EFCC detains 12 over Halliburton bribery case

 The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) have raided the offices of U.S. firm Halliburton and arrested 12 people in a bribery case involving former Halliburton unit KBR Inc, a spokesman said on Saturday.

The agency said it had detained 10 Halliburton staff for questioning and one senior employee each from oil services firms Saipem Contracting Nigeria Ltd and Technip Offshore Nigeria Ltd.

"We are still looking for the (local) managing director of Halliburton," EFCC spokesman Femi Babafemi said.

Those detained in Thursday's raid, carried out with the assistance of armed police, included Giuseppe Surace, Saipem's country manager, and Frank Pliya from Technip, as well as a mixture of expatriates and Nigerians, Mr Babafemi said.

Houston-based engineering firm KBR pleaded guilty last year to U.S. charges that it paid $180 million in bribes between 1994 and 2004 to Nigerian officials to secure $6 billion in contracts for the Bonny Island liquefied natural gas project.

KBR and Halliburton reached a $579 million settlement in the United States but Nigeria, France and Switzerland have conducted their own investigations into the case.

KBR split from oilfield services giant Halliburton in 2007.

A former aide to Nigeria's ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo pleaded not guilty in October to six counts of money laundering in relation to the case between 2002-2003, including accepting $1.5 million in bribe payments.

His case was adjourned to December 16.

Source: 234next.com

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Action Congress of Nigeria wins Osun

 The politics of the Southwest took another interesting turn at the weekend as an Appeals Court voided Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s three years and six months reign as governor of Osun State. The court ruled that the 2007 election was actually won by the candidate of the Action Congress (AC) candidate in the said election, Rauf Aregbesola, who was sworn in on Saturday as the governor of the state.

Prior to the ruling, however, about 15 members of the PDP had shown interest in the governorship race and obtained the N3 million intention of interest form sold by the party secretariat. The party had been consumed by the fight over which of these aspirants would get the ticket to replace Mr Oyinlola, until the whole house of cards came tumbling down.

The court ruling means there would not be any governorship election in Osun State next year, as Mr Aregbesola will serve out his four years. The state thus joins others such as Ondo, Edo,

Ekiti and Anambra where there would be no governorship election in 2011.

The judgement also increases the number of states lost by the PDP to the opposition ACN to three.

Delivering its judgement in Ibadan on Friday, the five-member panel led by Clara Ogunbiyi said the Election Petition Tribunal which heard the petition brought by Aregbesola erred by upholding the declaration of Mr Oyinlola by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the election.

For the ACN’s candidate, Friday’s judgment was a result of resilience and tenacity. Having failed before the initial tribunal, headed by Thomas Naron, the petitioner went to the Court of Appeal where a retrial of the case was ordered on the ground that the panel failed to admit useful evidences that could help in proper discharge of the matter.

Mr Aregbesola also suffered another loss when the matter was retried by the second tribunal, headed by Garba Alli.

The tribunal ruled that he failed to prove his allegations of over-voting, ballot stuffing and other electoral malpractices beyond reasonable doubt.

But succor came his way last Friday, when all his 26 grounds of appeal, collapsed into five, sailed through before the Appeal panel.

Delivering her lead judgement, Mrs. Ogunbiyi posited that the petitioner had provided enough grounds for the tribunal to rule in his favour, having presented evidences of discrepancies in the strength of registered voters and the number of votes recorded for the election.

Benefit of tenacity

Mr Aregbesola was contesting the votes in 10 out of the 30 local government councils of the state, where he alleged that there were irregularities and non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2006.

In the 4-hour 37- minutes judgment, Mrs Ogunbiyi, chided the lower tribunal for validating the election of Oyinlola, despite the barrage of substantial evidence and exhibits presented by Aregbesola’s counsel, saying that its failure to consider the evidences amounted to a display of jaundiced view of the whole matter. The other justices,

M. L. Garba, P.A. Galinge, C. C Nweze and A. Jauro also took turns to align with her.

In declaring Aregbesola, the court said “An order is hereby given that the votes in the 10 local governments are voided and the election of Olagunsoye Oyinlola is hereby nullified”. The presiding Justice continued by saying “in considering the reliefs sought, it is my opinion that the 2007 election in Osun state cannot be said to have complied with the Electoral Act. From the above, a candidate can only be declared winner if he polls the majority lawful votes. Having voided elections in the ten local governments, there is no doubt that the first appellant (Aregbesola) won the elections and has satisfied the requirements of the Electoral Act. Olagunsoye Oyinlola,

who was returned as governor of Osun state, was not validly elected as he did not score the highest number of votes as required. The first appellant having been shown to have won the highest votes is hereby declared as the governor of Osun state in the 2007 election.”

The controversial local governments are: Atakumosa, Ayedade, Boluwaduro, Boripe Ife Central, Ife East, Ife South, Ifedayo, Isokan and Odo Otin.

Source:234next.com

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British investigators turn sight on Soludo

Former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Chukwuma Soludo

The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Chukwuma Soludo, is under the radar of British crime investigators who want to understand his role in the N29 billion polymer banknote contract issued during his tenure.

Between 2006 and 2009, the Central Bank carried out currency reforms that saw the introduction of polymer bank notes to replace the paper notes of the country’s lower denominations. In late 2009, media reports alleged that top CBN officials had received bribes in order to grant an Australian company, Securency International Pty Ltd, the contract which saw the Australian company supplying Nigeria with at least 1.9 billion pieces of the polymer substrate.

The contract is now the subject of a multi-national investigation straddling Vietnam, Malaysia, Australia, the UK and Nigeria, from which about N3.5 billion was paid out in slush fund. Investigators believe that millions out of the amount were paid to top Nigerian politicians and bank officials.

Investigating the Scandal

International sources who spoke to NEXT in confidence, said that feelers from the on-going investigations by the British Serious Fraud Office (SFO) point to the fact that Mr. Soludo has become a subject of their investigations. NEXT had earlier reported that the former bank chief directed contract processes in the CBN as well as the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting PLC, of which the CBN has a 77% shareholding.

“SFO is investigating the Nigerian deal in the UK. Soludo may be tied to a lot of those Nigerian deals which explains why the SFO may be investigating him,” our source said.

The SFO’s spokesperson in an email exchange with NEXT however declined to confirm or refute the claims.

“Without wishing to be unhelpful, I am unable to provide any further details. The investigation is ongoing. For guidance; it is not SFO policy to confirm or deny the names of suspects in its investigations,” Katie Winstanley of the SFO said. Ms. Winstanley further said that the SFO has arrested at least five people so far in connection with the on-going investigation.

A source within the EFCC, who asked not to be named, however confirmed that the SFO had indeed contacted the Nigerian anti-graft agency in relation to the investigations involving Mr. Soludo.

“There may be something like that. I know that there has been intelligence exchange between the EFCC and the SFO concerning this matter. It is an on-going investigation which was not initiated by the EFCC,” our source said.

In the months following the media reports, several anti-corruption agencies within and outside Nigeria have launched investigations into the scandal. In Nigeria, the initial enthusiasm showed by the Nigerian Police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the National Assembly has since waned. None of the Nigerian investigations have yielded any results.

Efforts to get obtain reactions from the official spokesmen for the EFCC and the CBN were unfruitful.

Sharing the contract commissions

Documents obtained by NEXT show that Securency, whose parent company is the Reserve Bank of Australia, paid about $23 million dollars in suspect commissions to a company domiciled in a tax haven, Seychelles. The company, SPT Limited, further commissioned two other agents to secure the Nigerian contracts.

The Australian media, championed by The Age, is claiming that the agents chosen had close links with top government and CBN officials. One of the agents, Joseph Raad, who was appointed as a ‘confidential sub-agent’ by SPT LTD, is Iceland’s honorary Consul General to Nigeria. SPT, which stood to gain 12% of all contract deals secured from Nigeria, pledged to pay its agents between 4.5-5% of the contracts worth.

Source:234next.com

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Grappling with challenges of implementing non-interest banking

L-R: CBN Governor, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, Minister of Finance, Mr. Olusegun Aganga




Non-interest banking has taken a centre stage. Stakeholders in Nigeria’s financial sector may have endorsed this, but poor implementation may scuttle the project, IFEANYI ONUBA reports By some measure, the global financial crisis has brought about a renewed consciousness in the area of non-interest banking and finance, which began in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates in 1975.

This is so because the non-interest banking, also known as Islamic banking, has been proved as one of the fastest growing sectors in the world.

Islamic banking is a financial banking practice that is consistent with the principles of the Shari’ah (Islamic law). And unlike the conventional banking model, it is non-interest based.

Unlike the conventional banking model that charges interest from all funds borrowed by customers, this model frowns at such practice.

Rather, the non-interest model seeks to promote the financing of long term infrastructure by making funds available to customers for developmental purposes.

Currently, there are about 500 Islamic banks worldwide controlling assets that are worth about $1tn. The figure, according to analysts, could rise to about $4tn by 2020.

To underscore the importance of this concept of banking, the regulators of the financial sector in Nigeria have begun the process of implementing the framework in the country.

Already, the Central Bank of Nigeria has issued regulatory and supervisory guidelines for the commencement of the banking model in the country.

The apex bank had said all banks offering such financial products or services should have a Shariah compliance review mechanism and a Shariah Advisory Committee as part of their governance structure.

The CBN guidelines stipulate, ”In line with the provisions of Section 39 (1) of BOFIA 1991 (as amended), banks offering non-interest banking products and services shall not include the words ‘Islamic‘ as part of their registered or licensed name.

”They shall, however, be recognised by a uniform logo to be designed and approved by the CBN. The CBN shall require all the banks‘ signage and promotional materials to carry the logo to facilitate recognition by consumers.”

The guidelines also state that non-interest banks shall be licensed in accordance with the requirements for new banking licence issued by the apex bank from time to time. These include a non-refundable application fee of N500,000 and a deposit of minimum capital of N25bn with the regulator.

According to the guidelines, six months after the grant of approval-in-principle, the promoters of a proposed bank must also submit application for the grant of a final banking licence with a non-refundable licensing fee of N5m payable to the CBN.

Mindful of the importance of this model to the Nigerian economy, the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation last week held a stakeholders‘ conference in Abuja as part of efforts aimed at fine-tuning strategies for the effective take off of the model.

Speaking at the event, the NDIC Acting Managing Director, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, said that the corporation would soon release guidelines for the implementation of the Deposit Insurance Scheme for the proposed model.

Ibrahim noted that already, a draft framework for the implementation of the scheme had been forwarded to stakeholders for inputs.

He said the workshop, with the theme, ”Protecting depositors to build confidence in non, interest (Islamic) banking in Nigeria” was aimed at helping the corporation achieve that objective.

Ibrahim noted that the current efforts to establish the non, interest banking in the country had been in consonance with the principle of financial inclusion, adding that with the high interest rate in the country, the model would be a viable alternative to conventional banking.

He said, ”Right from the inception, the NDIC was designed as a risk minimiser and not merely a pay box. We have thought it fit at this crucial moment to design a non-interest deposit insurance scheme in view of the realisation that non — interest banks will be involved in deposit-taking whenever they are licensed and commence operations.

”This seminar is one out of several initiatives on the part of the corporation to prepare its staff and indeed stakeholders for the successful implementation of non-interest deposit insurance scheme in Nigeria.”

He added, that the corporation had already developed a draft framework for the implementation of the NDIS in Nigeria, which had been forwarded as a consultative paper to stakeholders for comments and “we” have received encouraging comments from a lot of the insured institutions.”

The NDIC boss argued that the corporation‘s determination to extend deposit insurance cover to non-interest banks was in line with its statutory mandate and the new banking licensing regime of the CBN.

Currently, the corporation as a means of promoting depositor confidence in the banking system has guaranteed to pay insured depositors of universal banks N200,000 each while depositors of microfinance banks and primary mortgage institutions would get N100,000 each in the event of a failure.

Ibrahim pointed out that the practice of non interest banking had reached a level where both local and multinational western banks such as Citigroup, BNP Paribas and Standard Chartered were now practising.

Speaking on investment prospects for the model, the Director-General, Debt Management Office, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo said that there was need to forestall manpower challenge both from operators and regulators that might arise as a result of the new model.

He said, ”No doubt, there is a dearth of reliable professionals who are well grounded in both banking and the knowledge of Shariah in Nigeria to drive the proposed regime.

”It has been widely acknowledged that there is a global shortage of experience professionals in the Islamic finance sector to feed the industry and the regulators. This, no doubt, would be a glaring challenge for Nigeria.

”In addition, there would still be the challenge of having qualified and competent shariah scholars with good grounding in Islamic finance and jurisprudence. This would be a critical issue during implementation, since most of the instruments and services would have to be cleared by each firm‘s shariah board.”

The DMO boss also pointed out that there was need to address the legal and regulatory environment to ensure smooth take off of the proposed regime.

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking and Other Financial Institutions, Senator Nkechi Nwaogwu, expressed confidence that the model, when fully adopted, would help to drive down the high interest rate in the country.
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Celebrating Christmas without financial stress

Celebrating Christmas without financial stress




For the average person, Christmas is usually an extremely expensive period. Whether or not one is a Christian, there are usually many items to spend money on. This is probably because the New Year celebrations usually follow closely behind, and everyone, irrespective of religion, is wont to be involved.

And for many people, the result is that the months after Christmas are usually terrible, financially, that is. It is either they live out that period on borrowed funds or they live from hand to mouth, literally.

Sometimes, it is even difficult to get anyone to borrow money from since the spend-it-all-at-Christmas syndrome seems to affect many people yearly.

What is more, in some cases, quite a number of people find themselves in the first months of the New Year, labouring to pay off debts they incurred during the Christmas celebrations. Quite a tough time, one would say.

However, there is no need to end up in debts once the celebrations are over.

For the President, Institute of Credit Administrators, Mr. Chris Onalo, the need for planning cannot be overemphasised here. According to him, oftentimes, people do not consider obligations ahead, rather they prefer to always react and this does not help with personal financial management.

“We are in a country where people hardly save, otherwise, it is a time one can dip hands into personal savings and take care of the celebrations. But unfortunately, the saving culture of people is bad. People prefer to deal with the circumstances as they come,” he explains.

Enjoying good Christmas celebrations without necessarily running out of funds or borrowing, requires serious planning in advance and discipline to be able to implement the plan, Onalo says.

He notes that it is one thing to make financial plans and another to stick to them without succumbing to the urge to throw caution to the wind by spending outside one‘s budget. People must have their budgets and stick to them, he insists.

He adds that “If one knows that he will pay school fees and house rent in January, no matter the attractiveness of the Christmas period, he should stick to his plans and not let himself be carried away or made to spend the money budgeted for those areas on celebrations.”

The ICA boss also canvasses that people should tame their consumption patterns in line with their incomes.

“If you look far above your legitimate income, you will no longer be innocent because at that time, you will be forced to borrow to fund wants that could have been avoided. People need to have a sense of contentment. In all of that, one should limit oneself to one‘s financial power,” he adds.

According to the Chief Executive Officer, Newage Leasing Company Limited, Ms. Kemi Samuel, the Christmas season is known to be a period of massive spending and expenditure for both companies and individuals.

But rather than following prevailing spending culture, she notes that it will be financially wiser for individuals not to spend all their savings and bonuses.

“People should celebrate this season differently this year by not spending all their savings and bonuses but by spending only on things that are absolutely imperative,” Samuel adds.

For instance, she says people should avoid high maintenance purchases; buying things that cannot be conveniently maintained with your income and frivolous purchases.

Rather, she urges that people should take advantage of low prices in the stock market and invest now.

In her article tilted, “Five Ways to Curb Your Holiday Spending,” and published in www.singleparent.about.com, Ms. Jennifer Wolf says that, though there will always be things to spend money on during a celebration period, planning can make it less stressful financially.

“The very first thing you need to do is decide, upfront, how much money you can afford to spend on the holidays this year,” she notes.

According to Wolf, there are a lot of ways to temper the “gimmes,” which children can be so prone to during the holidays. “Consider setting a specific amount for each child, and sticking to it,” she says.

She adds, “Decide that you will limit the number of gifts to three items per child. Remember, there are always going to be people who will spend more on their kids, but attempting to “keep up with the Jones’ comes with a heavy price. Teach your children early that thoughtful gifts do not have to cost a lot of money, and what is most important is appreciating all that we have been given already.”

Yet another strategy, she says, is for one to always keep track of one‘s spending.

She recommends that parents should spend less money by using a Holiday Planning Worksheet to keep track of all the gifts they intend to buy or make, and record the amount of money they will spend on each person.

“This simple tool can help you stay within your spending budget and actually enjoy the months that follow the holidays,” Wolf says.

Apart from investing in stocks, another way to save money this period, Samuel says, is to lease household equipment rather than buy them, thereby, freeing up funds for investment.

“It is a win-win situation. While some people are only spending during Christmas and probably get so broke in the first quarter of 2011, you are enjoying both worlds because you delayed gratification; spending a part and investing a part,” she says.
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Clasico: Ronaldo downplays duel with Messi

 Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo believes any attempt to reduce the ”clasico” match between Real Madrid and Barcelona on Monday night to a personal duel with Lionel Messi would be ”foolishness.”

The Portugal forward leads Messi by one goal in the Spanish league scoring list heading into the matchup at Camp Nou featuring the top two teams and the past two FIFA players of the year. 

Ronaldo has 14 league goals to 13 for Messi, who has 25 in 20 appearances for club and country this season. Ronaldo has 20 in 22.

”To talk about a duel between me and Messi is foolishness,” Ronaldo said Saturday from the Spanish club‘s training ground. ”It‘s a duel between the two best teams in Spain. Messi, like me, will try to do his most to help his team win.

”I‘m just another player in this team. Things are working out well, as much for me as the team, but I don‘t feel any more pressure than the rest. We all have our responsibilities.”
Source:punchng.com
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Mikel plays 100th league game as Newcastle host Chelsea

Mikel Obi




Chelsea‘s defensive midfielder John Obi Mikel, who will make his 100th Premier League start against Newcastle United on Sunday, has laughed off talk of a crisis at the champions and league leaders after three losses in four league games.

”I don‘t know about crisis, there‘s no crisis. We are all still focused, we know there is a long way to go,” the Nigerian told the club website on Friday.

”Coming into the season everyone was saying how good we were beating teams 6-0, but we knew this time would come. You cannot go through the season without having difficult times, but this is where we all come together and support each other and the manager, and we just hope we get back to winning ways.”

The target for the match against Newcastle is not limited to the Nigerian‘s personal ambition. Carlo Ancelotti‘s Chelsea will make Sunderland fans happy for the second time in two weeks if they end their run of poor Premier League form with this game.

After being beaten 3-0 by Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on November 14 in their biggest home loss in nearly nine years, Chelsea are at the Wearsiders‘ bitter local rivals for the game that will say a lot about the title chase.

In spite of the denial by Mikel, analysts have cause to believe that the misfiring West Londoners are going through something of a domestic crisis after losing three of their last four league games. They were also dumped out of the League Cup 4-3 by Newcastle at Stamford Bridge in September. Ancelotti is under pressure and will need no reminding that Newcastle also thrashed Sunderland 5-1 in October, even if they lost by the same scoreline to Bolton Wanderers a week ago.

If Chelsea lose, it will only add fuel to Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp‘s recent assertion that this year‘s championship race looks wide open with the big three no longer as dominant.

”Chelsea are not as good as they were. Man United are not as good as they were. I think we have closed the gap,” he said after Spurs came from two goals down to beat Arsenal 3-2 at the Emirates last Sunday.

After years in the shadow of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea, English soccer could even be turning back the clock to a distant time when any one of as many as 10 clubs fancied their title chances.

There is a long way to go yet but the evidence so far certainly suggests this could be the most open championship since the Premier League came into being 18 years ago, with Chelsea only six points clear of sixth placed Tottenham.

Sunderland, in seventh place, are in turn only six points clear of Wigan Athletic in the drop zone.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose side have already lost three home games this season and were stunned 2-0 by Braga in the Champions League on Tuesday, said this week that every club down to Aston Villa in 13th place had a chance.

Also on Sunday, Spurs host Liverpool, a far cry from their great teams of old, and a victory at White Hart Lane after securing their progress to the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday would really lend weight to their challenge.

Tottenham have Jermain Defoe back to full fitness and tipped by Redknapp as a key player in the battle ahead.

”I would love him to get 10 goals in the next 15 games,” said the manager ahead of Spurs clash with Werder Bremen. ”He could push us right into the title race.

”If he could have a run of banging the goals in, he could really take us on a run.”
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Germany match came too early for Falcons — Jossy Lad

Jossy Lad




A former coach of the Super Falcons Mr. Jossy Lad has said that it was error of judgement for the Nigerian women to have played Germany in an international friendly. The coach told our correspondent on the telephone on Friday that the game took place too soon after the Falcons won the African Women Championship in South Africa.

The African champions were beaten 8-0 in the match played in Leverkusen, Germany on Thursday.

He said, “It was not the right time for the Falcons to play a match; it was certainly too early. The players and their managers are still basking in the euphoria of winning a major competition and can hardly be in a frame of mind for such in a match a short time with reception parties still on. They should have completed the celebrations, allow the ladies to take a break and return to camp and business before playing against any team.

“Since the coach had said major training would begin in January, I believe such international match should have held as from that time. They should not have honoured it now. It is the same Germany that they lost to by just a goal at the Olympics so how could this have happened if we chose the right time?”

But despite the humiliation the team led by Eucharia Uche suffered in the hands of Germany, the former Leventis United coach said it will be quite wrong to rule out the Falcons from any meaningful impact at the 2011 FIFA Women‘s World Cup also holding in Germany.

”Friendly games are meant to expose the weaknesses and strengths of teams and so I believe that the team was laid bare on Thursday. Their managers would have observed a lot of things they missed out in South Africa and should be able to rise thereafter. It will be huge mistake for anybody or team to dismiss the Falcons based on this performance.

”They can still be counted on. They complained about the cold weather and I know under similar conditions in future they should be able to address it properly. It will not be fair to base judgement solely on their performance on Thursday.”

Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea will represent Africa at the world stage next year.
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Nigerians will play for big clubs when Eagles improve — Oliseh

Sunday Oliseh




Sunday Oliseh played as a central midfielder for the Super Eagles. He also played in that role for Juventus. The former Eagles captain was at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups. He was a member of the gold winning team at the Atlanta ‘96 Olympics. The Delta State born is mostly remembered for scoring a great goal against Spain at the 1998 World Cup, with Nigeria winning 3-2. He spoke to PIUS AYINOR on the telephone on the state of Nigeria football What are you doing now?

I am doing the last part of my coaching course. It’s the highest coaching degree in the world and getting through the last stages. Apart from that I also work as an analyst for a television station here...

What’s the name of the TV station?

It’s called BTV. It‘s a pay-per-view station. I am on my way to analyse the (UEFA) Champions League match between Man U and Rangers. So as it were I am on my way to work.

Where are you running the coaching course? In Holland or...

No, it‘s in London; It‘s run by the English FA.

So is that why you stayed away...Why didn‘t you push for the Super Eagles coaching job like your colleagues?

I don‘t feel this is the right time to apply for the Eagles job; the time is not ripe. When the right time comes for me to do that I will apply.

So like when do you think is ripe? May be in the next four years?

When the atmosphere is ripe I‘ll go for that and everyone will see. So let‘s just wait and see. We are all concerned about what is going on with our team. We can no longer beat anybody; it‘s a situation that those of us outside do not like. We all have to do something to change the situation.

We’ll talk about changing the situation but before then we heard you were coming in as the Technical Director for the Nigeria Football Federation. Is that true?

I sincerely do not want to talk about this. I guess it is the NFF who should speak on this matter. But in any case we had some discussion on the matter. We have been talking on that and I believe we are still talking. We all want ways to make our football work again and that is why you can see a person like Siasia taking over.

I guess somebody for that position should be a person that has managed teams for years...that can easily draw up programmes...somebody close to retirement; somebody in the mould of a veteran. You still look like a footballer to me...

Well, that is your opinion. So your idea is that the person has to be an old man...May be something like 70 years or more...

No, it‘s not about age. What I am talking about is the coaching experience...A veteran

So I have to work with every team first? Let me ask you a question in a way to answer yours. What is the highest coaching certificate in the world?

I don’t know. I am not a FIFA agent. I am not a footballer or a member of the FA Technical Committee. I am a reporter but I watch the people in that position elsewhere. So don‘t you think experience is a major factor in that respect?

Experience counts and that is true. If not that Finidi (George) was appointed did many people know the level of job he was doing in Europe? Have I not been working all this while? I have been working and I have got the exposure and experience to work at the highest level. I have been working with teams and coaches over the years even while I was still actively playing. I played at the highest level and I have continued to work and learn and that level.

Talking about playing at the highest level...Your set of Eagles in the 1990s played for the big clubs in Europe but these days it is either one Nigerian player is in Almeria or down under with Portsmouth. What‘s the problem?

For you to play for the big clubs they have to come for you; they have to need your type of player first. And Africans playing here must be better than their European counterparts in that position for them to command a role. It was because a player like Finidi was the best in his position that he was signed on and commanded a playing role; Babangida was good and they used him. Taribo West got to his position and played in the heart of the team on merit. I played at that level because of my work rate. So it is a question of what one can offer. There is no selection for football business at that level that is based on sentiments.

Is there any tip you can give to these players now that can help them to the big teams?

It is not a question of advice; it is a question of style; it is a question of development and ability to adapt to technique. Winning counts a lot. Teams love to win and they go for winners and that explains why we made a lot of strides with European teams at that time but nobody looked at our players since after 2002. The national team were winning and that attracted buyers. Until the Eagles regain their winning mentality, clubs will not look in the direction of Nigeria unless a player is clearly exceptional.

The whole thing depends on the viability of the national team. A viable national side will supply players for big teams in Europe. It works like that. If you have 10 ladies standing, men will start picking from the most beautiful one down in that order and that is how it works. There has to be attraction.

Everything about you appears basically football one has not heard of your kids for some time now. How many now and how are they doing?

That is private; my kids are out of it. Let‘s talk football.

But we almost see inside the bedroom of (David) Beckham. You are a public person. Is any of your kids taking to football?

Sunday Oliseh is football but my family is strictly private.

You are getting to the end of your programme ... What happens afterwards? Will that be the time to talk to NFF?

I like winning; that is the right mentality. It is because we don‘t like the atmosphere at home that we all want to do something. It was the worst humiliation ever for our football that we got in South Africa (2010 World Cup) and it has been a shame for us everywhere we go. It is lack of achievement that we have now glorified African Nations Cup bronze medal to become ‘golden bronze.‘ It is not only those in Nigeria that are not happy; we are not happy abroad too. Everywhere I go foreigners stop me to ask what is happening to your the national team. It’s a shame and we feel it here. Or don‘t you guys feel so too?

I can imagine how it was over there when FIFA dropped the bomb last week. What was it like on the Amos Adamu matter?

Hmmm...My brother, let’s continue with the football we are discussing. I don‘t want to comment on that. Please, bear with me.

What is your view on Siasia and the new job? What are your...?

I have heard so many negative comments even when he has not started work. Hey Nigerians, that is absolutely not fair. I believe a man will first open his mouth before you can determine if he is stupid. He has just been appointed. The least we can do for him and the national team to get back to winning ways is to cooperate with him and give him full support. No doubt he has a big task ahead of him but he is capable and we all have to support him to get the team back to where it should be.
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Aregbesola’s victory humbles Osun PDP chieftains

 L-R: Aregbesola, Oyinlola

After illegally spending three and a half years in office as Governor of Osun State, the curtains fell on the administration of former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, as the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan on Friday declared the candidate of Osun Action Congress of Nigeria, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, as the lawfully elected Governor of the 19-year-old state, reports TUNDE ODESOLA, Osogbo Rauf Aregbesola‘s road to victory was strewn with thorns and booby traps set by the Olagunsoye Oyinlola administration, which saw the mass appeal of Aregbesola as a threat. In 2005, a major financial backer of Aregbesola, Alhaji Hassan Olajokun, was mowed down by suspected assassins, while the Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Jide Omoworare, was kidnapped by the same suspects, locked inside his car‘s booth and driven to Oyo State, where he was dumped.  

The trend of violence against Aregbesola‘s quest for the governorship seat climaxed on April 14, 2007 with the alleged killing of 12 ACN supporters across Osun. Some of those killed included Ayo Kemba Oni, an ACN polling agent, who was killed in Igbajo; Saheed Abbey, another ACN agent that was killed in Iree; while Samson Olanrewaju, who was the opposition party‘s agent in Ile-Ife, was also murdered. All these people were shot dead. Another polling agent of ACN, Gbenga Sogo, was shot dead in Ilesa on April 14, 2007.

In August 2006, Aregbesola, who attended Oroki Day celebration in Osogbo on the invitation of the Osogbo Progressive Union, narrowly escaped being assassinated when alleged PDP supporters and hoodlums opened fire on his bulletproof Mercedes Benz Sports Utility Vehicle. Shortly after the April 14, 2007 election, eight members of the Osun ACN were arrested in the state over an allegation that they attempted to bomb the state secretariat.

The leaders of the party arrested over the allegation included its state Chairman, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti; Secretary, Prince Gboeyega Famodun; a former Commissioner for Health, Chief Lai Oyeduntan; Osun ACN‘s Director of Research and Strategy, Mr. Sunday Akere; Minority Leader in the Osun House of Assembly, Mr. Timothy Owoeye; another member of the House, Mr. Folarin Fafowora; ACN lawyer, Mr. Gbenga Akano; a leader of the party, Mr. Sunday Laoye; and a Magistrate, Mr. Ayo Oyebiyi.

Ironically, the allegation by Oyinlola and the police that a red diary was found in the wreckage of the Peugeot 505 saloon car proved to be suspicious when both the former governor and the police refused to produce the ‘evidence‘ in court for more than two years.

Also, some leaders of the party were arrested shortly after the April 14, 2007 by the Oyinlola administration over an allegation that they precipitated the wild violence that greeted the declaration of Oyinlola as governor by the Independent National Electoral Commissioner, led by Reverend John Dansu in the state. The leaders arrested included Senator Bayo Salami, Adeoti, Famodun, Alhaji Fatai Diekola, three members of the House of the Assembly - Messrs Adegboye Akintunde, Olaide Ajibola and Korede Idowu.

Speaking with our correspondent on Friday, Akere said, ”Over 300 of our members were detained in prisons and more than 12 killed during the struggle for the mandate. We thank God for this victory. May we never have this type of Oyinlola administration in the state again.”



Winners:

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu: The former Governor of Lagos State and generalissimo of ACN is seen as the leader of the struggle. He is much feared by the leadership of the Osun PDP. Supporters in Osun sang his praise to high heavens on Friday, saying he is the only politician who can retrieve the south-west from the grip of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Rauf Aregbesola: Born in May 1957, Aregbsola, who studied Mechanical Engineering at Ibadan Polytechnic and graduated in 1980, is seen as the symbol of the ACN struggle. Popularly referred to as Symbol, Aregbesola, a few weeks ago, rightly predicted that he would be governor of Osun in November!

Grace Laoye-Tomori: The deputy to Aregbesola, the former teacher and an indigene of Osogbo, stayed steadfast in the struggle. Her Osogbo hometown voted massively for ACN during the governorship election in 2007.

Nine ACN House of Assembly members: Unlike some of their colleagues like Olaide Ajibola, who recently decamped to the PDP, nine members of the ACN in the House remained steadfast to the struggle.



Losers

Olagunsoye Oyinlola: The confidence and exuberance of the Okuku prince was punctured by the verdict. His ambition to go to the Senate might not materialise with the coming into power of the ACN. He sold two of his houses in order to fund the legal battle arising from the governorship petition.

Oba Sijuwade Okunade: The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, is the foremost leader of the Osun PDP. The traditional ruler, who fell out with the ex-Governor Bisi Akande administration, pitched his tent with Oyinlola despite criticisms by opposition parties who said Sijuwade should be a father to all political parties.

Olusegun Obasanjo: The former President‘s desire to have the south-west in the grip of the PDP has suffered another setback, with only Oyo and Ogun states being the two of the five states won by the PDP in controversial circumstances in 2007 still standing.

Iyiola Omisore: Omisore has been anointed by both Oyinlola and Sijuwade to succeed the former. He appeared to be coasting home to victory in the oncoming primaries of the party before the judgment stopped his ambition.

Olusola Obada: The deputy to Oyinlola, Obada, referred to as the most loyal deputy governor, was eyeing the Senate in next year‘s election. Her ambition is greatly threatened by the verdict.

Osun Council of Traditional Rulers: Many traditional rulers within the council openly supported Oyinlola despite criticisms by the citizenry.

Thirty local government chairmen of the PDP: The 30 local government council chairmen of the PDP are now at the mercy of the incoming administration, which is likely to dissolve them.

The Nigerian justice system is a snail on speed. The three and a half years it took the judiciary to arrive at a judgment had tasked the patience and resources of stakeholders. However, the acceptability of the judgment by the citizenry is a soothing balm on the sorrows, aches and pains sustained during the struggle.
Source:punchng.com
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