More than 1 million people in Russia are HIV-positive, official says

Russia's AIDS epidemic is at a dangerous tipping point after the number of people registered HIV-positive passed the 1 million mark, the country's top AIDS specialist said on Thursday, warning the rate of infection had reached record levels. 
Vadim Pokrovsky, the head of the federal AIDS center, told Reuters that the prevalence of the disease was on the verge of becoming common throughout the population, instead of concentrated primarily within a certain group. 

Almost 20 percent of the country's drug users and nearly 10 percent of the country's gay people were HIV-positive, he said. Between 55 and 60 percent of cases are linked to drug use and around 40 percent to heterosexual sex. Gay sex accounted for only about 1.5 percent. 

Russia registered its millionth HIV-positive patient - a 26-year-old woman in the south of the country — on Wednesday, said Pokrovsky. But he added the real number of HIV-positive Russians could be as high as 1.5 million, or 1 percent of the population, based on his and other expert estimates. 

"The epidemic is gathering strength. Unfortunately the measures that have been taken have clearly not been enough," Pokrovsky said.

He warned that Russia was "on the threshold" of moving from a concentrated epidemic, where HIV is highly prevalent in one subset of the population, to a generalized epidemic, where HIV rates among the general population are sufficient for sexual networking to drive new infections. 

"We're in a transitional phase," he said. "In separate regions we can say there is already a generalized HIV epidemic."

The Russian epidemic has been driven by very harsh drug laws and a lack of harm reduction and needle exchange programs, as well as repressive homosexuality laws, according to UNAIDS and the World Health Organization. 
A report released by UNAIDS in 2014 called out Russia for its "appalling record" on HIV and drug policy. "The Russian Federation… continues to steadfastly deny the evidence on the effectiveness of harm reduction, and the rates of HIV infection among people who inject drugs in the country are among the highest in the world," it said. 

A federal law banning "gay propaganda" has also hindered access to HIV prevention services among the LGBT community, according to activists. 

 

Pokrovsky said 204,000 people had died of HIV in Russia since the first case was recorded in 1987. He expected the number of new cases in 2015 to be at least 93,000, up from just under 90,000 in 2014. 
That, he said, would be the largest number of new cases since Russia began keeping data almost 30 years ago. 
The escalation comes as Russia struggles financially, beset by low oil prices, Western sanctions and a falling ruble. 
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev called last October for a series of urgent measures to respond to the growing epidemic. The government plans to spend 40 billion rubles ($475.20 million) on fighting HIV/AIDs in 2016. Pokrovsky said 100 billion rubles was needed. 

Government data shows 24,000 HIV-positive people died in 2014, the last full year for which data is available. Of those, around 12,000 died as a direct result of AIDS. Pokrovsky said the real number who died from AIDS was likely to be higher. 
He said he expected data for 2015 to show a 5-10 percent increase in the number of deaths. 

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LASG explains boat collision incident in Ibeshie

The Lagos State Government at the weekend confirmed the boat collision incident reported at Ibeshe in Ikorodu axis of the state on Thursday January 21, 2016, just as it restated its commitment to continue to improve on safety on the State waterways.

In a statement signed by the Managing Director of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Mrs. Abisola Kamson said the incident which occurred at about 8:05am was as a result of the early morning fog which led to poor visibility for the captains of the two boats. 
She said the Authority was able to ascertain what led to the incident from its information gathering machinery and onsite water guards.

According to her, one of the boats (MV Cherio) which had 20 passengers on board was operating at high speed and by the time it noticed the second boat (Olaoluwa) which had no passengers on board, it was too late to avoid a collision.

She said the impact of the collision claimed the life of a passenger on board and left three other persons injured.

According to her, the three injured persons were immediately rushed to Ikorodu General Hospital and have since been transferred to LUTH for further treatment.

The LASWA boss said the enforcement of lifejackets on waterways reduced the number of casualties as all passengers on board were wearing their life jackets.

She said immediately the incident was reported, LASWA deployed its water guards to monitor and oversight the situation adding that the Marine Police have also been notified and are currently carrying out an investigation.

She also restated the commitment of the State Government to enforce speed limits on the waterways by operators as well as aggressive campaign and enforcement of guidelines for commercial boat operators to stem boat accidents in the future. SIGNED
ABISOLA KAMSON
MANAGING DIRECTOR
LAGOS STATE WATERWAYS AUTHORITY
JANUARY 23, 2016 

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Eight accused over King Tut's beard

Egyptian media say prosecutors have referred eight museum employees for trial over the botched reattachment of the beard on the burial mask of the pharaoh, Tutankhamun. 
It comes a year after officials opened an investigation into how the blue and gold braided beard came to be detached and then hastily glued back on. 
The accused face charges of negligence and violating professional standards. 

The 3,000-year-old artefact is one of Cairo's biggest tourist attractions. 

Conservators at the Egyptian Museum had given differing accounts of the circumstances of the beard becoming detached. 
One suggestion was that it had been knocked off accidentally, another that it had been removed after becoming loose. 
Prosecutors said workers then "recklessly" tried to cover up the mistake, using large amounts of inappropriate glue in an effort to fix it. 
In all, they made four attempts to reattach the beard, on the later three occasions also trying to remove evidence of their earlier failed efforts. 
One report, in the Daily News Egypt, quoted prosecutors as saying: "Ignoring all scientific methods of restoration, the suspects tried to conceal their crime by using sharp metal tools to remove parts of the glue that became visible, thus damaging the 3,000-year-old piece without a moment of conscience." 
Those due to face trial include a former director of the museum and a former director of restoration. 
Last October, a team of conservators led by German experts began work to remove the damage and reattach the beard professionally. 
Following successful restoration, the mask was put back on public display in December.

Source: BBC 

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112-year-old holocaust survivor likely world's oldest living man, Group says

Yisrael Kristal, a 112-year-old Israeli Holocaust survivor, is now believed to be the oldest person in the world, according to the Gerontology Research Group. Yasutaro Koide, who was also 112, held this honor until his recent passing in Japan. 

Born to a religious family in 1903 in what is now Poland, Yisrael lost his first wife and their two children during the Holocaust. 
He and his second wife made aliyah (immigrated to Israel) in 1950, where they settled in Haifa and raised their two children, and where Yisrael started a sweets factory, Kristal’s Sweets. He still puts on tefillin and prays every day. 
His daughter, Shula Kuperstoch, described her father to The Jerusalem Post .  

“My father is someone who is always happy. He is optimistic, wise, and he values what he has,” Kristal’s daughter continued. 

“His attitude to life is everything in moderation,” she says. “He eats and sleeps moderately, and says that a person should always be in control of their own life and not have their life control them, as far as this is possible.”

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$2.1bn arms probe:Nobody can prosecute me for the N100million we collected- Olu Falae

Former presidential candidate of the defunct All Peoples Party (APP) Chief Olu Falae, who was allegedly accused of receiving N100m from the $2.1 billion arms money from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki, in an interview said: 

"I want to say with all emphasis that I never took even one naira from Dasuki. Beyond that, I want to assert that I never had any relationship with Dasuki. I knew Dasuki way back in 1986-87,when he was ADC to General Babagida and I was Secretary to the Federal Government. Since he left that government around 1987, I had no contact or dealing with him; absolutely none".

"The N100 million they are bandying about in the media, the one that I know about, it happened as follows: Chief Tony Anenih, a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, phoned me late January last year and said he would like to see me; he would like to come from Abuja to see me in Akure. And he came. He came with someone, and I, too, invited somebody to be with me. The four of us were together in the meeting; and Chief Anenih  said they were observing that my party, SDP, had no presidential candidate and, therefore, they would want us to ask our supporters to vote for his own party’s candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan".

"I told him that, in principle, there was nothing wrong with the two parties collaborating, but that the collaboration must be a principled collaboration: it must be based on principles. I told him that there were certain things we desired the government to do but they had not done for the people, and that if we were going to support their candidate, they must commit themselves to make changes in those areas. He asked for the areas? I said number one, their party must be prepared to restructure Nigeria from the colossal unity system, and the best way of doing that was to fully implement the report of the National Conference 2014".

"Number two, that the party must commit itself to a policy of zero tolerance for corruption because I saw that corruption was monumental in what they were doing. Number three, I said the party in government must destroy Boko Haram and give stability to Nigeria. Number four, there was mass unemployment and youths were getting frustrated, that they must articulate programmes to create jobs for the unemployed. Number five, that I observed that the party in government was spending virtually our entire revenue on recurrent expenditure, that they must reduce recurrent expenditure so as to generate surpluses to finance capital development like roads, schools, hospitals, etc".

"Item number six, that if we accepted this tide and accepted them, then if the party won the election, we will expect reasonable participation in that government. And he said they were totally happy with all these strict conditions, that the conditions were acceptable to them; in fact, he said they were already implementing some of them. So, on that note, he returned to Abuja. But after he left, I decided to write to him in order to document this relationship. The letter I wrote to him, again I listed the six conditions which I had mentioned in our oral discussion. And three days later, he wrote back to me saying that he had consulted all the stakeholders of his party including the President and they were all happy to accept those conditions to work with the SDP in the election’s that were forthcoming".

"So, having accepted our conditions, I proceeded to Abuja to summon the meeting of my party executive and decision making organs and made the presentation to them. There was a very robust debate and, at the end of the debate, the executive committee of my party endorsed their request that we should work with Jonathan in the elections".

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Woman claims £33m lotto ticket was destroyed in the wash, presents tattered paper

As the hunt in the UK for the owner of the unclaimed £33million Lotto jackpot intensified, a woman has reportedly come forward claiming to have the winning ticket. 
But, she claims, there is just one small problem - it has been through the washing machine. 
According to The Times, the blonde-haired woman presented the tattered bit of paper to a newsagent in Worcester on Friday. 

Natu Patel, who runs Ambleside News in Warndon on the outskirts of the city, was Friday revealed to have sold the jackpot ticket. 
The 64-year-old was told by National Lottery bosses that the winning ticket was bought in the area. 
He said that it would be "wonderful" if it was bought in his shop - though he won't know if it is unless he scans it. 

Therein, according to The Times, lies the problem - the all-important date and barcode have been scrubbed off the woman's ticket. 
The woman, who claims to have found the ticket in the pocket of a pair of jeans that had been in the wash, told The Times: "I’ve been a nervous wreck. 
"I haven’t slept all night. Since I found it in my jeans pocket, my daughter and I have been drying it out with the hairdryer. 
"You can see 2016 but not the date. This is one of only two shops I buy my tickets, and I remember coming in here the day, or the day before [the draw], because I had to buy something else. 

There's no way to confirm the woman's claims though. 

The winning ticket holder has until Thursday July 7th to claim the cash or it will go to National Lottery projects. 

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Donald Trump says he could shoot someone and still not lose voters

During a rally on Saturday in Iowa, Donald Trump said he wouldn't lose any support in the presidential race, even if he shot someone... 

"I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose any voters, OK?" - Donald Trump. 

Donald Trump's comment came during a campaign rally Saturday at Dordt College in northwest Iowa. The 1,500-seat theater completely filled with hundreds more watching the speech from an overflow room. 

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Illinois Christian college seeks to fire professor for comments on Islam

Officials at a Chicago Christian college said Tuesday they are moving forward with firing a professor who was placed on leave after asserting that Christians and Muslims worship the same God.

Provost Stanton Jones initiated the termination-for-cause proceeding after Larycia Hawkins refused to participate in clarifying the comments she made about the two religions, Wheaton College said in a statement on its website.

Wheaton College said it placed Hawkins on administrative leave in December because of theological statements "that seem inconsistent with Wheaton College's doctrinal convictions, which she voluntarily agreed to support and uphold when she entered into an employment agreement with the college."

Hawkins began to wear a hijab to show solidarity with Muslims, whom she felt were being persecuted in the wake of the San Bernardino shooting and the terror attacks in Paris perpetuated by Muslim extremists. She told reporters last month her actions were “motivated by a desire to live out my faith.”

“I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book,” she posted on Facebook. “And as Pope Francis stated last week, we worship the same God.”

The school insists that is not why she was placed on leave.

The college said it has had frank conversations with Hawkins on doctrinal issues as it pursued the possibility of reconciliation with her but that "Hawkins has stated clearly her unwillingness to participate in such further clarifying conversations."

The Chicago Tribune reported that Hawkins had been asked to affirm the college’s statement of faith four times since she started teaching at Wheaton College nine years go. Hawkins and the school have butted heads over a paper relating the Bible and race relations in America, a photo taken of her inside a home at a party on the same day as Chicago’s Pride Parade and suggesting the college's curriculum should include sensitive vocabulary for talks concerning sexuality, according to the paper.

A spokeswoman for Hawkins, Shelly Ruzicka, said the professor had no immediate comment on the effort to fire her but she "maintains Christian support for the Muslim community amid the ongoing anti-Muslim climate."

Hawkins now faces a hearing with the college’s Faculty Personnel Committee, according to the Tribune.

The panel is made up of nine tenured faculty members. After hearing from both sides, the panel will make a recommendation on Hawkins' continued employement to Wheaton College President Philip Ryken.

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Photos: Man allegedly assaults wife because she greeted her pastor

According to Tolu Meduna who shared the photos on Facebook, Mrs Comfort Oluwaseun Adebowale was brutally beaten by her husband Olorode Abimbola Gbenga for allegedly exchanging pleasantries with her pastor.

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See what was spotted in traffic in Belgium (photos)

Motorists in Liege, Belgium were stunned to see a sperm whale being transported on a flatbed truck, The whale which appeared to be smiling was being delivered to Liège Theatre as part of the stage dressing for their presentation of Herman Melville's classic whale tale Moby Dick.
The theatre posted an image on Facebook with the caption: 

"If you're in the neighbourhood come take a look at this strange delivery... A whale in a theatre, really?!"

Melville's 1851 literary classic is narrated by a sailor called Ishmael and tells the story of the obsessive quest of Captain Ahab for revenge on Moby Dick, a white whale which on a previous voyage destroyed Ahab's ship and severed his leg at the knee.

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Yes we collected N53m from Tony Anenih- TankoYakassai

A former Special Assistant to former President Shehu Shagari, Tanko Yakassai has confirmed that he and 8 other prominent Northern leaders received N53 million from former PDP board of trustee Chairman, Tony Anenih meant for advocacy for the party during the 2015 presidential election.

Tony Anenih in a letter to EFCC stated that he collected N260 million from the office of the former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki and gave N53 million to Tanko Yakasai's group.
 

"Yes, myself and 8 others collected N53m from chief Tony Anenih to pay advocacy visit to prominent northern emirs to mobilize their subjects for a hitch free 2015 general elections. I want to make it abundantly clear that I didn’t receive money from Chief Anenih in my private capacity as Tanko Yakasai but to a patriotic individuals who are interested in the peaceful coexistence of the polity”he told Vanguard

Tanko said former minister of state, foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mamman Anka, Barrister Bitrus Gwada and Alhaji Suleiman Lawal, Dr Bahago, Chief John Macklink from Plateau, and Senator Sodangi are beneficiaries of the N53 million. He added that the money was meant for their allowance, hotel and transportation to the various Northern traditional rulers.

The list of other first class chief visited by Yakasai’s team includes, Emir of Anka, Emir of Ilorin, Emir of Nassarawa, Minnie, Bauchi, Zuru, Kebbi, Katsina, Dutse, Hadejia, Representatives of emir of Daurawa, The Tor Tiv, the Gwom Gbom Jos, Ohimege Igu, Kotonkarfe, Etsu of Abaji, Etsu Nupe and Atta Igala. Tanko had in an interview last week denied ever receiving money directly or indirectly from any of Jonathan's aides or associates 

"I want to make it categorically clear that no officials of the last regime either Mr. Jonathan, his lieutenant, agents, contractors or person having links or relationship with the last administration gave me cash on behalf of that regime for a reason.”

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Photos: Bureau De Change involved in $2.1bn Arms scandal will not be spared - Magu

Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, says that no Bureau De Change operator involved in the ongoing $2.1bn arms deal probe will be spared. Magu said this while speaking to Bureau de change operators who paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Abuja today January 6th.

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Photos: Winners Fly High in #ArikCares Promotion

Miss Nneka Audu, first winner in the ArikCares Promotion

Scores of Arik Air customers in Nigeria have been arriving their destination with exciting prizes in the ongoing #ArikCares Promo. According to the Associate Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Mr. Jide Alade, “The #ArikCares promo is an initiative to give back to our passengers and reward them for their patronage over the years. 

2.  Mr Leno Adesanya touched down with an iPhone 6S at Abuja

We however wanted the winning experience aligned with the flying experience, hence the airborne raffle draws. We are glad at the opportunity to not only fly our loyal customers but also excite them in many ways that connect with their lifestyle”. 

Indeed, winners are announced mid-air via an auto-scrambling of all passengers’ tickets for the selected particular flight, which in itself is chosen at random.

According to one of the earliest winners at the inception of the promotion, Miss Nneka Audu, “I did not expect to win and was truly surprised that I won an ipad Air!” After Nneka’s win in early November, many more airborne passengers have pleasantly touched down with a variety of exciting and premium prizes ranging from iphone 6S, ipad Air, Beats by Dre ‘Studio’ headphones, 20-megapixel/1080p digital cameras, to laptops, 50 – inch 3D Smart TVs and 3D Blu-Ray Home Cinema systems.

3.  Mariamo Orumwense arrived London Heathrow with an iPad Air 2

Our most recent winners are Mrs. Abasiamanam Effiong, who touched down Uyo from Lagos with a Tall Boy 3D & Blu Ray Home Cinema System and MS Ugorji Princess Ijeoma who arrived Owerri from Lagos with a fabulous 50-inch 3D Smart TV. 

The #ArikCarespromotion involves giving out surprise gifts on randomly selected flights. The winning passengers are picked via a lucky/raffle draw done mid-flight, using ticket numbers of all passengers on board.

4.    Mrs. Beatrice NkechiNzeogo won a premium Harman Kardon wireless speakers.

5.    What a way to welcome the New Year! Princess won 50-inch 3D TV on December31.

6.  Mr. Vincent Ogovgbulem won a 3D Blu ray Home Cinema System on the Benin-Lagos flight on December 11.

7.   New Year Gift!!!MrsAbasiamanamEffiong won a 3D Blu ray Tall Boy Home Cinema System enrouteUyo on December 31.

8.  Mr Olivier Fruit won a high-end Lenovo laptop

The #ArikCares  Promo is on till the 30^th of January 2016; so visit the Arik website at www.arikair.com to book tickets online or call 24-hour Customer Care Center on +234 (0) 1279 9999 for more information.

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Photos: Head of Service sworn into office

The acting Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita has been made the substantive Head of Service and was sworn into office by President Buhari today January 6th. Another pic after the cut.

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Copy of police memo stopping police officers from indiscriminately checking phones of citizens

The memo states that the police will be punish if they check any phone without appropriate court order or outside operational exigency.

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Photos from the Federal Executive Council meeting today

The Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Council Chambers in the state house today January 6th. See more photos after the cut...

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Suspected Boko Haram members abduct Police commissioner in Cameroon

Suspected Boko Haram members abducted Dabanga police commissioner Usmaila Sagu in Cameroon on Sunday January 3rd. His official vehicle has been found burnt between Gassama and Kabo villages in Cameroon. Boko Haram activities has been strong in Cameroon over the years.

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N82million Wole Soyinka Dinner: Information Commissioner to demand a refund from Nobel Laureate

Read the press statement below...

Rivers State Information Commissioner , Dr Austin Tam-George has declared  that the  state government  will demand  a refund of the N82million expended by former Governor Amaechi on Professor  Wole Soyinka's  dinner if it confirms that the Nobel Laureate received part of the  the funds in cash.

Also, Dr Tam-George  declared  that the point of departure  between Former Governor Amaechi and Governor Nyesom Wike was the insistence of Governor  Wike that Amaechi  observed  probity and accountability in all governmental actions, an advice that was thrown overboard  by the former governor . 

Addressing Rivers people via a radio programme on Wednesday  in Port Harcourt,  Dr Tam-George  regretted  that the Amaechi  administration  using the Ministry of Information and Communications  headed by  Ibim Semenitari amassed N1.1billion debt on frivolous expenditure. 

According  to  Dr Tam-George : "I will seek the permission  of  the  Governor to formally  write Professor  Wole Soyinka,  a known supporter of Amaechi  if he received  part of the N82million spent on a 3-hour Dinner hosted for him  by the Amaechi  administration. 

"If he agrees that he received  such funds, then he will be compelled to refund same to the coffers of Rivers State.  At present, we have presented  these details  to the Police for investigation  and prosecution. We shall also take up this matter as a financial  crime against  the  people  of  Rivers State. "

He said  that all the fraudulent  actions of the Amaechi  administration are being addressed by the Wike administration,  pointing  out  that  it will  take time for the legal process  to be  completed  because  they are financial  crimes.

The Information Commissioner said that Former Governor Amaechi betrayed the trust of Rivers people  by embarking  on  irresponsible  expenses,  which led to the mismanagement  and fraudulent  misuse  of  N3trillion that accrued to the state under his watch.

He said that Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike had to leave the Amaechi  administration  when the former governor  received  to adhere to patriotic  advice to use Rivers State resources to  develop  the state. 

"The point of  departure  between Former Governor Amaechi and Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike was Wike’s commitment  to  probity and accountability.  Governor Wike refused to be part of the financial  mismanagement  of resources  that accrued  to  the  state ", Dr Tam-George told the  people of Rivers State. 

He explained  that  already Rivers people  are witnessing  the  proper use of resources  as they are witnessing  transformations  across the  landscape. 

Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi left several months unpaid salaries, pensions abandoned  projects  and scholarships despite  receiving N3trillion as revenue  under his watch. 

Simeon Nwakaudu, 

Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media. 

6th January, 2016.

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It's unfortunate that Amaechi spent N82m to host Prof Soyinka to a dinner - River state govt

This is a press statement from the River state government...

Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr. Austin- Tam George, has expressed shock that former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi expended N82million to host Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka to a 3 hour dinner at a period he refused to pay salaries.

Addressing Government House, Port Harcourt correspondents on Tuesday, Dr Tam George said that the figures were contained in the hand over note prepared by the former Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Information and Communication under the Amaechi administration. He said:

"A government that did not pay salaries, closed the courts , but the administration had the courage to expend N82million to fund a dinner for Prof Wole Soyinka. "These are facts on ground. The Amaechi administration expended the money under the heading of borrowed funds." The Information Commissioner : “ There is a massive propaganda machine out there misinforming the people about the policy direction of Governor Wike’s administration. They have to respect the will of the people. Instead, they go about spreading falsehood against the people of the state ".

He charged the news men to emphasize the developmental achievements of Governor Wike with facts because Rivers State is currently dealing with a “ disastrous legacy of abandoned projects” by the Rotimi Amaechi’s administration.

Dr. George who noted that the Wike administration is currently facing a combination of “ 85% information war” and “ political fundamentalism” also said the APC seeking to establish a “ political caliphate” in Rivers State, by installing Dr. Dakuku whose is a fake political candidate of the APC.

The Commissioner also described those who said Wike’ s government is serving only Ikwerre interests as talking “ anthropological nonsense” because he is running an all- inclusive of government of indigenes from the 23 LGAs of Rivers State.

Government House,
Port Harcourt Press Unit.
5th January, 2016. of civil servants.

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Photo: DSS and soldiers raid home of former Abia State lawmaker, Eziuche Ubani, driver beaten

Men of the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Army on Tuesday, January 5, invaded the residence of Eziuche Ubani, a former federal lawmaker from Abia State, Eziuche Ubani, located at Opobo road to search for arms he allegedly hid.

According to Ubani, the search lasted from 1a.m till about 6a.m. but no incriminating evidence was found. Ubani is now accusing the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) of sponsoring the unlawful invasion.

"At about 1a.m, I woke up to a noise and upon checking for the source, I saw that my house had been surrounded by armed people in both mufti and military uniforms. I was with a friend, Prince. Aware of the history of violence in Aba, we didn’t open the door and so they decided to force it open but when they couldn’t, they went to the boy’s quarter and seized my driver. He was beaten to give information about my whereabouts but he refused.

"It was my friend who noticed their uniform when he went out and when they came in, they showed me a search warrant which originated from Umuahia.

"They said there was a petition of arms storing and training of young men to assassinate people in Aba, particularly those belonging to APGA, against me. I told them to get on with the search because I know I am innocent.

"The raid lasted until 6a.m and during the search, they kept calling their boss that they couldn’t find anything. Before they finally left, they made note to say they found nothing incriminating and took nothing away.

"I know that this has to do with the inordinate ambition of Alex Otti to rule Abia by hook or crook. On Sunday, I was going to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe’s house when my phone rang. It was Ahamdi Nweke who contested the Abia Central Senatorial seat against former governor Orji. He said he learnt I held two meetings to plan his death, the last being Saturday.

"Later someone showed me a petition on facebook, sent to the Commissioner of Police and the Inspector General (IGP); it was written by Ahamdi Nweke and claiming I was plotting to kill him.

"I did not regard the matter, not until this morning when the security agencies stormed my home. I have inquired and learnt they acted without the consent of the Commissioner of Police, the Brigade (14 Brigade, Ohafia) Commander in-charge of this area.

"So, who are those people? The only time the DSS and Army will go to your house is when you have breached national security bordering on treason. I want to know what the Chief of Army Staff and their sponsors had in mind for sending them to invade my privacy in the name of searching for arms."

When contacted, Ahamdi Nweke said he submitted his petition to the Commissioner of Police, Joshiak Habila, yesterday, after the search, stressing that the DSS and soldiers may have acted on intelligence and not his petition.

Police spokesman Ezekiel Onyeke Udeviotu who confirmed the raid said the Ogbor hill police station, after receiving a distress call mobilised its personnel to the ex-lawmaker’s house.

The government of Abia State has condemned the invasion of Eziuche Ubani’s home, describing it as unwarranted and unacceptable and requested an apology from the security agencies involved, because according to it, government was embarrassed by the action.

Addressing reporters at Ubani’s residence, Commissioner for Information Bonnie Iwuoha said the government demands an explanation for the invasion and called on sponsors of disturbances to stop forth with as government will not condone violence in any guise, stressing that security agencies are on alert to avoid such.

Source: The Nation

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