Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi dies
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The BBC's Mike Wooldridge reports on the life of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi
Continue reading the main story
Lockerbie Bombing
Megrahi obituary
Bomber to the end Watch
Lockerbie relative: 'Sad day' Watch
Timeline of release
Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, the only person convicted over the 1988 Lockerbie bombing above Scotland which killed 270 people, has died at his home in the Libyan capital Tripoli.
Megrahi, 60, was convicted by a special court in the Netherlands in 2001.
He was released from prison in Scotland in 2009 on compassionate grounds. He was suffering from cancer and was said to have only months to live.
When he arrived back in Tripoli, he received a hero's welcome.
His release sparked the fury of many of the relatives of the victims of the Lockerbie disaster. The US - whose citizens accounted for 189 of the dead - also criticised the move.
But others believed he was not guilty of the bombing.
Continue reading the main story
At the scene
Rana Jawad
BBC News, Tripoli
There are just over a dozen cars lining up the street outside Megrahi's house, on the outskirts of central Tripoli.
Chairs are being put up - presumably for guests who will be paying their condolences, although it is still very quiet here.
I spoke earlier today to Megrahi's brother, who said he wished his brother had lived to see the day when his innocence was proven.
Megrahi - and his family - had long maintained that he was not responsible for the Lockerbie bombing.
During Col Gaddafi's rule, many Libyans maintained that Megrahi was innocent whatever the court decided.
I have spoken to a number of Libyans since Col Gaddafi was ousted last year who believe that Megrahi was guilty.
But you still find that many Libyans say that Megrahi did not directly participate in the bombing, that he was used as a scapegoat by the former regime.
So there are mixed views in Libya on this matter.
Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora died at Lockerbie, called Megrahi's death a "very sad event".
"Right up to the end he was determined, for his family's sake... [that] the verdict against him should be overturned," said Dr Swire, who is a member of the Justice for Megrahi group.
"And also he wanted that for the sake of those relatives who had come to the conclusion after studying the evidence that he wasn't guilty, and I think that's going to happen."
Died at home
His brother Abdulhakim said on Sunday that Megrahi's health had deteriorated quickly and he died at home in Tripoli.
He told the AFP news agency that Megrahi died at 13:00 local time (11:00 GMT).
The BBC's Rana Jawad, who is outside Megrahi's home in Tripoli, says family members are making preparations to receive guests paying their condolences.
Megrahi's sister told the Libyan Wal news agency that his funeral would take place at Tripoli's main cemetery on Monday, following early afternoon prayers.
Megrahi, a Libyan intelligence officer, always denied any responsibility for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in December 1988.
It remains the deadliest terrorist incident ever to have taken place on British soil.
All 259 people aboard the plane, which was travelling from London to New York, were killed, along with 11 others on the ground.
Megrahi, who had cancer, died at his home in Tripoli, his brother said
Investigators tracing the origins of scraps of clothes wrapped around the bomb followed a trail to a shop in Malta which led them, eventually, to Megrahi.
He and another Libyan, Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah, were indicted by the Scottish and US courts in November 1991.
But Libya refused to extradite them. In 1999, after protracted negotiations, Libya handed the two men over for trial, under Scottish law but on neutral ground, the former US airbase at Camp Zeist in the Netherlands.
Their trial began in May 2000. Fhimah was acquitted of all charges, but Megrahi was found guilty and sentenced to a minimum of 27 years in prison.
He served the first part of his sentence at the maximum-security prison at Barlinnie, in Glasgow, but was transferred in 2005 to Greenock prison.
He lost his first appeal against conviction in 2002 but in 2007, his case was referred back to senior Scottish judges. He dropped that second case two days before he was released.
No extradition
Last August, after the fall of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi, Megrahi was reported to be "in and out of a coma" at his home in Tripoli.
There have been calls for him to be returned to jail in the UK or tried in the US.
But shortly after they toppled Colonel Gaddafi, Libyan rebel leaders said they would not extradite Megrahi or any other Libyan.
Continue reading the main story
Megrahi: Key dates
November 1991: Indicted for Lockerbie bombing
2001-02: Tried and convicted at special court in the Netherlands August 2009: Released on compassionate grounds and returns to Tripoli July 2011: Last known public appearance at pro-Gaddafi rally 20 May 2012: Dies at home in Tripoli Timeline: Megrahi since release
Our correspondent says that since the fall of Gaddafi, more Libyans are expressing the view that whatever happened at Lockerbie was bigger than just Megrahi, and he may have been used as a scapegoat by the regime.
Last September, it emerged that former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair had raised Megrahi's case in talks with Gaddafi in 2008 and 2009 in Libya, shortly before Megrahi was freed.
At the time, Libya was threatening to sever commercial links with Britain if Megrahi was not released.
But Mr Blair's spokesman told Col Gaddafi it was a case for the Scottish authorities and no business deals were discussed.
In his last interview, filmed in December 2011, Megrahi said: "I am an innocent man. I am about to die and I ask now to be left in peace with my family."
He had previously claimed he would release new information about the atrocity but little new has emerged.
Megrahi had rarely been seen since his return to Tripoli, but he was spotted on Libyan television at what appeared to be a pro-government rally in July 2011.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Lockerbie Bomber Dies
Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi dies
Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version
The BBC's Mike Wooldridge reports on the life of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi
Continue reading the main story
Lockerbie Bombing
Megrahi obituary
Bomber to the end Watch
Lockerbie relative: 'Sad day' Watch
Timeline of release
Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, the only person convicted over the 1988 Lockerbie bombing above Scotland which killed 270 people, has died at his home in the Libyan capital Tripoli.
Megrahi, 60, was convicted by a special court in the Netherlands in 2001.
He was released from prison in Scotland in 2009 on compassionate grounds. He was suffering from cancer and was said to have only months to live.
When he arrived back in Tripoli, he received a hero's welcome.
His release sparked the fury of many of the relatives of the victims of the Lockerbie disaster. The US - whose citizens accounted for 189 of the dead - also criticised the move.
But others believed he was not guilty of the bombing.
Continue reading the main story
At the scene
Rana Jawad
BBC News, Tripoli
There are just over a dozen cars lining up the street outside Megrahi's house, on the outskirts of central Tripoli.
Chairs are being put up - presumably for guests who will be paying their condolences, although it is still very quiet here.
I spoke earlier today to Megrahi's brother, who said he wished his brother had lived to see the day when his innocence was proven.
Megrahi - and his family - had long maintained that he was not responsible for the Lockerbie bombing.
During Col Gaddafi's rule, many Libyans maintained that Megrahi was innocent whatever the court decided.
I have spoken to a number of Libyans since Col Gaddafi was ousted last year who believe that Megrahi was guilty.
But you still find that many Libyans say that Megrahi did not directly participate in the bombing, that he was used as a scapegoat by the former regime.
So there are mixed views in Libya on this matter.
Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora died at Lockerbie, called Megrahi's death a "very sad event".
"Right up to the end he was determined, for his family's sake... [that] the verdict against him should be overturned," said Dr Swire, who is a member of the Justice for Megrahi group.
"And also he wanted that for the sake of those relatives who had come to the conclusion after studying the evidence that he wasn't guilty, and I think that's going to happen."
Died at home
His brother Abdulhakim said on Sunday that Megrahi's health had deteriorated quickly and he died at home in Tripoli.
He told the AFP news agency that Megrahi died at 13:00 local time (11:00 GMT).
The BBC's Rana Jawad, who is outside Megrahi's home in Tripoli, says family members are making preparations to receive guests paying their condolences.
Megrahi's sister told the Libyan Wal news agency that his funeral would take place at Tripoli's main cemetery on Monday, following early afternoon prayers.
Megrahi, a Libyan intelligence officer, always denied any responsibility for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in December 1988.
It remains the deadliest terrorist incident ever to have taken place on British soil.
All 259 people aboard the plane, which was travelling from London to New York, were killed, along with 11 others on the ground.
Megrahi, who had cancer, died at his home in Tripoli, his brother said
Investigators tracing the origins of scraps of clothes wrapped around the bomb followed a trail to a shop in Malta which led them, eventually, to Megrahi.
He and another Libyan, Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah, were indicted by the Scottish and US courts in November 1991.
But Libya refused to extradite them. In 1999, after protracted negotiations, Libya handed the two men over for trial, under Scottish law but on neutral ground, the former US airbase at Camp Zeist in the Netherlands.
Their trial began in May 2000. Fhimah was acquitted of all charges, but Megrahi was found guilty and sentenced to a minimum of 27 years in prison.
He served the first part of his sentence at the maximum-security prison at Barlinnie, in Glasgow, but was transferred in 2005 to Greenock prison.
He lost his first appeal against conviction in 2002 but in 2007, his case was referred back to senior Scottish judges. He dropped that second case two days before he was released.
No extradition
Last August, after the fall of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi, Megrahi was reported to be "in and out of a coma" at his home in Tripoli.
There have been calls for him to be returned to jail in the UK or tried in the US.
But shortly after they toppled Colonel Gaddafi, Libyan rebel leaders said they would not extradite Megrahi or any other Libyan.
Continue reading the main story
Megrahi: Key dates
November 1991: Indicted for Lockerbie bombing
2001-02: Tried and convicted at special court in the Netherlands August 2009: Released on compassionate grounds and returns to Tripoli July 2011: Last known public appearance at pro-Gaddafi rally 20 May 2012: Dies at home in Tripoli Timeline: Megrahi since release
Our correspondent says that since the fall of Gaddafi, more Libyans are expressing the view that whatever happened at Lockerbie was bigger than just Megrahi, and he may have been used as a scapegoat by the regime.
Last September, it emerged that former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair had raised Megrahi's case in talks with Gaddafi in 2008 and 2009 in Libya, shortly before Megrahi was freed.
At the time, Libya was threatening to sever commercial links with Britain if Megrahi was not released.
But Mr Blair's spokesman told Col Gaddafi it was a case for the Scottish authorities and no business deals were discussed.
In his last interview, filmed in December 2011, Megrahi said: "I am an innocent man. I am about to die and I ask now to be left in peace with my family."
He had previously claimed he would release new information about the atrocity but little new has emerged.
Megrahi had rarely been seen since his return to Tripoli, but he was spotted on Libyan television at what appeared to be a pro-government rally in July 2011.
Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version
The BBC's Mike Wooldridge reports on the life of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi
Continue reading the main story
Lockerbie Bombing
Megrahi obituary
Bomber to the end Watch
Lockerbie relative: 'Sad day' Watch
Timeline of release
Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, the only person convicted over the 1988 Lockerbie bombing above Scotland which killed 270 people, has died at his home in the Libyan capital Tripoli.
Megrahi, 60, was convicted by a special court in the Netherlands in 2001.
He was released from prison in Scotland in 2009 on compassionate grounds. He was suffering from cancer and was said to have only months to live.
When he arrived back in Tripoli, he received a hero's welcome.
His release sparked the fury of many of the relatives of the victims of the Lockerbie disaster. The US - whose citizens accounted for 189 of the dead - also criticised the move.
But others believed he was not guilty of the bombing.
Continue reading the main story
At the scene
Rana Jawad
BBC News, Tripoli
There are just over a dozen cars lining up the street outside Megrahi's house, on the outskirts of central Tripoli.
Chairs are being put up - presumably for guests who will be paying their condolences, although it is still very quiet here.
I spoke earlier today to Megrahi's brother, who said he wished his brother had lived to see the day when his innocence was proven.
Megrahi - and his family - had long maintained that he was not responsible for the Lockerbie bombing.
During Col Gaddafi's rule, many Libyans maintained that Megrahi was innocent whatever the court decided.
I have spoken to a number of Libyans since Col Gaddafi was ousted last year who believe that Megrahi was guilty.
But you still find that many Libyans say that Megrahi did not directly participate in the bombing, that he was used as a scapegoat by the former regime.
So there are mixed views in Libya on this matter.
Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora died at Lockerbie, called Megrahi's death a "very sad event".
"Right up to the end he was determined, for his family's sake... [that] the verdict against him should be overturned," said Dr Swire, who is a member of the Justice for Megrahi group.
"And also he wanted that for the sake of those relatives who had come to the conclusion after studying the evidence that he wasn't guilty, and I think that's going to happen."
Died at home
His brother Abdulhakim said on Sunday that Megrahi's health had deteriorated quickly and he died at home in Tripoli.
He told the AFP news agency that Megrahi died at 13:00 local time (11:00 GMT).
The BBC's Rana Jawad, who is outside Megrahi's home in Tripoli, says family members are making preparations to receive guests paying their condolences.
Megrahi's sister told the Libyan Wal news agency that his funeral would take place at Tripoli's main cemetery on Monday, following early afternoon prayers.
Megrahi, a Libyan intelligence officer, always denied any responsibility for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in December 1988.
It remains the deadliest terrorist incident ever to have taken place on British soil.
All 259 people aboard the plane, which was travelling from London to New York, were killed, along with 11 others on the ground.
Megrahi, who had cancer, died at his home in Tripoli, his brother said
Investigators tracing the origins of scraps of clothes wrapped around the bomb followed a trail to a shop in Malta which led them, eventually, to Megrahi.
He and another Libyan, Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah, were indicted by the Scottish and US courts in November 1991.
But Libya refused to extradite them. In 1999, after protracted negotiations, Libya handed the two men over for trial, under Scottish law but on neutral ground, the former US airbase at Camp Zeist in the Netherlands.
Their trial began in May 2000. Fhimah was acquitted of all charges, but Megrahi was found guilty and sentenced to a minimum of 27 years in prison.
He served the first part of his sentence at the maximum-security prison at Barlinnie, in Glasgow, but was transferred in 2005 to Greenock prison.
He lost his first appeal against conviction in 2002 but in 2007, his case was referred back to senior Scottish judges. He dropped that second case two days before he was released.
No extradition
Last August, after the fall of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi, Megrahi was reported to be "in and out of a coma" at his home in Tripoli.
There have been calls for him to be returned to jail in the UK or tried in the US.
But shortly after they toppled Colonel Gaddafi, Libyan rebel leaders said they would not extradite Megrahi or any other Libyan.
Continue reading the main story
Megrahi: Key dates
November 1991: Indicted for Lockerbie bombing
2001-02: Tried and convicted at special court in the Netherlands August 2009: Released on compassionate grounds and returns to Tripoli July 2011: Last known public appearance at pro-Gaddafi rally 20 May 2012: Dies at home in Tripoli Timeline: Megrahi since release
Our correspondent says that since the fall of Gaddafi, more Libyans are expressing the view that whatever happened at Lockerbie was bigger than just Megrahi, and he may have been used as a scapegoat by the regime.
Last September, it emerged that former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair had raised Megrahi's case in talks with Gaddafi in 2008 and 2009 in Libya, shortly before Megrahi was freed.
At the time, Libya was threatening to sever commercial links with Britain if Megrahi was not released.
But Mr Blair's spokesman told Col Gaddafi it was a case for the Scottish authorities and no business deals were discussed.
In his last interview, filmed in December 2011, Megrahi said: "I am an innocent man. I am about to die and I ask now to be left in peace with my family."
He had previously claimed he would release new information about the atrocity but little new has emerged.
Megrahi had rarely been seen since his return to Tripoli, but he was spotted on Libyan television at what appeared to be a pro-government rally in July 2011.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
My BlackBerry!
You hold me with both hands as gently as u could be.
You ensure that I am always with you.
If I fall you are afraid of my injury.
I always have your undivided attention, you get upset if others disturb our time together.
U can never forget me in a taxi & u won't let me go unlike my old friends nokia, sony and samsung that u would proudly just hand over.
When u eat, I'm beside u.
When u sleeping, my head is by ur pillow.
When I scream u rush and pick me like an egg.
When I feel low, you make every effort to recharge my battery.
When I am hungry, you fill me with airtime.
You buy me all sorts of clothes to cover my precious skin.
And if I make u feel like a cowboy u strap me to ur waist or jeans.
Every month you ensure that you set aside the money, to buy me bundles (of love).
You upgraded me from my friends nokia, sony and samsung to a Curve, Bold & Torch.
You rush home from work and spend quality time with me; not really bothered to make a conversation with those at home.
You can sit up with me for hours and smile at me, yet I have no humanly emotions; sometimes I make u laugh that ppl think u are mad.
I watch your wife/hubby or your bf/gf who envies our time together.
But dearie...
I appeal to you. Your life is wasted because of me. Take some time, leave me aside and Sort out issues that are important to you because I may love you as much as you do love me but I'm just a blackberry,
You ensure that I am always with you.
If I fall you are afraid of my injury.
I always have your undivided attention, you get upset if others disturb our time together.
U can never forget me in a taxi & u won't let me go unlike my old friends nokia, sony and samsung that u would proudly just hand over.
When u eat, I'm beside u.
When u sleeping, my head is by ur pillow.
When I scream u rush and pick me like an egg.
When I feel low, you make every effort to recharge my battery.
When I am hungry, you fill me with airtime.
You buy me all sorts of clothes to cover my precious skin.
And if I make u feel like a cowboy u strap me to ur waist or jeans.
Every month you ensure that you set aside the money, to buy me bundles (of love).
You upgraded me from my friends nokia, sony and samsung to a Curve, Bold & Torch.
You rush home from work and spend quality time with me; not really bothered to make a conversation with those at home.
You can sit up with me for hours and smile at me, yet I have no humanly emotions; sometimes I make u laugh that ppl think u are mad.
I watch your wife/hubby or your bf/gf who envies our time together.
But dearie...
I appeal to you. Your life is wasted because of me. Take some time, leave me aside and Sort out issues that are important to you because I may love you as much as you do love me but I'm just a blackberry,
5 Things That Helped Chelsea to the Champions League Glory
5 Things That Helped Chelsea to the Champions League Trophy
Chelsea survived missed penalties and missed chances on the way to glory while the interim manager proved inspired.
1. MISSED PENALTIES
Lionel Messi at the Camp Nou and then Arjen Robben at the Allianz Arena; two spot-kicks that should have sunk Chelsea but instead failed to hit the net and kept their dreams of European glory alive.
2. MISSED CHANCES
Napoli, Barcelona and Bayern Munich created enough chances in their respective ties with Chelsea to have each won the Champions League10 times over, but they were crucially wasteful, Barcelona especially.
3. WELL-TIMED STRIKES
The margin of victory over Barcelona was fine and, as such, the closing seconds before half-time in both legs of the semi-final tie should be cherished by Chelsea. Didier Drogba scored in that period at Stamford Bridge before Ramires did the same in the return game.
4. SACKING SAVIOUR
The firing of André Villas-Boas after just nine months as manager looked like another reckless move by Roman Abramovich, but he will reflect on that decision with huge satisfaction now. Roberto Di Matteo came in and galvanised the squad towards its greatest moment. The change was an inspired one.
5. DEADLY DROGBA
In what is set to be his final season at Stamford Bridge it was perhaps written in the stars that the Ivorian would make a final, decisive impact.
Chelsea survived missed penalties and missed chances on the way to glory while the interim manager proved inspired.
1. MISSED PENALTIES
Lionel Messi at the Camp Nou and then Arjen Robben at the Allianz Arena; two spot-kicks that should have sunk Chelsea but instead failed to hit the net and kept their dreams of European glory alive.
2. MISSED CHANCES
Napoli, Barcelona and Bayern Munich created enough chances in their respective ties with Chelsea to have each won the Champions League10 times over, but they were crucially wasteful, Barcelona especially.
3. WELL-TIMED STRIKES
The margin of victory over Barcelona was fine and, as such, the closing seconds before half-time in both legs of the semi-final tie should be cherished by Chelsea. Didier Drogba scored in that period at Stamford Bridge before Ramires did the same in the return game.
4. SACKING SAVIOUR
The firing of André Villas-Boas after just nine months as manager looked like another reckless move by Roman Abramovich, but he will reflect on that decision with huge satisfaction now. Roberto Di Matteo came in and galvanised the squad towards its greatest moment. The change was an inspired one.
5. DEADLY DROGBA
In what is set to be his final season at Stamford Bridge it was perhaps written in the stars that the Ivorian would make a final, decisive impact.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday got the nod of the state High Court sitting in Abeokuta to proceed through the Truth Commission and inquire into the complaints and cases of deaths, disappearance and assassination of persons during the administration of embattled former Governor Gbenga Daniel.
The Truth Commission is expected to inquire into the killing of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain in Ogun, Otunba Dipo Dina, the disappearance of Age (Animashaun) Lemomu, and gruesome killings of 65 political supporters of Amosun between 2005 and 2009.
It is also expected that the failed assassination bid on Daniel’s former Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Wale Adedayo, and spirited harassment and threats to the life of the former Ijebu East Local Government boss, Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye, would also get the attention of the commission.
The commission, which was established by Amosun last September 14, is mandated to determine whether or not such deaths, disappearances and assassinations of some indigenes of the state during Daniel’s era involved the abuse of power by any person or persons holding public office.
Members of the commission are Messrs Pius Adeyemi, Abdulahi Mustapha, Dalopo Akinsanya, Bamidele Aturu, Tunji Onabamwo and Lanre Suraj.
The commission is to also ascertain whether the above cases resulted from any person or group of persons acting under the control or authority of such public office holder as well as identifying individuals, institutions and groups whose activities resulted in the acts so referred.
The liberty to proceed with the probe followed the order of the State High Court yesterday which vacated the stay of proceeding order earlier served on the state government last October 28 over the constitution of the Truth Commission of Enquiry.
The October 28 order restrained Amosun and the Truth Commission from probing immediate past governor, Gbenga Daniel, his aides or any one that served with him.
Daniel had on October 28 challenged the setting up and the constitution of the Truth Commission of Enquiry through his counsel, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan.
The former governor told the court then that his successor, Senator Amosun, lacked the power to set up such commission and asked the court for a stay of proceeding, pending the determination of the matter and his prayer was granted.
But Justice Paul Onamade, who granted the initial restraining order, vacated same yesterday. He held that tentatively, the commission could go ahead with probing the alleged infraction of human rights, disappearance of persons and killings that occurred between May 2003 and May 2011, pending the interpretation of Section 36 (4) of the constitution by the Appeal Court.
The Truth Commission is expected to inquire into the killing of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain in Ogun, Otunba Dipo Dina, the disappearance of Age (Animashaun) Lemomu, and gruesome killings of 65 political supporters of Amosun between 2005 and 2009.
It is also expected that the failed assassination bid on Daniel’s former Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Wale Adedayo, and spirited harassment and threats to the life of the former Ijebu East Local Government boss, Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye, would also get the attention of the commission.
The commission, which was established by Amosun last September 14, is mandated to determine whether or not such deaths, disappearances and assassinations of some indigenes of the state during Daniel’s era involved the abuse of power by any person or persons holding public office.
Members of the commission are Messrs Pius Adeyemi, Abdulahi Mustapha, Dalopo Akinsanya, Bamidele Aturu, Tunji Onabamwo and Lanre Suraj.
The commission is to also ascertain whether the above cases resulted from any person or group of persons acting under the control or authority of such public office holder as well as identifying individuals, institutions and groups whose activities resulted in the acts so referred.
The liberty to proceed with the probe followed the order of the State High Court yesterday which vacated the stay of proceeding order earlier served on the state government last October 28 over the constitution of the Truth Commission of Enquiry.
The October 28 order restrained Amosun and the Truth Commission from probing immediate past governor, Gbenga Daniel, his aides or any one that served with him.
Daniel had on October 28 challenged the setting up and the constitution of the Truth Commission of Enquiry through his counsel, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan.
The former governor told the court then that his successor, Senator Amosun, lacked the power to set up such commission and asked the court for a stay of proceeding, pending the determination of the matter and his prayer was granted.
But Justice Paul Onamade, who granted the initial restraining order, vacated same yesterday. He held that tentatively, the commission could go ahead with probing the alleged infraction of human rights, disappearance of persons and killings that occurred between May 2003 and May 2011, pending the interpretation of Section 36 (4) of the constitution by the Appeal Court.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
John Nwobodo Carpenter4:10am Nov 16
TEARS FOR MY COUNTRY!!!!
Enough of facebook or keyboard activism,Its not evrybody that can lay hands on pc ,lappie or Smartfones,I went out there to live and mingle with the real Nigerians,Those whose voice needed to be heard,the ones who are really feeling the heat of governance,Its difficult to say all I encountered,Lots of Injustice ,indiscipline and suffering is been swept under carpets,lots of Camels are passing through needles,Right from Lagos to all Towns and Vilages I visited,I doubt If Hell wont be better to the kind of Life Nigerians are subjected to ,through the carelessness,negligence and greediness of people they queued in the sun to vote for,I
hadInterviews with some Village chiefs,Local leaders,Uncountable unemployed youths who engaged themselves in series of manual labour just to make ends meet,So fortunate to come across a Local govt caretaker chairman convoy ,The man ,maybe been diplomatic,tried to explain what they face from the federal govt as well and that He cant do more than available funds.I now realise why corruption has become Nigerias third fourth religion,aside the known two and football,Govt establishments are in deplorable state just like the amenities,I visited the Oyo state secretariat in Ibadan ,you wont believe the sight and scenes inside where Our governor works its now worse than you can ever imagine and thank God there is HEAVEN,it would have been better for poor man not to be born in this our country,Even the so call rich living in the country arent finding things easy as they may pretend apart from exporting our petrol dollars,Because we all share ,up Nepa share Bad roads in common,The few that tried to fly their copter or chopper are afraid of dangling wires.Bribery now appear in proper nakedness in any of the establishment ,Police dont even care whether you are armed with smartfones or cameras again while operating,Right from the Abule Egba road till I get to the international Airport,you must settle,Even the airline officials are openly asking for settlement,One custom lady told me "you must drop something or drop you bag,But think tiwce before droppin your bag ooo"I got the message immediately,they may end up planting somethin in my bag ,or still be delayed .Who are those castigating Baba Suwe?I saw a lot of at the Nigerian Airport,lots are happening with no one to question,Where are we heading,I dont have a clue,Yesterday ,I got up to go and register my anger with the Nigerian Ambassador in Uk and relay my experience ,If theres anythin advice from him,When I got there I understand He was having a party(I think celebrating the just concluded national honour with friends and diplomats,I saw protesters outside the Nigerian Embassy,I was happy thinking it will be a good ground for me to display.I was armed pictures of bad roads,graduates selling recharge cards or gala ,dilapidated schools and hungry lookin young men as what to display,But What I saw on the placards shocked me ,Ask me what it is---------------------------
"Rights of GAYSand LESBIANS"
Im not against anybodys right,but is this the right time for that ?I just took a U turn and return home,where are we heading,who will save Nigeria.In a situation where someone that has just been given a national honour is been investigated for corruption within one week,My guys shouting or arguing on the internet wont go any where ,we need to be on the street,I tried my best ,but am just a voice out of 150m,I cant cry for Nigeria cos,I continue to stretch the neck where the future is.I have pix and videos to back all I wrote above if theres any THOMAS around here !I sincerely appologise to my friends who I promised to link up with that the situation wasnt that encouraging for me to be bubbling here and there,but I did what you sent me to do.
TEARS FOR MY COUNTRY!!!!
Enough of facebook or keyboard activism,Its not evrybody that can lay hands on pc ,lappie or Smartfones,I went out there to live and mingle with the real Nigerians,Those whose voice needed to be heard,the ones who are really feeling the heat of governance,Its difficult to say all I encountered,Lots of Injustice ,indiscipline and suffering is been swept under carpets,lots of Camels are passing through needles,Right from Lagos to all Towns and Vilages I visited,I doubt If Hell wont be better to the kind of Life Nigerians are subjected to ,through the carelessness,negligence and greediness of people they queued in the sun to vote for,I
hadInterviews with some Village chiefs,Local leaders,Uncountable unemployed youths who engaged themselves in series of manual labour just to make ends meet,So fortunate to come across a Local govt caretaker chairman convoy ,The man ,maybe been diplomatic,tried to explain what they face from the federal govt as well and that He cant do more than available funds.I now realise why corruption has become Nigerias third fourth religion,aside the known two and football,Govt establishments are in deplorable state just like the amenities,I visited the Oyo state secretariat in Ibadan ,you wont believe the sight and scenes inside where Our governor works its now worse than you can ever imagine and thank God there is HEAVEN,it would have been better for poor man not to be born in this our country,Even the so call rich living in the country arent finding things easy as they may pretend apart from exporting our petrol dollars,Because we all share ,up Nepa share Bad roads in common,The few that tried to fly their copter or chopper are afraid of dangling wires.Bribery now appear in proper nakedness in any of the establishment ,Police dont even care whether you are armed with smartfones or cameras again while operating,Right from the Abule Egba road till I get to the international Airport,you must settle,Even the airline officials are openly asking for settlement,One custom lady told me "you must drop something or drop you bag,But think tiwce before droppin your bag ooo"I got the message immediately,they may end up planting somethin in my bag ,or still be delayed .Who are those castigating Baba Suwe?I saw a lot of at the Nigerian Airport,lots are happening with no one to question,Where are we heading,I dont have a clue,Yesterday ,I got up to go and register my anger with the Nigerian Ambassador in Uk and relay my experience ,If theres anythin advice from him,When I got there I understand He was having a party(I think celebrating the just concluded national honour with friends and diplomats,I saw protesters outside the Nigerian Embassy,I was happy thinking it will be a good ground for me to display.I was armed pictures of bad roads,graduates selling recharge cards or gala ,dilapidated schools and hungry lookin young men as what to display,But What I saw on the placards shocked me ,Ask me what it is---------------------------
"Rights of GAYSand LESBIANS"
Im not against anybodys right,but is this the right time for that ?I just took a U turn and return home,where are we heading,who will save Nigeria.In a situation where someone that has just been given a national honour is been investigated for corruption within one week,My guys shouting or arguing on the internet wont go any where ,we need to be on the street,I tried my best ,but am just a voice out of 150m,I cant cry for Nigeria cos,I continue to stretch the neck where the future is.I have pix and videos to back all I wrote above if theres any THOMAS around here !I sincerely appologise to my friends who I promised to link up with that the situation wasnt that encouraging for me to be bubbling here and there,but I did what you sent me to do.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
My monthly salary is less than N1m - Gov Aliyu
Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State said yesterday that contrary to public expectations, his monthly salary as governor is not up to N1 million. He explained that “many people don’t know that the only thing we enjoy (as governors) is free food, but the salary is less than a million naira per month.
Governor Aliyu declared this yesterday in Abuja when he delivered a goodwill message at the fund-raising dinner organised for the Kogi State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Captain Idris Wada and his running mate, Arc. Yomi Awoniyi held at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
He explained that as a public official, he can’t make donation because of the activities of some mischief makers lurking around to cash on it. The governor, who donated his one month salary to the Wada/Awoniyi campaign organisation, said that it is very easy for the mischief makers to write a petition against him to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He lamented the current trend where anonymous petition writers are having a field day. “I know that civil servants in those days don’t entertain anonymous petitions. But today, if someone doesn’t like my face, I didn’t make my face bad. I have no choice. And somebody is slighting me because of that, and will be haunting me in and out, I think it is not right.”
The Niger State governor who is also the chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, said: “I make my personal donation of my one month salary which is less than N1 million. Many people don’t know that the only thing we enjoy is the free food, but the salary is less than a million naira! That is my personal donation.”
The event was attended by Governors Idris Ibrahim of Kogi, Isa Yuguda of Bauchi, Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina; former PDP national chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, his wife and Special Adviser to the President on Inter-governmental Affairs, Mariam Ahmadu Ali; former Chief of Army Staff, General Salihu Ibrahim (rtd) and General David Jemibewon (rtd), among other party chieftains and supporters.
Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State said yesterday that contrary to public expectations, his monthly salary as governor is not up to N1 million. He explained that “many people don’t know that the only thing we enjoy (as governors) is free food, but the salary is less than a million naira per month.
Governor Aliyu declared this yesterday in Abuja when he delivered a goodwill message at the fund-raising dinner organised for the Kogi State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Captain Idris Wada and his running mate, Arc. Yomi Awoniyi held at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
He explained that as a public official, he can’t make donation because of the activities of some mischief makers lurking around to cash on it. The governor, who donated his one month salary to the Wada/Awoniyi campaign organisation, said that it is very easy for the mischief makers to write a petition against him to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He lamented the current trend where anonymous petition writers are having a field day. “I know that civil servants in those days don’t entertain anonymous petitions. But today, if someone doesn’t like my face, I didn’t make my face bad. I have no choice. And somebody is slighting me because of that, and will be haunting me in and out, I think it is not right.”
The Niger State governor who is also the chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, said: “I make my personal donation of my one month salary which is less than N1 million. Many people don’t know that the only thing we enjoy is the free food, but the salary is less than a million naira! That is my personal donation.”
The event was attended by Governors Idris Ibrahim of Kogi, Isa Yuguda of Bauchi, Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina; former PDP national chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, his wife and Special Adviser to the President on Inter-governmental Affairs, Mariam Ahmadu Ali; former Chief of Army Staff, General Salihu Ibrahim (rtd) and General David Jemibewon (rtd), among other party chieftains and supporters.
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