Centenary: Outrage as Abacha’s children attack Soyinka

Two children of the late maximum ruler, General Sani Abacha, on Wednesday singled out Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, for what can be described as a venomous attack.

While Gumsu, one of the late dictator’s daughters,  took to her Twitter page to pass disparaging remarks on Soyinka, his brother Sadiq chose blogs and online forums to snarl abuses at him.

According to them, their grouse against Soyinka borders on a statement he made that he rejected the centenary award by the Federal Government because of the inclusion of their late father’s name on the list of awardees.

US seizes $458m Abacha loot

The Justice Department is moving to seize more than half a billion dollars of allegedly corrupt proceeds from former Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha and his associates, in what officials called the largest such action in U.S. history.

In a court filing unsealed Wednesday in federal court in Washington, D.C., government lawyers said the U.S. has already frozen more than $458 million in bank accounts around the world, and seeks to recover at least $100 million more.

The seizure is part of a kleptocracy initiative, aimed at recovering money that was looted by dictators from their own countries.

"General Abacha was one of the most notorious kleptocrats in memory, who embezzled billions from the people of Nigeria while millions lived in poverty," said Mythili Raman, head of the Justice Department's criminal division.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN SWEARS IN NEW MINISTERS

NEW MINISTERS TAKING OATH OF OFFICE AT THE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

MEETING IN ABUJA ON WEDNESDAY (5/3/14)

NEW MINISTERS TAKING OATH OF OFFICE AT THE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

MEETING IN ABUJA ON WEDNESDAY (5/3/14)

Medical Director Investigated: Federal Medical Center Owo In ‘Financial Mess’

A lawyer to the FMC director arrested for attempting to bribe EFCC operatives

The Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre in Owo, is under investigation. Dr. Abiodun Olufemi Omotosho, who holds that post, is currently the target of an investigation by officials at  the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) over allegations of corruption, and embezzlement in the hospital.

The Chief Medical Director, and other top officials at the hospital, are said to be on a so-called ‘black list’ of the EFCC for siphoning funds meant for the training of staff. What has also drawn attention, sources tell SaharaReporters, is the cutting down of some salaries of the hospital’s administrative staff.

Nigeria's rich elite buying private jets to avoid flying on commercial airlines

Nigeria's rich elite are increasingly buying private jets to avoid flying on commercial airlines, reports the BBC's Tomi Oladipo from Lagos. The full report below...
"There's an average of nine aircrafts fixed here in the hangar," says Peter de Waal of ExecuJet Aviation Nigeria, looking across at a line of sleek jets, as a team of engineers works on them.
ExecuJet provides a hangar and is authorised by major aviation companies to provide maintenance services for business aircrafts, attesting to the rapid growth of the private aircraft industry in Nigeria.

"Maintenance was done in Europe and the United States, but our services here can help save time and an enormous cost," Mr De Waal told the BBC.

To Sadiq Abacha - on behalf of Wole Soyinka by Ayo Sogunro

Sadiq Sani Abacha gets the first reply to his open letter to Prof. Wole Soyinka from writer/activist, Ayo Sogunro. Read below and tell us what you think...
I do not know you personally, but I admire your filial bravery - however misguided - in defending the honour of your father, the late General Sani Abacha. This in itself is not a problem; it is an obligation—in this cultural construct of ours - for children to rise to the defence of their parents, no matter what infamy or perfidy the said parent might have dabbled in.

Jonathan sacks Sports Minister, Abdullahi

Bolaji Abdulahi

President Goodluck Jonathan has sacked the Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.
He has therefore directed one of the the 11 newly sworn in ministers, Dr. Tamuno Danagogo, to take over from Abdullahi.
Jonathan assigned portfolios to the new ministers shortly after they took their oaths of offices at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The President said new ministers would also be named next week.
The new ministers with their portfolios are as follows:

You Turned Out Like Everybody Else – Sadiq Abacha Writes Open Letter To Prof. Wole Soyinka

If you want to think, speak and act logically then you should know all three.
1. The law of identity
2. The law of excluded middle
3. The law of non contradiction.
Now let's look at each one of these and see what they mean in practice.
1. The law of identity

Photos: Anambra Leaders visit President Jonathan

The people of Anambra on courtesy visit to President Jonathan at State House, Abuja on Tuesday 4th March, 2014

Front row from left  From left National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria PDP Chief Olise Metu  the Obi of Onisha Chief Alfred Achebe Anambra State Governor Elect, Mr Willy Obiano Vice President Arc. Namadi Sambo President Goodluck Jonathan and Anambra State Governor Peter Obi during the Visit of Anambra People to the State House Abuja 4th March, 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan 8^th from right and the People of Anambra State who paid him a visit at the State House Abuja 4th March, 2014

PHOTOS: NIGERIA CENTENARY AWARD NIGHT

President Goodluck Jonathan and Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

FORMER HEADS OF STATE GEN. ABDULSALAMI ABUBARKA; GEN

MOHAMMADU BUHARI; GEN YAKUBU GOWON; PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN; FORMER PRESIDENT

OLUSEGUN OBASANJO; FORMER PRESIDENT SHEHU SHAGARI; GEN. IBRAHIM BABANGIDA; AND

FORMER HEAD OF INTERIM NATIONAL GOVERNMENT CHIEF ERNEST SHONEKAN AT THE NIGERIA

CENTENARY HONOURS AWARD IN ABUJA ON FRIDAY (28/2/14)