EFCC/ BABALAKIN UPDATE

Wale Babalakin

Chairman of Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited, Wale Babalakin (SAN), who was declared wanted by the  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) showed up in court Thursday morning, to answer to the charges  of criminal conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N4.7billion for convicted former Delta State Governor James Ibori.

Babalakin in court on January 17, 2013

The businessman who was supposed to have reported to the anti-graft agency on Wednesday, ahead of his arraignment on a 27 count criminal charge before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of the Lagos High Court on Thursday, January 17, 2013 failed to do so.  hence was declared wanted by EFCC.

According to the statement Mr Babalakin has “gone underground” as he failed to show up at the commission as expected.

Wale Babalakin in court on Thursday

In a swift reaction, the Head of Communications, Bi-Courtney Ltd, Mr Dipo Kehinde, denied the claim by EFCC stating that “Babalakin was in touch with EFCC .  acording to  Dipo kehinde, "They asked him to report at their office tomorrow before he goes to court. Tonight, he was declared wanted.”

“We don’t understand the game that EFCC is playing” he stated adding that “this is nothing but a deep political game.”

“Since Babalakin came out of the hospital, he had reported at the EFCC office in Lagos for more than 5 times. He was also there on Tuesday. He is on EFCC’s administrative bail. He’s not a man on the run. We have a date in court tomorrow, but EFCC wants to give jungle justice.”

Part of the 27 counts slammed on the accused included using the money to purchase a Challenger Jet aircraft from Erin Aviation in Mauritius on behalf of Ibori between May and December 2006.

Thursday’s proceedings were devoid of accusations and counter-accusations between Babalakin’s lawyers and the EFCC’s counsel, a feature of two previous court sessions, when the Bi-Courtney boss arraignment failed on the account of his absence from court.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), alleged that Babalakin and his two firms, Stabilini Visioni Limited and Bi-Courtney Ltd, “did corruptly confer benefit on former Governor James Onanefe Ibori.”

 former Delta State Governor James Ibori.

Among the firms fingered in the charge to have been used for the transfers of the money to Erin Aviation are Interactive Technologies/TN Focus and Supetrol Oil and Gas Ltd.

According to the prosecution, the alleged offence of “corruptly conferring benefit on account of public action” contravenes Section 516 of the Criminal Code Law, CAP C17, Laws of Lagos State, 2003.

It also said the accused’s retention of proceeds of a criminal conduct is contrary to Section 17 (a) of the EFCC (Establishment Act 2004)

Arraigned along with Babalakin at a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on Thursday were Alex Okoh, Stabilini Visioni Limited, Bi-Courtney Limited and Renix Nigeria Limited. 

Babalakin and Okoh, who both pleaded not guilty to the counts for themselves and for the three accused firms, were, after taking their plea, released on bail “on self-recognition”.

The presiding judge, Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, in granting the prayer as canvassed by the counsel for the duo, however, said they must deposit their travel passport with the EFCC as “a precautionary measure”.

Though Jacobs did not oppose the separate bail applications, he objected granting it on the basis of “self reognition”.

Babalakin’s counsel, Mr. Wale Akoni (SAN), urged Onigbanjo to consider his client’s status as member, Body of Benchers, the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri and the Chairman, Forum of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities.

Granting Babalakin’s prayer, Onigbanjo said, “The court is aware of all the considerations cited and it is aware of the status of the defendants in the country. The defendant is hereby granted bail on the basis of self-recognition.”

The judge adjourned till February 25 for the hearing of the applications by all the accused seeking the quashing of the charges as they alleged that same were incompetent.

FAA Grounds U.S. Boeing 787 Dreamliner Flights

The Federal Aviation Administration ordered the immediate temporary halt of U.S Boeing Co.'s 787 Dreamliner flights on Wednesday, saying it requires a "corrective action plan" before flights can resume—and hasn't released a timetable for when that might happen.

The agency said it would work with Boeing and airlines to develop a plan to resume operations as quickly and safely as possible. United Continental Holdings Inc.'United Airlines said it would immediately ground its six 787s under the FAA order.

EFCC Declares Wale Babalakin Wanted!

Nigeria: The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has declared the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited, Mr. Wale Babalakin wanted in connection with a case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N4.7bn.

A statement by the spokesman of the commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren said that the business mogul was supposed to be at the EFCC’s office yesterday preparatory to his arraignment on a 27-count criminal charge before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of the Lagos High Court today, but failed to do so.

The commission stated that instead of honouring an agreement with it, the suspect decided to go underground.

It further requested that anybody having useful information as to his whereabouts should contact the Commission in its Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt and Abuja.

The commission described Babalakin as darkcomplexioned, stressing that he speaks English and Yoruba fluently.

Wale Babalakin

However, Bi-Courtney yesterday denied that its chairman was on the run.

A statement issued by the company’s Head of Communications, Mr. Dipo Kehinde, said, “We don’t understand the game that EFCC is playing. This is nothing but a deep political game. Since Babalakin came out of the hospital, he had reported at the EFCC office in Lagos for more than five times. He was also there on Tuesday. He is on EFCC’s administrative bail. He’s not a man on the run. We have a date in court tomorrow.”

                             

Algerian Militants Kidnap Foreigners in Retaliation for Mali Intervention

The Amenas natural gas field, where Islamist militants raided and took hostages on Wednesday Jan. 16, 2013

Algerian forces surrounded a natural gas complex deep in the Sahara Desert where Islamic militants took dozens of foreigners hostage Wednesday. 

The militants say they seized the foreigners in retaliation for France's military intervention in Mali. French troops and warplanes have been trying to push back Islamists linked to al-Qaida who control the northern part of the landlocked African nation. 

French soldiers leave the Malian capital of Bamako on their way to operations in the country's north

Ain Amenas, A

The group of hostages - up to 41 people, according to reports from the scene - include at least seven Americans, plus Britons, French, Japanese and Norwegian nationals. Well over 100 Algerians also were seized when the militants attacked at dawn, crossing the desert in four-wheel-drive vehicles. The Algerian captives were released later in small groups, however. 

Algerian officials said the militants were surrounded by government troops as night fell, with no obvious way to escape from the energy complex with their captives, but those accounts were impossible to verify. Algeria's interior minister, Dahou Ould Kablia, said his country will not negotiate with terrorists.

The attackers are believed to have killed at least two people, possibly more, including one British national. Six other foreigners were believed wounded. 

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the kidnappings were an act of terrorism, and the United States will take all "necessary and proper steps" to deal with the situation. 

The kidnappers' exact affiliations are not clear, but a member of the group al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) spoke on their behalf to VOA Wednesday. He said the U.S. must "face the consequences" if it gives any assistance to the French military effort that began in Mali earlier this month. 

The United States listed the AQIM group as a terrorist organization more than 10 years ago. 

The spokesman for the Islamic Maghreb group said France has declared "war" on Islamists in northern Mali, and he vowed that Westerners would be harmed if the intervention continues. 

In Washington, the State Department said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton contacted Algeria's Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal. 

French forces entered Mali last week to help drive back Islamist militants moving towards the capital. At least three al-Qaida-linked groups are among those who seized control of northern Mali last year.

Algeria had long warned against military intervention against the rebels in northern Mali, fearing the violence could spill over its own long and porous border.

Ain Amenas, Algeria

Two Japanese Airlines Ground Boeing's Dreamliner Planes After Latest Mishap

Passengers leave an All Nippon Airways Boeing 787 after it made an emergency landing .

Boeing's troubles with its newest air plane got worse today after an emergency landing prompted Japan's two biggest airlines to ground all their 787s for safety checks. It was the second fire-related incident in two weeks involving the 787`s lithium-ion batteries.  All Nippon Airways said pilots detected a burning smell and received a cockpit message showing battery problems. They made an emergency landing at Takamatsu airport in western Japan, and passengers rode emergency slides off the plane. ANA said an inspection found leaking electrolyte from the battery and burn marks around it. The lithium ion battery is below and slightly behind the cockpit, and experts have said its electrolyte is flammable. Japan's transport ministry categorised it as a "serious incident" that could have led to an accident.

The ministry said it received notices from ANA, which operates 17 of the jets, and Japan Airlines, which has seven, that all their 787s would not be flying. The airlines grounded the planes voluntarily. It was unclear how long the Dreamliners would remain grounded. Air New Zealand has firm orders for 10 of the 787-9s, made largely of a carbon-fibre reinforced plastic, which promise 20 per cent fuel-efficiency gains and greater passenger comfort. When Air New Zealand signed as a launch customer for the 787-9 in 2004, it expected to have them by late 2010. They are now not due until the middle of next year

Japan's two big airlines, ANA and Japan airlines are major customers for the jet.

ANA was especially proud of its 787s. Its executives' business cards and the top of its website read "We fly 1st." Even when the 787 ran late, they expressed confidence in it. ANA got the first one that Boeing delivered in late 2011. On Wednesday, ANA executives apologised, bowing deeply at a hastily called news conference in Tokyo. "We are very sorry to have caused passengers and their family members so much concern," said ANA Senior Executive Vice President Osamu Shinobe.

Boeing has delivered 50 of the new 787s so far, so the grounding of 24 planes represents nearly half of the world's fleet of what is meant to be the most technologically advanced plane in the skies.

The 787 relies more than any other modern airliner on electrical signals to help power nearly everything the plane does. It's also the first Boeing plane to use rechargeable lithium ion batteries, which charge faster and weigh less than other airplane batteries.

Boeing said it is aware of the latest incident and is working with ANA and regulators.

Other airlines stuck with the 787. United Airlines checked all six of its 787s overnight and was flying them as scheduled on Wednesday, spokeswoman Christen David said.

LOT Polish Airlines was beginning regular 787 flights between Chicago O'Hare and Warsaw on Wednesday, and it said its plans have not changed.

Its planes are among the later ones built by Boeing, meaning it received "proper modifications which reduce technical problems" seen in the 787s of other airlines, a statement from the airline said. A spokesperson declined to say more about which technical problems had been fixed.

Boeing was already under scrutiny after last week's fire, which was also tied to a lithium-ion battery in a different part of the plane.

On January 7, the battery near the rear of a Japan Airlines 787 burned shortly after the plane landed at Boston Logan and passengers had gotten off. It took firefighters 40 minutes to put it out.

That fire prompted investigations by the US National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration, and the FAA later said it would review the design and manufacture of the plane, focusing on its electrical systems.

The NTSB said on Wednesday that it is sending an investigator to Japan to join the newest probe.

Other 787s have recently had problems with certain electrical panels on the 787 and fuel leaks.

ANA cancelled a domestic flight to Tokyo on January 9 after a computer wrongly indicated there was a problem with the Boeing 787's brakes. Two days later, the carrier reported two new problems with the aircraft a minor fuel leak and a cracked windscreen in a cockpit.

The earliest manufactured jets of any new aircraft usually have problems and airlines run higher risks in flying them first, said Brendan Sobie, Singapore-based chief analyst at CAPA-Center for Aviation. Since about half the 787 fleet is in Japan, more problems are cropping up there.

GS Yuasa Corp., the Japanese company that supplies all the lithium ion batteries for the 787, had no comment as the investigation was still ongoing. Thales, which makes the battery charging system, had no immediate comment.

Boeing has said that various technical problems are to be expected in the early days of any aircraft model.

"Boeing is aware of the diversion of a 787 operated by ANA to Takamatsu in western Japan. We will be working with our customer and the appropriate regulatory agencies," Boeing spokesman Marc Birtel said.

United frequent flier Josh Feller said he changed his plans to fly a United 787 from Los Angeles International to Houston next month because of the 787's troubles.

"I've been following the 787 news closely and the latest incident finally spooked me into changing my flight," he said by email. "It's an unnecessary risk and since I was going out of my way to fly the plane in the first place, decided to change flights." He also wanted to avoid any disruptions if United eventually grounds the 787.

Aviation safety expert John Goglia, a former National Transportation Safety Board member, said the ANA pilot made the right decision.

"They were being very prudent in making the emergency landing even though there's been no information released so far that indicates any of these issues are related," he said.

But much remains uncertain about the problems being experienced by the 787, said Masaharu Hirokane, analyst at Nomura Securities Co. in Tokyo.

"You need to ensure safety 100 per cent, and then you also have to get people to feel that the jet is 100 per cent safe," Hirokane said.

Fallen Heroes Remembered In Nigeria

President Goodluck Jonathan Honours fallen heroes at the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration in Abuja.



In Nigerian, the  Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration  is a yearly memorial event that holds every December 11, at the federal capital to honour our fallen heroes, however, is celebrated every January 15, due to the significance of the day in Nigeria.





The Nigeria Civil war 'Biafran wa'r ended on  January 15, the day Nigerian Re-integration began.



The celebration was graced by Eminent Personalities




 Top Government


and Military officials.

Nigerian Immigration Service Controller general Sacked!

                             

The Nigerian Immigration Service Controller General, Rose Uzoma has been sacked from her position in the NIS over recruitment scandal. Mrs Uzoma was alleged to have favoured applicants from certain parts of the country over others in the agency’s recruitment process.

A statement from the office of the Minister of Interior made it known that “President Goodluck Jonathan has approved that the Comptroller General of the Immigration Service, Mrs Rose Chinyere Uzoma should proceed on pre-retirement and accumulated annual leave with immediate effect.”

                           

Before her mandatory retirement, a very strong petition was sent to the President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, the Nigerian Capital, after which she was asked to gracefully resign from her position, for "misuse of office".

It was contained in the statement that she should hand over to the most senior Deputy Comptroller General before Wednesday, 16th January. Her appointment as the CG was approved by the President on July 30, 2010. She took over from Chukwurah Udeh, who retired after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60 years.

Mrs Uzoma who will be 60 on March 23 is the second woman to hold the post of Comptroller General of the Immigration Service. Though it is being insinuated that she would have to go, having attained the mandatory retirement age, the alleged recruitment scam that trailed the agency recently is believed to have hastened the process.