My Critics Are Ignorant, says Gov. Fashola  

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Nigeria’s Lagos State says those criticizing his administration over its debt profile are ignorant people and voodoo economists.

Fashola spoke  while on a statewide tour of ongoing projects in Badagry area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria. The governor said the critics did not know the intention of government which made it to borrow to finance capital projects.

“They are un-informed voodoo economists. We are seeing a rehash of an old plan. They are voodoo economists. This was the same plan during the tenure of my predecessor, saying Lagos has mortgaged its future for 50 years when the first Bond was taken. The initial N50 billion bond my administration took has paid off. When we took the bond, many said we had mortgaged the state for 50 years, but we have paid that.

“The other that we took is due for repayment, the amount in the consolidated debt service account is about N62 billion as at December last year. The liability that we have is N50 billion and is not due until next year, by which time the amount in the debt service account will reduce,” he explained.

Fashola stated that the state had shown that it had the capacity to pay its debt, adding that this is why I have chosen to ignore all those voodoo economists, that is why they are in the opposition and they will never get government because clearly, it’s dangerous from the way they are talking, they don’t know what the economics of governance is.”

Explaining the rationale behind the state’s budget, Fashola stated that the demands which the state government got before its budget from various communities, roads, schools amounted to about N750 billion but because the administration knew that it could not generate N750 billion, it had to scale the budget down to around N497 billion which was over and above what it could reasonably foresee.

“We are aspirational and ready to take on bigger challenges than our realities show because that for me must be part of what governance entails. It is about being audacious and forward thinking.”

“The only reason why we are working hard is how to bridge that deficit in a sustainable way, raise the money, collect the taxes from those who are hiding, who don’t want to contribute and also prepare for the generation that is coming behind.”

“As we are here, new children have arrived, some people just got married this morning, in nine months’ time you will get the results. Some are also leaving school; somebody is in the lands registry for a land transaction.

“I have to plan for all that. So if it’s just this kobo, kobo economics that they are thinking, it won’t happen. China just borrowed $640 billion to build the world’s fastest rail and create jobs in its economy. So I have chosen to ignore them,” he added.

On the on-going construction of Slave Market and other tourism development projects of the government in Badagry, Fashola said it was all about tourism as it represented one of the historical sites that Nigerians pay money to visit in other parts of the world.

“What you would see on the beach front ultimately is opportunity for the people of Badagry to show all of their skills. All of our people who sell fabrics, batik, who make dresses and beads which are all products from the skills centres,” he said.

The governor emphasized that it would be a big market ultimately for the sale of souvenirs for the people of Badagry and for the people of the state where tourists could benefit , eat the local delicasies such that people in the culinary business could set up businesses as part of efforts at waking up the economy.

Speaking on what transpired during the inspection, Governor Fashola said work on the Magistrate and High Court complex is not moving as quickly as he would like but that the contractor has promised to finish it by April this year.

Ivory Coast take steps to avoid fresh penalty misery  

RUSTENBURG, South Africa (AFP) – After missing out on two Africa Cup of Nations Cup titles on penalties, coach Sabri Lamouchi has taken direct action to prevent his 2013 squad suffering a similar fate.

The Ivorians, who face Nigeria here in Sunday’s quarter-final, are 180 minutes of regulation time away from making their third Nations Cup title decider in seven years.

They missed out on spot kicks to Egypt for the 2006 title in Cairo, and experienced similar heartache 12 months ago to Zambia in Libreville.

To avoid history repeating itself in South Africa now they are into the serious bit of the competition Lamouchi disclosed: “We’ve already started working on penalties.

“Obviously I hope they don’t arise, but if they do – we’ll be ready.”

Lamouchi rotated his squad for the closing ‘dead’ Group D game with Algeria, making nine changes, including a start for captain Didier Drogba, who was on the bench for the second match against Tunisia.

Asked at a press conference Friday on Drogba’s eventual place in his starting XI the former Parma, Genoa and inter Milan midfielder replied: “Didier has made clear progress, he’s working hard.

“Like the rest of the group Didier is essential for the rest of the competition. I won’t change anything in the way I pick my team, I’ll try to put the best one forward.”

He stressed the importance to his players of minimising errors on Sunday.

“One error and we could pay in cash, we don’t have the right to make mistakes now. If we win this one we continue, if we lose we’re going home.”

Lamouchi’s team is dripping with quality and bags of experience of previous Nations Cups, in contrast to Stephen Keshi’s Nigeria side.

He reflected: “This Nigeria team may not have the experience of the great Nigeria sides of the past, but they have young talented players, and we respect them.

“It’s out of the question that we’ll under-estimate them, they have the means to cause us problems.”

He praised his squad’s spirit, pointing to their performance in the 2-2 draw with Algeria with first place in their group already guaranteed.

“Pride was all that was at stake in our last game, but the spirit they showed there and my players’ reaction was very pleasing, that’s important for the competition.”

Saint Etienne midfielder Max Gradel suggested Lamouchi, in his first managerial post, had introduced a crucial new quality to this class of 2013.

“The new coach has shown us how to respect each other, that’s important, we’re ready to fight for one another, that’s a big difference for this Nations Cup, I hope that will help us to finally win the title.”

Tennis: Spain faces Davis Cup elimination  

Spain were facing Davis Cup humiliation on Saturday after the five-time champions slumped 2-0 down to Canada, a country who have never previously won a World Group clash.

Missing top players Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer, Nicolas Almagro and Fernando Verdasco, the champions in three of the last five years, and runners-up in 2012, were blown off court in Vancouver in the first round clash.

Frank Dancevic celebrates victory: AFP Photo

Canadian veteran Frank Dancevic, ranked 166th in the world, stormed to a 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Marcel Granollers, ranked 34th, to put the hosts up 2-0.

World number 15 Milos Raonic had opened the tie with a 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over Albert Ramos.

Spain, who haven’t lost in the first round since 2006, now need Granollers and Marc Lopez to beat Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil in the doubles later Saturday to stay alive in the tie.

“It was beautiful tennis – unfortunately it was painful for us,” admitted Spain captain Alex Corretja. “We know it may be a miracle if we want to win this tie.”

Canada captain Martin Laurendeau refused to accept that Spain were handicapped by the absence of their marquee names.

“Spain is No.1 in the world, I think Spain could field three Davis Cup teams,” he told www.daviscup.com.

On Friday, world number one Novak Djokovic steered Serbia to the brink of the quarter-finals, easing past Belgium’s Olivier Rochus on a court he had described as the worst he’s ever encountered.

Australian Open champion Djokovic needed just an hour and 39 minutes to beat 32-year-old Rochus 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to give Serbia a 2-0 lead after Viktor Troicki took five sets to defeat David Goffin.

“It wasn’t easy playing on clay after a long time indoors and coming from Australia quite late,” said Djokovic.

“At the start I had trouble with movement and getting used to the conditions but I managed to play my best tennis when I needed to.”

Troicki battled back from two sets down against Goffin to win 1-6, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 6-4 as Serbia, the 2010 champions, eyed reaching the quarter-finals for a fourth consecutive year.

Sam Querrey and John Isner powered 32-time champions United States to a 2-0 lead over Brazil in Jacksonville, Florida.

Querrey fired 15 aces to beat Thomaz Bellucci 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 before Isner, who missed the Australian Open with a knee injury, pounded 32 aces past Thiago Alves in a 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 victory.

With their formidable doubles duo of Bob and Mike Bryan due up on Saturday the United States looked to be in prime position to advance to face either Belgium or Serbia.

Marin Cilic gave Croatia the lead over Italy in Turin with a 6-1, 6-7 (6/8), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Paolo Lorenzi.

But Andreas Seppi pulled the hosts level with a 6-2, 6-7 (2-7), 6-4, 6-4 win over Ivan Dodig.

The winners of that tie will meet either Canada or Spain.

France took a commanding 2-0 lead over Israel in Rouen as Arnaud Clement made his debut as national coach.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the world number eight, beat Amir Weintraub 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 before world number 10 Richard Gasquet breezed past Dudi Sela 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

Defending champions Czech Republic finished the day in Geneva at 1-1 against Switzerland.

Stanislas Wawrinka, the Swiss team’s number one in the absence of Roger Federer, saw off Lukas Rosol, the shock conqueror of Nadal at Wimbledon last year, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

World number six Tomas Berdych then defeated Finland-born Henri Laaksonen 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1.

The winners of that tie will meet either Kazakhstan or Austria in the last eight.

Kazakhstan led 2-0 after the opening day in Astana while Argentina took a 2-0 lead over Germany in Buenos Aires.

Indonesian President in Nigeria with 99 businessmen  

Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday at the State House, Abuja, received the Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang-Yudhoyono and his wife, Ani Susilo.

The Indonesian leader and his delegation came on a visit to strengthen exsiting relations and open bilateral and multilateral trade discussions. Ninety-nine Indonesian businessmen accompanied him for the series of discussions.

The delegation arrived the Presidential Villa at about 3.45 pm and was received by President Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan.

On arrival, Yudhoyono inspected a guard of honour mounted by the the Brigade of Guards, and also a 21 gun-salute in his honour.

Jonathan welcomes Indonesian president

The two leaders, members of the delegation, ministers and Nigerian top businessmen, thereafter, proceeded into a closed-door bilateral talks.

Yudhoyono is in Nigeria as part of state visit to three African countries, namely Liberia, Nigeria and Egypt, and some Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia.

The two-day visit will also lead to the signing of an MoU. (NAN)

Oil exploration to start in Borno, says VP Sambo  

Nigeria’s Vice President Namadi Sambo said Saturday that prospects for the improvement of the welfare of Nigerians living in Borno state, the epicentre of Boko Haram insurgency, are bright, with the discovery of oil in the area and the plan to begin exploration soon.

“I am happy to inform you that three oil blocks have been identified and I believe that by the end of this year or first quarter of next year, there is going to be oil exploration in Borno.”

Sambo spoke during a visit to Maiduguri and also announced government’s readiness to observe the ceasefire declared by Boko Haram.

“we welcome the ceasefire offer announced recently by the Boko Haram group and we will do everything as a government to see that we achieve a lasting peace in Nigeria,” he said.

Since 2009, violence linked to Boko Haram’s insurgency has claimed some 3,000 lives, including killings by the security forces.

A recent ceasefire proposal, made by a man claiming to represent Boko Haram, received a lukewarm reception in Nigeria.

Although the army welcomed the offer by Sheikh Muhammed Abdulazeez Ibn Idriss, he may be an impostor, and violence has not ended since his announcement.

On Friday, the Nigerian army also declared that it had killed 17 Islamists in raids that destroyed two Boko Haram camps in the state of Borno, where Maiduguri is the capital.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has been criticised for not visiting Borno, one of the main targets of Boko Haram attacks, since he took office in May 2010.

Sambo’s stay is also the first official visit by a vice president since the rebel group resumed its insurgency in 2009.

Nigeria is Africa’s largest country with a population of more than 160 million. It is also the continent’s top oil producer. The country is roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominately Christian south.

Nigeria’s riches are mainly concentrated in the southern Niger Delta, where the oil is produced, and in Lagos, the country’s economic capital. The rise of Islamist extremism is widely blamed on poverty in the north.

Reps Lawan, Emenalo remanded in prison  

Nnamdi Felix / Abuja
Lawan Farouk and Boniface Emenalo, both Chairman and Secretary of Nigeria’s House of Representatives Adhoc Committee for the probe of the oil subsidy regime were on Friday arraigned before an Abuja High Court on a seven count charge for allegedly soliciting for and obtaining the sum of $620,000 from businessman Femi Otedola, chairman of Zenon Oil.
Both lawmakers pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Farouk Lawan: remanded in Kuje prison

The court subsequently adjourned till 8 February, to rule on the bail application moved by their lawyers led by Mr. Rickey Tarfa and Chief Mike Ozhekome, both senior advocates of Nigeria. The court remanded the accused persons to Kuje Prison pending the court’s ruling on their bail application.
Upon entering their “not guilty” plea as the charge was read to them, their lawyers moved their application for bail asking the court to grant them bail on self recognition .
According to Mr. Rickey Tarfa, the bail application is brought pursuant to sections 35 and 36(5) of the constitution as well as 340 and 341(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code. He prayed the court to note that both Farouk and Emenalo had been granted administrative bails which terms they have consistently abided. He further intimated the court that the accused persons had both travelled outside the country severally since investigation commenced on the matter but still returned to the country without absconding from justice.
He also told the court that his clients had so far visited the Police Force Headquarters a record of 37 times during the course of investigation into the matter which had been concluded and urged the court to grant them bail on self recognition as members of the House of Representatives where Farouk, has been a four term member and chairman of the Committee on Education and Finance as well as member of ECOWAS Parliament for the past 12 years.
In opposing the application for bail, Chief Awomolo, also a senior advocate of Nigeria, argued that the offences for which the lawmakers are standing trial are not ordinarily bailable as the offences are punishable by a 2 to 7 year jail term. He contended that an application for bail is that of equity which requires the court to exercise discretion both judiciously and judicially.
In furtherance to his opposition, Chief Awomolo pointed out that the lawmakers committed the alleged crimes at the highest level in the legislative arm of government and that they failed to make any undertaking that they would not go back to the House, join another committee, demand and accept another bribe, maybe more than the $3 million they demanded from Mr. Femi Otedola.
He also pointed out that the lawmakers were part of the drafting of the ICPC Act 2000 and so were familiar with the law and its provisions and told the court that it should count against them that after making a law, they went and fouled the same law and urged the court to deny them bail and remand them in prison custody pending their trial.
In a bench ruling over the application, the court presided by Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi, observed that the application for bail was filed and moved same day and noted that the court needs time to look at the application with a view to reaching a decision on the lawmakers application for bail. He thereafter ordered that Farouk and Emenalo should be remanded to Kuje prison until the ruling on their bail application which is fixed for 8th February.
Farouk and Emenalo are charged for their violation of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The charge sheet was signed by Mrs. O.O. Fatunde, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN).
Counts 4 and 5 of the charge read:
“That you Hon. Farouk Lawan (M) while being a member of the House of Representatives and chairman of Ad-hoc committee on Monitoring of fuel subsidy regime sometimes in April 2012 or thereabout at Abuja within the Federal Capital Territory under the jurisdiction of this honourable court did while acting in the course of your official duty corruptly obtained the sum of $500,000 (five hundred thousand dollars) for yourself from Mr. Femi Otedola Chairman Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd as an inducement to remove the name of Zenon petroleum gas ltd from the report of the House of Representatives Adihoc committee on Monitoring of fuel subsidy regime and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 17 (1) of the Corrupt practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under section 17 (1) of the same Act.”
“That you Mr. Emenalo Boniface (M) while being a public officer, an Assistant Director and Secretary of. the House of Representatives Ad-hoc committee on Monitoring ofFuel Subsidy Regime sometimes in April 2012 or thereabout at Abuja within the. Federal capital territory under the jurisdiction of this honourable court did while acting in the course of your official duty as Secretary…corruptly asked for the sum of $3,000,000 (three million US dollard) for yourself from Mr. Femi Otedola…and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 8 (1) (b) (ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under section 23 (3) of the same Act.”

Okah Knows Fate 4 March 

A South African court Friday postponed by a month sentencing of the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND, Henry Okah, who was convicted of 13 terrorism charges, including the 2010 independence day bombings in Abuja.

Henry Okah: Convicted

“I will postpone this matter for purposes of hearing arguments in mitigation or aggravation for sentencing,” High Court Judge Neels Claassen said.

Sentencing will run three days from February 28 through March 4.

“That’s the final postponement,” said the judge.

Okah was found guilty of masterminding attacks including twin car bombings in Abuja on October 1, 2010, and two explosions in March 2010 in the southern Nigerian city of Warri, a major hub of the oil-rich Delta region.

He faces a minimum term of life in prison.

He intends to bring five witnesses from Nigeria and the United States.

But prosecution was opposed to the deferment.

“I am disappointed that the matter didn’t proceed today, it’s just basically justice being delayed,” Shaun Abrahams told reporters after the application was granted.

The 46-year-old, who has permanent residency in South Africa, was arrested at his Johannesburg home on October 2, 2010, a day after the twin car bombings that killed 12 people.

MEND, which in 2010 was a well-equipped armed group fighting for a greater share of the Delta oil wealth, claimed responsibility for the attacks that took place as the country celebrated the 50-year anniversary of its independence.

Okah has denied being the leader of MEND, and involvement in the Abuja blasts, claiming the charges were politically motivated.

MEND has a history of staging fierce attacks on oil facilities and kidnapping expatriate workers in the Delta region.

Okah is thought to be the first foreign national to be tried for terrorism in South Africa. He has been in custody since his arrest.

He was convicted on 21 January of 13 terrorism charges, including bombings that killed 12 people in Abuja on Independence Day, 1 October, 2010.

“I have come to the conclusion that the state proved beyond reasonable doubt the guilt of the accused,” said Judge Nels Claassen, handing down the verdict in the South Gauteng High Court.

Okah denied involvement in the blasts and said the charges were politically-motivated.

He also denied leading MEND, but had said he sympathised with their goals.

However, the South African court found Okah was the leader of the movement after uncovering documentary evidence including his wife’s handwritten notes.

Okah’s travail started in 2008 when he was arrested in Angola and extradited to Nigeria, where he was accused of treason and terrorism; he was also linked to gunrunning scandal involving top government officials.

However, during his trial, it was alleged he was suffering from kidney ailment and charges against him were dropped. In 2009, Okah was also a beneficiary of the late President Yar’Adua administration initiated amnesty programme for ex-militants.

The government then thought the amnesty for militants would end unrest in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

In 2010, about an hour before the Independence Day attacks, MEND issued a warning telling people to stay away from the independence celebrations at Eagle Square, Abuja, to mark Nigeria’s 50th independence anniversary. Just as the activities for the celebration were about to start, there were twin car bomb explosions which were targeted at people at the Eagle Square for the ceremony. Within five minutes, the third bomb exploded. A security officer was injured during the third explosion. But MEND denied involvement in the bomb explosions.

President Goodluck Jonathan also blamed a terrorist group for the bombings.

According to a statement from the Presidency, “investigations show that members of MEND have said they know nothing about the bombings.”

But the statement by the president was widely criticised by individuals, political opposition leaders and activists. Okah’s conviction has therefore justified the president’s critics.