortly thereafter. All Nigeria-based industries irrespective of ownership can be made to serve the best national interest. The long overdue deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector will enhance profitability of local refining and attract serious investors. Three, deregulation can also be expected to ginger the 14 companies that have secured approval to construct refineries (out of the initial 18 licensed refining companies) into full action. Modular petroleum refineries of various sizes can be built and put on stream in 11-18 months.

Because Nigeria-based refineries, which are or will be located in or very near the oil fields (excepting the Kaduna refinery), will be allowed to lift crude oil directly from NNPC, their cost of production will ordinarily be lower than that of the Senegal-based refinery.

To quicken and increase investment in the petroleum sector and other sectors of the economy as well, it is painfully pertinent to ponder this irony. In the very month of August 2007 when he gave advice that turned around the Senegalese refinery, President Yar'Adua further postponed Nigeria's economic revival by rejecting the adoption of the well-thought-out special domiciliary account for the disbursement of the Federation Account dollar allocations. The apt procedure would instantly end unappropriated fiscal deficits and evolve in about three months a conducive economic environment characterised by near-zero inflation, mid-single digit banking lending rates across-the-board, a realistically valued naira and a stable naira exchange rate.

Adoption of the procedure, which is indeed 36 years overdue, will make for massive investment by the private sector in all sectors of the economy. In the petroleum sector the profitable investment opportunities would deliver very cheap energy and bring into being viable petro-chemical industries that would cater for the domestic and export markets. The end result is the creation of huge employment avenues at home and the attainment of national prosperity, which happens to be the expressed national goal of various governments over the years.

FREE Animations for your email - by IncrediMail! Click Here!

#63162 From: Prince Dickson <pcdbooks@...>
Date: Fri Nov 20, 2009 6:14 pm
Subject: Nigerian Police Spends N37M On Dogs (NewsPick Of The Week)
pcdbooks@...
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Nigerian Police Spends N37M On Dogs

Nigerian Police Spends N37M On Dogs

Robbers are having a field day, assassins, kidnappings, the security apparatus of the nation is in a state of neither here nor there and then we spend N37M for 150 dogs.

N37 million was spent by the Nigeria Police to purchase 150 trained security dogs...





Prince Charles Dickson
Editor, burningpot.com

Nigeria's 1st Online Newspaper
Yours In High Regards
234-08033311301, 08057152301

Visit http://burningpot.com


What Exactly Is The Problem With Nigeria?...Us...Lets Work At Solving It


#63161 From: kaukab siddique <butshikan@...>
Date: Fri Nov 20, 2009 4:09 am
Subject: Major Hasan & US Muslims+Mumbai & CNN's F. Zakaria+Gaza relief opens+Musharraf's men traced+Afghanistan
kaukabsiddique
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New Trend Magazine
Phone: 443-869-5233. Subscription for printed edition: $10 for 3 months. Mail check to: New Trend, P.O. Box 356, Kingsville, MD 21087.
Disclaimer: Views expressed are not necessarily shared by the editors. New Trend does not endorse violence of any kind. Information on news or views related to violence is for analysis and understanding, not for endorsement. New Trend is against racism, classism, gender superiority, Zionism and Imperialism.
The Qur'an and the authentic Hadith are our foundation.
All views are welcome but only a selection can be published owing to high volume of mail. Anyone criticized in New Trend has the right of reply up to 300 words.
------------------------------------
Zulhijjah 1,1430/ November 19, 2009, # 54
----------------------------------------------------------------
Look for a "shaming" photo. Scroll way down.
----------------------------------------------------------
From Imam Badi Ali [Jamaat al-Muslimeen North Carolina]
 
Spotlight #1: I would not invite him to run a restaurant or even a store in North Carolina. On what basis is Mahmoud Abbas being presented as the leader of the Palestinian people? What is the agenda behind the moves to promise "statehood" to the Palestinians through Abbas? He has neither the skill nor the ability to lead anyone, let alone a state. Israel is playing another delusion on the Palestinians while it continues to firm up his subjugation of the people.
 
Spotlight #2: Expression of love is very important. Don't keep silent about it.  Begin with love of Allah. Express love for Allah through worship. Tell your children that you love them. Tell them that you love Allah and the children Allah gave you. Tell your parents/family members that you love them. Express yourself. Don't keep your children starved of your affection. Look at the love expressed by the Prophet, pbuh, for his grandchildren and all children.
 
Spotlight #3: Your words are very important for your children. What you say to your children about the future becomes like a road map for them. Choose your words carefully so that you don't mislead your children. Remember, your words are taken very seriously by your children. Note in Hadith how the Prophet, pbuh, spoke to children.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How Should U.S. Muslims Respond to the Ft. Hood and Major Hasan Media Blitz?
by Kaukab Siddique, PhD
 
      "No bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another." [The Qur'an]
 
      U.S. Muslims are reeling under the media blitz generated by Major Hasan's attack on troops in Ft. Hood. The lackey Muslim groups, CAIR, ISNA, MPAC, various WD Muhammad types are running amuck assuring "massa" that they love him. These lackeys can be trusted to ignore Islam and beat their drums of patriotism. As it has been said, patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.
     However, there are numerous Muslims who are not part of these lick spittle groups and are genuinely frightened by the barrage of hate-and-fear implications being aimed at US Muslims by TV and radio. Most Muslims have no idea how to cope with oppression in spite of EIGHT years of life under the Bush administration. Here is some advice which could help American Muslims to get out of the miasma of fear and hate in which they are caught:

   1.
      Collective guilt is not acceptable under any law, be it Islamic Law or US law.
   2.
      If you were not involved with Major Hasan, you don't have to be apologetic just because you are a Muslim.
   3.
      Did you persuade Major Hasan to attack US troops? Of course not. So, why are you apologizing?
   4.
      Has any impartial inquiry been carried out into the Ft. Hood attack? No! So any positions based on the media reports are without foundation. If you live in America, you should know that the media have many objectives, but the search for truth is not one of them.
   5.
      Were US Muslims asked for their advice when Bush clamped sanctions on Sudan [which were continued by Obama]? Of course not.
   6.
      Were US Muslims asked for advice on Somalia before the US decided to oppose Islamic groups trying to implement Islam in Somalia? Of course not! As a result, Somalia has the largest refugee population in Africa now but the US media ignore it.
   7.
      Did Bush ask US Muslims' for support before he invaded Iraq? You gotta be kidding! No!
   8.
      Did. Bush ask US Muslims whether he should smash Fallujah during the holy nights of Laylatul Qadr? No
   9.
      What about Afghanistan? The US has to destroy a whole country to "get" a few hundred Al-Qaidah people? Any Islamic advice taken from US Muslims? Not a word!
  10.
      Obama started bombing Pakistan without the slightest attempt to ask Pakistani-Americans.
  11.
      We all remember 9.11 but we forget that a MILLION Iraqis died slow deaths under the Clinton regime's sanctions before 9.11. Can we even discuss 9.11 openly without risk to our jobs and lives?
  12.
      Did US Muslims agree to the creation of Israel in occupied Palestine? Do we support the terrorism Israel carries out every day? Did "our" government express the slightest words of regret over the genocide in Gaza, including hundreds of children killed by the Israeli air force?
  13.
      We are 7 to 9 million Muslims in America. Our voice is not heard because the government projects lackey groups like CAIR-ISNA-WD-MPAC as representatives of US Muslims. Believe it or not,some of these renegades even hold Juma' prayers in the PENTAGON. They have no idea in the slightest about the message of Islam but they claim to represent Islam in America!

 

     So now we have a Major Hasan, a Muslim, who killed 13 Amerucans at a military base from where troops are "mobilized" into iraq and Afghanistan. Islam has prohibited Muslims from fighting for a non-Muslim army against Muslims defending their countries. Hasan should not have been there in the first place. Then he seems to have become a mujahid and attacked the troops. So, now we have to say: Forgive us, we are not Muslims first, we are Americans first.

      Do  non-Muslim Americans support the two wars? No, they don't. They voted in Obama in the hope that he would rapidly end the wars. Instead he started a third one in Pakistan.

    America is the most powerful country in the world, an imperialist-zionist power. We are being told that the killing of 13 military in Ft. Hood is a terrible tragedy for this colossus of armed might. "We" could do Fallujah and the Iraqis still did not submit. We used "daisy cutters" in Afghanistan but Shaykh Osama still did not surrender. And America cannot take the Ft. Hood attack!

    This media hype is meant to re-ignite the fires of fear-and-hate which allowed Bush to rule for 8 years. Obama is rapidly becoming unpopular. His Zionist handlers are taking a page out of the Bush playbook to make him look good to the warmongers..

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jamaat al-Muslimeen [News]
Internet Attack on American Muslims by Musharraf supporters.
Life, liberty and Livelihood were in Danger.
 
".. Do you think that you shall enter the Garden [of Bliss] without such [trials] as came to those who passed away before you? They encountered suffering and adversity and were so shaken in spirit that even the messenger and those of faith who were with him cried 'When will come the help of Allah.' Surely the help of Allah is always near." [The Qur'an 2:214]
 
      New Trend publishes a disclaimer in every issue that we do not endorse any kind of violence against anyone. We publish reports on the wars going on in the Muslim world but those reports are meant to increase understanding of the situation not to support or endorse the wars. We discuss jihad but that does not mean that we are involved in any armed activity. Our resistance to oppression is non-violent, patterned after the life of the Prophet, pbuh, in Makka.
       
       In spite of all this, New Trend and Jamaat al-Muslimeen came under serious Internet attack by an individual calling himself "GI Joe" and a group calling itself "Musharraf supporters". General Musharraf  was the military chief and president of Pakistan who opened Pakistan to internal occupation by US intelligence services. His attacks on mosques particularly on Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa are well known.
       A vicious, hate filled, link was distributed all over the Internet trying to link Dr. Kaukab Siddique to terrorism and martyrdom operations. The icing on the cake was that Dr. Siddique's photo, address and phone number were published with instructions to readers to report Dr. Siddique to the FBI and to Interpol as an incipient if not actual terrorist! Information was also provided about his job location.
    Thus the smear gang provided all the ammunition haters needed for a physical attack on Dr. Siddique and Islamic activists with him.
     Jamaat al-Muslimeen Shoora leaders faced visits from the FBI and it seemed that attempts were being to disrupt the Jamaat's Shoora of July 25, 2009.
      Alhamdulillah, no one in the Jamaat flinched and the Shoora was held as scheduled.
      Our readers have traced this gang of Musharraf supporters and the Internet servers they have been using. Unless they apologize in print and without reservations, we will sue them to the fullest extent.
    We affirm, that Kaukab Siddique, New Trend and Jamaat al-Muslimeen work strictly within the laws of the United States. We want the people of America to understand the wars going on, the role of America in these wars and what can be done to end the wars.
     We will remain peaceful but we will resist oppression by non-violent means. We have the   Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet, pbuh. The victory of our teachings is assured, inshallah.
----------------------------------------------------------------
American Muslims Open Channel to help Gaza
 

NAMAW Announces Gaza Remittance Program !

The National Association of Muslim American Women (NAMAW) in cooperation with Together4Peace.org, has organized a remittance program for families in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. The program will be in effect until November 28, 2009. Our objective is to facilitate the desires of Muslims, and others in the US to assist families in Gaza, especially those who are preparing for Eid ul Adha. This program is also to begin the process of reviving Gaza's economy. We are hoping that once Palestinians have money, they will attract businesses who are anxious to provide needed goods and services ,and who will invest in Gaza.
Here is how the project works.
Since there are no US sanctions against Gaza, or Palestine, we are able legally to send funds to Gaza through a remittance program.

Together4Peace.org will collect all of the funds donated through its website donate page, and will transfer by wire all of the funds to Gaza. A project representative in Gaza, who has screened families who will receive funds after signing agreements to use the funds only for humanitarian purposes, such as housing, shelter, food , clothing, and medicines, etc., will distribute the funds according to a set criteria that guarantees that money  is distributed according to family size, and need and not according to political, religious or any other affiliations. The more you give, a greater number of families will receive assistance.

The recipient agreement reads as follows:
"We, the undersigned do pledge that upon accepting these funds,   not to use, or allow these funds to be used for any illegal purpose as defined by our domestic, and also international laws, treaties etc., including the Geneva Conventions. We also swear to abide by the laws of the United States from where these donations originate, and agree to the best of our ability to insure that these funds are used only for humanitarian purposes including housing, shelter, food, medicines, clothing, shoes, and other supplies necessary to sustain  and improve the quality of living for families in Gaza, Palestine."

There is no limit to how much you can donate, and 100% of what you donate will go to the families. There is no administrative cost, only the transfer fees. Follow the link below to make your donation. No amount is too large, or too small!

http://www.together4peace.org index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8&Itemid=10

If this link does not appear as a live link , please copy and paste into your browser and go directly to Togethr4Peace.org website "Donate" page and make your donation.

On December 1st 2009, insha Allah, a complete report on this program, including financial statements will be available for public viewing at namaw.org.

Please make your donation today! Please Distribute widely!

Content copyright 2009. NAMAW. All rights reserved.

---------------------------------------------------

Kashmir:

Indian Troops Kill Six Civilians. Kashmiris Protest & Cry Out

 

    November 11, 2009. In the Baramulla area, Ari sector, near the Indo-Pak control line in Kashmir, India troops killed 6 civilians. India claimed that these were mujahideen intruders from Pakistan. However local villagers say that the six were ordinary civilians who were brutally murdered by elements of the 4th Madras regiment of the Indian army on suspicion of being Pakistanis.

There have been ongoing demonstarions in the area to protest the Indian atrocity.

----------------------------------------------------

Mumbai and CNN's Fareed Zakaria

Indian Propaganda being Distributed by an Indian in CNN

     Dear CNN

On November 15, 2009 Mr. Fareed Zakaria broke all the rules of journalistic ethics in his extensive report on the fidayeen attack on Mumbai.

Here are a few points for your consideration if you do not want CNN to become an outlet for Indian governmernt propaganda.

 

1. Context was missing. Zakaria was intent on leaving out the substance of the issue which would have marred his simplistic 'good guys' vs 'bad guys' story.

2. Incredible as it seems, Zakaria did not mention the word KASHMIR even once during the program. Thus no one can understand the fundamental problem India has with Muslims. India has a 700,000 man occupation army in Kashmir.

3. Tens of thousands of Kashmiris have been killed and maimed by Indian troops in Kashmir during the last 20 years. Rape is used by the Indian army to humiliate and subjugate the people of Kashmir. Surely Zakaria knows the statistics.

4. Zakaria used taped conversations of the alleged terrorists provided him by Indian intelligence. Thus there is direct link between Indian intelligence and CNN's Zakaria which makes the entire program a propaganda piece.

5. How is one to know or authenticate that the voices provided to Zakaria by Indian intelligence are those of the mujahideen?

5. Zakaria lowered himself to the extent of showing the seriously injured surviving Pakistani in his hospital bed murmuring his guilt probably after 'persuasion' by Indian torture merchants.

 

Fareed Zakaria admittedly is of Indian origin and confessed during the program that his mother works at the major hotel which came under attack in Mumbai. Does CNN have no journalistic standards at all that it can present such an interested party, whose mother's office was allegedly under attack, as an objective AMERICAN reporter on the Mumbai attack?

 

Sincerely

Kaukab Siddique, PhD

----------------------------------------

Lest we Forget: Haditha

Reminder from:           ILM-publication Yahoo! Group
 
Title:           Haditha killing, 19 November 2005
 
Date:           Thursday November 19, 2009
Time:           1:00 am - 2:00 am

          
Notes:           19 November 2005 - Twenty-four Iraqi civilians, including three women, seven children and several elderly men, were murdered by US soldiers at Haditha, in Anbar province, Iraq.

 -----------------------------------------------------------
Pakistan: A "shocking" photo for Pakistanis who discuss the war being waged in northern Pakistan but do nothing to help the people. We hope this will shame some Pakistanis into changing their life styles. Sometimes those whom we disagree with can teach us a lesson.
Angelina Jolie in a Pakistani refugee camp comforting an elderly victim of the war.
>
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
War News: Afghanistan
Elite UK soldier killed in Afghanistan: 233 Brit Total
British troops in Afghanistan
The death takes the number of British troops killed in Afghanistan to 233
--------------------------------

November 15, 2009: A soldier from the 7th Battalion The Rifles has been killed in Afghanistan, the  British Ministry of Defence said.
He was killed as a result of small arms fire during a foot patrol near Sangin in central Helmand Province.
The soldier was attached to the 3rd Battalion The Rifles Battle Group.
 
------------------
November 19: Karzai was installed by NATO as the "elected" President of Afghanistan.
Elections under military occupation have no validity.These "elections" were seen
as bogus even by NATO standards. The fraud was allowed to stay.
 
Most of the southern, western and eastern provinces of Afghanistan are under
Taliban control.
November 18: The leader of resistance in Swat, Maulvi Fazlullah spoke to the media from an undisclosed location in Afghanistan.
The leader of the Swat Pakistani Taliban evaded a massive Pakistani crackdown and has taken refuge under Islamic Taliban rule in Afghanistan. He is promising the resumption of guerrilla warfare in Swat.
General Kayani's men claimed that Fazlullah was seriously injured or killed several times.
Kayani's offensive against South Waziristan has petered out.


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Windows 7: I wanted simpler, now it's simpler. I'm a rock star.

#63160 From: kaukab siddique <butshikan@...>
Date: Fri Nov 20, 2009 3:04 am
Subject: Major Haan & US Muslims+Mumbai & CNN's F. Zakaria+Gaza relief opens+Musharraf's men traced+Afghanistan
kaukabsiddique
Offline Offline
Send Email Send Email
 

New Trend Magazine
Phone: 443-869-5233. Subscription for printed edition: $10 for 3 months. Mail check to: New Trend, P.O. Box 356, Kingsville, MD 21087.
Disclaimer: Views expressed are not necessarily shared by the editors. New Trend does not endorse violence of any kind. Information on news or views related to violence is for analysis and understanding, not for endorsement. New Trend is against racism, classism, gender superiority, Zionism and Imperialism.
The Qur'an and the authentic Hadith are our foundation.
All views are welcome but only a selection can be published owing to high volume of mail. Anyone criticized in New Trend has the right of reply up to 300 words.

------------------------------------
Zulhijjah 1,1430/ November 19, 2009, # 54
---------------------------------------------------------------- 
Look for a "shaming" photo. Scroll way down.
----------------------------------------------------------
From Imam Badi Ali [Jamaat al-Muslimeen North Carolina]
 
Spotlight #1: I would not invite him to run a restaurant or even a store in North Carolina. On what basis is Mahmoud Abbas being presented as the leader of the Palestinian people? What is the agenda behind the moves to promise "statehood" to the Palestnians through Abbas? He has neither the skill nor the ability to lead anyone, let alone a state. Israel is playing another delusion on the Palestinians while it continues to firm up his subjugation of the people.
 
Spotlight #2: Expression of love is very important. Don't keep silent about it.  Begin with love of Allah. Express love for Allah through worship. Tell your children that you love them. Tell them that you love Allah and the children Allah gave you. Tell your parents/family members that you love them. Express yourself. Don't keep your children starved of your affection. Look at the love expressed by the Prophet, pbuh, for his grandchildren and all children.
 
Spotlight #3: Your words are very important for your children. What you say to your children about the future becomes like a road map for them. Choose your words carefully so that you don't mislead your children. Remember, your words are taken very seriously by your children. Note in Hadith how the Prophet, pbuh, spoke to children.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How Should U.S. Muslims Respond to the Ft. Hood and Major Hasan Media Blitz?
by Kaukab Siddique, PhD
 
      "No bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another." [The Qur'an]
 
      U.S. Muslims are reeling under the media blitz generated by Major Hasan's attack on troops in Ft. Hood. The lackey Muslim groups, CAIR, ISNA, MPAC, various WD Muhammad types are running amuck assuring "massa" that they love him. These lackeys can be trusted to ignore Islam and beat their drums of patriotism. As it has been said, patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.
     However, there are numerous Muslims who are not part of these lick spittle groups and are genuinely frightened by the barrage of hate-and-fear implications being aimed at US Muslims by TV and radio. Most Muslims have no idea how to cope with oppression in spite of EIGHT years of life under the Bush administration. Here is some advice which could help American Muslims to get out of the miasma of fear and hate in which they are caught:
  1. Collective guilt is not acceptable under any law, be it Islamic Law or US law.
  2. If you were not involved with Major Hasan, you don't have to be apologetic just because you are a Muslim.
  3. Did you persuade Major Hasan to attack US troops? Of course not. So, why are you apologizing?
  4. Has any impartial inquiry been carried out into the Ft. Hood attack? No! So any positions based on the media reports are without foundation. If you live in America, you should know that the media have many objectives, but the search for truth is not one of them.
  5. Were US Muslims asked for their advice when Bush clamped sanctions on Sudan [which were continued by Obama]? Of course not.
  6. Were US Muslims asked for advice on Somalia before the US decided to oppose Islamic groups trying to implement Islam in Somalia? Of course not! As a result, Somalia has the largest refugee population in Africa now but the US media ignore it.
  7. Did Bush ask US Muslims' for support before he invaded Iraq? You gotta be kidding! No!
  8. Did. Bush ask US Muslims whether he should smash Fallujah during the holy nights of Laylatul Qadr? No
  9. What about Afghanistan? The US has to destroy a whole country to "get" a few hundred Al-Qaidah people? Any Islamic advice taken from US Muslims? Not a word!
  10. Obama started bombing Pakistan without the slightest attempt to ask Pakistani-Americans.
  11. We all remember 9.11 but we forget that a MILLION Iraqis died slow deaths under the Clinton regime's sanctions before 9.11. Can we even discuss 9.11 openly without risk to our jobs and lives?
  12. Did US Muslims agree to the creation of Israel in occupied Palestine? Do we support the terrorism Israel carries out every day? Did "our" government express the slightest words of regret over the genocide in Gaza, including hundreds of children killed by the Israeli air force?
  13. We are 7 to 9 million Muslims in America. Our voice is not heard because the government projects lackey groups like CAIR-ISNA-WD-MPAC as representatives of US Muslims. Believe it or not,some of these renegades even hold Juma' prayers in the PENTAGON. They have no idea in the slightest about the message of Islam but they claim to represent Islam in America!

 

     So now we have a Major Hasan, a Muslim, who killed 13 Amerucans at a military base from where troops are "mobilized" into iraq and Afghanistan. Islam has prohibited Muslims from fighting for a non-Muslim army against Muslims defending their countries. Hasan should not have been there in the first place. Then he seems to have become a mujahid and attacked the troops. So, now we have to say: Forgive us, we are not Muslims first, we are Americans first.

      Do  non-Muslim Americans support the two wars? No, they don't. They voted in Obama in the hope that he would rapidly end the wars. Instead he started a third one in Pakistan.

    America is the most powerful country in the world, an imperialist-zionist power. We are being told that the killing of 13 military in Ft. Hood is a terrible tragedy for this colossus of armed might. "We" could do Fallujah and the Iraqis still did not submit. We used "daisy cutters" in Afghanistan but Shaykh Osama still did not surrender. And America cannot take the Ft. Hood attack!

    This media hype is meant to re-ignite the fires of fear-and-hate which allowed Bush to rule for 8 years. Obama is rapidly becoming unpopular. His Zionist handlers are taking a page out of the Bush playbook to make him look good to the warmongers..

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jamaat al-Muslimeen [News]
Internet Attack on American Muslims by Musharraf supporters.
Life, liberty and Livelihood were in Danger.
 
".. Do you think that you shall enter the Garden [of Bliss] without such [trials] as came to those who passed away before you? They encountered suffering and adversity and were so shaken in spirit that even the messenger and those of faith who were with him cried 'When will come the help of Allah.' Surely the help of Allah is always near." [The Qur'an 2:214]
 
      New Trend publishes a disclaimer in every issue that we do not endorse any kind of violence against anyone. We publish reports on the wars going on in the Muslim world but those reports are meant to increase understanding of the situation not to support or endorse the wars. We discuss jihad but that does not mean that we are involved in any armed activity. Our resistance to oppression is non-violent, patterned after the life of the Prophet, pbuh, in Makka.
       
       In spite of all this, New Trend and Jamaat al-Muslimeen came under serious Internet attack by an individual calling himself "GI Joe" and a group calling itself "Musharraf supporters". General Musharraf  was the military chief and president of Pakistan who opened Pakistan to internal occupation by US intelligence services. His attacks on mosques particularly on Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa are well known.
       A vicious, hate filled, link was distributed all over the Internet trying to link Dr. Kaukab Siddique to terrorism and martyrdom operations. The icing on the cake was that Dr. Siddique's photo, address and phone number were published with instructions to readers to report Dr. Siddique to the FBI and to Interpol as an incipient if not actual terrorist! Information was also provided about his job location.
    Thus the smear gang provided all the ammunition haters needed for a physical attack on Dr. Siddique and Islamic activists with him.
     Jamaat al-Muslimeen Shoora leaders faced visits from the FBI and it seemed that attempts were being to disrupt the Jamaat's Shoora of July 25, 2009.
      Alhamdulillah, no one in the Jamaat flinched and the Shoora was held as scheduled.
      Our readers have traced this gang of Musharraf supporters and the Internet servers they have been using. Unless they apologize in print and without reservations, we will sue them to the fullest extent.
    We affirm, that Kaukab Siddique, New Trend and Jamaat al-Muslimeen work strictly within the laws of the United States. We want the people of America to understand the wars going on, the role of America in these wars and what can be done to end the wars.
     We will remain peaceful but we will resist oppression by non-violent means. We have the   Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet, pbuh. The victory of our teachings is assured, inshallah.
----------------------------------------------------------------
American Muslims Open Channel to help Gaza
 

NAMAW Announces Gaza Remittance Program !

The National Association of Muslim American Women (NAMAW) in cooperation with Together4Peace.org, has organized a remittance program for families in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. The program will be in effect until November 28, 2009. Our objective is to facilitate the desires of Muslims, and others in the US to assist families in Gaza, especially those who are preparing for Eid ul Adha. This program is also to begin the process of reviving Gaza's economy. We are hoping that once Palestinians have money, they will attract businesses who are anxious to provide needed goods and services ,and who will invest in Gaza.
Here is how the project works.
Since there are no US sanctions against Gaza, or Palestine, we are able legally to send funds to Gaza through a remittance program
.

Together4Peace.org will collect all of the funds donated through its website donate page, and will transfer by wire all of the funds to Gaza. A project representative in Gaza, who has screened families who will receive funds after signing agreements to use the funds only for humanitarian purposes, such as housing, shelter, food , clothing, and medicines, etc., will distribute the funds according to a set criteria that guarantees that money  is distributed according to family size, and need and not according to political, religious or any other affiliations. The more you give, a greater number of families will receive assistance.


The recipient agreement reads as follows:
"We, the undersigned do pledge that upon accepting these funds,   not to use, or allow these funds to be used for any illegal purpose as defined by our domestic, and also international laws, treaties etc., including the Geneva Conventions. We also swear to abide by the laws of the United States from where these donations originate, and agree to the best of our ability to insure that these funds are used only for humanitarian purposes including housing, shelter, food, medicines, clothing, shoes, and other supplies necessary to sustain  and improve the quality of living for families in Gaza, Palestine."

There is no limit to how much you can donate, and 100% of what you donate will go to the families. There is no administrative cost, only the transfer fees. Follow the link below to make your donation. No amount is too large, or too small!

http://www.together4peace.org index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8&Itemid=10

If this link does not appear as a live link , please copy and paste into your browser and go directly to Togethr4Peace.org website "Donate" page and make your donation.

On December 1st 2009, insha Allah, a complete report on this program, including financial statements will be available for public viewing at namaw.org.


Please make your donation today! Please Distribute widely!

Content copyright 2009. NAMAW. All rights reserved.

---------------------------------------------------

Kashmir:

Indian Troops Kill Six Civilians. Kashmiris Protest & Cry Out

 

    November 11, 2009. In the Baramulla area, Ari sector, near the Indo-Pak control line in Kashmir, India troops killed 6 civilians. India claimed that these were mujahideen intruders from Pakistan. However local villagers say that the six were ordinary civilians who were brutally murdered by elements of the 4th Madras regiment of the Indian army on suspicion of being Pakistanis.

There have been ongoing demonstarions in the area to protest the Indian atrocity.

----------------------------------------------------

Mumbai and CNN's Fareed Zakaria

Indian Propaganda being Distributed by an Indian in CNN

     Dear CNN

On November 15, 2009 Mr. Fareed Zakaria broke all the rules of journalistic ethics in his extensive report on the fidayeen attack on Mumbai.

Here are a few points for your consideration if you do not want CNN to become an outlet for Indian governmernt propaganda.

 

1. Context was missing. Zakaria was intent on leaving out the substance of the issue which would have marred his simplistic 'good guys' vs 'bad guys' story.

2. Incredible as it seems, Zakaria did not mention the word KASHMIR even once during the program. Thus no one can understand the fundamental problem India has with Muslims. India has a 700,000 man occupation army in Kashmir.

3. Tens of thousands of Kashmiris have been killed and maimed by Indian troops in Kashmir during the last 20 years. Rape is used by the Indian army to humiliate and subjugate the people of Kashmir. Surely Zakaria knows the statistics.

4. Zakaria used taped conversations of the alleged terrorists provided him by Indian intelligence. Thus there is direct link between Indian intelligence and CNN's Zakaria which makes the entire program a propaganda piece.

5. How is one to know or authenticate that the voices provided to Zakaria by Indian intelligence are those of the mujahideen?

5. Zakaria lowered himself to the extent of showing the seriously injured surviving Pakistani in his hospital bed murmuring his guilt probably after 'persuasion' by Indian torture merchants.

 

Fareed Zakaria admittedly is of Indian origin and confessed during the program that his mother works at the major hotel which came under attack in Mumbai. Does CNN have no journalistic standards at all that it can present such an interested party, whose mother's office was allegedly under attack, as an objective AMERICAN reporter on the Mumbai attack?

 

Sincerely

Kaukab Siddique, PhD

----------------------------------------

Lest we Forget: Haditha

Reminder from:   ILM-publication Yahoo! Group
 
Title:   Haditha killing, 19 November 2005
 
Date:   Thursday November 19, 2009
Time:   1:00 am - 2:00 am

 
Notes:   19 November 2005 - Twenty-four Iraqi civilians, including three women, seven children and several elderly men, were murdered by US soldiers at Haditha, in Anbar province, Iraq.

 -----------------------------------------------------------
Pakistan: A "shocking" photo for Pakistanis who discuss the war being waged in northern Pakistan but do nothing to help the people. We hope this will shame some Pakistanis into changing their life styles. Sometimes those whom we disagree with can teach us a lesson.
Angelina Jolie in a Pakistani refugee camp comforting an elderly victim of the war.
>
 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
War News: Afghanistan

Elite UK soldier killed in Afghanistan: 233 Brit Total 

British troops in Afghanistan
The death takes the number of British troops killed in Afghanistan to 233
--------------------------------

November 15, 2009: A soldier from the 7th Battalion The Rifles has been killed in Afghanistan, the  British Ministry of Defence said.

He was killed as a result of small arms fire during a foot patrol near Sangin in central Helmand Province.
The soldier was attached to the 3rd Battalion The Rifles Battle Group.
 
------------------
November 19: Karzai was installed by NATO as the "elected" President of Afghanistan.
Elections under military occupation have no validity.These "elections" were seen
as bogus even by NATO standards. The fraud was allowed to stay.
 
Most of the southern, western and eastern provinces of Afghanistan are under
Taliban control.
November 18: The leader of resistance in Swat, Maulvi Fazlullah spoke to the media from an undisclosed location in Afghanistan.
The leader of the Swat Pakistani Taliban evaded a massive Pakistani crackdown and has taken refuge under Islamic Taliban rule in Afghanistan. He is promising the resumption of guerrilla warfare in Swat.
General Kayani's men claimed that Fazlullah was seriously injured or killed several times.
Kayani's offensive against South Waziristan has petered out.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To Unsubscribe, write UNSUBCRIBE in the subject line and click on SEND.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 



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#63159 From: Prince Dickson <pcdbooks@...>
Date: Thu Nov 19, 2009 6:43 pm
Subject: Nigeria Needs Help, Somehow, Anyhow... (BNP Photo)
pcdbooks@...
Send Email Send Email
 




Prince Charles Dickson
Editor, burningpot.com

Nigeria's 1st Online Newspaper
Yours In High Regards
234-08033311301, 08057152301

Visit http://burningpot.com


What Exactly Is The Problem With Nigeria?...Us...Lets Work At Solving It


#63158 From: "Irinkerindo" <irinkerindo@...>
Date: Thu Nov 19, 2009 3:31 pm
Subject: Re: Lagos State government! The ladies are Nudist! So what?
africaservice
Offline Offline
Send Email Send Email
 

The female humiliated themselves by exposing themselves. It is this type of moral decance that the West can no longer control. We are not in the West, our cultural values should be preserved. Can you encourage any of your sisters to go naked or be a member of such club despite all sorts of diseases flying around.
 
Dele
 
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 3:40 PM
Subject: [abujaNig] Lagos State government! The ladies are Nudist! So what?

 

Lagos State government!  The ladies are Nudist! So what?

By Kayode Ogundamisi

Early in the year the Lagos state environmental task force, carried out what it described as a “carefully planned and very well executed raid” on private clubs that were said to be “carrying out immoral acts” such as girls performing “nude dancing”. It is the responsibility of any government to make sure that clubs and entertainment centres operate within the confines of the law and a responsible government will also keep an eye on such clubs to make sure they do not engage the services of the underage, minors or ladies who are forced to perform without their consent.

However the recent invasion of clubs by the Lagos government officials in a Rambo style manner is very unbecoming of a state whose governor is arguably one of the best performing public official Nigeria as ever witnessed in recent times. The way they subjected those young Nigerian women, to series of humiliation, by photographing them openly and making such available to the press almost naked is a violation of the rights of the citizens. If the officials involved in the raid must display the “captives” can’t they give them the choice of having their clothes on?

There is need for the government to check the excesses of the Lagos State Environmental task force, that agency is more or less now behaving like a “moral soldier” meant to dictate to private citizens, on what movie they should view, which club they must visit, what colour they must paint houses and what manner of apparels ladies must wear.

The raid before last week’s by the very same official did not produce any conviction except the sensation it got in the media. Sadly, the media worldwide seem to enjoy the public humiliation of the female body type, it is apparent those found to be “poll dancing” where men the photographs would not have been of public interest, thus we must stop the obscene chauvinistic tendency that is taking root in our society.

In as much as Lagos has been doing well so far, we cannot and must not keep quiet when some officials are out of line and literally wrapped up in misconduct. The emergence of ostentatious clubs, “yachts’” and other elitist play toys are contentious by-products of a city that prides itself in its pro-active mechanism of governance. If we do not cautiously ensure that a healthy balance is maintained at all times some overzealous officials will pretty soon start dictating to Nigerians on the shape, size and complexion of the partner they must date or marry - could get that ridiculous!

Under the nose of our so called “moral police” young Nigerian ladies who are incessantly challenged with forced long holidays due to the neglect of the educational sector and strikes by both academic and non academic staffs engage in misdemeanors to while away time or simply survive. High and low class prostitution thrive unchallenged in the streets of well lit reserved areas of Lagos and the men who can patronize these girls are definitely high net worth individuals in government and the private sector.

The irony rests in the act that it is the same Nigerian public officials who patronise these same clubs, have we not heard stories of girls pimping for commissioners, governors, directors, ministers and all in our various campuses? At least it is public knowledge that some public officials in Nigeria patronise these same clubs that are tagged immoral when on official assignment outside Nigeria. If the story of the “India Apple” is to be believed, then we all know that Aso Rock unofficially kept prostitutes in the dying days of Sanni Abacha.

Besides what alternatives are available to these erring young people? What choice do they have? The male students go delinquent and violent, venturing into kidnapping or just simply spend days in cyber cafés to look for an unlucky “mugu” that they can scam. Can’t the government see that we have let down our youths and tackle the problem from the basics? What infrastructures have been put in place to productively engage young people and empower them to live meaningful lives? Fact remains that an idle mind remains the devil’s favourite workshop and when that idleness is compounded with poverty there is no limit to what can go wrong.

The entertainment industry remains a sucour for young people all over the world. Impoverished young men and women are being transformed to millionaires, doing good work. If the government could partner more people in the entertainment industry to create a safe and conducive environment for the industry to grow in Nigeria and also serve as an alternative source of leisure and excitement in a nation bereft of social infrastructure, the nude clubs will die a natural death.

Moreover, are these social issues not as a result of more serious concerns in Nigeria? With a sleeping president, law makers who cannot point out the difference between red and orange? Fast growing religious empires without a corresponding upright following? Collapsed infrastructure such as energy, road, aviation, policing, law and order and a charade called ICPC and other so called anti corruption agencies?

Women groups, non-governmental organizations, civil society groups should please mobilize and come to the aid of our youths, bring to justice those involved in the violation of the rights of young Nigerian in all ramifications and urgently assist in the rehabilitation of those who may have been forced to take up indecent lifestyles to survive the crunch of today’s Nigeria.

They also must impress on the officials of the Lagos State government that treating nude dancing as an outright criminal issue is contentious because there is a greater sense in dealing with it as a moral issue. If it is crucial for the lagos state government to eradicate it then the better option might be to regulate the activities of clubs by engaging the proprietors, putting acceptable norms in place and regularly inspecting the clubs to make sure they are not operating contrary to stipulated rules.

Unfortunately, religious leaders are jumping into the bandwagon of sitting in judgement over the ladies! Rather, they should put their money where their mouths are and check the corruption going on in their own organisations, or call to order government officials who have front row seats in their church and mosques and also impress on them the desperate need for them to deliver good governance. A failed society is the society where those who should speak out only speak out when it is popular to speak.

 


#63157 From: Fubara David-West <davidwest62@...>
Date: Thu Nov 19, 2009 3:10 pm
Subject: Re: [NaijaPolitics] PRESIDENTS OBAMA AND YAR’ADUA IN THE EYE OF THE STORM - By Temple Chima Ubochi
davidwest62
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This is a thoughtful contribution indeed.  Let us note a few contrapuntal notes in each of these cases: President Obama's gesture in the palaces of Asian royalty, and President Yar'Adua's challenges. 
 
The thought that President Obama was so calculating, when he bowed or gave a gesture that indicated respect to the Japanese emperor must be viewed with suspicion, unless the diplomatic  record eventually shows it to be relevant.  A simpler explanation is that in spite of briefings by presidential aides, the president did what came to him naturally. 
 
It might be noted that Americans have since 1776 had an uneasy, often ambivalent cultural reaction to royalty. The war for independence was fought against the ancien regime, in order to found a country in which royalty and titles were discarded, and the values of inalienable rights and equality before the law adopted, as essential elements in the construction of a democratic republic. 
 
However, the new Republic had to survive within an international order in which royalty was the norm.  Thus, in spite of President Washington's warning to the country, in his farewell address of September 19, 1796, that it should avoid foreign "entanglements:" that is stay away from the royal quarrels of Europe, the United States would soon (by historical standards) fight World War I in an alliance with European powers.
 
That history, it might be surmised, is responsible for the ambivalent reaction to royalty that one notices within the American population.  Thus, stories about English royalty are adored by the masses.  What is a president to do?  Diplomatic etiquette alone cannot provide an answer.  A president should be expected to sometimes do what comes to him naturally.  However, the thought that such gestures somehow diminishes the presidency or America's respect in the world community is at best ludicrous.
 
The part of the article dealing with President Yar'Adua is refreshing, for its illustration of a healthy dose of skepticism.  In the final analysis, Yar'Adua's term in office will be evaluated on the basis of how his administration solves the festering problems of the Niger Delta. 
 
If the focus degenerates back to making the state safe for the ethic of the loot, President Yar'Adua will leave the country in a worse shape than he found it on his inauguration.  If on the other hand, the country moves away from empowering the Empire of Thieves, which the ethic of the loot perpetuates, he will lay the foundation of a thriving liberal state, when he leaves the political stage.
 
I thank you.
 
Fubara David-West.

--- On Thu, 11/19/09, Temple Chima Ubochi <ubochit@...> wrote:

From: Temple Chima Ubochi <ubochit@...>
Subject: [NaijaPolitics] PRESIDENTS OBAMA AND YAR’ADUA IN THE EYE OF THE STORM - By Temple Chima Ubochi
To: ABIAUSA@yahoogroups.com, talknigeria@yahoogroups.com, nigeria360@yahoogroups.com, igbo_forum@yahoogroups.com, africanforum@yahoogroups.com, NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com, NaijaElections@yahoogroups.com, unnalumuni@yahoogroups.com, igboevents@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 2:33 AM

 

 

Temple Chima Ubochi

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

 

ubochit@yahoo. com
Bonn, Germany


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TO YOUR FRIENDS

 

   

PRESIDENTS OBAMA AND YAR’ADUA IN THE EYES OF THE STORM By Temple Chima Ubochi

 


There is no respect for others without humility in one's self. (Henri Frederic Amiel)
Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners. (
Laurence Sterne
)
The roots of true achievement lie in the will to become the best that you can become. (
Harold Taylor
)
Respect commands itself and it can neither be given nor withheld when it is due. (
Eldridge Cleaver
)
The difference between one man and another is not mere ability... it is energy. (
Thomas Arnold
)
Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness. (
Napoleon Hill
)
We confide in our strength, without boasting of it; we respect that of others, without fearing it. (
Thomas Jefferson
)
When men and women are able to respect and accept their differences then love has a chance to blossom. (
John Gray)

Let us not be content to wait and see what will happen, but give us the determination to make the right things happen. (Peter Marshall)
Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. (
Lou Holtz
)
We must build a new world, a far better world - one in which the eternal dignity of man is respected. (
Harry S. Truman
)
 Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability. (
John Wooden
)
Difficulty need not foreshadow despair or defeat. Rather achievement can be all the more satisfying because of obstacles surmounted. (
William Hastie
)
Where I was born and where and how I have lived is unimportant. It is what I have done with where I have been that should be of interest. (
Georgia O'Keeffe)

Men who are resolved to find a way for themselves will always find opportunities enough; and if they do not find them, they will make them. (Samuel Smiles)
The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function. (
F. Scott Fitzgerald
)
 Leaders aren't born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that's the price we'll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.
(Vincent Lombardi)

 

Americans can be funny at times. They are criticising President Obama for bowing in reciprocation to the Japanese emperor and empress. Respect would never diminish an American President’s status as the most powerful man in the world, rather it would increase it. It shows humility even with the enormous powers at his disposal and that’s a plus for the president. His election ushered in a new world order away from the reckless arrogance and pomposity of some of his predecessors which helped in putting America/Americans at risk all the time. Obama knows what he’s doing; he might be more intelligent than those criticising his every move, his action in Japan might be tactful.

 

His election brought with it a new dawn and a different way of doing things for the most powerful office in the world and its occupant.

 

Afterall, our own Yar’Adua visited George Bush’s White House and came out to say that “that day was the best day of his life” (If I put it correctly as he ignominiously did), and still nobody crucified him for that.

 

To show it’s not business as usual and with the African blood running through his veins, Obama is showing that respect, instead of being a sign of weakness, is a sign of strength. Someone wrote: “I believe that Obama is deliberately raising the blood pressure of the ultra-conservatives of this country by some of these his cultured acts overseas, so as to show their viciousness up. I cannot imagine that he did not discuss this issue of protocol with his advisors before going over to Japan, and must have said "Let them go to hell if I bow down!" The picture also showed the Emperor and his wife bowing down too to Obama. Which one these conservatives dey sef? After all, Obama was visiting Japan. Another wrote: All the noise about Obama bowing to the Japanese Emperor is just that, noise.  One area Africans differ most significantly with the West is because we are deeply rooted in culture, and we instinctively respect the culture of others.  Bowing is a major element of respect and appreciation in oriental culture.  

 

I believe Obama´s bowing to the Japanese emperor is out of his instinctive African make up and in no way represents submission.  President Obama did the same when he visited the Queen of England.  If you look at the photo of President Obama and the emperor, you notice that the Emperor also bowed toward Obama, although that is not as obvious because he is significantly shorter than Obama.  

 

Last night, (November 16, 2009), Keith Olbermann of MSNBC showed videos of President Nixon bowing to Emperor Hirohito, father of the current emperor and Reagan to the former French president.   President George W. Bush kissed the Saudi King when he visited.  Foreign Policy blog puts it this way, "following cultural convention is not submission"”.

 

 Yar’Adua should be praised for pulling a fast one in the name of amnesty for the Niger Delta militants, making it possible in just four months, for the daily crude oil production to increase from 1, 2 million to 2, 4 million barrels. That might have been his only major achievement since taking office. But the question is: What forced him to take that decision? He sent the Joint Task Force to flush out or kill the militants, but, the militants became overarching and ubiquitous and were able to outsmart the JTF due to the dangerous terrains alien to the JTF and home to the militants. Yar’Adua hadn’t any other choice than to capitulate, because he and his co-travellers in looting, have depleted the foreign reserve he was handed over to by his predecessor, the excess crude oil account he also inherited has gone down from 27 billion dollars to 7 billion dollars, the government was almost broke and on the brink of collapse. So Yar’Adua had no other choice than to grant amnesty to those not convicted of any crime. If there’s sincerity of purpose here, why did he had to wait for almost two years in office before initiating the amnesty programme, afterall, the Niger Delta problem preceded his presidency?

 

Now the oil production has increased, it means more money for them to loot. Do any of us think that the increased production in oil and more money for the government and its cronies would trickle down to the poor masses in any way? Would the Niger Delta people, other than the warlords, gain anything from the increase in oil production and sales? Now the politicians in Abuja and other places would have more money to steal, the presidency officials, national assembly members, state governors, states house of assembly members, local government chairmen, councillors and some senior government officials in all tiers of government would then increase their salary/allowances/ recompense rather than use the more money from the increased oil production to make life better for all. Now, the politicians can afford to buy more exotic and bullet-proof automobiles, the elections are soon coming, the would have enough cash to throw around, but, the poor people suffering because of the oil exploration/ drilling that’s devastating their environment, would get nothing from it. The “locusts”, similar to those of Shagari’s years, came in with this government and have “devoured” our commonwealth ferociously. Nigeria is ranked 137th out of 180 countries in the annual “corruption index” released Tuesday, November 17, 2009, from Transparency International.  It means Nigeria is now the 44th most corrupt Nation on earth.

 

 We hope Yar’Adua would tackle some of our numerous problems with the same zeal he applied to the amnesty issue. But the problem is that time is of the essence, there isn’t much time on his side. His tenure is fast coming to an end, although he has started planning seriously for his second term already, when there isn’t much to show for his first term uptill now. We just learned that Yar’Adua’s second term bid kicked off in Abuja on November 16, 2009, with the announcement of the names of members of the board of trustees and state coordinators of his campaign team. We thought he should have “slept through” (always at his best when it comes to sleeping on duty) his first term and then hand over to another person so as to have enough time to take care of his health, which is supposed to be the most important thing for him.

 

His attitude here is just like a case of a drowning man crying for help and still adding that if he’s rescued, that he would go swimming again. His ill-health has made more headlines than any policy he initiated and implemented. His ill-health has taken a huge toll on the business of governance. We cannot afford many more years of a sick president for a sick country. There are numerous problems which demand seriousness on the part of a healthy leader and Yar’Adua is not that kind of a person.

 

The northerners know how to play the southerners to get what they want, so anybody rejoicing because of the amnesty, need to think again. Afterall, some of the militants who were granted amnesty, have started regretting laying down their arms, because, it seems they were fooled into it as all they were promised, are not forth coming. The whole amnesty of a thing might as well be a poisoned chalice in disguise, who knows? Only time will tell whether Yar’Adua’s aim is genuine or a deceit to keep the oil flowing for those who think they are the owners of Nigeria. So let’s not be carried away for now, until we start seeing positive changes because of the relative peace, more oil production and sales, courtesy of the amnesty.

 

 Finally, some people might claim of seeing the difference between Obama as a candidate, and Obama as an administrator, but, I have something here to show that President Obama has achieved more than many of his predecessors in his first 6 months in office.

 

THE THANXS IS ALL YOURS!!!



#63156 From: Ijay I <ijay1@...>
Date: Thu Nov 19, 2009 9:05 am
Subject: Six Principles To Live By.....
ijay1@...
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Can you incorporate these 6 principles into your life???

"In all you are getting, get understanding"....Proverbs 4:7
 

1)     Don’t worry, when you're doing your best. God accepts no less, but He demands no more. 'Trust in the Lord, and do good...and He shall give you the desires of your heart!' (Psalm 37:3-4)

 

2)     Don’t hurry, when success depends on accuracy. 'Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty' (Proverbs 21:5 )

 

3)     Don’t form conclusions until you have all the facts. Everyone you meet has unmet needs, unhealed wounds and unfulfilled hopes. If you want people to evaluate you by your best qualities, rather than your worst, 'Do to others as you would like them to do to you' (Luke 6:31)

 

4)     Don’t believe a thing is impossible without trying it. When you are in God's will, doing things God's way, sensitive to His timing and willing to persevere, your problems are just a platform for Him to work on your behalf '...we must wait patiently and confidently.' (Romans 8:28)

 

5)     Don’t waste your time on trivial matters. In order to put first things first, you must ask yourself, 'What is it that only I can do, or do best?' Only when you've answered that question will you know what you should do.

 

Don’t think that good intentions are an acceptable excuse for doing nothing. Examine your life; are you a 'talker' or a 'doer?' Get specific about your diet and your devotions, your finances and your family, etc. Write these words on a card and read them regularly: 'If it's to be, it's up to me.' James writes: '...faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead' (James 2:17).
 
Ijay...
“A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge.”  



#63155 From: rotimi_osunsan@...
Date: Wed Nov 18, 2009 3:19 pm
Subject: Re: Between William Jefferson and Atiku Abubakar
rotimi_osunsan@...
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Mody had brought the briefcase to their rendezvous in the parking lot of a Ritz Carlton Hotel in suburban Virginia.

"Would you like to take a peek at it, or whatever?" Mody asked as Jefferson removed the briefcase from the car trunk.

"I would not, " replied Jefferson.

"Well, I hope that, uh, that's exactly what the VP needs to make him, uh, work hard for us, " said Mody.

"I have no idea what you're talking about,” Jefferson said.

According to prosecutors, Jefferson knew exactly what Mody was talking about; that the $100,000 was to be the first instalment of a bribe to be paid to Atiku Abubakar, then vice president of Nigeria, for his help in gaining approval from the Nigerian telecommunications authority for the deal Mody was financing and of which Jefferson's family was getting an increasingly bigger cut.

What he didn't know, until a few days later when the FBI raided his house in Washington and knocked on the door of his Marengo Street home in New Orleans, was that Mody had been a cooperating witness for the FBI since March of that year, taping their frequent restaurant and telephone conversations. He did not know that the money in the briefcase, and the car Mody was driving, were provided by the FBI.

He did not know that the event was being recorded by five different cameras: two in the trunk, one on Mody, one from a fixed position nearby and another by a surveillance camera across the street.

A second tape released is of a dinner meeting Jefferson had with Mody in which she seeks to draw him out about the details of the deal with Abubakar. She is seeking to get the congressman to say more about his arrangements with the Nigerian vice president, although Jefferson is characteristically guarded in his comments.

However, in his own defence, Abubakar Atiku’s stated that Jefferson did visit him in his house in the Washington DC area, took an envelope to the house, and when Atiku left for Nigeria, the envelope was found on a reading table. Atiku was contacted and the envelope was returned to Jefferson.

Atiku insists that there was enough time between when the bribe money was collected by Jefferson and when it was discovered in the freezer.

Atiku insists that the then Communications Minister was fully involved, and was allowed to take decisions.
 
And about the video the prosecutor played of Jefferson collecting the money which he never delivered, all that the video says is that Jefferson collected some money from someone. In other words, arguing that just because Jefferson collected the money, then Atiku must be guilty too is simply wrong.

http://blog.nola.com/news_impact/2009/08/bill-jefferson-verdicts.pdf

The Four Court Decisions Relevant to Nigeria and Atiku Abubakar

It must be borne in mind, that the jury did not find Jefferson guilty on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which was the count linked to the money in the freezer intended to bribe Atiku.

Violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act – Not Guilty

Related to Jefferson’s discussion with Mody about possibly bribing Nigerian Vice President Abubakar and other Nigerian officials. Charge includes transfer from Mody of $100,000 (in FBI money) that Jefferson said was intended as a bribe to Nigerian Vice President Abubakar. All but $10,000 was later found in Jefferson’s freezer.

Deprive citizens of honest services by wire – Not Guilty

Fraud related to a fax from Jefferson to Mody attaching various documents, including a letter to then-Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar promoting a telecommunications project.

Conspiracy to solicit bribes by a public official and deprive citizens of honest services by wire - Guilty

fraud related to his efforts on behalf of Arkel Sugar, LETH Energy, TDC Overseas, Procura Financial Interests of South Africa and WorldSpace for projects that included a sugar refinery and fertilizer plant in Nigeria, development of marginal oil fields in Nigeria, the sale of garbage-to-energy incinerators in West African nations; the development of satellite educational programming in several West African nations; and a settlement of a dispute regarding oil development rights off the coast of Sao Tome & Principe in West Africa.

Solicitation of bribes by a public official - Guilty

Related to allegations that Jefferson sought payments from iGate Inc. to a firm controlled by his wife, Andrea, in return for his help securing telecommunications projects in Nigeria and Ghana.

Saharareporters say Atiku and his wife, Jennifer Douglas, did not accept summons and subpoenas to appear before the US court.  Instead, they moved their family out to Dubai, and put their Potomac mansion up for sale.

They added that US Justice department officials told Saharareporters that arrest warrants have been issued against Atiku and his runaway wife, Jamila Jennifer Douglas-Atiku and that the duo would be promptly arrested if they step on US soil.

Should Atiku Abubakar be tried for Bribery and Corruption?

From the above, Jefferson was found NOT GUILTY of actually bribing Atiku Abubakar, or of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act with regards to his dealings with Atiku Abubakar.

The Courts reasoning is that Atiku was not actually bribed nor was any US Statute law actually broken by Jefferson’s intentions.

It would appear therefore that the only crimes remaining on which Atiku Abubakar may be tried if any is only the intention to bribe; Attempt, Intention and Conspiracy.

 

Now let us go to the Nigeria Legal Code, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990:

Chapter 12

Corruption and Abuse of Office

98.   (1)           Any public official (as defined in section 98D) who-

(a)            corruptly asks for, receives or obtains any property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person; or bribes, etc.,

(b)           corruptly agrees or attempts to receive or obtain any property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person, on account of-

(i)             anything already, done or omitted, or any favour or disfavour already shown to any person, by himself in the discharge of his official duties or in relation to any matter connected with the functions, affairs or business of a Government department, public body or other organisation or institution in which he is serving as a public official, or

(ii)            anything to be afterwards done or omitted, or any favour or disfavour to be afterwards shown to any person, by himself in the discharge of his official duties or in relation to any such matter as aforesaid, is guilty of the felony of official corruption and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.

(3)            In any proceedings for an offence under this section to which subsection (1)(ii) is relevant it shall not be a defence to show that the accused-

(a)            did not subsequently do, make or show the act, omission, favour or disfavour in question; or

(b)            never intended to do, make or show it.

98A.   (1)          Any person who- Official corruption: person giving bribes, etc., on account of actions of public Official.

(a)            corruptly gives, confers or procures any property or benefit of any kind to, on or for a public official (as defined in section 98D) or to, on or for any other person; or 1966 No. 84.

(b)            corruptly promises or offers to give or confer or to procure or attempt to procure any property or benefit of any kind to, on or for a public official or to, on or for any other person,

                on account of any such act, omission, favour or disfavour on the part of the public official as is mentioned in section 98(1)(i) or (ii), is guilty of the felony of official corruption and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.

(2)            If in any proceedings for an offence under this section it is proved that any property or benefit of any kind, or any promise thereof, was given to a public official, or to some other person at the instance of a public official, by a person-

(i)             holding, or seeking to obtain, a contract, licence or permit from a Government department, public body or other organisation or institution in which that public official is serving as such, or

98B.   (1)           Any person who--

(a)            corruptly asks for, receives or obtains 'any property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person; or

(b)            corruptly agrees or attempts to receive or obtain any property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person, on account of-

(ii)            anything to be afterwards done or omitted, or any favour or disfavour to be afterwards shown to any person, by a public official in the discharge of his official duties or in relation to any such matter as aforesaid,

                is guilty of the felony of official corruption and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.

(2)           In any proceedings for an offence under this section it shall not be necessary to prove-

(a)            that any public official counselled the commission of the offence; or

(b)            that in the course of committing the offence the accused mentioned any particular public official; or

(c)            that (in a case to which subsection (1)(ii) is relevant) the accused believed that any public official would do, make or show the act, omission, favour or disfavour in question; or

(d)            that the accused intended to give the property or benefit in question, or any part thereof, to a public official.

 

Let us examine the legal elements of these acts:

Intent: The mental purpose, aim, or design to accomplish a specific harm or result by acting in a manner prohibited by law.

There are two types of intent: Specific Intent and General Intent:

The term specific intent is commonly used in criminal and Tort Law to designate a special state of mind that is required, along with a physical act, to constitute certain crimes or torts. Specific intent is usually interpreted to mean intentionally or knowingly. Common-law Larceny, for example, requires both the physical act of taking and carrying away the property of another and the mental element of intent to steal the property. Similarly, common-law Burglary requires breaking and entering into the dwelling of another with intent to commit a felony therein. These crimes and others that require a specific-intent element are called specific-intent crimes and are distinguished from general-intent crimes.

General-intent crimes require only a showing that the defendant intended to do the act prohibited by law, not that the defendant intended the precise harm or the precise result that occurred.

We are mostly concerned here with General Intent: Because intent is a state of mind, it can rarely be proved with direct evidence and ordinarily must be inferred from the facts of the case. Evidence of intent is always admissible to prove a specific-intent crime, i.e. circumstantial evidence.

Courts generally allow a wide range of direct and Circumstantial Evidence to be introduced at trial in order to prove the difficult element of criminal or tortuous intent.

A defendant may testify at trial as to his intent. Whether the defendant intended to break the law does not matter, however; rather, the issue is whether he intended to do that which is unlawful.

An individual will be guilty or liable for a crime or tort if she had the intent to commit the crime or tort, even though the intended injury occurred in an unexpected way. For example, suppose that an assassin tries to shoot a person but misses and hits an automobile gasoline tank. If the tank explodes and kills the intended victim, the assassin is still guilty of murder even though the victim's death did not occur in the manner intended.

A defendant still possessed the element of intent even though his intended act could not possibly have succeeded as planned. Suppose, for example, that a burglar intended to break into a house and steal an original painting. Once he broke in, however, he discovered that the painting had been removed or that it was just a print and not an original painting at all. The burglar still had the necessary intent for burglary.

Because specific intent is an essential element in proving many torts and crimes, defendants often argue that they did not possess the specific intent required and therefore are not guilty or liable for the crime or tort committed.

2. Criminal Conspiracy

Conspiracy cases are defined as cases in which two or more persons agree to commit a crime or to perpetrate an illegal act. The end may be legal, but the planned means are illegal. For example, two persons making a plan to steal bread from a supermarket (illegal) to donate to a local food bank (legal) would be guilty of conspiracy. While intent is key in any federal conspiracy case, only “general intent” to violate the law is necessary; proof of the defendants’ specific intent to violate the law is not needed, only an agreement to engage in an illegal act.

It is important to note that an actual crime is not necessary to prosecute a conspiracy case – only the stated intent to break the law. This means that even if the ultimate crime was not committed, the conspirators can be prosecuted under federal law. However, most states have laws that prevent conspiracy charges to be pressed if no actions were taken to actually carry out the conspiracy. This prevents people from effectively being prosecuted for having thoughts of breaking the law. While this caveat does prevent some conspiracy cases from going to court, it does not reduce the severity of a conspiracy claim. In many cases, conspiracy to commit a crime such as murder is regarded as a crime as severe as murder itself.

Conspiracy crimes can include conspiracy to engage in criminal activity such as money laundering, conspiracy to violate federal laws, or conspiracy to give or receive bribe. The federal maximum penalty for conspiracy is five years in prison.

It is a crime or offense for anyone to conspire or agree with someone else to do something which, if actually carried out, would amount to another Federal crime or offense. So, under this law, a 'conspiracy' is an agreement or a kind of 'partnership' in criminal purposes in which each member becomes the agent or partner of every other member.

In order to establish a conspiracy offense it is not necessary for the Government to prove that all of the people named in the indictment were members of the scheme; or that those who were members had entered into any formal type of agreement; or that the members had planned together all of the details of the scheme or the 'overt acts' that the indictment charges would be carried out in an effort to commit the intended crime.

Also, because the essence of a conspiracy offense is the making of the agreement itself (followed by the commission of any overt act), it is not necessary for the Government to prove that the conspirators actually succeeded in accomplishing their unlawful plan.

What the evidence in the case must show beyond a reasonable doubt is:

First: That two or more persons, in some way or manner, came to a mutual understanding to try to accomplish a common and unlawful plan, as charged in the indictment;

Second: That the person wilfully became a member of such conspiracy;

Third: That one of the conspirators during the existence of the conspiracy knowingly committed at least one of the methods (or 'overt acts') described in the indictment; and

Fourth: That such 'overt act' was knowingly committed at or about the time alleged in an effort to carry out or accomplish some object of the conspiracy.

An 'overt act' is any transaction or event, even one which may be entirely innocent when considered alone, but which is knowingly committed by a conspirator in an effort to accomplish some object of the conspiracy.

A person may become a member of a conspiracy without knowing all of the details of the unlawful scheme, and without knowing who all of the other members are. So, if a person has an understanding of the unlawful nature of a plan and knowingly and willfully joins in that plan on one occasion, that is sufficient to convict him for conspiracy even though he did not participate before, and even though he played only a minor part.

Of course, the mere fact that certain persons may have associated with each other, and may have assembled together and discussed common aims and interests, does not necessarily establish proof of a conspiracy.

3. Attempt:

An undertaking to do an act that entails more than mere preparation but does not result in the successful completion of the act.

In Criminal Law, an attempt to commit a crime is an offense when an accused makes a substantial but unsuccessful effort to commit a crime. The elements of attempt vary, although generally, there must be intent to commit the crime, an Overt Act beyond mere preparation, and an apparent ability to complete the crime.

Generally, attempts are punishable by imprisonment, with sentence lengths that vary in time, depending upon the severity of the offense attempted.

West's Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Says:

attempt v. and n. to actually try to commit a crime and have the ability to do so. This means more than just thinking about doing a criminal act or planning it without overt action. It also requires the opportunity and ability. Attempts can include attempted murder, attempted robbery, attempted rape, attempted forgery, attempted arson, attempted bribery and a host of other crimes.

The attempt becomes a crime in itself, and usually means one really tried to commit the crime, but failed through no fault of himself or herself. Example: if a husband laces his wife's cocktail with cyanide, it is no defense that by chance the intended victim decided not to drink the deadly potion.

Conclusion

From the above, Jefferson was found NOT GUILTY of actually bribing Atiku Abubakar, or of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act with regards to his dealings with Atiku Abubakar. The Courts reasoning is that Atiku was not actually bribed nor was any US Statute law actually broken by Jefferson’s intentions in hiding the money in his fridge.

Jefferson did not say what his intentions with regards to the money in the Fridge are, nor did he disclose what he discussed with Atiku Abubakar.

In the second tape released of a dinner meeting Jefferson had with Mody in which she seeks to draw him out about the details of the deal with Abubakar. She is seeking to get the congressman to say more about his arrangements with the Nigerian vice president, but Jefferson was characteristically guarded in his comments.

We are therefore left to guess Jefferson’s intentions and the level of his agreement with Atiku. One thing is certain though, by his admissions, Atiku did indeed meet with Jefferson, and the telecommunications business was actually discussed.

Jefferson left a letter with Atiku, and Atiku agreed to help, even if Atiku says he forgot and subsequently, returned the letter.

Because intent is a state of mind, it can rarely be proved with direct evidence and ordinarily must be inferred from the facts of the case. Evidence of intent is always admissible to prove a specific-intent crime, i.e. circumstantial evidence.

Therefore, we can reach our conclusions as to Attempt, Intention and Conspiracy from the facts surrounding the case.

Remember that while intent is key in any conspiracy case, only a “general intent” to violate the law is enough to prove crime; proof of the defendants’ specific intent to violate the law is not needed; only an agreement to engage in an illegal act is necessary.

If the question is; was there an agreement between Jefferson and Atiku for money to exchange hands in return for his help towards Jefferson, then the answer would be; we don’t know.

But if the question is, was there AN INTENTION for Jefferson to bribe Atiku in return for Atiku's help, then we should look at the circumstances of the entire transaction.

According to prosecutors, Jefferson knew exactly what Mody was talking about in the video; that the $100,000 was to be the first instalment of a bribe to be paid to Atiku Abubakar, then vice president of Nigeria, for his help in gaining approval from the Nigerian telecommunications authority for the deal Mody was financing and of which Jefferson's family was getting an increasingly bigger cut.

A few days later, the FBI raided his house in Washington and knocked on the door of his Marengo Street home in New Orleans.

The money was never delivered, prosecutors said, only because Jefferson couldn't do so before the FBI found it.  In other words, the deal has been done, amount agreed, Jefferson collected the bribe for onward transmission to Atiku but Atiku could not get the bribe because the FBI pounced before the bribe money could be delivered. Remember: The attempt becomes a crime in itself, and usually means one really tried to commit the crime, but failed through no fault of himself or herself.

I would say that Abubakar is lucky because he is a Nigerian in Nigeria. Conspiracy to commit a felony is a crime. In the Nigerian Criminal Code as elsewhere, both the giver of bribe and the receiver is equally guilty.

Just as with intention, Same in ATTEMPT and CONSPIRACY: In Criminal Law, an attempt to commit a crime is an offense when an accused makes a substantial but unsuccessful effort to commit a crime. Jefferson has already manifested his intention by some Overt Act beyond mere preparation, Moreover, there was in him an apparent ability to complete the crime.

It is important to note that an actual crime is not necessary to prosecute a conspiracy case – only the stated intent to break the law.

Moreover, In order to establish a conspiracy offense it is not necessary to prove that all of the people named in the indictment had entered into any formal type of agreement; or that the members had planned together all of the details of the scheme or that they all took part in the 'overt acts'.

Meanwhile, Atiku has said that the U.S. jury that handled the Jefferson case deserves commendation for their thoughtful consideration of the facts and their verdict. A statement signed by the media consultant to the former vice president, Garba Shehu, said the former vice-president has been the victim of trumped up corruption charges by political adversaries in the past and in every case he has emerged with his reputation intact. 

He added: The jury reached its verdict on Jefferson after concluding that his accusations against Atiku were without foundation and was made to obtain money from investors in his businesses under a false pretext.

Atiku is wrong: The Federal Government of Nigeria should put the processes in place to try Atiku for “corruptly agreeing or attempting to receive or obtain any property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person, on account of a - holding, or seeking to obtain, a contract, licence or permit from a Government department, public body or other organisation or institution in which that public official is serving as such” Contrary to Section 98, Nigerian Criminal Code 1948
 

Daniel Elombah
Publisher:
www.elombah.com
(A Nigerian Perspective on world affairs)
 
Tell the Truth and be damned!

"However, in his own defence, Abubakar Atiku’s stated that Jefferson did visit him in his house in the Washington DC area, took an envelope to the house, and when Atiku left for Nigeria, the envelope was found on a reading table. Atiku was contacted and the envelope was returned to Jefferson"

This is as good enough as it can get for me. Just because the universal perception of Nigerians reflects uncontrollable corruption within the Nigerian Society, does not necessarily condemn us at every instance of our transactions or engagements. VP Atiku actually rose above honors in this instance. He exceeded my expectations. We should be proud of his role in this transaction rather than condemn him. I am not a judge, however, just a member of the society. Some folks even believe by pinning their crimes on Nigerians, they stand to be exonerated while the prejudiced, possibly innocent, Nigerian is harassed. Is it profiling or what? Heavens help us all. The fact remains that VP Atiku did not receive a dime from William Jefferson, period. Sooner or later, the World would find out that Nigerians are good, great people. We just have our own ways. There's the British Way, the American Way and soon would be the Nigerian Way to be reckoned with!
Rotimi Osunsan
Washington DC

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T


From: elombah daniel <elsdaniel@...>
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:42:53 -0800 (PST)
To: <Naija-expose@yahoogroups.com>; <NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com>; <nidoa@yahoogroups.com>; <NigerDeltaForum@yahoogroups.com>; <NigerDeltaForum@yahoogroups.com>; <NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com>; <TalkNigeria@yahoogroups.com>; <abujaNig@yahoogroups.com>; <igboworldforum@yahoogroups.com>; <igboevents@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [abujaNig] Between William Jefferson and Atiku Abubakar

 

The Federal Government of Nigeria should put processes in place to try Atiku for “corruptly agreeing or attempting to receive or obtain any property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person, on account of a - anything to be afterwards done or omitted, or any favour or disfavour to be afterwards shown to any person, by a public official in the discharge of his official duties or in relation to any such matter as aforesaid" contrary to Section 98 of the Nigeria Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.
 
 

Introduction

Following the conviction and imprisonment of the American Congressman, William Jefferson of Louisiana, of taking bribes in a case in which agents found $90,000 in his freezer - famously found by the FBI tucked inside frozen food containers, Many Nigerians have argued that the former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar should be tried for bribery and corruption in Nigeria saying the offence of bribery is not only about the giver, but also makes the receiver culpable.

They argue that failure to try Abubakar would expose Nigerian's and their hypocritical attitude to corruption and would amount to leaving foreigners to fight our battles against corruption on our behalf.

Others argue that the definition on 'Intent' in this discourse should be evaluated thoroughly. According to this group, Atiku did not commit any crime --if Jefferson merely intended to bribe the Nigerian vice-president at that time. 

   “Ignore any proclivities you may have regarding Atiku's reputation”, they say, “and focus on the actual case itself.  Was he caught in the act of partaking in a bribing scheme?  No.  Was the accused participant caught in the act?  It appears. 

A friend, argued; I don't see how 'Intent' works both ways.  In a criminal case, that defines 'Intent', either party must be partied to a crime in the works.  One must initiate a criminal exercise, and the other must acknowledge it, well knowing that it is against the law of the land.  Was Atiku seen receiving the bribe?  It appears not.  But even if he was heard assenting to the bribe, he could still deny the actual the intention.

This group contend that to those arguing for Atiku’s culpability, “rather than project even a facade of a real newspaper man, appear to be a pure njakiri boy in the mould of that village town crier plastering scandals and lying in wait for the bounty”.

“What exactly has Atiku's picture and name got to with this case”? they ask.

This Essay is therefore written to give a dispassionate legal analysis of the issue and legal position of Atiku vis-à-vis the trial and jailing of the American Congressman.

Firstly, what are the Facts of this case?

Former Democratic Congressman William Jefferson was found guilty of 11 of 16 corruption charges. Jefferson, 62, who represented the New Orleans-based 2nd Congressional District for nine terms, was jailed for 13 years last Friday.

A federal jury convicted him on 11 of 16 counts, including bribery, racketeering and money laundering. William Jefferson, a Democrat who had represented parts of New Orleans, was accused of accepting more than $400,000 in bribes and seeking millions more in exchange for brokering business deals in Africa.

In the 16-count indictment, Jefferson was charged with soliciting bribes and other crimes for a series of schemes in which he helped American businesses broker deals in West African in exchange for payments or financial considerations to companies controlled by members of his family, including his brother Mose, his wife, Andrea, their five daughters and a son-in-law.

Click to read a PDF of the charges and verdicts in former Congressman William Jefferson's trial.

The verdict of guilty comes four years after the Aug. 3, 2005 raids of Jefferson's homes in New Orleans and Washington, D.C., in which the FBI found $90,000 in cash hidden in the freezer of his D.C. home, money the government said Jefferson was going to deliver as a bribe to Atiku Abubakar, then vice president of Nigeria, to gain his help with a telecommunications deal in Nigeria being pursued by Lori Mody, a Northern Virginia businesswoman.

The money was the lion's share of $100,000 in FBI cash that the congressman was videotaped receiving packed in a briefcase days earlier in a suburban Virginia parking lot from Mody, who, beginning in March of 2005, had become a cooperating witness for the FBI, secretly taping her conversations with Jefferson.

As far as Nigeria is concerned, William Jefferson's corruption case assumed a very high profile because Atiku Abubakar, a sitting vice president was involved and so his name and picture in the story is very relevant.

Prosecutors said the cold cash was intended to bribe Atiku Abubakar, then vice president of Nigeria, (part of a pattern of illicit acts in which Jefferson shook down business partners for hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribe money while offering bribes of his own) to secure his help with a telecommunications venture in that country.

William Jefferson Surveillance Video
They played videotapes of Jefferson meeting with a business associate-turned- FBI informant, who gave him the funds in marked bills.

The money was never delivered, prosecutors said, only because Jefferson couldn't do so before the FBI found it.  In other words, the deal has been done, amount agreed, Jefferson collected the bribe for onward transmission to Atiku but Atiku could not get the bribe because the FBI pounced before the bribe money could be delivered.

Four times, from four different camera angles, the prosecution played the July 30, 2005, videotape of Jefferson receiving the briefcase from Mody,

William Jefferson Surveillance Video 2
the Virginia businesswoman who was his partner in a Nigerian telecommunications venture.
 

#63154 From: Cacoweda Cacoweda <cacoweda4all@...>
Date: Wed Nov 18, 2009 11:04 pm
Subject: Dayo Olomu - Winner, Best UK Motivational Speaker Award, Leading Faculty Trainer for New Generation Academy, New Book
cacoweda4all
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Fellow Nigerians, Cameroonians, Ugandans, South Africans, Africans,

New Generation Academy is pleased to announce the addition to our online library of one of the greatest publications of all times in the domain of Personal Development Education and Business Training by the internationally renowned Nigerian/African Success Coach, Trainer, Speaker, Mentor, Writer and Leading Faculty Trainer for New Generation Academy Dayo Olomu.

Entitled, Great Quotes For Success, Dayo Olomu's new bestseller brings to you some of the greatest words of wisdom ever recorded in ancient and modern times. Enriching words of wisdom handed down from generation to generation in Nigeria, Jamaica, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Ghana, China etc.  Dubbed the Code of Success, Dayo's book is a handy guide for anyone serious about success and achievement in life in any part of the world.

Great Quotes For Success can be found at:        www.newgenerationacademy.com 

About  Dayo Olomu –  Catalyst for  Positive Change
Dayo Olomu who is a study in doggedness and an example of how anyone can overcome adversity to succeed and thus become an inspiration to others is a successful social entrepreneur, business improvement consultant, success strategist, corporate trainer, lifestyle business coach and a motivational speaker. He is also the best selling author of “4 Indispensable Strategies for Success” and audio programme, “You Got The Power” which was sent to more than 180 countries in 2008 by the top international companies in the world of personal development education and business consultancy. Dayo who was the first speaker and author of African origin in Europe to achieve this feat was recently honoured with the Best Motivational Speaker of the Year in UK Award.


His background spans over 20 years in coaching, speaking, training, personal development, media / PR, organisational strategy, publishing and the entertainment business. The experience he brings to people over the last 10 years has led him to the discovery that if we help people to see themselves as they can, not as they are; then the way they think, the way they feel and the way they act will eventually be altered, thereby resulting in higher performance. 

 

Underpinning Dayo’s compelling style is a unique fusion of Nigerian and British culture, which gives his presentations a distinctive edge and enabled him to get his powerful message across to audience with warmth, passion, energy and substance. He travels all over Europe, North America, Africa and United Arab Emirates to help people and businesses achieve extraordinary results, maximise their performance and revenue. 

 

Dayo studied Business and Industrial Law at University of Lagos and later graduated with honours from the University of East London with a degree in Business Information Systems. He went to University of Greenwich for his post graduate studies and studied Coaching at Newcastle College. Dayo is the founding President of Croydon Communicators: Public Speaking & Leadership Training and CEO of DOCCI, a Surrey based cutting edge Company that provides expertise in business coaching, training, branding & consulting.

 

In 2007 he completed the Flora London Marathon to raise money and create awareness for Leukaemia and on 13 April 2008 he completed the Flora London Marathon again to create awareness and raise funds for Hearts of Gold Children’s Hospices, the first children’s hospices and respite care facility in Nigeria. He enjoys mountain climbing, fire walking, forest walking, glass breaking and running the marathon.


Dayo and his wife, Sade who recently set up The Dayo & Sade Olomu Foundation dedicated to less privilege and physically challenged children reside in Surrey, United Kingdom

 

For more information please visit www.dayoolomu.com



PLEASE SEE ATTACHED AND READ BELOW FOR MORE IMPORTANT INFORMATION

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Cacoweda Cacoweda <cacoweda4all@...>
To: cacowedaforum@yahoogroups.com; camchina@yahoogroups.com; CAMDESG@yahoogroups.com; GOBHEXA-FORUM@...; ShesaUSA@yahoogroups.com; UB_Alumni@yahoogroups.com; baminet@yahoogroups.com; Chat_AfriK@yahoogroups.com; camnetwork@yahoogroups.com; mbonbani@yahoogroups.com; AMBASOS@yahoogroups.com; cameroonforum@yahoogroups.com; african-perspective@yahoogroups.com; camerooniancommunitycoventry@...; nga-global@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sun, 15 November, 2009 11:11:04
Subject: [CacowedaForum] Special Update - Cameroon Business Launch, 17-19 Dec 09 - Yde, Dla, Limbe & Bda [1 Attachment]

 

NETWORKING & PARTNERSHIP FOR BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONALS IN CAMEROON AND THE UK


Yaounde – 17 December 2009  @ Hilton Hotel


Douala – 18 December 2009 @ The Plannet Hotel, Akwa. Opposite UBA Bank


Limbe – 19 December 2009 @ Savoy Palms Hotel, Sonara Road


Bamenda – 21 December 2009 @ Hotel Resort 84, Airport Road , Mile 6 

Time for all the above: 4pm to 9pm


FREE REFRESHMENTS


Entrance: FREE

 
Contact numbers (from 15 December 2009):

Julius Nkafu: 70511104 OR 70511107
Richard Tchoutezo: 94151915
Julian Ebai: tbc
Martin Ewoma: tbc




************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* *****
PRESS RELEASE
Oct 2009

CAMEROON BUSINESS LAUNCH - 17TH - 21ST DECEMBER 2009

Four of Cameroon's major towns will this December witness the Grand Launching of some major international businesses owned and led by some of Cameroon's most industrious sons based in the United Kingdom.

Yaounde is already bracing itself for the maiden event on 17th December as pundits rush to conclude that it will be the Event of the Year.

The companies involved are:

1 - Julius and Co Solicitors led by Julius Nkafu
www.juliusandcosolicitors.com & www.jcsmediation.com

2 - Jetplay Consulting Ltd led by Julian Ebai
www.jetplayconsulting.co.uk

3 - New Generation Academy Ltd led by Richard Tchoutezo
www.newgenerationacademy.com

4 - Godinmartins Consulting Ltd led by Martin Ewoma
www.godinmartins.co.uk

For more information please refer to the attached document.
More updates to follow in the days ahead.

END
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD




#63153 From: Kayode Ogundamisi <odamisi2000@...>
Date: Wed Nov 18, 2009 2:40 pm
Subject: Lagos State government! The ladies are Nudist! So what?
odamisi2000
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Lagos State government!  The ladies are Nudist! So what?

 

By Kayode Ogundamisi

 

Early in the year the Lagos state environmental task force, carried out what it described as a “carefully planned and very well executed raid” on private clubs that were said to be “carrying out immoral acts” such as girls performing “nude dancing”. It is the responsibility of any government to make sure that clubs and entertainment centres operate within the confines of the law and a responsible government will also keep an eye on such clubs to make sure they do not engage the services of the underage, minors or ladies who are forced to perform without their consent.

 

However the recent invasion of clubs by the Lagos government officials in a Rambo style manner is very unbecoming of a state whose governor is arguably one of the best performing public official Nigeria as ever witnessed in recent times. The way they subjected those young Nigerian women, to series of humiliation, by photographing them openly and making such available to the press almost naked is a violation of the rights of the citizens. If the officials involved in the raid must display the “captives” can’t they give them the choice of having their clothes on?

 

There is need for the government to check the excesses of the Lagos State Environmental task force, that agency is more or less now behaving like a “moral soldier” meant to dictate to private citizens, on what movie they should view, which club they must visit, what colour they must paint houses and what manner of apparels ladies must wear.

 

The raid before last week’s by the very same official did not produce any conviction except the sensation it got in the media. Sadly, the media worldwide seem to enjoy the public humiliation of the female body type, it is apparent those found to be “poll dancing” where men the photographs would not have been of public interest, thus we must stop the obscene chauvinistic tendency that is taking root in our society.

 

In as much as Lagos has been doing well so far, we cannot and must not keep quiet when some officials are out of line and literally wrapped up in misconduct. The emergence of ostentatious clubs, “yachts’” and other elitist play toys are contentious by-products of a city that prides itself in its pro-active mechanism of governance. If we do not cautiously ensure that a healthy balance is maintained at all times some overzealous officials will pretty soon start dictating to Nigerians on the shape, size and complexion of the partner they must date or marry - could get that ridiculous!

 

Under the nose of our so called “moral police” young Nigerian ladies who are incessantly challenged with forced long holidays due to the neglect of the educational sector and strikes by both academic and non academic staffs engage in misdemeanors to while away time or simply survive. High and low class prostitution thrive unchallenged in the streets of well lit reserved areas of Lagos and the men who can patronize these girls are definitely high net worth individuals in government and the private sector.

 

The irony rests in the act that it is the same Nigerian public officials who patronise these same clubs, have we not heard stories of girls pimping for commissioners, governors, directors, ministers and all in our various campuses? At least it is public knowledge that some public officials in Nigeria patronise these same clubs that are tagged immoral when on official assignment outside Nigeria. If the story of the “India Apple” is to be believed, then we all know that Aso Rock unofficially kept prostitutes in the dying days of Sanni Abacha.

Besides what alternatives are available to these erring young people? What choice do they have? The male students go delinquent and violent, venturing into kidnapping or just simply spend days in cyber cafés to look for an unlucky “mugu” that they can scam. Can’t the government see that we have let down our youths and tackle the problem from the basics? What infrastructures have been put in place to productively engage young people and empower them to live meaningful lives? Fact remains that an idle mind remains the devil’s favourite workshop and when that idleness is compounded with poverty there is no limit to what can go wrong.

 

The entertainment industry remains a sucour for young people all over the world. Impoverished young men and women are being transformed to millionaires, doing good work. If the government could partner more people in the entertainment industry to create a safe and conducive environment for the industry to grow in Nigeria and also serve as an alternative source of leisure and excitement in a nation bereft of social infrastructure, the nude clubs will die a natural death.

 

Moreover, are these social issues not as a result of more serious concerns in Nigeria? With a sleeping president, law makers who cannot point out the difference between red and orange? Fast growing religious empires without a corresponding upright following? Collapsed infrastructure such as energy, road, aviation, policing, law and order and a charade called ICPC and other so called anti corruption agencies?

 

Women groups, non-governmental organizations, civil society groups should please mobilize and come to the aid of our youths, bring to justice those involved in the violation of the rights of young Nigerian in all ramifications and urgently assist in the rehabilitation of those who may have been forced to take up indecent lifestyles to survive the crunch of today’s Nigeria.

 

They also must impress on the officials of the Lagos State government that treating nude dancing as an outright criminal issue is contentious because there is a greater sense in dealing with it as a moral issue. If it is crucial for the lagos state government to eradicate it then the better option might be to regulate the activities of clubs by engaging the proprietors, putting acceptable norms in place and regularly inspecting the clubs to make sure they are not operating contrary to stipulated rules.

 

Unfortunately, religious leaders are jumping into the bandwagon of sitting in judgement over the ladies! Rather, they should put their money where their mouths are and check the corruption going on in their own organisations, or call to order government officials who have front row seats in their church and mosques and also impress on them the desperate need for them to deliver good governance. A failed society is the society where those who should speak out only speak out when it is popular to speak.

 


#63152 From: OKOJIEPAUL@...
Date: Wed Nov 18, 2009 2:55 pm
Subject: Re: [TalkNigeria] Re: [NaijaPolitics] Ibori: UK releases list of witnesses
OKOJIEPAUL@...
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Dear Mr. Eluemunor,
 
You have made the point repeatedly that in the rogues' gallery, Ibori is one among many and that it is unjustified to focus on him alone. I accept that the matter before the court in Asaba is sub judice and no one can second guess the outcome.
 
There are, however,   matters on which you can enlighten us without reference to the rogues gallery:
 
a) do you accept that Ibori has been convicted of any criminal charges while he was resident in the UK?
 
b) if not, do you think he is being maligned by the Metropolitan Police?
 
c) do you accept that in the case now before the court in London which is about money laundering,
    that those awaiting trial are Ibori's associates?
 
Please deal with these questions because as I understand it, you have never denied your role  as Mr. Ibori's  spokesperson, therefore it would be helpful if you could answer the questions without reference  to others however culpable may they may be from your point of view.
 
Regards,
 
PO


-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Eluemunor <teluemunor@...>
To: NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com; Omoodua <OmoOdua@yahoogroups.com>; Abuja Nig <abujanig@yahoogroups.com>; Egbe OmoOdua <OmoOdua@yahoogroups.com>; igboevent <igboevents@yahoogroups.com>; Nidoa <nidoa@yahoogroups.com>; njabasouth <njabasouth@yahoogroups.com>; Talk Nigeria <TalkNigeria@yahoogroups.com>; nigeria360@yahoogroups.com; NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:14
Subject: [TalkNigeria] Re: [NaijaPolitics] Ibori: UK releases list of witnesses

 

Dear Coker,
That report is misleading in one respect:
"Early this month, 25 witnesses, including the 14, had left the country to testify in the case".
That is a lie. Or are we to believe that 32 witnesses will be in court for the prosecution? And you appear to have conveniently forgotten so soon the "lie lie" reports that all the witnesses were anti-Ibori too?
 
Also, do you remember how your group celebrated the report that the Asaba court deferred its ruling - that was until the London court also elected to wait for that Asaba ruling?
 
See, until we begin to hold not only journalists but those who manipulate them accountable for such acts of corruption, we would be blowing against the wind if we claim to be fighting corruption. And so far, nobody seem to be worried by the amount of media manipulation, misinformation, disinformation, etc with which Ribadu has caused mayhem in Nigerian journalism just to lionize himself. Well, I am documenting such nastiness.
 
Thanks.
Tony Eluemunor. 
 
 --- On Tue, 11/17/09, adeseni coker <adesenicoker@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: adeseni coker <adesenicoker@yahoo.com>
Subject: [NaijaPolitics] Ibori: UK releases list of witnesses
To: "naijapolitics" <NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com>, "Omoodua" <OmoOdua@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 4:10 PM

 
The London Police yesterday released names of 14 witnesses in the money laundering case against three associates of former Delta State Governor James Ibori.
The witnesses are from the Nigerian Police, Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They are: Superintendent Bello of the Nigerian Police, CCB’s Mustapha Baba, Inspector Sunday Musa, EFCC’s Stephen Falamo, Omoniyi Runsewe of Countrywide Paymasters, Enitan Sowole of Menkat Limited and Godwin Elemelu.
Others are CCB’s Habila Anderifun, Godfrey Ike of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Eddie Egbumokei of A & C Engineering, Gilbert Eneh, Anekwe Godwin, Stephen Kutelu and Taiwo Adedeji.
A letter by DC John McDonald of the proceeds of Corruption Unit, New Scotland Yard, London, said the witnesses are required to assist the prosecution in proving its case against the accused.
The accused are Christie Ibori-Ibie, Bimpe Pogoson and Udoramaka Onuigbo-Okoronkwo.
The letter, exclusively obtained by The Nation, said the witnesses would testify for either the prosecution or defence.
The witnesses are expected to testify on matters not under review by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mike Aaondoaka, the letter said.
Early this month, 25 witnesses, including the 14, had left the country to testify in the case.
It was learnt that they were released with the consent of the Federal Government which is interested in the case.

“Our challenges may be new, but those values upon which our success depends-honesty and hard work, courage and fair play...these things are old. These things are true” - Barack Hussein Obama



#63151 From: OKOJIEPAUL@...
Date: Wed Nov 18, 2009 4:35 pm
Subject: Re: [Nigeria360::Live] Ibori: UK releases list of witnesses
OKOJIEPAUL@...
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Dear Mr. Eluemunor,
 
Please answer the questions that I have chosen to ask and without attributing false purpose to my motive. I believe as Mr. Ibori's spokesperson, they are questions within your grasp. So, I am re-sending the questions for you to answer without any further obfuscation:
 

 
Dear Mr. Eluemunor,
 
You have made the point repeatedly that in the rogues' gallery, Ibori is one among many and that it is unjustified to focus on him alone. I accept that the matter before the court in Asaba is sub judice and no one can second guess the outcome.
 
There are, however,   matters on which you can enlighten us without reference to the rogues gallery:
 
a) do you accept that Ibori has been convicted of any criminal charges while he was resident in the UK?
 
b) if not, do you think he is being maligned by the Metropolitan Police?
 
c) do you accept that in the case now before the court in London which is about money laundering,
    that those awaiting trial are Ibori's associates?
 
Please deal with these questions because as I understand it, you have never denied your role  as Mr. Ibori's  spokesperson, therefore it would be helpful if you could answer the questions without reference  to others however culpable may they may be from your point of view.
 
Regards,
 
PO



-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Eluemunor <teluemunor@...>
To: TalkNigeria@yahoogroups.com; NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com; OmoOdua@yahoogroups.com; abujanig@yahoogroups.com; igboevents@yahoogroups.com; nidoa@yahoogroups.com; njabasouth@yahoogroups.com; nigeria360@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:35
Subject: Re: [Nigeria360::Live] Ibori: UK releases list of witnesses

 
.
Dear Paul,
Did anyone ever teach you how to remain focused? If yes, then why have you chosen to so spectacularly betray those teachers?
I have diligently gone over all the points you enumerated. It is sad that you actually invested time and energy in what should have appeared to anybody with minimal sense of reasoning that all the so-called points are really OP (off points).
 
I'll take a little time to explain: Ibori has a case facing him in Asaba. His associates have cases facing them in London. Then, you left all those and the quantum charges and issues, including the extant one about number of witnesses and jumped, for yet unexplained reasons, to whether you or anybody was ever convicted in London. That is not an issue with me. Someone posted a report on the internet and I, facing facts, made some points, points which are factual - though I know that some of us here have little regards for facts.
 
Yet, I think we have made some progress. The matter now appears to be not that Ibori stole Niger Delta State blind (that is why he may just have money laundering charges facing his associates). Those charges have yet to be proved; and there is some proving to be done.
 
Yet, you appear to have totally ignored the issue that formed the bulk of my post; media manipulation, using the number of witnesses and the various versions of reports over that single issue. But if you have chosen to leave an expressway and to jump into the bush, why on earth would expect me to follow you? Please know that I am not so easily diverted: I mentioned Ribadu's role in such media manipulation and our need to check facts and to hold media outfits accountable for what emanates from them.
 
Just the other day, the story appeared that Miriam Babangida was dead. Now it is clear that she is alive. But how did that story arise? Of course, people like you never ask such questions. But I do.
 
Thanks.
Tony Eluemunor
 
--- On Wed, 11/18/09, OKOJIEPAUL@aol.com <OKOJIEPAUL@aol.com> wrote:

From: OKOJIEPAUL@aol.com <OKOJIEPAUL@aol.com>
Subject: [Nigeria360::Live] Re: [TalkNigeria] Re: [NaijaPolitics] Ibori: UK releases list of witnesses
To: TalkNigeria@yahoogroups.com, NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com, OmoOdua@yahoogroups.com, abujanig@yahoogroups.com, igboevents@yahoogroups.com, nidoa@yahoogroups.com, njabasouth@yahoogroups.com, nigeria360@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 6:55 AM

 
Dear Mr. Eluemunor,
 
You have made the point repeatedly that in the rogues' gallery, Ibori is one among many and that it is unjustified to focus on him alone. I accept that the matter before the court in Asaba is sub judice and no one can second guess the outcome.
 
There are, however,   matters on which you can enlighten us without reference to the rogues gallery:
 
a) do you accept that Ibori has been convicted of any criminal charges while he was resident in the UK?
 
b) if not, do you think he is being maligned by the Metropolitan Police?
 
c) do you accept that in the case now before the court in London which is about money laundering,
    that those awaiting trial are Ibori's associates?
 
Please deal with these questions because as I understand it, you have never denied your role  as Mr. Ibori's  spokesperson, therefore it would be helpful if you could answer the questions without reference  to others however culpable may they may be from your point of view.
 
Regards,
 
PO


-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Eluemunor <teluemunor@yahoo. com>
To: NaijaPolitics@ yahoogroups. com; Omoodua <OmoOdua@yahoogroups .com>; Abuja Nig <abujanig@yahoogroup s.com>; Egbe OmoOdua <OmoOdua@yahoogroups .com>; igboevent <igboevents@yahoogro ups.com>; Nidoa <nidoa@yahoogroups. com>; njabasouth <njabasouth@yahoogro ups.com>; Talk Nigeria <TalkNigeria@ yahoogroups. com>; nigeria360@yahoogro ups.com; NaijaPolitics@ yahoogroups. com
Sent: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:14
Subject: [TalkNigeria] Re: [NaijaPolitics] Ibori: UK releases list of witnesses

 

Dear Coker,
That report is misleading in one respect:
"Early this month, 25 witnesses, including the 14, had left the country to testify in the case".
That is a lie. Or are we to believe that 32 witnesses will be in court for the prosecution? And you appear to have conveniently forgotten so soon the "lie lie" reports that all the witnesses were anti-Ibori too?
 
Also, do you remember how your group celebrated the report that the Asaba court deferred its ruling - that was until the London court also elected to wait for that Asaba ruling?
 
See, until we begin to hold not only journalists but those who manipulate them accountable for such acts of corruption, we would be blowing against the wind if we claim to be fighting corruption. And so far, nobody seem to be worried by the amount of media manipulation, misinformation, disinformation, etc with which Ribadu has caused mayhem in Nigerian journalism just to lionize himself. Well, I am documenting such nastiness.
 
Thanks.
Tony Eluemunor. 
 
 --- On Tue, 11/17/09, adeseni coker <adesenicoker@ yahoo.com> wrote:

From: adeseni coker <adesenicoker@ yahoo.com>
Subject: [NaijaPolitics] Ibori: UK releases list of witnesses
To: "naijapolitics" <NaijaPolitics@ yahoogroups. com>, "Omoodua" <OmoOdua@yahoogroups .com>
Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 4:10 PM

 
The London Police yesterday released names of 14 witnesses in the money laundering case against three associates of former Delta State Governor James Ibori.
The witnesses are from the Nigerian Police, Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They are: Superintendent Bello of the Nigerian Police, CCB’s Mustapha Baba, Inspector Sunday Musa, EFCC’s Stephen Falamo, Omoniyi Runsewe of Countrywide Paymasters, Enitan Sowole of Menkat Limited and Godwin Elemelu.
Others are CCB’s Habila Anderifun, Godfrey Ike of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Eddie Egbumokei of A & C Engineering, Gilbert Eneh, Anekwe Godwin, Stephen Kutelu and Taiwo Adedeji.
A letter by DC John McDonald of the proceeds of Corruption Unit, New Scotland Yard, London, said the witnesses are required to assist the prosecution in proving its case against the accused.
The accused are Christie Ibori-Ibie, Bimpe Pogoson and Udoramaka Onuigbo-Okoronkwo.
The letter, exclusively obtained by The Nation, said the witnesses would testify for either the prosecution or defence.
The witnesses are expected to testify on matters not under review by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mike Aaondoaka, the letter said.
Early this month, 25 witnesses, including the 14, had left the country to testify in the case.
It was learnt that they were released with the consent of the Federal Government which is interested in the case.

“Our challenges may be new, but those values upon which our success depends-honesty and hard work, courage and fair play...these things are old. These things are true” - Barack Hussein Obama




#63150 From: elombah daniel <elsdaniel@...>
Date: Thu Nov 19, 2009 4:02 am
Subject: Re: [NIDOA] Between William Jefferson and Atiku Abubakar
elsdaniel
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Send Email Send Email
 

My brother please hold on...

 

If you say "I will kill you", and do nothing else, then tomorow, I drop dead...No problem for you.

 

But If you say, "I will kill you" and two days later I drop dead...If there is circumstantial evidence that the next day after your threat, you purchased a gun, or that you were seen meeting with an asssasin that was subsequently accused and convicted of killing me..you have a question to answer!

 

The reason being that you have not merely mouthed an intention to murder but have gone ahead to manifest your intention by some overt act.

 

Secondly, even if you claim you were only joking the court will consider the overt actions you have taken and an apparent ability to complete the crime.

 

Read my article again, I said: General-intent crimes require only a showing that the defendant intended to do the act prohibited by law, but Because intent is a state of mind, it can rarely be proved with direct evidence and ordinarily must be inferred from the facts of the case. Evidence of intent is always admissible to prove a specific-intent crime, i.e. circumstantial evidence.

Courts generally allow a wide range of direct and Circumstantial Evidence to be introduced at trial in order to prove the difficult element of criminal or tortuous intent.

 

I repeat:

Jefferson was found NOT GUILTY of actually bribing Atiku Abubakar, or of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act with regards to his dealings with Atiku Abubakar. The Courts reasoning is that Atiku was not actually bribed nor was any US Statute law actually broken by Jefferson ’s intentions in hiding the money in his fridge.

But teh situation will be different If Atiku is on trial in the US Court or under our laws, then the applicable law would not simply be the FCPA under which Jefferson was exonerated but Atiku would be tried for corruptly attempting, intending and Conspiring to receive or obtain any property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person....contary to S 98 of our Criminal Code.

 

Let me emphasize again; Because intent is a state of mind, it can rarely be proved with direct evidence and ordinarily must be inferred from the facts of the case. Evidence of intent is always admissible to prove a specific-intent crime, i.e. circumstantial evidence.

Therefore, we can reach our conclusions as to Attempt, Intention and Conspiracy from the facts surrounding the case.

R emem ber that while intent is key in any conspiracy case, only a “general intent” to violate the law is enough to prove crime; proof of the defendants’ specific intent to violate the law is not needed; only an agreement to engage in an illegal act is necessary.

If the question is; was there an agreement between Jefferson and Atiku for money to exchange hands in return for his help towards Jefferson , then the answer would be; we don’t know.

But if the question is, was there AN INTENTION for Jefferson to bribe Atiku in return for Atiku's help, then we should look at the circumstances of the entire transaction.

According to prosecutors, Jefferson knew exactly what Mody was talking about in the video; that the $100,000 was to be the first instalment of a bribe to be paid to Atiku Abubakar, then vice president of Nigeria, for his help in gaining approval from the Nigerian telecommunications authority for the deal Mody was financing and of which Jefferson's family was getting an increasingly bigger cut.

A few days later, the FBI raided his house in Washington and knocked on the door of his Marengo Street home in New Orleans .

The money was never delivered, prosecutors said, only because Jefferson couldn't do so before the FBI found it.  In other words, the deal has been done, amount agreed, Jefferson collected the bribe for onward transmission to Atiku but Atiku could not get the bribe because the FBI pounced before the bribe money could be delivered. R emem ber: The attempt becomes a crime in itself, and usually means one really tried to commit the crime, but failed through no fault of himself or herself.

I would say that Abubakar is lucky because he is a Nigerian in Nigeria . Conspiracy to commit a felony is a crime. In the Nigerian Criminal Code as elsewhere, both the giver of bribe and the receiver is equally guilty.

Just as with intention, Same in ATTEMPT and CONSPIRACY: In Criminal Law, an attempt to commit a crime is an offense when an accused makes a substantial but unsuccessful effort to commit a crime. Jefferson has already manifested his intention by some Overt Act beyond mere preparation, Moreover, there was in him an apparent ability to complete the crime.

It is important to note that an actual crime is not necessary to prosecute a conspiracy case – only the stated intent to break the law.

Moreover, In order to establish a conspiracy offense it is not necessary to prove that all of the people named in the indictment had entered into any formal type of agreement; or that the members had planned together all of the details of the scheme or that they all took part in the 'overt acts'.

 
 
Daniel Elombah
Publisher:
www.elombah.com
(A Nigerian Perspective on world affairs)
 

"May God do to you what you are doing to Nigeria"





From: Ohima Oliha <obatopaye@...>
To: MsJoe21St@...; NIDOA@yahoogroups.com; Champions For Nigeria <champions@...>; naijapolitics@yahoogroups.com; nigerianworldforum@yahoogroups.com; rotimi_osunsan@...; abujaNig@yahoogroups.com; igboevents@yahoogroups.com; elombah daniel <elsdaniel@...>
Sent: Thu, November 19, 2009 2:29:35 AM
Subject: Re: [NIDOA] Between William Jefferson and Atiku Abubakar

Here's the full statement I made:

"Providing money meant for bribing, and delivering it to the destined participant is indeed a violation of a criminal law, since the destined participant has accepted the item without any objection, but when such item has not been delivered, and when there's intent to continue with the planned activity, then it is difficult for the courts to ascribe any criminal activities, without there been another evidence describing the extents of illegal activities the sender and/or receiver have partake in.  In other words, the FBI does not have taped evidence on Atiku receiving the bribed items."


And here's another analogy -

If I say to someone, "I will kill you", and then that person is found dead, then I am a suspect --the law enforcers would have to investigate and seek evidences linking me to the crime.  But if I say, "I will kill you", and do absolutely nothing, and then the recipient calls the police, then the courts would have to decide if the statement was intentional or unintentional.  

I could easily say, it was a joke or a wild statement.  I will be acquitted easily.  The police or the law enforcement agencies are not designed to determine what intent is -they simply enforce.

We could say because of cross-border complications in International law, the FBI preempted its investigation of Jefferson, without seeing the other party, Atiku, attempt to receive the bribe.   The Nigerian criminal law on this matter is subject to interpretation by the courts.


Ohima Agans-Oliha




--- On Wed, 11/18/09, elombah daniel <elsdaniel@...> wrote:

From: elombah daniel <elsdaniel@...>
Subject: Re: [NIDOA] Between William Jefferson and Atiku Abubakar
To: "Ohima Oliha" <obatopaye@...>, MsJoe21St@..., NIDOA@yahoogroups.com, "Champions For Nigeria" <champions@...>, naijapolitics@yahoogroups.com, nigerianworldforum@yahoogroups.com, rotimi_osunsan@..., abujaNig@yahoogroups.com, igboevents@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 8:57 PM

Oliha said: "It's still difficult to determine how 'Intention to bribe' can be categorised as a crime...when such item has not been delivered, and when there's intent to continue with the planned activity, then it is difficult for the courts to ascribe any criminal activities",....

 

This is absolutely wrong. Nigeria Law says: (b) corruptly agrees or attempts to receive or obtain any property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person, on account of-....

 

It doesnt matter whether the  act was accomplished or not because Attempt is an undertaking to do an act that entails more than mere preparation but does not result in the successful completion of the act.

In Criminal Law, an attempt to commit a crime is an offense when an accused makes a substantial but unsuccessful effort to commit a crime. Generally, attempts are punishable by imprisonment, with sentence lengths that vary in time, depending upon the severity of the offense attempted. The attempt becomes a crime in itself, and usually means one really tried to commit the crime, but failed through no fault of himself or herself.

 

I know Nigerians are fed up with hearing about this case. But it is disingenous for people to argue that "VP Atiku actually rose above honors in this instance. He exceeded my expectations. We should be proud of his role in this transaction rather than condemn him".

 

Here Rotimi is arguing from the viewpoint of one that swallows Atiku's version of the event, hook, line and sinker!

 

The facts as presented by the FBI is clear (the cold cash was intended to bribe Atiku Abubakar, then vice president of Nigeria, The money was never delivered, prosecutors said, only because Jefferson couldn't do so before the FBI found it.  In other words, the deal has been done, amount agreed, Jefferson collected the bribe for onward transmission to Atiku but Atiku could not get the bribe because the FBI pounced before the bribe money could be delivered)

 

Jefferson and Modi refused to testify during the trial so as not to further incriminate themselves. And of course, Atiku dare not testify in his defence under oath.

 

I implore anyone that wishes to read the Court Transcript or the FBI evidence.

 

Joe stated I "have an axe to grind". Which axe and for what reason?

 

Of course I have an axe to grind with anyone tainted by corruption seeking again to be my President!

 

Our attitude to official corruption is baffling; Corruption is corruption whether attempted or completed, minor or large, committed by my kinsman or my enemy.

The problem with Nigeria's corruption however is not just that our leaders are corrupt but that Nigerians view corruption as normal; there is no sense of outrage at the outbreak of scandals.

If you look at ghana for example, there is a marked improvement in their corruption index rating.

Ghanaian officials are very corrupt, no doubt, and a Ghanain friend corruption is minimal compared to Nigeria because there is no money to go round, (to illustarte he pointed to Angola that is more corrupt that Nigeria because of oil money) but the ordinary Ghanaian is mad at any exposed corrupt official.

If you notice; the MABEY-JOHNSON Corruption scandal has been in the news for months now, 2 government officials have resigned, and the scandal is getting hotter nearer to Jerry Rawlings with no sign that Ghanaians are willing to let go untill the culprits are brought to book.

Do you know why?

The pressure is not from the government of President John ATTA Mills, NO. In fact he wants to supress it.

The pressure is from the Press, their internet warriors (visit the Ghanaian website are notice the outpouring of outrage and abuse on perceived corrupt officials, here we defend them and question one's motive for exposing them), the ordinary Ghanain and the opposition party.

I may humbly say that I played a role in getting the story on Ghanaian airwaves.

When the trial started here in London, I and my friend alerted the STATESMAN NEWSPAPER IN GHANA.

They picked up from there immediately and the Ghanaians pursued the story without let up till the culprits are named and shamed, and some resigned. Public pressure was mounted forcing the Ghanaian AG to travel to London, meet the SCO to collect the name of the indicted officials

Right now serious pressure is being mounted on Atta Mills to go further from resignations to prosecution.

In Nigeria the story is different. Willbros, Siemens, Halliburton have all been indicted for bribing Nigerian officials and no one is forcing Yaradua to at least name and shame the indicted crooks.

Take the case of SOLUDO and the polymer scandal for example. Some guys actually ask why are you seeking to expose your fellow kinsman. Others ask you to provide evidence for bribery as if one issues receipt when you accept bribes...

Untill Nigerians realise the devastating effects of corruption on our body polity and confront it headlong as a nation no matter whose ox is gored....we will always rank low on corruption index with all the damage it does to our reputation.

 

Daniel Elombah
Publisher:
www.elombah.com

(A Nigerian Perspective on world affairs)
 

"May God do to you what you are doing to Nigeria"




From: Ohima Oliha <obatopaye@...>
To: MsJoe21St@...; NIDOA@yahoogroups.com; Champions For Nigeria <champions@...>; naijapolitics@yahoogroups.com; elsdaniel@...; nigerianworldforum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thu, November 19, 2009 12:43:16 AM
Subject: RE: [NIDOA] Between William Jefferson and Atiku Abubakar

Who was trying to bribe whom? Atiku to bribe Jefferson, or Jefferson trying to bribe Atiku? It's still difficult to determine how 'Intention to bribe' can be categorised as a crime when there's no evidence against the fact, and also Jefferson has been absolved of that same crime.

The differentiating factor in types of crimes depends enormously on the seriousness of the intended crime.  For example, intending to murder someone must involved soliciting the assistance of an assassin or killer, or being seen with a seriously damaging weapon, meant to inflict damage with intentions for someone.

Providing money meant for bribing, and delivering it to the destined participant is indeed a violation of a criminal law, since the destined participant has accepted the item without any objection, but when such item has not been delivered, and when there's intent to continue with the planned activity, then it is difficult for the courts to ascribe any criminal activities, without there been another evidence describing the extents of illegal activities the sender and/or receiver have partake in.  In other words, the FBI does not have taped evidence on Atiku receiving the bribed items.

The US Court has already voided the bribing charges against Jefferson; how do you intend to proceed with this in the Nigerian courts?  The US takes violations of their Foreign Corrupt practices act very seriously.


Ohima Agans-Oliha





                              =====>     Referenced Quote     <=====


Should Atiku Abubakar be tried for Bribery and Corruption?

From the above, Jefferson was found NOT GUILTY of actually bribing Atiku Abubakar, or of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act with regards to his dealings with Atiku Abubakar.

The Courts reasoning is that Atiku was not actually bribed nor was any US Statute law actually broken by Jefferson ’s intentions.

It would appear therefore that the only crimes remaining on which Atiku Abubakar may be tried if any is only the intention to bribe; Attempt, Intention and Conspiracy




--- On Wed, 11/18/09, Champions For Nigeria <champions@...> wrote:

From: Champions For Nigeria <champions@...>
Subject: RE: [NIDOA] Between William Jefferson and Atiku Abubakar
To: MsJoe21St@..., NIDOA@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 3:58 PM

 

I believe, having read and analysed the reasoning behind this, that AN AX SURE MUST BE GROUND, and Atiku should, or must be tried for “corruptly agreeing or attempting to receive or obtain any property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person, on account of a - anything to be afterwards done or omitted, or any favour or disfavour to be afterwards shown to any person, by a public official in the discharge of his official duties or in relation to any such matter as aforesaid" contrary to Section 98 of the Nigeria Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.

 

 

Akintokunbo A. Adejumo, M Sc, ACIH, MCMI

"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For indeed that's all who ever have." - Margaret Mead


From: NIDOA@yahoogroups. com [mailto:NIDOA@ yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of MsJoe21St@aol. com
Sent: 18 November 2009 11:02
To: NIDOA@yahoogroups. com
Subject: [NIDOA] Between William Jefferson and Atiku Abubakar

 

 

You surely got some ax to grind.

 

In a message dated 2009-11-18 5:43:18 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, elsdaniel@yahoo. com writes:

The Federal Government of Nigeria should put processes in place to try Atiku for “corruptly agreeing or attempting to receive or obtain any property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person, on account of a - anything to be afterwards done or omitted, or any favour or disfavour to be afterwards shown to any person, by a public official in the discharge of his official duties or in relation to any such matter as aforesaid" contrary to Section 98 of the Nigeria Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.

 

 

Introduction

Following the conviction and imprisonment of the American Congressman, William Jefferson of Louisiana, of taking bribes in a case in which agents found $90,000 in his freezer - famously found by the FBI tucked inside frozen food containers, Many Nigerians have argued that the former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar should be tried for bribery and corruption in Nigeria saying the offence of bribery is not only about the giver, but also makes the receiver culpable.

They argue that failure to try Abubakar would expose Nigerian's and their hypocritical attitude to corruption and would amount to leaving foreigners to fight our battles against corruption on our behalf.

Others argue that the definition on 'Intent' in this discourse should be evaluated thoroughly. According to this group, Atiku did not commit any crime --if Jefferson merely intended to bribe the Nigerian vice-president at that time. 

   “Ignore any proclivities you may have regarding Atiku's reputation”, they say, “and focus on the actual case itself.  Was he caught in the act of partaking in a bribing scheme?  No.  Was the accused participant caught in the act?  It appears. 

A friend, argued; I don't see how 'Intent' works both ways.  In a criminal case, that defines 'Intent', either party must be partied to a crime in the works.  One must initiate a criminal exercise, and the other must acknowledge it, well knowing that it is against the law of the land.  Was Atiku seen receiving the bribe?  It appears not.  But even if he was heard assenting to the bribe, he could still deny the actual the intention.

This group contend that to those arguing for Atiku’s culpability, “rather than project even a facade of a real newspaper man, appear to be a pure njakiri boy in the mould of that village town crier plastering scandals and lying in wait for the bounty”.

“What exactly has Atiku's picture and name got to with this case”? they ask.

This Essay is therefore written to give a dispassionate legal analysis of the issue and legal position of Atiku vis-à-vis the trial and jailing of the American Congressman.

Firstly, what are the Facts of this case?

Former Democratic Congressman William Jefferson was found guilty of 11 of 16 corruption charges. Jefferson, 62, who represented the New Orleans-based 2nd Congressional District for nine terms, was jailed for 13 years last Friday.

A federal jury convicted him on 11 of 16 counts, including bribery, racketeering and money laundering. William Jefferson, a Democrat who had represented parts of New Orleans , was accused of accepting more than $400,000 in bribes and seeking millions more in exchange for brokering business deals in Africa .

In the 16-count indictment, Jefferson was charged with soliciting bribes and other crimes for a series of schemes in which he helped American businesses broker deals in West African in exchange for payments or financial considerations to companies controlled by members of his family, including his brother Mose, his wife, Andrea, their five daughters and a son-in-law.

Click to read a PDF of the charges and verdicts in former Congressman William Jefferson's trial.

The verdict of guilty comes four years after the Aug. 3, 2005 raids of Jefferson's homes in New Orleans and Washington, D.C., in which the FBI found $90,000 in cash hidden in the freezer of his D.C. home, money the government said Jefferson was going to deliver as a bribe to Atiku Abubakar, then vice president of Nigeria, to gain his help with a telecommunications deal in Nigeria being pursued by Lori Mody, a Northern Virginia businesswoman.

The money was the lion's share of $100,000 in FBI cash that the congressman was videotaped receiving packed in a briefcase days earlier in a suburban Virginia parking lot from Mody, who, beginning in March of 2005, had become a cooperating witness for the FBI, secretly taping her conversations with Jefferson .

As far as Nigeria is concerned, William Jefferson's corruption case assumed a very high profile because Atiku Abubakar, a sitting vice president was involved and so his name and picture in the story is very relevant.

Prosecutors said the cold cash was intended to bribe Atiku Abubakar, then vice president of Nigeria, (part of a pattern of illicit acts in which Jefferson shook down business partners for hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribe money while offering bribes of his own) to secure his help with a telecommunications venture in that country.

William Jefferson Surveillance Video

 

They played videotapes of Jefferson meeting with a business associate-turned- FBI informant, who gave him the funds in marked bills.

The money was never delivered, prosecutors said, only because Jefferson couldn't do so before the FBI found it.  In other words, the deal has been done, amount agreed, Jefferson collected the bribe for onward transmission to Atiku but Atiku could not get the bribe because the FBI pounced before the bribe money could be delivered.

Four times, from four different camera angles, the prosecution played the July 30, 2005, videotape of Jefferson receiving the briefcase from Mody,

William Jefferson Surveillance Video 2

 

the Virginia businesswoman who was his partner in a Nigerian telecommunications venture.            

Mody had brought the briefcase to their rendezvous in the parking lot of a Ritz Carlton Hotel in suburban Virginia .

"Would you like to take a peek at it, or whatever?" Mody asked as Jefferson removed the briefcase from the car trunk.

"I would not, " replied Jefferson .

"Well, I hope that, uh, that's exactly what the VP needs to make him, uh, work hard for us, " said Mody.

"I have no idea what you're talking about,” Jefferson said.

According to prosecutors, Jefferson knew exactly what Mody was talking about; that the $100,000 was to be the first instalment of a bribe to be paid to Atiku Abubakar, then vice president of Nigeria, for his help in gaining approval from the Nigerian telecommunications authority for the deal Mody was financing and of which Jefferson's family was getting an increasingly bigger cut.

What he didn't know, until a few days later when the FBI raided his house in Washington and knocked on the door of his Marengo Street home in New Orleans, was that Mody had been a cooperating witness for the FBI since March of that year, taping their frequent restaurant and telephone conversations. He did not know that the money in the briefcase, and the car Mody was driving, were provided by the FBI.

He did not know that the event was being recorded by five different cameras: two in the trunk, one on Mody, one from a fixed position nearby and another by a surveillance camera across the street.

A second tape released is of a dinner meeting Jefferson had with Mody in which she seeks to draw him out about the details of the deal with Abubakar. She is seeking to get the congressman to say more about his arrangements with the Nigerian vice president, although Jefferson is characteristically guarded in his comments.

However, in his own defence, Abubakar Atiku’s stated that Jefferson did visit him in his house in the Washington DC area, took an envelope to the house, and when Atiku left for Nigeria, the envelope was found on a reading table. Atiku was contacted and the envelope was returned to Jefferson .

Atiku insists that there was enough time between when the bribe money was collected by Jefferson and when it was discovered in the freezer.

Atiku insists that the then Communications Minister was fully involved, and was allowed to take decisions.
 
And about the video the prosecutor played of Jefferson collecting the money which he never delivered, all that the video says is that Jefferson collected some money from someone. In other words, arguing that just because Jefferson collected the money, then Atiku must be guilty too is simply wrong.

http://blog. nola.com/ news_impact/ 2009/08/bill- jefferson- verdicts. pdf

The Four Court Decisions Relevant to Nigeria and Atiku Abubakar

It must be borne in mind, that the jury did not find Jefferson guilty on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which was the count linked to the money in the freezer intended to bribe Atiku.

Violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act – Not Guilty

Related to Jefferson ’s discussion with Mody about possibly bribing Nigerian Vice President Abubakar and other Nigerian officials. Charge includes transfer from Mody of $100,000 (in FBI money) that Jefferson said was intended as a bribe to Nigerian Vice President Abubakar. All but $10,000 was later found in Jefferson ’s freezer.

Deprive citizens of honest services by wire – Not Guilty

Fraud related to a fax from Jefferson to Mody attaching various documents, including a letter to then-Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar promoting a telecommunications project.

Conspiracy to solicit bribes by a public official and deprive citizens of honest services by wire - Guilty

fraud related to his efforts on behalf of Arkel Sugar, LETH Energy, TDC Overseas, Procura Financial Interests of South Africa and WorldSpace for projects that included a sugar refinery and fertilizer plant in Nigeria, development of marginal oil fields in Nigeria, the sale of garbage-to-energy incinerators in West African nations; the development of satellite educational programming in several West African nations; and a settlement of a dispute regarding oil development rights off the coast of Sao Tome & Principe in West Africa.

Solicitation of bribes by a public official - Guilty

Related to allegations that Jefferson sought payments from iGate Inc. to a firm controlled by his wife, Andrea, in return for his help securing telecommunications projects in Nigeria and Ghana .

Saharareporters say Atiku and his wife, Jennifer Douglas, did not accept summons and subpoenas to appear before the US court.  Instead, they moved their family out to Dubai , and put their Potomac mansion up for sale.

They added that US Justice department officials told Saharareporters that arrest warrants have been issued against Atiku and his runaway wife, Jamila Jennifer Douglas-Atiku and that the duo would be promptly arrested if they step on US soil.

Should Atiku Abubakar be tried for Bribery and Corruption?

From the above, Jefferson was found NOT GUILTY of actually bribing Atiku Abubakar, or of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act with regards to his dealings with Atiku Abubakar.

The Courts reasoning is that Atiku was not actually bribed nor was any US Statute law actually broken by Jefferson ’s intentions.

It would appear therefore that the only crimes remaining on which Atiku Abubakar may be tried if any is only the intention to bribe; Attempt, Intention and Conspiracy.

 

Now let us go to the Nigeria Legal Code, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990:

Chapter 12

Corruption and Abuse of Office

98.   (1)           Any public official (as defined in section 98D) who-

(a)            corruptly asks for, receives or obtains any property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person; or bribes, etc.,

(b)           corruptly agrees or attempts to receive or obtain any property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person, on account of-

(i)             anything already, done or omitted, or any favour or disfavour already shown to any person, by himself in the discharge of his official duties or in relation to any matter connected with the functions, affairs or business of a Government department, public body or other organisation or institution in which he is serving as a public official, or

(ii)            anything to be afterwards done or omitted, or any favour or disfavour to be afterwards shown to any person, by himself in the discharge of his official duties or in relation to any such matter as aforesaid, is guilty of the felony of official corruption and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.

(3)            In any proceedings for an offence under this section to which subsection (1)(ii) is relevant it shall not be a defence to show that the accused-

(a)            did not subsequently do, make or show the act, omission, favour or disfavour in question; or

(b)            never intended to do, make or show it.

98A.   (1)          Any person who- Official corruption: person giving bribes, etc., on account of actions of public Official.

(a)            corruptly gives, confers or procures any property or benefit of any kind to, on or for a public official (as defined in section 98D) or to, on or for any other person; or 1966 No. 84.

(b)            corruptly promises or offers to give or confer or to procure or attempt to procure any property or benefit of any kind to, on or for a public official or to, on or for any other person,

                on account of any such act, omission, favour or disfavour on the part of the public official as is mentioned in section 98(1)(i) or (ii), is guilty of the felony of official corruption and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.

(2)            If in any proceedings for an offence under this section it is proved that any property or benefit of any kind, or any promise thereof, was given to a public official, or to some other person at the instance of a public official, by a person-

(i)             holding, or seeking to obtain, a contract, licence or permit from a Government department, public body or other organisation or institution in which that public official is serving as such, or

98B.   (1)           Any person who--

(a)            corruptly asks for, receives or obtains 'any property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person; or

(b)            corruptly agrees or attempts to receive or obtain any property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person, on account of-

(ii)            anything to be afterwards done or omitted, or any favour or disfavour to be afterwards shown to any person, by a public official in the discharge of his official duties or in relation to any such matter as aforesaid,

                is guilty of the felony of official corruption and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.

(2)           In any proceedings for an offence under this section it shall not be necessary to prove-

(a)            that any public official counselled the commission of the offence; or

(b)            that in the course of committing the offence the accused mentioned any particular public official; or

(c)            that (in a case to which subsection (1)(ii) is relevant) the accused believed that any public official would do, make or show the act, omission, favour or disfavour in question; or

(d)            that the accused intended to give the property or benefit in question, or any part thereof, to a public official.

 

Let us examine the legal elements of these acts:

Intent: The mental purpose, aim, or design to accomplish a specific harm or result by acting in a manner prohibited by law.

There are two types of intent: Specific Intent and General Intent:

The term specific intent is commonly used in criminal and Tort Law to designate a special state of mind that is required, along with a physical act, to constitute certain crimes or torts. Specific intent is usually interpreted to mean intentionally or knowingly. Common-law Larceny, for example, requires both the physical act of taking and carrying away the property of another and the mental element of intent to steal the property. Similarly, common-law Burglary requires breaking and entering into the dwelling of another with intent to commit a felony therein. These crimes and others that require a specific-intent element are called specific-intent crimes and are distinguished from general-intent crimes.

General-intent crimes require only a showing that the defendant intended to do the act prohibited by law, not that the defendant intended the precise harm or the precise result that occurred.

We are mostly concerned here with General Intent: Because intent is a state of mind, it can rarely be proved with direct evidence and ordinarily must be inferred from the facts of the case. Evidence of intent is always admissible to prove a specific-intent crime, i.e. circumstantial evidence.

Courts generally allow a wide range of direct and Circumstantial Evidence to be introduced at trial in order to prove the difficult element of criminal or tortuous intent.

A defendant may testify at trial as to his intent. Whether the defendant intended to break the law does not matter, however; rather, the issue is whether he intended to do that which is unlawful.

An individual will be guilty or liable for a crime or tort if she had the intent to commit the crime or tort, even though the intended injury occurred in an unexpected way. For example, suppose that an assassin tries to shoot a person but misses and hits an automobile gasoline tank. If the tank explodes and kills the intended victim, the assassin is still guilty of murder even though the victim's death did not occur in the manner intended.

A defendant still possessed the element of intent even though his intended act could not possibly have succeeded as planned. Suppose, for example, that a burglar intended to break into a house and steal an original painting. Once he broke in, however, he discovered that the painting had been removed or that it was just a print and not an original painting at all. The burglar still had the necessary intent for burglary.

Because specific intent is an essential element in proving many torts and crimes, defendants often argue that they did not possess the specific intent required and therefore are not guilty or liable for the crime or tort committed.

2. Criminal Conspiracy

Conspiracy cases are defined as cases in which two or more persons agree to commit a crime or to perpetrate an illegal act. The end may be legal, but the planned means are illegal. For example, two persons making a plan to steal bread from a supermarket (illegal) to donate to a local food bank (legal) would be guilty of conspiracy. While intent is key in any federal conspiracy case, only “general intent” to violate the law is necessary; proof of the defendants’ specific intent to violate the law is not needed, only an agreement to engage in an illegal act.

It is important to note that an actual crime is not necessary to prosecute a conspiracy case – only the stated intent to break the law. This means that even if the ultimate crime was not committed, the conspirators can be prosecuted under federal law. However, most states have laws that prevent conspiracy charges to be pressed if no actions were taken to actually carry out the conspiracy. This prevents people from effectively being prosecuted for having thoughts of breaking the law. While this caveat does prevent some conspiracy cases from going to court, it does not reduce the severity of a conspiracy claim. In many cases, conspiracy to commit a crime such as murder is regarded as a crime as severe as murder itself.

Conspiracy crimes can include conspiracy to engage in criminal activity such as money laundering, conspiracy to violate federal laws, or conspiracy to give or receive bribe. The federal maximum penalty for conspiracy is five years in prison.

It is a crime or offense for anyone to conspire or agree with someone else to do something which, if actually carried out, would amount to another Federal crime or offense. So, under this law, a 'conspiracy' is an agreement or a kind of 'partnership' in criminal purposes in which each member becomes the agent or partner of every other member.

In order to establish a conspiracy offense it is not necessary for the Government to prove that all of the people named in the indictment were members of the scheme; or that those who were members had entered into any formal type of agreement; or that the members had planned together all of the details of the scheme or the 'overt acts' that the indictment charges would be carried out in an effort to commit the intended crime.

Also, because the essence of a conspiracy offense is the making of the agreement itself (followed by the commission of any overt act), it is not necessary for the Government to prove that the conspirators actually succeeded in accomplishing their unlawful plan.

What the evidence in the case must show beyond a reasonable doubt is:

First: That two or more persons, in some way or manner, came to a mutual understanding to try to accomplish a common and unlawful plan, as charged in the indictment;

Second: That the person wilfully became a member of such conspiracy;

Third: That one of the conspirators during the existence of the conspiracy knowingly committed at least one of the methods (or 'overt acts') described in the indictment; and

Fourth: That such 'overt act' was knowingly committed at or about the time alleged in an effort to carry out or accomplish some object of the conspiracy.

An 'overt act' is any transaction or event, even one which may be entirely innocent when considered alone, but which is knowingly committed by a conspirator in an effort to accomplish some object of the conspiracy.

A person may become a member of a conspiracy without knowing all of the details of the unlawful scheme, and without knowing who all of the other members are. So, if a person has an understanding of the unlawful nature of a plan and knowingly and willfully joins in that plan on one occasion, that is sufficient to convict him for conspiracy even though he did not participate before, and even though he played only a minor part.

Of course, the mere fact that certain persons may have associated with each other, and may have assembled together and discussed common aims and interests, does not necessarily establish proof of a conspiracy.

3. Attempt:

An undertaking to do an act that entails more than mere preparation but does not result in the successful completion of the act.

In Criminal Law, an attempt to commit a crime is an offense when an accused makes a substantial but unsuccessful effort to commit a crime. The elements of attempt vary, although generally, there must be intent to commit the crime, an Overt Act beyond mere preparation, and an apparent ability to complete the crime.

Generally, attempts are punishable by imprisonment, with sentence lengths that vary in time, depending upon the severity of the offense attempted.

West's Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Says:

attempt v. and n. to actually try to commit a crime and have the ability to do so. This means more than just thinking about doing a criminal act or planning it without overt action. It also requires the opportunity and ability. Attempts can include attempted murder, attempted robbery, attempted rape, attempted forgery, attempted arson, attempted bribery and a host of other crimes.

The attempt becomes a crime in itself, and usually means one really tried to commit the crime, but failed through no fault of himself or herself. Example: if a husband laces his wife's cocktail with cyanide, it is no defense that by chance the intended victim decided not to drink the deadly potion.

Conclusion

From the above, Jefferson was found NOT GUILTY of actually bribing Atiku Abubakar, or of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act with regards to his dealings with Atiku Abubakar. The Courts reasoning is that Atiku was not actually bribed nor was any US Statute law actually broken by Jefferson ’s intentions in hiding the money in his fridge.

Jefferson did not say what his intentions with regards to the money in the Fridge are, nor did he disclose what he discussed with Atiku Abubakar.

In the second tape released of a dinner meeting Jefferson had with Mody in which she seeks to draw him out about the details of the deal with Abubakar. She is seeking to get the congressman to say more about his arrangements with the Nigerian vice president, but Jefferson was characteristically guarded in his comments.

We are therefore left to guess Jefferson ’s intentions and the level of his agreement with Atiku. One thing is certain though, by his admissions, Atiku did indeed meet with Jefferson , and the telecommunications business was actually discussed.

Jefferson left a letter with Atiku, and Atiku agreed to help, even if Atiku says he forgot and subsequently, returned the letter.

Because intent is a state of mind, it can rarely be proved with direct evidence and ordinarily must be inferred from the facts of the case. Evidence of intent is always admissible to prove a specific-intent crime, i.e. circumstantial evidence.

Therefore, we can reach our conclusions as to Attempt, Intention and Conspiracy from the facts surrounding the case.

R emem ber that while intent is key in any conspiracy case, only a “general intent” to violate the law is enough to prove crime; proof of the defendants’ specific intent to violate the law is not needed; only an agreement to engage in an illegal act is necessary.

If the question is; was there an agreement between Jefferson and Atiku for money to exchange hands in return for his help towards Jefferson , then the answer would be; we don’t know.

But if the question is, was there AN INTENTION for Jefferson to bribe Atiku in return for Atiku's help, then we should look at the circumstances of the entire transaction.

According to prosecutors, Jefferson knew exactly what Mody was talking about in the video; that the $100,000 was to be the first instalment of a bribe to be paid to Atiku Abubakar, then vice president of Nigeria, for his help in gaining approval from the Nigerian telecommunications authority for the deal Mody was financing and of which Jefferson's family was getting an increasingly bigger cut.

A few days later, the FBI raided his house in Washington and knocked on the door of his Marengo Street home in New Orleans .

The money was never delivered, prosecutors said, only because Jefferson couldn't do so before the FBI found it.  In other words, the deal has been done, amount agreed, Jefferson collected the bribe for onward transmission to Atiku but Atiku could not get the bribe because the FBI pounced before the bribe money could be delivered. R emem ber: The attempt becomes a crime in itself, and usually means one really tried to commit the crime, but failed through no fault of himself or herself.

I would say that Abubakar is lucky because he is a Nigerian in Nigeria . Conspiracy to commit a felony is a crime. In the Nigerian Criminal Code as elsewhere, both the giver of bribe and the receiver is equally guilty.

Just as with intention, Same in ATTEMPT and CONSPIRACY: In Criminal Law, an attempt to commit a crime is an offense when an accused makes a substantial but unsuccessful effort to commit a crime. Jefferson has already manifested his intention by some Overt Act beyond mere preparation, Moreover, there was in him an apparent ability to complete the crime.

It is important to note that an actual crime is not necessary to prosecute a conspiracy case – only the stated intent to break the law.

Moreover, In order to establish a conspiracy offense it is not necessary to prove that all of the people named in the indictment had entered into any formal type of agreement; or that the members had planned together all of the details of the scheme or that they all took part in the 'overt acts'.

Meanwhile, Atiku has said that the U.S. jury that handled the Jefferson case deserves commendation for their thoughtful consideration of the facts and their verdict. A statement signed by the media consultant to the former vice president, Garba Shehu, said the former vice-president has been the victim of trumped up corruption charges by political adversaries in the past and in every case he has emerged with his reputation intact. 

He added: The jury reached its verdict on Jefferson after concluding that his accusations against Atiku were without foundation and was made to obtain money from investors in his businesses under a false pretext.

Atiku is wrong: The Federal Government of Nigeria should put the processes in place to try Atiku for “corruptly agreeing or attempting to receive or obtain any property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person, on account of a - holding, or seeking to obtain, a contract, licence or permit from a Government department, public body or other organisation or institution in which that public official is serving as such” Contrary to Section 98, Nigerian Criminal Code 1948
 

Daniel Elombah
Publisher:
www.elombah. com

(A Nigerian Perspective on world affairs)

 

Tell the Truth and be damned!

 






#63149 From: elombah daniel <elsdaniel@...>
Date: Thu Nov 19, 2009 1:20 am
Subject: Re: An Illiterate Report - NIGERIA NOW 130TH MOST CORRUPT NATION
elsdaniel
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This is an illiterate report! Nigeria slipped from 121 last year  to 130 this year.The farther you go the stinkier you are...
Yinka.
 
YES, Almost all the Nigerian Newspapers carried this "illiterate report".
 

This might be a minor point but the correct position is Nigeria scored 2.5, is ranked 130thand is in 137th position out of 180 countries in the annual “corruption index” released Tuesday, November 17, from Transparency International. It means Nigeria is now the 44th most corrupt Nation on earth.

 

If you count or look carefully at the Table ( http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2009/cpi_2009_table) you will notice that 9 Countries are actually ranked 130th in the Table and Nigeria is on the 137th Position.

 

Another point of interest:

 

In a previous Nigeria survey, Participants disagreed with the findings that the police are the most corrupt public service; they rather pointed to the Presidency, followed by the National Assembly, as the most corrupt institutions.
 

Daniel Elombah
Publisher:
www.elombah.com
(A Nigerian Perspective on world affairs)
 

"May God do to you what you are doing to Nigeria"- Please say Amen!




----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Elsdaniel <elsdaniel@...>
To: elsdaniel@...
Sent: Thu, November 19, 2009 1:07:44 AM
Subject: Fwd: Re: [NaijaPolitics] NIGERIA NOW 130TH MOST CORRUPT NATION

--- In NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com, "yinka odumakin" <yinkaodumakin@...> wrote:

This is an illiterate report!Nigeria slipped from 121 last year  to 130 this year.The farther you go the stinkier you are.
Yinka.
"God forbid that a nation be led by a pack of greedy dogs who never say enough"-Tunde Bakare

-----Original Message-----
From: Steveogbonmwan@...
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:47:29
To: <Edo_Global@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: <NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com>; <NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [NaijaPolitics] NIGERIA NOW 130TH MOST CORRUPT NATION


THE SUN
Nigeria now 130th most corrupt nation
From Gbola Subair, Yekini Jimoh and Tunde Oyesina - 18.11.2009
FOR the first time in several years, Nigeria is not listed among the most corrupt nations in the world, having come 130th out of 180 countries in the current assessment of Transparency International’s (TI’s) 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which is a measure of domestic, public sector corruption.

The new report was released on Tuesday by TI, which is the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption.

According to Economic Confidential, Nigeria, which scored 2.5 out of the maximum mark of 10 for the cleanest (non-corrupt) nations, has beaten other countries for the worst position. In the list, cleanest countries scored between 8.7 and 9.4 over 10 while the most corrupt ones, a dozen of them, scored marks between 1.1 and 1.8 over 10.

The most corrupt nation that scored the lowest mark of 1.1 is Somalia, followed closely by Afghanistan (1.3), Myanmar (1.4), Sudan (1.5), Iraq (1.5), Chad (1.6), Uzbekistan (1.7), Turkmenistan (1.8), Iran (1.8), Haiti (1.8), Guinea (1.8) and Equatorial Guinea (1.8) in that order. The 12 most corrupt nations are fragile, unstable states that are ravaged by war and ongoing conflict. Countries which are perceived as the most corrupt are also those plagued by long-standing conflicts, which have torn apart their governance infrastructure.

The 10 cleanest and less corrupt countries with highest marks in the Corruption Index are New Zealand that scored 9.4, followed by Denmark, 9.3; Singapore, 9.2; Sweden, 9.2; Switzerland, 9.0; Finland, 8.9; Netherlands, 8.9; Australia, 8.7; Canada, 8.7 and Iceland scoring 8.7 over 10 maximum points. These scores reflect political stability, long-established conflict of interest regulations and solid, functioning public institutions.

In a release by the TI, it disclosed that the vast majority of the 180 countries included in the 2009 index scored below five on a scale from 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 10 (perceived to have low levels of corruption). The CPI measures the perceived levels of public sector corruption in a given country and is a composite index, drawing on 13 different expert and business surveys. The 2009 edition scores 180 countries, the same number as the 2008 CPI.

The head of TI Huguette Labelle, emphasised the importance of the index, saying that: “At a time when massive stimulus packages, fast-track disbursements of public funds and attempts to secure peace are being implemented around the world, it is essential to identify where corruption blocks good governance and accountability, in order to break its corrosive cycle.”

Labelle warned that, “stemming corruption requires strong oversight by parliaments, a well performing judiciary, independent and properly resourced audit and anti-corruption agencies, vigorous law enforcement, transparency in public budgets, revenue and aid flows, as well as space for independent media and a vibrant civil society. The international community must find efficient ways to help war-torn countries to develop and sustain their own institutions.”

The report also stated that as the world economy begins to register a tentative recovery and some nations continue to wrestle with ongoing conflict and insecurity, it is clear that no region of the world is immune to the perils of corruption.

“Overall results in the 2009 index are of great concern because corruption continues to lurk where opacity rules, where institutions still need strengthening and where governments have not implemented anti-corruption legal frameworks,” the report stated.

“Even industrialised countries cannot be complacent; the supply of bribery and the facilitation of corruption often involve businesses based in their countries. Financial secrecy jurisdictions, linked to many countries that top the CPI, severely undermine efforts to tackle corruption and recover stolen assets.

“Corrupt money must not find safe haven. It is time to put an end to excuses,” said Labelle.

--- End forwarded message ---




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