Bin Laden was working for US government - Dr. Barrett

The CIA wasted numerous opportunities to kill Osama bin Laden before September 11, 2001, because the former al-Qaeda chief was essentially working for the US government, says Dr. Kevin Barrett, an American academic who has been studying the events of 9/11 since late 2003. 

Dr. Barrett, a founding member of the Scientific Panel for the Investigation of 9/11, made the remarks in a phone interview with Press TV on Tuesday, after the US intelligence agencies declassified tens of documents seized in the 2011 raid on bin Laden's alleged hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

The documents – the second tranche from the raid to have been declassified since May 2015 – show bin Laden was a "hands on" boss of al-Qaeda until the end.

"Bin Laden was very hands on with al-Qaeda's day-to-day operations," a senior intelligence official familiar with the documents said on Monday, "but he seemed somewhat out of touch."

Dr. Barrett said “the problem with this particular story is that ... well there are so many possible problems that it’s hard to know from where to begin, but we could begin with the Seymour Hersh revelations of last year that the story of the assassination of Osama bin Laden was a fairytale, that nothing happened remotely close to what we were told happened on the day he was supposedly killed.”

“The upshot of the Seymour Hersh story is that it was absolutely clear according to what Hersh explicitly said that the Pakistani government was fully aware of everything  bin Laden was doing for many many years, and that essentially  bin Laden was under house arrest by the Pakistani government,” he added.

“Hersh implied that – of course was not allowed to say, even if he was published over in London – was that this was all obviously done – assuming this is true, which is a big assumption – with the connivance of the United States government, that is… bin Laden was a prisoner of the Pakistani and US government for at least four or six years before he was killed. Now this is the same period that these new supposed documents had bin Laden completely running so-called al-Qaeda.”

In an article published on the London Review of Books in May 2015, investigative US journalist Seymour Hersh wrote that high-level lying “remains the modus operandi of US policy, along with secret prisons, drone attacks, Special Forces night raids, bypassing the chain of command, and cutting out those who might say no.”

Hersh wrote that Pakistani intelligence officials played an important role in the bin Laden operation, despite the Obama administration’s assertion that the assassination was done without their knowledge.

The report claims that Pakistani military officers helped US helicopters enter the country and that a Pakistani security official led the American troops directly to Bin Laden without any resistance from guards.

Bin Laden, a CIA asset 

“Now assuming that Hersh’s information is correct, and it certainly is far more plausible than anything remotely close to the US government version and the US mainstream media version of events, that means that we have to really readjust our perception of who bin Laden was, and what he was really doing?” Dr. Barrett said.  

“And we already know that bin Laden was working for the US government ... He was created by essentially by the US government and its intelligence agencies to fight the Russians in Afghanistan. That was al-Qaeda meant – the CIA database,” the researcher noted.  

“We know that right before 9/11 – in July 2001, bin Laden was being treated by a CIA-linked American physician in Dubai, Dr. Terry Calloway, and he was visited by the head of the Dubai CIA station, a certain Mr. Larry Mitchell. This was repeatedly confirmed by many European news outlets which all stand by that story,” he stated.

“We know that on the eve of 9/11, actually on September 11th, 2001, bin Laden was in a hospital being treated for a terminal kidney disease. And he could have easily been captured at that time had they wanted to, and of course there were numerous, numerous opportunities before that as well,” he pointed out.

“So essentially the picture we have gotten is that bin Laden was an American agent. And this has been confirmed by many, many sources, like Veterans Today where I work, people with an intelligence community background,” he said.

“So what we’ve learned from these most recent documents, assuming that they are authentic, is that bin Laden would have been running so-called al-Qaeda on behalf of Western intelligence.  And they were keeping him under virtual house arrest, allowing him to do his work, right next door to the Pakistani military headquarters, all those years,” the analyst observed.

The September, 11, 2001 attacks, also known as the 9/11 attacks, were a series of strikes in the US which killed nearly 3,000 people and caused about $10 billion worth of property and infrastructure damage.

US officials assert that the attacks were carried out by al-Qaeda terrorists but many experts have raised questions about the official account, saying it was a false-flag operation and that bin Laden was just a bogeyman for the US military-industrial complex.

They believe that rogue elements within the US government orchestrated or at least encouraged the 9/11 attacks in order to accelerate the US war machine and advance the Zionist agenda.

With PressTv

PDP Reschedules National Caucus, BOT, NEC Meetings..NEC To Hold Monday

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rescheduled the meetings of the National Caucus, Board of Trustees (BOT) and the National Executive Committee (NEC).

The National Caucus meeting has been rescheduled for Sunday, March 6, 2016 at 7pm. The Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting will now hold on Monday, March 7th 2016 at 11am, while the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting holds at 2pm on the same Monday March 7th, 2016.

The leadership of the Party deeply regrets any inconveniences that may be caused by this adjustment, said Olisa Metuh.

Ese Oruru: Handover Shifted To Wednesday

The much anticipated handover of Ese Oruru, the teenager allegedly abducted from her Bayelsa home will now take place tomorrow.

Force spokesperson, Bisi Kolawole, told anxious journalists who waited for several hours at the Police Headquarters in Abuja that the inability of Ese’s parents to arrive on time led to the postponement of the exercise, Channel Television reported.

Ese was allegedly abducted eight months ago and moved to Kano for forced marriage.

She was freed on Monday night, following a directive by the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, to the Commissioner of Police in Kano State, Mohammed Katsina.

Reports say Miss Oruru was allegedly abducted from her Bayelsa Home, and her parents, after trailing her to Kano, battled for months to have her back.

In the meantime, rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern is asking the authorities to immediately commence the prosecution of Yunusa, the man alleged to have abducted her.

Her father, Mr Charles Oruru had told Channels Television in Yenagoa that Ese was the most courageous of his children and so he does not think that her alleged abductor took her to Kano on her free will.

This is affirmed by Ese’s siblings who believe something mystical may have been done to her to accept leaving Yenagoa for Kano.

Exposed: Pregnant Lady Sending Love Message to Boyfriend, Caught in the Act

These days, about 65% of marriages in the cities end in divorce but about 95% of marriages from our villages are still succeeding till death do them part. What does that tell you? Many of the girls you see in cities today are not ready for what is called "marriage". They just need a man who will put them in his house and be paying their bills and they use it as a cover (married woman), while they continue to sleep around like misguided secondary school girls who just got introduced to sex. Sigh!

Sincerely, in this present day, if you want to enjoy the essence of marital bliss, the best option is to go to a family that has inculcated life's values in their daughter. But if you just meet any of these girls who use flashy phones, long nails, artificial lashes, claiming 'I am a student or I am into buying and selling; and you say you have seen a wife you want to marry, my brother na sorry be your name oh!

In fact, if these category of ladies are pregnant for you it doesn't stop them from sleeping with other men. The same pregnancy they use in trapping you could even belong to another man. It's that bad!

Just imagine this scenario: A man took his pregnant wife out to make her happy, but at the venue she got herself busy sending text to a boyfriend, saying she misses him and can't wait to meet with him.

A guy who was sitting at the top seat above the couple saw the dirty messages she was sending and could not stomach it, he had to pass a note to the husband, asking him to read it when he gets home...



...here's the note the guy gave to the husband...he couldn't believe his eyes!

No Banking Day: Customers boycott Service Today

The Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON), a non-profit making organization, has threatened to boycott banking services from today, Tuesday, March 1, 2016, owing to perceived arbitrary charges by commercial banks.

Consequently, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has called on bank customers to be vigilant against excessive bank charges and channel complaints to appropriate authorities, instead of participating in the boycott of banking services. 

CAFON said: "It is pertinent to note that the Nigerian banking system had seen radical reforms in recent years in order to drive the Vision 20: 2020 programme. As part of this broad policy initiative the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, rolled out the cashless policy with a number of options in the electronic payment systems, including the mobile banking. 

"To achieve this, the CBN had enlisted electronic and telecom service providers to ensure convenience and safety.

"In addition, the Bank also set up the Consumer Protection Department, CPD, saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that bank customers are not unduly   short-changed by the commercial banks.

“Meanwhile, it is equally expected that while the regulators are doing their bit, bank customers must not only insist, but persist in demanding that their respective banks give them good service and at affordable charges. 

"Nigerians should note that the bank-customer relationship is personal and contractual and should seek for redress when shotchanged." 

Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has called on bank customers to be vigilant against excessive bank charges and channel complaints to appropriate authorities instead of participating in the boycott of banking services. 

The apex bank stated this in response to the boycott of banking services today called by Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON). 

Two weeks ago, CAFON launched a campaign against the introduction of Stamp Duty charge of N50, Current Account Maintenance Fee and excessive bank charges. The group called on bank customers to boycott all banking services in March to protest the charges. 

However in a statement issued yesterday, the CBN faulted the boycott, saying CAFON should rather encourage Nigerians to take complaints that were related to wrongful bank charges to the appropriate quarters.

Court remands Ex-Minister, Moro in Prison

The Federal High Court in Abuja Monday remanded the immediate past Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, in Prison custody over his alleged roles in the N676million immigration recruitment scam.

Justice Anwuli Chikere, ordered that Moro be remanded at Kuje prison after the former Minister pleaded not guilty to an 11-count criminal charge that was preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The court however granted an administrative bail to the 2nd defendant, Mrs. Anastasia Daniel-Nwobia, who was the ‎Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Interior when the alleged fraud was committed. Daniel-Nwobia, nursing a baby, had through her lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, sought the permission of the court to allow her go home and take care of her baby.

Also remanded in prison custody was ‎a Deputy Director in the Interior Ministry, Mr. F. O Alayebami.

Age Fraud: Rickey Tarfa lied

                                                                           Rickey Tarfa

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday accused Mr. Rickey Tarfa of falsifying his age, urging Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court in Lagos not to allow a further and better affidavit filed by the Senior Advocate of Nigeria in support of his N2.5bn suit against the EFCC.

“He who comes to equity must come with clean hands,” lawyer for the EFCC, Mr. Wahab Shittu, said on Monday while moving a counter-affidavit to Tarfa’s application seeking to tender a better and further affidavit to support his case.

An   EFCC operative, Moses Awolusi, claimed in a counter-affidavit, that though Tarfa gave his age as 43 in the statement he made to the EFCC on the day of his arrest, findings showed that Tarfa’s real age is 54, The PUNCH reported.

“I know as a fact that the applicant, in his extrajudicial statement to the 1st respondent upon his arrest, falsely stated that his age was 43 years in the document marked Exhibit 1 to the counter-affidavit of the 1st respondent dated 18th February, 2016, whereas the true age of the applicant, as stated in the compendium published for all Senior Advocates of Nigeria referred to, is 54 years old,” Awolusi averred.

But Tarfa’s lawyer, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), urged Justice Idris to discountenance the EFCC’s claim, saying that anyone could misrepresent his age under the kind of treatment that the EFCC subjected Tarfa to on February 5.

“In such a situation, I would put my age at 25 because I will be u nder shock,” Ayorinde said.

Ayorinde argued that what the EFCC needed to concentrate on was how it would debunk Tarfa’s claim that an Access Bank account into which his law firm paid N225,000 into on January 7, 2014 belonged to one Mohammed Awal Yunusa and not Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa as the EFCC had claimed.

Ayorinde urged the judge to admit Mohammed Awal Yunusa’s further and better affidavit in support of Tarfa’s N2.5bn fundamental rights enforcement suit against the EFCC, saying it was in the interest of justice to do so.

But the EFCC’s lawyer, Shittu, described Tarfa’s application as an abuse of court processes and a ploy to arrest the judgment of the court, which was earlier slated for delivery on Monday, in the report.

Shittu, who claimed that Tarfa had already admitted paying N225,000 to the judge and had also lied to the EFCC about his age, said the SAN did not deserve the discretionary favour of the court.

The anti-graft agency had earlier alleged that it traced the payment of N225,000 from Tarfa’s law firm into Justice Yunusa’s Access Bank account, claiming that it was a bribe.

In response to the allegation, Tarfa had, in a further affidavit deposed to by the head of his chambers, John Odubela, denied bribing the judge, stating that the N225,000 he paid into the judge’s bank account was donated by some friends of Justice Yunusa towards the funeral rites of the judge’s father-in-law, Alhaji Audi Damasa.

Odubela had said, “That the applicant and some friends of Honourable Justice M.N. Yunusa made some donations for the said funeral rites and to commiserate with the judge since they could not physically go and commiserate with him in Maiduguri, where he was, said The PUNCH.

“That the contributed monies amounted to N225,000, which was given to the applicant with the responsibility to get same across to the bereaved judge.

“That the applicant consequently made arrangement to forward the sum of N225,000.”

But in the better and further affidavit, which Tarfa sought to tender, Mohammed Awal Yunusa claimed to be the owner of the Access Bank account into which Tarfa’s law firm paid N225,000 into on January 7, 2014, contrary to the EFCC’s claim that the account belonged to Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa.

We are bound to support Buhari's administration - Ohaneze chieftain

The Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Anambra, Chief Chris Eluemuno, has said that the organisation is bound to support President Mohammadu Buhari in the interest of the Igbo.

Eluemuno told newsmen on Sunday after being conferred with the traditional title of “Ogbuefi Nwajiugo” by his Nkwelle- Ezunaka community in Anambra that the apex socio-cultural organisation had no choice but to partner with the government.

“Ohaneze has no choice than to partner with the Federal Government because we are not there to support any political party but to support any government in power in the interest of the Igbo.

“We are bound to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in the interest of the Igbo,” Eluemuno said.

He, however, urged Buhari to consider more appointments for the people of the zone and fulfill his promises in the infrastructural development of the zone, especially the roads and the Second Niger Bridge.

“If you give good roads, power supply, water and other enabling environment for businesses to thrive to the Igbo man, he will do wonders because he is industrious,” Eluemuno said.

The Ohaneze chieftain also advised the Igbo to imbibe traditional discipline and guard against bearing the ‘Eze Ndigbo’ title outside their indigenous communities.

``If you are an Igbo leader outside your indigenous community, call yourself one, but don’t bear the `Eze Ndigbo’ title.

“We in Ohaneze have said that it is no longer acceptable for people to bear such titles as Eze Ndigbo in the Diaspora,” he said.

Eluemuno advised the various communities to mete out punishments to their sons who bore the title Eze in Diaspora.

The Ohaneze chieftain said that chieftaincy title taking in Igbo land signified respect, identity and accomplishments.

He assured his people that the title given to him would spur him to do more for them.

He commended Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra, members of Ohaneze Ndigbo, state functionaries and stakeholders for gracing the occasion. (NAN)

Confusion as court dismisses contempt suit against NERC

 A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday, dismissed a contempt suit against the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) over alleged disobedience of its order.

A Lawyer and Human Rights Activist, Mr Toluwani Adebiyi, had filed the suit, challenging the hike in electricity tariff.

He had sought an order of court, committing NERC's Chairman and the Chief Executive Officers of the Distribution Companies (Discos) to prison for allegedly flouting a subsisting order of the court.

Justice Mohammed Idris had on May 28, 2015, directed NERC to suspend all actions relating to any increment in electricity tariff pending the determination of a suit filed by Adebiyi.

Adebiyi had argued that despite the subsisting order, NERC in conjunction with the Electricity Distribution Companies commenced the implementation of the new electricity tariff on Feb.1, 2016.

He said the implementation of the new tariff by the defendants indicated that the substantive suit meant nothing to them.

Delivering his ruling on Monday, Justice Idris held that the procedure for committing a party for contempt outside the face of the court must be strictly adhered.

``Before a party can be committed for contempt it must be shown that he is aware of the order or judgment because a person cannot be said to be in contempt of an order he is not aware of.

``The best way to notify the alleged contemnor of the pending order or judgment is to serve him with the order personally.

``In the light of the law, it is clear in this case that the purported service of form 49 without service of form 48 is premature.

``In the circumstances, I hold that the defendant's objection have merit. The form 49 and the motion for order for committal are hereby set aside,’’ he said

Idris held that he set aside the contempt proceeding due to procedural irregularities.

``However, let me warn that where the disciplinary jurisdiction of this court is properly invoked, anyone found to have neglected the order of court will be dealt with.

``Those who intend to take the judicial system for a ride should think twice and those who have done so should retrace their steps.

``To be fore warned, is to be fore armed; this is the ruling of the court,’’ he said
Idris then adjourned the case to March 15 for hearing.

It was recalls that Adebiyi, in the substantive suit, is seeking an order restraining NERC from implementing any upward review of electricity tariff without a significant improvement in power supply.

He also wants an order restraining NERC from foisting compulsory service charge on pre-paid meters, until the meters are designed to read charges per second of consumption. (NAN)

APC govs tackles Buhari over N5000 stipends for youths

A crack may have developed among the ranks of the governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as Governor Tanko Umaru Al-makura of Nasarawa State and his Imo State counterpart, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, yesterday took different positions in their reaction to President Muhamnadu Buhari’s decision to ditch the N5000 unemployment benefits to Nigerians, The Guardian reported.

The governors gave their opinions separately yesterday while speaking with reporters after their meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja.

To Al-makura, the President has the prerogative to so review any policy at any given time and his decision stands in as much as it is to the best interest of the nation.

According to the Nasarawa governor, “the President is the person that can tell you precisely how he is working on campaign promises and interventions that he has created, using his ingenuity. And if at any point in time, the President is reviewing that issue, I think he is the only person that can do so in the best interest of the country. And so, it is not challengeable by anybody whatever his position.” In the report.

He, therefore, called on Nigerians to give the benefit of doubt to enable him implant the laudable agenda that he has for Nigerians.

While Okorocha, who is Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) agreed with the President on the need to improve on infrastructure to boost productivity, he, however, believed that, one way or the other, the APC campaign promises must be fulfilled to the people.

“To be honest with you, it is a great idea, but there are many ways to give that support. Sometimes, it could be in cash which has its own challenges. Handling of that is also in itself a wonderful and great idea,” he said.

The President had declared in Saudi Arabia, during a meeting with a select group of Nigerian community in Makkah that, rather than paying the N5000 as canvassed by his party on the heels of the presidential election, he would instead focus on repairing infrastructures such as roads, bridges, schools, among others.

Committee On Appropraition Ends Collation of Reports on 2016 Budget - Rep

The House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation has formally closed the collation of reports on the 2016 budget from Standing Committees.

This is contained in a statement issued by Rep. Abdulmumini Jibrin, (APC-Kano) Chairman, Committee on Appropriation and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja. He said that the committee would appropriate funds to Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) supervised by substantive committees that failed to present their 2016 budget defence reports. Jubrin listed the committees to include Public Accounts, Loans, Aids and Debts Committee, Committee on Gas Resources, Public Service Matters Committee, Maritime and Safety Committee, Interior Committee and Committee on National Security‎. He said that only 60 substantive committees met the Feb. 26 deadline of presenting their budget defence reports and recommendations, covering improvements, shortcomings and actions to be taken in their respective MDAs.

“Due to pressure of time we have to tidy up the final report with the Senate.

“The Committee on Appropriation will have to take over the work of committees that failed to present their reports by appropriating funds for the MDAs that they supervise.

“The committee will also interface with officials of the Ministry of Finance, Budget Office on March 3 to fine tune the reports,’’ the lawmaker said.

The chairman commended the 60 substantive committees for their cooperation and for heeding the call to submit their reports within the deadline.

“This is for the overall interest of the nation and the commitment of the National Assembly to pass the 2016 budget, latest by the second week of March,” Jibrin said.

(NAN)

Pakistan anti-blasphemy law gov killer dead by hanging

Pakistan has hanged the assassin of a governor who sought to reform the country’s controversial blasphemy laws, officials and supporters said
Mumtaz Qadri – feted as a hero by many supporters – was executed at a prison in Rawalpindi.

“I can confirm that Qadri was hanged in Adialia jail early yesterday morning,” police official Sajjid Gondal told the AFP.

Qadri, a bodyguard of Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab province, shot him dead in the capital, Islamabad, in 2011.

Dozens of rangers and police in riot gear, as well as ambulances, were stationed outside Qadri’s home in the city early yesterday.

During his trial, Qadri’s legal defence was that Taseer opposed Pakistan’s so-called blasphemy laws by supporting Christian woman, Asia Bibi, who was charged with allegedly desecrating Islam’s holy book, the Quran.

Engineers Are Warn Not To Give Bribe To Influence The Award Of Contracts

Chairman, Engineering Society of Nigeria (Abuja)

After a successful test, exams, and other prerequisite, Engineers were satisfied and were charged to obey all code of ethics for engineering practice in Nigeria.

In line with one of the present administration’s cardinal point, to fight corruption, Engineers were charged not to offer or receive bribe to influence the award of a contract, And comparing take home at the end of the month, they want the Federal Government to look into it.

The Chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Yakubu Garba said, “In order to stamp out corruption completely, the salary of the Engineers should be looked into”.

Observers say workers salary must be reasonable as it will go a long way in the successful fight against corruption.

N1.69 trillion Rail Contract Scam:Reps summon contractors, ex-minister

The House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating the N1.69 trillion railway rehabilitation contracts has invited former Minister of Transport, Isa Bio Ibrahim; Department of State Service (DSS), Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and 27 contractors allegedly involved in the misappropriation of the fund, The Guardian reported.

Chairman of the committee, Johnson Agbonayinma, has however denied that his committee has submitted an interim report of the investigation to the House.

The committee disclosed that those invited are expected to appear before it on Thursday to explain their respective roles in the management of funds made available by the Federal Government to revamp the railway sector.

According to a source close to the committee, the DSS was specifically invited to give details of the recommendations it made to the office of the SGF on how the contracts were poorly managed between 2010-2014, while the SGF on the other hand is expected to explain what happened to the report submitted to it by the DSS, in the report.

On the former minister, the source said: “As you can see, the man has a lot to tell the committee because he kick-started the whole process in the first place.

“As for the acting Managing Director of NRC, government is a continuum and he has to give account of what he knows under oath, and produce all the contractors. The contractors too must tell the committee all they have done with convincing evidence of the state of the contracts they executed.”

A gang of kidnappers and a group of cultist arrested

The Nigerian Police said that it has arrested a gang of kidnappers and a group of cultist.

The Police said that on On the 26th of February 2016 a gang of kidnappers operating between Ajah in Lagos State and Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State were on their way to Ijebu-Ode Ogun State to kidnap a yet to be identified expatriate a team of Police men were detailed to intercept the gang.

At Ijebu-Ode/Benin expressway by Mobalufon the gang surfaced in a white coloured Toyota Camry car with Reg. No. EKY 204 BG and the five man gang were arrested. Suspects are; Godwin Forojoh, aka Baddo, aged 25 years, Dimeji Oluwaseun, aka Legacy, aged 36 .years, Saheed Bilesanmi, aged 23 years, Lucky Peter, aged 32 years and Lucky Oba, aka Kcee, aged 23 years.

The suspects confessed to have kidnapped one white man and two Nigerians amongst others including one Alhaji Modiu Rabiu, aged 80 years at Ijebu-Ode and till date they collected a total of N14,000,000 in ransom money. Recovered from the suspects are; 2 locally made pistols, 6 live cartridges and charms

Also on the 28th February, Police personnel attached to IGP’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) arrested one Magnus Atapia, the second in command to Igbudu cult group and Ndubuisi Gerald, of Icelander.

The duo was arrested for various incidents of kidnappings and murder cases in Ahoada including the murder of one Mrs. Orluete Okpara,of Ula-Upata Community in Ahoada East LGA of Rivers State on the 20th Feb, and razing down of houses of one Chief Henry Abidhi, Chief Vincent Ede and Inspr. Ifeanyi Ede in Ogbo Community in Ahoada East LGA.

While on stop and search duty on the 28 Feb, along Otukpo Road, Ankpa Police personnel arrested one Isah Yahaya, aged 27 years, of Ojoku with a locally made shot gun and a live cartridge.The suspect confessed to be part of an armed robbery gang.Case under investigation.

The white Oscars

Leonardo DiCaprio wins his first Oscar Award in 2016

The United States is rapidly becoming a majority-minority nation. Yet, the composition of Oscars voters, and this year's Academy Awards nominees, is still overwhelmingly white. 

It's the world's most prestigious movie awards ceremony.

But controversy over racial discrimination overshadowed the Oscars in Hollywood on Sunday night.

No ethnic minority actor or actress was nominated for an award for the second year running, sparking a social media campaign hashtag #OscarsSoWhite.

Black comedian and actor Chris Rock, who was urged to boycott the ceremony, tackled the issue with a 10 minute opening monologue.

Speculating on why the furore over diversity in the industry had taken root this year, rather than in the 1950s or 1960s, Rock said black Americans had "real things to protest at the time".

"We were too busy being raped and lynched to care about who won best cinematography," he said. "When your grandmother's swinging from a tree, it's really hard to care about best documentary foreign short.

But a lack of diversity in the entertainment industry is not just a problem for the Oscars - a new report warns of an "inclusion crisis" for ethnic minorities, women and others in film and television.

On Inside Story, we examine if the Oscars are in fact whiter than white. Is the controversy being exaggerated?

For the second straight year, the Oscar nominees within the major categories are all white men or women. Not a single African or Asian American, Latina/o or Native American was nominated. 

Another Oscars' whitewash has spurred social media protests (#OscarsSoWhite),criticism from within Hollywood, and even a call for boycott demanding "more diversity". Demands for greater diversity within American cinema, whether within films themselves or award recognitions, are not new. They were launched five, 10 and 20 years ago. 

These demands for more diversity have rendered token progress. In years after protests, Halle Berry won the Best Actress in the Leading Role category in 2001, and in 2013, Lupita Nyang'o won the Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 2013 for 12 Years a Slave.

Yet, these moments of minority recognition are fleeting and far between. And almost always, followed by award whitewashes or near whitewashes. Illustrating that demands for mere or more diversity should be replaced, or recast, with calls demanding structural reform within the Academy itself.  

Oscar voters are old, wealthy, white, and men. Not unlike every other hall of US power, this narrow demographic controls which films are made, which actors are cast, and certainly, which films and actors deserve Oscar recognition.

Ninety-four percent of the Academy are white; 77 percent are men; African-Americans comprise roughly 2 percent of the Academy, while Latina/o voters are less than 2 percent. Other communities of colour, including Asian, Arab and Native Americans, are virtually non-existent within the Oscar voting committee.

Perhaps America's quintessential old boys' network, a virtually all-white Academy is the principal reason the 2016 Oscar nominations were once again swept by white men and women.

Not unlike an informally segregated golf course, or corporate boardroom, these gatekeepers not only determine - in the words of Martin Scorsese - who's "in the frame and what's out". But also, whose cinematic performances and contributions, creativity and impact, are awarded.

Moreover, the racial identity of the Academy illustrates why films centering on minority narratives - like Ryan Coogler's Creed or F Gary Gray's biopic, Straight Outta Compton - did not resonate with voters, and ultimately, were not nominated.

The latter film, depicting the story of the landmark rap group NWA was both critical and a box office hit. But the nearly all-black cast, featuring the rise, fall and impact of the controversial rap collective and its iconic members, likely clashed with the interests and sensibilities of Oscar voters.

One member of the Academy, a white male, stated, "I happen to think Straight Outta Compton is not a great film for reasons of structure and substance."

Perhaps fittingly, the-all white music industry that feared and didn't understand NWA nearly three decades ago mirrors the all-white Oscar voters who don't understand Straight Outta Compton today. History certainly repeats itself. But this time, within another segment of the entertainment industry also dominated by white, old, wealthy men.

The reoccurring demands for racial diversity should be redirected from the Oscar nominations and towards the Academy itself. Certainly, if the racial composition of Oscar voters remains almost entirely white and male, then the composition of the nominees will follow in that very line.

Though interrupted some years by nominations and awards to filmmakers or actors of colour, this shouldn't be perceived as emblematic of racial progress in Hollywood, but as intermittent deviations from the norm that are more superficial and strategic than symbolic of structural inclusion.

Meaningful racial diversity within the Academy itself should be reframed as the goal. Namely, integrating black and brown voters that can relate to the structure and feel the substance of Straight Outta Compton. And including gatekeepers of colour that represent the racial and multicultural evolution of the country, who will greenlight films and recognise performances that reflect the changing demographics within the country. 

In cinema, African American narratives are ghettoised within a separated "black films" industry. Latina/o American storylines are branded foreign and unmarketable, while this demographic ranks as the fastest growing population in the country.

Leonardo DiCaprio has finally won his first Oscar award, for his role in the revenge movie “The Revenant” as best actor in 2016.

This came 23 years after the actor was first nominated for the Oscars.

DiCaprio, 41, had been nominated four times previously for an acting Oscar over a career spanning 25 years. He was the favorite to clinch the Academy Award this year for his grueling portrayal of a fur trapper left for dead in an icy wilderness after being mauled by a bear.

In a fight for survival, his “Revenant” character Hugh Glass treks through snow-covered forests, gets swept away in a waterfall, sleeps inside the carcass of a disemboweled horse and hungrily eats raw bison liver before making it back to his camp.

DiCaprio, a bachelor with a string of supermodel girlfriends, has matured into one of the world’s most admired and popular actors, as well as a champion of environmental causes ranging from marine reserves to the rights of indigenous people.

In his acceptance speech, DiCaprio, who received a standing ovation, said: “Let us not take this planet for granted. I do not take tonight for granted.”

DiCaprio added: “Our production needed to move to the southern tip of this planet to find snow. Climate change is real, it is happening now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species and we need to work collectively together, and we need to support leaders around the world who do not speak for the big polluters and the big corporations but who speak for all of humanity.”

DiCaprio had already won Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild trophies for the role, which transformed the heartthrob from movies like “Titanic” and “Romeo + Juliet” into a greasy-haired 1820s fur trapper who barely speaks after the bear ripped his throat.

DiCaprio won his first Oscar nomination in 1994 for his supporting role as a mentally challenged boy in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.”

His romantic “Romeo + Juliet” and “Titanic” roles went unrecognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and it was another 10 years before his obsessive-compulsive Howard Hughes in “The Aviator” brought a second Oscar nomination.

Nominations for 2006’s “Blood Diamond” and 2013’s “The Wolf of Wall Street” came and went without DiCaprio taking home the most coveted trophy in show business.

List of Oscar Nominations received by Leonardo DiCaprio:
1993 What’s Eating Gilbert Grape – Best Supporting Actor – Nominated
2005 The Aviator – Best Actor – Nominated
2007 Blood Diamond – Best Actor – Nominated
2014 The Wolf of Wall Street – Best Actor  – Nominated
2014 The Wolf of Wall Street – Best Picture (as producer) – Nominated
2016 The Revenant – Best Actor – Won

And Muslim depictions in cinema virtually limited to terrorist villains and national security threats, intensifying the hateful political rhetoric and on-the-ground Islamophobia gripping the country. A brand of bigoted diversity, as illustrated by the six Oscar nominations American Sniper received last year, Oscar voters are more than keen to celebrate.

To put things into perspective, American Sniper - a film lionising a soldier indiscriminately gunning down Iraqis - received six more nominations than actors or filmmakers combined both in 2015 and 2016. And one more Oscar award.

A film depicting the brutal execution of minorities is more deserving of Oscar recognition than films humanising minorities. This message, unlike the structure and substance of Straight Outta Compton, resonated resoundingly with Oscar voters.

Films are far more than films. They, perhaps more than another medium, are the salient shapers of views on politics and culture, beauty and identity. Particularly American cinema, consumed by viewers in every country in the world, and emulated by film industries near and far. 

Apart from exporting the most recent blockbuster or action hit, Hollywood also exports the prevailing face of racism, colourism, and the underlying messages and patent images that whiteness is the benchmark. While the casting out of black and brown bodies reaffirms deeply rooted racial castes that brand these groups inferior.

Calls for mere or more diversity in Oscar nominations will not change the natural trajectory of white supremacy within Hollywood. Demands for structural instead of token diversity - followed by meaningful reform - will.