SNG Set To Drag Fed. Govt To Court Over Excess N1.3tr Spent On Fuel Subsidy

Save Nigeria Group (SNG) says it has concluded plans to drag the Federal Government before the court to compel an investigation into how the Federal Government ended up spending N1.6 trillion as against the N240 billion budgeted for subsidy in the 2011 fiscal year.

Convener of the group, Pastor Tunde Bakare said this at a press conference today in Lagos where he condemned government refusal to explain to Nigerians how they spent N1.6 trillion as against N250 billion budgetary provision for fuel subsidy.

The radical pastor also rejected the new N97 fuel pump price fixed by government, saying the price is not what the Nigerian people demanded.

He also berated the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) for calling off the strike without consulting several civil society groups that took part in the protest.

Speaking on the groups next line of action, Bakare said: “We shall use the court to compel an investigation into how the Federal Government ended up spending N1.6 trillion as against the N240 billion budgeted for subsidy in the 2011 fiscal year.

“We cannot sweep under the carpet the spending of over N1.3 trillion without appropriation by the National Assembly.

“We shall neither ‘move on’ on this matter until the full weight of the law comes on all those involved in this illegal spending. Nor shall we fold our hands if the FGN through the EFCC becomes both judge and jury in a matter involving government officials and their corporate cronies.”

Bakare also noted that SNG will challenge the violation of the rights of protesters who converged on Ojota by the Federal Government through deployment of soldiers to intimidate and harass peaceful protesters.

Condemning the action in strong terms, Bakare said: “This violation is totally uncalled for. It is unfortunate that this brutal dictatorship is taking place in a civilian dispensation.

“We chose to be much more mature than the Federal Government by not allowing any ugly situation to be created at the park.

“We shall definitely enforce our rights in court to teach the regime the basic principles of civilised conduct in a democratic setting.”

Bakare also thanked thousands of Nigerians who trooped to the streets to say no to what he described as government’s attempt to impoverish the masses.

He said: “As a mark of appreciation of the new found spirit, the general strike and citizens action which followed the January 1, 2012 on 117 percent increase in the pump price of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) has proved a defining moment in the history of our country and one from which the correct lessons must be learnt and matters arising squarely dealt with in order to deepen our democracy and ensure that our country is never run again in the old way.

“That such an astronomical and unprecedented hike was done in a fell swoop was an audacious move that signaled the deep contempt by the government for the capacity of the Nigerian people to show righteous indignation over vicious attack on their living rights.

“Those in authority must have concluded that with the level of poverty inflicted on our people, especially in the last 13 years where poverty has risen in inverse proportion to the growth in revenue, the anguish of spirit has raised a totally docile citizenry who will only dig a hole to escape and continue running when pushed to the wall.

“This is the only explanation for the impunity with which all warnings from organised labour and the civil society were treated by the Federal Government whose officials were so arrogant and condescending in their public utterances on the issue of subsidy removal.”

Expressing disappointment about the decision of NLC and TUC without consulting their civil society allies, Bakare said: “Though we are very disappointed in the way the controlling leadership of the NLC and TUC have buckled in the knees without consulting the SNG and its allies and without achieving their resolution that ‘reversal to N65 per litre shall be the basis of any negotiation’, we do not want our people to be disillusioned about their capacity to bring about change in the society.

“While we outrightly reject the unilateral fixing of pump price at N97 by the Federal Government upon which the controlling leadership of NLC & TUC threw a spanner in the wheel of people’s movement, it must not be lost on our patriotic people that the climb down by a government which had arrogantly declared that its decision was final is the proverbial eating of the humble pie.

“So also are the administration’s pledges to investigate the oil subsidy cabal, ensure that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is passed and cut the cost of governance. These are issues the regime was not ready to address before the movement of the people.

“Nigerians must not give up on these issues until logical and conclusive actions are taken on them.”

Bakare announced at the conference that SNG will hold a victory march on Saturday 21 January at the Gani Fawehinmi Park.

He urged Nigerians to come out en mass to support the march.

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NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL COURT STOP PLANNED STRIKE BY LABOUR

An industrial court in Nigeria ordered unions Friday to stop a planned nationwide strike over spiraling gasoline prices, giving authorities legal power to break up any work stoppages by labor groups.

The order by the National Industrial Court came as protests continued in other Nigerian cities over the removal of government-sponsored fuel subsidies.

The nation’s House of Representatives said it would meet Sunday to address the concerns of the people, but Nigeria’s president appears unwilling to pull back from eliminating the subsidy.

Gas prices have risen from $1.70 per gallon (45 cents per liter) to at least $3.50 per gallon (94 cents per liter) since the subsidy ended Sunday. That’s caused prices to inflate for food and transportation across Nigeria, a nation of more than 160 million people where most live on less than $2 a day.

The court order by Justice Babatunde Adejuwon came after a filing by the federal government to stop the Nigeria Labor Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria from holding a planned strike Monday. Only government lawyers attended the hastily called court hearing in Nigeria’s capital Abuja.

“Economic activities within the country will be adversely affected, as will the health and safety of the citizenry, if the impending strike is allowed to hold,” Adejuwon wrote in his order.

The Nigeria Labor Congress issued a statement after the ruling dismissing the order. “There is no going back on next week’s protests and shutdown,” it said.

Peter Esele, the president of the Trade Union Congress, said Friday night he hasn’t seen the court’s ruling. “We will respond after we study what’s happening,” Esele said.

The order does not specify any punitive actions or fines the groups could face if they hold a strike Monday. It does allow authorities to interfere with any strike action – though others can still protest.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s federal police promised on Friday to protect peaceful protesters ahead of the planned strike, but security forces blocked others from demonstrating near the oil-rich country’s seat of power.

Inspector Gen. Hafiz Ringim said he met with other leaders of Nigeria’s security agencies over the protests that began after the government ended the subsidy Sunday. While promising to protect the peaceful, Ringim gave a strong warning that security agencies would use force if necessary.

“I want to urge the organizers and participating groups in the strike to be conscious, take charge of their members and refrain (from) any acts of violence or any conduct likely to cause breach of the peace as government will deal decisively with acts of” violence, he said.

However, Ringim’s promise to allow peaceful demonstration clashed with what occurred only a short distance away from police headquarters in Abuja. A heavy presence of police, soldiers and other security agents – some carrying gas masks – blocked protesters from demonstrating in the national parade ground near federal offices.

“The president of Nigeria is asking us to make sacrifices, but our question is: ‘What sacrifices has he shown he’s ready to make?’” asked protester Henry Okelue.

Few have seen any benefit from the country’s vast oil wealth over decades of production that have seen Nigeria become a top crude oil supplier to the U.S. While the government has promised to invest part of an estimated $8 billion in savings from the elimination of the subsidy back into needed projects, many remain convinced kleptocrat leaders will embezzle the money.

Nigeria, an OPEC member nation, produces about 2.4 million barrels of crude oil a day. However, virtually all of its petroleum products are imported after years of graft and mismanagement at its refineries.

Speaking in Abuja on Friday, President Goodluck Jonathan again defended eliminating the subsidy, saying the majority of Nigeria’s capital budget last year came from borrowed money.

“No meaningful infrastructural development is possible in such an environment,” Jonathan said, according to a statement from the presidency.

Whether the strike goes forward or a settlement will be reached remains unknown, though the public largely remains angry about the subsidies being suddenly removed. Hackers upset with the government targeted the website of the country’s Ministry of Transportation on Friday, replacing its home page with a defiant message that said officials “sabotaged this country into a monolithic tyranny.”

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Peeping Tom' Sent To Jail For Watching Couple Have S*x

A man who hid in a couple’s bedroom at Idimu, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria watching them having s*x in the night has confessed that he was not a thief neither did he attempted to harm the couple but only watching them to derive s*xual satisfaction. 

Raymond Obi The accused, Raymond Obi Eze, 36 was caught under the bed by the man of the house, Mr. Leuise Chigozi who called his wife, Vicky, to come and see what he found. 

 An attempt by the accused to escape was foiled by the man who grabbed him and called neighbours to assist him arrest the intruder. Vicky, it was learnt, sustained injury during the melee. 

 He was arrested and handed over to the police at Idimu Station who arraigned him before the Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court, Lagos on a two-count charge of unlawful entry and attempted murder. The police charge sheet revealed that the incident happened at 8.30 p.m. Friday, 9 December, at 40, Ejigbo Road, Idimu, Lagos residence of the couple.

The charge did not reveal how the accused got into the room but disclosed that he was caught by the owner of the house who raised an alarm which attracted neighbours. The complainant told the police that he caught him under the bed while sleeping with his wife.

Witnesses who assisted the couple to arrest the accused told the police that they believed what the complainant told them that the accused was watching him and his wife making love. In his statement, Mr. Chigozi told the police that he was injured in the face when he grabbed the accused to prevent him from escaping. At the station, the accused denied that he was a thief and pleaded for leniency. 

He allegedly confessed that he was only watching the couple and did not attempt to harm them. He was later charged before Mrs. M. B. Folami of the Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court for offences contrary to Section 320 of the Criminal Code, Cap.17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

 He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum. When he could not fulfil the bail conditions, he was ordered to be remanded in prison custody at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prisons, Apapa, Lagos. The matter has been adjourned till 18 January, 2012.

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Cross River Releases 81-Year-Old, HIV Patients From Prison

Calabar — The Chief Judge of Cross River State, Justice Dorothy Iyamba Idem, yesterday set free an 81 year old man, Chief Ata Okon Aqua, who was in prison over robbery when she undertook a visit to the Afokang Prison in Calabar South Local Government Area of the state.

She also set free 23 others, including a pregnant woman and people suffering from HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis. Justice Iyamba Idem ordered that the pregnant woman, who was detained for being in possession of 600 grammes of Indian hemp should be released because of the severe bleeding she was experiencing, with a warning that she should be of good behaviour. The Chief Judge also set free three HIV positive patients, whose cases have developed into full blown AIDS.

Justice Idem, who lamented that some cases drag on for long due to lack of police records, said it was a shame that the police and the office of the DPP were not living up to their responsibilities as prosecuting agents.

"It is a shame that we do not have records or files on some of the cases that have been under investigation for over two years. The detention of such people is tantamount to unlawful incarceration and as such, some of them have to be set free," she said.

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"My Husband Rapes Me in the Presence of Our Children"

A mother of four, Mrs. Taiwo Arum, is seeking the order of the court to dissolve her 11-year-old marriage to her 45-year old husband, Jamiu, because he usually raped her in the presence of their children.

The woman who was in tears while narrating her

oldeal at Igando Customary Court, Lagos, on Friday, also disclosed that Jamiu used to beat her “mercilessly” before raping her.

In her words: “My husband, Jamiu usually beat me before raping me in the presence of our children. After the attack, our children normally advised me to cooperate with him, so that he will not kill me. On each occasion, nobody could hear my crying because of the noise from some of our tenants’ generators.”

Mrs. Taiwo told the court that her husband usually gave her and their four children only N400 feeding allowance daily. She said the matter was brought to the court because things are so bad that her children lacked fatherly care and affection.

On his part, Jamiu, a transporter, denied all the allegations leveled against him, stressing that he still loves his wife and begged the court not to dissolve their marriage. "I did not hit her, she is blowing the issue out of proportion," he pleaded.

The President of the Court, Mr. Adewale Eko, said their issues are not beyond repair. He ordered the husband to start giving N5,000 to his estranged wife as weekly allowance to cater for their children, as against the N400 he usually gave her daily.

The judge advised both parties to meet with the elders in their family for amicable resolution of the matter and report back to him on December 1.

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You Must Accept this Baby; Wife Battles Husband in Court

It was drama galore inside a court room on Wednesday as an estranged wife battled her husband word-for-word in a very controversial paternity case. According to the woman, she is a faithful wife and as such her husband cannot prove any allegation of infidelity against her, which could have caused him to reject the two-month old son she gave birth to “for him”.

Consequently, the woman, Sadiyya Shuaibu, urged a Kaduna Sharia Court II to compel her husband, Muhammad Aliyu, to accept the paternity of the baby and take full responsibility for his upkeep.

In her submission, Sadiyya said: “I am praying this court to compel Aliyu to accept the responsibility of fathering the child and catering for him. I also want the court to compel him to take full responsibility of the child in order to avoid destroying the boy’s future as a child born out of wedlock.”

But in a counter argument the husband, Muhammad Aliyu, denied fathering the child even though he was married to Sadiyya because, according to him, his wife started attending ante natal care barely two months into their marriage on the pretext that ‘it was important to begin early’.

He said he was surprised when his wife put to bed about five (5) months into their marriage, and thus interrogated her on the development, during which she confessed that she was impregnated by an undisclosed man before their marriage.

He told the court that she even apologised to him for the embarrassment, while stressing that “I cannot accept the boy’s responsibility as a father. She is already pregnant before we got married.”

The judge, Ibrahim Inuwa, said since the couple were making counter claims, the issue of paternity must be proved beyond reasonable doubt before the court could decide whether the child was born in or out of wedlock. He adjourned the matter to December 6, and ordered both parties to produce witnesses or evidences to support their claims in the next sitting.

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N350 Yoghurt, Mobile Phone Send Man to 2 Years in Prison

You hear some judgement from Nigerian courts against ordinary Nigerians and you feel like crying for the poor of this country.

How on earth would a judge defend her decision to sentence a 25-year old man to two (2) years imprisonment because of yoghurt.

He stole some yoghurt valued at N350 only and two mobile phones valued at N8,000 only. Fatai Samotu, a petty thief, was on Wednesday sentenced to two years imprisonment on each of the three count charges he was arraigned for by an Osogbo Senior Magistrate Court.

During the hearing, he pleaded guilty and his counsel even pleaded for leniency on his behalf. But to the chagrin of many of those present at the court, the judge, Olusola Aluko, convicted and sentenced him to two years imprisonment with hard labour.

I heard some of those who attended the hearing almost started a protest in the court premises but such was averted when the judge gave him an option of N15,000 fine.

Although I don't support anyone stealing other people's stuff, but I seriously disagree with this judgement. I mean, six months should have been fair enough, given the kind of billions (Naira and Dollars) that some political office holders 'misappropriate' but only get a slap on the back through plea bargaining.

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Please Sentence Me To Prison, House Wife Cries in Court

After spending 10 months at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prisons, Apapa, a 36 year-old Lagos housewife, Rita Nwaolu, has begged an Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court to jail her instead of remanding her in prison custody perpetually.

The accused begged Magistrate Sherry Solebo to jail her in order to...

minimize her sufferings in custody. She eventually got what she requested for as she was sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour.

Shortly before the judgement was delivered on Monday, she lamented that she had spent 10 months in custody and had been abandoned by her husband and family members. She told the magistrate that it was better for her to serve her jail term and regain freedom than continuing to languish in custody while the trial lingers.

Mrs. Nwaolu who was charged for obtaining money under false pretense, changed her plea from not guilty to guilty to enable the judge pass judgement on her immediately. The trial judge subsequently found her guilty and sentenced her accordingly.

Ten months ago, Rita was arraigned in court for fraud under Section 419 of the Criminal Code for allegedly defrauding her three friends - Florence Chukwu, Beauty Akporde and Rose Mberebe - to the tune of N240,000 at No. 36 Eze Awa Street, Ikotun, Lagos.

Back then, she had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of N200,000 with one surety. Unfortunately her husband and family members could not meet her bail conditions, hence her prolonged stay in custody.

Neighbours of the convict described her as a cantankerous woman who was always fighting everybody. A co-tenant, Florence (one of those she defrauded) disclosed that the husband of the accused - Mr. Lawrence - had to abandon her and relocated to Delta State following constant fighting.

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Court Terminates Marriage Because Husband Couldnt Satisfy Wife On Bed

An Ibadan Customary Court on Monday dissolved the nine-year-old marriage between a driver, Kolapo Nureni, and his wife over alleged nymphomaniac tendencies.

Kolapo told the court that his wife was never satisfied with his performance in bed and had on several occasions disgraced him in the public.

He accused her of adultery and stealing, alleging that she stole N500 given to the couple by a visiting relative.

The wife, Latifat, who agreed to the dissolution of the marriage, however, told the court that her husband was an addicted Indian hemp smoker.

She alleged that on several occasions, she had sold her clothes to cater for the family, while her husband never showed any concern.

“He would beat me up to collect any money found on me for Indian hemp, while the clothes I sold were bought for me by my parents.”

The judge, Mr Adewuyi Ademola, dissolved the marriage and granted the custody of the two children to Latifat. He also ordered Nureni to be paying N8,000 monthly for their upkeep. (NAN)

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Husband Seeks Divorce! "My Wife Calls My Father Imbecile"

"Since my mother cared for my wife after she had one of our babies, she had resorted to calling my mother a harlot whenever we quarrelled. She also used to call my father an imbecile and always threaten to deal with me,” Mr. Tajudeen Adenekan, a 53 year-old man, told the...


Customary Court in Igando, Lagos, while defending his decision to divorce his wife, Kuburat, after 12 years of marriage. The couple who has five children also accused each other of infidelity and disrespect.

Speaking during cross examination, Mr. Tajudeen said: “Whenever she comes across condoms in my car, she concludes that I am cheating on her. For the past four years, I have been the one cooking and washing the children’s clothes.” He also told the court that his mother-in-law is aware of her “uncaring attitude” but has not done anything about it.

In her response, Mrs. Kuburat, 33, denied calling her in-laws names but declared that she was already tired of the marriage and also wants it to end. In her words: “Tajudeen drinks to stupor. He gets drunk to the extent of urinating and excreting on his body. His conduct embarrasses me, and whenever I try to caution him, he feels offended. Most times, strangers drive him home when he his drunk. In all sincerity, I no longer love him.”

After listening to the estranged husband and wife the presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Francisca Johnson, said their matter seems to be beyond repair and adjourned the case to December 1 for judgment.

Things are no longer the way they used to be in the good old days in our society. With all these negative stuffs coming from hitherto happy homes, marriage is fast becoming a dreaded venture for many... What do you think could be done to salvage the marriage institution from total collapse? Kindly share your thoughts.

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Court orders FG to pay el-Rufai N1m for passport seizure

A Federal High Court in Abuja, Tuesday, ordered the Federal Government to pay the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, N1 million for deliberately refusing to renew his international passport in 2009.

Delivering judgment on a suit filed before the court by the ex-minister, with a view to enforcing his fundamental rights, Justice Abdul Kafarati said the government was unable to show any verifiable reason the plaintiff’s international passport was not renewed as he had requested via an application.

Consequently, Justice Kafarati awarded N1 million as general damages against the government, stressing that the action meted against the plaintiff was purely discriminatory.

el-Rufai had listed the Minister of Interior, Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Director-General of National Intelligence Agency and Attorney- General of the Federation as defendants in the suit.

He specifically asked the court via an ex-parte application, to make an order granting him leave to apply for the enforcement of his fundamental rights to personal liberty, freedom of movement, freedom of expression and freedom from discrimination guaranteed under Chapter Four of the 1999 Constitution.

In the ex-parte application filed by Mr. A. U. Mustapha, el-Rufai sought for seven principal reliefs’, which were challenged by the respondents, who pleaded the court to dismiss the case for being incompetent.

The respondents equally argued that the suit constituted an abuse of court process, contending that it ought to have been brought by way of motion on notice.

However, Justice Kafarati, in his judgment yesterday, noted that the AGF, being the chief law officer of the country was joined in the matter, as a necessary party, even as he certified the suit as competent.

He said: “I found no merit in their objections and, therefore, strike them out. I have gone through the applicant’s application and concluded that he deserved to be granted this application.”

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Man jailed for stealing ram valued at N16,000

A Minna Magistrates’ court on Wednesday sentenced one Danjuma Adamu to one-month imprisonment for stealing a ram belonging to one Salisu Isa.

The Magistrate, Hajiya Amina Musa convicted Adamu, 22, without an option of fine.

The prosecutor, Police Constable Anthony Butu had told the court that on Oct. 19, 2011 the police arrested the convict with a ram suspected to have been stolen

He said the police investigation further showed that the convict stole the ram valued at N16,000.

According to Butu, the offence is contrary to section 287 of the Penal Code.

When the charge sheet was read out, the accused pleaded guilty.

2 docked for allegedly theft, burglary

And in Lagos for allegedly burgling the home of one Rasheedat Ogunmade and stealing her bag containing some valuables, two men were docked at the Ogudu Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

The accused, Olushola Akinbola (29) and Sunday Osayemi (26) are facing a two-count charge of stealing and felony and to which they had pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, PC Happy Obuh, told the court that the offences were allegedly committed on Oct. 30 at No. 32, Adepitan St., Ogudu, Lagos.

‘’That you, Akinbola and Osayemi, conspired together to commit felony to steal and on the same day, place and time, you Akinbola and Osayemi stole a bag containing a Blackberry phone valued N28,000.

“That you also stole a wristwatch valued N15,000, a gold necklace valued N68,000 and N30,000 cash belonging to Ogunmade,“ the prosecutor said as he read out the charges.

The offences, according to Obuh, contravene Sections 516 and 390 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Yetunde Aje-afunwa, admitted each of the accused to a bail of N100,000, with two sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the case to Oct. 30 for mention and ordered the parents of the accused to appear before her on that date (NAN)

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“I caught my wife with a man in an hotel, but I still love her”

My wife is unfaithful; I once caught her coming out of a hotel with another man around 6:30 pm. “She told me that the man was her brother’s friend. “But I still love her,” 42-year-old Wasiu Oyekanmi told an Igando Customary Court on Tuesday in Lagos. 

Oyekanmi’s wife, Sherifat, 34, had asked the court to dissolve their twelve-year-old marriage due to “irreconcilable differences.” ‘’We did introduction and he paid dowry on me but I don’t love him anymore,’’ said Sherifat, a fashion designer The marriage, which did not produce any child, started crumbling when the husband began accusing his wife of infidelity. 

‘’He always monitor my movement, he accuses me of extra marital affairs,’’ she said. Sherifat also told the court that her husband did not care for her. “When I lost my mum, he did not contribute a dime to the funeral’’ Sherifat said. Oyekanmi, however, denied it all, saying he was doing his best to cater for his wife.

“When her mother died, I have the highest number of guests and I catered well for them. “I gave my wife N50,000 to buy and sell Ankara material and I later gave her N10,000; I do care for her in my own little way,” Oyekanmi said. The president of the court, Mr Adewale Eko, adjourned the case to Nov. 1 for further hearing. (NAN)

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My Wife Beats Me Silly, Alhaji Tells Judge

The Agege Grade ‘A’ Customary Court was thrown into laughter recently when a petitioner, Alhaji Azeez, who told the court that his wife, Mrs Idayat Azeez beats him each time there was any disagreement between them in the house. The petitioner also added that his wife gave birth to four children and all of them are wayward due to the fact that she loves her work more than her family. 

 He said: ‘‘I will never forgive my wife because she beats me so much to the extent that we have not been sleeping together on the same bed again for some time.” He pleaded with the court to caution his wife because she was the one controlling him in the house and does not allow him to discipline the children because of their bad behaviour. 

 Reacting to the petitioner’s claims, his wife, Mrs. Idayat Azeez confirmed that she used to beat her husband whenever they fight, adding that any time there is disagreement between them, her husband’s elder sister usually throws out her belongings from her matrimonial home. The woman said the man abuses her anytime she reports the children’s behaviour to him. She also added that he does not give the children money for food.

 Idayat said she had to treat her husband that way because all the responsibilities are shouldered by her, including the maintenance of the house. The president of the court, Mr Emmanuel Sokunle said any disagreement between the couple should not be made known to their extended families. 

He advised them to train their children well because they are the future leaders. The court advised the couple to end their disagreement before they come back to the court. The matter was adjourned till 1 November, 2011.

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'Underwear bomber' Farouk Abdulmutallab to begin trial

The trial of a Nigerian man accused of an attempting to bomb a Detroit-bound flight with explosives sewn into his underwear is set to begin.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 24, originally planned to defend himself, but his court-appointed lawyer will at least make the opening statement.

Mr Abdulmutallab faces a series of charges, including attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.

If convicted, he could face a lifelong prison sentence.

The US government says Mr Abdulmutallab attempted to detonate a bomb aboard a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit as it landed on Christmas 2009.

The bomb, however, did not work and he was badly burned instead.

'Driving the bus'

During last week's jury selection, Mr Abdulmutallab alternately questioned potential jurors himself or sat silent as defence lawyer Anthony Chambers interviewed others.

The 24-year-old is officially representing himself, after firing a team of four lawyers appointed by the Detroit Federal Defender office last year.

Mr Chambers is the "standby counsel" appointed by a federal judge.

He told the Associated Press news agency he had been authorised by Mr Abdulmutallab to deliver the opening statement.

Mr Chambers said his client was "driving the bus" on the ultimate decisions made in the courtroom.

"His self-representation certainly makes it more difficult strategically. But we're doing the best we can with what we have to work with."

Lloyd Meyer, a former terrorism prosecutor at the US justice department, told AP Mr Abdulmutallab giving his own opening statement would have been disastrous for the defence.

"He would have stood up in front of a jury and said, 'I wanted to murder my fellow passengers and here's why'," Mr Meyer said.

The former student's outbursts in the courtroom have become common.

Last week, he shouted "Anwar is alive" during jury selection, an apparent reference to Anwar al-Awlaki, a US-born al-Qaeda recruiter killed in a drone strike in September.

During a pre-trial hearing, Mr Abdulmutallab made similar statements about Osama Bin Laden after his publicised death.

"The goal of the court is to get the best representation so no one down the road can claim [Mr Abdulmutallab] was railroaded or forced to assume a responsibility he could not handle," said David Steingold, a Detroit defence lawyer.

Interview allowed

Mr Abdulmutallab attempted to have several pieces of information banned from appearing at trial, including statements he made while being treated for burns at a hospital.

He argued the interview should be suppressed, as he was not read his rights before being questioned by the FBI, including the right to remain silent.

US District Judge Nancy Edmunds, who is presiding over the case, denied the request, citing public safety in the immediate hours after the attempted bombing.

Judge Edmunds will also will let jurors see a martyrdom video recorded by Mr Abdulmutallab before the attack but won't let jurors see a video clip of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden hailing him as a hero.

As the juror pool was whittled down last week, Mr Chambers was ultimately unsatisfied with the makeup of the jury.

The final jury has only two African-Americans out of 12 total.

"Obviously, I'm not pleased with the pool," Mr Chambers said after jury selection last week. "By appearance, it does not represent the community."

Mr Abdulmutallab's father, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, an influential banker who is well connected in Nigerian politics, said he had approached the US embassy officials and Nigerian authorities to warn them about his son in 2009.

Source:BBC

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Nun takes Catholic Bishop, 6 priests to court over alleged fornication

A Federal High Court sitting at Awka, Anambra State has restrained the Bishop of Nnewi Catholic Diocese, Rt. Rev. Paul Okeke and six other priests in the church from harassing, attacking or molesting a female member of the church, Sister Angela Ejidike who is seeking justice over the allegation of fornication leveled against her by the church.

The court presided over by Justice Peter Olayiwola also restrained the police from further invasion of the Sister Ejidike’s premises in connection with her complaints as contained in the Motion on Notice or further violation of her rights pending the hearing and determination of the case.

The court further granted the applicant “unfettered access to her residence at Gibson Nwosu Avenue Awka, for the purposes of occupying same and to be able to access the level of damage done by the police at the instance of the 1st to 7th Respondents pending the hearing and determination of the Motion.”

The Applicant, Sister Ejidike a devout Christian who took a private vow of perpetual virginity had gone to court alleging attempts on her life by persons she described as agents of the Bishop and the six priests.

The nine respondents in the case are Most Rev. Bishop Hilary Paul Odili Okeke, Rev. Fr. Christian Eze, Rev. Fr. Alexander Umenweke, Rev. Fr. Ernest Amobi Ebulue, Rev. Fr. Luke Ibeh, Rev. Fr. Jude Ezike, Rev. Fr. Pius Ilechukwu, the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Police Command and the Inspector General of Police.

In a 99-paragraph affidavit, Ejidike who claimed to have gone into hiding due to the attempts on her life averred that when it became difficult for the 1st – 7th Respondents to trace her, “they falsely alleged and instigated the police to invade my residence; carting away some vital property.”

She traced her travails to August 2002 when one of the priests “invaded me in the gathering of Christian faithful at Nnewi and chased away people who came for counseling and consultation.

“The same priest concocted fornication allegation against me and another Catholic priest who happened to be the Director of Catechetic and Evangelization where I rendered my services and faith.

“In order to completely destroy me, the priest reported the concocted lies to the Nnewi Diocesan Senate of Priests where the 1st – 6th Respondents are equally members.

“Without any investigation, the priests started spreading this false fornication story which later got to my hearing and that of the priest who was also accused.

“This false story spread like wild fire to the nooks and crannies of the country and even beyond; it was one of those who received God’s healing through us and who lives in Austria that broke the news to us. The story made us look like murderers to the people and our reputation and character were badly destroyed,” she said.

The Applicant recalled that she, together with the accused priest used to carry out Evangelization Programme which attracted over 20,000 faithful; “but we were unaware that the 1st – 7th Respondents were not happy with the development.

She noted that even after she went for virginity test to prove her innocence, she was evicted from the Cathetical centre and forced to get a private residence.

“Soon after I parked to a private residence, strange and intriguing visits were paid by some Catholics Priests of the Diocese including the Respondents. Unfortunately these visits culminated and metamorphosed into assassins pursuing me everywhere from 2005 till date which caused me to go into hiding,” Ejidike further stated in the affidavit.

Meanwhile, the court has fixed hearing of the Motion on Notice for October 26, 2011.

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