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Missing AirAsia Flight: Fourty Bodies Found In The Sea

Missing AirAsia Flight: Fourty Bodies Found In The Sea

Missing AirAsia Flight: Fourty Bodies Found In The Sea

At least 40 bodies have been recovered from the sea in the search for missing AirAsia Flight QZ8501, the Indonesian navy says.

IN PICTURES: Nigerian soldiers celebrate after killing hundreds of Boko Haram members in Konduga

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<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1u8NYBt" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style='font-family: inherit;'><img border="0" height="304" src="http://ift.tt/1u8NYBt" width="640"/> </span> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><span style='font-family: inherit;'><br/> </span> <span style='font-family: inherit;'>Every time the Nigeria military reveal victory over Boko Haram, many readers are quick to ask for pictures, and that is why Nigerian troops this morning sent out some of these pictures revealing how they successfully crushed another attempt by Boko Haram members who were on a revenge mission to Konduga, in Borno State.</span><br/><br /><br/><br /><span style='font-family: inherit;'><br/> </span> <span style='font-family: inherit;'>According to a statement by Defence HQ, 3 Hilux vehicles, 1 Amoured Personnel Carrier and a cache of arms and ammunition were captured by the troops.</span><br/><br /><br/><br /><span style='font-family: inherit;'><br/> </span> <span style='font-family: inherit;'>Hundreds of the militants were said to have been killed. Troops are now combing the vicinity, in a cordon and search operation to determine the heavy casualties suffered by the terrorists in the encounter.</span><br/><br /><br/><br /><span style='font-family: inherit;'><br/> </span> <span style='font-family: inherit;'><br/> </span> <span style='font-family: inherit;'>Hundreds of residents also stormed the streets to celebrate with the troops.</span><br/><br /><br/><br /><span style='font-family: inherit;'><br/> </span> <span style='font-family: inherit;'>More pictures below...</span><br/><br /><br/><br /><span style='font-family: inherit;'><br/> </span><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><table align='center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' class='tr-caption-container' style='background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 1.5em; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;'><br /><tbody style='border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;'><br /><tr style='border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;'><br /><td style='border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1nVcwdY" imageanchor="1" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style='font-family: inherit;'><img border="0" height="265" src="http://ift.tt/1nVcwdY" style="border: 1px solid rgb(218, 218, 218); font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 4px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;" width="400"/> </span> </a> </td><br /></tr><br /><tr style='border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;'><br /><td class='tr-caption' style='border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;'><span style='border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 14.5600004196167px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;'>Vehicle recovered from Boko Haram with their flag</span> </td><br /></tr><br /></tbody><br /></table><br /><br/><br /><span style='font-family: inherit;'><br style='background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;'/> </span><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><table align='center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' class='tr-caption-container' style='background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 1.5em; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;'><br /><tbody style='border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;'><br /><tr style='border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;'><br /><td style='border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1qA10Kw" imageanchor="1" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style='font-family: inherit;'><img border="0" height="265" src="http://ift.tt/1qA10Kw" style="border: 1px solid rgb(218, 218, 218); font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 4px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;" width="400"/> </span> </a> </td><br /></tr><br /><tr style='border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;'><br /><td class='tr-caption' style='border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;'><span style='border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;'>Arms recovered</span> </td><br /></tr><br /></tbody><br /></table><br /><br/><br /><span style='font-family: inherit;'><br/> </span><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><table align='center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' class='tr-caption-container' style='margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;'><br /><tbody><br /><tr><br /><td style='text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1tghLu2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style='font-family: inherit;'><img border="0" height="265" src="http://ift.tt/1tghLu2" width="400"/> </span> </a> </td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td class='tr-caption' style='text-align: center;'><span style='font-family: inherit; font-size: small;'>More arms recovered</span> </td><br /></tr><br /></tbody><br /></table><br /><br/><br /><span style='font-family: inherit;'><br/> </span><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><table align='center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' class='tr-caption-container' style='margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;'><br /><tbody><br /><tr><br /><td style='text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1u8NYRW" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style='font-family: inherit;'><img border="0" height="300" src="http://ift.tt/1u8NYRW" width="400"/> </span> </a> </td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td class='tr-caption' style='text-align: center;'><span style='font-family: inherit; font-size: small;'>Nigerian troops celebrate victory in Konduga, pose in a Boko Haram tank recovered.</span> </td><br /></tr><br /></tbody><br /></table><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

IN PICTURES: Nigerian soldiers celebrate after killing hundreds of Boko Haram members in Konduga

IN PICTURES: Nigerian soldiers celebrate after killing hundreds of Boko Haram members in Konduga

Every time the Nigeria military reveal victory over Boko Haram, many readers are quick to ask for pictures, and that is why Nigerian tr...

Oritsejafor shouldn’t blame me for his jet scandal –El-Rufai

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<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1u8NX0D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="http://ift.tt/1u8NX0D" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el’Rufai, has accused the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, of resorting to abuse after his futile efforts to shake off his connection to the aircraft used for smuggling $9.3m cash from Nigeria to South Africa.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The CAN in a statement on Tuesday admitted that the aircraft was owned by Eagle Air Company in which Oritsejafor had interest, but added that the story of the arrest of the aircraft in South Africa was sponsored by the All Progressives Congress and some members of the party including el-Rufai.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The South African police are said to be investigating two Nigerians and an Israeli citizen who tried to bring the money (about N1.5bn) in cash into the country illegally as part of an arms deal.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />In his response to CAN on Wednesday, the former minister in a statement by his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, said Oritsejafor should be more reflective about the incident rather than resorting to abuse.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said, “When light unexpectedly shines on murkiness, those exposed by the stinging rays often berate the light rather than regret the muck.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“That is the plight of Ayo Oritsejafor whose private jet was identified as the vessel impounded by the South African authorities for ferrying $9.3m cash into their country.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“A statement from Eagle Air admitted Oritsejafor’s interests in the aircraft, but said it leased the plane to Green Coast which in turn acknowledged hiring the plane out for the trip to South Africa.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Unable to shake off his connection to the plane, Oritsejafor has resorted to abuse and vilification. Were he more reflective, he would be pondering how, of all the private jets available in Nigeria, it was his that came to be involved in a covert arms purchase scandal.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Would he have managed any objectivity if the plane involved happened to belong to a prominent person of another faith or political persuasion?”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Oritsejafor shouldn’t blame me for his jet scandal –El-Rufai

Oritsejafor shouldn’t blame me for his jet scandal –El-Rufai

Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el’Rufai, has accused the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria...

Fulani gunmen kill soldier, 32 villagers in Kaduna

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<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1tghJT8" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://ift.tt/1tghJT8" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Gunmen, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, on Tuesday night raided three communities in Sanga Local Government Area, in the Southern part of Kaduna State, killing no fewer than 32 villagers.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The attackers, it was learnt, also killed a soldier and injured four others in an ambush.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Vice Chairman of Sanga LGA, Mr. Bulus Mande, and the National President, Ninzom Development Youths, Mr. Bezard Wuyah, confirmed the attacks to newsmen on the telephone on Wednesday.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Also, the spokesman for the Kaduna State Police Command, Aminu Lawan, confirmed the raid but said he had yet to get the full brief of the latest incident at the time of writing this report.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Public Relations Officer of the One Mechanized Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Col. Abdul Usman, however, said he had been away from Kaduna and could not confirm the attack on and killing of the soldiers in an ambush.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Wuyah told newsmen on the telephone, “We heard before now that Fulani were planning to attack us again. Last night, around 1am, they came around. They entered Fadan Karshi, Karshi Daji and Unguwan Ganye, all close to one another in Sanga LGA.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“They first ambushed a military patrol van that was crossing a bridge from Fadan Karshi to Karshi Daji. They fired at the soldiers and killed one, and four were injured. But the soldiers repelled the attacks.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The Fulani men then moved in three groups. One went to Fadan Karshi, where they killed 12 people and burnt down 20 houses and injured scores. They moved to Karshi Daji and killed 20 people and burnt down several houses.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Those that attacked Unguwan Ganye are still in the place; so we can not tell you the casualty figure now. Among those killed in Fadan Karshi included the wife of a very respectable retired Reverend, Rev. Jacob Aku. His wife was burnt to ashes in the attack.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Fulani gunmen kill soldier, 32 villagers in Kaduna

Fulani gunmen kill soldier, 32 villagers in Kaduna

Gunmen, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, on Tuesday night raided three communities in Sanga Local Government Area, in the Southern part of...

PDP fixes dates for presidential, gov primaries

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<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1wqfRqD" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://ift.tt/1wqfRqD" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>The Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday fixed October 29 and December 6 for its Governorship and Presidential Primaries respectively, ahead of the 2015 general elections.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />This was announced by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh, in Abuja.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The party spokesman also said that the primaries for the National Assembly would hold on November 22, adding that the dates were proposed by the party’s National Working Committee.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />According to him, the dates were proposals that were subject to the approval of the party’s National Executive Committee scheduled to meet on September 18.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“We expect all public servants, government appointees and elected party officials who are interested in contesting any position to resign their appointments seven days before the commencement of the ward congress election,” he said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />NAN, however, learnt from the party’s national headquarters that sales of nomination and expression of interest forms for various elective offices would be between October 27 and 28.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />This is to enable public office holders interested in elective offices to resign their appointments before October 20<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

PDP fixes dates for presidential, gov primaries

PDP fixes dates for presidential, gov primaries

The Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday fixed October 29 and December 6 for its Governorship and Presidential Primaries respectively, ...

Police arrest man for selling his wife for N800,000

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<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1wqfTyy" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://ift.tt/1wqfTyy" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Plateau State Police command has arrested one Maimako Shephang of Kwalla in Qua’an Pan Local Government Council of the state for allegedly luring his wife, Agnes, into the bush and selling her to two masked men for of N800,000.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The men allegedly wanted to use the woman for ritual purposes.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Parading the man before newsmen in Jos on Wednesday, Plateau State Police Commissioner, Mr. Nasiru Oki, said the two masked men had asked Agnes if she is a spinster.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />But they were shocked when she told them that the man who handed her over to them is her husband.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said that the men told Agnes to run away from the place as the sacrifice for which she would have been used for required a virgin.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The commissioner said that when the woman regained her freedom, she reported to the police who arrested her husband and one of the suspected ritualist, adding that investigation is still on-going with a view to charge the duo to court for prosecution.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Oki, who also stated the achievements of the command since his resumption of office, said that the command busted a 27-man armed robbery gang, which killed two persons and carted away with 200 cows in a robbery incident.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He added that the 200 cattle had now been recovered.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Police arrest man for selling his wife for N800,000

Police arrest man for selling his wife for N800,000

Plateau State Police command has arrested one Maimako Shephang of Kwalla in Qua’an Pan Local Government Council of the state for allegedly...

El-Rufai Formally Declares He’s Running For Kaduna State Governor

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<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><a href="http://ift.tt/1qKb1F4"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full" data-recalc-dims="1" src="http://ift.tt/1u34vqA" title="el-rufai1.jpg"/> </a> </p><br /><p>All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart and a former FCT Minister, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has formally announced his intent to make a stab for the number one office in Kaduna State.</p><br /><p>El-Rufai was at the palace of Kpop Gwong, Col. Paul Zakka-Wyoms(retd.), the Paramount Ruler of the Gwong to formally intimate the monarch of his governorship ambition.</p><br /><p>He told the monarch that when elected he’ll govern the State with equity, fairness and justice.</p><br /><p>“I come here to formally inform you of our decision to seek the highest office in our dear state. It is a demonstration of deep commitment to the peace, development and unity of Kaduna State. I am set and ready to move to action, justice is paramount to development and that is my direction. I am seeking your blessings and moral backing,” said the Accidental Public Servant.</p><br /><p>He added: “I am not new to our state; I did my primary school, secondary school and university in our state. And also practiced here in our state before moving to Abuja where we both served with Yakowa in General Abdulsalam Abubakar’s government, and so I know our problems and together we will run a responsible and participatory government together,” said El-Rufai.</p><br /></div>

El-Rufai Formally Declares He’s Running For Kaduna State Governor

El-Rufai Formally Declares He’s Running For Kaduna State Governor

All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart and a former FCT Minister, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has formally announced his intent to make a stab...

Sack Oduah Now, Mr President

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<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div><br /><p><strong>HAVING tried all the delay tricks in the book, President Goodluck Jonathan is now confronted with a choice: retain the Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, or sack her.</strong> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>The President’s body language and vacillation demonstrate unmistakeably that he prefers to keep the controversial minister. This is a tragic error of judgment and confirms to the whole world what many Nigerians already know: that Jonathan’s body language encourages corruption.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Indeed, most Nigerians believe that under the current administration, the war against corruption is virtually lost. Jonathan will only be confirming the view of critics by his continued waffling over Oduahgate. Surely, he does his credibility no good by retaining a minister that has been so tainted in a corruption scandal. Just two weeks ago, in response to an acerbic letter to him from a former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, which was leaked to the press, he pompously declared that he (Jonathan) was fighting corruption. “I have been strengthening the institutions established to fight corruption. I will not shield any government official or private individual involved in corruption…,” he declared.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>But he has been shielding Oduah in the full glare of the public. When the news first broke in October via an online publication that the minister had allegedly caused two bullet-proof BMW limousines to be purchased for her by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, in violation of the law, he kept quiet. It was only after much public outcry and a probe got under way at the House of Representatives that he belatedly asked her to be queried. As more revelations emerged from the House probe demonstrating how the minster exceeded her spending limits of N100 million, how import duty waivers were misapplied and how NCAA officials and other aviation parastatals “contravened the Appropriation Act 2013,” Jonathan sought to buy time by setting up an unnecessary three-man administrative panel to examine the case.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Diversionary though it was, the panel had submitted its report since mid-November. While one can concede to the President the need to be cautious to avoid penalising the innocent, seven weeks after the panel turned in its report and another two after a damning verdict by the House probe should surely be enough for the President to demonstrate that he truly abhors corruption. If his concern, as he said in his response to Obasanjo, is “to follow due process in all that I do,” this high-minded requirement has been amply met by the House probe and his own panel.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Jonathan is simply not serious about combating corruption as widely alleged by his critics and confirmed by all global corruption rating agencies. The standard worldwide by nations where corruption is truly detested is to fire any official tainted by even a whiff of wrongdoing if the person fails to resign. Jonathan has not been asked to convict Oduah; only a court of law can do that. All that Nigerians expect of him, and as the House of Representatives recommended, is that he should fire Oduah. She has been sufficiently tainted to make her continued presence in government odious.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>In Turkey, three top cabinet ministers have resigned in a corruption case that does not even name them directly as beneficiaries; in Ghana, a deputy minister of communications was promptly sacked by President John Mahama for merely expressing a desire to make $1 million in politics; in Italy, a three-time prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, has been convicted on corruption charges, while a former Israeli president, Ezer Weizman, was investigated and only avoided criminal prosecution due to the statute of limitation. In any other country, Oduah would have since resigned or been sacked and, together with the complicit aviation officials, prosecuted. Indeed, prosecution would afford Oduah an opportunity to prove the innocence she has steadfastly claimed.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Jonathan is letting another opportunity to take a stand against corruption slip by. Does he relish Nigeria’s persistent rating as one of the most corrupt nations on earth? The nation’s landscape is littered with unresolved corruption scandals to the extent that many Nigerians consider corruption to be much worse than our latest rating as the world’s 144th out of 177 in the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index. His declaration in his 2014 New Year message that he would “take additional steps to stem the tide of corruption and leakages” sounds patently hollow.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Nigerians should not allow Jonathan and Oduah to get away with this missuse of public office. Since our President cannot live up to the standards of decorum in public office that the world has now come to accept, the House of Representatives should not stop at its recommendations; it should insist that Nigeria meets global practices in public morality and seriously combats corruption.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The Oduah case goes beyond partisan politics; corruption has laid Nigeria low and handicapped all development efforts. Public officials are stealing the people blind at the federal, state and local government levels and the anti-graft agencies appear to have lost their bite.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>However, it is not too late for Jonathan to stamp out the stench of corruption swirling around his Presidency by genuinely backing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission and the Code of Conduct Bureau to fulfil their mandate. He should change his body language and send clear signals that corruption will no longer be tolerated.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The place to start is by sacking Oduah.</p><br /><br/><br /><align><ins class='adsbygoogle' data-ad-client='ca-pub-0909255462614293' data-ad-slot='7578597399'> </ins> </align><br /><br/><br />="left"><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/> </div><br /></div>

Sack Oduah Now, Mr President

Sack Oduah Now, Mr President

HAVING tried all the delay tricks in the book, President Goodluck Jonathan is now confronted with a choice: retain the Aviation Minister, St...

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