EFCC gets order to paste criminal charge on Sylva’s home

By Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

 

Former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva,

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday got the legal nod to paste criminal charges against former Bayelsa  State Governor Timipre Sylva, at his Abuja residence.
Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja, granted the order, following an ex-parte motion for substituted service by the EFCC counsel, Oghenevo Otemu.
Sylva is facing a six-count criminal charge of criminal conspiracy and conversion of state property and resources amounting to N2.45 billion while in office.
The motion brought pursuant to Section 90 of the Criminal Procedure Act and the inherent jurisdiction of the  court prayed for “an order granting leave to the complainant/applicant to serve the charge sheet, criminal summons and any other processes in this case on the accused by substituted means to wit: Pasting same on the gate of No 3, River Niger Street, off Dan-Obe Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, which is the accused’s ordinary residence”.
Justice Bello had at the last sitting refused application to serve Sylva the charge through his counsel. 
In an affidavit in support of the application, Ibrahim Ahmed, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, attached to the EFCC averred that all efforts to serve the charge on the accused personally had proved abortive.
*That the accused  is aware that this charge has been filed against him.
*That I have been to the accused residence at No 3 River Niger Street, off Dan-Obe Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, severally to effect service of the charge sheet on him personally but I was always told by his aides at the gate of the premises that he is not around.
That the accused,  being a former governor, is always surrounded by aides, which, makes it impossible to reach him personally with court processes.
*That the accused will definitely know of the charge sheet and the criminal summons if this application is granted and the processes are served by pasting same at his residence…
*That the accused will not be prejudiced if the application is granted
According to the charge filed by Festus Keyamo, Sylva allegedly perpetrated the illegal act through proxies under the false pretence of using the amount to augment salaries of the Bayelsa State Government.
The alleged offences are contrary to Sections 14(1) and 17(a) and punishable under Section 14(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2004.
They are also contrary to Sections 1(1)(b) and 8(a) and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2004.
The proxies allegedly used by the former governor are Habibu Sani Maigidia, a Bureau De Change Operator with Account No. 221433478108, in Fin Bank; Enson Benmer Limited with Account No. 6152030001946, in First Bank and John Daukoru with Account No. 04800250000418 in United Bank for Africa (UBA).

NY Times picks Okonjo-Iweala over Obama’s choice

By Vanguard: Uduma Kalu THE influential New York Times, perhaps,  has picked  Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala over US President Barack Obama’s nominee for the World Bank presidency, Jim Yong Kim.
Comentators on the paper said: “Whereas Okonjo-Iweala has already attracted strong endorsements from publications at the cutting edge of global financial journalism like The Economist, and The Financial Times, this new endorsement enhances the profile of Okonjo Iweala.
Conventional qualities
The New York Times is unequivocal in its support saying as an “economist, diplomat and former World Bank managing director, she offers many conventional qualities of bank presidents” adding, “she breaks the mould as a woman from an African country where she fought to reduce the country’s debt, gain greater access to international credit markets and battle corruption.”
Advancing merit over politics, and given the current global economic and social challenges, Okonjo-Iweala, is the best fit for the presidency of the World Bank, the paper said, even as the influential newspaper praised Obama’s choice as an “inspired choice.”

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

More importantly also, argues the paper, the tradition that allows all presidents of the World Bank to be American, just as the headship of the International Monetary Fund traditionally goes to Europeans is antiquated and needs be replaced by a merit-centred consideration.
The New York Times noted, however, that what the bank needed was “a president with experience beyond Washington’s narrow political and economic circles.” It posited that although “Dr. Kim has worked on development in the poorest countries, one major success: leading a World Health Organization initiative that provided access to H.I.V. treatment to millions of people, the new president must also tackle broader issues of economics and growth, and manage the prickly political leaders who are the bank’s overseers. That is why the bank board must take a serious look at Dr. Kim’s strongest challenger, Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s finance minister.”
The paper argued that nevertheless, a merit-based consideration should not exclude qualified Americans, the paper said, but even as much, “neither should it guarantee them a job” in a world where emerging economies contribute a significant share to global growth, and are “rightly demanding a greater say in decision-making.”
Global health expert
Yong Kim is a South Korean-born medical doctor and president of Ivy League Dartmouth College of whom the paper admits,“ has a stellar reputation as a global health expert.”
Of the third candidate, José Antonio Ocampo, a Professor at Columbia University in New York, and who is the former Colombian finance minister and high-ranking United Nations official, the paper said “he, too, is a credible contender with long experience in development and international policy.” However, with regards to Dr. Kim, the paper said: “The bank will almost certainly do well under his leadership. But it would do even better if the process for choosing the next president were truly competitive and fully transparent.”

31 journalists killed in three months

By Vanguard
GENEVA  (AFP) – The number of journalists killed while doing their job in the first three months of the year reached 31, up 50 percent from 21 deaths a year ago, media watchdog Press Emblem Campaign said Monday.
In strife-torn Syria, nine journalists lost their lives during the period, including famed American war correspondent Marie Colvin.
Brazil was also turning out to be dangerous for media workers this year, with five journalists killed in the three months.
Three journalists lost their lives in Somalia, while two each perished in India, Bolivia and Nigeria.
In the whole of 2011, 107 journalists were killed.

Okonjo-Iweala best candidate to lead World Bank, Jonathan canvasses

President Goodluck Jonathan Monday issued a strong statement in support of Africa’s  World Bank pick, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister for Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy.
In a statement made available today the president said that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s knowledge and expertise make her the best candidate to lead the World Bank.
Below is the President’s statement
I am very pleased to note the staunch support and universal acclaim elicited by the nomination of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, as a candidate for the post of World Bank President.
I am particularly appreciative of the strong endorsement and proactive backing for her candidature as Africa’s nominee for this very important position by fellow Heads of State across the continent, the African Union Commission, ECOWAS and African Ministers of Finance, Economy and Planning.
It is noteworthy that other developing countries, prominent individuals and organizations across the globe, including development experts, national and international media, Think Tanks, and Civil Society groups, have been very supportive of her nomination.
I also acknowledge the positive role played by Nigeria’s legislature, and other prominent groups, including members of Nigeria’s vibrant media, in lending strong support to her candidature.  These have given Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s campaign a tremendous momentum, which we welcome.
As a preeminent development institution, the World Bank is well-positioned to play an important role in partnering with Developing countries to promote growth, tackle poverty and uplift living standards.
Accordingly, the leadership of the institution matters greatly and must be chosen with utmost care.
It matters even more in a complex, increasingly inter-connected global environment characterized by volatility and uncertainty.
It is for this reason that there is a resounding call to ensure an open, transparent and merit-based process in the election of the  World Bank President, which our country aligns with, and which has been promised by the G-20 Countries as well as the World Bank’s Development Committee.
We firmly believe that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s knowledge and expertise, as well as the depth and breadth of her experience make her the best candidate to lead the World Bank. She has first-hand experience of managing complex financial and economic development issues at national and international levels, deploying her skills with demonstrated passion, commitment and professionalism.
She has also shown a high degree of innovation and drive, while exhibiting a strong ability to integrate and manage interwoven problems of development in infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, and other sectors in her expanded role as Coordinating Minister for the Economy.
I am firmly convinced that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s leadership will be beneficial, both to the World Bank and to its principal stakeholders.
I also believe that it would be immensely beneficial to Africa and the developing world at large.  Nigeria urges that her candidacy receives fair consideration in an open, transparent and merit-based process, which should be embraced by all stakeholders.