Pope Francis: Corruption is easiest ‘sin at fingertips’ of anyone with power

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Read Time:2 Minute, 41 Second

For everyone who has any kind of authority over others, the one sin "at your fingertips" is the sin of corruption, Pope Francis said.
And "the martyrs of corruption" — those who end up paying the price for the politicians, financiers and church officials who abuse their power — are the poor and the marginalized, he said during his early morning Mass Monday in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, where he lives.
The pope's homily was based on the day's reading from the First Book of Kings (21:1-16) in which King Ahab of Samaria felt entitled to a neighboring vineyard owned by Naboth, who refused to sell his property to the king. The king nonchalantly took possession of the land after his wife had Naboth killed in order to give the king what he wanted.
"This story repeats itself continuously" throughout history, the pope said, by people who possess "material power, political power or spiritual power."
The daily news is filled with accounts of politicians or business owners who are on trial after "magically getting rich," he said, according to a report by Vatican Radio.

"There's too much talk about a priest who got too rich and neglected his pastoral duties in order to take care of his power," he added.
"Corrupt politicians, corrupt businessmen, and corrupt church leaders — they're everywhere," he said.

"And we have to tell the truth: Corruption is precisely the sin that is at your fingertips. We are all tempted by corruption. It is a sin that is close at hand" and easy to succumb to, he said, "because when one has authority, one feels powerful, one feels almost like God."
The corrupt live a life enveloped in a sense of security, with a sense of "well-being, money, and then power, vanity and pride," he said.
But "who pays the price" of such a life of corruption? the pope asked. "The poor pay it."

"Those who pay are the hospitals without medicines, the sick who get no care, children without an education. They are the modern day Naboth, who pay for the corruption of the big guys.
"And who pays for the corruption of a priest? Children pay, those who don't know how to make the sign of the cross, who don't know the catechism, who aren't taken care of. The sick who are never visited pay, the prisoners who get no spiritual attention pay," he said.
"The poor pay. Corruption is paid for by the poor, the materially poor, the spiritually poor."

Pope Francis said service is the only antidote to a life of corruption or the temptation of corruption.
Humbly serving others is the only way out, he said, because "corruption comes from pride, from arrogance, and service makes you humble."
The pope offered the morning's Mass for all victims of corruption and those who pay the price with their lives, "these martyrs of political corruption, economic corruption and ecclesiastical corruption."

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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ANAMBRA TODAY: Obiano offers land for World Bank-assisted 500 housing units project

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Read Time:3 Minute, 2 Second

Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, has pledged to provide land for the im­mediate take-off of the proposed 500 units of housing project being pro­moted by the Federal Gov­ernment in select states of the federation.

Anambra State is among the states that have been selected as pilot states to benefit from a special World Bank-funded urban housing scheme, which is being han­dled in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Devel­opment, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Ministry of Fi­nance and the Nigeria Mort­gage Refinance Company.

The scheme involves the construction of 10,000 hous­ing units across the country to be funded by the World Bank through the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Com­pany to the tune of $300 million with a retention rate of 40 years. Each of the pilot states will have a maximum of 500 units of housing and each house will carry a 20-year mortgage facility.

During a visit to the Min­ister of Land, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Etim Eyakenyi, yes­terday, Governor Obiano pledged to offer serviced land with title in a matter of weeks to facilitate the im­mediate take-off of the proj­ect in Anambra State.

The governor, who field­ed questions from newsmen immediately after the visit, said housing was a vital enabler to the major policy thrusts of his administration and that he was determined to pursue a vigorous housing policy that would change the landscape of the three lead­ing cities in the state, Onit­sha, Awka and Nnewi.

According to him, his administration had set up an ambitious plan that would transform Awka, the state capital, into one of the perfectly planned and organised cities in the federation with a special attention to aesthetics and functionality.

“I have inaugurated a special Awka Capital Ter­ritory Development Board with a clear mandate to give Ndi Anambra an ultra-modern city with all the functional and aesthetic balance that any city in the 21st century should have. We are determined to achieve that,” he explained.

Speaking on the feasi­bility of the take-off of the housing scheme in Anam­bra State, a renowned ar­chitect and foremost hous­ing consultant, Ezekiel Nya Etok, revealed that going by the governor’s enthusi­asm, the contractors who were expected to handle the project would be mo­bilising to the site in July.

“The contractors may move to site in July. The governor has demonstrated a great deal of interest,” he explained and further pointed out that Anambra would likely be the first state in the federation to benefit from the scheme.

Following the count­down to the commemora­tion of his first 100-days in office, Governor Obiano had been upbeat in his quest to seal every agree­ment and pact that would stand the state in good stead to experience a momentous growth in infrastructural and socio-economic terms.

On Tuesday, the gover­nor had paid a courtesy call on the Federal Minster of the Environment, Laurentia Mallam, in Abuja, to iron out environmental issues that constituted a source of concern in Anambra State.

To give fillip to the Fed­eral Government’s initia­tive on the war against soil erosion, Governor Obiano had also pledged to provide the N500 million coun­terpart funding to ensure that Anambra State was given priority attention.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Police Officer Slumps in Anambra over Transfer to Borno

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Read Time:2 Minute, 39 Second

 

An Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) attached to the Central Police Station, Nnewi in the Anambra State Police Command, yesterday reportedly slumped following a directive from the Office of the Inspector General of Police (IG) posting him to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.

The officer, who is of South-east extraction, and reports said had less than a year left to retire from the service was among the 149 officers affected by the postings to different parts of the country.

Borno State is the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency, which has led to the death of over 12,000 Nigerians. Just 66 days ago, the terror sect abducted over 200 schoolgirls from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State.

The officer, however, was said to have been revived by doctors and other medical personnel at a private hospital in Nnewi where he was rushed to after he slumped.

The transfer of almost 150 senior police officers serving in the state has cast a dark cloud on the entire command.

It was gathered that the letter of transfer signed by Dan Azumi Job, an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, indicated that officers within the ranks of ASP and Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) were affected in the mass transfer.

According to the signal from the AIG, obtained by THISDAY, the affected officers were supposed to have reported to their new command on June 9, 2014.

The Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano had about a fortnight ago requested the IGP to transfer out some of the officers within the police command following the allegation that some of them were colluding with criminal elements in the state, therefore making his battle against criminals difficult.

THISDAY, however, learnt that some of the affected officers are alleging ethnic bias in the transfers, as most of those affected were said to be of southern extraction, especially the Igbos who are protesting their transfer to the Boko Haram prone states.

Some of the officers, who spoke to THISDAY on the condition of anonymity, alleged that while only two officers were transferred to Abia State, 12 officers were transferred to Bauchi; six to Borno; seven to Adamawa; six to Jigawa; seven to Gombe; one to Imo, two to Akwa Ibom two; two to Cross-River; two to Enugu two; two to Edo; three to Delta; and five to Ekiti, among others.

Meanwhile, the Anambra State Command yesterday demolished two buildings alleged to have belonged to kidnap suspects in Ogidi and Ojoto towns in Idemili North and Idemili South Local Government Areas, respectively.

The State Police Commissioner, Mr. Usuman Gwary, who led the demolition squad, also paraded 17 suspects alleged to have been involved in kidnapping and armed robberies, the hijacking of goods from traders in Onitsha as well as using fake vehicle plate numbers and drivers’ licences.

He said they had been involved in criminal activities for a long time and their modus operandi included blindfolding their victims, while making away with their goods, adding that 600 bags of chemicals with which they made plastic plate numbers were found in their warehouse in Asaba, Delta State.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Okonjo-Iweala: FG to Restore Livelihood to Adamawa, Borno and Yobe

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Read Time:2 Minute, 6 Second

 The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, yesterday said the federal government had put plans in place to restore the destroyed means of livelihood of the people of the troubled states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe worse hit by Boko Haram insurgency in the last five years

Okonjo-Iweala, who was in Maiduguri with a team of experts sent by the former British Prime Minister and United Nations Special Envoy on Special Education, Mr. Gordon Brown, said the Save School Initiative programme would upgrade school facilities and restore the means of livelihood of the people.

The finance minister, who undertook a tour round some schools within Maiduguri metropolis destroyed by the insurgents, said the federal government was targeting $100 million to spend on the initiative.

She told journalists that: "I was asked by the president to deliver the Save School Initiative plan to the people and to see the situation as it affects the people. I am happy I saw the situation and glad I visited schools, even seeing some students writing exams. I feel happy I was able to interact with the students.

"The federal government will collaborate with the states affected by the insurgency to upgrade infrastructure. Most schools in Borno are closed now because of this insecurity and that is not good for us."

Okonjo-Iweala while commending Borno State Government for its efforts in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of classrooms despite incessant destruction by Boko Haram insurgents, explained that the initiative would be a holistic programme to include community participation and schools.

The minister on arriving in Maiduguri with the Director General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Sani Sidi, distributed relief materials to over 4,000 people displaced through Boko Haram attacks at an Internaly Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp at Yerwa Practice Primary School in the metropolis where she urged the people not to be dismayed.
The representatives of Gordon Brown, Mr. Robert Quick and Dala Masson, said the former UK Prime Minister was determined to make contributions towards ensuring the people in the area return to normal life.

Governor Kashim Shettima thanked the minister and the Brown team for the visit, saying the visit had further proved the unity and togetherness in Nigeria to address the common enemies of people including poverty, unemployment and insecurity.

He said he was impressed by the minister's disposition for accepting the invitation to join the Brown team having invited her on Tuesday.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: Chime Begins Annual Vacation, Jets off to US

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Read Time:36 Second

 Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State yesterday commenced his annual vacation.

The vacation, according to a statement from Commissioner for Information, Chuks Ugwoke, commenced from June 18.
The statement, which was issued after the weekly state executive council meeting chaired by the governor however did not state how long the vacation will last.

Ugwoke noted that the governor had announced the commencement of his vacation to the people of the state and members of the council during the councils meeting.

The commissioner stated that the vacation would take the governor and members of his family to Miami in the United States of America.
The statement did not indicate who takes charge in the governor's absence.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Badeh: Military Not Contemplating Coup

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Read Time:2 Minute, 32 Second

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, has dismissed as untenable, the rumours in some quarters of a possible coup d’etat in the country.

He therefore affirmed the commitment of the Nigerian military to the defence of the nation’s democracy, saying the military is an integral arm of democracy.

Badeh further said the military, as a professional group, had no other option than to love Nigeria and do the things that would ensure security and protection of lives in the nation.

The CDS, who stated this when he received in audience, the Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mike Omeri, in his office for the formal presentation of the Nigerian Centenary Flag to the Nigerian military, expressed surprise at the rumours of a coup d’etat, adding  that democracy has come to stay in the country and stressed that the military had no intention of truncating it.

Badeh further said: “Why should anyone be thinking in negative fashion? Tell them we will not do it. Those rumouring coups must be living elsewhere and not in Nigeria. The armed forces are defenders of democracy. We are an arm of democracy, so how can an arm of democracy work against the democracy that we are part of?”

The defence chief, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN),  commended the NOA for “living up to expectation” in its activities as typified by the centenary flag produced by the agency, which he described as unique and of high standard, as well as the coordination of the National Information Centre (NIC).

He expressed support for the agency’s programmes and policies, including the renaming of the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) Brigade of the agency to Community Support Brigade (CSB) and the Word Waste Bin initiative and urged the NOA boss to up the ante in mobilising Nigerians.

Earlier, Omeri had disclosed the agency’s plan to launch a security awareness campaign tagged 'Do the Right Thing: Know Your Neighbour,' soon adding that the campaign was, among other things, to complement efforts of the armed forces and also ensure return to that age old and celebrated value of being our brother’s keepers.

Presenting the nation’s centenary flag to the defence chief, Omeri said the flag was symbolic of the nation’s history and heritage which it seeks to pass on to future generations of Nigerians.

He expressed the gratitude of the NOA for the support and commitment of the Defence Headquarters towards the NIC, noting that such was a clear statement of the armed forces’ dedication to the speedy resolution of the security issues confronting the nation at the moment.

Omeri called for a day to be set aside by Nigerians to celebrate the Nigerian armed forces for their courage, professionalism and patriotism, saying Nigerians owed the military a debt of gratitude for its selfless sacrifice for the nation.      

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: Gaidam Describes Attack on Viewing Centre as Heinous, Barbaric

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Read Time:1 Minute, 33 Second

 The Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, has described the Tuesday attack on a television viewing centre in Damaturu, the state capital, where 14 persons were killed and several others injured, as heinous, barbaric and totally unjustifiable.

The governor in a statement by his Special Adviser on Press Affairs and Information, Mallam Abdullahi Bego, tasked security agents currently engaged in the fight against insurgency to continue to do more to ensure the protection of life and property.

The statement read in part: "The governor is deeply saddened by the loss of innocent lives at a time that the good people of the state have stepped up prayers, support and cooperation with security agencies against criminal activities.

"The governor’s thoughts are with the families of those who have lost their lives in the attack and those who sustained injuries."

The statement further read that the governor, who was currently away in Abuja on official engagement, had asked his deputy, Mr. Abubakar Ali, to extend his condolences to the families of the victims and instructed him to visit the hospital for the injured.

Gaidam, while describing the attack as "heinous, barbaric and totally unjustifiable," directed the state Ministry of Health and the Hospitals Management Board to provide free medical services and care for those who sustained injuries in the attack.

He also called on the people of the state not to relent in their support for the ongoing efforts to restore peace and security, adding that "with their prayers, vigilance and continous support for security agents, the people of the state will surely triumph against the forces of evil that are unleashing mayhem on the innocent."

It was gathered from hospital sources that 13 persons were killed and 20 others injured in the attack on the viewing centre in Damaturu.
 

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: Defend Yourselves, Group Urges Southern Taraba People

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Read Time:3 Minute, 21 Second

 A socio-cultural group, the Jukun Development Association (JDA), has called on the people of southern Taraba in Taraba State to defend themselves by any means possible against external aggression aimed at exterminating them in the country.

JDA also demanded the immediate evacuation of all Fulani herdsmen from southern Taraba, claiming that the presence of “these violent herdsmen, driven from Plateau, Nasarawa and Benue States, was responsible for the rising cases of violence in their homeland and that the herdsmen must leave for peace to reign in the area.”

The group threatened that if the herdsmen refused to leave their homeland, they would take up arms against them.
In a statement signed by JDA National President, Mr. Benjamin  Danborno, the group said the call to take up arms became necessary due to federal government alleged failure “to check the violence and protect the Jukun people from the clutches of the blood-thirsty Fulani herdsmen, who have been killing, maiming and burning our houses.”

It said the latest attack, carried out last Sunday on innocent Christians by armed Fulani herdsmen in three Jukun villages, led to the death of 115 people.
According to the group, unarmed worshippers came under a volley of gun fire and by the time the smoke ebbed, at least 115 people have died.

The group equally expressed its disappointment on all elected and appointed Jukun people both in Abuja and Jalingo, for “their conspiracy of silence while their people are being killed in their hundreds.”

Danborno said the spontaneous eruption of violence at Wukari, Ibi and Rafinkada, all in southern Taraba, during worship service last Sunday have further confirmed the group’s fear of a grand plan to exterminate the Jukun people.

He therefore called on all Jukun indigenes around the world to rise up in defence of their people in their time of travail.

“At the last count, 51 villages belonging to the Jukun and Tiv people have been completely destroyed and burnt down while farm produce worth several millions of naira destroyed.

“Everywhere you go around southern Taraba villages, Fulani herdsmen have taken over our people’s farmland commandeering Jukun and Tiv’s homes and their live stocks,” the JDA president said.

He noted that the Jukuns were aggrieved and disappointed that both the federal and the state governments have not been able to resolve the matter leading to the avoidable bloodshed. Danborno said it is perplexing that in a country where firearms licences are not freely issued to individuals, “these herdsmen openly carry
firearms with which they harm and kill innocent people, giving the impression that some people are above the law.”

He said documented evidence showed that the violence which began on November 18, 2012; and another on February 23, 2013, April 5, 2013 and April 15, 2014 before the present one on June 15, 2014, are indications that all the peace agreements between the Jukun people and the Fulani herdsmen and the Muslim community of southern Taraba have been thrown to the dustbin as powerful forces are hell bent on throwing the area into political turmoil.

He therefore warned all politicians to steer clear of fueling crisis in southern Taraba especially now that it is the turn of the zone to produce the next governor of the state come 2015.

“We see in all these a grand design by some disgruntled politicians to deliberately heat up the polity of the area and render the zone incapable of being able to produce a formidable candidate for the forthcoming governorship election. Let us assure them that such gimmicks will fail like others before it. “Let us also sound a note of caution that we are all peace loving in southern Taraba and we want justice. Let politicians who are looking towards fomenting trouble for us look elsewhere as we are better engaged in thinking of solutions to the problems besetting our state,” Danborno further stated.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Customs Arrests Man with Vehicle Loaded with Military Uniforms, Boots

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Read Time:2 Minute, 56 Second

 The increased security checks at the nation’s seaports in the wake of the insurgency in the North-eastern part of the country has yielded fruits as a young man, Emmanuel Eko, has been arrested for importing  of army camouflage boots, belts and other military accessories.

The 38-year-old man who has Nigerian and British international passports was apprehended yesterday officials of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Ports and Terminal Multi-Services Limited (PTML) Command, Apapa, Lagos.

The suspect, who claimed to be a soldier with the British army was arrested becaused the items are listed.

Army camouflage, military uniforms, boots, belts and other military accessories are items listed in the Import Prohibition List (IPL) maintained by the NCS.

Eko who looked undisturbed as he answered questions from reporters, said the items were reportedly approved for clearance by the NCS and he was on his way out of the terminal when he was stopped at the exit gate of the port.

While parading the suspect before reporters, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), NCS, PTML Command, Comptroller Adegoke Folorunsho, said the suspect was arrested yesterday during an inward screening of a white bus imported from Hamburg, Germany.

Folrunsho who is barely two weeks in office, said the men and officers of NCS on duty who were shocked beyond words when they sighted the large quantity of the military camouflage and boots carefully concealed in a fairly used LT Volkswagen bus.

His words: "Immediately, the clearing agent who presented the bus for clearance was interrogated after which he was asked to invite the importer. We all know the state of insecurity in the country. If these items had slipped into the hands of terrorist groups, only God knows how many lives would have been lost.”

The CAC revealed that all efforts at ensuring that the suspect volunteered useful information to assist investigations into the matter proved abortive as he was said to have refused to provide any assistance to this effect.

Folorunsho also revealed that the suspect was unable to produce documents given to him by either the Ministry of Defence or the Nigerian Army for the importation of military equipment during interrogation.

His words: “We are all aware of reports alleging that members of terrorist groups who have been wreaking havoc in the North-eastern part of the country do so wearing military uniforms. If a non-military personnel is seen in these attires, unsuspecting members of the public might not be able to differentiate them from genuine soldiers. So it is criminal of those behind the importation of these items".

The customs chief noted that because the suspect cannot be detained indefinitely, the Controller General of Customs, Alhaji Inde Dikko Abdullahi, directed that the suspect along with the items be handed over to the Department of State Security (DSS) for further investigations and subsequent prosecution.

In his defence, Eko alleged that the items were detected by NCS on Tuesday and he was invited for questioning.

He explained that he went to the port on Wednesday with a view of resolving the matter, pointing out that in fact, the issue had been settled and the vehicle was on its way out when it was returned at the gate.

Eko also claimed that the Nigerian Army authority was contacted before it was allowed to go. He also alleged that two military officers who were assigned to get the uniforms were also at the Lagos port to take delivery of the items.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: Liechtenstein to Return Abacha’s Loot

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Read Time:2 Minute, 33 Second

 Liechtenstein yesterday revealed that it would return 167 million euros ($227 million) to Nigeria, ending a long-drawn battle by Nigerian government to recover the money looted by the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha.

The revelation is coming on the heels of the withdrawal of the charges filed against Abacha’s son, Mohammed, by the federal government.

Abacha, who died in 1998, was suspected to have looted Nigeria to the tune of about $2.2 billion during his dictatorial ruled from November 1993 to June 1998.
Nigeria first requested help from Liechtenstein in 2000 to recover the cash stashed there.

The tiny principality of 37,000 people returned 7.5 million euros to Nigeria in late 2013, but the restitution of the bulk of the cash had long been blocked by lawsuits brought by companies linked to Abacha's family.

Several of the companies were sentenced in 2008 to repay money proven to have been stolen from Nigeria's national budget, but four of the firms filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
Following negotiations between the governments of Liechtenstein and Nigeria, the four ended up withdrawing their complaints in May, "clearing the path for repatriation of the assets once and for all," Vaduz said in a statement yesterday. The World Bank had agreed "to monitor the use of the repatriated assets," the statement added.

Meanwhile, the federal government’s decision to withdraw the charges it filed against Mohammed was announced at yesterday's proceedings before Justice Mamman Kolo of an Abuja High Court.

The federal government had through a private lawyer, Daniel Enwelum, filed a nine-count charge against Mohammed, accusing him of “dishonestly receiving stolen property” and “voluntarily assisted in concealing money," belonging to the state which was estimated at N446.3billion.

Efforts by the government to arraign Mohammed on the charge was unsuccessful as he failed to attend court on two occasions when the case was earlier mentioned.
Yesterday, Mohammed was in court. He mounted the dock when the case was called, shortly after which Enwelum informed the court about the directive he got from the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to the effect that he should discontinue the case.

"I have been instructed by the AGF and Minister of Justice to withdraw the charges as presently filed before this court, because there are fresh facts and documents available to him.

"In this circumstance, he instructed me to file a notice of withdrawal without prejudice to future cause of action to be taken by his (AGF's) office.
"In the light of that, I have filed a notice of withdrawal dated June 17. I humbly apply to withdraw the charges accordingly," Enwelum said.

Defence lawyer, Abdullahi Haruna, did not object to the decision by the state to withdraw the charge.

Ruling, Justice Kolo granted the application to withdraw the charges.
He consequently struck out the charges and discharge the accused person.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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