My father slept with my wife-Gbenga Obasanjo

Gbenga Obasanjo
In what appears to be a messy divorce between Gbenga Obasanjo, son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and his estranged wife, Mojisola Olayemisi Amope, the first son of the former president has dropped a bombshell on his father’s alleged sexual intimacy with his wife, Moji. Gbenga not only accused his own father and Nigeria’s former president of having sex with his wife before awarding contracts to her, but also alleged that his wife’s father, Otunba Alex Onabanjo and other men slept with her.

This shocking revelation is contained in an affidavit he submitted to the court in response to a messy divorce case already in court.

Gbenga’s celebrated marriage to Moji, which took place at the Archbishop Vinning Memorial Church, Ikeja, in April, 2000, headed for the rocks barely four years after the lovebirds exchanged marital vows.

Moji had allegedly deserted her matrimonial home on 2 December, 2004 and never returned until this messy divorce battle that is bound to ruffle many feathers.

According to the affidavit signed on behalf of Gbenga Obasanjo by his counsel, Emankhu Addeh of Addeh & Associates, “The petitioner (Gbenga) avers that the respondent (Moji) confided in him severally while they were living together (sic) that she had been sexually abused and defiled by her father, Otunba Alex Onabanjo on several occasions.

“The petitioner avers that it was his bid to forcefully put an end to this ignoble acts on the part of his father-in-law, Otunba Alex Onabanjo, that led to the total breakdown of relations between himself and Otunba Onabanjo.

“The petitioner further avers that he knows for a fact that the respondent committed adultery with and had an intimate, sexual relationship with his own father, General Olusegun Obasanjo, in order to get contracts from the government.

“The petitioner avers that the Respondent also got rewarded for her adulterous acts with several oil contracts with the NNPC from his father, General Olusegun Obasanjo, amongst which was the NNPC Consultancy training in supply chain management and project management awarded to her company Bowen and Brown.

“The petitioner avers that lurid sexual relationship of the Respondent with her own father, Otunba Alex Onabanjo and his father General Olusegun Obasanjo, has brought him great pain and psychological trauma and is the primary reason for the breakdown of his marriage to the Respondent.

“The petitioner avers that the respondent while married to him was also committing adultery with one Mr. Olumide Ogunlesi.

“The petitioner avers that the Respondent shamelessly carried on her sexual escapades without any thought as to the psychological effect of same on him.”

Gbenga further stated in the affidavit that the paternity of the two children that are the product of his marriage to Moji was in doubt, considering the alleged multiple sexual relationships she had with several men.

Consequently, Gbenga is opting for a DNA test to be conducted to ascertain who really is the father of the children.

“The petitioner avers that it is now necessary for a court ordered DNA test to be carried out on both himself, Otunba Alex Onabanjo and General Olusegun Obasanjo by a competent independent medical laboratory chosen by the court, in order to ascertain the actual paternity of the children of the marriage as the continued uncertainty about their actual paternity is making his life a misery.

“The petitioner avers that the actual father of the children of the marriage will be found amongst himself, Otunba Alex Onabanjo and General Olusegun Obasanjo and same must be addressed immediately.

“The petitioner avers that it is pertinent that this is done before further deliberations in this matter as the issue of the children’s paternity is integral to the determination of the suit and must thus be resolved and laid to rest urgently.”

Full Text Of Gbenga Obasanjo’s Affidavit Accusing His Father And His Father-In-Law Of Having Sex With His Wife
1. Same as hereinafter admitted, the Petitioner denies each and every allegation of fact contained seriatim and specifically traversed.

2. The Petitioner admits paragraph 2 of the consequential amendment of answer and paragraphs 2, 14, 15(a), 16(di), 16(diii), 17(a) and 21(a) of the cross petition.

3. The Petitioner denies paragraph 4, 5,6,7,8,9,10 of the consequential amendment of answer and paragraphs 13, 15 (b), 16 (a), (b), (c), (d), d (ii), d(iv), e, f, g, 17(b), (c), 18, 19, 20, 21(b), 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 of the Cross Petition.

4. In response to paragraph 4 of the consequential amendment of answer, the Petitioner denies that he has since January 2006, stopped being responsible for the payment of school fees, books and other relevant materials and other needs of the two children as well as general expenses for their welfare and upkeep and avers that the respondent normally collects from him on behalf of the children, monies to meet all the children needs but has refused to collect same this year despite several reminders and entreaties from the petitioner and the petitioner’s solicitor.

5. In furtherance of paragraph (4) above, the petitioner avers that the children of the marriage reside and are in the custody at alternative times with both the petitioner and the respondent depending on whether they are in school or on holidays, and are also accessible to either party whilst in the custody of the other upon proper notification to either side. The petitioner denies that either party has exclusive custody of the two children of the marriage.

6. The Petitioner denies paragraph 6 of the consequential amendment of answer that the respondent attends to the moral, religious and physical well being of the two children and states that the respondent’s way of life and social conduct is so unbecoming that it would have a very negative moral and religious impact on the children if they are made to reside with her.

7. The petitioner avers that he has always met all the needs of the children of the marriage despite always having serious doubts about their actual paternity.

8. The petitioner avers that the respondent confided in him severally while they living together (sic) that she had been sexually abused and defiled by her father, Otunba Alex Onabanjo on several occasions.

9. The Petitioner avers that it was his bid to orcefully put an end to this ignoble acts on the part of his Father-in-Law, Otunba Alex Onabanjo, that led to the total breakdown of relations between himself and Otunba Onabanjo.

10. The petitioner further avers that he knows for a fact that the respondent committed adultery with and had an intimate, sexual relationship with his own father, General Olusegun Obasanjo, amongst which was the NNPC consultancy training in supply chain management and project management awarded to her company Bowen and Brown.

11. The petitioner avers that the Respondent also got rewarded for her adulterous acts with several oil contracts with the NNPC from his father, General Olusegun Obasanjo, amongst which was the NNPC consultancy training in supply chain management and project management awarded to her company Bowen and Brown.

12. The petitioner avers that the lurid sexual relationship of the Respondent, with her own father, Otunba Alex Onabanjo and his father General Olusegun Obasanjo, has brought him great pain and psychological trauma and is the primary reason for the breakdown of his marriage to the respondent.

13. The petitioner avers that the respondent while married to him was also committing adultery with one Mr. Olumide Ogunlesi.

14. The etitioner avers that the Respondent shamelessly carried on her sexual escapades without any thought as to the psychological effect of same on him.

15. The petitioner avers that it is now necessary for a court ordered DNA test to be carried out on both himself, Otunba Alex Onabanjo and General Olusegun Obasanjo by a competent independent medical laboratory chosen by the court, in order to ascertain the actual paternity of the children of the marriage as the continued uncertainty about their actual paternity is making his life a misery.

16. The petitioner avers that the actual father of the children of the marriage will be found amongst himself, Otunba Alex Onabanjo and General Olusegun Obasanjo and same must be addressed immediately.

17. The petitioner avers that it is pertinent that this is done before further deliberations in this matter as the issue of the children’s paternity is integral to the determination of the suit and must thus be resolved and laid to rest urgently.

18. The petitioner denies paragraph 7,8, and 9 of the consequential amendment of answer and avers that the respondent deserted the petitioner and abandoned her matrimonial home on December 2, 2004 and never came back and co-habitation between parties ceased from that day.

19. The petitioner specifically denies the averment in paragraph 9 of the consequential amendment of answer and puts the respondent to strict proof of the averment therein.

20. Further to paragraph (8) above, the petitioner avers that there was never violent conducts throughout the marriage exhibited by the petitioner towards the respondent and the respondent was not in the matrimonial home until the 7 July, 2005 nor was she ever forced or compelled to leave as she left on her own volition due to her refusal to alter her various unbecoming conduct despite several pleas and entreaties by the petitioner and well-meaning family friends and relatives on both the Petitioner and the respondent’s side of the family.

21. The petitioner denies the averment in paragraph 10 of the consequential amendment of answer and requests the court for a decree of dissolution of marriage against the respondent in accordance with his petition.

22. The petitioner denies paragraph 13(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), of the cross petition and puts the respondent to strict proof of the averments therein.

23. The petitioner avers that the respondent was consistent in engaging in various unbecoming anti-social conduct which brought embarrassment to the petitioner and the children and several pleas to the respondent to mend her ways were met with stiff rebuff and ultimately desertion of her matrimonial home by the respondent on the 2 December, 2004.

24. The petitioner avers in reference to paragraphs 15(a) and 15(b) of the cross petition that the children of the marriage shall continue in school and progress to higher institutions of learning in future, to reach their full potential as always has been the case at the cost of the petitioner who has always been responsible for their upkeep and welfare.

25. The petitioner denies paragraph 15(b) of the cross petition and stats that the children reside at alternate times with either the respondent or the petitioner depending on whether their school is in session or otherwise.

26. The petitioner denies paragraph 16(a) of the cross petition and avers that it is a gold digging scheme and calculated extortion by the respondent of non-existent funds using the children as a cover, as the petitioner has always met the entire needs of the children without prompting and is able to continue doing same until they attain adulthood, as the lump sum payment demanded by the respondent clearly exposes her ulterior motives and schemes in getting married to the petitioner.

27. The petitioner denies paragraph 16(b) of the cross petition and avers that apart from the fact that he already has a chauffer, the petitioner had purchased for the respondent two brand new cars during the marriage which the respondent still holds on to till this day. The cars are:

(i) BMW 3 Series car
(ii) Toyota Highlander Sports Utility vehicle

28. The petitioner denies paragraph 16(c) of the cross petition and avers that No. 8, Ladipo Bateye
Street, GRA, Ikeja, belongs to a company in which he is a director and the petitioner is merely a tenant paying his rent as and when due.

29. Further to paragraph (17) above, the etitioner avers that the request for N50 million to be used by the respondent to purchase a house using the children as an excuse knowing fully well that he, the petitioner, does not even own such a house and does not own such funds, further exposes the gold digging intentions of the respondent in entering into marriage with the petitioner and illuminates the respondent’s true intention for all to see.

30. The petitioner avers in reference to paragraph 16(d) of the cross petition that he has always made and will continue to make adequate private security arrangements for the children, moreover as they would be in his custody.

31. The Petitioner admits paragraph 16(d) of the cross petition to the effect that the respondent has no decent home to live in and even the respondent’s parents home is not conducive as the children whenever they leave his custody to the respondent’s custody are forced to squat with the respondent’s parents.

32. The petitioner denies paragraph 16(d) (iv) of the cross petition and avers that No. 8, Ladipo Bateye Street, GRA, Ikeja, is not “the family house” as stated by the respondent.

33. In furtherance of (31) above, the petitioner pavers that the respondent made no financial contribution whatsoever to No. 8, Ladipo Bateye
Street, GRA, Ikeja and did not supervise any construction process or make any design decisions as the house does not even belong to him.

34. The petitioner denies paragraph 16(e) (i) and p16(e) (ii) of the cross petition and states that he has no desire to send his children to any school outside of Nigeria for their education and intends to have them school at Bells Secondary School which is a high quality school run by his family, and the University of Ibadan, his own alma mater for their tertiary education.

35. Further to paragraph 23 above, the petitioner avers that the demand by the respondent for the sums started in paragraph 15(c) of the petition is an unfortunate and sad attempt to exhort money from him in the name of the children.

36. The petitioner specifically denies the averment in paragraph 16(f) and 16(g) of the cross petition and puts the respondent to strict proof of same.

37. Further to paragraph 32 above, the petitioner avers that apart from never contributing to payment of rent at No. 8, Ladipo Bateye Street, GRA, Ikeja, the Respondent never contributed financially to anything in the home. The petitioner further avers that the respondent’s morals and conducts leaves a whole lot to be desired and the respondent was a hindrance and a drawback to the progress of the petitioner rather than them an asset or an assistance and the petitioner would have made much more progress in life but for the physical and psychological trauma he was subjected to as a result of having the respondent as his wife.

38. The petitioner denies paragraph 17(b) of the cross petition and avers that the capability of the respondent to earn income is not made low due to the children needing her attention as the children have a full complement of domestic staff, but because the respondent is lazy and unwilling to earn a decent living and rather prefers to exhort money from the petitioner for her every need and when same is not forthcoming, commit adultery to obtain same.

39. The petitioner denies paragraph 17(c) and 19 of the cross petition and puts the respondent to strict proof of same.

40. The petitioner denies paragraph 18 of the cross petition and avers that he has always and still is responsible for payment of salaries of the children’s domestic staff.

41. The petitioner denies paragraph 20(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (h), (i) of the cross petition and puts the respondent to strict proof of the averments therein.

42. The petitioner admits paragraph 20(f) of the cross petition only to he extent that Health Aids Support Services, an HIV/AIDS consulting firm, belongs to him and he contributes to the fight against HIV/AIDS scourge through the company.

43. The petitioner admits paragraph 20 (j) of the cross petition only to the extent that both companies are owned by him and are both long moribund and do not exist or function in any form at all.

44. The petitioner avers that the respondent recently executed contracts with the Ogun State Government by obtaining a concession of the Ogun State Liaison Office in Lagos using her company, Royal Properties Limited, and made several millions of Naira therefrom.

45. The petitioner avers that the respondent also co-owns a bitumen factory on Sagamu road in Ogun State with Colonel Are, retired Director General of the State Security Service (SSS) with massive concessions from the Ogun State Government.

46. The petitioner avers that the respondent owns a property in London and one in the United State of America located at Houston, Texas, with address as 14411 Andrea Way Lane (Sugarland).

47. The petitioner further to paragraphs (31) and (32) above, avers that the averments in paragraph 20(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (g), (h), (i), of the cross petition are a figment of the respondent’s imagination, an attempt to blackmail him and a failed attempt to provide a platform for the justification of the gold digging financial demands hitherto made by the respondent in this suit.

48. The petitioner denies paragraph 21(b) of the cross petition and avers that the respondent has entrenched in her imagination, a fantasy filled summation of how she expects him to earn his income.

49. The petitioner denies paragraph 22, 23 and 24 of the cross petition and puts the respondent to strict proof thereof.

50. The petitioner denies paragraph 27 of the cross petition in its entirety and avers that same is an elaborate gold digging scheme carefully plotted by the Respondent ever before she got married to him till the present day.

Signed: Emankhu AddehAddeh & Associates, Legal Practitioner for the petitioner.

Gbenga Obasanjo promises to expose more on father

Gbenga Obasanjo promises to expose more on father

The recent leakage of an affidavit submitted in the lingering divorce litigation between son of former Nigerian President, Dr. Gbenga Obasanjo and his estranged wife, Mrs. Mojisola Obasanjo, (nee Onabanjo) may soon snowball into startling revelations on how several powerful and rich individuals have been using incest as a form of ritual to get rich.

Mojisola is also seeking a monthly payment of N300,000 for the period of 15 years till the children attain adulthood.

A source close to the Obasanjo Family disclosed to pointblanknews.com earlier in the week that Dr. Obasanjo was spotted at a meeting with the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, where he expressed his disappointment, sorrow and personal grief on the incestuous conduct of ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo and his father-in-law, Chief Alex Onabanjo.

The source who prefer to be anonymous in order not to be seen as giving out sensitive family secrets of the Obasanjo family said that the meeting between Gbenga and Oba Gbadebo afforded the embattled first son of Obasanjo to lay his grouse against Obasanjo and father-in-law, Chief Alex Onabanjo who was also accused of having had canal knowledge of his daughter, Mojisola.

The source said that Gbenga who has now drawn a battle line, vowed to the Alake that Nigerians are in for more “horrific shockers” on a non-specific deal between Obasanjo and his famous first daughter, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello and some of the female Ministers and Special Advisers during his regime as President of Nigeria.

The source further said that Gbenga was extremely upset that he told Oba Gbadebo that his father, General Obasanjo is “the most diabolical and fetish character in Nigeria and it is high time he is exposed.”
Gbenga Obasanjo

Gbenga was said to have told the Egba paramount ruler that Obasanjo was not alone in having mind disturbing sexual escapades with ladies with close family ties that other powerful and influential Nigerians have been engaging in similar incestuous act for purposes of rituals popular called “Awure” in Yoruba Land.

Investigations revealed that Gbenga’s father-in-law, Chief Onabanjo had allegedly, for reasons of the so called Awure Rituals and the need to perpetuate his lineage, once had an adulterous relationship with the wife of a Guardian newspapers employee. The Guardian employee, Mr. Ganiyu Odusanya who works as an Advert Executive was said to have lost his one beloved wife to Chief Onabanjo who used the conjugal relationship to father his first and only Son. The fruit of that adulterous and ritualistic act is now a high school student. Chief Onabanjo and Ganiyu Odusanya are both indigenes of Ago-Iwoye in Ogun State. Prior to having the male child with Mr. Ganiyu Odusanya’s wife, Alex Onabanjo, whose Norwegian company, PGS is facing serious financial difficulties only had females.

Gbenga was said to have told Oba Gbadebo that Nigerians would be disappointed to know the other masquerading so called important personalities having ritual sex and incest, the same clique to which Obasanjo unfortunately belong. Meanwhile several Nigerians have written to Editors of pointblanknews.com asking spiritual authorities in the country to investigate and determine the supernatural implications of Obasanjo’s alleged incestuous and other adulterous relationships on the intractable economic, social and political crises in the country.

Meanwhile, Mojisola Obasanjo, estranged wife of Dr. Gbenga Obasanjo who have been alleged to have engaged in an incestuous sexual relationship with her father Chief Alex Onabanjo and her father-in-law, former President Olusegun Obasanjo is seeking a lump sum of £360,000 or its Naira equivalent and $400,000 or its Naira equivalent for the education of the two children from the broken marriage. The sum of £360,000, she claimed, would cover cost of school fees for a period of six years each for the two children at a secondary school in Switzerland already picked by their father, while $400,000 would be the cost of a four-year degree program for both of the children in an American University.

Gbenga, first son of former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, got contracts from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) while his father was in office, his estranged wife, Mojisola, has claimed.
Mojisola and Gbenga are currently seeking the dissolution of their seven-year-old marriage at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja Division, in Suit No. ID/172HD/2006.
While Gbenga is claiming that his wife was sleeping with the former president - his own father - in order to get government contracts, Mojisola claims her husband has been violent towards her.
In her cross-petition against Gbenga, who is the petitioner, Mojisola is demanding hefty compensation because of the financial status of the husband.
She claimed under “Particulars of Income of the Petitioner” that the petitioner (Gbenga) makes an average annual income of N500 million.
According to her, “The Petitioner earns from commissions paid to him as an Agent to a construction company with various construction projects, which was recently awarded an 11 billion Naira construction contract.
“The Petitioner has several construction contracts from Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“The Petitioner owns substantial shares in an Oil Trading Company, Linetrale Trading Company Ltd, a Company engaged in importing, selling, supplying and marketing of petroleum products.
“The Petitioner also collects oil allocations from Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
“The Petitioner receives payments from Health Aids Support Services, an HIV consulting firm currently working on a transaction with MTN, and some state governments.
“The Petitioner receives commission for brokering different deals on behalf of foreign companies and earns a sizeable commission therefrom.
“The Petitioner received Commission for the supply of 800 vehicles to Ogun State.
“The Petitioner has substantial investment in some Oil Blocks.
“The Petitioner has substantial investment in Glo Oil Ltd. and Hyster Investments Ltd.”
She claimed Gbenga had the capability to earn income because he is a “medical doctor with a Masters in Public Health and a PhD from Johns Hopkins University, USA. The Petitioner has the goodwill of being the son of the serving President of the largest black nation in the world which gives him access to several eminent world political leaders and business personalities all of which he has utilized and continue to utilize and leverage upon to earn considerable income from all state governors in Nigeria, Commissioners of various States in Nigeria top executives in the public and private sector of the Nigerian economy.”
She listed the physical estate of her husband as “land in Maitama, Abuja, land in Banana Island, Ikoyi, land in Lekki Phase 1, land in Abeokuta, a house in GRA Ikeja, Peugeot 607, Land Cruiser Jeep 2006 model, Kia Opirus” among others.
She claimed she became aware of the particulars of Gbenga’s income as a result of “prior discussions” between them while they lived together.
As “ancillary relief” for the dissolution of the marriage, Mojisola asked the court for a permanent order directing the Petitioner to pay a lump sum of N54 million for the maintenance of the Respondent (herself) and the two children of the marriage, Boluwatife and Wuraola, till the children attain adulthood.
She also sought an order that the Petitioner provide two of the fleet of cars owned by him for the Respondent and her children's use together with a chauffeur to be paid by the Petitioner; an order that the family house at No. 8 Ladipo Bateye Street, GRA Ikeja be settled on the Respondent or in the alternative the Petitioner be ordered to pay the sum of N50million to be used by the Respondent to purchase a decent house of comparable standard for the accommodation of the Respondent and her two children; and an order directing the Petitioner to make adequate financial arrangement for provision of security for the two children of the marriage (including adequate security safeguards for the premises where they will be residing) being grand children of the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Prepare for new elections

Prepare for new elections

Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ahmadu Ali, has notified members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of his party to start sensitizing and mobilizing its members for fresh elections. According to sources at the NEC’s meeting of yesterday, Ahmadu Ali told the NEC members to be ready for elections in the event that the election of Pres. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua is annulled.

Ali did not stop at urging members to mobilize for election, he also impressed on them the need to begin to “systematically intimidate Supreme Court Justices.” He accused the Supreme Court Justices of “trying to do what their colleagues in Kenyan did not have the courage to do.”

The National Secretariat of the PDP has ordered that campaign materials left over from the April election, including Yar’Adua/Goodluck vests be distributed to the various states immediately. At the Court of Appeal, venue of the Presidential Election Tribunal, PDP supporters were seen wearing campaign clothes.

Elendureports.com was informed by very top sources at the presidency that the fear that the presidential election may be annulled at the Tribunal is very real. We had reported exclusively that Pres. Umar Musa Yar’Adua had said he would not appeal the verdict of the Tribunal if it goes against him. Soon after our report was published, a close friend of the president told this reporter: “We know that Umar would not want to appeal or re-contest the election but we will not let him go. As of today we know he can comfortably win in a free and fair election therefore he must run again.”



Another factor that may influence the way PDP prepares for an eventual annulment of the presidential election is Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and Yar’Adua’s rival during the last presidential election. According to some presidency sources, former Vice President Atiku in one of his meetings with the president told Pres. Yar’Adua that he may not run in a new election if the Tribunal orders a fresh election but said he would pursue his case at the Tribunal to a logical conclusion. He opined to the president that it would be better if he were to win in a fresh election as that would address the problem of illegitimacy.


Mothers against fraudulent elections

Garba Shehu, media consultant to the Vice President told Elendureports.com in a phone chat: “That is absolute rubbish. The position of the Action Congress (AC) is that there was no election in 2007. The Party’s presidential candidate is there and ready to contest elections. Why are we in court? Are we fighting to win and then abandon it to Umar Yar’Adua? We may as well accept ministerial positions and leave everything to Yar’Adua now.” Reacting to Ahmadu Ali’s statement that Supreme Court Justices should be intimidated, Shehu said: “They have already started doing that. The Tribunal venue was flooded by security operatives yesterday. The whole idea is to intimidate the Judiciary. The only institution that Obasanjo could not destroy in his eight years is the Judiciary. This place is not Pakistan. The people will rise up if you try to do what Musharef did there.

Iyabo Obasanjo wanted in the U.S for kidnapping

Iyabo Obasanjo wanted in the U.S for kidnapping

Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, the first daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, is wanted in the U.S. for child kidnapping as well as delinquency in court-mandated child support fees.

According to court documents obtained by Saharareporters, Senator Obasanjo-Bello was declared wanted by U.S. District Court Judge Charles T.L. Anderson for kidnapping and stowing away her son after another court had awarded custody to her estranged husband.

Court documents show that Iyabo Obasanjo and Mr. Akeem Bello were married in September 1999, a few months after her father was elected and sworn-in as Nigeria's president. Going by court records obtained by our correspondent, the marriage did not last beyond 2003.

Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello was a plaintiff in a divorce case heard by Alonzo B. Coleman Jnr of the State of Carolina General Court of Justice, District Court Division. Filed on May 19, 2003, the case had file number 03 CVD 384.

In the course of the hearings, her former husband, Mr. Akeem Bello, prayed that the court award him custody of their only child, Jimi Bello, who was born on January 1, 2000 in Chatham County, North Carolina. The court subsequently granted him custody.

However, on July 27, 2004, Iyabo “kidnapped” Jimi Bello from Akeem Bello’s home in Pittsboro and fled to Nigeria with the child. After a series of failed efforts to get Ms. Obasanjo-Bello to return the child to the rightful custody of his father, Mr. Akeem Bello, District Court Judge Charles T.L. Anderson ruled on May 9, 2005 that she was in contempt of the court.

The court asked local, state and international law enforcement officers to take Ms. Obasanjo-Bello into custody. If arrested, she should “be committed to the Chatham County Jail located in Pittsboro, North Carolina, U.S.A,” the judge ruled.

Judge Anderson’s ruling decreed as follows:

1. “Effective May 13, 2005 in event plaintiff DOES NOT purge herself under para 5 below, that the plaintiff is hereby committed to the custody of the Sheriff of the Chatham County to be placed in the Chatham county Jail or other appropriate jail or prison until such time as she purges herself of contempt by complying with the Order of April 20, 2004 and August 23, 2004, signed by Honorable Alonzo B. Coleman.

2. “Effective May 13, 2005 in event plaintiff DOES NOT purge herself under para 5 below, it is further ordered that the sheriff of Chatham County, or any other law enforcement officer in North Carolina, the United States of America, or any international law enforcement officer shall take the plaintiff, Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello (with Social Security number XXX-28-XXXX) into their custody and the plaintiff shall thereafter be committed to the Chatham County Jail located in Pittsboro, North Carolina, U.S.A. or other available detention facility until such a time as the plaintiff is purged of contempt by this court by delivering Jimi Bello (Date of Birth: January 1, 2000, social security # XXX-93-XXXX) to the custody of his father, the Defendant as ordered herein.

The arrest order explains the fact that Ms. Obasanjo-Bello has not visited the U.S. since taking flight with her son in 2004.

Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello is currently mired in a criminal controversy following revelation by an Austrian company that she used fake names to sign a partnership agreement with them. Late last year, officials of the Austrian company, M. Schneider, alleged that Obasanjo-Bello used the alias of "Damilola Akinlawon" to sign a joint agreement to execute power projects, promising to use her influence to get her father to approve power projects running into billions of naira. In addition to misrepresenting her identity on the agreement, Ms. Obasanjo-Bello also won her father’s approval for juicy contracts in the name of an Austrian company that had no experience building power plants.

The EFCC is supposedly investigating the case, but no charges have been brought against the senator by the anti-corruption agency.

A source close to the senator has disclosed to our correspondent that fear of being arrested by Interpol for kidnapping her son partly informed the senator’s decision to travel around Austria and Indonesia under the disguise of her mother’s name-We could however not confirm If she possesses a diplomatic passport which may have helped her evade arrest within international borders .

Apart from the civil contempt charges that led the Chatham County authorities to place Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello under Interpol watch, she is also in violation of court-ordered custody payments (called “child support” in the US). According to court authorities, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello was ordered to pay $875 per month in child support payments to her former husband, Mr. Akeem Bello, effective October 24, 2004. However, court records show that she has not paid any dime in these mandated child support contribution.

Saharareporters found out that she currently owes her former husband $35,013.20 in unpaid “child support” payments.

Under North Carolina state laws, non-custodial parents who refuse to pay child support are given the opportunity to explain the reason for their delinquency. In the case of Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, she refused to show up in court even after the judge in the case had issued “order to show cause” to her lawyer, Susan Lewis, whom she retained to obtain her divorce from Mr. Bello. In frustration, her lawyer asked the court’s permission to step down from representing the former president’s daughter in the case.

Yesterday, Senate President David Bonadventure Mark prevented a senator from Niger State, Nuhu Aliyu from naming persons of questionable character in Nigeria’s upper legislative chambers. However, our sources revealed that Ms. Obasanjo-Bello was included on the list of crooked senators to be named.

Others include, the senate president, David Alechenu Bonadventure Mark (minister of communication under IBB cited for embezzlement, corruption and abuse of office); Annie Okonkwo (419/Drugs); Ike Ekweremadu (Corruption-On EFCC’s Corruption list); Jubril Aminu (embezzlement and bribery-mentioned in Siemens bribery scandal); Comrade Chukwumerije (embezzlement and corruption, minister of information during IBB/June 12 era); Eze Ayogu (419); Smart Adeyemi (former NUJ president-419, embezzlement and corruption also named as a front for Peter Odili, former governor of Rivers State now on the run); George Akume (former Benue gov.-Corruption /embezzlement); Chimaroke Nnamani (former Enugu gov. -Corruption/Money Laundering); Sanni Yerima (former Zamfara gov.Corruption/Ebezzlement); Iyiola Omisore (Murder, 419 and Certificate Scam), Gbemisola Saraki (Family Bank Fraud per Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria); Bode Olajumoke (Linked with Abacha’s Corruption), Grace Folashade Bent (recently involved in obtaining fake degree from Irish International University/419); Victor Egba Idoma (Corruption relating to Third Term Money controversy) and Ibrahim Saminu Turaki ( former Jigawa gov. Corruption, Embezzlement and Fraud). Senator Nuhu Aliyu promises to name more persons in the senate with fraudulent backgrounds.

OBASANJO WASTED YEARS AND SEX SCANDAL

OBASANJO'S WASTED YEARS AND SEX SCANDAL


My father has a libido problem-Gbenga Obasanjo, son to Nigeria's ex-President.

When Nigeria's former President, General Olusegun Obasanjo fraudulently came to power in 1999, most progressives in Nigeria had serious doubts about him and his ability to steer the ship of state to the promised land. This position was based on the fact that aside from the fact he dubiously handed over power in 1979 to a civilian President Shehu Shagari, his role during the putrid annulment of the election of late MKO Abiola, potrays a man who is conceited, egocentric, noxious and a devious individual with nothing to offer. Of course, the evil-genius, Gen. Ibrahim Bababngida and his co-travellers threw weight behind this misfit. They told Nigerians he was tough enough to stop the ambitious Nigerian military.

When he took over, he made a very ambitious inaugural speech. Promised all sorts of stuff. Set up scores of panels to look into abandoned contracts and projects. He played the pope, grandstanding on morals and religion, foreign reserve, and corruption.

But they were all lies. He was, and is still full of satanism. He wrecked the economy, the refineries stopped working, the roads went from bad to horrible, power supply went down by double digits, he destroyed the civil service, workers morale, loaded his cabinet with incompetent political nincompoops, and his concubines. Most of his Senior special assistants were his female sidekicks. He turned the Presidential villa into a whorehouse. He unilaterally used millions of dollars from PTDF(Petroleum Dev. Fund), NNPC, etc to repackage his ailing Ota farm,,and make his Bell University a five star institution. He used his office to raise over N7billion for his library that is non-existent. He used the election commission(INEC) led by dimwit Prof. Iwu, to install all manners of degenerates at all levels.

Obasanjo's men like Bode George, Tony Anenih, Liyel Imoke, Funsho Kupolokun, robbed the state blind, while his anti-corruption czar, Nuhu Ribadu watched. He only picked on his bosses opponents.

That they were locust years is a universal fact. Every sector suffered under his very oblique and baneful regime. Corruption was legalized by his evil and immoral regime.

That Obasanjo is extremely weak when it comes to the opposite sex is not strange to most of us. This man could not keep his hands off his female ministers. But that he would go to the floor below was a kind of surprise. That Obasanjo who is a student of theology at Nigeria Open University(NOUN), who Jerry Gana said is God-sent, who made all top government functionaries scamper for seats every Sunday at the presidential villa chapel, could be accused of having sex with his son's wife, Moji, shocked Nigerians.

His son, Gbenga, who has already filled for divorce, also accused his wife of sleeping with her own dad( Alex Onabanjo), and one other guy called Olumide Ogunlesi. The affidavit read in part "The petitioner(Gbenga) avers that he knows for a fact that the respondent(Moji) commited adultery with, and had an intimate sexual relationship with his own father, General Olusegun Obasanjo, due to her greed to curry favor and contracts from him (Obasanjo), in his capacity as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria". "Petitioner avers that the respondent also got rewarded for her adulterous acts with several oil contracts with NNPC(Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation) from his father, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, amongst which was the NNPC consulting training in supply chain management and project management awarded to her company Bowen and Brown", "Petitioner avers that the actual father to the children of the marriage will be found amongst himself, Otunba Alex Onabanjo,and Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, and such must be addressed immediately"

Since the scandal broke Obasanjo has been silent while some ringside members of his party, the People Democratic Party(PDP), like Solomon Lar, Godwin Dabor, have called on him to resign as chair of the Board of Trutees(BOT), go home and sort out his mess. Predictably, party chair Ahmadu Alli, called it a family affair, forgetting that Obasanjo, commited these attrocities while in office.

But we are not surprised at the silence, because the PDP is the most corrupt organisation in black Africa. This is a party which tagged an 80 year old roadside tout, Lamidi Adedibu, "Father of the PDP".

Aside from the fact that it is high time the Obasanjo years were checked out by President Yar'Adua, who recently confirmed that $10billion was wasted on power supply that never was, the party should ask him to step aside, while the Baptist church should make him answer some questions. His son, Gbenga should not be swayed by appeals until the truth is revealed , at least for the sake of the kids..

I did not have sex with Obasanjo and my father

I DID NOT HAVE SEX WITH OBASANJO AND MY FATHER

Estranged wife of Gbenga Obasanjo, first Son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo has denied having any sexual relationship with the former President and her father, Otunba Alex Onabanjo as contained in an affidavit deposed to by her husband.

Mojisola in a letter signed by her lawyer, Kola Awodein, SAN, claimed that the affidavit and the subsequent media report that followed has exposed her to ridicule, odium and hatred within and outside Nigeria.

Below is full text of the letter from her lawyer

“We are solicitors to Mrs Mojisola Obasanjo (our client) who has instructed us to write this letter to you.
Our client’s complaint is about the series of news report, article and comments about her carried recently in your newspapers, which enjoys (sic) a wide circulation nationally and internationally.

“We refer specifically to the following publications, amongst others; namely:

(1) “Treasonable sex:” – published in your Sunday Sun of 13th January 2008 at front page.

(2) “Sex scandal – The Animal called Man” published in Saturday Sun of 19th January 2008, Vol 4 No. 261 at page 9.

(3) “Sex scandal: Obasanjo should blame himself not me – Kalu” published in Daily Sun of 25th January, 2008.

(4) “In search of the Randiest President – Sunday Sun of 27th January, 2008, page 15, Vol. 3 No. 254

(5) Obasanjo’s alleged sex with son’s wife, Alake, Egba Chiefs wade in”

“It is fight to finish – Gbenga”

Story in Page 52 of Vol. 3 No. 253 of Sunday Sun of 20th January, 2008.

“In the said news report, article and comment you alleged that our client committed acts of incest and incestuous adultery and also made other unjustifiable attack on her.
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“These allegations are completely untrue and the said report, article and comments are on the whole gravely defamatory of our client. They were published maliciously to ridicule her and have exposed her to hatred, scandal, odium, contempt and similar feelings in the Nigerian community and worldwide. In all the circumstances, these publications are reckless and entirely without justification and are clearly actionable.

“Our instructions are that you;

i) Refrain forthwith from any further and or similar publications, either by way of news report, comments or articles or in any other manner whatsoever, concerning our client.

ii) Publish a full and complete withdrawal and an unreserved apology, in terms to be approved by us, in the front page of each of your newspapers;

iii) Indemnify her in respect of all the costs incurred so far as a result of your publications;

iv) Let us in the chambers know the amount you are prepared to pay her as damages for the serious injury done to her person and her reputation and for the embarrassment and great distress caused to her.

“TAKE NOTICE THEREFORE that unless there is a full compliance with her above demands within seven (7) days of the receipt of this letter, we shall proceed further with our client’s instructions to seek redress in our law courts.

Yours faithfully”
Signed by Kola Awodein, SAN
Pp: KOLA AWODEIN & CO.

Open letter to Madam Speaker

Open Letter to Madam Speaker

Dear Madam Speaker, I have followed your travails in the past five weeks with keen interest and although I have been one of your more ardent critics, I must admit that you have put into the matter, a lot of energy and determination and you have shown uncommon courage. It is natural for you as a human being to stand up and defend something you have worked for all your life. To make the transition from a beauty shop to the No 4 position in the country is no easy feat. But it is also a mark of virtue to realise when you have been beaten, when the game is truly up.

Every human being should pray for three things, and you Madam should take this to heart: the hindsight to know where you are coming from, the foresight to know where you are going and the insight to know when you have gone too far. I believe Madam Speaker that you are just about to take one more step too far in the current scandal of your office's attempt to squander a whopping sum of N238 million on the renovation of the Speaker's House. Or is it a grand total of N638 million (?) - to cover that expenditure plus the renovation of the Deputy Speaker's House and the purchase of vehicles for Principal officers of the House of Representatives.

Madam, I'll like to score you highly on effort. But I am sorry, the combined effect of whatever you may have done so far has been totally negated by the Idoko panel report and the verdict of the court of public opinion. The nine-man Idoko panel presented its report a few days ago. The chief message of that report is that you have been found to be an incompetent leader. According to the Idoko panel, "due process" was not followed in the award of the renovation and furnishing contracts.

The panel pointed out that the tender for the contracts was not advertised, no bill of quantities and drawings were prepared, there was no provision for the expenditure in the 2007 budget, the companies that were given contracts are illegal entities that are unknown to the Corporate Affairs Commission. You told the panel and Nigerians that the N238 million was meant for the renovation of about eight houses in the Speaker's compound, but the panel found that the contract that was awarded was only for the Main House. You told the panel that the Clerk of the House and his team acted on their own. The panel found that you in fact gave written instructions to the Clerk to act as directed by you. The panel added that the basis for arriving at the sum of N238 million can not be established. And that the House that you want renovated was actually renovated in 2005. What this panel has done is to tell Nigerians that the No 4 Citizen of Nigeria is a liar and a lawbreaker. It is a deep and a sharp cut.

In response you and your supporters have been saying that the panel has not indicted you and that only the House can declare you guilty or not. Some people have also said that the panel has not made any recommendations because it was not given the mandate to do so. With due respect. I will like to put it to you that you have, in fact, been indicted by the Idoko panel. The legal meaning of indictment is not guilt but that you have a case to answer, in other words a prima facie case has been established against you. And looking at the proof of evidence, the case is a bad one indeed. You may argue that nobody has accused you of embezzling money, at least not yet.

But corruption is not just about taking money, the abuse of due process with the intent to manipulate the system in one's favour is also an act of corruption. Your case is worsened by the fact that everything has been conducted in the open. You were given the benefit of fair hearing and Nigerians have all been able to assess the evidence. Indeed, if the Idoko panel had sat in camera, perhaps it would have been possible for the nine members to help cover up the scam. But what the nine lawmakers have done is to protect their own integrity by placing all the cards face up. They are all looking good.

Madam Speaker, one newspaper has written that you are "close to the brink". You don't have to wait until you are pushed off the cliff. The Honourable thing to do now is to resign. With the Idoko panel report there is no other story that you can tell Nigerians. Politics is often described as the art of the possible and here in Nigeria, politicians take this literally to heart. But with the benefit of hindsight, you can easily realize that one of the bitter lessons that some of our politicians have had to learn is that certain things are impossible. Like Obasanjo's Third Term, for example.

Should you continue to stay in office as Speaker, you will create a bigger moral dilemma for yourself. You cannot sit as Speaker when the report is to be debated. To do so would amount to being a judge in your own case! If the House allows that to stand, the Nigerian public will point out the contradiction. With you as Speaker, the media will continue to haunt that House and insist on your impeachment. You will become the issue rather than the business of legislation being the focus. Staying on stubbornly and claiming that resignation means an admission of guilt is just being foolhardy.

Searching for succor in New York

The two musketeers less one; Andy Uba(l) Aliko Dangote, self-styled richest black person (r)



Searching for succor in New York

Reprieve will not be coming the way of detained CEO of UNIGATE investments, Sam Iwuajoku anytime soon, as lawyers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained a court order to keep Mr. Iwuajoku in detention pending the determination of investigations concerning cases of economic sabotage and money laundering leveled against him.

Sam Iwuajoku, who is a business partner of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, was arrested last week for scamming the Federal authorities in Nigeria to the tune of N100 billion naira in unpaid import duties. In conjunction with former president Obasanjo and his top aides, Mr. Sam Iwuajoku obtained series of import duty waivers under the pretext of building power plants in the troubled Niger Delta region; however Saharareporters investigations showed that Mr. Iwuajoku was never involved in building power plants in the Niger Delta region.

Investigators told Saharareporters that the accused person was merely scamming the nation to import steel and rice that have no bearing to the purpose for which the duty waivers were granted in the first place. Before his arrest last week, Mr. Iwuajoku arranged for his private jet to be ferried out of Nigeria before the EFCC could lay their hands on it.

Also, four high caliber automatic weapons with several rounds ammunition were found in his house in Lagos. He has named top customs officials as well as Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State as his partners in the scam.

He reportedly mentioned that former senior aide to Obasanjo, Mr. Emmanuel “Andy” Uba was facilitating the import duty waivers from the office of the former president. Mr. Andy Uba and Aliko Dangote were both seen together in New York on Monday September 24th 2007 apparently on a trouble-shooting mission to save Sam Iwuajoku, sources at the Millennium UN Plaza Hotel where Yar'adua camped said he had series of meetings with some of the controversial businessmen who are subject of various degrees of money laundering investigations. This include, Mr. Mike Adenuga, the fugitive CEO of telecoms giant, GLOBACOM who currently lives in London after he fled from the Nigeria after he was arrested by the EFCC over his role in the PDTF scams.

This is coming on the heels of a declaration by the Federal finance minister earlier today that the Federal government will investigate past abuses of import duty waivers granted by the last administration of president Obasanjo.

Also in Aba today, the EFCC submitted its defense against the lawsuit brought by former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu which had become a subject of controversy between the Attorney General office and the EFCC. A source at the EFCC told Saharareporters that after submitting their defense to contest the lawsuit, the Judge adjourned the case till October 31st 2007 for further hearing. Contrary to the position of the Attorney General of the Federation, the Abia High Court judge did not discuss any issues regarding “contempt” of court at the proceedings. Lawyers to Orji Uzor Kalu also said they did not file any contempt proceedings yet against the EFCC. They also confirmed that the AG was never party to the suit from the onset.

EFCC ready for Madam Speaker

EFCC ready for Madam Speaker

Following the reports of the House of Representatives N628 Million contract scam probe committee that indicted the leadership of the House, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is said to have indicated interest to prosecute all found wanting by the reports.

But the speaker in her desperate bid to remain in office, last night met with some top notch of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to begin a last minute move to save her job and avoid being prosecuted by the anti-graft body.

A very reliable source at the EFCC told pointblanknews.com over the phone that the body is currently studying the reports and would determine how to go about prosecuting those indicted in the contract scam.

"We have seen the reports and we are studying all the findings of the probe panel. As soon as we are done we would come up with how best to go about our business of prosecuting those involved." The source told Pointblanknews.com over the phone.

The source who prefer to be anonymous said that "our job is to fight financial crimes anywhere found in Nigeria regardless of who is involved and we would not hesitate as soon as we study the report of the committee to invite those found guilty and charging them appropriately according to the laws of the land."

Asked if permission would have to be sought from the office of the Attorney General before it begins the process of prosecuting those involved in the contract scam, the EFCC official stated that "we are going to work within the laws that gave us the powers to prosecute anyone found in any form of financial crimes."
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However, the Speaker, Mrs. Etteh has engaged the services of some lawyers to study the reports and advise her on the next line of action to save her from prosecution. Sources hinted that soon after she met with some leaders of the PDP last night over the reports, a team of lawyers led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria whose name could not be ascertained as at the time of going to press were mandated to do a critical study of the reports and recommend to the speaker the next line of defence.

Earlier, while meeting with some PDP chieftains, Etteh was said to have been assured that the PDP caucus in the House would be persuaded in another meeting to be scheduled to save the Speaker from impeachment and prosecution.

A PDP source at the meeting told pointblanknews.com that "this is a family issue and we are going to find the best way to settle the issue and everyone would be happy at the end."

Without a doubt, Madam Speaker can sure use all the prayers and incantations she ever learnt how to recite... yup!

Compare and contrast

Compare and contrast

Compare these two amounts of money: N686 million and N628 million. The first (about Euro 3.9 million) is the amount the European Union is reportedly making available for the provision of clean water and sanitation in 12 towns and communities of Enugu and Jigawa states. The second figure is the alleged value of contracts for renovation of official residences and purchase of cars for some officers of the House of Representatives. Spot the difference. Foreign donors are funding water supply and sanitation with N686 million in a country in which N628 million is allegedly to be spent in renovating official residences of two public office holders and purchase of some official cars.

An Inconsequential ex-president's life of scorn

An inconsequential ex-president's life of scorn

These days, scorn and derision follow former President Obasanjo everywhere he goes. Such was the case a week and a half ago when his car broke down on the Lagos–Ibadan highway. His security detail scrambled to ferry him away to safety.
That same day, he was in Ibadan to preside at the official launching of a remodeled Mapo Hall. He was largely ignored by prominent Ibadan indigenes, including the Olubadan and other traditional rulers, who boycotted the event. The ancient city’s elite had earlier accused the former president of destroying their domain. During his eight-year administration, Obasanjo had empowered the geriatric thug called Lamidi Adedibu to make Oyo State strife-torn and ungovernable.

Internationally, Obasanjo has also suffered scorn and isolation. As a way of mobilizing international censure of the former president, former South African president, Nelson Mandela, personally ensured that Obasanjo was not invited to a group of prominent African head of states and citizens he constituted.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair also visited the same humiliation on Obasanjo by dis-inviting him to a crucial meeting of the African Commission. Blair fell short of outright removal of Obasanjo from the august body. Bob Geldoff, working with Professor Wole Soyinka, had threatened not to attend the commission’s meeting if Obasanjo was invited. After the meeting held, Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary General, was dispatched to Abeokuta to meet with Obasanjo. Annan’s brief was to register the group's disappointment with Obasanjo’s role in rigging the April 2007 elections, reckoned by many observers as the worst election in history.

Early this week, Obasanjo sneaked into the U.S. on his first visit since leaving office in May. One of his handlers, who spoke to us anonymously, said the former president was in the U.S. to “show the ropes to Yar’adua,” his self-selected successor. “To tell you the truth, we made sure to downplay his visit—in fact to keep it secret—to avoid Nigerian and other protesters trooping out to embarrass the man.”

Prior to this “secret” trip, Obasanjo had ventured only to the safe havens of Jamaica, where he is involved in real estate development as well as the building of a refinery, and Tanzania, which he visited at the invitation of President Kikwete. Andrew Young and Carl Masters, two shady lobbyists with vast business dealings with Obasanjo and Kikwete, facilitated Obasanjo’s trips to both countries.

Saharareporters’ sources said Obasanjo went to Tanzania to prevail on the President of Tanzania to fund the next generation of the controversial Leon Sullivan Summits that had held twice back-to-back in
Abuja Nigeria.

Andrew Young hasn't rested in reviving an isolated and depressed Obasanjo and smuggling him back onto the international scene, the former president's most beloved forte. After a series of moves to convince the skeptical world, Andrew Young and his lobbyists got Obasanjo to be a participant at the Clinton Global Initiative conference that commenced today in New York.

For the fear of being caught in his private jet, Obasanjo decided to board a British Airways flight out
of Lagos on Sunday night; he was the last to board the London-bound flight.
One passenger on the flight told Saharareporters that the former president got the shock of his life on the flight. “I can tell you that Obasanjo was just ignored by other passengers in the first class cabin,” said the source that declined to be named. “When he came on the flight, he was grinning from ear-to-ear with the hope that people in the first class cabin would greet him. He was met with cold silence—absolutely ignored—as he made his way to his seat on row 5.” Our source said the same mute treatment was meted out to the Obasanjo as disembarked.

Obasanjo arrived New York on Monday night and is billed to attend the Clinton Global Initiative meetings at the Sheraton Hotel in New York. On Friday he will be in Washington, DC to attend an event organized as part of the Annual Legislative Meetings of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation at the Convention Center.

Though he was invited by the caucus, Obasanjo was not listed as a participant on
the website of the CBCF. In both the Clinton and CBC events, there was an attempt to conceal Obasanjo’s participation. “It’s obvious that the former president is desperately looking to rebound into international reckoning as his ignoble role in rigging the April 2007 general elections continues to haunt him,” said Dr. Peter Okechukwu, a political scientist.

Meanwhile, Nigerians in the Maryland and Washington DC area are planning a surprise protest against Obasanjo on Friday. Saharareporters learnt from one of the planners that moves are going on to disgrace Obasanjo at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation event.

The source declined to disclose the mode the protest would take or the strength of the protesters.

Nigerian Senate commends EFCC...

Nigerian Senate commends EFCC, expresses doubt over AG's ability

QUOTE ME: Senator Maeba-- Defending his motion, Senator Maeba argued that the independence of the EFCC was adequately provided for in its enabling powers, adding that the commission's prosecution powers had been affirmed by the Supreme Court.

With EFCC's efforts, "Nigeria's ranking on the Transparency International Perception Index has improved, placing the country 146th out of 163 nations in the world and delisting Nigeria from its blacklist of nations with high records of financial crimes by the United States of America (U.S.)," he noted.

According to Senator Maeba, the face-off had put the present anti-corruption crusade into ridicule because of the utterances of the Attorney-General.
* * * * *

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption, Senator Sola Akinyede, on Wednesday expressed doubts over the ability of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to effectively prosecute all cases.

Akinyede said this during an address he read at the inauguration of the committee.

He added that he had no doubt that by virtue of Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution, the AGF had the powers to take over the prosecution of all cases being prosecuted by agencies under him.

Akinyede, however, said, “The power not only applies to the cases being prosecuted in all courts including the more than 2,000 Magistrate Courts and area courts all over the 774 local government areas in this country.

“This therefore raises the question whether the office of the AGF has the capacity to effectively exercise its supervisory and prosecutorial powers over all the cases being prosecuted in all these courts.

“I believe that it was because the office of the AFG lacked, and in my opinion still lacks this capacity, and because of the serious threat that these crimes had become to the very existence of our nation that these specialized agencies( EFCC, ICPC and NDLEA) were created.”

He argued that it would be a share waste of time and resources to deploy the nation’s resources to train specialised personnel to man these agencies only to have their functions taken over by another government body.

The chairman said while it was true that some of these agencies were not perfect because they were manned by human beings, it must be acknowledged that the activities of these agencies had improved the image of the country.

In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, said that whether people were willing to admit it or not, the EFCC had perform creditably.

On drugs he said consumer nations would do well by reducing drug demand.

He said “It is obvious that without rule of law, we can’t deliver dividends of democracy but we cannot encourage rule of law by tolerating corruption.”

END OF QUOTE: In his remarks, Smart Adeyemi declared: "There have been a lot of questionable court orders that have ridiculed the judiciary itself. And the Attorney-General has allowed his personal interest to becloud his sense of justice in this case. The EFCC should not be ridiculed in the name of fighting for the rule of law. The Attorney-General should be told that his duty is not to attack the EFCC on the pages of newspapers."

The Attorney-General and graft cases

The Attorney-General and graft cases

A Punch Newspapers Editorial of 18 September, 2007.

The open tussle between the Minister of Justice and an anti-graft agency over the prosecution of some governors is sending signals that all is not well with the crusade against corruption. The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr. Michael Aondoakaa and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have clashed over who conducts the trial of the former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Kalu, who is standing trial over 100 corruption allegations involving billions of state funds.

EFCC had complained about procedural impropriety in the attempt of the AGF’s office to take over the prosecution of Kalu at an Abuja High Court without prior communication of intention. But the AGF has justified the need to intervene directly in the matter on the administration’s respect for the rule of law and the need for government to obey all judicial orders.

The intervention, the AGF said, was necessary to make the EFCC respect an order of a High Court in Umuahia, Abia State, restraining it from arresting and prosecuting Chief Kalu for alleged offences against the state. The AGF’s action followed a protest to the Presidency by Chief Kalu that the EFCC was disobeying a subsisting court order. The second plank is that the 1999 Constitution empowers the AGF to continue or discontinue any case by any agency in the country.

The AGF’s overriding constitutional power to take-over, continue or discontinue any suit is, not in doubt. What is worrisome is that his direct intervention and visibility may politicise the cases against the high-profile suspects and subvert public interest. The nation’s experience of AGF’s direct involvement in graft cases has been very bitter. When the Justice Ministry intervened directly in the N400 million embezzlement case against Dr. Julius Makanjuola and some Defence Ministry officials, the trial was stopped without any explanation a few days to a High Court judgment on the matter. Therefore, does the AGF want to takeover and continue with Kalu’s trial or does he want to stall and bury the case like that of Makanjuola? The AGF should come out clean.

The undue interference from the AGF’s office in corruption-related cases is already casting doubts on this administration’s determination to fight graft. There are indications as well that the anti-graft agencies are not comfortable with Mr. Aondoakaa’s body language. The Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, who is a retired Supreme Court justice, remarked last week that the public deserves to know why the AGF is interested in taking over Kalu’s corruption case, adding “there is a lot of suspicion so far on his motive.”

Similarly, the Chairman Code of Conduct Tribunal Justice Constance Momoh has expressed doubt over the government’s willingness to continue the prosecution of former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. Justice Momoh was visibly irritated when government prosecutor strangely claimed that Alamieyeseigha was still ill. The judge advised the AGF’s office to withdraw the case if it has “compromised”, instead of stalling trial by asking for questionable adjournments. On its part, the EFCC has expressed regret that its statutory anti-corruption mandate “is being dragged into a murky political terrain.”

By setting personal examples, President Yar’Adua has demonstrated that his administration is sincere in the battle against official corruption. The actions of the AGF should conform with the high standard of personal integrity which the President has brought into office. Mr. Aondoakaa should not be allowed to bog down the anti-graft crusade with legal technicalities. The public interest is not served when the AGF hides under the guise of the rule of law to stall or bury grave corruption charges.

A Paradise gone to hell.

A Paradise gone to hell

Gunmen struck the second time in three days in Rivers State and kidnapped a two and a half-year-old girl, Nuseyba Usman on Wednesday night from her home near Port Harcourt.
Already, the hoodlums have demanded a N5million ransom from the baby’s parents.

The little daughter of a staffer of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Mr. Anibasa Usman, was kidnapped at about 10.30pm by the gunmen who raided their NNPC Housing Estate residence at Aleto Eleme near the Rivers State capital.

It was gathered that the gunmen numbering about 10, raided several homes in the estate and made away with the girl and valuables of residents, including mobile phone sets, jewelry and cash.

The father of the girl, Mr. Usman, amidst suppressed sob said in an interview that he was surprised that the gunmen went away with his baby even though he gave them all they wanted.
"I am appealing to them because I was very very cooperative. They asked for everything they wanted and I gave them. They asked me to give them the phone, the money, I obeyed.

"I have no problem with anybody so, I am so surprised that they had to go and take a two and half-year-old girl that does not know anything."
A highly disturbed Usman passionately appealed to, "whosoever is concerned" to send back his daughter to him.

"I appeal to them. I know people are looking for ways to make money. I can understand that. I know the country is not easy but this is just a little baby. She is just in pre-nursery… we are all young men and I don’t think I have done any wrong to anybody to deserve that."
The grieving father said that the kidnappers were demanding N5million but he could not afford the amount.

Meanwhile, the 12 gunmen who abducted the cousin of the state chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Mr. Dimbara Dimkpa from his Woji residence in Port Harcourt last Monday night have scaled down their ransom to 2 million.
The IPMAN boss who said that the amount was beyond him, said they had initially demanded N12million.

The Attorney-General's Saga:International donors worry

The Attorney-General's Saga:International donors worry

INDICATIONS have emerged that some foreign donors are becoming worried over the sustainability of the anti-graft war in Nigeria following the recent altercation between the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Andoakaa and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Specifically, sources close to some international donors in the United States (U.S.), said with the internal rancour going on within the Nigerian government regarding the style and means of operations of the EFCC, their focus may be shifting towards the Independent and Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which has recently announced its preparedness to name an independent counsel.

Incidentally, the Attorney-General and the EFCC chairman have both been invited by the New York-based Nigerian Lawyers Association to address the lawyers yearly dinner. This year's dinner is coming up tomorrow.

Ribadu would be the keynote speaker, while the AG would also be speaking at the dinner, which attracts very top Federal Government officials and distinguish Nigerians yearly.

Last week, two Nigerian lawyers, Femi Falana and Kayode Oladele in a statement in the U.S. objected to the plans of the ICPC to create the office of independent counsel, a move sources close to a US-based international donor said reflected the ongoing worry over the EFCC's fate among donor bodies.

But another Nigerian lawyer based in Washington, DC, a certified U.S. special consultant on Nigerian laws, Emmanuel Ogebe, argued that the need for an independent counsel was now imperative to move forward the anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria.

According to Ogebe in a brief statement, the solution to the jurisdictional concern between ICPC, EFCC and the Attorney-General's office lies in the appointment of an independent counsel who will consolidate and coordinate as a corruption clearing house and czar in Nigeria.

Ogebe added that the funding is critical and should be made available for such an independent counsel basically as a means to keep Nigeria's anti-corruption war constitutionally grounded.

Donor community sources have said that it was not difficult to interpret the debate over the need for the creation of an independent counsel in Nigeria as partly a funding and turf battle since the Independent Counsel would take out a substantial chunk of what the EFCC is currently doing.

Falana and Oladele said the establishment of the office of independent counsel in Nigeria would be a duplication of the role of the EFCC.

The current dispute between the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the EFCC over the means the anti-corruption agency was conducting its business may affect international support and funding that the EFCC has been getting.

There is concern in the international donor community that there seems to be deep internal cleavages regarding the EFCC, and there are conflicting signals from different Nigerian government sources on the means of prosecuting the anti-corruption war.

At the peak of the crusading role of the EFCC, the agency had made tremendous inroads internationally that it is fast becoming a model on an international scale for anti-corruption management and planning. But recent claims that the agency itself may have been abusing the rule of law is beginning to be noticed by international donors, many of which have continuing funding programmes with the EFCC.

Diplomatic and official sources said that most of the foreign donors, including the European Union (EU), UNDP, UN, USAID and other western countries like Canada and the Netherlands were fully aware of the misunderstanding that had developed between the EFCC and the new Attorney-General bordering on the prevalence of the rule of law.

For instance, the EU sources said it had committed about $32 million to the EFCC since 2003, while the UN through its office of Drug and Crime recently signed a $700,000 funding agreement with the EFCC.

"Other international donors and agencies actively backing the EFCC include the World Bank. Sources added that the strength of the EFCC among international donors is its perception as an independent anti-graft agency securing results through a lawful pursuit of official looters and curtailing systemic corruption in Nigeria."

However, some of the donors are now said to have become confused with the claims also coming from Nigerian government officials that the EFCC have in the past adopted extra-judicial means against some of those that have been prosecuted.

Some international donors are unsure who to believe. Others attribute the development to the change of administration, while many have now mandated their Nigerian offices to pay greater attention to the deeper currents of the dispute between the EFCC and the Office of the Attorney General.

Sources added that President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's rising perception as an ardent defender of the rule of law has only complicated the situation for EFCC in some international circles.

Before now, a review of the anti-corruption agencies in some selected developing countries including Nigeria, Vietnam, and South Korea conducted by U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Center in Norway, a centre affiliated with the Transparency International rated EFCC very high but observed that critics have accused the government of interfering in particular with the activities of the ICPC.

Of the EFCC, the report said it has gained more credibility with the public for its effectiveness, while the ICPC according to the report has been criticised for not being sufficiently proactive.


© 2003 - 2007 @ Guardian Newspapers Limited (All Rights Reserved).

The Attorney-General, Corruption and the EFCC

The Attorney-General, Corruption and the EFCC

By Seyi Olu Awofeso

NIGERIA'S Minister of Justice and attorney-general, Michael Aondoakaa, has been flexing a muscular erection lately, and is about now getting into the mood of shredding an already frail, public trust in President Yar'Adua's ability to prosecute official thefts without self-imposed restraints over his concerns for the political status of the accused persons.

The attorney-general last week issued a statement saying he wants to preserve a "prohibitive injunction" issued by a state high court in Umuahia, so as to avoid his own committal to prison as the attorney-general in breach. And so, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must be pushed out of court, and stopped from prosecuting ex-Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, said the hilarious attorney-general. In terms, the injunction at issue states that no one should arrest (or prosecute?) ex-Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, pending a determination of a Civil Rights case that Kalu had filed in Umuhaia, which case may take several years to decide; and is thus tantamount to impunity, when placed against the criminal charge filed by the EFCC, that ex-Governor Kalu, along with his mother, stole close to N20 billion of Abia State funds.

Attorney-General Aondoakaa, however, did not say he was looking at the justification or legality of the injunction itself; as he ought to, or that he intends to intervene in the Umuahia state high court, so as to have the injunction set aside. Merely affirming without critiquing the Umuahia state court's injunction exposes this vignette as another foil on the probable intent of the attorney-general to side-step the substantive matter of financial corruption underlying this case.

So far, there is no concrete step taken by President Yar'Adua as convincing proof that this administration is combating or will seriously fight corruption. For no sooner a corruption matter arises than the Yar'Adua administration invokes a procedural reason, for non-action, as happened again a fortnight ago, over the N638 million renovation expenses of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Under Nigerian law, a House committee's investigation is not a condition-precedent to Police or EFCC's arrest, investigation or prosecution of the Speaker for (suspected) financial corruption.

President Yar'Adua, however, publicly mis-stated the law as firstly requiring a House Committee's investigation. Such a complete mis-understanding of the legal notion of due process is fraught. And worse; it is curious that the invocation of "rule of law" by Yar'Adua's administration has always been made in clearly defensive contexts, and invariably; always redounding to the benefit, freedom, and, sometimes, escape of criminally indicted persons.

An attorney-general who intends to uphold the public good by combating corruption could have begun his "intervention against the EFCC" with an affidavit of urgency, filed before the Umuahia state high court; showing the egregious nature of the injunction granted ex-Governor Kalu, and demonstrating the (urgent) intent of Yar'Adua's government to argue to have that injunction re-considered for cancellation.

Nigeria's attorney-general, however, took neither of those sensible steps which would have properly laid the foundation for his seamless takeover of the case from the EFCC, without his legal nitpicking at press conferences, or, the fisticuffs of his DPP in open court. For all that, and while still hesitating to draw the inference of a likely complicity by President Yar'Adua in all of this predictable muzzling of corruption cases in Nigeria; done by bringing corruption case files under President Yar'Adua's political control, it is at least certain that the injunction issued by the state high court in Umuahia will be further assessed by the international legal community, for its consistency or otherwise with Nigeria's current rating as a country with the 10th most corrupt judiciary in the world.

* Awofeso is a legal practitioner in Lagos


© 2003 - 2007 @ Guardian Newspapers Limited (All Rights Reserved).