Nigeria’s Super Rich: How They Make, Spend Their Money.

To make wealth is an achievement; the way it is spent is style. In most cases, successful individuals who have created wealth through wise and diligent investments in business hardly squander their money. They usually prefer to reinvest their capital, including the accrued profit over the years, into their businesses to increase their asset base and level of affluence.

The tendency, therefore, is that the richer they are, the more their business interests expand. In line with this corporate tradition, the rich investors get richer and, when they spend, they do so in a big way worthy of mention. This is because of the extensive attention attracted by their rare wherewithal and will to spend, including doling out money on humanitarian grounds. Among Nigeria’s privileged people are:

Aliko Dangote

Nigerian business tycoon Aliko Dangote is the richest man in Africa. He is the founder, Dangote Group, West Africa’s largest publicly listed conglomerate with diverse business interests such as sugar refining, flour milling, textiles, real estate and salt processing. Dangote Cement, Dangote Foods (noodles) and Dansa Juice complete the chain. His total net worth is about $16.1 as at March 2013.

Dangote spends money in philanthropic activities. He has stepped up his philanthropy in recent years, giving over $100 million to causes ranging from education and health through flood relief, poverty alleviation to the arts. He acquired a private jet in April 2010 as a personal gift on the occasion of his 53rd birthday. The Bombardier Global Jet Express XRS (one out of a few) was estimated to cost $45 million. Dangote is also said to have purchased a private luxury yatch at the cost of $43 million made exclusively for his enjoyment. The yatch is named Mariya after his mother.

Mike Adenuga

Otunba Mike Adenuga built his fortune in business from banking, mobile telecom service and oil. He founded Globacom, now Nigeria’s second largest mobile phone network, in 2006. Globacom has more than 24 million subscribers in Nigeria, and also operates in the Republic of Benin. Adenuga made his first fortune at the young age of 26 in the 1970s by distributing lace and other materials. He later had another opportunity to expand his fortune during the military regime of Ibrahim Babangida when he was awarded a contract for the construction of military barracks in some military installations in the country. He is presently worth $4.7 billion, thus justifying him as one of Nigeria’s super-rich businessmen.

Adenuga is a philanthropist who spends a lot of money on selfless activities aimed at bringing succour and assistance to less-privileged people. Adenuga also takes his philanthropic goodwill to the area of sports development in Nigeria and Africa through his selfless investments in sports.  His demonstration of philanthropic largesse cuts across sponsorship of Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) and the Super Eagles. This was one of the points highlighted by President Goodluck Jonathan at his (Adenuga’s) 60th birthday. “You are celebrating 60 years of a remarkable life filled with monumental achievements in high entrepreneurship, philanthropy and dedicated service to God and country,” the president said.

Similarly, the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Mr Issah Hayatou, used the occasion of Adenuga’s birthday celebration to appreciate his contributions to the society. He recognised that Adenuga had not only affected Africa positively through his accomplishments in business but has also been the pillar of sports on the continent.

Adenuga loves spending money on what gives him joy. It could be said that, partly for this reason, he acquired a private Bombardier Global Express jet, fitted with the latest flight facilities. It is one of the most luxuriously built private jets in the world, just like that of Dangote.

Jim Ovia

Jim Ovia started building his fortunes when he founded Zenith Bank Group in 1990. The bank has grown to become West Africa’s second largest financial service provider by market capitalisation and asset base. His sources of wealth are banking, telecommunication and real estate investment.

He also owns Quantum Luxury Properties Limited, a private equity fund with special focus on Africa. Ovia’s total net worth is about $825 million.

He has embarked on the establishment of a free, co-educational high school, James Hope College, in Delta State, the place where he pondered his future as a young man. The school, an 18-month project, launches in September with an initial capacity for 420 students. He is also the founder of Mankind United To Support Total Education (MUSTE), an organisation providing scholarships for the underprivileged.

Abdussamad Rabiu

Lagos-based business tycoon Abdulsamad Rabiu is a son of Khalifa Isiyaku Rabiu, one of Nigeria’s most successful businessmen in the 1970s. Little wonder therefore that he followed in his father’s footsteps in business with interest in importing basic commodities such as rice, sugar and cement in the 1980s.

Abdussamad heads the BUA Group, a conglomerate with $1.9 billion in revenues and interests in sugar refining, vegetable oil processing and flour mills. The BUA Group also operates the BUA Cement, Nigeria’s first floating cement terminal, as well as Nigerian Oil Mill which processes edible oil. According to Forbes magazine report, he is the 21st richest African and is worth $675 million.

Folorunsho Alakija

Billionaire oil tycoon, fashion designer and philanthropist, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija is worth at least $3.3 billion against a recent Forbes’ rating which quoted her net worth as $600 million. She began her professional career in the 1970s as secretary of defunct International Merchant Bank of Nigeria, one of the country’s earliest investment banks.

In the early 1980s when banking was seen as one of the most lucrative jobs, she took a bold step towards realisation of her personal dreams by quitting her job in the bank to study Fashion Design in England. She returned to Nigeria a few years later to establish Supreme Stitches, a high-profile fashion firm which provides special services to exclusive clientele. She also founded Rose of Sharon Foundation, a charity organisation.

This fashion design business led her into fortune. She was in a position to make and sell high-level clothing to the fashionable wives of some military big shots and other society women.

In May 1993, Mrs Alakija set out for oil business. It was then she applied for an allocation of oil prospecting licence (OPL) to explore 617,000-acre block granted to her company, Famfa Oil Limited. However, at that time, she had no experience in oil exploration — she was just a new entrant in the business.

Also, Mrs Alakija is widely reported to own a private jet, Bombardier Global Express 6000 which cost about $46 million, added to acquisition of a property at Hyde Park. This is one of the ways she spends her wealth, which gives her happiness. Furthermore, she is a philanthropist who derives joy in giving assistance to widows and other less-privileged in society.

Tony Elumelu

Mr Tony Elumelu (CON) was born in Jos on March 22, 1963. He is a renowned economist, banker, investor and generous philanthropist. Elumelu is a recognised African leader in corporate business. After leading United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc to a higher level with the acquisition of Standard Trust Bank (STB) during the consolidation of the banking industry in 2005, he retired from the management of UBA in July 2010.

On establishment of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, he stated the foundation’s objective as to “prove that the African private sector can itself be primary generator of economic development”. Among the roles of the foundation are deployment of resources to generate reliable solutions to the business constraints that derail and clog the growth of business in the private sector in Africa.

Moreover, Elumelu ploughs a lot of resources in philanthropic activities. Apart from the Tony Elumelu Foundation, he was also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Regional Agenda Council on Africa. He is also part of the Bretton Woods Committee which brings leaders in the global banking industry together. Voluntary development of human capital is one of the cherished interests where Elumelu spends his wealth. He also partners with the Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative (AGI) with high focus on strengthening the role of the private sector in economic transformation policies of some African countries. This partnership is named Blair-Elumelu Fellowship Programme.

Elumelu, the originator of the concept of Africapitalism as an economic philosophy that reflects the commitment of players in the private sector towards the economic transformation of Africa through long-term investment, is a consummate patriot with a full-blown obsession for how he can make his country and continent a better part of the world.

Interest in paying family hospital bills, unpaid school fees, providing for families who cannot provide their needs — all form part of what Elumelu does through his catalytic philanthropic method of assisting human beings within the shores of Nigeria and Africa.

Hajiya Bola Shagaya

Hajiya Bola Shagaya is hailed as one of Nigeria’s richest businesswomen. She is the CEO of Bolmus International Limited. She has interests in several sectors ranging from oil and gas, banking, cash crops export, real estate, fast-moving consumer goods and photography.

She has been a very influential figure in Nigeria’s corridors of power for decades and has excelled in a society where the role of women has been restricted traditionally. Her rise to affluence and power is not attributed to parental or marital influence. This woman of means has skilfully built her network and wealth from a humble background, and has proven herself as an outstanding power broker with impressive entrepreneurial skills.

In the manner of an astute entrepreneur, she saw opportunities in the populous image-conscious Nigerian market, prompting the expansion of her Konica marketing operations to photo laboratory services; that was the birth of another of her companies – Fotofair (Nigeria) Limited. Today, Fotofair is a leading photo laboratory company in Nigeria with over 30 laboratories spread across the nation.

Hajiya, as she is fondly called, has impressively carved her path in the sixth-largest oil producer’s oil and gas sector. As far back as the late 1980s, during the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida-led military administration, she had steered her oil and gas company through the highly connected and contested Nigerian oil and gas sector to secure allocations for oil blocks. Thus began her reign as an indigenous oil marketer.

Around 2005, she became the managing director of Practoil Limited and, in 2011, she founded another exploration company, Voyage Oil and Gas Limited.

Shagaya, who is of Yoruba extraction, a tribe distinguished as party enthusiasts of the over 200 tribes in Nigeria, often attends the biggest social events dressed in “anko” with Nigeria’s first ladies — a local practice of Nigerian women indicating bosom friendship by wearing the same traditional attire especially to social functions.

The one-time patron of the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN) is a collector and retailer of the finest and most exquisite jewelleries from different fashion capitals of the world. “I love fashion, artworks and beautification endeavours,” she said.

The graceful billionaire is not all about heavy-weight work. “I’m also a lover of sports, especially Polo”, she said. She has consistently supported Polo tournaments in Nigeria over the years.

Femi Otedola

Femi Otedola is the CEO of African Petroleum Plc. He was one of only two Nigerians (alongside Aliko Dangote) to appear on the 2009 Forbes list of 793 dollar-denominated billionaires in the world, with an estimated net worth of over US$1.2 billion. Femi Otedola is the Nigerian president and chief executive officer of Zenon Petroleum and Gas limited.

Forbes magazine estimates Femi Otedola’s net worth at $1.2 billion and ranks him as the 601st richest person in the world. According to Encomium magazine, Femi Otedola’s net worth is $3.5 billion.

He owns a private jet called Challenger Global 5000 and a yatch almost similar to Dangote’s named Nana after his wife.

Emeka Offor

Sir Emeka Offor, as he is often addressed rarely grants interviews, rather, he prefers his works, businesses and philanthropy to speak for him.

His multi-million business interest, Chrome Group, is a multifaceted organisation which originally started as an engineering outfit handling projects such as refinery maintenance, has today become by the grace of God, a conglomerate with diverse interests in Oil and Gas, Finance/Investments, Telecommunications, Insurance, Maritime, Destination Inspection, Real Estate and the Power Sector.

He once said in a newspaper interview that he is a son of a policeman, born in Kafanchan in Kaduna State. Offor is a goal-getter and founder of Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, a platform through which he doles out millions of naira for philanthropic purposes.

A member of Rotary International and deeply involved in the 4 cardinal pursuits of the Rotary Foundation, which are; peace and Conflict Management, Maternal and Child Death, Basic Education and Literacy, and Polio and Guinea Worm Eradication. He has made an outstanding donation of 250,000 USD for Peace studies at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, $250,000 for Polio eradication; $250,000 for Guinea worm eradication; and another $250,000 for Women empowerment programmes in Nigeria. He was inducted into the Foundation Circle of the Arch Klumph Society of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, an honour reserved for individuals who have donated over $250,000 to its causes.  Through his Foundation, he has donated over $1 million, making him the highest donor from Africa.

This Anambra State-born politician and businessman has heavily invested in education. The Sir Emeka Offor Foundation is the largest single sponsor of Books For Africa, a non-profitable organization, bringing in over $10 million worth of books, computers and other educational materials to our national institutions of learning and public libraries. He was reported to have also used his money to enthrone a governor in his home state.

Andy Uba

Initially named Nnamdi Uba and currently a member of the National Assembly as a Senator of the Federal Republic, Senator Andy Uba is a member of the famous Uba family in Anambra State. He is stupendously rich and was reported to have declared his assets to be worth N3trillion though he denied ever doing so.

Uba has a lot of lucrative business interests and he is connected with a number of charity works via a Foundation.

Culled From Leadership. Ng

Wizkid’s Birthday Party With One Direction’s Liam Payne At London’s Funky Buddhha & Alexander Amosu’s Ridiculously Priced £1.2 Million Bottle Of Champage Is Involved.

Up until now I have refrained from blogging about Alexander Amosu’s £1.2 Million bottle of champagne because I just wasn’t buying the hype.

But right now even UK’s Daily Mail is talking about it so let me jump on the bandwagon and not only report on it but speak my mind on it.

Read Lots More After The Jump

Luxury designer Alexander Amosu’s new creation – the world’s most expensive bottle of champagne is making it’s way round celeb circles fast! 1st Don Jazzy was gifted with one, he shared a picture of himself posed up with the bottle beside a Loya milk mug – a brand he actually endorses, next up was Peter Okoye of P-Square who initially blasted the luxury drink saying “The most expensive champagne . £1.2million . (N250million) May dis champagne never CHOP MY MONEY IJN” – he was sent one by Amosu & also shared a picture of himself holding the expensive bottle, you should note that neither Don Baba J nor Peter was seen drinking the expensive champagne.

Now it’s the turn of Wizkid & Liam Payne who is a member of the hottest boy band in the world right now One Direction. According to Daily Mail

19-year-old Liam Payne is believed to have made sure his Nigerian musician pal, Wizkid, had the best 24th birthday a boy could wish for by splashing out on a bottle of Taste Of Diamond at London’s Funky Buddha nightclub.

Daily Mail Wizkid is 23 but I digress…

According to reports the £1.2 Million price tag is for the show bottle only which is described as “hand-crafted from 18ct solid white gold weighing approximately 48gsm and solid gold centred by a single flawless deep cut white diamond weighing 19cts. This label is also handmade in 18ct solid gold and weighs approximately 36gsm”

The official price is rumoured to be less than a $100! So my people all na wetin? All na WASH!

Marketing at it’s finest. Mr Amosu has achieved so much press coverage from this supposed £1.2 million champagne, now he has the Daily Mail talking about it. All that’s left is for Rihanna, Beyonce or Jay Z to be photographed with one and his creation will dominate global headlines! And some peeps out there with more money than sense would actually buy it at the £1.2 Million price tag! Brilliant marketing strategy Mr Amosu…just Genius!

Anyways shout out to Wizkid partying it up with One Direction, the boy is just collecting global celebrity friends the world over – Chris Brown, Akon, Young Jeezy, Wale….the list is endless.

Health: Beware, Pain Killers Can Be Deadly

Everyone has experienced pains at one point or another. And so many of us know what it is like to experience severe aches and pains in the back, leg or head, even for a short while.Painkillers are often taken for temporary relief, but it is common for people living with chronic pain to become dependent or addicted to painkillers.

Yes, it is not just cocaine or heroin that people abuse; thousands of Nigerians are in the grip of a deadly drug addiction — to everyday painkillers commonly known as analgesic.Though these drugs give short relief, doctors warn that overdependence on them may create greater health challenge than users can handle.

According to a report by Michael House Pain Treatment and Alcohol Centre, Palm Beach, United States of America, taking any painkiller for a long period of time will most likely lead to the development of a tolerance and physical dependence upon the drug.But then, how do you know you have reached the point of addiction?

General practitioner, Dr. Lanre Salami, says someone is said to be addicted to painkillers when taking the drug has become the only ‘treatment’ for the chronic or slight pain the person feels in any part of his body and he no longer has control over their use. He states that since most pain relief medications contain nicotine, caffeine and Ibruprofen, it is easier to get addicted to them.

Salami adds, “It’s a health issue, as well as a mental and physical issue, and this addiction can have serious consequences, depending on how long you have been using them, even to cure pain or aches.”Apart from addiction, experts warn that there are three main health concerns when using painkillers to treat pain over a long period. One is that the pain you are trying to repress or cure may become worse.

The Director, Pain Management and Research Institute, New York, Prof. Michael Nicholas, adds that painkillers are psychotropic drugs and their prolonged use could cause mood changes and sedation and eventually lead to depression.

Nicholas notes that these painkillers are only useful for treating short-term pain, and never intended to treat long-term pain.“None of these drugs will fix the problem. All they do is cover it and that’s when people get into trouble. They increase the dose themselves. You can actually end up feeling more pain with the drugs you are taking because you get more sensitised. And as the drugs wear off, so people take more and then they have more side effects.”

However, with the rigour of living in a socially and physically demanding 21st century, pain is more common than ever and so is the increased use of pain medication.

But how do you manage your pain without drugs?

The doctors say one must understand the cause, and how to prevent it or seek treatment.Nicholas notes that it’s important to correct the root cause of pain, while managing it may require the help of a doctor or a pain specialist and other health professionals. Therefore, visit the hospital.But not to worry, there are some natural remedies and quite simple lifestyle changes that could stop the pain and get one off painkillers.

One of them is physical exercise. A health and fitness expert, Valerie Johnston, says the brain releases chemicals known as endorphins during exercise, which block pain signals and also serve as mood boosters.Johnston adds, “Any form of physical exercise also works on other levels to reduce pain. By strengthening your muscles, increasing your mobility, improving your range of motion, increasing your endurance, and improving your cardio health, your body’s resistance to pain will increase naturally.”As expected, stress has a way of intensifying pain.

Johnston notes that negative emotions which arise from being stressed out could cause the body to tense up, which could aggravate existing aches.She recommends stress reduction techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, and guided imagery that naturally relax both the body and mind. “As you learn to live a more relaxed, stress-free life, you will progressively be able to manage your pain more effectively. Knowing how to access a mental escape will be of great benefit for moving out of your pain and into a more peaceful state of mind.” 

She also states that poor diet is one of the key culprits in causing inflammation and pain.According to her, individuals who are overweight and/or malnourished are much more prone to chronic pain, adding that a variety of vegetables, fresh fruit, whole grains, omega-3 fatty acids, beans, peas, nuts, and other healthy food choices, while reducing unhealthy foods, can reduce back and neck pain, as well as headaches.

Johnston says, “Proper nutrition, in combination with exercise, will result in a stronger body that is better able to combat pain and a number of other health problems that can lead to chronic pain.”

How My Wife Moved In With Her Boss, Husband Tells Court

A 35-year-old cobbler, Mr Oluwatobi Odebode, Thursday,  told  an Iyana-Ipaja Customary Court in Lagos that his wife, Titilayo, vacated their matrimonial home to live with her boss.Oluwatobi, who was the respondent in a divorce suit, said that he returned home from work on Dec. 24, 2012, to discover that his wife had moved out of their home.

“My wife is promiscuous; when I heard that she was dating her boss, I queried her but she denied it. But now, she has moved into his house,” he said.The respondent, whose wife had filed for divorce, alleging battery and irresponsibility, admitted to beating Titilayo, but said that it only happened occasionally when she did wrong.“I used to beat her but not regularly; just to make her turn a new leaf, which she never did,” he said.

The respondent described his estranged wife as a liar.According to him, Titilayo, 32, who is a trader, had been going about to tell people that her family had returned the N10,000 dowry he paid on her, which was not true.The cobbler said that his sister-in-law had denied him access to his two-year-old son, who was living with her.

“Anytime I go to her house to check on the welfare of my son, she will not allow me to see him.“On one occasion, she beat me up and warned me not to come to her house again,” he said.

The petitioner had urged the court to dissolve her two-year-old marriage, alleging battery and maltreatment.“Oluwatobi turned me into a punching bag. I had to pack out from his house because I didn’t want him to kill me before my time,” she said.

Titilayo said that her husband lacked respect for her parents and claimed that the respondent on one occasion visited her parents’ home to beat up her mother for allegedly insulting him.The petitioner also accused her husband of irresponsibility adding that she had been the one paying the child’s school fees.She told the court that she was no longer in love with Oluwatobi and urged the court to dissolve the marriage and give her custody of their two-year-old child.

The Court President, Mrs Salewa Banjoko, adjourned the case to July 23 for further hearing.

SHAME: Former Chief Judge Of FCT Found Guilty Of Judicial Corruption

The National Judicial Council, NJC, at the end of its two-day crucial meeting in Abuja, yesterday, found the former Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Hassan Gunmi, who had resigned to become an Emir in Zamfara State, guilty of judicial corruption.

In a statement yesterday, the council said it was satisfied that the ex-CJ perverted the course of justice in a case involving a company, Nestello Gateway Group, and the Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Abubakar Yari. 

Describing the conduct of Justice Gunmi pertaining to the case as “most unethical and highlyreprehensible,” NJC said it decided not to take punitive measures against him considering that he had voluntarily bowed out of office.

 The council, however, warned that “henceforth, any similar misconduct by any judicial officer will be visited with severe sanctions.

WOOLWICH MURDER SUSPECT, MICHAEL ADEBOLAJO, ATTACKED IN PRISON

Michael Adebolajo, one of the men who were accused of hacking a British Soldier, Drummer Lee Rigby to death near Woolwich Barracks in South East London on May 22 is in the news again.

The 28-year-old who's standing trial on November 18 was reportedly attacked in HMP Belmarsh prison yesterday by unknown men suspected to be prison officers. Two of his frontal teeth were knocked out in the process.

However, a spokeswoman of the Prison Service stated that the matter is currently being investigated.

Trend Alert! Rihanna goes Grey

Rihanna loves to set trends.Yesterday she was spotted with grey extensions.I must confess it suits her.But sadly, not everyone can pull it off ,so i suggest you try it with caution..

And lol..That's one lucky fan.She even shared photos she took with him on instagram

Pastor Rapes 2 Under-aged Girls, Says He Was Tempted By Evil Spirit

A Nigerian Pastor with Deeper life Bible Church, Abudu, in Orhiomnwon Local Government Area, Eze Fidels, has been paraded by the Edo State Command of the Nigerian Police for defiling two underaged girls.

Also, three suspected rapists, a robbery gang, including a woman, who specialized in robbing unsuspecting passengers using private cars which they masquerade as taxi cabs, were among the 32 suspected criminals paraded by the police.Pastor Fidelis was said to have lured the two girls, aged six, into his room after sending them on an errand. The police claimed he had carnal knowledge of them before dismissing them.Father of one of the girls who noticed the unusual way his daughter was walking when she got home, obtained confession from her, which led to the arrest of the paedophile pastor.

Eze who confessed to the act, said he had actually defiled two other minors, both of them 11 years old sometimes this year, but said he was tempted by evil spirit to commit the act.

“I am really ashamed of myself particularly as a Pastor. I have been a Pastor at Deeper Life for over six years but I was tempted to defile these girls. They are always visiting me, so this particularly day I defiled both of them,” he said.

Edo state police commissioner, Folusho Adebanjo, who paraded the suspects to journalists in Benin, also displayed various arms and amunitions recovered from them.He disclosed that few weeks after the state government placed ban on the use of motorcycle in the Benin metropolis, criminals have devised ways to rob unsuspecting commuters, using private cars as taxi cabs.

Adebanjo further disclosed that the command had apprehended over 90 suspected armed robbers and kidnappers in the past five weeks but expressed worry in the rising cases of defilement of minors across the state.“Today we have 32 suspects that we are parading and they are involved different crimes, ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and people who are involved in defilement of the girl child. This defilement thing in the state now is very very disturbing, we will not allow them to go scot free. And that is why we continue to appeal to members of the public to always give us useful information because we cannot do it alone.

“But let me also alert members of the public, there is an emerging crime since the ban on Okada was effected, it is called one chance. What they do is that they always have a woman amongst them so that will make you not to suspect them. There is always somebody that claims to be a Pastor with them, they will deceive you to say you have a particular problem and they will rob you of everything.

“One of their victims a lady had to go to bank to withdraw N150,000. We are going to work with Road Safety and the Board of Internal Revenue so that all vehicles on the road must be registered. People should shine their eyes very well, they are using some vehicles pretending to be taxi drivers,” he stated.

To check this, Mr. Adebanjo called on the Edo State Revenue Board and the Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC) to ensure registration of vehicles both old and new that have flooded the sate capital since the ban on commercial motor cycling.

WTF! Nigeria Senate Legalises Under Age Marriage For Girls – Females As Young As 3 Can Now Get Married?!

I keep saying that the Nigerian Senate has misplaced priorities. They are not focusing on the real issues plaguing our nation like corruption, providing adequate health care, resolving the long standing NEPA issue and much more. Instead they are using tax payers money to to pass ridiculous bills like anti gay marriage laws with harsh 14 year jail sentences (as if the few gay people in Nigeria are clamouring for marriage) & a few days ago they passed a law legalising under age marriage.

It all began a few days ago on the 17th July when the Senate voted to stipulate that a woman shall not be qualified for marriage until she is 18 years old. Former Governor of Zamfar State now Senator Ahmad Sani Yarima opposed this ruling claiming it violates Islamic law. You may recall that in 2009 this same Senator Yerima who is in his late 50s sparked outrage when he married a 13 year old girl. He justified his actions by citing that according to Islamic law he was doing nothing wrong.

And based on his opposition the Senate led by Senate president David Mark amended the age specification in the new constitution, changing it from 18 & leaving it open even to infants. The new law states “A woman is deemed to be “full of age” once she is married irrespective of the age she did so.”

Thus implying that even an infant shall be considered to be “of age” once married & thereby legalising paedophilia!

I can’t believe this! So now any man that has an attraction to young girls can marry said girls, especially girls from poor homes! I am so outraged, and so should you. Sign The Petition HERE, Let’s Help The United Nations Stop The Nigerian Senate Repeal This Law!

This is what your elected officials are doing over in Abuja, passing laws to legalise under age marriage!

Chido Onumah: So, Who Killed Kudirat Abiola?

This should be the question on the lips of every man and woman of conscience, considering the acquittal last week of Maj. Hamza al-Mustapha, Chief Security Officer of ex-military dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha. Al-Mustapha, until his acquittal, had been in detention since 1999 for the murder of Kudirat Abiola, wife of M.KO. Abiola, winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election who himself died in detention in July 1998.

The state reception and effusive welcome party for al-Mustapha must be gut-wrenching for any Nigerian who lived through the horrors of the Abacha dictatorship. As Abacha’s Chief Security Officer, al-Mustapha was the point man of the murderous triumvirate that comprised Ismaila Gwarzo, National Security Adviser and Frank Omenka of the notorious Directorate of Military Intelligence. They had as their henchmen Barnabas Jabila (a.k.a Sgt. Rogers), Muhammed Abdul (a.k.a Katako), Alhaji Danbaba, and Rabo Lawal amongst others.

The High Court of Lagos State under Hon. Justice Mojisola Dada had on January 30, 2012, found both  al-Mustapha and Alhaji Lateef Shofolahan, one of Kudirat’s aides, guilty of the offences of conspiracy to murder and murder of Kudirat, contrary to Sections 324 and 319 of the Criminal Code of Lagos State and accordingly had sentenced them to death by hanging. Justice Dada had based her judgment, amongst other things, on the strength of the testimony of two prosecution witnesses, Jabila and Abdul.

Both witnesses had testified that they were “directed to murder Alhaja Kudirat Abiola by Maj. Hamza al-Mustapha; that they were given information on her movements by Alhaji Lateef Sofolahan; and that they, respectively, shot and killed Alhaji Kudirat Abiola and drove the Peugeot 504 car, which they used in trailing her car and bolted away, after killing her at the Cargo Vision Area of the Lagos end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway”.

Justice Dada’s guilty verdict was reversed last week by the Court of Appeal. While lashing out at the lower court, Hon. Justice Amina A. Augie (presiding justice of the Court of Appeal’s Panel), Hon. Justice Rita N. Pemu, and Hon. Justice Fatima O. Akinbami, based their ruling, amongst other things, on the “contradiction in the testimony of the prosecution witnesses” who had during cross examination and re-examination recanted, alleging that they were forced to implicate the accused persons.

It would be interesting to know why the learned justices of the Court of Appeal found it appealing (no pun intended) to believe the latter story of the prosecution witnesses. With the acquittal of al-Mustapha, it seems the Court of Appeal wants to erase our memory and close a chapter in the sordid history of the Abacha dictatorship. That also means that not a single person will be held responsible for the political assassinations that took place under that regime. So much for justice!

Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State has described al-Mustapha as a “hero”. In a country where true heroes are in short supply, the governor may well be right. I would add that al-Mustapha is also a “hero” for justice because in Nigeria justice is for the highest bidder. Alhaji Maitama Sule has asked al-Mustapha to “forgive his detractors” who obviously were responsible for his “unjust” incarceration. The Nigerian Army should go ahead and promote al-Mustapha to a General, pay him his salaries and allowances for the past 14 years – if they were ever stopped – and assign him a command to put into good use his experiences in the service of the fatherland.

Today, al-Mustapha is a free man, free to run for governor of Kano State, senator or even the president of the Federal Republic. I hope he appreciates the value of life and liberty, things that he and his former boss denied Nigerians for five years.

If al-Mustapha didn’t kill Kudirat Abiola or order her assassination, it would be nice to know what al-Mustapha and the regime he served so faithfully did to find the killers of Kudirat, Pa Alfred Rewane and others murdered during the Abacha regime. It is the same question that Gen. Ibrahim Babangida must answer concerning the death of Dele Giwa.