AHANONU KINGSLEY BLOG

AIn a spree that would seem as though the target of the marauding killers in recent days has become priests- Catholic priest, another clergyman Fr David Tanko was today reportedly murdered in Takum, Taraba state. His killers had ambushed him on his way back from a peace meeting and attacked him. The death of Fr Tanko, aside from being so unfortunate, is one so barbaric and callous. The Reverend gentleman was not only butchered by his killers but was found to be an object to burn and roast. I cannot find a better way to condemn this evil act or to find a more convenient way to look at it. But as eerie as this dastardly act is and as unsteady as I could be at its news, I stand to utterly condemn it for what it is. The idea of killing someone and human created by God couldn't be such a thing to hold unto with calmness, much more to have treated that body with disdain. The death of Fr Tanko brings to the fore how porous our security system is, and this is one that continue to p...

The case between the federal government of Nigeria and Irish company, Process & Industrial Development Ltd, which draws from the 2010 contract between the duo is a question that should be critically looked into, bringing every party that played one or the other role to account. A British court had awarded penalty to the company for the failure of the Nigerian government to honour its part of the agreement reached in 2010. The judge had ruled that the small company can take 20 percent of what's Nigeria's foreign reserve, amounting to the massive tune of 8.9billion US dollars. This figure was calculated based on what the company is estimated to have earned within the period of the contract. Going by the terms of the contract, the Nigerian government was to supply natural gas to the professing facility to be built by P & ID Ltd, which was to later convert it to dry gas to be used to power electricity. This contract was to last for a 20years period. This judgement ag...

The list released by the US Justice Department has sent ripples within the Nigerian landscape as  people, especially those close to and  familiar with the names there couldn't come to terms with the shock of the revelation. Most of the names are indigenes of the South-eastern state of Imo, whose lifestyles have been something always on the people's lips. Those who know them attest to how they have myriad of investments scattered around town and how they live larger than life. Odionyemma a.k.a Nwakanwa Chika Odionyemma is one of the persons on FBI’s 77-man list of suspected Nigerian fraudsters. His listing is one of those that came with much shock to many. The founder of the Nwakanwa Foundation has been known to be a philanthropist, promoter of youths and largely charitable and curiously, a role model. His questionable rise to fortune brought him a widespread fame that soon began to see him frolicking with the high and mighty. He was the talk of the town in Imo stat...

There may be further ripple effects for country men and women following the indictment of 77 Nigerians by the United States (U.S.) Department of Justice, in connection with massive fraud and money laundering. According to TheGuardian, Western Union, an international money transfer firm has decided to stop transactions that are Nigeria-bound. It states that in Texas, the state with the largest Nigerian population in the U.S., the money transfer agency may have blocked all money transfers to Nigeria, according to a report. The report added that the blockade might spread to other states and countries. A notice at the outlet in Texas said it was no longer doing Western Union Transfers to Nigeria, with apologies for any inconvenience.

The action of the 77 Nigerians described by the U.S. as the highest financial crime in its history and which led to their recent indictment by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is something that should be condemned but with careful scrutiny. The point I am making is that this high profile case should be given the needed indepth analysis as to serve justice to those who are deserving of it. In making this necessary effort of serving justice to those deserving of it, it would help to clearly exonerate those who are not culpable, but who by whatever stint have been hewn in the web of indictment. It is as such very necessary also that those of the 77 persons listed in the damning report and who as it is have been declared wanted should submit themselves to the relevant agency to afford them the leverage to do the required scrutiny and unmasked their genuine involvement or not. They must understand that, even as reprehensible the crime they've been accused of is and ev...

The year 2019 Int'l Youth Day is on the need to commit efforts geared towards making education more relevant, more equitable and more inclusive for the youths and, very importantly, by youthful efforts. With the topic "Transforming Education", the focus drives on the involvement of youths in education. It goes further to say that beyond having to be educated, the youths have got a role to play in the process itself. Consequently, it is the effective participation of the youths that brings further the appreciable value of education. In committing themselves to the very process which they are beneficiaries, it's believed that the process would be rejigged. That's the basis of transforming education, which is the focal point for this year's IYD. The youths are the future leaders, and we know very remarkably that it is not a far-flung destination; this future itself starts now. It is to say therefore that the essence of a transformed education would be for ...

Inspector Mark Ediale ,  Sergeant Usman Danzumi , and  Sergeant Dahiru Musa  were the three police officers of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) gruesomely murdered in Ibi Taraba state during the covert operation. The IRT had arrested and was transporting the suspected kidnap kingpin to the Command Headquarters in Jalingo when the attack happened. The statement of tribute released yesterday by the Force PRO Frank Mba, had described the deceased as some of the finest breed in the service of the Nigerian Police. My heart bleeds as I write this, just as it has been to since the news of the deaths of these three officers. Personally it heartraking and something I could not so readily come to terms with that security agents were gunned consciously, though arguably, in the course of a national assignment by members of sister security agency. Indeed it's, beyond baffling, devastating. So sad and unfortunate that it has happened, I would force myself not to...